The Biblical myth of Cain and Abel was modernized in this film.As in Steinbeck""s book and the Biblical story, the first letters of the main characters began with C and A:C: Cain - Caleb (or Cal)A: Abel - Aron, Adam, and AbraCain tilled the ground (as a farmer), while the favored and respected son Abel was a shepherd (keeper of sheep)." When his cover is blown, he retreats from curious photographers looking for a story and hides in an already-occupied public telephone booth...They say that old Fats just shoots the eyes right off them balls." Fats, the best hustler in the land, makes a side comment to one of his pals, Big John (Michael Constantine): "Big John? Do you think this boy is a hustler?" And then he offers o accept the poolshark""s challenge - at a higher wager of $200 per game:Fats: Do you like to gamble, Eddie? Gamble money on pool games?Eddie: Fats, let""s you and I shoot a game of straight pool.Mutt went on to say that his mother went to Peru to find Ox, and discovered that he had been kidnapped - and she was also kidnapped.