Original subtitles

Wouldn't I help you if I could?

Hey, Mike Benny was a friend of mine.

You mean you worked for him, don't you?

I was also his friend.

All right, Willie.

If you hear anything, get in touch with us.

You can go.

This way, Mr. Bush.

Hmm?

Oh.

I heard you got out. How's everything going?

All's cool, man.

You're next.

Good luck in there. See you around.

Sit down.

Sam Noble.

Seven arrests, two convictions. The first one for running horse bets. The

one was armed robbery.

Served four years in Oregon State Penitentiary, released four weeks ago.

Welcome home.

Thanks.

I suppose you know why I saw him this morning.

You suppose correctly.

I didn't knock him out.

Why did you come to see him?

Trying to get your old job back?

Oh, no, sir, Mr. Policeman, sir. I have been completely rehabilitated by my stay

in prison and have given up my evil ways.

He owed me some money.

Did you collect?

Paid in full.

Before he died.

Did he seem worried?

Undepressed?

Afraid? Never saw a man happier.

He had the town in the palm of his hand. Why should he be worried?

Any idea who killed him?

I only just got back in town.

Besides, I don't associate with the criminal element anymore.

I told you, I am rehabilitated.

You stay that way.

You can go.

Let me see that file.

Sam?

Yeah?

I'm Mark Sanger. We used to live in the same neighborhood.

That so?

Yeah, you used to give me a quarter to run an errand for you. Sometimes a

chocolate bar, an ice cream stick, just because you liked to.

Yeah.

Yeah, sure, I remember you.

Yeah, I just wanted to say hello.

Man, you've grown up.

You were the one... one I used to call, um... Clanger.

Little Clanger.

Yeah.

I see you're a cop now. No, I just work for the chief.

I'm glad you're not mixed up in that murder.

Man, I learned my lesson.

It's good to see you.

Yeah. Little Clanger.

Sam Noble.

Raised in the rackets.

Think he's mixed up in this?

We'll be seeing him again.

Get some bed on it.

Isn't it a little too soon to be asking for results? The man was killed only a

few hours ago.

Mike Benny headed up every important racket in this city.

Now, if it was a gang killing, there's likely to be more shooting to get even.

I hope not.

There never has been a gang war without innocent people being hurt. That's

exactly why I asked you to come into this, Bob. Find the killer before

chance for reprisals.

Chief, the doctor said Mrs. Benny's able to speak with you now.

Thank you, Eve.

Want to stay?

No, no, thank you. I have work to do.

Mrs. Venny, I'll try to make this as brief as possible.

You can help by simply telling me everything that happened.

There isn't that much to tell.

We were in the bedroom watching television when the doorbell rang.

It was my favorite television show, so Mike went to the door to see who it was.

Then...

Then I heard the shots.

How many shots?

I don't know. Four, five, a lot.

The lab found five bullets.

What did you do then?

Well, I started to run to the door, and then I stopped.

I was so scared.

I thought that they were going to come after me, too.

So I locked the bedroom door, and I called the police.

And you didn't come out until the officers arrived?

Not even then. I was scared that it was them just saying that they were the

police.

Excuse me a moment.

Fingerprint boys came up blank.

Have you finished with the neighbors?

Some of them heard the shots, ran to look, but all they saw was Benny lying

there.

Killers probably never came into the room at all. They just shot him and then

used the stairway to get out.

How many?

Two of them did the job.

Dorman said a car pulled up. One man stayed in the car.

The other two came inside and upstairs.

A short time later, the two came back out in the car and drove away.

The timing checks out.

Descriptions?

Vague.

License number of the car?

The doorman didn't get it, but he says it was a rented car.

How does he know that?

The license plate holder said so.

General car rental. We're trying to run it down now.

Mrs. Benny, what can you tell me about your husband's enemies?

Well, that's easy.

He didn't have any.

The chief gave you the day off. Would you give me a lift? Sure. Have a good

Give her my regards.

How'd you know it was her?

I'm a detective.

What's

a

beautiful girl like you doing in a place like this?

Waiting for somebody to come along and take me away from it all.

That so?

Mm -hmm. There was a very nice fellow once. We had a few dates. But then he

disappeared. You think he'll come back?

It's hard to say.

Well, I do till he does.

Well, you have the same kind of eyes.

Funny smile.

You will do.

Don't order too much.

I plan on spending your money tonight.

Coffee.

Hey, little Kleiner.

What are you doing in these spots?

Day off.

Yeah, I'm here.

Want to introduce me?

Millie Roberts, Sam Noble.

Pleased to know you, Millie. Nice to meet you.

Yeah, I'll have a cup of that.

Gee, it sure has been a long time.

It has.

Hey, would you still run an errand for a quarter?

I might.

I got to thinking last night after I split from the cops about the old days,

know.

Man, we really had some good times. I was too little to be a part of them, but

even so, you treated me right.

When you walked down the street and patted me on the shoulder...

I was hero for a week.

Good days.

The best times of my life.

Then I had to go and get things all messed up.

Sorry about that.

Oh, it happens, man.

Hey, how are things coming along on that murder case?

Slow, but... He was a big man, that Mike Benny.

Not anymore, he's not.

Hey, man.

Police. All right, over here.

Hands on the wall and feet apart.

Footfall. Now, everybody just relax.

Listen, you guys are making a mistake.

You'll get a chance to talk later. Just stand still.

Clean.

We'll tell you when you can stand up.

Little clanger, I sure am sorry about this.

Now, just what did we do to deserve treatment like that?

That was a stick -up. Sam answered the description.

You were with him, so they checked you, too.

Checked with my hands against the wall and somebody going through my pockets?

Now, just hold it, Mark. Just hold it.

Mark, you've got to be reasonable.

You've been around a police operation long enough to know that what happened

you was standard procedure.

It may have been unpleasant.

It's the only way those officers could have handled the situation.

I'm not so sure of that.

Really?

You think they were just mean cops, is that it?

Look, if Sam were a suspect, he could have had a gun.

If you were an accomplice, you could have been armed.

Now, what would you like those officers to do?

Tap you on the shoulder and say, excuse me, sir, did you just hold up a

supermarket? It's not likely.

Why not?

If it had been us.

But it wasn't us.

The M .O. fits Sam's last heist.

So what?

The guy's paid his debt, hasn't he?

Four years in the pen?

How long does he have to put up with it? And how long do his friends have to put

up with it just because they are talking to him?

It's the rules of the game.

Finished with his time or not, once a man has been convicted of a felony, you

can expect to be picked up for questioning once in a while.

The cons know that. They understand it. Why don't you?

And since when are you his friend?

I'm not his friend, exactly.

I mean, we knew each other a long time ago.

How did you happen to be with him today?

We just bumped into each other, that's all.

What'd you think we were doing, planning a job for old time's sake?

Oh, with his record of arrest, you'd be too smart to pick him as your partner.

You do remember his record.

Sure, but he was always decent to me.

Well, you'll probably never see him again.

We just chalk it up to experience.

Now, wait a minute.

Who said I'll never see him again?

No one said it.

I just assumed that you realized he's not the kind of man you'd want to hang

around. Well, you assumed too much, and I wasn't hanging around with him.

The man said hello.

Are you telling me I was supposed to ignore him?

No. Are you saying a man can't have friends if he's just out of prison?

No, I'm not.

Well, what are you saying?

I am saying that if you drop a rock in a rain puddle, there's going to be a

splash.

So try to stay off the streets in a rainstorm when people are throwing

Robert T.

Ironside. You just took first prize.

I'm sorry, Chief.

You can make speeches all day long.

But I was the one who was standing there with my hands against the wall and the

whole world watching.

Chief, we've got a break.

That doorman identified the car at the airport.

All right, let's go.

Well, Mr. Sanger, any time.

Well,

I didn't look too close at him.

Was kind of rushed and there were a lot of people.

But he was tall.

About six feet.

He wasn't good looking.

But he wasn't ugly. Dark hair, I think.

Didn't you check out his license and all that?

Well, the license he showed you was phony.

And he paid for the rental in cash?

Uh -huh. I made a joke about it.

Most people use credit cards.

Timing seems to work out all right. He rented the car, drove to Mike Benny's

apartment, then drove right back here and turned it in.

We'd like you to look through our mug files.

What file?

Photographs of known criminals in the area.

You might recognize him.

Would you do that?

Oh, sure.

Mark, will you arrange to pick this lady up tomorrow?

Yes, sir.

Ten o 'clock be all right?

Oh, fine.

I've got the passenger schedules and lists.

The timing seems to work out.

Run it down for me. Only one plane arrived around the time the car was

Nonstop from New York.

Three planes left here about the time the car was turned in, one of which was

nonstop to New York.

A Mr. T. Smith and a Mr. S. Thomas arrived in the incoming plane and both

here on the outgoing plane to New York less than three hours later.

Airlines usually get phone numbers of passengers.

Have New York police trace them.

Probably fake numbers, but let's check it anyway.

Out -of -town talent.

What's the matter? Doesn't Emil fit anybody we knew?

Thank you, miss.

Let's go, Mark.

All right, we've had a disagreement.

Are we going to have it out in the open, or are you going to stand around

glowering? I don't want to talk about it. I can't convince you. I can't

you. So what?

It doesn't make us mortal enemies.

You're entitled to your opinion, but so am I.

I don't like being told who I can have as friends.

Point one, I didn't tell you. I simply made an observation about associations.

Point two, you said he wasn't your friend anyway. True or false?

True.

If you want to be upset, take it out on the fact that crime exists. Why make it

personal? I don't know. I guess you were the handiest one around.

All right. Why don't you pour us a before -dinner drink?

I guess what blew it was the rousting.

Come on. He's been rousted before.

I know, but now I'm on the straight and narrow.

Maybe what you should do is to invent some kind of pocket electronic device.

that can tell you if a man is armed or not.

Zach, click, click, you're not carrying heat.

It would take the humiliation out of being questioned.

Mark, once you understand a policeman's job, you should realize there's nothing

humiliating about being questioned unless you've got something to hide.

Are we starting again?

No.

No, you know what you need is a good hot meal.

Go on over to Chainery's and order yourself a steak.

On my salary?

Oh, sign my name.

Are you trying to buy me off?

Yes I am.

I accept.

I thought you'd never come out. Come out? I live up there.

No, he tells me. I could have been waiting here all night.

Why didn't you phone upstairs?

Well, I was afraid your boss wouldn't like it. I wanted to tell you how sorry

was about what happened this afternoon.

Look, forget it, huh? No, I mean it, kid. They treated you pretty bad.

And all because of me.

I want you to know I feel bad about it. It's okay.

You worried about something?

No.

Never mind. I'm hip.

Hey, listen.

If I want to stand here or any place and talk to you, nobody's going to tell me

no. Nobody.

Hey, you had anything to eat yet?

No. What?

Well, come on and be my guest, huh?

Come on.

Where'd you work before?

I looked him square in the eye and said, prison.

Man, he got uptight.

Anyway, I said, goodbye.

But he calls me back.

He says, what were you in for?

And I said, stick up.

He says, are you going to do it again?

I said, man, if I was, would I be here?

So he hires me. Right then and there.

I start funding.

That's great.

Yeah, I'm going to get a job and earn myself a big slice of normal living.

I wish the chief could hear you say that. He doesn't trust me, huh?

Well, I don't blame him.

A rap lasts a lot longer than the time you spend inside.

Well, it lasts until... Well, it lasts until people trust you again.

Anyway, how's the killing coming along?

Still working on it. Anybody tickle the rackets yet?

I don't know.

Seems to me whoever knocked over old Mike Benny did it to get the business.

Look, tell your chief that. Maybe it'll make you a hero.

You know something for sure?

Oh, I heard one or two things.

Look, if I hear anything, I'll let you know, huh?

Somebody you don't want to see?

No.

Hi there.

Eve, I'd like you to meet my friend, Sam Noble.

Sam, this is policewoman Eve Whitfield.

Pleased to meet you, Miss Whitfield. Will you join us?

Thank you. I've had dinner.

Nice meeting you, Mr. Noble.

Muck farm said to use them as long as you want.

Good. Thank you.

I guess Eve told you I had dinner with Sam Noble last night.

No, she didn't.

Well, I was with him.

Yes, I know.

I thought you said he didn't tell you.

Look, that place was crawling with cops. What did you expect?

You saw?

No.

I'm worried.

Rain puddles and rocks, huh?

I don't think that's funny.

You know, I've been wondering whether to bring this thing up.

But since you've done it for me... I should take a look.

What is it?

More complete file on Sam Noble.

That stick up in Oregon, he knocked over a horse room.

He was sent there to do it by San Francisco racketeers.

So he did the police a favor. Look, I want you to read that.

Oh, he was in tight with the rackets before. He was taken care of while he

in prison.

Money he said Mike Benny owed him.

It was a payoff for that job.

He's not in the rackets now. He's going straight.

Is he?

Well, if he is, then why don't you arrest him?

You're out to get him, aren't you?

I don't care anything about him.

But if I were you, I wouldn't have dinner with him anymore.

Oh, you wouldn't, would you?

Well, maybe we're both lucky you're not me.

Mark, I'm telling you for your own good. Stay away from him. Is that an order?

To make sure I don't revert back to my hootle himself, is that it?

Oh, you know better than that.

Then don't lecture me.

Don't tell me where to go, what to do, how to act, or who to have as friends.

I'm flesh and blood and brain.

And I have a right to make decisions, even the wrong ones, don't I?

Yes, you do.

Then I'll make them, not you.

I only work for you, Chief Ironside.

Unless, of course, I'm fired.

Or quit.

You want to quit, Mark?

I just want to be left alone.

All right, Mr.

Sanger. You are left alone.

Why do I do it?

Why do I always let myself get backed up into a corner and then come out

slugging with both fists?

Now, how do I go to him and tell him I said a lot of things I didn't mean?

Straight out.

Just like that?

If you think it's necessary.

But if it's any consolation, Mark, I think he's probably worried about the

thing. You think so? I think he feels as a friend he had the right to speak his

mind. He didn't mean to force you.

Why shouldn't he force me?

He took me out of the gutter and gave me a break, didn't he?

If anybody has the right, he does.

Well, now you're defending him.

Better make up your mind.

I don't have to make up my mind. He's right and I'm wrong.

Well, then why the fight?

I told you, I don't know.

Maybe the way he said it.

Maybe because it was Sam that he was talking about.

So what, Mark?

If Sam Noble was some dear close friend of yours whom you had seen every day for

years, then I'd understand you defending a buddy. But that's not the case.

You haven't seen Sam for almost ten years.

That's what's bugging me.

Listen, would you take some advice from a lady?

Anytime.

Don't let it go any farther.

Thanks, lady.

Are you sure you checked every part of that car? There has to be a fingerprint

someplace.

Nothing so far, Chief.

Well, go over it again.

What's New York say, Eve? They got the word that two professionals made a trip

out here. The word was that it was to knock off a bigwig.

Tell them to pick him up and hold him.

Still no luck, Kathy?

Oh, I haven't seen anyone yet that looks familiar.

Keep looking.

Mark will keep bringing the book.

Chief?

No.

Ironside.

Chief, Commissioner Randall wants to know if there's been any progress.

He'll be the first to know.

Chief. Yeah.

Oh, hello, Willie. Sit down.

Yes, Mark.

Later, huh?

I told you before.

I don't know anything.

I can't help you.

Can't or won't?

I'm small potatoes. Everybody knows that.

Okay, okay. I made a few bucks here and there.

But I'm nobody you want.

You were Mike Benny's assistant.

Assistant, yeah, yeah. But, I mean, I'm no right -hand man, no next in line. The

word is that you're the big man now.

Me? Oh, you think I could run anything?

Oh, Chief, look, let me level with you, huh? I'm not a well man. I mean, I got

ulcers. I never should have gotten in this business anyway.

I'm getting out.

Anybody who wants it can have it. Look, I'm getting these airline tickets for me

and my wife, see?

Leaving tomorrow.

Why are you running, Willie?

For my health.

I need a better climate.

Who threatened you?

Nobody. Who?

Nobody. Nobody has to threaten me.

Anybody... Anybody wants anything I got, I mean, they can have it. They don't

have to threaten.

All they have to do is ask.

All right, who asked?

Who's taking over, Willie?

I don't know.

I'm retired.

You're scared to death. You're scared whoever got to Mike Benny will get you,

too. That's why you're leaving town. Am I also?

Sorry, Willie.

Your trip is off.

We're going to have to hold you.

Why? Why would you do that?

For your own protection.

You know who the killer might be.

He knows you've been talking to us.

If he thinks you're singing, he'll come after you.

Why would he think that?

Oh, no.

No, you wouldn't put a story out like that.

Of course, we can't protect you forever.

Eventually, we'll have to let you go.

That would be murder.

You can't do that. You guys are the law.

You tell me what I want to know.

Chief, listen to me. You've got to understand.

I'd help you if I could, but I just don't know who knocked Mike off. I don't

know. But you do know who's getting ready to take over all the rackets.

didn't say it.

What did he say, Willie?

He... He said that I was a big boy now and

that I knew the organization.

He said I could use a lot of help and that he was going to help me.

Who was it, Willie?

Albert Mullins.

All right, Willie.

I'm doing the state a favor.

Have a good trip.

Albert Mullins.

Lower echelon of the rackets.

I hear he's a smart operator.

He's been in town about a year and a half.

And he did come from New York.

Find any pictures?

Mendoza, Mencken, Morton, Murphy.

No Mullins.

All right, Kathy's got to get a look at him.

If he's the same one, we can make an arrest.

Take her to the newspaper, the morgue.

They have some stuff on them, I'm sure.

And call me from there. We're off.

Chief Ironside's office.

It's for me.

I'll try.

Okay.

Right now.

I'll start taking these downstairs.

We have a few minutes when Mark gets back. I'll leave you two alone.

I think he'd like to clear the air.

We tried that the other night.

Didn't seem to work.

If we can't have peace in the office, how are we expected to solve the world's

problems?

Good point.

What is it, sir?

Your chance to be a hero, I think.

I'm not really sure how much good it'll really do you, but you said you wanted

to know anything I heard. Right.

I got a little word.

Willie Bush has been his assistant.

They know that.

Yeah, I know. But Willie isn't strong enough to hold the top spot.

Everybody knows that.

Somebody's going to move to take over.

And the man who takes over had a good reason to kill Benny, right?

Maybe.

I'll bet it's Al Mullins.

How'd you figure that out?

You tell your boss.

You, Sam, I will.

And thanks for trying to help, huh?

Anytime, kid.

Hope it does you some good.

I'll be downstairs if you need me.

Will it make it any easier to talk if I tell you I'm sorry this all happened?

Not much.

But a little.

Understand that I didn't do it out of whim.

I had good reason to be worried about Sam.

I know he's been in a lot of trouble.

But... Well, maybe he was pushed into it.

Maybe it wasn't all his fault.

He was just a plain, ordinary guy.

Sure, tough start on the block.

But funny with the kids.

Treating them to...

Candy and ice cream.

A guy who listened when you talked.

He made you know you were there.

He made you feel... feel like... you were with it.

That's how you saw him.

But where was he minutes before he gave you that candy?

Holding up a store?

Running a policy game?

You had no way of knowing.

You're doing it again.

Intentionally. To show you what you're doing.

Mark.

Where were you when we first met?

Arrested. You were filled with anger and hate.

Your father was in jail and you hadn't seen your mother for years.

That's not a pretty picture, is it?

What do you think?

And before that, Mark.

What was before that?

You're doing the talking.

Before that was 12 -year -old Mark Sanger, kid on the block, happy as a

eating ice cream that Sam Noble gave him.

I don't blame you for being angry now.

I seem to be taking the only part of your life you can look back on with

fondness and ruining it for you, and I don't mean to.

Then don't.

What is it?

Chief, Kathy made positive identification.

It's Marlins, all right.

All right, then. Let's make the arrest.

Come on, Mark. We've got work to do.

When did it happen?

Not too long ago.

The housekeeper spoke to him just as she went to the market.

Found the body when she came back.

Not even dust.

No sign of a struggle.

Forced entry?

None that we could see. Looks like our arrest comes too late.

Gang war?

Probably.

Mark, you better get the wheels off the street.

We're going to be here for a while.

You're going to need me for a while?

No.

Where's that housekeeper?

Oh, she's in the back.

I have to talk to you, sir.

I'm in a little hurry, will it keep?

Bug, man.

Really bug.

Well, listen, kid, I'd like to help you know that, but I just don't have time.

Where are you going, sir?

Well, I thought I'd run down to L .A. for a while.

You said you started work Monday.

Yeah, but a little weekend first.

Uh, friends down there haven't seen for a while.

Where'd you get this, Sam?

Don't you think you're poking your nose in where it doesn't belong?

Where'd you get it, Sam?

Now, you just be quiet.

You're not Little Kling anymore.

You were a full -grown man.

But you had more sense when you were a kid.

Now, we're going for a little ride.

I did a sloppy job. I'm going to need you.

Noble skipped banging baggage. He probably realized he left his prints all

Marlin's place.

Well, we'll pick him up.

Chief, there's a chance Mark's with him.

You sure?

Oh, the paddy wagon was parked outside Noble's rooming house.

That's just great.

Eve, that APB working?

Should be.

They've had time enough.

Roadblocks? Every road.

Airport, bus station, train station, bridges.

Roadblocks are operative.

Good. Instruct all units to operate with extreme caution.

Don't get cute.

We'll just cruise around and hang loose for a while.

Then we'll call them and tell them what we want.

They'll be glad to help.

You heard me fool, Sam.

I wasn't fooling you, kid.

I kind of meant all those square things I was saying.

At first.

But you couldn't resist, could you? You gotta look out for number one in this

world.

But killing Marlins wasn't very smart.

But I didn't go there with that idea.

I just told him I had some good information to sell.

Told him you cats were moving in fast.

It was worth a grand to him.

Then he opened up the safe to get it.

You got your money. Why didn't you take it and get out?

With a hundred times that much sitting in the safe?

Oh, that was too much, man. Too much.

But we can't cruise all night.

So far, I'm still calling the shots.

Drive.

Max, baby, I'm not going to hurt you.

Unless I have to.

I'm just thinking what Mark's reaction must have been.

Find out you were right about Sam all along.

Still can't figure out why he didn't take your advice.

Didn't he understand it, or was he just plain stubborn?

Well, there was a memory.

Nobody gives up a memory that easily.

He protected.

Heard only what he wanted to hear.

Fought everything else.

Learning the truth must have killed him.

Killing him, Sergeant Brown, is exactly what we've got to prevent.

Chief Ironside's office.

Yes, yes, I've got it.

Where? Golden Gate Bridge this time.

Well, it makes four different places so far. Oakland Bridge, the Peninsula,

North Beach, and now Golden Gate. They'll be seeing them under beds soon.

Check it out anyway.

One of them could be right.

Chief Ironside's office?

I want to speak to the chief.

Hold on.

Mark.

Mark.

Hi, Chief.

You all right?

Yeah, I'm all right so far.

Where's Sam?

Standing right beside me.

He wants to talk to you.

Evening, Chief.

How's every little thing?

Not bad, Sam.

How is it where you are?

Oh, it'll do. For now.

Tonight's night, I figure you've been driving the car around. How's it

Good wheels. I decided to keep it.

Might even finish paying for it.

Don't go too far with the honest citizen bit.

Don't worry.

Look, can you hurry up?

Hey, Chief.

How'd you like to do me a favor?

Anything for a friend of Mark's? I need an exit out of the city. I figure you

got roadblocks.

Sure, Sam. I'll be glad to oblige.

Which exit do you want?

Oh, more than one, Big Daddy. You open up one, you'll bottle me up. We both

that. I want you to lift the lid off all of them. I'll pick one myself.

You're a smart man, Sam.

Oh, and while you're at it, you might get those cats off my back.

They make me nervous when they breathe down my neck. So nervous I could shoot

your friend Mark. You know what I mean?

Yeah, I know what you mean.

You, uh, wouldn't consider giving yourself up, would you? Forget it. Or

Mark go.

He's my ticket.

All right.

Takes a little while to call off an APB.

You better call me back in ten minutes so I can give you an all clear.

I don't want anybody to get hurt.

It's a deal.

Ten minutes.

Sam. Yeah.

You let anything happen to Mark and I'll... Uh -uh.

I'm holding the trunk.

Ten minutes.

Well?

Trace got as far as the area down near the panhandle.

All right, Eve.

Order all units concentrated in that area and stand by.

You know, I heard noises behind them. Car horns, engines, and a bell.

A bell?

The kind of bell that makes a noise when a car comes into a gas station. They're

phoning from one.

Let's just hope they stay there long enough to make that second call.

We'll fill the car with gas. We've got ten minutes to kill.

We might as well stay right here.

You don't mind taking a little trip with me, do you?

I don't have much of a choice.

No, you don't.

Come on, kid, brighten up. Life ain't so bad.

Play your cards right and you'll be okay.

Sure.

I'll even buy you an ice cream stick like in the old days. I'm not a kid

anymore.

Chief Ironside's office, please. Just be cool, baby.

The line's busy.

Yes, I'll hold.

Yes, she's holding the line open.

Hurry up.

You've got a four -number start. What more do you want?

Hey, this guy won't hold on the line forever.

What's holding him up?

You ever see the phoning that goes on with an all -points bulletin, putting it

on and taking it off?

372? Okay.

Ed, the phone company will have the address in a moment.

Radio, all cars to stand by. I'll be right down.

Well, tell the operator to cut in.

I will, if I can get her.

It's a gas station, all right. Region and Playmore Streets.

Order all units in. Tell them to be careful.

That phone's been busy too long.

Something must be wrong.

I told you, it takes time.

Not that long.

That's no trouble.

The chief was a little too nice, a little too easy.

Hang up.

He didn't cross you. He's clearing the way.

I know him.

If he gives his word, it means something.

Yeah, sure.

I ought to kill you right here.

Okay, he's got one more chance.

Let's get out of here. We've got to find a new phone booth. We've been here too

long.

Full confession.

Said there was no reason to drag his little buddy down to testify.

It's been a long night.

A few people will get out of here, I think I'll go to bed.

Good night, Chief.

Good night.

I guess I should say something.

Sam Noble bought you ice cream when you were a kid.

It was a good time of life.

The best.

Mark, there isn't a man in the world who wouldn't fight as hard as he can to

hold on to the best time of his life.

Until he finds something better.

You, um, really all that tired?

Why?

Hundred points, English rules, half a buck.

You, sir, are about to be taught a lesson in humility.