The Asphalt Jungle Page #4

Every time I turn around, it costs thousands

of dollars. 10,000 here, 10,000 there.

I gotta... I gotta get out.

I gotta get out from under.

And the irony of it is

that I've got an opportunity...

...and I can't take it.

- Tough.

Bob...

...I'm gonna hand you

the shock of a lifetime.

Did you ever hear of Doc Riedenschneider?

Sure. Behind the walls, isn't he?

No, he's out. He got out last week.

Cobby brought him to me.

He's got a plan, beautifully worked out...

...for the biggest caper ever to be pulled

in the Middle West.

Only, he wants $50,000 backing.

Who would be taken?

Belletier's.

The rocks alone would be worth,

conservatively speaking, half a million.

How much would you get out of it?

- A third of the take.

Brother. You're knocking me out.

What if I were to tell you that I've got

a plan worked out to get it all?

I could tell them that I'd fence

the stuff myself, you see?

Promise them cash on delivery.

Then...

...when the time comes,

I simply wouldn't have the cash.

I'd tell them it'd take

a few days more to raise it.

I'm certain I could get them to leave

the stuff with me while we're waiting.

Go on.

- Well, then I'd disappear.

I'd take a plane to another country,

to another life.

The gold and platinum I could melt up

and sell as bullion, you see.

And the rocks, sell them one at a time.

There'd be no hurry.

They'd last a lifetime.

How wrong can a guy be?

Here I was worrying about your nerves...

...and you were dreaming up

a double-cross like this.

Yes.

But I can't do it,

because I haven't got $50,000.

I can tell you how to raise it.

You? How?

What's in it for me?

- Fifty-fifty.

Okay.

But we may get ourselves killed,

my friend.

Yes, I know.

Well, how do we raise the money?

- Simple. Cobby.

Cobby.

- Believe me.

He can dig it up without half-trying.

Yes.

But what do we tell him?

Why do I need money?

Leave it to me. Cobby wants to feel big.

Here's his chance.

Advancing money

for the great Alonzo P. Emmerich.

He'll do it.

He'll sweat, but he'll do it.

What boxes have you opened?

Cannonball, double door,

even a few fire chests. All of them.

Can you open a vault with a time lock?

- Sure.

What do you use, lock or seam?

- Seam.

Ever taken one?

Remember the Shafter job?

- Yes, I heard about it behind the walls.

It was a good score.

Who supplies your soup?

- I thrash it myself.

How are you as a picklock?

- I can open anything in four minutes.

He'll do.

- You're in.

Not so fast. What's the cut?

No cut. You get a flat guarantee.

I want 30,000.

- 30,000? Now, Louis...

Twenty-five is what we figured.

All right, 15 down.

- Ten down.

Fifteen is satisfactory, I think.

There's your paymaster.

What are you sweating for?

Money makes me sweat, that's all.

It's the way I am.

Who are the others on this job, Doc?

- Haven't got them yet.

There's only one driver,

as far as I'm concerned. Gus Minissi.

Ask Cobby, he knows him.

Gus, 100 percent.

- Get hold of him.

He'll take the heat and won't flap his lip.

- Get hold of him.

Sure, Doc.

Any ideas about a hooligan?

I know a very good heavy. I haven't

seen him in some time. Red Traynor.

He's taking the cure.

- Rule him out.

What about Timmons?

Who's that?

- My doorman.

That busted-down wrestler,

are you kidding?

He's got nothing upstairs but solid knuckle.

I'm a stranger and do not know

as much as you gentlemen...

...but what about this southerner,

this Dix?

He impressed me as a

very determined man...

...and far from stupid.

Frankly, I don't like the guy,

but I never saw a hooligan I did like.

They're like left-handed pitchers.

They all have a screw loose somewhere.

I suppose he's as good

as anybody, though.

Gus thinks he's tops,

and Gus is usually right.

I like him. I say we take him.

Suits me. You're the boss.

Well, I better be getting home now.

Mrs. Ciavelli's worried about the kid.

What's the trouble?

- He's got a cold again.

She takes him out first thing

in the morning. It's cold then.

She claims a baby's gotta taste fresh air.

Like I'm always telling her, 'If you want

fresh air, don't look for it in this town.'

Here.

He's 9 months old there.

I must say, I envy you,

being a family man.

Yeah.

Well, always problems, huh?

One good thing about Dix,

you can get him for nickels and dimes.

Tell me something, Cobby.

It's your money, isn't it?

Not Mr. Emmerich's.

What difference does it make?

- None, really.

It's this way. Mr. Emmerich doesn't want

this transaction appearing in his books.

I'm not risking anything.

He's good for it in case of a runout.

Then you haven't got a worry.

No.

Where are you going?

- I found a place.

A girlfriend's leaving town.

She let me have her apartment.

The rent's paid up till the first of the month.

When did this happen?

- This morning, before you woke up.

I bumped into her on the street.

Remember that tall brunette, used to do

the novelty dances at the Bandwagon?

Blanche LaRue. It sure was nice of her.

I can't go living off you forever, can I?

I was glad to help out.

- Yeah.

Well, maybe I can do something

for you sometime.

You don't owe me a thing. Forget it.

Well...

Goodbye.

How are you fixed for dough?

- A couple of bucks. Enough.

Here, take this and...

No. No, thanks, Dix.

I'm all through bothering.

Give us a kiss, huh?

Doll.

Yes, Dix?

Maybe I'll wanna get in touch with you.

Sure, my new address.

I'll be at 42 Merton Street.

Hello.

- Hello, Dix?

Yeah.

- Dix, this is Cobby.

Oh, hiya, Cobby.

- I got your number from Gus.

Yeah.

- Look, Dix...

...do you want to get into something big?

I mean, real big.

If you do, be at Gus' tonight at 10:00.

Right.

Everything's here.

The soft spot's an old steam tunnel.

Manhole's on the corner.

You drop into the manhole at 11:45.

Dix will cover you.

You break through the wall.

It'll take about six minutes to get

into Belletier's from the furnace room.

Watch out for floor wires.

Make your way up the back stairs

and jump the alarm system.

That will take another three minutes.

At exactly 11:
54,

Dix and I will come to the back door.

You open it for us.

I'll be waiting for you.

- Good.

Any questions?

Everything sounds okay.

- Same here.

Well, guess I better be getting home.

How's the boy?

- Oh, he's okay.

Ran a temperature yesterday.

Pretty high too.

We called the doctor, but temperatures

don't mean so much with kids.

He's back to normal today.

See you tomorrow night, 11:30.

- Good night.

Have you got a minute, Dix?

Sure. What's on your mind?

My friend, what do you know

about this fellow Emmerich?

You mean the big fixer?

I've heard his name, that's all.

I can talk to you, I think.

- Sure.

Mr. Emmerich is taking the jewelry

off our hands.

You sure are surprising me, Doc.

I don't exactly trust Mr. Emmerich.

Just a feeling. I may be wrong.

But it's up to us to collect, you and me.

Everything may go smooth,

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