Roustabout Page #6

I'm heating some coffee.

Do you want some?

- Shy, Charlie?

- Not as long as Joe's on ice, no.

- You never quit, do you?

- No, I never quit.

- You must get your face slapped.

- About 50/50.

- I said coffee.

- Fine.

- Just coffee.

- OK.

I don't believe

you're all like you talk.

You mean there's a real me?

You oughtta know.

You fight with him enough.

Get back on

your motorcycle, Charlie.

What are people supposed to do?

I don't know about other people,

but you're just exercising.

No, not any more.

- You better leave, Charlie, please.

- Why, because it was good?

Because it isn't right for me.

I'm not a one-night stand.

I'm sorry, Charlie. I like you, too,

but you're just passing through.

Where can I find Charlie Rogers?

The last trailer back there, but you

better drive all the way around.

- Charlie Rogers?

- He's over there washing up.

- We fixed your bike for you.

- It's about time.

- Wanna sign it?

- Sure.

- What'd you have to do to it?

- Nothing. It was just out of gas.

- Really, what did you do to it?

- Whole new front end.

New shocks. New headlamp.

Everything. Watch it.

OK, easy.

- Straighten it out.

- Well, it looks all right.

There you go.

- $140?

- Mrs Morgan paid for it.

Wanna try it out first?

- Why don't you follow me?

- All right.

It's OK, pal!

- You run that bike pretty good.

- Thanks.

- Could you handle one of these?

- I handle anything on two wheels.

- In there?

- I've never tried it.

You wanna see how it's done?

Come on. We'll show you.

Go ahead, Gus.

Come on up here, Charlie.

- You all set, Gus?

- Right.

He's gotta go around

a couple of times to warm up.

The takeoff is just over 40.

- He can't run over the cable.

- He looked like he was going to.

If he did, he'd fly

right over your head. Relax.

- Easy, isn't it?

- Looks like a pretty rough go to me.

It isn't. Centrifugal force

plasters you up there.

You couldn't fall if you wanted to.

I'll take your word for it.

It's not for me.

Come on. All you need is guts.

I'm a devout coward. Besides,

I'm on my way downtown to spring Joe.

Lots of luck.

That's more than Maggie could.

- I found that guy's wallet.

- No kidding?

- Thanks for the show.

- Wait a minute. Watch him come off.

- Wanna try?

- Like I told you, I'm a coward.

Ride behind me, then. Dames do that.

- No, thanks.

- Goodbye, dear.

Give me the helmet.

Don't forget,

get it up to 40 before you take off.

Isn't that Charlie's motorcycle?

Don't worry, he's not leaving yet.

- I don't care anyway.

- Of course you don't.

You'd think those idiots would

get enough when they have to do it.

But that's Ernie and Gus...

- Ernie, how could you?

- Can I help it if he's crazy?

Stop worrying.

He's up to it, isn't he?

Took me three months

to climb up the first time.

- What's going on?

- Charlie's in the motordrome!

- You OK, Charlie?

- I'm OK. I'm trying to get up.

- Get his helmet off.

- He looks OK.

I better get that fuel line.

- How's the bike?

- I don't know.

How can you be

such an overgrown child?

- Just lucky, I guess.

- You dropped your wallet.

He dropped whose wallet?

Isn't this yours?

It belongs to the guy

that got into the fight with Joe.

I found it under the counter,

and I was on my way to turn it in.

- That's what he told me.

- Charlie, when did you find it?

- Last night.

- And you let my dad sit in jail?

What difference does it make? It just

gave him a few hours to dry out.

That's something

you don't do to another carny.

- You all right, Cathy?

- I'm fine.

Good luck, Charlie.

Maggie! I want to talk to you.

OK, I handed over the secret plans.

I took the 30 pieces of silver.

Now, what is this?

Something I guess

never touched you, Charlie. Feeling.

For this? A broken-down set-up for

taking money from kids and farmers?

For a man who needs

two women carry him around?

For anything. I pegged you right

the minute I saw you.

I just didn't want to believe it.

I'm supposed to live up to the notion

of the man you want?

You're a cruel boy.

You must have been hurt badly.

Save the understanding

for this freak show.

- You won't say I'm wrong?

- You wouldn't believe me.

- Cathy might.

- Don't stay where you're not wanted.

Why do you think she's so upset?

Hold me to the contract,

but don't play a violin.

Wait a minute. You're not by chance

wanted anyplace else, are you?

You're getting warm.

- Harry Carver.

- Right.

- So it isn't pride, just money.

- That's right, Maggie.

I won't hold you.

Just a minute.

Those cells get cold at night.

But sooner or later they spring you,

even if someone ditches the evidence.

- I'm leaving, Joe.

- Get off the bike.

Come on. Give me the key.

You don't have

to prove nothing to me, Joe.

What are you doing?

Get up. Get up!

Dad! Dad, stop it! Dad!

- Do you feel better, Joe?

- Get out of here.

- Where can I find Harry Carver?

- Over there in the theatre.

- Where's Harry Carver's office?

- Upstairs, third floor.

Here you are.

- I'd like to see Harry Carver.

- Do you have an appointment?

No, but he gave me his card.

Well, look who's here.

File this, please. Come on in, son.

Doris, hold all my calls.

Well, sit down. Sit down.

- Would you like a cigar?

- No, thank you.

- I've been expecting you.

- I didn't expect to be here.

I knew that you couldn't

stay with Maggie and Joe.

- Especially with Joe.

- I might have.

But you didn't.

They got the kind of operation

where they say the show must go on.

- And you want to know why, right?

- More or less.

Around here, there's just one reason

the show must go on. The gross.

That's why I'm here.

- Let's see, what did we say? $200...

- 400.

Your memory's as lousy as mine.

It was three.

- Make it 350.

- Don't push, son.

- I mean it. I don't care, you know.

- Yeah, you probably don't.

- All right. Sign at the bottom.

- After I read it.

It's the usual standard sheet.

Eleven weeks.

There's a little paragraph

that says you pay a penalty

of half of what

I've given you if you cut out.

- Half?

- You left Maggie. You may leave me.

I don't like the idea.

Course you don't.

But otherwise, it's no deal.

Follow me to the biggest

and the greatest show on the midway!

Direct from the banks of the Nile,

the favourite of the pharaohs.

She zigs, she zags, she never lags.

Three measly little quarters buys you

a chance to see the little girlie,

and I'm gonna

bring her out right now.

Here she comes, the little lady

that does the dance of the pyramids.

The one, the only Little Egypt!

She walks, she talks, she crawls

upon her belly like a reptile.

That's enough, honey.

Don't give 'em too much.

You there, young man!

Step up and get a ticket.

There you go. You just bought

yourself a trip to paradise.

Who's next, folks?

Plenty of seats on the inside.

It's show time! The big show

right here on the midway!

Real good.

- They trying to tell us something?

- Don't let it go to your head, son.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes