Original subtitles

[Dramatic music plays]

[Whistle blows]

[Siren wailing]

Nick: It's easy to get put in jail.

11 million times a year,

a policeman is slipping on handcuffs

or loading a patrol wagon.

Thieves, murderers, forgers,

and perhaps your aunt tilly or your next-door neighbor...

[Tires screech]

Drunken drivers and gamblers, stock promoters,

and, if you're not careful, even you.

But it's just as easy to get out...

For a while, at least...

Because everyone's entitled to his liberty

if he can guarantee his appearance with a bond.

And there you have the reason for a business...

One of the oldest businesses of civilization.

Next door to the city hall or the jail or the police station,

usually not more than a block away...

The bail-bond offices.

Through these doors, pass the clients,

innocent or guilty,

pouring out over $2,250,000,000 worth of business every year.

Some business.

Post a bond and have your freedom.

A few hours or a few minutes

after the gates slam shut behind you,

post a bond and walk out into the sunshine.

Post a bond and keep away from police questioning

that might break you down.

Post a bond and go home to your girl, your wife,

or hop a plane and disappear.

Innocent or guilty, you've got a friend,

powerful and dependable,

ready and waiting for you 24 hours a day...

Your bondsman.

He'll share your problem... For a fee.

Typical to many bond offices

is the farley-Kane in Los Angeles, California.

Joe farley was probably born in a bond office.

You might have to leave your mother

or your wife and children for collateral,

but he'll figure out a way.

Vince Kane was my buddy on the police force in Los Angeles

until he decided to bail people out of jail

instead of putting them in.

Over this one counter in the farley-Kane office

passed bonds in the amount of $1,600,000

during the past year.

Some business.

I don't know why I bothered

to answer a riot call in McKay's tavern.

Maybe I just like to watch a good fight.

Sometimes they pay off like a slot machine.

Woman: At McKay's tavern on LA brea.

Investigate.

[Indistinct conversations]

Unless you've been a cop,

you'll never know the satisfaction

of finding a man you've been hunting for almost two years.

As they say, when Nick ferrone goes after a guy,

he goes after a guy.

What's the hurry?

Looks like we hit the jackpot.

Almost too much to expect.

Man: What a night.

Man #2: You got it. Bet.

Here we are.

This one is income-tax-free, baby.

[Dice rattle]

Oh.

Are you Vince Kane? Not now.

There's a Nick ferrone on the phone.

Wait a minute. This is a $300 roll.

You stay here for luck. We'll talk to him together.

[Dice rattle]

Man #3: At 7.

The loser pay... You're poison.

Where's the phone?

[Indistinct conversations]

Hello, Nick.

Oh, I'm not so sure, but this is one

of the nicest interruptions I can remember.

Sure, we're going. What time is it?

Where are you? We'll pick you up.

Where would a cop be? I'm at the police station.

What do you mean, "we"? You got somebody with you?

Yeah.

I'll have someone with me.

About 5'5"...

115...

Black hair...

Last seen wearing a black dress.

No trimming. Badly wanted.

Are you a cop?

Was.

I'll see you in about... Hey, hey, hey, what's going on here?!

There was a phone call for him.

Well, okay, okay. He's got it. Come on!

Wait a minute, Nick. I can't hear you.

There's a lot of noise going on here.

Come on, come on. Take your time.

Oh, will you let me hear?

What are you trying to do... Start something?

You'd better tell me later. We're going to the fights.

And we haven't got a ticket for you.

Anyway, you don't like fights. Or do you?

[Vehicle approaches]

It's about time.

Elaine storm, lieutenant ferrone.

Army or Navy? Police department.

I don't like policemen.

Which one of us is gonna slap her?

Nick doesn't like girls.

The only one he ever went for poisoned him.

Pity he recovered. I didn't.

Go down spring street, will you, Vince?

Remember that 150-grand bond hoist 2 years ago?

There's a witness named brackett who skipped.

Vaguely. What about it?

You can talk in front of her. She's a good kid.

So they say.

Cop on the case was shot... Benny kafka.

You remember Benny.

Yeah.

I picked this brackett up tonight.

I want to stop and take a look at his room...

The dorsey hotel.

We'll be late for the fights.

It'll only take a minute.

Where is the dorsey hotel?

I haven't the faintest idea.

Didn't I tell you?

Good kid.

I'll go up with you.

Why don't you stay out here and neck?

Not with the top down.

Don't let anyone give us a ticket.

It might be embarrassing to Nick.

That'll be fine. Thank you very much.

What do you expect to find in here?

Oh, I don't know.

You never know what you're apt to walk into.

You used to be a cop. You ought to know that.

But I never wore a pair of sneakers.

Why don't you go back down to that society girl?

She's still there.

Hey.

This must be some dame.

Maybe it's his wife.

No, he had a wife,

but I think she left him.

Look...

Black-lace underwear and bourbon.

[Chuckles] This guy knows how to live.

Most of this stuff is packed.

Either they just got in or were getting ready to blow.

[Drawers opening, closing]

Taste in perfume stinks.

They always have dames.

What do they get out of it... The dames, I mean?

Thrill? Dough?

Or they just like getting kicked around?

Got some nice clothes.

And the size looks like a nice figure goes with them.

Say... [Chuckles]

Why don't you give the dame down in the car the brush

and wait for this one?

She might be feeling pretty low when she gets back.

Okay.

That about does it.

What do you say, Vince?

You'll never find anything under the bed.

Come on.

Come on, Vince! I thought you were worried

about being late for the fights!

Yeah.

[Typewriters clacking]

Hiya, Charlie.

Vince... Talk to farley, will you?

I can't raise that kind of dough.

Okay, Marley.

Mr. Kane, there's a lady waiting in your office.

Joe: Hey, Vince!

Come on in.

Look who we got here... Our old pal.

Hiya, judge. Hello, Vince, my boy.

You know, we were just talking.

Did I ever tell you about the time they had mccleary down

in the long beach clink?

They wouldn't take the judge's signature on the writ.

[Laughter]

So I took him down in person, and the sheriff says,

"how do I know he's a judge?"

[Laughter]

Oh, that reminds me... I have your policy here.

I'd like you to look at it, your honor.

I'll see you later. I have a little business.

Hello, Lucy.

Hello, Vince.

Mr. Kane, I'm Roger lennert, Mrs. brackett's attorney.

How are you?

It's about Mrs. brackett's husband...

You don't know him, do you?

No.

Not personally.

I see.

Well, uh, he was arrested late yesterday afternoon.

I know.

Are you aware of the circumstances, Mr. Kane?

I think so.

A year and 11 months ago,

Mr. brackett cashed $150,000 worth of securities for two men.

Well, they turned out to be stolen.

Of course, he was left holding the bag,

and he skipped out.

He felt he couldn't possibly establish his innocence

until he could find the men he'd cashed them for.

How long have you been married, Mrs. brackett?

Five years.

Happily?

Not necessarily.

Oh? Sorry to hear that.

You're sure your husband is innocent?

Yes.

And as a loving wife, you'd like to have him out?

Uh, for some reason,

the bail has been set extraordinarily high.

It's $25,000.

They really want to hold your husband.

I'm not too familiar with this kind of case,

but, uh, well, I'm representing Mrs. brackett

because I was an old friend of her father's.

And today is the day

that Mrs. brackett needs an old friend.

How much collateral can you raise?

Only about $4,000.

And you'd like me to make up the difference

between $4,000 and $25,000?

I believe that Claude is innocent,

and the only way he can prove it is to be free.

I admire your loyalty.

But it all adds up that someone has to put out $21,000.

I'm afraid you need more

than an old friend, Mrs. brackett.

Thank you very much for your kindness

and your trouble.

I'm sure we'll manage.

Mr. Kane, I, uh... I don't understand.

I-I was led to believe that...

So was I, Mr. lennert.

If there's one thing about ferrone,

when he says he's gonna get a guy, he gets him.

Terror to the underworld is ferrone.

Well, there he is. You know him, Vince?

Vince: We're members of the same lodge.

Do you want me to get him up?

No.

Don't you want to talk to him?

No.

What lodge, Vince?

The round Robin club.

Joyous brotherhood.

Are you drunk, Vince?

I wish I was.

What do you want?

Wild thoughts come from nowhere, Gus.

Be careful of them.

[Chuckles] I sure will.

I just wanted to take a look at him.

Naturally, you did,

you being members of the same lodge.

Naturally.

Lucy.

Yes?

It's me... Vince.

Please go away, Vince.

Oh, Vince.

Why did you bother to leave your card?

I don't like unfinished stories,

like the one that started on a Tuesday night

a year and 11 months ago...

When that dumb cop waited for hours

for a girl who didn't show.

I've always wanted to tell you, Vince.

There was so little time.

Tell me now, but make it good...

Especially the part about the husband.

Don't say it like that. Why don't you give me a chance?

You know a better way to say it?

I can only say it the way I know it.

Claude and I were separated.

We'd even arranged about a divorce.

After that, I was on a bus one night

coming home from ventura. The bus broke down.

I walked along the beach

with a man I'd never known before.

We hitched a ride together, and we talked.

What did we talk about, Vince?

Not about Claude.

I couldn't. It was too soon. Besides...

I'd never met anyone like Vince Kane before.

Vince...

Can you understand how a girl gets married?

Claude was the boy who... who taught me to swim

and took me to dances.

He fell in love with me and married me...

As simple as that.

That's supposed to solve everything for a girl, isn't it?

It's been known to. Yes.

It's supposed to for me, too.

I told myself I was in love with him.

Then one day...

I discovered that I hadn't married a man at all...

But a boy who was terrified when his father died

and left him without a bank account.

Very touching. Yes, it was.

A little more than touching.

The night you waited

was the night that Claude came back to me...

Terribly scared and drunk.

He said he'd been framed. The police were after him.

We had to get away quickly.

There was no time for any explanations.

What's the use of it now?

How 'bout his cut of 150 grand?

Did he explain that?

You're wrong about that, Vince.

How did you live the past two years?

He borrowed the money.

And you still think he was innocent?

I'm sure he was.

But you loved me?

Yes, Vince.

And you'd have married me?

You didn't ask me.

A detective's $340 a month isn't much for a doll like you.

You better go, Vince.

I've heard it all before...

The boy story.

I've heard it in two bedrooms and cocktail bars

when they were crying in their beers,

but not the way you tell it.

Will you please go?

You said you had $4,000.

Have Mr. lennert bring it over to my office in the morning.

You know...

I'd give 5 million bucks to believe you.

[Door opens, closes]

Yes, I know. I know.

But it seems to us that there ought to be a way

for you to make them understand

that $25,000 was way out of line.

After all, it's the boy's first offense.

He comes from a good family.

Okay, okay.

Mr. d.A. Says no.

Your pal ferrone asked for the high bond.

Now the d.A.'S got to summon him.

What do you want me to do?

I want the guy sprung.

Vince...

I don't know what your interest in this is.

I'm not asking.

But we're still partners.

I'm taking no risks.

If those people can't raise $25,000, forget it.

Understand? Forget it.

Mr. Kane, there's an attorney in your office named Dawson.

Thanks.

Mr. Kane, I'm Dawson.

Hiya.

I'm representing Mrs. Claude brackett.

Have you heard anything about the case?

Oh, we manage to know what's going on.

This poor woman is in a frightful situation.

Her husband, Claude,

a young man of impeccable reputation...

What's the bail? $25,000.

How much can Mrs. brackett raise?

$12,000.

Cash?

And that's scraping the barrel...

Everything she has in the world...

A few bits of jewelry her mother left her...

Everything.

I wish you could know these two people, Mr. Kane.

This girl's love and understanding...

Getting the bail down to half might be quite a job.

We know that the usual premium is 10%.

However, where the effort involved

is considerably greater,

it occurred to us that 20% might be more equitable.

[Intercom buzzes] 10% is legal, Mr. Dawson.

Yeah?

Send him in.

No offense meant.

Oh, uh...

It's all right. Come on in.

Mr. lennert, do you know Mr. Dawson?

No, I don't think so. No, I...

You should.

You two have a lot in common.

Both attorneys. [Chuckles]

And I'll hear from you?

Sooner than you think. Thank you, Mr. Kane.

Good day. Good day.

Mrs. brackett's jewelry, bonds,

savings, and cash,

practically to the last cent.

Scraped the barrel. Exactly.

$4,200.

Okay.

You, uh... you have the bail reduced?

Nope.

Well, uh, Mr. Kane,

I-I'm afraid I've misjudged you.

Don't be too sure.

Ah, wonderful.

People are always underrating a good shower.

People are always underrating a lot of things.

How 'bout a drink of scotch?

Thanks.

I figured you were the scotch type.

Goes with the brokerage background.

I'm a bourbon man myself.

When they close that cell door on you,

you begin to wonder what type you really are.

First time in? Yeah.

I just called your wife.

She's on her way over.

Hey, thanks.

It's part of the service.

Seems like a nice girl.

Claude: She's a swell kid.

You couldn't find anyone more loyal and devoted.

That's nice to hear.

All through this, she's been there 100%.

I'd knock myself off for her.

Funny.

I never found anybody I could feel that way about.

You knew her before, didn't you, Mr. Kane?

We were on a bus that wrecked itself out on 101.

We hiked and hitched our way back to L.A.

We had laughs.

I don't remember that.

We were coming in from ventura.

First I knew her, her foot was in my ear.

About my bail...

What about it?

How'd she raise the money?

She didn't... Not all of it.

Then who did?

Is that why you asked me if I had known her before?

Don't you think I got a right to know

where the money came from?

A man came to my office.

Swore me to secrecy.

Okay.

It was a friend of your father's.

Oh.

Do you know a lawyer named Dawson?

No. Never heard of him. Why?

Thought he might be able to help you.

[Doorbell buzzes]

Hello, Vince.

Hello, Lucy.

Where is he?

Right here.

I bathed and shaved him for you.

Baby!

Oh, you don't know how good it is to see you.

This guy's sensational.

Yes, I know.

Yours is Sherry, if I remember correctly.

Why don't you sit down... Make yourself comfortable?

This calls for celebration.

It certainly does.

Let's all go out somewhere.

It'll be all right, won't it, Mr. Kane?

Why not? No, we can't.

Oh, you don't want him to sit at home and brood, do you?

Really, Vince, we mustn't, though. Oh, of course we can.

I'm so much in debt to this guy,

we could hire the whole Hollywood bowl.

I'm gonna finish dressing.

It's nice.

Glad you like it.

Vince, please don't make us go out tonight.

Why not? [Doorbell buzzes]

Excuse me.

Greetings.

Hello. Am I late? I should say not.

Mrs. brackett, Elaine storm.

How do you do?

Mrs. brackett's husband is a client.

Brackett?

Oh, I read about it. He was in the...

Yes.

Terrible for you.

You know, I didn't imagine you'd look like this.

Vince knows such awful people.

Yes, doesn't he?

I guess I thought you'd have a purple nose.

You're a darling.

You're very nice yourself.

[Cork pops, ricochets]

[Mid-tempo jazz music playing]

Hi, Vince. How's my favorite bondsman?

Hello, Wally. Don't drink too much.

Just one for the road.

Okay. You know the office is open 24 hours a day.

You like it here?

No. It's too plush.

You belong with soft things.

Not necessarily.

How many people did you go to yesterday for help?

A few.

Bondsmen? Mm-hmm.

Why?

'Cause I didn't want to come to you.

Did you go to a lawyer named Dawson?

No.

Do you know him?

No.

I don't like this band. Do you?

We can always sit down.

[Music continues]

Brackett, it's a good policy to stay in with your bondsman.

We don't like to get hurt in the deal.

Sometimes a guy jumps his bail, and we're held responsible.

You don't have to worry. I'm not going anywhere.

Good night.

Just to take the worry off my mind completely,

call me every day at my office at 6:00.

Sure.

Good night.

Good night, Vince.

Thanks.

What are you planning on doing about Mr. brackett?

[Doorbell buzzes]

Hello, Nick.

Hiya, Vince.

What brings you out this late?

Oh, just in the neighborhood. Thought I'd drop in.

Anything I can get you?

No, thanks. [Sniffs]

I still say her taste in perfume stinks.

What are you getting at?

You sprung brackett.

Yeah, that's right.

What about it?

I nailed him.

Took me almost two years,

but I nailed him, and you bailed him out.

That's my business.

You used to be in another kind of business.

You know...

You were a pretty good cop.

Now I'm a pretty good bondsman.

I live better.

What did you mean by that perfume crack?

I found out that some of your own dough is on this bail.

Oh.

I see where someone at the office is fired in the morning.

You've got a lot of firing to do...

For instance, the clerk at the dorsey hotel.

You spent a little time there last night with that dame.

I have a long memory.

All of a sudden, I remember why that perfume bothers me.

You used to smell of it.

I'm brackett's bondsman,

and I'm responsible for what he does.

You want to scrape around in the dirt,

that's your business.

I never let it interfere with us.

But this time, it's different.

Benny kafka was shot.

We liked Benny.

This has nothing to do with you, Nick.

If you're trying to pull a fast one to get that dame,

I'm gonna go for you, Vince.

I mean it.

If you're making it easy for brackett to skip

so you can get her for a few grand...

I'm gonna nail you.

I won't say it again.

Get out!

It's a tough rap for a bondsman to help a client escape.

It comes under the heading of a three-syllable word...

"Collusion."

[Door slams]

Joe: Just leaving, Vince.

Anything on your mind?

Know anything about a guy named Dawson?

Never heard of him till he came in to see you yesterday. Why?

Just curious.

He brought in 12 g's. Mrs. brackett raised 4.

I don't have to count on my fingers

to know that leaves 9 big ones.

Who put that out?

We did.

We'd better get this straight.

I told you if those people couldn't raise the dough

to forget it.

If you're carrying a torch, that's your business.

But don't try and light it

with $9,000 worth of the firm's oil.

Maybe I'm a gambler at heart, Joe.

Well, then, go find a crap table!

Lay off that sentiment junk!

If we're gonna make any donations,

we'll make them through charity.

Then we'll be heroes.

You know, this guy brackett is no professional.

He's liable to up and take a powder on us,

and we'll be out on a limb.

I don't run this business in red ink.

Take it out of my cut.

You took it out with the firm's dough,

and that's the way it stands.

And for your own good, this guy better not blow.

See ya.

I don't know.

Brackett... Claude brackett?

I don't remember him.

I guess I wasn't with the firm at that time.

Who was?

Was she here then?

Miss Wilson? I think so.

[Paper cup thunks]

Hello, miss Wilson.

You remember Claude brackett, don't you, miss Wilson?

Another detective?

No.

Who are you? A friend of his wife's.

You can tell Mrs. brackett that Claude took me to dinner

just twice while they were having their trouble.

Ever double-date with a guy named Dawson?

I don't know who you're talking about.

But if Mrs. brackett

really wants to know something about Claude,

she can ask that cigarette girl.

You mean he gave you the brush-off for a cigarette girl?

I'd sure like to see such a girl.

You can take a look at her

and get yourself a package of cigarettes at the same time

at McKay's tavern.

And give her my very best regards.

[Cup plops]

What kind of a guy is this brackett?

What kind are there?

He just happened to have a better pedigree.

You liked him?

Don't get any ideas. I don't carry torches.

He was a nice fellow. He spent a lot of money and...

Did you see him when they picked him up?

Yeah, I saw him.

But I have an allergy about trouble.

It makes my fingernails break off.

That's why we said goodbye.

How did you know he was in trouble the time before?

He was with a creep I didn't like.

Would have expected brackett to be found dead with him.

Or would you?

Who's that? Who knows?

Type trying to make an impression.

Beat in time to the music so you could see a flashy ring.

I decided to get lost.

I have a nice, legitimate racket.

I steal a few bucks shortchanging happy Charlies,

but I don't go for con men.

What did he look like?

Like I said.

Tell me about the ring.

That kind of guy's idea of heavy jewelry...

Onyx and diamonds set like a checkerboard.

Something, huh?

Hiya, Vince.

Hello, Mac.

I heard you were down in the Springs.

Oh, well,

all the better saloon-keepers spend some time down there.

You, uh, interested?

I like women with money.

They buy me drinks.

[Chuckles]

Well, I'll buy you a drink, and you don't have to love me.

No, thanks.

Oh, uh, Vince...

What was that all about?

I was just asking about an old boyfriend of hers...

Claude brackett.

Brackett?

Oh, yeah, yeah... the guy that was picked up in here.

Bond snatch or something.

That's right. You bail him out?

Yeah, we did.

You did. [Chuckles]

Farley didn't.

You're the one that's doing all the worrying.

How much are you carrying, Vince?

Up till now, it's been a secret.

Didn't I read in the paper

about his wife being a pretty good looker?

For a guy that has to stay up every night

where the light isn't good,

you do a lot of reading, Mac.

[Chuckles] Don't worry, Vince.

I won't tell farley.

Thanks.

Is he in?

He's out of town.

How far out of town?

Legally, Mr. Kane,

anything beyond the city limits is out of town.

How soon do you expect him back?

I think you can find him at home around dinnertime

if it's that important.

Thanks.

Got a light?

You known Dawson long?

I don't.

I hear he's a good mouthpiece.

Yeah, well, some people go through life like this...

Full of yakety-yak.

I'm Kane, bail bonds.

Come in and see us sometime. We're always available.

You guys operate like Fuller brush men.

After you. Thanks.

Claude?

[Telephone ringing]

Yes?

Hello, Lucy. How's Claude?

Would you like to come over

and bathe and shave him again

and sober him up?

Why, he... he's been drinking since early this morning.

I put him to bed.

Do you want to talk to him,

or will you take my word for it?

Lucy...

Forget it.

[Knock on door]

Who is it?

Vince: Lucy, I want to talk to you.

Just a minute.

What do you want?

Is he still asleep? Yes.

Let's take a look at the sleeping beauty.

Lucy: Vince...

Don't wake him up.

Let's go to dinner together, just you and me.

I got a better idea.

Let's pack a couple of bags and keep right on going.

Just go?

Why not?

What about your bond business?

You said last night I wasn't happy with what I'm doing,

and maybe I'm not.

Oh, Vince.

Can you pack a bag without waking him up?

Wait for me in the lobby. I'll try.

He is in there, isn't he?

Is he, Lucy?

No.

Vince, I love you more than anything else in the world.

What do you think I am that you can cut your initials into

any time you want?

10 minutes after brackett left this place with a suitcase,

I had men looking for him.

And of course you'd go away with me.

That'd give him time enough,

and then you'd run and meet him.

Where?

Where?! I don't know!

He only left a note.

Said he was getting out while he could.

He pleaded for time. I owed him that.

What else could I do, Vince?

Nice little blackmailing idea.

I can't grab him because I'm supposed to be your boyfriend,

and we'd prove it by running away together.

I meant every word I said to you...

Everything I've ever said,

except this one time I lied... The only time.

Forget it, babe.

It's all burned out of me.

[Door closes]

[Footsteps approach]

Just got your call at the club.

I was right in the middle

of the best steak I've had in years.

What's the score?

Brackett took a powder. I know it.

You brought me down here for that?

What about our 9 grand?

It's all in the business... Win 9, lose 9.

Occupational hazard?

Yeah. Occupa... Yeah, that's it, Vince.

I know guys that would die laughing

over you losing a half a buck.

Forget it.

And tonight $9,000 doesn't mean a thing to you?

We've had a good year. Write it off the income tax.

Part of the reputation of this office

is we never get beat for a bond.

Since when have we changed?

We haven't.

I figure you've got a personal interest in this thing.

Kind of threw you off balance.

So, forget it.

What if we do take the rap for 9 g's?

I'm not squawkin'.

You're still my partner, good or bad,

so that's the way it is.

You got your feet wet, okay. Forget it.

I'll take over.

I don't like it when you're noble, Joe.

On you, it doesn't fit.

What do you know?

If I went around telling people everything I knew,

how long do you think we'd be in the bond business?

I'm still the senior partner.

80% of what I say goes. And I say drop it.

What's the beef?

Farley's been throwing his money around again.

How's brackett?

What do you want, Nick?

I want you to say if you know where he is.

I'm brackett's bondsman.

I'm the only one responsible for him.

When the time comes, I'll see that he shows at the hearing.

You know where the dame is, all right,

but you won't say where brackett is.

I know where he is.

Fine. Then you watch him for me.

We will.

Don't you want to see him, Vince?

Why?

I think you'd better.

Let's leave it the way it was, okay, Vince?

Take it easy. It's better that way.

How did he get it?

Two .32 slugs in the chest

and thrown from a car up in the hills.

What time was it?

Read about it in the papers, Vince.

If you'd forgotten your yen for his dame

and left him in the can,

he'd be talking plenty now, and he wouldn't be dead.

Now we have this, such as it is.

You'll get your bond dough back.

The dame is without a husband,

which is what you probably wanted in the first place.

I have an office for business.

If it's anything important, I'll discuss it with you there.

We'll discuss it right here.

Very well, Mr. Kane.

I'll give you five minutes, but I won't be intimidated.

How is it you represent people who never heard of you?

So far, you're guilty of trespassing

and assault and battery.

Sue me later but talk now.

A man I'd never put eyes on before

came to me and made the deal.

There was to be no questions, no answers.

He gave me the money I gave you, plus my fee.

The next morning, he called me at the office...

Got a report and hung up.

That's all I know.

Ever see him again? No.

What did he call himself?

Max, uh... Gibney.

What did he look like?

Oh, 5'10", light hair, about 35.

Did he give you any address?

The hotel wadsworth.

How 'bout my suit for assault and battery?

Check with my lawyer.

You check him out?

Yes. But he didn't leave any forwarding address.

And he looked like any one of 10,000?

Wish we could help you.

There was one thing.

Yeah? Kind of funny.

When we went to the elevator

and I stepped back for him to go through first,

he sort of moved around me, like,

so I had to go first.

Same thing when we got out and we went into the room.

Funny.

Didn't want to let me get behind him.

Thanks.

[Mid-tempo jazz music playing]

Believe it or not, I'd like to help.

I told you I didn't love Claude.

You've answered that before, Lucy.

I didn't love him...

Not after the first year...

But I-i somehow feel to blame for all these things.

Vince, this is horrible.

Would it help any if I told you he was guilty as could be?

It's easy to say that now.

Do you want to hear the truth?

Or what you think is the truth.

Based on what I know.

[Sighs]

Been many times I've wondered.

But I made myself believe in him because I had to.

I... now I...

I'd like to know, one way or the other.

Do you know what this means to me?

I think so.

It's possible that we're responsible for his death.

If we'd only let him stay in jail, maybe it wouldn't...

Oh, Lucy, we can't be second-guessers.

What do you know?

Your boy was playing around with the cigarette girl

and traveling with a con man before the robbery.

I don't know.

We started out right. Maybe I didn't do my part.

Oh, Lucy, the kid was a weakling.

That doesn't make any difference now.

He was my husband, and he was murdered.

[Telephone ringing]

Have you told the police?

No.

Why?

Is that what you want me to do?

[Ringing continues]

Of course.

All right.

Man: Is anybody here named Kane?

Yes.

Telephone.

Excuse me.

[Music continues]

Yes?

What do you want, Joe?

I've been right here.

What's the rush?

All right. All right. I'll be right over.

Pardon me.

Can you do it again?

[Chuckles]

If I knew you better, I'd buy you a lighter for Christmas.

I didn't get your name.

Roy Collins.

Did you finally get to see Dawson?

I lost interest in him.

[Gasps] Oh, I'm sorry!

You're sorry?

Now, look... why don't you keep these, you know,

and then we won't be getting mixed up in each other's lives?

You have my card. Send me the bill.

Forget it, will you?

I'm sorry, Lucy, but I have to go up and see Joe.

Why don't you come with me?

I don't want you alone at that hotel.

After you.

[Engine turns over]

[Indistinct conversations]

Hello, Vince.

Hello, frances.

Mrs. brackett, Mrs. farley.

Hello, Mrs. farley. You poor thing.

I know just how I'd feel if the same thing happened to Joe.

[Chuckles] And it could, too.

[Laughter in distance]

Oh, those people always popping in for drinks

and to bother Joe.

Let's go in here, where we can be alone.

Joe's in there with all those books, Vince.

Come sit over here, and I'll get a cup of tea.

Hello, Vince.

Did you come out of that thing all right?

Why?

Well, no offense.

Stop reading the news before they print it, Mac.

Q-u-i-d...

N-u-n-c.

Hi, Vince. Hiya, Joe.

"One who is curious to know everything that's going on."

Ah, I had to look that one up.

[Chuckles] Well, I guess Marley was right.

He said I can only think good in a small room.

[Chuckles]

Well, you ought to do fine down at the office.

We generally do... Except sometimes.

Go ahead. Help yourself.

Oh, Vince...

A lot of people have been talking to me.

You got a lot of ears, Joe.

I know.

What was the rush in getting me up here?

Just heard that brackett was found a little dead.

I thought before you started talking to people,

I'd like to find out how you feel.

I feel fine.

Well, that's great.

We'll both get our dough back,

and we forget everything, right, Vince?

What makes it right?

Let's be clean-cut about it.

Don't you think I know about these things, Vince?

I wouldn't make book on what you don't know, Joe.

You're still in love with that dame.

Why don't you send her away,

let her bake it out in the sun someplace?

Sooner or later, the cops will pick up those guys

or they won't, and that'll be the end of it.

Then, if you still feel the same way,

get the dame... Start where you left off.

That's easy, isn't it?

Sounds good the way you tell it.

Sure. What's the use of breaking your hip?

Brackett was a crook.

Sooner or later, those crooks get knocked off anyway.

Who cries about it?

That's a job for the cops.

And as I see it, you are not a cop.

You are in the bond business.

What else do you see, Joe?

You ought to know by this time, Vince.

You can't be a bail bondsman

and play on the team opposite your clients.

If you do, you're through as my partner.

Simple as that? Yeah.

Simple as that.

On the other hand, I like you.

I like you. You... you're on the ball.

You're a hustler.

You can't tell.

I-I'd cut you in on a bigger share of the business.

I don't know. Maybe that's what you've been angling for.

How much of a cut?

Well, let's see. You've got 20%.

Maybe we'll boost it to 30%.

Sounds interesting, Joe.

I can't find anything wrong in it for me.

I knew you'd see it my way, Vince.

What's the matter with the drink?

I thought it might be hemlock.

I never keep it in the house.

Where do you get it?

It's an old Greek drink.

Maybe I'll send for some.

Do that, Joe.

[Door closes]

[Parking brake engages]

Don't come up, Vince.

Will you be all right?

Yeah. I'll be all right.

Are you going to the police?

Well... I'll have to work it out.

All the way home, I've been thinking about it,

and I knew you didn't intend to go, and I knew why.

Well, there are a lot of angles to it.

I'll talk to you about it in the morning.

There's nothing to talk about. You've changed sides completely.

[Door slams, footsteps depart]

Hiya, Fred.

Hiya.

Where would a guy go

that had a hot cup of coffee spilled on him?

Huh. He was plenty blanked up.

I know because I had to wait for him while he changed.

Think you could remember where you waited?

How could I forget?

[Brakes squeal]

Here's where I left him.

You're having a good night.

Shows you how good a guy can do on one cup of coffee.

[Doorknob rattles]

[Lock clicks]

[Door opens in distance]

[Indistinct conversations]

Good evening, Mr. Kane.

Bring me a drink. Tell Mac I want to see him.

[Mid-tempo jazz music playing]

You looking for me, Vince?

Sit down.

I'll buy you a drink, even if I don't love you.

No, thanks.

Nice racket you have here.

I do all right.

Booze and chumps.

That's right.

And on the side, acting as a frontman

for hoodlums and frontmen in brokerage houses.

What do you mean?

You got to brackett, set up the contact.

Collins, or gibney, pulled the job.

Brackett cashed the bonds.

How sweet it is.

Too bad. Boys thought he would talk.

Too bad he was knocked off.

You know...

You ought to give up drinking that stuff.

You want evidence? Fine.

An attorney named Dawson and a hotel bellhop

described gibney as a fellow

who doesn't like to have anybody follow him out of a room.

So what?

So, that's a habit of our friend Collins.

Who's Collins?

I don't want to bore you, Mac,

but Collins and gibney are the same guy.

Great friend of brackett's before the robbery.

He was in the habit of flashing a diamond-and-onyx ring

in bad taste.

What do you think, Mac?

Okay, Vince.

Have fun.

There's a lot more, but I'll hold that in reserve.

Personally, I wouldn't drink any more of that stuff

if I was you.

Stop worrying about my welfare.

What's your angle?

It's a shakedown.

50 grand.

50,000 reasons for forgetting

that I was once the pride of the police force.

You'll have to talk that over with some other parties first.

For 50 grand, I'd make a speech in Macy's window.

You never understood it, Jerry,

but honesty is the best policy.

You picked a fine time to get drunk, Kane.

Don't let it fool you.

Look at us...

Two crooks with everything we want.

We're an ad for crime, Jerry.

You know that...

Even though I just said it doesn't pay.

I don't mind the shakedown as much as I do the yak.

What's the matter...

Aren't they home, or won't they answer?

[Door slams]

What are you two up to?

Your partner here is getting a little bit ambitious, Joe.

Maybe you'd better talk to him...

About $50,000 worth.

This wouldn't be a shakedown, would it?

You're not gonna talk me out of it, Joe.

You know what you are, Kane.

You're not shaking down any of your clients.

What have you got in this, Joe?

What have I... What have I got in this?!

25 years of working 24 hours a day,

hustling bonds for split commissions.

25 years of entertaining thieves and hoodlums and judges,

keeping my mouth shut,

fighting my way up from the gutter!

For every gray hair I got on my head,

there's a bond in somebody's files.

What do I got in it?!

Newsboy to president.

You phony gumshoe.

Everything you've got, I gave you.

You came to me in a shiny blue suit

and a half a buck in your kick...

A dumb flatfoot with a pretty baby head.

The only trouble is you try to crowd so much into that head,

you're gonna get it blown off.

You don't want to make the price go up, do you, Joe?

I told you tonight our job is bail bonds.

Guilty or innocent is none of our business.

We're the only ones that crooks can trust.

I don't want a lovesick bunny in my office I can't trust.

If Mac's in trouble, that's his business.

He's our client. We write the bond.

Now I'll tell you where I stand.

Where you stand?

A dame with the pretty face,

a broken-down husband

with a yen for some fast money,

and all my sweat going up in smoke.

Not on your life, you two-time copper.

I'm washing you out of the bond business.

Your cut is about 25 g's.

You'll get it in the morning.

Stay away from that desk, Jerry.

I want to be a rich man or a hero.

I don't care which.

I'd like to be rich, and I know a girl who likes heroes.

So, make up your minds.

I'll give you till 10:30 in the morning at my apartment...

The both of you.

And from you, cash... No checks.

Now, if you boys don't mind,

will you walk out in front of me?

[Indistinct conversations]

[Mid-tempo jazz music playing]

Hi.

Hello, Nick.

What's the matter with farley?

Hello, Nick.

What time you got? I think my watch stopped.

No, I guess not.

Can I buy you a drink, lieutenant?

No, thanks.

Glad you showed up. We were just talking about you.

Good or bad?

We were saying it's nice to know an honest man.

Anything new on the brackett case?

You tell me.

What's been going on?

I just sold out of the bail-bond business.

What's McKay doing in on it?

He was the referee.

What happened... the guy with the ball fall on him?

I'd like to see you in the morning, Nick...

Say, around 11:00.

Sure.

Take care of Mac.

He's a swell guy.

Who takes care of you?

I do.

[Music continues]

[Dialing]

[Switchboard buzzes]

Dorsey hotel.

Mrs. brackett?

She's checked out.

I don't know.

Late last night, I guess, before I came on.

Thanks.

Did you pick up Lucy?

No, but I think I could. Why?

Why don't you get it through that thick head of yours

that you're wrong about dames?

I'll answer that one when we get there.

About brackett?

Yeah. About brackett.

[Drawer slams]

I'm gonna level with you, Nick.

That's doggone nice of you, Vince.

I know who got him.

How'd you find out?

By deduction, you might say.

You've got a walloping good case there, vin.

I'm being paid off.

Who by?

Jerry McKay.

About that ruckus last night... Was, uh, farley in it?

No.

Joe just feels for his clients.

Who else?

A gent named Roy Collins and... Or Max gibney.

While you're putting the finger on them,

find out who killed Benny kafka.

[Drawer slams]

I might do that, too.

In just 45 minutes, I'll be up in my apartment.

Farley pays me $25,000 for my end of the business.

McKay gives me $50,000 as a payoff.

And I'm supposed to grab my hat and walk away.

Then I pick you up for extortion.

Maybe I figured I'd keep the dough for a while.

Maybe I didn't. What's that to you?

What have you got? What kind of proof?

There's a joke.

I got enough for me but not enough for you.

But they don't know how much I haven't got.

You lock him up now,

farley would have him out before you'd get the gate shut.

Now go into your finish.

Okay, pighead.

What did you expect me to believe?

What kind of a game you been playing for the past year or so?

If I can't make a pinch,

what kind of a sucker move are you trying to talk me into?

Find Lucy for me, Nick.

I don't want her in any trouble.

What do you want, Vince?

Nothing much more than that.

Now that you know what I'm doing,

you know I can handle it.

Stay away yourself and keep your mice out.

How long? Couple of hours.

No gunplay, Vince.

A citizen can make an arrest, can't he?

No gunplay.

I won't start it. Okay.

Don't forget it.

[Door closes]

Open the door, Mrs. brackett.

Come on. Let's not play games.

It's lieutenant ferrone.

Thought I told you not to change your address

without letting us know.

I'm sorry. I meant to call.

Didn't you think I'd have a man following you?

I wasn't trying to run away.

Except from Kane.

Why do you say that?

You're running away from something, aren't you?

Why do you say, "from Kane"?

Look, the point is, you do as you're told.

And when I leave here, you'll lock the door

and you'll keep it locked until I come back here

and tell you to unlock it.

Understand? Yes.

Have your food sent in or crochet a rug.

Don't leave this room.

I want to keep one of you out of trouble.

You've seen Vince? You've talked to him?

Is he all right? He's all right, believe me.

Be a good girl.

Lock the door.

[Telephone rings]

Farley-Kane bail bonds.

Mr. Kane isn't in.

No, I haven't heard from him, and I don't know where he is.

No, I don't. Sorry.

[Vacuum cleaner whirring, doorbell buzzes]

[Whirring stops]

Is Mr. Kane in? No, ma'am.

I'd like to use the phone, please.

I guess it's all right.

It's on the table.

[Door closes]

[Whirring resumes]

Hello. Has Mr. Kane come in yet?

No, thank you.

[Horn honks]

I'm sorry, but I have to leave now.

I've got other apartments to do.

Yes, of course.

I'll wait here. I have to see Mr. Kane.

Well, I don't know.

I'm sure it'll be all right.

Well...

[Door opens, closes]

Vince: Yeah, that's right.

You're not talking me out of it.

[Door closes]

Here's your $25,000. Count it if you want to.

Thanks.

You don't think you're gonna get away with this, do you?

I can try.

Here's a little agreement to sign

for your end of the business.

Not yet.

You got your dough, didn't you?

I want something else. Come on, Vince.

Sign this... will you? And I'll get going.

I don't want to get mixed up in this.

You're not going anyplace.

Having him as a partner got me mixed up in this.

So, you might as well be a part of whatever happens.

Now... What else you got on your mind?

I want Collins.

Collins?

Or you. It's dealer's choice.

I prefer Collins.

He's the guy that knocked off brackett

and a cop named Benny kafka.

Isn't that right, Mac?

You dirty, double-crossing...

Lay off, will you?!

Think it over. You got the deciding vote.

I got nothing on you

that bumping me off wouldn't take care of.

Nick would miss me around 11:00.

I reminded him this morning.

I'm gonna have a drink.

You want Collins and 50 g's?

You're crazy.

You're asking for too much.

Maybe I am.

I'll make a deal with you.

Get Collins up here, and you can have your 50 back.

I don't know, Vince.

I don't want any part of this.

I think you're out of your head.

McKay says you're in, farley.

Maybe you are.

I still think you're out of your head.

We'll see.

There's one thing that bothers me, Mac.

Did brackett get his share of the dough?

Yeah. Every nickel of it.

Collins never double-crossed anybody.

You mean he had a virtue?

Well, do I get him?

I'll get him up here for you.

But after that, you're on your own.

I want no part of Collins with his finger near a trigger.

Wait a minute.

Don't bring him up here.

Tell him I found out too much

and you're taking me for a ride up in the hills.

That's where he comes in.

Have him meet us.

Farley goes along, or I don't play.

[Dialing]

Hello, Max. It's Jerry.

Listen, I need your help.

[Speaking indistinctly]

[Door closes]

What are they driving?

Find out, but don't let them see you.

And meet me down in front in five minutes.

[Engine turns over]

[Tires screech]

They went down that street in a light gray sedan.

I think it was a Cadillac. You'd better stay here.

No, let me go. I know the car.

Right. Alert Hollywood cars.

Light gray sedan, possibly Cadillac.

Four men.

Vicinity Melrose and vine. Follow and report back.

Car 42 signing off. K.Q.B.B.

Oh, Vince said something

about they're taking him up into the hills.

Cut up to Franklin.

Here. Keep me covered.

Hello, farley.

Hi, wise guy.

This is a pleasure.

Think you're pretty smart, don't you, Kane?

Smarter than you are, Max.

A cop that got reformed.

[Chuckles]

What cop ever reformed?

I never thought I'd get a chance to knock off another one.

You'll never play detective again, Kane,

after I give you the treatment... never.

Just like Benny kafka.

Turn on Bronson, farley, and go up in the canyon.

[Engine revs]

Woman: Calling car 42. Car 4-2.

Gray Cadillac sedan reported

turning north on Bronson from Franklin.

Car 1-2-0 following.

Don't worry about him.

He used to take worse chances than this for $340 a month.

[Chuckles]

Cut the laughing.

You don't know how funny it is.

You got yourself built up fine.

But I got sad news for you.

I don't want no news.

I don't want nothing from you.

I just want to knock you off.

If anybody's gonna be knocked off, Max, it's you.

That's part of my deal with McKay.

What's he beating his gums about?

What's he saying?

Don't let him work on you, Max.

You got the gun. Shut me up.

Shut your face, Kane.

You see? He can't.

You're the fall guy in this, Max.

I got him nailed.

If anything happens to me, he'll be in the can in an hour.

Stop the car, farley.

I'll show you what can happen to you.

[Gunshot]

[Gunshot]

[Gunshot]

[Gunshot]

[Gunshot]

[Sirens wailing]

Here he is. Who?

Collins.

He killed brackett and Benny.

And he nearly got me.

Here. You better take his gun.

Come on, Vince. I'll take you both home.

Looks like the police department gets a good cop back.

You don't get this cop back.

He just bought 30% of the bond business.

Hey, fix him up, Harry.

He got nicked in the arm there.

Here, let me. I'll... I'll take that.

Serves me right for trying to be honest.

So I wind up with a hole in my arm.

50 g's in there belongs to McKay.

Keep it on tap.

He'll need it when we bail him out.

Aah.

Look at that.

Now she'll marry him,

and then she'll probably leave him.

Serves him right for being a bondsman.

Ow!