Ruthless Page #2

A suit I paid nine dollars for that

I didn't pick up in the street.

I couldn't help it, Ma.

That's just what your

father used to say ..

When he came home with

every cent of his pay gone.

I'll make some money, Ma.

I'll make enough for plenty of suits.

He could brag, too.

You talk about earning money.

What do you do?

Sneak off and go fishing.

I wasn't fishing.

Don't you lie to me now.

What were you doing?

Answer me!

Did you hear?

Is Horace alright, Mrs Vendig?

Horace?

Why yes, certainly.

Thank heavens.

Where is he? I must see him.

There you are, Horace.

I'm so thankful.

You're a brave, wonderful boy.

It wasn't anything, Mrs Burnside.

What's all this? What's Horace done?

Why, didn't he tell you?

My Martha would have drowned

if Horace hadn't saved her.

Why didn't you tell me this?

You never game me a chance.

I think he's a hero. I think

you should be proud of him.

I know that. I don't need anyone

to tell me that, Mrs Burnside.

Just thanking him seems so little.

Isn't there something you need, Horace?

Something we can do for you?

Nothing. Nothing at all.

Thank you.

Please let him come to our house

tomorrow night for supper.

Vic and Martha are going to be there

and some of the other girls and boys.

And Mr Burnside will want to see

the boy who saved Martha's life.

It's just for children, you know.

Sure. I'll come, ma'am.

He can't.

He has somewhere else to go.

But Mom .. Shut up.

We've never been good enough for

you up until now, Mrs Burnside.

Because of your money, I suppose.

Mrs Vendig.

Not good enough, indeed.

I'll have you know that before

my marriage I was a Woodruff.

A maid.

If that means anything to you.

That's no way to talk, Ma.

Mrs Burnside don't mean

anything like what you think.

Thank you, Horace.

I know you understand.

Goodbye, Mrs Vendig.

I'll try to come, Mrs Burnside.

Horace.

Come here.

Hello, I was just coming to see you.

Say, you ought to have been

with me when I took Martha home.

You ought to have heard Mrs Burnside

when we told her what you'd done.

Ah, drop it.

What's the matter?

Nothing.

Where you going?

Waterfront.

What for?

Not to see your old man?

Yep.

Oh boy.

Can I come with you, Horace?

If you want to.

Hello Miss Bella.

Hello.

"Howard" ain't it?

No, ma'am, it's "Horace".

And this is my friend, Vic.

Good evening.

Is my father in?

Your mother never sends you here.

No. I came myself.

I thought she said that you was never so

much as to set eyes or your Dad again?

I got a right to see my own father.

Well, he ain't in.

If you came after anything,

you may as well skiddoo.

Take a look around.

See the business we're doing.

Well, look .. look who's here.

Horace, my boy.

Hi, Bella.

High time you got back.

Did you lose your shirt again?

Never mind if I win or I lose.

It's my lucky day when

my boy comes here.

Well, well, Horace.

Hello, Pa.

I see you've grown, eh?

And you've brought

a friend. How are you?

Pleased to meet you, sir.

Well, I'll bet you've

got an appetite, eh?

Both of you.

Light up, Bella. Let's make

the place look cheerful.

Now boys, what will you have?

Chowder? Chicken lobster?

The best of everything, eh.

Today I struck it rich. Order up, huh.

No thanks, Pa.

I just came to see you.

I've already had supper, thank you.

And your mother?

Does she know you've come?

Oh, no.

Only, I .. I wanted to.

You miss you father, eh?

That's nice.

I'm glad to see my boy's

got a nice friend like you.

Thanks, Mr Vendig.

We've been friends ever since

Horace came to the school.

Oh, that's fine.

How's it coming, son?

Alright, I guess.

You have .. you have fun there?

Play games? You go to parties?

I could, only ..

It's like that, is it?

Is that the best you got?

It don't matter.

I haven't seen my boy for two years.

So you came to see your father

even though you're not supposed to.

Well, you certainly

came on the right night.

Do you know how much is in here?

Must be an awful lot.

Well, there is fifty-eight dollars.

And it don't smell like clam chowder.

I got the right tip, see.

And I made use of it.

Let me tell you something, son.

Opportunity knocks on

every man's door once.

Just once.

I know.

Well, go after it.

Grab it with both hands.

Don't let nothing stand in your way.

Yes, sir. All you got to do is figure out

what the common people got to have and ..

Grab it tight.

Well, here's ten dollars for you.

For yourself. For a real good suit.

Three for a pair of shoes.

And a couple more for a

shirt and some neck-ties.

Well, where do I come in?

Don't make a joke, Bella.

Give me that money.

No joke about it. You owe

me four weeks pay.

I promise you I'll settle tomorrow, eh?

I'll wait outside, Horace.

Go on, get out!

And you can take your friend with you.

You'll settle, eh? Out of what?

You owe me sixty, you win fifty-eight.

And you give half of that to

somebody else's kid.

Give it here. It's mine!

Here, son. Get out of this, quick.

He's her kid, ain't he?

Let her give him money.

Bella, I give you the

stockings, the perfume.

Come on kid, give it here.

Look.

I've got a chance to go to

a real big house tomorrow.

Go on, get out! Go home and

ask your mother for a new suit.

And as for you, I told you

never to let that kid near me.

If he ever comes here

again, I'm through.

Better go home.

You know Horace, your mother ..

Well, I guess she's sharp

sometimes like you say but ..

Well, you know me. I'm no baby.

Sometimes a fellow can

tell things to his mother.

You'd be surprised how

much they understand.

Good luck.

Thanks.

It's our last chance, Kate.

Horace must not be

allowed to stand in our way.

I can't.

And I won't Alfred, because of the boy.

If we could take him with us, Kate?

But as they say:
no children.

His worthless father

could look out for him.

If only he had some relation.

It is cruel, downright cruel.

There .. don't cry.

Oh, Alfred.

Dear one.

Horace.

What's wrong with you? Come in.

No, ma'am. I can't.

I only came to say ..

I can't come tomorrow

night, Mrs Burnside.

I'm so sorry to hear that,

and so will ..

Horace, something bad

is the matter. What is it?

Come in here.

No, ma'am.

No, ma'am, I can't. I'm going away.

Tonight.

Going away? What do you mean?

Not from your home?

I haven't got a home.

Horace, don't say that.

What about your mother?

I haven't got a ..

There, there. Don't cry.

Tell me all about it.

Be brave .. be a man.

I don't want to be a man .. never!

I wish there weren't any

men in the whole world.

Mother, what is it?

Nothing.

Never you mind.

Go upstairs and put on your robe and

tell father to come down here at once.

Then go over to the coach-house and

turn down the beds in the little room.

Yes, mother.

And mother said this

was to be your home.

And father said he'd see

you through high-school.

And into a real good position.

All because you saved my life, Horace.

He says he can never do enough for you.

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