First step?

East. Call the company that installed the lock boxes. Make sure their master key is ..

I went myself. It's still attached to the white file card. No prints. But I noticed a tiny piece of wax in the center of the key.

(Phil and Paul pass the bottle of whiskey to each other and drink.)

A wax impression to make a duplicate? One of the workers at Mosler Safe?

(Paul quick glances suspiciously at him. He never mentioned the company name.)

No. We super checked everyone. Phil, I came here today 'cause Tony, me and Jake and you need you now! Phil. W're brothers in broke! We need..
 

One of my arrows?

Straight to the bullseye! Hey. Remember Goldblatts?
 

Yeah. Goldblatts at Christmas. Alla money in their cash registers disappeared same night. Empty!

And at the line up, you picked Mr. Wrong right away. The repair guy. God, you were fast!

Remember Harris Trust and Savings? Half a mill!

Brilliant! Your best! You searched the top guy's office. Two overcoats exactly the same, except one had pockets inside the lining.

And he lined that one with bank cash, the other he had the guard inspect. Then switch and leave.

How did you know? Did God give you a bigger brain than us? Hey, Phil. What's your hat size?

If you could do it then, you can do it now. Please, Phil. You got all the pieces I can give! Please!

What I teach ya is always, always number one?

Tell me?

Always, always ask the hardest question first. Don't you remember?

Yeah! .. The answer to the hardest question tells you the most. Right? And it is..

How in hell did he get it out of the bank? Fifteen million in cash can't be slipped inside an overcoat and out the front door!

But Tony had uniformed guards at every door. A triple A security system. How?

That is the hard question.
 

(Paul stands silent for several seconds, staring at Phil, takes a long final drink.)

I was your partner, but I was never your equal. Moon steals its light from the sun and shines. I stole your credits so they'd put me into this.

I owe you, but .. by the dawn's early light so goes the song .. Phil, I'm beginning to see that I'm going to have to ask an even harder question. And I know I don't want to know the answer.
 

(They stare at each other in sadness, silently for several seconds. Then Paul exits down the stairway as Bets rushes up and brushes past him.)

What's this?

I'm hanging up my clothes.

In my kitchen? How'm I gonna cook?

Cook what? Numbers ala King. Bookies beef stew? Bets on a bun?
 

(Bets throws Teresa's clothes to the floor, enters the bedroom and confronts Phil. Teresa tries to open Timmy's door, but it is locked. She removes a hair pin and attempts to pick the lock.)

Where's Timmy?

Montreal.

Without sayin' goodbye to me? You let him go without even sayin' goodbye to me?

His choice. Not mine.

His choice? No, Phil. For you his choice is always yes. For me, he's not jist no, jist nothing!

No space for me in between.

Yeah. We wear it tight. But not too tight.

Too tight? I choke his air?

Right outa his lungs. Love isn't..

Still you don't know me. I don't love my son. Love is a weakened word those billions use. I adore my son. My adoration is ten times ten! I adore him down to all the little pieces of my heart and bone. I know. I see. I hear. I feel. I breathe. I drink in the truth my son is incapable of sin. He has the makings of a saint. And if he should return to use wearing the wings of an angel .. I would yawn a little, ask the time and talk the weather, but I would not be surprised.

Never steal?

Wouldn't pick a penny off the ground that wasn't his!

Money, whiskey, women .. normal to a man.

Never had. And now safe in the arms of the church, never will.

Safe behind walls .. I hope.

And safe far away from you and your snake schemes. I know you two were cookin' somethin' inna pot! Secret talks with that door shut against me.

But now there's space in-be-tween. Win, place and show!

And me? Where am I in that race?

(Their mood changes quickly as they remember the past. They smile, giggle, laugh. They punctuate with gestures and mime.)

How old was I then? More than Teresa is now. You winked at me. I didn't sleep a week.

You matched it with a smile. Then and there it began between us. Quick as a gun.

All our fathers sittin' on the stoop, waitin' outside for supper to be cooked. Smokin' their clay pipes. Open can of beer passin' the dipper each to each. Watchin' the street. Waitin' for you to walk past on your beat.

I polished the brass buttons on my uniform and shined my shoes. Ya could see the sky 'cause I knew I had an audience waitin' for me to perform.

And my father'd tease youl Called you out loud: "Why here comes the landlord of the sidewalk collectin' rents!" And they all laughed. You were so pretty, that's right, pretty, in your uniform.

You Dad was a laughin' man. He'd say" "Why here comes Mr. Fred O'Staire the movie star of the dancin' police!" I'd do a little jig in front of the stoop and he'd sing:
 

"Me mither was a lady
Me father was a gentle-man
But me sister liked to rush the can!
Rush the can! Rush the can!
Me sister liked to rush the can!"

You walked that beat, back straight, head high, as proud as the king of England goin' to a horse parade.

On the first day I put on the uniform I looked in the mirro and knew it would change me down to the bone. Oh, it wasn't the badge, the gun and the billy club. It was me! I had become my uniform.

And they saw it not me! Stoppin' traffic taking twenty little, little kids holdin' hands across Madison to Lady of Angels Schoo. They looked up at the uniform like it was God Almighty come down to protect them from the devil's flames. They'd smile up saucy, tease me and sing screeching over and over till we reached the door:
 

"Brass buttoned bluecoat
Can't catch a nanny goat!
"Brass buttoned bluecoat
Can't catch a nanny goat!"

There are people in this city who still speak of you.

On the first day I put away my uniform and put on a detective's double breasted, I looked in the mirror. I knew it would change down to the bone. No one would see me again to ask. The old. The sick. The dying and the lost were lost to me forever. On that day, I began to change into this. What I am today, here and now. Betty do you still ..

Love ya? God, Phil! I'd lick the streets for ya! I'd lick the streets!

Gimme a smile!

If you'll gimme a wink.

(In the following newspaper playlets remembering the past, they gesture, mime and laugh and magnify.)

Ladies and Gentlemen, for the first time anywhere, only on this stage tonight, pre-senting the naughty newlyweds!

I act the bad girl caught, always deserving punishment.

I'll be the nasty detective always arresting you.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! John Dillinger, public enemy number one dead. Betrayed by the woman in red!

Hey, lady! Stop where you are! Are you red?

So what if I am, Copper?

I'm takin' you in. And I'm gonna give ya the third degree. We want to know if you're hidin' anything belonging to Dillinger under that dress.

Oh, Mr. Detective! I'm so afraid of the third degree. Couldn't we go upstairs to my apartment, and you can take off my dress there? I'll show you everything I've got! Please don't arrest me. O.K.?

Well, It's a long ride down to police headquarters. Let's go up to your apartment and do it.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Kidnapped Lindbergh baby dead! Nurse helped! Kidnapper caught!

Caught ya bitch!

Yes. You have me. The handcuffs are so tight! Why have you put me in this strange room with no windows and the door is locked?

The ransom money! He must have given you some for nursin' the kid.

I swear I didn't take any money. I only wanted to keep the baby alive, away from him. Please Mr. Policeman, I don't want to go to jail.

How do I know you're talkin' the truth? Ain't hidin' some on you right now?

The only way is to strip search me. Please take off my shoes and stockings. Take off my dress and my bra and my panties please? .. Don't hurt me too much.

Yeah. You're right. Only way to be sure. I'm gonna do that to ya right now!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! South side brothel raided by vice squad! Fifteen year old girl free!

Expensive furniture. Gold faucets. Marble floors. You musta liked workin' here little girl.

My boyfriend brought me here, sold me to the madam and she kept me locked in. I couldn't leave. And I couldn't say no 'cause they'd beat me. So I relaxed and learned to like it.

Who's the best?

You policemen of course! You guys really know how to do it! What are you going to do with me?  

What should I do with you? You're too young to go to jail. I can't put ya out on the streets. But you know you deserve to be punished. Return ya to your Father and let him spank a naughty girl?  

Oh! Please, Mr. Policeman, don't let my Father spank me! He hurt me hard. You do it to me. Take off my panties right now and spank me? Spank me?

Spank me! Spank me! Hit me? Hit me? Hit me? Hit me? I'm eight months pregnant and you're smashing your fist into my face? Knocked to the floor .. blood!

Yeah. That'll shake ya shingles! Where the hell's the rent money I gave ya?

Sweet or sour!

Not me! It was you who took this marriage from sweet to sour! We was toppa the world, Betty, but you took us down!

Me? This marriage started man to woman. Now it's cop to crook!

Yeah! Crooks lie, cheat and steal!

I lie, cheat and steal on you?

And can't be trusted.

Me? Not trust me?

Not with one damn dirty dime! I give ya rent money! Gone! I give ya food money. Gone! After ya paycheck, it's beg and borrow. All! All! All to Joey! And don't tell me no! He works for Tony Jake!

I don't want to hear. It's a small thing.

So's a hole in the bottom of a boat.

I'll sink us all?

Yes. Like the icy wind, I can feel it coming, but I can't see it .. yet.

No. I have a good/bad witch inside. She won't let me lose everything. I haven't been abandoned by my witch.

Tell the truth jist once! Loud out loud! Not for me to hear, I know it. But for you to hear it from you yourself Jist once without smiling it down into a small joke.

The truth is?.. You still?

If I didn't would I shout and beg and scream? Goddamnit if I didn't love ya, why'd I hit ya eight months pregnant in the face?

That was years ago.

But I still feel the shame like it was last night.

And I still feel the sting.

Please loud out loud!

Truth .. ain't that what you detectives search? My truth honey-lover, sweetheart-darling, I'm forty five years old and there ain't no young boys kickin' on my door to take me ot the dance. My factory job pays cheap so I can only look in the windows, never go through the glass. Yeah, Joey and His Tony Jake took my picture right. Bets they call me, the bad luck broad .. born to lose.

No! A piece! Even a small piece of the real truth! Hear it. You can stop it! Right here! Right now!

In my long time I've always lost...
My sweet Mother gone young.
My loving brother in this war.
The girl we almost had, before being born.
Burning joy in our once up a time way back love with your hard passion for my naked boy then .. all lost. The truth is that in my long time, I cannot win a single winning once.
But in a short time .. when the wheel is still spinning fast, one minute before the race ends and they're running neck to neck, pull down the handle on the slots and hear the mechanical music of turning parts read the license plates for the right numbers like tea leaves in the bottom of the cup .. then bet 'em with belief. In that one minute before the ending comes my fingers turn to fists, my toes tighten, I feel! I breathe! I know! I can win! That horse, that wheel! The numbers on the bet don't know my name, is neutral, not against me, isn't bent by my bad star into a losing shape .. Phil .. sing it?

That was then. Now is now.

Sing it like ya did on our first date on the bench in the park. Strangers heard and turned into a crwod. So beautiful ya sang it made me proud to be with you. The last song you sing. For me?

Oh, where are ya goin' billy Boy?
Where are ya goin' charmin' Billy?
I'm goin' to the fair
And my true love will be there.
I'm goin' to the fair
Said charmin' Philly.
Can she bake a cherry pie charmin' Philly?
She can bake a cherry pie
That'll knock out both yer eyes
Said charmin' Philly.
Oh, where are we goin' Philly Boy?

...into an icy wind..
 

(Bets removes her blouse, turns out the bedroom lights and lies down on the bed next to him.

Teresa succeeds in picking the lock. The door opens and she enters Timmy's bedroom. She transfers her clothes from the kitchen. She tries to open the door of his closet, but it is locked. She picks it open with her hairpin.

Inside are all of Timmy's army uniforms, his boy scout uniform, merit badge sash, and many white ropes tied into different boy scout knots. A long rope is tied into a hangman's noose. She puts it on her neck. She puts on his army overcoat and dances playfully from bedroom to kitchen.

She pulls out wads of money from inside the lining. Surprised, she stumbles and the noise awakens Bets who leaves her husband still asleep in the darkened bedroom and confronts Teresa)

Hey! No noise! I got him sleepin'

Looka! More in his pockets. Go buy food, I'm hungry!
 

(Teresa puts the money on the table next to the telephone and gives Bets Timmy's overcoat. She dances faster and faster in circles from kitchen ot bedroom. The hangman's noose around her neck held high with both hands.

Bets empties the pocket in the lining of the overcoat and puts the money in piles on the table and stares entranced. She walks her dance around the table Start. Stop. Stare at the money. Sit. Stand up then start the circle again.

The two dance their dances in silence, a pantomime. Powerless, Bets stops, sits at the phone and dials. In a quiet voice ..)

Joey? Zat you Joey?
 

(The stage goes dark.

The time is one week later. In the afternoon. Teresa is alone in the apartment. She is in an apron at the stove. Her two suitcases are packed an at the door. There is a large parcel wrapped in brown paper tied with cord on the table. Teresa still wears Timmy's boy scout hangman's noose around her neck. She dials.)

Ma? Ya cookin'? I'm cookin'. What ya cookin'? .. For me? Naw for them like a going away gift. Spaghetti and meatballs, what else? .. 'cause 'ats all I know how. Hey, ma. You know I know Talker's outa the Navy now two weeks. Ain't phoned ya once yet. Means he's not movin' back in, so I get to keep my room, yes? Say yes, ma? Say yes over the phone? Say yes? .. Ho K! I'm packed. Coming now to take it!
 

(Bets returning from work tired, climbs the stairs slowly, enters, looks into the pots and shuts off the gas.)

When?

Now.

How do we do this? Shake hands like a coupla men?

Expect me to say, Aunt Betty I love you? .. I ain't.
Expect me to turn to corn syrup? .. I ain't.
Nobody pours me on their pancakes!
Expect me to throw my arms around you and kiss, kiss .. I ain't.
You keep your germs and I'll keep mine 'cause I'm ..

Teresa Moran, Sixty-third and Cottage Grove.

Hard as the nails in ya house.

Tough as the leathers on the bottoms of your feet. And when ya meet a Moran?

Zip ya wallet and cross ya legs!
 

• (Teresa, crying, throws her arms around Bets)

(They embrace in silence for several seconds. Teresa removes the merit badge sash and the hangman's noose and lays them next to the parcel on the table.)

Hey! Let's do it!

Like a coupla men!

(They shake hands. Teresa points to the parcel, then exits.)

(Bets alone, seated near the telephone, inhales her unlit cigarette deeply. Then removes the cap and inhales the whiskey. The phone rings.)

You callin' me Joey? Hey, I'm paid. .. What? .. No, Ididn't notice no pencil marks on the money. .. Yeah, I got a parcel here .. In brown paper .. Timmy? .. Timmy what? .. They're comin'? Get out! .. Joey? .. Joey don't hang up!
 

(Bets circles the parcel then opens it. Inside is Timmy's bible that he had given to Tony. There are four large blood stained bullet holes straight through. Timmy's finger with his class ring on is jammed into one. It stands erect like a penis. Realizing what she has done she screams repeating the name of her son.)

(Bets places a chair on the table climbs up and ties the hangman's noose to the ceiling sprinkler pipe, gets down and sits at the table. She takes a cigarette from her pack, lights it and inhales deeply. She pours a full glass of whiskey and drinks as she smokes.

She turns out the lights. The apartment is dark except for faint light coming through the window. She climbs the table onto the chair and puts the noose around her neck. Suddenly, the noise of chair falling is heard, her neck snapping and a death rattle as her lungs exhaust. Only the vague silhouette of the hanging is seen.

Phil appears and slowly, painfully climbs the stairs, opens the door, turns on the lights and sees his wife hanging. Quickly he takes her down and confirms she is dead. He sits with her in his arms, his son's Bible in hand, rocking, crying, stunned. He holds his breath, then exhausts in groans of grief, repeated and repeated.)

Ahhhhh! Ahhh! Aaaaahhh! Aaahhh! Half and half! This one is God's punishment on me brought down! But this hand which struck my wife and son was my own! By my own hand! Daammmmmeee!
 

(Tony and Jake, guns drawn, rush up the stairs, kick open the door and confront him. Phil raises his hands palms upward to show he is unarmed.)

Moneymoneymoneymoney! I got my money back and yours is in my pocket! Jake, the coat said more!
 

(Jake goes to the closet in Timmy's bedroom, takes the army overcoat to Tony who rips out the lining.)

If it's empty it's gotta be at Joey's!

You call him, tell him. I pick it up personal! All of it, see? Money! My money! It's my money only. You tell him!

My son?

Garbage? Garbage? Garbage? I get new, clean bills direct. Still I have the girl who irons my shirts, irons my money flat! Virgin money your son put into filthy garbage bags, then dumped into a stinkin' garbage truck which you, you drove somewhere safe away from me!

My son?

In pain answered the hard questions quick, then took us to his banks. We got it all but aaahh! I can still smell the garbage stink on my money!

My son?

In concrete! Unner the new runway Detroit airport.

Except for one finger. We figure we send her this, she do that.
 

(Phil carries his wife to their bedroom, places her on the bed, returns and stands face to face with Tony his hand palm upward in his face.)

I, Philip Moran, with this hand that wipes my ass once a day squeezed your money like it was my hand up between your wife's legs squeezing haard!

I, Philip Moran, watched you since Saint Thomas time fly up high, then higher up fueled on crime slime money! But I

brought you down flat, back to earth brok, broken! Tony Accardo, Chickago number one, had to come to me and begged me on your knees, on your kees, Tony! And I turned number one to zero.

Beggar! Beggar! Beggar!
 

(Tony, his face red with rage, jams his gun into Phil's mouth. Suddenly the rage disappears. He lowers his gun, looks at it and smiles in sudden revelation. Stunned he sits.)

You cunning bastid! This .. this was your finger on my trigger! You wanted to die and me to do it! .. And I almost did.

Almost.

Then all of this? Like buried bones for a dog to find? You .. wanted us to discover what you didn't want us to know? .. Even if losing all this was the price you had to pay?

I needed one last bullseye, dead, dead center.

Bullet him.
 

(Tony removes the bullets from his gun and flings them against the wall.)

(Phil limps into the kitchen, removes the hypodermic syringe and the ice pack from the refrigerator to treat his foot. Tony grabs the hypodermic and crushes it under his heel, then throws the ice pack out the window.)

Yeah.. Like in our schoolbook.. Ya gonna be my Robinson Cruesoe all alone here on my Chicago island. And I'm gonna be your Friday man servant. All week ya got no money, medicine, hand to help or voice to talk.
 

(Tony rips out the telephone and throws it against the wall.)

Beggar! Beggar! Beggar! I, only I, will choose your death! And when you die, it will be just like this!
 

(Tony turns off the light switch and the entire stage is plunged into darkness.)