Original subtitles

All right, let's check them out anyway, even if it is a waste of time.

18 -carat gold bracelet set with diamonds and cabochon rubies in

right? Uh -huh.

Anything else?

No, I think that's about... Oh, yeah, there was that cultured pearl ring. That

was in an 18 -carat gold, too. I almost forgot about it. You almost forgot.

I hardly ever wore it.

I'll put it down anyway.

They were fully insured, of course.

Well, I'd say altogether they were worth in the neighborhood of $120 ,000.

That's a rather well -to -do neighborhood.

Well, I'm a rather well -to -do man. And a very influential one, Mr. Thomas.

I don't usually handle cases of this sort, yet you were able to prevail on

commissioner to give it to me. Why?

Because I understand that you're a man of some discretion, understanding.

And you want the story kept quiet?

Well, the commissioner's a good friend. He shares that wish.

I'm sorry. I really am. I shouldn't have said that.

Police reports are public property, Mr. Thomas.

Any newspaper man is free to examine them.

Yes, but there are exceptions out there.

Well, I'm sure you've put it all together by now.

A very rich and very foolish man.

With a wife and two children.

One of them older than she is.

That's hardly the issue here, Mr. Thomas.

For me, it is.

I've had my little fling, and it's cost me a great deal.

In money and self -respect.

Anyway, it's over now, and it has been for some time.

Until she called me to report the burglary, I had no intention of ever

her again.

And if the newspapers get hold of the story, they'll wonder how she got a

fortune in jewels.

Yes, they'll wonder and they'll dig, and I'm sure they'll find out.

I don't want to lose my family.

Excuse me. I have the complete list, Chief.

Fine.

Ed?

How's it look?

Not too good, I'm afraid.

Whoever did it's a real artist.

I'd like to meet him someday.

Oh, I trust that you will.

All right. You hold the fort down here. We'll see you later.

Sleepy?

I'd say that's an understatement.

I'd also say that I think Mark is in worse shape than I am.

I haven't been to bed in three nights.

Coming in.

I'll do what I can to keep it out of the papers.

Thank you.

Tuesday. You two must have had quite a time of it these last few days. Well, we

got our man.

Of course, it would be nice to be able to get our man and be able to get some

sleep, too.

Oh,

and you were going to have the transmission checked, too, weren't you?

Did I take a taxi back?

No, it's not in the budget. Ask one of the officers to give you a ride.

Please get the door, Vic.

The doctor says to be through at any time.

No, I still don't.

I didn't see it, and I'm doing it right on top of it.

Why don't you sit down?

I've been sitting, standing, walking.

Doctor? This is Miss Whitfield, Chief Ironside, Dr.

Robinson. I'm here.

Well, she's conscious now.

The external injuries are very minor, a few cuts and bruises.

But there is possibly a spinal damage.

How long before you know?

I'm going to read the x -rays right now.

It's not exactly SOP, but you can come along if you like.

Osteoarthritis.

Not uncommon in a woman of her age.

But as a matter of fact, it's prevalent in people of all ages.

That's a pre -existing condition.

Something she was completely unaware of. Well, that's common, too.

Until the condition is aggravated by a trauma.

As happened this morning?

Right. At the moment, she appears unable to turn her head.

Feels a numbness in her arms and shoulders.

Almost a slight paralysis.

How long will it last?

Well, it's impossible to say.

Month, year, maybe forever.

Anyway, we'll keep her here for a few days and hope for the best.

Can I see her?

Maybe in a half hour or so.

I'll go back with Eve.

Mark, don't blame yourself. I'll be okay.

Yes, you will.

Thank you, Doctor.

Mrs. Babcock?

You're not another doctor, are you?

No. Oh, I'm sure glad of that.

I thought you'd come in to stick some more of them needles into me.

I'm the man who ran into you.

Oh? I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am.

And if there's any way that I can help... Oh, that's real nice of you to

Most folks wouldn't do that much.

Say, you ain't been waiting to see me ever since I got in here.

Is there anyone that I can call a relative, a friend?

No.

I don't think anyone cares that much about old Melissa.

Except you, maybe.

Ain't that something?

A man who almost killed me.

is the only one who cares about me.

What's your name?

Sanger, Mark Sanger.

You really want to do something for me?

Yes, ma 'am. Tell you what.

Turn that little handle down there by my feet, and I'll be real comfortable.

And maybe, if you want, you can just sit down.

And visit for a while.

Yes, ma 'am.

In other words, he was too good.

That's about it.

An ordinary safe man would have done a punch job.

Rip, maybe nitro.

This one did it all with his magic little fingers.

They don't do it that way anymore?

Not on a Thaler safe, they don't. Only a few people ever have.

And there were a couple of other...

distinctive things we spotted, so I fed it all into the computer, and there's

what popped out.

Someday we're all going to be replaced by computers, Ed.

I can see one now, propped up in a wheelchair, bells ringing, lights

Maybe even issuing wry comments on the state of the world.

I think you can eliminate these.

Oh? One of them serving time, another one's writing a book.

A book?

About his life in the underworld.

He's gotten a big advance, so I don't think he needs the money.

These are worth checking out further.

We'll get on it. Not until I have a couple of other names. Frank Hansen and

Louis Maples.

You mean the computer's imperfect?

Picked up superstars.

Those two don't qualify yet.

They're both in the big leagues.

And they're both supposed to be in the Bay Area.

Hansen, Maples.

I'll get their mug shots.

Then show the whole lot of them to Mitch Vickers.

Yes.

Chief, when Mark comes back, would you tell him for me to... I'll pass it on,

Ed. I'm afraid it won't do much good.

Excuse me.

You wouldn't be Mr. Sanger by any chance?

Yes. My name is Sloan, Carl Sloan. I'm Mrs.

Babcock's attorney.

I already made a statement to the police.

Yes, well, they're so cut and dry, so for my...

I'd rather hear it in your own words.

What do you want to know?

We'll begin with, how did it happen?

Oh, I don't know. One minute there was no one there, the next she was right in

front of me.

Doesn't mean much.

It would, if you were as tired as I am.

Tired? You mean sleepy.

Maybe that's your answer. Maybe you're just doped off.

Maybe. And you're a lost two.

Man, you're going to make a great counselor.

Clarence Darrow of the 70s.

Look, even a layman knows you don't open your mouth in cases like this. You talk

only to your own insurance company period. Look, I was pretty upset. I

thinking straight, but I did tell the truth. Did you not? Are you sure you

off at the wheel?

Mark didn't say that. He said he might have.

And I'll say it again in court.

Come off it. Most of these cases never get to court, and you know it. We make a

deal. But you've just jacked up the settlement a few thousand dollars. My

bleeds for you. Now, wait a minute, fella.

Now you'll have to make her a decent offer.

I mean, you can't give her $1 .95 and make a fast settlement.

Hey, you're real generous with our money, aren't you? Well, that's the game

these days. Everybody prays. Stick to the insurance company.

After all, they're not humans. They're just... Gentlemen, I have very tender

sensibilities.

I grow upset when voices are raised, so if you please.

Chief, if you don't need me this morning, I'd like to go down to the

and visit Melissa again.

Oh, it's Melissa now?

Hey, you go ahead, Mark.

Call me. Let me know how she's doing.

Bob, I'm sorry I chewed him out like that, but...

we'd have been prepared to make her a reasonable offer. Now her lawyer will

us up for the moon.

You haven't heard a word I said.

Hmm?

Oh, just a couple of random thoughts flooding through my mind.

Nothing worth talking about, not yet.

What about the Thomas case?

We may be making a little progress.

At least you've kept it out of the papers. That's something.

I gather Mr. Thomas has gotten to you, too.

I'm easy to get to.

Besides, spreading his story all over the papers won't help us get the jewelry

back, and that's all I really care about.

This one here.

Do you know him?

But I wouldn't mind.

I mean, if he didn't go around stealing jewels for a living.

I couldn't go along with that.

I'm glad.

This one's kind of funny.

I think all jewel thieves should look like William Powell.

You know, you see him in all his old movies on television.

I've met him. I'm positive.

But where, where, where? Has he ever been here?

No, I don't think so.

Yeah,

he was here.

I had this party, oh, about four or five weeks ago.

All kinds of freaks. I mean, I invited just a few friends, but a lot of freaks

showed up.

Anyway, this guy, I remember, he came in all alone.

I was feeling kind of sorry for him, a guy like this being all alone, you know,

so I kind of attached myself to him.

Oh, I mean, it was real platonic. We just talked and... And he admired your

jewels. Well, among other things.

Oh, but he was a perfect gentleman.

You really suppose that he... I don't know.

But he's moved up to the head of the list.

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you had a visitor.

This here's my daughter, Nancy.

Nan, this is Mark Sanger.

He's a friend of mine. Come on in.

She's a college professor.

Instructor. Well, you're just as good or better than any of the professors they

got.

Nan, come all the way from Jersey.

Mr. Sloan, is it?

He called me yesterday.

Did Mr. Sloan tell you about me?

I mean, how your mother and I happen to know each other.

No. Now, Mark, you're a friend.

And that's the only way I think of you.

And if... Mrs. Babcock?

You met my daughter.

She's a college professor.

We met.

I'm going to ask you both to leave for about...

Ten or fifteen minutes.

Now, you be gentle to me, Doctor.

Well, this is an old woman.

We'll be back soon.

All right, baby.

You really got me intrigued.

What should Mr. Stone have told me?

You, um, feel like a little walk.

Well, there she was, trying to protect me. I almost killed her.

But she's trying to help me.

Which didn't make it any easier for you.

Yeah. Until then, I'd hit a stranger, and now all of a sudden she was someone

liked, someone I liked a lot.

You know what I mean.

Not really.

She's a stranger to me, Mark.

Today's the first time I've seen her in years.

Well, that's understandable, you living back east and teaching, and she's out

here.

The last time I lived with my mother, I was nine years old.

She sent me away right after my father died.

Where'd you go?

Relatives, Philadelphia.

We write to each other from time to time. She was moving around the country

lot. Well, maybe she didn't have enough to take care of you. I mean, the way she

wanted to.

No, she sent money, even more than I needed.

She paid for college, even graduate school.

And you didn't see her in all that time?

I came to visit her twice. She was living out here by then.

But I felt... I don't know. I felt uncomfortable.

And I think she did, too.

You want to go back and see her now?

Yeah.

Maybe I can get to know my mama.

Maybe even forgive her.

So we went back to her room.

I paid my respects and left them alone together.

And she has no idea why her mother rejected her?

None.

Of course, it isn't any of my business.

Speaking of business, you left some unfinished.

The van still needs servicing.

I'll have it done right now. And while I'm at it, I'll have them fix the dent.

Forget the dent. Just have them fix the side door.

Hey, uh...

Thanks for the time off.

Why did you give him the third degree?

Mrs. Babcock sent her daughter away. Why?

Apparently she cared enough for the girl to provide her with the very best,

which leads to another question.

Where did she get the money?

I have a feeling if I wait long enough, you'll answer that question.

Mark saw her perhaps four or five hours after the accident.

In all that time, she didn't have access to a telephone.

Yet as soon as he walked out of her room, there was an attorney waiting.

I just saw Mark in the hallway.

So much for small talk.

Well, you look like you're about to implode.

Oh, it's nothing important, really. I think we just cracked the Thomas case.

Tell us about it. Well, it's one of the suspects you came up with, Hanson.

Miss Vickers remembered him. I checked him out. Nobody'd seen him for a couple

of days, so I went down to the airlines and flashed his picture around.

And discovered that he grabbed a plane for the Orient.

New York?

Miami. Morning after the heist.

All right.

Send a wire to Miami.

Have them pick him up for questioning.

All done. I stopped on the way up.

Very good. Keep on top of it.

That doesn't leave very much for you to do, does it?

Except to find out everything there is to know about Melissa Babcock.

Melissa?

You shouldn't have called my daughter and brought her out here.

You should have let her be.

At a time like this, she should be here with you.

A pretty girl, grief -stricken over her mother's injury can be quite effective.

She ain't exactly full of grief, is she?

I can't say I rightfully blame her.

But anyway, it's academic.

It doesn't matter.

They've made an offer.

So soon?

I think your Mr.

Sanger has something to do with it. That statement he made to me.

Now, they know they don't have a case.

They want to settle quick.

You do whatever you want.

Melissa, you... You haven't even asked how much.

I don't care, Mr. Sloan.

I just don't care.

This anger?

I... I feel a little tired.

If you don't mind, I'd like to get a little rest.

Get out of sleep. I'll get it.

Hi.

Sorry it's so late.

It's all right.

Over there at the Hall of Records, you lose all track of time.

Mark, that wasn't an ordinary little old lady you hit.

What do you mean?

She's a fall artist.

A fall artist.

Fall artists stages accidents and collects from the insurance company.

Mrs. Babcock let you hit her on purpose.

She'd pulled it at least five times before, maybe more.

Chicago, Seattle, Kansas City, they moved all around the country.

They? Sloan was in it with her from the beginning.

He either handled the case himself or worked for a front man.

They favored taxis, buses, city -owned cars.

It was easy for them to find out who the insurers were in advance.

That way, they'd avoid any risk of hitting the same company twice.

How could she get away with it?

You saw the x -rays, Mark.

Existing condition which could have been aggravated by an accident.

Except that there was no way of telling whether it really was.

So each time the doctor took her word for it, the insurance companies went

along. When was the last time? Fifteen years ago?

Thirteen. Kansas City.

And she hasn't posted since?

Not so far as I know.

Well, thirteen years is a long time ago, isn't it? What makes you so sure it's a

fake this time?

We're not sure.

Listen, I'll let myself out.

What are you going to do?

For tonight, I'm going to sleep.

Tomorrow morning, we can ask her.

It wasn't five times, Miss Dineside.

It was seven.

How did it start?

I was a black girl.

Not pretty black.

Not educated black.

Not talented black.

Just plain black Jane with a tiny baby.

And nothing else.

Except a chance to be hungry and scared.

Oh, I could have gotten a job as a maid, maybe.

Growed old scrubbing somebody else's floor.

Only Nancy wouldn't have had no more than I did.

Then, one ugly gray morning, I saw this taxi cab.

And I said to myself, Melissa, you're going to die

or you're going to get yourself some money.

So I jumped right in front of it.

And you got the money.

I almost died, too.

When I come to, there was this Mr. Sloan telling me I could get $10 ,000.

$10 ,000 in those days meant a lot more than it does today.

Which brings us up to the present.

I think you know my next question.

This time it's the Ironside.

It's for real.

Well?

I just don't know, Mark.

I've always prided myself on being able to spot a lie, but judging by her

career, well, I'd say it's a standoff.

Why don't you give her the benefit of the doubt?

Culver has a right to know.

Rosa has rights, too.

Yes, she does.

And you'll be taking them away from her.

How? Well, that lawsuit against me. She's got a right to a fair hearing,

she? Well, how fair is it going to be?

Once they bring up her past, they won't give her a dime.

What if she's not entitled to it? What if she is?

Look, she's got enough money to carry her over the way she lives. Her

self -supporting, so why would she do it? What motive could she have?

All right, Counselor. I won't talk to Culver until I find a motive.

Ironside.

Put him on.

Is this the Charlie Culver who's risen to such great heights as an insurance

investigator despite a generous and trusting heart?

No, this is the Charlie Culver who's going to lose his job because your

Mark Sanger has a big mouth.

He's very fond of you.

How's the Thomas case going?

Oh, we're making some progress.

It's about time.

I'm not too hot on the idea of shelling out $120 ,000.

Maybe you won't have to.

I'll see you, Charlie.

We got an answer from Miami.

They didn't have to pick up Hanson for us. They got him the night before.

Doesn't say who he was supposed to have killed.

I called him back.

Guy was a fence, specialized in jewelry.

Yeah, it's the day of the specialist.

What sort of case do they have against Hanson?

Airtight. All kinds of physical evidence and an eyewitness.

Lady heard an argument, couple of shots.

She saw him running away.

He left a gun behind with his prints all over it.

Well, we can make a pretty good guess as to what they argued about.

Yeah.

Oh, I also ran into Art Gordon.

The Times?

They're on to the story, Chief.

Well, Gordon owes you a few favors, Ed.

I reminded him.

I'm pretty sure they won't run it.

Good.

Miami should be beautiful this time of year.

So I hear.

I don't suppose there's any chance of an obscure sergeant of detectives going

along with you.

Oh, I have some business to take care of here.

An obscure sergeant of detectives is going to Miami all by himself.

She told him?

Yes.

She was pretty sure I'd find out, so she wanted me to know from her.

How does it feel having a con woman for a mother?

Are you testing me, Mark?

Well, it feels good.

She really loved me.

Hey, she still does, Professor.

Instructor.

Well, like your mama said, you're as good as any professor they got.

I am.

Mark.

She won't have to go to jail.

That's all in the past too many years ago.

I think she should be ready by now.

I'll go down and get the car, will you? I'll bring her down again.

You used to walk in next to somebody in a wheelchair, huh?

He's a pretty sharp fella, that Mr.

Ironside. Most of the time.

You've been working for him quite a while, ain't you?

Mm -hmm.

You like him?

Yeah. Me too.

Even if he wasn't so sure, he believed me. I believe you.

Yeah.

Mama, thanks, Mark.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Is it all right if I come visit you from time to time?

And see my dingy little place and the way I keep it?

You'd be ashamed to come in.

Try me.

No.

Now you forget about me, Mark.

You've showed enough kindness already.

Melissa... One thing, though.

I told you before.

But I want to make sure it sinks into that thick head of yours.

I'm going to be just fine.

You understand that?

I feel a lot better already.

So you ain't got no cause to go around worrying about me.

Or hating yourself.

Melissa, you take care.

Let's go, Ned.

Goodbye, Mark, and thanks again.

On the contrary, Mr. Hirsch, you've been most helpful.

Yes, it fills in quite a few gaps.

Fine.

Thank you.

When the city gets your long -distance phone bill, you're going to be in

trouble. I'll just raise the taxes again.

In Mark's absence, Eve, I'm going to press you into service.

Your big opportunity.

You're going to drive.

Well, where are we going?

Pay a call to Mr. Sloan.

Melissa's lawyer?

See, normally practice is out of Kansas City.

Except that he doesn't practice very much, and he's heavily in debt to people

who take a dim view of that sort of thing.

Like bookies.

Like bookies, blown sharks, other gentle souls.

Melissa apparently made a sacrifice for her daughter.

It's conceivable that she made one for him, too.

I can understand why a man would like to leave a place like this.

Still connected.

Might as well be.

I guess he's not going to pay the bill.

There's all that to it.

Why would he skip, Chief? I mean now.

Mr. Culver, please.

Chief Ironside.

I don't know, Eve, but I'm beginning to... Charlie!

I have something on the Babcock case that may interest you.

I...

You did?

I see.

No.

No, I'll talk to you about it later.

Soon as I sort out a few things.

Yes, thank you.

Well, now we know why he's no longer here.

They settled with Mrs. Babcock last night.

You did leave San Francisco the morning after the burglary, Mr. Hanson.

You say so, Sergeant? I say so. There's also an airline ticket clerk who said

so, and a stewardess.

I could probably round up a few others if I tried.

Well, a fellow like me is in no position to argue with all those people, is he?

A few hours after you got here, you went to see a man who just happened to be a

fence.

I just happened to be a burglar, Sergeant, so I know a lot of people like

Do you make it a practice to kill them?

I haven't been convicted yet.

You will be, Mr. Hanson.

You know that.

Yeah, probably.

I'll probably get life.

Which leads me to a question I'd like to ask you.

You mind?

It's a hypothetical question, of course.

Go on.

Now, if I did steal the jewels, and I'm not saying that I did,

what would I gain by giving them back?

I've been in prison before, Sergeant.

And there are... very few pleasures there.

But one of those pleasures, if I did steal a jolt, would be to sit back in my

cell and say, man, how I outfox those Frisco cops.

They got an open case and they'll never be able to close it.

Now, you wouldn't deny a life of that one little satisfaction, would you,

Sergeant?

Suppose she might have left with us.

I doubt it, Eve.

She really doesn't have anything to fear.

Even if she's joking?

Nobody could prove it.

All the evidence against her is circumstantial. The insurance company

a watch on her, couldn't they?

And then if they found that she suddenly made a miraculous recovery... That's

exactly what she'd call it. A miraculous recovery.

And any doctor would agree that it is possible.

I guess we blew it, huh?

The insurance company blew it.

Of course, we didn't exactly help their cause.

Any calls, Sergeant?

I see.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Who do you suppose would like to see me?

Sloan.

Melissa Babcock.

Yes.

What's this for, Mr. Sloan, all right?

Cream and sugar?

Just cream.

Good. And what about you?

Nothing, thank you.

Thank you.

Sloan, he's a weak man, but I don't hold that against him.

Because if it wasn't for him, I couldn't have provided for Nan.

Got some cake, if you like.

No, no, thank you. Thank you.

Anyway, he come to me.

About two weeks ago.

I hadn't seen him in, oh, must be 12 years.

He had changed a lot.

He looked old and tired.

And kind of like a whipped puppy dog.

I know.

I never made it as a lawyer, Melissa.

I wanted to.

I wanted to be a real good one.

But I don't know.

I guess there was a screw missing somewhere.

I never made much of a living until you came along.

And then when you left, it was back to grubbing again.

Except that in the meantime, I developed some pretty expensive tastes.

What he was suggesting, I didn't even want to hear of it.

But he could talk.

Oh.

That man could talk up a blue streak.

Especially when he was talking from his heart.

I'm not a kid anymore.

I probably don't have too much time left.

But if you would do this for me, Melissa, just this once, it would make

difference in the world.

I can pay off some debts. I'll have a stake left over.

In the few years that I have left, I can live out in some kind of...

Didn't he?

Didn't he?

That was something poor old Mr. Sloan never had.

Now, he thought he could get it.

I knew he was wrong, but I couldn't rightfully turn him down.

Like I said, I did owe him.

You're telling us all this for Mark's sake?

That pain he's carrying around, I don't want him to have it anymore.

You know, all the people who run into me, or at least thought they did, not a

one of them ever came to the hospital to see me.

Not a one of them cared.

Except Mark.

Mrs. Babcock, everything you've said... Melissa.

Folks call me Melissa.

Melissa, you've just confessed to a crime.

You could be prosecuted.

I know that.

But I'm hoping it won't happen.

Now, the money that came yesterday, I want to give it all back.

My half, I can give you right now.

And Sloan's half?

I'll pay that back gradual.

I'll get me a job and go to work.

But I swear to you, Mr.

Ironside, I'll pay back every last cent.

Okay?

Hope so, Melissa.

But it's... It's not up to me.

That's right. It's up to the insurance company. That's me, and I say no.

she got away from you 13 years ago. Because I happen to believe in something

called justice, and you ought to believe in it, too. Well, I don't call that

justice. Why? Because she's a nice, picturesque character, lovable. She's

crook. Well, maybe she was, Mr. Culver, but she isn't anymore. Anything she did

in the past, that's history.

The statute of limitations doesn't cover this time. Man, she is willing to pay

it all back. Not good enough, Mr. Stanger.

Look, if you send her to jail, she won't be able to pay you back.

Not Sloan's half, anyway.

Then we'll just have to write it off with no regrets.

Sometimes justice costs a little money.

Man, isn't there any way for you to understand?

I see.

Right.

Which means if he did have something to gain, he'd be more amenable.

That's about the size of it, Chief.

But I don't know what we can offer.

Does he have a good lawyer?

No, he's dead broke.

That's rather strange, isn't it?

All those jewels stashed away?

Apparently, he doesn't trust anyone to cash them in.

And I don't think any good lawyer is going to accept hot jewels in payment.

You think a good lawyer could knock a few years off his sentence?

I'm pretty sure of it.

His victim wasn't exactly a pillar of the community.

But he can't pay for a good lawyer.

Which brings us right back to where we started.

No. No, I think we've advanced quite a bit.

Go back to Hanson. Ask him if he'd trade the jewels for enough cash to hire the

best counselor in Miami.

All right. I'll talk to you later.

All right. All right. What if she plays it all back then?

What are you going to do, float alone?

I don't know, but I'll think of something.

Sorry, it wouldn't make any difference, none at all.

Mark, I don't think you're going to be able to dent Mr. Culver.

So perhaps we should get back to the matter that brought you out here, the

Thomas case, remember?

Yeah, that's fine with me.

The reason I suggested that phone call was from an associate of mine.

It appears we may have your jewels back soon.

Looks like I hit two jackpots today.

Well, except that getting the jewels may cost your company a little money. But

as you say, justice sometimes does.

How much?

I don't know yet.

It shouldn't be too bad.

Well, if it's not too bad, we'll pay.

Of course, it'll take a few days to set it all up.

Well, it'll take all the time you need.

Well, there's a little problem there. You see, the papers are awfully close to

breaking the story.

I know how much your company would regret that.

Is there any way you can hold them off?

It is possible, if I make an effort above and beyond the line of duty.

Of course, I'd need a special incentive to try that hard. Perhaps Mr.

Sanger can think of one.

I think I can.

That's blackmail.

Poker, Charlie.

All right, all right.

I won't press any charges against Mrs. Babcock.

We'll make a deal with her on repaying the balance.

You two gonna sleep better tonight?

I think so.

Maybe you will too, Charlie.

Good night, Melissa.

Man, I can't tell you how much we've enjoyed ourselves.

I'm glad. You only had one piece of apple pie.

Big man like you ought to be able to do better than that.

Big man like me has got to keep from getting bigger.

It's just as well.

We can do with the leftovers.

Tomorrow morning, there's going to be a lot of belt tightening around here.

Good night.

Good night.

Thank you. Good night. Thank you.

Good night. Good night, Ma.

Yes, sir.

I should have asked for a doggy bag for Ed. You'll get a meal on the plane.

A meal, but not a feast.

Mark?

I just wanted to say goodbye.

I'm going back each day after tomorrow.

I hope you come back often.

Oh, I will.

Now that I have a mother to visit instead of a stranger.

Um, I'm getting an assistant professor except next year.

Hey, that's out of sight. Out of sight.

Well, it means a raise.

And I'll be able to help Mama quite a bit.

Uh, help's the wrong word.

I guess I mean repay.

Mark.

You think maybe we ought to take a cab?

It's not in the budget.