The Frisco Kid

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With the--

With the-- Mit die lndians.

Avram.

l want to talk to you in private.

Speak only English.

And no matter what l say. . .

. . .don't smile.

Out of 88 students graduating

from this yeshiva. . .

. . .you came in a close 87.

Don't smile.

Look sad.

-There is a new congregation--

-ln America?

Some meshuggener suggested your name

to become the new rabbi.

l am forced to take an official vote

of the Board of Rabbis.

lose.

lt's a close vote.

But l am the chief rabbi.

l am the one who has to decide.

So, cowboy. . .

. . .l am sending you to San Francisco.

-Where is San Francisco?

-By New York.

Get out. Quick.

And so,

on a wonderful, sunny day in 1 850...

...I started out my great adventure...

...and I left Poland for Philadelphia...

... the city where all the brothers

love each other.

Belinski. With B, Belinski.

No, no. There were two valises.

Look, lady, l told you,

you're gonna have to wait.

Daddy, Daddy.

The boat's gone.

-Understand?

-Somebody should have told us.

-What'd he say?

-lt's the devil's work.

-The boat is gone.

-Mister.

-What's with the boat to San Francisco?

-Gone.

lt can't be. That boat's to leave

the first morning tide.

Supposed to?

What the hell's the matter with you?

lt's a gold rush.

Haven't you people heard anything?

Next boat, two months.

Oh, God. Oh, my God, help me.

Just this morning me and my brother

got the news.

All right, who's next?

Our mama's dying in San Francisco.

What am l gonna do?

Oh, there-- There must be some way

that a person can go. . .

. . .to San Francisco

in another way than the boat.

Not for us, sir.

Just 1 0 minutes ago, me and my brother

sold our horses and our wagon. . .

. . .so as we could purchase tickets

on this here boat.

And now we ain't got neither.

Well, perhaps if you go to the man

and you told him your troubles. . .

. . .and you give him back the money,

he would give you back the wagon.

You think he'll do it?

lf he is a good man,

l think he would do that, yes.

Mister, would--?

Would you help me, please?

l'm not much good

at explaining myself.

l usually just start to cry.

l will do that. l would be happy

to do it.

But l don't know

if l would be much help to you. . .

. . .with the way l speak English.

Wait, you don't have to carry the bags.

My brother, his name is Matt.

Oh, say-- Say, what's your name?

-Avram.

-Avram. My name's Darryl. Darryl Diggs.

Anyway, my brother's got a temper.

Sometimes, he unloads,

you know what l mean?

-an't l help you to carry--?

-No, l've got it all. Don't worry.

Just step in here.

What was it again, Abrum?

Avram. But you didn't

do nothing wrong.

-Everything go all right?

-Well, we missed the boat.

-What?

-The boat sailed yesterday.

The whole town's crazy.

lt's a gold rush. lt sailed yesterday.

Yeah. Well, what are we

supposed to do now?

Well, God may be on our side yet, Matt,

thanks to this here gentleman.

Avram, this is my brother,

Matthew Diggs.

-How do you do?

-Mr. Jones.

Mr. Jones, we missed our boat.

We find ourselves in a desperate state.

We need our horses and wagon back. . .

. . .so as we can get to San Francisco

to see our mom before she dies.

-So if you'd take your money back. . . .

-l sympathize with your misfortunes.

But you've got to understand,

l'm in the business of buying and selling.

And l don't sell

unless l can make a profit.

But we don't have money

to give you a profit.

Then we don't do no business.

Excuse me.

Excuse me, Mr. Jones.

How much profit do you need

from these gentlemen?

Fifty dollars.

Oh, $50. That's it, Matt, we're sunk.

l'm sorry, Avram.

l'm sorry l wasted your time.

Well, perhaps l could pay the $50.

That's real kind of you, Avram.

l don't know how we could

pay you back. Do you, Matt?

Fifty dollars, look, l don't know.

lf l could have a seat on your wagon

to San Francisco. . .

. . .l would be more than paid back.

You pay the $50 and you can have

a seat with a cushion on it. an't he?

All the way.

l would share the cushion.

Matt, the Lord is smiling

on you and me today.

Amen.

Gentlemen, quiet.

Wonderful, marvelous news.

Just this morning,

l received this letter.

''Dear, Mr. Bender.

This is to inform you that soon,

God willing. . .

. . .you will have a rabbi and a Torah.

Rabbi Avram Belinski. . .

. . .has left Poland to join you

in the village of San Francisco.

Avram thanks you

for the picture of your lovely family.

He is looking eagerly forward

to meeting your daughter, Sarah Mindl. . .

. . .with an eye towards matrimony. ''

-Papa.

-Not now, Sarah Mindl.

But Julius.

-Go to your room.

-What's the matter with Sarah Mindl?

Bender, a rabbi is better

than a Rosenschein.

-Do you want a bite?

-Oh, thanks.

There she is, Avram.

That little shortcut

l was telling you about.

lt's gonna get us to San Francisco

four days earlier.

Good.

What happened? ls it lndians?

Mr. Jones, what's happening?

l don't understand. What--?

Darryl, tell him l paid the $50.

He paid the $50.

-You paid the $50?

-Yeah, l did.

ls the clothes what you want?

You want to take my clothes?

You need my clothes so much?

You don't have your own clothes?

No! No, not the Torah. Please.

Take my money, you can have the--

God. God, help me!

Please, no, don't.

Please, don't do that.

No. Please. Please. No.

What do you need my tallith for?

-Why are you doing this?

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