Devil In A Blue Dress

Easy visits his barbershop. On his way in, he greets Zeppo, a man who has cerebral palsy. Ernest, the barber, lets Zeppo beg in front of his shop but opposes his drinking, since Ernest’s alcoholic father was abusive. As Ernest cuts Easy’s hair, Easy wonders how to bring up Frank Green. A small man named Jackson Blue enters the shop, to the displeasure of a large man named Lenny, who is gambling in the back of the shop. Lenny’s girlfriend allegedly slept with Jackson to make Lenny jealous. When Lenny threatens Jackson, Ernest comes between them, forbidding them to fight.

Easy leaves with Jackson. Zeppo calls out to Jackson, who distributes alcohol for Frank, hoping to buy from him. Easy offers to buy a crate as well, but his eagerness makes Jackson suspect that he’s looking for Frank.

As Easy drives, Jackson directs him to a liquor store run by Abe and Johnny, Polish Holocaust survivors. Abe hid Johnny, his brother-in-law, in the wall of their concentration camp dormitory for months prior to their liberation; the rest of their friends and relatives died. After the war, they emigrated to the United States and opened a liquor store. Implied to be the result of his wartime experiences, Johnny became “wild,” exhibiting unrestrained sexuality, among other behaviors.