The Great McGinty Page #4

Well, that's all I've got, anyway.

Take your hat?

- That was his idea.

- I think you look very well in it.

Mmm. Like a coal stove.

I suppose we are really married, aren't we?

I mean, legally.

That's what the guy said.

I er... I don't want you to think

that I've been concealing anything from you.

There's no reason why I should, is there?

It's just that in the excitement, I...

You what?

Sit down, Mr McGinty.

Rub it the other way, will you?

Oh, I'm sorry.

You see...

Here, you little monkeys.

After that hot bath...

Hello, Mommy.

That's what I had to tell you. They're mine.

Now you know.

- Thank you.

- Yes, ma'am.

Sorry it's a little bit dark in here.

I don't think the current's switched on yet.

No. Not until tomorrow.

I just paid the deposit today.

- I got some matches.

- I brought a candle.

Now, this is the foyer.

In there, there's a powder room and a large

closet, and a door leading to the pantry.

The living room.

Hey. Kinda big, innit?

You wait.

Wait a minute.

The dining room.

Here we are, back in the living room.

Hey. This is some dump.

What's the damage on it?

They make a special rate for mayors.

Of course, if you shouldn't be elected...

That will be their tough luck. You know,

I like that last room for the kids.

Fix that up with stuff that they like.

A doll house and one of those slides,

and some railroading for the little fella.

- The works, you know.

- That's very kind of you, Mr McGinty.

Holy smoke.

Well, you only live once.

If you give me some idea of how

you'd like the furniture, I could get that too.

Oh, sure. Well, I... Here.

Get a piano for over here.

Maybe over there.

And over on the other side, I'd kind of put

something to sit on or something.

And I'd er...

Erm...

Well, I guess that takes care of that.

Would you like curtains at the windows?

That's a good idea. Sure.

Maybe a rug on the floor.

Why not?

Maybe a bearskin.

Possibly, yes.

I think I have your general thought.

Here's the balcony.

- Hey, it's pretty, innit?

- Yes, it is.

- What's that across the street? A church?

- Mm-hm.

- Ring a lot of bells?

- Oh, I don't think so.

Well, I guess we've seen everything.

- Mr McGinty.

- Yes, ma'am?

I just want you to know that

even though our marriage is a peculiar one,

it's made me very happy.

It's a cinch we ain't got nothing to fight about

like people that's in love.

Yes, that is a cinch, isn't it?

- Hey. Wait a minute.

- What's the matter?

- They're having my parade. I almost forgot.

- Why, so did I, Your Honour.

I wanna see this.

Paper, paper, read all about it.

"Tillinghast trails. "

Paper, paper, read all about it.

"Tillinghast trails. "

Extra, extra, extra, read all about it.

Extra, extra, read all about it.

Extra, extra, read all about it.

- Mrs McGinty!

- Yes, Bessy?

Here it is! Hot ziggity!

What is it, Mommy?

Ladies and gentlemen...

The Mayor.

The Mayor.

Mr McGinty!

I'm terribly sorry. Stupid of me to leave

all this stuff here without a night-light.

Or a red lantern. Very pretty.

I'm so sorry.

I think it's covered by insurance, though.

- Collision.

- It's nice of you to take it so good-naturedly.

Many men would...

I forgot to congratulate you.

- On that?

- On being mayor, silly.

I mean, Your Honour.

Congratulations, yourself.

Now, if you'll be kind enough to show me

where I live in this bone yard.

I'll be glad to show you.

Oh! Mr McGinty.

- Had it coming to me.

- Now, if you'll only let me help you.

There.

There.

- You'll be all right now?

- I never felt better in my life.

Good night.

Don't you think

you better take your shoes off?

I'll take them off later.

Oh, no, you don't.

That's been tried before, sister.

- Mr McGinty!

- Uh?

Oh.

I'm sorry.

Here. Go buy yourself a hat.

I don't want your money.

Just trying to make you more comfortable,

that's all.

I...

I'll tell you a little secret.

What?

I'm as drunk as a skunk.

Of course you're not, Mr McGinty.

Now, you go straight back to bed.

What do you mean by getting up

at this time of the night and coming in here?

Now, I'll be in in a minute,

and if you're not in bed, I'll...

I'm terribly sorry, Mr McGinty. They have no

business coming to this part of the house.

The only thing I'm sorry about is...

...they had to see me like this.

But how can the city

even contemplate a municipal bus line,

when it has a 99-year contract with me?

A contract that you may even remember

something about, Mr Mayor.

Look, Mr Maxwell,

I'm only the mayor, see?

Now, if it was up to me, I'd make you

a free gift of all the bus rides to this city.

I think you run a beautiful bus.

I travel on them myself.

And I'll be genuinely sorry

to see them disappear from our streets.

Disappear?

But there must be some way,

some solution of mutual satisfaction.

I don't know how to talk to a mayor,

but if I could only persuade you that...

You can't persuade me, Mr Maxwell.

Because it's entirely out of my hands.

But I'll tell you what I'll do.

Just for old times' sake, I'll send

the chairman of the bus committee up,

and if you can persuade him,

it's all right with me.

Is he er...

difficult to persuade?

Well, he probably ain't impossible.

- Glad to see you looking so well.

- But, Mr Mayor, can't we...

Drop in again some time.

We'll go to a game. Do you like baseball?

- I'm not a fan, by any means.

- That's where you make your mistake.

You worry too much about business

and contracts and the flaws in them.

Get out, fill your lungs with fresh air,

forget your troubles.

- But let me...

- Look at that crowd.

- How many people do you think there were?

- I haven't an idea.

Look again.

How many people do you think there are?

- 10,000.

- Guess again.

- 20,000.

- You're not even warm, Mr Maxwell.

Well...

Oh.

You mean it's more like 40,000?

That's more like it. But that ain't it.

Mr Mayor, about that flaw you mentioned.

There's no flaw in that photograph,

Mr Maxwell. It's perfect.

What was your last guess?

50,000.

There were 75,000 people in that stadium.

Ain't that wonderful?

75,000 filling their lungs

with nature's own sunshine.

I'll send the guy up to see you. Goodbye.

I pray the lord my soul to take.

Amen.

And God bless...

Papa who went away,

and Mama,

and Uncle George and Bessy, and Brownie.

- And...

- And...

- And Mr McGinty.

- And Mr McGinty.

Who has been

so kind and generous to us all.

Who has been so kind and generous

to us all.

Amen.

- Oh, no, you don't. Now come on to bed.

- Whee!

Please, Mommy.

You've got to go to bed.

I have to get dressed.

- Please, Mommy.

- No, not tonight.

Blind man's buff.

Oh, right. Just one more game of

blind man's buff and this is the last one.

One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

Here we go.

Fee, fi, fo, fum.

I smell the blood of an Englishman.

- You're moving.

- I am not.

You are moving.

- Hello, Uncle George.

- Hello.

- Don't say anything, we gotta hide.

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