The Man with the Golden Arm Page #6

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Maybe this bandleader

won't like how you play.

Zosh, look I joined the Musicians Union.

Why you gotta' go around changin'

things? Why can't it be like always?

Why you gotta' quit dealing, Frankie?

How are we gonna' live

with no money coming in?

- It'll start coming in, Monday.

- Suppose they call this big try out off?

You can't tell me it's

a sure thing, can you?

Oh Frankie, deal for Schwiefka

like always. Forget this great job.

I quit dealing, Zosh. I can't take

the chance, don't you understand?

If the joint gets raided

and I get picked up again,

Mr Lane would

be through with me.

And then how would

I play with a band?

How are you gonna' play if

Schwiefka gets your arms broke?

Go on.

Yeah, right here he said it. And

he wanted to slap me around too.

Ooh why can't it be like always?

Antek.

You miserable piece of humanity.

I gotta' right to quit if I want.

Markette and Williams

are coming tomorrow,

don't you realise

the significance?

Leave me alone.

I'll leave you alone,

in the alley with the cats lookin'.

That's enough Schwiefka. He don't

wanna' deal, he don't wanna deal.

What are you talkin'

about all of a sudden?

Don't raise your voice to me,

you slob.

He's no slave you can't force him,

so what's the use?

He er...

You had the best of him all these years.

Don't be a pig. He ain't interested, right?

Alright, alright. Markette and

Williams never heard of them.

Money, somethin' to blow yer nose on.

I'll wash my hands.

He's a pig, is all.

Still you can't blame him so much.

Lettin' the big ones get away,

on account of the best dealer

in the business ain't workin'

for you no more.

That ain't easy to swallow.

You're the best alright.

The old squeeze play, huh Louie?

Been tried on you before?

No, I'm new around here.

Are we really askin'

so much dealer? One night.

I'd like to be.

You help us make a bundle.

We'll spread a little of

that old sunshine around.

Couldn't you use

a coupla' hundred?

Maybe two... five... O?

Two... five... O

pays a lotta' doctor bills, dealer.

Tomorrow, huh?

- Frankie.

- Let him make up his mind.

Ok, but for one night. Win or lose,

sun up I case the deck.

Sure, you're the dealer. What a load off,

now I can sleep. Take care of that arm.

A character, huh?

Were you jackin' up the price just now,

or do you really have this music job?

If they like what they hear.

Chancy, huh?

Nervous?

So what are we waitin' for?

- Don't talk about it, it's tough enough.

- Yeah I know, I know.

I put down a craving once.

No. Candy, sweets.

I used to be eatin' it all the time.

Got examined for the army.

They said you got sugar in your blood.

You've got to give up sweets

forever or it's good-bye Charlie.

I had to give up candy.

My gums bleed for you, it's awful.

It was.

That unfinished feelin'

you got all the time.

- Well I don't have to tell you.

- So don't.

I mean you've got this one

thing on your mind all the time.

Can't stop thinkin' about it.

You're just a mine of

information, ain't yer?

You know what I did?

I said to myself, ok,

off sweets forever.

Well forever can start tomorrow.

For once in my life I'm gonna'

eat all the candy that I can hold.

I bought eighteen dollars and

twenty-three cents worth of candy,

lugged it up to my room.

All night long I ate candy.

I was sick I was sweatin'

but I kept shovin' it in.

Ever since then when

I feel like candy, I say to myself,

well you can't complain brother;

you once had it and had it good.

You know what I mean?

(Band playing)

How is it Molly-O?

I'm alright Frankie,

but where you been?

- What'll you have?

- A couple of rye's.

All day I was expectin'

you'd be in to practice.

Practice. I'll go down there

and knock 'em dead,

it's all in the wrists and

I got the touch, Molly.

Look at that, steady as a rock,

it'll do anything I want it to do.

Keep the change pal.

Thanks.

You got a cigarette, Frankie?

Sure.

You're on it again Frankie. Why? Why?

No listen Molly, listen.

Why?

Molly? Molly.

Beat it.

Molly I only wanna'.

- Take a walk.

- Don't.

- Molly listen to me, I can explain.

- Molly I just wanna' talk to you.

Will you get outa' here?

Please. Stop.

Molly?

Molly please.

- Please don't hurt him.

- Go away.

Are you lookin' to lose your job?

Can't you manage a customer?

- Molly listen to me?

- Let me alone, both of you.

Molly.

Molly!

Molly! Molly! Molly!

Molly, listen to me.

Molly open the door.

Molly will you open the door?

(Frankie)

Molly, Molly let me talk to you, Molly.

Molly, Molly open the door.

(Loud knocking on door)

Molly, please.

Where're you going,

Molly? Come here.

Where're you going, Molly?

Taxi!

If you'll let me explain,

you'll know why I did it.

Molly listen, will you please?

Let me tell you what happened!

Where're you going, Molly?

Tell me where you're going!

No, Molly, Molly!

Don't forget to clean out the caboon.

I already cleaned it. And say please

when you talk to me or I'll buy a caboon

and go into business for myself.

How's that, Frankie? Nothin', huh? Well.

(Knock on door)

I'm reminding you Schwiefka;

I get two, two and a half, maybe more.

Would I go back on my word?

How are ya' feelin' dealer?

Hiya Schwiefka.

A big night tonight.

(Knock on door)

Yeah?

Is this the place?

I don't know what place you mean,

buddy? This is the Ellis

belt and leather company.

You wann'a buy an Ellis belt?

Come right in, we're just starting.

How'ya been?

Fine, how are you?

I could handle the door better

if I was blind.

Go on, you couldn't heat

towels for a scared barber.

- You know Schwiefka?

- Oh sure.

- Glad to have you. Hi.

- Hi.

Are you Machine?

Man with the golden arm, huh?

Let's see you try and take this away.

Here we go down and dirty.

No ladies allowed. You know that Vi.

- Is Frankie in there?

- What's the matter?

Zosh, I can't get her to sleep.

She and Frankie had an argument

and she's almost out of her mind.

Is he in there?

- Well I can't call him now.

- Well I just wanna' know he's here.

I've been bounced around

Clark Street like a pull bar.

He's here, he's here.

I gotta' get back in.

Well tell him she's worried,

if you get a chance.

Yeah.

Three aces, two pairs.

Pass or a straight flush?

Aces, two hundred.

I'll have twelve and two hundred

and I'll raise you two.

I'll have a look of four hundred and the

house bumps you three hundred more.

Up to you aces.

I don't know I just don't know.

If you got three aces, show 'em.

He's got a possible straight flush

to the queen showin'

I tell you he's bluffing.

I think he bluffed me

out of a couple tonight.

You wouldn't be jerk enough

to try it again, would you?

- Bet and find out.

- Bet, bet, I tell you he's a bluff artist.

Call.

I'll call it and I raise it five hundred more.

Sammy!

I know what I'm doing.

I'll have a look and the house bumps

you five hundred more.

I told you, I told you he had it.

Shut-up will ya' and let me think.

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