Note: These plays have been transcribed from original manuscripts. There are pencilled notations possibly by Ms. Hurston herself. These pencilled notations have been transcribed as *[Handwritten:(text)], with the exception of things that were clearly corrected typing mistakes. Uncorrected typographical errors were left as in the original. Words which were underlined in the text are enclosed by underscores ("_"). Images of the original pages are available through the American Memory Collection of the Library of Congress. For "Lawing and Jawing" see http://memory. Loc. Gov/cgi-bin/query/S?ammem/hurstonbib:@field(TITLE+@od1(Lawing+and+Jawing)) For "Forty Yards" see http://memory. Loc. Gov/cgi-bin/query/S?ammem/hurstonbib:@field(TITLE+@od1(Forty+Yards)) For "Woofing" see http://memory. Loc. Gov/cgi-bin/query/S?ammem/hurstonbib:@field(TITLE+@od1(Woofing)) THREE PLAYS Lawing and JawingForty YardsWoofing by Zora Neale Hurston LAWING AND JAWING by Zora *[Handwritten: (Neale)] Hurston TIME: Present PLACE: Way cross Georgia SCENE: Judge Dunfumy's Court. PERSONS: Judge Dunfumy, Officer Simpson and another, Jemima Flapcakes, Cliff Mullins, John Barnes, two lawyers, a clerk, a pretty girl and her escort. SETTING: Usual court-room arrangement, except that there is a large red arrow pointing off-stage left, marked "To Jail. " ACTION: At rise everybody is in place except the Judge. Suddenly the CLERK looks off-stage right and motions for everybody to rise. Enter the JUDGE. He wears a black cap and gown and has his gavel in his hand. The two POLICEMEN walk behind him holding up his gown. He mounts the bench and glares all about him before he seats himself. There is a PRETTY GIRL in the front row left, and he takes a good look at her, smiles, frowns at her escort. He motions the police to leave him and take their places with the spectators and he then raps vigorously with his gavel for order. JUDGEHear! Hear! Court is set! My honor is on de bench. You moufy folks setup! (He glares at the boy with the pretty girl)All right, Mr. Whistle-britches, just keep up dat jawing now and seehow much time I'll give you! BOYI wasn't talking, your honor. JUDGEWell, quit looking so moufy. (to CLERK)Call de first case. And I warn each and all dat my honor is in badhumor dis mawnin'. I'd give a canary bird twenty years for peckin'at a elephant. (to CLERK)Bring 'em on. CLERK (Reading)Cliff Mullins, charged with assault upon his wife with a weapon anddisturbing the peace. (As CLIFF is led to the bar by the officer, the JUDGE glares ferociously at the prisoner. His wife, all bandages, limps up to the bar at the same time. ) JUDGESo youse one of dese hard-boiled wife-beaters, huh? Just a mean oldwoman-Jessie! If I don't lay a hearing on you, God's a gopher! Now what_made_ you cut such a caper? CLIFFJudge, I didn't go hunt her. Saturday night I was down on DearbornStreet in a nasty ditch *[Handwritten: nasty ditch crossed out inpencil, (buffet flat)]-- JUDGEA nasty ditch? *[Handwritten: A nasty ditch crossed out in pencil, (Buffet flat)] CLIFFAw, at Emma Hayles' house. JUDGEOh, yes. Go on. CLIFFWell, (Points thumb at wife)she come down dere and claim I took her money and she claimed I wuzspending it on Emma. CLIFF'S WIFEAnd dat's just whut he was doing, too, Judge. CLIFFAW, she's tellin' a great big ole Georgia lie, Judge. I wasn't spendin'no money of her'n. WOMANYes he was, Judge. There wasn't no money for him to git _but_ mine. Heain't hit a lick of work since God been to Macon. Know whut he 'lowedwhen I worry him 'bout workin'? Says he wouldn't take a job wid deCareless Love Lumber Company, puttin' out whut make you do me lak youdo, do, do. JUDGESo, you goes for a sweet-back, do you? CLIFFNaw suh, Judge. I'd be glad to work if I could find a job. JUDGEHow long you been outa work? CLIFFSeventeen years-- JUDGESeventeen years? (to woman)You been takin' keer of dis man for seventeen years? WOMANNaw, but he been so mean to me, it seems lak seventeenyears. JUDGENow you tell me just where he hurt you. WOMANJudge, tell you de truth, I'm hurt all over. (Rubs her buttocks)Fact is I'm cut. JUDGEDid you git cut in de fracas? WOMAN (feeling the back of her left thigh below her buttocks)Not in de fracas, Judge--just below it. (She starts to show the JUDGE where she has been cut. He motions to stop her. ) JUDGEStop! (to Officer Simpson)Grab him. Put him in de shade. CLIFFJudge, I'm unguilty! I ain't laid de weight of my hand on her in malice. You got me 'cused of murder and I ain't harmed a child. JUDGELemme ast _you_ something. Didn't you know dat all de women in dis townbelongs to me? Beat my women and I'll stuff you in jail. 90 years. Take'im away. (CLIFF is led off to jail. JUDGE looks angrily at the boy who is holding hands with the pretty girl)You runs me hot and I'm just dyin' to sit on _yo'_ case. Whut you in here for? BOYNothin'. JUDGEWell, whut you doin' in my court, you gater-faced rascal? BOYMy girl wanted to see whut was goin' on, so I broughther in. JUDGEOh yeah! (Smiles at GIRL)She was usin' good sense to come see whut I'm doin', but how come _you_come in here? You gointer have a hard time gittin' out. BOYI ain't done a thing. I ain't never done nothin'. I'm just as clean as afish, and he been bathin' all his life. JUDGEYou ain't done nothin', hunh? Well den youse guilty of vacancy. Grab'im, Simpson, and search 'im--and if he got any concealed weapons, I'mgointer give 'im life-time and eight years mo'. (The OFFICER seizes the boy and frisks him. All he finds is a new deck of cards. The JUDGE looks at them in triumph. )Unh hunh! I knowed it, one of dese skin game jelly-beans. Robbin' hardworkin' men out they money. BOYJudge, I ain't used 'em at all. See, dey's brand new. JUDGEWell, den youse charged wid totin' concealed cards and attempt togamble. Ten years at hard labor. Put him in de dark, Simpson, and throwde key away. (He looks at the girl and beams. )Don't you worry bout how you gointer git home. You gointer be took homeright, 'cause I'm gointer take you myself. Bring on de next one, clerk. CLERKJemima Flap-Cakes, charged with illegal possession and sale of alcoholicliquors. JUDGE (She is a fat, black, belligerent looking woman. JUDGE looks coldly at her. )Well, you heard whut he said. Is you guilty or unguilty? And I'm tellin'you right now dat you come up befo' _me_ it's just like youse in church. You better have a strong determination, and you better tell a goodexperience. JEMIMA (Arms akimbo)Yes, I sold it and I'll sell it again. (snaps fingers and shakes hips)How does ole booze-selling mama talk? JUDGEYes, five thousand dollars and ten years in jail. (Snaps fingers and shakes hips)How does ole heavy fining papa talk? (She is led away, shouting and weeping) CLERKDe Otis Blunt, charged wid stealin' a mule. (LAWYER arises and comes forward with the prisoner) LAWYERYou can't convict this man. I'm here to represent him. JUDGEYo' mouf might spout lak a coffee pot but I got a lawyer (Looks at other lawyer)dat kin beat your segastuatin'. (Looks admiring at girl)How am I chewin' my dictionary and minglin' my alphabets? LAWYERWell, I kin try, can't I? JUDGEOh yeah, you kin try, but I kin see right now where he's gointer git allde time dat God ever made dat ain't been used already. From now on. (To LAWYER)Go 'head, and spread yo' lungs all over Georgy, but he's goin' to jail!Mules _must_ be respected. LAWYER (Striking a pose at the bar)Your Honor, (Looks at the pretty girl)Ladies and Gentlemen-- JUDGENever mind 'bout dat lady. You talk yo' chat to _me_. LAWYERThis is a clear case of syllogism! Again I say syllogism. My client isinnocent because it was a dark night when they say he stole the mule andthat's against all laws of syllogism. (JUDGE looks impressed and laughs) JUDGEDat ole fool do know somethin' 'bout law. LAWYERWhen George Washington was pleading de case of Marbury vs. Madison, whatdid _he_ say? What _did_ he say? Scintillate, scintillate, Globuleorific. Fain would I fathom thy nature's specific. Loftily poised inether capacious, strongly resembling a gem carbonacious. What didAbraham Lincoln say about mule-stealing? When torrid Phoebut refuses hispresence and ceases to lamp with fierce incandescence, then you illuminethe regions supernal, scintillate, scintillate, semper noctornal. Syllogism, again I say syllogism. (He takes his seat amid applause) JUDGEMan, youse a pleadin' fool. You knows yo' rules and by-laws. OTHER LAWYERLet me show my glory. Let me spread my habeas corpus. JUDGE'Tain't no use. Dis lawyer done convinced me. OTHER LAWYERBut, lemme parade my material-- JUDGEParade yo' material anywhere you wants to exceptin' befo' me. Dis lilgirl wants to go home and I'm goin' with her and enjoy de consequences. Court's adjourned. _CURTAIN_ "FORTY YARDS" by ZORA *[Handwritten: (Neale)] HURSTON "FORTY YARDS" (A Negro football game with the popular concept of Negro life) TIME: Present PLACE: Washington, D. C. SCENE: The Ball Park PERSONS: The Howard and Lincoln teams, the Howard band, cheer leaders, spectators. SETTING: The park with grandstands on either sides and up-stage. ACTION: At rise, the grandstands are full, the cheer leaders are violently gyrating to whip up the mob. The Lincoln colors fly from the right. The Howard from the left. Both have cheer leaders. First is heard the Lincoln mob singing "DIDN'T HE RAMBLE, RAMBLE. " Lincoln Mob And didn't he ramble, ramble, ramble all around, in and out of town He rambled, he rambled, rambled till Ol' Lincoln cut him down Howard Mob There'll be nothing but sweetmeats, for our football team There'll be nothing but sweetmeats for our football team Baked Hampton, boiled Shaw, fried Union, Lincoln Slaw, There'll be nothing but sweetmeats, for our football team. (Enter the HOWARD BAND, led by a hot-strutting drum major. They parade the field and the men students pile down and fall in behind the team. They sing and shout to the TEAM SONG:) This is the t-e-a-m team On which the hopes of Howard lean Beat Ol' Hampton, beat Ol' Union Sweep Ol' Lincoln clean We are the b-e-s-t best Of the r-e-s-t rest Come and watch us put Ol' Howard On top of Lincoln's chest. We'll hit the l-i-n-e line For a hundred ninety-nine For we love Ol' Howard, yes we love her All the t-i-m-e time. (At the conclusion the teams takes the field. The ball is put into play and LINCOLN kicks off to Howard. As the ball is caught and when the player who is carrying the ball plunges, followed by his team, the Lincoln players fall on their knees and begin to sing I COULDN'T HEAR NOBODY PRAY. The HOWARD team charges down shouting Joshua fit de battle of Jericho. Whenever a player is tackled there is a duet of dancing. Every step is a dance. Finally the grandstand catches fire and the dancing and the shouting runs riot up there. When the ball is on Lincoln's ten-yard line, they hold Howard there by rounding up both teams into a huddle and the bunch-shout and sing to a QUICK CURTAIN. ) CURTAIN LINCOLN'S PRAYER: Ah, ah, they shall not ah pass us Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord They shall not pass us, Ah-h-h-h. *[Handwritten (Jul. 21, 1931)] _"WOOFING"_ By _ZORA *[Handwritten (Neale)] HURSTON_ _"WOOFING"_ TIME: Present. PLACE: Negro Street in Waycross, Ga. PERSONS: Loungers, two children, guitar players, women, band-- SETTING: Porch and side walk, etc. ACTION: Thru the open window of 'one' of the shacks a WOMAN is discovered ironing. A MAN is sitting on the floor of the porch asleep. She hums a bar or two, then comes to the window and calls to the man. WomanGood Black, why don't you git up from dere and carry dese white folksclothes home? You always want money but you wouldn't hit a lick at asnake! ManAw, shut up woman. I'm tired of hearin' bout dem white folks clothes. Idon't keer if dey never git 'em. WomanYou better keer! Dese very clothes took and brought _you_ out de crack. 'Cause de first time I saw you you was so hungry till you was walkin'lap-legged. Man, you had de white-mouf, you was so hungry. (Enter another MAN leisurely. Good Black sees him and calls) Good BlackHey, Cliffert, where you headed for? CliffertOh, no where in particular. Good BlackCome here then, fish, and lemme bend a checker game over yo' head. Comeon, youse my fish. Cliffert (Comes to the porch and sits)Git de checkers and I'll have you any, some or none. I push a meanchuck-a-luck myself. Woman (Voice inside quarreling)Dress up and strut around! Yes! Play checkers? Yes! Eat? Yes! Work? No!! (The game starts. A period of silence in which they indicate their concentration by frowns, cautious moves, head scratching. GOOD BLACK is pointing his index finger over the board indicating moves. He wig-wags, starts to move, scratches his head thoroughly, changes his mind and fools around without moving) CliffertPolice! Police! Come here and make dis man move! Good BlackAw, I got plenty moves. (Scratches his head)Jus' tryin' to see which one I want to make. But when I do move, it'sgointer be just too bad for you. (A guitar is heard off stage and Cliffert brightens. He cups his hand and calls) CliffertHey Lonnie! Come here! Ha, ha, ha! I got me a fish. (Enter LONNIE picking "East Coast" on his box and stands watching the game. He ceases to play as he stops walking)Ha, ha! You see ol' Good Black goes for a hard guy. He tries to knowmore than a mule and a mule's head longer'n his'n. Ha, ha! I set a trapfor him and he fell right in it. Trying to ride de britches! _Now_ lookat him. Good BlackAw, shut up! You tryin' to show yo' grandma how to milk ducks. You can'tbeat me playin' no checkers. (Scratches his head again)Just watch me show my glory. Woman (Leans out of window)Good Black! When you gointer come git dese clothes! (He does not answer, he is trying to concentrate) LonnieYou got him Cliffert. You got him in Louisville Loop. He's yo' fish allright. Cliffert (Boastfully)Man, didn't I push a mean chuck-a-luck dat time! I'm good, better, andbest. Move, Man! (To Good Black)I tole you not to do it. Good BlackAll dat noise ain't playin' checkers. You just wait till I make my move. WomanAll right, now, Mr. Nappy-Chin! I don't want to have to call you no mo'to come keer dese white folks clothes! I'm tired of takin' and takin'affa you! My belly's full clear up to de neck. I don't need no lazy coonlak you nohow. I'm a good woman, and I needs somebody dats gointer giveaid and assistance. Good Black, Aw, go head on', woman, and leave me be! Every Saturday it's de samething! Yo' mouth exhausting like a automobile. You worse than "cryin'Emma". You kin whoop like de Seaboard and squall lak de Coast Line. (Taps his head)You ain't go all dat b'long to _you_, and nothin' dat b'long to nobody'selse. You better leave me 'lone before you make a bad man out of me. Fool wid me and I'll go git me somebody else. I'm a much-right man. WomanNow you ain't no much right man neither. You didn't _git me_ wid nosaw-mill license--You went to de court house and paid a dollar and ahalf for me. Tain't no other woman got as much right to you as I got. DeMan to tell you youse divorced befo' yo' kin play dat much-right on me! Good BlackDe Man don't have to tell me nothin'! I got divorce in my heels. WomanYou ain't de only one dat knows where de railroad track is, I done madeup my mind, and I done promised Gabriel and a couple of other men datif yo' don't do no better than yo' been doin', I'm gointer pack me asuit case and grab de first smoky thing I see. I'll be long gone. Good BlackAw, yo' ain't no trouble! Yo' can be had. Yo' ain't never gointerleave me. WomanHow come I won't? Just 'cause I been takin' keer of yo', don't make apark ape out yo'self. I'll leave yo', just as sure as yo' snore! Good Black (Rises and hitches up his trousers)Aw, yo' ain't gointer leave me, and if yo' go, yo' wouldn't stay, 'causeI'm a damn sweet man, and yo' know it! LonnieHey, Hey! (He begins to pick and Good Black sings. Lonnie sings a line now and then) Good Black Yo' may leave and go to Hali-muh-fack But my slow drag will--uh bring yo' back Well yo' may go, but this will bring yo' back I been in de country but I moved to town I'm a tolo-shaker from my head on down Well, yo' may go, but this will bring yo' back Some folks call me a tolo-shaker It's a doggone lie I'm a back-bone breaker Well, yo' may go, but this will bring yo' back. Oh, ship on de sea, boat on de ocean I raise hell when I take a notion Well, yo' may go, but this will bring yo' back. Oh, who do, who do, who do wackin' Wid my hells a' poppin' and my toe-nails crackin' Well, yo' may go, but this will bring yo' back. WomanDat's all right too, pap but if yo' can't make me tote dese clotheshome, don't bring de mess up. Yo'se abstifically a humbug. CliffertMan, come on back here and move, or else own up to de folks yo' can'tpush no checkers wid me. (He sits and begins to lay out moves with his fingers and scratch his head. Enter another MAN and stands akimbo looking over Cliff's shoulder) Cliff (Looking up)Don't stand over me lak dat, ugly as yo' is. Man (Skanko)You ain't nobody's pretty baby yo'self! CliffDat's all right, I ain't as ugly as yo'--youse ugly enough to git behinda Simpoon weed and hatch monkies. Man (Skanko)And youse ugly enough to git behind a tombstone and hatch hants. CliffYouse so ugly dey have to cover yo' face up at night so sleep can slipup on yo'. Man (Skanko)You look like ten cents worth of Have-Mercy. Yo' face look lak ole UncleJump-off. Yo' mouth look lak a bunch of ruffles. CliffYeah, but yo' done passed me. Yo' so ugly till they could throw yo' inde Mississippi River and skim ugly for six months. Man (Skanko)Look here, Cliff, don't yo' personate me! Counting from de little fingerback to de thumb--yo' start anythin', I go yo' some. CliffGo head and grab me buddie, but if yo' don't know how to turn me loosetoo, don't bring de mess up! If yo' hit me, I may not beat you, butyo'll be so dirty when St. Peter git yo' dat he can't use yo'. Man (Skanko)Don't call _me_ buddy. Yo' buddy is huntin' coconuts. Don't yo' try tothrow me for a nap. Do. I'll kill yo' so stiff dead they'll have to pushyo' down. Yo' gointer to make me do some double cussin' on you. (He picks up a heavy stick and walks back towards Cliff)Now I got dis farmer's choice in my hands, yo' better git outa my face. CliffYo' wanta fight? ManYeah I wanta fight. Put it where I kin use it and I'll sho' use it. I'llfight anybody. I get so hot sometimes I fights de corner of de house. I'm so hot I totes a pistol to keep from gettin' in a fight wid myself. I prints dangerous every time I sit down in, in a chair. CliffMan, this ain't no fighting weather. Ha, ha, ha! Did yo' think I was madsho' nuff? Yo' can't fight me. They's got to be runnin' before fightin'and they's got to be plenty _good_ runnin' before dis fight comes off. ManAll right now. Yo' leave me alone and I'm a _good_ man. I'm just like anold shoe. If yo' rain on me and cool me off I'm soft! If yo' shine on meand git me hot, I'm hard. (He drops the stick and exits) (Cliff is shaking all over. He looks after the Man to be sure he is gone) Good BlackKah, kah, kah. Whut yo' so scarred about? De way yo' was talkin' Ithough yo' was mad enough to fight. CliffI was. I gits hot real quick! But I'm very easy cooled when de man I'mmad wid is bigger'n me. (He drops into his seat, wiping his face)Man did yo' see how he grabbed up dat check? He done skeered me into athree-week's spasm! Good Black's WifeGood Black, dese clothes is still waiting. Good BlackWell, let 'em wait on, I done tole yo' once. Yo' kind run yo' mouf butyo' can't run my business. (Enter a PRETTY GIRL. She strolls happily across without stopping. Good Black pretends to cough) Good BlackWho is dat? Girl (Turns and glares at him)My old man got something for dat cough yo' got. CliffDat's right, tell dese old mullet hear married men to mind they ownbusiness. Now, take _me_ for instance. I'm a much-right man. (Gets up and approaches her flirtatiously)I didn't quite git yo' name straight. Yo' better tell it to me again. GirlMy name is Bee Ethel, turned round to Jones. Cliff (Flirtatiously)Yo' pretty lil ole ground angel yo'? Where did yo' come from? Bee EthelDetroit. Yo' like me? CliffDo I lak yo'? I love yo' just lak God loves Gabriel, and dat's his bestangel. Go 'head and say somethin'. I jus' love to hear yo' talk. Bee EthelGimme five dollars. I need some stockings. Cliff_Now_ Mama, dis ain't Gimme, Ga. Dis is Waycross. I'm just lak decemetery. I takes in but never no put out. I ain't puttin' out nothin'but old folks eyes--and I don't do that till they's dead. Runlong, mama. (The girl exits and he resumes his seat) CliffCome on, Good Black, lemme wrap dis checker roun yo' neck. Good BlackGimme time, gimme time! Don't try to rush me. (He begins same business of figuring out moves and scratching his head) (Enter two or three girls and fellows. The girls are dressed in cool summer dresses, but nothing elaborate) LonnieI know I'm gointer play something now. (He tunes and plays "Cold Rainy Day". He begins to sing and the others join in. Not all. But all start to dancing. They couple off as far as possible and Lindy. The men unmated do hot solo steps. The men cry out in ecstacy) 1. Shimmy! If you can't shimmy, shake your head. 2. Look, baby, look! Throw it in de alley 3. Look, if you can't look, stick out, and if you can't stickout, git out. (At the end of the son and dance, one of the girls exclaim) GirlAw, we got to go. Mama's looking for us. (The three girls exit, walking happily. The men watch them go) CliffOh boy, look at 'em! Switching it and looking back at it. (He imitates the girl's walk) Good BlackYeah Lawd, ain't they specifyin'! They handles a lot of traffic. Cliff (Seating himself again)Yeah, but dat don't play no checkers. Come on here, Good Blackand lemme finish wearing your ant. Good Black's WifeGood Black, yo' better come git dese clothes. LonnieGood Black, yo' wife kin cold whoop for what she want. Good BlackYeah and if she don't git, she keep right on whoopin'. B'lieveI wants a drink of water. Wisht I knowed where I could slipup on me a drink. CliffAw man, come on back here and move. Yo' doin' everythin' but playin'checkers. You'd ruther move a mountain wid a pry bar than to move (Points)dat man. Good Black (Seats himself)Lemme hurry up and beat dis game befo' yo' bust yo' britches. (He wags his finger to indicate moves, scratches his head, but doesn't move. Several men enter and group around the players. All offer suggestions. One says, "you got him Cliffert. He's locked up just as tight as a keyhole". Another: "Aw, man he kin break out!" Another: "Yeah, but it'll cost him plenty to git out of dat trap". ) CliffPolice! Police! He won't move! Another VoiceAw, leave go de checkers and less shoot some crap. (Enter a WOMAN in a house dress, head rag on, run down house shoes. She goes to the edge of the porch and calls inside) WomanHim there Bertha, what yo' doin'. Woman InsideStill bumpin' de white folks clothes--hittin' for de sundown man. Comeon in and have some sit down. Outside WomanAin't got time. Got a house full of company. I took a minute to see ifyo' could let me have a little skeeting garret. Inside WomanHow come yo' didn't git yo'self some snuff whilst yo' was at de store?De man ast yo' what else. I ain't no Piggly Wiggly. Reckon I kin spareyo' a dip tho. (She hands out the box and the outside woman fills her lip and hands it back) Outside WomanMuch obliged, I thank yo'. Reckon I better heel and toe it on back, tosee how de comp'ny is makin' out. Inside WomanStep inside a minute I want to put a bug in yo' ear. (She makes an urgent gesture and the other woman goes inside) (Lonnie is sitting off to himself and picking "Rabbit on de Log" softly. A small BOY dashes on with a lolly pop in his hand. He is licking it and laughing. He is pursued by a little GIRL yelling "you gimme my all day sucker! Johnny! You gimme my candy, now!" They run all over the stage. The men take notice of them and one of them seizes the boy and restores the candy to the girl. She pokes out her tongue at the boy and says "goody, goody, goody, goody, goody!" She notes the guitar playing and begins to dance. The boy makes faces back at her and dances back at her. The music gets louder, dancing faster, check board gets upset. General laughter at that. When dance is over, boy snatches the lolly pop again and races away and the girl runs behind him yelling "Johnny! You gimme my candy! Johnny!" The music stops and the crap game gets under way. Furious side bets for 5 and 10 cents each. Loud calls on Miss "Daisy Dice", snake eyes, "Ada from Decatur". Somebody suggests a soft roll, others object on the ground that it's too easy for the experts to cheat) Good BlackGimme de dice! I'm gointer play 'em like John Henry. LonnieJohn Henry didn't bother wid de bones. He used to play Georgy Skin. Good BlackHe shot crap too. He played everythin' and everythin' he played, heplayed it good. Just like he uster drive steel. If I could whip steellike John Henry, I wouldn't stay here and nowhere else. CliffWhut would yo' do? Good BlackI'd go somewhere and keep books for somebody. LonnieI know how to play John Henry. Good BlackWell, turn it on and let de bad luck happen. (As Lonnie plays thru a verse warming up, all the men get interested and start to hum. Cliffert shouts out) CliffLawd, Lawd, what evil have I done) (They sing John Henry. At the close, the woman who came to borrow snuff emerges from the house still talking back at the woman inside) WomanHe ain't no trouble. I tole him, I says, "yo' must think youse de mandat made side meat taste lak ham. " See yo' later. (She exits hurriedly. The crap game goes on until a band is heard approaching) LonnieWho dead? CliffNobody. Don't you know de Imperial Elks is goin' to New York to de ElksGrand Lodge? Yeah, bo, and they's takin' they band. Dat's supposed to bede _finest_ band in de United States. (The band approaches followed by a great crow. The crap game is instantly deserted and all follow the band)