Original subtitles

Man, I'm out of it now.

I can be myself.

Me, Kicks Johnson.

A pianist in a roadside granary.

I like it.

I can play.

Now, I'm feeling all right.

Once though, last year,

I walked around in another world.

Secret world. Downstairs world.

A world nobody believes

till it's in the morning headlines.

"Woman raped. Man slashed. "

Who did it?

Where do such people grow?

Man, I was one of them.

A twisted people with a twisted language.

Dreaming jive and talking jive, all underground.

A secret world.

Smoke and whiskey, this morning's hangover and tomorrows music.

Leaners, dreamers, schemers.

Man, how we hated the square citizens.

The easy mocks with real money in their pockets

and genuine smiles on their lips.

They were alive, we weren't.

They worked and loved. They were rich and happy.

But we... we were never so foolish.

All we had was dreams, nightmares and high five.

Only sometimes the nightmares came true.

Let me show you.

Come with me, descend, it's another planet, cool and crazy.

It was an evening in June, it was a nervous Monday.

A man came looking for money. A big man, a powerhouse.

Big Tom we called him.

The cockeyed lopsided king of all cats.

Ex-football player. Ex-hero. Ex-person.

A monster.

Half man, half boy.

One fine evening, here's what we did.

Hello, Tom. - Hi, George.

Uh, we got a new combo coming in next month.

You want to be sure to catch them.

You want something, Tom? - I just want to talk to you.

I'll be with you in a minute. - That's okay, I'll wait.

This new outfit plays Bach and bebop and...

Excuse me, a minute.

All right, Tom.

Well, come on, come on, come on, what can I do for you?

What am I, a busboy?

So don't talk to me like that, George.

Hey, I'm with important people. I was talking business. You crash in...

Wait, hold on. Hold it, man.

Please, George, I remember when I was important people around here.

All right. All right. I don't want to argue.

What can I do for you, Tom?

Well, come on, let's go in the office, eh. - My accountant's in there.

Come on. Come on, what's on your mind?

Look, George...

Gee, first I gotta know. Are we still friends, huh?

Being friends with you is a hard job, Tom.

What is it now?

Well, I...

I'm in a jam, George. - Yeah, cops, huh?

You know I got no traffic with cops.

What do you mean "cops"?

You talk like I was a hood. Where do you get these ideas?

Well, you got no job. How do you live? How you been getting by?

Are you gonna preach to me? Is that what you gonna do? Do not preach to me!

You're a little late for sermon.

Hey, George...

George, I'm in a bine, I need a $100 right away.

See, this guy, I promised this guy tonight...

You never made a promise you couldn't break.

But this promise I can't break.

You see, I was holding a $100 for him and... Well, I... I dropped it.

How did you drop it?

This will kill you, George.

A dame rolled me.

Imagine me being rolled by a dame.

Picked me clean. Look, left me one single lousy dollar.

You and your broads.

Hey, this chick was out of the world.

I haven't got time for this new chick, it would take years.

I can't help you, Tom.

What do I tell this guy I'm holding for?

Tell him you'll owe him.

After you quit playing ball, you got pretty good at that, "I'll owe you" stuff.

Look, I don't deserve this.

I helped pay for this joint. All them parties I brought in here.

Picked up the tabs.

Those days you don't remember, huh?

I'm trying hard to forget the $1.400 in unpaid tabs you left behind.

A guy wants to see it all. What does it mean to you, George?

No, you'd only have come back for more.

Look, if you can use a five for yourself, I'll give it to you, here.

I'm no mooch.

Don't make me out a mooch!

All right, look...

If you're really serious about going straight, I'll give you a job.

Job doing what?

Well, I can use another boy in the parking lot. The tips are good.

Are you kidding!

You all right, Mr. Branson?

Beat it, buddy, we're busy.

Me a lousy grease monkey pushing cars around?

It's okay, Carl. - Look like you might be having a little trouble.

Why? What were you going to do about it?

You want to go, boy?

You go... - Lay off, Tom.

Get back to the bar.

Tom, you gave me enough trouble.

Get yourself a drink at the bar.

And I rather not see you around here anymore.

How you doing, baby doll?

Tom.

Hey, I didn't know you were working here? I'm busy.

You too busy for me? That's a switch.

It's finished, Tom.

I've got customers. - They can wait, I can't.

I've got a good job here.

Don't make me loose it.

I don't get the picture.

You waiting on tables.

You a high fevered chick.

Remember all the fun we had? - I remember that fun.

I remember other things too.

Say, I hate to see you like this. You rate better.

I'm going steady with a nice boy.

Square, but nice. And I like him.

As much as you liked me?

You? That was learning.

I think of it as learning. - So I gave you the diploma.

I just want you to come back for the postgraduate course.

School's out, Tom. You just don't know it.

Here, the frame is yours.

Hi, Honey.

Hi, Kicks. How you doing, man?

You fat?

Honey, baby, I'm clean, I'm so thin, it's a sin.

Tom's coming, he promised.

He'll be carrying a grocery bag.

I have been walking on a ground all week.

He's had that fine stuff. Remember this, Kicks?

If I had some money...

What would you do, ball boy?

First thing I'd do, I'd pay my dues to the local musicians' union.

Show man! Get my card back. Find some strong men, set up a real neat combo.

All progressive and such.

There's a few bars here they goofed away.

Get a real strong combo and call it.

"Kicks Johnson Informal Kicks the High Green Group."

You got another round for the box?

Huh?

I'm the mayor of Tab City.

I got nothing, but nothing.

Both of us low and broken.

Say, how's about a drink on the house?

On the roof, last time.

When Tom comes he'll fix us up, you'll see.

When that cat's fed, all the little cats get cream.

Did you fix piano yet?

Only thing they fix in here is the $20 fights.

Play, Kicks.

You think I can't hit him?

Why, sure you can.

Sometimes you're real strong. Go on.

My ten fight each other.

I think those wild crazy fights...

But my fingers, they don't work it out.

Go on.

Busted!

Why don't they fix this thing?

You don't pay.

Where's Tom?

He's coming, man, coming.

He left word with Honey, he'll be here soon.

I'm running a high temperature in this neighborhood.

Man, that figures, you do no rights, you do all wrong, you pay nobody, you live high.

Got to scratch out of town.

Every time I see two cops, I expect to see you right between them.

I'll be fine when Tom shows up with my money.

Your money?

Where did you get money?

I was hustling last night and I ran into Tom.

He was having a beef with some big jerk.

Oh, that jerk must be dingy to tackle with Big Tom.

Tom decked him. Teeth all over the sidewalk.

He went down like a silent movie.

And you bent down, stuck your hand in fast and took the loot out of his pocket.

Fast man! Fast!

Then I saw the fuzz coming from across the street.

I gave the money to Tom and he took off.

I stayed to calm the cops.

Hey, did them cops know how hot you are?

I calmed them smooth and easy. Kept them from getting Tom.

Man! Man, man, man, man!

Say, you must have gone to a school for sin.

I study.

Like, I go to the movies every afternoon, just society pictures.

I watch the way they act, I listen to the words,

I wear their kind of clothes. Why not?

Them clothes don't cost you nothing.

Make me a double.

Hey, I've been looking all over for you, Tom. Where've you been?

Having a hard time.

How much did we get last night, huh?

Little over 100.

Well, uh, I need $80 to catch a plane.

You keep the rest.

How do you come off with $80?

Well, you went after his money when you knocked the guy down?

Who asked you to roll him?

I don't go in for that stuff.

You didn't stop me.

You didn't refuse it when I handed you his wallet.

I wasn't thinking. - I was thinking.

Thinking fast when the cops came up.

I stayed behind to calm them and gave you your chance to blow.

Well, you sure bring trouble into my life.

Give me my $80 and I'll get out of your life.

What is it with this $80 routine? You only got $50 coming.

I need every nickel of 80.

I got to catch a plane.

How much time you got?

No time. Give me my money, Tom. - You'll get it.

Now, stop bugging, I don't like to be bugged.

Don't touch my drink.

It's a buck.

One double shot, one buck.

You got to catch a plane, too?

Tom? - Yeah, Kicks.

This guy is got the tight belly blues, I got to get me something to eat.

My dough, I got to get out of town.

Now, don't bug me, boy.

Here.

Get a couple of sandwiches. One for Honey, huh?

Why are you stomping on me?

You'll get your $50, now get off my back.

Sweet talk me, Honey.

And tell me I'm great.

You're like the piano, Tom.

Way over on the left hand side tonight.

George Branson, dragged me tonight.

Wants to make me best boy in his parking lot.

You'll never know what happens if you just

close your eyes and never, never remember.

That's your route, Honey, not mine.

I got to tear the world in two.

I got to turn it upside down.

Honey...

Honey, I got to be on top again.

Stop fighting it, Tom. Just let yourself go, you'll float right up.

Oh, Honey, Honey...

Honey, how'd you get so goofed off?

You.

You came in like a stone.

Man, I feel like stoning tonight.

I'd like to make the wind blow and shake the roof.

Tom, they locked me out of my room tonight.

I can live with that, but they got all my records, my player.

When I got, I give.

You never have to ask me, Honey.

I always ask you something.

Oh, Honey, Honey... Honey, I need you tonight.

Don't... Don't get lost on me.

Honey, just be around.

Just be around and look at me like I was great.

You're great!

Two sandwiches coming up.

Enjoy.

Another double.

You haven't paid for the last one, I run a cash and carry business.

Don't hold me off, Tom. - Come on, Tom, pay the dollar.

A dollar, you bug me for a lousy dollar!

Okay, okay, don't break my joint. I'll wait.

Tom, they're looking for me. - Now, you lay of me.

I'm edgy and I'm hot.

I can't go! That prison food, prison clothes!

You've got to get me enough to get to Vegas.

That's where your money is.

Now, don't ask me how it got there.

No. No, man. No.

No, no, please don't tell me that, Tom.

Will you quit slopping, I'll get you the money. - How? How?

It's night, isn't it?

How do you get money at night?

Everybody is broke.

You know what that means?

Big Tom's going to get wild.

I get the chill damp when he's like this.

That Gage, with his sharp steal, frantic to cut some square cat.

Honey, let's get lost tonight.

I got to stick with Big Tom.

Not tonight, Honey. Not tonight.

He's way down, he's going to fly.

Just... Just look at that mug. Come on now, smile, Kicks.

Come on, smile! - Don't hurt him!

Tom's not hurting him.

Look, Kicks is happy. He's smiling.

Hey, come on, let's take a ride, huh?

Get some fresh air, get healthy.

We'll get some loot.

Have some crazy fun.

It's not your idea, Tom, it's that evil cat's.

Ah, come on, you can drive. Ah, be like a chauffeur tonight.

Well, what do we do now, boss?

There's only one place I can make contact with money, that big hotel.

Go your way alone, man. - Not tonight.

Tom owes me.

Man, I'd like a big hotel tonight.

Huh, Kicks? - I don't mind.

Steaks.

Floorshow.

It works, huh? - It works, yeah.

I've got a dime! What have you got?

Huh? - Muscle.

Yeah, will somebody tell me where I'm driving?

We're going to the Beverly Hotel. - Huh?

Tom, where do I phone you later?

Back at the bar.

Got it all figured out.

I'll leave the Navy, I'll go back to Dad's firm.

Then we could wait a year, I think.

Nope, there's not going to be anymore waiting.

I've got no choice.

Six months?

I've made a decision.

You are always making a decision.

Yeah, but this one is sort of final.

About us? - Mmm-hmm.

It takes two to do that. - Yeah, that I know.

But this one's on me and the Navy.

Going to tell me about it?

Yeah, sure. Glad to.

What?

Erica, how long have I been ashore, this time?

Almost a month.

I met you at the pier, remember? - Mmm-hmm.

And what have we talked about?

Lots of things. - Me mostly,

and how good it goes with the Navy.

Heard a lot about the Navy this last month.

Have I talked about getting married? - Mmm-hmm.

And who is the girl in all this loose talk?

Me.

That's right.

Kind of pretty. A touch of class.

Nice long legs.

Good Family. Money.

Rides well, swims well. - Thank you, sir.

So I talked about marriage. - Mmm-hmm.

Marriage and settling down.

Darling, we've known we're going to get married for a long time,

there's no crises here.

How about an after dinner drink?

Okay.

Erica, look, there is a crises with me.

I got my orders to go back to Guam today.

I report on board ship tomorrow night.

What ship tomorrow night? You're going to be stationed in San Diego.

Yeah, that's what I thought until I saw my orders today.

Why did you wait all this time to tell me?

Now, wait a minute,

I've been trying for 28 days out of my 30 days shore leave to get you to marry me.

We've got tomorrow left.

You going to marry me before I leave?

At least I know why all this frantic talk now.

Couldn't you have told me the minute you knew?

I didn't want to pressure you in that way.

Arthur, you can't pressure me in any way. - Okay. Okay.

I'm going to be gone for about six months.

You could be there if you are Mrs. Lieutenant Arthur Mitchell.

Arthur, if you keep pressuring me in these little ways of yours, I...

Why shouldn't I want to marry you before I leave?

Look, I would go to Guam or Timbuktu or anywhere else if necessary.

All right then, I'll call the ship's chaplain.

We'll be married on board ship tomorrow. - Wait a minute.

I said I would go to Guam or Timbuktu when I am ready.

Then you're not ready to be married yet, is that it?

When you come back, maybe I'll be ready then.

Oh, boy, I thought you'd grown up.

I have grown up, Lieutenant Mitchell.

If you keep talking to me this way,

maybe I won't be waiting quite so patiently this time.

That's happened to sailors before.

Oh, you idiot.

I love you.

I'm proud of my jet flyer.

How do you like the music here?

Music?

Oh, fine, I guess.

Syrup. Nice, sweet, sticky syrup. - All right.

Darling, do you think you'll ever get to understand modern music?

Modern music, that's all just music to me.

Think we're going to make up our minds tonight?

Pretty soon, darling.

But let me be easy about it for a while, hmm?

We'll talk about music. There's no strain in talking about music.

For me, yes. - Oh, I love you.

Girl...

Yes?

Girl, you dropped your glove. - Thank you.

Ooh, pardon me,

but could you tell me where Flip Phillips is playing in town?

Never heard of him, sorry.

Darling, we heard him last week. - Hmm?

I'm afraid Saturday was their last night.

Oh, no.

I came down from Stanford just to hear him.

There're lot of good groups in town.

Your name is not Lieutenant Ferguson?

I'm sorry again.

You know, you look just like him, I could have sworn.

Where's he stationed? - On a carrier?

Oh, really? Me too.

What ship?

Well, The Saratoga, I think.

No, I'm on The Foristell.

Any 12-year-old scotch and very little soda.

And put those on my tab.

No thanks, I've got these.

Oh, no, I insist. Sort of like buying it for Lieutenant Ferguson and his wife.

Say, by the way I'm Derek Fielding.

Arthur Mitchell here. This is Miss London.

Erica.

Have you heard Oscar Peterson at Zardies?

Oh, yes. Last night. Very well indeed.

You see, darling, that's about your only fault.

With you, music is still in Vienna Waltzes...

I like it! - Okay.

Look, don't talk to me about music, talk to him.

I feel stupid tonight. Stupid about a lot of things.

You for instance. - Darling, we just can't sit around crying.

Especially in our brandy.

Yes, sir. Pencil, please.

You a guest at the hotel?

Why, of course.

Hey, I heard a terrific piano man last night.

Fellow by name of Kicks, he's new.

Is he playing somewhere in town? - A spot called The Fat Man's.

"The Fat Man's."

I don't think I know that place.

I know a Fat Man's place in Tokyo.

It's quite a place.

But they didn't need music.

This piano man really flies.

Oh, I'm going there in a bit, Lieutenant,

would and Miss London care to join me?

No, thanks, not tonight. - Darling, why not tonight?

I think you need it.

Oh. All right, let's go.

I certainly need something.

I don't have a car here.

I have mine.

And just for a little while I think we could use a little excitement.

All right.

Derek, you show us where the place is and we'll drive you back.

Oh, would you pardon me for a moment, I have to make a phone call.

Sure. - Certainly.

Tom there?

Yeah, just a second.

Hello. - Tom?

Gage.

Oh, man, I scored big. Terrific.

Single guy? - No, a couple. A guy and a chick.

Loaded with riches.

How is the chick?

Listen, I gave them a frantic story about Kicks being the greatest piano man.

They're taking me to The Fat Man's to hear him. You be there!

Come on, come on, don't get so excited.

Sure, I'm excited. This is going to be a real score.

Oh, believe me, Tom, the broad's a beauty and the guy's a jerk.

They think my name is Derek Fielding.

Derek Fielding?

Yeah, Derek Fielding!

Fancy huh? Now, look, you be at The Fat Man's!

First we'll play them cool and then we'll play them hot.

That was Gage.

Changed his name to Derek Fielding.

He hooked himself a couple of fish. - Yeah, that Gage.

Man, he sure knows how to operate in the big hotel.

Yeah, he's going to end up in a big hotel.

A big stone hotel with hard-eyed bellhops

and steel bars on the window.

Oh, Tom...

Look, you don't want to go that crazy route.

Kicks, I'm broke.

Nobody gives me the warm hand.

I'm locked in the cold outside.

Kicks, I got to get me some money.

What kind of money, huh? What kind of money, tell?

Fool yourself money?

Make you think you're a great cat, huh?

Don't worry, I know what to do with money.

No, you don't know what to do with money.

You pour it around. You pour it around fast.

All right, all right, so I've been careless.

I had to get me a fresh start.

You don't know where you're heading when you start, man.

All right, come on, let it go.

Tom, I want to tell you something. Now, look, Tom, don't get mad.

Now, look, you know you're not a boy anymore.

Tom! Tom, you're nothing...

All right.

Nothing but what? - No, nothing.

Come on, I'm nothing but what?

You're nothing but a bunch of old sports page clippings.

Look, old beat up... - Why do you want to bug me

with that kind of crazy talk for?

I'm talking like a friend, man.

Tom, you are walking in the dark.

Yeah, I walk in the dark.

And I'm coming out with my hands full of money.

And you're walking in the dark with me.

Tom, I'm just telling you...

Look, who are you to be telling me?

What are you? Nothing.

You're always reaching and never touching.

Me, when I reach I grab.

I'm going to reach, I'm going to grab the night.

How are you going to get the gold, Tom?

The big hand.

The heavy hand.

All right. All right.

But look, don't take, Honey.

You get her in trouble and she'll just pay it up in smoke, man.

I go with Tom.

Come on, let's go.

You gotta play the piano.

Hey, man, your muffler's about to take off.

This car's falling apart.

I'll fix it.

Can I help you, Tom? - I don't need you.

Will you beat it!

Hey, Kicks, take her inside!

We can't buy no drink, what'll I tell the fat man.

Tell him nothing!

Hi, Tom.

Who's that?

Derek.

Derek Fielding.

Hi, Derek.

What are you doing here?

I came to catch his new piano.

Tom, Miss Erica London.

Hello. - Hello.

Lieutenant Arthur Mitchell.

Hello.

I was telling them about this terrific piano.

Derek practically stole us away so we could hear him.

Hey, you want to trade?

Oh, it's not mine, it's Miss London's.

It's a nice car.

How did you ever find a place like this? Wonderful.

Hey, come on, we can all sit together.

This...

This over here is... is Kicks.

That bright, bright boy. A really wild man on the keys.

Honey, you know Tom. Erica and Arthur.

Your name's Honey? It's a nice name.

It was.

Honey, Kicks, Tom. I didn't hear any last name.

Oh, this is a first-name crowd, real friendly like.

You... You in this music thing, too?

I just come here to listen and look around.

Derek tells us you play very exciting piano.

Will you play for us soon?

I don't know, my ten haven't told me what they're thinking yet.

I'd like to dance with you.

Maybe later.

This is a real fine set.

I'll try it.

When is you friend... What do you call him, Kicks, when's he going to play?

Well, he'll ask the leader and play in the break.

Good.

This is an exciting place.

Are you... You're looking for excitement?

In small packages. - Oh, yeah.

Not... Not touched by human hands, huh?

She rides well, swims well...

Craves excitement.

She's very attractive.

I think you're a great, pleasant person.

Man, go your way, not my way.

If you think back, you think black.

I don't remember even a little while ago.

I practice to forget.

But you're only a child, what could you possibly have to forget?

Steaks.

Kill things you eat.

I don't make friends with the animals.

He does.

That's what he's hungry for.

Not the steaks, but the noise the animal makes.

His friendly animal.

He? Who's he?

Big Tom.

The cat that stands in love.

We've just had a wonderful conversation.

I just wish I could understand it.

I told you we'd have a good time.

Mmm-hmm.

God, I like this chick.

Hey, come on, Kicks, you play now, huh.

No, I feel low, man. Cold now and low.

Oh, please do play for us, we've heard so much about you.

Ah, he just like to be coaxed. Come on, play. - All right. All right.

Uh, this one's going to be for you, huh.

Thank you.

Kicks. Kicks.

Hey, do me a favor, man. Make this one go slow, slow and crazy, man.

Come on, Kicks. Kicks, I gotta know this chick.

Cat on the prowl.

Tom, I caught some beautiful fish, huh?

Yeah.

Get the keys to her car from the purse.

We'll do it soon, huh?

No.

Huh?

I don't want this to move fast.

So this is my last night at shore, huh?

Certainly didn't think we'd be spending it in a joint like this

with four strangers and a lot of noise.

That's not noise. That boy happens to be really good.

Yeah.

Look, why don't you go dance with Tom some more, huh?

All right.

I will.

You want to dance?

What do you do, Tom?

Well, I used to...

Oh, I just kind of pleasure myself around.

That's what Arthur thinks I do.

He wants us to get married.

You'll never marry him.

That's an odd thing to say.

Why?

Well, when a girl finds the right man, she doesn't wait.

Neither does a man.

I wonder.

Well, you know it won't be Arthur.

Even if he is rich, a Naval Officer, nice and neat,

it won't be Arthur.

Isn't this a rather personal conversation for two strangers?

Hey, you don't think of me as a stranger.

You want to hear a cold fact?

Very cold fact?

You're going to get to know me.

Let's you and me take a walk, huh?

I couldn't do that.

Why not? You want to.

I don't do what I want to do. I do what I should do.

I don't believe in it.

You're real people like me.

Listen to that.

You hear that?

That's how I operate.

Two times longer.

Fast.

You're a strange man.

Would you like me now? - Not that well.

Listen to me. I'm sure.

You're wrong.

I can't be wrong.

Stop it!

Stop the piano, man, you're building a sin.

Why did you stop?

Arthur.

Mmm? - Could you take me away?

Sure. - I'll get my purse.

Okay, let's go.

You want a lift back to the hotel?

Oh, no thanks, Tom will drop me off.

We're all leaving now.

Come on, Kicks, Honey.

I'm ready.

Not as ready as I am.

You and Honey wait at the back.

Trouble?

Yes, Erica lost her car keys.

I was positive I had it in my purse.

You're sure they're not in the car?

Locked.

I'll look for them downstairs.

I'll wait with Erica.

It's all right, Arthur.

Look, if they're not downstairs, I'll call a cab.

We can pick up the car tomorrow.

Don't talk. Don't say anything.

You afraid of me?

That wasn't me.

It wasn't Erica London dancing with you.

That was you.

No, please.

Don't talk.

You come out of the night in a long gray dress.

In a long black car.

You came out of the night too.

You'll have to go back.

What I wouldn't have done.

For the last time I ask you to please let me alone.

Once is enough.

Couldn't find them.

Did you call the cab?

They don't have a phone. - We'll drive you to a cab stand.

Well, you could help.

Stop at a stand and send a cab. We'll wait.

It'd be faster if we drove you there.

Cabbies aren't eager to make pickups in this neighborhood. You might wait here all night.

All right, but you got room?

Plenty of room in front. I'll ride in the back.

They lost their key, we're giving them a lift.

There's no cab stand out this way.

I think you're going in the wrong direction.

Man, that's right.

I know where we are.

Probably the beach.

What are we doing out this far?

Look, let us off at the next filling station.

We'll call a cab from there.

Maybe we won't go by any.

Do you know where you're going?

Tonight, you sit tight, man.

Stop the car. We'll walk from here.

Look, you stop the car. - Arthur, no.

Tom, we wanna get out here.

Now, Tom, now.

Shut up, everybody.

Now, don't anybody say anything.

Nobody's gonna get hurt.

Look, I don't know what you're trying to do.

I just want to talk to the girl, okay?

Talk to me? What do you want to say?

I just want to talk to you.

I'll talk to him. - No.

I'd better.

What do you want from us?

You.

I want you.

Tom, I'm sorry. It was my fault.

You don't have to be sorry for it.

Look, it's the way you feel, isn't it?

This isn't the way, Tom.

It's the only way I have.

Well, call me.

Call me tomorrow.

And have your butler say you're not in.

Never will be into me?

There isn't any butler.

Erica.

Erica, there're walls around you.

Look...

Do you know...

Do you know who I am?

Who are you, Tom?

I'm the guy that loves you. That's all you have to know.

I'm sorry.

I can't hear anymore.

You're the only woman I ever said "I love you" to.

All the others, they didn't matter.

Erica, you I love.

You've got to love me.

Kiss me.

Kiss me.

Talk to me, Erica.

That's what he can do for you.

He's not man enough to keep you.

I am man enough to take you.

Look, Erica, I don't wanna hurt him.

Hit the man, Tom. Hurt him. - Tell them.

Tell her what I did in the 49'er game

to the guy who smashed my collarbone.

You broke his jaws, ruptured his spleen. He never played again.

You saw me. You must have seen me.

90.000 people saw me.

He made three touchdowns with a smashed collarbone.

Yeah, I was great, wasn't I?

I was great. I'll be great again.

You be my girl.

Erica, you want me. You know you want me.

I'm not like that.

You are like that.

I'm in love with Arthur. I'm marrying him.

No, Tom, please. No, no.

You've killed in the war.

Will you kill me for her?

Because if you won't, I'll kill you to get her.

Pretty girl.

She don't buy you, Tom.

She'll buy me.

She's only pretending.

Erica... Erica...

Why are you afraid to show what you...

You are no better than anybody else.

You're no better than Honey.

Ask Honey why she's in love with me.

Go ahead. Go ahead. Ask her.

Honey... Honey, tell her.

At heart you're a tramp, too.

You're worse than a tramp.

A tramp doesn't pretend.

You hear me? Listen to me.

You're a tramp. A dressed up tramp.

I wouldn't touch you.

I'll find you.

So help me, I'll find you.

Yeah.

Tell him, Tom. I gotta have money.

I'll get you $1.000 tonight, but Erica goes home now.

$10.000 tonight. Tomorrow at the clearance sale 10 cents.

Take the money.

He wants to buy you from me.

What kind of a man is he?

More a man than you could ever be.

Tell me about my $1.000.

I know a man who will loan it to me. Ben Davis.

He owns a county club.

Why would Ben Davis give you $1.000.

A friend, a good friend.

Tom, there's a deal here.

Everybody wants me to take the money.

Erica.

Erica, should I?

If you don't, you'll have to kill me.

Baby...

Baby, it won't have to be like that.

I'll call him now, he'll have the money ready.

Call him while I listen.

It would just be paper to me.

Tom, there's a million girls, you know that.

I gotta have money.

This guy, Ben Davis, owns a fancy club.

He might pay me 4.000.

Could you get that much?

Everything he's got I'm good for.

I'll tell him I've got a quick deal.

Something I got... I got to testify.

That's what you wind up being, a quick deal.

Tom, you've wrecked a lot of things. Don't wreck this.

Shut up.

But you better have a good story.

Talk right, man, or I have fun with your face.

Hello? Mr. Davis, please.

Oh. Oh, Ben.

Art Mitchell.

Ben, a deal has come up.

A business deal.

And I'm gonna need a quite a lot of cash tonight.

I hate to bother you, but...

Well, you're about the only person I could think of that I could reach in a hurry.

And this is something I've got to act on right away.

Yes.

Yes, I can come over right away.

I'd certainly appreciate it, Ben.

Thanks.

Thank you very much.

You played that real straight.

Come on. Put his nose to the floor. Go on.

He sold you.

You wanna know how much you're worth to him?

Couple of thousand bucks.

To me you're worth everything.

The works. - You don't get a cent till she's out of this.

You make a move and I cut you wide open.

You wait here till we collect.

Honey will keep you company.

She goes with me.

When I get paid off, you get her.

I don't go without her.

Look...

She'll be fine as long as you deal from the top.

Come on.

This is where I live.

Tom's house.

It was a picture.

Picture of us.

It was nowhere and the nowhere was full of dreams and ruins.

With solid doors that could be locked.

This is my house.

Move and I cut you.

He's got my girl in there.

She bugged him big.

Oh, don't get any ideas about that window. It goes nowhere.

Oh!

Hey, Kicks, you drive, huh?

That's like a well.

Deep. No way out.

The roof.

Too high to reach.

I think girls have screamed here before.

Nobody came.

You help me or I'll tear you to pieces.

Tear me?

I can't help you. There's no way out.

Just go inside yourself.

Close off the world.

You're young.

Younger than I.

How can you be with these men?

You're with him now.

I don't want to.

You do.

I know, like me. - I'm not like you.

Who are you?

I come from a good family, too.

Not rich, but good, maybe better than yours.

Honey, help me.

I'll get you back to your family.

Not the same anymore.

You're not a bad girl.

Why do you stay with these people.

They don't hurt me.

Honey, you don't want to hurt me.

You're not even here.

Okay, goombah, you can come up for air now.

Let's get it over with.

Looks as good as new.

Now, listen to me, boy, and listen to me good.

You go funny in there once and two things happen.

One, I let him cut you up.

Two, you don't see your girl again.

I'll get you the money.

You stay in the car and keep it hot, Kicks.

Come in. Come in.

Thank you, Ben.

Ben, these are the men I was telling you about.

Glad to meet you.

You're looking good, Art. How's Erica?

Fine, fine.

The arm any better?

Yeah, it's getting along fine.

So, what brings you here at 3:00 in the morning?

Well, it's like I was telling you on the phone, Ben.

This man is leaving town and he wants to sell his boat for cash.

What does a flyer need with a boat?

$10.000 boat for $4.000...

Yeah, I'd like to buy the boat.

Yeah, I understand. Is this the fellow that's supposed to own this boat?

I'm not supposed to. I own it.

I couldn't find the mayonnaise...

Oh, excuse me.

What's your name?

Never mind his name. Just put it over there.

Say, is this gonna be another all night conference

or are we gonna catch the 4:00 plane to Reno?

We'll make it.

I won't be put off tonight, Ben.

All right, all right. Go get dressed.

Think I'll finish my sandwich first.

Look, Mr. Davis, how... - Yes.

Pardon me.

This is a very good dinner wine.

Man, you look like you're having a rough drill.

Me?

I never had it so good.

What do you do with all them bottles, man?

I sell them.

To the junkyards. It's a very good business.

It's nothing big.

You make a living from this?

I wouldn't do anything else.

All right. I'll be here for...

I'll be leaving here in another 20 minutes.

All right.

Now, that's what I like to hear.

Look, Ben, I don't wanna keep you, but I do wanna close this deal.

Well, there's a lot more I wanna know about this boat deal.

Lieutenant Mitchell and his family are my friends.

Oh, the boat's a beauty, very good lines.

Mitchell doesn't close the deal tonight, he loses her.

We're all anxious to get the money and leave you alone.

See, he's anxious too.

Yeah, I'd...

Yup.

All right, put him on.

Out of it.

Yeah, hello, Joe.

What, you did already?

1.500?

Well, how soon do you need it?

Ah, you're a frantic cat.

Cringes.

Not a wino, I'm just a social drinker.

Here, let me help you, man. I'll help you.

Thank you. Thank you, thank you.

Maybe I can return the favor.

I wouldn't hang around here if I were you.

Well, why not?

Owner her, Mr. Davis, very handy with a gun.

What?

Guy tries to stick him up last fall

and he blew his head off the 45.

Man, what are you telling me?

Have a nice evening.

Just what is Lieutenant Mitchell buying from you?

Look, we already told you, a boat. A boat...

There's no boat.

I know what's going on.

What do you think we're doing here?

Collecting.

One with muscle and maybe one with a gun.

Believe me, Ben. It's like I said. You got to believe me.

I'll take care of it, Arthur.

I haven't been running surveillance for 20 years for nothing.

I know people. I know money.

And I know trouble.

Well, there's no trouble.

Look, Art, is there any trouble?

I came here on my own, Ben.

Don't kid an old fox, Art, you've been gambling tonight.

You lost more than you had on you

and these are the collectors for the rest.

Look, I just want you to pay them off.

I don't know who you work for, but whoever they are they know me.

You go back and tell them that Ben Davis personally

guarantees this gentleman for $4.000.

Look, we don't want any guarantees, we want cash.

You must have 4.000 bucks in the joint.

It's gone.

What do you mean it's gone?

The money truck comes for it at 2:00 in the morning.

And I'll tell you why.

Last year a red hot tried to stick me up.

I killed him.

Ben...

Ever since there's no bullets in the gun.

He was just a kid.

Well, it was real nice of you.

Oh, we better go. - Wait.

What for? We came for cash, all we got was talk.

Okay, Kupfen.

Take good care of my friend.

What did you say?

I know who you are.

You're Tom Kupfen.

A broken down pro football player.

I know you won't bother Lieutenant Mitchell.

You know me real fine.

Come on.

Five bucks.

He's only got five bucks.

Oh, it doesn't matter, Gage.

It's the only thing that matters.

Come on, let's go.

Only a closet.

Why didn't you tell me?

You had to do something.

Stay away from the window.

We're going to try.

There's nothing to try. It's just a square cement hole down there.

Can't just sit around here waiting. They'll be back any minute.

How did you get into this?

He talked us into it.

Did it take much talking?

Not much.

Like, just a little safe excitement?

That's how we all get into it.

Pretty soon you won't remember how it started.

I'll kill myself first. You know, if I have to.

What's the matter, baby, didn't you wanna wait for me?

Arthur! Where's, Arthur?

He's here.

Gee, I'm hungry.

Let's eat out.

Come on, Honey, make some coffee. Come on.

I'll tell you something nice.

Yeah, what are you gonna do now, big man? You sure goofed off tonight.

What's wrong with you, Gages?

You don't see the big picture.

Man, this is New Year's eve.

Everything starts tonight.

Man, they threw the long pass and I caught it.

Go on, get some coffee.

Five bucks.

Five bucks and bad trouble.

Hey, Kicks, you knew me when I had it, man.

How'd I go, huh?

That crazy man, first captain all the way.

Yeah, I ever give you money?

When you had it, everybody had it, Tom,

but, Tommy, that was a long time ago.

Hey, Gage, I wanna pay off one of yours.

Your walk-in man on the nine? - Yeah, you came up with it.

But where's my dough from last night?

Honey, I get you new outfit every week, huh? Nothing but the best.

The best on the outside.

Well, I'm gonna do it again.

This time, great.

Great and straight.

Man, if you're good, you're worth, but it ain't that.

Kicks, man, you heading a solid group.

All the knowing cats bring their ears to you.

You traveling rich.

Everybody paid. All the bad paper good.

Honey...

Honey, you polishing up to be a singer on the bandstand with Kicks.

Oh, man, if I could dig that, I'd get Herman on the drums,

I'd get Pete on the horns,

and I'd get Joe... No, no, no.

I'd get Henry Jones on the flute.

Oh, yes.

Hey, I wonder if I really could.

Hey! Hey! Hey, you mean like no cops in the face? - Yeah.

Walk down the Hollywood Boulevard in the daylight?

Hey, Kicks with his band. You clean and fat.

And Honey singing clear and fine.

Go! Go!

He's crazy.

Crazy, nuts, flipped.

And we sit here listening to you.

Yeah, nothing talk. - All right.

All I want is the dough you took from me last night.

I couldn't sing. No chance.

I'm gonna get it for you.

How?

My rich wife. She'll pay for everything.

The worm's eating up his brains.

Tonight we leave for Ensenada, Mexico.

Tomorrow we get married.

She's gonna marry you?

You know why?

To keep him from being hurt. Hurt real bad.

Man, you've slipped away.

Hey, Kicks. Look, I need your help.

Now, you stick with me, Kicks.

Look, when I get the money, Kicks, it'll be like the old days.

Even if you make her marry you, she won't give you any money.

Her folks will give me a big job.

They'll want me to be important. - Tom!

Tom, you don't need her. You are important.

You've always been important to me.

Honey, I've always wanted to do something for you.

This is my chance.

Tom, you don't need her.

Honey...

She's the only woman I have to have.

Erica. Look, Erica...

You're mad.

Can't you see? He's mad.

Dick, Honey, Kicks.

How can you listen to him?

Erica...

Your life starts with the night.

Baby...

Oh, baby, it really starts tonight.

Is there no way to reach you?

You know what could've happened tonight.

Tomorrow morning they'd find you in some lonely road

trying to cover yourself with your hands.

They'd find him alive, not much face left.

Baby, that's what usually happens.

No! Not true, not true, not true.

Baby...

Come on.

Come on, come on.

Hey, Gage. Come on.

Gage, drag him into the other room.

That's gonna be your job the next couple of days.

Jailer.

Hey, that's a twist.

Gage, a jailer.

Now, look... Look, you take her out of the country

to Mexico. Bad trouble. He'll go straight to the law.

Oh, no. He won't talk. It'd shame Erica.

A wild marriage. No more society pages.

Just dirty front pages. You wouldn't want that, would you?

Suppose she hates you afterwards?

No chick ever has.

Leave Arthur alone.

Erica, don't. - Take him away.

Go on, take him away.

Come on.

He won't touch him?

Erica...

After we're married I'll let him go.

Oh, Kicks, you go to The Fat Man's,

pick up my girl's big car. Leave mine there.

You go with him, Honey.

Hey, what happened to the coffee?

Come on.

Oh, yeah.

Send a wire to Erica's folks.

Eloping. Will call you tomorrow.

Very happy love.

Signed Erica.

Suppose they call Mitchell's folks.

I want them to call.

He's missing too. Nobody worries.

In a couple of days I come back,

I take care of you and Honey and Gage.

Man, you put the moon in the box.

Kicks, what man wants, man takes or no man...

Kicks! Serve my fiancee first.

Oh, come on.

Erica...

Erica...

You know what's wrong with this scheme, don't you?

Don't talk to me, man. You edge me up.

What if she doesn't love me?

What if she doesn't care if I get clobbered or not, have you thought about that?

Hmm?

She said she'd go with him to Ensenada. I heard.

That was just to get out of here.

Tom can handle her.

He knows how.

But you, you get nothing.

I gotta get something.

You can from me.

You heard Ben Davis say I was good for a lot of money.

Tom will get me money.

Yeah, sure.

If everything goes all right.

And if you can trust him.

But you know you can't.

You think I could trust you?

You can believe me.

You can believe me for the same reason you hate me.

Just get us out of here.

$5.000.

I give you my word.

Funny thing is I know you'd do it.

I don't lie.

You never had to.

Look, you don't want her.

Tom does. You want money.

All right, I can give it to you.

You don't know what Tom can bring you.

What about the police?

$5.000 and no police.

I've got that much in my own account.

You can save three lives.

Three?

Yours, too.

Come on, get some coffee. I want you to stay awake tonight.

Hey, Kicks, look at that smile.

When he smiles like that, he's got poison under his teeth.

Oh, nothing, man. Just happy our deal is working out.

Hey, give him the keys to my girl's car.

What's the address, Tom? I don't know where to send that wire.

Hey, what's your address?

Oh, get it from her purse, the driver's license.

You know, man, I got no gold for that van.

Gage, give him the five bucks.

Sure.

Get back in half an hour, huh?

All right.

Half way round the clock and we'll be back.

Come on, Honey.

Tom. - Oh, beat it.

Hey, hurry up. I wanna get rolling.

Here you go, man.

You gave up that five awful easy.

What... What kind of deal did you make with him?

Now, Tommy, you know I wouldn't cross you.

I'm gonna open you like a chicken.

Trying to outsmart me?

All the Giants couldn't.

Tom, you know I can't stand pain.

Get me out of here.

Please, please. Please, Tom, get me out of here.

Erica, you can stay here and say goodbye to him.

Erica...

Erica, you all right?

I'll find a way. I'll find a way.

You read about these things in the papers.

They never happen to you.

I've got to kill him.

Those big hands will tear you apart.

I've gotta keep those hands away from you.

If he...

Can I come back to you?

It won't happen. I won't let it happen.

I love you.

The weights.

Come and help me, will you? It's gotten lose.

Honey! Honey, Honey, don't send that wire.

But Tom told me to.

I'm not gonna bring back Erica's car.

But you've got to. He's waiting for it. - No.

Tom can't get away with this, Honey.

All of those promises he made us, that's crazy talk.

I know that I went for it, Honey, but that's crazy talk.

I don't care.

Honey, Tom is out in space.

He's flying around and he's falling. I tell you, he's falling.

Look, he's got to try.

What locks you to him, Honey, huh?

What has he ever done for you?

Why don't you break lose, Honey?

You've lost him anyway.

Oh, wake up, Honey. Honey, wake up.

You don't have to do anything.

I'll send the wire and I'll bring the car.

No, Honey. No, Honey. I won't let you.

We can't help him anyway, and even if we did, we'd be sick the rest of our life.

We're sick already.

I've seen Tom killing you.

I've watched there and looked, but I couldn't do anything because you love him.

That love died of starvation a long time ago.

Then what are you hanging on to, Honey?

Why don't you just shake him off?

I forgot anything else.

I'm gonna send the wire.

No, no. No.

You listen to me first. I got something to tell you.

Tonight I see everything clearly.

I can look at Tom and really see him for what he is.

He's never gone this far and neither have we.

We've got to lose him, Honey.

Before that we gotta lose ourselves.

All right.

I've been fighting hope, Kick, all week.

There's a cat down at Newport Beach.

A real friendly cat. He's got a joint there and he offered me a job.

Playing the piano?

Well...

Short order cook.

But I could play the piano, all right, on my own free time during the breaks.

I think you should take it, Kicks.

Mmm-hmm. It's a nice place.

Real friendly people. I could be working there and eating.

It's no good.

I just can't leave here.

But I want you to.

No, Honey.

Don't never say that to me. Honey, don't ever say that.

Oh, sorry. I won't, I won't, I won't.

I just don't have the courage to go down there without you.

Honey, drive on down there with me, please.

Huh? Forget Tom, forget the message, forget the telegram.

I'm afraid.

I'm afraid too, Honey.

I'm scared. Scared Tom would break my face.

Break my hands.

Oh, but he's breaking us anyway.

Come with me, Honey.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on, don't stop now, Honey. Come on.

Come on. Come.

Kicks...

Kicks, do you think somebody could really like me?

Not... Not the tired old way.

Really like me?

Sure, somebody could like. Who couldn't like you, Honey?

You're a real nice girl.

Everybody could like you, Honey.

I'm a nice girl with 40.000 miles on her.

Honey, take my hand.

Take my hand, Honey.

Tom!

Ah, you see, goombah, you always lose.

You tried to bite me, you brought Gage, I wrapped him up for you.

You try and fight, you can't.

Hey, did you ever kill anybody?

Yes, I've killed.

Yeah? You don't look it.

I ought to be wearing this.

How do I look, huh?

Oh, you see these ribbons?

That's for the battle of Hollywood.

Plenty of night fighting in that battle.

Hey. Oh, these are my combat stars.

A thousand women, a thousand wins.

Why don't you slow down?

Why don't you come to your senses while you still got the chance?

Who's gonna give me a chance, you?

You're not kidnapping yourself but go ahead.

Still trying, huh?

Now, he's trying to stop me with talk.

You're on your way to the gas chamber, why don't you see it?

Oh, you're a hard loser.

A real hard loser.

You know what, your family's gonna like me.

You're never gonna meet her family.

Listen to Arthur. You've got to listen to him.

Tomorrow after we get married, you call them from Mexico.

Tell them you married Tom Kupfen, the football player.

You're never gonna get to Mexico. You're never gonna get past the border police.

When the border police stop us, I'll tell them what you are.

You know, you sound like you're ashamed of me.

Five, six years ago I was a famous man.

90.000 people came to watch me play.

Your father would be proud to have me in his family.

Proud?

You're a horrible, filthy... - Erica, Erica...

You can't reason with this.

Come on, finish what you were saying. Shut up! - I'm talking to you.

You can't shut me up. - Look, I've to make a point.

You're gonna have to kill me or go to the gas chamber because you're never...

Perhaps I will. - You're gonna have to kill me.

Kill Kicks, kill Gage.

Ben Davis. You're gonna have to kill all of us.

Shut up.

Look, I don't wanna kill anybody.

Look, Erica...

This time tomorrow you'll be in love with me.

Everything I did tonight was because I'm in love with you.

I swear I'm gonna see you die.

Look...

There's the car.

I'll be right back.

Kicks.

Hiya, Kicks.

Did you get my girl's car?

Tom, you gotta get away fast.

Hey, where's my big car? Did you send the wire?

No.

Why didn't you?

Well, I'm asking you, Kicks, why didn't you? Tell me.

We came to help you get away, Tom.

You mean your guts fell out.

Hey, Honey.

No, no, leave her alone. - I'll slap you.

No, Tom, you gotta leave her alone, Tom.

We could've gotten away, but she made me come back to you, Tom.

Are you kidding? Honey wouldn't leave me.

No, she's gonna leave you, Tom.

She's gonna leave you tonight. She's going away with me.

Now, you gotta get away fast, Tommy.

She's going with you? - Yes.

Honey belongs to me.

I'll tell her when we're through.

No, she's through now, Tom.

Honey, tell him that we went to the law.

You went to the law?

Kicks.

What'd I do to you?

I gave you my last dollar.

I wanted you to have your own convo.

Kicks, I was always...

Tom!

Tom! Tom.

Tom.

What'd I do to force me?

Listen. - Kicks.

You're like everybody else.

Kicks.

Kicks, I thought you were my friend.

I thought you were my friend, Kicks.

I...

Tom.

Erica.

Honey? Honey?

Yes?

She loves me.

Finished.

I could wake up now. The nightmare was over.

Man, I wanted to live. I wanted to climb up now

out of this blue, crazy, miserable dream.

Out of the bars and the cellars. Up to the real world.

Work and love.

Honey and me. Me and Honey.

Two small people leaning together.

Maybe we can make it.

Somehow, maybe.

We're giving it a try.