He goes out. The telephone rings.

Kit Carson (jumping up, fighting) Come on, all of you, if you’re looking for trouble. I never asked for quarter and I always gave it.

Nick (reproachfully) Hey, Kit Carson.

Dudley (on the phone) Hello. Who? Nick? Yes. He’s here. (To Nick.) It’s for you. I think it’s important.

Nick (going to the phone) Important! What’s important?

Dudley He sounded like big shot.

Nick Big what? (To Wesley and Harry.) Hey, you. Quiet. I want to hear this important stuff.

Wesley stops playing the piano. Harry stops dancing. Kit Carson comes close to Nick.

Kit Carson If there’s anything I can do, name it. I’ll do it for you. I’m fifty-eight years old; been through three wars; married four times; the father of countless children whose names I don’t even know. I’ve got no money. I live from hand to mouth. But if there’s anything I can do, name it. I’ll do it.

Nick (patiently) Listen, Pop. For a moment, please sit down and go back to sleep – for me.

Kit Carson I can do that, too.

He sits down, folds his arms and puts his head into them. But not for long. As Nick begins to talk, he listens carefully, gets to his feet, and then begins to express in pantomime the moods of each of Nick’s remarks.

Nick (on phone) Yeah? (Pause.) Who? Oh, I see. (Listens.) Why don’t you leave them alone? (Listens.) The church people? Well, to hell with the church people. I’m a Catholic myself. (Listens.) All right. I’ll send them away. I’ll tell them to lay low for a couple of days. Yeah, I know how it is.

Nick’s daughter Anna comes in shyly, looking at her father, and stands unnoticed by the piano.

Nick (on phone) What? (Very angry.) Listen. I don’t like that Blick. He was here this morning, and I told him not to come back. I’ll keep the girls out of here. You keep Blick out of here. (Listens.) I know his brother-in-law is important, but I don’t want him to come down here. He looks for trouble everywhere, and he always finds it. I don’t break any laws. I’ve got a dive in the lousiest part of town. Five years nobody’s been robbed, murdered or gypped. I leave people alone. Your swanky joints uptown make trouble for you every night.

Nick gestures to Wesley – keeps listening on the phone – puts his hand over the mouthpiece.

Nick (to Wesley and Harry) Start playing again. My ears have got a headache. Go into your dance, son.

Wesley begins to play again, Harry begins to dance.

Nick (into mouthpiece) Yeah. I’ll keep them out. Just see that Blick doesn’t come around and start something. (Pause.) OK. (He hangs up.)

Kit Carson Trouble coming?

Nick That lousy Vice Squad again. It’s that gorilla Blick.

Kit Carson Anybody at all. You can count on me. What kind of a gorilla is this gorilla Blick?

Nick Very dignified. Toenails on his fingers.