Den she boun’ ter tell Sam--an’ lie an’ blackguard on me wuss den evah--! Don’ yo’ see--? (_Twining and intertwining her fingers and staring into space with a distraught expression._) I don’ know w’at ter do!
(_The children suddenly give vent to shouts and can be heard romping wildly in the room, off Left._)
Listen ter dem chillen--! (_Moving toward, Left._) ’Scuse me while I puts dem ter bed.
AUNT REBECCA (_as Lucy Belle nears the door, Left_)
Ed Cales. (_Hesitatingly_) Is-Israel is--is Jeff’s.
(_Aunt Rebecca grunts and nods. Lucy Belle goes out, Left. Aunt Rebecca sits pondering for several moments and then begins to chant._)
Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! Trouble in mah soul! Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! Trouble in mah soul! Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! Trouble in mah soul! Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a!
(_A knock sounds on the door, Back. Aunt Rebecca glances toward the door and gives an annoyed grunt. The knock sounds again. Aunt Rebecca gets up, grumbling to herself, goes to the door and opens it. Lizzie Gibbs steps in. She is a large, voluptuous, mulatto woman. She has straight hair, high cheek bones, and large coarse features. Her manner is over-bearing and insolent._)
AUNT REBECCA (_surveying her with an air of frank suspicion and disapproval_)
LIZZIE (_swaggering down toward Center with her hands on her hips_)
None ob yo’ bus’ness weder he do or weder he don’--!
Go ’long, yo’ ole black wench! Don’ yo’ give me no back talk! (_Glaring at her malevolently._) Don’ yo ’spose I knows he live yere--! Is he home?
(_Aunt Rebecca stands glaring fiercely at Lizzie. Lucy Belle can be heard in the next room speaking to the children._)
(_Aunt Rebecca hesitates for a moment, then shuffles over toward the door on the left, and goes out. Lizzie swaggers about the room, examining various objects with an expression of sardonic contempt. Presently Lucy Belle enters, Left--falteringly._)
LIZZIE (_pausing, hunching herself down on one hip, and gazing at Lucy Belle with an expression of sneering venom_)
LIZZIE (_with an explosive, sardonic laugh_)
I--I done tol’ yo’ dat I don’ know whar Sam is!
Look yere, gal, d’yo’ think yo’ puttin’ somefin’ ovah on me?