Original subtitles

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

you hold in your hands the life of this girl.

A child in years

who sits before you accused of having taken a human life.

Throughout this trial

she has been dragged through a mile of fifth.

Her very soul lay bare.

But the state might convince you of her guilt.

You see before you a mother,

who twenty years ago, bore a child.

This child came into the world knowing neither good nor evil.

Its character was formed by whom?

Under what influence?

She grew to girlhood, ignorant of life and of all the dangers which confront the ignorant.

While this mother, who's puritanical narrowness

in seeking to keep her daughter innocent.

What's that you're reading, Helen?

It's a book Miss Wright gave me.

The idea of a school teacher giving out things

like this to a young girl to read,

putting horrible ideas in their head.

But, Mother, what's wrong with it?

What's wrong with it?

You're not old enough to understand

and until you are I don't want you to know

that such things even exist.

But Miss Wright said that I ought to know at my age.

I'm the best judge of that.

I'm going to the school board tomorrow

and if I have my way, Miss Wright will be teaching somewhere else.

The idea.

But, Mother, all the other girls seem to know about getting married

and that sort of thing.

Listen, young lady, the time for you to learn those things

is after you're married.

After I've tried so hard to bring you up

to be sweet and innocent.

When this girl stood upon the threshold of womanhood,

the warm blood of youth crying for emotional outlet,

did this mother take her to her heart

and explain the inevitable consequence of falling?

Did she invite her confidence and share her problems?

No.

She did not.

Mother, don't cry.

Mother.

You who have daughters, do you know how or where they spend their leisure hours?

Perhaps in a devil's playground,

so aptly termed by the District Attorney

in describing the clubhouse

where this child shed the white robe of innocence

for the scarlet cloak of shame.

I want you to meet the new candidate for membership,

none other than Helen Mason!

Give the little girl a big drink.

Well, here it is.

Come and get it.

Oh, Jimmy.

They're wild.

Look at those two over there in the corner.

Honey, it's okay, really.

Well, I don't know, why, we better go.

- My mother wouldn't like this at all. - It's okay, darling.

But I wouldn't know how to act, what'll I do?

Listen, darling, you just be your own sweet self and I'll take care of you.

Oh, I don't think we better stay, Jimmy.

- Hiyya, Red. - Hiyya, pal, here you are.

Grape juice.

It was grape juice.

- Is it all right, Jimmy? - Sure, it's okay, honey.

Well, mud in your eye.

Well, here you are.

Listen, folks, if she's gonna be a new member

we gotta have initiation.

All right.

All right, Mr. Chairman, I'll turn the meeting over to you.

Thank you.

Silence.

Silence!

Say, what kind of a chairman am I anyway.

Silence.

Ladies and gentlemen, be seated.

You see before you a candidate for membership

in the Fraternal Order of Pink Elephants.

Silence, silence.

She is free, white and under 21.

How free is she?

All those desirous of accepting the young lady as a Pink Elephants

give the customary sign.

Raise you're right hand.

Do you hereby agree to obey all rules of the order?

Yes.

Then let the committee step forward and proceed with the ceremonies.

Now don't forget to bring back the pieces.

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, isn't this great?

- What are you going to do to me? - You'll find out.

What are you gonna do?

Come on, off with the dress.

No, not in front of everybody, no!

No, no!

No, I won't take off my dress.

We haven't seen anything yet.

Come on, take it off, come on, you can't be a member of the Pink Elephant like this!

No, no!

Here we go.

Oh boy, now we're getting some place.

No!

Stop, stop, stop it!

No, no, I'm telling you.

Oh, look what I have.

Oh boy!

Look at the little pink elephant!

Look at our little pink elephant.

Oh, what a shape.

Isn't she sweet?

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.

It's the cops, beat it, we're pinched!

Head for the back door, head for the back door.

It's all right, Helen, come on out.

- Are you all right, honey? - Uh-huh.

You are now a member of the Pink Elephant.

- I know what you need. - What do I need?

You need a little drink.

- Drink? - Sure.

Here.

Good?

Man.

It's good stuff.

It's awful hot in here.

Can't we open the window or something?

Heck no, listen, come on outside and I'll take you for a little walk.

- All right. - Wanna go?

- Yeah, I'd like to. - Come on.

So warm, you know.

Say...

How do you feel when you get drunk?

You come outside, honey, and I'll tell you all about it.

All right.

Whoa-ah!

I got it, I got it!

- Let's sit down here, honey. - All right, darling.

Give me another little drink, would yah?

Sure.

Good.

- Do you mind? - No, I don't mind.

How many such clubhouses exist in this very city?

Does anyone know?

Does anyone care?

You who have daughters,

how much have you told them of life and illicit love?

How many of you parents have your children's confidences?

How many of you share their childish problems?

- Helen? - Yes, Mother?

Aren't you coming to breakfast?

I've called you three times.

Now you hurry and eat your breakfast before you are late for school.

I'm not hungry.

You haven't even tried to eat.

I don't want anything.

Listen, young lady, I'm tired of having good food wasted on your account.

Eat your breakfast.

How do you feel?

No better?

We've got half an hour before school.

Let's go some place where we can talk.

Let's, oh, Jimmy, I can't go to school.

I can't face anybody.

Why didn't you tell your mother the whole story?

A girl's mother would stick up for her no matter what happened.

Not my mother, oh, Jimmy,

you're the only one I'm counting on, don't let me down.

If you don't stick up for me, I'll go crazy!

I'm not letting you down.

There's nothing I wouldn't do for you, honey.

I mean it.

Let's do like I said, let's get married.

Where could we go?

Let's go to New York.

- Jimmy? - Sure, sure.

We could drive it in a couple of days.

But you haven't any money.

No, not much.

I've got to go soon, Jimmy.

We'll go tonight.

Sure, I'll meet you after school and we'll leave from there.

But I'll have to pack my clothes.

No, no don't, leave them.

If you pack your drift, they'll be looking for us all over.

If you don't, you've just disappeared.

They won't know where to look for us.

All right.

I'll leave it up to you, Jimmy.

You're sweet.

- Yes sir? - Fill her up.

That will be a $1.27.

Better bring me a quart of oil while I get some air.

Okay.

But we haven't any money, have we?

Don't worry, honey, I'll take care of it.

Better leave the motor running.

Oh my God!

Jimmy, what happened.

Oh, Jimmy, Jimmy, you're hurt, you are.

- You're hurt, oh God. - Get away, get away please.

Quick, get out of this, honey.

I'll hold you.

Ah, don't'!

No, oh, Jimmy!

Why did you do that!

Oh, what's going to happen to us?

Jimmy, Jimmy!

Oh, oh, what's going to become of me now?

Oh, Jimmy.

Oh!

No, she left for school yesterday morning as usual.

But I found out she didn't go to school.

I've called all her friends' homes but they haven't seen her.

I am frantic, she's never done anything like that before.

Most certainly not.

Helen has no boyfriends.

And we'd had no quarrel.

Yes, I've called the hospital.

Oh, I can't imagine why she'd do anything like that.

All right.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

Well, you're leaving us?

Yes, I left the baby clothes.

I thought perhaps, you could give them to somebody else who could use them.

I will, that's very kind of you, my dear.

How about your forwarding address in case any mail comes?

There won't be any mail.

Goodbye.

Oh, this could never happen to my child, you say.

Well, it has happened to this child.

What's the matter, sister, lose something?

Sorry if I frightened you.

You live around here?

No.

You are living and that's something.

You look kind of hungry, kid.

Think you could stand a hamburger?

Well, I could eat a hamburger.

Okay, let's go.

Say, here's one, honey.

Young man wanted to drive milk truck, must be college graduate.

Sounds all right, huh?

Oh-oh, 50 dollars cash bond required.

Well, that's out.

Here's another one.

Man and wife wanted to work small farm.

Listen, Bill, why don't you try to get your old job back on the newspaper?

Or some other newspaper for that matter.

No use, darling.

Been canned off of all of them

and there's none left to try.

I'll answer it.

Hello?

Yes.

Oh, yes, thank you.

I'll be right over.

Hey, what's all the excitement about?

It's a man who's putting on the dances for the cafe

and he wants me to come right over and try out for a job.

Say, that's great, kid, I hope you get it.

Me too.

Do your best now, I'm betting on you.

If I don't get it it won't be for lack of trying.

That a girl.

Bill, you know, you've had so much confidence in me

that I'm beginning to have confidence in myself.

Well, why not, huh?

Bye.

Good luck.

Ready?

That's fine, girls, sit down.

You're next, little girl.

Okay, that's fine.

All right, now we'll try that little girl over in the corner.

- Do I get the job? - Yes, you get the job.

Report for rehearsal tomorrow morning at nine o'clock.

- Oh, thank you. - You're welcome.

All right, little girl.

Yes you, with the red hair.

- Hello? - Bill, listen, Bill, I got the job.

Oh, say, that's great, kid.

I'm tickled to death.

I hope you knock 'em cold.

But you know, I always said you were good.

Thanks, I knew you'd be glad.

I'll be home in a little while, goodbye.

- Evening, Mr. Hill, I'm glad to see yah. - Good evening.

- Hello, Al, want to sit down? - Thank you.

Have a drink?

No, I'm through for the night.

- This is for you, Helen. - For me?

- Oh, I have some flowers. - I bet they're dandelions.

They couldn't be much good, how long as this been going on, huh?

They're kind of cute.

- Give us a smell. - Oh, go on, you already got a smell.

- Oh, yeah? - I bet he found them in a graveyard.

- Who's the new girl in the lineup tonight? - I don't know.

I've been trying to place her all evening.

Her name's, um...

Wilson.

I've seen her somewhere before but I can't figure out what show.

A cute pair of legs.

Yeah.

Want me to fix it up for yah?

All right.

Hiyya, bright eyes.

Miss Wilson, could I see you outside a minute, please?

Why, yes.

Say, what's the idea of walking in here like this?

What's it to yah?

Yeah, why don't you stay outside where you belong

instead of coming in here trying to promote girls for your friends?

Keep your pants on, sister, my friends have got the dough to pay for what they want.

Yeah.

Well, be strong, Wilson, and say no.

Those girls in there always clowning.

Now listen, Helen.

A friend of mine out front has a terrible crush on you.

He knows I'm handling publicity for the cafe

and he insisted that I introduce you to him.

He's got it bad.

Been raving nervous since he saw you.

I'm afraid it's no use, Mr. Brent.

But, Helen, he's got money.

If you get on well together he can do a lot for you.

What do you say?

Well, I say, thanks anyway.

Well, you know your own business

but this old boy's on the level.

If he likes a girl she can name the make of her own car

and diamonds, say he spends like a prince.

What harm would it do just to meet him?

No.

Now listen, Helen, you know this is no place

to put on a high hat.

After all, I've got influence around here

and you better stand in right with me.

You won't get anywhere without publicity.

Not in this game.

What do you say?

Well.

So the answer is no?

Yes.

It's gonna take a couple of days,

she's new in the business but she'll come around.

- Leave it to me. - All right, Al.

- Oh, Al? - Hello, Marie, hello, Nate.

Who's the new girl in the lineup tonight?

You're wasting your time, Marie.

She's already spoken for.

But I'll give you her address after Hill gets a serve of her.

Oh, I see, one of Hill's huh?

Yup.

This is her room.

Well, we'll deliver her things over.

What did you want her for?

What did she do?

You see, the girl we're looking for,

we want her as an accomplice in the holdup and the murder.

Where does she work?

I don't know.

She started to work in some cafe, dancing.

Nothing here that proves this girl is Helen Mason.

Just a moment, girls.

Sorry to break in on you girls like this,

but I'm looking for a Helen Wilson.

Do you know where she lives?

- No. - No!

I haven't seen her since she quit here a month ago.

Have you any idea where I could get a hold of her?

No.

Did she have a boyfriend or a girlfriend?

- No. - No, I don't know her boyfriend either.

All right, girls.

Thanks.

Hello, Sergeant.

Who are you looking for?

Hello, Al.

I'm just trying to locate Helen Wilson, who worked here a couple of months ago.

Helen Wilson?

What's she wanted for?

Oh, the chief just wants to question her about a little killing

at a gas station in Ohio about six months ago.

Ohio?

Oh yeah.

Yeah, I remember the incident.

Well, I'll be seeing ya.

Oh, hello, Mrs. Wagner.

Hello, dear.

I'm all through doing up your room.

Oh, thank you.

Come in.

Do me a favor and taste this soup.

I just tried out a new recipe.

It smells awfully good.

You're so good to me.

You're a good girl yourself, dear.

You know, I have a good girl of my own.

I appreciate them.

But I'll have to run now and get Betty's dinner.

She'll be home soon.

She's always starving.

- Oh, Mrs. Wagner. - Yes, dear?

I, uh, I haven't my rent money yet.

Don't worry about that, dear.

You'll have a position soon.

We all have hard times.

We have to take the bitter with the sweet, you know.

And as long as Betty and I have a home, you're welcome to share it.

Oh, thank you, Mrs. Wagner.

Hello, Mom!

Oh, Helen, I got you a job at my dancing school.

- Aren't I smart? - Really?

Sure I did, I've been raving to Miss Bell about what a swell dancer you are,

and she's going to put you on as an instructor.

All you have to do is report for work tomorrow.

Oh, Betty, you're a dear.

See, I told you not to worry about anything.

And you better not be late either.

Hey, I'll be ahead of time.

That's it, Kitty.

Girls, a little faster. Watch the lines.

That's fine.

That was tough luck.

I'm going downtown.

May I give you a lift?

Oh, thank you, I'm awfully late.

That's all for this lesson, girls.

That was fine.

Now, all those who wish to stay for the afternoon classes,

report right after lunch.

We'll be on Broadway yet.

Thank you very much.

You're quite welcome.

- Hello, Helen. - Well, hello there, dear.

Will you watch the office, honey?

I'll be back in about 10 minutes.

The chief just wants to question her about a little killing

at a gas station in Ohio about six months ago.

Ohio?

Hello, Al.

You're just the fellow I want to see.

What's on your mind, Marie?

Hill and his gang are coming here tonight.

I've got to line up some girls.

I'm depending on you to get them.

Leave it to me.

I'll have 'em here, plenty of 'em.

None of those tramps you've been sending me.

Now listen, Marie, I just found out that a girlfriend of mine

is working in a school down the street

where there's a lot of swell-lookin' young kids.

They'll do anything she tells 'em.

Fine.

And, incidentally, I have something on her.

Get it?

Something on her, eh?

Plenty.

Wait a minute.

Hello?

Hello.

Is Miss Wilson in?

This is Mrs. VanLauren's butler speaking.

Mrs. VanLauren would like to engage a troupe of young dancers

for her house party this evening.

Can that be arranged?

Oh, yes, I'm sure it can.

Thank you.

Okay.

Oh, Helen.

A Mrs. VanLauren wants some girls to dance at a house party tonight.

They asked for you, but I told 'em you weren't here.

VanLauren?

I don't know anyone by that name.

I guess he must have heard of you.

They said to bring costumes and be there at 9:00.

Here's the address.

Oh, can I go?

Oh, of course you can go.

38-14 Perry Lane.

Oh, you!

Well, having a good time, boys?

Yes, but how long before those girls are coming up?

Say, don't you worry, they'll be along.

What's wrong with your drink?

Hey!

Champagne for these boys.

- What's the idea? - Thank you, I'm just drinking mine.

Yes, good evening, girls.

Come on in, make yourselves at home.

Brooks, could you show the girls where to put their wraps please?

Oh, Al?

Well, how are they?

Did I do all right?

Well, for once you got them young enough.

Shall we put our costumes on now?

Don't bother now, dear.

Come on and meet some of the guests.

Come on.

Well, Helen, this is a surprise.

Why, Mr. Brent.

Not Mr. Brent.

Call me Al.

You know, I'd often wondered what became of you.

Dearie, I want you to meet a nice man, and terribly rich, Mr. Brown.

- How do you do? - Well, pretty good.

Surprise.

See what I brought you?

Oh, both of them?

Well, uh... if you like.

Oh.

Thank you.

Pardon me.

I thought maybe you'd gone back to Ohio.

Why Ohio?

Listen, sister, you can't kid me.

Don't you remember the day I drove into the gas station

just as you and your boyfriend bumped off the service guy?

Now, don't get excited.

I wouldn't tip off the cops.

I'm gonna help you.

You don't think I'd let you do 20 years in the big house, do ya?

Do you realize what that would mean?

Twenty years behind those gray walls,

shut away from the world in a living hell,

rotting your youth away in the stench of musty cells!

You'd come out an old woman, skinny and yellow with prison pallor.

You'd be toothless and broken from work in the mills.

You'd die a thousand deaths before you saw the sunshine again,

and before they were through with ya, you'd wish you were dead.

Well, what do you want?

Well, I don't want that to happen to you.

What would it get me?

Now, we're gonna make a lot of money together, sister.

Now, listen, I've got a lot of friends with money.

I introduce 'em to girls, young girls, pretty girls.

They're willing to pay for their fun.

But I've gotta have the girls, and that's where you come in.

You're gonna keep your job at that dancing school,

and you're gonna meet girls, plenty of 'em.

Some of 'em'll listen to reason.

You're gonna sell 'em the idea of easy money, and then send 'em to me.

But I can't, I can't!

Yes, you can.

I'm gonna help you.

You're gonna help me.

Understand?

This is swell.

Have a drink, you'll like it.

- I think I've had enough. - Oh, come on, I'm 15 ahead of ya.

- Come on, you'll like it. - All right.

I think I'll have a few more maybe.

Having a good time?

Oh, yes.

Mr. Jones likes you, dearie.

He has plenty of money, more than he knows what to do with,

and he likes to spend it on a pretty girl.

Oh, does he?

You should have lots of nice clothes and pretty things

to show off your beauty.

I'm afraid it'll be a long time before I can afford that.

Well, if you're a sensible little girl, and don't talk too much,

you can have anything you want.

Be nice to him.

Hi, Betty.

How would you like to have little drink like this?

- Happy days. - And happy nights!

Well, Helen, I'm depending on you.

Hello, Mr. Hill.

Hello, Al!

Mr. Hill, this is Helen.

Helen, I'm glad to know you.

I think you're a very nice little girl,

and I think that I have a lot of nice things arranged for you

that you're going to like.

Haven't I seen you someplace before, dancing in a cafe?

It--it must have been a different woman.

It was a different woman.

Dearie, I don't believe you're having a good time.

Oh, yes, I am.

Would you like to go over and have a nice drink with me?

- Oh, I'd love it. - Come on.

Well, hello.

Hello there.

So you two know each other?

Do we know each other?

I took her for a ride.

Well, buy us a drink.

Sure.

- Here's health. - Is this all right?

Of course, dear.

Listen, we've got a lot to talk over.

Come on.

Uh, play this one right here, honey, this one right here.

All right.

Aw, I've lost my dress now.

Give me that dress.

Sure, baby, huh?

Come on, just one is all.

One more little drinky won't hurt you.

That's a girl.

Now, isn't that nice, hm?

Isn't that nice?

Why, sure.

You're just the sweetest little thing, you know?

She know you're out late, hm?

We'll feel the love later, right?

Say, would you excuse me a minute?

What's the matter?

Well, I want to see about one of my girls.

She should have left for home long before this.

Oh, that's all right, little girl, you just go ahead.

Betty, come on, you're going home.

What's the idea?

Yeah, what's the idea?

Al's gonna be my boyfriend.

Aren't you, honey?

You bet.

Al, you stay away from her, I mean it.

She's only a kid.

She's got to go home, come on.

All right, I'll get her a taxi.

Come on, Betty.

I've been looking all over for you.

I'm going home.

But you can't run out on me like this.

You're my girl.

Please.

But I won't let you go.

She's gone anyway.

Aw, what a sweet little armful.

Give me a kiss.

One pair, and how many do you want?

- Three. - Three card over here.

- What have you got, what have you got over here? - Nothing.

Okay, baby, take 'em off.

You said you'd be a good sport.

Come on, baby, this game's over.

Come on.

Okay, just once.

There we go.

Sergeant.

You remember that little girl that disappeared

a couple of months ago?

She was a pupil in that dancing school over on Boyer Street.

Yes, Chief, I remember.

Hm.

Well, here's another one.

A woman just phoned that she hadn't seen her girl since the night before last.

She's a pupil in the same dancing school.

Hm, think we better give that joint a lookover?

Yeah.

See if there isn't someone over there giving these kids a bum steer.

Here's the address.

And here's a picture of the kid who disappeared a couple of nights ago.

Her name is Betty Wagner.

You couldn't find this Helen Wilson.

She wasn't at the dance school.

We got all that stuff out of her desk and locker.

It looks like we've got all the dope right here.

- Better pick her up. - Yeah.

Hello?

Is this Ms. Helen Wilson?

Yes, what is it?

She asked for you.

You better come right over.

Oh, Betty.

I'd like to get my hands on the man that butchered that girl.

Don't close your eyes.

Don't, Betty!

Don't!

Don't go!

Oh, don't leave me, Betty!

Don't die!

Oh, don't take her away!

Don't take her!

You! You did this!

You killed my baby!

You did it, you murderess!

Get out, get out, get out!

Betty!

Get out, get out, get out, get out!

Get out, get out!

Wait a minute.

You got anything there on Helen Wilson?

Okay.

Her real name is Helen Mason, wanted in Ohio.

Aiding in robbery and murder.

Say, we had a pickup order on her.

All right, bring her in.

Okay, Chief.

Come on, boys.

Hey, do you wanna talk to this newspaper reporter?

Sure, he wants to talk to me.

We're old friends.

Hello, Billy.

Well, what's new?

If you want a good story, you better go along with those guys.

But make it snappy, they're on their way.

Thanks a lot, Cap.

Hey, wait a minute!

What do you want with me?

What's the matter?

I told you if you harmed Betty, I'd kill you.

So what?

She's dead.

Dead?

Well...

There's--there's not much we can do now, is there?

Oh, yes, there is.

Helen!

- Bill! - Helen!

You didn't do this, did you?

Yes, I did, I shot him!

Just like this.

Helen.

All right, kid, everything will be all right.

Don't cry now.

Everything will be all right.

This girl exterminated a vile creature

who preyed upon the virtue of children.

The case of this unfortunate girl is an indictment against guilty parents.

Against every mother in every land.

Against you and you and you.

There sits the real culprit.

That mother clutching her to breast the victim of her own neglect.

That mother, who too late has awakened to the responsibilities of parenthood,

and now sits a broken, pathetic figure,

clutching frantically to the child she has made an outcast.

Just don't cry.

Ladies and gentlemen, are you going to leave this courtroom

with this girl's blood upon your hands and consciences?

No.

I thank you.

The defense rests, Your Honor.

Ladies and gentlemen, the state has listened with somewhat amused interest

to the impassioned plea of the defense counsel.

And for eloquence and real dramatic action,

I'm afraid I can't compete with him.

But this is not a revival meeting!

This is a temple of justice.

And here the laws you make must be enforced,

or our entire social structure crash.

This defendant, Helen Mason, is guilty of a crime:

cold-blooded and premeditated murder.

There is no question as to her guilt.

The defense counsel has tried to incite you to sympathy, ladies and gentlemen.

But has he said one word in denial of the fact

that his client has taken a human life?

No, he has not.

Why, the defendant herself has admitted firing the shot

that killed Alfred Brent.

Premeditated murder has no justification.

Thou shalt not kill.

That's all.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

you have heard the evidence in the case of The People versus Helen Mason.

And while there's a very human side to the case,

you are warned not to let your judgment be swayed by your emotions.

You will retire to the jury room in the custody of a bailiff.

There, you will elect yourselves a foreman.

The court warns you that during your deliberations

you must talk or communicate with no one.

Your verdict must be unanimous.

Still 11 to 1.

One for conviction, why?

Because I'm not sure.

Listen, when I came here, I swore to do my duty as I saw it.

The girl killed a man, didn't she?

He wasn't a man.

He deserved killing.

Supposing the girl he betrayed had been your daughter.

What then?

Well, I... I don't know.

I know.

You'da shot him without question.

Be brave, dear.

Mother's here with you.

I'll stand by you to the finish.

Oh, Mother.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

have you agreed upon a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

I can't face it.

- Order in the court! - Helen! Helen!

Oh, God forgive me.