They Drive by Night Page #4

- Me.

A guy would get blisters

waiting for a load...

...so I'm going down to Imperial

and buy some of them babies myself.

When market opens, I'll clean up.

You know, they ain't hardly

got a watermelon in town.

That's one way to do it.

Well, good luck, guy.

Thanks. Same to you.

What do you think you're doing

with that broken-down tub?

Parking it. Why?

Get it out of there, or I'll park one

on your chin. I was here first.

Don't look that way to me.

Smack him on the chin, boy.

Shoot for his button. Go on! Go on!

What's going on?

Well, it ain't the guy selling bananas,

it's a fight! Look!

Get in there, now!

Go ahead, go ahead!

Ed, stop yelling out the window.

You're not a truck driver anymore.

Can I help it if I get a little excited?

When we got married,

you promised to be a gentleman.

It's disgusting to see the head of a big

company being noisier than his drivers.

One of those guys

looks like Joe Fabrini.

It is Joe!

You remember Joe, don't you?

Yeah.

And Joe shouldn't be fighting

in the street like that too.

You'll need the other eye for the road.

And this ain't making

either one of us any money.

Look out, Joe.

Hey, Joe Fabrini!

Champ!

Hey, Joe!

Joe Fabrini!

Come on up here and see

what you can do with a good man.

I used to could hit like that.

And get hit too.

- Oh, boy.

- Is he coming up?

Yeah, and a great guy he is too.

Say, Lana, what are you doing

with all the dough?

This is 200 bucks this week.

Would you like me to give you

an itemized account?

Penny by penny?

Oh, no, sug.

You use all of it you want.

If you're gonna look like a million,

you got to spend a million, huh?

I just got my makeup on. You need to

get romantic around noontime?

Where you're concerned,

I don't watch the clock.

I wish you would.

You're having a visitor,

you may as well put your coat on.

If you can't sound like an executive,

you might try looking like one.

You're gonna make a gentleman

out of me yet.

I doubt it.

What is it?

What is it?

Yes? What...?

Oh, I wish they'd stop inventing things.

Joe Fabrini to see you.

What?

Oh, well, shoot him right in.

Hello, Joe.

What do you know?

Who do you think you are,

Jack Dempsey?

What is that, a gag?

It's Lana.

She thinks it makes me look dignified.

- What was the beef out there?

- Oh, nothing much.

- Hello, Mrs. Carlsen.

- Hello.

Where have you been hiding? It's

a wonder you wouldn't come see a guy.

- I've been pretty busy.

- The mice must have got into this.

That was no mice, that was a rat.

Very funny.

Very funny, babe!

That's just like Lana.

Right on the trigger every time.

Well, you and I will strike a blow

for liberty.

- You know I never touch it.

- That's all right.

I'll strike the blow for both of us.

Well...

Your liver must look like

a bomb hit it.

Well, you know what I say,

live and let liver.

Or, or, liver,

stay away from my door.

It's a cinch to think of fast ones...

...when you've been married

to a smart girl for seven years.

Now, Joe, park it there.

Oh, thanks.

Say, Joe...

...why don't you cut out trying to beat

this wildcat game and work for me?

- You beat it, didn't you?

- Well, yes.

You're leading with your chin.

Working for me...

...or any other real trucking outfit,

you can only drive 8 hours at a clip...

...and you're sure of both your sleep

and your pay.

- You know what I'm gonna do, Ed?

- No.

Paul and me are starting

to buy our own loads.

After this, we're gonna make the profits

instead of 16 other guys.

I'm just getting five

brand-new diesels.

I'd sure like to see you and Paul

on one of them.

Thanks, Ed,

but I'd still like to be my own boss.

You should listen to Ed.

He's talking sense for once.

Oh, don't get me wrong,

Mrs. Carlsen...

...I probably sound like I don't appreciate

Ed's offer.

I do.

But I'd still like to try it my way.

Just a few breaks,

and maybe I'll be higher than Ed.

Yeah, and Ed'll be hauling for you.

What do you think of that?

- Know where you can buy any loads?

- No, I ain't looked into it yet.

I know just the guy. He knows all

the angles. And since I'm gonna be...

...working for you someday, I might as

well start getting on your good side.

And you better be nice to him too.

- I'm always nice to your friends.

- You see that one? She kills me!

I'll be right back.

- Where were you last Thursday?

- On the road, I guess.

You're lying. You were here in town.

One of the boys saw you.

So I was in town.

I waited so long in front of that

restaurant, they thought I was a picket.

Don't you ever keep a date?

I didn't make a date.

You did.

I told you then I wouldn't be there.

And I'm telling you now...

...I'll never be there.

- What's the matter with me?

Nothing...

...except you got a husband,

Mrs. Carlsen.

And it happens that he's a good friend

of mine. Understand?

Oh, you've been listening

to some narrow-minded people.

There. What would they say

about that?

You know what's gonna happen

to you?

One of these days,

Ed is gonna catch you.

And when he does,

he's gonna slap your ears off.

I wonder what I see in you, anyway.

You're crude.

You're uneducated.

You've never had a pair of pants

with a crease in them.

And yet, I couldn't say no to you.

Don't worry about it.

I'm not asking you.

You better get two cases.

Bourbon!

- Joe.

- Yes.

Go here.

That's the United Warehouse in Pomona.

Ask for Oscar Drake. He's got a load

of lemons he's dying to get rid of.

That ain't bad. There's a flu epidemic up

north and they're hot for lemons.

The guy's had the fruit laying around for

some time, so you got him over a barrel.

- Got any money?

- Enough for a load.

- Thanks, Ed. I won't forget this.

- I know.

Goodbye, Mrs. Carlsen.

Goodbye.

It was nice seeing you again, Joe.

Don't forget,

keep your eye on that white line.

You betcha.

And I'll watch all the curves too.

Now, there's a great fellow.

There's anybody in the world

could beat that wildcat racket, it's him.

- Funny how the dames fell for him.

- Can't understand it.

Neither can I.

Course, I mean waitresses and such.

None of them were high-class broads...

I mean, gals, like yourself.

Oh, please, Ed.

Suppose someone should come in?

Then we'd have to get married

all over again, wouldn't we?

Yes, thank you.

- Who was it?

- It was a wire from Joe.

He'll be by for you

in about a half an hour.

Paul.

I think you'd better let Joe go on again.

You didn't sleep.

Well, how could I?

Every time I closed my eyes,

I could see those two guys burning.

Well, I'm thankful it wasn't you.

Every minute, I expect someone to knock

on the door and tell me I'm a widow.

- Please stay tonight and get some sleep.

- I can't.

I was enough of a heel last night,

walking out on Joe the way I did.

I guess I'd try anything

to keep you home one more day.

I'm alone so much,

it's got me talking to myself.

Paul.

Why can't I have a baby?

Maybe then I wouldn't be so... so lonely.

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