In Old Chicago Page #4

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I want to talk to you, my boy. | I have some great plans in store.

Surely not tonight, Senator, when you have | so beautiful a daughter to entertain us.

Father won't talk business | if I ask him not to. Will you, darling?

I can't imagine the senator doing | anything that you asked him not to.

That's right. She wraps me around | her finger all the time.

Uh, excuse me, please.

- I'll be right back. | - We'll expect you.

He's nice-looking, isn't he? | I mean, for someone from the Patch.

- Hello, Warren. | - Why, hello, son.

- Mr. O'Leary. | - Jim-dandy place you've got here.

- Thanks. | - Nothing like it in Chicago. I'm proud of you.

- You mean, you're not sore? | - Why, no. I've come over to bury the hatchet.

Live and let live... | that's my motto.

- Come on. Have a drink. | - Matter of fact, I wanted a word in private with you.

- Oh, sure. Come on in my office. | - See you in a minute, Rondo.

Rondo, step up to the bar. | Anything you want, on the house.

Thank you, Mr. O'Leary.

- How old are you, son? | - Old enough to vote. Why?

I was just thinking, | you've come along mighty fast.

When I was your age, | do you know what I was doing?

I was rounding up runaway slaves | and practically starving to death.

- Sit down, Gil. | - Take it from me, times have changed.

- Everything's youth today. | - Well, you seem to have done pretty well, Gil.

I've managed, but you've got a great future | ahead of you. Mark my words.

Well, I hope you're right.

I don't blame you for taking Belle. | She's a great woman.

I'd have married her if I'd had the chance, | but she never cared for me.

- It was just a business deal, and you outbid me. | - What's on your mind?

What would you say, son, if I told you | I was gonna close The Hub, quit?

I'd say you were up to something. | What is it?

I'm thinking of | running for mayor.

Mayor?

I've been electing them | long enough.

Now I'm going to elect myself, | if you'll ride along with me.

- How do I come in? | - You're a smart young fella.

If you watch your step, you're going | to be a big power in this town.

I could build a bigger place and give you | trouble, but I've had all I want of this.

- You say the word, and I'm through. | - You close The Hub?

Exactly, and give you | an open field.

Now, we either work together | politically or fight it out.

It's up to you.

It's a nice place you have here, | but, like a tinder box...

touch a match to it, and it'll go off | like a Roman candle.

But what the devil? Chicago is big enough | for both of us and more.

Together we could run | this town and run it right.

You, Belle and me pulling together, | it'd be a lead pipe cinch.

Yeah. Sounds all right.

But naturally there's a little expense | involved, and right now with the...

I took the liberty of bringing | my check for $10,000.

There'll be more between now | and election time.

I think we'll manage | very well, Your Honor.

Now I could use that drink | you were talking about.

Come on.

Now, Belle, you've got to come | to my table right now...

and have a bottle | of wine with me.

I'd love to, but you'll have to | excuse me for one minute.

Belle!

Hello. I thought I | saw you come in here.

I was just telling Dion | what a great place you've got.

I never saw you | looking so beautiful.

- I always did say she was the best looker Chicago ever saw. | - Thanks.

Better watch yourself, son. | I'll get her back if I can.

- But it looks like it won't be to The Hub. | - Gil's closing The Hub for good.

Really? Why?

There's the music for your song. | Better hurry.

Dion'll tell you | all about it later.

Whew! What a woman.

Yes, that's exactly what | I said the first time I saw her. Remember?

Oh, I'm... Miss Colby, | Miss Fawcett.

- How do you do? | - How do you do? So sorry.

You'll have to excuse Mr. O'Leary | another few minutes. I'll send him back.

- That'll be very sweet of you. | - Thank you.

- Is that the woman? | - Why, yes, I believe so.

She's pretty... in a way.

- Women like her have all the advantage, don't they? | - All except one.

I wasn't thinking | of marriage.

- So you're taking his money? | - What's the matter with his money?

- The check's good, isn't it? | - You know how he feels about us, the threats he's made...

I wouldn't worry about | that if I were you.

Ever since I left his place, | he's schemed to get even.

Now he's trying to do it | with your own help.

- He knows that if he's mayor... | - What makes you think he's gonna be mayor?

- But you took his money. | - Sure.

Sure, and I'll vote for him | myself, if necessary...

but I didn't say | how the Patch'll vote.

- Why, that's... | - Politics.

He'd knife me if he could, | and I simply mean to beat him to it.

Why, you dirty dog.

- You love me? | - Certainly not.

Go on. Say it before | I break your back.

Who was that little doll-faced blonde | you were smiling all over yourself about?

Senator's daughter. | I have to be nice to him, don't I?

Why weren't you breathing | down his neck?

Stop it.

You and The Senate | and Warren on the run.

In other words, Mr. O'Leary | is rising in the world.

Mr. O'Leary and present company.

Chief, Mitch is here.

Come on in | and shut the door.

Is it true that you were caught | registering under a false name?

Gee, chief, how was I to know | that guy was already registered?

I told you this bozo | don't use his head.

Oh, have a brain, you. Getting caught | with an election coming up...

and that reform crowd | already yelling its head off.

It would serve you right | if I let them send you to jail for life...

but, no, I've got to sit through a trial | and figure a way to get you out.

I oughta... | Oh, get out.

Yeah! Come on out!

Now, where were we?

Oh, yes.

- Good morning. | - Good morning.

- Everything fixed? | - The district attorney said if you're worried...

he'll let us have witnesses to prove | Mitch hasn't been in Chicago in two years.

That's the kind | of prosecutor I like.

- What'd you give him? | - The usual.

Chief! It ain't fair! | It ain't fair!

- It ain't fair! | - What's the matter?

The district attorney... | and after we had him all fixed.

- What are you talking about? | - Well, he fell down...

and broke his ankle | and he ain't here!

- The fool doesn't know how to walk? | - And the judge appointed...

somebody to take his place | and I don't know who.

- What's this mean? | - It means it ain't fixed.

Oh, come on.

In view of the unavoidable | detention of the district attorney...

the court has appointed | a special counsel...

a representative | of the Election Reform Committee...

in the case of The City | of Chicago v. Edward Mitchell.

Mr. O'Leary, are you | prepared to proceed?

- We're ready, Your Honor. | - Oh, yes.

- Is the defense ready? | - Uh, Your Honor...

Your Honor, certain matters | have come up.

New evidence have been uncovered | that compels me to...

Go ahead with the trial.

- Go ahead? | - Proceed.

The defense is ready, | Your Honor.

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