Original subtitles

[Music]

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I heard you some aboard last night.

Heading for L.A.?

Yeah, L.A.

[Music]

Got a few butch here you

could break and put in that pipe.

Thanks.

I'll get along.

Where you hail from?

Nowhere.

Yeah, me too.

[Music]

Now is your country out

here to scare you too?

No.

I'm just passing through.

What do you think this is, a Pullman?

Goodness mister.

We ain't doing no harm.

We just down on the left.

I got a job waiting for me in L.A.

Well you guys hand me the same story.

You wouldn't take a job

if you was offered one.

Come on, hit the cinders.

No, no, not here.

Listen, I can pay my weight.

I got a buck that's getting my shoe.

Don't give him the time of day.

Save your shoes for walking.

That goes for you too, Paul.

Come on in, I said go.

You can stick your feet to yourself.

You're looking for trouble, boy.

Start walking.

[Music]

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Sorry to interrupt your party.

I want to ride into the next town.

[Music] Hey.

Hey, wake up.

Oh boy.

You decide on a good one.

[Music]

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Where are you going, mister?

Minded.

You sure must be in a hurry.

Can I see your driver's license?

Follow me, please.

Fire in heaven to Minden.

We're bringing him in.

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

That's enough. That's enough, boys.

Let's not make it carnival out of it.

How about one more, man?

All right, just one more.

Place your hand on the Bible, please.

How's this, boys?

Fine, hold it.

Now we've got to get on with formalities.

Welcome to Minden, mister.

Debberman.

Thank you.

You'd better be as tough as you're

cracked up to be, Debberman.

I hope you realize that.

What are you trying to do, mister?

Wait and scare the man.

From what we've heard of mister,

Debberman, I don't

think he scares easily.

I hope Joe Emanuel has heard of him.

And I meet at Theo Chief,

Mayor Langley Secretary.

How do you do?

I do hope you like Minden.

Thank you.

And I am Mayor Jerome Langley.

This is Mr. George Huber,

Chairman of the Council,

Mr. Roy Whalen,

Editor of the Times Union,

and Lieutenant Caddell, Pleasure Chief.

We three represent the Citizens Committee

for cleaning up Minden.

Lieutenant Caddell has been Acting Chief,

awaiting your arrival.

Gentlemen, I give you

your new Chief of Police,

Mr. Louis Debberman.

As I told your

precinct captain in New York,

the situation here is extremely grave.

You've got your job cut

out for you, Mr. Debberman.

Unless you can give us an honest,

efficient police force,

Minden will be taken over

entirely by these gangsters.

Chief, maybe you've run

into Joe Emanuel before,

I understand he's from New York too.

No. No, I don't think so.

Maybe he's wanted to New York.

Could you find that out?

Oh, sure.

Good idea. I'll check on it.

It's not going to be that easy.

Somebody's going to get hurt

before this mess is cleaned up.

All right. Let's swear him in.

Place your hand on the Bible, please.

Hi.

Something for you?

No. No, thanks, Mary.

Well, I thought you went

off very nicely, didn't you?

Oh, sure. Well, not real, fine.

Well, at least Mayor

Langley didn't make a speech.

I suppose there'll be

a lot of changes now.

Do you really think

you'll clean things up, George?

Oh, yeah, sure. He'd be real tough.

He'll give Joe Emanuel a dirty look and

scream right out of town.

I have an idea this is going to be quite

a shock to Mr. Emanuel.

Why is that?

Having Deverman show up.

I mean, nobody expected

anything quite like this.

They all thought you'd be the next chief.

I can wait a little longer.

Deverman isn't going to clean

up anything in three months.

After he's gone, I'll still be around.

I've been waiting 16

years for this job, honey.

Oh, how well I know how long it's been.

I know all the qualifications, George.

I got a shorthand book full of them when

the committee was

deciding who was to be chief.

Do you know what rating they gave you?

Yes, honey, I read your notes.

Oh, a good officer knows the

conditions better than anyone.

Lux resolution.

Edie, will you stop riding

me? I can't fight City Hall.

Well, some people have.

Joe Emanuel, for instance.

For instance.

Don't tell me he's

bucking for the job, too.

Honey, I'm sorry.

Look, I got to show the chief around

town, so what would

you like to do tonight?

Well, I think I'd like to go dancing.

Where?

Joe Emanuel's Country Club.

Oh, all right. I don't believe you meant

our chief, have you?

Not yet.

Chief Dermot, Lieutenant

Jost and Chief of Detectives.

How do you do?

I was going to drop in on you, Chief,

when things quieted down.

We'll get around, Owen.

Fine.

I'm taking the chief

on a tour of the plan.

I think you'll find it interesting. I'm

available any time you need me.

Thanks.

Chief, the next room is the records and

identification room.

I know, Chief, this isn't as big as

you're used to, but it's the job, John.

Hasn't done much to clean up the town.

Do you think Minden is

much different than New York?

I don't know. I just got here.

Well, human nature, Chief,

isn't a matter of geography.

If a man wants to buy a drink or place a

$2 bet on a horse, you're

going to find a way to do it.

The kind of thing

you're going to live with.

Fight it. It's going to fight you back.

How long have you been acting, Chief?

About one month.

Maybe you should have kept the job.

Yeah, that's when I keep hearing.

Sam, this is our new chief,

Chief Debra. How do you do?

Oh, I'm showing him around, so open it, please.

Don't have much of a

stock here today, Chief.

A few drugs are on the other side.

This here is the women's section.

It's got one in the classroom.

What's she in for?

Just a tranche.

He's a liar.

Any place I've ever been,

tranches are kept moving.

Well, her trial comes

up next week, Chief.

Let her out.

How about ten charges?

I haven't heard any.

Attempted to fraud a

hotel manager. Simple assault.

Who'd she assault?

Hotel manager. I hit him with a lamp

that was self-defense.

Yeah, it might have been a dent.

How about a cigarette?

No smoking in the cells.

Give her one.

You got the keys to this place?

Yes, sir. Right here.

Use them.

I guess he's waiting for

orders from you, Lucerne.

Go ahead, Sam. The chief is

giving orders around here now.

If you want to explain to the city

attorney, he'd be in court all next week.

I'll try the hotel manager. He might want

to drop the charges.

Well, do you like it in there?

Keeps out the wild animals.

Suit yourself.

Wait a minute.

Got a match?

What would I get for hitting

a chief of police with a lamp?

I haven't been hit by a woman yet.

What hotel?

The Sierra. Right down the street. I'd like to see the manager.

Yes, sir?

I don't think he's gonna like the idea.

It'll like it.

Then what? I get picked up by the first

cop who sees me for being a transient?

What's this woman doing here?

You own this hotel?

I manage it. Well, I'm the nurse. You're not a real manager. You can't do that. Well, I'm not a real manager. I'm a real manager. You're not a real manager. I'm a real manager. What's the matter? You're not a real manager.

I manage it.

Well, I'm the new chief of police.

Oh?

I didn't know that.

I'm glad to meet you, chief.

You know I've preferred

charges against this woman.

Yeah.

Drop them.

I beg your pardon?

You made a mistake. You

were drawing the complaint.

I'll do nothing of the sort.

She ran up a bill

when she couldn't pay it.

I demanded payment and she attacked me.

She tells it the other way around.

Well, what do you

expect from the two bills?

You see, I've been brought

in to clean up this town.

In between here and the door, there are

at least five

violations of the city code.

That's news to me.

Is it also news to you that no one under

21 can be served in a bar?

No minors are ever served here.

Oh. Well, you don't mind if I check?

If there are any minors in

there, I know nothing about it.

How about slot machines?

If this is your first

violation, you get your license back.

Chief, if the young lady is a friend of

yours, well, there's no

need in having hard feelings.

I'll be glad to drop the charges.

Well, if you feel that way about it...

Just forget the whole thing.

What about my clothes?

I'll have them brought down immediately.

No, there's no hurry.

Miss Warren won't be

checking out for a couple of days.

Whatever you say, Chief.

Boy, get this lady's key.

Your room number?

Six-fifteen.

If there's anything else you want, Chief,

just ring for room search.

You did me a great big favor, Chief.

Thanks a lot.

I don't want any thanks.

No, I didn't think you did.

I'll say one thing for you.

You're better looking

in that scaly manager.

But I don't like you.

That's all right.

Now, I've got a bad temper, so if you're

going to foreclose on the mortgage,

you'd better hide all the lamps in the room. Now, look. I'm going to be a good friend. It's a plane leaving at midnight.

I want you to be on it.

How?

You know I'm broke.

I drew a week's salary in advance.

Make two reservations.

Two?

I'm going with you.

But you just got here, Chief.

And I'm just leaving.

Why?

Don't ask any questions.

I'm getting a free ride.

Take it. I think you're scared. It's not a bad idea. free ride just take it. I think you're

scared. All right so you think I'm scared

just get those tickets and when we get

there I'll tear up your mortgage. Why

don't you just get in your nice shiny

little chief of

police car and drive away.

Will Los Angeles be far enough? No but

Mexico might. Mexico that's interesting.

Don't try to figure it out I'll see you

tonight. Give it up. I'm gonna buy some

backup. Look up Melty you got customers.

That's Melty and you

came in. Yeah sniff it

Melty sniff it. Ten bucks a bottle. What

do you want? The usual. I don't carry it.

You ever those little guys talk hard? All

talk hard. You got to

keep up the payments

Melty it's due. Less habit. I told you

the last time I wasn't paying any more

protection and you can tell that to Joe

Emanuel. Who's he? Maybe you guys haven't

heard it yet. Well we got a new chief of

police in town. Yeah

we heard. I'm getting

my protection him in the future. If you

guys are thinking of

recommending just try it.

I'll have the cops all over you. Don't

eat talk hard. You

wouldn't be so tough if you

won right across the street from that

city hall. Best

location in town. Dad. Dad

loan me twenty dollars. Not now later.

But dad I need a new

sweater. And there's a

dreamy cashmere down at Bendalls for only

nineteen seventy five. If you loan it to

me I'll mind the store for a couple of

days. Introduce me to

your daughter Melty. I

thought you was just a kid. I'll come

back later after

you've swept the store out.

Leave her alone. Me and your own man was

just having a bet. I

said that this knife is

sharpened in a razor. And he bet me

thirty bucks that it

wasn't. Now what do you think

baby. Do I win that bet. Yeah. Yeah. I

guess you owe me thirty bucks.

Here's the money. Put it on the counter

Melty. I'll be back

next week at the same time.

Talk hard again Melty.

I like this waiting you.

Hello. They speak to chief whatever his

name is. No the new chief police.

Where is he? Right here. What do you want

me for? How'd you get here so fast?

It wasn't quick I've been out of tobacco

for a week. What do you

smoke? Best one I can get it.

You get the best right here. It's on the

house. Why? I'm buying

good will. That's why.

That's the way you get along in this

town. You stay friendly with everybody.

If you can't let them you join them. I'm

Melty the joner. I

sign up for everything.

All right you got trouble too. What

trouble chief? I might take the

policeman's benefit. Pay my dues in the

club. I ain't no troubles.

You talk like a man who's looking for

some. I don't know. Maybe

you're the guy for the job.

You're big enough. Me? I weigh 130 pounds

wept. Never want to fight in my life.

You used to you didn't have to win. You

got respect for

standing up for your rights.

Look Melty either make your point or shut

up. I'm tired of paying

off those bums and I'm not

speaking just for myself. Half the businessmen in this town.

Half the businessmen in this town are

paying protection to Joe Emanuel.

But they ain't got the guts to tell you

that. So I stuck my neck out again.

You take it from there. You'll have

plenty of people behind you

chief but they ain't gonna

show themselves until they see how much

gut you got. Bring up your sail Melty.

Looking all over town for you. The

charges have entrapped

the girls leaving town.

Well that doesn't make any difference to

me. But you better

get back to your office.

You've got your first case. Can't you

handle it? Well it's

homicide. Somebody phoned the state

police back so they found a body about 35

miles out of town. Who is

it? Name's Mike Mason. He's

not around here though. Well it's a state

police case. What do they

want from us? Usual cooperation.

Just only been dead about three hours.

Now they think the killer's

here in town. We better go huh?

What about the lab test? Okay. Get it to

me as soon as it comes in.

Right. I'll be in Chief Devenman's office

till I hear from you.

A couple hours we ought to

have a ballistics report.

By morning we should have a

pretty good lead on the car.

I'd be out of the state by now. No. I

don't think so. You have to

drive up a dirt road to get to

those trees and all the tire tracks lead

back to Minden. Of course he

might have doubled back but

I don't think he had time. You uh set up

road blocks? Oh not the

highways. We've got them bottled

up in Minden Chief. All you got to do is

flush them out. Shouldn't

be much trouble once you get

the make of the car. This is your first

day in the Chief. Yeah. You

uh mind if I make a suggestion?

Shapes up to me like a professional job.

You've probably heard about Joe Emanuel.

I keep steak out in the country club.

Yeah that's a good idea. Take care of it

Caddo. Yeah right away Chief.

(soft music)

- Chief Devenman.

Eat a stale.

Pay your Langley's office?

- Oh, of course.

Good morning.

Won't you join me?

- Why, yes, thank you.

Well, I suppose everybody's been asking

how you like your new job, so I won't.

- Oh, what'll you have?

- Secretary's breakfast,

orange juice, black coffee,

and a cigarette.

- I'm afraid that's all

I can face this morning.

Thanks.

- It's been a long night.

- Yes, I read about the murder.

Your first day on the new job, too.

I understand the dead

man isn't from Minden.

- So they tell me.

(soft music)

- Oh, you'd be on this stuff

all day, just keeping awake.

- May I must give you

lots of overtime, huh?

- That sounds like a dirty crime, Chief.

Now, if anybody kept May

Alangley up till 3 a.m.,

he'd never show up at all.

- Why can't one stay

up that late in Minden?

- Nowhere.

We have a 12 o'clock ordinance.

You have to go outside the city limits.

- Country Club?

- Oh, shameful, isn't it?

And you can see most

of our leading citizens

there on the Saturday night.

I didn't want to be discouraging, Chief,

but that's what you're up against.

You know, people like Joe Emmanuel

couldn't possibly stay in business

if people didn't support them.

- Where is it?

- Country Club?

Just drive down Main Street.

You'll come to it.

- Thanks.

- Are you going there?

- Sooner or later.

- You will excuse me, huh?

- Yes, and thanks for back to me.

(engine revving)

(soft music)

♪ Why, why ♪

♪ Why, why ♪

♪ I know today ♪

♪ It's this flam,

flam game you play ♪

- Where do I find Joe Emmanuel?

♪ Tears that never cry ♪

♪ You try our memories on for size ♪

- Chief Deverellon, isn't it?

- That's right.

- This isn't New York, Chief.

News gets around here a little faster.

Why don't we go to my office?

Oh, just go on singing.

I'll be able to hear you.

♪ Very smart ♪

♪ Yet I knew from the start ♪

Will you take that little lower, please?

- I'm auditioning for the floor show.

I think this one has the job.

Beautiful girl, isn't she?

Yeah, beautiful.

This way.

♪ You'll play ♪

♪ Why build my dreams ♪

♪ On fast hearted schemes ♪

♪ When I know with each day ♪

♪ It's this flam,

flam game you play ♪

- There.

Now I can keep one of

your own her and one on you.

Oh, then what can I do for you, Chief?

- I want out.

- You don't waste any

time, do you, Chief?

- I haven't got any.

The city hall is about to fall in on me.

You know I'm not a cop as well as I do.

- If you're not Devenan, who are you?

- Mike Mason.

- How'd you get into a spot like this?

- I walked up to the wrong car.

Devenan's body fell right in my lap.

He was still bleeding

and I got some blood on me.

- So you panicked?

- Maybe I did.

But I'd just been

tossed off a freight train

with nothing in my pocket but a hole.

That could convict me right there.

One chance.

Get out of there

before the body was found.

I got as far as Mendon City Hall.

- What can I do for you, Mason?

- Get off my back.

I've been in Mexico by

now if you hadn't taped

the steak cuffs off to Devenan's body.

- I did that.

- You or whoever did

your killing for you.

- If I do help you,

what have you got to offer?

- Well, the time being

I'm still chief of police.

That ought to be worth something to you.

- No, at the moment I don't see how.

- You own somebody in the department.

Maybe I can fix it for him

to have my job after I go.

- There might be something in that.

I'll think it over.

- And while you're thinking about it,

stay away from that phone.

One more call and I'm a dead man.

- I'll go this far.

Whether we make a deal or not,

you'll be the first to know, okay?

- Well, it's a state of execution anyway.

♪ I know I should learn ♪

♪ One side out of two ♪

♪ May not be very smart ♪

♪ Yet I knew from the start ♪

♪ In this flim-flam game ♪

♪ I lost my heart ♪

- Hey, Gertrils, some rock and roll.

Rock and roll.

- Well, thank you very much, Miss Warren.

- I hope you weren't too busy to listen.

- Not at all.

- I think you sang very well.

That'll be all, Maestro.

No more auditions today.

So you want to hear some

rock and roll, huh, Nicky?

Why don't you sit down and play?

- I was just ripping the guy.

- Sit down.

Go on.

Play.

- You know I can't play, boss.

- Never heard you try, Nicky.

Try it.

(piano music)

- You're right, Nicky, you can't play.

- How?

- Don't pick on the piano player, Nicky.

I don't want him hurt.

- He didn't get hurt, he slotted me.

- That's what I mean, he

might have broken his hand.

Now beat it.

- All right, boss, all right.

- You know, I think you might be just

right for this room.

- When do I start?

- Tonight, if you've got the clothes.

- I'll bring some

dresses in for you to look at.

- Good, eight o'clock.

By the way, have you met

our new chief of police,

Mr. Deverman, Miss Warren?

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

- First show's at 10 o'clock.

Give yourself plenty of time.

Drop in any type,

chief, you're always welcome.

- Thanks.

- And I'll see you later.

(piano music)

(dramatic music)

- How about I live in the town?

- Sure.

- I can't figure you out,

what are you trying to do?

- Stay alive.

(dramatic music)

On Broadway he'd be a two-bit bookie.

Here he's the big man.

I had a crawl to him

for an extra day of life.

He holds the mortgage on me.

Let's go upstairs.

[music]

Make yourself at home.

State police found a corpse last night.

It was in the paper this morning.

So was your picture.

Joe Emanuel killed him.

He didn't pull the

trigger. He didn't have to.

But somebody who works for Joe is a hot

gun, and I want to know who it is.

And I work for Joe.

Well, I don't know how you'd find out.

I think it'd be crazy to even try.

Even if you do owe me

something, it isn't that big.

But you had a chance to leave town last

night, and you didn't take

it, if that means anything.

I'd better see what

dresses I have for tonight.

That man's name was Lou Deverman.

Mendon was borrowing him for three months

because he was supposed to be tough.

I don't know what happened.

Maybe he didn't live up

to his press clippings.

Maybe he underrated Joe Emanuel.

He stopped him 35 miles

out of town with a gun.

It was a stupid thing to do.

Could have finished Joe for good.

But I had to walk right

into the middle of it.

Will you help me?

I'll think it over in the shower.

Mike Mason Patsy the Ear.

That's what a Jewish kid tastes like.

I didn't kill anybody.

Didn't you?

Somebody had to get close to Deverman and

only a woman could do that.

I didn't kill anybody.

Okay.

So you didn't pull the trigger.

But you must trap him.

That's the same thing.

I was in jail. I have an alibi.

Sure.

You don't need it. You're home free. I

can't prove a thing.

Don't you think I know that?

What do you think I put this

sweater out for you to see?

I knew Deverman was dead when you walked

in wearing his name.

What's the answer? You were there.

And if you saw Deverman,

you saw the mate to this.

I have more sweaters, Mike.

I could have burned this one.

What the hell are you trying to do?

Right now trying to take a shower.

Did you either come in or go out?

Finish your shower.

Mike, the killer's

name is Frankie Urbano.

They never called him anything but

Frankie, but his car

registration had that name on it.

Why did you get into this?

A man came to see me in

jail. He said he was a lawyer,

and if I'd cooperate, he

could get me a suspended sentence.

All I had to do was help discourage an

eastern gangster from moving into Minden.

I'd say he's pretty

discouraged right now.

They told me the idea was to meet him

outside the city and turn him around.

If he refused, Urbano was to beat him up,

telling it now it sounds pretty phony,

but in jail it didn't.

Go ahead.

I was supposed to be seeing a doctor.

Urbano picked me up on the corner.

All I had to do was stand on the highway

and get a ride with a tan

Pontiac bearing New York plates.

Everything was working for them.

There might have been more than one New

York car, or Deverman

might not have stopped.

Why do you suppose they picked you?

Well, he stopped.

We pulled down a dirt

road to have a drink.

He never saw Urbano coming.

I got out and walked away.

There were two shots. Urbano

came running out to his car.

I remembered my sweater, but he wouldn't

let me go back for it.

An hour later, I was

right back where I started.

I never saw that lawyer again.

That figures.

If the murderer came home to Joe, they

could pin it out of you.

Then Mason came to town.

They had more pigeons than they can feed.

Mike, I've still got two plane tickets.

It'd be the shortest

ride we ever took, honey.

State cops have a lock on this town.

Could you identify Urbano?

I helped him kill a man.

What kind of a car was he driving?

A Jaguar.

That ought to do it.

Mike, you're not a

policeman. You'll be killed.

I'm no hero. I'll send Caddell.

Good. I'll get right on it.

Right.

You want to see me, Chief?

Sam, how long have you been jailing?

Oh, 18, 20 years, I guess.

Got a family?

Yes, I've got a wife and two kids.

And you need this job.

Oh, yeah, sure.

Say, Chief, there's

nothing wrong, is there?

You're not figuring to

make any changes, are you?

That's going to be up to you.

I'm going to ask a

question and you get one answer.

If it isn't the right one,

you're through right now.

I'll tell you anything

you want to know, Chief.

You can count on that.

Was Paul O'Arran out of her

cell at any time yesterday?

Let me see now. Let me see yesterday.

Put your keys on the desk right now.

No, no, no. Now, wait a minute, Chief.

I don't want any trouble.

I, uh, just thinking back.

This isn't anything that

requires thinking about.

Either way, you should

have had a fast answer.

I'm not playing games.

I don't want any trouble, Chief.

I just do what I'm told around here.

It wasn't up to me to see

whether or not that was legal.

How long was she out of her cell?

Three, maybe four hours.

Just long enough to see a

doctor and then we, uh...

Oh, I'll go back later.

Oh, no, no, no,

Lieutenant. I want to talk to you.

Yes, Sam, that's all.

Lieutenant, would you

like to earn a promotion?

Promote me, Chief, in

that chair be mighty crowded.

Somebody's got to fill it when I go.

Might as well be you.

Chief, do you really think you can clean

up a minute and three months?

You get the top man, the

others will go fast enough.

I think we can pin a

murder rap on Joe Emanuel.

He calls a shop...

at body the state troopers found.

Mike Mason?

One of Joe's boys killed him.

Chief, you hear that

kind of noise every time?

He has a $3 sticker, but nobody ever

turns in any evidence.

I'll have the evidence.

You pick up Frankie

Orbano, he drives a Jaguar.

See, it's a matter for the state police.

There's nobody by that name in this town.

You know everybody here?

Well, everybody I need to.

You see, Chief, this is a small town.

I've been through all my life.

It's been 16 years on the 4th.

Now, if a cigarette

machine turns up missing,

I can tell you where to find it.

I may not be able to prove,

but I'll never have done it.

Now, there's no Frankie Orbano in Minden.

What about the country club?

No, no, he's not there either.

I know everybody who

takes orders from Joe.

Of course, I won't say that Orbano wasn't

important to do the job.

When he finished, he got

out of town real quick.

Oh, you want to eat pea-pea, huh?

Yeah.

Okay, Chief.

(door slams)

Chief.

Chief, I'm not on anybody's side.

I just do what I'm told to do,

and I stay out of

other people's business.

What goes on up here

is none of my concern.

Forget it, Sam.

Oh, I know the police department here

isn't as good as it might be.

I see a lot of things, but there's

nothing I can do about it.

You're not going to lose your job, Sam.

You know, there's no record of that girl

being out of her cell.

After all, I've got my

orders to keep my mouth shut.

Sam, is there anybody in this department

who doesn't work for Joe Emanuel?

Yeah, there's Lieutenant Johnson.

Yeah, I met him yesterday.

How sure are you?

Far, he drives seven years old.

Okay, Sam, that's all.

(phone rings)

Yes?

Oh, Chief Deverman, this is Edith, in

Mayor Langley's office.

He would like you to come

to his office immediately.

Oh, by the way, it's on the top floor at

the end of the corridor.

Okay, I'll be right up.

Oh, Chief, go right

in. The mayor's waiting.

Thanks.

Have you seen today's times, Union?

No, I've been so busy.

Not even your picture on the front page?

No.

Well, everyone else has, including this

gentleman over here.

Well, Mr. Andrews, I'll say it now, and

I'll stand in court.

This is the guy.

I don't know what he calls himself or

what he's doing here.

All I'm saying is that yesterday was a

bum stealing a ride on my train.

What booted him off?

Not five miles from where the state

troopers found that body.

The dead man seems to be

unidentified as Mike Mason.

Does that happen to be your name?

Yes.

I knew he was a bad one.

There was another bum in

the car. I let him back on.

But this one was looking for trouble.

Was he armed at the time?

I never waited to find out.

When I seen he was an

agitator, I heaved him off.

Mr. Andrews, you've done

us a very great service.

This was a shocking affair.

Don't mind telling me

to rock me a bit, too.

I was just shooting

the breeze with a break.

He only happened to

have a minute in paper.

I seen this guy's mug on the front page.

I hopped the eastbound and got off here.

And we're very grateful that you did.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

The moment this gets out, a

hobo sworn in is chief of police.

How did a thing like this happen?

Ask him.

The first thing to do is

get Lieutenant Cadell up here.

Call Lieutenant Jostlin instead.

If I were you, Mason, I wouldn't say

anything more than I had to.

You'll have your

chance soon enough in court.

Lieutenant Cadell will

resume as acting chief.

If you have any statement

to make, I'm sure he'll...

Lieutenant Cadell,

please, this is the mayor.

Well, find him. This is urgent.

All right, all right. Send

up Lieutenant Jostlin at once.

Personally, there's only

one point I'd like cleared up.

We all know Joe Emanuel is responsible

for Deverman's death.

The point is, can we

bring it home to him?

Only if Mason cooperates.

You're as good as in

the death cell right now.

You've got nothing to lose.

You might. We can't promise anything.

But you might beat the chair by

cooperating with us now.

I didn't kill Deverman. He

was dead when I found him.

Just tell us about Joe Emanuel.

I never heard of Joe

Emanuel until yesterday.

But today you're at the

Country Club to see him.

I run a newspaper, Mason.

It's my business to know

what goes on in this town.

I went out to the Country Club to see Joe

Emanuel to make a deal.

To buy myself a little time.

A few days. A couple of lucky breaks.

An honest cop.

And I might have cleaned up your crummy

city in spite of myself.

Lieutenant Joslin, we

have a nasty situation here.

This man killed and robbed Deverman and

then impersonated him.

And was sworn in as Chief of Police.

You're sure about this?

He's admitted he's not Deverman.

I don't think you'll have much of a job

proving he killed Deverman.

All I can do is book him on suspicion.

Lieutenant, before you take him,

the committee is interested in who hired

this man to commit murder.

If he'll tell us that,

I'm prepared to use all influence on my

newspaper to save him from the chair.

Now, Roy.

I don't like making deals with hard

killers any better than you do.

But it's the only way we're

going to beat these racketeers.

If this man can give us the evidence we

need to convict Joe Emanuel,

let's forget the source and take it.

What do you think, Lieutenant?

It's been done before.

Well, Mason, it's all in your hands.

Don't you think I'd trade a murder rat

for perjury any day in the week?

But that's what it would be, perjury.

And I couldn't prove it.

Sure, I know Joe

Emanuel had Deverman killed.

I even could give you

the name of his killer.

But you couldn't find him.

I even have a witness.

And she has an alibi

that even she can't break.

Does that mean you won't make a deal?

No, no, no, no. I'll make a deal.

I'll bring you the real murderer and hang

him around Joe Emanuel's neck.

But I can't do it from a cell.

You want to be turned loose?

I want to remain chief of police.

Chief of police?

That's the most insolent suggestion I've

ever listened to in my life.

You'd be out of here in two hours.

The state police had

this town buttoned up.

I couldn't get out.

I wouldn't tolerate such an arrangement.

Just a minute, gentlemen.

You know, I don't think you're stupid

enough to think we'd accept such an

arrangement unless you've

got something to back it up.

I have.

Joe Emanuel thinks he owns me.

If I get out of line, all he has to do,

he thinks, is to pick up

the phone and tip you off.

All right, he does, and I'm still chief.

What's he going to do?

Why does he have to do anything?

Well, the point is, if I start cleaning

up this town, he's going to

have to move and move fast.

You ought to know that.

He took care of your last chief.

Chief was killed in a car accident.

Oh, sure.

Sure, he accidentally drove over a cliff,

just like Deverman

accidentally stopped a bullet.

The point is, Joe will

have to do something.

Suppose you do lorraine back to town.

There's not much future

in that for you, Mason.

Well, Joe might miss the

gas chamber, never does.

He might not import the same man.

Do you think that you can pick up a

killer in an unemployment office?

Joe has got one.

He's done a job for him before.

He'll do it again.

If I bring him in, you can offer him the

same deal you offered me.

Personally, I'm not at all satisfied.

You aren't the hired killer.

What have you got to lose?

You can reel me in any time.

The only way I would consider it, such an

arrangement must never leave this room.

What do you think, lieutenant?

Shall we accept?

Frankly, I don't think it makes much

difference, gentlemen.

What do you mean?

Either way, Mason's

going to come up dead.

[music]

I'm such a fool, too easy to rule

In the same foolish

flim-flam game of love you'll play

Why build my dreams on

false-hearted schemes?

When I know with each day it's this

flim-flam game you play

In your eyes I see such

lies, tears that never cry

You try our memories on four sides, then

kiss them all goodbye

I know I should learn

one side out of turn

May not be very smart,

yet I knew from the start

In this flim-flam game I lost my heart

I'm such a fool, too easy to rule

In the same foolish

flim-flam game of love you'll play

Why build my dreams on

false-hearted schemes?

When I know with each day it's this

flim-flam game you play

In your eyes I see such

lies, tears that never cry

You try our memories on four sides, then

kiss them all goodbye

I know I should learn

one side out of turn

May not be very smart,

yet I knew from the start

In this flim-flam game I lost my heart

There's something screwy going on, Joe.

The cops are knocking

us off all over town.

Which ones?

The hock-shoppe on eight. That one first.

Then they close Benny's horse parlor.

And after that, they even

raided that hock-cock drop.

What have you done about it?

What could I do, Joe? It happened so

fast. We no sooner heard of one place

going and another coming.

And that phone-brother was

going off like a fire state.

All right, all right, but who's behind

it? Who's pushing it?

I talked to him. The cop? He didn't know.

He said the orders came

right from the Chief's office.

But you get that smart lawyer out of bed

and tell him I want everybody bailed out.

Maybe that new Chief

is tough and weak, huh?

He's neither tough nor

stupid. He's somebody else.

Want me to circulate around

town and see what I turn up?

No, I'll know before you get out of the

club. You just get to

work on that lawyer.

Hold on. I'm going to find out. Let me

talk to Chief Debberman.

What do you mean he's not taking any

calls? I want to make a complaint.

Never mind my name. What kind of a police

department is this, anyway?

Mason's not taking any calls. Are you

sure he's still there?

Well, I want him out tonight.

Well, he killed Debberman, didn't he?

Make the arrest yourself.

Right.

Mason?

Yeah, that's your real name, isn't it?

Mason, that's Debberman.

You know, you never did act like a cop.

I thought there was something for you

about you right from the start.

When the state troopers brought in that

body, I did a little checking.

Like to hear it? Sure.

Michael David Mason, age 34, height 6'2",

brown eyes, black hair.

Everything check, Mason?

Everything but the name.

Parachuber for three years operated a

used car lot in New York.

When proved.

Last seen riding a

boxcar at a Los Angeles.

There you are, boys,

all right in front of you.

Got ourselves a ringer.

He killed the real Debberman and stole

his identification papers.

In fact, Debberman's car

is in our garage right now.

Mason, the state police want to see you.

You're dead, you're suspended.

You're a little late

with that, aren't you?

I'm recommending the police board bring

you up on charges of bribery,

graft and collusion with Joe Emanuel.

All right, put him in a cell. Book him on

suspicion of murder.

Stand up and be counted, boys.

Who are you with?

Cadella, the police department.

You said put him in a cell.

What's the matter with

you guys? You got nuts?

Aren't these guys not the chief?

The mayor says he is.

I got the proof. It's all there.

The committee says he's chief.

What are you going to do about it?

I'm going to do plenty about it.

You're wasting your time, Cadella.

You can't fight City Hall.

- All right, you're now

Lieutenant of Police. - Okay.

All right, fellas, come on.

I'll show you what I want done.

You're only getting the small operators.

Joe isn't feeling it.

- We'll get some evidence.

You're a cop. - Sir, you.

Take it easy. We're getting there.

Joe couldn't operate at all if you hadn't

made some payoffs in the right places.

If we don't watch where we step,

somebody's going to start

a "be sorry for Joe" camp.

He's got to start hurting.

We're aggravating him.

He won't take much more.

Trouble is, we don't know

when he'll make his move.

You may never know about it.

And he saved the state some money.

There's one way to look at it. Want

somebody right back to town with you?

No, stay light. I'll be

all right. See you hard.

Okay.

(Gunshots)

Just a minute.

(Door opens)

Mike, what's the matter?

It just came from a fire.

It's only the first one.

There's going to be a lot more.

Joe's beginning to fight back.

They tried to kill you?

Yeah.

The wrong car went over the cliff.

Oh, Mike, give it up.

You don't have a chance.

Make a run for it.

Yeah, there's no place to run, honey.

If there was, I'd never make it.

Who tried to kill you? Urbana?

Caddell. But he came close enough.

Now they'll call in the first team.

That's the idea.

You don't have a chance.

I've seen Urbana work, remember?

There's only one thing in

this world he can do, kill,

and he does it better than anybody else.

What are you trying to do, scammy?

How long do you think it'll be?

A couple of days.

Is there no way out?

Not for me.

All bets are off, honey.

Get the best deal you can.

I can take care of myself.

I know that.

What about the mortgage?

It's hard, huh?

[knocking]

Something bothering you?

You.

And one of your new dresses?

Customers seem to like it.

So does the boss.

One of these days you're going to run out

of those little tricks.

Just because you buy a girl a dress.

Twelve of them.

You were sweet.

What do you want?

How about raising my salary to 350?

That's business.

Do you think I'm an

amateur? I sing for a living.

Joe, I think I've got an idea.

Jig it.

Well, you might listen to it.

I listen to Cadel. That's enough.

If I do it my way, it'll be done right.

Urbano's coming back.

Oh, that's great.

Welcome home party for

old good old Frankie.

Aren't you supposed to be

undertaking the customers?

Don't worry about Paula.

Well, stay to worry.

Nothing.

Nothing at all.

Paula's a good girl.

She just wants to get rich in a hurry.

Frankie will be coming

in on the midnight train.

Somebody better be at

the station to meet him.

Yes, sure.

Come on, Slater.

So you want 350 a week?

All right, you've got it.

Now do I look any better to you?

No.

I want the devil do you want?

What have you got to offer?

Me, as a man.

Till the customers get tired of me,

you'll hold another audition?

If I need a new canary, I'll get one.

But you'll still be here.

Singing just for me.

It took you long enough to get the idea.

I'll send one of the boys over to the

hotel to get your things.

I'll be back as soon as I sing a song.

I'll be waiting.

You must be getting soft in the head.

You can't trust that dang.

What's she going to do?

Run to Mason?

She's heading for the nearest telephone right now.

You must be wrong. But keep an eye on her anyway. Yeah, sure. Frankie?

Can you do it tonight?

Yeah.

I want Mason to disappear, permanently.

Sure.

What are you waiting for?

The money.

You'll get it on delivery.

Besides, you didn't

earn your pay on Deberman.

He's dead.

You didn't have to dump him on my doorstep. The idea was to get him to the hospital. He was tough.

I had to do it when I had a chance.

He was stupid.

I don't know why I put up

with guys like you and Potter.

You've got so many brains, why do you keep that canary around?

Paula? She's that dame that set up Deberman for me. [Music]

Mike?

This is Paula.

I just found out Urbano's

coming in on a midnight train.

Where are you calling from?

The phone booth by the bridge.

Did anybody see him?

No.

Get over in the woods

near the road and hide.

I'll be out there in 15

minutes to pick you up.

I'll blink my headlights three times.

If Urbano's on that train, we'll get him.

Now stay out of sight.

Promise.

Did you hear that?

Urbano's coming in.

He's not coming by train.

Take another look at it, Mason.

Do you think he'd come to Mendon, kill

you, and then sit around

waiting for a train out?

He'll have a getaway car.

Yeah, Joe could give him one.

Make a lousy cop.

Joe isn't dumb enough to tie

himself to a killer in any way.

If you want a professional opinion, I

think Urbano's already here.

And if you'd like some good

advice, don't go near that girl.

Why not?

Because wherever she

is, Urbano isn't far away.

You're being flim-flammed, my friend.

The whole situation

smells just like cheese.

Well, I can't take a chance.

If she's on the level, I'll kill her.

And if she isn't, they'll kill you.

What am I supposed to do?

Wait for a coroner's report?

No, just don't be so eager

to get your brains blown out.

Give me 20 minutes and I'll

have a cop behind every tree.

What if it doesn't work?

Who knows?

Urbano's going to call

the time and the place.

All we can do is try to be on hand.

30 cops stumbling around in the dark will

sound like a stampede.

One man will stand a better chance.

Well, I'm not going to ask any of my men

to go in there alone.

Urbano's a professional killer.

I don't want any dead

heroes or weeping widows.

But it may be our only

chance to get Urbano.

Joe Emanuel is my pigeon.

And if I don't get him

tonight, I'll get him another time,

because I've got plenty of it.

Yeah, and I'm running out of it.

I'll trade you this for a gun.

You know how to use one?

Oh, that's a paratrooper for three years.

Just in case.

Look, I'll give you one hour from the

time you leave this office,

and then I'm moving in

with every cop I've got.

Scared?

I couldn't even spit right now.

Good. A scared man doesn't take chances.

[music]

She tipped them off, Frankie.

He'll be back.

Cog her on the head.

We'll take her to Joe.

He wants to handle this himself.

[music]

It's locked.

[music]

[gunshot]

[gunshot]

[music]

I think the war is over.

[phone ringing]

Hello?

Okay.

Frankie?

Yeah.

What's going on out there?

I shot him in the head.

What?

Your boyfriend just

got his brains blown out.

Where's my money?

Where are you calling from?

The phone at the bridge.

Wait there.

I'll bring it to you.

[music]

Hang up that phone.

[music]

Walk up to this tree.

[music]

Stick your arms forward.

All the way.

[music]

[gunshot]

[music]

[phone ringing]

Joe! Joe! Mason's alive!

Hello.

Hello, Frankie?

What's the matter?

Speak up.

I can't hear you.

Joe! Mason's alive!

Frankie!

Mason's alive!

Mason's alive!

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

Mike! Look out!

[gunshot]

[music]

[gunshot]

[gunshot]

[music]

[music]

Chief, there's still a little matter of

getting clear with the law.

But I just happened to

know a judge in town.

[music]

You heard what the man said.

You better hang on to

those plane tickets.

Okay, Chief.