Thieves' Highway Page #3

- I'll be waitin'.

- Right.

Forty-five, 50.

We got 150 bullets.

Well, that won't buy too many apples,

but we'll make some change.

Maybe we'll do better than that.

Listen to that guy's truck.

Sounds like she's beatin' eggs.

Yes, Slob, we're gonna

make out fine!

What's from beatin' eggs?

Let's grab the apples and get goin'.

- There's no hurry, Slob. No hurry now.

- What are you

He Hel

Maybe you better tail me, huh?

Hey, Nick. Nick!

Nick!

Nick, try to get your head

out of the sand.

Nick, get your head up!

Nick. Nick.

Come on.

Get up.

- Hi.

- Are you all right?

- Yeah. I'm okay.

- Come on. Let's get over to my truck.

Hey, hey!

- Can you stand there for a minute?

- Yeah. Sure.

- Let's take a look at that neck.

- No, I'm okay. Let's get goin'.

Sure, you're okay.

But I gotta fix that tire first, don't I?

I better put something on that neck, too.

Let's get in front of the light.

There. Let's clean you up a little.

Ah, it's good.

I'm glad you've got a fast truck.

Like the fella says,

I got here, didn't I?

Don't forget to

clean behind the ears.

Listen, I knew a guy once walked around

for a full week with his neck busted.

- How's it look?

- Swing your head around.

Go ahead, try it.

- How does it feel?

- Great.

- Haven't got a bandage.

- There's a handkerchief in my back pocket.

No, I'll use mine.

Hey.

- What?

- I bet we look silly, sitting here.

Yeah.

- You think you'll be able to drive?

- Sure I can drive.

- Let's change the tire.

- Oh, no. You'll watch.

Next time you'll know better than to try to

jack up a truck with the back of your neck.

- Ed?

- Yeah?

I'd be a goner

if it wasn't for you.

Yeah.

Hey! Hey, you.

Hey! What do

you do with a guy

Them guys ain't gonna let you sleep,

so how 'bout moving this heap out of the way?

Hey, there, sonny boy. How long do you think

you're gonna keep this truck parked here?

- Just for a little while.

- Well, that happens to be a loadin' platform, sonny.

Well, I'm only going around the corner

to check on some prices.

Oh! Say, that looks like a mighty fine load

of apples you got there.

- Go ahead.

- Help yourself.

- Can I have some of that?

- Sure.

- Get the guy a paper cup.

- Aw, never mind.

Thanks.

Wanna try it? That's asparagus packin'on ice.

Hey, Mac.

What do you think of this?

- Hey, that's a nice apple!

- What do you think it's worth?

- Huh?

- What do you think they're worth?

- I don't know. Ask the boss. He'll be back soon.

- Thanks.

- Stop bargaining. Take it or leave it.

- I'll take it!

Too late.

What are we gonna do with you?

Juice is juice.

Too dry.

- How do you like that?

- Are you selling or pricing?

- What do you think they're worth?

- A lot more than I can give.

People who deal with me,

little hole-in-the-wall grocery stores,

can't afford to pay off.

- Where can I find Mike Figlia?

- Mike Figlia?

- What'd he say?

- He says, Mike Figlia stinks.

- Oh. Where can I find him?

- You're practically in front of him now.

- Oh.

- Hey! What do you want to

get mixed up with him for?

- There are plenty of straight outfits on the street.

- Thanks.

- What do you mean 12 bucks a crate?

- That's Golden

I don't care if it is Golden Bantam. People ain't

gonna pay two bits an ear to eat this stuff.

I give you 10 crates at 12

and five at eight and a half.

You're so nice to me.

I'll tell ya what. I'll take it if you make a deal

on 20 boxes of Golden Delicious.

Tell you what. I'll give you just one bite.

I ain't got no Golden Delicious.

No apples, no corn. If you're gonna take me,

it's gotta be worth it.

Hey, wait a minute.

How about 20 boxes of strawberries?

You can twist my arm on the corn.

I want apples.

Apples? What do you want me to do,

pull 'em out of my hat?

What? Huh?

Come back later.

Might be a deal on the apples.

- Hey! Jocko. Gonna park there long?

- Is there a law against it?

No. But I don't like it.

Hey, Fig! Maybe he's got

something you can use.

I don't do no business

with no wildcat peddlers.

What do you know? Apples.

- They're not for sale.

- How's that?

I said, you don't do business

with wildcat peddlers.

Get your truck out.

It's in the way.

Anything wrong?

My tire's flat.

Tire's flat? I got stuff

movin' in and out of here all the time.

Well, here. Maybe you

can pump it up faster.

Hey, Dave!

Give the man a hand.

Hey, what do you say, Charles?

You think we may be able to use them?

I'd have to see the entire load.

That's Charles for ya.

Got a great future.

Never wants to take a chance.

I'm willin'.

- Aren't you afraid you'll lose your shirt?

- I got plenty of shirts!

What'll you take for the whole load, as is?

Cash on the line.

- Help him out, Charles.

What do you think it's worth?

- Hard to say, Mr. Figlia.

Now, if they're all like this one

- Call that an apple?

- What's the matter with it?

- It's pulpy! It's not worth bringin' in.

- Tire won't come up.

I keep pumpin', but she won't come.

That's a shame.

Yeah, it looks like you're gonna be

stuck here for a while.

If you're a nice boy,

I might be able to handle this load.

- What'll you pay?

- I don't know. It's kinda early for apples.

- First crop's always pulpy.

- Yeah, you know? There's no demand.

Hey! Hey! Whaddya got there,

more peppers?

- I can't give 'em away.

- You ordered them.

Put 'em in the back.

Unless you want to dump your load now,

I'd take 'em on consignment.

Consignment? That's the kind of deal

you like to make on tomatoes, isn't it?

Sign this, Mike. We're waitin'!

- Hey. How 'bout a straight sale?

- How much?

Two bucks won't

hurt too much.

- That's $1,200.

- Cash. Right in your fist.

Sounds pretty good.

I'll talk to my partner when he gets here.

Hey! Yeah.

You gotta sell to someone.

Might as well be me, huh?

I'll be glad to sell to you.

You're a square guy. You offered me a fair price.

- You got a good reputation.

- Okay, okay.

Get your truck outta here.

I can't.

Somebody cut the tire.

Hey, Dave. Call up the Circle Garage.

Tell 'em to send a tow truck.

- Get him outta here.

- Figlia, you're used to pushing around old men.

Touch my truck,

and I'll climb into your hair.

Ah. The old man was easy.

This kid's tough, huh?

Want me to call

the Circle Garage, Mr. Figlia?

- What for?

- For the tow truck, to tow him out in the street.

You know, sometimes

I'm worried for your future, Charles.

I want that truck

right where it is.

See?

See?

Hey, Mike.

See?

Havin' trouble, Doc?

Hey, Slob. Come on over here

and give him a hand.

- Hold a light for a fella.

- Yeah.

Yeah, once a universal

conks out on ya, you're dead.

- When that hot sun hits your load tomorrow

- Brother, baked apples!

Lots of room on our truck.

We'll toss 'em on for ya.

We'll get you to town in a jiffy.

Anything to help a neighbor.

And all it'll cost ya is

half of what you make, bud.

- Hey, there's a spot on your chin there.

- Aah

- Hey! You! What

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