Original subtitles

This is the city, Los Angeles, California.

It's composed of a lot of postal zones:

Bel Air, San Pedro, Watts, Van Nuys, and Hollywood.

For an actor, this is their goal,

a motion picture soundstage.

Most of them never get this far,

but they keep coming,

all types, all sizes, all ages.

Sometimes, they're out here away from home,

underage, and without a parent or a guardian.

When they are, I go to work.

I carry a badge.

It was Wednesday, May 9th. It was warm in Los Angeles.

We were working the day watch out of Juvenile Division.

The boss is Captain Morris.

My partner's Bill Gannon.

My name's Friday.

The Captain was sending a Mrs. Thelma Wade in to see us.

She had come down from Medford, Oregon,

in search of her niece, Patty Lee Bundy,

who had been alone in Hollywood for three weeks.

She was 16 years old.

The story you are about to see is true.

The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

She shouldn't have run away. That goes without saying,

but I can tell you this, Sergeant.

It wasn't all Patty Lee's fault.

There's usually two sides, isn't there?

Sometimes parents make mistakes, too, Miss Wade.

I think they were too strict with her.

That's an old maid's opinion, according to my sister, Myra.

It's not really true. I've been married,

but we didn't have any children.

Yes, ma'am.

Patty Lee is a rebellious little fool.

I don't excuse anything she's done.

I just want to find her.

How is it you're filing the report

instead of her parents?

Because I have a little more time and money, that's all.

They're just as concerned, in their way.

- I see. - No, you don't.

I'm sorry. I don't mean to sound rude,

and I don't like to air the family linen, either.

We understand.

I'm sure you've heard it before.

Patty Lee is an unwanted child.

My sister Myra, she didn't really want the girl.

I used to talk to her.

Heaven knows how many times I told Myra I'd take Patty Lee.

I would've loved to have taken her

and given her the motherly affection

that Myra didn't seem to want to give.

What about her father?

Myra runs that household, believe me.

Whatever she wanted, Roy always went along with.

Weak-kneed, spineless man.

Just look what it's come to. Poor young child.

She couldn't find love in her home,

so she left it to try and find it someplace else.

Does the girl have any money?

Patty Lee had a small savings account,

maybe $100 or so.

She drew it out the day before she left.

She took one small suitcase of clothes.

I'm telling you, I'm just worried sick.

Yes, ma'am.

Why do you think she's in Los Angeles?

Well, she was seen here by a neighbor of ours,

Jim Allison.

He ran into her last Friday

in front of something called The Flower Pot,

one of those psychopathic places.

Isn't that what they are?

You mean psychedelic?

- Yes, that's it. - Was she alone?

No, she was with another little girl,

same type, I gathered from Jim.

He tried to persuade Patty Lee

to go back to Medford with him. She refused.

She claimed to have a job at a movie,

- starting Monday morning. - At what studio?

He didn't think to ask until it was too late.

- What's that? - They slipped away from him!

Joelle, that was this other girl,

excused herself, and Patty Lee went with her!

Jim thought they were going to the ladies' room.

That was the last he saw of 'em.

Did you try The Flower Pot?

Yes, I've been there.

The proprietor, or whatever he is,

claims he doesn't know Patty Lee,

at least not by name.

Would you have a photograph of the girl?

I ought to have brought one, but I don't know,

living in Medford, you just don't realize how big,

how many people there are in Los Angeles.

Out there, most of us know what everybody looks like.

Yes, ma'am.

Suddenly, I had a feeling of complete helplessness,

couldn't think of anything to do,

so I came here.

Well, we'll see what we can do, Mrs. Wade.

You've have a lot of 'em, don't you?

Runaway kids, hoping to break into the movies?

Must be an old story to you.

Does it ever have a happy ending?

When we find them and send them home.

10:45 a.m. After obtaining a description

of Patty Lee Bundy from her aunt,

we drove out to The Flower Pot,

an espresso place located on Sunset Boulevard.

12:00 noon The proprietor of the place

denied knowing Patty Lee,

but he admitted Joelle was a regular

and would probably be in around lunchtime.

Hi. You the man?

- The what? - The man, the fuzz.

'Cause if you are, I'm Joelle.

- We're juvenile officers. - Sit down.

I'm of age. I can prove that.

Suppose you do it.

Could you take it out of your wallet, please?

Joelle Murphy, 18, right there, see?

June 13, 1949.

This is a New Mexico license.

Yeah, man, that's the old homestead,

but they use the same calendar, just like in the big city.

I'm sure.

What's your address, Joelle?

Oh, come on, man! What's all the agony?

I'm no juvie!

Give the man your address.

1981 North Tacoma.

What is it, an apartment, rooming house?

Well, I call it home.

- Do you live alone? - No.

Does a girl by the name of Patty Lee Bundy live with you?

- Patty Lee who? - You heard me,

and you know her. Now, let's have it.

Oh, I gotta try, don't I?

PL's a friend, but she don't live there.

As of when?

Like never, the poor little schnook.

- How's that? - She just is, that's all.

She told me all about it one night.

Told you all about what?

Her folks.

They don't care 8 cents for her.

Her old lady was too busy partying it up all the time.

Her old man's a nothin'.

Look, I'll put it down for you, if you can pick up on it.

I would've blown that scene years before she did.

I don't blame her for splitting.

I don't know, maybe she'll be okay now.

She might pick up a little bread.

- How? - She fell into a thing, man.

- A thing? - Not like that.

Somebody in the business, the movie business, an actress.

She let PL move in with her.

She have a name?

Eva Graham.

And the address?

I don't know, honest.

PL took me over there a couple of times,

but all I remember is

it's just off of Beverly Boulevard,

- somewhere around Doheny. - All right.

Look, why are you looking for PL?

I mean, is she in some kind of trouble?

Nothing she won't outgrow.

Using the information given us by Joelle Murphy,

we obtained Eva Graham's phone number.

She was at home and agreed to wait for us.

12:45 p.m.

Sergeant Friday?

That's right. This is Bill Gannon.

Come in, sit down. It's about Pat, isn't it?

Pat?

The Sergeant told me on the phone

you were from Juvenile. Pat's only 16.

I lie about my age,

but I can't knock it down that far.

It must be her.

- Patty Lee Bundy. - That's the one.

I advised her to cut it to Pat...

Not so square, you know, for pictures.

She ever had a part in a movie?

Two ways of answering that, both no.

Well, I mean, maybe she was lying,

or maybe she met a casting director who was lying.

Maybe it wasn't a casting director at all.

That one still works, you know,

if they're country enough.

You work in pictures, do you, Miss Graham?

Yes, but don't ask me which ones I've been in.

- Why not? - Because if you blinked,

you missed me. Here's my book.

It's a rough way to go.

Too many actresses, not enough parts.

It's just murder to try and make ends meet.

I keep promising myself I'm gonna quit,

and then I get a call for a walk-on,

and I'm right back in it.

And then it starts all over again, waiting, hoping.

- It's a tough business. - Yes, ma'am.

Do you have any idea where we might locate Patty Lee?

Can't help you, I'm afraid.

I haven't seen her since last Sunday morning.

What do you really know about her?

I mean, did you check on her home life?

You've gotta pity the kid.

Is that so?

Oh, she was about as welcome in her own home

as a case of the measles. She told me all about it.

Neither one of her parents would give her the time of day.

She left home to prove something,

try and make something out of herself,

so her father and mother would be proud of her.

Poor little kid.

Why'd she leave your place?

Because she knew you'd be coming.

As soon as that Joe from her hometown spotted her,

she knew it was only a matter of time,

so she moved on.

Is that right?

The way she tells it, Sergeant,

her place up in Medford, it's not much of a home.

Do you know how we can get in touch with her?

No. She wanted to give me a phone number,

but I said no thanks. I said to her,

"Honey, what I don't know won't hurt you."

Suppose she got some calls here,

how would she get them?

Well, who'd be calling her?

Maybe somebody with a job.

It'll never happen.

Look, fellas, she's a little country girl,

just got out of low heels, hasn't lost her baby fat yet.

All she's got is a dream and a few photographs,

carries them around in that old brown envelope.

- This one? - Mm.

I told her she could have that binder,

as soon as I can transfer my stills to a new one.

Go ahead, take a look.

Real pinups, aren't they?

Queen of the Apple Festival, high school cheerleader.

I think her boyfriend took that one.

- We'd like to keep - those for a while. Take 'em.

Did she leave anything else with you?

Everything else, she was wearing.

She have any money? Would you know?

I gave her bus fare.

To where?

As far as 50 cents would take her.

Where'd you meet her?

She hustled me for a hamburger

in a joint on Hollywood Boulevard.

Why'd you take her in with you?

Because she reminded me of somebody

I used to know a long time ago.

Who's that?

Me.

1:30 p.m. We ran Eva Graham through R & I

and found that she had been arrested three times

in the past five years...

Twice for 647B, prostitution,

and once on a 311-2 of the Obscenity Section.

The arresting officers were Sergeant Les Zabel

and Officer Don Shaidell of Administrative Vice.

We went up to the Pornographic Unit to talk to them.

Graham, Eva Graham. We know a Graham, don't we?

Yes, we do. Hold on a minute.

I can tell you this much, Joe. Our Graham's no juvenile.

Neither is ours, but she had one living with her for a while.

- A runaway? - Yeah, 16 years old.

Came here to get in the movies.

If she sticks with Graham, she'll make it.

Yeah, we've got Graham on film, Joe.

If you'd like, we can run it for you,

or you can look at the stills.

No, we've seen her stills.

I don't think you've seen these.

That her?

Yeah, that's her.

You got a picture of your juvenile?

Not that kind.

No, don't know her.

The way the producers keep turning this junk out,

we're never right up to date, of course,

but so far, she hasn't turned up on our stuff.

Let us keep one of these pictures.

Hope it doesn't do you any good.

Knowing Graham, she didn't adopt a kid

out of a good heart.

If Graham steers her into this racket,

who'll she be working for?

You want names? We can give you two dozen.

It's just the shooters, photographers.

They make them quick, sell to a distributor.

There's at least 100 of those.

How do they get the stuff processed?

Illicit labs. They set them up in a garage.

Nothing has to be permanent.

To shoot the film, all you need is a camera,

lights, and somebody's living room.

And people like Eva Graham.

There's no shortage of talent, Joe.

Les, how they get young girls to do this?

Is the money good?

What did Graham tell us she got paid?

$75.

And Graham's a star, a leading lady.

75's top dollar.

Then money isn't the reason.

No, but you've got to be a psychiatrist

to understand what is.

Yeah. What are the odds

the Bundy girl will get involved?

Well, what's her background, Joe?

Generally these gals have a bad environment,

broken homes, usually.

But not always. Remember the Hanford girl, Les?

She was from a nice small town family,

not much love in the home.

Girl like that falls in with the wrong people,

she's apt to go the whole route.

Sound like your girl?

On the button.

Monday, May 14th.

In our search for Patty Lee Bundy,

we checked the usual hangouts

of aspiring and unemployed actresses,

without success.

If she had been seen in any of the discotheques,

psychedelic places,

or crash pads frequented by juveniles,

nobody would admit it.

Tuesday, May 15th. All we could do

was assure Mrs. Wade we would continue our search.

She decided to remain in Los Angeles

another two or three days.

Wednesday, May 16th,

we got a call from Don Shaidell in Ad Vice

asking us to come over.

He thought they had something for us

on the Bundy girl.

2:00 p.m.

Joe, Bill.

Don said you might've turned something for us.

We'll know in a minute. He's down in the lab.

You've really got quite a collection here.

You name it, we've got it.

Books, magazines, Tijuana bibles,

films, stills, devices.

Pornography's a big business.

We get an average of 100 complaints a week

on mail order alone.

Do you have any idea what this stuff

grosses annually on a national basis?

No, how much?

2 billion dollars a year.

And see all those paperback books?

- Yeah? - Cost ten cents to produce one.

The publisher's profit for one book

is about 60 cents.

We've got a local distributor here

sells over four million books a year.

Pretty good take.

Now, these films range from $15 to $50,

and color is double.

Producer hires himself a cheap cast,

he really makes a killing.

We picked up one film dealer last month.

We checked his records.

He'd bought 3,600,000 feet of film.

He chopped it up and put it on 200-foot reels.

He got 15 to 35 bucks a reel. These guys do all right.

Is all this pornographic?

That's a matter of opinion.

According to the U.S. Supreme Court,

to be obscene, the material has to be

patently offensive, appeal to prurient interests,

and be utterly without redeeming social importance.

Yeah.

A complaining witness thinks something is hardcore,

we pick up the evidence.

The city attorney or DA says it isn't prosecutable.

From past experience, he knows the judge will rule

it's not pornographic under the definition of the law.

Tough to get a conviction, huh?

Look at it this way.

The whole ball of wax, 8mm films,

model studios, magazines.

It's a sort of a "tinkers to evers to chance" operation.

When one of these operations loses a case in court,

the smut pusher doesn't really feel a bite.

The first and second convictions,

under California state law, are only misdemeanors.

The court could fine up to $10,000

and hand down a one-year sentence,

but it never has.

What's the average sentence, Les?

$50 to $75 fine.

And like Don says, they make that much in an hour.

What's the answer?

More strict interpretations of the existing laws

by the courts, or maybe the federal government could help.

They could enact laws that wouldn't be ruled unconstitutional,

and they'd be less apt to be affected

by prior court proceedings.

Our obscenity control laws are difficult to work with.

It's a rough way to go,

but we haven't done too bad at that.

What's your conviction record average, Les?

Around 95%,

but there's a lot that we lose on appeal.

These smut boys are pretty clever.

Like anybody else making a living outside the law,

they're experts in walking the chalk line.

The laws are confusing. They really take advantage

of the constitutional rights ruling.

The only time a guilty verdict is allowed to stand

is when the upper courts refuse to review the case.

When it does overrule,

it's usually over a matter of constitutional rights.

There's nothing wrong with constitutional rights,

but when they're used to break the law

or cheat around it,

it makes the job almost impossible.

- I see what you mean. - Now, take this stuff.

This should make it on all three counts.

Where'd you get it?

Distributor in Hollywood went down late yesterday.

The trunk of his car was full.

We started checking it and thought we recognized somebody.

The Bundy girl? Looked like her.

Just to be sure, we had the lab lift a frame and make a blowup.

This is the picture of her you left with us.

It's a make, isn't it?

Yeah. Will the distributor know where she is?

Not likely.

He just buys the finished production from the shooter.

And no shooter puts his name on his films?

No, but maybe we can help you there.

When you look at enough of their junk,

you begin to recognize a producer's style,

if you can call it that.

Most of them develop certain trademarks.

Now, this guy, he generally tilts his camera sideways

once or twice in every picture he turns out.

Then you know who made it?

Yeah, we know. His name's Cornelius, William Cornelius.

He's been shooting for years.

We've busted him half a dozen times.

Any reason why we can't talk to him?

- Just one, Joe. - What's that?

We don't know where he is.

Well, any way of turning him?

Yeah, but not until he shoots again.

He rents all his equipment, usually from the same place.

Now we've got a line in there.

Might happen tomorrow night,

maybe it'll be a couple of weeks, maybe not.

All we can tell you is when he's ready to shoot,

we'll get the word. We'll let you know.

Thanks.

Well, she finally broke into the movies.

Les and Don had agreed

to inform us of Cornelius' arrest,

regardless of the time.

The call came nine days later,

Friday, May 25th, at 9:30 p.m.

Acting on a tip from the camera rental company,

Ad Vice had raided a house in the Hollywood Hills.

Seven people had been arrested.

Cornelius had not been one of them.

However, it was learned he could be found

in the offices of the Trendel Film Library Service

in the Barkland Building.

It took us 20 minutes to get there.

It's on the fifth floor.

It's a legitimate front.

Just a cover for Cornelius' pornographic distribution.

Did you say the Bundy girl wasn't involved tonight?

No juveniles at all... One old friend, though.

- Who's that? - Eva Graham.

- Yeah. - All right, let's move in.

Bill, we'll cover the rear fire escape back there.

Right.

Now, give us about three minutes.

Okay.

Did you mention the Bundy girl to the Graham woman?

No, seemed like a loss. She wasn't participating,

and we didn't have enough evidence to hold her.

What about the others?

I think we're covered every way.

They were shooting in a house up in the hills.

Seems Cornelius had just bought it,

hadn't had time to move any of the furniture in,

not even drapes.

- Yeah. - They hung blankets,

but we could tell when they turned on their floodlights.

We were staked out higher up the hill.

How are you for PC?

I think we're fine.

We observed Cornelius carry the equipment

from the car into the house

and then take off, camera and lights.

That gives an overt act in the commission of a conspiracy.

Then, just to make sure we had enough probable cause,

we moved down closer.

- Yeah? - Blankets were a bad fit.

We saw all we needed from the road.

Well, Les and Bill ought to be set

by the time we get up there.

Yeah.

One thing Les wanted me to be sure to tell you.

- What's that? - The phone rang.

- Les answered it. - Yeah?

Says it was a girl, sounded real young,

wouldn't give a name.

Les think it could've been the Bundy girl?

It's a possibility.

Whoever it was, she sounded pretty upset with Cornelius.

Yeah?

That's it, Joe.

Police officers!

Open up! Never mind the fire escape.

It's covered.

That you, Shaidell?

Open up or it's coming down!

Hold it, hold it!

No call to damage the property.

What's the beef, gentlemen?

A little party up at your house in the hills.

News to me.

Your friends copped out. You're under arrest.

- Again? - Again.

Conspiracy to prepare and distribute obscene matter.

You have the right to remain silent,

and any statement you make may be used against you

in a court of law.

You have the right to the presence of an attorney.

He wouldn't come out this late,

but I'll manage.

You understand your rights?

As many times as you've said it to me?

I should, don't you think?

Got a new partner? Where's Zabel?

Right here.

Now I feel more at home.

I like doing business with the same old firm.

This is Sergeant Friday.

He wants to ask you some questions.

We'll check the back room.

I don't know if I want to talk to you two or not.

We'll make it easy. One question, one answer.

I'll listen. Where's Patty Lee Bundy?

You gotta ask an easier one.

Maybe she calls herself Pat.

No help. I don't know her either way.

She was living with Eva Graham for a while.

Does that help?

Still never heard of her. You're lying.

You used her in one of your productions.

How do you know it's mine? I don't take screen credit.

You think that's pretty funny.

Let me tell you something, Mister.

That girl's a juvenile. She's only 16 years old!

I've got enough trouble now.

I don't think I'll do anymore talking.

Tell us where she lives.

How about offering me a deal?

We're offering you a chance

to do something clean for a change.

You mean, you don't like my movies?

The public does.

Let me tell you something, brother.

I didn't invent smut. It's always been around.

Laws won't change human nature.

People want their kicks, and if they've gotta buy it

in a dirty little back room,

or smuggle it home in a plain wrapper,

that only makes it more exciting.

- Is that right? - You know it.

We wouldn't be in business

if there wasn't a demand for the stuff.

If I don't make it, somebody else will.

Public wants vice,

and there's no way you can stop them from getting it.

When you make it for kids with kids,

we're gonna give it a big try.

Did Patty Lee phone your house tonight?

Ask Zabel. I wasn't there.

I want one straight answer, Mister.

Where is that girl, and what's her address?

Ask Graham. She knows where the kid is.

She's always known. Now leave me alone.

I'll get Les and Don.

No, I'll get 'em. I need some clean air.

11:20 p.m. We drove out to Eva Graham's apartment,

just off Beverly Boulevard in Hollywood.

Despite the late hour, we didn't think she'd be asleep.

Nearly midnight. Can't it wait until morning?

We're in a hurry.

No phones where you people work?

Well, you made the trip for nothing.

I haven't heard from Pat since I told you.

That wasn't the question, Miss Graham.

We want to know where she is.

I don't know.

We were told you do.

We were told you've always known.

Who told you that?

- Cornelius. - He did?

That's right. Now where can we find her?

I don't know why I should tell you.

You told us before you liked her.

You felt sorry for her.

She'll do all right now.

- In those trashy films? - You'd better believe it.

I'll match my bank account with yours any time,

plus your friend's, too.

Is that enough, Miss Graham? No regrets?

If you had to do it over again, would you go the same route?

No, I'd be a movie star

and make a million dollars a picture!

Come on, I told you before how it is.

Oh, something I didn't tell you.

Do you know the first thing they ask an actress

in this town? Have you got any film?

How can you have any film

when you just got off the bus

from Armpit, Alabama, or someplace?

That's what you came to Hollywood for,

to get a screen test!

Only they cost a lot of money.

How do you beat it?

I didn't beat it, so I don't know.

Then how did you get started this way?

I met a guy who said he was a casting director.

He showed me how to get some film

and make the rent money, too.

Nothing very bad, a nudie.

There's a dozen theaters in town

showing them right now.

Go on.

I liked the guy, even if he wasn't a casting director.

And if you have enough to drink,

nothing seems so bad at the time.

Is that how the Bundy girl got into it?

- Close enough. - But after she appeared in the film,

she didn't like it. She was scared and sick when she saw herself.

Isn't that it, Miss Graham?

Stupid.

You've gotta have a license to be that stupid.

She made the film!

She had to know people were going to look at it!

How did you feel when you saw your first film?

I don't remember.

All right, suppose you tell us where she is.

So you can go out and run her in?

So we can try and straighten her out

and send her home where she belongs.

I can give you a phone number.

That'll do it.

I guess I still feel sorry for the kid.

Well, at least she made it to Hollywood,

and she got in front of a camera,

even if it was the wrong kind.

She'll have something to remember.

She'll have a lot more to forget.

12:55 a.m.

We gave the Business Office Division

the number supplied us by Eva Graham

and asked for an A check.

Within five minutes, they gave us an address

north of Hollywood Boulevard near Highland Avenue.

1:05 a.m. We found the place.

In the early days of Hollywood,

it might've been a mansion.

Now it was a rooming house, and the rates were low.

We got here late.

Reds.

Here's the reason.

"To Whom It May Concern."

It's not sealed.

"To Whom It May Concern."

That's all it says.

That about covers it, doesn't it?

The suspect was found guilty of conspiracy

to violate Section 311.2, Penal Code, State of California,

in that he knowingly produced obscene matter.

The suspect was given a six-month sentence

in the county jail, which was suspended,

and he was fined $500.