Erville Alderson

'Red': I almost forgot, Mendoza brought us a present and Roy, I guess you're the engineer. Here.

[Hands Roy the machine-gun case]

Louis Mendoza: Big Mac gave me the machine gun. You know how to work it? Red doesn't, and neither does Babe.

'Red': That's a good one , that is.

Louis Mendoza: What's so funny?

'Red': [Sarcastically says] Does he know how to work it?

Roy Earle: Yeah. Say, you know that gun reminds me of one time, 9 or 10yrs ago. We was getting ready to do a job back in Iowa... when one of the guys got the shakes. Pretty soon we found out that this guy with the shakes had talked too much... and a bunch of coppers were waiting for us at the bank. But we don't say nothing. Lefty Jackson goes out and gets his gun. He comes back and sits down and holds it across his knee.

[Roy positions himself in front of Mendoza and lays on top of the machine gun case looking straight at Mendoza without blinking]

Roy Earle: The guy with shakes is sitting right across the room from him.

[Points at Mendoza]

Roy Earle: Pretty soon Lefty just touched the trigger a little... and the gun went

[taps the case 3 times]

Roy Earle: like that. The rat fell out of the chair dead and we drove off and left him there. Yeah... the gun went

[taps the case 3 times again]

Louis Mendoza: [Everyone just looks at Mendoza, who is nervous and sweating] Well, I better be getting back. I have to go on duty at 8:30.

Roy Earle: What's your stint? You stick right through the whole job don't you?

Louis Mendoza: Oh sure, I stand behind the desk and act like I'm scared. When you fellows get through, I telephone the police.

Roy Earle: [as Roy leaves the cabin, he says] We don't want no slip-ups Mendoza.

'Red': Boys and girls, I got the idea that our boyfriend here is no cream puff. How did you like the little bedtime story about the gun that went

[Taps the case 3 times]

'Red': Did you get the idea?

Louis Mendoza: [very scared] Do you suppose he meant it that way?

Marie Garson: Try talking and find out.

Big Mac: [reading a newspaper in bed not realizing it's Roy and not 'Doc' Banton coming in] I got a swell parley for you tomorrow, 'Doc'.

Roy Earle: Still a sucker for the ponies eh?

Big Mac: [surprised] Hello Roy, old-timer!

Roy Earle: Hello Mac.

Big Mac: You're a sight for sore eyes.

Roy Earle: Yeah, I am sure glad to see you, too. Thanks for the spring. I was just getting ready for another crash-out. What's the matter, Mac?

Big Mac: I don't know. I can't eat. Just not hungry and I can't sleep. 'Doc' Banton says it's my past life catching up with me.

Roy Earle: 'Doc' Banton, is he out here now?

Big Mac: Yeah, I was expecting him when you came in. He's running one those health services under a phoney name. Help yourself to a drink. Well Roy, how does it look and what do you say?

Roy Earle: I can't see nothing wrong with it. If the boys don't blow up on me, it's a cinch. But Mac, it's gonna make an awful big noise in the newspaper.

Big Mac: Well, that's your headache, not mine. The jewlery that's all I'm interested in. look my friend, once you get your mitts on it, keep your mitts on it. Deliver it right here. If you're hot, telephone. This caper means a lot to me. i spent a pile of dough setting it up and I'm in deep. So don't let me down Roy.

Roy Earle: I never let nobody down, Mac. You know that.

Big Mac: Oh I know, I know. But I've been dealing with such a lot of screwballs lately, young twerps, soda-jerks and jitterbugs. Why it's a relief to talk to a guy like you. Yeah... all the A-1 guys are gone. Dead or in Alcatraz. If I only had four guys like you Roy... this knock-off would be a waltz. Yup... times have sure changed.