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112

SCENE TWO

About two hours later, in the shop.

MR. PARKER and MR. JENKINS enter the shop. MR. PARKER is drunk, and MR. JENKINS helps him walk and finally seats him on the barber's throne.

MR. PARKER
Thank you, Jenkins. You are the greatest friend a man can have. They don't make'em like you any more. You are one of the last great friends, Jenkins. Pardon me, Mister Jenkins. No more will I ever call you Jenks or Jenkins. From now on, it's Mister Jenkins!

MR. JENKINS 
Thank you, but when I ran into Theo and Adele tonight, they said they had something important to say to you, and

I think you oughta see them.

MR. PARKER
I know what they want. They want to tell me what an old fool I am.

MR. JENKINS
I don't think that's it, and you should go on upstairs and——

MR. PARKER 
Never! Upstairs is for the people upstairs!

MR. JENKINS 
Russell, I——

113

MR. PARKER 
I am downstairs people! You ever hear of downstairs people?

MR. JENKINS
(Pause) No.

MR. PARKER 
Well, they're the people to watch in this world.

MR. JENKINS 
If you say so.

MR. PARKER 
Put your money on 'em!

MR. JENKINS
Come on, Mister Parker: why don't you lie down in the back room and——

MR. PARKER
Oh! No—— you don't think I'd have you come all the way down over here just for me to go to bed, do you? I wouldn't do a thing like that to you, Jenkins. I'm busy—— Mister Jenkins. Just stay with me for a little while... (His tone changes.) Why did that girl lock me out? She said she would be waiting for me, but she locked me out. Why did she do a thing like that? I give her everything- money, clothes, pay her rent, I even love her!

MR. JENKINS
Russell——

MR. PARKER
(Rising precariously.) Tell me something, Mister Jenkins—— since you are my friend—— why do you think she locked me out?

MR. JENKINS
(Steadying him.) I don't know.

MR. PARKER 
I'll tell you why. I'm an old man, and all I've got is a few