They Drive by Night Page #6

- Mark on it "paid in full" in big letters...

...because that's

what you're getting, cash.

One, two, three, twenty, forty, sixty.

Here. Give me a 10.

You understand,

there's nothing personal.

Yeah, we understand. We love you too.

Now get out of here.

- You don't have to be nasty about it.

- We don't have to be, but it's more fun.

What do you say

we throw this monkey over the truck?

Well, baby, you're all ours.

- I never thought I'd live to see this day.

- And you're gonna live to see better.

Come on. We just got enough dough left

to buy another load.

Hiya, Fabrini.

Got that dough you owe me?

- Yeah. I'm gonna pay you in full.

- I congratulate myself.

- What are you hauling?

- Pears.

Oh, fill it up with gas.

Well, I see Paul's asleep again,

as usual.

What is it about my brother sleeping

that annoys you so much?

You've always got your nose

in everybody else's business.

- Come on, fill her up.

- Okay.

If it was me...

...I'd get a little sleep once in a while

myself and let him do some driving.

Paul?

- Paul!

- Yeah.

Yeah, what, what's the matter?

Nothing, but you'd better take the wheel

for a while.

I'm knocked out.

Where are we, Haig's?

What do you say you and I stop over

and grab a couple hours of shuteye?

For the first time in our lives,

we get ahead of this racket...

...and he wants to stop and sleep.

- Sure, I wanna sleep.

Everyone sleeps

once in a while, remember?

You'd think I wanted

to do something peculiar.

- You all right?

- Yeah.

I'm all right.

But my brother's in the truck!

Shoot your lights down there.

Come on. Come on.

Hold it.

Paul!

- Paul!

- I'll go and get help.

Paul!

Joe, how is he?

Busted up, but he's gonna be okay.

At first they thought his skull

was fractured, but it ain't.

- Where is he?

- Down here.

It was all my fault.

He wanted to stop and sleep...

...and I made him drive.

- Don't blame yourself, Joe.

It was bound to happen.

I'm grateful he's alive.

- The truck's gone, I suppose.

- Complete wreck.

Load smashed, not a cent of insurance.

And we were just starting to do good.

It's always that way, isn't it?

You and Paul will get another truck

and be back on the road.

- Wait, Pearl. Before you go in.

- Yes?

Looks like Paul's gonna be out of work

for some time.

And I don't want you to worry, see.

While he's getting well,

I'll take care of everything.

What are you trying to do, Joe,

soften the blow?

- How bad is he?

- Oh, he's all right.

A couple of cuts here and there.

All except his right arm.

They thought...

Well, they had to do it.

I'm gonna surprise you.

I'm gonna surprise you a lot.

I'm almost glad it happened!

- You're what?

- You heard me, I'm almost glad.

Now he can't drive a truck anymore.

Now he'll be home nights.

Now I won't always

be alone, worrying.

Maybe it's worth a right arm, Joe.

Maybe it's worth it.

- Hello, sug.

- Don't you ever knock?

Oh, it's all right. We're married.

Don't you remember?

Yeah, how can I forget?

Well, what are you gonna do,

open up a shop?

Where's the pole

that goes with this?

Oh, to show you how things break

in this business...

...you know what happened?

Last night, the Fabrini brothers

smacked up, truck and all.

- Was Joe hurt?

- No. He got scratched up a little.

His brother lost a wing.

- What are they gonna do?

- Joe's gonna wheel a truck for me.

He's a good man

and I hate to get him that way.

If he's a good man,

why are you wasting him on the road?

Where else am I gonna put him?

Anyone with a big back

can drive a truck.

Why don't you put him

in the garage?

In the garage?

What would he do there?

I don't know.

There must be a lot of things.

You're always complaining

how tired you are.

Maybe if you had someone

to help you...

...you wouldn't always fall asleep

after dinner.

You know, sug,

that ain't a bad idea of yours.

- Always thinking of the old man, huh?

- Sure I am, Ed.

But you never give me any credit

for it.

- Brakes? Hand brake?

- Check. Check.

- Tires? Spare tires?

- Check. Check.

- Everything set?

- Fine.

- Okay, Sweeney, let her roll.

- All right, Joe.

Joe!

- Is Ed ready?

- I don't know, Mrs. Carlsen.

- I'll go and see.

- Never mind. He'll be down.

Got a match?

No lighter in this car?

It doesn't work.

Did Ed tell you about our anniversary

party tomorrow night?

- I'm sorry, I can't make it.

- But Ed's counting on having you!

- Weren't you, Ed?

- Sure.

- What is it, and how much does it cost?

- Joe says he can't make our party.

Sure you can. It's our new house.

I want you to see it.

I gave it to Lana as a surprise,

after she picked it out.

I had something planned

with Paul tomorrow.

Look here, I'm boss.

This is a royal command.

You show up at my new dump tomorrow

night. Paul don't pay your salary, I do.

Okay, I'll show up,

but I've gotta leave early.

I knew Ed could bring you around.

He must have more appeal than I have.

She's terrific.

If you open your mouth,

she puts her foot in it.

Here comes work.

Good night, Mrs. Carlsen.

See you tomorrow, Ed.

Right on the nose, Irish. They must've

taken out the pinball machines.

They're getting tougher. They got

a new one, if you hit a winner...

...it mixes you a drink, tucks you

into bed, but nobody ever wins.

- Hi, Irish!

- Hello, Ed.

Funny. She almost never used to call

for Ed nights until you started here.

- Or am I talking out of turn?

- Come on, get washed up.

- We're going to Paul's for dinner.

- Again?

It's sure nice

since he moved into town.

- Yeah. Pearl's cooking a steak.

- Swell! Ain't had a steak since breakfast.

Oh, boy, I'm hungry!

- I wonder what they'll have for dessert.

- For you, probably stewed pinballs.

- Hello, baby.

- Hello, Joe.

- That's nice.

- How'd you get here so early?

I got a lift from one of the girls.

- How are you, Irish?

- Hungry.

- Hiya, fellas.

- Hello, Paul.

Hello, Paul.

Any luck today?

Yeah, but all bad. All the old men

get the watchman's jobs...

...and that's about the only thing

a one-armed guy can do.

There are a lot of jobs you can handle.

Hey, Pearl, medium-rare on my steak...

...and not much butter

on my potatoes.

Any special design you want

on the plate?

- Come on, everybody, sit down.

- You don't have to call me twice.

When I was riding that truck, I used to

think I'd never get enough staying home.

- I got enough, all right.

- Relax, you'll find something to do.

Sure. I can always learn to knit,

and Ripley'll print my picture.

Have some steak, Cassie,

and pass it on.

- How's things going at the store?

- Fine, except I get tired...

...of being on my feet all day.

- I got the same trouble.

The only difference is,

I drive all day.

- Beer, Irish?

- That's me, kid.

I'm the best two-fisted beer drinker

in America.

Sometimes I get so thirsty,

I wish I had three hands.

- Cut it.

- That's okay. He didn't mean no harm.

He's right. Three hands

are better than two, ain't they?

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