Original subtitles

In the years following world war il

organized crime in the United States grew

to such proportions that its scope was greater

than the law-enforcement agencies that tried to fight it.

But finally, in the nation's capital,

the senate investigating committee presented

a new threat the gangland

and panic began to grip the overlords of threat

they sought a new central headquarters for their operations.

A city where they felt they could be safe.

They chose the Miami area.

A vacation wonderland,

a mecca for tourists who swelled the normal population

of 600,000 to more than two million in the winter season.

A city where the tough honest police force

was inadequate in size to protect

the tremendous overflow of people.

Then, out of sheer necessity,

a way was found to crush crime in Miami

as senator George smathers of the state of Florida relates.

The organized crime flourished in the

Miami area at one time,

I am proud to say that no vestige of it remains.

This picture ably shows what a few courageous citizens,

honest politicians and tough alert police agencies

can do to rid their cities of ganglands influence.

The instrument and the method may be different

in each instance, but the end result

can always be the same.

This story of the world's most powerful

crime operation begins at the Miami international airport

at one of the landing platforms

for the Cuban American airline.

Flight nine arriving from Havana Cuba.

Flight nine arriving from Havana Cuba.

Passengers will use gate 15.

On monterey island which lies between

Miami city and Miami beach in biscayne bay,

a regular monthly business meeting had taken place

the afternoon of the murders on the million dollar estate

of a man named Tony brill.

How old is she?

20 in June.

Comes from Milwaukee, father sells vacuum cleaners,

mother works at secretary to brewery.

The kid's name is...

I know her name.

Send her to Detroit

she can work as a shill for Marshall

alright.

Teddy's seeing her too much.

His mind must be on business.

You worry about him like a father.

Why?

A man needs somebody to fill his shoes.

I wouldn't know

I only have a maternal instinct for a mink and sable.

What didn't we cover this afternoon?

Johnny Lopez's report on the San Francisco area.

The bookie receipts are 20% off from last month.

Maybe the pool in San Francisco is a

little too deep for Johnny.

And we didn't cover Moore's tab on slot machines in Vegas,

but I hear it's alright though.

The overall picture is pretty good.

How about you?

Model agencies up 3%,

escort bureaus have slacked off a bit

but I'll get after them.

We interrupt this program to bring you

a special news bulletin.

Honey I wanna hear the news.

You can read it in the paper.

One of the most brazen murders

in the history of crime took place tonight

at the Miami international airport

where two Cuban passengers aboard a

Cuban American airlines transport was shot to death

as they alighted from the plane.

All indications point to a typical gangland killing.

Police are starting an immediate investigation.

Though so far there are no witnesses.

A statement is expected from police chief belman shortly.

We will report any new developments as they occur.

Back to Ronnie sharp and his music.

Thank you Robert.

Right on.

If there were trouble we would have

heard about it on the radio

there'll be no trouble

he has medals from the army for his marksmanship.

Did he ever show them to you?

No, he saves those for the younger girls.

Hiya Ted!

See, there was no trouble.

How's it going Johnny?

Fine Ted, come on in.

Good boy.

Bravo

thanks Tony.

Everybody's having a good time.

Meeting over already?

Oh, just a couple odds and ends to clean up.

I don't think Havana will give us any more trouble.

Hold on to your job at the airport for a couple of weeks.

Till the heats off then quit.

Oh yes, Teddy, about this girl.

I haven't seen too much of her

and I don't have that kind of time.

Get rid of her.

I like that boy.

All that day, at Miami police headquarters

and into the night, police chief belman,

capable head of the Miami force,

conducted his investigation into the murder

of the two Cubans at the airport.

Come in Max.

Everyone employed at the airport is screened

before he's hired.

We double-checked, nothing.

Hiya Max.

Well what about the rest of the passenger list?

All clean, no records.

Well, stay with it Simmons.

Right chief.

You got something Max?

The answer from Cuba.

The two guys were Emilio canida and Pedro Gomez.

Muscle boys for the Cuban gambling syndicate.

Yeah?

Oh, they handle the bolita lottery in Havana.

Muscle job?

Maybe they're trying to organize a breeder rack at Miami

without asking Tony brill's permission.

So you think this is brill's town too?

Chief even that senate committee

couldn't hang anything on him.

Two million people soaking up the sun,

losing their money gambling at night and everybody's happy.

Stores are making money, the hotels are jammed.

Isn't there anybody besides me

who cares if this is brill's town?

I'll stay with it chief.

Yeah

As a result of the editorial

by Charles earnshaw, a plan began to materialize.

For not all of Miami's citizens were indifferent

to the hold the crime had on their beautiful city.

In the study of the earnshaw home,

the first meeting of the committee of five was held.

Fach man had been chosen

because of his outstanding civic leadership.

Present besides earnshaw were Juan stanza,

a Cuban importer and exporter.

Dennis teller, owner of one of Miami's

large department stores.

Frank alton, one of the directors of bar association.

And Clifton staley of the hotel association.

Mr. earnshaw, in theory your plan is good, commendable,

but how should I say it?

We are babies in the woods

what do we know of dealing with criminals?

What we don't know we can learn.

That's theory too.

It's taken Tony brill and his mob years

to establish their business,

it would take us just as long to stop them.

You say brill has tremendous influence.

I think we have friends too Mr. earnshaw.

We can fight influence with influence.

Well gentlemen, this isn't a country club arrangement.

If our identities become known, it could mean our lives.

Or the lives of our families.

Whatever we do, we must use great discretion.

The utmost secrecy.

I'm a lawyer Mr. earnshaw.

I believe only in facts.

And the fact is we have no direct weapon

with which to fight brill.

Brill's weapons will be brass knuckles and guns.

How do we fight those?

Since you brought up the plan

for this committee Mr. earnshaw,

I've given it considerable thought.

Violence is brill's weapon,

and we're not violent men.

But if it takes violence to fight violence

then I think I know where to secure such a weapon.

We'll listen to any suggestion.

Well 12 years ago I saved a Chicago gangster

named Mick flagg from the electric chair.

Flagg was one of the toughest mobsters in Illinois.

A hard man.

When he was arrested on a murder charge,

the court was inclined to throw the book at him.

But to me, certain elements in the case didn't make sense.

I decided to defend flagg because I thought

he was innocent and he was

I won an acquittal for him,

but it was a close enough call

that he realized his position.

And he was smart enough then to give up the rackets.

After the trial Mick flagg disappeared.

I'm not sure that he's still alive.

But if he is and he can be found,

we'll have our weapon.

But to bring an ex-gangster into our confidence...

The police wouldn't do such a thing Mr. teller.

But we're not the police.

That's one advantage we have

in trying to stop Tony brill.

Mr. alton's right.

This man flagg can teach us what we must know.

How do we find him?

A newspaper can do many things Mr. earnshaw.

If it's possible at all,

you can see that we find this man.

Or that he finds us.

Registered at a small beach hotel

was the girl who had been on the plane

with the murdered Cubans.

Her name was Holly abbott

and the working of the committee

was to drastically alter her life.

But at the moment, all she was aware of

was that she lived in sheer terror,

fearing the same fate as that of the two Cubans

others whose lives were to feel the effect

of the committee of five was an Indiana farmer

who called himself Mike Pierce and his son Gil

You got him pop you got him!

Hey rocket, wait for me!

Count fragile Clancy, why you always

have to get there first?

Next time I'll beat you to it.

When I'm older and have longer legs,

bet you don't beat me then.

You get better all the time kid,

you almost beat him that time.

Sure.

We'll get some beans off the west acre.

They'll go good together.

That was a heck of a shot.

You're really the greatest pop.

What do you need now Gil, huh?

An advance on your allowance?

Hey!

Hey you two guys, cut it out!

Come on, stop.

Take it easy.

Come here.

Stop it.

Now wait a minute, wait a minute.

Gil, I thought Joey was your best friend?

Yeah!

I'll sock him in the nose, that's what!

Whoa, whoa, take it easy both of you.

Now what's this all about?

Get him out of here!

Get him out of here!

Alright Joey, maybe you better go

till 1 get this straightened out.

You ain't gonna get nothing straightened out, Mick flagg.

You heard that pa

he says your name is Mick flagg.

It's in the paper.

Pa, I called Joey a liar.

He is isn't he?

The papers a liar too.

Our name's Pierce, everybody knows that.

Gil, listen...

That is your picture in the paper.

Ain't it?

Yes son.

I'm going...

Gil

Joey will tell all the other kids,

even if they don't see it in the paper.

I'm going into town.

You stay in the house son.

I wouldn't leave the house now for anything.

Why did you run it Harry?

We buy that Sunday supplement from New York

just the way it is.

We don't even print it here.

You know what it's done to us?

To me and Gil?

1 think I know

why?

Why do they do it?

What's the idea?

I'm a farmer now, they can't hang me for that!

I can't tell you why Mike,

but it must be very important.

They wouldn't even turn it over to the police

for a routine check.

I got an off-the-record note.

Every editor in the country got it.

It was signed by Charles earnshaw,

publisher of the Miami daily express.

Miami?

Know a man named frank alton?

Alton?

Lawyer?

Yeah

years ago.

The letter from earnshaw authorized the editors

to give you transportation and expenses

to go and see alton in Miami.

From the trouble they went to to find you,

this must be something big.

It's not gonna do Gil any good.

Take him with you,

so he doesn't have to face other kids here.

Sure.

Only I have to face him.

You'll go?

I don't know Harry.

And if I do I'll take Gil with me.

The next morning Mick flagg

and his son Gil were on their way to Florida.

The boy was left with friends who owned

a citrus grove near Orlando

and flagg continued on to Miami alone.

$50,000.

$50,000, it's a lot of money Mr. flagg,

but we don't want you to turn us down.

You guys keep your identity secret

but I don't, is that it?

I'm supposed to be the lone patsy in this setup.

No

I'll never get a chance to spend a dime of that 50,000.

The money will be placed on deposit in your son's name.

But we're not paying you to die.

Maybe brill won't know that.

Now this deal still boils down to who gets killed first.

Tony brill or me.

If that's the way you look at it, we don't want you.

Look, brill's not that inaccessible.

Any police officer could shoot him down.

We want him alive in court,

where we can prove to him and the rest of his kind

that the law is stronger than they are.

Grab him on a tax charge, anything.

You know better

brill's smarter than Capone was.

He doesn't leave any loose ends.

And as fast as our chief of police bellman

shuts down one of brill's places

he opens up somewhere else.

Belman says the only way we can close up

the entire r and I syndicate

is to get the top man Tony brill.

That's what he's waiting for.

I'm not going to make a speech, but you've been around.

Look Mick, you know as well as I do

what the mobs are doing today.

How they're corrupting school kids,

making them shills for all kinds of rackets,

involving them in ways that couldn't

be printed in a newspaper.

You've got a lot of arguments.

I've got one more.

12 years ago you were tried on a murder charge,

because Tony brill framed ya.

When'd you find that out?

A lot has come out since brill

and his mob moved into Miami.

Look, you can kick or gouge or hit below the belt, anything.

Nobody will interfere.

Belman will back you up all the way.

Who's brill's check man?

Check man.

When gambling syndicates take checks

at their tables they never endorse 'em

and they cash 'em at out-of-state banks.

Banks do business with these gamblers?

Yeah, a bank doesn't know it

but usually one of their cashiers

is on the syndicates payroll.

Check men may carry as much as a

quarter million dollars in checks.

Very interesting.

You're giving us a lesson or an answer?

You know what brill did to me?

You know what that newspaper story did to my boy.

Is there any other answer?

You're gonna arrange for a talk with your police chief,

I'll find out who birill's check man is myself.

Thank you Mr. flagg.

I'll take care of everything.

You'll have all the cash you need to work with

and Mr. staley will arrange for your hotel suite.

Okay.

Mick

thanks.

You saved my life once, maybe it's a good thing

you saved it for something like this.

I only hope I live long enough

to see how it all turns out

And none of the hoods who ever worked

for brill are in jail now?

Wait a minute.

Mott, Louie mott.

He was a bookie for the brill mob

but they made him the goat in a big operation.

He's the only one serving time.

Spring him.

And make it seem like I'm the one with the influence.

I want him to be more scared of me than he is of a brill.

Louie will be all yours.

Send him to my hotel.

Through the behind-the-scenes efforts

of the committee and police chief belman,

Louie mott was released from jail

on a trumped-up parole.

You're out of jail mott, what are you worried about?

Mr. flagg, I was paroled.

I never even applied for no parole.

I know how things are with you and brill

and I need good men who hate Tony so you're out.

Please Mr. flagg, not so loud about

me hating brill...

Look mott, I'll tell you once and that's all,

I'm moving in on the r and I.

Brill is finished.

Finished?

Yeah

you want a good spot in my setup

you tell me what I want to know.

Such as?

Who's brill's check man?

Please Mr. flagg, I ain't no pigeon.

Get out.

In an hour you'll be back in jail.

Please Mr. flagg, please.

You mustn't say such things, not even joking.

Who is he?

Delacorte

the kid Ted delacorte's his name

he's a killer Mr. flagg, but you must never...

Nobody's gonna hurt any of my boys Louie.

Tell me, delacorte do that job at the airport?

I don't know, but it figures.

He does all of brill's dirty work.

But if you ever found out that I was the one,

he'd step on me like I was a mosquito maybe.

You're through being a mosquito.

Here, get yourself some clothes, expensive ones.

I want my boys to look good.

Kiedis, this reminds me of the days when...

Get yourself a room downstairs.

I'll call you when I need you.

Thanks Mr. flagg.

I'll be waiting.

Give me 857-891 please.

Hello alton, flagg.

Okay, I'm ready to let brill know I'm in Miami.

Have earnshaw on a story and hint that

I'm in back at that Cuban gang.

Yeah, I want to be tied up with those two

who were killed at the airport.

He'll try to kill you too.

Uh uh, he'll have to ask questions first.

Tell estanza I want five or six Cuban detectives

good ones, who won't be afraid to work with me.

Belman could give you the men.

No, the r and I probably has a tab

on every man on the Miami force.

Besides, I want real Cubans.

Brill must think that they're part of my mob.

Yeah

now look, brill has a man by the name of delacorte.

Delacorte

tell chief belman I want a 24-hour tail on him.

Let me know the minute he tries to leave town.

He's the check man.

I'm telling you Mr. flagg,

that story in the paper this morning

is going to get us both knocked off.

And two such knocked off characters you'll never see.

You're still live in I ouie

I know, but they're liable to scratch me in the next race.

You know what happened to me today?

I runs into cully O'Brian,

he looks me right square in the kisser

and he says to me, he says, "Louie" he says,

"you're out of jail."

And he looks at my brand new clothes and he says,

"say" he says, "it seems that a guy can make

"more dough in jail than he can on the outside.

"It ain't like," he says to me,

he says, "who does the guy have to know

"to get into this jail?"

I'm telling you Mr. Flagg, I don't like it.

Culley works for brill.

He's liable to tell Tony that I'm out.

Yeah, good night Louie.

Oh but Mr. flagg, I don't want to stay in the room alone.

Talk to yourself Louie,

you can't get into trouble that way.

Yeah I know, but...

Stay right there Mr. flagg.

No matter how much you take off

my gun will keep you covered nicely.

That's supposed to be funny?

It should be.

I've been sitting here for three hours

trying to think of something clever to say.

Now you said it, what do you want?

My name is Holly abbott.

I saw that story in the paper this morning.

You wouldn't need that gun to make me talk to you.

I'll keep it just the same.

Until I find out whether that story is true or not.

You don't recognize my name?

Should I?

You should.

Gomez and canida we're friends of mine in Havana.

You know lots of names don't you kid?

Maybe taking a big chance spilling them to me.

Only if you're a phony.

That's one of the chances I'l have to take.

Ow!

Either that's an act or you're not so tough.

It's an act.

I could cry like this whenever I want to.

What you want here?

I was with Gomez and canida on the plane

the night they were killed at the airport.

I figured I was next.

I thought if you were really connected with

them you'd help me.

What'd you do in Havana?

I danced at the El Columbo.

Where's the rest of it?

I went to Cuba looking for my sister.

You gotta do better than that.

Please believe me

I've been trying to find her for eight months.

She just disappeared.

And then I found out she was in Havana.

So you latched on to a couple of hoods

like Gomez and canida huh?

I found out they know my sister

but the she left for a better job here.

When Gomez said he had to go to Miami

he said I could come along.

He'd help me locate her.

He'd,

he'd been trying to date me for a long time.

He thought this was it.

And all he got was a slug in the head.

You don't believe any of it do you?

No I don't

if Tony brill wants to find out what I'm doing here

tell him to ask me himself.

I didn't lie to you.

I'm not very good at shooting people,

so I took all the courage I had to come up here tonight.

I won't bother you again.

You ever do any gambling?

I know my way around a crap table.

We're going to the biscayne club.

That's Tony brill's main gambling house,

I might be recognized there.

Yeah

they make a pass at you

I'll know you're telling me the truth.

You don't want to go, clear out.

I'll go.

Where ya staying?

The riviera Plaza

all right, we'll stop by there,

you can change that dress for something

that'll make them notice you.

Let's go.

Tony said you were here.

This is Cora Gibson, she's gonna work for ya.

Give her a rundown.

Who sent you?

Mr I oker

he's a very good friend of mine...

Okay, sit kid.

Lots girls work for me honey, you'll just be one of them.

And don't think he'll get any special treatment

because of Loker.

Oh I won't miss abbott

you have the looks

but you have to be smart too.

I graduated from high school.

That's not what I mean honey.

You have to be smart about men

now we'll give you leads on all

the rich ones you can handle.

Your job is to steer them to the

biscayne club for their gambling.

You'll get 1% of whatever the sucker loses.

Do I make myself clear?

Yes, I think so.

Well that's all

I'll call you when I have your first date ready.

Loker's waiting for you at the casino.

I'm happy to have met you.

It's alright kid, it's mutual.

Now blow

can't Johnny dig them up any younger?

This one's practically middle-aged.

You know the young ones bring in the biggest suckers?

Yeah

I wonder what kind of a family a child like that comes from?

What's the difference?

You got 'em all stopped.

You like 'em older like me

bad Teddy.

Not all

just special ones.

I'm only special to Tony.

You forgetting that?

You know how Tony thinks of me.

I tke a son

we share things.

Maybe you share them in college kid,

but not in this league.

You saying that for my benefit or yours?

Man killer and lady killer.

Huh kid?

Tony'd hear you if you want to yell.

You're not going to grow up at my expense kid.

Someday you may be top boy.

If I'm not too old, see me then.

You won't be too old.

The ultra smart biscayne club,

with its illegal backroom gambling

was a spot where rich vacationers could gather.

Each winter season the club showed a profit

of well over three million five hundred thousand dollars

because the crooked tables and dealers

could control losses

Hi kid

Tony.

Robert and I were watching you

when you walked into the casino.

Just from the way you walked,

I bet him a dollar that Gwen didn't argue too much

about taking on lokers girl.

You didn't take much of a chance for a dollar Tony.

He's scared to bet me more than a dollar.

Why shouldn't I be?

You always win.

He wins again the Gibson kids kind of work.

Yeah, you see that?

This kid knows how to handle women better than I do.

With me, Gwen would beef for a week

that the girl was too young.

But it's as I say,

if they're big enough to wear a fur coat

for some rich sucker, , they're old enough.

Catch me on the other side.

Robert

yes Tony.

Be a good fella, take a look.

See how things are going.

Right Tony.

How you walk through that casino

like you're a king or something.

College did you good Teddy.

You know you're better than they are down there.

Don't you know you're better?

Hmm?

Well, nobody's better than Tony brill,

even if they think they are.

A little high up.

Higher.

Every night new fools come in.

Always new faces, there's no end to them.

There's always been gambling Tony.

Since the world began.

It's a good business.

Never end

I hope not.

Sure, why work for money

when people want to give it to you.

Tony.

Tony it's the girl who was on the plane with the Cubans.

Where?

I emme see

Jimmy's table.

The dark-haired one in the yellow dress.

Yeah

more important, the guy she's with is Mickey flagg.

Flagg?

The one was in the paper this morning?

Yeah

that guys not very smart coming here

if he's fronting for that Cuban mob.

The guy is very smart.

Why do you think he comes here huh?

And with that dame?

To worry us Teddy.

To show he's not afraid.

Is that supposed to bother us?

Well, we find out huh?

Tell him I want to have a drink with him up here.

Teddy.

See that the boys take that girl to my place.

I'll be there later.

Cookie, give me my clothes then blow.

I'm gonna have company.

Mr. flagg, my regards for you from Mr. brill.

Wants to know if you'll have a

drink with him in his office?

Sure, be like old times.

Use these kid, I'll be back in a little while.

Mickey flagg, my old friend Mickey flagg from Chicago.

Tony you haven't aged a day.

Wow, you shouldn't try to bluff your old friend Mickey.

Take a look.

All gray.

Nothing stands still.

Business goes forward, people go backward.

Don't tell me, I remember.

Whiskey and plain water.

Unless maybe you like some of those Cuban rum drinks now?

Whiskey.

You know, only today I was thinking about you.

I see something about you in the paper.

Yeah, I saw that too.

I said to myself right away, "that's baloney.

"Mickey flagg wouldn't let himself get

"mixed up with us Cuban small fry."

If he wanted to get back in the business

he'd come to Tony.

I've never been out of it.

No?

Well, how come I never hear about you?

Maybe people hear too much about you.

Well why not?

I'm big business.

I'm like maybe the president of a big corporation.

Here

I pay my taxes.

The sunlight is on me.

Even when those Washington committees want to look me over,

I'm in a sunlight.

Might be a good time to quit then.

Quit? Me?

Why?

Tony I haven't wasted 12 years.

The Cuban syndicate is gonna put the

r and I corporation out of business.

Oh?

You shouldn't try to bluff your old friend Mickey.

It's not a bluff Tony, it's a warning.

From an old friend.

We're moving into Miami.

We've got the influence so don't try to stop us.

We got two of your boys already.

So, you're two up on me.

You think those two-bit bolita pushers

can shove Tony brill around?

Come here.

Take a look.

I'm always in front, always.

I'm disappointed in you.

I thought you were over

the way you did things in Chicago.

If I'm putting on a show for you,

it wouldn't be polite for you not to watch.

Get away from that!

Get around the front of the desk.

The kid will get you first, he doesn't miss.

Mickey, don't, don't, don't hit him again!

Sure Tony.

I don't want to kill him.

I just want him to know I'm around.

Nobody ever lifted a hand to me and lived flagg.

You're okay kid, I like you.

You've got guts and you're ready to stand up for Tony.

I just didn't want you to think you're as tough as Tony

and his mob thinks you are.

We can play any way you want

but we're moving in and we're big.

Don't get in our way.

Now I know I'm gonna kill you sometime.

Your face is pretty.

Could get to look like it was caught in a meat grinder.

Night Tony.

Next time come around on my place for a drink.

Nice going lieutenant.

Our car will be right behind you senior Mike.

Now do you believe what I told you?

I know this much, you're in this thing up to your ears.

I'm getting you an apartment adjoining mine.

I might have guessed that.

You weren't so coy with Gomez.

I told you why.

Your reason hasn't changed has it?

You move tonight.

It's the only way I can think

to keep you from getting killed.

What is this, a wake?

Take a look.

Where did you get this?

The boys in the parking lot

took it out of a girl's purse tonight.

This girl was with the Cuban guys on the plane.

What did you do with her?

Never mind, who is she?

I sent this to my sister a couple years ago.

Tony.

And tonight she was with the guy I was telling you about.

Mickey flagg.

She hasn't done anything to you Tony.

I just got a report that she checked in with flagg

at the San souci hotel, adjoining suites.

Flagg says he's gonna put the r and I out of business.

You know, we don't like that kind of talk honey.

It could be that she's not my sister.

Her name is Holly abbott.

Now, because she's your sister

we be nice for a little bit.

You go talk to her.

We want to know what flagg is gonna do

and how he expects to do it.

She don't tell you,

we sweat it out of her anyhow.

Sister or no sister.

You're a good girl Gwen, you understand such things hmm?

I understand Tony.

We're all gonna be at my place tonight.

You come there and tell us

what your little sister has to say.

Who is it?

It's Gwen Holly.

Gwen.

Oh Gwen!

I've been looking so long.

So as a sister I'm a square.

Come in, come in.

Is something up?

A girl just went in.

I could hear it was her sister.

All right.

You're gonna be on duty much longer?

Two hours, my relief will come then.

Sergeant carillo.

Thanks Martinez

and all they knew in Havana when I got there

was that you got a better job in Miami.

So here I am.

Oh Gwen,

it's wonderful to find you again.

Yes Holly.

Say, what's with this next-door neighbor?

This flagg character?

I didn't think you were the type.

It's not what you think.

Not at all

I came to him because I thought

he could help me find you.

How did you know about him?

Look Holly, I know a lot of things.

Flagg's an atom bomb in this town.

And he's gonna blow up in your face.

Gwen.

They're gonna kill him.

And they'll get you too if you keep hanging around him.

Who are they?

I've almost been killed twice already.

Tonight and at the airport.

I'll give you all the protection you need,

but just tell me, what's flaggs pitch.

Exactly what does he expect to do in Miami?

I don't know a thing.

Except that he has connections in Havana.

Well you were, there you should have known...

This new job you got.

You're with Tony brill.

Look kid, don't go rocking the boat.

Aren't you?

I ook at me

I'm rolling in dough, I'm lousy with it.

Come live with me and I'll put you

next to all the rich ones.

Maybe you can even marry one.

You are in with brill

you're in with him so deep

you'd sell me out to save your own skin.

I'm trying to save yours you idiot!

I'll save it my own way.

Don't give me that holier-than-thou stuff Holly.

You could hoof,

all I could do was shake on top

and wiggle on the bottom at crummy burlesque joints.

See the kind of clothes I wear now?

And you're gonna tell me I was wrong?

No Gwen.

I was

I shouldn't have tried to find you.

So she wasn't worth it after all.

You're Mick flagg?

Yeah

yeah I'm flagg.

And since you're coming here is Tony answer

to what I told him tonight, you can go back

and tell him the biscayne club will be closed down

by the weekend unless he stays out of my way.

Are you out of your mind!

Just tell him, that's all.

Holly...

Goodbye Gwen.

You could have one of the rich ones.

You're as hard and cold as she is aren't you?

Big sister just told you there's no Santa claus

and you're all beat up about it.

Relax, things'll look a lot worse tomorrow.

For a dame like you they always do.

Get out.

Go ahead, get sore at me.

Better than feeling sorry for yourself.

Before he left the hotel,

Mick flagg called an emergency meeting

with the committee at farnshaw's home

then he gave instructions to the Cuban officer

lieutenant Martinez to maintain strict guard

over the girl while he was gone.

I said the biscayne club would be shut down

and it must be

I don't care what connections brill has

I can raid him and close him up,

but it's up to you men to keep him closed.

When does it happen?

Keep your vice squad on 24-hour call

and I'll let you know.

Gentlemen, if I'm right in what I'm doing,

you'll have brill and the r and I right where you want 'em.

In front of a grand jury.

Get a doctor up here quick!

Holly.

Sorry kid.

Lieutenant Martinez with a skull fracture

was the more seriously injured of the two.

Holly abbott suffered a concussion,

but was able to talk later in her room

at the Jackson memorial hospital.

Doctor says you're gonna be all right.

What about lieutenant Martinez?

He tried to help me.

He'll hve.

Can you talk a little?

Who did it?

I never saw them before.

They tried to ask me some questions about you.

Well I told them I didn't know anything.

They thought I was lying.

They beat me.

I can hang an assault and battery on 'em,

but it wouldn't mean a thing.

No, that's not the answer.

What questions did they ask you?

So many.

What was in back of you?

How many men did you already have in Miami?

Mike,

my head hurts.

We better leave her now

Can you stage that raid tonight?

I can have a squad in their club in half an hour.

Don't pull any punches.

My pleasure.

That night, just before closing,

the Miami police hit the biscayne club

and pulled no punches.

Yeah?

This 1s flagg.

You wouldn't listen to me Tony,

instead you had to take it out on a girl

who wasn't bothering you.

Now I'm gonna chase you out of Miami.

The biscayne club is being smashed

while I'm talking to you.

Flagg, look,

nobody pushes me around.

Flagg!

Get me my office.

This is police chief belman, anything I can do for you?

Yeah, what do you want?

It's me, Teddy.

Tony, the club...

Yeah, I know, I know.

Flagg just called me.

Then it was flagg.

He said he'd do it and they did.

Hey, you take the checks out,

out of the safe before those cops

broke into my office?

Yeah

okay, tomorrow take 'em out of town and cash 'em.

Alright Tony.

Now get on the phone.

I have to have a talk with all the boys right away.

Where's my pants?

You think I'm a fool?

Of course they can't prove any connection

between the club in the r and I!

Nothing can be traced Tome orthe r and ll

how you think I stay out of jail all these years hmm?

Just asking Tony.

Everybody makes mistakes.

That might have been one of them.

And you punk, would know when Tony brill makes mistakes?

I talked to Gibbons this morning in Washington.

He's gonna call me back.

Gibbons is a good attorney Tony,

but maybe there are some things he can't fix.

I pay him 200,000 a year to keep me out of trouble,

he's done all right.

He'll call in a couple of minutes,

tomorrow the club will be open again.

We'll see

and you Teddy?

You waiting to see too like these other knuckleheads?

You've always been right Tony,

I don't know why you shouldn't be now.

You see, brains and guts!

Not like...

Gibbons?

Yeah, Tony brill.

Well what about it?

When you're gonna get these lunatics

off my neck so we can open?

Mess?

What kind of mess?

Listen Paul,

I don't pay you 200 grand a year to give me alibis.

Bad news?

The heats on up there in Washington

and he says the whole business started down here in Florida.

Flagg was able to do all that?

It's not healthy Tony.

Not when he could put the squeeze on that big.

Listen, you annoy me.

So now you all think poor Tony.

He don't know what to do with trouble when it comes.

Maybe Tony's getting too old.

You're punks.

I do plenty of checking on Mr. Mickey flagg

these last couple of days

and you know what I find?

He's a sucker for a belly punch.

You know what else?

I'm gonna give it to him.

You know where?

A nice little town

where they grow lots of oranges.

Let me in Mr. flagg.

I tell ya, I'm so nervous I'm shaking.

This is a day I'm not forgetting,

this shouldn't happen to a quarter horse.

I haven't got much time Louie.

Listen to Mr. flagg, I'm walking down the street

like a good law-abiding citizen

just reading my racing sheet.

All of a sudden two cops drive up in the squad car

and the next thing you know I'm getting a free ride

down to headquarters.

And bam, right up to the chief's office.

Bellman takes a look at me and he sniffs.

Like maybe I wasn't using the right kind

of soap or something.

And he says to me, "now look Louie,

"I want nothing from you,

"but you tell the chief boss of yours flagg

"that if he's not down here within 20 minutes

"I'm gonna take it out of your hide."

Mr. flagg, I haven't got much hide.

So I'm telling you.

Belman's getting tough since he closed up

the biscayne club last night.

Okay Louie, you better stay in your room.

Don't worry, I'm through walking the streets.

I had to get you here flagg.

Couldn't take a chance in going up to your place

or using the phones.

Half the hotel switchboard girls are on brill's payroll.

Now he's got the whole town turned upside down

trying to pick up pieces of information.

Now he's scared belman, that's good.

I had to get you fast.

Why?

One of my men reported that delacorte's

leaving with the syndicate checks this afternoon.

That's what I've been waiting for.

His cars at the Norton garage off Lincoln road.

Norton garage off Lincoln road.

Well watch yourself.

Yeah, I'll see ya.

Hello

I didn't know you liked practical jokes flagg.

Oh I'm lots of laughs when you get to know me.

The lights changed.

Bear down on it

all right, so we're playing games.

What do you want?

I've been waiting a long time to talk to you alone Teddy.

Yeah?

Yeah

alone and with the clubs checks

keep moving, your tails are in that sedan in back of ya.

Tails?

There isn't anybody tailing me.

You've got a lot to learn Teddy.

You don't think Tony'd send you out

with all those negotiable checks

without putting a tail on you?

Who do you think you're kidding flagg?

I'm a big man with Tony.

Nobody's big with Tony, take a look.

I've never seen those guys before in my life.

Yeah, they've seen you.

That's what counts with your boss.

Get out on highway 27.

I want to get those eggheads out in the open.

Low and steady.

Back her up.

You boys wants to see somebody?

Okay buddy, so far you're giving the party.

You won't be for long.

My friend and I want to be alone, any objections boys?

He don't go no place without us.

So Tony doesn't put tails on ya, hey kid?

I was hoping he'd do that.

That's for what some of you guys did to Holly abbott.

Look Mac, we didn't hurt her bad.

The dame just wouldn't spill.

Why you.

All right Teddy, now we can talk.

I et's head back to town

I heard you was smart Teddy, just how smart?

Nothing I do gives me bad dreams.

Smart enough.

These checks you're carrying, how much they worth?

About 300,000, why?

How'd you like to keep a hundred grand of it?

What?

100,000 in your pocket.

Covering the state.

You handle bolita right

I put you in charge of everything in Florida.

You'll be top boy Teddy.

Brill will be out, you'll be in.

Just how much of this am I supposed to swallow?

You better take a full dose of it kid

if you want to stay alive.

Remember I could have killed you once before.

I went to a lot of trouble to recommend

you to the Cuban boys.

They know you held a gun at the airport.

They wanted you knock out,

but I tell them he could be valuable to us.

The more valuable you are,

the longer you're gonna be around.

How do I know you can deliver all you say?

You knew it last night when the cops

closed up the biscayne club for me.

Tony wouldn't sit still for that.

You get to me he'd have me killed.

No

You're gonna kill him first.

Kill him?

You're crazy.

He trusts you kid, you could walk right up to him.

Tony always said you could have

his spot when he was through.

This way you won't have to wait so long.

He's given me a lot of breaks flagg.

I thought you never had bad dreams?

I need gas.

You're stalling.

I have to have time to think

all right, just long enough to get gas.

Yes sir?

Fill it up, ethyl.

This is the last thing I'll say kid,

you're smarter than brill.

You can have anything you want.

Or anyone.

You're not giving me much choice.

I'm glad you realized it Teddy.

If you can't beat him you join him.

The boys in Cuba be glad to know what side you're on now.

What do you know about it?

Brill said he was gonna slug ya,

I didn't know it was gonna be this way.

Where will they take him!

Could be any one of a dozen places.

I don't know, I swear!

Cashing those checks can wait.

First you're gonna get Tony.

I want 85-8913

Hello

oh hello Mickey.

Say, I read the papers about your kid.

I'm sorry, I mean it.

It's too bad.

Real bad

what do you want for him?

I want you should go home Mickey.

Go to Cuba maybe and take your gang with you.

And I want my club open right away.

You can have the club

I'll talk to Cuba, tell them they have to lay off here.

Sure, you tell them good Mickey

and don't talk too long

because sometimes I lose Patience

even with my best friends.

Notify your dealers, the club will open tomorrow night.

I" fixe it

I'm glad we understand each other Mickey.

And Mickey, no tricks please.

Because if you do, well what will happen?

This will be too cruel

Deal 'em up.

As soon as flagg returned to town

he called an immediate session of the committee.

For the plan he had devised necessitated

using many of the facilities of the police department.

At the request of the police,

the local Miami television station wivj

worked through the remainder of the night

with the department's electronics experts.

Since flagg said he returned the biscayne club

over to Tony brill the next night.

Television cameras had to be installed

within eight hours behind air-conditioning vents

in brill's office.

These cameras were to televise on a closed channel

directly to police headquarters.

And as Mick flagg had promised,

the next night the biscayne club reopened on schedule.

Just remember, always there is an Ace.

You just have to know how to shuffle

the deck to get it huh Tony?

Flagg thinks because he closes the club

he just walks into Miami and takes over everything.

We show him he's wrong.

You boys are happy again

and believe in your old friend Tony huh?

Yeah, the club opened again tonight Tony,

but you can't hold his kid forever.

I give him until tomorrow to make a deal

he doesn't want this nice kid to die,

so he makes the deal

I tell him he can come and pick up the boy himself.

Nobody with him, no cops, no tricks.

He'll come

but he'll never go back.

We maybe fix Mickey flagg so his kid is an orphan.

You think he'll just walk into it?

He's got to walk.

And now, we go to the club and enjoy ourselves.

Everything set?

Cameras are working fine.

Good.

Was Holly able to get in touch with her sister?

Yeah, Gwen's on a way to the hospital now.

I'll have to hurry.

What about delacorte?

He went for what I told him.

But the gun I gave him has no serial number,

no record in the police files, he'll use it.

10 of the best detectives from upstate

are in the club now playing the games.

Two squads will move in from outside.

I guess that's all then.

The others are here yeah?

They're all here.

Hey, what if Gwen abbott doesn't tip where the boy is?

I'll call you from the hospital.

You said you had a lot to talk over with me Holly.

I hope it means you've come to your senses.

Is that all you have to say

after what brills men did to me?

You walked into it yourself, I warned you.

I took a chance coming here.

And if all you wanted was to

show me your bruises, I'm leaving.

When did it happen?

When did you get like that?

So long Holly.

Wait a minute.

I didn't ask you to come here to talk about me.

It's Mick flagg's boy.

Where is he?

Who says I know anything about it?

Mick knows

he's coming here to see you.

Gwen, tell him where the boy is.

Get this through your head kid,

I'm nothing but a wheel in the r and I.

And wheels don't have a brain and they don't have a heart.

So you can stop trying.

What'd she tell you Holly?

Nothing.

Ah Gwen.

You do it the only way you know.

Mick please.

You're her sister, I'll give you a break,

I'll give you a little break Gwen.

Tomorrow there won't be any more r and I.

Before the night is over brill

and his mob will be in jail where I put 'em.

The rand I is gonna go up in front of a grand jury.

Maybe you'd like that jury to know

you stopped my boy from being killed.

Maybe you'd like me to think a little more

kindly of a dame who owns a couple of

hundred other dame's

I said owned them

pal, you're blowing a fuse.

When I have to be, I'm deaf, dumb, and blind!

You jerk!

Get her out of here!

You dumb jerk!

Get me police headquarters.

Mick

I'll talk to you later kid.

Yeah, chief belman.

Belman speaking.

Belman, this is flagg.

Anything happened at the club yet?

No nothing.

All right, when it does,

I want you to let brill get away.

What?

Do you know what you're saying flagg?

Look, I've stuck my chin out as far as

it goes for you guys, now it's your chance.

Gwen abbott clammed up about the boy.

Okay, brill said he'd kill the kid if he had to

and he'll do it

I want you to let brill get away

so he'll lead me to the boy.

After that, I'll deliver him just where I said I would,

but first I want this one break.

All right Mick.

But if you let bill get away from you tonight

the building's gonna cave in on all of us.

Yeah, sure.

Look, they got a couple of fast cars

and a motor launch out there at the club

cover all angles, I'm going out there now.

And chief, thanks.

If I don't get out of this, you'll be on your own.

Good luck baby.

Mr. flagg?

Yeah

lieutenant wood

the chiefs explained the setup.

This will keep you briefed on what's happening.

It's on a closed channel now.

Okay lieutenant, thanks.

I ook at that

it's just like nothing happened, nothing.

See those tables the suckers are

standing near 3 deep.

The less chance they got the win the more they come.

You know what I think?

They don't like to win.

It's warm in here.

Hot, hot, hot.

Maybe the customers just came for the air-conditioning.

Well, whatever they came for,

get down there make sure that everybody's happy.

Sure Tony.

We want happy losers.

Teddy.

What is this?

Why haven't you left with the checks?

What are you trying to do?

Scare me for Halloween?

Something happened.

Now it's either that you die or I do.

Die?

What kind of talk is that?

This kid jokes.

Put the gun away.

There's a new bandwagon out Tony.

I'm on it

what bandwagon?

Look kid, you've gone off your nut or something.

I eave the buzzer alone.

Flagg's in the driver's seat.

He asked me to go along for a ride as top man.

Top man Tony, you get that?

I'm gonna be the big boy in the state.

No more two-bit trigger jobs like

knocking off those Cuban hood just

because you ordered me to.

Now I'll be giving the orders.

All right, all right.

I promise you, never do you have to knock

off anybody else for me again.

Teddy please, in heaven's name put the gun away.

Flagg's just hot air, hot air I tell you.

What do you want?

Name it, name it, name anything!

You can't give me a thing Tony.

I gotta kill you because I have to.

But why?

Why?

Look at me Teddy, look at me good.

I never hurt you.

Always I pat you on the back.

So you want a piece of the club,

you've got it.

It's mine, I give it to you.

You want to cut of the bookies, you get it.

All over the country.

Teddy, Teddy, you're not listening to me!

You're not big Tony.

You're not big at all.

You're just like any other punk

that's gonna be killed.

The slot machines, I cut you in.

A big cut, a big cut.

You want a percentage of the model agencies,

just ask me, ask me, I own everything!

Tony brill is the r and I!

And he makes you now a full partner!

Now, now!

I give it you on paper!

Teddy!

Blanks!

Blanks!

Flagg gave it to me!

We've been tricked!

Cops.

Tony, what're we gonna do?

What do we do?

You do what you know how to do!

You come with me, kill flaggs kid!

Sure Tony, sure.

Come on.

Go on, go on.

You hear something?

Cut that thing off.

Yeah

maybe they're following us.

Get into the island waterways.

But we'll be trapped in there.

Maybe, maybe not.

Brill's houses is in there Mr. flagg.

You think it's where he's holding the boy?

No, he wouldn't take that kind of a chance.

They can out maneuver us in these waterways Mr. flagg.

Yeah, well they didn't come in here for no reason.

Say, chief belman told me brill has a yacht.

Hey Tom, Monterrey island!

As soon as we finish our business

with Mr. Mickey flagg's son,

then we go to south America.

Tony, I'm sorry about what happened.

You're not sore?

No, I'm not sore.

I think maybe I'm a little disappointed

because you turned out to be a punk like everybody else.

Now get to my yacht quick.

Teddy!

No, no don't, don't shoot!

Don't shoot!

Tony brill.

I said I'd kill you some time flagg.

You all right pop, you all right?

The clock turned back

for Mick flagg and his son.

The boy was happy that his

father was now a hero to the world.

There was however one difference.

Holly abbott had come to visit Mick and Gil

she never left.

And it was here on the Indiana farm

that these three found peace together

as a family.