Out of the Past Page #4

in a million we'd bump into our past.

One chance in a million.

One chance in a million was all that chump

ever had in his life, and he made it good.

He stood there with our lives in his

pocket, because I knew if he saw her...

he'd sell us both for $1.95.

So we had to separate.

I went alone to L.A., and I made

it easy for him to follow me.

He was a good gumshoe. It was the

one thing he could really do.

So I went everywhere like a

guy enjoying the country.

I didn't write to her

or phone or telegraph.

I just waited and moved.

When it seemed right, I blew out

of town to go and meet her.

I wasn't bad at the game myself. I was sure

I had shaken him loose, and I felt good.

Fisher was back there somewhere,

and I could see her again.

We'd arranged to meet at a little cabin

off the highway on Pyramid Creek.

It was dark when I

was getting there.

And then I saw her walking up

the road in the headlights.

- JEFF:
You want a lift, babe?

- Well, I really hadn't ought.

JEFF:
You're a cute little package

to be out walking alone at night.

You're kind of cute yourself

to be walking alone any night.

That does it.

JEFF:
It was meeting her

somewhere, like in the first times.

There was still that something

about her that got me.

A kind of magic or whatever it was.

Well, I held her, and we could laugh

because we were together again.

We'd played it smart

and forgotten nothing.

Forgotten nothing except one thing.

(CAR DOOR CLOSES)

JEFF:
He had followed her.

Hello, Jeff.

Don't I get introduced?

I don't blame you, Jeff.

Maybe I'd have lied my head

off just like you did.

Your picture don't do

you justice, baby.

- Why don't you break his head, Jeff?

- Cute.

Whit should've got her back. As I

understand, they deserve each other.

- You working for him now?

- Who else would he get to find my partner?

All right, Fisher,

what's the pitch?

You and I had a little deal, Jeff.

Ten grand and expenses,

fifty-fifty.

Remember? You used to have a good

memory. Whatever happened to it?

- I didn't collect.

- Not the 10 grand.

I can give you a tip. You tell Whit where

we are, he might slip you a sawbuck.

KATHIE:
Jeff.

He isn't going to

tell Whit anything.

Sure not. You just come up with that

40 grand, and we're all pals again.

- I might even cut you in for a piece of it.

- There isn't any 40 grand.

Of course Whit's broad-minded.

He don't care about a few

slugs in the stomach...

or the 40 grand the

dame went off with...

or even Jeff pretending

he fell down on the job.

But you and Jeff ganging up

together, he might not like that.

Tell him, Kathie.

Sure, I shot him.

I'm not sorry about that.

But I didn't take his money.

- Beat it.

- FISHER:
Look at all the angles.

You know Whit and you know

how far he can reach.

So just pay me off and

I'm quiet, but use cash.

Don't try to pay me off with pitch handed

to you by this cheap piece of baggage.

I was hoping you'd do this.

(GUNSHOT)

- JEFF:
You didn't have to kill him.

- Yes, I did.

You wouldn't have killed him. You would've

beaten him up and thrown him out.

- You didn't have to do it.

- You wouldn't have killed him.

He'd have been against

us, gone to Whit.

(CAR ENGINE STARTS)

I buried him up there.

I wasn't sorry for

him or sore at her.

I wasn't anything.

- Did you ever see her again?

- No.

Did you want to?

No.

JEFF:
Well, I told you

it wasn't a nice story.

And I said once that whatever

had happened was done.

Yeah, but you should've

known about it long ago.

It's all right. I understand.

And it's all past.

Maybe it isn't.

- What'll happen?

- I don't know.

It's been a long time. I don't

know how much he knows.

Don't go, Jeff.

I've got to. I'm tired of running.

I gotta clean this up some way.

Just one thing, Ann.

Do you want me to come back?

Of course.

Put that in your pocket.

JOE:
Look who's here.

Hello, Markham. Glad

to see you again.

JEFF:

I always wondered if you missed me.

Ah. Same guy. Time-proof,

weatherproof.

- Cigarette?

- Smoking.

- Thanks. Had breakfast?

- No.

Joe, tell the boy we have a guest.

Say, I understand you're operating

a little gasoline station.

- You say it like it's hard to understand.

- Well, it is.

It's very simple. I sell gasoline.

I make a small profit.

With that I buy groceries,

the grocer makes a profit.

They call it earning a living.

You may have heard of it somewhere.

I may have, but it wasn't from you.

- I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, Whit.

- My feelings?

Ten years ago, I hid them somewhere

and I haven't been able to find them.

JOE:
Where did you look?

WHIT:
In my pocketbook.

Nice, isn't it?

Yeah, it must have set

you back a few shells.

Always worrying about my expenses.

It's a nice view.

Am I here to admire it?

Not exactly.

I need your help.

Like old times.

I always liked you.

You liked me because you could use me.

You could use me because I was smart.

I'm not smart anymore.

I run a gas station.

I like the view.

Can you still listen?

I can hear.

Well, you told me

about your business.

Well, mine is a little more precarious,

and I earn considerably more.

So I've heard.

So has the government.

Well, this may sound ridiculous,

but you could pay them.

- That would be against my nature.

- All right, forget I said it.

So I collaborated with a certain

man who understands these things.

He saved me quite a bit

of money, $1 million.

I didn't particularly trust him, so

I paid him well, but he's unhappy.

- He wants more money.

- Well, he saved you a lot.

Oh, I appreciate it. I always

remember what any man did for me.

Or didn't.

Perhaps. The point is that

now he wants 200,000.

Or he could get 10 percent of the million

from the government, if he turns you in.

You're up on these things.

- Has he got anything to trade?

- Well, he has the income tax records.

But I don't see why I should buy them

when I might persuade you to get them.

- Then I'd have them.

- I know.

But I can trust you.

You know, I don't think

you can trust anybody.

You better go in there

and get them yourself.

- I'd rather you did it.

- I pass.

You don't like it?

No, I just can't get

away from my business.

Well, it's a nice view.

Let's have some breakfast.

WHIT:

You remember Kathie, don't you?

Yeah, I remember Kathie.

Sit down.

Kathie's back in the fold now.

- You're back in the fold too, Jeff.

- I see what you mean.

You see, Jeff, you

owe me something.

You'll never be happy until

you square yourself.

Did you bare your

heart to him, Kathie?

I couldn't help it, Jeff.

- Well, that settles things.

- Does it?

You're working for me.

This man I told you about,

his name is Leonard Eels...

but, uh, you won't

go to him directly.

He has a secretary that

he's rather fond of.

Her name is Meta Carson.

You'll find her charming.

She may even find you charming.

I understand that women have.

She'll tell you how it's lined up.

You, uh, know San

Rate this script:5.0 / 2 votes