Act 2, Scene 2 Summary

Later the same day, Bynum and Seth play dominoes in the parlor when Herald returns home. Seth reminds Herald that Herald must leave on Saturday; Seth then returns his attention to the game and Bynum's absentminded singing of the song "Joe Turner's Come and Gone." The lyrics are the story of a man who has been taken by the infamous Joe Turner, who stole black men to work on chain gangs in Tennessee.

Herald is offended by the song and asks Bynum to stop, which the old man does, as he has other songs he can sing. Bynum tries to engage Herald in conversation and asks if Herald has ever worked in farming. Herald admits to having picked cotton during his life. Bynum feels as if Herald is familiar in some way, as if he has seen Herald near the town...