Miller's Crossing Page #17

Bernie is already on his feet, and running.

CLOSE ON TOM:

Watching Bernie go.

TRACKING:

Pulling Bernie as he runs. Foreground trees flash by. In

the background we see Tom standing, his gun dangling at his

side.

Boom!--another gun blast. Running, Bernie reacts, but Tom

has only fired into the ground.

On the echo of the shot we cut to:

41. WIDE THE ROAD

Tic-Tac and Frankie are leaning against the car, trading

the flask back and forth.

In the background, Tom emerges from the woods.

Frankie

Put one in his brain?

Tom takes a few steps more before answering:

Tom

. . . Yeah.

Frankie

Attaboy.

FADE OUT:

Over black we hear the sound of coins being dropped into a

phone box.

42. FADE IN

Looking down a deserted street towards a glowing phone

booth on a dark corner. Tom stands inside the booth

waiting, the receiver to his ear.

Tom

Mink? Tom Duchaisne. Where've you been?. . .

CLOSE ON TOM:

Inside the phone booth.

. . . Well you're lucky, Bluepoint's been looking

for you. Bernie's dead--Stop wailing and listen

to me. Caspar knows you were in on selling out

his fix. . . I guess I gave him that idea. Sorry

Mink, we were chatting and it just slipped out.--

Shutup and let me talk. You've gotta make

yourself missing, but let me know where you hole

up. You're gonna say some things for me. . .

Some stories. About Bluepoint, to Caspar--don't

worry, I'll let you know. For now just dis-

appear. . . Yeah, I got you into it. Just

remember, Mink, I'm the only one who can get you

out.

Tom hangs up the phone, turns around and opens up the glass

door.

WHOMMMP! A fist slams into his stomach, driving him back

into the phone booth, knocking his hat off of his head.

The man who hit him leans down, picks up the hat, dusts it

off and hands it into the booth. It is Dead Terry, the

tall cadaverous man we saw earlier outside of Leo's office.

A cigarette dangles from his lower lip.

Behind him a black sedan is parked at the curb. Three or

four gunmen stand on the sidewalk looking warily up and

down the road.

Tom looks up, the color drained from his face, and reaches

feebly out for his hat.

Tom

'Lo, Terry. Getting out the vote?

Dead Terry flicks his cigarette away and smiles.

Terry

Message from Leo. Leo says, if you're smart

you'll sit this one out--not that he cares one

way or the other. Leo says if you're on the

wrong side you take your chances, like anyone

else. Leo says he gives no special favors.

That's all.

Tom

Mm. . .

Terry starts to turn away.

. . . Tell Leo he's not God on the throne, he's

just a cheap mick political boss with no brains

and an office that looks like a French whore-

house.

Tom moves to exit the booth but Terry lays a hand on his

shoulder.

Terry

One more thing. . .

He cracks Tom across the chin with a clean left hook,

knocking him back into the booth again.

Tom rubs his chin, looking up at Terry.

Tom

Leo say that too. . . ?

As Terry and the gunmen get into the car:

Terry

No, I said that. Cross Leo and next time I'll

say plenty.

We FADE OUT as the door slams and the car roars off.

Over black we hear:

Caspar

When you're right you're right, but you never say

I told you so.

43. FADE IN

On Tom, sitting into frame in Caspar's office.

Tom

So what'm I right about?

Behind his desk, Caspar is smiling.

Caspar

Well, I'll tell ya, but first you gotta promise

not to say I told you so.

Tom's eyes hold an Caspar's. He is taking out a pack of

cigarettes.

Tom

I never say that. And I don't like people who

do.

Caspar

Mink was robbin' me right along with the Mptzah.

Tom

. . . What convinced you of that?

Caspar

Mink Larouie took a powder. We can't find him.

Bluepoint's makin' excuses for him, but personal-

ly, I think you were right. I think Mink and

Bernie was in it together. I think Mink heard

you'd bumped the Motzah, and lit out. The lousy

sonofabitch.

His eyes on Caspar, Tom takes out a cigarette, lights it,

takes a deep drag.

Tom

. . . I told you so.

Caspar laughs.

Caspar

Okay. You got a lip on ya. Ats all right. I

don't generally care for it, but that's all

right. . . You were a good sport to bump the

Motzah. I just like to make sure my friends is

my friends. So.

He throws his hands up.

. . . Friends, right?

Tom

How d'you know Mink skipped?

Caspar

Bluepoint can't find him.

Tom

So he says.

Caspar stares at Tom.

Caspar

Meanin' what, exactly?

Tom

Maybe nothing. . . I didn't give it much thought

until now, since a guy will say pretty much

anything when he knows his number is up, but just

before I bumped Bernie he swore to me that

Bluepoint and Mink were setting him up. That

they were the ones that were selling out your

fix.

Caspar looks at Tom.

Caspar

'Zat so. . .

He thinks for a beat.

. . . Like you say, a guy'll say anything.

Tom

. . . Uh-huh. So why isn't Bluepoint here?

Caspar

Well. . .

He figdets.

. . . He don't care for you, kid. Maybe it's

only fair to tell you. . . After you left us, he

tried to sell me on a double-cross. He says to

me, why don't we double-cross you and give you

the bump once we get the Motzah. But I figure a

deals a deal, you're square with me, you bump the

Motzah, I'll hold up my end. Question of ethics.

Everything above board, that's how I like it, so

everybody knows who's a friend and who's an

enemy. . . But Bluepoint wouldn't cross me. We

go back.

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