In Dubious Battle Page #6

We didn't break any laws.

They can do whatever they want.

No one stops them.

Come on out!

They're gonna keep

coming after us.

Come on, let's get back to camp,

let them know that they're

out there, all right?

Oh, god!

- All right?

- Yeah.

Hey. You bastards are

supposed to protect us.

What's the matter?

What's the matter?

Bunch of men burned

Al's lunch wagon

clear to the ground.

That's what's the matter.

The whole goddamn thing.

Ah. Hey, al.

Hope you're happy now.

See what comes of it?

Look at him laying there.

We put $1800 into that diner.

For Christ's sake, dad,

don't start.

Hey, we feel awful bad.

All right,

let him get some rest, Mac.

All right.

This is gonna hurt, al.

We'll put extra guards...

Get out.

Yes, sir.

Where are the guards?

Goddamn it.

What the hell?

Relax, man.

Ain't nobody around.

This isn't a joke, okay?

We owe Mr. Anderson.

We're exhausted.

We been picketing all day.

Jesus, enough with the excuses.

You two can't do it?

Find someone who can!

- You ain't our boss.

- No, I ain't.

But what do you think London's

gonna do when he finds out

you two ain't

pulling your weight?

London ain't our boss neither.

You're right.

But he can tear you limb from

limb with his bare hands.

Now, get out of here.

I don't want you two

guarding the barn.

Damn if I don't feel like

we did that to poor al.

I mean, that lunch wagon,

that was his whole life.

Don't go thinking that way.

You didn't bust Al's ribs.

Them bastards

work for Bolton did.

All right, but I can't help...

I can't help feeling like...

I mean, did you see the look

in Mr. Anderson's eyes?

I ain't gonna lie to you,

hating's the hardest part.

You do what we do,

everyone hates you,

the enemy, our side both.

That's their whole plan.

They're gonna divide us

a bit at a time

until the whole thing

falls apart.

But we ain't gonna let them.

I can't stop thinking about joy,

just shot to hell.

Me too, Jim.

Me too.

It's worth it.

Get something to eat.

Whoa, hey.

Hey! Hey!

Get them, Vinnie.

Whoa!

Whoo!

Get them!

What are you doing?

Hey, stop it!

Stop it!

Stop! Hey, stop.

- What are you guys doing?

- Hey, hey, hey.

Hey, we're just doing

what Mac told us to do.

Mac told you to do this?

Come on, let's go.

Go, go, go!

Come on, sh*t.

Run! Run!

Hey, fellas! Aren't you gonna

come get your comrade?

What, you backing out now?

I don't know, just...

I just didn't think

anybody would get hurt.

Well, what exactly

did you think would happen

when you cross a man

like Bolton?

You think he'd just roll over

and give us what we wanted?

I'd known Billy his whole life.

Now, this is just too much.

Mm-mm, mister,

you can't back out now.

You made that call,

and now we're in it.

If Bolton wants a fight,

you better get your boys

ready to fight.

Well, more people

are gonna get hurt.

You listen

to your daughter, London.

She knows what

she's talking about.

Sh*t.

They got us sitting around here

not doing a goddamn thing.

Yeah, Bolton may have

treated us like dogs

but at least he paid us.

Psst.

Psst.

Hmm?

Come here.

You wanna have a go round?

What?

I'll let you do

anything you want

for a can of sardines.

It's the hardest

part of any strike,

when both sides are dug in

and neither side's gonna budge.

It's the waiting

that wears on you.

Morale's gonna drop

guys are gonna want to leave.

We're gonna need your help.

Keep your eyes open.

One false step and the whole

damn thing will fall apart.

I can't keep feeding my girl

nothing but beans.

Mommy, I'm hungry, mommy.

There ain't enough blankets now

that there's all these

people in camp.

I understand.

We got more food, blankets,

and supplies on the way.

Don't worry.

Keep this quiet,

but I was in town,

I heard a few fellas talking.

They said there's more scabs

coming in by the truckload.

And these guys all got guns

and tear gas bombs

in their pockets.

They always start rumors

like that to stir up trouble.

What else you heard?

I heard we got reds

in this camp. Communists.

Who you hear's a red?

What do we really know about

the guys running this thing?

All right, you're a real

paranoid fella, aren't you?

You know what really

sticks in my craw?

That meeting London took, okay?

Now, you watch,

this strike's gonna settle

and old London'll

be driving a new car.

All right, boy, you shut

your mouth, all right?

London ain't a rat

and any of you who says

otherwise has to deal with me.

Hey, get your hands off me,

I'll bash your head in.

I will bash your head in.

Get out of our camp!

Right now!

Get out of our camp!

I don't want to see your face.

This meeting's over.

Go!

Just go.

Can I ask you something?

Shoot.

Did you rig that ladder

so Dan would fall?

I think you know the answer.

I want to hear you say it.

Fine.

I sabotaged that ladder.

Damn you. Damn you straight

to hell, Mac.

That poor old bastard.

These guys get the screws

put to them

every day of their lives.

They don't do nothing about it.

But as soon as some old guy

falls off a crap ladder,

they're willing

to take on the world.

You wanted in.

This is the job.

This is the job.

What about joy?

Joy was my friend.

I didn't set him up.

But someone else may have,

someone on our side.

Maybe.

I don't know.

It better... it better

all be worth it, Mac.

It better all be worth it.

It better be.

No. Just no.

That's a terrible idea.

Absolutely not.

Face the facts, Mac.

One, Bolton's men have

ID'd you and Jim

as ringleaders of this thing.

We already know

we've got rats in the camp.

Two, the men are fading.

London may not have the stomach

for this

when things get serious.

We need something

to keep things going.

So you want Jim

to take the fall?

He's more valuable than everyone

in this camp combined.

This ain't your first rodeo.

You know that sooner or later

they're gonna come

after the two of you.

Then, when that happens,

we can turn it in our favor.

Why are you acting like this?

You're the one

who's always saying

this isn't about any one of us.

Was that all talk?

Hey, brought you some soup.

Oh.

You look sad.

I think I'm just tired.

Remember that time you were

telling me about that place?

You know, that farm

you wanted to live on?

Remember?

Can you tell me again?

Please?

Hmm, well, let's see.

I'd have a goat and a cow.

Yeah?

But just one of each,

or else they're

too much trouble.

And I'd have...

I'd have a stone fence

along the drive,

a Willow tree in the front yard,

two of them.

I never know

how many kids I wanted...

So I guess I'll find out.

If you work half as hard

at doing your job

as you do at stabbing

your friends in the back,

we wouldn't even be

in this situation.

Hey, Mac! The bastard

shut the whole damn road down.

London's down there.

What's going on?

Everyone to the road.

- Oh.

- London needs us!

Ahem.

Come on!

Let's go.

Lisa, I gotta go.

I'm sorry.

Shh.

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