Original subtitles

Well, Lieutenant, do you still think it was a good dip?

It's beginning to look sour.

I'd be crazy to hit the same place twice in one week.

Well, I got enough narcotics the last time to do crazier things than that.

I'll grab a sandwich.

Fine.

All right, Alex, you want to take that? Okay.

Oh, wait a minute. There's still another guy in there.

Well, he'll be out as soon as he finishes looking at the girly book.

Give me a bag of stuff.

Hey, you're the same kid that robbed us before.

Don't jive me, man.

Give me that gun.

Johnson, don't. Give him whatever he wants.

I'll burn you. I swear.

You don't scare me this time, kid.

I want him alive.

Now look, he won't get far. We'll throw a net around the area.

You get an ambulance.

Good morning.

Your coffee's already on your desk.

Okay, Peggy.

What is it?

What's what?

Well, when you show up bright and early and cheerful as Santa Claus, and the

coffee's already made, then you're after something.

I can't get away with anything, can I?

Well, you can try.

This is a copy of the police report on Danny Laver.

Who? Danny Laver. The police say that he held up a drugstore.

Yeah, I heard something about that on the radio.

He was after narcotics, shot the pharmacist.

Right. Why this? It sounds like an open and shut case to me.

I know it does, but I told his wife that you'd look at the report anyway.

Why?

She seems so vulnerable.

Okay, I'll get around to it later.

Uh, Joe.

Would you get to it now?

What's so important about now?

She's outside in the office waiting.

Okay, Peggy. Yeah, but don't call me. I'll call you.

What do you think the case, do you think?

I don't know, Marge.

Well, he's had 15 minutes to look at the police report.

I know, honey.

Well, shouldn't you go in and ask him?

It's always better to wait for him to call me.

Peggy.

There's no case to take, Peggy, period.

Oh, Joe, just talk to her, please, for me.

Why don't you just tell her what I said, Peggy?

Oh, Joe, she believes so hard.

Maybe she'll let go if you explain it to her.

Marge?

Mrs. Laver?

Mr. Mannix.

How do you do?

Please, sit down.

Mrs. Laver, I'd really like to help you, but this police report gives me no

choice. There's nothing I can do for Danny.

He didn't do what they say he did.

Now they've got an eyewitness that saw him shoot a man, Mrs. Laver.

And Danny also held up that drugstore a few days earlier and got away with a

large quantity of narcotics.

Danny doesn't shoot people, Mr. Mannix.

Well, uh, what you really need is an attorney, not a private investigator.

He didn't shoot that man, and he... And he didn't try to rob that drugstore.

Mrs. Laver...

I know the police officer on this case. He doesn't make mistakes. It's as simple

as that.

Danny didn't have to rob a drugstore. We have plenty of money.

Almost $2 ,000 we have saved every week for a year.

$1 ,920 to be exact.

Where did the money come from?

Danny's been working.

Two jobs.

We were saving for a house.

I can give you his boss's names and their telephone numbers.

Mrs. Laver.

Did you know your husband was on drugs?

Danny hasn't used anything in more than a year.

He couldn't have held two jobs if he had.

This police report says he was high when he attempted to rob that drugstore.

Well, I would have known if he were back on drugs.

I would have known it, Mr. Mannix.

All right, Mrs. Labor, no promises.

I don't think there's anything I can do to help, but...

I'll see what I can find out.

And you believe her, Joe?

Well, she was awfully convincing, Clay.

Did you talk to her?

What for?

You've seen the report on the case. What can I tell you?

Who gave you the tip that labor was going to hit that drugstore?

A reliable source.

Yeah, I guess.

He practically fell into your arms when he came running out of that place.

How did you find that out?

I have my reliable sources.

Oh, and did you also find out that the guy Danny Laver shot is on the critical

list?

No.

I don't get what you want, Joe.

Well, I'm not sure.

Well?

Well, for instance, why would you be staking out a drugstore heist? I mean,

you're a detective lieutenant.

That's like a vice president to us civilians. And vice presidents don't sit

around in cars waiting for somebody who just might come around or then again

might not.

It was my tip.

So I went.

Say, why don't you tell Mrs. Laver to save her money for a good attorney? She

doesn't need you.

Yeah.

Danny Laver has money in the bank. Did you know that, Clay?

Joe. And he was off dope.

Look, we got the barely warm body of a pharmacist in the hospital.

We got a bullet fired from a gun that Danny Laver had in his hand when he came

running out of that drugstore high as a kite.

And you got a witness that saw Laver shoot the pharmacist. I know you got all

the cards.

Then drop out.

Why didn't you let Delaney shoot?

I was just talking to Delaney. I told him you wouldn't mind.

I wanted Danny Laver alive.

My door's always open, Joe.

Look, Clay, if there's some sort of problem with this thing, just say so.

This is no big deal.

Oh, come on, Clay. What's going on?

Oh, pardon me.

Come in, Delaney.

Is there anything else I can do for you, Joe?

What's he doing on the case? I don't know.

You want something?

Yeah, I was going over the file here on Laver.

Can't find the ballistics report. Well, it's got to be around here somewhere.

Hey, whenever you're through.

Delaney.

What we want the public to know about this case is in the report. Do you

understand?

Anything else is to be cleared through me.

You mean that goes for Mannix, too?

It goes for anybody.

Not in the department.

Okay, Lieutenant.

Anything else?

Yeah.

I want to be kept on the labor case.

You've got plenty to do.

Look, I'll bring him back in one piece, if that's the way you want it.

You mean as a special favor to me, you'll bring him in alive?

I wasn't trying to kill him.

Just trying to fire over his head so he'd be scared to stop running.

Okay, Delaney. Thanks.

An awful thing to have happen.

And for what?

He shouldn't have tried to get the boy's gun.

That was the same boy who got away with the narcotics early in the week?

Yes, the same. There's no doubt about that.

I yelled at Johnson to give him what he wants, but... Yes, miss?

Thank you.

But... Oh, well.

Too late for buts now.

Why do you suppose Johnson didn't give him what he wanted?

I don't know.

He did the first time.

He gave him almost everything we had, which is exactly what I would have done.

And I told him so.

That's strange, isn't it?

Maybe he was embarrassed.

I told him a hundred times. It could happen to anyone.

Have you ever been robbed before?

No, never.

Maybe it was just his luck.

Too bad.

He knew most of my customers by name, just after a few weeks.

How few?

Four. To the day.

You were robbed twice during the four weeks he was here, but never before.

Not in seven years.

Tell me, where did you find him?

Well, I advertised in a pharmacy, General. He sent me a letter and a

He worked for a chain in Miami.

Now, wait.

You don't think that... Well, I don't know, but... if he was on the take, he

sure got the short end.

I couldn't be so wrong.

Johnson was a nice man and a good pharmacist.

Check him out. You'll see.

You're sure about Johnson?

Absolutely sure.

He had a reference, all right, but it turned out to be an empty store in

The phone number?

An empty apartment.

After I checked the reference, the phone was disconnected.

Call Mrs. Laver.

Find out if Danny was ever in Miami or if he's got any friends there.

Still looks like he's guilty, huh?

Yeah.

That's what bothers me.

I've never seen anything fall apart so fast and still look exactly the same.

Yes, Doctor, I'll take care of it.

Dr. Escobar, if any guest, please.

Dr. Escobar, if any guest, please.

Excuse me, this is Mr.

Johnson's room, isn't it? Yes, it is.

What can you tell me about him?

Nothing. I'm sorry, Mr. Mannix.

Order.

By the way, do you still have that pretty secretary?

Are you fair? Yeah.

Please tell Peggy that Richard Tompkins Jr.

says hi.

Will do, Mr. Tompkins.

Thank you.

Dr. Burroughs, please call 125 West.

Dr. Burroughs, please call 125 West, Dr. Burroughs.

Nurse, how is the patient in 620 doing?

Mr. Johnson is off the critical list, but his condition is still serious.

Could I see him?

No visitors.

I'm sorry.

Has his wife been by?

White?

No, no one.

Not since I've been on duty.

Maddox? Thank you, nurse.

Clay?

Hey, who's Johnson?

He's a pharmacist with a hole in him.

A sick man should have visitors to cheer him up.

He's in very serious condition.

Come on now, a bullet wound's not a contagious disease.

Who is he, Clay?

Mannix. Now, look, I can't possibly know more about Johnson than you do. Why

don't you level with me?

I'll let you know when Labor's in custody.

You'll be the first to know and the first to talk to him.

Until then, why don't you just... Look, I checked out that bullet -scarred

pharmacist you've got locked up down the hall. He's a phony.

The reference he gave was an empty store in Miami.

And I checked with the state office that licenses pharmacists, and they never

heard of Johnson.

And I'll give you ten to one that his name isn't Johnson either. Now, don't

me you didn't know that.

Forget it. Give it up. I can't.

The farther I go into it, the wilder it gets. Next thing you know, I'll find out

where you fit in.

Clay, you better protect yourself.

I'm going to ride this all the way down.

What are you selling, Voted?

Advice. Stop digging into the Danny Laver stick -up.

Oh, you've been reading my mail.

Keep your nose out, understand?

Or what?

Or I'll blow it up.

Now, why would the mob be interested in a small -time stick -up?

You're working too hard. Take a vacation.

Starting now.

It's sure nice to have friends who care.

I'll just make sure this stretches.

One favor deserves another.

Panic!

It's your nose.

want me off of the case.

Why?

Don't know.

I watched Johnson's hospital room for many hours and the traffic was zero.

Including nurses?

Doctors and everybody.

It's pretty strange for a man who just slid from critical to serious.

Maybe he's treating himself.

Mrs. Laver wasn't any help, huh?

No. You think she's telling you the truth, Peggy?

Oh, yes, of course.

Hmm,

he's right on time.

Give my regards to Richard Tompkins, Jr.

Okay.

Oh, and Peggy, if you can find out anything from him about Johnson, give me

call, huh?

Whatever time it happens to be.

This is going to be a social evening.

I was only kidding.

You aren't kidding and you know it.

Go on, have fun.

Thanks. Oh, Peggy, would you leave me Mrs. Laver's phone number and address? I

thought I might... Mrs. Laver's phone number and address are right there on

memo pad.

So it is.

I told her to expect you this evening.

You'd be by.

Oh, you did?

Mm -hmm.

I know you wouldn't be satisfied that she didn't know anything unless you

question her.

Peggy, look, I was really kidding about trying to find out something from

Richard Tompkins, Jr.

Unless, of course, he happens to volunteer the information, then I think

very rude of you not to listen.

I'll do what I can.

I'll see you tomorrow.

They've been there all day long.

Same two men.

I've been afraid to go out.

That's a good idea.

And I wouldn't let anyone in either.

Okay.

What would the mob want with Danny?

They must be working for them.

No, I can't believe that.

I just can't.

I hate to dent the faith you have in your husband, but I can't think of any

other explanation.

You haven't dented my faith, Mr. Mannix.

I asked Peggy to get a list of Danny's friends from you.

She didn't get any.

Since we've been married, Danny's given up his old friends.

Except for the people he works for at the restaurant and the garage. He

have friends like you're talking about.

Nobody that would hide him from the police.

What about relatives?

None he trusts.

I just can't believe that there'd be no one he could turn to.

And I don't think I'd rule out his old friends.

Well, I do.

Sorry.

I was just trying to help you.

I sound awfully sure of myself, don't I?

Yeah.

That's okay, too.

Well, maybe... Maybe it is wishful thinking.

Danny's father lives in town.

William Laver.

I've never met him, but I don't like him.

Because of what Danny told me about him.

You think Danny's hiding that?

No.

I don't think he'd go there if his life depended on it, not after what his

father did to him.

But I could be wrong.

After all, he's got to hide someplace, doesn't he?

Television, television, that's all you do is look at television.

You can only get one channel because you're too cheap to have it fixed.

What? Is Mr.

Laver in?

Yeah, he's here. Could I talk to him? Come on in.

Mr. Laver?

Yeah, that's who I am.

My name is Mannix. I'm a private investigator.

Could we talk?

Go ahead, talk.

It's about your son, Danny.

We just stopped talking.

I'm looking for Danny.

Well, he ain't here.

He ain't got brain one.

But he's smart enough not to show around me.

Clara, give me a beer.

And you haven't seen Danny lately?

Not since he was 15 and I kicked his rump out of here.

Kids. They grow their hair long, they think the world owes them a living.

Clara, the beer.

One beer coming up.

Oh, what's the matter with you?

Now it's all shit. shook up.

What a dame.

Do you have any idea where Danny would hide?

Who might take him in?

I don't know.

Why do you want him?

His wife hired me to get him out of the trouble he's in.

Hired you, huh?

Married a rich wife, did he?

No.

Danny's actually holding down two jobs.

Well, not that it makes any difference, but what's he done?

The police say armed robbery with assault and battery.

His wife thinks he's innocent.

The man he shot is in the hospital.

Shot?

That's right.

You can forget about him shooting anybody.

Why is that?

Oh, you want to know about that, huh?

First father's day present I ever got.

Pretty good, huh?

Why do you think Danny wouldn't shoot anyone?

Because he's chicken.

Not like me, I'll tell you.

Nothing scares me.

Him?

He used to jump out of his skin if a door shut too hard.

Why wouldn't Danny shoot a gun?

Well, when he was a little kid...

Me and him was fooling around with this gun of mine, and it went off, and it

nicked his mother's arm.

Not Clara. She's my second mistake.

Anyways, the kid started shaking all over and crying like a baby.

Later, I tried to get him to use a gun again, but every time he'd get new, and

his hands would shake like he had the DTs.

It's in his army record, too.

Just couldn't handle guns.

Well, uh, thanks.

Say, have you seen the little punk? Tell him thanks for picking me up for 30

bucks.

I only gave you 20.

The other guy gave me 10.

What other guy?

The guy that was here before you.

And what'd you tell him?

The same as I told you.

Who was he?

I don't know what his name was.

He didn't tell me and I didn't ask.

Yeah, I know.

Clara, give me a beer.

Graham, submitting test, please. Dr. Graham.

Sounded urgent.

The boss sent me right out.

It is.

You found Danny Laver? No, but I found his old man. He says Danny couldn't

anybody.

But the drugstore, the guy was shot.

Wasn't he?

Maybe.

Or maybe he's gonna get shot.

What's going on?

Shut up. Move.

Room 620.

Dr. Granville, please call the operator.

Dr. Granville. Just a minute. Nobody goes in there.

Who are you kidding? I dropped off fresh linen yesterday.

That was yesterday. I've got orders. Nobody goes in.

Well, what'll we do with them?

You're done.

I'm the relief man.

Hey, let me have your wallet.

Now, two -finger.

That's right. Now, hand it over. Throw it over here.

You got personnel?

Yeah, have you got a Claude Travis working here?

Yeah, I'll wait.

Okay. No, no, that's fine.

Okay, Travis.

I'm sorry.

It's all yours.

Throw it over here on the bed, friend.

Easy.

Why are you playing like you're shot?

Hey, you're in the wrong room.

You want to take the fall playing dumb? That's okay with me.

Look, I'm just taking orders.

They don't tell me why.

Where's Danny Laver?

I don't know what you're talking about.

We'll find him.

In the closet.

I have my instructions, Mr. Mannix. I'm sorry.

If Johnson is in no trouble, what happened to his police guard?

I don't know.

I think you'd better wait right here.

Thank you.

Don't.

We're not supposed to kill him.

They'll be all over here looking for us.

The pharmacist is a fake.

A cop.

The whole thing's a setup.

Hey, take it easy.

Why didn't you call me instead of doing it all yourself?

Because I didn't trust you anymore.

Yeah.

Well, you probably saved the lives of my men.

Johnson here is one of my boys. He works in the pathology lab.

You see, part of the robbery was planned and part of it wasn't.

You mean the part where Danny ran away?

Yeah.

We staged the whole stick -up.

Johnson here pretended to be shot.

The drugstore owner didn't know anything about him except for the fake

references that we worked up.

So Danny, who used to be an addict, knocks over a drugstore for the

He pretends to shoot Johnson, he's caught, and you put him away without

as long as you want.

Why, the mob?

Yeah, you see, Danny used to work as a liaison man and courier for them on the

north side.

Well, he got married and wanted to go straight, so he agreed to tell us

everything. Names, places, amounts.

You see, the idea was that Danny was going to give us the information while

mob believed he just went back on drugs, knocked over a drugstore, and shot a

guy. Except the last minute he ran.

Yeah, he panicked.

Maybe he changed his mind, I don't know, but he almost got himself shot.

I wonder why he ran.

I mean, he had it made.

Hello?

Yeah, this is Lockwood.

Patch him through to me, will you?

This is Delaney at the labor place.

Well, ask him if the mob is still watching her place.

Anything happening at the Laver place?

Nothing yet.

Anything on the wiretap?

Nope.

Listen, Mannix tells me the mob's got Mrs. Laver's place staked out, too.

Well, that's news to me, but I'll check it out.

All right, you keep your eyes open.

I want Danny Laver.

Okay, Lieutenant, okay.

We'd better find Danny before they do, now that they know Johnson is a shill.

Yeah, well, the problem is that Delaney's checked out all the guys that

used to hang in with, and the girls, going back five or six years.

I saw the report.

He's got no place to hide but the streets.

Never mind me. How are you?

Fine, fine.

Everybody's looking for you, Danny. Everybody.

Yeah, yeah, I know.

I've got someone who's trying to help you.

He's a private investigator. His name is Mannix.

But he says he's got to see you.

I need somebody that I can level with.

Oh, Danny, I know you didn't do what they say you did.

Oh, baby.

I knew they couldn't snow you.

Now, listen.

The thing I miss most, besides you, Marge, is your home cooking.

My home cooking?

Especially your wine, Marge.

Danny. Don't say anything more, baby.

Do you understand?

I'll bet you wish you never met me, right?

You wish you were back being single, right?

I understand, Danny.

Oh, yeah. Gotta go.

I love you.

I love you.

She just heard from him. Do something.

Fast.

Who is it?

Delivery Express.

Pack it for you.

Oh, all right.

I can't get it through there, ma 'am.

Now, Mrs. Laver, if you'll just let me know where I can find Danny, everything

will be fine.

No.

Danny McIslaver.

Where is he?

No.

Please. I really wouldn't want to hurt you.

Really.

across the street. Now, how could it happen?

Well, I just never figured anyone would want to get at her.

Just looked like a guy delivering a package.

All right.

I want a man outside her door till this thing is over. Do you understand?

Yes, sir.

How bad is she?

Yeah, she's had a pretty rough going over.

Why isn't she in the hospital?

She refused to go.

Wants to be here when Danny gets home.

But the doc says she'll be all right.

Look, I like... Listen, she got a phone call from him.

Now, I've listened to that tape 20 times.

He tipped her to where he's hiding, but she's the only one that knows how to

decipher it.

I tried... Look, she won't tell me anything.

Can I talk to her?

Oh, Marge, I'm really sorry this happened.

Well, I didn't tell them anything, Mr. Mannix.

I know.

He just... He kept hitting me.

But I didn't tell him.

Where's Danny?

Before we were married, we... We used to meet.

Secretly at night.

In an abandoned winery.

Where is it?

You won't let them hurt him?

No.

Now, where's the winery?

All right, Joe.

Where is he?

Look, after what happened, she doesn't trust anybody.

Now listen, Joe.

Sorry, Clay.

Danny?

Danny?

Danny?

Danny?

Who are you?

Why didn't March come, too?

She got roughed up a little, Danny.

Is she hurt?

No, take it easy. She'll be all right. Who did it?

The mob.

They wanted her to tell where you were.

She didn't do it.

She's too much.

She's just too much.

Danny, why did you run after the holdup?

If I hadn't, that would have been the end.

It was a frame -up, but...

I was the guy that was getting framed.

See, I recognize one of the cops.

He works for the mob.

And as far as I know, they all might... Which cop?

I don't know his name, but I've seen him a lot. I know he's on the take.

He was with Lieutenant Lockwood, that young cop.

He's about 45, and he never smiled.

Delaney.

What's the difference?

The cops can't protect me now. How do you think you...

Drop and vote it.

Danny!

Don't do it, Danny.

That's the cop I was telling you about.

Danny, lead him to the police. The police? How many more cops are like him?

In this case, Danny, he's the only one.

When did you first suspect him?

Oh, I was suspicious of Delaney when I sent him to tell you.

Since he was the one that tapped the phone and he was the only one that could

have let anybody know.

You were using us as bait, huh?

No, Delaney was being followed by a man from Internal Affairs who was in

constant radio contact.

You know you could have trusted me, Clay?

Look, Joe, I don't think up these plans. I'm just stuck with trying to make them

work.

And you almost fouled him up.

Oh, well, look, I'm sorry if I pushed so hard, but I was beginning to have my

doubts about everything.

Well, that's all right.

No hard feelings.

No hard feelings.