Skin Game

Gentlemen, I'm sorry to bother ya'll.

Sorry to bust in on you like this

but I got business to transact, and me being a stranger here

I just don't know any other way of doin' it.

No, Master Quincy, don't do it. Please, don't do it.

I'm sellin' this able bodied slave to whoever

pay me the most for him.

- Get up on the chair, Jason. - Master Quincy, please.

On the chair, Jason.

He's uh, he's over six feet tall

and he, well, he's close to 185 pounds.

He's, he can't read or write, but he's smart.

He's-he's strong, he, uh, he learns quick.

Got a good disposition, all his own teeth.

He answers to the name of Jason.

Let's see a little more of him.

Take off your shirt, boy. Go on.

I-I wouldn't be sellin' him but I've had him a long time

and he's decent company.

'I need a new state, he needs him three squares a day.'

I just don't know any other way of goin' about it

without us parting company.

Oh, please, Master Quincy, I don't need no three meals a day.

One and that's plenty for me.

Maybe, I forgot to mention, he's loyal as a hound dog.

- Who'll make me an offer? - I reckon, I can use a man.

I'll give you $200.

$200, well, I've seen women and kids go higher than that.

Take it or leave it.

Did I say, he's got all his own teeth?

- I'll bid $250. - 300.

350.

Well, I paid almost twice that much for him myself.

Alright, Mister. Guess you bought yourself--

'400!'

The bidding is over.

Mister, prime field hand, worth over $1,000, you know that.

Not to me, he ain't.

It's all there.

So is he, but you made me take his shirt off just to see him.

Here's his papers.

Maybe, you better lock him up till I get out of town.

- Kentucky liquor. - Good idea.

There's a tool shed out back in the mercantile.

Well, what you waiting for?

Come on, boy.

Master Quincy.

Come on, boy.

'Come on, boy.'

Mr. Bonner, Mr. Bonner!

Only $400 for a big buck with 30 maybe 40 years worth of working.

- Mr. Bonner! Mr. Bonner! - What is it, boy?

I took supper to that nigger you locked up in the mercantile.

What'd he do? Push down the door?

He done that a long time ago. The shed's empty.

- What are you saying, boy? - He's gone.

$400 is cheap for a nigger, Henry

but it's mighty expensive for the inside of an empty shed.

- Ha ha ha. - Ha ha ha.

How much did you say, Henry? Ten dollars a minute?

You're, you're gonna need a horse, Henry.

I've got a dead one I'll let you have, real cheap.

- Ha ha ha. - Ha ha ha.

Oh, Jesus.

I'll tell you one thing.

I've seen plenty who paid better but never one that was easier.

Oh, what-what was so easy about it?

There was a whole lot of muscle, muscle.

I had to go through for only $400.

Looks like you're only worth 400.

Oh!

Is that right? Then how come I went for $800 in Newburgh

'850 in Marionville, and almost $900 in King City.'

'Mm-hmm, and 350 in Bellflower'

'and four and a quarter in Jerico Springs.'

'Hm, pitiful 275 in Bethany.'

'Why, you remember that guy?'

I'm gonna take him.

I'll take him.

Now, you see, that's what I'm talking about, Quins.

I'm the same fellow every time.

It's the way you're making the pitch.

Alright, I'll tell you what I'll do.

- Very next place we go to. - Yeah.

We'll switch places, and you can sell me.

Oh, very funny.

Ah, what you gonna do? You're the color the buyer needs here.

'Come on, Jason. Now, quit rousing.'

You're not doin' too bad.

You know, we got 10,000 in a bank in Chicago.

'Mm-hmm.'

And let's not cut what we got on the saddle on this trip.

Hey, we better get out of here.

They probably started after us by now.

Yeah, I wouldn't doubt it a bit.

Oh.

I figure, we can be across the river and into Kansas by sun up.

- Hey, Quincy. - Yeah?

- Do me a favor, will you? - What's that?

Can you keep from takin' my shirt off

in front of all those people next time?

Seems like they got a right to see what they're buyin'.

You don't care how embarrassing it get's for me.

Of course. I don't let 'em stick a finger in your mouth

and count your teeth anymore.

- Thanks. - Your welcome.

- That's my turn to ride. - You need the exercise.

I was looking at you yesterday.

You got a little ponchy around the middle.

'When I told them you'd be going hungry.'

I thought they'd die laughing.

Well, you better provide me with some transportation.

Going back to New Jersey where people are people.

Hey, Quincy.

- Hey, Quincy! - Yeah?

How about if we stop for a while?

- We just did. - That was three hours ago.

I don't know what's the matter with you?

I bought you a mule so we could both ride.

'You're complaining more than ever.'

Couldn't you find something a little softer?

I'll tell you what.

You go ahead into town.

If I'm not there in a little while

you just start to sail without me.

Oh!

Fair shake.

Isn't that where we were yesterday?

Nope.

- Dirty shame. - Oh, you sure?

Yeah.

Oh, my poor old leg.

All these little towns are beginning to sound

the same to me.

Dirty shame, sour grapes.

Second best, borrowed time.

- You been keeping a list? - I don't need one.

Well, what if you made a mistake?

I don't make mistakes, I'm perfect.

Oh! That's nice.

'Cause I sure would hate to go ride into some place

where we been before.

I mean a thing like that could ruin our entire trip.

Hold 'em up.

- Let 'em rest. - Get down!

Well, warm day.

Where you headed?

Uh-huh, just came from there. It ain't much.

- Ah, it never is. - Ha ha.

They're runaways, on their way back down south.

That's my line, runaways.

Rounded up this bunch all the way over in Nebraska.

Plunkett's my name, what's yours?

I heard Nebraska's a free territory.

That's what they heard too.

But the government passed a law saying

"A runaway is a runaway, in free territory or no."

- I'm also into buying business. - He's not for sale.

What if I said $200.

Mister, I wouldn't even sell you for $200.

Well, I don't know. I just don't know.

I rarely pay more than $200, just for anybody..

Lord, it sure is warm.

Bring your hand out of there. Empty.

Now, start traveling.

I got a memory for faces, Mister.

So do I. Just hate to clutter up my mind with them. Good day.

Follow me.

Jason, there's one thing we don't hardly need

it's a bald horse.

Oh.

Hey, Quincy. I think we picked up enough for this trip.

Maybe, we've to think about heading back to Chicago.

We can't. We got three week's work here in Kansas.

Why don't we forget all about Kansas?

What you talkin' about?

Missouri is already tapped out, so is Kentucky

Tennessee, Maryland, how are we gonna forget about Kansas?

I've got friends back east who don't know there's a Kansas.

- I'm being serious. - So am I.

We can catch the train to Chicago

collect our goods and think out a new game.

New game? There's plenty of life left in this one.

This one's making me nervous.

How come you're always the one who gets nervous?

Because I'm always the one who gets dragged off and locked up.

Alright, Jas.

Tomorrow morning you still feel the same way

we'll pack up and leave.

You mean it, Quins?

You mean, you really quit and no con?

No. I told you, Jas, tomorrow.

In the meantime, we'll work that little town up ahead.

Thought so. You're unbelievable.

- Come on. - 'Hey, wait a minute.'

Can I ride the horse for a while?

What's wrong with you? We're too close to town to do that.

Suppose, someone saw us.

Hey, hey, wait a minute, hold it, hold it.

Oh!