The Onion Field Page #2

Just go in there

and get me at least $50...

and maybe you'll prove to me

that you didn't do what I know you did.

This is the last night for old Billy.

I got to cut him loose.

He drinks too much.

I think, after tonight, it's gonna be you

who's a part of our little family.

I can't do it, Greg.

The guy in the store knows me.

- What?

- He knows me, Greg.

Guy used to work at the shine parlor.

You lying, thieving...

Jimmy, tell him. Guy named Hellfire Jack.

Ain't that right?

When we drove by,

I did think I saw Hellfire Jack.

I think it's Hellfire Jack in there.

See? I told you.

Used to work over there

on East Fifth Street. Used to...

It's the truth. He used to work

in a process parlor over there.

- I thought you said a shine parlor.

- Process parlor, man! He did my hair.

He said a process parlor.

F*** it.

- I'll do it myself.

- Yeah, you go ahead on and do it.

I'll help Jimmy drive.

I use this little hop, skip, jump,

which moves me fast.

It isn't noticeable to someone

passing by, like running is.

When you see me skip,

start this baby moving!

"Skip, jump."

Like a goddamn kangaroo

jumping around out there.

All this funny talk!

"Furthermore, wherefore!"

Don't give me any more

"furtherfore" or "whereover"...

or any more of that funky-ass bullshit!

Greg said he was paroled out of Vacaville.

That's a nut jail.

Let her go, Jimbo.

- Goddamn it, let the clutch out!

- I did. It ain't going nowhere.

Let the goddamn clutch all the way out!

Now you're rolling. Go left!

- He's shooting at us!

- Lord, are we hit?

Goddamn it, you'd know if we were hit!

Let's go!

- There must be over $300 here!

- Help me, Jesus!

Hold it! Don't touch that!

Lord, don't touch that! Now, look!

Now, look! Hold it!

This is the humbug! This is the wrong...

- Move it, sweetheart!

- Don't know why you wanna put me in jail!

That man tried to rape me! Yes, he did!

Why don't you let me go?

I've never been arrested before.

I don't know why I did it.

I never done that before.

I never... No!

No!

Watch it, Harry.

Grab that son of a b*tch!

I'm not a queer.

Son of a b*tch!

Believe me, I'm telling you,

I never did it before!

- What the hell was that all about?

- Probably homosexual panic.

I've seen it before.

- What is that?

- The boy suddenly realized who he is.

He's confused and he's scared.

Married six months,

I come home at 1:00 a.m...

and find you alone with three men?

I'm keeping your seat warm.

- I lost $2 already.

- I didn't win it.

Just a second, Helen.

He's holding what? Thanks, junior.

The kid said you gotta

fill an inside straight.

- I'll bump the pot a quarter.

- It's a week till payday.

It's your house.

Tell him the limit's a dime.

The limit's a dime.

What a night.

1:
00 in the morning,

clear, beautiful out,

And the weather, the same for tomorrow,

Another beautiful day here in Los Angeles,

The limit just went up to a quarter.

- Had a bad night?

- There are no bad nights.

Any good ones?

Want to tell me some

cops-and-robbers stories?

I just can't go home right now, Mom.

Adah's asleep, and the kids are asleep.

- All normal people are asleep.

- Really?

What did you do when Dad was out

on a house call in the middle of the night?

Was he able to sleep when he came home

after putting somebody back together?

- He'd just sit and play his violin.

- That's what I'll do.

I'll play the bagpipes at 2:00 a.m.

The kids are still too young

to run away from home, right?

- What was I playing here?

- Rachmaninoff.

- How do you remember?

- I remember.

Why did I go from piano to bagpipes?

Fifty generations of Highlander blood

won out.

- Have some tea.

- Thank you.

You know, I always hated

dissecting frogs in premed.

But you should see me treat a mental case

on the floor of the Hollywood station.

Ian, a policeman helps people

just as much as a physician.

Sometimes you just see

more than one should, and then...

What was it we used to say about Dad?

"A country doctor dies

with a shoebox full of bills and..."

"A trunk full of gratitude."

There's no gratitude

in a policeman's trunk.

- She's asleep?

- Just about,

She's invited us to her house next year,

- You going to be part of our little family?

- I don't think so.

I've been alone all my life.

Never had no family.

- Why is Greg always talking about family?

- He's real close with Mom, Dad...

brothers, sisters. Real close.

Sort of runs their affairs, always has,

even when he was in prison.

- Yeah, I can see he likes to run things.

- Real smart.

About the smartest guy I ever met.

You know, Jimmy...

you got a bold eye.

I'm sorry if I was staring.

I just got out, you know.

It's all right. I don't mind.

In fact...

when a woman's swelled up like this,

she appreciates a man's approving look.

Especially a handsome man.

You only part negro, or what?

Baby, I don't know.

I honest-to-God don't know,

and that's righteous.

Did Billy really pat you on the fanny

like Greg accused him?

- You scared of Greg?

- Why?

'Cause if you're scared of him,

it'll only make it better.

More naughty.

More exciting.

- How much pregnant are you, little mama?

- It's okay. I had kids before.

Besides, it's all in the family.

Nothing much,

I think I'd better change clothes,

It's not going well, is it?

See you around, Billy.

I'd like to stab the paleface motherf***er!

You understand what I mean, baby?

Damn, Jimmy, you're nice,

but can't you give a girl a little more?

Talk about "wham, bam".

Greg's going to pull up out front

just about any minute.

- You're right. Here he comes.

- Jumpin' Jesus!

You got any house spray? Anything?

- House spray?

- Light a match! Something!

Goddamn you, Jimmy. You...

bastard.

Had to dump that drunken Billy

on Fifth Street where I found him.

He didn't want to be expelled,

but it's the only way.

We're going to Las Vegas.

I need to get some new guns.

Then, we'll do a little gambling,

and from there, who knows?

Frisco? You name it, Jimbo.

What the hell's the matter with you?

You keep sniffing the air like a bird dog.

I'm catching cold, I guess.

My nose is running.

You take care of yourself.

Honey buns!

Get ready. I decided to take

my family on a trip today.

- Las Vegas!

- Daddy, Las Vegas!

- Maybe I'll get another car.

- Daddy, Las Vegas!

Yeah!

- My lucky day.

- Daddy!

How's it feel to be part

of a real family?

- Want one?

- I ain't got no bread left.

These kicks cost $35.

Here you go.

This is one you should have.

This suits you. I want you to have it.

Nobody ever gave me a present before.

Really? You city kids.

You should've been from a small town

like Cadillac, Michigan.

We were poor, too.

But gifts? My heavens!

Family is what you need.

I really like the watch.

It's a good watch for a cheap watch.

You ain't seen nothing yet.

Wait till you see what else I got for you.

That's real nice, too.

Daddy!

Yeah!

Where the hell are you going?

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