Devil in a Blue Dress Page #2

Easy is surprised to see Joppy, tough ex-heavyweight that he

is, duck his head and smile as he makes his way over like

he's answering a summons. The white man extends a friendly

hand and the two of them shake like old friends and lean in

close to talk in private.

Easy finds it hard not to watch their conversation as he

takes a sip from a short glass of bourbon on the rocks.

After a moment...

JOPPY:

Easy, come on over here. This

here's somebody I want ya to

meet... Come on. This here's a

friend of mine.

Easy drains his glass and stands up, then walks over.

JOPPY:

Yeah, Easy. This here's Mr.

Albright.

ALBRIGHT:

You can call me Dewitt, Easy.

5.

4 CONTINUED:
(2) 4

He extends his hand and Easy shakes it.

EASY:

How ya doin'?

JOPPY:

(bowing and grinning)

Mr. Albright and me goes back to

before the war when I was still in

the fight game.

ALBRIGHT:

(to Easy)

Ever seen this guy fight...? Any

time Joppy Shag stepped in the ring

you knew you were gonna see some

real knock-down-drag-out-

fisticuffs... Where you from, Easy?

EASY:

(awkwardly)

Houston.

ALBRIGHT:

Houston... Joppy's hometown.

Joppy pours Albright a straight shot of Wild Turkey and the

big man sips it.

ALBRIGHT:

So I hear you need a job.

Easy throws a look at Joppy, but Joppy is busy buffing the

bar and putting more of Easy's business in the street.

JOPPY:

Aw yeah, Easy always tryin' to do

better. Got his high school

certificate from night school.

He's threatenin' up on some

college. And he's one of the few

colored men around here who owns

his own house. Shoot, he pays a

mortgage every month just like a

white man.

ALBRIGHT:

Property owner, hunh?

He turns up his drink and sets the empty glass down on the

counter.

6.

4 CONTINUED:
(3) 4

ALBRIGHT:

(continuing)

These big companies, don't give a

damn, do they?

He reaches in his coat pocket and produces a business card

and scribbles something on it.

ALBRIGHT:

(continuing)

If you need a job, drop by this

address at seven tonight.

Easy takes the card and glances at it.

EASY:

What kind of work you do?

ALBRIGHT:

I do favors... I do favors for

friends. Drop by.

He nods to Joppy and walks out the door.

EASY:

Who the hell is that, Joppy?

JOPPY:

Just somebody I know... A bidness

man.

EASY:

What kinda business?

JOPPY:

Oh, I don't ask him all that. He

comes in here every so often

looking for somebody to do a little

job for him... He pays good.

EASY:

In other words, he's a gangster.

Rate this script:3.7 / 3 votes