Della

Suits me. (She leaves.)

(Augie comes back to the bar and picks up his glass.)

Augie

Come on y'all, jine me in a toast.

Badfoot

A toast about what?

Augie

To ma luck, Badfoot, a toast to ma luck.

Badfoot

Sho' a toast to Lil Augie's luck.

Lil Augie

To ma luck ...and to Della Gree n.

Curtain

2-19

Biglow (Cont'd)

looks lak de Queen o' Sheba. Dat make me want you all de more.

Della

Tain't no use Biglow.

Biglow

Lil Augie lucky now, but his luck ain't gonna las' always. Whut you gonna do them?

Della

Dat day is a long ways from heah. When it come dat'll be time enough for me to make up ma min'. I ain't crossin' dat bridge till I gets to it.

Biglow

Lissen, Della. I ain't never knowed till you left me how much you was to me. If you comes back, I'll be good to you lak Augie is. I'll even promise not to lump you no' mo'. I loves you dat good.

Della

Tain't no use, Biglow. They's one thing we both done forget.

Biglow

What dat?

Della

I loves Lil Augie.

Biglow

You loves his money, dat whut!

Della

Maybe you is right, Biglow. Maybe it is de spikes. But dat ain't all. It's Lil Augie, too. But Lila don't love yo' money. Lila love you. You bes' go take her back, Biglow. She'd crawl on her hans an' knees to you de whole lenth o' Tragee Street if you'd take her back.

Biglow

You' se mighty late pleadin' for Lila. I ain't payin' Lila no mind. Dat ain't ma way. Once I quits a woman I is through for good.

Act 2 Scene 2

Place: Biglow's Saloon

Time: Ten Minutes later.

(Only two or three people are in the saloon as the curtain rises. Slim is at the bar polishing glasses. The piano player is improvising. During this scene people gradually come in and stand listening to the conversations between Lila and Biglow, and between Biglow and Lil Augie, until at the climax of the scene, the stage resembles a crowd assembled around a street fight.)

(Enter Lila)

Lila

Is ma man been heah?

Slim

Oh, heo, Lila. You mean Biglow?

Lila

You know I means Biglow. Ever seen me wid anybody else?

Slim

No, Lila. Guess I shouldn't ought to ask you that question, but you know since de change....

Lila

They ain't never been no change in me, Slim. I'm a one man woman all de way even if it takes me to hell.

Slim

Well, he ain't been heah yet. I 'spect he'll be droppin in later though.

Lila

Yes, he'll be heah all right. Guess I'll wait for him. How's tricks, Slim? Makin' money?

Slim

Well, we ain't doin' bad, Lila.

Lila

Yes, thanks to me. Ever stop to think, Slim, dat dis place oughta be called Lila's stead of Biglow's?

2

## Slim

You know I know evything, Lila, an' I'm sorry for you, too, deed
I is. But dat's de way things happen. They ain't no countin' for
nothin' in dis world. But you ain't fixin' to start no trouble is
you, Lila?

## Lila

I ain't lookin' for no trouble Slim. I jest wants to talk to Biglow.
(She sits down at a table) Bring me some sweeten water, Slim.

## Slim

Right. Dat's de ticket, Lila. Don't let de blues get hold on you.
Ef you got a sour tatse in yo' mouth all you needs is a little
sweeten water to wash it away.

## Lila

Dat's man talk, Kixxx Slim. All a man needs when he has troubles
is to get drunk an' forget 'em, but dey's some things lays so
heavy on a woman's heart an' mind they ain't no way under heaven
for her to chase 'em away.

(Biglow enters, walking fully into the center of the
room before he sees Lila. Lila jumps to her feet as she
sees him.)

## Lila

Biglow!

## Biglow (Turning to go)

Devil take ma unhardlucky soul! Heah I got to go and meet this
bad-luck cat de first thing this evenin'. I jes' as well's to go
on home, Slim, an' leave things to you. They ain't no use in me
trying' to do nothin' with dis kind o' luck followin' me.

## Lila (Holding him back)

You se lonesome, Biglow. That's how come you talks so mean.

## Biglow

Well, if I is lonesome, I ain't lookin' fo' yo' company. Leave me
'lone woman. I ain't got no mo' time for y'ou. We'se quits a month
ago.

## Lila

I ain't quits wid you. Womens don't never quit.

## Biglow

They quits sometime.

## Lila

Della's kind quits. But not ma kind. Womens don't never quit when they loves you.

## Biglow

You jes' as well to make up yo' mind to get long 'thout me. You'se poison to me now. Yo' lovin' ain't sweet no mo'. Sides what'd I look lak wid a ole ugly one-eyed gal.

## Lila

I _been_ a putty gal, Biglow.

## Biglow

Mm. You _been_ putty; you ain't putty no mo'.

## Lila

That's how come you got to stay by me. If I is one-eyed, whose fault is it? Yo's! <u>You</u> knocked ma eye out.

## Biglow

Well, I done whupped one woman tonight for worryin' ma mind, an' I'm equal to lumpin' another'n. You'se beggin' for de same thing. (He starts toward her.)

## Lila (Putting her hand into her bosom)

Don't tech me Biglow. It ain't safe. I don't mind yo' meanness an' yo' sass. But you can't quit me this away.

## Biglow

I'll be damned if I can't. But you ain't worth me gettin' in no trouble about.

## Lila

Listen, Biglow. All you got you got from me. I walked de streets to make dat money. Every stitch on yo' back, this saloon, that twenty-dollar gold piece on yo' watch, yo' diamond ring, I bought and paid for. I made you and I can break you.

## Biglow

What you done done for me is ancient history, an' I ain't readin' dat no mo'. I'se through.

## Lila (Tensely)

I ain't givin' you up Biglow. You can't quit me now.

Biglow

No? I can't? (He laughs) Go on home woman.

Lila

I ain't ready to go.

Biglow

Den stay heah. We sells to de public, but I don't even know you.

(He turns to the door to find his way barred by Lil Augie. During the dialogue between Biglow and Lil Augie, Lila sidles round until she stands in front of the door and just a little to one side of Lil Augie.)

Lil Augie

I wants to see you Biglow.

Biglow (Mockingly)

Lookin' at you.

Lil Augie

You got some 'splainin' to do, Biglow.

Biglow

Not me. I ain't splainin' nothin'. You know right well what kinda mack I is. Any woman dat messes wid me gotta take de lumps. I'd slap they eye-teeth out, an' I don't care when or where.

Augie (bravely)

Listen a minute, mistah Biglow Brown. Lil Augie can whup his own womens. An' there ain't no mack in St. Louis gonna do ma job.

Biglow

If you se aimin' to make me back water, Lil Augie, you se long gone.

Lil Augie

I done said mine. If you or any other mack don't believe me, jest try me a barrel. You gotta 'splain to me this night.

Biglow

Hm. Puh.

Augie

Jest hm an' puh all you is a mind to, but you gotta splain to me.

(Badfoot unable to budge Lil Augie picks him up and carries him out
like a little child, Lil Augie still crying out:)

Augie

Take back dat cuss, Biglow, take it back!

(The stage is empty except for the body of Biglow and
for Slim who stands tensley behind the bar. Lila enters and
stands over Biglow's body.)

Lila

You cussed de wrong one, Biglow. It wan't Lil Augie. I did it
cause I loved you too much to lose you. But you can quit me now,
Biglow, quit me for good.

Curtain

3-5

Bad-Foot

Putty soon. Lil Augie ought to be here any minute now. He say
he gonna stop in heah fust an' get some luck. He claim I
good luck to him. He gotta rub ma haid 'fo' de race.

Ragsdale

He gonna need it today. He ridin' Silver Heels. Dat's a fas'
horse, but I'm bettin' on Roan Knight <u>himself</u>.

Barney

You mus' be done los' yo' min'..... You ain't bettin' on Lil
Augie?

Ragsdale

Not this trip. I ain't bettin' on no man whut's got a cuss
on him. It's mo'n a notion tryin' to shake off a cuss when a
dead man's done laid it on you. I can't 'magine muthin'
worser'n dat.

Spectator

Dat ain' no lie.

Second Spectator

It ain't no sugar-mouth talk neither. Them's ole hard time
facts.

Ragsdale

It tellin' on Lil Augie, too. He ain't bigger'n a minute
nohow, an' all dat worryation is wearin' him down to a
frazzle. He look lak he'd float away if you blowed at him
right hard.

Bad-Foot

You's right, Rags. He drinkin' heavy, too.

Barney

He musta heared ghosts don' lak de smell o' liquor. He
tryin' to keep ole Biglow's hant away.

Rags

He mought keep his hant away, but Biglow done cussed him too
putty 'fo' he died; an' they ain' no way o' gettin' his words
back in his mouf. Dat cuss o' his'n fair made ma blood
curdle in ma veins.

3-10

Bad-Foot

I b'leeves it, son; you's ma good luck stone.

Augie

(Affectionately patting Bad-Foot's head
again)

You is good luck yo' black self. Well, I gotta be travelin'
now. Gotta bring home de bacon.

Ragsdale

I hope you don't luck out.

Augie

Who me? Me luck out? This is lil Augie whut you reads about.
(He leaves)

Ragsdale

Lil Augie is scairt. Can't fool me.

Barney

I hope he is scairt. I hope Biglow's ghoes' stays right
behind him. He's totin' ma dollar an' a quarter an' I wants
to see him bring it.

Ragsdale

It ain't for him. Mind ma word. His luck done changed.

Bad-Foot

Look lak you <u>wanna</u> see him lose, Rags.

Ragsdale

Oh, no; co'se I'm bettin' on Roan Knight. If he wins, I lose.

(Enter SLIM and a few others)

Slim

Put dis on Lil Augie for me.
(He passes a few bills across the desk)

Bad-Foot

That's de bet.

3-11

Another

Put this on Revelation.

Bad-Foot

Sho'. It's yo' money.

Lil Augie.

Lil Augie.

Lil Augie.

(Enter DELLA. She wears a striking red ensemble and carries a summer parasol. She steps excitedly to the desk and fishes a roll of paper money from her stocking)

Della

Heah, Bad-Foot, it ain't too late, is it?

Bad-Foot

No, not yet. I'm jes' fixin' to send Barney now.

Della

Augie said, "Let everything ride"; so heah it goes.

Bad-Foot

He gonna be ridin' a good hoss.

Della

Ain't no hoss good enough to lay all you can scrape an' borrey on. But Augie an' me been havin' it hard -- de money been low this week. So Augie say we jes' as well to die hard.

Ragsdale

(Rising and coming to the table)
'Spose he lose, yella gal?

Della

Oh, he-o Rags. Eve'thing Lil Augie got is ridin' wid him. Tha's de way he done fix it. If he lose, he lose hard.

Ragsdale

(Coming nearer)
Does you go, too, Della?

3-13

Della

Augie say him an' me gonna be on Easy Street for fair after
this race. The things he done promise me is a caution. Dia-
mond earrings big as hen eggs. Chipped diamonds for ma
teeth. A rubber tired buggy. An' clo's! Targee Street
gonna have to sit up an' take notice o' us.

Ragsdale

But he might lose. Whut den, yella gal? Whut you gonna
do if Lil Augie do lose?

Della

(With a shudder)

I reckon I won't have 'em then.

Ragsdale

But if Roan Knight comes in, you might still could have 'em.

Della

You' se makin' up to me, Rags -- 'hin' Lil Augie's back.

Ragsdale

I'm crazy 'bout you. I always been crazy 'bout you. You
knows it. You's de puttiest gal on Targee Street, an' you
oughta b'long to de luckiest nigger. Fust it was Biglow,
then Lil Augie. Maybe if Lil Augie's luck change........

Della

(Cutting him off kindly)

It can't change, Rags. You's hopin' 'gainst a man whut was
borned wid a veil.

(The telephone rings. BAD-FOOT puts the
receiver to his ear. There is a moment's
hush. From every angle round eyes are
fixed on him, a terrible inquisition of
round white eyes. DELLA seems unmoved,
but her feet continue to swing, RAGSDALE
stands tensely at her side, leaning for-
ward slightly)

Bad-Foot

He say they's at de barrier.... he say they is off.... they
breaks well.... they's in a pack.... he say Revelation gets
loose..... she's a fast sprinter..... he say she is settin'
de pace..... Behin' her comes Roan Knight......

3-14

Ragsdale

Come on, dog!

Bad-Foot

......Silver Heels gets loose......

Della

(Biting her knuckles)

Lil' Augie.....

Slim

Get away, boy!

Bad-Foot

He says Lil Augie is movin' into a position to challenge de leaders......

Della

Tha's it! Ride lak you loves me, Lil Augie!

Bad-Foot

...... They's at de quarter: Revelation, Roan Knight, an' Silver Heels in that order..... He say Roan Knight an' Silver Heels is neck an' neck......

Ragsdale

Roan Knight!

Della

Silver Heels!

Others

(Like echoes)

Roan Knight!

Silver Heels!

Bad-Foot

...... They is three lengths ahead o' de nearest rival.... they's one length behind Revelation.... As they approach the half, he say, de young filly is losin' her lead.... De other two is at her heels..... They all three is neck an' neck......

(There is a hushed pause)

3-18

Augie

How come dat, yella gal?

Della

Yo' luck done change, Lil Augie.

It's leavin' time.

Augie

Yeah, ma luck done gone down. But dat ain't no cause to leave, Della. Ma luck gonna rise agin, mo' than ever.

Della

No, honey, Biglow done laid yo' luck for good.

Augie

Dann Biglow. Dann him to hell!

Della

I guess dat's where he is, Lil Augie. It don't do no good to cuss de dead, though.

Augie

(Bitterly)

So it wa'n't nuthin' but de money. Nuthin' but dat de whole time long?

Della

Don't say dat. Don't say things just to be mean an' nasty. Don't say things you know ain't so. I loved you mo'n any other man, de best way I knowed an' de most, dis little while.

Augie

Dat de truf, Della?

Della

'Fo' Gawd.

Augie

Den why you leavin'?

Della

It's leavin' time; yo' luck done gone down.

Augie

Yeah. I guess you's right. Putty yella womens lak you ain't made for onlucky niggers.

3-17

(Enter DELLA. This time she wears a hat, and carries a small hand-bag. She and AUGIE look at one another. He doesn't rise. He is too weary)

Bad-Foot

Maybe y'all wants to talk private. I be seein' you, Lil Augie.
(He goes out)

Della

(Crossing over to Lil Augie)

Lil Augie......

Augie

We done our best, Della. Silver Heels lak to bus' hissef
to pieces strainin', but it wa'n't no good; things was agin'
us. I'm sorry, Della.

Della

Don't be too sorry, Lil Augie. I know you done yo' best.
I know you's de ridingest lil jockey in de whole world.
(She kisses him)

Lil Augie

You b'lieves dat, Della, even after me losin' de race?

Della

Sho', Lil Augie.

(They remain in one another's arms for
a moment)

Della

Has you been happy these few weeks, Lil Augie?

Augie

They's been lak heaben to me, gal. I ain't never been so happy
befo', not since de first day I swung on to a hoss an' started
to ridin'. Us gonna be happy still, gal. Dat one race don't
mean eve'thing. Things gonna change agin'.

Della

(Rising)

No, Lil Augie. This de end. I'm gonna quit you.

Act 111

Scene 11

Time: About a year later

Place: Saratoga: A cafe

As the curtain rises, Della enters hurriedly and takes a seat at one of the tables. She is sumptuously dressed and heavily jewelled.

A Girl

Lord, Della, you don't look well. What's the matter with you? You look like you done seen a ghost.

Della

Maybe I has.

Girl (Coming and sitting down by Della)

Where's Jake?

Della

He'll be along soon. I left him at the track.

Girl

Did he win?

Della

Bucketsful.

Girl

Well then I guess they'll be some celebratin' this evenin'. You is the luckiest gal I ever seen Della. Big Jake is the spotinest man in Saratoga, an' they's mo'n one gal here could scratch yo' eyes out if they thought they could get Jake that way.

Della

Maybe they won't have to do that.

Girl

What you mean gal?

Della

Nothin'. Jest runnin' ma mouth. Jes' talkin, that's all.

Waiter

What you goin' have Miss Della?

Della

2

Della

(Drainily)

Jes' now, Sam, they's only one drink can ease ma mind. I'd lak to
have a lil sweeten water.

Sam

You mus jes' be havin' a lil fun with me, Miss Della. I ain't never
heared of no drin lak dat.

Della

No, I guess you ain't, Sam. That's a drink from outta de past when I
was good an' happy. Make it suds.

Sam

Right.

Girl

I sure wish I was in yo' boots Della, with all the money an' things
you got, dresses an' hats.

Della

(Still looking into Space)

An' a rubber tired buggy.

Girl

An a man what's the biggest spo't in town.

Della

I sho' ought to be happy oughtn't I, Maggie.

Girl

You say dat, kinda funny. Ain't you happy?

Della

I ain't been happy in over a year.

Girl

I don't see what mo' you could want.

Della

No, I don't guess you can see.

(Enter Jake Brown, flashy gambler)

Jededia

4

Jake

You mean de Lil Augie you told me about.

Della

Yeah, de same one I lef' for Rags.

Jake

Della, I don't know what to say.

Della

Well, I told you when you took me from Rags, Jake, dat I went with
the money. The only man I ever loved was lil Augie, but I quit
him cold when his luck went down, an' I guess they ain't nothin'
for him an' me anymo'. Sides he don't even know I'm in Sratoga.

Jake

But if he sees you Della.? What then?

Della

Don't start worryin', Jake. He might not even want to speak to me
no mo'.

Jake

I love you Della.

Della

Thank you, Jake.

Jake

Well, honey, guess you better put that money away where it's safe
and sweet.

Della

Into the good old first national( She takes up some of the money
folds it, and starts to put it in her bosom, when the door flies open
and in walk Lil Augie and Badfoot) Augie is dressed fit to kill
and cripple and Badfoot too shows the effect of much money) Augie
doesn't see Della, but she sees him and her hand stays at her breast
where the money is.)

Augie

Folks y'all don't know me, but I'm here to celebrate.

Badfoot

Let me do the introduction
Folks dis is Lil Augie