Original subtitles

That's Johnny Sabatini.

Now you're going to tell me that you're the Mr. X that has vital information for

me. I'm not usually so dramatic, Mr. West.

But it did serve to get you down here.

Well, what does the king of the rackets want with me?

I want to have a private little talk with you, West.

Private little talk, Sabatini style?

Now we're alone.

Now I can tell you why I got you here.

Because I need your help.

Say the teeny what makes you think I'm going to help you.

I'll think of a reason.

Because you see, Mr. West.

I'm dying.

Brandy, Miss the West.

France is best.

So why should I come to you for help, eh?

That's easy.

You scratch my back, and I'll scratch your back.

My back isn't itching, Sabatini. I think maybe you could develop an itch.

For Harry Borman, maybe.

All right, Sabatini, you know I want Borman.

Are you telling me you can arrange it? Let's start with what I want from you,

okay?

Clarence the box.

There's someone's name and address on this piece of paper whose life could be

danger when I bow out.

A woman.

You were always pretty good at living in the empty spaces.

And you want me to protect her against who?

Let me tell it my way.

To begin with...

Clarice,

what good is brandy without a cigar?

Now, Clarence, beat it.

To begin with, I'd like you to go to a place called Calliope.

Calliope, Missouri?

I thought maybe you heard of it.

You look up a man in Calliope named Swanson, and you give him this key.

He gives you back, let's say, a gift.

Sabatini. Why me?

Why not one of your own boys?

West, you and I have been on opposite sides of the fence a long time.

But you're the only one I can trust. That's more than I can say for most of

my associates and friends.

All right, 17. How does Borman figure into this?

He's going to try to stop you.

And that's how I find him.

That's the only way.

Now, the woman.

She knows me as a Mr. Caroline. I'd like it kept that way.

This key, there's more to it than just giving it to Swanson.

You'll find... The

key.

Swanson.

The Madonna statue.

Look at the... Look...

We're right, Jim.

Sure enough, it's poisoned.

But there's enough curare in there to kill a moose.

But you know, I can't understand.

Who'd want to murder a man who was already so near death?

For openers, what about someone who doesn't want Jim to go to Calliope to

up that gift?

Calliope, Missouri.

Where a half a million dollars of Army payroll was stolen and never recovered.

And we're a finance officer.

Captain Nolan, who engineered the operation, was murdered for cheating on

own gang.

Rumor has it that the loot is still stashed away somewhere in Kauai, right?

Right.

Half a million dollars.

That's quite a gift to just hand over to your lady friend.

If that's what Sabatini's gift is.

Yes. If.

And we won't know anything about that until you meet the late Mr.

Sabatini's light of love, will we?

Sir, if you don't mind, I'd like to go directly to Calliope and see what

has to say.

All right.

Ned, you've been complaining for a long time how dull life is in the chemical

section. How would you like to interview the young lady for us?

Why, sure.

Why not?

You know, Jim, I keep thinking, we don't really know what this Borman looks

like, except that he had a leg injury.

Second, we've only got Sabatini's word for it that Borman will show up in this

at all.

It's true.

For some strange reason, sir, I think he was telling the truth.

All right.

Anything that might lead us to Borman is a chance worth taking.

I'm on my way to Kulapi, sir.

Bon voyage, Jim.

I'll drop by and see Sabatini's little lady while you're gone. I'll report to

you there.

Yes, come in.

Keep a sharp eye out here, Wallace.

Oh, I'm sorry.

My name is Ned Brown. I'm looking for a woman named Sylvia, but I... I'm Sylvia,

Mr. Brown.

Oh, I'm afraid not.

You see, the Sylvia that I know, well, she knows Mr. Caroline, and he asked me

to come over... You're from Mr. Caroline.

I knew there was something special about today. I felt it the first thing I woke

up this morning. I'm sorry.

I'm forgetting my manners.

Will you have a cup of tea?

Tea?

Oh, but yes, of course. That's just what I need.

How long have you, uh...

How long have you known Mr. Caroline?

Always.

My first happy memory is of him in the way he... I'm sorry, I really am

forgetting my manners.

How is Mr. Caroline?

I knew the last time I spoke to him, he wasn't feeling very well.

He was everything that was...

thoughtful and generous.

It wasn't that he just provided for me or gave me this lovely house to live in.

It was knowing that he cared for me as no one else ever did.

Even in death he cared for you, Sylvia.

There is a very special gift he left for you.

You look a mighty lost stranger.

No, this journey's end.

That so?

Not many folk arrive in Calliope saying things like that. But it happens to be

the way I feel, too.

Is this town always so lively?

Like I said, there ain't many folk left in Calliope.

But they're quiet, peace -loving folk.

Something or someone you looking for in particular?

I'm looking for a man named Swanson.

You'll find him at the edge of town.

That little brick building.

Thank you, Sheriff.

Though your heart be heavy in your hour of trial, it is not the end, for she has

gone on ahead and lovingly waits you around the bend.

She?

He or she, as the case may be.

It's my way of comforting the bereaved who pass through the portals of the

Fabian Swanson establishment.

Now, Mr. Swanson, the reason... Yes, I know, dear sir. I know, dear sir. And

believe me, providing only the finest, can you be comforted for him or her,

as the case may be.

Mr. Swanson... Will you just caress that quilted duvet he cut?

Feel the straight grain, the Oregon hickory.

And grasp, if you will, these genuine simulated bronze handles.

Sometimes, I tell you, I feel I could crawl in...

That's a very interesting key.

Where did you get it?

You tell me.

Sabatini?

I give you this key.

You tell me where to find it.

Notice the Oregon shell.

Still ain't getting rid of that old pine casket here, Mr. Swanson?

Pine? It's the finest Oregon hickory and the highest quality duvety.

I'm just spoofing you a little bit, Mr. Swanson.

I just dropped by to make certain you were able to find your way.

Oh, no problem at all, thanks to you, Sheriff.

Well, that's what a sheriff is for, ain't he?

To help out folks and to keep law and order.

Now, you take your time, sir, and think about which one of these you want.

Here are the figures.

Oh, thank you, Mr. Swanson.

Funny, ain't it?

Hardly enough live people here, let alone bodies, to keep old Swanson

going.

Except for those misguided folks who come here searching for Mr. Nolan's

treasure, which any fool knows is just a heap of talk.

Right, friend?

I wouldn't know anything about that, Sheriff.

About time to put on the feed bag, Mr. Swanson.

What say we head for the hotel?

Some dinner?

Oh, no, thank you, Sheriff. I've had a long ride. I think I'll freshen up and

change clothes.

Yes, come in.

It's Clarence.

Did I do wrong dropping by like this? No, no, Clarence. It's good of you to

on me.

Well, now that Mr. Caroline is gone, I just wanted to come by and see that you

were all right.

Clarence, you're very kind.

Well, I can't forget when Mr.

Caroline was taken badly.

No matter how painful it was, all he could talk about was the gift that he

wanted you to have.

That's what's been troubling me, Clarence.

He's given me so much already. Is there something I've forgotten?

You still remember nothing of your early life?

Nothing before the age of six or seven.

My memories start here in this house with Mr. Caroline so kindly taking care

me. Well, things will be happier when you receive the gift that Mr. Caroline

wanted you to have from Calliope.

Calliope?

I've heard that name before.

Well, go on, my dear.

I'm sorry. I saw something in my mind, but it's gone now.

Clarence, do you know where Calliope is?

Oh, yes, it's downriver, not very far.

Would you take me there?

I'd take you to Calliope. Well, of course I could, but don't you... I have

feeling it's very important.

It could bring things back to me.

Please, Clarence.

Well, of course if that's what you want, I'll take you there

There was them two brothers who came into town a couple years back to find

Captain Nolan's hidden treasure.

What was their names? You remember Mr. Farnsworth? They bought enough supplies

in your store for ten men.

Kill them, I think. Yeah, that's right. I never saw two fellas more bound and

determined to find a hidden fortune somewhere here.

But they just disappeared right into thin air.

You know...

Calliope has a lot more to offer than a lot of half -baked rumors about

treasure.

Actually, we've got a mighty fine little town here, Mr... Oh, yes, sir.

Yes, there are quite a few attractive things about this town.

And of course, it don't show too much right now.

Not more than ten people drift into the town limits in a month.

Yes, but you mark my words.

One of these days, Calliope is going to be known as the jewel of the Midwest.

Why, when I was in Denver last year, I saw plans drawn up to... to bring the

railroad through here on its way to St. Louis.

Don't you worry, Stidley.

Your hotel's going to be full of customers once again.

You don't have to tell me.

I got rooms upstairs I ain't even so much as opened a door to for longer than

can remember.

Sheriff, I declare it's a positive disgrace how dusty the streets of

have become. Now, you promised me on your honor you would have them watered

so a person didn't come close to suffocate, and every time she... Oh!

I didn't realize we had a guest.

Miss Nolan, this here is Mr. West.

He's got business in our town.

I declare it's been eons since we had visitors in our little town.

And a lot longer than that since we had one so good looking.

Thank you.

You know, Mr. West, it's things like tea.

Now, little gatherings here every evening to share a common repast that

the spirits of we few who still call Calliope our home.

Of course, this was once a magnificent town.

Dancing, excitement.

Oh, my, people used to come from miles around just to... Just to see where your

brother lifted a neat half million dollars from the United States Army.

Sheriff.

I get the impression that remark was uncalled for.

Are you putting me down, Mr. West?

Yeah.

Well, enjoyable as it is, I have to get back to my duties, sad though they may

be.

You got to tend to that land office business you're doing, Mr. Swanson.

The devil finds work for idle hands.

always say.

Evening, Miss Melanie.

He's a dear man.

But with that unfortunate smell of formaldehyde forever about him.

Well, if you'll excuse me.

You leaving so sudden, Mr. West?

We usually sit and have a few friendly whiskeys after dinner, Mr. West.

Oh, I hate to miss it, but I do have a horse to bed down.

Gentlemen,

ma 'am.

Oh, Mr. West!

I am embarrassed to confess this, but my harness traces don't feel quite right,

and I was wondering, would you be so kind?

Be a pleasure.

Mr. West, you really make a lady feel like a lady.

I must say, Mr.

West, there are a few folks in this town who could stand a few brush -up lessons

in manners and gentility.

Well,

everything seems to be all right, ma 'am.

Mr. West, I've been thinking.

You must come visit me at my home, San Susi. It's just around the rise, right

outside of town.

I'd like to do that, ma 'am.

Years back, you know, on Sunday afternoon, people used to just pour in

over the county just to be at San Susi's garden parties.

I'd be honored, ma 'am. Good night. Good night.

Thank you.

Who are you after?

Whoever he is, he's gone.

There might be another two in the alley.

Well, there were two bodies here, Ned.

Ned?

There goes our main lead.

He's now a customer of his own establishment.

Swanson's dead?

A small matter of murder.

And before he could tell me what the key opens.

Well, that leaves us with Sabatini's girlfriend.

She's not what we expected, Jim. She's a lovely young girl of 18. And she's

blind.

Well, what about the Madonna statue?

It would seem the logical place to look for a Madonna would be in a church.

The local church burned down years ago.

Which would leave the cemetery.

Might be on a headstone.

Why don't you try the cemetery?

I'm going to take a ride out to the Nolan home.

Mrs. Nolan should know quite a bit about this old town.

I thought

I heard a ruckus going on here.

Who are you, if you don't mind my asking?

Not at all.

My name is Tobias.

You don't say.

On the contrary, I do say, sir.

Good evening to you, sir, and Sheriff.

Good evening.

What's his business here?

It's your town, Sheriff.

Did you finish your business with Mr. Swanson?

It's finished for me.

What exactly does that mean?

He's dead.

Hello?

Now it's the furniture.

It's this house.

It has a special smell.

It brings back scattered memories, but nothing makes sense.

But it's as if this lovely warm old chair were somehow a dear friend.

Well, Sylvia, tell me about the chair.

Does it bring back any particular memories?

Something.

I'm sure I've been in this very room before.

Well, Sylvia, my dear, go on.

There's a room. I remember a room in the other wing.

Something frightens me.

Oh, why, Mr. West, what are you doing here?

Clarence, what are you doing here with this young lady whom I assume is Sylvia?

Mr. West, you're Mr. Brown's associate.

That's right, Sylvia.

Clarence, what are you doing here?

Oh, well, I...

Like you, Mr. West, I'm merely trying to help her to find the present that Mr.

Caroline wanted her to have.

The name Calliope sparked something in her mind, and she insisted on coming to

the town and to this house.

Well, she's on her way back to St. Louis now.

Back?

No.

Oh, I think so, sir.

I promised Mr. Caroline that I would protect Sylvia, and I don't believe that

Sylvia's safe here.

Back to St. Louis.

of you to respond to my invitation and so quickly. I am honored. Won't you...

Sylvia?

What happened?

Hello, pussycat.

By any chance, you haven't seen the statue of a Madonna around here, have

No, I'm sure you haven't.

Thank you.

Done.

You sure he's in here?

I thought I saw a shadow.

I'm just sorry. My goodness, I don't know what came over me.

Well, I do know what came over me. It was such a shock.

It's Sylvia, my brother Captain Nolan's little daughter.

All these years I thought you were dead.

You don't remember me, though, do you, darling?

I'm your Auntie Melanie.

Oh, I'm sorry, I don't.

So many things seem to be coming back to me, but it's...

All so confusing and... frightening.

Oh, now, now, now, now, don't you worry.

Don't you worry about a thing.

Oh, you were such a dear, delightful little girl.

And all the fun we used to have, packing picnic baskets, and those times that

you used to stand up there with your eyes as wide as saucers, watching me

up for some dance or something.

Oh, the lovely times we had here. The whole country.

Everybody'd come.

Well, it made you think she was dead.

I thought at least you'd remember that, darling. I mean...

Your mother was killed in the fire.

The fire.

That's what frightened me.

And something else.

A man's voice, angry and brutal.

My mother and me, we're running to the church.

He's there, he's pushing in the door, demanding to know where some hidden

is.

Stolen money.

Oh, please go on, Sylvia. He thinks we know something.

He says he's been cheated out of his share.

Yes, I remember now. It's the fire.

He burned down the church.

I feel the heat and the flames and my mother's screaming.

This man that you were so afraid of, do you remember what he looked like or what

his name was?

Nothing. Except he dragged his foot.

Oh, it's clear to me now.

I remember that... The awful scraping noise he made when he dragged his foot.

He dragged his foot.

Harriet Borman.

Please don't let her out of your sight.

Mr. West is right.

I remember that name.

The man who dragged his foot, it was Harry Bowman.

Was it Charles?

Jim, Captain Nolan and Johnny Sabatini are one and the same.

There's a crest of his face on the crypt in the mausoleum.

Harry Bowman was the one who was after the money?

Is that what you mean?

It's dark, so it must be night.

I can see my mother now.

There used to be a picture of us in this room.

I'm asking her to play the harpsichord for me before she puts me to bed.

She's frightened.

Mother's frightened.

What frightened her, darling?

Borman. She's crying.

I can hear his voice.

It's about the money.

He's threatening us.

We're running upstairs.

To hide in this room.

Go on, child, about the money.

Did you know where it was?

I can't think.

All I remember is somehow we escaped through the yard to the church.

I hear my mother screaming.

I'm running through the night and the weeds and the branches hurt.

Keep talking, child. It'll do you good. Why'd you go to the church?

I'm frightened.

Try, child.

What was there? What was hidden there?

The money, maybe?

I don't know.

All I remember is that dragging foot following.

But first, a passage of some kind.

Sylvia!

Harry Borman. He's after me. It's Harry Borman. Come on. I know where you can be

safe.

Mr. West, where are we?

We're in the Nolan mausoleum.

The mausoleum.

Yes, of course, the mausoleum.

Think back, Sylvia.

Has there ever been a statue in here?

A Madonna.

Madonna where?

There's a tall man with gray hair. He's telling me about the Madonna statue.

He's showing me.

What does it look like?

Madonna, can't you see it?

The statue, it was right here.

What was that?

Thanks for finding it for me, Mr. West.

Harry Borman.

Quite right. Harry Borman.

Harry, I want to see it.

Now.

Laura Samples.

My dear good friend.

Efficient, dependable, but somewhat greedy.

Now would you kindly get away from that crypt?

that, Mr. West?

And don't you make no funny move, neither.

So the whole town's not except for Swanson.

Think of it as a corporation, Mr. West.

And before we take care of you, I want you and Captain Nolan's lovely little

daughter to share in my happiness.

Joe, Carson, give me a hand.

That's right, Foreman.

You didn't find it before, and you won't find it now.

Watch your step, little lady.

Underfoot.

For Sylvia.

Would you read it to me, please?

Yes, certainly.

To all whom it may concern, here before God,

let it be known the attached document hereby entitles Miss Sylvia Nolan

to her rightful heritage as owner of all Nolan properties.

in and about Calliope, Missouri, including the Nolan home and the

acreage on file with the territorial governor's office east and south of the

town, as indicated on the documents, by orders of Captain Aylmer

E. Nolan.

Well, this is what he wanted her to have, Jim.

Well, that's it, Annette.

That's it, Jim.

I pulled your chestnuts out of the fire for you, covered myself with a little

glory, and rescued a little lady from a fate worse than, well... By the way, how

is Sylvia?

Oh, she's fine now, thanks to Sabatini's gift.

Back to Washington, Annette?

Nope. I'm off on a well -deserved vacation.

London, Paris, or Rome?

I'm going to make a big dream come true. And you know what my big dream is?

I'm going to spend a vacation all alone...

On a desert island.

Jim, see you. Good luck.