The Roaring Twenties Page #3

Oh, I wondered if I was ever

gonna get to see you.

Oh, Mr. Bartlett, you look

just like I pictured you.

Brave, strong, romantic

and handsome.

Speaking of looks, how about this?

That was taken when

I was in our high-school play.

It was The Fortune Teller

by Victor Herbert.

- But you said that you sang and danced.

- I do.

Where?

I sing in the choir every Sunday, and

I had the lead in our high-school play.

Once in a while, I sing and dance

for the Elks Club. Everybody says I'm good.

- Would you like to hear me?

- Oh, no, no. No, thanks.

I have absolutely no ear for music.

- Well, it was nice to see you.

- You aren't really leaving, are you?

We gotta get back to town,

important meeting with the general.

Aren't you gonna tell me about the war

and how you suffered?

Honey...

...you'll never know how I've suffered.

So long.

Well, will I see you again?

- I'll call you.

- When?

In two or three years,

when you get to be a great big girl.

- So long.

- Bye.

You should've stayed

and helped her with her homework.

1920. For the first two weeks of the year...

...men can still get a drink

more or less publicly...

...because although the 18th Amendment

is in effect, the law has no teeth.

But on the 16th of January,

the volstead Act takes effect...

...and traffic in liquor

goes completely undercover...

...to stay there for many long years.

The word "speakeasy"

begins to appear in our language.

And the forces of the underworld, who

best know how to operate outside the law...

...are moving in on a new source of revenue,

the magnitude of which no man dare guess.

Sixty cents.

Say, will you do me a favor?

Take these into Henderson's and collect

12 bucks. Ask for Panama Smith.

- What's her name?

- Panama Smith.

- I'm taking these across the street.

- Okay.

- Meet you back here at the cab.

- Yeah.

Hey, Panama, how about something

to go with this ginger ale?

On the way.

- You Panama Smith?

- That's me, brother.

Package for you. Twelve bucks.

Oh, yes. The meat.

Come on.

Hey, what are you trying to do?

Get us both tossed in the cooler?

There's a law against that dry goods.

I don't know what's in here,

and I don't care. Twelve bucks.

Just a minute. Just a minute.

You bootleggers are gonna learn

the law is being enforced.

What are you talking about?

You're under arrest

for violating the Volstead Act.

I don't know anything about it.

We know. You came in with a load of soda

water, and on the way it distilled into gin.

And you were delivering it for a friend.

- That's right.

- You can tell it to the judge.

Come on. You too, Panama.

- What for, snooper?

- For handling this laughing soup.

- This means a padlock for you.

- But I'm not handling it. He had it.

And now he has it. Besides, I didn't know

anything about it. Did I, buster?

That's the way it was.

I drive a guy in my cab, he asked me

to deliver that to a customer in here.

I forget his name.

I asked if she knows him.

You got me crying for both of you.

Now, come on.

I delivered for a guy

who's waiting outside.

This guy's on the up and up.

He's no bootlegger.

- I never saw him before.

- You see him this time. That's enough.

Now, get out of here.

Hey, buster, who do you know?

- I know a lawyer.

- It'd be better if you knew a judge.

Panama Smith, in view of the evidence...

...presented in your behalf

by your codefendant...

...and because the arresting

officers failed to detect...

...you actually selling intoxicating

liquors, I find you not guilty.

Edward Bartlett, I find you guilty

of violation of the Volstead Act.

I fine you $ 100 or 60 days in jail.

Order. And I give you warning that another

offense won't be treated so lightly.

Court is adjourned.

Thanks, buster. Thanks a lot.

I'll do the same for you someday.

Well, how do you like that dame?

"Thanks," she says.

I help her beat the rap, and she never even

asked if I got enough dough for the fine.

What a first-class gilpin

I turned out to be.

A hundred bucks.

That judge might as well

have said 10,000.

I'd hock the cab, Eddie,

only it's already in hock.

I guess I'm not a very good lawyer.

Oh, you're all right, kid.

You just went to bat

for the wrong guy, that's all.

Next time, make sure your client

really committed a crime.

- Whole lot easier getting him off.

- All right, what's it gonna be?

- Well, I haven't got any dough.

- This way.

- Say, do you give any credit around here?

- Sure we do.

You get 60 days to pay.

This way. Come on.

Well...

So long, Eddie.

I'll see you in September.

- Shut up!

- That won't help.

I tried it.

This ain't no jail, it's a madhouse.

- Have you been a soldier?

- Yeah.

- How do you know?

- I been one too.

We all got the stamp on us.

We can't sit still.

We've seen too much action,

too much blood.

They think after that we can

just sit and twiddle our thumbs. We can't.

- What are you in for?

- Stickup with a gun.

Things got too tough.

If they'd just give me

back that gun, I'd use it...

...on myself.

Come on, grab yourself some sense.

Don't talk that way.

- Hey, Bartlett.

- Yeah?

Step out.

- Your friend here paid your fine.

- Danny boy, glad to see you.

- Glad to see you.

- So long, buddy.

And get rid of those silly notions.

So long.

It's good to get out of that rathole.

Haven't slept in three nights.

- Where'd you get the dough?

- I didn't.

Hello, buster.

Just the gal I wanted to see.

Got a few things I want to say to you.

Of all the double-crossing...

- She paid the fine.

- I didn't walk out.

I just had to rustle up the dough.

You'll get it back, if I have to

give it in nickels and dimes.

I can wait.

What's your angle, sister?

What bank do you want me to rob?

Who do you want killed?

Which do you want first?

First, let's have a drink.

Hop in the cab. I'll drive you.

- Taxi.

- Just a minute. Business before pleasure.

- See you later, Eddie.

- Get that room rent.

- Where to, mister?

- Any Turkish bath.

Right. Get in there.

Going to do a little painting?

Yeah, sort of. A little interior decoration.

- How are you, Panama?

- Hello, Charlie.

- This is Eddie Bartlett.

- How are you?

- What'll it be, Panama?

- Gin Buck.

What's yours?

Glass of milk.

You always order milk

when you go to a speakeasy?

I don't go into speakeasies.

Well, some people like spinach.

Say, you've got something

on your mind. What's the gag?

There's no gag.

I think you're a pretty decent guy.

I like to talk to decent guys.

They're hard to find.

All right, let's talk.

- Things have been tough, haven't they?

- They could be tougher.

A guy in the cell with me

wanted to bump himself off.

Till I get around to that,

I'm doing all right.

Milk. That's all I got.

Here we go again.

I hope he thinks to sample

what's in my glass.

Hey, who owns the car

with the Vermont license on it?

I do.

Don't you know you're breaking the law

parking your car in front of a fire hydrant?

Where do you think you are,

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