(STERLING is thrown for a moment, but recovers quickly.)

STERLING: That don’t surprise me. Don’t nothing surprise me no more.
(WOLF enters.)
Hey, Wolf . . .  just the man I want to see. I need my money. Me and Risa getting married and Reverend Flowers want fifty dollars . . .  the cake man want fifty dollars . . .  the jewelry man want two hundred dollars. Hey, Risa . . .  you want to invite Wolf? She say yeah. We ain’t set the date yet . . .  but we let you know. Where’s my money, nigger? You got my money?

WOLF: Look, Sterling . . .  it ain’t my fault . . .  but they cut the number. They cut it in half. They ain’t paying but six hundred dollars.

STERLING: I’m like Joe Louis. They cut the odds on Joe Louis all the time. That seven eighty-one was like a knockout punch. I knew it was gonna hit. I’m going up and tell the Alberts that seven eighty-one don’t hit like a .45. Mr. West, you don’t bury white people, do you? That’s alright. I ain’t gonna kill nobody. I’ll just put them in a wheelchair.
(To WOLF:)
And I’m gonna start with you if you don’t give me my twelve hundred dollars.

WOLF: I’m gonna tell you one more time, Sterling. I ain’t had nothing to do with it. I know you mad. Everybody mad. They mad out in East Liberty. People in Beltzhoover . . .  everybody all up and down the avenue mad. I ain’t had nothing to do with it. If it was up to me I’d pay everybody what they due. This is a job to me. That little bit they pay me ain’t worth all that. They call me, say, “Wolf, the numbers cut in half.” I say, “Okay.” That’s the way that go. The best I can say is you lucky they didn’t cut it seven ways.

STERLING: Naw . . .  naw, what you telling me is me and Risa got to postpone our getting married.

RISA: I ain’t said nothing about getting married. Don’t be telling everybody that. Wolf, don’t pay him no mind about that.

STERLING: See what I mean? Risa done changed her mind. I’m going up and see the Alberts, see if they change theirs. Give me my six hundred dollars, nigger.
(WOLF pays him the money.)
I’m going up there and give it back to them. See Old Man Albert himself. Let him know an airplane can fall on his head.
(STERLING starts to exit.)

WOLF: Don’t do that, Sterling. Them people don’t play.

STERLING: If I don’t play . . .  that mean there can’t be no game. I’m going up there and carry me a big sign say “Game Canceled.” See? Cause I don’t play either.
(STERLING exits.)

RISA (calling after him): Sterling!
(The lights go down on the scene.)