(MAGNOLIA sits with her guitar across her knees, throws her head back,
closes her eyes and starts to sing "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man." At first
her voice falters, then she gets into it and sings it with fine feeling
and sincerity. JIM, JAKE and FRANK listen, spellbound. No-one moves an
inch. As MAGNOLIA sings, JULIE enters quietly up stage, passes behind the
piano, and recognizes MAGNOLIA. She takes a couple of steps up to her,
but directly behind her. She stands there during the song until the next to
last line, when she seems to arrive at a decision. She makes a shy, hesitant
little gesture, which is half throwing a kiss. She disappears quickly and
softly up stage. Nobody on stage has seen her. MAGNOLIA finishes the song)
MAGNOLIA
Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly,
I gotta love one man till I die,
Can't help lovin' dat man of mine.
Tell me he's lazy, tell me he's slow,
Tell me I'm crazy, maybe I know.
Can't help lovin' dat man of mine.
When he goes away, dat's a rainy day,
And when he comes back dat day is fine,
De sun will shine!
He kin come home as late as kin be,
Home widout him ain't no home to me,
Can't help lovin' dat man of mine!
(There is a pause)
FRANK
Whaddaya say, boss?
JIM
Lousy! What kind of a coon song do you call that?
(to MAGNOLIA)
You don't sing bad - but that song -
MAGNOLIA
(her temper aroused)
That song is the most beautiful song I know. And if
you don't like it, I'm sorry for you.
JIM
You're sorry for me? Say!
FRANK
Say, Mr. Greene, this little girl ain't so bad.
Can't you use her?
JIM
I can't af
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