Too Late Blues Page #5

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there, let's here with the whole outfit, huh?

Okay.

- We don't make any stops this time.

- Sure kid, anything you say.

You know it.

What you say the leader's name is?

- He calls himself Ghost.

- Ghost, huh?

The Ghost! The Ghosts,

how's that for a group, huh?

The kids will buy it.

It'll attract the kids.

That's the market you

have to sell to nowadays.

- How does it feel, Georgie?

- It's a lousy room! I told you that, didn't I?

- But how's it feel?

- Passible.

Passible, passible.

Princess, you were just wonderful.

If you don't mind Charlie, it's my girl.

Boy, you getting fast.

Honey, you were just beautiful.

Ghost, you're a coup

baby. But I love you.

Come off it, will ya?

You have a great voice, Princess.

I love that style of yours, that

uh... No singing singing, you know?

Kid, I think it's gonna

sell a million copies.

- Pete, you were beautiful. Man that was a...

- I know it.

Thank you Mr. Friedlobe.

Benny come on, let's talk business. You want

in on this? Or you wanna handle it yourself?

Agent, why don't you

take care of it, alright?

He trusts you! He trusts you!

- Hey Mr. Friedlobe, we thank you very much.

- Oh thank you kid. Thank you again.

- Oh darling, you were just beautiful.

- Huh?

- Where are you gonna be later?

- Oh, I don't know, around and about.

Why don't you give us a call at Nick

the Greek's. And if we're not there...

...we'll be at my place. And if we're

not there, you can call us somewhere.

Thanks a lot Mr.

Friedlobe. How's the misses?

- You don't remember me, do you?

- No I uh...

He said you were a great guy but I didn't

believe him. But you're just a great guy.

Hey Nick! Congratulate us, we made it.

Nick, I got some wine man. I'm

gonna buy you a new tie, Nick.

Close up shop, we're gonna celebrate.

What do you mean, 'close up shop' huh?

This is a business

proper, a business place.

We're gonna have a party Nick!

Will you let me down!

- What's the matter with you guys?

- Nick, Nick. Take it...

What did I tell you? This is a

business place. This is a circus.

Hold it, Nick. Hold it, will ya?

I want you to meet somebody.

Princess, say hello to Nick the Greek.

Bobolenos. Nick Bobolenos.

I'm very happy to know you.

Please excuse our off

language. The boys, you know.

Isn't he sweet? Isn't he sweet?

What is your name?

It's Jess... uh, Princess Polanski.

Polanski? That's great you know?

Your name is long just like mine.

Come on, a game of cards. A game of loser

weepers. Let's play the game, come on.

- I'll play some music.

- I get the chips.

- You wanna play?

- No, I'll stay out.

- You don't mind honey?

- She don't.

- Of course not.

- Excuse, oh I'm sorry.

You know, Charlie is a great dancer,

let him teach you the mambo, you know?

No, not on your life. This is

a plot to make me lose the girl.

Don't go away. Charlie

stay right where you are.

Hey you guys... excuse me, go ahead.

I didn't mean to interrupt, but you guys

wanna join the party, you're welcome.

You don't mind if we

finish the game, do you?

No, I don't really care what you

do. But the wine's on the table.

It's up to you.

Charlie cha-cha would you mind

taking a seat at the poker table?

Play a little cards will you?

You can even use my chips.

Would you cut it? Would you get out...

He's a nut, he'll dance with anybody.

- Hi.

- Alright, hold it sweetie babies.

Don't anybody drop the bomb but me.

I just conned Friedlobe into four...

...four singles and possibly an album.

A little vino. If he digs your way out

blues. You can play anything you want.

- When?

- Tomorrow we cut it at four o'clock.

What's the charge?

Scale. You get scale, Ghost gets

scale, and very bad deal for the music.

Hey, that's wonderful.

You finally got a job.

Ghost, you're a genius.

Ghost, could I see you a minute?

Hey Benny, what do you mean

a bad deal for the music?

I'd like to see you

alone, if you don't mind.

- Sure, go on.

- No, honey.

Go on.

Okay, we're alone. What's up?

I'll let you play the blues. I

know how much it meant to you.

- Yeah, great. So?

- Look, I'm just an agent. But I remember...

...years go when we were doing one-nighters,

and playing on little strip-joints.

I know how much sweat you put into it.

But just seemed what we were gonna get...

...just isn't worth the heartache.

But I like the way Jess sings it.

Look, I'm just an agent. My job is to

buy sell, buy sell. You wanna turn in...

...ten years of your life on

some dame. That's your business.

Benny, that's not some dame.

That's the girl I'm gonna marry.

Well, like that saying you

know? That's your business.

I mean, is this thing gonna go on

here? Or are we gonna play cards?

Tommy... look at the girl.

Yeah... she's nutty looking.

Hey Skippy, give me

a glass of wine, huh?

Some wine, please?

What? Oh, oh, sure. Help yourself kid.

Hey Charlie, will you quit watching

the girl? Come on, let's play cards.

Hey, don't forget you're gonna give us

one of those sweet songs, right Nick?

Yeah, but I need a

girl to sing for that.

I'll oblige Mr. Bobalinas.

Alright honey. For you, I sing!

You know, that girl's got class...

Oh... No offense, for, of course.

You guys, come on and play cards.

Where did you get a girl like that, huh?

Where did you get a girl like that, heh?

- Vince?

- I pass.

Uh... that's all sweetie baby.

Listen, I uh... I wanna

apologize about last night.

It's nothing. It's

nobody's fault. Forget it.

What do you want from me, Jess?

Nothing... I want nothing at all.

I thought we were... two unhappy

people that found each other.

I mean, you know with me you never

haev to go through the motions.

Benny, please.

I love you, Jess.

I'm sorry.

Well... you uh... better think about

it. You know I'm the sensitive type.

You hurt my feelings. You got

yourself an enemy for life.

See, I'll go running around

telling people what I just told you.

- I know Benny, but...

- But?

Okay.

What's the matter?

Nothing.

- Hi.

- Hi.

How much?

What do you got off the record, Ghost?

Off the record, I don't gotta tell you.

I'll make you a side bet...

You can't make no side bet. There

only two of us left in the game.

The loser drinks a large glass

of the China wine, okey-dokey?

What do you got them?

Okey-dokey, I got three kings.

Drink up.

You try, Ghost.

You want something?

I'm just an outsider like you guys.

What do you mean outsider?

There's a party going on over

there... A bunch of... jazz musicians.

I always say live and let live.

- Are you one of them?

- No sir, I work for a living.

Yeah but I mean, you're uh...

you're a friend of theirs, ain't you?

Sometimes.

Tell me... anybody famous in that group?

- Nope. It's just a nothing outfit.

- Who's the leader?

Ghost Wakefield.

Ghost Wakefield, Ghost... Oh! Ghost

Wakefield, yeah you heard of him.

Never heard of him.

Tell me uh... is he uh... alright?

What's he, one of them dope fiends?

Who knows...

Come here... come here.

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