Pool of London Page #3

of ten pounds for this little lot.

- Ten?

- Or if you elect, you can go to court.

Now, which is it to be?

I don't know.

Go on, get going

before I change my mind.

Thanks.

MacDonald!

Yes, sir?

Take the watchman's turn till five.

And next time a member of my crew

is pulled up, he's fired.

He won't sail again on this ship

or any other ship of this line. Understand?

- Yes, sir.

- Well, cut along then.

- You let him off lightly.

- Don't worry. His girl won't.

Talk yourself out of that one.

I've got a business date

and I'm stuck on watch.

Anything I can do?

Keep Maisie company?

- Anything you say.

- Go and take a run at yourself.

Hello, Sal.

Hello.

Just on my way to the office

to pick you up.

You'd have found it closed.

Of course, Saturday.

My memory...

It isn't very good, is it?

Got kept on watch last night.

- On the level, I did.

- Harry, you don'! have to make excuses.

I just want to know where we are,

that's all.

- If it's all off, just say so.

- All off? Why should it be?

Well? Is it?

Now, if it was, why do you think

I'd take you out dancing tonight?

- Wouldn't make sense, would it?

- You mean it?

What do you think?

- I thought you'd gone ashore.

- I copped it.

- The nylons?

- Yeah, the whole shoot.

You can get a grandfather clock through

if you know how.

You'd better have these back.

No, you keep them.

Tell you what, though.

You could do me a favour.

- Who's that?

- Mr Vernon?

What is it'? What do you want?

I don't know you, do I?

- I'm from Dan MacDonald.

- MacDonald?

From the Dunbar.

He was to come atone o'clock.

Well, what's the use of sending you?

He got kept on watch.

Had trouble with the customs.

- Trouble with what?

- Customs.

- But he could come this evening.

- Tell him he needn't bother.

Hello, Pat.

Coming cycling tomorrow?

- I might. Where are you all meeting?

- Elsie and Jim's. Going to Epping.

- I'll be there if I'm up in time.

- You'd better be.

Hello!

What are you doing here?

I had a message for Mr Vernon.

- Who'?

- One of the turns.

- I never see those.

- I didn't expect to see you... again.

Well, what is it?

I just thought of something.

Something I was given this morning.

Could I see you later'!

Today sometime?

- Well, I don't get off till nine, I'm afraid.

- Then would do.

- It would only be for a minute.

- All right.

- See you tonight.

- Sure.

You've put me right in it.

I got everything to work, and you had to go

and ditch yourself with the customs.

You know, you're a worrier.

If I thought there was a chance

of getting caught, I wouldn't do it.

Not for you or anybody else.

If you want something

to go aboard my ship, it will.

- How?

- Never mind "how". It will.

And no ifs about it.

I've got ways

of getting by those boys.

- I don't know I'm sure.

- Yeah, but I do.

I got it all sewn up.

Look, make up your mind.

I don't care much either way.

All right.

Tomorrow, you'll be handed

a parcel and fifty quid.

- A hundred.

- Fifty.

And fifty in Rotterdam

when it's handed back.

That is, provided

the s... seals aren't broken.

- Seals?

- Will you listen to me?

And there'll be someone waiting for you

when you dock in Holland.

Park Empire, Chiswick Royal,

The Old Met, New Cross,

I've played them all.

Stopped the show in a few of them.

Yeah, like I stop the traffic

in Piccadilly.

OK, see you tomorrow morning.

And don't forget -

a hundred quid for the act.

Who's he?

Val Parnell?

Hey, Johnny. I thought you were off

somewhere with those nylons.

Hello, Dan.

Don't tell me she's worn them

to walk out on you.

Well, I... haven't given them yet.

As a... well, as a matter of fact,

it's not like that at all. I, er...

It's just someone I...

I get it.

Free passes to all the shows?

- Yeah.

- Well, here I am.

- Well, er...

- Dan MacDonald. I'm Johnny's big brother.

- What are you gonna do tonight?

- Nothing.

But ifs Saturday night!

Tell you what.

I'm meeting my girlfriend over at the

Palais. Why don't you two come along?

- You like dancing, don'! you, kid?

- Well, yes, I...

All right then.

Come on, the tickets are on me.

You'll love Maisie.

She's a honey.

How do I know

you got kept on the ship?

- How do I know you ever got my nylons?

- Because I say so.

- Don't you shout at me.

- That's it! Start on my manners now.

I didn't mean Dan

to push you into all this.

That's all right.

I had nothing fixed for this evening.

- Hello, Pat.

- I thought Wednesday was your night.

Twice this week.

You, er...

you come here often?

Pretty regularly.

A whole bunch of us do.

That's all you ever

think about's number one.

- Hiya, Dan. Enjoying yourself?

- Sure.

I tell you, I did have them.

Six pairs.

Ask Johnny.

I let him have a pair for his girl.

You what? My nylons?

You gave them to that dirty...

And I didn't get any?

Bu! Maisie!

You know I was telling you this morning

about something I had?

Well, they're no use to me, so I thought...

You must be hard-up

to go with him to get them.

What's she talking about?

- Coming tomorrow with us, Pat?

- Yes, I told Ned this morning.

- I'll call for you.

- Perhaps you'd better join up with them.

I've got to get back to my ship.

- Johnny, have you seen Maisie?

- Yeah, I've seen her.

She left.

Sally.

- How's my darling?

- It's you.

Waiting for Harry?

- You haven't seen him?

- No.

My girl's ditched me, too.

What do you say you and me

make a night of it'?

I shouldn't be much company.

What you need is a drink.

A real one.

Johnny, what is it'?

Won't you tell me?

It's nothing.

Don't feel so bad about it.

Something like that happened

the first time I met Dan.

He got in a fight because of me.

- You think the world of Dan, don't you?

- Yeah.

- Gonna miss him.

- Miss him?

Going home after the next trip.

- Where's home?

- Falmouth.

- In Cornwall?

- Cornwall, Jamaica.

We've got a Surrey there, too,

and a Middlesex.

They like those English names out there.

Do you want to go back?

Some ways.

I like the sea,

but not for all my life.

Spent a lot of hours on it,

thinking about things.

Getting ambitions,

all sons of high and mighty ideas.

Now I've saved a bit of money,

I want to go back to school,

see if I can turn them into something.

I may not have any brains,

but at least I'd like to find out.

Well, you know how it is.

You come ashore,

gel on the drink and into trouble.

Most time just 'cause you're bored.

I'm not sure our old Chief

hasn't go! the right idea.

Hasn't set foot in port in ten years.

Except to change ship.

Somehow, at sea ifs all different.

Things kind of son themselves out.

Take on the right shape again.

Funny how some people

are quite different from what they seem

- when you get to know them.

- Who, me?

- It's the pink in the gin.

- Well, it's something,

You mean that?

Yes.

- Hey, Charlie.

- Sin'?

- Two more large pink gins.

- Yes, sir.

Come on, Sal.

Give yourself a break.

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