The Asphalt Jungle Page #9

I'd let you have mine,

but you got a gun, Doll?

No, Dix. I used to have one around,

but I guess somebody stole it.

I don't want a gun.

I haven't carried a gun since my 20s.

You carry a gun, you shoot a policeman.

Bad rap, hard to beat.

You don't carry a gun,

you give up and they hold one on you.

All right, Doc. You know best.

How about a cup of coffee, honey?

That squarehead.

He's a funny little guy.

I don't get him at all.

Maybe it's because he's a foreigner.

They just don't think like us.

I gotta get out of town too,

before morning.

Anyway, he's got plenty of guts.

How about a cup of coffee, honey?

- Make it or shut up about it.

It's that wound.

- Bright girl.

Dix, it's starting to bleed again.

I know, aspirin.

Pickering Avenue and Center Street.

You know where that is?

The other side of town.

- How far is that?

I can make it in an hour.

- Okay. I got relatives living there.

I'm between trains.

I got nothing else to do.

I know how it is.

I got relatives myself, on both sides.

Always writing me letters for money.

I haven't spoken German for a long time.

You have a Mnchen accent.

- I was born there.

You know what they say,

'Home is where the money is.'

Yeah.

- Franz?

Would you drive me to Cleveland?

- It's a long way, my friend.

But it would still be quicker

than to take the train.

What about your relatives?

- Forget them.

Well, I don't know.

Cleveland, that's a long way.

Costs a lot of money.

- There's a $50 tip for you.

What do you say?

- For $50, I'd drive you to the North Pole.

Well, we better get gas

if we're going to Cleveland.

Let's not stop.

Wait till we get out of town.

We can do everything at once.

Have a little meal, beer, a cigar.

Go in comfort.

You're a man who likes his pleasures.

Well, Franz, what else

is there in life, I ask you?

You've been gone two hours.

What happened?

It took time.

I was stopped twice, prowler cars.

The neighborhood's

crawling with coppers. Dix, you...

Did you get a car?

- Yes.

Here's the change.

It only came to $400.

I got it from Big Vivian.

It's in pretty good shape, Dix, except...

Did you put gas in it?

- Yes.

Where is it parked?

- Three blocks away.

Good girl.

- Dix.

Yeah?

- I'm scared.

All those cops out there.

They don't worry me one bit.

I'll drive slow. Head down

the main boulevard, and in 10 hours...

...I'll be home.

How are you gonna drive all that way?

I'll make it.

- No.

Not in the shape you're in.

I'll make it.

- Dix.

Let me go with you?

Please, Dix. Please.

Are you crazy? I'm on the lam.

I'm wanted bad, packing heat.

What good would you be?

- I could drive.

No, Doll. I'm wanted on a killing rap.

I don't care.

I just want to be with you.

You can't go without me.

I won't let you.

I won't tell you where the car is.

I don't get it.

I just don't get it.

All right, kid. Get your things packed.

Come on, let's play some more.

I'm fresh out of nickels, Jeannie.

How about you?

I'm always fresh out.

- Well, get some.

You know, you can cost a guy

a lot of dough.

Nickels he's complaining about.

What a spender.

Sure, he wants a date.

He always wants a date.

And where do we go?

To a third-run movie.

Then we take a ride and blow two tires.

Then we come in here,

and what do you treat me to? Cokes.

That's for you.

- Thanks.

Would you have change for this in nickels?

- Sure thing.

At least you could dig for enough

to play me some music.

Jeannie, cut it out.

Excuse me, boys.

Young lady, I like music too.

Would you play me a tune?

- Sure. What do you want?

You pick them.

- Gosh, how many have you got here?

Not very many. Play what you like.

- Okay.

Mister.

Mister. It's getting late.

Mister, we better be moving along.

Plenty of time, my friend. Plenty of time.

Look, mister, it's a long way to Cleveland.

Well, I suppose we better go now.

Don't go. We haven't used all the nickels.

- You use them.

Thanks. It's sure nice of you.

- Don't mention it.

Goodbye and thanks.

Thanks ever so much.

Pleasure was all mine.

You men want something?

What do you think, Ed?

Might be the number-one boy.

Just might be.

- Say, what is this?

Shut up.

- Better frisk him.

Go right ahead.

- Put up your hands.

You have me mixed up

with somebody else.

I'm from Cleveland, the importing business.

My name's Kremper.

Nothing there.

Let me see that coat.

You're making a big...

- Shut up. Stay out of this.

Bill, better phone the city

and check on the description.

We don't need a description.

I'll tell them we got him.

Okay, mister. Keep those hands up.

- Of course.

Excuse me, officer,

but will you tell me something?

Maybe. Just keep your face front.

How long have you been out here?

That's a darn funny question.

- It's not important.

We've been watching you

through that window two, three minutes.

Yes. Say, about as long as it takes

to play a phonograph record.

How's that again?

What are you talking about?

It doesn't matter.

- Keep your face front.

You mind if I smoke a cigar?

Just stand quiet there, mister.

We'll talk about smoking a cigar later.

Certainly, officer. Certainly.

How you feeling now, Dix?

All right. Cold.

Didn't used to get cold this time of year.

Why don't you let me drive

for a while, honey.

You don't know the way.

I don't wanna have to keep telling you.

Much longer, Dix?

Dix. Dix.

Dix.

Dix.

Mister. Mister.

Mister.

You gotta help me.

I gotta find a doctor.

My husband, he's sick.

Come on. I'll show you.

Go straight on, ma'am.

Down to the end of the block.

We'll get Doc Swanson.

He lives right near here, on Elm Street.

My husband, he's sick. Save him.

Get him inside here where I can look at him.

Right in this other room here, please.

On the table.

Take his coat off.

On the chair.

This man's been hemorrhaging.

He's lost a lot of blood. What happened?

He was hurt.

He was hurt in an auto accident.

How long has this wound been let go?

- A couple of days.

Is it bad, doctor?

Is he hurt real bad?

It's not good.

You got a good, strong arm?

- Good as any, Doc, I guess.

Come around here

and hold this for me, please.

That's right.

There we are.

Hello. Let me talk to Tom.

This is Dr. Swanson. Well, wake him up.

I'm thirsty. Get me a drink of water.

- Sure, Dix. Sure.

Lie down, sweetheart. Please lie down.

Hello, sheriff.

This is Tom. I got a man here

with a gunshot wound. Pretty bad.

Here, sweetheart.

- Who's that?

I had to take you to the doctor's, Dix.

I couldn't help it.

Hold him? I don't have to.

The man's unconscious.

No, no, no. He's a stranger to me.

His wife's with him.

She says it was an auto accident.

Dix.

Dix. Dix.

Well, he won't get very far,

that's for sure.

He hasn't got enough blood left in him

to keep a chicken alive.

Any more questions?

- I don't like to harp on the same point...

...but what about Ditrich?

If the past of the department...

He's in jail and he'll go to trial.

He'll be tried by 12 citizens.

Rate this script:5.0 / 2 votes