To Please a Lady Page #3

going straight ahead. Youghal riding right...

Brannan's all right.

He got away from a three-car crackup.

Here he is. He's the winner.

That was ruthless.

Will they let him get away with it?

- No rule against it.

- Didn't have to ride a guy into a wreck.

But he was in there to win,

so he just kept going.

Winner of the main event,

Number 17, Mike Brannan.

In second place,

in Number 22, Charlie Clint.

Third, Dinky Devereaux.

In that three-car crackup,

Sam Kaderian and Red Jones are unhurt.

No report yet on Joe Youghal.

Well, I guess that winds it up

for tonight, folks.

They're taking their time

picking Youghal up.

- I'm going over to the pits.

- You gonna make something out of this?

I wanna hear what Brannan has to say.

- It was just another crackup.

- Another crackup?

He killed that man

as surely as if he'd shot him.

Now, wait a minute. Listen.

What went on out there?

Oh, a thing like that happens. It's

happened before and it'll happen again.

Did it happen like that at Trenton?

You killed a man there, didn't you?

- A man got killed.

- How did it happen this time?

Well, you saw it. Why ask me?

They say he didn't have room

between the wreck and wall.

They say. Well, maybe they know.

- I was ahead and I never look back.

- They say you should've given him room.

What do I care what they say?

You've gotta look out for yourself.

If I'd been in Youghal's place, I'd have got

through. He just didn't think fast enough.

It was him or you,

but it wasn't going to be you.

That's the way you operate, isn't it?

Come on, Gregg, let's go.

He killed a man.

He killed a man and while the...

Yes? Never mind the Barrington stuff.

Hold the entire column.

I told you I'm rushing through another

to take its place.

He killed a man.

He killed a man and while the...

Corpse lay on the blackened grass,

he said:

"In this business,

you've got to look out for yourself. "

And then he lit a cigarette.

"He didn't give a hoot.

He said, 'It's happened before

and it'll happen again. '

He was right.

It did happen before, at Trenton.

He killed a man there

and was suspended for reckless driving. "

- You can read the rest.

- I've read it.

Her whole column's about you

and the crackup.

This thing can padlock every track,

close us down.

Why? Because of what she says

about me?

What she says about you don't affect us.

I'm getting at something else.

- We're having too many fatal crackups.

- You were in a couple.

Well, don't blame me. If they don't know

what they're doing out there...

...that's tough,

but this is a tough racket.

I don't care who did what

or who's to blame.

The point is if the paper starts saying

that our tracks are dangerous...

...we're out of business.

Oh, so that's what's worrying you.

And all the squawks

since this column came out.

A million phone calls. I had the line

disconnected to shut them up.

Well, you're working around

to something.

- What have you boys figured out?

- Figures only one way.

We've gotta do something

to head off the papers.

We've gotta get rid of you.

- You mean I'm barred?

- It's our only out.

- But that's as good as admitting she's right.

- I know that. I don't like to do this to you.

Losing you is losing money.

But that's the way it's gotta be.

You can see the spot we're in,

can't you?

Sure. Sure. You're scared.

Backing up a dame

who takes her first look at a race...

...and knows enough to tell you and me

and the rest of the world our business.

She says I ought to be barred,

so I'm barred.

She can print anything she thinks

about me and get away with it.

Nobody could print

what I think about her.

And that goes for you too.

There are plenty of other tracks.

Continental's begging me to race.

I don't need you.

Come on, take it easy.

This whole thing's gonna blow over.

What's that name again? Brannan?

Mike Brannan?

I could've used you.

Been glad to. Not now.

All I need is for you to crack somebody up

in one of my tracks, would I be in trouble.

You're a hot potato, Brannan.

You ain't for me. Sorry.

Come on.

Hold it. You're not starting.

Why not? I qualified my car.

Yes, under a name that's not your own.

It's right here in the paper.

If we'd known your real name,

we'd never let you through the gate.

Driver like you can cause a lot of trouble.

- Where is this newspaper office?

- Do you no good to go down there.

You the editor?

Yes.

- Did Regina Forbes tell you to reprint this?

- Nobody tells me what to print.

One of my reporters thought

he recognized you. We checked up.

You'll always be recognized.

You were a hero once.

That column's followed me all over.

Everybody's read it or heard about it.

When I'm flat on my back,

I get myself one chance to race...

...then you come out with it.

What are you trying to do to me?

I was performing a public service...

...just as Miss Forbes did in

drawing attention to you in the beginning.

My concern is the safety

of our local drivers.

Your concern is just the same as hers,

anything for a sensation.

You picked on me for the same reason

she did. Somebody to put on the griddle.

I've fried long enough, and I'm

not gonna be buffaloed any longer...

...by some inky-fingered dame

running around, hollering murder.

When I meet up with her again,

she'll know about it.

Now, take that pencil down from behind

your ear and put this ad your paper.

For sale. Hot midget racer.

Offie motor. Torsion-bar suspension.

Complete with all spares. Extra wheels.

The talented diva from La Scala

landed in New York yesterday...

...with her new husband, number four.

The first was a baron, the second a duke,

the third a French marquis.

Following this glittering lineup of

nobility, our glamour puss slipped a little.

Husband number four was born

and raised in good old Yonkers.

Congratulations, Mrs. Manny Snitz.

That's the social stuff.

Break there for commercial.

Say, here's a lovely pair. Try those.

Pick up with "Capitol Chit-Chat. "

Use that latest item about Senator Brett.

Add this:
He's in Hot Springs now.

There's only one man in Washington

who takes more vacations.

- Mr. Barrington is outside.

- Dwight Barrington?

He flew here especially to see you

and is he mad.

I don't wonder, after the way

you've been working him over.

Oh, he'd love to shut me up.

Okay, Janie, bring him in.

- Don't you think I'd better take care of this?

- No, you stand by. I can handle him.

Have your answers ready

and be sure you're right.

Have I missed yet? Okay, Janie.

Here's what you said

about him yesterday:

"More on Barrington. His pension-insurance

scheme cannot and never will pay off.

His bonds are sucker bait.

The capitol he raised has been sunk

in dry oil wells and rainbow dreams.

Nobody has received a dime.

He's out to raise more millions.

Why doesn't the government

look into this?"

Fine, fine.

Now we'll hear what he has to say.

Be sure and take down every word.

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