27 Wagons Full of Cotton and Other Plays Read Free

heart!
    J AKE: Feel my baby’s heart? ( He puts a hand on her huge bosom. )
    F LORA: Yeah, just you feel it, poundin’ like a hammer! How'd I know what happened? You not here, just disappeared somewhere!
    J AKE: ( sharply )Shut up! ( He pushes her head roughly. )
    F LORA: Jake! What did you do that fo’?
    J AKE: I don’t like how you holler! Holler ev’ry thing you say!
    F LORA: What’s the matter with you?
    J AKE: Nothing’s the matter with me.
    F LORA: Well, why did you go off?
    J AKE: I didn’ go off!
    F LORA: You certainly did go off! Try an’ tell me that you never went off when I just now seen an’ heard you drivin’ back in th’ car? What uh you take me faw? No sense a-tall?
    J AKE: If you got sense you keep your big mouth shut!
    F LORA: Don’t talk to me like that!
    J AKE: Come on inside.
    F LORA: I won’t. Selfish an’ inconsiderate, that’s what you are! I told you at supper, There’s not a bottle of Coca-Cola left onth’ place. You said, Okay, right after supper we’ll drive on over to th’ White Star drugstore an’ lay in a good supply. When I come out of th’ house—
    J AKE: ( He stands in front of her and grips her neck with both hands. )Look here! Listen to what I tell you!
    F LORA: Jake!
    J AKE: Shhh! Just listen, Baby.
    F LORA: Lemme go! G’damn you, le’ go my throat!
    J AKE: Jus ’ try an’ concentrate on what I tell yuh!
    F LORA: Tell me what?
    J AKE: I ain’t been off th’ po’ch.
    F LORA: Huh!
    J AKE: I ain’t been off th’ front po’ch! Not since supper! Understand that, now?
    F LORA: Jake, honey, you’ve gone out of you’ mind!
    J AKE: Maybe so. Never you mind. Just get that straight an’ keep it in your haid. I ain’t been off the porch of this house since supper.
    F LORA: But you sure as God was off it! ( He twists her wrist. ) Ouuuu! Stop it, stop it, stop it!
    J AKE: Where have I been since supper?
    F LORA: Here, here! On th’ porch! Fo’ God’s sake, quit that twistin’!
    J AKE: Where have I been?
    F LORA: Porch! Porch! Here!
    J AKE: Doin’ what?
    F LORA: Jake!
    J AKE: Doin’ what?
    F LORA: Lemme go! Christ, Jake! Let loose! Quit twisting, you’ll break my wrist!
    J AKE: ( laughing between his teeth )Doin’ what? What doin’? Since supper?
    F LORA: ( crying out )How in hell do I know!
    J AKE: ‘Cause you was right here with me, all the time, for everysecond! You an’ me, sweetheart, was sittin’ here together on th’ swing, just swingin’ back an’ forth every minute since supper! You got that in your haid good now?
    F LORA: ( whimpering )Le’-go!
    J AKE: Got it? In your haid good now?
    F LORA: Yeh, yeh, yeh—leggo!
    J AKE: What was I doin’, then?
    F LORA: Swinging! For Christ’s sake—swingin’! ( He releases her. She whimpers and rubs her wrist but the impression is that the experience was not without pleasure for both parties. She groans and whimpers. He grips her loose curls in his hand and bends her head back. He plants a long wet kiss on her mouth. )
    F LORA: ( whimpering )Mmmm-hmmmm! Mmmm! Mmmm!
    J AKE: ( huskily )Tha’s my swee’ baby girl.
    F LORA: Mmmmm! Hurt! Hurt!
    J AKE: Hurt?
    F LORA: Mmmm! Hurt!
    J AKE: Kiss?
    F LORA: Mmmm!
    J AKE: Good?
    F LORA: Mmmm . . .
    J AKE: Good! Make little room.
    F LORA: Too hot!
    J AKE: Go on, make little room.
    F LORA: Mmmmm . . .
    J AKE: Cross patch?
    F LORA: Mmmmmm.
    J AKE: Whose baby? Big? Sweet?
    F LORA: Mmmmm! Hurt!
    J AKE: Kiss! ( He lifts her wrist to his lips and makes gobbling sounds. )
    F LORA: ( giggling )Stop! Silly! Mmmm!
    J AKE: What would I do if you was a big piece of cake?

    F LORA: Silly.
    J AKE: Gobble! Gobble!
    F LORA: Oh, you—
    J AKE: What would I do if you was angel food cake? Big white piece with lots of nice thick icin’?
    F LORA: ( giggling )Quit!
    J AKE: Gobble, gobble, gobble!
    F LORA: ( squealing )Jake!
    J AKE: Huh?
    F LORA: You tick- le!
    J AKE: Answer little question!
    F LORA: Wh-at?
    J AKE: Where I been since supper?
    F LORA: Off in the Chevy! ( He instantly