Original subtitles

from the correctional facility?

I decided to go straight.

You go religion, so to speak.

No, nothing like that. I just realized I'd never make it as a crook. Chief

Ironside, was he really that bad?

As a matter of fact, Mr.

Carnes was one of the best safecrackers around.

I'm afraid he's given to false modesty.

Eight years or maybe nine years later, this friend of mine got out of Cuba, San

Quentin.

And he comes to us and he asks us if he could stay with us for a while until

things settle down for him. We say okay.

He had a friend and his friend had a friend.

And that's how Stardew began.

That's how it began.

Chief Ironside used to be your nemesis and now he's one of your biggest fans.

Yes, partly for selfish reasons.

Scarns has made our job a whole lot easier.

He's worked with 250 ex -convicts. He's housed them, fed them, gotten

them jobs, helped them to adjust to life on the outside.

According to our records, only about a dozen have ever gone back to prison.

Excuse me, I mean a correctional facility.

It's the 1727. I need the police.

Hello?

Yeah, hang on.

Chief, it's for you.

Must be the Ironside Fan Club.

Ironside?

I see.

All right, I'll be over there right away.

Could you get me an outside line, please?

Burglary down the front door.

Yeah, she told me I was going to be on TV with a famous detective.

He was doing work to give to rookie cops.

There you go.

Maybe a rather unusual case.

380, please.

Johnny, this is Ironside. I want you to... Thanks.

But you shouldn't have been watching. You're supposed to be on duty.

I want everything you have on a man named Luther Benson.

Right.

Reach me in the van.

You find a suspect already?

Right now, I'm not sure we can even find a victim.

So I get back from the game, and there are these two police officers waiting

me, saying something about a burglary.

And I said, they got to be jiving.

Oh, excuse me, you want one of these?

No, no, I'll take a rain check.

Okay. So I let them in, and we searched every inch of this place. And I do mean

every inch. And nothing was missing?

No, I mean, I told the sergeant that before we started.

I mean, now, who would want to rob me? I mean, just feast your eyes, Mr.

Ironside. I mean, I ain't exactly what anybody would want to call rich, you

know? I mean, I ain't always been like that, you dig? But, I mean, I ain't got

nothing. Perhaps you might have had something that belonged to somebody

Huh? Well, you could have had a lot of cash on hand if you were, oh, say,

say, a numbers runner.

Uh, no, uh, wait just a minute. Hold it right there, Mr. Ironside, because, uh,

are you accusing me? Oh, I'm terribly, terribly sorry, Mr. Benson.

I was just letting my imagination run away with me.

Mm -hmm. That's exactly what you're doing. Your imagination was just running

with you. I apologize.

Yeah, I accept your apology.

Poker game, is it over now?

Yep, broke up when I left.

Where was it?

Now, see, that day you go again. I mean, you asking me questions like I'm the

criminal instead of the victim. But you're not a victim. You just said so.

Well, yeah, well, I ain't either one.

Would you mind just humoring me?

Just to humor me.

Answer the question.

What was the question? What was the question?

Yeah. Where was the poker game?

Oh, yeah.

Well, it was at this cat named Robbins. I don't know the number, but he just

lives down a couple of blocks.

Cling Street, corner of Marsh.

Robbins. Who else was in the game?

Four other guys. They have names?

Well, I only know one of them.

Horace.

Horace.

Yeah. But, you know, I never did know his last name.

And, uh, well, the other guys I never met before.

I think we can go now, Sergeant.

Mark, uh, let's let Mr. Benson in some much -needed sleep.

Yeah.

Oh!

By the way, how'd you do in the game?

Oh, man, I lost three dollars.

Maybe three and a quarter.

Pity. Yeah.

Yeah.

You know, I was wondering the same thing Lou Kahn's about.

Oh? Why they called you in on a case like this.

In our case, Mark, Mr. Benson declined to file a burglary report.

No evidence of forced entry, which means that officially no crime has been

committed. But unofficially. The tenderloin was clean.

Last, we picked up every runner and bank in the area.

But now, Benson and three other known runners have been...

Rob down there this month. Nobody knocks over a guy with no bread.

Precisely. Somebody's back in business.

Somebody's attempting to take over that business by hitting the small fry,

trying to demoralize the top men.

But in every instance, the victim denies losing anything.

Now, if you can't find a victim, you don't have a crime.

A parent.

We're in the midst of a non -crime wave.

You mind if I finish dressing while we talk? I got to pick up my kid at the

airport. You mean Pete?

Yeah.

He's coming home with a master's degree in sociology.

I was his age. I didn't even know what the word meant.

You give him my best. Yeah, I'll do that, Pop.

Oh, that kid is out of his head. He's a nut. You know what he wants? When I

quit, he wants to take over this joint.

to help you, Bob, but I can't. For one thing, I'm not a fink, and besides that,

I just don't feel that strongly against the numbers racket.

How do you feel about people getting killed?

It could happen if this turns into a gang war.

Okay.

Okay, but on one condition. If I give you any tips, I don't have to tell you

source. I mean, you won't even ask, okay?

Okay.

It's open.

Lou, I just want to ask... Yeah?

Hey, Chief Ironside.

How are you, Frankie?

Oh, great, great.

Gee, looking great, Chief. You too, Frankie.

Oh, Frankie Kellner, meet Mark Sanger.

Mr. Kellner and I are old acquaintances.

It's been, what, four years? Oh, five, five, Chief.

That was when he sent me up five years ago. Oh?

Oh, but there's no hard feelings, Chief. No, sir, you were just doing your duty.

Hey, you know, I got out of good behavior. Good.

Frankie just moved in yesterday, Chief.

Yeah, yeah. And Lou here, my pal, he promised me a good job. Yeah, I'm going

try. Well, one nice thing about your establishment, Lou, it's a great place

meet old friends.

Yeah.

On the contrary, Mr. Benson, you really should consider yourself fortunate.

Yeah, for getting fired.

That's right.

It was far better than you could have hoped for. Some people favored a much

stiffer punishment.

Oh, would you pass me those mums, please?

Hey, uh, look, Mr. Wilford. Oh, thank you.

I've been working for you for three years. Now, don't you think I should get

another chance, huh? Yes, do you really think you deserve it?

You were entrusted with a rather substantial sum of money, and you didn't

have the presence of mind to lock your window. But he would have got in. I

he would have cut his way in or broke in. He would have got in. Not if you

home, as you should have been.

Isn't that lovely?

Oh, there is a possibility that you could get your job back in a few days if

helped us find the money and find out who took it.

I wouldn't even know where to start. You could start with the card game that you

were stupid enough to be lured to.

I think you were right, Chief.

Apparently, Mr. Benson did have some explaining to do.

And he did it to a man named Harvey Williford. I've heard the name. Supposed

be a florist.

Uh -huh. A big, heavy fellow. I went in to see what he looked like.

While I was at it, I bought you some mums.

They'll brighten up your office.

Fine. Why don't you go on in and do the same?

I'll have Williford put under surveillance.

You think he's the top man?

Oh, but he's probably a step up. I imagine he knows who the top man is.

Fine. Bye.

Players. Who were they?

Just a bunch of guys I know.

Would you like to give me their names?

Look, I don't want to get nobody in trouble.

Well, you might help someone out of trouble, Mr. Roberts.

We have a suspect in an armed robbery case. He claims he was playing poker at

your place when the crime was committed.

And you could provide him with a perfect alibi.

You tell him his name, I'll tell you if he was there.

Well, I'm afraid that won't do.

If I tell you his name, you might say he was there even if he wasn't.

Guy named Luther Benson.

B -E -N -S -O -N, right?

You run a make on every one of them? Yeah, including Robin's. I put a rush on

it. We ought to know pretty soon.

Um, just out of curiosity... Whoops. I got it.

What difference does it make if any of them has a record?

Not at all, unless that record suggests he has mob connections.

Aren't such of us? Well, if he's with the outfit that wants to take over the

numbers game, and if he knew Benson would have a lot of cash in his room...

he'd try to get Benson out of that room so a confederate could get in. It's a

long shot, Fran, but we grasp at every draw we can get.

Chief, the florist who came in our lives a little while ago... Williford? Yeah,

somebody clobbered him.

I had just gotten out of my car. I heard something behind me, and I turned

around, and that's when he hit me. I don't know with what.

He hit you just once? I presume so. I have just the one bruise on my head. You

didn't get a good look at him? No, it was dark in the garage.

I must have been unconscious.

Oh, not for more than a minute or two, and when I came to, he was gone. And

there was no attempt to rob you?

Well, I still have my wallet with $80 in it. Curious.

If the man wanted to rob you, there was nothing to prevent him from doing so.

And if he wanted to give you a beating, he wouldn't have stopped after hitting

you only once.

Do you know of anyone who would want to hurt you, Mr. Williford? Oh, goodness,

no. I can't think of a soul.

Chief, would you excuse us?

Oh, certainly.

Excuse me.

May not mean too much.

The neighbors saw a blue Plymouth sedan, 66, maybe 67, parked around the corner

at the time of the attack. And now it's gone.

Oh, yeah.

And no license number.

She didn't have any reason to be suspicious.

Hello?

Oh, yes, yes, just a moment, please.

Chief Ironside.

Yes, thank you.

Ironside. Chief, Luke Horns just phoned, said he had a tip for you.

He'd like to see you right away. Every few days, he takes home 3 ,500, maybe 4

,000 bucks.

He's got a special compartment in his car, hidden under the dash.

And your contact says he's next?

Uh -huh.

Whoever's behind all this, I guess he figures there's not enough money in this

noggin' off the runner, so he's moved up a notch.

You know, you guys are looking at me kind of funny. Do you want to tell him,

Mark? I don't have the heart. He's not the next one, Lou.

He was the last one. They hit Williford about an hour ago. We just came from his

house. Why, that old saying, better late than never, that just ain't true. Well,

at least now we know he was robbed. We didn't know that before.

Oh, I'm sorry. Come on in.

Come on in.

Well, you remember Chief Ironside? Sure, it's been quite a while, Chief.

Oh, you've filled out a little.

This is his pal Mark Sanger. Mark's my son, the do -gooder.

I understand you're the heir apparent around here. Well, if I can ever talk

into quitting. Other guys, they leave their kids steel mills, delicatessens.

Me, I saddle mine with a bunch of ex -cons.

What's your problem, son? Well, I just came in to tell you that I talked to

Fowler. That old dame from Mill Valley? Yep. Well, she said okay on the theater

party, and, you know, that ought to be good for five or six hundred dollars.

Boy, how do you like that? I've been after that old lady for two years now. I

can't get a dime out of her. This kid makes one telephone call and bingo.

I wish I had his touch. That's wonderful, Pete.

Anything I can do to help, why, uh, you let me know. Oh, thank you, sir.

I may just take you up on that.

Sooner than you think.

Yeah.

You like it? Very much.

Oh, I enjoy it. Whenever I play the guitar for me, like make sexy or love or

something, I play and I am strong. You know the way that I am strong is to,

like, you know, suck it to me. You got it?

You really got it?

Beethoven, sometime.

Beethoven what?

Well, you talk.

The trouble is that when I get excited, I have to make love.

And when I cannot make love because the situation is difficult, I have to dance

or something.

Will you play for me? Go ahead.

Yes. Professor,

do something like a look at me. Flamenco.

What are they doing on Sesame Street?

Just watching your show.

It's really good tonight.

Those makes you want it. They're on your desk.

Just two?

Mm -hmm. The others are clean.

Thank you.

Disturbing the peace assault and battery. He hit his landlord.

Disturbing the peace again.

That's hardly what we're looking for.

Petty larceny.

One of traffic violations. A couple of... That is strange.

What is strange?

Guy's last known address.

1761 Boyle Street.

Start anew. That's a coincidence.

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

I've been working on the assumption that an organized mob was behind all

those... all those non -crimes we've been having lately.

That assumption could have been dead wrong.

One man?

No, no, the jobs were too varied. Three burglaries, a safe cracking, now a

strong -arm robbery.

Oh, very skillfully done.

Outside a prison, where would you find such a collection of specialists?

Makes sense.

But so does the mob theory.

I dare say.

I dare say there are a number of talented burglars at Stardew.

And Lou Carnes was a pretty fair safecracker in his time.

Yeah, yeah, but his time was 15 years ago.

The man we met today, Kellner, his specialty was the old -fashioned

He used it with such delicacy, I think he could tell almost to the second how

long his victims would be out.

Mr. Kellner.

This is Ironside.

Man named Frank Kellner. K -E -L -L -N -E -R.

1761 Boyle Street.

I want the make, model, and license number of his car.

Call me back.

Anybody a betting man? I used to play the numbers.

A nickel says that Mr. Kellner drives a blue Plymouth sedan 66 or 67.

Which makes it reasonable to assume that another one of your people got into his

room. Would you agree?

Sounds plausible.

Well, how does this sound?

Frank Kellner's car was seen near Williford's house just before the

It was gone a few minutes later.

That's interesting, too.

All right.

Try this.

The night that safe was cracked, you were supposed to address a meeting of

parole officers. You canceled at the last minute. You should have done your

homework, Bob.

Well, you want a full confession, huh? You're aware of your constitutional

rights. Yeah, I'm aware of something else, too, Bob. If I don't confess, you

can't prove a thing. Matter of fact, even if I did admit it, you'd have a

hard time, because the way I understand it, there's nothing to confess to.

No complaints have been turned in, no reports. Williford filed a report?

Yeah, for being tapped on the head by the...

If this ever came to court, he'd be asking pretty rough questions. I'm

he wouldn't let it get that far, right?

Of course, this whole thing is what... What do you call that word?

Academic.

Because I'm not your man. If you were my man, I imagine you'd have to know quite

a bit about the numbers racket.

Oh, yeah, sure.

If I was going to hit somebody, I'd make it a point to know everything.

Including who's running the show. Of course, you wouldn't tell me that, would

you? Even for self -protection.

Maybe I can't prove it, Lou.

I'm not altogether sure I'd want to.

But I did figure the truth out rather quickly.

Now, how much longer do you suppose it'll take your victims to figure it

I guess you heard it all, huh?

Well, he's right.

You ought to pack up and take off, I guess, fast.

Are you getting anxious to take over? I'm getting anxious that you don't get

killed.

I'm glad to hear that, son.

You know, a lot of kids these days, they couldn't care less what happens to

their old man.

You know, I think I'll stick around a while.

Oh, so you and the boys can pull off some more burglaries?

Because my guts are here, Pete.

It's not going to be that easy to run away.

Why?

Well, why did you have to do it that way? Because it worked better that way,

that's why.

I tried them all.

Look, Peter, you got any idea what it takes to run this place?

I mean, I got 15 guys living here. They all eat like the famine's going to start

tomorrow. These guys need decent clothes to wear. They need a couple of bucks to

put in their pockets so they can walk around with a little self -respect.

Now, even a con's entitled to that much, wouldn't you say? Well, of course he

is, but you can't do it all yourself. I got to do it myself.

There ain't nobody else.

Look. Son, you'll be taking over soon enough, and when you do, you won't have

rob people. You can bring in social workers, head shrinkers. You can put

practice all these things you learned in college. You can make this place what

it ought to be.

I just don't want you to start out with a couple of strikes against you.

Okay.

That's the end of the lecture here.

Help me get ready, boy.

Where are you going?

I want to go out.

and see if I can't find a couple of jobs, honest jobs for my boys.

I'll see you, buddy.

There you are.

Oh, I suggest that you place it in the refrigerator as soon as you get home.

Now, let's see, with the sales tax, that... Excuse me, sir.

Willifords?

Oh, yes, sir, I'm confident. that it's him.

I'll be certain within an hour.

Yes, sir. I will notify you as soon as it's confirmed.

Noon? Oh, yes, sir. I'll be there.

Thank you, sir.

Oh, excuse me, sir.

There's another customer.

Talk to computers, captains, lieutenants, sergeants, detectives,

various and sundry others. Your friend has a lot of people shook up.

Yeah,

among his other talents, he has a talent for that.

The organization has tightened security.

The runners won't be able to pick up the payoff money until the last minute, and

it's pretty much the same for the guys above them.

Which means the ones at the top will hold on to nearly all the cash.

I guess so.

Anyway, the...

I'm inside.

Yes, I know the place.

It's got a private dining room.

Just maybe a summit meeting.

All right.

Get a hold of Lieutenant Stevens.

Tell him to send you a couple of men who know how to use cameras.

I want both exits covered.

Get pictures of everybody coming out of there in the next three hours.

That means everybody.

Thanks.

Now guess what?

What? Mr.

Williford went out to lunch.

Start driving. I'll tell you where to go.

Make a left right here.

Make another left right here.

Excuse me, gentlemen. I think my pal has come to take me home.

Fine.

I sure hope you're not one of those guys that goes around saying, I told you so.

No.

I hardly think it's necessary.

Would you like to tell me now?

What?

Who tried to kill you?

Yes. I told you on the phone. The guy got thrown out of the car. He got away.

never saw him before.

You know who I mean.

You mean the man at the top?

No, I ain't got nothing against him.

I mean, trying to kill me, that's what he's supposed to do with his business.

Perhaps next time he'll conduct his business more efficiently.

He better for his sake, otherwise he ain't gonna last long in his job.

I'm kind of disappointed in him, Bob.

The way he set that thing up is pretty crude. I mean, he didn't use no

sophistication.

Whatever the case, be well advised, take the first plane out of the city. That's

what beats it, but...

I'd like to stare around and see how it all turns out.

Hey, you wouldn't like to give me police protection, would you?

All right.

You serious?

You'll have a man with you around the clock.

Right kind officer with whom you'll be compatible.

There's no way. You'll never get by with him. Once the commissioner finds out...

We'll have the results before then. No chance.

As soon as the mob learns your friend has police protection, they'll back off.

They'll just buy their time.

Have you considered the possibility the Kearns may not buy his time? I've

considered the possibility, yes.

By every standard of logic, he ought to take off. It follows that only a very

good reason could keep him here.

Now, what do you suppose that reason might be?

He wants to pull another job.

I guess another big one.

So Pete can take over a going business.

The top man.

I gather Carnes isn't terribly impressed by him.

From what Ed tells me, that's where most of the money is now. So he's using you

to keep him alive until he can pull it off. If you want to look at it that way,

yes.

If you want to look at it another way, I'm using him.

Open set to me.

cards. He is fine.

I've never seen so many police officers so concerned about the welfare of one

crook. We got the pictures.

From the restaurant? Uh -huh. I pulled out a few already.

A couple of families with kids, young lovers, people like that.

Here's another one we can scratch.

He looks like a mobster. He does indeed.

As it happens, though, he's an assistant district attorney.

Go on down to the restaurant, Fran. Talk to the owner.

Find out which of these people had lunch today in the private dining room.

Tomorrow morning, you and Ed can get together with the racket squad boys.

it from there.

I'm on my way.

That and the mug files.

I think it's about time we had a talk with Pete.

You know, guarding you has cost me 22 bucks.

Maybe it'd be better if I let you get killed. No, Josh, I'm going to put in a

good work for you at Ironside. You'll make a sergeant.

Hey, Pete, I want to see you.

It's all in the queue.

The chalk on the queue. You pack this up, you got it.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

What's up?

Pete?

You're finally going to get your big chance.

You're going to get a chance to run this pest hole all by yourself.

Oh? Just a few days. I got to fly east tomorrow morning to the foundation back

there. They're throwing their dough around.

I figure I'll try to get a little bit for a start in you.

What, you think you can handle it here?

Yeah, I think so. Sure you can.

Just a few days? Yeah, but I want you to feel that you have complete freedom

now. I want you to run this place exactly the way you want to.

Just as if I wasn't coming back.

Okay?

Joe Crutcher, Tom Story, Phil Gordon.

It's got to be one of those three. All the rest are born followers.

Is that what the computer says?

The computer, Lieutenant Triggs, two investigators, and two informants. And

I'll go along.

They all under surveillance?

Yes, sir.

Interesting point.

Two of them have private homes. One lives in an apartment.

All three places have identical safes.

Now, if they have any... Come in.

Chief. Sergeant. Hello, Pete.

It's tonight.

I'm legit now, you know.

A one -time only deal and the chief's legalizing it. For one time only.

Don't you want to help Lou Kimes?

Don't sound like I'd be helping him. Trust us.

A cop?

Friends of Lou Kimes.

Yes, Judge, I know what I'm asking.

But if you don't mind an old bromide, bending the law a bit isn't exactly

breaking it.

Is it?

Thank you, sir. I'm deeply grateful.

I've heard the justice was blind, but that's the first time I ever saw anybody

apply the blindfold.

Well, we've got all the cops organized.

But what about the robbers? Oh,

don't worry about Lou.

Not as long as he's under the eagle eye of the alert and ever -vigilant Officer

Johnson.

Yes, Steve. He got away while I slept, as per your instructions.

He'll be coming out the front any moment now.

Wearing a tan trench coat and a dark hat.

Thank you, Steve.

Now you can go back to sleep for real.

You're on it.

You figure it.

78 George, 78 George. Our man's coming out wearing a tan trench coat and a dark

hat. Do you see him? Not yet.

Maybe he stopped.

Hold it. Here he comes now.

Oh, I'm sorry, Lo. Oh, that's all right. Peter, go in the house. Sleep it off.

Thanks, I will.

Attaboy.

Some drunk just put the bite in our man.

Carnes is in the car now, ready to drive away.

Right.

This is 78 George.

We're going west on mission.

He should be turning right at the next intersection.

Providing one of those three cats is a victim. Right.

Our man just made a left turn off mission.

He's heading south towards the Bay Bridge. South?

Well, he can't turn south. He did turn south.

Chief Einstein?

This is 29, Robert.

All right, sir. Go ahead, Jim.

An unidentified man just got in the suspect's sedan.

California license, ZUR843.

Parked near Boyle Street.

The one you told me to watch.

Follow and report its location on band three.

Roger. You had a backup surveillance unit at start in you.

78, George, you can stop tailing your suspect heading south.

Stop? You mean just...

Stop. You read me loud and clear.

Sure makes it tough to commit a crime with 007 on the job.

One big problem.

I'm wondering if I made it crystal clear to Judge Booker that sometimes when you

bend the law, it could accidentally break.

Hans, isn't it?

Luke Hans?

Hey, you ain't supposed to be here tonight.

Yeah, I'm glad you got the message.

I believe you have something there that belongs to me.

You need a little persuasion?

Taylor, I assure you we won't miss.

Oh, yeah.

Hey, guys, uh...

See, no hard feelings, you know. You win a few, lose a few, you know. Yeah, I

know how it is.

You could use a little extra money right now, huh?

Like 30 ,000 clams?

30... That much?

Yeah, that much.

Only one thing bothers me, though.

These receipts.

The names of my runners. The list of payoffs.

What were your plans for these?

Oh, I...

I didn't know it was the police.

Am I happy to see you? You are.

Well, sure.

This thief, we caught him breaking and entering.

He's a burglar. Did he steal anything?

No.

No, fortunately, we caught him before he could take anything. I see he did

manage to blast open your safe.

What was in there?

Nothing. Not a thing. It was empty.

These, I was going to put these into the safe.

When we surprise this burglar... Please, go right ahead. Don't let us stop you.

See?

Search warrant.

Giving us legal authority to search the premises.

Including the safe.

Well, good work, Karn.

Commissioner will be proud of you. Huh?

Didn't you tell Mr.

Story who you are?

Well, you must have shown him your credentials.

Karn, show Mr.

Story your wallet.

Now.

Meet Officer Luke Carnes.

I must admit, Judge Booker was most reluctant to allow me to deputize an ex

-convict, even for an hour.

There's no doubt about it, Petey.

You're the world's best pickpocket. And the world's best play actor, if you want

somebody to play a drunk.

Hank, wait a minute. What happened to my own wallet? The one you swiped from me

when you planted the badge?

Uh, yeah.

Could this be it? Yeah, that's it. Now, just to keep it legal, you'd better sign

a property statement.

remember that $50 bill being in the billfold. Don't look at me. I take. I

put.

Ed, may I please?

Uh -huh.

You know, Chief, I do believe this is one of the bills from that bank robbery

Oakland last May.

Hey, wait a minute. You guys trying to frame me? Oh, you've signed this paper

saying all the contents of the billfold belong to you.

This might be a valuable paper to produce in court if, say, you decide to

to your old profession. That's blackmail.

I'm a victim of blackmail. What do you know, Ed?

We finally found someone who admits he's a victim.