The Tarnished Angels Page #3

Shumann's second, and Murphy third.

Around the lake pylon it's still Burnham

ahead, with Shumann closing in!

- Can Roger catch him?

- He will.

Even if he has to kiss the pylons.

Here they go around the

field pylon, wing to wing.

Looks like they're playing

tag with the pylon!

And it's Burnham with a slim lead.

Go on, Rog! Go get him!

It's Shumann passing Burnham with

a sensational death-defying turn!

And now Burnham must catch Shumann

as they both turn the lake pylon.

Look at them go! It's still

Shumann in the lead.

Shumann's plane just

brushed the field pylon!

Shumann and Burnham are

almost wing to wing now!

Watch them round that pylon as they

battle for the first-prize money.

Again it's Shumann up front,

and he's staying there.

Burnham can't pass him as they

swing around the lake pylon.

There they go!

Burnham's crowding Shumann! No!

No! Pull away! Pull away!

(SHRIEKING)

Stay off the field, Please,

stay off the field!

Folks, stay off the field, please!

Clear the field! Please,

clear the field!

Will you people please

stay off the field!

Come back. Are you

out of your mind?

(CAROUSEL PLAYS "AULD LANG SYNE")

FAIRGROUND WORKER: Hurry, hurry,

hurry, folks! Step right up...

Beautiful.

Even if Matt Ord does own it.

It's real beautiful.

Yeah. Like a laid-out corpse.

Take a look.

Not the scenery, the engine.

What's the score?

- Looks like you struck out.

- What's wrong with it?

The electrical

system's on the blink.

- It can be fixed, can't it?

- Nah.

Somebody tried, and they gave up.

- Answer my question!

- There isn't time.

Got better than 16 hours

before starting time tomorrow.

Are you forgetting sleep?

Can you do it?

Answer me! Can you?

No!

I need this plane.

Well...

Maybe I could get it

running again, but...

I don't know for how long.

That'll be my worry.

Leave the cowling alone.

- You know what?

- What?

I'm wishing hard.

I wish that Matt Ord don't forget

how much he hates your guts.

Let's get back to the caf.

Can Jack really fly a plane?

He'd be soloing by now if I

hadn't put my foot down.

How long will your foot stay down?

I don't know.

He's growing up fast. Awfully fast.

You ever tried putting

your foot down on Roger?

What do you think?

I think I put my foot in my mouth.

- Where have you been?

- Making time with the Bearded Lady.

- Want some coffee?

- Sure. Make it black.

- Jet-black, yeah.

- Two coffees, black.

Wishing you had a plane?

Found one.

What's the problem? Money?

Mr Money.

- Matt Ord.

- The white one?

It's on the Fritz.

Jiggs can fix it.

Can he?

Who's going to fix Mr Ord?

- No harm in asking, is there?

- He'd spit all over you.

What's with you and Matt Ord?

I floored him, over in Dallas.

- He made a pass at Laverne?

- He's done that.

Would you go to Matt Ord?

And I thought you hit

bottom with that dice game.

I need this plane.

Like... like an alcoholic

needs his drink.

- If you want me to beg, I'll beg.

- No need to beg.

Forget it, Laverne. Let's clear

out of this stinking burg.

- Where will we go?

- Anyplace we don't have to crawl in dirt.

Where will I find Mr Ord?

Forget it, Laverne.

Rog! Rog, tell her to forget it.

Where do I find him, Jiggs?

Tell her!

All right, Jiggs.

Tell me where to find Mr Ord.

What's happened to us?

What the hell have we done to you?

You want the word? Ask Roger.

Where will I find him?

Long Street Hotel.

Let's get to work.

Yeah, sure.

The pylons are screaming.

She can take care of herself.

(CHUCKLES)

- What's so funny?

- Moon Mullins.

He got hit on the head

again with a flowerpot.

- You, uh... you like to read?

- I like the funnies.

What class are you in school?

I'm in the third grade. I go

to school in Adamston, Iowa.

- Is that a fact?

- No.

It's just what I'm supposed

to say if people ask me.

- Then you can't read?

- Sure I can.

My mum, she teaches me.

That's a nice bathtub you've got.

- Jack!

- Hm?

- It's time to turn in.

- Pretty soon.

(LAUGHS)

Jack's used to being alone.

You don't have to stay.

Good night.

Jack, I have to go.

Something came up.

Something you ate?

(LAUGHS)

Uh. Does Roger think...?

Does Roger think anything went

on between us last night?

Jiggs thinks so.

What about Roger?

- His thoughts never come down to earth.

- They go down to the gutter.

What did you tell Jiggs

about last night?

I told him that you and I talked,

the way I...

the way I've always

wanted to talk to Roger.

And never have.

- You're not going to Ord.

- Roger needs that plane.

No matter what the price? Can

you tell me you don't mind?

No, I can't.

I mind. Each and every nightmare.

- Each and every sin.

- Go back upstairs.

- Burke, please.

- Maybe I can get the plane.

- But how?

- Tickling his ego.

Thanks for the laugh. And for

having done more than enough.

What I did I did as a newspaperman.

But this is personal.

Because last night something

did go on between us.

- Ok, a pine box'll do.

- (KNOCK AT DOOR)

Yeah?

No, I'll leave a cheque

for you at the desk.

Goodbye.

Can I come in?

Might as well.

Make it a short one.

- Too bad about Burnham.

- Yeah.

He goes back to Waco in the

morning, in a chartered plane.

- How old was he?

- Just a kid. 24.

- A good kid, too.

- Hit you hard, didn't it?

Yeah.

Thinking of giving up

your flying billboards?

I'm thinking nothing of the sort.

Business is business, huh?

Business, bull. I just like

to race planes, that's all.

Man's gotta get his kicks

one way or another.

Then you can enter your other

plane in tomorrow's big race.

Oh, sure. The plane's on the Fritz.

My best pilot's dead, my

second-best pilot's in Mobile,

stewing himself with corn liquor.

- How stupid can you get.

- You'd be surprised.

If you're interested, I could tell you

how you could make tomorrow's race.

None of your jokes, now.

Jiggs could fix it,

Shumann could fly it.

Look, do me a favour, will you?

Beat it.

Act like a businessman.

Deal in facts.

Facts? You want facts?

All right, I'll deal you a couple.

The plane can't be fixed... at least

not in time for tomorrow's race.

What's more, Shumann wouldn't fly my

plane if it was the last one on Earth.

50 bucks says he will.

Yeah. He just might at that.

Only I'm not gonna ask him to.

I'll do the asking.

Look, we're both nuts. I got

nothing for him to fly.

50 more says you have.

Just what do you know that I don't?

I know it would be a great story.

Page one.

Tractor tycoon Matt Ord

and war ace Roger Shumann

joining forces and winning

tomorrow's big race.

(CHUCKLES)

What race? The potato-sack race?

And I know this character Jiggs.

He has a way with engines.

You also gotten to know Laverne?

Not as well as I'd like to.

(JAZZ MUSIC)

(NOISE FROM PARTY)

(RAUCOUS LAUGHTER)

(SHRIEKING)

How about a drink?

Quite a party they're having.

How'd it go?

I sold him.

How'd you do it?

Just. Used my natural talents.

Oh, I. Didn't meant to be droll.

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