The Iceman Cometh by Harold Bloom, Eugene O’Neill Page B

cagey wid de booze, too, like dey was scared if dey get too drunk, dey might spill deir guts, or somethin’. And everybody’s gettin’ a prize grouch on.
    CORA
    Yeah, he’s been hintin’ round to me and Chuck, too. Yuh’d tink he suspected me and Chuck hadn’t no real intention of gettin’ married. Yuh’d tink he suspected Chuck wasn’t goin’ to lay off periodicals—or maybe even didn’t want to.
    CHUCK
    He didn’t say it right out or I’da socked him one. I told him, “I’m on de wagon for keeps and Cora knows it.”
    CORA
    I told him, “Sure, I know it. And Chuck ain’t never goin’ to trow it in my face dat I was a tart, neider. And if yuh think we’re just kiddin’ ourselves, we’ll show yuh!”
    CHUCK
    We’re goin’ to show him!
    CORA
    We got it all fixed. We’ve decided Joisey is where we want de farm, and we’ll get married dere, too, because yuh don’t need no license. We’re goin’ to get married tomorrow. Ain’t we, Honey?
    CHUCK
    You bet, Baby.
    ROCKY
    Disgusted .
    Christ, Chuck, are yuh lettin’ dat bughouse louse Hickey kid yuh into—
    CORA
    Turns on him angrily .
    Nobody’s kiddin’ him into it, nor me neider! And Hickey’s right. If dis big tramp’s goin’ to marry me, he ought to do it, and not just shoot off his old bazoo about it.
    ROCKY
    Ignoring her .
    Yuh can’t be dat dumb, Chuck.
    CORA
    You keep outa dis! And don’t start beefin’ about crickets on de farm drivin’ us nuts. You and your crickets! Yuh’d tink dey was elephants!
    MARGIE
    Coming to ROCKY’S defense — sneeringly .
    Don’t notice dat broad, Rocky. Yuh heard her say “tomorrow,” didn’t yuh? It’s de same old crap.
    CORA
    Glares at her .
    Is dat so?
    PEARL
    Lines up with MARGIE — sneeringly .
    Imagine Cora a bride! Dat’s a hot one! Jees, Cora, if all de guys you’ve stayed wid was side by side, yuh could walk on ’em from here to Texas!
    CORA
    Starts moving toward her threateningly .
    Yuh can’t talk like dat to me, yuh fat Dago hooker! I may be a tart, but I ain’t a cheap old whore like you!
    PEARL
    Furiously .
    I’ll show yuh who’s a whore!
    They start to fly at each other, but CHUCK and ROCKY grab them from behind .
    CHUCK
    Forcing CORA onto a chair .
    Sit down and cool off, Baby.
    ROCKY
    Doing the same to PEARL.
    Nix on de rough stuff, Poil.
    MARGIE
    Glaring at CORA .
    Why don’t you leave Poil alone, Rocky? She’ll fix dat blonde’s clock!
    Or if she don’t, I will!
    ROCKY
    Shut up, you!
    Disgustedly .
    Jees, what dames! D’yuh wanta gum Harry’s party?
    PEARL
    A bit shamefaced — sulkily .
    Who wants to? But nobody can’t call me a—.
    ROCKY
    Exasperatedly .
    Aw, bury it! What are you, a voigin?
    PEARL stares at him, her face growing hard and bitter. So does MARGIE .
    PEARL
    Yuh mean you tink I’m a whore, too, huh?
    MARGIE
    Yeah, and me?
    ROCKY
    Now don’t start nuttin’!
    PEARL
    I suppose it’d tickle you if me and Margie did what dat louse, Hickey, was hin tin’ and came right out and admitted we was whores.
    ROCKY
    Aw right! What of it? It’s de truth, ain’t it?
    CORA
    Lining up with PEARL and MARGIE — indignantly .
    Jees, Rocky, dat’s a fine hell of a ting to say to two goils dat’s been as good to yuh as Poil and Margie!
    To PEARL .
    I didn’t mean to call yuh dat, Poil. I was on’y mad.
    PEARL
    Accepts the apology gratefully .
    Sure, I was mad, too, Cora. No hard feelin’s.
    ROCKY
    Relieved .
    Dere. Dat fixes everyting, don’t it?
    PEARL
    Turns on him — hard and bitter .
    Aw right, Rocky. We’re whores. You know what dat makes you, don’t you?
    ROCKY
    Angrily .
    Look out, now!
    MARGIE
    A lousy little pimp, dat’s what!
    ROCKY
    I’ll loin yuh!
    He gives her a slap on the side of the face .
    PEARL
    A dirty little Ginny pimp, dat’s what!
    ROCKY
    Gives her a slap, too .
    And dat’ll loin you!
    But they only stare at him with hard sneering eyes .
    MARGIE
    He’s provin’ it to us, Poil.
    PEARL
    Yeah! Hickey’s convoited him. He’s