Original subtitles

In the years following world war II...

organized crime in the United States grew to such proportions that it scope was greater...

than the law enforcement agencies that tried to fight it.

But finally, in the nation's capital...

the senate investigating committee presented a new threat the gangland.

And panic began to grip the overlords of threat.

They sought a new central headquarters for their operations.

A city where they felt they could be safe.

They chose the Miami area, a vacation wonderland.

A mecca for tourists, who swelled the normal population of 600,000...

to more than two million in the winter season.

A city where the tough honest police force...

was inadequate in size to protect the tremendous overflow of people.

Then, out of sheer necessity, a way was found to crush crime in Miami.

As senator George Smathers of the state of Florida relates.

The organized crime flourished in the Miami area at one time,

I am proud to say that no vestige of it remains.

This picture ably shows what a few courageous citizens...

honest politicians and tough alert police agencies can do...

to rid their cities of ganglands influence.

The instrument and the method may be different in each instance...

but the end result can always be the same.

This story of the world's most powerful crime operation...

begins at the Miami international airport at...

one of the landing platforms for the Cuban American airline.

Flight 9, arriving from Havana, Cuba. Flight 9, arriving from Havana, Cuba.

Passengers will use gate 15.

On Monterrey Island, which lies between Miami City and Miami Beach in Biscayne Bay...

a regular monthly business meeting had taken place the afternoon...

of the murders on the million dollar estate of a man named Tony Brill.

- How old is she? - 20 in June.

Comes from Milwaukee, father sells vacuum cleaners.

Mother works as secretary of brewery.

- Kid's name is... - I know her name.

Send her to Detroit, she can work as a shill for Marshall

alright.

Teddy is seeing her too much, his mind must be on business..

You worry about him like a father, why?

- A man needs somebody to fill his shoes. - I wouldn't know.

I only have a maternal instinct for a mink and sable.

What didn't we cover this afternoon?

Johnny Lopez's report on the San Francisco area.

The bookie receipts are 20% off from last month.

Maybe the pool in San Francisco is a little too deep for Johnny.

And we didn't cover Moore's tab on...

slot machines in Vegas but I hear it's alright though.

The overall picture is pretty good.

- How about you? - Model agencies up 3%...

escort bureaus have slacked off a bit but I'll get after them.

We interrupt this program to bring you a special news bulletin.

- Honey I want to hear the news. - You can read it in the paper.

One of the most brazen murders in the history of...

crime took place tonight at the Miami international airport.

Where two Cuban passengers aboard a Cuban American airlines transport...

were shot to death as they alighted from the plane.

All indications point to a typical gangland killing.

Police starting an immediate investigation, though so far there are no witnesses.

A statement is expected from police chief Belman shortly.

We will report any new developments as they occur, back to Ronnie Sharp and his music.

- Thank you Robert. - Right Tony.

If there were trouble we would've heard about on the radio.

There'll be no trouble.

He has medals from the army for his marksmanship, did he ever show them to you?

No, he saves those for the younger girls.

Hiya Ted.

- See, there was no trouble. - How was it Johnny.

Fine Ted, fine.

Ted, good boy.

- Bravo. - Thanks Tony,

Everybody is having a good time, meeting over already?

Oh, just a couple odds and ends to clean up.

I don't think Havana will give us any more trouble.

Hold on to your job at the airport for a couple of weeks, till the heat off then quit.

Oh yes Teddy, about this girl?

Haven't seen too much of her and I don't have that kind of time.

Get rid of her.

I like that boy.

All that day, at Miami police headquarters and into the night...

police chief Belman, capable head of the Miami force, conducted...

his investigation into the murder of the two Cubans at the airport.

Come in Max.

Everyone employed at the airport is screened before he's hired.

- We double checked, nothing. - Hiya Max.

- What about the rest of the passenger list? - All clean, no records.

- Well, stay with it Simmons. - Right chief.

- You got something Max? - The answer from Cuba.

The two guys were Emilio Canida and Pedro Gomez.

Muscle boys for the Cuban gambling syndicate.

Yeah?

Oh, they handle the bolita lottery in Havana.

Muscle job?

Maybe they're trying to organize a bolita rack in Miami...

without asking Tony Brill's permission.

So you think this is Brill's town too?

Chief even that senate committee couldn't hang anything on him.

Two million people soaking up the sun...

losing their money gambling at night and everybody is happy.

Stores are making money, the hotels are jammed.

Isn't there anybody besides me who cares if this is Brill's town?

I'll stay with it chief.

Yeah.

As a result of the editorial by Charles Earnshaw, a plan began to materialize.

For not all of Miami's citizens were indifferent

to the hold the crime had on their beautiful city.

In the study of the Earnshaw home, the first meeting of the committee of five was held.

Each man had been chosen because of his outstanding civic leadership.

Present besides Earnshaw were Juan Stanza, Cuban importer and exporter.

Dennis Teller, owner of one of Miami's large department stores.

Frank Alton, one of the directors of bars association...

and Clifton Stanley of the hotel association.

Mr. Earnshaw, in theory your plan is good, commendable, but how should I say it?

We are babies in the woods, what do we know of dealing with criminals?

- What we don't know we can learn. - That's theory too.

It's taken Tony Brill and his mob years to establish their business.

- It would take us just as long to stop them. - You say Brill has tremendous influence.

I think we have friends too Mr. Earnshaw. We can fight influence with influence.

Well gentlemen, this isn't a country club arrangement.

If our identities become known, it could mean our lives or the lives of our families.

Whatever we do, we must use great discretion, the utmost secrecy.

I'm a lawyer Mr. Earnshaw, I believe only in facts.

And the fact is we have no direct weapon with which to fight Brill.

Brill's weapons will be brass knuckles and guns.

How do we fight those?

Since you brought up the plan for this committee...

Mr. Earnshaw, I've given it considerable thought, violence is Brill's weapon.

And we're not violent men.

But if it takes violence to fight violence...

then I think I know where to secure such a weapon.

We'll listen to any suggestion.

Well, 12 years ago I saved a Chicago gangster named Mick Flagg from the electric chair.

Flagg was one of the toughest mobsters in Illinois, a hard man.

When he was arrested on a murder charge, the court was inclined to throw the book at him.

But to me, certain elements in the case didn't make sense.

I decided to defend Flagg because I thought he was innocent and he was.

I won an acquittal for him.

But it was a close enough call that he realized his position.

And he was smart enough then to give up the rackets.

After the trial Mick Flagg disappeared.

I'm not sure that he's still alive.

But if he is and he can be found, we'll have our weapon.

But to bring an ex-gangster into our confidence...

The police wouldn't do such a thing Mr. Teller, but we're not the police.

That's one advantage we have in trying to stop Tony Brill.

Mr. Alton is right, this man Flagg can teach us what we must know.

How do we find him?

A newspaper can do many things Mr. Earnshaw.

If it's possible at all, you can see that we find this man or that he finds us.

Registered at a small beach hotel...

was the girl who had been on the plane with the murdered Cubans.

Her name was Holly Abbott...

and the working of the committee was to drastically alter her life.

But at the moment, all she was aware of was that she lived in sheer terror...

fearing the same fate as that of the two Cubans.

Others whose lives were to feel the effect of the committee of five...

was an Indiana farmer who called himself Mike Pierce and his son Gil.

You got him pop, you got him. Hey rocket, wait for me.

Count fragile Clancy, why you always have to get there first? Next time I'll beat to it.

When I'm older and have longer legs, bet you don't beat me then.

You get better all the time kid, you almost beat him that time.

- Sure. - We'll get some beans off the west acre.

- They'll go good together. - That was a heck of a shot.

You're really the greatest pop.

What do you need now Gil, eh? Advance on your allowance?

Hey, hey you two guys, cut it out, come on, stop. Take it easy.

Kids, stop it. Wait a minute, wait a minute.

- Gil, I thought Joey was your best friend?

Yeah? I'll sock him in the nose, that's what.

Take it easy both of you. Now, what's this all about?

Get him out of here, get him out of here.

Alright Joey, maybe you better go. Like get this straightened out.

You ain't going to get nothing straightened out Mick Flagg.

You heard that Pa, he says your name is Mick Flagg.

It's in the paper.

Pa, I called Joey a liar.

He is, isn't he? The paper is a liar too.

- Our name is Pierce, everybody knows that. - Gil, listen...

That is your picture in the paper, ain't it?

Yes son, Gil...

Joey will tell all the other kids, even if they don't see it in the paper.

I'm going into town, you stay in the house son.

I wouldn't leave the house now for anything.

Why did you run it Harry?

We buy that Sunday supplement from New York, just the way it is.

We don't even print it here.

You know what it's done to us? To me and Gil?

- I think I know. - Why?

Why do they do it? What's the idea?

I'm a farmer now, they can't hang me for that.

I can't tell you why Mike, but it must be very important.

They wouldn't even turn it over to police for a routine check.

I got an off the record note, every editor in the country got it.

It was signed by Charles Earnshaw, publisher of the Miami Daily Express.

Miami?

Know a man named Frank Alton?

Alton? Lawyer?

Yeah, years ago.

The letter from Earnshaw authorized the editors...

to give you transportation and expenses to go and see Alton in Miami.

From the trouble they went to to find you, this must be something big.

That won't do Gil any good.

Take him with you, so he doesn't have to face other kids here.

Sure.

- Only I have to face him. - You'll go?

I don't know Harry.

And if I do I'll take Gil with me.

The next morning Mick Flagg and his son Gil were on their way to Florida.

The boy was left with friends who owned a citrus...

grove near Orlando and Flagg continued on to Miami alone.

Fifty thousand dollars.

Fifty thousand dollars is a lot of money Mr. Flagg but we don't want you to turn us down.

You guys keep your identity secret but I don't, is that it?

I'm supposed to be the lone patsy in this setup.

No, never get a chance to spend a dime of that fifty thousand.

The money will be placed on deposit in your son's name.

- But we're not paying you to die. - Maybe Brill won't know that.

Now this deal still boils down to who gets killed first Tony Brill or me.

If that's the way you look at it, we don't want you.

Look, Brill is not that inaccessible, any police officer could shoot him down.

We want him alive in court, where we can prove to him and the rest of his kind that...

the law is stronger than they are.

Grab him on a tax charge, anything, you know better.

Brill is smarter than Capone was, he doesn't leave any loose ends.

And as fast as our chief of police Bellman shuts...

down one of Brill's places he opens up somewhere else.

Belman said the only way we can close up the entire R and I...

syndicate is to get the top man Tony Brill, that's what he's waiting for.

I'm not going to make a speech but you've been around.

Look Mick, you know as well as I do what the mobs are doing today.

How they're corrupting school kids, making them shills for all kinds of rackets.

Involving them in ways that couldn't be printed in a newspaper.

- You got a lot of arguments. - I've got one more.

12 years ago you were tried on a murder charge because Tony Brill framed you.

When you find that out?

A lot has come out since Brill and his mob moved into Miami.

Look, you can kick or gouge or hit below the belt, anything.

Nobody will interfere. Belman will back you up all the way.

Who's Brill's check man?

Check man.

When gambling syndicates take checks at their tables they never endorse them...

- and cash them at out of state banks. - Banks do business with these gamblers?

Yeah, the bank doesn't know it but usually one of their...

cashiers is on the syndicates payroll.

Check men may carry as much as a quarter million dollars in checks.

Very interesting.

You giving us a lesson or an answer?

You know what Brill did to me?

You know that newspaper story did to my boy, is there any other answer?

You're going to arrange for a talk with your police chief,

I'll find out who Brill's check man is myself.

Thank you Mr. Flagg.

I'll take care of everything.

You'll have all the cash you need to work with

and Mr. Staley will arrange for your hotel suite.

- Ok. - Mick...

thanks.

You saved my life once, maybe it's a good thing you saved it for something like this.

I only hope I live long enough to see how it all turns out.

And none of the hoods who ever worked for Brill are jailed now?

Wait a minute.

Mott, Louie Mott.

He was a bookie for the Brill mob butt they made him the goat in a big operation.

- He's the only one serving time. - Spring him.

And make it seem like I'm the one with the influence.

I want him to be more scared of me than he is of a Brill.

- Louie will be all yours. - Send him to my hotel.

Through the behind the scenes efforts of the committee and police chief Belman...

Louie Mott was released from jail on a trumped up parole.

You're out of jail Mott, what are you worried about?

Mr. Flagg, I was paroled, I never even applied for no parole.

I know how things are with you and Brill and I need good men who hate Tony so you're out.

Please Mr. Flagg, not so loud about me hating Brill.

Look Mott, I'll tell you once and that's all.

I'm moving in on the R and I, Brill is finished.

- Finished? - Yeah.

You want a good spot in my setup, you tell me what I want to know.

Such as?

- Who's Brill's check man? - Please Mr. Flagg, I ain't no pigeon, I...

- Get out, in an hour you'll be back in jail. - Please Mr. Flagg please.

You mustn't say such things, not even joking.

Who is he?

Delacorte.

Kid Ted Delacorte is his name, he's a killer Mr. Flagg, but you must never...

Nobody is going to hurt any of my boys Louie. Tell me, Delacorte do the job at the airport?

I don't know, but it figures. He does all of Brill's dirty work.

But if you ever found out that I was the one, he'd step on me like I was a mosquito maybe.

You're through being a mosquito, here, get yourself some clothes, expensive ones.

I want my boys to look good.

Kiddos, this reminds me of the days when...

Get yourself a room downstairs. I'll call you when I need you.

Thanks Mr. Flagg, I'll be waiting.

Give me 857-891 please.

Hello Alton, Flagg.

Ok, I'm ready to let Brill know I'm in Miami.

Have Earnshaw on a story and hint that I'm in back at that Cuban gang.

Yeah, I want to be tied up with those two who were killed at the airport.

- He'll try to kill you too. - He'll have to ask questions first.

Tell Estanza I want five or six Cuban detectives...

good ones, who won't be afraid to work with me.

Belman could give you the men.

No, the R and I probably has a tab on every man on the Miami force.

Besides, I want real Cubans, Brill must think that they're part of my mob.

Yeah.

Now look, Brill has a man by the name of Delacorte.

Delacorte, tell chief Belman I want a 24 hour tail on him.

Let me know the minute he tries to leave town.

He's the check man.

I'm telling you Mr. Flagg, that story in the paper this morning is...

going to get us both knocked off.

And two such knocked off characters you'll never see.

You still living Louie.

I know, but they're liable to scratch me the next race.

You know what happened to me today? I run into Cully O'Brian...

he looks me right square in the kisser and he says to me...

said, Louie he said, you out of jail.

Then he looks at my brand new clothes and he says, say he said...

it seems that a guy can make more dough in jail than he can on the outside.

Then, he didn't like the system, he said...

who does a guy have to know to get into this jail?

I'm telling you Mr. Flagg, I don't like it, Culley works for Brill.

- He's liable to tell Tony that I'm out. - Yeah, good night Louie.

Oh but Mr. Flagg, I don't want to stay in the room alone.

Talk to yourself Louie, you can't get into trouble that way.

Yeah, I know but...

Stay right there Mr. Flagg.

No matter how much you take off my gun will keep you covered nicely.

- Is supposed to be funny? - It should be.

I've been sitting here for three hours trying to think of something clever to say.

Now you said it, what do you want?

My name is Holly Abbott.

I saw that story in the paper this morning.

You wouldn't need that gun to make me talk to you.

I'll keep it just the same.

Until I find out whether that story is true or not.

You don't recognize my name?

- Should I? - You should.

Gomez and Canida were friends of mine in Havana.

You know lots of names, don't you kid? Maybe taking a big chance spilling them to me.

Only if you're a phony, that's one of the chances I'll have to take.

Either that's an act or you're not so tough.

It's an act, I could cry like this whenever I want to.

What you want here?

I was with Gomez and Canida on the plane the night they were killed at the airport.

I figured I was next, I thought if you were really connected with them you'd help me.

- What you do in Havana? - I dance at the El Columbo.

- What's the rest of it? - I went to Cuba looking for my sister.

- You got to do better than that. - Please believe me.

I've been trying to find her for eight months, she just disappeared.

And then I found out she was in Havana.

So you latched on to a couple of hoods like Gomez and Canida, eh?

I found out they know my sister but that she left for a better job here.

When Gomez said he had to go to Miami he said I could come along, he'd help me locate her.

He'd, he'd been trying to date me for a long time.

- He thought this was it. - And all he got was a slug in the head.

- You don't believe any of it, do you? - No I don't.

If Tony Brill wants to find out what I'm doing here tell him to ask me himself.

I didn't lie to you.

I'm not very good at shooting people...

so I took all the courage I had to come up here tonight.

I won't bother you again.

- You ever do any gambling? - I know my way around a crap table.

We're going to the Biscayne Club.

That's Tony Brill's main gambling house, I might be recognized there.

Yeah.

They make a pass at you I'll know you tell me the truth.

You don't want to go, clear out.

- I'll go. - Where you staying?

Riviera Plaza.

We stop by there, you can change that dress...

for something that'll make them notice you, let's go.

Tony said you were here, this Cora Gibson, she's going to work for you.

- Give her a rundown. - Who sent you?

- Mr Lopez, he's a very good friend of mine. - Ok, sit kid.

Lots girls work for me honey, you just be one of them.

And don't think you'll get any special treatment because of Lopez.

Oh I won't miss Abbott.

You have the looks, you have to be smart too.

- I graduated from high school. - That's not what I mean honey.

You have to be smart about men.

Now, we'll give you leads on all the rich ones you can handle.

Your job is to steer them to the Biscayne Club for their gambling.

You'll get 1% of whatever the sucker loses, do I make myself clear?

- Yes, I think so. - Well, that's all.

I'll call you when I have your first date ready.

- Lopez is waiting for you at the casino. - I'm happy to have met you.

It's alright kid, it's mutual, now blow.

Can't Johnny dig them up any younger? This one's practically middle-aged.

You know the young ones bring in the biggest suckers?

Yeah, I wonder what kind of a family a child like that comes from?

What's the difference? You got them all stopped.

- You like them older like me, eh Teddy? - Not all, just special ones.

I'm only special to Tony, you forgetting that?

You know how Tony thinks of me, like a son. We share things.

Maybe you share them in college kid, but not in this league.

You saying that for my benefit or yours?

- Man killer and lady killer, eh kid? - Tony hear you if you want to yell.

You're not going to grow up at my expense kid.

Someday you may be top boy. If I'm not too old, see me then.

You won't be too old.

The ultra smart Biscayne Club, with its illegal backroom gambling...

was a spot where rich vacationers could gather.

Each winter season...

the club showed a profit of well over three million five hundred thousand dollars...

because the crooked tables and dealers could control losses,

- Hi kid. - Tony.

Robert and I were watching you when you walked into the casino.

Just from the way you walked...

I bet him a dollar that Gwen didn't argue too much about taking on Lopez's girl.

You didn't take much of a chance for a dollar Tony.

- He's scared to bet me more than a dollar. - Why shouldn't I be? You always win.

- He wins again the Gibson kids kind of work. - Yeah, you see that.

Ah, this kid knows how to handle women better than I do.

With me, Gwen would beef for a week that the girl was too young.

But it's as I say, if they're big enough to wear a fur coat...

for some rich sucker, they're old enough.

Catch me on the other side. Robert...

- Yes Tony. - Be a good fella, take a look.

- See how things are going. - Right Tony.

Now you walk through that casino like you're a king or something.

College did you good Teddy. You know, you're better than they are down there.

Don't you know you're better?

Well, nobody is better than Tony Brill even if they think they are.

Little high up, high.

Every night new fools come in. Always new faces, there's no end to them.

There's always been gambling Tony, since the world began.

It's a good business.

- It will never end. - I hope not.

Sure, why work for money when people want to give it to you.

Tony Tony it's the girl who was on the plane with the Cubans.

Where? Let me see.

Jimmy's table, the dark haired one with the yellow dress.

Yeah.

More important, the guy she's with is Mickey Flagg.

Flagg? The one was in the paper this morning?

Yeah.

The guy is not very smart coming here if he's fronting for that Cuban mob.

The guy is very smart.

Why do you think he comes here, eh? With that dame?

- To worry us Teddy, to show he's not afraid. - Is supposed to bother us?

Well, we find out, eh?

Tell him I want to have a drink with him up here.

Teddy, see that the boys take that girl to my place, I'll be there later.

Cookie, give me my clothes then blow, I'm going to have company.

Mr. Flagg, my regards for you from Mr. Brill.

He wants to know if you have a drink with him in his office?

Sure, be like old times.

Use these kid, I'll be back in a little while.

Mickey Flagg, my old friend Mickey Flagg from Chicago.

Tony you haven't aged a day.

Wow, you shouldn't try to bluff your old friend Mickey.

Take a look, all gray.

Nothing stands still, business goes forward, people go backward.

Don't tell me, I remember. Whiskey and plain water.

Unless maybe you like some of those Cuban rum drinks now?

Whiskey.

You know, only today I was thinking about you.

- I see something about you in the paper. - Yeah, I saw that too.

I said to myself right away, that's baloney.

Mickey Flagg wouldn't let himself get mixed up with us Cuban small fry.

If he wanted to get back in the business he'd come to Tony.

- I've never been out of it. - No?

- Well, how come I never hear about you? - Maybe people hear too much about you.

Why not? I'm big business, I'm like maybe the president of a big corporation.

Here, I pay my taxes.

The sunlight is on me, even when those Washington committees want to look me over,

I'm in a sunlight.

Might be a good time to quit then.

Quit? Me? Why?

Tony I haven't wasted 12 years.

The Cuban syndicate is going to put the R and I corporation out of business.

Oh?

You shouldn't try to bluff your old friend Mickey.

It's not a bluff Tony, it's a warning, from an old friend.

We're moving into Miami, we got the influence, don't try to stop us.

- We got two of your boys already. - So, you're two up on me.

You think those two bit bolita pushers can shove Tony Brill around?

Come here, take a look.

I'm always in front, always.

I'm disappointed in you, I thought you were over the way you did things in Chicago.

When I'm putting on a show for you, it wouldn't be polite for you not to watch.

Get away from that, get around the front of the desk.

The kid will get you first, he doesn't miss.

- Mickey, don't, don't, don't hit him again. - Sure Tony.

I don't want to kill him. I just want him to know I'm around.

Nobody ever lifted a hand on me and lived Flagg.

You're Ok kid, I like you, you got guts and you're ready to stand up for Tony.

I just didn't want you to think you're as tough as Tony and his mob thinks you are.

We can play any way you want but we're moving in and we're big, don't get in our way.

- I know I'm going to kill you sometime. - Your face is pretty.

Could get to look like it was caught in a meat grinder.

Night Tony.

Next time come around on my place for a drink.

- Nice going lieutenant. - Our car will be right behind you se�or.

Now you believe what I told you?

I know this much, you're in this thing up to your ears.

I'm getting you an apartment adjoining mine.

- I might've guessed that. - You weren't so coy with Gomez.

- I told you why. - Your reason hasn't changed, has it?

You move tonight, it's the only way I can think to keep you from getting killed.

What is this, a wake?

Take a look.

Where did you get this?

The boys in the parking lot took it out of a girl's purse tonight.

This girl was with the Cuban guys on the plane.

- What did you do with her? - Never mind, who is she?

I sent this to my sister a couple years ago Tony...

And tonight she was with the guy I was telling you about.

- Mickey Flagg. - She hasn't done anything to you Tony.

I just got a report...

that she checked in with Flagg at the San Souci hotel, adjoining suites.

Flagg says he's going to put the R and I out of business.

You know, we don't like that kind of talk honey.

- It could be that she's not my sister. - Her name is Holly Abbott.

Now, because she's your sister we be nice for a little bit.

You go talk to her.

We want to know what Flagg is going to do and how he expects to do it.

She don't tell you, we sweat it out of her anyhow Sister or no sister.

You're a good girl Gwen, you understand such things, eh?

- I understand Tony. - We all going to be at my place tonight.

You come there and tell us what your little sister has to say.

- Who is it? - It's Gwen Holly.

Gwen. Oh Gwen.

- I've been looking so long. - So as a sister, I'm a square.

Come in, come in.

- Is something up? - A girl just went in.

I could hear it was her sister.

All right, you going to be on duty much longer?

Two hours, my relief will come then, sergeant Carillo.

Thanks Martinez.

And all they knew in Havana when I got there was that you got a better job in Miami.

So here I am. Oh Gwen,

- Oh Gwen, it's wonderful to find you again. - Yes Holly.

Say, what's with this next door neighbor, this Flagg character?

- I didn't think you were the type. - It's not what you thin, not at all.

I came to him because I thought he could help me find you.

- How did you know about him? - Look Holly, I know a lot of things.

Flagg is an atom bomb in this town and he's going to blow up in your face.

Gwen?

They're going to kill him and they'll get you too if you keep hanging around him.

Who are they? I've almost been killed twice already.

Tonight and at the airport.

I'll give you all the protection you need but just tell me, what's Flagg's pitch?

Exactly what does he expect to do in Miami?

I don't know a thing, except that he has connections in Havana.

Well you were, there you should've known...

This new job you got, you're with Tony Brill.

- Look kid, don't go rocking the boat. - Aren't you?

Look at me, I'm rolling in dough, I'm lousy with it.

Come live with me and I'll put you next to all the rich ones.

- Maybe you can even marry one. - You are in with Brill.

You're in with him so deep you'd sell me out to save your own skin.

- I'm trying to save yours you idiot. - I'll save it my own way.

Don't give me that holier than thou stuff Holly.

You could hoof, all I could do was shake on top and wiggle on the...

bottom at crummy burlesque joints.

See the kind of clothes I wear now? And you going to tell me I was wrong?

No Gwen, I was.

I shouldn't have tried to find you.

So she wasn't worth it after all.

- You're Mick Flagg? - Yeah.

Yeah, I'm Flagg.

And since you're coming here is Tony answer to what I told him tonight...

you can go back and tell him the Biscayne Club will be closed down...

by the weekend unless he stays out of my way.

- Are you out of your mind. - Just tell him, that's all.

- Holly... - Goodbye Gwen.

You could have one of the rich ones.

You're as hard and cold as she is, aren't you?

Big sister just told you there's no Santa Claus and you're all beat up about it.

Relax, things will look a lot worse tomorrow.

For a dame like you they always do.

Get out.

Go ahead, get sore at me. Better than feeling sorry for yourself.

Before he left the hotel...

Mick Flagg called an emergency meeting with the committee at Earnshaw's home.

Then he gave instructions to the Cuban officer...

lieutenant Martinez to maintain strict guard over the girl while he was gone.

I said the Biscayne Club would be shut down and it must be.

I don't care what connections Brill has.

I can raid him and close him up, but it's up to you men to keep him closed.

When is it happen?

Keep your vice squad on 24 hour call and I'll let you know.

Gentlemen, if I'm right in what I'm doing, you'll have...

Brill and the R and I right where you want them.

In front of a grand jury.

Get a doctor up here quick.

Holly.

I'm sorry kid.

Lieutenant Martinez with a skull fracture was the more seriously injured of the two.

Holly Abbott suffered a concussion...

but was able to talk later in her room at the Jackson Memorial Hospital.

- Doc says you're going to be all right. - What about lieutenant Martinez?

- He tried to help me. - He'll live.

Can you talk a little?

Who did it?

I never saw them before.

They tried to ask me some questions about you.

Well, I told them I didn't know anything.

They thought I was lying.

They beat me.

I can hang an assault and battery on them but it wouldn't mean a thing.

No, that's not the answer.

- What questions did they ask you? - So many.

What was in back of you?

How many men did you already have in Miami?

Mike...

my head hurts.

We better leave her now.

Can you stage that raid tonight?

I can have a squad in their club in half an hour.

- Don't pull any punches. - My pleasure.

That night just before closing, the Miami police hit...

the Biscayne Club and pulled no punches.

- Yeah? - This is Flagg.

You wouldn't listen to me Tony, instead you had to take...

it out on a girl who wasn't bothering you.

Now I'm going to chase you out of Miami.

The Biscayne Club is being smashed while I'm talking to you.

Flagg look, nobody pushes me around.

Flagg?

Get me my office.

This is police chief Belman, anything I can do for you?

- Yeah, what do you want? - It's me, Teddy.

- Tony, the club... - Yeah, I know, I know.

- Flagg just called me. - Then was Flagg.

He said he'd do it and they did.

Hey, you take the checks out, out of the safe before those cops broke into my office?

Yeah.

Ok, tomorrow take them out of town and cash them.

- Alright Tony. - Now get on the phone.

I have to have a talk with all the boys right away.

Where's my pants?

You think I'm a fool?

Of course they can't prove any connection between the club and the R and I.

Nothing can be traced to me or the R and I.

How you think I stay out of jail all these years, eh?

Just asking Tony, everybody makes mistakes. And that might have been one of them.

And you punk, would know when Tony Brill makes mistakes?

I talked to Gibbons this morning in Washington, he's going to call me back.

Gibbons is a good attorney Tony, but maybe there are some things he can't fix.

I pay him 200,000 a year to keep me out of trouble, he's done all right.

He'll call in a couple of minutes, tomorrow the club will be open again.

We'll see.

And you Teddy? You waiting to see too, like these other knuckleheads?

You've always been right Tony, I don't know why you shouldn't be now.

You see, brains and guts.

Not like...

Gibbons? Yeah Tony Brill.

Well, what about it? When you're going to get these lunatics off my neck so we can open?

Mess? What kind of mess?

Listen Paul, I don't pay you 200 grand a year to give me alibi.

Bad news?

The heat is on up there in Washington,

he says the whole business started down here in Florida.

Flagg was able to do all that?

It's not healthy Tony, not when he could put the squeeze on that big.

Listen, you annoy me.

So now you all think poor Tony, you don't know what to do with trouble when it comes.

Maybe Tony is getting too old, you're punks.

I do plenty of checking on Mr. Mickey Flagg...

these last couple of days and you know what I find?

He's a sucker for a belly punch.

You know what else? I'm going to give it on him.

You know where?

A nice little town where they grow lots of oranges.

Let me in Mr. Flagg, I tell you, I'm so nervous I was shaking.

This is a day I'm not forgetting, this shouldn't happened to a quarter horse.

I haven't got much time Louie.

Listen Mr. Flagg, I'm walking down the street like a good law-abiding citizen...

just reading my racing sheet.

All of a sudden two cops drive up in a squad car...

and the next thing you know I'm getting a free ride down to headquarters.

Like maybe I wasn't using the right kind of soap or something.

And he says to me, look Louie, I want nothing from you...

but you tell the chief boss of yours Flagg that if he's not down here within...

20 minutes I'm going to take it out of your hide.

Mr. Flagg, I haven't got much hide, so I'm telling you.

Belman is getting tough since he closed up the Biscayne Club last night.

Ok Louie, you better stay in your room.

Don't worry, I'm through walking the streets.

I had to get you here Flagg, couldn't take a chance...

in going up to your place or using the phones.

Half the hotel switchboard girls are on Brill's payroll.

Now he's got the whole town turned upside down trying to pick up pieces of information.

- He's scared Belman, that's good. - I had to get you fast.

Why?

One of my men reported that Delacorte is leaving...

- with the syndicate checks this afternoon. - That's what I've been waiting for.

His cars at the Norton garage off Lincoln road.

- Norton garage off Lincoln road. - Well watch yourself.

Yeah, I'll see you.

Hello Ted.

I didn't know you liked practical jokes Flagg.

Oh I'm lots of laughs when you get to know me.

The light changed.

Bear down on it.

All right, so we're playing games, what do you want?

Been waiting a long time to talk to you alone Teddy.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

Alone and with the clubs checks.

Keep moving, your tails are in that sedan in back of you.

- Tails? There isn't anybody tailing me. - You've got a lot to learn Teddy.

You don't think Tony send you out with all those...

negotiable checks without putting a tail on you?

Who do you think you're kidding Flagg?

- I'm big man with Tony. - Nobody is big with Tony, take a look.

- Never seen those guys before in my life. - Yeah, they've seen you.

That's what counts with your boss.

Get out on highway 27, I want to get those eggheads out in the open.

Low, steady.

Back her up.

You boys wants see somebody?

- Ok buddy, so far you're giving the party. - Won't be for long.

My friend and I want to be alone, any objections boys?

He don't go no place without us.

So Tony doesn't put tails on you, hey kid?

I was hoping he'd do that, that's for what some of you guys did to Holly Abbott.

Look Mac, we didn't hurt her bad. The dame just wouldn't spill.

Why you.

- All right Teddy, now we can talk. - Let's head back to town.

I heard you was smart Teddy, just how smart?

- Nothing I do gives me bad dreams. - Smart enough.

These checks you're carrying, how much they worth?

About 300,000, why?

How you like to keep a hundred grand of it?

- What? - 100,000 in your pocket.

The rest we use to start a bolita game in the state.

You handle bolita right I put you in charge of everything in Florida.

You'll be top boy Teddy, Brill will be out, you'll be in.

Just how much of this am I supposed to swallow?

You better take a full dose of it kid if you want to stay alive.

Remember I could've killed you once before.

I went to a lot of trouble to recommend you to the Cuban boys.

They know you held a gun at the airport.

They wanted you knock out, but I tell them you could be valuable to us.

The more valuable you are, the longer you're going to be around.

How I know you can deliver all you say?

You knew it last night when the cops closed up the Biscayne Club for me.

Tony wouldn't sit still for that, he get to me, had me killed.

No, you're going to kill him first.

Kill him? You're crazy.

He trusts you kid, you could walk right up to him.

Tony always said you could've his spot when he was through.

This way you won't have to wait so long.

- He's given me a lot of breaks Flagg. - I thought you never had bad dreams?

- I need gas. - You stalling.

- I've to have time to think. - All right, just long enough to get gas.

- Yes sir? - Fill it up, ethyl.

This is the last thing I'll say kid, you're smarter than Brill.

You can have anything you want or anyone.

- You're not giving me much choice. - I'm glad you realized it Teddy.

If you can't beat him you join him.

The boys in Cuba be glad to know what side you're on now.

What do you know about it?

Brill said he was going to slug you, I didn't know it was going to be this way.

Where will they take him.

Could be any one of a dozen places, I don't know, I swear.

Cashing those checks can wait, first you're going to get Tony.

I want 85-8913.

Hello?

Hello Mickey.

Say, I read the papers about your kid.

I'm sorry, I mean it.

It's too bad.

Real bad, what do you want for him?

I want you should go home Mickey.

Go to Cuba maybe and take your gang with you.

And I want my club open right away.

You can have the club, I'll talk to Cuba, tell them they have to lay off here.

Sure, you tell them good Mickey and don't talk too long...

because sometimes I lose patience even with my best friends.

Notify your dealers, the club will open tomorrow night, Ill fix it

I'm glad we understand each other Mickey.

And Mickey, no tricks please.

Because if you do, well what will happen? This will be too cruel.

Deal them up.

As soon as Flagg returned to town he called an immediate session of the committee.

For the plan he had devised necessitated...

using many of the facilities of the police department.

At the request of the police, the local Miami television station WTVJ...

worked through the remainder of the night with the department's electronics experts.

Since Flagg said he return the Biscayne Club over to Tony Brill the next night.

Television cameras had to be installed within eight hours...

behind air conditioning vents in Brill's office.

These cameras were to televise on a closed channel directly to police headquarters.

And as Mick Flagg had promised, the next night the Biscayne Club reopened on schedule.

Just remember, always there is an ace.

You just have to know how to shuffle the deck to get it, eh Tony?

Flagg thinks because he closes the club he just...

walks into Miami and takes over everything.

We show him he's wrong.

You boys are happy again and believe in your old friend Tony, eh?

Yeah, the club opened again tonight Tony but you can't hold his kid forever.

I give him until tomorrow to make a deal...

he doesn't want this nice kid to die, so he makes the deal.

I tell him he can come and pick up the boy himself, nobody with him, no cops, no tricks.

He'll come but he'll never go back.

We maybe fix Mickey Flagg so his kid is an orphan.

- You think he'll just walk into it? - He's got to walk.

And now, we go to the club and enjoy ourselves.

- Everything set? - Cameras are working fine.

Good.

Was Holly able to get in touch with her sister?

Yeah, Gwen is on her way to the hospital now, I'll have to hurry.

- What about Delacorte? - He went for what I told him.

But the gun I gave him has no serial number, no record in the police files, he'll use it.

10 of the best detectives from upstate are in the club now playing the game.

- Two squads will move in from outside. - I guess that's all then.

- The others are here? - Oh, yeah.

Hey, what if Gwen Abbott doesn't tip where the boy is?

I'll call you from the hospital.

You said you had a lot to talk over with me Holly.

I hope it means you've come to your senses.

That all you have to say after what Brill's men did to me?

You walked into it yourself, I warned you.

I took a chance coming here.

And if all you wanted was to show me your bruises, I'm leaving.

When did it happen?

When did you get like that?

- So long Holly. - Wait a minute.

I didn't ask you to come here to talk about me.

It's Mick Flagg's boy, where is he?

Who says I know anything about it?

Mick knows, he's coming here to see you.

Gwen, tell him where the boy is.

Get this through your head kid, I'm nothing but a wheel in the R and I.

And wheels don't have a brain and they don't have a heart, so you can stop trying.

- What she tell you Holly? - Nothing.

Gwen, do it the only way you know.

Mick please.

You're her sister, I'll give you a break, I'll give you a little break Gwen.

Tomorrow there won't be any more R and I...

before the night is over Brill and his mob will be in jail where I put them.

The R and I is going to go up in front of a grand jury.

Maybe you'd like that jury to know you stopped my boy from being killed.

Maybe you'd like me to think a little more kindly of a...

dame who owns a couple of hundred other dames.

- I said owned them. - Pal, you're blowing a fuse.

When I have to be, I'm deaf, dumb and blind.

You jerk.

- Get her out of here. - You dumb jerk.

Get me police headquarters.

- Mick... - I'll talk to you later kid.

Yeah Chief Belman.

- Belman speaking. - Belman, this is Flagg.

Anything happened at the club yet?

No, nothing.

All right, when it does, I want you to let Brill get away.

What?

You know what you're saying Flagg?

Look, I've stuck my chin out as far as it goes for you guys, now it's your chance.

Gwen Abbott clammed up about the boy.

Ok, Brill said he'd kill the kid if he had to and he'll do it.

I want you to let Brill get away so he'll lead me to the boy.

After that I'll deliver him just where I said I would, but first I want this one break.

All right Mick.

But if you let Brill get away from you tonight...

the building is going to cave in on all of us.

Yeah, sure.

Look, they got a couple of fast cars and a motor launch out there at the club.

Cover all angles, I'm going out there now and chief, thanks.

I don't get out of this, you'll be on your own. Good luck baby.

Mr. Flagg?

- Yeah. - Lieutenant Wood.

The chiefs explained the setup, this will keep you briefed on what's happening.

- It's on a closed channel now. - Ok lieutenant, thanks.

Look at that, it's just like nothing happened, nothing.

See those tables, the suckers are standing near 3 bit.

The less chance they got the win the more they come.

You know what I think? They don't like to win.

It's warm in here, hot, hot, hot.

Maybe the customers just came for the air-conditioning.

Well, whatever they came for, get down there make sure that everybody is happy.

- Sure Tony. - We want happy losers.

Teddy, what is this?

Why haven't you left with the checks?

What are you trying to do? Scare me for Halloween?

Something happened.

Now it's either that you die or I do.

Die? What kind of talk is that?

This kid jokes, put the gun away.

There's a new bandwagon out Tony, I'm on it.

What bandwagon? Look kid, you've gone off your nut or something.

Leave the buzzer alone. Flagg is in the driver's seat.

He asked me to go along for a ride as top man.

Top man Tony, you get that? I'm going to be the big boy in the state.

No more two bit trigger jobs like knocking off those...

Cubans hood just because you ordered me to.

- Now I'll be giving the orders. - All right, all right.

I promise you, never do you have to knock off anybody else for me again.

Teddy please, in heaven's name put the gun away.

Flagg is just hot air, hot air I tell you.

What do you want? Name it, name it, name anything.

You can't give me a thing Tony.

- I got to kill you because I have to. - But why?

Why? Look at me Teddy, look at me good.

So you want a piece of the club, you got it.

It's mine I give it to you. You want to cut of the bookies...

you get it, all over the country.

- Teddy, Teddy, you're not listening to me. - You're not big Tony.

You're not big at all, you're just like any other punk that's going to be killed.

The slot machines, I cut you in, big cut, big cut.

You want a percentage of the model agencies, just ask me, ask me, I own everything.

Tony Brill is the R and I, and he makes you now a full partner.

Now, now, I give it you on paper, Teddy.

Blanks, blanks...

Flagg gave it to me, we've been tricked.

Cops.

- Tony, what we going to do? - What we do?

You do what you know how to do.

- You come with me, kill Flagg's kid. - Sure Tony, sure.

Come on.

You hear something? Cut that thing off.

Yeah.

Maybe they're following us.

- Get into the island waterways. - But we'll be trapped in there.

Maybe, maybe not.

Brill's houses is in there Mr. Flagg, you think is where he's holding the boy?

No, he wouldn't take that kind of a chance.

They can out maneuver us in these waterways Mr. Flagg.

Yeah, well they didn't come in here for no reason.

Say Chief Belman told me Brill has a yacht.

Hey Tom, Monterrey island.

As soon as we finish our business with Mr. Mickey Flagg's son...

then we go to south America.

Tony, I'm sorry about what happened, you not sore?

No, I'm not sore.

I think maybe I'm a little disappointed because...

you turned out to be a punk like everybody else, now get to my yacht quick.

Teddy...

No, no don't, don't shoot, don't shoot, I'm Tony Brill.

I said I'd kill you some time Flagg.

You all right pop, you all right?

The clock turned back for Mick Flagg and his son.

The boy was happy that his father was now a hero to the world.

There was however one difference. Holly Abbott had come to visit Mick and Gil.

She never left.

And it was here on the Indiana farm...

that these three found peace together as a family.