Monkey on My Back Page #5

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-You gotta talk nice to me.

-Well, what's on your mind?

-You think this is going to help you?

-l like candy.

Have some.

lt's very funny,

but all of my customers seem to like candy.

l guess sugar's the only thing

that tastes good to them.

Quit stalling. What are you up here for?

Well, you've got a lot of fixes on--

You owe me over $1,400.

l didn't ask for credit. It was your idea.

Sure. l'm glad to oblige.

But, like the man at the finance company,

l like to check up on my clients.

Don't worry, you'll get your dough.

l'm not worried.

You look like a good, sound investment.

Don't bank on that neither

'cause l'm nearly through with the stuff.

Are you?

You haven't seen me for almost a week.

That's what's got you worried.

No, l'm not worried.

l told you, this was just a social call.

But you're not feeling well.

l'll come back another time. So long.

Miss Prentiss got mad

and said we'd all stay after school.

Then Josephine Walker started to cry...

'cause she'd promised her mother

she'd look after the baby...

'cause her mother plays bridge

on Wednesdays...

-and that made Miss Prentiss still madder.

-Shut up.

-Who cares about Miss Prentiss?

-Barney.

Sorry, baby.

Aren't you going to eat your dinner?

l'm finished, Mommy.

What's he so mad about?

Honey, he's just having

one of his headaches again.

You call me when you're ready

to do the dishes.

Okay.

Barney, when are you gonna see a doctor?

How many times l gotta tell you

a doc can't do nothing?

l gotta wait for the bug to wear itself out.

That's not what Dr. Phillips said.

He's sure he can help you.

He begged me to bring you--

What are you doing?

You talking about me behind my back?

He's your friend. Sam took me to him.

He only wants to help you.

The guy's a quack. All he cares about

is the $10 he gets out of you.

You could at least try him.

You've got to do something--

Shut up!

Don't shout so. Noreen will hear you.

What do you want from me?

l do my work, l come home,

what do l get? What?

lt's late. l gotta go.

-Where?

-l gotta see a fellow.

Rico.

-Who is it?

-lt's me. Open up.

Come on in, Champ.

l've been expecting you.

l thought you were a little too cocky

this afternoon.

Rico, l'm in a hurry.

That figures. You're all in such a hurry.

Now, me, l got patience.

l made this come out three times last week.

-l nearly got it made again--

-Don't stall me. My head's busting. l need it.

Eat a candy or something.

l nearly got this made.

You shouldn't have done that.

l don't like rough stuff.

-l'll kill you if you don't give me a fix.

-No, you won't.

Now turn me loose, gently.

l got it all ready for you.

Thanks, Rico.

Not so fast. l'm on a cash basis.

-l'm jumpy, Rico. l'll pay you Saturday.

-Saturday, no.

That's a nice watch you're wearing.

What are those, real diamonds?

Yeah, l guess. l don't know.

l always wanted a watch with real diamonds.

l can't. My manager gave me this.

l'm all choked up.

Thanks.

Nice catch.

''To Barney Ross. Always a Champion.''

That's a laugh, isn't it, Champ?

Wake up.

-What's eating you, boy?

-l just don't like being touched, that's all.

-What's the big panic about?

-That's what l want to know.

-What did you do to Steve Richards?

-What do you mean?

He said you were in his place last night.

He's a client, ain't he?

l'm supposed to keep in touch--

You're not supposed to pop him in the nose

when he refuses to lend you $1,OOO.

What on earth's eating you, man?

You're a mess.

Past four months

you been a liability, not an asset.

-You disappear three, four days at a time.

-l've been sick.

l told you, l've been sick.

Well, then, do something about it!

Go away someplace!

-l told you not to worry about money.

-l ain't going nowhere.

Barney, face facts.

You're not doing any work.

You've drawn your salary

eight weeks in advance...

-your expense accounts are ridiculous.

-That's what's hurting you?

lt's been costing you a buck.

Okay, Barney, play it your way.

But get yourself a rest.

And don't come back

until you're on your feet.

-You'll get your salary, just the same.

-Keep your salary.

l don't want no lousy charity.

Get yourself another boy!

Rico, open up.

Let me in, Rico. l know you're in there.

Open up! Rico!

He ain't here. Get out!

Where is he? l gotta see him.

l gotta find him.

How should l know where he is?

You wanna bring the cops down on us?

Now you get out of here!

Barney, what is it?

You act as though

you can't stand to have me touch you.

Oh, no. Nothing.

You just surprised me, that's all.

Every time l come near you, you flinch.

Act as though

you can't stand to have me around.

l've been sick.

ls that it?

-ls it just the malaria?

-What else?

You haven't kissed me in six months.

Barney, is there another woman?

Cathy, how can you think that?

You're the only woman in the world for me.

What can you expect me to think?

You disappear for days.

Night after night, l wait for you to come

home, and it's like waiting for nothing.

What kind of thoughts do you think l have?

This isn't a marriage. This isn't a home.

l know it. You're right.

We're gonna make it a home again.

We're gonna make it a home again.

Ain't nothing gonna never separate us.

You'll see

things are gonna change for the better...

and l'm gonna change, Cathy.

Just don't rush things.

l need you. Try to understand.

l have tried, Barney.

Sometimes you make it very difficult.

l'll get it.

-Mrs. Ross?

-Yes.

My name is Rico. Is your husband in?

Hello, Champ.

Cathy, would you excuse us?

We have some business to talk over.

l told you never to come here.

l heard you were looking for me,

so l went up to your office--

-l need some stuff. Let's go to your place.

-Not so fast.

Today is collection day. $2,700 you owe me.

$2,700 ?

-The books don't lie.

-But l gave you the watch.

That was a present.

Don't worry, you'll get your dough.

l know. Only, they told me at your office

that you weren't expected back.

-So start scratching.

-Rico, l only got $8.

But don't lower the boom on me

'cause l'm a good customer.

Your lady, hasn't she got any jewelry?

Will you stop worrying about money?

l said you were gonna get it.

lf l do, then we go on doing business

at the same old stand.

lf l don't, then l'll be around tomorrow

with a couple of my friends.

l'm risking 10 years of my life with every

move l make. l wanna get paid for it.

Now, if l don't

then my friends will break your wrists.

First one, then the other.

lt'll be so hard for you to give yourself

a shot with two broken flippers.

Let me up, Rico.

You don't understand, Champ.

The torture hasn't started.

You'll have the monkey

on your back tomorrow.

What am l gonna do?

l don't know. Use your imagination.

There's always stores

and filling stations to be held up...

purses to be snatched.

Listen, boy.

Just stay away from high windows.

l don't want you taking any dry dives.

Not until l get my $2,700.

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