Original subtitles

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

We have been trying to track down an escaped convict, but we seem to have

him here.

Where he stopped to take some dancing lessons, obviously.

What's worse, my friend the Hound now runs with a definite cha -cha -cha

It's rather embarrassing.

He also insists that I lead, and you can't track down anyone that way.

Of course, it's fine while we're dancing.

While I cope with the problem of a convict at large in a dance school and a

hound who wants to learn the tango, suppose you take up the case of the

who merely wants to be liked.

Hey, it's almost midnight. We can check in.

No, no.

It's always fried.

So we want to spend an extra hour booking a trunk?

Come on, let's move on.

Hold it.

Let's go.

The bomb.

He only got out of jail yesterday.

I set him up at the house and what does he do? He breaks my window.

It'll be a long time before he breaks another.

We're in for a long night.

He's a parole violator.

Come on, let's go.

outside, Callahan.

Welcome home.

You set a new record.

Out for exactly 48 hours.

I know, sir.

This is Dr. Cullen, prison psychiatrist.

Hello. Glad to meet you, doctor.

What's the matter with you anyhow?

How old are you, Fred?

I wish the parole commission would let me spend some time with these men before

they're released.

It might help us discover their problems.

This one's given other people a few problems, too.

Over the past 25 years, he's spent a total of almost 15 in one pen or

Why?

Well, perhaps on the outside, he's a frightened man.

What frightened you, Fred?

Traffic?

The buildings, the people?

We have movies every Wednesday night. He's seen traffic and people before.

That's not the same as seeing them in real life, is it, Fred?

No.

Then you were frightened.

I guess so, Doctor.

He wasn't frightened when he left here 48 hours ago.

Were you, Fred?

I guess not, sir.

That's a better outfit than the one you've been wearing, isn't it?

Yes, sir.

Make sure that's all you wear from now on.

Don't worry, sir.

This time, I've had it.

Here's the pay envelope.

Time for it.

Eighty -six dollars.

How much for a man to earn with four years of his life, is it?

No, sir.

get the instructions about recording your parole officer.

Say, that suit fits like it's been tailored for you.

It was, sir.

One of the advantages of being the warden's clerk.

And the best one I ever had.

Fred, you can make more outside in a week than you've gotten here for four

years. You know that.

But who wants an ex -con with my background?

Leave that to your parole officer.

There's no reason why you can't straighten up.

After all, you and I were raised in the same neighborhood. Now I'm running for

governor.

You'd get my vote warden bragging I had a vote Goodbye Fred

If we ever meet again, let's hope it's on the street.

It will be The bus is waiting you'll be in the city in an hour

Fred, Fred Reardon. Long time no see, fella.

Yeah, long time.

That was the chump trick, sticking up that gas station. Thanks for telling me.

I've been waiting four years to get your opinion.

I didn't mean that like it sounded.

Was it rough?

Nothing's ever as bad as you expect it to be.

Look, how about coming inside for a few brews? I'm out. I'm on parole.

I even go through that door and get caught.

It'll cost me two years.

The back room, who's going to know?

I will.

Suit yourself.

But if you change your mind, guy's got to cut loose a little after four years.

I'll let people know you're around again.

If you run into anybody, who cares?

Found a place to stay at?

I thought maybe the old place.

If May's still there.

You mean you don't know?

Something happen to her?

No, she's still there.

You haven't kept in touch with anybody, have you?

She wrote a few times.

Just not much for answering.

Yeah, I'm like that myself.

Good luck, friend, and drop in any time. Thanks for asking a lot.

Come on.

And he was the first one you spoke to?

The saloon keeper?

It was the first one I knew.

You refused that invitation then.

Tell me.

Why did you go back the next night and break up the place?

I don't know, sir.

Something happened in between.

What made you go back to your old roaming house? A habit pattern?

Like going home?

I guess so, doctor.

Like coming back here again?

It was a place I knew.

That's all.

Sorry to keep you waiting, I was... Hello, May.

What do you want?

Well, I just got out. I got no place to stay.

You still haven't.

May, please. I need a... The things you left are in the suitcase in the cellar.

If the rats haven't gotten to them.

Get it and get out.

You know where to look.

And don't slam the door when you leave.

Oh, please, May.

You got an empty room?

The sign's in the window.

For rent.

To someone who pays.

No more freeloaders around here.

A month in advance.

I've changed, May. My parole officer's allowing me up a job.

I won't make no trouble for you.

I've got no place else to go.

Let me think about it.

One cup of coffee?

Thank you.

I just had some.

You don't look too bad.

A little older.

Well fed.

And rested.

They say people live longer in prison. Regular hours.

What have you been doing, May?

Not waiting for you.

Cream of sugar?

I guess I got used to black.

Is Mike still here? Or Harry?

Nobody left, you know.

Yeah, the only one I saw today was Kowalski down at the tavern.

You never were loaded with friends, buddy boy.

I wrote you a couple of letters, mate.

I used them to light the fire.

All I'm asking for is a room.

To be near somebody I know.

Forty dollars.

In advance.

If Tony ever gave me any money, there wasn't a cop behind you to take it back.

You're a roamer, Fred.

That's all.

Someone else, isn't there?

I wasn't in prison, Fred.

You were.

I'll go downstairs and get my things.

What did you do that night, Fred?

I just stayed in.

I see.

What time did you go to bed?

Nine o 'clock.

Just when the lights go out here.

Did you sleep well?

No, sir. I kept waking up.

About...

About every half hour?

That's how often the cell guards make their rounds.

A sound he's been used to hearing every night for the last four years.

Subconsciously, you missed hearing that sound, didn't you?

I guess you're right, Doctor.

What did you do when you woke up?

Did you go to the door and check the key?

Not to open it, but to be sure that it was locked?

You wanted to experience that same sense of security you felt in the cell,

didn't you, Fred?

Well, he's going to experience that security again for the next two years.

People get into habits of living, Warden.

When a familiar routine is disturbed, they become confused and panic. You said

he was a good clerk. The best.

And you'd be prepared to use him again, wouldn't you? I suppose so.

A good clerk has a certain amount of organizational ability, Fred. An

an intelligence.

Thank you, Doctor.

Yet even a stupid person occasionally gets away with a crime for a long time.

But everything you've done, every conviction in that folder, you've been

arrested and booked in a matter of hours.

Yes, sir.

Can't you account for that?

Why, Fred?

I don't know, sir.

There you are.

Always the same answer.

That's why Fred is back again.

It's the only safe place he knows.

What was it, Fred?

What frightened you out there?

I don't know, Doctor.

I just felt like having a drink.

Well, something made you want that drink.

Something that happened earlier, perhaps.

What did you do?

I just took a walk.

That's all?

Yes, sir.

Where did you walk?

No place in particular.

Just a walk.

Nothing happened?

You didn't see or speak to anyone?

No, sir.

I was alone all day.

Yeah.

I'll see if he's here.

on the phone.

Who knows I'm here?

Kowalski? Maybe your parole officer has a job for you.

Sounded like a Chinese laundry.

Hello?

Yeah, this is Fred Reardon.

Welcome home.

Who is this?

Never mind names.

You'll recognize the voice in a minute.

Tony, what... I said, never mind names.

Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry.

It's Wednesday, Fred.

The day I go to visit my mother's grave.

Every Wednesday.

Yeah, I know.

Some.

I go at two o 'clock.

But there's a grave next to hers that nobody ever seems to visit.

Cigarette.

Somebody named James Fallon.

Maybe an old friend of yours.

Who?

It'd be kind of nice if somebody showed up.

Like and bring a few flowers.

Yeah.

I was figuring on taking the bus out that way today.

Be kind of nice.

Kind of thoughtful.

So long Fred.

What'd you bring me out here for, Tony? Don't look at me.

You like it inside?

I'd rather be on the outside.

You'll go up again with some stupid small -time grift.

And you know it.

You never did give me a chance at anything big. You're getting it now.

A thousand bucks a month for two years.

We'll make it a flat 25 grand.

How much did you say? Keep your eyes off me.

Kneel down.

You go on salary tonight.

For what?

You're gonna get drunk tonight, Fred.

You're gonna break parole.

You mean you're gonna pay me just to go back in jail?

You notice how many empty parts there are here?

I want to fill one of them.

Kelly?

You think I'm crazy?

You're good with a knife.

You used one once before, Fred.

The only job you ever pulled that you got away with.

How do you know about that?

I got where I am by knowing.

Put the flowers down and act as if you're fixing up the grave.

What did you get for that job?

Killing a delicatessen owner.

There couldn't have been a hundred bucks in a till.

Was there?

No. This time there's 25 ,000.

Why do I have to break the rule?

Because the man I want is behind the walls.

And if he ever comes out, I'm finished.

One of your own boys?

He was.

I put him in there to take care of any of the other boys who had to take a

Make it easy for them.

But... He stopped playing ball.

Why can't it be handled when he gets out?

It'll be too late then.

You could make it look good.

You could make it look like any one of a thousand guys could have done it.

Suppose I'm in a different cell block.

Suppose I can't get near him.

Don't worry.

You'll be near him.

Who is he?

When does he get out?

I'd say about the beginning of November.

Around election day.

You have your mind?

Not him.

Don't look at me.

I made him what he is.

Now he's biting the hand that fed him.

Building himself up to put the squeeze on me.

25 grand, Fred.

Not even for 50. I could send you to the death house with a 10 -cent phone call.

A guy saw you throw a paper bag down the sewer the night that delicatessen owner

was murdered.

A guy who works for me.

There was a knife in the bag, Fred.

I still got it.

I'll bet your fingerprints are still on it.

Tony, you wouldn't.

Wouldn't I?

I'm not going to let him become governor.

Whose grave do I put flowers on the next time, Fred?

Yours or Warden Bragin's?

I have a feeling you're holding back on something, Fred.

So do I.

Something did happen that frightened you.

No, sir.

Like I said, I just took a walk.

I didn't see or speak to anyone.

Send Callahan in.

to work in the laundry.

Then I'll reassign him to my office.

Thank you, Warden.

This is all that is left of the dance school orchestra.

They were playing the twist when it happened.

When they began, this was a saxophone.

I would say dancing the twist is like scratching your back on a post without

post. Now, for those of you who wish to practice the twist, this would be an

excellent time. In fact, if you twist around far enough, you might miss the

commercial. after which I shall waltz back.

We don't intend to turn our convict in.

We just want him to show us how he did it.

We shall probably still be waiting here next week when we return with another

story. Until then, good night.