East Of Eden Page #4

---

The power of the explosion

is exerted on a piston...

and through connecting rod

and crankshaft...

through transmission,

thence to rear wheels.

- Got that so far?

- Sure, he's got that.

Now, we go on

to the operation of the automobile.

This here's the ignition key.

Would you mind putting out

that cigarette, please.

Turn this doohickey here to the left.

That puts her on battery.

- See where it says "bat"?

- Yes.

- Bat, short for battery.

- That's right. Good boy.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

First you gotta retard the spark.

If you don't retard the spark,

she'll probably kick your blasted arm off.

Now remember that.

This here is the spark.

You push her way up. Listen.

- This here's the gas. You push her...

- Down.

- You had lessons before.

- No, I just saw you do it.

- You're a pretty smart old buzzard.

- Thank you very much.

- Keep your eyes open, don't you?

- Try to.

Now, this here is the crank.

See this wire sticking out of the radiator?

That's the choke.

Now watch careful.

Grab hold of the crank like this.

Push in till she catches.

See how my thumb is turned down?

I noticed that. Why do you do that?

If you put her around this way

with my thumb around her...

she'd probably knock

my blasted thumb off.

Dear, dear. First you lose your blasted arm

and then you lose your blasted thumb.

- That's kind of wrong way around.

- How's that?

He made a joke.

I never did see him so happy.

You pull out this choke

turn her around to suck gas in.

Then you give her a hard spin.

- She caught, first time!

- Caught on what?

Advance the spark and retard the gas.

Reach over real quick and switch

to mag. That's magneto.

So, there you are.

Isn't that wonderful?

Of course, it isn't exactly

going anywhere, is it?

That's the easy part.

- Adam.

- I want you all to repeat after me.

Spark up, gas down.

Switch to bat.

Crank to compression, thumb down.

You get that? Let's have it again.

Spark up, gas down.

- What's the matter?

- Big snow slide.

Closed the pass and stopped the cars

about 100 miles out.

Can see water running out of the cars.

It's still a good idea.

Cold can preserve things.

Someday, somebody'll prove it.

- It was your idea.

- No!

It was presumptuous of me

to think it would be I.

Guess we bit off more lettuce

than we could chew.

What do you know about that?

I thought he'd really be hurt.

You don't understand him.

- You can't go in there.

- I gotta see Will Hamilton.

He won't be through for an hour.

They just started.

- Let me see him.

- There's a war in Europe.

These boys are trying

to get themselves in shape. So beat it.

Right, left.

Now, deep knee bends, follow me.

- What's that?

- That's the fire bell.

We better have a look.

- It may be the Germans.

- Fire, Germans, who cares? I surrender.

- Howdy, Mr. Albrecht.

- Hello, Cal.

- Mr. Hamilton.

- There's a fire somewhere.

- No. I rang the bell.

- You rang it?

Yeah. I had to see you.

You know, you're crazy.

You're really crazy.

I knew it when you pushed that ice

down the chute.

Let's get out of here

before they start up that piano again.

There must be some easier way

to stop the Germans than this, anyway.

- You see, I gotta make some money.

- Sure, everybody's got to.

Remember, you said that

if you wanna make money...

you ought to raise beans?

Yeah, beans are up 3.5 cents now.

Now, the way I figure it, it's like you said.

The country's gonna get into war, isn't it?

I don't see any way out.

- War's good for business.

- The best there is.

See, that's why I wanna go into beans.

See, I gotta get enough money

to give my father back what he lost.

I see.

You think you can make

all that money back?

I gotta.

You know, you're crazy.

Look, Cal, don't you know...

that you gotta have money

in order to make money?

- I'll get some money.

- How?

I'll get it.

Look, don't get so near to me.

I don't wanna get all hot again.

- How much money could you get?

- What do you think I need?

If you had $5,000...

$5,000?

It's a little different when you start

putting it into figures, isn't it?

I know you wanna help your father...

but a kid your age can't be expected

to put his hands on $5,000.

Maybe if you could raise $100 or so,

we could let you have a little share.

I don't want a little share,

I want the whole thing.

- I'll get $5,000.

- Maybe if you and Aron went in together...

Aron ain't got nothing to do with this.

This is my deal.

I'll get the $5,000.

What're you gonna do, borrow it?

Yeah.

All right. If you can borrow $5,000...

I know a farmer who's got over 800 acres.

- It's under cultivation.

- All right. What do we do?

If we can guarantee him 5 cents a pound...

and make him a seed loan,

he'll plant beans.

So will a lot of other farmers.

Why, we can contract

all the bean acreage you want.

That's it. That's great. When do we start?

How do you know the price

will go above 5, though?

Did you read the newspapers

this morning?

We're apt to be in war any minute.

You know I got a contract

with the British Purchasing Agency...

and I got a friend in

the Quartermaster Corps.

Do you know

that we could sell all the dry beans...

that we can find

at 10 cents a pound or more?

That's what I want. That's it. See?

- How much will I make?

- Enough for what you want.

- What does Cal stand for?

- Caleb.

It's in the Bible.

- What's your brother's name?

- Aron.

That's in the Bible, too.

What's he like?

He looks like you.

Is he like me?

No. He's good.

I'm more like you.

How's Adam?

How's your father?

I don't wanna talk about him.

- You don't?

- No.

I didn't know who you were

when you were here before.

I knew you didn't.

Aren't you afraid

to come around here again?

Yeah, I am. No. Well, kind of.

What do you want?

Just to look at me?

I want $5,000.

All right, come on in. Sit down.

Come in.

Try that chair.

You got your father's eyes.

That's all I can see of him.

- You're a nice looking boy.

- Yes, ma'am.

- I was very beautiful once.

- Yes, ma'am.

Caleb and Aron.

Your father still thinks

he's living in the Bible, huh?

Them's just names.

Joe says that you go to school in Salinas.

Are you good in your studies?

I get by with them.

Does Aron get by with them?

He's bright.

What are you gonna do when you finish?

You're going to college?

Maybe.

Or back to some ranch?

No, I don't like the ranch.

You take after me.

Makes me mad just to think about a ranch.

Sit down.

Thanks.

What do you want with $5,000?

I want to go into business.

- You're a little young for that, aren't you?

- I'm old enough.

Yeah, I guess you're right. I guess you are.

- What business do you wanna go into?

- Beans.

Beans are up to 3.5 cents now.

And if we get into war,

they're gonna go up to 10, 12.

- Lf we get into the war.

- That's a gamble you have to take.

- Will Hamilton says that...

- Will?

You going into business

with Will Hamilton?

You see...

my father, he lost about all he had in...

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote