Original subtitles

For Dabney?

Yeah.

Airport.

Well, come on, let's go.

I'm in a hurry.

What is this?

Never call for a cab by phone.

Someone might be listening in.

No, Mr. Dabney.

No.

That's right.

Hang on to it.

Keep it safe.

You wouldn't... you wouldn't take the risk of shooting me?

Right again.

You'd be taking the risk.

Relax.

Next left.

Okay.

Now, now... now, you do what I say.

All right, all right.

Now... everybody... everybody out.

Out.

Come on!

Out. Go on.

Around. Around.

Come on, move it!

All right, now, uh...

uh, now, lie down on the ground.

Go on.

Lie face down.

All right.

Don't move.

How long has your son been missing, Mrs. Dabney?

A week.

He was to have had dinner with me.

He never showed up.

Please.

My son is a very responsible boy, Mr. Mannix.

He wouldn't just disappear.

Not without leaving a trace.

And that's why we called you, Mr. Mannix... to find him.

I'm sure he's fallen into bad company.

And what, uh, makes you think that, Mrs. Dabney?

Turner Dabney has one unfortunate weakness,

and it has brought him into conflict with the law.

You mean he has a prison record?

Oh, no, of course not.

But we have had to use family influence several times.

Turner Dabney...

has been known to pass counterfeit money.

But only in very small amounts.

And-and nobody knows why.

He's always had a very adequate allowance from the trust.

Mr. Mannix, you must find my son.

Well, I'll try, Mrs. Dabney.

However, I will need a little information...

Uh, bank, credit accounts, car license number...

Mr. Mannix, Turner and I have been out of touch.

That's why I came here from Boston...

So that we could renew our relationship.

I see.

What about friends, uh, girls?

He was always very popular at home,

but Turner never expressed any interest in girls.

But he loves music.

Um, ragtime, I believe it's called.

Isn't that odd?

Turner liking ragtime?

Mmm.

Well, uh, no records, no friends, uh, no girls.

Uh, you're not making it very easy, Mrs. Dabney.

This might make it easier, Mr. Mannix.

A check for $1,000.

The agreement guarantees you an additional $9,000

when you locate Turner Dabney.

Well, I'll do my very best to find your son, Mrs. Dabney.

Oh, thank you, Mr. Mannix.

- Mr. Brasher. - Mr. Mannix.

Wow.

Uh, it's too dangerous.

He'll learn too much.

Dabney has the money.

Dabney has the equipment.

Hopefully, Mannix will find them both.

Yeah, what else will he find out?

We'll stay close behind him.

What about Mrs. Hamilton?

It's my guess Dabney's told her everything.

You are a very small cog in this machine, my dear.

Please remain that way.

Let me worry about policy.

Mrs. Hamilton has been covered?

I put a tap on her phone yesterday.

Nevertheless, have Stone warn her.

Yes, sir.

Are you Herbie?

So?

I was told I could find you here.

By who?

Hey, that's a sharp tie.

I always dress sharp.

Brush my teeth, take a bath, shave every day.

Used to be in show business.

Guess the good rubs off with the bad, huh?

You interested in clothing?

Mm-hmm.

Green.

Oh.

Money, money, money.

Who isn't?

Uh, queer green.

I understand you deal.

Oh?

How'd you come to that understanding?

Oh, now, don't sell yourself short, Herbie.

You've got a reputation.

Name is Joe Mannix.

Private investigator.

For real quality, you can't beat the Treasury Department.

What's your pleasure?

Turner Dabney.

Where can I find him?

A citizen could get himself killed talking to you, Mannix.

Do you know him?

Every muscle on the street

chopping my legs off for this Turner Dabney.

Choppa, choppa, choppa.

I don't know any Turner Dabney.

I never heard of a Turner Dabney.

Double or nothing.

You want to listen?

I'm listening.

No more choppa, choppa, choppa about Turner Dabney.

Okay.

I want to deal for some counterfeit green.

Good quality.

I'm, uh, willing to hold still for a 50% bite.

Private investigator, huh?

That's some cute cover.

No can do.

The street's got the shorts.

Ever since a week.

Nobody's dealing.

Give it a try.

60%.

Even Virgil's not dealing.

When Virgil's short, everybody's short.

♪♪

I told you, Joe, Mudcat is the last of the pure.

If your Mr. Dabney wants some ragtime, this is the place.

Time for everyone to have a beer.

Time for Mudcat to greet who's here.

Baby, you... you all right?

Miss Peggy.

Always nice to see you.

Welcome, man.

I'd say you're new.

Mudcat Buchon, Joe Mannix.

Mudcat.

Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Joe.

How come we never met before?

Well, a mutual friend just told me

where to find real ragtime.

Mr. Dabney.

Turner Dabney.

Oh, that Dabney, friend Joe.

Next time you see him, tell him hello.

Doesn't he come in here?

Been a while since I seen his face.

He and his lady ain't visited this place.

Lady, huh?

I don't think I ever met her.

Mrs. Hamilton.

Lots of style, lots of fun.

Mrs. Hamilton.

Now, don't be a stranger, Joe, you hear?

Right.

Hey, bartender, give my friends another beer.

You're beautiful, Peggy.

Mrs. Hamilton.

And Mama said Dabney didn't have any lady friends.

Well, what do we do now, Joe?

Peggy, first thing in the morning,

put an ad in the personal column... um...

"Mrs. Hamilton, have news about Dabney"...

And use our phone number.

Right.

I'll, uh... I'll be right back.

I wonder if you could do me a favor, Joe.

Name it.

This 20 our friend, Dabney, left with me...

Well, uh, what about it?

It's funny money, Joe.

Brother of mine that works at the bank spotted it.

Now, could you tell our friend, Dabney,

I'm embarrassed being stuck with it.

Business ain't that good.

I'll do even better than that.

I'll return it myself.

You don't mean trouble for him, do you, friend, Joe?

Just the opposite, I hope.

Hey, man, I'm in your debt.

Sure glad we met.

Thank you very much.

There'll be no trouble, because, folks, I double.

Now I'm gonna try and keep you in the groove,

and don't nobody move.

♪♪

♪ Oh, it's you ♪

♪ Only you ♪

♪ Pretty baby ♪

♪ Yes, it's you ♪

♪ I met many ♪

♪ And I've seen plenty ♪

♪ Still I say ♪

♪ Everything is you ♪

♪ Now I try to forget... ♪

Anything?

That, uh, man at the bar with the mustache.

What about him?

I got a hunch he's interested in more than ragtime.

I'm going to, uh, sneak out the back.

You wait a couple of minutes and then take a cab home, okay?

Go ahead, Joe.

I'll stall him.

Peggy, don't start...

Joe, it's just like swimming.

Once you learn it, you never forget it.

Oh!

Oh, excuse me!

Oh, I'm so sorry.

Can I make it up and buy you a drink and apologize that way?

Some other time.

Thanks.

Are you looking for me?

That's right.

All right.

Now easy out with whatever you were reaching for,

nice and slowly.

I'm required to warn you

that you're committing a federal offense.

Anderson, Treasury Department.

Now, what do you want with me?

You're breaking the law.

How?

Carrying a counterfeit 20, mister.

Look at that lathe work and those points.

Ever see anything like it?

It's beautiful.

We call this counterfeit series Oval 22-4.

Been around for a couple of years now.

Fellow invented some kind of an emulsion transfer onto glass.

No plates or press?

The outfit's so simple it would probably fit into a camera case.

And the quality is good.

Good?

Look at the engraving, the velvet behind the portrait.

Rembrandt couldn't have done better.

Except it's still counterfeit and you spotted it right off.

Mm.

The paper isn't right.

They use all kinds of guck to age counterfeit paper:

glycerin, whale oil, rose water.

No kidding, rose water.

But they never get it exactly right.

This one's awfully close.

Is that why you were staking out Mudcat's place?

Teller at his bank tipped us.

An Oval 22-4 turned up there.

I was just nosing around.

What's your story, Mannix?

The name Turner Dabney mean anything to you?

Not a thing.

Does he have anything to do with this?

Well, I'm not sure.

And you're about to tell me

that it's a federal case, so get lost, right?

No way.

22-4 has been a federal case for three years,

and so far, zero.

We'll run a make on Turner Dabney.

You keep nosing around, Mannix.

And if you find the connection, yell.

We'd be mighty grateful.

That important, huh?

So far, it's just been a few 20s, spending money.

But if a heavy outfit got ahold of that process,

they could dump $50 million all over Europe, Asia.

It could put a smear on all U.S. currency,

which it hardly needs right now.

Yeah, it's important.

And I think I better tell you, it's probably dangerous.

Mannix.

Yeah, Peggy. What do you got?

The ad in the personals column...

It really brought out Mrs. Hamilton.

She called.

To say what?

Well, she wanted to know about Dabney.

She kept telling me he was just a passing acquaintance,

but the lady sounded really uptight.

She willing to talk?

Uh-uh.

So I stalled her and had the call traced.

Good girl, Peggy.

Where does she live?

1326 Hillside.

Are you all right?

He-he just, he just came in and-and started shooting

at-at my photographs, at everything!

Mrs. Hamilton...

I was Betty Lamont once, the actress.

Everybody knew me.

But why would anybody do this?

Look what they've done!

All my beautiful things,

from the happiest time in my life.

Are... who are you?

My name is Joe Mannix.

You answered my ad.

My secretary had your call traced.

What do you want?

I'm looking for Turner Dabney.

I'm sorry, I don't know anything about him.

Dabney is missing.

There might be a connection with what just happened.

Oh, no, that's ridiculous.

Dabney...

The-the, uh, the man was obviously just a prowler.

Tell me about Dabney.

How well do you know him?

Turner was an acquaintance.

You might... well, you might say he was a fan.

He remembered my films.

Would you tell me anything about his personal life?

Like his taste for ragtime?

No, I can't.

Mr. Mannix, I'm sorry, I can't help you.

Because you're frightened?

Because I don't know anything!

Because you're frightened.

All right, all right!

Because I'm frightened!

The best way to prevent this from happening again

is to help me find Turner Dabney.

I'm sorry.

You know, uh...

this time, it was just a warning.

Next time...

it could be the real thing.

Miss Lamont.

I'm only trying to help.

Believe me.

Dabbie printed his own money.

$20 bills.

We used to bet with them at the track.

At the two-dollar window.

Not bad.

$18 profit for each 20, even if the horse lost.

See, I knew it was like stage money.

And, well, Turner said nobody was really going to get hurt.

The track could afford it.

I don't look like Betty Lamont anymore.

But Turner treated me like I did.

So I pretended to believe him.

I did believe him.

Until he got scared and ran.

Well, you can't blame him.

His process is so good.

This counterfeiting ring found out about it.

They'll kill him for it if they have to.

Then help me find him.

I can't.

I really don't know where he is.

Well, he, uh, he didn't make a living

just passing a few 20s at the track.

How else did he spend the money?

Oh, you don't understand.

All he wanted was enough to get by on, to live on...

A little food, a little wine, to be free.

Free?

How?

Well, free to do what he liked.

To fly. He loved to fly.

He loved to fly a sailplane.

It's beautiful.

There's no motor, just the air currents.

Really very lovely.

He was an expert at it.

That's all he needed.

He had a friend who said he'd make him rich.

But he didn't want to be rich, just happy.

A friend?

What friend?

- Virgil. - Virgil?

You know, I never knew his last name.

Just Virgil.

Nobody's ever seen Virgil.

I'll settle for his phone number.

I got one bad habit, Mannix: my family.

Three girls, two boys, five fights a day.

But I got I them.

That'll buy a little peace of mind.

Take a vacation.

Mannix, you're chopping my legs off again.

Chopper, chopper.

First Dabney, now Virgil.

Why?

I keep hearing his name.

555...

2991.

Did you get anything on Virgil's number?

I had Vivian downtown trace it.

It checks out to 8429 Sage Street, Apartment 2-G.

Which just happens to have been listed

to a Marion Smith for the past three years.

Hm, maybe Virgil's a boarder.

555-2991.

Hello?

Virgil?

They're using a cheese box.

A what?

A cheese box.

It's a homemade electronic device.

It hooks into a legitimate phone

and when the the number is dialed,

the device cuts in after one ring

and automatically dials another number.

Oh, neat.

Yeah. And illegal.

Funny, I have a feeling

what you're going to do is, too.

What?

- A little bit illegal. - Hm.

Oh...!

It's nice seeing you again, Mrs. Dabney.

Oh, do come in, Mr. Mannix.

Thank you.

I hope you have news of Turner.

Oh, are you still really interested?

Well, of course.

Oh, well, well, actually,

I'm just using the name Marion Smith.

Of course.

I-I'm afraid it's out of order.

I prefer to remain anonymous, for obvious reasons.

The most important of which

is that you're straight out of Central Casting.

Now what did Mr. Brasher send for?

One concerned, aristocratic mother?

With style?

Are you suggesting I am playing a role?

And not bad, either.

Now why would I do that?

Ah, now, that's one of my questions.

Uh, so let's get to the answer.

Who wants Turner Dabney and why?

And just how much money is involved?

Okay, okay.

Brasher hired me for two weeks.

He pays well and it's been a long time between jobs.

And he told me it was legitimate.

Mm.

What else did he tell you?

Nothing.

Look, if you have any questions,

why don't you ask Mr. Brasher?

I'm sure he'll want to talk to you.

At least.

I'll try to reach him on my other phone in the kitchen.

Uh, please just make yourself comfortable.

Mr. Brasher, it's Marion.

He's here... Mannix.

Thomas, get in touch with Stone and Harrison.

Mannix is inside the Smith apartment.

I'm on my way.

No, wait.

Wait until he comes out.

I'll take care of him.

Well, what am I to do?

Delay him.

We have some men nearby.

They'll be there before he leaves.

Operator.

Operator, I seem to be having trouble with my number.

Could you give me a call, please?

The number is 555-2991.

Thank you.

I won't be involved in a killing.

That wasn't in the arrangement.

The point is, you are involved.

You just didn't read the fine print.

555...

0180... 0180.

Now, when he leaves, you lock your door.

You had nothing to do with it.

Remember that, if the police ask any questions.

All right.

Mr. Brasher's expected home any minute.

Mr. Mannix?!

♪♪

Eh, you've been a busy boy today.

Does your mother know what you do for a living?

I'll tell her.

Move.

What happened?

Peggy, that number I phoned in.

Oh, here it is, Joe: 555-0180.

I had Vivian look it up in the reverse directory.

Yeah. Where is it?

It's a private number at the Circle Arena.

Yeah... yeah, three dozen towels.

And listen, your last delivery, I was 11 short.

I want them here tomorrow morning, early.

Tuesday's travel day.

You looking for someone?

You, if you're Virgil.

What for?

Herbie sends his love.

Who?

Oh, you know... Herbie.

- Who are you? - Joe Mannix.

- Cop? - Private.

I'm clean.

You can ask my parole officer.

You set up Turner Dabney, and now they're going to kill him.

You call that clean, Virgil?

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about a man named Brasher

and some of his associates that shoot and then ask questions.

They want to kill Turner?

If they can find him.

Your cheese box is calling.

Hello.

Nothing.

Call back.

I called you a little while ago, Virgil.

How'd you know to hang up?

Oh, I know my voices.

Gotta be careful.

Ah, that's right.

You're on parole.

Look, I played pro ball for 12 years.

But once you hang 'em up,

if you don't make it in coaching or in PR,

it's all over; you're nothing.

So I passed a few phonies and I got nailed.

Double nothing.

Out on parole and right back at it.

That doesn't seem too smart, Virgil.

Look...

I get calls from lots of people I don't know

and I pass on the message to friends.

Friends, that's all.

Like Turner Dabney?

Well, I...

All right.

I connected Brasher with Turner.

But strictly as a favor, to make Turner some money.

To get him killed.

No.

Honest, Turner's a friend.

I haven't sunk that low yet.

Look, Virgil, Turner's on the run.

Where would he go?

How would I know?

You know, if Brasher gets to him first, you've lost one friend.

All right.

Turner had this idea, in case things got really heavy.

Take a sailplane up, fake a crash over the ocean

and swim away... Nobody'd ever find him.

Where would he start from?

Someplace in the desert.

He took me there once.

Pearblossom.

Look, Mannix, if there's anything that I can do...

I know I'm not much anymore, but maybe there's something.

Sure.

No, no, no... very still, Mannix.

Pick up that ball...

and put it over your head.

That's it.

Let go...

and I'll blow you apart.

Thanks, Virgil.

You're not too bright, but sometimes

you work out very well.

All right, move it.

Don't expect anything from Virgil, Mannix.

We own him.

Right, Virg?

Nobody owns me.

Good boy, Virgil.

Give me the gun.

Give...

Nobody owns anybody, huh?

♪♪

Maybe Mrs. Hamilton lied to us.

Maybe Dabney isn't even out there.

She was very frightened, Thomas.

And fear is the mother of truth.

He'll be there.

Hi. Can I help you?

Yeah, I'm looking for Turner Dabney.

Oh, that's him over there by the white glider.

Mr. Dabney?

Yeah.

What do you want?

You got change for a 20?

No, I...

Treasury?

No.

The name is Mannix.

Mrs. Hamilton is very worried about you.

Betty... Betty sent you here?

She's trying to help you.

I was hired by a Mr. Brasher,

who sent one of his men over

to take a couple of shots at Mrs. Hamilton.

You mean they tried to kill her?

Well, she's all right.

You're the one who's in trouble.

Seems Mr. Brasher

wants all that lovely green your plates can make.

Well, those plates are mine.

Yeah.

How much did you print up?

Uh... printed a little bit more than a million.

They wouldn't let me live the way I wanted to,

so I just... I had to get away.

Let me tell you something...

All that money you printed up isn't worth a plug nickel.

You got no organization,

no distributors, no way to launder it.

And now the Treasury Department

is on the lookout for every one of those bills.

I'd say that you've got only one thing you can do.

What's that?

Turn the whole bag over to the Treasury.

Plates, money, everything.

They'll put me in jail.

Well, now, when you started your little printing business,

you must have known that there was some risk involved.

Now, if you'll help keep those plates away from Brasher,

maybe the law will go easy on you.

Oh, maybe you're right.

Things are in the plane.

The money and everything.

Okay, Mr. Mannix.

Get in.

Come on!

Okay!

Let's go!

♪♪

How much longer?

We'll be over Pearblossom in six minutes.

Mr. Mannix, would you pull that red release button?

Good. Now we're on our own.

Where are we going?

Oh, just a short flight.

Hey, I'm sorry.

Here. I hate guns.

I just, uh...

I just needed some time to think.

Take all the time you need.

Just as long as you get us back in one piece.

Don't worry. I'm an expert at this, too.

This thing isn't even loaded.

Sure, I emptied it.

I didn't want any accidents to happen.

Baron Five Zero Yankee

is turning final at Pearblossom.

Look... there's Dabney.

Mannix, 5:00.

Get closer to him.

He's coming too close.

He's trying to hit us.

♪♪

Thomas?

Look out!

He can turn on a hot breath.

Just get me next to him.

Can you make it back to the airport?

Maybe.

If he doesn't knock a wing off first.

We'll have to give it a go.

Where can that sailplane go?

In circles.

Nowhere.

Take him ten minutes to get back to Pearblossom.

They haven't got ten minutes.

There they are.

Can you drop this down any?

No, we'd never make it back.

Here they come again.

Oh, boy. If they get alongside us, we're dead.

Throw out those plates.

What?

That's what they're after.

Without them, they may get off our backs.

Are you kidding?

They'll break into a million pieces.

Make a hell of a jigsaw puzzle for our friends out there.

Go on, throw them out.

Oh, boy. Oh, boy.

Oh, boy.

They threw out the plates.

Maybe that's what they want us to think.

Shoot them down.

Slower.

Slower!

We're almost stalling now.

Shoot! Shoot!

Keep this thing steady.

Just get next to him again.

I can't. He's too slow.

He's practically on the ground.

All right, all right.

Let's land. We'll get him on the ground.

♪♪

Come on out of there!

Get your hands up.

Get the gun, Ron.

Put your hands on the wing here.

Well, how did you get here, Anderson?

Mrs. Hamilton telephoned us.

They frightened her into telling them

where Mr. Dabney was.

They didn't frighten her enough, however,

to let him get killed.

Is she all right?

She's fine.

Oh, this is, uh, Dave Anderson, U.S. Treasury.

And this is Oval 22-4.

Oh. Hi.

Oh.

Hi.