Honkytonk Man Page #4

- Well, get it.

- I can't!

I'm disappointed in you, Red.

Questioning my honesty like this.

Is that what you're doing?

Calling me a liar and a cheat?

I'm calling you a liar and a cheat,

and a fat, porky, son of a b*tch!

You wanna hear any more?

I got other things I can think up for you.

I think I know how we can square it.

That girl? The one who was just in here?

I'll tell you what I'll do, Red.

I'll give you her and we'll call it even.

You'd give me that girl

for the $100 you owe me?

Yeah, why don't you talk to her yourself?

Marlene, get yourself down here, honey!

Marlene, this here is Red Stovall.

He's a singer, and a damned good one.

How'd you like to go to Nashville

with him?

- You'd be a good girl, wouldn't you?

- Nashville!

My goodness, Nashville!

That is my heart's dream!

I would just do anything to go!

Well, there you are. Just take her

a few minutes to get her stuff packed.

It won't do, Arnspringer.

Please take me with you, Mr. Stovall.

I won't be any trouble, I promise.

It would mean so much to me.

The Lord will bless you if you do.

I've dreamed of going to Nashville

and becoming a singing star.

And I'm good, too!

The Lord has given me a great talent.

- Just ask anybody who's heard me.

- She's a mighty good singer, Red.

It won't do.

Please, Mr. Stovall!

I beg of you, please...

Can't you see he don't want you?

Now go on.

Go get me some coffee and doughnuts.

- You want coffee and doughnuts, Red?

- I just want my money.

My heart is broken.

Your ass is going to be broken, too,

if you don't get me the coffee.

Now, look here, Red.

I'll tell you what I'm gonna do.

I'll show you how white I am.

I'll show you how you can make that $100

in no time at all.

That's the best I can do.

- I'm listening.

- Well, the deal is this:

I do a little service

for some of my business friends...

in the community here from time to time.

Mostly, insurance jobs.

Somebody wants something stolen,

I make sure it gets stolen.

It's really a set-up.

You just walk in

and tell the woman it's a stickup.

She hands you $100, maybe a little more.

- Where's my coffee and doughnuts?

- Junior's bringing it.

- Well, what do you say, Red?

- This woman, what does she get out of it?

That's where the trick is, see?

She gives the robber $100...

but she tells the insurance company

it was $200.

And the place, where is it?

It's Myrtle's Diner,

out west of town on the highway.

- But you said I could.

- I know what I said, Junior.

You see what I'm doing for you?

Something's come up now.

I've gotta give Red the job.

- But you said...

- I know what I said, God damn it!

I know what I'm saying now!

Well?

All right. We'll need a gun.

We've gotta make it look real.

Marlene!

Bring that old shotgun down here,

and don't be all day about it!

This Myrtle...

- she got a phone?

- No. Why?

I thought I'd give her a call,

see if this is all on the level.

For pity's sake, Red!

Why would I lie to you?

What are you standing around here for?

What do you say, Red?

I'll tell her you're coming tonight

about closing time. Right?

Right.

Howdy.

We're closed.

Well, I'll just hang around here...

till you finish counting that cash.

Hey! It's me! I'm the one...

Arnspringer sent me.

Don't you go! Stay here!

Are you crazy?

Will you shut up? I'm the one

who's supposed to pull the hold-up.

Arnspringer sent me.

Look, it isn't even loaded.

You almost got yourself killed!

That's some set-up.

- Let's go back to Arnspringer's.

- What for?

I'm gonna get that money he owes me.

But that'll just mean more trouble.

Why don't we...

Damn it, Hoss, do what I tell you.

If you're with me, you're with me,

if you ain't, get out of the car!

Who is it?

Tell him it's Western Union.

Western Union.

Telegram for Mr. Arnspringer.

Just back right on over there, boy.

Everybody just keep their hands

right on the table.

- Red, what is this? What the hell?

- You son of a b*tch!

You damn near got me killed.

- Red, I... - You didn't tell

that old lady I was coming.

She took a shot at me.

Red, I did! I didn't personally...

but I sent word.

What would I get

out of double-crossing you, Red?

How did you send word?

I sent somebody else.

You sh*t-for-brains.

All right, so you're an honest man.

Of course, I am, Red. You know me.

Yeah, I know you.

I'll tell you what you're gonna do.

You're gonna give me the $100...

and because you're such an honest man,

you're gonna toss in another $100...

'cause you almost got me killed.

Well, for one thing, Red,

I don't have the money.

And for another thing, I don't think

you have any shells in that shotgun.

You wanna bet?

Red, I don't have $200.

I don't even have $100.

- How much you got there?

- Maybe $50, $60.

- How about in there?

- That's not mine, that's the bank's.

Hoss, you take a look in that box there.

You take out $60 for Durwood, here.

And then we'll take out $50

for this gentleman right here.

Arnspringer, you can give him an IOU.

Red, you're going too far!

I don't know if you know this,

but I pay the police for protection.

Do it! Don't be a damned fool!

That's all the money I got.

You sure came to the right place

to spend it.

You're in big trouble, cowboy.

You know who I am?

Yeah, I know who you are.

You're the man with all the chips.

Take out $90 for this gentleman.

Durwood, you'll write him an IOU.

There, Red, she's gonna go

for the cops now.

But it's not too late!

It's not, if you'll stop this right now!

We won't prefer charges against you. Will

we, men? No, we'll forget all about it.

You ain't too smart, are you, boy?

Hoss, we got our money, let's go.

You men got your IOUs...

you can continue

on your poker game now.

The first one that looks out

before we're gone...

is gonna find out if I've got my shells

for my shotgun.

You stay here. I'll be right back.

Holy sh*t!

- What are you doing here?

- Will you help me, please?

I have to go with him to Nashville.

Would you please help

talk him into letting me go?

Are you crazy?

You know what he'll do

when he comes out and finds you?

But I can't go back to Arnspringer's!

I can't!

I didn't run out and get the cops, did I?

Arnspringer knows I didn't.

He's gonna skin me alive.

He'll never stand for it.

Put me in the trunk, then! Please?

I'll ride in there as far as I can

without being discovered.

Maybe by then we'll be far enough away

so he won't...

I just can't go back there!

You gonna be able to stand being shut up

in a place that small?

I can stand anything, as long as

I get to go to Nashville with him.

- What's the matter with Grandpa?

- He's drunk.

I, sir, am not drunk!

You, sir, rudely woke me.

I left a bottle of whiskey in there,

and he's drunk over half of it.

I assumed, sir,

that bottle was left there for me.

You ride in the back, Mr. Wagoner.

That way you can sleep it off.

No, sir. The back seat is yours.

This is your car.

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