Original subtitles

♪ I know you think that you know me well ♪

♪ you got some stories that I would not have you tell ♪

♪ but when push comes to shove, baby ♪

♪ who can ring your bell?

♪ today is a brand-new day

♪ and today is the day

♪ that we say

♪ hello again

[ gunshot ]

[ mid-tempo music plays ]

[ bat thuds ]

Would you like a ticket?

Just hand over all the cash, lady.

And no lip out of you.

Now, listen, little boy.

[ grunts ]

[ screaming ]

Give me it, lady! Fork it over!

[ glass shattering ]

[ both gasp ]

Woman: Officer! Officer!

[ screaming ]

[ indistinct conversations ]

Mickey! Cops!

Get him!

Run! Run!

Here! Just take it and go!

[ bat thuds ]

Aah! Get! Hold still, you little bastard!

[ camera shutter clicks ] teague: That 10-year-old who just robbed a movie theater

And got pinched for his trouble --

That's meyer harris cohen, but everyone calls him mickey.

By 1947, he'll be the boss of all organized crime in l.A.

[ siren wailing ] [ woman scatting ]

[ brakes squeal ]

Some pint-sized lunatic just tried to rob the columbia.

You're kidding. With a bat. He smashed up their booth. Do you believe it?

Thank god for the cops, huh?

Those lugs?

They come in here all the time

Copping free candy, free popcorn,

Copping a feel while they're at it.

There's a reason they're called "cops."

It's not right.

All right. Come on, tough guy.

Tell you what.

You're such a boy scout? You go set them straight.

Bill the boy scout.

[ music continues ]

You in there, you're surrounded!

Come out with your ha--

Man: Keep talking, fat man!

I'm gonna kill these damn fools in here!

Just see if I don't!

What do we do, sarge? He's got hostages in there, for christ's sake.

You hear me?! Somebody's got to go in.

All you dummies better back off!

What about parker? Yeah.

I got four people in here...

Isn't that the numbnuts who hauled in

The captain's drinking buddy for drunk driving?

[ chuckles ] and booked him.

If you try anything, these citizens are gonna get hurt!

You -- parker!

If somebody winds up dead, it's on you!

You understand?!

Am I spelling it out okay?! Sir?

This one's yours.

[ laughter ] I want things! I want a fast car!

I want money!

You better work it out quick 'cause my fingers get itchy,

And I got buckshot to spare!

I'm coming over to talk.

Show me what you got under the coat!

Slow and easy, boy, unless you want

A round of buckshot in that blue belly of yours!

What the hell you want?

You want to be on the slab, huh?!

Is that what you want to talk about?!

Sorry, I'm having trouble hearing you. Can you speak up?

They sent me a deaf cop. Can you believe this?

Are you deaf and stupid?!

Can you hear me now, blue bitch?!

Look, I-I just want to talk. I'm not armed.

Can you open up the door just a crack

So we don't have to shout?

[ groaning ]

[ camera shutter clicks ] this rookie will not be cited

For courage in the line of duty.

That's because nobody likes him much.

Around the time mickey cohen

Takes over running the l.A. Mob,

Bill the boy scout here will take over

Running the los angeles police department.

[ groans ]

Nobody calls him "numbnuts" after that.

[ sobbing ] come on.

They call him "chief of police william parker"...

Or "sir."

[ "a night in tunisia" plays ]

[ horns honking ]

Good evening, mr. Siegel.

So nice to see you again.

[ indistinct conversations ]

Good evening, mr. Siegel. Right this way.

Thank you, troy.

Woman: ♪ the moon is the same moon above you ♪

♪ aglow with its cool evening light ♪

♪ but shining at night in tunisia ♪ hi, benny.

♪ never does it shine so bright ♪

♪ the stars are aglow in the heavens ♪

♪ but only the wise understand

♪ that shining at night in tunisia ♪

♪ they guide you through the desert sand ♪

♪ words fail to tell a tale hey, hey! That's a winner!

♪ too exotic too be told I can always tell. You can order prints.

My guy in the back does them up while you're having dessert.

♪ each night's a deeper night oh! What a thrill, mr. Cohen.

♪ in a world, ages old call me "mickey." youse are welcome here anytime

♪ the cares of the day seem to vanish ♪

♪ the ending of day brings release ♪

Hmm. Excuse me.

♪ each wonderful night in tunisia ♪

♪ where the nights are filled with peace ♪

Mickey.

Yeah.

Some champagne for mr. Siegel, and, uh, a little nosh, yeah?

Yeah. Just, um, start us with some whatnot.

Yes, sir.

Benny, check out tonight's special.

Nice. Thanks.

Now burn them.

So what happened with your friend?

Well, I, uh, hear it could have gone better.

Hecky had a babysitter with him, a moonlighting cop.

So we waved goodbye.

Nothing this jew hates more

Than being outsmarted by another jew.

Hurts my feelings. I'll get over it when I kill him.

I'm sorry, benny. What can I say that I haven't already said?

Mm-hmm. I've known the guy since we were knee-high.

Then you should have known he was a chiseling rat.

I miss anything?

We got the negatives, but the comedian weaseled on us.

And here I was hoping I'd get to say "mazel tov."

We'll get to say it. We'll find him.

Sure you will. Try the morgue.

He was healthy when we drove off.

And then he wasn't.

I'm waiting to hear that punch line.

Luck like yours?

Don't ever play my casino, kid.

You'll clear me out.

To long shots coming in.

[ glasses clink ]

The cop?

Nice play.

Smooth.

You had a backup? You didn't tell me? You kept me dumb?

Don't take it like that, sid. The odds were very long.

Woman: ♪ the moon is the same moon above you ♪ to hell with odds.

I don't like being kept in the dark.

♪ aglow with its cool evening light ♪ or people doing my job for me.

♪ but shining at night in tunisia ♪ I'm a fixer. I fix.

Besides, we're all on the same team, right? Yes, we are.

♪ never does it shine so bright ♪ hey, sid, it got done.

Now, that's what matters. ♪ the stars are aglow in the heavens ♪

♪ but only the wise understand

Benny. ♪ that shining at night in tunisia ♪

My 50 grand. ♪ they guide you through the desert sand ♪

The man's not looking for steady work.

♪ words fail to tell a tale tonight was a gesture of good will.

Good will? That's all.

♪ too exotic to behold what? Like a favor?

♪ each night's a deeper night in a world ages old ♪

Who the hell is this cop?

♪ the cares of the day seem to vanish ♪

♪ the end of the day brings release ♪

♪ each wonderful night in tunisia ♪

♪ where the nights are filled with peace ♪

[ indistinct conversations ]

She wants a cup of coffee.

Do you mind? I don't want to miss anything.

Right in here, miss.

We scored big.

We found hecky nash's girlfriend at his bungalow.

And get this -- she was waiting for him with her bags packed.

Tell us about hecky.

He was a comedian.

He worked the clubs, but I guess you know that.

What about side business, not the "make me laugh" kind?

You'd know better than I would. He kept a lot to himself.

He gambled...Owed people -- that I do know.

What else?

Anything. Details.

He collected stamps.

Stamps.

Yeah, I know. He wouldn't strike you as the type.

Stamps don't get a guy killed.

You don't know stamp collectors.

[ door closes ]

Detective teague, jasmine fontaine.

Miss fontaine.

Fontaine: They're nuts. Excuse me?

Stamp collectors. You don't believe me?

Show them an inverted jenny, issued in 1918.

It's a little red stamp

With a blue airplane in the middle,

A curtiss jn-1.

A jenny. A jenny. That's right.

One sheet of stamps, the little blue plane

Gets printed upside down by mistake.

The jenny's inverted.

100 stamps total -- one of the rarest kind there is.

You want to see grown men kill each other?

Get a bunch of stamp collectors in the room and show them one of those.

Miss, no offense, but no one wants to hear about stamps. Yeah, no kidding.

Imagine what my life's been like.

What about his blackmail scheme? Blackmail?

Is that what he was playing at?

[ scoffs ] dumb jerk.

Mickey cohen. Name ring a bell?

Everybody knows mickey cohen. Not everybody works for him.

I hostess at the clover club. I guess that means I work for him.

Doesn't mean he knows my name. Morrison: That where you met hecky?

He was performing there.

He and mickey get along? Heard lots of stories about them growing up.

Hecky liked dropping his name.

It got boring, like the stamps.

I stopped listening after a while.

No mention of blackmail against mickey cohen.

That's crazy, fellas. Maybe mickey, maybe not.

But hecky had something on the mob, and he tried to parlay it.

Yeah? Something? What's something? We're hoping you could tell us.

It hasn't surfaced...Yet.

You don't seem surprised your man's dead.

Maybe you are and just hide it better than most.

Hecky liked playing in that sandbox.

Sometimes you get sand in your eyes, so no.

I'm not surprised.

Dolan: You're taking it real hard.

Your boyfriend is on a slab in the city morgue.

Why don't you roll his coffin in here,

And I'll throw myself on it?

Will that play better for you?

You're the expert on grief.

Am I under suspicion of something? Am I being held?

No, miss, you're free to go anytime.

Then what do you want? Insight. You were with the man.

Do you want to see his killer brought in?

Look, if I could help, I'd say so.

Hecky kept this to himself.

Hendry: Is that why you were waiting at the door

With your bags packed when we knocked?

A guy might think you two were about to blow town.

We were.

Pismo beach.

Things hadn't been great.

[ clears throat ]

I thought maybe a long weekend might help things.

One weekend? You pack heavy.

Yeah.

Hecky always complained about it,

But you never know about the weather, fellas,

Especially on the coast.

Ask any woman.

You knew him. See if you can talk sense to her.

Huh. That's funny.

[ door closes ] teague: What's that?

What he just said about you knowing hecky.

See, all the time hecky and I were together,

He never mentioned you.

You're not exactly the sort of thing he'd forget to tell me.

You being -- what? -- A cop and all.

Not like we palled around. No? Then what?

He reached out to me a few nights ago.

He wanted protection while he did his blackmail.

I guess you didn't do a very good job.

Detective teague.

Miss fontaine.

Is that how they do it in robbery-homicide?

Joe.

You're supposed to question her,

Not the other way around.

I want eyes on her for the next 48 hours.

If she tries to leave town, take her into custody,

For her own protection at the very least.

You have first shift.

You broke it, you bought it.

Miss fontaine.

This thing that put hecky nash in the morgue --

Have you considered the trouble it might cause you?

Food for thought. Joe, offer the lady a ride home.

I'll take a cab, thanks. Oh, we insist.

A young lady at night -- it's the least we can do.

[ elevator bell dings ]

Good night, miss fontaine.

I do hope we'll be hearing from you.

Get some shut-eye, fellas. Tomorrow's a new day.

Let's use it to climb out

Of this puddle of shit we landed in.

[ jazz music plays ] [ sighs ]

So this cop -- he'll whack a guy, but he won't graft?

That's where he draws the line?

It's a gift to us. It's crap.

Nobody does a 50-grand favor --

Not a cop making 3 grand a year and change.

If he's not going on a payroll, then why? Got to be a reason.

Benny, it's not like he told you to shove the money up your ass.

He politely declined. 50 grand? That's awfully polite.

A little breezy. Nonchalant, I'd say.

It's my word for the day.

Well, here's my word for the day -- "answers."

This cop is slipping something past me,

And I need to know what that is.

So you need to get the skinny, or I'm putting sid on it.

This time, I'll do your job.

Before you know it, I'll be greasing my hair

With that lilac shit you use.

And tell this cop I am not some charity case

That he should be doing me any favors.

I pay my own way.

I pay. He takes.

That's the way the world works.

The girls like that lilac shit?

I bet they do.

That's the way the world works.

I can't be carrying this much around.

Cash drawer. My office.

What took so long?

I've been cooling my heels for hours.

What's on your mind?

Sorry, mac.

Thought you were someone else.

It happens.

My mistake. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Probably just some hophead looking for a fix.

Do I look nervous?

[ scoffs ]

Still taking pictures?

At the clover, I mean.

The girl with the spangly dress, big-flash camera,

Taking pictures of all the famous people.

Society columns eat that stuff up, I bet.

Mickey loves having his picture in the papers,

Especially with celebrities.

We had george raft and ava gardner in the other night.

Nice. Not just famous people.

Nobodys, too.

Next time you're in, I'll take your picture.

[ lock turns ]

Aside from that, I don't take photographs anymore.

Gave that up a long time ago,

Along with a lot of other things.

[ engine turns over ]

[ exhales sharply ]

[ dog barking in distance ]

[ exhales sharply ]

[ engine turns over ]

Keep it running.

Are you hounding our passengers?

On your turf? I wouldn't dream of it.

Why not? That one's worth hounding.

[ scoffs ] nice to see you, sullivan.

Don't arrest any blind beggars. Yeah, later, teague.

Let me know how it works out.

I'm a married man. I could use a thrill.

Good night. Thank you.

[ door opens ]

[ door closes ]

[ dog barking in distance ]

That was supposed to be an easy win.

What went wrong?

Something about a red light.

You can run them, you know?

Cops are allowed. I read that in the handbook.

Yeah, this wasn't a pursuit.

Lay it out again for my benefit.

I told nash if we get separated driving to the oil fields,

He should wait for me at the bottom of the hill.

And why didn't he?

My guess -- he saw another pair of headlights

In his rear view, thought it was me.

Time he realized it wasn't, it was too late.

Look -- it was bad luck.

I'm not making excuses. It's on me.

You got that right.

Morrison: Okay, where do we go from here?

How do we pick up the pieces?

What pieces? We don't even know what the evidence is.

I'll tell you what it was -- big enough to blackmail the mob,

Enough to get hecky nash killed.

Can't tell me that doesn't leave footprints.

Go find him. Hendry: Jasmine fontaine --

She knows more than she's letting on.

I say she's the key.

That's one version. I think she's telling the truth.

Based on what? Her attitude about nash when I drove her home.

I think she was a heartbeat away from dumping the guy.

Look, I'm -- I'm not saying I know.

It's just that's how I read it.

Your hunch against mine. Yeah, I won't argue that.

Last night, we expected a soft pitch,

And somehow it turned into a fastball that got by us.

We suffered a huge loss.

Just an inning, not the ballgame. It's never the game.

If I thought that, I'd hang up my badge.

We needed this one, fellas, more than you know.

A righteous win.

Good news on the front page for a change.

Our department needs it. The mayor needs it.

Hell, the people of this city deserve it.

Yeah, that's right.

There's a reason you call me "bill the boy scout"

Behind my back.

[ light laughter ]

Okay, break huddle. Nash's evidence.

Get out there. Find the footprints.

Teague. A word.

I figured I'd bounce you back to robbery-homicide this morning

And forget your name, but hal says he believes in you.

And since I believe in hal, I'm gonna make it his call.

You have a chance to make it up to us.

See that you do.

Yes, sir.

Jasmine fontaine.

One of you is right. Let's find out who.

[ engine turns over ]

[ bell clangs ]

Cohen: Hey, you. Legs.

We got to talk.

First of all, my condolences. For what?

You -- you do know, right?

I'm not -- I'm not the one breaking the news.

Oh, you mean hecky? Yeah, I heard about that.

Ugh, thank god. You had me, uh -- you had me going there for a second.

I should offer you condolences. You were friends a long time.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I'm, uh... I'm taking it hard.

Come on. My office.

You seem okay. I thought you'd be all weepy.

Well, not the happiest day.

Hmm.

Mickey, you know hecky and I broke up, right?

Months ago.

No. No, he didn't say.

Well, not something he'd brag about, I guess.

I dumped him.

Siegel: I'm glad to hear that.

Mickey told me about you,

But he didn't say you were so charming.

Jasmine fontaine, ben siegel.

I've seen you in here before -- lots of times.

So we're even. I've seen you, too.

I like that shimmery dress you wear. I like your ties.

Listen, legs, uh... [ clears throat ]

Here's the thing about hecky -- it's ugly to hear.

Uglier than getting shot?

Okay, then I won't mincemeat words.

Turns out he was up to no good.

We hear he was trying to blackmail somebody.

Looks like it backfired.

Hecky liked risky gambles. I'm not surprised. Are you?

I guess not.

Still, he was a friend, so we're trying to get some, uh...

Insight? Yeah, yeah. That.

Well, like I said, we barely spoke the last few months,

And never about blackmail.

I'd have talked him out of it. It was a stupid bet.

She's got spunk. You didn't tell me that, either.

Shame on me.

Anyhow, I thought it couldn't hurt to ask, huh?

Siegel: Look, I would love to stay and talk.

But I'm flying to nevada for a quick meeting.

But when I get back, dinner.

Mickey's got my number.

Then I'll use it.

Thanks.

He's got an eye for the ladies.

Like I couldn't tell. [ chuckles ]

Tell me again who?

Freddy steckler. Drawing a blank.

He's one of our bagmen -- bottom rung. A nobody.

So this nobody freddy steckler calls you, says what again?

That we should come see a man and do it fast.

But he won't say who or why.

No, not on the phone, just that we should. [ scoffs ]

We're putting a lot of faith in what freddy steckler says.

You the guys?

Who are you? Carl.

Oh, that explains it.

Carl steckler, freddy's uncle.

Freddy steckler, you know him.

Hey, sure, yeah. We love freddy.

He's our best guy -- top rung.

[ laughs ] yeah. That's because I taught him.

I was mr. Cohen's top bagman back in the day.

My drops never came up short, not by a nickel.

I'm sure it was a thing of beauty.

So was the girl I was about to bone

When terry knocked on my door.

Why are we here, carl? Freddy didn't say?

Not on the phone. That's because he's smart.

He listens. I taught him that, too.

Yeah, that's what I do -- I listen.

I hear things. For instance?

I hear that, uh, maybe I could do you a favor.

Uh, maybe, uh, it would be worth something to you.

Could be you'd want to do me a favor in return.

Depends on what it is and what you want for it.

I'm done guessing. I-I -- all right, this is my end.

I just done a seven-year jolt in quentin.

Did I ever turn stoolie so I'd have it easy?

No, sir. Not me.

I did my time like a man.

Now, uh, I'm not complaining, but I've been out three months.

The best I could do for myself is this --

Bussing tables and -- and hauling trash

For wops I wouldn't piss on if they was on fire.

Sad. Very.

I was best at -- at running bags for mr. Cohen.

I could do that again if somebody asked me.

We'll see. What's the rest of it?

This thing I heard --

There's a couple of fellas that you've been looking for.

You want a word with them, but they've been hard to find.

What fellas? Moe feltzer.

Jerry edelstein. What about them?

Inside. Table 12.

They're on coffee and dessert.

Little moe and jerry two-tone, you sure?

When I saw them come in, I called freddy right away.

Well, I heard you've been looking.

I'm like lost-and-found.

[ fingers snap ] apron.

Oh, yeah. Um...

I done all right?

Golden.

We won't forget it. We'll be in touch.

We'll get you out of the food-service industry.

Until then, you just be the model citizen.

Tell the cops a tale.

Yeah. [ chuckles ] I got lots of stories.

Now, we got to make this convincing.

Make it quick, huh, and meet me out front?

Oh, give me your, uh -- give me your throw-down.

Ohh! [ grunts ]

Thanks, mr. Rothman. It's a pleasure.

Pleasure's mine.

Ohh!

[ woman singing in italian ]

[ indistinct conversations ]

[ man singing in italian ]

Waiter. Waiter.

Will you please bring the parmesan cheese?

I've only asked three times.

Just a minute, ma'am. Right away, ma'am.

Edelstein: We've gone over and over.

I don't know if we've got much choice in this.

See what I'm saying?

Hey, einstein, wrong table.

We already ate. Oh, shit!

Shit! Shit! No! No! No! No!

[ screams ]

[ people screaming ]

[ gun clicks ]

[ baby crying ]

[ singing in italian continues ]

[ thud ]

Here's the cheese, lady.

[ indistinct conversations ]

I was in the neighborhood.

Thought I'd check on you.

Thanks.

How you holding up? Want me to take over?

That's a kind offer, joe.

Yeah, well, it's my fault we're here.

No, I don't see it that way.

It's the job. [ scoffs ]

Some things go right, some don't.

Anyway, tug's relieving me in an hour.

I'm good.

Anything?

Well, she went to work today. That's normal, right?

Except the men she works for killed her boyfriend last night,

And she had to walk in there and act like they didn't.

Can you imagine the nerve that takes?

And I bet she didn't flinch.

What do you think, joe?

[ sighs ]

I think I need a drink.

Have one for me. Yeah.

Thanks for stopping by.

[ "you don't know what love is" plays ]

Woman: ♪ you don't know

♪ what love is

♪ till you've learned the meaning of the blues ♪

♪ till you loved a love you had to lose ♪

♪ you don't know

♪ what love is

Hey, doll. My usual. Another for him.

♪ how could you know

♪ how lips hurt

♪ till you've kissed and had to pay the cost? ♪

The people I work for -- they would love to know

Why jasmine fontaine was waiting for hecky nash

With her skivvies packed.

That's awkward.

The people I work for would love to know

Why a cop does a mob hit and doesn't take the money.

It's a first.

I guess we both have a problem. Hmm.

♪ you don't know

I got it.

Settle up later, honey.

♪ what love is I'll run you a tab.

♪ do you know

It was no mob hit, ned.

You know it, and I know it. Better stay between us.

People are gonna get hurt, somebody in particular.

[ chuckles ] you should have just kept the money.

At least make my life easier.

Now it's my fault.

You dragged me into this in the first place.

♪ and how lips that taste of tears ♪ you prefer I didn't?

You know where that would have led. Why'd you give it back?

Why not just keep the money?

Steal from ben siegel?

'cause if he ever found out,

I'd be taking the big dirt nap in a nevada landfill.

♪ they lose their taste for kissing ♪ could have said I kept it.

What happens when they try and hand you the next job,

And all they get is, "shove it up your ass"?

Yeah.

Giving the money back was the only option.

It's a damn shame, too. ♪ you don't know how hearts burn ♪

It's the perfect plan, except for you.

Who knew you were that honest a cop?

♪ for a love that cannot live, yet never dies ♪

That's not what I think it is.

Oh, for christ's sakes, joe.

Are you kidding me? Let's just leave it alone, okay?

♪ sleepless eyes how long you had that thing in your wallet, huh?

Five years? Are you sick of looking at it? I know I am. What is it to you?

You know how many times you showed me that thing during the war?

It's bad enough I had 30,000 screaming japs trying to kill me.

You had to show me that thing at least twice a day.

Burn it.

You heard me, you mooney-eyed bastard.

Burn it right now.

Gunny, if somebody sees you with that thing, it's game over.

You've gone this far out on a limb.

You gonna blow it being careless?

I know it hurts, but it's time to move on.

You're way past due. ♪ do you know

♪ how a lost heart feels nobody carries a torch this long.

♪ at the thought of reminiscing? ♪

♪ and how lips

♪ taste a tear

♪ oh, they lose their taste for kissing ♪

♪ you joe.

There's a reason why they call them ex-wives. ♪ you just couldn't know

And jasmine fontaine is no exception. ♪ how hearts burn

♪ for a love that cannot live, yet never dies ♪

♪ till you've faced each dawn with sleepless eyes ♪

♪ you don't know

♪ no, you don't know

♪ what love is