[Transcriber's Note: This play transcribed from an original manuscript. There are pencilled notations possibly by Ms. Hurston herself. Thesepencilled edits have been transcribed as *[Handwritten: (text)]] Copyright 1931 by Zora *[Handwritten: Neale] Hurston POKER! Time--Present Place--New York Cast of characters-- Nunkie Too-Sweet Peckerwood Black Baby Sack Daddy Tush Hawg Aunt Dilsey SCENE-- A shabby front room in a shotgun house. A door covered by dingy portieres upstage C. Small panel window in side Wall L. Plain centre table with chairs drawn up about it. Gaudy calendars on wall. Battered piano against wall R. Kerosene lamp with reflector against wall on either side of room. At rise of curtain NUNKIE is at piano playing.... Others at table with small stacks of chips before each man. TUSH HAWG is seated at table so that he faces audience. He is expertly riffing the cards ... Looks over his shoulder and speaks to NUNKIE. TUSH HAWGCome on here, Nunkie--and take a hand! You're holding up the game. Youbeen woofin' round here about the poker you can play--now do it! NUNKIEYeah, I plays poker. I plays the piano and Gawd knows I plays the devil. I'm Uncle Bob with a wooden leg!*[Handwritten: Last sentence crossed outin pencil in manuscript. ] BLACK BABYAw, you can be had! Come on and get in the game! Mybritches is cryin' for your money! Come on, don't givethe healer no trouble!*[Handwritten: last sentence crossed out in pencil] NUNKIESoon as I play the deck I'm comin' and take you alls money! Don' rushme. Ace means the first time that I met you Duece means there was nobody there but us two Trey means the third party--Charlie was his name Four spot means the fourth time you tried that same old game--Five spot means five years you played me for a clownSix spot means six feet of earth when the deal goes downNow I'm holding the seven spot for each day of the weekEight means eight hours that she Sheba-ed with your Sheik--Nine spot means nine hours that I work hard every day--Ten spot means tenth of every month I brought you home my pay--The Jack is three-card Charlie who played me for a goatThe Queen, that's my pretty Mama, also trying to cut my throat--The King stands for Sweet Papa Nunkie and he's goin' to wear the crown, So be careful you all ain't broke when the deal goes down! (He laughs--X'es to table, bringing piano stool for seat) TUSH HAWGAw now, brother, two dollars for your seat before you try to sit in thisgame. NUNKIE (Laughs sheepishly--puts money down--TUSH HAWG pushes stack of chips toward him. Bus. )I didn't put it down because I knew you all goin' to be puttin' it rightback in my pocket. BECKERWOODAw, Y'all go ahead and play. (to TUSH HAWG)Deal! (TUSH HAWG begins to deal for draw poker. The game gets tense. SACK DADDY is first man at TUSH's left--he throws back three cards and is dealt three more) SACK DADDYMy luck sure is rotten! My gal must be cheatin' on me. I ain't had apair since John Henry had a hammer! BLACK BABY (Drawing three new cards)You might be fooling the rest with the cryin' you're doin' but I'msquattin' for you! You're cryin' worse than cryin' Emma! TOO-SWEET (Studying his three new cards) (Sings)When yo' cards gets lucky, oh Partner, you oughter be in a rollin' game. *[Handwritten: get you foot offa my chair etc] AUNT DILSEY (Enters through portieres--stands and looks disapprovingly)You all oughter be ashamed of yourself, gamblin' and carryin' on likethis! BLACK BABYAw, this ain't no harm, Aunt Dilsey! You go on back to bed and git yournight's rest. AUNT DILSEYNo harm! I know all about these no-harm sins! If you don't stop thiscard playin', all of you all goin' to die and go to Hell. (Shakes warning finger--exits through portieres--while she is talking the men have been hiding cards out of their hands and pulling aces out of sleeves and vest pockets and shoes--it is done quickly, one does not see the other do it) NUNKIE (Shoving a chip forward)A dollar! SACK DADDYRaise you two! BLACK BABYI don't like to strain with nobody but it's goin' to cost you five. Comeon, you shag-nags! This hand I got is enough to pull a country man intotown. *[Handwritten: Last sentence crossed through in pencil. ] TOO-SWEETYou all act like you're spuddin'! Bet some money! Put your money whereyour mouth is *[Handwritten: els my fist where yo mouf is. ] TUSH HAWGTwenty-five dollars to keep my company! Dog-gone, I'm spreadin' myknots! SACK DADDYAnd I bet you a fat man I'll take your money--I call you. (Turns up his cards--he has four aces and king) TUSH HAWG (showing his cards)Youse a liar! I ain't dealt you no aces. Don't try to carry the Pam-Pamto me 'cause I'll gently chain-gang for you! SACK DADDYOh yeah! I ain't goin' to fit no jail for you and nobody else. I'm toget me a green club and season it over your head. Then I'll give my caseto Miss Bush and let Mother Green stand my bond! I got deal them aces! NUNKIEThat's a lie! Both of you is lyin'! Lyin' like the cross-ties from NewYork to Key West! How can you all hold aces when I got four? Somebody isgoin' to West hell before midnight! BECKERWOODDon't you woof at Tush Hawg. If you do I'm goin' to bust hell wide openwith a man! BLACK BABY (Pulls out razor--Bus. )My chop-axe tells me I got the only clean aces they is on this table!Before I'll leave you all rob me outa my money, I'm goin' to die it off! TOO-SWEETI promised the devil one man and I'm goin' to give him five! (Draws gun) TUSH HAWGDon't draw your bosom on me! God sent me a pistol and I'm goin' to sendhim a man! (FIRES. Bus. For all) AUNT DILSEY (Enters after shooting bus. Stands. Bus. Drops to chair)They wouldn't lissen-- (Looks men over--Bus. )It sure is goin' to be a whole lot tougher in hell now! CURTAIN