Mr. and Mrs. North - Shoot To Kill

Five days a week for eighteen months, Sam Mercer has ridden across town on the bus to work and home, to three rooms in a cold water flat, to his wife and baby. But not tonight. Tonight he's making a detour. One that is taking him back to an old life, an old friend, and trouble. Sam is pressing on Art's doorbell. Art opens the door and says "Well for.... look who's here, Sammy". He says "Hello, Art". Art says "Sammy boy, I can't believe it. Come on in kid, come in". Sam says "Sounds like you got company". Art says "Oh, just some of the gang. Come in kid". Sam says "No thanks, Art, I better not". Art says "Come on". Sam says "Look Art, could I talk to you private for just a minute?" Art says "Well, sure Sammy boy, sure. In here". They go into another room, and Art says "Well, what's on your mind, kid?" Sam says "I need some money, Art. Helen's been sick a lot the last six months, ever since the baby was born. I haven't been able to get a decent job, you know how it is for a guy with a record". Art says "Yeah, sure I know. Well, how much you need, kid?" Sam says "About ..about a thousand. Maybe I could get by on seven fifty, Art, but I...." Art says "Oh look, Sammy, I'd like to help you out, but I just don't have that kind of dough. A hundred or two, sure, okay, but...." Sam says "Okay Art, thanks anyway". Art says "You know kid, this...this makes me a little bit sore". Sam asks "What do you mean?" Art says "I mean you, a good guy like you, strapped for dough. You like the way you're living, working on a docks all day and going home to a wife and a squalling kid every night, packing your lunch in a tin pail, worrying about bills, trying to decide whether to ride to work or save a dime for a glass of beer?" Sam says "Look Art, will you...." Art says "Who do you think you're kidding, Sammy? Remember when you were living in a nice apartment, driving a flashy car, wearing decent clothes, running around with numbers, like Kay Miller out there. Well, a guy may stop living that way Sammy, but you can't tell me he ever stops wanting to". Sam asks "Why the sermon, Art? You just preaching or have you got something in mind?"