Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Whoa, whoa.

[ whistles ] Yaah!

MAN: 405, 6, 7, 8...

9, 10, 11, 12, 13...

14... 15...

16! You missed one.

When they bunch up, it's hard to count.

Don't apologize, count. You missed another one.

18, 19, and don't forget that trail calf.

20... 21... 22.

That's the bunch.

Well, that's 422 at $40 a head.

Right.

How much you think we could bring in Rio?

Purebreds? 85, 90 a head.

Why didn't we go all the way with 'em?

You wanna play nursemaid to a bunch of seasick cows, you go right ahead.

Will you gentlemen step over here for a minute, please?

That comes to $16,880 even. How will you have it?

In a draft, but I could use a couple hundred for expenses.

There you are.Thanks.

All right, sir.

Thank you. Come on, Steve.

Hey, mister!

MAN: Let's get outta here!

Stop!

Stop!

You all right? Oh, yeah.

It's only a fractured skull, that's all.

Whoa, oh.

Much obliged.

I don't know how it is where you come from, but in New Orleans,

it's not very smart to knock a policeman's gun out of his hand.

There's 400 head of beef in those pens back there.

Start shootin', there's gonna be some busted legs.

I brought 'em too far for that.

Like I said, much obliged.

Gonna be here long?

We leave tomorrow. Why?

You're in the big city now, so watch your step.

We'll make a note of that.

You do that, cowboy,

'cause I might not be around to wipe your noses next time.

Nice, friendly fella for ya.

Come on, I could use a bath.

STEVE: Listen to this junk.

"Alderman Todd dies without naming killer."

"Time for reform in New Orleans."

"Todd case rocks city."

They call this a newspaper?

Not one word about Medicine Bow.

Kindly go mess up your own room.

'Bout time for honky-tonkin', anyway.

Why don't you change your mind and go with me?

Bright lights, pretty girls, and a sip of drinkin' whiskey.

Huh? Let's go see this town, boy.

I've seen it.See it again.

No.

It's a short walk and a quiet supper for this cowboy.

Short walk and a quiet supper.

Uh-huh.

I hope when I'm dead and gone, they don't forget to bury me.

You missed.

[ bell chimes ]

Pardon me, ma'am, I've lost my way.

Could you tell me how to get to Robaire's?

Zaffaire caritt ca pas zaffaire mouton.

[ piano plays ]

[ music gets louder ]

[ music stops ]

[ claps ]

You're late.

[ chuckles ] I am?

Mm-hmm.

Well, I guess I am, at that.

Sorry. I lost my way.

Have you been waiting long?

All my life.

Maybe it just seems that way.

Would you like to come in, or shall we go?

Whatever you say.

I'm a little hungry, if you are.

I'm starved.

How 'bout Robaire's?

Robaire's it is.

It's pretty expensive.

I think I can handle it.

Good.

VIRGINIAN: Cabby!

Robaire's, please, driver.

Uh... ca pas zaffaire mouton.

No, what she said was, "Zaffaire caritt ca pas zaffaire mouton."

That's Creole patois for, "The goat's business is none of the sheep's concern."

Or, don't tell me your troubles, right? Mmm.

That's New Orleans for you. Nobody wants to hear your troubles.

MAN: Marie.

Marie Valonne.Robaire.

It is good to see you again.

It's good to see you.

You may as well know, Robaire's the one great love of my life.

Youth, beauty, and exquisite taste.

What more can a man ask?

I was wonderin' that same thing myself.

Now, let's see, our specialties, uh--

Oh, I know-- Peche Flambeau.

Wait a minute. Ihave an idea for dessert.

There's a Chinese restaurant on Gallatin near the French Market.

They have almond cookies and ginger candies and lychee nuts.

Incredible.

I offer her Peche Flambeau and she wants lychee nuts.

ROBAIRE: I give up.

I never had a grain of sense. You know that.

What's the matter? Don't you like lychee nuts?

You weren't waiting for anyone tonight...

or were you?

I already told you. I was waiting for you.

Can't things just happen?

Do there have to be reasons and explanations for everything?

You were searching in the night and you found me.

I was waiting and you appeared.

Isn't that enough?

Always sit around the house dressed that way?

No.

But I have a theory.

When there are no more doors to go through,

no more locks to lock, put on your prettiest dress and wait.

Not sure I get that.

Neither do I.

To you.

To us...

and tonight.

There's a mist coming in from the river.

Let me put the robe over you.

Thank you.

I like warm things--

furs and fireplaces and teapots that sing.

And big, warm feathery beds with comforters.

Tell me some more.

About what?

That place you're going to build someday.

Oh, that's mostly just bunkhouse talk, I guess.

No. You'll build it someday, I know.

You read the future?Sometimes.

Please tell me.

Well, it's... in Wyoming country.

A river runs through there, called the Sweetwater.

Snows some in the winter.

But in the spring, the whole valley comes up green.

A man could get a couple sections pretty cheap.

Start a herd... even a family, maybe.

In that order?

Well, that all depends.

You start a herd all by yourself.

It's my understanding that a family takes a certain amount of cooperation.

Seems to me I've heard that myself.

Tell you this, though--

it'd be a fine place to watch a bunch of kids grow up.

I can see it.

A big, low house on a hill,

and beams in the living room,

and a great stone fireplace with a bearskin rug in front of it.

And trees-- oak trees all around.

That's funny.

I didkinda have a spot picked out for the house.

It's on a hill.

There's a good stand of oak up there, too. How'd you guess that?

I told you. I read the future sometimes.

Listen...

what I'm gonna say to you doesn't make too much sense,

but did you ever... walk into a strange place

and all of a sudden get the feeling that you'd been there before?

Yes.

Well, tonight, when I saw you for the first time, I--

I don't know.

Told you it wouldn't make much sense.

It does to me.

Look, I'm supposed to go back to Wyoming tomorrow,

but I could stay over--No, don't, please.

Why not?

Because we're just too people that met one night.

That's all there is to it and that's all there can be.

You wanna tell me why?

Because it's too late, that's all.

Um, I don't wanna seem stubborn or dense,

but I've been taught to think-- Please.

All right.

But I think it's only fair to warn you, ma'am--

this discussion is a long way from being closed.

Thank you. Thanks.

You know what they have here? Huh?

Eggs 100 years old.

Thanks just the same.

They're quite a delicacy.

I'll stick to lychee nuts.

Oh, boy.

You handle it, will you?

All right.

No, you stay where you are.

I just wanna talk to the cook.

I'm trusting you completely. No elderly eggs.

You have my word.

That was very nice. What's the occasion?

That's so you won't forget me.

Well, I've got a mighty poor memory, ma'am.

Mighty poor.

You like to order now, please?

I was waiting for the lady. She went to talk to the cook.

Maybe you'd like to see what's keeping her. Why, yes.

Cook says the lady went... out back door.

I'm sorry.

Marie?

VIRGINIAN: Marie?

What is it now?

Is it against the law to get hit on the head in this town?

Not this week.

Well, then, what are you holdin' me for?

Well, well, if it isn't the cowboy.

You know him?Yeah. What's his problem?

My problemis I don't like gettin' pushed around by policemen.

Patrolman Cane saw a couple of boys dragging him to the river.

They cut and ran.

He was out cold. I thought maybe you wanna talk to him.

Have you any idea who they were?

I didn't even see 'em.

He says that he was calling on a young lady.

Here's his statement.

Well, you're not much for takin' advice, are ya?

Oh, Marie Valonne. Very neat.

Very neat and we can't even tie her into it.

Look, mister, I'm tired--Sergeant.

Sergeant Bohannon.

All right. Sergeant.

I been trying to get through to your thick-headed friend here--

Thick-headed? Sit down.

You were saying?

I think something may have happened to that girl.

OFFICER: Yeah, she had a financial disappointment.

They didn't get his wallet.

Well, go on, cowboy. You've got the floor.

You think something happened to her. Why?

The way she was acting. Actingis right.

She was settin' you up for a mark.

No, there was something hanging over her head all evening.

She was afraid. I can see that now.

Well, would you like to spell it out?

It's nothin' you could put your finger on--

it was just the way she looked and talked sometimes.

Like there wasn't any future for her.

Well, I doubt that.

As long as there are guys like you walkin' the streets,

the Marie Valonnes of this world are gonna do all right.

You think she had somethin' to do with me gettin' jumped?

Look, you picked her up, she gave you some sad story and left you sittin' there.

When you went lookin' for her, her friends were waiting.

Waiting? What for? Why?

Well, first they take your money, and then your clothes.

Then they sell what's left of you to the captain of an outgoing ship.

$20 a head and the technical term is shanghai.

Go on home, cowboy. You're a very lucky fella.

You could be on a four-master for Rio right now.

You couldn't be wrong, could you?

About Marie Valonne?That's right.

You wanna see her record?

Record?Her criminal record.

Get me the Valonne file.

Valonne. Here we are.

There you are. See for yourself.

No thanks.

Gonna start packin'?

12:00 train to catch.

Yeah. Yeah, sure.

Boy, I'll sure be glad to get outta this town, you know that?

Know what it is? Dull.

Yeah. Dull.

Wandered around this town for six hours--

six hours, and you know what happened?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Compared to this town,

Medicine Bow is like the fleshpots of Babylon.

[ music plays ]

There I was, all primed, dressed to kill,

ready for a fine time.

STEVE: You know where I end up?

In the park... looking at statues.

And after a while, they started lookin' back at me, so I figured I had enough.

You don't really appreciate your own hometown

until you--[ door closes ]

Hey.

Hey!

OFFICER: All right, take her to the back.

Is the old man in?Yeah. He's been askin' for you.

Uh-oh...

[ laughing ] [ knock on door ]

Johnson said you wanted to see me.

Yeah.

You know Mr. Madrid?

Sure we do.

Since the old days on the river front, right, Danny?

It's been a while.

What have you got on the Todd killing, Sergeant?

In front of him?

Oh, maybe you haven't heard.

Mr. Madrid is the new chairman of the Crescent City Political Club.

Well, I knew you'd come up in the world.

I just didn't know how far.

Danny, I'm here on behalf of Mayor DeLacy and the whole administration.

Now, between old friends,

I'm supposed to light a small fire under you boys.

Did you see the Itemtoday?

No, I've been a little busy.

Here.

"Still no arrest in Todd murder."

That happened 36 hours ago. What do they want?

Well, this new editor, uh-- Lafcadio...

What's his name? Lafcadio Hern.

He's tryin' to use the Todd killing to shake up the whole administration.

That's bad.

Now, what we need are some results--

quick results.

Look, somebody walks into the hotel and shoots Jim Todd.

Now, nobody sees the killer go in. Nobody sees him come out.

That's yourproblem.

And there's only one way to solve it-- information.

I've got 20 leads out. Somebody's bound to talk.

Until that happens, we wait.

Would a reward help any?

Wouldn't hurt.

MADRID: This is my own check for $1,000.

I'd like to keep it... anonymous.

That's a lot of money, Mr. Madrid.

With me, this is a personal matter.

Jim Todd was as much a father to me as I ever knew.

Ask Danny.

I was a wharf-rat--

10 years old, still eatin' out of garbage cans.

Jim Todd found me and raised me like I was his own son.

What I'd really like in this world is five minutes alone with the man who killed him.

Well, gentlemen, I won't keep you.

Nice to see you, Captain. You too, Danny.

You see much of Marie Valonne lately?

No, not for a long time. Why?

Never mind. I said, why?

Oh, nothing. There was some trouble at her place the other night.

I thought somebody oughta have a little talk with her-- a word to the wise.

Danny, I'm gonna give youa word to the wise--

You worry about the Todd case, you hear?

Because I want an arrest, and soon. I want it realsoon.

MADRID: If not...If not, what?

You heard about the Russians in the sled?

Hmm?

You see, there was this pack of wolves chasin' after them.

Whenever the pack of wolves got a little bit too close,

they'd throw somebody to the wolves.

Good day, gentlemen.

You'd better get busy, Sergeant.

You think you'll ever get used to it?

What?

Takin' orders from two-bit politicians like Madrid?

If it wasn't him, it'd be somebody else.

You know how this town works.

You know every payoff, and so do I.

But you can't buck the system.

You go along or you go under, and that's all there is to it.

Captain, what if you could get one of 'em cold?

One of the big boys, with proof-- what would you do then?

The same as you would.

I'd nail him so hard he'd bounce.

But it isn't likely to happen.

Now go on, get outta here. I've got work to do and so have you.

What do you want?

Who are you?

I own this place. I ask the questions.

I'm looking for Marie Valonne.

Who?

Marie Valonne. She lives here.

Well, if she does, I'm being cheated out of the rent!

I never heard of her.

You sure you're in the right place?

Now, one more time. Where is she?

Now, listen, mister--

Are you beginnin' to get the picture, mister?

Now, just a minute.

When was the last time you saw this... whatever her name is?

Last night.

Well, this apartment's been vacant for months.

You probably just got twisted around.

All these streets look alike.

I oughta...

BOHANNON: You're fated.

What are you doin' here?

Same thing you are, Sergeant. Lookin' for Marie Valonne.

What do you make of this?

Well, right offhand, I'd say she's gone.

Well, now that's what I call police work.

Doesn't really have to mean anything.

A girl just up and disappears in the middle of the night

and it doesn't have to mean anything, huh?

Girls like her are on the move all the time.

The landlord lied to me--

said he'd never heard of her.

Well, maybe he didn't.

Maybe you're not even talking about the same girl.

You know, she gave you her name, not her birth certificate.

I could call myself George Washington, but that wouldn't make it true.

Oh, you've got a reason for everything, don't you?

Sure.

Do you wanna hear another one?

Maybe she's trying to avoid somebody.

Maybe it's you.

And maybe she's in trouble like I told you last night.

Trouble?

A gal that works in a waterfront saloon for five years?

They have trouble for breakfast down there.

Look, I don't know if you're stupid, or lazy, or both.

A girl is missing. You're a policeman.

Isn't it your job to do somethin' about it?

If it is, why don't you let me worry about it?

Because you don't seem too worried to me.

Where're you goin'?To do yourjob, Sergeant.

Sir Galahad in a tin suit.

A typical mark.

You can't even believe that you were taken, can ya?

She's too honest,

too wholesome, too fine for that kinda hustle.

Come on, cowboy, don't you know what Marie Valonne is?

She's any man's dog.

You've got a gun, she'll hunt with ya.

She's a plain, ordinary--

Cowboy, you're lookin' for about a million years in jail.

It might be worth it.

Come on.

No thanks.

I don't get a nickel extra for fightin' you.

Then, if you'll excuse me, Sergeant.

All right, I'll check it out.

What?

Marie Valonne! That's what we're talkin' about, isn't it?

Oh. Are you gonna go look for her?

Well, I guess if it's worth your goin' to jail for,

it's worth me puttin' in a little time.

But I don't want any amateur help.

Well, you got it, mister, whether you want it or not.

[ laughing ]

What's your pleasure, handsome?

And don't answer that. I blush easy.

I'll take a beer.

One beer.

Be five cents.

Keep it.

What do you figure that'll get you?

That's hard to say.

I been droppin' 'em all over the waterfront.

So far, all they've got me is beer.

What else are you lookin' for?

A girl...

name of Marie Valonne.

Used to Work down here someplace.

Never heard of her.

Yeah.

There's a lot of that goin' around.

Do us both a favor--

shove off.

Well, I think I'll finish my beer.

You know, it's not the place I like so much--

it's the warm, friendly atmosphere.

Hey, mister.

Yes?

I heard you asking about Marie Valonne.

That's right.

Sit down if you want to.

Thanks.

Is she in some kinda trouble?

That's what I'm trying to find out.

It'd be nice if they'd leave her alone.

Who?Everybody, mister.

Just everybody.

She's a giver in a world full of takers. That ain't easy.

Well, I'm trying to find her. Any idea where she'd be?

Hmm. I'm sorry.

I just don't know. I'd like to help you.

Been a long time since I've seen her.

Anything you could tell me might help.

What she did, who she knew, any kind of trouble she might be in.

Trouble?

Some people are just born to it, I guess.

Hers started the first night she walked in this place.

It was five, six years ago. I was a singer here then.

A fella named Johnny Madrid owned the place.

Hazel, who's that?

Beats me, honey.

What do you want?

My name's Marie-- Marie Valonne. I'm a singer.

[ chuckles ] Sorry. Look, lady--

I just gotta have a job.

We came down-river with a medicine show.

We didn't even get a cent of pay.

The sheriff closed us--Nope.

We don't need another singer.

If you'll just listen to me sing.

Sorry.

For this place, you gotta have a little meat on the bones.

Hey, hey, hey, come on, now. You don't wanna do that.

Hazel, what's the trouble here?

What've you been sayin' to her?

She didn't say anything, mister, honest.

She wants to sing. [ chuckles ] Look at her.

A good sneeze'd blow her to Bayou Barataria.

[ laughs ]

What is this, the opera? You gotta weigh 400 pounds?

MADRID: You wanna sing, honey, you sing.

You mean it?

Sure I do. Go on, help yourself.

Oh... gee, mister...

This is Jimmy-- Jimmy Raker. He plays for me.

I'm pleased to meet you.

Oh, you're a team, huh?

We're engaged. We're going to get married.

Maybe that changes things, huh, mister?

No, not at all.

Go on. Let's see what you sound like.

Come on, Jimmy.

Go on.

[ cheers, applause ]

Quiet! Quiet!

Quiet!

Introducing the one and only...

[ whispers ] What's your name?

Marie Valonne.

Marie Valonne.

Hey!Yeah!

That's mine! That's mine.

[ laughing ]

[ music starts ]

[ sings in French ]

[ laughter ]

♪ One, two, three

♪ That's the lesson Mother taught to me ♪

♪ One, two, three

♪ Strong and silent, pass on casually ♪

♪ One, two, three

♪ Let him hold you close with propriety ♪

Hey, mister, please. I'm trying to get a job.

You got a job right here, honey.

Go back about your business, boys. The singing's finished.

Jimmy! Jimmy!

[ men laugh ]

Put that back.

Oh, Johnny. Johnny.

I'm sorry, Johnny.

I didn't know she was yours.

Now, you get outta here.

OAF: Sure, Johnny, sure. No hard feelings.

Get out.

Thanks, mister.

It was my pleasure.

All right, no use in stoppin' all the fun, is there?

Set up a round!

Step right over, gents. You're drinkin' with Johnny Madrid.

Yeah!Hey!Wow!

MARIE: Mister?

You want me to finish the song?

I sure do.

You're workin' for me.

The whole team.

Oh, I knew it! I knew this was gonna be our lucky night.

Annie, get your stuff packed. You're finished.

MARIE: Wait a minute.

I didn't wanna take her job.

That's all there is--

just the one job.

Come on, Jimmy, we'll look someplace else.

Now, wait a minute. Wait just a minute.

Show me the law that says one singer's all we need.

Well, it's your place.

That's right, so we'll have two singers, won't we?

Oh!

Mister, I'll love you till the day I die.

I consider that a promise.

I gotta warn you, young fella, I got an eye on your girlfriend.

Come on, this calls for a drink.

If you don't mind.

Don't you drink?We haven't eaten since yesterday.

Since yesterday?

MADRID: Hazel, go on, fix 'em somethin' to eat.

I will! I'd like to.

Come on.

Marie, let's get outta here right now.

Don't be silly. We finally got a job.

I don't like him. I don't like the way he looks at you.

Now, nothing's going to happen.

Well, it better not, honey.

It just better not.

That's all he said-- "It just better not."

But if you knew Jimmy, how jealous he was of her,

you'd know what he meant.What?

Well, he meant he'd kill her before he'd let Johnny Madrid have her.

I heard him say as much later.

And the thing is, Johnny Madrid got her.

I don't know how he did it, but somehow he broke them up.

If she's in any kind of trouble, mister,

the man you're looking for is Jimmy Raker.

Where do I find him?

I don't know.

I heard he was sick up at the infirmary on Prytania,

and then I heard he got out just lately.

Annie...

come here.

[ inaudible ]

Are you gonna clear outta here, or do I have to get some help?

It's Bohannon.

Come on in, Dan.

Want a drink, Dan?

Oh, no, thanks.

What's the trouble, Captain?

Mmm.

There's somethin' I wanna straighten out, Dan.

Remember our little talk this morning--

when Mr. Madrid was in the office?

Yes, sir.

Remember how he pointed out how important it was

to make an arrest on the Todd case?

Yes, sir.

So, what've you been doin' about it?

Well, I'll tell you the truth-- No, I'll tell youthe truth.

You've been out lookin' for Marie Valonne!

I'm sorry, Dan. It's my fault.

You, uh, got me a little worried this morning,

so I sent a man out to check on her.

CAPTAIN: It's a funny thing, Sergeant.

Every place he went, you'd been there first.

What's the matter with you, Bohannon?

Don't you like being a policeman?

You know, I could suspend you for this,

and I willthe next time it happens.

Now, look, Captain, there could be a tie-in

between Marie Valonne and the Todd killing.

What's that?What makes you think so?

When I went down to her place this morning, she was gone-- cleared out.

[ laughs ] Is that all?

A man gets killed and a girl disappears.

Now, there could be a connection.

No, not this time.

What do you mean?

I guess my man was a little more successful

at getting information than you were.

Now, according to him,

she got a little nervous about that business with the cowboy last night,

so she just moved out.

That's another thing-- that cowboy.What about him?

He's positiveshe's in some sort of trouble.

So she took the time to pack all her furniture,

and thenshe left?

She took her furniture?

Yes, sir.

Forget about Marie Valonne.

Any woman in trouble doesn't stop to pack her knick-knacks.

You're back on the Todd killing. You understand me, Sergeant?

Yes, sir.

Well, get busy-- right now!

Yes, sir.

Danny, one more thing.

You know that cowboy from last night.

What about him?

He was down at the Birdcage.

Well, you know how Hazel is about strangers askin' a lot of questions.

I told him to stay out of it.

Yeah, well, if you happen to run into him,

you might just mention to him how close he came to gettin' roughed up again.

Yeah, sure.

Thanks for comin' down, Captain.

I, uh, didn't wanna bother you,

but I thought it was important.

My pleasure, Mr. Madrid.

That's all of it. I'm sorry you missed your train.

That's all right. Just next time, tell a guy, that's all.

I didn't know what I was gonna do.

I just knew I couldn't leave the way things were.

So we'll catch it tomorrow.

Steve... I'm not goin' home till I find Marie.

Fair enough.

But if you stay, then...

Come here.

That's the fella that jumped us in the train yard yesterday.

I think I'll go down and talk to him.

I think you won't.

[ knock on door ]

Come in.

Well, Sergeant Bohannon.

Just the man I wanted to see.

Come here.

We seem to have picked up a watchdog.

You recognize him from the train yard?

That's Joe Turk.

He probably figures to make up for what he missed yesterday.

Well, you've got a badge. Why don't you use it?

I can't touch him. He'd be out before they got the door locked.

What do you mean?

He's one of the troops.

Muscle for the man.

STEVE: What man?

It's no big secret.

Thieves run this town, and the man--

well, he runs the thieves.

From the mayor on down.

Why?

BOHANNON: Simple.

He controls the vote.

You see, this is a town where anything goes.

Hop, women, gambling, anything--

just so long as the man gets his slice of the pie.

Then he passes it around to all the right people,

and the right guys get nice and fat.

Me, I don'ttake--

just in case you were wondering.

What doyou do?

Stand around and watch?

I do what I can.

Maybe I can stop a guy from getting shanghaied,

or save a working stiff's paycheck.

Who knows, I might even manage

to save a couple of cowhands from taking a beating.

I don't say it's right, but that's the way it is.

Hey, Turk! Get outta here!

He got.

Well, it's like I said. I do what I can.

Is that what you came up here to tell us?

No, it's about Marie Valonne.

She's all right. She just moved, that's all.

Where is she?

Well, she's all right. Take my word for it.

Thanks just the same.

Is that by way of calling me a liar?

You call it anything you want, Sergeant,

but until I get the word from Marie Valonne, I'm gonna keep right on lookin'.

All right, cowboy. I tried.

You believe him?

Not enough to quit lookin', I don't.

All right, you want me to go with ya?

Want me to go by myself? What do you want?

You might try locating Jimmy Raker.

Where do I start?

Well, he's a piano player,

and the girl at the Birdcage said he'd been sick.

Try the hospitals, bar rooms, whatever.

And if I find anything, where you gonna be?

I'll be at the Cafe Robaire on Dauphine Street.

Steve. What?

Be careful.

That's a specialty of mine.

What can I tell you?

Anything that might help me to find her,

or a man named Jimmy Raker.

Jimmy Raker, of course. I knew him well.

Strange young man. Moody.

Perhaps even dangerous.

They worked here for a while.

When? After the Birdcage?

Yes, he made her leave there,

because he was jealous of a man called Johnny Madrid.

Was she afraid of Jimmy Raker?

Did she have any reason to be?

Uh-- let me tell you what I know,

and you-- you judge for yourself.

Please, sit down.

They had worked here for almost a year

when they decided to get married.

They had planned a midnight ceremony.

Then, on that particular night,

something happened.

It was during their final number.

She was singing a song that Jimmy Raker had written for her.

♪ Memories

♪ For me to treasure

♪ Memories

♪ For me to keep

♪ I close my eyes, and I can see you ♪

♪ For I can dream

♪ While not asleep

♪ Memories

♪ Should give me pleasure

Ladies and gentlemen,

we're honored. Charles.

Number one.

♪ Thoughts of you

♪ I'll try to keep my whole life through ♪

Now, that's what I call nice--

very nice.

You comin'?

I'll be right with you.

♪♪

Tonight is quite an occasion...

or had you heard?

Yeah, I, uh-- I heard.

[ music ends ]

What's he doin' here?

I don't know.

Does it matter?Does it matter?

I think you like the way he looks at you!

This is our wedding night, or had you forgotten?

Please, Jimmy, don't spoil it.

Me spoil it? I didn't send for him!

You think I did?How do I know?

How do I know?

Jimmy, I love you. Don't you know that?

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I say things I don't mean.

You just don't know how much I need you.

That's very important, Jimmy.

What? To be needed.

When I was a little girl, I lived with some people,

and they were nice people, but they were cold.

And sometimes I'd wake up in the morning and I'd be bursting with love.

Nobody ever really wanted it.

Well, I want it. All you've got.

And you won't be sorry, ever.

I'm going to give you all the things you ever dreamed of.

A beautiful house, clothes, money.

I don't need those things, Jimmy.

I want you to have them.

I could-- I could be a concert pianist, do you know that?

Everybody said so.

All I needed was a reason to work.

Marie, you're my reason.

Oh, Jimmy, we are going to be happy, aren't we?

Oh, I am sorry.

I guess I shoulda knocked.

What do you want?

I came to offer my congratulations--

We can get along without them!

Now, Jimmy boy, that's not very nice.

I'm sorry, it's just that we're a little nervous--

Don't apologize.

Now, what's this foolishness?

Nothing. It's just nerves.Is it?

I'm not so sure!

That's enough of this nonsense.

It's time I took you home to change.

We'll see you in half hour at church, young man--

in a better mood, I trust.

Half an hour, Jimmy.

I don't guess there ever was such a nitwit in the history of the world.

I don't guess there ever was.

Now, that's a great deal better.

Maybe you'd like to clear out, too.

I've got a wedding to go to.

Jimmy boy, I've got some bad news for you--

there isn't gonna beany wedding.

Who's going to stop it?

I am. Get out, Madrid.

I'm not afraid of you.

How 'bout me, boy?

What do you think we better do with this boy, Johnny?

Well, I'd say that depends on how bright this boy's gonna be.

What do you want?

I want a note from you,

and you put it the best way you know how,

but what you say is this--

"Dear Marie...

I am sorry. I don't love you, and I cannot marry you."

Then you just sign your name.

You really think I'm going to write that?

If you don't,

I'm gonna break them pretty piano-filletin' fingers of yours,

one by one.

Now, what's it gonna be, Jimmy boy?

Marie... or those hands of yours?

You just nod your head when you change your mind.

You'll feel this one goin' in a minute.

Now, you write it.

ROBAIRE: We waited at the church.

Finally, Johnny Madrid arrived with the note.

She was alone... with so much love to give.

So, she gave it to the next man who asked for it--

Johnny Madrid.

Can you think of any place she might've gone--

where she'd feel safe?

Ah, now, wait a moment.

Yes, there-- there was a place across the river in Algiers.

She used to go there when she wanted to be alone.

I think I have the address.

What do you want, Bohannon?

What is it, Bohannon?

They found her in the river... a little while ago.

ROBAIRE: No. Oh, no.

Yes?

Marie Valonne.

Yes.

Oh, yes.

Sorry.

I believe that body's been claimed.

Who claimed it?

A man named Raker--

James Raker.

Raker? What's the address?

Oh. Got it right here.

[ piano plays ]

[ stops playing ]Hello, Jimmy.

What do you want?

Who killed Marie Valonne?

Johnny Madrid, last year.

I saw her alive last night.

How did he kill her last year if she was alive last night?

It was easy.

How?

Marie was running the Birdcage for J-- Johnny Madrid.

He'd gone way up by then.

Important. Second to the man.

I was playing the piano there.

I needed a job. She gave me one.

Johnny Madrid didn't mind.

He had nothing to worry about. He was sure of her by then.

There was nothing he could ask that she wouldn't give him.

♪ While not asleep

♪ Memories

♪ Should give me pleasure

♪ Memories

♪ Of boundless love

♪ Thoughts of you

♪ I'll try to keep my whole life through ♪

♪ My empty arms

♪ Would rather hold you

♪ Than just have memories

♪ Of you

[ music ends, applause ]

Who's my girl? Me.

[ chuckles ]

Bring a drink for my girl. Champagne.

A whole bottle of champagne!

Not too bad for a wharf-rat, huh?

[ chuckles ]

Johnny boy.

[ plays ]

All right, drink you drinks, folks-- we're closin' up.

That's all for tonight. Let's go, please.

Come on, out, please.

Let's go.

What's the matter?

The man's outside. Big Jay. He wants to see me.

Why? I don't know.

Well, you're not in any trouble, are you?

I told you, I don't know.

Out-- everybody...

but you... and you.

Nice place, Johnny.

I should get down here more often.

Yeah.

Jay, I'd like you to meet Marie. Marie Valonne.

I've seen Miss Valonne several times.

I've always enjoyed your singing.

Thank you.

Honey, why don't you go and wait for me? I'll bring the champagne.

All right.

Now, don't keep him too long, you hear me?

I won't.

All right.

Jay, is, uh-- something the matter?

You're out, Johnny.

[ chuckles nervously ] You're joking.

Out. Starting now.

Well, you gotta be joking, Jay, I mean--

you just don't come in here and tell me I'm out.

For what? Why?

Say a man found a kitten.

He took it home and he loved it and he fed it.

It grew and grew... and grew right into a lion.

What would he do then?

He'd get rid of it, Johnny.

Kittens-- lions-- now, what's that got to do with me?

I've been hearing things about you. Things I don't like.

You're getting too big.

In a year or so, you might even... make a move to take over.

That's why I have to stop you now before it's too late.

You're riding too high.

You've lost all that nice humility.

Sin of pride, Johnny. Sin of pride.

I have worked all my life for you-- for this.

All my life.

You forget where it comes from.

You're not my boy anymore, and it scares me.

What do you mean, not your boy?

Why, I'd cut off my right arm for you!

That's talk.

There's nothing I wouldn't do. Nothing.

Now, how can I prove it to you?

You really mean that, Johnny?

I do, I swear it. Anything.

My arm.

Now, I mean it!

I can't use it.

But I'll take that champagne.

Cham--?

And those glasses.

Get them, Johnny.

RAKER: Johnny Madrid killed her that night,

as sure as if he'd taken a gun to her.

From then on, she was Big Jay's girl.

Big Jay's girl.

Anybody's girl. She was dead.

And the dead don't care what happens to what's left of them!

Who was Big Jay?

I told you. The man.

What was his name?

Jim Todd.

Jim Todd?

The alderman? The one that got killed?

He didn't getkilled. Johnny Madrid killed him.

How do you know that?

RAKER: Because I saw Johnny Madrid's face that night.

He had to kill Jim Todd!

There was no other way for him to live in the world.

He's right, Bohannon.

Madrid killed Jim Todd and he killed her, too.

Why? Because he says so?

Because it has to be, Bohannon, and you know it.

That'sevidence?

What do you expect me to do, arrest a man on that?

You brought it up, not me.

Look, how long do you think I'll last in this town if I pull Johnny Madrid in?

For what? No thanks, cowboy.

For 14 years, I've done a lot of good in this town,

and I mean to do a lot more before I'm finished.

You think I'm gonna throw it out the window to make one grandstand play?

You can't fight the system.

How would you know, Bohannon?

You never tried it.

I wouldn't pull in a stray cat on Jim Raker's word!

And you're talkin' about the biggest man in this town!

No, Captain, I don't want Madrid-- not yet.

I want his strong boys. The three top men.

Joe Turk, Corfino, and that Emmett.

Do you think they'll tell you anything?

You're outta your mind!

They know they're dead the minute they open their mouths.

And maybe they're dead if they don't!

Oh, come on, Sergeant, talk sense. I am!

I think we could break this Todd case, and maybe Marie Valonne, too!

What's happened to you, Bohannon?

You used to have some brains.

In the first place, Madrid's lawyers would move them out in five minutes!

Well, maybe we could move them into another parish.

It won't work.

But it just might. You said it yourself.

All you wanted was a case and you'd drive the nails in.

But this isn't the case! You can't just bull in!

We've got to wait.

Captain...

maybe we waited too long.

Maybe it's time to make a stand.

There's a lot of difference between makin' a stand and just rockin' the boat!

All you can do is sink us-- all of us!

Come on, Dan. You're just a little upset, that's all.

I think maybe you oughta have a couple days off.

When you come back, you'll be drawing Lieutenant's pay.

[ chuckles ] Believe me, Dan...

I'm all for what you want to do,

and we'll do it, but the time just isn't right.

And until that time, we go along, we don't rock the boat,

and we do what good we can.

We go along, we don't rock the boat,

and we do what good we can.

Now you're makin' sense, Dan. Now you're makin' sense.

MAN: Hey.

You can't go up there.

Oof!

You must be the cowboy.

The one who's looking for Marie.

Not anymore.

No, not anymore.

I'll wait till I see a gun in your hand. I'll give you that.

I got no gun, cowboy.

You wanna play avenging angel,

you're gonna have to do it yourself--

without any help from me.

What do you want me to do, beg for my life?

Did she?

You think I wanted her dead?

Then why is she, Madrid?

It's just something that... that happened.

It was a mistake.

I didn't know she was there. How could I?

You didn't know she was where?

At Todd's hotel... the night I killed him.

He was supposed to be alone.

I was standin' over him,

watchin' him die...

with a gun in my hand.

The door to the other room opened...

and there she was.

Marie.

She saw me.

Know what that means?

She held my life in her hands.

One word from her...

that's all it takes.

Didn't you know her at all?

Do you think she would've said it? Do you think she couldhave?

I didn't think.

I killed a man...

and she could put me on the gallows for that.

I couldn't think any further than that.

I came back here and I gave an order.

A man has to...

I tried to stop it afterwards, but it was too late.

There isn't anything I wouldn't give to...

bring her back.

I'd like you to... believe that.

Doesn't make any difference.

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not pleadin' the case.

It's just something, uh-- I had to say.

Maybe to myself, I guess.

The thing is...

something's happened to me.

I found out that I... I loved her.

That's all, cowboy.

You wanna take that trinket off him?

What would you have us do with him, Mr. Madrid?

Take him someplace. The other side of the boat.

This way.

Up! Up! Up!

[ clicks ]

[ horse approaches ]

Cabby.

Railroad station.

Well, Bohannon.

Oh, wait a minute.

Here's somethin' I thought you might want to have.

I found it with her personal stuff.

Much obliged.

Take it easy, cowboy.

You too, Sergeant.