Pennies from Heaven Page #5

Were you by any chance born there?

No. I was born in Mukilteo, Washington.

But you've spent

a great deal of time in Venice.

No. I've never been there.

But I wanted to go ever since I was

a little sprout...

but it looked as though

every time I got set to go...

something happened

and sent me somewhere else.

As, for instance, prison?

How'd you know about that?

I checked up. It was for my own

information, of course.

I didn't let them know

at the office.

I guess you found out

what I was in for, didn't you?

Smuggling.

Yeah.

That was on account of Venice too.

See, I didn't have enough dough to take

passage on a regular ship...

so I stowed away on a freighter...

and they raided the freighter before

they got up anchor.

Turned out to be a smuggling ship.

Judge wouldn't believe me.

- I guess you don't either, do you?

- Yes, I do.

You do?

Well, come here.

What made you do that?

Oh, I don't know.

I just played an impulse.

I guess I wanted to see

what it was like.

It was swell.

Your lips are nice and cool.

- You don't mind an audience, do you?

- Not in the least.

Do you mind if I obey

an impulse too?

Not at all.

Goodnight, Mr Poole.

Cheque, sir.

Just skip it, sonny.

I'm one of the big owners of the place.

Say, mister, you better

get yourself a new waiter.

I just figured out the cheques,

and everybody seems to be a partner.

The way it adds up,

you've sold 110%% of this restaurant!

I agreed to work here for my tips,

and there aren't no tips.

The only paying customer was

that dame that just left.

She gimme a dime.

Here, you take it.

You might need it.

And here's your ribs.

Might need those too.

Goodbye.

- You Mr Poole?

- Yeah.

You run this place?

Well, in a manner of speaking, yes.

Well, where's your licence?

What licence?

Don't you know you need

a tavern licence...

to operate an eatin' place

in this county?

Drat. Now, how could I have

overlooked that?

Certainly glad you dropped in

to remind me.

Just what does

one of these licences cost?

$ 100, and you can't start

doing business without one.

Well, naturally.

Say, have you got a card

you can let me have?

Thanks. I'll be down to take care of it

first thing in the morning.

Okay.

We open at 9.00.

Oh, now looky here. You told me

you were gonna stay upstairs.

Oh, I just couldn't stay up there.

When I saw Miss Sprague leave, I just

had to come down for one little look.

- Ain't it an elegant opening night?

- You mean "closing night. "

Sergeant, you see gathered

about you tonight...

more deadheads than have ever been

collected under a single roof.

And they're all in on rain checks.

The head waiter just quit too.

When our entertainers find out

what their percentage is...

I have an idea

they'll also quit.

We got bills up to here.

The tax collector was in to tell me...

if we don't get a licence,

he's gonna close us up.

The licence costs $ 100,

and we haven't got a hundred cents.

Gee, what are we gonna do?

Let's dance.

- Madam, you know you dance divinely?

- Thank you. You dance elegant yourself.

Good evening, gentlemen.

Some nice chicken dinners tonight?

See? What did I tell ya?

There they are!

Those are the fellas

that stole our chickens!

Come on!

Look out!

The law, gentlemen!

What's the trouble?

- If you let us have a little while...

- You're breakin' the law as it is.

I'll give you only 24 hours

to get that licence.

There's no work

attached to it whatsoever.

And the pay is incredulous...

a dollar a second.

Thirty dollars for thirty seconds,

twice a day.

Doin' what?

You know, this guy Devlin I was usin' to

do these loop the loops, he was no good.

No. In fact, he did me a favour

when he got cracked up.

We're gonna get a lot

of publicity from this accident.

And from now on, we'll do a world

of business. Well, what do you say?

What do I know about

death in the afternoon?

Don't pay any attention to that.

That's just the billin'.

Hello?

Hello?

Oh, hello, Larry.

What? Over to the fairgrounds?

Patsy and me?

All right. Yeah, surely.

We'll be right over.

It's Larry. He wants us

to come over to the fairgrounds.

He says it's a surprise.

Come on. Let's go.

Wait.

- Wonder where Larry is.

- He doesn't hurry, he'll miss the show.

Gee, that's gettin' higher

all the time.

- Which one loops the loop?

- The front one.

Okay, I'll ride

the back one.

- No. I've got a dummy nailed in there.

- A dummy?

Yes. Listen, you got nothing

to be afraid of. It's child's play.

- Why don't you do it yourself?

- Well, who's gonna make the spiel?

Grandpa! Grandpa, look!

It's Larry!

Now, ladies and gentlemen, I take

great pleasure in introducing to you...

the one and only

Dare Devil Devlin...

in the most daring act

ever conceived by mortal mind...

or executed

by man born of woman.

He'll thumb his nose, ladies

and gentlemen, at the Grim Reaper!

He will defy death.

The one and only Dare Devil Devlin!

Are you ready?

- No, can't handle it.

- Okay! Let her go!

Larry, are you hurt?

No, I'm all right, Sarge.

I must've stubbed my toe.

Don't worry, kid.

- The hospital expenses are on me.

- Please, get some water.

Hey, Gramp! Come on in!

Well, what's the matter?

What's happened?

Where's Patsy?

She's gone.

They've taken her away.

An officer is on his way

to the orphanage now with the child.

Yes, Miss Howard,

a most troublesome case.

- I'm glad it's finally settled.

- May I be the first to congratulate you?

Would you mind explaining

why you saw fit...

to have a hearing about the Smith child

without telling me?

We decided we didn't need

your help in the matter.

This is my case.

You had no right to go over my head.

I'm under the impression

that I'm still the head of this bureau.

That may be, but it's no excuse

for what you've done.

You took advantage of the fact that

Mr Poole is lying in the hospital...

to send that child to an asylum.

It doesn't alter the fact

that he's a penniless hobo.

No, he's not.

He's a free soul and lives a free life.

I only wish I had the courage

to be like him.

That gal did it. She took advantage

of the fact I'm in the hospital.

And they left instructions

not to let you come to the orphanage.

- That's part of the court order.

- Yeah.

- She took care of that too, I suppose.

- Oh, my boy, please get back in bed.

Remember, you're still in bandages.

Yes, and that's her fault too.

Everything's her fault!

Hadn't been for her, I'd be in Venice

now havin' the time of my life.

I regret to have to say

this to you.

Up to now you've been

a faithful and trustworthy worker.

I know.

You're going to give me the air.

I could do with some air. I never knew

till now how stuffy it is in here.

You don't have to

run away from me now.

- What do you want?

- I want to help you.

Oh, no, you don't. You hate me.

You've always hated me.

That's why I'm here now.

It's all your fault.

Maybe it's my fault,

but it's not because I hate you.

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