The Houston Story Page #3

---

saw in his whole life.

You interest me strangely.

By the time Atlas and Shay

get back into town ..

Shay is going to be on his

way to being an office boy.

What are you trying to do?

Write your own death certificate?

You're not going to say anything to

anybody because you know it's right.

Is this deal of yours really so hot?

You saw the way Atlas and Shay got

off deckchairs in a hurry, didn't you?

Faster than I've ever seen them before.

Are you going to stand

in the way of progress?

I still have another show to do.

I'll be out front watching you in it.

I wouldn't want to miss

looking at you for a minute.

Atlas said you knew all

the right things to say.

Did Atlas go out of town

on orders from the big boss?

In St Louis.

Then he isn't top man?

You'd better be careful

with Gordy, Frank.

He can be dangerous.

With you watching out

for me, how can I miss?

He broke in, Chris. I couldn't stop ..

You know Shay's orders.

No guy messes around with you.

Let's get him out the back way.

Frank.

Oh Frank, what happened?

Never mind.

Never mind as long as you come

to me whenever you're in trouble.

They got to me once.

It will never happen again.

Our stock and debenture investments

are solid. These give me no concern.

As for our other legal holdings.

Real estate, insurance companies,

cleaning and dying plants and so forth.

They are showing steady

if not sensational profits.

Now for our other holdings.

Spiro, the book numbers in your area

fell below last month's by 8 percent.

I'm sorry, sir.

But business is bad all over.

We tried to boost it by putting pressure

on our model agency and escort bureaus.

If you don't up your take in 30 days the

combine will have to look for a new man.

Yes, sir.

And that goes for the rest of you. You

all dropped from three to six percent.

At least Pauley Atlas here

has enough incentive to ..

Look for new ways to bolster

the take in his territory.

Go ahead with the plans of Frank Duncan,

Paul. Bring him into the organisation.

Thank you very much, Mr Constant.

We'll only need Duncan

for a short while.

When we take over control

we'll get rid of him and ..

Then eliminate his cut.

Kill a man who can make

us five million dollars a year?

Atlas, either you've not forgotten your

Capone days or you're a bad businessman.

There is to be no killing.

Do you understand?

And no violence if we

possibly can avoid it.

Is that clear?

Yes, but this Duncan fellow ..

- Whatever he is, we need him!

What are you afraid of? Gordy Shay?

If a better man than Shay

comes along, then that's it.

It's up to Shay to earn his ..

- Just a minute, Mr Constant.

Sit down!

The meeting is over.

It will continue tomorrow.

And perhaps the rest of you can come up

with something as good as this oil deal.

You heard what Constant said.

Nothing happens to Duncan.

Right now, he's the fair-haired boy.

But sometimes things blow hot and cold.

In the meantime,

we'll keep our eyes open.

And remember,

I'm right at the back of you.

I don't like these slow times of day

when no customers are around.

Nothing is wrong with relaxing.

It gives you too much time to think.

Nothing is wrong with thinking.

Sometimes there is.

Thanks.

We've had a lot of laughs,

haven't we Frank.

Our share.

Only things aren't so funny now.

I live you too much.

Don't knock it.

You know, it used to be when you touched

me I went weak all over. Now, it's ..

It's like living in the middle of

nowhere when you're not around.

Are you starting to think about

those little vine-covered cottages?

Don't knock it.

Three is a crowd, honey.

I don't like the idea of a mortgage

sitting down with us every time we eat.

We always said life is for laughs.

That's all.

We got to get all the laughs we

can while we can still breathe.

Is that the way it has to be?

Well maybe you're right, honey.

These slow times of day are bad for you.

It's a customer.

- Let him wait.

No.

The men at the well said I

could find frank Duncan here.

Frank.

What do you want?

He acts like we're married, doesn't he.

I've a message for you.

The boys get in tonight in four hours.

I'm meant to take you back to a meeting.

Why you?

I'm just carrying out orders. You don't

have to make a federal case out of it.

This is important. I'll get

in touch with you later.

Alright, Frank.

- Come on.

Such a temper.

What do you feed him

back there, raw meat?

What did you want me to do? Tell the two

goons I let you stay in my dressing room?

I have to look right

when I'm on the floor.

And Gordy Shay sure would

have changed the way I looked.

I won't lie to you, Frank.

I'm afraid of him. Scared to death.

Chris Parker will tell

him I threw a pass at you.

That doesn't bother him.

As long as I don't catch any.

I think you'd better start deciding

which team you are on.

I've to be afraid of you too?

Maybe you do. If you don't go

along with me, just get out of my way.

Because I'm not going to

stop and you may get hurt.

Doesn't anybody mean anything to you?

You like your privacy.

Don't you like me liking privacy?

It fits the front door.

There is community

property in this state.

Well, here is to your success, Frank.

The deal went through

okay without a change.

Now, you are one of us.

The best news I ever drank to.

You know, oil is only

one of our businesses.

There is a lot involved.

Do don't get any fancy

ideas of your own.

I'll take orders.

And you'll take orders.

Clear?

Sure.

- Good.

Now then, give us a run-down on

how you expect to proceed with this.

The first thing we do is

start buying off the foremen.

Good morning, Mr Duncan.

Good morning.

Mr Marshal had an appointment with you.

Come in Marshal.

You were able to complete my order?

With one exception.

The price will be 14 dollars a barrel.

You told me 11.

Crude oil is selling at 2 dollars

and 96 cents a barrel and you want 14.

There are expenses I didn't count on.

I don't know what I'll my government.

Tell them to raise the taxes.

That will take care of me fine.

The tanker will arrive tomorrow night.

Your first shipment arrives in 10 days.

You will have your cash

payment before then.

Come in.

Hiya Frank.

- Hi, Louis.

Is that another new suit?

- Yeah.

Clara picked it out.

Hey, get a load of this.

It says here you can

drill a well sideways.

Diagonal drilling.

What they trying to slip me?

That book is on the level. You can drill

in one spot and hit a pool a mile away.

It's like making it the hard way.

Any papers for me?

Those trucking contracts.

- Hey.

We must be doing pretty good business

with all these papers I have to sign.

About the way I figured.

I'll bring these back later.

Up.

Will you get up.

Contracts.

Want to know something?

None of them are any good unless

they got my John Hancock on them.

How is business in my old

standard, the Shamrock?

Well, we ain't handing

out cigars like these.

You want to know the

secret of my success?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes