In Old Chicago

Isn't it time to stop this travelin', for it dark and the child shiverin'?

We will not. And us not two hours, or maybe three, from Chicago itself?

"Ha, ha," says I.

Get along with ya, ya lazy devils. I'll be layin' me whip on your backs.

Chicago will not be movin'...

and us living there for the rest of our days, God willin'.

I'll not be held back by your tongue.

A fine city waiting there just over the rim of the land.

"I'll rest there tonight," I said to myself.

And so I will. 'Tis a mighty city will be built here.

The hub. Yes, the hub of the country...

fillin' all this prairie land...

and you boys living to see it.

Huh, indeed.

Come on. Get along with ya.

Look, Pa. It's a train.

Come on, Pa. Let's race her.

By the twinklin' stars of heaven, I will.

- Come on, boys. - You'll do no such.

Go on, Pa! You can lick it!

We're licking it! We're licking it!

Whoa! Whoa there!

Hold on, boys! Whoa, boy. Whoa there.

Whoa!

Whoa, boy.

Holy Mary, Mother of God.

- Pat. Pat! - Pa.

Pat. Jack, fix the water, quick.

Dion, my petticoat, tear it.

- Ma. - Shh!

Dion, take off your coat and put it under his head.

- Is he hurt bad? - How should I be knowin'?

Pour a little water over his head.

That's enough. Dion, get the whiskey.

Never mind me. Are the rest unharmed?

- Not a scratch. - Heaven be praised for that.

'Twas me own fault and no other.

Ain't it the devil's own doin', though...

to be draggin' me down and then bumping the life out of me?

Just when the smell of Chicago's in me nose.

Jack.

Dion.

Bob.

Come closer here, the three of ya...

and mind what I have to say.

'Tis a grand new place, this Chicago.

And them that grow with it will be rich and strong...

like I was always minded to be.

'Tis a boom, and you'll boom with it.

Someday you'll be fine, big men...

a credit to me name...

and everybody speakin' with respect of the O'Learys...

and how they grew up with the city and put their mark on it.

You're wastin' yourself, Patrick. You with your fine talk.

It's me last breath I'm usin', and I'll have me say.

- Help me put him in the wagon. We've got to find a doctor. - No.

No, it's no use.

Just bury me here...

and let Chicago come to me...

that couldn't come to it.

Molly...

Patrick.

- Patrick. - Ma!

Holy Mary, Mother of God, help my Pat rest in peace...

him that was so restless on Earth, for he was a good man...

for all his fine ambitions.

And if there ever was to be food to be got or shelter...

or you wanted someone to laugh with or have a bit of a good time...

you didn't have to look any further than Patrick O'Leary.

But I need not be tellin' you all this...

who know it better than I do.

Amen.

Get the horses ready, boys.

Good-bye, Pat.

Someday, I'll be sendin' the priest...

to speak the proper words.

Ma, I'll take care of ya.

I'll do what he said. You know, about Chicago and...

Sure, Ma, we'll take care of ya.

I'm gonna make a lot of money and get ya things and...

Hush it, the both of you.

Get in the wagon.

Giddap.

Ho!

Ma, we've gotta find someplace to stay.

- We can't keep on living in a wagon. - Time enough for that.

- It's a job I'm looking for first. - Look!

There's a theater.

Maybe I could get to be an actor.

You an actor, and your father not cold in his grave.

- But we've gotta do something. - It's school you'll be going to, the three of ya.

School, at my age.

Whoa.

Look. Right under my very eyes.

Wait here.

I won't be a minute away.

And keep your eyes off this picture...

- and her in tights or worse. - All right, Ma.

Gee! Look at them horses.

Ain't they beauts?

- Look. They're stuck. - Yeah, in the mud.

Young man. I mean you.

Could I bother you to assist us ladies to the sidewalk?

I'm sorry, ma'am, but I got on my new store-bought pants.

Whoa, boy! Whoa, whoa!

Ladies, if me and my brother here can make a saddle, maybe we could get you out.

- Saddle? - Yes'm, like this.

All you gotta do is hold on.

Why, that's marvelous. Ada, you try it.

That's gonna be grand. Now mind your dress.

Dion.! Jack.!

- Up to The Hub. - We just slipped.

You little brats!

- I'll... I'll... - And who will you be hittin'?

- Look at me! - A bit of mud, and it behind.

A pair of tender hands and plenty of soap, it'll be as good as new.

You don't know what you're talking about!

There's not a washerwoman in this town that could save this dress.

Is that so now? And what would you say if I told you...

that I could do it myself, if it was worth me time?

All right. You're so smart. You save this dress, and I'll give you...

I'll be namin' the price, and you providin' the soap and the tub.

Hey, Ma.! Ma, I'm back.!

I got three from Gil Warren and two from Mrs. Palmer.

- She says a pair of her whatchamacallems are missing. - Oh, she did?

You can tell the fine lady she'll get 'em back when she pays for the soap she owes.

- Yes'm. - And put up the horse.

Give her some oats. And be sure the barn door's fastened.

And then get your hands and face washed before it's supper.

Yes'm.

Gretchen.

Ja?

- Look out! - The milk!

- It's gone! - Oh, it's all right.

No use crying over it now. It's spilt.

She might've kicked you.

I told you never to milk her without putting that bar between her legs.

That's what it's for. Daisy, you hussy!

Mrs. O'Leary! What will she say?

- Oh, that's all right. I'll fix it with Ma. - Ja?

Ja.

Aw, gee.

Ja. Gut.

- Thank you, Daisy. - Ma.! Ma.!

- Out here, Jack. - I thought you were coming down to court to hear me.

With all Chicago waitin' to be washed? Get along with ya.

- Where'd I get the time? - I sure made 'em sit up and take notice.

- Did you now? - I told 'em just what I thought about 'em.

"My client is right," I said, " and you know it.

But what do you care about people, as long as you can fill your pockets?"

No wonder they say this is the worst city, with politicians like Gil Warren running things.

- And how did the fine gentleman like that? - Oh, he was sweatin' plenty.

- " Sure," I said. " What do you care about Chicago being bad... - Take the handle.

"as long as business is good and you've got all the beef and pork in the world?

"But I'll tell you this. It takes more than those things to make this a great city.

"It takes people with some sense of decency...

to make this not only the biggest city in the world, but the best. "

It's a fine silver tongue you ha'...

and your father would be that proud of you.

And I told him...

Here you are!

Well, good-bye, boys. Don't let 'em keep you too long.

If you see my old lady, tell her I'm sitting up with a friend that was took sick.

Have a cigar, Jim. Thanks for the ride. I'll do the same for you.

Thanks, lad. Anytime you're coming our way, let us know.

- We'll be glad to have you with us. - I'll remember that.

Watch the mud on your shoes, Pickle. You know Ma.

Hey, Ma! It's me!

- Hello, Ma! - Howdy, Mrs. O'Leary.

- Hi, Jack. - Hello, Pickle.

- Sorry you lost your case, Jack. - Lost?

Sure. I, uh... I forgot to tell you. The judge dismissed it.

Heaven help me. And all the time I thought he'd won it.

Don't worry. Warren won't hold it against you, as long as you lost.

I heard about it. A fella said Jack had the courtroom hypnotized.

Yeah, everybody but the judge.

Had him too, only Gil Warren put him on the bench.

Keep your hand away from that.

But, Ma, it's just the right size.

- Ma, for the last time, will you quit this laundry business? - Why should I be quittin'?

'Cause I don't want my best girl bending over a washtub all her life.

- Go along with you now. - I'll tell you what I'll do.

I'll get you a new place, out of the Patch, set you up like the finest hussy in town.

Huh? Look. Look, Ma.

- Where did you get that money? - A fellow paid me.

You're lyin'. You've been gambling at that racetrack again.

There wasn't any gambling to it, Ma.

There are only eight horses in the race... mine and seven others.

- All we had to do was shoot the other seven. - Hmph!

Huh, indeed. Come on, Ma. How about it, hmm?

- I'll not be livin' on money that isn't honestly got. - Give us a kiss then, huh?

- Now, Dion, get along with ya. I've got my work. Dion! - Aw, come on.

Won't wash out.

Look at it. I told that Gil Warren...

I wouldn't wash any more tablecloths they'd been drawing pictures on.

- Send it back. - Wait a minute. This looks like a map.

Maybe Warren's gonna hunt for a buried treasure.

Hunt for it? He's already found it in the city treasury.

Something about Randolph Street...

and... and Madison.