Original subtitles

This is ridiculous.

I've added these bills four times and I still come out $23 .78 short.

Well, if you kept a daily record the way I want it, you wouldn't be in this. I'm

a cop, not a bookkeeper. Even a cop has to back up his expense account.

I've had it. The commissioner will just have to take my word for it. Oh, he

will, huh?

The commissioner's revenge.

Too bad he isn't here. He'd love this.

Here's a receipt for lunch. $5 .50.

Who'd you take?

You.

And your half was $4 .05.

Chief Ironside's office.

I'm sorry, he's busy right now. May I take a message?

How about this one?

Chief, you have to finish this. Not now. That call may be important.

Yes, I'll tell him, but I don't think... Is that for me, Eve?

Hold on.

Officer Myers from the 19th. He's with a Mrs. Brainerd at Morningside.

Brainerd? Margaret Brainerd? Yes, he wants to speak to you. It seems... No,

Myers, I'll be right there. Come on, Mark.

Well, you know he's finding out.

Hello, Myers.

Chief Ironside will be there in a few minutes.

Please wait for him. Thank you.

What's so important?

Mrs. Brainerd. purse was snatched, and she'll only talk to the chief.

Chief, I'm Myers.

All right. How's Miss Brennan?

Not too bad, considering.

A wrench back, some bruises. But the doctors want to keep her here for

observation.

Darn sad.

If you'll remember me, I'm Peter Brainerd. Of course.

You used to come to my office with your grandfather.

Wanted to be a detective when you grew up. This is Mark Sanger. Mr. Sanger.

Hello. Well, what happened to your grandmother?

Well, as I understand it, she was mugged. Mugged?

Mugged?

Mugged? In the park.

Didn't Whitfield tell you?

Where's your room?

Over here.

Come in.

But I don't understand why it should take him so long.

Oh, here he is. Sorry I troubled you.

Good afternoon, Robert.

Miss Bennett?

I shall be needing you any longer, officer.

I have to make out a report.

Chief Ironside will handle the details.

It's all right, Myers.

I'll wait outside for you, Chief.

Thank you, Mark.

I'm proud of you, Robert.

You haven't let your handicap defeat you.

I appreciate that, especially from another fighter.

But you haven't asked me here just to be social.

What I'm going to tell you must be kept in the strictest confidence. If I'm not

free to use my own judgment, then I advise you not to confide in me.

What does it have to do with your purse being stolen?

I never told a soul.

I know I didn't. You were admitted without a purse.

The park's a high -frequency area for that kind of robbery.

I must get it back as quickly as possible. What was in it? I had...

Forty -three dollars in cash.

And? Well, the purse itself was very valuable.

Genuine leather. Mrs. Brainerd, you didn't ask me down here and try to swear

to secrecy just because of a purse.

Well, it's the police matter, isn't it?

Now, how soon do you think you'll find it? I'll have Officer Myers keep you

posted. But I said I wanted you.

Purse snatching is not my bag, if you'll pardon the pun.

Robert, I need you.

You need the police.

And you'll have them. And publicity and notoriety. I insist.

Well, I still have some influence, you know.

I could call my friends on the police commission. We'll refer you right back

robbery details. I make a sizable donation to the Widows and Orphans Aid

Association. I could increase that this year or I could cut it out altogether.

Come on.

That's blackmail.

When my husband was head of the police commission, he did one or two favors for

you.

That's one of the reasons I came.

He was your friend. And I'm yours.

Then help me, please.

What were you carrying in your purse?

Some... Some family jewels.

Jewels? You went for a walk in the park with your family jewelry?

There's... A dear little girl, Alice, whom I meet, oh, two or three times a

week. I brought them to show her. Why? I tell her all about the old days in San

Francisco.

About the parties, the opera, the beautiful gowns. When society really

something, it's opened a whole new world to her.

Well, anyway, I promise to show her some of the lovely things that I used to

wear. And I did.

Well, now, I don't see that that's so awful, Robert.

Poor child's lonely and needs company. Miss Brainerd,

what is the value of that jewelry?

$200 ,000.

Jeff, take my word for it, Tim.

A couple of bucks, any place on Market Street.

Sure looks pretty there.

Yeah, if you like that stuff.

What do we do with it?

Ditch it.

There's your split, 21 bucks.

Thanks.

Have you heard if I take this?

Looks kind of funny on you.

I want to give it to somebody.

To a Vanjie?

You're going to get off that kick.

Angie doesn't mess around with kids.

She likes me.

She likes straight cats and dogs, too. Besides, she's Robbie's girl. You mess

around, I'll break your leg.

Look, can I have it or not?

Well, your legs.

lady can come sound pretty strong.

Mrs. Brainard, she sure likes to throw a wiener on.

Oh, habit, position.

She's all -in San Francisco society.

Well, I bet nobody says no to her.

Nobody.

I assume that remark has certain significance.

I'm just trying to figure out what's next on the agenda, bookkeeping or purse

snatching.

I don't think one thing has anything to do with the other.

You know, I'd like to help her.

She's an old friend.

On the other hand, robbery detail can probably do her more of a good job.

Hindsight. Yes, sir.

Chief, are you coming back to headquarters now? If Mr. Sanger does

I am.

There's a Mr. Crowell on his way over to see you.

Crowell? Mark Crowell.

An attorney.

He's on the board of Brainerd Enterprises.

I'm very concerned about Mrs. Brainerd. No reason to be, Mr. Crowell. Her

injuries were superficial.

Yes, uh, yes, I know. Peter told me. Thank you.

But about her being in the park assaulted, her purse stolen.

What about it? Well, first of all, what's she doing there alone in the

Walking, she has a car, a chauffeur. I'm sure you'll agree that Mrs. Brainerd is

entitled to do whatever she pleases.

Whenever and wherever.

Granted, granted.

But calling on Chief Robert Ironside to recover a purse?

Mr. Crowell, Mrs. Brainerd's an old friend.

You, uh, you know, I'm sure, about Brainerd Enterprises.

Of course.

Mrs. Brainerd's husband founded the company.

And she's a director.

She owns a large block of voting stock. It's a very responsible position, Mr.

Einstein. She's a very capable woman.

Yes, but old -fashioned.

Behind the times, very set in her ways. What's that got to do with her purse

being stolen?

Nothing directly.

But as a member of the board, I feel I have a responsibility to the other

stockholders. And if Mrs. Brainerd is no longer capable of...

A functioning... The point, Mr. Crowell. Why don't you get to the point?

Why, if I can have.

You'll keep me, uh, informed?

You'll be the first to know. Thank you.

Whatever there is to know.

Yes. Well, I won't take any more of your time, Miss Whitfield.

Bye. Bye.

Am I wrong? You had to text Fox.

You're not wrong.

Come on. Give me Lieutenant Weiss and robbery, please.

Hey, what's that on our immediate schedule?

Well, first there's the Petroleum Association's breakfast next Sunday. The

Bouchard case. Ed's out now checking the files. I can wait.

When he calls in, pull him off it.

Have him check DMV for a yellow 67 Mustang, chrome wheels.

We only have a partial on license NOV.

NOV. Get me reports of recent street robberies. All the reports.

Lieutenant Weiss. Thank you.

And I want to find a little girl about 12 named Alice.

Hello, Don.

Fine, thanks.

Listen, did one of your men, Officer Myers, submit a report on a mugging this

afternoon? The victim's name is Brainerd.

Yes, I know it's incomplete.

Well, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me handle it.

No, no, I'm not kidding. It's a personal matter.

I'll make my report directly to you.

I'm not kidding. Well, obviously.

But do you mind telling us why? The way I read Martin Crowell, he's looking for

a way to ease Mrs. Brainerd out of the company.

Can you imagine what he'd do if the story came out that she was carrying

,000 worth of jewelry in her purse?

I'm sorry, Robbie. I got held up. Yeah.

Oh, come on. Tim just came over to give me a present. He's got a thing for me,

you know.

Here, look. Ain't it wild?

Well, look, Robbie.

No high camp, huh?

Let's have it.

Oh, come on, Robbie. It's cute. I want it. Hand it over.

Don't. Tear my dress.

Please, Robbie.

Can I keep it?

I'll keep coming, baby.

Really? You think I was on the critical list?

Come on, Tiger, it's just ordinary hospital routine.

Peter, I can't just lie here like this. I've got too much to do.

There's a board of directors meeting the day after tomorrow. I can handle that

for you. Don't be silly.

Well, of course you could handle it, Peter.

But I haven't missed a meeting since your grandfather died.

And I have no intention of missing this one.

Grandma, now when are you going to let go? Is that what you're waiting for,

You're tired.

I'll just be outside.

I'm sorry.

Thank you for bringing my things.

It was very thoughtful of you.

Get some rest, okay?

Chief.

Good evening, Peter. How's your grandmother tonight?

Oh, she's grandmother.

Did you find the purse? No.

I just want to double -check some details.

Do you know Martin Crowell? Of course.

He's on the board of directors of Brainerd Enterprises. Does he carry much

weight? On actual voting power, no, not compared to grandmother.

But combined with other members?

That would make a big difference.

All right, thank you, Peter.

She's on her side.

Help her.

Well, I'm trying to... No, I don't mean just the purse.

She needs... What does she need?

Forget it.

That grandmother, she can't admit she needs anything.

Good night.

Only be a few minutes, Mark.

Take your time.

Yes? Oh, yes, come in, come in.

Well, you must be feeling better.

Yes, much better, thank you. Have you... Nothing yet, I'm sorry.

Well, I'm...

Sure you're doing your best.

I'd like to know more about the little girl, Alice.

You know her last name?

Address?

Where she goes to school, anything about her? She's a sweet child, Robert, a

lonely child.

We're friends.

And she's in the park frequently?

Oh, yes, every time I've been there.

When you showed her the jewelry, did anyone else see you?

No.

I was careful about that. But she knew about your bringing it. Oh, yes, Robert.

I don't like your insinuation. I have to investigate all possibilities.

Alice had nothing to do with it. We are friends.

Well, you don't seem to lack for friends.

The members of the board, they're dutiful good wishes.

Robert, I will not have you badgering that poor child.

But you do want me to find your jewelry.

There must be some other way.

I'll keep you posted.

Oh, must you leave so soon?

I'm afraid so.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Yes.

Tomorrow.

Did your men check the neighboring districts?

Well, thank you very much, Mr. Corbett. I appreciate your efforts.

Thank you.

I think from the Department of Sanitation.

You were taking a fly on that one.

Not necessarily.

Petty thieves usually try to unload purses and wallets as quickly as they

Trash cans are their best bet.

What have you come up with?

Well, business has been pretty good in the past couple of months.

More mugging and purse snatching than any other district. No active suspects.

Let's take a look at these.

Two men in each case.

Young and working out of a yellow car.

But no description.

He can't have everything.

Just check DMV.

No lead on that license plate yet. We're not getting much at all.

Will you buy some talk about an old piece of jewelry?

Just talk?

No. Not even as loud as that. A whisper.

There's a character I know. He hangs around Market Street.

Knows me a favor or two.

There are a lot of hot shops on Market. And fences.

But that's all it is, just a whisper. For now, somebody's been showing that

piece of jewelry around, getting estimates.

They're pretty big.

Ironside.

Yes, Eve. Chief, there are four grammar schools within walking distance of the

park.

They have nearly 5 ,000 pupils.

Over a hundred of them have the first or middle name of Alice.

I gather you haven't been particularly successful.

Oh, I've talked to teachers, guidance counselors, everybody. I've been

particularly unsuccessful.

The schools will let out in about an hour.

Alice goes to the park regularly.

It's a nice sunny day.

And the fresh air will do me good. I get you.

I'll send help, Ed. Fresh air will do me good, too.

I'll see you.

Bye.

I'm the huddle type.

Yeah.

Lace?

You know Vanjie, don't you?

Oh, yeah, I've seen her around.

Hi. You're Will?

Yeah.

Will, nice.

Well, timing's off a little bit. Hey, Lace, I was telling Vanjie maybe you

that other stuff that we... What stuff? You know.

Bracelet, all that jazz we got?

Oh, Angie's okay.

What about it? You know the pin Tim gave me?

That was sweet of you, real sweet, you know. It was nothing.

Well, I really dig that old funky jewelry.

It really looks good on me.

So I asked him if he had any more, and he said he left it with you.

I'm not asking you to give it to me. I mean, I'll pay for it. How much? Ten

bucks.

But I'd have to see it.

I ditched it.

Where?

I don't know. In a lot somewhere.

Maybe it's still there. Do you think?

Well, could you take a look? Not for no ten bucks.

I could go higher.

Fifteen?

Twenty even?

Tell you what.

You come back later this afternoon.

What time?

I don't know. I don't keep an appointment, Brooke. Late.

If I'm here, we'll talk, all right? Okay.

Thanks, sweet.

Hey, Lace. Hey, maybe we ought to go look right now, huh?

What for?

You still got the jewelry?

I changed my mind. I stashed it.

Hey, wait a minute.

Man, are you stupid, you know?

That chick looks at you sideways. You turn your brains off.

Hey. I think we're on to something big there.

They're back in the alley.

Leif has a yellow Mustang.

Go on home. I'll take it from here.

Last night, you hinted your grandmother was in some kind of difficulty.

Oh, there are always problems.

I mean, serious problems.

She runs Brainerd Enterprises herself.

Company isn't doing well, is that it?

I checked into it.

Whose side are you on?

I wasn't aware there were sides to take. I'm trying to help your grandmother.

No, the company isn't doing well.

The board of directors is beginning to blame her.

The board or Martin Prowl?

Police or Spark?

You see, Grandmother's pretty conservative.

And that's the way she runs the company.

Now, Crowell goes the other route. He wants to open up, make Brainerd a

conglomerate. He's really going too far. There must be more to it than that.

She tries to do everything herself.

Make all the decisions.

That thing's hanging fire right this minute, but she won't trust anybody.

Not even me.

Physically, she's not up to it anymore.

Just last week, she fell asleep at the meeting.

So any eccentricity, anything that could be construed as senility... Crowell

will use against her.

I just got this a little while ago.

It's a wire to all the members of the board calling a special meeting for

tomorrow.

Subject, a competency hearing for Mrs. Margaret Brainerd.

He's moving fast.

Dozens of little girls in the park today who think one of them would be named

Alice. Listen, you keep going this way. I'm gonna check with the policeman.

Okay.

Sorry, Chief.

The closest we've come is a couple of girls over by the lake.

They said they usually see Alice around the park, but not today. School's been

out for half an hour.

Chief, I just talked to one of the park police. He knows Alice. I've seen her

here with Mrs. Brainerd.

He says Alice was here just a few minutes ago. What did he mean here?

exactly? By that bench.

And the question is, which way did she go?

Well, we came from that direction. We'd have seen her. That path leads out of

the park?

Sorry, Chief. All right.

You just have to find another angle.

We will meet you both back in the office.

All right, Mark, let's go.

Wait a minute.

How far is it from here to Morningside Hospital?

A few bucks.

Let's go.

Hello.

Would your name be Alice?

I'm Chief Ironside.

I'd like to talk to you. What kind of a chief?

Police.

Let's see your ID.

All right.

Are you busting me on account of the flowers?

No.

Oh, I'd like to talk to you about Miss Granite. Oh.

The nurse says I can see her in a few minutes.

Do you know how she is?

She's going to be all right.

Now, you saw what happened to her yesterday.

Uh -huh.

Hey, what do you suppose I used that for?

I wouldn't know.

Did you get a look at the car the men used?

Uh -huh.

Alice, do you know what...

What kind of car it was?

Yellow Mustang, 67.

Chrome wheel.

Ever see it before?

Uh -uh. What about the license?

You happen to look at that?

Uh -huh. Do you remember it? NQV 317.

Could it have been N -O -V?

No, it was a Q. I saw the little tail on it.

That lady, can you read her name tag? Quick. Mrs. Walden, admissions.

Ed and Eve should be back at headquarters by now.

Uh, gotcha.

Chief Ironside's office, Sergeant... The chief wants to talk with you.

We found the girl.

Check out a yellow 67 Mustang, license NQV317.

NQ. I thought... Try those numbers with NOV2.

Right now.

I'll have Mark hang on.

It was a cue. I told you.

Well, we have to be sure.

Now, Mrs. Brainerd showed you some jewelry.

Uh -huh.

And she told you that she'd be bringing it to the park.

Uh -huh. Did you tell anyone?

Uh -uh.

You didn't let it slip out. I keep telling you things, mister.

And you... It was valuable jewelry.

Now, why wouldn't you have talked about it? Old people always make a big deal

out of everything.

Stuff they got, pictures.

It never is.

I had the idea that you liked Mrs. Brainerd. Oh, yeah.

She's real nice.

But the stuff she talks about is kind of dull.

I listen to her, though.

I think it makes her feel good.

I think she's awful lonely.

A very observant young woman. Yep.

Gotcha.

Ed got a make on that plate. He's checking out now.

What was it?

It was NQV.

We have to give it all back. Can I keep the earrings? Forget it.

Tim would have let me keep them.

It's not up to Tim anymore.

I want to talk to Mrs. Brainerd. Well, if she's not here, who's calling?

Hello?

Hello? Tell her she can have her jewelry back for $50 ,000.

What are you talking about?

Hey, who is this?

Get the money.

I'll call you back tonight and set it up. Wait a minute.

Who are you?

Hello?

The boys were slugged and left unconscious in their car with the engine

A very crude attempt at murder.

They're in this hospital right now. It's a question whether they live or die.

Oh, how terrible.

What awful times these are.

What's happening to people?

The point is, your purse was found in the garage empty.

It's likely whoever tried to kill the boys has your jewelry.

Will that make it more difficult for you, too? It makes it practically

impossible for me to keep your secret, Mrs. Brainerd.

I don't understand. Why should... If either of those boys dies, this will be

case for homicide.

They'll have to know the whole story. But surely... Oh, excuse me.

Hello?

Oh, hello, Peter.

What? Why didn't you tell me that your jewelry had been stolen? I don't know

what you mean, dear.

Someone just called to try and sell it back to you.

Oh, well, let's discuss it later.

I said later, dear.

I'll call you. Goodbye.

It's ridiculous.

One can't even get away from business and hospital.

You manage to keep involved, don't you? Well, somebody has to do the work.

Robert, you insist upon exposing everything.

I don't have any choice.

Yes, well, if you don't mind, I...

I'm sure the nurse will be here any minute now with a bedpan or some such

Of course.

I'm sorry I couldn't help you. You did your best and I appreciate it.

Lace never had a chance.

Robbie came up from behind him and slugged him with his gun.

And he came after me.

I couldn't get away. You had Mrs. Brainerd's jewelry.

Yeah. We found out it was her real stuff.

Thought we were going to make ourselves a bundle.

I had a fancy.

Never would have given her that pin.

Lace said I never would have given her that pin.

Mister, how's Lace?

I'm sorry.

He's dead.

Full name Robinson Nichols. Has a record.

Assault, armed robbery, five arrests, two convictions.

He served three years on the last one.

Typical small -time hood. That's a big time now.

Put an APB out right after I talk to Tim. How about covering the hawk shops'

fences? There's a murder app tied up with that jewelry now.

Makes it pretty hot to handle.

Mark, will you please get me Mrs. Brainerd on the phone?

Ransom. Yeah, that's the way I see it. You'll have to move pretty quickly.

Mrs. Brainerd, please.

Oh?

When?

Thank you.

She left a little after six.

I'd say he's moved already.

All right, wait here. We'll be in touch.

Chief Arnstein is here to see you, ma 'am. Oh, well, tell him, tell him I'm

seeing him. Good evening, Mrs. Brainerd.

Hello, Robert.

Thank you, Walter.

Well, this is unexpected.

As was your departure from the hospital.

Oh, it's ridiculous keeping me there. I'm perfectly all right.

Your grandson here?

Why, no.

Where is he? I... I don't know. I should have called you, Robert. I shan't be

needing your services any longer. I'm not yours to hire or to fire.

What are you afraid of?

Afraid?

Me?

I'm not afraid of a blessed thing on earth.

You're hanging on to a business you can't really manage.

Facing the humiliation of a competency hearing, there's no reason for it except

fear.

Quiet a minute.

I can't hear a thing.

That's right.

It's very quiet.

Imagine sitting here day after day like this.

Present on my birthday, a card on Mother's Day, a telephone call around

on New Year's Eve. No. So you tie everyone to you with purse strings.

While the money and control are in my hands, I have people around me.

They may not like me, but they're here and they're attentive.

Why bother?

I'd say you're already about as lonely as you can ever be. Nonsense. Nothing of

the sort. Isn't that why you went looking for some...

Little scrap of warmth from stray children in the park.

When did you hear from Nichols?

Who? The man who stole your jewelry.

He contacted Peter, didn't he? Then Peter called you at the hospital while I

there? It was business. I told you.

You've made a deal, haven't you?

You're buying back your jewelry and Peter's gone to get it. But it's my

I have every right. You have no right to help a murderer.

You have no right to risk your grandson's life. There's no risk, he

haven't much time, Mrs. Brainerd.

Maybe Peter doesn't either.

Margaret... Margaret, affection's a two -way street.

The only way to get it is to give it.

Right now, you're just using Peter's affection for you.

Now you know where he is.

Yes, sir.

Chief Einstein's office.

We were right.

They made a deal for the jewelry.

Peter Brainerd's waiting at the phone booth in the corner of 18th and Judah.

You can get there before I can.

Want to pick him up?

Not yet. He can lead us to Nichols.

Portage 505.

19, go ahead, Chief.

How are you doing?

Another five or six blocks to go.

Call me as soon as you get there.

Over.

Headquarters 505, this is Headquarters 19.

Go ahead, Eve.

We made it, Chief. Brainerd's still here.

He's getting a call now.

Probably instructions for a meet.

He must have them, Chief. He's leaving.

All right.

Stay with him and keep me posted.

We're only about half a mile behind.

Still north on Van Aire.

Now he's turning east on Chestnut.

They're crawling.

We're only four blocks behind them.

Set it to the waterfront.

Perfect.

J .D.'s parking on Pier 11.

Wait for us there.

Call in some backup units.

I want the pier sealed off.

It's a double cross. She's not leaving the jewelry.

You're wasting your time. The pier is sealed off.

Then unseal it.

Or this stuff goes over the side.

It won't do you any good. 25 feet of water, 8 feet of mud. You'll never find

them.

Well, that wasn't very smart, Peter.

I suppose not.

I couldn't disappoint Grandmother.

Join the club.

When I spoke to Captain Fredericks at Homicide, he saw no reason to release

details about the jewelry just yet.

Just yet?

Well, it has to come out eventually.

But not before the meeting of the border directors.

Is that it?

If it happens to time out that way.

You're very kind, Robert.

But there won't be any board meeting.

I telephoned Mr. Crowell this evening and submitted my resignation. Wait a

minute. On the one condition.

That you replace me with full voting powers.

Mr. Crowell agreed reluctantly.

Tiger, you didn't need to do that.

I'd support you all the way.

That's just it, my dear. You would. You have.

So has Robert. You've both been wonderful.

But you know, Sunday, it's a wonderful feeling to be free of responsibility.

What will you do?

Oh, so many things.

Go to the park, talk with Alice.

Travel. You know, I'm going to enjoy... That's right, Margaret.

Enjoy your youth.

Robert, I am 76.

A great vintage year. Very spirited.