Criss Cross Page #2

the difference

in shopping prices.

There's one woman

that knows how to shop.

Steve's mother, mrs. Thompson.

She serves the best.

Since my wife died,

i'm a guest there often.

[Chuckles]

Okay.

Here you are.

Well, so long,

chester.

So long, pappy.

- [Pappy] so long.

- [Bailey] now my wife.

I don't know how much

she spends on the house.

She's extravagant.

Beach in the summertime.

Uses up all my razor blades

shaving her legs.

[Laughs]

I don't get sore.

She's for me.

I love that kid.

Bailey. Which one

of you is bailey?

Who wants me?

Your office just called.

Your wife isn't feeling well.

You gotta go straight home.

The office said

it was okay.

My wife?

[Bailey]

Hey, steve.

Yeah? What is it?

My wife's sick.

You two guys can manage

without me, can't you?

Yeah, sure. Go ahead.

I'll do the driving.

I'll catch the bus

at olympic.

I better go right out there.

[Engine starting]

Steve.

Yeah?

I'm worried about

that phone call.

I don't like the smell

of the whole thing.

Do you? It's strictly

against regulation.

Don't worry about regulations.

Man's wife got sick.

I understand that,

but a phone call.

Steve, i really think

maybe we oughta check it.

We got a schedule

to make.

Yes.

But there's supposed

to be three of us

on the truck.

With a load

like we got today...

what do you want me to do?

Find a phone booth someplace

and stop and call the office?

Anything you say.

No, go on, drive.

We'd be late.

Relax. Everything's

gonna be all right.

[Sighs]

I don't know, steve.

I guess you're right.

I guess i'm just

kinda nervous lately.

Sure. Take it easy.

You got a long ride

ahead of you.

It's a 40-minute run

to san rafelo.

Yeah, that's right.

[Anna's voice]

After it's done, after it's

all over and we're safe,

it'll bejust you and me.

You and me,

the way it should've been

all along from the start.

[Thinking]

From the start.

The beginning.

[Steve narrating]

It all happened so fast.

It was only eight months ago

that i came back.

I came home.

The los angeles sun was shining,

the way it's always supposed to.

The old trolley line looked the same...

the old street, the old houses.

I was glad to be back.

[Trolley bell ringing]

I'd been all over

the country.

I connected with

a trucking outfit in chicago.

Did construction workdown south.

Drifted around the oklahoma oil fields.

Jobs like that,

one after the other.

Until finally i got her

out of my system.

I didn't come back

on account ofher.

It had nothing to do with it.

I wasn't gonna go looking for her, ;

i didn't expect to run into her.

I didn't particularly

want to see her.

I was sure of that

if i was sure of anything.

But then from the start,

it all went one way.

It was in the cards

or it was fate...

or a jinx or whatever

you wanna call it.

- but right from the start.

- [Barking]

[Barking]

Attaboy!

Ya glad to see me, corky?

Huh? How are ya, huh?

Where's mom and slade?

Mom go shoppin' again, or is she out

gabbin' with the neighbors?

Which is it? Say something,

you funny-lookin' little mutt.

Can't ya talk?

All right. You stay here

and watch my bag.

Stay here and watch it.

I'll be back later.

Now watch it.

Watch it.

[Fierce barking]

Attaboy.

[Steve]

I went down to the drugstore

to call up ramirez.

Pete ramirez.

We grew up together.

He was an old friend.

I thought i might drop over

and kill an hour.

But it all went one way

that sunny afternoon.

In the cards.

He was out.

His wife told me

he was away somewhere,

working on thejob.

Pete always had the night shift,

but this afternoon

he was on day duty.

This particular afternoon.

And then, somehow,

there i was, in the round-up.

The old place.

The old hangout.

There i was, all right,

looking for her,

whether i felt like

admitting it to myself or not.

A little strange to see

the place in the daytime.

Empty, quiet, dim.

We put in a lot of evenings here,

anna and i.

Howdy.

Howdy.

You wanted something?

A beer?

You the new man

around here?

Depends on what

ya mean by "new."

[Steve]

Where's harry?

[Bartender] harry who?

Harry. Used to be the bartender.

Worked here.

Must've been

before my time.

Oh.

Ya want a beer?

Does the, uh...

does the old crowd

still come in here?

Lots of people

come in here nighttimes.

Depends on which

"old crowd" ya mean.

Tell me, do you know...

yeah.

[Woman]

Hey, mister.

You looking for

some special party?

No. No, i'm not

looking for anybody.

Then what are you?

A checker?

Well, what's a checker?

Are you an investigator

for the state liquor board?

- I never even heard of them.

- Well, if you're not lookin' for anybody,

and if you're not a checker

like you say you're not,

what are you tryin' to strike up

a conversation for?

Let's have

some nickels, huh?

Swell-looking,

well-built man like that,

a checker.

Hot tip.

Hot tip, please.

I think i'll have

that beer now.

If you're not a checker,

then i apologize.

But if it turns out

that you are a snooper,

then i want

an apology outta you.

I think i got that right

comin' to me, ain't i?

[Chuckles]

Oh, so unlucky.

Too late.

Too late.

Hot tip won $16.

But too late!

[Jabbering in chinese]

Well, for cryin' out loud!

I call up the house,

and outta the blue sky,

eve tells me...

yeah, that's right.

How are ya, pete?

Fine.

I come right down.

I knew i'd find you here.

You did? How come?

This is your old hangout.

This is where you and anna

always used to go.

I'm not here

lookin' for anna.

You come back

to town on her account,

didn't you?

Why, no.

Well, then why

did you come back?

You know,

all of a sudden like that?

Well, mom's gettin' along

and then there's the kid, slade.

He's runnin' around

with some girl.

He wants to get married.

I thought i'd come home

and get my old job back,

take care of the house. See?

Yeah, i see.

You want a beer?

No, thanks. Say, i'm not

stopping you, am i?

Stopping me from what?

Didn't you want

to use the phone?

The phone?

[Nervous chuckle]

No, why?

Well, nothing. I just

noticed those nickels in

your hand, that's all.

[Laughing]

The way you know everything.

The way you figure it all out.

That's for the beer.

Well, peter,

i hate to break things up,

but mom oughta be home by now.

I oughta be getting along.

I'll see you later, huh?

Let me drive you home.

I got the car outside.

Oh, it's all right.

I insist. City pays

for it anyway.

It's such a bother.

No bother.

Fella comes home,

been away a whole year.

Wants to see his mother.

Can't wait to see his brother.

[Laughing]

Good old steve.

I'll take ya right

to the door.

I'll go to horten's

in the morning, mom.

Pop thinks i can get

my old job back.

Then i'll take care of the house,

same as i always did.

- That's the only reason i came home.

- Sure, mrs. Thompson.

That's the reason.

What else?

You're all set, slade.

Go on

and get married.

Hey, wait a minute.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes