MAC and PEACHUM walk through the park. They pass a man (an INNOCENT CIVILIAN) with a gun to his head.
MAC
Do you think he knows something we don’t?
PEACHUM
We could always ask him. You worried about something in particular?
The INNOCENT CIVILIAN makes the sign of the cross.
MAC
Well, I’ve been following the market and I think those banker boys in there might have already –
The INNOCENT CIVILIAN blows his brains out. MAC and PEACHUM look back.
MAC
– put their “idea” in play.
PEACHUM
So we’ll move fast then. Have you tried this scam out before?
They watch as BEGGARS appear from nowhere, take the dead man’s belongings, and scurry off.
MAC
No. This is its maiden voyage. I thought we’d need something big to get them heated up.
One of the BEGGARS puts on the dead man’s shoes.
PEACHUM
And the alias?
MAC
Signor Battisti has done most of his damage in the Napoli area … so –
PEACHUM
It’s harder to check out … But it can still be done …
MAC
Those men are gamblers. They look and sound legit, but, at heart, they like the fast buck and the risky venture.
The BEGGAR with the shoes slowly walks off, showing them with pride to PEACHUM and MAC as he leaves.
PEACHUM
Usually with other people’s money, though.
MAC and PEACHUM continue to walk.
MAC
Yeah, and if we’d given them that option … But this only works if people know they’ve put in their own money first. That’s what lures the suckers …
PEACHUM
You mean the investors.
MAC
And when the “investors” have put in their money, our banker friends will think they have the opportunity to remove as much of it as they can before anyone is the wiser …
PEACHUM
Under normal circumstances … if we weren’t just setting them up for the government, and it all played out …
MAC
When would we spoil their fun and take the money for ourselves? Probably as soon as it was moved to that Florida bank.
PEACHUM
How?
MAC
I didn’t get that far in my thinking.
PEACHUM
And it sounded so promising up until then …
MAC
Well, it’s just supposed to keep your fed friends happy and you out of jail. So what was the point in thinking it further?
PEACHUM
Well, I can’t help wondering.
MAC
About what?
PEACHUM
About when you’ll decide to screw the feds and me and go for the money. Not that I’d blame you. It’ll be a tidy sum.
MAC
Yeah. Lucky for you I’ve never really been in it for the money.
PEACHUM
Is there anyone who believes you when you tell them that?
MAC
Only Polly. Because she does it for the same reason I do. She loves the life.
PEACHUM
We wanted something better for her.
MAC
I didn’t corrupt her, no matter what you think. She always knew she didn’t belong in those posh schools or with those tidy rich kids you worked so hard to surround her with. She belongs where she is now, and I gotta tell you … she has talent. She pilfers with the best of them. And she has nerves of steel. She reminds Pork of you at your best.
PEACHUM
Really. I suppose it could be in the blood.
MAC
That’s what she thinks. And she’s grateful to you because of it.
PEACHUM
Really? That’s nice to hear.
They walk off.
Blackout.