Original subtitles

Anything wrong?

Timing, maybe.

Maybe not.

Sergeant Ed Brown, please.

Chief.

How is he, Mike?

Doctor says he's got a concussion, but no fracture. He's up there with him now.

It's good to see you again, Chief. Sorry it has to be under these circumstances.

Eve Whitfield, Mark Sanger, Mike Hennessey. Mark.

My boss told me to tell you he wanted to come down, but he's in over his head

with that Cardoff killing. I heard about it.

Come on, I'll show you to his room.

Jim Cardoff is a pretty prominent man.

And when somebody walks into the house with a... Pretty prominent man that puts

three bullets in him. We want to have some answers, and fast.

I know your problem. I face it myself.

But my problem is Detective Sergeant Ed Brown.

Yeah, I understand.

I'm not sure you do, quite apart from the fact that he's a good cop and that

works for me. I happen to care what happens to him.

And when I send him here on a perfectly routine trip to extradite some hood, and

he ends up in the hospital, I want some answers, and fast.

Brown was seen with a girl last night.

And?

Pretty girl, two Confederates, a couple of drinks, a promise, and then a hit on

the head. What does Ed say?

I haven't talked to him yet.

And the girl? In this town?

They're a dime a dozen, Bob.

Oh, uh, Dr. Evans, this is Chief Ironside. How is he, Doctor? Oh, in

shape, I think, but I'm still waiting for a report on his last x -rays.

There was a call for you. Headquarters wants you to call in immediately.

Thank you, Doctor.

Sorry, Chief. I'll check back with you later.

May we see him now?

Well, certainly.

I'll let you know as soon as I have word.

Lie back there. That's an order.

If you move off that bed without getting Dr. Evans okay, he'll be walking a beat

when you get back home, and that's a promise.

I'm glad to see you too, Chief.

Hi. Hi, yourself.

How are you feeling?

I've got a sore head.

It's happened before.

On the level, Chief. There's no need for this. That may be.

We'll let the doctor decide.

You know, if you feel like telling me about it, you can start with the girl.

How did you know there was a girl? He knows you.

Who was she? A girl I happened to meet.

A girl named Elaine Moreau.

All right.

Now, why don't we start at the beginning?

Well... You know, when I phoned you yesterday about...

The delay in starting back, the writ Riley's lawyer had filed.

Gone into the bar of a nightclub to phone.

And when I finished, there was this music coming from one of the rooms.

You're late.

Am I?

I guess I am at that.

Been waiting long?

All my life.

Maybe it just seems that way.

Should we go?

Whatever you say.

Where? I'm sorry.

I heard of a place called Steffens.

Steffens it is.

That was the beginning, meeting her there.

In other words, she picked you up. No, it wasn't like that. You picked her up?

No, it was... I know it sounds crazy, but... All right, so nobody picked

up. The whole thing was an idyllic adventure.

You met the girl and you started for this restaurant.

Stefan's.

Thank you for remembering.

There are some melodies, like some women, a man never forgets. You may as

know that Stephan is the one great.

Youth and beauty and exquisite taste.

What more can a man ask?

I was thinking the same thing myself.

You look well.

Are you happy?

One of my age would say that.

Someone as young as you. No, no, Elaine.

No? No.

Never. I remember that.

Translation?

One should live each hour as if it was his last.

You believe that?

I'm not.

I have a theory.

No more doors to run through and there are no more locks to lock.

You put on your prettiest dress and... Wait.

This is lovely wine.

Elaine, who are you waiting for tonight?

I don't know how I could have been such a fool not to have realized then that

there was something very wrong.

Something troubling her.

She never told you?

No.

Sorry I was held up.

How goes it, Ed?

Hey, maybe next time when you have a night in town, you'll accept my wife's

invitation for a home -cooked dinner. Hold it, Mike. You'd better hear this.

on, Ed. Later. I've got to get back downtown.

Chief wants to see me. On the Cardoff case?

That's right.

Look, I'll get back to this later, but right now... Mike, who's Elaine Moreau?

Is that the girl? Yes.

Sing her in town?

Look, I've got to go.

Oh, wait a minute. I'll go with you.

Well, what about this Moreau girl?

Well, pick her up and have a talk with her.

There's a case against her. We can make it stick. You'll hear from me. Her name

seemed to mean something to you. I told you before, a dime a dozen.

Look, Chief, we'll take care of it.

Just don't try to make this more important than the Cardoff murder.

I'll turn it around.

If this had happened to one of my men in San Francisco, what would you say?

What did he say?

Never mind.

Now, finish it. You and Elaine had dinner at Stefan's. What then?

We went on from there to other places.

Must have been after three when I drove her home.

It was a place out north of town.

My cap?

If you will.

You like it?

Very much.

You know, I feel right now like I felt then.

I don't think I'd ever feel that way again.

Thank you.

You must be tired of that.

No.

It's a beautiful song.

Very important to me.

May I have that?

Why not?

What is it?

We're just two people who stole five hours. We had a lot of fun. Why don't

leave it at that?

Just five stolen hours in which we learned everything about each other.

And nothing.

A moment later, she was in the car, heading away from the house.

I tried to follow her, and all the lights went out.

Two men.

I'm sure of it.

But you never saw them? No.

For purposes of identification?

No, they must have been waiting there in the dark.

That's all of it?

Until I woke up when they were putting me in the ambulance in that alley

downtown. You interested in Hennessy's theory?

What's that?

Very simple, very old.

Your wallet was missing when you were found, and your gun.

You mean a setup. Why not?

Attractive girl of mystery, two hoods working with her? No.

Not Elaine.

I won't believe it. You knew her four or five hours. She told you nothing about

herself. She was obviously hiding something, and you won't believe it. I

It all fits.

But not with this girl.

I'd stake my life on it. You already have.

And you were lucky.

Well, I've seen your x -rays, and they don't show us anything to be concerned

about. You can leave now.

But take it easy, huh?

I'd have the police surgeon checking you in a day or two.

Well, thank you, Dr. Evans.

I'll be ready in five minutes. Eve, get on the phone. Make four reservations for

the first plane to San Francisco.

Wait a minute. What are you talking about? I'm not going back yet.

Why not?

Because it didn't happen the way Hennessy said it did. Do you really

you're immune, that you couldn't get taken like a hundred other Johns?

If I'm that poor judge of character, then I'm in the wrong job.

And I shouldn't be working for you.

Not this girl, Chief.

Not Elaine.

Go ahead.

Make the reservations.

But before we leave, come with me to find Elaine.

Just meet her for five minutes. Talk to her.

And if you still feel the same, then there'll be no argument for me.

Chief, that girl was afraid of something last night.

I've got to find out what and why.

Yes? Miss Moreau, please.

Who? Elaine Moreau.

Oh, I'm sorry there's no one here by that name.

I'm sure you must have the wrong address.

This is... We're sure. I was here with her last night.

Is this some sort of joke?

I was home all last night, alone.

May we come inside and talk to you for a few minutes? We're police officers.

What about?

May we?

This is what?

What are you looking around for?

Are you really pleased?

Let me see some identification.

We're sorry to inconvenience you, Miss... Phillips.

Carol Phillips.

And it's Mrs.

You're from San Francisco.

That's right. No one's making any accusations, Mrs. Phillips.

We're just looking for a girl.

Well, you can look for her someplace else.

The painting on the wall is new. There's not a speck of dust on the frame.

That broken bush, that's where they got you? I'm sure it is.

We'll find out who owns the house.

That woman is lying, Chief. She's covering up for somebody.

Maybe. Maybe what?

Maybe a fellow with stars in his eyes wasn't sure himself where he was at

in the morning.

You know, Mark, you have a point there.

Ed, how much did you have to drink last night?

All right, Chief. Now, you saw the house, I saw the changed picture, I saw

broken bush, and I saw your busted head.

Now,

the nightclub where this little idol began, where is it?

Hi, fellas. You're early. We're not open yet.

Thank you. We're looking for the manager.

Is he around?

Not he, she.

I'm Jan.

My name's Ironside.

Mr. Brown and Mr. Sanger.

Nice to meet you. What can I do for you? We're looking for Elaine Moreau.

Is she here?

All right, Billy. You can go back to the bar now.

No, she's not.

We'd like to talk to her.

Well, why don't you leave a number where she can reach you? If she comes around,

I'll give it to her. Do you know where she lives? Or where she might be right

now?

Will you excuse me a minute, please?

Hold it a sec.

Here. It's the man asking for Elaine.

You're being a little pushy about it.

They say who they were? I smell cop.

I'll call you back.

You're not going to talk to them.

Why not?

Why do you want Elaine?

Do you know where she is?

I know, but I'd like to find out. Are you part of the establishment?

Let's say I have an interest in Elaine Morrow.

What do you want from her? A few answers.

What do you want from her? I'm Joe Verona.

If there's an explanation here, I missed it. We're from out of town. She's my

girl.

What connection does she have here?

She worked here. How long?

A few months. She and her partner, Johnny Foster.

Why'd they leave?

We change acts regularly. They stayed longer than most.

Does she stop in often?

She hasn't been here for months.

Well, thank you for your help. We'll keep looking.

If you find her, call me here.

Please. It'll be my pleasure, Mr. Verona.

Those are the same cops that are out of the house.

Find out what's happening.

Yeah, sure.

Mr.

I heard you asking about a leg. I can't talk now, but I get a break in half an

hour. El Rodeo Motel. The name's Brown.

Thank you.

That fool is all cop. All cop.

I checked out Jan. She runs the club but doesn't own it.

I didn't think so.

After all, she did consult with the office before she answered our question.

had the same thought. Tried to check out that Joe Verona we met. If he owns it,

it doesn't show anything.

She lied, though. Why didn't she see Elaine when I met Elaine there last

Did you see Jan last night?

No. Well, if Jan wasn't there, she didn't see Elaine.

Yeah, but Jan said she hadn't seen...

Hot day. Would you like a cool drink?

Is Elaine in trouble?

That's what we're trying to determine.

Why can't they just leave her alone?

Who? Everybody, mister. Just everybody.

Anything you can tell us would help. Who she knew, what she did, any trouble she

was in.

Trouble?

Hers started the day she walked into that club.

She'd come in with a fellow named Johnny Foster and asked for an audition.

The moment she started, I knew she had it.

I don't know. I guess in a way I felt sorry for her.

She was so young and so fresh.

And in this town, nobody stays that way very long.

It's time to say goodbye to this confusion.

My heart has paid its dues.

That's why the lady sings the blues.

True love is all a hoax.

For simple -minded folks, those love and marriage jokes, they're just

an illusion.

It's nothing I can use.

That's why a sad lady sings the blues.

A man will deal you double, then burst your bubble. And when there's trouble,

you're drunk.

So bye -bye, love affair.

You're really just a snare and a delusion.

Starry -eyed was I.

There's nothing else that I can lose.

Now time is passing by me, and no one wants to

try.

He sings.

It's his money.

Alfred, there's just one thing.

We're a team. You see, we're engaged.

Maybe that makes a difference, mister.

Why should it?

Did you hear that, Johnny?

Oh, mister, I'll love you till the day I die.

Well, I consider that a promise.

I saw Johnny Foster's face when Joe said that. I think Johnny knew even then

what was going to happen. What do you mean?

Joe Verona broke him up. I don't know how, but he did.

I heard Johnny say once that he'd kill Elaine before he'd let Joe have her.

What you're saying is, if anything happened to Elaine, it's Johnny Foster

looking for.

Nowhere to find him?

Well, he's in town somewhere. I don't know where exactly, but if you want, I

could try to find out. We'd appreciate it. I love that girl, mister.

She's as good a friend as I've ever had.

Thank you, Millie.

Who was that?

The key to the beginning.

The girl Elaine Moreau was the day she came to this town.

Not the girl you were with last night.

And a far cry from the girl Mike Hennessy believes she is.

Now, what's in between?

What made the change?

People wear a lot of different faces. They put them on like a pair of shoes.

They do.

Well, I'd like to know what the real one is.

You find out about the house? Yes, it's in Carol Phillips' name.

Bought last year for cash.

She doesn't look like the kind of woman who would have that much cash, but you

never can tell.

If she fronted for someone when we were there today, she could have fronted for

someone when the house was bought.

Just where do you think we'll get that information?

Stephan, the man at the restaurant?

Yes, he knows her. He knows a good deal about her, I could tell. All right,

Stephan.

For dinner.

But she must be somewhere.

That's right, Stefan. But so far, no luck.

A person doesn't just disappear.

They do if they want to. Or are made to.

Surely someone can tell you. We haven't been getting many straight answers.

That's why we've come to you.

I got the idea you had a real affection for Elaine Moreau. She has always been

very dear to me.

blank spaces and picture we've been putting together. For instance, Johnny

Foster.

Elaine and Johnny worked a while at Jan's place and then left suddenly.

Why? Johnny made her leave.

He was jealous.

And with reason.

Jealous of whom?

Of Joe Verona.

The man who owns Jan's place.

This place and half a dozen other clubs in town.

Clubs, businesses.

Oh, not on the record, but...

He owns them and runs them nevertheless.

If he finds out that I've told you, I... He won't.

Johnny and Elaine were to be married.

Small private ceremony and a small celebration afterwards here.

Elaine had gone home to dress.

Johnny and I were waiting when he arrived.

Joe Verona.

Two of Verona's men were with him.

He ordered Johnny into the dressing room.

They didn't stay there long.

Just long enough to change a few lives.

What happened in there? I don't know.

Johnny wouldn't say.

I only know that when he came out, Johnny Foster looked like a sleepwalker.

Face dead white.

Eyes not alive.

No expression.

He handed me a note for Elaine.

And then he walked out that door.

A broken man.

He didn't come back. What was in the note? A piece of paper saying that he

didn't love her.

That he never had.

That he couldn't go through with the marriage.

And that he was sorry.

Elaine was shattered.

You didn't tell her what had happened? That Verona had put pressure on him? Did

he? Nobody knows for sure.

I told her about Verona talking to Johnny.

It didn't matter.

The only thing that mattered was that Johnny had walked out.

Verona said Elaine was his girl.

Eventually. Verona was always around and she was lonely.

More than that, I didn't think that she cared anymore about anything.

Verona owned her like he owned everything else.

There's a woman, Carol Phillips. Does he own her, too?

Yes.

She's Jan's sister.

They worked for Verona for many, many years.

And Johnny Foster?

Verona put him to work in one of his clubs.

Johnny always has a job.

But apparently no memory.

Chief?

Yes, Eve?

Millie O 'Neill called. She's found Johnny Foster.

Where is he? Here.

A small rooming house on the edge of town.

All right, you and Mark get down to headquarters.

Find Hennessy, push him till he gets some word on Elaine.

You know where to reach me if anything comes up.

All right, Ed, let's go.

Oh, thank you, Stephan. I hope I've helped.

This was our song.

I wrote it for her.

Did she tell you that?

Yeah, this is the song that was going to make it big for both of us.

Elaine and Johnny Foster.

We need your help, Johnny.

My help?

It's all washed out of my head now.

I don't feel anything anymore.

I can hardly feel sad that Elaine's dead.

Killed by Joe Verona three days ago.

She was alive last night with me.

There's killing.

And there's killing.

What kind of killing did Joe Verona do?

The kind he always does.

The safe kind.

No police investigation.

No trial. Nothing.

Because the body's still up and walking around.

Like mine. How did he kill you, Johnny?

How did he kill you and Elaine?

We know you were going to be married. What changed it?

Married.

Elaine and me.

Finally.

It had taken so long.

Jobs.

Money in the bank.

Getting all doubts erased.

I guess we were two of the happiest people in the world.

The show was over.

We were in her dressing room, knowing that within the hour we'd be married.

Johnny, I've got to change.

You're leaving.

You've changed your mind and you're eloping with the king of Grostock. I

change my clothes.

I love you, Johnny Foster.

I'll never get used to hearing you say that.

Oh, you'll be so happy, honey, I swear it.

I love you so much, sometimes I think I'm going to burst with it.

You can say that again and you can say it for the rest of our lives.

I'll be right back.

And she was gone.

Door closing, dream ending, and that was all.

Elaine and Johnny, that was all.

It ended right there.

That wasn't all, wasn't it?

Verona talked to you, Johnny, before you walked out.

So Verona talked to me. So what?

So what did he say to you?

Nothing.

Would have taken a very interesting conversation to have made me walk away

her.

What was it, Johnny?

What was it?

You see these?

They make music.

They earn me a living.

My whole life.

Melodies, unwritten.

They're all I am.

All I ever will be.

Whatever you gotta say, Verona, say it. I have a wedding to go to.

Oh, there's not going to be any wedding, Johnny.

And who's going to stop it?

You are.

Oh, sure, sure.

You're going to write Elaine a note.

Tell her you don't love her, and the wedding's off.

Get out of here.

Have it your way, Johnny.

You really think you're going to force me to write that letter? Well, if you

don't, Johnny, the boys are going to break your fingers one by one.

Stuka knows how to do it.

No.

Well,

Johnny, what's it going to be?

So Johnny Foster died that night, Mr. Ironside.

Oh, he kept his precious fingers.

Of course, the rest of him was dead.

Why didn't you leave town?

Get away from him.

He wouldn't let me.

He wanted me where he could watch me.

Oh, he kept me close.

Working.

Working like a court jester.

What about Elaine?

How did Verona kill her?

Where?

At a party.

The house on Mesa Drive.

The house that Joe had bought for Elaine.

The party was over.

But what Joe Verona didn't know was that it was really about to begin.

I put one sign for you, Joe.

Some celebrations, who wants a crowd around, right?

Well, Jim, have you thought about it?

Yeah, I've thought about it.

Well, are you going to put in a word for me?

Why should I, Joe?

Why not?

One nut from you, I'm the second biggest man in town.

Mm -hmm.

A year or two, you might even try to take over.

Think I should let you do that, Joe?

Maybe I should stop you now.

You wouldn't do that. I would if I thought you weren't my boy anymore.

Not your boy.

I'd cut off my right arm for you.

Words, Joe.

Words.

There's nothing I wouldn't do.

How can I prove it?

I don't know, Joe. How? Well, you name it, Jim. Just name it.

You name it, Joe.

I'm very tired.

You go ahead, baby.

That won't be long.

Everything has its price, Joe.

You kidding?

No, I'm not.

She's my girl.

I got your word you'll help me.

Sure, Joe.

Who was he? This man who could make or break Verona?

Who was the man, Johnny?

Well, he's dead now, too.

Not like Elaine and me, but really dead. Jim Cardoff?

Who is it? Is Chief Ironside there?

Chief?

News of the girl, Mike?

Word just came in.

She's dead.

How? They found her body in the lake less than an hour ago.

She'd been shot.

Any leads?

Nothing.

Who else knows the girl's dead?

No one. We just got the call.

All right. Sit on it, Mike.

Keep it quiet until midnight.

How come you go barging into places in this town, Arnside? You got no

jurisdiction. You're right, Joe.

But I have a big curiosity.

Well, I always like quiz programs.

Shoot. Why'd you buy a house and put it in Carol Phillips' name?

I was present.

Was that a crime?

Cite me the code. Why did Johnny Foster and Elaine Moreau suddenly break up? I

was a lover's quarrel. How many points does that give me? What was Elaine

desperately afraid of last night?

When last night? When she was out with me.

You gonna put out with him? She was.

Query.

Why did Elaine run out of the house last night and Ed get slugged when he tried

to follow her?

Slugged?

Well, who didn't? That was the next question.

I'm tired of it, Whiskey. I'm not finished.

Well, I am.

Unless you got a specific charge, you're beaten, huh? I want you to come with

me, Joe. I'm busy. You're not that busy.

You come along with us or Hennessy will have to think of a way to take you into

custody.

She's been shot, Joe.

In the back.

Why?

Why? Can't you put it together?

We had to get Cardoff out of the way, didn't you?

You ordered your man to kill him.

Well, he killed him, all right. But somebody saw him, and he had to kill

Isn't that right, Stoker?

They're guessing, Joe. They got no case. You killed her. They got no case. Joe,

don't blow it. You know what you mean to me?

I had to. She saw me. She saw me with God off, Joe. I had to do it.

You pray.

I'll see you pray.

So will you, Joe.

Come on.

Coming, Ed?

She knew.

She knew he had to come for her.

And she just...

i'm sorry ed you should have known her yeah i guess i should have