Silver Streak Page #7

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in order to discredit him.

We would have killed him anyway, but

his escape attempt upset the entire scheme.

Come in.

Excuse me, sir. It's all confirmed.

The car will be waiting at Rockdale.

Good. Oh, Mr Caldwell,

you do remember Johnson, don't you?

He played the professor. He'd have done the

same thing at Chicago with Miss Burns' help,

had it been necessary.

How long before we arrive at Rockdale?

- About an hour and a half, sir.

- Thank you, Johnson.

Now, all that remains

is to clear up a couple of points,

meaning the two of you.

I've arranged a new scenario wherein you are

responsible for the murder of the professor.

- Why would I kill the professor?

- To get the Rembrandt letters.

He found out, and you had to shoot him

because he tried to blackmail you.

Which brings us more or less up to date -

except that in about 45 minutes from now,

the professor's trusty secretary

is going to quarrel with her partner-lover

and shoot him.

And he dies,

but not before shooting her.

Ah, enough of this talk

of plots and scenarios.

Join me in a cup of coffee, would you?

Coffee, mister?

- Thanks.

- The professor's book will still be published.

Yes, indeed, my dear, but without the letters

I'm afraid it will be regarded

as the jottings of a revisionist crank,

an ex-crank, as a matter of fact.

The Silver Streak has its drawbacks,

but try the marmalade.

- They provide an excellent cuisine.

- Thank you.

I'll tell the boys. We aims to please.

- Coffee, miss?

- No, thanks.

- He ain't bullshitting about the cuisine.

- Steward.

- Is that your lady? She's something else.

- Steward!

- Stand up, mama, let me get a look at you.

- Steward!

- Have mercy!

- Steward, you may go. Thank you very much.

- Can I help you? More coffee?

- No.

Half a cup?

- Oh, I'm sorry, sir. Look what I've done!

- Get out of...

You ignorant n*gger!

Who you calling n*gger? You don't

know me well enough to call me no n*gger!

I'll slap the taste out your mouth. You don't

know me. I'll beat the white off your ass.

- Who are you?

- I'm a thief.

It's all right, Hilly. He's a friend of mine.

- Hello.

- Hi.

- So this is Mr Big?

- That's the man.

You ain't saying sh*t now, Mr Big.

I must admit

that I'm slightly at a loss for words,

but, on the other hand,

I should warn you that you are a killer,

and you are wanted

by the police in every state,

and I recommend that you... be careful.

You're the killer

who's wanted by the police in every state.

That man wasn't a vitamin salesman,

he was a federal agent.

They've been after you for two years,

ever since that plane crash

in Cologne, Germany,

when you caused 100 people to die

just to cover up your link with the

scandal at the Metropolitan Gallery.

So why don't we get them

the proof that they wanted?

Let's go and get the Rembrandt letters.

Get up.

If you insist.

- Get up, Whiney!

- Just do what he says.

Get the letters, Hilly.

Mr Caldwell,

I take it that you are a reasonable man,

and like all men,

you place a reasonable value on your life.

- Are you trying to bribe me?

- No, I'm merely pointing out that life is short,

and the smart man hedges his bets.

You can't protect bets.

One thing I've learned from this trip is

that you play the game and take what you get.

I found them.

Get the girl!

What do you think this is? A Western?

- What are you doing?

- Trying to save our asses!

I'm notjumping!

- There's a bridge! Get ready!

- I won'tjump! I've left the train twice already!

- Get ready!

- I'm notjumping!

George! Come on!

Son of a b*tch!

Sh*t!

Not again!

What are we gonna do now?

All right! Hold it right there.

Sh*t.

I talked to Chaney. He'll have the helicopter

at Rockdale, five minutes from the station.

- Mm-hm.

- We'll be there in 46 minutes.

Is there any way of stopping this train

between here and there?

Aside from the engine,

there's an emergency brake in each car.

- Disconnect them.

- OK. All of them?

Yes, all of them. And take her with you.

Come on.

They're yours.

- You George Caldwell?

- Would you please just tell me...

Goddammit! Would you please tell me what

the hell we're doing here and what you want?

- You are George Caldwell?

- Yes!

- I want some information from you.

- I did not kill Sweet.

We know. If you weren't so dumb, you'd have

realised we planted that story to protect you.

I've had men in every town

since Dodge City trying to pick you up,

while you're wasting valuable time.

- I didn't know that they were federal agents!

- Well, let's see what you do know.

Here.

- How many men has Devereau on the train?

- Two.

- What's his plan after Chicago?

- He's not going there.

He's getting off at the stop before,

at Rockdale.

I was afraid of that.

OK.

Matthews, over here.

We're gonna stop the train before Rockdale.

Closest is... the Harris Mill junction.

Contact the railroad. Tell them

to make out like it's a routine inspection.

Have Bronsky's men

in choppers from the south.

Get the passengers off the train,

and no slip-ups.

We'll be there as soon as we can.

You come with us.

Steward, what do you wanna do?

This has been a nerve-shattering

experience for me. I'd like to go home.

Boys, take him anywhere he wants to go.

Men, grab your rifles. Let's move it!

Caldwell, your shells.

Let's go.

- What does he think I'm gonna do with this?

- Blow the tyres out on the train.

Thanks for everything.

My pleasure.

Goddammit, Caldwell, get out here!

If there's ever anything that you need...

don't call me.

Don't let them get you killed.

Take it easy, killer. Stay loose.

Where'd you like to go, fella?

Well...

I left my Jag in Kansas City.

I don't know. That's what they said.

Everybody off at the Harris Mill junction.

Everybody off? OK, I'll tell my crew.

- Why are we stopping?

- I don't know. Some kind of security check.

That's the damnedest thing I ever heard of!

Watch your step, watch your step.

- There's the police.

- Watch your step.

- Where?

- Step back. Come on, get back.

You guys are just totally

uncontrollable, you know that?

The police are here. The porters

are asking everyone to get off the train.

Are they?

Keep moving toward the ferries, please.

This is a routine investigation.

None of you is in danger.

Please cooperate with us

so we can complete our investigation quickly

and get you back aboard and on your way.

Please keep moving.

- Excuse me.

- Certainly.

Excuse me.

- Everybody off, please, Mr Devereau.

- What's happening?

We're not sure. The police want

everyone evacuated. Maybe it's a bomb scare.

A bomb scare? We'd better get off, hadn't we?

I certainly am.

Stay with her. Cover us from the window.

We're gonna take this thing to Rockdale.

Hey, what are you doing here?

Everybody's gone.

What are you doing with those rifles?

You bastards!

Everyone's off, Chief, except our boy.

Hold it right there, Devereau!

- Sh*t!

- Take it easy, killer!

What are you doing here?

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