King Rat Page #2

That Col. Sellars. Yes. Yes.

Plays cards like an English officer and

a gentleman. He would, wouldn't he?

Don't press your luck too hard,

corporal. Just answer the questions.

- Did he ever show you the ring?

- No, he never even discussed marriage.

- I'm warning you.

- You sure you're not accusing me?

- Got a light, Grey?

- No. I'm not accusing anybody.

Then can I borrow your Ronson?

- Ronson?

- Yeah, it's in your top pocket, I think.

Thank you.

Well, now, this is new, isn't it?

Yes. It was mine.

- We were playing poker. I lost it to him.

- You what?

I lost it to him at poker.

I had a straight, but he had better.

Tell him.

- We were playing stud...

- What were the cards?

- His or mine?

- His.

- Aces on twos.

- You're lying, Marlowe!

Why, Grey, what a thing to say!

It was pathetic.

I thought I had him with a straight...

...so I threw in the lot.

Threw in the Ronson.

How do you play stud, Marlowe?

- Stud?

- Yes, how's it played?

- Stud? You mean ordinary stud?

- Yes.

We'll show you. There's nothing

like a demo.

You see, it was my hole card...

- I said I wanted you to tell me!

- Temper!

Well, never mind. I don't need

the cards to show you.

Four cards faceup.

You can imagine that.

And one down, one in the hole.

It's just like Happy Families,

really, in the nursery.

We never had a nursery, Marlowe.

That was a close one.

Too bloody true.

Here.

You're on the payroll from here

on in. Twenty bucks a week.

Okay, we'll make it 30.

Shove your money.

- What'd I say?

- It's what I said. Shove your money.

One can't expect

bloody Yanks to understand.

All I did was up two 10s to 30.

When someone drops you in it, you

don't pay them for getting you out.

So work your money.

- What'd I do?

- You did nothing, King.

Thirty's above scale.

You treated him right.

Well, screw the British.

Yeah, screw them.

Allied forces are still making

progress in Belgium...

In the Philippines, forces drove a

bridgehead in their thrust for Manila.

Formosa was bombed in daylight

by B-29s without loss.

In Burma, British and Indian armies

are within 30 miles of Mandalay.

Those were the news headlines.

The next broadcast will be at 0600...

- You okay?

- Yes, fine.

The old bladder's flaring up, though.

- What is it?

- Nothing. I just been to the park.

I'm happy to say the old bladder's

working. That's good news.

Beautiful. Thank you for waking

me up to tell me.

God, give me a piece of your courage.

I'm so frightened.

I'm such a bloody coward.

You really ate them in Java?

Not only in Java. Here in Changi.

So did you.

What?

Now, we agreed we wouldn't

cook anything revolting...

...unless we discussed it. We agreed.

Rate this script:2.5 / 2 votes