ACTION: When the curtain goes up there is no one on the stage, but there is a tremendous noise and hub-bub off stage right. There are yells of derision, shouts of anger. Part of the mob is trying to keep Jim in town and a part is driving him off. After a full minute of this, Jim enters with his guitar hanging around his neck and his coat over his shoulder. The sun is dropping low and red thru the forest. He is looking back angrily and shouting back at the mob. A small missile is thrown after him. Jim drops his coat and guitar and grabs up a piece of brick and threatens to throw it.

JIM (Running back the way he came and hurls the brick with all his might.) I'll kill some of youole box-ankled n.i.g.g.e.rs--(grabs up another piece of brick) I'm out yo' ole town--now jus' some of you ole half-pint Baptists let yo' wooden G.o.d and Cornstalk Jesus fool you to hit me!

(Threatens to throw. There are some frightened screams and the mob is heard running back.) I'm glad I'm out yo' ole town, anyhow. I ain't never comin' back no more, neither. You ole ugly-rump n.i.g.g.e.rs done ruint de town anyhow.

(There is complete silence off stage. Jim walks a few steps then sits down on the railroad embankment facing the audience. Jim pulls off one shoe and pours the sand out. He holds the shoe in his hand a moment and looks wistfully back down the railroad track.)

JIM Lawd, folks sho is deceitful. (He puts on the shoe and looks back down the track again.) I never woulda thought people woulda acted lak dat.

(Laces up the shoe) Specially Dave Carter, much as me an' him done proaged round together goin' in swimmin' and playin' ball an'

serenadin' de girls an' de white folks.

(He sits there gloomily silent for a while, then looks behind him and picks up his guitar and begins to pick a tune. It is very sad. He trails off into "You may leave an' go to Halimuhfack." When he finishes he looks back at the sun and picks up his coat also.)

I never woulda thought people woulda acted lak dat. (laces up the shoe) Specially Dave Carter, much as me an' him done proaged round together, goin' in swimmin' and playin' ball an' serenadin' de girls an' de white folks. (He sits there gloomily silent for a while then looks behind him and picks up his guitar and beings to pick a tune. It is very sad. He trails off into "You may leave and go to Halimuhfack."

When he finishes he looks back at the sun and picks up his coat also.) (He looks back again towards the village.) Reckon I better git on down de road an' git somewhere, Lawd knows where. (stops suddenly in his tracks and turns back towards the village and takes a step or two.) All dat mess and stink for nothin'. Dave knows good an' well I didn't mean to hurt him much. (He takes off his cap and scratches his head thoroughly, then turns again and starts on down the road towards left.

Enter Daisy left walking briskly.)

DAISY h.e.l.lo, Jim.

JIM h.e.l.lo, Daisy.

(Embarra.s.sed silence)

DAISY I was just coming over town to see how you come out.

JIM You don't have to go way over there to find dat out--you and Dave done got me run outa town for nothin'.

DAISY (Putting her hand on his arm) Dey didn't run you outa town, did dey?

JIM (Shaking her hand off) Whut you reckon I'm countin' Mr. Railroad's ties for--just to find out how many ties between here and Orlando?

DAISY (Hand on his arm again) Dey _cain't_ run you off like dat!

JIM Take yo' hands off me, Daisy! How come they can't run me off wid you and Dave an'--_everybody_ gainst me?

DAISY I ain't opened my moff 'gainst you, Jim. I ain't said one word--I wasn't even at de old trial. My madame wouldn't let me git off. I wuz just comin' to see 'bout you now.

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

DAISY (Making as if to cry) I wasn't studying '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 that 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-timing cloaker like you don't keer whut come off. Me and Dave been good friends ever since we was born till you had to go flouncing 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 now y'all is fighting and carrying on.

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

DAISY Everybody could see dat but you.

JIM Just like I told you, Daisy. I'll say it before yo' face and behind yo' back. I could kiss you every day--just as regular as pig-bracks.

DAISY And I tole you I could stand it too--justa s regular as you could.

JIM (Catching her by the arm and pulling her down with him onto the rail) Set, down here, Daisy. Less talk some chat. You want me sho nuff--honest to G.o.d?

DAISY (coyly) 'Member whut I told you out on de lake last summer?

JIM Sho nuff, Daisy?

(Daisy nods smilingly.)

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

DAISY Where you goin', Jim?

JIM (Looking sadly down the track) G.o.d 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 suspiciously) Wonder whut he doin'

walking 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 got 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, can'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 lear you coming down de track all whistling and everything?