High Sierra

I was getting nervous,

waiting over an hour.

I've been waiting too, over eight years.

The park's down there, ain't it?

Yeah. The park?

Say, Earle, you feeling all right?

I will be. Just as soon as I make sure

that grass is still green...

...and trees are still growing.

Pass me the ball, there, mister!

He ought to be here now.

When he comes, stay in

the bedroom till he's gone.

I been hearing about

Roy Earle for years.

He's a real big shot,

and I wanna see him!

Okay, okay.

- Here they are now. Wally's brought him.

- All right, scram!

Come in.

Well, what kept you?

Ain't losing your touch, are you?

Where's Big Mac?

He's gone to California.

- I'm handling things.

- Who are you?

I'm Kranmer, Jack Kranmer.

- Copper, ain't you?

- Used to be. I resigned.

- I'll bet.

- You don't have to worry about me.

Since when does Big Mac team

up with ex-coppers?

I told you not to worry.

Mac wants you to go to California.

The car downstairs is yours.

Here's the keys.

Here's your route and some dough.

The sooner you get there, the better.

What's the setup?

You ever heard of Tropico Springs?

It's a resort town.

"Richest little town in the world,"

they call it.

You're gonna knock off

a top hotel there.

Am I, copper?

Mac spent a fortune springing you.

You're working for him now.

He calls the tune,

and you dance to it.

- Hello there.

- Howdy.

Is there anything I can do for you?

No, I was just looking around.

- This is the old Earle place, ain't it?

- Yeah.

But none of the Earles been around

here for five or six years.

You from the bank?

No, I used to live near here.

- It's nice country.

- Yeah.

- Howdy, son. Any luck?

- Not much.

Best place is that hole below

the Turner place.

Plenty big catfish in there.

Three or four pounds.

Three or four pounds? Gee!

Well...

...used to be a long time ago, anyway.

Maybe it's fished out.

Why...

Why, you're Roy Earle, the bandit!

Howdy, partner.

What can I do for you?

She'll take some water

and 10 gallons of gas.

Yes, sir. You bet!

Hot day, ain't she?

Ain't many cars coming

through right now.

Little early, I guess.

You're looking at the pride

of the Sierras.

Mount Whitney, the highest peak

in the United States.

14,501 feet above sea level.

I see you got an Illinois license plate.

You're a long way from home, ain't you?

You must excuse me.

I get lonesome and when a customer

shows up, well, maybe I talk too much.

Lonesome, eh? Yeah, I can see how

you would get lonesome out here.

Wow, we made it!

I'd sure like to shake your hand, sir.

Jackrabbit jumped in front

of my car and I lost my head.

- You sure saved our bacon.

- I saved my own bacon too. Come far?

- Clear from Ohio. And you?

- Chicago.

Mighty proud to meet you.

You sure can handle a car.

Me, I'm a bit shaky at it, but Velma,

Velma's my granddaughter...

...she's a good driver, but she gets tired

and I won't let her drive too much.

What's your name, sir?

- Collins.

- Mine's Goodhue.

Velma, Ma, I'd like you

to meet Mr. Collins.

- How you doing?

- Pleased to meet you.

Well, I guess I'll be on my way.

Out of five.

- Going far?

- Up in the mountains, for my health.

Well, I'm going to Los Angeles.

I lost my farm back home...

...but Velma's mother married again,

and she sort of invited us out.

- Now, I don't know if...

- $2.41, 3, 4, 5.

Well, I hope you make it.

- Hey, you.

- Yes, sir?

I'm looking for a guy named Hattery.

Him and another fella.

They all in Cabin 12.

- You the one they expecting?

- Yeah.

Then you'll be in Cabin 11.

Leave your car. I'll drain the water.

It gets awful cold at night.

- Get my bags. They're in the back.

- I'll take care of them, boss.

Hattery here?

Red!

There's someone to see you.

- You Roy Earle?

- Yeah.

Glad to see you. I can't shake hands,

I've been cleaning fish.

Meet my pal Babe Kozak.

This is Marie Garson.

Red, I want to talk to you alone.

See you later.

It's okay by me.

You don't like the idea

of the dame?

Even guys like you should

know better.

Babe got her at a dime-a-dance joint.

She's okay, looks after things for us.

Well, give her some dough

and send her back. Tonight.

Now, what about this job?

The Tropico season is just starting,

and Mendoza, our inside man...

...he says the hotel will

be full in a week.

There'll be plenty of rocks

in the strongboxes then.

When do I see Mendoza?

He'll be up the day he gets off.

He's in touch with Big Mac too.

- He is?

- He'll give you all the news firsthand.

All right.

Say, Mr. Earle?

I wanted to say that with you on the job,

we feel like we're in fast company.

I heard a lot about you.

When I was a kid,

I seen you in the paper and...

Yeah.

You can have your Roy Earle.

He don't look like much to me.

He's getting gray.

A powerhouse to some,

but he's a blown-out fuse to me.

I'll bet he's plenty tough.

Get out of line and you'll see.

All right, I'll see.

Let me tell you something.

You're asking for a smack in the nose!

- And stop arguing with me!

- I got some bad news.

Roy says we gotta send Marie back.

Why, that broken-down...

- I'll tell him!

- Yeah?

Well, here's your chance.

You don't want me to go back to L.A.,

do you? You tell him.

I don't know.

I suppose we need that guy.

But that's no reason

he should push us around!

He's not the boss! He can't get...

Go on, keep it up.

You're gonna win this argument.

Leave her alone, or I'll flatten you!

- You and who else?

- Just me!

Cut it out! You won't get

nothing but a black eye.

I don't care what anyone says.

She's not going back!

So you think. He thinks different.

I'm not going back to that

dime-a-dance joint if I can help it.

- I'll go talk to him.

- With him, I don't think it'll work.

Yeah?

Can I talk to you a moment?

Sure. Help yourself.

Why do you want to send me

back to L. A? I like it here.

Don't play dumb.

I don't intend to.

Oh, I know what's going on...

...but I didn't get it from them.

Louis Mendoza told me.

He talks too much,

and all he does is brag.

So you see, Mr. Earle, Mendoza's

the one for you to worry about. Not me.

I ain't worrying about you.

It's them jitterbugs you got with you.

They'll be throwing lead over you.

Oh, I can handle them, all right.

Babe gets tough every once in a while,

but he's afraid of Red.

And I can make Red

think what I want.

Got it all figured out, ain't you?

In a way.

All right.

Let things stay as they are a few

days and see how it works out.

Oh, thanks, Mr. Earle.

Well?

Goodbye.

Yeah?

Morning. This is me, Algernon.

Anything I can do for you this morning?

You can rustle

me up some breakfast.

Lady next door got your breakfast.

She thought I ought to see if you

was stirring around. Yes, sir.

Where'd you ever get

the name Algernon?

My old lady thought it up.

Pip, ain't it? Kind of gives me class.

You like this dog?

- He's just a dog, ain't he?

- No, sir. A mighty fine dog.

Watch now. Pard?

Ducks! Ducks!

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes