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steadily, challengingly at the writer, who appears to be hypnotized
.]
    Of course, Manhattan hasn’t much altitude either. But I grew up in the Adirondacks really. We lived on high ground, good elevation.
    TYE : I met one of ’em once by accident on the street. You see, I was out of a job, and he came up to me on a corner in the Quarter an’ invited me to his place for supper with him. I seen right off what he was an’ what he wanted, but I didn’t have the price of a poor boy sandwich so I accepted, I went. The place was all Japanese-like, everything very artistic. He said to me,“Cross over that little bridge that crosses my little lake which I made myself and sit on the bench under my willow tree while I make supper for us and bathe an’ change my clo’se. I won’t be long.” So I crossed over the bridge over the lake, and I stretched out under the weepin’ willow tree: fell right asleep. I was woke up by what looked like a female but was him in drag. “Supper ready,” he— she—said. Then this freak, put her hand on my— I said, “It’s gonna cost you more than supper . . .”
    JANE : Tye.
    TYE : Huh, baby?
    JANE : You will
not
continue that story.
    TYE : It’s a damn good story. What’s your objection to it? I ain’t got to the part that’s really funny. [
He speaks to the writer, who is crossing out of the light
.] Don’t you like the story?
    [
The writer exits
.]
    JANE : Why did you do that?
    TYE : Do what?
    JANE : You know what, and the boy knew what you meant by it. Why did you want to hurt him with the implication that he was in a class with a common, a predatory transvestite?
    TYE : Look Jane . . . You say you was brought up on high ground, good elevation, but you come in here, you bring in here and expose me to a little queer, and . . .
    JANE : Does everyone with civilized behavior, good manners, seem to be a queer to you?
    TYE : . . . Was it good manners the way he looked at me, Babe?
    JANE [
voice rising
]: Was it good manners for you to stand in front of him rubbing your— groin the way you did?
    TYE : I wanted you to notice his reaction.
    JANE : He was just embarrassed.
    TYE : You got a lot to learn about life in the Quarter.
    JANE : I think that he’s a serious person that I can talk to, and I need some one to talk to!
    [
Pause
]
    TYE : You can’t talk to
me
huh?
    JANE : With you working all night at a Bourbon Street strip-joint, and sleeping nearly all day? Involving yourself with all the underworld elements of this corrupt city . . .
    TYE : ’Sthat all I do? Just that? I never pleasure you, Babe?
    [
Fade in piano blues. She draws a breath and moves as if half asleep behind Tye’s chair
.]
    JANE : Yes, you— pleasure me, Tye.
    TYE : I try to do my best to, Babe. Sometimes I wonder why a girl—
    JANE : Not a girl, Tye. A woman.
    TYE : —How did— why did— you get yourself mixed up with me?
    JANE : A sudden change of circumstances removed me from— how shall I put it so you’d understand?
    TYE : Just— say.
    JANE : What I’d thought was myself. So I quit my former connections, I came down here to— [
She stops short
.] Well, to make an adjustment to— [
Pause
.] We met by chance on Royal Street when a deluge of rain backed me into a doorway. Didn’t know you were behind me until you put your hand on my hip and I turned to say, “Stop that!” but didn’t because you were something I’d never encountered before— faintly innocent— boy’s eyes. Smiling. Said to myself, “Why not, with nothing to lose!” Of course you pleasure me, Tye!—I’d been alone so long . . .
    [
She touches his throat with trembling fingers. He leans sensually back against her. She runs her hand down his chest
.]
    Silk on silk is— lovely . . . regardless of the danger.
    [
As the light on