San Francisco Page #4

Do you know who gave the chapel

that organ we've been dedicating tonight?

The most godless, scoffing

and unbelieving soul in all San Francisco.

Blackie Norton.

Yes, Blackie heard one night

that I was saving for an organ.

The very next morning men arrived

to plan the installation.

Cost him $4,000.

You know, if that monkey would save

his money for a couple weeks...

he'd be a rich man.

He's a tremendous force, Blackie is.

If he were only a force for good

instead of evil.

I've tried to do something with him

for years...

but I haven't had any luck.

Maybe I'm not the right one.

You've known each other a long time,

haven't you?

Oh, sure, sure.

Blackie and I were kids together.

Born and brought up on the Coast.

We used to sell newspapers

in the joints along Pacific Street.

Blackie was the leader

of all the kids in the neighborhood...

and I was his pal.

Our families used to try to get us

to go to mass on Sunday...

but we generally ducked.

That reminds me,

that Rooney kid ducked mass.

And then I got so I wanted to go.

Blackie thought I was crazy.

And when I made up my mind

I was going to study for the priesthood...

I wanted to talk to Blackie.

I wanted to see

if I couldn't get him to understand...

to feel a little bit as I felt...

but he just said, "Well, good luck, sucker,"

and that was all.

We never were able to have that talk.

I came back from college...

and found Blackie deeper than ever

in the life of the Coast. He's gone right on.

But he has a code. He's always had,

ever since he's been a kid.

He never lied, he never cheated...

and I'm sure he never took

an underhanded advantage of anyone.

There's a picture of us together

when we were kids.

Don't let him know

I told you about the organ.

- Boy, he'd never forgive me.

- Oh, no. Oh, no, I won't.

He's that way, Blackie is.

Ashamed of his good deeds

as other people are ashamed of their sins.

But nobody in the world

will ever make me believe...

there isn't a whole lot more good

than there is bad in Blackie Norton.

Holy smoke! The coffee.

Ladies and gentlemen...

introducing the President...

of the Ladies' Blackie Norton Club...

Miss Della Bailey!

Girls and boys, I just want to tell you

that the ladies of the Coast...

wish to go on record

as endorsing Blackie Norton...

right up to the limit!

Ladies and gentlemen...

I will now introduce that great guy...

our candidate.

Born on the Coast, raised on the Coast...

lives on the Coast, a-vying for the Coast...

our champion, Blackie Norton!

Thanks. Thanks.

I'm no politician.

I didn't ask for this,

but now that I'm in it...

I won't stop

until I get some decent fire laws...

for our people down on the Coast.

Wait a minute, Norton.

What I want to know is,

what construction company...

is paying you

for trying to rebuild the Coast?

Yeah. That's right. How about it, Blackie?

Why are you going into politics?

Go on, Norton, tell us.

Here's the answer

you can take to your boss, Jack Burley.

We've tried long enough

to get a square deal...

from those potbellied landowners

up on Nob Hill.

Now we're going to go after it on our own!

Wait a minute. Tommy, come here.

This is Jim Sullivan's kid.

Last New Year's Eve...

he and his sister had to jump three floors

out of a burning building.

Are we going to go on

letting these Nob Hill stiffs...

make fire dancers

out of our women and kids?

Not if I can help it!

And now, free beer on me!

Kiddo, you were swell.

I'm so proud of you, I...

Yeah, yeah, now thanks.

You run along and get yourself some beer.

But, Blackie,

aren't we going to be together?

Well, I told you I'd be busy

when I brought you out here.

- I'll wait for you.

- Over there by that first beer truck.

You get yourself a drink. That's a girl.

Professor, will you do a favor for me?

Sure. What is it?

Go over there and get Trixie

and take her back to town.

- To town?

- Yeah.

She's hanging around those beer trucks

getting stiff.

Then what about Miss Blake?

- Oh, how do you do?

- How do you do?

You know, I brought Miss Blake out here.

That's all right.

I'll see that she gets home all right.

That's awful pretty. Know the name of it?

Would You?

Would I what?

- Glad you came?

- Yes.

- What's the matter?

- Nothing.

Do you mind going a little faster, please?

I promised Father Mullin I'd stop by

if I had time.

Yeah, sure.

Go on. Giddap, Dan.

You and Tim seem to be hitting it off

pretty well.

Oh, yes.

- What do you talk about?

- Lots of things. His work, mostly.

Oh, yeah, yeah, that's right.

You believe in that hocus-pocus,

don't you?

Yes.

Even if I hadn't believed, the faith of a man

like Father Mullin would make me.

Yeah, that's the trouble.

It gets hold of people that are all right

and makes monkeys out of them.

It lost me Tim Mullin.

Why, he'd have made the greatest gambler

the Coast has ever had.

The only mug I ever wanted to hang on to.

He loves you more than anyone else

in the world.

Yeah? Well, he blew me

for a lot of plaster saints.

You know, I don't go

for that sucker competition, Mary.

Blackie's got to be number one boy.

But it isn't competition.

I think people who believe in something

can love each other more.

Yeah. Honey, if that's what you believe,

it's all right with me.

I don't hold it against you.

- Say, who's that mug you're stuck on?

- No one.

- Well, didn't there used to be?

- No.

- Never?

- Never, no.

Whoa.

- Are you kidding?

- No.

Well, I'm a sucker

if I ever knew a girl like you before.

Come on. Get along there, Dan.

You must have had to do

some fast footwork...

to side-step those dudes

out there in Benson, Colorado, huh?

It wasn't so difficult, Mr. Norton.

Blackie.

Blackie.

That's better.

He holds her in his arms

Would you? Would you?

He tells her of her charms

Would you? Would you?

They met as you and I

And they were only friends

But before the story ends

He'll kiss her with a sigh

Would you? Would you?

If the girl were I

Would you? Would you?

And would you dare to say

Let's do the same as they

I would

Would you?

Well, that lets me out.

- That all your dough you got left?

- Every dime.

Here's $100, Edgar.

Go get yourself a cup of coffee.

Gee, thanks, Blackie.

I guess I'm gonna get some sleep.

- Hey, Chick. Put this stuff away, will you?

- Okay.

- Hello, Mr. Burley.

- Good morning.

Well, good morning, Burley.

Anything I can do for you?

Yes, I want to buy that contract

that you have with Miss Blake.

What makes you think it's for sale?

I don't see why you're so stubborn

about it, Norton.

- You might be needing money.

- I'm doing all right.

You may be in for a few difficulties

down here.

What do you mean difficulties?

Did you ever hear

of the Johnson-Addi gambling ordinance?

Yep.

You know

you're operating against the law.

Well, so's every other joint

in San Francisco.

Well, I'm just telling you, that's all.

You've taken quite an interest

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