Nightmare Alley Page #5

- Please go away.

Well, you're a fine one.

Running off in the middle of the show.

Zeena was sore.

I couldn't help it.

She's got me on a diet.

One shot a day.

- You seem to be doing all right.

- No.

Just a sip here and there.

Zeena's tipped everybody off.

I seem to have the dropsies tonight.

Yeah, I heard you the first time.

Look. I'd like to help you,

but I don't wanna get in Dutch with Zeena.

You won't.

You know me, Stan.

I- I wouldn't tell anybody.

Never.

I'll get him.

I'll take care ofhim.!

It's the geek.

He's got the heebie-jeebies again.

Yeah.

Hoatley didn't give him his bottle today.

- Why?

- Says he's been laying down on the job.

Ah, that's silly.

Guy's been ready for the straitjacket for a week.

It's not right to cut a man off so quick,

right in midair.

Come on. Steady.

Boy, have I got 'em.

Here.

You need that

worse than I do.

How is it?

Awful.

But I wish I had a barrel of it.

You're a good kid, Stan.

You're going to go places.

Nothing can keep you out of the big time.

You've got everything.

Just like I used to have.

Me and Zeena.

You should have seen us pack 'em in.

They'd wait through six acts

just to see us.

Top billing everywhere we went.

I was born

brought up in Boston

A city we all know well

Brought up by heartless parents

The truth to you I'll tell

Brought up by heartless parents

Poor guy.

"Poor guy". If it weren't for Zeena,

they'd be saying that about me.

Poor Pete.

Pete the geek.

Ah, you're crazy.

No. I remember that fella

when he first showed up here.

Hoatley knew him in the old days.

So did I.

Course, we pretended we didn't.

- Who was he?

- Hmm? He used to be plenty big-time.

- Mental act?

- What difference does it make?

It's all smoked meat now.

Just a bottle-a-day rum-dum,

and he thinks this job is heaven...

long as he has his bottle a day

and a dry place to sleep it off in.

There's only one thing

this stuff'll make you forget.

- What's that?

- How to forget.

- Have a drink.

- No, thanks.

I, uh...

wonder where Zeena is.

Waiting for me at the hotel,

I suppose.

She's always waiting for me.

Boy, you should have

seen us work once.

I heard you were pretty good

by yourself.

Chord from the orchestra,

amber spot, and I'm on.

Make my spiel. Good for one laugh.

Plenty of mystery.

Just a minute there.

Go right into my reading.

Here's my crystal.

Throughout the ages man has sought

to look behind the veil...

that hides him from tomorrow...

and through the ages certain men

have looked into the polished crystal...

and seen.

Is it some quality

of the crystal itself...

or does the gazer merely use it

to turn his gaze inward?

Who knows?

But visions come.

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