Pete Kelly's Blues Page #3

A place called Fat Annie's.

It was a grog shop and there

was pressure to close it.

So far, none of the Prohibition

boys had been able to find it.

Oh, she is sweet as sour milk.

There's a cop looking

for you by the window.

So sorry to hear

about Joey Firestone.

So am I.

It's all right, I suppose. I guess

he's gone to the good Lord.

If he can take his drums.

- The boys here yet?

- Yes, up in the still.

- I say we're ready.

- Yes.

We have to get ready.

- There's no plan.

- There is.

I say if we're gonna vote...

- We're voting.

- On what?

- Getting protection.

- We'll send out for a gun.

- You think that will scare McCarg?

- It might kill him.

Ever hear of Mike Sloan?

Two, three years ago, he sent

to St. Paul for a $5000 hoodlum.

- Yeah?

- Fella took the 5...

missed his man and left

with Mike Sloan's wife.

- I don't know you felt like joking.

- I don't.

- What's it mean, then?

- What's it sound like?

- It sounds like you'll go along with McCarg.

- Anything wrong with that?

Well, I suppose not.

After what happened to Joey,

we figured you'll fight him.

- We figured wrong.

- Who are you? I never saw you before.

Listen, I got an outfit.

I got a right to vote.

- Take it easy, he's new.

- Tell him to roll down his sleeves.

- I didn't come to hear some banjo player.

- All right, Pete. All right.

Joey was in your band.

He was a friend of yours.

Joey's seen the man, I can't pull him back.

I lost a clarinet, best chair I knew.

I'm tired. I don't

want any more of it.

And that's how I feel.

If you go along, we'll all have to.

Suit yourselves.

You don't have to run away,

you can stay and talk.

There's nothing to talk about.

It got said last night.

Bring it back and sit down.

George Tenell.

Suppose they'll go along with McCarg.

I guess.

I want your help on him.

I got some pictures.

The law was there last night,

I told them all I know.

- Different branch.

- I told them. Leave me alone.

- Go steal an apple.

- You're scared, Kelly.

I don't think you

know it but you are.

Don't let it bother you.

I'm going after McCarg

and you can join up...

if you get anything in

back of your belt buckle.

You won't get McCarg.

- No?

- He's not poor enough.

Don't ever say that again.

Just a minute.

I told them 10 times,

one anchovy is plenty.

Cut it up, one's plenty.

- What's the idea, having a kid play drums?

- Get him a higher stool.

I'm gonna talk to that union. I pay full

salary, I'm entitled to a grown-up.

- How do you think it sounds?

- All right.

- Don't lose your head.

- I said, all right.

- The kid?

- Rushes the beat.

- Where's the clarinet from?

- Mound City Blueblowers.

If they used him,

it was to carry beer.

- I guess we got a deal.

- Good.

You know what I'd like to do, Kelly?

Start fresh. We ought to be friends.

You're too moody.

Talking about last night?

That was Bettenhouser's show.

One of your men jumped him.

He didn't like it.

That shouldn't bother

you or me. I like you.

I can do you some good.

You couldn't give me a cold.

In a month, I'll have

30 club bands here.

Another 50 in St. Louis,

and spread out as far as Indiana.

And it's not just bands.

There's food supply, laundry service.

You could get a hunk of that.

Aprons, tablecloths, towels.

- Do you ever count all the dirty faces?

- Cut another side.

You need time to cool down.

I don't know what you heard.

You've been to prison twice.

You got a due bill at McAllister.

Downstate, they're not as nice.

They say you got rubber pockets

so you can steal soup.

We'll still get along because

you're not like these bums.

You don't wanna go through

life with crumbs in your bed.

Don't worry. We'll hit it off.

Now, I'd like you to meet someone.

Pete Kelly. Rose Hopkins.

- How are you?

- Hello.

- You give her a tryout.

- What?

- She's a singer. Tell him.

- You just did.

- We don't carry a singer.

- What do you mean?

- It's jazz. People come for the noise.

- He's right. It's not that kind of band.

She's good. Have the

boys play something.

- They broke for the night, going home.

- I'll hold them.

I wonder if I could have a drink.

Thanks.

I'm sorry.

About the singing, I mean.

Did you ever sing before?

Sometimes in clubs and one

time for a road show.

That's when I met him. I was singing.

Were you any good?

Couple of people said I was.

Even talked about New York.

But I got sick and had to go away.

It was a long time back.

Only he won't forget it.

Keeps saying, all I

need is a good start.

Yeah.

When you're 35, the only

start you need is for home.

Come on.

After you.

Don't worry, Fran, I can't

climb that high anymore.

All right, that's it. Goodbye, now.

Come on.

- You're not gonna take her?

- We may have to.

Look, Pete, we don't need

a singer, we agreed.

She sounded good but

we can't afford a singer.

Why not?

If I want a postcard,

I gotta buy it on time.

- We can't afford her.

- Don't worry about that.

She comes free.

- All set?

- I don't know.

She'll need some help.

Here's 25 bucks a week for you.

Go ahead and take it.

You got a girl or something,

you can use it.

We all set?

I suppose so.

Ten years he's known me, and all

he can say is, "She comes free."

But I guess that covers it.

Rose came every night to sing.

McCarg came every night to listen.

Before he came and after

he left, Rose drank.

The way she went at it, the bartender

was gonna have to get an iron jigger.

Even Rudy was getting tougher.

He fired the cook for using fresh peas

and started to cut the whiskey more.

Down on 12th Street, they said Rudy

was gonna be a rich man someday.

He'd learn how to cut water.

But he was good-hearted.

That's one thing you

could say for him.

In the meantime,

McCarg got us outside work.

On our night off, he booked us

at the Everglade Ballroom...

over on 10th and Locust.

I heard McCarg had a piece of

the place but I don't know why.

It was dark three nights a week.

They had a player

piano for three more.

Whatever night it was...

you could put the crowd in a bathtub

and have room to splash around.

The only good thing was Ivy.

Say, fella, that's some music.

- Take it from me.

- That's right, George has a good ear.

Oh, gotta have,

I'm on it all the time.

Here, have a cigar.

Go on, light it up and be somebody.

Hello.

How about a smoke?

- You can dance to this, you know.

- Can you smoke to it?

- Don't you want the cigar?

- It's all yours.

It's nice and warm.

I love it this time

of year, don't you?

I never bothered to rate it.

But I like April better. Or June.

No, April. April's my favorite.

If you like it that much,

I'll get it for you.

No, thanks. The ring's enough.

You see? I'm engaged.

You said it was all mine.

- Very pretty.

- The good thing, it's different.

You go out for lunch, it's not

like all the other rings you see.

Ivy, you're wonderful.

When will we get married?

Let's do it on your 10th birthday.

I'll tell you what.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes