Original subtitles

Thank you.

Thank you.

for me!

Leave the car!

Hey.

Hey, man.

You all right?

What's the matter, man? Are you all right?

What's wrong?

Please. You must help. Please.

There's a man being murdered.

Please.

Stay there.

Hey, you. Stop right where you are. Don't fool with me. I used to be a cop.

I didn't do anything. I just found him up here.

Please, I tell you. I didn't do anything. I didn't do anything.

Timmy, Jeff Hansen's daughter are your lawyers. They're going to need some

information. Maybe I'd like to pick my own lawyer.

Listen to me, young man. I am trying to help you get out of a very big mess.

Please!

They're not just lawyers, Tim.

We're damn good lawyers with an excellent dismissal record.

We're also expensive lawyers. No way you could afford us.

But your father and I are old friends, so I'm taking this case for nothing.

Which you should be profoundly grateful.

Can you get me out of here?

That is the objective.

Now tell us what happened.

Last night, my father and I had a fight.

I didn't sleep home.

You didn't tell him?

What would be the point?

Frank, it kills him that I'm not what he wants me to be.

So I got a bottle and I went out to get stoned.

I woke up because somebody tossed a baseball bat on the car where I was

sleeping.

I got out to see what was going on, and there was this guy on the fire escape.

Unconscious, sleeping, I didn't know.

My head was going in circles.

And that's when that other guy came.

That would be L. Kenneth Cuspin, a former police officer, now a security

consultant.

A baseball bat is some strange tourism.

We've checked you out, Timmy. A juvenile offender record as long as Constitution

Avenue. But I didn't kill this guy. I didn't kill him.

You want my opinion?

Always. Please bargain the kid.

Take a five to ten max for manslaughter.

Dismissal is better.

A kid with a record like that, his fingerprints all over the baseball bat.

He's the son of my friend.

Yes, I know.

The glorious 60s. You and Rourke on the march together for peace and civil

rights. That's not a bad platform.

Keep it in mind.

Sure. I want to get to the Hill someday.

And those are the people whose votes I'll need.

They're scared for their lives, and I don't blame them. People locked in their

houses. Children afraid to walk home from school.

You know, it... Dad.

Are you all right?

Yes, yes.

I'm fine.

Dad, we should talk.

Cynthia.

I was just thinking, no one sang those blues like Billy.

No, no, she sang them and lived them.

Great prison, dope.

Nobody spared any of it. Billy Holiday didn't have a friend like you?

The man is determined to embarrass me. I would never do that to a promising

young attorney.

Young? Was then, when we met, trying to keep angry children from going the wrong

way.

Nothing's changed very much. I still have a weakness for trying to get young

people out of trouble.

Fact is, I'm representing one now.

Against all odds.

Headline. Young man is picked up with a baseball bat. But not a motive for

murder. He didn't know the victim, didn't steal from the victim, and as far

we know, neither one of them was cruising.

Here I go.

I need your help.

Last two months, I pulled a blank on who else might have killed the victim.

The trial starts Monday.

Everybody's afraid to talk.

Everybody? What Dad means is nobody will talk to us.

Why?

Well, the victim's black, my client's white, my position is not very popular

the victim's community.

Victim have a name?

And an address.

I'll see what I can do.

Is there an established price?

Absolutely.

Nothing.

Established a long time ago.

Oh, damn.

No, no. I can clean up after myself.

Old man's messing. My father used to call it.

Sorry.

No need to apologize.

Exterminator. Place got bugs.

What?

Bugs, you know what those are.

Man from the office calls, they need to exterminate.

Didn't say what to exterminate, though.

You gonna use that thing or what?

If not, put it down on the table.

Sit.

trouble, okay?

Just get out of here.

Now, this is the room of, uh, Leonard Melrose. Would you agree?

What? He's dead.

Yes, I heard. Head was bashed in with a baseball bat. You'd know anything about

that? What business is it of yours?

Private.

No, I don't know anything. I'm, I'm...

Just a landlord. I rent out rooms to anybody.

Rent to me?

Well, since you're not willing to talk, maybe you'd be willing to listen.

I am looking for the man who swung at Leonard Melrose and connected.

He's in jail.

Could be someone else.

Could be you know who it is.

Could be you tell him that I'm looking for him.

Name's Hawk.

I'm here to collect.

Yeah, okay. You like to take money, but you don't like to pay, do you? All

right, take it easy. Let me tell you something.

I'm here to collect.

I can find you anywhere, anytime I want.

At the house, your garage, even in your own bed.

You name it. You understand what I'm telling you? Yeah, yeah.

I see you got my message. You got one for me?

Yeah.

Gonna have to lay off that Melrose case.

Uh -huh.

This is really a mugger. Give me your wallet.

Give it to me!

My, my, my. High Sheriff.

Ex -Sheriff Arnold, huh?

You know, you should have stayed retired here.

I'm Joe Nevins, U .S. Attorney's Office. I'll be prosecuting for the district.

I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Nevins. This is Counselor Adams, my daughter,

Nelson Rourke, the defendant's father.

How do you do?

Mr. Adams, you don't know what an honor this is, sir.

When I was in law school, we studied your cases. I mean, it was Adams and

Darrow, no one else in that class.

Thanks very much.

I'm honored, sir.

I'm also very sorry.

For what?

I'm afraid we've got your client cold.

Good tactic, Mr. Nevin. Show confidence in your case no matter how weak. Trial

strategy one.

I give you B+. It's not Justice Prince on the bat anymore.

We've got an eyewitness.

A woman who says she was in the alley and saw Timmy Rourke standing over

with a baseball bat in his hand.

Those are the breaks.

Good day.

Don't let me bother you.

You ain't bothering me, pal.

I understand you're the one that arrested Timmy Rock.

Then you're sending out the welcome wagon for me, Poquai.

What?

Stupid shot.

But then you are full of stupid moves, Mr. Cuspin.

I didn't hear anyone ask for your advice, pal.

Let me give you some for nothing. The next time you put a contract out on me,

prepared.

For what?

This! Bartender!

Sit everybody up with a round of drinks and then charge it to him.

I'm usually right on the button.

After you called, my paralegal walked in with a brief that needed complete

rewriting. So you just threw on some rags and taxied on over here with ink

over your fingers.

Can't hurt a woman to look her best.

Mission accomplished.

Now what else brings us together?

I wanted to talk to you.

This seems like a good place. Dad and I come here often.

Talk about what?

What can you tell me about this man, Cuspin?

Ex -cop from Maryland.

Got his ex the hard way.

Discharged for brutality to prisoners.

That's it?

Chains of subject.

You gonna tell me about your father or what?

You're good.

Now I see why Dad thinks so highly of you.

Actually...

I wonder how I'd feel about you if I got the chance to know you better.

You've heard that line before.

Okay, the truth.

I thought I could talk to you about my father.

I'm frightened for him and he won't listen to me.

Maybe he'll listen to you.

Listen to me about what?

You have to notice the lack of concentration.

drifting off into reveries.

He forgets names and places.

He won't go to a doctor for a checkup.

I don't want him falling apart in court, not in the middle of a trial.

That's my worst nightmare, Hawk.

Please help me convince him to get off this case.

Your father is a champion.

He will know when to quit.

It's time now.

Look, the truth is that recently he's lost several cases he shouldn't have.

There were property involved, but the next one could be alive. Do you

understand? What I understand is the decision for a champion to hang up his

gloves must be made by himself.

And now, Miss Barrow, can you identify the man you saw holding the baseball

That's him.

Let the record show that the witness has identified Timothy Rourke to defend it.

Your witness, Mr. Adams.

Beating, shooting, stabbing.

What's become of our world, Miss Barrow? It's terrible.

Terrible. Once we could walk in our streets without fear.

Now it's like the Wild West in the movies.

You like the movies, Miss Bauer?

Oh, yes.

Westerns?

Sometimes.

My favorite's High Noon. Do you like that one?

Oh, yes.

One of Clint Eastwood's best, don't you think? Yes.

I think Counselor Adams made a mistake.

That was Gary Cooper in High Noon and Clint Eastwood in Shame.

Or was it Jimmy Stewart?

No, Jimmy Stewart in Fistful of Dollars and Gary Cooper in Shame.

Or was it Alan Ladd?

I don't know. They all look alike to me.

They all look alike to you.

No further questions.

May I redirect, Your Honor? Go ahead.

Are you all right? Yes.

Just overtired. You didn't have to do it. Yes, I did.

What the hell kind of a lawyer is that?

He's the best.

What I see is a tired old man talking to people who want to send me away for

life. It's not going to happen.

You're innocent, and Jeff Adams is going to prove it.

Yeah.

Maybe.

Maybe we could do some business together when this is over.

Hey, how's it going?

Cheap shot, raise the price.

Let's make this a little more expensive.

Can you stop?

May I raise heights, please?

What is your business with Cuspin?

I don't know Cuspin.

Please, no, no, no, please.

A lot of ex -lawmen flying around here. Please let me in. I can't stand heights.

Please. This is not a crossing guard's pay, is it?

What do you do to augment your pension? Let me in.

I'm going to help you. What the hell are you doing?

Please, do you know that? Are you nuts? Let me in.

Who do you work for?

Cuspin. I just do security. That's all. That's all. I swear.

Please. I just do security.

Good for you. Any special clients?

No, no. I swear.

I swear.

Adam. What's wrong?

If you're not feeling well, maybe we should ask for a postponement or

I'm all right.

You're not yourself and you know it. Now, come on.

We've been friends too long for you to start lying to me.

Nelson.

Now, this won't be an easy question to answer or to ask.

What would you say to a plea, manslaughter, and the prosecutor made a

today, it's ours for the asking?

Five years for your boy.

He'll be out in three.

That's better than risking 20 to life.

Well, there's only one thing wrong with that.

What's that? Timmy's innocent.

I know that's what you believe, Nelson, but we have to... He's innocent, Jeff.

he's turned out.

All the trouble he's gotten into.

It's not his fault, Jeff.

It's mine.

I wasn't there when he needed me.

You and I went off to war.

That's what it was, Jeff. It was a war. We fought it with sit -ins and marches

instead of guns, but it was a war.

We had a cause that we knew was right, and we were willing to die for it.

But we forgot that somebody was paying for it. Our families and our children.

Our children are proud of us. Well, no, not all of them. Not mine.

I wasn't there when he needed me, Jeff.

I wasn't there.

If he goes to jail for five years or five months or five days, I'm not going

be able to live with it.

I hear you, friend.

I hear you loud and clear.

There's my bus.

Sorry I'm late, Your Honor. I got your message at half past eight this morning.

Traffic from Georgetown.

I'll have to tell you about it.

Do you know who this man is?

One of the jurors, Mr.

Tompkins, I believe. Did you have any contact with him yesterday?

Outside of the courtroom, I mean.

Certainly not.

Mr. Tompkins, tell your story.

While I was in the washroom yesterday...

Someone left an envelope with my name on it and a message inside.

Well, not a message exactly.

A telephone number.

I didn't know what it meant.

So I called, and a voice at the other end told me to go into Lincoln Park last

night. To go in at the northern entrance and to walk till I came to a wire

basket. What kind of voice?

I don't know.

It sounded muffled.

Like when you put a... Handkerchief over the phone.

I guess I shouldn't have gone.

And when I got there, to the wire basket, there was this brown envelope.

I opened it up, and there was money inside.

$5 ,000.

And this note from a friend of Timmy Rourke.

I'm not dumb. I know what that means.

So I brought it here as soon as the courthouse opened up this morning.

You did the right thing, Mr. Tompkins.

Now, before you answer my next question, I want to be sure that you know that

jury tampering is a serious crime, punishable by a prison term.

Yeah. Yesterday, when you found the envelope, did you notice anyone nearby,

anyone connected with this trial?

Yes, sir. Who was that?

Mr. Adams.

Always lit up the courtroom.

His star is fading.

Nature's way.

Aging begins at birth.

Check.

Accelerates year by year.

True.

But still there is a gift.

Gift? The gift of old age is peace.

Though I lose my sight, I can still see the beauty of the world.

I may lose my hearing, but always appreciate the music.

Until the very moment we die, we have the

gift of being.

He could be anywhere.

He's not far.

How can you be so sure?

I'm not sure of anything anymore.

My father being accused of bribing a juror.

It's a bad dream, Hawk.

Lots of people are accused of lots of things. Does not mean that they're

A good lawyer should know that.

Shouldn't she?

Hop, there he is.

of the city, Hawk.

Every inch of its splendor.

Tribute to where we've come.

And a reminder of where we still have to go.

Where are you headed, my friend?

Yeah.

That's the question, isn't it?

What is it, Jeff?

Alzheimer's. First stages, at least.

I got to a doctor.

And told Cynthia.

God, what a burden to put on her.

Going to retire, Counselor?

Hard thing to do.

You're used to the hard road.

Yeah, well, it's all part of it.

Well, I've tried to hold on so long.

What do I mean to people, Hawk?

My success, my reputation.

Black man, professional, reaching the pinnacle in his world.

Damn it.

That's it.

A lot of people staring at you.

Watching every move.

How did I do with my last case?

Is he starting to crack?

Hoping for failure.

I don't want to give them that satisfaction.

And you didn't.

For over three decades, you gave them some of the best legal work they'd ever

seen.

And now this.

Now what?

You got older.

You got sick.

But you still have the gift.

Ah.

Old friend of mine calls it the gift of being.

You can't lose what you've got.

All those years you stood when others did not have the courage should give you

peace, Jeff.

People will never forget.

Besides, you're leaving behind a legacy that's more important than even your

record.

Someone beautiful, bright.

Strong and caring.

Let her take you home now, Jeff.

Did you work here?

Yes, I did.

Before our beloved Mr. Ackroyd decided to leave with the company funds.

Did you know Mr.

Melrose used to be a dispatcher here?

The fellow that was killed?

Yeah, I knew him.

Sat right over there.

Fast food place coming in here.

They won't make it. All the traffic's down on E Street.

You're not with the police, are you?

Hardly.

That's a shame.

Love to see someone run Mr. Ackrodt down.

The way he treated people, including your friend, Mr. Melrose.

Do you have any idea why he was killed?

Heavens, no.

He's the one should have done the killing for my money.

Strong opinion.

Well, it was terrible.

Mr. Ackrodt offered to sell him the business.

And sweet Mr. Melrose jumped at the chance.

No one thought he'd come up with the money, but he did.

Then Mr.

Ackrodt takes off with every penny.

I felt so bad for Mr. Melrose.

No contract, bill of sale.

Nothing. He just lost it all.

Do you have any idea how much money was involved?

Not really.

I heard talk of around $25 ,000.

Now, I wonder how Mr. Melrose raised that kind of money.

We all wondered.

Maybe he was just frugal with his money.

Or someone else's.

So...

In this hypothetical situation, how much you make a week?

250, 300 tops.

You are what we say a working stiff.

Stiff is the operative word here.

What about collateral?

Nothing.

I'll tell you one thing. You don't do business with me.

Then someone in your line of work.

I'm no longer in the private cash.

I'm into investment banking.

Aha, that's a quantum leap from a loan shark.

Hey, stewardesses are flight attendants, trash men are sanitary engineers.

So we dress ourselves up a little. So what?

Who told you?

So then, who's still sharking?

Somebody willing to slide 25 ,000 over the counter if the commission is right.

Hmm, 30%. You tell me.

Limited.

You ever heard of Benjamin Argos?

I have now.

Don't cut him.

We're closed. Come back in the morning.

Yeah, well, I'm a late sleeper.

Sometimes I don't come alive till night.

What do you want?

Talk about Leonard Melrose.

I don't know any Melrose.

How much did you lend him?

Told you the name doesn't ring any bells.

Well, that's my job, bell ringing.

You know what this is?

Some call this a baseball bat. Others call it a memory jogger. Tonight, it's a

bell ringer.

Hey, what the hell are you doing? That cost me a bundle.

You're going to make a social call to the police for protection?

And I don't mean just any police. I mean the ones that work for you.

You know what I think, Mr. Argos? You are not a fast learner.

Okay, I lent Melrose the money, but I didn't kill him. I didn't touch him.

who touched him? Who sent someone with a baseball bat to collect $25 ,000?

I mean, he collects from all companies all over town.

That is a big job for one man.

He's got guys working for him. You know, none of us can do business without

protection. You know, hey, we'd go broke.

So the man does not pay, he ends up dead, huh? No, you don't kill clients.

I just wanted to teach Melrose a lesson to make him pay.

You know, you got a lot of people paying for the stuff you and Mr. Cussman have

done. You've got...

A young man in jail paying, you got a lawyer paying.

Ain't no those, no those fashion.

Now, Tim, who framed Jeffrey Adams for your attempt? Was it you or Mr. Cussman

or both?

Neither one, not us.

This calls for more bell ringing.

Okay, okay.

I told Cussman to work Melrose over, not kill him. Just work him over.

25 ,000 don't grow on trees.

But we had nothing to do with the lawyer.

Nothing.

Some important information has just come to my attention. I think you should

know. Go ahead.

This information comes from Benjamin Argos, a loan shark of little note in

city. He would be with us now, but for a prior engagement at the hospital where

he's being treated for stomach ulcers brought on by stress.

Stress caused by his role in the death of Leonard Melrose. Is that correct?

Close enough.

Who is this? A business associate of mine. It was he who gathered the

information. What information, Counselor? Get to the point.

It seems Mr. Melrose borrowed some money. He did not return in due course.

act considered bad manners in certain circles, punishable by bruises and

lacerations. When the collector goes too far, the result, as in this case, is

often fatal.

Can you back that up with evidence, Counselor? If Charles was kind enough to

his confessions in writing.

This is hardly a legal document.

And it's got blood on it. Mr. Nevins, I can vouch that Mr. Argos signed this

paper in my presence under no coercion. He had an overwhelming urge to talk.

Confessed to everything from hiring Melrose's killer to leaving chewing gum

the metro seat.

All right.

I'll have all this checked out.

If the facts hold up, I'll issue a warrant for the rest of Mr. Argos.

And his collectors.

Their names don't appear on this letter. Names and places are etched in my

memory.

We'll talk.

The rest is over.

Timmy's free?

He will be soon.

I'll make a motion to dismiss all charges.

Congratulations.

Work's not done.

You got him to confess.

He didn't confess because he didn't do it.

But you know that, don't you, Mr. Rourke?

You're the only one here with a motive for jury tampering.

Unless we are to believe that this man here would erase the honor that he has

maintained unblemished for over half a century.

You would not let your friend go down for that which he did not do.

How could you?

I didn't mean for you to get blamed, Jeff. That wasn't my intention. I just

wanted to save my kid.

I love him.

You understand that?

I love him no matter what he did.

The case was going against us. You said so yourself.

I'm sorry, Jeff. I'm really sorry.

You're sorry?

You think that fixes everything? Cynthia, that's enough.

I understand.

We are what we are, friends.

Fathers.

Arm and arm to the end.

You forgive him?

Of course.

The prosecution won't. You know they'll file charges.

And I'll defend him.

All right, nice shot,

nice shot.

Your husband, right?

I'm Louis.

I understand you got a problem. Yeah, a 20G problem.

Big John O 'Brien says you're the one that can solve it.

Yeah, I get 50%. Whoa, whoa, whoa, that's high.

Yeah, but my work's guaranteed.

You get what you pay for, pal.

Okay.

The deal.

Here's some money to start with.

The guy over there in the ghetto blaster owes me 20 big ones.

Stay here.

Remember, just his knee.

I know what I'm doing.

Catch.

Hey, fella, you ever see a man after he's lost his kneecaps?

Never the same again. Sometimes they drag themselves around the street

for food.

Hey, you!

I'm talking to you!

Now! Hold it!

What's going on? You're going out of business, Luke.

Is that a trick you picked up from Cutman?

We already have.

I've got two witnesses here.

And Mr. Argos is singing his heart out downtown.

Cup him.

And read him his rights.

Sir, you're under arrest.

You have the right to remain silent.

Two balls. We got five tin seconds. What are you going to do with it, Mr.

Cuspin? You're bluffing.

Could be worth your life to find out.

What do you want?

The truth.

You killed Melrose while making the collection, didn't you?

What are you, a cop or something?

No, I'm just trying to help a friend save his client.

Time's ran out. You lose.

Depends on whether that envelope in your pocket contains money for Mr. Lewis. If

it does, you are in trouble.

Big trouble. That money's mark gonna put you in jail for life.

If your pocket is empty.

Let's find out.

Reminds me of God bless the child that's got his own.

Know the story behind it?

Used to.

Billy Holiday needed money.

Tried to borrow from her mama.

Nothing wrong with your memory.

Ups and downs.

Her mama said no, and Billy Holiday never forgave her.

Broke up the family.

Family.

It's the most important thing to preserve, isn't it?

I don't know what would have happened to me if I didn't have Cynthia.

She's going to make a great trial lawyer one day soon.

She had a good teacher.

On

motion to the

district attorney, the people's case against Timothy Rourke is hereby

I understand there is another matter of an arraignment that has come before this

court.

The people versus Rourke.

Jury tampering. Is that correct?

Yes, Your Honor.

Are you represented by counsel, Mr. Rourke?

Yes, I am, Your Honor.

If it please the court, my associate will be handling the case.

Council is ready, Your Honor.

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