Original subtitles

(jazzy instrumental music)

- [Radio Announcer] This is W-W-L New Orleans,

870 on your AM dial.

Stay tuned for the best in news and music.

(jazzy piano music)

(crash)

- [Mama] How do you expect me to sleep?

- I didn't mean it to bother you.

I've got it down low.

- The whole place is shakin'.

(mysterious instrumental music)

(seagulls squawking)

(laughs)

- Hi Carrie.

- Mornin' Mr. Gant.

What's that in your hand?

- You know dang well what it is (laughs).

Ta-dee-ay!

(snoring)

- Can I bring you anything Mama?

(exciting musical cadence)

(upbeat instrumental music)

- That's gotta be it.

He said the place with all the plants.

- Yeah, he say how we were supposed to water all the plants?

- Yeah, with a tin can.

For 60 a month, what do you want,

a built in sprinkler system?

- Alright, I'll set up housekeeping.

You check in at the Harring.

- Oh right.

- Mornin' Mr. DeSavo.

I'm not late, am I?

- Not late, no.

Not early either.

(ambulance siren wails)

- If it's what I think it is, we may be in for an epidemic.

- I wonder how it happened.

- A parakeet, canary, parrot.

(parrot squawks)

(drunken mumbling)

- [Parrot] Aah, find out.

(boat whistle toots)

- [Parrot] There they are (mumbles).

All over you, aah!

(boat motor rumbling)

- You fellas ought to know better than this.

Bringin' that damn boat around here in daylight.

- Does a man always live by the code?

- If he wants to get paid, he damn well better.

Now go on, get that boat outta here.

Take it back up the bayou.

And don't you come back here 'til after nightfall,

you hear me?

- Ah, maybe you send us away because you don't got

the money.

- Did you ever not get paid yet?

- Ah, adios.

- Adios.

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

(mysterious instrumental music)

♪ If that diamond ring don't shine

♪ Pop's gonna buy me a gallon o' wine

♪ If that gallon--

(indistinct conversations)

♪ Pop's gonna buy me a mockingbird

♪ If that mockingbird don't sing

♪ Pop's gonna buy me a diamond ring

♪ If that diamond ring don't shine

♪ Pop's gonna buy me a gallon o' wine

♪ If that diamond ring don't shine

♪ Pop's gonna buy me a gallon o' wine

♪ If that gallon--

(singing fades)

- Excuse me.

I'm lookin' for work.

- We got a lotta work here.

Here we got too much work.

- Swell!

- You say swell.

What's so swell?

Me, I do it all.

(upbeat instrumental music)

- You try George's?

Hercules George, around the corner.

In back, stall three.

- Hey thanks.

Shall I tell 'em you sent me?

- George won't hire ya 'cause of me, he just needs the help.

- Thanks anyway.

(upbeat instrumental music)

Hey, I'm lookin' for Hercules George.

- Just look up here.

- I understand maybe you can use some extra help?

- I'll pay a dollar an hour.

- Well, when can I start?

- You already are.

(upbeat instrumental music)

- Hey, what's goin' on over there?

Hey, come on, what am I missin'?

- Man, with these glasses, you ain't missin' nothin'.

- [Buzz] Who's she?

- [Man With Hat] Randy Spring.

Does a bird routine at Jack's, four shows a night.

Wish I was a bird.

- Well, how about that, huh?

- Psittacosis.

No doubt about it, Parrot Fever.

Last epidemic, back in '40, we lost 27 people.

Would you call the local Public Health Office, please?

Tell them to wire the Communicable Disease Center

in Atlanta.

I'll call in as soon as I talk to Andre Beauchamp's widow.

(dramatic instrumental music)

(indistinct conversations)

- Two coffees and donuts.

Hardluck, you sit at that counter and I'll sit

at this one.

You don't like Canal Number Five?

How 'bout it with the lake trout?

- Look, all I asked you was to get something temporary

'til I got you a union card.

I didn't expect you to start wrestling with (sniffs) fish.

- Why not?

Look, I only had three years at Yale.

Hey, I got the job.

- I'm glad.

- It was her idea.

- He was cut out for finer things.

- Buzz had somethin' already all lined up at the docks,

85 bucks a week, minimum.

- So I could of handled it 'til I got you on.

You didn't have to degrade yourself.

- Who's degraded?

Look, we can't all make 85 bucks a week, can we?

I'm Todd, he's Buzz.

- How do you do?

- Hey how 'bout these, huh?

- Now don't stuff yourself.

New Orlean's famous for good food, and tonight,

ah, just put those pompanos in those paper bags,

grease up those duck presses, 'cause these two hungry cats

are gonna make that scene.

- [Todd] I guess we sound like a couple of tourists, huh?

- Oh no.

- [Todd] Well, we are.

What are some of the better places?

- Well, there's--

The town's just full of 'em.

- Why don't you show them to us?

Look, we're old friends, aren't we?

Didn't you send me to see George?

Okay, the least I can do is take you to dinner.

Why not?

- Well, I,

I just couldn't.

- Look, no big deal, just dinner.

About eight, now where do we pick you up?

- I'll be here.

I mean, pick me up here, just outside.

- What was that all about?

- Well, she'll know all the good places.

- Oh yeah, she didn't look like any Pearl Messer to me.

- Alright, so what's the harm?

- No harm, just a question.

What did you say her name was?

- Forgot to ask.

(somber instrumental music)

- Mrs. Beauchamp, my name is Stafford.

I hope you'll excuse me, I'm a health doctor

with the Public Health Service.

I'm sorry to have to stop you like this,

here at a time like this.

Believe me, I wouldn't unless the need was critical.

Does anyone in your family own a parakeet or a parrot?

- (crying) Why are you bothering me?

- Your husband died of pneumonia, didn't he?

Well, that pneumonia was induced by the virus

of Psittacosis, Parrot Fever.

Now, you see why I must ask these questions.

Psittacosis is highly contagious.

It's transmitted not alone by birds, but from person

to person once it gets started.

Now, can you think back, Mrs. Beauchamp.

Give me as full a picture as you possibly can

about the places your husband might have visited

or the people in the past two weeks.

A pet shop somewhere, the zoo?

- (crying) I'll try, doctor, I'll try.

- I swear they ought to drag that old showboat out

and sink it.

Should have burned it myself a long time ago,

set a torch to it.

It's an abomination sittin' out there in the mud.

It's an affront to decent people.

- Please Mama, don't talk about it.

It only upsets you.

Anyway, you don't mean that, what you said.

You remember three years ago when they was gonna

paint it up and put a jazz band on it and sail it

up and down the river at full moon on summer excursions,

well you almost went outta your mind.

"They can't take that old showboat away," you said.

"They just don't dare take it away."

You remember Mama?

Sometimes I think that's why you want us to stay here

in the shack.

Just so's you can keep an eye on that old boat.

- You got a harsh voice, Carrie.

- Mama,

I,

I've been invited out.

And I got nothin' to wear.

- [Mama] Huh.

- Mama, I said, I've been invited out.

With two nice boys.

- Two boys?

- There's safety in numbers, ain't that what ya tell me?

- Two ain't safe, two's twice as bad as one.

You tell 'em you can't go.

- I already told 'em I can.

- Well, you just tell 'em you can't.

- No Mama.

- I said, you tell 'em you can't go.

- No!

- What do you say to me?

- Please Mama, I gotta go out sooner or later,

sometime in my life.

Please let it be this time.

(slap)

- I'll tell you when you can go in your life,

You hear me?

- Mama, please, I need some money

just to get a dress. - You ain't gettin' any money.

- Please,

please Mama!

- Get off that bed!

(screams)

Get off that bed!

I knew you'd end up like this, I know it's in your blood.

- No!

(screams)

- You get back in here, hear me?

Get back in here!

(dramatic instrumental cadence)

(mysterious instrumental music)

- Mr. Gant!

(mysterious instrumental music)

(knocking) Mr. Gant?

Mr. Gant.

- Didn't I tell you not to come by here before nightfall?

- Mr. Gant, it's Carrie.

- What, who?

Carrie?

Oh,

hello Carrie.

You know somethin', you're the prettiest,

prettiest--

- Mr. Gant, you remember last Christmas, Mr. Gant?

You remember?

I paid you back.

Every penny by me.

I'm ashamed to have to ask you again, Mr. Gant,

but could you make me a little loan?

(grumbles)

I'm gonna do the town with two young men.

Sam, what would you do?

I mean, I simply can't just go out lookin'

like this now, can I?

(parrot squawks)

Sam, does Mr. Gant still keep that old money bag?

(parrot squawks)

You be my witness, Sam.

I'm takin' a loan for exactly $80.

(footsteps approaching quickly)

(mysterious instrumental music)

They're all lovely, but I didn't wanna spend

quite that much.

I had no idea things were so expensive.

You see, it's been awhile since I shopped.

- [Saleswoman] This is the Better Dress Salon.

Now, we do have a Young Married's department,

Smart Casuals, you know, to fit the average pocketbook.

Third floor.

- Third floor?

I think I'll take a look down there.

- We also have an economy department in the basement.

If you'll give me some idea of--

- I didn't wanna spend too much.

- Well, it's none of my business, Miss, but you have enough

right there to buy out the entire Better Dress Salon.

- Can't be.

- Why not, maybe she uses homing pigeons.

- No, no, not the act, the girl.

- Is this the girl you were tellin' me about,

the one who put Pier 63 behind quota today?

- Yeah, but we couldn't see her face.

- You're complaining?

- Can't be, that's all.

- Can't be what?

- Jeannie Barstow, PS 22.

- Oh, come on.

- Alright, I said it couldn't be, but you have to allow

for a few changes here and there.

You know, I mean, she was only 14, but it looks like

Jeannie Barstow.

What do ya say?

Ya game?

Let's go in, yeah?

(jazzy instrumental music)

(crowd cheering and whistling)

It is Jeannie, I knew it.

(crowd cheering and whistling)

(wings flapping)

(crowd applauding)

- Who'd have ever thought you'd turn out like this.

- Not your old man.

He had a standing bet, five to one, anybody that wanted

any action.

I'd get the electric chair before I was 18.

- 17.

- And I always figured I should of taken that bet,

but I figured if nobody else would, why should I?

See, no confidence.

- Do you know what?

You've changed, not just gotten older, but really changed.

- Buddy of mine,

this fellow I travel with, Todd,

his old man.

When I went to work for him, he said somethin' to me,

like some guys can hear a sermon on Sunday

and knock over a bank on Monday, but once in awhile,

you really listen, 'cause you need to.

And if the right guy says the right thing,

at the right time, bam!

It's like somebody pushed the button at Cape Canaveral.

He said, "Buzz, the true measure of a man,

"what he really is, is what he'd do

"if he knew he'd never be found out,

"never, never be rewarded, never be punished."

Psh,

who wants to be serious?

(mysterious instrumental music)

- Mr. Gant.

- Come in, come in.

- Oh, you poor thing.

I'm gonna march you right off to a doctor.

You should see yourself, Mr. Gant.

Your face is all bloody.

- I had an accident!

- I only spent $63 of it, the rest is all here.

You must have been beside yourself with worry,

but I just never had a chance to get back to ya

after I went shoppin'.

See, I had to meet them at eight o'clock.

Anyway, I never let it outta my sight, all evenin'.

Even while I was eatin'.

I held it in my lap.

That's a big responsibility, ya know?

Funny how things work out.

Here this was to be my big evenin',

instead I just kept frettin' for it to end

so's I could come back and tell you, Mr. Gant.

Don't worry, nobody stole your money.

It's all here, $4,500,

less the 63 I spent.

If you don't mind my sayin', Mr. Gant,

I don't think it's very smart of you to keep that much money

just layin' around in the drawer.

- What are you talkin' about anyway?

- If you don't believe me, just count it.

- I've never seen that thing before in my life.

- Right there, that's what I took it from.

(mysterious instrumental music)

Mr. Gant,

that accident shook your purse, and you know.

There's a lot of money in here, your money.

- That ain't my money.

Don't you come around here sayin' it, did you hear me?

You go on, you get outta here.

You get out, you take that money with you,

and don't you never come back here,

you hear me?

Go on, get out!

Come here, come here!

That's your money!

No go on, get!

Don't you come back 'til I send for you!

Well, there, I guess that ought to prove it to you.

- Get her and get it.

(exciting instrumental music)

Okay, I was wrong.

You didn't hold out.

- I still think you was wrong not to let her

bring that money back here.

'Cause you see, she's nothin',

she'd have gone on about her business

and not said nothin' to nobody.

- Either way, it's a bad deal.

Shoulda kept the gate locked like you're supposed to.

This would have never have happened.

- That gate was locked.

She came through the mud.

- And you was drunk again?

- Oh, no, not me, I wasn't drunk.

I was uh,

the heat, that's all, the sun,

you know, I just have a little liquor and the sun kinda,

kinda gets to me.

- You never been got to like I'm gonna get to you

if there's any more trouble about this.

- I don't know what you talkin' about, eh.

- Suppose we'd have taken it,

hmm?

She's the kind of stupid girl that will talk all over town.

And,

now she's holdin' more money than she ever saw

in her whole life.

She'll hang on to it and keep quiet.

If she goes to the police, they'll know that she stole it.

And they come around here, look around,

find nothin', and you'll say, "What would an old drunk

"like me be doin' with $4,000?"

They'll believe you, but her?

They'll know that she stole the money someplace in town,

anybody poor as she is, that kind of money,

why she's in trouble.

Anyway,

she won't keep it very long.

Eddie will grab it from her, make it look like a stick up.

And that's the end of it.

Unless she gives us more grief.

(dramatic instrumental cadence)

(exciting instrumental music)

(frantically knocking)

- He's right behind me.

All my life, Todd, long as I can recall, I've wanted money.

Now I just wanna get rid of this.

There's a curse on it, I can feel it burnin' my hands

sendin' a fever up my spine.

- Carrie, Carrie, wait a minute.

Now, one thing at a time.

You said there was a man?

- Faster I walked, the faster he walked.

When I ran, he ran.

(footsteps approaching quickly)

- Doorman at five o'clock in the morning?

How about some scrambled eggs?

- Look, did you see anybody outside?

- This is the witching hour.

The night people have dug in and the day people are waitin'

for the message, six o'clock alarm.

How do you like 'em?

Hard or runny?

(crying)

Well, if that's the way you feel about it,

how 'bout some waffles?

- So, what are you supposed to do, bring in a body?

- Well, like they say, some guys can't even get arrested.

Anyway, why kick, Carrie.

You're left holdin' the bag, that's all.

With over $4,000 in it.

So, some guy chased you.

If the cops tried to shag down every guy that chased a girl,

he'd need a track team.

- Why don't they make Mr. Gant come down here

and admit it's his money?

- Because there's no proof that you got it from Gant,

and if it was his, it's for sure he wouldn't

have just given it to you.

- You don't believe me either.

- Baby, I just don't know anybody that'd turn his back

on that kind of money.

- Unless he's tryin' to hide something.

- How am I going to explain this to Mama?

She won't believe me either.

- Just show her the money.

- No, I mean, about stayin' out all night.

Todd, she's gonna be just furious.

- Let's go.

- Look, Carrie, I'll go with you, but not 'til later.

Not 'til the bank's open, you can make sure that money's

in safe hands.

- You're the guy that wants to do the driving all the time.

- Remind me to change all that.

(jazzy instrumental music)

We're ready for those eggs now.

(dramatic instrumental music)

Buzz!

Buzz!

(screams)

(dramatic instrumental music)

(crash)

(breathing heavily)

- What about that other guy?

- He ran out.

- I don't think we'll ever go in the banking business.

The hours are shorter, the work stinks.

- Murdock?

- Yeah.

- Buzz Murdock?

- Yeah.

- You know a girl named Randy Spring?

- Yeah, why?

- She's just been taken to the hospital.

- Public Health Service?

I don't understand, I just left her a few hours ago.

- Was she coughing at all when you were with her?

- Yeah a little why?

- You'd better come with me.

- You okay?

- [Todd] Yeah.

- Oh, will you call Pier 63,

and tell 'em I'll be a little late, huh?

(somber instrumental music)

Parrot fever?

- We've even found it in "petrals ferbisen,"

Birds of Paradise from New Guinea.

Doves in Central Park.

Take off your jacket and your shirt, please.

- Gosh, she didn't even recognize me, Doc.

- Critical stage, she's delirious.

- You mean, she could die.

- People do.

It's alright, just roll up your sleeve.

Alright.

Last night, when you were with her,

did she talk at all about her act?

The parrot?

- No, we sort of hashed over old times.

She said something about this parrot not being as sharp

as the last one.

- And this is a new one?

- [Buzz] I imagine so by the way she talked.

- She didn't say where she got it, did she?

- In Jazka?

- As you saw, she's not able to talk right now.

And we're fighting time.

- You mean, this is an epidemic?

- Unless we can cut it off now,

by isolating the cause and the source of supply.

Actually, we know where Randy Spring bought that parrot,

but we need a confirmation from her to put pressure

on the dealer.

She's in no condition now to talk to anyone.

- What dealer?

- Pet store where she bought the bird.

I quarantined the place last night.

Police are working on the owner, but so far, no luck.

He won't tell us where he gets them.

He's probably not the only one involved.

His books are phony, clearly falsified.

It's the law.

Dealer's required to keep a record for two years

of each transaction involving birds

of the Psitticine family.

Now you know why.

Breaking the law, smuggling in exotic birds

can be big business.

That parrot of Miss Springs, she must have paid at least

$100 for it.

You can buy that same bird in Mexico for a dollar.

If you can avoid duty and the expense

of a four month quarantine by smuggling it in,

it's a big profit margin.

Bring in a hundred birds, you can count on $10,000 clear.

Well, I'll have you driven back.

If you start to have any fever or prolonged headaches

before the end of next week, you get in here fast.

- What about Jeannie?

- She's young, that's in her favor.

(mysterious instrumental music)

- I bet you Mr. Gant is watchin' us right now.

- Good.

(parrot squawks)

- Carrie won't say nothin'.

Get below, open it up.

I'm keepin' them both down there until tonight.

Mr. Bulloch, please sir,

please sir, you wouldn't, you wouldn't--

- Let 'em see you on deck,

then lead 'em down.

- Yes sir.

(dramatic instrumental music)

- [Carrie] That's him.

- [Todd] Mr. Gant?

Mr. Gant?

Carrie would like you to come into town

and explain a few things to the police.

(door slams)

- Open it Gant.

Open it!

In.

(birds chirping)

In.

I said in. (birds chirping)

Shut it.

Shut it.

(screams) (wings fluttering)

Lock it.

I said, lock it.

(dramatic instrumental cadence)

(mysterious instrumental music)

(knocking)

- Who is it?

What do you want?

- Where's Carrie?

- Who are you?

- Excuse me, Mrs. Purcell, I'm Buzz Murdock.

I'm sorry if I seem a little short on manners,

but I'm missing a buddy of mine.

He disappeared, you know, he's not a Hurcules George

and your daughter's not at work either.

- So you're one of the two?

- One of the two what?

- One of the two trash that kept my daughter out all night.

- Look, Mrs. Purcell, I have a real thin veneer,

don't scratch it.

- Men, you're good for barn yards.

Let me hear ya crow, boy, let me hear.

- Somethin's buggin'you awful bad, Mrs. Purcell.

- Get outta here.

I know your kind.

You think you can strut in here and take anything

ya want, get out.

- You never saw me before, lady, how do you know

what my kind is?

No it's not me that's buggin' you.

Let me tell ya somethin' lady, I said to Todd,

"Why do you wanna take a kid out like Carrie,

"who needs it?"

But after seeing this set up, I got my answer.

Carrie needs it.

(door slams shut)

(gate rattles)

Gant!

(gate rattles)

Gant!

Gant?

- [Bulloch] You heard the man.

(gate rattles)

- [Buzz] Gant!

Gant!

(gate rattles)

Come on!

- Hey, hey, hey, what are you tryin' to do?

Bust these yard doors down?

- Come on open the gate.

- Now, take it easy, you'll last longer, young fella.

Alright, now what do ya want?

- Murdock's my name and I got a buddy missin' here

because he's not up there.

- [Gant] I don't know where your buddy is.

- [Buzz] Where's the girl, Carrie?

- [Gant] I never seen nobody, hey wait a minute!

Hold on there, what do you please, sir?

- Todd!

- I tell you, there ain't nobody on board but just

me and Sam, that's all.

- Well, then maybe Sam can tell me.

- Well, Sam ain't got too large a vocabulary.

(parrot squawks)

- A parrot?

- [Gant] Yeah, I picked Sam up in the dry Tortugas,

yeah, and I brought 'em north with me.

Sometimes I hate that doggone bird.

He just sits in there thinkin' things over,

lookin' very wise, turnin' things over

in that old head of his, you know?

And then laughin', laughin' 'cause he knows doggone well

he'll still be sittin' there thinkin' things over

when you and me is dead and buried and made in our graves.

- What do you think Sam's gonna say about those?

- I got, oh.

- Todd!

- Hold on son.

You are the most pigheaded doggone man I've ever

laid my eyes on in all my born days.

- Todd! - Right here.

- Noise, they'd hear it all the way down to Bourbon Street.

- Right here, they don't pay much mind to noises.

Besides, there's an off shore wind.

Goin' out toward the river.

Anyone here, they'd think it was a truck,

so don't gamble boy.

Just do what you're told to do.

- Look mister, I don't care what your business is,

but let's say you got a couple of guests aboard.

So, why don't you let 'em go and three of us will walk off

and that'll be the end of it.

- That sounds real nice and reasonable.

Just turn around, walk straight ahead.

(gun shot blasts)

(exciting instrumental music)

(thud)

(exciting instrumental music)

- You know, Carrie.

Carrie and me, we used to sit here

watchin' them honkers flyin' north.

Keel,

Muscovy,

Mallards.

You know, I could tell by the look on her face

that she was flyin' right straight along with 'em,

flyin' right up to heaven.

Ah, sir, wing to wing, wingtip to wingtip,

flyin' way up, fightin' part of the wedge.

But him?

You know, all he knows about birds,

all he wanted was to catch 'em and cage 'em,

and sell 'em.

- Look, will ya take me to Todd and Carrie now?

- Sure, come on.

(laughs) Come on, son.

- Mama.

- The doctor come when you was talkin' to the police.

He said they're gonna tow that old abomination

outta here and burn it.

- That's the only thing they can do, Mama.

A lot of birds they kept in there was sick.

- I should have burned it myself a long time ago.

Flames and fry, they purify.

- They also make ashes, Mama.

- That's all to the good.

Then ya see what comes out of it.

Either it stays ashes

or somethin' better rises.

Carrie, I've been a terrible mother to you,

I've been a worse abomination than that old boat.

- Mama.

- No, Carrie, I never told ya before.

There was a time when that boat used to ride up and down

the river, just shinin' with lights, music you could hear

all the way to Baton Rouge.

I met a man there, a lot of time, there was.

I wasn't even your age, Carrie, but I loved him.

And there was a bridal suite on the boat in those days.

Fanciest thing you ever saw, like the near corner of heaven.

And there was this bed in it, had swans on the headboard.

Big as a field of clover.

He said to me, "Mary, I'm gonna buy ya that bed

"and everythin' else there is from Maine to Minnesota."

He used to like to rhythm his words like that.

He bought me a lot of things,

'cause he was free with his money, like he was free

with his love.

But he already had himself another wife,

and a family.

Up north in a city called Racine.

All this time, Carrie,

all this time, I've been takin' out my hatred,

on the only decent thing he ever did give me,

you child.

I've been wallowin' in my hatred.

Sleepin' in that same bed, lookin' at that same boat.

Carrie, tell me, child, can I stop now?

Can I look away?

Can I make you smile?

(dramatic instrumental music)

- Hello there.

- Hi Doc.

Mrs. Purcell says that these swans are contaminated too,

wants 'em towed out and burned with the rest of the stuff.

- You'd better hurry up, that tug's almost got her

off the bottom.

Well, Miss Spring wanted you to know she can have visitors

starting in the morning.

- Thanks Doc.

- Just one thing though, she suggested you might

be thinking about it in the meantime.

- [Buzz] Yeah?

- She said to tell you she decided to change her act.

What can she use, she wants to know, instead of birds?

- Well, tell her that a question of that importance

might take considerable research.

(happy instrumental music)

(jazzy instrumental music)

- [Announcer] This has been a Screen Gems film presentation

from Columbia Pictures,

Herbert B. Leonard, executive producer.