The Little Giant

MAN:
Well, folks, there's not

much doubt about what's happening.

We continue with the latest returns.

Illinois is just reporting.

Roosevelt, 54,897. Hoover, 13,242.

Virginia:

Roosevelt, 11,987. Hoover, 4354.

Ohio:

Roosevelt, 18,361. Hoover, 3530.

We're going to hear from Pennsylvania

in just a second.

North Dakota:

Hoover, 2767. Roosevelt, 5299.

Iowa:

Roosevelt, 14,874. Hoover, 10,342.

Kentucky:

Roosevelt, 5936. Hoover, 3542.

Here's another dispatch from Idaho,

always a Republican stronghold.

Hoover, 946. Roosevelt, 2288.

President Hoover has just sent a telegram

of congratulations to Governor Roosevelt.

It's all over but the shouting.

This has been the greatest Democratic

landslide in the history of American politics.

Governor Roosevelt

has carried practically every state...

... sweeping all opposition before him.

It certainly marks the end of one era

and the beginning of another.

MAN [O VER RADIO]:

Well, here's something interesting.

A flash from Milwaukee.

The brewing interests plan

to start immediate production of beer.

And a flash from California.

Governor Rolph announces

that he intends to release all prisoners...

... held for liquor violations in that state.

Listen to this, from New York State.

Democratic leaders announce

that Roosevelt will use all his influence...

... to have the 18th Amendment repealed

as soon as possible.

[WHISTLES]

It looks as if the Noble Experiment

was on its last legs.

The handwriting on the wall

for Prohibition.

It's taken us 12 years to realize...

Well, it's all over, boys.

We're washed up.

I knew it was coming.

What did I always tell you?

I knew it was too good to last.

Well, it lasted long enough

to put us in the dough.

But it ain't no more.

Hey, you mugs, all of you, come here.

Come and get it.

- What are you doing, Bugs?

- This is the payoff.

Might as well cut it up right now

and call it quits.

We're through.

[SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]

Just a minute. Pipe down, will you?

You just heard the bad news.

Our racket can't last much longer.

I'm stepping out of it tonight

and if you're smart, you'll all step out of it.

Here you are, Butch.

This is for the vine-covered cottage

out in the country somewheres.

You can grow your own vegetables,

sweetheart.

Here you are, Al.

Split it up with the kids.

[TALKING INDISTINCTLY]

All right, just a minute.

I ain't kidding now.

And another thing.

From right now on, no more mob, see?

No more organization.

We're all on our own.

Bugs, what are you gonna do?

[SCOFFS]

I'm gonna mingle with the upper classes.

I'm gonna be a gentleman.

Roosevelt elected. Hey, paper here.

Read all about it. Beer in six months.

- Hey, special extra.

MAN 1:
Extra.

MAN 2:
Read all about it.

MAN 1:
Roosevelt promises beer in April.

Why didn't you take your car?

You're just begging some guy

to put one in you.

I feel like walking. I'm restless.

Oh, quitting like this,

I hate to see you do it, Bugs.

Stepping out of the picture.

Handing the town right over to Joe Milano.

Well, it suits me.

In six months, he'll be out of business.

I'm going to step out

while I've still got mine.

Good evening, Mr. Ahearn.

MAN 2:

Oh, yes, we have. Roosevelt elected.

- How do, Nelson?

- Did you and the boys vote today?

MAN 2:
Read all about it. Roosevelt elected.

- Six times apiece.

So Uncle Sam has muscled in

on your racket, huh? Ha-ha-ha.

MAN 1:

Beer in six months.

For a leaden nickel,

I'd take a poke at that flatfoot.

- Just one good poke.

- No, no, don't, Bugs.

You're right, Al.

I got a million and a quarter salted away,

and all he's got is flat feet.

Let him laugh.

- What's eating the Little Giant tonight?

- He's going out of business.

How do you like that?

Bugs, is this on the level?

Yeah, it's on the level. I'm through.

Why, honey, you could no more quit

than you could stop breathing.

- It's your life.

- No?

Hey, you think I like to sweat and worry

20 hours a day?

Scheme, connive,

play both ends against the middle...

...live on the edge of a volcano

liable to blow up?

You think it's fun to spend your life waiting

for some mug to spray you with a gun?

I can't go anywheres

without a bodyguard.

I'm always tense,

coiled up like a spring...

...ready to duck

the moment anybody flashes a rod.

Every time I step into my car,

get near a window, walk around the block.

Every time somebody opens the door, I

hunch my shoulder waiting for that thunder.

That's how I've lived

for the last 10 years.

And believe me, sister, I got a bellyful.

Must be great to have dough to quit on.

By cutting all the corners,

I'll manage to eat...

...and keep the rain off me.

Yessiree.

I'm a young guy that knows all the answers

and got my whole life before me.

Yeah, and I'm all washed up with mugs.

I know, I came from the gutter,

but I'm stepping right out of it.

I'm gonna meet some real people.

Do something worthwhile,

amount to something.

When you meet these people,

what are you gonna talk about?

Machine guns and beer?

I'll manage to talk to them, all right,

and they'll listen.

I've been reading a lot.

I've been studying.

I ain't been wasting my time.

What do you think I've been reading

all them books for? Here.

Greek philosophy.

Pluto.

Yeah,

I bet you thought Pluto was a water.

I'm just crawling with education.

I've been reading all them Greeks.

They do plenty beside shining shoes

and running lunchrooms.

Sure, they don't do bad in a dark alley

with a stiletto, either.

Yeah, smart guy, ain't you?

What do you think I've been buying

all them pictures for?

Here, take a hinge at that one.

You ever seen anything like that before?

Not since I've been off cocaine.

No, you dumb head.

I suppose you think that's a cat having a fit

in a bucket of tomato ketchup.

Well, it ain't, see? That's art.

Why, it's one of the finest examples

of, uh, fu...

Futurism. Yeah.

Why, that's got, uh, dynamic rhythm.

Yeah, that's what it's got,

and tone color.

But it ain't got a nickel's worth

of perspective.

You know, pictures without perspective,

well, that's the last word in art today.

Go on, point me out some perspective.

I dare you to.

What for?

Do you know how much

that set me back?

Twelve hundred smackers.

Why, it's a genuine Kaputzawich.

- Who's he?

- The guy who painted that picture.

Oh.

Yeah, what am I fixing

to talk to them about?

See, I'm just crawling with culture.

Ask me anything.

What do you wanna know?

A good reason

why I shouldn't get stinking drunk.

What's the matter with me as a picture,

darling?

- Looks like you two wanna be alone.

- We could spare you.

BUGS:

Mm?

Oh, no, not tonight, Josephine.

I got a lot of heavy thinking to do.

Me for the hay.

Good night.

[HUMMING

WAGNER'S "PILGRIM'S CHORUS"]

You know, that's the "Pilgrim's Chorus"

by Wagner.

Grand opera.

[HUMMING]

[BUGS CHUCKLING]

Yeah.

Phoned you a couple times this morning.

Well, I was down the Civic Auditorium

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