Original subtitles

Is he back yet?

Hello, is Mr.

Lefferts back from lunch yet?

Tom Madrid calling.

He's back.

Mr. Heller, we are rich.

What are you going to do with your share of the money?

Well, we don't have it yet, do we?

Detail, my friend, an infinitesimal detail.

Don't be a worrier, Mr.

Heller.

Yeah, yeah, Mark.

Yes, Tom.

We have the merchandise. We're ready to deal.

Three o'clock.

Fine, we'll be there.

Bye, Mark.

We got half an hour to kill. What do you want to do?

Well, I... Look,

someone's breaking into the truck. They're after it.

Hey, get away from that car.

Oh, my God. What is this?

He's dead. I killed him.

You killed him?

I'm getting out of here.

Wait a minute.

This... Wait a minute.

Wait a minute.

Come on. Let's go. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

officer hey listen everything's under control i got one of them here they got

away in a big gray car listen i know i got their license now listen folks

everything's under control all right come on miss you're coming back to town

with me

We got a report that someone was shot and killed.

All we can find are these blood stains.

A trail all the way to the trash cans.

Maybe somebody picked them up. We'll check all the hospitals.

Jim, get Jay over here. I think we need an analysis.

Right.

Any of you get a good look at these people?

Mercy.

I waited on them.

There were three of them.

Thank you.

A man named George Heller made the bill with a credit card.

I'll run it through the credit bureau.

They arrested the girl.

Why didn't you check with the police department?

Who arrested the girl? Well, an officer. There was a uniformed police officer

here, and he took the girl away.

But HPD had no one assigned to that area.

And there was no report of a shooting or any disturbance from any man in the

force. We checked every morgue and hospital in Honolulu, Steve.

There hasn't been a shooting victim reported in 24 hours.

We can't find anyone who actually witnessed a shooting.

A lot of people heard shots, but HPD can't turn up a body anyplace.

What have we got, Che?

Dracula blood.

Dracula blood?

Those bloodstains came from a tube used by kids around Halloween.

It's called Dracula blood.

It's just vegetable coloring and a vanishing cream base.

Steve, Mr. and Mrs. George Heller in room 1007 at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.

Let's go down.

We appreciate everything you've told us, Mr. Heller. The problem is we can't find

anyone who's been murdered.

But they shot at each other. I saw guns.

I heard shots.

I saw the other man fall down.

Well, other people heard the shots, too. Ask them.

Blanks, I'd like to ask you something first.

What were you doing with this Mr. Madrid and the young lady?

Tell them, George.

We were selling something.

Diamonds. Diamonds? Whose diamonds?

A friend of Mr. Madrid's.

We were going to buy them for $100,000 and then... then sell them for $200,000.

How much should you give them, Mr. Heller, to buy these diamonds?

George.

$30,000.

Five. $35,000.

Tell him the truth, George.

$35,000.

He telephoned his broker. He sold stocks.

He called his bank. He withdrew three saving certificates.

He even paid the penalties for early withdrawals. Did you know anything about

this? No, not until he told me this afternoon.

You've been taken, Mr. Heller, by a high-class bunco operation.

I'd like you to come back to the office with us. I want to hear the whole story

from the beginning, and I want to get descriptions of the people involved.

Come on, George.

Hey, Martin, you look good when you're lying in the garbage. Thank you, Cop.

Gentlemen, the Duchess is bathed, done her nails, and awaits yet another

invitation to the ball.

Man, I've been around con men half my life, but you're the first dude I know

who talks like a con man to other con men. Surprise, Mardo. You only think

you've been around con men. Now you are around con men because Joe Connors is in

town. Hey, he sure is.

Come here, baby.

Look at them down there with their bellies and their funny shirts and

those... Fat wads of bills in their pockets and their bank accounts and

stock portfolios at home.

Pigeons.

Thousands of pigeons with thousands of dollars just waiting to be taken.

Mecca, sweetheart.

Mecca.

Well, thank you, folks. I guess we've got everything we need. We won't keep

you any longer.

You'll want us to stick around Hawaii, though, won't you?

I can't see any reason for that. You can go back home.

Won't you need my testimony?

What testimony, Mr. Heller?

At the trial.

Well, we haven't arrested anyone yet.

And what exactly would your testimony be?

That you gave a sum of money in cash to someone for some diamonds, and then the

diamonds disappeared?

You see, an important part of this con game is leaving the victim with no proof

that anything ever happened.

Now, I thank you for your offer of help, but... The only way we can nail a bunco

operation is to catch them right in the act.

If we apprehend them and we recover any cash, we'll be in touch with you.

Come on, George.

Make me a transcript of that, Terry, please.

All right, gentlemen, what do we know?

We know that at least four of them, including the girl, that they're working

the old phony diamond scam with a couple of up-to-date innovations, and they're

working at...

Up and down one of the richest stretches of beach in the world.

Now, who are they?

Where did they come from? And what is the name of the head man?

No one on the street knows who they are, Steve.

I would say that they were new to the islands.

Well, none of my contacts ever heard of a play operated with this much class.

Gentlemen, this state operates on tourism. It's a billion-dollar industry.

We're not being very good hosts if we don't keep those rip-off artists away

from our guests.

Chin, the descriptions Heller gave us.

Put them on the teletype to the mainland.

I want to know if there's a big-time bunco operator who is not on his home

territory right now. Got it.

Ben, make sure the hellers get with the HPD police artist.

I need a sketch of the girl and the man.

Right away, Steve.

What about the cars, Steve?

Somebody spotted them in a gray coupe.

Tend to one that's a rented automobile, Dano, and under a phony name. But check

the agencies anyway.

Somewhere out there, there's a well-heeled, middle-aged, married sucker

being set up right now.

Thank you, sir.

Where's your uncle's workshop?

About 10 or 15 minutes.

Is that all?

I thought it was going to take longer.

I don't understand.

Oh, nuts.

Well, I understand.

Your uncle's gone fishing.

But I brought you all the way out here for nothing.

Well... You know, I've spent all of my life in the furniture business, but

table legs don't appeal to me on a day like this.

You know a place around here where a couple of friends could have a drink?

Well... There is a neat place back in Honolulu I know about.

It's kind of in. No tourists.

Well, let's get on to Honolulu.

Uh, excuse me.

Did I hear you say you're going to Honolulu?

Maybe you did, friend, but if you're thinking of hitching a ride with us...

Well, uh, this guy was supposed to pick me up over an hour ago, and I gotta get

to town.

I think maybe something's happened to him.

How about a bus?

They only run every two hours.

A dime and a dialing finger will get him a cab in two minutes.

Well, truth is, I'll just use my last dime.

It's up to you.

Ma'am?

Hop in.

Hey, thanks.

That's it. That looks like him.

All right.

Now the girl.

Well, the girl, uh... Uh... She was, uh, blonde.

Hey. Hey, that's Jerry. That's the guy that's supposed to pick me up.

Hey, will you stop, please?

I was just getting ready to hitchhike home.

Hey, can you and your friends give me a lift? Yeah, I don't know, Jerry. I just

met him myself.

Room for one more?

Where you been this past year, buddy?

Would you believe I haven't seen this guy in a year?

Matter of fact.

Just got back from South America.

In fact, you're the first guy I called.

Uh-huh.

Hey, what's that mean, uh-huh? It means, uh-huh, you're broke.

Every time he gets down to his last dime, he uses it to call me. You have to

feed this guy money like a parking meter.

Okay, Willie, how much you need this time?

500. 500?

What do you need 500 for?

To get me to New York. Jerry, I promise.

Forty-eight hours after I get there, I'll cable it back to you.

Forty-eight hours? What are you going to do, rob a bank?

No, no, no. You see, there's this guy I met in Argentina.

He's arranging a sale for me.

And once the deal is made, I'll send it right back to you.

Sale of what? Now, come on, Willie. Don't try to con me. If you're going to

get into me for $500, I want to know what you're selling.

Okay.

This.

Hey, what'd you do? Break into the diamond exchange?

Mugshot from the New Orleans Police Department. Just got in.

Yeah? Same man, all right. Who is he?

Joe Connors. Dead time for Bunker in Louisiana.

Been out of the slammer about six months.

You know, it's a very interesting M.O.

Well, interesting, Chuck.

Uses a girl roper. You know, they work together, moving from spot to spot,

picking up local middlemen as they need them.

The Marks are mostly middle-class, middle-aged, middle-west, with fat bank

rolls and, you know, roving eyes.

That's where the guilt comes in.

Mark thinks he picked her up. They're all married, and that's why they're

reluctant to yell for the cops.

Afraid to tell Mom.

Oldest scam in the world, updated.

You know, Joe O'Connor served a hitch in the Army here.

He left Oahu after his discharge about ten years ago. So he knows the

territory.

And he probably knows where to whistle up a team.

And he knows all about the hundred...

Golden blocks of Waikiki and the 50 fat bankrolls for every block.

And he's smart.

He's smart.

Okay, let's concentrate on the girl. She's the roper.

She's the one who circulates.

And one more thing, gentlemen. This time we're chasing brains. We've got to use

our own while we're about it. This time we're hunting quail. So, it's on tiptoe.

All the way. Step on one twig and... They're airborne.

Bend. I have a couple of hundred of those sketches run off. I want one in

every hotel, every bar, shop, police car in Waikiki.

Now, I know this one is worth at least three grand.

Look, Jerry, why don't you hold on to this until I pay you back your 500?

Well, that's certainly fair.

Willie, I've known you a long time.

I know your father, I know your mother. I know you wouldn't try to cheat me in

front of two witnesses.

It's a deal.

I'm telling you, this guy is something else. You know that?

Jerry, you're the greatest.

That remark shows great perception.

And look, Jerry, I promise, in 48 hours, you'll get this back. Word of honor.

Forget it. I got a $3,000 diamond in my pocket.

Here.

Yeah. Well, thanks a lot for the ride, man.

Nice meeting you, sir.

Good luck on the deal.

Have a nice trip.

Hey, thank you.

Now, look. Friend, you think you could find a phone booth near here to... Hey,

you've got yourself a real beauty there.

I'm no expert, but I know a diamond when I see one.

Are you sure?

I'm beginning to worry.

Willie's a nice boy, but he has a touch of larceny in his soul.

I wonder if you could do me one more favor. I've got a friend who works down

at Wickersham Jewelers. That's on Cook Street.

Where'd you get this still, Jerry?

Is it worth $3,000?

It's worth a lot more.

Where'd you get it?

That's where we got it.

Oh, wow. The poor guy left his diamonds.

Oh, no. He's probably climbing the wall.

May I see those, please?

I suppose you can look.

And you don't want to say where they came from?

I don't know where they came from.

Well, I'm pretty sure where they came from.

This is the Parkins collection.

Just a guess, but if I'm right, it's worth about $200,000.

It's also hot.

Look, how about closing that lid, huh?

Jerry, where'd you get this stuff?

Forget it.

Hey, I think we... No, wait a minute.

I've got a customer for these rocks right now.

But you don't understand.

I can't... Wait a second. I'll be right back.

Hang on.

You can't sell them. They're not yours.

I know that.

They're not your pal Willie's either. They're hot.

Well, we've only got Mark's word for that.

I thought he was your friend.

Yeah.

Yeah, it's true.

Jerry, I'm authorized to offer you $200,000 for that collection right now.

Co-cash, certified check, any way you want it. And no questions asked.

But the diamonds aren't mine.

Have you got a better offer somewhere?

They're a friend's. I don't have any offer.

Your friend ain't got a better offer?

We haven't talked about it. Better than $200,000?

I said I don't know.

Because that's Todd's.

What are you planning to sell?

New York.

New York?

You think they'll touch that stuff in New York?

That's what he said.

Look, Mark, I tell you what.

I'll find out what he wants, okay?

And maybe just as soon deal with you. I don't know.

I'll get back to you.

Sure, fine, Jim.

But remember, my man won't wait very long.

Yeah, well, I'll hunt him down right away.

I'll wait for your call.

Better get back to the bank, huh?

Jerry! Did you forget something?

Oh, man!

Miss, would you know of a nice, quiet place where we could have a little talk?

You were right about the car, Steve. A rental job.

The driver's license used for identification was a phony.

They turned the car back in two hours after they ripped off Heller. That's the

corporation. Steve, I've got to make on the girl at four different places. On

the beach, in the hotels, on the prowl. Okay, she's the spotter then. Find her

and dog her, and she'll lead us to the rest. And remember, we've got to catch

them with their hands in the victim's pocket. Right.

But if you can get it here, why bother making the trip?

Who says I can get it here?

Nobody, but after you tell me what it is, somebody might.

All right.

It's 200 grand in New York, but I only get half.

The other half goes to the guy who was setting it up.

Best deal I could make.

You just made 100,000, Willie. You didn't even have to take the bus to the

airport. Oh, come on, Jerry. What are you talking about?

Willie, I have an offer of 100,000, and I can have the money to you in a few

days. An offer from who?

My generous young friend. I'm trying to save him plane fare to New York, and he

wants to cut me out of my commission.

Well, look.

If the deal's only 100 grand, where's your commission coming from?

From the seller's profit.

It's not going to cost you a dime, Willie.

Think about it.

Here. Take your gear and your diamonds. Go to some nice, safe hotel.

Take a swim, a shower, have a nice dinner, a nice sleep. Call me tomorrow,

and by then you can tell me whether or not I should make the deal for you. Now,

how about that?

I'll think about it.

Call you tomorrow.

Bye.

Missed it?

Bye.

You, uh, you said the offer was for $100,000.

Hey, you know, we've never even introduced ourselves.

Jerry Spain.

Harry McGuire.

This is Miss Moore.

How do you do?

Nice to meet you.

You said 100,000.

I know.

Your friend in the jewelry store said 200,000.

That's right.

Now, if I only knew how to raise $100,000, I could buy those diamonds

from Willie, sell them to Johnny, and make $100,000 profit.

I might be able to raise part of it.

$35,000, maybe.

Maybe my uncle could loan me some money. Say, $15,000?

Oh, but we'd still need another 50,000. Where do you go to get money like that?

Oh, well.

I guess Willie's gonna have to take that trip to New York after all.

Anyway, thanks for the lift, friends.

The drinks are on me.

Bye. Bye.

Uh, wait a minute.

Sure, she's been here a lot.

Do you remember who she was with?

A man, somebody staying in this hotel?

Yeah, sure.

Sips me a buck for a three-buck drink.

If his wife had been with him, I'd have got nothing.

Know his name?

Nah. What's he look like?

Like a tourist.

Hey, don't leave that tourist line on me. You guys are trained to recognize

your customers.

Now cooperate with the authorities, or the word will get around that you

haven't been pooling your tips.

Garrett. Yeah, Ben.

Steve, I think the girl's found a mark. I don't know his name, but he's staying

here at the Ili Kai Hotel.

Have you got a description?

Yeah, he's 5'11", well-built, brown hair, and dresses like a dude.

Just what Joe Connors ordered.

Yeah, I could start a room-to-room with a girl's sketch, but there's 1,800 rooms

here. I'll send you some help. You can contact the manager and start weeding

out the obvious ones right now.

Okay, Steve.

I'll get it, Natalie, sweetheart.

Hello.

Oh, thanks.

Chris?

Yes, it's me, Harry.

No, no, no, no. There's nothing wrong.

It's just that... Listen, Chris, I really stumbled on something really

great. It's an honest-to-goodness steal.

Well, sure, it's furniture, of course.

Mahogany.

Now, you'd have to see the way he uses that grain or you wouldn't believe it.

Now, listen, Sloan's is interested, but I think I've got the inside track with

the guy who makes it.

The only thing is, Chris, I've got to nail it down fast.

Oh, yes, Chris, I remember the maple line I bought. How can I ever forget it?

You keep reminding me.

Natalie keeps reminding me.

This is different.

My word of honor, Chris, now, if this turns out to be a dud, I'll buy back

every piece personally.

Now, that's how sure I am.

50,000.

50,000.

I said I need 50,000, Chris.

Well, that's what I need to lock it up.

50 grand.

Well, is it still on?

Did you two raise your shares?

What's wrong?

Oh, I just couldn't make it, Harry.

I've only got 10,000. That's all my uncle would lend me.

Well, what about you?

25,000, well dried up.

50, 10, 25, we're 15,000 short.

And Willie won't wait.

Now, that's no good. We might as well just forget it. No, no, no. Hold it.

Now, can you stall them?

Depends on what for.

You'll give me time to raise another 15,000.

Can you? I can try.

I'll call my brother-in-law.

Now, can you get Willie to wait?

How long? A few hours.

I can ask.

Get on the phone right away.

You know, if he was staying in town another week, we'd own a furniture store

in Grand Rapids.

On the basis of your description, gentlemen, I'd say any one of these

might be the man you're looking for.

The hotel appreciates what you're doing, gentlemen.

I just hope you don't say anything or do anything that might alarm our other

guests.

We'll talk softly.

And? Well, my brother-in-law came through like a dream.

A little bit of a nightmare, maybe, but still a dream.

$65,000. Better count it to make sure.

Here, it's for you. You count it.

Eh, let the bank count it.

I'm a very trusting fellow.

What about $1.35?

Very trusting fellow, huh?

Here.

Here's mine.

You better check that.

I may have pulled the switch on you.

Oh, forget it. We're very trusting ourselves.

Besides, we gave you phony bills.

You too.

Well, thanks a million, everybody.

Or should I say a hundred thousand?

Jerry, old buddy, next time I'm in town, I'll give you a bus.

Sure. With your last dime, which I'm certain you're going to be down to in

about six months.

Give my regards to your mother, huh?

You.

Hello, pal.

Don't you think you ought to call your friend at the jewelry store?

Yeah. Let's find a phone.

Sorry to have bothered you, sir.

Four down.

He's gone to lunch, which I think is the smartest idea for us while we're waiting

for him to come back. What do you say, huh? Something expensive?

Champagne?

Okay, Harry.

Okay, but you're getting me a little nervous. You're carrying it around like

it was yesterday's newspaper.

No problem.

Keys, please.

Let's go.

Why would either of us know who she is?

It's just a routine investigation, Mrs. McGuire.

Well, then you'll have to be satisfied with a routine answer.

No.

May we talk to your husband?

He's not here.

Do you know where he is?

No. But I know my husband doesn't know tramps like that.

Did we say she was a tramp?

You wouldn't have to if you'd seen her hanging around the pool in a couple of

cocktail napkins and making eyes at every... Mrs.

McGuire, may we please talk to you? It's very important.

It's after lunch. He should be there now.

Yeah, I'll call him.

The phone's around the corner.

Anybody got a dime?

Thanks.

Your share of the sale is now $130,000.10.

Forget it. Phone calls on me.

Very generous, huh?

Leave to powder my nose.

Don't go away.

Don't worry.

Just, uh, don't you go away.

I'll tell you what.

There are the car keys.

Now, look, I didn't mean that I don't... Oh, sweetie, it's all right.

I just want you to know that I trust you.

Be right back.

The other gentleman said you'd take care of this. He had to leave.

He what?

He had to leave.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Pete? Yeah.

Mrs. McGuire knows all about that girl. Only she doesn't want to admit it.

When you think your husband's got something going with the chick, and then

you find out he's being taken as well, you can get pretty loud, insisting it's

not happening. Yeah.

If they haven't ripped him off yet, maybe we can help those people.

Come on, let's have a talk with Harry McGuire.

The police were here.

They showed me a sketch of that tramp, and they told me what she does.

What did you get taken for, Harry?

How much did they swindle you out of?

A jumper, Mr. McGarrett, 15th floor.

Is his name Harry McGuire?

How'd you know?

He jumped.

The creep actually jumped.

You know, I was 18 years old when I ran my first con, less than half a mile from

this apartment building.

If I had to go into court tomorrow and swear under oath how many suckers I've

taken since then and in how many states, I'd have to go to jail for not being

able to remember.

But this is the first time anybody ever did this to me.

And what are we taking for?

65,000?

Peanuts.

Cindy, you knew him better than I did. What about the guy? Was he...

Was he unstable or something?

Didn't seem like it.

I don't understand it.

Must have cut too deep.

$65,000?

The guy had a fancy furniture store in Grand Rapids.

You heard Cindy's run down on him?

Running to the cops, sure, you expect that, but jumping out of windows.

This guy had to be some kind of nut.

Yeah, but where does that leave us, Joe? I mean, this kind of thing could heat up

the whole town.

Well, there's another thing.

The whole play in this town has been based on two objectives.

Make a pile fast and get out before McGarrett gets a beat on us.

That's a very smart cop, I'm told.

And I want to be a long way away from here before his radar picks me up.

And this jerk has to jump.

And how are you going to keep McGarrett off your back with Marks jumping out of

windows on you?

You think we ought to pack it up, Joe?

Sweetheart, that's like giving up an inheritance.

Now, if McGarrett's as smart as everybody says he is, he's run a make on

me by now.

But he'll be thinking if Connors is smart, he'll be on the first plane out

of here. So that gives us time for maybe just one more.

A plump one. A quickie. In and out. Get away money while McGarrett's watching

the airport.

Okay? One more?

One more.

Start wiggling, baby.

Get us a fat one, only this time... Don't pick a sore loser, OK?

OK.

She found the mark.

His name's Anderson.

He's here with a convention of meatpackers.

He's got reservations through the 18th.

He's alone and ready.

Okay, Dano.

Let's see, today he takes the ride.

He sees the phony diamonds and he hears the phony appraisal. Now, if they're

using the same M.O. on him that they used on Heller and McGuire... Tomorrow

he'll be calling for money.

He'll have it by the 16th. Then he'll call for more.

That brings us to the 18th.

What time is his plane leaving on the 18th? 3.30 in the afternoon.

Just like the other two, all the way down the line.

Okay, Dono.

Just stay with him.

Right.

I want to call a friend.

You won't let anybody steal it, will you?

No, ma'am.

Thank you.

You're welcome, sir.

Excuse me, ma'am.

You know your tire is low?

No, I didn't.

Excuse me.

You and your friend are being tailed.

I thought you ought to know.

Why? Just returning a favor.

Thanks.

Thank you, ma'am.

Any problems?

Not a one.

I'm at Seaview, Amber's Restaurant, Warner Road and 3rd.

I think this is the payoff.

Two for lunch?

Oh, we're meeting the Mr. Palmer. Has he come in yet?

Yes, he has.

Will you follow me, please?

I'll be with you in a minute. Sure. This way.

Mr. Anderson, good to see you.

Sit down. Thank you.

Where's Miss Moore?

She said she'd be right in.

What about your friend Willie?

I'm expecting to hear from him any minute.

I take it you were able to, uh... $45,000.

There and there.

Seaview Amber, good afternoon. May I help you? Yes, is there a Mr. Palmer

there? Mr. Palmer?

Yes, he is. One minute, please.

For me?

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Excuse me.

Hello.

You're taking that with you?

Yeah, I got my lunch in it.

Thanks, I'll... See you back at the apartment.

Willie, don't go in there.

Let's go.

What's wrong?

The deal's off.

But I thought it was all arranged.

What happened?

He upped the ante on us. He wants another 20,000.

I don't have that kind of money. Besides, I don't do business that way.

I'm sorry, Mr. Anderson, it's no sale.

Something went wrong. No payoff.

Let's call Steve.

McGarrett. Yeah, Dano.

What?

Where's Anderson?

He's still there? All right, wait for me. I'll be with you in five minutes.

I want to thank you guys, all of you.

If Cindy and me ever decide to set up another scam in the islands, believe me,

we're gonna call you.

Who is it?

Alex Anderson.

Mr. Anderson.

What is it? I was just getting ready to leave.

I just raised the extra 20,000.

You what?

There it is.

65 altogether.

Can you get in touch with your friend, Willie?

He hasn't gone to New York yet, has he?

Mr. Anderson,

you've just made me an offer it would take an angel to refuse.

I'll call him right away.

Don't bother, Cunners.

You're under arrest. Okay, boys.

Who are you?

What is all this?

McGarrett.

What's this about?

Oh, you know what it's about. You just received $65,000 fraudulently from Mr.

Anderson.

How are you going to prove that?

If you look closely, you'll see a little red mark on those bills right above

where it says, in God we trust.

Now, we gave that money to Mr. Anderson to give to you.

We figured it wouldn't take much persuasion for you to accept it.

You conned me.

A dumb cop and you conned me. Me, Joe Connors. How does it feel?

How does it feel to be conned by a dumb cop?