part 3

(TRAIN WHISTLES)

See?

- Nice?

- Very nice.

- Lovely.

- Beautiful.

Pass me Panther.

Sweetie.

You wished to see me?

Yes. I wanted to thank you

for that nice story you wrote.

- I thought you came in to complain.

- Me? Not at all.

There's one thing worse

than being talked about...

(BOTH) And that's not being talked about.

- Then you won't mind my second story.

- Not at all.

Not at all...

No use looking. This isn't it.

As a matter of fact, I was just admiring

how your hair sweeps up from your neck.

My, my, a real sharpie.

Now, look. Look at this story

you wrote about me.

Look, it says here...

Quote - "If you're really here

to sell insurance, Mr Smith,

"you'd do well..." And so on. Why that?

That creates suspicion.

Grandview is already overcrowded

with insurance agents.

A clever man like you would stay away.

Simple.

A clever man like me doesn't mind

competition. He has ideas.

He sees insurance as long range.

He doesn't care if he never sells

a policy... for six months or a year.

Would you like to write a little retraction?

Say you were a bit hasty and Smith's

a charming fellow. Would you do that?

No, I guess you wouldn't.

I'm going to get a soda. You take Panther.

Sis, I got a scoop. Who do you think's in town?

I met him too. Rip Smith.

He was over at school...

- Hi, Bob.

- Hello, Mr Smith.

We were just going to the hotel to see you.

Mr Hoopendecker said it was all right. He

says you're the greatest guy in the world.

- I think he exaggerates.

- He said you'd do it.

- Do what?

- Coach the basketball team.

- Would you, Mr Smith?

- I'll leave you two.

- Would you?

- Sure. I want to talk to your sister first.

(ROMANTIC BIG BAND MUSIC PLAYS)

Make that two, will you?

- I ordered a headache powder.

- Just what I need.

Don't go. I expect to be around here for

quite a spell. You have to get used to me.

Perhaps you're right. I've got used to

the other weird goblins in this town.

Goblin, huh? How does that go?

"You better mind your parents

and your teachers fond and dear

"And cherish them that loves you

and dry the orphan's tear

"Help the poor and needy ones

clustered all about

"Or the goblins will get you

if you don't watch out."

That's "The Goblins Will Get You

If You Don't Watch Out."

That's "Little Orphan Annie."

By golly, that's right.

Oh, headache powder. Chocolate flavour.

- Tell me about this civic centre of yours.

- Why?

I'm just interested.

After the way you shot your big mouth off?

Not knowing anything about it either.

I hope it didn't do any harm.

- Only set progress back a few years.

- It did?

I'm sorry. Maybe I can make up for it.

Help in some way.

Tell me about it.

- Why did you do it?

- What?

Butt into the meeting.

I was just busting with good spirits.

The town looked perfect

so why would you change it?

Sure there wasn't some other reason?

If there was, it escapes me at the moment.

Some of the fellas have got to go home

and we thought maybe for a starter

you could explain the back pass dilemma.

- It says Rip Smith used it to perfection.

- It does?

- The what dilemma?

- Quiet, please. This is technical talk.

Sure. I can show you. It's very simple.

Anybody got a pencil?

Get up around here.

We're on the attacking team.

I have the ball.

Here I am. Here's my guard. Here you are.

There's your guard.

I pass to you and move in your direction.

My guard crosses to cover me.

Then I fall in behind you like that. That

brings the two guards close together.

You back pass to me and cut like that.

Your guard crosses, bumps into his

own man and you've got an easy layout.

See?

There's nothing to it.

Give me the ball. I'll demonstrate.

That's the best part.

You be his guard, you be my guard.

Follow me, men. All out here.

We'll use that tree for a basket.

We'll line up a defence right here.

You be his guard

and you be his guard, right?

Remember what I told you.

Pass, follow the pass,

back pass, loop pass, boomeroom.

You check on this.

- Over here, Shorty.

- Pass it!

Come on, Bob. Let me have it.

That wasn't bad. All but the boomeroom.

Let's try some baskets.

Oh-oh.

Someone's gonna have to climb a tree.

Shorty, come here.

Allez-oop!

Can you reach it?

(DOG BARKS)

It's easy, Ike.

You start gabbing about insurance

and then very gradually,

you sneak up on your subjects.

Talk about his life expectancy, but find out

what he thinks of progressive education.

Right. Here we go.

(MUSIC SWELLS)

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