Hellfighters Page #4

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I'll drink to that.

Wait'll I get my coat.

[Nurse] But, Mr. Buckman,

I don't know about this.

I do, Mrs. Thistlewait.

I'm a new father-in-law.

- I did leave messages.

- [Chance] Well, find him.

- Okay, I'll try again.

- [Door Opening]

Oh, we've been trying

to reach you all afternoon.

I figured it was

a riot call.

Bourbon for me.

You picked a hell of a day

to be out of the office.

I know. Madelyn is

flying in from Paris.

Tish is meeting her plane

about now.

Simmer down.

Pour me my drink.

If you knew,

why didn't you head her off?

They don't call passengers

to the phone.

- How's your arm?

- Fine, fine.

You know who she's gonna

blame for this marriage... me!

I'll testify you didn't

hold a gun on 'em.

Cut out the jokes, and help me

figure out how to handle this.

I am. You're all having

dinner together.

I made a reservation at the club.

Greg is coming to pick you up.

- You've got a suit here, haven't you?

- You're going, aren't you?

Definitely not.

This is something for

the four of you to hash out.

Madelyn is staying at my place.

I'll get the rundown later.

You're not scared, are you?

You're damn right I am.

Who's got the most

butterflies, you or me?

Mine are dive bombers.

I never met a mother-in-law before,

at least not one of my own.

If you're comin' to me

for advice, I'm a dry hole.

Mother.

- Hi.

- Hi.

- Mother, this is Greg.

- How do you do, Mrs. Buckman?

Please call me Madelyn.

How are you, Chance?

Fine. You're looking well.

Sit down.

Is it still gin and tonic?

Yes, and tonight

I think several.

- Scotch on the rocks for me.

- Yes, ma'am.

Well, Tish told me

how this all came about.

As usual, you came out

of it smiling and happy.

I think we all did.

I understand your first

comment about me...

was that I had to be

a complete b*tch.

- I was kind of mad and excited.

- Relax, both of you.

- Mother thought it was funny.

- You did?

I like a man who's honest

and outspoken.

Well, obviously

I was dead wrong.

Well, I want to wish

you two all the...

happiness in the world.

- I'll drink to that.

- Thank you.

How are you

on the dance floor?

Ummm. I knew you'd get

around to that.

No matter what,

I won't throw you back.

[Applause]

[Jazzy Rock]

They're gonna have

a lot of fun, those two.

I hope so. Am I taking this

better than you thought?

Oh, I knew you'd

take it all right.

You never saw anybody as enthused

as that Tish. She's out house hunting...

- We might as well face it, Chance.

- Face what?

Every time he leaves her,

she's going to go through hell.

- She says she's going with him.

- That makes it worse.

I watched them put Jack into

a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

I ran because I couldn't bear

the thought of them doing it to you.

- I don't want Tish...

- Tish isn't you, Madelyn!

She thinks she can make it,

and I think so too.

Besides, there's not

a damn thing we can do about it.

Give 'em a break,

will ya?

- I haven't any alternative, have I?

- No.

You're still wearing it?

I heard you were...

engaged a couple of times.

Well, never seriously enough

to go through with it.

Well, I'd say they were two

very unlucky fellas.

Madelyn, when you came

down those stairs, this...

Why don't you order me a drink

and tell me all the Houston gossip.

They don't let me in

on the gossip,

and you don't need

another drink.

Isn't it beautiful?

It's lovely.

- That settles it, Greg. Let's buy it.

- Seems we've decided.

I wish we could

move into it right now.

I don't think the people

living there now would appreciate that.

[Ringing]

Yeah, Irene.

I can't hear you.

No, I still

can't hear you.

- What's the matter?

- Phone's out of whack.

Call her from my place.

[Greg]

We'll talk to you from Chance's.

[Engine Starts]

Let's go.

Yeah, Irene.

Oh, I guess we can get

started about 7:
00.

Oh, tell George

he can come along.

Right.

- Where is it?

- Canada, outside of Calgary.

- Lightning cracked a control head.

- Why George?

We're not taking

the chopper.

Well, he's been wanting to break in

for a long time. I think he's ready.

- You're not going along.

- What do you mean?

Well, a fella just married

usually goes on a honeymoon.

You got a bum arm.

Ah, that's

the doctor's idea.

I think Canada is

a perfect place for a honeymoon.

You serving

breakfast?

Yeah.

Oh, Mother, here's the key

to Uncle Jack's apartment.

See you in the morning.

[Door Opens,

Closes]

At least you tried to give them

a decent honeymoon. Thank you for that.

You gonna use that key?

I won't if you ask me not to,

and you know it.

Please don't.

How about a nightcap?

One.

[Loud Thumping]

- You all right?

- What's with you?

I saw that iron falling.

- Then why didn't you move?

- I was movin' when you booted me.

George, Joe'll take in

the nitro.

- Right.

- That's my job.

- Take a breather.

- Who brings in the new control heads?

George.

Chance, I'm okay.

I can do my job.

All right, do it.

Headstrong.

What'd you do,

cross your skis?

Tish, I want you to

get back. Way back.

I'll tap you.

Call.

Whew. You sure inherited

your old man's luck at cards.

I'm just a better

player than you.

Let me show her how

an expert handles those pasteboards.

Try not to get

wiped out, expert.

Our Houston E.T.A.

Is 6:
30.

Uh-huh.

You got something

on your mind.

- Let's have it.

- Stop looking out for me

because I'm your son-in-law.

What left field

did that come out of?

Kicking me in the guts

like a loco mule, and that bilge

about my taking a breather?

I'd have done that for George

or Joe or anybody.

- You sure of that?

- I'm damn sure.

And while we're on

that son-in-law bit,

what's the idea of bringing

Tish to these fires?

It's lousy food and about

as much privacy as an outhouse.

That's no place

to bring your wife.

She'll go wherever she wants to go

because she is my wife.

She's my daughter too,

bub!

She's got your luck at cards,

and she inherited some of your

guts. Are you satisfied?

If that's the way

you two want it, fine,

but just get off my back,

that's all.

I was in San Francisco

yesterday.

Had lunch with Madelyn.

- How is she?

- Oh, fine.

The usual questions,

all boiling down to one:

How is Tish bearing up

after ten fires?

Why ask you? Greg and Tish are

up there with her, aren't they?

She thinks Tish is

putting on an act,

and she really don't

believe me.

How is Tish

at the fires, Chance?

Well, she seems to be

bearing up all right.

And you?

Does there look like there's

something wrong with me?

Madelyn was hoping you might finally

see things from her point of view.

[Chuckles]

You gonna shoot

or stand there all day?

[Phone Rings]

Yes, Irene.

Buckman here.

Yes. Oh?

I think we could get there

by day after tomorrow.

We'll cable you

the flight number.

Fine. Thank you.

- [Receiver Hangs Up]

- Long haul, huh?

Malaya, above Penang.

Poison well fire.

Hydrogen sulfate.

Is Irene

calling Greg?

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