" Let's see what you got." " I need more runners." "You gotta go and see Granger." "8720?" "Yeah?" "Yeah." "Hold it a minute." "Beat it, Mottola." "Mr Granger, Chicago's on the line." " Yeah." " This is Combs." " Why haven't we heard from you?" " We had a few problems with the law." "The Mayor promised to get tough on the rackets." "Shut everybody down." " It just put us a little behind." " Been making your pay-outs?" "Yes." "He does this every year." "Nothing to worry about." "Finishyourcount as soon as you can and get it up here." "The man's gonna be real happy." "Looks like we cleared 10 grand this week." "Wecleared22 here." "You got the whole Chicago South Side." "How can the lousy spots I got compete with that?" "They did 14 grand in Evanston, 16.5 in Gary and 20 in Cicero." "You're bringing up the rear." "I just got the count." "I'll put the take on the 4.15." "We'll be waiting." "Mottola." "Take this up to Chicago for the 4.15." "They'll be waiting for it at the clearing house." "And don't stop for any entertainment." "You can get a cab over at Seventh." "Cut it out." "8720." "Hey, you there!" "Stop that man!" "Stop him!" "He's got my wallet!" "Stop that man!" "He's got all my money!" "Stop him!" "Stop him!" "Goddamn nigger lover!" "I'll get you some day for this, sucker-egg!" "Don't let him get away!" "He's got my wallet." "Go after him!" "He's got my money!" " My wallet!" " We got your wallet." "We got it." "Did he get you with the knife?" "Sit tight, you need a doctor." " I'll call a cop." " No, no." "No cops." " Are you wanted by the law?" " No, it's OK." "Are you nuts carrying that in this neighbourhood?" "Thanks." "I'm obliged to you but I gotta get going." "You ain't going nowhere." "I gotta." "I run some slots down in West Bend for a mob here." "I got behind in the pay-offs." "They think I've been holding out on them." "Gave me till four to come up with the cash." " If they don't get it, I'm dead." " It don't look good." "It's almost four." "I'll give you and your friend 100 bucks to deliver it for me." "I don't know." "That mug is mad." "What if he's around the corner with his friends?" "He won't know you're carrying it." "You gotta help me." "I'm sorry, I'll help you get fixed up, but I ain't about to walk into no knife." "How about you?" "All you gotta do is put it in the door slot." "I'll give you 100." "Why trust him?" "He didn't do shit." "Butt out, chicken liver." "I gave him back the wallet." " How far is this place?" " 1811 Mason." "Box 3C." "You won't have no trouble." "There's $5,000 there, and here's 100 bucks for you." "OK, old man, I'll make your drop for you." "Don't worry, you can trust me." "Hey..." "Hey." "If those goons search you, you won't get far carrying it there." " What'll we do?" " Got a bag or something?" "How about a handkerchief?" " Here's a handkerchief." " Give it to me." " Give me the money." " Just hurry, will you?" "Got any more?" "Better give it all to me if you wanna keep it." "They think I was holding out on them." "My wife's sick, I had to pay the bills." "Stuff it down your pants, like that." "Got it?" " Yeah." " Hurry, will you?" "No tough guy in the world is gonna frisk you there." " Thanks." " Yeah." " Where to?" " Which way is Mason?" "20 blocks south." "OK, go north." "Joliet Station." "Fast." "Right." "What's so funny?" "I just made the world's easiest five grand!" " Come on, Luther!" "Come on!" " I'm fadin'!" "Hustle!" "In here." "Man, was that beautiful!" " I thought he was onto us." " No, you had him all the way." "All the way!" "Wh...?" "Luther..." "Good God!" "We're millionaires." "Did you know he was loaded?" "Hell, no, I would have settled for pawning one of them shoes." "Oh, God!" "Woo!" "Let's get outta here." "We'll split it up tonight." "Hey-ya, Marth." " Hi." " Hi, Hooker, she's on stage." "Getting married or something?" "Get used to it, Leonard." "I'm gonna look this good from now on." " What do you say, Ed?" " Hi, Hooker." "Hey, psst." "I wanna ta..." "Hiya, Hooker, you getting married or something?" "Christ sake, did you hear that?" "Larry drops four beats right in my routine." " Am I gonna put up with that?" " Crystal!" "Leonard, you're on." "Wanna get outta here?" "I got some dough." "I can't." "I got a 10 o'clock show." "I need the five bucks." " I'll spend 50 on you." " Yeah?" "Yeah." "OK." "...opens up his pants, duck sticks his head out." "One lady says to the other, "Do you see what I see?"" "She says, "So what?" "Seen one you seen 'em all."" "She says, "Yes, but this one's eating my popcorn."" "You see that guy Larry, he can't keep time." "Supposing there's a Hollywood agent there?" "All that training, down the tubes." "Hooker!" "Ain't seen you in months." "Just hard times." "Everything's jake now." "How about a ten spot on the line?" "Lot of action on 28th Street." "Pay you 35..." " Three grand on the red." " $3,000?" " Are you nuts?" " I feel lucky, come on." "I can't accept that, it's too big." "There's a house limit." " Take it." " But Hooker..." "Take it." "Twenty-two black." "Tough luck, kid." "Lucky for me it came up black." "Fella could get in trouble losing a bet like that." "Listen, Jimmy, can't we do it again, huh?" "Don't worry about it." "There's more where that came from." ""Don't worry about it," he says." ""Don't worry." $3,000!" " Thanks." " $50 he's gonna spend on me!" "Three thousand dollars!" " Thanks for the evening." " It's not over." "Next time you wanna spend 50 bucks on me, mail it." "Listen, will you?" "Mottola was drunk in a dive in Joliet." "He never got on the train." "I don't care about his day." "What about the money?" "He lost it to a couple of con artists." " How much?" " Eleven thousand." "OK." "I'd better get on the phone to New York." "See what the big mick wants to do about it." "Got a pretty good idea, though." "No more bets." "Ace, bet the ace." "Bet the ace." "Bet the deuce." "Two  four, five." "Two straights, ace six, ace deuce..." "Ten..." "Ace six..." "And stay." " Doyle, can I talk to you?" " I'm busy, Floyd." "It's important." "We had a little trouble in Chicago, today." "One of our runners got hit for 11 grand." "What makes you think he just didn't pocket it?" "No, we checked his story with a tipster." "He was cleaned by two grifters." " They working for anybody?" " I don't know." "Could be." "We're running that down now." "Have some local people take care of him." "Nothing fancy." "We've got to discourage this kind of thing." "You follow?" "...presents Gang Busters At war, marching against the underworld, from coast to coast..." "Johnny Hooker!" "If you ain't a sharper in them linens!" " Evenin', Louise." " Hey, Ma." "If I didn't know you better, I'd swear you had some class." "Johnny!" "Luther said you were somethin' to see today." "Alva, I gotta get faster tying up that bundle." " I give them too much time to think." " Oh, boushwah." "I used to make that switch with slower hands than you got." "Up and down Broadway was my best game." "Me and Luther didn't make much on it but it wasn't so touchy." "Them marks can beat you up awful bad when they catch you." "Come on, we're late for church." "Ma!" "They're closing in on Machine Gun Kelly." " Who are you rootin' for, anyhow?" " Hey, Hooker." " Can't help you, Leroy." " Nuts." " Why do you go to church at night?" " They started late bingo." "I'm gonna ask the Lord for some cash while he's payin' off." "Luther!" "Look in on the baby from time to time." " You too, Louise?" " Gotta go pray, see you." "Yeah." "Hey, Erie." " Gimme, gimme, gimme." " There's your cut." "Guy turned out to be an oil well." "Which way'd he go?" "Due north." "He was gonna take it all." "Bastard." "He can blow his nose all the way." "There you go, Luther." "Six Gs." " You're late." "Where you been?" " A couple of appointments." "How much did you lose?" " All of it." " In one goddamn night?" "Spraying money around!" "You could've been nailed." "There weren't no dicks in there." "But you're a con man." "And you blew it like a pimp." " Didn't teach you to be no pimp." " What's up?" "I blew money before." " No class grifter would've done it." " Think my play is bad?" "I think you're the best." "I wouldn't be getting out otherwise." "What are you talking about?" "I'm too old for this racket." "Hang on too long, you embarrass yourself." "We just took the biggest score we ever had." "It's nothing compared to the big con." "You played the big con." "You said it was a dumb game for mama's boys and flakes." "Hell, I never played no big con." "I hung around and picked up a few things." "Ain't no rich boy's gonna trust a hungry nigger enough to be conned." "But I tell you, I been lookin' for this one all my life, Johnny." "Now I have a chance to step out when I'm ahead." "Come on, what would you do with yourself?" "I have a brother down in KC, runs a freight outlet." "I can go halfsies with him." "It ain't too exciting." "But it's mostly legal." "I got an old friend in Chicago, name of Henry Gondorff." "I want you to look him up." "Ain't a better inside man alive." " He'll teach you all you gotta know." " To hell with that." " I wanna work with you, Luther." " I'm out, Johnny." "Yeah, sure." "If that's the way you want it." "That's the way I want it." "How do you like that, huh?" "After five years." "It was the only thing to do." "He was holding you back." "If it weren't for Luther, I'd still be hustling pinball." " I don't need more than what I got." " You gotta lay off games of chance." " There's a depression on." " There's always a depression." " You should save a little bit." " I like grifting." " Buy some things." " What?" " Clothes?" "A car?" " I got clothes." "I can't drive." " What else have you got to sell?" " Forget it." "Hey, Hooker!" "Come here, you..." "Hi, Snyder." "What's the matter?" "Things a little slow at the bunco department?" "Somebody lose the dominoes?" "You scored blood money today." "You need a friend." "Go find yourself a shoplifter to roll." "You got the wrong guy, pal." "I been home with the 'flu all day." " Stake out my toilet if you want." " Keep talkin'." "Tell you what you did, smart boy." "You tied in to a loaded mark on 47th across from Maxie's." "You and Coleman played the switch for him and blew him off to a cab on 49th." "If he hadn't been a numbers runner for Doyle Lonnegan, it'd be perfect." "You're crazy." "I ain't stupid enough to play for no rackets money." "Not intentionally, maybe." "That don't cut no ice with Lonnegan." " He'll swat you like a fly." " Yeah, well..." "I'll square it with the fixer." "Nobody can buy you a prayer if I put the finger on you." "I figure your end of the score was at least three Gs." " I want two, no matter what it was." " My take was only one." "You're gonna have to come up with another grand somewhere." "All right." "You're a smart egg, Hooker." "No sense gettin' dead over two grand." "Relax, Erie." "I'll bill you." " I thought you blew all your money?" " I did." "Stuff I gave him is counterfeit." "They'll spot it when he spends it." "Are you crazy?" "Giving him counterfeit money?" "Hey!" "Wait up!" "Where are you going?" "Why, you...!" "What are you gonna do if Snyder puts the finger on you?" " It's suicide." " What difference does it make?" "If Snyder knows, so does everybody." "He never gets anything first." "Hey, listen to me." "Don't go back to your place tonight." "Don't go any place you usually go, you hear me?" "Damn!" "There's no answer at Luther's." "Maybe you better get out of town or somethin', huh?" "Lady, please!" " Ma'am!" "Ma'am!" " I want my nickel for the telephone!" "No sir, nobody here did." "1521 North Bryant." "Luther!" " Is he dead?" " I don't know." "It was a big fight." "Somebody must have pushed him." "Oh..." "Jesus!" " Luther!" "Luther!" " Jesus..." "Oh, God!" "God!" "Oh, no, Luther!" "Luther!" "What happened?" "!" "Who would do such a thing to you, Luther?" "Luther!" " Come on." " Luther..." "Hooker, come on!" "If you stay here, you're dead!" "Get outta here!" "Help me, help me..." "Uh..." "Excuse me." "I'm looking for a guy named Henry Gondorff." "Do you know him?" "No." "Are you sure?" "Beat it." "Luther Coleman sent me." " Are you Hooker?" " Yeah." "Why didn't you say so?" "We heard about Luther last night." "Come on." "I thought you were a cop or something." "It's the room in the back." "He wasn't expecting you so soon, though." "Thanks." "The great Henry Gondorff." "Turn it off." "Are you sober?" "Turn it off, will you?" "Glad to meet you, kid." "You're a real horse's ass." "Luther said I could learn something from you." "I already know how to drink." "Sorry about Luther." "He was the best street worker I ever saw." "He had you down as a big-timer." "What happened?" "I conned a senator from Florida on a stock deal." "A real lop-ear." "Thought he was gonna take over General Electric." "Some chantoozie woke him, though, and he put the Feds on me." "You mean you blew it?" "Luther didn't tell me you had a big mouth." "He didn't tell me you was a screw-up either." "You played any big cons since then?" "I lammed around a bunch of bohunk towns, one kick ahead of the G-men." "Would be still if Billie hadn't set me up here." "Don't kid yourself, friend." "I still know how." "Gonna stay for breakfast or do you already know how to eat?" "I picked up somethin' on the way." "Is Lonnegan after you too?" "I don't know." "I ain't seen anybody." "You never do, kid." "Doyle?" "Yeah?" "We just talked to Chicago." "They got one of the grifters last night, a nigger." " How about the other one?" " They're still looking for him." " Who did Combs put on it?" " Riley and Cole." "They staked out the guy's place but he never showed." "They figure maybe he skipped town." "You wanna keep after him?" "See that fellow in the red sweater?" "His name's Danny McCoy." "Works protection rackets for Carnello while waiting for something better." "Danny and I have known each other since we were six." "Take a good look at that face, Floyd." "Because if he ever finds out I can be beat by one lousy grifter," "I'll kill him and every other hood who wants to muscle in on my Chicago operation." " You follow?" " Yes, sir." "Good lad." "Feelin' all right this morning, Henry?" "Yeah, fine." "Mind opening a little early?" "We got some business coming in before hours." " Sure." " And check the main gearing, will you?" "Man of War started rattling yesterday and threw a kid on its head." "Great little countess, that Billie." "Runs a spiffy house up there." "You plan to spend the rest of your life here?" "I could do a lot worse." "Am I gonna learn to play the big con or not?" " What's your hurry?" " I wanna play for Lonnegan." "You know anything about the guy?" "Yeah, he croaked Luther." "Anything else I gotta know?" "All right..." "Runs a numbers racket on the South Side, owns a packing house, banks..." "And half the politicians in New York and Chicago." "Not a fix in this world is gonna cool him out." " I'll get him anyway." " Why?" "Cos I don't know enough about killing to kill him." "You can't do it alone." "Takes a mob of guys and money to make 'em look good." " I know guys." " It ain't like playin' winos..." "I never played for no winos." "You gotta keep his con." "He can't know you took him." "You're scared of him." "Right down to my socks, buster." "A guy who'd kill a grifter over money that wouldn't support him for two days." "You're gonna go for him." "I don't want a hot-head looking to get even, saying it ain't enough, cos it's all we're gonna get." "Can you get a mob together?" "After what happened to Luther, I can't get more than 200-300 guys." "Luther said you learn fast." "I hope he's right." "Lonnegan gets most income from the numbers, but puts money into his savings and loans business." " Moving out of the rackets?" " No." "He owns most of the stock, it's traded." "He's building a respectable image." "He came out of Five Points but tells everybody he was born in Forest Hills." "He knows the market." "I don't think we can take him on a stocks deal." " What about the numbers?" " Run out of a packing house on 14th, by a guy named Combs." "Lonnegan comes every three weeks or so to check on it, but stays away from the day-to-day stuff in case it's raided." "Two of Combs's favourite torpedoes, Riley and Cole." "Ever seen them?" " No." " They're the ones who hit Luther." "They also got the numbers runner you conned, named Mottola." "Found him in a quarry with a knife in his eye." "Lonnegan's had seven or eight people rubbed." "His pattern's been to get close to a racket boss, learn the operation and move in on it." "He's done it to Gorman, O'Donnell, Buchalman, took the numbers from Sharkey." "All four of these guys are dead." "He's vindictive as hell, Henry." "Kills for pride." "Doesn't add up he let Hooker get away from him." "You see anything, kid, you let us know." "If they put you on the spot, we fold the con." " You got that?" " Yeah." " Sure it's gonna be one of these two?" " No." "They're just the only ones we know of." "OK." "Time." "Set me up five more beers, will you, Danny?" " You the owner here?" " That's right." "Lieutenant Snyder, Bunco." "That's a Joliet badge, Snyder." "Don't cut much up here." "Lookin' for a guy on the lam." "He might be here." "I know everyone here and I always bounce the lamsters." "All right if I look around?" "No, but you're welcome to a free beer before you go." "I don't really need your permission." "I don't know what to do with this guy." "He's an Irishman who doesn't drink, smoke or chase dames." "Grand Knight of Columbus, only goes out to play faro." "Plays 15 or 20 hours at a time, just him against the house." " Roulette?" "Crap?" " Won't touch them." "The croupier at Gilman's says he never plays unless he can win." " Sports?" " Likes to be seen with fighters but he doesn't go to fights or bet on them." "Jesus." "Does he do anything when he's not alone?" "Just poker." "And he cheats." "Pretty good at it, too." " Where does he play?" " Runs a game on the Century Limited when he comes here from New York." "$100 minimum straight poker." "A lot of high rollers ride that train just to play him." "That sounds good, JJ." "Which way are the rooms?" " Who told you this guy was in here?" " Nobody." "I know what kind of woman he likes." "I'm gonna check all the joy houses." "Maybe I could help you if you tell me his name." "I doubt it." "Which way are the rooms?" "Right through there." "But I wouldn't go in there if I were you." " What are you gonna do?" "Call the cops?" " I don't have to." "You'll be bustin' in on the Chief of Police just up the hall." "... with no fix, we're gonna need a con with a sure fire blow-off." "We ought to play this guy on the pay-off." "It's the tightest thing we got." "Lonnegan's not gonna sit still for a standard play." "Where does that leave us?" "We can't con the pay-off to a banker." "A wire." "Never known a poker player who didn't want to beat the pony." " The wire's been out of date 10 years." " That's why he won't know it." "I'm not sure I know it." "It'll take two of us working the inside." "Any objections to Hooker as second man?" "All right." "We'll give Lonnegan a hook on the train and play him here." "Think I can get in that poker game?" "Show up with money and look like a sucker." "I also gotta win." "Oh, by the way." "Any of you guys been passing bad money lately?" "If he comes in again, stall him so I can get a look at him." "Stenner had this place till six months ago but he had to give it up." "Doesn't look so good right now but maybe you can fix it up." "Watch your step as you go in." " How does it look, Eddie?" " Big enough and it's off the street." "I don't know." "Kinda short notice." "Not sure we can get it done by Saturday." "Got to." "Gondorff's riding the mark down from New York on the Century." "We'll take it." "The building at the end, do you manage it?" " For 15 years." " I need a room facing this way." " How much a week?" " Only rents by the month." "250 for the two of them." " Last time I expect to see you here." " Never heard of the place." "A while since I stocked a wire store." "Not many mobs playing that any more." "All we need is the bookie set-up." "I'll rent you everything I've got for two grand." "Phones, cages, blackboards and ticker gear." "If you want a counter and bar, that's another grand." "That's pretty steep, Benny." "Gondorff's a hot item." "Where'll I be if he gets hit?" "Just give us what you can, we'll send a truck down." "Do you want a flat rate or a percentage?" " Who's the mark?" " Doyle Lonnegan." "Flat rate." "The guy in the black hat with the gimp." "He's not as tough as he thinks." "Neither are we." " Mr Shaw?" " Right." "You wanted to see me?" "Know about a poker game on this train?" " A little." " Can you get me in that game?" "I don't know." "There's usually a waiting list." "That'll get you first alternate, sir." "I'll see what I can do." " Hey, Twist!" " Hey, boys!" "How are you?" " How are you, Twist?" " You're lookin' like a million." "Foley, you old son of a gun!" " Joiner, still working those shapes?" " Any number you want!" " Good to see you, Twist." " Lacey, good to see you." " Good to see you." "Come on in." " Dukey!" " When did you get back into town?" " Couple of days ago." "Heard about Luther Coleman?" "The boys are passin' the hat for Alva and the kids." "Never seen the guys so worked up." "Don't worry about it, Dukey." "We're gonna send a calling card of our own." "Gondorff is setting up a wire store." "I need a 20-man boost." "I got plenty of talent tonight." "Take your pick." " Lace!" " These boys have gotta be the quill." "Get me the sheet." "Let's see who's in town." " Hey, Patty, give me the sheet." " Sure." "Gondorff's already..." "Twist, you know this guy?" "No." "I never saw him before." "He's a dick, though." "Hello, Snyder." "What are you doing up here?" "On vacation." "Seen that friend of yours lately?" "No, he packed it in." "Enrolled in detective school." "If you see him, tell him he'd better pay up before I get to him." "That son of a bitch." "Thanks, Lace." "Let's see what we got here." "Horse Face Lee, Slim Miller, Suitcase Murphy, Big Alabama from New Orleans," "Cryin' Jonesy and the Boone Kid from Denver," "Deafie Burke and Limehouse Chappie from New York." "These and the guys outside should give you thirty or more to choose from." "Good." "Have 'em down at Stenner's old pool hall before six o'clock." " We're gonna run the route tonight." " OK, Twist." "But..." "If this thing blows up, I can't do you no good downtown." " Gondorff's Federal." " Dukey..." "If this thing blows up, the Feds will be the least of our problems." "Yeah." " You in?" " I think so." "Gave the kayducer a C-note." "Find out the deck?" "Usually plays with a Tally-Ho fan or circle." "I got you one of each." "He likes to cold deck low." "Eights or nines." "That's nice work, JJ." " Oh, I'm sorry." " Don't mention it, ma'am." "She picked him clean." "He never missed it." "Looks like he's expecting a big night." "Must be 15, 20 grand here." " He's waiting for you in the card room." " Let him wait." " You worry about your end, kid." " If we ever get to it." " You checked this guy out?" " Pleasant man, lot of cash." "$200 suit, expensive luggage." "I'll vouch for him." " Why isn't he here then?" " Don't worry." "He'll be here." "All right." "What are you doing?" "Always drink gin with a mark." "He can't tell if you cut it." " Two thousand for you, Mr Clayton." " Thank you." " All right, shall we not wait?" " Let's go." " That's a good idea." " Mr Clemens, give me the cards." "Sorry I'm late, guys, I was taking a crap." "The name's Shaw." "Mr Shaw, meet Mr Jameson from Chicago." " How are you?" " Mr Lombard from Philadelphia." " Mr Lonnegan, New York." " Pleased to meet you." "Mr Clayton, Pittsburgh." "Any you guys want to make a little book in Chicago, I'm the guy to see." "The game is straight poker." "$100 minimum, table stakes." "Mr Shaw, this is a gentleman's game." "We assume you're good for your debts." " How much would you like?" " I'll start with 5,000." "We usually require a tie at this table." "If you don't have one, we can get one." "That'd be real nice of you, Mr Lonneman." "Lonnegan." "Curly Jackson, worked with Gad Bryan outta Baltimore." "Jackson?" "Jackson..." "Oh, yeah." "Ever played the wire, Curly?" "Roped for it long ago." "I can shill, mark board, anything you want." "I don't run with riffraff and only drink on weekends." "Me specialty's an Englishman." "All right." "We got a rack of suits, pick yourself out a nice tweed one." "That's all right, I got all my own stuff." "Doyle?" "One." " Bill?" " I'll take one." " Shaw?" " Three." "And the dealer will take one." "Bet 500." "I'll call." "Call and raise." " 300." " I'm out." "Fold." "Your three and raise 500." "That's eight to me." "Call." "Jacks on top." "Beats me." "Three tens." "Tough luck, Lonnihan." "That's what you get for playing with your head up your ass." "Couple more like that, we can go to bed early." "Name's Lonnegan." "Doyle Lonnegan." "You'll remember that or get yourself another game." "You follow?" "Bring it right up here." "Hey, Eddie!" "We brought you a tap into Moe Anenberg's wire." "You'll get race results, odds, scratches, pole positions, everything, just as fast as Western Union." " Will JJ know how to use that thing?" " All he's gotta do is read." "The name is Joe Erie." "Joe Erie." "You, uh, play for any particular mobs?" "No." "Ever play the wire before, Erie?" "No." "I never played no big con before but, uh..." "Luther Coleman was a friend of mine and I thought maybe there'd be something I could do." "You get that nose in Duke Boudreau's tonight?" "Yeah." "You got moxie, Erie." "Get yourself a suit." "Thanks." "I'll bet three." "Call and raise 200." "Call." " No." " I'm out." "Call." "Aces over." "Three cowboys." "All red." "Queen high." " Finishes me." " Don't worry, pal." "They wouldn't let you in if you weren't a chump." "Lombard'll be joining you." "I've had enough of this game and quite enough of this company." "Check me out, Clemens." " I guess that leaves the three of us." " Yes, Mr Shaw." "It just leaves us three." "I think we should take a break for five minutes." "Tempers seem to be running a little high." "Oh, come on!" "I just started to do good." " Stack me a cooler." " We'll be in the station in an hour." "The others are the losers." "You're OK." "Fix me a deck, threes and nines." "I'll cut in on Clayton's deal." " What do you want Clayton to get?" " Nothing." "I'm gonna bust that bastard bookie in one play." "400 to you, Mr Jameson." "You're even." "This wasn't my night." " I need it." " Know what time we get in?" "No, I don't." "Hey, where's your ante?" "500." "Your five, and one thousand." "I'll fold." "I'll play." "Cards." "Two." "Three." "500." "Your 500 and one thousand." "Your 1,000 and I'll raise you 2,000." "Your 2,000..." "Mr Clemens." "Give me $10,000 more." "I'll call." "Four nines." "Four Jacks." "You owe me 15 grand, pal." " Must have left my wallet in my room." " Don't hand me any of that crap." "Bring your own money to a game." "How do I know you won't take a powder?" " No, Doyle." " Tell you what I'll do." "I'll send a boy to your room in five minutes." "Have the money or it'll be round Chicago that you welshed." "You won't be able to get a game ofjacks." "Cash me in for the rest of these bums." "You're on, kid." " I tell you, it's a hard act to follow." " How'd it go?" "We got working' money." " OK?" " Yeah." " He's steamin'." " Yeah." "Watch yourself." "I know I gave him four threes!" "He had to make a switch." "We can't let him get away with that." "What was I supposed to do?" "!" "Call him for cheating better than me?" "Name's Kelly." "Shaw sent me." "Your boss is quite a card player, Mr Kelly." "How does he do it?" "He cheats." "Then I'll keep my money and we'll have another game." "You don't have any to keep." "Here's your wallet." "He hired a dame to take it from you." "Shaw's been planning for months, waited for you to cheat him so he could clip you." "Who do you think you're talking to?" "Nobody sets me up." " Take him and put one in his ear." " There are witnesses." "Go get that other son of a bitch and dump 'em in the first tunnel we hit." "We'll be in the station in a minute." "It won't look good, you killing a guy you owe money to." "There's better ways of taking him down." "What do you think Shaw'd do if he knew I told you this?" "OK." "Why the rat?" "I wanna take over his operation and I need you to help me break him." " Where's my money?" " Shaw's got it." "How could I ask him for it back?" "We're pullin' in." "I'm giving you a lift home." " I'm supposed to go with Shaw." " Explain it somehow." " He's expecting me." " I'm giving you a lift home." "You follow?" "Yeah, sure..." "Sure thing." " What makes you think you can beat him?" " I've planned it for two years." "I know his organisation backwards." "I need someone respectable." " But not completely legit." " I'm a banker." "That's legit." "All you do is put down a bet at Shaw's place, I'll do the rest." "I'll supply the money, the information..." " And the money you've come to collect?" " I'll tell him you paid it." "He trusts me." "Help me and I'll pay your money back out of my own pocket." " It's worth that much to you?" " Yeah." "Oh, yeah." "Maybe a couple of million." "Where do you come from, Kelly?" "From the east side of New York, a place called Five Points." " But I got out of there." " Out and up, huh?" "Hey, Floyd?" "Gonna have to keep you away from this guy." "You're liable to get ideas." "I'll be at Klein's Drug Store, 660 South Marshall." "At 1.30, if you're interested." "If I'm not there by quarter to two, I'm not coming." "Hey, Hooker." "How'd it go?" "Jake." " Everything go OK?" " Yeah, sure." "Hell, easy." " No sign of trouble?" " No." " Lonnegan?" " I gave him the breakdown." " And?" " Good." "He threatened to kill me." "If they don't do that, you're not getting to 'em." "Hello, Doyle." "All right, Riley, what the hell happened?" " We missed him." " He made a fool out of you." "No way he could have known we was in that room." " Somebody must've wised him up." " What does Cole say about that?" "I don't know." "He took it hard." "Get out of here, Riley." "Put Salino onto it." "Salino?" "Why waste our best people on a small time job?" "This is a nickel and dime grifter we're after." "They'll get him next time." "All they did was shoot up a neighbourhood, wake a few cops." " Yeah, but..." " I told you to put Salino onto it." "May take a little time but there won't be any holes." "Tell Cole I want to see him." "He won't be coming in, not to get bounced off a job anyway." "This is Salino's job, Vince." "Cole wants to muscle in on it, that's his business, but Salino won't like it." "Get me the books." "The odds on the third race at Lincoln Fields are wrong." "Just a minute, I'll get 'em for you." "Don't worry so much, lad." "You're gonna be all right." "Just stay to the back the first time around." "Put a little of this on your nose." "Kelly." " You should always look to the back." " I was afraid you wouldn't show." " We haven't got much time." " Get on with it, then." "Some time after two, a guy's gonna call on that phone and give you the name of a horse." "All you gotta do is take this two grand across the street to Shaw's place and bet it on that pony." "Nothing to it." "But we only got three or four minutes after you get the call." " You won't break him with a $2,000 bet." " This is a test." "The big one comes later." "But be careful with that, that's all I got." " You'll pay me out of your own pocket?" " Yes." "After the race." "I gotta get back before Shaw misses me." "Good luck." "Yeah...?" "Go ahead." "Got it." "Yeah?" "Bluenotetowin in the fourth race at Narragansett." "Headingforhome, it's Lady Scout, Speed Queen," "Lady Trust and Miss Petrina." "Into the stretch, Lady Scout by a head, Speed Queen and Miss Petrina." "And at the wire, it's Speed Queen the winnerl" "Lady Scout placed and Miss Petrina showed." "Post numbers two, five and one." "They got off at 23..." "Look at that." "He's got his apes with him." "We're gonna have to do something about that." "...Bubblesome is ten, Beefsteak seven," "Vote Boy six, Kerry Patch twelve, and Bluenote seven to one." "This is your last call for the third race at Lincoln Fields." " They're going to the post..." " There he goes." "AtDetroit,thewinnerSpeedQueen , paid $7.20, $4.60 and $3.40." "Lady Scout, $7 and $4.20." "Miss Petrina paid $4.00." "Last flash at Narragansett." "Lady Higloss is 6 to 5, Chancing..." "I'd think you'd get tired of losing, Harrigan." "Thank you." "Bluenote. $2,000 to win, fourth race, Narragansett." "Make sure you see the cash." "He's got a name for betting money he doesn't have." "ThisisArnoldRowe, your caller for the fourth race, the Mansfield Handicap at Narragansett Park, Rhode Island," "$13,000 added for three-year-olds and up." "The flag is up and they're off and running." "It's Bubblesome to the front, followed by Lady Higloss," "Vote Boy, Chancing, Beefsteak, Kerry Patch, and Bluenote trails the field." "Round the Clubhouse turn, it's Bubblesome ahead," "Lady Higloss by one, followed by Vote Boy, Beefsteak, Kerry Patch, Bluenote." "The second turn, it's Chancing by a length, Lady Higloss on the rail," "Vote Boy, followed by Bubblesome, Beefsteak..." " Come on, Chancing." " Hey, uh..." "LadyHiglossdrivingontherail..." "Lady Higloss is a hell of a finisher." "Chancing's gonna have to open up." "Know anything about a horse named Bluenote?" "He never done much, probably in there just to round out the field." "Chancing's where you wanna have your money." " Great tip you handed me, kid." " Give him time." "...here comes Bluenote, on the outside." "Nice work, Erie." "He loves you." "Chancingisstruggling, and now it's Lady Higloss and Bluenote." "Head to head, neck to neck, it's Lady Higloss, Bluenote and Bluenote wins it by a nose." "Lady Higloss is second by three, Chancing is third by one." " They got off..." " Who the blazes is Bluenote?" "The winner, Bluenote, paid $16.00, $9.40 and $6.00..." "So you want your money on Chancing, huh?" "Chancing paid $3.80." "Time for the mile and sixteenth, one forty-four and one..." "They'regoingto thegate at Belmont and here are the odds..." "Both of those garbage men belong to you?" "Get 'em out and don't bring 'em back." "This is a class joint." "Hey, you!" "Kelly!" " Yes, sir." " Run those bums outta here." " Uh, Mr Shaw..." " Don't give me any of your lip, kid." "Run 'em outta here." "Thewinneris PanicRelief," "Barbara A is second and My Gal to show." "Time for the three-quarter-mile, 20, 11 and four." "The winner, Panic Relief, paid $12.40, $8.20 and $5.00." "Barbara A, $6.20 and $4.00." "Wilder paid $4.00." "They're at the post at Belmont at 38." "We're waiting on that one." "I'll call Belmont next." "That's it, fellas." " I want to repeat that..." " All right, JJ." "What do you say, pal?" "Yeah..." "Mm-hm..." "He's on his way." "Hi, Mutt." "What do you say, Jeff?" " What did I tell you?" " You got lucky once." " Lucky, hell." "I can do it every time." " Why don't you?" "Because it's better to do it all at once." "We're gonna put down 400 grand next week." "At 5-1 odds, that's two million." "20% is yours if you stick with us." " Got a system, Kelly?" " No." " You can still lose with a system." " You're past-posting, aren't you?" "Could be." "How?" " You gonna stay in?" " Not till I get some answers." "I got a partner downtown." "He runs the central office for the Western Union." "Race results from all over the country go across his desk to the bookies." "He holds 'em up for a couple of minutes till he can call us and bet on a winner." "He releases the results, we clean up on a race that's already been run." "You can't miss unless Western Union get a hold of it." "Got the 400 grand yet?" "No, not yet, but..." " There's only a grand here." " I'll make another bet tomorrow." "What the hell is this?" "I got 16 grand coming." "You owe me 15 grand already." "If your set-up's good, there's plenty more." " I decide when to place bets." " Not if you want me to make them." "I gotta talk to my partner." "We can't expose too much." " I'll talk to him." " No." "You've been waiting a long time for this." "Don't ruin it." "I'll pick you up tomorrow at three." "You follow?" "Twist, I told him the tale but he wants to see my partner tomorrow at three." " Three o'clock?" " Yeah." "We'll never get it set up." "Any chance to talk him out of it?" "None." "I'd have stalled but I had no friends in the room." "Yeah." "We'll have to play him on the fly." "I'll get Eddie looking for a place." " Let me know when you got something." " Sure thing, tootsy." "All right, Hooker!" "Agh!" "Stop him!" "Hooker!" "Hooker!" "I'll get you, you rat!" "Hooker!" " Why didn't you tell me about Snyder?" " I thought I'd lost him." "You found him again and we're gonna have to do something." " What else haven't you told me?" " Nothing, that's all." "Hold still." "Why did you move out of your room?" "It was too noisy." "You can't play your friends like marks, Hooker." "Know how easy it is for Lonnegan's guys to get you?" "All we need is a couple of days to get the son of a bitch and nail him." "You just won't learn, will you?" "You come here, I teach you stuff that five guys in the whole world know." "But all you wanna do is run down a bullet." "I'm asking a couple of days." "I can stay clear that long." "Christ, they'll probably miss you and hit me." " Hey." " Hi." "What'll you have?" " Give me the blueplate special." " One blueplate special." " You done?" " Yeah." " Guess I should have had the meatloaf." " It isn't any better." " Hey, where's June?" " She quit." "I'm filling in for a couple of days until I can get a train out of here." " Where are you going?" " I don't know." "Depends on what train I get on." "Keep it." "Thanks." "Let's go." "Excuse me, ma'am, we're looking for Mister, uh..." " Harmon." " Mr Harmon's office." " Mr Harmon?" " Yeah." " Got an order for a painting job." " For Mr Harmon's office?" " That's right." " Hold on just a second." "Hi." " Where to?" " 110 South Wabash." "110 South Wabash." "Get goin'." " What happened to your face?" " Got into a fight with a raggle." "Cut me with her ring." "Lay off the skirts." "Won't find my boys messing around with that kind of trash." "Brigham signed it." "Can't understand why he didn't tell me." "All them supervisors think they're too good for ordinary people." " He said this place was a mess." " We won't keep you out for long." "Why can't I work in here?" "We gotta cover the floor, everything, so we don't spill on nothing." "If you want a tarp on your head, you're welcome to it." " All right, how long will you be?" " An hour or two, it's a small job." "We'll go in the side door, here." "Hiya, Les." "This is Doyle Lonnegan." "This is Les Harman." "How do you do?" "What did you bring him here for?" " We could..." " ... operation." "I'm having the place painted." "We can't talk in here now." "We'll have to find someplace else." "Excuse me." "Miss Barnes, I'm going home a little early." "If there are any calls, tell them they can reach me here tomorrow morning." "Mr Lonnegan." " I wanna see it one more time." " I can't do it." " We've got inspectors all over." " One more time..." "We've got 400 grand coming in next week." "You wanna risk that on a lousy 15 Gs?" "If it works again tomorrow, I'll finance the whole thing." "Half a million dollars. 60-40 split." "What?" "I told you, we already got a guy." "What am I supposed to say to him?" "You say to him what you want." "From what I know of your operation, I'd worry about making me happy." "Your guy says a week, how do we know it won't be a month?" "Lonnegan's a banker." "He can get money." "We can't keep cleaning up at Shaw's place." "He'll get wise." "All right." "We'll go for short odds." " But it's still..." " You follow?" "Are you Lieutenant William Snyder?" "I don't know." "What's up?" "FBI." "Special Agent Polk would like a few words." "You got a couple of minutes?" "Yeah, sure." "No, it's gotta be south of the river." "Probably this section, here." "31st, 39th, Morgan and Halstead, that's this section here." "Let's break it into two sections, along 35th." "What is this?" "I got work to do." "Sit down and shut up, will you?" "Try not to live up to my expectations." "Take two men, work your way south from 31st to 35th, Morgan and Halstead." "Go into every place and let me know what you find." "We been told you know a hustle artist named Johnny Hooker." " Know him or not?" " I don't know where he is." "We do." "He's chumming around with a big C named Henry Gondorff." "Ring any bells?" "Every bunco man in the country knows Gondorff." "There's word he's gonna run a con on the South Side." "We got a year-old Florida warrant on him but it's a thin beef." "He can beat it in court unless we catch him cold." "All we want you to do is pick up Hooker for us." "Why don't you pick him up yourself?" "If word gets out the Feds are in on it, Gondorff'll fold the whole thing." "Wouldn't that be too bad?" "You'd have to move out of this nice office you got." "Don't crack wise with me, flatfoot." "I've spent too much time eating Gondorff's dust while you guys in the bunco squads get rich tipping him off." "That's not gonna happen this time." "We're not gonna tell the police we're here." "Keep your mouth shut and do a job, there'll be reward bucks for you." "And you'd better take it, cos I can make you work for us without it." "What the hell good is Hooker to you?" "He's gonna set up Gondorff for us." "He'll never do it." "I think he will." "He's there." "Let's get on it." " What's the line on Exponent?" " Uh..." "Five to one." " How's it goin'?" " Nothing yet." "Had a good one at Lincoln Fields but he faded." "Best we had the last hour was Love Potion at Rockingham, 5-1." "All the longshots comin' in today." " Take 4-1 if you have to." " OK." "Forget the boodle, Eddie." "He could hit us for 15 grand at 4-1." "We can't handle that." " Give him the shut-out." " OK." "OK, Billie, here we go." "At the wire, it's Wrecking Crew, the winner by five." "Black Mischief second, Whichaway third," "Wrecking Crew was... 3-1, that's our boy." "Henry!" "Here we go, we got a 3-1 at Belmont, Wrecking Crew." " Yeah?" " Sixth race at Belmont." "Wrecking Crew to win, Black Mischief to place, Whichaway to show." "Wait here." "Thewinner,TimeToGo, paid $7.00, $5.40 and $3.80." "Joy Flag, $6.00 and $4.20." "Readily paid $3.80 to show." "The weather's threatening but the track is fast there in Salem, New Hampshire." "Here's a latejockey change at Rockingham," "RC Stark will ride ltsie Bitsie." " That's RC Stark..." " 5,000 on Black Mischief at Belmont." "Could you hurry up there, please?" "WreckingCrewis 3-1." "Vale of Tears four, Black Mischief five," "Whichaway six, Chief Yeoman twelve," "Peerless Pal is 20..." " OK." "...and Mariato is 40." "Here we go for the sixth at Belmont." "Five furlongs, they're at the post..." " Now." " Sixth race, Belmont, 15,000..." "We can't take any bets once the race has started." "You can bet on another race if you care to." "...it's Wrecking Crew by two," "Whichaway by a half, Black Mischief, Vale of Tears on the outside..." "Nothing, thank you." " What happened?" " I didn't get the bet down in time." "Jesus!" "...Mariato and Peerless Pal, heading for home, Wrecking Crew all alone by six lengths," "Whichaway a length, Vale of Tears," "Wrecking Crew, Whichaway, Black Mischief." "At the wire, Wrecking Crew wins it by six lengths," "Black Mischief second by a head, Whichaway third by a neck, followed by Vale of Tears." "Should have had your money on Wrecking Crew." "Thetrackis sloppy at Riverside Park." "There's a late scratch there, Transmutate, in the fifth at Riverside." "At Belmont, the winner Wrecking Crew paid $6.00, $4.20 and $2.80." "Black Mischief $4.60 and $3.20." "I'll have half a million here by post time tomorrow." "Lay it on the first race at 4-1 or better." "Make sure I get to the window." " How the hell am I gonna do that?" " I don't know." "Figure it out, Kelly." " Finished?" " Yeah." "Meat loaf, apple pie and a cup of coffee." " Say, what time do you get off work?" " 2 am." " Yeah?" "Doing anything tonight?" " Yeah." "Sleeping." "Eighty-five." " Uh..." "Got a back door?" " What's wrong with the..." "There's a guy I don't need to see." "Don't look around." " What does he want?" " To kill me." "Do me a favour, go to the bathroom, open the window and wait there." " Why should I...?" " Do what I say and it'll be jake." "Please." "Thanks. 'Night." "It's taken." "Thanks." "See you." "Shit." "Salino..." "Hey, I wasn't..." "Hey!" "Got you, Hooker!" " Hey, there, Snyder." "Long time no see." " Get goin'." "Chuck." " Get this off to the department." " Yes, sir." "Hello, Hooker..." "Take them off." "Special Agent Polk, FBI." "Have a chair." " Do you want a drink of something?" " No." "We want to talk to you about Henry Gondorff." "Yeah?" "I don't think I know him." "Give yourself a couple of seconds." "You wouldn't want to lie to me." "Snyder says you've done a lot of confidence work." "Oh, yeah?" "Lieutenant Snyder doesn't know shit." "You ain't got nothin' on me." "Yeah?" "How about counterfeiting?" "We've got a tip that Gondorff is gonna run a con on the South Side here." "All you gotta do is tell us when he's gonna play his chump." "We come in at the sting, make the pinch, and... you walk out, free as a bird." "No." "Wanna spend the next 20 years in a Federal penitentiary, starting tonight?" " I'll make parole." " Like hell." " You won't even get a review." " I'll chance it." "OK." "If that's the way you want it." "We might even provide you with a little company on your way." "That wife of Luther Coleman, Snyder." "What was her name?" " Alva." " Alva." "That's it, Alva Coleman." "Pretty fair grifter in her time." "Snyder's given us quite a folder on her." "Nothing major by itself, but, uh..." "Put 'em all together, it could add up to a lot of years." "You stink, mister." "Don't be a sap." "It's not her I want." "You're too dumb to save yourself, no sense dragging her down with you." "It's over, Hooker." "You can save me a lot of trouble." "But I'm gonna get Henry Gondorff whether you help me out or not." " You'll wait till the chump is played?" " Hell, yes." "We don't care about the mark." "I mean completely played." "Come in before we beat him and I'll kill him." "All right, Hooker." "But you try to take it on the lam, and we'll shoot you down on sight." "As long as I get to finish the play." " What is it?" "You're not saying much." " Just got the jumps." "Come in." "Things are slow, I wanna open the round for the girls." "Sure." "Take it easy, we won't lose him." "We got him 10 years ago when he decided to be somebody." "Believe me, I've seen enough to know." "Ten." " 20." " 30." "Go." "31." "J..." "Ach!" "How many guys have you conned in your life, Henry?" "I don't know." "Two or three hundred." "Sometimes we played two a day, when I was in O'Shea's mob." "'Course, Chicago was a rigged town." "The fix was in." "Dicks took their end without a beef." "We had it down to a business." "And it really stunk, kid." "No sense being' a grifter if it's the same as being a citizen." "Well, I got packing' to do." "I'm gonna be a hot number again after tomorrow." "I wouldn't have asked you to do this if it weren't for Luther." "Nothin's gonna make up for Luther." "Revenge is for suckers." "I've been griftin' 30 years, I never got any." "Then why are you doing it?" "Seems worthwhile, doesn't it?" "See you." "Looks like he missed you." "Yeah." "This time, anyway." "Goodnight, Mrs Hillard." "I, uh... was wondering if you might want to come out for a while, maybe have a... drink or something." "You move right along, don't you?" "Hey, I don't mean nothin' by it." "I just don't know many regular girls, is all." "You expect me to come out, just like that?" "If I expected something, I wouldn't be standing in the hall." "I don't even know you." "You know me." "I'm just like you." "It's two in the morning and I don't know nobody." "Come on, Henry." "Knock off." "You've done everything you can." " Yeah?" "Polk." " This is Hooker." "Are you ready?" "Yeah, go ahead." "All set." "There'll be a guy at the door but nobody's carrying any heaters." "OK, see you there." "She was gonna kill you, kid." "Her name's Loretta Salino." "Lonnegan's people set her up in the diner." "Come on." "Let's get outta here." "Come on!" "Come on!" "She could have killed me last night." "Too many people could have seen you." "She was a professional." "Used to work in the Dutch Schultz mob." "Who are you?" "Gondorff asked me to look after you." "Snyder." "We just got a tip that Gondorff's mark is some big New York wheel." "As soon we're inside, get him out fast, before the reporters show up." "I don't want any big shots around to mess this up for me." "All right, let's go." "Let's go, guys!" "Flag is up, kid." " Any time, JJ." " Workin' on it." "Got one, Billie, here we go." " Yeah." " Place it on Lucky Dan, Riverside Park." "... 1- 11 and 35th seconds." "They were off at 21." "Last call on the third at Riverside Park." "They're at the post." "At Havre de Grace, the winner, Light Chatter, paid $5.40, $3.80 and $2.40." "Blacksod... $500,000 to win," "Lucky Dan, third race at Riverside." "You heard me?" "Hold on, sir." "I'll get the manager." "JStoutwillrideFlyingCross ." "And scratch..." "That guy just bet half a million dollars on Lucky Dan." "Thewinner at Rockingham Park, Enfin, paid $6. 10, $4.30 and $2.50." "What's your problem?" "Half a million dollars on Lucky Dan to win, third race at Riverside." "I can't lay that off in time." "A bet like that could break us." "Not only are you a cheat, you're a gutless cheat as well." " What are the odds?" " Four to one." "Take all of it." "ArnoldRowe,callingthe thirdrace  at Riverside Park, Kansas City." "The claiming race for three-year-olds and up." "It's been raining and the track is muddy." "The flag is up." "And they're off and running." "Dr Twink is going to the front, followed by Lucky Dan, lma Dreamer, Orkin, Josie G, Chi Chi and Little Star." "Around the clubhouse turn, it's Lucky Dan ahead," "Dr Twink a length, Orkin a head, followed by Ima Dreamer," "Lucky G, Chi Chi and Little Star." "Into the back stretch, it's Lucky Dan a length," "Dr Twink a half, Orkin a head, lma Dreamer by one..." "I couldn't wait." "Everything go all right?" "You got nothing to worry about." "I put it all on Lucky Dan." "Half a million dollars to win." "To win?" "I said place!" "Place it on Lucky...!" "That horse is gonna run second!" "...Dr Twink a half and Orkin by two, followed by Little Star and Josie G. And it's a driving finish..." "There's a mistake." "Give me my money." " I'm sorry..." " There's been a mistake!" "Give me...!" "All right, everybody, FBI!" "Don't anybody try to leave." "Stand on your feet, hands over your head, move nice and slow." "Snyder!" "All right, get 'em up against the wall, make sure they're not carrying anything." "Hello, Henry." "It's been a long time." "But it's over." "OK, kid." "You can go." "Come on, move 'em back." "Get him out." "Get him out!" "Come on!" "Gotta get you outta here." " Come on!" " My money's in there!" "Dead guys, too." "You can't get mixed up." "I got half a million dollars in there!" "He's gone." "OK, Henry." "All clear." "Nice con, Hickey." "Thought you were the Feds myself when you came in." "No trouble." "Snyder went for it all the way." "You should have seen the rag he lit under Lonnegan!" "Well, kid." "You beat him." "You're right, Henry." "It's not enough." "But it's close." "OK, guys." "Let's take this place apart fast." "Pick up your splits at Boudreau's tonight." "Nice going, JJ." "Oh, Henry." "You're not gonna stick around for your share?" "Nah." "I'd only blow it." "One, two, one, two, three..."