"Wish me red roses" "And yellow balloons" "And black sequins falling" "And gay dancing tunes ow what..." "are these treasures" "The most you can give..." "I wish me a rainbow long as I live" "All my tomorrows depend on your love" "So, wish me a rainbow above..." "Hey, you seen a kite?" "Don't talk to me till I fall off." "Here, come here, hurry, will you?" "Run, stupid!" "Here, take my crazy doll, will you?" "I don't want to break her when I fall." "I don't think I can stay on much longer." "This is the farthest I've ever gone without once falling off." "Oops!" "Hurt yourself?" "Skinned my knee a little." "Good thing I didn't put my silk stockings on." "Spit on it." "That takes the sting away." "Okay." "Hey, are you okay?" "Yeah, I guess so." "The principal damage was done to my bracelet, I guess." "Knocked out one of the diamonds." "Well, it wasn't a genuine diamond." "How do you know?" "'Cause if it was, you wouldn't be out walking railroad tracks." "Not with a banged-up doll and a piece of a rotten banana." "Hey, I forgot to ask you... what's your name?" "Tom." "Mine's Willie." "How'd that happen?" "Well, I was expected to be a boy, but I wasn't." "They already had one girl..." "Alva." "That was my sister." "Hey, why ain't you in school?" "'Cause I thought it was going to be windy, so I could fly my kite." "What made you think that?" "'Cause the sky's so white." "Hey, why ain't you in school?" "Oh, I quituated." "They started teaching algebra." "I didn't give a damn what "X" stood for, so I quit." "You ain't going to get an education walking a railroad track." "You ain't going to get one flying a kite neither." "Besides... what a girl needs to get along is social training." "Learned that from my sister, Alva." "She had a wonderful popularity with the railroad men." "Train engineers?" "Engineers?" "Engineers, firemen, brakemen, conductors, even the freight superintendent." "Every one of them after Alva." "She was, I guess you might say, the main attraction." "Beautiful?" "Geez." "Boy, you see that house over yonder?" "We used to have some high old times in that big, yellow house." "I'll bet you did." "Musical instruments going all the time... piano, Victrola, Hawaiian steel guitar... everybody playing on something." "It's awful quiet now, though." "Is it empty?" "Except for me." "They got a big sign stuck up." ""This Property is Condemned."" "You ain't still living there?" "Oh, I'm not supposed to be, but I am." "Property's condemned, but there ain't nothing wrong with it." "Some welfare worker come snooping around yesterday." "I recognized her by the shape of her hat." "It was something, all right." "You wouldn't believe it." "Sure is empty now, though." "Boy, see these clothes I got on?" "Yeah." "They're Alva's." "Inherited from her." "Everything that was Alva's is mine." "She was always singing around the house." "This is her favorite song." "Wish me a rainbow and wish me a star" "All this you can give me wherever you are" "And dreams for my pillow and stars for my eyes" "And a masquerade ball where our love wins first prize" "All my tomorrows depend on your love" "So wish me a rainbow above." "Okay, here she is..." "Dodson." "Get ready to hit the ground running." "Mind if I ask you a question?" "Doing the things that you do, how do you sleep?" "On my stomach." "My mama in here?" "We got a problem on our hands." "She went back this a-way, Willie." "You seen my mama?" "You shouldn't be out here alone, lady, sporting a big diamond like that." "Ooh-wee, you scared the pants off of me." "It ain't a real diamond." "Oh?" "Sparkles like one to me." "Nah." "It's a firefly." "Got a..." "Willie, where's your ma?" "I don't know!" "Got to snip off its tail when it's lighted." "Do you belong to that boarding house there?" "That's the Starr Boarding House, which I'm Willie Starr." "Well, how do you do, Willie?" "You railroad?" "Why do you ask?" "Well, we get mostly railroad men around here." "Mama will put you up someplace." "Soon as I find that old thing." "Mama?" "That you, Mama?" "Oh, Willie, quit that hollering!" "Leave those people alone." "Come on." "Where you been, Mama?" "Down to Jake's to see if Alva's there." "Who are you, honey?" "He wants a room, Mama." " Hey, where's Alva?" " You ain't a vagrant, are you?" "No, ma'am." " Layoff?" " No." " Well..." " Hey, Charlie, come on." "...my rooms are two a night." " Happy birthday, Hazel." "Hey, where you going?" "I got the beer." " Happy birthday, Hazel." " Happy birthday, hon." "Two a night, ten bucks a week, two meals included, cash in advance." "How long you fixing to stay, honey?" "Five... a week." "Ten." "About a week, ma'am." "Only a week." "Well, a buck is a buck." "If you're lucky." " Hey, where's the beer?" " Oh, Lord." "It ain't usually so noisy around here." "Just that some old fool got hold it's my birthday and wanted to raise a little hell." "Happy birthday, baby." "Oh, you damn fool." "What's your name, honey?" " Owen, Owen Legate." " Oh, yeah." " Happy birthday." " What room, Mama?" "Oh, no, no, you can't go yet." "I just got the beer!" " I gotta go." " What room, Mama?" "Better put him in Papa's room." "Papa's room?" "Oh, Mama, I forgot to tell you." "There's gonna be a fight." "Old Jimmy Veldon got drunk, and Charlie Stangcap says he's going to lay him out like a rug." "Oh, my Lord." "Hey, wait a minute." "You knew it was a firefly, didn't ya?" "Hey, Hazel." "Hey, hey, Charlie!" "Come on in, honey." "You want to meet anybody, you just introduce yourself." "Ain't she back yet?" "I haven't seen her." "If she don't come soon, I got an awful early run." "Here's your change, Mr. Johnson." "I got another dozen... that ought to be enough." "Oh, Mr. Johnson, I don't just see how you" "Mama... can stand still with all that music going." "Mama..." "I know you prefer to dance with Alva, but today is my birthday." "Mama, what about...?" "I can only be nice to one person at a time." "You can take Mr., um, Whatshisname upstairs and get him settled in." "Excuse me, Mr. Johnson." "Show him the bathroom." "We got an all-indoor flush toilet and very modern bathing equipment." "It isn't complicated once Alva and I show you how." "Willie, give him something to eat, and then you come back down, join the party." "Oh!" "J.J., you scared the life out of me." "Well, I've been waiting for you out in the car." "He works in the shop when he ain't with Mama." "Are all these people railroad?" "All except for the guy on the steel guitar." "He's the sheriff." "Come on." "Hey, Max." "Hey, Willie." "This is Papa's room." "He painted those." "It's not the best in the house." "He tried to paint it." "I like it." "Okeydoke?" "Okeydoke." "Hey, Alva!" "Hey, get your hot stuff out here." "Lindsay." " Hey, we don't want you." " That Lindsay Tate." " We want your sister." " Be right back." "We want Alva!" "We want Alva!" "We..." "We want Alva!" "We want Alva." "We want Alva." "Get out of here!" "Get outta here, Lindsay Tate, 'fore I call my mama." "Oh, well, you just do that, and you tell your mama if Alva ain't here, we'll take her instead." " Yeah." " I'll kill you..." "Why you little snip." "Mama!" "Mama!" " Mama!" " Just what the hell do you think" " you're doing?" " Mama!" "Fire up the engine, boys." "Let's get out of here." "Now you stay away from those older boys." "You hear me, Willie Starr?" "I'll whip you good." "Hey, hey, Willie, where you going?" " Let me go." " Where's Alva?" "Hayes, I thought Alva was gonna be here." " Stop it." " Alva." "Hey, Willie." "Sidney!" "What's the matter with Sidney?" "Nothing that sticking his head under the faucet won't solve." "Come on." " Alva!" "Hey, there." " Hey, Alva." "What you doing in the kitchen?" " Hey, Alva..." " Come on, gal." "We been waitin' for you." "See you later, Sidney." "There she is." "Come on in here, Alva." "Come on." "How's the party?" "What do you think?" "Come on in here." " Oh, Alva..." " Alva, honey..." "Excuse me." "Why don't you come right over here and swap words with Mr. Johnson?" "Hey, Mr. Johnson." "Hey, J.J." "Let me go, J.J." "Just relax." "J.J.!" "All right, baby." "My, what a handsome couple." "You get right over there, and you speak to Mr. Johnson." "He's been pestering me all night about you, and after all, he did pay for this party" " as a surprise..." " All right, Mama." " Good evening, Alva." " Mr. Johnson." "Here she is, my bad little girl." "She wants to sit right down here beside you and cheer you up." " Hello, Alva." " Hey, Alva." " Hey." " Where y'all been?" "Oh, out dancing." "Would you like a beer, Miss Alva?" "No, thank you." "I told you before..." "lay off Alva." "Mr. Johnson, it was real nice of you to give mama this lovely party." "Well, I didn't do it for her." "Alva, I asked your mama, and she said it'd be all right for you to go with me to the Moon Lake Casino tomorrow night." "Oh." "Well, let me think about it, Mr. Johnson." "They got a real good band." "New one." " Odell Otis." " Oh." "From Kansas City Stakes." "Well, I-I really don't know." "Sidney, hi." "Well, I-I got to know so to..." "Mr. Johnson, did you see Sidney?" " I can make..." " Sidney, come here." "...maybe..." " Did you thank...?" "I want you to thank Mr. Johnson for the lovely party." "Mr. Johnson, have you had a chance to talk to...?" " What's going on?" "Who turned off the lights?" "Hey, turn the lights on." "Shh!" "Happy birthday to you" "J.J." "Happy birthday to you" "Happy birthday, dear Hazel" "Happy birthday to you." "Make a wish and blow 'em out." " Make a wish, come on." " Shh, shh!" "I can't." "Oh, you've got to make a wish, Mama." "You wish." "You make a wish, Alva." "Oh, Sal." "Sally, it's my birthday." "I'm 43 years old." "It's a damn shame, Haz." "Have a beer." "What slob remembered it was my birthday anyway?" "Come on, Alva." "It's your turn." "Make a wish, Alva." "Come on, Alva." "Go ahead, Al." "Wish it up, Alva." " Shh, shh." " Okay." "Hey, Alva, how about a little birthday kiss...?" "Oh, Hank." "Well, that's enough for you, Hank boy." "How about one for me?" "Here's one to grow on." "Hey, here comes old Sidney wandering in." "Let me have one of those, will ya?" "Wouldn't you like a piece of cake?" "I'd just love a piece of cake." "What kind of work are you gonna do here?" "Who's the girl blowing' out the candles?" "Oh." "That's my sister, Alva." "She's the main attraction." "You say you do or you didn't work with the railroad?" "Well, I didn't say." "Okeydoke?" "Okeydoke." "Ooh-whee, it's hot out there." "Just practically like breathing fire." "Just been dying for a piece of ice." "Oh." "My, that's cooling'." "If you're not with the railroad, what do you do?" "Willie!" "Let the gentleman eat his supper in peace." "Who's stopping him?" "Anyway, you don't even know him." "My name is Owen Legate, ma'am." "My name's Alva Starr." "Two "Rs" in Starr." "He's from New Orleans." "Oh." "I've been to New Orleans." "When?" "As a child." "First I heard of it." "Wonderful party, Alva." "Much obliged." "Oh, honey, it was just delightful." " Bye, now." " Bye." "See you later." "Here's your cake, Alva." "Thank you, Sidney." "Your mama said to fill up the beer tub." "Mm." "It's in the icebox." "Okay." "You're the new border, huh?" "Yep." "You gonna be lookin' for work around here?" "'Cause we ain't got none, you know." "It's all right." "I'm not looking." "Oh." "Well, we ain't got no work, in case you thought we did." "Well, he isn't lookin' for work, Sidney, he just told you." "Well, I just want him to know that we ain't got none." "He knows." "See you later." "If you're not looking for work, what are you doing here?" "Willie, now I said, stop asking questions and let the gentleman eat his supper in peace." " Okay." " Oh." "Thank you." "Oh, that's all right." "They're all so nosy." "What are you doing here?" "Mama says, what the hell are you doing back here when Mr. Johnson's fixing to leave the party?" "Well, you tell your mama that after all the dancing I done tonight with Sidney," "I am resting and unavailable." "Good night." "Good night." "Sidney took you dancing?" "Where to?" "Oh, no place much." "Just the Peabody Hotel." "The Peabody Hotel!" "Sidney took you all the way to the Peabody Hotel in Memphis?" "!" " Mm-hmm." " Wow!" "Did he buy you dinner?" "Oh, Willie, you don't start with dinner." "You have cocktails or highballs." "Or French champagne, which is sweet." "And exceedingly bubbly." "And when you drink it and start dancing, the whole place, with its diamond crystal chandeliers, and the waiters in the red jackets, and the menus with great big tassels on them, all get dizzy and shaky," "like it's gonna all come down on you." "But you have to hide it." "And so you say," ""Tipsy?" "Why, Sidney," ""I am not the slightest big tipsy." ""It is just your magnificent dancing makes me breathless."" "Then he stops and holds your blushing, soft face in his hands, and he says, "Miss Starr," ""Miss Willie Starr," ""surely you are the most beautiful creature" "I have ever seen."" "That the same, uh, Peabody Hotel in Memphis where they have the alligators and the ducks swimming around in that little pond there in the lobby?" "Oh, yes." "The very same one." "Yeah." "I'd like to see that." "Thank you for the supper, Willie." "I sure would like to see how they keep those alligators from eating the ducks in that little pond that they all swim around in." "It makes you think." "Good night." "Smart aleck." "Hey, Alva." "What you so grumpy about?" "Nothing." "I just need some air." "Hey, Max!" "Max!" "Are you taking me home?" "Can't." "I got an early run tomorrow." "My goodness, there isn't any breeze out here, either." "Just like my papa used to always say." "Breeze does not come from the river just is not a breeze." "Hey, Alva?" "Good night, Alva." " Night." " Thanks for the party, Alva." "All right." "Hey, Alva?" "Hmm?" "That's the Hummingbird Express." "It surely is a long train." "What?" "It's a long train..." "An empty one." "You know that train is going to New Orleans." "Oh, God, I'd like to get out of here and see a place like New Orleans." "Alva... may-maybe you could." "I think more than any place in the whole world" "I'd like to go there... get out of this place... this sad old house." "It's gonna fall apart anyway." "Go to New Orleans." "Maybe when it's Mardi Gras." "God, I just wish sometimes that old Express'd jump right off those old tracks, right up here, right through the grass, right through me... carry me off..." "points unknown." "I better go on in now, Sidney." "You all right?" "Mm-hmm." "I'm all right." "I just can't find a cool place." "It's just as hot outside as it is in here." "I'm going to bed." " Willie?" " Hmm?" "How come you put Mr. Legate in Papa's room?" "Mama told me to." "Good night." "Good night." "Willie, you in there?" "Willie?" "I don't think Willie's here." "Oh, 'scuse me." "I thought she might be here." "Nope." "Well, good night." "Good night." "I've never been to the Peabody Hotel." "Neither have I." "Well, they do have ducks in the lobby." "So I've been told but no alligators." "Well, certain times at night, they do run the ducks up and down the halls." "I know that to be a fact." "And the menus do have a tassel on 'em, 'cause there was a man brought me one once." "Besides, I felt like I was there, and that's just as good as being there." "Not exactly." "Do you know there was a cat once who fell asleep in the sun, and he dreamt that he was a man who fell asleep in the sun who dreamt he was a cat..." "and when he woke up, he didn't know whether he was a man or a cat." "Hmm." "Goodness, I don't know how you're gonna sleep with that old streetlight shining' right in your eyes." "I better tell Mama to get a new shade in the morning." "Thank you." "You know, if you concentrate on this thing, you can just about think it's February." "And it won't be so hot." "When my Papa was here... hot summer nights... we used to sit together and pretend we got inside there." "I'd practically have to get out my fur-lined gloves." "Want to try?" "Hmm." "You got an extra pair?" "And some flannel underwear?" "You made a rhyme." "Give me a dime." "Well, that tells a lot about you, that you have a poetic nature." "I have a poetic nature, too." "I noticed that." "What else have you noticed about me," "Mr. Legate?" "Well, you don't have to answer." "I'm not interested in compliments." "What else?" "You know, I am a very important person in Dodson, Mississippi." "Is that so?" " Plus, I have been to Biloxi." " Mm-hmm." "Well, I'm even famous in my own way." "Oh, I don't doubt that." " Lots of men think I'm beaut..." " Listen, Miss Starr... been travelin' since 6:00 this morning." "Got to get up early tomorrow and do some work." "Now, if you come with the room... if you're included in the two meals, then let's get on with it." "Let's not play around." "What do you think I am?" "What do you think you are?" "I hope you suffocate." "Hey, Alva, good night, now." "What's the matter?" "Well, don't turn the light on, Willie." "Crazy doll's hair needs washing." "I'm scared to do it, though." "It might come unglued where she got that compound fracture of the skull." "Think most of her brains fell out." "Come on, Hazel." "...my birthday's over..." "Mama, don't turn the light on." "Just makes it hotter." "You been cryin'?" "Well, you just go on and take your dress off, and I'll cool you down." "There." "Now you lay still." "Mr. Johnson speak to you about tomorrow night?" "Mm-hmm." "Feel a lot of vibrating'." "Doesn't that feel good?" "Mm-hmm." "Were you nice to Mr. Johnson, honey?" "Yes, Mama." "I wouldn't like it if he got dissatisfied and moved out right now." "Nobody but a conductor can afford to pay what he does for that big old north room." "I want to go away, Mama maybe to New Orleans." "I know you do, honey." "We all do, and we're going to... but not right now." "You can never tell what those old fools are going to do when they get sweet on a good-looking girl like you." "Maybe you'll get off with a packer car." "Wouldn't that be somethin' else?" "Oh, I'd just love to drive up in a packer car and see that Sally." "I'd say, "Well, Miss Snotty," ""you were so damn cute about your Chevrolet roadster." "What do you think about my little car?"" "Oh, I can just see Sally's face now." "Plop." "Hmm." "All those bags'd just drop right into that double chin..." "plop." "You feelin' better, honey?" "I'm feelin' better, Mama." "Well... sleep tight... and don't let the bedbugs bite." "Willie, you just stop playing possum and go to sleep." "I am asleep, Mama." "Alva..." "Hmm?" "What does Mardi Gras mean?" "Mardi Gras means "carnival."" "I'm gonna go next year, even if I have to ride the rails." "I'm gonna design my own costume... out of black shiny sequins, so that my skin'll look white against it, and I'll glitter when I walk, sparkle when I dance with all those men in masks." "I'll never know who they are..." "and they'll never know who I am." "And I'll dance and dance and dance." "When people die in New Orleans, they bury them above the ground." "Did you know that, Willie?" "Willie?" " Hey." " Hi." "How are you?" "Hey, are you going down to the yards?" "Yup." "Well, I can sneak you in." "No, no, I can manage, thank you." "Well, I'm a good guy to know." "What about vacation Bible school?" "What about it?" "The refreshments stink." "Anyway..." "Boy, have I got a hangover." "You didn't see me last night, but I drank the whole of Alva's beer." "You're headed for ruin, Willie, you know?" "Oh, I know." "You know what the Orientals say?" "Huh?" "Man takes a drink, drink takes a drink, drink takes a man." "Could be." "Took my papa, all right." "Right out of Dodson." "Maybe it'll do the same for me." "I got to get some cigarettes." "Oh, okay." "I'll wait." "Can I help you, sir?" "A package of Lucky's..." "Well..." "Miss Starr." "Where's that sister of yours this fine day?" "You get away from me, Lindsay Tate." "You ask Alva what you're going to do with that hot stuff once the line shuts down." "Alva's got better things to do than to waste her time on you." "Alva's got..." "Hey, look what I got here." "Now you listen, Miss Uppity." " Let go of me." " Once that line shuts down, she's going to have to start looking for somebody." "Let go!" "And I'll tell you something, she's just gonna have to crawl." "You ain't never getting near Alva, and that line ain't never shutting down." "You hear that, Tiny?" "You really tell a story." "Who the hell are you?" "I'm a friend of Willie's." "What you doing, drumming up trade for Alva now?" "Yeah, I guess that's what the ice cream cones are for." "Right." "You better go home and wash up, boy." "Your face is dirty." "Just you wait!" "Just you wait, mister!" "I'll get you!" "What are you laughing about?" "Go on, get out of here, all of you!" "Oh, Lindsay Tate, just standing there." "I hear strawberry's good for a hangover." "Boy, oh, boy." "He's a just a plain damn mess." "You sure are tough, aren't you, Willie?" "I sure am." "If you hadn't a come out," "I probably would have killed old Lindsay Tate." "Not afraid of nothing, are you?" "Nope." "Willie, what if everything was to change?" "I mean, say something happened, and Dodson changed suddenly overnight?" "Ah, Dodson ain't never gonna change." "No, but what if it did?" "How'd you know strawberry was my favorite?" "Well, you look like a strawberry girl to me." "What do you think of my sister Alva?" "She hates strawberry." "Well, I suspect your sister's a mighty potent force." "She don't think much of you, neither." "She says you're a smart aleck." "I'll see you later." "I got to go to work." "Oh, okay." "Hey!" "Thanks for the ice-cream cone." "You bet." "Step on a crack, break your mother's back." "Step on a crack, break your mother's back." "Mr. Knopke?" "Yes." "My name is Legate." "I was hoping you'd be somebody else." "Sit down." "Hey, J.J., what you think?" "Well..." "I just don't know." "Come on, pump that thing." "Yeah." "We always done what was asked." "You can't trace no breakdowns to Dodson." "To the bale... here's what we were railroading through here in '30." "This is what you got going through here now." "How about this year's crop?" "Who's going to pick them, Mr. Knopke, you?" "35 cents, a hundred pounds?" "How many trains they fixing' to take off?" "We're going to start at three." "How many men?" "15, maybe more." "I'm going to want a list of the names, the dates that they came on, and I'd like to know who's married and who has kids." "You ain't gonna be very popular around the Starr Boarding House." "I know." "I've been not very popular before." "Southern Pacific..." "TBO..." "CE..." " Hey." " Hi." "Where you going?" "Mama said I got to make the bed." "Willie?" "Whoo-ooh!" "He made it himself." "Hmm." "You skipped vacation Bible school." "He bought me an ice cream." "Strawberry?" "Mm-hmm." "Did he, um, make any mention of me?" "No, not much." "Nothin'?" "Well, not after I told him you thought he was a smart aleck." "Willie!" "You didn't!" "Well, you said he was." "Well, I don't care what I said." "You just tell him different now, you hear?" "Okay, okay." "Are you stuck on him, Alva?" "No!" "Well, I don't think you should be." "Not after what he said about you." "Why?" "What did he say about me?" "Well, he said he suspects you're a mighty potent force." "He did?" "You mean, it could be good?" "Well, it could be." "Alva, how many times you done it?" "Willie Starr!" "Five?" "Ten maybe?" "Whoever said I done it at all?" "Lindsay Tate." "Well, I never did it with Lindsay Tate." "Hmm." "That's probably why he's so sore." "Afterward, do they love you?" "Well, I guess they're supposed to." "Does it seem to you like Lindsay Tate loves me?" "Screeching my name all over town." "No." "I bet you Owen Legate would..." "Willie, I'm going to knock your teeth in!" "Actually, Mr. Owen Legate doesn't mean a thing in my life." "Just a little nothing dream" "I probably won't even remember after I'm married." "You're gonna get married?" "Well, some day." "Mr. Johnson?" "No, dummy." "Willie, I haven't met him yet." "Oh." "When I do, he'll say to me, "Miss Starr," ""Miss Alva Starr, I love you" ""and I'm going to carry you away" ""and build you a house lined in soft, white satin for you to rest in between our times of dancing."" "You didn't have to make up your own bed, Mr. Legate." "It's a force of habit, Willie." "Besides, I like to." "Well..." "I got to finish making up the beds." "Willie's got a crush on you." "Must be the strawberry ice cream." "I don't like strawberry." "I know." "Well, excuse me," "I've got a million things to do before tonight." "Miss Starr?" "I thought the paperweight belonged in my room." "It's Papa's room." "Is she in her room?" "I'll take a look if you want me to, Mr. Johnson." "Oh, and-and would you be kind enough to see that she gets this?" "Sure, Mr. Johnson." "Would you tell her, please, I'm waiting down here?" "Okay." "Now, you are going to look so pretty." "Which one of these rings do you want to wear?" "Mama, I don't want" " either one of them." " Give me your hand." "I'm not going to go," " Of course, you're going to go, - so why do I need a ring?" "And you're going to have a marv..." "Present for Alva, from Mr. Johnson." "Oh, let's see what this is." "Mama, it's for me." "Isn't this exciting'?" "Oh, look." " Oh, Alva, look." " Now, I told you Mr. Johnson would come across with something good." "24 karats." "Mama, that's not what I meant." "That's not what I want." "Well, you just run right downstairs to that nice man, and you tell him that your sister's rushing' to death..." "Mama and she will be down momentarily." "I am not." " Willie, please." " Oh, now, honey lamb," "I know you want other things." "Nice things... and you are going to get 'em." "Stand up." "And rich and travel... and your mama's going to see that you get them, too." "Well, then, please don't make me go." "You'll go to Memphis," "New Orleans..." "maybe even New York." "Think of the people you're going to meet... the men." "Right now, we got to think of the practical aspect of things." "Especially now." "The way things are beginning to look, got to make use of the things at hand." "Oh, Mama." "And one of the things at hand... is Mr. Johnson." "Sit down." "All I'm askin'... is a little bit of niceness to him for the time being." "But..." "Now, that ain't gonna hurt you, is it?" "Wish me a rainbow, and wish me a star..." "Can your sister still be gettin' dressed?" "Yes, sir, Mr. Johnson." "Will anybody go upstairs and tell her it's gettin' late?" "Gee, Mr. Johnson, I just came down from telling' her it was gettin' late." "Let me by, J.J." "Here I am, Mr. Johnson." "Well, you shouldn't have hurried, Alva." "You look just fine." "Do you mind?" "That light attracts moths, bugs, bats." "I haven't finished my hair yet." "The thing about my hair..." "I just pile it up, and it all comes crumbling' down." "Willie, why don't you sing a song for Mr. Johnson?" "I already did." "Besides, I want to go catch some fireflies." "Alva, did you like the bracelet?" "Oh, yes, Mr. Johnson, it's just lovely." "It's too lovely for you to give to me." "Did you get it in New Orleans?" "Marshall Fields in Chicago." "A gift of gold is a gift of seriousness." "A gift of gold is for your wife, Mr. Johnson." "Perhaps I should explain about my wife." "My wife is an invalid." "I see her maybe once in a month." "She stays in a nursing home 'bout 20 miles outside of Baton Rouge." "Mr. Johnson, I'd just love a Coke... a Coke with lots of ice in it." "Would you be an angel?" "Yeah, sure, Alva." "Sure." "Hey, what'd you put in the mailbox?" "Something for me?" "Or is it none of my business?" "That's right." "Hey." "Did you ever see a scarecrow with red hair?" "No." "Come on." "I travel a lot, too." "You didn't lie." "I don't lie." "What is it?" "I don't know." "I just..." "Sometimes I have trouble catching' my breath." "Maybe when God breathed the breath of life into all of us, he didn't breathe enough into me." "Well, maybe it's runnin' around the night without your shoes." "Well, the ground is warm." "Don't you know there's a fire in the center of the earth that burns for all eternity?" "And up there... it's so cold, it's 100,000 degrees below zero." "Look, there's a fallin' star!" "Quick... make a wish." "Aren't you going to ask me what I wished?" "I'm told they don't come true if you tell." "Did you make a wish?" "No." "Bye-bye to a rare chance." "My papa made him." "This used to be his garden." "It's a ghost garden now." "What-what did he do, just leave?" "He's gone to find a greener pasture." "Mama says that's a laugh, unless they givin' land away to the man with reddest hair." "Do you ever hear from him?" "Nope." "He's comin' back, though... 'cause if he loves us, he surely will come back." "Supposin' he doesn't?" "Oh, he will." "He could be on any train with the deed to greener pastures in his back pocket." "Is that what you're waitin' for, Alva?" "Alva?" "Owen... do you know that is the first time you have addressed me by my familiar name?" "Alva, here's your Coke." "Don't let him know where we are." "What?" "Alva?" "Get down, get down." "Your ice is melting." "Alva, where are you?" "Why don't you just tell him to leave you alone?" "Well, Mama says..." "I mean, he's a kind man." "He's an old man." "Alva, we're gonna be late." "Well, he's a very lonely old man whose wife isn't well, and I'd hate to hurt his feelings." "It wouldn't be grateful." "Or good business." "Alva, where are you?" "You are in a cruel, teasing' mood, and I don't understand." "I'm talkin' about thanks and niceness... common politeness." "Common politeness?" "That old man, as you call him, happens to be a gentleman who appreciates me." "Tonight, he gave me a sold gold charm bracelet from a very expensive store in Chicago." "And what'd you give this very kind old man in return?" "My company and my kindness." "Those are the bare, uninteresting' facts, and it happens to make him very happy." "Well, do you have any idea what it makes you?" "Just because some people might think I'm beautiful, that doesn't mean I'm everybody's property!" "If you really thought you were beautiful, you wouldn't be anybody's property." "You'd be your own girl." "I am my own girl, Mr. Legate, and I certainly don't need some smart aleck like you to come along and point out the error of my ways." "I go out with Mr. Gerard Johnson because I want to, and because he treats me like a lady." "Because your mama tells you to." "And I enjoy it, and I'm not a cat dreamin' I'm a man." "That happens to be the truth." "Then why you hidin' out here in the dark?" "Alva, where are you?" "Oh, there you are." "I'd thought you'd gone on without me." "I-I'm afraid your ice is all melted." "Oh, thank you, Mr. Johnson, and thank you for the solid gold charm bracelet." "You gonna keep it?" "I accept your gift with gratitude." "Where are your shoes, honey?" "What time was that reservation for," "Mr. Johnson?" "Well, they've been holdin' the table since 7:00." "You hear that, honey?" "They've been holdin' your table since 7:00." "Come on, honey, you got to get yourself ready." "You're gonna have a high old time with Mr. Johnson." "All right, Mama." "We'll all have ourselves a high old time." "Only I'm not gettin' dressed, and I'm not gonna go to the Moon Lake Casino." "I've changed my mind." "What I want to do is get undressed, and go down to the railroad hole." "Who wants to go skinny dippin'?" "!" "Yeah!" "Yeah!" "'Course, you're probably not comin', right?" "No." "No, thank you." "What's the matter?" "Scared to take your clothes off?" "Owen, I've been waitin' to tell you." "I got it wrong before." "Alva didn't call you no smart aleck." "The hell I didn't." "Alva's goin'..." "Let's all go." "Come on." "We never can tell what that girl's likely to do." "It's a good idea, though, ain't it, Mr. Johnson?" "Come on!" "Hey, Alva!" "Hey...!" "Last one in's a skinny old maid!" "Come on in, Alva!" "Take your clothes off, Mr. Johnson." "Come on in!" "Nobody's going to look." "Can't swim." "Wish me a rainbow" "Wish me a star..." "Why aren't you with the rest of 'em?" "I'm right where I want to be." "Well, let me go." "I know what you want, Alva." "I know you." "I'll scream for Mama." "Go ahead." "What's the matter with you?" "You saving' up for that spotter?" "What are you talkin' about?" "Your friend the spotter who's down here to lay us all off." "I don't believe you." "Well, he's got a pocketful of pink slips." "Are you savin' it all up for him?" "That's not true." "It's true, all right." "Why don't you ask him?" "Willie isn't here." "You were wrong before, Mr. Legate." "What you put in the mailbox is my business." "Uh, come on in." "You come here lying, flying false colors, tricking this whole house." "Now, what is it you think you know, Miss Starr?" "I know you..." "liar." "That I'm laying men off?" "Firing them for good." "No more money coming in." "There's a depression." "Yes, I hear tell." "The railroad's cutting back." "Well, don't you treat yourself fine blaming it on them?" "I don't whip myself, no." "It's not my idea." "But you do it." "Now, listen, what do you care about layoffs anyway?" "Isn't this the best thing that could ever happen to you?" "Isn't this what you've always wanted... to get out of this place?" "Well, there just happens to be some other people concerned." "There's my sister, Willie, and my mama to think about." "Well, your mama looks like a lady that can take care of herself." "Well, that's none of your business." "I think you must have wanted to tell me off real bad to interrupt your little party." "I most certainly did." "You need telling off." "Anxious to get back to it now, too, aren't you?" "Yes, I am." "I'm anxious to get back, and I'm going, and I meant every word I said about you." " Lying under false colors?" " Yes!" " Tricking you." " Yes!" " Liar." " Yes!" "Yes!" "Liar." "You get your slip?" "Yeah." "Me, too." "Any idea what you're gonna do now, boy?" "I'm gonna sleep late in the morning." "Sidney?" "Sidney." "Operator, Louisville, 4-1-9, please." "You like your job, mister?" "There's a man with a trucking line out of Mobile." "Anybody that's interested," "I could talk to him." "He's taking on some new men, and in answer to your question, no, mister, I don't like my job." "Well, being a fink is thirsty work." "How much, operator?" "And I thought he was so swell." "Go ahead." "But he is a fink, isn't he?" "I don't know, Willie." "I just don't know." "This the last of it?" "For now." "You want some lunch?" "Not with you." "All right." "We'll finish this this afternoon, then I'll be out of here tomorrow." "Y'all having lunch?" "No." "Fresh air." "You oughtn't be here." "That's what I kept telling myself." "I don't think those men are going to like..." "I know." "Hey." "Ooh, they call this fainting weather." "What?" "I mean, when it's heavy and close like this." "Only some people call it hurricane weather." "You leaving tomorrow?" "Why did you come down here today?" "Why, I don't know." "I just wanted to see you." " And besides..." " Watch it." "I've got something to show you." "I mean, something special." "Just ahead." "What time you leaving tomorrow?" "10:20." "To New Orleans." "That's right." "Hey... is that really true they bury people above the ground in New Orleans?" "Well, if they didn't, the water'd flood the graves." "You know, I suppose the worst part about being buried under the ground is not being able to breathe." "Only I don't suppose you ever had that feeling... not being able to catch your breath." "Nope." "Well, how could you?" "You never been stuck anyplace." "Hey, look." "Come on." "See that star right underneath the seven?" "That's my papa's signature." "That's quite a signature." "Did he paint all these cars like this?" "Oh, no." "He used to dream pretty big, my papa, and make big promises." "And he never kept 'em, 'cept once." "Come on." "Come on." "All for me." "With a gift card even, saying, "Hail, my heart's delight, and farewell."" "Sit down." "The train'll be leaving soon." "Oh, my, the porter must have known we were coming and dusted our seats with talcum." "Lilac talcum." "Do you feel bad?" "About the men, I mean." "No." "Don't you?" "No." "No." "I can't let myself feel bad." "I do this in every city that I go into." "It's my job." "But you do feel bad." "Well, anyway... you have to smile on the Honeydew Express, or the wheels won't turn." "Oh, excuse me!" "I do think they ought to have some system to warn us ladies when they intend to pull out." "What are you looking at?" "There's nothing there." "Only me." "Alva, you don't have to pretend." "God, look how white the sky is." "Perfectly white." "Just as white as a clean piece of paper." "Listen to the wind." "It scares me." "My papa gave me those." "I never take them off." "Alva, listen to me." "When a train really goes, do you know what it says?" ""Bromo Seltzer, Bromo Seltzer, Bromo Seltzer."" "You are staring straight into my eyes... which is impolite." "I leave tomorrow, Alva." "Bromo Seltzer, Bromo Seltzer, Bromo Seltzer, Bromo Seltzer..." "Alva, listen." "Nights at Starr's Boarding House have little or nothing to do with the days." " Meals are included, and..." " Stop." "...and modern shine facilities..." "Stop it!" "Do you know, if you pinch your elbow, you can't even feel it?" "Alva, do you understand what I'm telling you?" "Yes, I know." "You're leaving." "Alva, the sky is not white... it's blue." "If you pinch your elbow hard enough, it hurts like hell." "This... this is not lilac talcum on these seats." "This is dust." "And there is no wind in this car." "As a matter of fact, it's hot." "Because this car has been sitting here for years and years." "Well, I don't care." "Why do you do that?" "Why are you so fanciful?" "Why do you make everything seem so special?" "Because it is." "No." "Well, lots is." "You are." "What you do." "No." "No, I'm not." "My job..." "it's not always layoffs, but it's somehow always..." "the same." "But you travel." "Between cities, that are the same." "But you live in New Orleans... on Bourbon Street." "No, that's your dream, it's not mine." "Well, then, what is yours?" "I have no dream." "How terrible for you." "Maybe." "Are you cold?" "No." "No, it's... it's like the snowstorm." "What?" "You know, in the glass ball." "Well, isn't it almost?" "It is." "You're never gonna change." "Well, I don't want to think about you leaving." "I don't care if it's true." "But I am." "It is true." "But I'd rather pretend you're not leaving." "But you-you can't..." "Please." "Let's pretend... just for tonight... that you're not leaving." "Crybaby." "But it was so sad." "You know, sometimes when I see a sad movie," "I want to see the end again, just hoping it'll all come out better the second time." "No use." "No matter how many times they show it, she dies in the end." "Wouldn't it be wonderful if she didn't?" "I mean, what if you went to see it again, and the end was totally different?" "I mean, like if... if his folks did like her, and she didn't die." "Yeah, but think how unhappy you'd be, though." "You couldn't cry in the end." "When you get back to New Orleans, how long will you be there?" "Open your mouth." "How long?" "Till they send me out again." "Oh, a month maybe." "Week, couple of days." "Oh." " Well, I..." " I don't think that..." " Well, I just..." " I didn't really think that..." "J.J.!" "Stop it!" "What are you doing?" "Hey!" "Pull my hair, huh?" "Stop it." "Stop it!" "Stop it." " You're going to kill him." " Get out of here." "Now you cut that out." "Quit it." "Get him, Charlie!" "Hey, go on back." "I said, quit it!" "Hear me?" "Stop it." "Stop it." "You quit it." "Stop it." "I said, quit it." "You bastards!" "I... no." "Oh!" "No." "No." "Oh!" "No." " Can't you let me help you?" " No." "Lemme I..." "Oh." "Oh." "Yeah." "Damn." "Shh." "Oh." "Oh." "Don't go." "Do you know how far it is to New Orleans?" "It's 247 railroad miles." "Oh." "It doesn't sound too far, does it?" "Uh-uh." "Hop and a skip." "A jump over mama." "Mama?" "I could go." "I could go." "But still, you're here in Dodson." "If you don't believe me, who in the world will?" "You're staring at me again." "I..." "What?" "What...?" "What?" "Tell me." "Tell me." "Tell me." "Tell me." "Alva, you in there?" "I know you're in there." "Open up." "My God." "You didn't even have sense enough to lock the door." "You and that rat." "Where is he?" "He's gone to the station." "Thank God." "He's coming back... to say good-bye." "Where are you going?" "What is it, Mama?" "I don't think it's got through to you yet what's going on around here." "I had a long, serious, satisfying conversation with Mr. Johnson yesterday afternoon, and we are leaving." "Who's leaving?" "You, Willie and me." "We're going to Memphis, and I don't want any worries." "I am in no mood for worries." "We're setting up in Memphis on a little loan that Mr. Johnson advanced to us." "You are going, and that is final." "I am not going." "Alva!" "Now you listen to me." "You've been living like a princess, a damn princess while I ran this place." "Did absolutely nothing while I took care of everything." "Well, now the boat has docked, and you are gonna show me that you're not just the same spoiled, lazy, moody, little princess that your papa left me with." "Mama, you can talk and talk, but I'm not gonna go." "You don't seem to understand me." "Our one chance to survive is this loan." "And if we have to stand on our heads to get it, we are going to stand on our heads with smiles." "Do I make myself clear?" "Yes, Mama." "If there's one thing I loathe, it's that innocent virgin look you put on your face." "Well, I'm not going." "And just what the hell do you figure on doing?" "Oh, I don't know." "I'm going to get out here." "I'm going to get a job." "Oh, not that old stuff again." "I'm going to get out of here, Mama." "I really mean it." " Alva, I am sick to death" " This time it's different." "I... of your nonsense." "Now let's face facts." "For years I have stood by and watched you fool around with every man and boy that caught your eye and I said nothing." "Oh, Mama, please." "I looked the other way." "And now, when I ask you to do me one tiny little favor," " you play innocent." " Tiny?" " You are selfish." " Mama, what are you saying?" "You are selfish, that's what you are." "You are selfish, selfish, selfish!" "And don't think your papa didn't know." "He knew where you were headed." "You think you fooled him?" "Not for one minute." "He knew you were selfish and vicious." "What are you talking about?" "He used to warn me." "He used to say all the time," ""She'll turn on you." ""She'll leave you." "She'll let you down." ""You just wait and see." "Papa never said that." ""Hazel, that odd, that ungrateful girl" "Papa never said that." "Papa never said that." "Is going to break your heart."" "He never said that." "Don't you know that that's what you're doing to me?" "Don't break my heart." "Help me, Alva." "Oh, Alva, what about Willie?" "If you don't care about me, what about Willie?" "Oh, God, Mama!" "I am not asking you to throw yourself away on Mr. Johnson." "I am asking you to give him a few short, tiny weeks out of your life." "Just till I get the house in Memphis straightened out so he can't pull out." "Nobody's gonna know." "Alva, please, look at me." "I am begging you." "Oh, Mama, get up." "Please, please just get up." " Just get up!" "Just get up!" " Oh, please, please, please!" "Oh, honey, you're not gonna regret it." "I promise you." "You're not gonna re..." "Hey, Owen!" "Owen, wait a minute." "Hi, ol' Willie, what is it?" "You leaving?" "Yep." "As soon as I pick up my bag from the house." "Bye." "Good-bye." "You won't worry about me, will you?" "Some maybe." "Okeydoke." "Okeydoke." " Bye." " Bye." "Mr. Legate." "One way, New Orleans." "What do you need a ticket for?" "You got your pass." "That's right." "Sure, I do, Sal." "Sure, I feel bad about it." "You want to know something, Sally?" "They can lay off the whole town of Dodson for all I give a damn..." "including the sheriff." "I swear to you, Sally," "I will never again set foot in a town with less than 100,000 population." "I got the feeling that I and Memphis are going to get along together just fine." "Who?" "Alva?" "Yeah, sure." "Sure Alva's going to Memphis." "She's just wild to go." "Just like I told you, Sally." "Well, of course I'm happy." "And Mr. Johnson's happy and J.J.'s happy." "I think we're just all going to have ourselves a ball." "Thanks, Sal, I knew you would." "See ya." "Morning." "Owen." "You really are a liar, aren't you?" "What's the matter?" "No." "No damn games." "What games?" "What's the matter?" "You like to play with it, don't you?" "Telling me dreams." "What's happened?" "What's happened?" "Ask Mama what's happened." " Mama?" " Telling me dreams." "Don't listen to Mama." "Is this the way you make love?" "What are you talking about?" "It's what makes Alva a little different than the rest of the tramps around here." "Owen, don't." "Don't, don't say what can't be fixed." "Let me ask you a question." "What?" "How much does a ticket to New Orleans cost, huh?" "You can turn it in for one to Memphis instead." "You wonder about other things?" "Other ways to live?" "You wonder and you dream, but you go on doing what you do." "That railroad carriage is enough for you." "That snowstorm... fake." "But it's enough for you because you're a fake, Alva." "You're a gyp." "You're not unique." "You're not even special." "You're just... p-peculiar." "What in hell did I think was so magical or fanciful about a little whore who is just a little bit peculiar?" "How 'bout a big hand for Odell Otis and his Kansas City Stakes... playing for your dancing enjoyment at the Moon Lake Casino, right here at Clarksdale." "I used to wonder if I was annoying' you by always askin' you out." "Oh, God, no." "I love to go out." "Alva, your mama said" "I'd see a lot of you in-in Memphis." "You going to mind?" "Why should I mind, Mr. Johnson?" "That's ridiculous." "Well... you know I'm married, Alva, but I'm a lonesome man." "It makes me feel good to have someone so young and so pretty" " as-as you around." " Oh, I know it." "I don't expect anything lasting', you understand." "Well, I could get you a little place of your own in-in Memphis... an allowance, so you wouldn't have to do anythin' except what you felt like." "Lordy, Miss Glory, you two look nice and cozy." "Is that hard liquor you're drinkin', Alva?" "Yeah." "That's hard corn liquor, Mama, just about as hard as your heart." "Well, you certainly are celebrating, aren't you, honey?" "Yeah." "Why don't you sit down, Mama, and we can have a toast, and I'm going to make it." "Alva, you are loaded." "Yeah." "I'm loaded like a pistol." "Y'all fill your glasses here, 'cause Alva's going to make a toast." "Now, the occasion of this toast is the matter of getting out." "Getting out of here." "I will drink to that." "Memphis, here we come." "Oh, isn't that funny, Mama?" "What?" "You know, I was just thinking... maybe I wouldn't get settled down with you in Memphis at all." "'Cause Mr. Johnson here has just made me this very attractive proposal." "Well, it's not exactly a proposal, is it, Mr. Johnson, but it's very attractive." "'Cause he's going to take care of me, set me up in my own little apartment." "Isn't that nice, Mama?" "Now, Alva, you behave yourself." "You trying to make me blush?" "Mr. Johnson, shame on you." "What's the matter, Mama?" "Scared if I were to get away..." "a... way from you, there won't be any more men around to have a good time with?" "Hmm?" "Alva, I don't think we want to talk about that." "J.J., you gonna stick around with Mama after I'm gone?" "You gonna stick around with her, you don't have me to look at?" " Huh?" " Oh, Mr. Johnson, she doesn't know what she's saying... she's drunk." "Our little arrangement about the house is exactly what she wants, and she'd tell you herself if she wasn't so drunk." " Let's dance." " Just a minute." " I'll dance with you, J.J." " Now, you just..." "Want to dance with me?" "Or would you rather dance with Mama?" "Who do you want, J.J.?" "Who would you rather have, Mama or me?" "Tell her who you'd rather dance with," "J.J." "Oh, you been feeding her too much booze." "Better get her to the little girl..." "How bad do you want me, J.J.?" "Tell her." "Now, you just cut that out!" "That fella Owen's got you all upset." "That fella Owen was going to take me away with him." "Oh, Mama..." "I don't know what I'm going to do." "I'll take care of you, Alva." "Oh, shut up." "Mama knows you want me, Mr. Johnson, but..." "I don't think she knew about J.J." "Did you, Mama?" "Do you still want me, J.J.?" "Do you?" "What about that fella Owen?" "Oh, he's gone, isn't he, Mama?" "Yeah, he's gone, yeah." "He's just gone." "He went away." "What do you want?" "I want to go away." "I'll take you." "What?" "Do you mean it?" "I'll take you." "But, Alva..." "No, that isn't enough." "You got to marry me, J.J." "I'll marry you." "J.J., you crazy?" "You shut up." "I'll marry you, Alva." "No!" "I mean right now." "I mean tonight, right now." "Sure, Alva, I'll marry you." "Eliza James" "Oh, Eliza" "I know a man, was a horse thief" "He'd even steal from the Goodwill" "Eliza James" "Oh, Eliza" "Eliza James" "Eliza James" "Oh, Eliza" "Eliza James" "Oh, Eliza..." "How long will He judge...?" "I tell you this day..." "I tell you, brothers, it's too late." "It's too late." "Repent your sins now!" "I say, God said repent your sins now or it's too late." "You'll burn in hell for the sins you commit today!" "You have that habit... of staring." "I'm sorry." "I missed you, Alva." "I didn't know I would." "New Orleans is certainly not a place where a person needs to feel the pain of separation for long." "You, Miss Starr, were a missed person." "I was?" "Deeply missed." "And you'll stay and you'll stay because of all you give me." "Do I?" "Thoughts I never had." "And things... such things." "What are you going to do all day?" "Wait for you to come home." " Owen?" " Hmm?" "I'll have supper ready in just a second." "They're golden." "Well, almost." "By the way, my section chief, McPherson, told me something today of absolutely no interest." "What?" "Even though I'm not interested." "Oh, he said that there was a job opening for some dull young man." "Hmm." "Too bad we don't know any." "Is it a traveling job?" "No, no, it's a stay-put job." "Chicago." "Well, did he offer it?" "Oh, they call it a feeler." "What'd you say?" "Oh, I said I'd have to ask my wife." "What's the matter?" "I am asking my wife." "I thought I saw Willie today." "Oh?" "Where?" "In the street." "Just a flash, dumb hair all over her face, wearing one of my old dresses." "It was crazy." "It was just another dumb little kid." "Where do you think Willie is?" "Dodson?" "Well, she could be anywhere." "Wherever Mama is." "Well, I can find out." "I can write to Knopke, he's still on." "We can send for Willie." "We can take her with us to Chicago." "Would that please you, Alva?" "Oh, dear..." "Oh..." "Oh!" "Oh!" "I'd love to see Willie take Chicago." "Uh..." "I..." "For a girl who's afraid of the thunder..." "Well, I was just passing by." "Come on in, honey." "Mama." "Oh, you come right in." "You are soaked to the bone." "I hope you don't mind my making myself at home." "You never did know when to lock up." "Oh..." "Oh, take off that wet coat." "You'll catch your death." "How did you find it?" "Willie showed me that pretty postcard from Alva." "Oh, you look cold, too." "I made some coffee." "Mama, please don't tell him." "Honey, grab me those cups, will you?" "Mama, I just don't know what he'll do if you tell him." "Honey, I don't know what you're talking about." "Please..." "Oh, where do you keep the sugar?" "Mama, I'm sorry." "I'm so sorry." "Believe me, I am." "It's all right, honey." "Now, we need a little milk." "Mama, if you tell Owen, it'll just kill him." "I swear it." "You haven't even asked me how I'm feeling." "Don't you care about your mama anymore?" "Mama, he wants to marry me." "This coffee's getting cold." "Here we go." "Nice little place here, honey." "You help him fix it up?" "Mama..." "Did you come here to pour coffee or what?" "I hear you're thinking about marrying my little girl." "That's right." "You weren't going to tell me anything about it?" "No, I figured that was between Alva and me." "Oh, I thought so." "I had an idea you weren't the type of man who'd want his wife's mama helping out." "You got it right." "How's the coffee?" "It's fine." "Just fine." "Well, you drink it up and put your coat on." "We got things to do" " and places to go." " What?" "Oh, I'm not licked yet." "That sweet Mr. Johnson finally turned sour." "I got one or two schemes up my sleeve." "Come on!" "She's not going anywhere." "Oh, no?" "No." "Not unless it's with me." "Well, you have nothing to say about it." " She doesn't belong to you," " Mama..." "Mama..." "Didn't you tell him?" "Get out." "Oh, it must have slipped her mind." "That little girl's all wrapped up." "She and J.J. Got married." "And the next morning, she went through his pockets and rolled him." "You really never do quite give up, do you, Mama?" "Tell him, Alva!" "Oh, my God." "What?" "Oh, my God!" "Alva!" "Alva!" "Mama ran off with a man named Sam," "Mama ran off with a man named Sam, and they went somewhere in Arkansas, I think." "Papa... he never did come back." "You know where Alva is now?" "New Orleans?" "No." "Chicago?" "No." "Memphis?" "You'll never guess." "Where is she then?" "She's in the bone orchard." "What?" "Bone orchard, cemetery, graveyard... don't you understand English?" "That's pretty tough." "You don't know the half of it, buddy." "Her lungs got affected." "Did you see that movie that played down at the Delta-Brilliant one time last fall?" "That's what Alva died of." "Lung affection." "Only the way she had it in the movie was very beautiful." "You know, violins playing, all her lovers come back... in a beautiful scene." "Wish me a rainbow" "Wish me a star..." "Well, I'm going back now." "I'm going to live for a long, long time." "Like my sister." "When my lungs get affected," "I'm gonna die like she did." "With all my rings... and my gold charm bracelet from Marshall Fields." "And then, I guess, somebody else will inherit all my beaus." "The sky sure is white." "Well, so long." "So long." "Wish me a rainbow, wish me a star" "All this you can give me wherever you are" "And dreams for my pillow, and stars for my eyes" "And a masquerade ball where our love wins first prize" "Wish me red roses and yellow balloons" "And black sequins whirling to gay dancing tunes" "I want all these treasures, most you can give" "So wish me a rainbow as long as I live."