Blick Where do you work?

Kitty I’m not working just now. I’m looking for work.

Blick What kind of work?

Kitty can’t answer.

Blick What kind of work?

Kitty can’t answer.

Blick (furiously) WHAT KIND OF WORK?

Kit Carson comes over.

Kit Carson You can’t talk to a lady that way in my presence.

Blick turns and stares at Kit Carson. The Cops begin to move from the bar.

Blick (to the Cops) It’s all right, boys. I’ll take care of this. (To Kit Carson.) What’d you say?

Kit Carson You got no right to hurt people. Who are you?

Blick, without a word, takes Kit Carson to the street. Sounds of a blow and a groan. Blick returns, breathing hard.

Blick (to the Cops) OK, boys. You can go now. Take care of him. Put him on his feet and tell him to behave himself from now on. (To Kitty again.) Now answer my question. What kind of work?

Kitty (quietly) I’m a whore, you son of a bitch. You know what kind of work I do. And I know what kind you do.

Gentleman (shocked and really hurt) Excuse me, officer, but it seems to me that your attitude –

Blick Shut up.

Gentleman (quietly) – is making the poor child say things that are not true.

Blick Shut up, I said.

Lady Well. (To the Gentleman.) Are you going to stand for such insolence?

Blick (to Gentleman, who is standing) Are you?

Gentleman (taking the Lady’s arm) I’ll get a divorce. I’ll start life all over again. (Pushing the Lady.) Come on. Get the hell out of here!

The Gentleman hurries his wife out of the place, Blick watching them go.

Blick (to Kitty) Now. Let’s begin again, and see that you tell the truth. What’s your name?

Kitty Kitty Duval.

Blick Where do you live?

Kitty Until this evening I lived at the New York Hotel. Room 21. This evening I moved to the St Francis Hotel.

Blick Oh. To the St Francis Hotel. Nice place. Where do you work?

Kitty I’m looking for work.

Blick What kind of work do you do?

Kitty I’m an actress.

Blick I see. What movies have I seen you in?

Kitty I’ve worked in burlesque.

Blick You’re a liar.

Wesley stands, worried and full of dumb resentment.

Kitty (pathetically, as at the beginning of the play) It’s the truth.

Blick What are you doing here?

Kitty I came to see if I could get a job here.

Blick Doing what?

Kitty Singing – and – dancing.

Blick You can’t sing or dance. What are you lying for?

Kitty I can. I sang and danced in burlesque all over the country.

Blick You’re a liar.

Kitty I said lines, too.

Blick So you danced in burlesque?

Kitty Yes.

Blick All right. Let’s see what you did.

Kitty I can’t. There’s no music, and I haven’t got the right clothes.

Blick There’s music. (To Wesley.) Put a nickel in that phonograph.