Original subtitles

I think I'll set this one out.

Oh, come on, Warren. You won't have any fun that way.

No, I can enjoy watching you swim. Go ahead.

Warren, what is it?

Well, can't an old man just enjoy the sun and the view?

I love you.

And I know you, and I know when you're talking around something.

Please.

Sweet Tina.

Best thing that ever happened to me.

You're sending me away, aren't you? I do want you to travel, yes.

No. London, Paris, buy out all the shops, have a ball.

No, I won't leave you. I won't go without you, never.

It's because of them, isn't it? I'll have everything straightened out. You'll

come back.

We'll be just fine, you'll see.

No, I won't leave you.

Go on and swim for me. Be a good girl.

Warren, darling, please don't move.

Don't move. I'm all right.

I'll get the doctor.

No. The other call.

First. Make it now.

Police headquarters.

Chief Ironside.

to you.

Stewart's a criminal. A big shot.

He's the number two man in the organization.

Who's called me three times in the last month.

Probing calls.

Feeling the climate. Trying to set up a deal. Use me as insurance.

A man running scared.

Who's the only one who scares the number two man?

Number one.

Trask. John Trask.

What a catch that would be.

Faster, Mark. You want me to get out and walk?

to the ground every now and then.

Chief Ironside?

I'm Leon Chaffee.

I was Warren Stewart's personal physician.

Was? Yes, he... He died about five minutes ago.

Of what?

Of trauma and shock.

Loss of blood.

Induced by gunshot wounds.

He wanted to talk.

He would have given us enough on Trask to put him...

Maybe he will talk. Perhaps I didn't make it clear.

Stewart is dead. Not according to my diagnosis, Doctor.

Two crickets and a rusty beer can.

All right, take off.

They're waiting for the body at the morgue. I want him listed as John Doe

unidentified.

Any word from the hospital?

Eve just called the rooms already.

Maximum security, complete seclusion. B works.

Good. I want this kept off the record, meaning we'll leak it our way.

Won't be easy. All we need is the right kind of help from the wrong people.

What can I help?

What good would it do?

Warren is dead and nothing can change it.

And the man who killed him is walking around free. Is that how you want it?

But what can I do?

What?

Stewart's death certificate?

Yeah. Don't file it. Hold it back for a few days.

Now, that's pretty irregular.

But not illegal.

I can't do that.

All right, file it.

While you're at it, file three. One for Stuart, one for Tina, and one for

yourself. Stuart was going to give me complete details about the organization.

Names, dates, places.

The killer has no way of knowing how much he actually told.

Now, wait. You're saying... I'm saying you two were alone with him before I got

here. But he was unable to speak.

Sure. You know it, and I know it. But does the killer know it?

Oh, it would be a terrible shame to get killed because somebody wanted to keep

you from telling something you never knew.

But if it was generally believed that he was still alive, you'd be safe,

wouldn't you?

So I'm asking for a little cooperation.

Sergeant Smith.

Warren Stewart.

Warren Stewart.

He'll be in 311, isolation.

311, isolation.

I'm sorry, miss.

I am Tina, my son.

His fiancée. My orders. It's all right, Harry.

Miss Masson's the exception, and she's not to leave without her guard.

Yes, sir.

Who is her guard?

Ed Brown, he's in 311.

Ed will like that assignment.

What's on the chart?

Warren Stewart, multiple gunshot wounds.

Condition critical.

He's in his boudoir, dressing.

How's it coming?

Just getting the last of this tape off.

Will you hang this up, please, nurse?

When you're ready to leave, call downstairs. I'll be waiting.

Thank you. See that they put a man on this door around the clock.

Right.

Also, I want a man on every door that opens to the street.

In fact... Nobody enters or leaves this hospital without signing the register.

Right.

Sign what register?

And what the devil for?

Chief Ironside's orders, sir.

Well, you tell Chief Ironside that Police Commissioner Randall wants to see

Here and now.

Yes, sir, I will. Well, you're late, Dennis.

I expected you hours ago.

You've got a lot of explaining to do.

Nice quiet room down the hall. We can fight there.

Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.

Do you know how much manpower you're trying to protect a dead man?

I'll probably need more.

Now, go along with me, Dennis.

On what?

The first real chance to nail John Trask. Oh, here we go again, boys.

You keep saying Trask kills Stewart, but you've got nothing.

You're wrong. I've got pieces, and they fit.

The word is that Trask was unhappy with Stewart's work, was going to dump him.

Now, in that line of work, they don't retire executives. They bury them. Oh,

Bob. Stewart suspected he was going to be hit. That's why he made those calls

me. He was using me as leverage against Trask. He just hesitated too long.

But he never gave you anything definite on Trask.

Then you're dead.

No chance.

Now, just listen.

Trask is a new breed.

A businessman.

A professional man. Not in the muscle business.

He depends on brains. Always operates behind a legitimate front. In this case,

law firm.

He pushes buttons. Never gets personally involved.

You could get very old waiting for him to make a mistake.

Solution? Make him think he's made one.

By not... Finishing off Stewart.

As long as he thinks Stewart's alive, we have something going for us.

That's a nervous Trask. I'll keep the pressure on him. It has to force him

a move. And that move could give us just what we need on him. You hope.

Look, I want a free hand, Dennis.

No questions asked.

You're asking an awful lot, Vaughn. There's a lot riding.

Trask is a plague.

A piece of every dirty dollar in this town winds up in his pocket, and still

haven't been able to touch him. He's laughed at us for ten years.

Calm down.

No, sir.

Because there's a chance now, and I want it.

We nail Trask, 50 others will wind up behind bars along with him.

It'll be the biggest day the department ever had.

A free hand, Dennis.

Do I have it?

As long as you play it by the book. You want the book or do you want Trask?

Pleasure to do business with you.

Eddie Burns.

Well -known vice president of Acme Construction Company. Less well -known

president in charge of narcotics.

Charlie King.

King Cosmetics is his cover.

He keeps track of girls and gambling. Nice follies.

And that's Luther Carson.

Runs City Western Savings and Loan. But he also heads up enforcement.

Keeping the peace.

Translation, murder.

Lovely group.

There's the big man.

John Trask.

Senior partner of Trask, Conroy, Hardy, and Slezak.

Attorneys of law.

Attractive. He's a brilliant attorney.

He runs the entire West Coast division of the Empire.

And empire is precisely the word. It's set up like a gigantic business

corporation. Well -run, top -flight management.

Money pours in from every vice in the book.

It's then invested in completely legitimate businesses, firms they

control. Completely.

Full diversification.

Name it, they own it. We're talking about construction companies, laundries,

food packagers, savings and loan, on and on.

If you know the deal, why are they running around loose?

Well, Mark, penal code's a little stodgy. It says knowing is one thing,

is another.

Now, Trask is very large for flying. That plane is his.

You're grinding your teeth.

Who are these two?

Lower echelon.

Muscle.

That's Ernie Greco, and this is Fred Ballinger.

Trask has to make a move.

No telling who he'll use or how.

What about pinning a tail on each of them?

Ordinarily, yes, Ed. This time, no.

Tail might be spotted.

This is no time to make Trask overly cautious.

I want the cart at the back entrance. We'll be right down.

Thank you.

Chief said you can go home.

All right.

I'm to go with you.

That's easy, one at a time. There's a rumor Stuart was shot, Chief. Anything

it?

It's the truth.

How bad, Chief?

Bad enough. He hasn't recovered consciousness yet.

You expect him to?

Well, I'm not a doctor.

All I can tell you is I wouldn't be here if I didn't expect Stuart to be useful

to us.

Now, would you excuse this gentleman?

The doorman, he's new.

We'll check him.

Two calls from Fred Ballinger and one from Ernie Greco.

Trask. John Trask.

To see Warren Stewart, please.

I'm Mr. Stewart's associate.

Let him in, Harry.

Ah, Ironside, huh?

It's been a while.

I managed to live with it.

I'd like to see Warren Stewart.

Impossible. Why?

He's too sick to see anybody.

Who said so?

You mean you're holding a man incommunicado on your own authority?

I can't do that.

I'm just asking. I don't want to get a bill for your opinion.

Well, the judge will decide if he's able to talk.

I say he isn't.

Oh, I suppose if you could get an affidavit from a doctor saying that he'd

examined and that in the doctor's opinion... Only you won't let me get a

in there to see him.

Well, that's bureaucracy for him.

Is he well enough to see anyone?

No visitors, sir.

The doctor even asked Miss Masson to leave.

Excuse me.

I assume that's your final word?

You can assume.

Making your influence felt, Einstein said?

Odd that the doctor didn't return any of my phone calls.

When I phoned Miss Masson, she refused to talk to me. Maybe she doesn't like

hoods. Is that an accusation?

If the gun fits... Mark!

Make sure the nurse in charge knows that Mr. Trask wants to see Stuart as soon

as possible.

I don't intend to wait here all day.

Either I see Stuart now or I get a court order.

You're the lawyer.

If you think that's your best remedy.

You explained that Mr.

Trask is to see Mr.

Stuart whenever Mr.

Stuart's condition permits?

I explained.

Not good enough.

Conscious or unconscious, I want to see him.

They sent me down to get help.

Makes for a nice alibi, your being here.

Who'd ever believe you were behind it?

If you believe it, you know where the courthouse is.

police worries about me, I think Warren would be amused.

How long did you know Stuart?

We met in Europe two years ago.

My parents needed money desperately and Warren helped them.

I needed a job and he started my career as a model.

Then he arranged for me to come to America and live like this.

You must have known who he was.

Of course I knew.

But you love a man.

You don't change him into something else, make him over.

It's been done.

Sergeant, you wouldn't understand.

Warren was really two men.

In order to survive with those savages, he had to be just as vicious as they

are. But with me, there was never a bad moment.

Not once.

Cozy. Iron -sized man. Sergeant, uh, Brown, wasn't it?

Still is.

How'd you get in, Mr. Trask?

Boy, I bet the doorman five dollars he'd stop me.

I lost.

John, this is my apartment. I think the lady's saying goodbye.

Quite. But Stuart is my associate, and the lady belongs to Stuart.

I think she should be apprised of what's happening.

Part of the hospital prison ward just went up in smoke.

What?

Somebody tried to slip a bomb into Warren's room.

Oh, no. Anybody hurt?

One of your police officers.

What about Warren?

He's safe.

Is there anything you need, Tina?

No. I'm sure you'll be the first to see Warren when he regains consciousness.

Please, will you tell him of my concern?

You sure there's nothing you need?

Quite. It might relieve him to know you're being looked after.

What else are loyal friends for?

Warren knows the high value I place on loyalty from everyone.

It's the first fundamental of business and living.

Good night, Tina.

You know what he was really saying, don't you? Yes.

To keep my mouth shut and to warn Warren to do the same.

They are animals. Worse than animals.

Mr. Ironside, could you give him a message for me?

Anything he wants.

Whatever it takes to get them.

All he has to do is ask me and I'll do it.

Are you saying Stewart never was in that room?

I'm telling you that any time I have a man in protective custody and you think

you know where he is, you're wrong.

Well, if he isn't here, then where?

Elsewhere, obviously.

Thanks. What about Tina Masson? Is she in protective custody, too?

Stewart and Tina.

You're protecting a lot of people, Chief.

It makes me feel wanted. That's all, gentlemen.

The man said, that's all, gentlemen.

The orderly's name is John Henderson. Here's his address.

How long has he worked here?

He started yesterday.

Yesterday? I wanted all new employees and patients carefully checked.

He was cleared, Chief, but there was no record, so there was no reason to

suspect him.

I'd get a detailed description of him and put out an APB. I already have.

Squad car's on the way over now to pick him up, just in case.

The faith of the young. He'll be long gone.

All right, get a lab rat on it.

Probably nothing but cover the bases.

Well, Eve, you were half right.

Henderson was at his apartment.

Did they get anything out of him?

That'd be the trick of the week. He's dead. Single shot.

Close range. Very professional. Very final.

It's a nice day. Don't depress me.

I but deliver the news, sire.

All bad.

The orderly, Henderson?

No record at all.

Just the kind of man Trask would use.

The lab turned his room inside out. Clean. No prints of any kind.

Just the kind of job Trask would do.

You're cheerful for a man who just got knocked out of the box?

Depends on which scorecard you're reading.

I'm always willing to learn.

Look, you're standing too close to it. All you see is a dead trail.

Step back.

View the broader canvas.

It's a coin, a phrase.

You know that thing at the hospital?

That was a desperation try. Mistake number one for Trapp. Then to top that,

turns around and kills the orderly. His own employee. More desperation.

Even the syndicate frowns on that.

All right, you've got him rattled. Next step?

Mark, what's that lovely crapshooter's motto?

When you're riding a streak, double the bet.

Words to live by.

More pressure.

Le coup de grace.

He'll swing for the fences on this pitch.

Care to let us in on it?

Delighted. I think it's time Warren Stewart regained consciousness, feeling

talkative.

And the president's statement that all commitments would be honored.

Turning to the local news now in a late -breaking development in the Warren

Stewart shooting.

Newsman Jack Shore questioned Chief Robert T. Ironside about persistent

that Mr.

Stewart's name has now been removed from the critical list.

Confirmed. Has he regained consciousness?

All I can tell you is that the grand jury convenes on Monday. I don't wish to

say anything that might be considered premature.

You're saying that Stewart is going to talk to them?

I am saying no comment.

Now, would you excuse me, gentlemen?

Mr. Stewart decides to get talkative.

It can be bad for us. Let's be frank, gentlemen. It could destroy us. What

Well, the legalities. Any progress in that court action, John? It's been

at the local level.

Let's take it higher.

It's being handled.

The problem at the moment seems to be where Ironside has tucked away on Mr.

Stewart.

Mr. Carson?

Not a whisper.

I've called on every source I know.

Wherever he is, I know this. We're not going to find him on time.

Well, I'd just as soon not get another call from the East.

I wonder if... You know, Ironside might just be running a bluff.

I can't afford to assume that.

Besides, I don't think so.

Well, whatever the case, we'd better take some action.

Just don't draw attention to yourself. Go about your business as though

everything were normal. But you tell your people to concentrate on our

I want Stuart.

I just hope we don't get another phone call.

That's all, gentlemen.

Yes.

I wouldn't worry, Mr. Gregory.

On the contrary.

The man's in a position to do irreparable harm to the organization.

I can assure you the situation will be resolved very quickly.

Everybody's on it. I'll accept that.

Call me when it's settled.

Very well, sir.

The shoulders are all wrong. They crowd me in.

Wait till you see what a cell does.

Downtown.

I'm not finished yet.

Want to bet?

Oh, come on. 20 minutes for a bottle of scotch?

Never mind. Here he is now.

I tell you, your service stinks.

We do the best we can.

Let's ride.

Sorry about that.

Yes, bourbon made.

Have you any idea how many men you've picked up? The jail walls are bulging.

We're still picking them up. Now, look, hoods are one thing.

But Carson Burns King are important businessmen.

Hood. Buy it, prove it.

You might just do that. Buy the book. Remember, what we suspect is our

But on paper, they are respectable, legitimate businessmen.

So much the better.

Trask will figure we'd never touch him unless we really had something.

Hey, that's beautiful.

You better try it.

I will try the bourbon.

Look, Dennis, don't you see it? The more Trask men we grab, the more we isolate

him. Drive him to the wall.

How about those men?

What do you do with them?

Hold them.

Forty dollars.

That's all you got. Correction. This is Friday.

The law says Sundays don't count. That's three days we can hold him.

Can you imagine what his nerves will be like by then?

All alone?

His people in jail and hating his guts?

Alone? No one left to jump when he pushes a button and Stuart about to

And Trask will have to make his move at him, a personal move.

And we will be waiting.

Burns. Carson.

You mentioned them. Who else?

Belden, Wirth, Montez, Nelson.

Interesting. He's still dragging them in.

I just had a call from your area, John. I was hoping it would be from you.

I can only tell you the problems being attended to, Mr. Gregory.

My information doesn't indicate that.

Perhaps you've underestimated the situation.

Hardly.

In any case, I would certainly suggest that you take a long, hard look at it,

then take whatever steps are necessary.

They're being carried out now.

Good. You know the alternative, John.

I hope it doesn't come to that.

Is that your apartment?

Emergency.

Apartment 1222, top floor.

How is she?

Must be some mistake.

What do you mean?

Didn't you put in a call to Northern Mercy?

No, I didn't. I was told.

Cheap fire inside.

Make it quick.

What color vehicle?

What hospital?

What about Sergeant Brown?

All right, get up there and fast.

Franken, I want a full APB, top priority.

Vehicle ambulance, private. Smith Ambulance Service.

Two men in it, armed and dangerous.

Right.

Abduction of Miss Tina Masson. The grab was made at 837 Fullerton.

Heading west on Fullerton.

Alert all units in the area.

No, no, they're not to apprehend.

I'll tell you what they do to that girl.

I want to know the minute they're spotted.

If they're spotted.

Chief. It's my fault, all mine.

It's not true. She was well covered. Both Ed and Jim were there. Well, Trask

moved, all right. We won't help sitting here. We should be in the area. We'll

pick Ed up on the way.

It's a little tight in here.

The minute you hear anything, anything, I want all lines open.

Pipe everything through to me.

It's a big city.

All we need is a little luck.

Good. Get me a quick count.

How many units have we in the immediate area?

Look, all the sweet, lovely luck of a .22 just spotted the ambulance.

Good. Open the lines.

Cut them all in.

This is Ironside. .22 picked him up at Harbor Road and 9th, heading east.

I want 11 and 17 to run the parallel streets on either side of Harbor in case

turns.

Three, you're in position to take over the tail at Foster.

Nine can do it at Grant.

Once the car has turned over the job to somebody else, he keeps going in the

same general direction.

We may have to use him again, understood?

Yeah, luck can keep me informed.

Thank you.

Yeah, got it.

He's hugging that waterfront.

How do you figure where he's headed?

No idea. Could be anyplace.

I meant Trask grabbing Tina. Why?

That part's easy now.

What else does he have left? Nothing. Just Tina.

And the fact that Stuart's crazy about it. Yeah.

Tell you just what Trask planned.

He'll take her someplace, put a gun to her head, and make her phone Stuart.

deal. A very simple deal.

Stewart talks to the grand jury. Tina dies.

That's the plot. Pretty cold -blooded.

That's our Mr.

Trask.

Ironside.

Yeah, right.

All right, stay out of the tunnel. You'll be spotted.

Who's at the other end to pick him up?

Where are they going?

Apparently, they're going in a circle. Maybe to shake off the tail.

No, no sudden turns, no evasive action. Which way to Leavens?

Record, please.

Straight ahead.

Across to Leavens, still going west.

Who picks him up next?

All right, Wexler, tell you what.

Thank you.

It's empty.

Empty? How?

They could have switched ambulances.

Thought had occurred to me.

Sure, in a tunnel. There's a pull -off place.

Place to park if you run out of gas.

Put an ambulance there. The one with Tina pulls in behind it and stops. The

empty one goes ahead and we tail the wrong one. Pretty smooth.

Talented man, Mr. Trask. We only knew where they were going.

Don't win.

Listen, you're a trask.

You're caught in the squeeze between police and the organization.

You've kidnapped a girl to use as leverage.

Everything hangs on that phone call.

So? Probably work. There's always a chance it won't.

And if it doesn't, you have to run.

Wouldn't you give yourself a head start?

Sure, make that phone call from as far away as possible.

And if you owned your own personal plane, those pictures we saw, wasn't

Bayside Airport?

Yeah, get the flight controller.

Come on, Tower.

What's keeping you controlled?

Doing the best we can, Chief.

Here it is. Private 64 found this flight plan for Ensenada, Mexico City, and

Acapulco. Stall him.

Any way you have to.

Roger. Want his clearance revoked?

No, no, that'll tip him. Just stall.

Think of something.

I can't solve everybody's problems.

Private 64, go ahead.

Flight plan is in order. You are cleared for takeoff. Thank you.

On runway 22 left.

Private 64 to tower, you said 22 before.

Sorry, 64.

Change in wind direction.

And please stand by prior to takeoff.

Tourniquets are far into field. Knowledge, please.

Roger.

Private 64.

Long fall from the top, isn't it, Counselor?

My, my, Big John Trask.

Wearing the cuffs, just like any cheap hood. A sight to glow by.

You've got a lot of proving to do. Nothing to it, Counselor.

Let's start with the minor raps.

Two counts of assault, ambulance theft.

Conspiracy. Now let's get to the real meat.

Felony, kidnapping, caught red -handed.

You're the expert, Counselor. You know the tab. Up to 25 years in prison.

No possibility of parole.

Or, at the discretion of the jury, the gas chamber.

Query.

How will a jury feel about a man who had Warren Stewart, among many others, shot

to death?

You're saying Stewart is dead?

Four days ago.

Amazing. An attorney without words.

Oh, well, you'll think of something.

That's another one, Counselor.

Littering public property.

Better get yourself a good lawyer.