Original subtitles

The grass deal doesn't answer.

You want a lift over there?

No, we've done enough already.

I'll just keep crying until I get someone to come over and fix the car.

Can I buy you a drink?

You're half frozen.

Please.

The least I can do.

Sure.

A martini on the rock.

What do you have? Scotch and water. Easy on the scotch.

Carry on.

All right.

Let's get to details. All week, I have been subjected to indirect pressures,

innuendos, hints, sly suggestions.

Such as?

Oh, a certain Eastern Corporation would be delighted to have me on their board.

Or one of our local companies here has just the right spot in their legal

department for my son. I'm sure at a remarkable salary for a boy just out of

school, even Harvard.

Can you imagine my sister married a two -toned baker?

That's the most incredible thing that I've ever heard.

Yeah, but she seems to be happy. And she's got two great kids.

One's a boy and one's a girl.

And right this way.

Off we go.

Right this way.

They just seem to be doing all right because they live in a small town.

Yeah, I forgot much.

Oh, you're going to love that chair. That's my favorite chair.

Have a real good time.

Listen, where?

Where?

There. Doesn't that feel better?

And all I have to do in return is be sure that all I do is

slap Frank Stilwell's wrist a little bit when I sentence him on Friday.

For five years of income tax evasion.

Cheating the government out of a million or so dollars. How hard do you think

his wrist should be slapped?

Oh, Lawrence, I'm sure you've already made up your mind.

I have. And why let innuendo bother you?

Well, you see, the pressure has become a little more direct.

Now, tonight, I came home a little earlier than usual. Put the car in the

and saw a young... woman leaving this in my mail slot.

I did manage to take down her license plate number.

A judge being considered as a Supreme Court nominee might appreciate a

reciprocal assist.

You're being considered?

Yes. Well, congratulations.

But still, that note is not a definite lead despite the key word reciprocal.

Now, how do I link it up with Stilwell?

Find that girl.

It would be if the jackhammer in my head would stop.

I sure need coffee.

Big night?

It must have been.

I vaguely recall a damsel in distress, a drink, an apartment somewhere.

That does not sound like an evening to forget.

My head calms down. I expect it'll all come back.

Morning, Larry. Hi, Sam.

What's that?

From your dad and me.

Robert didn't teach me any words for an occasion like this.

Don't need any.

Just defend me when I get into trouble.

What kind of trouble? A woman's trouble.

Have to beat him off with a club.

Oh, Bob, I heard... side here last night. He waited as long as he could.

sorry, Anderson.

How is he? He's fine.

He was wondering if you have decided what firm you're going to go with. He

like you to consider the district attorney's office.

I haven't thought about that.

He did invite you to lunch today if you'd like to talk about it.

I'll call him later.

Well, I've got to run off to court.

Good to have you home, son.

It's good to be home again.

Sam?

Sam?

Sam?

Sam, where's my car?

I was wondering the same thing.

Only your father's car in the garage or something.

I must have been smart enough to take a taxi home last night.

I don't know if I can be smart enough to remember where I left my car. Need a

lift someplace?

No, no, I can't. There it is.

Is there anything wrong?

No, no.

What's up, Lieutenant?

Turning down a license plate number. I want a candy Delmar.

You're a little late.

What happened?

Robbery that got out of hand. You have a suspect?

In custody.

Says he was in the building making a delivery.

Door was open and she was lying there.

Are you ready for this?

Said he didn't have any change to call us, so he looked for a purse.

That's how the officers found her, with a handful of money.

Officers?

Yeah. Neighbor called in on a noise complaint.

They were answering it. What'd you need help for?

Well, we, uh... Thought she might be able to help us with something we're

working on.

Which you would prefer not to talk about.

For the moment.

Chief's going to be crazy about this.

Nobody expects a man in your position to stay forever.

Unless, of course, he plans on being the DA himself.

If your interest is criminal law, where's a better place to get broken in?

You'll excuse the expression.

How soon would I have to let you know? When you get ready to go to work. In the

meantime, drop around, see how the other half lives, get the feel of it.

I'm doing a preliminary hearing tomorrow afternoon, Judge Bell's court.

Why not drop in there?

Thank you, I'd like that.

After, we'll go back to the office and meet some of the boys.

Oh, here comes Ed.

Well, Larry Sergeant Ed Brown. He runs my life, Larry Van Buren. How do you do?

Sit down, Ed. Have some lunch. I can't.

Sorry to interrupt. I thought you'd want to know.

The girl with the license number?

She was murdered. By whom?

No one to indicate it's what we're looking for.

They're holding some delivery boy. Candy Del Market?

Yes. Well, that's the preliminary hearing I invited you to.

I've heard the name somewhere.

Is she a movie actress?

The only movies she's appeared in are the ones our office tries to close.

Well, who is the suspect?

Well, Ed said it's just an ordinary delivery kid.

Apparently got a little too greedy. You've checked him out thoroughly?

Why? Well, we're on another case. I thought there might be some connection.

To whom? It may concern.

Now, you notice I've underlined that phrase, gentlemen.

I haven't personalized the notes today because they concern every one of you.

Deeply concern you.

I might also add the notes are not suggestions.

They're instructions.

And they're to be followed to the letter.

This meeting is adjourned.

Mr. Stidwell?

Yes.

I've seen it.

I'm all set, Mr. Stidwell.

All right, Ellis.

Please call our friend.

Judge Van Buren?

Yes, what is it, please?

Your Honor, we've been looking out for your interests.

Please tell your son that he's not to worry about that mess that happened last

night. We'll cover it.

What mess?

What are you talking about?

You'll be grateful, Your Honor.

We hope that you'll be grateful enough to do us a good turn, too. Who is this?

Just tell Larry to play it cool.

Big night.

Must have been.

I vaguely recall a damsel in distress, drinks, an apartment somewhere.

Now that does not sound like an evening to forget.

When my head calms down, I expect it'll all come back.

Thought I'd have a swim at home.

Like a highball?

Thanks, no. I'm still rotten from last night.

Yeah, I'll just grab a sandwich and hit the sack early.

That must have been some night.

Last night.

Where did you go?

I hate to admit this, but my brain is still full of cotton balls. I honestly

don't know.

I can't even remember where I left the car.

Are you telling me that you blacked out?

It seems that way.

Dr. Walker should have a look at you. There's no need.

I seem to remember getting tied up somewhere.

I guess I just had too much to drink on an empty stomach.

Anyway, I'll probably wake up at four in the morning and remember where I left

the car.

Larry.

You're not putting me on, are you?

I mean about...

No, Dad.

I'm not putting up.

Thought you had this place all buttoned up.

I wanted to give you another chance to look it over.

You were interested in the Delmar woman.

Alive to talk to, not her apartment. The lab found a partial print on her

earring.

It's not enough to put through the file, but enough to tell us who that isn't.

And whose isn't it? Not the suspect.

Not hers either.

You called me over for that?

What are you trying to tell me, Carl?

I don't know.

I don't know. I thought maybe you could tell me something.

You were trying to chase her down.

I'm not sure we can help.

We were trying to check into a matter that had to do with Judge Van Buren.

Judge Lawrence Van Buren?

Yes. He has a son, hasn't he?

Lawrence Jr.? That's right.

And you can't help.

What are you getting at, Carl? I'm getting at the fact that you're pussy

-putting around trying to cover up something. That's what. No better than

Do I?

Traffic Division picked up two cars apparently abandoned in a limited -time

parking zone.

There were fresh scratches and nicks on the rear bumper of this car.

A dent in the trunk.

Traces of paint.

There were scratches and nicks on the front bumper of this car.

The left fender was scraped. The paint on this car matches the paint on that

car. Not enough damage for a rear -ender. No.

This car puts that car into the curb.

Done an awful lot of detective work just for a couple of parking citations.

This is Andy Delmar's car, Sergeant. You've given it a long build -up,

Lieutenant. And this car is registered to Lawrence Van Buren, Jr.

Now, what do you make of it?

Other than that he apparently tried to help the lady out. You said it.

I'm not working on a traffic case, Ed. This is murder one.

If you're holding out on me, I'll have you back in a uniform tomorrow.

Oh, everything we know, Carl.

More.

See ya.

The messenger just delivered this. It's marked personal.

Oh, thank you, sir.

Coffee?

Yes, please.

How did you do this?

I didn't do anything, Your Honor. The pictures are of Larry, not me.

Well, they're fakes.

If that's what you want to believe, it's okay with me.

But I doubt if the DA will go along with you. He's sitting with a body.

You won't get away with this. Sure I will.

Only if I were you, I'd save you and the boy a lot of trouble.

You know what I want. Well, I cannot. I simply will not do it. Look, Judge, why

don't you think of your kid?

The girl is dead.

Maybe you'll get life. Maybe just five years.

But one thing is sure.

The great Van Buren dynasty of judges will jolt to a stop.

And the kid will be lucky getting a job selling apples.

What'll it be?

Coffee. Irish?

Just coffee. I don't drink on duty.

Yeah? What kind of duty is that? Same guy I was on when I busted you for

to minors six years ago.

Oh, yeah.

I didn't recognize you out of uniform.

Hey, there's no hard feelings, okay? That's nice.

So they promoted you to playing close, huh?

Congratulations. Thanks.

Now, that's all right. It's on the house. For old time's sake.

For old time's sake? How about a little conversation?

You mean chitchat? I mean information.

Sure, I'd be glad to help. A couple of cars were picked up by the traffic

division near here.

They were left the night before last.

It was a big storm.

Did the drivers happen to come in here?

Why should they?

You seem to have the only public phone for a couple of blocks around. Hey,

I make drinks here. I don't want the phone.

Let's have a look.

Did you see him?

I don't know. People come in and out of here all the time.

He might have been with her.

Who? No, I never saw her.

Snatch rods.

Right.

Never saw her, huh?

Oh, gee, Arnie, you've got such a short memory.

Candy Delmar worked here, right here in this bar, six months ago.

So that's Candy, huh? No kidding.

But she wasn't a blonde. A blonde, brunette, redhead.

Whatever. If Candy walked in here, you'd have known her. Yeah, I guess I would.

So I figure she wasn't here, right? Yeah, I'll tell that to the cab driver

picked him up outside.

Look, if you knew they were here, why'd you ask, huh?

What do you want from me? I want to know when they got here, how long they were

here, and how much they had to drink before they left.

Look, I'm telling you, I don't know anything.

Look, I've been clean for years. Give me a break, will you? I don't want to get

mixed up in anything. I'm not mixing you up, Arnie.

Okay, okay, so I read the papers, too, so the chick got knocked off. But I'm

clean, I'm telling you. I can't help you with anything. You're sweating, Arnie.

What is it, 86 proof or grade A fear?

Look, leave me alone, will you?

All right.

You're alone.

Hey,

a quarter for the coffee.

How did you do? Go into business for yourself?

I guess I should have checked in.

I looked into a couple of things.

The cabbie who picked them up, the bar they were in.

Busy man.

Busy enough to make a solid connection between Larry and that girl.

How did the cab driver say he brought them to her apartment?

Not too long before time of death.

It's still only circumstantial.

Besides, the bartender, Arnie Hummel, has old -time racket connections.

And he was afraid to answer my questions. I mean, really scared.

Have you had it?

I don't yet.

But I think we should work on Arnie. And Larry owes us a few explanations.

First, we'd better notify the district attorney. If Reed has it already.

Carl is a very thorough, painstaking officer. He won't present a case unless

he's sure of everything, which he can't be at the moment.

Mr. Einstein, please.

Chief Ironside, call it.

be in touch with him later.

He's in court.

Let the record show at this preliminary hearing, the defendant,

Otis Williams, will be represented by a public defender, Mr. Austin Quill.

Are the people ready, Mr. Einstein?

Yes, ma 'am.

Please proceed.

If it please the court, the people will show that one Candace Delmar was

brutally assaulted and brought to death by a person or persons unknown.

The people will further show that there is sufficient evidence that the

defendant, Mr. Otis Williams, may have been the assailant and should be bound

over for trial on the charge of murder in the first degree.

Call your witnesses.

The prosecution calls Lieutenant Reese.

Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, withholding nothing?

I do.

State your name and rank.

Carl Reese, Lieutenant of the Detective, San Francisco Police Department.

If you will, Lieutenant.

At approximately 10 .30 p .m. on the night in question, officers Markle and

Grady called into a homicide reporting the discovery of the body of the

decedent. The officers will so testify.

Did you answer the call, Lieutenant?

Yes, sir. I'm on temporary duty with the homicide squad and the case was

assigned to me.

What was the appearance of the apartment when you arrived?

The suspect was in custody. The officers had taken from his possession the

amount of $1 ,234, mostly 50s.

The bills had apparently come from Ms. Delmas' purse.

Other contents of the purse were scattered on the floor.

Her dress was half torn away.

There was evidence of a struggle.

The telephone had fallen to the floor and her lamp was knocked over.

Connor? Yes?

It's obvious, isn't it, that Larry was framed?

Drugged and framed, if Larry's halfway right.

It may mitigate it somewhat, but the girl is dead, and it looks like I killed

her. That doesn't change no matter what we can prove.

You sound as though you had something in mind.

Go into the attorney's office and make a full confession.

What else can I do?

I'm sorry.

Don't be. You haven't hurt me.

It's all still well.

He's not going to get away with that, see, Bob?

So far, we have nothing to connect them to it legally. I know.

Not a shred of evidence.

The city, state, and federal governments have been trying to get some proof

against Mr. Stilwell for a long time now.

So far, the only one who's been successful is the Internal Revenue

Let's confine ourselves to the city, Ed. Do you have any suggestions?

No, I don't. Not one. Bob, he's got to pay for this.

My great -grandfather had a motto, Chief.

Four generations of his family have believed in it.

What's that?

Let justice prevail, though the sky falls. Justice is still justice, even if

sky falls a few days later, Larry.

In any case, I've already discussed the matter with Paul Einstein.

He's agreed to wait until he hears further from me.

Obviously, Stillwell was not the photographer of this little episode, but

does have a man, Alice Stark.

I think at least one move we should make is to connect Stark with Dean.

How? Special high -speed film.

Needs practically no illumination.

I doubt if many shops carry it. No center safe.

All right, Ed.

I'd like you to stay pretty close to Reed.

Let him know quietly what Larry has told us, and if Larry is in my custody.

I would also like to see the complete file on the Delmar murder.

Bob, we haven't got much time. I rule on Stilwell. I'm frightened.

There must be a Latin phrase for I'm aware of that.

Chief, I'm letting you go out of here on your own recognizance, Larry.

Get some rest, stay close to your father's house, and do not do anything

Now, you probably have the toughest job of all.

Thanks, John. I'll be standing by.

Sit down.

What are you, the NAACP of the Urban League?

Hey, Otis, it's the other way around. I want you to help me.

Man, that judge banged on a table with that wooden hammer, and she said, Otis

Williams, you are bound over for trial for murder in the first degree.

Now, how am I going to help you? You're innocent.

Man, I know that.

How about convincing that judge?

What I'm trying to tell you is the police know that you're innocent.

Well, that's nothing new.

They're always hauling away innocent brothers. I mean, the charges have been

dropped.

What was I still doing in that honky jail?

Well, here comes the part where you can help.

The man would kind of like for you to go back to jail for a few more days.

I am not going to sit in this room with a crazy man.

Hey, don't touch me.

There's no shock, man. Let me explain. Explain what, man?

I try to help and call the police, so I get arrested.

I'm innocent, so I get charged with murder.

I can walk out of here now and go free, but you want me to go back.

Now, you don't think you're crazy? No, I don't think I am crazy. Now, you get

over there and sit down.

Now, look, man, come on.

Now, somebody set that check up.

And right now, he's feeling real good because he thinks he's in the clear.

Now, the only way that we're going to get to him is for you to go back.

No way.

You mean to tell me that you want him to get away with all he's

done to you?

Man, you are weird.

I mean, really weird.

Okay,

I'll go back.

Oh, that's what I do.

Silence.

What

can

I do for you? I'm really sorry to disturb you at home tonight, but I

understand that you carry panographic high -speed film in your camera shop.

At my shop?

Yes, well, you call the shop in the morning, and then I'll talk to you about

thing. Okay?

Tomorrow morning.

Look

here,

young lady, if you don't go away, I'm going to call the police.

Mr. Duvall, I must be too loud. Oh, dear,

what have I done now?

Do you carry that film? Yes, a little of it.

Why, do you need some now? I can go get my raincoat. No, no. I just want to know

if you've sold some recently.

Why? It hasn't been taken off the market, has it? I mean, poisonous or

like that? No, Mr. Duran.

I just want to know who's bought the film. Oh, well, as a matter of fact, I

sell some just the other day. I don't know who the fellow was.

Mr. Duran, was it this man?

Yes, yes. As a matter of fact, it was.

He asked me how to use it, you know, and I told him it'd be much too grainy for

most jobs. I see. But I told him that with most available light, any standard

fast film would probably be all right. Mr.

Durant... But he insisted, you know. Oh, he absolutely insisted.

You know what I mean?

Mr. Durant, we may ask you to testify to that.

Yes, well, I don't know. We need an expert witness.

About film speed, you mean?

Well, all right, I'd be delighted.

Not at all.

Good night, Mr. Brown. Good night. Good night. I'll be your expert.

Yes, sir. Good night.

Well, I wish they'd had a policeman like that.

But I will again.

Hi, Arnie.

How'd you get in here?

You have an emergency exit. It's public plate.

Yeah, for dispensing alcoholic beverages.

Oh, all right.

Give me a beer.

Barna domestic.

Split the difference. Make it California.

Arnie.

Don't get comfortable. We're going to be closing.

Arnie, what did you pull on that bust I made?

90 days.

My license was in probation for a year.

You ever been inside, I mean, for a long time?

What is it with you, Brown?

Heavy, Arnie. Did you ever pull hard time? You trying to scare me? I'm just

trying to find something out. I could look it up.

All right.

I did two years, long time ago.

Flat time.

No parole.

Two years.

Now, two years is long enough to learn a lot of law, isn't it? Yeah, I read some

law.

Hoping to appeal my sentence.

Well, maybe you know enough law to answer something that's been puzzling me

day. Yeah?

Maybe.

You're not drinking your beer. I'm still on duty.

So it shouldn't go to waste, then, huh?

See, I have a case I'm working on right now. It's a kind of a frame -up.

Yeah? Uh -huh.

Conspiracy to involve somebody in an illegal act.

Mm -hmm. So what's your problem? Well, now, conspiracy is a felony, isn't it?

Right. And any death resulting from the commission of a felony is a murder,

right?

Yeah, I guess so.

Okay, folks, I gotta have your glasses. Sorry.

All right, come on, Jim.

Wake up.

Okay,

now about this frame.

See, somebody had to get the guy drunk or knocked out.

So they slipped him a very peculiar kind of Mickey.

Now what I'm trying to figure is the guy who prepared this peculiar kind of

Mickey, he's a part of the conspiracy.

Is he guilty of murder?

He's guilty of murder.

Okay, you answered your question.

Now we're closing up.

Unless he pleads no knowledge of what the caper was, of course he'd have to

what was said, who put him up to it. Hey, you don't know what you're asking.

trying to give you a break. A break?

You can get me killed.

Not if you put him away.

I can't depend on that. Tell you what, you can depend on being arrested in the

next couple of days if you don't.

And it should be here.

It shouldn't be wasted.

How'd you do?

Well, I got good and wet. And?

So far, so good.

How good?

Grand Head Stark tied to the purchase of the film.

Arnie's admitted Stark paid him to slip a drug to Larry. Direct tie.

It ends at Stark.

Now, Ed, good enough.

We can pick up Stark and Sweat, and he might link up still well.

Oh, Stark is no Arnie Hummel.

Ed, what would you say to letting, uh...

Guilty Stillwell go free.

So we don't convict our two innocents.

I'd say you were putting me on.

Let's hope Stillwell doesn't say that when I ask you to see him.

See him about what?

All right, that's it, gentlemen.

Should we get down to business? All right.

The judge feels that you ask too much. Why so? To suspend your sentence or give

you a token one would create suspicion.

Probably an investigation.

Well, that's a chance he must take. You'd be taking the same chance. Why?

One sentence, I can't be tried again. The entire sentence could be set aside

extortion were proved.

That would hardly do.

What does the judge suggest?

That the sentence have a sheen of credibility, let's say two years and a

$100 ,000.

Not good enough. One year.

One year suspended.

He's got to have something. All right.

The suspended prison sentence and a fine of $50 ,000.

$50 ,000 on three counts.

$150 ,000.

Cheap. Twice the price.

There's another matter.

And what is that?

When the judge passes the sentence, as we agreed, how does he know you'll give

up the negatives of those pictures?

Does he think I'll blackmail him forever?

Yes.

Again, he'll have to take my word. So far, we've had to take your word for a

number of things. This time we'll need more. What do you want? Give me the

negatives now.

Give them to you?

What guarantee do I have that the judge will live up to his part of the bargain?

I mean, you could leave here, destroy them, and that would be the end of it.

Seems we have no deal.

Well, they always say that men of good faith can come to terms.

I believe that about men of bad faith as well.

What we need is a middleman.

Someone we both can trust.

Someone who can be on the spot.

Give us the right sentence.

He hands the negative to you. It sounds very good.

Who do we know we both can trust?

My attorney?

He'd be...

You're an attorney. How about one of the judges?

Yours or mine?

Mr. Stilwell, I'm going to make you an odd suggestion.

And what is that?

I will trust you.

Fine.

Do we have a deal?

We have a deal.

Well, Mr. Stillwell, may I see you for a moment? Private conference, just to

confirm a few things.

No one here but us, Mr. Stillwell. Nothing suspicious.

Just an hour.

Mutual friend wants to be sure you brought the merchandise.

No, I said we had a deal.

You have it on you.

Or else.

And I'll tell our friend he can go ahead.

He's too smart to be caught turning those negatives over.

So we lose.

No.

We win.

Court is in session. All rise.

Be seated.

The people of the United States versus Franklin Stilwell.

The defendant.

will rise for sentence.

Franklin Stilwell, a verdict of guilty has been handed down by a jury of your

peers, and it is my duty to pronounce sentence upon you.

Does counsel have any reason why this sentence shall not be pronounced?

No, Your Honor. Franklin Stilwell.

You have been convicted of evading the just and legal taxes levied on you by

government of the United States.

It is therefore the sentence of this court that you shall be taken into

and transferred to a federal penitentiary where you will abide in a

custodial jurisdiction for a period of 18 years.

Further, this court assesses you a fine Of $100 ,000.

Court is adjourned.

All rise.

It's a double cross.

A double cross. I'm the district attorney.

I don't understand.

District attorney, immediately. I have a statement to make.

It's going to cost you, Ironside. It's going to cost you both.

I have important evidence in the matter of a murder. Now, you get someone from

the DA's office here right now. Right now! I don't know if I can come here

minute.

Bail! Why, you show them these.

Bill, what is this about charges?

What kind of things are you trying to pull?

You're from the district attorney's office? Paul Arnstein, WDDA.

I charged Chief Ironside with attempting to suppress the evidence I'm about to

turn over to you.

Is this true, Chief? He has evidence.

I did not take it from him, nor did I attempt to take it from him.

You don't have much of a case there, Mr. Stilwell. The important thing is that I

give you these.

What are they?

Negatives, Paul, of these prints.

Photographs of Candy Delmar and Larry Van Buren. Proving that he killed her.

Proving that he didn't.

That girl wasn't killed by that fall. She started to come to after Larry left

the room and your cameraman finished the job. You can't prove that and you know

it. I don't have to.

Your Mr. Stark proved it for me.

Paul, you have some police photos there.

Compare those to the ones that Stark shot.

They look pretty much the same to me. Take a look at her hair.

She's wearing a wig. That's right. But in the first photograph, it was still in

place. In the police photograph.

Her own blonde hair was exposed. The body had been moved after Larry left the

room by Stark when he killed her. You can't save your protest, Mr. Counsel.

Stark's fingerprint matched the one we found on our earrings, and Mr. Stark is

already in custody.

And you let me go all the way through with this game.

Up to the time you turned those negatives over to Mr. Armstein, all we

Ella Stark.

Now we have a room full of witnesses, Mr. Stilwell.

When you finish your 18 years for the federal government, you'll still owe

us quite a few.

Aren't you joining us?

I'm afraid I was stalling, trying to find the words to thank you. I'll give

the words.

The Supreme Court of the United States.

You know, Lawrence, it isn't often that ordinary citizens get the chance to

express their gratitude to a man like you.

So thank you.

For what you've done and what you are.

Well, it looks as if the sun is going to come out after all.

Shall we?