The Houston Story Page #5

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Yeah. See you at ten-thirty.

You did fine.

Don't kill him, Chris.

[ Telephone ]

[ Telephone ]

Yeah?

Oh it's you, Louis.

Hey, that's bad. We need that refinery.

Are you sure he won't sell?

Right. I'll try to fix something up.

No, not tonight. I'll see you in the

morning. I've got something to do.

Hello, Duncan.

Zoe couldn't come .. she's all tied up.

What did you do to her?

Like I said ..

She's all tied up with a big fat rope so

she couldn't get away to warn you.

You didn't dare touch her.

Do I look like the

kind that hurts girls?

Shay sent you and the other guys across

the border. What are you doing here?

You know, I don't know how, Duncan.

But the heat is on down there too.

I just got out with my skin.

Now it looks like I'll have to blow

the country. South America maybe.

You think my 25 grand will

pay the way? Is that it?

Yes.

You know, I like you, Duncan.

I wouldn't want to see the Cops

start to find out things about you.

You know how the Cops are.

If they got hold of me and I didn't

say what they want to know ..

They wouldn't like me.

My psychiatrist says I should

make people like me.

Why are you coming to me for dough?

Why don't you ask Atlas or Shay?

I just got through telling you.

I like you, Duncan.

You like me?

What if I don't give you the dough?

No, I've never killed

a friend in my life.

I guess there has to be a

first time for everything.

You.

You'll get out of the country?

Sure. I've never seen ..

Rio, for instance.

It had better be Rio

or a place just as far.

Don't come up with anything

that ain't green, pal.

Aren't you going to count it?

Why, so you could try jumping me?

No, it's all there.

25 grand. Just what Zoe asked for.

But you know what, Duncan?

I was only kidding.

Yeah?

- Yeah.

You're not smart. You're a sucker.

You're not going to leave here alive.

I heard what you did to Shay.

In that case you'll have it tough trying

to catch those blank pieces of paper.

No, Gordy!

No.

Take it easy.

Oh Frank.

Frank.

What about it, Duncan?

A shame.

She was a good looking kid.

But she had no taste.

Put her down.

Put her down.

Everything has been loused

up because of you, Duncan.

Duncan!

Duncan, stop it!

You are killing him.

Alright! Give Zoe a

gun and let her do it!

Gordy did this?

What do you think you raised, a choirboy?

That's why I came here.

I couldn't find Gordy anywhere.

I thought he'd try something like this.

He sent Barker to kill me. When

that didn't work he tried it himself.

Oh Constant is going to

love the whole routine.

No, no. You mustn't tell Constant.

Get some brandy.

Oh you're giving orders now, eh?

- Get it!

Oh, Frankie.

You'll be alright.

- What did he do to me?

Don't try to talk.

Right now, I feel like killing Shay.

But I'm going to give you a

chance to get him off the hook.

He hit my face.

No, there won't be any scars.

He didn't cut me, huh?

Good.

What about Gordy?

I won't lift a finger for him.

I tell you what the idea is and

you give Shay his orders.

Not in front of her.

- In front of her.

Alright, what?

Gallo refuses outright to sell us his

refinery. We need that particular one.

It's right near the place where

most of our ships dock.

We'll force him to sell.

- How?

Gallo's business comes

from the Hopkins company.

An independent outfit with two wells.

If those wells went out

of business, so would Gallo.

We'll let Shay pull the job.

If he pulls it off, I'll put in a

pitch for him with Constant.

You'll put in a pitch?

- Yes, I will.

You don't think he'd listen to

you about Shay, do you?

A fall from the Justice Observatory does

not usually leave much to be identified.

Fortunately however, the facial

features are still fairly intact.

Yeah.

He was one of the guys alright.

How do you like that?

Got a run-down on him.

His name is Chris Barker.

He was a flunky at the

King's Arms at Galveston.

A flunky?

That's a hood with a

social security number.

We've been concentrating on Houston.

You know, Mr Talbot, Galveston

is a very interesting town.

Say, you boys heard about a

disturbance going on around here?

No, haven't heard anything.

"402. Go ahead 402."

402. That report we got

on a riot was a windy.

Noting to it.

Hey, that was the Hopkins' well.

I might have known you would

be the one to double-cross me.

It was you who tipped the Cops.

You fixed it so that

Gordy would be caught.

He's getting better than he deserved.

Because sooner or later the

mob would kill him or I would.

He's in jail now. He's safe.

Nobody can get him.

Yeah, yeah. He's in jail but he

thinks I double-crossed him.

He thinks I was the one that gave

him the orders to blow the wells.

You fixed everything fine, Duncan.

You certainly fixed

it fine, you dirty rat.

Let go of me.

[ Telephone ]

[ Telephone ]

Yeah. He's here.

It's your lawyer, Wellman.

Hello Wellman.

Yeah, Atlas.

What?

The police are at ..?

The police are after me.

Gordy gave them my name.

He did that to me?

To me?

What do you expect?

You double-crossed him and

he gave you more of the same.

Yeah, but now I got to run.

I never had to run before.

I don't know how to run.

You learn fast when you're

being chased, Pauley.

I know.

I'll go to Europe.

I've got friends there, good friends.

I can make it.

The police were never smarter.

Than Pauley Atlas.

"Yes, Mr Duncan?"

Get me St Louis.

Central 12511.

Ask for Mr Constant.

Emile Constant.

[ Telephone ]

[ Telephone ]

Mr Constant?

Duncan .. Houston.

Well, I'm buy now but if

it's important, go ahead.

I see.

First Shay, now Atlas.

Things are falling apart there, fast.

Alright Duncan, you

take over temporarily.

We'll hold a meeting to decide if you'll

run the territory on a permanent basis.

Thank you Mr Constant. I will

be waiting to hear from you.

Stokes. Kalo.

There is too much trouble

in the south-west territory.

It started with Duncan coming in. I

doubt it will end until Duncan goes out.

How far out do you want him to go?

Well, I detest violence.

It's just not good business.

Mr Duncan knows more

than is good for us.

You leave for Houston immediately.

And I'll expect to read the results

of your visit in the newspapers.

You're making me use muscles

I didn't even know I had.

Did you ever see yourself

while you are singing?

Any muscles you don't use,

you haven't got.

That's why women were born.

You're right. Gordy didn't give me

anything permanent to remember him by.

I told you it would be alright.

Do you feel sorry for Shay?

Ask me again.

Any more questions?

Shay didn't get anything

he didn't ask for.

When you want a top spot you've

got to be able to hold on to it.

Are you trying to

convince me or yourself?

I'm the big boy now.

Nobody is going to get me out.

Sure baby, sure.

Only now that you have

everything, you can quit.

Everything?

Money.

Power. You have me.

You're still young enough to enjoy it.

You're a lucky guy.

You've got to have brains to be lucky.

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