Leatherheads Page #7

I'm a sergeant now.

No more taking orders.

Hey, Frankie, this is Dodge Connelly.

We fought in France together.

- You don't say. Nice to meet you.

- You, too.

Yeah.

So, what are you doing in town?

We're off to China in a week.

Thought we'd hit the town.

This is the best spot.

Over there, over there

Send the word, send the word over there

That the Yanks are coming

The Yanks are coming

The drums rum-tumming everywhere

So prepare

When you shipping out?

Friday. We're gonna hit all the joints

and try to get in the game in the morning.

You know, Eddie, I

play for the Bulldogs.

I know, Dodge. Everybody knows.

They do? What do they say about me?

They like you, but the game's changing.

Yeah. For the better?

Don't know. I do know we like

the Bullet. He plays for us now.

Yeah. He's a hell of a player.

And a war hero, no

thanks to the Tribune.

We'll be over, we're coming over

And we won't come back

till it's over over there

What time is it?

Eddie, you want to get your

boys in the game this afternoon?

Do I?

Can I borrow something from you

fellas? In exchange for front-row seats.

Depends. Just what

do you want to borrow?

The drums rum-tumming everywhere

So prepare, say a prayer

Send the word, send the word to beware

We'll be over, we're coming over

And we won't come back

till it's over over there

Mr Harpen will see you now.

Funny how things work out.

New set of rules today.

Why was this woman put on the story?

Harvey, I think that

question is for you.

She's the best.

Is that right?

Miss Littleton, are you the best?

You want me to answer that?

We'll get back to you.

Mr Rutherford, the story of your

accomplishments smells of legend.

Mr Commissioner, the men who

served with Carter back up...

Back his story? That's fine.

There were many fine men

who served in this war.

Let's say you just sit there, CC.

I know you.

Harvey, I want that

retraction in your paper.

Front page.

Miss Littleton, you're going to write it,

or I'll run you out of this town on a rail.

- It's going to run tomorrow morning.

- I'll resign.

That's fine.

Mickey Patterson from the

Metro desk can write it.

And may I just add that although

you cannot un-tell a lie,

I hope the Tribune will bend over backwards

to restore the reputation of my client.

We have many lucrative contracts...

I'm sorry, Mr Harpen. He just barged in!

It was important for me to be here,

- since it's my player that's been traded.

- It's all right, Bonnie.

Mr Connelly, the Chicago trade

is not one of the subjects...

Hey, Carter, how's tricks?

Don't you have a game

today? You look like hell.

That's because I've been

up drinking all night.

Say, Lexie!

Say, Dodge. What are you doing?

Here's the skinny.

So, I'm out all night at a

joint called The Green Room,

where they serve liquor.

Which is illegal, last time I checked.

Right you are, Pete, and a young

cocktail waitress named Ya Ya

said to send you her best, which

from what I hear, is miraculous.

Not key to this story.

My point is, I was out

drinking and celebrating

with a bunch of Chicago fans

who also happen to be

veterans of the Great War.

As what goes on at a place

like this, we get to talking,

and you come to find out that

six or seven of these fellas

served with Carter when he

beat the Kaiser single-handedly.

Well, Mr Connelly, we've established

that Mr Rutherford's war record is intact.

Right you are, Pete.

So I tell these guys that I'm

playing with Carter later on today,

and they tell me that they really

want to see their buddy face to face.

To thank him, I would suppose.

I can't think of any other

reason. Can you, Carter?

So here's the fun part. I say to myself,

I say, "Dodge, what the hell!

"Carter's just down at the courthouse.

These fellows can see him right now!"

They flipped. They jumped into the back

of the truck. They're down here right now,

in the pouring rain,

waiting to see their buddy.

Carter, they really wanted to see you.

There's this one fellow,

I don't remember his name.

Little guy, he's got dark hair, he's...

Private Maggio?

Maggio, yeah. He's a lieutenant now.

And then another guy, big,

stocky fellow with a crew cut.

He's bulky, kind of heavy-set.

- Stone?

- Mike Stone?

Mike Stone! Mike Stone. Yeah,

he's put on a lot of weight.

Pete, come on, let's do a little

something nice for our boys in the uniform.

Well, let's make it quick. Bonnie,

send those soldiers up, if you would.

Hey, boys! Come on up

here! He's dying to see you!

- What did he say?

- He wants us to go up.

Come on, we got to go.

Let's go down and meet them.

They don't have to walk up.

CC, I'd like to thank those

fellows for their service.

They shouldn't come in here. It would

be a mistake for them to come here.

What are you talking about, mistake?

Because these soldiers,

they've been up all night at a

speakeasy with some gal named Ya Ya.

What do you say we just stop?

- No...

- CC, stop.

It's my fault. I should

have put an end to it.

Put an end to what?

It's all true.

Lexie's story.

And the soldiers down in

that truck, they know it.

That's why CC doesn't want

these fellows to come up here.

What about Mack Steiner's story?

I guess CC paid him off.

Sit down, all of you.

It's funny how things work out.

Lexie, you and Harvey can go.

You're not going to write a retraction.

I thought you'd see it our way,

Commissioner. I'll get my hat.

Lexie.

Thanks, fellas.

See you, Lex.

Be seeing you, Dodge.

I'll be with you in

a second, Mr Connelly.

Mr Rutherford, you got one play here.

You go to the press and tell them

you were part of a great group of

boys who fought for their country,

and you got too much credit.

You think that will settle it?

That, and you're gonna donate 50% of

your earnings to the American Legion.

- Is that before or after commissions?

- Before.

But that's not gonna matter

a whole hell of a lot.

Got a new book of rules.

"All agents and representatives of

players will be licensed by the state."

I'm the state.

I'm the one who approves

your licence, CC.

You're out of football.

I'll fight you in court.

You get your lawyer, I'll get mine.

Good day, gentlemen.

It is funny how things work out.

Do you know Chicago bookmakers

are betting on the game of professional

football not lasting a year?

Even with Carter.

And then where will all the

little boys who won't grow up go?

There's always baseball.

How much longer you think

you might be playing?

Why?

The game of professional

football has come of age.

Now we got to abide by

a uniform set of rules.

It's too much, too much money now.

No more hiding footballs

under your jersey.

No more Pig in the Poke.

No more Crusty Bobs.

No more all-nights in a

speakeasy with my friend Ya Ya.

It's time for you to retire, Dodge.

But you can't make me.

No.

But I can fine the hell out

of you till you're broke.

And if you pull a stunt

today, I'll kick you out.

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