The Emperor Jones Page #2

Don't do that, son. Not inside of my house.

You ain't gonna send me to jail! Uh-uh!

Y'all go ahead and dance!

There she is.

Undine, meet Mr. Jones.

Pleased to meet you, Mr. Jones.

Wanna dance?

Sure. Go ahead.

You're my buddy, ain't you?

How do you like the city, big boy?

I like it fine, now.

Comin' back soon?

Soon as the train'll bring me.

I'll be here.

Little gal.

And the mockingbird is singin'

In the locus' by the door

Oh, little gal

Little gal

There's a hummin'

and a strummin'

In the land from east to west

I's a-sighin'for you, honey

Honey, I's sure glad to see ya.

I get to missin' you more and more

on these long runs.

You know, you oughtn't to ask me

to come here to meet you.

- I been afraid.

- Fraid of what?

You know. OfJeff.

He's a bad actor over me.

You ain't got nothin'

to be afraid of.

I can handle

that little two-bits porter.

You oughta throw him over anyhow.

Then it'd be just you and me.

Sometimes I wonders.

Wonders what?

If we gonna last.

You ain't got nothin' to worry about, honey.

But you ain't heard

the good news yet.

I been transferred

to the president's private car.

Aw, that ain't nothin'.

Why, Jeff say you don't make no tips on that job.

That's why he didn't take it.

There you are. That's the difference

'tween me and Jeff.

He can't see no bigger than two bits.

Me? Why, I'd just be steppin'

to my own class on that private car.

Harrington, if there is no leak...

we stand to clean up millions.

- That's the idea. Good night.

- Good night.

- Good night, Jones.

- Good night, sir.

Anything on your mind, Jones?

I's awful worried about that merger.

Sure would be bad for us

if that news got out.

"Us"? Hmm.

- How long have you been with me, Jones?

- Six weeks, sir.

Learning fast, Jones.

Almost too fast.

Got any money, Jones?

I got about 300 in the bank.

All right, you're in the pool for $300.

Thank you, sir.

And, Jones, uh...

I would rather you didn't

leave the car until Sunday.

Two days solitary,

but it'll be worth it.

- Right?

- Yes, sir.

And, Jones,

when we get back to New York...

it might be a good idea

for you to go back on your old run.

There's more room for big men

in Georgia.

Yes, sir.

Boy, you sure was born

to wear that oyster front.

Where'd you get such a good fit?

Well, the boss and me talked it over,

and he sent me to his tailor.

He said, "Jones, you got a position

to live up to now...

and you can't afford

to be careless in your attire."

You and Mr. Harrington

must be gettin' mighty thick.

We just pulled off

a little deal together.

I give him some valuable advice, and he said,

"Jones, you're learnin' fast. You're gettin' big."

And then he takes me into partnership.

- Ain't you goin' back on the Pullman no more?

- Oh, I'll stick by the job for a few more runs.

But things don't seem to be goin' quite right

on that old run of mine...

and the boss asked me to drop down that way

and straighten 'em out.

When, since I guess you'll be

down that way...

you'll probably drop in

the White House.

Well, that's an idea.

Look here,

what you tryin' to do, kid me?

Me, kid you?

Boy, you're a scream.

"Jones, you're gettin' big.

You're learnin' fast.

Then he takes me into partnership."

Come clean, big boy.

Where'd you get that money, in a crap game?

Go ahead, laugh some more.

You done laughed yourself

right off of my payroll.

Oh, honey, sweetheart, I didn't mean it.

I was only kiddin'.

No, you's too funny to live with.

Any woman is baggage what gets

heavier and heavier, the longer you totes 'em.

You got to change 'em

to keep travelin' light.

Here's $40. And good-bye!

So you was all set to do this

before you come in, huh?

Through is through.

You heard me.

Then you can go back toJeff.

He still thinks there ain't nobody like his Undine.

Yeah? Well, you ain't the first man

that's gone down-and-out...

thinkin' everybody else was a fool.

I got eyes, even ifJeff ain't.

And you can tell that polecat

Belle La Due...

if she wants to keep on tryin' to look like Garbo,

she'd better stay out of my way.

Slim, sister!

Well, if it ain't the old big-timer

in from the west.

Hello, Jeff.

Hello, Undine.

Undine, meet Miss La Due.

I've known Belle

since before she straightened her hair...

and when she went with Johnson.

Where is he now, Belle?

Still in jail?

Undine! Where is your manners?

I'm just trying to talk

so that polecat can understand me.

Come on, baby, let's dance.

What's the matter with you tonight, Undine?

I don't like you acting so to my pal.

- Your pal?

- Yeah.

Don't make me laugh.

Why, he's been bitin' you in the back for a year.

What do you mean?

I mean, when I get finished with Belle,

he ain't gon' have much left to love.

Oh, you dirty little...

Hey, you! Stop that!

Get out! Go on!

Get out! Come on, ma'am!

I's travelin' light.

Number eight's his point!

Come on, you nits. Get back. Give me room.

- What's the matter,Jeff? I never saw you in such a mood.

- Never mind the lip.

- Get these nits back away from the table.

- Fellas, back upl Give him a chancel

Oh, we ain't in his way.

Shoot!

- On the line, you nits!

- Eighter from Decatur!

Beaver dice!

- Big Dick!

- Who is that singin'?

Is that you, Lily pie?

- Yes!

- Well, if you can't sing no better'n that, shut up!

Jeff's gal must have slowed him down!

Yes, what's eatin' you, Jeff?

You been tryin' to ride somebody

ever since you come in here.

Aw, woman, dry up!

- High rollers open!

- Let 'em roll.

Gentleman says you've faded.

Let 'em roll.

Push over, little tender.

Let a man have elbow room.

Twenty dollars they don't.

Twenty they do.

Shake, rub and roll 'em here,

brother.

- Hot dice!

- Ah! The man went away.

- I'll throw in.

- Yeah, Jones, give me a shooter there, somebody.

- Come on, give me a shooter.

- Fifteen cents I'll shoot.

Take that chicken feed off of here

and play it on the line. Give me a shooter.

Big money talk.

What you shootin', Mr. Jones?

- Put in a nickel.

- Put in a nickel, he goes!

- I got the nickel!

- Can't bet with it in your hand. Put it on the wood.

- Let 'em roll. He's faded.

- Hold my hat, nit.

Let me have 'em.

- Eight!

- Balls of fire. Big Dick.

Don't get nervous, boy.

You can back it. Let me have it.

- Six-four me, dice.

- Eleven!

Who wants any part of these four sawbucks?

I makes my point.

- Let the dice bring on misery.

- Let him hear 'em chatter.

- Six-four me, dice.

- Six-ace. The man went away.

Get up off the table.

Your coat sleeves stoppin' my dice.

- Can't I make a bet?

- Here, old boy. You win a dime.

Here you are, Jeff.

Mark mine.

- Who's the next shooter?

- Eighty-five cents I shoot.

- Eighty-five cents the lady shoots.

- Bring your bet here. Your cushions favor me.

- Let 'em roll. She's faded.

- Twenty the dice do.

Let the hussy sprain her wrist.

I'm gon' cut you a brand-new mouth

with these dice...

and give you somethin' to put in it,

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