The Pawnbroker Page #2

In a sense, I'm a new neighbor.

Yes?

I'm with the new youth

center down the block.

I thought I'd make myself known

To the shopkeepers in the vicinity

And perhaps get some kind of help.

Support.

And?

Well, to get down to

it, Mr. Nazerman,

I'd like to put your name

down as a tentative sponsor.

Later on, we'll see what you'd

be willing to do and give.

Perhaps you could

see your way clear

To sponsoring one of

the children's teams.

You might even like to

devote evenings to coaching.

Have you any experience

with basketball?

Basketball.

You must be joking.

Well, uh...

Come to redeem, uncle!

Possibly with one of the crafts.

You don't have to make

up your mind right away.

Perhaps you'd like

to think about it.

I just wanted to introduce myself.

That's always the

hardest part for me.

I get very tense

When I have to introduce

myself to people.

We all have to do things

we don't like sometimes.

If you're looking for a handout,

Why don't you say so?

That's $18.75.

I don't regard these

contributions as handouts,

And I'm very sorry that you do.

I think that anything one

can do for these children

Is an investment in

one's own future.

I'm not particularly

concerned with the future.

How much do you want?

I'll take anything

you're willing to give,

Regardless of how it's given.

Is that the name of

the organization

I make the check out to?

Yes. The important thing is

the money will be well spent.

Do you always think the

worst of everyone?

A lot of people come

in here collecting...

Blind people with 20/20 vision,

Deaf people who could hear

the tumblers on my safe

When I dial the combination.

So with this experience,

I say why not you?

All right.

Why not me?

How much are you willing to give?

You see, I have no pride.

And since you've

been so cooperative,

I'll come back again...

And again... and again.

Mr. Nazerman...

When are you going to?

What?

To teach me.

Later.

Listen, your ad in the paper said,

"A bright, willing...

to-learn young man."

That's why I answered it.

And right now,

Mr. Nazerman,

I feel special bright

and special willing.

Hey! Ol!

Ooh! Aay! Ya-ha!

Later.

When?

Tonight.

That's good enough for me!

I just got to learn this business!

I just got to...

What's you saying, Jesus?

How you doing?

Ain't it wild?

This thing is brand new.

Never been used.

Blades shiny, sharp,

Cut grass down to the skin.

Yellow paint, gold paint,

Last a lifetime.

Where'd you get it?

What?

Why, it's a gift.

Yeah, a gift.

I would've returned it

To the store my friend bought it,

Only I was embarrassed

to ask him where.

Ain't that the truth, man?

You understand the police have

lists of stolen merchandise?

Oh, now, man, I ain't stole it!

A friend, a friend give it to me.

Now, he figure I make use of it.

Where'd you get these

numbers tattooed, uncle?

Aw, come on, now, uncle.

Will you take the thing?

Will you please take the thing?

I'll give you $30.

Sold.

I ain't no trouble at all.

Pleasure to do business with you,

Ain't I now?

We be in again, uncle.

See you later, Ortiz.

Friends of yours, Ortiz?

Oh, I know them.

Give me the number

on that contraption.

It's, uh...

"1-0-7..."

1-0-7...

"1-2."

1-2.

Mr. Nazerman...

You want to tell me

something, Mr. Nazerman,

What is that?

That. Is that a secret

society or something?

Yeah.

Yeah, well, what do I do to join?

What do you do to join?

You learn to walk on water.

Mr. Nazerman.

Mm-hmm.

Teach me gold.

Huh?

Well...

All right.

I'll teach you gold.

You know, I got this uncle,

He lives in detroit,

He's been in business

for 42 years.

Grocery store.

You know, my old lady

tells me that that man

Is as Solid as the

rock of Gibraltar.

Every time his business is

getting bigger and bigger.

Even the cops call him mister.

And he got this son.

He's about my age.

That kid in the store

Is going to get it all

when my uncle kick off.

You know what I mean.

That business makes him Solid.

Like a king a little.

He passes his crown

down to his kids.

Me, I'm going to get me a business.

I got that in my mind for sure.

All I need is the loot.

Well, you save your pennies.

I'm going to do that.

Yes, sir, I'm going to do that.

In the meantime,

I'm learning business

from a master.

You'll never learn it

Unless you pay attention

and stop talking.

Ok, I'm a clam.

Teach me gold.

Pay attention.

You take an object

like this watch.

This is a touchstone.

Rub it on the

touchstone like that.

See that? That

leaves a mark there.

Then you take a little acid,

And you put it on that

mark on the touchstone

Like that.

Now you watch it, you see?

Now, if that turns a bright green,

Then that means it's brass.

Let me write it down.

All right.

Bright green means

it's brass, right?

If it turns a milky white,

that means it's silver.

The name's savarese.

Redecorate the whole

damn place, uncle,

Say, 5,000 bucks.

Who do I make the check out to?

The ACME contracting company.

That's A-C...

M-E.

Be a good job, uncle.

Paint the whole damn

place pink and yellow.

Pink and yellow.

That's marvelous.

Your change...

5,000 bucks.

Count it.

Don't touch that.

What? Getting ready for monday.

Back here on monday,

it'll be october.

Let's leave it september, shall we?

How come?

Don't ask me how come.

Just do what I tell you.

Leave the calendar

alone and go home.

I'll see you monday,

And you sure will be

here on time, you hear?

I'm going to be here

practically early.

Get him!

Tessie!

What are you, a nut or something?

You moron!

Let's just go up

And sit down and talk awhile.

I'm tired.

You know, my boss...

My boss been working my

back off all afternoon.

Oh, I don't like you

working too hard.

I don't like you using

all your energy.

Do you know me not to

have enough energy?

So don't worry none, baby.

All you got to do

Is be around when I do this.

Come here. Come here.

Ha ha ha!

Hey, Ortiz.

Hiya, Tangee.

Talking about you a second ago.

You know what else?

Robinson couldn't believe

one word I told him.

He say, "how come a

smart boy like Ortiz"

Working in the pawnshop?"

Ain't it what you say?

How come a smart boy like Ortiz

Working in the pawnshop?

That's my business.

Now, now, now don't get uptight.

Just how come?

That's all.

I mean, how come you work there?

He's got his plans!

Shh!

He's learnin'.

It's a good business.

It's a chicken business...

$2.00 loan, $5.00 loan.

Peanuts.

You think?

Peanuts.

Try $5,000, man,

'Cause that's what Mr. Nazerman

Must've put in his safe.

Is he here?

Can't he sleep again

tonight, tessie?

Is that why he came here,

To bring joy to his

dead friend's wife?

Shut the door, tess.

Close the door

And shut me off from

the two of you.

Shut me off from the

land of the dead.

He'll never forgive us

For sleeping together, Sol.

To him, I'm still Reuben's wife.

Honey?

You like me, huh?

Oh, honey, you know

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