Porter: And you say the judge was drinking too much?
Joe: Yes, suh, dey was talk of it.
Porter: Well, you ebony jackass, you woolly baboon! (a chuckle) You wait, and I’ll write that story, and read it to you, and you’ll see what it was Judge Adair left behind him when he went fishing with Colonel Gwathmey!
Joe (puzzled, but pleased to have accomplished his purpose): All right, boss, Ah sho be glad to hear dat story. Yes suh, Ah be glad to hear any story what you write, cause Ah sho been hearin a lot bout dis writin you’re doin—(sounds of shrieks from under the stage; Joe starts) Oh, Misteh Porteh, dey beatin some po felleh fo makin a noise! Dey be beatin a whole pile of em—all night long, fo helpin in dis ruction! Us gotta stay here all night an lissen to em, Misteh Porteh; you gotta stan it somehow!
Porter (distracted): Yes, I’ve got to stand it!
Joe (a fresh roar from the hospital, off right): Oh, dat po Jimmie Valentine! (he goes to door and looks off) Oh, dey got him in de wheel-barrow! Dat po Jimmie Valentine, dey takin him to de dead-house, an his po ole mammy aint seen him! (the sound of the wheel-barrow off right, approaching)
Porter (wildly): Turn off that light, Joe. I can’t stand the sight of it! (he staggers to the desk, and falls into the chair, his head buried in his arms).
Joe (switches off the light. His voice rises to a shriek): Dat po Jimmie Valentine! Dat po Jimmie Valentine!
(The wheel-barrow crosses from right to left, as in Act I. The sounds of its bumping become thunderous; these sounds, with the clamor from the hospital, the cries from under the stage, and the wailing of Joe, cover a quick change to the bank scene as in Act II. Joe exit. When the change is complete, the noise dies away, and violet light appears upon the scene, disclosing Porter seated at the desk in the bank, staring before him in deep thought.)
Jimmie Valentine (enters, in his dapper business man aspect; he greets Porter with quiet friendliness): Hello, Mr. Porter.