Part 9 (1/2)

The Play-play begins to appear_.)

_Peggy_ (_reads_). Scene shows a cheap restaurant on Third Avenue.

Piles of shredded wheat and charlotte russe in the windows. Night scene, snow on ground. (_Full light on the Play-play_.)

_Bill_ (_wanders on Right, stops and gazes into window_). Gee, but that's great lookin' shredded wheat!

_Jack_ (_enters Left, dejected-looking, and joins Bill_). You hungry, too, kid?

_Bill._ I could eat the whole hay-stack at one meal. (_Moves along to another part of the window._) Holy smoke, if they'd turn me loose in them charlotte-russes!

_Jack._ I wonder how many charlotte russes a man could eat at one meal.

_Bill._ Say, I wisht I was a rich man! I'd go youse a race at 'em!

(_A silence; turns away._) Gee, I can't bear to look at 'em any more!

_Jack_ (_joins him down stage_). When did you eat last?

_Bill._ I had sinkers and coffee this mornin'. What did youse have?

_Jack._ I had a gla.s.s of water in the public library.

_Bill._ Hully gee! And when did youse eat last?

_Jack._ Yesterday morning I had a slice of bread.

_Bill_ (_startled_). Gawd a'mighty! That all?

_Jack._ True as gospel.

_Bill_ (_warming to him_). Why say! Youse _are_ up agin it!

_Jack._ I am, for fair.

_Bill._ What's the matter?

_Jack._ Can't find any work.

_Bill._ Work? T'h.e.l.l with work! Why don't yous slam the gates?

_Jack._ Why don't I _what?_

_Bill._ I mean, why don't youse panhandle it?

_Jack._ I don't understand.

_Bill._ Gee! Where was youse raised--in the hayfields? I mean, why don't youse git up a hard luck story?

_Jack._ Beg?

_Bill._ Sure!