Manhattan Melodrama Page #3

I can think

of a lot more pleasant things to do

than look at numbers on a bulletin board.

Yeah?

Well, they're swell-looking numbers to me.

You see, Jim's away out in front.

Come on, come on, let's go.

I won't be a minute, honey.

I wish we could have a fourth person

on these bet-collecting trips.

Someone to play rummy with me

while you and Spud are gone.

This is the only one on the level.

But if I don't tap Manny Arnold

for mine tonight, I may never get it.

This election must have cost him

100 grand.

I'm not complaining, darling.

I'm just wasting the best years

of my life in a taxicab, that's all.

Congressman Robert Manning,

candidate for mayor,

and Albert Panker,

candidate for district attorney,

both conceded their defeat

shortly after midnight tonight.

Wait a minute, folks.

I want you to meet the new prosecutor.

Congratulations!

I'm very grateful to every one of you.

The ladies, too.

Say, just a minute.

I want you to meet an old friend of mine.

This is Father Joe.

Now, wait a minute, Blackie.

Blackie, wait a minute.

Now listen to me, will you? Blackie.

Now listen, will you wait a minute?

When I lose, I pay,

and when I win, I expect to get paid.

I don't ask anybody to trust me,

and I don't trust anybody.

Big shot or a penny-ante chiseler.

But I tell you I haven't got it.

If I had, I'd give it to you.

Now, don't be like that, Blackie.

- Give me a couple of days and...

- I'll give you a couple of months.

- You've got until the first of the year.

- Thanks, Blackie.

You'll pay up then or else.

Nice little man.

Why don't you introduce me

to your fine friends?

That welsher's no friend of mine.

Listen, Blackie, you're heading for trouble.

A man like Manny Arnold,

you threatened him.

I didn't threaten him, Your Honor.

I only said if he didn't pay up, I'd be mad.

I'm under oath, Your Honor.

- Which reminds me... Jim!

- Jim?

Yeah. I promised to meet him at 12:30.

Gee, it's after that now.

We were going to celebrate his election.

Say, look, driver,

pull up a minute, will you?

Well, what about Eddie?

You said you'd meet him at 1:00

and give him a chance

to get his dough back.

Say, look, honey,

you've got to do me one great big favor.

No. You're not gonna pick

on this little girl this time.

Entertaining your gunmen pals

is bad enough, but politicians...

- No, that's out! No.

- Come on, now, now.

Look, you've just got to do this

just this once,

because remember, this is for Jim.

Can I give you a lift?

No, thanks, but can't you stay

a little longer and see Blackie?

That'll be the first time the three of us

have been together since the East Side.

- A real reunion.

- Say, I know Blackie.

He's half an hour late now,

and he probably won't get here

for another week.

I'm dead tired.

I'm going to catch up on my sleep.

- Goodbye.

- Good night, Father.

Well, pardon me if I seem to intrude.

Well, I made it.

You almost got away from me.

I did, eh? Just who might you be?

Don't be unpleasant.

My taxi got in a jam.

It wouldn't move an inch.

Had to force my way through the crowd.

It's a wonder I have any clothes left.

After all, this election hoopla is your fault,

not mine.

I wasn't elected, or was I?

What's the name of the game?

I'd like to play, too.

Just a simple little frame-up.

I force my way into your car

and tear my clothes and scream,

and after all, you have to protect

your career, so you pay.

Well, that is a nice little game.

Driver, just pull up to the curb.

This is your corner.

- But wait a minute. Wait a minute.

- Yes, outside.

- Listen, I'm Eleanor.

- That's my favorite name. Outside.

- I know, but Blackie sent me.

- Blackie?

Well, I'm so sorry.

Well, nothing like a district attorney

to keep a girl in shape.

You and I must have

a good wrestle someday.

What about Blackie? Where is he?

Well, you see, it's like this.

Blackie sent me, Eleanor,

to meet you, Jim.

- Yeah.

- And to say that he was sorry,

and to ask you to take me, Eleanor,

to the Cotton Club,

and that he, Blackie, would meet us,

Eleanor and Jim, there later.

- Well, did he say what night he'd meet us?

- You, too? You've waited for Blackie?

Say, I've waited for that gypsy

since he was six years old.

Of course you have.

You know,

I want to get a good look at you.

Yeah? What's the idea?

So, at last,

I've met Blackie's little white gull.

As soon as we get out of the car,

I'll flap my wings for you.

You know, I've had a question on my mind

ever since Blackie first mentioned you.

Yeah? Shoot.

- Why?

- Why what?

Well, why be a freak?

I mean,

why don't you give in like the others do?

"Dip in the gravy," as Blackie says?

Well, now, that's a long, long story.

Well, you might as well start now,

because we'll probably have a long,

long wait for Blackie.

Well, I was born at home because

I wanted to be near Mother at the time...

...and I'm not sure,

maybe ideals have ceased to exist.

Maybe they're outmoded

like oil lamps and horse cars,

but they're mine and I'm stuck with them.

- You'll do all right.

- I hope.

Well, so ends the reading of

this week's success story.

Send 25 cents for our little booklet

telling how Jim Wade does it

in 10 easy lessons.

- Shall we dance?

- No. Talk some more.

No, no more talk. Let's make noise.

- It's nice and warm.

- Yes.

How about a nice, thick,

gooey oyster stew?

At 5:
00 in the morning?

Are you out of your mind?

Sometimes I think I am.

But Blackie and anywhere

from one to 20 hoodlums

will be here any minute, screaming for it.

Not me. I've waited all I'm going to wait

for Mr. Gallagher tonight.

And a very pleasant wait it was.

- I had a swell time. Thanks.

- Thank you.

You've been very kind.

You let me talk myself hoarse,

and you never interrupted me,

and you didn't let on that I bored you.

- Now you're just making talk.

- No.

Well, good night.

No good night kiss?

Well, that proves something.

I've been asleep all night and

you're just something I dreamed about.

Do you have these nightmares often?

Well, say hello to Blackie for me.

Tell him I'm sorry he couldn't make it.

Well, at any rate,

when Blackie talks about you now,

I'll know what he means.

- Well, good night.

- Good night.

Your overcoat.

- Well, I had a marvelous time.

- Sure, sure, I knew you would.

Do you good being out with a gentleman

like Jim once in a while.

Do me good. He spoiled me.

He opened doors for me

and helped me in and out of cars. Imagine.

And he was like that all night.

He stayed right with me.

No table-hopping.

And he didn't make dice

out of the sugar cubes.

He wouldn't even kiss me good night.

And he thanked me for being with him.

Sounds kind of dull.

Wish I could get just one dull evening

like that out of you once a year.

You couldn't stand it, honey.

Too rich for your blood.

Blackie, did you ever figure ahead

any further than 15 minutes?

Sure, sure, right now I got bets

on the World Series for next October.

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