The Horn Blows at Midnight Page #5

as she got you into.

And it's a good thing for you

that I was around to get you out.

Out?

I persuaded the chief to give

you another chance tonight.

You did?!

Well, we're finished.

He'll surely blow

that trumpet tonight.

He won't

if he hasn't got it.

Oh, sure, but he has

the trumpet.

He won't have it long.

You're wonderful,

Elizabeth.

I don't deserve you.

I'm a weakling.

That's what I am-

Just a blundering,

inefficient nothing!

That's right, Athanael.

Well, you don't have to

agree so fast, do you?

After all, they don't

let every Tom, Dick, and Harry

through those pearly

gates, you know.

I know, and they won't let

you through again, either,

if you fail this time.

Me, fail again?

Ha ha ha! Don't you worry, my angel.

I won't

now that I'm here,

but I know the chief.

He's risking

everything for us,

And he'll worry himself sick

until we're back.

Now, all you have to do

is blow the trumpet.

And will I blow it!

I'll blow it like

they never heard.

What's the matter?

The trumpet-

I haven't got it.

What?

I left it in a place

called a restaurant.

You let the trumpet out of

your hands? Oh, Athanael!

But it wasn't

my fault.

I was hungry,

and I ate,

and the man

took my trumpet-

A man called

Porplinski.

You've got to

get it back.

Yes.

Oh, but I can't.

I can't until I get

something called dollars.

Dollars?

What in the world are-

Dollars.

I've got some dollars.

You have?

A man gave them to me

when I came in.

Oh, so that's

a dollars.

Funny-looking thing, isn't it?

Forget about that. You just

hurry and get the trumpet.

Look, Elizabeth.

Oh, a picture

of George Washington.

Yes. Remind me to tell George about this

when we get back.

Yes. Now, Athanael,

hurry, please.

Your proposition

begins to interest me.

Here you are,

boss.

This is Humphrey, my man.

Let's get down

to business.

Bring us the trumpet and

we'll give you $10,000.

10,000?

In cash, the minute

you hand it over.

I've never done any business

with trumpets,

but I remember once

at Carnegie Hall,

I moved a Stradivarius right

from under a violinist's chin.

Ah, me.

But this trumpet,

where is it? Who has it?

A fellow named

Athanael,

and he's right on this floor,

room 106.

He's there now with a

girlfriend of his, a harpist.

Musicians? Well, the whole

thing sounds very simple.

I can assure you,

it won't be simple.

Why not? All we do

is bust in and slug him.

Oh, but there must be no violence.

I can't even hint at what

the consequences would be.

Well, rest at ease, gentlemen.

There shall be no violence,

and you shall have your trumpet.

Humphrey, show these

gentlemen out, will you?

Pleasure.

Through the living room.

Well, good-bye

and good hunting.

Good-bye, gentlemen.

Well...

I've come to say

good-bye. I'm going home.

Are you?

I might as well. I've

failed at everything,

even at

ending it all.

I tried to jump off

the roof last night.

Really?

What stopped you?

A man with a trumpet.

He was up

on the roof, too,

and all of a sudden-

A man with a trumpet,

you say?

Yes.

Hmm. Fran, dear, about this

going away. You can't be serious.

Let's talk it over.

Come in, darling.

Here you are, buddy.

I thought you had

an honest kisser.

- Hey, waiter!

- Coming!

What's this?

Well, your grub was a 3-Er,

you give me 5 singles,

and I'm kicking back the deuce

difference. That's right, ain't it?

Well... yes, yes,

if you say so.

Now, may I have

my trumpet?

Your trumpet?

Oh, yeah, the bugle.

Look, drop in and pick it

up tomorrow, will you, buddy?

- Waiter!

- Coming!

Tomorrow?

Why tomorrow?

What do you mean?

Well, you see, I kind of

loaned it to my son Junior.

To your son?

My trumpet?

Yeah. He dropped in here

on his way to a picnic.

I figured

you wouldn't mind.

Oh, wouldn't I?

Now, you get that trumpet

back and get it right away!

I'm sorry, buddy, but the

picnic is over in Cliffside Park.

Cliffside park?

Where's that?

Across the river

in Joisey.

Joisey?

Hello. I'm looking

for Junior Porplinski.

You got a nice day

for it.

Yes, isn't it?

He's a little boy,

and he has a trumpet.

Ask that cop

over there.

Lost kids is

his racket, Bub.

Bub?

Sure is a pretty kid. You

ain't so bad yourself, sister.

Oh, you.

What you doing later on?

Does the little bitty baby

want to cry?

Well, what are

you looking at?

At you.

That's very amusing.

I mean that

bll bll bll!

Oh, you think

it's funny, do you?

Well, not to me,

but to an infant

of undeveloped mentality,

it's undoubtedly fascinating.

You looking for trouble?

No, no, no. I'm looking

for Junior Porplinski.

All right, folks!

Gather round,

friends and neighbors,

and see the first

performance

of the big free attraction

of the day!

What's that?

He's talking about Tarzola

the rocket man. Want to see?

Yes, yes.

All right, folks,

you can't afford to miss this.

You can't afford to pass this

by! The thrill of thrills!

Presenting the most amazing, the

most reckless daredevil of all time,

Tarzola the rocket man!

And now, ladies and gentlemen,

you are about to witness

the outstanding scientific

accomplishment of all time,

demonstrating the new

principle of propulsion

and included in that great

revolutionary secret weapon,

The rocket gun!

All right, are you ready?

Go!

You see?

It would be much more

impressive without the net.

Blow that horn!

Say, Junior, you've been

the bugler all morning.

So what?

Why don't you

let me have it?

Ok, I'll let you have it.

Gee, is he dead?

He looks kind of dead!

Let's roll him!

Yeah! Down to the water!

Are you all right,

mister?

Yes, yes, I'm fine.

Just sort of surprised me,

that's all.

Hey, that's a lovely trumpet

you've got there, Junior.

It costed $10 million.

It's all made

out of gold.

Yeah, I know.

And what would you say if I

told you that trumpet is mine?

I'd say

you was a fink.

A fink? Ha ha!

Well, I was just joking

about the trumpet,

but, say, I know a good game

we can play with it.

What kind of a game?

Well, it's called

"catch the trumpeter. "

Now, the one who's it

hides with the trumpet,

and the rest of you

close your eyes and count 10.

Then you go search for the one

with the trumpet,

and if you find him,

he has to pay a forfeit.

Yeah, that sounds

like a good game.

Well, come on,

let's play.

Now, lookit, I'll be it first.

Junior, lend me the trumpet.

All right, here,

but remember,

if you try and pull a

fast one, I'll conk ya!

Now, don't worry.

Now, look it.

Everybody close your eyes.

Junior, you count to 10.

All close your eyes, and,

All right,

close your eyes now.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

6, 7, 8, 9, 10!

Look out,

mister!

You'll fall

in our bear trap!

Boys! Boys!

Quiet! Quiet!

What's going on here?

What's going on here?

I can explain, ma'am.

We were just

playing a game.

Aren't you a little young to be

playing games with such grown-up boys?

Miss rodholder,

he's a fink.

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