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We ate at only the best restaurants in the waterfront of little old New York.

Well behind the best restaurants anyway.

Half of this garbage can belonged to

me and my mother. Everybody knew that.

That's ma working on a steak bone.

As for those mongrels

thinking they're gonna push us out of the away that was a large mistake.

Although I do not admire the expression.

It was strictly dog-eat-dog on the waterfront.

It was also at times quite a bit of fun.

Wasn't just a salami.

It was a thrill of a chase.

The hide and seek that I liked.

And also my old friend captain was getting pretty old

and couldn't grab for food anymore.

I like to hide in the old warehouse.

It was cool and quiet

and also happened to be where I was born.

Sometimes I wondered if it was wise to bring my mother back there.

She was your kind of a sad look.

Then I began to get a glimmer of maybe what made her sad.

It was what those other dogs barked at me,

from a safe distance for them.

Things like where is your father?

Ask your mother if you dare.

You don't even know who your old man is.

Well, being his mother didn't wanna talk about the sad situation,

I went to see my old friend captain.

Captain knew everything that went on waterfront, so I asked him.

When captain got to his feet, you know it's serious.

The last time he got up an epidemic up this temper spread

through the waterfront like fleas to a muscovites beard.

The time before two cargo ships burn to the waterline.

I got a little scared.

Well I asked for it and I got it.

Both barrels.

Captain said I was old enough to know.

My father was a great dog alright.

Champion regent royal.

How's that for a handle?

He had cornered my mother, father her children,

without benefit of clergy.

And then melted into the crowd never to be seen again.

Now I understood what those other dogs meant

when they called me 'a dirty, no good, son of a black and tan'.

I made up my mind.

First, to tell my mother that it didn't make a whisk of a difference to me.

Second, I'd find my father and kill him.

Mother wasn't home when I got back,

I laid down and waited for her.

She never came back.

I won't bore you with my troubles journey

for the next two weeks but I'll say this.

Without sleep I covered every square-foot

of the city of new York looking for my mother.

I never found her.

But I did find something I never knew existed.

The Bowery, the Bowery, the Bowery!

Only at the Bowery do you see the most amazing,

the most fantastic attractions.

Such as the patagonia fire-eater, also the human--

what a place and tough.

So tough that down herein Bowery during high-mass,

they allowed smoking in the last three rows.

Such noise, such excitement, every day was a clambake.

Everybody looked as happy as sin,

even in the place they called the mission.

Get out of here!

I could not believe my eyes.

Here in a Bowery were dogs who looked just like me.

But they were living like kings

and you'll never guess why.

Because they were dogs who fought each other,

not for fun and not for food.

But for the sport of their masters.

I remember captain telling me about these professional mutts.

With my mother gone I had to find my own way in life.

How to make these men in the saloon notice me?

Come on. Come on.

Easy, easy.

Atta boy.

Where did he come from?

Some nut has her dog days of course!

Attacking masterful,

look at the way he is breathing now. He's dead game.

He doing pretty good there.

Why Don't we toss him in with masterful?

It'll give him a chance to sharpen his teeth on.

Who bet against a champ now?

- Me. - You on!

Hold on, hold on.

Gentlemen hold on.

There will be no free and easy fighting, here at Corbin's place.

That is unless Corbin gets a bet in first.

Here he's no Corbin, take that. Nobody owns him.

It looks that way.

Well, we can't take him, can we?

Looks like he might be a real scrapper, Corbin.

Now aimless fighting is a sin, gentlemen, you know it.

We only fight dogs for a record or to establish a championship.

Look at him!

He isn't a scrap.

Here is a great piece of dog flesh.

Young but as finely potent as the handle of St. Peter's harp.

He's mine, I saw him first.

I kinda like this dog myself.

Just a minute gentlemen, just a minute.

I make the arrangements here.

Patch, come on follow me and bring the dog with you.

Gentlemen.

We are about to participate in the first,

the only, the original dog lottery.

Come gentlemen, for $1, you can buy a chance

on this magnificent specimen of bull-terrier.

Where does the money go?

You're aren't the first man who doesn't pay his bar bill on Saturday!

Elsa, I had a dream about you last night

- Really, honey? - Yeah.

What?

In this dream you were

found in an alley with your head kicked in.

Really, Patch? Why?

Because you wouldn't give me a dollar when I asked you for it!

Oh, really Patch!

You have hidden charms, Elsa.

Not to my friends.

I shall pay this back with interest and affection.

You can skip the interest.

Thanks honey!

Thank you, sir. Anyone else?

Number 16.

Number 16.

That's me, Mr. Corbin.

Gentlemen, the winner is Mr. Patch McGills.

You going to Patch McGills, you hear?

And you're going to be the toughest fighting dog on the Bowery.

And you're gonna do exactly what I say or I'll beat your brains out twice a week!

Understand?

Ah, Patch Mcgill.

It was just what I wanted my master to be.

Tough. As tough as I'd have to be to fight.

When Patch Mcgill snuck a lose dollar,

he'd walk right through a solid brick wall and get it.

I like him, he was my kind of people.

Now we're broke.

I spent my last hard-earned dollar on you.

We're gonna need money.

Now you wait here until I come out for you.

When I take you inside you give out with a personality.

If you want to eat next week.

Patch!

Ha-ha-ha!

Hi, baby!

You came a little late for this.

I gotta get on the palace gardens before five so I can actually guard it.

Ah, I tell you there's nothing like watching a woman pretty up her face.

Ha-ha-ha. You've been working, huh.

I got a surprise that is gonna knock you right our your little slippers.

You finally took a job?

- Oh, anybody can get a job. - Yeah, anybody except you.

I, I've been waiting for one thing. A business on my own.

- And opportunity is finally knocking. - What kinda business?

The kind that puts me in coarse cigars and you in furs.

Pick up a check, quit your job and live like a queen.

- As missus Patch Mcgill? - As missus Patch Mcgill.

Ha-ha!

I couldn't think of anything worse.

- All I need is 20 bucks! - 20 bucks!

Yeah, well you're not gonna get it.

Now look honey, why make trouble?

You always end up giving it to me anyway.

Well this time I'm not gonna.

If you don't give it to me, I'll break you all to smash.

You just try it.

I don't suppose you wanna watch anymore at that.

He asked he again for the money and she turned him down cold.

So he used a little psychology.

He grabbed her by the throat and slammed her

right up against the wall.

That convinced her.

I'll never understand people because what happened next,

you wouldn't believe!

Ah, Patch!

You're a real strong boy!

Only when I'm near you.

You're like fire in my veins.

Well, aren't you gonna ask what business I am in?

Oh, Patch!

We'll get there in the end.

- Right now I’m having a good time. - No, I mean it.

I don't take money from girl's for fun.

This money is gonna buy food, equipment, finest training.

- For what? - For a dog.

- A dog? - Yup.

You give me that money back.

Now wait a minute this is a bullterrier.

The finest I ever laid my eyes on.

I don't care if it's a solid gold ten-carat greyhound!

I'm not slaving every night at the palace gardens to keep a dog and bones.

This is a fighting dog.

For 20 bucks I'll fight him myself.

I can make $500-$1000 a fight.

Well, who does he fight, diamond Jim Brady?

Other dogs.

What other dogs got that kind of money?

People. People pay to watch

why I can make a fortune on wildfire.

That's what I'll call him, wildfire.

Did you ever see a fire start in the grass?

It goes wild, sweeps right on through.

And that's what he's gonna do.

He'll sweep right on through to the championship.

Where did you ever see any grass?

They grow down on the floor at Corbin saloon?

- Would you like to see the dog? - You got him in your pocket?

Mabel Maycroft, meet wildfire.

I'm gonna manage him to the championship.

You'll party that 20 bucks of your in the thousands.

That's the ugliest thing I've ever seen.

What did she expect, a peacock?

Good boy, wildfire!

Alright, you can take a rest.

I never had any trouble fighting on the waterfront.

But this professional fighting was different.

This was tangling with dogs who fought to win.

Because if they lost, they were dead.

That's the best steak money can buy,

13 cents a pound.

Pure bottled spring water.

I don't want you drinking out of gutters.

You might get typhoid or something.

This has all the germs removed.

Drink it before any dust falls in.

Now on you got two choices, kid.

You need to be champion or dead!

Five weeks later I stepped into the ring, back at Corbin's bar.

In a room filled with rum, smoke and money,

the local sporting gentry had come to my first bout.

Which most to them figured to be my last.

Well Patch and me, we figured it different.

Remember what I told you.

Don't waste your breath barking or growling.

Don't chew up any fancy spins or slices.

Just drive in and get him.

Turn the tables, you are three-to-one.

Quiet, quiet, quiet.

Quiet!

The betting is now closed.

And there will be no drinking during the fight.

For a purse of $100,

paddy Corbin is most happy

to being you that always dangerous canine fighter.

Ruffie's cantanker!

And the challenger, a newcomer to the Bowery.

Patch Mcgill's wildfire.

Are you ready to go?

- Ready. - Ready.

Face your dogs.

Make ready.

Fight!

Would you say that man was good or bad?

I'd say he was good.

But it would be easier to prove that he was bad.

When I take that, take that for example.

It took man to teach a dog to fight for money.

I never heard of a dog that had a daughter fight for her.

That's where you're wrong.

Dogs still possess a spiritual wealth that men have lost.

Would 50,000 gather to bet their soup bones

that one man could kill another?

I don't get you.

Well look at it this way, do dogs follow the leader?

Do they drink because everybody drinks?

Do they paint themselves blue because blue is fashionable?

Bah! They do not!

They're proud, self-reliant individuals.

Would you mind wetting the bottom of that a little?

I mean man, man is the handler.

He sees in dogs the qualities he has lost.

But does he respect them? No!

He exploits them.

Just as he is exploiting his own soul.

Watch out, watch out! Here comes the winner.

Carney, see if you can find some caviar

on the free lunch table. - Okay, Patch.

The money, Corbin, the money.

First in a long line of prizes for Patch Mcgill.

The drinks are on me, boys.

I fought twice a week after that for almost four months.

Toast to wildfire!

I was the talk of the sporting world.

The hottest dime since bock beer.

There is no need to show you any the fights,

they were pretty brutal.

And I might add, we now had those two great organizations,

the American humane association & society

for the prevention of cruelty to animals,

better known as the SPCA, well deserving of your support.

Honey, you're looking high up on a horse.

Right, wildfire?

High up on the dog was more like it.

Patch, you look like a real swell.

Patch, watch out, you'll spill some liquor on me.

It's eight years old bottle in Bonn.

You'll smell like a debutante at 3 o'clock in the morning.

Well, just don't spill the chase around me too.

- These are my best clothes. - Honey stop worrying.

In a couple a seconds you'd be throwing them

duds out of the window.

Why, Patch Mcgill?!

What I mean is I... I got you a little present.

- For me? - Yup.

From a guy who thinks you to be the last thing every night

and first thing every morning.

Oh, Patch.

You shouldn't have.

Just my colours.

- Do you know what I feel like? - No.

A rich caterpillar.

Honey, I have never seen anything like you.

Just like you've stepped out of a store window.

Yeah! Right through the glass.

Patch.

I bet that there's not another woman in the world

with a man like you.

I knew you couldn't go on being a bum all your life.

I knew you'd turn out good some day.

Well, honey as long as I can keep on fighting

you're gonna live like a queen.

I'm gonna buy you the best duds money can buy.

And you got such a good taste that I--

well, I hate to criticize.

- Criticize what? - Him.

What's wrong with him?

Well if there's anything I hate, it's a gaudy dog.

Listen to the rich caterpillar.

Some nights when the bourbon and mable

Maycroft's cheap perfume gota little too heavy in the air...

I would sneak out.

I always had the hope of finding my mother,

but I never did.

And I always had the hope of finding my old man,

for a different reason.

And I couldn't understand never meeting him,

because he was called 'champion regent royal'.

Yet the only champion I knew was a rough, tough,

experienced murderer called masterful.

My next opponent.

To the memory of masterful and a new champion, wildfire.

Gentlemen, the drinks are on paddy Corbin.

Hurray!!

Looks who's coming in?

Looks who's coming in?

The heavy weight champion of the world!

John L. Sullivan!

And a good evening to you, gentleman.

Thank you, for your kind reception.

Now come on boys get out of the doorway,

come on, this is no place for the likes of you.

John L. Sullivan, now I can die happy.

Well, it's an honor to have you, John. The house is yours.

What will it be?

No, no, no money, no money.

Well, bring me the biggest schooner of beer

you've got in this place.

Uh, filled with bourbon!

Well, could it be that Corbin sis always this popular?

Or is there some special event going on

that has escaped me noticed?

Patch Mcgill's wildfire

just took the title away from the masterful.

Well, now, that's the kind of dog I can understand.

Where is this champion?

Tell him John L. Sullivan would like to shake him by the hand.

That's John L. Sullivan,

a prized fighting champion of the world.

Now you walk down and look him right straight in the eye.

Wow!

You are the only thing on earth I've ever seen,

I wouldn't wanna meet in the ring.

Put your hand up there, boy.

Come here.

Send him back here and I'll buy him a drink.

- Patch! - Hi honey

well, what's going on?

If I'm not being too inquisitive.

Money's going on, that's what. Real money.

Ever thought of retiring?

Traveling around the world on boats.

Eating squat at del Monaco's.

Buying your weight in chocolates or anything you wanted?

Yeah, Patch.

- Are you in trouble or something? - Trouble?

Why, Mabel honey, you're looking

at the most successful financial operator on the Bowery.

Yeah, what are you doing with all my things?

Investing them.

Honey, I need capital.

Everything I own and everything you own.

We are partners.

You bought six more dogs?

No, no, nothing like it.

This is the only dog in the world for me.

Man's best friend.

Honey, you remember about three months ago in the same room

when I told you opportunity was knocking.

Yeah.

Well this time, it's busting down the door.

Honey, this is no dog.

He's a walking goldmine.

In fact, I'm thinking of renaming him. Pay dirt!

But he's the champion,

- you're makin' money whether-- - Enh, small potatoes.

This is going to be the real big killing.

Probably mine.

What made this incredible performance

worth listening to was

that I didn't know what was up myself.

I was curious as to how we were all going to retire.

Alive!

- This goes too, uncle. - Yeah I counted it.

But one thing bothered me.

I couldn't figure out why I,

the champion, was a five to one underdog.

If you'll pardon the expression.

There was something about this whole thing

that began to give me a chill.

Sorry for your trouble mister Mcgill.

Nothing to be sorry about, uncle.

This is the happiest day of my life.

Here's my money, Corbin.

You can take the bets on it.

I get five-to-one.

Do you really want to do this, Patch?

Why not he's a champion, ain’t he?

Well, the champion take on all comers?

In his class, yes.

But not destruction.

A good big man can always beat a good little man.

Destruction is good.

And besides he's a heavy weight. And he'll eat him alive.

Well, what's a little weight.

I'll take skill over weight any day.

It's you who do the talking.

But it the little one will do the fighting.

I don't seem to recall your face,

but put your money up if you wanna talk with me.

I earn my own money, I don't have dogs do it for me.

Ah, gentlemen, gentlemen, settle down, settle down.

I'll take your money and I'll arrange the bets.

Well, you know, there's something about him

that a man has to like.

This is the one where we get rich, so make it quick.

Here comes destruction.

This was quite a dog I had to lick.

He looked as if he had been sired by the devil.

And bred to the killing of tigers.

His mouth was as big as my head.

Looked like a freight train with ears.

Don't let him bother you, wildfire.

He's a pushover, slow muscle-bound.

Why I know three cats who licked him in the past month.

All he's got is an ugly face.

Just don't look at it.

Go get him, wildfire.

I was sure gonna try.

Not for Patch Mcgill and his miserable money but

there's something called my life.

Maybe I was selfish.

But I kinda enjoyed livin'!

Quiet, gentlemen, quiet.

The betting is now closed.

And the fight will be underway in a minute.

Now as this fight is exclusively for money

we'll forget the formalities.

Ready, destruction?

Ready.

Ready, wildfire?

Ready.

Fight!

Cur! A sneaking yellow live red street dog cur.

Could've beaten him if you tried.

E tu, brute.

Fed you and housed you and nursed you like a king.

And now you put your tail between your legs and sold me out.

Everything I worked hard for is gone.

You mean everything he worked for and I worked for is gone.

You never worked an honest day in your life.

Shut up!

That dog's got more character than you'll ever have.

It was the first kind thing anyone said to me all day.

I felt like waging my tail.

Except that I was hanging from it at that time.

So long Patch, and don't ever come near me again.

And just to make sure you don't,

I'm going to marry a policeman.

It's all your fault, you mongrel.

I had about one bite left in me.

And I found the perfect place to use it.

I could hardly see.

And my legs felt like I'd borrowed them from some other dog.

But I knew I was through in the Bowery.

I'd better get out when I was still alive.

Right back where I started from, the waterfront.

A whole year had gone.

I was just as far from finding my mother or my father.

I was too tired to think.

I only wanted to lie down,

close my eyes and forget the whole world.

Maybe forever.

What was the use of anything.

Sometimes I wish the dog catchers and caught me a long time ago.

You'll probably saying to yourself who is this ugly old devil?

That's exactly what I was saying to myself.

Nolan is the name.

Jeremiah Edward Emmett Augustus Nolan

I take care of all the animals around here.

I'll admit most of them cantake better care of themselves,

if they're just left alone.

There.

Horse meat, horse meat.

Shouldn't be too tough though.

His last race he had finished second.

If it runs out the money we don't serve it.

That's the kind of fancy estate this is.

Here is what's your doctor ordered for you.

It eases the pain it prevents infection,

and he gives me a chance to get a clearer view.

Well, eat a little, sleep a little

and then we'll see about the future.

But don't get lonesome now.

If you do, don't bark. No, I'll be back eventually.

Oh and most important of all,

under no circumstances leave this room.

The terrible tempting is to run back home

and that can only mean trouble for man and beast alike.

I liked him.

He was the first man I'd met in months who treated me like a dog.

I still didn't know where I was

but it seem like a nice, clean, friendly, quiet place.

I told you to have my daughter meet me, she didn't.

I asked her to send the gray mare, she didn't.

I asked the gardener's to trim the hedges, they didn't!

No one, I'm tired of trying!

All of you get up to the big house in an hour.

Well, it was a clean place anyway.

The next day I had my appetite back and felt like an animal again.

Nolan was showing me around.

I've lived here almost since I was a boy.

I know every foot of it.

Alright dear.

That's where he lives, Mr. Wyndham.

He's got everything in the world but peace.

So stay out of his sight, wildfire.

Until he comes back to being the old Wyndham he used to be.

I'm presuming of course that you'd like to stay around here.

Would you like to be Nolan's dog?

Could you've said no to a man with a face like that?

If you could, you re a better dog then I am gunga din!

Course if you do stay you won'tbe the only dog on the premises.

Oh! No, no, no. See those buildings?

They are the kennels, Wyndham's special pride.

One of my jobs is to see that those dogs live better than I do.

They are Saint Bernards.

Ever seen a Saint Bernard?

No, probably not.

They are kind of like draft horses with racoon coats.

Only the fact that they're named after a Saint

prevents me from telling you what I really think about them.

Well, Nolan. What do you got there?

A dog, as you can plainly see.

A white dog, should you be colorblind.

Wildfire.

Wildfire! Theson of the pits, a fighting dog.

Retired.

What do you think of him, tattle?

Not what I think of him that counts but

what the old man thinks of him.

Well, I'll keep him out of his sight for a while.

Yeah you're better.

The old man will throw another one of his fits if

he found a fighting dog hanging around here.

He might even get a little mad at you.

So he might.

You're the boss, Nolan, you tell him.

You make him like it whether he wants to or not.

Do me one favor though.

And what would that be, tattle?

Just tell me where you want the flowers sent.

Boy, that's a mean dog, Nolan.

No sense of humor.

Probably kill somebody before he's finished.

I had been called mean and vicious before

but nobody ever accused me of not having a sense of humor.

I was prepared to dislike mister tattle.

Now never mind, Tom tattle.

He is just young, full of young talk and big ideas.

He's right about one thing though.

You've got to keep out of sight for a while down here in the barn

whatever you do wildfire, at whatever cost,

stay away from those Saint Bernard kennels.

Naturally when I had the chance

where do you think was the first place I went!

You re right!

Those with dogs?

They must put something in the food!

The puppies were bigger than I was!

And the way they lived.

Like one my early dreams of heaven.

Saint Bernards!

For saints their commons left much to be desired.

Quiet!

That's when I heard a voice.

Unmistakably British it said,

'in here old chap and shake a leg'.

It took all my self control to sit there

staring into a face that looked like something

that fell off a totem pole.

But as it turned out

he had a kinda style about him grew on you.

Said his name was Jimmy jocks.

And he was the housekeeper of mister Wyndham's daughter, miss Dorothy.

Speaking of Mr. Wyndham...

Where did that white dog go,

the one that was attacking the Saint Bernards.

- He just disappeared, Mr. Wyndham. - Did you see him, Nolan?

I saw no dog attacking the Saint Bernards.

Well I did. Findhim and get him off this estate.

I don't care how you do it.

This isn't a home for stray mongrels.

Oh, I am sure he is harmless, Mr. Wyndham.

And I'm sure I don't need your advice, Mr. Nolan.

Just find them before I do.

You re not crazy enough

to think you keeping that fine fighting dog, are you?

What if do?

Just thinking of you, Nolan.

You're too old to take a chance at getting fired.

Tattle, the reason I'm been about here as long as I have

is because when I was your age

I was working hard instead of talking so much.

- Now let's get busy. - Sure, Nolan.

I guess I can ever hope to be as smart as you

until I am a real old man.

Take it easy, old timer.

And if you do get cut blame it on me.

I can handle Wyndham.

That Tom tattle made my hackles rise.

Well anyway I head out for a couple hours with Jimmy jocks.

What a big brain that jocks was!

These words I never heard people say.

He had been all over the world and seen everything.

Wonderful things like,

perfumed French poodles and Chinese fire hydrants.

We struck up quite a friendship

Jocks didn't care much for the Saint Bernards.

But at the same time he didn't want to tangle with one in a fight.

You'd have to be a furrier to find their throats.

The things that Jimmy jocks taught me...

Did you know that dogs were here before people?

That we invented such well known phrases as, 'puppy love',

'putting on the dog' and 'bulldog determination'.

That my Latin name is, now get this, cannis familiaris.

Things Jimmy jocks showed me.

One day the sun was warm

and the air smelled like a department store at Christmas.

And we had just polished off about

half a crate of Wyndham's finest strawberries.

Jocks was in a good mood.

Expansive, he'd have said.

He told me I reminded him about

great terrier named 'champion regent royal'.

That was my father's name.

Champion regent royal.

No wonder I never found him on the Bowery.

He was no fighting dog at all,

but a different kind of a champion, a show dog.

Jocks then took me to a place I'd never seen or heard of before.

It was called the trophy room.

After jocks left I stayed there a long time alone.

Looking at the prizes won by dogs of the most superior breeding.

I thought about my father,

the most superior of them all.

I knew now I'd never get close to him.

He lived in another world.

I Don't know who you are,

but you couldn't stand that way unless it was bred into you.

You must be one of Mr. Crawford's new terriers.

If you are, he's certainly improving his stock.

Don't tighten up, I just want to get a good look at.

Oh, I know,

I'll bet you are the white dog father was complaining about.

Holy Toledo! Three of them.

Jimmy jocks! They will kill him!

My only hope was that they fought like gentlemen,

because I didn't.

It's alright, Jimmy, it's alright.

It's alright, Jimmy.

Do I shoot him now

or would you rather do it down by the stable?

Father, three of those monsters attacked poor little Jimmy jocks.

They would have killed-- these are three of most valuable

Saint Bernard's in the world.

And I don't intend to have any stray mongrel tearing

at their throats.

Come on, Nolan, let's get it over with.

I'll be no party to the shooting of a defenseless dog.

Well then I'll do it myself.

Father, stop talking like Simon Legree!

Well, it's interesting to see what kind of people

I have working for me.

Well after 40 years you should know.

Why don't you tell them whose dog it is, Nolan.

It's my dog, sir.

I brought him in as a stable-pit.

He's a fine animal, sir. A pit-dog.

A fighting dog a trained killer?

No longer, sir.

He's intelligent, has a good heart

and we've become friends.

In the future

I'll see that he gives you no cause for further trouble.

Well, you get rid of him in one hour or I'll shoot him on sight.

The dog will be out in an hour.

And I'll go with him.

Father what's the matter with you? He might really leave.

Let him.

Let him think of himself and his job

if he wants to waste it on a street dog.

Let him.

Put those Saint Bernards back in the kennel.

Come on, boy, come on, come on, let's go.

I'm not overloaded with conscience but I found a friend.

I couldn't see letting them lose a lifetime job over

a drifter like me.

No, no, no.

You don't have to be a martyr, go running off to save me.

You don't realize it, of course.

But it's not your fault that all this has happened.

How do you like that?

Not only does this guy treat me better than anybody I ever met.

But for the third or fourth time, this is exactly what I'm thinking.

I wonder if somewhere back in his family tree--

no, no, it was too improbable.

But still--

you know, wildfire.

Mister Wyndham is a self made man.

He Rose from the waterfront all by his own ingenuity

and the sweat of his brow.

Yes, like everybody in America,

he had the dream of getting ahead.

You get to a day, when you can sit back,

take it easy and enjoy the fruits of your labour,

immaterial things and friendships.

And most important of all the luxury of time.

Time to do all the little personal things you've always wanted to do.

Like reading the classics,

trying to grow a blue Rose,

learning about good wine and may be,

doing something foolish, just for the fun of it.

Well, after working all through his life

to the day when he could enjoy himself,

he suddenly collapsed.

With a heart attack.

He's had four in the past two years.

Yes, those business trips were in truth trips to a clinic.

If he has another attack

he could die... Tomorrow or next week.

Or next year.

I'm the only one who knows of his misfortune

and that bothers him too.

I am a source of irritation to him

and every time we get together we seem to argue.

I don't want to live myself

to see the day he drops dead in one of those arguments.

So, it's best I go.

That's the third Brandy you've had in 10 minutes.

No, no, it's the sixth in 20 minutes.

What's the use of a man working hard all his life

to be able to buy the best Brandy if he can't drink it.

But father--

Dorothy, I'll drink what I want, when I want it.

And do what you want, and scream when you want,

and be bullheaded when you want.

Well I hardly have the time to live my life for a dog handler.

Or a daughter?

I'll run this house and this estate the way I want to.

Well, I bought it and built it and I paid for it.

I thought you built it for mother.

It was hers when she was here.

Father ask Nolan to stay.

- Absolutely not. - I'll ask him for you.

He had no right to bring a dog here, especially a street mongrel.

A pit-dog, trained to kill other animals before their time.

But that dog isn't a mongrel.

You didn't see him posing in front of the trophy room mirror.

He looked like royalty.

Well, I could enter that dog in a show and win a ribbon with him.

You--

I bet you $50 that you couldn't,

I bet you $50 you couldn't even win the third prize.

Or if that pooch could win

the booby price, I'd give up drinking.

I'll make you an even more interesting bet than that.

How interesting?

If he wins a ribbon, both he and Nolan stay.

Daughter, that's a bet.

I had about as much chance at winning a ribbon in a dog show,

as I had of swimming the English channel

maybe less.

There's his mother's boy.

My first shave.

No comment!

Some things your best friends wont tell you.

Now, wildfire, let's learn how to be a real show dog.

It's discipline, boy, discipline.

Now assume the position of a real champion.

Stand up. Up!

Alright then you lazy thing just stay there.

Well, well maybe you can point, like a hunter.

Point.

Point at what?

Besides pointing ain't polite.

Stand up!

Hey fellas, after all

you can't make a fencing mask out of a steely door.

Well, that's a little better.

Oh, you aren't trying hard enough.

And don't try to make up it won't do you any good.

Terrible, it's terrible.

So it was terrible, sue me.

Special foods to fortify me,

build me up and make my coat shine.

Breathing exercises and how to walk.

Six weeks for junk like that

but two good reasons kept me going.

Just won't let me be friends.

He's a little nervous and edgy, he'll get used to you.

What a crazy thing to do.

Betting your job this mutt will win a ribbon.

The bet was no choice of mine.

I'm turning in.

Nolan...

I want you to know I'm sorry to be taking over your job soon,

but that's life.

The old make way for the young.

Sorry to take Nolan's job?

If I ever saw a guy happy, it was tattle.

That was the first good reason I had to go through with the dog show.

Maybe all the other dogs would drop dead and might win something.

Nolan can keep his job.

And the second reason... him.

He took to standing out at night and watching me,

as if he was trying to figure something out,

maybe wondering when he was scheduled for that last fatal heart attack.

Well maybe he was hoping

Nolan would throw me out and apologize.

Nolan never would.

The old guy was so honest, it was stupid.

Somehow the day finally came.

And there I was at my first dog show.

I'd seen some pretty wild specimens in my time.

But some of these took the cake.

I began to get an idea of what happened

to some of those characters who didn't know what was up.

They were entered in dog shows.

136, is that right?

- 136. - Here, here come on.

- There, in you go. - Go on in, prince Galahad.

Obviously the wrong cage I hoped.

Prince Galahad, oh no!

Now relax, Galahad.

You're as good as any out there.

And don't you forget it.

A lot of things are riding on you today.

My faith, Nolan's job, and the honor of Wyndham.

Now do your best.

All she left out was, if you need anything bark.

And then it happened.

A dame just swaddled in class.

Miss ladyship, the second of the canford estate.

About three miles she told me from the Wyndham place.

Well we fell into some nonchalant chit chat

about fleas and dog biscuits and such.

It was then that I noticed

something going on in the front of my cage.

Good morning, miss Wyndham.

Good morning, Mr. Oakley.

- Nolan. - How do you do, sir?

I haven't see you at any of the shows lately.

Possibly because I haven't been to many.

I see. I didn't know you were raising bull terriers.

I'm not,

this is just one that Nolan and I happen to... to inherit.

Prince Galahad of Wyndham.

You have no parents listed for him.

- Oh, well, you se-- - Unfortunately

the records were lost in the fire,

but he comes of a good line.

Your word is good enough for us, Nolan.

Thank you, sir.

Let's take a look at him.

What a cornball this guy was.

I could have been a mongrel for all he cared.

I bet he was he was just hoping to sneak a look

at miss Dorothy's ankles.

They were pretty well covered up.

Miss Wyndham,

you are not seriously entering this dog in this show.

I certainly am.

You don't know much about this breed, do you?

Is it necessary to know anything?

He's a good dog. I paid my fee and entered him.

Miss Wyndham, don't you realize--

I'm not interested in your opinion

until he gets up there on the judging stand.

And if you're angry with me don't take points away from the dog.

Miss Wyndham, I'm an honest judge.

Above everything.

As if I didn't have enough troubles,

now I was responsible for a love affair.

The next thing I expected here was that if I didn't win a ribbon,

every third baby born in New York would be thrown in east river.

It's enough to make me nervous.

Well, good luck in the show, Galahad.

Here, here's a little something to keep you from getting hungry.

There, good hunting, chin up.

What I really need was about

two shots of rye that they poured at Corbin's saloon.

Well maybe what I needed was--

At least, the flat heads could have looked at me a little longer.

Pretend like I was worth the time.

It would have made Nolan and miss Dorothy feel better.

I had a good mind to take a bite out of that

imported tweed seat of Oakley's.

Your attention please,

third prize in the bull terrier judging

miss ladyship, the second of the conford estate.

Second place ribbon goes to cavalier,

of the well brow kennel.

And the blue ribbon winner, for best of breed,

miss Dorothy--

prince Galahad, of the Wyndham estates.

Holy Toledo!

Talk about the fix being on!

What a phony decision!

The things a guy will do for a doll

congratulations, Nolan!

Nolan!

Oh wonderful, beautiful dog.

If you were a man, I'd marry you tomorrow.

I could hardly wait to be reincarnated.

Why you entered prince Galahad on this local show,

I couldn't understand.

He was way out of his class.

One look at him would tell any judge

that he was a winner before he ever stepped

into the judging ring.

- Really? - Really.

He's the best bull terrier I've ever seen since...

Since champion regent royal.

Champion regent royal, my old man.

Even the experts said he was perfect.

Well maybe that blue ribbon I won was really on a level.

Wildfire Mcgill

butcher boy of the Bowery was now prince Galahad Nolan.

Darling of the society show dog circuit.

I can hardly wait to tell Horatio Alger.

I don't know what to say Mr. Oakley,

except that I misjudged you.

I am sorry.

Oh, that's quite alright, miss Wyndham.

Will you have lunch with me?

I'd be delighted.

- Nolan? - Thank you, sir.

A more stupid exchange between two people

obviously in love you can hardly imagine!

It comes from too much education,

reading love novels written by al mead spinsters.

Now on the Bowery

she would've kissed him and lifted his wallet.

And he'd have gotten roaring drunk on credit.

And beat up every man that as much as looked at her.

Now that's real love.

Well I'm as surprised as you are that he did so well.

I just wondered if we could set him up in a kennel.

There is one empty.

He could get good care

like the other-- no, no absolutely not.

No, he's still nothing but a street dog.

- Get him off the table. - Father!

Down wildfire.

Well you were something of a street dog yourself,

sir, once, weren't you?

Nolan, so help me out, get rid of--

Father, he's in the right to be taken care of.

I don't need anybody to take care of me.

I was talking about the dog.

He has better manners than both of you.

And what must he do to satisfy you win the grand national?

Oh shucks!

Winning the neighborhood dog show...

George Oakley would give you the world if you smiled at him.

Hardly qualifies this Bari tramp as the champion.

Father George Oakley didn't give me those ribbons,

there were two other judges.

And George said he is the most perfect bullterrier

he's seen since champion regent royal.

That name again.

The son of men who want to get in this plan again myself.

You're the most stubborn man I've ever known.

Well please, miss Dorothy

- I'm sure he doesn't mean to-- - He's been like this for a year

shouting, criticizing, hating everything he doesn't own.

Well you don't own this dog.

And before Nolan and I are through with him,

you're going to be begging for a chance to hold his leash.

He's going to win the grand nationals

at Madison square garden.

Whenever I went outside for some air at night

I could almost always count on him being there.

Watching me.

We all had our problems,

but it came to me that Wyndham's was the biggest one of all.

He couldn't hate everybody

and everything as much as he pretended.

He was a self-made man

and that was something I could appreciate.

So I decided to stick my neck way up.

If I get chopped off I can only say I asked for it.

Would you care to go for a walk?

We walked for about 10 to 15 minutes.

He didn't say a word.

Once in a while he just look down on me.

As if he was trying to make up his mind about something.

What do you know?

The old boy was so sure I'd go with him,

he had a couple a dog biscuits ready.

Well I hear you were quite a dog.

The terror of the Bowery, wasn't that it?

Taking a chance on getting killed twice a week,

just to keep a Bowery barman's spending money.

Does life mean that little to you?

Of course, I couldn't answer.

But if I could.

I would have said that dogs are no different from men.

They do what they can to stay alive.

And when they run out of cleverness or courage,

one day they turn up dead.

Pit-dog, huh? A fighter.

You know what it means to suddenly face death,

don't you?

Doesn't seem to bother you in the slightest.

It occurred to me maybe there's something that I could learn from you.

What's a man come to when the only one you--

Let himself look to for help is a dog.

Come on, boy. Come on.

Get him. Get him out of there.

Get him.

Come on.

We walked for miles.

And I listened to him talk for hours no one ever noticed this.

And I got this to say about him,

underneath all that shouting and bluff,

he was as great a guy as I'd ever met.

He wasn't afraid of dying.

His mind was so full of life and ideas.

But he felt cheated because

his body was short changing him with time.

That was a pleasant evening old boy.

Why Don't you go to bed?

But I had problems of my own.

I just couldn't get that miss ladyship,

the second, outta my mind.

It was 3 miles to the canford estate as the crow flies.

Unfortunately I was born a dog.

Over hill and Dale. Through shot and shell.

Anything for love.

Dames, they want you to climb mountains,

swim oceans, go through fire.

When you finally get there, they say why don't you go home clean up.

But you can always tell.

Sometimes they change their mind.

Oh, well.

Two weeks went by like that, I never got any sleep or any rest.

I suddenly found my life belong to a 24-hour company

called 'the Wyndham- miss ladyship-

Nolan-miss Dorothy-corporation'.

Buyers and sellers of that miracle product wildfire.

Come on, boy.

You've slept long enough we've got a hard day ahead of us.

Oh, Nolan.

- What are we going to do? - I don't know.

- He must be sick. - Sick?

No temperature, no infection.

Maybe he is homesick for something.

Where he came from I can surprisingly say that

he never want to go back.

- I know! - What?

He's in love.

Why don't you say he wants to study the piano or something sensible.

Well, he has all the symptoms.

And who would he be in love with?

The queen of Romania?

I don't know but look at him.

Do you know what's really wrong with him?

Worms!

An inferiority complex.

He probably thinks a dog from the Bowery

has no right in Madison square garden.

- Now who's talking nonsense! - Isn't it odd?

Neither one of them was talking nonsense.

They both hit it right on the head.

It was enough to make me feel ashamed of myself.

I sure wish that I could find my mother somewhere.

She'd make me feel better.

You know, sometimes I wonder if we're not being foolish.

Even if he gets in the big dog show in the garden.

You know who he has to face, Don't you?!

Champion regent royal.

That's the news I was waiting to hear.

Suddenly I felt great.

The world wasn't big enough to hold me.

What a wonderful feeling.

I was finally gonna get my chance

to kill my father.

Come here, boy. Come on.

Bring it here, boy.

Come here, boy. Yeah. Come on, boy. Come on, here.

Go inside.

Go on.

I see you and the old man out for a walk

that's good.

The old fella needs somebody to talk to.

You're quite a dog, wildfire.

Quite a dog.

Why Don't we be friends, huh?

Okay, I don't have Nolan's touch with dogs.

Maybe I did something.

They just sore at me, I don't know.

Can't hold it against me forever, can ya?

I made a mistake, I admit it.

Come on shake.

I didn't like that tattooed smile on tattle's face.

The guy was trying so hard to be friendly.

What could I do?

There...

It was easy, wasn't it?

You and me we're the same breed, wildfire.

When we something we want, we go after it.

Relax.

All your troubles are over.

That cloth

smelled like Mabel Maycroft's lousy perfume.

It was just as burning.

What happened next I only learned later.

At the time I was strictly or as they come back,

which translates roughly to fractional chloroform.

When I heard that tin pan piano I knew I was back at Corbin's.

And I knew I was in trouble.

I don't know the exact price that tattle got for me

but I can only guess to be somewhere around $40.

Back to the dog-eat-dog circuit and Patch Mcgill

right where I always dream that I'd get you some day.

Right here in Patch Mcgill's fist.

How does it feel, you mongrel?

Fortunately I couldn't feel a thing.

Ransom!

Mr. Mcgill, prefers it to be called an award,

for finding your dog.

Oh, I have no hand in it. I'm just a messenger.

He told me to tell you, you could take it or leave it.

But $2000?!

There won't be $2000, there won't be as much as $2!

- I'll see Patch Mcgill-- - Very good gentlemen, very good.

The animal means nothing to me.

But I shouldn't say that.

Because he does mean something to me.

He's a grand piece of dog flesh.

And he's entitled to a decent home.

And I think you're going to have to give it to him.

But apparently not-- wait a minute.

Just a minute there.

- $2000-- - Cash, Mcgill says.

Don't give him the money, Mr. Wyndham.

I love that animal but this, this is criminal.

I want that dog back and they know it.

I'll be there tonight.

Well if you don't like-- Never mind the directions,

I could find that place with my eyes shut.

You can hear the screaming of the dying dogs a mile away.

Oh, they were not dogs,

they were customers who had their credit cut off!

Well, thank you gentlemen,

you've taken a great weight of my mind.

And I am much obliged too. I can't say more than that.

Good day to you gentlemen, good day to you.

Excuse me,

I'm looking for someone with the name of Patch Mcgill.

I happen to be that gentleman.

May I inquire who is calling?

Wyndham is my name.

Well, Mr. Wyndham, what's your pleasure?

Glass of beer,

introduction to one of our sweet young ladies or

is this a business call? - Business.

Ah the most charming word in the English language.

Shall we retire to the conference room?

Yes, yes, by all means.

I hope you brought it in small bills.

No, I brought it in person.

This is a personal quarrel, gentleman, an affair of honor.

Good for you, sir.

We'll see you in a little while, Galahad.

We got many things to do before the show.

You relax.

Let judges do the worrying.

I don't have to tell you how important this is, do I?

Win this show and you're the champion.

Yes.

Now you just forget all about the ribbons, old boy.

Have your self some fun.

It'll mean more when you're ready.

You know maybe when the shows over with,

I will find you a girlfriend.

What a guy!

It was a tough choice.

All these people whom I owed

so much wanted me to win the gold cup.

And I wanted to do one thing that will lose it for me.

Kill my father.

A choice got tough every time I looked across

into miss ladyship's eyes and so that I was thrown away.

The more I looked at her the less I hated my old man.

After all if it hadn't been for him I wouldn't be here, would I?

I mean I wouldn't be fighting for the championship.

Making a lot of nice people happy in

trying to win the paw of a fair lady.

I bet he's a pretty good gaffer at that.

It may be enough to take away his cup from him.

Why not be noble about the whole thing?

Noble and smart.

Well, he was at last, my old man.

Pretty good old gaffer.

On not him, what a character.

Arrogant? Cocky?

A real wise guy.

So he's a champion, well so what?

Well, that did it.

Was no woman safe around this guy?

Let Nolan and Wyndham win their own cups.

I had unfinished business.

Keep that mutt away from regent royal.

This dog is too expensive-- Oh is that so?

Well if you want to keep him valuable take him out of the show.

Because after the show, he won't be worth anything.

Nothing!

He took the words right out of my mouth.

Ladies and gentlemen.

If you will allow the judges

to tally up their scorecards,

we will announce the winner in the bull terrier class

for the championship of America.

All these nice people had come to the garden to see a show.

Well they were sure gonna see one.

They were about to see which dog was the best.

Bowery style win, lose or draw.

I was going after my old man.

The final decision, in the bull terrier competition.

The winner and new champion,

prince Galahad of Wyndham.

- Nolan, congratulations. - Thank you, sir.

- George. - Mr. Wyndham

congratulations, Nolan. It's wonderful, isn't it?

This was the moment of truth, the time for the kill.

Everything inside me said go get him.

But suddenly I just couldn't move.

Maybe it was the way he took it on the chin.

A champion even in defeat

and I understood then why my mother had loved him.

I taken away his championship

and he would never know I was his son.

That seemed punishment enough.

A funny thing.

I came wanting to teach my old man a lesson

instead I had learned a lesson myself.

Where did those guys get off making fun of the champion.

We all have to lose some day.

They would murder him.

My old man sure needed a friend now.

And I was his boy.

Holy Toledo!

Me and my old man, we sure started something.

I had crossed the Rubicon,

there was no turning back.

I had to enter my invitation to all the things

most men and most dogs want.

Security, social prominence

and the love of a beautiful girl, with dull--

Easiest catch I ever made.

Came in low and fast.

Yes, sir.

Homerun of a very first twist.

Well, now settle down, take it easy.

You've got no worries at all from here on, none whatsoever.

Now, stand back in there you fellow stand back.

You've got a new visitor.

Yeah, a regular marathon runner.

As soon as he catches his breath he'll

probably tell you all about it.

Wrist full of male.

In less than two minutes

I'd gone from the top of New York society,

the pinnacle dogdom all the way to the bottom

as Jimmy jocks would say 'sic transit Gloria Mundi'.

All the paths of glory lead but to the dog catcher.

The only part that hurt was a thought of passing my last moments.

With a scurvy as bunch of mongrels

as had ever been picked up on the streets in New York.

They looked like something

that had escaped from madame tussaud's waxworks

on a very hot day.

I'm certainly glad my mother couldn't see me now.

Mother, at long last I found her.

I was so happy I almost forgot we were behind bars

and heading for that long slow walk to the gas chamber.

If only the mounties would arrive in time.

Listen, did you happen to see a white bull terrier,

he was about so long and about this tall?

Seen him? Well he's coming running down through here

as if he's trying to make to post office before they closed it

but I timed it perfectly.

I drew, back and I bagged him on the wing--

You got him in here?

Locked tight.

But, but, he is the champion bull terrier of America.

No kidding! My first champion.

Will you unlock... The gates here, let me have him.

No, I'm sorry I can't do that.

It's the city orders

against dogs running loose on the streets.

Oh, yes, yes. How much?

Are you trying to corrupt a civil servant?

Certainly.

Good! I've got 10 dogs in there.

Make you a deal for the whole lot of them.

Two bucks a piece.

Here's 50.

What you going do with the other nine?

Why?

For another buck a piece I'll taken them off your hands.

Mister, they are yours for nothing.

Well, off to the hunt.

Tally ho!

Come on, our pilot's gone. Come on, boy.

No, don't worry about what happened back there.

That was one of the greatest sights I ever saw.

Oh, I see you picked yourself up a friend.

Well, bring her along if you like that little old lady.

That, that's good enough for me.

Come on, come on, boy. Come on, girl.

Oh, miss ladyship.

What a lovely girl. Am I glad to see you.

You know, I think we may have the makings of a

nice little family here.

Miss ladyship, I, you know I think,

you not only found yourself a husband but--

Wildfire, you, you know, you kinda look like,

like around the eyes, maybe,

maybe we got ourselves a mother-in-law, too

well, wildfire, girls, come on let's all of us go home.

Here we go!

Congratulations father!

- There are two boys and--

Three girls.

How about that!