Roustabout Page #2

will you show me around?

All right.

I don't know where to start, but...

What's with this tennis court?

The lines show where to stick front

end, pig iron and butchers' shops.

How's that?

The concessions,

rides and candy stands.

I see. What's this over here?

- What's a hot wagon?

- Generator truck.

- Drome? That's the...?

- It's right over there.

High wall, motorcycle stunts.

This wouldn't happen to be...?

Donniker, exactly

what it sounds like. The rest room.

- Grease joint?

- Hamburger stand. Right over here.

What are the big fans for?

They blow the smell of onions around.

Makes people hungry.

Pretty good.

Here we have the Mugg Joint.

Photo gallery.

"You don't know how you look

till you get your picture took."

Just what I thought.

The Dirty Show.

Not what you're thinking.

They throw baseballs

- and knock a girl into a water tank.

- What's dirty about that?

The lot lice

get their jollies from it.

Look, I know I'm supposed to know,

but what's lot lice?

- Customers who don't spend.

- Why don't you speak English?

For the same reason doctors

write prescriptions in Latin.

To keep us separate

from earth people.

Earth people?

Civilians, those who aren't with it.

Anyone who isn't a carny.

- What was that for?

- That was for what it was for.

- But why?

- Look...

- You kiss every girl you talk to?

- No.

You kiss the ones

you do kiss this soon?

- Why should I explain...

- I see.

You figure you won't be here

that long. Excuse me.

- We're not through talking yet.

- I am.

Strike one.

She'll be back.

What do you do when you're not

riding around on your bike?

- Besides that.

- I sing a little.

You going to be late

for your next job?

- I don't have one.

- Where were you going?

Phoenix. I got a buddy

that owns a nightclub there.

- Where's home?

- A swamp outside of Shreveport.

- Any relatives?

- Not that I can remember, no.

- How old are you?

- Are you making out a police report?

I like to know what my money's

being invested in.

It's being invested in a new guitar

and a bike with a bent front end.

I'm stuck here until it's fixed.

I'll bet you're broke.

How will you eat?

I'll manage.

How about a job here

until your bike is fixed?

- I could use a good roustabout.

- Me, work in a circus? No.

It's a carnival.

There's a big difference.

How about it? This is hard work...

On second thought, forget it.

- You're too soft for real work.

- Just a minute.

OK, but I'm not biting the heads

off any chickens.

That went out 20 years ago.

A little muscle everywhere.

We all do everything here.

What about Joe?

He won't bother you

if you don't bother Cathy.

- That's the whole idea.

- That's your problem.

Where do I sleep?

Over there.

Last trailer on your left.

- Now you're a roustabout.

- Is that good?

Here we go, Charlie. All right.

Straight up.

Got it?

OK, get the pin in. There.

- Plan on staying?

- Are you kidding?

I'll be out of this sawdust trap

as soon as my wheels are fixed.

This is for guys

who've got nothing better to do.

I like white sheets, bright lights

and a lot of dough in my pocket.

Then you'd better get out quick.

- Sawdust gets in your veins.

- It won't happen to me.

Aren't you guys finished?

I'll take care of that.

Go help Estelle in the mitt camp,

then report back.

- What's a mitt camp?

- The palmistry tent, over there.

One thing I like about you, Joe,

you got a very likeable way.

- Cody, let's get this other one up.

- Here we go.

- Don't you believe in knocking?

- How do you knock on a tent?

What's your name, beautiful?

Charlie Rogers, handsome.

What's yours?

Professionally,

I am known as Madame Mijanou,

but you can call me Estelle.

I'd rather call you Madame Mijanou.

What do you do here?

- That depends. By day or night?

- I hope you're not a mind reader,

because if you are,

I'm about to get my face slapped.

- I am a seeress.

- A what?

A seeress. Sit down.

I read the past, present and future.

You are the son of a Roman baron.

You have come to this country

on a diplomatic mission.

You will bring great financial reward

to your native land. Right?

Sure. But right now I'm a roustabout,

here to give you a hand.

Which hand do you want to give me?

The left hand, being closest to

the heart, reveals much about love.

Let's forget the fortune-telling.

What do you want me to do?

I can tell you what kind of woman

will be attracted to you.

I'm old enough to figure that out.

- What do you see in my eyes?

- Maybe I'd better slap your face.

I like you, Charlie.

But do you think maybe

I'm a little too mature for you?

Women are like wine.

They improve with age.

- But you don't drink?

- I'm an alcoholic.

- Estelle!

- Who's that?

- Probably my boyfriend.

- You don't care?

- Not if you don't.

- I don't.

- What does he do?

- He's a knife-thrower.

I think I care.

I've heard of heartburn,

but aren't you going too far?

- What's your gimmick?

- It's legit. What's yours?

I'm just a roustabout.

Charlie Rogers.

- I'm BJ Lewis.

- What's that stuff?

- Gasoline.

- You use regular or ethyl?

- Whatever I can get.

- Why don't you fry your tonsils?

It's just a matter

of getting used to it. Watch.

I bet you get invited to a lot of

barbecues. How'd you get into this?

- My doctor told me to quit smoking.

- No, seriously.

- I started out as a sword swallower.

- That's nice.

OK, OK, I believe you.

All my life I've been afraid

of everybody and everything.

I thought doing something dangerous

would show people I had guts.

You keep swallowing that and you'll

show them you've got guts, all right.

Anybody can eat fire.

Do you want to learn?

- I gag on Spanish rice.

- Hey, you!

- Yeah?

- Down here, stupid.

Kid, you'd better grow up before

you pick fights with grown-ups.

- What do you mean, "kid"? I'm 38.

- Congratulations.

You Charlie Rogers?

Joe's been looking for you. Come on.

Hey, BJ, if I need a light,

I'll let you know.

What's the matter?

- Bring those back.

- Don't be funny.

- Come on, reach for them.

- Will you hand us our robes?

- Throw 'em, Billy.

- I can't throw 'em that far.

Don't come any closer.

He can see under the panels.

- Come on, throw 'em.

- Go ahead, Billy.

- There.

- Come on!

- I'm turning blue from the cold.

- Yeah? That's my favourite colour.

- Here you go, girls.

- Thanks.

- Is this on your work list?

- Just getting to know the family.

- Joe's at the grab joint.

- Thanks. What's a grab joint?

Hot dog stand.

- You walk me over?

- I'm headed that way.

- Want to go for a ride?

- Where?

To the moon, if we can get the juice.

- You can't...

- It's ready for a test, isn't it?

Haven't you anything better to do?

- Can't say that I have.

- Joe will be mad.

Joe's mad at the world.

- I don't want to get you in trouble.

- I already am. 27th floor.

All right.

Cody, you haven't seen

Charlie Rogers, have you?

No, just giving the wheel a trial

spin. Greasing up the cables.

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