Original subtitles

lt was summer, 1948, and l needed money.

After going door-to-door all day long...

l was back again at Joppy`s Bar, trying to figure out...

where l was gonna go lookin` for work the next day.

The newspapers was goin' on and on about the city elections...

like they was really gonna change somebody`s life.

My life had already changed when l lost my job three weeks before.

For example, one of the white guys pulls a double shift...

says he's too tired to work overtime.

You don't fire them.

That's all you have to say?

No, that's not all. l need--

l need to pay my mortgage and eat.

l need a house to live in. l need to put clothes on my back, Mr. Qiacomo.

-l need the job. -Sorry, tella. l gotta get back to work.

- My name's not ''fella.'' - Huh?

My name is Ezekiel Rawlins.

- Catch you later, Joppy. - Hey!

Watch the marble, damn it!

What l tell you?

Joppy, how much you think they payin' out there at Douglas Aircratt?

l don't know. Don't it say on the--

Talk to him. Yes, sir, you can talk to him.

Easy, come on over here.

l got somebody l want you to meet.

Come on. This here's a triend ot mine.

Yeah, Easy, this is Mr. Albright.

- Call me Dewitt. - How you doin`?

- l'm all right. - Take a seat, Easy.

Mr. Albright and me go way back to betore the war.

Right back when l was still in the tight game.

- Ever seen this guy tight? - No.

Every time Joppy Shag stepped into the ring...

you knew you was gonna see some real knock-down-drag-out tisticufts.

- Where you from? - Houston.

That's Joppy's home town.

l hear you need a job.

Oh, yeah. Easy always tryin' to do better.

He's one ot the tew colored men around here who owns his own house.

He's payin' the mortgage every month, just like y'all tolks.

Property owner, huh?

These big companies don't give a damn, do they, Easy?

l got out of that racket a long time ago.

Look, it you do need a job, you drop by this address.

- 7:00 tonight. - What kind ot work do you do?

l do favors for friends.

Drop by.

Who is that?

Just somebody l know. Businessman.

- Businessman, huh? - Yeah, he is.

Ain't nothin' to worry about.

Now, when somebody tell me ''ain`t nothin' to worry about"...

l usually look down to see if my fly is open.

But all the way home all l could think about was a chance to make some money.

l first came to Los Angeles when l got home from the war in Europe...

with $300 in my pocket and the G.l. Bill.

Like me, a lot of folk from Texas and Louisiana...

had moved out to California to get them good jobs...

in the shipyards and in the aircraft companies.

Hey, Willy!

Now me, myself-- l was a machinist.

And the first thing l did when l saved enough money was to buy me a house.

Man, l loved comin` home to my house.

l don't know. l guess maybe l just loved ownin` something.

How ya doin'?

- l'm gonna knock down some trees-- - No, leave my trees alone.

- But it ain't gonna take but five-- - Leave my--

Qet on!

l was feelin` pretty desperate that evening.

ln a week l`d be two months behind on my mortgage...

and, no, sir, l wasn't about to lose my house.

But a chill runnin` up the back of my neck...

was tellin` me l was about to make a bad decision.

Yeah, Albright made me nervous.

He reminded me of a fellow l knew back in Texas named Mouse.

Drive to this train yard and let`s dump this--

l thought you said this was your friend's car? What did you do, Mouse?

- Just drive this son of a bitch. - What did you do?

So...

want the job?

lt depends on what kind of job it is. l don't wanna get mixed up in nothin'.

Walk out the door in the mornin'...

you're mixed up in somethin'.

Only thing matters if you're mixed up to the top or not.

l'm just lookin' tor somebody tor a triend.

Daphne Monet.

Fiancee of Todd Carter.

She been gone two weeks.

lt upset the poor man so much he stopped runnin' for mayor.

l never laid eyes on her.

That's a shame.

See, Daphne has a predilection for the company ot Negroes.

She likes jazz and pig's feet and dark meat, know what l mean?

Predilection, yeah.

Yeah.

l'd go lookin' for her myselt...

but l'm not the right persuasion, so to speak.

- What you want from me? - What do you mean?

- What do you want me to do? - Just get a location on her.

Mr. Carter wants to make up with her.

Hundred dollars.

l pay in advance.

Hundred dollars.

All l got to do is tell you where she's at?

- That's right. - And that's all?

That's all.

Joppy tells me you used to trequent an illegal club at 89th and Central.

John's.

Somebody saw Daphne there a tew nights ago.

You could start tonight.

Whoa! That's enough. Thank you.

- See you later, man. - All right.

Yeah!

Oh, l see him!

- What l do? - What's your name?

l told you this is a grocery store, period.

- Hattie May. - Hey, how you doin', baby?

Colored brother, l need you to do something.

Mister, l done told you. You can't be in here harassing tolk.

What's going on?

l just paid these damn cops oft, and they're out there rousting my customers.

That's what he get for messing with that white woman.

- Come on, brother. - Don't pay him no attention, Easy.

l rung tor Junior to come down and take care of that.

Ain't got nobody but Deucy tonight.

- l had Holiday on Thursday. - Yeah?

Yeah, you missed it.

Junior, wait tor the cops to leave.

Take Easy upstairs, and it he's still down here...

come on back and throw his ass out.

- You better be gone. - l'll be here. l'll be waitin' tor you.

Yeah, you just wait, mister. You just keep waitin'.

Mr. McGee, there is no upstairs.

- Qot another one ot them cigarettes? - Sure.

- Qot another one ot them cigarettes? - Sure.

Zapattas. How you smoke these damn things?

You're the only Negro in America smoke Mexican cigarettes.

The last time l heard these tellas playin' was back in Houston.

Nice old buddy Mouse had to pull me up otf your ass.

- That's the way you remember it? - Hell, that's the way it was.

Look here.

When you gonna admit you helped Mouse kill old man Navrochet?

Man, come on. Qet oft that.

You know l didn't have nothin' to do with that.

- Where all the white women at? - l don't pay them white girls no mind.

- l bet you don't. - That's right.

Just like you didn't help Mouse kill his steptather.

Hey, Easy. Did you help him kill his stepbrother too?

Alphonso Jenkins!

Qive me a setup and a Coke back.

You seen a girl named Dahlia, Delilah, somethin' like that?

White girl. Supposed to be somethin' to see.

No, but it l do see her, l'm gonna keep it to myselt.

Keep the change.

Degan Odell.

-How you doin' tonight? -lt's goin' all right. lt sure is goin'.

- Easy Rawlins, is that you? - Hey, boy.

Boy, you ain't jumped out no windows yet?

Not yet, Dupree.

Look here. You know Coretta, don't you?

- Sure, l know Coretta. - l'm all right, Easy.

- This is Odell. - How you doin'?

- Odell. - Oh, my goodness.

Could we sit down with y'all?

- Sure. Sit down. - Man, we miss you down at the plant.

And look here. Benny would have gave you your job back, right?

All you had to do was go down there and say that you were sorry.

l'm sorry, all right. Qive me a pint ot that bourbon.

Any man without his paycheck is sure enough sorry.

l got it.

- Your money here ain't no good. - No, this one's mine.

You sure? You ain't got no job.

And you ain't got no money.

Oh, baby.

Any ot you seen a white girl by the name Dahlia, Delilah-- something like that...

first name start with a D.?

Coretta got herselt a job at the phone company.

- ls that right? - Yeah.

Congratulations. They ain't hiring no mans down there, is they?

You all right, Odell?

He used to play till the cock crowed.

That old cock don't crow nearly so much now.

Better get home.

You'd be sorry it you go.

l'd be sorry if l stayed too.

Qood night, Coretta.

Daphne sleep by now. So--

You can't get none ot that tonight.

You go around here tellin' everybody ''Dahlia.''

Her name is Daphne.

You know her?

- Where you want me to put him at, baby? - This ain't my house!

Just throw him there on the bed.

Shut up, Negro. Come on.

Where's my keys?

Be caretul ot the door.

Throwed him out ot his place last week 'cause he couldn't pay his rent.

l shouldn't even let him sleep here tonight.

Damn, that Negro's heavy.

l know.

l need a cigarette.

That all you need?

Qirl, that sun catch me tiptoein` outside your door...

ain't no tellin' what your neighbors might say.

All right, Easy.

Dupree done fell asleep on me...

and you just gonna walk out on me like l was dog tood, huh?

What? Girl, what you talkin' about?

Now, come on.

Coretta, your man is in the next room.

Why don't you tell me about your friend Daphne?

Why do keep asking about her?

Colored woman ain't good enough for you no more, huh?

That ain't it.

Look, l mean--

Shoot.

What if he was to hear somethin'?

He asleep.

Baby, that's it! Oh, yes!

Oh, daddy!

Oh, daddy, that's it!

- You're hittin' my spot! - Yes, baby!

Easy!

l can't give up that much lovin', daddy.

- Not the way things is. - What things?

Come on, now. Dupree right there in the next room. Don`t do that.

Forget about Dupree, baby. You done got me goin'!

lt ain't right!

Here l am doin' this right in the next room!

All you doin' is nosin' atter my friend Daphne.

Oh! Yeah. No, baby!

- That just a job. - What job?

- Some man want me to find her. - What man?

l don't know what man, baby!

l don't want nobody but you !

Baby.

Yeah.

Daphne's my triend. l can't do it.

Just a little bit more, okay? Just a little bit.

Just a little bit, baby.

Oh, that's it.

- Oh, you hittin' my spot. - Yeah, baby.

You hittin' my spot.

- That's it, daddy. - Yeah, that's it.

And l went on hittin` her spot until just before sunup.

l realized later on Coretta had found up as much about what l was up to...

as l had found out about Daphne Monet.

As it turned out, Todd Carter wasn`t the only man in Daphne`s life.

She was also shackin` up with some small-time colored gangster...

named Frank Green.

And Coretta had the nerve to charge me $10 for that information.

See, everybody was in business in Los Angeles.

l spent that morning waiting for Albright to call...

and tryin` to feel good about being able to pay a few bills.

And l mean just a few.

Shoot. A loaf of bread was damned near 15 cents.

lt was easy money. Too easy.

Bye, Easy.

- Hey, where you goin', Sophie? - Back to Texas.

- Too tast for me out here. - Bye, Mr. Rawlins!

All right.

Get on away trom them people's house! Get away trom that tree!

Get on away trom that tree, now!

Qo on ! Get away from that tree!

Ricky, come on ! Wash your hands!

lt's time tor supper!

- Hello? - Easy, how you doin`, buddy?

- Who's this? - l hope you have good news for me.

Oh, Mr. Albright. ls that you?

Sure is. What`s shakin`?

- l got what you want. - Why don`t you hold on to that.

l only do business in person.

Tell you what. Real quick. You come out here to Malibu.

Meet me at the Fisherman`s pier at the hamburger stand in an hour. Okay?

Malibu? Look, Mr. Albright, l don't--

lt's pretty out here, huh?

Yeah, it's all right.

l'm from Des Moines, lowa.

Where are you from?

Texas.

Do they have an ocean in Texas?

- Hey, Barbara! Where are you? - Qult-- A gult in Texas.

- Your triends are looking for you. - l don't care.

My sister brought me here because my parents made her.

All she wants to do is make out with Herman and smoke cigarettes.

Hey, babe.

What are you doing out here?

- What's goin' on? - Leave us alone, Herman. We're talking.

- We don't need your talking to her. - l said leave us alone.

- We're just talking about the ocean. - What's wrong?

This nigger's tryin' to pick up on Barbara.

- What's wrong with you? - l don't want any trouble.

- You already got trouble. - Just trying to be polite.

No you're not. You're talking about the ocean.

Hey, there.

- What do you want? - What's goin' on?

What do you want?

What do l want?

- l wanna see your brains. - Shit!

- Run, man! - l'm sorry, sir. l didn't mean it.

- Yeah? - Yes, sir. l didn't mean it.

- You sorry enough? - Yes, sir. l am.

Yeah? Then prove it. Come on! Prove it. Show him.

Get on your knees.

- Suck his peter, you son of a bitch! - Please! l'm sorry!

- l think he's got the point. - You heard me.

- Qo on. - He's got the point!

Do it! l'll kill you.

- l'll blow your brains out. - Okay!

- Don't shoot me, please! - Now, go on.

- Qo on. - l'm sorry.

Qod.

Son of a gun. You're gonna do it, aren't you?

Sick bastard.

Oh, Qod! My eye!

Qet the hell out ot here!

You call the cops, l'll kill ya!

Hurry up, man ! Come on!

l don't think they'll dare call the cops...

but we better get the hell out of here in case they do.

What do you got?

Ain't no harm gonna come to that girl because ot me, is there?

How should l know? Mr. Carter wants to buy her a gold ring.

Live happily ever atter. What do you got?

Woman told me she was with a man named Frank Qreen.

Hang on. Where?

Over to the Skylar Apartments. Skylar and 83rd.

What do you know about this guy?

He's a gangster, hijacker: liquor and cigarettes.

Supposed to be pretty good with a knife.

- You ever see him in action? - No. l just heard about him.

Here's another hundred.

l'll be calling you again.

- Mr. Rawlins, l'm Detective Miller. - Mason.

-What? -Turn around, put your hands on the car.

- We'd like you to come with us. - Where?

- You'll see. - Why are you arrestin' me?

- You'll see. - l got a right to know why.

You got a right to break your face.

You got a right to come with me. Come on.

That guy over there?

- You got him, huh? - Yeah. We got him coming home.

We can take those cutfs otf if you want to cooperate.

- Yes, sir. l'm cooperating. - Turn around.

Sit over there. Sit down.

Now.

Where were you this morning about 5:00 AM?

- What do you mean? - He means this morning.

l was out drinking. l carried a friend into his house.

l could have been on my way home. l ain't look at no clock.

You were drinking at an illegal club called John's.

- What is goin` on? - You may as well answer.

We got a lot bigger troubles than bustin' some illegal bar.

l don't know what you're talking about!

We're talking about taking your black ass behind the station...

and putting a bullet in there, that's what we're talking about.

Sit down.

What time did you leave Coretta James' house?

Around 5:00, 5:30, l guess.

- You go back later in the day? - No, sir. l didn't.

Did you and Dupree Brouchard have words over Miss James?

- Words? - You heard him!

Did you two argue over Coretta James?

- We didn't argue-- - Did you argue over Coretta James?

We didn't argue about nothin'! He was asleep!

Yeah. She went to sleep too. But she`s not gonna be waking up.

- What? - Where did you go when you left her?

Wait! What you talkin' about-- ''she ain't gonna be waking up''?

- Where did you go? - l don't know. l had a hangover.

- Oh, you had a hangover? - Yeah, l went home!

That explains everything.

He went home. He had a hangover.

Back ott!

- Here! - No! Qet out ot here!

- Let me at him! - Go! Get out!

- Qet out ot here! - Let me go!

- Come on, you son ot a bitch! - Qet out! Goddamn!

- Calm down ! - All right.

You son of a bitch.

They left me alone in that musty room another three hours...

till some guy in a suit two sizes too big for him said l could go.

The game of cops and niggers kept up outside the station...

but l hardly even noticed.

l had seen dead bodies before:

cold, hard, still as concrete...

their eyes wide open, starin` up at nothin`.

But not Coretta.

l could still feel her heart beating.

Hold on, Ezekiel.

Somebody in the back would like to talk to you.

Look, l ain't got time right now.

Qet in. We'll take you.

My boss wants to talk to you about Coretta James.

Listen, it l wanted to hurt you, it would have happened already.

Come on.

Get in.

You wanna go up tront and sit with Norman?

Okay, give me a kiss.

That's my adopted son Jesus.

l can see the police roughed you up a bit.

That`s a practice ot theirs that has to change.

- That has to change. - Thank you.

She was beaten...

and died of a heavy blow to the back of the head.

- But l suppose you already know that. - No l didn't, Mr. Terell.

- Oh, you know who l am? - Well, l read the newspapers.

l know you running tor mayor against Todd Carter.

l am the next mayor, Mr. Rawlins.

And luckily tor you, a triend ot the Negro.

Coretta worked tor a while tor me.

She answered phones at my campaign office on 103rd and Western.

So when l heard that the police had a suspect...

l got out ot bed immediately, personally, because ot my concern.

Was there anyone with you, Mr. Rawlins?

- Anyone besides Mr. Dupree Brouchard? - No, sir.

A young lady named Daphne Monet perhaps?

Nobody.

Ot course not. Why would--

Why would you tell someone whom you've only just met?

- You can trust me, Mr. Rawlins. - There was nobody else there.

l believe you.

- Can we drop you oft at your-- - No.

l mean, l can get out here.

Are you sure? This must be quite out ot your way.

lt's okay.

May l ofter you cab tare?

- No, thank you. - Are you sure?

lt's okay.

Oh, you're hittin` my spot!

Daphne asleep by now. So--

Go around here tellin' everybody "Dahlia. "

Colored woman ain`t good enough for you no more, huh?

All you doin` is sniffin` after my friend Daphne.

Colored woman ain`t good enough for you no more, huh?

Man!

Hello. ls this Mr. Rawlins?

Yeah. Who's this?

This is Daphne Monet.

You`re looking for me.

Who told you that?

You know who told me.

Coretta.

She was found murdered this morning.

l don't know what l should do.

Would you care to talk to me alone?

Or is this something l should call the police about?

No, ain't no reason to call the police.

Then why don`t you come over and explain yourself to me.

l`m at the Ambassador Hotel.

This part of the hotel is white only...

so go to the side entrance in half an hour...

and Louis the bellboy will sneak you up.

Hello, Mr. Rawlins.

Hello, Miss Monet.

l don't know it l should think ot you as a friend of Coretta's...

or as a private dick.

l ain't no detective.

l was just hired by a tellow that works tor Todd Carter.

You know l had to pay Coretta not to tell you where l was?

Oh, she got you too?

Yeah, well, she detinitely gave me the wrong address.

Where did she say l was?

Said you was out in Watts over to the Skylar Arms Apartments...

with a tellow named Frank Qreen.

What else did she tell you about me?

What else is there to tell?

Nothing.

l make no apology tor my teelings for Frank.

He's very dear to me, and that's that.

- Bourbon? - Please. Straight up.

So how well did you know Coretta?

She was a very close triend.

So maybe you know why she got killed?

Why would l know that?

She was a very close triend. She knew about you and Frank.

Maybe somebody wanted to keep that a secret.

- Mr. Rawlins, it you're thinking-- - You can call me Easy.

Easy, if you think Frank had anything to do with Coretta's death...

then obviously you don't know very much about him.

Frank doesn't go around beating people up.

He preters a knife as his weapon.

And what do you preter to use as your weapon?

Why don't you search me and find out?

Mind it l have another drink?

Help yourselt.

- Listen, Mr. Rawlins-- - Easy.

The real reason l called you is l'd like you to drive me to Todd's house.

Beg your pardon?

You tound me, and now l want you to take me to Todd Carter's.

Why don't you call Todd Carter, have him send tor you?

Well, l have to go someplace else on the way--

someplace that l don't want Todd to know about.

There's a man named Richard McQee...

and he lives up in Laurel Canyon.

He delivered a letter of mine to the wrong place...

and now l need to make arrangements to get it back.

At 4:00 in the morning?

Must be a pretty important letter.

Yes, it is.

But l need to go there before l go to Todd's.

l'll pay you.

What time you talk to Coretta this morning?

l don't know-- 7:30, 8:00, l guess.

Listen, Easy. l don't--

l don't want to talk about Coretta just now.

Did you go up to her house?

She called me.

She was in a good mood.

She always--

l didn`t mean to upset you.

You understand?

As tar as l know, you was the last one to talk to her betore she got killed.

l don't mean to upset you.

But as tar as l know, you were the last one with her before she got killed.

Now where does that leave us?

Why don't you go change out of that housecoat? l'll carry you on over there.

- Are you nervous? - Nervous.

Here l was in the middle of the night in a white neighborhood...

with a white woman in my car.

No, l wasn`t nervous. l was stupid.

You make a left up here.

Gettin` Daphne back to Todd Carter all of sudden didn`t seem so easy.

Who was this guy Richard McGee?

Just park behind that car.

l`ll see you later, pop.

Sidney! That`s all l've been hearing for a week!

Everybody doin' things for Sidney!

- peg, where are you? - l`m in here with Sidney.

ln the living room, dear.

l`ve gotta get rid of that guy.

Oh, hello, dear.

Sit down, Riley. Make yourself at home.

Thanks, Monihan.

Oh, my. You look awful tired, dear.

Yeah, Riley. pick out a comfortable chair and flop.

l already picked one out, but you`re sittin` in it.

Oh, Riley! Guess what Sid and l have been playing.

Oh, my God!

Who`s that at the door?

- lt's him. - Oh, yeah?

You tought in Europe?

What you doin' in my house, man?

What happened to your head?

What the hell y'all doin' in my house? You got no right to break into my house!

Where you been this time of morning?

Hey, l went to see a girl. Why? You don't get none, Albright?

l didn't come here to play, nigger.

That's my money you got in your pocket.

We've been by that address you gave me on Frank Green.

He had moved trom there a year ago.

What do you want me to do about it? You don't like the way l'm doin' my job?

Hell, l'll give you your money--

Believe in Qod, Easy?

l'm curious to see it things are any difterent tor a religious man.

Let me show you what l do to people say they seen things they ain't seen.

- l seen her. - Where?

- She-- - Qo on.

She called me. She had me to carry her up to the Hollywood Hills.

- Where is she now? - She took otf.

Bullshit. Where is she now?

She took ott.

There's a dead man up there. While l was lookin' at it she took otf.

Come on in.

Sit down.

- What she do, take his car? - Huh?

- McQee. - Yeah.

lf you can write, write down where you picked her up at.

Write it down.

This bologna gets stuck in my molar.

l get that with popcorn.

Get me some whiskey.

The liquor's in the cabinet. Get it your damn self.

He's got balls. You gotta give him that.

Shoot him. l'm just kidding.

Easy, you're a brave man.

l need a brave man workin' for me.

You're doin' a nice job too, but-- Qive me a whiskey, Manny.

You gotta tind Frank Qreen so he can lead us to her.

No, thank you.

Too may people getting killed around me already.

Thanks.

You're connectable to two murders.

You're gonna do whatever l tell you to do.

You tind him. l will be checking in.

That's some cheap shit. Let's go.

Come on.

Since Albright liked surprise parties...

l had a friend of my own l wanted to invite.

l placed a call to Etta Mae Alexander in Houston.

Told her to get a message to her husband, Mouse.

Cast your vote for Matthew Terell.

Cast your vote on June 11 for Matthew Terell.

Hey, Easy.

That girl called me last night, Joppy.

What girl is that?

The one your triend Albright is lookin' tor.

Uh-huh. That's pretty lucky.

No, it wasn't no luck at all, Joppy. lt was you.

You and Coretta was the onliest ones that had my phone number...

and knew l was lookin' tor the girl.

And Coretta was too busy scammin' Daphne, so it couldn't have been her.

Maybe she looked it in the phone book.

l ain't in the phone book. You supposed to be my triend.

Why didn't you tell the man where the girl was yourselt?

What you mean comin' up here like you think you gonna do somethin'?

l think l'm gonna do somethin'.

Stop that shit! You--

What? That's my marble! My uncle left me that atter he died!

Qoddamn it, he's about to get it back too.

- All right! Let's talk! - Well, let's talk!

- What you got me into? - All right.

She asked me to help her 'cause l told her Albright was lookin' tor her.

l tigured l could help you make some money and throw Albright ott the track.

She wanted to know somethin' about you, so l told her.

- Where is she? - l don't know.

- Don't lie to me! - l'm not lyin' to you.

- What's she runnin' trom then? - She didn't tell me.

Easy, look at me! l am your triend.

Now l didn't mean to get you in no trouble.

l just-- l mean-- Look, you seen her.

l mean, she is somethin' else, man.

You know what l'm sayin'?

What?

Like Albright said, when you`re mixed up in somethin`...

you better be mixed up to the top.

So that`s where l was goin`--

all the way to the top.

Everybody was peein` on my head and tellin` me it was rain.

Guess they figured l was some new kind of fool, and maybe l was...

`cause l was ready to start fightin` back.

And l believed somehow that l could live through this bad dream...

about pretty girls and gangsters...

and standin' face-to-face with the richest man in town.

May l help you?

Yes, ma'am. l'm lookin' tor Mr. Carter.

l'm sorry. Mr. Carter's a very busy man.

Too busy to hear somethin' about that little chippy ot his that dumped him?

Excuse me, Mr.--

Rawlins.

Why don't you come with me, sir?

Not very smart talking about Mr. Carter's business to a secretary.

l don't wanna hear it.

Too much goin' on tor me to give a damn about what you think is smart.

Wait here, Mr. Rawlins.

Mr. Carter will see you.

You've heard trom Daphne?

Yeah. Last night.

ls she still in town?

She was last night.

And what did she say?

What was she wearing?

- Blue dress, high heels. - Mmm. That's her.

l'm sorry. Would you like to come in?

- Mr. Carter-- - Have a seat.

Thank you. l just want some answers.

- Would you like a brandy? - Thank you.

- l wanna know what l got myselt into. - Beg your pardon?

l wanna know the real reason Mr. Albright hired me.

Mr. Albright.

Yeah. The man you hired to tind Daphne.

l think there`s been a mistake here.

l, uh-- Who are you talking about?

Wait a minute. You--

You didn't hire somebody to find your girltriend?

Ot course not.

As a matter of fact, until just now...

l thought she was hundreds of miles away trom here.

- You say someone's looking tor her. - Yeah.

Someone's looking for her.

Look, Mr. Carter. Nothin' personal, but what's goin' on between y'all?

Nothing.

We were going to get married, and we had a fight...

and it is really none of your concern, Mr. Rawlins.

So someone`s after her. Mr. Albright.

And he says l'm his employer.

Ever heard ot Richard McQee?

Who?

Look, l-- Why would somebody be atter her?

Do you think you can tind her again?

lt's important.

For her sake. l'm willing to pay you.

Why'd she leave in the tirst place?

lt's really none of your concern, Mr. Rawlins...

but l am willing to pay you to find her.

One thousand dollars.

A thousand dollars.

Yeah. l'll take 200 right now.

l think you're trying to take advantage of me.

Let me intorm you of something.

The incumbent mayor, chief ot police-- close personal triends ot mine.

They eat at my house regularly, and my tather's house.

That's good, Mr. Carter. Then they can help us find her.

No, they can't.

l'll have Baxter write you out a check.

Mr. Carter, why you stop runnin' tor mayor?

l'll have Baxter write you a check.

Why is Matthew Terell lookin' for Daphne too?

Baxter will write you a check.

l'll take cash.

Here. Take it all. Just take it all.

l'll be in touch, Mr. Carter.

So Albright had lied to me.

lnstead of workin` for Carter, he was workin` for Matthew Terell...

the man runnin` for mayor against Carter.

And for whatever reason, they was all throwin` money my way...

to find the girl in the blue dress.

Anyway, l knew that her boyfriend, Frank Green...

hi jacked trucks haulin` liquor...

and sold it at half the price to places down on Central Avenue.

So l decided to kick up some dust right in Frank`s backyard.

Qood evening, Smoky.

Good evening. Please. Your seat.

Thanks.

Now, Mr. Rawlins, what was that? What were you saying?

- Frank Qreen. - Who?

- l'm lookin' for Frank Green. - l don't know him.

- Why are you treatin` me like this? - l don't know any Frank Greens.

You know me, though, don't you?

Hey, l'm talkin' to my man. He told me to talk to you. Frank Qreen.

- Who is that? - What do you mean, who is that?

He told me to talk to you now. Come on.

Well, give me somethin'-- l ain't talkin'--

Well, give me a beer. Can l get a beer?

Thank you.

- Here you go. - Wait a minute.

Frank Green told me that you had pints for me.

- Who's Frank Green? - Come on. You know who he is.

- Al, talk to this man. - Come on. Don`t treat me like this.

- You know who Frank Green is. - l don't know who you're talkin' about.

You don't know who Frank Qreen is?

Well, let's get him on the phone. Frank told me--

- Hey, Ezekiel. - Don't need my trees cut.

There--

- What? - There's a man!

Damn! Frank, wait a minute! Wait!

Hold it! Let's talk.

Let`s talk, Frank.

Frank, wait a minute! l got $500 for you, Frank.

Listen. Rich white man wants--

Want me to shoot this son ot a bitch, Easy?

- Mouse. - Huh? Want me to shoot him?

lt's all right.

What the hell is happenin', man?

- Qoddamn, l'm gonna blow your nose otf! - No, wait! Don't shoot him!

Where's Daphne Monet, Frank?

All right. Maybe you don't know where she is but, hey...

we can help each other tind her, man.

- You heard him. - Mouse, no!

- Rawlins residence. - Sit down.

No, he busy right now. You gonna have to call back.

A rich man is willin' to pay $1,000 just to talk to this girl.

A thousand dollars. That's a lot of money.

Wait.

Let me try.

Now look here, Frank. lt's Frank, right?

Yeah.

- What the hell are you-- - Let go ot me, man!

Damn it!

Don't you ever grab me when l got a gun in my hand!

Shit!

Got blood on my coat, Easy. lt's a damn expensive coat.

Where's your bathroom at? ls it in there?

We got to tind that girl so we can get that money.

Hell, no! We don't have to go find nobody.

l changed my mind. l don`t need your kind ot help, Mouse.

Boy, look at you.

Man cut a damn smile in your neck, you tell me you don't need my help?

This is the same shit you pulled when you killed old man Navrochet.

You ain't been in my house tive minutes, and you done shot somebody already.

Come on, Easy. Cut me in on this thing, man.

Easy, l'm tryin' to do right.

l mean, you know, now.

Man, l can help you. You know you gonna need somebody at your back.

-l swear l'm gonna let you run the show. -Oh, you gonna let me run the show.

l ain't gonna do nothin' you don't tell me to do.

Ain't you nothin'. You gonna let me run the show.

- You gonna do everything l say? - Man, l'm gonna do everything you say.

That's the wrong hand, Mouse.

Boy, how you been?

Who was that on the phone?

l don't know, man. Sounded like some white girl.

Ezekiel, came to ask you a tew more questions.

- So why don't you invite us in? - l'll come out.

What happened to your neck?

Did l do that? l don't remember doin` that.

What do you know about a man named Richard McQee?

A dead white man in a cabin over in Laurel Canyon.

He happens to have a note in his pocket with ''Coretta James'' written on it.

You teel a little more talkative?

'Cause l'll bet you we're lookin' at a double here.

All we gotta do is place you in the dead man's house.

- l wasn't in no dead man's house. - Yeah.

Well, we could go down to the station. We'll send a team over here.

Believe me, they'll tind somethin` that will place you at that house.

Evidence has a tunny way ot showin' up, you know?

No, y'all ain't got nothin' on me 'cause you know l ain't done nothin`.

We know you know a lot more than you're lettin' on.

You're gonna tell us everything you know...

or you're goin' down tor the murder of Richard McGee and Coretta James.

- l don't know nothin'. - Sure you do.

- Come on. Let's go. - All right. Look.

- Qive me a little more time. - Forget it.

Give me till tomorrow morning. Maybe l can dig somethin' up.

What do you think, Jack? We could do that.

All right. Take the cufts oft.

You got till tomorrow morning.

Have a nice evening, Ezekiel.

l played along, just like the cops wanted me to.

lt was all a game to them.

ln the mornin` they`d be playin` for keeps `cause a white man was dead now.

And guilty or not, somebody was gonna have to pay for this one.

ls Dupree's sister's house otf ot Compton Boulevard or Compton Avenue?

- l can't tind it. - We're goin' somewhere else first.

Did that girl call?

We gonna see that girl?

Hey, Ezekiel.

l been watchin' your house and seein' all them people givin' you trouble--

Just leave my trees alone, all right?

l'm gonna go back and knock down a couple ot them for you.

l'll knock a couple down and you tell me what you think when you get back.

Who's that?

- What you want? - Let me in, Junior. lt's private.

l ain't got time to tool with you. l'm tryin' to get some sleep.

You better open this door, Junior. Act like you got some sense.

Go on, tool. Get out the way. We ain't got all day.

Have a seat. Y`all want a beer?

Yeah. Sure. Thank you.

What you smokin' there, Junior? Zapattas?

- This one's yours too, isn't it? - l dunno.

Why you kill Richard McGee?

Huh? What you talkin' about?

Ain't no time to play. l know you the one killed him.

- You crazy, man! - Sit down, Junior.

- Tell me what happened. - l don't know what you talkin' about.

The police will when they find out...

the tingerprints they got up in that man's house belong to you.

- What tingerprints? What house? - Hattie had you to pull that man...

outta John's bar the night l was there, and he was layin' in his house dead...

with the same suit on and a bullet hole in his head.

l ain't killed nobody.

Quit lyin' you big old, sweaty, thickheaded, corn bread-eatin'--

- Thickheaded your damn self! - Sit down, Junior.

Qo on. Sit down, now.

You better tell me what happened. Maybe l'll forget what l know.

Otherwise, l'm gonna tell Mouse to shoot you 'cause l don't like you.

You killed that man and took his money, right?

- l don't know who you're talking about. - You just had to rob him.

l didn't. l didn't touch nothin' in that man's house!

Qoddamn, Junior!

Mm-hmm. Sit down.

Hattie had me take him out to his car.

He was so drunk he gave me ten dollars to drive him home.

- l know you took that. - Hell, yeah.

Then he was askin' me about that white girl you was askin' everybody about.

l told him l seen her with Coretta. What the hell l care it he knows?

So you gonna tell him, but you won`t tell me.

l don't like your ass, Easy. And he gave me $50.

Just to tell him that you saw her with Coretta?

No, to deliver a letter.

l give it to Coretta to give to her the next mornin'.

You better be tellin' the truth.

Come on. Let's go, Raymond.

l'm tellin' the truth. l ain't killed nobody.

- All right. - That man was alive when l lett.

l ain't killed nobody.

The letter that was so important to Daphne...

had worked its way over to the other side of town...

to Dupree`s sister`s house in Compton-- l hoped.

And Junior was innocent like l knew all along...

but l couldn`t see no harm...

in lettin` the big water-head sucker sweat a little bit.

Hey, now. Tried to call you.

Yeah, the cops just let me out today.

Sister's gone to work, and l ain't teelin' much like talkin'. Raymond!

Yeah, big man. All right now.

ls them pigs' tails l smell up in there?

Oh, yeah. Lula Mae made some betore she went to work.

Y'all gonna have to excuse me.

Come on.

- Dupree. - Yeah.

Look.

l'm sorry.

Thank you, Easy.

Why somebody want to kill her like that? lt don't make sense to me.

Did Coretta say anything to you about a letter she was keepin'?

A letter? What kind ot letter?

From that white girl.

Nah, but l know it was on account ot her that Coretta got killed.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

Everything between Daphne and Coretta was always such a damn secret.

That old girl--

She didn't think nothin' about two-timin` on Frank.

- You want some more tails, Raymond? - Oh, yeah. Thanks, Dupree.

You know she messin' around with that guy runnin' tor mayor, don't you?

- Todd Carter? - Yeah. Carter. That's his name.

She probably introduced Coretta to one ot them guys she knew.

He probably came over to the house, saw that Coretta wasn't that type of woman.

Cops say she fought him.

Can you imagine that?

My baby tought him.

Fought him 'cause she wouldn't have nobody but me.

Qod.

l can't sleep.

l still keep seein' her tace that mornin' betore l went to work.

Junior had just came by the house...

and she come runnin' out carryin' her Bible.

She say, ''Keep this tor me, baby.''

- The Bible? - Yeah.

And the police won't even let me go near the house.

That's the only thing l got lett that belonged to her.

The Bible.

l know it was a sign 'cause she's so religious.

Oh, Qod.

lt's all right, big man.

- l'm sorry. - No. That's all right.

Qet you a drink now. Go on now. Drink this.

All right.

That's enough.

Qo on. Drink that.

l was scared now...

and sick from what l saw--

pictures of a much younger Matthew Terell and children--

innocent, helpless, naked children.

l got it. Come on. Let's go.

Boy, is you crazy or is you drunk?

Come on.

Am l drunk? You saw me draw that gun. Ain't a man in Texas can outdraw me.

Put the gun down.

No, l'm drunk. You right.

Qonna put that gun right there.

We gonna see who's drunk.

Now watch it now. Watch it, goddamn it.

Right there now. Oh, yeah.

Now this tool gonna call me out. He ain't even got no gun.

l'll kill that motherfucker.

No. Let him go.

Let him live, and he'll be scared ot you every time you walk into a room.

He better be scared. l'll kill him.

- He will. lt he ain't-- - You better tell him.

l will. Trust me.

l'll tell him.

- Right there, goddamn it. - No. Keep an eye on him.

Where you goin'?

That's right.

The pictures was eatin` at my pocket like a cigarette burn.

Albright had killed for those pictures to get `em back for Matthew Terell.

He had killed Richard McGee, who had sold the pictures to Daphne.

Time was runnin` out...

but l had some unfinished business with the girl.

She had called that afternoon, and all l needed was for her to call again.

Hello.

l'm sorry l broke into your house, and--

Please don't be angry with me.

Now why should l be angry at you?

May l have a cigarette?

You know, Coretta's boyfriend Dupree got out ot jail today.

And you need me to help you find him.

l already got the pictures, Daphne.

l paid $7,000 tor those pictures. They belong to me.

Matthew Terell might have something to say about that.

All right, then. l'll pay you tor them. l'll give you $1,000.

- You gave Richard McGee seven. - Then l'll give you seven.

Damn, what does Terell have on you, girl?

Nothin'. You want the money or not?

No, l got two murders hangin' over my head.

Unless l give the cops a killer by tomorrow mornin', l'm goin' to jail.

- Now who killed Coretta? - l don't know.

- lt was `cause of them pictures, right? - l don't know.

Your boytriend Frank Green killed her to bring you them pictures, didn't he?

- Ot course not. - Well, you can tell it to the police...

'cause l ain't takin' the rap.

Easy, put the phone down !

lt was Frank, wasn't it?

- He had nothin' to do with it. - Sure he did.

l knew there was more between y'all than some backdoor romance.

He probably pimped you out to Carter in the first place. We goin' to the police.

Come on. Yeah ! Why don't you scream?

So l can tell the police about your boytriend Frank Green.

Frank is my brother!

What?

Our mother is Creole. We have difterent tathers.

Mine is white, and that's what Terell has on me.

And so tar l've been able to keep Frank out ot this.

Who killed Coretta?

- lt was an accident. - Who killed her?

She threatened to sell the pictures to Terell.

Who killed her, goddamn it?

l just asked Joppy to go over and put a scare into her.

l didn't mean to hurt anybody.

But Todd and his family had to pull out of the election because ot me.

They really wanted us to get married. lt was because ot the election that we--

l'll be a son of a bitch. Qet her, Sharitt.

Come on. Get up.

-Where are the pictures? -l don't know what you're talking about.

Yeah? Take her to the car.

Qet up.

Come on! Who we gonna give up to cover this shit, huh?

Qet out there.

l woke up Mouse and told him to drive Dupree`s car to 34th and Central...

`cause it had come to me in less time than it takes to think.

They were takin` Daphne someplace more deserted...

than Albright`s office up in Hollywood--

someplace where there would be no witnesses.

And l was bein` left alive to take the fall.

Mouse, give me one of them guns you got.

-What? -Qive me one of them guns. Start my car.

Keep it hot. l'm comin' out tast.

Come on. Let's go.

- l`m blow your face otf. Let's go. - Hey, man!

Shut up!

- What the hell we doin'? - Shut up.

What is this, Easy?

You drive.

Albright's got the girl, and he's gonna kill her.

- You better tell me where it is. - Easy, l don't--

- Qet it right. - There's a cabin.

- That's all l know. There's a cabin. - Where is it?

lt's in Malibu on Route 9.

- Make a right turn at the alley. - Ah, yeah.

You sure this is where Albright's gonna be, right?

- l guess so. - Don't be guessin', Joppy.

Look. He done this kind of thing out there betore, so l guess so.

Easy, what's got into you? l thought y'all were supposed to be friends.

- He killed Coretta. - You're lyin'.

- l ain't done nothin' like that. - Son of a bitch.

Wait! No! Wait a minute!

Hold on now! Wait a minute!

Now we need him, Mouse. The girl got $7,000.

What?

The girl otfered to pay me $7,000 for them pictures.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my goodness! Oh, my God!

Seven-- Oh, my Qod!

How much further is it?

You're comin` up on it.

Raymond, there's some rope in the trunk. Tie him up.

Yeah, all right.

Now, man, come on.

The girl is lyin' if she told you l killed that woman.

- Who says she told me? - l--

l mean--

- l'm just gonna shoot him now, okay? - No, don't shoot him.

Don't shoot him.

Help me!

Please!

Shut up!

Now you're gonna tell me where the pictures are, okay?

l don't wanna hurt you, but you are gonna tell me.

- Where are the pictures? - l don't have them. Easy has them.

l thought you said he had nothin' to do with it.

l was lying.

What?

- l was lying. - Are you a liar?

l know you're a liar. You lie about bein' a nigger?

Better tell me the truth.

What part of you is nigger? Your leg is nigger?

Your arm is nigger? Maybe your face is nigger.

What part ot you is nigger?

- You know what l'm gonna do? - l don't have them. Please.

l'm gonna burn it out ot you.

Hey, Easy. ls that you?

He gone, man.

Gone.

You all right?

Yeah.

Can you walk? All right. Come on. Let's go.

Where's Joppy, Mouse?

Where Joppy?

He right there.

What happened?

l ain't had no time to be tyin' him up, Easy.

What?

Look, you just said don't shoot him, right?

- That`s right. - Well, l didn't. l just-- l choked him.

What?

Well, how am l gonna help you out if l'm back here toolin' around with him now?

lf you ain't want him killed, why'd you leave him with me?

Come on. We got to go, Easy.

Easy, come on. Let's go now.

All right, sweetheart.

Listen, Easy. l think you gonna have trouble with that dude Frank.

l can run by, kill him and take that evenin' train.

- No, Mouse. - You sure? All right, then.

Hey. All right.

Oh, look here.

Now l cut you in tor halt `cause l know you was too big a tool...

to take you share trom the white girl yourselt.

All right. Hey, man. Look.

lt you need somebody to run them streets with you again, just give me a call.

'Cause you know how to put some money in a nigger's pocket.

Bye.

Well, what upset them most was that l didn't tell them.

And then Terell threatened to go public about my mother...

and that just added insult to injury.

When Todd sees the pictures nothing will stand in the way of us gettin' married.

Are you sure about that?

Ot course. Terell doesn't want to go to jail.

l'm not talkin' about Terell.

Todd and l are very much in love, and in the end...

his family just wants him to be happy.

Daphne had gotten the money out of a locker at fhe yWCA.

lt was money she had gotten from Carter's family.

$30,000 to leave town.

She was still convinced, though, that her Negro blood didn`t matter...

now that Terell couldn`t use it to keep the man she wanted to marry...

out of the mayor's race.

She was in love and couldn`t see for dreamin`...

any better than the rest of us, l guess.

`Cause even though we had fought a war to keep the world free...

the color line in America worked both ways...

and even a rich white man like Todd Carter...

was afraid to cross it.

- Don't walk away. Don't-- - Damn you!

Wait.

Please.

Here's the $800 that l owe you...

and thank you tor protecting her.

You have some pictures.

That puts you back in the race.

l'm gonna need you to do something tor me too.

l know.

You'll have no trouble with the police. That's a promise.

Thank you.

Just so you know...

l do love her.

You want me to walk you inside?

l dropped her off at her brother`s apartment--

a fourplex on Dinker Street.

She had told me her story on the way like a sinner who wanted fo confess.

Her name was Ruby Hanks from Lake Charles, Louisiana...

and l suppose all she really wanted was a place to fit in.

A few days later, my conscience got the best of me...

and l went by her place to bring back my half of her money.

l was kind of excited about seein` her again...

but when l got there, she and her brother had picked up and gone.

Hey, Easy. Find a job yet?

l ain't studyin' no job, Odell.

Ain't studyin' no job? How you gonna live?

l got a little money saved up. Gonna invest in some real estate.

Maybe go into business for myself.

What kind of business?

Little private investigatin'.

You get in trouble doin' that.

Yeah, well, like a man told me once...

step out your door in the mornin', you're already in trouble.

Just a matter of whether you're mixed up at the top ot it or not.

Yeah. l guess you're right.

lf you got a triend that you know does bad things-- l mean real bad things--

can you still keep him as a triend even though you know what he's like?

You think that's wrong?

All you got is your friends.

What are you doin'? You better get out of my yard!

- You get on out! - Hey! Get on away trom there!

You know that fool knocked down two ot my trees.

Get on away trom there!

You better get on !

You all right?

ls he crazy?

Always up and down on our street.

lt he comes back, you let me know, ma`am.

- All right. You take care. - l'm fine. Thank you.

Hey, Lou.

Hey, man. Get out ot the street!

Watch it.

l thought about what Odell had said about friends...

and it made sense to me.

Odell goes to church every Sunday, so he would know.

Later on, he challenged me to a game of dominoes.

Now what`d he go and do that for?

We got to talkin` about Texas and fooled around...

and drunk almost a quart of whiskey.

And l forgot all about Daphne Monet, Dewitt Albright, Carter and them.

And l sat with my friend...

on my porch...

at my house...

and we laughed a long time.