Original subtitles

He wanted to be a priest.

They just took him inside.

You were right, Joe.

Pusher in that area is the carhop Smiley.

We picked him up.

Did he talk?

He told us who was selling to him. Dodie Green.

Dodie Green?

I haven't heard of her in years.

Well, has she been arrested?

Well, we'll go through the motions, Peggy.

That's about all we can do. Her attorney will get to Smiley.

Smiley will change his story,

and they'll be back in business again the next day.

I know kids take dope,

but Chico?

Chico taught Toby how to roller-skate.

Toby's my son.

Selling dope to schoolkids.

Isn't there something somebody can do about it?

Peggy, if you're serious,

maybe there's something you can do about it.

What?

Get Dodie Green to talk.

Who's her boss? What's his source of supply?

Get me a lead, something to go on.

How do I do that?

Go underground.

Why don't you get a policewoman?

Because Dodie knows most of 'em on sight.

The rest of 'em she can smell a mile offshore.

Come on, Charley, quit conning her.

Tell her the truth.

Now to get friendly with Dodie Green,

she'd have to get down to her level, right?

That'd be the best way.

Okay, now tell her

what Dodie's police record is for.

Tell me, Charley.

Girls, prostitution.

Now why don't you get in your car and go home to bed.

Peggy,

how old did you tell me your son was?

She didn't.

Come on, I'll walk you to your car.

I'll do it, Charley.

Peggy, you--

Joe, no matter what you say,

somebody's got to do it.

Hi, what are you having?

Bourbon and water.

What are you doing on my turf?

Buzz off.

I said buzz off.

Like, how much, honey?

$350.

I wasn't talking about buying a foreign car.

Hi.

What's your name, honey?

Honey.

Mine's John.

What's on your mind, John?

Whatever.

Whatever's gonna cost you.

How much?

Five-O and cab fare.

You're busted, Honey.

And the cab fare's on the city.

Pig.

Come on.

Save it.

Want a light, baby?

You got a lot of class.

You got a big mouth.

You black slob.

Let go of me, cop.

You blew your cover, didn't you?

The armlock--

Page two of the policewoman's manual.

Now get off me, pig!

Enough of that in there.

Okay, Georgia, come on.

Hmm.

Didn't put her in here to get any info outta me.

You must be big-time.

What are you in for?

Spitting on the sidewalk.

I was discussing finances with a gentleman.

What you need is a gentleman to offer you protection.

And support the gentleman?

Unh-unh.

Then you're in the wrong profession.

You oughta go to college.

I went that route.

Okay, Dodie, you're sprung.

I like your style.

By

That's her.

Tracy Dee?

If you're a cop, get lost.

One bust today is enough.

I quite agree.

I'm Henry Watson, attorney-at-law.

May I come in? Sure.

Come on in.

Henry Watson? Okay, now what's on your mind?

We had a run-in a couple years ago.

If Watson's in it, you can bet it's hot.

I understand you're new here.

So?

It might be to your advantage to prove that.

What kind of an advantage?

A job, perhaps.

Would a driver's license do?

Photograph doesn't do you justice.

Thank you, Miss Dee.

Now, look, Charley,

up till now we've had a controlled situation.

Peggy's been protected every minute.

But to take a job with that school of sharks—that's out.

Don't blow it now, Joe. We just got our foot in the door.

For a fat man, your lawyer sure moves fast.

I was waiting in my car.

Hmm?

Hmm.

Ech.

Your college education sure hasn't done you much good.

I took all the wrong courses.

How'd you like to get out of this lobster trap?

No domestic work.

Nothing like that.

You'll stay with me while you learn the ropes.

Why me?

I told you, I like your style.

Besides, you're right for the job.

If you behave,

you'll get rich quick.

Honey, there's only two ways to get rich quick.

One is to peddle dope.

And the other is to come up with a new way

to fry some chicken.

It's not chicken.

By

by

Mornin', Ms. Green.

Pearl, you're late.

I missed my bus.

Tracy!

Girl I met at jail--

She's gonna stay with me for a while.

Oh, yeah? When's your trial?

There isn't going to be one.

I spoke to Henry Watson.

He just talked to Smiley.

It turns out I wasn't the girl that sold him the stuff.

It was some young Mexican chick.

Smiley can't even remember her name.

I knew it wasn't you all the time.

Hey, Tracy, meet Pearl.

Pearl, this is Tracy Dee.

Hello, Pearl. Mornin'.

Pearly and I go way back.

She was my maid when I had my house.

Underpaid, too.

She made up for it in tips.

Here you are, honey,

mended and ready to use.

Pearl is like a November wind.

She brings the show with her.

Should've brought my apron, too.

Would you look at this place? It's a mess.

Tracy, get your purse.

I'll show you the ropes.

Okay.

Exactly which ropes you gonna show her?

Pearl, forget about cleaning up the mess.

Honey, about that rope,

just don't hang yourself with it.

By

Hi. Hi, can I help you?

Uh, do you have a single of Melancholy Baby?

Nobody's asked for that in 15 years.

I haven't heard it in ten.

Yeah, I'll be right back.

There you go.

Mm-hmm.

Take care.

Thank you.

We're at 403 Cypress street.

We just picked up two packages

at Graff's Art Supply in Westwood.

Dodie's delivering both packages.

Name on the mailbox...

Tavel.

T-a-v-e-l.

Volkswagen parked in the driveway,

license number WBT802.

Dodie's coming.

By

Pure.

Good old Klaus.

That's the kind of brother to have.

Listen, girl, like, I'm in kind of a spot.

The boss wants the doctor to write off

for three packages next time.

But that's impossible.

Why?

Dr. Goerlich is worried about his brother.

There are police in Amsterdam, too, you know.

It's dangerous enough for Klaus as it is.

Well, your husband's an addict.

Now if the boss cuts off his supply, well...

But I'm sure he'll write the letter, huh?

You were late. Problem?

I had to wait for Dodie and the new girl

to, uh, deliver the paint.

What's she like, the new girl?

Black jailhouse Susie.

She's black. She's a girl.

But I ain't so sure she was ever a Susie.

A plant?

She's not a plant.

I tell ya, I checked her out.

You checked out Smiley, too, didn't you?

And he talked.

Look, if there are two things I can spot

before they come around the corner,

it's a cop and a hooker.

That girl is a hooker.

Where is she now?

Inglewood.

Well, how do you know she won't, uh, go there,

then drop by the police station for a little chat?

You really think I'm stupid, don't you?

I checked the mileage on her car this morning.

If she goes one inch out of her way, I'll know.

Let me do that,

so we're sure she doesn't know.

How's Toby?

Oh, he's fine, hopes you're liking New York,

says he misses you.

Tell him I'll be home soon.

Yeah, well, uh, here's another bug.

Plant it someplace in your living room, huh?

Okay.

That delivery you made to the record shop--

Where'd the stuff come from?

Pearl brought it-- Dodie's maid of the old days--

But I don't know where she got it.

Where are you going from here?

Inglewood. I have to deposit some cash for Dodie

in a savings and loan, then I pick her up,

and we go to Glendale and make a drop.

Take care.

Uh, Peggy...

I know, Joe, "be careful.”

By

I was waiting for you at the pool.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I thought I was supposed to meet you up here.

Oh.

Your bankbook.

I took a peek at your balance, and...

Hello?

I think you bought the farm.

She went 30 extra miles.

Okay, I'll see what I can do.

So how'd they treat you in Inglewood?

The manager wants to take me to the bullfights.

Where else did you go?

Nowhere. Why?

Doesn't take you that long to get invited to Tijuana.

Oh, yes, |, uh--

I went out to Westlake Cemetery.

A kid I knew died, and I took him some flowers.

Oh.

Does the kid have a name?

Chico Ortiz.

What kind of flowers?

Daisies.

I'm gonna go get changed.

We'll go to Glendale.

You didn't trust me.

You don't mind, do you?

I got a curious feeling

about the Ortiz kid

and a bouquet of daisies.

If there aren't any daisies there,

I'm gonna be pushing some up. Is that it?

That's right.

Now which way?

Around to the right.

I had to be sure. I'm sorry.

Well, I'm sorry, too. This busts us up.

I'm going back to Detroit. I don't need this job.

Wait a minute. For what?

You don't trust me, and you never will.

Why should I risk my neck for a shot in the dark?

Who needs it? Why, I don't even know who the boss is.

Neither do I. All I have is a telephone number.

Will you calm down?

I'll go call him, leave a message,

tell him you're clean.

Hey, don't be angry.

By

Was the boy a relative?

No, he's a friend.

My wife, uh...

they couldn't put up a headstone until I got to Los Angeles.

Helen and I were separated.

But now that I'm here,

I can't think of an appropriate inscription.

In loving memory.

You must have had some loving memories.

Yes, I do.

That's exactly what I'll put. Thank you.

Oh, excuse me, I'm Frank Renell.

Tracy Dee.

Hello.

Yeah? My name is Davis.

Mr. Graff at the art store gave me your name.

Oh?

I'm, uh, what you might call a Sunday painter.

I was buying some supplies at Graff's

and I saw one of your pictures they were framing.

Oh, did you?

I wanted to buy it, but they said it wasn't for sale.

I was wondering if you might have some others?

Well, sure. Come on in.

Thank you. Anything you see.

How much is this one?

Well, um, I'm asking $200.

Yeah, that's a great old house.

Yeah.

Looks like Santa Barbara.

No, it's right here in Los Angeles. As a matter--

How about this one?

Uh, I found her on the beach.

She's a little bit higher.

I'm asking $250.

Pretty. You know what?

Actually, what caught my eye was the quality of your colors.

I asked Graff about 'em.

He said that you use Dutch paint.

Yes, I do.

Yeah.

Somehow, this one stays with me.

What's holding up that lab report?

Relax, they'll call.

You know, that house is familiar to me.

I've seen it before someplace. I just can't remember where.

Maybe a stakeout you were on once, Charley.

Hmm, maybe.

It would have to be a long way back.

Hager.

Yeah.

Okay.

All right, thanks, Chuck.

It's the analysis of the paint Tavel used to do that--

Didn't he tell you it was Dutch paint?

That's right.

Made in Dayton, Ohio.

Dayton, Ohio?

Why would Tavel order Dutch paint through Graff

if he's using American paint?

You think Graff is in on this?

No. No, I don't think so.

Graff doesn't stock the brand of Dutch paint

Tavel says he uses but doesn't.

That's gotta be specially ordered.

He takes Tavel's order and then forwards it on

to the paint company in Amsterdam.

Lansing and Jans.

Would you buy this? When the order gets to Holland,

somebody puts the heroin in the tubes

and then puts paint in to cover the stuff.

When the order gets to Graff's,

Tavel picks it up and passes it on.

To whom?

That's what we don't know.

Well, whoever it is

cuts it and packages it and sends it out

to the Dodie Greens for distribution to the pushers.

You know, Charley, the Dutch police

could move in on this, uh, Lansing and Jans.

No, that'd blow the whole ball game.

First we gotta catch the head of the snake,

and hopefully before the new shipment hits the street.

You should've brought your trunks.

You're not exactly with us today, are you?

Back in Little Rock?

Guess I was.

Thinking of Helen?

Not really. More about you.

Me?

I'm lonely, Tracy.

I want to get married again.

I know this sounds wild,

but I-I want to marry you.

Oh, Frank,

we--we hardly know each other.

Look, there's a job open back home

managing a music store.

You could take it.

We could be together and get to know each other.

Frank,

there's something you should know about me.

I---

What?

We'll discuss it at dinner.

Frank, you're sweet, and you're going places.

But it's just not possible.

It's too fast.

I couldn't take a chance, not so quickly.

It's Dodie, isn't it?

You don't want to leave Dodie.

Well, that's part of it.

I do owe her some consideration.

Hey, how's old Aunt Dodie?

You moved in with her, I hear, huh?

Used to run the best house in town,

which was not a home, if you get what I mean.

Always had first-class merchandise.

Had an eye for the girls.

She still does.

I see.

Well, I guess, uh...

I guess I talked out of turn a little.

I'm sorry, right?

Aunt Dodie?

And you're one of her...

nieces?

Frank, that's what I wanted to discuss with you.

Last week...

We would have been talking about my price.

Well, thanks for setting me straight.

I'm sorry, Frank.

Satisfied?

She's all right.

Well, we got more pressing problems.

Smiley's pleading guilty.

I thought he was fixed.

He's un-fixed. His wife called in a preacher.

Smiley called the public defender.

He'll talk. I can't fight the church.

That means Dodie's gonna do a stretch.

I told her that.

Unless she decides to turn state's evidence

and sing a duet with Smiley.

I told her we were aware of that possibility, too.

Mm-hmm.

Seems to me I remember somebody saying,

"I work hard at my job,

but I never bring it home."”

It really bugs me.

This damn house.

By

I've got it.

Honey, I've got it!

A cop.

I'm getting outta here.

Pearl, stay with her tonight.

Don't let her out of your sight.

Why don't you go home, Pearl?

I'll wait up for Dodie.

I'm used to waiting up for Ms. Green.

Been doing it since the old days.

Where you been?

To a bar.

Where else?

So?

I made a mistake with Smiley.

I give him that.

But I was right about you, Tracy, huh?

That should balance it out.

Hmm?

Ooh, Watson.

That shyster!

Why should I sing, huh?

Look at this.

I got plenty to live for.

I got the real estate

and the bonds

and that piggy bank in Inglewood.

You're talking too much, Ms. Green.

Hmm! Well, I'll talk all I want,

but not to the grand jury.

Hmm.

I oughta split.

Hey, what do ya say, Tracy?

You and me, huh?

We could go to the West Indies

or Brazil, huh?

We could have a ball.

I have a pretty good figure.

I mean, I-I won a contest once

back in the good old days.

And a husband.

And then...

then I had my house.

Those were the fat cat days, weren't they, Pearly?

Till we started getting busted.

Life.

Just one bust after another.

How many are you supposed to be expected to take?

Hey.

I forget, where are you from?

Detroit.

Detroit.

Get outta here. Go back.

Unh-unh.

I want some of those bonds you talk about. I'm stickin'.

You know what you're stickin' to?

Murder one. Shut up, Ms. Green.

Why? She's got a right to know what she's getting into.

You kill a cop, you got trouble.

A cop?

Some narc named Hager.

Hey.

Would you get me another drink?

I'm so tired.

Frank.

My name's not Frank. It's Jimmy.

Get your bag.

I told her ten times to lay off the juice.

And you're not from Little Rock either.

Not even close.

You're part of all this.

You were just testing me.

Come on, get your bag. I'm taking you outta here.

I don't want to be taken out of here.

It's better for you at the Dutchman's.

Where's that? Pearl will bring your things.

Make sure her room is clean, huh?

Where does she go?

Nowhere.

The boss doesn't want her to testify.

Get somebody over there right away.

They're gonna Kill her.

Right. They're on their way.

You got Dodie's job now.

Be sure you don't end up the same way.

By

Come on, honey. Huh?

Come on.

W-Where are we going?

Just for a breath of fresh air.

Oh.

Easy now.

Let old Pearl help you.

It's like those nights

back in the old days.

Pearl, do you remember, hmm?

When the big spenders

would buy us all champagne?

Do you remember those nights, Pearly?

I'll never forget "em.

I'll take "em with me to my grave.

Me, too, Pearly.

Me, too.

By

Ooh.

Now Charley, uh, he was one of the best.

Who killed him?

That's what I'm trying to find out.

Did he say anything last night about a Dutchman?

No.

No, he...

he didn't say much of anything.

He just kept looking at that painting.

He looked at it while he had his drink.

He looked at it during dinner.

And he looked at it after dinner.

Oh.

Suddenly he said,

"I've got it. I know where it is.”

"It was on my paper route

when I was in grade school.”

Look, I don't understand.

Why'd you bring it back?

You don't like it?

Oh, I like it very much.

As a matter of fact, I'd like to paint it myself

from a different angle.

I thought if you could give me the address,

I'd go there, maybe on Sunday.

No need to wait till Sunday, Mannix.

We'll take you there right away.

By

Pearl, go give them a hand in the kitchen.

Later, Jimmy, when this is all over.

You know, the boss has really gotta be some kind of a genius

the way he gets the stuff in and gets rid of it.

Men with brains really turn me on.

Then turn on, little girl.

What?

You?

Come on, it doesn't fit.

You're too young.

Alexander conquered the world when he was 26.

Alexander was born a king.

You came out of a ghetto.

I crowned myself.

How?

I won a scholarship to law school.

Dr. Goerlich taught forensic chemistry there.

He took an interest in me.

So I used to visit him at his house.

His wife told me that he was an addict,

that he got his stuff from his brother Klaus,

who works in a paint factory in Amsterdam.

The rest was easy.

And you invented the boss.

Well, some people don't like

taking orders from a black man.

So I dreamed up a white monster.

Makes everybody feel a little bit more comfortable.

Name's Mannix.

Watson says he's some kind of private dick.

Where is Watson?

He's checking out a hunch.

He'll call in.

Who are you working for?

The feds? Police?

Private party? Who?

Now, Mannix,

what do you know about a narc named Charley Hager?

He's not much of a talker, is he?

Take him in the back room.

Loosen him up.

Let's go.

Thanks, Oscar. Okay.

See you later, huh? Right.

This, uh, Mannix guy--

What are you gonna do with him?

Pearl,

have you seen my lipstick?

No.

I know. I must have left it in Dodie's car this afternoon.

It's in the driveway.

Thanks, Pearl.

First a policeman

and now a detective.

It's over, Johanna. It's—it's over.

What's wrong, Pearl?

Ten minutes ago her lipstick was in her purse.

Get Jimmy.

I'm at 609 Elgin street.

The heroin is here and so is Mannix.

They're gonna kill him.

Yeah?

Watson.

Jimmy. Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

So that's it. Okay.

It was there, all right.

What are you all looking at?

I just got a phone call from Watson.

It seems Mannix has a secretary,

very pretty, very loyal to her boss,

the widow of a cop.

Her name is Peggy Fair.

She's black.

Address--1086 Harvard,

only she hasn't been there for a few days.

Vacationing in New York.

So?

So hello, Peggy.

Under the dashboard.

What did you tell them? Nothing.

How do I know what's in Dodie's car?

You gave them this address.

What did you tell them?

My brother--the police are going to get Klaus.

He was well paid. You both were.

Get the stuff ready.

Tavel!

Come on, let's get outta here.

Right where you are, Jimmy! Over here, Peggy.

I don't think she can make it over there,

Mr. Mannix,

not all the way.

Interesting situation, Mr. Mannix.

You can kill me, and Ms. Fair gets it in the back.

Or you can just hand over your gun.

Take his gun, Doctor.

I'll get the stuff in the car.

No, Jimmy. No more.

Put it down.

Leave it there.

What are you talking about? This is bread.

You sell to children.

To children.

They grow up, don't they?

Drop it, Doctor.

Pearl.

If it wasn't for you, Mannix, it would've been fine.

Ms. Green would still be alive.

And Jimmy there...

Jimmy and Dodie.

That's two people dead, Pearl.

But it's not just two people. What about all the others?

Did you ever stop to count the kids they've picked up dead

in the alleys and the gutters and the trunks of cars

because of the Jimmys and the Dodies in this town?

Yeah, and the Pearls.

How many do you figure you've been responsible for, Pearl?

It was much easier in the old days.

Addicts.

Sure, they're such sad people.

Yeah. O'Fallon, the stuff's in the kitchen.

Are you all right?

You'll probably get a medal for this.

I don't want anything.

I just want to hurry home

and hug Toby a few more times before he grows up.