All language subtitles for A Slight Case of Larceny 1953-en

Shavers and Klopp.

Larceny.

A Slight Case of Larceny (1953)

Freddie, must you make all of that steam?

It's from the hot water, Geach.

I know it.

Dishes!

Hurry up, will you please, Fred.

I'm sorry, Geach.

Will you get those dishes out here?

What's that thing?

It's a labor-saving device I invented.

It'll revolutionize the restaurant
business.

As soon as I get it patented, we'll all be
millionaires.

A little demonstration, please,
Fred.

That's my pal, Geachy.

His real name's Augustus Chivas.

The Geach has a kind of magic all his own.

Just looking at him, you'd think he was a
lazy bum, but don't let him fool you.

He never sleeps, thinking every minute,
thinking upward and onward.

You know what I mean?

Well, maybe you don't, so let me tell you
from the beginning.

It all started that winter we spent
together beside a blue lagoon,

basking in tropical splendor.

Do you think he'd listen to me?

Not that Lummox.

He won't be satisfied until they clobber
us.

He knows what he's doing.

That's why they made him a sergeant.

A sergeant, fine sergeant.

He hasn't even got brains enough to
outflank the enemy.

Now, how's he gonna do that?

This isn't the first patrol that's ever
been pinned down.

What would Genghis Khan do, or Napoleon,
or even MacArthur?

What would they do, Geach?

Elementary, elementary.

Even this knucklehead could understand if
he'd listen to me.

You see that rock out there?

The rock, yeah?

Yeah, yeah.

Now, listen.

A guy sneaks out and gets in back of that
rock and throws lead at him.

You understand?

From here to there?

Yeah.

How?

Well, he makes a run for it.

Suppose he gets spotted.

He'd make it, believe me.

He'd make it.

And after he gets there, the rest of the
outfit goes back and outflanks the enemy.

This is military strategy, kid.

You don't learn it in the pool.

A guy could get killed.

A guy could pick himself up a medal,
too.

Look, I'd do it, Freddy.

Except I've got a tricked knee,
you know?

Oh, yeah.

The knee I got.

How about you?

Well... Huh?

What about the sergeant?

I'll square it with the sergeant.

He'll kiss you for it.

If you make it.

What if I don't make it?

You'll make it.

I know you'll make it, Fred.

Go on.

Go on.

You'll make it.

Keep low.

Keep low, Fred!

Follow me!

Come on, man!

Congratulations, Geech.

Great idea.

That was just a little one.

I've got some big ones.

Private cheevers?

You're amazing.

Stick with me, kid.

I'll bury you in diamonds.

Oh, Freddy boy, me for ocean voyages.

Live like a millionaire, that's it.

You know, like they do in Fortune
magazine.

That's a classy magazine.

Buck and a quarter a throw.

Is that your ambition, Geech, to be a
millionaire?

Uh, no.

I'll never realize my ambition.

Oh, I'll be a millionaire, all right.

But I'll never have any of that old money.

Old money?

What kind is that?

You know, the kind that's
handed down from generation

to generation, like the
Astas and the Vanderbilts.

Nah, that's the real money to spend,
kid.

Well, what makes that kind any better?

Well, any joker can
invent a zipper or a latch

on a screen door and
make a million dollars.

But that kind of money, it has no class.

You know, kid, once when I was a very
small tot, I saw a movie of an old banker

who had the gout and
rode around in a Rolls

Royce all the time
with his foot propped up.

And they made him as mean as possible in
this picture, see?

I mean, he foreclosed on mortgages and
starved old widows and everything like that.

You were supposed to hate this old guy,
see?

It's a funny thing, he's the only one in
the picture I really liked.

I'll never forget that old guy.

That's a great ambition, to ride around in
a limousine with the gout.

What's your ambition, Fred?

Ah, you know, Emily.

Get married, I guess.

Settle down.

That's a great ambition.

Emily, ten kids, and a lawnmower.

Believe me, the gout is better,
Fred.

Emily and I got married.

That was six years ago.

I hadn't seen the geats since then.

I missed them plenty.

But I had a wife, two beautiful kids,
a home of our own, and a real good job.

Morning, Mr. Logan.

Morning, good morning.

Look, I gotta go out for a while.

Get Justin's car first, will you?

Yes, sir.

I promised him for noon.

Okay.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

I'll take it, sir.

We'll have it fixed in no time at all,
sir.

It's the windows.

They work on buttons.

Ah, windows.

Probably need just a little fluid,
that's all, sir.

Okay.

I'll pick it up later.

All right.

We'll have it ready for you.

How about a little service here,
please?

Be right with you, sir.

Gage!

How are you, Gage?

Good to see you.

Oh, Gage, I missed you.

How are you, boy?

Fine, fine.

Some car!

Ah, it's a mere bobble.

It's been a long time since I've seen you,
lad.

Six years.

Six years?

You gonna stay?

I don't know.

I haven't made any plans.

Have you had any breakfast yet?

Come on, let's have a little coffee.

What do you see?

Covered a lot of grounds since I've seen
you, lad.

Have you, Gage?

Oh, boy!

There we have it.

Gee, I missed you.

Thank you.

Oh, wait a minute, Gage.

I can't be going long.

I've got a grease job to finish.

Grease job?

Relax and enjoy, kid.

The Geech has returned.

And then you went to Florida, huh?

Yeah, I went down to Florida.

Wish you'd been there with me.

We had a grand time.

Tell me about it.

Not much to tell Freddy.

I went down to Florida and spent the
season rubbing elbows with high society.

I don't like to blow my own horn,
kid, but I was murdered with the girls.

On the go every minute.

They wore me out.

I met Noel down there.

He was having trouble casting the lead in
his new Broadway musical.

How can you say no to Noel?

The critics rave, but after all,
playing the same show night after night,

you know me and Monotony, kid.

They begged me to stay, but I tore up my
contract and headed west.

The west, kid.

Ah, wide open spaces where a man can
double his fortune at the snap of a finger.

The big money boys never took their eyes
off me.

They watched every move I made.

Watched like a hawk, cause every day I was
cleaning up.

Once I got the edge on them, too.

I figured I'd play it cozy, you see.

Play on their loot.

Uh, money.

Another thing, kid, when you gamble,
you've gotta relax.

You know, devil may care.

That's how it was with me.

If I hit, okay.

If not, okay, too.

George the Greek begged me to teach him my
system, but the syndicate made me a better

offer, so I closed the deal and cruised
down here to see you.

Well, that's about it, kid.

I missed you, though.

That's why I thought I'd come down and say
hello to you.

Glad you did, Geach.

Looks like I've been doing all the
talking.

How are things with you, boy?

Here you are.

Everything went... Oh, I've got it,
I've got it.

All right, dear.

Uh, would you mind catching this kid?

I'm all out of small change.

Sure, Geach.

Thanks.

You see, the tax-wise, it just didn't
work.

Would you please watch the grease?

Thanks very much, Brent.

So when they tried to drill the
well... Where have you been?

Justin was here for his car and I wasn't
ready.

I'm sorry, Mr. Sorry?

What good is that you?

Oh, wait just a minute, Logan.

Calm down, calm down.

This man and I were just having coffee,
that's all.

There's an understanding amongst nice
people.

Employees get a break a.m.

and p.m.

Who's he?

Uh, he's my friend from the army.

Mr. Klopp is an employee, not a slave.

That's the trouble with fellas like you,
Logan.

You never know when you're well off.

You'll probably get a 40% markup off this
man's labor.

He could go any other place in town and
get twice the money that you're paying him.

Geach, if you please.

Shorter hours and better working
conditions.

Geach.

This is still a free country, Logan.

Remember that, huh?

Geach.

Let's not forget it.

What are you bothering with this chicken
feed for?

Oh, it's different with you, Geach,
but I've got responsibilities.

That's what happens when you get nailed
early.

Freddy.

Hmm?

Take a look over here.

What?

Why does a pretty little
mouse like that have

to throw herself on the
mercy of the government?

And away I go.

Next, miss.

Hi, Bev.

Hi.

How's the old girl?

Just fine.

It's been a long time.

Sure has.

How's the old crowd?

Just fine.

It's good to see you again.

Still live in the same old place.

Doing the same old things?

You are, miss.

Thanks.

Call me, won't you?

Yes, I will, but what is the number?

Still the same old number.

Bye.

I'm sorry, Geach.

Why don't you watch what you're doing?

You're a grown man, aren't you?

Well, get in there.

Hello, Emily.

I called the garage.

Mr. Lorgan told me you were fired.

What happened, Freddy?

Well, I'll tell you about it later.

Don't look so sad.

I've got a big surprise.

Geech!

Emily, you remember Geech.

Hello, darling.

How are you?

I haven't seen the Geech in years.

He just got in town today.

And you just lost your job.

What happened at the garage, Freddy?

I'll tell you about it later, honey.

When you can think up a story,
you don't have to bother.

I know what happened.

Your pal walked in and just by accident,
you got fired.

Emily, please!

Please don't fight, Fred.

You're absolutely right.

When I walked in, he did get fired,
but it was no accident.

It was done on purpose.

You don't think I was gonna
stand by and watch a friend of

mine spend the rest of his
life in a grease pit, do you?

That grease pit supported his wife and
children and paid for this house.

I know that.

But, Em, dear, don't
you think I had something

better in mind for Freddy
when I did all of this?

Oh, you did?

Why, the proposition I have for Freddy
will set him up for life.

Doing what?

He has no training.

He's worked in a garage for five years.

Five years in a garage?

Yes, someone else's garage.

This is America, Emily.

The land of the free.

Land of opportunity.

Who says that this man
shouldn't have his own

station or his own
garage, for that matter?

Where will he get the money?

Oh, I'll worry about that.

Hey, Mom.

Mary Ellen spilled the milk.

Why does she have to be such a slob?

Geech, can you really get the money to
swing this?

Money, money, please.

I told you before.

Money is the least of our worries.

Just trust the Geech, will you?

Have a little faith in me.

Do you own this house?

Yeah.

I

Got the hydraulic jack working,
Geech.

Took about two pounds of grease.

Good boy.

Here's a fellow that two years ago was
driving a junk truck.

Today owns four square blocks of New York
City.

Yeah, Geech.

What about the cash register?

Tomorrow it goes over there.

Oh.

And the frame, what's that for?

Frame?

That's for the first dollar we make.

Oh.

Come on, my boy.

Something to show you.

You've got to remember to think big,
kid.

Think big.

Be daring and act.

Take a gander.

Do you ride along in bliss?

Here's a thought that you may miss.

If your brakes get any worse, you'll be
riding in a hearse.

Cheevers and cloth.

Yeah.

Yeah, I'm gonna string them down Degger
Street, too.

Catch them on both sides of the street.

I've got five signs left, Brett.

Yeah, but riding in a hearse, do you think
people will go for that?

That's the secret of American advertising,
kid.

Scare them to death.

You know, like those
soap ads with a beautiful

girl and the guy, and
he proposes to the girl.

She gets afraid and sort of shies away
from him.

She really wants to marry the fella,
but she can't because he smells bad.

How long is he gonna stay?

Hmm?

Oh, till he finds a place.

He hasn't even looked.

Well, we've had other things to do.

We've been working pretty hard,
you know.

You mean you've been working.

Oh, now don't stop that.

I never missed a day school in my life.

You can learn a lot watching a television,
too.

That's why I want one so bad.

What can you learn?

Who was in pictures 20 years ago?

Well, it's your bedtime, son.

All the other kids have television,
but Pop says we have to wait.

Do the other kids have color television?

You bet they don't.

They still have that black and white.

And that's for peasants.

That's where your Pop is smart.

He's waiting for color television.

You tell that to all the kids at school.

Thank you.

Up around the neck, please.

You gonna ask him to pay for his room and
board?

No!

Why not?

Cause you just don't do things like that.

That's why not.

Maybe you don't, but I do.

He's got the whole house on its ear,
and he eats like a horse.

The way he eats, he ought to be eight feet
tall.

Now, look.

I'm running this house, and what I say
goes.

Oh, it does, doesn't it?

Yes, and I say he stays.

And I say he goes.

And I say he... Hey!

Could you please not talk so loud?

Uncle Geechee's trying to sleep.

Well, this is it, kid.

Our grand opening.

Good luck, Geechee.

And good luck to you too, Freddie.

Before we're through, we'll have a chain
of stations clear around the world.

The sun will never set on Cheevers and
Klopp.

They just keep whizzing by.

Yeah.

Geechee?

Uh-huh.

You know the mortgage on the house?

Yes.

Well, if I miss a payment, will the bank
get a little unpleasant?

Please, will you, kid?

Stop worrying.

I told you, the Geechee's on your side.

Good, good morning, ladies.

There we are.

Thank you.

I think nothing of it.

Oh, this is a surprise.

What is?

Well, we'd hoped our first
customers would be females, but

didn't dare dream they'd be two
charming ladies such as yourself.

Freddie, boy.

Freddie, windshield, please.

Oh, just a minute, young man.

Oh, don't worry.

We'll take over from here.

I suppose you want us to fill it up,
right?

No.

We filled it up just this morning.

We're on our way to League City for the
day.

It was so warm driving.

We just stopped in to freshen up a bit.

Well, our restrooms are the cleanest on
the boulevard.

Right this way, please.

Thank you.

Too bad we didn't know about your station,
young man.

That's right.

We could have come here.

Don't give it another thought,
ladies.

I'm sure that we'll have the pleasure of
serving you in the very near future.

We'll... We'll be here
for a very long, long time.

Freddie.

Freddie, where'd that hound come from?

I don't know.

Well, don't you think you ought to get him
out of the driveway?

Why?

Where could he be safer?

Come on, come on.

Oh, you better take it alone.

I'm jinxing you.

Yes, sir.

Good afternoon, sir.

And how many gallons would you like?

Which way to Hitchcock?

Hitchcock?

Yeah, yeah, Hitchcock.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Klopp, would you bring this gentleman
one of our maps, please?

This is a fine car you have here.

Huh?

A gem among motors.

A tribute to the memory of the late and
great Henry Ford.

Do you know the way to Hitchcock?

Hitchcock?

Well... Oh, here's the map, sir.

Let's see.

Hitchcock, there are various roads you can
take to get there.

While I'm making a route for you,
suppose my assistant makes a

a precision check of your inflation
pressures.

Huh?

He wants to know if he wants a mayor.

No, I need directions.

I just want to get to Hitchcock.

I want to see my brother-in-law about the
eight dollars he owes me.

You stay on Clary here, sir.

That's it.

Clary till you get the Fowley.

That leads right into the main street.

You can't miss it.

Huh?

Here, you take this with our compliments.

Oh, I think.

Trouble?

It wasn't till I come in here.

You need gas.

Gas?

Yes, yes.

I need gas.

Oh, what luck.

Can you imagine running out of gas right
here in a gas station?

Just five gallons.

Say, that's special, ain't it?

Yes, sir.

I don't need no special.

Regular is good enough for me.

That's all I need and that's all I'm
paying for.

Yes, sir.

Excuse me.

That's my mistake, sir.

I'm sorry.

I'll, uh... I'll just give you a
shot of the regular here then.

Let's see.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

That's more like it.

Hey, nobody can fool me when it comes to
gasoline.

I got my nose to train for it.

It's quite a nose to train.

Eh?

What'd you say?

I say it, uh... It looks like rain.

Rain?

I don't know it ain't gonna rain.

No, I-I use my knee for that.

There we are, sir.

It'll be a dollar twenty-seven.

A dollar twenty-seven, eh?

Yeah, there's a dollar and twenty-seven.

Oh, thank you, sir.

Thank you very much.

Thank you and call again, sir.

Hang.

Oh, that was a close one.

One customer and they tried to kill him.

Well, it slowed him down for a little,
anyway.

Fourteen locations and we had to pick this
one.

Uh, say, Freddie, have we got any more of
that red paint left?

Red paint?

Yeah, what?

I have an idea.

So, then the economic pressure
was really on and I suppose

that's what caused the
collapse of the gold standard.

When's Freddie coming home?

Oh, he's closing up tonight, Emily.

I open up the first thing in the morning.

It's the stagger system.

All of the big companies use it.

Yeah.

Hey, it's getting late, Tommy.

Time for bed.

Right away, Mom.

But first, Uncle Geach is gonna tell me a
story.

He promised.

I did promise him, Emily.

All right, but make it snappy.

All right, I will.

Well, what do you want to hear?

Johnny and the Trains.

Johnny and the Trains.

Oh, boy, that's one of my favorites,
too.

Well, once upon a time,
there was a little boy

named Johnny and he
lived up in Connecticut.

Only they didn't call him Johnny,
they called him JP.

Oh, JP, that's right, excuse me.

And little JP, he loved all of the nice
things of life.

He loved collie dogs and he loved
fireworks and he liked choo-choo trains.

He particularly liked choo-choo trains,
so his father bought him a set of trains.

His father bought him the New York,
Hartford, New Haven, the Northern Pacific,

Chesapeake, and Ohio.

And he played with them, didn't he?

Oh, yes, he loved to play with the trains.

But then he got tired of them,
so he said to Dad, I want my allowance

money because I want to buy some other
things.

What other things?

Things like steel mills and banks and oil
wells.

Oh, he had a grand time.

Yes, little old Johnny Pierpont Morgan
really knew how to live.

But he didn't spend money for show.

No, he had restrained taste.

Yes, sir, he really knew how to live.

He lived the life of an unostentatious
gentleman on a majestic scale.

You're gonna wait for coffee, aren't you?

No, thanks.

Gotta hurry.

Geech is down there alone.

Let him work a little.

It'll do him good.

What's that on your pants?

Red paint.

Geech had an idea.

What kind of an idea?

Well, the cars kept racing
by the station, so Geech

decided to put up a
couple of stop signs, see?

And then the cars
will drive up, stop, see

the station, and drive
in and buy some gas.

Stop signs?

Uh-huh.

What's wrong?

What's wrong?

If the police wanted stop signs on that
corner, they would have put them there.

Well, they should have put them there.

That's a very dangerous intersection.

Besides, Geech says who knows who tells
who where to put those things up.

You must be crazy.

You let him mortgage the house out from
under us.

He's got Tommy reading the Wall Street
Journal instead of doing his homework.

I've got to feed him and wash his clothes.

And now you're
going to let him fix it so

that you spend the
rest of your life in jail.

You wait right here.

I'm going down to that station with you.

Let's go, kid.

I need you.

Atta boy, Fred.

Yes, sir.

What do you have?

Fill her up.

Yes, sir.

You own this gas station?

My partner and I.

Cheevers and Kopp.

Freddy Kopp's my name.

Glad I know you.

Hi.

Oh, it's you again.

How did you find me?

Just lucky, I guess.

Getting a lot of neighborhood business?

Yes, sir.

There seems to be a housing development
about two miles down that way.

I guess you get a lot of customers off the
highway too, huh?

Well, I can't complain.

Yeah.

You seem to be doing all right.

Why fight it, my dear?

It's bigger than both of us.

Don't say you're sorry.

I can see it in your eyes.

Just you and the other boy handle all the
work alone, huh?

That's right.

No other help.

Well, we might have to take a man on that
pretty soon.

Uh-huh.

Fill her up.

Yes, sir.

How does it look, Mr. White?

Pretty good.

What do you think?

Yeah.

Available?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Pretty good.

That'll be two dollars even, sir.

Boy, am I glad it's going to happen to
you.

Hey, Geech!

Wasn't that the... Boy,
she looked awful mad.

Uh, she'll be back.

Different customers, different techniques.

I gotta hand it to you, Geech.

Looks like we're in.

Well, this is only the beginning,
Freddie boy.

Advertising plus merchandising plus
service must equal success.

Geech, he knew what he was talking about.

For the next few weeks, it went like a
dream.

Not that we were getting
rich or anything, but

our clientele was starting
to repeat and build.

Geech, he didn't know anything about
repairing cars, but women.

Well, he said that dame wouldn't be able
to stay away from them.

Hi.

Hi.

Mind if I use the ladies' room?

Oh, not at all.

It's right over there.

Strange.

Hey, Geech.

She's back.

Oh, you know that dame.

General Motors, sixty-six and a half,
up one and a quarter.

To be sure.

Well, well, well.

Anyone for channel swimming?

Keep making the jokes, doll.

You'll need a laugh when the roof falls
in.

My dear, if you've come
in search of employment,

we'll be glad to examine
your qualifications.

I've got employment.

That was the day the roof fell in.

It looked like they meant business.

Our business.

We were dead.

Now and then, we'd get a nearsighted old
lady who couldn't see the price signs.

Or a guy who didn't like dames in tight
pants.

One of the kids got sick and to pay the
doctor bill, I had to sell my motorcycle.

When I told Emily, she'd cried.

I couldn't sleep nights.

Me, I could always go on relief or live out
of the candy machine, but not my family.

The Geech was swell about that.

He kept making me take his share of the
so-called profits.

I didn't want to, but he wouldn't have it
any other way.

I was all for throwing in the sponge,
but Geechie hung on like a bulldog.

I've been arguing this idea around for two
years.

They'll never do it.

Gentlemen, can we help you at anything?

No, thanks.

What's the difference?

They ask for a report, we give it to them.

Well, I figured they'll end up settling
for an extension.

Eddie's right.

That's just what they'll do.

You need some gas or oil?

We're just closing up, fellas.

No, thanks, buddy.

That's the only thing we don't need.

We've got trucks full.

Say, do you want a drink?

No, thanks.

Why do they use us for this chicken
detail?

Well, what's the difference?

We turn in the report.

Like always, they'll file it away
someplace and forget it.

Well, I don't mean to butt into you
fellas' business, but what's going on?

Nothing, bud.

Nothing?

You're standing here in our driveway.

This happens to be our station.

It's got nothing to do with the station.

You fellas are gasmen, huh?

Yeah, we're linemen for the Magna Gold Oil
Company.

Linemen?

What do you mean linemen?

We repair the line.

What line?

Gasoline line.

Well, the cracking plant's about seven
miles out.

We've got a line that runs from there
right down Clary to the harbor.

You mean that there's gas going through a
line like water or something like that?

Yeah, it's pumping through down there
right under your feet.

Under here?

Let's go, Eddie.

Okay.

You mean the gas is in the pipe now,
going right along?

Right.

Six feet under.

250,000 gallons a day.

250,000.

What's with you?

Did you hear what the guy said?

Sure, something to do with an extension or
something.

So what?

What's that got to do with us?

250,000 gallons a day.

Geech, I hope you're not thinking what I'm
thinking you're thinking.

Under our feet.

Oh, Geech.

Wait a minute.

Geech, no.

No, no.

Wait a minute.

Geech, no, no, no, no.

Geech!

Geech!

No!

I

Forgot to tell you something, Freddy.

It says here in the
book that we've got to

shore up the sides so
that the wall doesn't...

Cave in.

Fred, boy.

Freddy?

That doesn't...

That doesn't... Take it easy now.

I'll go.

Relax, Fred, boy.

I can't do it.

I tell you, I just can't do it.

That gas doesn't belong to us.

All right, all right.

Listen.

So it doesn't belong to us.

Where are they gonna get the oil?

Out of the ground, right?

Where are we gonna get the oil out of the
ground?

Yeah, but you're talking like a crook or
something.

I'm talking like a 100% American who loves
his country and the things in its ground.

Look, America belongs to people,
Freddy.

Remember that.

Yes, when I'm sitting in the clink,
I'll remember it.

It just isn't honest.

What's honest?

Losing your family, your house?

Is that honest?

Oh, no, but I... All right, you
fought hard to defend this country.

Look, I'm not asking for myself, but
it's for your family, for Emily, the kids.

They're depending on you.

You're not gonna let them down,
are you, Freddy?

Huh?

Mary Ellen, little Tom O'Emily.

Television, Freddy.

You got me, Geech.

Yeah, go on.

That's using your hand, boy.

If you've ever been down to Galveston,
maybe you know the ground.

It's kind of a gray-colored clay,
and when it's dry, it's hot as a rock.

Geechie stayed on his toes.

We rigged up a buzzer system, and I knew
if anything went wrong, he'd let me know.

It took a long time.

Geechie took luck out.

All we needed was to get caught.

It was bad enough when the cars went over,
but when the trucks came by...

We kept thinking up excuses to tell Emily.

Sometimes she believed them.

Then one day, after three long weeks,
I heard a humming noise.

Then I hit the pipe.

Ray, let's go, boy.

Wait a minute, Geech.

Let's talk about this some more.

What's to talk about?

You tap the line, we get the gas.

It's not as easy as all that.

Have you ever seen some of those oil men
working on that stuff?

Don't you trust me, Freddie?

Have you seen them?

No, but I know what they do.

Well, I have.

There are about 20 guys in
asbestosuits, and there were

fire engines for 100 miles
waiting for an emergency.

There'll be no emergency.

Have you ever seen them?

They're equipped for this sort of stuff.

All right, so our equipment is a little
small.

So what?

So what?

So we'll be blown right out of the ground.

That's what's a what.

You hurt me, Freddie.

Oh, I... Yes, you do.

You hurt me.

I didn't mean to.

You don't trust me.

You've got to learn to trust me.

You've got to trust me.

Do you understand that?

Now, here, take that and get down there,
will you please?

Let's go.

That's a boy.

I'm sorry.

It's all right.

Get down there.

That's using your head.

That a boy.

How you going down there?

Here we come.

Keep going, Fred boy.

Wait a minute, Geach.

Huh?

I never even finished high
school, but I do know you

don't put an electric drill
into a pipe full of gasoline.

Oh, knock it off, will you?

Keep going.

I tell you, they just don't mix.

Will you shut up, please, Freddie,
and keep going?

It's bad enough to be stuck down here.

Now, listen.

Listen.

When you get the
drill through the hole

there, through the
pipe, you shut it off, see?

Because we want to watch out for the
sparks, right?

Sparks?

Yes, sparks!

Now, go on and get up there.

You sure you want to do this?

Go, go, go, go.

Do it.

Be careful, man.

Be careful, Scott!

That's right.

Keep going, Fred!

No!

Oh!

Stop!

Oh!

Get it off!

Get it off!

Wait a minute!

What the fuck!

Put the gas!

We're too fast!

Wait a minute!

Drop off, Matt!

We're quiet!

Put the glass on!

We made it!

What do you think about that?

Freddie, you never dreamed of it,
did you?

That's a boy!

You can sit there.

We made it!

We made it!

Oh, look, look!

We're a couple of cock-type missionaries!

How are you, Sal?

Oh, where have you been?

Same place.

From there, I get a good look at your new
signs.

Oh, like them?

Yeah, real pretty, but Mr. White won't
like them at all.

Who's Mr. White?

The man I work for.

He only manages a circle star chain,
that's all.

Oh, you mean the sharp type that was with
you in the Chrysler the other day?

The sharp type will make you wish you were
never born.

Tell me the truth, Bev.

Whatever started you working for a guy
like that?

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Drop by any time!

Never too busy to say, howdy!

How

do you like that, bright boy?

That's unfair!

It's unethical!

You can't do that to us!

We're up, Freddy boy.

I guess we're gonna meet Mr. White.

You know I like that girl, Freddy.

Well, there's a lot of it to like.

No, no, not only that.

I mean, she's got a real passion for
money.

I like it.

I wish she worked for us.

Well!

Well, good morning, sir.

Good morning.

Glad to see you.

Did you get the Hitchcock okay?

Yes.

Hey, is that sign marked proper?

Yes, sir.

Oh, yes, it is.

All right, son.

Give me a couple of gallons.

A couple of gallons, yes, sir.

A regular?

Regular, yes, sir.

Is that regular?

Yes, sir.

That ain't the same gasoline you had in
that pump the last time.

Well, uh, it is, it is the regular, sir.

It's pretty high-octane content.

I can spot it right off.

Got a nose for gasoline.

Well, there we go.

That'll be 40 cents, please.

Well, I say, that's, uh, pretty good
quality for that price.

We aim to please.

Call again.

You will.

Goodbye.

I don't like this.

Now, take it easy, will you, please?

I still don't like it.

Nighttime, if someone with a nose for
gasoline comes snooping around back there,

they'll discover... Relax.

Relax.

Just relax, will you, please?

If it'll make you feel any better,
I'll sleep all night in the station.

Now, what?

In the station?

Right in the station.

Anything for a friend.

Oh, Mr. Chivas, you amaze me.

You stick with me, kid, and I'll bury in
diamonds.

Here comes Mr. Bight.

No gas, boys.

May I check your oil, then, sir?

No, hey, you, boy.

Leave that windshield alone.

That's a service we give to all of our
customers.

You heard me.

Leave it alone.

Are you the other partner?

Yes, sir, I am.

What's that sign supposed to be?

A joke?

A sign?

That's no joke, sir.

That's just a sign.

You know who I am?

Yes, sir.

You're Mr. White, the fellow that owns 14
stations.

Fifteen.

And that means I can
afford to run that station at

a loss because I can
make up for it on the others.

I can squeeze you boys right out of
business.

Okay.

Okay.

What kind of an answer is that,
okay?

Okay.

Go ahead and squeeze.

What's this winking stuff?

Do you want me to bankrupt you or do you
want to talk about it?

I don't think there's anything to talk
about, Mr. White.

My partner here came
into quite a sum of money

through an inheritance from
an old granddad back east.

Actually, we're just in this business for
the fun of it.

The fun of it?

Yeah, that's right.

We're what you call the dilettantes of the
gasoline business.

Is that true?

How far do you think you can carry this
price cutting business?

Just as far as you want to go,
White.

This is our corner.

You moved in on us.

We'll sell gasoline here if we have to
sell it for a penny a gallon.

You're bluffing.

Just try us.

That's all.

Just a bunch of wise guy kids.

Try us.

I do no good.

Watch your language.

We run a nice, clean station here and this
is a married man.

The war was on.

Beverly didn't like it.

Why?

Because we were winning.

I got my motorcycle back.

I began thinking about a television set.

I have to admit I got a kick out of it
because no matter how low they went,

we could always go lower.

And it was all clear profit.

Geech!

Look!

Oh boy!

They're going out of business.

You know what that means, don't you?

It means we've smashed the cartel.

It means that we can put our prices back
to normal again.

We can stop looking so suspicious we can
go straight.

Wait a minute.

Are you suggesting that we disconnect the
line?

Sure.

We've got a golden goose and you want to
cut its head off?

It's not honest.

We've got a faucet.

You turn it on and you get money comes out
of it.

You understand?

Green stuff.

Power, Freddy.

Money.

It's against the law.

You understand that.

Listen to me.

In Fortune Magazine there was a guy who's
got 150 bucks.

See?

He wants to buy some surplus ships from
the government.

The government says okay and quotes him a
price of 10 cents on the dollar.

Now where does he get the money to make
the down payment?

I don't know.

He borrows the money from the government.

What does he do after he's got the ships?

He rents the ships back to the government.

This guy's got 150 dollars, builds it up
to 3 million dollars.

And who does he pay taxes to?

The government?

Wrong.

Incorporated in some South American
country.

He pays taxes to nobody.

Nobody.

Yeah, this guy pulls a deal off like that
and they call him an economic titan.

Freddy, we're not stealing money.

We're just practicing to become titans,
that's all.

Yeah, but that ships, Geech.

You can't steal gas out of another man's
lungs.

Are you with me or are you against me?

Are we gonna go down separate highways?

Well, I'm with you, Geech.

But don't you understand what I'm trying
to say is you...

Look, look, I've been taking it over
lately.

Maybe we will cut off the line real soon.

Look, suppose we had a warehouse full of
egg feeders.

You wouldn't stand
outside in front of the

door and sell them one
at a time, would you?

No.

Not one at a time.

You'd wholesale them.

That's what we're gonna do.

Maybe go into the wholesaling business.

We contact a lot of independents just like
our self.

Figure out a way to truck the gasoline
into them.

That way we're gonna make a lot of
scratch, a lot of money.

Real folding money.

Don't you see?

That's using the old noodle.

The dynamic.

That's marching in tune with the times.

Good.

And another thing.

I've been thinking about Beverly.

I'm sorry she lost her job.

Why?

Well, seeing as how we're the only station
in this vicinity...

Maybe we could use some more help.

You know, she's awful attractive.

She lives at 561 Ender Street.

Why don't you go down there and ask her if
she needs a job?

I'll hold the fort down here.

561?

561.

That's all right.

Not so fast.

You don't have to be such a pig.

Mary Ellen.

Look, Mom.

There goes a motorcycle just like that.

Welcome, beautiful.

The boy a millionaire tells me you want me
to work here.

Is that right?

Uh-huh.

How come?

I like you.

But I don't like you and you know it.

Now, what's the real reason?

Oh, I like your mercenary quality.

You've got dollar bill signs in your eyes.

What else?

The what else will come later.

Do you want the job?

How much?

You name it.

All right.

Same as Mr. White Pay.

You've got it.

We're using the first tank here and the
cash register's in sight.

We're gonna go away for a few minutes.

You think you can hold the fort down?

Sure.

Hey, your partner married?

Oh, Freddie?

Yeah, sure.

Why?

Just checking.

Oh, I sure could use a millionaire.

I love those dollar bill signs.

We had something like that, Freddie boy.

We could really wholesale.

Oh, forget it, Geech.

Yeah, I guess a thing like that would cost
us a fortune.

But that's not gonna stop us, kid.

I can see it now.

Our office would be in the Cheevers and
Klopp building.

Our oil wells would be in Cheever City and
our refineries would be in Kloptown.

Oh, now, Geech.

Yeah, we'd have Cheevers
and Klopp tankers on the sea

and Cheevers and Klopp
trucks like these on the highways.

In the meantime, kid, we'll make this pie
wagon do.

Once your blind decides, we can haul
enough gasoline in it to make a start.

What a start.

What are you doing?

It's the middle of the night.

We got work to do, Geech and me.

What about that girl in the red pants?

Is she an early bird, too?

Oh, now, don't start that again.

Well, you never had to work in the middle
of the night before.

I never had a business of my own before.

There's plenty of work to it.

I'll bet there is.

Have a good time.

Bye.

Front and center, Freddy boy.

We got the gas.

Let's deliver it.

We're on our way.

Hey, Geech!

Geech!

Stop, Geech!

What

kind of a stop was that?

A stop, stop.

What do you want?

A chorus of mammy?

A fine buyer we made.

No motor, no brakes.

I had the brakes cleaned down on the
floor.

Well, they're probably wet.

Wet?

Probably wet.

They are wet.

With gasoline, it's all pouring down.

We forgot to line the inside of the roof.

Well, don't worry about it.

Don't worry about it.

Look, we'll have it fixed next time out.

Next time out?

There won't be any next time out.

All I need is one touch... All I
need, get into the car, will you?

Mumbling.

You're driving me crazy.

Never mind about what'll go up.

Just get in there.

You're making me nervous.

Come in here and do it.

You're causing a lot of...
That's a second memory song.

Hey, Geach!

What are you doing over there?

Ah, I'm right here!

Ah!

What are you trying to do?

Kill me?

How could it do that?

I told you the chains...

And I have no brakes... And the
gas is seeping down over the sides.

Well, it'll evaporate.

The next time you want to stop,
honk your horn.

I'm getting punchy.

Would you like to trade places with me?

I certainly would.

If it wasn't for this strict knee of mine,
you know that.

I'll get in front of you and slow you
down.

That's it, Geach.

I'm done for.

Don't worry about it, kid.

Remember, you're with me.

That's why I'm done for.

Well, well, Lieutenant, sir.

What could the trouble be?

You tell me.

Well, I can't imagine, sir.

We weren't speeding or anything like that,
sir.

No, no, sir.

Let me see your license.

Yes.

Yes, sir.

Right here.

Yes, sir.

There it is, sir.

Look at that.

Huh?

See anything wrong?

Uh, no.

No, sir.

You're driving this thing, whatever it is.

And you've got no rear plate on it.

That's against the law, boys.

Rear plate?

Freddie, well... Can
you imagine that?

We're usually very conscientious about
that, sir.

Yes, sir.

Both of us.

Oh, what a beautiful motorcycle you have
there, officer.

Yes, you belong to the Texas Motorcycle
Club?

By chance, sir?

Yeah.

Huh?

Well, can you imagine that?

My partner belongs to the Texas Motorcycle
Club also.

Don't you, huh?

The Texas Motorcycle Club.

You belong to it, don't you?

Oh, yeah, yeah.

That's a call down this coincidence.

I've got... Ever since I got
out of the army, I belong to it.

I got the card.

There's the card.

We've always wanted to become policemen
ourselves, sir.

The policemen.

Yes, sir.

Ever since we were
little fellas, we... Little.

Both of us.

We wanted to live outdoors and live a real
man's life.

What's the matter?

Couldn't you pass the exam?

I was wounded, officer.

In the South Pacific.

Twice.

That's too bad.

Look, I'm just gonna give you a warning
this time, see?

Yeah.

But get that rear plate and be careful in
the future.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Thank you, sergeant.

Thank you, lieutenant, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Yes.

It's the gasoline fumes that get you down.

Uh-huh.

If you get so, you smell it all the time.

Maybe the lieutenant will show you the
gadgets on his motorcycle.

The gadgets on his motorcycle.

Let me rest, will you, fellas?

You boys might not believe this,
but right this minute, the air...

The same air you're breathing smells like
solid gasoline to me.

It does, huh?

Funny?

This doesn't help a bit.

Uh-huh.

That's funny.

Look, you fellas.

Don't get the idea life on the force is
any tea party.

We work hard, see?

Plenty hard.

That's why the force picks the best,
I guess.

Right.

All day and all night, we try to keep people
from killing themselves on the highway.

But does John Q.

Public appreciate what we do?

Not on your life.

To them, we're a bunch of overgrown truant
officers in blue uniforms.

Uh-huh.

Well, that shows you what they know.

When they're in trouble, they yell.

And if we're not there in two seconds,
headlines in the papers.

Police stupidity.

Yeah, well, it's always that way.

Well, so long, boys.

Remember, next time I'll hang one on you.

So be careful.

Ow!

I'm sorry.

Ow!

Now you'll get that television set.

Like you can see, business was pretty
good.

But no matter what anyone says,
dirty money comes hard.

Geechee says it's like salt water.

Get enough of it and it purifies itself.

But I can tell you I didn't feel very
pure.

I didn't feel pure at all.

Geechee told me to stop worrying,
to relax.

That with labor comes profits,
and with profits comes rewards,

and with rewards comes...

Get a load of this, Geechee's a pretty
interesting girl.

I'm gonna show little Tommy here the
principal behind the building of Boulder Dam.

A monument to human ingenuity,
the science of construction.

There's some pretty nice construction over
here.

I'm not interested in people perspiring to
prove they're monkey's cousins.

Where did you learn that?

This Mary's dancing school, two lessons a
week, a dollar a lesson.

You were wonderful.

Thanks, Emily.

What's up with the boys?

They're sulking, jealous of all those
muscle hounds.

Freddie won't take his shirt off,
and Geechee has his nose in a dam.

I have to give you credit.

Why?

I never thought Geechee could love anybody
but Geechee.

But you're running a close second.

Pray for me, Emily.

I think I'm stuck on him.

I'll pray for you every night.

I'll have to admit, he grows on you.

Yeah, they say romances are made in
heaven.

Whatever angel fashion, this one sure had
a sense of humor.

Hi.

Do you like taking a little walk?

Sure you've got time?

Sure.

Go ask Mom for the marmalade.

And on the way back, get that little
bottle of ants.

It's in my sweater.

This is a cinch.

I've been studying it.

Geechee.

A simple problem in physics, an interrelationship
of the law of inertia and motion.

Now, Geechee.

All you need is just good timing.

You don't need a massive moldy muscle.

Oh, but why bother?

We both know you can do it.

Just you watch the Geechee in a
demonstration of mind over matter.

Are you ready for the ants?

Not yet.

Tommy, how many times have I told you it's
a sin to waste food?

Oh, Mom.

What's the matter, Tommy?

It's Mom.

And I worked so hard.

It was a surprise for you.

Mommies are like that, always spoiling the
fun.

Geechee, don't!

Oh!

Geechee!

You were doing just great.

All you needed was a little more practice.

Well, you know the old saying,
practice makes perfect.

I was talking to Emily today.

She's a nice girl.

She said she's going to pray for me.

Yes, she is a nice girl.

Freddie's a nice fella, too.

Freddie's a lot like I am.

He has integrity.

You a millionaire, too?

Nope.

I'm irresistible.

And you're such a liar.

Liar?

Me?

Emily told me Freddie's no millionaire.

No rich grandfather.

But I don't blame me.

You can't help it.

You're just a natural born liar.

Well, that's a corny way of showing me
that you're a nice girl.

That's my way.

Now, wait a minute.

I know it's the human thing to do to try
and resist the irresistible.

Thanks.

And Bev, if after you go
in, if it'll make you happy

and you want to sneak a
little peek at me, why go ahead.

Remember, the irresistible...

Some guys in Geechee's spot would have
gotten themselves the biggest,

the best new car.

But not Geech.

He got what he always wanted.

A distinguished old Rolls Royce.

And he took Beverly out every night.

This is the life I was born and bred for.

But I'm afraid I was born and bred a
little bit too late.

But with the tax situation the way it is,
opportunity doesn't knock any longer,

it barely whispers.

I'm afraid the day of the robber baron is
over, Beverly.

You really like this crummy old jalopy,
don't you?

You're a real weirdy, Mr. Cheevers.

But you're crazy about me, true?

You know, Bev, I've been trying to avoid
this all of my life, but

the spell is on me.

My spell?

Well, I thought we might
become engaged and after

a polite length of time
we might get married.

You know, I thought I'd like to have some
kids to carry on the name of Cheevers.

Geechee.

What do you say?

There's something missing.

The stone?

No, it's there, it's a
little small, but I'll give

it replaced as soon as
something breaks for me.

No, not the stone.

What is it?

You're supposed to say you love me and ask
me to marry you.

Well, that's what I'm saying.

Asking.

Asking.

What?

And then, and then I showed her the ring.

You should have seen the look on her face.

Yeah, I saw the way she was acting around
here.

She's in love.

You're a lucky guy, Geech.

Here, Spider.

Here, Spider.

Your mama almost forgot your dinner.

Spider, what's the matter, boy?

Hey, Fred, give me that wrench,
will you please?

Bev!

Bev, what are you doing here?

Putting two and two together.

So this is Freddy's rich grandfather.

This is the way you won the price war.

Now, now, now look, Bev.

You look right, boy.

Someday somebody's going to catch you at
it.

And when they do, I hope they lock you up
and throw away the key.

Now that's no way to talk.

I'm gonna be your future husband.

Husband?

I wouldn't marry you if you were the last
crook in the world.

Now what do we do?

Better disconnect the hose.

I gotta get straightened out with her.

You mean it, Geech?

Yeah, haven't I told you all along that
honesty is the best policy?

Oh, that's great.

They're Geech, trapped by a woman's love.

Shorn like Samson with his haircut.

Take care of them, will you?

Tell them we're closed.

Yeah, okay.

Sorry, fellas, we're closed.

You, uh, you the boss here?

That's right.

The place is closed.

Uh-huh.

Can't get any gas?

No gas.

We close the pumps every night.

How about the money?

Money?

Keep it down, wise guy.

Get inside.

Any more?

Friscom.

Hey, Fred!

Bring me a drink, will ya?

Who's that?

My partner.

Partner.

Do what he says.

Us two.

Straws.

Straws.

Come on.

Now you.

It's on us, pal.

Start walking.

Watch out.

You fellas can't come back here.

My partner will take care of you out in
front.

He already did, wise guy.

Frisk him.

Come on, Eddie.

Let's get out of here.

Frisk him.

We got time.

Oh, wait a minute.

You don't have to frisk me.

Because we've kept all...

Take the money.

Take anything I got.

But don't smoke.

Keep your mouth shut, wise.

Keep your mouth shut.

He's clean, Eddie.

Let's get out of here.

Okay, okay.

Now listen, clucks.

No tricks.

Or we'll come back and blow your heads
off.

Savvy?

Hey, will you, Savvy?

Okay.

Look out.

We better call the fire department.

We don't want to hear about this.

I wouldn't be surprised if they heard
about it already.

Our ex-facial, be on the lookout for two
men.

They may be armed.

These two men are
responsible for the hold-up

and shooting at the
Central Savings Bank.

Notify Galveston, please, at once.

That is all.

We were running out of money and
everything else.

We kept hiding from the law, but no one
seemed to miss us with a care.

Geechee was getting sore about that.

Then one night, Geechee found it.

A little item way in the back.

It said about the explosion and the fire,
and that was all.

Nothing about us.

Geech knew I was thinking about Emily and
the kids.

I knew he was thinking about Beverly.

So we decided to do something about it.

Fred, listen.

Let me do all the talking, will you,
please?

After all, it was all my idea.

No, I'm in just as deep as you are.

But you've got kids to think about.

I knew what I was doing.

Look, just keep your mouth shut.

Is it a deal?

No more deals, Geech.

We'll play it my way.

I'll do the talking.

They're closed!

Captain, we're Cheevers and Klopp.

Who?

Cheevers and Klopp, we want to give
ourselves up.

For what?

It's about the robbery.

What was stolen?

Gasoline.

What did you say your name was?

Gasoline.

Freddie.

Freddie Klopp.

This is Augustus Cheevers.

The crime took place at a gasoline station
on the corner of Clary and Dacre.

Does the owner of the station know about
this?

We own the station.

Oh.

Well, the gas was stolen from you.

No, sir.

From the Magna Gold Oil Company.

Out of their pipeline.

When was it?

Two weeks ago.

Oh.

Far and D, yeah.

Yeah.

Two hot rod kids stuck up the station.

We picked them up the same night.

They're doing time.

They had nothing to do with... Oh,
you picked them up, Captain, did you?

Well, that is fine work.

Come on, Freddie, let's go.

No, wait a minute now.

We came to give ourselves up.

We're going to do it now.

They had nothing to do with our crime.

What crime?

That's what I'm trying to tell you about
the pipeline.

I don't think that the captain cares to
hear of it, Fred.

Come.

What pipeline?

The Magna Gold Oil Company's pipeline.

We dug a tunnel in our supply room six
feet down and 60 feet across.

In your own station?

Yes.

But it was there gasoline.

So what's that got to do with us?

What?

You're confusing the captain here,
Freddie.

That's what I'm trying to tell you,
Captain.

We're wandered by the police.

It says here there was an explosion.

The station burned down.

We know that.

But please, Captain, honest.

We're wandered.

We're criminals.

Freddie, don't cheapen yourself.

All right, you guys.

We'll get this straightened out.

We will?

Just so the girls were there, that was all
that mattered.

They looked awful pretty.

And someone else we knew was there.

When we got to court,
that nice old gink, turned out

he was a troubleshooter for
the Magna Gold Oil Company.

It seems that when you sell more gas than
you buy, someone's bound to get suspicious.

The old gink said a lot of things,
but the most important was...

Them boys were lucky they didn't rent a
tank truck instead of that pie wagon.

That way they could have
stolen enough gasoline

each time to get them
into real serious trouble.

And it was a lot of trouble.

Guess they're just lucky they got little
minds and can't think big.

The old gink hurt Geechee's feelings.

But it turned out to be pretty good for us
because the judge said...

If you had undertaken this crime in a
business-like manner, you would have

stolen enough gasoline
each time so that you'd

have a series of grand
larceny charges against you.

And I could have sent
you to the penitentiary

as an example to others
who might be tempted.

But I can only pronounce sentence in the
full measure of the law.

You are hereby ordered to repay the money
stolen from the Magna Gold Oil Company.

And further, commencing
on August 17th, you

will each serve six
months in the county jail.

Well, we got a little time off for good
behavior.

And it was a good lesson to us.

During the time we were away, the girls
opened this place.

And since we're out, we've been working
for them.

Emily's swell.

She hasn't actually forgiven
me, but she and Beverly

have almost paid back
all the money we stole.

Geechee isn't very happy.

Beverly says she won't think of marrying
him until he gets the money.

And he says, how's he gonna get any money
as long as he's working for her?

I'm going outside for a while.

It's kind of hot back there.

Could Geechee and me have a glass of beer?

No.

Quit asking.

I've told you 50 times, no.

Sorry, Geechee.

No beer.

Looks like it's gonna be a long,
dry summer.

Think so?

Mr. Cheevis, you amaze me.

The END