Original subtitles

-I won! Man: Against the wall.

-Come on. Let's go. -Wouldn't you know it?

I hit a seven, and they stick up the joint!

My men are gonna collect your valuables.

Drop everything in the bags.

[Crashing]

If you don't pack it in

and get out of here in the next three minutes,

your two lady friends will have to carry you out in a bag.

You'll talk to them or you'll sit in jail till you do.

If I testify before that grand jury, I'm a dead man.

[Explosion]

[Theme music playing]

[Proctor laughs]

[Woman laughs]

Send Mr. Proctor's car up right away, please.

-Hey, Jimmy. -Hi, Mr. Proctor.

Hope you had a nice evening. Your car will be right up.

-Double or nothing. -You got it.

Call.

Heads. It's mine.

[Laughs]

Okay, baby.

- Where do you want to go now? - Anywhere? How 'bout rio?

[Laughing]

-Sure. -Then London.

Sure.

You know, somebody told you I was made of money.

Money, money, money, and anything else that's nice.

Oh! Ha, ha, ha.

Man: You should have listened to Mr. Angelo.

Mr. Angelo wanted to help you.

[Gunshots]

Bill: 290 out of a possible 300, pepper.

Not bad for a lady cop.

Thanks. I try.

Crowley, you should really work on your shooting.

I threw in a few points, so you don't have to shoot again.

But, man, I'd hate to be your partner.

You're terrible!

-Don't feel bad, bill. -Lose it.

Listen, I'll buy you lunch after the meeting.

That'll cheer you up.

I know it'll cheer you up.

-[Knock on door] Jack: Come in.

-Pepper. Crowley. -Hey.

You know captain Miller from ad-vice.

-Hi, Jack. How's it going? -Sit down.

Jack, why don't you give 'em some idea

-of what's been happening. -Okay.

Last night one of our big-time gamblers

was blown up on the street.

A man named Ralph proctor.

Yeah, we know.

That's the third hood to be shot up

or wasted in the last three weeks.

And good riddance.

Well, so far, robbery-homicide has not turned up a single lead.

And intelligence has developed information,

that someone, having eyes

for taking over all the vice activities in this town,

gambling, prostitution, porno, everything.

We've been getting bits and pieces of information

about muscle being applied on some of our crime figures.

But what we really need out there...

Is our own set of eyes.

I can feel it coming.

I want pepper to go out on the street alone.

Alone?

Well, with one of ad-vice's informants, of course.

But why does she have to go out alone?

What do you want me and my squad to do?

You'll be doing follow-up work.

Anything pepper turns up will be yours.

I don't like her out on the street alone.

She's got to go out alone. Just pepper and the snitch.

I don't want this blowing up before you even get started.

Now, any questions?

-Yeah, I got a question. Miller: What?

[Sighs]

I want to know about this informant. Who is it?

-How reliable? -Oh, very reliable, bill.

She's an ex-madam who's been working with us for three years.

We call her the "black widow."

-Linda? -Pepper?

-Right. -Yeah.

- They said you was pretty. - They said the same about you.

Hop in.

-I like your outfit. -Thank you. Same here.

-Thank you. -So much for amenities.

Oh, uh, one question before we get going

'cause you never know where we might end up.

I hope you left all your I.D. Home.

I got nothing on me but my money and my favorite perfume.

-Okay. -Okay.

I've been going through all these reports.

In every single one of these three killings,

the suspect has been described as a male Caucasian, thirtyish,

blond, 6'2", 180 pounds, good-looking.

Yet none of the witnesses feel

they'd be able to recognize the man again.

Well, street fear can cause amnesia.

[Telephone rings]

Sergeant crowley. Can I help you?

Sergeant, this is Susan jeffries.

I'm at the airport.

My plane leaves in 20 minutes.

What can I do for you?

It's what I can do for you.

The man who shot Ralph, he did say something.

What'd he say?

He mentioned the name Mr. Angelo.

That's all I remember,

but I did want to tell you before I left.

By the way, sergeant, forget I called.

That was the girl calling from the airport.

She said before the killer fired,

he mentioned the name of Mr. Angelo.

You mean vito Angelo? He's been in the joint 15 years.

Yeah, but he's about due for parole.

This sure fits his m.0, murder, extortion.

This guy's a real old-time godfather.

By now this place should be crawling with ladies.

Hmm.

Vice has either had a roundup,

or there's trouble right here in river city.

Oh, let's take a booth and stop the rush.

Oh, um, don't let it come as a surprise to either of us,

the stampede, that is.

-Comfy? -I love it.

-Hi, Linda. -Hey, darlin'.

How've you been? Where have you been?

- I haven't seen you for a while. - San Francisco.

Say, um...

What's happening? Where is everybody?

Lots of tricks, no chicks.

Don't know. What'll you have?

Oh, uh, Brandy and soda.

Hmm, yeah, yeah. I'll have the same thing.

Okay.

I'll be right back, if I can squeeze through these animals.

Pepper: Right.

She's not kidding.

-Uh-oh. -Hmm. Heads up.

Do you girls realize you could be sittin' on a million dollars?

In fact, I think you are.

Seriously. We're geologists.

And I think we have discovered oil.

May we join you?

Well, okay. But we're here for only one drink.

Good. Good.

-Uh, my coat. -Oh.

Boy, you're really built for a girl.

-Do you like sports? -Sure.

Boy, do you ever have a way with words.

Just makes me feel like I'm right back home

in bowlegs, Oklahoma.

Thanks.

My name's Doug.

My friend here is Jeff.

And we are happy to be sharing your booth.

Hi, Doug, Jeff.

Well, um, I'm Linda, and this here is pepper.

This place has been like a morgue till you two walked in.

-Where's all the ladies? -You tell us.

We just came in for a drink.

Well, don't get the wrong idea.

Everybody in town knows this is the kind of a place

where girls come, and guys...

We understand, but you got this situation wrong.

You see, we're just here waiting for our husbands.

It's very close to their offices.

Oh, I should have known. Anybody as good as you would be married.

We'll just go back to the piano bar.

Bye.

Hey, you still in the oil business?

-Sure. -Uh...

See the brunette over there?

They tell us she's a real gusher.

Thanks.

Oh, hi, Linda. Mind if I join you?

Be my guest.

Uh, margo Blake, this is pepper, Turner.

-Hi. -I've seen your sister Lana.

You new in town?

San Francisco. Here to see my brother.

Oh.

Say, margo, what is going on? This place is like a morgue.

Everybody's staying home, I guess.

The word I get is...

-You know Ralph proctor? -Right.

The high roller?

He got blown away the other night in front of the bar.

They say that proctor refused to join "the company,"

which, the way I get it,

is a group that's buying up everything in town.

My old man joined. A kind of "or else" situation.

So I guess I'm safe.

Who runs the company?

Some old syndicate boss is all my old man said.

Oh, listen. I got to make it.

One of my regular tricks just walked in.

See you guys later. I've gotta get hustling.

Inflation's eating up my profits.

[Laughs]

-What a great kook. -She's marvelous.

- You feelin' lucky? - A girl makes her own luck.

How about a little gambling?

- We could split our winnings. - Okay. Mine's off the top.

- You're on. - Oh. Hey, what about our drinks?

Oh, uh, just leave her a tenner.

Ten. Ten dollars?

Crowley's not gonna like that.

Good evening, Cedric.

-Hello, Linda. How are you? -Just fine.

That's good.

-Busy night. -Yup.

Good evening. May I see your purse?

Oh, sure. I'd hate to come here in a cab.

[Laughs]

- Good luck. Have a nice evening. - Thank you.

Pepper: Wowee!

I've heard about places like this.

Linda: They do exist.

Pepper: Ooh.

Makes me feel lucky. Ha, ha.

This is a big operation. Who runs it?

Uh, some guy named bender.

Very big in the horse racing business.

[Sighs]

Wow.

Uh, ten dollars is the minimum bet.

What's the top?

Darlin', it's whatever you got.

But don't expect to come out ahead in this joint.

It doesn't happen.

"Try not to blow it all," he says.

At these stakes, it's not gonna be easy.

[Clears throat]

Since it's their money, let's try our luck, okay?

You only live once.

Seven! I won!

It's a seven! How much do I get?

[Gunshot]

The fun's over. Against the wall.

-Come on. Let's go. -Wouldn't you know it?

I hit a seven, and they stick up the joint!

Against the wall.

Okay, now.

My men are gonna collect your valuables.

Drop everything in the bags.

Easy, but hurry...

And nobody gets hurt.

Come on.

If you'd have waited ten minutes, I'd be rich.

For a high-rolling broad, you sure don't have much bread.

- Here. Have breakfast on me. - Thanks a lot, chum.

Do you have to tell everybody?

Come on. Come on. Let's go. Let's go.

In there. Put it in there now. Come on.

Let's go. Let's go. In the bag. That's it.

That's the necklace too, please. Let's go, let's go, let's go.

Let's make it fast. Right there.

Okay. Your little white baggy.

All of it. That's good.

Ladies.

Okay! Let's move it!

[Crashing]

[Women screaming]

Mr. Angelo wants to thank you all for your generosity.

And, you dealers, he suggests you find employment elsewhere.

Good night.

Mr. Bender, I'm sergeant crowley of the police department.

-We'd like to talk to you. Bender: I had some cops this morning.

Don't you guys talk to each other?

We just have a couple of questions we'd like to ask you.

May we come in?

Is it possible to keep you out?

Thank you.

These are investigators royster and styles.

Delighted.

Have a seat.

Thanks.

This is a beautiful place you got here.

It sure is.

You, keep your feet off the furniture.

-Is that really a cop? -Pete?

That's what the crooks tell me.

Look, if it's about the game the other night,

that was strictly a charity affair. No profit.

Everything to charity. No money really changes hands.

We understand that.

- How much did they take you for? - Not a dime.

Is that right? We must be getting bad information

because we heard it was more like 30,000.

How about all that legal gambling equipment?

-Don't do that. -Do what?

That belonged to an old Vegas friend, passed away last year.

So I've been using it for some of my charity affairs.

Tell us about vito Angelo.

Never met the man.

Joe: That's very interesting. The word we got is that

he was responsible for taking your game,

besides running you out of business.

Where'd you hear a crazy thing like that?

I haven't heard his name in years.

You heard it the other night.

-You're crazy. -It's no good, bender.

We had an undercover investigator in your game.

When it was hit, he was right there,

heard everything, saw it all.

Impossible. We screen everyone.

For a charity event, huh? That seems a little weird to me.

If you guys have anything to say to me,

do it through my attorneys.

I'm sick and tired of talking to you cops.

Now, get the hell out!

Listen, slick. You let me tell you something.

We're about an inch from subpoenaing your butt before the grand jury.

Now, I guarantee you'll talk to them

or you'll sit in jail till you do. I make you that promise.

And I usually keep my promises, don't I, Pete?

Absolutely.

If I testify before that grand jury, I'm a dead man.

You understand where my head's at?

Forget it. I don't know nothing.

-Now, get out. -Let's go.

You're in a lot of trouble, bender.

You'll be hearing from me.

Pete: He sure is an early bird, ain't he?

12-y-51, we're moving.

-Bender's headed downtown. -12-y-50. Roger.

We're on our way to meet the friendly.

We'll join you as soon as we can.

Hi, Linda.

This town is jumping.

There's all kinds of talk on the street.

Oh, yeah? Like what?

Okay.

Vito Angelo is getting out in two weeks,

and his people are trying to put his old organization back together.

Nobody operates without his blessing.

Everybody belongs to the company.

Uh-huh. But what about bender?

Okay. That's all over the town too, his game.

Now, everybody in town knows

that Angelo's people took the game.

But bender's gonna open up again Friday night.

What about protection?

Ugh. Bender's a big man.

He ain't gonna play ball in Angelo's ballpark. No way.

Well, Linda, bender's ball-playing days are just about over.

Next week, the grand jury's planning on indicting him.

Gambling and conspiracy violations.

Ooh, the man does have problems.

Yeah.

The law on one side and Angelo on the other. Whoo!

He's got to fight them off to stay in business,

and, darlings, that's gonna be harder to do

than fight the cops and the courts.

Say, listen, Linda. Tell you what we want you to do.

Find out where bender's movin' his game to.

Maybe this time, we'll take it.

If you do, will you do me a favor?

What's that?

Pick up your winnings from the other night.

I sure could use the deuce. [All laugh]

[Hums]

-Hi. -Hi, pep.

- Well, it's about time. - Hey. What's he up to?

He's in the building.

Went into an office of one Vincent Phillips.

Well, I gotta hand it to him.

He's got the most expensive criminal attorney in town.

With all the ethics of a snake.

Yeah. He's been in there almost three hours now.

Just shows you how time flies when you're having fun.

With a little help from my friend.

Surveillance is gonna pick up bender at 6:00.

When you guys get relieved, why don't you join us over at Vinnie's?

Pep's gonna buy us all a couple of beers.

Pete: Hmm.

Now, how did I guess that's just what you were gonna say?

-Hello, William, pep. -What's happening?

That Turkey sure leads an exciting life,

I wanna tell you.

As soon as he split from Phillips's office,

he went right back to his apartment.

-Did he spot you? -No, I don't think so.

I don't think he was expecting a tail.

Oh, by the way, some chick showed up just before we left.

"Some chick." I'll say.

Made me want to go out and play my best music.

It's probably the cleaning lady.

Hey, bill. Telephone.

Thought I'd bring a round over while I was at it.

-Save a trip. -Yeah, lots of luck.

- Get crowley to pay for it. - Yeah, I'll work on that.

That was Patterson from surveillance.

They just tailed bender over to a warehouse on the east side.

Oh. Maybe the location of his new game.

Think Linda was right?

Could be.

Why don't you drink up?

We're going surveillance at 6:00 A.M.

We just had here.

[Yawns]

You want some more coffee?

I am all coffee'd up to you know where.

Heads up over there. He's on his way out.

Roger. We got him.

[Explodes]

[Brakes screech]

I don't like it, and I don't mind telling it to her face.

I think you knew they were gonna waste bender.

Sergeant Anderson, I think you're out of line.

I'm not out of line if I tell you what I think honestly.

All right. That's enough.

-Look, miss Linda, black widow... -wrong floor.

Whatever they call you.

I've seen how you handle these people.

You know more than you let on.

Now, you listen, darlin', and you listen good...

- now, you listen. Cool it. - No, just wait a minute.

-Cool it, I said. -Just wait a minute!

Yeah, I'm out on the streets.

But like my grandmother used to say,

you can't see the forest for the trees,

you can't feel the wind for the breeze.

My grandmother says you let us down.

We weren't supposed to let bender get wasted.

-Right, bill? -Right, but...

- she could have warned us. - I would have if I had known!

-Oh, you knew. -I did not know.

Knock it off, both of you.

You're in the police pool.

You're not backstage at the union burlesque!

Now, shut up, both of you! Come on. Sit down.

-Bill? -What?

What? It's okay. Go ahead.

S.i.d. Didn't have much to say.

The bomb was rigged to the speedometer.

Yeah?

Joe: Your hunch on Phillips was right.

The same Vincent Phillips

who was almost disbarred five years ago.

Pete: On suspected jury tampering.

And he's vito Angelo's attorney, handling his parole.

And his client, Mr. Angelo, has done just about everything.

Born in sicily. His folks moved to Chicago

where he became involved in the crime scene in the early '30s.

He then split here in the '50s.

He had a lock on everything

until they shipped him to the joint.

- Has he got any family now? - His wife died two years ago.

A son living in Hartford, Connecticut, with a wife and two kids.

They changed their name, and they're clean.

-And parole comin' up? -Yeah.

-Linda? -Yeah?

Bill: I want you to start thinking.

See if you can come up with some names and places for me.

Man: I don't know, bill. This scam better work.

I had to borrow every vice officer in town to pull it off.

Yeah, well, ahem,

if Linda's on, and we picked the right place, it'll work.

Oh, what have we got here?

This could be our man.

[Camera shutter clicks]

[Camera shutter clicks]

Pepper.

What's up?

He was at the dice joint the other night.

Hey.

Make yourself to home.

- Are you taking action? - Action? What kind of action?

Five hundred dollar bet.

-On what? -On you.

If you don't pack it in

and get out of here in the next three minutes,

your two lady friends will have to carry you out in a bag.

-You giving any odds? -You won't need any.

I don't think he likes us.

At least he called us "ladies."

Look, mister, what did you say your name was?

Smith.

Mr. Smith, we're only little people.

You know what I mean?

I have a boss who tells me where to go

and what kind of action to take.

It's that simple.

Now, if you want me to split, far out,

but somebody else is gonna be here tomorrow,

just as sure as there's smog in L.A.

How do I get in touch with your boss?

Now, you just call this number. It's his service.

I wouldn't take that. You see, I'll make you a bet.

If you take this, you're gonna end up with a big hole,

right in the middle of your belly button.

You dig where I'm comin' from, Mr. Smith?

Oh, darlin'.

-Hey, bill? Bill: Yeah?

D.m.v. On the car comes back

Frankie Benson on ridgecrest drive.

And? Frankie Benson, just released from prison.

Same joint vito Angelo's in.

Served five years for armed robbery.

And, for dessert, his parole record indicates,

that Vincent Phillips is also his attorney.

That's pretty heavy.

Yeah, this is Mr. Marsh. You got any messages for me?

Is that right?

Yeah?

Okay. Listen, when he calls back,

you give him this message from me.

Tell him I'll make the meet.

No, sweetheart. M-double-e-t.

That's it. Thanks.

Mr. Smith?

Mm-hmm.

Who called and said that he'd like to arrange

a little business meeting with me,

Sunday morning at 11:00.

Pepper: The dark suit.

He was calling the shots when they hit the casino.

This is my boss, Mr. Marsh.

Mr. Marsh, Mr. Di roma.

-Pleasure. -Yeah.

I understand from Frankie here that you have a few,

maybe more than a few, handbooks operating around town.

-It's possible. -Huh.

Well, some of my friends have, uh,

let's say, joined together to form what we call "a company."

That's as good a word as any, right?

- That's as good as any, I guess. - Now, this company...

Has franchises available for the smart investor,

who plans to stay in business, make a pretty good profit

and live long enough to enjoy it all.

What we're doing here is,

offering you one of our exclusives.

How much is it gonna cost me...

And what do I get in return for my investment?

Hey, no investment.

[Chuckles]

We get 60% of your action, you stay in business.

Oh, plus...

Plus, free bookkeeping service.

That way we know you're not, uh...

How do you say it?

-Cheating the company. -Ah.

All right. Okay. Now, let's see if I got it in my mind.

If I choose not to join your company...

Hey.

We can't be responsible.

I mean, you're liable to meet with a terrible accident.

-Understood? -Oh, yeah.

Yeah. I think I got that.

I think my partner and I have heard enough.

- What do you say, partner? - More than enough, sergeant.

Yeah. You're under arrest.

Oh, uh-uh-uh-uh!

[Gunshots]

Don't move, or I'll blast you.

Aw, Jesus. Get up!

Bill: You all right?

Di roma: I've got one of your cops here.

Anybody gets in my way, he's had it.

[Gunshot]

Sergeant crowley, thanks for saving my neck.

-Forget it. -You know,

I never could've made a shot like that.

How long you been shooting expert?

Oh, he's... he's been a sharpshooter now

for a long time.

-You want some coffee? -No.

Benson, I've tried to explain to you...

Maybe he doesn't understand, bill.

Maybe you don't understand.

I'm interested in your boss, the guy that calls the shots.

So you're interested. So go find him, if you can.

Leave me alone.

You can help yourself, and you know it.

Now, you're way down here somewhere.

We're after the man on top, and you know that.

You're headed right back to prison.

Conspiracy to commit murder and extortion.

What can you do for me?

Bill, pep, can I see you a minute?

-Yeah. -Vincent Phillips.

Bill: What can I do for you?

Has my client been informed

of his constitutional rights yet, sergeant?

You can take odds on it, counselor.

Then why are you still interrogating him?

What kind of dumb cops are you?

Oh, dumb. Very dumb.

You must have a third nostril

that helps you smell out extra-dumb cops.

I want to see my client, now.

Be my guest.

"Third nostril." I like that.

I don't like any of this. Benson was ready.

Hang in there, pep.

If we don't lock him up, I'll turn in my hat.

I've talked to my client. He has nothing to say.

He's ready to be booked.

Get him booked.

And then get 'em both the hell out of here.

One more thing.

My client wishes to remain silent.

You attempt to interrogate him any further, I'll move for...

Think it's time we made that little trip.

Ah.

[Speaking in foreign language]

Pepper: How do you do, Mr. Angelo? I'm sergeant Anderson.

The beautiful lady cop.

[Giggles]

I've heard about you. Good things.

Even from some of the guys in here.

That's very flattering. You want to sit down?

-Thank you. -Mr. Angelo,

I'm sergeant crowley.

Crowley. They talk about you too.

Only not so good, huh?

Oh, not that bad.

The Italian cop with the Irish name.

Yeah, well, I'm really only part Italian.

I had an Italian grandmother.

Oh. Better than nothing, huh?

Well, what can I do for the cops?

Me, vito Angelo.

There've been several killings in the city recently,

gangland style and your name's been linked to them.

My name. My name.

Look at me.

The body. The eyes, glaucoma.

I can hardly see no more.

I'm sick. I'm old.

All I got left is my name.

Mr. Angelo, are you saying you know nothing about this?

I didn't say that.

The walls talk here with word from the outside.

It comes through the concrete, the bricks, loud.

The walls, they've told me about this.

"Hey, Angelo, they're using your name!"

Do you have any idea who's behind it?

No. I'm like you.

But I'd like to find out.

You don't trust me, do you?

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Then tell them here to let me make a phone call tonight,

and I'll get in touch with somebody who can help.

We'd appreciate that.

And I appreciate the visit.

You know, it's cold here all the time.

And it's dark.

Every day it gets a little darker.

Your visit is like...

Little ray of sunshine in this lousy hell.

Part Italian, huh?

Sì.

[Speaking in foreign language]

Dante. Have you ever read Dante? Dante alighieri?

[Speaking in foreign language]

Sometimes I sit and I try to remember, from la commedia,

the words over the gate to hell.

You know them, the words?

[Speaking in foreign language]

Please tell me.

I try so hard to remember.

[Speaking in foreign language]

"Through me one passes into the city of pain."

[Speaking in foreign language]

"Through me one passes into the eternal sorrow."

[Speaking in foreign language]

"Through me one passes"...

[Speaking in foreign language]

"Among the lost souls."

[Speaking in foreign language]

"Among the lost souls."

[Laughs]

You know, if I was only 60 years old, even 65...

Thank you, Mr. Angelo.

Thank you.

-Ciao. -Ciao.

-Sergeant crowley? -Yeah.

I'm Johnny, Mr. Angelo's friend.

-Have a seat. -Thank you.

This is Joe styles and Pete royster.

How're you doing?

- Can we get you anything? - Uh, no. No, thank you.

I just want to say what I've got to say and get out of here.

A little uncomfortable around cops?

Ha. Ha. Yeah. You can say that.

Look, sergeant, I'm from out of state,

so I have no interest in this area whatsoever,

with just the one exception.

I'm very interested in helping you clear Mr. Angelo's name.

We're very interested

in solving some of these crimes and catching the man at the top.

I understand that,

and I think we can solve both problems at the same time.

Where do we start?

You don't. I do.

Now, tomorrow morning you put a tail on me.

I'll be talking to some businessmen.

This may take some time,

but when you see me talking to a man,

and I loosen my tie and take off my coat,

that's it, he's your man.

Omertà.

What does that mean?

Omertà. That's the code of silence.

So, I'll do it silently.

[Deeply inhales]

Uh, this isn't some kind of a setup, is it?

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

What he means is,

how do we know Mr. Angelo isn't interested

in heading up the company after all?

I mean, he's old, but he's not senile.

You know, cop, if you really believe that,

then I guess I'm just wasting my time here.

Well, let's see.

Looks like we're gonna have to play along with you,

'cause right now you've got the best game in town.

I'll be in front of my hotel at 9:00 tomorrow morning.

It's the hotel barton.

[Telephone rings]

Sergeant crowley. Can I help you?

All right, listen and don't ask any questions.

If you stay with your man for the next few hours,

I think you're gonna make your case.

I got word to him that the feds are moving in on him tomorrow,

so he's gonna be transferring his records.

That's records of everything.

All the people he's ever muscled out,

the pimps, prostitutes, the gamblers.

His owe sheets. As I said, you'll have everything.

Now, you can consider this a gift to you from Mr. Angelo.

Ciao.

I'll take the box, counselor.

What the hell is this? What do you want?

I want the box.

Hold still, you won't get your wrist broken.

Get him out of here before I kill him!

Hey, Pete!

Be sure and tell the counselor about his constitutional rights!

Absolutely.

Bill?

I think we've got the most important stuff right here.

Why don't we just book him for littering?

[Laughing]

[Theme music playing]