Original subtitles

11 o 'clock sharp, time to go in.

Hope there's no wild goose chase.

Our notes said that it could lead us to Chang.

That's where it's at risk.

I'll help you.

Yes, could we have table seven?

Table seven?

This way, please.

So?

So the note said we wait for a message.

Jim, the goddess Kui shall point the way to the bandit Chang.

Same thing.

Who's the goddess Kui?

Kui is the most powerful and wicked of all the Chinese witches.

Well, what does she look like?

Well, it is said that she wears a mask of evil to hide her face, and that the

mask is so ugly that all who gaze on it are terrified.

Exactly like that one.

Let me see where they go through here.

Yeah, they came through here.

Went right up that ladder over there.

She's been trying to say something, but so far, no go.

Get a hold of him.

Jim, how are you?

Hi, Lieutenant. How are you? I don't think you know my friend, Jeremy Pike.

my partner.

They married Artie to a desk in Washington for a few months.

Oh, this is Lieutenant Tom Bingston.

Why is the Secret Service interested in a local killing?

Name Ding Chang mean anything to you?

Yeah. We've been trying to get our hands on him for quite a while.

But he's been too slippery.

Well, he finally knocked over a government storage depot.

That's how we got brought into it.

We got a note from a little lady saying she could lead us to Chang, but we never

quite got to talk to her.

I take it no one saw anything?

Well, if they did, they don't want to talk about it. Unfortunately, we don't

even know the girl's name.

Can't help you there.

But I do know his name.

He's Johnny Dirk.

Johnny Dirk?

This can't be Johnny Dirk, Lieutenant. Johnny Dirk is serving a long stretch in

Fort Alcatraz.

Aren't you, Johnny?

Hey, Johnny, how did you manage to get away?

And, uh, what happened to your friends? Why'd they leave so hastily and where'd

they go?

And why was the girl killed?

Well, I think you better get him out of here for the time being. We'll discuss

this with him later.

I still can't figure Din Chang breaking into an arsenal.

He never had too much trouble laying hands on guns before.

How about fulminator mercury?

That's all he took.

Ten barrels of it, Tom.

Hey, that's very special stuff. He could blow up half the city.

That's what we thought.

This is all she had with her, Lieutenant.

Could I hold on to these things for a while, Tom?

I don't see why not.

Well, I'm going to head back, try to get Johnny Dirk to open up.

But don't depend on it.

Talk to you later.

Well, here we are.

No closer to Chang, and unfortunately we have a dead girl that no one seems to

know. Or do they?

Last time I saw one of these, it was making a lion dance.

The nameless girl was a puppeteer.

Yeah, it's all we have, that and this ring.

At least there's something to work with.

But what does Pelican have to do with all of this? Yeah, Pelican.

Doesn't connect up at all.

Where does Ding Chang fit in?

Mr. West, Mr. Pike?

Yes. I'm Amy Stafford. I work for Colonel Blake in San Francisco.

Would you please sit down, Ms. Stafford? Thank you. We just received an answer

from Colonel Morris, the commandant at Alcatraz.

In reply to your inquiry, be advised that John Dirk, number 14357, is serving

15 years sentence this fort. No possibility of escape. Currently in

Maximum security wing.

Signed, Kelton Morris, 6th Artillery Commanding.

If Dirk is still on Alcatraz, who's the man that you caught?

Well, maybe it was his twin brother, Miss Stafford. Except for the fact that

doesn't have a twin brother. No, Jeremy, it wasn't his twin brother.

It was Johnny Dirk.

And why would Morris lie to us about his being on Alcatraz?

Alcatraz. That's it. Why didn't I think of it?

In Sonora, Mexico, there's a prison, and it's called the Alcatraz. And what's

carved into the gates?

A large bird.

A pelican.

Alcatraz is the Spanish word for pelican.

That's it. That's what that dead girl was trying to tell us.

Somehow, Din Chang is tied into Alcatraz, and we'd better find out how.

But if what you suspect about it is true, they're not going to want the

Service walking around there.

Amy wasn't Amy you got a point

your little boat trip.

Seems your former outfit no longer desire your company, but we're delighted

have you here.

We have a few simple rules.

Do what you're told, when you're told.

Now, some of you men might find it difficult to learn to live with that,

way or another, everybody learns.

Another little rule.

When I talk, you listen.

Oh.

Troublemaker, huh?

All right.

You're very important to me in my life.

But if you don't let me marry my man, I'll leave.

That's right.

Thank you.

I'm not pretty anymore.

That's right.

This prisoner swung on Corporal Simon and is still living.

Matter of fact, he knocked the corporal out cold, sir. Did you now?

Well, that's never been done before.

Why? It was a small matter of a stick in my back, sir. What?

Cruel and unusual punishment?

Very much against regulations.

Why did Corporal Simon use a swagger stick?

On the prisoner.

What swagger stick, sir?

Oh, I see.

I don't know why you're here, prisoner, but it's obvious that in addition to

everything else, you're a chronic liar.

I have his file here.

Sir, your name is Private Court, and according to the records... You've

a one -man war against the army.

Desertion, breaking out of the guardhouse, assaulting your commanding

topped off by an unprovoked assault against the senior guard of Alcatraz.

Do you have anything to say before I pass summary judgment?

Nothing.

Ah, Corporal Simon.

Back to signing those papers, Morse, or I'll have you thrown back in solitary.

Get out.

Come on.

Anita.

Thought you'd like it.

There are 105 iron cannonballs in these three pyramids.

Each ball weighs 42 pounds. And there's only one minor little problem.

Someone's stacked in the wrong place.

You've got brains, too.

On the other side of the parade ground.

Start stacking.

You realize, of course, that this may ruin our friendship.

I'll take that chance.

Start stacking.

Oh, a thousand celestial pardons, ancient one.

But do you have a young lady who assists you?

There are those who interrupt me, but no one assists me.

Oh, then I am indeed desolated.

It's the neck.

Yeah.

It's not bad at all.

The only thing is... Yeah, I know.

You liked them better where they were before.

Private course.

You're a mind reader.

All right.

Pick them up and put them down on the other side, soldier.

Move!

So now we know your name is, correction, was Jasmine Blood.

Revered one, this unworthy performance is concluded.

Ah, concluded, but not forgotten.

How surely you slew the dragon.

Happily, I must remind you that... Oh, how bravely you died with such wondrous

trailing clouds of smoke.

Except this miserable dragon's thanks, but... Oh, it is so sad that all may not

die as gloriously.

Who are you?

One who would have wished Jasmine Blood alive.

You knew my sister?

Better than I know her murderer.

How do we know you are not the murderer?

If I were, should I fear the sword you hold?

There are swords and swords.

That is indeed a proper sword.

But because of my talisman, I am unafraid.

What do you want?

Ding Cheng.

Where may I find him?

My sister has died before her time.

Now you're asking me to follow her?

Surely you can tell me something.

Anything that might help me find the one I seek.

Honored, sir.

The others, they are afraid to talk.

Ah, but not you. I also, but I'm not afraid to whisper.

Whisper to me, then, about Ding Chang?

No, about a Frenchman.

Jean Paul, Ding Chang's friend.

The friend of my enemy is my enemy, too.

Tell me where I may find this Champolle.

There is a warehouse.

The New Kowloon.

Now, that I like, soldier.

I know.

But you'd like it better if they were back over there, right? I should say

It's perfect just the way it is. Don't you agree?

Yes, sir, soldier.

This time you did it good.

Real good.

But I know you just realized something.

A small thing.

If you could put this cannonball on the top.

And that cannonball.

Right. That's the idea.

Then it'd really be perfect.

Cut.

You wouldn't be having any of this trouble if you were a little less

In the future, when I do this to you...

I'm surprised you're still alive.

I'm surprised so am I, Miss... At ease, Father Court.

My name is Dr. Gibson.

I have the technical rank of a captain.

And I'm in charge of the infirmary.

Yes, sir, Captain.

Furthermore, I know all about you.

All about me?

All.

I've examined you thoroughly.

There are no broken bones, but you are a mass of contusions and bruises.

Cannonballs usually do have that effect on me. In addition to which, I've

familiarized myself with your military coil.

It's the most inspiring record I've ever read.

But that really isn't a true insight to my inner personality, my hopes, my

dreams, my cares, my fears.

I know a little something about that, too.

You were feverish for a while.

Did I reveal anything interesting?

Among other things.

You kept repeating something that was obviously very much in your mind. A

who seems to be a puppeteer or a witch.

Then something about a Din Chang.

That bunker out there.

What goes on?

Don't even ask about that place. Why not?

I've seen many prisoners go in there.

I've never seen one come out.

How dare you?

You knock before you enter this infirmary. Sorry about that, Doc.

I've got this order to take the prisoner off your hands for a little solitary

confinement.

I won't allow it.

Private court is suffering from a fracture of the ulna and is unfit for

Now, look here, Doc. I got this authorization. And I tell you that the

is unfit for duty.

Since I'm in charge of this infirmary, he shall not be released. Sorry, Doc.

Orders is orders.

Get up.

I'm unfit for duty, man.

Get him up.

Curtis!

Sold the doc on the idea that you had a broken wing, huh, soldier?

Well, I got just the place for you to recuperate.

Till the roses blow in your cheeks again.

An ideal vacation spot we call the bunkers.

Time is growing short.

Now, when can we expect the shipment?

So, Din Chang is growing impatient.

The merchandise. And be assured, it is exquisite. We'll be shipped very

A small reinforcement.

No.

No? No? Alors, no.

And very shortly after, I, I, Jean -Paul.

will shortly arrive.

Allons -y.

Get those other crates ready.

Take a good look around, Cort.

You won't be seeing sunshine again.

One thing I can always count on from you is a future for words.

See how smart you feel after your little tour down there.

After you.

Take him in.

You know what would have happened if this had hit the floor?

You appear to be very knowledgeable.

What would have happened?

It would all probably be a memory by now scattered all over San Francisco Bay.

It seems you've saved all our lives.

What do you know about fulminated mercury?

I know quite a bit, sir. Maybe almost as much as you.

That might make you an expert, young man.

I don't know about being an expert, sir, but I do know that it's an acid. When

it's combined with mercury, it becomes an explosive.

So unstable, though, that it's hardly worth using.

Not even in these.

Rockets. Why should you be so surprised?

It's what we Chinese are so good at, rockets.

Long before the rest of the world graduated from their spears and bows and

arrows, we Chinese had developed rockets to a remarkable degree.

But one element we lacked.

An effective priming charge, like culminate of mercury, which your

government has now most thoughtfully provided.

Congratulations. I'd say you're one up on the old Spanish garrison's 20

pounders. Thank you.

Now, young man, let's see what a strategist you are.

What could be the purpose of these rocket launchers set up here in the

overlooking the bay?

Well, if you could fire the rockets without blowing up yourselves, then you

could control the bay.

You could bottle up shipping, zero in on the main one, depending, of course, on

your range.

Now, if you could do that...

Then you could name your own price for San Francisco.

Very good.

Very good indeed.

I've been in a few prisons in my time, but never anything like this. The guards

tell me that no one's ever left here.

Let us say the troublemakers among the inmates don't leave to discuss what

they've seen.

Well, sir, I'm very impressed with all this. I'd like to get over on your side.

Unfortunately for you, my side is quite full.

Take.

Right young man.

But they're obviously troublesome ones.

Make sure the rockets are properly stationed.

I'll take over now.

Nobody told me nothing about that.

Now look, buddy, I'm just following orders.

Yeah? How come I've never seen you before?

Well, you see, it's like this.

So happens... Where the devil is this? Is this Alcatraz?

This is it.

Well, then Chang is up to his neck in rockets.

Somehow he's managed to take over this whole fort.

These aren't the real guards. Where are they?

I don't know. Why don't you try and find out? I've got work to do topside.

Right.

I was told you were waiting for me. You may inform Colonel Morris that I must

see him immediately.

Oh, I'm sorry.

The colonel has been called away to the Presidio.

In his absence, I am acting commandant, of course.

May I help you?

It's about the bunker.

I see men being detailed there, but no one ever returns. Oh, come, come,

That's just barracks rumors you're repeating.

The men are transferred to the mainland.

That's why you don't see them again.

Then there's the matter of private court.

Well, what about him?

Well, it's something that he kept repeating.

Something about a dangerous killer that he was trailing.

He has quite a selection to choose from here.

Was there any description?

Yes, I remember his exact words.

Din Chang.

A Chinese named Din Chang.

Chinese, you said.

A Chinese named Din Chang?

Did he also say that Din Chang is an expert with a knife?

You see, Dr. Gibson, As long as you were the lovely, dedicated healer of wounds

and stayed in your antiseptic world of bandages, your safety was assured.

But now...

It's

so difficult to find.

The absence of Major Fry, you're going to do a few things for me. Yes.

Destroy those rockets and the launcher.

Go on.

And what about the real personnel of Alcatraz?

The real guard.

Our young Mr. Cort seems to be a bird of a different feather.

Yes, you're from the police. Or perhaps even from the government. But it doesn't

really matter, of course, because in exactly...

28 minutes.

You won't be around to see it, of course, but your gallant United States

will be resting on the bottom of the bay.

Come.

You'll enjoy the sight.

You see, it's the fleet returning from maneuvers, sailing peacefully into a

quiet harbor.

And why not?

The Navy would never fear anything from its own Fort Alcatraz, eh?

which are so strategically situated, designed, you might say, to bring any

vessel in the bay under its guns and rockets and so blast any hull to

What do you hope to accomplish?

You may sink a few ships, but soon you'll be bombed out or starved out.

Corporal, in addition to asking far too many questions, our friends here have

become quite troublesome.

I believe we have perfectly good wall on the parade ground.

Get rid of them.

Yes, sir.

And it's about time we put it to work.

Fall in behind me.

March!

About 26 minutes to go.

I suggest we get along to the bunker.

ever since you first showed up here.

Position prisoners.

I got a change of orders.

I just got the word from Chang that you're going to take them back to the

infirmary. Tell you what?

You tell him you got to me too late.

Well, I can't do that.

You can do anything I tell you.

Well, I can't take on that responsibility. Get out of the way.

I got unfinished business here.

Ready? Hold it. Hold it. I got something here.

That's it.

Now, you stay right there.

I don't know who you are, but you drop that box and get your hands up.

But... It'll break.

Drop it!

Well, if that's what you want.

I think the real guards are in the old dungeon.

We don't have much time to use those rockets on our fleet.

The fleet?

They're crazy.

They may blow up a ship or two, but they can't go up against the combined guns

of the Army and Navy. I know how we can warn the Navy.

There's a boat in a cove on the other side of the island.

It's all hidden, covered over.

They had their own one -way ticket out of here.

Try and release those guards. We don't need all the help we can get.

I'm going to try and destroy the rocket launch.

Stay close.

If anybody sees us, you're my prisoner.

Fleet approaching, sir.

Very well.

Almost in range.

When they get to zero point, start firing.

I'll be watching from the tower.

Yes, sir.

Lead ship coming into range.

Stand by.

Ready for countdown.

Five, four.

Garrison's liberated and the situation is well in hand.

Shouldn't you pick them up?

All in good time, Captain.

All in good time.

So you see, the idea was that with the fleet tied up firing on Alcatraz, they

could land at the Presidio.

rob a rather sizable payroll that had arrived for the fleet and make off with

without anyone being the wiser.

Why, that's downright thrilling.

But I think we'd better be getting along to dinner now.

It is getting awfully late.

It's all right, ladies. Ladies, you are so right.

Shall we, James?

What's the matter? Aren't you enjoying yourself?

Oh, no, that's not it at all. I'm actually really enjoying myself.

But you see, I've been thinking about my other partner, Artemis Gordon.

He was sent to Washington, and I've been there.

It's boring, a lot of desk work, a lot of paperwork, and I'm just wondering if

he's enjoying himself.

Speaking of Artie, it reminds me, a package arrived for him today.

One of those talking records.

Oh, could we hear it?

Mr. West, Mr.

Pike, Mr.

Gordon has been so busy that he hasn't time to send you this himself, so he

asked me as a favor to send it to you.

He wants you to know that it's just work, work, work.

I think I'm really ready for dinner right now