Hard Times Page #3

Silver bells.

How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle

in the icy air of night.

While the stars that oversprinkle

all the heavens, seem to twinkle -

- with a crystalline delight."

You get the whole 400, four on a line.

Get them over there.

Come on, dice!

Son of a b*tch!

- Pass the dice, he's through.

- Not yet, pal. Shoot it all.

Got it all?

Point six.

Everything in there?

- Six is point.

- Come on, make that six.

All right,

I'm looking for a big pair of threes.

He loses. Next lucky goer.

- Put on your coat.

- You lost all of it.

- Shut up.

- Well, excuse me, Mr High Roller.

- How long an arm has he got?

- Gandil's a businessman.

He's worried about his reputation.

He's not going to try any muscle play.

There is one thing

we'll have to live with, though.

Since you beat old Jim Henry like that,

fights are going to be harder to find.

And we'll have to give odds

which can be very expensive.

Would you tell Gandil that Mr Chaney

and Mr Weed are here to see him?

- Just go right on in.

- Thank you, Ma'am.

How's your jaw?

- Glad you could drop by, Speed.

- Always a pleasure.

You remember Mr Chaney here.

- Well, sit down, get comfortable.

- Thank you.

- You care for a drink?

- No, too early for me, thank you.

- All business, huh?

- That's right. Well, let's have it.

You've got a direct way of speaking.

I like a man who's direct.

Makes everything easy to understand.

- Like the old days.

- We didn't come for a history lesson.

- Let's get down to cases.

- Maybe we should do that.

There's $5,000 in that envelope.

It's yours.

- I don't believe I follow the drift.

- I'm buying half of Chaney.

You talk to me, not him.

I used to have the best street fighter

in the city, now I don't.

I don't like that at all.

We can get along without you.

I'm sorry to hear that, Mr Chaney. Hope

you come round to my way of thinking.

Well, look who's here: Speed.

You come to your Mama Louis's

for a really good time.

I sure did, Mama.

- I've got myself some lovely new girls.

- Let's have a look.

Girls! ...Each one has been

especially trained to suit your fancy.

I don't need no sales pitch.

I've just come to get my hat blocked.

- How about a drink, Mister?

- Sure, bourbon.

- What did you say your name was?

- Carol.

What did you think about that, Carol?

It was terrific. You were really great.

You know something?

That's just exactly

what I thought you'd say.

What the hell are you doing?

Hey, Doty! Come on!

- Is that okay, Doty?

- Talk to him.

Mr Le Beau says he's got some business

with you. He don't want no trouble.

Just you pay your debts.

Okay, Mister.

- Good seeing you gentlemen.

- Likewise, Speed.

We've got a few things to talk about.

A couple of problems.

I've got to get something going fast.

I've been thinking about Gandil.

Maybe we should reconsider his offer.

- Why the change of mind?

- I'm flat-ass broke, I need money fast.

I don't like Gandil.

- That's no reason.

- It's enough reason for me.

That's fine for you,

but it doesn't do much for my case.

If we don't go for Gandil,

I have to borrow...

My credit's not worth a damn

all over town. Can you loan me $2,000?

Speed, you made as much as me.

Dollar for dollar.

The way I look at it, you owe me.

We used my bankroll to begin with.

My contacts.

You were a bum when I met you.

You're nothing without me.

I figure you owe me.

- Dumb.

- Are you saying no to me?

Hell, Speed, now we're both finished.

Welcome to New Orleans, Street.

I don't do that.

Do you ever get scared

when you do your work?

- I don't think about it.

- You only care about the money.

Isn't that right?

Just as long as the money's good.

Have you got any more questions?

Try this one:

Are you going to stay the night?

Not this time.

All right, let's get it out.

What's bothering you?

Hell, yes, something's wrong.

A lot of things. The rent.

The price of groceries. Clothes

I can't buy. A few items like that.

- How much do you want?

- I want my own, I won't depend on you.

You're not reliable.

You come when you want,

you go when you want.

You never mention

what comes in the middle.

Suit yourself.

Can I buy you one?

How have you been?

- You want to talk about sporting life?

- I'm out of it.

That's too bad. I had to give up on you

and bought myself another hitter.

The best.

Must make you very happy

to get what you wanted.

I'll tell you what I want.

You must have quite a stash saved now.

- How about $5,000? Him against you.

- I don't need any more money.

- There's no point in avoiding this.

- He's right.

- You want it that much?

- I'm getting paid.

- I can reach over and start things now.

- But you won't.

You don't think so?

You're not going to do it for free.

Who the hell are you?

Son of a b*tch. Help!

- Hey, this is your lucky night.

- Depends on how you look at it.

I'll tell you how to look at it.

Right about now I'd be deciding

whether to bust your legs or your back.

But... somebody just paid

the interest on your debt.

Just for one week.

Your man fights Mr Street

and I'll handle your whole mortgage.

My man?...

He won't even speak to me.

We'll put you on ice for a while...

and see if he'll speak to me.

I don't want to interrupt anything...

Gandil came to see me.

We have got a problem.

- You and me haven't got any trouble.

- I'm afraid we do. It's about Speed.

- He sent you?

- Doesn't even know I'm here.

Me and Speed aren't related any more.

- He's in a lot of trouble.

- I am not interested.

Speed owes a ton to a local riff-raff.

They're putting the arm on him.

Gandil will pay his loan off, if you

take on his man. No crowd, just business.

I won't bet my $5,000.

I don't owe that goddamn Speed anything.

That's not the point.

It's real simple.

He's in the wringer.

Only you can get him out.

Money's hard to come by, Poe.

- Anybody got a cigarette?

- I don't use any.

- I'll go and get some.

- You're not going anywhere.

If things don't work out tomorrow night,

which one of you gets to do the job?

- We both do.

- Not this time. I'll take him.

You haven't won one in a while,

have you?

Three cards.

- He really cleaned your plough, huh?

- Shut up and play cards.

- You think he'll show up?

- I sure hope not.

I've got a visitor.

- Some other time.

- No, wait.

I'll walk you down.

Well, how have you been?

- How do I look?

- I've got no complaints.

There's something I've got to tell you.

I don't think

you should drop by any more.

Things have changed.

I think I'm moving.

I'll get a better place.

I got a better offer.

Someone that spends the night.

He's even got a steady job.

Looks like you've got

things all figured out.

Is that all you've got to say?

- Gentlemen.

- Good evening.

- Will your man show up?

- We'll just have to wait and find out.

- Let's get started.

- Why not?

- Where are they?

- Upstairs.

- Go up and get them, Doty.

- I'll do it.

We won't wait here all night!

Thank you, pal.

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