Out of the Fog

1

It's your turn. You take a card.

- This is not cards. This is torture.

I could do better sitting in a

rocking-chair and knitting.

Am I giving you an argument?

Bourbon, straight.

- One bourbon, coming up.

Here's a Jack. I hope you don't need it.

A Jack I need? A doctor I need.

Why don't you give me decent cards?

My luck. My cards are

just like my business.

Look at them. Like cheapskates

playing the chamber of commerce.

Merchants of the community.

Like clockwork, they come in every

day and order the same food.

They place the same game of cards.

They even play the same records.

And I got to listen to the same

bellyaching about their business.

And when they leave .. I get

the same crummy nickel tip.

I ask you mister, is there

any percentage in that?

I ask you.

- Another bourbon.

Another bourbon coming up.

Good evening Mr Propotkin.

Hello, Sam.

- Good evening.

Hi, Eddie.

- Fine thanks, Mac. Nice weather, eh?

Yeah.

Hey, Olaf .. a hot plate for the law.

What's new on the beat,

Lieutenant? Anything exciting?

I'll take my coffee now, Eddie.

- Yes, sir.

Ask the Lieutenant what

else he'll have to drink.

Thanks .. I can buy my own.

How much do I owe you?

- Four bits.

A fifty out of five .. two bourbons.

If she feels that way about it, why don't

she sit here and take the cash herself?

Instead of staying out in the

kitchen making passes at the chef.

By the way, that chef that works

here .. what's his name again?

Olaf. Olaf Johnson.

Don't he own a little fishing-boat

around here? - That's right.

Eddie .. I want to eat

tonight, not tomorrow.

How about it back there?

On my, be careful, Eddie.

The plates are hot.

This is for Igor. They made

it just he way he wants.

Olaf! All day, all day! You have

everything on your mind but your work.

You didn't clean up the kitchen.

- The kitchen is clean.

The floor is going to be washed.

- The floor is washed.

That clock .. always that clock.

Counting the minutes, counting the

seconds. Can't you at least talk to me?

I am a simple man. I can only keep

my mind on one thing at a time.

Tomorrow, I think I put a little

more garlic in the sauce.

Olaf.

- Yes?

Olaf, what is a man without a woman?

- Nothing.

Exactly .. I'm a lonely woman.

And growing older.

I need the strong arms of a

dependable man to lean on.

It's getting hot here.

I could make out in a fish

tavern three times this size.

If I only had some help.

- Size isn't everything.

I'm growing no younger, Olaf.

I need ..

I need to take out the garbage.

Please excuse me.

Olaf!

Meatballs, sauce and spaghetti.

- Oh, I'll do it.

Jonah.

Jonah.

Yes Olaf, yes? Something wrong?

She's still in the kitchen.

I can't leave yet.

You're off .. it's past eight o'clock.

Don't worry. It will only be minutes.

I will call you as soon as she leaves.

Hey Magruder .. there

is a fire on the pier.

What, a fire?

- A fire? Where?

It ain't a big one. Just Carny's boat.

- Another fishing boat?

Is it still burning?

- Whatever is left of it.

The fog's so thick, nobody

noticed the smoke.

I'll have a look. Eddie,

keep my plate hot, will you.

Wait a minute, Mac.

I want to go with you.

Oh no you don't! You are

going to stay right here.

I'm going upstairs, and

remember .. no watching fires.

Okay .. okay.

It's like living in a jail around her.

It's a wonder she even lets me breathe.

Hey mister. Would you watch

the place for me for a minute?

You see, I'm just a sucker for fires.

- Sure. Sure, go right ahead.

Thanks. Thanks a lot. I'll be right back.

Good evening, sir.

- My name is Goff.

I'm glad to meet you, Mr Goff.

- You the chef here?

Uhuh.

- Nice, homey little place you got here.

Well, I'm glad you like it. Excuse

me just one minute please.

Jonah .. Jonah.

It's alright. She's gone.

Is there anything I can ..?

Oh, you shouldn't be eating

them shrimp dry like that.

They give you heartburn.

Here, try them with just a little bit

of sauce and just a spray of lemon.

Taste better, don't it?

- Hmm. Much better.

I saw your boat tied up at

the pier. I was admiring it.

Oh well, it ain't much of a boat. Just

an old tub made with wood and spit.

You own the boat?

- I own half the boat.

My friend Jonah Goodwin, he's the

tailor next door. He owns the other half.

You do a lot of fishing, don't you?

- Uhuh. - You like it?

Ask me if I like to breathe.

Ten hours a day I work in this place.

Only the nights when I

go fishing do I feel free.

Then I am a different man.

I live in a different world.

Out there on the bay

with my friend Jonah.

We get peace. We can get away

from things. You see what I mean?

Sure. I see what you mean.

Supposing someone were to come round and

tell you you couldn't go fishing anymore?

Well that's silly. Why should anyone

want to say a thing like that?

Olaf .. aren't you ready yet?

Oh, I'm sorry. I was

talking to my friend.

This is Jonah Goodwin.

He owns the other half of the boat.

This is mister ..

- My name is "Goff".

Mr Goff. He's a nice fellow. He takes a

personal interest in what we're doing.

I'm glad you're both here. I want

to have a little talk with you.

A little business talk regarding

your boat. - Our boat?

You want to talk to us about our boat?

What is there to say about our boat?

I'm ready, Jonah.

Maybe you put it off until another time?

Tomorrow? You see, we're in a hurry now.

Fire engines?

It's nothing, just a little fishing-boat

caught fire at the end of the pier.

Jonah, maybe it is ours?

- Don't worry, sport, it's not your boat.

Mister ..

What makes you so sure it's not our boat?

- You can take my word for it.

You are here.

The fire is down at the pier.

How do you know?

I just know.

Come along, Olaf.

- Yeah, I'm ready.

Wait a minute, Jonah. It's cold out.

Let me button your coat.

Well, goodbye Mr Goff. I hope I have

the pleasure of seeing you again.

Don't worry, sport. You will.

Hurry Jonah, you know Caroline.

Eddie!

- Yeah?

Here .. and don't forget. The next time

you run off to a fire, I'll fire you.

I'll fire you! You understand?

Always hollering.

I wish you would fire me.

"Don't ring up the cash register",

"don't do this", "don't do that".

You don't holler at Olaf like that.

The pushing around I got

to take for the dough I get.

What did you say, Eddie?

- Nothing. I didn't say nothing.

By the way, George called. He'll be down

in a few minutes. He ordered the usual.

Hi everybody.

How's business, Mr Propotkin?

Terrible. Even the people who

never pay, stopped buying.

There you are. Gee, I'm glad you finally

got here. I was getting worried about you.

How do you feel? You look good.

But then you always look good to me.

Boy, did I have a swell day today.

Sold off a lot of junk that had been

laying around the shop for years.

Boy, was I in good form.

I don't know why. I never had

such bad luck in all my life.

But then it's a pleasure to

lose to a good sport like you.

Put that back, Sam.

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