Willie Took me a little while, but I finally did it. It’s scientific, really. With a little skill a man can make a modest living beating the marble games. Not that that’s what I want to do. I just don’t like the idea of anything getting the best of me. A machine or anything else. Myself, I’m the kind of a guy who makes up his mind to do something, and then goes to work and does it. There’s no other way a man can be a success at anything. (Indicating the letter ‘F’ on his sweater.) See that letter? That don’t stand for some little-bitty high school somewhere. That stands for me. Faroughli. Willie Faroughli. I’m an Assyrian. We’ve got a civilisation six or seven centuries old, I think. Somewhere along in there. Ever hear of Osman? Harold Osman? He’s an Assyrian, too. He’s got an orchestra down in Fresno. (He goes to the Lady and Gentleman.) I’ve never seen you before in my life, but I can tell from the clothes you wear and the company you keep (graciously indicating the Lady) that you’re a man who looks every problem straight in the eye, and then goes to work and solves it. I’m that way myself. Well. (He smiles beautifully, takes the Gentleman’s hand furiously.) It’s been wonderful talking to a nicer type of people for a change. Well. I’ll be seeing you. So long. (He turns, takes two steps, returns to the table. Very politely and seriously.) Goodbye, lady. You’ve got a good man there. Take good care of him.

Willie goes, saluting Joe and the world.

Kit Carson (to Joe) By God, for a while there I didn’t think that young Assyrian was going to do it. That fellow’s got something.

Tom comes back with the magazines and other stuff.

Joe Get it all?

Tom Yeah. I had a little trouble finding the jelly beans.

Joe Let’s take a look at them.

Tom These are the jelly beans.

Joe puts his hand into the cellophane bag and takes out a handful of the jelly beans, looks at them, smiles and tosses a couple into his mouth.

Joe Same as ever. Have some. (He offers the bag to Kit Carson.)

Kit Carson (flirting) Thanks! I remember the first time I ever ate jelly beans. I was six, or at the most seven. Must have been in (slowly) eighteen – seventy – seven. Seven or eight. Baltimore.

Joe Have some, Tom.

Tom takes some.

Tom Thanks, Joe.

Joe Let’s have some of that chewing gum.

He dumps all the packages of gum out of the bag on to the table.

Kit Carson (flirting) Me and a boy named Clark. Quinton Clark. Became a Senator.

Joe Yeah. Tutti-frutti, all right. (He opens a package and folds all five pieces into his mouth.) Always wanted to see how many I could chew at one time. Tell you what, Tom. I’ll bet I can chew more at one time than you can.