Boys Town Page #7

Take care of that right away, Paul,

and make a big fuss about it. It's a shame.

I'm awfully sorry this happened.

I'll get to the bottom of it.

Maybe I can find my toothbrush.

You mean, maybe someplace

you haven't looked?

Yes, Father. It might be there.

Pee Wee.

You know, Pee Wee, when you don't

look at me straight in the eyes...

I think maybe you don't like me.

- You said 30 days, Mr. Burton?

- Right.

The only solution you have to offer

is to turn away the boys who cannot pay...

and take in the boys who can.

Every man on your Board of Directors

feels the same way.

I'm afraid we'll have to think

of something else...

because that cannot be done.

Will you leave me alone with the problem?

What are you going to do about it?

Something I do very privately,

say a prayer.

We've been through some

pretty tough spots together, haven't we?

I can't send boys away, not any of them.

Eddie, if you can pray your way out of this,

I'll join the school.

And another thing...

I'm not going to say anything personal

about one of the candidates.

I'll say that only to him.

Don't forget, a lot of us were pretty

rough stuff when we came here, too.

But he's run a campaign

rotten with lies and mud...

and promises that he knew were lies

when he made them!

I'm finished, Father.

Boys, I'm sorry I'm late.

Now, as usual, I take no side.

The election is your business.

All right, Whitey, it's your turn.

- Friends of Boys Town.

- Take off your hat!

Excuse me, Father.

Well, fellows, here we go.

Tomorrow's the big day.

I'm not much for making long speeches,

but it looks to me...

like you've been singing the same old tune

around here all the time.

But believe me...

if you vote right tomorrow,

we'll be swinging that old tune.

Yes, sir, fellows, we'll be swinging it.

And may the best man win.

And now, boys, we'll hear

from our other candidate, Tony Ponessa.

I've been in Boys Town about five years.

I've always hoped

I might be Mayor sometime.

But there's something I want

more than that.

Boys Town must always be

just what Father Flanagan made it.

Must have a purpose, high ideals.

Well, I'm not sure of myself...

but one of the candidates has proven

he's the right man.

So I retire from the race.

I ask my friends to support

Freddie Fuller for re-election.

Of all the double-crossing tricks.

And the day before election!

Go on, the rest of you.

Quiet, boys, quiet.

Now, we have various ways here...

of letting new boys find out

how things are done.

I hope some of you haven't forgotten

how long it took you.

Fellows. Now, listen to me.

Whitey and I have been battling for votes

for ourselves...

and Tony thought of nothing

but Boys Town.

If you want a standing vote right now,

Tony has it, hands down.

You mean "hands up," don't you?

If you want Tony for Mayor,

raise your right hands.

Well, boys, this is very unusual.

And a very great honor, Tony.

You tried to give it away,

and they gave it back to you.

Wait a minute.

We haven't heard

from the other candidate.

And I got plenty to say, too.

I think you and Tony

are a pair of dirty, double-crossing guys.

I told you any time I had the idea

I could take you apart, I'd let you know.

- Yeah?

- Well, I got the idea.

Any time's all right for me.

You know that, don't you?

Boys.

Well, it looks like this battle is inevitable.

All right, Whitey...

but all fights here are according to Hoyle,

and they're in the ring.

Okay!

Is that all clear, boys?

Now, you break when I tell you.

The rounds will be two minutes,

one-minute rest.

Half a round, and a good long rest for him.

Go to your corners.

Fight.

Attaboy, Whitey!

Come on, get up there.

One, two.

One, two...

three, four, five.

Whitey!

One, two, three.

All right, Whitey, you've had enough.

It's in the middle drawer, Pee Wee.

There's Whitey. Where's he going?

Whitey!

Wait for me, Whitey!

Whitey, wait for me. Whitey!

Hey, where you going?

Go on, beat it, will you?

- You going away?

- Sure, I'm blowing the plant.

Go on back, will you, Pee Wee?

Where you belong. That's a good kid.

On your way.

But you and me's pals, ain't we?

Go on and beat it, will you? Go ahead.

I'm your pal, Whitey.

Take me with you.

No. I can't be bothered.

Go on and beat it, will you?

No, I want to go with you!

Go on, beat it.

No, I want to go with you.

Go on back and scram, will you?

Pee Wee!

Speak to me. Pee Wee.

I didn't mean it. Honest, I didn't.

Speak to me, Pee Wee!

Oh, God. I'll do anything,

anything at all, Pee Wee.

I'll ride you piggyback. Go speak to me.

- I'll carry him, Father.

- No, I'll take him.

Pee Wee.

No one is allowed.

...Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Joe Marsh!

Joe, it's me, Whitey!

Come on, let's get outta here.

Yeah, come on.

Take the car. Wait at Bogg's Tavern.

- But how about you?

- You heard me. Get going.

I'll meet you later.

Sorry, kid. I didn't know it was you.

- Where'd he get you?

- Right here.

- Can you stand up?

- Yeah.

Come on. We gotta get outta here.

Let's go.

It's not bad. You'll be okay. Just lie still.

What are you doing out of school?

I walked out.

You walk back, get me?

You're going straight.

That's why I put you there.

Stay right here till I send for you.

- How'd you escape, Joe?

- Never mind that.

Listen, Whitey, no squawking or squealing.

No.

Don't talk until you're dead sure

I got away.

- All right, Joe.

- Keep that leg quiet.

Forget me, kid. My road's a lot too tough.

- So long.

- Joe, don't go.

Unless there's a concussion,

he'll be all right.

Take a little time, though.

Pee Wee, lad, I'll keep the candy on tap.

- You're wanted on the telephone, Father.

- Thank you, Sister.

- Hello?

- Father Flanagan...

Whitey's hurt.

- He's hurt?

- Yeah.

He's over in a church at 19th and Dodge.

Hello?

...and I pray for Pee Wee.

It was all my fault, but I didn't mean it.

Honest, I didn't mean it.

Let him live.

Please make him get well.

Are you hurt badly, Whitey?

- Who told you?

- I don't know.

- Do you?

- I ain't talking.

- How's Pee Wee?

- He's all right. He'll pull through.

- Can you walk at all?

- Sure.

Here, put your arm over my shoulder.

Good evening, Father.

Boys, you should be in bed, shouldn't you?

- Whitey's up there, isn't he?

- Yes, he is.

There's trouble, and we know it.

Evening, Father.

Did one of your boys

come home wounded?

Yes, Whitey Marsh.

There was a bank robbery.

The night watchman was killed.

Robbery?

Well, what has that got to do

with Whitey?

I found this cap.

- And who are you?

- Reporter, Morning Dispatch.

The boy's name is in it, Father...

and Boys Town.

I'm afraid there's something to it

this time.

- Where did you find this?

- In the alley near the bank.

There was a trail of blood to a church.

But we were a little late, he'd gone.

Yes, I got him.

- Where is he?

- In the infirmary.

Well, I'll have to take him in.

He's been wounded.

He shouldn't be moved.

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