e song in dancing pantomime and when it ends there
are shouts and general exclamations of approval from the crowd.)

VOICES: I don't blame them white folks for goin' crazy 'bout that....

OLD MAN: Oh, when I was a young boy I used to swing the gals round on
that piece.

DAISY: (TO JIM) Seem like your playin' gits better and better.

DAVE: (Quickly) And how 'bout my singin'? (Everybody laughs.)

VOICES IN THE CROWD: Ha! Ha! Ol' Dave's gittin' jealous when she
speaks o' Jim.

JIM: (To DAVE, in fun) Ain't nothin' to it but my playin'. You ain't
got no singin' voice. If that's singin', God's a gopher.

DAVE: (Half-seriously) My singin' is a whole lot better'n your
playin'. You jus' go along and fram. The reason why the white folks
gives us money is cause I'm singin'.

JIM: Yeah?

DAVE: And you can't dance.

VOICE IN THE CROWD: You oughta dance. Big as your feet is, Dave.

DAISY: (Diplomatically) Both of you all is wonderful and I would like
to see Dave dance a little.

DAVE: There now, I told you. What did I tell you. (To JIM) Stop
woofing and pick a little tune there so that I can show Daisy
somethin'.

JIM: Pick a tune? I bet if you fool with me I'll pick your bones jus'
like a buzzard did the rabbit. You can't sing and now you wants to
dance.

DAVE: Yeah, and I'll lam your head. Come on and play,
good-for-nothing.

JIM: All right, then. You say you can dance ... show these people what
you can do. But don't bring that little stuff I been seein' you doin'
all these years. (JIM plays and DAVE dances, various members of the
crowd keep time with their hands and feet, DAISY looks on enjoying
herself immensely.)

DAISY: (As DAVE cuts a very fancy step) I ain't seen nothin' like this
up North. Dave you sho hot.

(As DAVE cuts a more complicated step the crowd applauds, but just as
the show begins to get good, suddenly JIM stops playing.)

DAVE: (Surprised) What's the matter, buddy?

JIM: (Envious of the attention DAVE has been getting from DAISY,
disgustedly) Oh, nigger, I'm tired of seein' you cut the fool. 'Sides
that, I been playin' all afternoon for the white folks.

DAISY: But I though you was playin' for me now, Jim.

JIM: Yeah, I'd play all night long for you, but I'm gettin' sick of
Dave round here showin' off. Let him git somethin' and play for
himself if he can. (An OLD MAN with a lighted lantern enters.)

DAISY: (Coyly) Well, honey, play some more for me, then, and don't
mind Dave. I reck