"And there it is, ladies and gentlemen, another $10 gold piece, and in it goes." "Now you've seen me place 10 gold pieces in this pile of soap." "Gold-the thing that people dream about, they fight over it." "The greatest power in the world is genuine gold." "Buy a bar of soap and you get $10 to boot." "I'm not going to ask you to pay $10 for a cake of this soap, nor $5.00 a cake, no, sir." "I'm passing this cake of soap among you for $1.00." "Now who's the first lady or gentleman going to take a chance?" "I'll take one." "There you are, thank you very much, there's your soap." "Now, who's next?" "Who's next?" "I'll take one, mister!" "All right, there you are." "No, not that one, mister- give me the one in the other hand." "All right, there." "Thank you." "Now, who's next, who's next?" "Looky here, mister, i think y'all's a fake." "Well, i've been in business all my life, and i've never been called a fake before." "Y'all ain't got no gold pieces in that soap." "I got one!" "Wha?" "Does that look as if i was a faker?" "Well, gee whillikens, ain't i dumb?" "I'll take one, mister." "Give me one!" "I want one!" "Take my dollar, mister!" "Quiet, quiet, quiet, quiet!" "They've fired on fort sumter, and war's declared!" "What'd you say, brother?" "Don't you call me brother, 'cause you're a yank!" "And we've declared war against all yankees." "We're gonna run 'em all out of town and hang every one of them we can catch." "If you can't get 'em out, i'll get somebody else what can!" "Come on, jim- let's get out of here." "They're in cahoots!" "They are yanks!" "Let's run 'em out of town!" "Ya!" "Which way we going?" "North." "North?" "I hope so." "He went thataway!" "Come on!" "There's a bunch of men on horseback following us, boss!" "You better hurry!" "Come on!" "They're gaining on us, jim!" "Put on some steam!" "If we can get over that bridge, jim, we'll be in the north across the mason-dixon line!" "Whoa!" "Good-bye, you-all!" "Whoa!" "What do you sell your cotton for, friend?" "$2.00 a pound." "But you can't get any more through from the south." "What can you buy it for down there?" "12 cents." "Thanks." "Well, i'm sure glad to get out of that land of cotton." "Come on, boys, let's go." "No, wait a minute." "I'm thinking about that cotton." "We're suckers for running away from a fortune." "All the cotton mills are up north, but they haven't got any cotton." "Why, we could get all the cotton we want for 12 cents a pound and smuggle it through." "In that way, we'd be helping the south by buying it and helping the north by selling it." "And helping ourselves to $1.88 for every pound we can lay our hands on." "Wait a minute-i ain't going back down south there for no $1.88." "You're going up north, luke." "You're going to drive to boston as fast as you can get there and open up an office." "Nick and me are going back to dixie, and we're gonna ship you all the cotton we can lay our hands on." "You know, jim, i'm just crazy enough to go with you, but how are we going to get back across that line?" "You-all know, folks, i'm on my way to savannah, georgia, to join my regiment, and i'm giving my good english friend here, sir nicholas boyd, safe conduct." "Ah, yes, of course." "And i'm buying cotton for dear old england, eh, what?" "You sure is." "You sure is making me mighty nervous, you sure is." "You-all's price is right with me." "I'll take your whole doggone crop." "I say, fraser, you better move all this cotton onto the dock immediately and make some bally room for the 200 bales coming in in the morning." "Perkins, go up to the stonington railroad, tell them to run 20 freight cars onto our dock before 3:00." "We're gonna put a lot of money in the bank today for jim and nick." "Do you smell it?" "What?" "New england." "We're home again." "Jim!" "Nick!" "Oh, hello, nick!" "Luke!" "Oh, jim." "Gee, you haven't changed a bit." "Neither have you." "My, you're a sight for sore eyes." "Our general manager." "Gee, jim, i'm so happy." "I can't wait, i've got a bet on with jim." "Tell me-what were the total profits on all that cotton we shipped up here?" "$821,000.46 in gold." "821 thou?" "Why, that's 100,000 more than we expected." "How did you do it?" "Luke- you're the eighth wonder of the world." "Well, whenever i was in a fix, jim, i'd just try to figure out what you'd do." "I want to know." "Trying to flatter me, eh?" "Well, i was looking and listening around." "About a year ago, i found out these smart boston bankers was swapping golr money." "Ney." "$400 in gold was fetching $1,000 in greenbacks." "Sure." "Those bankers were on the inside track." "They knew that when the war was over, the government would stand back of that paper money." "Well, i says to myself, i says, "jim fisk wouldn't stand by" ""and watch that gold rot in that bank, would he?" ""Of course he wouldn't." "Why, jim fisk's smarter than any back-bay banker that ever banked!"" "Wait a minute, wait a minute- you changed our gold to greenbacks?" "Uh-huh." "Jehoshaphat!" "Did i do right, jim?" "Did you do right?" "It's more than $2 million!" "$2 million?" "We'll buy the stonington railroad!" "2 million cartwheels!" "Wait a minute- that ain't all." "Huh?" "What?" "Well... when i got all this money together, it looked like an awful lot of greenbacks, so i said, "what would jim think about this?" ""Shucks, to a big man like him it'd look like a wad of lettuce." ""Why, jim would say it's a sacrilegious crime to let that lettuce lay there and go to seed,"" "so... well, i bought bonds." "Bonds?" "Bonds?" "I hope they're good bonds." "Many a man's cut his throat on gilt-edged securities you know, luke." "But these are government bonds, boss." "As good as the mint." "No, they ain't, boss." "What?" "I've known you all my life, jim, and you've never once lied to me." "No, luke, but what are you getting at?" "Did you know all the time that the north was going to win the war?" "Of course i did." "Everybody did." "Well, why'd you keep writing me that the confederates was gonna?" "Certainly-we knew their secret service was opening our letters, so we always had to tell you the south was going to win." "Well, it got me all kerflummoxed." "If i hadn't have believed in you, jim, we'd have had more than $2 million, but... oh, i put it all in confederate bonds." "There they are." "Confederate bonds?" "They're not worth a nickel." "They're blowing like dead leaves down the streets of richmond." "For 3 and 1/2 years we lived on boiled leather and grits, risked our necks dodging tar, feathers, and bullets... always one jump ahead of a firing squad." "We even had to learn another language." "And now we get paid off in confederate bonds." "$2 million worth of nothing." "Well... hey-hey, where are you going?" "What's the matter with you?" "Aw, the way i ruined you both and all." "That was my fault, wasn't it?" "I shouldn't have lied to you." "Come on back here and sit down, come on." "Say, what are you up to?" "I've got a chill, i thought i'd liven up the fire." "Wait a minute- these cost us $821,000." "If we could make that amount of money while we were dodging bullets, there's no reason why we can't make twice as much with nobody shooting at us." "Anybody in town know you bought these?" "Gosh, no, boss." "I'd have been hung for a southerner." "I got these from an english firm." "First-rate!" "Now get out your ear trumpets, and i'll tell you how big money got made in this country." "Astor started with a meat cleaver, old vanderbilt had a rowboat, and uncle daniel drew didn't have nothing but a cow and a pail of water." "Well, the firm of fisk and boyd is gonna start building on confederate bonds!" "Well, gentlemen, as long as you're so dead-set against selling to mr." "Drew, the firm of fisk and boyd is ready to make you a bona-fide offer for your railroad this morning." "Spot cash or you'll get securities-bonds." "Bonds are as good as cash if they're good bonds." "They're not confederate bonds, are they?" "Ha ha ha!" "Well, that would certainly be a good joke on us." "Oh, no." "We're not questioning your financial status." "But we're not selling to anyone." "We're in the railroad business to stay." "Our firm intends going into the transportation business, too." "If we could afford your railroad, we were going to build a line of boats connecting it with new york." "Figuring on bucking drew, eh?" "Gentlemen, you run a good railroad." "Drew runs bad boats, but he makes all the money." "There's no argument about it." "He's got you over a barrel with your pockets turned inside out." "As long as these gentlemen like their cards and have all the partners they want, we'd be better off playing poker with mr." "Drew." "What makes you think that he'd sell to you if he won't to us?" "I got an idea i can make drew sell." "What is your idea, mr." "Fisk?" "Well, if you authorize the water street bank of new york to pay me $2 million on delivery of drew's contract of sale, i'll bring you his boats, his docks, his franchises, the whole kit and caboodle." "Just how do you expect to come out on this deal, mr." "Fisk?" "You must expect to get those boats for less than $2 million." "Right as rain." "If i can buy out drew for less than $2 million, i get the difference." "You're proposing to lock horns with the shrewdest money mind in america." "That psalm-singing old skinflint wouldn't give you the dust off his warts." "I'll give 5,000 myself to put drew on the fire." "And i'll make it 10,000 if you'll burn him to a crisp." "We all share in that." "Good." "You just put that in writing, send it to our office with your check, we'll be waiting." "Uh-huh." "Good day." "Oh, gentlemen- your bonds." "Oh." "Why, jim, you're forgetting our little family business." "You act as if they really were confederate bonds." "I made this one from general grant, is that all right?" "Biggest noise in the country, going to be our next president." "And look-how about making the boat from commodore vanderbilt?" "Drew hates him worse than poison." "First-rate!" "And put a personal note with it." "What?" "Uh, let's say..." ""sit tight at the boat, jim," ""and we'll bombard drew off the water." "Cordially yours, cornelius vanderbilt."" "Cordially yours... how do you spell vanderbilt?" "Uh, with a "v" and a lot of dollar marks." "And this one from mayor hoffman and the board of aldermen." "Jim!" "I just saw old drew in the lobby." "How do you know it was him?" "Well, he looks like a runt pickle and he's got an old umbrella stick with a goose-head handle." "That's him!" "I knew it!" "Bellboy?" "Yes, sir." "Go and tell mr." "Fisk that mr." "Daniel drew is waiting to see him." "Yes, sir." "Tell me-do you go to sunday school?" "Yes, sir." "Mulberry street church, sir." "Mulberry street." "Well... i pass the plate there myself." "Here-here's two cents for you." "And remember-i'll be looking for them next sunday." "Yes, sir." "Well?" "There's a gentleman to see you, mr." "Fisk." "Who is it, son?" "It's mr." "Daniel drew, sir." "Oh." "Here." "Tell him i'm busy." "Yes, sir." "You can't do that, jim!" "We got to get some of his money to pay for this presidential suite!" "Jim's right." "You couldn't chase him away with a cannon." "Here, you board of directors get into this room- all 12 of you." "And, nick, talk out loud about all the boats we're going to build." "Open the transom so old drew can hear you." "All right." "Now try it out." "Gentlemen, today we are gathered here for the burial of daniel drew." "How's that, jim?" "That'll fix him." "Ha!" "Well?" "I reckon you ain't too busy to see your uncle daniel drew." "Uncle who?" "Drew." "Oh, yes, drew." "Well, i'm very busy." "I've got my board of directors waiting for this report in the next room." "Within the next 10 months, gentlemen, we'll have in operation 6 of the finest steamboats ever built in america!" "He have not only the unanimous support of the press and public, but the financial backing of the biggest men in new york." "Ah, very interesting." "Proceed, my good man, proceed." "Oh, won't you sit down?" "The trouble is that these two great cities have condemned the intolerable "take it and like it" policy of daniel drew." "You must excuse them." "They don't know you're here." "Ahem, ahem, mr." "Boyd, i would like to ask a question." "Yes, mr." "Baxter, what can i do for you?" "I'd like to ask one, too." "What is it, mr." "Collins?" "How long will it take them boats to go from new york to bristol?" "Overnight, mr." "Collins." "Just overnight." "Oh, excellent, excellent." "Yes, well, just a moment, mr." "Maybury, i'll have mr." "Fisk answer that question." "Oh, mr." "Fisk- mr." "Maybury would like to know if all 6 of the new boats will be taken from this model." "Oh, of course not." "Each one is to be larger and more luxurious than its predecessor." "Well, tell mr." "Maybury i'll come in and explain the details myself." "Thank you." "Oh, would you mind coming back a little later?" "Oh, i don't mind waiting." "Patience is its own reward." "Make yourself at home." "It seems to me, mr." "Palmer, that nothing, nothing can be too fine for our clientele." "I?" "s working." "Gentlemen, i think we'd better close this transom." "The enemy is right here in our camp." "He's nibbling." "Let me take a peek, jim." "He don't look like no big fish to be- he looks more like a sidewinder crab!" "Go ahead." "Ahem." "You say that the parlors and the dining saloons will be done in solid mahogany?" "Then, mr." "Howard, all our furniture will be covered with empire plush an inch thick." "That's right, gentlemen." "Oh, excuse me, uncle." "Admiring our doorknobs?" "No." "I was just coming to ask you if that thimble - rigging vanderbilt's got a hand in this." "The names of our directors will be announced shortly." "Are you in cahoots with that stonington crowd?" "Hand and glove." "They've given us all their trade." "I heard you call me your enemy." "Why, that there just stabbed me to the core." "I'm a pious man." "There ain't an ounce of hatred in my whole carcass." "Why, mr." "Fisk, i love my neighbor just as i love myself." "In that case, uncle daniel, you won't harbor any grudge if we run you out of business." "I forgive you for the harsh words." "The golden rule brought me to your door, and i'd feel like a heathen if i didn't try to open your eyes to the bottomless pit that's yawning for your fool's gold." "Ahem." "Good day, mr." "Fisk." "Good day, sir." "Ahem, good day." "You can't run boats no cheaper than me, because i'm losing money every day!" "My steamboats ain't making a cent!" "I'm going to give you a chance to save money." "You can buy my boats." "$2 million is the price, and they're worth 3." "I'll have to see my board of directors." "But i can't hold out much hope." "I'm sorry, uncle daniel, but the deal fell through." "They won't go a penny higher than $1,500,000." "It's downright sinful." "Let's draw up a contract." "Oh, sit down right here, uncle daniel." "Boys, i got it!" "What, 500,000 for us?" "And out of the tightest pocketbook in new york." "And everybody is satisfied." "Stonington gets their boats, drew makes a profit, and we're on the road to future glory!" "What do we do to celebrate, jim?" "We're gonna have some fun." "Follow me." "I've been looking at that sign all day." ""Mademoiselle fleurique and her dimpled darlings in playtime in paris." "50 girls 50."" "Say, i got to meet them 50 girls 50, and they got to meet me!" "I'll take fleurique." "You high-flyers can fight over the 50 girls 50." "Hey, i got dibs on fleurique." "We better let her know we're coming." "Take all those flowers over to her." "They worked with drew, maybe they'll be lucky with her." "Oh, luke-stick a french flag in that flower boat." "Ooh, la, la, la, la as we tour in gay paris 'cause it's gay and it's fun and it's done ooh, la, la" "It's a naughty, naughty place but it's what we call chichi say it once, say it twice, and it's nice ooh, la, la" "When you're walking in the dark in the so-romantic park and he steals a kiss or two just say ooh la, la, la, la, la, la it's naive and it's blase what it means i cannot say" "but it's fun and it's done and it's gay ooh, la, la" "she's what i call a lalapalooza." "I like her." "I like her, too." "She likes me." "I guess you didn't have your eyes peeled." "It was me she was flipping her frills and furbelows at." "Just a minute, jim- here, here... if the lady comes up, i go backstage." "If the eagle shines, the pass-through's all yours." "All right." "Uh- let me flip it." "Where did it go?" "I don't know, but you better hurry and find it." "The show's over." "She'll be going out with someone else." "Nick, you go back to her dressing room and ask her if she'll go to a lobster party." "Soon as i find this lucky piece, i'll join you." "Luke?" "Yeah." "You go over to the astor house and reserve the best table in the place." "Yeah." "And send somebody here with a lantern." "Idiot!" "Imbecile!" "You want to be an actress, eh?" "Well, here is good luck!" "I've had just about enough of this!" "Someone is at the door!" "See who it is!" "Yes?" "Oh, good evening, mademoiselle." "I see my flowers have arrived." "Oh, you are mr." "Fisk." "Yes." "Only such a handsome man could have sent such marvelous flowers." "Thank you, mademoiselle." "L- i wonder if you'd care to join me in a bottle of wine at the astor house?" "Just we two alone?" "Just we two alone." "But we'll have to hurry." "Fleurique is ready." "We go." "Good night, my dear." "Uh, we better go this way." "Come in." "Mademoiselle fleurique in?" "She's gone to the astor house." "Well, already." "Well- with that fool mr." "Fisk, who sent her these." "What does that fool mr." "Fisk look like?" "Tall, dark, kind of handsome." "He's going to have a peck of trouble on his hands tonight." "Everybody that has any truck with her has got trouble." "Look at this room, will you?" "She threw all these things at me." "Peppery, ain't she?" "Oh, she'd throw anything anywhere." "I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't blow up at the astor house." "If she treats you that way, why do you stick?" "It's a long walk back to illinois." "Excuse me, please." "Besides, if you want something real bad, you've got to take some hard knocks to get it." "You've learned a lot for a young lady." "So what are you after?" "Reaching for the moon?" "Nope." "Just one little star." "On a dressing room door." "Want to be a playactress, huh?" "Oh, i am one." "I barnstormed through the midwest for two seasons." "This is the only job i could get in new york." "But i don't care - at least i'm in a theater." "Before i get through, i'm going to be a great actress." "That's the way to say it." "Think big, talk big, and you'll be big." "Say, you're a good looker." "Got the spirit of a thoroughbred." "All you need is a little sprucing up." "Here, get into this." "You and me are going to paint the town." "I've got some acting for you to do, and you'll put that fleurique in the shade." "But these are her clothes." "That's stealing." "Only little people steal." "Big people call it borrowing." "But-but what will mademoiselle say?" "I can't wear her clothes." "You certainly can't wear that hired gal's rig where we're going." "Where are we going?" "To the astor house." "You've got a sight of gall." "And i'm daring you to show some." "She threw things at you, didn't she?" "Listen, when you're scratching for corn and another chicken comes along and shoves you out of the way, get right back into that circle and make the feathers fly." "Get behind that screen and get fixed up." "Come on." "Ha ha." "Good evening!" "How are you?" "Good evening." "Oh, lovely." "Oh... you are looking more beautiful than ever, mademoiselle." "Oh, monsieur." "How many men have told you you were beautiful?" "Oh, many, very many, but i pay no attention to them." "Did one ever tell you you were ugly?" "No." "You're ugly." "What?" "I dealt you a wrong card." "I'm not jim fisk jr." "I'm nick boyd." "I'm his partner." "I think i hate you!" "Mmm." "Have you run down yet?" "Down to the deuce." "Mmm... say, there's some awful pretty gals at your show." "Yes." "I suppose you know them all." "Yes." "I don't know any." "No." "Well..." "it's your throw, nick." "There's jim fisk now." "Where, sir?" "Behind that vision in white." "You ready?" "I'm frightened to death." "You're in the circle now." "You've got the prettiest feathers in the room, now spread them." "Right this way, mr." "Fisk." "Look at our jim fisk." "Oh, that is mr." "Jim fisk, eh?" "There she is." "Where?" "Right over there, behind that railing." "With my maid!" "And my dress!" "Here she comes." "Don't worry, i got ammunition." "You make a fool of fleurique, eh?" "You steal my clothing, eh?" "Here, throw these." "Well, if you don't want to throw them, eat some of them." "They'll cool you off wonderful." "Look at the food mr." "Fisk buy." "Mm-hmm." "I think i'll let her wear the dress for tonight." "That's very considerate of you." "Well, now that we're all friends, let's get together." "They made a mistake about your table, jim." "We waited for you over there." "You want to know how that lucky piece landed?" "Heads or tails, it looks like you won." "It doesn't pay to split partners." "Well, i suppose the drinks are on me." "Come on, my little prune." "No." "Won't you join us?" "I beg your pardon?" "I don't even know you, sir." "That's all right." "None of the others do, either." "I'm treating all new york tonight, just to teach myself a lesson." "Come, dear." "No." "I've learned, miss mansfield, that when a person wants to be a success, he can't dawdle around." "You got to grab at every chance, use everybody you can to help you up that ladder." "And the higher you go, the louder people will cheer for you." "You think only in millions, don't you, mr." "Fisk?" "Yes, sirree." "Millions of everything." "People, dollars, thrills." "Every minute is a thrill for me, and i wouldn't give up one of my minutes for all the gold in the united states mint." "I bet it'll look prettier on you than it did in the jewelry store." "Why, uh, don't you like it?" "Any woman would be crazy who didn't like it." "Mr. Fisk... i expect to be a great actress." "What do you expect me to be?" "Whatever you want to be." "This looks like money to you, doesn't it?" "It don't to me." "You know, there are two sides to every dollar- a lot of fun making them, a lot of fun spending them." "I've got a lot of them." "I've got nobody to spend them on, except you." "Now you won't let me have any fun at all." "Oh, but i'd love to have that necklace." "I've always been hungry for pretty things." "All right." "We'll form a corporation." "Josie mansfield and company." "Still talking big, mr." "Fisk." "Oh, show business ain't any different from any other business- you can't stay in it unless you make money out of it." "I'll build you up like i would a big corporation." "Your assets are looks, talent, and ambition." "You'll be a fine investment." "Even corporations can fail." "Not mine." "Not jim fisk's." "I've got the golden touch." "I got it here." "No." "I think you've got it there." "Oh, jim, may i see you a moment?" "What's on your mind?" "Well, uh... oh, don't mind josie." "She's one of the firm." "There isn't anything you can't say in front of her." "I'm afraid i'll have to see you alone." "Will you excuse me?" "Old man drew's outside, and he's hopping mad." "The madder you get a goose, the easier it is to pull his tailfeathers." "But what good's a handful of tailfeathers if you lose a golden egg?" "Keep him here in our henhouse, i'll be with you in a minute." "You know, josie, i've got a feeling in my bones that you're going to bring us luck." "Whenever you've got anything to sell, whether it's a carriage, a steamboat, or an actress, you've got to spruce it up." "Give it sparkle." "I really believe that this is going to help make our corporation look successful." "I'll wear it." "Wait a minute- gentlemen, please!" "Now, mr." "Fisk is a busy man." "He'll see you when he gets time." "He sees everybody." "Now will you hoot owls sit down and stop hooting?" "A man gets rich, and it spreads like the itch." "Now wait, first- all you inventors, please sit over on that side." "All the inventors." "Sit down, neighbor, please." "Hey, what are you?" "I'm just plain hungry." "Hungry?" "Well, everybody that's hungry, you sit on that side, please." "Sit down." "Wait a minute- are you an inventor or are you hungry?" "Yes." "Listen, you inventors, hungry or not, you got to sit over there in the patent office, that's on that side." "Would you mind sitting down, neighbor, please?" "I trusted mr." "Fisk, and he sat right there and told me an almighty lie." "Oh, now, uncle daniel, do you think jim fisk would lie to you for $500,000?" "Yes, i do." "Yeah, well, so do i." "What have you got, son?" "I've got an invention that will save you the bother of carrying around matches." "It's good for pipes, cigars, almost anything." "And the flame is always lit." "What happens if the flame blows out?" "You just take out a match and light it." "You just take- sit down, son." "Don't get upset." "Well, my good man?" "Good morning." "This is a little invention of mine which i call "always a gentleman."" "Now, you've just been down to the butcher's store, and you're coming back with your arms full of liver and whatnot for the wife." "You meet mrs." "Maclntire or some other lady of your acquaintance." "Now, there's two things you can't do:" "You can't drop your liver, and you can't insult a lady, so you just, uh... and the lady still thinks you're a gentleman." "What does your wife think?" "Oh, she thinks i'm crazy." "I think your wife is right." "Sit down, please." "Well, well, well, uncle daniel." "What have you got to sell now?" "You'll repent on judgment day for taking the bread out of an old man's mouth, tricking me out of my steamboats that way." "And i know who put you up to it, too." "It was that cornele vanderbilt, now wasn't it?" "I don't even know cornelius vanderbilt." "Oh, you can lie faster than a horse can trot!" "What makes you think it's vanderbilt?" "Because me and cornele's been fighting all our lives." "I was driving bessie down wall street this morning when cornele whizzed up with them spanking black mares of his, and hollered right out with everybody listening," ""i hear there's a young fella named fisk that's been teaching you how to suck eggs!"" "It's the first time i've ever been hornswoggled in my whole life!" "And you ain't in cahoots with vanderbilt?" "No, but it's a good idea." "It's a fine idea." "Vanderbilt is after your erie railroad." "You want to sell that?" "It ain't for sale, and you ain't gonna crisscross me out of it!" "No?" "Perhaps we can give the commodore a few ideas." "You're right." "Tell you what- wait a minute, wait!" "You boys are gonna ride in my buggy." "I've been figuring a mighty while how to get even with cornele." "You are coming in with me on erie." "Uncle daniel, we'll be in your office in the morning." "Our office." "Oh, uh, nick- will you go in and talk to josie?" "Keep her company." "Lot of people in here i got to see." "What's the matter?" "It's jammed." "That's my patented burglar alarm." "I wanted to be sure i'd catch you when you came out." "You go over and sit down, and take it easy, old friend." "Well, what's on the docket for today?" "Here's the usual hungry ones." "Take care of them." "So... so you're the new member of our firm, huh?" "Do you approve?" "Well, i'll say this for jimmy- he certainly has an eye for beauty." "But i don't think that women and business mix any more than oil and water." "We poor, helpless women certainly have to fight for our place in your man's world, don't we?" "Ambitious?" "Very." "Do you think that necklace is going to make you a better actress?" "No, not a bit." "But i like wearing it and i'm tired of working in a dressing room." "Well, jim knows a lot more about business than i do." "But you'll pardon me for saying it, but... i know more about women, and, uh- and you think he's made a bad investment." "His luck." "I'll take stocks and bonds." "Hey, daniel!" "Whoa, baby!" "Whoa." "I might have known it was you, cornele vanderbilt." "A- whoopin' and a- rushing' around like a fiend in a fiery chariot." "You done near scraped the paint off my buggy." "I'm sorry, daniel, but i wanted to make you an offer." "I thought maybe you might like to swap old bessie there for my team of thoroughbreds." "You want to swap that team for my bessie?" "Yes, daniel." "I'll swap you even- if you throw in the erie railroad." "It ain't no secret i'm gonna get control of erie." "I'm doing it because someone's got to protect the public from weasels like you." "Ya!" "Now you boys listen to me." "That erie of mine is the best-paying railroad in america." "For you, uncle daniel, or the stockholders?" "For him, that's why he owns it." "Yes." "When i get a good thing, vanderbilt don't sleep easy unless he gets some of the gravy." "Neither do we." "Who is he?" "Do we have to put up with him?" "He's the brains of our organization." "He don't look very bright to me." "What were you saying about the erie?" "When i say up, erie goes up." "When i say down, erie goes down." "When i say up and down, erie goes wiggle-waggle." "Fisk and boyd are definitely interested in that wiggle-waggle." "We been in that wiggle-waggle business for years." "You want vanderbilt to believe that he's buying control of your railroad." "But he really ain't." "Exactly." "First we'll declare a dividend, the biggest ever declared by any railroad." "Let's say, uh, 50%." "50%?" "I ain't got no money in the treasury for that." "Now wait a minute, uncle daniel." "You'll have an awful battle on your hands if you tangle with vanderbilt." "He's got the key to wall street in his pocket." "He told you this morning he was after your scalp, and you haven't got a chinaman's chance unless you can outmaneuver him." "And my plan might do the trick." "With your stock paying such a big, fat dividend the public will break their necks trying to buy, and the price will shoot up." "So if vanderbilt wants the stock bad enough, he'll have to stick his nose in the trap to get it." "Even i can see that." "Well, who said i couldn't see it, too?" "You know, i object to giving uncle whiskers all our good ideas." "Who said they was good ideas?" "Who said anything about giving?" "We get 50% of the profits." "Oh, no, no, i didn't promise you nothing like that." "We'll trust you, uncle daniel." "'Cause if you start operating this way without us, oh, we'll put a bug in vanderbilt's ear." "No, boys, no." "It's agreed, then?" "50%?" "Well, i always say, him that gives gets." "But you're teaching an old dog new tricks, jimmy." "Uncle daniel, you got time to give me a shine?" "Yes." "Oooh!" "Erie!" "Any part of 1,000 at 72?" "You want me to start buying?" "At 72?" "I should say not." "I've passed the word that i'm not gonna buy until the price goes down." "In a few days it'll be a flat as a flounder." "The board of directors of the erie railroad wish to announce that they have declared a dividend on all outstanding stock of 50%." "Whoever heard of a 50% dividend?" "Nobody, but it makes erie the best buy on the market." "Any part of 1,000 at 72?" "50%!" "I smell a rat." "A little bald-headed one with chin whiskers." "73!" "73!" "You don't know how lucky you are." "His brains is gonna pull you through." "I didn't think drew was smart enough to find a new way to start a bull rush." "But i'm gonna fight him." "Go ahead and buy." "But it's a false price!" "False as wooden teeth, but the suckers are falling for it, and the only way to beat drew is to get control." "No matter what it costs, i can make the railroad worth it when i'm boss." "But commodore, i don't think- go ahead, buy." "While we've been gabbing here, it's gone up 3 points." "Vanderbilt's buying." "Vanderbilt's buying." "Erie's up to 83!" "83!" "Good day, cornele." "Nice day for erie." "Look here, drew, who's that new broker you got?" "What?" "You don't know who that is?" "That's jim fisk." "Fisk?" "Oh, the fella that taught you to suck eggs, drew." "So you've taken him into camp." "As soon as you get these recorded, come over to the office." "Have you got a big pocket?" "I want to put new york in it." "Oh, hello, commodore." "Too late to buy erie today." "You better come back tomorrow." "How much you got to sell, fisk?" "All you want." "We aim to please." "Nothing stingy about the erie." "How much?" "1 million, 2 million, 3 million." "As far as you want to go." "That's all i want to know." "Good evening, hannah." "Good evening." "Was there a printer here with a big poster?" "No, sir, mr." "Fisk." "Well, i told him to send a sample copy of the show bill here as soon as it came off the press." "It's got a picture of you on it, big as life and twice as natural." "And it won't be a week before everybody in new york will know who you are." "I'm going to hang those posters all the way from the battery up to the end of new york, clean up to 34th street." "Do i get flowers even after a rehearsal?" "Well, i've got to send them here until i'm able to hand them to you over the footlights." "Well, you've always got some excuse." "Oh, jim, really, you're spoiling me with presents." "Every day it's something new." "No wonder mr." "Boyd criticizes me." "Oh, now, he doesn't." "Oh, yes, he does." "No, he criticizes me because he thinks i don't know anything about women." "Do you, jim?" "I know all i want to know about one." "But why does he avoid me?" "If i bring him here, will you be nice to him, josie, for my sake?" "You know, it kind of worries me, the way you two have always got your claws out." "No, i don't think you'd better... let's forget about mr." "Boyd." "Here he is!" "We looked for you at the theater and the rehearsal was over- we knew sooner or later we'd find you here." "Well, stop moaning and tell me what's up." "Vanderbilt's got the law on us." "What?" "He got an injunction so we can't print any more stock." "An injunction?" "It's worse than that." "We've sold more stock than we can deliver." "We're cornered." "I told you to watch out for that." "He that sells what isn't his'n must pay it back or go to prison." "Oh... don't worry, everything is fine, josie." "Certainly- we're in a fine fix." "And this is a fine place to do business." "Come on, let's get down to the office." "Hold your horses, i'm waiting here for a printer." "What printer?" "A printer with a show bill of josie." "Now look here, jim, you know more about injunctions than i do." "Go on down to the office, i'll wait here for your show bill, if it's so important." "Will you?" "It's not a bad idea." "And don't be afraid of him." "His bark is worse than his bite." "Come on, luke." "Come on, uncle daniel." "Ohh... oh, stop moaning, will you?" "Look here - if you don't smile, i won't go with you." "Come on." "Won't you sit down, mr." "Boyd?" "We'll not bother with formalities." "I had a reason for wanting to stay here." "Yes?" "You know jim is spending more time on you than he does on business." "Well, i'm sorry, but i've tried- look here, miss mansfield, there's only one thing in the world that's stopping jim fisk from being the richest man in this town." "That's you." "He's in a tight spot, and if you're as smart as i think you are, you'll let him alone." "Even the right horse can't win if he's carrying too heavy a load." "Excuse me, ma'am, the printer just brought this." "Thank you." "The 12 temptations." "And every one of them called josie mansfield." "All i can find in this erie charter is 40 different ways to issue stock." "And every one of them's padlocked by that pesky injunction." "In 24 hours cornele will be sitting in that chair, cracking his bullwhip at me." "Ohh... say, that's my supper you're eating!" "Shh." "I'm thinking." "The show bill!" "You've got it!" "Josie." "Uncle daniel, come here." "Have you figured out yet how we're going to beat that injunction?" "No, he ain't!" "Just when we need all the powers of glory pulling for us, his mind wanders to frivols and follies." "Pleasure is the spice of business, uncle daniel." "It's as good as any picture could make of her." "Still, it doesn't do her justice as a star temptation." "You're dwelling in the fleshpots of egypt tonight, jimmy." "But unless you find some way to get more stock, tomorrow we'll all be cast into a fiery furnace." "Hey, boss-what about them bonds?" "What bonds?" "Them confederate bonds." "They worked all right for us before." "Ohh, get that ninny out of here!" "Wait." "Confederate bonds... confederate, convertible!" "I told you luke's the brains of this organization." "Jimmy, you got an idea!" "I see it!" "You got an idea!" "You bet i have." "There's nothing in the injunction that says that we can't print bonds." "What kind of bonds?" "Convertible bonds." "Well, what is a convertible bond, boss?" "A bond that you can convert into stock." "Say, you're right!" "Round up the board of directors, we got to have a meeting." "Jimmy, my boy!" "Josie." "I knew she'd bring us luck." "All i could find, boss, was the night shift directors." "Send them in." "Come in, folks." "You can leave the pail outside, mrs." "Callahan." "Sam, will you sit there?" "Arthur, you sit at the head of the table." "Mrs. Callahan, would you mind taking that seat?" "All right, we have a quorum." "We'll dispense with the reading of the minutes and the roll call, and hear the treasurer's report." "I ain't got no report to make." "But i move that the board of directors authorize this company to issue" "$10 million worth of convertible bonds." "I second the motion." "I third it." "All those in favor will signify by saying "aye."" "Aye." "Aye." "Aye." "Contrary-minded?" "Nay." "Motion is carried." "Look at this mop." "It's the only one i've got." "I don't think i ought to vote for that 10 million till i get a new one." "Chairman, i move that we convert these bonds into common stock for public sale." "I second the motion." "I third it." "All those in favor will please say "aye."" "Aye." "Aye." "Aye." "Contrary-minded?" "Nay." "You'll get your mop." "Aye." "That makes it unanimous." "Any further business?" "Do i hear a motion to adjourn?" "Let me do it." "I move we adjourn." "I second the motion." "I third it." "Meeting's adjourned." "Good night, mr." "Fisk." "Good night, mrs." "Callahan." "Good night, arthur." "Good night, sam." "We only needed a $1 million issue to cover our stock shortage." "What do you think you're gonna do with the other 9 million?" "If we can get cornele to buy it, we'll give him the licking' of his life." "It'll take more money than you ever thought of, commodore, to stop that erie flood." "You bought over $9 million worth of the stuff now, and they still got lots to sell." "Cornelius, why don't you stop buying and start selling?" "I don't need any suggestions from you to make me a bigger fool than i am." "If i sell now, the price will drop like a punctured balloon." "I won't have any money, any stock, or any control." "I found the joker, commodore, i found it!" "What is it?" "This injunction prevents his issuing stock, but he's issuing convertible bonds and turning them into stock." "And that's what you're buying." "What?" "Give me my hat!" "I'm going to put the supreme court to work." "Here's another $1 million worth of stock." "Luke, take these over to vanderbilt's brokers." "They'll give you a bank order for them, and bring back the cash." "I don't like this job." "First man i ever seen that's afraid of carrying money." "Whoever heard of a walking bank?" "I should be surrounded by steel bars and a cannon." "Well, they might jack you for a little money, but no crook in the world has nerve enough to tackle you for a million." "There's 3 of them right in this room." "Here comes another load of it." "Let me see that!" "Get back!" "Get on back here!" "Get back!" "Another day, another $1 million." "All the drawers are full of the stuff now- what are you going to do with that batch?" "Put it in the pickle case." "Oh-so you don't trust me, huh?" "Oh, i trust your honesty, but not your memory." "Excuse me, uncle daniel." "Listen, boss, the people know that i ain't carrying eggs in that satchel." "Take a look at this." "We're going to surround our money with an army." "Says here you're a colonel in the militia." "That's right." "You are now looking at the new colonel of the ninth regiment." "And this time, the uniform is going to be the genuine article." "Where'd you get it, jim?" "Are they selling commissions now?" "No, of course not." "I just paid the regiment's deficit and told the militia boys i'd get them a job on the railroad." "Work is the crying need of today, luke." "And besides, they're a nice, tough bunch of boys to have around in case of trouble." "Now you go out and get them a job on the erie." "The whole regiment?" "Yeah." "Go ahead, go ahead." "You know, i feel just like an actor having my uniform made in theater." "What's the matter with this waistline?" "It sticks out a bit, don't it?" "Only sticks out where you stick out, boss." "Say, what goes with these suits?" "A bass drum or a bugle?" "Say, i want a shiny sword, too." "But you only carry a sword while on parade, mr." "Fisk." "It doesn't make any difference." "Even if it don't cut cheese, i'm not gonna fight with it, anyway." "One shiny sword." " Yes, sir." "And put a big hunk of gold on the handle." "Yes, sir." "You know, i always did like a uniform." "Me, too." "You could make me a dozen uniforms like this." "Here's josephine, napoleon." "Well, do i pass inspection?" "What are your orders, colonel?" "Well, my orders are that corporal mansfield stops rehearsal to take a drive in the park with colonel fisk." "You know, you're losing some of the color out of those cheeks of yours." "Jim!" "Yeah?" "Jim!" "Listen-vanderbilt's got the supreme court to declare our erie deal a fraud!" "He's got warrants out for the arrest of you and dan drew!" "What's the matter with our lawyers?" "Have they turned on us?" "We had our whole firm there, mr." "Fisk, but we were overruled." "The only time you're overruled is when you're outsmarted!" "Well, if vanderbilt's gonna raid the office with a bunch of deputy sheriffs, he'll get that $10 million and the erie books!" "You get back to that courthouse as quick as you can!" "Nick, you come along with me." "Luke, round up all our soldier boys and march them double-quick time down to the chambers street ferry." "Tell them not to shoot until they see the red in vanderbilt's eyes." "What are you gonna do, jim?" "Washington crossed the delaware, we're going to cross the hudson." "Once we get over to jersey city, we're in another state, and we can laugh at the new york courts." "Uncle daniel- open up the pantry right away." "Vanderbilt's got a warrant out for both of us." "We've got to hustle this money out of here." "I'll get a wagon you can hide the money in." "I'll have it waiting in the alley." "Fine." "Arthur, go down to the cellar, get some gunnysacks." "Listen, son, keep a sharp lookout for the enemy." "Let me know as soon as they start to charge." "Yes, sir." "Please, mister, what are you going to do with my wagon?" "Don't worry." "I'll buy you two new ones." "Jim!" "Wait a minute." "Warrant or no warrant, i'm going with you." "You stay here and keep me posted as to what's going on." "Besides, somebody's got to look after josie." "I'd rather not, jim." "Do it for me, will you, nick?" "A lot of bad losers got hurt in this deal." "There's no telling what they're liable to do." "Tell josie everything will be all right." "You'll hear from me tomorrow." "Don't forget your books." "Uncle daniel." "There's jail for you on every page." "Ohh!" "Good luck, jim." "Where's fisk and drew?" "They were expecting you, so they're not here." "All right!" "Who is this fellow?" "What's your name?" "Boyd." "Have you got a warrant for him?" "No, sir." "You ought to have a warrant for everybody that ever worked for drew." "Sorry i can't oblige you, commodore." "They slipped out through the alley." "Seal that vault." "Yes, sir." "You're only sealing a memory, commodore." "Come on." "We got to catch those three." "They might make trouble." "You're not going, commodore." "For $10 million?" "Don't be a jackass." "Headed toward the ferry." "Boys, you grab a horsecar, cab, anything." "Get over to the ferry!" "I'll take bessie." "Giddap!" "Heaven preserve us!" "There you are." "Stay there, now." "Yah!" "Hey, move!" "Clear the road!" "The colonel's in there!" "Come on, boys!" "Take it away!" "You scoundrels!" "I'll run you down if i have to crawl in every rat hole in jersey!" "Good-bye, commodore!" "The colonel is sorry he couldn't wait to receive you." "And you take good care of bessie, cornele." "I'll pay you for the oats when i get back." "I thought you were going to jersey city with jim." "So did i." "Is he all right?" "I hope so." "Would you think me rude if i wondered why you've come here?" "Jim got a fool idea somebody was going to try to annoy you- look at you sideways or something." "So you've got a bodyguard." "But it can't be you." "Yes, it's me." "That seems funny, doesn't it... you and the 12 temptations?" "Sure." "I laughed my head off." "Well, here i am." "Well, now, that's just fine." "Let me see." "You can... you can go to the photograph gallery with me." "What?" "I have an appointment there at 4:00." "That... that's-that's- that's-just a minute." "One second." "Just a little more light." "Ah, that's fine." "Oh, the hands... just put the hands out over on that." "Just relax a little bit." "Give me a little smile." "That's right." "Hold it just like that, and i'll take one more look." "Oh... i've got it." "Oh, that is beautiful!" "Oh, that's so exquisite!" "Ain't you think she looks just like a..." "like a... ain't you think so?" "Maybe you can see something through that thing that i can't see." "Well, go ahead." "Look, look!" "Oh, so soft... hey, you can't take this." "It's upside down." "Oh, no." "That's the lens, you see." "That's an optical illusion." "She stands rightside down on the lens- i mean, she stands upside right- the lens is downside up- who sent for you?" "I just thought she was standing on her head, that's all." "Will you do me a favor?" "Go over there and sit down." "Please?" "And just mind your business." "Thank you." "Wait just a second." "Now-that's right." "Put the hand back." "All right." "Now hold it." "Now-now smile." "Wait... here it comes." "One... two... 3... 4... fmmph... what's that "fmmph" thing you've got in there?" "Fmmph." "That comes between 4 and 6." "Fmmph is... 8... 5... now he picks out a time to ask me what is a fmmph!" "Fmmph!" "You-you spoiled the whole thing!" "Now i got to do it all over again." "Now, right here... you hold the bird, will you?" "That's right." "Here, now comes it." "Here it comes." "The first time i saw you i knew at a glance i was meant to be yours yours alone as i stood before you my heart seemed to dance and i felt like a queen on a throne" "i could see in your eyes love as bright as the skies and i prayed you would call me your own the first time i saw you i knew at a glance i was meant to be yours yours alone" "were you singing that song to me?" "You flatter yourself, don't you?" "And if i were?" "What did you say?" "I said i don't like you." "Hmm." "That makes me feel very badly." "I don't like you, either!" "Are you quite sure of that?" "I wish i were just as sure that jim was safe over in jersey with all that cash." "Always leaning on jim." "What do you mean, always leaning on jim?" "Well, aren't you?" "What would you do without his brains, his generosity, his shrewdness?" "You'd be lost." "Without his friendship, i'd be lost." "Excuse me, miss mansfield, there are two reporters from the paper to see you." "Send them in." "Oh, hello, mr." "Boyd." "We thought you were over in jersey with the erie gang- i mean, fisk and drew." "Good evening, miss mansfield." "Good evening." "What do you want, boys?" "Anything jim fisk does tonight is news." "We're running down a story." "What kind of story?" "You won't get mad if i say it, will you?" "What is it?" "They're saying in wall street that the only person smart enough to get the best of jim fisk is-excuse me- is miss mansfield, that vanderbilt's 10 millions will slip through fisk's hands into hers." "Wait a minute, mr." "Boyd." "We were sent up here to ask you." "That's our job." "Exactly." "All right, then i'll tell you." "Mr. Fisk is backing a show." "Miss mansfield is an actress." "That's all there is to it." "I've known miss mansfield as long as he has, and i've never known a finer woman." "No, malicious gossip isn't news." "I don't think your papers want to print it, boys." "Thanks, mr." "Boyd." "That's good enough for us." "Yeah." "Thanks." "No offense." "Good night, miss mansfield." "Good night." "Thank you, nick." "That's all right, josie." "What else could i do?" "Did you really mean what you told them about me?" "No." "I was thinking of jim." "Ever since i've known you, nick, you've been fighting me because of jim." "You knew how he felt, and you didn't want to hurt him... so you tried to hurt me." "And you succeeded for a while... till i discovered the reason." "What is the reason?" "You're in love with me." "I'm in love with you?" "Why... what do your guests think about all this, mr." "Taylor?" "I haven't got any guests except mr." "Drew and colonel fisk and his soldiers." "I don't care what they call the place." "They're paying plenty for it." "Company... attention!" "Nick!" "What are you doing over here?" "Why aren't you with josie?" "She got as sick of me as i got of the job." "She's all right." "Right wheel!" "March!" "There's plenty happening over there." "Well, let's go in and tell uncle daniel about it." "He's awful homesick for news." "He's gonna get some." "Captain, you take over the company." "I ain't up on that army lingo, boss." "That's all right." "They'll do anything you say." "Right wheel!" "March!" "See?" "Fours right in front!" "March!" "Fours wrong in back!" "March!" "Uncle daniel... you'll be interested in knowing that some wall street fellas have posted a $50,000 reward for your capture and delivery to new york." "Oh... and beef dooley is out to get the reward." "Beef dooley?" "Yes." "He's organizing a gang around cherry hill to come over here and get you." "Salvation, salvation!" "Cornele's back of this." "Give the devil his due." "Vanderbilt is a sporting gentleman." "I'll bet right now he'd be willing to settle for half of those millions of his you got tucked away in that safe." "That's a righteous thought!" "I ain't greedy." "I'm willing to go over to new york and bargain with cornele if you'll give me a guard." "I'll give you a guard to keep you here." "Huh!" "If you and vanderbilt ever set down to those millions, there'll be mighty slim pickin's for nick and me." "Front wheel!" "Back wheel!" "1486" "Right dress!" "Uh, undress!" "No, no!" "Dress!" "Left by right!" "Right by left!" "Fix bayonets!" "Charge!" "Army... help!" "I got 'em stopped, colonel, but they just don't look quite right." "Well, just tell 'em to fall out." "They'll know what to do." "Fall out." "Fall down!" "What good is $10 million if i can't see josie's show open next week?" "Oh, josie will be all right." "Besides, a trip to europe wouldn't do us any harm." "There'd be plenty of girls over there glad to see us." "Yeah." "And there'll be plenty of fellas in new york glad to see josie." "And i'm not turning my preferred stock over to anybody-you know that." "Yes, of course." "You know, it's funny what a difference the flip of a coin will make." "If you hadn't lost that silver dollar that night, i would've had fleurique, and you would've had josie." "Oh, sergeant!" "Yes, sir." "That cherry hill gang are coming over here looking for a scrap." "Cherry hill?" "Yeah." "My bowery boys will be glad to hear that." "Ahem!" "Sorry, sir." "There must be some way we can give these bullies a party without getting our uniforms all torn up." "Anyway, place a sentry around the ferry dock." "Have them give us a signal." "Yes, sir." "Here they come, colonel." "Keep that music going." "You all know what do do." "And remember... no knives or guns." "Only clubs and iron bars for cherry hill, sir." "Come on, uncle daniel, up you get." "Come on." "Up you go." "Come on." "Turn her on!" "You want mr." "Daniel drew?" "Yeah!" "Come up and get him!" "Cease firing!" "Hooray!" "That'll get 'em, huh?" "Mr. Drew's escaped!" "What?" "!" "Mr. Drew's escaped!" "We left him in the room, come out and see the fun, and when we went back, he was gone!" "Why, you..." "let's get him!" "No, wait!" "We'll get him when he gets his fingers in the flypaper." "Cornele, i told you, i've fallen among thieves!" "I ain't been righteous to you on account of jim fisk." "He led me astray, and that's given me a misery in my conscience." "I want to get him out before he gets me out." "Ahh... now we've got at the bottom of this." "Cornele... of course, i don't like to do business on a sunday... but it looks like me and you is gonna swap horses." "What about fisk?" "Has he got anything to say?" "I put him in." "I can put him out." "Uncle daniel in the lion's den!" "Say, what is this?" "I'm sorry, commodore." "Your butler told us that nobody was allowed through the front door, so we came- when a final settlement is made, boys, you'll be in." "You bet your giblets, we'll be in." "What's the deal, commodore?" "I get 5 million for half of my stock." "Drew says he'll take it out of the erie treasury." "Why, uncle daniel, don't you know that my army is defending all that money?" "That money's mine, too!" "I'm treasurer of erie." "You were the treasurer." "We'll settle this right now, commodore." "Our stock plus yours controls the voting power." "We'll give you your money on one condition:" "That daniel drew is voted out of the erie railroad!" "I won't stand that!" "You can't do that to me!" "We've got to have order here!" "If we're going to come to an agreement, we've got to conduct this meeting in parliamentary fashion." "Now, all in favor of the basis of settlement as stated by the general- er, colonel-er, well, fisk here-say aye." "Aye!" "Aye!" "All opposed, no." "No, cornele, no!" "The ayes have it." "Drew, you're a dead goose." "You're out!" "You" "jim!" "What?" "Say, you're just in time." "Take a look at this rehearsal." "It'll cheer you up." "Take a look at this." "It'll cheer you up." "What, the stockholders on the warpath?" "What do you expect me to do?" "Put on sackcloth and ashes?" "Now, see here, jim, what's got into you?" "We're in for trouble because these fellas mean business." "They're trying to have you indicted for buying this opera house with erie funds." "Aw, cool off and take a look at the birdies." "Now, wait a minute, jim." "You can't joke about this." "It's all right to fight drew and vanderbilt, but you can't fight the public!" "They say you're swindling erie and everything else you can lay your hands on so you can get more money to squander on josie mansfield!" "Keep josie out of this." "These fellas won't keep her out of it." "Why don't you wake up, jim?" "Josie mansfield's making a fool out of you!" "Hold your horses!" "I didn't think there was anything i couldn't take from you, but there is." "Now, don't say it again!" "I wouldn't be your friend if i didn't." "Don't say it!" "You can't get mad at me." "We've been through too much together." "You don't know anything about her, so shut up!" "I'll shut up!" "But you got to tell me what you're gonna do about josie mansfield!" "I'll tell you what i'm going to do!" "I'm going to marry her..." "if she'll have me." "You don't like her." "That's all right." "But don't mention her name again." "You think she's in love with you?" "I never figured i was much of a ladies' man." "You've said that to me many times, nick." "But when a man feels about a woman like i do about josie... he begins to believe in miracles." "You really feel that way about her, eh, jim?" "That ain't half what i feel about her." "I wish i could lay my hands on all the gold in the world just for the fun of making her happy." "Maybe she don't love me yet, she likes me." "That's something, ain't it?" "Sure." "That's a lot." "I sort of flew off the handle when you said what you did." "I'm sorry." "I don't blame you." "Nick." "Jim's going to ask me to marry him tonight." "What can i say to him?" "You know what to say." "Well, i can't marry him." "L- i don't love him." "You know that." "I can't help you, josie." "You've known this was coming for a long time." "You've taken everything he's offered you." "Now you've got to pay for it." "But not with love." "Jim loves you, josie... and i don't." "If you don't go through with it, everything i ever said about you is true." "You know, i never asked you... if you'd let me give you a ring for that finger." "Will you put it on?" "Nick." "I had to see you, josie." "Josie, you did the right thing tonight." "I've been walking the streets for hours telling myself that." "And i want you to know i lied to you." "About you and me?" "I knew it." "Once, i thought that a star on a dressing room door would be worth any sacrifice." "But the one sacrifice i never figured on... i'm going to make that, nick." "I'm glad you feel that way about it, josie." "She is so beautiful so lovely all is vanity and vanity will make you blind" "do you hear that?" "That's dividends for the josie mansfield corporation." "If i had a thousand lives to live in revelry i'd live them" "aah!" "Once there was a man taught me how to love" "parted" "that's jim fisk, everybody!" "He's the biggest thief in new york!" "He robbed the erie to put on this show!" "He built this place with our money!" "You bought this opera house with our money, fisk!" "We'll show you up!" "You return that money!" "Who pays for josie mansfield's diamonds?" "The stockholders!" "How did you get the money for this show, jim fisk?" "Jim's just a thief!" "You robbed the stockholders!" "Whenever you get your head above the clouds, somebody's jealous, somebody wants to throw stones." "Laugh at 'em like i do." "The trouble is we're not holding our heads high enough." "They can still reach us." "Do you suppose they would have dared make fun of old vanderbilt like they did you and me?" "Not by a jugful!" "We're going to climb higher- all of us!" "We're going to climb so high that they'll have to break their necks looking at us!" "There's only one way to do it-money." "I'm going to build a throne of gold and put you on it." "Jim, what are you talking about?" "Gold!" "I wear a couple of tinhorn sports chasing paper money." "Greenbacks are nothing but notes that uncle sam writes on to tell us he's got the gold." "I want what they stand for-all of it!" "Wait a minute." "Nobody can do that." "Nobody's ever had my idea." "How much gold do you think is in actual circulation in this country?" "Only 20 millions." "What would happen if we buy and buy and buy till we cornered it?" "We could raise the price of gold 3 times what it is now- pay for what we bought out of the profits and come out holding more gold than anybody ever had in their hands since the days of king midas." "But you can't corner gold, jim." "The government would stop you." "How?" "They'd release gold from washington." "They'd swamp you." "I'll take care of washington." "Now, look, jim, put a bridle on that wild imagination." "You try to put a false price on gold, and you'll pull down the financial structure of this whole country!" "There'll be a panic you can't stop, nor anybody else!" "Where's your nerve?" "!" "Jim, i won't let you do it." "Nobody is going to say things to you, josie, like they did tonight." "Nick don't feel about you the way i do or he wouldn't be talking like he is, trying to throw cold water over the greatest idea i ever had!" "The most dangerous idea." "Don't you worry about me." "I never failed yet at anything." "I'm not going to fail now." "I told you a long time ago i had the golden touch." "Now i'm going to prove it!" "Well, if you try, jim, i can't go with you." "For the first time in my life, i can't go with you." "You mean you'd split partners?" "I'd have to." "Aren't you getting kind of moral all of a sudden?" "No." "No, i guess it's just time for me to get out." "Nick." "Jim, don't let him go!" "If you're doing this for me, it's wrong!" "Don't worry." "He'll be back tomorrow." "Just come from the gold exchange, boss." "It's buzzing over there like a hornet's nest." "You know, i'm going to put a scare into washington till they padlock that treasury." "There she goes, up again." "You know, gold's jumped 4 points since you started buying it." "Jim." "Oh, josie!" "You're just in time to see the fireworks start." "Jim, where's nick?" "In his office, i guess." "Haven't you seen him yet?" "I've been waiting all day for him to come through that door." "It's not so far to come." "But it's not so far to go, either." "I'm sorry, josie, i can't do it." "Please, boss." "Jim, you've got to do it." "Do it for my sake." "Hello, nick." "Hello, jim." "Gold's just hit 125." "It's not too late if you still want to come in." "It's not too late for you to get out." "Stop fooling with gunpowder, jim." "I won't stop until it hits 200." "I'll bet you $50,000 i can put it up to 200." "I'll take you... because if you do that, money won't mean anything." "There won't be any wall street." "You've lost your reason, jim." "You're getting drunk- drunk with power." "10,000 at 140." "I'll take it." "25,000 at 140." "I'll take that." "I'm taking all the gold that's being offered." "Now, name your price." "50,000 at 140." "I'll take it." "100,000 at 140." "I'll buy it!" "A million at 140." "And i'll buy that!" "The trading is closed for the day, gentlemen." "I've found him, josie." "Well, josie, here i am." "What do you want?" "Nick, is it true- what jim told me?" "That i'm fighting him?" "Yes." "Look, josie, do you think i'd have walked out on him if i didn't have to?" "I'm trying to save him from himself." "He can't win." "He'll not only be hated, he'll be ruined." "And you'll make millions." "Yes... and it'll all be his if he wants it." "Josie, we've both got to help him because he's after something that no human being can have." "Are you sure?" "Isn't he the kind of man that can get everything he wants?" "Not everything, josie." "You can't have everything you want." "Life doesn't work out that way." "You and i know that." "There are some things you want... more than anything else in the world... that you know you can't have." "Company, halt!" "Pull it in there." "Left face!" "Order!" "Arms!" "Hello, luke." "The boys are here, colonel." "What do you got your uniform on for?" "If that wall street crowd want a battle, i'm gonna give 'em a gulletful." "I'm going down to the gold exchange and finish my killing." "Did you read the morning papers?" "Sure." "They got my name plastered all over the place, just like a circus show bill." "This is the greatest day of my life." "Yeah." "They was throwing rocks at you yesterday." "They're blaming everything on you, jim, and they say that if gold keeps going up that every brokerage firm on the street is going right to the wall." "That's why they called it "wall street."" "Get out of my way!" "You can't go in there!" "Good morning, commodore." "Fisk, you're either the smartest man that ever came down the pike or the greatest fool." "I didn't think a cheap jack like you could start a panic." "Now, i've just telegraphed washington that if they don't open up the treasury and put more gold into circulation today, it'll be the blackest friday in the history of this country." "That's very friendly of you, commodore, but i think you're too late." "You can fight me, fisk, but you can't fight 40 million people." "When the exchange opens, i'll be down there buying, buying, buying!" "All right." "I warned you." "Thank you, commodore." "Ha ha!" "Luke, get my carriage." "It's time for me to charge the enemy." "No." "I'm not gonna let you budge from this office, jim." "It's worth your life." "You think i'm going to back down now because of those hot-air threats?" "You think i'm scared?" "You could fight just as hard back of that ticker as you can down in the gold room." "That's a great idea." "I'll stay here behind the barricades." "Before the exchange opens, you go down there and tell my brokers to keep on buying." "When gold reaches 200, i'll march down there in glory." "After this is all over, you can do all the parading you want to, but you don't have to go down there today!" "Oh, yes, i do." "When gold reaches 200, i got to be there to collect a bet." "Are you going for me now, or must i spoil a good idea by going myself?" "I'm going, boss." "Buy and keep on buying." "Buy!" "Buy, she is." "You boys watch that door and don't let nobody get in there, you hear me?" "I want to see jim fisk!" "Aah!" "I'll bid 25,000!" "I'll buy it." "Any more bids?" "Who's got gold?" "I'll bid 25,000 at 145!" "Sold!" "500,000!" "Brady and morrison are unable to meet their obligations." "Nathan, harken, and brown have failed!" "Martin and blake have failed!" "Greenfield company- failed!" "Tennyson and ames- failed!" "There's still no word from washington, gentlemen." "There hasn't been a share of stock sold on the exchange this morning." "Everyone's afraid to buy because they don't know what money's worth." "I've announced 78 failures with more to follow." "I hate to go back to my chair." "They've lost all sense of reason in the gold room- hundreds of madmen screaming at each other." "Wall street will be closed tomorrow because i don't see how we can stop fisk now." "Josie!" "Josie, look." "Gold is going up and up and up!" "In a few hours, i'll be as rich as a king!" "We're not going to have a wedding, we're going to have a coronation!" "Jim, will you let me talk to you?" "What's the matter?" "Is anything wrong?" "Everything's wrong, jim." "Everything." "Well, what is it?" "Tell me." "Well, I- i've never tried to talk to you before about business, but- that's because you're nervous about me, like luke is." "It's not that, jim." "It's what you're doing." "It isn't right." "You're only thinking of yourself." "I'm only thinking of you, josie." "What about nick?" "He's disloyal!" "He goes down with the rest!" "Must everyone go down except you, jim?" "You don't realize what you're doing." "People are losing everything." "They're suffering." "They're being ruined." "They're killing themselves." "You're hated, jim." "But only by the little people, josie." "Are we any different than little people, jim?" "I was one when i met you." "You made me big with your courage and your ideas and your money." "But if this is what it means, i don't want it, jim." "It comes too high." "What do we care what the world is saying?" "Tomorrow, i'll buy it and give it to you!" "I don't want it!" "Right now, there are only two people in this world that count-you and me!" "I'm just beginning to feel the power that's in me." "I know now that nothing can stop me." "Whatever stands in my way must go down!" "Jim, i don't know you." "I'm almost afraid of you." "No, you're not afraid of me." "You're afraid of life, josie." "But i'm going to make you love it as much as i do as much as i love you." "What's happened to you, jim?" "You used to be kind and generous." "You were the kindest man i ever knew." "But now you've grown selfish and unkind." "What's happened to your heart, jim?" "It belongs to you, josie, just like you're going to belong to me." "Stop being afraid." "We've climbed above right and wrong." "They're trying to pull us down, but they can't." "We're going higher and higher and higher!" "Offering 150 for any part of 2 million!" "500,000 at 150!" "I'll take it." "Any more bids?" "If it breaks 160, it'll hit 200!" "We're not gonna let it break 160!" "Jim!" "She's just broke 150." "150?" "157!" "Why aren't you in the gold room?" "Oh, i'm getting jumpy, boss." "I tell you, wall street's gone plumb crazy." "This thing's out of control!" "Because i got 'em cornered!" "I got all the gold there is outside the treasury." "But i'm still buying, luke." "We can't hold anymore!" "We're done for!" "Let's get out of here while we're still alive!" "I can't stay with you!" "It's going to hit 200!" "Stick with me!" "You can't lose!" "1621/2!" "Josie!" "Jim!" "Look, josie." "1621/2. i got 'em cornered." "I got all the gold there is!" "They've got to buy from me now, at any price i name." "Here it is." "Gentlemen!" "President grant is releasing unlimited gold from the united states treasury!" "The gold corner is broken!" "Jim fisk!" "Let's get jim fisk!" "Luke!" "Line up the soldier boys." "We're marching on wall street to show 'em who's king!" "Jim, come here!" "Jim, look!" "There's something wrong!" "Jim, what's happened?" "I... just lost a bet, josie." "We're not gonna march today, luke." "We're never gonna march again." "I'm broke, josie." "Jim fisk is busted." "I'm right back where i started." "Jim... don't worry about me, josie." "I'm all right." "I was just laughing to think that for the first time in his life, nick was smarter than i was." "And i thought i was bigger than anybody else." "Don't you worry, josie." "You've got yours." "See how smart i was to make you take all those things i gave you?" "You've got your million." "No, jim, i haven't." "Oh, of course you have." "What do you mean?" "I gave it all to nick." "I had to, jim." "He needed money desperately." "I had to help him." "Don't you see?" "Sure, i see." "Try to understand." "I understand." "I'm just beginning to understand." "We know you're in there, jim fisk!" "Come out, you yellow-bellied crook!" "What's the matter?" "Are you afraid?" "Come on out of there!" "Jim, you can't go out there." "They'll mob you!" "You think i'm afraid of a mob?" "Jim!" "You stay here, josie." "This is one time the colonel is going to be at the front of his regiment." "Jim!" "Jim!" "What's the matter, boys?" "Losing your nerve?" "This is no joke, fisk!" "This is no joke!" "If it is a joke, it's on me!" "You can't talk yourself out of this!" "Wait a minute!" "Wait a minute!" "You were after money, the same as i was." "You would've cornered gold if you could've done it." "I'm broke, too." "I'm right back where i started 10 years ago- right down to my last dollar." "But i'll get on top, and you'll stay right where you are!" "You belong in the streets!" "Get back into the streets!" "Get a doctor." "Yes, sir." "Take it easy, jim." "The doctor's coming." "You're going to be all right." "Jim!" "Jim." "I'm all right, josie." "Lie still, jim." "Don't move." "I'll go." "No, no, no." "Don't go, luke." "We can't split partners now." "We're not going to split partners, jim." "We never have, and we never will." "Take it easy, boss." "You're gonna be all right." "You're gonna pull through." "Sure, i will." "You know, it's a great life." "I wouldn't sell this next minute for... for a million dollars." "Nick... i owe you a bet." "But i ain't got the money to pay it." "Josie... nick... she's a gilt-edged corporation." "Mr. Boyd, we can get through to the hospital now." "I got a carriage for the colonel." "No, i don't want any carriage." "Got a golden chariot comin' for me." "I wonder if those gates are really made of gold."