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52
Pop's gon' lose this shop if he don't start making himself some money.

MR. PARKER
Now tell me something I don't know. (Sits on throne.)

THEO
Here I go. What would you say if I were to tell you that Blue here can make it possible for you to have a thriving business going on, right here in this shop, for twenty-four hours a day?

MR. PARKER
What is he——some kind of hair grower!

THEO
Even if you don't cut but one head of hair a week!

MR. PARKER
Do I look like a fool to you?

THEO
(Holds up his jug.) Selling this!

MR. PARKER
(Pause.)
Well, well, well. I knew it was something like that. I didn't exactly know what it was, but I knew it was something. And I don't want to hear it!

THEO
Pop, you've always been a man to listen——even when you didn't agree, even when I was wrong, you listened! That's the kind of man you are! You-

MR. PARKER
Okay, okay, I'm listening!

THEO
(Pause.)
Tell him who you are, Blue.

BLUE
I am the Prime Minister of the Harlem De-Colonization Association. 

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MR. PARKER
(Pause.)
Some kind of organization?

BLUE
Yes.

MR. PARKER
(As an aside, almost under his breath.) They got all kinds of committees in Harlem. What was that name again, "De"?

THEO
De-colo-ni-zation! Which means that Harlem is owned and operated by Mr. You-Know-Who. Let me get this stuff——we gon' show you something ... (Moved to the table and opens BLUE's valise.)

BLUE
We're dead serious about this project, Mr. Parker. I'd like you to look at this chart.

THEO
And you'll see, we're not fooling. (Hurriedly pins charts taken from BLUE'S valise on wall out in the shop.)

MR.PARKER
(Reading from center chart.) The Harlem De-Coloniza-tion Association, with future perspective for Bedford Stuyvesant. (Turns to BLUE.) All right, so you got an organization. What do you do? I've never heard of you.

BLUE
The only reason you've never heard of us is because we don't believe in picketing, demonstrating, rioting, and all that stuff. We always look like we're doing something that we ain't doing, but we are doing something——and in that way nobody gets hurt. Now you may think we're passive. To the contrary, we believe in direct action. We are doers, enterprisers, thinks-and most of all we're businessmen!

Transcription Notes:
Wasn't sure how best to include page number 53