From Fences, by August Wilson


Act I, Scene III


CORY: Can I ask you a question? /.../ How come you ain't never liked me?
TROY: liked you? Who the hell say I got to like you? What law is there say I got to like you? Wanna stand up in my face and ask a damn fool-ass question like that. Talking about liking somebody. Come here, boy, when I talk to you.
[CORY comes over to where TROY is working. he stands slouched over and TROY shoves him on his shoulder.]
Straighten up, goddamnit! i asked you a question . . . what law is there say I got to like you?
CORY: None.
TROY: Well, alright then! Don't you eat every day? Answer me when I talk to you! Don't you eat every day?
CORY: Yeah.
TROY: N*gger, as long as you in my house, you put that sir on the end of it when you talk to me!
CORY: Yes . . . sir.
TROY: You eat every day.
CORY: Yessir!
TROY: Got a roof over your head.
CORY: Yessir!
TROY: Got clothes on your back.
CORY: Yessir.
TROY: Why you think that is.
CORY: Cause of you.
TROY: Aw, hell I know it's 'cause of me . . . but why do you think that is?
CORY: [hesitant] Cause you like me.
TROY: Like you? I go out of here every morning . . . bust my butt . . . putting up with them crackers every day . . . cause I like you? You about the biggest fool I ever saw. It's my job. It's my responsibility! You understand that? A man go to take care of his family. You live in my house . . . sleep you behind on my bedclothes . . . fill you belly up with my food . . . cause you my son. You my flesh and blood. Not 'cause I like you! Cause it's my duty to take care of you. I owe a responsibility to you! Let's get this straight right here . . . before it go along any further . . . I ain't got to like you. Mr. Rand don't give me my money come payday cause he likes me. He gives me cause he owe me. I done give you everything I had to give you. I gave you your life! Me and your mama worked that out between us. And liking your black ass wasn't part of the bargain. Don't you try and go through life worrying about if somebody like you or not. You best be making sure they doing right by you. You understand what I'm saying, boy?
CORY: Yessir.
TROY: Then get the hell out of my face.