Original subtitles

She's something else.

How'd you find her?

Luck. Pure luck. We're both lucky. Then leave.

I'm afraid we're going to have to split, aren't you? Nah, come on, man. Things

are just starting to move.

I promise you folks I'd have you home early.

Here you go, bourbon on the rock.

Somebody get the phone. I'm in, uh, conference.

Hello? Archie's gymnasium.

Can we wrestle anything in tight?

Oh, yeah, don't hang on.

Whoever it is, I'm going to get him for this.

Hey, Charlie, Jane, baby, Pogo, what time you can't do it? Come on in.

Hello?

At this hour?

Okay, I'll be right there.

Problems? It's the chief. He says it's important.

Well, can't he get somebody else?

It's my job.

Come on, I'll drop you off at home. Stay, Mark. She'll be all right.

Thanks, Archie, but we better not.

Well, why not?

If you're going back to headquarters, my house is pretty far out of your way.

Look, I don't know how long I'll be gone, and I promised your father.

I'll call him. Hey, Arch.

This cat doesn't trust us with his chick.

Archie, we're going to flip. Thanks for everything. No, no, you don't. Only one

rat. He's going to desert the ship at a time.

Later, Mark.

Archie, I can't leave her here. I don't know any of these people. Yeah, you know

me.

Hey, hurry back.

Exactly three hours and 17 minutes. I didn't think a mayor had that much to

Still saying it.

Don't you know a girl named Helen Tobin? I had a date with her tonight.

Headquarters just called.

They found her in the restroom at Golden Gate Park.

What do you mean, found her?

She's dead.

How you found her, Ted? Yep.

Had her first needle mark in her right forearm.

Any other needle scars?

No, just the one.

Was she left -handed, Mark?

No. She would have had to administer that shot with her left hand.

She wouldn't do it with any hand.

Somebody must have pumped it into her.

Never should have left it. Where did you leave it? Archie Bass, an old friend of

mine, just got out of the army.

Got a new pad, tossed a party to celebrate.

You. Where were you, Mark? Where were you when this happened?

Mr. Tobin, I... You said you'd bring her home early.

You said you'd take good care of her. Mr. Tobin, you must... Look at her,

She's dead.

Is this the way you take care of a girl, Mark?

Trouble is, we're not dead enough.

I'm not making jokes, Archie. Helen was murdered last night.

Murdered? Oh, come on, Mark.

Beautiful broad like that. Who'd want to murder her?

I'm trying to find that out.

Somebody fed her a pop and killed her with it. Wow.

Never figured that chick for a head. She isn't.

Wasn't. She'd never. Yeah, sure. You told me she didn't drink much either.

she left here last night, she was higher than next year's taxes.

You're a liar!

Easy, man. This isn't my skull I'm wearing today.

He's not putting you on, baby. She cut out of here wearing a cloud for her hat.

I thought you were watching out for her.

I'm sorry, Mark.

I meant it when I said it, but after you left the party, you got away from me.

All right. Who left with her?

Archie? I don't know. People were in and out of here all night long.

Man, you're asking us to think out. That's a rough thing to do. It'll get a

rougher when the cops get here.

Look, I'm not sure, but I think Connie Goshen was with her. Yeah, and that

muscle man of hers, what's his name?

Yeah, Fenway, Joe Fenway.

Mr. Bass, more or less.

Sergeant Miller, Homicide.

This is Sergeant Brown.

Mind if we ask a few questions? I'd feel hurt if you didn't.

I have friends of mine. Pogo Weems, Jimmy Bracken, Mark Sanger.

Hello, Ed.

Got a message for you, Mark.

Quote, get the devil back where you belong.

Unquote. I was just... The man says no.

All right, Mr. Bass.

First question.

May I ask why you're involved in this case?

Yes.

A good friend asked for my help. The mayor has asked for your help, too. As

as you're on his crime committee, you won't have time for this. Dennis, the

has been murdered. We have many men trained to handle homicide cases, but

one qualified to advise the mayor on new anti -crime legislation.

I intend to help the mayor all I can, Commissioner, as long as it doesn't

interfere with my police work.

Let's go, Mark.

but I could remove you from this case.

I'd hate to have you do that, Commissioner.

It might force me to remove myself from the mayor's committee.

Mark, how long have you known Helen Tobin? Last night was our second date.

you picked up Joe Fenway or Connie Goshen?

We'll get to them, Mark.

All in good time.

Time. If the commission isn't wasting your time, it's the mayor.

Ellen's father claimed she was a pretty quiet girl. Didn't do much drinking. She

didn't? Medical examiners report alcohol content in her blood was abnormally

high.

Now, she had no interest in narcotics, but she died from an overdose of heroin.

And for a sweet young thing, she made a pretty sordid exit.

What time did you expect him?

All right, thank you.

Chief?

What have you got, Eve?

Package on Joe Finway.

No police record.

Injured his back playing pro football.

Became addicted to morphine while he was in the hospital.

That fits.

He was cured and released 14 months ago.

Works now as an instructor at the Bay City Health Club.

8 .15.

Club open this early? I just called there. He gets to work around 10 a .m.

does he live?

2170 Mission Avenue.

Anything on Connie Goshen? Nothing yet.

Tried her, but she wasn't at home all morning.

We're trying to check out everyone that was at the party. What do you mean,

trying? According to Archie Bass, it grew into a king -size wing ding.

Everyone in San Francisco dropped by sometime during the night.

All right, as soon as the courts open, get a warrant to search Fenway's

apartment.

The courts won't be open for another hour.

Fenway could be halfway to the moon by then.

Like it or not, Mark, a search warrant has to be approved by the court. The

man's a murderer.

You think he's going to wait around while... Now, wait a minute.

Hold on. Who says he's a murderer? He left the party with Helen, didn't he?

Well, that's enough... Instant justice. No trial, no jury. Just step right up

and be convicted.

Will you bother to sentence the poor devil, Judge Sanger, or just shoot him

on the street?

Fenway's the only lead we've got.

If I hadn't left Helen at that party, she would still be alive.

Now, you don't know that for sure. It's a pretty good bet. Look, I promised to

help you, and I will.

But with your kind permission, I'll handle this case my way. Yeah, in slow

motion.

Fenway, open up!

Who let you in here, Mark?

Ed, look at this. How'd you get in here?

I kicked the door open, okay? Finway wasn't here, so... He's at headquarters.

We're holding him for questioning.

Well, good. You got the right man. I found enough evidence here to answer all

the questions.

Here, look.

Syringes. A whole set of them. The same kind he used on Helen. And a brand new

set of needles. Put him back. This should be... What'd you say? I said put

back. Ed, this is evidence.

Inadmissible evidence.

What are you talking about?

You broke in here.

Entered the place illegally.

Searched the premises without a warrant and confiscated the man's personal

belongings. You're going to walk away from evidence like this? Well, thanks to

you, we can't use it. It's illegal.

So is murder.

And just because I kicked that door in, you're going to let a killer get away?

He's not a killer until we prove it.

Legally.

All right, Wally, I'll send somebody right down.

Eve, lab's found something on the syringe.

Where's Finway?

Interrogation room.

I'm waiting for his attorney.

His attorney?

What for?

He's entitled to have a lawyer present to protect his rights. What about

rights? Who was there to protect her? Mark, all we know is that she may have

left the party with Fenway. That doesn't necessarily make him the killer. I

found a set of new syringes and needles in his room. The same kind he used on

Helen.

That true?

Looked like a set of six with one missing. Let's see.

I left him. He broke into the place, searched it without permission.

Great. Just great.

We could have picked them up with a warrant.

Chief.

Fenway may be pushing this stuff. Check his bank account. Look for signs of an

outside income.

Push.

Chief, how are you? Fine, thank you, Everett. Nice to see you.

Chief, I know you're representing Joe the Fenway.

I'm going to be late for work.

If I lose my job because of this... You won't.

How long have you been on narcotics, Fenway? You needn't answer that, Joseph.

Don't answer anything that will incriminate you. Your client is

addict, Mr. Brant. I was when I was in the hospital.

I've been clean for over a year.

What did you do last night, Fenway?

Well, my girl knows a character named Archie Bass.

He tossed a party.

That's where I was. When did you leave?

About 2 .30 or so. Along?

No.

Connie was with me.

And some other broad, Helen something. Helen Tobin.

Ed?

That her?

Yeah, that's her.

You're the cat who brought her, right?

You should have seen her, man.

She really got smashed.

When I left her, she was sober.

You know what happens at a bash like that? Somebody dumps some...

Bar water and a lemonade or drop some acid in a tapioca.

Kids like Helen get clobbered. You shouldn't have left her. Why did she

with you?

Well, it was Connie's idea. She figured Helen needed some air, so we walked her

around a while.

Then what?

We put her in a cab and sent her home. Which cab company?

I don't know. The one with the orange and yellow ones.

Sunset. Yeah, it was something like that.

Listen, can I go now?

I got to... Change my clothes and get to work. Where did you go after Helen

left? Connie and I wandered around the park trying to sober up, and then I took

her home. Golden Gate Park?

In the rain?

Uh -huh. Helen Tobin was murdered last night.

Are you accusing my client?

I'm stating that someone pumped her full of heroin and left her in the restroom

at the park. Don't you pin that rap on me. She was grabbing a hit once in a

while. It was her own idea.

All right, break it up.

Is this how you question people?

Yeah.

Wipe your face.

Mark's got a personal stake in this, Everett. I'm sure you can understand the

reasons why he's upset.

And I hope you'll accept my apologies for him. Well, certainly we don't want

create an incident.

Even though the newspapers could have a field day with it. Are you threatening

me? Not at all.

I'm merely stating facts.

Do you plan to charge my client with murder? I haven't checked his story yet.

then I assume he is free to go. I can keep him here legally for 48 hours.

Very smart.

By that time, those bruises should heal completely.

There you are, Mr. Bryant. Call the newspapers.

Tell them you accuse Robert T.

Ironside personally of police brutality.

Now go on, call them.

Or do you want me to make the call for you?

I don't want to make a personal issue of this.

I'm merely trying to protect my client.

You can go.

Take your client and all his bruises out of here.

Just make sure he doesn't take any sudden trips.

May I ask why?

Because he has my handkerchief.

All right, Mark.

You're upset, you're impatient.

I can buy that.

But when you interfere with police work... You call that police work?

Asking questions you know the answers to.

Wasting time protecting the rights of a slob like Fenway. His rights are the

same as yours.

One difference.

I'm not a killer. Neither is he, till we prove it. That'll take forever.

You know what the hang -up is?

The badge.

Take off your badge, you move a lot faster. You want instant justice?

Write your own constitution.

You want made -to -order miracles?

Take your business someplace else.

Yes, sir.

I was just thinking how I might react if it was my date who ended up dead. Ed,

had the same situation happened to me when I was his age, I would have made

city think it was having another earthquake.

But you tell him I said that and I'll have your badge.

The syringe found next to Helen Turbin's body was manufactured by the Omega

Pharmaceutical Supply Company.

I called their local distributors to get a list of all their customers in this

area. I did. It doesn't include Joe Fenway.

How about Dr. George Sable, M .D.? That's right. How did you know?

He's the staff physician at the Bay City Health Club.

Which brings us right back to Joe Fenway.

Chief. I know this is difficult. for you, Miss Goshen.

Apparently, you and Mr. Fenway were very close.

About as close as you can get.

What brought you to his room today?

Well, I called the health club.

Joe wasn't there.

I thought maybe he was sick or something.

Where'd you call from?

From the Cosmic Bazaar.

It's, um, I had shot me a telegraph, Hill.

I worked there.

They, um, rent me a pad in the back.

We tried to reach you there this morning. You were gone.

Well, I was out for breakfast for a while and... How come you

wanted me?

Joe told me he wasn't hooked anymore. I think he was lying. Oh, no, he wasn't.

That was a long time ago when he was in the hospital.

He's been clean ever since.

Was he pushing?

No.

We found a box of syringes in his room.

They can't be bought without a prescription, unless you buy them from a

Luke, the poor guy is dead.

Stop throwing mud on him.

Helen Tobin is dead, too.

Helen.

Oh, no.

Oh, no.

She was killed last night.

One of those syringes was the murder weapon.

You think... You think Joe killed... Pushers have been known to get people

drunk. Start them off, they create their own demand.

But Joe wouldn't do a thing like that.

How do you know?

Well, I know him.

That's not good enough, Connie.

I have to know more.

Please.

Please don't lean on me now.

I imagine you've been advised of your rights.

Yeah, just like Joe Fenway.

Have you called for a lawyer? Come on, Chief. Stop playing games. You know I

didn't kill Fenway. The DA may think otherwise.

The DA?

You happen to make an excellent murder suspect.

We've got a material witness, a motive. Are you serious?

Let's review the case against hot -headed Mark Sanger.

You broke into Fenway's room illegally.

and convinced yourself that he killed Helen Tobin. I found evidence of it. You

attacked Fenway right here in front of witnesses.

When he was released, you expressed your disgust for police procedures and

threatened to take the law into your own hands.

Next thing we know, you're found kneeling over Fenway's body with a

weapon in your hand.

Now, Judge Sanger...

How would you handle a case like that?

Well, why don't you hand us a verdict?

All right, Chief. If you would.

You've made your point. Not quite.

If you hadn't broken into Fenway's room, we would have had evidence to use

against him.

To persuade him to tell us what he knew.

But thanks to you, Mr. Sanger, we have no evidence.

And we have no clues as to the killer.

Now that's the point I wanted to make.

Chief, I'm sorry. I really am.

You're not really going to keep me here, are you?

You watch.

Now, hold on. What about my rights?

Where's my lawyer? Well, now, you're learning, Mark.

When it applies to you, the system's pretty good, isn't it?

Jimmy, come here.

Thank you.

It's Police Sergeant Brown.

Hi. Did she look familiar?

Sure does.

I picked up a fair last night. Looked just like her. Where'd you pick her up?

All right, let's have it. Why is Mark Sanger in

custody? I'll think of something.

Is he a murder suspect?

Of course not.

He thinks he is.

Good. Maybe you'll learn something.

In other words, you're holding him for educational purposes.

And to keep him out of my hair.

Bob, there are newsmen all over the police building.

They know Mark works for you.

Sooner or later, they'll find out he's in custody.

Whatever. Chairman of the mayor's anti -crime committee jails his own protege.

That would sound just fine on the 6 o 'clock news.

And we've been making a joke out of a very important civic project.

My apologies to the mayor.

Never mind that. I want Mark released before this game of yours gets out of

hand. Yes.

This is no game.

Mark Sanger's come a long way from the man who came to work for me, hating the

world and everyone in it.

I think he can go a lot farther, but he has a lot to learn.

Right now, he's learning.

The mayor may not see it that way.

I want Mark released or charged, or I'll be forced to take you off this case.

That's impossible.

I haven't solved it yet.

No sign of a fight?

Just Vin Wade.

He lost.

And no needle marks in the body?

None. All right, let's see those hypodermic syringes.

They're gone.

Fenway must have gotten rid of them.

I doubt it.

He was at headquarters most of the morning.

He had just enough time to come home and get killed.

You mean you think the killer got them?

Why not? He's taken them before.

I understand we've lost our prime suspect and replaced him with one of our

staff. That's very funny.

What about the health club?

Dr. Sable keeps his medical supplies in a locked cabinet. He has only one key.

But there was something missing.

A carton of hypodermic syringes and needles.

Fenway could have had a key made or picked a lock to get those syringes.

What's his salary at the club?

Two hundred a week.

Doesn't figure there's a leak somewhere.

Chief, about Mark.

Later.

They said you'd be here.

What have you got?

Fenway and his girl sent Helen home in a cab, but she didn't go.

According to the driver, he let her out at 2717 Colby Drive.

Right back to Archie Bassett's party.

Exactly.

Chief, about Mark. Eve, pick up Connick Ocean.

Bring her to headquarters and keep her there.

You think she can name the killer? Possibly.

She could also be the next victim.

Sorry to bother you again. Your front door is open. May we come in? Do I have

choice? No.

You're late. The party's over. Correction. It's just starting.

Chief Ironside or Chief Bass?

Want a drink?

No, thanks.

I do.

You might want to call your attorney, Mr. Bass.

He doesn't drink. We have some important questions to ask you.

I don't need a lawyer. I need a new head.

Go ahead, ask.

You made a statement that Helen Tobin left here with Joe Fenway. You didn't

mention that she came back.

You did?

Don't be coy with us, Mr. Bass. We don't have the time or the patience for it.

You sure you mean Helen? I talked to the cab driver that brought her here.

Listen, I saw her leave with Fenway and Connie.

After that Blanksville, I passed out cold.

And Helen wasn't here when you woke up?

If she did come back, she must have cut out again while I was in Never Never

Land. I didn't see her. Can you recall who was here around the time you passed

out? Brother, what do you think I do when I pass out? Call the roll? One of

guests probably took her out and fed her that heroin.

Now stop enjoying her headache and start thinking.

Listen, I was in no condition... Chief, pardon me. Hey,

come on in. The party's just starting.

Connie's gone. She wasn't at the shop.

No idea where she went? No, sir.

Connie may be dead if we don't find her.

Now, Archie, you tell me all you know about her. Does she gamble? Drink?

While she was here last night, what was she drinking?

Soda pop, mostly.

Soda pop?

Pop, ginger ale, anything sweet.

She likes candy, too.

She's an addict, isn't she?

Connie? A head, a junkie.

That's where Fenway's money went to feed her habit.

Hey, man, you just lost me. All right, who's their connection, Archie?

He was here last night. Who is he?

I don't know. I swear I... Think, Archie.

Did they say anything?

Do anything that might indicate anyone in particular?

Anyone at all?

I don't know. I swear I... I don't know.

Now what, gonna pin another murder on me? No, I'm going to give you a chance

help solve one.

Connie Goshen's been picked up by the killer. We've got to find her. And we're

running out of time. Eve, why me? Got a building full of cops, machines,

computers. We don't have time for that. Well, that's a switch.

These were the people at Archie's party, as many as he could remember.

Now look them over.

Did Connie or Fenway spend an unusual amount of time with any of them? I

know them.

You were at the same party.

Did they avoid anyone in particular?

Chief, I was there with Helen. I wasn't keeping tabs. Did you have any contact

with them? Chief, the only time I even noticed them was when I was leaving.

came up to say goodnight to Archie. They were leaving before you?

Archie talked them into staying. Well, what made them want to leave? Did

anything happen?

Was anyone there they didn't like?

Chief, I don't know. People were still coming in the door. Who? Who came in the

door? Chief, I'm telling you, these people were all strangers. Now, Mark,

been wanting to do something. Now's your chance. Will you think?

Somebody had me on the telephone.

Archie went to the front door to greet the guest.

A guy named Charlie. A girl. A guy.

Pogo. Pogo Weems. And immediately thereafter, Fenway and Connie decided to

leave. Yeah, but I don't know if there's any connection.

Ed, what do we know about Pogo Weems? I know something about him. His name's on

the membership of the Bay City Health Club.

Got his address?

Yes. Jesus!

I'll say this once.

We all know what you've been going through.

We all understand.

From the mayor to the cop on the info desk at headquarters.

But we also understand there's a right way to do things and a wrong way.

You dig?

Yes, sir.

One more blunder and I'll file you under obsolete.

Take it easy, baby. I'm trying to help.

How?

Like you helped Helen Tobin?

An accident.

It happens.

Come on, Connie.

You don't really want out, do you?

Or do you want to feel better?

Now, aren't you ashamed of yourself?

Poor Joe Fenway, may he rest in peace. Worked so hard for that.

And he did it for you, Connie.

Stop it.

Stop talking that way.

Don't, Connie.

Here. Should we try again, huh?

Maybe.

Okay, okay.

I couldn't pay for it anyway.

Yeah, well, Joe paid for this in advance.

Rest his soul.

Well, run along, Connie.

You're not a prisoner, you know.

Well, he cut it with arsenic.

Can't get him to.

If you wanted, you could kill me with it.

Yeah, I suppose I could.

I never thought of that.

Police officers, open up.

Break it in.

What did you say?

I said break the door in. Chief, we're not even sure they're in there. Mark,

that scrap of paper, please.

Peppermint candy wrapper. That leads me to believe that Connie Goshen is inside.

Chief. Eve, did you just hear a woman scream?

No. Well, I did.

Let's kick it in. Ma 'am, I see that.

the right place.

This candor wrapper looks to me like a streetcar transfer.

If we see things differently, it must be the generation gap.

Come on.

Chief, let me go with you.

Stay put.

Mark!

Not a chance.

I got a girl out here.

You move and she's dead.

Get up there, Mark.

Here.

All right, now you get away from the door.

move in your head.

That's fine, Ed.

Yes.

Hold on.

Ironside.

Yes, Commissioner.

Yes, Commissioner.

Yes, Commissioner.

As soon as you and Eve complete your report, why, go on home.

Now,

Ed, you'd better wait. I'll need you to take me over to the mayor's office.

I'll take you.