Original subtitles

Remember me?

On your date.

Sit tight, Peggy.

Thank you.

He ran out.

I waited at the club until closing time, but he never came back.

Okay, Peggy, what happened?

I don't know.

Everything was fine. We had dinner at my house, and afterwards...

You know, while I was doing the dishes, he and Toby played, and then at the

club, Gabe was going great.

Then wham, a sudden change.

You know how musicians are. They're temperamental cats. Who knows what got

them?

Are you trying to make me feel better?

Mm -hmm.

Well, I would, except you and I know how Gabe feels about his horn.

So he said it's like his heart. Without it, he's dead. So?

He left it at the club.

Did you try phoning him?

That's another thing.

He never gave me his phone number.

I called directory assistance.

He's not listed.

And I checked with someone from the musicians' union.

I got his address.

I drive out there.

It's a vacant lot.

Gabe ever talk about himself?

No.

I did ask him where he was from, though.

And he said, home was always the last place he'd been.

I got the message, so I stopped being nosy.

It's a marvelous restraint.

Hold down the fort.

Joe.

Thanks for the trouble.

Where did he get my bill?

Hello, Gabe.

I knew you'd come back after the horn.

What else do you know?

Nothing except what you're going to tell me.

Nothing to tell, Danny.

Not even to Peggy?

Okay.

Tell her I'm sorry.

About what?

The stand -up.

What else?

I got a split, man.

You gonna follow me?

You know it.

What can I do to stop you?

Tell me the truth.

Is that a promise?

You got my word.

Story, man.

Story about a little boy and a horn.

Little boy meets horn and falls in love at first sight.

The little boy grows up.

And he loses the horn. That was ten years ago.

I needed bread.

I hawked it.

Then I got a gig at the roadhouse.

And a man needs his own horn.

And I broke into that pawn shop.

And I borrowed my horn.

But I never made that roadhouse.

I made a prison road gang instead.

So like they say,

I've paid my dues.

You gonna follow me?

Nothing you've come up with yet's gonna stop me.

How about this?

You wouldn't use that on me, Gabe.

You're not the kind.

You're right, man.

I'm the other kind.

Push me too far and I'll use it.

On me.

Do you think he meant it?

Well, he had that no -nonsense look, so I let him be.

What could have made him that desperate?

Well, I could give you a few guesses.

What's the matter?

Someone's out there.

Before, while you were gone, I thought I saw a man looking over here across the

courtyard, but he moved on.

Now he's back.

Get back to the door where he can see and just act as if you're carrying on a

conversation. Go on.

Of course I'm worried about Gabe.

Why would he disappear?

Everything's going so great for him.

look, Peggy.

I never saw him before.

Well, I saw you.

I thought you'd hear from the club.

And you figure she'd lead you to Gabe Johnson. Yeah.

You want to say that?

My name's Walt Finley.

Of course, Gabe never mentioned it, not after they would. I'm from Mayersville.

That's a nice little town down what you folks up here like to call Dixie Way.

Chief of police?

Yeah.

Small world.

Truth is, I haven't seen or heard of Gabe for close to, let's see, about

eight years.

Yeah, about eight years.

Then I come to L .A. for the law enforcement officer's yearly to -do, and

I spot just by sheer coincidence? But old Gabe Dillon.

That's his true name, Gabriel Dillon.

You didn't know that, did you?

You know, they say you can tell a corner at play by the sound of his horn like

it was his voice or something.

You know, I'm told that.

Yeah, I don't got an ear.

I never would have known it was Gabe, except he lifted his glasses off for a

second there.

Yeah, small world, isn't it?

See, Gabe and me, we go back a long time.

About ten years.

Not it was picked up.

I was the arresting officer.

I suppose there's a reward.

Oh, yeah.

One thousand dollars.

Well, uh, don't spend it all in one store, huh?

Tell you what.

You name your favorite charity, and maybe we'll send it there.

Where's Gabe?

She doesn't know, so forget it.

Now, he paid the rental on that cornet. He served his time.

He told me the story.

Oh, maybe he didn't tell you the whole story. You see, he's an escaped

He served only nine months on a ten -year sentence.

Ten years?

That's the way you were handed out down there?

Mr. Mannix, I don't make the laws. I just enforce them.

Ten years?

For lifting your own coronet?

For assault with a deadly weapon.

Hit and run.

He tried to kill a man.

Joe, what do I know?

Just a guy in a booking business.

A little schnook agent.

Come on now, Barney. Knock it off. My head's zinging. I don't want to take it

out on you. I've got to find Gabe for his own good. Will you trust me?

Word's out, Joe.

Cool it on Gabe.

Where is he? Is he in town?

Why not? Ellie's got a big underground. You know that.

I don't know where underground.

When you go underground, you've got to keep moving.

What about stops?

Well, all along the way, there are back rooms and empty houses.

Gabe can't stay away from that horn too long.

You got to jam.

You got to jam.

Hi, Gabe.

Go ahead and finish. We can talk later.

Cool as fell in, son.

I just wanted to leave here peaceful, Joe.

Gabe.

Finley's got a license to gun you down.

If you run... It's better than going back to that road gang.

You didn't tell me the whole story, Gabe.

You left out the part about the hit and run.

I had nothing to do with that except take the blame.

I didn't hit and run anybody.

Okay, so I... I took this hard and I paid for it.

Now, I'm not going to die for something I didn't do.

All right, Dean.

All right.

Now, if that's the truth, maybe I can... Maybe I can work out a new trial. A

new trial?

Man in Marysville.

Look, I'll make a deal with him at first.

Man, there is no deal down there but a ball and a chain.

Gabe, you just can't keep running.

Now let me handle it.

I'll work out something.

That's something.

I'm obliged to you, Mr. Mannix.

If I hadn't tailed you, I never would have found old Gabe Dillon.

And I really fouled that one up.

You did what you thought was right.

Do you think it was right?

He didn't mean to hurt him.

Meaning I didn't help him.

Do you believe Gabe about that hit -and -run charge?

I'd like to.

I do.

No strings attached.

Mr. Mannix's office.

Yes, Ed.

When?

Why? I'll tell her.

Sid Morley said that Gabe's on his way to Marysville.

What the... What are they trying to pull? He's got a right to extradition

proceedings?

Gabe waived extradition. I knew he would.

So that's that. No, that's not the end of the line.

A crime and a trial ten years old?

As Gabe figured, what chance?

You dig a little deeper.

In that town?

All right, it'll be a little rough.

Impossible. Look, Peggy, get me the first plane you can to Marysville.

There's only one plane.

You'll get there about dawn.

I'm sorry, Mr. Mannix, but your visit to the prisoner cannot be approved.

Why not?

Rules.

Which one?

Keep Gabe under wraps until you can ship him upstate to a road gang?

We don't have road gangs. Now, look, I want to see the prisoner.

But I can't arrange that, Mr. Mannix, because the prisoner does not want to

you.

It'll probably be a little while.

No, I never let go when I got a live one. I'll wait.

Oh, here we are.

The State versus Gabriel Dillon.

That's it.

Well, sir, it is indicated that those records are not here at this time.

At what time will they be here?

Well, sir, that's... Hard to say.

Yes, sir.

Oh, you better have a good reason for laying that there.

The chief would like to see you, Mannix.

Thank you.

What's the matter, Finley?

You afraid of something I might find in those records?

What happens next?

They get burned accidentally?

You are really working yourself into a sweat, Mannix.

Just look at you.

Listen to you. And all that energy wasted.

While you're hopping around town here.

Like a flea on an old hound dog.

Hmm. Yeah.

Yeah, I forgot how it is around here.

Sleepy time down south.

Everything's slow and easy.

$1 ,000.

Reward for the apprehension of Gabriel Dillon.

Like I said, Mannix, name your favorite charity. It's yours.

You know, I've heard of buy -offs, but...

That's a beaut.

You really are suspicious, aren't you?

Well, being in your business, you wouldn't be able to trust most people.

Especially since you've arranged it so I can't see Gabe.

Me?

Who told you that?

Finley.

You expect me to believe you.

Nope.

Come here, Mannix.

I want to show you something.

I did arrange this.

State versus Gabriel Dillon.

Proceedings are all there.

What are you after, Finley?

Really?

Well, first, apprehending Gabe was just a job to me.

Don't tell me you went through all this trouble just to sell me on the idea

you're one of the good guys.

You know...

The minute you met me and you heard the way I talk, found out I was a cop, you

sure had me all figured out, didn't you?

Talk about your stereotyping.

You figure every law officer from down here carries an electric prod sticking

one hand in the leash of a vicious police dog in the other.

Well, some of us have gone along with the change because, like it or not, it's

the law.

But some of us even approve of the change.

Maybe you can...

Take that message back with you.

What about Gabe Dillon?

He had a fair try.

I'm satisfied he's guilty.

Maybe.

Help yourself.

You'd best turn to the testimony of Harvey Boylan.

It's a dog -eared page.

I thought I could save you a little reading time.

I remember it all, just the way it happened.

It started when I saw this car pull up across the street.

It looked kind of funny parked there, and the lights turned out.

Then I saw this nigger get out from behind the wheel.

The way he looked up and down, I had an idea he was up to no good.

I saw him slide into that alley and force the door of the pawn shop.

So while he was in there, I figured I'd better get his license plate now.

Just to play safe, I wrote it down to be sure when I reported it.

Then I heard steps coming out of that alley.

Then I saw the nigger, the defendant over there.

I ducked back into the shadows, but it was too late.

I figured my one chance was to run for it, so I ran.

I heard his car start up. I ran even faster when I heard the skid and screech

his wheels.

I'm glad they caught him. I'm glad they caught him.

He can fry.

Dear, please, you're just upsetting yourself.

Clearly. So, Mr.

Mannix, you are now looking at the world's only talking vegetable.

Harvey, that isn't funny.

Somebody might see the humor of it.

How about you, sir?

Mr. Boyland, are you sure it was Gabe Dillon's car?

You're hearing it from the horse's mouth.

Ten years is a long time.

Events, faces dim.

Not his.

Mr. Boylan, you said the car was bearing directly down on you.

Yeah.

And the headlights were in your eyes.

So?

With the glare of the headlights, how could you have seen the car clearly? The

more important.

How could you have seen the driver?

Look, mister, you said you read the record.

Well, I did.

But naturally, the prosecuting attorney didn't ask you that question.

That negro, that black, or whatever it is you're supposed to call him nowadays,

had counsel to defend him.

Appointed by the court?

I checked that lawyer.

Apparently, you spent more time drinking at the bar than practicing at it. Now,

he didn't ask that question at all.

Nobody doubted you.

Dylan did it.

There's no doubt about it.

You're taking his word against mine, ain't you?

That's right.

You can get out of my house, mister, and get quick.

No use talking to your kind.

You don't know what they're like.

Mr. Boylan, I am sorry for you.

In more ways than one.

Mrs. Boylan, thank you for the lemonade.

Thank you.

Hotel, Mr. Maddox.

I changed my mind, Dave. Let's go.

Something wrong?

You can bet your badge something's wrong.

Anything I can do to help?

You know, I haven't quite figured you out.

Well, take your time.

What do you want?

I told you, a fair shake.

Come on, you're up to something. What's the angle? Ah, there you go.

Stereotype me again.

Anything I can do to help, Maddox.

Okay, Finley.

Call off your dog.

He's been in my heels ever since I left Boylan's place.

I didn't even know you was at Boylan's. What's the matter?

Break down a communication between you and that character with a white hat?

Well, you can tell him in person.

He even tailed me here.

He's parked right outside in his... What's the matter?

Okay, so you called him off.

There's no man in a white hat or any other kind of hat.

tailing you under my orders.

You know, Finley, I'm going to figure you out. Mannix, there's a message for

at your hotel.

I wonder how you knew.

I left it.

Made special arrangements for you to see Gabe Dillon.

Look, Gabe, I'm here because of you.

That's funny. I'm here because of you.

Gabe, I'm trying to do a job.

You need your job in L .A.? Look, I just could turn up something.

What are you going to do for an encore part, the what is?

Don't make it any tougher than it is. Okay.

I'll make it easier for you.

I'm giving you A for effort.

I'm clearing your conscience.

So you can skip along now.

you should have zagged.

So what?

Everybody's entitled to one little mistake.

Everybody's happy now.

Dave, where's the nearest car rental?

Over on 3rd and J.

You gonna go out on your own, huh? Yeah.

See you around, Dave.

Hold it right there.

No gun. I'm just... Can I show you my identification?

No show. Tell.

Charlie Willis. I got an office in the Braddock building.

I'm in the same business you're in.

I don't like being tailed. Who's the client?

All right, all right.

Why should I get my head beat in? I don't even know who the client is. Come

come off it. I'm telling you, that's the way it is. Look, I was hired by phone.

I got my retainer in the mail in cash, and there was no return address on the

envelope. So just how do you report to your client, take an ad in the paper?

Well, this came with a retainer, typewritten like the envelope.

I was ordered to phone that number every day at 4 o 'clock and report.

Who does the phone number belong to? I don't know.

Where's the phone located?

Well, I didn't investigate.

Look, I just get paid. That's all I care about.

Not a curious man by nature.

You know, Willis, you're in the wrong business.

I know that now.

Now, tell me, what did your client's voice sound like on the phone? You know,

what sort of voice did he have?

Oh, it wasn't a man.

It was a woman.

You're getting today's report straight from the horse's mouth. Item one, I ran

into Charles Willis a little while ago. Item two, here I am.

Phyllis Judson Garth, married.

What does Mr.

Garth do?

Garth's lumber and building supplies.

Okay, now we've got all the names straight except one.

Gabe Dillon.

Who's that?

What are you going to do?

Call downtown.

You mean the police?

Who else?

Now, wait.

There's no reason why I should take the blame. None of it was my idea, including

hiring Willis. Roger made me do it. It's all his fault.

I just don't see why I should go on paying and paying all these years.

He was very drunk that night.

I begged him to let me drive, but, oh, they think they're such men, especially

when they're drunk.

He hit and ran, and then when that negro was arrested and Boylan identified him,

Roger thought he saw a way out.

I couldn't say anything. My lips were sealed.

Roger doesn't just threaten, he means it.

All these years, he felt he was off the hook.

And then you had to show up.

I'm glad you did.

Where is he now?

At the lumberyard on Trenton Street.

Everybody else will be gone by now.

I was supposed to drive over there after talking to Willis. What do I do now?

Go home.

You should know Roger has a gun at the lumberyard.

Mr. Mannix, I want you to understand I

am innocent.

Where were you all those years?

Let's start again from the beginning.

Maybe there's something you left out.

Now, look, I told you.

I wasn't firing to hit him. I wanted him alive.

I was only trying to scare him down. I missed.

Purposely. Well, maybe you're just a bad miss.

What are you, court jester?

Right, he's entitled to his opinion.

Now, you got it all straight.

From the time I met Charlie Willis until I phoned you from the lumber company.

Would you come in, please?

Mr. Garth, I'm terribly sorry to trouble you at a time like this, but you could

help us by identifying Mr. Mannix.

Mr. Mannix, the gentleman you were talking to this afternoon.

I never talked to that man.

Hold it, hold it. Wait a minute.

Miss Garth, you have been through an ordeal, and you're understandably

Not about him.

I never saw him before in my life.

All right, Miss Garth.

Thank you.

And again, I'm terribly sorry to have bothered you.

You're taking her word.

They are facts.

From the facts, you were shot in the hand, returned to fire, and killed

Now, that only might be self -defense.

You're forgetting one thing. What about Gabe?

You're not going to even question Mrs. Garth?

On what grounds?

Okay, she claims she didn't see me.

What about Charles Willis? She hired him.

Call him in.

Randall?

Charles Willis Mannix, I personally checked.

He has no office in the Braddock building like you said.

There is no Charles Willis private investigator.

As a matter of fact, there is no Charlie Willis anywhere.

You got anything to add to that, Mannix?

If not, you'd best stick around while I check a few things out.

There was a shooting and a killing, and you're in bad trouble.

Finally got you figured, Finley.

You knew just how far you were going right from the beginning, didn't you?

A man with a badge, fair, with a conscience living down the past.

Leaning over backwards so far until you broke my back.

I forgot you had a personal stake in Gabe's case.

You were the arresting officer and the investigator.

You wouldn't want that can of beans opened up again, really, would you? Not

after ten years.

How would that look on your record?

Mannix, you sit real tight in your hotel room.

You hear?

Did that car break down?

Listen, Dave, if you had a foreign car and you wanted to keep it tip -top

where would you get it serviced?

Hmm. Only one shop. The best in town.

Gardner's.

Beauty, huh? Yeah, yeah. That's exactly what I was looking for.

Not for sale.

Seat. Oh, thanks.

Just brought in for servicing, huh?

Uh -uh.

Here all the time.

Belongs to Hal Gardner.

He owns the place.

There he is over there now.

He likes to talk to foreign car buffs.

Yeah, so do I.

Yeah, he's a pretty good.

Listen, uh, you mind getting him over here?

No. Sure.

Hey, Hal.

Yeah, Ben?

There's a fella over there. A bug on old Mercedes Benz.

Thought you might like to.

That's funny.

Said he wanted to talk to you.

Now he's gone.

What'd he look like?

No. Let Mannix stick his neck out.

Sheriff Finley will blame the whole thing on him just like we planned.

You know you...

You really shouldn't have called me to your place, Hal.

A widow in a bachelor's pad.

I mean, we did agree to observe a respectful period of mourning.

But since I'm already here, I suppose you fully intend to take

advantage of me.

Helpless, terrified,

defenseless. Tiger.

What's this?

Love at the zoo?

Like I said, there was a man in a white hat.

What's the matter, Gardner?

Tiger got your tongue?

Tell me, did she talk you into using me to get rid of Garth or...

Was it his bright idea to make me the patsy?

You know, Mrs. Garth, I've been having serious doubts about your version of

hit -and -run.

Would you like to change the story?

No?

Okay.

I'll just call a third party to liven up the conversation.

No, wait, Mr. Mannix.

I think we should talk a little common sense.

Such as?

I mean, what is all this effort over Gabe Dillon? I mean, how much money

he have given you?

After all, he is... A black.

Just another colored man.

What's the difference?

Operator, Mannix.

Sorry, operator, wrong number.

I must say, you're a cute couple.

Yeah, well, the late Roger Garth, he didn't think so.

He kept us apart ever since that night that we rode off together in Phyllis'

and he followed us.

See, Garth agreed to keep his mouth shut about Phyllis being the driver of the

hit -and -run car as long as she come back to him and live with him.

Roger was big for appearances.

So Garth didn't want me digging into the case any more than you two did.

Mm -hmm. Yeah.

He played right along.

Only he never knew to what extent.

I guess that kind of wraps it up.

Uh -huh.

Yeah.

Except for this.

That's right.

Sorry, Gardner.

Your car registration gave me your address. I've been waiting for you. So

go, huh?

Look.

Reynolds?

No, no.

Don't tell me why you're here.

I don't mind telling you.

Waiting for you to finish.

You figure I'd dig deeper and faster if you ordered me to stay put, huh? It was

a long shot.

Sure worked out, didn't it? You know, that's beautiful, Finley. That's

beautiful. I did all the dirty work, all the running, all the sweating. Well,

like you said, sleepy time down south.

Everything's slow and easy. Okay.

We're changing.

Finley, tell me one thing. You didn't have a tail on me. How did you know I

here? One of my men.

Like I said.

We're changing.

Come on.

I'll give you the last ride in the cab.

Boy, this is some house.

so so

Thank you.