MRS. LINDSAY Aw, I done dished you out too many times. Go head on and try to keep yo' lil squatty husband away from down on de lake wid wimmens and you'll have _all_ you can do. How does old heavy-hipted mama talk?
MRS. NIXON Nobody wouldn't have you if he could get anybody else. (She makes a circle with her thum and first finger and holds it up for Mrs. Lindsay to see.) Come thru--don't you feel cheap?
SISTER NIXON You can't shut me up, not the way you live. When you quit beatin Mrs. Mattie and dominizing her all de time then you kin tell other folks what to do. You ain't none of my boss. Don't let yo' wooden God and corn-stalk Jesus fool you now. Now de way you sells rancid bacon for fresh.
NIXON Aw, honey, hush a while, please and less git started.
(A momentary quiet falls on the place. Mayor glowers all over the place. Turns to Lum.)
CLARKE Lum, git a piece of paper and a pencil and take de names of all de witnesses _who was dere while de fight was going on_.
LUM (Pulling a small tablet and pencil out of his coat pocket) I brought it with me.
CLARKE Now everybody who was at de fight hold up yo' hands so Lum can know who you are.
(Several hands go up. Sister Anderson puts up her hand.)
CLARKE You wasn't there, Sister Anderson, not at that time.
SISTER ANDERSON I hadn't been gone more'n ten minutes 'fore Dave come in from de woods.
SISTER ANDERSON It don't make no difference--my husband heered every word was spoke and told me jes' lak it happen. Don't tell _me_ I can't testify.
DEACON HAMBO Nobody can't testify but de two boys cause nobody wuz at de fight but dem.
SISTER ANDERSON Dat's all right too, Brother, but I know whut they wuz fightin' about an' it wudn't no turkey neither. It wuz Daisy Blunt.
MRS. BLUNT Just you take my chile's name right out yo' mouf, Becky Anderson. She wuznt out in dat cypress swamp. Leave her out dis mess.
REV. SIMMS You ain't got no call to be so touchous bout yo' girl, but you sho said a mouthful, Sister Blunt. Dis sho is a mess. Can't help from being uh mess. (glares at Mayor) Holdin' a trial in de Baptist Church! Some folks ain't got sense enough todo 'em till four o'clock and its way after half past tree right now.
MAYOR Shet up, dere, Simms! Set down! Who ast yo' pot to boil, nohow! Court is de best church they is, anyhow, cause you come in court. You better have a good experience and a strong determination. (raps vigorously) Now lemme tell _y'all_ something. When 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. I God, you sound 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.) Hear! Hear! All of us kin sing at de same time, but can't but one of us talk at a time. I'm doin' de talkin' now, so de rest of you dry up till I git through. I God, you sound lak uh passle uh dog fights! We ain't here for no form and no fashion and no outside show to de world. Wese here to law. (to Lum) You done got all de witnesses straight--Got they names down?