Original subtitles

good evening ladies and gentlemen and show-offs the world over i use this to

test my strength the panda bear that is if i can lift it i feel that i'm keeping

in good physical condition tonight's play is about the banking business and

it promises to be as much fun as a foreclosure Our story concerns one Oscar

Blinney. It also concerns a beautiful woman who looks as though she would be

an asset but turns out to be a liability.

But first we have something that manages to be both of these at the same time.

I've got to get back to the casino.

I can't wait.

Not when you work for Mike Chambers.

I'm going to get back to the dining room.

How's your job coming?

I've had better.

Good money, baby?

A hundred a week.

Plus?

Hmm, tips.

Winner's luck is not much.

Don't be.

A year ago, you were doing time.

I wasn't on my feet that much.

Well, there's always Pete Rogan.

How is it with him?

He's hooked.

Sure, baby?

What am I, an amateur? I know when a fish is on the line.

Now, you be careful. He's a bad one. Come on. Get going. I'll see you later.

You know, darling,

You're a heel.

And that's what you like about me, isn't it, baby?

Uh-huh.

I'll get back to you later.

Peter, it pains me to say this, but I'm disappointed.

Why, Mike? You don't address me as Mike.

It's Mr. Chambers. It's always Mr. Chambers.

Check. Mr. Chambers.

What did that jacket cost you, Peter?

This?

A yard and a half.

Why, you like it?

No.

Get rid of it.

Now.

In there.

Now listen to this, Peter, and please make an effort to remember you're not

running a $2 a day motel.

Chambers. The accent is on good taste and refinement.

Understand?

Yes, sir, Mr. Chambers.

Hey, Pete.

Take it easy, Mr. Rogan. It's not worth it. What's going on here?

Why are you holding him?

It's nothing, Mr. Chambers.

Pete slipped. I grabbed him. It just fell against the wall. Nothing.

You hurt?

No, I'm okay.

What table are you working at?

Number four.

Blackjack. What are you doing here? That's my fault, Mr. Chambers. I told

him to report to me.

Report? What's that, a report?

You know, the take. I like to keep check on things.

You let me worry about that.

Well, you see...

Get back to your table.

Yes, sir.

Anything else, Mr. Chambers?

Yeah, beat it.

Miss Ashley?

Yes. I hope I... Gee, I was sort of hoping I'd see you again.

Again? What I mean is, last night you showed me to my table.

Oh, you're one of the guests here.

Don't I look it? I thought you came in off Santa Fe Trail.

Santa Fe?

Oh.

Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to learn to twirl a lariat.

I guess I look pretty silly.

May I introduce myself, Miss Ashley?

Go ahead.

My name is Oscar Blinney.

Oscar. Blinney.

I've always wanted to meet somebody by the name of Oscar. Really? One of my big

dreams.

May I ask you your first name, Miss Ashley?

It was nice meeting you, Mr. Blinney. I must get to my bungalow to change

clothes. May I walk with you?

Miss Ashley?

Miss Ashley?

I hope you're not mad.

At what?

At me.

For being so aggressive.

But something just made me talk to you. Something I just couldn't resist.

I think you're very beautiful, Miss Ashley.

It's the desert air. Oh, no, no. I watched you in the dining room.

You're wonderful, Miss Ashley.

Steady, boy.

And it would give me great pleasure. There's a party tonight, and I thought

maybe... I've got a date.

It's a barbecue.

What are you doing here?

You're blind, baby.

You and me, we'll have a little drink together.

I don't feel like a drink.

Well, just what do you feel like, babe?

What is it? You act as if something's wrong.

I do?

You don't know.

How much you don't? I check, baby.

Phony dice, lead quarters, double crosses, rods, I check. Peter, no!

I'll say goodbye for you, baby, to Bill Grant.

I'm gonna get you, baby.

No, Peter, you are not.

It's all right. It's all right, Miss Ashley.

You're safe now. It was awful.

I begged him to leave me alone.

He was so crazy drunk.

You call the police. No, I'll do that now. You just relax. I'll take care of

everything.

You will explain, won't you, Mr. Blini, how it was an accident?

Now, now, don't you worry. I'll handle the police.

I don't see any reason to cry, Miss Ashley.

I feel so terrible.

It's all over, my dear. The case is closed.

The case is... I don't know how to thank you.

Would you like to try?

Try? Let me take you to lunch.

Oh, I'd like to, Mr. Blaney, but I sort of want to be alone.

Of course.

You're such an understanding man.

Bye.

how they cleared you, so what?

No, baby, lunch is out.

I'm on a diet, that's why.

I've changed my mind. It's a woman's privilege.

I would love to have lunch.

So you live in Los Angeles, sir. Like it?

Well, it's semi-tropical. Yeah, I know. Bananas in the driveway.

What do you do to break even?

What? I mean, what's your line?

Oh, banking.

You're a banker?

Not exactly.

I mean, I'm not president.

I work in a bank. I'm a bank teller.

Oh, look at the time. I ought to be getting back to the Mojave.

My car's outside.

May I drive you?

What's the percentage walking?

Would it be all right? Thanks, doll.

Eva, wait a minute.

Mr. Chambers wants to see you right now, Eva.

Okay.

Good afternoon, Miss Ashley.

All right, hike it down.

What? The skirt.

Excuse me, maybe you don't know Ronald.

Miss Ashley.

I've seen Ronald around.

Yeah, he's around.

He works for me.

Lately he's had two jobs, but I don't like guys who moonlight, but Ronald has

explained to me that he's dropped the other one.

The one for Peter Rogan.

All right, Ronald, tell Miss Ashley what you told me.

Yeah.

Well, uh, Pete, Mr. Rogan, he gave me a C-note.

To do what?

Keep an eye on her.

And?

I did.

I see you're in an apartment with Bill Grant.

You skunk.

Sit down, Miss Ashley.

All right, Ronald, that's it.

Ronald.

Well, aren't you going to say anything?

No.

Miss Ashley, you murdered Peter.

Tried to kill me.

Oh, sure.

Ronald told him about you and Grant.

Peter didn't like the idea of being two-timed, but that's not the point.

Isn't it? The point is you lied at the inquest. You told them you never gave

Peter the slightest encouragement.

Now, isn't that a funny definition of what's going on between you and Peter?

Are you going to tell the police?

No.

Why?

I'm nothing to you.

Except an inconvenience.

You're a chiseler, Miss Ashley. But my only concern is the reputation of the

Mojave. Not your reputation.

So no cops.

No cops, no scandal, no bad publicity.

Mr. Chambers, it won't happen again. I give you my word.

How many times does that make, Bill?

I swear.

I'm sending you to Mexico.

How long do I have to stay there?

Till I say come back.

Come on, Mike. Have a heart.

The ticket's waiting for you at the airport.

Call me when you get to Mexico City.

You got 35 minutes to pack.

Have a nice trip, William.

Be careful with the tequila.

Thanks.

Not you, Miss Ashley.

We're not finished.

Take me with you.

One ticket, baby. That's all there is. He fired me.

Now you're lucky that's all he did.

What'll I do?

Is that a question or a song by Berlin?

Bill, I'm desperate.

Get a job.

How? He put me on a nowhere list.

Nobody in town will hire me.

Find another guy.

Where will you be in Mexico?

Why?

I'll write. You don't even have to answer.

I'll be at the Nacional.

I'm almost broke.

Why, how much is almost?

Two hundred.

Make it last, honey.

Hasta la vista.

Same to you, you rat.

Come in.

Miss Ashley.

I hope you don't mind me coming to your room, Mr. Pliny. Of course not. I'm

delighted. Come in. Sit down. I'll have room service. Oh, no, don't bother.

I've just come to say goodbye.

Goodbye? I've lost my job.

But why?

The management doesn't like trouble.

But it wasn't your fault, Miss Ashley.

I know.

I'm not a very lucky girl.

Well, I'd better go and pack.

Thanks for being so nice.

Goodbye, Oscar.

Miss Ashley, could I be of any help?

Who'd want to help me?

I'd be happy to, Miss Ashley.

That wouldn't be fair. You've done enough already.

Eva, listen.

I know a lot of people in Los Angeles.

I'm sure I could get you a job there.

You could?

And I'll even find you a place to stay.

While you pack your things, I'll check out and get the car.

I'm going to drive it to Los Angeles.

Sure,

Oscar. Thank you, sir.

Oscar, I've been examining your work record.

I hope it's satisfactory, sir.

It's more than that. It's excellent.

Thank you, Mr. Hodges.

You know, Oscar, you remind me very much of your father.

Fine man.

Splendid worker.

We never had a better credit manager.

Oscar, do you think you could handle that job?

Credit manager?

There's nothing I want more, sir. It's been my one big dream.

Well, we'll see if we can make it come true at the next meeting of the board of

directors. I'm going to recommend you for promotion.

Now, you realize, Oscar, this will mean a considerable raise in your salary. And

I'm sure you'll be able to use that additional income. I hear you've given

up bachelorhood.

Yes, sir. I've been married almost two months now.

Oh. Happy?

Oh, yes, indeed.

Well, you deserve to be.

Tell me about her.

Well, she's exceptionally good-natured, always kind and considerate.

I... What's the matter?

Look at this room.

It's a dump.

This is how I like to see you.

How? On your knees.

Tell me something.

Why did you marry me?

Hmm? Why?

I'm curious.

I'm not rich.

Sure ain't.

I'm not handsome.

In spades.

Then why?

Little Eva was flat broke.

No job, no nothing.

And?

You're better than nothing.

Yes, indeed.

Aren't you going to fix me some dinner?

Some what?

Don't bother. I'll do it myself.

What's in the refrigerator?

Ice cubes.

What's

that,

homework?

Payroll.

Why don't you concentrate on that drink and let me finish my work?

Good morning, Oscar.

Oh, good morning, Mr. Hodges.

You know, this could be your last week behind that window.

Chances are, next week you'll have your own office as credit manager.

Mr. Hodges, I'd just like to say... Don't thank me.

You'll get that promotion.

It'll be because you worked for it.

Are you coming to the gun club tonight?

Well, yes, sir, I'll be there. Good.

Oh, by the way, I haven't met your wife yet.

When am I to have that pleasure?

Oh, we'll get around to it, sir.

Make it soon.

You know, Oscar, a wife can be very important to a man's career.

Good evening, darling.

An old friend. I've invited him for dinner.

Next, we give our stations a break.

You may take one too, if you wish.

But hurry back for our second half.

I trust that you were paying attention when the local announcer recited his

call letters.

We plan to ask questions later.

You will also be held responsible for the following minute.

Were you on a vacation in Mexico City, Mr. Grant?

No, not exactly.

Business?

I was representing a big organization down there.

Was?

I just resigned.

Oh, I see.

Something better came along here in the States.

Well, let's say that I got wind of something good and flew up here to sort

of explore the field.

What is your field, Mr. Grant?

Banking. Some more coffee, darling?

No, thanks.

I never drink coffee before I go to the gun club.

I'll be right back.

You never know, do you?

I beg your pardon?

Either.

You domesticated her.

My congratulations.

Thank you very much.

Well, I'd better hurry or I'll be late.

Who is this gun club?

Mr. Hodges at the bank founded it.

He planning to attack Washington or something?

No, it's just a security measure for the employees. We take pistol practice.

What's his target?

Old money?

I'm leaving now.

Goodbye, Danny.

Goodbye, Mr. Grant.

Nice to have met you.

What do you think?

A pushover, honey.

A piece of cake.

Oscar, what is the matter?

I really don't know, sir.

It occurs to me maybe you should see an optometrist.

You know, Oscar, you don't seem to be very enthusiastic about this target

practice. Frankly, I'm not, sir. I've never liked handling weapons, especially

guns.

Well, it's a matter of protection.

You never know when target practice may come in handy.

Yes, I know that, sir, but still, I wish it wasn't necessary.

Well, have another try.

Not too good, Oscar.

We'd better move in a little closer.

If you don't mind, Mr. Hodges, I'd rather not practice any more tonight.

I understand.

We'll call it quits.

Thank you, sir.

Oh, it's still quite early.

Shall we have a cup of coffee?

Tonight? Yes.

Call your wife, and she can join us at Barry's.

I'm afraid she can't make it tonight, sir.

Oh.

Out with the girls?

Excuse me, Mrs. Blaney. I think your husband's back from the gun club.

All right.

The comedy's over.

There's only one thing I want.

A new lasso.

A divorce.

Will you get me a drink, darling?

Yes, sweetheart.

All right, genius. You're a free man.

You'll give me a divorce?

Sure, for money.

That can be arranged.

I've saved a little.

Who said anything about a little?

I'm a greedy girl. I want a lot.

50,000.

Are you out of your mind?

Where would I get $50,000?

You know my salary at the bank.

Save the statistics.

The deal is 50 big ones.

That's impossible.

Not if you give it a little thought, genius.

You work in a bank, in a beautiful bank.

If you worked in a shoe store, I'd say, yeah, it's impossible. You can't get

pineapple juice out of a tomato.

In that bank, you handle a lot of heavy letters. I bet you it comes to hundreds

of thousands of dollars worth.

How would you know that?

Because I made it my business to find out.

Oscar, what is it that you really want? What's more important than anything?

All right, I'll tell you.

It's that big push up the ladder.

The status routine, that promotion you were talking about.

Could really be there.

Really up there.

Mr. Oscar Blini.

Credit manager of the first national mercantile.

Look at Mrs.

Oscar Blini.

Unfortunately, I have to.

It scares you, doesn't it?

It scares you what those big wheels at the bank are going to say.

Because one of these days they're going to have to look at me.

And then they're going to see what I really am.

I won't let you wreck my career.

What career?

As long as you've got me, you've got no career.

I am Mrs. Oscar.

And I'm going to stay Mrs. Oscar until you come up with the loot.

Eva, please.

50 Gs.

I can't. It's impossible.

That's too bad, genius.

Just too bad.

Some people go to church in the afternoon.

I drop in on the back.

I've got work to do, Mr. Grant.

So have I, Oscar.

So have I.

I'm here to help you.

Help me?

Absolutely.

How?

The wedding ring is too tight, and soap won't get it off.

I can get that ring off your finger.

She wants $50,000.

How much would your generous help cost me, Mr. Grant?

Not a dime.

Interested?

Maybe.

You got a slip of paper back there?

I'm under the loose change.

Why? I don't want you to get lost downtown.

Thank you.

It's a hotel in Alvarado.

Nine o'clock tonight.

Lock in room seven.

Nine o'clock on the dot.

Come on in.

Sit down.

Rest your feet.

Drink? I don't use alcohol.

Nobody'll have us, huh?

Except one.

I beg your pardon?

Eva.

I'd rather see a man undoped than hooked to the wrong game.

I'd appreciate it, Mr. Grant, if you'd get to the point.

Sure.

I know all about you, Oscar.

Really? A to Z.

The whole alphabet.

And do you want to know how I know?

How, Mr. Grant?

The information service named Eva.

I got a long letter of Mexico.

$50,000.

That's nice money.

And the way Eva figured it, she needed a bankroll like that to get what she

really wanted. Me.

You? She wants me.

But what I want isn't Eva.

I want cash.

I see.

That's why you came to Los Angeles.

You assumed I'd give her that much money.

Do I look stupid to you?

I was sure you wouldn't go for the deal.

Why?

What made you so sure?

Because I know Eva and she's got the brains of a flea.

It was a dumb stunt right out of the comic books.

I knew when I walked into your apartment.

that she'd never see that money.

I don't understand.

What, Oscar?

What do you want if it isn't my money?

I want to do you a favor, and I want to get one in return.

What favor?

Look, I've worked the whole thing out, and the way it shapes up, you get out of

that trap she's got you in. Clean.

Permanent. You get rid of little Eva forever.

How? We kill her.

Are you crazy?

Now let me go over it again and tune you in. We kill her and we do it clean. I

laid the whole thing out.

It's a dream, not a flaw in it. A perfect operation.

I can't.

Conscience?

I'm not a killer.

She'd do it.

She'd wipe you out quick as a snake if it showed up profit.

I'm not Eva.

I'm not you One of us has to do it Okay, I'll

handle that end but there's one little thing you've got to do for me Oscar What

is it You

recognize them

They're the payroll sheets.

The ones I check at home.

Good boy. They total a quarter of a million dollars.

I check the figures myself.

Does this look big enough to you?

Big enough for what?

Why, for a quarter of a million dollars. What else? In small packages.

And here's the last exhibit.

Two airplane tickets to Puerto Rico.

Who are they for?

One of them is for me. The other one is supposed to be for Eva.

You ever been to San Juan?

No.

Beautiful city.

Great racetrack.

Eva would love it.

Only she's not going to be in that plane when it makes a three-point landing in

San Juan.

Do you know where she's going to be?

She's going to be in a certain motel.

He's gonna check in there tomorrow, but she's not gonna check out you'll never

get away with a grant Now that's the beauty part because I don't register. Do

you know who registers?

A gent by the name of Granville Meet mr. Granville now take a good look because

tomorrow mr. Granville is coming to the first mercantile bank He's gonna have

that I shake case And he's gonna have some written instructions Now, all you

have to do is follow them.

Now, he's gonna walk into that bank and just disappear, and all the cops are

gonna have is a description of somebody who doesn't exist.

I can't.

I can't go through with this.

Oscar!

Sure you can. There's nothing to worry about.

A perfect crime is a fascinating thing. It can give you the biggest charge in

the world.

Now, I get rich, but you go free.

Is there anything more that either one of us could ask?

Good night, Oscar.

Thank you.

You forgot something.

What's that?

We checked the parcel.

Know what was in it, Mr. Blenny?

A bomb?

Scrap paper.

Money okay?

Yes, all accounted for and back in the vault.

You need a drink.

No, thanks, Lieutenant.

You're all right.

Now, that took guts shooting him. It certainly did.

Still, you must have been scared.

I'd be.

Huh, Mr. Blenny?

I suppose I was.

But if he were...

Bluffing? Mr. Blinney didn't know it was a bluff.

I guess the only answer to that is I wasn't thinking.

You weren't?

I acted on impulse.

Come over here a minute, please.

You ever seen him before?

No. His name's Bill Grant. He's got a place on Alvarado Street.

Here's the address.

Oh, Mr. Blenny, Mr. Hodges, Detective Rodgers. Mr. Blenny, Hodges.

You better have a look at his place.

Oh, Mr. Blenny.

We'll have to ask you to come down to headquarters with us to make a

statement. I want to stop by Grant's place on the way.

It's a slight inconvenience.

Are you sure I won't be in the way, Lieutenant?

I'm sure.

Well, we know one thing.

He's getting ready to leave town.

Yeah, plane tickets.

San Juan.

But why two tickets?

I can give you a brilliant answer.

He wasn't going alone.

Mr. Blenny?

Do you know what these are?

Yes.

Well?

They're payroll sheets.

Any idea who they might belong to?

Yes.

Me.

And how do you explain what these papers are doing here, Mr. Blenny?

I can't, Lieutenant.

Did you ever take them out of the bank?

Yes, I've taken them home, Mr. Rogers.

What for?

To check them.

It saves me time during the week.

Now, Mr. Blenny, think.

Exactly when was the last time you saw these papers?

About two weeks ago.

Where? In my apartment.

Was there anybody there with you?

Yes. Who?

My wife.

We're married, Mr. Blenny.

Let me ask you something, Mr. Blenny.

Did you know these papers were missing?

Well, yes.

What did you do?

I asked my wife if she'd seen them.

And what did your wife say, Mr. Blenny? She said no.

What is your wife's maiden name, Mr. Blaney?

Eva Ashley.

Do you own an automobile?

Yes, I do.

Does your wife drive it?

Yes, she does.

Eva, my wife.

Has there been an accident?

I'm afraid your wife is dead.

Dead?

Homicide.

Silvercrest Motel. Victim female.

Found by cleaning woman.

Room registered to Mr. and Mrs. Granville.

Description of man by motel clerk.

Medium, tall, gray.

Gray mustache.

Grand disguise.

Fritz.

Victim identified from personal effects as Eva Ashley.

Lieutenant. Yeah?

My wife, Eva.

How did she die?

Knife.

Well, that explains the payroll sheets.

She gave them to Grant.

That's what it looks like.

What I don't understand is, Lieutenant, why should she give them to Grant?

They were working together, Mr. Blenny.

At least that's what your wife thought.

Thought? It happens all the time, Mr. Blenny. Somebody double-crosses somebody

else. And there's always a woman in it.

Mr. Blenny...

You better sit down.

It's a terrible world, Lieutenant.

Yeah.

Ain't it?

Friends and fellow workers, we are gathered here tonight not only to

honor Oscar Brené, but also to reward him.

Oscar, it is my great pleasure to announce that the board of directors of

the First National Mercantile have appointed you credit manager.

And for your heroism in defending the bank, our

admiration, our gratitude...

And this check for $10,000.

As you all know, my friends, it has long been the policy of

First National Mercantile to reward individual effort.

Funny, isn't it?

Oscar, the perfect sucker.

There he is now, a hero.

Well, that's how it goes.

Some boob finally gets lucky.

A little too lucky.

Don't you think so, Rogers?

Now look at him.

The eternal fall guy.

Who would ever figure him to have enough nerve to... To what?

To pull the big one.

The perfect homicide.

get away with it oscar don't be silly

you'd never get away with anything

oscar

blinney seemed on the threshold of a contented life when suddenly there

appeared on the horizon a

No hands.