The Glass Key Page #6

Certainly gummed things up

keeping quiet all this time.

Why did you?

You had a perfect self-defence plea.

I didn't want that. I want Janet Henry.

Ed, I want her more than I've ever

wanted anything in my life.

What chance would I have with her

if she knew that...

More chance then than you have now.

More chance of beating the rap, too.

Farr'll never touch me.

Listen, if he thought it would

do him any good

he'd arrest his own mother

and get a conviction.

And those letters have got him

plenty worried.

(KEY TURNING IN LOCK)

I thought so.

So you put up with Paul, be polite to him,

for the sake of the political backing

your father needed. That was easy.

Then she decided Paul killed her brother,

was going to escape punishment,

but even then she played along.

That's splendid.

Paul's sister and his sweetheart, both trying

to steer him into the electric chair.

He certainly has a lot of luck with his women,

doesn't he?

I wrote those letters. I'm sure Paul

killed Taylor and I'm going to prove it.

What do you think Paul's going to do

when I tell him about all this?

You're not going to tell him.

What good would it do?

Beside you're too fond of him to hurt him.

And there's another reason.

I'm asking you not to.

Can't you forget about Paul for a minute?

I thought we'd settled all that.

I told you once, Paul wouldn't make

any difference if I wanted you.

But I don't.

You still think you're five points better

than Paul and four better than me.

- You're wrong.

- No, I'm not.

Now that we understand each other,

let's get out of here.

Extra! Read all about it. Extra! Paper!

Hi, Al. Hi, Jim.

Hi, Ed. Well,

looks like you were right about that

swivel-neck Farr.

Really been putting it to you, haven't they?

(CHUCKLES)

- Did he get that indictment?

- Yeah, don't you worry.

We're getting a writ of habeas corpus, there

ain't a judge in this town that'll hold me.

Any judge'll hold you

if you don't come through with the truth.

Oh, you too, huh?

- Did you have Sloss bumped off?

- No.

- What about Taylor?

- I told you about that.

Yeah, you told me.

You told me you were keeping quiet

for Janet Henry. Well, that's crazy.

- She doesn't even like you.

- Don't start that again.

I'm telling you, she's been trying

to shove you into the electric chair

by writing anonymous letters

to Farr and everybody else.

That's enough.

What is this, Ed?

You trying to get her for yourself?

- I'm tired, go on, get out of here.

- I'll get out when I finish talking.

You'll get out when you're told to.

- This is the kiss-off.

- Okay, Paul.

- Say, Ed?

- Yeah?

I took your advice. I got that bicycle.

My kid's riding it.

(SINGING I DON'T WAN TO WALK WITHOUT YOU)

- Give me a fresh beer, Joe.

- Coming right up.

Give me another one.

Well, if it ain't "Sock me again" Beaumont.

Hello, Jeff.

Hey, gang. Meet the swellest guy

I ever skinned a knuckle on.

- We're gonna have a little drink.

- Okay.

Nah, not with these mugs.

I got just the place for me and you.

A little room upstairs that's too small

for you to fall down in.

I can bounce you around off the walls.

That way, we won't be wasting a lot of time

while you get up off the floor.

Excuse us, gents.

We got to go up and play handball.

Me and Cuddles.

Sit down.

Go on, sit in any chair you wanna sit in.

If you don't like that one, take another one.

I want you to consider yourself my guest.

We'll have a couple of drinks.

And then I'm gonna knock your teeth out.

- Nothing wrong with this chair.

- You're a liar.

There ain't a chair in this dump worth a dime.

Look.

See, Beaumont. You don't know

a cockeyed thing about chairs.

- My error.

- Ah, a wise guy.

You think I'm drunk.

- No, you're not drunk.

- I am drunk.

I'm drunker than you are.

I'm drunker than anybody in this dump.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

What'll it be, gents?

Where you been? I rung for you an hour ago.

I bring the best friend I got

in the world up here for a drink

and we got to sit around waiting

a half an hour for a broken down waiter.

What do you want?

- Rye.

- Scotch.

And don't get the idea

I don't know what you're up to, either.

I'm not up to anything. I'd like to see Nick,

and so I thought I'd find him here.

That's a lie. You don't care where Nick is.

It's me you're after.

- Oh.

- I know what you're up to.

You're a heel, that's what you are.

You know what I'm gonna do?

I'm gonna beat the hide off of you.

Here's looking at you.

I don't wanna look at you. You're a heel.

All right, have it your way.

You think it's a smart trick coming up here

and trying to get me to talk.

About what? Sloss?

You know what I think about that guy.

You ought to get a medal.

How'd it happen?

Oh, no, wise guy.

Little Jeff ain't talking about that.

- Why not? A secret?

- Yeah.

A secret. Between me and Nick

and the lamp post.

And you ain't no lamp post.

- You're a heel.

- Buy you a drink.

Ain't a bad idea.

But you are still a heel.

And I'm still gonna knock your block off.

Don't worry about me.

Nick's got everything fixed.

ED:
Rye.

JEFF:
Scotch.

I wouldn't bank too much on Nick.

Remember he let McMurry fry.

Well, I'm not McMurry.

A swell chance with all I've got on Nick.

What have you got on him?

(CHUCKLING)

He thinks I'm drunk enough to tell him.

Go on, tell him, Jeff.

Hi, Nick. Meet Mr Beaumont.

- He's a heel.

- I told you to stay undercover.

This whole joint's undercover, ain't it?

- Hello, Beaumont.

- Hiya, Nick.

- Get much out of him?

- No, not much.

I think you're a pair of heels.

- They've had enough.

- Scotch!

You talk too much with your mouth, Jeff.

I told you that before.

- What's the matter with you?

- I'm talking to you, Jeff.

Well, quit talking to me.

You know, we're coming to a place

where I am gonna quit talking to you.

Don't be a heel, Nick.

- You're just burned because I killed Sloss.

- Sit down and shut up.

Don't paw me.

(GRUNTING)

(NICK GASPING)

- Got the roscoe?

- Yeah.

Now you see what we got to do?

We got to give him the works.

(NICK GROANING)

Take it easy, Jeff.

I'm just a big, good-natured slob.

Anybody can push me around

all they want to,

and I never do anything about it.

Let's blow. Give me the roscoe.

- What kind of a heel are you?

- Sit down.

Sit down.

Remember I owe you something?

Put your hands on the table.

What a half smart guy you turned out to be.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

Get the cops. Better get a doctor, too,

in case Varna's not dead.

Better get an undertaker in case he is.

(JEFF CHUCKLING)

- All right, boys. Put him on ice.

- Hold it a minute.

So long, sweetheart.

- Funny man, huh?

- Yeah. You're gonna die laughing.

- Take it easy.

- All right, boys.

The show's all over, clear out.

That was pretty slick, Ed.

Pinning that Sloss killing on Jeff.

Thanks for giving me those bobs.

They tell me your wife's folks live in Omaha.

Yeah, they got a nice quiet little place

up there. I like it.

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