All language subtitles for (downloadrooz.in) The Big Heat (1953)

[Gunshot]

[Vehicle Passing By]

Mr. Lagana.

I know it's late.
Wake him up.

Tell him
it's Tom Duncan's widow.

I'm very sorry, Mr. Lagana,
but there's an important call
on the private line...

a woman who says
she's Tom Duncan's widow.

Widow?
That's what she said.

Yes? This is Lagana.

No. I'm glad you called me,
Mrs. Duncan.

I appreciate it.

Yes, of course
we will get together.

But now I suggest you call
the police immediately.

Call Vince.

Mr. Lagana wants Vince Stone.

It's his girl.
She says he's playing cards.

This is not a social call, Debby.
Tell Vince I want him, right away.

Oh, sure, Mr. Lagana.
I always like to tell Vince
you're calling.

I like to see him jump.

Vince!

It's him!

Oh, pass the deal, hmm?

Why don't you shut the door
and see if anybody needs a drink?

[Chuckles]
Well, I don't know
about your politicians,

but I'm so bored
I need one.

Two.

Debby! Shut the door.

Yes, Mike?

Well, I didn't know
it was the private line ringing,
or I would have answered myself.

When? When did it happen?

Oh, sure, I'll see to it.

Too bad you had to make the trip
out from headquarters, Sergeant.

From out of bed, you mean.
When a cop kills himself,
they want a full report.

Did you know him?
No. Just to say hello to.

He was in charge
of the record bureau.

Single contact wound.
Powder burn on his temple
and right hand.

Suicide. No question.
Tell the wagon boys
they can have him, huh?

Yes.

No note or anything,
huh, Gus?
No. Nothing.

You'd better make
a list of all this stuff
for the report, huh?

Right.

I'm going upstairs,
have a talk with Mrs. Duncan.

[Knock On Door]

[Knocking]

Please come in.

Mrs. Duncan,
I won't keep you very long.

You needn't apologize.
I know this is necessary.

Please sit down.
Thank you.

My name is David Bannion.
I... I knew your husband slightly.

Tom had many friends.

Would you mind telling me
what happened?

When I first heard the shot,

I was too surprised to move
for a few seconds.

Then I ran downstairs.

When I found him, he was...

he was dead.
[Sobbing]

[Sobbing Continues]
I'm sorry I have to ask you
these questions,

but they want a full report
downtown.

Of course.

When a policeman kills himself,
the department gets worried.

Well, that depends
on the circumstances.

There weren't any circumstances.

Everything Tom ever did...

was clean and wholesome.

That's the kind of man he was.

[Sobbing]
Do you know why
he took his life?

Oh, it-it must have been
his health.

Several times
the past few months,

he complained...

about a pain along his left side.

When I suggested
he see the police surgeon,

he'd make excuses.

I think he was afraid to.

Then he didn't see a doctor?

Not that he ever told me.

Well, you've been most helpful.

Now look, if there's
anything you need,
anything at all,

you get in touch
with us, huh?

Thank you, Mr. Bannion.
[Sobbing]
Good-bye, Mrs. Duncan.

What's with dinner?
How about putting
the paper down and helping?

All right.

Whoop. Hey.

What's that, steak?
Medium rare.

Yeah. How you manage steaks
on my salary...

You know, downtown,
they just don't believe me.

- Tell them you married an heiress.
- All right.

Next year, when Joyce
starts kindergarten,

you're gonna have
to kiss the steaks good-bye
until she finishes college.

Unless you become police commissioner
in the meantime.

Oh, that's inevitable.
Oh, naturally.

Okay, Commissioner, you get
the stringy end of the steak.

- What about Joyce?
She go to bed all right?
- Just the usual tug-of-war.

She had to go to the bathroom
a few times, hear three stories...

and have a glass of water
before she finally went to sleep.

She's angelic all day.
But at night, she's a holy terror.

That's the way
I usually describe you.

That's what the book says,
though, doesn't it?
Be patient, but firm.

The book, the book.
Very scientific and calm.

Trouble is, the authors
have never met our daughter.

Well, it's very simple.
She's madly in love with me.
That's all.

Hey, you know something?
That's the conflict
between the two of you.

You're both in love
with the same wonderful guy.

Right? Right.
Wrong.

We're just used to you.

Well? How is it?

It's good steak.
Thanks.

You want some beer?
I'll take a sip of yours.

You see? That's exactly what I mean.
It's a perfect marriage.

We share the same scotch,
the same cigarette,
the same can of beer.

Among other things.

Hey, you know something?
I'm gonna drink mine.
I'm gonna take a sip of yours.

That'll be something
different for a change, huh?
[Phone Rings]

Oh, they'll wake Joyce.

[Rings]
Hello?

Well, he's having dinner.

Oh. It's Sergeant Kahn.

Hello, Marty. Ye...

What?

Who says Duncan
didn't kill himself?

I saw the body, Marty.
There's no question
about it being suicide.

Uh...

All right, what's her name?

All right, I'll go see her.

♪♪ [Band: Jazz, Up Tempo]

Lucy Chapman around?

The last stool on the other end.

Lucy Chapman?

Yeah.
I'm Bannion, Homicide.

Oh. With this band playing,
you need megaphones
to talk at the bar.

We can sit in a booth.
All right.

Okay, what is this
information you have?

This story's all wrong, Mr. Bannion.
Why, Tom wouldn't kill himself.

He wasn't worried about his health,
not for a single minute.

No? Then what was he
worried about?
Nothing. Nothing at all.

Not after his wife
agreed to divorce him.

Duncan told you
he was getting a divorce?
He talked about nothing else.

When was this?
Night before last.
My night off.

What'll it be, folks?
You don't have
to order anything.

That's all right.
I'll have a beer.
What about you?

Only when I'm working.

- How'd you get to know Duncan?
- Well, I... I met him a year ago.

A year last May 11,
down in Lakeside.

Tom owned a summer place there.

I liked him right away.

He was a real wonderful guy,
Mr. Bannion.
Nice and gentle.

Thirty-five, mister.
Pay now.

Keep it.
Thank you.

Tom used to come
to the club every night.

His wife traveled a lot.

Sometimes, when she was away, I...

I used to go to the house.

We'd go swimming
and then lie around in the sun.
That sounds very cozy.

Oh, it wasn't that way, Mr. Bannion.

Oh, sure. Sure.

Please. Please, you've got to believe that.

You've got to understand
how things were with Tom.

How he was caught
between the two of us.

Between me and that...
that leech he was married to.

What's your pitch, Lucy?
You trying to use us
for a shakedown?

Shakedown?

Me?

Sure. I understand.

You're covering up
for a cop's widow.

You don't want to find out
anything that'll change her story.

- I want to find out facts.
- Oh, in a pig's eye you want facts!

The only difference between
me and Bertha Duncan is that
I work at being a B-girl...

and she has a wedding ring
and a marriage certificate.
That'll be all.

Maybe for you.
I can still talk
to the newspapers.

Yeah, I know.
You can talk yourself
into a lot of trouble.

So what?
At least I'll show she's a liar.

Tom had no reason
to kill himself.

The fact is, he did kill himself.
And that's positive.

Can I have a brandy?

She claims that she saw
your husband a few nights ago...

Wednesday night...
and there was nothing
wrong with his health.

What are you trying to say,
Mr. Bannion?

I'm... just trying
to check up on her story,

find out why your husband
took his life.

Maybe I've been trying too hard
to keep our dirty family linen
from being washed in public.

I suppose that woman told you
about their relationship?

She said your husband
was in good health
and very cheerful, Mrs. Duncan,

and that you'd agreed
to divorce him.

She's a liar.
Tom never wanted a divorce.

And he wasn't a well man.

I have no choice now...

except to tell you
about Tom and myself.

In the years we were married,
there were four Lucy Chapmans.

Four that I found out about.

Tom was vain.

He had to prove to himself
that he was still attractive to women.

Maybe he did boast to that woman
that he was in good health.

What else would you
expect him to do?

I wish this visit
hadn't been necessary.

There's a chance Lucy Chapman
might try a little blackmail.

She knows that you own
that house at Lakeside.

Probably thinks you're wealthy.

[Sighs]
A wealthy policeman
would be a novelty.

Thank you for your patience,
Mr. Bannion.

There's just one small thing
I'd like to clear up,

you know,
so there'll be no loose ends.

Of course.
Would you mind telling me
about the house at Lakeside?

When it was bought,
the price that was paid,
small details like that.

I'd mind very much!

For Tom's sake,
I resent the implication
of your questions.

Look, Mrs. Duncan,
there was no implication.

Lucy Chapman
may run to the newspapers,

and it's my job to have the material
to offset any insinuations
that she might make.

And it's my job,
with Tom dead and defenseless,

to preserve his good name
the best way I can.

Good night, Mr. Bannion.

Good night.

Okay. So long.

Here you are, sir.

Trouble automatically
catches up with girls like her.

Looks like a sex crime to me.
You said
she wasn't attacked.

Well, that's not unusual
in this type case.

I'd say pretty definitely
it was psychopathic.

You saw those cigarette burns
on her body.
Yeah, I saw them.

Every single one of them.

What's that name again,
Sergeant?

Miss Chapman.
Lucy Chapman.

The lieutenant's been
buzzing you every 10 minutes.

He didn't say what for.

[Water Running]

Sit down, Dave.

I had a call from upstairs.

What have you been bothering
Mrs. Duncan about?
Just routine.

Well, the first time was,
not the second visit.

Did she complain?

Somebody did.

It was bad judgment
to bother a cop's widow
about the love life of her husband.

- Good or bad, it was my judgment.
- You're missing the point.

I'm the one that gets
the pressure calls from upstairs.

I'm the one that has to explain.

You don't keep an office like this
very long stepping on a lot of corns.

You want me to go upstairs
and explain?

Not you.
You're a corn-stepper by instinct.

No, all I'm asking you to do,
and I'm not even ordering it, Dave...

stop bothering Mrs. Duncan.

I don't want to jam you up, Ted,
but I may have to see her once more.

Why? You have any doubt
Duncan killed himself?

No. No, none at all.

I just got back
from the county morgue.
Hmm, the barfly?

I read the Teletype
about your identification.

Lucy Chapman used to be
Duncan's girlfriend.
And the army's and navy's.

Yeah, maybe so.
She talks to me just once
and, like that, she's dead.

That's County Homicide's headache.

Let's worry about this office.

We're spilling over
with unfinished business.

Lucy Chapman was
probably trying to shake down
some sucker who wouldn't shake.

When barflies get killed,
it's for any one of a dozen
crummy reasons.

You know that.

Let the Sheriff's Office
sort out this jigsaw.

Meanwhile, we'll stop
pestering the widow. Okay?

You still asking?

No more. I'm telling you.

First I know Lucy's quitting
is about 2:00 in the morning.

She comes to me
and asks to be paid off.

Did she say why?
I don't ask.

All any of these dames owe me
is a night's work,
one night at a time.

They come and go like flies.

Only this fly
got herself strangled.

These things happen, Sergeant.

Outside of my place,
some of these babes
keep pretty shady company.

It figures.
They know nobody cares much
what happens to them.

Did she have any close friends
among the other girls here?

They don't stay long enough
to make friends.
Where did she live?

If I ask for an address, they lie.
It's not worth the bother.

They're floaters.

Not much more than
a suitcase full of nothing
between them and the gutter.

Hey, you know something?

You ought to be doing
radio commercials.

How to talk a lot
and say nothing.

Why, I'd be tickled to help
if I could.

Sure.

When I get some answers,
I'll be back.

Glad to see you anytime, Sergeant.

This is Tierney.
Tell him it's important.

Sorry to bother you.
Bannion just left here.

No, sir. I just gave him
a lot of double-talk.

He said he'd be back again.
Yes, sir. I will.

Okay, buster, who'd you call?

My mother.

Would you rather go downtown
to answer the questions?
Don't scare me, Sergeant.

Five minutes after we get downtown,
you'll be answering the questions.

Get your coat.
Sure.

Only somebody will want to know
why you're butting into a county case,

why you don't stop annoying people,
especially after you've been told once.

You get your news fast,
don't you?
Special carrier pigeon.

Do we still go downtown?

No. Not today.
When we do,

I'll have enough answers
to close this joint up.

Tell that to your mother.

[Door Closes]

Oh, that's the most beautiful castle
in the whole world.

It's a police station, Daddy.
Just like yours.

Hello, little bossy.
Where's big bossy, huh?
Here.

Hello, darling.
Hello.

What's... Look at this.
Expecting company or something?

Al and Marge
are coming to dinner.

Come, Daddy.
Help me build the roof.
You'd better shower.

And get some
cocktails ready.
Yeah.

[Sighs]

You look
down in the dumps.
It's nothing much.

Is it a case?
I told you, it's nothing.

You'll have to use a different tone
if you expect me to believe that.

All right, I'll bring home
an affidavit tomorrow if...
I'm sorry.

- I'm sorry, baby.
- It's all right.

You're entitled to let off steam.

Ah, it's just a letdown.

I don't know, I guess it's a kind of
an occupational disease with cops.

You know that girl that phoned,
that Lucy Chapman?
Mm-hmm.

Well, she's a case now.
County homicide.

[Crying]
I'm sorry, darling.
I'm...

It's all right, darling.
Daddy will help you
build even a bigger one.

[Phone Ringing]
Oh. Let's go see
who's phoning us.

Can I talk?
Of course.

[Rings]
[Katie]
Hello?

Yes, it is.

Who is this?

He wants you.

Who is it?
I... I don't know.

This is Dave Bannion.

Listen, slob. Stop minding
other people's business
if you want to stay alive.

Some big people
are getting annoyed.

Who is this?
[Line Disconnects]

What did he say to you?

You can fill in the four-letter words
better than I can.

Honey, I'll try to be back
before Al and Marge leave.

But, Dave, you don't
even know who called.

No, it's just another
part of the scheme
to make me crawl back in my shell.

I don't know who called.
But I know where to go
to find out.

♪♪ [Big Band, Swing]

Just a moment.
Who do you want to see?
Mike Lagana.

Oh, sorry.
I didn't recognize you, Sergeant.
How many men on this detail, Officer?

Three of us on the day and night shift
and four after midnight.

Ten cops to watch over
Mike Lagana.

One hundred bucks a day
of the taxpayers' money.

Well, Mr. Lagana kind of runs things.
I guess that's no secret.

No. That's no secret at all.

You like this detail?
I do what I'm told.

Yeah. That's what we're all
supposed to do, isn't it?

[Chuckles]

[Doorbell Rings]

Good evening, sir.
I'm from the police department.
Is Mr. Lagana in?

I'll see, sir.

It's a little drafty outside.

Please wait.

♪♪ [Continues]

This way, Officer.

I promised my daughter
her father won't be
seen or heard tonight.

What's your name again?
I think the butler missed it.

Bannion. Dave Bannion.
I'm from Homicide.

I think I've heard of you.

My mother.

A great old lady.
They broke the mold
when they made her.

She died last May.

She lived here with me.

Had her own suite of rooms.
Her own bath. Everything.

Never got over being
surprised about my success.

You didn't come here
to listen to me.

Well, what is it this time?
Benefit dance?
Pension fund drive?

I came about a murder.

You came here to my home
about a murder?

A girl named Lucy Chapman
was murdered last night.
Or this morning.

First she was tortured,
then strangled.
Who runs your department?

It's Lieutenant Wilks.
Mm-hmm.
Wilks, huh?

Yeah, it was an old-fashioned killing.
Prohibition kind.

That's why I thought
you might...
I don't care what you thought.

I'm glad to help you boys
whenever I can.

But I got an office
for that sort of thing.

This is my home.
And I don't like
dirt tracked into it.

I see.

And I violated your immaculate home,
is that it?

That's exactly it.

And tomorrow morning,
I'll see you don't get
the chance to do it again.

What'll you do...
make another phone call,
or have somebody make it for you?

I've seen some dummies
in my time,

but you're in a class by yourself.

I'm stupid because I want
some answers about a murder.
Is that it?

Shut up and get out.
We don't talk about those
things in this house, do we?

No, it's too elegant,
too respectable.

Nice kids. Party.

Painting of Mama
up there on the wall, huh?

No place for a stinking cop.

It's only a place for a hoodlum
who built this house out of
20 years of corruption and murder.

I'm gonna tell you something.

You couldn't plant enough
flowers around here
to kill the smell.

I warned you to get out.
Cops have homes too.

Only sometimes there isn't
enough money to pay the rent...

because a cop
gets hounded off the force
by your thieving cockroaches...

for trying to do
an honest job.
George!

What's the matter?
You think I live under
a rock or something?

Your creeps have no compunction
about phoning my house,
giving me orders,

talking to my wife
like she was a dirty-
Yes, sir?

Get rid of him.

Let's go, mister.
Take your hand off, George.

It comes off
when we get to your car.

Better not, George.

You want to pinch-hit
for your boy, Lagana?

♪♪ [Continues]

[Door Closes]

What makes you think you can
walk into Lagana's house
and slug his bodyguard?

You're no rookie.
You've been around
long enough to know better.

I'm not asking you
to take the rap for me.
I'll stand up for what I do.

Big, fancy words.
Well, I'm in no mood for them.

I'm the one getting
the squeeze from upstairs.

What am I supposed to do
when some cop-hater phones
my home and insults my wife...

sit home and like it?

Are you trying to tell me
Lagana phoned your house?

I'm trying to tell you that
nothing dirty happens in this city
without Lagana's okay.

I'm not interested in your theories.
Not when they affect my job.

You're just begging
to go back into uniform,
pounding a beat out in the sticks.

That Lucy Chapman killing
is a county squeal.

It's the sheriff's headache, not ours.

Now I told you that once,
and I'm telling you again.

I won't tell you a third time.

That'll be all, Sergeant.

Let the pans soak.
I'll scour them
when we come back.

The main feature doesn't start
for about an hour.

Do you mind if I put
my two cents in?

No, honey, I don't mind.

I've been thinking about
Lieutenant Wilks.

That leaning tower of jelly.

You know how long
he and his wife have
looked forward to retirement.

We've done it ourselves
when we've looked
that far ahead.

Wilks only has a few more years to go.
He's worried about his pension.

If I'd had any sense,
I'd have turned in my badge.

Your big trouble, honey, is that
you attack yourself from all sides,

like Jersey mosquitoes.

You don't want
to quit the department,
not for one minute.

What am I supposed to do...
hold on to my job
by just stringing along?

Afraid to look to the left
or to the right...

because I might see something
that they don't want me to see?

If you do, you're gonna
have trouble from me.

Just keep leading with your chin
and don't you compromise.

That's what I wanted
to hear you say.
Thanks, inspector.

Honey.
Hmm?

If I tell you something,
you won't laugh?

No, I won't laugh.

I love you.

See, I'm not laughing.

Oh, let's stay home, huh?

[Door Opens]

We're having company.

I can't sleep.

Nonsense, Miss Bannion.
You trot right back to bed.

Hey. The thing
for you to do now,
according to the book,

is to lead her to B-E-D
with great kindness
and great firmness.

Let's go.
Suppose you try it.
I'll drive over and get the sitter.

Who'd you get?
Maxine.

Tell her not to bring
half the high school along
to keep her company this time.

[Chuckles]
Hey, little girls like you...

should be sleeping
right about now.

Tell me a story.

In bed, darling.
In bed.
Which story, Daddy?

Well, let's see.
How about, uh,
the Three Little Kittens?

That lost their mittens.
[Katie]
Commissioner.

I need the car keys.

Here you are. Hey!

Nothing. Nothing at all.
Be back in a minute.

Right.
Go on, Daddy.

In bed first, darling.
Here we go.

The three little kittens
that lost their mittens.
Go on, Daddy.

All right. The three little kittens,
uh, they lost their mittens.

And they began to cry,
and, oh, they had
a terrible time.

And their mother came home,
and she said, "Oh, my!
[Car Door Opens, Closes]

You-you kittens,
you've lost your "...
[Engine Starts, Explosion]

Stay in bed, darling.

Katie.

[Intercom Buzzes]

Yes?
[Man]
Bannion's here, Commissioner.

Have him come right in.

I have a lot of work
waiting for me in my office,
Commissioner.

Well, let it wait.
Your being here will
make Bannion more comfortable.

I didn't get the opportunity
to speak to you at the funeral, Sergeant,

to tell you how hard
your tragedy has hit us all.

Uh, sit down, will you?

I've put an around-the-clock
detail at your in-laws' house.

The report says that's
where your child is staying.
That's right.

Yes, it pays to play it safe.

How is the little girl?

She thinks her mother
went on a trip.
[Clears Throat]

Is there anything else we can do?

Maybe a loan from the fund
to tide you over this period?
Don't hesitate, Sergeant.

Find out who planted
the dynamite in my car.

That's item one
on the department's agenda.

I've ordered Wilks
to shove everything else aside.

I want this case broken
if it takes a hundred men to do it.

We're checking back on every
homicide you've handled.
Why?

I beg your pardon?

I asked you why are you
checking the files?

Well, you've made
a lot of enemies, Bannion.

Relatives and friends of killers
you sent to the chair.

The motive was revenge.
That's obvious.

Is that the way
it looks to you too, Lieutenant?

Well, it's worth exploring.

Of course,
I'm only an appointed official.

I haven't the training
and experience you men have.

But I am certain we'll find the answer
in one of these old homicides.

Wilks has eight men on it full time.
Don't worry, there'll be a payoff.

When?
It's natural for you
to be impatient.

But these things take time.
Sometimes they take forever.

Now that's no way to talk.

Why, there isn't a man
in the entire department...

wouldn't give a month's pay
to break this case.

What about you, Commissioner?
How much would you give?

Just what are you inferring, Sergeant?

I'm asking how much would you give,
besides a lot of phony stories
to the newspapers...

a pat on the back
and a few kind words for me?

Why don't we go to my office and talk?

Oh, look, Dave,
you've got to ease up.
Take a few days off.

I'll keep you informed.
You? Why, you frightened
excuse for a cop.

Nowjust a minute, Bannion.
Why don't you trot on down
to your office...

and wait for him
to call your orders.

He'll phone you
just as soon as he gets
his orders from Mike Lagana.

I don't want to exert
the authority of my office.

I prefer remembering that
you've been through a lot.

And I'm going to give you
good reason to never forget it.

- You're under suspension!
- You better check with Lagana first.

- He might not approve.
- I'll have your badge and gun...

now!

You can have it...
permanently.

One moment.

I asked for your gun too.

That doesn't belong
to the department.
It's mine, bought and paid for.

I'm warning you officially.

Don't try to use it.

I won't.

Not until I catch up with the people
who murdered my wife.

Hold it a minute. Take this along, too,
will you, please?

The carriage
for the truck?
No, that's...

They'll bill you quarterly
on the storage charges,
Mr. Bannion.

Yeah, I know.
Thanks a lot.

Dave?

I was just leaving.

Let the cab go.
I'll give you a lift.

I prefer the cab, thank you.

Taxi.
I just left Wilks.

He said any off-the-record
help you need is yours.

He feels lousy
about what happened.

Put this carriage
in the cab,
will you, please?

Wilks gave me a list
of mechanics with records.
He got them from the Bomb Squad.

I have a list.
Wilks didn't know that.

Tell him to stop bleeding for me.
It'll run all over his pension.

You're way off base, Dave.
You don't really know Wilks.

I don't want to know him.

Look, I've had a bellyful
of the department and Wilks.

And you.

Dave, I wish you'd see
Father Masterson.
Why?

Because you're on a hate binge.

You've decided people
are all scared rabbits
and you spit on them.

Look, I got to lock up.

No man's an island, Dave.

You can't set yourself
against the world
and get away with it.

Get out.

♪♪ [Humming]
♪♪ [Radio: Swing]

♪ Choo choo choo
choo choo choo choo ♪

Boom!
♪ Cha cha cha cha cha cha ♪♪

[Door Closes]
Is that you, Vince?

Yeah. Larry's with me.

You weren't expecting
somebody else, were you?
You'll do.

It's better than drinking alone.

Hi, Larry.
Hi, Debby.

What have you
been doing all day?

Shopping.
[Chuckles]
Some career, huh?

Six days a week, she shops.
On the seventh, she rests.
All tired out.

On her, it looks good.

Thanks, friend.
Go pour yourself a drink.

Hey, that's nice perfume.

Something new.
It attracts mosquitoes
and repels men.

It doesn't work
that way with me.
It's not supposed to.

[Doorbell Buzzing]
Oh, that's His Highness.

I forgot to tell you
he was stopping off.
She forgot.

[Chuckles]

[Chuckles]
Do you ever go
to the circus, Larry?

Uh-uh.
You should.
And take Vince.

There's a man with a big hat
that holds up the hoop,

cracks the whip
and the animals jump through.

Hop, Vince! Hop, Larry!
Hop, Vince! Hop, Larry!

Hop, Vince! Hop, Larry!
Hop, Vince! Hop...

Putting on a vaudeville act,
Debby?
Just impersonations.

How's your daughter,
Mr. Lagana?

She was going out
formal tonight.
[Debby] Oh.

Can you imagine that?
Hmm.

She wanted me to wait
and put the final okay
on her dress.

I told her what
I thought didn't matter.

Just impress that football player.

Oh, sometimes the father means
more than the football players.

They come and go, but Dad's
around for keeps, hmm?

I hope Angela feels
that way about me.
Oh, I'll bet she does.

Check the kitchen,
will you, baby?
Sure.

Now it's Debby.
Hop, Debby! Hop, Debby!
Hop, Debby! Hop, Debby!

Hop, Debby! Hop, Debby!
Hop, Debby! Hop! Hop!
She's a young girl, Vince.

Don't let her drink so much.

If she keeps it up,
she goes out of here
on her ear.

She's got
no claim-check on me.

When that happens,
give me a ring.
I'm a rebound man from way back.

I don't like gutter talk.
I'm sorry.

Sorry? I'm tired
of hearing you sound off
and then apologize.

Vince gave you
two simple contracts,
and you loused up both of them.

- Oh, now wait...
- Shut up and listen!

Throwing the Chapman girl
out on a county road...

brought us all the advertising
we didn't want.

Killing Mrs. Bannion...
how stupid can you get?

How'd I know she'd be using the car?

Prisons are bulging with dummies
who wonder how they got there.

I can't afford people
who makes mistakes.
I make myself clear?

Su-sure.

Vince and I have
things to talk about.

I got an appointment
in half an hour with Mrs. Duncan.

She's raised her salary
to 500 a week.

Are we gonna pay it?

You sound like Larry.

As long as that letter her husband left
stays in her safe-deposit box,

we'll pay what she asks.

Now what about Bannion?
Running around in circles.

You sure?
Positive.

But if you want insurance,
uh, we can take care of him now.

[Vehicles Passing Below]
[Horns Honking]

Vince, you worry me.

We've stirred up enough headlines.
The election's too close.

Things are changing
in this country, Vince.

A man who can't see that
hasn't got eyes.

Never get the people steamed up.
They start doing things.

Grand juries, election investigations.

Deportation proceedings.

I don't want to land in the same ditch
with the Lucky Lucianos.

[Bell Clanging, Trolley Clattering]

Slim Farrow around?

Not anymore.
Where can I reach him?

Spring Rock Cemetery.
Six feet under.

Died three days ago.
Bad ticker.

He owe you some money?
No.

I was hoping to get
some information.

[Chuckles]
Then it makes no difference.

Slim wouldn't give information
to his own minister,

if he had a minister.
Well, maybe you
can help me.

My wife was murdered
10 days ago.

Someone planted dynamite
in our car.

You Bannion, the cop?
That's right.

Was Slim mixed up in that?
That's what
I'm trying to find out.

Sorry. Can't help you.

Well, did he have any visitors?
Did he get any phone calls?

All I know about Slim
is that he's dead.

Did he have a set spot to work?

Uh, you know, a place
where he kept his tools?

All the tools are mine.

There's nothing here
for you, mister.

Nothing at all.

Do you mind
if I walk around the yard?

Talk to your men?

I have to mind.

When it comes to my bread and butter,
I stay careful.

It doesn't matter to you
that Slim might have been
mixed up in a murder, huh?

Sure, it matters.
Yeah.

What can I do about it?
I don't know anything.
You're a liar.

You can't insult me, mister.
I said I don't know anything,
and that's how it stands.

You know, I've been meeting
your kind every day now
for 10 years.

Scared rabbits
that never see a thing.

You wouldn't stick out
your big, fat neck for anybody,
would you?

That's the truth.
But it's my big, fat neck.

So if you're through talking,
I'll get back to work.
I ought to...

[Exhales]
That won't change my story.

Cops are paid to take risks.
I'm not.

You see, I've got
a wife and kids too.

[Woman]
Mr. Bannion.
Mr. Bannion.

Mr. Atkins might come outside.

He isn't a mean man.
Not many people
would hire someone like me.

It's just that he's frightened.
I am too.

But there was a man
came to see Slim
about two weeks ago.

They had a long talk
out in the yard.

Do you remember
what he looked like?

I'm not much good
at those things. He was...

Well, he was about your height,

and he... well, he wore
rather fancy clothes.

You know, colorful.
Would you be able
to recognize him again?

Oh, yes. He came right into the office
and asked me where Slim was.

How about phone calls?
A few.

A man named Larry
left a message once.

Just about the same time.
No last name, huh?

No. He just said to tell Slim
to call him at a place...

Oh, it was a peculiar name.

Something like a-a monastery.
Oh, you know,

where people go off alone
to think.
The Retreat?

That's it. He said to call him
at The Retreat.

I'm very grateful, Miss...

Parker. Selma Parker.

Miss Parker.
You've been most helpful.

Well, I'm-I'm glad.

Good luck, Mr. Bannion.
Thank you.

Shall we say good night to Daddy
and put baby to bed now?

Yes.

Good night, darling.

Good night, Daddy.
Sleep tight, honey.

Thanks, Marge.
You bet.

Good night, Joyce.
[Joyce]
Good night.

Say, Al, do me a favor, will you?

Call this number here
at exactly 9:30 on the dot, will you?

And ask for Larry. Here.
Larry who?

That's what I'm trying to find out.
"Larry" is all I know.

Is it a lead?
I'm hoping so.

I got my fingers crossed.

Thanks, Al.

♪♪ [Band: Jazz, Up Tempo]

[Chattering]

Beer.

[Phone Ringing]

Thirty-five.

Retreat.

Larry who?

You must be kidding, mister.
What am I supposed to do,
page Larry anybody?

[Vince]
Look, keep your hands off.
I won't tell you again.

I'm sorry, Mr. Stone.

When I say don't pick up
the dice so fast, I mean it.

I'll roll them again,
if you like, huh?
Go ahead.

[Screaming]
Now stop it!

♪♪ [Music Stops]
[Sobbing]

Honey, that guy's
way out of line.
Reds, don't fight.

- I gotta go.
- Pease, Reds.

Sit down, junior.
Get out, kid. Get your boyfriend
out of here, sister.

Come on, Reds.
Let's go home.
Look, you're not scaring me.

Please, Reds, come on!

Where you goin', thief?

This isn't your business, Bannion.

All right, thief,
suppose you tell me
what my business is.

Go on, tell me.

You like working girls over,
don't you?

Don't make a mistake, Bannion.
Don't play hero with me.

Maybe you're the one that
worked over Lucy Chapman.

Take it easy, Sergeant.
I don't know what
you're talking about.

- [Woman Sobbing]
- Here, baby.

[Sobbing Continues]
This is for you.
Get yourself something nice.

No hard feelings, huh?
That square it, Sergeant?

Get out of here
while you can still walk.

Sure. Sure.

You too.

You going to be all right?
Yeah. Yeah, sure.

♪♪ [Band Resumes]
Thanks, mister.

Sergeant.
Yeah?

I'd like to buy you a drink.
With Vince Stone's money?

I'd choke on it.

[Traffic Passing]

Do you get your kicks
out of insulting people?
Aren't you Vince Stone's girl?

The way you ask it, it sounds like
a bunch of dirty words.

Well, that was the general idea.

Everybody's walking out
on me tonight.

What are you after?
I don't know.
You, I think.

Vince Stone
chase you after me?

You saw him leave me in the bar
like an old beer or something.

Come on, let's find out.
I mean, if it's you I'm after.

I'm staying at
the Marland Hotel.
Okay.

You make up your mind
in a hurry, don't you?
Uh-huh.

Marland Hotel.

Say, I like this.
Early nothing.

There's just scotch.
Is that all right?
Fine.

Water?
Good.

How come you sat still
when Stone burned that girl?

Well, I'll tell you.
The last time I butted in,
Vince worked me over.

Is that how it is
being his girl?

Oh, most of the time
it's a lot of fun,
expensive fun.

What do you
got against him?
I don't like thieves.

Well, you'll never
get anywhere in this town
not liking Vince.

I'm not trying
to get anywhere.
That's obvious.

Well, that's some improvement.

You know, it's funny.

Sometimes, I feel about Vince
the way you looked at him tonight.

He can be a pretty good guy.

And then other times he can be...
But why kick?

You got to take the bad
with the good.

Is the good good enough?

Clothes, travel, expensive excitement.
What's wrong with that?

Nothing, if you don't care
where his money comes from.

The main thing is to have the money.

I've been rich and I've been poor.
Believe me, rich is better.

Did you think I was
an heiress or something
before I met Vince?

- I didn't think about you at all.
- Thank you.

Didn't know you.
How could I?
Oh, well, that's better.

You got a refill?

You know Larry
at The Retreat?
Larry who?

Uh, it's Larry...
I forget his last name.

He's about my size.
Wears flashy clothes.

I know lots of Larrys.

This one was a friend
ofVince Stone's.

I don't know all his friends,
fortunately.

You know Mike Lagana,
don't you?

Just to say hello and good-bye to.
When Vince talks business,

I go out and get my legs
waxed or something.

I don't like to hear things.
Why don't you stop
the cross-examination?

I didn't come up here
to talk out of school.

Why did you come up?
Well, why don't we call it
research or something?

Or to needle Stone, huh?

Oh, well, you're about as romantic
as a pair of handcuffs.

Didn't you ever tell a girl
pretty things?

You know, she's got hair
like the west wind,
eyes like limpid pools,

skin like velvet?

I'll put you in a cab.

Did I say something wrong?

- No.
- I must have broken
one of the house rules.

You really want me to go?

I wouldn't touch
anything ofVince Stone's
with a 10-foot pole.

That's a rotten thing to say.

Everybody winning?
Oh, hello, Debby.

Hi, Debby.
Hi, Miss Marsh.

How you doing, Vince?
Okay. Where you been?

The Gaiety Club.
Late show.

Deal me out a while, huh, boys?

How was the show?
The usual routine, not too bad.

Why didn't you
come straight home?

The way you ran out,
I didn't think you cared.

What do you mean, "ran out"?
It wasn't a stroll.

With elections this close,
I can't afford trouble
with a crazy ex-cop.

He's not so crazy.
Got a hot flash for you.
He hates your guts.

How would you know?

I was there, remember?
I'm the girl you left at the bar.

I phoned The Retreat.
Tierney said you offered
to buy Bannion a drink.

Tierney wouldn't know a gag
unless it hit him right in the face.

He said you followed
Bannion outside.
I went out looking for you.

You made better time getting away
than they make in the Olympics.

That's a real pretty kisser.
Isn't it?

I thought maybe you
and Bannion played footsie
while my back was turned.

You ought to trade Tierney in,
get yourself a more
reliable stool pigeon.

Maybe I got myself
a better stoolie.

How was the Gaiety Club?
No!

My arm, Vince, my arm!

You like cops, do you?
Don't, Vince, please.

Where did you go with him?
My arm, my arm!

I asked you a question. Where?
I only saw him on the street,
only in the street!

I suggest we call it a night.
I suggest
you shut your mouth.

Where did you go with Bannion?
Nowhere, nowhere!

He dropped me off
at the Gaiety!
The Gaiety, the Gaiety!

Oh, you pig, you lying pig!

[Bubbling]

[Splashing]
[Screaming]

My face! My face!

[Sobbing]

I'll fix you and your pretty face.

Don't, Vince. She's scalded.
She had it coming.

Don't just stand there.
Get her to a doctor.

He'll have to make
a police report.
That's why we're sending you.

Go on, get moving!
I'll try.

I'll try.

Shut the door.

Mike?

Yes, Vince.

How do you know she didn't
tell Bannion anything?

Debby isn't your problem anymore.
She's ours.

I want insurance.

But I don't want her found
off any county highway.

I don't want her found at all.

[Knocking On Door]

Who is it?
Debby Marsh.

Who's with you?
I'm alone.
I've been hurt.

[Knocking]

Put it out. Please.

Vince threw hot coffee in my face.

I'm gonna be scarred.

The whole side of my face
will be scarred.

[Sobbing]

- Where's Stone now?
- I don't know.

They made Higgins
take me to the doctor.

Higgins the police commissioner?

Yeah.

After the doctor put on
the bandages, I ran out.

Can I stay with you?
Please, can I stay?

I'll get you a room
on this floor.
[Sobbing]

Who else was with Stone?

Gillen from the city council,
George Fuller, Vince's lawyer
and Larry Gordon.

I told the doctor I didn't
care what he had to do
or about the pain,

only I didn't want my face scarred.

Who's Larry Gordon?

You don't care.
You don't care
what happened to me.

You don't care
about anything or anybody.

I was followed
when I came here with you.
That's why I got this!

Gil, this is Dave Bannion.

I'm gonna need another room
on this floor.

Yeah, it's for a friend of mine.

Yeah. I don't want it registered.

Yeah. That's right.
I don't want anybody
to know she's here.

Right.

You'll be safe here.

Want a shot of scotch?
Please.

Gordon is the Larry
you asked about.

Vince imported him from Chicago
a few months ago.

Thanks.

Tomorrow, I'll have another
doctor look you over.

I guess a scar isn't so bad,
not if it's only on one side.

I can always
go through life sideways.

Gordon lives
at the Wilton Apartments.

[Doorbell Buzzing]

[Buzzing]

Is Mrs. Davenport at home?

You got the wrong apartment.

[Buzzing]

I told you it was a...

Get up.
You must be nuts.

Come on, get up.

What about Slim Farrow?

You're punchy.

Go on. Pick it up.

I won't kill you,
not right away.

You got a wrong steer.
If I knew what you was
talking about...

What did Slim do for you?

I swear on my mother's...

What did he do for you?

When I let go, start talking.

If you don't,
I'll finish the job.

Talk.

He told me to get you.
Vince Stone.

I hired Slim.

What about Lucy Chapman?

Stone. He was scared
Duncan told her things.
Was Duncan on the take?

Oh, yeah, for years.
Why didn't they
shut up Mrs. Duncan?

I don't know.

Did she go on the payroll?

I think so.
I'm not sure.
What's she got on him?

I don't know.
I just take orders.

You're gonna give me a break,
aren't you, Bannion?
I told you what I know.

I'm through with you,
but your friends aren't.

I'm gonna spread the word
that you talked.

You're out of business, thief.

[Vince]
We caught up with Larry
before he got to the airport.

He was in such a hurry,
it took a couple of slugs
to stop him.

What's left of him
is on the way to the river.

Debby, what about her?

She doesn't worry me,
but Bannion does.

Larry must have talked his head off,
or he wouldn't have started running.

When you use second-raters
like Gordon, it's trouble.
I've told you that before.

If you had okayed
getting rid of Bannion,
he wouldn't be a problem now.

And when Duncan wanted out,
I asked you to let me handle him.

But, oh, no, you thought talking
to him might keep him in line.

So what happens?
He knocks himself off.

Don't make me the fall guy, Mike.
I'm no Larry Gordon.

The reformers would be delighted
to hear us accusing each other.

All right. We both made mistakes.
The point is correct them.

Bannion on the bottom
of the river with Larry,
and there's no more problem.

Maybe a bigger one.

If he knows anything,
he's put it on paper.

Anything happens to him,
[Snaps Fingers]

It becomes public property.

The Duncan setup all over again.

That's a gamble
we've gotta take.

We don't.

Take something Bannion
values more than himself
and we keep him quiet.

As soon as you're set,

have Higgins call off the police guard
at the Eldridge Street house.

[Phone Rings]

Yes?

Yes, Mrs. Duncan?

He's at my door.
What will I do?

[Doorbell Buzzing]

He knows I'm at home.
My car is in the garage.

I'll take care of it.
You just stall him.

Yes, I understand.

[Buzzing Continues]

Oh, Mr. Bannion.
I'm so sorry I kept you waiting.

The furniture's the same.

Nothing's been changed.

You haven't started
living high yet, have you?

What are you talking about?

Your husband was
on Lagana's payroll.
Now you are.

He must have put down
all the facts and figures
in writing...

for Lagana to hold still for blackmail.

What did you do with it?

I haven't the faintest idea
what you're talking about.

But if you want to look around,
please go right ahead.

No, it wouldn't be here.
You're much smarter
than Lucy Chapman.

Thank you.

You told Lagana about Lucy.

You have a horrid mind.
Poor Lucy.

You were delighted.

You were even happy when
your husband blew his brains out.

We were getting along very well
until the soul struggling began.

Want to know something ridiculous?

It was after his affair
with Lucy Chapman...

that he wanted
to turn over a new leaf.

A city is being strangled
by a gang of thieves,

and you protect Lagana
and Stone for the sake
of a soft, plush life.

The coming years are going
to be just fine, Mr. Bannion.

There aren't gonna be
any coming years for you.

None at all.
I don't threaten easily.

If anything happens to you,
the evidence comes out.

That's the way you arranged it,
didn't you, bright lady?

You got it all
put away someplace.

That's how you kept
Lagana over a barrel.

But I'm not Lagana.

With you dead,
the big heat follows...

the big heat for Lagana,
for Stone and for all
the rest of the lice.

[Tires Screech]
Mr. Lagana is an excellent
life insurance agent.

- What's the trouble?
- Why, nothing, Officer.

This is Police Sergeant Bannion.

Sorry, Sergeant.
We got a call there was trouble.

Sergeant Bannion...

Oh, I'm sorry.
It's ex-sergeant, isn't it?

He'll be leaving with you, Officer.

[Knock On Door]

It's me, Bannion.

How about a little
light in here?

I've got to get used to being
seen sometime, I guess.

I've been feeling like something
that's been shut up because
nobody wants to look at it.

Aren't you supposed to take
one of these before meals?

Here you are.

Some water.

Just sitting here thinking
is pretty rough when you've spent
most of your life not thinking.

Eat your soup, huh?

What was your wife like, Dave?

Twenty-seven years old,

light hair, gray eyes.

That's a police description.

Did she like to cook,
like to be surprised?

What kind of things
made her laugh?
That's what...

I'm sorry. You don't
wanna talk about her,
certainly not with me.

Not with anyone.

Did you find Larry?

What? Yeah.

Yeah, I found him.

And?
I ran into a brick wall...

Bertha Duncan.
The cop's widow?

He left her
a million-dollar trust fund.

Wrote down everything there was
to know about the syndicate.

Vince must hate her insides.

He never could take
losing or being pressured.

He's got to take it.
If she dies, the letter
goes to the newspapers.

You know, I almost
killed her an hour ago.

I should have.

I don't believe you could.

If you had, there wouldn't be
much difference between
you and Vince Stone.

[Phone Rings]

Must be for me.
I told them downstairs
I was up here.

Yes? Yes, Marge?

The relief detail
didn't show up.

I called the police station.
They said they weren't
coming anymore.

Keep the door locked
till Al gets home.
I'll be there in an hour.

Keep that for company.

Okay, mac.
Get 'em up high.

Upstairs, mac,
nice and easy now.

Stop, Dave. Hold it, Mark.
Come on, hold it.

Nice going.
[Laughs]
This is my brother-in-law.

What is this?

Al said to stop everybody.

You're doing fine, Mark.
Go back downstairs.

Sorry, mac.
Yeah, it's... It's okay.

Is Joyce all right?
Sure.
Marge has her inside.

I got the boys over
just in case.

This is my brother-in-law.

Bill Rutherford,
Harry Shoenstein,
Hank O'Connel.

How are you?
[Exhales]

I guess civilian life hasn't
slowed Mark down so much, huh?

You kidding? It hasn't
slowed him down at all.

When trouble comes,
it'll be from hoodlums
who know their business.

I'm afraid they won't be stopped
by amateurs whose hearts happen
to be in the right place.

Do we look like the cast
from some maypole dance?

I've been places those creeps
wouldn't go unless they
rode in a 50-ton tank.

I went in on foot with...
The story of how you won
the Medal of Honor or something.

All right, big wit,
but I'm telling you, anybody
who comes through that door...

and touches that kid
is gonna wind up dead.

Harry Schoenhopper,
the angry poet.

Seriously, Bannion,
we can handle things.

I was never so sure
of anything in my life.

Do you know where
the trouble's coming from?

I'd feel easier if all of you stayed here.

Daddy!
There's my girl.

Hello, sweetheart.

How are you?
Will you tell me
a story, Daddy?

Why, sure.
Which story, darling?
The Three Little Kittens.

That lost their mittens.

We just heard the precinct detail
was called off.

You're sticking
your neck way out.
It's a fine night for it.

Hello, Dave.

Aren't you throwing
that pension of yours
down into the sewer?

I got my wife's okay.

In fact, Gertie used language
I didn't think she knew.

It's the first time in years
I've breathed good, clean air.

Well, you don't have to stay.
Al has some of his army friends
upstairs.

If we stick around,
it'll make it official.

Thanks.
Dave.

Yeah?
Where you going now?

Oh, nowhere special.

Want company?

Uh-uh.

A report came in this afternoon
about your barging in
on Mrs. Duncan.

You're not going there again?

No.

[Doorbell Buzzing]

I'm Vince Stone's girl...
Debby Marsh.
May I see you for a moment?

I was just leaving,
but please come in.

Thank you.

Were you in an accident?

Yes.
I'm sorry.

You have a nice home.
Thank you.

Did Mr. Stone send you?
No. I've been thinking
about you and me...

how much alike we are.

The mink-coated girls.

I don't understand you.
What are you here for,
Miss Marsh?

Debby.

We should use first names,
Bertha.

We're sisters under the mink.

You're not making
any sense, Miss Marsh.

I'd better call Mr. Stone
and have him pick you up.

You're not well.

I never felt better in my life.

[Gunshots]

[Door Opens, Closes]

[Groaning]

It'll burn for a long time, Vince.

[Glass Shatters]

It doesn't look bad now.

But in the morning,
your face will be like mine.

Look at it. It isn't pretty, is it?

You'll walk through side streets
and alleys so that people
won't stare at you.

Oh, but you're lucky.
It won't be for long.

Bertha Duncan is dead.
No more insurance
for you and Lagana.

The lid's off the garbage can,
and I did it.

[Door Opens]

Dave.
[Gunshot]

Debby.

I killed Mrs. Duncan.

Police emergency. Get an ambulance
at 257 Flower Street, the penthouse.

Dave!

[Gun Clicks]

Go on, shoot!

Shoot, shoot!

Get up.

Come on, get up.

[Footsteps Approaching]

We'll take your gun, Dave.

You can have him too.

There's one charge
against him to start with.

Over there.

We went to the Duncan house.

I'm sorry
you got there first.
I didn't.

- Did you call it in?
- We wanted to catch up with you first.

Put a cover on Lagana, Higgins
and every other thief in town.

Duncan left a confession.
It'll come out now.
The lice will try to run.

There's no use moving her.

Well, you can close your file
on the Bertha Duncan killing.

- Dave.
- Yes.

Am I going to die?

If I said you'd live another 100 years,
you'd call me a liar.

I don't want to die.

I must look awful.

Vince shouldn't
have ruined my looks.

It was a rotten thing to do.

Dave.
Yes?

I'm going to die.

No, Debby, no.

Remember how angry you got...

when... when I asked you
about your wife?

I wasn't angry.

You and Katie would
have gotten along fine.

What was she like?

A real Irish blow-top,
but she always got over it fast.

She used to raise the roof
with me for missing dinner...

or leaving the bathroom in a mess.

But a few minutes later, she'd come in
with a drink in her hand for me...

just as though
nothing had happened.

You know, Kate,
she was a sampler.

She used to take sips of my drink
and puffs on my cigarette.

Sometimes she used to
taste the food off my plate.

We got a big kick out of that.

I like her.

I like her a lot.

Sometimes when I came home
from work, she'd have
the baby dressed up...

like a... like a little princess.

One of the most important
parts of the day was
when I came in...

and saw her looking like
something just stepped
down off a birthday cake.

I guess...

I guess it's that way
with most families.

[Chattering]

How about some coffee, Hugo?
Coming right up, Sarge.

[Phone Rings]

Homicide, Bannion.

Got it.

We have a hit-and-run
over on South Street.

Keep the coffee hot, Hugo.

Okay, sir.