The Fortune Cookie1966

[William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich is in his cluttered office with only one client, Mr. Cimoli.]

William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich:
Now, tell me, Mr. Cimoli. Exactly how did you break your hip?

Mr. Cimoli:
It's my pelvis.

William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich:
All right, your pelvis. How did it happen?

Mr. Cimoli:
I was comin' out this store, and there it was on the sidewalk.

William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich:
What?

Mr. Cimoli takes out a banana peel and holds it up."

Mr. Cimoli:
This.

William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich:
I see. And you were coming out of what store?

Mr. Cimoli:
Well, that was Nat's Delicatessen on Euclid Avenue.

William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich:
Too bad.

Mr Cimoli:
Oh, such pain.

William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich:
I mean, too bad it didn't happen further down the street in front of the May Company. From them, you can collect. Couldn't you have dragged yourself another 20 feet?

[The phone rings. Willie answers it.]

William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich:
Hello? Speaking? O'Brien, Thompson, and Kincaid? Yes, what can I do for you? The Hinkle case? Oh, yes. I'm handling that. Well, I can't talk right now. I have an office full of people.

[Upon hearing that, Mr. Cimoli looks around in surprise.]

William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich:
Suppose I come up to your place? Right.

[He hangs up.]

Mr. Cimoli:
Say, how much you think my pelvis is worth?

William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich:
By itself, nothing. So, it's a good thing you came to me. Before we're through with them, we'll have them begging for mercy.

Mr. Cimoli:
Well, who's "them"?

William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich:
That I haven't figured out yet. But don't go away. I'll think of an angle.