2.
BLACK BABY
AW, you can be had! Come on and get in the game! My britches is cryin' for your money! Come on; don't give the healer no trouble!
NUNKIE
Soon as I play the deck I'm comin! and take you alls money! Don' rush me.
Ace means the first time that I met you
Duece means there was nobody there but us two
Trey means the third party - Charlie was his name
Four spot means the fourth time you tried that same old game -
Five spot means five years you played me for a clown
Six spot means six feet of earth when the deal goes down
Now I'm holding the seven spot for each day of the week
Eight means eight hours that she Sheba-ed with your Sheik -
Nine spot means nine hours that I work hard every day -
Ten spot means tenth of every month I brought you home my pay -
The Jack is three-card Charlie who played me for a goat
The Queen, that's my pretty Mama , also trying to cut my throat -
The King stands for Sweet Papa Nunkie and He's goin' to wear the crown,
So be careful you all ain't broke when the deal goes down!
(He laughs - X'es to table, bringing piano stool for seat)
TUSH HAWG
Aw now, brother, two dollars for your seat before you try to sit in this game.
NUNKIE
(Laughs sheepishly - puts money down - TUSH HAWG pushes stack of chips: toward him. Bus.)
I didn't put it down because I knew you all goin! to be puttin' it right back in my pocket.
BECKERWOOD
Aw, Y'all go ahead and play.
(to TUSH HAWG)
Deal!
(TUSH HAWG begins to deal for draw poker. The game gets tense. SACK DADDY is first man at TUSH's left - he throws back three cards and is dealt three more)
SACK DADDY
My luck isure is rotten! My gal must be cheatin' on me. I ain't had a pair since John Henry had a hammer!
BLACK BABY
You might be fooling the rest with the cryin' you're doin! but I'm squattin' for you! You're cryin' worse than cryin' Emma!
