2.
CLERK
(Reading )
Cliff Mullins, charged with assault upon his wife with a weapon and disturbing the peace.
(As CLIFF is led to the bar by the officer, the JUDGE glares ferociously at the prisoner. His wife, all bandages, limps up to the bar at the same time.)
JUDGE
So youse one of dese hard-boiled wife-beaters, huh? Just a mean old woman-Jessie! If I don't lay a hearing on you, God's a gopher! Now what made you cut such a caper?
CLIFF
Judge, I didn't go to hunt her. Saturday night I was down on Dearborn Street in a buffet flatnasty ditch -
JUDGE
Buffet flat?A nasty ditch?
CLIFF
Aw, at Emma Hayles' house.
JUDGE
Oh, yes. Go on.
CLIFF
Well,
(Points thumb at wife)
she come down dere and claim I took her money and she claimed I wuz spending it on Emma.
CLIFF'S WIFE
Aand dat's just whut he was doing, too, Judge.
CLIFF
AW, she's tellin' a great big Georgia ole lie, Judge. I wasn't spendin' no money of her'n.
WOMAN
Yes he was, Judge. There wasn't no money for him to git but mine. He ain't hit a lick of work since God been to Macon. Know whut he 'lowed when I worry him 'bout workin'? Says he wouldn't take a job wid de Careless Love Lumber Company, puttin' out whut make you do me lak you do, do, do.
JUDGE
So, you goes for a sweet-back, do you?
CLIFF
Naw suh, Judge. I'd be glad to work if I could find a job.
JUDGE
How long you been outa work?
CLIFF
Seventeen years -
