Original subtitles

I used to look at faces passing by me, wondering about the stories you could

tell.

Now I know their stories.

I know them all too well.

I wish that I could see that life's a puzzle where every man can fit a master

plan.

But it's in and out of trouble. Take it on the double. Grab it when you can.

I'm not the man to change the world around.

Turn it over, upside down.

I'm content to take it as it comes.

Some other clown can pass the plate around.

Everybody knows how the story started. No one ever knows just how it ends.

When it's said and done, I'm going to take it as it comes.

How you doing? Nice to meet you. Yeah.

You live in San Francisco?

Mm -hmm. Me too.

Going to Paloma?

Well, I'm going to transfer to Santa Fe as soon as I finish some business there.

Say, haven't I seen you someplace?

You don't play for the Giants, do you?

No.

What you up to in Paloma?

New job.

Oh, new job. What new job?

Killing people.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are on final approach to Paloma, New Mexico. We'll be

landing in a few minutes.

Please fasten your seatbelts and extinguish all cigarettes.

Thank you.

All right, Hank. Let him in.

Come on in.

All right, then.

Hey, easy on the pins, friend.

Sorry. Fine.

Okay.

Fine. Next.

Hold it there.

Flip.

Would you please rise?

The State of New Mexico in and for the County of Paloma District Court is now

session. The Honorable Max Fernandez presiding. You may now be seated.

Will the State proceed?

Your Honor, thank you.

When we adjourned yesterday, the testimony was that the armory had been

into and that these defendants were placed at the scene just prior to the

-in. This witness had testified briefly yesterday, and with the court's

permission, we'll continue the questioning now.

Just tell the court, Mr. Finney.

So now we come to the night that the weapons were stolen.

Will you tell us if you were at the armory at all that evening?

No, sir, I wasn't. But you did know that automatic weapons and explosives were

stored there.

No, I didn't know that. You didn't know that? No.

Were you aware that a group had formed in the National Guard that could be

considered subversive?

Objection, Your Honor.

This calls for a subjective judgment on the part of the witness.

Sustained.

Lieutenant Sneed, right?

Right. Captain Dolick. Captain Frank Dolick. I didn't expect him to send a

captain to meet me.

Yeah, I know. Chief sent me. You'll like him. He's fine people, but he gets

emotional. I mean, he's high as a firecracker right now about the mob and

that shit.

How long are you going to be down here? Hey, listen, how would you like a hunk

of this asado bread?

You figure a chief calls somebody down here from San Francisco to help out. I

mean, help out what?

There's no mob down here.

People all over the world have tried to duplicate this.

San Francisco sourdough, but they can't do it.

Yeah, I'm going to have to wean myself off this very slowly.

A piece of toast every morning for about ten days.

Then I'll join Sourdough's Anonymous.

speak Spanish?

Nope.

We got a lot of Spanish -speaking people down here.

Got a lot of Chinese up in San Francisco.

You speak Chinese?

Nope.

What are you really doing down here, anyway?

I need the New Mexico air.

Are you inferring, Mr.

Prosecutor, that this is an organized crime operation and that breaking into

armory was the result of...

Get out of here.

Get out

of

here.

Drop that gun real slow.

All right, you sons of bitches. Come on out of there.

All right, all right. Come on out. Don't shoot.

Don't shoot.

Just move on out very slowly.

Hey, mister, listen. We got a hurt man in there.

You drop that piece.

We just saw the new man in action. He's on his way up.

Chief's office.

That was one hell of a job.

My name is John TallBear and I hope we're working together sometime.

See you later, Lieutenant.

You just gotta have a hero, don't you?

Up yours.

Yesterday, just about this time, I was standing here, looking down there.

I thought to myself, maybe I ought to load up that parking lot with about a

a dozen squad cars.

And then I thought, now wait a minute.

Remember last time, the trial of the militants?

I had cops all over that place and the newspapers jumped all over me.

I was, uh...

They put that creating a... creating an atmosphere.

Maybe I was.

Maybe the sight of armed men is wrong. I don't know.

So, this time, an important trial.

I decided just the normal guys, nothing special.

Jeez!

But you knew it was the syndicate.

I don't know.

You want to know where I was while you were whipping around down there?

I was out addressing the downtown club.

Improving my image.

The point is, the city's a target.

Crime is on the increase.

And it's organized.

I'm sorry you had to go to work so fast.

But you're on salary.

I put through your start notice yesterday.

I'm looking for Dr. Nancy Edmondson. My name is Terrence Sneed.

Well, she's out and back with the children. Why don't you just go on out

and look for her?

All right. Thank you very much.

Oh, we got up too high that time.

No way, Sneed.

There's no way.

Why?

Well, what else am I supposed to say?

Well, you could start by saying hello.

What are you doing in town?

Are you taking a prisoner back to California?

I'm working here now.

Why did you transfer here?

Um, I like the dry heat.

Aren't there bigger opportunities for you in a larger city? Who says I'm

for opportunities?

Oh, come on, Sneed.

Tell me something.

What? Did you transfer here because of me?

Or because somebody offered you a better filthy deal?

You look so pretty.

Mark, come with me.

Come on, honey.

He says you were expecting him.

Send him in.

I'm Victor Manso.

Hello.

Been hearing your name all over the news.

Well, I ran into something.

You ran into something, huh?

You know, it's amazing what beautiful things grow here in the desert. I mean,

it's just amazing.

Now, look at all these flowers. Aren't they beautiful?

That one over there is exceptional.

Take a look at it. It's beautiful.

Just beautiful.

Go on.

Go on. Count it.

Yeah, that's my take, all right.

You're right, that's your take.

Nothing's engraved in stone.

What do you mean?

Well, now that you have me here and now that you've sized me up... Now, wait a

minute. What do you think this is, some kind of job interview?

Who the hell do you think you're talking to, huh?

Want me to come back?

I said I'm okay now.

Well, um... I'm not.

Put that in your pocket.

I want six months in advance.

Once upon a time, a long time ago, there was a cop.

His name was Costello. Forget about Costello. He was your partner. I said

him. And he happened to look the other way one day to take a little money on a

call girl operation.

He got away with it.

It so happens his locker was next to yours, so you were investigated.

They tried to lay it on you.

And you got a little dirt on your record.

So you said, what the hell?

And from that time on, you were on the take.

Now you tell me.

Do I have the book on you, huh?

See you around.

Dr. Nancy Edmondson.

She works in town now.

Right here.

They tell me she's a nice, nice girl.

And there's your chief.

Chief Berrigan.

You know he'll eat shit. You tell him it's candy.

All I'm trying to tell you is that you've got a terrific set -up here. It's

lock.

Don't blow it.

Well, with all of that, it certainly looks like I have a most prosperous

One more thing.

Now, I spent a lot of time on you. Huh?

The style of life you live.

I did everything but run you through the computer.

You always come out the same. I stamp you certified grade A 100 % crooked cop.

And you're on my payroll whether you like it or not.

Mr. Manso?

Yeah.

Mr. D is here.

Send him in.

You stay here.

This is going to be interesting. Really interesting. Stay here.

Lieutenant. What kind of plant does his money grow on?

What's he going to give you that I can't give you?

More.

You don't get so upset just because we're both on the same tit.

You get the point.

Okay, gentlemen.

This conference is over.

What's all this business with the tape?

You open it up, nothing unless you know where to look. Who's going to open it?

What if something happens to me tomorrow and I can't get back here for a while?

Can I borrow your tape?

Help yourself.

I'll see you around, you lousy thief.

What do you mean, desert acreage? Is that sand?

Alkali flats?

Is it underwater?

Charlie.

I'm a business manager.

I've got to protect my clients.

Hello?

You have a long -distance call from Paloma, New Mexico.

A Mr. Sneed.

Now, put him out.

Excuse me a minute, Charlie.

Can you talk?

Have you had a chance to contact your people yet?

Yes.

Listen, I've got some money for another investment.

Oscar, get down here.

When? Now.

Bus fare, round -trip San Francisco to Paloma, $88 .95.

You owe me $88 .95, plus expenses.

It's cheap.

Oscar, do you owe me as a client or don't you?

Are you sure you can afford to put it that way?

You got a point there. I can't.

I'll wire you my time of arrival.

By the way, that'll be another 2 .40.

Nice trip?

Very nice.

You can buy that bus and know that, don't you?

I'll travel my way, you'll travel yours.

Yeah, but I sent for you yesterday and here you come today.

Where's the money?

In your pocket.

Consider it invested.

Probably here.

I'm in touch with the local building group.

It's amazing how dirty money gets cleaned up.

You see that row of lockers that you came in?

Number 266.

My captain, a man by the name of Dolek, is also doing a few favors. He stashed

his money in there.

Stake him out.

Follow him.

Let me know what he does with his money.

I thought you were the gumshoe in the family.

Oscar, you're good at counting.

I think you'll find that you owe me one.

What does your captain look like?

He's got big, blondish, small eyes.

The locking number is... 266.

Numbers are my business.

That's on me.

We

have

an airport cargo heist on file. It's still open.

Yeah, it's still open.

Well, this is Danny James.

We already checked him out.

He was, uh... He was at the races that day, and he had witnesses.

I bet they're all losers, and I don't mean just to try.

What are you getting at, Lieutenant? I thought the syndicate was your target.

is, but cargo heists are one of their specialties.

Something up?

I'm gonna recheck this suspect.

Danny Jane?

More time, Hoardy. Come up clean.

So I've just been told.

I'm gonna check him out anyway.

Okay, I'll give you a hand.

Adolick, I don't need you to help me.

I'm coming along anyway, Steve.

I'm a small -time punk. Danny Dean sure lives pretty good.

James.

Come on. Come on.

Open up, James, or we'll kick this door in.

Get the hell out of here.

You chicken -happy fuck, I'm going to blow your head off. All right, take it

easy. Take it easy. What the hell is this, huh?

Get out of here. All right, come on, move.

Move, Mr. Oliver. A man's home is his castle, right?

I got a right to protect my property against somebody just busting in like

I mean, that happens to be the goddamn Constitution, in case you guys don't

understand that.

You're dripping wet.

You were in the pool when we came walking by.

I didn't see you walk by. I'm sorry you recognized me.

You figured you could kill a cop and get away with it. What the hell is

happening?

Who's she?

Come on, lay off. She's got nothing to do with it. I thought you were somebody

else.

You always go around shooting at people, man, huh?

What about Tuesday? Where were you Tuesday?

Tuesday?

Tuesday I was at the track.

Somebody collected big at the airport that same day.

Come on, man.

You're not going to try and pin that bum rap on me again, are you? Come on, put

your clothes on.

You know you got a job to do and your department gets behind on its quota,

right? You got to fill it out.

What's your chief's name? Berrigan?

Yeah, that's the... He's the guy who tells you to squeeze somebody. It

matter who it is. You got to fill out a few reports, right?

But I understand.

And for that, I'm going to cooperate.

Are you through?

Put your arm out.

Oh, come on, man. Just put your arm out.

Just doing your job.

Just doing your job, son.

I'll say one thing about you, you do talk a lot.

I'll take him in, Captain, while you check out the apartment.

I'll see you later, Snead.

Don't worry, baby.

Don't worry.

Just make a phone call.

Let's have a look in here.

Shut your mouth!

Well,

I got nothing. His alibi checks out.

Thanks.

You still going to talk to him?

Hey, man.

Now, I got to tell you, it's pretty good playing the bad cop.

But I want to see how you do playing the good cop.

Come on, Snead.

Tell me how he eats suspects for breakfast.

But you, you're such a nice guy.

You're going to protect me from him, right?

What are you doing?

Come on, man. No games.

You guys can't get away with it anymore.

You know that, don't you?

Don't you lay a finger on me, Snead.

Put a mark on me, Snead, and they're going to have your ass. I'm going to go

my attorney.

Do you hear me?

I'm going to hurt you.

And when I get finished with you, I'm going to get Captain Dullek to release

you.

And then when he releases you, I'm going to pick you up again.

And I'm going to hurt you again.

And again and again.

Oh, fine. Oh, fine. Until you'll breathe.

Don't hurt me.

Don't hurt me.

You got this, baby.

You are a story.

You got one.

Boy, these pants are kind of tight to be climbing up these hills, you know.

Johnny,

me boy.

Top of the morning to you. How you doing?

Medium.

Medium.

Look at that.

Wondrous.

Nature.

Wonders.

You know, they say this part of the world was underwater about 25, 30

years ago.

No shit.

They found all kinds of fossils around here, you know.

Big fish with little fish inside of them and little fish inside of them.

Nothing's changed.

Look, I got some information.

There's gonna be a delivery.

I think it's H. Who's involved?

I don't know. All I know is what I told you.

Oh, come on now. Danny, I mean, how come you can pick up and honor all the other

information except the name?

I don't have names.

You ever hear of Victor Manzo?

You keep trying to tie me into the syndicate.

All right, then maybe I'll have to give Victor Manzo your name.

Christ!

Well, you're a real ball -breaker, Sneed.

I want names.

There's a guy by the name of Elliot.

Elliot.

Zeno. Zeno Elliot.

Zeno Elliot.

Yeah, he used to live there, but I don't know where he'd be. He might have

moved. Where?

Number 18 South Plaza Street.

It's right on the edge of Old Town.

You know what the guys are always talking about?

You go into the can to take a leak and they're talking about it.

You and Berrigan.

Like, I mean, how the two of you ever got together.

I had a chief's conference in San Francisco.

I was giving a talk about the mob.

Let's go

Anything

change hands no put your hands behind you Nothing and you gentlemen are guilty

of breaking and entering and that is a felony

I'm not gonna tell you twice up

I'm going back now.

The position of dealing and making a transaction.

I wonder what the street value is on this.

Take your clothes off.

Let us see that marvelous body of yours.

I just feel uncomfortable.

Flesh is flesh.

What would I be hiding on my body?

I don't know. Maybe a whole shipment.

What are you laughing about?

Huh?

Please.

Please. Knock, suspect, strip, Elliot.

All knock, strip.

Maybe I could use one of these rooms.

Right here, right here. Come on, come on, come on. A strip. Why?

Why? Where would I be hiding junk on my body?

I've never been able to undress in front of people. It's from my childhood.

I've always been ashamed of my body. I've always been fat.

Now get that guy!

All right.

One, two. One, two. One, two. One, two. One, two.

One, two. One, two. One,

two. One, two. One, two. One, two.

One, two.

Hey,

look.

My God, what is that?

Where did you get this stuff?

Where?

Where?

Where?

I don't know.

I don't know.

All right, once again. Once again.

Come on, move, you son of a bitch!

One, two.

One, two. Come on, faster.

Faster. Faster, faster, faster, faster, faster. Come out, Benedetto! Come out,

Benedetto! Now, for God's sake, leave me alone!

All right, you got that?

What the hell was that? You didn't like that, did you?

Sneed, I'd like to wash out your whole squad room with a high -pressure hose.

Get rid of all that crap.

Well?

Well, the problem is, I wanted what that fat man could tell us just as much as

you did.

Maybe I should use the hose in here, huh?

Maybe.

Is he tall?

Curly head. Is he bald?

Where are you from?

Chicago. Look at me. Look at me.

What part of Chicago?

West. Exactly where?

750. When did you come into town?

Why did you come into town?

Visiting.

Have you ever rested before?

No, I'm social.

You didn't find out?

Lieutenant, you got a minute?

who he wants that tub of lard sprung right now, tonight.

It's too late.

What do you mean it's too late?

You haven't booked him, have you?

Chief saw him, heard him. We got a quarter kilo of the raw stuff.

He gave us a name.

We can't release him now.

Who? What name?

They call too late. What can I tell you? It's too late.

I don't pretend to know what's going on in that skull of yours. It's just a

little too complicated for me.

All I know is I can't afford it.

You hear? I just can't afford it. You read me?

Now, he's your pigeon. You get him out of here.

That's an order, Lieutenant.

Are you through?

Huh?

A woman named Marian Jackson banked your take at the Paloma National under her

name.

You had me followed?

True.

You'd even blackmail me?

Especially you.

Victor, what's happening?

All right, Snead.

What is this, awake?

Go on.

Now, turn around and look at that, huh? Just look at it.

Isn't that beautiful, huh?

Oh, yes. The reds and the blues and the purples.

Hey, sit down. Come on, sit down.

You know, what I do, I sit here every night. I watch it. Just beautiful. So

peaceful. Greatest tonic in the world.

I get visits from... Friends. You know, they visit me from New York, Chicago,

Detroit. I try to get them to see this, you see.

All they want to talk about are the times when we were kids in the streets,

know, playing stickball, doing our... And, uh... But, I mean, that's nice.

memories. It's... We were up late last night talking about them, and, uh... I

got a call from Captain Doleg.

He talks about you.

I gave him a bad time.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

You gave me a bad time.

No, no, no. I didn't know what I had until he told me.

You know what that is?

That's a diamond back.

It's a desert rattlesnake.

They come out of holes in their ground because it's too hot. They come around

looking for water. You know what I do?

I just show them the way home.

All their poisons as hell.

They're part of a desert cycle.

The most perfect order on the face of the earth.

I can kill him just like that.

That would wreck the order.

I'm just going to make sure that he gets home.

Manzo!

Hey, listen!

If I'm to be of any value to you, then I've got to be a good cop, right?

Mr. Manso and me, we've had a long association.

And what bothers him bothers me.

Hey, let me introduce myself.

I'm Aldo Benedetto.

what I did, huh?

Huh?

We finished, Aldo?

Hey, Steve, you know when Sugar Ray Robinson fought Bobo Olsen for the

middleweight title, it was outdoors in L .A., and one of the reporters, he was

trying to make Olsen feel a little better.

So he said to him,

Sugar doesn't like it in the gut.

You know what Bobo said?

He said, who does?

Hey, Sneed, I want you to take a look at that plant over there. I think you're

going to recognize it.

Very interesting plant.

Take a look.

Aldo.

Come on, sweetheart.

Nice and easy. We can do it. Come on, come on.

That's a way. That a boy.

Come on, come on.

Nice and easy.

All the way.

Come on.

Come on.

Nice and easy.

Reach down. Come on.

Reach down. Go ahead. Reach.

Go ahead, reach.

Excuse me.

Come on.

Let me help you.

Let me see you take it.

Let me see you take it in his hand.

Come on, reach.

All right, boy.

See how easy it is?

See?

See him take it?

Beautiful.

You know what that is?

It's a bonus. You know why?

Because now you understand the order and the cycle of the desert. It's a perfect

order. You know who you are and what you are.

You're going to be my most valuable asset.

Aldo, take him to his girlfriend.

She's a doctor. She'll take good care of him.

Come on, take him to her.

Come on, sweetheart.

We'll take you to Nancy Edmondson's.

Good morning.

They're smart, aren't they?

They don't touch your face at all.

Nancy, do me a favor, will you?

Look in my jacket pocket.

The envelope is there, Sneed.

Good.

I counted it.

$5 ,000.

That's pretty good.

Who deposits your money for you now?

Well, I got to get to work.

Uh, you can stay here as long as you like, but will you do me a favor and

the door when you leave?

Goodbye, kneed.

The envelope, please.

And the winner is...

Very good.

All you need to come up with now is another 10 big ones.

What are you talking about? The way they're set up. A limited partnership.

The pie is sliced into a lot of pieces.

And each piece costs the same.

Your piece will cost you... Another $10 ,000.

Well, there's obviously a lot more where this came from.

Yeah, all I gotta do is cheat and lie and maybe kill for it.

Business is business.

But...

If I want a piece of this ever -expanding economy... You know, I'll get

to observe your, uh... Well, let's call him your sort.

Tonight, in fact.

I just bought a ticket for Paloma's annual Man of the Year banquet.

You know who the Man of the Year is?

Victor Mansell!

In the closet, here.

Hold it a second. I want to put these cuffs on him.

Hurry up, you guys. Come on, give us a hand, will you?

Shit, I thought we had two hours.

Breathe nice.

You'll be fine. Don't worry about it. Sit up.

Nice and weak.

That's the way, see?

That's the way.

Keep it on. Keep it on. It gets me dizzy all the time.

Where the hell is Frank?

Go find him.

I'll make some coffee. Make it real black, real strong. Leave the oxygen

before you go.

I was in the same kind of pain.

That's what I worry is stress.

Excuse me.

It's a worry.

It's pretty easy.

You know what I'm worried about?

I'm worried that the timing is off.

Because we're holding too long.

Remember what you told me?

Patience. Patience.

Where are you going?

Where are you going?

Come on. I'll check your goods. Hey, don't check what goods. Come on. Sit

Come on.

Take it easy.

Come on.

We did all our work. Come on.

Do it for me, please.

No work.

Thanks.

I'll do it when you're right. You're right. I'll do it.

Come on. I know. I know what I'm doing.

Sit down.

Jumping up like a jackrabbit. Take it. Listen.

Watch an old movie. Watch one of them old heist movies, huh?

How about it, gangster?

Aldo, Aldo!

Stay here.

Stay here.

You were in my house.

I know you were in my house.

Chief Berrigan is going to court today to get approval for wiretaps.

You were in my house.

He's organizing a strike force.

You trying to force me into some kind of move? He's putting me in charge.

Organized crime strike force. Separate division.

Trying to panic me?

No, no, no, no, no. He's putting me in charge. I have no other

Now, we're setting up raids at your house, your plant.

We're turning them inside out.

I'm going to take every cop on my payroll and dump him right on the steps

City Hall.

You need me, Victor.

I need you.

If Andola can't tell you what's happening, he won't know.

Have you blown my brains out here, Victor?

You won't know how it's coming or when it's coming.

Leave me when I tell you that.

He's lying, Victor.

Come on, come on, give me the word.

Just tell me.

I'll let him have it. Come on.

Victor, don't let him walk away from this. You know he's lying. Let me hit

now.

No, he's straight.

What do you mean, straight?

If Berrigan can pin something on the man of the year, he's got page one all to

himself.

This time, Sneed earned his keep.

I've been walking in tightrope with that son. You raid his house without a

warrant, without anything.

Can you still get to court today?

Yes, if I want to. Taps leading in and out of the factory. Don't tell me what

do. It's all timing now.

What makes you think now is the time? Instinct.

Oh, snake instinct. It can court you. I'm sorry, Chief. Do you want us to hold

this Martinelli on a 10 -17?

Yeah, yeah, until I get an NCIC from Chicago.

I can't walk into court and say I want to tap the factory line because I think

there's something there.

Maybe narcotics.

I've got to be more specific. You know what? Why don't we get a strike force to

watch the place?

With you in charge?

You brought me down here. But I'm responsible.

What if it doesn't work?

What if you go crashing in without authority? What if we find... There are

ifs. As of right now, how are you doing with the syndicate?

I hate to see you taking this chance. You can't just sit. What if Matzo isn't

Southwest connection after all? Then he isn't. I mean, what if he's just a punk

down here for his health? He's got a bad ticket. That's a well -known fact.

Well, since when was good health a condition for criminal activity?

Well, baby, he's just a nickel and dime distributor. What if he's just picking

up a few bucks? I mean, the key back to the... Checking in.

With a big fat nothing.

Don't go to sleep in the heat, Vanessa.

He can scramble your brains, you know.

Pretend it's a sauna.

Sauna's got cold showers.

Just hang in there.

PNMP clear.

We got the pizza oven.

Even the goddamn beer's hot.

Pick Nick's over. There goes Manso and some muscle toward the loading dock.

One of the vans is rolling.

Got it.

Go.

There goes another one.

It's a shell game. Grab the second van.

APB, all officers keep watch on I -25.

Motorcycle officer 300.

Nothing in this van except paper towels and toilet paper, sir.

Come on. Come on, Aldo. Get going.

Are you ready for this?

There goes the third van.

Sneed did it.

He panicked him. He panicked us.

Mansour's in the paper business. His vans have got legitimate places to go.

Companies, stores, we can't pull it out. Bullshit!

He's on his way to the Mexican border.

It's a neat location. Get him over there.

You need some help over here.

Hang on.

Red one.

Red one.

Don't lose him.

Van traveling south on Falcon Road toward Rio Grande.

Jerry, kick open their back doors and get a shot of them. Stop them.

Tommy, out that window. Hit them.

Hit them, Tall Bear.

What are we going to do? Stop him! Hit the tire!

Helicopter red one.

Coordinating helicopter red two.

Van traveling towards the Royal Canyon.

Hit him! We got him, man!

Now, let me tell you. Now, hold it.

Let me tell you what I've been carrying.

Toilet paper, man.

Paper towels. Now, listen.

That's what I've been carrying.

Wait a minute, Steve. Now, listen.

I know you're weird, but... Hey,

listen. Let's talk this over, okay?

What the hell was that about?

Every floorboard of every van has to be searched.

his ad's up to on an international scale?

Look at that printing.

High Mesa Paper Products Company, right?

They don't seem to be any junk or anything like that.

No, no, there's no need for it, man. Cash is cash.

Victor Masso got into narcotics just deep enough to make us think that's his

game.

a mob killing here in Paloma will cause the feds to move.

The state will have to get off its ass. You'll have citizens' committees by the

dozens investigating, not to mention the grand jury.

Now look, Victor.

Victor, we have to let due process take its course.

Now.

Victor, we had a big meeting on this. Wait!

Who's wait?

Victor, I had you on the phone for an hour. I kept you informed all the way

through. The most careful consideration was given to every option.

And the general consensus was, leave Lieutenant Sneed alone.

Oh, look, we pay you a big retainer, right?

Right. You like travel first class?

You want to go back on the coach?

Victor, you figure something out.

Figure something out, I'm telling you.

I will, Victor.

No.

Not your will.

Fix him.

Now. All right, all right. Take it easy. No reason at all. We've got enough time

for an arraignment.

Ah, Lieutenant Steve.

I'm Barry Indus of Indus Cross on Delaney, Chicago.

I'm representing Mr. Benedetto. Is he ready? Let's go. Well, look.

What bail is your department recommending?

A conspiracy charge heavy.

My client doesn't have a record here.

Here.

Well, the DA and you, I mean, couldn't we possibly work something?

Come on.

Okay, I'll join you at the booking desk.

I have to go make a phone call.

Come on, Clayton.

Sorry.

They left us alone for a reason.

How much?

What? Come on, come on. You know what I'm talking about. How much? I don't set

bail, man. I'm an arresting officer.

Oh, yeah. Well, my lawyer's going to charge that you planted some stuff in

van so you could get Manson any way you could.

Oh?

Where did we have it printed?

That's very funny. That's very funny.

Now, listen, all you got to do is get your chief to water down the charges for

the DA.

Transporting. Just driving. You understand?

Forget it.

What do you mean, forget it?

A second thought.

All right.

Now, make it.

What do you think, they got the bed bugged?

The word is needs taken a heavy bribe.

What do I need, exact proof?

Are we just guys working together trying to do an impossible job?

Rumors will wreck a police department. Chief, when my gut burns, it's a signal.

My gut's on fire right now. It's instinct.

I've been around here a few years myself.

I got some instincts, too.

And my instinct tells me that Sneed nearly got himself killed trying to do a

on that Mansel operation.

Look, if Sneed is on the take, why doesn't he arrange to be somewhere else

all the shooting starts?

You know what the best cover in the world is?

Be a good cop.

Detective and I think chief here when I say I Got a job for you.

Come in here.

Yes, sir

Where I ever believe or pretend That our love, thanks, will

never end All day long Let me

have one of those.

Slide it down.

What do you need this for?

Remember the San Francisco switch?

Give me something cool, will you?

Rum Collins.

Put a lot of Collins in it.

Coming up.

Where do you want it?

I know where I'd like to put it.

It's all there.

Do you mind if we don't leave together?

Oh, yeah, that suits me.

Come again, dear.

Here, take it easy now. Right on.

Sneet?

Chief wants to see you.

This is the worst assignment of my life.

Thought you wouldn't let me out of it.

We do have our burdens to bear, don't we?

Hey need no, you're right get him up. What's this all about?

Be careful of that sheep that's gonna be invested for me.

It's gonna be impounded Tall bear pick up Benedetto We'll need him as a witness

All right Snead get in the car

Serial numbers don't match the list that Benedetto gave us.

Start over.

I'm nearly through.

Start over again.

Calvert's bringing Benedetto in.

We'll get the story.

I know you cops stick together.

But I don't think any of you guys are going to be sorry to see Snead go.

That crummy bastard.

I'd give a grand right now just to see his face.

Same thing, sir. They just don't match.

All right, Snead, whose money is it? Mine.

Where'd you get it?

Not Benedetto.

Where did you get it?

Not from Benedetto.

That's all I'm gonna get?

That's all you're gonna get.

A $15 ,000 a year cop?

$10 ,000 on him all at one time?

What am I supposed to think?

I don't care what you think. The money's mine.

Come in.

They don't match.

They have to.

What does it have to match?

Why were you meeting Benedetto?

She said he wanted to talk to me.

About what?

National security.

Bullshit, Lieutenant.

Benadetto grabbed the tall bear's gun, they wrestled.

Benadetto's dead.

Our witness is dead.

Do you mind if I go pick up Manzo now?

I still need you.

But don't count on me being too big a hick.

How dumb can you get?

I mean, trying to get Benedetto to buy me off.

I mean, what kind of a cop do you think I am? One of those corrupt cops who

takes money?

Sneed, you're blocking my view.

Sit down. Come on, sit down.

You know, since you're a man of nature, I'm going to allow you... Two minutes,

just two minutes.

And then the booking will be suspicion of counterfeiting airline tickets and

money orders.

What are you, a man of glass?

You know, I got a thousand bucks says that I'll watch the sunset tomorrow, the

day after that, the day after that, the day after that, the day after that, and

from right here.

No bet.

Why not?

You'll win.

If your heart doesn't give out.

Yeah, you're right. It's a bit.

Like you said, when we first met, nothing is engraved in stone.

Well, so long, Steve.

Bye, Oscar.

Thanks.

Westford, Pittsburgh, now leaving at gate three.

All aboard.

Dr. Nancy Edmondson, please. Who's calling?

Sneed.

No.

I'm sorry. She's left town for a while.

Yeah, well, tell her I called and... Tell her I'll

call again.

I've been looking for you.

What do you say we grab a couple steaks over Billy O's?

Why not?

What's up about Benedetto?

Yeah, well, you know.

How could I let him testify against a cop as good as you?

Hey, listen, tell me something.

What's it going to cost me?

Just off the top of my head, I'd say it's going to cost you 50%. 50 % of

Of everything.

See, from now on, you and me, we're going to be kind of like partners,

Lieutenant.

Captain.

Yeah.

I got my promotion.

Not quite, partners told there.

Not quite.

I used to look at faces.

Passing by me, wondering about the stories they could tell.

Now I know their stories.

I know them all too well.

I wish that I could see that life's a puzzle where every man can fit a master

plan.

But it's in and out of trouble. Take it on the double.

Grab it when you can.

I'm not the man to change the world around.

Turn it over, upside down.

I'm content to take it in as it comes.

Some other clown can pass the plate around.

Everybody knows how the story started. No one ever knows just how it ended.

When it's said and done, I'm gonna take it as it comes.