Belle of the Nineties Page #6

You're a smart guy, Ace,

you ought to be able to do that.

[Lively piano music]

- They're all here, Ace, waiting to be paid off.

- All right.

Hi, Ace.

Hello, boys. I'll be down in just a moment.

Too bad you lost, I feel sorry for you.

That's the kindest thing you ever said.

I'm starting to think you like me at last.

I'm just starting to find out

what kind of guy you are.

- I wish you found that before.

- Why before?

- I'm desperate financially.

- You mean you're broke?

As bad as that if I pay off those fight bets.

I have the money to meet them,

but it'll clean me out.

That could have happened to anybody.

I've decided I won't hold the bank

for that phoney fight.

Why should I turn over all my money

for some rotten bets I shouldn't have lost?

What're you gonna do?

With the money I have here in my safe,

you and I could open up somewhere else.

Now that I know you like me pretty well...

I don't mind telling you, if I pay off,

this whole thing will cost me $200,000.

- Yeah?

- Suppose this place was to burn down.

Suppose it got out that all my money

and assets were destroyed in the fire.

No one could blame a man

who couldn't pay off.

- Pretty smart guy, Ace.

- We could go to Havana. What do you say?

I'll make you the queen

of the gambling salons...

clothe you with diamonds,

lay the world at your feet.

- You impress me.

- You do like me, just a little, don't you?

Come on, we got to get out of here.

All right. You get everything packed.

I'll be right back.

RUBY:
Jasmine.

JASMINE:
Yes?

Pack my things.

Mr. La Mont and I are leaving.

You mean you're going away

with Mr. La Mont?

I'm surprised at you going away with him.

I'm surprised you think I would.

Why, the guy's no good.

He never was any good, never will be.

He was born that way.

His mother should've thrown him away

and kept the stork.

Come on, let's go.

[Band playing upbeat music]

CROUPIER:
Molly, Ace.

Will you wait here,

I want to talk to you in a little while.

- What is it?

- I just realised, I've neglected you lately.

And I'm going to see

that you get what you deserve.

Later, dear.

Never mind. You go and finish the packing.

I got things to do.

Yes, ma'am.

You fellows are sure lucky dogs.

But I'm a good loser.

See the boys have a drink, will you?

STOGIE:
With pleasure.

ACE:
Make yourselves comfortable.

I'll have your money in a few minutes.

I must get it out of my safe. Excuse me.

Go get yourself dressed.

Get those bags down the back way.

And have a carriage wait at the side door.

- You sure seem different tonight, Ace.

- Yes.

Things are going to be different

from now on, my dear.

What're you laughing at?

Don't laugh like that. It frightens me.

I'm thinking how much easier

I'll let you off than I did the others.

You said you didn't want to be

treated like them? All right.

- I'll treat you differently.

- What do you mean?

I'll show you. No, don't run away.

MOLLY:
Ace, don't. Let me go.

[Molly screams]

[Thud]

Seems like a lot of things

been going around here.

I'm getting even with two guys that are

so low, they could walk under the door...

without taking their hats off.

Let me tell you something.

Don't let a man put anything over on you.

Outside of an umbrella.

Yes, ma'am.

[Knocking on door]

Come in.

[Soft instrumental music]

RUBY:
Sorry you lost.

I lost, but you ain't so sorry.

I heard you did pretty good for yourself.

- I always do. What's it gotta do with you?

- Nothing.

It's funny, you telling

Claybourne to bet against me.

I hear he bet some of your money, too.

You're wrong. Whoever said that

was misinformed. Tell him I said so, too.

What do you know

about that fight that I don't?

- Why come to me? Ask Ace about it.

- He wouldn't know anything.

- Ask him why he's leaving the joint?

- Leaving?

- He's getting ready to clear out.

- What's that got to do with it?

- I'll smarten you up.

- What do you mean?

I'll tell you.

[Soft instrumental music continues]

TIGER:
You mean I was drugged?

RUBY:
Something like that.

You remember when Ace

gave you that water bottle?

You know what happened to you

right after that.

Yeah, he did give me that bottle.

Why, that dirty double-crosser.

He ain't gonna get away with that.

- Where are you going?

- I'll get him and tie him in knots.

Right this way. It's a short cut.

- I've been robbed.

- Yeah, I got robbed, too.

And you did it.

- What do you mean?

- You'll find out what I mean.

I'll show you how it feels

to be knocked out, you dirty...

ACE:
Tiger, you're crazy.

[Dramatic instrumental music]

[Soft instrumental music]

He's croaked.

And you did it.

I didn't mean to do it. I knocked him down.

I guess he hit his head.

You're not only a thief, but a murderer.

I got you where I want you.

I'll have a ringside seat at your hanging

and I'll wear these. Recognise them?

Take a good look, it's the last time

you'll see them or me, either.

- I'm leaving here right now.

- You got to listen. You're wrong.

I saw you hand those rocks to Ace myself.

TIGER:
I didn't know it was you.

I thought it was Molly.

- It's a good story.

- I didn't know it was you.

- Keep it up and you'll believe it yourself.

- Wait.

I thought I was doing Ace a favour.

He told me about a dame blackmailing him...

I don't know

why I want to believe you, but...

- We got to get out.

- I can't do that.

- Why?

- The law would catch up with us.

I gotta stay and face it

or I'll be held for murder.

- It was an accident. You didn't mean it.

- Nobody will believe that.

Wait a minute.

[Molly screaming]

TIGER:
What's wrong?

RUBY:
That's Molly.

See if he's got the key in his pocket.

He was gonna burn her.

I didn't think he was that cold.

[Fast-paced instrumental music]

Give me the fire department.

TIGER:
We got to go.

RUBY:
I'll be right with you.

Take her down the back way.

Yeah, the fire department.

What?

Do I mind holding the wire?

No, I don't mind. I'm in a burning building.

Yeah, Ace La Mont's Sensation House.

Yeah, you better tell him.

Because I got to go.

I did the best I could.

[Fire bell clanging]

Get back.

FIRE CHIEF:
Who is that?

Ace La Mont.

- Unconscious?

- Dead.

- Too bad, he was a great fellow.

- Yeah?

[Soft organ music]

JUDGE:
By the power vested in me...

and by virtue of the solemn promises

you have here made, one to another...

I hereby pronounce you man and wife.

- Thank you, Judge.

- I want to wish you a lot of happiness.

- Good luck to both of you.

- Thank you.

And I want to wish you the same.

I'm the best man.

You're the best man, huh?

That's what you think.

[Romantic instrumental music]

[Lively instrumental music]

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