July 16, 2025 • 11 mins
Dive into the gripping narrative of Thieves Like Us, also known as Your Red Wagon. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, it tells the story of Bowie Bowers, a young prison escapee who, along with two accomplices, sets his sights on a daring bank heist. As plans unravel, Bowie finds himself entangled in a passionate love affair with Keechie, a relative of one of his partners in crime. This classic noir tale of doomed lovers on the run has been immortalized in film not once, but twice. Originally by Nicholas Ray in 1940s They Live By Night and later by Robert Altman in 1973s rendition of Thieves Like Us. Join us as we delve into this captivating tale. - Synopsis by Ben Tucker
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Chapter twenty of Thieves Like Us by Edward Anderson. This
LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker,
Chapter twenty, kee Chee said, it looked like Santa Claus
would have to come this year in a boat instead
of a sleigh. It had rained for six days in
the daytime. The rain shrouded woods and hills were merged
(00:22):
with the sky, and their cottage stood on a tiny island.
They went to bed at night with the rain caressing
their roof, and awoke in the morning with it still
beating a gentle, broken rhythm. It was getting close to
five o'clock this afternoon. At any time now, Alvin Philpot
the Little Boy, would be shown up with the San
Antonio newspaper. Bowie had made a deal with him four
(00:44):
weeks before, fifty cents a week and every afternoon. Now
as Alvin came home from school, he brought a paper.
They were going to get the boy something for Christmas.
That was only four days off. Now, how would you
like to have a little eggnog for Christmas? Kit Chee said.
She stood there in the kitchen doorway, a sweet potato
in one hand, appealing knife in the other, Bowie placed
(01:06):
Keechee's polished Oxford on the floor and picked up the
other one. Did you ever drink any of that? Kitche
shook her head. Maybe I did when I was little.
I don't know. I just saw a recipe in the paper,
and I think nearly everybody drinks it around Christmas time.
The eggs in it are good for you. It is
just the same to you, Bowie said. We'll just get
(01:26):
a quart of whiskey and drink it straight. But no
eggnogs for me. I got sick as a horse on
it once, and I swear to God in Heaven that
if I ever got over it, I would never drink
no more eggnog, no more Kee Chee laughed and went
back into the kitchen. They were goin to have pork
chops and candied sweet potatoes and marshmallows for supper. Bowie
rubbed the brown polish into Keechee's shoe. We'll do something
(01:49):
for Christmas, all right, he thought. It won't be just
like any other day. He had that Christmas present to
his Mamma off his mine. Now one thousand dollars, he
can Kee Chee. It driven yesterday to San Antonio and
mailed the envelope. There was one thing, though, he had
to do pretty soon, and that was get some money
to that lawyer friend the Chicka Maw's and McMaster's Archibald
(02:11):
Jay Hawkins. He and Kichi would have to go back
to San Antonio and tend to that two thousand dollars
in an envelope to a lawyer. The guy might be
dead and somebody else will get it. The thing to
do was go in some bank in San Antonio and
get a draft and send it to Hawkins. Lawyers knew
better than to go south with the thief's money. That
(02:32):
one in Tulsa had found that out. Now he could
send chickamauw postal order for one hundred dollars and the
Christmas rush and them banks and post offices in San Antonio.
Nobody would beig Ieikichi. You're him? The screen right oled,
and Bowie got up and went to the door. It
was Alvin. Water dripped from the boy's nose, and he
pulled the dry newspaper from underneath the soggy coat. You
(02:55):
going to get wet, boy, if you ain't careful, Bowie said. It.
Don't bother me. Alvin said, after Alvin left, Bowie went
back to the kitchen. I know now what we'll get
that kid, he said, A rain coat that will be
better than the shotgun. Kee Chee said there was nothing
in the newspapers. There was enough in there day before yesterday.
(03:17):
Bowie thought check 'em all was goin to trial February fourth.
That lawyer hawkin' sure I had to have some money
pretty soon, because they would sure put the chair on
check em off. He didn't get some money. After supper,
Ketchee and Bowie played checkers. It was raining harder now,
wind whistling in the window screens, and water splashing in
the puddles under the eaves. Bowie stacked the checkers in
(03:40):
the box with the sliding top. You know, I've been thinking,
Kee Chee about what you said the other day about
it being easier for a woman to disguise than a man.
I believe it's easier for a man when you get
to thinking about it. A man can grow a beard
and wear glasses and get his hair cut different. He
can't use powder and paint, though he sure can't. He
can dress up like a woman and get by with it.
(04:02):
I'd like to see you dressed up like a woman,
not me, And I'm not going to dress up like
a man. I know it, Bowie said. But you know, Kichi,
there's men in this world, though, that go around all
the time dressed up like women. They're no good. There
was a woman in Kiyota that smoked cigars and acted
just like a man. Kichi said, Then people are no good, Kichi, Absolutely,
(04:27):
they're no good. There are more no good people in
this world than they are good ones. Kechi said, A
blind man can see that up there in Alki. Kichi,
you never saw the lock. You would never have thought
so many no good people could have gotten up all
together at one time. That was one of the reasons
why I just couldn't stand it there any longer. I
(04:48):
don't know, though, but what it's just about the same
out here. The window screens whined and Bowie listened. Then
he put his finger in his ear and jiggled it. Yes, sir, keche,
I think you hit the nail on the head when
you say that the only way to beat this game
was just go off and pull the hole in after
you not have a single friend. You can't trust anybody, Bowie.
(05:09):
I've always said that, honey, I wouldn't trust Jesus Christ
if he come right in this door, right this minute.
You just have to depend on yourself in this world
and nobody else, keeche said. Bowie got up and placed
the box of checkers and board on the mantle. He turned,
placed his elbows on the mantel's edge and pushed his
stomach out away from the heat. But you know, kee chee,
(05:32):
you never will see three boys like us together again.
I think about that chickamaw up there and that jail
pulling through by himself, and I'll bet he doesn't even
have cigarette money. Nobody but a lawyer can help him,
now I know it. That's what I've been thinking about.
I'll bet that boy is beginning to think that he
doesn't have a friend in this world. There's nothing you
(05:54):
can do about it unless you want to get him
some money. That will do it, kee chee. It will
do it nine times out of ten in this world.
That's what I have to do. Get him a lawyer
lined up, an a good one. You don't have to
go anywhere around him, though, What are you talkin about?
I should say not no. All I have to do
is get some mazuma to a good lawyer, an that
(06:16):
will be all there is to it. Kit Che got
up and went over to the wood box. She carried
the stick to the fireplace and said, move over a
little bowe. Sparks popped under the dropped wood, and Kirche
stood there watching the flames LinkedIn. Don't that rain sound good? Bowie?
What did you say? Ki Che? I said, don't you
(06:37):
like to hear that rain on the house? Uh? Huh,
I sure do you bet? I do I like it,
kit Che said. The floor planks creaked as Bowie began
moving about. I should have brought in more wood to day,
he said. I guess this rain is just goin to
keep on forever. On Christmas Eve morning, icicles hung from
(06:59):
the eaves, but the day was breaking clear, the sun
was going to shine. Bowie and Keechee lay in bed
talking now about how Alvin was gonna act when they
gave him the raincoat this afternoon. They had bought the
raincoat in Antelope Center yesterday, and also a half dozen
handkerchiefs that they were going to give Alvin to give
to Filthy McNasty. If we're gonna go to San Antonio
(07:20):
this morning and get back here by four o'clock. We
got to be getting up and going, Bowie said, we're
not gonna get any business done, much less seeing a
show at this rate. Well, I don't see nothing holding
you down in this bed. Booie wooeye, Keechi said, you
usually get up before I do. Don't you what's got
hold of your legs this morning? Can't you take them
(07:41):
icicles this morning? Sure? I was just waiting to see
you show what a he man you are. Why don't
you get up and start the fire this morning? Oooh me,
I hope it's you and not somebody else. I'm talking
to my god. I hope so too. Now let me see.
All I gotta do is just get up and sort
of walk in there that fireplace, all right? You win?
(08:02):
Keechie weechie. Bowie swept back the covers, got out, tucked
the blankets back under keechee, and trotted barefooted into the
cold living room. In the kitchen, Bowie saw the flooded
floor and then the burst pipe of the shower in
the bathroom. I'll go and get filthy and tell them
to phone a plumber. Keechi said, no, you just stay here.
(08:24):
Bowie said, I'll go. It was ten o'clock when the rattling,
banging foe pick up with a vise stopped in front
of the cottage. Bowie, the mop in his hand, stood
at the window and watched the plumber get out. The
man had a head shakeed like an Irish potato, and
an unlit cigar stub in the corner of his mouth.
You the folks that are having a little trouble out here,
(08:46):
Plumber said. Bowie thumbed toward the back bathroom. Plumber looked
at Keechi standing by the bed in the bathroom, Bowie said.
Plumber's smile was soggy, the cigaret stump darkened against his
draining face. We've been swamped, he said. Freeze bathroom, Bowie pointed.
(09:10):
Plumber moved across the living room and into the hallway
toward the bath Bowie turned and looked at Kichi. Keechi
framed the question with soundless lips. What do you think?
Bowie's head went up and down. Plumber came out of
the hallway, walking briskly toward the door. Tools He said,
they watched him through the window. He got in the pickup,
(09:32):
started the motor, and then the machine moved off with
a violent jerk, Bowie pointed at Keechi's coat, Get on
out and start our car. Mud thickened water guised from
the puddles at the gate and splattered on their windshield.
Bowie pressed the wiper button and then turned onto the highway.
The road extended ahead, gray and slick. His flym gravel
(09:52):
rattled under the fenders. Light me a cigarette, Bowie said.
Ketchi looked in the panel pocket. We don't have a one, Bowie,
not a one. Can you beat that? We will get some?
Can you beat that? And that's what I call up
for you. You mean to say, there's not a one there.
(10:13):
We will get some, Bowie. Now, that's what I call up.
Thunder rolled. It was like the hills around him had
been undermined, and we're bumping around. I'm sure fed up
on rain, Bowie said, I'm sure fed up on it.
Where are we going, Bowie? MC masters, Masters, I'm gonna
(10:35):
see a lawyer there, Masters, Keechi repeated. The highway stretched
on like a long ribbon of wet funeral cloth. The rain,
drunk weeds of the ride of way rushing behind. Alvin
won't get his raincoat, Keechi said. It was laying there
on the radio, Bowie cleared his throat. I've been thinking
(10:58):
it's a good thing we gassed up you yesterday and
got them cans filled. What if we were just starting
out with a couple of gallons like we had yesterday morning.
By golly, we sure got some gas in this buggy.
We're lucky, Kichi said into chapter twenty
Chapter twenty of Thieves Like Us by Edward Anderson. This
LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker,
Chapter twenty, kee Chee said, it looked like Santa Claus
would have to come this year in a boat instead
of a sleigh. It had rained for six days in
the daytime. The rain shrouded woods and hills were merged
(00:22):
with the sky, and their cottage stood on a tiny island.
They went to bed at night with the rain caressing
their roof, and awoke in the morning with it still
beating a gentle, broken rhythm. It was getting close to
five o'clock this afternoon. At any time now, Alvin Philpot
the Little Boy, would be shown up with the San
Antonio newspaper. Bowie had made a deal with him four
(00:44):
weeks before, fifty cents a week and every afternoon. Now
as Alvin came home from school, he brought a paper.
They were going to get the boy something for Christmas.
That was only four days off. Now, how would you
like to have a little eggnog for Christmas? Kit Chee said.
She stood there in the kitchen doorway, a sweet potato
in one hand, appealing knife in the other, Bowie placed
(01:06):
Keechee's polished Oxford on the floor and picked up the
other one. Did you ever drink any of that? Kitche
shook her head. Maybe I did when I was little.
I don't know. I just saw a recipe in the paper,
and I think nearly everybody drinks it around Christmas time.
The eggs in it are good for you. It is
just the same to you, Bowie said. We'll just get
(01:26):
a quart of whiskey and drink it straight. But no
eggnogs for me. I got sick as a horse on
it once, and I swear to God in Heaven that
if I ever got over it, I would never drink
no more eggnog, no more Kee Chee laughed and went
back into the kitchen. They were goin to have pork
chops and candied sweet potatoes and marshmallows for supper. Bowie
rubbed the brown polish into Keechee's shoe. We'll do something
(01:49):
for Christmas, all right, he thought. It won't be just
like any other day. He had that Christmas present to
his Mamma off his mine. Now one thousand dollars, he
can Kee Chee. It driven yesterday to San Antonio and
mailed the envelope. There was one thing, though, he had
to do pretty soon, and that was get some money
to that lawyer friend the Chicka Maw's and McMaster's Archibald
(02:11):
Jay Hawkins. He and Kichi would have to go back
to San Antonio and tend to that two thousand dollars
in an envelope to a lawyer. The guy might be
dead and somebody else will get it. The thing to
do was go in some bank in San Antonio and
get a draft and send it to Hawkins. Lawyers knew
better than to go south with the thief's money. That
(02:32):
one in Tulsa had found that out. Now he could
send chickamauw postal order for one hundred dollars and the
Christmas rush and them banks and post offices in San Antonio.
Nobody would beig Ieikichi. You're him? The screen right oled,
and Bowie got up and went to the door. It
was Alvin. Water dripped from the boy's nose, and he
pulled the dry newspaper from underneath the soggy coat. You
(02:55):
going to get wet, boy, if you ain't careful, Bowie said. It.
Don't bother me. Alvin said, after Alvin left, Bowie went
back to the kitchen. I know now what we'll get
that kid, he said, A rain coat that will be
better than the shotgun. Kee Chee said there was nothing
in the newspapers. There was enough in there day before yesterday.
(03:17):
Bowie thought check 'em all was goin to trial February fourth.
That lawyer hawkin' sure I had to have some money
pretty soon, because they would sure put the chair on
check em off. He didn't get some money. After supper,
Ketchee and Bowie played checkers. It was raining harder now,
wind whistling in the window screens, and water splashing in
the puddles under the eaves. Bowie stacked the checkers in
(03:40):
the box with the sliding top. You know, I've been thinking,
Kee Chee about what you said the other day about
it being easier for a woman to disguise than a man.
I believe it's easier for a man when you get
to thinking about it. A man can grow a beard
and wear glasses and get his hair cut different. He
can't use powder and paint, though he sure can't. He
can dress up like a woman and get by with it.
(04:02):
I'd like to see you dressed up like a woman,
not me, And I'm not going to dress up like
a man. I know it, Bowie said. But you know, Kichi,
there's men in this world, though, that go around all
the time dressed up like women. They're no good. There
was a woman in Kiyota that smoked cigars and acted
just like a man. Kichi said, Then people are no good, Kichi, Absolutely,
(04:27):
they're no good. There are more no good people in
this world than they are good ones. Kechi said, A
blind man can see that up there in Alki. Kichi,
you never saw the lock. You would never have thought
so many no good people could have gotten up all
together at one time. That was one of the reasons
why I just couldn't stand it there any longer. I
(04:48):
don't know, though, but what it's just about the same
out here. The window screens whined and Bowie listened. Then
he put his finger in his ear and jiggled it. Yes, sir, keche,
I think you hit the nail on the head when
you say that the only way to beat this game
was just go off and pull the hole in after
you not have a single friend. You can't trust anybody, Bowie.
(05:09):
I've always said that, honey, I wouldn't trust Jesus Christ
if he come right in this door, right this minute.
You just have to depend on yourself in this world
and nobody else, keeche said. Bowie got up and placed
the box of checkers and board on the mantle. He turned,
placed his elbows on the mantel's edge and pushed his
stomach out away from the heat. But you know, kee chee,
(05:32):
you never will see three boys like us together again.
I think about that chickamaw up there and that jail
pulling through by himself, and I'll bet he doesn't even
have cigarette money. Nobody but a lawyer can help him,
now I know it. That's what I've been thinking about.
I'll bet that boy is beginning to think that he
doesn't have a friend in this world. There's nothing you
(05:54):
can do about it unless you want to get him
some money. That will do it, kee chee. It will
do it nine times out of ten in this world.
That's what I have to do. Get him a lawyer
lined up, an a good one. You don't have to
go anywhere around him, though, What are you talkin about?
I should say not no. All I have to do
is get some mazuma to a good lawyer, an that
(06:16):
will be all there is to it. Kit Che got
up and went over to the wood box. She carried
the stick to the fireplace and said, move over a
little bowe. Sparks popped under the dropped wood, and Kirche
stood there watching the flames LinkedIn. Don't that rain sound good? Bowie?
What did you say? Ki Che? I said, don't you
(06:37):
like to hear that rain on the house? Uh? Huh,
I sure do you bet? I do I like it,
kit Che said. The floor planks creaked as Bowie began
moving about. I should have brought in more wood to day,
he said. I guess this rain is just goin to
keep on forever. On Christmas Eve morning, icicles hung from
(06:59):
the eaves, but the day was breaking clear, the sun
was going to shine. Bowie and Keechee lay in bed
talking now about how Alvin was gonna act when they
gave him the raincoat this afternoon. They had bought the
raincoat in Antelope Center yesterday, and also a half dozen
handkerchiefs that they were going to give Alvin to give
to Filthy McNasty. If we're gonna go to San Antonio
(07:20):
this morning and get back here by four o'clock. We
got to be getting up and going, Bowie said, we're
not gonna get any business done, much less seeing a
show at this rate. Well, I don't see nothing holding
you down in this bed. Booie wooeye, Keechi said, you
usually get up before I do. Don't you what's got
hold of your legs this morning? Can't you take them
(07:41):
icicles this morning? Sure? I was just waiting to see
you show what a he man you are. Why don't
you get up and start the fire this morning? Oooh me,
I hope it's you and not somebody else. I'm talking
to my god. I hope so too. Now let me see.
All I gotta do is just get up and sort
of walk in there that fireplace, all right? You win?
(08:02):
Keechie weechie. Bowie swept back the covers, got out, tucked
the blankets back under keechee, and trotted barefooted into the
cold living room. In the kitchen, Bowie saw the flooded
floor and then the burst pipe of the shower in
the bathroom. I'll go and get filthy and tell them
to phone a plumber. Keechi said, no, you just stay here.
(08:24):
Bowie said, I'll go. It was ten o'clock when the rattling,
banging foe pick up with a vise stopped in front
of the cottage. Bowie, the mop in his hand, stood
at the window and watched the plumber get out. The
man had a head shakeed like an Irish potato, and
an unlit cigar stub in the corner of his mouth.
You the folks that are having a little trouble out here,
(08:46):
Plumber said. Bowie thumbed toward the back bathroom. Plumber looked
at Keechi standing by the bed in the bathroom, Bowie said.
Plumber's smile was soggy, the cigaret stump darkened against his
draining face. We've been swamped, he said. Freeze bathroom, Bowie pointed.
(09:10):
Plumber moved across the living room and into the hallway
toward the bath Bowie turned and looked at Kichi. Keechi
framed the question with soundless lips. What do you think?
Bowie's head went up and down. Plumber came out of
the hallway, walking briskly toward the door. Tools He said,
they watched him through the window. He got in the pickup,
(09:32):
started the motor, and then the machine moved off with
a violent jerk, Bowie pointed at Keechi's coat, Get on
out and start our car. Mud thickened water guised from
the puddles at the gate and splattered on their windshield.
Bowie pressed the wiper button and then turned onto the highway.
The road extended ahead, gray and slick. His flym gravel
(09:52):
rattled under the fenders. Light me a cigarette, Bowie said.
Ketchi looked in the panel pocket. We don't have a one, Bowie,
not a one. Can you beat that? We will get some?
Can you beat that? And that's what I call up
for you. You mean to say, there's not a one there.
(10:13):
We will get some, Bowie. Now, that's what I call up.
Thunder rolled. It was like the hills around him had
been undermined, and we're bumping around. I'm sure fed up
on rain, Bowie said, I'm sure fed up on it.
Where are we going, Bowie? MC masters, Masters, I'm gonna
(10:35):
see a lawyer there, Masters, Keechi repeated. The highway stretched
on like a long ribbon of wet funeral cloth. The rain,
drunk weeds of the ride of way rushing behind. Alvin
won't get his raincoat, Keechi said. It was laying there
on the radio, Bowie cleared his throat. I've been thinking
(10:58):
it's a good thing we gassed up you yesterday and
got them cans filled. What if we were just starting
out with a couple of gallons like we had yesterday morning.
By golly, we sure got some gas in this buggy.
We're lucky, Kichi said into chapter twenty
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