Pittsburgh (1942)

[bunniefuu]

Not so many months ago,

the president asked the nation...

for 60,000 planes, 45,000 tanks

and 8 million tons of ships.

He asked this from the hearts,

minds and hands...

of 130 million free men,

women and children.

He asked us to evolve the greatest and most

efficient industrial system in history;

to turn our workshops

into mighty forges of w*r;

to out-build the aggressors

in every category of modern arms.

In his very words...

"Only by this accomplishment

can we build the arsenal of democracy."

Planes, g*ns, tanks and ships have begun

to flow from our factories and yards.

The flow is accelerating from day to day.

The stream is becoming a river.

The river will become a torrent,

a torrent that will engulf...

the totalitarian tyranny which


seeks to destroy the world.

Our answer to the request of the president

flies from atop our flagpole today.

The credit for

its flying there...

belongs to each

and every one of you.

To my partner,

Pittsburgh Markham.

To your friend and mine,

a man, who many years ago...

saw more in a lump of coal than anybody


else in the world, Doc Powers.

To your union leader,

as much responsible for the maintenance...

of our production schedule

as any executive of this firm, Joe Malneck.

But most of all,

it belongs to you.

For you are the partners of our American

boys who are shedding their blood...

on the stormy waters of the North Atlantic,


the desert wastes of Africa...

the rocky crags of the Aleutians,

the steaming jungles of the South Pacific.

For all over the world our partners are

fighting because they know as we know...

that America is more

than a country; it's a cause.

A way of life that is given

even to the poorest man...

- more than he could dream of anywhere


else in the world.

What do you say we show

those boys we're behind them...

and get back to work?

To the three of us.

The four of us.

Don't forget Hunky.

To Hunky.

To Hunky.

You boys might've spent your lives in


darkness if it hadn't been for that girl.

I give her credit for my success too,

for I came up with you.

Remember those days when I was an

old nut with ideas about coal

and you two were g*y young blades

of Coal Town?

Coal Town was your oyster then,

filled with black pearls...

but you couldn't see them.

Maybe it was the sooty


mist hanging over the

shabby streets that

hid them from you...

as you marched with the daily swarm of

other men up the hill to Wilson's colliery.

A man does not see well when he lives

too long away from the sun.

But like the power in the

coal you dug, locked

deep in the earth for

a million years...

the force in you

still awaited release,

and the stench and grime of Shaft

Number 7 was part of your heritage.

♪ In a cavern in a canyon ♪

♪ Excavating for a mine ♪

♪ Lived a miner forty-niner ♪

- ♪ And his daughter, Clementine ♪

Hey, that's awful!

I ran into Joe Malneck this

morning, that guy from the union.

Yeah?

He's gonna make a deal

for us with Wilson.

What kind of a deal, Johnny?

Startin' next week, we

get six cents more a ton.

Six cents?

- We'll never get fat on that kinda dough.

- Well, it adds up to around...

- 12 to 15 bucks a month.

- That'll put a lot more grub on our table.

What're ya gonna do with yours, Johnny?

Buy a yacht?

Aw, go on and laugh.

It ain't much, but it's a starter.

You guys have been shinin' them bug torches

in your eyes so long you're dizzy.

What're you doin', Pittsburgh?

Pickin' coal or posin' for a statue?

Come on,

get hot on that banjo.

- How'd ya like to have me play a

tune around your ears with it?

- Hello, fellas.

- Hiya, Joe. - Hello.

You hear about the deal we

put over with the company?

You're doin' a swell job since

you threw away your pick.

First thing you know,

we'll be millionaires.

We'll be rollin' in dough.

Lend me five bucks, will ya?

Can't hear ya.

- I said, five clankers.

- I got coal dust in my ears.

You were flush when we left

the room this morning.

Aw, all right.

Here's two bucks. It's all I got.

How do ya expect me to

get anywhere on two bucks?

I don't. Don't even

expect to get it back.

All you do is spend my

dough on your hunky gal.

I'm through with

those bo-hunk babes.

This one's a classy,

long-legged dame...

that's got everything...

and a Model "T".

I wonder where we

can get a drink?

Over at Barney's Speak

with my last two bucks.

I didn't say "buy a drink."

- Hey, Doc, where are ya?

- Quiet!

He usually keeps that

prescription stuff in here.

What's that?

They still must be working on

Number 5 down there.

The tunnel's underneath.

If they aren't careful, they'll

completely undermine the house.

Hello, boys.

- Hello, Doc.

- Hiya, Doc.

- Somebody sick?

- Uh... yeah, it's Cash's stomach.

- My stomach?

Look at him, he's all bent over. We didn't

wanna bother ya, knowin' how busy ya are.

Well, I'm never too busy

to look out for my patients.

However, I don't keep the whiskey

in that cabinet any more.

Come in here, Cash.

He don't keep the whiskey

in that cabinet any more.

You know, Doc,

I'm not feelin' so good myself.

You boys know Dr. Grazlich,

my junior partner.

Hi, Junior.

- I'm feelin' sicker than Cash.

- Here, down this.

I'll be glad when

Prohibition's over.

- That stuff tastes like coal tar.

- It is coal tar.

At least it's a derivative

of coal tar. Cash?

Mm, not for me.

I feel all right now.

Go on, take it.

It's good for your stomach.

Mm. No, thanks, Doc.

- Much better for you than whiskey.

- I'll take whiskey.

A hundred years ago, they threw the

coal tar away when they made coke.

Then they realized it was good for

everything from munitions to medicine.

We have barely scratched

its possibilities.

- What are you lookin' for now?

- We don't exactly know.

How do you know

if you find it?

Because it'll be something new...

something we haven't found.

You see, when scientists

find a waste in nature's gifts,

they accept

that as a challenge.

And no gifts have been lavished

more profusely than in coal.

- Now, you take that one little piece.

- Mm-hmm.

That's composed of several elements that

have been combined and changed by nature

over thousands of years into a mixture

of very complex compounds.

Our job is to split those compounds and

then recombine them to suit our needs.

Hundreds of compounds have been made,

but many others are still possible.

A hundred and 50 years ago,

a man put lumps of coal in water

and had

the sick drink it.

He was burned at the stake.

The methods employed then

were very primitive.

But ever since then, scientists

have followed the same principle.

Dr. Grazlich and I are only two men out of

thousands who are going on with the work.

You can have that bottle, Pittsburgh.

You'd talk me out of it, anyway.

I love ya, Doc.

So help me, I love ya.

Well, a pint of whiskey,

two bucks and a date.

Now all I need's a

decent suit of clothes.

- Come on, Cash. So long Doc.

- Goodbye, Doc. So long, Junior.

For a ready-made suit, he looks

just like a "Breau Bummel!"

Such style, such class. Believe me,

I wouldn't know my own merchandise.

Figure it up, Shorty.

With pleasure.

What're you gonna

use for money?

I don't know. Used to call you Cash

because you always had some.

But lately you've put me

in some very embarrassing positions.

I wonder how much it would take

to make him careless?

One suit at the

special price of $18.

There's buckram, there's

piping, there's lining.

And accessories brings it up to $33.50.

Fine. Have a drink.

Oh, thank you, thank you.

- Expensive stuff.

- What's money?

Sure. Don't mean a thing.

Thanks all the same, but I don't drink.

Now, what were you saying about money?

About these duds, put

'em on the cuff, will ya?

Cuff? Whose cuff?

- Your cuff, Shorty.

- My cuff?

Play along with me, and one day

I'll let you make me custom-made suits.

Never mind that. The

custom today is cash.

You're not gonna swing

any pickaxe in my suit.

- Take it off or I'll call the police.

- Wait a minute.

Come back with my suit!

I told you, positively no credit.

You didn't even

give me a deposit.

You got nothin' to worry about, Shorty.

Look at that sign.

"A hundred dollars in gold to

any man who can stay three"

minutes in the ring with

the heavyweight champion,

"k*ller Kane."

It's an invitation to your own funeral.

I sold the k*ller a suit.

He's got a 48-inch chest, a 23-inch arm...

and a 19 neck.

And a six-inch skull.

- You'll do no fightin' in my suit.

- Come on, Cash.

- Suppose he flattens you?

- He won't flatten me.

- Not in my suit!

- Nothin's gonna happen to your suit.

My suit!

Look at my suit!

For a lead nickel, I'd

smash your teeth in!

Is anything wrong?

Plenty!

I oughta pull...

Oh, you got

your suit muddy.

His suit? My suit! He walks outta my shop

with a brand-new suit.

Then he wants to fight k*ller Kane

in my suit. Now look at it!

- He didn't even gimme a deposit!

- Quiet, Shorty.

- It's nothing, Countess, nothing at all.

- I'm so very sorry.

- It's awful, awful!

- It's awful nice.

Good evening. Mr. Brawley's

down front, right aisle.

Thank you.

How about your date with

the long-legged gal with the Model "T"?

I like this chassis better.

Tickets, please.

Uh, Shorty, you forgot

to buy the tickets.

I forgot to buy the tickets.

Three tickets, and I'm not

gonna like the show.

- Your coat.

- My suit! I'll be right back.

Hey, down in front.

Sit down, will ya?

Find someplace. I wanna see the show.

- Where's your collar?

- I got it right here.

Put your neck

in it. Here.

Hey, down in front.

Will you park your body? The clinch is on.

There ya are. The cost of the tickets

brings it up to $35 even.

He don't look so tough.

I'm glad that's not

my head he's punching.

Ladies and gentlemen, you've just witnessed

a masterful exhibition of bag punching...

by the undefeated marvel

of the prize ring...

and contender of the world's

heavyweight championship, k*ller Kane!

And now, gentlemen, one hundred dollars

for the man who'll remain on his feet...

after three minutes of

boxing with k*ller Kane.

Bring 'im on!

He wants a fight, does he? I'll

fight him for nothing! Come on!

Oh, no, you don't, mister.

You're plastered! Sit down.

Who'll be the first to challenge the k*ller

to one round of exhibition boxing,

Marquis of Queensbury rules?

- I'm callin' you, Butch.

- Come on, sucker.

Come on. A fella needs

a second, doesn't he?

- We'll fix his...

- Come on, sit down!

- Please, boys, don't fight in my suit.

- Hello, Countess.

- Who is the challenger?

- Not me!

Coal miners, eh?

What's the matter

with coal miners?

We carried four of 'em out

this afternoon.

Yeah, well, here's one you aren't gonna

carry out. Cash Evans. That right, boys?

You dirty double-crosser!

What's the matter,

you afraid of him?

Afraid? Why, I'll knock... that big

palooka right in the countess' lap!

Sit tight, Countess.

That palooka's gonna land in your lap.

Why aren't you fighting?

Me? I've been changing

a lot of my plans this evening.

- Friend of yours?

- No.

I'm gonna change that too.

Who is he?

Nobody. He seems awfully sure

of himself, doesn't he?

Who do you want us to notify

in case you're k*lled?

What if that coal slinger

throws a lucky punch?

He better not.

I spent a lot of dough

building up that big baboon.

You're looking at the next title-holder,

baby-Champion k*ller Kane.

And when that happens,

you're gonna have everything.

You already told me

I had everything.

Let's have a good fight

and don't dawdle.

Shake hands and go to your corner

and come out punching.

- Watch yourself. This guy's dynamite.

- You just think of that?

Keep that left goin' Cash!

Attaboy!

That's it! Stick your left out!

You know what it means to me!

Let him have it!

What're ya backin' up for?

A right! Hit him with

a right! He's a big phony!

Wise guy, eh?

- If that dummy loses this fight, I'll...

- Lose a hundred dollars.

Keep it up, Cash.

Two minutes to go.

- One, two, three...

- How'm I doin'?

- Not so hot. He just slipped.

- four, five, six-

That's it! Go ahead!

You got him goin', Cash!

He's groggy! What's holding him up?

Keep that left goin'!

That's it, use the other hand!

Your right, your right!

In the breadbasket!

Keep it up,

the suit's almost mine!

Duck that light, Cash!

- Go on, get up!

- Get up! Get up!

Get up, Cash! He didn't

hurt ya! ...two, three, four...

- Come on, take him!

- five.

Gimme that dough!

Come on, Cash,

here's your dough!

Get the cops! Police!

There's your boyfriend, Countess!

Nice company you keep, Countess.

It's me, it's me.

Congratulations, you won.

Here you are, Shorty. Forty

bucks and keep the tip.

Thank you, thank you.

- It's a pleasure to do

business with honest men.

I'm glad you officers arrived. It's

terrible inside it's a disgrace.

Some boisterous characters

started a fight in there.

Oh, they did? Come on, boys.

Musical little things, aren't they?

They're gonna do a tossing

right down Barney's Bar.

Heh-heh, I love ya, Cash.

So help me, Hannah, I love ya.

- Now, if we can only find the countess.

- Yeah, she's so sympathetic.

- What's the dope?

- Big cave-in at Eversville, Tunnel 5.

You hear that? Tunnel 5.

Holy smokes, that's right

under Doc's house.

Hey, buddy, run us out to Eversville-

There's no one here.

It's the countess' car.

Let's take it. Come on.

- What's the big idea?

- Uh-oh, the countess.

You'll get in plenty of

trouble stealing this car.

Oh, cool off, Countess.

There's a cave-in at the mine.

Look out!

- Hey, where do you think you're goin'?

- Get outta the way, O'Toole.

- We've got to find Doc Powers.

- Sure. Go ahead, Pitt.

Dr. Grazlich!

Doc, I'm glad you're alright.

Where's Doc Powers?

His house didn't cave in?

No, the cave-in was underground.

Caught some of the night shift.

- But where is Doc?

- Down there someplace.

- Hold that cage!

- Hey, Doc's trapped in Number 5.

We were on our way up when the whole

wall caved in. We need more help.

This is no place for you, Countess.

You'll get your nose dirty.

Never mind about that.

- Hey, Doc!

- Here, boys!

Look out for that beam.

Stand back this shoring's apt

to give away any minute!

Take it easy Doc. We'll

have you out in no time.

I said, stand back!

It-It's my leg.

- Steady, Doc, you'll be all right.

- Well, hello, Miss Nightingale.

Okay, Pitt.

Drag him out!

Look out!

Don't worry, Tilda.

Dr. Grazlich's a fine doctor.

Did your husband

get hurt too?

Bill!

Tilda, that thick skull you was

always talking about saved me.

You fool!

They'd like to break the

needle sewing him up.

Your man's okay.

You can go in now.

You boys wait here.

How is Dr. Powers?

Got a busted leg.

Wouldn't let Grazlich work on him 'til

everybody else was taken care of.

You seemed to know what it was all about

down there, Countess.

Pitched in like a regular hunky.

That's what they used to call me

when I was a kid, "Hunky."

- My real name is Winiewitsky.

- Winiewi-What?

My father changed it to Winters.

He couldn't speak English,

but he could dig more coal than two men.

- He could, eh?

- He was k*lled over there in Shaft 15.

Oh.

Sure had me skippin'

rope tonight.

I thought you were the royal magoo.

Now you turn out to be just a hunky.

- Is that against me?

- No, you can't help it.

Oh, yes, I can help it. I never meant

to go near a coal mine again.

Only tonight, seeing

that cave-in, I...

They say coal means

warmth and life.

All it means to people like us

is death if you stay around it long enough.

I'm after something better.

So you tie yourself to

a cheap four-flusher.

Not for long.

Aimin' for the moon, eh?

Yeah! If you're gonna sh**t

for something, sh**t big.

Well, I ain't so little.

What I said about coal

goes for the miners too.

- I ain't always gonna be slingin' a pick.

- What else can ya do?

I don't know yet. But there ain't a thing

I can't do once I set my mind to it.

The way you said that I

could almost believe you.

You're gonna hear a lot

about Pittsburgh Markham.

You're gonna remember

the night I told you that.

You're gonna

remember tonight.

I'm your kind of a guy, see?

And you're my kinda gal.

- We were cut from the same chunk.

- Yeah, of dirt and smoke.

And sweat, hunger and strikes.

And a life as black as one of those mines.

That's all I've known

since the day I was born.

Maybe that's what you want,

but I've got other plans.

Want me to drive

you back to town?

Not if I have to go through that

routine with you.

If Pittsburgh couldn't get to first base,

I'll wrap up the bats.

Let's go.

You know, Pitt, this is the first time

I ever saw you fan out.

I took her to the station.

She wasn't sure

whether she'd go to

Philadelphia or New York.

- I said goodbye for ya.

- That was nice of ya.

- Where you been goin' nights?

- Over to Doc's.

- You're givin' me the runaround.

- Ahh...

You haven't been goin'

over to Doc's every night.

I sure have. I've been gettin'

a load of that coal tar stuff.

Guess I better visit Doc too.

What do you want to do that for?

I, uh, I always say "hello" for ya.

You sure been takin' care

of my hellos and goodbyes.

Ah, you'd do the same for me, pal,

wouldn't ya? Or would ya?

I brought this over

to liven things up.

Oh, that's very

thoughtful of you Josie.

How's that?

- Uh...

I feel like getting up

and shaking a leg.

You haven't seen Pittsburgh

around tonight, have you?

No, I guess

he must be at Barney's.

- What's Barney's got that's so wonderful?

- Red-eye.

I sure have been fooling Pitt about Josie.

How long do you think I can keep it up?

♪ Not for long, I'm afraid.

- Well all's fair in love and w*r.

- You said it, Doc!

Hello, Countess.

You should've come through the door.

It's much easier.

I was afraid you'd drop in,

but not so hard.

What's the idea of lyin' to me,

your best friend?

So this is Philadelphia,

or was it New York you were going to?

This backbiter couldn't

decide where you went.

What if I changed my mind?

- Who sent for you?

- My conscience.

I knew you'd want to see me again,

so here I am. In the flesh.

Fellas like you will make me

change my phone number.

Why don't you run along?

You're wasting your time.

Wasting my time!

You should've heard that hyena

tryin' to keep me away from you.

- Too bad he didn't succeed.

- Come on, get down off your stilts.

You got black dust in your veins,

same as I have.

Yeah, but I haven't got it

under my fingernails.

I don't know why I

take it from you.

I usually kiss 'em goodbye

and leave 'em crying.

I want to tell you

something Hunky.

After the other night, I

woke up thinking about you.

And a week later, I

was still doing it.

No law against a

miner thinking.

And I'm the thinkin'-est

miner you ever met.

Those big ideas I was tellin' you about?

I been workin' on 'em.

Since you made a confession,

I'm going to make one.

Yeah?

- I did want to see you again, Pittsburgh.

- You did?

But now that I've seen

you, I'm disappointed.

Hey wait a minute. Why?

Because you talk like all the

rest of the coal miners.

When they get up in the fresh air,

it makes them dizzy.

Hold on a minute Hunky. I'm not just

talkin'. I'm really gonna do somethin'.

- When?

- Oh, one of these days.

Write me a letter

because I won't be around.

Listen I'm through

diggin' coal see.

But I can't go out and set the

world on fire tonight, can I?

You could start tonight.

How?

You're asking me, big shot?

Why don't you give up, Pitt? And

I'll meet you later at Barney's.

- Can I use your phone, Doc?

- Why not?

♪ Hello?

Is this the foreman

of Shaft Number 7?

Well, Pittsburgh Markham

wants to quit his job.

She's crazy!

Sorry to have bothered you.

I guess I'm crazy.

Don't hang up. You're not so crazy.

I am quitting,

and I'm not drunk, Kelly.

Sure, this is Pittsburgh Markham.

I just called to tell you me and Cash

Evans won't be workin' for ya any more.

That's my job

you're talkin' about!

And tell that pickel pusy Wilson I'm gonna

buy that mine from him one of these days.

So are you, Kelly!

I don't know what he called you

but for me it goes double.

You boys may be needing those jobs.

Yeah, what're we

gonna buy beans with?

Beans are out. From now on it's fancy

roast chicken and French champagne.

I've got an idea that's

worth a million dollars.

- Uh, good morning.

- Good morning.

- This is for Mr. Prentiss.

- Leave it on the desk.

Well, uh...

But the party

who sent it expects an answer.

Well, wait here, please.

- For you Mr Prentiss.

- For me?

The men who brought it said

an answer is expected.

Hm. This must be for you.

Well, what

in the world...

Oh, no. I rather think this is for you.

What sort of nonsense is this?

"How would you like coke of this quality at

$3 a ton less than you can make your own?"

- That's a good proposition.

- Very good. But uh...

- Maybe you'd better show them in.

- Yes, sir.

A friend of mine once refused

to see a young man named Henry Ford.

Mind if I stay, Father? I'm rather

interested in men with ideas like this.

Mr. Prentiss wishes to see you.

- Mr. Prentiss.

- Gentlemen.

I'm Pittsburgh Markham.

This is Cash Evans.

How do you do, sir?

- How do you do? This is my daughter.

- How do you do?

- Glad to know you, Miss Prentiss.

- What's your proposition?

Go ahead and tell him, Cash.

Your company is the biggest

consumer of coke in Pennsylvania.

You've been buying coal, paying freight

and coking at your plant.

If we coke at the mines,

we can get it to you

$3 a ton cheaper than

you're getting it now.

It'll make a lot of difference

at the end of a year.

It'll make a lot of difference

at the end of a month.

Then how about a contract to furnish

your next year's supply of coke?

Can you keep

those furnaces going?

- Well, uh...

- Sure, we can keep 'em going.

Well, we can talk business.

What's the output of your mine?

- We haven't got one right now.

- You contract your coal.

- What's the size of your coking equipment?

- We haven't any equipment.

What? You come here without

a mine, no equipment

and expect me to

give you a contract?

If you'd give us the contract first,

we could get credit to set up the ovens.

We'll put what we know about the coke

and coal business up against anybody.

We are making you a

good proposition.

Certainly it's a good offer. I'll be

very glad to sign a contract with you...

providing you bring me proof

that you have the coal...

the equipment

and the ability to deliver.

Roughly, that would

require a backing of...

oh, about a quarter

of a million dollars.

Quarter of a million dollars?

Well, I'm surprised that should

present a problem to you, Mr. Markham.

Come on, Pitt.

Wait a minute. How long

are ya gonna be here?

- 'Til about 6.00.

- I'll be back at 5.00.

Come on, Cash.

What're ya up to?

Where'd you get that?

Prentiss sure doesn't

bother to dot his "I".

"Morgan Prentiss."

What're you gonna do, Pitt?

Forge a cheque?

Why, I wouldn't do

a thing like that.

I was just gonna sign his name

to a contract that says we

have a deal to deliver coke

to Prentiss Steel Company.

Then I suppose you're going to the colliery

and flash it in front of Wilson...

and bamboozle him into furnishing

the cash and equipment?

No, I was gonna take it to the bank.

But your idea's better.

And to cinch it, I'll give him 50 percent.

Well, maybe only 40.

There's no tellin' where this'll end. It'll

run into the thousands, maybe millions.

We'll be rollin' in dough!

Would you gentlemen roll me $4

on last week's rent?

Pay her off.

Cash, you wouldn't object to

a few thousand bucks, would ya?

I wouldn't object to just four.

Two's all I can spare,

Mrs. Higgins.

You millionaires oughtn't to have any

trouble digging up the other $2 by tonight.

Two bucks! Why, we'll be smoking

$2 cigars before long.

Maybe you will.

Count me out, Pitt.

What's the matter with you?

Wanna be a hunky all your life?

I just don't like it.

Maybe you're afraid.

Nobody's gonna get hurt.

If you weren't so selfish,

you'd think what it'll mean to others.

What about the guys we'd be giving jobs

to, and paying a living wage for a change?

Free hospitalization if they're sick.

Won't cost 'em a dime.

Look, Cash, you know

what this money can mean to us?

Doc Powers can have a new lab.

A place to develop all those drugs

and things he's been workin' on.

What do ya say?

Where ya goin'?

I said, where ya goin'?

With you.

I love ya, Cash.

- So help me, Hannah, I love ya.

- Sing Sing, here we come.

Hey, Doc, where are ya?

We did it, Doc. We put 'er over.

Show him the contract, Cash.

Get an eyeful, Doc.

Signed, sealed and delivered.

Boys, I can't tell you

how happy I am for you.

What we told you

about the new lab goes.

You and Junior will have a joint so big,

you'll have to have a guide.

Bust open this bottle, Cash.

The fireworks is gonna start right here.

And finish in the biggest nightclub

in town. You're going along, Doc.

- Who, me?

- Yeah, wheelchair and all.

Gonna get all those chorus cuties

to autograph that plaster shank of yours.

- Where's Hunky? Isn't she here yet?

- No, I don't think she's coming.

- Not coming?

- Why not?

That's something

you'll have to find out yourself.

You bet I will. I'll go get her.

I'll be right back.

We put it over, Hunky. Prentiss gave us

the green light to go ahead.

- Where do you think you're going?

- Oh, I don't know.

- New York, Philadelphia, Chicago-

- Wait a minute.

You're part of this outfit.

We're partners.

And we've got the brass ring

right in our hand.

There are no brass rings. I know,

I've been on too many merry-go-rounds.

Believe me, I've tried to catch them.

There just aren't any.

There are on this one, Countess.

I tell ya, we're on our way up.

And we're goin' up together,

you and me.

Why, I'd still be diggin' coal

if you hadn't sunk the spurs into me.

I need you.

I'm crazy about you.

I've heard that before too.

From now on we're gonna be together,

no matter what.

No matter what.

It was wasn't easy,

those first days.

But you both rolled up your sleeves

and went to work like two demons.

You boys nursed those coke ovens as though

they were newborn babes with the colic.

And you went to bed at

night proud in knowing

that you'd done an

honest day's work.

Markham & Evans looked

pretty good when those

wagons started rolling

to the steel mill.

Hard work meant

happiness and success.

And when you got your

first cheque, you didn't

forget that you were

all three partners.

And now, instead of beans and red-eye,

it was champagne and fancy roast chicken.

Of course, Mrs. Higgins' rooming house

couldn't hold you now.

Josie picked out a new apartment

for you and Cash.

And I moved too, into that

new laboratory you boys promised me.

The company

couldn't stop growing.

And you did that on only

50 percent of the profits...

for old Wilson at the colliery

was holding you to a strict accounting.

Success like that was bound

to make changes in all of us.

But the greatest change

was in you, Pittsburgh.

- Good morning, Miss Fordham.

- Good morning, Mr. Markham.

Mr. Milgrane is

waiting to see you.

- Who?

- Mr. Milgrane.

Oh, come on in, boys.

Good morning, Mr. Prentiss.

Did I keep you waiting?

Yes, you did.

I don't want any third assistants working

on my duds. Are you Migraine himself?

The name is Milgrane, Mr. Markham.

Milgrane and Milgrane.

I'm both of them. Carlos.

These aren't the terms

we agreed on.

Our understanding was that I

could renew at the same figure.

You can.

The latest imported worsteds.

Very smart this season.

But I've already talked with Wilson.

I've got to see him!

It's important! It's important!

Wilson said you had no right

to make a proposition like that.

And he hasn't! I invested a great deal

of capital in this venture.

I'm entitled to a fair return. The price

is up to you and all the other companies.

Wilson, you've already made more money

than you ever made before.

It's still cheaper than

coking your own coal.

I won't be held up!

Don't waste your breath on this two-bit

chiseller, Prentiss. Our deal sticks.

Make me up six of these

in assorted colors.

Nice and conservative.

Not too bright.

You shouldn't say things

like that about Mr. Wilson.

The price is up to all other

companies, but not to you.

I don't understand.

- Your daughter can explain it.

You haven't the power to

grant special favors.

For two cents, I'd squeeze you

out of this company!

You're a little late for that because

you're already squoze. Or is it squeezed?

- Anyway, you're out.

- What?

You were so busy counting

your profits, you didn't

bother to find out who owns

all the shares you issued.

I started buying 'em up

the day we went into business.

An aspirin, Mr. Wilson?

You can't do this to me Pittsburgh!

I'll see about this!

How about a $2 cigar, Prentiss?

Mr Markham, please.

Miss Winters calling.

Hello, Hunky, how's tricks?

Hello, Pitt. You haven't

forgotten about tonight?

Doc Powers is going to be at my

apartment and he wants you to be there.

He says not to fail because

it's very important.

Well, uh...

all right, if it's important,

but I may be a little late.

- All right, goodbye, dear.

- What did he say?

He's coming, but he said

he might be late. Little business.

What little business?

He didn't say.

- 'Night.

Pittsburgh doesn't know what

he missed, the big lug.

I'm sorry to hurry along, but I've

some work to finish at the laboratory.

- I hope it's a success.

- Any problem can be solved with patience.

Goodnight.

- Pour me a drink, will you, Cash?

- So soon after dinner?

I feel like it.

And anyway, I'm a hunky.

Hunkies are supposed to have

stomachs lined with slag...

and hearts of anthracite.

I doubt that.

You might feel better, Josie,

if you let your hair down.

I might not be able to get it

pinned up again. Let's leave it.

Pitt's all right. This success

he's having now has perhaps...

- gone to his head, but-

- Pour me a drink.

I want to get out of here.

Would you take me out, Cash?

Sure.

I want to go to the

biggest speakeasy in town.

I've got a new dress.

The one I'd made for last new year's eve,

and then Pitt had to go to Harrisburg.

Never worn it.

I want to get all dressed up.

I want to have a good time.

And I want to

drink and dance!

♪ We're dressed up, we're dancing...

Having a good time.

And the drinks are on the table.

Cash Evans special, Mr. Evans.

Only one permitted to a customer.

Now, just what kind of a something

is a Cash Evans special?

♪ Long, strong and sneaky...

but tastes as innocent as a milkshake.

One part Demera rum,

two parts gold rum, one part light rum...

One lime juice

and with a dash of absinthe.

Cool gently with a blowtorch

and you're ready for danger.

Sounds like the sort of a drink

that can stand up and walk around.

Here's looking at you while I still can.

Only one Cash Evans special

to a customer, Mr. Evans.

You can't even feel 'em.

I hear you can't feel anything

when Jack Dempsey hits you, either.

It gives you that restless feeling. Makes

you want to keep traveling for a refill.

Mm-hmm. I think I'll put a cap

on this and send it out to get some more.

I bet over at Barney's

they serve three to a customer.

Hold still!

Only one pitcher of Cash Evans special

to a customer.

- Ah, it's nice to see you two again.

- Thanks, Barney.

We always used to have

a lot of fun here.

When you and Pitt got your first cheque,

this is where we celebrated, remember?

I remember. Excuse me.

- That's all right, Barney.

- Sure.

And they played that same song too.

Do you see who I think I see?

How quaint!

Well, well! Long time,

no see, Pittsburgh.

Hello, Barney.

We're slumming tonight.

Sure, heh-heh! Same old Pitt.

You've come to the right place.

- Got a table for us?

- Sure. Over here. Heh!

Some friends of yours are here.

Maybe you'd like to sit with them.

- Yeah, who's that?

- Cash and Josie.

- The tired businessman!

- I beg your pardon.

Isn't your name Markham,

of the monkey business Markhams?

- Would you like to sit here?

- Why, uh...

♪ Of course, sit down.

Miss Prentiss, Miss Winters.

- How do you do?

- Oh, very nicely, thank you.

Now, Pitt didn't introduce me properly.

I'm really the former Countess Winiewitsky

of the Polish nobility.

Our estates are completely underground.

How very amusing.

Very. Have you ever been

down in a mine tunnel?

Why, no, I haven't.

Oh, you must come down

sometime and meet the boys.

Or do you like them better

out of the shaft?

Uh, would you care

to finish this dance?

I'd love to. Would you order me a drink,

please, Charles? Something mild.

- Small world, isn't it?

- Mm-hmm.

♪ Small world, small people.

Is that the little business you were

giving me the business about?

That's big business.

I've been doing us a lot

of good through Prentiss

and his daughter.

You make it sound so clear

when you say it that way.

Hey, you know me, Josie.

Business before pleasure.

Say, you're a little splashed up tonight,

aren't you?

What did you expect?

Find me waiting at the telephone,

holding my breath?

No, but I expected you to grow up in the

head along with your other improvements.

Waiting for the latest bulletins

about big shot Markham.

Oh, skip it.

Was there anything really

important that you

and Doc wanted to see

me about tonight?

No, we were just going

to celebrate something.

It was a mistake in the first place.

What's that?

Your birthday.

- Here's your usual, Pittsburgh.

- Bring the lady something mild.

Oh, maybe she'd like some punch, no?

Well, yes, I would like some.

Thank you.

Ooh, that's delightful. What is it?

Oh, just a little moonlight and rose

thorns. Harmless as molasses taffy.

- Shall we be going, Josie?

- Going, going, gone.

- Goodnight.

- Goodnight, Barney.

Goodbye, Miss Prentiss.

So long, Pitt.

Goodnight.

- So long, Barney.

- So long, Cash.

One pitcher to a customer.

- Keep your chin up.

- Yes, up and out where it can be hit.

If anybody hit that chin of yours, you'd

break his hand. You're no china doll.

I was so crazy,

blindly in love with him.

You know, Cash,

he's great in his way.

He can do anything

he sets his mind to.

But he's no good now.

No good for anybody.

Well, who let you in?

That fancy pants with an accent

you call a butler.

I just dropped around

to tell you something.

Yeah? What?

Your two-timing finally

caught up with you.

- You mean about tonight? That was nothing.

- Wasn't it? You're through.

- You're washed up.

- You seem awfully happy about it.

I am. You had your chance

and made a mess of it.

Now here's where I step in.

You always did have an eye

for Josie, didn't you?

What're you tryin' to do?

Catch her on the rebound?

Something like that.

You don't care for her any more

than you do for that $2 cigar.

But I do.

- Got it all figured out, haven't you?

- Sure.

Then why tell me about it?

I don't know why, but

for some c*ck reason she still

thinks that she's in love with you.

But if she'll have me, I'm just

crazy enough to marry her anyway.

You're thinking, "Shall I step aside

and give him a chance?"

Or shall I run to her and show him that the

great Pittsburgh is still the head man?"

You think you can take her away

from me any time you want to.

If you snap your fingers, she'll run

right into your arms. Turn around.

From now on, keep that charm

under lock and key.

You'll do that, won't you, Pitt?

What are you laughing about?

Read the morning paper.

Coal marries steel. You were

climbing up in the world, Pittsburgh.

But if you'd hit Josie

between the eyes with

your fist, you couldn't

have hurt her worse.

Naturally, it was too much to expect

that she would be at your wedding.

It was the biggest wedding we'd

seen around here in a long time.

Then do you remember at your

wedding reception afterward, Pittsburgh?

Charles, I want you to meet Mr.

Symonds and Mr. Channing.

It's a great pleasure.

- How do you do?

- They're on the board of Prentiss Steel.

Prentiss was just

talking about you.

That's a father-in-law's privilege.

As your wedding present,

I just suggested that

the board appoint you

to a vice-presidency...

of the Prentiss Steel Company.

Well, that'll suit me fine,

temporarily.

Are you a devotee of the opera, Mr.

Markham?

I beg your pardon?

Are you a devotee

of the opera, Mr. Markham?

Oh, uh, yes, indeed.

Oh, I think I see Mr. Evans leaving.

Excuse us, please.

- Well, goodnight, Mr. Prentiss.

- Goodnight.

- Cash, you're not leaving?

- I'm afraid so. Sorry I have to go.

I had a wonderful time. I want to

wish you both a great deal of happiness.

- Thank you, Cash.

- Goodnight. Goodnight, Pitt.

Cash! Excuse me.

You don't have to go yet.

I've been trying

to get you alone.

I'm sorry I blew my topper

the night I barged in on ya.

Oh, that's all right.

Why didn't you tell me you were

gonna marry Shannon Prentiss?

You know me. Never tip my

mitt 'til the deal's closed.

Stick around, will ya? Don't leave

me alone with all these strangers.

- I don't speak their language.

- Sorry, Pitt, but this is what you wanted.

And it looks like you got it.

I know where there's

a nice quiet corner...

in this museum where we

can cut a few touches.

You mean sit on the red plush

and talk about old times?

Yeah!

No, thanks, brother.

Goodnight.

Hey, buddy.

- Hiya, Hunky.

- What are you doing here, Pittsburgh?

Got a little chilly uptown. I thought

I'd come down here where it's warm.

- Aren't you gonna invite me in?

- Are you out of your senses?

When I look at you I am. You really are

a countess in that outfit. New?

What are you thinking of,

coming here tonight?

Oh, that g*ng'll never miss me.

Why didn't you come to my wedding?

- You didn't even send a telegram.

- Congratulations.

I hope you'll both

be very happy.

Aw, you got it

all wrong, Hunky.

Marriage with that crowd is a business,

like everything else.

I played my angles right

and made a solid deal.

But that's got nothin'

to do with you and me.

- You and me?

- Sure!

Pittsburgh, remember?

A big name for a big guy.

And I'm gonna be as

big as this town, like I said.

- And all because you got me started.

- You've done all right.

Oh, I'm not talkin' about money.

I'm talkin' about us, you and me.

We're still gonna see a lot

of each other, same as always.

Take your hands down, Pitt.

Oh, come on, Hunky. You

got the wrong slant.

You gotta see this thing

the right way.

For the first time,

I do see it the right way.

Why did you come here?

I'm not sure.

Guess I had the wrong slant.

You don't know me at all, do you?

Now I realize

you've never known me.

A few minutes ago I thought

I couldn't stand what you'd done.

Oh, I get all mixed up when you're

not around. I don't wanna lose you.

I need you.

You should've thought

of that before.

- Listen, Hunky...

I've been around a

long time, Pitt...

and in my stupid mind

there was never anybody else but you.

And you could've had me forever.

But now I'm glad

it has worked out the way it has.

You picked the kind of life you want.

So go back to it and to her...

and at least let me keep

a little respect for you.

Please go, Pitt.

Okay, Hunky.

Maybe you were thinking

of those long days when you sweated...

for old Wilson in

Shaft Number 7, Pittsburgh.

Now you own that very mine.

It gave you a feeling of triumph.

The name "Markham and

Evans" began spreading

out over the city

like a circus tent.

It became a household word.

Coal, coal tar

and its by-products:

dyes, paints, asphalts,

varnishes, roof coverings.

You made coal pay, Pittsburgh.

You were in the driver's seat.

And coal to you meant dollars

and dollars meant power.

Enough power to take the leadership of

Prentiss Steel away from Morgan Prentiss.

How you chuckled at the

stockholders' meeting

when they announced

you were elected.

You made another enemy

that day, Pittsburgh.

While to Cash Evans, it meant

something else than money:

how could it best serve

the people who depended upon it?

And somewhere in the parade

of years, Pittsburgh...

you'd forgotten a promise you made

to Cash and Joe Malneck and his friends.

- Come on out!

- We wanna talk to ya!

- Take it easy, boys, take it easy.

- Take it easy?

- Be yourself. This is me, remember?

- I remember.

I'm not so sure you

and Pittsburgh do.

I oughta bust you in

the nose for that crack.

Listen, men. I know what Pittsburgh

promised you, and he meant every word.

More gab. What about

the new safety shafts?

What about the higher wages

we're supposed to get?

All's we get is gab, gab, gab!

Now wait a minute! Our companies have

grown fast. It takes money to expand.

It takes money for these men to live too.

Wait. I'll give you my word.

At the end of the quarter...

Joe and anybody else you guys name

can examine the books.

If Pittsburgh is making money,

you'll get your share.

- Is that fair enough?

- What do we know about books?

All right, men.

We'll let it ride this time.

Go back to work.

Keep your eyes open, Joe.

Those boys are tired

of stalling, Cash.

You stuck your neck out this time.

I hope you don't get it chopped off.

- Thanks, Joe. Have a cigarette.

- Sure.

I don't care what ya promised.

I don't show my books to anybody.

You will this time Pitt.

I gave the men my word,

and you're gonna back me up.

Am I?

What about the

hospitalization you promised?

- The schools you were going to build?

- Schools?

And make 'em as smart as me?

Sometimes I wonder if you're

smart or just plain lucky.

You're heading for trouble, big trouble,

if you don't change your thinking.

My thinking's all right.

Leave it alone.

I am warning you Pitt,

my partnership in this

outfit gives me some right

to say what's done,

so I'm gonna keep my promise

to Joe Malneck understand?

Hold on, ya hothead!

We're pals, Cash, remember?

- Do you?

- All right, you win.

If it means that much to ya, I'll put the

books on display at the public library.

How's that?

I'm a rat, Cash.

That's why I gotta have you around,

sorta keep me in line.

Get a sharper knife.

You could slice it thinner.

I love ya, Cash. So help me, I love ya.

Yeah.

Say, don't forget that party tonight.

You haven't been around in a long while.

You oughta mix with

the big boys more. It pays off.

You should know.

By the way, uh,

why don't you bring Josie?

I haven't seen her in a long while.

Maybe I will. It might amuse her

to see that mausoleum you live in.

You two set the date yet?

You'll know it when we do.

Is it bothering you, Pitt?

- Nice to be dancing with the host.

- Hmm?

Or am I dancing alone? You're doing

the steps all right, Charles...

but your mind seems to be elsewhere.

I can't understand what's happened

to Cash. He's usually right on time.

I'm worried about him.

You're not worried about

Miss Winters, are you?

Well, your worries are over.

- Hello, Josie, Cash!

- Mrs. Markham, Pitt.

Say, Josie, you look like

a real countess tonight.

Thank you.

- We're sorry we're late, Mrs. Markham.

- Oh, that's all right.

Hello, Cash.

- How are you, Cash?

Glad to see you, Cash.

You haven't been getting

around much lately.

I wouldn't say that.

Oh, Miss Winters. Mr. Cooper, Mr.

Wilcox, Mr. Drake.

- How do you do?

- May I have this dance?

- Not with him!

- Nor with him! With me.

- It's a host's prerogative.

- Excuse me.

Prerogative! I wonder if he

knows what it means?

You know, I just realized what's

been wrong with these parties.

What?

You. Ya liven 'em up.

It's like a Christmas tree.

It's dead 'til you turn on the lights.

- Thank you.

- I really missed you, Josie.

Dancing with you again, it's-

it's like old times.

Old times are old times, Pitt.

What's the matter? You afraid?

You're the same old Pittsburgh.

But I'm not the same Josie.

- Miss Winters, it was my dance.

- How about me, Miss Winters?

Sorry, boys. She's gonna dance

with the guy what brung her.

Bulls and bears of Wall Street

are nothing...

compared to the wolves

of the steel industry.

Shall we finish

our dance, Charles?

With pleasure, Mrs. Markham.

I've never had

a better time in my life.

Naturally. You were out

with an old swell-time expert.

Never had any complaints yet

from the female clientele.

The first good time

I've had in a month of Sundays.

And I always

remember firsts.

Like the first time

I rode on a streetcar.

- Or ate an ice-cream cone.

- Or the first long dress you wore.

Mm-hmm. Don't you ever remember

the first good times in your life?

Mm-hmm. My first long pants were too tight

and my first pay cheque too little.

The trouble with you,

Josie, you've been too

nearsighted to see the

good times around you.

Too much Pittsburgh smoke.

Yes.

But now the atmosphere

is getting pretty clear, Cash.

Well, it's about time.

I never could understand

what you saw in that big lug anyway.

Why, I used to beat him

at everything from pool to poker.

I could dig more coal in two hours

than he could in two days.

I did all his talking for him,

and his fighting.

I used to lick him every once in a while

just for the exercise.

Take his dames away from him just to prove

that old stuff about mind over matter.

And why did you stop

taking his dames?

I didn't. But when they were too dumb

to see straight, I wouldn't even bother.

But sometimes dumb girls get smart,

if you give them enough time.

- I've been learning a lot.

- For instance?

Oh, just that chinning yourself

on the moon isn't such a neat trick.

The man I want to marry must

have both feet on the ground.

About, uh, size 12?

Maybe.

I'm just an easygoing,

calculating guy.

But, sister, when I finally call 'em,

they drop right in the pot.

What if this bird you've been

talking about doesn't even ask you?

I hope he will.

He will. I'm sure he will, Josie.

The way you behaved. I've never seen

anything so ridiculous in all my life.

- You and that woman.

- Oh, stop it, will ya, Shannon?

I understand, Charles.

You love her.

You always have

and you always will.

Can't I have a laugh with an old friend

without you gettin' green-eyed?

Look in the mirror.

If ever I saw...

a short-fused dynamite

ready to explode...

I want a divorce, Charles.

For what?

Because Hunky and I were dancing?

No. Because you're crude,

rude and a bore.

You always will be.

You've ruined my father's life...

- and now you're ruining mine.

- That's right, Shannon.

Then you'll

give me my freedom?

- No.

- But why do you insist on keeping me?

Is it because in me,

you have some alleged social standing?

Or is it because you and

that hunky are after...

Stop it! That isn't true. I

know what you're thinking...

and I'm tempted to wring

your lovely little neck.

I'll let you go

when I'm ready.

I hate you.

Oh, you'll feel better

in the morning.

It's not a fairy tale.

It's scientific history.

Breathtaking.

Taxing the imagination.

Out of coal tar came more than

200 different substances.

Dyes, expl*sives, sulpha drugs.

These are the products that come

from a simple lump of coal.

Thousands of derivatives.

And here is the big factor I've been

telling you about. The sulpha compound.

Big? Why, the word

isn't big enough to describe it.

What Doc's been telling us

is so big it makes your head swim.

Did I hear somebody

say "big"?

Brethren, you're

speaking my language.

I'm sure were are, Pitt.

That's why you're going to be...

one of the main contributors

to the greatest

gift man has received

in modern times.

Is that so?

What am I giving away?

If it works,

you'll be saving lives.

You'll be doing away

with a lot of suffering in this world.

Remember Doc told us

about a man who thought coal...

was the basis

for a medical cure-all...

and that scientists

have been trying to prove it ever since?

It looks like Doc

has finally found the trail.

I hope it's a short trail.

In my books...

every time the clock strikes

it oughta ring like a cash register.

- Go ahead, spill it, Doc.

- That's why we're here, Pitt.

Gonna take a lot of money to carry on this

research, but we're close to the answer.

A sulpha-type compound

made of coal tar...

that would check certain

bacterial growth in body fluids...

and at the same time

be as harmless to take as water.

Hmm. Very interesting.

Look, Doc, why don't you stick

to your paints and varnishes?

Let somebody else worry about

this sulpha whatever-it-is.

But this is something

that'll benefit all humanity.

Let's level on something that will benefit

Markham and Evans.

We're to drop our medical research

after all our work?

Medicine isn't up our alley.

We're in the coal business and that's that.

Wait a minute, Pitt.

If that's your verdict I'm getting out of

the coal business. Doc and I are leaving.

- Why don't you think it over, Pitt?

- His time's too valuable.

You can have my interest in

Markham and Evans at whatever it's worth.

It's a deal.

You can start packing.

- Grazlich, you're in charge from now on.

- I'm leaving too.

Pittsburgh, you're making

the greatest mistake of your life.

I doubt it, Hunky.

I probably made bigger mistakes.

- But I'll still do all right by myself.

- By yourself's right.

Just take the name "Evans" off of

Markham and Evans and that'll complete it.

With pleasure. And that

won't take very long.

- Oh, Mr. Markham?

- Yes?

Mr. Malneck and some

other gentlemen are here to see you.

- What do they want?

- They didn't say.

Oh, I remember.

Have 'em come in.

- Come in, gentlemen.

- Thank you.

Hello, boys. What's up?

- It's the end of the quarter, Pittsburgh.

- Yeah?

We hadn't heard from you,

so we decided to drop around.

We come to look

at the books.

This is Mr. Smith and Mr. Carney,

the union bookkeepers.

So if you'll get hold

of your company accountant

the sooner we get to work,

the sooner we'll know where we stand.

I don't know what you're

talkin' about, Joe?

What did I tell ya?

Wait a minute. We had a promise that

we could look at the company books...

- the end of this quarter.

- Did I give it to ya?

- No, but Cash did, and he's your partner.

- He was my partner.

Get this, Malneck. I'm running

this company now, my own way, see?

That means nobody looks at the books

unless I say so, and I say no.

Suppose we make you let

us look at the books?

Go right ahead, Johnny.

- Well, we got ways of making you...

- Take it easy, Johnny.

If he won't let us see the books,

there's no law says he must.

It's only fair to tell you, Pittsburgh.

The men aren't gonna like this.

That g*ng of moles don't know what they

like. Now how 'bout diggin' a little coal?

- I'll dig coal!

- Johnny, Johnny.

Come on, let's go.

I know you were

on the level, Cash.

I've been keeping the men quiet

only because of what you promised.

What I promised.

That's the tough part, Joe.

I should've known he'd cross you

the moment I left the company.

Labor will never forgive him for it,

even if nothing can be done about it.

There's something I can do about it.

I'll be right with you, Joe.

- What are you going to do, Cash?

- Never mind, Josie.

Stay away from him.

You'll only make more trouble.

- She's right, Cash.

- Are you afraid he'll get hurt?

No.

I'll let you in on a

little secret, Josie.

That night I took you to Pittsburgh's party

I wanted us to prove something for keeps.

I wanted to prove that you could look

Pittsburgh in the eye and laugh at him.

That he could take you in his arms,

you could still laugh, and mean it.

We did prove it, didn't we?

What else can I do to make you believe it?

Stop worrying about what's

gonna happen to him now. Come on, Joe.

But it's you, Cash, not Pitt.

Cash! Oh.

You better stay here, Josie.

Oh, Doc, he doesn't understand.

- Who was the message from?

- I don't know, Mr. Evans.

I know. It was from that crazy Johnny.

We'd better get over to the mine quick.

First I heard of it.

If you think there's gonna be trouble...

I'll call the shift off.

And have 'em think I'm scared

to go down in my own mine?

- Number 7. I'll handle it.

- Maybe I better go with you.

- I hear there's trouble down below.

- I wouldn't know.

You wouldn't know,

or you wouldn't tell me?

I understand there's somebody down here

wearin' a chip with my name on it.

- Know anything about it?

- You better ask Johnny.

Johnny, huh?

Where is he?

Up ahead.

I warned him not to go down alone.

He's the boss.

Johnny's bad medicine

with a pick in his hands.

What's the matter with the automatic?

Won't it run?

Yes, but it's not safe.

Keep it slow.

A little thing I've been trying to get

Pittsburgh to fix.

- Johnny?

- Yeah?

- I wanna talk to you.

- You'll never get a better chance.

Pick up your pay cheque and beat it.

The rest of you men get back to work.

- What is this?

- I'll tell ya what it is, big shot.

Playin' us all for suckers

with a promise you never figured to keep.

Lettin' us break our backs

diggin' for more dough...

when you had the cards

stacked against us.

Well, the cards are still stacked,

only this time we're dealin'.

Look around ya, big shot.

See what the boys think of ya.

And when we finish with you this time,

you'll never gyp anybody again!

All right, break it up.

I said, break it up!

Rush him, fellas. We got him

where we want him now!

Hold it, Johnny! If you think

this guy's double-crossed you...

it's nothing to what

he's done to me.

If there's anything left

when I'm finished, you can have him.

This is one time you're

gonna do your own fighting!

- Trying to be a hero, huh?

- Get 'em up!

Giving yourself a build-up

in front of the men.

Go get him, Cash!

So tough he used to break a pick

handle with his bare hands.

And I can still break 'em.

And necks too.

You once stayed three minutes

for a hundred bucks.

I'll give you a thousand

if you can do it again.

- What are you backing away for?

- Go get him, Cash!

Shall I get you a pillow?

Fight him like a miner, Cash!

Anything goes!

- Where's Mr. Evans? Thanks.

- He went down to Number 7.

What happened?

Josie.

All right, back it up!

Back up here!

- Give 'em room.

- Give 'em room. Back up.

Back it up.

Come on, people.

Stand back there.

Come on, break it up now.

Clear out.

Move on out.

Better get some coffee.

No, Doc, I...

May be some time yet.

How is she?

She's in a very critical condition.

They're operating now.

I wish I could tell you

how sorry I am, Cash.

You're a little late

waking up to that, aren't you?

You gotta listen to me.

All your life there's

only been one person, you.

Now you think you can clean up everything

that's been happening for years.

It isn't that easy. Even if you went back

to the beginning you couldn't change.

What do you mean, couldn't?

There isn't a thing I can't do.

That's what you used to tell Josie,

but she got wise.

She once told me you were

no good, not for anybody.

Funny how it's worked out, because

the one you're least good for is yourself.

All the mistakes you've made

have piled up and someday

they're gonna come down on

you like a ton of slag.

If I live to be a hundred,

I hope I never see you again.

Come in.

Hello, Shannon.

Going out?

Yes, I'm having

dinner with Father.

Well, you're

a charming picture.

It appears that for once

in your life you ran

into something you couldn't

talk your way out of.

Brawling like

a common coal miner.

I thought it'd be nice

if we had dinner together.

Just the two of us.

What a lovely idea, Charles.

It would be a novelty.

I'd like to make a new start

with you, Shannon.

The things I've said and done...

I don't expect you

to forgive me, but...

Well, that's very

generous of you.

And I'm glad

you feel that way...

because I'll never

forgive you, Charles.

Shannon. I'm not trying to defend myself

for what I've already done...

but I'd like

to make things right.

Maybe we could go

away for a year.

- Take a trip around the world.

- Why have you changed so suddenly?

Is it because

Josie Winters may die?

Is that why you've come running back,

to make sure of me?

If that's cruel of me,

I'm sorry, Charles.

All right, Shannon.

You can have your divorce.

- I won't stop you.

- Markham, as time goes on...

you'll realize that retribution

has a way of overtaking people,

even as clever as you.

Come, my dear.

I'll never rest 'til

I break that fellow.

I'll put him back where

he was the day he came

into my office if it's

the last act of my life.

This is Charles Markham calling.

Any news about Miss Winters yet?

She is?

If there's any change, will you have

Doc Powers call me, please? Thank you.

From now on, we're gonna

be together, no matter what.

No matter what.

I beg your pardon.

Isn't your name Markham?

Of the monkey business

Markhams?

I really missed you, Josie.

Dancing with you again,

it's-it's like old times.

You picked the kind

of life you want...

so go back to it

and to her...

and at least let me keep

a little respect for you.

- Hello?

- Hello, Pittsburgh.

Yeah, Doc Powers.

Yes, I heard you'd called

several times.

Well, I'm glad to be able to report

to you that Josie's out of danger.

Yes, but it will be many, many months

before she's fully recovered.

Thanks.

Thanks for calling, Doc.

Thanks to guys like you

who forgot the human element...

labor's gonna be good and solid.

You're the father of

practically a thousand new

unions just because you

tried to be smart.

How do you like that?

How do you like being...

a guardian angel left-handed

just because you forgot to be human?

I came to tell you things

are gonna be different.

Different? I wouldn't believe a word you

said if you swore it on a stack of Bibles.

I'm goin' whole hog for the miner.

I'm gonna make Pittsburgh...

the greatest town to work

and live in in America!

Nah. The boat sailed, Pittsburgh,

and you're not on it.

Nobody'll ever like

or trust you again.

We'll see about that.

I'll make 'em like me.

I'll cram it down their throats.

Even you'll be singing

my praises, Joe.

I don't have so good

a voice, Mr. Markham.

So it's

Mr. Markham now, eh?

There you are, something new.

The model city

of Markham, Pennsylvania.

Markham, huh? Named after?

Joe Doakes. Look at it.

For the coal and steelworkers

of Pittsburgh.

Sunshine in every room. Movies.

A hospital. A recreation center.

Practically rent-free.

The land is bought and paid for...

and ready for occupancy

in ten months, right, Thornton?

- Yes, Mr. Markham.

- How do you like it, boys?

Where do you come in, Mr. Markham?

What's your angle?

My angle?

This is all for the people.

A Christmas present

from Pittsburgh to Pittsburgh...

and no strings attached.

All you big guys are just alike.

The harder you are when you're young, the

more you think of heaven when you pass 35.

Now if you gentlemen will excuse me,

I have another appointment.

I'll have that lug fired.

Did you hear what he said?

You don't fire

newspapermen, Mr. Markham.

They always have

the last word.

As long as you rook

everybody, they like it.

Treat 'em nice,

and they start wisecrackin'.

Beg your pardon.

What's this building going up here?

That's the new hospital

Charles Markham is giving the city.

Charles Markham, the big coal

and steel man? I hear he's a great guy.

That's what he says.

But believe me, he's so crooked...

he could hide

behind a corkscrew.

Oh. Well, I hear

he does a lotta good.

Any guy that's double-crossed

all the people he has...

can't be on the up-and-up.

- Cigarette?

- Thanks.

I may be needin' this.

- Dinner is served, Mr. Markham.

- All right.

May I wish you many happy

returns of the day, sir?

You certainly may.

Thank you.

- Mike.

- Yes, sir?

Have I ever done anything

you didn't like?

Well, sir, I can, uh, I can only speak

of personal contact, sir.

In that respect you've lived up

to my highest standards.

Then you can honestly say,

man to man, that you actually like me?

Well, sir, speaking free and easy, and

man to man, I honestly would say it, sir.

You're a good, democratic guy, Mike.

I'm gonna ask a favor of you.

By all means, sir. What is it?

- Have dinner with me.

- But, Mr. Markham!

I'll be darned if I'm gonna

celebrate my birthday alone!

Cash told you once

that all the mistakes you had made...

were going to pile up and someday

fall on you like a ton of slag.

Prentiss also knew it

when he promised to break you.

And the day finally came

when Prentiss kept his promise.

And that wasn't the end

of your bad luck, Pittsburgh.

It seemed as though some

special kind of justice

kept following you through

the next years...

until at last you were

counting your assets with a minus sign...

and your friends on one finger.

In all those years, you'd never

seen Cash and Josie again.

In a way, I suppose,

they were grateful to you...

for indirectly you had

brought them closer

together than either of

them had ever dreamed.

And as the parade of years

went by, you thought

often of their happiness

and your troubles.

Suddenly, one day all your little troubles

became less than nothing.

The day the laughter

went out of the world.

And in the weeks

and months that followed...

the shadow of destruction spread its

darkness across the face of the earth...

until what some people called

"the impossible" happened.

I appreciate your coming down here

when I phoned you, Doc.

I'm all mixed up.

You gotta help me.

That sounds odd

coming from you, Pittsburgh.

I remember as though

it were yesterday.

I never heard a baby squawk so loud

and determined...

as though he were

shouting for everybody to

hear "There's nothing in

the world I can't do!"

That was a long time ago.

And yet there was one thing

you never learned.

- What was that?

- Humility.

You destroyed a great company just

because you wanted to be the whole show.

Well, I've learned a lot

of things, but what can I do?

- I guess I can still fight, eh, Doc?

- I wonder.

You haven't thrown

a decent punch in years.

Always promoting. Why don't you stop

trying to be a skyrocket?

Come down to earth.

Find a spot.

In what spot do you think

I'd do the most good?

Well, there are some

problems, Pittsburgh...

that every man has gotta

solve for himself.

So long, Pitt.

- Where you goin', Barney?

- Oh.

I'm goin' over to a meeting

of the third district defense committee.

Here. I'm a senior

air raid warden.

Heh-heh. See you later, Pittsburgh.

Report at 8.00

in the morning. Name?

Charles... Ellis.

Charles Ellis.

Experience?

Coal miner.

You thought no one would know

anything about Charles Ellis...

but Josie, Joe Malneck

and I did.

And we knew it was

the start of something good.

That like black coal

on the way up to sunlight...

you too were beginning

to work out of the darkness.

No job was too hard

for you, Pittsburgh.

You were down to earth,

finding in honest work...

the first real satisfaction

you'd known in years.

It felt good to work

and sweat again, didn't it?

To match muscle and might

against a job that had to be done.

Yes, it's good for the soul

to work with the hands, Pittsburgh.

It cleans a man

all the way through.

Matching your strength against steel,

you took on the strength of steel itself.

Self-pity was forgotten...

and as the weapons of w*r were forged,

so were you as a human being and a man.

You have the figures in front of you.

The list calls for an all-out effort.

I read the list very carefully, Mr. Evans.

I say you've committed

us to too great a quota.

We're committed to a w*r, Burns.

From now on it's planes, g*ns and tanks.

- I've said we could do it.

- Yes, but...

All we've been getting out of you for the

past month has been ifs, ands, and buts.

I'm sorry, Mr. Evans. I'm not

trying to be unduly pessimistic.

I'll admit that I'm not a w*r expert.

I'm only your production manager.

You mean you were

my production manager.

Very well, sir,

if that's the way it is.

I know it's going to be

tough, gentlemen but

the production race is

on and we're in it.

Jones, can you get your men

to roll up their sleeves an extra notch?

I don't think they'll

let us down, Mr. Evans.

Let's face the facts, gentlemen.

We're all in this together.

Every man and woman in our factory

should have the same goal as our soldiers.

Now let's get back to the job.

Well, he finally got

around to firing Burns.

But how could he?

He can't carry the entire load.

Don't you think you're taking on

about four jobs too many?

I can handle it, dear.

And stop worrying about me.

Who's gonna take

Burns' place, Cash?

Think any of the men

in that room are big enough?

- Well, I...

- I know a man who's big enough.

A man who's on your payroll

this very minute.

He started on the labor g*ng

and he saved you one day out of seven.

When he moved up to the assembly lines,

he cut one hour out of every ten.

With an idea for spot welding, he gave

you an extra 500 man hours a month.

Yesterday I heard him cutting

costs in supply and procurement.

- Why haven't I heard of him before?

- I don't know...

but he's tougher than a dozen red-hot,

spittin' wild cats.

- Who is this man?

- His name's Charles Ellis.

Send me Charles Ellis.

Josie, you better run along.

Apologize for me to the guests.

I won't budge from here

until you come with me.

Mr. Charles Ellis, Mr. Evans.

Send him in. You win, Josie.

I'll be right with you.

Ellis, I've been hearing

nice things about you

and I've decided that

you're the right man for...

- What are you doing here?

- Don't ask me. You sent for me.

I sent for Charles Ellis.

Oh. So you're the wonder boy

I've been hearing about.

I thought we had

an understanding.

We still have

as far as I'm concerned.

- I didn't tell ya to ask for me.

- Okay, so I asked for you.

- Now I'm asking you to go.

- Fine.

But after this, before you

call me off a job, be sure you want me...

'cause I'm particular

how I waste my time.

If I call you off a job again

it will be for one reason.

- To repeat what I once told you.

- Just a minute, Cash.

This is none of your business.

I don't care whether

it's my business or not.

I have something to say

and I want you to listen.

This is no time to think about personal

feelings and personal grievances.

There's a greater,

far more important emotion.

The only emotion that should guide every

one of us today: devotion to our country.

That's the only thing

you must think about.

You've got to forget

about everything else.

If you can use Pitt, use him.

Pitt, get that chip off your shoulder!

- Oh, Josie, I...

- Let me finish!

I started you two on the road

that led to this very room.

You've said it so many times

that I finally believe it myself.

This is an emergency.

You need each other.

Your country needs you.

What are you going to do about it?

I need a production manager, Pitt.

Okay, you got one.

Put an order through right away.

There'll be a meeting

of all department heads

in Mr. Evans' office

in exactly one hour.

Hello?

Hello? Who?

Mr. Evans said you'd get

your equipment Thursday?

You'll get everything Wednesday, Johnson.

My partner made a mistake.

Partner!

Once again you both rolled up

your sleeves and went to work...

only this time it was for something

bigger than yourselves.

You tore out or converted

the old tools.

In some places

you put in new ones.

And where articles of luxury

once poured forth...

now streamed the guardians

of our American life.

It was happening not only in your plants,

but in thousands of others.

It was machine g*ns now,

instead of typewriters.

The work and material that made

lipstick cases now made cartridge shells.

Plastic b*mb noses

instead of lamps.

And automobiles? No.

It was planes, tanks, trucks...

a*tillery and g*ns

flowing from the assembly lines.

American industry

on the firing line.

Labor and capital planning,

working side by side.

It takes a lot of muscle and sweat

to put over a job as big as this one...

and that's where the women

of the nation came in.

Josie Evans and thousands

of others like her...

doing their part

wherever they could.

And there were others who found

they could run a drill press...

drive a 30-ton tank...

or run a stamping machine

as well as any man.

Yes, millions of Americans,

men and women on the production line...

to feed the supply lines

to the courageous Americans...

fighting on battle fronts

all over the earth.

Fighting for a decent world.

Fighting for the survival

of free nations.

There's a reason

in my telling this story, Pitt.

I think it should be told to

every man and woman in America.

You two made a decision

that everyone in the land has to make.

That the most important word

in any man's language is "partners."

What's this? A w*r production

plant or old home week?

Where've you been, Josie?

You missed the ceremony.

Well, I was busy,

but I heard you over the loudspeaker.

Now, look. This is the plan

of the recreation room for the workers.

I've made arrangements for

the lunch-hour shows,

and for that we have

to enlarge the stage.

We could do it easily by...

Oh, come on, I'll show it to you.

Maybe you have some better ideas,

although I don't think so. Come on.

Come on, Doc, let's have a look.

Doctor?

Dr. Powers?

- Here it is, Doctor.

- Well, what do you know? A brand-new tire.

Yes, made of synthetic rubber.

All from coal tar products.

Put it back on the treadmill

for another thousand miles...

- and we'll test it again.

- Yes, Doctor.

Say, uh, Doc,

about those tires.

Uh, my front ones are, uh-

How's chances?

- Pittsburgh.

- Will you listen to that chiseller?

I love ya, Cash.

So help me, I love ya!