Nightmare Alley Page #2

No stage trap,

no gypsy switch.

- How do you mean?

- You know, if you taught me the code.

Over my dead body she will.

You got a nerve,

young fella.

- Do you know what a code like that is worth?

- Okay, okay, forget it.

- I was just trying to help you folks.

- I heard you the first time.

We gotta... We gotta watch ourselves

on account of...

- Sure.

- Hurt him enough already.

I thought it was the other way around.

No, Pete was all right

till they picked me up.

- What happened?

- Exactly what's happening now.

I'm about as reliable

as a two-dollar cornet.

You're crazy.

You've got a heart as big...

Sure. As big as an artichoke.

A leaf for everyone.

That's what Pete said

when he began hittin' the bottle.

Then one day he didn't show up.

I dug up another partner,

a magician by the name of Benston.

I was no good without Pete.

In a couple of seasons

I was glad to get a job with an outfit like this.

Pete showed up about a year ago.

Here we are.

I did everything I could to make it up to him,

but you see how it is.

The more I try,

the worse he gets.

And I'm not gonna give up on him.

It's the least I can do.

Zeena, you're a real woman.

Look at him.

He's like a dog waiting for somebody

to throw him a bone.

Come on.

Help me get some breakfast into him.

- Hi, Pete!

- Hello, baby. How'd you make out?

We don't have to sleep

in the truck tonight.

I got me the bridal suite at the hotel.

Two rooms and bath.

- Where's Molly?

- I left her at the hotel.

Come on, you two. Looks like you could use

a good, hot bath yourselves.

I'll be all right.

You and Pete go ahead.

Don't be silly.

Huh, Pete?

It's all right.

I've gotta see a fella anyhow.

What's your rush?

You're dead on your feet.

Well, this fella's got something

that'll take care of that.

Here's enough for a shot.

But remember, only one.

Swell. See ya later.

Stan.

Wait a minute, Pete.

Get some coffee in you first.

Promise Zeena

you'll get something to eat.

I shall probably have a small orange juice,

two three-minute eggs...

some melba toast and coffee.

Got to see my money's safe.

Pete just gave you a gander at himself,

before and after.

- I've seen worse.

- You think it's too late to put him in a cure?

I don't know much about those things,

but I understand it takes dough.

- I can get it.

- How?

Sell that code.

- The code?

- Uh-huh.

- I got a better idea.

- What's that?

Let's build up a new act with it.

What good'll that do?

I'm gettin' top carny dough right now.

I wasn't talking about doing it

in this mouse menagerie.

You and I?

Where else would we do it?

If Pete could make a headliner out of you,

I don't see why you couldn't do the same with me.

Oh, Stan.

You think I can make the big time again?

You'd know more about that

than I would.

- How about it, baby?

- Don't rush me. Let me think about it.

Hey, where you goin'?

Come on, Stan!

Give Bruno a hand!

What are you doing?

Cut them three times.

- What kind of deck is this?

- This is a tarot.

Oldest kind of cards in the world.

Pete says the Gypsies

brought them out of Egypt.

They're a wonder

for giving private readings.

Say, they look plenty weird.

Whenever I have something to decide

or don't know which way to turn...

Look, Stan.

That's the wheel of fortune.

- Yeah.

- That means we're gonna knock 'em dead.

- Pete and I never had it this good.

- What did I tell you?

- What's the matter?

- Well, I don't know.

Everything looks wonderful for us...

money, happiness and great success.

But there's no sign

of Pete in it.

How could he be

if he's away taking the cure?

But there's no sign of

him anywhere, dead or alive.

Hang on.

Yeah, maybe this is Pete.

Did you knock this off the table?

- No. You must have dropped it yourself.

- I don't see how I could.

- Was it face up or down?

- Face down.

- Are you sure?

- Yeah. Why?

- Couldn't be like that.

It's too awful, it's too crazy.

- What's got into you?

- Get your bath and get out ofhere.

- What's the matter?

- It's all off, Stan.

- The act?

- Everything.

- But what have I done?

- Nothing. But I can't go against the cards.

- You don't believe in that junk?

- I didn't used to.

But time after time it told me I was gonna

ruin Pete's life, and I went right ahead.

- Here's Pete's card.

- What are you worrying about?

- Is this the one that was on the floor?

- No, this one.

You see what it means?

Are you satisfied?

Zeena, it just doesn't make sense.

Maybe not.

Maybe it's silly, maybe it isn't.

Listen, honey.

We've all gotta die sometime.

But when a card falls on the floor...

whatever happens, good or bad,

is gonna happen fast.

And when a card falls face down,

it's bad.

- That's for the chumps.

- Been true of Pete and me so far, hasn't it?

Honest, Zeena, to see a smart girl like you

fall for one of your own boob-catchers...

I give up.

Yes, sir, I give up.

- I don't believe it.

- Huh?

You never give up.

Me?

Why do you say that?

Well, I don't know.

I just have the feeling.

That's why I'm gonna keep away from you.

- You know...

- What?

- I wonder why I'm like that.

- Like what?

I'm never thinking about anybody

except myself.

Did your folks drop you on your head

or something?

Yeah, they dropped me, all right.

Listen, honey. I don't want to make you unhappy.

You know that.

If you want to forget about the whole thing,

it's all right with me.

- You won't get sore, Stan?

- What do you think I am?

Let me alone for a minute.

I've got to think.

You're terrible.

- Is that Pete?

- No, it's somebody else. Get in there, quick.

- Hello, Bruno. Come on in.

- Hello, Zeena. How's everything?

- Where's Molly?

- She's in there pounding her pretty little ear.

- In here?

- Yeah.

Hey.

Whose cap is that?

- That's Stan's. He's in there taking a bath.

- Taking a what?

Bet you could use one, huh?

Sure, but I wouldn't want

to put you through all that...

What do you think I got the place for?

Bunking in that truck gets you down. Stan!

- Yeah?

- Hurry up. We got another customer.

- Hey. Charlie?

- What?

Got a quart you can spare?

- Stan, when did you start nibblin'?

- I get around.

- That'll be four bucks.

- It'll have to wait until payday.

Moonshine.

- Don't forget. It's four bucks.

- It's a debt of honor.

Charlie.

Pete. How you doin'?

Bad. Won't you trust me?

Just a half pint.

I'm sorry, Pete. You know I promised Zeena.

Now go away.

- Yeah, but I... Charlie!

- Please go away.

Well, you're a fine one.

Running off in the middle of the show.

Zeena was sore.

I couldn't help it.

She's got me on a diet.

One shot a day.

- You seem to be doing all right.

- No.

Just a sip here and there.

Zeena's tipped everybody off.

I seem to have the dropsies tonight.

Yeah, I heard you the first time.

Look. I'd like to help you,

but I don't wanna get in Dutch with Zeena.

You won't.

You know me, Stan.

I- I wouldn't tell anybody.

Never.

I'll get him.

I'll take care ofhim.!

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