Original subtitles

You're the only one who'll swipe any of it.

I say anybody that can write like that won't give it up to sew socks...

...for a guy in the insurance business.

Now I give that marriage 3 months and I'm laying 3-1.

- Any takers? - I'll take that bet.

A girl can't leave the room without being discussed by old ladies.

Hello, Post? Get me Walter Burns, will you, please?

Don't get sore. We were only saying...

...a reporter like you wouldn't quit so easy.

This is Hildy Johnson. I can quit all right, without a single quiver.

I'll live like a human being, not like you chumps.

Is that you? I've got some news for you.

I got the interview, but I've got some more important news.

Better get a pencil and take it down.

All ready?

Now, get this, you double-crossing chimpanzee.

There won't be an interview or a story.

Your check leaves with me in 20 minutes.

I wouldn't cover the burning of Rome for you.

And if I ever lay my eyes on you again...

...I'll hammer on your monkey skull so it rings like a Chinese gong!

You don't know why I'm angry? Get Louie to tell you about his watch.

And there's just one other little thing.

Hear that? That's the story I just wrote.

I know we had a bargain. I said I'd write it.

I didn't say I wouldn't tear it up. It's all in little pieces now.

And I hope to do the same for you someday.

That's my farewell to the newspaper game.

I'll be a woman. Not a news machine.

I'll have babies, give them cod-liver oil and watch their teeth grow.

And if I ever see one of them look at a paper, I'll brain him.

Where's my hat?

- Mr. Burns? Yes, she's still here. - Give me that.

And another thing I want...

Where is my... There it is.

- Hello, Doctor. Sorry to be late. - Quite all right.

These boys from the newspapers take up my time.

They wanted me to hang Williams at their convenience.

- Oh, hello, Earl. - These newspapers.

- What they did to me in Chicago! - I believe it.

- Always after me for interviews. - Me too.

I did promise to make some sort of statement...

...when I finished here. You don't mind, do you?

It is hardly ethical. All statements are supposed to come from me.

I see. What do you say to giving them some sort of joint interview?

I can discuss some of the psychological aspects of the case and you...

We'd have our pictures taken together?

- Shaking hands. - Splendid idea!

I don't take a good picture.

That doesn't matter. Publicity's the thing.

Doctor, I'm getting awful tired.

Can't I go back to jail again?

I'm sorry. I forgot you were there.

No, we've further questions for you.

Sheriff, would you extinguish the lights?

That will help with what we're doing here. Now, let me see.

Mr. Williams, you know, of course, that you are going to be executed.

Who do you feel is responsible for that?

I am innocent. It wasn't my fault.

- Well, Murph. - Send a post card, kid.

- Goodbye. - Au revoir, Hildegarde.

When will we see you again?

Next time you see me, I'll be in a Rolls Royce...

...giving interviews on success.

So long, you wage slaves.

When you're climbing fire escapes, getting kicked out front doors...

...and eating in one-armed joints...

...don't forget your pal, Hildy Johnson.

And when the road beyond unfolds, and the work...

Look out! It's a jailbreak!

What's the matter? What happened?

Watch where you're aiming, will you?

Watch the gate! He'll try the gate!

Who got away? Who was it?

- Earl Williams! - Who did he say?

Earl Williams!

Hello, hello! Hurry up, this is important.

- Flash! Earl Williams just escaped. - Jailbreak!

Williams went over the wall!

I don't know anything yet.

Hello, Post? Give me Walter Burns, quick. Hildy Johnson.

Walter? Walter? Hildy.

Earl Williams just escaped from the county jail.

Don't worry, I'm on the job.

Hey, Cooley!

Wait!

Hey, wait a minute!

Cooley, I want to talk to you!

This is Endicott. Give me rewrite.

He ain't here.

Hello, Gil? Here's the situation now.

Ready? Williams was taken to the sheriff's...

...to be examined by Egelhoffer. In a few minutes, he shot his way out.

Nobody knows where he got the gun. He got out through the skylight.

He must have slid down the rainpipe.

Nobody knows where he got it. Or they won't talk.

Give me the desk.

The crime commission offers a $10,000 reward.

No clue yet as to Williams' whereabouts.

Here's a little feature. An accident about a tear bomb.

Yeah, tear bomb, tear bomb. Criminals cry for it.

I don't know.

The tear bomb went off unexpectedly in the hands of the bombing squad.

The following deputies were rushed to the hospital.

- A fine friend you are. - Their names are...

...Mervin D. Wilkerson, the mayor's brother-in-law.

After all I've done for you.

Howard Schuster, the sheriff's uncle.

Highlights on Sheriff Hartwell's manhunt.

William Mansfield, his landlord, and Lester Winthrop...

...who married the sheriff's niece.

You remember, the very homely dame? Call you back.

Mrs. William Rice, scrub lady, while scrubbing the eigth floor...

...was shot by one of the sheriff's deputies.

Look, I'm not...

There goes another scrub lady!

It was only a flesh wound. They took her to the hospital.

- McCue speaking. Give me the desk. - Any dope on how he escaped?

Maybe the sheriff let him out so he could vote for him.

A man answering the description of Earl Williams boarded a southbound...

Call you back.

- I thought you'd gone. - I thought so too.

Get me Walter Burns, quick!

Walter, listen.

I've got the story on how Williams escaped, and I've got it exclusive.

That's right, and it's a pip.

It cost me $450 to tear it out of Cooley.

What's the story?

I'll give it to you. But first I have to tell you I gave him money.

And it wasn't exactly mine.

It's Bruce's money and I want it back.

Bruce's money?

Sure, you'll get it. Now, what's the story?

I'll send the money. I swear it on my mother's grave.

All right. Here's the... Wait a minute, your mother's alive!

My grandmother's grave. What's the story?

You get that money down here.

All right, here's your story. The jailbreak of your dreams.

This expert, Dr. Egelhoffer, the thinker from New York...

...was giving Williams a sanity test in the sheriff's office.

Sticking a lot of pins in him so he could get his reflexes.

He decided to reenact the crime as it had taken place...

...in order to study Williams' coordination.

I'm coming to it. He had to have a gun to reenact the crime with.

Who do you suppose supplied it? Peter B. Hartwell. "B" for brains.

No kidding!

I'm not kidding. I'm not good enough to make this up.

The sheriff gave his gun to the professor...

...who gave it to Earl, who shot the professor in the classified ads.

No, ads.

Ain't it perfect?

If he'd unrolled a red carpet and loaned Williams an umbrella...

...it couldn't have been more ideal.

Who? Oh, no. Egelhoffer wasn't badly hurt.

They took him to the hospital, where they're afraid he'll recover.

That's great work, Hildy.

Stop worrying about that money. You'll get it in 15 minutes.

I had better. Bruce is waiting in a taxi for me and we're in a hurry.

Hold on a minute.

Vangie, come here.

There's a guy in a taxi in front of criminal courts.

Name's Bruce Baldwin.

- What does he look like? - He looks like Ralph Bellamy.

- Oh, him? - Can you handle it?

I've never flopped on you yet, have I?

Come on, get going. You only got about two minutes. Hurry.

Sorry to keep you waiting. How much was it again?

$450. Well, just a second.

Louie, come here. I need $450 worth of counterfeit money.

- Can't carry that much, boss. - No, just the $450 counterfeit.

I got that on me.

Quite a coincidence. Take it over to Hildy.

It's coming. I'm sending it with Louie.

Thanks for your story. And good luck on your honeymoon.

No, no, never mind the thanks. Just see that money gets here.

- Hildy, you still here? - No, I'm in Niagara Falls.

McCue speaking.

Emil, I got a good feature on the manhunt.

Ready? Mrs. Phoebe DeWolfe, colored, gave birth to a pickaninny...

...in a patrol wagon with Hartwell's rifle squad acting as nurses.

Phoebe was walking along the street when...

That's right.

So they coaxed her into the patrol wagon.

When the pickanninny was born, they checked...

...to see if it was Earl Williams. They knew he was hiding somewhere.

Here's the payoff. They named the kid Peter Hartwell DeWolfe.

Press room.

Bruce? I thought you were downstairs in a...

What?

Arrested again. What for this time?

Well, they called it "mashing".

No, I didn't, Hildy!

I was sitting in the taxi where you left me...

...and the young lady seemed to have a dizzy spell and I just...

She's kind of...

Yes, she's a blonde.

Yes, very blonde.

Never mind. I know how it happened. Just a minute.

Get me Walter Burns. Hildy Johnson.

Bruce, where are you? Twenty-seventh Precinct? Hold on a minute.

Walter, you...

He was there a minute ago.

But I want...

"I'm sorry, I can't locate him". Why, that double-crossing...

Hello, not you. Bruce, I can't get there right away.

How about 20 minutes?

I have to wait here for the...

I'll tell you when I see you.

If I ever get my hands on Walter...

- Anything I can do to help? - How much money you got?

- $1.80. - 64 cents.

- Welcome to it. - Thanks, you better buy an annuity.

What's that, Emil? No, I can't give you an official statement.

No, wait a minute. Here's the mayor. How about a statement, Mayor?

- Don't pester me now, please. - His Honor won't say anything.

- Have you seen Hartwell? - Hard to tell.

There's so many cockroaches around...

Wait a minute. How about a statement?

- We go to press in 20 minutes. - I've nothing to say. Not now.

Just a moment. What do you know about the escape?

- Where'd he get the gun? - Not so fast.

- About the election... - What effect will this have?

None whatsoever.

How can an unavoidable misfortune like this...

...have any influence on the upright citizens of our fair city?

Mr. Mayor, please, is there a Red Menace or ain't there?

How did Williams get out?

Have you picked out somebody to be responsible?

Any truth in the report you're on Stalin's payroll?

The senator claims you sleep in red underwear.

Never mind the jokes. Don't forget I'm the mayor and...

Hartwell, I want to see you!

How'd he get away?

Where'd he get the gun?

Any statement on the Red Uprising tomorrow?

- Red Uprising? - There will be no Red Uprising.

The governor says the situation calls for the militia.

I say anything the governor says is a tissue of lies.

Here's a red-hot statement from the governor.

He claims the mayor and sheriff have shown themselves...

...to be a couple of eight-year-olds playing with fire.

You can quote him as follows:

"It's lucky for the city that next Tuesday is Election Day...

...as the citizens will thus be saved the expense of impeaching...

...the mayor and the sheriff". That's all. Call you back.

Nice to have seen you, Mayor.

- Excuse me, I've got so much to do. - Wait. Who engineered this getaway?

- Was it the Reds? - Was it you?

Me? Just a minute. I'll tell you. I've got him located.

- Williams? - Where?

Out on Center Street. I just got a tip.

- Why didn't you say so? - The rifle squad is going out.

You'll catch him if you hurry.

- Look, please... - Pete, I want to talk to you.

I've got so much to do.

- See here, Fred... - Pete, you're through.

Through? You mean I'm through?

I'm scratching your name off the ticket...

...and running Sherman in your place.

"Reform the Red with a rope"! Williams isn't a Red and you know it!

But there's Communistic sympathizers and I thought...

...if I got a slogan like that I could...

That's got nothing to do with this case.

There are 200,000 votes at stake. If he don't hang, we'll lose them.

We're going to hang him. He can't get away.

What do you mean? He did get away, didn't he?

What do you want?

- What do you want? - Are you Sheriff Hartwell?

I'm him. What is it?

You're a hard man to find. I have a message from the governor.

- What? - It was a reprieve for Earl Williams.

- For who? - Earl Williams.

You said there wasn't going to be a reprieve.

It frightens me to think of what I'd like to do to you. Who was there?

- Nobody. He was fishing. - Get the governor on the phone.

He's not there. He's duck shooting.

Blasted nimrod! Fishing, duck shooting...

A guy who's done nothing for the last 40 years...

...gets elected governor and he's a Tarzan.

Read that. "Insane". He knows very well Williams isn't insane.

I never met the man.

- Pure politics. - It's an attempt to ruin us.

What do we tell the reporters?

Tell them the party is through on account of you.

As an afterthought, tell them I want your resignation now.

Hello. Yes, yes, this is Hartwell.

What? Where?

Holy Moses! Hold the wire!

They've got Williams!

The rifle squad has him at his house.

- Tell them to hold the phone. - Hold the wire.

- Cover up that transmitter. - No. Now, listen.

You never arrived with this.

Yes, I did. I came through that door...

- How much do you make? - I thought he was sheriff...

- What's your salary? - $40 a week.

How'd you like to make $350 a month? That's almost $100 a week.

I couldn't afford that. Who? Me?

They need a fellow like you in the city sealer's office.

- The what? - City sealer's.

You mean I should work in the sealer's...

My wife wouldn't like that. She lives in the country with my family.

That's all right. Bring her in. We'll pay all the expenses.

- I don't think so. - Why not?

I got two kids in school. If they change towns, they'll lose a grade...

No. They'll skip a grade.

And I guarantee you that they'll graduate...

Hold your horses, Olsen. Hurry up, Fred.

Now, what do you say?

That puts me in a peculiar hole.

No, it doesn't. You never delivered this.

You got caught in traffic or something.

- No, I came... - Pretend you didn't.

Now get out and don't let anybody see you.

- But how do I know... - Come to my office tomorrow.

- What's your name? - Pettibone.

- Pettibone? - Not really.

Lay low and keep your mouth shut.

- I'm tired anyhow. - Go to this address.

Nice homey place.

They'll take care of you. Tell them Fred sent you.

- Here's $50 on account. - Wait, I'll tell you in one minute.

You forgot to tell me what a city sealer does.

- Is it hard? - Easy. Very easy.

Good, because my health isn't what my wife...

- We'll fix that too. - My wife?

Yes, fix anything. Go ahead.

They're still on the phone.

- Tell them to shoot to kill. - But the reprieve!

- Go ahead and do as I tell you. - Hello, Olsen.

Shoot to kill. That's the orders. Pass the word along.

- $500 reward. - $500 for the man who does it.

I'll be right over.

Hi, Hildy.

You double-crossing hyena.

What'd you pull on Mr. Baldwin this time?

- Who, me? - You and that albino of yours.

- Evangeline's no albino. - She'll do, till one comes along.

She was born in this country.

If she tries anything else, she'll have to stay in this country.

- Did you bring that money? - Oh, yeah, $400.

$450.

All right, you can't blame a guy for trying.

- Give me a receipt. - I'll give you a scar.

You got plenty of them.

I'll take Mr. Baldwin's wallet too.

- Mr. Baldwin's what? - His purse. Come on, Louie.

All right, Hildy. I'll do it for you because I like you.

But tell your financier to be more careful, know what I mean?

I'll loan him a pair of your brass knuckles.

Don't talk that way. I'll take that.

- I'll take it to the station. - Wait a minute!

Take it to the 27th Precinct and tell the cops how this happened.

I couldn't do that. Burns would turn me in.

- Not a bad idea. - Here, catch!

Louie!

Hello, operator. Hildy Johnson. Will you get me...

Drop that phone!

Never mind.

You won't tell anybody where I am.

Put that gun down, Earl.

You don't want to shoot me. I'm your friend, remember?

I'm writing the story on you of production for use.

- That's right. Production for use. - You don't want to hurt your...

Don't move! Maybe you're my friend, maybe not.

But don't come nearer.

You can't trust anybody in this crazy world.

I don't blame you. I wouldn't trust anybody either.

Don't do that. Put it back. Put it back.

If you try any tricks, I'll shoot you. I can do it right from here.

Sure you could, Earl. But you don't want to do that.

You don't want to kill anybody.

No, you're right. I don't want to kill anybody.

- That's what I thought. - Wait a minute. Where are you going?

I was going to close the door so nobody'd see you.

No, you weren't. You were going to get somebody.

But I don't want that. All I want is to be left alone.

- I won't get anybody. - You will.

You'll get them after me again. I won't let you do that. I won't...

- Give me that. - I guess I fired all the shells.

- I'm awful tired. - That shot. They'll know you're here.

I don't care.

I'm not afraid to die. I told the guy that when he handed me the gun.

- Quiet! - Waking me in the middle of the night.

Talking about things they don't understand.

Shut up.

I wish they'd take me back and hang me.

They will if you don't keep quiet.

I couldn't go through another day like this.

You think I could?

Get me Walter Burns, quick. Tell him I need him.

Bruce, I know I said I'd be down, but something terrific has happened.

Walter, come right away.

Wait, Bruce, I'll explain.

I've got Earl Williams here, in the press room.

On the level. Hurry, I need you!

Bruce, I've captured Earl Williams. You know, the murderer.

Stay there, Earl. Wait. Bruce, I'll be down.

As soon as I hand him to the paper.

Bruce, I can't. Don't you realize...

- Who is it? - Me, Mollie Malloy. Open the door!

- What do you want, Mollie? - I got to find...

- Where is everybody? - They've gone.

Please tell me where.

I don't know, and I'm awfully busy.

They got him surrounded. They'll shoot him down like a dog.

They're looking for you too.

I don't care. Tell me. I ain't afraid of them.

All right, they're down at Center Street and Fourth.

- Oh, that's where I used to... - Mollie, Mollie, don't go.

Come in, Mollie. Draw up a chair.

- Hello. - How did you get in here?

Down the pipe. I didn't mean to shoot him. Really, I didn't.

- Be quiet. - You believe me, don't you?

Sure, I believe you.

Thanks for the roses. They were beautiful.

That's all right, Mr. Williams.

- Don't cry. - Don't you get hysterical.

I want to get him out.

- You wouldn't get down that hall. - But they'll find him.

I know. I'm trying to think before those reporters come back.

Let them take me. What's the difference?

I'll never let them.

Who locked the door?

- Now it's too late. - It isn't. Get in this desk.

- Oh, what's the use? - Come on, get in.

We'll get you out in ten minutes.

Pull yourself together. All right, here. Sit down.

All right, all right, I'm coming!

- Don't kick the building down. - We got phone calls to make.

What's she doing up here?

What's the matter?

Came up here and had hysterics.

- How do you feel, kid? - Not so good.

Get you some water?

- Do anything for you? - You don't look so sick.

- Did you bump into Williams? - Funny!

- Where is he? - Let me alone.

- Okay. Give me the desk. - No harm in asking.

Hello, Jim. Yes, false alarm. They surrounded the house, all right...

...but Williams wasn't there.

The Halloween outside has the police standing on its ear.

- I thought you were gone. - I'm waiting for money from Walter.

What a chase! Give me Emil.

- Give me the desk. - Any news, boys?

Yeah, I never been so tired in my life.

What? Where? Melrose Station?

All right, connect me. Hello, Mollie. How are you?

Hold it a minute. This looks good.

An old lady claims Williams is hiding under her piazza.

Tell her to stand up.

- You want to go out on it? - I'll cover this end.

- I spent $1.40 on taxicabs already. - No more going out.

- Never mind, Sarge. - Who pulled the shades down?

They were throwing those lights around.

You know, I've got a hunch Williams...

...ain't anywhere they've been looking for him.

He might be here in this building.

Sure, sure, hanging around like a duck in a shooting gallery.

From the skylight, but how did he reach the ground?

- I'm pretending there ain't any Earl. - He could have jumped to this roof.

From the roof he could slide down the drainpipe.

And come in any of these windows.

If the story walks in the window...

Masterminds. Why don't you go home? Maybe Williams will call on you.

It'd be funny if he was in this building.

Why not search the building?

- I am not wandering all over. - A great bunch of reporters you are.

Too lazy to go after the biggest story in years.

You seem pretty anxious to get rid of us.

- Are you trying to scoop us? - Are you crazy? On my time?

Maybe Mollie's been giving her the truth on how Williams got the gun.

I didn't do nothing.

- Come clean. - Let the girl alone. She's...

Well?

Mrs. Baldwin. Mother.

Don't "mother" me. Playing cat and mouse and keeping my boy locked up.

Making us miss two trains, and you supposed to be married tomorrow.

- I'll be with you in five minutes... - Just give me Bruce's money.

You can stay here forever, you and that murderer you caught.

- Murderer? - Which one of these men is it?

- They all look like murderers. - What murderer did you catch?

I never said any such thing.

I'm quoting my son. He has never lied to me.

Somebody's lying.

- I never said anything like that. - Yes, you did.

I said I was trying to find the murderer.

- Quit stalling. - She's got it balled up.

Who are you holding out on?

Nobody. Now let me go, will you?

Stop it, stop it!

She don't know where he is. I'm the only one that knows.

- Where's Williams? - Try and find out.

- Come on, talk. - Now you want me to talk?

- Talk. - Ain't that funny?

You wouldn't listen to me before, and now you want me to talk.

Don't say anything.

- I know what I'm doing. - Stay out of this.

- Why didn't you listen to me? - Cut that out.

- Hands off! - Where is he?

Why do you want to know? So you can write more lies to sell papers?

- Never mind that. - All right. I'll give you a story.

A wonderful story!

Only this time it'll be true. You'll never find me now!

Get the ambulance, somebody!

Get an ambulance, somebody!

- She's dead. - No, she isn't killed, she's moving!

- Did you see that? She jumped. - I know that.

Where have you got Williams?

Hidden. He's in the desk.

She didn't kill herself.

- How're you doing? - Let me out.

Quiet. You're sitting pretty.

- What's in there? - Who are you?

- This is Bruce's mother. - What are you doing?

- Shut up! - You're doing something wrong.

- Mother, please. - Take her out of here.

- Take the lady to Polack Mike's. - My name's Louie Peluso.

See that she doesn't talk to anyone.

Tell them it's a case of D.T.'s.

Don't worry, Mother. It's only temporary.

Let go of me.

- Where are you going? - To get Bruce out of jail.

- Why did you do this to me? - Get Bruce out of jail?

How can you worry about a man who's resting in a police station?

- This is war! You can't desert me. - Get off that trapeze.

You've got your story.

"Earl Williams captured by the Morning Post".

I covered your story for you, now I'm getting out.

You drooling idiot, there are 365 days in a year one can get married.

How many times you got a murderer locked up in a desk?

You got the whole city by the seat of the pants.

You've got the brain of a pancake.

This isn't just a story. It's a revolution.

The greatest yarn since Livingston discovered Stanley.

- The other way around. - Don't get technical at such a time.

You've taken a city that's been graft-ridden for 40 years...

...and given us a chance to have the same kind of government...

...New York has under La Guardia.

If I didn't have your best interest at heart, I wouldn't argue with you.

You've done something big. You've stepped up into a new class.

We'll make such monkeys of those ward healers nobody'll vote for them.

- Expose them? - We'll crucify that mob.

We'll keep Williams under cover, until we can break the story...

...then share the glory with the governor.

- I get it, I get it. - You'll kick over City Hall.

You got the mayor and Hartwell backed up against the wall.

This isn't just a newspaper story. It's a career!

And you bellyache about catching the eight or nine o'clock train.

- But I never figured it that way. - Because you're a doll-faced hick.

They'll be naming streets after you. There'll be statues of you.

The movies will be after you. There'll be a Hildy Johnson cigar.

I can see the billboards now: "Light up with Hildy Johnson..."

- We got a lot to do. - Now you're talking.

- We can't leave Williams here. - We'll take him to my private office.

- How are you going to take him? - We'll carry the desk over.

It's crawling with cops outside.

We'll lower it out the window with pulleys.

Start pounding out a lead!

- How much of this stuff do you want? - All you the words you got.

- Can I call the mayor a bird of prey? - Call him anything you like.

Give him the works. Hello, Duffy? We got the biggest story in years.

"Earl Williams captured by the Morning Post. Exclusive!"

Tear out the whole front page.

The whole front page. Out! And never mind the European war.

We got something bigger than that. Hildy Johnson's writing the lead.

And get hold of Butch O'Connor.

Tell him to come up here with his wrestlers.

Yeah, Butch O'Connor.

What? I've got a desk I want moved...

What the deuce do you want?

- Hello, Bruce. - Hildy.

Never mind the Chinese earthquake.

- I just want to ask you... - How'd you get out of jail?

Not through any help of yours.

I'm not talking to you.

I had to wire Albany for $100 so I could get out on bail.

What will they think in Albany? The money went to the police station.

- We're waiting for that story. - We'll explain everything to them.

- Where's mother? - She left.

I can't hear you.

- Where'd she go? - Out someplace.

- Junk the Polish Corridor! - Tell me where my mother was going.

- She couldn't say. - This is more important.

- Did she get the money? - She left in a hurry.

- I'll take that money. - In my purse.

I can handle things. I'll take that certified check too.

I'll give you the tickets. You'll find your money in the wallet.

My wallet? This is my wallet.

Say, there's something funny going on... What are you doing?

Just wanted to look at it.

Hildy, I'm taking...

- I'm taking the 9 o'clock train. - Sure, sure.

Did you hear what I said? I said I am taking the 9 o'clock...

Oh, Bruce, I put it in here!

Let her alone, will you, buddy.

- Do me a favor... - Just answer one question.

You don't want to come with me, do you?

Answer me. You don't, do you?

No. Take the Miss America pictures off page six.

Hildy, tell me. Tell me the truth.

Wait a minute. Now look here, my good man...

You shut up, Burns.

You're doing all this to her.

She wanted to get away from you.

But you caught her and changed her mind...

Stick Hitler on the funny page. Now let me ask you...

Will you give up everything for a man like him?

No, but something's happened. I'll tell you...

Tell him nothing. He's a spy, you fool.

- I am not a spy. - Ridiculous.

You're coming with me right now.

Just a second. This is the biggest thing in my life.

I see. I'll keep. I'm like something in the icebox.

You just don't love me.

That isn't true. Just because you won't listen you say I don't love you.

You never intended to be decent and live like a human being.

All right, if that's what you want to think.

I'm trying to concentrate.

- You're just like him and all the rest. - Sure. That's what I am.

What? Leave the rooster story alone. That's human interest.

If you had any sympathy or understanding...

- I understand, all right... - Wait a minute.

There's one question I want to know. The mayor's first wife's name.

The one with the wart on her? Fanny. What, Duffy?

You never loved me at all.

Never mind. You don't work for advertising.

If you change your mind, I'm on the 9 o'clock train.

If you want me, take me as I am. Don't try to change me.

I'm no suburban bridge player. I'm a newspaperman.

That's it. Keep it coming as fast as you can.

Get back in there, you mock turtle.

You tell Butch it's a matter of life and death?

Good. Butch's on his way. We just have to hold out for 15 minutes.

- The boys will be back to phone. - I'll handle them.

God, now the moon's out.

Fine. Three taps is me. Don't forget. Got enough air?

- Not very much. - That better? You're sitting pretty.

- How's it coming? - All right. Where's Bruce?

- He went out. - Is he coming back here?

Certainly. Didn't you hear him? What have you got so far?

"While Hartwell's paid gunmen stalked the city, shooting bystanders...

...spreading terror, Williams was lurking..."

Wait a minute. Aren't you going to mention the Post?

- I did. Second paragraph. - Who reads the second paragraph?

How long have I been telling you how to write a story?

I'm sorry.

What's the idea of locking this door?

- Who's that? - Bensinger. That's his desk.

Open the door, will you?

- What's his name? - Bensinger, of the Tribune.

- The Tribune? - Who's in there?

Haven't you any better sense...?

Hello. Hello, Mr. Burns. Quite an honor having you come over here.

- Hello, Bensinger. - You know my... I just want to get my...

It's quite a coincidence seeing you tonight, isn't it?

How do you mean?

I was talking to our Mr. Duffy about you this afternoon.

Really? Nothing detrimental, I hope.

On the contrary. On the contrary.

That was one swell story you had in the paper this morning.

Did you care for the poem, Mr. Burns?

The poem? The poem was great.

I liked the ending especially.

"And all is well outside his cell...

...but in his heart he hears the hangman calling...

...the gallows falling...

...and his white-haired mother's tears".

- Heartbreaking? - That's fine.

Would you like to work for me?

We can use a man like you.

All we got are lowbrows like Johnson here.

- Are you serious, Mr. Burns? - Serious? Wait a minute.

Duffy, I'm sending Mr. Bunsinger over to see you.

- Bensinger. - Mervyn, isn't it?

- Yeah... No. Roy. Roy V. - Certainly.

Roy V. Bensinger, the poet.

You wouldn't know. You probably never heard of Shakespeare either.

Put Mr. Bensinger on staff. How much you getting on the Tribune?

- $75. - I'll give you $100 and a byline.

Now you give him everything he wants, you understand?

Roy, write me a story from the point of view of the escaped man.

He hides, afraid of every sound, every light.

He hears footsteps, they're closing in.

- Get the sense of the animal at bay. - Sort of Jack London style?

- I'll get my rhyming dictionary. - It doesn't have to rhyme.

I'm deeply grateful, Mr. Burns.

If there's an opening for a war correspondent...

...I parler a little French.

- I'll keep you in mind. - Au revoir, mon capitain.

Bonjour.

"His white-haired mother's tears". That's the tops.

Listen, that fellow Bensinger is on his way right now.

Handle him with kid gloves. Have him write poetry.

We don't want him. Stall him until the extra's out.

Say his poetry smells and kick him downstairs.

- Double-crosser. - That'll teach him.

He won't quit his paper without giving notice after this.

- I mean you. - Me?

You'd double-cross anybody... Wait a minute.

Bruce isn't coming back. He said he was taking the 9:00 train.

In that case, he's gone by now.

Don't sit there like a frozen robin. Get on with the story.

We ought to be finished when Butch gets here.

How you have messed up my life. What am I going to do?

Window's too small. We'll carry the desk out.

I'd be on that train right now. I'm a sap, falling for your line.

- They'll name streets after me... - Yes, well, get back to work.

I'm not going back to work. Walter, what...?

- Who is it? - It's me, boss. It's Louie.

Louie.

- What's the matter? - Where's Mrs. Baldwin?

What happened?

Down Western Avenue, we was going 65 miles an hour, know what I mean?

Where's the old lady?

We run smack into a police patrol. Busted it in half.

Was she hurt?

Can you imagine bumping into a load of cops?

- What did you do with her? - Search me, when I come to...

You were with her. You were in the cab.

- The driver got knocked cold. - Butterfingers!

- You handed her over to the cops. - What do you mean?

They was on the wrong side of the street.

Fine. Now she's probably squawking to the police.

She's not squawking much. Know what I mean?

Don't tell me... Was she killed?

Was she? Did you notice?

Me with a gun on the hip and a kidnapped lady on my hands...

...I'm going to ask questions from cops?

- You know what I mean? - Dead, dead. This is the end!

It's fate.

What will be will be.

What am I going to say to Bruce?

What can I tell him?

If he loves you, you won't have to tell him anything.

Would you rather have had the old dame drag the police in here?

I killed her. I'm responsible.

What am I going to do? How can I ever face Bruce again?

- Look at me, Hildy. - I am looking at you, you murderer.

If it was my own grandmother, I'd carry on.

- You know I would, for the paper. - Louie, where'd it happen?

Western and 34th.

- I got to get out of here... - We can do more here. Be calm.

Listen...

- Hello, hello. - Maine 4557.

Who? Butch, where are you?

Mission Hospital? Receiving room.

What are you doing there?

Was an old lady brought in from a smashup?

For H. Sebastian, Butch, it's a matter of life and death.

- Nobody? - I can't hear.

- Morningside 2469. - You got who? Speak up. A what?

You can't stop for a dame now!

I don't care if you've been after her. Our lives are at stake!

Are you going to let a woman come between us?

Was there an old lady brought in in an auto smashup?

Butch, I'd put my arm in fire for you up to here.

You can't double-cross me.

Look around, please.

All right, put her on. I'll talk to her.

Good evening, madam. Now, listen, you ten-cent glamour girl...

...you can't keep Butch from his duty. What's that?

You say that again, I'll kick you in the teeth!

Say, what kind of language is that?

Now, look here, you...

She hung up. What did I say?

Duffy, how do you like that? Mousing around with some big...

- Will you shut up? I'm trying to hear! - Duffy! That's cooperation.

Well, where is Duffy?

Diabetes. I ought to know better than to hire anybody with a disease.

Give me Olympia 2136, will you?

- Yes, boss. - Louie, it's up to you.

- Anything you say, boss. - Get a hold of some guys.

Anybody with hair on his chest, get them off the street.

We got to get that desk out.

Is it important? You're the best friend I got.

- I like you too. - Then don't fail me.

Get enough people to move that desk.

You know me. Shirt off my back.

Okay, don't bump into anything.

- Dumb immigrant is sure to flop on me. - Try the hospital again.

If he's not back in five, we'll carry it alone.

- Do anything you want. - There's a million ways.

- We can have firemen take it out. - I don't care what you do.

- Come here. See if we can lift it. - What? Nobody? Never mind.

- Are you going to help me? - No!

- I'll strain my back. - I'll find Mrs. Baldwin.

- Don't open that door! - I'll go to the morgue...

- We want to talk to you a minute. - Let go. What's the idea?

Get your hands off me!

- Now look here, Johnson... - Hey, you!

You mean me?

Yes, you. What do you mean by breaking in here like this?

Don't bluff me. I don't care what paper you're editor of.

Let go of me. Something's happened to my mother-in-law.

- We know what you are up to. - She and Mollie were in here talking.

I don't know anything. And there's been an accident.

There's something very peculiar going on here.

- Now see here... - Just a moment, Hartwell.

Make your accusations in the proper manner.

Otherwise, I'll have to ask you to get out.

Ask me to what?

Get out.

You will, eh? Don't let anybody in or out. We'll see about this.

- Give him the third degree. - Make them talk and you got Williams.

I'm going to get to the bottom of this. Are you going to talk?

- What do you want me to say? - What do you know about Williams?

There. Now we're getting some...

Take her away. I got ways to make her talk.

Don't you dare touch me or...

- She got a gun! - Grab it!

No, you don't. Walter!

All right, Burns. I'll take that gun.

- Where did you get this? - I can carry a gun.

- Not this gun. - I can explain it.

She was interviewing Williams, so I gave her a gun to defend herself.

Interesting. But this is the gun that Williams shot his way out with.

My good man, are you trying to make me out a liar?

I ought to know my own gun, oughtn't I...?

- So that's where Williams got it. - She got it from him.

Where's Williams?

- Where is he? - You're barking up the wrong tree.

Tell me where he is.

At the hospital calling on Professor Egelhoffer...

...with marshmallows.

- Where is he? - Ask the mastermind why he's here.

What do you know about this?

My dear fellow...

...the Morning Post doesn't obstruct justice or hide criminals.

- You ought to know that. - You're under arrest.

- You too. - Who's under arrest?

Listen, you square-toed, pimple-headed spy...

...do you realize what you're doing?

I'll show you.

You and the Post are obstructing justice.

I'll see that you're fined $10,000.

You'll see nothing.

I'll begin by impounding the Post's property.

Is this your desk?

What are you afraid of, Hildy? I dare you to move this desk.

- Go ahead, try it. - I will.

I warn you, you move this desk out of here, I'll put you behind bars.

- He can do it too. - I'll see Roosevelt hears about it.

Tell him. Come on, boys!

- Confiscate this desk. - This is your last chance.

This is a federal offense.

We'll take a chance.

All right.

Open up this door!

- Mother! I'm glad to see you... - That's the man that did it. There.

- What's the idea here? - She claims she's been kidnapped.

They dragged me down all the way down the stairs and...

Did he do it?

He was in charge. He told them to kidnap me.

Excuse me, madam. Are you referring to me?

You know you did.

What about this? Kidnapping, huh?

Trying to frame me, huh? I never saw her before in my life.

What a thing to say!

I was here when that girl jumped out the window.

Get the mayor over here.

Look, madam, be honest. If you were out joyriding...

...plastered, or got into a scrape, why don't you admit it instead of...

...accusing innocent people?

You ruffian! How dare you talk like that to me!

He's just crazy, Mother.

I'll tell more. I could tell you why they did it.

They were hiding some kind of murderer in here...

Hiding him? In here?

Madam, you're a cockeyed liar...

...and you know it!

- What's that? - He's in there!

- Give me the desk. - What a break!

- Stand back. - He might shoot.

- Guns out. - He's harmless.

Don't take any chances.

He can't hurt anybody, you've got his gun.

Go on, you gray-haired old weasel.

Let me out of here!

Mother! I was looking all over for you. What happened?

Jake, hang on.

Hildy, call Duffy.

- No! - You want to see us scooped?

- Aim right for the center. - That's murder.

Okay, one of you get on each end of the desk.

- It's coming up. - You're covered.

- In a minute. - Don't move.

- Any time now. - I'll count three.

It's hot.

Ready?

Any second now.

Three. I got you, Williams.

- Go ahead, shoot me. - Come out.

Earl Williams was just captured in the criminal courts building.

- On your feet. - Don't try any funny stuff.

Williams was unconscious.

The police overpowered him.

- He offered no resistance. - His gun wouldn't work.

The Post turned Williams over to the sheriff.

- Put the cuffs on them. - More later.

An anonymous note led to Williams' capture. Hold on.

The sheriff's tracing a call that gave away Williams' hiding place.

- Where's the old lady? - She went out.

Call you back.

- Give me the warden's office. - You'll wish you'd never been born.

Will I?

- Hello, Fred. - Well, fine work, Pete.

- You delivered the goods. - Looks natural, don't it?

- Sight for sore eyes. - Aiding a criminal.

And a little charge of kidnapping... What's that?

But that's the jail.

Looks like about ten years apiece for you two birds.

When you think you've licked the Post, it's time to get out.

Whistling in the dark won't help. You're through.

Archie Leach said that to me a week before he cut his throat.

Is that so?

We've been in worse jams than this, haven't we, Hildy?

You forget the power that watches over the Post.

- It's not with you now. - Says you.

I've caught him. Yes, Williams.

Single-handed. Proceed to the hanging, per schedule.

You'll be in office exactly two days more.

We'll pull your nose out of that feedbag.

I tell you what you'll be doing. Making brooms in the penitentiary.

Joe? This is Hartwell.

Come to my office right away.

I captured a couple of important birds. Take their confessions.

Get Liebowitz.

The lawyers won't help you now.

You're talking to the Morning Post.

The power of the press?

Bigger men than you have found out what the power of the press is.

Presidents, kings...

- Here's the reprieve. - Get out.

- You can't bribe me. My wife... - Get out.

- No, I won't. Here's the reprieve. - What?

I don't want to be a city sealer.

- Throw him out. - Out you go.

Wait. Who's trying to bribe you?

- They wouldn't take it. - Insane!

What did I say? An unseen power.

What do you mean with a story like that?

He's an imposter.

Trying to hang an innocent man to win an election, eh?

That's murder.

- I never saw him before. - Lf I was to...

- What's your name? - Pettibone.

- When did you deliver this first? - Who'd you talk to?

- They started to bribe me. - They?

- Those. Them. - It's absurd on the face of it.

He's talking like a child.

- Out of the mouths of babes. - Hi, babe.

He's insane or drunk.

If Williams has been reprieved, I'm tickled to death. Aren't you?

You'd hang your mother to be reelected.

That's a horrible thing to say about anybody.

You're marvelous. Take a look at that.

- You're an intelligent man. - Never mind.

Let's have your story.

- Nineteen years ago, I married Mrs... - Skip all that.

She wasn't Mrs. Pettibone then. She was one of the...

This document is authentic. Williams has been reprieved.

Our commonwealth has been saved the necessity of shedding blood.

Get off the soapbox. Save that for the Tribune.

Take those handcuffs off my friends.

- I'm amazed at you. - Isn't he awful?

You don't know how badly I feel.

No excuse at all for Pete.

- I was only doing my duty. - That's all right.

- What'd you say your name was? - Pettibone.

- Here's a picture of my wife. - Fine-looking woman.

- You haven't seen her yet. - She's all right.

She's good enough for me. If I was to tell...

I understand perfectly, and as long as I am mayor...

Which ought to be about Three more hours.

Enough to get out a special edition asking for your recall.

And your arrest. You boys ought to get about ten years apiece.

Don't make any hasty decisions. You might run into a libel suit.

You'll run into the governor.

We understand each other perfectly.

Yes, and so do I.

So do you what? And now, Mr. Pettibone...

...we'll deliver this reprieve to the warden's office. Come along.

- Lf I was to tell my wife... - You won't have to.

Wait till they read the Morning Post tomorrow.

Tight squeeze.

- Give me Duffy. - That's the worst jam.

What? Where? Get him.

Remember stealing Old Lady Haggerty's stomach off the coroner?

Anytime you need this guy he's never there.

We proved she'd been poisoned, didn't we?

We had to hide out for a week.

Do you remember that?

The Shoreland Hotel. That's how we happened to...

We could have gone to jail for that too.

Yes, maybe you're right, Hildy. It's a bad business.

You'll be better off.

You better get going.

- Where would I go? - To Bruce, of course.

- You know he's gone. He took a train. - Send a wire.

He'll be waiting at the station when you get into Albany.

- Why doesn't he have a phone? - I don't know. I got us messed up...

- Get going, Hildy. - What is that with you?

Wait a minute. Can't you understand?

I'm trying to do something noble. Get out before I change my mind.

It's tough enough now.

- Just a minute. - Send him a wire. He'll be waiting.

- Who'll write the story? - I will. It won't be as good...

It's my story. I like to think that it...

- At last. - I get it. The same old act, isn't it?

Try to push me out, thinking I'll want to stay.

I know I deserve that. Wait a minute, Duffy.

This time you're wrong.

When you walk out that door, part of me will go right with you.

But a whole new world will open up for you.

I made fun of Bruce and Albany. You know why?

- Why? - I was jealous.

I was sore because he could offer you the kind of life I can't give you.

That's what you want, honey.

I could do the story and take the train...

Forget it. Come on. Come on.

Goodbye, dear, and good luck.

Duffy, now this is how it goes so far...

Just a minute.

Hello. Who? Hildy Johnson?

- She just left. - I'm still here. I can take it.

Hang on a minute.

Hildy Johnson speaking.

The Fourth Precinct Police Station?

Put him on.

I thought you were on your way to Albany...

What for?

For having counterfeit money.

Counterfeit money?

Hold on a minute.

Where did you get it?

I gave it to you?

All right. I'll try and do something about it.

Honey.

Honey, don't cry, please.

I didn't mean to make you cry. What's wrong? You never cried before.

I thought you were really sending me away with Bruce.

I didn't know you had him locked up.

I thought you were on the level, for once.

That you were just standing by and letting me go off with him...

...and not doing a thing about it.

Come on, honey. What did you think I was, a chump?

I thought you didn't love me.

What were you thinking with?

I don't know.

What are you standing there gawking for?

We have to get him out of jail.

Send Louie down with some honest money...

...and send him back to Albany.

Sure.

Everything's changed. We're coming over to the office.

Don't worry about the story. Hildy will write it.

She never intended to quit. We're getting married.

Can we go on a honeymoon this time?

Sure.

Duffy, you can be managing editor.

Not permanently. Just for the two weeks we're away.

I don't know where. Where are we going?

Niagara Falls.

- Niagara Falls. - Two whole weeks?

Sure, you've earned it. What?

What? A strike? What strike?

Where?

Albany?

- I know it's on the way, but... - Okay, we'll honeymoon in Albany.

Okay, Duffy.

Isn't that a coincidence! I wonder if Bruce can put us up.

Say, why don't you carry that in your hand?