WEST: I put a stop to that. I don’t allow that kind of thing over there. I stopped them from doing that. What they say to you downtown there?

MEMPHIS: I ain’t went yet. I got to go down there tomorrow. I’m going down there and see what they offer me for it. I ain’t taking a penny less than twenty-five thousand dollars.

WEST: They ain’t gonna give you no twenty-five thousand dollars for this building. It ain’t worth that. They look up what you paid for it and double that. That’s one hundred percent profit. They figure anybody be satisfied with that. It’s hard to argue against that. The lawyer can’t even argue against that. They ain’t gonna give you but ten . . .  eleven thousand. Twelve at the most.

MEMPHIS: I ain’t taking a penny less than twenty-five thousand.

WEST: They ain’t gonna give you no twenty-five thousand dollars on something they gonna tear down! I don’t know how niggers think sometimes. Now, I told you I’d give you fifteen thousand dollars for it. Cash money. We can go down to the bank right now. Fifteen thousand dollars. Draw it right out in cash. You can get it any way you want. Hundreds. Twenties.

MEMPHIS: Naw. Naw. I ain’t taking a penny less than twenty-five thousand dollars.

WEST: You watch and see what I’m telling you. They gonna double what you paid for it. They ain’t gonna give you no ten thousand dollars on top of that.

MEMPHIS: Then they ain’t getting my building. I figure that twenty-five thousand is cheap. They forcing me to move out . . .  close up my business . . .  well, I figure they ought to pay something for that. I don’t care what the building is worth or how much I bought it for.

WEST: They got the right of eminent domain. They don’t care what you think. They can go anywhere in the city and take any piece of property they want. The city council done voted to take over these whole twelve blocks. They getting five this year and seven next year. They ain’t gonna let you stand in their way. Talk to Philmore down the street. He sold me his place. He know the city wasn’t gonna give him what it’s worth.

MEMPHIS: Give me twenty-five thousand dollars and you can have it. Put it with your other property and go down there and get fifty for it.

WEST: I told you I’d give you fifteen. It ain’t worth no twenty-five. To me or nobody else.

MEMPHIS: I ain’t taking a penny less than twenty-five thousand dollars.

WEST: Alright. You gonna be surprised. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Let me know if you change your mind. We can go right on down to the bank any time you want.
(WEST exits.)