Cabin in the Sky Page #4

to make bricks without straw.

- Do y'all remember that one?

- Do I remember that one?

- Wasn't I the one who thunk it up?

- That's right, you was.

- Wasn't the Lord burned up about that one?

- He was that.

I didn't do so bad myself.

I was the one that thought up...

...flies.

- And you ain't had an idea like that since.

You's going stale. All of you.

Ideas like them only come

once in a million years, Junior.

One of you better get an idea quick.

Or you all gonna be out there

in your old jobs...

...heaving coal in the boiler room.

It's gonna be kind of tough

on you boys...

...after this nice, cool,

air-conditioned office.

Now, that's gratitude for you.

That's gratitude for you.

After all the wickedness we done

promoted for the big boss...

...ever since Eve got Adam

to nibble on that apple.

There's a great idea.

Who thought that one up?

Oh, I know you did. Don't tell me.

- Man, that's how I started my career.

- Yeah.

And here we are watching it finish.

If I could just get that

psalm-singing Petunia out of the way.

Doggone it, she's in my horns

at every turn.

Hey, chief.

How about setting Petunia up

in a love nest with a rich racketeer...

...and then getting the joint raided?

- That is the most awful idea!

- I'm sorry.

The whole trouble is, I's stuck

with a bunch of B idea men.

All the A boys is over there in Europe.

Say...

...how about...?

- No.

- No?

Let me see, now.

I've got it!

I've got something terrifical.

Listen to this. Why can't we flood

Little Joe with money?

Barrels of money.

Make him rich and watch him

come down here quicker than that.

- I don't know.

- It's awful good.

Think of all the success we've had

with rich souls up there.

Give a man money, watch him act funny.

It ain't bad, Junior.

Now, how you figure

you're gonna make Little Joe so rich?

- How about a sweepstake ticket?

- Well, ain't that a little corny?

Oh, no, man.

Ain't Little Joe always buying chances

on some kind of ticket that don't pay off?

Yeah. I just remembered,

he's got one right now.

Well, all right.

If Lucifer can fix it

for that ticket to pay off...

...then we'll call in a girl

that we know is gonna help us.

- Miss Georgia Brown.

- The same.

We as good as got Little Joe

on the broiler right now.

- Sounds better than the apple gag to me.

- Oh, I guarantees it personally.

Boys, maybe we's in again.

Wait a minute. I'm gonna pull

this one on the big boss.

- Get me Lucifer Sr.

- Just a minute.

I just got an idea.

How about taking Little Joe

and making him rich?

Boy, where have you been?

Hello.

Hello, Pappy.

I think we just cracked

that Little Joe case.

Oh, yes, sir. I just thought up

an idea that's a natural.

Came to me just like that.

Can you fix it so Little Joe can

cash in big on his sweepstake ticket?

You can?

Then he's just as good

as in the bag already.

That's right. We make him rich...

...and with the cooperation

of one of your favorite daughters...

Yes, sir. Yes, sir, that's the one.

Then all we does is just sit back

and watches the fun.

Okay, then, Pappy.

You just tend to that ticket

and leave the rest to me.

Oh, yes, sir. Thank you, Pappy.

How's Mammy?

So you still in the doghouse, huh?

Well, so long, Pappy.

Boys, he's crazy about it.

Now, all we's got to do

is to sell Georgia Brown the idea.

She'll know what to do

with that Little Joe.

My, my.

You sure are a pretty thing, Georgia.

Yes, sir, you certainly

are a sight for the eyes.

Now, just look at yourself.

There's no doubts about it.

You just about

the prettiest girl in town.

That's enough. Get going.

Oh, it's such a beautiful day.

Mostly anything could happen to a girl

on a pretty day like this.

Wearing her best dress,

her best perfume.

Your best perfume.

I wonder what Little Joe's

doing right now.

He never could resist you.

And you kind of like him too, don't you?

Yes, sir. That little man

certainly had something.

Wouldn't do no harm to sort of...

...mosey over and see

how he's doing, huh?

Go on.

Just mosey.

Hey, hey! Hey, be careful.

Where you want this put, Mr. Jackson?

Just take it around

to the rear entrance to my residence.

I guess he means the back porch.

- Petunia?

- Right here, honey.

- What you doing?

- Trying to keep your lunch warm.

- You're a little late today.

- I had to stop off at a couple of places.

Joe, you're up to something.

What you hiding behind your back?

A little gift for you.

Oh, Little Joe, you shouldn't.

And ain't they pretty.

Not pretty enough for you, Petunia.

There ain't no flowers pretty enough

for my Petunia's birthday.

Birthday. Oh, Joe, this is the first time

you've remembered my birthday in years.

Oh, it ain't nothing. I'm aiming

to remember all of them from now on.

- What's on the ice?

- Oh, a nice cold pitcher of lemonade.

Oh, yes.

Just what the doctor ordered.

Look at you.

Standing all covered with God's good dirt

and all the devilishness sweated out you.

My, but you a handsome sight.

Look at them muscles.

Ain't they killing?

- About to pop out of my sleeve.

- I bet you the strongest man on that job.

Oh, I toss them sacks around

like they was full of nothing.

Why, the boss say if I don't slow down he's

gonna have to unemploy a couple of men.

Joe, just what on earth are you doing?

Now comes the grand surprise.

Come on.

Come on, come on.

Have some refreshments

on the house, boys.

What'll you have for a chaser?

How you like it?

Now all we need is some electricity

so we can run it.

Come on.

Oh, honey.

Not on your birthday.

There ain't nobody got no right

being happy as I am.

Well, come on. Smile, then.

Come on. That's it.

Now, you wanna do something

to make me happy?

Sing us a little song.

- Oh, come on, Miss Jackson.

- Sure.

- The one you sang the first time we...

- Joe.

Oh, you know the one I mean.

Petunia!

Six o'clock already.

How come you so spry, Little Joe?

Oh, you can't wear out a man filled with

the spirit of the Lord.

Which one of y'all

is Little Joe Jackson?

- What do you want with him?

- Is you him?

Maybe I am. That all depends

on who you are.

Well, I got a cablegram for him.

What's a cablegram?

- Something good?

- Well, sometimes it's good...

...and sometimes it's bad.

Well, how about this one?

Is it good or bad?

Well, I wouldn't know about that.

- Well, in that case, I don't want none.

- Oh, so you is Little Joe Jackson.

- You got to receive it.

- What do you mean, I got to receive it?

- This is a free country, ain't it?

- This is special for you.

There's your name right on it.

See there?

Looks like just a ordinary letter to me.

It is, except that it come

from under the ocean.

Just sign right there.

Is this gonna cost me something?

We usually gets a little

something for our services.

Of course, that's up to you.

Well, that's settled.

What you doing? Voting?

That's my signature

when my secretary ain't around.

I'm a very busy man.

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