Original subtitles

Come in.

Dr. Sloane?

Yes.

I'm sorry to disturb you, sir, but it's urgent.

What's wrong?

There's a sick man in drawing-room B

and his wife's half out of her mind.

I wonder if you'd take a look at him, sir.

What does he complain of?

I don't know, sir, but he sure sounds bad

and I'd appreciate it if you'd--

All right, I'll be with you in a minute.

You are a medical doctor, aren't you, sir?

Yes, I'm afraid so.

There are times when I wish I were a veterinarian.

Well, doctor, what is it?

He'll be all right.

Can I go to him now?

Yes, maybe you'd better stay with him.

I'll be right back and give him something to relieve the pain.

Thank you.

Is this serious, doctor?

- Symptoms point to polio. - Polio!

Unless we work fast, we may be in for a lot of complications.

But, what can we do?

We must get him to a hospital as soon as possible.

What's the next stop?

Uh, Phoenix, sir. 4:00 AM.

Three and a half hours.

It's too far, too late.

No, I can't take that much of a chance.

- Well, sir, I don't-- - Wait a minute.

We go through Winston, don't we?

Yes, sir.

When?

In about an hour, but we don't stop there.

Well, we will tonight.

There's a hospital in Winston, small but well-equipped.

All right. Now here's what has to be done.

Notify the engineer and then wire ahead to the stationmaster at Winston

to have an ambulance meet the train. We've got to work fast.

Above all, stay calm, keep this to ourselves.

Is it contagious, sir?

Yes, this car will have to be quarantined until I get him off at Winston.

And then you must seal up the compartment.

No one need know anything about it.

- What cars are ahead of this one? - The baggage car.

Well, that simplifies things.

Porter, I want you to stay in the car behind this

and make absolutely sure that no one enters or leaves this one.

Is that clear?

- Yes, sir. - Get on it, right away.

We're getting close to Desert Junction.

I'd better get that wire ready for the dispatcher.

There's one more thing.

I'm going to need a hypodermic and some drugs from my suitcase.

It's been checked through.

You'll have to let me into the baggage car first.

- Of course. Follow me. - Thank you.

Hi, Abel, what's up?

This is Dr. Sloane, a passenger took sick suddenly.

He needs some medicines from his suitcase, okay?

Thank you.

This gentleman is a doctor, Eddy.

Yeah?

There's a guy sick in back. Get the doc's bag and make it snappy.

You got the bagger's check?

Oh, yes, yes.

Here it is.

- Has he got better? - He'll be all right.

Yeah? What's wrong with him?

I'm not sure.

Sometimes they eat too much when the train rolls at night.

Hurry up, will you, Eddy?

- Okay, okay. - Put it right up here, please.

Take it easy, there's glass in there.

- Is that okay? - Yes, thank you. That's fine.

Is that what you need, doc?

Put up your hands, please.

Up!

Unbuckle your gun belt.

Drop it!

Now move over the door.

Lay on the floor, face down, hurry up!

Put your hands behind your back.

- Leave that. Shut up! - Easy, Eddy, he's got a gun.

Be quiet.

Stay there.

Hell!

What are you trying to do? Smother me?

Sorry, I... I thought it'd help you sleep.

- I am too excited. - Yeah, me too.

- What time is it? - You don't have to whisper.

I always whisper in the dark. Is it time to get up?

No, it's too early. Go back to bed.

Oh, sleep on the train.

Do you realize Mr. Norman? By this time tomorrow we'll be in Mexico City.

Mexico City.

- I know how you feel. - Oh, it'll be wonderful.

Mexico City, Taxco, Puebla, Xoch... Xoch...

Xochimilco.

Okay, so you pronounced it better than I do.

It's easy: Xochimilco.

That's where the streets are paved with flowers.

And they use boats for taxis.

You know, that Mexican song you brought home yesterday.

I can't get it out of my mind.

Salud, Felicidad, Amor.

Means Health, Happiness and Love.

If you got those and money you're unentitled to gripe.

We have them, darling.

Yep, but not the right proportions.

We lack in money, and make up in the love Department.

Hello, Norman speaking.

What?

In 15 minutes? But...

Who was it?

- Hendricks. - Hendricks?

- He'll be over in 15 minutes. - Why? What's happened?

I don't know, but it's not a social call.

What? Didn't he tell you?

No, he didn't say.

Well, he must've told you something.

He didn't tell me anything. We'll know when he gets here.

Until they reach Phoenix at 4:00 A.M. I didn't even know anything was wrong.

They couldn't get in the baggage car. They had a busted way in.

Some more coffee, Mr. Hendricks?

Oh, thanks, don't mind if I do.

That's when they found them unconscious.

Safe blown wide open.

How much do they get, Sam?

Everything but the silver.

A half a million. 500,000 dollars in small notes.

Well, I guess that just about covers it. Let's get out to the airport.

No, wait a minute. You've ruined my vacation,

At least let me finish my coffee.

I'm sorry about this.

We did count on this vacation. Charlie's been tired lately and edgy.

I know, I know, I upset all your plans,

but this calls for top handling.

What about Jackson?

Not enough experience.

Navia? Jerry Klein? Rogers?

A phony accident claims a routine investigation, yes,

but for this...

I guess I'm in it.

Look, Charlie, this is our biggest policy out of the limb for half a million.

You retrieve it and...

maybe the company will buy your Mexican holiday.

Who's coming for the railroad?

Joe Armstrong.

He's gone on ahead of Phoenix. Is a friend of yours, isn't it?

He usually has Sunday dinner with us.

Every once a while we run after the same fires.

Good. And you'll work as a team.

Come on, come on, we're late.

I'll be right with you.

Baby, I'm sorry I blew up at you.

I know how much the vacation meant to you.

To me too.

Huh! It's only postponed. We'll get there.

Sure we would.

Take care.

Yeah, I'll check it.

Still at it, Joe? Can't you remember anything?

When you write down, you can see.

When you see, you remember.

- How are you, Charlie? - Okay.

I'm sleepy.

You'll wake up.

Yeah, if I save the company half a million bucks,

I'll get week in Mexico on the house.

You're lucky. All I get is polish for my badge.

- How's is Ruth? - She's okay.

- Hi, Charlie. - Hello, Pete.

- You made it? - Yeah.

How do you like to look at it?

It is how we found it.

Neat job.

Yeah, technique and precision.

Real pro.

Blew it open like a penny balloon.

- Liquid nitro? - No.

What did they use, shaped charge?

Yeah.

That's a new one.

Shaped charge, the stuff the Army's been fooling around with.

That's it.

How does it work?

Well, in simple terms it's an explosive molded into the shape of a cone,

so that the force of the explosion is directed.

- Like a blowtorch. - Oh, I get it.

In other words, they just blew out the hints in the lot, huh?

But, how did they set it off?

Well, either an electric battery or a detonator.

We found pieces of wire.

What's this?

A muffler probably. It's just a bed pad.

We'll know more when we get it down to the lab.

Uh-huh.

- Yeah, that's where they found them. - The end of the world.

We're ready over the witnesses. You wanna question them now?

Oh, sure. Where are they?

In the other car.

Okay, Charlie, let's go.

Well, I knew he was a doctor on account of the telegram.

Well, I... I guess he just looked like... anybody.

You know, kind of... average.

It was just like a sting. All of a sudden, here.

He had a baggage check. I... I found the suitcase right away.

Yes sir, I am positive she was a blonde.

A blonde.

That tells us a lot.

Anything?

Nothing.

No prints, nothing.

Brand-new bed pad, never been washed.

You buy those in any store. Wires, just wires.

Dime store stuff. Everything wiped clean.

Oh, they don't seem to overlook a thing.

It's gotta be something, there always is.

Sure. If you know where to look for it.

Winston, let's check on that ambulance.

The ambulance men were playing cards. You know, just killing time.

About 12:30 these two guys come in armed.

- Uh-huh, - They worked fast and quiet.

Up with your hands and turn to the wall.

Then, they conked them on the head.

Uh, Petey, send Bill out to get some cold lemonade, will you?

Right, Jack.

Like a well-rehearsed troupe of actors, they thought of everything.

No chance of a slip-up.

The wire came. They had the ambulance, they were ready.

Wasn't that a long shot?

Couldn't the stationmaster have phoned direct to the hospital for an ambulance?

How would it have made any difference, Joe.

I checked there is none other ambulance within 65 miles of here.

Yeah, someone masterminded this pretty carefully.

They cased this town inside and out.

Maybe we can get a lead that way.

I doubt it.

There are too many tourists in Winston this time of the year.

They all ask questions.

A couple more nosing around wouldn't cause much of a stir.

How about the missing ambulance?

Not so much as a nibble so far.

Every department in the State is looking for it.

There are roadblocks, posses, even got a helicopter from Phoenix.

They wouldn't get very far with an ambulance on the main highway.

That's right, they couldn't.

They would attract too much attention.

So I told them. I said they wouldn't go far in that ambulance.

They'd ditch it and ditch it close.

I'd bet it's not far from town. It'll show up.

It'd better. There isn't much else we can do until it does.

- Sure is. - What?

We can eat.

- See you, Jack. - So long.

What's the matter with you?

Nerves, I guess.

Take it easy, kid.

We haven't even started yet. Yearn?

In these whole four hours, we haven't picked an escape hatch yet.

There's something to occupy your mind. Listen to this.

Porter delivers wire to compartment B, 9:50 P.M.

Woman calls conductor, 12:30 A.M.

Wire dispatched to Winston, 12:55 A.M.

In Winston 12:30 A.M. ambulance men knocked down.

Sometime between 12:30 A.M. and 1:30 robbery occurs.

Train pulls into Winston, 1:40. Ambulance is waiting.

1:50 A.M., ambulance drives off.

Train pulls out.

Reads like a freight dispatchers time table.

Everything in place, no loose ends.

- No leads. - So far.

Sounds like the beginning of a perfect crime.

Must've been something to watch.

Save your admiration, Charlie. I've been a cop for a long time.

I've seen some good jobs and bad jobs, but I've never seen a perfect.

- There's always a first time, Joe. - �No!

No, there's no such thing as a perfect crime, just a lucky one.

But their luck will run out.

Ours is gonna run out tonight.

I think I'll go back to the hotel and call Ruth

to tell her I'm gonna be stuck here for a while.

Okay.

- Make that wheat toast. - Right. It'll be in a minute.

A wheat toast and two coffees, Jimmy.

- Coffee? - No.

Where have you been?

Checking the ambulance reports that came in.

And?

A Highway Patrol helicopter spotted it 20 miles out of town.

I told you. The first break.

Maybe their luck's beginning to run out.

Finish the coffee and let's get out there.

Brother!

A good night sleep can do.

Look, Joe, we're wasting time.

Well, maybe they slipped.

They've been too careful.

Let's forget about the ambulance and find out where they went.

I've been trying to find out.

It's not where they went that bothers me, it's how.

One thing's for sure: they didn't drive.

- How do you know? - The ground, it's too dry.

Dry as powder. No other tracks, just the ambulance.

Yeah, but how?

Maybe there's your answer, Joe.

We got the 'copter over in the field.

Anything?

Blood, and plenty of it.

See what I mean, Charlie?

Their luck is beginning to run out.

Why is it so much hotter here in Riverside than in L. A.?

What'd they make of the blood?

I don't know. Nobody was hurt in the robbery.

Maybe somebody was too greedy.

It could've been an accident.

Maybe, but it doesn't matter either way.

What do you mean by that?

It's not important who was hurt or how.

The important thing is it was not on the time table.

And that's what's going to track them, Charlie.

Everything was too well timed. No leeway.

And that they went out of schedule once.

Just once.

Huh, Joe.

Huh? Oh, it's you.

Oh, my neck!

What?

The CIA report.

The 'copter belongs to a guy named Al Wolfe.

He runs a charter service in Burbank.

- Hmm, pay dirt? - I doubt it.

- Why? - He reported it missing 4 weeks ago.

Oh, well, let's go have a talk with him anyway.

- We'll make it solid. - Yeah. Free ride around the airport.

Hey, Mack.

- Wolfe around? - Yeah, he's around.

- Will you get him for us? - Yeah, sure.

- Hey, Wolfe! - Yep!

Hi.

How many planes can I sell you, guys?

We're checking on the guy who chartered your 'copter about 4 weeks ago.

Oh, yeah. Well, it's like I told the CIA.

The guy looked perfectly all right.

He had a license of legit reason and... cash, lots of cash.

How was I supposed to know he's a phony?

You know, times ain't so good right now.

100 bucks a day jobs don't come along every day in the week.

The reason he gave you, what was it?

He said he was flying up to Nevada.

Something to do with the uranium.

He was gonna look over a claim, I think he said.

Did you believe him?

Oh, look buddy, I told you he had a lot of cash.

He paid me for six days. He could've said he was going to the moon.

Remember what he looked like?

Sure, sure, he was a nice-looking guy, very pleasant personality.

Is that all you can remember?

Well, he was a big guy and like I said, a very pleasant personality.

Who could've thought he was a phony?

Thank you very much, Mr. Wolfe. We'll be in touch with you.

But... but what about my 'copter?

Sorry, but we'll have to hang on to it for a while.

It's been impounded as evidence,

but we'll get it back to you as soon as possible.

Look, I need it now, I can rent it to a movie company.

They're making a flying picture.

Now tell them to make a Western.

Are you sure you don't want to lie down for a while, honey?

You look beat.

Ruth, I've already told you I've got work to do.

If I lie down and piles up, I'll get buried under it.

But it can wait for an hour, can't it?

Oh, darling, you shouldn't drive yourself like this.

It isn't worth it. You've just got to relax.

Gotta relax.

Let me rub your forehead, let me get your slippers, Ruthie?

What do you know about this? Why don't you just leave me alone?!

You mustn't fly off like that.

All right, someone fly off.

You won't make anything happen sooner by beating yourself.

You know what Joe says: "you just gotta have patience".

Yeah, I know what Joe says, and patience is fine for a guy like Joe,

It goes with his two-pants suit his washable necktie and his 49 car.

For me patience is poison!

Charlie...

Can I help?

What could you do?

You've never tested me, Charlie.

Let's not begin now.

Hello.

I'll be there in half an hour.

I'm sorry, baby. I've gotta go.

Charlie...

What were wrong? What happened?

- Who get hurt? - Hold it, please.

- Which one? - Lombard.

How?

His own gun shot getting in the plane.

What a fool, the getaway was timed.

Relax, Charlie, it was an accident.

An accident!

I'll take it back, we don't wanna any more accidents.

How was he carrying a gun

for all he had to do was play sick and lie on a stretcher?

- He had an idea-- - I had a time table.

For months I studied the East and the West bound trains.

I rode the coaches like a candy butcher.

I memorized the baggage car, I studied the crew movements,

the compartment layout, I rehearsed every move with you and Paul

over and over and over.

What could we do? He had to stay with Lombard.

We couldn't just let him die.

You wouldn't've wanted that, would you?

Would you, Charlie?

No, of course not.

- How bad is he? - Not good.

Let me have it straight. Will Lombard pull through?

Well, Paul keeps trying all day...

- Is Paul taking care of him now? - Yes, he's doing everything he can.

Paul is still a good doctor, Charlie.

As good as when I married him.

He hasn't had a drink in four days.

He'd better not.

- Where are they? - In Chatsworth.

- Wolfe took us to a place he has there. - Wolfe!

You're full of surprises, aren't you?

Wolfe's part of the job was over when he landed that helicopter.

I told Paul to pay everyone off and split up.

Oh, he had to go somewhere.

So Wolfe steps into the picture.

Wolfe doesn't know about you. He still thinks Paul planned it.

I still don't like it!

Now Al Wolfe knows we all run a risk.

What else could we do?

Why did you switch the schedule? You were supposed to be in Mexico City.

What are you doing here?

- You're the mastermind. - Shut up.

Here every minute ticked off for each of us.

If you've followed your own time table, you'd have been there.

I'm trying to get you to shut up.

Oh, why didn't you leave? Why didn't you carry out your end?

I couldn't, you little fool, I couldn't.

You mean you wouldn't.

You thought Paul and I double-crossed you, didn't you?

Didn't you?

I'm on the case. The men of the Company assigned me to recover the money.

You...

I could roll with that one.

I thought you were in Mexico City,

but when I called the hotel from Winston, you weren't there either.

I nearly went out of my mind.

I didn't know what had gone wrong.

All I knew is I had to get the bag to L.A.

and to lead them here by the hand.

We found the plane, the blood.

And then I went crazy. Whose blood? Which one?

It could have been yours.

Charlie, I'm frightened.

There's nothing to be frightened of.

- What I know I can handle. - Are you sure?

I'm positive.

- There's nothing to be frightened of. - Aren't you ever afraid?

Why should I be?

My job is to catch myself.

From here on I control everything. I know what they're looking for.

I can stop them from finding it.

Sometimes you scare me.

There's nothing to be frightened of, Linda.

Just takes more time, that's what going off schedule means:

more time... till they run themselves ragged and give up.

What about Paul? Maybe he won't run away.

It doesn't matter what he wants.

He'll do what I tell him.

He has the money.

Tell him I wanna see him tomorrow here with the money.

Here?

All right, Linda, there's nothing to be frightened of.

Charlie...

I love you, Linda.

- It's taken time. - I had to be careful.

I wasn't sure this was the place, and I heard the music.

Little Linda's favorite song: "Health, Happiness..."

The money?

It's all there.

The key.

Yeah.

Very nice. Yours?

No, it belongs to a friend of mine.

- What about Lombard? How is he? - Dead.

Your friend isn't an enemy of alcohol, is he?

Lombard didn't have a chance?

I did everything I could, Charlie.

Serum transfusions, wonder drugs and prayer.

I was a very good surgeon, you know, until...

What about that drink, huh?

What did you do with the body?

Wolfe's getting right on it.

Don't worry, Charlie, he knows what he's doing.

A very good amateur undertaker, Wolfe.

Very expensive too.

That was a funeral that wouldn't wait.

He wanted Lombard's share for doing the job.

- You give it to him? - Sure, why not?

What's $15,000? There's plenty of dough around.

What about the ambulance boys? You paid them off too?

Oh, yes, first night.

They're out of the country by now, just as we planned.

You did a great job, Paul. The only lead was the 'copter.

I planned on that.

Armstrong swallowed the story whole.

Armstrong?

Railroad's prize cop. We are a team.

Oh, yeah. Linda told me about that.

Has great possibilities for a man with iron nerve.

Poor Wolfe! If he knew who you really are...

He swallowed you for a cop.

Don't be too amused. I'll be head and tail on the same coin.

It means changing our plans.

Our plans?

I hardly see, Charlie, how your personal complications affect me.

I was in this for one thing: the money.

Now I've got it and I intend to enjoy it.

Just how do you think you're doing that?

Going to Mexico, just like you planned.

We won't go together, that's all.

How far do you think you'd get?

You're a fool, Paul.

- But, Charlie, I only meant-- - I know what you meant.

Don't even think of it.

We lost our chance for a quick getaway.

Lombard's bungling fixed that.

It's too late now. Do you understand?

I could make it, Charlie. I know I could.

Without anybody giving you orders?

It'd be a cop every two feet.

You couldn't slip a bag of popcorn past them.

They'd pick you up in five minutes.

What are we going to do?

Charlie, what you want us to do?

Hold up and wait. We've got all the time in the world.

- When can we go? - When I tell you and how I tell you.

Paul, you're great.

You're just great as long as you're following orders.

But the next time you get an original idea,

remember when we first ran into each other.

You were trying to beat the company with a claim

that any ten-year-old kid could have seen through.

Yes, I... I remember, Charlie. You pulled me out of that hole.

I suppose you can pull us out of this one.

What's next?

Get clear of Wolfe's place and Wolfe. Move into a motel.

Don't spend more than one night, keep moving south,

contact with me every day, let me know where you are and wait.

All right.

Well, I gotta start.

Don't you wanna count it?

I trust you, Paul.

Sure you do, we trust each other.

I'll have to tell Linda to be more careful with her lipsticks.

Or will you tell her?

And she said that she'd talked to you on the phone.

Women!

Oh, by the way, Charlie, you wouldn't have liked her blonde.

They are very unexciting.

Good night, Joe. You run out of notebooks?

What you can see, you can remember.

My old man taught me this trick.

What was he? A football coach?

No, just a cracker-barrel philosopher and sheriff of Haynesbury, Missouri.

When he was on a case, he wrote everything down on the blackboard.

Ever solved anything that way?

Never missed one.

He'd sit in front of it for hours, studying the cold facts.

When they've sunk in, he erased them.

I need to start thinking about people.

It's okay if you know who you're thinking about.

But this isn't a case of who stole farmer Brown's...

cow.

What's the doctor for?

Nothing's turned up on any steal on medical supplies.

No illegal drug sales.

Anyway, that guy knew what he was doing when he came to giving a hypo.

Just a possibility, that's all.

A lot of doctors in the country, Joe.

Yeah, I know.

You're planning on checking all of them?

If I have to.

What happens when you get to the end of that line?

What about all the retired medics?

And those that have been barred from practice?

Look, we'll be checking a lot of things within the next few weeks.

Most of it won't mean much, but every now and then something may jive.

When it does, we'll write it down.

Keep your eye on that blackboard, Charlie.

When we erase the facts, we've got our case.

I'll get it, Ruthie.

Norman speaking.

Charlie? Joe.

Can you meet me downtown? Laken High Station.

Yeah. What for?

I think we got the bum who drove the car from Riverside.

Okay.

Give me a cigarette, will you, Joe?

Thanks.

Let's try it again, Frankie.

Oh, give me a break, will you? I drove a car, that's all.

I didn't have anything to do with the robbery.

I didn't even know there was a robbery till I read in the papers.

Stop taking long shots, Frankie.

You have all run out.

- He's here. - Okay.

It's true, you've gotta believe me.

- Some guy came up to me-- - What guy?

I don't know his name, just a guy.

Said he see me hanging around L.A., looking for a hungry buck.

Wanted to know if I'd like to make some quick dough.

- And you said "sure". - What else could I say?

Hey, I was down to eating beans.

All he wanted me to do was send a wire

to some character on the train and then drive a car onto a field at Riverside.

It's all. A perfectly honest job. I thought it was legitimate.

What did he say he'll pay you?

- Huh? - A dollar an hour?

What did he pay?

Five thousand dollars.

It's quite a day's pay.

Go on.

I did it. I was in that field when he told me to be.

Could've knocked me over when the 'copter came in.

Did they tell you what they'd been up to?

No, honestly, honest, no.

See, nobody said anything all the way to San Berdoo.

Nobody said nothing, only this guy moaning and bleeding.

Nobody said anything. It gave me the creeps.

Come, on Frankie, that's a long drive.

I just told you, nobody said nothing. It was just this guy...

What was it, Frankie?

What did you just remember?

Well...

Was... was this dame, see?

What about a dame?

Well, this guy moaning must have gotten on her nerves,

'cause she said a couple of things to warn the guy to shut up.

- What'd she say? - I don't know.

See, it sounded kind of foreign, like...

"nom breeze" or "nom..." it was "nom" something.

"Nombre de Dios", how's that sound?

Yeah, that's it!

Anything else you can remember?

No, nothing that's all I was.

Yeah, I drove the car back to San Berdoo,

the guy paid me off and told me to scram.

Who paid you?

Sheesh! I don't know!

It was dark, I couldn't see anything.

I hanged around San Berdoo a couple of days,

then I got restless. Yeah, I'm always getting restless moving around.

Would you come in, please?

Hi.

Ever seen this man before, Frankie?

Recognize him?

Take your time.

No.

Is that all?

That's all, Mr. Wolfe. Thanks for coming down.

What do you want?

I'd just like a word with you. if you don't mind.

Why don't you, guys, leave me alone?

I don't like people busted in here, cops or not cops.

I'm not a cop. I'm an insurance investigator.

Well, I don't need anything, mister.

A cozy place you've got here.

Yeah, do you mind? I'm superstitious.

You know? If I'd thought you were gonna case my couch,

I would've had soft lights and sweet music.

No. I'd just like you answer a couple of questions.

How long, mister?

Why don't you go back to your insurance boss and tell him that you drew a blank?

I already told you and that other guy there, the cop, everything I know.

I'm fresh out of answers.

Maybe you are, maybe you aren't.

What does that mean?

Frankie Page. He seemed to know you.

But it turned out he didn't after all. You were there.

Yeah.

A couple of nights in jail, though, may refresh his memory.

All right. You got something on your mind.

- What is it? - Did you kill Harry Lombard?

No!

When's the last time you saw him?

- Three years ago. - You're lying, Wolfe.

- You haven't seen Frankie Page before? - No.

Wolfe, you're too sharp a poker player to run a bluff in a game like this.

What's that supposed to mean?

Frankie Page, you may remember. He may talk.

It could mean 20 years.

Count on, Wolfe, 20.

Lay off me, will you?

You killed Harry Lombard and buried his body in Chatsworth?

Leave me alone!

You own a ranch in Chatsworth, don't you?

Is it a crime to own real state?

No!

Just as long as you don't use it as a private cemetery.

I told you, I don't know nothing!

Not even Paul Bruckner?

No... No!

I'm clean, Wolfe, you've been tailed since the first day of this case.

Every move, every phone call, everybody you saw.

Why did you kill Harry Lombard?

I didn't kill him, it was an accident.

His gun went off and then Bruckner--

Oh, you do know Bruckner.

You, you and Bruckner, you planned this whole thing, didn't you?

No. No, it was Bruckner.

He just came to me and asked if I wanna make some dough.

How did he know you were simon-pure?

Somebody told him I used to fly wetbacks up from Mexico.

Who told him?

I don't know, maybe his dame. I don't know, it was a long time ago.

I... I just thought I was gonna pick up some wetbacks near Winston.

I... I don't know nothing about no robbery.

The D.A. wouldn't buy that, even if you were blind-draw fooled.

Twenty years.

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

Okay, I was in and... and I knew what I was doing, but I didn't plan it.

It was Bruckner. Bruckner was the brains. He set it up.

That's who you were protecting.

Sure. Sure.

But no more.

Will you lead us to him?

What's in it for me?

Wolfe, there's a time to wheel and a time to deal.

This isn't your time.

Okay.

They ran out on me, him and his wife.

They got all the dough. I didn't get nothing.

A couple of grand. Nothing!

Do you know where they are now?

Yeah, I know where they are.

I was staying at my place in Chatsworth and they left.

Suddenly, so I followed them.

They're in a motel in Culver City. I'll write down the address for you.

You're remembering better all the time.

Something else you don't know.

- That dame ain't no blonde. - Go on.

And Bruckner, Bruckner took a bum rap as a medic.

This gets better all the time.

And you will talk to the D.A.

Why not?

They ran out on me, didn't they?

Sure I'll talk. I'll tell him everything.

That's what I had to find out.

The papers are giving us a bad time.

Have you read this one?

Yeah, yeah, I read it over a cold cup of coffee.

That isn't all this cold.

We've got a dead end case.

It's too bad.

Wolfe would have broken sooner or later.

He broke, all right, right down the middle.

Yeah.

No, thanks. I never thought he was the type.

In fact, I still don't.

Maybe.

What do you mean maybe?

You saw him as cocky, a tough little guy.

I've never figured him to do the dutch.

He wasn't as tough as we figured.

Yeah.

Wolfe had $65,000 buried in that hangar.

He had thought he'd have had one big fling,

not shooting himself in a crummy room.

Oh, you never can tell what a conscience will do to a man.

It can even destroy him.

Oh, yeah. And the case.

I think I'll call Hendricks and have him take me off the case.

See? Get a couple of weeks in Mexico before the summer's over.

You might as well, before you're too old to cross the border.

As of now we're nowhere.

So Ruth and I need new places, new places.

Well, Joe, don't say it hasn't been fun.

Yeah, just a... just one big party.

Bring me back some jumping beans.

I'll do that. So long.

Hello, Armstrong.

Just a minute, Charlie.

Yeah. Yeah.

Okay.

That was the D.A.'s office.

What do they have to say?

From now on, we'll play my old man's way.

From here in, we're dealing with people.

What do you mean by that?

We've got Mr. Big.

Old doc Sloane.

He appeared during a routine customs inspection at Tijuana this morning.

Tried to drive through the barrier.

They shot him.

- And? - He's dead.

- Was there anyone with him? - Yeah, the woman.

But she got away.

They found $200,000 on him.

She must have the rest.

Well, so it looks like we're going to Mexico after all.

You have another way I planned.

Look, why don't you call Hendricks before we leave?

Once we get the woman, you'd recover the buck of the money.

- Your job is over. - So?

So you and Ruth could take off in Tijuana.

Not a bad idea.

See if I can meet you down there on Saturday,

even if we don't pick up the woman right away.

It'll give you another chance to brush up in your Spanish.

Ha! And that's not counting the money.

What money?

Well, the money you'd save on plane tickets. No tax in Mexico.

You'd saved 60 bucks.

Oh, sure. I forgot about that.

Every little bit helps, Charlie.

Good idea. I think I'll call Hendricks. He'd probably go for it.

All right, you do that.

Then go home and pack a clean shirt.

I'll pick you up in... a couple of hours, huh?

You should have let me pack.

I could have kept all the creases on the right places.

Oh, you have enough to do.

Anything special you want me to bring down?

Like your fishing gear.

I won't be doing any fishing, Ruthie.

Well, you can if you want to.

I have plenty to do.

Oh, by the way, there's a dispatch case in the back of the car

with some stuff of the office.

Just throw it in with the rest of the bags, will you?

From the office?

Yeah, some annual reports.

I promised Hendricks I'd finish them up in Mexico.

It's gonna take me a day or so.

Well, he's got his nerve.

The important thing is he's letting us go.

Sorry, you're getting stuck with the packing.

No, I don't mind.

It'll be fun now that we're really going.

Yeah.

You just throw everything in the car.

I'll meet you at the border on Saturday.

Oh, it's Joe.

- Good-bye, Ruthie. - Charlie...

Aren't you going to kiss me?

Sure.

Good-bye, Ruthie.

Here, here and here.

The road South to Rosarito Beach, the road to Tecate.

They're all covered.

- We have hopes. - You won't have any trouble.

He's got $200,000 on her and she's a blonde.

The money may help. She could show it to the wrong person.

But I'm not sure about the blonde.

She was shot before dawn. It was still dark.

But when the woman ran away, one of the inspectors got a look at her.

He couldn't tell much, but he was sure she was not a blonde.

All of our witnesses said blonde.

They saw her in a lighted corridor, not on a dark street.

Well, she could've used dye.

Still it doesn't mean her hair was brown.

He didn't see she had brown hair, se�or Norman.

He really said she wasn't blonde.

Well, what difference does it make?

We still don't know what she looks like.

All we know is that she's a woman.

Blonde, brown, red or green hair, just a woman.

True. But she's a woman on the run.

There's no place she could go without attracting some attention.

TIJUANA POLICE DEPARTMENT

Let me go! I didn't do anything!

No, I don't know her.

I'm for a shower. I think I stink, how 'bout you?

I don't. I'd stop by the airport and check on those tickets.

Okay, I'll see you later.

Might even buy you a beer if the swindle sheet can stand it.

It's a deal, Joe. Can I drop you by the hotel?

Nah, no, don't bother. The town's full of cabs.

Hey, don't slice up lieutenant Castro's car.

Health,

happiness and love.

Life depends on this.

Laughing, singing, it's a pleasure to love someone.

You can find yourself living like this.

Health...

- Yes, se�or. - Where's Bobik?

He's out.

I'll wait.

Suit yourself.

- A drink? - No, thanks.

I'll have a drink, se�or.

Is it all right?

- Is it all right to drink a little? - Sure, give her a drink.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

She's a big girl, give her a drink.

You heard what he said, mozo. Give me a scotch.

You're nice, "gringolito". I want to drink with you.

I don't drink.

That's because you're good.

Not particularly.

You are good.

A good little anglo with pretty brown eyes, lots of American dollars.

Where's Bobik?

Didn't you hear the mozo? He's not in.

Dance with me?

Where is she?

Dance with me.

If you dance with me, I'll tell you.

Oh, I... I think I'll sit this one out.

With Bobik, in his office.

With Bobik, in his office.

Who are you?

What do you want?

I'm looking for a woman, Bobik.

So few women in Tijuana you must look for one in my office?

Get out.

This is a particular kind of a woman, Bobik.

Yeah, what kind of woman is that?

The kind that Al Wolfe would've brought you.

The kind that needed help. Like Lombard needed help.

Only he doesn't need it anymore.

Lombard. N�mero 114 de la calle Rosarito Del Flores, Tijuana.

How about that woman, Bobik?

Her?

I've known about you and Al Wolfe for a long time.

Playing your high-class wetback game.

A lot of people couldn't use a passport to go away out of the country.

I can be cruel, Bobik.

But it paid.

It bought Wolfe an airport in your club.

You're crazy.

I haven't got much time. Where's the woman?

Are you police?

I wouldn't be playing around if I were.

Where is she, Bobik?

I'll take you to her.

First I'll... make a phone call.

You're not very bright, Bobik.

Very well.

She's here, safe.

Her husband arranged for two Argentine passports.

After the border fiasco, I took her in.

You still have the passports?

Yes. They're beautiful.

And the way out of Mexico?

Also beautiful, but it will cost money.

- How much? - $20,000, but it is foolproof.

I'd send my own mother that way.

You probably had. I'll be using those passports.

You? For yourself?

I want them tomorrow night.

And the money?

Half tomorrow night, half when you get us into Buenos Aires.

Don't argue, Bobik. I'm not in the mood.

Now take me to her.

Hello, Linda.

Charlie!

Dear.

I thought I'd left you.

You think I wanted to go with Paul?

Charlie, he threatened to tell the police.

The money gave him a feeling of power, dreams of a new life.

With me.

- He didn't make it. - But we will, Linda

Everything will be all right.

I shaped the money be handed to me tomorrow.

In 24 hours we'll be halfway to Argentina.

We'll be together, Linda.

The two of us. Oh, Charlie, the two of--

- Charlie. - Yeah.

I was just going to look for you.

Oh, what's up?

We just got a call from Cabot.

Latent prints. We've got an I.D. on Sloane.

Old Doc Sloane, his real name was Paul Bruckner.

He lived in San Francisco. Married to a Mexican girl named Linda.

He was legitimate too.

But he was kicked out for malpractice.

You're creeping up on him.

Once you've got a man's right name, he quits being a shadow.

What's the next step?

We'll dig into Bruckner's life in San Francisco.

What tonsils he took out, what babies he delivered...

How he lost his license.

Want some coffee, Joe?

Me? No, thanks. I'm stimulated enough.

Besides, I had to drink your beer too last night.

Last night?

I... I went right to my room.

Time's up. I'd better get going. I'm gonna meet Ruth at the border.

When does she do?

- Five o'clock. - I'll go with you.

That's all right, Joe. I'll manage, thanks.

Sure you can,

but I don't wanna miss seeing Ruth's face when she finally gets to Mexico.

Hey, hey, here, wait a minute, let me help you.

Looks like you're going away for ten years.

Yes, it looks like it, doesn't it?

Shall we unpack now?

No, I want it to be left till dinner.

Whenever you say, Charlie. I'm... tired.

Very tired.

Come, why don't you take a nap for an hour or so?

What will you be doing?

Oh, I... I'd like to go over these annual reports.

Why?

I thought you reserved that job for Mexico City.

I changed my mind.

I think I'll do it now.

I was going to surprise you, taking along your fishing gear.

I put it in there.

So I had a key made and I opened the case.

It should be a surprise, a joke, something to laugh about.

What did you do with the money?

I mailed it to Mr. Hendricks, no return address.

You crazy fool! You know what you've done, do you?!

Charlie... Why did you do it? Why?

Why?

What does it matter? I'd killed a man to protect that money.

And you'll have to kill me, won't you, Charlie?

What do you want from me?

A few hours, just a few hours.

I was willing to give you my whole life. What's a few hours?

Charlie, don't ever leave me. Let me catch you, let me talk to you.

- Nothing to say. - But there's so much to say!

Please, at least tell me what we were going to do.

We weren't going to do anything.

I was gonna leave you.

But I loved you, Charlie. Wasn't that enough?

Once it was.

Where did I fail you?

You didn't fail. People change.

Charlie...

We had so much, Charlie.

Why? Why?

The house becomes a prison, the job a trap.

What did you want?

A new kind of life, the kind of $200,000 could've bought me.

Alone?

Alone.

But you can't have that now.

No, you fixed it.

Charlie, if you went with me,

if you said "I did it, I'm sorry, you're getting the money back".

Charlie I'd... I'd wait, I have the strength,

I have the patience, I'd wait no matter how long.

There isn't time enough in all eternity, Ruth.

I killed a man, you couldn't wait for me.

Good-bye, Ruthie.

If that's the way you want it, alone.

Then, good-bye.

Good-bye, Charlie.

Hey, Charlie, wait a minute.

We've got some more on Bruckner.

What?

Lieutenant Castro checked it for me. A hunch, but it paid off.

Bruckner was married here in Tijuana

seven years ago to a singer of a club named... uh, Linda �lvarez.

Where was that club?

In Aguacaliente, but it went out of business.

Did she sing in any place else?

Perhaps, it won't take long to find out.

There are few secrets in Tijuana.

I've gotta go, I'm gonna get some things for Ruth.

No. No. You have a drink with me.

Or did you have too much a drink last night?

One of my men saw the car parked right next to Bobik's last night.

Police cars attract an awful lot of attention in that district.

I stopped for a drink on my way back from the airport.

It wasn't a drink you stopped for.

You probably heard about the dancer they have there.

She's pretty nice, huh?

Yeah, yeah, it's right.

I have... I gotta run.

I'll see you later.

A very impatient man.

Bobik's is only a place for tourists.

Or is your friend trying to combine business with pleasure?

Maybe.

- Who is it? - It's Joe, Ruth. Can I come in?

Oh, wait a minute.

Come in.

Anything wrong?

Oh, no, of course not. Why?

Oh, I don't know. You and Charlie, you... both seem a little bit edgy.

Sure everything's all right?

I just told you, everything is fine.

Why shouldn't it be?

Ruth, I've known you a long time.

You don't lie very well.

- What do you mean? - Is Charlie in any trouble?

Why don't you stop being a cop? You make a case out of everything.

Ruth, you're making one out of this.

Oh, there's no trouble, only a few words between husband and wife.

Sometimes Charlie flies off. Just a little argument, that's all.

How can anybody argue with you?

Or maybe I'm just prejudiced.

Who knows better than you? Charlie's been under a lot of stress.

Sure, every case is an ulcer.

But in this one, the way how Charlie's been riding himself.

Maybe.

It interfered with his holiday. He promised it to himself and to me.

We'd long for fiesta the way your kid looks forward to a birthday party.

Why, he's just overworked, he's been edgy for months.

Ever since Hendricks sent him up to San Francisco.

Oh, I hadn't read them. I expected to on the plane.

It's a long trip to Mexico City.

Yeah.

A long trip.

All of six hours.

Enough reading for a year.

Operator,

I want to speak to Mr. Sam Hendricks.

Victoria 94901, Burbank, California.

That's right.

Oh, right away? Good.

Hello, Hendricks? Armstrong.

Yeah, from Tijuana.

Oh, fine, fine.

Look, Hendricks, Charlie was on a case several months ago up in San Francisco.

Can you give me any dope on it?

I'll... uh... I'll explain later.

Yes, I'll wait.

You know, people on the plane are choosy.

They like to read things that are bright,

Take their mind of the possibility of crash.

Uh... repeat that.

A phony accident claim. Eight months ago, huh?

Yeah.

A doctor? Who?

Dr. Paul Bruckner, huh?

Thank you.

Take their mind of... crash.

I'm sorry, Ruth.

It was all planned.

I changed my mind.

I don't wanna go to Buenos Aires direct.

I want to go to Acapulco by boat.

I'll pay you more for the passports.

How much more?

Five thousand?

Good.

$25,000, payable now.

You'll get everything: passports, birth certificates, everything.

What about passage South?

See Alfredo Rodriguez, Casa del Norte, Rosarito Beach.

You tell him Bobik sent him a fisherman.

He will understand.

What will he charge?

What does it matter?

A few hundred dollars, maybe 5 or 6 hundred, who knows?

It's cheap.

Now, you have the money?

If you've got the passports.

I'll tell you, you tell me.

Children!

Money.

Leave the money, Bobik.

- Honey! - Linda, it's time, come on.

This way.

Charlie!

Let's try. We can make it.

Take that car and block off the other side of the street.

Go around the block and don't let them pass.

And call the Police Station. Tell them to bring more cars.

Control all the ways out. Stop firing, there are too many people here.

Come with me.

Watch this door. You that one, you go the back exit.

Let's get them! You sit down, sit down there.

Charlie...

Charlie...

Joe...

This was not in the time table either, huh?

Transcription and subtitle made by gamboler[noirestyle]