MARY. [Jumping up from her chair.] Jim Matthews, you think I'd marry a ... oh, I'd ...
AUNT CANDACE. [Turning around.] What's you sayin', gal?
MARY. [Sittin' down.] Oh, aunty! I ... I ... was just askin' Jim to play a piece. [To Jim in a lower voice.] For the Lord's sake play somethin'....
[She hides her face in her apron.
AUNT CANDACE. Ah-hah.... Play us a piece on yo' box, Jim.
[Jim, at a loss as to the meaning of Mary's tears, but feeling that they are somehow a further proof of his power with the ladies, smiles knowingly, tunes his guitar, and begins strumming a chord. After playing a few bars, he starts singing in a clear voice, with "Ohs" and "Ahs" thrown in.
Jim. Oh, whah you gwine, my lover?
Gwine on down de road.
Oh, whah you gwine, my lover?
Gwine on down de road.
(Bass) Gwine ... on ... gwine on down de road.
She th'owed her arms aroun' me
An' cast me silver an' gold.
Said, "Whah you gwine, my lover?"
Gwine on down de road.
(Bass) Oh, Lawd! ... Oh, Lawd!
Gwine ... on ... down ... de ... road.
[Mary still leans forward, with her face in her hands. Jim stops playing and speaks softly.
JIM. Miss Mary, I's sho' sorry I made you cry. Honey, I don't want you to cry 'bout me lak dat ...
[She remains silent. He smiles in self-gratulation, but utters a mournful sigh for her benefit. Pulling his guitar further up on his lap, he takes out his pocket-knife, fits it between his fingers in imitation of the Hawaiians, clears his throat and strikes another chord.