Fences - Analyzing Staging in Act 1, Scene 3 - "How come you ain't never liked me?"

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Son: Can I ask you a question?

Father: What the hell you wanna ask me?

Mr.Stawicki is the one you got the questions for.

Son: How come you ain't never liked me?

Father: Liked you?

Who in the hell ever said I got to like you?

What law is there to say I got to like you,

do you want to stand up in my face and ask me some damn fool ass question like that,

talking about liking somebody.

[crash sound]
Come here, boy, when I talk to you.

Straighten up, god dammit.

I asked you a question.

What law is there to say I got to like you?

Son: None.

Father: Alright then.

Don't you eat everyday?

Answer me when I talk to you,

don't you eat everyday?

Son: Yeah.

Father: Nigga, as long as you live in my house,

you put a sir on the end of it when you talk to me.
Son: Yes sir.

Father: You eat everyday?
Son: Yes sir.

Father: You got a roof over your head?
Son: Yes sir.

Father: And clothes on your back?
Son: Yes sir.

Father: Why you think that is?

Son: Because of you.

Father: Hell, I know it's because of me.

Why do you think that is?

Son: 'Cause you like me?

Father: Like you?

I go out of here every morning, and bust my butt,

puttin up with them crackers all day long because I like you?

You is the biggest fool I ever saw.

It is my job, it is my responsibility. You
understand that?

A man got to take care of his family.

You live in my house, you sleep your behind on my bedclothes,

you put my food in your belly, because you are
my son,

you are my flesh and blood, not because I like you.

It is my duty to take care of you.

I owe a responsibility to you!

Wait now. Let's get this straight right now, before it go along any further.

I ain't got to like you.

Mr. Rand don't give me my money come payday because he like me.

He give me because he owe me.

Now I done give you everything I had to give you.

I gave you your life!

Your mama and me worked it out between us.

And liking your black ass was not a part of the bargain

and don't you try and go through life worried if somebody like you or not.

You best make sure that they are doing right
by you.

You understand what I'm saying, boy?

Son: Yes sir.

Father: Then you get the hell out of my face and go on down to the A&P.

[Jazz music, clapping]

Son: Can I ask you a question?
Father: The hell you got to ask me?

Mr.Stawicki the one you got the questions for.

[Audience laughs]

Son: How come you ain't never liked me?

Father: Liked you?

Who the hell said I got to like you?

[Audience laughs]

What law is there say I got to like you?

You want to stand up in my face and ask a damn fool ass question like that,

talking about liking somebody. Come here when I'm talking to you.

Straighten up, god dammit.

I asked you a question.

What law is there say I got to like you?

Son: None.
Father: Well alright then. Don't you eat everyday?

Answer me when I talk to you, don't you eat everyday?

Son: Yeah.
Father: Nigga, as long as you in my house,

you put a sir on the end of it when you talk to me.
Son: Yes sir.

Father: You eat everyday,
Son: Yes sir.

Father: Got a roof over your head?
Son: Yes sir.

Father: Got clothes on your back?
Son: Yes sir.

Father: Why you think that is?

Son: 'Cause of you.

Father: Hell, I know it's cause of me. But why you think that is?

Son: 'Cause you like me?

[Audience laughs]

Father: Like you?

I go out of here every morning, bust my butt puttin up with them crackers everyday cause I like you?

[Audience laughs]

You about the biggest fool I ever saw.

[Audience laughs]

It's my job, it's my responsibility, you
understand that?

A man is supposed to take care of his family.

You live in my house, sleep your behind on
my bedclothes,

fill your belly with my food,

because you my son, you my flesh and blood,

not 'cause I like you.

Because it's my duty to take care of you.

I owe a responsibility to you!

Let's get this straight right here, before it get along any further.

I ain't got to like you.

Mr. Rand don't give me my money come payday 'cause he like me.

He give it to me 'cause he owe me.

I done give you everything I got to give you. I give you your life!

Me and your mama worked that out between us,

and liking your black ass wasn't part of
the bargain.

[Audience laughs]

Now don't you try and go through life worrying about whether somebody like you or not.

You best be making sure they doing right by you.

You understand what I'm saying?
Son: Yes sir.

Father: Then get the hell out of my face and get on down to the A&P.

[Audience laughs and claps]