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O'Neill, Eugene, 1888-1953

"The Hairy Ape"

Yuh don't belong, get me! Look at me, why
don't youse dare? I belong, dat's me! [Pointing to a skyscraper
across the street which is in process of construction--with
bravado.] See dat building goin' up dere? See de steel work?
Steel, dat's me! Youse guys live on it and tink yuh're somep'n.
But I'm IN it, see! I'm de hoistin' engine dat makes it go up! I'm
it--de inside and bottom of it! Sure! I'm steel and steam and
smoke and de rest of it! It moves--speed--twenty-five stories up--
and me at de top and bottom--movin'! Youse simps don't move.
Yuh're on'y dolls I winds up to see 'm spin. Yuh're de garbage,
get me--de leavins--de ashes we dump over de side! Now, whata yuh
gotto say? [But as they seem neither to see nor hear him, he flies
into a fury.] Bums! Pigs! Tarts! Bitches! [He turns in a rage on
the men, bumping viciously into them but not jarring them the
least bit. Rather it is he who recoils after each collision. He
keeps growling.] Git off de oith! G'wan, yuh bum! Look where
yuh're goin,' can't yuh? Git outa here! Fight, why don't yuh? Put
up yer mits! Don't be a dog! Fight or I'll knock yuh dead! [But,
without seeming to see him, they all answer with mechanical
affected politeness:] I beg your pardon. [Then at a cry from one
of the women, they all scurry to the furrier's window.


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