CANTOR What kind English acting are you doing uptown? JACK [_Responding to his mother’s mute appeal_]. Come on, Pa, let’s celebrate your birthday, and then some other time I’ll talk about my work. SARA Come, Yosele, look. See the diamonds what Jakie brought me. Ain’t that nice? For a mama diamonds, and for a papa a praying shawl. Yosele, he’s got in the satchel so many nice things. [_She moves toward the bag._] JACK Now, please, Mama, he doesn’t want to see that. CANTOR I’m asking you—what kind English acting you are doing uptown? SARA [_Takes out prayer book_]. Oh, see, Yosele! He’s still got his little ivory prayer book what you gave him when he was confirmed. JACK It’s a funny thing about that prayer book, Ma. When I was traveling on the road, I bet I left a million things behind, but I always carried that. SARA See, Yosele, he didn’t forget he’s a son from a Cantor. CANTOR WHAT KIND ENGLISH ACTING ARE YOU DOING UPTOWN? JACK Papa, it’ll take some time to explain. It’s hard to tell you in a few words. Can’t we wait until after a while— CANTOR It ain’t hard I should tell you the work I’m doing. I sing to God. I pray. It ain’t hard to tell the kind work your mama is doing. She is a Cantor’s wife. _She_ worships the Almighty. _She_ knows the sorrows what has come to the descendants from Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, to the children of Israel. _She_ is living to be a good wife of a Cantor.... Once she wanted to be a mother of a Cantor, too, but she found this couldn’t be. It ain’t hard for us to tell you the kind of lives we are living. What kind of life are you living? JACK [_Exasperated_]. I told you. I’m an actor. I sing. Just like you sing. Only I sing in a theatre. CANTOR [_Fearfully_]. What kind singing? JACK Didn’t you hear me? I sing jazz songs. Ragtime. CANTOR [_Stunned_]. Mama, did you heard what he said? SARA Jakie, you are fooling! JACK You’re right, Ma. I fool, too. I’m a comedian. I get all dressed up in funny clothes. I sing funny songs and make people laugh. They pay money to come and hear me. They’re going to pay big money soon. Right now, Mama, I’ve got a big job with one of the biggest producers in New York City, with a show called “The April Follies.” And if I make good, I’ll get a big salary, and you’ll be proud of me—you’ll see. CANTOR