Boom Town Page #11

- Bourbon, straight.

- Thank you.

You know, I always wondered why John

never brought you up here before.

Karen, you're a pretty smart little gal.

Yes, sir, you're a smart little gal.

This income-tax thing

is getting to be a heck of a note.

Would you believe that

I'll pay 220,000 this year?

Well, I'd say you're very lucky.

You know, Karen, I may not

look much like a lady's man...

...but many a gal has cried when I left.

If I were a man, I'd consider that

a great compliment...

...but why tell me?

- Well, I'll get to the real point.

I'll skip my better ones,

like my not snoring...

...and knowing when

a dame needs a walloping...

...to be sure that I'm in love with her.

And that I've got all the money

in the world, outside of some change.

I got an idea.

I'm asking you to marry me.

I don't get it.

I simply don't get it.

You don't want to marry me, of course,

but you meant what you said.

I'll tell you what I'll do with you.

I'll sign a paper stating

I'm in my right mind.

So you're bound to get most of my

dough if the thing don't work out.

I see.

Greater love hath no man

than to lay down his life for his...

Why, it's even more than that.

It's Betsy. You're in love

with John McMasters' wife.

What do you say? Let's go to

the Hall of Records and make it legal.

- You obviously dislike me.

- Ain't it the truth.

I don't like poachers, male or female.

I rang a buzzer when I came in here...

...but as far as I'm concerned,

it's an old-fashioned brass bell.

And all these lovely flowered curtains

around here are red plush, for my money.

Besides, you can't horn in on a setup...

...that the world thinks

is pretty good:
A family.

- My, all of that.

- All of that and a little more...

...but I think you get my drift.

What do you say?

It would be intriguing,

trying to change your mind.

The offer still goes.

What's she got to deserve two such men?

What's she got that I...?

Square John, she'll be free

to marry you soon...

...because I'm going to marry

John McMasters.

- Oh, no, you're not.

- Has he told you so?

- Has he said he's in love with you?

- No, not in so many words...

...but there are certain times, being

a woman, that I might believe he was.

What's more, I'm going to get him,

because he needs me.

It must be awfully boring, listening to

a woman who knows what she wants.

Well, looks like I brought in a duster.

- Thanks for the drink, anyway.

- Not at all.

I'm going to Washington

this evening...

...and all this will make a very

amusing topic of conversation...

...in case I meet anybody on the train.

I wouldn't say anything to him.

- Well, I certainly...

- I wouldn't do that if I were you, Karen.

I wouldn't say a word.

Big John gets back to town

on Tuesday, doesn't he?

He should have left Washington

before that was taken.

Hello. It's Harmony, for you.

Yes, Harmony?

What?

I'll be right over.

- She gonna be all right?

- Yes, yes, I arrived in time.

I can't imagine where she got

the prescription for a sleeping potion.

- Can I...?

- Certainly, Mr. Sand.

But not too long, please.

Trying to get funny, huh?

I feel just like a Swiss tunnel.

Did you ever have to swallow

a stomach pump?

Not like our Betsy.

You weren't thinking very much

of Little Jack, were you?

Yes, the minute after I did it.

That's why I changed my mind.

It's a heck of a fuss to make

over a Dutch daffodil.

I've lost my pride, I guess.

Why not? I've lost everything else.

You don't know how it is

to love someone so much.

When being in love like that

is stopped...

...it's worse than your breathing

being stopped.

- Take it easy, honey.

- But it's true...

...because if you stop breathing...

...you're dead and you don't

have to feel anymore...

...but when they stop your love...

...you're alive and you keep on feeling.

Oh, Jonathan, it's horrible

being in love like that.

Yeah, I guess it is.

But as you say,

I wouldn't know about that.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I've never been so sorry.

We gotta do something about

you and the moose, huh?

No, I don't think he needs me

anymore, Jonathan.

You see, when we left Burkburnett...

...he needed me then, and all those years

working and planning.

Here in New York,

he's doing it all by himself.

It's his world and I'm no part of it.

But I wanna be.

You and him and Little Jackie,

you're all part of each other.

I don't care if he owns

all the oil in Hades.

I got an idea.

May be a little rough...

...but you just leave everything to me

and things will be all right.

I'll leave everything to you.

But don't you peep.

You just go on like

nothing had happened, will you?

Whatever you say, Jonathan.

- She'll be all right by tomorrow?

- Yes, I think so.

I don't want anybody

to know about this.

No, no, Mr. Sand.

Mr. McMasters will pay my bill...

...and there will be no gossip.

Mr. McMasters won't pay your bill,

and there won't be no gossip.

And that 2 grand gives me the right

to break your neck if there is.

But... I...

Listen, Square John,

this ain't no good for us here.

We ought to go back down

to Oklahoma or Texas.

You're going back.

You and him and her and Little Jackie.

- How we gonna pry him loose?

- I'll pry him.

I'll bring him back where she can

love him without any complications.

He'll suffer like a bull with his legs broke.

He won't have any dough left,

but he'll be back where he belongs.

I called the Compton offices.

Mr. Sand's secretary says...

...he's in conference.

- Try again.

Have a little pride, friend.

It's obvious you're being snubbed.

- That double-crossing sump rat.

- I don't quite get it all...

...but there is one thing certain.

He's out to break you.

So he and Compton think

they can stretch me over a barrel, huh?

Get my car hooked onto

the first train leaving for Tulsa.

They're hanging the wrong boy

up to dry.

You probably know what you're doing,

but be careful.

- They must have been planning this...

- This is a barroom fight.

The man that hits first wins,

and that's me.

I'm gonna beat them to every

independent operator left in the West.

I got a brand-new idea.

When I get though

telling it to those babies...

...they won't be able to buy

enough oil to lubricate a kiddy car.

Frank, it's the only thing.

I'll maintain the price, your well

will produce twice as long...

...and in the end,

you'll make more dough.

- Sounds kind of good, all right.

- It is good.

Here's another reason why.

The joker in their setup is this:

You sign with them...

...they'll make you overproduce

and then drop the price on you.

- Never thought of it that way.

- It's time you got to thinking about it.

I tell you, if you sell

to Compton and Sand...

...or anyone under the old setup...

...they'll have you behind the eight ball.

I'll tell you why.

They'll have you force-pump

your wells for quick money...

...then you'll lose your gas pressure,

and then suddenly one day...

...you'll find half your oil still

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