Pushover Page #2

One long, endless quarrel.

And always

about money.

Never about

anything but money.

When I was a kid, I promised

myself that when I grew up,

I'd have plenty

of dough.

Plenty of it.

I'm doing all right.

I owe the China-man $2.30

on last week's laundry bill.

How'd we get

on to this?

I think I made a nasty crack about women.

Paul, she's going out.

I'll take it.

Change your mind about going out of town?

Yeah.

I took my car to have it serviced today.

Happened to mention the

trouble I had with it,

so the mechanic looked

at the distributor.

He said it hasn't

been touched in months.

My car didn't start the other night

because you did something to it.

Why?

Can't think of

a fast answer?

Yeah, I can think

of an answer.

I saw you walk

into the theater.

I liked the way

you walked.

As simple as that?

Sure, why not?

You're a liar.

You're also a cop.

You need a drink.

What do the police

want from me?

I wouldn't know.

Harry wanted me

to keep an eye on you.

Harry?

Wheeler.

He's a friend

of mine.

Harry Wheeler

has no friends.

He did me

a favor once.

And you returned it.

He didn't do me

that big a favor.

So you're a friend

of Harry's?

That's right.

From St. Louis.

He dreamed up

a pet name for me.

He did that

for a lot of girls.

He never called me

anything else.

What was it?

He was kind of nervous when

I talked to him on the phone.

He gave me your name

and address, that's all.

A cop! A dirty,

lying cop!

Wait a minute, baby, take

it easy. Take it easy.

These last few days,

they weren't all just cop, were they, Paul?

No.

No, I learned everything I

wanted to know that first night.

I went on seeing you

because I wanted to.

But it's over.

What happens now?

I'm taking

you downtown.

A man named Eckstrom wants

to ask you some questions.

Well,

it's been weird

knowing you.

Not that

it matters, Paul,

but I didn't know

that Harry was

what he is.

He told me he owned

apartment houses in St. Louis.

He buy you

that coat?

Yes.

Who was his partner?

Partner? Yeah, there

were two on that bank job.

We only identified Wheeler.

I told you he didn't have any friends.

I met him at a nightclub on

the Strip. He came in alone.

He was always alone

if he wasn't with me.

And you let him

set up house for you?

All right.

He bought me

my clothes and my car

and a lease on a decent place to live in.

Things I've never had

in my whole life.

If you'd known where his dough came from,

would you still

have taken it?

Money isn't dirty.

Just people.

How's he getting

in touch with you?

He'd be crazy to try and you know it. Why?

It was just a lucky break

that we got a line on you.

He probably figures

you're clear.

Maybe he will try.

I suppose my

phone's tapped.

What happens to Harry

if he's caught?

He killed a man.

And the $200,000?

What do you think?

I think it's

a lot of money.

And right now

Harry's got it.

That's right.

Paul...

Go on home.

Why?

I wouldn't know.

Go on before I start thinking about it.

I don't want

to go, Paul.

Not yet.

We could have that money, Paul, you and I.

Look, Harry's going to

die no matter what we do.

So what difference will it make

if he shows up and he's killed?

Be a perfect set-up

for a cop, wouldn't it?

I could knock him off, hide the

money and call the meat wagon.

No questions asked.

Think what that money

could mean to us, Paul.

To you and me.

And I thought

I was using you.

Get out.

Get out!

Where'd she go?

Just drove around,

going no place.

Might have been trying to

make a contact or something.

She looks a little

frustrated at that.

Should one of us go down and relieve Paddy?

Hey, you with me?

What?

I thought one of us ought

to go down and relieve Paddy.

Yeah, yeah,

I'll do it.

What's she doing?

Hanging drapes. Oh,

you mean Wheeler's dame.

She's sitting over there

staring at the wall.

There's a little nurse

next door. Always busy.

Hasn't stopped

moving for a minute.

Hello. What's holding you up?

Where are you?

At the bowling alley.

Where else?

Don't tell me you

forgot about it?

I'm sorry, Rick,

I did forget about it.

I woke up this morning with a fat headache.

I think I'd better

skip it today, huh?

Sure.

Brew yourself some thick black

coffee. I'll see you tonight.

Right.

Why don't

you sit down?

Give your feet a rest.

I'm all right.

Are you?

What do you

mean by that?

You've been looking kind of

bad the last couple of nights.

Trouble sleeping

daytimes?

Yeah, yeah, the... So many

kids in the neighborhood.

The minute I get home, take a big

double shot, and wham, I'm asleep.

I'll have to

try that.

Why don't you go down and relieve Rick?

Right.

But why can't

I go up to the...

Please. Thanks a lot for the ride

home, but I've got to get upstairs.

But what's your hurry? It's early yet.

I'm awfully tired.

Uh, thanks anyway.

Now wait a minute.

Look, why don't you go up

and get out of that uniform,

and we'll go out and

have a drink some place.

Some other time. Good night. No.

Now just a minute.

Give me back my purse.

I'll give it to you

when you come down. Okay?

Now you're being very

childish. Give it back.

No, you're not going to get it. Hey.

No, I said.

Forget it. It's not worth

it. Now wait a minute.

You're going to come down...

The lady said good night.

I guess you

didn't hear.

Why don't you mind your

own business, buddy?

Now give the lady back

her purse and take a walk.

Look, chum, I don't

think it's any of your...

Be a nice fellow and

catch yourself some air.

Thank you.

Very much.

It was a pleasure.

You did that like... As if

you'd done it before a few times.

I was a bouncer once,

a long time ago.

Maybe I should

learn how it's done.

It might

come in handy.

Wouldn't it be simpler

just to avoid that type?

I really am grateful for what you did.

Never know for sure.

Some women like that kind.

Oh, well I don't.

Not that it matters, but I

didn't have a date with him.

I'm a nurse, and he goes with a

friend of mine at the hospital.

He offered me a lift home, and

I made a mistake and accepted it.

You don't have to

explain it to me.

Oh, no, it's

just that I...

I guess I didn't want you

to have a bad opinion of me.

Don't ask me why.

All right, I won't.

Shouldn't I offer you a cup

of coffee or something?

It seems the least

I could do.

After you learn

that hammer lock.

I won't need it. My

roommate hasn't left yet.

She's a nurse, too.

Night shift.

Maybe some

other time.

Oh. All right.

Well, good night.

Good night.

This is Paul. I may have to hang up fast.

Take the stairs and go up on

the roof. I want to talk to you.

Right now. Don't even

bother to finish that drink.

Sorry for the delay. I got tied up.

It's all right. The girl's

going out. I'll take her.

Over here, Paul.

You win.

Couldn't have

taken much more,

wondering what

was happening,

waiting for the phone to

ring and scared it might.

Thinking of you, wanting to

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