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110 ——and we'll try something new: I won't push and you won't call me a bitch! (Goes upstairs. THEO picks up his father's notebook from the floor beside the bed. A knock at the door.) THEO We're closed (The knocking continues) THEO WE'RE CLOSED! (The knocking turns to banging and a voice calls out to THEO. He rushes to the door and opens.) THEO I SAID WE'RE CLOSED! Oh, I'm sorry, Mr.Jenkins, I didn't know that was you ... What are you doing here this time of night? MR.JENKINS I want to speak to Parker. THEO You know him——he's been keeping late hours lately . . . MR.JENKINS I'll wait for him. THEO Suit yourself, but don't you have to work tomorrow? MR.JENKINS I have something to tell him, and I'll wait if it takes all night. THEO In that case, you can tell me about it. (ADELE comes downstairs and stops on steps leading to shop, looking about confusedly. She has a deadly, almost blank look on her face.) THEO What's wrong with you? ADELE (Pause.) 111 Some——somebody just called me. THEO What did they call you about? (She does not answer. JENKINS rises and seats her gently on bed.) Didn't you hear me——what about? (She still does not respond.) WHAT IS IT, ADELE!!! MR.JENKINS THEO!!! (THEO turns to MR.JENKINS.) I think she probably just heard that your brother Bobby has been killed in a robbery by a night watchman. THEO Uh-uh, nawww, nawww, that's not true. MR.JENKINS Yes, it is, son. ADELE Yes. THEO No. MR.JENKINS Yes! (Moves toward the shop door.) THEO I don't believe you! MR.JENKINS I saw him, boy, I saw him. (Dead silence as MR.JENKINS slowly moves toward the street exit.) THEO You should've seen this dude I caught the other day on Thirty-second Street. He had on a bright purple suit, gray shirt, yellow tie, and his hair was processed with bright purple color. What a sight he was! But I have to say one think for him——he was clean. (The lights are slowly dimming.) Used to be a time when a dude like that came in numbers, but you don't see too many of them nowadays. I have to say one thing for him——he was clean. You don't see too many like——he was clean. He was——he was clean—— BLACKOUT
