Original subtitles

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, beachcombers, sun worshippers,

skin divers, and other botsom and jetsom which may have washed ashore on the

sandy wasteland of television.

I have a new position now.

I'm not certain I was cut out for this work.

I can't swim, but that doesn't bother me.

What is embarrassing is that I can't even climb into the chair.

I shall have to keep an eye on that gentleman to see that he doesn't go in

his head.

While I'm doing that, why don't you keep your eye on this gentleman, our

sponsor, to be followed by the old pro, our story.

You leaving now?

Yeah. Get you anything from across the lake?

No, darling.

Just wanted to remind you the Robertsons will be here for cocktails.

I know better than to burden a man's mind with errands when he's going

Now, that's what I call an understanding woman.

You know they should dedicate a medal to fishermen's wives.

I'll settle for a half dozen fat trout and broiler tonight.

Your wish shall be granted.

And even half dozen.

Fat and pristine.

Beautiful piece of wood.

Something about quality.

Gun.

Woman. Wine.

Such a quality makes all the difference.

You bring the money, Burns?

How long do you think I can afford to pay?

You've got a lovely lake house, another beautiful home in the city, your wife

wearing nothing but the best of clothes.

You're selling poor mouth. Nobody's buying.

I'm telling you, Colin, you've hit bedrock. Oh, calm, calm, Burns. You've

enough to spread around.

All I'm asking is a reasonable weekly retainer for services rent.

Call it by its right name or there's blackmail to stick in your throat.

I prefer a retainer.

After all, my paper would pay me a fat bonus for this store.

Hired killer retires to Westlake Society, sir.

Frank Burns, wedded to a junior league beauty.

Now using a four iron on the golf course instead of a 38 along the waterfront.

You're getting off cheap, Burns.

I've seen that doll you married.

I happen to know that she thinks you're a retired engineer with interests in

South America.

I am no Miss Lonely Hearts, but before I let that doll be disillusioned, I would

dig down for my last doll.

You've taken me for $40 ,000.

Quit now while you're ahead.

You bring the money?

It's about five o 'clock.

You got something on your mind, Burns?

About maybe paying me off in another way?

If you're afraid to meet me, I'll mail it to you.

Afraid?

Now, why should I be afraid of you?

I can take you any day in the week.

You've gone soft, Byrne. That's why you retired.

A man gets a beautiful wife and enough money happens that way because of Fred.

We understand each other.

I'll be here later.

No?

Well, I have a surprise for you.

I didn't want you to be disappointed, darling.

So I ordered these from the market.

Just in case.

Remind me to get you that medal.

I'll start cooking lunch.

How about a drink?

I'll have one ready for you right away.

Good. I'll get rid of my stuff.

Let me speak to Nicholson. This is Burns.

Burnsy boy, how goes it? Good, Nick, good.

I didn't recognize your voice.

I was just talking about you with some of the boys.

Retirement been agreed with you?

Yeah, nothing like it, Nick.

Pretty wife of yours.

In good health?

She's fine, Nick, just fine.

Look, something came up, that's why I'm calling.

You sound kind of worried, like maybe you had a problem.

I was wondering if you could refer someone to me.

An engineer experienced in removing obstructions.

Nicholson.

You're still here, Burnsy.

What's so funny?

Well, in a way, Burnsy, you... You, of all people, need an engineer.

Well, do I get him?

Sure, Burnsy, sure. It's our business.

I got a good man on hand right now.

I'm gonna be down here at the lake.

Say around 4 .30.

4 .30 it is.

Yeah.

Hey, get a hold of Mace.

Tell him I want to see him.

What's your name mace just call me engineer for short

He's

waiting for me about a quarter of a mile down the shore

He could take the boat, but I think it better be cut through the woods.

You're the boss.

Nicholson says you were the best in the business, and I'm always willing to

learn from an old pro.

You understand it has to look like an accident.

I wouldn't want anything happening that would give this lake a bad name.

Yeah, I guess finding a body with a bullet in it would make the good people

here a bit uneasy.

Hey,

hold up. I'm tired.

Just another hundred yards.

I'm ready to sit down right here.

You want to go on alone?

His name is Cullen.

Always wait for me in that clearing up ahead.

He'll be carrying a shotgun, so you'll have to circle in from behind.

Go ahead.

Oh, wait a minute.

It'd be a big joke if I mistake some hick out hunting rabbits for our man.

Yeah.

I'd better go with you.

Clean cut. Just like the old days, eh, Burns?

Forget the old days.

They're behind me.

Sure, why dirty your hands when you can afford your own engineer now?

That's Cullen.

Since when does Nicholson take on a job and throw in a double cross?

No double cross.

Just in case a first come, first served.

After our little talk this morning, I anticipated your next move. I called

Nicholson first.

You've got a choice between me and a shakedown punk like Cullen and you take

side?

The way I see it, he had the guts to shake you down.

A guy with guts is always valuable.

Who knows? Maybe someday we'll use it.

You're expendable now, Burns.

Mace, let's get on with it, huh?

Down to the water.

I should have blown a hole in you the first time you put the bite on me.

Start walking or I'll let you have it here.

You walk.

Even that final minute of life can be a sweet thing.

I'll wait here.

Suit yourself.

Can we talk business, Mace? I'll let you answer your own question, Burns.

Did you ever talk business when you were removing an obstruction?

How much is Cullen paying?

Nice, quiet place, Burns.

I can see why you wanted to retire here.

How much does Cullen pay?

And you'll double it?

I can raise $25 ,000 in an hour.

It kind of hurts to see an old pro begging.

$25 ,000 will buy you that frontage right at the bend there.

Mace was doing a job. He just managed badly, that's all.

Mace is a fool.

Was, Cullen. Was a fool.

You should have listened to me.

You should have quit when you were ahead.

Burns.

Burns, that money you gave me, most of it is still intact.

We got a talking point?

What you got from me was peanut.

Now start walking.

Now, straight ahead.

Like you said before, Cullen, that final minute of life can be a sweet thing.

Now start walking down to the lake.

And you can have that final minute.

Up on me, huh?

That mistake will be corrected immediately.

I've been at it again. I see.

You like?

Great.

How about this one?

Marvelous. Which do you like better?

I like them both.

Did you hear about those two men who drowned yesterday?

Yeah, I heard something about it on the radio this morning.

Boating accident, wasn't it? Yeah, at the far end of the lake.

Their boat overturned.

Well?

Beautiful.

Two hunters from the city, weren't they?

No one seems to know anything about them.

Well, since you like all three, I'll buy all three.

As long as you don't wear them all at the same time.

Why not?

Two.

We're having lobster for lunch. Won't take a minute.

You really know how to live, Burnsy.

A wonderful setup.

Wonderful.

I see you brought your muscle along.

I just want a little company on the way down.

I hate to be alone.

Oh, this is living.

You can keep the city fresh air.

Maybe a bird to wake you up in the morning.

Nick, I want to explain a couple of things.

Burns, to a guest, you talk business before a drink.

I want to explain about Mace.

Oh, I didn't realize we had company.

Oh, not company, Mrs. Burns. I'm an old friend.

This is Mr. Nicholson, my former employer.

Oh, I'm very pleased to know you, Mr. Nicholson. Nick, what's with the mystery

to old Francis Nick, right?

You'll stay for lunch?

We're just having lobster and a salad, but please join us. I'm starved. Good.

I'll set another plate.

She's beautiful.

And that complexion, such a lovely skin.

Reminds me of that girl in St. Louis. Remember the one with the skin so smooth

it was a delight to touch it?

You know, before the affair with the acid.

It was an unhappy affair.

But why should anybody want to throw acid in your wife's face, huh, Burns?

enemies you haven't got, huh?

Just a minute, Nick.

So I knocked off your top boy.

He came here after me.

Let's just leave it at that, then.

Burns, the...

Talking. Charlie Nicholson likes to talk. If I have such a thousand pardons.

Aren't you going to give Mr. Nicholson a drink, Charlie?

Oh, sure.

Why don't we sit down?

Now, there's a pretty table.

I love flattery, so you may continue.

May I?

Please do.

Fernsie, how does a man like you deserve such a wife?

He doesn't, really.

What brings you up here, Mr. Nicholson?

Nick, dear.

Nick. Nick.

Business.

If I may rear such an ugly word among such pleasant surroundings. You're

certainly talking to the wrong man.

Frank is retired.

And we've agreed he's going to stay retired.

What do you say to that, Bernsie?

I expect he's right.

What did bring you up here, Nick?

Well, a very sad thing happened recently.

My best engineer, not as good as your husband, dear, but my best at the

passed away.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

Yeah, I was quite broken up by it.

He was just a young man, but very good at his work.

It's going to be awfully hard to find the right man to replace him.

I was hoping to talk your husband into coming out of retirement.

What do you mean, Nick?

Time and time again, you've proved you're the best in the business. I

need you now. Mr.

Nicholson. Nick, dear.

Nick, you haven't got a chance.

Haven't I?

I'm not ever, ever, ever again going to put up with being alone those long

evenings while he was off building a bridge or repairing a dam or getting a

contract or what have you in South America or Canada.

Or wherever you took it into your head to fly him.

Yeah, but you loved it, didn't you, boy?

You miss it, don't you?

I always say an old pro never retires.

Am I right, Bernsie?

I'm not going to give him a chance to answer that.

Dave retired.

We need some more mayonnaise.

I need your burns.

Job in Vegas.

Important.

Look, Nick, I thought I may have understood before.

I'm retired.

Get somebody else.

Get somebody else?

You think engineers grow on trees?

Look, Nick, the answer is no.

I got all I ever want right here.

And all I want now is to be left alone.

I need you, Burnsy boy.

You're the best we ever had.

I said no, Nick.

You know, your wife has the loveliest skin I ever set eyes on.

Just one more job, Burns.

one more job, huh?

And one more and one more.

That's what you mean.

A business like this burns every job can be your last, so why worry?

Why look too far into the future?

Is welcome home to an old pro.

This is all of our story.

For Burns, however, there was more.

There were other jobs to be done.

Then, inevitably, there was the job he didn't get away with, which reminds me

that time is catching up with me.

One minute in particular, after which I shall reappear.

I'm trying to get the young man we saw earlier to tell me where he buried his

father.

However, the boy's father is no longer my greatest concern.

I think this demonstrates that although quicksand may be cheap, spreading it on

a beach does not pay in the long run.

Fortunately, the boy doesn't seem to sink.

Perhaps he doesn't weigh as much as I do.

Young man, don't stand there. Run for help, please.

Oh, I won't have to worry about the sand anymore.

I see the tide is coming in. So until next week, or later,

good night.