Original subtitles

Gino?

Now let me get this straight.

Gino Martinez was a friend of yours?

An acquaintance. We knew each other from the old days. How well?

Well enough of him to know that we weren't friends.

But he wanted to see you. I told you, he said he had information he wanted to

give to the police.

He wanted to make a deal.

Why didn't he get in touch with someone on the force?

Gino was used to someone on the force getting in touch with him, not the other

way around.

Did he say what the information was?

He didn't want to talk on the phone, but he sounded desperate.

Looks like he had reason to be.

The guy who hit you, did you get a look at him? It's awful fuzzy.

How'd he knock you out?

Karate. Three chops.

Porn ticket.

All right, check it out.

Also, check out his girlfriend.

Am I right, fellow detectives?

I don't get it. Me neither.

Eve?

Perfume.

A woman was here recently.

Enchante.

$35 an ounce.

She must be straight from Nop Hill.

No, she wears too much of it.

Ed, when was the last time you had your shoes shined?

A few days ago. Why?

Polish marks.

Probably made by someone who just had it shined.

No need asking you.

So, the punk finally got it, huh?

Well, hello, Al. Hello, fellas. Hello, Eve. You knew him?

Like a doctor knows a cancer, I arrested him a dozen times.

You see, Gino wasn't an ordinary punk.

He had a specialty.

He performed abortions.

I also knew some of his victims.

No, Chino Martinez's death is no great loss to the Mexican -American community.

Sergeant Cervantes.

Hmm? Does your revolver have a white handle?

What? Does it?

You mean like this?

the hell of that revolver when he got it in promotion.

Get to the point, Mark.

I know who hit me, Chief.

Who was in the room with Gina?

Sergeant Al Cervantes.

A pair of shoes and a white -handled revolver make me a killer. Now, what's

going on here?

You said yourself it was Doc, and you were struck from behind.

Now you're so positive it was me.

Until you came in, it was like a puzzle with a lot of pieces missing. You

supplied them. Are you sure, Mark?

They just see the chance of getting even with me. What does that mean? Mark

knows. He knows.

He used to live in my precinct.

Whenever there was a rumble, he thought I went easier on my people than his.

That's a lie, and you know it. When you busted heads together, you didn't care

what color they were. That made you all right in my book.

You have my word for it, Al. Mark's not trying to get even with you.

I wouldn't be too sure.

Where were you last night, Sergeant? The same place I am every Thursday night. I

met my son at the fight.

Kid Valdez fought the main event, didn't he? Yes.

Valdez is Al's protege.

He was very nearly a contender for the gas chamber instead of the featherweight

championship.

Well, I was lucky with him. I failed with a lot more.

Luck or not, he could be the best alibi you've got.

The kid should have been in the ring just about the same time Mark claims he

you at Gino's apartment.

That's right.

Well, every time we've gone to the fights together, Al, you always manage

good seats.

I was in the fifth.

Then there's a chance the kid saw you there.

Oh, I... I don't know.

He had his hands full. I mean, this was a big fight for him. But he won.

He must have gone to his dressing room to congratulate him. I didn't.

Why not?

I was tired. I, uh... I had a tough day. I just wanted to get home.

There must be someone you saw who would vouch for you. Oh, I saw a lot of

people, Commissioner.

And a lot of people saw me, but...

Have you ever run into people at a circus or a prize fight?

Do you remember who they are? Do they remember you?

I mean, if I thought I'd made an alibi, I would have taken names.

Fine statement.

All right, thank you, Sergeant.

That's all.

What does that mean, sir?

I'll get in touch with you later on in the day.

Why are you doing this?

Mark?

He's the one I saw.

How do I look, Sergeant?

Like the next featherweight champion of the world.

This is number three.

The WPA moved me from seven to three. I know.

After last night's fight, I'll probably be number two.

And then comes the big boy.

He should have seen me last night.

Five rounds, that's all it took me. I was here, kid.

I looked for you. You weren't... Sure I was, kid.

You saw my son Vic, didn't you? Well, I was sitting right next to him. I saw

that great fourth round you had, man.

I was a price card. I didn't even answer the bell. And then I saw you put him

away. Jab, hook, cross.

That's all she wrote.

You saw me too, didn't you, kid?

Sitting right next to my son the whole time.

Sure.

Yeah, I even wasted you when the referee was counting.

I thought sure I was, I won't get up.

Thanks, kid.

You're already number one.

You must try this taco.

Oh, Elizabeth.

We've already tried the enchiladas, the tostadas, the frijoles.

Just one.

Besides, it's our favorite.

Well, he taught me how to make them.

Fantástico.

Extraordinario.

Well, hello, Victor.

How's it going?

Fine, thanks.

Now, your father told me that you're graduating at the top of your law class.

Yes, sir. We're all proud of you.

Where is that little girl?

Oh, that little girl is 15, and she's probably at a happening, whatever that

Hello, Al.

You know you're still married to the best cook in town?

I don't think you came all this way just to tell me that.

Oh. The news must be bad, huh?

Could we talk alone?

I keep nothing from my family. This is no different.

The commissioner wants me to investigate the Gino Martinez case.

Where does that leave me?

Until the matter's cleared up, you'll be placed on suspension.

Just like that, huh?

I'm sorry.

Are you?

Are you?

Well, let me tell you something.

If you think I'm just going to sit back while someone else decides my innocence,

you're wrong.

Al, you're relieved of your duties.

Relieved of my duties?

I've got only one duty now, and that is to clear the name of Al Cervantes, and

heaven help anyone who tries to relieve me of that.

Took you long enough to get here.

I was delayed at the office.

Yeah, sure.

What'd you want to talk to me about?

Gino was killed last night.

Gino was killed last night.

So what?

There's talk he wanted to make a deal with the police.

What kind of deal?

Well, that's just it.

What would a punk like Gino have to make a deal with?

Unless he was the one who broke into my office and stole those papers.

Well, where are they now?

Ironside's investigating the case.

He hasn't found them or we'd both be in jail by now.

That means that Gino either hid the papers someplace else or whoever killed

has those papers.

Or they disappeared into thin air.

Or maybe somebody ate them.

Now, you listen to me.

I left that list with you for safekeeping.

And if I go under because of it...

I'm taking you with me.

So get it back, Hobarth. I don't care how or who you have to take care of,

including Ironside.

But get me those papers.

F .A. Hobarth, Counselor of Law.

Whatever was inside, he was anxious to get to. Why do you say that?

Opened the wrong hand.

What else have you got, Ed?

Gino was arrested six weeks ago for performing an abortion. Who made the

Luckman, Vice Squad.

Gino was a three -time loser, Chief.

A conviction could have set him up for life.

Now, whatever information he had, he must have thought it was important

to make a deal with. What about bail?

He was out on $30 ,000.

Why would a puck like Gino raise that kind of money? His lawyer delivered it

person. F .A. Hobarth.

Question simple enough, Hobarth. What was your connection with Gino Martinez?

Attorney to client.

That it?

Simple question deserves a simple answer.

And the 30 ,000 bail, I suppose, came out of your pocket.

You know it's improper for a lawyer to put up bail. I just delivered it. Who

put up bail?

You don't really expect an answer to that, do you?

It's the things you don't expect in life that make it interesting.

Not to me.

I'm the type who has to know what's in a dark room before entering.

In this case, there was a body.

That of your client.

From what I read in the papers.

There was also a police officer.

A friend of yours, I believe.

If he's guilty, he'll be prosecuted like anyone else. Then he'll need a lawyer.

You see, Ironside, you've just made my point.

Anyone in trouble with the law is entitled to counsel.

It's in the Constitution.

Well, now, why shouldn't someone like Gino Martinez have the best?

You want to know why I took his case?

Because I grew up with the underprivileged. I know what it's like

Hobart, I've lived in some of those tenements.

You know about the poor like a weasel knows about chickens.

Anything more to say, Counselor?

I also know what the police think of the poor and how they treat them.

Speaking of Gino's room, we found an envelope with your name and return

on it.

I sent him some papers to sign.

Is that so unusual?

How long ago?

Two, three weeks.

Are you sure it wasn't more like a month?

Might have been.

But not any longer.

You better have a talk with your secretary. She's still using your old

envelopes.

You haven't been at that address for over two years.

I'm lost.

Can you help me?

What street are you looking for?

Valencia.

They said it was near here.

Yes.

Just turn right at the next corner.

Wait. It's dark. I'll walk with you.

Tell me the truth, Sergeant.

Did you really think I was trying to pick you up that day?

Oh, yeah.

to be something your generation forgot how to do.

I thought the same thing when I was in your generation.

Did you find that dress for Saturday night?

I don't think I want to go.

Why not?

Well, it just wouldn't seem right.

Am I having a good time while you're worrying?

Now, wait a minute.

Wait a minute, beautiful.

When my family's happy, how can I be unhappy?

You're going.

Thanks, Dad.

Maria, let me help you pick that dress.

Okay. We'll go shopping this afternoon.

Okay, I'll meet you downtown.

Hey, listen.

Today, Sergeant Cervantes Smith is one of my fights.

Might as well hang up my gloves.

Then you saw him the night you fought Carter.

Carter hit the canvas.

I thought Cervantes was going to jump into the ring with me.

What time was that?

Ten, five, I don't know, whenever I knock him out.

What about before the fight? Say, when you walked into the ring.

I saw him then, too.

And after the fight?

What do you mean?

Well, he must have come back to congratulate you.

Well, the dressing room was very crowded.

Hey, this is a big fight for me.

Then you didn't see him. I didn't say that.

But there were reporters and photographers, and every time I turned

somebody was taking my picture. I saw those pictures. Cervantes wasn't in any

them.

Cervantes says that he was there. He was there. I want to hear it from you.

Sure, I saw him for a few minutes.

You're positive?

I swear to it.

All right, you're lying.

Probably for a good reason, for a good guy, but you're still lying.

Now, don't make me haul you into court and prove you're guilty of perjury. You

could lose your license and your career.

Now, you don't want that, and Cervantes doesn't want it.

Am I right?

Then tell me the truth.

He wasn't there, was he?

You're a good fighter, kid.

You've just been overmatched.

The things they say about you, Dad, it's not fair.

Oh, guess what they say.

They'll be wrapping fish in it tomorrow.

Dad, would you let me do something? You are!

Victor, you are getting your law degree. You are going to be the best lawyer you

know how.

Now, if you don't think that's something, you are wrong.

Hello. Sergeant Cervantes?

My name is Hobarth.

F .A. Hobarth.

You live in a nice neighborhood, Sergeant.

Green lawns, good schools.

I love to see happy children at play, don't you?

Nice to meet someone without worries.

I guess your kids played here at one time or another. What did you want to

about? The gift of pleasantries.

I like that. Then do it.

Gino Martinez had some papers on him when he was killed.

They belong to a client of mine. He wants them back.

Why come to me?

Shot in the dark, maybe.

But I have a feeling you might know where they are.

And if I do?

He's willing to pay $5 ,000.

No questions asked.

You're wasting my time.

Cervantes.

He's willing to make another deal.

Go on.

If what I read in the papers is true, you're going to need an alibi.

What better alibi for a murderer than to have someone else confess to that

murder?

You get those papers, Cervantes, and my client will see to it that you get that

murderer. Complete with confession.

Like it?

Depends on how you got it.

The pawn ticket we found in Gino's room. It was pawned a week ago by Arita

Sanchez, Gino's girlfriend.

She hasn't been seen since the murder.

I bet he wears too much perfume.

I'm sure of it.

The question is, who's Santa Claus?

All right.

Find out where this was bought and by whom.

It's Mexican in character. Should be easy.

You know that section, Mark.

Where would you go if you wanted something like this?

Over the counter, chief, or under?

Over. Let's see, there are three good jewelry makers down there that are

Mexican.

Luis Miguel, Alfredo Garcia, and one known as

Domingo. I try him first.

Thanks, Mark.

What about Rita Sanchez?

Let's ask Cervantes.

Rita Sanchez.

Rita Sanchez. Yes, yes, the name sounds familiar.

Don't play games with me, Al. There's nothing you don't know about Gino, and

that includes his love life. Now, where is she?

Look, I'm trying to help you.

I don't need your help.

Yes, you do. I talked to Valdez today.

So? TKO. You didn't see him fight.

It's your cave.

Now, Gino's room was heavy with perfume. There was a chance Rita was there.

Now, she might have seen the killer.

If you want me to help you with this case, get me back on the fourth.

If not, let me out.

Stop the wagon, Mark.

He's headed east on Main Street.

Got it.

If it isn't Ex -Detective Sergeant Cervantes.

I hope you paid to get in.

I want to talk to you.

I'm here. It sucks.

Alone.

We'll be here. We're alone.

Go dance.

I am looking for Rita Sanchez.

Try the missing persons bill.

She's one of your girls.

Ah, they come, they go.

They're almost human.

This one went, Romeo.

I think you know where.

How could I know?

I set her up with Gino. Pay her for a few favors.

Don't tell me you bumped off Gino for a sweat hole like that.

Sorry. Here's a bunch of tickets.

I'll see that you get the best girl back out.

You!

Now! I'm short of time and I want answers.

Where is she? Huh? Where is she?

Where is she?

All right, hold it right there.

Police.

Over there.

You move away.

Drop that knife.

Everybody stand real still.

What are you pointing that at?

He's the killer.

You got to press charges, Al.

Guilty conscience, Sarge.

Let's go.

You shouldn't have had me followed.

Better than visiting you at the morgue.

What were you doing there, Al?

I felt like dancing.

Here, sit down.

You felt like dancing?

Couldn't be that Rita Sanchez worked at the Club Sangria.

Always one step ahead, Chief.

So what if you did? So I want you to get off this case, Al. Well, then you're

going to have to lock me up.

That can be arranged.

Well, then do it!

Oh, go on home.

Elizabeth's probably worried.

Did you talk to Romeo?

You were right. Cervantes was asking about Rita.

What did you find out?

Romeo doesn't know where she is.

I don't get it, Sheever.

The evidence is a straight line to Cervantes.

Too straight.

Maybe you're just standing too close to it.

Then try it from where you're standing, Mark.

He asked Kid Valdez to lie for him.

Then why didn't he make sure the kid had his story straight? He knew I'd tear

that apart.

The polish on Gino's rug. Cervantes got a shine earlier that evening. Same

polish, same color.

Circumstantial. Getting a shine isn't unusual.

You're skipping the big point, Chief.

I'm sure it was Cervantes who hit me.

I know, and that bothers me.

You mean you think I made a mistake?

Oh, I believe you. I always have.

Well, then what's the problem?

You can't ask for anything better than positive identification.

I can, I do, and I have.

Now, let's consider the following, which also bothers me.

If Sergeant Al Cervantes was in the room when Mark arrived, what reason was

there for him to hide at all?

He didn't want to be seen at the scene of the crime.

Why not? He's a cop, isn't he? All he had to do was say, Mark, what brings you

here, and claim he'd received an anonymous tip.

He's sure not the kind to get rattled.

That's pro -like Al, not in a pig's ear.

Why did he clobber me?

That's what bothers me most of all.

Elizabeth.

Maria.

Where are they?

If you've done anything... They're all right, Sergeant.

Unless they got run over by a car.

Your wife and daughter should still be shopping.

For that party she's going to Saturday night?

What, whether she wanted a new dress?

As for your son, he stopped off at the law library.

What do you want?

To know whose side you're on.

This afternoon, the police rescued you from the Club Sangria.

And just a little while ago, you came out of Ironside's office.

My client is getting worried.

I told you I'd think the deal over. For the police, I had no idea they were

following me.

So you say.

Well, let me give you a piece of advice, Cervantes.

As far as we're concerned, you made a deal.

Now my client wants you to deliver.

Unfortunately, he's not the sort of client who is easy to control.

You might just come home one night to an empty house.

I wouldn't want that to happen.

Believe me, I've got as much at stake as you have.

Take my advice, Cervantes.

Stick to the deal.

Mr. Horvath, tell your uncontrollable client this.

Touch any member of my family, even let them know you crawl the earth, and I'll

take the both of you apart.

You were right, Mark. It was designed by Domingo. He made it for Francisco

Ortega. The architect?

Yes. He gave it to his daughter Teresa for her 18th birthday.

He also buried his daughter last week. Not quite 19.

A few days later, Gina was killed.

You want to know how she died?

Blood poisoning.

How did you know?

Trademark of an abortionist. For years, you're nothing.

You work hard, do without.

Finally, someone believes in you, asks you to build them a small house.

Someone else sees it, likes it, wants an apartment.

Someone else, a hotel.

Pretty soon you're building plazas, skyscrapers, cities within cities.

And you're everything.

It's like raising a family.

It takes time, patience, and hard work.

But my buildings can last a hundred years, withstand earthquakes.

A child can die from a cold.

How did yours die, Mr. Ortega?

You have the report.

Blood poisoning.

How did she get blood poisoning?

I'm an architect, not a doctor.

You must have been interested.

Look, I don't know why you're here, but she's dead. Isn't that enough?

This was hers, Mr. Ortega.

You bought it for her.

It was found in the possession of one Gino Martinez, an abortionist.

Would you care to tell me about it?

There's nothing to tell.

I think there is.

She was a good girl, but she got into trouble.

as much to blame as anyone.

You see, she came to me first.

She wanted love, understanding, help.

And all I gave her was my anger, my shame.

She was alone.

She had no choice.

She must have paid him with that necklace.

It's my fault.

But the law makes you ashamed of what your own flesh does.

The law forces you to make them turn to butchers with dirty tools.

Don't blame the law, Mr. Ortega.

Blame pride and shame and ignorance.

Ignorance, even in men such as yourself, kills thousands of Teresas every year.

Did she tell you the name of the abortionist?

She was sick from the moment she returned home.

She lapsed into a coma a few hours later.

I see.

But Sergeant Cervantes felt certain that he knew who did it.

Surely he told you.

Cervantes was there when she died?

Yes.

We've been friends for a long time.

He's... He was Teresa's godfather.

If Sergeant Cervantes knew the abortionist, Mr. Ortega, do you think he

have killed him?

I don't know.

But I could have.

Hackney, messenger service. Good.

Take this to the police station downtown to be delivered to Chief Ironside. And,

uh, as fast as you can, huh?

Yes, sir. Thank you.

Well? Take this suitcase up to the car.

What's gonna happen now, Dad?

You're going to stay at the Ortega's with your mother and sister?

No, what's going to happen to you?

I think there may be some good can come from this after all.

Gino has certain papers that some important people want.

Now, if I can get them first, maybe I'll be able to keep other girls like Teresa

from falling into the hands of butchers.

Do you know where they are?

I think so, but I need your word that...

If anything happens to me, you'll take care of your mother and sister.

Okay.

Your word, Vic.

Because there comes a time when you've got to sacrifice for what's important.

For my family, it's the most important thing in my life.

Take care of them, Vic.

Become something and take care of them.

I want your word.

Palabra de honor.

Palabra de honor.

Well, I'm afraid.

Of what?

Weren't you the little girl looking for Valencia Street one night all by

herself? Yes, but you came with me.

I'm still with you.

Then let me stay with you. Send the children away, but let me stay with you.

can't. Don't you see, Elizabeth, if I felt you were in danger, I couldn't do

work. If anything happened to you, I wouldn't want to live.

Oh, my beautiful little girl.

Do you know what you've meant to me?

The days you've helped me get through. Do you know how many times my job has

shown me the ugliness of life?

And then I come home to you and see its beauty.

I love you.

Oh, I love you.

You met Sergeant Cervantes a block from here. You talked, then he gave you some

money. What was it all about?

I don't remember. Try it.

You can't hold me. It's against the law.

Chief, a messenger brought this to the office from Sergeant Cervantes. I

I'd better rush it over.

By the time I get through with you, you're going to wish you were in

just to get me off your back.

I'm going to start by having the health department look over this saloon with a

microscope and end up with the board of equalization deciding what to do about

your liquor license.

And in between, I'm going to get real nasty unless you start talking fast.

I had some information for him. What kind?

Where to find Rita Sanchez.

Where? She's staying with an aunt. They live over a Mexican bakery at 1400

Stevenson.

Speaking. I have some papers to belong to you.

Who is this?

That's not important.

How much do you want?

$5 ,000.

I'll give you an address.

No. I will give you one.

Stevenson at 15.

Near the arch.

15 minutes.

Ironside. Car 17 -24 -32.

We're now crossing the intersection of Atlantic and Brookside Drive.

You have your instructions.

Proceed.

Buenas tardes, señora.

Buenas tardes.

¿En qué puedo servirla? Quisiera hablar un momento con Rita Sanchez, por favor.

Do you have the money? You'll get the

money. Get in the car.

Put your guns on the ground.

Right now.

I'll back away from the guns.

Now hit the ground.

Face down.

I'll take those papers.

This makes it all worthwhile.

An abortion ring operating over the entire country and run by Norman Scott.

You've done it this time, Al.

No wonder he was so anxious to get those papers.

Must be 3 ,000 men here.

Those who did the dirty work like Gino all the way up to the real scum. Now,

look close enough. We might even bust a couple of dick shots.

Like old times, isn't it, Al?

Yeah, like old times.

wanting this back.

Thanks.

It's your confession, isn't it?

I killed Gino Martinez.

Now let me get this straight.

You went to Gino's apartment.

They're here, Chief.

Bring them in.

Why did you bring them here?

You told me you'd never keep anything from them.

Now sit down, Adam.

All right, you were upset by Teresa Ortega's death.

She was like one of your own.

Grew up with your own daughter.

Had her first crush on your son.

In fact, you dated her for a while, didn't you, Vic?

Yes, sir.

So when she died or was murdered, you felt angry enough to kill the one

responsible for it.

Isn't that right?

I told you the way I felt.

How did you know it was Martinez?

We were with Teresa when she died. She spoke his name. We?

Her father and myself.

Who else?

That's all.

So you went to his apartment, accused him of performing the abortion.

Of course, he denied it, and this made you all the more angry.

You lost your temper.

Words gave way to fists. You began pushing him around.

He fought back, but he was no match for you.

And then you hit him one time too hard and he fell.

Dan didn't fall and hit his head on the radiator and he was dead.

Isn't that how it happened?

Yes, yes.

Isn't that how it happened, Vic?

Yes.

Victor, don't.

I've got to. The only thing you have to do is listen to me.

I killed him. He doesn't know what he's saying.

Vic?

I didn't mean to, but he hit his head. He's lying.

He's trying to protect me. Tell him you're lying. It won't do any good, Dad.

You told me a man has to make a sacrifice for what he believes in.

What I did was wrong, but I've got to be the one to pay for it.

You can't make my sacrifices for me.

arrived at Gino's apartment shortly after Victor left.

She saw that he was dead and took the papers.

Now, if Cervantes had been the killer, he'd have left before Mark arrived.

He didn't want his son caught, so he set himself up as a sitting duck.

I believe the expression is muy macho.

The judge ruled.

Involuntary manslaughter.

He'd be placed on three years probation, but he can continue school.

In fact, Judge McKenzie insisted on it.

I'm glad, Al. Yes.

Now, let's talk about you.

Me? Well, first I have some things to set straight with people I love.

I'm going to take a year off, and then I'll speak to the commissioner, but I

need your help, Bob.

You have that.

Thanks, Chief.

Thanks to all of you.

All right, Mark, how much did you bet?

Bet you?

That I would notice your shoeshine.

Five each.

All right, pick up your money.

Eve, I thought you only bet on sure things.

So did I.