Song of the Thin Man Page #4

- It got us out of the cab, didn't it?

They might not have believed

that I didn't have it.

- Oh, Nicky.

- Don't worry, darling.

We're on no spot that a solution

of the crime won't get us off.

Penthouse, you know.

These Talbin jams are the tops.

But, it's like I told you,

strictly for gates and gut-busters.

I'll tell you what.

- You're a slush pump man.

- Come again?

Strictly from Memphis.

And you?

You're a canary, strictly from Memphis.

- "Canary"?

- I could say you pluck a hot harp.

If Mr. Charles doesn't find that receipt,

he'll be plucking a harp.

- Mitch-boy!

- Clinker.

- I see you brought the pipe.

- Ready to light.

I want you to meet a couple of friends.

- Mellow-man McGee and the missus.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

- Hottest pump man in Memphis.

- Second hottest.

- Do you play an instrument, too?

- No, I'm a mud hen, a bird, a canary.

- A canary?

Strictly from Tennessee.

Talbin had Drake and the band

booked for a big tour.

Tommy didn't leave enough money

for a decent funeral.

Even asked me to square a $12,000 marker

for him before he was shot.

I hope you kissed your $12,000 good-bye.

That money never left the station.

I always thought he was a bad risk.

- New talent, darling?

- This is Baby... Mrs. Talbin.

How do you do?

We met before.

At the Charity Ball? Remember,

when you dropped your necklace?

Yes.

Why aren't you wearing it?

You're wearing the earrings.

It's at the jeweler's, having the clasp fixed.

- Let's get going. They're starting to roll.

- Yeah. Come on in.

What's your name?

Nemo!

Clinkersville. This skin I gotta get.

Put it in the deck.

Shuffle it up and shuffle it up.

- Spread some of that friendship.

- Bop me.

Bop.

Love it.

Come on.

Live a little, Ziggy. Live a little, man.

My body needs lifting. Lay it on me.

I love it.

Hold it, playmate.

Okay, you can save it.

Tommy Drake won't stay dead on me.

From out of nowhere, his broken-down

theme song comes back to haunt me.

Sounds rather catchy.

Tune in, man. I'm talking about that

broken-down Under the Stars jazz.

- Under the Stars?

- Yeah, and the piccolo part, yet.

Piccolo part, what about it? You got it?

Relax man, it's been cremated.

Dig that music.

It sends me out of this world.

- Should have sent you a little sooner.

- Yeah.

I'm sorry, I don't feel it yet.

That ain't it yet. I don't feel it.

That's it.

Yeah. Now I'm getting it.

That's more like it.

Come on, you,

start mixing, let's flip it now.

Clinker, is he here?

- Who?

- The Reed.

No, he ain't here yet. But it's still early.

Hey, come on, get with it.

They'll think you're a couple of squares.

That don't sound like the old Hollis juice.

That's Fran. Fran Page. Hollis' old flame.

Unless I got my photographs mixed, she

had some fire left over for Mr. Drake, too.

Yeah, the 88-man grabbed her off

and then he gave her the Fuller.

The "Fuller"?

The brush.

Well, invite her over to the bar

and have a drink.

Okay, order me a double bourbon

and better make it the same for Fran.

- Think she'll like that?

- She can always give it to me.

- Clinker.

- Well, hi-dee-dee! Long time no.

We really rode it high at that shuffle

of yours the other night, didn't we?

- Yeah, it was a wonderful jam.

- Join us for a drink.

I'll have to take a rain check. I'm with

the Nick Charles department tonight.

- Nick Charles, the detective?

- Yeah.

I don't care for anything.

I thought you told us he was a pump man.

I didn't want you to think I was loading up

your jams with a bunch of squares.

They were the squarest hipsters

I've ever seen.

- Yeah.

- What are they doing in a trap like this?

They're looking for The Reed.

He's disappeared.

- Really?

- Yeah.

I didn't know that.

Why, I thought that's what

you came here to see Fran about.

No, I came to see her about a job

I can get her in Havana.

Well, hi-dee-dee.

Hey, Fran.

Hello, Clinker.

I just caught you. Still the same old Fran.

Still plugging The Reed's tune, too.

That's the least I can do for him, isn't it?

- I've been looking all over for him.

- What do you want, lessons?

Why don't you stay off it?

You know I've always been in his corner.

Sorry. I've got the jumps.

You need some laughs.

Come on out and meet

a couple of friends of mine.

- No, I don't feel like meeting anyone.

- May we come in?

Fran, this is Mr. And Mrs. Nick Charles.

How do you do?

Well, you're very jivey. A hep warbler.

Mr. Charles is a bit of a schmo.

I thought perhaps you might be able

to help us locate Buddy Hollis.

He seems to have evaporated.

Somebody's been giving you a bum steer.

I don't know anything about Hollis.

Where is he?

Why don't you ask me

if I killed Tommy Drake?

You probably had good reason to.

Look, your three minutes are up

and this line is busy.

- So hang up the phone and get out.

- What's the fuss?

Get them out of here.

- Just going.

- Okay. Make mileage.

Get lost, you offbeat, rinky-dink.

You're nowhere.

Ree-bop.

I don't believe

there is any such person as Buddy Hollis.

There must be. Missing Persons Bureau

reported him seen...

in Chicago, Denver, Palm Beach and

Hollywood, but all at the same time.

Darling, how could he be

in all those places at the same time?

A split personality.

Well...

I think I detect a receipt-hunting party

of Mr. Amboy's.

Amboy? Nicky!

Asta, get in your own bed.

Now you stay there, Asta.

This wonderful bed.

I'm going to sleep for 20 years.

When you get up, don't wake me.

Nicky! What are you doing up, darling?

I heard your voices.

I hardly ever get to see you.

- Look at what time it is.

- That clock's fast.

Who's going to ride me to school

in the morning?

- Your mother.

- Your father.

We'll both ride you to school.

Now, you kiss this fiend good night,

and I'll plant him.

Come on. Up you go.

Go on. You too, you night owl.

Douse the light.

Here we go.

The Piggyback Express to Sleepy Town.

How about a story, Dad?

No story for you tonight.

You've got to get some sleep.

But, your stories always put me to sleep.

Well, all right, but just a short one.

Now let's see. Yes.

Once upon a time, there was an outlaw

named Dangerous Dan McGook.

Now one... Well...

- What's this?

- That's protection.

Protection.

I don't think you'd get much protection

from an old blunderbuss like that.

That's just an antique.

Antique.

What about McGook?

Son, I think that story

is a little too scary for this time of night.

- But I like to get scared.

- Well, I don't. It frightens me.

Look, I'll tell it to you

the very first thing in the morning.

- How's that?

- Okay.

- Good night, fella.

- Good night, Pop.

Sleep tight. Good night, Asta.

- What are you doing?

- I'm getting dressed.

Dressed?

Well...

- I might as well get up, too.

- No, you're tired. You stay in bed.

I feel fine.

All I needed was a good night's sleep.

Why all the darkness?

It's dark in here.

Open the curtains

and let some daylight in.

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