Poker!
Copyright 1931 by Zora Neale Hurston
43 W.66st. New York City
POKER!
Time - - Present
Place - - New York
Cast of characters -
Nunkie . . . .
Too-Sweet. . .
Peckerwood . .
Black Baby . .
Sack Daddy. .
Aunt Dilsey. .
SCENE -
A shabby front room in a shotgun house.
A door covered by dingy portieres upstage C. Small panel window in side Wall L. Plain centre table chairs with drawn up about it. Gaudy calendars on wall. Battered piano against wall R. Kerosene lamp with reflector against wall on either side of room.
At rise of curtain NUNKIE is at piano playing. . . Others at table with small stacks of chips before each man, TUSH HAWG is seated at table so that he faces audience. He is expertly riffing the cards. .looks over his shoulder and speaks to NUNKIE.
TUSH HAWG
Come on here, Nunkie - and take a hand! You're holding up the game. You been woofin' round here about the poker you can play - now do it!
NUNKIE
BLACK BABY
AW, you can be had! Come on and get in the game! My britches is cryin' for your money! Come on; don't give the healer no trouble!
NUNKIE
Soon as I play the deck I'm comin! and take you alls money! Don' rush me.
Ace means the first time that I met you
Duece means there was nobody there but us two
Trey means the third party - Charlie was his name
Four spot means the fourth time you tried that same old game -
Five spot means five years you played me for a clown
Six spot means six feet of earth when the deal goes down
Now I'm holding the seven spot for each day of the week
Eight means eight hours that she Sheba-ed with your Sheik -
Nine spot means nine hours that I work hard every day -
Ten spot means tenth of every month I brought you home my pay -
The Jack is three-card Charlie who played me for a goat
The Queen, that's my pretty Mama , also trying to cut my throat -
The King stands for Sweet Papa Nunkie and He's goin' to wear the crown,
So be careful you all ain't broke when the deal goes down!
(He laughs - X'es to table, bringing piano stool for seat)
TUSH HAWG
Aw now, brother, two dollars for your seat before you try to sit in this game.
NUNKIE
(Laughs sheepishly - puts money down - TUSH HAWG pushes stack of chips: toward him. Bus.)
I didn't put it down because I knew you all goin! to be puttin' it right back in my pocket.
BECKERWOOD
Aw, Y'all go ahead and play.
(to TUSH HAWG)
Deal!
(TUSH HAWG begins to deal for draw poker. The game gets tense. SACK DADDY is first man at TUSH's left - he throws back three cards and is dealt three more)
SACK DADDY
My luck isure is rotten! My gal must be cheatin' on me. I ain't had a pair since John Henry had a hammer!
BLACK BABY
(Drawing three new cards)
TOO-SWEET
(Studying his three new cards)
(Sings)
When yo'u cards gets lucky, oh Partner, you oughter be in a rollin' game.
AUNT DILSEY
(Enters through portieres - stands and looks disapprovingly)
You all oughter be ashamed of yourself, gamblin' and carryin'g on like this!
BLACK BABY
Aw, this ain't no harm, Aunt Dilsey! You go on back to bed and git your night's rest.
AUNT DILSEY
No harm! I know all about these no-harm sins! If you don't stop this card playin', all of you all goin' to die and go to Hell.
(Shakes warning finger - exits through portieres - while she is talking the men have been hiding cards out of their hands and pulling aces out of sleeves and vest pockets and shoes - it is done quickly, one does not see the other do it)
NUNKIE
(Shoving a chip forward)
A dollar!
SACK DADDY
Raise you two!
BLACK BABY
I don't like to strain with nobody but it's goin' to cost you five. Come on, you shag-nags! This hand I got is enough to pull a country man into town..
TOO-SWEET
You all act like you're spuddin'! Bet some money! Put your money where your mouth is.
TUSH HAWG
my fist where yo mout is
Twenty-five dollars to keep my company! Dog-gone, I'm spreadin' my knots!
SACK DADDY
And I bet you a fat man I'll take your money- I call you.
(Turns up his cards p he has four aces and king)
TUSH HAWG
(Showing his cards)
Youse a liar! I ain't dealt you no aces. Don't try to carry the Pam-Pam to me ‘cause I'll gently chain-gang for you!
SACK DADDY
Oh yeah! I ain't goin' to fit no jail for you and nobody else. I'm to get me a green club and season it over your head. Then I'll give my case to Miss Bush and let Mother Green stand my bond! I got deal them aces-
NUNKIE
That's a lie! Both of you is lyin'! Lyin! like the cross-ties from New York to Key West ! How can you all hold aces when I got four? Somebody is goin' to West hell before midnight !
BECKERWOOD
Don't you woof at Tush Hawg. If you do I'm goin' to bust hell wide open with a man!
BLACK BABY
(Pulls out razor - Bus.)
My chop-axe tells me I got the only clean aces they is this table! Before I'll leave you all rob me outa money, I'm goin' to die it off!
TOO-SWEET
I promised the devil one man and I'm goin' to give him five!
(Draws gun)
TUS
Don't draw your bosom on me! God sent me a pistol and I'm goin' to send him a man!
(FIRES. Bus. for all)
AUNT
(Enters after shooting bus. Stands. Bus. drops to chairO
They wouldn't lissen -
(Looks men over - Bus.)
It sure is goin' to be a whole lot together in hell now!
CURTAIN
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was legally published within the United States (or the United Nations Headquarters in New York subject to Section 7 of the United States Headquarters Agreement) before 1964, and copyright was not renewed.
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Works published in 1931 could have had their copyright renewed in 1958 or 1959, i.e. between January 1st of the 27th year after publication or registration and December 31st of the 28th year. As this work's copyright was not renewed, it entered the public domain on January 1st, 1960.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1960, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 63 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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