Riding High Page #3

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of the Higgins Enterprises.

You accepted, with gratitude.

You were the envy of Mr. Winslow

and Mr. Early.

- Oh, no, J.L.

- No, J.L., no.

It isn't paper bags,

my reformed gypsy friend, it's neglect.

Shameful neglect.

Now, Margaret's divorce, final.

Wedding, set. Expensive.

Four daughters, no sons.

Have to accept what they bring in.

But I don't want to go through

what I had to go through with the last

fellow who sat in that chair.

- A hockey player, I believe.

- Thank you, Father.

Beginning tomorrow,

exclusively paper boxes.

Beginning tomorrow,

get rid of that horse.

See that it's done.

Now, back to Acme Lumber Company.

I've had their statement gone

over thoroughly.

I find a book value of

17 dollars a share.

This allows for depreciation

in current year's taxes.

Figures follow.

Cash on hand in banks: $13,764...

Wait a minute!

Wait a minute, J.L. Wait here.

You may be interested to hear I have

no intention of disposing of that horse.

Matter of fact, I'm leaving

Higginsville in the morning.

- Hooray! Hooray!

- Alice!

Everything you said is true.

I have neglected the business.

It isn't that I don't appreciate what

you've done for me. It's just that...

...I'm not built for it, that's all.

Take handsome here. He was meant

to spend his life in an ironworks.

And Never Late Early.

He even looks like a lampshade.

But me, boy, I have nothing

in common with paper boxes.

Yes, I've...

I took it for a year, on probation.

Isn't that beautiful, probation?

Like a criminal. What was my crime?

I fell in love with your daughter,

so I get a year in a paper-box factory,

where, since 1889, the Higgins

Enterprises have made a paper box

for 4 cents and sold it for 5.

If only once we could have made

it for 5 and sold it for 4.

That would've been

a welcome switch.

I know I sound crazy to you.

Maybe I am.

Maybe you strike me the same way.

It's just that you're only interested

in one thing:

Accumulating wealth and gobbling up

the little fellow, like this morning

when you snatched the Acme Lumber

Company from some poor little Joe

who spent his lifetime building it up.

I hope it made you happy.

- Young man! Don't...

- Look at you!

Look at you! You haven't had

a vacation in over 40 years.

You're just rotting away here

in this little kingdom of yours!

Well, that's not my idea of a way

to live, and it isn't Margaret's either.

And another thing,

I wouldn't get rid of that racehorse

for you or anybody else in the world!

You wait! Someday you're gonna

take off your hat to Broadway Bill.

That's true. I was broke when I came,

and I'm going to leave the same way.

I'm turning back every dime

of the Higgins money.

Margaret and I'll make good

in our own way.

We'll get married in some nice,

little church like decent people.

If it's all the same to you,

you can accept my two weeks' notice

two weeks ahead of time.

Margaret, I'll wait for you in the car.

Dan!

Let's get on with the meeting, Father.

Darling, you come back and sit down

and behave yourself.

Margaret, this is what I wanted

to talk to you about tonight.

Come on. Let's get out of this prison,

honey. It's fun to be free. You'll love it!

And Broadway Bill just isn't any horse.

He's a stakes winner.

He's got speed and stamina,

and he'll stay.

A man waits a lifetime

for such a horse, Margaret.

All right, all right.

But the invitations are out,

2,000 of them.

- Do you want to ruin it all?

- Let's get married right away, tonight.

If I sit down in this chair again, I'm

gonna wind up just like those two guys.

A Christmas tiger.

"Yes, J.L. Yes, J.L."

I can't handle it.

I'll be at the apartment, packing.

- Go with him, Margaret. Go with him!

- Oh, shut up!

Well, Emperor Higgins,

I hope you had fun.

Meeting is adjourned.

All a millionaire's money

Couldrt build a better abode

Than that someplace

On Anywhere Road

You might have

something there at that.

Oh, yes, boss. Come on, perk up.

My new address will be someplace

On Anywhere Road

It's the prettiest someplace

On Anywhere Road

Anywhere Road

Got the fanciest rooftop

Made of sky

Independently lucky am I

- Don't need a nickel

- Don't need a nickel

I feel at home when I'm someplace

On Anywhere Road

- Heading for nowhere

- Yes!

Living up to the vagabond code

And all a millionaire's money

Couldrt build a better abode

Than my someplace

On Anywhere Road

Programs, programs.

What does the star mean in front

of the horse's name?

I don't know, kid. I think the trainer's

got a boy in the service, probably.

I don't know.

Park him and go over to see

the racing secretary.

Yes, sir.

- Hey, buddy, what's going on?

- They're unloading Gallant Lady!

Gallant Lady! Oh, this I gotta see!

Hey, Bill, here's that great champion

you're going to trim.

Hey, Bradshaw!

Bradshaw, come here!

- Yes, Mr. Whitehall.

- Get all these people out of the way.

- And where do you think you're going?

- Don't race your motor, Mike.

Never mind, Mike. Pat's the name.

Get back.

Pat, let me see this horse.

Now, look here, you blighters.

I'm not going to bring Gallant Lady

out before a rabble like this.

She's not used to it. She's too nervous.

Get off the platform, will you?

You hear what the man said?

Now get back and take it easy, will you?

- Officer, discharge your duty!

- Aw, shut up, you foreigner.

- All clear, Mr. Whitehall.

- Oh, all clear, eh?

Good. All right, get her out of here.

Bring that pony out first.

All right, bring her out.

Keep her head down. Watch

her feet and look at her hips.

- That's a good-looking filly, isn't she?

- Certainly is.

Don't crowd her.

Well, hello.

Win, Place and Show, huh?

How are you, Mr. Howard?

Dan Brooks, you remember me?

Yeah, sure. That your outfit?

That's the transportation department

of the Dan Brooks Stable.

- What are you hauling today?

- The winner of the Imperial Derby.

- So? Want a tip?

- Sure. What?

Enter the truck instead.

- Who's getting your action?

- I only bet on sure things.

- Gallant Lady.

- Oh, isn't that too bad?

Gallant Lady's going to be seeing

a lot of that come derby day.

- I thought we were betting on Sun Up.

- Why don't you broadcast it.

- There you are.

- OK. All made out, huh?

"Broadway Bill by Burning Ginger,

out of Mary D."

Well, at least he's bred for speed.

- Oh, he can scamper.

- Now, Dan, you'll have to supply

three photos of his "night eyes"

for the Protective Bureau.

You mean the little wart

inside the hock?

Yes, it's a new gag.

That's different on all horses,

- like fingerprints on a human.

- Very tricky.

- Here's your condition book.

- Yes, sir.

Here are your owners' badges.

Say, what's this about your wanting

to enter him in the Imperial Derby?

Why, sure!

We're gonna come back in style, boy!

Don't be a sucker, Dan.

You don't think he'd beat the champ,

Gallant Lady, do you?

What do you mean? He'll pull a spring

wagon and tie that old mare in a knot.

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