The Heist

It’s midnight in the metropolis

Winter is coming

Harry’s in the hallway

Counting out his money

Leon’s in the kitchen

Sharpening knives

The moonlight whispers

In the dark of the skies

Leon and Harry

Friends since before they could say the word ‘friend’

Two sides of the same coin

Two-man industry, they play it very cool

Harry’s got the plans, Leon’s got the heavy tools

Sell at high price to discerning clientele

But tonight Harry’s worried, though

‘Cause Leon’s high as hell

With an unfamiliar glimmer in his eye

Looks like it might be a difficult night

You’ve got to take it as it comes

You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do

Until you get it done

You’ve got to know what you’re in it for

And don’t stop ‘til you got what you’re living for

It’s horrible in Paradise

Harry’s at the bar, sipping lager

Leon’s in the corner with a Pina Colada

And two girls, Rachel and Renata

Keeping one eye on Harry

And the other on the dancefloor

Sounds of laughter

Harry stares ahead of him

The guy standing next him

Turns to him and he says to him:

‘I’m a friend of Pico’s, I heard you need the medicine’

Harry looks him up and down, like

I don’t like the stench of him

Without saying anything, Harry’s on his feet

Walking to the back room, trying to look discreet

The guy that he’s following is flabby round the middle

Wearing a blue suit, pink tie, new boots

Slick hair to the side, little ‘tache

And he walks with a limp

He talks with a sort of distorted lisp

Leon’s on his feet, staying hidden

As they step into the back room, he slips in with them

You’ve got to take it as it comes

You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do

Until you get it done

You’ve got to know what you’re in it for

And don’t stop ‘til you got what you’re living for

You’ve got to take it as it comes

You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do

Until you get it done

You’ve got to know what you’re in it for

And keep on, even when it all goes wrong

The guy says, ‘Call me Joey

This here is my place

I’m the King to Pico’s Ace

And I hope for your sake mate that you ain’t no joker.’

Harry says nothing

Joey beckons to the sofa

They sit either side of a glass-topped tank

There’s a baby shark inside, about a metre long

The room is dim lit and the walls are blank

Joey says, ‘Now we both know that Pico’s gone

Away for a little while

Before he left, he said you was a good guy

No funny business.’

Joey takes a package from the chest by the desk

And he puts it on the tank and

His eyes shine vicious and cold

Now he’s pouring out a brandy

Saying, ‘This is premium quality

Do you understand me?

Since Pico’s departure, the prices have risen

It’s double what it used to be

Ok?’

Sitting there quietly

Harry opens up his suitcase

‘I’ll pay you what I paid him.’

Joey smiles like his tooth aches

All lop-sided and strange

He says, ‘You’ll pay me what I ask for

Or you walk away with nothing

You know full well

It’s the best coke in the country

You either deal with me or your customers go hungry

What’s the matter, Harry? You look a little jumpy

Cat got your tongue or something?’

Leon’s watching from the corner

Wondering if he’s bluffing

Joey’s waiting

Harry’s saying, ‘No

No negotiating.’

Joey says: ‘It’s more pure

Than what you’ve had before

This is straight off the boat

No joke

Where’s the notes?’

In a breath, Leon’s out from his hiding place

Steel toes, hurricane hands, calm face

Joey drops suddenly

Like a kid with his first pill

Harry’s at the stash

Getting the cash

Leon works ‘til

Joey’s just a pattern in the carpet

Harry shakes his head and puts the package in his jacket

‘What?’ says Leon

‘Ain’t worth doing nothing half-hearted.’

Harry buttons his coat and tries to settle his

Panic

You’ve got know what you’re in it for

And keep on, right?

Even when it all goes wrong?