Born Yesterday Page #9

All right! I'm too important

to monkey around with what you think!

Jim, wake up!

- What is it?

- Come on! You got some work to do!

All right.

Be right with you.

Okay, well, get a move on!

Ill fix it so you're out of here

in no time!

You're spoiled, and I spoiled ya!

I was gonna make ya real partners!

You don't want it? Fine!

Let's see how ya do without me!

You don't look like you looked

nine years ago. In fact, you look lousy.

- I'll be glad to be rid of ya!

- And as far as Im concerned...

- Yeah?

- Vice versa.

You're back. All set?

- Shut up!

- What's the matter?

She's goin' off! We're gonna settle

things and get her out of here!

- You sure you know what you're doing?

- First time in my life I do know.

- Where's that stuff you wanted signed?

- In your bedroom.

- Come on!

- No!

- What do you mean, no?

- I mean...

Let's take the shortcut.

The sooner, the better.

They're in the bottom drawer.

- Blue covers?

- Yeah.

- Three copies?

- That's right.

- Paul took them.

- When?

- Just now.

- What for?

What do you think for?

To get put in the newspapers, I guess.

- Some kinds of jokes I don't like.

- It's no joke.

Paul said it's the biggest swindle

since the tea pot. Somethin' like that.

What are you gettin'

so white about?

You told me yourself

it was perfectly all right.

- Why, you double-crossing little...

- I don't see it like that!

If there's a fire and I call the engine,

who am I double-crossing?

The fire?

We're in trouble. If this stuff breaks,

nobody will play with us.

What's to do?

It might be best under

the circumstances to call it off.

- What?

- Let him publish.

- If nothing happens, he looks silly.

- I've been down here for two months!

I've spent I don't know how much dough.

I'm supposed to let all that ride?

- Play it safe.

- I want what I came after!

- It's gonna be tough to get.

- Because some little weasel gets noisy?

- I'll cut his tongue out!

- Listen, Harry...

- You're chicken!

- You think so?

You're angry because it looks like

I've been right and you've been wrong!

Shut up!

I'll handle this.

All right.

Lookin' for someone?

- Billie.

- Come on in.

I'm tired. I was down...

I think you've got something

by mistake belongs to me.

That so?

How about it?

Sit down.

- Hello.

- How you been?

- Fine. And you?

- Fine.

- Go to his place and get the stuff.

- It's not there.

Where then?

You wanna play rough?

I know how to do that too.

Listen, you two heels. I make business.

I got too much at stake here.

If you want out of here alive,

you better give it hack!

I'm no blowhard! Tell him.

He's no blowhard.

He's had people killed before.

- Six years ago, there was this guy...

- Shut up!

You ain't gonna be tellin'

nobody nothin' pretty soon.

- Double negative, right?

- Right.

You don't get the idea!

You've never been in trouble like this

unless you do what Im tellin' ya!

Wait a minute.

There's another way to handle this.

You've really pulled a boner, friend.

My advice to you is lay off.

And mine to you is stop sticking

your noses in my business.

- Yeah.

- Talkin' about stickin' noses!

You're the biggest buttinsky

I've ever run into!

Told you once before, that's my job.

That's why your papers...

are in the U.S. mails

addressed to myself.

Your job? What?

Gettin' in my way?

- Not exactly.

- What then? I'd like to know.

To find out what goes on

and get it to the people.

- What people?

- The people.

- I never heard of 'em.

- You will, someday.

They're gettin' to be more and more

well-known all the time.

What if I told you this whole operation

is strictly according to law?

Then I'd say

the law needs revision.

- Who are you, the government?

- Of course.

- Since when?

- Since 1779, right?

Right.

What do you think you've got?

A connection between Harry's combine

and the congressman's amendment.

All right, but why single us out

to make a fuss over it?

- Yeah, why?

- What we're doing isn't uncommon.

- It's done every day.

- Done every day. That's right.

For all I know, there's

an undiscovered murder every day.

And what does that prove?

All this undercover pressure.

This bribery, corruption,

government between friends.

Sure, it goes on all the time,

and it's tough to crack!

Just ask me.

I've tried for years.

You need more than knowing about it.

You gotta have facts and figures.

And most important, the names.

And he's got 'em.

All right, let's get down to it.

- What'll you take?

- I'll take a drink, please, if I may.

Don't get fancy! I ain't met a guy yet

didn't have his price!

- I have.

- I'm talkin' about big numbers!

You and your big numbers!

You don't watch out, you'll be

wearin' one across your chest!

I'll get to you later!

Now make up your mind.

There's two ways we can do business.

One, you play ball,

and I'll make it worth your while.

Two, start watching your step,

'cause there's no place you can walk...

no place you can live

if you monkey wrench me.

Now, what do you say?

I'd like to think it over.

All right, you got two minutes.

Come on, Billie.

Wait a minute! Harry!

- Cut it out, Harry!

- Operator!

You stupid fool!

What do you think you are?

Can't you see all this muscle stuff

is a thing of the past?

You cut it out, or you'll be

a thing of the past too!

I got mad.

Who are you to get mad,

you big baboon?

You ought to be grateful

you're allowed to walk around free.

You don't know me good enough

for that kind of talk.

I know ya.

A kick in the keister...

a crooked play,

and your problems are all solved.

Bigger problems, bigger kicks.

Who's next? The government? The nation?

Don't blow your top.

I'm still ready to do business.

How's a hundred grand?

A hundred grand is beautiful,

but I can't take it.

Why not?

- My girl wouldn't like it, would she?

- She certainly wouldn't.

All right, then!

What's your idea?

Nothing. No idea.

I'm just trying to show you that...

legislation's not meant

for buying and selling.

This country, with its institutions,

belongs to the people who inhibit it!

- Inhabit!

- Inhabit it!

I always did what I want.

I'm always gonna.

- Try it.

- Who's gonna stop me?

- Us two.

- Don't make me split a gut.

It'll be some fine day when a 100-a-week

hick and a dumb broad can stop me.

What are you standing around

like a dummy? What do I pay you for?

- Say something!

- All right, I'll say something.

- Well?

- They're right.

Whose side are you on?

What do you want?

- Rye ginger ale.

- Who asked you! Butt out!

Tell that congressman of yours

he's all washed up, I guarantee it.

As far as you're concerned, you're not

gonna get away with it, not this time.

- Don't worry about me.

- Oh, but I do.

I worry like the devil.

I stay up nights.

You know, when you live in Washington,

it's enough to break your heart.

You see a perfect piece of machinery...

the democratic structure.

Somebody's always tampering with it,

trying to make it hit the jackpot.

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