All language subtitles for Flamingo Road 1949

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There's a Flamingo Road
in every town.

It is the street
of social success,

the avenue of achievement,
the golden goal

for all who struggle and aspire
to reach the top,

and sometimes find
that from the top,

there's no other place to go.

And so, in Boldon City,

a small town with people
of big dreams,

their Flamingo Road had
touched them all with ambition.

The political factions
who killed flies

on the porch
of the Palmer House,

the big timers who killed
care at Lute Mae's,

a place that had
been called many things,

most recently a road house,

the Tony Night Club
set who sip champagne,

the gang at Pete's cafe
who dunk doughnuts,

even the gaudy show folks
with Coyne's Carnival

who once a year
set up their tents

on the wrong side of the tracks.

...corners of the Earth!

We have none other
than Bonnieta,

300 pounds of loving.

She shakes and shimmies
like the jelly

on your grandmother's table.

- Also, on the inside...
- You won't see it

again for another year.
Only in town once a year, folks!

All right, then!
Glad to see you.

Hey, hey! Hey, hey! Come in!
Come in, folks, come in!

Hurry, hurry, hurry!

The big-time show.

The biggest show on wheels!

12 cars of outstanding
attractions brought to you

from the four corners
of the Earth.

Hey, hey!
Hey, hey! Hurry, hurry!

Right this way
for that featured attraction.

Those masked beauties
of the Sultan's harem,

in exotic, tantalizing,

captivating dances
of the Far East

as you've always wanted
to see them.

It's spicy! It's daring!

It's a thing to take
your breath away!

A dance to make the old men
young and the young men old!

A dance, gentlemen,
which is a replica,

An exact replica of the dance

that you would expect
to see in the Far East.

I can see that you're all men
of the world,

traveled and sophisticated.

But you, gentlemen, I'm sure
each and every one of you

will understand and appreciate
the unveiled beauty

which will be yours
for the small price of 10 cents,

one dime,
the tenth part of a dollar!

Every year you've been
telling me the same thing.

"Next season will be better."

But it ain't.
Now I want my money.

Rent for the carnival lot,
the light bills,

and the money
I loaned you two years ago.

But, sir, I just don't have the
necessary funds at the moment.

Things in the entertainment
world are at a low ebb, sir.

Yes, sir, the tide
is sure enough out.

Now, sir, if you'll just give me
a little bit more time, I...

All the time I'm gonna give you

is the time that it takes me
to go uptown,

get an attachment
against your show,

and find the sheriff
to serve the papers.

I'm gonna take your show.

That's what I'm gonna do.

The young ladies
will unveil briefly,

the box office will open,
and the big show

will continue on the inside.

And, now, ladies and gentlemen,
if you'll be kind enough

to step up to the box office,
the young lady will oblige you

by selling you the ticket
and the big show...

Hurry it up, girls.
We're folding the show!

Not again, Tom!

Get out of those costumes.

- Get going, girls.
- Here we go again, kids.

Run, run, run.
What do they think we are?

Three blind mice?

Tell them to strike the canvas
and get loaded.

We got to beat an attachment
across the state line!

Get yourself together, girls.

The sheriff's breathing down
our necks.

Hello, there, Sheriff!

Hi, Sheriff Semple, sir!

- Boatright!
- Yes, sir.

Boatright, where's
my other chair at?

Goodness, Sheriff,
if it ain't...

I remember once before I didn't
have me a chair for my hat.

It dropped to the floor.
I had to pick it up myself.

Yes, sir.

- Boatright?
- Yes, sir?

Whatever happened
to that other boy?

I don't know. I guess maybe
he's still in jail.

Here we are, Sheriff.

Yes, everything's
gonna be all right now.

Yes, sir.

Everything's gonna be
all right now.

- You want to see me, Sheriff?
- What have you been doing, bub?

Fishing.

I didn't figure you'd be
fool enough to do any work

on the county time.

Well, if I felt like
I was getting someplace,

I wouldn't mind doing
a day's work.

The county pays me
little enough,

but I don't even earn that.

There are plenty of folks
in this county

who would do less
for a lot more.

When I gave you this job, I told
you to let me do the worrying.

Well, it's kind of hard
not to do your own worrying.

I got plans for you, bub.
Long-range plans.

Deputy sheriff is just
a good starter.

A man can make a heap of friends
being deputy sheriff.

Of course, he can make enemies,
too, but that's politics.

You just got to be sure
that you make more friends

than you do enemies.

I want you to run out to that
carnival show

that's playing
across the tracks.

Mark Lanright has got
an attachment against them.

- Field!
- Hi!

I've been chasing you
for the past 10 miles.

Hello, Sheriff.

You're gonna have to get
a faster car.

Evening, Miss Annabelle.

Don't keep the lady
waiting, bub.

And don't forget to serve
these papers.

Hi, Annabelle.

Field Carlisle,
I shouldn't even speak to you.

You promised to play tennis
with me yesterday afternoon.

Well, I'm a busy man.

The duties of a deputy sheriff

don't allow much time
for tennis.

Papa says that deputy sheriff
job is just ridiculous,

that you should have finished
law school and then you'd be...

- Respectable.
- Well, that's what Papa says.

You know, your papa can say
almost anything he wants to

and people listen to him.

The trouble with you is you just
don't want to improve yourself.

Look at that outlandish
cowboy hat.

Why don't you wear
something dignified?

I reckon I'm used to it.

Used to it?
I don't understand you, Field.

How can you be so stubborn

about some things and so easy
going about everything else?

You know, you look
awful pretty today.

I've got a good mind to give you
a great big kiss.

Right here in the middle
of the street?

Really!
You get the craziest notions.

Isn't that the truth?

Well, I got to go
do something official.

Bye.

Papa says to invite you
to dinner tonight.

And don't you dare stand me up.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪ If I could be with you,
I'd love you strong ♪

♪ I want you to know
that I wouldn't go ♪

♪ Until... ♪

What are you doing here?

Getting up a parade.
You're just in time.

Who are you?

Deputy sheriff.

Oh.

Well, then you're not in time.

Yeah, I could figure that
looking over the lot.

They must have left in a hurry.

Did they forget you?

No.

Why didn't you go with them?

Look, if you want to throw
your weight around,

why don't you go outside
where there's plenty of room?

I'm just being mildly official.

You don't look much
like a sheriff.

You look more like Buffalo Bill
with that hat on.

Look, all sheriffs got to wear
this kind of hat,

otherwise people wouldn't know
they were the law.

Why didn't you go
with the others?

They weren't going anywhere.
They were just running.

If it isn't this town,
it's another.

Besides, I got tired of being on
the wrong end of a rabbit hunt.

Doesn't make sense.

It does to me.

Well, look, you can't
stay here alone in a tent.

What you gonna do?

Well, I could pan for gold
or something.

- What's your name?
- Lane.

Lane Bellamy. Thanks.

Lane?
That's a funny name for a girl.

I suppose it was something fancy
like Elaine,

but nobody ever bothered
to call me anything but...

- What's yours?
- Field.

Field Carlisle.

That's a funny name for a man.

Well, it's really Fielding.

Look, you couldn't go away
and forget

I was here
for the night, could you?

I could sleep here
and then tomorrow

figure out something to do.

How about it?

Have you got any money?

Sure, I've got three dollars.

It isn't very much.

That's a lot when you think
of how many times

I didn't have three dollars.

What'd you do in the carnival?

Well, sometimes I was
Seminole Annie, then again

I was Princess Kalina,
siren of the Pacific.

Lately, I've been one of the
Sultan's favorite dancing girls.

But most of the times, I was
just a little tired and dirty.

Sick of moldy tents
and one-night stands

and greasy food.

Sick of having people look at me
like I was cheap.

Look, why don't you come uptown
with me and get some supper?

Maybe we can figure out
what to do about you.

You wouldn't have anything
personal in mind, would you?

Nothing. I just don't like
to eat by myself.

I wouldn't have to go like this.
I've got better clothes.

You sure you want me to go?

Sure.

There's an attachment
on this show.

Right now, you're the only
tangible asset.

I won't be but a minute.

Well, maybe I'd better
wait outside.

No, you don't have to
if you don't want...

Oh, sorry, I didn't mean
to scare you, Sheriff.

I guess I had you
figured all wrong.

Why?

You really meant that,
didn't you?

About taking me uptown
for something to eat?

No bargains? No "I'll do this
if you'll do that?"

No hot breath down my neck?

- Better?
- A lot.

- Good.
- You know something?

You're too pretty to be alone
in Boldon.

Uh-huh.

I've been in lots worse towns.

Took pretty good care
of myself, too.

I'll bet you did at that.
Let's go.

All right.

Here, take this inside
and cut them up, will you?

Right away. Cut them up.

- Hello, Sheriff.
- Evening, Joe.

Well, how are you, Field?

- Hi, Pete.
- One hamburger, hold sauce.

Hey, bring me some more pie
and another pitcher of milk.

- Coming right up.
- How's everything?

How's the soup?

- Hi, Field.
- Hello, Millie.

- How's the Blue Plate?
- You couldn't do worse.

- You're out late tonight.
- Rabbit hunting.

Must use quite a snare.

Millie, this is Lane Bellamy.

- Hi.
- Hello.

You're gonna have
the Blue Plate, too?

Well, if it's no worse
than you say it is.

It couldn't be.

Don't eat the soup, it's awful.

Two Blue Plates!

Well, here we are.

Well, aren't you gonna ask me?

What? The story of your life?

Mm-hmm. I figure that's
the least you're entitled to.

You know, I'd almost forgotten
I didn't know you.

There didn't seem to be anything
for me to be curious about.

You said that as though
you meant it.

I hope this won't spoil
a beautiful friendship.

If you want anything else,
just yell.

- Everybody else does.
- You're a good girl.

Good and ready.

Do you go
through this every night?

It comes with
the Blue Plate special.

We got up to where your great
ambition was to be a dancer.

Isn't much more to tell.

I had a few jobs with burlesque,
got stranded in Helmet,

then a fellow with a doll pitch
wanted an assistant

so I hooked up
with Coyne's Carnival.

And that takes us
right up to 8:30.

- Now what are you gonna do?
- Catch my breath.

You got to make a living.

What can you do?

I was gonna figure
that one out tonight.

Hey, Pete!

Yes, sir.

I was just wondering
if you could use another girl

to wait tables?

Well, I don't know about that.

Miss Bellamy here
is looking for a job,

and I notice that business
has been pretty good.

- You ever wait a table before?
- Once.

Here, no one will know
the difference.

Okay. You wait lunch and supper.

10 dollars a week,
your meals and tips.

Well, you can do better
than that.

Everybody knows the restaurant
business better than I do.

I think it's wonderful.
I'll take it. Thanks.

What for?
So you're getting fallen arches.

Hey, Millie, the new girl here
starts tomorrow,

noons and supper.

Oh, good.

May I have a check, please?

Did you ever wait
table before, honey?

- Well, not in a cafe.
- Ain't anything to it.

Just bring them in full,
take them out empty,

and don't drop the tray
when someone pinches you.

And you'll get pinched.

Millie, you don't
happen to know of a good,

cheap room someplace, do you?

Only kind I do know.

I tell you what.

You and me could go in on
a double, if you want to try it?

That'd be swell.

You got a place to stay tonight?

Yes. Yes, I have. Thanks.

Oh, none of my business,
mind you.

Let's get out of here.

- Well, I'll see you tomorrow.
- Okay.

Look, I'm not gonna try
and thank you

for everything now, but...

Well, thanks, anyway.

Hey, bub.

Surprised to see you, bub.

Thought you'd be having a fancy
dinner up on Flamingo Road.

Well, Coyne cleared out.

Miss Bellamy here
is all he left.

Hi.

This ain't a very good town
to get stranded in.

- Well, no town is.
- Pete just gave her a job.

I asked him to.

That's good. We got a nice town,
Miss Bellamy.

We aim to keep it that way.

Everybody working and happy.

- I'll take you home.
- You do that, Field.

You've got a great reputation
for courtesy.

- Figure to see you later.
- Yeah.

Like to have
some more milk, Sheriff?

Yeah, fill it up.

Was that fat man telling me
to get out of town?

I never know for sure
what he means, myself.

Hey, he gives me the creeps.

We had better looking people
than that in our sideshows.

Do you like him?

No. Now that I come to think of
it, I don't guess I do.

Well, how come you work
for him then?

Well, he's a very important man
in this town.

That's a very funny reason.

You don't have to
stay here tonight.

You know that, don't you?

Sometimes a nice guy comes along
and even the things he says

don't sound the way they did
when somebody else said them.

Would you like to sit
on my porch for a minute?

Yeah.

It's funny how everything can
change within a couple of hours.

Supposing I had run away
with Coyne and the others.

I would've just had
to keep on going.

Got to stop sometime because
after a while you get afraid.

Then there isn't anything left
that you want or care about.

You don't feel like
that now, do you?

Oh, no.

For the first time in my life,

I feel I really
belong someplace.

And someplace belongs to me.

I live in Boldon,
and I don't ever have to leave

unless I want to.

Hey, look, they can't make me
go, can they?

I mean, if I don't want to.

They can't just bat
a person around

because the town
doesn't want them.

No.

That's good.

Well, it's getting late.

That fat man said
he wanted to see you.

I suppose so.

Well, good night.

Good night.

You know something?

What?

I'll bet you're a lousy sheriff.

Boatright, hurry up!

- Yes, sir.
- Did you find Field?

Yes, sir. He's eating breakfast
at the Eagle Cafe.

And he's had
six cups of coffee already.

Hello?

Oh, yes, Sheriff, he's here.

Hey, Field! Field!

- Yeah?
- It's for you.

Hey, bub, it don't look
exactly right,

my deputy spending so much

of the taxpayers' time
drinking coffee.

Get shined up, pick me up
at the hotel at 7:00.

Keep this evening free.

That was the Sheriff.
I got to see him tonight.

- I'm sorry about our date.
- So am I.

- Tomorrow?
- Sure.

Good.

Well, Pete, how's she doing?

Fine. Okay.
She's the best I ever had.

I had to slap him
a couple of times.

Outside of that,
he bored me stiff.

How about going out
with me tonight?

- Well, I...
- What time will I pick you up?

After 8:00.

I'll take it.

Hey, if you're
gonna be free tonight,

want to go on a double date?

I'm going out with Tunis Simms.

We could get his
brother Johnny for you.

Awful nice boys.

Thanks, Millie.
I don't think so.

Oh, honey, you can't sit home
like a dope every night

waiting for Field
to get around to seeing you.

Some other time, maybe.

You sure seem to know
all the answers,

but I'm afraid you don't
understand the questions.

How's a fellow supposed
to appreciate a girl

if she ain't popular
with other fellows?

Look, baby, people like Field
live on Flamingo Road.

People like us live on
River Street.

And on River Street,
the Simms boys are awful nice.

Oh, so that's what makes
the difference in Boldon?

- Living on Flamingo Road?
- It sure helps.

Well, maybe one of these days,

I'll get a place
on Flamingo Road myself.

Well, when you get there, honey,
save me a room and bed.

Can you break down now
and tell me where we're going?

How are you and Annabelle
getting along these days?

Same as usual, I guess.

You two think about
getting married ever?

You know I can't do that
on my salary.

Maybe we can
straighten that out.

I told you I had plans for you.

Plans that don't include you
getting mixed up

with that stray cat
from the carnival.

How would you like to be a
member of the State Legislature?

I'm no politician.

I don't think I could get
10 votes from my own home town.

I didn't ask you how
to get elected senator.

I asked you if you wanted
to get elected.

Do you or don't you?

Well, yeah.
I guess anybody would.

You catch on fast.

Now, all you need to know
is two words, "yep" and "nope."

You can't go wrong if you say
"yep" to the right people

and "nope" to the rest of them.

It might be a good thing, bub,
if you was to get married.

Man going to the Legislature's
got to have a heart of gold

and a respectable wife
for voters to see.

Gives folks confidence in him.

Never been able
to figure out why.

Yep, Annabelle Weldon
would be just about right.

You see, bub, I am planning
to skin me

a big bear one of these days.

Step on it. It's after 7:00.

Sure don't want to keep
Dan Reynolds waiting.

- Dan Reynolds?
- Pinch its ear, bub.

I like to hear it squeal.

Good evening,
Sheriff Semple, sir.

Evening, Wade.

They nominating senators
here this evening?

There are a lot of senators
elected at Lute Mae's place.

And governors, too.

Come along, I'll show you,

and everything's
going to be all right.

You'll meet the right people.

Hurry up, Gracie.
The well's going dry.

Where do those big shots
put it all?

Well, Titus, you old blimp, you!

How are you?

How are you, Lute Mae?

I didn't expect to see you
in my place again.

I don't get around
like I used to.

Meet Field Carlisle.

- How are you, Field?
- Howdy, Lute Mae.

I knew your father, the judge.

You look some like him.

And I always said
there was never

a handsomer man in the state.

- Thanks.
- Your friends are upstairs.

Yeah, I reckoned they would be.

Go on up. Meet the big boss.

No matter how many times
you see it,

you just can't believe
it's real.

Go up.
Don't keep the boss waiting.

My old man,
rest his uneasy soul,

once said that the only time
to raise was before the draw.

I always believed him
after he took a club

to the back of my head.

Raise.

I'm in.

- I'll stay.
- Out.

- I think I'll take a test card.
- Let's have some action, boys.

I'm just a man who doesn't know
his own weakness.

- That's possible.
- Maybe it could be you, Gracie.

Could be. There.

Thank you.

How many for you, Dan?

I think I'll just play those.

Come on, baby, let's watch this.

Two to the dealer and check.

- Check.
- Check.

- Check to you, Dan.
- Okay.

Here you are.

Growl over that.

I can't match that.

I think you're lying,
but I haven't got nerve enough

to find out for sure.

Thanks, boys.
Easy come, easy go.

Come on, Gracie. Take a handful.

- Help yourself.
- Thank you!

Look at that, a pair of deuces.

What a bluffer.

- Still pushing 'em.
- Oh, boy!

Hello, Dan.

Well, this is a surprise, Titus.

I didn't think you could
make the stairs.

I usually manage one way
or another.

When it's worth your while.

- How are you, boys?
- How are you?

I'd like you to meet my deputy,
Field Carlisle.

- Dan Reynolds.
- How do you do, sir?

I knew your father,
the judge, slightly.

He did his best once
to put me in jail.

Come on over and meet the boys.

This is John Shelton
from Brenton.

- Mr. Shelton.
- How are you?

Link Niles from Marlack County.

Very, very shy.

- Glad to meet you.
- How do you do, Mr. Niles?

Here's one of the best.
This is Ed Parker from Trondo.

- Mr. Parker.
- How are you, Field?

Les Mitchell, Kentara County.

- How do you do, sir?
- Glad to know you, sir.

Tom Hill from Lodge View.

- How do you do, Mr. Hill?
- How do you do?

Oh, yes, and Gracie. Gracie!
Where are you from, sugar?

I'm from Paducah.

There we are,
Gracie from Paducah.

Never would have guessed it.

I figured on finding
all you boys

getting up a weekend frolic.

So I just came down to tell you
how things is in my district.

- How are things?
- Well, when Lockheart died,

it sort of left a hole
in the Legislature.

I figured to help you
plug it up.

We were half-thinking of
Ed Morgan taking the vacancy.

- Yes.
- Well, you can

stop thinking now.
I've done it for you.

Since it's my district,

I'm going to put my deputy,
Field, there.

That's all right, Sheriff.

Sure.

And now, Senator Carlisle,
you understand

with what difficulty
a great public servant is born.

How do you feel?

Well, like the tail
on a runaway kite.

What you need is a drink.

I didn't come up here
to talk politics.

- Let's get on with the game.
- I'm ready.

Here.

- Is this all there is to it?
- That's all.

Oh, now and then, we have
to help cut each other's bait.

You mean I'm Titus's minnow?

Not exactly. It could turn out
that way if you let it.

I figured you'd see things
my way.

Now I want to do something
for you, Dan.

I've got some fine convict boys
out to my county farm.

You could get them cheap for
that road job you're building.

At a dollar a day for the county

and a dollar and a half
a day for you?

That's a nice good figure, Dan.

Deal you in, Titus?

We'd like to take some
of your money home with us.

Most of the county's

been trying to do
that very thing for years.

Ante up, boys.

- Okay.
- What are you gonna play?

You're a veteran, aren't you?

- Yes, sir.
- Army or navy?

Army. Fourth Division.

Hm. You've been around.

Well, that's all to the good.

You can go a long way
in this state if you want to.

You've got a good name,
and with Titus backing you,

you've got a good start.

You stick with Titus.

And remember one thing.

He's the only man I know
that can make

a sow's ear out of a silk purse.

Somehow, I always hate
to see it happen.

Here's luck to you, Senator!

Thanks. I appreciate that.

All right, bub.

Let's push off.

- Sheriff?
- Yes?

♪ If I could be with you,
I'd love you strong ♪

♪ If I could be with you,
I'd love you long ♪

♪ I want you to know
that I wouldn't go ♪

♪ Until I told you, honey,
that I love you so ♪

♪ If I could be with you
one hour tonight ♪

♪ If I was free to do
the things I might ♪

- Hi, Sheriff!
- Millie!

♪ I'm telling you true ♪

Hello, Lane.

Well, Sheriff, I'm surprised
to see you here.

I'm here on business.
Political deal.

- Oh.
- By yourself?

No, I'm with Millie
and the two Rover Boys.

That one over there bought me
a sandwich and a cup of coffee,

and now he's sore because he
figures it's money thrown away.

- I see.
- What's this, Sheriff?

A raid?

- No.
- Come on.

Let's go over here.

All these machines are fixed.

Hey, Lane.
Let's get out of here.

You going with me?

No.

Oh, you moving in, Field?

Here's 80 cents
for my sandwich and coffee.

Let's have no
hard feelings, huh?

Hey!

Wait a minute!

- Millie...
- Come on,

let's get out of here!

I think you better stay here
with your friends.

I'm sure the sheriff
will take me home.

- I'll see you later.
- Well, all right.

But I don't see why you had
to go and spoil a nice party.

What were you doing out
with the Simms boys?

I was afraid for a while
you weren't going to ask me.

I thought maybe you didn't care
one way or another.

I bet this is a pretty place
by daylight.

What's the name of it?

Shell Springs.

Is it really a spring?

It's the only spring
in the state that's guaranteed

to have no therapeutic value.

Now can we forget
the statistics?

It is getting late.

We'd better be getting back.

Come on, Buffalo Bill.

Somehow I wish you'd known
this was going to happen

the way I did.

"The grossness
of Titus Semple's shadow

prevents us from describing it
as 'sinister, '

but we call it 'evil."

That's telling him.

"In his shadow
today stands the scion

of one of the town's
oldest families.

For Fielding Carlisle,
we have only sympathy.

For the voters,
we have only pity."

My, my, that Doc Waterson sure
can pour it on, can't he?

- So long.
- So long.

Sorry, Field.

It's your paper.

I've known you since you were
a youngster, son.

Your father was a fine man.

I never understood why
you didn't finish law school

like he wanted.

You never really looked good

wearing a deputy
sheriff's badge.

Too much like a ring
in your nose.

Hey, bub!

Ready?

Seen The Advertiser
this morning?

The whole town's laughing.

Nobody but an idiot would read
that filthy sheet.

One day Waterson's going
too far out on a limb,

and when he does, I'm gonna
chop it off and him with it!

Have you had that talk
with Annabelle yet

about getting married?

I kind of wanted to think
about it a couple of days.

Nothing to think about.

You drop me over at
the Palmer House

and get over to that girl's
house and ask her to marry you.

I think it's just wonderful
your being a senator.

I'm just as proud as I can be.

But that nasty Mr. Waterson
in The Advertiser!

Papa says you should sue him.

Even if you can't collect any
money, it'll teach him a lesson.

But I don't see why you didn't
tell me about it

before I read it in the paper.

You could've called me
last night.

Well, it was late last night.
It was awful late.

Next thing I know,
you'll just pick up

and go off to Olympic City,

and that's the last
I'll hear of you.

Well, I'm not elected yet.

Papa says anybody who's got the
sheriff behind him gets elected.

We've known each other
for a long time, Annabelle.

I've just been thinking
that it would be a good idea

if you and I went
to Olympic City together.

They tell me that any young man
going into politics

is supposed to get married.

Field, darling!

I do love you so!

And I am so proud of you!

Mrs. Senator Fielding Carlisle.

Norma Henderson will
just be livid.

Although I don't suppose
anyone will be surprised,

and that's half the fun.

I have a million things to do.

The reception and our
announcements to get out.

And Papa says we'll have to do
some entertaining

to interest
the nice people in you.

He says you'll have to move
right back here

to Flamingo Road
where you belong.

I thought you'd never get around
to asking me.

Neither did I.

Oh, Field!

He's not here.

No. Oh, yes, he is.

I mean, he just come in.

- Hello, Pete.
- Hello, Field.

You want to talk to him?

Oh.

Oh, okay.

No, no, I don't ask
no questions.

You are the boss.

Hello, Senator.

The Advertiser must have
quite a circulation in Boldon.

What do you care what they said.

Just reading your name
made me proud of you.

Hungry?

- No, thanks.
- Coffee, huh?

Yeah, maybe some coffee.

Look, there's something
I've got to tell you,

and I don't quite know
how to do it.

It's about you and me.

I'm gonna get married.

You knew this last night, huh?

Lane, please try to understand.

I'm not sure of anything.

I'm trying to do
what I think is right.

It must be right, otherwise,
it wouldn't be so hard to do.

Yeah, I suppose so.

I'm almost glad in a way.

Sounds funny, doesn't it?

Sounds funny to me
when I say it.

But now we don't have to watch
anything die.

That's what we would have
had to do.

The waitress at the Eagle Cafe
and Senator Carlisle.

I'll get your coffee.

- Where'd he go?
- Field?

I guess he changed his mind.

Sit down, drink your coffee.

No, thanks. I don't want it.

I got to let you go, Lane.

You mean I'm fired?

Well, business ain't been
so good lately.

Business has been fine.

And if you let me go, you'll
only have to get another girl.

The job is not really good
like used to be.

Tips ain't much,
and the food is rotten.

The job is good,
and I want to keep it.

I've got to keep it.
Don't you understand that?

I'm sorry, but it's just
the way I said.

Business ain't good.

Okay, I won't make it
tough on you.

You are a nice girl.

Someone else might carry on
and cry maybe.

I don't cry, Pete.

Here, this is for the week.

And $10 more on account
I didn't give you no notice.

Thanks.

Look, I'd like to bet you this

that you won't tell me
why I was fired.

That's a hard bet to refuse.

- Yes, Miss?
- I'm looking for a job.

I'd like to put an ad
in your paper.

I know you.

You're that carnival girl who
took a job at the Eagle Cafe.

- Yes.
- Come in.

- Sit down.
- Thank you.

- Now, what happened?
- I got fired.

I know, but what's the story?

That's all there is to it.
I got fired.

That isn't all there is to it.

And advertising for a job
isn't going to do you any good.

You're not gonna get a job
in Boldon.

Or if you do, you're not
gonna be able to keep it.

I don't understand
what you mean.

I think maybe you can find
the answer sitting on the porch

over there at the Palmer House.

You mean the Sheriff
had me canned?

That's it.

Well, then it wouldn't be any
use putting an ad in your paper.

Are you sure you know
what you're talking about?

I'm a newspaper man.

I always check the source
of my information.

If you don't mind, I think
I'll do the same thing.

Thanks.

I know you're not asleep.

You don't have
to pretend you are!

How are you, Miss Bellamy?

Did you have me fired
from the Eagle Cafe?

Did you have it fixed

so I couldn't get another job
in this town?

There wasn't really anything
personal in it.

It's personal to me if I don't
have a place to eat or sleep.

I reckon it would be.

I'm a quiet man, Miss Bellamy.

When I see trouble coming,
I try to duck it.

Now, with you
and Field Carlisle,

I just can't see nothing
but trouble.

I don't mean anything
to Field Carlisle.

If I did, he wouldn't
be getting married, would he?

I just don't want to take
any chances, Miss Bellamy.

Field's going
to the State Senate.

One of these days,
he's going to be Governor.

A man like that's got
to get married,

stay married, happily married.

That's fine, but I've got
a right to live, too!

You know,
when I was a young fellow,

I once had a job at a warehouse.

There were rats there.

I didn't pay no attention
to them.

One night, though, I went
to sleep, and a rat near

half chewed my big toe off

before I knew
what was happening.

After that, I went around
and plugged up all the holes.

And as long as I kept
the holes plugged,

I didn't have nothing
to worry about.

That's how I kept my toes
all these years.

I won't be run out of town
this way.

I'm gonna stay here
and get another job.

Any kind of a job.

I'm gonna stay here
if it kills me!

You may do just that,
Miss Bellamy.

One more move
shouldn't be so hard to take.

You being a carnival girl.

I'm not a carnival girl anymore.

You sure been acting like it
with young Carlisle.

I'm not running.

Do you understand that?

I'm sure sorry you did that,
Miss Bellamy.

Oh, I beg your pardon.

Hey, what are you doing walking
the streets this time of night?

- I'm on my way home.
- Oh, yeah?

Say, who are you
and what do you want?

Does this mean anything to you?

No, it doesn't.

This girl giving you
any trouble, Lieutenant?

Yeah, she tried to pick me up.
Let's get her to the station.

What kind of a deal is this?
I haven't done anything.

I can go easy in court
or make it tough on yourself,

I don't care which! All right!
Let's go, Mac!

Hello, Pete.

Field, I am glad
to see you again.

From everywhere you go,

I hear you make
a fine election speeches.

Thanks.

I understand Lane isn't
working here anymore.

Why'd you let her go?

Well, business was not so good.

I notice you got another girl.

Well, business picked up.
You know how it is.

Yeah. You don't know where
she is, do you?

Oh, I don't. Maybe perhaps
Millie, she knows.

All right.

She just disappeared,
didn't come home one night.

Even left what little clothes
she had in her room.

I tell you, Field,
I was worried.

I thought something might
have happened to her.

And then I got to thinking.

She must have just left town.

That was when you were away
orating for votes.

But you got more important
things to think about now,

Field, what with
getting married next week.

Suppose I ought to offer you
my congratulations, Senator.

Thanks.

See you again, Field.

Mr. Pete, do we charge extra
for a second cup of coffee?

No, no, no!

A cup of coffee...

You get out tomorrow
or Thursday?

Thursday.

Did you ever stop
to think how it is?

The judge can never say anything
but "30 days!"

"30 days!"
You'd think it'd get monotonous.

You never did say
what you was in for.

They said I was trying
to pick up men on the streets.

How about you?

My boyfriend cut himself
on a knife I was holding.

What are you gonna do
when you get out?

Oh, go back to Boldon, I guess.

Try to get a job if I can.

Boldon?

I know a good place
you can get a job in Boldon.

I used to work there.

A road house called Lute Mae's.

Yeah.

It sounds like a good setup.

It was.
I waited tables, served drinks.

A lot of big shots go there.
Big tips.

Ain't no cops gonna
pick you up, either,

if you work for Lute Mae.

She's just like that with all
the politicians and big shots,

from the Governor on down!

Just tell Lute Mae I sent you.

Only don't say where you met me.

She always told me
I'd wind up in the can,

and I'd hate for her
to be right!

- Shut up!
- Ah!

When I was very young,
I made up my mind to be rich.

How'd you make out?

I found it was better
to change my mind.

Frankly, I'm broke,
and I need a job.

Sugar or lemon?

Oh, no tea for me. Thank you.

Me, neither.

My tonic.

Sure wish I could drink tea.

The things make the room
look so cozy and genteel.

But I can't stand the stuff.

It gives me gas.

You say you can't get a job
any place else in town?

Why?

I've been at the county farm.

There's a piece in the paper
about me.

I never read the paper.

If I don't know what's going on,
I can't worry about it.

I sure wish those girls
weren't so talented.

I can serve drinks
and wait on table.

And in a pinch,
I can even sing a little bit.

Yeah, I was afraid of that.

I'd like to know
why you're lying.

I'm not lying.

You're not lying
in what you say.

It's what you don't say.

You know, I've got a hunch
about you and it scares me.

I think you'll make trouble
for me one of these days.

You're moody.

And the moody
kind always cause trouble.

Gracie!

Coming!

Did you want me, Miss Lute Mae?

This here's Lane Bellamy.

- Hi!
- Hello!

She can room with you, Gracie.

- You gonna work here, honey?
- Well, I...

Take her back to see Frank.

He'll get you a uniform
and tell you what to do.

I'm sure I've got one
that fits you, honey.

Thanks.

Peterson, do you know why I'm
not gonna let you go to jail?

I've spent a long time
building up this organization,

and I'm not going to
break it down

for some 5-and-10-cent chiseler.

Now, listen, Reynolds...

You'll resign for
reasons of ill health.

Because if you're not sick now,

you will be
when I get through with you.

Deal me out. I'm out.

Peterson's a good superintendent
of hospitals.

I wouldn't want to lose him.

If he's not smart enough
to steal and stay in the clear,

he gets dumped.

Dan, I ain't going to like
losing Peterson.

We had them hospitals with
the contracts for heat, light,

and all the supplies
paying off good.

I don't aim to lose him.

Getting a bit out of line,
aren't you, Titus?

I've got big feet, Dan.

If I ever step out of line,
you'll see them.

I'm not going to have
an investigation

in an election year. He's out!

And you'll let him go quietly,
or you'll both go!

Like that!

Come on, let's get on
with the game.

♪♪

♪♪

Mr. Reynolds' party.
Two Old Fashioneds.

- Gracie!
- Yes, Miss Lute Mae.

Table 22, a special.

You're leaving early.

How long you got
that Bellamy girl working here?

- Why?
- Done time, county time.

How do you figure to improve
the reputation of your place?

I lost that some time around
the Spanish-American War.

Maybe you ought
to get rid of her.

Somebody might complain
to the authorities.

When you walk through that door,
I'm the authority.

Besides, I like her.

And knowing you don't makes me
like her twice as much.

Just figured to be friendly.

I'll bet.

Hurry up with that order, girls.

Why is Titus Semple
interested in you?

- Is he?
- I expect a straight answer.

What did you ever do to him?

Nothing.

He just told me
I ought to can you.

What did he do that for?

I don't know.

You're lying.

That's right, I am.

He thought Field Carlisle
was interested in me.

I was wondering
when you'd get around

to tell the truth about that.

I'm not interested
in what's happened.

I'm interested
in what may happen.

You still in love with Field?

He's married.

Are you, or aren't you?

I don't know.

Well, what are you
going to do about it?

I'm not firing you, am I?

Aren't you?

No, I'm not.

Most of the time,
I don't like people.

Most of the time,
I don't trust them at all.

Especially women.

I must be getting old.

It's going to be a pretty
rugged party up there.

Keep an eye on Dan.

See that he don't get in trouble
or burn the place down.

Thanks.

♪♪

- What's that stuff?
- Daylight.

Well, turn it off.
I don't like it.

- Feel awful?
- Terrible.

How did I end up in here?

Well, it took a bit of doing,
but I finally managed.

I really tied one
on last night, didn't I?

Mm-hmm.

Here you are.

- What's that?
- Whiskey Sour.

- Oh, no!
- Oh, yes.

Go on, drink it.

How do you know
about these things?

I read about them once
in a bartender's manual.

Better?

Better.

- What's your name?
- Lane.

No, no, I mean your first name.

That's my first name, Lane.

Oh.

Well, it was mighty nice of you
to take care of me, Lane.

I still don't see
how you managed it or why.

Not because I'm pretty,
that's for sure. Ugh.

Lute Mae told me
to take care of you.

She said you were
very important.

Are you important?

I don't feel very important.

Look at the score board.

I don't behave like this
all the time.

Just once a year
after elections, purge my soul.

I've got a soul
that needs lots of purging.

Well, your candidates won,
didn't they?

Mm-hmm.

They always win?

Just about always.

If they didn't, I wouldn't
be important anymore.

Look, honey, honey,
I've got an awful hangover.

Sorry.

Can I wash up in there?

Certainly, help yourself.

My old man warned me
there'd be mornings like this.

You're pretty careless
with your money, aren't you?

Thanks.

Is Field Carlisle a good man?

Carlisle? Yeah.
I guess he's all right.

You would know
if he wasn't, wouldn't you?

I mean, you helped get him
elected, didn't you?

Titus seems to have
a lot of faith in him.

Would you consider
that a recommendation?

You sure ask a lot of questions.

Someone once told me that
it was one way to get answers.

Where the devil is that towel?

Here it is.

I'm beginning to feel
almost human.

Say, you know,
you're a very pretty girl.

I guess I am human.

I'll get you some breakfast.

Don't tell me you can cook, too?

Mm-hmm.

The way you talk,

I don't see much difference
between politics

and a carnival pitch.

How come you're so interested
in politics?

Oh, just trying to improve
my education, I guess.

It wasn't much of an education
to begin with.

You sure learned to cook.

You learn a lot of things
in a carnival.

- How are you feeling, Dan?
- Terrible.

This man been annoying you?

As a matter of fact,
she's been bothering me.

She can handle a drunk and make
a whiskey sour and cook bacon.

Crisp.

A man's got to know
more about a gal like that.

Get me a cup of coffee,
will you?

- Sure.
- I've got a hangover

just from opening bottles
for you last night.

- Did you have fun?
- Honey, fun is like insurance.

The older you get,
the more it costs.

Do you mind if Lane drives me
down to my construction job?

I'm afraid I'll fall asleep
at the wheel.

When I asked you to keep an eye
on him last night,

I didn't mean you had to room
together all through college.

How about it, Lane?

Well, if it's all right
with Lute Mae.

I swear, I don't know whether
I'm running a road house

or a get-acquainted society.

Oh, go ahead.

Let's go while
we still have her blessing.

Wake me up when we pass Trondo.

Now I know why you wanted me
to come along.

Well, there it is.

With all this, how do you
ever find time for politics?

Honey, I couldn't move a load
of gravel without politics.

When I first started
my construction company,

I discovered that the fat jobs,
the big money jobs,

are going to other people.

I needed connections,
and I found the only connections

I could trust
were the ones I made myself.

So, I began to get men
elected here and there.

It was pretty simple.

Do the people always elect
the men you want?

The people haven't elected
anyone in this state

for so long,
they've lost the habit.

It's a lot of trouble
to go to the polls.

Usually it interferes with a
baseball game or a fishing trip.

When people don't care, they get
about what they deserve.

Meaning a Dan Reynolds?

Yeah, that's about it.

Hi ya, Dan.

Hi ya, Burr.
Come on over and meet Burr.

- It's good to see you.
- Everything on schedule?

Well, we hit rock yesterday.
We had to blast.

Lane, this is Burr Lassen.

He's head of
all our construction.

- Been with me 10 years.
- Hello.

Pleased to meet you.
Well, I'll be seeing you.

Okay. Come on, let's get
something cold to drink.

- Be with you in a minute!
- Okay!

This is what we call home.
Not good, not bad.

I've seen worse.

What'd I do with it.

I thought I had
some change here.

Here.

This is the first time
since I was a kid

that anyone has ever
given me anything.

It's an interesting switch.

And everything about you
is interesting.

The more I see you,
the less I understand.

There's something inside you
that just won't give.

If I were going to be around
a little longer,

maybe I could try
and figure you out.

- Going away?
- New York.

Probably Washington.

Oh.

Be gone long?

Quite a while.

I guess today is goodbye then.

Yes, I guess it is.

I'm crazy about you, Lane.

What's your last name?

Senator Blangsted.

Afternoon, Senator Carlisle.

Have you come to a decision yet?

Decision?

Well, about appointing me
to the power commission.

You remember,
about six weeks ago,

you said for me to be patient.

And I still say be patient.

You're young, my boy.

Why, you've only been with us
two, or is it three months?

Now, it took me four years to...

Hey, bub, come here.

Excuse me, Senator.

I don't want you to make
a nuisance of yourself

by asking favors.

People always expect
to be paid back.

Tell the driver to take us
to the hotel.

23 and Second Avenue.

Mr. Reynolds. Paging
Mr. Dan Reynolds, please.

Mr. Reynolds.
Paging Mr. Dan Reynolds.

Mr. Dan Reynolds, please.

Not a very
interesting session, was it?

- Excuse me.
- Okay, Sheriff.

- Yes, Sheriff Semple?
- Dan Reynolds in town?

Yes, sir. Flew in this
afternoon from New York.

I'm saving his table, 22.

Better slow down, bub.
Dan Reynolds is in town.

What am I supposed to do,
salute?

What's the matter with you, bub?

I guess I'm just a little sick
of being stuck in a corner

and not getting any place.

The only thing I've done
in that whole session

is to make one little speech,

and then there were
three people in the house.

- I was there.
- All right, four.

Don't go jumping out
of your britches.

Remember I told you I was
planning to skin me a bear?

Well, it's a big bear, and I'm
taking my time in the skinning.

One of these days,
when I think you are ready,

I'm going to make you Governor.

That's what I've been aiming at.

I never had me
a governor before.

I'm sorry I'm late.

Evening, Annabelle.
You look real smart.

I look awful. You needn't
tell me. I know I do.

My hair's half done.

But I found out
in the beauty shop today

just how much it means to be
a senator's wife in this town!

They gave my appointment to
Dan Reynolds' new lady friend.

Dan's lady friends last such
a short time

that folks are obliged
to be polite to them.

This one is something special.

The girl in the beauty shop
told me.

He brought her back with him
from New York,

and she's got enough clothes,
furs and jewels

to start
a department store of her own.

What's the matter with you?

- Good evening, Mr. Reynolds.
- Hello, Maurice.

Well, I'm glad to see you back.

I've saved your regular table
for you.

Just a moment, dear.

- Hello, Titus.
- Hello, Dan.

How are you, Field?
Mrs. Carlisle, nice to see you.

Cocktails, Mr. Reynolds?

No, I think you might
bring some champagne.

- We'll order a little later.
- Very well, sir.

Cordon Rouge,
Mr. Reynolds' table.

Dan, surprised to see you back.

And if it isn't, uh,
Miss Bellamy.

Sit down, Titus.

Knew you had been running
between New York and Washington

for the last three months.

I hardly figured you'd come back
without telling me,

us working together for so long.

Lane dragged me back.

She wanted to see
the State Legislature in action.

I didn't know you were
interested in politics.

I wasn't until politics
became interested in me.

The Legislature's
really interesting to watch.

Of course, we officers
of the law

ain't as forgetful
of our promises

as the fellows
who make the laws.

Now, me, I don't never
forget anything.

You know, Sheriff, we had
an elephant in our carnival

with a memory like that.

He went after a keeper
that he'd held a grudge

against for almost 15 years.

Had to be shot.

You just wouldn't believe
how much trouble it is

to dispose of a dead elephant.

♪ If I could be with you,
I'd love you strong ♪

♪ If I could be with
you, I'd love you long ♪

♪ I want you to know ♪

Excuse me a minute, Dan.

♪ Until I told you,
honey, why I love you so ♪

♪ If I could be... ♪

♪ I'd be anything but blue
if I could be with you ♪

Hello. Remember me?

I'm the fellow that chases girls
off carnival lots.

Hello, Field.

You've come a long way
from the Eagle Cafe.

It's still a dining room.

No wonder I couldn't find you.

When you aim,
you really aim high.

I suppose you've been
in New York, too, huh?

I've been in a lot of places
since I saw you last.

Isn't it about time
he asked you to marry?

Did you?

That was different.

Yes, it was, Field.

I was in love with you.

You're a thief, Reynolds.
My company went bankrupt today.

You're drunk, Martin. Go away.

I'm sorry to hear
about your company.

Sure, you're sorry!
You're rotten.

The whole gang of you
are rotten.

- Come along...
- Now, just a minute!

I got a right to tell him
what I think of him.

It was my company, wasn't it?

Didn't that bother you?

You get used to it.
Someone's always crying.

If he was in and I was out,

then my nose would be pressed
against the windowpane

and he'd call someone
to pull down the shade.

I think it's disgraceful
of that Dan Reynolds

to flaunt a woman
of that sort here.

Look at her, sitting there
as if she owned the place.

Well, she practically does.

Dan just told me they got
married in New York

more than a month ago.

Oh!

Really? How exciting!

I must call on her the first
thing in the morning.

Oh, great.

Lane!

Lane!

- Hello, Sarah.
- Hello.

Well, I see Mrs. Reynolds is
rearranging the furniture again.

We've been grunting
and pushing all morning.

We get everything real
nice time and time again,

but it seems like Miss Lane

just can't get comfortable
in her mind.

Where is she, Sarah?

I believe she's still down
in the cellar

messing with those contraptions.

What contraptions?

I don't know nothing about them.

I've got enough to wear me out
in the kitchen

with an electric stove
that you got to run

with buttons and clocks.

Lane! Lane!

I'm down here, darling.

Oh, you weren't supposed to get
back until late tonight.

I didn't want you to see it
till it was all finished.

But how did you know
I wanted a shop?

Oh, honey, after all the times
you told me that pathetic story

about having a workshop in your
barn when you were a kid

and your father not being
able to afford

even a hammer
after the barn burned down.

It's wonderful.

Well, if there is anything that
doesn't work, you can blame me.

Of course, I don't know one
of these things from another,

except that's a saw.

I knew that because I was sawed
in half a couple of nights

when a magician's assistant
got pneumonia.

I hope you'll be happy
with it, Dan.

As happy as I am.

- What?
- I said I hope you like it!

Like it?

Honey, getting you
and this house

are the best things I ever did.

Dan Reynolds, one of these days
you're gonna make me cry.

Tea is served, Mrs. Reynolds.

Oh, no, Sarah.
Not down here, please.

But you said,
"Serve the tea at 4:00."

It's 4:00.

- Strong enough?
- Mm-hmm.

- Lemon or cream?
- Straight.

If I actually thought you were
gonna make me drink this stuff,

I'd have never bought
that tea service.

I promise never to embarrass you
by bringing it out in company.

Oh, hello, Titus.

Hello, Dan.
Afternoon, Miss Bellamy.

Mrs. Reynolds.

Oh, Mrs. Reynolds now, ain't it?

I always keep forgetting.

You know, I thought I'd give you
time to get settled

before I paid my respects.

I sure was surprised when you
bought a place in Flamingo Road.

We always do
the unexpected, Titus.

As witness, my afternoon tea.

- Tea?
- Sit down, Titus.

I know what you want.

Here, dear.

Real nice place you've got here.

Quite an ambitious undertaking.

Better than Lute Mae's.

I admire ambition when
it don't get in my way.

I've never been able
to make up my mind

if you're awful smart
or awful stupid.

Someday you may find out,
Sheriff.

Here's your drink, Titus.

Excuse me.

Here.

Come on, Titus. Out with it.
What's on your mind?

Nothing.

Except I'd sort of like
to see young Field

get along a little faster.

You see,
I've been busy measuring

the Governor's chair for him.

Your memory is getting bad.

The name's Parkhurst,
George Parkhurst.

The chair already fits.

I measured him for it myself.

Maybe you pronounce it
Parkhurst, Dan,

but it's spelt Carlisle.

I have nothing against Carlisle.
He's just not ready.

Maybe not, but I am.

You know the Governor's job was
promised to George Parkhurst.

Yeah, but it can be un-promised.

I kind of like it for Field.

I like to see young fellows
get ahead.

You know how I've always been,

just an easygoing,
friendly, fat old man.

Mnh-mnh.

The governorship was promised
to Parkhurst, and it stands.

I'm going to keep my word.

So am I, Dan.

I'm not gonna let you
get away with it.

Maybe I shouldn't
be so stubborn.

Maybe I shouldn't care
if you take over the state.

I can profit by it.

But, Titus, I know what
you've got in your mind.

Pretty nice state
to hand over to you.

Give you five years,
and you'll drain it dry.

What isn't corrupted,
you'll corrupt.

I've seen it.
I know what you're capable of.

You know, Dan,
once before I said

we could run this state
real good together.

Now, I ain't sure.

I would hate to have to
fight it out with you.

Sarah!

Coming, Mr. Reynolds!

Lane, what's the trouble
between you and Titus?

I just don't trust him,
that's all.

That's a lot of hatred
for just not trusting a man.

Never mind. You'll tell me
when you're ready.

Come on down.

What did he want?

A favor.

I turned him down.

Sometimes I wonder why
I don't let him have his way.

I have everything I want now.

I wish you meant that.

I wish we could get out
and leave all this backstabbing

and crookedness behind us.

And just turn everything
over to Titus?

No, no, I didn't mean that.

Well, you give me an answer.

Look, you know
so much more than...

Why don't you be honest
with the people?

Why don't you teach them
to run their own state?

Honey, the honest men
get eaten up.

There are too many other men
waiting, watching,

probing for the soft spots,
the graft.

No, it's better
to be one of them.

Besides, I've got
to keep my eye on Titus.

Left alone, he'd steal
the gold off the capitol dome.

You wouldn't like that,
would you?

No.

That's why you get drunk
on election night.

You're a very smart girl.

You take care of the teapot.
Let me take care of Titus.

It's not that simple, Dan.

Take the old labor gang
and move that stuff.

You can take your crane and gang
and give them a hand.

Hi, Lassen.

- Hi, Sheriff.
- I want to talk to you.

What about?

Come on, bub. I'm gonna
give you a lesson in politics.

I've got some kind of bad news
about that boy of yours.

Huh?

Police picked him up
in Boldon last night.

What for?

Booked him on a hit and run.

There was also
a drunk-driving charge.

Tommy never had a drink
in his whole life.

Saw it right there
on the police blotter.

It's just his word
against a lot of witnesses.

I sure wouldn't like to take
a chance on a boy of mine

going up on a charge like that.

What is it you want, Sheriff?

You didn't come here
just to talk.

That's right.

You're gonna do something for
me, and after that,

I'm going to see
that your boy gets off.

What is it?

Well, you know Dan Reynolds
is chairman of the prison board.

So I'm going to send you
some convict boys

and a man
with a gun to watch them.

You're gonna put them to work
without wages.

I won't do it.

I wouldn't do anything to hurt
Dan Reynolds.

You and me are going to send
Dan Reynolds to jail

for peonage.

I won't do it.

You'll do it, Burr,
just like I'm telling you.

If you don't...

Come on, bub.

I'm not gonna go along with you
on a frame-up like that.

Oh, yes, you will, bub.

You'll go along, and you'll
do everything just like I say.

You're getting soft and weak.

You're just the kind of man
I like.

You've got that anxious,
hungry look I like to see.

That means you want the things
I can give you.

You'd rather be Governor
than anything else in the world.

Without me, you wouldn't be
even a deputy sheriff.

You'll go along, bub.

You'll go along.

How are you, Miss Annabelle?

Sheriff Semple!

Sheriff Semple!

Afternoon, Miss Annabelle.

Ain't seen much of you lately.

You look kind of peaked.
You been crying?

Have you seen Field?

Oh, some four to five days ago.

Papa invited some upstate
bankers for lunch to meet him.

And they're still at
the house waiting.

Papa's furious!

He says he's given Field
his last chance.

Yeah, I heard you two
weren't getting along so well,

quarreling in public and all.

It's been worse in
the last week or so.

Some nights, he doesn't
even come home at all,

and when he is there,
he talks so crazy,

about being able
to tell a governor

by his anxious, hungry look.

I just don't know what to do!

Ah.

You just go on home,
Miss Annabelle.

Just leave it to me, huh?

Trying to crawl
into a whiskey bottle?

You're drinking in kind of
bad company, ain't you, bub?

Look, bub, I got you this job
to help you financially.

That name on the door
is in water color.

I could spit on it
and wash it out.

You've turned soft
in my fingers.

I made a mistake about you.

The only way we can tell
what a mule or a man can do

is to give him a field
to plough.

The job I have got to do
is too big.

You're gonna throw me over, huh?

I'm just turning you loose.

Well, you can't do that!

I don't like for people
to talk to me

like the way you're doing, bub.

You're not gonna throw me out
like you did the rest of them!

Look, I told you, I don't like
to hear you say such things.

You ain't even gutsy enough
to fight an old man like me.

Get out!

Get out!

I told you it wasn't
permanent, bub!

What do you think
is really happening?

I'm not sure, but I don't like
the feel of it.

That's the reason
why I called you all here,

to see if we could
figure it out together.

I've been sort of bird-dogging
Titus these past few days.

I found him in some
very strange cover.

He's looking for trouble,
and he's got a nose for it.

Good evening, Sheriff.

Good evening, Sarah.

Don't bother to tell him
I'm here.

I'll go right on in.

Well, how are you, boys?

Hello, Sheriff.

I'm sure I never figured
to find you all here.

How are you, Niles?

John, Ed, Leo, Tom.

Dan.

Hello, Titus.

I didn't mean to
break in on you like this.

I didn't really think
there was no truth in it.

I heard the boys were in town
and up here.

So I says to myself,
"Why, that can't be so."

For years, they've made it
a point of dropping around

to the Palmer House
to say hello to me.

Now, why should they stop
doing that all of a sudden?

So I just started wanting
company and come up to spend

a little time with you.

We're glad to have you.

Yes. How've you been, Sheriff?

I was going to
call you in the morning.

Something on your mind, Titus?

Yeah.

Boys, we ain't gonna run
Parkhurst as Governor.

- What?
- What do you mean?

Why, you're crazy!

You know, I let people
think that for a long time.

I used to like to hear them say,

"That fat, good-natured
old Titus."

You know, all fat people
are supposed to be

laughing and happy.

I spent most of my life
getting people to think that.

All right, Titus,
let's get down to it.

You still dreaming of running
Carlisle in Parkhurst's place?

No.

- Then who is it?
- It's me.

- You?
- I don't get it.

You are crazy.

You know you can't
get away with it.

I think maybe I can.

I won't go along with it,
and neither will my district.

Why, John, I figured
to have you in jail

by the time
the primaries come along.

I've been doing some rooting
around, and you'd be surprised

the things I ran
into right here in this state.

There's been some unusual
illegal contracts,

phony land condemnations.

Now see here, Titus, you...

Now, you were in on that
land grab, too, Ed.

The fact is, all of you seemed
to have got your cut of it.

Now, here I have something
that will really interest you.

What's this?

Go ahead! Read them!

Contracts, checks,
bank statements.

They're photostatic copies
so I've got plenty more!

What's the idea of this?

Why, you double-crossing...

Now, there ain't no use
to calling names.

You see, the public are used

to having you all eat
at the trough.

I don't know how they'll take it
when they learn you

ate up the trough, too.

Nothing for me, Titus?

Oh, I have a few jim-dandies
for you if you really want them!

Now, look here, Titus.

If we go to jail,
you go with us.

Now, that's a funny thing.

But somehow, there ain't a scrap
of paper to tie me to you.

All of you were so busy
getting your big cuts

that you were careless
when you gave me my little ones.

I plucked a goose here and there

but nobody could find
the feathers.

You know, I almost believe you.

I hope you do, Dan.

I sure wouldn't want
to see you go to jail.

Dan, we've got to be reasonable.

I can't afford
to take any chances.

Maybe we ought to think
about this some.

There's nothing to think about.

Titus, if you try this,

I'll fight you every inch
of the way.

Sure sorry to hear you
say that, Dan.

You'll find out sooner
than you think

that it don't pay
to be too stubborn.

Well, I've got to be going.

Any of you boys coming my way?

Can't go along with you, Dan.

Maybe we could make
some kind of a deal.

Don't you think
we ought to sleep on it?

Maybe in the morning.

No.

You boys go on.

No hard feelings, Dan?

No hard feelings.

Can I drop you, Titus?
I got my car.

Maybe we ought to stop off
and have a drink.

- Sorry, Dan.
- Good night, Dan!

I'm sorry, Lane.
Thought you were asleep.

I didn't feel much like talking.

You don't have to.

I heard the whole thing.

No matter what you give
Titus Semple,

he'll never let up.

He hates you worse than any
of the others because of me.

Why?

He's been after me ever since
I came to Boldon.

He was determined to break me
and make me run away,

only I wouldn't run.

So he framed me.

Why?

To protect his candidate's
political future.

He thought Field Carlisle
was in love with me

and I was in love with him.

Were you?

Yes.

Are you in love with him now?

Were you in love with him
when you married me?

I don't know.

You at least knew you weren't
in love with me.

You were that honest.

You thought if you married me,
you'd be out of Titus' reach.

You thought I had more power
than he had and you'd be secure,

maybe one day
you'd pay him back.

And then you
and Carlisle would...

That's not true!

No one has ever played me
for quite such a sucker.

I don't mind being taken
for a free ride,

but if you had just warned me,
if you had just told me

these things
when I asked you to,

I'd have known what to expect.

I've made two big mistakes
in my life.

I underestimated Titus,
and I overestimated you.

But you...

Too bad, sugar.

This joke's on you.

Titus is top man now.

Dan.

Dan.

I'm here at the station.

I'm catching the 1:15
for Olympic City.

I'll probably be moving fast
in the next couple of weeks,

so I can't tell you
where I'll be.

Will you have Sarah pack
a bag for me

and send it on
to the Olympic City Hotel?

All right, Jamieson!
Train's just about to pull out.

- Dan.
- Yes?

Will you call me?

There isn't anything to say.

- Hello, Doc.
- You got a story for me, Dan?

I understand Titus has you
all over a barrel.

He's gonna put himself
in as Governor.

My client has no statement
to make, Waterson.

I don't need any legal
protection against Doc.

- Don't miss the train.
- Okay.

- What are you going to do, Dan?
- I don't know.

I'm no lace-pants reformer,
but I'll be horsewhipped

before I'll turn this state
over to Titus.

I don't know yet how we could
have been so stupid

as to let this happen.

Men like Titus
don't just happen.

No, it's men like me
that make them possible.

Say, Doc, you're always writing
fancy, flag-waving speeches,

telling how to run the universe.

Have you a solution?

Not off-hand.

But then I don't think
our form of government's so bad

that honest men can't run it.

Aboard!

- Good luck.
- Thanks, Doc.

Who is it?

Field!

- I got to talk to you.
- Well, you can't.

It's late.

You're drunk!

Not drunk enough.

There's not enough liquor
in the world to wash away

what I got to wash away.

You have no business to
come here at this time of night.

There's nobody here. I watched
them all leave, one by one.

Sitting across the street
for hours in my car.

Guess I went to sleep.

It's as good a place as any.

Why don't you stop
killing yourself this way?

If it were just that simple.

I've been trying all day
to get up the nerve.

Field, what's wrong?
What's happened to you?

I crawled into a bottle,
and I can't get out.

My sweet little wife's
thrown me over,

Titus is through with me.

I lost you.

You are drunk.

It's the only way I could get up
the courage to come here to say

what's been eating me
all these months.

We should have stayed together.
I'd have been all right then.

None of this
would have happened.

I'd have made a good
deputy sheriff.

It never would have worked.

Whatever we had is over.

I can look at you now and know
it's completely gone.

Now, come on,
you can't stay here.

You better go home.

Go back to my gutter?

I got a nice little place
all staked out in front

of the Palmer House.

Titus can rock and rock and rock
and look down on me and spit.

Oh, he's got all of us.

He framed you,
and now he's framed Dan.

He's got us all.

What do you mean,
he's framed Dan?

I want a drink.

How did Titus frame Dan?

What difference does it make?
He's got us all licked.

I'm sick, Lane.

I'm sick all the way through.

I need a drink.
Please give me a drink.

All right, all right.

Then will you tell me?

You're really in love with Dan?

Field!

Hold it, Sheriff!

I'm Johnson of.

The Olympic City Times, Sheriff.

Will you make a statement?

No boys, there ain't much to say
at a time like this.

Senator Carlisle was a brilliant
man with a great future.

But when a man gets into bad
company and starts calling on

another man's wife late at night
when the husband ain't home...

There's no doubt
about it being suicide?

Depends on how you look at it.

It's his gun, but then maybe
a man could get so tormented

by that kind of woman, he
wouldn't know what he was doing.

Back to the office.

The Grand Jury must be crazy
if they think

they can make this indictment
against me stick!

I said the same thing
to Semple last night

when I first got wind of it.

But he appears to think
they can.

He'd just come from the showdown
at your house,

and he was cocky
as a bantam rooster.

He's a trifle overweight
for a bantam.

This is no laughing matter, Dan.

When the Attorney General steps
into a case, it's serious.

They've got you
on a peonage charge,

working with convict labor,
not paying for it.

And they've got the sworn
statements of eight convicts

and your own construction boss,
Burr Lassen.

Well, if Lassen did it,

Titus must really have him
by the throat.

It's too bad about Burr,
but as your lawyer,

I'm bound to worry
about your neck.

Come in.

- Mr. Reynolds?
- Here.

Good evening, Sarah.

If you want to
see Mrs. Reynolds,

you can't see her.

She don't want to see nobody,
nobody at all.

Besides, Doc Waterson,
she's asleep, sound asleep.

I'll tell her you were here.

Never mind, Sarah.
I'll tell her myself!

And at a late hour yesterday,

the Grand Jury indicted
Dan Reynolds,

state political boss,
on a charge of peonage.

The Attorney General is assuming
personal direction of

the case, and he
promises to press the inquiry

to the fullest.

He is quoted...

Now, you don't believe that,
do you?

Dan's too smart
for any cheap graft.

No, I know it's a frame-up.
Field told me.

Did he tell you
how Titus framed him?

That's all I could
get out of him.

I'm not much of a man for giving
advice, Mrs. Reynolds,

never having been able
to take it myself,

but I'm suggesting
that you get out of town today.

If you don't,
Titus will drive you out.

How? What are you talking about?

Well, this morning, a committee
made a call on our mayor,

a committee of women.

Yes?

They went there protesting
to the mayor about you.

But I don't understand.

Well, it's this way.

They call themselves
the Mother's Committee.

Tomorrow, Titus will name it
a spontaneous demonstration

by indignant citizens.

I know you're trying to help me.
But I'm not running.

Maybe you'll wish you had.

Titus is digging up some more
of his particular brand of dirt.

You'd be surprised
how fast it can spread.

- Get out of town!
- You're a cheat!

What is this?

I was hoping you'd get out
before this happened.

It's gonna get louder,
Mrs. Reynolds.

Louder and uglier.

I'll stop them!

No, don't!
That's just what the mob wants.

Well, I'll stop them
in another way.

I'll have them arrested!

It won't do any good.
No one will come.

The same man who arranged
that demonstration

controls the police.

If you don't get out
town, we'll run you out!

Titus Semple!

♪♪

Yeah, he's still here, honey.

Lute Mae kept him
waiting for you.

You want me with you,
or do you want to be alone?

Alone.

Miss Bellamy,
you keep surprising me.

Mrs. Reynolds, I mean.
I keep forgetting.

I sure figured you'd
be gone by now.

You'd have saved a heap
of trouble if you had.

Saved who, Sheriff? You or me?

I ain't never felt
in need of salvation.

Oh, but you are, Sheriff.

You've gotten away
with the things you've done

because everyone's
afraid of you.

Well, I'm not. Not anymore.

What you've done to me and what
you did to Field is past.

That can't be helped.

But I'm not going to let you
destroy my husband.

Miss Bellamy,
I'm going to crucify you.

You and Dan both.

You're going to pick up
that phone and call

the Attorney General.

You're going to tell him
it was a frame-up

and that Dan is innocent.

Because if you don't, Sheriff,
I'll kill you.

Looks like I just about
got to do as you suggest.

Long distance.

Shame after I had everything
planned so nice.

Hello?

This is Sheriff Semple.

I want to talk to
Attorney General Brandon

in Olympic City.

I guess now we're gonna
break out

into a rash of good government,
when poor old Titus has retired.

Dan's heart was never
in smart politics.

He always had a kind of
nasty streak of honesty!

I should have spit you out
the first time

you lit between my teeth.

It ain't too late now.

It's your gun.
It'd be self-defense.

The position
of the gun indicates that it

could have fallen
from Semple's hand.

These are his fingerprints.

I think that's all
the evidence we need.

Dan, you can see your wife now.

I'm very grateful. Thanks.

Take these down for photostats.

- Right, Will.
- Give me the Women's Division,

block C.

I'm kind of disappointed in you.

Why didn't you tip me off
this was gonna happen?

I'd have had an extra
on the street.

I haven't been
very cooperative, have I?

Some people think you have.

Half the county will be out
to shake your hand.

I didn't mean it to turn out
like this.

I've hurt Dan, too.

The one man who could have
cleared him

before the Grand Jury is dead.

Dan.

Dan, I thought
I'd never see you again.

When you walked out, I knew then
how much you meant to me.

The District Attorney wants to
see you, Mrs. Reynolds.

It won't be too long.

And then we're going to start
from the beginning.

Dan Reynolds, I told you one of
these days you'd make me cry.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪