Nightmare Alley Page #2

- That's what I wrote.!

- She sure knows how to put on an act.

- Sure does.

- Too bad she's tied up with that rum-dum.

- Why?

She could grab herself a smart guy

and make the big time in no time.

But she's already been in the big time.

She and Pete used to be

one of the biggest headliners in vaudeville.

Not with that act.

Pete stayed in the audience.

He never came near the stage.

How could he tip her off to anything?

They used a code, silly.

A code?

What kind of a code?

A word code

between the two of them.

Zeena says that blindfold code

is worth its weight in gold.

I'll bet.

- People still offer them big money for it.

- Why don't they sell it?

Zeena says it's their nest egg.

- Molly.

- Here comes your boyfriend.

Hi, Bruno.

- What's going on here?

- What does it look like?

- He get fresh, Molly?

- Sure I did.

What do you think I'm made of? She's the

prettiest girl in the whole outfit, isn't she?

Sure she is, but...

Just because you're a big mush

is no sign everybody else is.

Come on, you lovely little freak.

- Thanks for the pop, Stan.

- Next time I'll bring you a Kewpie doll.

How do you like that?

He had the nerve to admit it right to my face.

Look, Bruno. I'm no baby.

I can take care of myself.

When I'm talking to somebody,

I wish you wouldn't come butting in like that.

What are you thinking about, Stan?

Molly was telling me about that code

you and Pete used to use in vaudeville.

What about it?

Well, I was thinking

that if Pete got sick or something...

why, I could work from the audience

just like he used to.

No stage trap,

no gypsy switch.

- How do you mean?

- You know, if you taught me the code.

Over my dead body she will.

You got a nerve,

young fella.

- Do you know what a code like that is worth?

- Okay, okay, forget it.

- I was just trying to help you folks.

- I heard you the first time.

We gotta... We gotta watch ourselves

on account of...

- Sure.

- Hurt him enough already.

I thought it was the other way around.

No, Pete was all right

till they picked me up.

- What happened?

- Exactly what's happening now.

I'm about as reliable

as a two-dollar cornet.

You're crazy.

You've got a heart as big...

Sure. As big as an artichoke.

A leaf for everyone.

That's what Pete said

when he began hittin' the bottle.

Then one day he didn't show up.

I dug up another partner,

a magician by the name of Benston.

I was no good without Pete.

In a couple of seasons

I was glad to get a job with an outfit like this.

Pete showed up about a year ago.

Here we are.

I did everything I could to make it up to him,

but you see how it is.

The more I try,

the worse he gets.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes