Original subtitles

What am I doing to you?

It's what family is for.

Where will it end?

It's only money.

Two hundred dollars.

Do you realize that that's... that's all... that's all you've got left in the

world?

I have a brother.

I'm so frightened.

Nothing's going to happen to you.

You're too good.

That's your trouble.

Those people won't let me live.

Come on, Sammy.

Let's see who's at the door, Sammy.

It's only the janitor.

I'd better be going.

You're going?

I'm trying to get some more money.

I'll make it up to you.

Call me tomorrow.

Yes.

I'm going down the back stairs.

It'll be safer. What do you mean, safer?

Come on,

baby.

What good is this?

What good is this?

You're the nice one of darling.

I want to thank you again, Mr. Mannix, for coming here. I know how busy you

You told my secretary you were unable to leave your apartment, Miss Jordan. Why

is that?

I just couldn't walk into a private investigator's office.

We're a proud family, Mr. Mannix.

Although heaven knows we have little else left.

Here are the pictures.

Oh, I called the police. They said your brother's wife hasn't reported him

missing.

He was in a panic when he left here.

He hasn't phoned me in two days.

That's not like him.

Wouldn't she be concerned as well?

Obviously not as much as I am.

Well, have you talked to her? She might know something. I told you.

My brother got into financial difficulty.

And in desperation, he went to some... Oh, some loan sharks instead of coming

me. Mr. Mannix, I feel for my brother's life.

He could... He could do something desperate.

What more do you need to know?

Miss Jordan, businessmen usually go to banks.

He went to them all.

What did his partner say?

His partner only shares in the profits.

Miss Jordan, I really think you ought to go to the Bureau of Missing Persons.

They do a very good job, and the price is right.

If

this

isn't enough, there's more.

You usually carry this much cash?

I don't usually hire detectives.

Will you help me?

Please?

I'll have to ask questions.

Discreetly, Mr.

Mannix. I beg you.

Fair enough.

You know what they are?

Vultures.

Picking him clean.

Both of them. His wife and... his partner.

Mr.

Mannix? That's right.

I'm Walter Lupus.

Donald's partner.

How do you do?

I'm afraid you wasted a trip out here.

I thought you might be able to tell me how your partner got involved with loan

sharks. I told you on the phone I know nothing about my partner's personal

Forty hours a week, if conscientious, maybe fifty or sixty.

All that time together and you talked about nothing but business?

Nothing that'll help you on this wild goose chase.

Well, Donald's sister seems to think he might be in trouble.

You met Francis. What do you think?

You're suggesting something.

Sons and lovers often leave home.

Also brothers.

And you're, uh, sure he'll just show up one day?

Yeah, when he's through brooding.

About what?

I've told you all I can.

Not all.

You might as well tell me, Mr. Lucas. I'll find out.

We, uh, lost a contract we were bidding on earlier this week.

It's nothing new.

But Donald has become increasingly upset over it.

Why, he asked, should we lose it?

Well, this time they told him to his face.

They might want to invite their contractors to their club for dinner one

evening.

See, my partner's a courageous man, but he hasn't got the guts to say he wants

out. Well, he preferred that I leave a nice, polite note to avoid any kind of

messy confrontation.

When you find him, tell him to stay lost, because we're doing great without

How does his wife feel about that?

Why don't you ask her?

I'm sorry.

It's still funny.

Cream of sugar?

Straight.

Why funny?

Well, Mr. Mannix, do you think that I'd be casually stirring coffee if my

husband had disappeared?

Sometimes the sugar sticks to the bottom of the cup.

I'd be concerned if I learned that you were missing and we've only just met.

Your sister -in -law thinks Donald may be in the hands of the people he

the money from.

Francis is a great worrier.

Mrs. Jordan, what do you think happened to Donald?

Are you trying to trap me into revealing some horrid secret by constantly asking

that question?

Yes.

Donald...

On vacation.

Uh -huh.

Well, then, if you'll just give me a phone number, I'll have his sister call

him, and that should take care of it.

There is no number.

An address?

Mr. Mannix, you're not going to believe this.

Try me.

I have no idea where my husband is.

Mrs. Jordan, I agreed to look into this for your sister -in -law.

I felt I was wasting my time, but there is something wrong, isn't there?

Mr. Maddox, some men drink.

Some men chase women.

Don fishes.

He's gone fishing?

You see these?

Yes, I noticed.

My guilty conscience collection, I call it.

Every time Donald comes back, he brings me some little trinket.

It's his way of asking me not to make inquiries.

Fishing.

Please don't prove me wrong.

Look at all this work.

Look at it.

I'm looking. I'm a licensed private detective. I have my own office. I have

own clients. What am I doing running around for Joe Mannix? Helping a friend.

Here's the expense account.

Don't involve me in your own private wars.

Did you find it?

There is a $100 ,000 double indemnity insurance policy on each of the

How does that grab you? Isn't that normal for construction companies?

Sure, everything is normal until people start twisting.

In case of violent death... $100 ,000 to the partner and $100 ,000 to the wife,

Linda Jordan. Now, that's normal, too, right?

Those are the reports? I incurred a lot of expense, Joe.

$3 for gas, $6 for phone bills, $1 for pen.

I'll be... Okay.

The construction firm of Jordan and Lucas is very busy, as far as I could

They did not lose a contract in the past six months.

Not one? Are you sure?

Jordan and Lucas is a big, well -organized firm operating at a profit.

Yet company funds were almost non -existent. They had to float alone to

small tractor they needed.

Somebody is tapping the till.

Donald Jordan has no bank account unless it's in Switzerland.

Lucas has been draining his 500 at a time.

Oh, you putting that on the expense sheet? Only till I make a name for

Then you won't be able to afford me for a partner.

Some case.

A wife who doesn't know where her husband is, and a partner who doesn't

he ever returns.

I followed up on the sister, too.

No checking account.

And a bank book reads in four figures like $10 .95.

Well, that's par for the course.

Partner's broke.

Sister's broke, but loaded with cash.

Company is busy, but broke.

Now, there seems to be a hole in the bottom of the well.

Donald Jordan's laying in the well.

Which brings us to the double indemnity policy.

Look, Albie, you better get out that shovel.

Where do I start digging?

The mortar.

This is Donald Jordan.

Brother to Francis, husband of Linda, partner of all.

Mr. Mannix, if I didn't object, my sister would still mix magic potions for

well -being and hang them around my neck. Don't tell me.

You went fishing.

Just tell Francis I'm fine.

Why don't you tell her?

Spare me that, so you can keep your fee.

Tell me, how did you know I was involved?

Your investigation was very thorough.

Thanks again.

If I ever am missing, I'll let you know.

You just let him walk?

Biggie, watch the store.

What?

That man,

that cool man with no problems, he had a gun under his coat.

Casey, a man just came in here, a tall blonde. You see him?

Yeah, he just ran out the back door.

Thanks.

Excuse me.

really going to use this, were you?

Hey.

What happened?

Ask him.

I wasn't in any danger.

But they were.

What's with his gun?

You were...

Hired to find me and found.

It's no longer fun and games, Mr. Jordan.

I'd like an explanation.

It was a personal matter.

I give a 90 -day guarantee.

You disappear again and I'll be out looking for you.

Are you all right?

Just an old war wound.

Which war was that?

Never meet a moving car in the middle of the street.

Just when did that happen?

Yesterday. The same two men.

They could have killed me then if they wanted to.

You know, some people are worth more dead than alive.

If I was dead, I wouldn't be worth anything.

You're wrong.

$100 ,000 would benefit certain people.

You were asked to find me, not to make accusations against people I love.

Peggy, take this Jordan file over to the police department.

My sister's been talking to you.

I ask you to forget about anything that she said. She's filled with anxieties,

most of them about me.

I'm sorry for her. She's good. She gave me her last $200 the other day.

Your sister gave you the last of her money?

She loves me.

But she's not my guardian anymore, and she won't accept the fact.

She's going to have to accept a lot more if your wife gets $100 ,000.

Please, just... Forget about the insurance policy.

I love my wife.

She's a lot of things, but murder is not one of her accomplishments.

It's not hard to learn.

No.

She needs me alive.

Sit down.

I feel like a fool suddenly.

No one's laughing at you.

There were some good years, you know.

That was before the fabrications.

Lost pocketbooks.

Giving the grocer two tens instead of two ones.

Misplaced jewelry.

Then when the bookmakers started calling, she even had an answer for

We were the wrong Jordan.

She gambles.

My wife is an addict, a compulsive gambler. She's ill.

You could never tell it by... looking at her, but she can't help herself.

Those two men, they were trying to collect the gambling debt?

Right. You pay this bill, then what?

She'll gamble again.

They'll hound me until I can raise the money.

I wouldn't let them hurt her.

And then she says that she's going to stop.

Everything's quiet for a while.

Then it starts all over again.

All right, Mr. Jordan.

Albie, get him someplace to stay, or he won't be bothered.

You do see, don't you, about my wife?

We were happy once.

I couldn't leave her now.

When you get to where you're going, you stay put.

When I go lock the door, Lurker doesn't know what you look like, so he can't

answer questions.

Hungry, go to a grocery store.

No restaurants.

Wait till it's dark.

You're very thorough.

That's how Al B. Luce and Joe Mannix do business.

Oh, they make a great vermouth cassis here.

Really? I might enjoy it more if I knew the real reason we were here while we

couldn't talk at home.

Oh, thanks, Todd.

Well, I figured you'd been cooped up in that house so long that a change of

atmosphere would be nice.

Well.

Oh, please sit down, Miss Jordan.

We have a few things to talk over.

Very nice, Mr. Mannix.

Donald came to see me today.

Donnie? Is he all right?

No, he said he was.

But what happened? Did he explain?

What did he say?

Well, he wanted me to quit looking for him.

You don't seem surprised.

I never was worried.

Hi, Casey.

Jordan. No, no, I've already ordered.

Whatever you have.

Remove the seats, too.

Donald said he wasn't in any real trouble, but I don't believe him.

Why?

Something's got him scared. I'd like to know what.

That's what we're here to discuss.

All right.

Let's discuss.

Well, I don't know. I've told you everything.

Did you?

Well, then maybe we can figure this thing out together. The three of us.

I got a different story from each of you about Donald's disappearance.

I got a third from his partner and a fourth from Donald himself.

Why?

I didn't lie to you, Mr. Mannix.

Miss Jordan, your bank balance has been less than $50 for over a month now.

There. Do you want to order now? No, later, Casey. Thanks.

Well, is where I got the money so important?

When your brother's in debt, Miss Jordan, he paid me $1 ,000 that you

account for.

Yes, I'd say it's important.

A thousand dollars?

I got a loan on my car.

Francis, I don't understand why you had to hire a private investigator in the

first place.

She may have saved your husband's life.

Oh, yeah.

I see that you found out that there are certain men who are looking for Donald,

but they're certainly not going to kill him. They just want him to pay him back.

Oh, I forgot.

You wouldn't stir your coffee if you thought there was any real danger.

Well, so I did bend the truth a little, but frankly, I didn't want you to find

him. Why?

Well, Mr. Mannix, I'm afraid that we're in so deeply this time that

they're probably afraid that he won't pay them back, that he might run away.

I knew that if you could find him, they certainly would also find him.

So I...

I just wanted to give him time to think, that's all.

How dare you, after all you've done.

How dare you drag my brother's name down to your level.

Mr. Private Investigator, you brought the two cats together in the ring. They

clawed each other, as you expected.

I trust you found out what you needed to know.

And may we take me home now, please?

Bye, Frances.

I'm usually paid to know what people are thinking.

I suppose Donald told you everything.

Everything he thought was important, I guess.

Well, I mean, about me.

He is worried.

Oh, Mr. Mannix, you were in there with a pro.

A pro is always in control.

He sold, and you bought.

Wonder which story it was this time.

Let's see.

First, I was a compulsive spender.

More recently, I've become a compulsive gambler.

Why are we stopping?

We haven't had lunch.

Thank you.

Oh, they were out of onion.

You know, Donald and I used to come down here a lot.

In fact, that's why we bought the house on the hill.

Hmm.

You know, you were saying earlier, he lied to me.

Yes, he did lie.

You see, he can't help it.

Because that story about the addict, that was his story, not mine.

In other words, you're saying he's a compulsive gambler.

Do you know what that means?

He'd give up everything we own.

Bet it on, for instance, how many waves we're going to break in the next hour.

Do you gamble, Mr. Mannix?

Me?

I'm very large with gas station sweepstakes.

Well, you see, you play because you think you're going to win.

That's fine.

But...

Compulsive gambler. Well, he really wanted to lose.

So he keeps on playing until there's nothing left.

It's because he feels guilty.

Maybe for wanting something for nothing.

But it's as if... As if Donald were possessed.

And it drains you.

Twists your life all around.

You don't know what's happening until it's too late.

Frankly, I'm sick of it.

The scene in the restaurant was very interesting. Maybe I should just let big

sister Frances carry him on her shoulders.

Come on.

You don't really mean that, do you?

What do you think that's going to accomplish?

No. Just... Too much fresh air out here, I guess.

I thought I had begun to figure this all out.

Oh, well, don't try.

I don't understand.

Why do you stay with him?

I've tried to leave.

Three times I've tried.

Can't.

If he was an alcoholic, I wouldn't leave him either.

See, we were very much in love.

I have to remember that.

I'm kind of like the farmer with the parched fields, sitting waiting

for the rains to come.

I keep hoping to.

In here, Peg.

Put on the coffee and take a letter.

No coffee.

No letter. Your secretary hasn't returned yet.

What can I do for you?

We represent a client.

Donald Jordan owes him a sum of money.

And we'd like to arrange for some method of repayment, if we may.

If you leave your name, I'll have him get in touch.

Oh, these kind of things are always best resolved in person.

So if you'll just give us the motel address.

Some guy laying at the bottom of the river with his feet in cement.

That kind of arrangement.

Mr. Mannix, those sort of things are old -fashioned.

You see, a dead man can never pay.

Who are you guys?

Just the address.

Albie, you okay?

Listen, if you hadn't loused up the interrogation, I would have found out

those guys were. Okay, Albie, now just sit down, take it easy.

Now give it to me slowly.

They came looking for Donald Jordan.

They knew we put him in a motel.

Oh.

I only told his wife and sister.

Listen, if I'm going to do any more work for you on this case, we're going to

have to make a new deal.

You're taking advantage of me.

Albie?

You all right?

Why aren't you out chasing those guys?

How are we going to get any leads?

I used to die, Albie.

He just read my expense account.

Uh -uh. Those two guys, right?

You saw them?

They almost knocked me over.

It seems someone has learned we have Donald Jordan.

Well, you won't have too much trouble locating them.

I wrote the license number down with my lipstick.

I'm Joe Mannix.

Let men are all screamed.

That's why you haven't been around.

You're angry about something.

I let you know I was looking for Donald Jordan.

Oh, little bird.

Bird or pigeon.

She loves the guy, Joe. She's worried about him.

She didn't waste any time fingering him for you.

We just want to talk to Donald.

Talk to me.

What good is running?

You know that's not the way to do business.

Let the guy come in and make a definite arrangement to pay.

That's your only interest.

It's my only interest.

56.

A thousand.

Joe, one of those gents who mistook me for you is over at the table.

Thank you.

Seven again.

I'm the real Joe Maddox.

Next time, make sure your collectors know what I look like. I sell wallet

photos. Three for a dollar.

Mannix.

What about Jordan?

You want him?

You find him.

Did we accomplish anything just now?

You feel better?

That's what we accomplished.

Joe, in your office... Look, we also know Linda Jordan's a very good liar.

You never did stop being a detective, did you?

All that display of sensitivity was just another of your devices, wasn't it?

Like magnifying glass or skeleton keys.

Don't, don't, don't turn that ice on me.

Oh, you'd make someone a reliable friend. Yeah, someone who played it

In our group?

Now, look, what kind of woman are you?

I thought you knew.

Well, I know that both you and his partner are trying to sell me on the

that your husband was doing what comes naturally when he disappeared.

And I also know he's had several so -called accidents and that there's still

$200 ,000 on his head.

Gambling is Donald's drug.

What's your excuse?

Now, why did you call O 'Keefe?

John O 'Keefe, are you crazy?

Donald's hiding from him. Don't you think I know that?

Now, come off it. He admitted that he was tipped by a woman.

Oh, and it's always the wife, isn't it?

Wow.

That's where she got the cash.

A thousand dollars.

Yeah, O 'Keefe knew I wouldn't work for him, so he had Sister Frances hire me.

Well, it had to be her.

You're the only ones who knew about the motel.

Plus Walter.

What?

Well, I knew that Walter would be relieved to know that Donald was all

He already knew.

Well, how?

Donald phoned him.

Oh, doesn't he realize Walter Lucas hates his guts?

Not true.

Well, he said so.

He lied.

Walter's protecting him, too.

Oh, Peggy, get Albie over to George's motel fast.

Then phone Jordan and tell him to stay locked in.

Right.

This is Mannix.

Albie was across town, but he's not his way.

Did you reach Jordan?

He won't move until you get there.

I'm getting there.

Jordan?

He left you a message.

Don't tell me.

He said everything was just wonderful.

I'm getting upset about nothing.

Where is he? He wants to work out his own problems.

You have a number of talents, Lucas.

You run a very successful business, but there are no funds to show for it.

And you possess an abundant supply of gall.

Well, I do try.

Maybe you try to kill your partner, huh?

Me?

Kill Donald?

Your personal bank account shows large regular deductions.

Why? I need the money. Blackmail? What?

Donald is blackmailing you, isn't he?

I give the money willingly. I have for years.

Lucas, you're just too good to be true.

How much is a friend worth?

In this case, double for dead.

$200 ,000.

Now, wait a minute, Mannix. This whole situation is getting way out of control.

They say that we're all brothers under the skin.

Right? Well, me and Donald go deeper.

We were just two floundering kids when we met.

Angry, frustrated with no real direction in our lives.

Who can explain it, man? We propped each other up.

We got construction jobs and we liked it.

So we went to school together. We scrounged for engineering degrees

Brotherly love.

No, together we were whole.

You told me different things the first time we met. I was just trying to

discourage you from looking for Donald. Somehow I buy the first attitude.

A bit too much on the racial overtones, maybe, but the bitterness fits the

crime. I would not hurt him.

Jordan dies, everybody wins.

Even Sister Frances lives with a little less jealousy.

You're talking about premeditated murder.

Spread the word.

Oh, what are you doing here?

Well, it seems everybody has a motive for wanting your brother dead. I thought

maybe yours would be tucked away here someplace, along with that non -existent

checkbook. You mean you actually believe that I would plot against my own

brother? Well, you told me you got my fee from a bank loan.

That's pretty good to start with.

John O 'Keefe really gave you that money.

John O 'Keefe?

Oh, for heaven's sakes.

Why? He wanted to help.

Oh, some friend.

Yes, he's very close to Donnie.

Very close.

If the two of them ever get near each other, I'm sure Mr. O 'Keefe will break

your brother in half.

You're lying.

Don't tell me you don't know about O 'Keefe. The kind of club he runs. The

people he's rumored to have killed.

That can't be true.

Oh, no, John O 'Keefe came here to see me.

He, uh...

Yes, he said he had missed Donnie at the club.

Oh, Sammy, Sammy.

He, uh... He said he wanted to help if I would keep his name out of

it. I never met that man until that day.

Miss Jordan.

You tell me you have money, then you tell me you have no money, that you

know Keith.

And yet your brother owes him $50 ,000.

$50 ,000?

Let me guess.

You didn't know that either.

I know that she is destroying him.

Miss Jordan, what's the real reason that you don't get along with your brother's

wife?

Well, don't tell me that I'm jealous of my brother's wife.

Well, it happens.

When I met you, Mr. Mannix, I felt that I was in such...

Such strong hands.

Donnie has strong hands, too.

He once said to me he could never be hurt because I had cast a spell over

But after all, Linda's the real sorceress, isn't she?

Look what she's done to both of you.

Find anything?

I'll be.

You think I could be influenced by a pretty face?

Don't ask me. I'm only handsome.

Joe, you want me to do anything?

You know, so far, Jordan's been very lucky.

What now?

Well, they can't all be lying, so why don't we start with Linda Jordan's

I want you to go to every gambling house you can think of.

If her husband's like she says he is, why, he can't stop.

He can forget about O 'Keefe's place, because Jordan can't go either.

Yeah, I know, I know.

We're being watched.

One of O 'Keefe's men?

Somebody's. Probably waiting to follow a car.

Let's give him one. Yeah.

Hello, Moose.

Mannix!

How you doing, Dad?

I thought you gave this all up to become a flower. Oh, I did, I did. But I've

got to work.

Be able to afford to do nothing, big.

What'd you come up with?

Crazy man.

Puts five G's on a 20 to 1 pot of glue.

My boy just isn't that rich anymore.

This guy walked away from the window three times.

I believe he was going to faint.

That the boy?

No, you're way off.

This mark is black.

Hair and skin, Mannix, and scared.

Did he win?

Come on, you know better at 20 to 1.

Look, Moose, you wanted me to know about this particular guy. Why?

John O. keeps boys around here asking the same kind of questions as earlier. I

dig. I dig.

Thanks, Moose. Hey, Mannix, don't be a stranger.

Come around and see me, Dad.

Dig?

Baby Buds racing on the outside and moving ahead of Lil' Quim by a length

Golden Miller running wide and dropping back.

Into the stretch, it's Baby Buds by a neck, Lil' Quim by two lengths.

And now, J .B .Q. is moving between horses and challenging the leader.

It's Baby Buds and Lil' Quim.

Don, shh. Don't do that.

I tried to discourage Maddox. That's a good deal.

Yeah, but I don't think it worked.

Oh,

the seventh race.

The second before the seventh race.

Oh, three came in.

Three out of four winners.

He'll find you again.

That means the others will.

Who cares?

We pay O 'Keefe that $50 ,000 and we got a banquet left over.

$50 ,000?

You told me you paid most of that back with the last money I gave you. I'm

to pay it all now.

I'm a big, fat winner.

Come on, buddy.

We're going to collect together.

Nobody's trying to kill you.

You're just holding out for O 'Keefe.

Everything's fine now, isn't it?

When that first horse lost $5 ,000, man, my heart just went out of me. All that

money, month after month, good money after bad.

What are you talking about?

I didn't bet the other races.

You had to.

Here's what's left.

$15 ,000.

You know what you did?

Yeah, I know.

You crazy, stupid fool.

I won. I've got a system. I got it all worked out. I won a fortune.

Outside, but walk slowly.

I don't want to make the same mistake my friend made on the alley.

Fifteen grand.

That leaves thirty -five plus interest.

Look, look, you got enough from me. Why don't you leave him alone, huh?

Get out of the way or you'll pick up the pieces.

What do you figure the odds are O 'Keefe will get to you before the police if

you kill Jordan?

Back off, Mannix.

I've already called the police.

Donnie, I had no idea who that man O 'Keefe was.

I would never have helped him find you.

It's all right, Don. We'll arrange something.

Pay back a little each week.

He'll have to take it. Now that it's out in the open, well, he wouldn't dare try

to hurt you.

Everybody listen. This is all so unnecessary.

I'd have O 'Keefe's money right now and a lot to spare if Walter had a little

bit more confidence in me. Right, Walter?

Now, it's going to take some time, but I'm going to repay all of you ten times

over.

Now, don't you understand? I've got a system.

It's going to work.

Just a few thousand, Walter.

It's no use, Mr. Mannix.

You ought to go now.

No, no, Linda, I'd...

I'd like to earn my fee.

I was hired to find a man to bring him home safe and sound. I've done that.

Here I am, turning him right back to the three people who've helped destroy him.

Destroy him?

We've done everything we can to try to help.

Oh, help, huh?

Oh, come on. Now, all of you have been getting down on the two things a

compulsive gambler needs most, lies and money.

He's my brother. I love him.

Your baby brother.

He's still depending on you.

And you, Walter, maybe you've been lying and bankrupting yourself because Donald

made you his brother to start with.

You can get your head busted for a crack like that.

And you can kill a man with love and kindness, too.

I've been out looking for someone who I thought was trying to kill Donald, and I

finally found him right here in this room.

You've just got to stop lying for him. Let him face his own responsibilities.

Or in two weeks, in two weeks, you'll be hiring another man to save him from

another O 'Keefe.

Mr. Mannix, wait.

Now, you're right.

I know you're right.

I don't know how it happens. I just keep going on and on and on, hurting

people... till there's nothing left.

I don't know how to stop.

Please, someone tell me!

Well, I would say you've finally taken your first step, Donald.

And you've taken it alone.

Just remember.

One step at a time.

Linda, you're not going.

I'm seeing Mr. Mannix to the door.

You know, it'll try, but it's not over yet.

Could he make it without me?

No.

But there's a chance with you.

At least that.

Just remember the good years.

I'll bet I can find that door.

Won't settle?

Not really, Albie.

The odds are a little better.