EUGENE: Mother comes over to me slurring and staggering. (THELMA) “Easy Street boy–never–struggled–a day–in your–life–boy. (Beat) Daddy never respected me or any women for that matter. ‘Slap a woman down to keep her in line if you have to.’ He wanted to marry me off quickly. He set me up with a boy–a light-skinned boy–and the boy beat me. The boy left me black and blue and you know what YOUR father did? He cried. He took one look at me and said crying, ‘How could somebody do this to you–you’re so PRECIOUS.’ Robert is one of the gentlest human beings there is. I can still see him crying. (Beat) My father didn’t give a damn that I was beaten. ‘What in the hell did you do to make the boy beat you Thelma–he comes from a good family.’ That’s what my father said to me. I said, ‘Daddy, Robert Gaines stood up for me–he loves me. He takes care of me better than you ever did.’ And you know what your grandfather Eugene did? He slapped me. ‘You get a little upset cause you get a little ass whipping? A man is supposed to keep his woman in line. You marry him–you marry that spook nigger and I cut you off So I get nothing and your father got mistreated because he was a gentleman–because he IS a gentleman. You get it all. Why? Why? You get it because you look like him/you get it all because he wants to get back at me/even in death he wants to get back at me/you never had to make any sacrifices/it’s an easy street for you. YOU STOLE FROM ME.” (EUGENE) I’m getting angry–I feel myself getting hot–angry. Daddy grins and says, (ROBERT) “Yeah–not only did I lose out–your mother did too–you never thought about that–how YOU took from her.” (EUGENE) (To Robert) “I DIDN’T TAKE FROM ANYBODY!–WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!”

ALMA: I’ve never seen Gene like this–I have never seen him drunk like this–I’ve never seen him violent.

EUGENE: Wyce says, (WYCE) “Take it easy man! Your mom’s just upset–she’s had a little too much to drink.”

ALMA: People are beginning to leave. (To Eugene) “You’ve had enough.”

EUGENE: “Don’t nag me–I can’t deal with that right now.”

ALMA: “Mr. Gaines, maybe you should tell Gene to take it easy.” Mr. Gaines says, (ROBERT) “That’s nice the way you’re looking after him. God help you–you’re taking a lot on.” (ALMA) He squeezes my backside.