Original subtitles

Made up your mind yet, Eve?

Well, I like pretty Polly, but she's only four to one.

Good odds for that horse.

Except there's a dress I want to buy that's $40 and I need a 20 to one shot.

That's your system? Play only long shots?

No, I usually bet on the jockey.

The one in particular?

Who's ever named that seven letters and starts with a C?

Get your tickets in on the nose, pit bull kid. Dane, two bucks to show.

No confidence? No money, Mark.

Got me a hot tip, Easy Jack.

Hot tip on a two -to -one favorite?

Yeah, this cat I met says it's in the bag.

Easy Jack can't lose.

There's no such thing as a sure thing.

That's what makes horse races.

The flag is up. Oh, wait, I haven't bet yet.

We'll be right

back.

in the past couple of weeks.

Accidents usually come in threes.

Once might be an accident, twice a coincidence, but three times?

You think it was an accident, Chief?

I don't know.

But it's not my problem.

Let's collect.

No question who the big winner is.

Bacon champagne on the cheap.

How about a little au cuisine, which would cost me more than I won, so what

I win? I'm an undying gratitude.

I'm sorry.

If only I'd bet Fisco Kid to win instead of show. If I'd only bet Pretty Polly

to plate. If only my duck hadn't been thrown.

Do we second guess or do we eat? We eat.

We have a problem at the track.

We don't eat.

I'll, um... Come on in. I'll be right with you.

You three go ahead.

Have dinner on me.

Thirty bucks.

Steak and champagne it is. I want some chain.

Scratch the champagne.

Later.

About the sixth race.

How did you know we wanted to talk about that? I was there.

Chief, we studied the films of that spill, and there was no reason, none

could see at least, for Yeager to fall.

The horse didn't stumble, he didn't try to jump a shadow, and there was no

interference by any of the other horses.

It looks like Yeager simply fell off.

Then you believe he deliberately took the spill.

That's a dangerous way to throw a race.

Well, I'm not accusing anyone, but...

Jaeger has fallen twice during this meet. And the same thing happened to

jockeys at Bay Meadows during the past month. Is this epidemic confined to our

local tracks?

No, we checked. It's been happening at different tracks around the country for

the past six months.

That's why I came to Dennis.

Any common denominator?

Same horses, same stables, same anything?

Well, there's only one coincidence, if you can call it that.

Each of the jockeys who was supposedly thrown was riding the favorite. And a

long shot always came in to win.

Not this afternoon.

Cisco kid paid only $11 .60.

I had him. Yes, but he started out at 20 to 1 on the morning line. It was late

money that drove the price down.

Somebody knew something.

But who?

One big plunger or organized betting syndicate takes money to rig a race.

We still have to be sure it was rigged, Dennis.

Commissioner.

Yeager seemed to be having trouble with Easy Jack this afternoon.

One obvious question.

Could the horse have been doped?

Oh, no, that's impossible.

We have a foolproof system of double -checking the saliva test after each

It may be foolproof, but then we may not be dealing with fools.

I understand that Yeager wasn't seriously hurt.

No, he wasn't, but they are keeping him in the hospital overnight for

observation.

Just enough time for visiting hours.

Dennis, you can drop me off if you will.

Sure I was pulling back.

My orders were to hold him until we hit the stretch.

Did you have any particular orders when you took that other spill?

I don't remember.

Why all the questions? You think I threw those races?

I'm just trying to find out why. Look, when I ride, I ride to win.

And chief or no chief, you can't come barging in here and accusing me of being

crooked. Honey, no one's accusing you of anything.

Stay out of this. It's got nothing to do with you or me or anything. So just do

me a favor and be quiet.

If that's all you want to talk about, I've got nothing more to say.

I'm not answering any more questions.

Thank you for your time.

It was nice meeting you, Ms. Yeager.

By the way, how many mounts do you ride tomorrow?

Who says I'm riding tomorrow?

Well, I understood you'd be discharged in the morning.

Doctor said you were all right.

What does he know?

Good night.

Marsha?

Marsha?

Get some sleep.

I'll see you in the morning.

Look, I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to jump on you like that.

Of course, Mike.

You're always sorry. What more can I say? What do you want from me?

It has nothing to do with what I want, does it?

No.

No, I won't quit.

Two spells, Mike.

Two in the last month.

It happens. Not to you.

Not to Mike Yeager. To any jock.

And next time?

There won't be any next time.

Next time they'll, uh... They'll pick you out of the dirt and you won't move.

Shut up.

Only they won't take you to a hospital, Mike. They'll take you right to... Shut

up!

Mike.

Mike, please.

Please.

Look, this is me.

This is what I do.

Better than anybody.

How can you ask me to change? Why?

So that I can live with you.

Keep on living with you.

What's the horse?

It's starting to fall.

As far as I'm concerned, it wasn't the horse's fault. Yeager just fell.

Almost the same way he did at Bay Meadows.

We've still got two more races.

We've seen enough.

Ed, I want a tail on Yeager around the clock.

Hope he hasn't left the hospital yet. I doubt it.

The way he was feeling last night.

I got a rundown on every visitor he has.

And every phone call. And don't forget to check out his wife.

Someday I'll get the last word.

Someday you will.

Where are you going?

Just waiting for my orders.

Change your clothes.

What? Wear something more feminine, attractive.

Why? To heat up an old flame.

Or do they call them old flames anymore?

You're as subtle as a brick.

You've lost me.

Mark has broken down the elements in every race in which we've had these so

-called accidents.

First column is the jockeys.

Note that Mike Yeager's on it twice.

Next column is the horses.

In every race, the favorite.

Third column, the winners.

In every case, a long shot, mostly foreign horses.

Last column shows the tables with entries in all the races.

Well, you notice anything?

Not offhand. Only one stable had entries in every one of those races.

Bluegrass Farms? Owned by one Mr.

Scott Bradley of Lexington, Kentucky. Stanford Law 64, polar player.

Coinister of thoroughbred horses and beautiful women. Chief. Once reported

engaged. No.

No? No rekindling of old flames.

How about renewing old acquaintances? Chief.

I need a line on Bradley.

Somebody has to get close to him, and frankly, you'll be a lot more effective

than Ed.

Well?

I'm going home to change.

Into my Mata Hari outfit.

I think she'd enjoy another afternoon at the track.

Well, let's go. We have work to do.

Am I, uh, dressed for it?

To a tee.

We're gonna see a man about a whore.

First quarter.

Sort of drift, you know.

Right in here. I think from that point on, it's sort of clear sailing. She'll

feel fine.

Eve?

Eve!

Scotty, what a pleasant surprise.

I'm the one who's pleasantly surprised.

Al, this is the great love of my life. Eve, what's for you?

Big Al Cochran.

Hello, Eve.

Hi, Al. I've seen you many times. I've even bet on you.

I figured.

Hey, what's the special about him?

Well, his name has seven letters in it, and it begins with a C.

Well,

just call me Al, and I'll bet on you any time. Where you been hiding this chick?

Matter of fact, Al, she's been hiding from me.

Sit down, Eve.

Don't tell me you're looking for someone. You just found them.

You know, Eve, I, uh...

I've wanted to call you at least a dozen times since I got back, but I just

didn't know where to reach you. Well, she's within reaching distance now.

for sure.

Yes.

And this time, I don't intend to let her out of my grasp.

Easy, Jack. No.

Impossible, mister.

Did you examine him right after the race yesterday?

Why should I? You're the crack vet.

Look. I am just required to test winner, place, and show.

Easy Jack ran out of the money. How can you be so sure Easy Jack wasn't drugged?

Well, you get to know these horses the way a family doctor gets to know his

patients. Easy Jack was okay.

You ask Maury.

He walked him from the track to the barn after the race.

He was just like he always is.

No signs of sluggishness. No, sir.

If anything, he was friskier. Look, doping horses is a thing of the past.

Nobody can get away with it anymore.

In the old days, sure.

They'd stuff sponges up the nose. Make a horse stop cold.

Batteries under the saddle. Drugs to pep him up. Drugs to slow him down.

He even used to substitute another horse.

Can't do that anymore with our registration system.

Every horse has a number.

Sure.

inside his lips.

Pour this horse and get on the track.

Those numbers are checked and double -checked by a track official.

You can't sneak no ringer on the track now. Not a chance.

Thank you for both your time and your patience.

Don't mention it.

I don't like the cops coming around the track.

Jim Thorpe's racing a bad name.

Chief, if old Ben says Easy Jack wasn't drugged, then I believe him.

And you trust your vet?

Implicitly. He has been at this track for over ten years now.

What about his assistant?

Well, Ben swears by him.

Chief, this is hard to believe. I mean, doping is a... Thing of the past.

You know, Ben doesn't do the actual lab work. And the lab technician doesn't

know which saliva sample he's analyzing.

That's all done with code numbers.

Suppose whoever takes it to the lab has another specimen in a jar in his pocket.

Could a switch be made?

Well, I don't see how. The only person handling those specimens is the

veterinary and... and his assistant.

No, I'm not home. I'm calling from a friend.

I just wanted to tell you that I thought it would be easier for both of us if I

met you at the restaurant.

Yes, 8 .30.

Good evening.

Scott Bradley?

I wouldn't think of using the office phone unless it were strictly business.

Scott Bradley.

May I say that you look especially lovely tonight, Officer Whitfield?

I don't feel lovely.

I feel ugly and cheap.

Hey, I heard that on the Late Late Show. It was a Betty Davis movie where this

guy lit two cigarettes at once.

That's not funny, Mark.

What's going to happen when Scott finds out that I'm working with the police

department? I don't know.

What happened to Betty Davis, Mark?

She wasn't a cop.

Eve, I do appreciate what you're doing.

Exactly what am I doing?

It's just... It's stupid to think that a man like Scott Bradley would be even

remotely mixed up with fixing horse races.

Oh, it doesn't seem likely.

But find out what you can about his entry in Saturday's feature race. Will

do that?

Is that an order?

A favor.

Chief, I'm so sorry.

It's Ed.

Yes, Ed. Mike Yeager was released from the hospital an hour ago. He went right

home. Came out again with a suitcase and checked into the park terrace.

Alone? Without his wife, if that's what you mean. Took the tower suite.

A hundred bucks a day.

And, Chief, I'm having all visitors and phone calls checked.

Of course you are.

Did you get a rundown on his wife?

Yes, she's been arrested three times before demonstrating in Berkeley.

So what's the big deal? I mean, a guy wants to split for a few days, be alone.

What's wrong with that?

In a hundred dollar a day suite, that's luxurious splitting, wouldn't you say?

Mike's been doing okay at the track.

Has he?

When was the last time he wrote a winner?

He gets paid whether he wins or loses.

Well, maybe he got lucky on some bets.

I don't know.

Mrs. Yeager, is your husband being pressured by any outside interests?

If you're saying fixed, why don't you just come out with it?

Mike may be a lot of things, but one thing he's not is crooked.

Why is he so uptight?

Personal problems?

No.

Yes.

I guess it's my fault. I've been bugging him to give up racing.

It's a miserable way to make a living. Wasn't he a jockey when you married him?

Well, it was exciting at first.

I mean, at a racetrack you can yell, scream your head off without you cops

saying that you're creating a disturbance.

You're free, you know?

A legal demonstration.

I suppose so.

But then all of a sudden it wasn't fun anymore.

I saw a jockey get killed in a race that Mike was in.

Ever since then, I don't know, I've been frightened every time he rides.

I keep thinking that Mike's next.

He's going to get killed. He'll fall off a horse and break his neck or be

stomped to death or... Cheap Ironside, I swear

Mike's afraid of the same thing.

You think he's losing his nerve?

Why else would he take a tranquilizer before a race?

You're sure it's a tranquilizer?

There's only one left.

I suppose there should be another toast to go with this, but frankly, I've just

run out of compliments.

So I guess I have to start all over.

It's good to see you again, beautiful lady.

And you.

I hope you mean that.

Of course I do.

And we can start again.

You're almost as fast as your horses.

I have a lot of catching up to do.

You haven't changed a bit, Eve.

If anything, I'd say you're even lovelier than I remember.

Touch of the poet?

You're beautiful.

You're bright.

You're some lucky man's wife taking care of his beautiful children.

I'd still like to be that lucky guy.

You don't mean that, Scott.

Yes, I do.

And don't say this is all so sudden, because if you remember, we had

going once.

Scott, it's been a long time since we've seen one another.

You don't know anything about me now.

You're not married.

Yeah.

Well, there it is.

I know everything I need to know.

Well. Well.

Well, it's exactly that. A tranquilizer that could be prescribed by any doctor.

Except there was something else in here.

Oh? I'm still working on it. There was something I found in the residue, the

dust. Grains from all the pills.

Can you make an educated guess? Some kind of hallucinogen. Give me a little

time, I can give you a more definite answer.

Unusual twist, isn't it? What is?

Doping the jockey instead of the horse.

As I recall, I merely asked you to renew an old acquaintance. Heat up an old

flame was your original request.

And Bradley heated up, obviously. Thank you, like a torch.

It was terribly uncomfortable.

Under the circumstances, scratch one Scott Bradley from your official police

duties.

That will allow you to see him socially without any qualms. I'm not looking for

an out.

But it's there if you want it.

About Saturday's feature race, as per instructions.

The Bluegrass Farm's entry in the feature is Pesadilla of Philly.

Sounds Spanish.

Means nightmare.

She's from Argentina.

Never before raced in this country.

Scott thinks she can beat every horse in the race except one.

Taniaka? Right.

He's my favorite.

Your kind of horse.

He can't lose.

Providing his jockey finishes.

Scott Bradley would never do anything dishonest.

Maybe he wouldn't.

Mark, would you please get me Commissioner O 'Brien's home phone

it's late.

I'm getting later all the time.

Now, wait a minute, Chief.

Let me get this straight. You want me to start talking up Pasadena?

Spread the word that she's a real sleeper? That's the idea. And coming

it would sound like a pretty reliable tip.

Well, track people aren't going to take anybody's word for that. They want her

clockings. Understand she's going to be worked tomorrow morning. This morning.

Well, under the circumstances, I don't see Bradley letting his horse open up on

a workout. Not when he's got the element of surprise going for him. We may very

well have a little surprise of our own.

Thank you, Commissioner.

My apologies for calling you so late.

So early.

Surprise? Like guess who?

I said we may.

We have.

We have.

Eve, you know Al Cochran?

Of course. Good morning, Al. Hiya, gorgeous.

Well, what do you think of her?

She's beautiful, Scott.

She's full of run this morning, too.

Al, I want you to watch your time.

You take those first two quarters, about 48. Right. Then I let her out. No.

No, you keep even 24s all the way.

You're the boss.

Don't you want to see how really fast she can go?

I already know.

When you invited me here this morning, I thought... Well, this is just a workout

of you.

You've been putting me on.

She's beautiful, all right.

But I bet she can't do six in under 112.

Hey, hey, hey, listen to her.

I've been around.

What kind of a bet?

A drink.

How about, uh, dinner?

You're on.

The lady's got her way with her, Al.

Put her up.

Back.

Think you'll let her out?

We'll see.

Look at her go, Scott.

You tricked me.

I've got to win somehow.

Eve did her homework. That horse is full out. She's really moving.

And how.

110 and three -fifths, wow.

Nightmare's a real dark horse.

That's a girl.

Hey, beauty.

Hi. You tell the chief what happened here.

I've got to check the stakeout on Mike Yeager.

Well, that's a blind alley, isn't it? He hasn't budged out of the hotel, no

calls, no visitors.

Still the only meaningful lead we've got.

You sure did it, didn't you?

Hasn't even come out to eat?

I see.

Well, he must like his own company or... Come in.

All right, Ed. Stick with it.

I'll see you later.

Well, good afternoon, Mrs. Yeager.

Here, won't you sit down?

Would you like some coffee?

I'm sorry to bother you, Chief Ironside.

No bother, no bother at all.

I just don't know who else to turn to.

What can I do?

We, uh... Mike and I had another fight.

I'm sorry.

It's so awful to be in love with someone and not to be able to help him.

I think you can help him, Mrs. Yeager.

You just have to realize what's happening to Mike, then understand it

support that understanding.

Support?

Why? If I don't stop him, he's going to get killed.

Don't try to stop him.

Don't try to make him quit.

Mike is good at his job. He's one of the best.

All things equal.

He can take care of himself.

But he's already fallen twice in the last... And he doesn't know why.

The doctor says he's okay.

So why does he fall?

That's how you can help him.

How we can help him.

Find out what's causing this.

Stop it.

And Mike will be all right again.

While you're doing that, what do I do?

Just help him do his job.

Yeah, perfect.

I got some more racing for him. There's a special article about Pesadilla's

workout.

Should make for a very interesting race.

Hey, hey. Hey, you want a cup of tea?

Tea? Well, you can have a cup of the cheap coffee if you want.

Tea.

How does he drink that stuff?

With cream and three lumps of sugar.

Where is he? He's with the commissioner, filling him in on a big plan.

We have to pick him up. Thank you.

Good day for the races.

Yeah, and as long as we're going to be there, we might as well make it

profitable.

What do you mean?

Picking winners. What else?

I thought you always bet the favorite.

Only if I don't have time to work my system.

What system?

Well, there's mine exactly. It was doped out by Madame Magna and Ernie Fiorito.

Well, Madame Magna was a gypsy fortune teller. She read cards and tea leaves

bumps on your head.

Well, what could she learn from bumps on your head? Well, it's a matter of five

for one thing.

Hey, here, here. Look at this.

Oh, come on. Now, this is no guesswork. It's strictly scientific by the numbers.

Now, first you have to find the vibratory number.

You take today's date, January 15,

1971. Now you break it down and add it up.

Hey, you see it comes 25.

Now you reduce it to 2 plus 5.

That equals 7.

That's the vibratory number.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Now you take my birth number, August 7, 1945.

Now let me see. That's 34.

Reduce that.

3 plus 4.

That equals 7.

That's a good sign.

Now you add the vibrator sign to my sign.

That's 14 to 1 plus 4.

And you get 5.

And here we are.

Fifth race.

Number 5.

Oh, seven -year itch.

Five to one.

Number seven.

Seven and five. Oh, man, we are going to cash in today.

What are you doing?

I'm going to put some money down.

You're going to use the chief's phone to call a bookie?

No, no.

I'm going to call Ernie. He knows the book teeth.

Maybe I had better wait till we get to the track at that.

Thank you.

Hey, you haven't even touched your drink.

Oh.

Something wrong?

No, why?

Well, you were so excited yesterday morning watching Paisley work out. I

you'd really be flipped out today watching her run against real

Well, it's early. Let's wait till the feature race.

What's the matter?

Oh, I'm sorry, Scott. It's... It's just that I'm nervous about the race, that's

all.

Chief Ironside.

Did they talk to you privately, Commissioner?

Well, certainly.

Mark?

Well, word certainly got around fast.

Particularly after Pesadilla's workout.

She's 20 to 1 on the morning line, but will probably drop fast.

You've made arrangements to make tests on every horse, not just the winner?

Yeah, that's all been taken care of.

Is there anything else?

Yes.

Chalky riding Tiny Oscar.

Lopez.

I want to talk to him.

He has to know what's going on.

Frankly, I'd like to know myself.

Someone may try to dope that Chalky before the race.

I'll get him up here right away.

Sorry to interrupt.

Mike Yeager's here. He's riding this afternoon.

He's not scheduled.

I checked with his steward.

He's replacing Lopez in a feature race on Panty Oscar.

The favorite.

Well, Yeager's a contract rider and a much better jockey. The owner is

glad to have him back. Now we're right back where we started. How's that? A

pattern for a killing.

A dark horse, a favorite, and the same jockey riding him.

I'm asking you not to eat or drink anything until after the race. Do you

understand? No.

Someone's betting a dark horse in the future.

He's going to make sure the favorite doesn't win.

You're riding the favorite.

But what do you mean? I'm already doped?

Ed.

That look familiar?

Where did you get that?

Marsha? Did you take one of those today?

No. Don't lie to me.

Don't lie.

It could mean your life if you're lying. I'm not lying. I didn't take any. But

you were planning to.

Now give us those pills, Mike.

Give us the pills.

There's only this one left.

Something.

Just before the race.

Mike.

Those two times you fell from your horse, how did you feel?

Dizzy?

Woozy? What?

How did you know?

You were adult in those two races.

The last time someone flipped a special tranquilizer, shall we say, into this

bottle.

The time before, could have been in your coffee, soft drink, anything you

consumed before you went onto the track.

That's crazy.

Would you rather believe it was only your nerves that maybe you won't or

ride again?

Where are you going, Yeager?

I'm riding today.

Unless you want to set me down, sir.

That's all.

Stay with him, Ed.

You'll only get as far as the door of the jockey's quarters, Sergeant. No

allowed inside there. She'll be safe enough there.

Under the circumstances, wouldn't it be better to set Yeager down? Perhaps.

But I'm hoping for two things to happen.

One, we find our criminal.

And Mike Yeager finds his courage.

Hey, Scott, how you doing? How are you, Bob? You got a winner today?

Let me see now.

Oh, no.

Good to see you back, Mike. Yeah.

Come?

Yeah.

That's it. How do I bet?

Well, you want plastic, you want a gamma.

Gamma.

All right.

Bet it on the nose.

Well.

You got to the jockey's room, okay? That's as far as I can guarantee.

Could be clear sailing from here.

Can you guarantee that?

The horses are on the track for the running of the sixth thread.

Going at one to two. Paces down to five to one. Second favorite. That workout

sure cut his price.

Still enough to get healthy action.

The horses are going into the starting game.

The flag is up.

There they go.

It's Bessie.

They are going to the front. Danny Oscar is second. The cheater junction is

third.

Look at that past year go.

Look at her go.

That past year, I had an inside tip, didn't I?

I'm trying to stop him. He didn't like the good of his job.

He can take care of himself.

And Belinda.

Right,

Mike. Stay with it, please.

And now they're moving into the home stretch, and it's

Vesadillo in front by the head. Come on, take it in!

Turn it up!

Turn it up!

Thank you.

we're looking for.

Take it out.

Good night.

A hot inside tip and I still can't win.

Don't be too sure.

I think we did win.

How's the drug in the gum?

Fast -acting depressants that paralyzes the central nervous system. But only for

a moment in that small amount.

Was there any stuff in that gum you took off of Cochran when you picked him up?

Nope. Hey, I'll give you a hand.

Well, we have enough on him to book him.

Bank accounts under phony names, safety deposit boxes, investments.

Big ones he can't explain.

Who else was in on it besides Cochran? Just a couple of jockeys.

Didn't want to share the wealth, I guess.

Hey, whatever happened to that horse in the fifth race?

Seven -year itch.

Scratch.

Ironside. Hello, Chief.

Eve, where are you? I'm still at the track, Chief.

Controlling a loser.

Bradley? Sorry about that.

I'll try to make it up to him.

When can we expect you? We're ready for dinner.

I'm afraid I can't make it, Chief.

I have to pay off on a bet.

Oh?

Fine.

Ham again?

It's that or day -old chili.

Stop.

Remember that gourmet meal we were all going to have before we were so rudely

interrupted? Do I? How about the Petit Montparnasse?

I dig the cacciatore genos myself.

Well, you name it.

Italian food?

French, Mexican, Chinese, I don't care.