Wesley can’t move.

Blick Come on. Put a nickel in that phonograph.

Wesley does so.

Blick (to Kitty) All right. Get upon that stage and do a hot little burlesque number.

Kitty stands. Walks slowly to the stage, but is unable to move. Joe comes in, holding three books.

Blick Get going, now. Let’s see you dance the way you did in burlesque, all over the country.

Kitty tries to do a burlesque dance. It is beautiful in a tragic way.

Blick All right, start taking them off!

Kitty removes her hat and starts to remove her jacket. Joe moves closer to the stage, amazed.

Joe (hurrying to Kitty) Get down from there.

He takes Kitty into his arms. She is crying.

Joe (to Blick) What the hell do you think you’re doing!

Wesley (like a little boy, very angry) It’s that man, Blick. He made her take off her clothes. He beat up the old man, too.

Blick pushes Wesley off, as Tom enters.

Blick begins beating up Wesley.

Tom What’s the matter, Joe? What’s happened?

Joe Is the truck out there?

Tom Yeah, but what’s happened? Kitty’s crying again!

Joe You driving to San Diego?

Tom Yeah, Joe. But what’s he doing to that poor coloured boy?

Joe Get going. Here’s some money. Everything’s OK. (To Kitty.) Dress in the truck. Take these books.

Wesley’s voice You can’t hurt me. You’ll get yours. You wait and see.

Tom Joe, he’s hurting that boy. I’ll kill him!

Joe (pushing Tom) Get out of here! Get married in San Diego. I’ll see you when you get back.

Tom and Kitty go. Nick enters and stands at the lower end of the bar. Joe takes the revolver out of his pocket. Looks at it.

Joe I’ve always wanted to kill somebody, but I never knew who it should be.

He cocks the revolver, stands real straight, holds it in front of him firmly and walks to the door. He stands a moment watching Blick, aims very carefully, and pulls the trigger. There is no shot.

Nick runs over, grabs the gun and takes Joe aside.

Nick What the hell do you think you’re doing?

Joe (casually, but angry) That dumb Tom. Buys a six-shooter that won’t even shoot once.

He sits down, dead to the world.

Blick comes out, panting for breath.

Nick looks at him. He speaks slowly.

Nick Blick! I told you to stay out of here! Now get out of here.

He takes Blick by the collar, tightening his grip as he speaks, and pushing him out.

Nick If you come back again, I’m going to take you in that room where you’ve been beating up that coloured boy, and I’m going to murder you – slowly – with my hands. Beat it! (He pushes Blick out. To Harry.) Go take care of the coloured boy.

Harry runs out.

Willie returns and doesn’t sense that anything is changed. He puts another nickel into the machine, but he does so very violently. The consequence of this violence is that the flag comes up again. Willie, amazed, stands at attention and salutes. The flag goes down. He shakes his head.