Body and Soul Page #3

A professional man? Very nice...

Charlie's father's brother was a teacher. Very smart.

Charlie's going to night school. He told you?

Yes, I think it's an excellent idea.

- And you came to New York to study?

- I want to be a painter.

- Charlie made me bring this.

- Talented, huh?

Very talented.

No, thank you!

And you live in Greenwich Village?

- Yes.

It must be very lonely for a girl all alone. You live alone?

With a friend. She makes statues.

Wonderful. Your father's a druggist, a professional man, and you're an artist.

Peg...Have another cookie, they're homemade!

..And Shorty?

You know, Shorty lives on the same block. He's got ten brothers and sisters.

And seven of them are out of work!

Times are very hard. It's not easy for a boy to get started nowadays.

But if his friends encourage him, if he goes to school and gets an education,

- if he makes sacrifices...

- He'll end up wearing glasses, and still broke.

We're very poor, Mrs. Davis. We've always been poor.

My father scrimped and scraped, and

when Prohibition came, he sold some of the bonded medicinal whisky, you know? Without prescription?

- And what happened?

- They arrested him and fined him.

I got fed up anyway, so I came to New York.

We're nothing fancy.

- Did Charlie show you his medal?

- No.

He won it at basketball. The very best in the whole school!

- Oh, Ma...

- Show her, show her!

Now don't be bashful, Charlie. Peg wants to see it!

Mrs. Davis? May I come in?

I heard your voices in the kitchen.

I'm Miss Tedder.

- Oh. Would you come in here please?

- Yes, thank you.

I'm terribly sorry to interrupt your dinner, but it's hurry hurry hurry...

So many cases and so few people. And so little cooperation.

I won't be long. I have your letter here...

- Mrs. Anna Davis, is that right?

- Yes, I'm Anna Davis.

And now, just a form to make a proper check.

Race :
White. Religion : Jewish.

Nationality :
American.

Is this your boy?

I'm Charlie Davis.

Are you unemployed?

Have you got a job for me?

- Have you tried?

- He tried.

All these questions must be answered, I'm sorry.

Have you tried to get a job, Mrs. Davis?

Would I be asking for a loan from charity if I could find work?

It isn't personal, we're supposed to ask.

Have you any resources, any jewelry?

She has her wedding ring!

We don't ask our clients to sell their wedding rings...

I wish you'd understand, I have to ask these questions.

Charlie, please, go in the other room!

Is this furniture yours?

Get out of here!

Charlie, I won't have you talking like this.

Get out of here! Get out of here!

We have to ask questions if we're going to help.

We don't want any help. Tell them we're dead! We don't want any help!

I did it to buy myself fancy clothes? Fool!

It's for you! To learn, to get an education, to make something of yourself!

Shorty, get me that fight from Quinn. I want money, do you understand? Money. Money!

I forbid it. You'd better buy a gun and shoot yourself!

You need money to buy a gun!

Charlie!

It's cold.

I don't want any handouts.

You think I like the idea of waiting around for the whole world to make up its mind what to do with me?

My mother don't understand.

What is it you want to do?

There's only one thing I know how to do: Fight.

If you want to fight, fight.

And it's all right with you?

Anything you want is all right with me. I love you, Charlie.

I'll be quick!

- Tiger, tiger...

- Yeah, that's right!

I got claws!

But not for you, Peg...Not for you.

- Quinn!

- Hello, Shorty!

- What you doing up here? Couldn't you wait for Grand Central?

- Got big news!

- Hey, Quinn!

- Hello, Boy!

- Gee, that cigar stinks!

- Hey, wait a minute, wait a minute!

Now you got that news...you got that fight for me?

- Well I don't know...

- Come on, tell me about it!

Hey...hey...hey...the hat's here!

- How do you like the new coat?

- I like the tie, Charlie!

Never mind that. Come on, give us the dope, will you?

We've got some business arrangements to take care of first, Charlie.

With who? Roberts?

Who else? Nobody fights the championship for anything unless Roberts gets cut in...You know that.

He's got the dough, the real estate, everything. The business.

What does Roberts want, Quinn?

Nothing much.

Only Charlie.

He'll be cutting you to pieces, Charlie.

That only means more dough cut more ways.

A bigger pie, more slices, more to eat for everybody!

And Roberts will be telling us what and when.

So what? Everyone's been telling us what and when!

The guy who owned the arena, the guy who owned the fighter, the guy who owned the books...

Cheap mobsters, gangsters, guys who own nothing.

We've been fighting for peanuts and eating them! Right?

- Right.

You know you can't get a fight in New York without Roberts' say-so. Right?

- Right.

Right. Okay, Quinn, make the deal.

I'll be the champ, then I'll give the orders. I'll say what and when.

You can tell us what and when, but you can't tell Roberts.

But the champ can.

Not if he gives away his right arm!

Aw, you made me cut myself!

It's my arm, isn't it?

- Gee, you're lighter!

- You're stronger.

Boy, you feel good!

Hey, who's that?

- I'm Victor. Mr. Quinn employed me.

- Doing what?

- It's the butler!...Hello, Peg.

- Hello, Shorty.

- You look beautiful.

- You took the words out of my mouth! How's your job?

Wonderful! I'm third assistant designer now...

- Where do the bags go?

- In there.

You miss me?

- It's been a long year, Charlie.

- Yeah.

21 fights.

19 knockouts, 2 decisions.

A lonely year.

I missed you too.

- Hey, easy!

- What's the matter?

The guy had a head like a rock.

That'll be all right.

- And this?

- Chicago.

- And this?

- Philadelphia.

- And this?

- Boston.

You get something every time, but it's worth it.

As long as you win.

Look! Lots of money, lots of clothes...

Lots of everything.

Hey, Shorty...Shorty!

What about the reservations, the tickets for tonight?

- Why, I want to talk to you about that...

- How about a drink? - Yes, sir.

It's early in the morning yet, Charlie, we haven't said hello.

Hello, morning, noon or night, what's the difference how you cut up the 24 hours?

Well, what do you know!

The only trouble is Peg's picture's on the other side.

- We'll find another wall that stands still.

- Sure.

Look, it's even got a little sink!

Bourbon, scotch, like milk, like cream!

What'll you have, folks? Just like the candy store!

Want a two-cent soda, Peg?

- Shorty, I thought I told you...

- Charlie, I'd like to...

- Come on, come on, we got no secrets here!

- I need some money.

- What do you mean, you need money? I thought I gave you some in Detroit.

- That was Detroit.

All the time he needs money! Well, what do you do with it?

I steal it! I go through your pockets every night to see if there's any left to send to your old lady!

Get the reservations!

You, bring my bags in!

- What's wrong, Shorty?

- Nothing, nothing...

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