Original subtitles

What's the hurry? Three minutes to post time. There are other races.

But I know the winner of this one.

Chief Robert Ironside's Pigeon.

The horses are approaching the starting game.

I can make a bet for you.

I don't bet.

Consider it a loan.

Jack holds your money for a minute and ten seconds.

Then they pay you 900 % interest.

Besides being well -named, you can go a quarter and 22.

I'll meet you at the table.

He'll be 10 to 1.

Maybe I ought to... No, you're coming with me.

That's $40.

Watch closely. It's about to become $400.

That's what you said last week and the week before. I can only perform this

trick on certain days.

Come on, let's go. It's post time.

The machine's broken down.

They're all out.

So maybe we'll save some money. Maybe you will.

If he wins, the flag is up. They'll never see which way he went.

you inside I'll bet you do me

There are other races. You said that before.

I wonder what... Yeah, find out.

Maybe they're going to give me back my $450.

I would have bet another ten.

Ah, sorry to have kept you waiting.

I'm Herb Jarman, director of operations. I asked Al Hayes to bring you here.

And he's here.

I'd have brought the mayor if he wanted. Don't get sensitive, Al. This is no

time for a prima donna.

Let's cut to malarkey.

Al's your security man.

I worked with him once. I guess I can now.

Huh? How much?

How much money are you folks missing?

Look, I'm supposed to know things people haven't told me yet.

Now, you turn on your trouble light, your security chief Shanghai's me in

that means crime.

Crime at a racetrack usually means money.

Of course, if you've changed your mind, if you don't want to tell me, $175 ,000.

That's better than they tapped you for a year ago.

From where? The money room?

About 158?

Yes. I happen to have been a victim of the same crime. Cost me $540.

Somebody jammed the mutual machines.

In the confusion... Somebody pulled the main circuit breaker.

It took us two minutes to find the trouble.

During which time, as I say, confusion.

Somebody took his eye off the money and afterwards...

Evidently, our security system is... Is imperfect.

Most of them are, especially against attack from the inside.

Inside. Where is the circuit breaker?

Inside the security area.

Inside. You got two things to look for.

It's being done.

Two things.

The money, it might be stashed somewhere around the track. If not, history

suggests that at least one employee will have departed recently without

bothering to punch out.

I don't think he stashed the money here. It was too bulky. It was all in fives

and tens.

We keep it from making change.

Then you've got a missing man or men or women or man and woman.

You find that out while I get even.

And you better notify downtown.

What kind of arithmetic is that?

Counting what I lost by not betting Robert's choice, $70 at 9 to 1, $630,

three $2 bets.

What about the one you didn't get to bet in the second race?

All right, knock off a deuce, leaving me 6 -3 -4 in the drink.

Why did that security man quit the force?

Because he had a taste for the finer things of life.

I'm hit.

I'm hit.

You figure maybe the missing money is part of a get -rich -quick scheme by

Hayes?

Facts first, then conclusions.

Takes longer, but you get more satisfaction.

Why do you suppose they called you in before notifying headquarters?

That is something I'll accept now and find out later.

What's S .R. mean?

S .R. It's a racetrack.

Santa Rosa, I think.

I study everything.

You told me you don't want me to be ignorant.

Blackwell, Louis E.

Been working here about six weeks.

Reported for work this morning.

His car's still in the employee's parking lot.

But he's gone.

He wouldn't use his own car.

What kind of work did he do?

Internal control.

Seeing that people didn't go where they weren't supposed to go. And he could go

anywhere. Including the money room?

I called downtown and asked them to put out an APB on him.

All right, let's go.

What about the next race?

If I'd made a practice of never betting on the next race, I'd have retired rich.

Now let's go.

Where?

2417 La Paloma Drive.

What's happened?

Is Lou all right?

We don't know yet, Mrs. Blackwell. He's disappeared.

Oh, no.

It's possible he may be involved in a robbery.

A robbery?

That's not what you expected to hear?

What did you expect to hear? As soon as you knew we were police, you said, is it

Lou? Now, what did you mean?

Now, we can't help you if you won't talk to us.

What were you thinking?

That they... That he'd killed himself.

You said they.

Who are they?

What did you think they had done?

You thought they'd killed him? Who are they?

I don't know. I don't.

There was trouble. I knew that.

Because he was so worried, you know.

And then there were those phone calls that he didn't want me to hear.

But yesterday, I heard him say, I just need a little more time, that's all.

And then today...

Today.

He left without saying goodbye.

In all the time we've been married, he's never done that.

There's more to it, isn't there?

Isn't there?

A man might forget to say goodbye.

Now tell us the rest of it. What else?

The bank account.

Our joint account.

He cleaned it out.

How do you know?

I called the bank right after he left.

And they told me it was empty.

Why did you call them?

I just had a feeling.

You had a feeling about... Thank you, Mrs. Blackwell.

Thank you, Mrs.

Blackwell.

Woman's worried about her husband, so she calls the bank.

It happened before.

What happened?

Somebody washed the pot.

What happened before?

I did. It looked like it hadn't been washed. It was washed during Truman's

administration. Why did that woman call the bank? It was just trying to build up

flavor.

Patterns, Ed.

Police work is patterns.

Why? Patterns.

Bitter almond smell means cyanide, and a lot of blood could mean a knife.

And if a woman is worried about her husband... And here's him asking someone

the phone for more time.

And he leaves her, and her first move is to call the bank.

Well?

Well, children get with it. What is that man?

Now, would it offend you fine police officers to suppose the man is a sick,

compulsive gambler?

Been in trouble often enough so his wife knows what to expect, and now the whole

thing begins to make sense?

Maybe.

Ed.

Ed, haven't you been struck by the contrast, the intelligence of the theft

versus the stupidity of the thief who ran away rather than hide the money and

remain on the job?

If Blackwell was smart enough to plan this, how come he was dumb enough to do

in a way that marked him as the thief?

Are you asking me?

No, I guess I'm telling you.

Blackwell didn't plan it. He wasn't the brains, just the tool. And he isn't

supposed to keep the money, just hand it over.

To whom?

To the planner, Mr. X.

The man who runs none of the risks and winds up with all the money.

It's a theory. I may forbid you to talk until that coffee pot returns to its

original condition.

Sure, it's a theory.

Now, you got a better one?

How does Blackwell hand it over?

Does he bring it to his partner?

Does X go somewhere and get it?

Or does Blackwell hide it somewhere and then tell X where it is?

You mean you know?

Good or bad, Ed, this is still coffee, not tea.

You know, tea leaves?

I get it.

He's dead. He sure didn't want to go through that safety check. He may have

a reason.

I saw a bullet in this morning. If I'm right, we're going to be here for a

while.

Tell odds to control.

Tell odds to control.

I said, would you please stop washing the dishes? The noise is driving me

I'm through.

You know, the city does not pay you to wash dishes.

The average citizen would be shocked at such a misappropriation of funds.

Well, thank you, Mr. Average Citizen.

Have you given any thought about who Mr. X is?

Who? Mr. X.

Whoever it was that put Blackwell up to stealing the bread.

Who would you say it is?

You're the crime buster, great one, not me.

You figure it out.

Well, it would have to be somebody that had something on Blackwell.

Correct. What about the bookies?

Incorrect.

They don't work that way.

Besides, any self -respecting bookie knows he's the first one who's going to

feel the heat. Who, then?

When you figure that out, my boy, you'll be ready to join the force.

Don't hold your breath.

Call came in just now. They've got the car, ran a roadblock in Junctionville,

then overturned. Where?

Junctionville. One of the true scenic delights of the Great West. Let's go.

Blackwell. Ed?

Emmy says death was instantaneous.

Skull fracture.

Blood workup? Just a preliminary. No alcohol, no drugs.

All right, check for the final.

Not that it'll be any different.

He panicked when he saw the roadblock.

Doesn't make sense. They had to catch him.

I think Blackwell did make sense.

He wasn't supposed to make sense.

Just a poor sap who grabbed the money and ran.

He was a messenger boy.

Uh -uh.

No money in the car.

If I'd meant delivery boy, I'd have said delivery boy.

Messenger boy.

A messenger delivers messages.

Yeah.

Only who was the message for and where is it?

junction, Bill Chief.

Who's your friend?

Al Hayes, track security.

Russ Quinn.

Sorry we haven't got what you're looking for.

In fact, we can only get your corpse.

Not your fault.

We'll find what we're looking for.

There was some money found in here.

$27.

We put it in the safe if you want to see it.

I've seen $27. I'm looking for $175 ,000. The car?

It produced a gum wrapper.

Two cigarette packages, same brand. See for yourself.

We wouldn't have left it out there until we searched.

What? There was no money in that car.

You left that car out there alone?

It's stuck in soft sand. We'll send a wrecker out there tomorrow.

Wasn't any hurry.

There's no money in that car.

Or a baggage check, or a locker key, or a safe deposit key.

Now look. Or a piece of paper with an address on it, taped to the bottom of

dash.

Query. Why did he run a roadblock unless he was afraid of being searched?

Where is this place?

What's the hurry? Whatever it is, we couldn't find it. Somebody else.

else might know where to look. Now where?

In there, by the culvert.

Take about a half hour to get there.

I could go now.

I can get out there faster.

That's okay.

I'm not much good on a motorcycle.

We'll meet you out there.

How about you?

Line us up at tow truck.

Police. I need a towing service.

Police work is a hard dollar.

He's unconscious but still hanging in there.

Tire marks tell it.

Tow truck got here, so did Kellogg.

Driver ran him down and cleared out.

Why didn't he go ahead and tow the car away?

Probably figured someone was close behind Kellogg.

Ambulance is on the way.

Ed Brown on the radio.

Busy, busy.

Yes, Ed.

Chief, I went out to a place called Acme Records.

They've got the only tow truck in the neighborhood.

Let me guess, it was stolen and they hadn't even noticed.

No, but I know where it was.

Get back to home base.

Parts, Chief, just parts.

Well, stay on it. Not too many places left to look.

I just spoke to Junctionville. He's still unconscious.

Kellogg, the motorcycle cop.

Well, check again later on. If he makes it, I want to talk to him. He may have

gotten a look at that guy.

Well, thank you, Florence Nightingale.

The kid does you a favor on his own time.

He may be on the way out, and all you can think about is information.

You're all hot.

Ain't it the truth.

Pardon me.

That's it.

Top to bottom, nothing hidden, nothing there but a car.

Well, you hit a dead end, you take another street.

We know that there are two people involved here, Blackwell... And he's

the other one, Mr. X, the guy that borrowed the tow truck and tried to pull

car away.

Not because there was money in it. Well, because there's something in it that

says where the money is.

Otherwise, why take such a chance stealing a tow truck?

Ho, ho!

Speak English, Mr. Sam.

Seems the desk sergeant has a message for you. And?

Mrs. Kellogg says you don't have to keep calling anymore.

He's going to be all right.

Did he get a look at the guy?

No. She also said thank you for the flowers.

Listen, you've got enough time to answer phone calls. You've got enough time to

help these people look.

For what?

We'll know when you find it.

Let's make it do a little work, Commissioner.

We're going to be criticized, Bob.

Won't be the first time.

I have one racetrack and two insurance companies asking me where that money is.

And the Junctionville police almost had a cop killed over that car.

I know that, Commissioner.

And you want to get rid of it.

It's all we've got.

But we're not doing any good with it.

One man was killed trying to get that car away from the police.

And another man took a big chance trying to keep it.

There must be something about that car.

Sure, in it, around it, under it, about it. Only we can't find it, whatever it

is. Then... We can't find it.

You just said that.

Because we don't know what we're looking for or where to look. We don't, but

somebody does.

So? So, let's make him do a little work.

Get permission from Blackwell's widow to auction the car along with the rest of

the unclaimed property. Only watch to see who buys it and what he does with

That's pretty thin.

You got anything thicker in mind?

All right, now, gentlemen, sale is about to begin.

All you jailers, you all know the rules.

All the sales are final.

All sales have to be in cash.

All sales will be as is, where is.

Now, if they can run, you can drive them right out of here. If they're here

tomorrow morning, you'll be charged an extra ten for storage.

All right, gentlemen, here we go. On number one. Number one. What do I have?

What do I have? Quarter. Quarter, right.

$80. Henderson, the dealer, number one, sold for $80. Now, gentlemen, your kind

attention right over here to car number two.

Right here, right here. What do I have? What do I have? I have 20. All right,

what do I have? I have a half.

Six bits. All right, six bits I have. What do I have?

Do I hear 80?

80. 80? I got 80. That's Flynn up there. You are a lucky dealer, Mr. Flynn.

That's $80. All right, excuse me, sir. Right over here, we have...

He gave the name Bentley, George Bentley, 2140 Terrace Road.

Don't worry, we will.

We're police officers.

Yeah?

Yeah, I guess you are.

We'd like to talk to you. If you don't mind.

Why would I mind?

Well... You live here?

Sure, upstairs.

Say, would you two like to come in?

May we?

Marthy will be so excited.

Well, come on along.

Well, come on.

Marthy!

Marthy! Look, we got company.

Oh? These young people are police officers. Would you ever have guessed

do you do?

Here, this is for you. Come on in, folks. Sit down.

Here, make yourself comfortable.

ever think of going on one of them TV programs where folks try to guess what

your occupation is?

I bet you'd stump them.

Oh, I haven't busted any of your laws, have I?

Oh, we'd just like to talk to you about your car.

Say, ain't she a beauty?

What did you buy it for, Mr. Bentley?

Just for transportation, officer.

So?

Thought you were going to run her in a...

moving down to a retirement village down by San Diego.

Well, I don't suppose you have any children, do you?

No. But what about... No, you don't scarcely look old enough. Now, ours are

long since grown up and moved away.

That's why I bought the car.

So Martha and me could drive down to San Diego and have something to run around

with once we got there.

But why did you buy this particular car?

Well, it looked like the best of the lot to me.

But the police auction... I always buy my cars there.

You mean you bought them there before?

You haven't been listening. I just said I always... Excuse me, may I use your

phone? Why, help yourself.

Ironside, please. Only place in town hasn't raised its prices. And you get

clean cars, too.

Not like it was back in Prohibition, of course.

Then I used to get some of those fancy black limousines, you know, the kind

grabbed off the rum runners.

Beautiful cars.

Hello, Chief.

Yes, I know.

He's bought how many?

I agree with you clean as a whistle.

It's just like you say, Chief. You win some, you lose some.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Bentley, I'm afraid you can't help us.

Well, now, I'm purely sorry. You see, the car was used in a crime, and we

someone may make an attempt to get it from you.

Fancy. So I wonder if you'd mind if we assigned a man to keep an eye on it. Oh,

you mean like a sort of a stakeout?

Uh, that's the idea.

Well, I don't understand, but I'd be delighted to be of help. Thank you.

Goodbye. Goodbye.

Goodbye, miss.

Come again.

Nothing like doing a small favor for a friend, Marthy. Just buy him a car.

Oh, George, you're such a good provider.

Thank you, Marthy.

Better than what? You're an assassin.

Just one more good one, Chief.

Hold still until Helga can finish Scapula. Finish it, you iron -fingered

You pulverized it. Now show me your license once and for all.

Be brave, police chief. Eight to five, it's a mail -order license.

Every week he hollers, and every week he feels better.

You know she's telling the truth.

No, it's your driving that causes me to send for her.

I'm considering making you foot the tab. Oh, no, Chief, it's no charge

this week.

Haker will be happy to settle for another good horse instead of charge.

Don't tell me.

Sure. I bet Robert's choice, just like you say.

How do you say?

Win a bundle, yeah?

Well, don't just stand there, Helga. Go home. Mr. Sanger, get me some clothes.

What is it, a raid?

Incredible. Right in front of us all the time. How could I miss that? Don't you

see? I lost you at the head of the stretch.

That car.

We looked every place but the right one, but no more. This time we wrap it up.

All we need is that car.

See if you can contact Ed.

Hi, Chief.

Oh, right on cue.

All right, where's the car?

That's what we wanted to talk to you about.

No time.

Have it brought to...

You have got the car.

Chief? Sir, it was... Stolen. But we put an APB out.

First thing.

Like being in the army.

Hurry up and wait. Take it easy, Chief. This car turned up. It's been in a wreck

and somebody will spot it. Great, but in the meantime, we lose our advantage.

Whoever's got that car isn't just out for a joyride. Well, it wasn't our

I suppose it was mine.

It wasn't anybody's fault, so let's all calm down.

Here, here.

Did you question the old man?

What for? He was as shocked as we were.

As a matter of fact, he threatened to sue the city for his $90.

Come in.

Chief, about that ATV of yours.

They find the car?

Yeah, I think so.

It's in an alley with a flat.

From the looks of it, the boys think that it was driven there off the street

left for junk.

I wrote down the location for you.

All right, give it to Mark, and thanks.

All right, children, let's go. Let's see what we can salvage from this mess. Ed,

you grab the lamp.

Seems pretty wild to me.

That stuff's used all the time at the track. Anyone there could get the idea

the equipment.

It's a jackpot.

Let's ride.

Ira Inlet, that's at least an hour from here. Two minutes ago, we were in

scratch. At least we're back in the race.

No good. It comes down to Ira Inlet, then play it by ear.

If it hadn't been for that crumple...

Don't look a gift horse.

That crumpled fender is the only reason we even had a chance.

Look, follow me. Mr. X, the planner, tells Blackwell to run with the track's

money to hide it. Then paint the location, the fender.

Then leave the car someplace.

Very bright.

That way there's no contact between them, nothing leading back to Mr. X.

Sure. All Mr. X had to do was wait for things to cool down, go to the car, read

the location.

Pick up the money.

Smooth. Very.

The only thing he overlooked was the human factor. Blackwell panicking,

to run that roadblock.

Which you say helps us.

But how?

Hire his inlet. All we've got is the general location.

That's all Mr. X has, too.

Be happy.

If he knew those letters between S and N, that money would be long gone.

He'll have to search just like we will.

Recap.

We may find Mr. X or money.

Or money and Mr. X armed.

Watch your step.

All right, check upstairs.

Upstairs.

Thank you.

racetrack, German.

Hey.

Now I should get a medal for this, shouldn't I, Chief?

I suspected Hayes right from the beginning.

Come down here, sure enough.

There he was digging out the money.

It's all yours.

Oh, you keep it. You went to a lot of trouble.

You knew Blackwell was a gambler on the hook for money.

Simple to con him into a partnership setup.

That's ridiculous.

Big mistake, Jarman.

That gun is no solution.

Hello.

Don't crowd me, Chief.

Hey, what did you do? Follow that car from the auction?

He shook me about a half hour ago.

I had to.

I knew I was high on your list.

I wasn't much of a cop.

You're good enough.

You were ahead of me about the car. But don't quote me, I'll deny it.

Lovely side.

You know, there's a horse in the third race tomorrow that can't miss.

I better take that.