The Big Street Page #5

That's 50 miles out of my way.

- Start pushing, Pinks.

- Okay, lady. I'll sign.

I met a lot of dames in my life, but I never

met nobody like you. Knock wood.

Hey, the next time you go to Jersey,

use the bridge.

We're not going to Jersey,

we're going to Florida.

Florida?

I'm just going to pretend

he didn't say that.

Right on the button, Pinks.

Everything just the way I figured it.

Yeah, sure is nice here.

Sun's warming me up already.

- Violette.

- Pinks.

Hi, Pinks.

- Oh, Pinks.

- Oh, Violette.

- How are you, Nicely?

- Your Highness, you made it.

Eleven days flat, Violette.

You look wonderful.

I can't believe you walked all the way.

Well, I used my evil eye

and got a few hitches.

- We got your room all ready.

- It's all fixed up.

Great. I won't be bothering you

very long. I got plans.

By the way, what's the best store

for tropical outfits?

There's a nice shop

on Washington Avenue.

I guess you're a girl for Lincoln Road.

If it's the best, I am. Pinks, go get me

some pajamas to choose from.

- But, Your Highness...

- Don't argue with me.

Nicely, drag me inside,

and be careful.

Yeah, we're off to a swell start.

Well, don't stand there now, Pinks.

I told you to do something, didn't I?

She hasn't changed very much, has she?

I've never known a girl

with such courage, Violette.

She didn't whimper or complain

on the whole trip.

- I bet.

- Lf not for her, I never would've made it.

And what if it hadn't been for you?

Let it go.

- What are you gonna do, Pinks?

- Oh, get a job.

That isn't as easy as it sounds.

Oh, something will turn up.

It always does.

And in the meantime?

In the meantime,

I gotta get her some pajamas.

Pinks, I gotta say this.

You're a fool. A terrible, terrible fool.

And somebody ought to kick you

around the block.

But I guess I'm a fool too.

Here.

Buy her the gol-darndest

pajamas in Miami.

Thanks, Violette. I'll pay you back.

I told you if you wore your white coat,

they'd think you was an attendant.

Take this one.

- Well, maybe it belongs to somebody.

- Stop worrying, will you, and put me down.

- Get out of here, Pinks.

- Are you comfortable?

Great, now evaporate.

- I'll be back to get you in two hours.

- Announce yourself as my houseboy.

I got a line on a job. Wish me luck.

Wish me luck. I got a line on something

that makes your job look silly.

Boy.

- Yes, ma'am?

- Would you tell Mr. Decatur Reed...

...that Miss Gloria Lyons

would like to see him?

Oh, yes, surely.

- Mr. Reed.

- Yeah.

- Miss Lyons would like to see you.

- Miss Lyons?

Yes, sir. She's over there.

Thanks.

- Gloria.

- Hello, Decatur.

- I didn't know you were in town.

- Got in yesterday.

What a break for Miami Beach.

Where have you been?

Oh, California mostly.

Santa Barbara, Palm Springs.

- I was ill for a while.

- Yes, I heard about it.

- All right now?

- Just perfect.

Oh, no.

Not until we take up

where we left off.

- I'll think about it.

- You'd better.

Say, come on over

and meet my friends.

Sorry, I can't, I've...

- I've got to rest for a while.

- I'll drive you home when you're ready.

My chauffeur's calling for me.

Oh, Gloria. Don't tell me I'm gonna

get one look at you and out?

No, I'll run into you tomorrow.

I intend to spend a lot of time

around here.

I'll be waiting with the low tide.

And now, darling, I really must rest.

All right.

Season doesn't begin until tomorrow.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

I met the most beautiful beautiful

that ever came south.

- That's the 11 th since December 1 st.

- Who is she?

- Gloria Lyons. Out of this world.

- Lf that's the case, why are you here?

That's not like you.

Not like you at all.

She gave me the quick freeze,

but I shall thaw her out.

Take her home

in that roadster of yours.

The way you drive would increase

anybody's blood pressure.

She turned me down for a chauffeur.

Anybody who turns Decatur Reed down

for a chauffeur, I want to meet.

Her or the chauffeur?

Now, Samuel.

But I've got a lot of experience.

Just try me once.

We don't need no busboys.

- Give me a chance. Just one night. If l...

- Look, I'm busy. Kindly go away.

- Hey, Joe, what'd that guy want?

- A job as a busboy.

- Well, give it to him.

- You've got five too many, Mr. Ables.

Now we got six.

Go after him and put him to work.

Okay with me, Mr. Ables.

Okay with me.

- Getting conscience, Case?

- Not me. Ables comes first.

Not if you keep leasing nightclubs,

he don't.

Well, it's a nice front, ain't it?

The only time a front is nice

is when the back pays.

It'll pay, Mac.

They tell me that schlemiel pushed her

all the way down here from the Big Street.

How do you like that?

How do you like that?

Wait till you see her.

She looks wonderful.

- Look what I bumped into outside.

- The sun has made you an angel.

You look like you spent

two weeks at Coney Island.

- Why'd you bring these guys here?

- They were dying to see you.

- We brung presents.

- We came to see the steeds at Tropical...

...but we don't forget acquaintances.

- You can start forgetting.

This is a class joint,

and I'm not from characters like you two.

She doesn't mean it, fellas.

She was only kidding.

Enough with the talk, Pinks. Get me out

of here. Tell those moolies to scatter.

You sure fix things good.

Come on, get me out of here quick.

Well, I must say, we were received

like the Italian ambassador in Greece.

Don't they like each other neither?

If you had brains,

you wouldn't have brought them.

Suppose Decatur had seen them.

I guess for a minute

I just forgot about Decatur Reed.

You guys still here?

Hello, Gloria.

Well, I'll be seeing you.

I'm sorry, Your Highness.

I'm sorry he saw you.

You did it deliberately.

Deliberately.

You planned it like this.

You don't want me out of this chair.

- Please...

- Button your lip.

You mustn't get upset.

Everything's gonna be all right. I got a job.

- I'll make it up to you, I swear.

- You'll make it up to me.

You got a job.

What kind of a job? As what?

A banker maybe? Not a broker?

How about maybe president?

Go on, tell me.

- A busboy.

- A busboy.

Cleaning tables, filling glasses,

making with the butter.

And you'll make it up to me?

Why, you're not even a good busboy.

I had to get you your last job.

It took plenty of pull to keep you.

Louie the headwaiter

says you got two left feet.

- He did, huh?

- Yes, he did.

I'm the best busboy there is, see.

Nobody in the world is better than I am

when it comes to being a busboy.

And not even you can say different.

Get out of here. Get out of here!

I'll get.

I tell you, it's important.

It's a matter of life and death!

I'm gonna lose my job.

I'm a family man.

Pinks!

Pinks!

You're creating a disturbance.

- What's the matter, Violette?

- Her Highness, she's very sick.

I don't care about her. Not anymore.

She's collapsed. She might die, Pinks.

- No.

- What kind of carryings-on is this?

I run a respectable gaff here,

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