(He notices the sign on the menu board.)

“Funeral for Hambone Saturday One O’Clock.” Hambone dead? He dead?

RISA: He died in his sleep.

MEMPHIS: Lutz never did give him his ham, did he? I always figured one day Lutz would break down and give it to him. Either that or he’d take it.

(He mimics Hambone:)
He gonna give me my ham. He gonna give me my ham. I want my ham.
(He is in pain, wounded by all the cruel and cold ironies of life. He reaches into his pocket.)
Risa . . .  take this fifty dollars and get some flowers.
(He gives her some money.)
Get him a big bunch. Put on there where it say who it’s from . . .  say it’s from everybody . . .  everybody who ever dropped the ball and went back to pick it up. Risa, where’s my plate? I got to eat something. I’m going on back down there to the Brass Rail. Me and . . .  me and . . .  I forget her name . . .  we gonna celebrate. You believe that, Holloway? Hey, West . . .  thirty-five thousand dollars. When I get back . . .  if I get back from seeing Stoval . . .  I’m gonna open me up a big restaurant right down there on Centre Avenue. I’m gonna need two or three cooks and seven or eight waitresses. I’m gonna fix it up real nice. Gonna put me a jukebox . . .  fix it so the lights go up and down and everything.
(The sound of glass breaking and a burglar alarm is heard.)
Hell, I might even put a carpet on the floor. Put little chandeliers . . .  get me a neon sign. I’m talking about a big neon. You be able to see it from Herron Avenue. I’m gonna put everything on the menu. Short ribs. Bar-B-Que . . .  I might have me a little takeout on the side . . .  put in a separate entrance. . . .
(STERLING enters, carrying a large ham. He is bleeding from his face and his hands. He grins and lays the ham on the counter.)

STERLING: Say, Mr. West . . .  that’s for Hambone’s casket.
(The lights go down to black.)

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