Other Men's Women Page #5

That's why I want you to go,

if you must know.

You're getting on my nerves.

I'll pack right away.

You were kind of rough on her

for a minute.

I thought you meant it.

She thought you did.

Yeah?

I guess she did.

MAN:

All right, laddies, step on it.

That's all of them, boys.

All aboard. She's all done.

How many trips does this make?

I didn't count them.

I kind of lost track myself

after the first 14 hours.

You hungry?

No, I don't think so.

Come on. Buck up, fella.

I know it's pretty tough

to lose your sidekick...

...but you're taking it too hard.

Ain't anything you can help.

The company will look after him.

Besides, he's got a swell little wife

that'll wait on him hand and foot.

You know her?

Yeah.

Oh, yeah, that's right.

You were out to the house for a while.

They got a sweet little place out there,

haven't they?

Yeah.

Jack will be all right as soon as he

gets used to the idea of being blind.

That's the hard part, I guess.

Nothing to do but think.

Soon as we finish up, I'm gonna curl up

in that switch shanty and grab a nap.

How about you?

I got something else to do.

what?

Something I've been thinking about.

You ought to better be thinking

about that bridge.

Yeah, I am.

How to save it, you mean?

It's just a screwy notion.

well, if you've got any kind of an idea,

bring it over to that yardmaster.

They tell me

he's going crazier by the minute.

I thought I would.

Hey, Bixby, how is she holding?

Not so good.

Hello, fellers.

Come in.

Always room for one more.

Looks like a lodge meeting.

what do you got under your hip?

BIXBY:

Oh, just some coffee.

I heard the news, so I thought

I'd bring you down some refreshments.

How are you, Jack?

who is it? Bixby?

Yeah, sure thing, you know.

Old Roundhouse Bixby.

Couldn't fool you, could I, boy?

Say, you ought to hold this meeting

up in the auditorium.

News got around among the boys,

they'll be coming by the dozens.

By the what? There's only seven of us left.

Seven and a half with Peg-Leg.

Sit down, fellow, have some coffee.

why don't you taste it? Maybe it's hot.

You got too much brains for one man.

Holy jumping jiggers.

well, carry on, you loafers.

So long, Bix.

See you later, Jack.

Sure. Thanks for the coffee.

Oh, rats.

Hello, Bix.

How are you, boy?

Hello, Peg.

Say, you know, I pretty near crabbed

the whole works in there just now.

Oh, him so young and everything.

Oh, there's the devil to pay.

You know, I thought it's better for him

to be down here among the boys.

where's his wife?

Shipped back to the folks in the East.

And you listen. The poor thing got so thin

you could blow through her.

No.

Yes, sir.

Isn't that a good one?

well, I gotta get moving. See you later.

well, so long. So long, Bix. So long.

So long.

Criminy, this place sounds like a circus.

Turn the noise down.

Turn the noise down, would you?

Hello?

Oh, Bixby. wait a sec.

Someone, go and get Bixby.

Roundhouse wants him.

well, well, well, if it isn't the old-timer.

How are you getting along?

Slick. I feel great.

You can't keep a good hogger down.

No.

How about some more java?

Sure, I could go for a spot.

Let me rinse that cup.

It's all right.

Now you shut up.

BIXBY:

Yeah?

No. why, the young fool, he's crazy.

You know that, Kennedy.

MAN 1:
I wonder what the yardmaster wants.

Something's popping up.

BIXBY:

I know we talked it over.

But that's a job

I wouldn't ask any man to take.

I wouldn't let him take it. what...?

Now, wait a minute. Here's Bailey.

Maybe he knows something about it.

what's the matter with Bill White?

Is he off his nut?

He wants to do it.

He's there trying to talk Kennedy into it.

Into what?

Into taking an engine and a string of flats

out onto the bridge.

He figured that the weight of a trainload

of cement would hold the bridge steady.

That is, if anything would.

It's an awful risk. But there's just a chance

he might get by with it.

A thousand-to-1 chance.

That's just it, a thousand-to-1.

Say, if I wanted to bump myself off

as bad as that, I'd take an easier way.

BIXBY:
Well, I'll be right over.

You wait till I get there.

I thought maybe Kulper could do

something with him. How about it, Jack?

what gave him the idea?

I don't know. we was talking about you

and Lily and the swell little place you had.

I said,

"I think you better turn in for a nap".

He said, "I got something to do,

something I been thinking about".

I said, "well, you better be thinking

about that bridge".

He said, "I am".

I didn't pay any more attention to him.

You know how crazy he is.

MAN 1:
Crazy is no name for it.

I heard him try to bull Kennedy

out of an engine.

MAN 2:
Maybe he won't give it to him.

Kennedy's willing to try anything.

He's got an engine and a string of flats

headed for the bridge.

MAN 3:
Who made them up?

Bill did, over in the East Y.

Just waiting

for Kennedy to say the word.

Excuse me a minute, I have to...

Let me help you.

JACK:
No, no, thanks, Peg-Leg.

I can make it myself.

PEG-LEG:
Maybe he's sick.

we'd better give him a hand.

what? well, where is he?

I can't do it on my own responsibility.

You know that, White.

why? You've got the say-so

when it comes to trains.

Not trains, train schedules.

well, what's this but an extra?

That's all it is.

Chalk me up as going out

on a little extra run.

You don't have to ask the sup

about that.

Do you realize what you're asking me?

Yeah, nothing.

Nothing? Just a little matter

of life and death to you...

...and a risk of losing a work engine

and several flatcars.

There ain't no risk to it.

I've told you that over and over.

Look, all I'm gonna do is to take...

Yeah? Oh, hello, Mr. Wayne.

White's here. He wants me to let him

have an engine and some flatcars...

...to take out on the bridge.

what?

It was a crazy idea,

but it took guts to think it.

I gotta hand it to you, son.

Oh, you guys make me sick.

Oh, don't be that way.

Hello, Bill.

MAN 1:
What's happening?

MAN 2:
There's something happening.

Jack. Jack!

where do you think you're going?

I'm taking this engine

out on the bridge. Alone.

You're off your nut.

Not quite.

I still know what I'm doing. You don't.

what makes you think I don't?

You got everything to live for. You're trying

to toss it away and yourself with it.

I ain't trying anything.

I'm gonna take this engine out.

You don't belong on here.

You're gonna take this on the bridge.

It'll buckle the minute you pass the bank.

Nothing of the sort. Listen...

Don't try to put anything over on me.

I've known you too long.

I've beat you to it this time. Get off.

I wanna get this over with.

Shut up, and listen to me.

what can I say?

I put you out of the business.

You think I took your wife away.

It's the only square thing I can do.

Croak yourself?

why not? I've gone through worse

the past week.

I started this. I'm going through with it.

Oh, shut up. Listen.

If you don't get off of this train, I'm gonna

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes