Miller's Crossing Page #13

Tom

That's what got you in this mess.

Leo

I know, I know. Retreat to win. Give up Bernie.

That'll solve all our problems.

Tom

It won't anymore, I'll grant that. Now its

either you or Caspar. But going toe-to-toe with

a psychopath'll get you nowhere. It'll force

everyone to choose sides just when you're looking

shaky.

Leo

The hell I do!

Tom

Then where's the mayor? Why aren't there any

police here? Why weren't there police at your

place last night?

Leo

I didn't ask for any.

Tom

I did.

Leo chuckles.

Leo

Mother hen, huh? What's the matter, Tommy, you

think I can't take care of myself?

Tom

I know you can't. Here's the smart play, Leo:

you lay back, give up Bernie, let Caspar think

he's made his point. Wait for him to show you a

weakness--

Leo

Please, Tom. . .

Tom stares at him.

Tom

You're sticking on Bernie. Sticking your neck

out for a guy who'd chop you off at the heels if

there was two bits in it.

Leo leans back in his chair, puts his feet up, and gazes

out the window.

Leo

. . . Tom, it ain't all as clear-cut as you make

it. . . Bernie's--Well hell, you know about me

and Verna. . . Things now are--not that I haven't

been a gentleman, but. . . I, uh. . . I plan to

ask her to marry me, Tom.

There is a long, awkward silence. Leo avoids Tom's look

but finally responds to the silence:

. . . I guess you think that's a bonehead play.

Tom

Do you think she wants you to?

Leo

How the hell do I know, Tom?. . . I think she

does. . . Yeah, 'course she does. I know, I

know, you think different but--well, we just

differ on that.

Tom

Leo.

Tom takes a deep breath, and exhales.

. . . Caspar didn't kill Rug.

Absently:

Leo

Course he did.

Tom

No. Think about it. Just this one time. Who

was Rug following?

This gets Leo's attention. He turns to look at Tom.

Leo

. . . Huh?

Tom

It needn't have been that sinister. A strange

man, following her down a dark alley, late at

night. . . I've told you, Leo, she can take care

of herself.

Leo stares at Tom. He seems somewhat dazed.

Leo

. . . Tom, why're you saying that? Christ, Tom.

I just told you, I plan to. . .

Tom

They pulled a .22 slug out of him. A pop gun,

Leo--a woman's gun.

Leo

. . . That's a whiskey dream. Verna wouldn't

panic--shoot someone--just because he was

following her.

He gazes off again, shaking his head.

. . . No. . . It wouldn't have happened that way

in the first place, and if it had she would have

told me. . . I know you don't like her, Tom, but

I trust Verna as much as I trust you.

Tom

On her account you'll burn the town down.

Leo

Don't worry, Tom. We'll still be standing when

the smoke clears.

Tom's tone is gentle:

Tom

Okay Leo. Then maybe it wasn't that innocent.

Maybe Rug knew something she didn't like him

knowing, and wouldn't want you to know. He was

following her. He knew who she was seeing. He

knew where she was sleeping, and who with. . .

Leo has taken his feet off the sill and has turned back to

face Tom. He studies him carefully.

Leo

Maybes don't make it so.

Tom's suddenly very earnest, almost beseeching.

Tom

They're more than maybes. You've trusted me

before, and never lost anything by it. Trust me

on this.

Leo

This is too important.

Tom

I don't ask much, and I don't ask often. Trist

me on this.

Leo

Tommy--

Tom

Trust me on this or the hell with you.

Leo

You don't mean that.

Tom

. . . She was at my place. The night Rug was

following her; the night you dropped by.

Leo is still staring impassively at Tom. Tom doesn't

flinch from his gaze.

After a long beat Leo gets up slowly from his chair, walks

over to the window, shoves his hands in his pockets and

gazes out.

For a moment Tom looks at Leo's motionless back, but he has

nothing left to say. He rises, plucks his hat from the

desk and goes to the door. Before exiting, he looks back.

Leo, in long shot, is still gazing out the window.

Tom exits.

33. HALLWAY

Pulling Tom up the hall.

Behind him we can see the door to Leo's office opening and

Leo coming out. He strides up the hall after Tom.

Tom turns as Leo reaches him.

Leo, without breaking stride, seems to walk right into him,

throwing a punch that catches Tom on the chin and sends him

stumbling back, his hat flying off.

The men 1ining the hall watch with casual interest.

Tom staggers into one of the men who catches him. Another

man has picked up Tom's hat and now hands it to him. The

first man shoves Tom back into the middle of the hall just

in time for the approaching Leo to land another punch

against his jaw.

34. This blow sends Tom rolling down the staircase, still

clutching his hat.

Leo is clomping down the stairs; his army of private

retainers clomp down behind him. In his shirtsleeves and

chomping an unlit cigar, Leo looks like a labor leader

taking the rank and file to the barricades.

Tom claws himself up the wall to his feet.

Leo has reached the floor and still without breaking stride

uppercuts Tom with a blow that straightens him up and sends

him staggering like a drunk into gamblers in evening

dresses and tuxedos.

A path clears for Leo and his entourage. He has not

slackened his pace, but is also not hurrying. Tom weaves,

watching Leo approach, but makes no attempt to defend

himself.

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