The Roaring Twenties Page #7

You've got the organization to peddle it.

You mean you want to double-cross Brown.

It's been done before, you know.

What do you say?

I don't trust you, George.

You could stand

a little watching yourself.

That sounds like

a pretty good basis for a partnership.

You're on, it's a deal.

Right.

1924. By now, America is well launched

into an era of amazing madness.

Bootlegging has grown from small,

individual effort...

...to big business, embodying

huge coalitions and combines.

The chase after huge profits is followed

closely by their inevitable partners...

...corruption, violence and murder.

A new and powerful tool

appears, the Tommy...

...a light, deadly, wasp-like machine gun...

...and murder henceforth is parceled out

in wholesale lots.

What's the matter? Are you nuts?

You want the other guard, don't you?

You got those keys?

Open up for Danny.

Take good care of those guys.

All right, boys. Come on.

Get moving, and fast.

- Uncle Sam working for us.

- The government takes it from Nick Brown.

We take it from the government.

Pretty neat.

Danny, you go outside and watch.

There may be some trouble around.

- I don't want you here.

- I ain't afraid.

I don't care.

You're not cut out for this.

Now, go on, do as you're told. Get outside.

- I'd say there's about 4000 cases.

- Eddie, the relief watchman just came up.

Now, look. Get those trucks moving

and stay with them.

All right, boys, wash it up.

Get in the trucks.

Get ready to move.

Well...

...if it ain't my old sergeant.

Come on, chop him again.

Let's get out of here.

It's Sergeant Leather Lungs, our old pal.

I told you we'd meet sometime when you had

no stripes on your sleeve, and here we are.

- You didn't have to do that.

- He had it coming to him.

Get in back with the boys.

Someday that heater of yours

will blast you into the hot seat.

Well, if it does, you'll be sitting

right in my lap.

Nice, isn't she?

She sings well.

See quite a lot of her lately, don't you?

I can't help seeing her.

I have to be here quite a bit.

It's all right. You don't have to get sore.

Why shouldn't you see her?

She's your kind of kid.

You both like the same things,

talk the same language.

Just like me and Eddie.

All right, chumps.

You've had your entertainment.

Now you can dance.

Because when you dance, you get hot.

When you get hot, you get thirsty,

and that's the way we want you.

So come on! Dance and drink, folks.

Come on, dance and drink.

- Packing them in, huh?

- Oh, so-so.

He can't be happy.

He ain't got no tables on the ceiling.

Too bad, because

we got new stuff for you.

- Cut a pint into two quarts.

- We're sending you 100 cases.

- I don't need 100 cases.

- You'll take them.

You don't want

to hurt our feelings, do you?

Can you imagine that guy,

saying business is just so-and-so?

That guy'd beef if he won a sweepstake.

- Hello, kiddies.

- Hello, boys.

- Hi, Panama.

- Hello, George.

- Hi, Danny.

- Hi.

Eddie, I've been trying

to locate you for hours.

There's several important matters

we should discuss tonight.

They can wait.

Wouldn't be a bad idea to pay more attention

to our business instead of them cabs.

We're doing okay.

What are you beefing about?

I wanna buy 10,000 cabs, I'll buy them.

Besides, they're a good front.

Maybe something to fall back on

in my old age.

In this business

you shouldn't worry about old age.

- More cabs, huh?

- Yeah.

- Yeah, that brings it up to 2000.

- Piker.

- Excuse me. I'll see if I can grab a dance.

- That'll be a break for some dame.

- Mr. Hart, you're wanted on the telephone.

- Thank you.

- Excuse me.

- Stick around, Lloyd.

She's coming on again soon.

He's a good kid.

- You hope so.

- What do you mean?

Far be it from me to start any trouble,

but I'll lay you 8-to-5 right now...

...that kid's going to move in

on your gal.

- I hope you know what you're talking about.

- Sure I do.

Listen, Eddie.

I'm trying to steer you right.

Listen, gals like her go for guys like that.

You know, with all that Joe College stuff.

He'll take her to football games,

fraternity dances.

All that rah-rah stuff.

A kid like him can't miss.

Calm down, Eddie.

Maybe George is right.

If he is, there's nothing

you can do about it.

Shut up.

I trust my friends.

You know, he's a sucker.

I don't trust mine.

It's mutual, chump.

They don't trust you, either.

Tonight, I'll tell you a story.

What shall it be?

- Little Freddie.

- But you've heard all about Little Freddie.

Come in.

- It was sweet of you to send me this radio.

- Does it work?

Sure. I can hear every word as clear

as if the man was in the room.

Are you able to get a lot of gab?

Well, before my last number,

I had a band from Brooklyn.

Yeah, that's science.

Guy has to invent radio so you can pick up

a broken-down outfit in Brooklyn.

How are...? How are your

singing lessons coming along?

All right, but I don't think you

ought to waste your money on me.

It's my money.

Besides, I ain't wasting it.

- Say, you know where we're going Saturday?

- Where?

New Haven. Going to see

that football game.

Football? I didn't know

you liked football.

I don't. But you can get to like anything

if you stick at it long enough, can't you?

Yes, I suppose you can.

Come in.

Pardon me, but Panama told me

I'd find Eddie here.

What do you want?

You forgot to sign the checks for the

new cabs. I'll need them in the morning.

I thought you gave a great show tonight.

- Thank you.

- I see you have a new crystal set.

- How's the reception?

- Ought to be good. Paid a lot for it.

I guess that makes it good.

That makes anything good.

- Goodbye.

- Listen, I've got the news broadcast.

You boys listen to it.

- A whole lot easier reading the papers.

- Your news broadcaster is on the air.

Here's a late news dispatch

that just came in.

United States government warehouse

number 7 in New York was hijacked tonight.

A quarter million dollars worth

of liquor was removed...

...after two watchmen were shot down.

One of the watchmen, Pete Jones, 42, was

already dead of bullet wounds when found.

Jones was a World War veteran.

- What did he say the watchman's name was?

- I didn't get it.

It sounded like Pete Jones.

That was the name of our

loudmouthed sergeant, remember?

There are a lot of Joneses, ain't there?

Eddie...

...where were you

and George tonight?

With you.

Or maybe I don't remember.

Ain't that always the correct answer?

Hey, Eddie. I just got tipped off.

Nick Brown's on his way over.

- What'll I do?

- I'll handle him.

See you later.

You seem to be in an awful hurry.

I have a lot of work tomorrow.

I go on again in a few minutes.

It'd be nice if you'd stay and

keep me company till then.

I haven't seen so much of you lately.

You're doing all right

without any help from me.

Don't say that, Lloyd.

You're afraid of the truth?

I've told you time and time again

I can't hurt him.

He's been so good to me.

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