PULP DOME

Page 3

with a frown.)

SISTE R TAYLOR: Dat ain't nothin' but talk. You looks lak de Devil before day, but you ain't so dead; not half as bad as you smell.

TAYOR CLARK: Order, please, court is set.

SIST R LEVIS: You looks like de devil's doll baby, but all I want you to do is put it where I kin git it an' I'll sho use it.

TAYOR CLARK: (booming) Here! Here! (feeling everywhere for the gavel.) LUM BOER! There's dat gavel I done told you to put here?

LUM BOER: (from beside prisoner) You said you was gonna bring yo'self.

TAYOR CLARK: (going up in the air.) I God, LUM, you gointer stand there like a bump on a log and see I ain't got nothin' to open court with? Go 'head an' fetch me dat gavel. Make haste quick before dese winmen folks tote off di church house. (LUM exits by front door.)

SIST R TAYLOR: (to LEVIS) Aw, shut up, you big ole he-looking rascal you! Nobody don't know whether youse aman or a woman.

CLARK: You winmen, shut Up! Hush! Just hush! (he wipes his face with a huge handkerchief.)

S. L. LEVIS: (to SIST R TAYLOR) Air Lawd! Dat ain't your trouble. They all knows what you is eg-zackly.

LINDSAY: Aw? Why don't you winmen out dat out in de church house? Jus' jawin' an chewin' de rag!

S. D. TAYLOR: JOE LINDSAY, if you'd go home an' feed dat rembony horse of yours, you wouldn't have so much time to stick yo' bill in business that ain't yours.

S. L. LEVIS: JOE LINDSAY? don't you know no better than to strain vid folks ain't got sense enough to tote guts to a bear? If they ain't born vid no sense, you can't learn 'em none.

LINDSAY: You sho done tole what God love now. (glaring across the aisle.) Ain't got enough gumption to bell a buzzard.

(Enter LUM by front door with gavel in one hand and mule bone in the other. He walks importantly up the aisles and hands CLARK the gavel and lays the bone atop the pulpit)

LUM: Huh! MARSHALL had done forget de bone.

SIST R TAYLOR: It's a wonder he ain't forgot de himself.

CLARK: (rapping sharply with gavel) Here! you moufy winmen shut up. (to LUM) LUM you go on back there and shut dem winmen up or put 'em outa here. They shan't contempt this court. (He wipes his eye Glases.)

LUM starts w. lking importantly down the aisle towards SIST R TAYLOR. She almost rises to meet him.)

S. D. TAYLOR: LUM BOER, you fresh little snot you! Don't you dast to come here trying to put me out; many diapers as I done pinned on you! (fiercely) Git away from me before I knock every nap off of yo' head, one by one.

(LUM BOER hurries away from her apologetically. He turns towards Mrs. Lewis.)

S. L. LEVIS: (calmly) Deed God knows you better not lay de weight of yo' hand on me. LUM. Gwan way from here before I kick yo' clothes up round yo' neck like a horse collar.

(All the men laugh. LUM looks worried and finally goes back and takes his seat beside the prisoner.)

CLARK: (glaring ferociously) This court is set an' 18m bound to have some order or else. (the talking ceases. Absolute quiet.)

CLARK: Now less git down to business. We got folks in dis town dat's just like a snake in de grass.

SIST R PITTS: Brother 'layor! We ain't got no business goin' into no tril-alfor nothin' else 'thout a word of prayer to be sure de right spriit is done vid us.

VOID. ON T. SIDE: Chass right, LUM R. PITTS. Give us a word of prayer. He rises hurriedly.)

Voice ON B. SIDE: This is a Baptist church an' de paster is sittin' right here. How come he can't pray in his own church?

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MULBURN

TAYLOR: Yall done started all dis mess, how you goin' to git to git de right spirit here? Go 'head B.W. SITS.

LIVER: He can't pray over me. Dis church says: One Lord, one faith, one Baptism, and a man that ain't never been baptised at all ain't got no business prayin' over nobody.

CLARK: (rapping with gavel) Less sing! Somebody raise a tune.

VOICE ON. II: (begins) "Onward Christian Soldiers" (and the other join in)

VOICE ON. III: (begins) "All hail the power of Jesus name," (and the Methodists join in.)

(Both shout as loud as they can to the end of the verse. CLARK lifts his hands as if to bless a table.)

CLARK: (Praying quickly) Lord be with us and bless these few remarks we are about to receive amen. Now this court is open for business. All of you come here on serious business. This town is built to be a town of backbiting and malice and mouthy women. (Clarins at SISTERS)

Now everybody stand up that's a witness in this case.

I want the witness to take the front seat. (Nearly everybody in the room rises.)

HANCO: (Frowns across the aisle at Mrs. LUCAS, who is standing.) What you doing standing up for a witness? I know you wuzn't there.

SISTER DUELS: I got just as much right to testify as you is. I don't keer if I wasn't there. Any man that treats they wife as bad as you can't tell nobody else they eye is black. You clean round yo' own door before you go sweeping round other folks.

J. LIVERAY: (to Nixon) 'Hut you doing up there testifyin? Then you done let yo' hawg root up all my p'tater patch?

NIXON: Aw, shut up woman. You ain't had no taters for no pig to 'root up.

J. LIVERAY: 'Who ain't had no taters? to LICE! Look here, LICE, didn't I git a whole crocus sack full of tater slips from yo' brother, SAM?

LICE: (Reluctantly.) Yeah.

J. LIVERAY: Course I had sweet p'taters! And if you stand up there and tell me I ain't had no p'taters, I'll be all over you just like gravy over rice.

NIXON: Aw, shut up. 'We ain't come here to talk about yo' tater vines. We come--------

J. LIVERAY: (to her husband) JOB! 'Hut kind of a husband is yo'?

Sit here and let NIXON 'buse me out lak dat.

NIXON: How is JOB goin' give anybody a straighten', when he needs straightenin' hisself?

SISTER HANCO: Aw, you ain't got no right to talk, 'ALTER. Not low down as you is. If somebody stump their toe in dis town you bolt over to Matiland an' puke yo' butts out, to de white folks, and God knows I 'bomines a white folk nigger.

NIXON: Aw, you jus' mad 'cause I wouldn't let your old starved-out cow eat up my cow-peas.

CLARK: (pounding) Hush and lennie count.

SISTER HANCO: (triumphantly) Unhurrah! I moved you as the one knocked my cow's horn off! And you lied like a doodle-bug goin' backwards in his hole an' made out you didn't do it.

NIXON: I didn't do such a thing, woman.

SISTER HANCO: I say you did, and I belong to Macedonia Baptist Church an' I can't lie.

DIXON HANCO: 'NIXON, talk dat big city talk to me, not to my wife. Maybe you kin whip her, but if you can't whip me, too, don't bring de mess up.

CLARK: (rapring) Y'all men folks slup up before I put you both under arrest. Come to order everybody.

LIVERAY: I just want a say this before we go any further. No-body bet'not slur my wife in here. Do, I'll strow 'em de country.

NIXON: Aw, youse de nastiest threatenr in three states, but I ain't seen you do nothin'. De seat of yo' pants is too close to de ground for you to be crowin' so loud. You's so short you smell right earthy.

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Rulebone

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CLARK:

Shut up! We didn't come here to wash 'em iron niggers! We come here for a trial. (raps)

JRS. TAYLOR:

(to CLARK) I ain't goin' to ship up nothin' of de kind.

CLARK:

SISTER NI'OR, shut Up!

JRS. TAYLOR:

You can't shut me up, not the way you live. When you quit beatin' JRS. MATT! an' dominating her all de time, then you kin tell other folks what to do. You ain't none my boss, not de way you sells rancid bacon for fresh.

CLARK:

(to MARGINAL LUN BOON, sit me a pencil (to JRS. TAYLOR) big a bill as you owe me store, you ain't gonna get nothin else till you pay.

JRS. TAYLOR:

Huh! I can trade in Feitland--an' see if I pays you now.

NI'OR:

Av, honey, hush a while, please, and less git started. You don't pay de bills no how. (The men laugh.)

JIM:

Lawd: Lawd! We done set de whole town fightin'.

D. V.:

Boy, we sho is!

JINGLARY:

Son, don't talk wid yo' sailent. He's a wicked man.

JIM:

How come I can't talk wid him? Know him all my life.

SISTER NI'OR:

Shss. He done tried to kill you.

D. V.:

Was our fight, warn't it?

JIM:

You niggers just tryin' to let us messed up on some kind o' mess. DAV! knows I ain't meant to hurt him.

SISTE:

(to JIM) Derserved to be hurt.

D. V.:

No, he didn't. He's just friendly-fightin'-like.

SINGLARY:

He sho tried to kill you!

(A momentary quiet falls on the place when

CLARK raps. NI'OR glowers all over the place.)

CLARK:

Here. Quiet till you's called on. (turns to LUN) LUN, get a piece of paper an' take de names of all de witnesses who was there while de fight was goin' on.

LUN:

(Pulling a same tablet and pencil out of his coat pocket) I brought it with me.

CLARK:

You wuzn't there, SISTER ANDERSON, not at that time.

J. AND ERSON:

I hadn't been gone more'n ten minutes.

JIM:

But you didn't see it.

J. AND ERSON:

It don't make no difference. My husband heered ev'ry word he's spoke an' told me, jes' lak it happen. Don't tell me I can't testify.

DAVID LIND:

Nobody can't testify but then, that seen it.

J. AND ERSON:

Dat's all right, but I know what they was fightin' 'bout. It was DAISY BLUNT.

JRS. BLUNT:

Jus' you take my chil 's nine right out yo' mouf, Becky Anderson. She was on her way back to her white folks when all this happen.

J. AND ERSON:

Well, Cod knows if day Daisy was mine, I'd throw her down an' put a hundred lashes on her back wid a plow-line. Here she come in de store Sat'day night (acts coy and coquettish, burlesques Daisy's walk) a wringing and a twisting!

JRS. BLUNT:

You better hush while you are! You niggers got my DAVIS name all mixed up in dis mess an' she at work can't defend herself.

JRS. TAYLOR:

You musn't mind, SISTER BLUNT. People just will talk. They's talkin' in New York an' they's talkin' in Georgia an' they's talkin' in Italy.

SISTER PITTS:

Chile, if you listen at flutin' folkses talk, they'll have you in de graveyard of in Chattahoochee-one.

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JRS. BLUNT:

You can't pay no 'tention to talk.

Well I know one thing. De man or woman, chick or child, grizzly or gray, that tells me to my face anythin' wrong 'bout my chile, I'm goin' to take my first (Rolling up right sleeve and gesturing with right first) and knock their teeth down they throat. (She looks Furocious) 'Case y'all know I raised my Daisy right round my foot till I let her go up North last year wid them white folks. I'd ruther her to be in de white folks' kitchen than walkin' de stroot like some of dese gals round here. If I do say so, I done raised a lady. She can't help it if all dese mons get stuck on her.

JRS. TAYLOR:

You'se tollin' de truth, SISTER BLUNT. That's what I always say: Don't confidance dese niggers. Do, they'll sho put you in de stroot.

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YUL BONB

Page (6)

MRS. PHILLIPS: Now indeed, my'r syndicate w'd niggers. Do, they'll sho put you in de street.

MRS. DUTT: Just as she as you snore. An' they better leave Daisy's name oute dis, too, and Daisy better not leave them white folks' house today to come traiptsin' over here scormin' her name all up wid dis nigger mess. Do, I'll kill her. No daughter of mine ain't goin' be mixed up in nothin' like this.

MRS. PHILLIPS: That's right, SISTER BLUNT. I glory in yo' spunk.

MAYOR CLARK: Sit down, SISTER BLUNT, an' shot up. Ain't gonna mention Daisy a-tall. Ain't gonna drag no woman's name in dis trial as I's presiden'.

MAYOR CLARK: Dis ain't no trial. Dis is a mess!

MAY. BATES: You sho said a mouthful, Sister. Dis sho is a mess. Can't help from bein' uh mess. (Clare at MAYOR) Holdin' a trial in de Baptist Church! Some folks ain't got sense enough to do 'em till four o'clock, an it's way after half past three right now.

MAYOR CLARK: Shet up, dere, SISTERS! Set down! 'Who ast yo' pot to boil, nohow? A church trial is de bes' trial they is, anyhow, cause you better have a good experience here an' strong determination. (Raps vigorously) Now lenne tell y'all somethin'. Then de Mayor sets court, don't keer when I sets it nor where I sets it, you got to git quiet and stay quiet till I ast you tuh talk. Set down! All o' yuh! I god, you sould lak a tree full uh blackbirds! Dis ain't no barbecue, nor neither no camp meetin'. We 'sembled here tuh law uh boy on a serious charge.

(A great buzz rises from the congregation. MAYOR raps hard for order and glares all about him.)

Heah! Yeah! All O' us kin sing at de same time, but can't but one o' us talk at a time. I'm doin' de talkin' now, so de res' o' you dry up till I get through. I God, you sound lak uh pasel uh dog fights! We ain't here for no form and no fashion and no outside show to de worl'. We'se here to law!

(For a moment, there is silence, then a small boy, peeping in a window on the Methodist side says:)

BOY: (Through window, right) Aw, haw! y'all ole Baptis' ain't got no bookcase in yo' church.

SMALL GIRL: (In window on opposite side, left, with other children) Y'all ole Beth'dis' ain't got no window panes in yo' church down yonder in de swamp.

CLARK: (Booming) You chillun shut up and get out o' them winders. You LIM!

(LIM stops taking names to go slow the children. The old people aid him, and the children on left run off singing.)

CHILDREN: Oh, Baptis', Baptis' is my name.

My name's written on high.

I got my lick in de Baptis' church,

Gointer eat up de Beth'dis' pie.

CLARK: (Rapping) You done got all de witnesses straight an' got they names down?

LIM: Yassuh, I got it all straightened out.

CLARK: Well, read de names out and 1 t de witnesses take de front seats. Who is they?

LIM: (Reading) MRS. LUCY CAYLOR, SISTER LINDA PITTS, SISTER DOLL HILL, D. AGOT HILL, BROTHER LICE YO' SISTER, BROTHER JO' LINDSAY.....

LINDSAY: Brother, my eye!

LIM: (Continuing the reading of the list) MR. SYKES JONES, SISTER LAURA CAROL, MR. PATT JETTINS. And they was lots more there but they say they ain't gonna witness. (Those whose names were read begin to rise and start forward.)

LIM: They better not neither.

GIRL: Shess! De devil can't hurt you, son. An' them what speaks against you is devils.

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MULE BONE

ACT III - Page 9.

CLARK: Um - hmmm! Dat's right.
SIS. THOMAS: Hear him, Lawd! How he kin lie!
SIS. NIXON: An' then re-lie!
HAMBO: (To CLARK) You 'lows dese 'ruptions in de court?
CLARK: (To WOMEN, rapping) Hush! I say, hush! Hambo, is you through?
HAMBO: (Sitting down pompously) I is.
SIS. THOMAS: Well, I ain't.
CLARK: Well, then, say yo' say. I God, speak!
SIS. THOMAS: Well, Brother Mayor, I ain't one of these folks dat bite my tongue an' bus' my gell - whut's inside got to come out! I can't see to my rest why you clookin' in wid dese Baptis' buzzards 'ginst yo' own church.
CLARK: I ain't clookin' in wid none. I'm de Mayor of dis whole town .... I stands for de right an' ginst de wrong - I don't keer who it kill or cure.
SIS. THOMAS: You think it's right to be runnin' dat boy off for nothin'?
CLARK: I God'. You call knockin' a man in de head 'id a mule bone nothin'? 'Nother thing, I done missed nine of my bes' layin' hens. I ain't sayin' Jim got 'em, but different people has tole me he burries a powerful lot of feathers in his back yard. I God, I'm a ruint man! (To OLD WOMAN) Sister Pitts, le's hear whut you got to say!
SIS. PITTS: Brother Mayor, I wan't there, but I been knowin' this boy Dave since he was knee-high to a duck an' that boy wouldn't hurt nobody, but that varmint yonder (Pointing to JIM) is de crookedist limb of Satan that de Lawd ever made. He is a scoundrel, a rat, a low-down dog, a....
SIMS: (Jumping up) I objects! I objects! Nobody's got de right to call my charge no names like dat. (As CLARK is silent and SISTER PITTS goes on, "rascal, heathen, etc.")
CLARK: I objects! (Dances in front of MAYOR'S face) I objects! I God, Sims, If you don't set down an' stop spittin' in my face I'll larn you over de head wid dis mallet.
SIMS: (Weakly) I objects.
CLARK: Dat'll do! Dat'll do! Dry up, suh! (Turning to DAVE) Stand up, Dave. Since yous de one got hurted, you tell me jus' whut went on out dere. (DAVE rises slowly).
MRS. TAYLOR: Dat's right, Dave. Git up dere an' lie lak de cross ties from New York to Texas. You greasy rascal, you! You better go wash yo'self befo' you go testifyin' on people.
DAVE: (Calmly) I'm jus' as clean as you. (JIM laughs)
SINGLETARY: (Jumping to his feet) Keit a minute! 'Tain't none o' y'all got no call to be thown' off on dis boy. He come here to git justice, not to be slurred an' low-rated. He ain't 'assaulted nobody. He ain't stole no chickens. He's a clean boy. He set at mah feet in Sunday School since he was so high (Measures knee height.) and he come through religion under de sound of mah voice an' I baptized him an' I know he's clean.
MRS. TAYLOR: It'll take more'n uh baptizin' to clean dat nigger.
DAVE: I goes in swimmin' nearly every day. I'm jus' as clean as anybody else.
MRS. TAYLOR: (MAYOR begins ramping for order. She shouts out) Swimmin'! Dat ain't gointer clean de crust offa you. You ain't had a good bath since de devil was a hatchet.
CLARK: I'm goin' to have order heah....or else! G'wan, Dave!
DAVE: It's jus' lak you seen it Sat'day night. Y'all was there.
CLARK: Yeah, but dat wuz at de store. Dis is in court an' it's got to be tole.
SIMS: Jus' uh minute, Brother Clark, before we go any further, I wants to ast de witness uh question dat ouchter be answered before he open his mouf.
CLARK: Whut kind of a question is dat?
SIMS: Dave, tell de truth. Ain't yo' heart full of envy an' malice 'ginst dis chile? (Gestures towards JIM. DAVE shakes his head and starts to deny the charge, but SIMS hurries on)
DAVE: Wait a minute, now! Wait till I git through. Didn't y'all used to run aroun' everywhere playin' an' singin' an' everythin' till you got so full of envy an' malice an' devilment till y'all broke up? Now, Brother Mayor, make him tell de truth.
DAVE: Yeah, I useter be crazy 'bout Jim, and we was buddies till he tried to back bite me wid my girl.

MULE BONE

ACT 3 - Page 10.

JIM: Yo' girl! Never was yo' girl, nohow! I reckon I ain't none o' yo' buddy. I ain't got no buddy, they kill my buddy tryin' to raise me. But I did useter lak you till you tried to root me out wid Dais....

SIS. BLUNT: Jes' dare!

MAYOR: Aw, table dat business, an' le's open up new business. We ain't here to fin' out whose girl it is an' we ain't gonna mention no woman's name. We wants to know 'bout dis fight, an' who hit de first lick, an' how come. Go 'head on, Dave, an' talk.

SINGLETARY: Yes, Dave, talk, son.

DAVE: Well, we was all dancin' an' a-singin' in front o' yo' store, an' seem like Jim kinder got mad 'bout somethin' or nother an' so I went in de store an' left de ole nigger. Well, near as I can remember, when I come out seems like I kinder step on his ole big foot what had no business where it wuz nohow. An' then he up and knocks mah soda all ovah mah clean shirt.

JIM: Who's shirt?

DAVE: De shirt I had on. An' then I hits him. An' 'fo' I knowed it, he done picked up that bone an' lammed me ovah de head wid it.

SINGLETARY: He hit you, didn't he?

DAVE: Yes, sir.

SINGLETARY: He assaulted you, didn't he?

DAVE: I reckon he did.

CLARK: Uh-hummm! (DAVE resumes his seat and JIM drops his head for a moment then snatches it up arrogantly and glares at the BAPTISTS. The whole place is very silent for a moment. The MAY. CLARK clears his throat, raps with his gavel and looks sternly at JIM.)

Jim Weston, stand up, suh! (JIM rises sullenly) You're so charged wid 'saultin' Dave Carter wid uh dangerous weepon. You heard de charge. Guilty or not guilty?

JIM: (Arrogantly) Yeah, I hit him an' I'll hit him agin if he crowd me. But I ain't guilty of no crime.

CLARK: (He hitches up his pants and sits down arrogantly) (Surprised) What's dat you say, Jim?

RAPS SHARPLY

JIM: Git up from there, sir! What's dat you say?

(Rising) I say, yeah, I lammed ole Dave wid de mule bone, but I ain't guilty uh nothin'.

(There is a stark silence for a few seconds. The CLARK raps nervously.)

CLARK: How come you ain't guilty?

(JIM sets down amid jubilant smiles of METHO~
DISIS. SIMMS chuckles out loud and wipes his
face with his handkerchief. He gets to his feet
still laughing.)

SIMMS: (To JIM) Set down, Jim, and lemme show dese people dat walks in de darkness wid sinners an' republicans de light.

SINGLETARY: You jus' as well tuh hush up befo' you start then, Simms. You can't show nobody uh light when you ain't got none tuh show.

HAMBO: Ain't dat de gospel?

NIXON: Aw, let de man talk! Y'all soun' lak uh tree full uh blackbirds. Go 'head on, Elder Simms.

THOMAS: Yeah, you can't teach 'em nothin', but talk on. We know what you talkin' 'bout.

CLARK: (Rapping once or twice) I God, tell it... wh whatever 'tis you got tuh tell?

SIS. NIXON: Law 'em from Genesis to Revelations, Elder.

SIS. LEWIS: Aw yeah, hurry up an' tell it. I know it ain't goin' tuh be nothin' after you git it tole, but hurry up an' say it so you kin rest easy.

THOMAS: Aw, shet up an' give de man uh chance.

SIS. LEWIS: My shetters ain't workin' good. Sposin' you come whet me up, Walter. Den you'll know it's done right.

LIGE: Aw, whyn't y'all ack lak folks an' leave de man talk?

CLARK: (Rapping repeatedly) Order in dis court, I God, jus' like you wuz in Orlando! (Silence falls) Now, Simms, talk yo' chat.

SIMS: (Glances down into his open Bible, then looks all around the room with great deliberation. It is evident he enjoys being the center of

Page (10)

MULE BONE

Act 3 - Page 11.

attraction. He smiles smugly as he turns his
face towards the pulpit. He speaks slowly and
accents his words so that none will be lost on
his audience.)

SIMS: (Cont'd) De Bible says, be sho you're right, then go ahead.

(He looks all around to collect the admiration
he feels he has earned.)

Now, we all done gathered an' 'sembled here tuh law dis young
lad of uh boy on uh mighty serious charge. Uh whole passel of
us is rarin' tuh drive him 'way from home lak you done drove
off his daddy an' his brothers.

HAMBO: We never drove off his pappy. De white folks took an' hung him for killin' dat man in Kissimmee for nothin'.

SIMS: Dat ain't de point, Brother Hambo.

HAMBO: It's jes' as good uh pint as any. If you gointer talk, tell de truth. An' if you can't tell de truth, set down an' leave Reverend Singletary talk.

SIMS: Brother Mayor, how come you let dese people run they mouf lak uh passel uh cowbells? Ain't I got de floor? I ain't no breath-an'-britches. I was <u>people</u> in middle Georgy befo' I ever come to Floridy. Whut kin' of chairman is you, nohow?

CLARK: (Angrily) Heah! Heah! Don't you come tryin' t' show yo'self round me! I God, I don't keer whut you wuz in Georgy. I kin eat fried chicken when you cain't git rainwater tuh drink. Hurry up an' say whut you got in yo' craw an' set down. We needs yo' space more'n we needs yo' comp'ny.

MIXON: Don't let him skeer yo', Elder Simms. You got plenty shoulders tuh back yo' fallin'.

HAMBO: Well, each an' every shoulder kin hit de groun' an' I'll git wid 'em.

THOMAS: Hambo, everybody in Orange County knows you love tuh fight. But dis is uh law hearin', not no wrassle.

HAMBO: Oh, you Meth'dis' niggers wants tuh fight, bad enough, but youse skeered. Youse jus' as hot as Tucker when de mule kicked his mammy. But you know you got plenty coolers.

SIS. TAYLOR: Aw, ain't nobody skeered uh you half-pint Baptists. God knows ah'm ready an' willin'. (She glares at MRS. LEWIS. SISTER LEWIS jumps to her feet, but is pulled back into her seat. MAYOR CLARK raps for order and the room get quiet.)

CLARK: Aw right, now, Simms. I God, git through!

SIMS: (Pompously) Now y'all done up an' took dis po' boy an' had him locked up in uh barn ever since Sat'day night an' done got him 'ccused uh 'ssault an' I don't know whut all, an' you ain't got no business wid yo' hands on him a-tall. He ain't done no crime, an' if y'all knowed anythin' 'bout law, I wouldn't have tuh tell you so.

CLARK: I God, he is done uh crime an' he's gointer ketch it, too.

SIMS: But not by law, Brother Mayor. You tryin' tuh lay uh hearin' on dis boy an' you can't do it 'cause he ain't broke no law. I don't keer whut he done so long as he don't break no law you can't touch him.

SINGLETARY:

SIMS: He committed assault, didn't he? Dat sho is breakin' de law! Naw, he ain't committed no 'ssault. He jus' lammed Dave over de head, dat's all. (Triumphantly) Yuh see y'all don't know whut you talkin' 'bout. Now I done set in de court house an' heard de white folks law from mornin' till night. (He flips his Bible shut.)

I done read dis book from lid tuh lid an' I knows de law. You got tuh have uh weepon tuh commit uh 'ssault. An' 'tain't in no white folks law an' 'tain't in dis Bible dat no mule bone is no weepon.

CLARK: (After a moment of dead silence) I God, what's dat you say?

SIMS: (Sitting down and crossing his legs and folding his hands upon his Bible.)

You heard me. I say you ain't got no case 'ginst dis boy an' you got tuh tuhn him loose.

SINGLETARY: (Jumping up) Brother Chairman!

CLARK: (Raps once and nods recognition) You got de floor.

SINGLETARY: I ain't book-learnt an' I ain't rubbed de hair offen my head agin' no college wall, but I know when uh 'ssault's been committed. I says Jim Weston did 'ssault Dave. (He points at DAVE'S head.)

SIMS: (Arrograntly) Prove it!

Page (11)

MULE BONE

ACT 3 - Page 12.

(SINGLETARY stands silent and puzzled. The METHODIST side breaks into a triumphant shout of "Oh, Mary don't you weep, don't you moan, Pharoah's Army got Drowned". SINGLEARY sinks into his seat. When they have shouted out three choruses, SIMS rises to speak.)

SIMS: I move dat we sing doxology an' bring dis meetin' to uh close. We'se all workin' people, Brother Mayor. Dismiss us so we kin g'wan back to our work. De sun is two hours high yet.

(Looks towards the METHODIST side.)

I second de motion.

SINGLETARY: (Arising slowly) Hol' on there uh minute wid dat motion. Dis ain't no lodge meetin'. Dis is uh court an' bofe sides got uh right tuh talk.

(Motions towards SIMS'S Bible.)

Youse uh letter-learnt man, but I kin read dat Bible some, too. Lemme take it uh minute.

SIMS: I ain't uh gointer do it. Any preacher dat amounts to uh hill uh beans would have his own Bible.

CLARK: I God, Singletary, you right here in yo' own church. Come on up here an' read out yo' pulpit Bible. I God, don't mind me bein' up here. Com on up.

(XUXXEX) (A great buzzing breaks out all over the church CLARK raps for order. SINGLEARY mounts the pulpit. SIMS begins to turn the leaves of his Bible.)

SIMS: Brother Mayor, you oughter let us outa here. You ain't got no case 'ginst dis boy. Don't waste our time for nothin'. Leave us go home.

CLARK: Aw, dry up, Simms, you done talked yo' talk. I God, leave Singletary talk this. (To SINGLEARY) Step on out when you ready, Reverend.

SINGLETARY: (Reading) It says here in Judges 18:18 dat Samson slewed three thousand Philistines wid de jaw-bone of an ass.

SIMS: (On his feet) Yeah, but dis wasn't no ass. Dis was uh mule, Brother Mayor. Dismiss dis meetin' an' le's all go home.

SINGLETARY: Yeah, but he was half-ass. A ass is uh mule's daddy, and he's bigger'n uh ass, too. (Emphatic gestures) Everybody knows dat, even de lil chillun.

SIMS: (Standing) Yeah, but we didn't come here to talk about no asses, neither no half-asses, nor no mule daddies. (Laughter from METHODISTS.)

We come to law uh boy for 'ssault an' larceny.

SINGLETARY: (Very patiently) We'se comin' to dat pint now. Dat's de second claw uh de sentence we'se expoundin'. I say Jim Weston did have uh weepon in his hand when he 'ssaulted Dave. 'Cause y'all knows if de daddy is dangerous, den de son is dangerous too. An' y'all knows dat de further back you gits on uh mule de more dangerous he gits an' if de jaw-bone slewed three thousand people, by de time you gits back tuh his hocks, it's pizen enough tuh kill ten thousand. 'Tain't no knives nor no razors ever kilt no three thousand people. Now, folkses, I ast y'all whut kin be mo' dangerous dan uh mule bone? (To CLARK) Brother Mayor, Jim didn't jes' lam Dave an' walk off.... (very emphatic) he 'ssaulted him with de deadliest weepon there is in de worl' an' left him layin' unconscious. Brother Mayor, he's uh criminal an' oughter be run outa dis peaceful town!

(Great chorus of approval from BAPTISTS. CLARK begins to rap for order.)

SIMS: (Standing) Brother Mayor, I objects. I done studied jury and I know whut I'm talkin' 'bout.

CLARK: Aw, dry up, Simms. You'se entirely out of order. You may be slick, but you kin stand another greasin'. Reverend Singletary is right. I God, I knows de law when I hear it. Stand up dere, Jim!

(JIM rises very slowly. SIMS rises also. DAVE looks worried.)

CLARK: Set down, Simms! I God, I know where to find you when I want you. (SIMS sits) Jim, I find you guilty as charged an' I wants you to git outa my town an' stay gone for two years. (To LUM)

Brother Marshall, you see dat he gits outa town befo' dark. An' you folks dat's so anxious to fight, git on off dis church grounds befo' you starts. An' don't use no knives an' no guns an' no mule bones. Court's dismissed.

:::::CURTAIN:::::

MULE BONE

Act III - Kage (2)

JIM: Aw, go 'head on. You figgered I was gone too long to talk 'bout. You was haulin' it over to town to see Dave - dat's whut you was doin' - after gittin' me all messed up.

DAISY: (Making as if to cry) I wasn't studyin' 'bout no Dave.

JIM: (Hopefully) Aw, don't tell me. (Sings) Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, show me a woman that a man can trust.

(DAISY is crying now.)

JIM: Whut you crying for? You know you love Dave. I'm yo' monkey-man. He always could do more wid you than I could.

DAISY: Naw, you ain't no monkey-man neither. I don't want you to leave town. I didn't want y'all to be fightin' over me, nohow.

JIM: Aw, rock on down de road wid dat stuff. A two-timin' cloaker like you don't keer what come off. Me and Dave been good frien's ever since we was born till you had to go flouncin' yourself around.

DAISY: What did I do? All I did was to come over town to see you and git a mouf-ful of gum. Next thing I know, y'all is fightin' an' carryin' on.

JIM: (Stands silent for a while) Did you come over there Sat'day night to see me sho 'nuff, sugar babe?

DAISY: Everybody could see dat but you.

JIM: Jus' like I told you, Daisy, before you ever left from 'roun' here and went up North. I could kiss you every day - just as regular as pig-tracks.

DAISY: An' I tole you I could stand it too - just as regular as you could.

JIM: (Catching her by the arm and pulling her down with him onto the rail.)

Set down, here, Daisy. Le's talk some chat. You want me sho 'nuff? Hones' to God?

DAISY: (Coyly) 'Member what I told you out on de lake last summer?

JIM: Sho 'nuff, Daisy? (DAISY nods smilingly)

JIM: (Saddly) But I got to go 'way. Whut we gointer do 'bout dat?

DAISY: Where you goin', Jim?

JIM: (Looking sadly down the track) God knows.

(Off stage from the same direction from which JIM entered, comes the sound of whistling and trumping of feet on the ties.)

JIM: (Brightening) Dat's Dave! (Frowning) Wonder whut he doin' walkin' dis track? (Looks accusingly at DAISY) I bet he's goin' to yo' work-place.

DAISY: Whut for?

JIM: He ain't goin' to see de madame - must be goin' to see you.

(He starts to rise petulantly as DAVE comes upon the scene. DAISY rises also.)

DAVE: (Looks accusingly from one to the other) Whut y'all jumpin' up for? I...

JIM: Whut you gut to do wid us business? Tain't none of yo' business if we stand up, set down or fly like a skeeter hawk.

DAVE: Who said I keered? Dis railroad belongs to de man - I kin walk it good as you, ain't I?

JIM: (Laughing exultantly) Oh, yeah, Mr. Do-Dirty! You figgered you had done run me on off so you could git Daisy all by yo' self. You was headin' right for her work-place.

DAVE: I wasn't no such a thing.

JIM: You was. Didn't I hear you coming down de track all whistlin' an' everythin'?

DAVE: Youse a big ole Georgy-somethin'-ain't-so! I done got my belly full of Daisy Sat'day night. She can't snore in my ear no more.

DAISY: (Indignantly) Whut you come here low-ratin' me for, Dave Carter? I ain't done nothin' to you but treat you white. Who come rubbed yo' ole head for you yestiddy if it wasn't me?

DAVE: Yeah, you rubbed my head all right, and I lakted dat. But everybody say you done toted a pan to Joe Clark's barn for Jim before I seen you.

DAISY: Think I was goin' to let Jim lay there 'thout nothin' fitten for a dog to eat?

DAVE: That's all right, Daisy. If you want to pay Jim for knockin' me in de head, all right. But I'm a man in a class - in a class to myself and nobody knows my name.

JIM: (Snatching Daisy around to face him) Was you over to Dave's house yestiddy rubbing his ole head and cloakin' wid him to run

Act Three - Page 2.

MULE BONE

Act Three - Page 76

me outa town - and me locked up in dat barn wid de cows and
mules?

DAISY: (Sobbing) All both of y'all hollerin' at me an' fussin' me jus'
cause I tries to be nice - and neither one of y'all don't keer
nothin' bout me.

(BOTH BOYS glare at each other over DAISY'S head
and both try to img her at the same time. She
violently wrenches herself away from both and
makes as if to go on.)

DAISY: Leave me go! Take yo' rusty pa'ms offen me. I'm goin' on back
to my work-place. I jus' got off to see 'bout y'all and look
how y'all treat me.

JIM: Wait a minute, Daisy. I love you like God loves Gabriel - an'
dat's His bes' angel.

DAVE: Daisy, I love you harder than de thunder can bump a stump - if
I don't - God's a gopher.

DAISY: (Brightening) Dat's de first time you ever said so.

DAVE & JIM: Who?

JIM: Whut you hollerin' "Who" for? Yo' feet don't fit no limb.

DAVE: Speak when you spoken to - come when you called, next fall you'll
be my coon houn' dog.

JIM: Table dat discussion. (Turning to DAISY) You ain't never give
me no chance to talk wid you right.

DAVE: You made me feel like you was tryin' to put de Ned book on me
all de time. Do you love me sho 'nuff, Daisy?

DAISY: (Blooming again onto coquetry) Aw, y'all better stop dat. You
know you don't mean it.

DAVE: Who don't mean it? Lemme tell you somethin', mama, if you was
mine, I wouldn't have you countin' no ties wid yo' pretty lil
toes. Know what I'd do?

DAISY: (Coyly) Naw, whut would you do?

DAVE: I'd buy you a whole passenger train - and hire some mens to run
it for you.

DAISY: (Happily) Oo-ooch, Dave!

JIM: (To DAVE) De wind may blow, de doorway slam
Dat Stuff you shootin' ain't worth a dam.

(To DAISY) I'd buy you a great big ole ship - and then, baby,
I'd buy you a ocean to sail yo' ship on.

DAISY: (Happily) Oo-ooch, Jim.

DAVE: (To JIM) A long train, a short caboose
Dat lie whut you shlotin', ain't no use.

(To DAISY) Miss Daisy, I know whut I'd do for you?

DAISY: Naw, whut?

DAVE: I'd come down de river ridin' a mud cat and leadin' a minnow.

DAISY: Lawd, Dave, you sho is porpaganda.

JIM: (Peevishly) Naw he ain't - he's jus' lyin' - he's a noble liar.
Know whut I'd do if you was mine?

DAISY: Naw, Jim.

JIM: I'd make a panther wash yo' dishes and a 'gator chop yo' wood
for you.

DAVE: Daisy, how come you let Jim lie lak dat? He's as big a liar
as he is a man. But sho 'nuff, now, laying <u>mixing</u> with xxxxxx
a-side all jokes, Jim there don't even know how to answer you.
If you don't b'lieve it - ast him somethin'.

(To JIM) You like me much, Jim?

JIM: (Enthusiastically) Yeah, Daisy, I sho' do.

DAVE: (Triumphant) See dat! I tole you he didn't know how to answer
nobody like you. If he was talking to some of them ol' funny-
lookin' gals over town he'd be answering 'em jus' right. But
he got to learn how to answer you. Now you ast me something
and see how I answer you.

DAISY: Do you like me, Dave?

DAVE: (Ver properly in a falsetto voice) Yes, ma'am! Dat's de way
to answer swell folks like you. Furthermore, less we prove
which one of us love you de best right now. (To JIM) Jim,
how much time would you do on de chain-gang for dis 'oman?

JIM: Twenty years and like it.

DAVE: See dat, Daisy? Dat nigger ain't willin' to do no time for
you! I'd beg de judge to gimme life. (Both JIM and DAVE laugh)

DAISY: Y'all doin' all dis bookooin' out here on de railroad track
but I bet y'all crazy 'bout Bootsie and Teets and a whole heap
of other gals.

ACT THREE - Page (3)

NULL BONE

Act Three, page 4.

JIM: Cross my feet and hope to die! I'd rather see all de other
wimmen folks in de world! dead than for you to have de tooth-ache.
DAVE: If I was dead and any other woman come near my coffin de under-
taker would have to do his job all over - 'cause I'd git right
up and walk off. Furthermore, Miss Daisy, ma'am, also ma'am,
which would you ruther be - a lark a-flyin' or a dove a settin',
ma'am, also ma'am?
DAISY: 'Course I'd ruther be a dove.
JIM: Miss Daisy, ma'am, also ma'am... if you marry dis nigger over my
head, I'm goin' to git me a green hickory club and season it
over yo' head.
DAVE: Don't you be skeered, baby... papa kin take keer a you.
(To JIM) SLEEP
Countin' from de finger (Suiting the action to the word) back
to de thumb... start anything, I got you some.
JIM: Aw, I don't want no more fight wid you, Dave.
DAVE: Who said anything about fighting? We just provin' who who
love Daisy de best. (To DAISY) Now, which one of us you think
love you de best?
DAISY: Deed I don't know, Dave.
DAVE: Baby, I'd walk de water for you - and tote a mountain on my
head while I'm walkin'.
JIM: Know what I'd do, honey babe? If you was a thousand miles from
home and you didn't have no ready-made money and you had to
walk all de way, walkin' tall yo' feet start to rollin', just
like a wheel, and I was ridin' way up in de sky, I'd step back-
wards offa dat airyplane just to walk home wid you.
DAISY: (Falling on JIM'S neck) Jim, when you talk to me like dat, I
just can't stand it. Le's us git married right now.
JIM: Now you talkin' like a blue-back speller. Le's go!
DAVE: (Sadly) You gointer leave me lak dis, Daisy?
DAISY: (Sadly) I likes you, too, Dave, I sho do. But I can't marry
both of y'all at de same time.
JIM: Aw, come on, Daisy - sun's gettin' low. (He starts off pulling
DAISY)
DAVE: Whut's I'm gointer do? (Walking after them)
JIM: Gwan back and dance - you make out you don't need me to play
none.
DAVE: (Almost tearfully) Aw, Jim, shucks! Where y'all goin'?
(DAISY comes to an abrupt halt and stops JIM)
DAISY: That's right, honey. Where is we goin' sho nuff?
JIM: (Sadly) Deed I don't know, baby. They just sentenced me to
go - they didn't say where and I don't know.
DAISY: How we goin' nohow to go when we don't know where we goin'?
(JIM looks at DAVE as if he expects some help but
DAVE stands sadly silent. JIM takes a few steps
forward as if to go on. DAISY makes a step or
two, unwillingly, then looks behind her and
stops. DAVE looks as if he will follow them.)
DAISY: Jim! (He stops and turns) Wait a minute! Whut we gointer do
when we git there?
JIM: Where?
DAISY: Where we goin'?
JIM: I done tole you I don't know where it is.
DAISY: But how we gointer git something to eat and a place to stay?
JIM: Play and dance - jus' like I been doin'.
DAISY: You can't dance and Dave ain't gointer be there.
JIM: (Looks appealingly at DAVE, then away quickly) Well, I can't
help dat, can I?
DAISY: (Brightly) I tell you whut, Jim! Le's us don't go nowhere.
They sentenced you to leave Eatonville and youse more than a
mile from de city limits already. Youse in Maitland now. Sup-
posin' you come live on de white folks' place wid me after we
git married. Eatonville ain't got nothin' to do wid you livin'
in Maitland.
JIM: Dat's a good idea, Daisy.
DAISY: (Jumping into his arms) And listen, honey, you don't have to be
beholden to Dave nor nobody else. You can throw dat ole box
away if you want to. I know where you can get a swell job.
JIM: (Sheepishly) Doin' whut? (Looks lovingly at his guitar)
DAISY: (Almost dancing) Yard man. All you have to do is wash windows,
and sweep de sidewalk, and scrub off de steps and porch and hoe
up de weeds and rake up de leaves and dig a few holes now and

ACT THREE - Page 4.

MULE BONE

Act Three - Page 8

then with a spade... to plant some trees and things like that.
It's a good steady job.

**JIM:** (After a long deliberation) You see, Daisy, de Mayor and corporation tol' me to go on off and I ougther go.

**DAISY:** Well, I'm not goin' tippin' down no railroad track like a Maltese cat. I wasn't brought up knockin' round from here to yonder.

**JIM:** Well, I wasn't brought up wid no spade in my hand - and ain't goin' to start it now.

**DAISY:** But sweetheart, we got to live, ain't we? We got to git hold of money before we kin do anything. I don't mean to stay in de white folks' kitchen all my days.

**JIM:** Yeah, all dat's true, but you couldn't buy a flea a waltzin' jacket wid de money I'm goin' to make wid a hoe and spade.

**DAISY:** (Getting tearful) You don't want me. You don't love me.

**JIM:** Yes, I do, darlin', I love you. Youse de one lettin' a spade come between us. (He caresses her) I loves you and you only. You don't see me draggin' a whole gang of farmin' tools into us business, howdy do you?

**DAISY:** (Stiffly) Well, I ain't goin' to marry no man that ain't goin' to work and take care of me.

**JIM:** I don't mind workin' if de job ain't too heavy for me. I ain't goin' to bother wid nothin' in my hands heavier than dis box - and I totes it 'round my neck 'most of de time.

(DAISY makes a despairing gesture as JIM takes a step or two away from her. She turns to DAVE finally.)

**DAISY:** Well, I reckon you loves me the best anyhow. You wouldn't talk to me like Jim did, would you, Dave?

**DAVE:** Now, I wouldn't say whut he said a-tall.

**DAISY:** (Cuddling up to him) What would you say, honey?

**DAVE:** I'd say dat box was too heavy for me to fool wid. I wouldn't tote nothin' heavier than my hat and I feel like I'm 'busin' myself sometime dotin' dat.

**DAISY:** (Outraged) Don't you mean to work none?

**DAVE:** Wouldn't hit a lick at a snake.

**DAISY:** I don't blame you, Dave (Looking down at his feet) cause totin' dem feet of youn' is enough to break down your constitution.

**JIM:** (Airily) That's all right - dem feets done put plenty bread in our moufs.

**DAVE:** Not by they selves though - wid de help of dat box, Jim. When you gits havin' fits on dat box, boy, my feets has hysterics. Daisy, you marry Jim cause I don't want to come between y'all. He's my rock buddy.

**JIM:** Come to think of it, Dave, she was youn' first. You take and handle dat spade for her.

**DAVE:** You heard her say it is all I can do to lift up dese feets and put 'em down. Where I'm goin' to git any time to wrassle wid any hoes and shovels? You kin git 'round better'n me. You done won Daisy - I give in. I ain't goin' to bite no fren' of mine in de back.

**DAISY:** Both of you niggers can git yo' hat an' yo' heads and git on down de road. Neither one of y'all don't have to have me. I got a good job and plenty men beggin' for yo' chance.

**JIM:** Dat's right, Daisy, you go git you one them mens whut don't mind smellin' mules - and beatin' de white folks to de barn every mornin'. I don't wanta be bothered wid nothin' but dis box.

**DAVE:** An' I can't strain wid nothin' but my feets.

(DAISY walks slowly away in the direction from which she came. Both watch her a little wistfully for a minute. The sun is setting.)

**DAVE:** Guess I better be gittin' on back - it's most dark. Where you goin', Jim?

**JIM:** I don't know, Dave. Down de road, I reckon.

**DAVE:** Whyncher come on back to town. 'Tain't no use you proguein' up and down de railroad track when you got a home.

**JIM:** They done lawed me way from it for hittin' you wid dat bone.

**DAVE:** Dat ain't nothin'. It was my head you hit. An' if I don't keer whut dem old ugly-rump niggers got to do wid it?

**JIM:** They might not let me come in town.

**DAVE:** (Seizing JIM'S arm and facing him back toward the town) They better! Look here, Jim, if they try to keep you out dat

ACT THREE - Page 5

MULEBONE

Page (3)

BRAZZLE:

(Coming forward) Well, sir: (Takes bone in both hands and looks up and down the length of it)

If 'tain't my ole mule: This sho was one hell of a mule, too.
He'd fight ev'ey inch in front of de plow... he'd tu'n over
de mowin' machine... run away wid de wagon... and you better
not look like you wanter ride 'im!

LINDSAY:

(Laughing) Yeah, I 'member seein' you comin' down de road just so... (He limps with one hand on his buttocks) one day.

BRAZZLE:

Dis mule was so evil he used to try to bit and kick when I'd
go in de stable to feed 'im.

WALTER:

He was too mean to git fat. He was so skinny you could do a
week's washin' on his ribs for a washboard and hang 'em up on
his hip-bones to dry.

LIGE:

I 'member one day, Brazzle, you sent yo' boy to Winter Park
after some groceries wid a basket. So here he went down de
road ridin' dis mule wid dis basket on his arm... Whut you
meckon dat ole contra'y mule done when he got to dat crooked
place in de road goin' roun' Park Lake? He turnt right 'roun'
and went through de handle of dat basket... wid de boy still
up on his back. (General laughter)

BRAZZLE:

Yeah, he up and died one Sat'day just for spite... but he was
too contra'y to lay down on his side like a mule orter and
die decent. Naw, he made out to lay down on his narrator con-
tracted back and die wid his feet stickin' straight up in
de air just so. (He gets down on his back and illustrates)
We drug him out to de swamp wid 'im dat way, didn't we,
Hambo?

JOE CLARK:

I God, Brazzle, we all seen it. Didn't we all go to de draggin' out? More folks went to yo' mule's draggin' out than went to last school closin'... Bet there ain't been a thing right in mule-hell for four years.

HAMBO:

Been dat long since he been dead?

CLARK:

I God, yes. He died de week after I started to cuttin' dat
new groun'. (The bone is passing from hand to hand. At last
a boy about twelve takes it. He has just walked
up and is proudly handling the bone when a woman's
voice is heard off stage.)

VOICE:

Senator: Senator!! Oh, you Senator!

BOY:

(Turning, displeased, mutters) Aw, shucks. (Loudly) Ma'am?

VOICE:

If you don't come here you better!

SENATOR:

Yes, ma'am. (He drops bone on ground down stage and trots off frowning.)

Soon as we men git to doin' somethin' dese winmen... (Exits.)
(Enter TEET and BOOTSIIE left, clean and primped in
voile dresses just alike. They speak diffidently
and enter store. The men admire them casually.)

LIGE:

Them girls done turned out to be right good-lookin'.

WALTER:

Teet ain't as pretty now as she was a few years back. She
used to be fat as a butter ball wid legs just like a whiskey
legs. She's too skinny since she got her growth.

CODY:

Ain't none of 'em pretty as dat Miss Daisy. God! She's pretty
as a speckled pup.

LIGE:

But she was sho 'nuff ugly when she was little... little ole
hard black knot. She sho has changed since she been away, up
North. If she ain't pretty now, there ain't a houn' dog in
Georgy! (Re-enter SENATOR BAILEY who stops on the steps.)

He addresses JOE CLARK.

SENATOR:

Mist' Clark....

HAMBO:

(To SENATOR) Ain't you got no manners? We-all didn't sleep
wid you las' night!

SENATOR:

(Embarrassed) Good evenin', eve'ybody.

ALL THE MEN:

Good evenin', son, (boy) (Senator) etc.

SENATOR:

Mist' Clark, mama said is Daisy been here dis evenin'?

JOE CLARK:

Ain't heaid my eyes on her. Ain't she workin' over in Meitland?

SENATOR:

Yessuh... but she's off today and mama sent her down here to get de groceries.

JOE CLARK:

Well, tell yo' ma I ain't seen her.

SENATOR:

Well, she say to tell you when she come, to tell her ma say
she better git home dat quick.

JOE CLARK:

I will. (Exit SENATOR, right.)

LIGE:

Bet she's off somewhere wid Dave, or Jim, one,

WALTER:

I don't bet it... I know it. She's got them two in de go-long.

(Re-enter TEET and BOOTSIIE from store. TEET has a

Page (3)

MULEBONE

Page (4)

letter and BOOTSIE two or three small parcels.
The men look up with interest as they come out on
the porch.)

WALTER: (Winking) Whut's dat you got, Teet... letter from Dave?
TEET: (Floancing) Naw indeed! It's a letter from my B-I-T-
sweetie! (Rolls her eyes and hips.)

WALTER: (Winking) Well, ain't Dave yo' B-I-T-sweetie? I thought
y'all was 'bout to git married. Everywhere I looked dis
summer 'twas you an' Dave, Bootsie and Jim. I thought all
of y'all would've done jumped over de broomstick by now.
TEET: (Flourishing letter) Don't tell it to me... tell it to the
ever-lovin' Mr. Albert Johnson way over in Apopka.

BOOTSIE: (Rolling her eyes) Oh, tell 'em 'bout the ever-lovin' Mr.
Jimmy Cox from Altamont. Oh, I can't stand to see my baby
lose.

HAMBO: It's lucky y'all girls done got some more fellers, cause
look like Daisy done treed both Jim and Dave at once, or they
done treed her - one.

TEET: Let her have 'em... nobody don't keer. They don't handle de
"In God we trust" lak my Johnson. He's head bellman at de
hotel.

BOOTSIE: Mr. Cox got money's grandma and old grandpa change. (The
girls exit huffily.)

LINDSAY: (To HAMBO, pseudo-seriously) You oughtn't tease dem gals lak
dat.

HAMBO: Oh, I laks to see gals all mad. But dem boys is crazy sho
'nuff. Before Daisy come back here they both had a good-look-
in' gal a piece. Now they 'bout to fall out and fight over
half a gal a-piece. Neither one won't give over and let de
other one have her.

LIGE: An' she ain't thinkin' too much 'bout no one man. (Looks off
left.)

YONDER

WALTER: Here, she come now. God! She got a mean walk on her!
Yeah, man. She handles a lot of traffic! Oh, mama, throw it
in de river... papa'll come git it!

LINDSAY: Aw, shut up, you married men!

LIGE: Man don't go blin' cause he gits married, do he? (Enter
DAISY, hurriedly. Stops at step a moment. She is
dressed in sheer organdie, white shoes and stockings.)

DAISY: Good evenin', everybody. (Walks up on the porch)
ALL THE MEN: (Very pleasantly) Good evenin', Miss Daisy!
DAISY: (To CLARK) Mama sent me after some meal and flour and some
bacon and sausage oil foruther.

CLARK: Senator been here long time ago huntin' you.
DAISY: (Frightened) Did he? Oo... Mist' Clark, hurry up an' fix it
for me. (She starts on in the store.)

LINDSAY: (Giving her his seat) You better wait here, Daisy.
(WALTER kicks LIGE to call his attention to LINDSAY'S
attitude.)

LIGE: It's powerful hot in dat store. Lemme run fetch 'em out to
you.

LINDSAY: (To LINDSAY) Run! Joe Lindsay, you ain't been able to run since
de big bell rung. Look at dat gray beard.

WALTER: Thank God, I ain't gray all over. I'm just as good a man right
now as any of you young uns. (He hurries into the store)

DAISY: Daisy, where's yo' two body guards? It don't look natural to
see you thout nary one of 'em.

LIGE: (Archly) I ain't got no body guards. I don't know what you talkin' 'bout.

DAISY: Aw, don't try to come dat over us, Daisy. You know who we talk-
in' 'bout all right... but if you want me to come out flat-
footed... where's Jim and Dave?

LIGE: Ain't they playin' somewhere for de white folks?

WALTER: (To LIGE) Will you listen at dis gal, Walter? (To DAISY)
DAISY: When I ain't been long seen you and Dave going down to de lake
(Frightened) Don't y'all run tell mama where I been.

WALTER: Well, you tell us which one you laks de best and we'll wipe out
mouf (Gesture) and say nothin'. Dem boys been de best of
frien's all they life, till both of 'em took after you... then
good-bye, Katy bar de door!

DAISY: (Affected innocence) Ain't they still playin' and dancin'
together?

Page (4)

["MULE BONE", "Page (7)", "HEN: Let it boil.", "HAWK: My guts a-growlin'.", "HEN: Let 'em growl.", "HAWK: I must have a chick.", "HEN: You shan't have 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MULE BONE

Page (8)

VOICE:
Oh, he! Done got the ol' tush hawk.
ANOTHER:
Thought you couldn't be beat, Brother Mayor?
CLARK:
(Peeved, gets up and goes into the store mumbling)
Oh, I coulda beat you if I didn't have this store on my mind.
Sat'day afternoon an' I got work to do. Lum, ain't I told
you to keep them kids from playin' right in front of this
store?

(LUM makes a pass at the nearest half-grown boy.
The children dart around him teasingly. Lum picks up the
hule-bone.)

VOICE:
Eh, heh! Hambo done run him in his store. Done run the ol'
coon in his hole!

ANOTHER:
That ain't good politics, Hambo, beatin' the Mayor.
ANOTHER:
Well, Hambo, you done got to be so hard at checkers, come on
let's see what you can do with de cards! Lum Boger, there,
got his hands full nursin' the chilluns. Better use that mule-hoct
lonem, Lum.

ANOTHER VOICE:
(At the table)
We ain't playin' for money, nohow, Deacon. We just playin'
a little Florida Flip.

HAMBO:
Y'all can't play no Florida Flip. When I was a sinner there
wasn't a man in this state could beat me playin' that game.
But I'm a deacon in Macedonia Baptist now and I don't bother
with the cards no more.

VOICE AT TABLE:
All right, then, dome on here, Tony (To man with basket on
steps) let me catch your jack.

TAYLOR:
(Looking toward door) I don't reckon I got time. I guess
my wife gonna get through buyin' out that store some time or
other and want to go home.

OLD MAN:
(On opposite side of porch from card game) I bet my wife would
know better'n expect me to sit around' and wait for her with
a basket. Whyn't you tell her to tote it on home herse'f?

TAYLOR:
(Sighing and shaking his head) Eh, Lawd!

VOICE AT TABLE:
Look like we can't git nobody to come into this game. Seem
like everybody's scared a us. Come on back here, Lum, and
take your hand. (LUM makes a final futile gesture at the
children, and futs down the bone.)

LUM:
Ain't I told you little haitians to stay away from here?
(CHILDREN scatter teasingly only to return to their
play in front of the store later on. LUM comes up
on the porch and re-joins the card game. Just as he
gets seated, MRS. CLARK comes to the door of the ex
store and calls him)

MRS. CLARK:
(Drawlingly) Columbus!

LUM:
(Wearily) Ma'am?

MRS. CLARK:
De Mayor say for you to go 'round in de back yard and tie up
old lady Jackson's mule what's trampin' up all de tomatoes in
my garden.

LUM:
All right. (Leaving card game) Wait till I come back, folk-
ses.

LIGE:
Oh, hum! (Yawning and putting down the deck of cards) Lum's
sho a busy marshall. Say, ain't Dave and Jim been 'round
here yit? I feel kinder like hearin' a little music 'bout
now.

BOY:
Naw, they ain't been here t'day. Y'all know they ain't so
thick nohow as they was since Daisy Bailey come back and they
started runnin' after her.

WOMAN:
You mean since she started runnin' after them, the young hussy.

MRS. CLARK:
(In doorway) She don't mean 'em no good. No, sir....

WALTER:
That's a shame, ain't it now? (Enter LUM from around back of
store. He jumps on the porch and takes his place
at the card table)

LUM:
(To waiting players) All right, boys! Turn it on and let
the bad luck happen.

LIGE:
My deal. (He begins shuffling the cards with an elaborate
fan-shaped movement.)

VOICE AT TABLE:
Look out there, Lige, you shufflin' mighty lot. Don't carry
the cub to us.

LIGE:
Ah, we ain't gonna cheat you... we gonna beat you. (He
slams down the cards for LUM BOGER to cut)

LUM:
Wanta cut 'em?

LUM:
No, ain't no need of cutting a rabbit out when you can twist
him out. Deal 'em. (LIGE deals out the cards)

Page (8)

MULE BONE

Page (11)

HAMBO: Well, the Mayor ain't said nothin' 'bout it.

SIMS: When the folks misbehaves in this town I think they oughta
lock 'em up in a jail and make 'em work their fine out on the
streets, then these needs would be cut down.

VOICE: How we gonna do that when we ain't got no jail?

SIMS: Well, you sho needs a jail... you'all needs a whole lot of
improvements round this town. I ain't never pastored no town
so way-back as this one here.

CLARK: (Who has lately emerged from the store, fanning himself,
overhears this last remark and bristles up)

'What's that you say 'bout this town?

SIMS: I say we needs some improvements here in this town - that's
what.

CLARK: (In a powerful voice) And what improvements you figgers we
needs?

SIMS: A whole heap. Now, for one thing we really does need a jail,
Mayor. We oughta stop runnin' these people out of town that
misbehaves, and lock'em up. Otherx towns has jails, everytown
I ever pastored had a jail. Don't see how come we can't
have one.

CLARK: (Towering angrily above the preacher) Now, wait a minute,
Simms. Don't you reckon the man who knows how to start a town
knows how to run it? I paid two hundred dollars out of this
right hand for this land and walked out here and started this
town befo' you was born. I ain't like some of you new nig-
gers, come here when grapes' ripe. I was here to cut new
ground', and I been Mayor ever since.

SIMS: Well, there ain't no sense in no one man stayin' Mayor all
de time.

CLARK: Well, it's my town and I can be Mayor jus' as long as I want
to. It was me that put this town on de map.

SIMS: What map you put it on, Joe Clark? I ain't seen it on no map.

CLARK: (Indignant) I God! Listen here, Elder Simms. If you don't
like the way I run this town, jus' take your flat feets right
on out and git yonder crosst the woods. You ain't been here
long enough to say nothin' nohow.

HAMBO: (From a nail keg) Yeah, you Methodis' niggers always tellin'
people how to run things.

TAYLOR: (Practically unheard by the others) We do so know how to
run things, don't we? Ain't Brother Mayor a Methodist, and
ain't the school teacher a...? (His remarks are drowned out
by the others.)

SIMS: No, we don't like the way you're runnin' things. Now looka
here, (Pointing to the Marshall) You got that lazy Lum Boger
here for marshall and he ain't old enough to be dry behin'
his ears yet... and all these able-bodied mens in this town!
You won't 'low nobody else to run a store 'ceptin' you. And
looka yonder (Happening to notice the street light)... only
street lamp in town, you got in front of your place. (In-
dignantly) We pay the taxes and you got the lamp.

VILLAGER: Don't y'all fuss now. How come you two always yam-yammin'
at each other?

CLARK: How come this fly-by-night Methodist preacher over here...
ain't been here three months... tries to stand up on my
store porch and tries to tell me how to run my town? (MATTIE)
CLARK, the Mayor's wife, comes timidly to the door,
wiping her hands on her apron)

Ain't no man gonna tell me how to run my town. I God, I
'lected myself in and I'm gonna run it. (Turns and sees wife
standing in door. Commandingly)

MATTIE: I God, Mattie, git on back in there and wait on that store!

CLARK: I God, woman, what good is you? Gwan, git in. Look like
between women and preachers a man can't have no peace. (Exits)

SIMS: (Continuing his argument) Now, when I pastored in Jacksonville you oughta see what kinds jails they got there...

LOUNGER: White folks needs jails. We colored folks don't need no jails.

ANOTHER: Yes, we do, too. Elder Simms is right...

(The argument becomes a hubbub of voices)

TAYLOR: (Putting down his basket) Now, I tell you a jail...

MRS. TAYLOR: (Emerging from the store door, arms full of groceries, look-

Page (11)

MULE BONE

Page (12)

ing at her husband)

Yeah, and if you don't shut up and git these rations home
I'm gomma be worse on you than a jail and six judges. Pick
up that basket and let's go. (TONY meekly picks up the bas-
ket and he and his wife exit as the sound of an
approaching guitar is heard off stage.)

(Two carelessly dressed, happy-go-lucky fellows enter together. One is fingering a guitar without playing any particular tune, and the other has his hat cocked over his eyes in a burlesque, dude-like manner. There are casual greetings.)

WALTER:

Hey, there, bums, how's tricks?

LIG:

What yo' sayin', boys?

HAMBO:

Good evenin', sons.

LIGE:

How did y'all make out this evenin', boys?

JIM:

Oh, them white folks at the party shelled out right well. Dave busy pickin' it up. How much did we make today, Dave?

DAVE:

(Striking his pocket) I don't know, boy, but feels right heavy here. Kept me pickin' up money jus' like this... (As

JIM picks a few dance chords, DAVE gives a dance imitation of how he picked up the coins from the ground as the white folks threw them)

We count it after while. Woulda divided up with you already if you hadn't left me when you seen Daisy comin' by. Let's set down on the porch and res' now.

LIGE:

She she is lookin' stylish and pretty since she come back with her white folks from up North. Wearin' the swellest clothes. And that coal-black hair of hers jus' won't quit.

MATTIE CLARK:

(In Doorway) I don't see what the mens always hanging after Daisy Taylor for.

CLARK:

(Turning around on the porch) I God, you back here again? Who's tendin' that store? (MATTIE disappears into store)

DAVE:

Well, she always did look like new money to me when she was here before.

JIM:

Well, that's all you ever did get was a look.

DAVE:

That's all you know! I bet I get more'n that now.

JIM:

You might git it but I'm the man to use it. I'm a bottom fish.

DAVE:

Aw, man, You musta been walkin' round here fast asleep when Daisy was in this county last. You ain't been de go I had wid her.

JIM:

No, I ain't seen it. Bet you didn't have no letter from her while she been away.

DAVE:

Bet you didn't neither.

JIM:

Well, it's just cause she can't write. If she knew how to scratch with a pencil I'd had a ton of 'em.

DAVE:

Shaw, man! I'd had a post office full of 'em.

OLD WOMAN:

Y'all ought to be a-shame, carrying on over a brazen heifer like Daisy Taylor, Jus' cause she's been up North and come back, I reckon you cuttin' de fool she 'nuff now. She ain't studyin' none of yo'll nohow. All she wants is what you got in your pocket.

JIM:

I likes her but she won't git nothin' outa me. She never did. I wouldn't give a poor consumed cripple crab a crutch to cross the River Jurdon.

DAVE:

I know I ain't gomma give no woman nothin'. I wouldn't give a dog a doughnut if he tree a terrapin.

LIGE:

Youse a cottontail dispute... both of you. You'd give her anythin' you got. You'd give her Georgia with a fence 'roun' it.

OLD WOMAN:

Yeah, and she'd take it, too.

LINDSAY:

Don't distriminate the woman like that. That ain't nothin' but hogism. Ain't nothin' the matter with Daisy, she's all right. (Enter TEE'S and BOOTSE'S tittering coyly and switching themselves.)

BOOTSE:

Is you seen my mama?

OLD WOMAN:

You know you ain't lookin' for mo mama. Jus' come back down here to show your shape and fan 'round awhile. (BOOTSE'S and TEETS going into the store.)

BOOTSE & TEETS:

No, we ain't. We'se come to get our mail.

OLD WOMAN:

(After girls enter store) Why don't y'all keep up some 'tention to these nice gals here, Bootsie and Teets. They wants to marry.

DAVE:

Aw, who thinkin' 'bout marryin' now? They better stay home and eat their own pe's rations. I gotta buy myself some shoes.

Page (12)

MULE BONE

Page (14)

DAVE:
Rabbit on the log.
Ain't got no dog.
Shoot him with my rifle
Bam! Bam!

(Some of the villagers join in song and others
get up and march around the porch in time with
the music. BOOTSIIE and TEETS re-enter, TEETS
placing her letter down the neck of her blouse.
JOE LINDSAY grabs TEETS and WALTER THOMAS grabs
BOOTSIIE. There is dancing, treating and general
jollification. Little children dance the parse-
me-la. The music fills the air just as the sun
begins to <u>gg</u>own. Enter DAISY TAYLOR coming
down the road toward the store).

CLARK:
(Bawls out from the store porch) I God, there's Daisy again.
(Most of the dancing stops, the music slows down
and then stops completely. DAVE and JIM greet
DAISY casually as she approaches the porch.)

JIM:
Well, Daisy, we know you, too.

DAVE:
Gal, youse jus' as pretty as a speckled pup.

DAISY:
(Giggling) I see you two boys always playin' and singin'
together. That music sounded right good floating down the
road.

JIM:
Yeah, child, we'se been playin' for the white folks all week.
We'se playin' for the colored now.

DAVE:
(Showing off, twirling his dancing feet) Yeah, we'se stan-
din' on our abstract and livin' on our income.

OLD MAN:
Um-ump, but they ain't never workin'. Jus' roun' here play-
in' as usual.

JIM:
Some folks think you ain't workin' lessen you smellin' a
mule. (He sits back down on box and picks at his guitar.)
Think you gotta be beatin' a man to his barn every mornin'.

VOICE:
Glad to be roun' home with we-all again, ain't you Daisy?

DAISY:
Is I glad? I jus' got off special early this <u>evening</u> to come
over here and see everybody. I was kinda 'fraid sundown <u>max</u>
would catch me 'fore I got roun' that lake. Don't know how
I'm gonna walk back to my workin' place in the dark by my-
self.

DAVE:
Don't no girl as good-lookin' as you is have to go home by
herself tonight.

JIM:
No, cause I'm here.

DAVE:
(To DAISY) Don't you trust yourself roun' that lake wid
all them 'gators and moccasins with that nigger there, Daisy
(Pointing to JIM) He's jus' full of rabbit blood. What you
need is a real man... with good feet. (Cutting a dance step)

DAISY:
I ain't thinkin' 'bout goin' home yet. I'm goin' in the
store.

JIM:
What you want in the store?

DAISY:
I want some gum.

DAVE:
(Starting toward door) Girl, you don't have to go in there
to git no gum. I'll go in there and buy a carload of gum.
What kind you want?

DAISY:
Bubble gum. (DAVE goes in the store with his hand in his
pocket. The sun is setting and the twilight deep-
ens.)

JIM:
(Pulling package out of his pocket and laughing) Here yo'
gum, baby. What it takes to please the ladies, I totes it.
I don't have to go get it, like Dave. What you gimme for it?

D.AISY:
A bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck. (She embrac-
JIM playfully. He hands her the gum, patting his
shoulder as he sits on box.)

Oh, thank you. Youse a ready man.

JIM:
Yeah, there's a lot of good parts to me. You can have West
Tampa if you want it.

DAISY:
You always was a nice quiet boy, Jim.

DAVE:
(Emerging from the store with a package of gum)
Here's yo' gum, Daisy.

JIM:
Oh, youse late. She's done got gum now. Chaw that yourse'f.
(Slightly peeved and surprised) Hunh, you mighty fast there
with Daisy but you wasn't that fast gettin' out of that
white man's chicken house last week.

JIM:
Who you talkin' 'bout?

Page (14)

YULE BONE

Page (17)

<table>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>DAISY:</td>
      <td>(Coyly) Well, honey, play some more for me then, and don't min' Dave. I reckon he done danced enough. Play me "Shake That Thing".</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>OLD MAN WITH LANTERN:</td>
      <td>Sho, you ain't stowed, is you, boy? Music sound mighty good, floating down that old stream, cheery, cheery, Keep it up.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>OLD WOMAN:</td>
      <td>Yeah, Jim, go on play a little more. Don't get to actin' so niggerish this evenin'.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DAVE:</td>
      <td>Aw, let the ol' darky alone. Nobody don't want to hear him play, nonow. I know I don't.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>JIM:</td>
      <td>Well, I'm gonna play. (He begins to pick "Shake That Thing"'S) TWEETS and BOOBSIE begin to dance with LIGE MOGELY and FRANK VARRICK. As the tune gets good, DAVE cannot resist the music either.)</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DAVE:</td>
      <td>Old nigger's evil but he sho can play. (He begins to do a few steps by himself, then twirls around in front of DAISY and approaches her. DAISY, overcome by the music, begins to step rhythmically toward DAVE and together they dance unobserved by JIM, absorbed in picking his guitar.)</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DAISY:</td>
      <td>Look here, baby, at this new step I learned up North.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DAVE:</td>
      <td>You can show me anythin', sugar lump.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DAISY:</td>
      <td>Hold me tight now. (But just as they begin the new movement, JIM notices DAISY and DAVE. He stops playing again and lays his guitar down.)</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>VOICES IN CROWD:</td>
      <td>(Disgustedly) Aw, come on, Jim. You mus' be jealous.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>JIM:</td>
      <td>No, I ain't jealous. I jus' get tired of seein' that ol' nigger clinow! all the time.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DAVE:</td>
      <td>(Laughing and pointing to JIM on porch) Look at that mad baby. Take that lip up off the groun'. Got your mouth stuck out jus' because some one is enjoyin' themselves. (He comes up and pushes JIM playfully.)</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>JIM:</td>
      <td>You better go 'head and let me alone. (To DAISY) Come here, Daisy!</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>LIGE:</td>
      <td>That's jus' what I say. Niggers can't have no fun without someone gettin' mad - specially over a woman.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>JIM:</td>
      <td>I ain't mad. Daisy, 'scuse me, honey, but that fool, Dave--</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DAVE:</td>
      <td>I ain't mad neither - Jim always tryin' to throw off on me. But you can't joke him.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DAISY:</td>
      <td>(Soothingly) Aw, now, now!</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>JIM:</td>
      <td>You ain't jokin'. You means that, nigger. And if you tryin' to get hot, first thing, you can pull off my blue shirt you put on this momin'.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DAVE:</td>
      <td>Youse a-got that wrong. I ain't got on no shirt of yours.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>JIM:</td>
      <td>Yes, you is gpt on my shirt, too. Don't tell me you ain't got on my shirt.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DAVE:</td>
      <td>Well, even if I is, you can just lift your big plantations out of my shoes. You can jus' foot it home barefooted.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>JIM:</td>
      <td>You try to take any shoes offa me!</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>LIGE:</td>
      <td>(Pacifying them) Aw, there ain't no use of all that. What you all want to start this quarrelin' for over a little jokin'?</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>JIM:</td>
      <td>Nobody's quarrelin' - I'm jus' playin' a little for Daisy, and Dave's out thereclinow! with her.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>CLARK:</td>
      <td>(In doorway) I ain't gona have no fussin' roun' my store, no way. Shut up, you-all.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>JIM:</td>
      <td>Well, Mayor Clark, I ain't mad with him. We'se been frien's all our lives. He's alep'rin my bed and wore my clothes and et my grub...</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DAVE:</td>
      <td>I et your grub? And many time as you done laid down with your belly full of my grandma's collard greens! You done et my meat and bread a whole lot more times'n I et your stewed fish-heads.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>JIM:</td>
      <td>I'd rather eat stewed fish-heads than steal out of other folkses chicken-houses, so much till you went to sleep on the roost and fell down (One night and broke up the settin' hen.) (Loud laughter from the crowd)</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DAVE:</td>
      <td>Youse a liar if you say I stole anybody's chickens. I didn't have to. But you - 'fore you started goin' 'round with me, playin' that little box of yours, you was so mongry you had the white mouth. If it wasn't for these white folks throwin' mah money for mah dancin', you would be thin as a whisper right now.</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Page (17)

MULE BONE

Page (18)

JIM: (Laughing sarcastically) Your dancin'. You been leaping 'round here like a tailless monkey in a wash pot for a long time and nobody was payin' no 'tention to you, till I come along playin'.

LINDSAY: Boys, boys, that ain't no way for frien's to carry on.

DAISY: Well, if you all gonna keep up this quarrelin' and carryin' on I'm goin' home. 'Bout time for me to be gittin' back to my white folks anyhow. It's dark now. I'm goin', even if I have to go by myself. I shouldn't-a stopped by here nohow.

JIM: (Stopping his quarrel) You ain't gonna go home by yourself. I'm goin' with you.

DAVE: (Singing softly)
It may be so,
I don't know,
But it sounds to me
Like a lie.

WALTER: Dave ain't got as much rabbit blood as folks thought.

DAVE: Tell em 'bout me. (Turns to DAISY) Won't you choose a treat on me, Miss Daisy, 'fore we go?

DAISY: (Coyly) Yessir, thank you. I want a drink of soda water.

(DAVE pulls his hat down over his eyes, whirls around and offers his arm to DAISY. They strut into the store, DAVE gazing contemptuously at JIM as he passes. Crowd roars with laughter, much to the embarrassment of JIM)

LIGE: Ol' fast Dave jus' rumin' the hawg right over you, Jim.

WALTER: Thought you was such a hot man.

LUMBOGER: Want me to go in there and put Daisy under arrest and bring her to you?

JIM: (Sitting down on the edge of porch with one foot on the step and lights a cigarette pretending not to be bothered.)

Aw, I'll get her when I wants her. Let him treat her, but see who struts aroun' that lake and down the railroad with her by and by.

(DAVE and DAISY emerge from the store, each holding a bottle of red soda pop and laughing together. As they start down the steps DAVE accidentally steps on JIM'S outstretched foot. JIM jumps up and pushes DAVE back, causing him to spill the red soda all over his shirt front.)

JIM: Stay off my foot, you big ox.

DAVE: Well, you don't have to wet me all up, do you, and me in company? Why don't you put your damn foot in your pocket?

DAISY: (Wiping DAVE'S shirt front with her handkerchief) Aw, ain't that too bad.

JIM: (To DAVE) Well, who's shirt did I wet? It's mine, anyhow, ain't it?

DAVE: (Beligerently) Well, if it's your shirt, then you come take it off me. I'm tired of your lip.

JIM: Well, I will.

DAVE: Well, put your fist where your lip is. (Pushing DAISY aside)

DAISY: (Frightened) I want to go home. Now, don't you all boys fight. (JIM attempts to come up the steps. DAVE pushes him back and he stumbles and falls in the dust. General excitement as the crowd senses a fight.)

LITTLE BOY: (On the edge of crowd) Fight, fight, you're no kid.

Kill one 'nother, won't be no sin. Fight, fight, you're no kid.

(JIM jumps up and rushes for DAVE as the latter starts down the steps. DAVE meets him with his fist squarely in the face and causes him to step backward, confused)

DAISY: (Still on porch, half crying) Aw, my Lawd! I want to go home. (General hubbub, women's cries of "Don't let 'em fight." "Why don't somebody stop 'em?" "What kind of men is you-all, sit there and let them boys fight like that." Men's voices urging the fight: "Aw, let 'em fight." "Gon for him, Dave." "Slug him, Jim".

JIM makes another rush toward the steps. He staggers DAVE. DAVE knocks JIM sprawling once more. This time JIM grabs the mule bone as he rises.

One rushes DAVE, strikes him over the head with it and

Page (18)

MULE BONE

knocks him out. DAVE falls prone on his back.
There is great excitement.)

**OLD WOMAN:** (Screams) Lawdy, is he kilt? (Several men rush to the fallen man.)

**VOICE:** Run down to the pump and get a dipper o' water.

**CLARK:** (To his wife in door) Mattie, come out of that store with a bottle of witch hazely oil quick as you can! Jim Weston, I'm gonna arrest you for this. You, Lum Boger. Where is that marshall? Lum Boger? (LUM BOGER detaches himself from the crowd.)

**LUM:** Arrest Jim!
(Grabbing JIM'S arm, relieves him of the mule bone and looks helplessly at the MAYOR)

**CLARK:** Now I got him arrested, what's I goin' to do with him?
Lock him up back yonder in my barn till Monday when we'll have the trial in de Baptist Church.

**LINDSAY:** Yeah, just like all the rest of them Methodist - always tryin' to take undercurrents on people.

**WALTER:** Ain't no worse'n some of you Baptists, nohow. You-all don't run this town. We got jus' as much to say as you have.

**CLARK:** (Angrily to both men) Shut up! Done had enough arguin' in front of my place. (To LUM BOGER) Take that boy on and lock him up in my barn. And save that mule bone for evidence.

(LUM BOGER leads JIM off toward the back of the store. A crowd follows. DAISY and WOMAN are busy applying restoratives to DAVE, arguing. DAISY stands alone, unnoticed in the center of the stage.)

**DAISY:** (Worriedly) Now, who's gonna take me home?

:::CURTAIN:::

MULBOONE

Page (2)

(General laughter on Methodist side.)

SISTER TAYLOR: Some folks is a whole lot more keerful 'bout a louse in de church then da is in day house. (Looks pointedly at SISTER L'YIS.)

SISTER L'YIS: (bristling) 'That you gamin' at me fo'? Did your popeyes lookin' like skirt gimy-nuts?

SISTER TAYLOR: I hate to tell you whut yo' mouf looks like. I thinks you an' soap an' water musta had some words. Over-time you lifts yo' arm you smell like a nest of yellow hammers.

SISTER L'YIS: "ell, I ain't seen no bath tubs in your house.

SISTER TAYLOR: Mought yo have no tub, but tain't no lice on me though.

SISTER L'YIS: Av, you got just as many bed-bugs and chinces as anybody else. I seen de bed-bugs marchin' out of yo' house in de mornin', keepin' step just like soldiers drillin'.

SISTER TAYLOR: You got that wrong, I ------
(Enter BROTHER TAYLOR with his jeckt on his arm and climbs over the knees of a bench full of people and finds a seat against the wall directly beneath an empty lamp bracket. He looks around for some place to dispose of his coat. Sees the lamp-bracket and hangs the coat there. Hitches up his pants and sits down.)

SISTER L'YIS: Wait a minuet (rising up and glaring at NIXON) SHUT UP NIXON, you take yo' lousy coat down off these sacred walls. Ain't you Meth'dis' miggers got no gumption in de house of wash-up!

(NIXON mocks her by standing akimbo and shaking hi self like a woman. General laughter. He prepares to resume his seat, but looks over and sees JAGGER LUBBO on his feet, and glaring angrily at him. He quickly reaches up and takes the coat down and folds it across his knee.)

SISTER TAYLOR: (Looks very pointedly at SISTER L'YIS, then takes a dip of snuff and looks sneering at L'YIS again.) If I kept de dirty house you keeps ma mouth would be a closed book. (Loud laughter from the Meth'dis' side.)

SISTER L'YIS: (furious, rises arms akimbo.) Well, my house might not be exactly clean, but there's no fly-specks on my character! They didn't have to git de sheriff to make Willie marry me like they did to make Tony marry you.

SISTER TAYLOR: (jumpin' up and starting across the aisle. She is pulled back out of the aisle by friends.) Yeah, they got de sheriff to make Tony marry me, but he married me and made me a good husband too. I sits in my rocking cheer on my porch ev'ry Sat'day ev'nin' and say: "Here come Tony and them"

SISTER L'YIS: (scornfully) Them That?

SISTER TAYLOR: Them dollars, that's what! Now you sho orter go it de sheriff and a shot gun and make some of dese men marry yo' daughter, ADA.

SISTER L'YIS: (jumpin' up and startin' across the aisle. She is restrained, but struggles here. Lene go, JIM WROGLET: Turn me go! I'm goin' to stomp her till she can't sit down.

SISTER TAYLOR: (also struggling) Let her come on! If I get my hands on her I'll turn her every way but loose.

SISTER L'YIS: Just come on out dis church, LUCY TAYLOR. I'll beat you on everything but yo' tongue, and I'll give dat a lick if you stick it out. (to the men holding her.) Turn me go! I'm goin' to rix her so her o'n Mammy won't know her.

SISTER TAYLOR: (trying to free herself) Why don't y'all turn dat ole twist mouth 'oman loose? All I wants to do is hit her one lick. I betcha I'll take her 'way from here faster than de word of God.

SISTER L'YIS: (to men holding Mrs. Taylor) I don't see how come y'all won't let old LUCY TAYLOR a loose. Make out she so bad, now. She may be red hot but I kin cool her. I'll ride her just like Jesus rode a jockey.

(As they subside into their seats again, but glare at each other, MAYOR CLARK comes thru the pulpit door. He is annoyed at the clamor going on. He tries to quell the noise.)

FULL DONE

Page (3)

with a frown.)

SISTE R TAYLOR: Dat ain't nothin' but talk. You looks lak de devil
before day, but you ain't so bad; not half as bad as
you smell.

SIST R LEWIS: You looks like de devil's doll baby, but all I want you
to do is put it where I kin git it an' I'll sho use it.

TAYOR BROWN: (booming) Here! Here! (feeling everywhere for the
gavel.) LUM BOOR! There's dat gavel I done told
you to put here?

LUM BOOR: (from beside prisoner) You said you was gonna bring
yo'self.

SIST R TAYLOR: (to LEWIS) Aw, shut up, you big ole he-looking rascal
you! Nobody don't know whether youse aman or a woman.

S. L. LEWIS: (to SIST R TAYLOR) Air Lawd! Dat ain't your trouble.
They all knows what you is eg-zackly.

LINDSAY: Aw? Why don't you winmen cut dat out in de church house?
Jus' jawin' an' chewin' de rag!

S. L. TAYLOR: JOE LINDSAY, if you'd go home an' feed dat redbony
horse of yours, you wouldn't have so much time to
stick yo' bill in business that ain't yourn.

S. L. LEWIS: JOE LINDSAY don't you know no better than to strain
wid folks ain't got sense enough to tote guts to a
bear? If they ain't born wid no sense, you can't
learn 'em none.

LINDSAY: You sho done tote whut God love now. (glaring across
the aisle.) Ain't got enough gumption to bell a
buzzard.

LUM R: Huh! MARSHALL had done forgot de bone.

S. L. TAYLOR: It's a wonder he ain't forgot de himself.

CLARK: (rappin' sharply with gavel) Here! you moufy winmen
shut up. (to LUM) LUM you go on back there and shut dem
winmen up or put 'em outa here. They shan't contempt
this court. (He wipes his eye Clases.)

(LUM starts w. lking importantly down the
aisle towards SIST R TAYLOR. She almost
rises to meet him.)

S. TAYLOR: LUM BOOR, you fresh little snot you! Don't you dast
to come here tryin' to put me out; many diapers as I done
pinned on you! (fiercely) Git away from me before I
knock every nap off of yo' head, one by one.

(LUM BOOR hurries away from her apologetically.
He turns towards Mrs. Lewis.)

SIS. L. LEWIS: (calmly) Deed God knows you better not lay de weight of yo'
hand on me. LUM. Gwan way from here before I kick yo'
clothes up round yo' neck like a horse collar.

CLARK: (glaring ferociously) This court is set an' 18m bound
to have some order or else. (the talking ceases. Ab-
solute quiet.) Here

CLARK: How less git down to business. We got folks in dis town
dat's just like a snake in de grass.

SIST R PITTS: Brother ' mayor! We ain't got no business goin' into no trial,
a nor nothin' else 'thout a word of prayer to be sure de
right sprit is done wid us.

VOICE ON B. SIDE: Pass right, LUM R PITS. Give us a word of prayer.
He rises hurriedly.)

Page (3)

MULBONE

TAYLOR: Yeall done started all dis mess, how you goin' to git to git de right spirit here? Go 'head R.W. SINDS.

LYIS: He can't pray over me. Dis church says: One Lord, one faith, one Baptism, and a man that ain't never been baptised at all ain't got no business prayin' over nobody.

CLARK: (ragging with gavel) Less sing! Somebody raise a tune.

VOICE ON D. LIX: (begins) "Onward Christian Soldiers" (and the other join in)

VOICE OF M. LIXE: (begins) "All hail the power of Jesus name," (and the Methodists join in.)

CLARK: (Praying quickly) Lord be with us and bless these few remarks we are about to receive amen. Now this court is open for business. All of know we come here on serious business. This town is bout to be tore up by backbiting and malice and mouthy women. (Glaring at SISTERS)

I wants the witness to take the front seat. (Nearly everybody in the room rises. CLARK tries to count them.)

HAYBO: (Frowns across the aisle at Mrs. LUCAS, who is standing.) What you doing standing up for a witness? I know you wuzn't there.

SISTER LUCIA: I got just as much right to testify as you is. I don't keer if I wasn't there. Any man that treats they wife as bad as you can't tell nobody else they eye is black. You clean round yo' own door before you go sweeping round other folks.

3. LINDAY: (to Nixon) But you doing up the e testifyin? Then you done let yo' hawg root up all my p'tater patch?

NIXON: Aw, shut up woman. You ain't had no taters for no pig to root up.

3. LINDAY: Who ain't had no taters? to LICE) Look here, LICE, didn't I git a whole crocus sack full of tater slips from yo' brother, SAM?

LICE: (Reluctantly.) Yeah.

3. LINDAY: Course I had sweet p'taters! And if you stand up there and tell me I ain't had no p'taters, I'll be all over you just like gravy over rice.

NIXON: Aw, shut up. We ain't come here to talk about yo' tater vines. We come--------

3. LINDAY: (to her husband) JOE! But kind of a husband is yo'?

SISTER LUCIA: Sit here and let NIXON 'buse me out lak dat.

SISTER LUCIA: How is JOE goin' give anybody a straighten', when he needs straightenin' hisself?

SISTER LINDO: Aw, you ain't got no right to talk, VALTER. Not low down as you is. If somebody stump their toe in dis town you bolt over to Matiland an' puke yo' cuts out to de white folks, and God knows I 'bominates a white folk nigger.

SISTER LUCIA: Aw, you jus' mad 'cause I wouldn't let your old starved-out cow eat up my cow-peas.

CLARK: (pounding) Hush and lenne count.

SISTER LINDO: (triumphantly) Unhuh! I knew you was the one knocked my cow's horn off! And you lied like a doodle-bug goin' backwards in his hole an' made out you didn't do it.

SISTER LUCIA: I didn't do no such a t ing, woman.

SISTER LINDO: I say you did, and I belong to Macedonia Baptist Church an' I can't lie.

DILTON LINDO: VALER THOMAS, talk dat big city talk to me, not to my wife. Maybe you kin whip her, but if you can't whip me, too, don't bring de mess up.

CLARK: (ragging) Y'all men folks shup up before I put you both under arrest. Come to order everybody.

LINDAY: I just want a say this before we go any further. No-body bet'not slur my wife in here. Do, I'll strow 'em de country.

NIXON: Aw, youse de nastiest threatener in three states, but I ain't seen you do nothin'. I be seat of yo' pants is too close to de ground for you to be crowin' so loud. You's so short you smell right earthy.

Page (4)

Mulebone

Page (5)

CLARK:

Shut up! 'We didn't come here to wash an' iron niggers! 'We come here for a trial. (raps)

JRS. NIXON:

CLARK:

SISTER NIXON, shut Up!

JRS. NIXON:

You can't shut me up, not the way you live. Then you quit beatin' JRS. MATTIE an' dominating her all de time, then you kin tell other folks what to do. You ain't none my boss, not de way you sells rancid bacon for fresh.

CLARK:

(to MARGINAL) LUN BOOR, sit me a pencil (DO JRS. NIXON) big a bill as you owe me store, you ain't gonna get nothin' else till you pay.

JRS. NIXON:

Huh! I can trade in Naitland--an' see if I pays you now.

NIXON:

Av, honey, hush a while, please, and less git started. you don't pay de bills no how. (The men laugh.)

JIM:

Lavd: Lavd: We done set de whole town fightin'.

DAN:

Boy, we sho is!

JENNY LYN:

Son, don't talk vid yo' sailent. He's a wicked man.

JAN:

How come I can't talk vid him? Know him all my life.

SISTER LYN:

DAN:

Was our fight, varn't it?

JIM:

You niggers just tryin' to et us messed up on some kind o' mess. DAVE knows I ain't meant to hurt him.

SISTER:

DAN:

No, he didn't. We's just friendly-fightin'-like.

SISTER CLARK:

He sho tried to kill you!

(A momentary quiet falls on the stage when

CLARK raps. NIXON glowers all over the place.)

CLARK:

Here. Quiet till you's called on. (turns to LUN) LUN, git a piece of papr an take de names of all de witnesses who was there while de fight was goin' on.

LUN:

(Pulling a stone tablet and pencil out of his coat pocket) I brought it with me.

CLARK:

J. ANDERSON:

CLARK:

But you didn't see it.

J. ANDERSON:

It don't make no difference. My husband heered ev'ry word, was spoke an' told me, jes' lak it happen. Don't tell me I can't testify.

DAN: ANDERSON:

J. ANDERSON:

JRS. BLUNT:

Jus' you take my chil 's name right out yo' mouf, Becky Anderson. She was on her way back to her white folks when all this happen.

J. ANDERSON:

Well, Cod knows if day Daisy was mine, I'd throw her down an put a hundred lashes on her back wid a plow-line. Here she come in de store Sat'day night (acts coy and comuettish, burlesques Daisy's walk) a wringing and a twisting!

JRS. BLUNT:

You better hush while you are! You niggers got my DAISY's name all mixed up in dis mess an' she at work can't defend herself.

JRS. TAYLOR:

You musn't mind, SISTER BLUNT. People just will talk. They's talkin' in New York an' they's talkin' in Georgia an they's talkin' in Italy.

SISTER PITTS:

Chile, if you listen at SISTER folkses talk, they'll have you in de graveyard of in Chattahoochee-one.

JRS. BLUNT:

Well I know one thing. De man or woman, chick or child, grizzly or gray, that tells me to my face anythin' wrong 'bout my chile, I'm goin' to take my first (Rolling up right sleeve and gesturing with right fist) and knock their teeth down they throat. (She looks Furocious) 'Case y'all know I raised my Daisy right round my foot till I let her go up North last year wid them white folks. I'd ruther her to be in de white folks' kitchen then walkin' de street like some of dese gals round here. If I do say so, I done raised a ledy. She can't help it if all dese mons get stuck on her.

JRS. TAYLOR:

You'se tellin' de truth, SISTER BLUNT. That's what I always say: Don't confidance dese niggers. Do, they'll show you in de street.

Page (5)

Page (6)

YUL BOND

MRS. CHOLAS: New indeed, new r syndicate wide miggers. Do, they'll sho put you in do street.

MRS. BLUNT: Just as she as you snore. An' they better leave Daisy's name out dis, too, and Daisy better not leave them white folks' house today to come truipsin' over here scornin' her name all up wid dis niger mess. Do, I'll kill her. No daughter of mine ain't goin' be mixed up in nothin' like this.

MRS. CHOLAS: That's right, SISTER BLUNT. I glory in yo' spunk.

MAYOR CLARK: Sit down, SISTER BLUNT, an' shot up. Ain't gonna mention Daisy a-tall. Ain't gonna drag no woman's name in dis trial as the president.

MRS. BLUNT: You she said a mouthful, Sister. Dis she is a mess. Can't help from bein' uh mess. (Glare at MAYOR) Holdin' a trial in de Baptist Church! Some folks ain't got sense enough to do 'em till four o'clock, an it's way after half past three right now.

MAYOR CLARK: Shet up, dere, SISTERS! Set down! Who ast yo' pot to boil, nohow? A church trial is de bes' trial they is, anyhow, cause you better have a good experience here an' strong determination. (Raps vigorously) Now lenme tell y'all somethin'. Then de Mayor sets court, don't keer when I sets it nor where I sets it, you got to git quiet and stay quiet till I ast you tuh talk. Set down! All o' yuh! I god, you sould lak a tree full uh blackbirds! Dis ain't no barbecue, nor neither no camp meetin'. We 'sembled here tuh law uh boy on a serious charge.

(A great buzz rises from the congregation. MAYOR raps hard for ord' and glares all about him.)

Heah! Heah! All O' us kin sing at de same time, but can't but one o' us talk at a time. I'm doin' de talkin' now, so de res' o' you dry up till I get through. I God, you sound lak uh pasel uh dog fights! We ain't here for no form and no fashion and no outside show to de worl'. We' se here to law!

SMALL GIRL: (In window on opposite side, left, with other children) Y'all ole Meth'dis' ain't got no window panes in yo' church down yonder in de swamp.

CLARK: (Booming) You chillun shut up and get out o' them winders. You LUN'

(LUN' stops taking names to go show the children. The old people aid him, and the children on left run off singing.)

I got my lick in de Baptis' church, Gointer eat up de Meth'dis' pie.

LUN': (Rapping) You done got all de witnesses straight an' got they names down?

LUN': Yassuh, I got it all straightened out.

CLARK: Well, read de names out and let de witnesses take de front seats. Who is they?

LUN': (Reading) MRS. LUCY CAILORS, SISTER LINDA PITTS, SISTER DOLL HUON, DANNY HUON, BROKER LINDA HUON, BROKER JOY LINDSAY.....

LINDSAY: Brother, my eye!

LUN': (Continuing the reading of the list) MR. SYKES JOHNS, SISTER LAURA GARNER, MR. PAT JEFFERSON. And they was lots no' there but they say they ain't gonna witness. (Those whose names were read begin to rise and start forward.)

LUN': They better not neither.

SISTERS: Shess! De devil can't hurt you, son. An' them what speaks against you is devils.

Page (6)

MULE BONE

ACT III - Page 9.

CLARK: Um - hmmm! Dat's right.
SIS. THOMAS: Hear him, Lawd! How he kin lie!
SIS. NIXON: An' then re-lie!
HAMBO: (To CLARK) You 'lows dese 'ruptions in de court?
CLARK: (To WOMEN, rapping) Hush! I say, hush! Hambo, is you through?
HAMBO: (Sitting down pompously) I is.
SIS. THOMAS: Well, I ain't.
CLARK: Well, then, say yo' say. I God, speak.
SIS. THOMAS: Well, Brother Mayor, I ain't one of these folks dat bite my tongue an' bus' my gall - whut's inside got to come out! I can't see to my rest why you cloakin' in wid dese Baptis' buzzards 'ginst yo' own church.
CLARK: I ain't cloakin' in wid none. I'm de Mayor of dis whole town ... I stands for de right an' ginst de wrong - I don't keer who it kill or cure.
SIS. THOMAS: You think it's right to be runnin' dat boy off for nothin'?
CLARK: I God'. You call knockin' a man in de head wid a mule bone nothin'? 'Nother thing, I done missed nine of my bes' layin' hens. I ain't sayin' Jim got 'em, but different people has tole me he burries a powerful lot of feathers in his back yard. I God, I'm a ruint man! (To OLD WOMAN) Sister Pitts, le's hear whut you got to say!
SIS. PITTS: Brother Mayor, I wan't there, but I been knowin' this boy Dave since he was knee-high to a duck an' that boy wouldn't hurt nobody, but that varmint yonder (Pointing to JIM) is de crookedist limb of Satan that de Lawd ever made. He is a scoundrel, a rat, a low-down dog, a...
SIMS: (Jumping up) I objects! I objects! Nobody's got de right to call my charge no names like dat. (As CLARK is silent and SISTER PITTS goes on, "rascal, heathen, etc.")
CLARK: I objects! (Dances in front of MAYOR'S face) I objects! I God, SIMS, if you don't set down an' stop spittin' in my face I'll jam you over de head wid dis mallet.
SIMS: (Weakly) I objects.
CLARK: Dat'll do! Dat'll do! Dry up, suhi! (Turning to DAVE) Stand up, Dave. Since yous de one got hurted, you tell me jus' whut went on out dere. (DAVE rises slowly).
MRS. TAYLOR: Dat's right, Dave. Git up dere an' lie lak de cross ties from New York to Texas. You greasy rascal, you! You better go wash yo'self befo' you go testifyin' on people.
DAVE: (Calmly) I'm jus' as clean as you. (JIM laughs)
SINGLETARY: (Jumping to his feet) Wit a minute! 'Gain't none o' y'all got no call to be thowin' off on dis boy. He come here to git justice, not to be slurred an' low-rated. He ain't 'assaulted nobody. He ain't stole no chickens. He's a clean boy. He set at mah feet in Sunday School since he was so high (Measures knee height.)
MRS. TAYLOR: and he come through religion under de sound of mah voice an' I baptized him an' I know he's clean.
DAVE: It'll take more'n uh baptizin' to clean dat nigger.
MRS. TAYLOR: I goes in swimmin' nearly every day. I'm jus' as clean as anybody else.
CLARK: (MAYOR begins rapping for order. She shouts out) Swimmin' Dat ain't gointer clean de crust offa you. You ain't had a good bath since de devil was a hatchet.
CLARK: I'm goin' to have order heah...or else! G'wan, Dave!
DAVE: It's jus' lak you seen it Sat'day night, Y'all was there.
CLARK: Yeah, but dat vuz at de store. Dis is in court an' it's got to be tole.
SIMS: Jus' uh minute, Brother Clark, before we go any further, I wants to ast de witness uh question dat ougther be answered before he open his mouf.
CLARK: Whut kind of a question is dat?
SIMS: Dave, tell de truth. Ain't yo' heart full of envy an' malice 'ginst dis chile? (Gestures towards JIM. DAVE shakes his head and starts to deny the charge, but SIMS hurries on)
DAVE: Wait a minute, now! Wait till I git through. Didn't y'all used to run around everywhere playin' an' singin' an' everythin' till you got so full of envy an' malice an' devilment till y'all broke up? Now, Brother Mayor, make him tell de truth.
CLARK: Yeah, I useter be crazy 'bout Jim, and we was buddies till he tried to back bite me wid my girl.

Page (9)

MULE BONE

AGT 3 - Page 10.

JIM: Yo' girl! Never *was* yo' girl, nohow! I reckon I ain't none o' yo' buddy. I ain't got no buddy, they kilt my buddy tryin' to raise me. But I did useter lak you till you tried to root me out wid Dais....

SIS. BLUNT: Jes' dare!

MAYOR: Aw, table dat business, an' le's opon up new business. We ain't here to fin' out whose girl it is an' we ain't gonna mention no woman's name. We wants to know 'bout dis fight, an' who hit de first lick, an' how come. Go 'head on, Dave, an' talk.

JIM: Who's shirt?

DAVE: Yes, sir.

DAVE: I reckon he did.

Jim Weston, stand up, suh! (JIM rises sullenly) You're charged wid 'ssaultin' Dave Carter wid uh dangerous weepon. You heard de charge. Guilty or not guilty?

JIM: (Arrogantly) Yeah, I hit him an' I'll hit him agin if he crowd me. But I ain't guilty of no crime. (He hitches up his pants and sits down arrogantly)

CLARK: (Surprised) What's dat you say, Jim? (Raps sharply)

JIM: (Rising) I say, yeah, I lammed ole Dave wid de mule bone, but I ain't guilty uh nothin'.

(There is a stark silence for a few seconds. Then CLARK raps nervously.)

CLARK: How come you ain't guilty? (JIM sets down amid jubilant smiles of METHO'DISTS. SIMMS chuckles out loud and wipes his face with his handkerchief. He gets to his feet still laughing.)

HAMBO: Ain't dat de gospel?

CLARK: (Rapping once or twice) I God, tell it... wh whatever 'tis you got tuh tell!

SIS. LEWIS: My shetters ain't workin' good. Sposin' you come shet me up, Walter. Den you'll know it's done right.

LIGE: Aw, whyn't y'all ack lak folks an' leave de man talk!

SIMMS: (Glances down into his open Bible, then looks all around the room with great deliberation. It is evident he enjoys being the center of

Page (10)

MULE BONE

Act 3 - Page 11.

SIMMS: (Cont'd) De Bible says, be sho you're right, then go ahead.
(He looks all around to collect the admiration
he feels he has earned.)
How, we all done gathered an' 'sembled here tuh law dis young
lad of uh boy on uh mighty serious charge. Uh whole passel of
us is rarin' tuh drive him 'way from home lak you done drove
off his daddy an' his brothers.

SIMMS: Dat ain't de point, Brother Hambo.

SIMMS: Brother Mayor, how come you let dese people run they mouf lak uh passel uh cowbells? Ain't I got de floor? I ain't no breath-an'-britches. I was people in middle Georgy befo' I ever come to Floridy. Whut kin' of chairman is you, nohow?

CLARK: (Angrily) Yeah! Yeah! Don't you come tryin' t' show yo'self round me! I God, I don't keer whut you wuz in Georgy. I kin eat fried chicken when you cain't git rainwater tuh drink. Hurry up an' say whut you got in yo' craw an' set down. We needs yo' space more'n we needs yo' comp'ny.

NIXON: Don't let him skeer yo', Elder Simms. You got plenty shoulders tuh back yo' fallin'.

HAMBO: 'Well, each an' every shoulder kin hit de groun' an' I'll git wid 'em.

SIMMS: (Pompously) Now y'all done up an' took dis po' boy an' had him locked up in uh barn ever since Sat'day night an' done got him 'cused uh 'ssault an' I don't know whut all, an' you ain't got no business wid yo' hands on him a-tall. He ain't done no crime, an' if y'all knowed anythin' 'bout law, I wouldn't have tuh tell you so.

SIMMS: But not by law, Brother Mayor. You tryin' tuh lay uh hearin' on dis boy an' you can't do it 'cause he ain't broke no law. I don't keer whut he done so long as he don't break no law you can't touch him.

SINGLETARY:

SIMMS: He committed assault, didn't he? Dat sho is breakin' de law! Naw, he ain't committed no 'ssault. He jus' lammed Dave over de head, dat's all. (Triumphantly) Yuh see y'all don't know whut you talkin' 'bout. Now I done set in de court house an' heard de white folks law from mornin' till night. (He flips his Bible shut.)

SIMMS: (Sitting down and crossing his legs and folding his hands upon his Bible.)

SIMMS: (Arrograntly) Prove it!

Page (11)

MULE BONE

AGT 3 - Page 12.

(SINGLETARY stands silent and puzzled. The METHODIST side breaks into a triumphant shout of "Oh, Mary don't you weep, don't you moan, Pharoah's Army got Drownded". SINGLETARY sinks into his seat. When they have shouted out three choruses, SIMS rises to speak.)

**SIMS:** I move dat we sing doxology an' bring dis meetin' to uh close. We'se all workin' people, Brother Mayor. Dismiss us so we kin g'wan back to our work. De sun is two hours high yet.

**M. VOICE:** I second de motion.

**SIMS:** (Arising slowly) Hol' on there uh minute wid dat motion. Dis ain't no lodge meetin'. Dis is uh court an' bofe sides got uh right tuh talk.

**SIMS:** I ain't uh gointer do it. Any preacher dat amounts to uh hill uh beans would have his own Bible.

**CLARK:** I God, Singletary, you right here in yo' own church. Come on up here an' read out yo' pulpit Bible. I God, don't mind me bein' up here. Com on up.

(A great buzzing breaks out all over the church CLARK raps for order. SINGLETARY mounts the pulpit. SIMS begins to turn the leaves of his Bible.)

**SIMS:** Brother Mayor, you oughter let us outa here. You ain't got no case 'ginst dis boy. Don't waste our time for nothin'. Leave us go home.

**CLARK:** Aw, dry up, Simms, you done talked yo' talk! I God, leave Singletary talk this. (To SINGLETARY) Step on out when you ready, Reverend.

**SIMS:** (Reading) It says here in Judges 18:18 dat Samson slewed three thousand Philistines wid de jaw-bone of an ass.

**SIMS:** (On his feet) Yeah, but dis wasn't no ass. Dis was uh mule, Brother Mayor. Dismiss dis meetin' an' le's all go home.

**SIMS:** Yeah, but he was half-ass. A ass is uh mule's daddy, and he's bigger'n uh ass, too. (Emphatic gestures) Everybody knows dat, even de lil chillum.

**SIMS:** (Standing) Yeah, but we didn't come here to talk about no asses, neither no half-asses, nor no mule daddies. (Laughter from METHODISTS.)

We come to law uh boy for 'ssault an' larcency.

**SIMS:** (Very patiently) We'se comin' to dat pint now. Dat's de second claw uh de sentence we'se expoundin'. I say Jim Weston did have uh weepon in his hand when he 'ssaulted Dave. 'Cause y'all knows if de daddy is dangerous, den de son is dangerous too. An' y'all knows dat de further back you gits on uh mule de more dangerous he gits an' if de jaw-bone slewed three thousand people, by de time you gits back tuh his hocks, it's pizen enough tuh kill ten thousand. 'Tain't no knives nor no razors ever kilt no three thousand people. Now, folkses, I ast y'all whut kin be mo' dangerous dan uh mule bone? (To CLARK) Brother Mayor, Jim didn't jes' lam Dave an' walk off.... (very emphatic) he 'ssaulted him with de deadliest weepon there is in de world' an' left him layin' unconscious. Brother Mayor, he's uh criminal an' oughter be run outa dis peaceful town!

**SIMS:** (Standing) Brother Mayor, I objects. I done studied jury and I know whut I'm talkin' 'bout.

**CLARK:** Aw, dry up, Simms. You'se entirely out of order. You may be slick, but you kin stand another greasin'. Reverend Singletary is right. I God, I knows de law when I hear it. Stand up dere, Jim!

**CLARK:** Set down, Simms! I God, I know where to find you when I want you. (SIMS sits) Jim, I find you guilty as charged an' I wants you to git outa my town an' stay gone for two years. (To LUM)

的真实故事: CURTAIN:

MULE BONE

Act III - Page 1

JIM: Aw, go 'head on. You figgered I was gone too long to talk 'bout
You was haulin' it over to town to see Dave - dat's whut you was
doin' - after gittin' me all messed up.
DAISY: (Making as if to cry) I wasn't studyin' 'bout no Dave.
JIM: {Hopefully) Aw, don't tell me. (Sings) Ashes to ashes, dust
to dust, show me a woman that a man can trust.
(DAISY is crying now.)
JIM: Whut you crying for? You know you love Dave. I'm yo' monkey-
man. He always could do more wid you than I could.
DAISY: Naw, you ain't no monkey-man neither. I don't want you to leave
town. I didn't want y'all to be fightin' over me, nohow.
JIM: Aw, rock on down de road wid dat stuff. A two-timin' cloaker
like you don't keer what come off. Me and Dave been good frien's
ever since we was born till you had to go flouncin' yourself
aroun'.
DAISY: What did I do? All I did was to come over town to see you and
git a mouf-ful of gum. Next thing I know, y'all is fightin' an'
carryin' on.
JIM: (Stands silent for a while) Did you come over there Sat'day
night to see me sho 'muff, sugar babe?
DAISY: Everybody could see dat but you.
JIM: Jus' like I told you, Daisy, before you ever left from 'roun' he-
and went up North. I could kiss you every day - just as regular
as pig-tracks.
DAISY: An' I tole you I could stand it too - just as regular as you
could.
JIM: (Catching her by the arm and pulling her down with him onto the
rail.)
Set down, here, Daisy. Le's talk some chat. You want me sho
'muff? Hones' to God?
DAISY: (Coyly) 'Member whut I told you out on de lake last summer?
JIM: Sho 'muff, Daisy? (DAISY nods smilingly)
JIM: (Saddly) But I got to go 'way. Whut we gointer do 'bout dat?
DAISY: Where you goin', Jim?
JIM: (Looking sadly down the track) God knows.
(Off stage from the same direction from which
JIM entered, comes the sound of whistling and
tramping of feet on the ties.)
JIM: (Brightening) Dat's Dave! (Frowning) Wonder whut he doin'
walkin' dis track? (Looks accusingly at DAISY) I bet he's
goin' to yo' work-place.
DAISY: Whut for?
JIM: He ain't goin' to see de madame - must be goin' to see you.
(He starts to rise petulantly as DAVE comes upon
the scene. DAISY rises also.)
DAVE: (Looks accusingly from one to the other) Whut y'all jumpin'
up for? I...
JIM: Whut you gut to do wid us business? Tain't none of yo' business
if we stand up, set down or fly like a skeeter hawk.
DAVE: Who said I keered? Dis railroad belongs to de man - I kin walk
it good as you, cain't I?
JIM: (Laughing exultantly) Oh, yeah, Mr. Do-Dirty! You figgered
you had done run me on off so you could git Daisy all by yo'
self. You was headin' right for her work-place.
DAVE: I wasn't no such a thing.
JIM: You was. Didn't I hear you coming down de track all whistlin'
an' everythin'?
DAVE: Youse a big ole Georgy-somethin'-ain't-so! I done got my belly
full of Daisy Sat'day night. She can't snore in my ear no
more.
DAISY: (Indignantly) Whut you come here low-ratin' me for, Dave Gar-
ter? I ain't done nothin' to you but treat you white. Who
come rubbed yo' ole head for you yestiddy if it wasn't me?
DAVE: Yeah, you rubbed my head all right, and I lakted dat. But
everybody say you done toted a pan to Joe Clark's barn for Jim
before I seen you.
DAISY: Think I was goin' to let Jim lay there 'thout nothin' fitten
for a dog to eat?
DAVE: That's all right, Daisy. If you want to pay Jim for knockin'
me in de head, all right. But I'm a man in a class - in a class
to myself and nobody knows my name.
JIM: (Snatching Daisy around to face him) Was you over to Dave's
house yestiddy rubbing his ole head and cloakin' wid him to run

Act Three - Page 2.

MULE BONE

Act Three - Page 3.

**DAISY:** me outa town - and me locked up in dat barn wid de cows and mules?

**DAISY:** (Sobbing) All both of y'all hollerin' at me an' fussin' me jus' cause I tries to be nice - and neither one of y'all don't keer nothin' bout me.

(BOTH BOYS glare at each other over DAISY'S head and both try to hug her at the same time. She violently wrenches herself away from both and makes as if to go on.)

**DAISY:** Leave me go! Take yo' rusty pats offen me. I'm goin' on back to my work-place. I jus' got off to see 'bout y'all and look how y'all treat me.

**JIM:** Wait a minute, Daisy. I love you like God loves Gabriel - an' dat's His bes' angel.

**DAVE:** Daisy, I love you harder than de thunder can bump a stump - if I don't - God's a gopher.

**DAISY:** (Brightening) Dat's de first time you ever said so.

**DAVE & JIM:** Who?

**JIM:** Whut you hollerin' "Who" for?

**DAVE:** Speak when you spoken to - come when you called, next fall you'll be my coon houn' dog.

**JIM:** Table dat discussion. (Turning to DAISY) You ain't never give me no chance to talk wid you right.

**DAVE:** You made me feel like you was tryin' to put de Ned book on me all de time. Do you love me sho 'muff, Daisy?

**DAISY:** (Blooming again onto coquetry) Aw, y'all better stop dat. You know you don't mean it.

**DAVE:** Who don't mean it? Lemme tell you somethin', mama, if you was mine, I wouldn't have you countin' no ties wid yo' pretty lil toes. Know what I'd do?

**DAISY:** (Coyly) New, whut would you do?

**DAVE:** I'd buy you a whole passenger train - and hire some mens to run it for you.

**DAISY:** (Happily) Oo-ooh, Dave!

**JIM:** (To DAVE) De wind may blow, de doorway slam
Dat Stuff you shootin' ain't worth a dam.

**(To DAISY)** I'd buy you a great big ole ship - and then, baby, I'd buy you a ocean to sail yo' ship on.

**DAISY:** (Happily) Oo-ooh, Jim.

**DAVE:** (To JIM) A long train, a short caboose
Dat lie whut you shlotin', ain't no use!

(To DAISY) Miss Daisy, know what I'd do for you?

**DAISY:** New, whut?

**DAVE:** I'd come down de river ridin' a mud cat and leadin' a minnow.

**DAISY:** Lawd, Dave, you sho is propaganda.

**JIM:** (Peevishly) Naw he ain't - he's jus' lyin' - he's a noble liar. Know whut I'd do if you was mine?

**DAISY:** Naw, Jim.

**JIM:** I'd make a panther wash yo' dishes and a 'gator chop yo' wood for you.

**DAVE:** Daisy, how come you let Jim lie lak dat? He's as big a liar as he is a man. But sho 'muff, now, laying six feet high, a-side all jokes, Jim there don't even know how to answer you. If you don't b'lieve it - ast him somethin'.

**DAISY:** (To JIM) You like me much, Jim?

**JIM:** (Enthusiastically) Yeah, Daisy, I sho' do.

**DAVE:** (Triumphant) See dat! I tole you he didn't know how to answer nobody like you. If he was talking to some of them ol' funny-lookin' gals over town he'd be answering 'em jus' right. But he got to learn how to answer you. Now you ast me something and see how I answer you.

**DAISY:** Do you like me, Dave?

**DAVE:** (Ver properly in a falsetto voice) Yes, ma'am! Dat's de way to answer swell folks like you. Furthermore, less we prove which one of us love you de best right now. (To JIM) Jim, how much time would you do on de chain-gang for dis 'oman?

**JIM:** Twenty years and like it.

**DAVE:** See dat, Daisy? Dat nigger ain't willin' to do no time for you! I'd beg de judge to gimme life. (Both JIM and DAVE laugh)

**DAISY:** Y'all doin' all dis bookooin' out here on de railroad track but I bet y'all crazy 'bout Bootsie and Teets and a whole heap of other gals.

ACT THREE - Page (3)

MULE BONE

Act Three, Page 4.

JIM: Cross my feet and hope to die! I'd ruther see all de other
wimmen folks in de worl' dead than for you to have de tooth-ache.
DAVE: If I was dead and any other woman come near my coffin de under-
taker would have to do his job all over - 'cause I'd git right
up and walk off. Furthermore, Miss Daisy, ma'am, also ma'am,
which would you ruther be - a lark a-flyin' or a dove a settin',
ma'am, also ma'am?
DAISY: 'Course I'd ruther be a dove.
JIM: Miss Daisy, ma'am, also ma'am... if you marry dis nigger over my
head, I'm goin' to git me a green hickory club and season it
over yo' head.
DAVE: Don't you be skeered, baby... papa kin take keer a you.
(To JIM) SLEEP
Countin' from de finger (Suiting the action to the word) back
to de thumb... start anything, I got you some.
JIM: Aw, I don't want no more fight wid you, Dave.
DAVE: Who said anything about fighting? We just provin' who love
DAISY: Deed I don't know, Dave.
DAVE: Baby, I'd walk de water for you - and tote a mountain on my
head while I'm walkin'.
JIM: Know what I'd do, honey babe? If you was a thousand miles from
home and you didn't have no ready-made money and you had to
walk all de way, walkin' tall yo' feet start to rollin', just
like a wheel, and I was ridin' way up in de sky, I'd step back-
wards offa dat airyplane just to walk home wid you.
DAISY: (Falling on JIM'S neck) Jim, when you talk to me like dat, I
just can't stand it. Le's us git married right now.
JIM: Now you talkin' like a blue-back speller. Le's go!
DAVE: (Sadly) You gojer leave me lak dis, Daisy?
DAISY: (Sadly) I likes you, too, Dave, I sho do. But I can't marry
both of y'all at de same time.
JIM: Aw, come on, Daisy - sun's gettin' low. (He starts off pulling
DAISY)
DAVE: Whut's I'm gointer do? (Walking after them)
JIM: Gwan back and dance - you make out you don't need me to play
none.
DAVE: (Almost tearfully) Aw, Jim, shucks! Where y'all goin'?
(DAISY comes to an abrupt halt and stops JIM)
DAISY: That's right, honey. Where is we goin' sho nuff?
JIM: (Sadly) Deed I don't know, baby. They just sentenced me to
go - they didn't say where and I don't know.
DAISY: How we goin' nohow to go when we don't know where we goin'?
(JIM looks at DAVE as if he expects some help but
DAVE stands sadly silent. JIM takes a few steps
forward as if to go on. DAISY makes a step or
two, unwillingly, then looks behind her and
stops. DAVE looks as if he will follow them.)
DAISY: Jim! (He stops and turns) Wait a minute! Whut we gointer do
when we git there?
JIM: Where?
DAISY: Where we goin'?
JIM: I done tole you I don't know where it is.
DAISY: But how we gointer git something to eat and a place to stay?
JIM: Play and dance - jus' like I been doin'.
DAISY: You can't dance and Dave ain't gointer be there.
JIM: (Looks appealingly at DAVE, then away quickly) Well, I can't
help dat, can I?
DAISY: (Brightly) I tell you whut, Jim! Le's us don't go nowhere.
They sentenced you to leave Eatonville and youse more than a
mile from de city limits already. Youse in Maitland now. Sup-
posin' you come live on de white folks' place wid me after we
git married. Eatonville ain't got nothin' to do wid you livin'
in Maitland.
JIM: Dat's a good idea, Daisy.
DAISY: (Jumping into his arms) And listen, honey, you don't have to be
beholden to Dave nor nobody else. You can throw dat ole box
away if you want to. I know where you can get a swell job.
JIM: (Sheepishly) Doin' whut? (Looks lovingly at his guitar)
DAISY: (Almost dancing) Yard man. All you have to do is wash windows,
and sweep de sidewalk, and scrub off de steps and porch and hoe
up de weeds and rake up de leaves and dig a few holes now and

ACT THREE - Page 4.

MULE BONE

Act Three - Page 5

**JIM:** Yes, I do, darlin', I love you. Youse de one lettin' a spade come between us. (He caresses her) I hoves you and you only. You don't see me draggin' a whole gang of farmin' tools into us business, howdy do you?

**DAISY:** (Cuddling up to him) Whut would you say, honey?

**JIM:** (Airily) That's all right - dem foots done put plenty bread in our moufs.

**DAVE:** Not by they selves though - wid de help of dat box, Jim. When you gits havin' fits on dat box, boy, my foots has hysterics. Daisy, you marry Jim cause I don't want to come between y'all. He's my rock buddy.

**DAVE:** You heard her say it's all I can do to lift up dese feets and put 'em down. Where I'm goin' to git any time to wrassle wid any hoes and shovels? You kin git 'round better'n me. You done won Daisy - I give in. I ain't goin' to bite no fren' of mine in de back.

ACT THREE - Page 5.

MULBONE

Page (2)

SIST R TAYLOR: (General laughter on Methodist side.)
Some folks is a whole lot more cheerful 'bout a louse
in de church than da is in day house. (Looks
pointedly at SIST R L'YIS.)

SIST R L'YIS: (bristling) 'But you gzin' at me fo'? Did your
popeyes lookin' like skirt ginny-nuts?

SIST R TAYLOR: I hate to tell you whut yo' mouf looks like. I thinks
you an' soap an' 'ater musta hae some words. Over-
time you lifts yo' arm you smell like a nest of
yellow hammers.

SIST R L'YIS: 'Tell, I ain't seen no bath tubs in your house.

SIST R TAYLOR: Mought yo have no tub, but tain't no lice on me
though.

SIST R L'YIS: An, you got just as many bed-bugs and chinces as
anybody else. I seen de bed-bugs marchin' out of
yo' house in de mornin', keepin' step just like
soldiers drillin'.

SIST R TAYLOR: You got that wrong, I --------
(Enter BROTHER NIXON with his jacket on his
arm and climbs over the knees of a bench full
of people and finds a seat against the wall
directly beneath an empty lamp bracket. He
looks around for some place to dispose of
his coat. Sees the lamp-bracket and hangs
the coat there. Hitches up his pants and
sits down.)

SIST R L'YIS: Wait a minuet (rising up and glarin at NIXON)
SHOUT NIXON, you take yo' lousy coat down off these
sacred walls. Ain't you Meth'dis' niggers got no
guption in de house of wash-up!

(NIXON mocks her by standing akimbo and shek-
ing his self like a woman. General laughter.
He prepares to resume his seat, but looks over
and sees JAGGER LINDO on his feet, and gler-
ing angrily at him. He quickly reaches up
and takes the coat down and folds it across his
limb.)

SIST R TAYLOR: (Looks very pointedly at SIST R L'YIS, then takes a dip
of snuff and looks sneering at L'YIS again.) If I
kept de dirty house you keeps me mouth would be a
closed book. (Loud laughter from the Meth'dis'
side.)

SIST R L'YIS: (furious, rises arms akimbo.) 'Well, my house might not
be exactly clean, but there's no fly-specks on my
character! They didn't have to git de sheriff to make
Willie marry me like they did to make Tony marry you.

SIST R TAYLOR: (jumping up and starting across the aisle. She is pulled
back out of the aisle by friends.) Yeah, they got de sheriff
to make Tony marry me, but he married me and made me a
good husband too. I sits in m rocking cheer on my
porch ev'ry Sat'day ev'nin' and say: "Here come Tony
and them"

(scornfully) Them 'hat?

SIST R TAYLOR: Them dollars, that's what! How you sho orter go 'it
de sheriff and a shot gun and make some of dese men
marry yo' daughter, ADA.

SIST R L'YIS: (jumpin' up and startin' across the aisle. She is
restrained, but struggles hard. Leme go, JIM
M'CHUGH! Turn me go! I'm goin' to stomp her till
she can't sit down.

SIST R TAYLOR: (also struggling) Let her come on! If I get my hands
on her I'll turn her every way but loose.

SIST R L'YIS: Just come on out dis church, LUCY TAYLOR. I'll beat
you on everything but yo' tongue, and I'll give dat a
lick if you stick it out. (to the men holding her)
Turn me go! I'm goin' to fix her so her o'n Mommy
won't know her.

SIST R TAYLOR: (trying to free herself) Why don't y'all turn dat
ole twist mouth 'oman loose? All I wants to do is
hit her one lick. I betche I'll take her 'way from
here faster than de word of God.

SIST R L'YIS: (to men holding Mrs. Taylor) I don't see how come y'all
won't let old LUCY TAYLOR a loose. Make out she so
bad, no'. She may be red hot but I kin cool her.
I'll ride her just like Jesus rode a jockey.

(As they subside into their seats again, but
glare at each other, MAYOR CLARK comes thru
the pulpit door. He is annoyed at the clamor
ging on. He tries to quell the noise in)

MULBONE

Page (3)

with a frown.)

SISTER TAYLOR: Det ain't nothin' but talk. You looks lak de devil
before day, but you ain't so dead; not half as bad as
you smell.

 Mayor Clark: Order, please, court is set.

SISTER Lewis: You looks like de devil's doll baby, but all I want you
to do is put it where I kin git it an' I'll sho use it.

Mayor Clark: (booming) Here! Here! (feeling everywhere for the
gavel.) LUM BOBER! Where's dat gavel I done told
you to put here?

LUM BOBER: (from beside prisoner) You said you was gonna bring
yo'self.

Mayor Clark: (going up in the air.) I God, LUM, you pointer stand
there like a bum on a log and see I ain't got nothin'
to open court with? Go 'head an' fetch me dat gavel.
Make haste quick before dese wimmen folks tote off
di church house. (LUM exits by front door.)

SISTER TAYLOR: (to Lewis) Aw, shut up, you big ole he-looking rascal
you! Nobody don't know whether youse aman or a woman.

CLARK: You wimmen, shut Up! Hush! Just hush! (he wipes
his face with a huge handkerchief.)

S. L. Lewis: (to SISTER TAYLOR) Air Lawd! Dat ain't your trouble.
They all knows what you is eg-zackly.

LINDSAY: Aw? Why don't you wimmen cut dat out in de church house?
Jus' jawin' an' chewin' de rag!

S. TAYLOR: JOE LINDSAY, if you'd go home an' feed dat redbony
horse of yours, you wouldn't have so much time to
stick yo' bill in business that ain't yours.

S. L. Lewis: JOE LINDSAY, don't you know no better than to strain
wid folks ain't got sense enough to tote guts to a
bear? If they ain't born wid no sense, you can't
learn 'em none.

LINDSAY: You sho done tote what God love now. (glaring across
the aisle.) Ain't got enough gumption to bell a
buzzard.

LUM BOBER: Huh! MARSHALL had done forgot de bone.

S. TAYLOR: It's a wonder he ain't forgot de himself.

CLARK: (rapping sharply with gavel) Here! you moufy wimmen
shut up. (to LUM) LUM you go on back there and shut dem
wimmen up or put 'em outa here. They shan't contempt
this court. (He wipes his eye Glases.)

(LUM starts walking importantly down the
aisle towards SISTER TAYLOR. She almost
rises to meet him.)

S. TAYLOR: LUM BOBER, you fresh little snot you! Don't you dast
to come here trying to put me out; many diapers as I done
pinned on you! (fiercely) Git away from me before I
knock every nap off of yo' head, one by one.

(LUM BOBER hurries away from her apologetically.
He turns towards Mrs. Lewis.)

S. L. Lewis: (calmly) Deed God knows you better not lay de weight of yo'
hand on me. LUM. Gwan way from here before I kick yo'
clothes up round yo' neck like a horse collar.

SISTER PITTS: Brother 'ayor! We ain't got no business goin' into no tri-
alfor nothin' else 'thout a word of prayer to be sure de
right spriit is done wid us.

VOICE ON M. SIDE: Pass right, ELDR. GIVE US A WORD OF PRAYER.
He rises hurriedly.)

Page (3)

MULBOME

TAYLOR: Y'all done started all dis mess, how you goin' to git to git de right spirit here? Go 'head R.W. SINGS.

LIND: He can't pray over me. Dis church says: One Lord, one faith, one Baptism, and a man that ain't never been baptised at all ain't got no business prayin' over nobody.

VOICE ON D. LIND: (begins) "Onward Christian Soldiers" (and the other join in)

VOICE ON Y. LIND: (begins) "All hail the power of Jesus name," (and the Methodists join in.)

CLARK: (Praying quickly) Lord be with us and bless these few remarks we are about to receive amen. Now this court is open for business. All of know we come here on serious business. This town is bout to be tore up by backbiting and malice and mouthy women. (Claring at SISTERS)

I wants the witness to take the front seat. (Nearly everybody in the room rises.)

HANBO: (Frowns across the aisle at Mrs. LUCAS, who is standing.) What you doing standing up for a witness? I know you wuzn't there.

SISTER LIND: I got just as much right to testify as you is. I don't keer if I wasn't there. Any man that treats they wife as bad as you can't tell nobody else they eye is black. You clean round yo' o'n door before you go sweeping round other folks.

S. LINDAY: (to Nixon) But you doing up there testifyin? Then you done let yo' hawg root up all my p'tater patch?

S. LINDAY: 'Who ain't had no taters? to LICE) Look here, LICE, didn't I git a whole crocus sack full of tater slips from yo' brother, SAM?

LICE: (Reluctantly.) Yeah.

S. LINDAY: Course I had sweet p'taters! And if you stand up there and tell me I ain't had no p'taters, I'll be all over you just like gravy over rice.

S. LINDAY: (to her husband) JOB, But kind of a husband is yo'?

SISTER LIND: Aw, you ain't got no right to talk, 'ALTER. Not low down as you is. If somebody stump their toe in dis town you bolt over to Matiland an' puke yo' cuts out, to de white folks, and God knows I 'bominates a white folk nigger.

SISTER LIND: (triumphantly) Unhurrah! I moved you as the one knocked my cow's horn off! And you lied like a Boodle-bug goin' backwards in his hole an' made out you didn't do it.

NIXON: I didn't do no such a t'ing, woman.

SISTER LIND: I say you did, and I belong to Macedonia Baptist Church an' I can't lie.

D. LIND: 'NIXON, talk dat big city talk to me, not to my wife. Maybe you kin whip her, but if you can't whip me, too, don't bring de mess up.

CLARK: (rapring) Y'all men folks shup up before I put you both under arrest. Come to order everybody.

NIXON: Aw, youse de nastiest threatener in three states, but I ain't seen you do nothin'. le seat of yo' pants is too close to de ground for you to be crowin' so loud. You's so short you smell right earthy.

Page (4)

Mulebone

Page (5)

CLARK: Shut up! We didn't come here to wash an' iron niggers! We come here for a trial. (raps)

MRS. TAYLOR: (to CLARK) I ain't goin' to ship up nothin' of de kind.

CLARK: SISTER HIBON, shut Up!

MRS. TAYLOR: You can't shut me up, not the way you live. Then you quit beatin' MRS. TAYLOR an' dominin' her all de time, then you kin tell other folks what to do. You ain't none my boss, not de way you sells rancid bacon for fresh.

CLARK: (to MARYMAL) LUN'BOOR, git me a pencil (DO MRS. TAYLOR) big a bill as you ove ma store, you ain't gonna git nothin else till you pay.

MRS. TAYLOR: Huh! I can trade in Maitland--an' see if I pays you now.

HONOR: Aw, honey, hush a while, please, and less git started. You don't pay de bills no how. (The men laugh.)

JIM: Lawd! Lawd! We done set de whole town fightin'.

D. V. Boy, we sho is!

SINGLE LARY: Son, don't talk wid yo' sailent. He's a wicked man.

D. V.: How come I can't talk wid him? Know him all my life, Shess. He done tried to kill you.

D. V.: Was our fight, vam't it?

JIM: You niggers just tryin' to get us messed up on some kind o' mess. DAVI knows I ain't meant to hurt him. (to JIM) Derserved to be hurt.

D. V.: No, he didn't. We's just friendly-fightin'-like.

SINGLE LARY: He sho tried to kill you!

(A momentary quiet falls on the place when CLARK raps. MARYOR glowers all over the place.)

CLARK: Here. Quiet till you's celled on. (turns to LUN) LUN, git a piece of paper an' take de names of all de witnesses. I was there while de fight was goin' on.

J. ANDERSON: I hadn't been gone more'n ten minutes.

CLARK: But you didn't see it.

J. ANDERSON: It don't make no difference. My husband heered ev'ry word we spoke an' told me, jes' lak it happen. Don't tell me I can't testify.

D. V. ANDERSON: Nobody can't testify but then, that seen it.

J. ANDERSON: Dat's all right, but I know what they was fightin' 'bout. It was DAISY BLUNT.

MRS. BLUNT: Jus' you take my chil 's none right out yo' mouf, Becky Anderson. She was on her way back to her white folks when all this happen.

J. ANDERSON: Well, Cod knows if day Daisy was mine, I'd throw her down an' put a hundred lashes on her back wid a plow-line. Here she come in de store Sat'day night (acts cooy and comettish, burlesques Daisy's walk) a wringing and a twisting!

MRS. BLUNT: You better hush while you a let! You niggers got my DAISY'S name all mixed up in dis mess an' she at work can't defend herself.

MRS. TAYLOR: You musn't mind, SISTER BLUNT. People just will talk. They's talkin' in New York an' they's talkin' in Georgia an they's talkin' in Italy.

MRS. BLUT: You can't pay no 'tention to talk.
Well I know one thing. De man or woman, chick or child,
grizzly or gray, that tells me to my face anythin' wrong
'bout my chile, I'm goin' to take my first (Rolling up
right sleeve and gesturing with right first) and knock
their teeth down they throat. (She looks Ferocious)
'Case y'all know I raised my Daisy right round my foot
till I let her go up North last year wid them white
folks. I'd ruther her to be in de white folks' kitchen
than walkin' de stroot like some of dese gals round here.
If I do say so, I done raised a lady. She can't help
it if all dese muns got stuck on her.

MRS. TAYLOR: You'se tollin' de truth, SISTER BLUT. That's whut I always say: Don't confidunce dese niggers. Do, they'll sho put you in de stroot.

Page (5)

YUL BOWS

Page (6)

MRS. THOMAS: Now indeed, my'r syndicate, wide niggers. Do, they'll sho put you in de street.

MRS. BLUNT: Just as she, as you snore. 'n' they better lave Daisy's name oute dis, too, and Daisy better not leave them white folks' house today to come truipsin' over here scorpin' her name all wide dis nigger mess. Do, I'll kill her. No daughter of mine ain't goin' be mixed up in nothin' like this.

MRS. THOMAS: That's right, SISTER BLUNT. I glory in yo' spunk.

MAYOR CLARK: Sit down, SISTER BLUNT, an' shot up. Ain't gonna mention Daisy a-tall. Ain't gonna draw no woman's name in dis trial as I's president.

MRS. JONES: Dis ain't no trial. Dis is a mess!

REV. JONES: You she said a mouthful, Sister. Dis she is a mess. Can't help from bein' uh mess. (Glare at MAYOR) Holdin' a trial in de Baptist Church! Some folks ain't got sense enough to do 'em till four o'clock, an it's way after half past three right now.

MAYOR CLARK: Shet up, dere, SISTERS! Set down! Who ast yo' pot to boil, nohow? A church trial is de bes' trial they is, anyhow, cause you better have a good experience here an' strong determination. (Raps vigorously) Now lemme tell y'all somethin'. Then de Mayor sets court, don't keer when I sets it nor where I sets it, you got to git quiet and stay quiet till I ast you tuh talk. Set down! All o' yuh! I god, you sould lak a tree full uh blackbirds! Dis ain't no barbecue, nor neither no camp meetin'. We 'sembled here tuh law uh boy on a serious charge.

(A great buzz rises from the concenteration.
MAYOR raps hard for ord'r and glares
all about him.)

Heah! Heah! All O' us kin sing at de same time, but
can't but one o' us talk at a time. I'm doin' de talkin'
now, so de res' o' you dry up till I get through. I God,
you sound lak uh pasel uh dog fights! We ain't here
for no form and no fashion and no outside show to de
worl'. We'se here to law!

(For a moment, there is silence, then
a small boy, peening in a window on
the Methodist side says:)

CLARK: (Booming) You chillun shut up and get out o' them winders. You LUN'!

(LUN' stops taking names to go shoo
the children. The old people aid him,
and the children on left run off singing.)

My name's written on high.

LUN': (Rapping) You done got all de witnesses straight an' got my names down?

LUN: Yassuh, I got it all straightened out.

CLARK: Well, read de names out and I t de witnesses take de front seats. Who is they?

LUN: (Reading) MRS. LUCY DAWSON, REV. H. M. PITTS, SISTER DOLL, MRS. H. M. HOE, BROTHER LEE, MRS. BROWN, MRS. JOY, LINDSAY.....

LINDSAY: Brother, my eye!

LUN: (Continuing the reading of the list) MR. SYKES JONES, SISTER LAURA, MRS. P. J. JETTINS. And they was lots no' there but they say they ain't gonna witness. (Those whose names were read begin to rise and start forward.)

LUN: They better not neither.

BROTHER: Shess! De devil can't hurt you, son. An' then what speaks against you is devils.

Page (6)

NUL DORNE

Page (7)

CLARK: Won't witness, heh? Huh-um! Well, I see they's some witnessin' what warn't there. LUDY TAYLOR, you know you left mah store fo' dat fight come off!

SIDNEY TAYLOR: (In attitude of defiance) Well, I'm gonna witness! An I ain't gonna bit mah tongue neither. You knows you cheated me outa half a pound o' salt pork Sat'day night. I weighed dat piece when I got home, and 'twarn't no bigger'n mah fist here.

SIDNEY PITTS: Huh! Dat's a common thing, chile. (Calmly) Is dat all?

SIDNEY TAYLOR: No, that ain't all. You voters yo' cider, an' yo' sells bad meal.

CLARK: An' yo' been buyin' outa mah store fo' God knows how long. Yo' owes me Thirty-eight Dollars and Ten Cents, an' can't nobody whuts in mah debt testify in this court. Set down!

SIS. TAYLOR: You' se a lie! You' se a.... (But the noise of the gavel drowns her out. In the meantime, the other witnesses are all seated at the front.)

CLARK: Now, we'll go on with this trial. We's tryin' Jim Weston fo' 'saultin' Dave Carter wid a dangerous weepon. Did he or did he not done it, that's what we got to fin' out? You, Lum! You was there. You' se de Marshall. You saw it, Now, what went on?

LUM: (Startled, drawls) Well.....

DAVE: You better, "Well..." (Mocking LUM)

LUM: Daisy come...

SIS. BLUNT: Uhm - uh! Not Daisy!

LUM: I mean.... (Turning to CLARK in distress) Well, you say I should take Jim and lock him up, an' that's what I done, jus' like you tol' me.

CLARK: You sho did, but I God, I ast you whut you seed befo' I told you to take Jim and lock him up? (DAVE, JIM and SISTER TAYLOR eyex LUM dangerously)

LUM: (Shifting nervously) Well, I ain't seen much.

CLARK: (Rapping impatiently) Whut did you see?

LUM: Well, ole Lady Pitt's mule was tied in yo' back yard a-tearin' up Mis' Mattie's tomato vines, an' Mis' Mattie say, 'Lum, you go 'roun' an' tend to dat mule', an' I went, an' that mule sho drawed back to kick me.

CLARK: (To SISTER PITTS) I God, yo' mule drawed a hoof on de Marshall?

SIS. PITTS: Dat's a lie! Mah mule don't kick.

CLARK: G'wan, Lum!

LUM: An' I was busy wid dat mule.

LIGE: Looks like de marshall warn't at de scene o' action.

SIS. LEWIS: Dat's de kin' o' men de Mayor hires to do de duties o' dis town.

CLARK: Set down, Lum. Ain't worth de dust it took to make you. (To HAMBO) Hambo, you was settin' an' loafin' right on mah front porch all day Sat'day, and night, too. Get up an' tell what you saw.

HAMBO: (Rising) Now, in de first place, Joe Clark, I warn't loafin'. I 'se a deacon in de church an' you knows I don't waste mah time wid dem low niggers whut hangs aroun' yo' store.

DIGE: Do you hear that?

HAMBO: An' furthermo', I don't know if I wuz there or not, now dat you so sure I wuz.

SIS. HAMBO: Make him prove it! Make him prove it!

CLARK: I God, Hambo, you know you wuz there!

SINGLEMARY: (Quickly) He were there, yo' honery, but he warn't loafin'. (To HAMBO) You mah main witness, Brother Hambo. Now tell jus' how dis vileness was done. You sees our lamb all hurted here. (Pointing to DAVE'S head. JIM laughs.)

DAVE: Hush, fool! You' se in court.

JIM: Boy, yo' head sho is soft.

HAMBO: (To JIM) An' you'll soon be gone. (To the MAYOR) Clark, it were like dis. These two boys here started fightin' over Dais.... (Sees SISTER BLUNT half rise in her seat.) over somethin' or nother o' no importance.... (BAPTISTS all murmur in agreement.)

an' dat there triflin' rascal, for no cause whatinsoever,

Page (8)

MULE BONE

ACT III - Page 9.

CLARK: Um - mmmm! Dat's right.
SIS. THOMAS: Hear him, Lawd! How he kin lie!
SIS. NIXON: An' then re-lie!
HAMBO: (To CLARK) You 'lows dese 'ruptions in de court?
CLARK: (To WOMEN, rapping) Hush! I say, hush! Hambo, is you through?
HAMBO: (Sitting down pompously) I is.
SIS. THOMAS: Well, I ain't.
CLARK: Well, then, say yo' say. I God, speak!
SIS. THOMAS: Well, Brother Mayor, I ain't one of these folks dat bite my tongue an' bus' my gell - whut's inside got to come out! I can't see to my rest why you cloakin' in wid dese Baptis' buzzards 'ginst yo' own church.
CLARK: I ain't cloakin' in wid none. I'm de Mayor of dis whole town ... I stands for de right an' ginst de wrong - I don't keer who it kill or cure.
SIS. THOMAS: You think it's right to be runnin' dat boy off for nothin'?
CLARK: I Cod'. You call knockin' a man in de head wid a mule bone nothin'? 'Mother thing, I done missed nine of my bes' layin' hens. I ain't sayin' Jim got 'em, but different people has tole me he burries a powerful lot of feathers in his back yard. I God, I'm a ruint man! (To OLD WOMAN) Sister Pitts, le's hear whut you got to say!
SIS. PITTS: Brother Mayor, I van't there, but I been knowin' this boy Dave since he was knee-high to a duck an' that boy wouldn't hurt nobody, but that varmint yonder (Pointing to JIM) is de crookedist limb of Satan that de Lawd ever made. He is a scoundrel, a rat, a low-down dog. a....
SIMS: (Jumping up) I objects! I objects! Nobody's got de right to call my charge no names lib! dat. ('As CLARK is silent and SALLER PITTS goes on, "rascal, heathen, etc.")
CLARK: I objects! (Dances in front of MAYOR'S face) I objects!
SIMS: $ God, Sims, if you don't set down an' stop spittin' in my face I'll jam you over de head wid dis mallet.
SIMS: (Weakly) I objects.
CLARK: Dat'll do! Dat'll do! Dry up, suh! (Turning to DAVE) Stand up, Dave. Since yous de one got hurt, you tell me jus' whut went on out dave. (DAVE rises slowly).
MRS. TAYLOR: Dat's right, Dave. Git up dere an' lie lak de cross ties from New York to Texas. You greasy rascal, you! You better go wash yo'self befo' you go testifyin' on people.
DAVE: (Calmly) I'm jus' as clean as you. (JIM laughs)
SINGLETARY: (Jumping to his feet!) Wait a minute! 'ain't none o' y'all got no call to be thowin' off on dis boy. He come here to git justice, not to be slurred an' low-rated. He ain't 'assaulted nobody. He ain't stole no chickens. He's a clean boy. He set at mah feet in Sunday School since he was so high (Measures knee height.)
and he come through religion under de sound of mah voice an' I baptized him an' I know he's clean.
MRS. TAYLOR: It'll take more'n uh baptizin' to clean dat nigger.
DAVE: I goes in swimmin' nearly every day. I'm jus' as clean as anybody else.
MRS. TAYLOR: (MAYOR begins ramping for order. She shouts out) Swimmin'! Dat ain't gointer clean de crust offa you. You ain't had a good bath since de devil was a hatchet.
CLARK: I'm goin' to have order heah....or else! G'wan, Dave!
DAVE: It's jus' lak you seen it Sat'day night. Y'all was there.
CLARK: Yeah, but dat wuz at de store. Dis is in court an' it's got to be tole.
SIMS: Jus' uh minute, Brother Clark, before we go any further, I wants to ast de witness uh question dat oughter be answered before he open his mouf.
CLARK: Whut kind of a question is dat?
SIMS: Dave, tell de truth. Ain't yo' heart full of envy an' malice 'ginst dis chile? (Gestures towards JIM. DAVE shelves his head and starts to deny the charge, but SIMS hurries on)
Wait a minute, now! Wait till I git through. Didn't y'all used to run aroun' everywhere playin' an' singin' an' everythin' till you got so full of envy an' malice an' devilment till y'all broke up? Now, Brother Mayor, make him tell de truth.
DAVE: Yeah, I useter be crazy 'bout Jim, and we was buddies till he tried to back bite me wid my girl.

MULE BONE

ACT 3 - Page 10.

JIM: Yo' girl! Never was yo' girl, nohow! I reckon I ain't none o' yo' buddy. I ain't got no buddy, they kill my buddy tryin' to raise me. But I did use that lak you till you tried to root me out wid Dais...

SIS. BLUNT: Jes' dare!

DAVE: Well, we was all dancin' an' a-singin' in front o' yo' store, an' seem like Jim kinder got mad 'bout something or neither an' so I went in de store an' left de ole nigger. Well, near as I can remember, when I come out seems like I kinder step on his ole big foot what had no business where it wuz nohow. An' then he up and knocks mah soda all ovah mah clean shirt.

JIM: Who's shirt?

DAVE: Yes, sir.

DAVE: I reckon he did.

CLARK: Uh-hum! (DAVE resumes his seat and JIM drops his head for a moment then snatches it up arrogantly and glares at the BAPTISTS. The whole place is very silent for a moment. The MAYOR clears his throat, raps with his gavel and looks sternly at JIM.)

Jim Weston, stand up, suh! (JIM rises sullenly) You're so charged wid 'ssaultin' Dave Carter wid uh dangerous weenon. You heard de charge. Guilty or not guilty?

(Raps sharply)

(JIM sets down amid jubilant smiles of METHODIST. SIMMS chuckles out loud and wipes his face with his handkerchief. He gets to his feet still laughing.)

SINGLETARY: You jus' as well tuh hush up before you start then, Simms. You can't show nobody uh light when you ain't got none tuh show.

HAMBO: Ain't dat de gospel?

THOMAS: Go 'head on, Elder Simms.

CLARK: Yeah, you can't teach 'em nothin', but talk on. We know what you talkin' 'bout.

SIS. NIXON: (Rapping once or twice) I God, tell it... whatever 'tis you got tuh tell!

SIS. LEWIS: Law 'em from Genesis to Revelations, Elder.

SIS. LEWIS: My shelters ain't workin' good. Sposin' you come shet me up, Walter. Den you'll know it's done right.

CLARK: (Rapping repeatedly) Order in dis court, I God, jus' like you wuz in Orlando! (Silence falls) Now, Simms, talk 'o' chat.

Page (10)

MULE BONE

Act 3 - Page 11.

SIMMS: Dat ain't de point. Brother Hambo.

HAMBO: It's jes' as good uh pint as any. If you gointer talk, tell
de truth. An' infu you can't tell de truth, set down an' leave
Reverend Singletary talk.

SIMMS: Brother Mayor, how come you let dese people run they mouf lak uh passel uh cowbells? Ain't I got de floor? I ain't no breath-an'-britches. I was <u>people</u> in middle Georgy befo' I ever come to Floridy. Whut kin' of chairman is you, nohow?

(Angrily) Yeah! Yeah! Don't you come tryin' t' show yo'self
round me! I God, I don't keef' what you vuz in Georgy. I kin
eat fried chicken when you cain't git rainwater tuh drink.
Hurry up an' say whut you got in yo' craw an' set down. We
needs yo' space more'n we needs yo' comp'ny.

THOMAS: Hambo, everybody in Orange County knows you love tuh fight.
But dis is uh law hearin', not no vressle.

HAMBO:

SIS. TAYLOR:

SIMMS: (Pompously) Now y'all done up an' took dis po' boy an' had him
locked up in uh barn ever since Sat'day night an' done got him
'occused uh 'ssault an' I don't know whut all, an' you ain't
got no business wid yo' hands on him a-tall. He ain't done no
crime, an' if y'all knowed anythin' 'bout law, I wouldn't have
tuh tell you so.

SIMMS: But not by law, Brother Mayor. You tryin' tuh lay uh hearin'
on dis boy an' yu can't do it 'cause he ain't broke no law.
I don't keer whut he done so long as he don't break no law you
can't touch him.

SINGLETARY:

SIMS:

GITS: (Sitting down and crossing his legs and folding his hands upon
his Bible.)

SINGLETARY: I ain't book-learnt an' I ain't rubbed de hair offen my head
agin' no college wall, but I know when uh 'ssault's been com-
mitted. I says Jim Weston did 'ssault Dave. (He points at
DAVE'S head.)

Page (11)

MULE BONE

ACT 3 - Page 12.

I second de motion.

CLARK: Aw, dry up, Simms, you done talked yo' talk. I God, leave Singletary talk this. (To SINGLETARY) Step on out when you ready, Reverend.

SINGLETARY: (Very patiently) We'se comin' to dat pint now, Dat's de second claw uh de sentence we'se expoundin'. I say Jim Weston did have uh weepon in his hand when he 'ssaulted Dave. 'Cause y'all knows if de daddy is dangerous, den de son is dangerous too. An' y'all knows dat de further back you gits on uh mule de more dangerous he gits an' if de jaw-bone slewed three thousand people, by de time you gits back tuh his hocks, it's pizen enough tuh kill ten thousand. 'Tain't no knives nor no razors ever kill no three thousand people. Now, folkses, I ast y'all whut kin be mo' dangerous dan uh mule bone? (To CLARK) Brother Mayor, Jim didn't jes' lam Dave an' walk off.... (very emphatic) he 'ssaulted him with de deadliest weepon there is in de worl' an' left him layin' unconscious. Brother Mayor, he's uh criminal an' oughter be run outa dis peaceful town!

CLARK: Set down, Simms. I God, I know where to find you when I want you. (SIMS sits) Jim, I find you guilty as charged an' I wants you to git outa my town an' stay gone for two years. (To LUM)

:::::GURTAIN:::::

MULE BONE

Act III - Page 2

JIM: {Hopefully} Aw, don't tell me. (Sings) Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, show me a woman that a man can trust.

(DAISY is crying now.)

JIM: Aw, rock on down de road wid dat stuff. A two-timin' cloaker like you don't keer whut come off. Me and Dave been good frien's ever since we was born till you had to go flouncin' yourself around.

Set down, here, Daisy. Ie's talk some chat. You want me sho 'nuff? Hones' to God?

JIM: (Sadly) But I got to go 'way. Whut we gointer do 'bout dat?

DAISY: Where you goin', Jim?

JIM: (Brightening) Dat's Dave! (Frowning) Wonder what he doin' walkin' dis track? (Looks accusingly at DAISY) I bet he's goin' to yo' work-place.

DAISY: Whut for?

DAVE: Yeah, you rubbed my head all right, and I lacted dat. But everybody say you done toted a pan to Joe Clark's barn for Jim before I seen you.

Act Three - Page 2.

MULE BONE

Act Three - Page 5

**DAISY:** Leave me go! Take yo' rusty pa'ms offen me. I'm goin' on back to my work-place. I jus' got off to see 'bout y'all and look how y'all treat me.

**DAVE & JIM:** Who?

**JIM:** Whut you hollerin' "Who" for? Yo' feet don't fit no limb.

**DAISY:** (Blooming again into coquetry) Aw, y'all better stop dat. You know you don't mean it.

**DAISY:** (Happily) Oo-ooch, Dave!

**JIM:** De wind may blow, de doorway slam Dat Stuff you shootin' ain't worth a dam.

**DAISY:** (Happily) Oo-ooch, Jim.

**DAVE:** A long train, a short caboose Dat lie whut you shlotin', ain't no use.

(To DAISY) Miss Daisy, know whut I'd do for you?

**DAISY:** New, whut?

**DAISY:** Lawd, Dave, you sho is porpaganda.

**DAISY:** Naw, Jim.

**DAVE:** Daisy, how come you let Jim lie lak dat? He's as big a liar as he is a man. But sho 'muff, now, laying low in the middle of a-side all jokes, Jim there don't even know how to answer you. If you don't b'lieve it - ast him somethin'.

**DAVE:** (Triumphant) See dat! I tore you he didn't know how to answer nobody like you. If he was talking to some of them ol' funny-looking gals over town he'd be answering 'em jus' right. But he got to learn how to answer you. Now you ast me something and see how I answer you.

ACT THREE - Page (3)

MULE BONE

Act Three, Page 4.

JIM: Cross my feet and hope to die! I'd ruther see all de other wimmen folks in de worl' dead than for you to have de tooth-ache.
DAVE: If I was dead and any other woman come near my coffin de undertaker would have to do his job all over - 'cause I'd git right up and walk off. Furthermore, Miss Daisy, ma'am, also ma'am, which would you ruther be - a lark a-flyin' or a dove a settin', ma'am, also ma'am?
DAISY: 'Course I'd ruther be a dove.
JIM: Miss Daisy, ma'am, also ma'am... if you marry dis nigger over my head, I'm goin' to git me a green hickory club and season it over yo' head.
DAVE: Don't you be skeered, baby... papa kin take keer a you.
(To JIM) SWEET
Countin' from de finger (Suiting the action to the word) back to de thumb... start anything, I got you some.
JIM: Aw, I don't want no more fight wid you, Dave.
DAVE: Who said anything about fighting? We just provin' who TOGETHER love Daisy de best. (To DAISY) Now, which one of us you think love you de best?
DAISY: Deed I don't know, Dave.
DAVE: Baby, I'd walk de water for you - and tote a mountain on my head while I'm walkin'.
JIM: Know what I'd do, honey babe? If you was a thousand miles from home and you didn't have no ready-made money and you had to walk all de way, walkin' tall yo' feet start to rollin', just like a wheel, and I was ridin' way up in de sky, I'd step backwards offa dat airyplane just to walk home wid you.
DAISY: (Falling on JIM'S neck) Jim, when you talk to me like dat, I just can't stend it. Le's us git married right now.
JIM: How you talkin' like a blue-back speller. Le's go!
DAVE: (Sadly) You gointer leave me lak dis, Daisy?
DAISY: (Sadly) I likes you, too, Dave, I sho do. But I can't marry both of y'all at de same time.
JIM: Aw, come on, Daisy - sun's gettin' low. (He starts off pulling DAISY)
DAVE: Whut's I'm gointer do? (Walking after them)
JIM: Gwan back and dance - you make out you don't need me to play none.
DAVE: (Almost tearfully) Aw, Jim, shucks! Where y'all goin'?
(DAISY comes to an abrupt halt and stops JIM)
DAISY: That's right, honey. Where is we goin' sho nuff?
JIM: (Sadly) Deed I don't know, baby. They just sentenced me to go - they didn't say where and I don't know.
DAISY: How we goin' nohow to go when we don't know where we goin'?
(JIM looks at DAVE as if he expects some help but DAVE stands sadly silent. JIM takes a few steps forward as if to go on. DAISY makes a step or two, unwillingly, then looks behind her and stops. DAVE looks as if he will follow them.)
DAISY: Jim! (He stops and turns) Wait a minute! Whut we gointer do when we git there?
JIM: Where?
DAISY: Where we goin'?
JIM: I done tole you I don't know where it is.
DAISY: But how we gointer git something to eat and a place to stay?
JIM: Play and dance - jus' like I been doin'.
DAISY: You can't dance and Dave ain't gointer be there.
JIM: (Looks appealingly at DAVE, then away quickly) Well, I can't help dat, can I?
DAISY: (Brightly) I tell you whut, Jim! Le's us don't go nowhere. They sentenced you to leave Eatonville and youse more than a mile from de city limits already. Youse in Maitland now. Supposin' you come live on de white folks' place wid me after we git married. Eatonville ain't got nothin' to do wid you livin' in Maitland.
JIM: Dat's a good idea, Daisy.
DAISY: (Jumping into his arms) And listen, honey, you don't have to be beholden to Dave nor nobody else. You can throw dat ole box away if you want to. I know where you can get a swell job.
JIM: (Sheepishly) Doin' whut? (Looks lovingly at his guitar)
DAISY: (Almost dancing) Yard man. All you have to do is wash windows, and sweep de sidewalk, and scrub off de steps and porch and hoe up de weeds and rake up de leaves and dig a few holes now and

ACT THREE - Page 4.

RULE BONE

Act Three - Page 8

**DAVE:** Naw, I wouldn't say whut he said a-tall.

**DAISY:** When you gits havin' fits on dat box, boy, my feets has hysterics. Daisy, you marry Jim cause I don't want to come between y'all. He's my ruck buddy.

(DAISY walks slowly away in the direction from who she came. Both watch her a little wistfully for a minute. The sun is setting.)

ACT THREE - Page 5