Kitty (to herself) Who the hell is he to push a big man like that around?

Joe I’ll expect you back in a half-hour. Don’t get sidetracked anywhere. Just do what I tell you.

Tom (pleading) Joe? Can’t I bet four bits on a horse race? There’s a long shot – Precious Time – that’s going to win by ten lengths. I got to have money.

Joe points to the street. Tom goes out. Nick is combing his hair, looking in the mirror.

Nick I thought you wanted him to get you a watermelon.

Joe I forgot. (He watches Kitty a moment. To Kitty, clearly, slowly, with great compassion.) What’s the dream?

Kitty (moving to Joe, coming to) What?

Joe (holding the dream for her) What’s the dream, now?

Kitty (coming still closer) What dream?

Joe What dream! The dream you’re dreaming.

Nick Suppose he did bring you a watermelon? What the hell would you do with it?

Joe (irritated) I’d put in on this table. I’d look at it. Then I’d eat it. What do you think I’d do with it, sell it for a profit?

Nick How should I know what you’d do with anything? What I’d like to know is, where do you get your money from? What work do you do?

Joe (looking at Kitty) Bring us a bottle of champagne.

Kitty Champagne?

Joe (simply) Would you rather have something else?

Kitty What’s the big idea?

Joe I thought you might like some champagne. I myself am very fond of it.

Kitty Yeah, but what’s the big idea? You can’t push me around.

Joe (gently, but severely) It’s not in my nature to be unkind to another human being. I have only contempt for wit. Otherwise I might say something obvious, therefore cruel, and perhaps untrue.

Kitty You be careful what you think about me.

Joe (slowly, not looking at her) I have only the noblest thoughts for both your person, and your spirit.

Nick (having listened carefully and not being able to make it out) What are you talking about?

Kitty You shut up. You –

Joe He owns this place. He’s an important man. All kinds of people come to him looking for work. Comedians. Singers. Dancers.

Kitty I don’t care. He can’t call me names.

Nick All right, sister. I know how it is with a two-dollar whore in the morning.

Kitty (furiously) Don’t you dare call me names. I used to be in burlesque.

Nick If you were ever in burlesque, I used to be Charlie Chaplin.

Kitty (angry and a little pathetic) I was in burlesque. I played the burlesque circuit from coast to coast. I’ve had flowers sent to me by European royalty. I’ve had dinner with young men of wealth and social position.

Nick You’re dreaming.

Kitty (to Joe) I was in burlesque. Kitty Duval. That was my name. Life-size photographs of me in costume in front of burlesque theatres all over the country.

Joe (gently, coaxingly) I believe you. Have some champagne.