Original subtitles

Good evening.

It seems that on television of late,

tales of mystery and crime are incomplete

without jazz music.

So much so that it is now almost impossible

to tell whether you are watching a detective story

or a jazz festival.

There is a difference, of course.

A jazz festival has more violence.

The basic requirements for a television mystery program

seem to be an alto saxophone,

a piano,

bass drums and, if the budget allows,

a detective.

Now, we throw the spotlight

on one member of our little combo

while he takes a solo.

Our sponsor on a one minute chorus,

after which,

if you watch closely,

you may see our story.

[laughter]

[man] I can’t get over that fish of yours.

-It gives me the creeps. -I like him.

-He’s dependable. -They’re dependable, all right.

You can depend on that piranha to snap your finger off

the minute you put it in the water.

That’s what he’s made for, Prentis.

If you could count on the market to react

the way you can that piranha,

we’d make a million every day.

-Am I right, Art? -That’s right, Mr. Barbarossa.

-Sure, I’m right. -[Prentis] Have it your way.

You raise your piranhas.

-I’ll stick to rabbits. -[laughter]

[Prentis] That’s a partial list

of some of your commons that bear a little watching.

[Barbarossa] What do you think about Underland?

[Prentis] I think it’s going back up.

That’s good enough for me.

There’s a hot tip for you, Art.

Buy yourself some Underland, you’ll make a lot of money.

Thanks, Mr. Barbarossa. I’ll remember that.

I believe everybody who works for me

should make a little money.

Prentis’ll tell you that, won’t you, Prentis?

You’ve, uh, always been very generous.

Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have to get back to my office.

That’ll give you time to go over that list.

Make up your mind what you wanna do.

I’ll call you.

[Prentis] Nice to have met you.

He’s a good man.

Maybe he gets a little edgy sometimes,

but good just the same.

Takes a long time to get the right men

for a big organization.

I guess it would.

Don’t make any mistake about it. It does.

I like to think of this outfit, well,

like a baseball team.

Everybody’s gotta try out

for his position in the lineup.

I’m the coach.

I depend on teamwork.

Well, you expect it and you get it.

Right on the button.

Maybe that’s why we keep going strong

while most of our competitors fold up

when the going gets a little tough.

That’s because I can depend on everybody on the team,

and they can depend on each other, too.

Well, that’s real security, Mr. Barbarossa.

Nobody who ever works for me is going to be left hung up,

stranded, pins knocked out from under him.

I’ve had my eye on you out in the field.

Well, I hope I’ve done well.

You think maybe you’re ready to try out

for a new position on the team?

A better job?

Well, just give me a chance.

"Chance"?

That’s a word I don’t like very well.

I don’t like to take chances.

Maybe that’s why I’ve held my position longer

than anyone else.

Well, you’re a top man in your line

and you’re getting bigger all the time.

I like that.

I’d like to keep on working for you.

I’ll let you in on a little secret.

I handpick the people who work for me

and I look for one quality.

Dependability.

Well, you can depend on me.

Prentis thought I was kidding when I said I liked this piranha here,

but I wasn’t. I meant it.

I like him because he’s dependable.

Anytime I toss him some food...

I know exactly what he’ll do.

See?

I see.

The reports on you have been good,

but I still have to know more about you

before I give you a better job.

Not that I don’t trust you,

but I’ve got to be sure.

I understand.

You’ve got to have the right man for the job.

And you know he’ll deliver.

That’s right, Art.

Now, I’ve been thinking...

I have a certain little piece of business in mind

that you might do.

It’ll give me an opportunity

to see how well you handle it.

A tryout for the team.

Or a test? Like a dry run?

Dry run, a test, tryout,

but that’s the idea exactly.

I’ve just completed a deal

with a man named Moran.

He’s got some money coming.

I want you to deliver it.

I’ll take care of it.

[drawer opening and paper rustling]

Money’s all there.

He’ll be expecting you tonight.

The Old Valley Winery, know where it is?

-Upstate a little ways. -That’s right.

You’ll see an entrance

next to the platform on your left

as you drive into the loading area.

He’ll be expecting you.

Have you got your equipment?

I never get dressed without it.

[drawer opening]

Here’s one that’s been filed away

for years.

Never been used,

can’t be traced.

Nice and safe, Art.

Give him the money first if you have to,

but make sure you get him.

[man] Hold it!

Come on down.

Come on down.

Come on, come on! Move it.

Art, huh?

You say Barbarossa sent you?

You don’t look dry around the ears yet.

You’re Moran, aren’t you?

Yeah, I’m Moran.

Why, that Barbarossa sure is picking them young these days.

Why don’t you complain to Barbarossa about it, huh?

Complain to Barbarossa?

[chuckles] That’s a good one, kid.

"Complain to Barbarossa."

Boy, that Barbarossa sure ain’t heavy on the brains,

but he got a sense of humor

sending a punk like you around here.

You got the dough, Art?

Yeah.

Let’s have it.

Sure.

[gun clicking]

Money, I mean!

I know what you mean, I...

What are you so jumpy about?

Did you want your dough?

Yeah, yeah.

All right, just cool off so, will ya?

I gotta get it. It’s in my inside pocket.

Get it, get it.

Take it easy, kid.

Don’t rip that Madison Avenue suit of yours.

Looks like the ten grand is here, all right.

I wouldn’t have put it past Barbarossa to hold out.

Ten grand?

Yeah, well, your ten grand, then.

OK, kid, you can turn around now.

I’m sorry about having to stand you

in the corner like that, kid, but I gotta be careful

about the guys Barbarossa sends around here,

you know what I mean?

It’s all right.

No hard feelings, huh, kid?

[clears throat] No.

It’s all right. You can put it down.

How about a drink?

All I can offer you is some of Barbarossa’s own juice.

All right, that’s OK with me.

[thuds]

Yeah, that sounds pretty full.

Probably just laid down.

Maybe there’s some better stuff aging in the other end.

[pouring]

You looking for something, kid?

Yeah, I was looking for a smoke, here.

Yeah?

[pouring]

Well, sit down. Put your hands on the table.

All right.

I’ll give you a smoke.

Here you are, kid. Help yourself.

Thanks.

Here’s to your boss Barbarossa.

May his cheap heart burn.

Hey, that’s pretty good, huh, kid?

"Cheap Heart Burn."

Cheap heartburn! Don’t you get it?

-Barbarossa’s all right. -Yeah?

You think so, kid?

Hey, why don’t you come clean?

Didn’t he offer you the ten grand to knock me off?

No.

How about the money?

I didn’t know there was ten grand in there.

You didn’t?

Oh, maybe you’re a bigger sucker than I thought.

You mean you didn’t even count it?

No, I didn’t count it.

None of my business.

Oh, sure, sure.

But didn’t, uh, Barbarossa even, um,

you know, like, uh, insinuate

that after you gave me the money

it was OK to take it back? If you could?

All I was told to do is to come here

and give you your share.

You handle yourself great, kid.

Takes a lot of guts to come here looking for me for Barbarossa.

I don’t know anything about that and I don’t think

there’s anything to worry about here.

I was just sort of the Pony Express,

-you might say. -Yeah, I suppose

Barbarossa’s got you snowed

like all the rest of them.

I don’t get you, Moran.

Maybe not.

He snowed you, but good!

He figures you’re just a stupid little punk

and you don’t know any better.

What’re you trying to do? Con me?

Could’ve gunned me a long time ago

if you thought I was triggering for Barbarossa.

[exhales]

I won’t be particular about this glass.

You asked me what snow job? I’ll tell you.

All that yak that Barbarossa hands out about teamwork,

trying out for positions, bull!

And that junk about dependability! Nuts.

I think that maybe you’re the one

who’s trying the snow job, Moran.

Am I?

You mean you, you never heard him?

[imitating Barbarrosa] "Anybody who works for me never gets hung up."

Everybody knows that Barbarossa’s got

a solid organization.

Yeah? Who’s everybody, kid?

You and Barbarossa?

Ever speak to any of the other guys in the outfit?

No, we don’t talk much about Barbarossa.

It ain’t what you would call healthy.

Well, I’m talking about Barbarossa, ain’t I?

And I’m healthy.

I’ll tell you something now, straight.

I’ve been around a long time, and I happen to know.

Barbarossa makes a lot of promises that don’t pay off

and the boys don’t like being stung.

You got paid off, didn’t you?

You bet your life I got paid off!

Cheap, chiseling bag of hot air

knows better than to hold out on me.

He knows better than that, all right?

You talk pretty big, Moran.

Maybe you’re not scared of Barbarossa.

You seem to think he’s a little afraid of you, though.

Why should he be, huh?

You can’t figure that out?

Well, maybe.

What I can’t figure out is what you’re feeding me

this information for here.

If I thought you was interested, really interested,

I’d let you know.

But I got a hunch you’re just stalling around here

so you can run back to Barbarossa and worm out.

Barbarossa don’t own me.

He can’t worm me out.

You got something to say, I’ll listen to it.

Keep it to myself...

If I want to.

Maybe.

I got a hunch you’re just the guy I’ve been looking for.

For what?

To gun Barbarossa.

What’s the matter?

You scared of the idea, Art?

I got the right guy?

Go ahead and take it!

I didn’t say I’d do it.

The money’s right there. It’s all yours.

You’re pretty hopped up about Barbarossa, aren’t you?

Why’s it so important to you he gets blasted, huh?

[gun clicking]

OK, kid.

No reason I shouldn’t let you in on the setup.

I wanna take over.

It’s all set with the boys, too.

Only Barbarossa don’t go for the idea, naturally.

Well, why don’t you knock him off yourself, then?

What, are you scared or what?

No, kid. No, I’m not scared.

But you see, Barbarossa’s always contacted me

through one of the boys.

Look a little suspicious

if I might try to pay him a sudden visit.

But it’d be easy for you, Art.

I mean, he’s expecting you back, ain’t he?

Well, as long as I work for him,

I imagine I could arrange to see him.

Aw, come on, kid.

Cut it out. Stop hedging with me.

I know the way he operates.

I’ll lay you five to one he expects you

to report back tonight.

Alone, huh?

Pushover.

Why me? I mean, why not, uh...

Why not one of the other guys, huh?

No, no. No.

I’ll tell you, I’ll level with you, kid.

None of the other guys has got the guts to do it

or the ambition.

What do you mean, ambition? What do you mean by ambition?

What’s in it for me if I get Barbarossa?

What’s in it for you?

You’ll be my right hand, Art.

Second from the top.

Oh, you’re not heavy enough, kid.

You haven’t been around long enough time

to handle a setup like this.

I could, and next to me, you’re top dog!

You know, with Barbarossa,

you’re just another hired punk.

You know that.

At least you’re honest, Moran.

None of this jazz about being partners.

All right, if I take Barbarossa...

maybe you’re not gonna keep your promise.

I mean, uh...

how do I know that you’re not snowing me now?

Looks like we just have to trust each other,

don’t it, kid?

If I take Barbarossa, Moran,

I wouldn’t hesitate to take you if you double-cross me.

What do you say, kid? You with me?

I don’t know. It’s risky.

Plenty risky.

Fifty C notes there should pay for the risk!

That’s not enough.

Could be the biggest blast in the business.

I want double that.

[chuckles]

You learn fast.

Fast enough.

Ten grand or there’s no deal.

You do it tonight?

Yeah, for ten grand.

Uh...

OK, kid.

All right, ten grand,

and your right hand man in the new setup.

You don’t miss a trick, do you?

Make sure you do the job good.

I will.

Nice, green lettuce felt good, huh?

Cool.

After tonight, Art,

that’s gonna be just chicken feed.

You’re making the big time fast. You learn quick.

You’ve got guts and ambition.

Someday, you’ll even be planning to take over from me.

[chuckles]

Come on, kid. Drink up.

No, no thanks. I gotta cut out now.

Barbarossa’s waiting for me.

Yeah. You’d better get going. Good luck, kid

All right, thanks. I’ll join you later.

You do that.

Hey, Art.

Yeah?

Barbarossa’s going to feel awful bad about this, kid.

[Art chuckles] Yeah.

Yeah, he’s gonna feel awful bad when he...

[gun clicks]

Yeah, he thought you’d pass

the test for sure, kid.

He’s gonna be awful disappointed.

Wait a minute now, test? What do you mean?

You said...

Oh, you stupid, little, double-crossing punk.

[gun clicks]

Don’t, Moran.

Please, don’t!

[laughs]

Don’t! Don’t!

[laughs]

[gunfire]

The results of this case in a moment.

Our decision to join the rush to jazz

seems to have been a success, with one difference.

We have decided to take the silencers off the guns

and use them in the orchestra.

Now, ladies and gentlemen,

a delightfully cacophonous commercial,

after which, I shall swing back.

Perhaps our sponsor should use a mute.

As for tonight’s case,

Moran was found guilty

and fined by the Jazz Musicians’ Union

for shooting a man a capella.

The use of firearms without accompaniment

is strictly forbidden.

He was, of course, also dealt with

by the municipal authorities.

Next week, I shall return with another story.

Until then, goodnight.