They Live by Night Page #2

A garage along with it, maybe.

It'd be too slow for you.

You wanna live your life fast.

You don't know what you want.

You got me down wrong, Miss Keechie.

T-Dub saw it in the paper

back there in the prison, see?

It's what the Supreme Court

of the United States itself said.

This fellow it writes about,

he was tried, convicted of murder,

sentenced, all the same day.

The same as me.

Then the Supreme Court itself said,

"Let that man out."

No due process or law.

That fellow was 16 too

when he done his murder, same as me.

How come you killed a man?

Some of the fellows in the carnival

I was traveling with

said they knew how

to make some money.

They had a safe all picked out.

Just sort of went along

to see how it was done.

You were in a carnival?

Just roustabouting.

I should have been smart

and run like the other kids.

You know, lawyers cost money.

Soon as I get enough,

I got a lawyer in Tulsa to see.

I'm gonna get myself squared around.

I hope you're right.

Yeah, you bet I'm right.

You know what I'm gonna do?

I'd like to go to New Orleans.

Mexico, maybe.

The way Chickamaw talks about

that Mexico, that must be some country.

Before I'm through,

I'm gonna do a lot of looking around.

You think you're quite a man, don't you?

Uh-huh.

Fine way to get squared around,

teaming with them.

Stealing money and robbing banks.

You'll get in so deep trying to get squared

they'll have enough for two lifetimes.

Call my sister.

I'll leave the address with her.

If what that newspaper clipping

says is true,

you can go back and tell them about it.

They don't keep people

who don't belong there.

They'd never believe me.

Who said that? T-Dub? Chickamaw?

They know.

- All set, Bowie?

- Yeah.

Keechie, you'll drive Mattie

down at the bus for us.

I suppose so.

It's a cash-on-the-barrelhead proposition

for me, remember.

I told the boys that. After all,

it's my own brother that's in the pen.

He's my husband

and we ain't getting any younger.

And I want him out now.

And that's gonna take money.

You do your part, Mattie.

- We'll get you the money.

- I'll do my part.

So long, Keechie.

So long, Bowie.

Come on, let's go, let's go, let's go.

- Are you interested in that?

- What's it to you?

- He's jailbait.

- He's just a kid.

Yeah, that's what I said once.

Maybe you'll be lucky.

Maybe they won't send him

back to prison.

Maybe he'll get himself killed first.

I'll take you to the bus.

- Now where do we go?

- Zelton.

I'll let you off outside of town.

Some guys are dingbats.

They'll charge a place with a filling station,

a telephone and hardware store next door.

I've seen more guys killed that way.

Short match waits outside in the car.

That's the tough job.

Some dingbats think

the guy in the car has got a snap.

He's the man that gets to rumble first,

believe me.

I'll go inside anytime.

Draw.

I'll stay in the car. Any job we do.

Okay?

Okay.

Come on, son, let's change.

- Want me to gift-wrap it?

- No.

Ouch.

- Have you anything smaller?

- No.

Well, that's all right.

I have to go over to the bank anyhow.

I'm dickering with them for a new lease

on this place.

- Mind stepping over to the bank with me?

- Sure.

Change, please.

Here you are, young man, with thanks.

- I have a wedding ring or two if you ever--

- Thanks.

On the nose.

- You all right, son?

- Sure.

Did you look around inside?

- I can draw you a picture.

- Save it for Chickamaw.

Mattie got us a house

in Gusherton all right.

Had to take it for six months.

- Gonna leave the car here?

- Sure, it's okay.

Some shack, eh?

Well, how do you like it?

Hi, Chickamaw.

So you got back, huh?

- T-Dub?

- Yeah? Mattie?

She got a real house.

Why not? We're real people.

Hello, Mattie.

What's the matter?

What's been going on here?

I was just trying to get her to take a drink.

She's so dried up.

Maybe you're not the right man

for her, Chickamaw.

How long does one woman

wait for one man?

Listen, you crummy one-eyed lush--

Mattie!

Hey, that's seven years.

It's gonna take the three of us.

I want my brother out too.

I got the cars for you.

One here, one in Cedars.

Thanks, Mattie.

The first money's mine, remember.

And I want it on the line.

You're still a one-eyed lush

and you always will be.

Jailbait.

I don't know what she's got against me.

I don't either.

The Zelton trick,

it's gonna be tough, huh?

Tough enough.

Yeah? That's for me. I want some action.

I'll take steps a block long.

Anyone gets in my way, I'll stomp them.

Lay it out for us.

Everything.

I still don't know

what she got against me.

This is--

This is the street.

The bank.

At 7:
28, a freight train pulls in.

Here's where we are.

Don't forget to keep the car running.

The night watchman.

Get ready. There's the porter.

Over the fence, Chickamaw.

Morning, Mr. Hagenheimer.

Good morning.

One, two, three, four, five, six.

- Well, hello.

- Good morning.

How the little lady like the watch?

You don't have to tell me.

My cold's all better today.

Coming in early. Inventory.

- And I got a--

- Get away.

- Did I say something--?

- Get away!

Hold on, T-Dub.

- So long, T-Dub.

- See you.

Take it easy, but take it.

- What's next?

- Now we can start strutting.

One thing you gotta learn, kid.

You gotta look and act like other people.

You go ahead, kid, I'll follow you.

And you better stomp it,

or I'll run you down.

Let's go, let's go, let's go. Come on.

Come on, Bowie, get a move on.

Get in my car, kid, quickly.

- My money.

- I've got it here.

Come on, you can't lay down here.

Everybody and his dog is coming.

- My gun.

- Oh, come on, come on, I got plenty.

What's your hurry?

I'm taking him to a hospital.

He's banged up bad.

Yeah, bad.

- Where are you from?

- Denver.

Come to the hospital,

you wanna ask questions.

You were traveling too fast.

Both of you.

You come with me. And you too.

Not this time, friend.

Listen, buddy, you'll get in trouble

before you know it.

Now, friend.

Oh, Lord!

Oh, my goodness. What happened?

That old one-light jalopy come right out.

There ought to be a law.

I better dump you at my brother's.

How bad hurt are you?

I'm all right.

Just so sick to my stomach, that's all.

That's nothing, I--

I used to get sick just from standing up

when Ma was cutting my hair.

Cut it out, huh?

Her name was Peabody then.

No. No, that was the first guy.

Then it was Vines.

Cut it out, will you?

The guy with red hair.

I told you to cut it out.

What's the matter?

Vines. Vines was his name.

- Getting dark enough so I can be

moving on. - Is the boy still out?

Yeah, pretty much.

It's his back.

When he comes to, tell him this:

Tell him when the heat cools

to get to the Gusherton house.

He can hole up there.

- T-Dub and me will meet him there.

- Well, I'll tell him, Chickamaw.

And keep an eye on him

and take care of him.

Well, if it wasn't that

I was losing money,

I'd just soon close the place up

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