Brother Orchid Page #8

It's me, Little John.

Johnny...

...is it really you?

You ain't dead.

Well, if I am,

I'm the livest corpse you ever seen.

Come on, get up.

I got things to say.

I ain't gonna waste time.

Johnny, it feels like a guy's jumping

rope in my stomach.

Sure. That's the way all squealers feel when

they meet the guy they put the finger on.

Look, I don't know what's happened.

One thing I gotta set you

straight on right away.

I didn't double-cross you at Fat Dutchy's.

I wanted Jack Buck to make up with you.

He promised me he would if I got you

there. I was dumb to believe him.

Yeah? What do you think now,

I'm dumb to believe you?

Oh, Johnny, you gotta believe me.

It's the truth and I can prove it.

Here, read this.

"If the coppers ask any questions,

keep your mouth shut about Sarto.

They won't believe you got him...

...to make up with me anymore

than Johnny would himself.

Get smart and stay that way. "

Jack Buck's handwriting all right.

- You got it?

- Last month...

...when the cops looked for him.

- For?

The Tim O'Hara killing, policy knockoffs

and an income tax rep.

If the cops nail him,

he'll got a hundred years. Maybe life.

Well, well, well.

So Jack Buck's on the lam, huh?

- Where's he at?

- I don't know.

- Nobody knows his hideout.

- I might know something about that.

Oh, Johnny...

...please don't be mad at me.

I know I did a dizzy thing

but I was only trying to help you.

I'm awful glad you're back.

Gee, you don't know

how I've missed you.

If you ain't a screwball,

there never was one.

Why?

You've missed me so much

that tomorrow...

...you're marrying another guy.

- Oh!

Wait a minute, Johnny. When everybody

said you was rubbed out, I went to pieces.

Honest, right to pieces.

Clarence was swell to me, really swell.

And later, when he asked me

to marry him, I said okay.

But I never said I loved him.

I never said that to nobody but you.

Well, look, will you call

the whole thing off with Clarence?

I don't know how he'll feel about it.

He's got some friends here

from Montana for the wedding...

...but I got a hunch he'll understand.

- Okay, then listen.

Slip Clarence the news and I'll be back.

We'll get married, shove off for Kansas,

where I got Willie the Knife planted.

I'll get back into harness

and take over. You with me?

- Oh, am I?

- All right, now. Finish packing, will you?

- I'll be right back.

- Johnny, wait a minute.

- What is it now?

- That outfit you got on.

What did you do, join a convent?

- Certainly not.

- Well, then why are you wearing a wrapper?

Ahh...

Oh.

- I hope I didn't keep you waiting long.

- No, that's all right.

Sorry I skipped away like that...

...but something happened

I have to take care of right away.

No apologies are necessary,

Brother Orchid.

Yeah, look...

...I gotta get something off my chest

and I only hope you won't be sore.

First, I gotta tell you that the last six

months of my life...

...were the happiest I've ever known.

- I'm very glad.

I hope you'll continue

to be happy with us.

Well, that's... That's what

I'm trying to tell you.

I won't be able to stay with you...

What's this?

Ain't you sold the flowers yet?

- What happened?

- That's why I'm so despondent.

Our market is gone.

They won't handle our flowers anymore.

What? Who won't?

- The wholesalers.

- Huh?

As I understand it, we don't belong

to the Protective Association.

Protective...?

Did I hear you say

Protective Association?

Yes.

I learned in the city that not a flower can

be sold unless it's grown in their nurseries.

I don't know what we're going to do.

I really don't.

Well, what Protective Association is this?

I don't know. It's all so confusing to me.

They did mention the name

of some man wanted by the police.

Buck? Jack Buck?

Yes. Yes, that's it.

How did you know?

Well, it come to me in a dream.

Look, Brother Superior. Will you move over

to the curb for a minute?

- Please.

- Well.

I'm gonna blab. Then I'm gonna blow.

Now, don't say nothing, just let me talk.

First, stop worrying about them flowers.

You bring them to the market tomorrow.

You'll find that nobody

ain't gonna bother you no more.

- I accept your word, my son. But I...

- Now, please, just let me finish.

L...

I can't explain just why.

It wouldn't do any good if I did.

I gotta quit the monastery.

- My son...

- Now, wait.

Now, like I said before...

...I ain't never been so happy.

I never met people like you.

People who think of the other guy.

Forget about themselves.

And I've been living in new world

that's been awful swell.

But you know sometimes with a mug

like me, your new world, my old world...

...just don't mix up proper.

And I wish I could stay on forever

but I can't.

So all I can say is so long and thanks.

Look, I'll send you back this robe

as soon as I get some new clothes.

- Well, thanks for everything.

- But, my brother. Brother.

Close your sleepy eyes

My little Buckaroo

While the light of Western skies

Is shining down on you

Don't you know it's time for bed

- Where's your boss?

- In the library with Monsieur Fletcher.

So go to sleep

My little Buckaroo

- Johnny.

- I'd be here sooner...

...only I had trouble promoting

this suit from a friend.

- Oh, am I butting in?

- That's all right, Mr. Sarto.

We were just talking about you.

What we got to say I reckon

we can say to your face.

- You told him?

- Look, Johnny...

...why don't you let me

and him alone a few minutes.

Florence has told me everything,

Mr. Sarto.

I've come to realize you must have a

powerful wrong impression of me.

Yeah?

How's that?

I always believed you thought

I was a pretty good fella.

Now I realize you also thought

I was awful dumb.

Now, wait a minute, Clarence.

Johnny didn't never say no such thing.

Certainly, I didn't.

I never said anything about you.

- Never even thought anything about you.

- You proved that...

...when you walk in here

and expect me to call off my marriage.

Oh, so that's it, huh?

So you think I'm cutting you out?

Let me tell you.

Flo's been my girl for years.

We're always gonna get married,

it wasn't in the cards.

You was the one who come along

and butted in.

Am I right?

Is that right, Florence?

Is that the way you feel?

I've always loved Johnny, Clarence.

I've got to call it the way I see it.

I'm sorry I kicked up my heels

the way I did, Mr. Sarto.

I was just proud enough to believe

I could make Florence happy.

Now I'm just humble enough to realize

you're the man to do it...

...and to wish you both

all the good luck in the world.

Well, shake.

You're okay.

Say, you got class too.

Can you imagine what I could've done

with him in the organization, huh?

Hey, wait a minute.

- What, Johnny?

- Gee, I got an idea. Look...

...those guys outside, are they your pals?

My closest. They've come in town

to see my wedding.

- I don't know what they're gonna do.

- Look...

...if they want excitement, I'll dish it.

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