Nothing But a Man

A crew of African-Americans are laying tracks in rural Alabama. The crane operator is the only white man on the section gang. INT. BUNK CAR The dormitory of the section gang. The men are through for the day and lounging on their bunkbeds. DUFF ANDERSON plays checkers with FRANKIE, using bottle tops as pieces. Duff makes the winning move and Frankie, disgusted, turns over the board. He saunters over to JOCKO, who is shaving in a broken mirror. Frankie watches him with a grin. JOCKO Go to hell, Frankie. FRANKIE Man, you sure one ugly cat! He takes the cigarettes Jocko has rolled, sailor-style, into the sleeve of his T-shirt. JOCKO Why don't you guys buy your own? FRANKIE 'Oughta give up smoking, Jocko. He stops in front of an older man, who is writing a letter. FRANKIE How much longer we got on this stretch, Riddick? RIDDICK Five weeks, maybe six. FRANKIE Man, what a dump. He circles restlessly past two cardplayers back to Duff, who is clipping his fingernails. FRANKIE What you gettin' all pretty for? DUFF (with a grin) Why don't you relax, Frankie? RAILROAD TRACK Duff, Frankie, and Jocko are riding a track-car, powered by a small engine, into the nearest town. The sun is setting. A church bell rings. POOL HALL Jocko, a cigar in his mouth, is playing a pinball machine. Duff and Frankie stand at the bar. They are joined by DORIS , a sad-looking woman with bad skin. DORIS Who's going to buy me a beer? FRANKIE (scornfully) What's the matter, Doris? Business bad? DORIS It sure is.