Boom Town Page #6

- Why did you bring her here?

- I'm not spying on you to spoil your fun.

You're free to go on with it.

We just came to tell you

that number five is on fire.

- Number five on fire?

- Yeah, you coming?

Harmony, take the missus home,

then come right out.

- How did it start?

- Who cares? It started.

You get a hose on that tank.

If it goes, the whole field will go.

Everybody get back.

Hurry up with that shield.

- Where's that nitro truck?

- Listen, boss.

This is too dangerous for you fellas.

Three cans of nitro will

blow her out like a birthday cake.

But that's wild oil and gas.

Let's wait for them fire dogs from Ranger.

We haven't got time to wait for them.

This baby's way ahead of us.

She's too hot. You can't get

the nitro in close enough to blow her out.

You just unload it.

We'll get her close enough.

We're taking a shield in first.

We'll take in the nitro on the next trip.

All right, hit the water.

The top casing's split.

You can't tell where she'll shoot now.

Put more pressure on those lines.

If it was my durned well,

I'd let her burn herself out.

Quit yapping. Tell Jim

to put another hose on that tank.

All right.

- Hot work, huh, Shorty?

- Lay off the Shorty.

Oh, behave. What did I do?

I just met Tom and Ed,

got a little high, that's all.

I saw enough and heard enough

I didn't like.

Okay. If you see anything or hear

anything you don't like from now on...

...don't go running to Betsy with it.

Just keep your nose...

What the dickens is the matter

with you two fellas?

Never mind about this.

Get that battery ready.

Boys. Who's responsible

for this catastrophe?

Watch where you're going, buddy.

You kick that can of nitro

and you'll blow us to Alaska.

We'll touch it off after this trip,

so get the truck away.

Hang that wire on me.

Somebody must have

fallen asleep on the job.

Get the water.

They're using too much nitro.

They'll blow up the whole field.

I'll lose a fortune.

Give me the wire!

If that oil gets there first, the two Johns

will blow back on us like fried hamburger.

- Hug the ground back there.

- Get back.

She's out.

Wonderful, boys. Marvelous.

I knew we'd do it. Look at her.

Here, come on, fellas.

Do something, will you?

- We're wasting a lot of oil.

- It's the biggest gusher yet.

Isn't big enough.

Call it. For the works.

- Okay, the whole outfit.

- Call it.

Tails.

You're on my land.

- Now, listen, Big John...

- Come on, everyone.

Look, big feller.

I'll fix you some nice, fresh coffee.

Forget it. All I need is some sleep.

Did you put out the fire?

- So you're calling it quits, huh?

- No, I'm afraid you did that.

You've always been straightforward

and direct about things...

...and this like everything else.

Oh, don't worry.

There isn't going to be a scene.

I'm just no good at picking wildcats,

I guess.

As you'd say, the land was pretty

attractive, but the structure fooled me.

And now I'm down

to clay and salt water.

Not that I blame the clay and salt water.

Some people might like it, but I don't.

You sure got in way over your head,

didn't you?

I'll be out of here in a minute.

Harmony can take me to the early train,

if you don't mind.

- Unless, of course, there's an explanation.

- No.

You got it all figured out.

You do it the way you want to.

Harmony, will you come

and get my bags, please?

My God. God, did old Square John

sure give him what he deserved.

He broke him flatter

than a can on a railroad track.

You mean they had a fight?

Fight? They flipped for the whole field,

Miss Betsy...

...and now that big, dumb

pit dog you're leaving...

...ain't worth much more than

that lead dollar that they tossed with.

Yes, sir.

Long as you're gonna go, why...

...you sure picked a nice morning for it.

Oh, my darling. You and Jonathan

mustn't fight about this.

- You've been such good friends.

- He and I have our own fight.

That's my business.

You and me, well,

that's your business, and mine.

So, what about it?

I don't want to leave you.

All the time I was in here

packing like an idiot...

...I was just wanting you

to come and put your arms around me...

...and tell me nothing happened.

Nothing did.

I'm such a fool.

Oh, you're my gal.

But we're broke.

Gotta start in all over again.

- We'll go wildcatting, huh?

- It means selling this house.

Oh, who cares about this house?

I was just thinking this afternoon,

well, here we are, tied down to it.

It's a millstone.

We're just buried under

a lot of plaster and 2-by-4s.

- Honest? Do you feel that way?

- Sure I do.

Oh, you are my gal.

Well, wildcatting it is.

Our house will be wherever we are.

If there's oil at the North Pole,

we'll live in an igloo.

And you won't freeze to death either.

Harmony, Harmony. Come on.

There's a big ruckus over at Eva's.

All right. Come on, come on, come on.

Does anybody else wanna say anything

about McMasters?

Disturbing the peace, huh?

Let's go to the calaboose.

Two agin one, it ain't manly.

Look, sonny boy. Two weeks of this bust

is about enough.

- You're getting to be Huckleberry Finn.

- You don't understand.

Big Moose is no good,

but I'm the only one's got a right to say so.

Well, why don't you start traveling

and hunt him up.

- He's no good.

- Oh, I thought so.

Here again. Now, look here, my boy.

You've got to sober up

and get back to the field.

I've got my business.

I can't handle your work and mine too.

- I've got a...

- Do you wanna buy me out?

I couldn't. I'd...

- For what price?

- Wait a minute, honey.

Any price you say.

Well, now, that might be arranged, John.

That's a good idea. I'll have

the papers in my office in half an hour.

All right. I'll be there.

You can't go into a deal

with this vulture when...

I'm through. I'm gonna go away.

I never wanna see another oil derrick

as long as I live.

Evie, you're a good kid,

but keep all your teeth.

Oh, Square John.

I'll see you on the slab, Evie.

Listen, Square John,

I've been trying to tell you all the...

Why, I...

It wasn't your fault, was it?

You were just doing your job.

You're probably stuck on him too.

All right, here's your percentage

for this month.

Good American dollars.

Business is getting a little better, see?

But look... What is it?

That new batch of men off the boat

are signing up now.

All right, I'll be right out.

General, you tell your boss

I gotta have a little cooperation.

These lollipop guards of yours

are drunk half the time.

What happens to my layout if that crowd

throws you boys out of office?

Cockroaches.

Mr. Sand, everything is in the bag.

- Good day, my friend.

- What's good about it?

Sign there, Fadden.

Sign there, McMasters.

That's at 50 bucks a day.

Hello, big man. Long time no see.

- He run this outfit?

- He's the owner, pal.

Mr. Sand.

Well, tell Mr. Sand

he can ram his 50 bucks a day up his nose.

I don't need the work.

Hey, you...

- Why don't you let me bust him, boss.

- I'd rather have you keep your health.

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