Pete Kelly's Blues Page #3

Come on, Pete, get a bar in.

Now, calm down.

There's somebody following us.

He must have banged out right

through the windshield.

We'd better get up to

the road and stop a car.

You go that way.

Let's try to get to a phone.

He didn't bang out, he floated out.

- That sounded pretty good.

- Yeah.

How was it?

Think you'll like that.

I'll play it back.

Yeah, mac, let's hear it.

- It was a good chorus, Al.

- Thanks.

Can I talk to you, Pete? Outside.

Sure.

I was wondering how soon

you could spare me.

Never. Unless you're serious, Al.

And if you are, anytime.

Then I guess I'll mosey on.

All this trouble,

I'm not rested up for it.

It'll blow over.

You've been with

the band the longest.

You and I, what's it been?

Six, seven years?

It won't blow over.

You're playing with a cold deck,

but I don't blame you, Pete.

You wanna keep the band together,

you've gotta fight back.

You could hang on for a while.

No.

I'm older than the rest

of you. Lots older.

I've been through the band wars,

too many of them.

I was thrown out of hotel rooms

because I had an instrument case.

If it had been a machine gun,

it would have been all right.

But nobody wanted a

clarinet player around.

There was all that time trying to

get people to keep their word.

They'd book you in and

play you for a week...

and then say you were drunk

and dump you without a cent.

I've had too much trouble, Pete.

I don't want any more.

Where do you think you'll go?

East, maybe.

Thought I might try to

catch on with a big outfit.

Goldkette, somebody like that.

Paid up, you got train fare?

Well, I'll catch a

bus into St. Louis.

I ought to be used to it by now.

I bet I spent half my

life in bus stations.

Isn't that the dangest thing?

Sure wish you'd go along, Pete.

You would do good with

somebody like Goldkette.

Who's playing the horn there?

Bix, I guess.

I'm safer here, Al.

I'll see you around, Pappy.

Hope you get a good man.

Oh, I'll get someone, don't worry.

But he'll never sit all the

way down in that chair.

We're going right into town.

We'll give you a lift.

I'll thumb a ride.

Well...

We'll play one for you

every now and then.

Don't do that. I'm tired old folks.

Take five for me sometime.

That drummer of yours.

- So?

- We had words.

Do you know who that was?

- You're always asking if I know...

- Guy Bettenhouser. He's McCarg's.

I get the drift.

He made a grab for me.

- What happened?

- Joey took a beer bottle to him.

Joey, you're a fool, a real fool.

- Where's McCarg? How do I get in touch?

- Run an ad.

Operator, get me the 22nd Ward Club.

- What are you doing?

- Trying to call off the dogs.

Twenty-second Ward?

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