Nick comes out of the kitchen with Wesley.

Nick Here. Sit down and rest. That’ll hold you for a while. Why didn’t you tell me you were hungry? You all right now?

Wesley (sitting down in the chair at the piano) Yes, I am. Thank you. I didn’t know I was that hungry.

Nick Fine. (To Harry, who is dancing.) Hey. What the hell do you think you’re doing?

Harry (stopping) That’s my own idea. I’m a natural-born dancer and comedian.

Wesley begins slowly, one note, one chord at a time, to play the piano.

Nick You’re no good. Why don’t you try some other kind of work? Why don’t you get a job in a store, selling something? What do you want to be a comedian for?

Harry I’ve got something for the world and they haven’t got sense enough to let me give it to them. Nobody knows me.

Dudley Elsie. Now I’m waiting for some dame I’ve never seen before. Lorene Smith. Never saw her in my life. Just happened to get the wrong number. She turns on the personality, and I’m a cooked Indian. Give me a beer, please.

Harry Nick, you’ve got to see my act. It’s the greatest thing of its kind in America. All I want is a chance. No salary to begin. Let me try it out tonight. If I don’t wow ’em, OK, I’ll go home. If vaudeville wasn’t dead, a guy like me would have a chance.

Nick You’re not funny. You’re a sad young punk. What the hell do you want to try to be funny for? You’ll break everybody’s heart. What’s there for you to be funny about? You’ve been poor all your life, haven’t you?

Harry I’ve been poor all right, but don’t forget that some things count more than some other things.

Nick What counts more, for instance, than what else, for instance?

Harry Talent, for instance, counts more than money, for instance, that’s what, and I’ve got talent. I get new ideas night and day. Everything comes natural to me. I’ve got style, but it’ll take me a little time to round it out. That’s all.

By now Wesley is playing something of his own which is very good and out of the world. He plays about half a minute, after which Harry begins to dance.

Nick (watching) I run the lousiest dive in Frisco, and a guy arrives and makes me stock up with champagne. The whores come in and holler at me that they’re ladies. Talent comes in and begs me for a chance to show itself. Even society people come here once in a while. I don’t know what for. Maybe it’s liquor. Maybe it’s the location. Maybe it’s my personality. Maybe it’s the crazy personality of the joint. The old honky-tonk. (Pause.) Maybe they can’t feel at home anywhere else.

By now Wesley is really playing, and Harry is going through a new routine. Dudley grows sadder and sadder.

Kitty Please dance with me.