Original subtitles

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(GUNSHOT)

(GUNSHOT)

(MEOWING)

(PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING)

(PHONE RINGING)

Hello. (SIGHS)

MAN: Shamus?

Paulie.

Paulie Baker.

Yeah, Paulie, call back tomorrow.

Shamus, I... I'm in big trouble.

Yeah, I need your help.

Tomorrow, Paulie.

You don't understand. They're gonna kill me!

What are you talking about? Who's gonna kill you?

Meet me, please!

My life depends on it!

(SIGHS) All right. Where?

Underneath the Whittier Street Bridge.

I'll be in my car.

And Shamus, don't let me down.

All right.

You'll be where? Hmm?

Just a little business, Zelda, my love.

(CHUCKLES) You mean that you're leaving?

I'll be right back.

What am I supposed to do?

Listen, you stay healthy, you hear?

Why don't you have dinner with Freddy?

(MEOWING)

I hate cats.

He loves you.

Did you see that, Freddy?

(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)

(SINISTER MUSIC PLAYING)

(EXPLOSION)

(POLICE RADIO CHATTER)

Paulie, a born loser. God.

But he sure went out big.

You know, that's what's really bugging me.

Who'd do a job that big on Paulie Baker?

I was hoping that you could tell me.

Look, I haven't talked to the guy in months.

He called me tonight.

He telephoned me, and he's dead. That's all.

He used to work for you?

Sure! You know what he did.

Little things, tail jobs, legwork, just small time.

Paulie, and knowing Paulie, he must have been into something

and he must have thought that you could help him.

Well, he was wrong as usual.

You know Helen pretty good or at least you used to.

And she'd probably take it a lot better coming from you.

I'm not very good at telling a wife that her husband is dead.

(POLICE RADIO CHATTER)

Eddie?

Vince?

Yeah?

I'll take care of it.

(MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING)

(DOG BARKS DISTANTLY)

HELEN: Shamus, he always said you were the only friend he ever had.

(SNIFFING)

That's why he called you tonight.

Yeah, I turned out to be a great friend.

What's gonna happen now?

Honey, the police are on top of it.

You know, Vince, Vince Promuto. Yeah.

He's handling the case and he'll be calling you.

Poor Paulie.

Just another statistic now, right?

(SNIFFING)

I better take off now.

Honey, anything I can do to help.

Anything at all, okay?

Maybe there is.

What?

Find out who killed him and why.

Oh, honey, what can I do the police can't do?

You can find the truth.

They won't care enough.

Paulie called you.

Just the truth, Shamus.

I got that much coming.

Oh. Whoa. (CHUCKLES) Aha! (WHISTLES)

Good night? (EXHALES)

It had its moments.

Maybe a shot of plasma will help you.

A shot of bourbon about that big would help me. (CHUCKLES)

Where's Springy?

He's in the back room settling a bet.

Thank you.

All right, right. Nashua won the Belmont Stakes in '55.

Eddie Arcaro opened 229.

But Count Fleet held the record, 228 and a fifth in '43.

Right! Then Arcaro was up on him like I said, right?

Wrong. Johnny Longden was up on him.

(LAUGHING) Got you again!

Shoemaker got close in '59.

Saw Dancer, 228 and two-fifths

Then Stage Door Johnny. Gustines was up,

Set the new record in '68, 227 and a fifth.

(CHUCKLES) Thanks, Spring.

You look lousy.

I feel lousy.

What do you know about Paulie Baker?

Paulie Baker?

Shoestring private operator like you.

Always on the hustle.

Almost lost his license a couple of times.

You know, penny-ante stuff, hand-to-mouth.

But what are you asking me for?

You went to school with the guy, right? Washington High, 1948, '49.

I wanna know what he's been getting into lately and who with.

Nothing Paulie's ever done been secret up until now.

How soon do you need to know?

The sooner the better. Somebody blew him up last night.

What do you mean, blew him up?

I mean, blew him up.

I'll nose around.

Hey, they tell me you got a hot stick, brother.

Don't bug me, kid.

Hey! If you're worried, I'll give you the break.

(PHONE RINGING)

Eddie's pool room. Eddie speaking.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

(GRUNTING) Let go of my arm! You're breaking it!

(GROANING) Get your finger out of my eye!

Let go of my arm first!

You come tippy-toeing in the door like that with a gun.

What do you want me to do, kiss you?

VINCE: Did you bust that lock?

You know me better than that.

You're better than that, too, right?

(SIGHS) Right.

VINCE: Do you have any idea what they were looking for?

Not the faintest idea in the world.

VINCE: Maybe something in Paulie's file

will give us a direction to get started on.

(SIRENS APPROACHING)

I got the fingerprints squad coming over.

Now, get your butt off the desk.

Yes, sir.

(SIREN BLARING)

If these files are up to date,

this guy hasn't had a client in seven months.

I told you, I haven't seen him in months.

I got the feeling we're not gonna find anything here.

Yeah, I got a feeling you're right.

(SIGHS)

We're working on the same side of the street on this one, right?

Vince, this one's kind of personal to me.

I want the guy that blew up Paulie

just as bad as you do. Capisce?

Capisce.

Shamus?

Yeah?

I said I'll cooperate. (CHUCKLES)

Here come the geniuses from your laboratory.

Avanti.

VINCE: It's all yours, boys.

(LINE RINGING)

Hello?

(LINE DISCONNECTS) Hell...

(EERIE MUSIC PLAYING)

(WHISTLES)

You know, he's right. The kid's good, huh?

(WHISTLING)

Yeah, the kid is really good.

Nasty. Very nasty.

The kid's good. The kid's real good.

(WHISTLING)

Oh, okay. Away.

Collect for me, huh?

(AMUSING MUSIC PLAYING)

MAN: Whoo!

(MAN LAUGHING)

What'd you get? I don't know.

It's hot out there.

And I don't mean the weather.

But everybody's running scared.

Because of Paulie Baker?

Mmm-mmm. No.

Arnold Stein.

Who's Arnold Stein?

He's the head clerk for Ruby's back office.

You know, the place where they keep all the betting markers

and the records and everything. Uh...

He's a trusted man.

He disappears yesterday afternoon.

So does at least 250 G's of Ruby's money.

Big Joe Ruby.

Joseph Ruby, yes.

Citizen of Bel Air, a noted bookie, never been busted.

Runs four back offices, each one grosses maybe two, three million a year.

Junior member of the local Cosa Nostra family.

Yeah, I know about that.

Nothing to connect Paulie, huh?

(CHUCKLES) No. I mean, it's out of his league.

But nobody's saying.

Nobody's saying because nobody cares.

Yeah, but everybody cares about Stein. Everybody.

(SCOFFS) They got a reward out for him.

No questions asked.

Sooner or later, in that big league,

they're gonna ask questions.

Yeah, well, uh, you want me to keep nosing around or what?

I sure do. I'll be at my place late this afternoon.

Springy, stay with it, huh? Stay hungry.

Right.

SHAMUS: Thanks a lot, kid.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(CAR ENGINE STARTS)

(TIRES SCREECHING)

SNELL: How are you doing, Shamus?

Hmm? Oh, you know, hanging in there.

I got a couple of questions, pal.

Hope I got a couple of answers.

What were you doing in Paulie Baker's office?

Paulie, who?

One more try, bright boy.

Mr. Ruby wants to know what you were doing in Baker's office

and he wants I should get an answer.

Ruby, huh?

Look, I just used to know the guy

and I heard he got killed, okay?

Yeah, so?

(CHUCKLES) So, that's all.

You came outside and made a phone call.

No, no, no. That's an answer. What's the question?

(YELPS)

(GRUNTING)

Mr. Ruby thought you were a smart boy.

He's gonna be disappointed, Shamus.

You wanna tell us about it now?

Okay. (COUGHING) Okay.

(TIRES SCREECHING)

(CAR CRASHING)

(TIRES SCREECHING)

(CLANKING)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(CLANKING)

(THUDDING)

Out for a stroll?

Oh, yeah. You know, it's been quite uneventful.

Get in.

How come you just happened to be passing by?

No big deal.

I saw Snell pick you up in front of Eddie's,

so I decided to tail along.

Oh, decided to tail along. I could've been killed.

Well, there was only four of them

and I figured that you could handle it.

Funny.

This guy you mentioned, Snell,

he'd be the one asking me all the questions, huh?

That's Joe Ruby's enforcer.

What did he want?

I figured you'd know.

Maybe he wanted to know what you were looking for

in Paulie's office.

I was looking for the same thing

you were looking for in Paulie's office,

all right?

Thanks for nothing.

Watch yourself. The next time I may not be around to bail you out.

McCoy?

What?

Guess who wants to see you.

I don't know, Vince. Tell me.

Dottore himself.

What?

Have a nice afternoon.

(ENGINE ACCELERATING)

(SOFT PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)

Shamus.

Good to see you.

I'll bet it is. I think I'm expected.

You are.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)

This sauce sucks. You did the opposite of what I said.

I absolutely do not want it to leave this kitchen.

My dearest friend! How are you?

How are you, Sir?

You stay away too long.

Business, business.

This way. Thank you so much.

Here.

Only a few hours ago, our mutual friend Vincent Promuto

sat here where you sit. Aha!

And now, you.

Two of my favorite people, like my own sons,

coming by on the same day after staying away too long.

(CLINKING)

Thank you.

Cheers! Cheers!

I'm sorry about your friend, the one who was killed.

Paulie Baker.

Yes.

I would be very interested to know who did such a thing.

When I find out, Dottore, I'll let you know.

Yes, thank you.

However, let me tell you a little story.

There is this man who's like a father for those about him.

He takes care of them.

He lets them manage some of the family business.

One of these is especially like his own son.

But this son is betrayed by a trusted employee.

This employee yields to temptation

and absconds, my friend, a very large sum of money.

Arnold Stein.

Please, I'm only telling a story.

Oh, a story. I'm sorry, Dottore.

So, this faithful employee will of course eventually be found.

There'll be justice. Proper accounting.

That only seems fair.

Such an unhappy thing, of course, is strictly a family affair.

It would be unfortunate for outsiders to interfere,

to cause more trouble for this already troubled man and his family.

I'm in complete agreement with that.

However, if this outsider was somehow helpful along the way,

just incidentally, of course you understand.

Incidentally, yeah.

That would be different.

That would be logical.

It's only a story, Shamus.

Cheers, my very good friend.

(GLASSES CLINKING)

Cheers.

(FREDDY MEOWING)

(MIMICS CAT MEOWING)

How are you, Freddy?

(MEOWING)

Did you have a good day, huh?

Come on, din din.

You hungry, huh?

(MEOWS)

"Thanks for nothing and drop dead. Zelda.

"P. S. And that goes for your damn cat, too."

She loves us, Freddy.

(MEOWS)

(ZELDA MIMICS CAT MEOWING)

Hi. Hi.

(SIGHS)

I, uh...

You, uh, what?

I decided to stay and keep Freddy company.

Mmm-hmm.

(CHUCKLES) So, while you are making dinner for three...

Mmm-hmm.

I will go in the shower and freshen up.

Mmm-hmm.

(CHUCKLES)

(MEOWS)

(ROMANTIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(SHOWER RUNNING)

ZELDA: ♪♪ I love how you love me

(LINE RINGING)

♪♪ And when I'm away from you

♪♪ I love how you miss me

Hello?

WOMAN: (OVER PHONE) Blinky?

Yeah. Yeah.

WOMAN: You're not Blinky. (HANGS UP)

Wait, wait.

(LINE DISCONNECTED SIGNAL)

♪♪ And when you kiss me

(SHOWER ON)

♪♪ I love how you love me

(MEOWS)

♪♪ I love how you love me

(ZELDA HUMMING)

♪♪ And when I'm away from you

♪♪ I love how ♪♪

Shamus?

(MEOWS)

(SIGHS)

(SIGHS IN EXASPERATION)

(CLICKS TONGUE)

(PHONE RINGING)

SHAMUS: Taking care of business, mate?

Hi.

What do you want?

Oh, nothing important, you know. Nothing to do with business.

I got no time for socials.

Oh, it's not social. It's just I got this, uh,

unlisted number and I need an address.

Why?

She is so beautiful. I mean, she's special.

But she's giving me a hard way to go.

She?

Well, of course she.

What do you think, I'm a pimp?

No.

Get off my desk!

I happen to be a police officer

who's stuck with two hours of work.

I'm tired, I need a shower

and I need a shave!

I'm stuck with this lousy sandwich in my hand!

And you come in here

expecting me to track down

some broad's address?

Does that mean, yes?

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(WATER SPLASHING)

(DOORBELL RINGS)

(WATER SLOSHING)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

(DOOR OPENS)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(WATER SPLASHING)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

MAN: Hey, buddy! Hey! Hey!

(WOMAN SCREAMS)

What can I say?

Well, it better be something good.

Sorry, huh?

I picked up a phone number in Paulie's office.

Yeah. I called,

A girl answered and said, Is this Blinky?

Blinky?

I said, Yeah. Yeah. And then she hung up immediately.

Now, who's Blinky?

Wait, yeah, yeah.

I know a guy who calls himself Blinky. Good.

The guy's a street handler.

You know, picks up all the bets for the day.

You know, holds the markers

and gets them. Like a handler. Right.

Blinky, a character.

The guy's real name is Alexander Nokis,

works Spring to Flower, 2nd and 4th.

You know, one of Ruby's 10 percenters.

five foot four, running build,

pushing 50, looks 60.

I lay off a couple of bets with him now and then.

He pays off, without you got to hunt for him.

Yeah, yeah. I connected with Majestic Prince, Hard Tack.

They did it again in the 69th Preakness.

So, he's a handbook. Let's see now.

Yeah, yeah!

(CHUCKLES)

You always feed your cat up here?

What do you think, I let him eat in the streets?

(MEOWS)

Listen, you find out anything new about Paulie Baker?

Nah. Like he never existed.

Hmm.

Listen, when a handbook calls in a bet,

he uses a code name, right?

Yeah, right, new one every day.

Confuses the vice detail.

You know, I might be getting somewhere.

Yeah. Well, I'm not.

And I've got a couple of bets to settle down at Eddie's.

So, I'll see you later, okay?

Hmm? Yeah, thanks.

(MEOWS)

(CAR HONKS)

(INAUDIBLE)

Blinky!

You try running, I'll break your legs.

Who, me? No, no, you got me all wrong.

Come on. Let's talk, Blinky.

Where are we going?

Look, I've got nothing for you right now, but if something comes...

Tell me about Carol.

Who?

You know Carol, the girl in the front office,

the one who takes the bets.

Honest, I... I don't know many broads.

What about 555-2177?

I never heard of that.

You never heard of that?

You know what I could do, Blinky?

I could make a call to Ruby or Snell

and tell them you finked,

gave me the whole thing.

Carol Hammond, you know, the relay number, the whole thing.

No, no, no, no. Please don't.

I wonder how they'd take that.

You know, after all the bad trouble they've had,

Stein running off with a bundle.

I wonder how they'd take that, huh?

A handbook giving away the whole front office.

All right, all right, I said I'd cooperate.

But you've got to protect me.

I'll protect you.

Tell me about Paulie Baker. What's his connection?

And you get it right the first time, too, huh?

You'll protect me. You got to swear it.

I'll protect you. Just get it right the first time through.

Okay, God's truth.

All I hear is that this Baker guy is hired to tail a backroom clerk.

Arnold Stein?

At first, nobody knows,

but when he disappears...

Mmm-hmm. Why the tail?

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

Look, I can't swear to nothing,

but if Stein was skimming off the top,

you know, faking tapes and sheets,

then Mr. Ruby would want to make sure

before he did anything,

because he relied a lot on Stein.

Makes sense, doesn't it?

So they hired Paulie Baker to build a file on him?

Yeah, find out where he went, who with,

how much he spent, things like that.

That's what I hear. I can't swear to nothing.

You keep saying that.

Man, you got to protect me now.

I'm gonna protect you,

but I may need something else.

So you be around where I can find you.

Yeah, yeah, I'm easy to find.

Easy.

And, uh, I cooperate.

You know that. Mmm-hmm.

I cooperate.

Bye, Blinky.

Hello?

SHAMUS: (OVER PHONE) Hi, it's Shamus. How are you doing?

Ah. Okay. I'm fine.

I'm covering a little ground, making some headway.

That's nice.

What's the matter, honey, are you sick?

No. Uh, listen, I'm sorry.

I... I can't talk to you right now.

Somebody's there, right?

That... That'll be fine.

You call me tomorrow, okay? Goodbye.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

Well, well, bright boy himself.

We thought you might be dropping in.

Don't, bright boy, me, you creep.

Are you all right, babe?

Yeah, I'm okay.

Look, why don't you leave her alone?

She doesn't even know who Paulie was working for.

Now, leave her alone.

Oh, is that so? Very cozy.

I wondered how you were getting paid off.

(GRUNTS)

HELLEN: (YELLING) No, don't! Leave him alone!

Please leave him alone! (GROANS)

(SINISTER MUSIC PLAYING)

You know, I got a friend, Dottore.

He ain't going to like this at all.

What Dottore isn't gonna like is your attitude, bright boy.

Well, I could change my attitude. I could repent.

I could take a little vacation.

Think about it, bright boy, with your mouth shut.

(CAR HONKS)

(SINISTER MUSIC PLAYING)

(ROMANTIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

SNELL: Inside.

So, you're Shamus.

Mr. Ruby, I presume?

Pleasure.

These are my... My hobby.

Oh, really? Yeah, very nice.

Well, one thing you got going for you, it's always summertime.

(CHUCKLES) Yes, I like it that way.

Lovely.

I agree with you.

Now, we'll talk.

You'd be amazed, Shamus, how similar human life is to plant life.

In the jungle, of course.

Ha! I never would have believed that.

Most of these lovelies are from South America, the Amazon regions.

Collectors come here from all over the world just to see them.

Is that a fact?

You're like Pinocchio.

You have a long nose, my friend.

Well, at least he was Italian.

(CHUCKLING)

Good, good. I like that.

How would you like to go to work for me?

Paulie Baker was working for you, wasn't he?

Look what happened to him.

Forget Paulie Baker. He was nobody. An unimportant accident.

Uh-huh.

Find Arnold Stein for me. I'll pay you $10,000.

A nice, round figure.

Could be only a start.

No. No, thanks.

We have a mutual friend who thinks highly of you.

He suggested I talk to you

first.

Hmm. Well, it's a good suggestion, and I could use the bread.

But the timing's not right, right now.

Be sure you close the door.

Yes, sir, Mr. Ruby.

Goodbye, Shamus.

Bye.

Take care of the little plants.

(STEAM HISSING)

Excuse me, is this the way to LA?

You did it again, didn't you?

What? You tailed me!

So what if I did? Why aren't you around when I really need you?

These creeps punch me in the gut. They insult Helen.

I just got out of some creepy jungle sweat box with big Joe Ruby.

And you come cruising by and pick me up like a... like I'm a hitchhiker.

Well, if it helps me get to Ruby, it's worth it.

You're a cop. Take Joe Ruby.

If there was one thing I could nail Ruby on,

I wouldn't need your help.

There's nothing I could pin anything on him.

Anybody that gets in his way, he squashes.

He's like a leech that corrupts everything.

If we could nail one of his back offices,

turn over the records to the IRS,

then we could nail him where it hurts, right in the pocketbook.

Quit saying, we.

You're a cop. Take Joe Ruby.

I want the guy who killed Paulie Baker.

Now leave me out of it.

I'm done.

Are you trying to tell me that Ruby, Snell,

and the death of Paulie Baker are connected? Is that what you're trying to tell me?

To my way of thinking, yes.

Listen, stop the car. Let me out. I'll get a cab.

Stop it!

You're darn right I should stop it.

(DOGS BARKING)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Hi, just checking in.

I was so worried. Oh, come on.

(SIGHS) What happened? Nothing. We just talked.

You know something, they offered me a job. Do you believe that?

What? Nothing to do with Paulie.

Listen, Shamus, I've been thinking about this whole thing.

And I was wrong. I want you to stop.

I mean, you don't owe Paulie.

Hey, hey, hey. What are you trying to do, fire me?

I just don't want anything to happen to you.

I just want you to quit worrying. Nothing's going to happen to me.

(SIGHS) Now when something happens, I'll tell you.

I'll call you. Just you quit worrying. Okay?

Okay. Bye.

Did Lieutenant Promuto find you?

Vince?

Vince was looking for me?

Yeah, I called him. I told him about those men taking you away.

I thought he was tailing me. I got pretty rough with him. (LAUGHS)

Well, if I apologize, he'll get madder, right?

Bye. Bye.

Be careful. I'll be careful. You stop worrying.

(SIGHS)

(PEOPLE LAUGHING)

(DOORBELL RINGS)

(SIGHS) What are you doing here?

Hey, you remember me.

Did Mr. Ruby send you?

(LAUGHS) You gotta be kidding.

Can I come in? It's kind of public out here.

Thank you, ma'am. Hey...

This is nice. This is very, very nice.

I'm glad you like it.

Now do you mind telling me what it is you're doing here?

Well, I just kept thinking about you.

And I couldn't stay away.

I just kept thinking about you.

Look who's the thinker.

Mind if I have a little touch?

Want to join me?

I, uh, never drink before six.

Oh, I'm afraid I do. Well, here's to your principles.

I think

that you had better go.

(PHONE RINGING)

You want me to answer that for you?

No.

Hello?

Call back.

Talking about principles, what do you do after six besides drink?

It all depends.

Did you have something special in mind?

You really should have ditched this before you invited me in.

Well, at least you wiped it clean.

Maybe I should call Mr. Ruby and find out about you.

Good idea.

You know, I think he'd be pleased to know we're here together. Alone, cozy.

Then again...

Then again, he might get mad.

And send that goon Snell over here.

And he'll take this pretty little place apart.

He'd better never come near me.

If you don't like him, why do you sit on this hot seat and take bets?

Why does anybody ever do anything?

(PHONE RINGING)

Would you leave, please?

Okay.

Oh, by the way,

say hello to Blinky for me.

(PHONE RINGING CONTINUES)

Hey, Eddie, how are you doing? Hey.

You seen Shamus around? Yeah, he's over there.

What's going on? Well, uh...

I got to thinking. You know that guy, uh...

That guy Blinky you asked me about? Blinky? Yeah.

Well, I figure the guy's been working for Ruby seven, eight years, right.

So he might have an ear for the inside scam.

So I laid off a couple of bucks with him this afternoon.

You talked to him? Yeah, yeah.

What did you say to him?

The guy's scared, you know. He's really shook up.

But he let out that Ruby is reopening that back office.

The one they shut down when Stein took off.

Ruby's going to open that place himself?

Yeah, who else? It takes know-how, right?

Besides, Ruby's got a problem.

I mean, whoever he pays off ain't getting his piece with that back office closed.

He's got a professional reputation to think of.

I wish you hadn't talked to him.

Listen, do me a favor. You lay low for a couple of days.

Just keep out of sight, okay?

Well, what'd I do? Maybe nothing.

But maybe you backed a rat into a corner.

Now get out of here. Do what I tell you.

I just talked to the guy... Get out of here.

Eddie.

You're letting all the ladies go. Come on.

(LAUGHS MOCKINGLY)

I talked to Helen.

She worries too much.

That's what I told her.

And she told me you weren't tailing me, so all is forgiven.

So what else is new?

Come here, I want to talk to you.

Tell me more about Ruby.

You going to start that... No, no, okay. Tell me about his girls.

Well, he likes them, but doesn't touch.

Saves all his passion for those creepies he grows.

Mmm-hmm.

Why don't you ask Carol Hammond?

Carol who?

You remember Carol Hammond, that little telephone number.

You must think I'm a yo-yo. Well, I checked it out.

One of Ruby's girls.

You'd check out your own mother?

If it helps me get to Ruby.

When do we start pulling together on this?

All right, what I got was this.

The bets come into her, she writes them down in chalk on a blackboard,

and then she wipes them off if the cops come in. That's all.

Then she relays those bets to one of Ruby's back offices.

If you could uncover one of those back offices for me,

I could have a warrant out in 20 minutes.

I'll be talking to her again.

Make sure that's all you do is talk.

Ruby doesn't like anybody messing around with his girls.

Got you.

Deal.

(MEOWING)

You know something?

What?

I'm hungry.

You said you were buying. I'm buying. I'm buying. It's coming right up.

A-ah.

(MEOWING)

Now, number two coming up.

What's the name of your cat?

Freddy.

Short for Fred C. Dobbs. Remember Humphrey Bogart, Treasure of Sierra Madre?

Mmm-hmm.

Always looking out for number one.

Is that what you do?

Doesn't everyone? (CHUCKLES)

(SIGHS) What, what, what, what?

I'm glad you came by this afternoon.

You couldn't be happier than me.

I just hope we stay glad, after what happened to Paulie Baker.

What do you mean?

He's dead.

Mr. Ruby wouldn't do a thing like that.

I'm not saying Ruby, but somebody did.

They blew him up.

Darling,

you really shouldn't have encouraged Paulie Baker.

I didn't encourage him. He was a pest.

Once he found out where I lived, he was coming around all the time.

I couldn't get rid of him.

Well, he won't be coming around anymore.

(CAT MEOWING)

Do you happen to know what Paulie was into apart from tailing Stein?

Here.

That's all.

Ruby never mentioned anything?

No. Mr. Ruby never talked business around me.

How did Paulie find out where you lived?

Oh, he must have followed Stein when he'd set me up and showed me how to...

Wipe numbers off a blackboard. You're a naughty girl.

How do I get out of this?

We're going to find a way. (KNOCK ON DOOR)

Who's that?

ANGIE: Angie. Dottore sent me.

Hey, Angie, no bad news, huh?

I'm sorry to bother you, Shamus,

but Dottore asked me to invite you to drop by.

Tomorrow? Now.

Now.

I'll, uh, wait downstairs, all right?

All right.

Listen, and I'm very serious.

I want to you stay here with the door locked. Don't answer the door.

And I'll telephone you before I come back, okay?

I'll be all right. You can count on that.

(CAT MEOWING)

Don't let Freddy make a pass at you.

(CHUCKLES)

A man must stand by his principles. I admire that, Shamus.

I've always thought of you as my own son, you know that.

That's why I'm sometimes concerned.

I've heard from a very good friend that you turned down his offer of employment.

Nothing personal. Of course, of course.

But it's understandable to want to employ someone who has ability and skill.

Who can be useful to the business, particularly in this time of trouble and turmoil.

Maybe I'm a little overrated.

Let me tell you a little story.

There was this Biblical king, a very powerful man.

He had a beloved son by the name of Absalom.

But this son insisted in doing things his own way.

Even though he knew his father needed his help and comfort,

he went on his own headstrong way.

There was trouble, much trouble.

And such a tragedy.

The father's own soldiers killed the errant son.

By accident, of course.

By accident?

Of course. You see, Shamus,

even a powerful king sometimes cannot prevent such terrible things from happening.

Seems to me this story has a very good point.

A smart son would stick to his own business and not mess around in his father's.

Yes.

He would be a very smart son, indeed.

(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)

Hey, Carmine.

Give me the phone, please.

Thank you.

(INDISTINCT LAUGHTER)

(PHONE RINGING)

(PHONE RINGING CONTINUES)

Hey, wait... wait a minute, huh?

I didn't... I didn't do nothing here. You know what...

(GROANING)

(GRUNTING)

(MEOWING)

(SHUSHING)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR CONTINUES)

Springy sent me.

Springy doesn't send people to me.

He comes himself, personally.

He can't. What do you mean he can't? What's the matter with him?

He got worked over. He's in bed.

You wouldn't kid me.

No.

Okay, let's go.

Here you go, buddy, swallow these.

Thanks, man.

(SIGHS SOFTLY)

You belong in a hospital.

No, no. No hospitals, man.

How many times I got to tell you? People die in them things.

You figure Ruby's gorillas did this?

I don't know.

They didn't introduce themselves.

(INHALES)

But before they got to me,

I talked to that guy Blinky again.

What did he say this time?

It turns out that Ruby's going to open that back office himself, just like I said.

You know, Stein used to handle all that business for him,

but Ruby's the guy who taught Stein how.

Did he say where the office is?

In the same place as before.

Only he didn't know where that was.

Uh-huh.

Listen, you get your man Eddie to get everything you need.

Okay? And that includes a doctor. I'll see you.

I'll see you later, man.

(CAR HONKING)

How's Springy?

He doesn't look very pretty.

Looks like last night was a bad night all around.

What are you talking about? A girl was beaten and dumped in a vacant lot.

The ID in her purse said her name was Carol Hammond.

Oh, come on. I'll take you to the hospital.

This way.

We tried to question her, but she will not talk to a cop.

I was hoping you'd get some information out of her.

I'll sure try.

I'll be over there. Okay.

Hi.

Hi.

I guess they don't like the company I keep. (CHUCKLES)

Do you feel like talking to me?

Yeah.

Who did it?

Was it Snell?

He took me to

to the house

and...

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

Mr... Mr. Ruby watched.

Just one more question.

Now we know this animal Ruby

is opening up the back office that he closed down when Stein disappeared.

Now, do you know when?

Um...

Hmm.

I, uh...

I heard them talking. Yeah.

To... today.

Okay.

Do you know where the office is?

(MOANING)

Come on, honey, anything. Anything that'll clue me.

One time, Mr., um...

Mr. Ruby took me home.

And he stopped

and made a joke about getting some ice for cocktails.

Except that

it was weird, because when he came back, he didn't have any ice.

But, uh,

when we went around the corner, there was a building.

The sign on the building

said the "Ace Ice Making Company."

Good. Good. Yeah.

You're a good girl. Now you rest, you hear? I'll be back later.

Yeah.

Shamus?

Yeah?

Say hello to Freddy for me.

(CHUCKLES)

I'll tell him.

(MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING)

What did she say? It was Snell.

Is that it?

And Ruby watched!

I don't understand. Ruby, Ruby, always Ruby. They beat up on Springy.

They beat up on Carol.

Always Ruby.

It's not Ruby's style. It's not his style to blow somebody up.

You want to talk about style? Go back and visit your girlfriend in the room.

Go and visit Springy. Then you'll find out all about style.

Those are beatings. It's not Ruby's style to blow somebody up.

Publicity, headlines, fire departments, cops... What else did she say?

Oh. A funny story about an ice house.

He visited some ice house, the Ace Ice Company.

I know the place. Yeah, it crossed my mind, too.

The back office.

It's a long shot. I feel very lucky.

All right, let's go.

VINCE: 12-A, report your position.

MAN: (OVER RADIO) We're at the location. Over.

What's with the back-up unit?

MAN: The alley in back, Vince. We got it covered.

Any activity?

Negative. Okay. Pick up a warrant.

Hey, Vince, you better tell them no uniformed cops.

They could blow the whole thing.

Keep the radio open. Maintain surveillance.

Oh, and Mr. McCoy suggests no uniformed policemen in evidence.

12-A: Understood, Vince. Roger and out.

What's the manager's address?

1400 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Now, these outside stairs lead right up to the offices.

There's an empty loft right behind them.

I haven't been up there, you know,

since they was rented out. More than two years.

Wait a minute, you were talking about outside stairs.

Can you get up to the loft from the inside?

Oh, no, the inside stairs go clear to the back of the plant.

Whoever rented those offices must have always used the outside stairs.

I hardly ever seen anybody.

Yeah, well, we appreciate all this.

Whatever's going on up there, the Ace Ice Company don't know anything about it.

All we do is make ice and mind our own business.

Can we have the key?

Well, I don't know.

I'd go with you myself, but Sunday belongs to the wife.

Come on.

If you can't trust the police, who can you trust?

Yeah, right.

Appreciate it.

Fill me in again how this is going to hurt Ruby.

Well, if he shows and if we can get there fast enough, there'll be tapes,

code books, betting records.

Yeah, but I mean, what'll the tax boys do with that?

Well, if we can get those records,

the Internal Revenue can open him up all the way.

Go back five years and collect 10 percent of the gross each year.

It'll really bust him.

They'll probably give him five to ten years.

I wish they'd give him life.

We take what we can get, goomba.

MAN: (OVER RADIO) 6B, come in. 6B.

6B over.

MAN: We got company, Vince. Two guys just going up the back stairs carrying boxes.

Describe them.

One's big, looks like a stevedore.

The other one's about six feet, well dressed, mustache, and his nerves are showing.

Ruby.

We're on the way, 12-A. Stand by.

VINCE: Hey, if your information is right, we hit the jackpot.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

Did you get the warrant? We haven't heard yet, Lieutenant.

Swell.

Vince, I got an idea. Let me take them from the inside, around the back.

Forget it. We don't want no heroes.

Listen, if Joe Ruby comes out of there before the warrant arrives,

you can just wave bye-bye as he drives off.

This is a police operation. It's against regulations.

They're your regulations, not mine.

Now, listen, if we don't nail him now, we can forget about it.

Now, come on, why are you making a big problem?

Because I can't afford one mistake in there.

Vince, for me. Just one more time. Throw the book away.

I promise I won't make a move until you bust the front door.

Oh, keep all that charm and sincerity coming.

Vince.

Because I'm going to hold you to that.

Give me the lousy key.

Since when do you need a key to get through a lousy locked door?

Ciao, baby.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

(TIRES SCREECHING)

VINCE: We got the warrant. Let's go.

MAN: Put it back, Shamus.

Or I'll have to kill you.

Hello, Paulie.

Your gun. On the table.

Very carefully.

You're very good, Paulie.

I never caught on. Not till right now.

Neither did Vince.

Back up.

You mean you've been laying low here all the time?

Except for that one time outside Carol's apartment.

That was a filthy trick, Paulie.

Making me witness your death.

Who was the guy in the car? Arnold Stein, huh?

That's right.

Now the stairs. Move.

You haven't got a chance, Paulie. The place is loaded with cops.

Joe Ruby's in the building right now.

Paulie, you're still a loser.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(GUNSHOTS)

(GROANS)

Watch out for that one, Vince!

(MOANS)

Shamus?

(GUNSHOT)

(SCREAMS)

(YELLS)

(WATER SPLASHING)

(GROANING)

(SCREAMING)

(GASPING FOR BREATH)

(YELLING)

Hey, Vince.

Looks like our jungle plant freak's gonna turn into an ice cube.

(GROANING)

Hang on.

There's an ambulance coming.

Doesn't matter now.

It matters to Helen.

I was trying to make a big score, Shamus.

You understand.

Couldn't pass it up.

I knew every move Stein made.

(INHALES)

I just waited.

He was always the last to leave.

So easy.

You slugged him, dressed him up in your clothes and blew him up.

It was for her.

We could have started a new life.

I wanted to buy her nice things.

Paulie, you know Helen wouldn't have taken a nickel of that money.

Not Helen.

It was Carol.

(WEEPING) It was Carol.

I would have

had a chance with her

with that money.

(SIGHS) Hey, Vince.

Paulie Baker, I... I still don't believe it.

What's there to believe? He couldn't win for losing.

You realize he nearly got away with the whole thing?

Yup.

Helen, huh?

What are you going to tell her?

I haven't got the faintest idea.

I'll see you.

Mmm-hmm.

Shamus?

(EXHALES DEEPLY) What?

Tell her the truth.

It'll be a lot easier.

See you.

SHAMUS: The way Paulie saw it, it was his last big chance, you know.

That's what he said.

Last big gamble.

Do you remember how he was always talking about being a failure

and never amounting to anything?

This was his one big grab for the gold ring.

And all to get nice things for his wife.

And he made the grab and missed.

That's all.

He missed and it all came apart.

But the last thing he did say

was Helen.

Just Helen.

(MEOWING)

Hello, Freddy.

Well, I guess it's just you and me, huh? Against the world.

(MEOWING)

(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)