DAISY.
(Putting her hand on his arm) Dey didn’t run you outa town, did dey?
JIM.
(Shaking her hand off) Whut you reckon I’m countin’ Mr. Railroad’s ties for ... just to find out how many ties between here and Orlando?
DAISY.
(Hand on his arm again) Dey cain’t run you off like dat!
JIM.
Take yo’ hands off me, Daisy! How come they cain’t run me off wid you and Dave an’ ... everybody ’ginst me?
DAISY.
I ain’t opened my mouf ’gainst you, Jim. I ain’t said one word ... I wasn’t even at de old trial. My madame wouldn’t let me git off. I wuz just comin’ to see ’bout you now.
JIM.
Aw, go ’head on. You figgered I was gone too long to talk about. You was haulin’ it over to town to see Dave ... dat’s whut you was doin’ ... after gittin’ me all messed up.
DAISY.
(Making as if to cry) I wasn’t studyin’ ’bout no Dave.
JIM.
(Hopefully) Aw, don’t tell me. (Sings) Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, show me a woman that a man can trust. (DAISY is crying now.)
JIM.
What you crying for? You know you love Dave. I’m yo’ monkey-man. He always could do more wid you that I could.
DAISY.
Naw, you ain’t no monkey-man neither. I don’t want you to leave town. I didn’t want y’all to be fightin’ over me, nohow.