The Noose Hangs High Page #2

Take the money.

Stay close to each other.

Whistle. Like you're not scared.

Duck into this mailing room,

stick that dough in an envelope...

and then address it to Nick Craig. Hurry up.

- Have you got an envelope?

- Over on the table.

- Excuse me, could I use one of those?

- Yes.

- Got a blank envelope?

- Over there.

- Can I have a blank envelope?

- Here you are.

Excuse me, can I borrow your pen?

- Why, certainly.

- Thank you.

- That's all the dough you got on you?

- Yes.

Something's wrong,

I saw this guy with the dough.

- The little fat guy's got it, then. Where is he?

- I don't know.

- Now you get out of here and stay out!

- What did I do?

There he is.

Ted, I got it!

Drop it in the mail!

I did it.

It's not your fault, it's my fault.

I should have been more careful.

All right, you boys can go.

- We're sorry about the mistake.

- That's all right.

If you mugs had been around

when I needed you...

this mix-up never would've happened.

- Maybe Stewart knows something.

- Sure, he knows he's got my receipt.

As far as he's concerned

the matter's washed up.

And so am I, if McBride don't...

Hello!

Hello, Mr. McBride.

Congratulations on King's Ransom

coming in. Paid a good price, too.

Yeah, I know. You owe me $50,000.

That's right, Mr. McBride,

and I'll have it for you in about 15 minutes.

Yeah, send over the regular way,

Speedy Service.

Speedy Service!

Well, I wonder what could have upset him.

I never lose.

- Who is this McBride character anyway?

- How do I know? I've never seen him.

All I know is he's hooked me 14 times

over that phone, now he wants his dough.

Listen...

those two guys got away with my $50,000.

Have you got your rods?

- Sure.

- Okay, go get that dough and get it fast.

Hey, what do the guys look like?

One is medium height, slender.

The other is the brains.

He's the killer type,

short, pudgy, with a baby face...

Has the cutest dimple in his right cheek.

Boys, am I glad to see you!

Where's my dough?

- It's a long story.

- I don't like them.

You like short ones? We don't have it.

- Why, you...

- Too short?

Listen, you...

Wait a minute, boys.

Put that floor back where it belongs.

Listen, wise guy, I'm gonna break

every bone in your body.

- You wouldn't hit a man wearing glasses.

- You're not.

- I know where I can borrow a pair.

- You better talk fast.

When we left your office,

we went right over to the...

Never mind! Where's the money?

We got the money all right from Mr. Stewart.

But when we left his office,

two guys tried to hijack us.

- Stewart's guys.

- That's right.

But we fooled them.

I slipped the money in an envelope...

I addressed it to you

and slipped it down the mailbox.

Tomorrow the United States Mail

will deliver it to you.

Boys, that's great. That's wonderful.

When that money arrives,

I'm going to give each one of you a C note.

No, you don't.

You're gonna stick

to the original agreement, $50 apiece.

And have the money here,

we'll be back for it in the morning.

Well, that day went fast.

- Don't get funny.

- You'll stay here until that dough arrives.

- We gotta stay here overnight?

- Yeah.

Chuck and Joe will keep you company.

- I gotta go home and get my nightie.

- You're staying until I get my $50,000.

Chuck, Joe, come out here a minute.

I want to talk to you.

- Put them down.

- I scared them.

As long as we're here for the night

we'll make ourselves comfortable.

We gotta sleep here?

Take your things off.

Get comfortable. All night.

Gangsters, you had to get mixed up with.

- It's a pretty office.

- Never mind how pretty the office is.

- Where are you going to sleep?

- I'll take the couch.

- I'll take the couch.

- You take the couch.

You know, if that money don't arrive

early in the morning...

we're in a terrible mess?

Did you ever think of that?

- That's the easiest $50 we ever made.

- Suppose it don't get here in the morning.

Hey, wait a minute. Get dressed.

We better figure a way

of getting out of here.

- We ain't gonna stay, then?

- Better not.

If that money don't get here,

we're in a mess.

- I just gave that a thought.

- Get with it.

This is a fine how-do-you-do.

We'll find a way out.

There must be some way out of here.

We'll figure a way out. Don't worry.

- You just get dressed.

- I'm all set, Ted.

Hey, wait a minute.

Suppose the money does arrive?

You know we get $100 apiece?

- Get undressed. I never thought of that.

- We can breathe again.

- Where have we ever made $100?

- I don't remember the last time.

$100 is a lot of money. But you know...

Suppose that money

should get lost in the mails?

They'd never believe us.

They'd possibly murder us. Get dressed!

Come on, hurry up!

Get with it, come on, get with it!

Shake a leg.

Come on, boy, never mind that one,

put it in the pants.

That's all that has to happen.

All you have to do

is get murdered now on me.

- What would I tell your folks?

- Easiest $50 I'm ever going to make, huh?

- Never mind the $50.

- What's the chance of getting murdered?

But on the other hand...

there is a possibility...

I've heard there's honesty amongst thieves.

Sure. Hey, you wanna take a gamble?

All right, we'll take a gamble with it.

I didn't like the spark in that guy's eye.

That looked fishy to me, boy.

- Me, too. I ain't going fishing today.

- No, sir.

There's something terribly wrong here.

And I'm not going to take any chances.

You know what we could do, though?

Hey, $100 apiece. Wait a minute.

One of those guys looked weak. Let's split

the dough with him. What do you say?

Stick here till the money comes in.

Why should we worry about it?

- Maybe they'll hold us for bribery.

- That's over.

- That's another thing, get with it. Come on.

- No bribery for me.

Send you up the river for that,

don't you know that?

- Wait a minute.

- I ain't had a boat ride...

- since I went up to Albany.

- They're gangsters.

They can't squeal, they have to take it.

Sure. You just gotta think of those things.

Why don't you come up with a brainchild

once in a while?

- Cause there's stuff I would've...

- Up the river.

They've all been up the river,

that's the whole trouble.

They've been up the river a dozen times,

possibly. You gotta look at the... But...

That's all, brother.

- There should be a way out of this thing.

- Should be.

I don't know how we can

get out of it, though.

- I'll tell you what we'll do.

- What?

But there's an angle here

we've got to figure out.

We put two and two together, boy.

There's something terribly wrong here.

- Out the door.

- They'll have someone watching the door.

The fire escape. That's it.

- But there's no fire escape.

- No fire escape?

Will you make up your mind!

What's all this noise going on in here?

I see you're ready for bed.

- Go on, lay down.

- Not till I get ready.

- Go lay down.

- I'm ready.

That goes for you, too.

And get this:
no noise while I'm here.

You're here?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes