Original subtitles

(theme music plays)

WALTER WINCHELL: Gus Ducek,

distinguished member of the Chicago underworld,

mobster, muscle man, racketeer.

Age 41, and stated to get no older.

He's naked. We got it made.

-Boys ready? -Yeah.

(engine starting)

(engine revving)

(whistles)

(rapid gunfire)

(gunfire continues, tires squeak)

(chickens clucking)

(loud clucking)

(clucking)

Right on schedule, just like the man said.

Yeah, we better move.

(engine starting)

MAN: Missed. We get him the next time, Phil.

Oh, what are you waiting for, a chicken dinner?!

(engine starting)

ANNOUNCER:

"The Butcher's Boy."

Starring Robert Stack as Eliot Ness.

Co-starring Frank Sutton,

John Larkin

and Rudy Bond.

Narrated by Walter Winchell.

♪ Mademoiselle from Armentieres, parlez-vous? ♪

WINCHELL: Armistice Day, 1931.

A swank Chez Pierre, closed on Monday nights,

had been reserved for a private party.

B Company, 431st Infantry,

was holding its annual loud reunion,

trying to forget the Depression outside.

Trying to forget the defeats of the present

by looking back to victories past.

Their host, as always, Lieutenant Philip Hedden.

(laughter and chatter)

♪ Mademoiselle from Beaujolais, parlez-vous? ♪

♪ Mademoiselle from Beaujolais, parlez-vous? ♪

♪ Mademoiselle from Beaujolais... ♪

Hey, wait a minute. Hold it, you dog faces.

-Wait a minute. - (silence)

We ain't had our bedtime story, Lieutenant.

-No. -How you picked up that, uh, hunk of tin.

-Yeah! -Yeah!

(overlapping chatter)

(tapping on table)

Sergeant, that's the Croix de Guerre.

Don't call that hunk of tin a hunk of tin.

(laughter)

Well, I really don't know why he wants to hear it again.

He was there.

As a matter of fact, he tossed the first grenade

right smack on top of that machinegun nest.

If he had only remembered to pull the pin.

-(laughter) -(tapping on table)

In any event, gentlemen, I give you a toast.

To the best topkick who ever did a shavetail's job for him.

-Yeah. Hear! Hear! -(overlapping chatter)

Hmm.

Now it's my turn.

To the only shavetail...

who never KP'd a guy

for grabbing a couple of days AWOL in Paris.

(laughter)

Well, gentlemen, that's it for this time,

but I'll see you all again next year, right?

Now watch those waistlines,

because I'm gonna court-martial anybody

who has to jam himself into his uniform.

-(laughter) -Dismissed!

(overlapping chatter)

(mumbling)

That's right.

Hello, Hedden.

Oh, you're a little late for roll call, Mr. Ness.

This is Mr. Hedden's personal wine.

I do not sell any alcohol here, Mr. Ness.

(phone ringing)

Excuse me.

Car jumped the curb on Mel Street tonight

in the roost in front of Cavinsky's Poultry Shop.

Oh, is that supposed to mean something to me?

It should. It's your car.

(tsks)

My driver.

Well, I'll talk to him about it.

He's dead.

Dead?

You can talk to the other one. He got away.

What other one?

Your trigger man.

Who are you trying to knock over, Hedden?

Oh, was I trying to knock over somebody tonight?

Till it backfired.

Telephone for you, Monsieur.

Mr. Ducek.

Ducek?

He used to work for you, didn't he?

I have nothing to say to him.

(footsteps retreating)

Or to you, either.

Thanks.

WINCHELL: Philip Hedden,

the president of the Alliance of Master Butchers.

A fancy title with a simple translation.

The Butcher--

head of the most vicious extortion racket in Chicago.

It had been organized

on the phony promise of protection,

but in the next week,

the membership didn't even get that.

A truck loaded with meat went up in flames.

(glass breaking, explosion)

On the morning of November 19,

three important wholesalers called to the alliance office.

Their president gave them a most sympathetic ear.

They doused it with gasoline and put a match to it.

I know.

That's some expensive barbecue.

I had 30 sides of beef on that truck.

That's terrible.

Know what that bomb is costing me?

$8,000, maybe more.

Well, I'm not blaming you, gentlemen.

Not in the least.

You have been hurt.

You have every right to complain.

But I think you're making one mistake.

You're underestimating your alliance.

You're paying for protection.

You'll get protection.

We know who hit you.

We are, uh, taking care of him.

Isn't that right?

Yeah. Yeah, we're taking care of him.

I tell you what we'll do.

We'll raise prices next week.

Let's say, a half a cent a pound across the board.

That way, it shouldn't take you too long

to get your losses back.

Well, gentlemen, I'm glad that you dropped in.

And feel free to do so any time. Remember, this is your office.

-Thank you. -Any time at all.

-Thank you. -See you.

Thank you, Mr. Hedden.

Ducek.

I'm getting sick of your promises, Boley.

When do you hit him?

Uh, look, Phil,

those two gunsels-- they-they stick so close.

Maybe, Phil...

Maybe we're playing it the hard way.

We're taking in over a million a year now.

What's he asking? 20%.

Might be cheaper if we let him have it.

It's even cheaper if he's dead.

Don't do it, Phil.

If he gets his foot in the door...

He won't.

I want him, Boley.

By Saturday.

Phil, he's tough.

You're tougher.

We'll consider him finished, won't we?

We're closed.

What do you want?

This here is acid.

See, you put it on some meat, and, uh,

I wouldn't advise you to try and sell it.

No!

(screaming)

No...

(man crying)

Hold it!

First rule is, don't kill a customer.

(man panting and whimpering)

(man screaming)

Get him out of here. I can't hear myself talk.

(man whimpering)

Why?

Why? What did you do it to him for?

What do you want?

I wanted to help you.

Want to get you out of the alliance.

Phil?

Who is this?

Gus Ducek. I got a friend of yours here.

He wants to talk to you.

Mr. Hedden... this is Otto Schuster.

Schuster?

Mr. Hedden, I can't take anymore.

I'm through. I'm finished with the alliance.

How bad are you hit?

It's not me. It's my foreman.

They threw acid in his face.

No more!

You can't do any worse, I'm telling you.

All right, take it easy.

Put Ducek back on.

Phil?

You've learned all the angles, hmm?

What angles? Just playing the golden rule.

Just doing to you like you've been doing to them.

(sighs)

Gus, I've been thinking.

About that, uh, 20%.

20%?

Yeah, that's what you wanted-- 20%.

Well, the...

That was before you tried to knock me over.

That was last week.

Now?

Mm... Let's say, uh, 40.

40?! Why, you lousy pig!

Call me tomorrow.

You can sit and wait.

You can sit and rot in your own stinking juices!

Ducek, I'll bury you so deep,

it'll take a mining crew to dig you out.

Now you listen to me. When I am through with you...

He'll call.

WINCHELL: Philip Hedden was a practical man.

The day after the attack on Schuster,

he called a meeting in the wine cellar of Chez Pierre.

After three hours of talk and five bottles of wine,

he and Ducek finally came to terms.

Must be the wine.

Making me settle for 30%.

Do you want to forget it?

I'll force myself. I'll live with it.

Well, here's to our deal. Here's to us.

I'll drink to that.

(glasses clink)

To the best organization in town.

If it was the best, you wouldn't be here to drink to it.

(laughs) I'll drink to that, too.

(laughs)

(Ducek sniffs)

DUCEK: Mmm.

It's your good stuff, huh?

HEDDEN: Oh, anything to keep you happy.

(slurring his words): I'm happy.

Just so you don't try to get cute.

That's it.

I'll see you around.

He stacks pretty nice wine.

What was he doing here?

I made him a deal.

A deal? How much?

Not too much.

30%.

30%?!

(laughs) Yeah.

He's not very smart. He could have got more.

Well, he will have more.

He'll get it all.

Phil, listen to me. I know the guy.

I used to talk to him when he worked for you.

Believe me, if you turn your back on him once...

-Davey! -(uncorks bottle)

Shut up.

Okay.

You're the lieutenant, Lieutenant.

(wine pouring)

Forget him, Davey.

(phone ringing)

Yeah. Yeah, I want all three of 'em.

The tan and the gray

and the dark blue with the pinstripe.

(phone ringing)

Well, we'll figure a try-on for Tuesday, huh?

-(door closes) -I'll have to call you back.

My number one boy just came in.

(phone ringing, overlapping chatter)

You louse.

You're not looking too good yourself.

You louse.

You're playing footsy with Hedden.

Gumbo?

(phone ringing, overlapping chatter)

Now, what's wrong with that?

You sold me out! We had a deal!

We got a better one. 30%.

No sale.

What do you want, more?

I want him dead.

That was the deal. He was supposed to be dead!

Davey, this is big business now.

We got to kind of adjust, you know what I mean?

I know what / mean,

and I know what I want!

I don't want him patting me on the head no more

like I was some dog that followed him home.

I don't want no money, no favors, no nothing.

I just want to see him dead.

Stretched out in one of those 300 buck suits

with that crummy medal on his chest!

You got to take a long look, Davey.

Now, we're sitting nice and cozy.

He's doing all the work, we're taking the profits.

-He wouldn't be no good dead. -He'd be good to me.

Well, he wouldn't to me, and that's how we play it.

That's how you play it.

(phones ringing)

You're not listening.

I said, " , "we.”

And don't you go getting any fancy ideas.

All I got to do is wise Hedden up.

Tell him who's been undercutting him.

And tell him how come I always knew

any time he figured to hit me.

How, when and where. That's all.

So you be a good boy,

and you keep your nose clean, huh?

Sure.

No hard feelings?

No hard feelings.

All right, I'll see tomorrow at the regular place, hmm?

You bet.

(overlapping chatter, phones ringing)

(phones ringing, overlapping chatter)

WINCHELL: Within 24 hours,

Ducek's deal was the talk of the Chicago underworld.

And aware of the new danger it promised,

Ness made a vigorous appeal to the alliance.

The membership, apparently, was not concerned.

Mr. Ducek, apparently, had it made.

Hey, Gino, give me a hot towel, huh?

Sure, you betcha.

(humming)

(door opening)

You feel pretty good, huh?

(laughter)

Yeah.

(laughs)

(throat clearing)

(humming)

Oh.

Listen, Davey,

I want to talk to you about that second Louie.

Would you need some smokes?

You say so.

-Gino? Mm?

-Want to get me a pack of butts? -Sure.

Run across the alley and tell Sam put it on the tab?

Sure, sure, sure.

(door opens)

DUCEK: Hey, somebody get the door.

-Gumbo? -Right.

(door closes)

(sighs)

That's better.

Hate getting those lousy drafts.

Davey?

Davey?!

I'm here.

Listen, Davey, I ain't kidding myself about Hedden.

Under that metal is a real fine rat.

(laughs) I ain't waiting for him to make the first...

(door opens)

Is that the door?

Somebody at the door?

Gumbo? Somebody at the door?

Needles?

(gun chamber cocking)

They sold me out, huh?

You bought 'em off.

The dirty rotten lousy scum!

You bought 'em off!

That's right.

Davey. Wait, wait, wait.

Let's talk.

I'll give you a deal. Tell me what you want.

-(door closes) -Anything he comes up with, I'll go double!

Davey! Wait!

(gunshots)

It was a very good idea you had there, Sergeant.

(engine revving)

It's no use.

I-I looked at so many pictures, I don't see nothing no more.

You don't want to quit now, Mr. Romaldi.

We only have one more book to go through.

Oh.

(speaking Italian)

What's the matter? Don't you speak English?

I told you, I don't see this fellow too good,

because it was too dark in the back

and happened so quick.

Now, what they do in my shop-- that I see.

And who gonna pay me? That's what I ask!

We've got a good idea.

We think we know who wrecked your shop, Mr. Romaldi.

-You know this fellow? -We know who's paying him.

Well, then, maybe you can tell me who gonna pay me.

It gonna cost me 200 bucks!

We'll bring him in. It may take time.

(speaking Italian)

Mr. Romaldi, if you can help us nail the man

who killed Ducek tonight, we can squeeze him, make him talk.

(speaking Italian)

(sighs)

You can help us, Mr. Romaldi.

(speaking Italian)

NESS: What?

This fellow was with Mr. Ducek tonight.

He's a good friend.

Friend? You sure?

(speaking Italian)

Sure I'm sure.

He come to-to my shop to see Mr. Ducek all the time.

ANNOUNCER: And now, back to The Untouchables.

WINCHELL: Gino Romaldi was a Sicilian,

and Sicilians do not forget easily.

Cleaning up his shop that night,

he was grimly possessed by a single thought.

Somebody owed him for the damage.

(speaking Italian)

Maybe it's better this way.

It's no good for fish to be in barbershop.

Please. Please...

When I get new customers, I like to stand and look.

The company.

I like the fish.

So you get some more.

(speaks Italian) I get some more.

The money grow here like hair.

(speaking Italian)

I'd like to get that fellow.

Sure, you're gonna get him some time.

Hey, Gino, somebody forget his coat?

Hmm?

It's Ducek's coat.

(speaking Italian)

Uh, Gino, you got to take 'em back.

Yeah. I gonna take 'em back.

I gonna take 'em back.

Gino!

(speaking Italian)

WINCHELL: The Untouchables had been hunting

for Little Davey McCain.

They tracked him down around 9:00.

(upbeat jazzy instrumental music playing)

Little Davey was a patron of the theatre arts.

Every Wednesday night, through the season,

he could be found in his box at the Odeon Burlesque.

Oh. I didn't know you liked the theatre, Ness.

I'm here on business, Davey.

Oh, not now, please.

I-I'm with a lady!

Okay, okay.

Uh, go get some candy.

I got candy.

Well, get some more!

Uh, what's new?

Ducek's dead.

Yeah, that's new.

Shouldn't be.

Weren't you with him tonight?

Are you asking or telling?

I'm telling.

You're lucky I'm just telling you.

Well, who else would care?

(song ends, applause, cheering and whistling)

Phil Hedden might care.

Hey, you scared me to death, Ness.

I'm breaking all out in goose bumps.

Yeah, I'm sorry I pulled a rug out from under you,

but Phil sent me over there.

Oh, now, that's the truth.

He wanted to see Ducek,

so he sent me over there to ask him tonight.

Who sent you last week?

The week before and the week before that for months.

You told Ducek when Phil was gonna hit him.

Will cost him a wheel man and a good car.

What do you want?

I want it all. I want Phil Hedden.

I want to pack him away for good.

No dice. We're pals.

We're like that, Mr. Ness.

We went through the war together.

I couldn't. I couldn't do a thing like that to him.

(laughs) It...

It's a lousy trick.

It... It makes me feel sick to even think about it.

What can I do?

Yeah.

(new, upbeat song plays)

(applause, cheering, whistling and shouting)

It's my favorite song.

(whistling)

Remember to call me.

We'll do the town some night.

Oh, don't worry about that. I, um...

I have dozens of "em.

Right.

That was Schuster.

He heard about Ducek on the radio.

He, uh... he's going to stick with us.

He wants to stay alive.

So do I, and I'm starving.

Oh, my dear, forgive me.

The boys are late checking in tonight.

Look, I tell you what.

Why don't you go on ahead, hmm?

Get yourself a cab.

I'll join you at Pierre's.

Couldn't we go somewhere else, hmm?

No. I like Pierre's.

My favorite restaurant, my favorite table.

My favorite girl.

You always know how to get around me.

(Hedden chuckles)

MAN: He can't. He's too busy now.

ROMALDI: Please. I got to find Mr. Hedden. Please.

I got to find Mr. Hedden.

Please! Please, I got to find him!

(overlapping chatter)

Hold it!

I'm looking for Mr. Hedden.

Happy days.

Why do you want to see Mr. Hedden?

I'm Gino Romaldi. Romaldi Barbershop.

You tell him I want to talk to him!

Who told you Mr. Hedden was here?

Who told me? This piece of paper told me.

I found it in Mr. Ducek's pocket.

Now, you tell me where I can find this Mr. Hedden.

I'm Mr. Hedden.

-You? -Yes, Philip Hedden.

Why are you looking for me?

I not looking for you. I looking for the other fellow.

I thought his name was Hedden.

Who?

The other fellow.

He... He got a big mark on his face.

Mark?!

Yes. I thought maybe he could tell me who bust up my shop,

who killed Mr. Ducek because they was friends.

What do you mean, they were friends?!

Well, sure. He come over to the shop all the time

to see Mr. Ducek.

What are you handing me?!

But it's true. He come to my shop every week!

(phone ringing)

Yes?

Phil?

Hello, Davey.

I wasn't sure you'd be there, Phil.

You're working too hard.

Well, anything to turn an honest dollar.

How did it go today?

Oh, not too bad.

The same old trouble with Schuster.

You know how he is.

Schuster?

He yelling again?

Yeah, that's what I mean.

I could quiet him down real quick

if you'll lend me Boley's chopper tonight.

Well, Boley's gone.

Uh, besides, I don't want any rough stuff right now.

Fed's ever got their hands on that chopper.

I'll tell you what.

I could talk to Schuster.

Why don't you call him, and, uh, tell him

I'll be at his place tonight?

Make it 10:00.

And, uh, you might sit in with us if you're free.

You know, he likes to feel important.

Yeah. Sure, I'll be there.

10:00 tonight.

(sighs)

You ain't gonna get that chopper.

He wants to talk to Schuster.

I'll have to dream up some kind of yarn,

like, uh, Schuster seen the light

and don't need no talking to or something.

Want us to cover you?

No. Hedden never spotted you.

I'm okay. He don't want no rough stuff right now.

You're calling it.

You get that chopper, I'll give you a medal.

Save it! I don't need no crummy medals!

Shavetails get medals.

Me-- I get this!

All these years, playing me for a patsy.

Softening me up.

ROMALDI: Mister, please!

You gonna tell me where to find this guy

that bust up my shop?

Yes.

Of course I am.

Anything to help.

Now this is Schuster Meats.

Front Street.

Try him there tonight at 10:30.

10:30. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Bye-bye.

When is Davey gonna call?

Said soon as he's through. Early, I hope.

Romaldi.

You don't find him, huh?

You don't find the fellow who shoot up my shop, huh?

We will, Mr. Romaldi. We've been busy.

Oh, sure, you've been busy. Big man.

You got no time for Romaldi.

I know you no gonna find him,

so I go out and look for myself.

-You found him? -No. No yet.

I know where to look.

Where? Who told you?

Who told me? Who told me?

The first man I ask.

Who's that?

Mr. Hedden. That who that.

What were you doing at Hedden's?

What was I doing?

I find his name in Ducek's pocket,

and I thought he was the man I show you his picture.

Little Dave McCain?

So, I thought maybe he could tell me

who kill his good friend.

You told Hedden that?

Sure.

He was Ducek's friend?

Sure.

Mr. Hedden is a nice man.

He want to help me.

He told me where to find him.

Look.

He gonna be here tonight.

Schuster's.

Wait here, Boley.

I want to do this myself.

Davey?

McCAIN: In the office, Phil.

Schuster ain't here yet.

What time is it?

Eight minutes past.

He's taking a long time.

Maybe we ought to take a look.

I think we should.

Hedden's car.

Eliot?

Cut him down.

There's a man in there.

Just paid for your shop.

WINCHELL: Phil Hedden's funeral

brought out gangland's top brass.

A full company of mourners paid to pay their respects.

And none more mournful than Little Davey McCain.

ROSSI: He looks real sad.

Yeah, I'll bet his little black heart is breaking.

If we had any real proof.

We don't.

(door opening)

Well, Eliot, he was leveling about the war.

Too bad.

He and Hedden served overseas together.

You mean that medal's for real?

He won it at the Argonne.

The medal and the field promotion.

Second Lieutenant.

And Davey?

Top sergeant. Applied for officer's training.

And?

He never made it.

Come back in an hour. I'll need you.

You know, it was a pretty good funeral.

Ought to be.

Cost me enough.

Cost us.

The alliance is paying for it.

(McCain sighs)

I'm the alliance.

The alliance is me.

Since when?

Since right now.

It's like the army.

Something happens to the shavetail,

I'm next in command.

Over my dead body.

Look, I've been with Hedden now for nine years.

I know this whole operation.

Knowing and doing are two different things.

You didn't do too good on Ducek.

Why? Davey, why?

'Cause you were tipping him.

Selling us out right down the line!

No more, Davey.

You're done. (laughs)

Yeah, we had a little meeting last night.

Got it all set.

Get him out of here.

Steve, get him out of here!

Louie?

Cass.

Dom.

Over your dead body...

if I have to.

My desk.

My chair.

You want 'em, you're gonna have to take 'em away from me.

Okay.

Pass the word, everything goes along like always.

All right, beat it.

Yeah, boss.

(McCain sighs)

Something eating you?

Phil Hedden.

He was supposed to meet somebody at Schuster's.

Oh, yeah.

Uh, some rat.

We'll have to find out who.

Hotel Northridge?

Miss Morris, please.

It's Megan Morris.

Do you know who she is?

Hedden's girl.

Hedden's dead.

That's something you maybe ought to get clear.

His dame, his car, his wine-- he can't use 'em no more.

And you can, huh?

Yeah, that's right.

About time, huh?

Spreading the medals around.

Hello. Megan?

This is Davey McCain.

Davey?

Yeah. Yeah, I-I've been worried about you.

Sitting home, moping.

You know what I mean?

I know what you mean.

McCAIN: I was just thinking, uh,

maybe dinner tonight.

I know you got a thing about Pierre's.

It's a shame to waste that table.

And all that good wine.

(laughs)

(door slams)

Yeah-yeah, honey.

Well, uh... well, I'd like to, but, uh,

well, I got to wait for the boys.

Yeah, that's a good idea.

Why don't you meet me there?

Yeah, I'll-I'll send my car over for you.

(laughs)

Hello, Boley.

I want to talk to you.

About what?

Little Davey McCain.

Want to get in?

Yeah, I want to get in.

(engine starting)

McCAIN: What do you mean, it's taken?

I asked for Hedden's table.

Monsieur, my maitre d' is a fool.

He does not have this much understanding.

What can I do?

Oh, okay.

I'm expecting a lady.

I'm gonna need some wine.

Wine? I am sorry. We do not serve wine.

You've got Hedden's stuff.

But monsieur...

What's the matter?

Mr. Hedden himself used the last bottle.

He had ten cases.

I brought 'em over myself three weeks ago.

But monsieur forgets the party with the soldiers.

But I promise you will not miss the wine.

I will order your dinner myself.

The whole thing. A pleasure.

(string instruments play upbeat song)

Don't try to hand me that. We had a date.

She was gonna meet me.

I talked to her this afternoon.

I-I'm sorry, sir. Miss Morris is out of town.

That's all I can tell you.

McCAIN: You tell her something when she comes back.

Tell her I said she could...

Forget it!

What do you mean, his apartment's rented?

He was just buried this afternoon.

We have a waiting list

without much sentiment, I'm afraid.

I'll raise your ante. Anything you ask.

I'll take the place just as it is.

No paint, no fixing. I'll move in tonight.

I am very sorry. The lease is signed.

Oh. What happened to his stuff?

Are you referring to his, uh, personal effects?

I was Mr. Hedden's best friend.

I think he'd want me to take care of his personal effects.

Just one moment.

Yes, here we are.

That's what I thought.

Uh, Mr. Hedden's stuff, uh, has been shipped.

Shipped?

On order of the next of kin.

It went by express, uh, picked up at 7:20.

Thanks.

Thank you.

I don't know, Eliot.

I don't know what good it's doing.

Neither do I, but there's a pattern to it.

So we keep slamming the door on his face. So what?

He's about to explode.

If he explodes, the alliance goes with him.

(phone ringing)

Eliot Ness.

Yes, Jack.

Good. Thanks.

-Rossman? -We got our fireworks?

Davey stopped at the express office near the hotel.

Came in all upset.

Told the driver to take him to the I.C. station.

(panting)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(panting)

(sighs)

NESS: Davey?

(panting)

It was a bad mistake, Davey.

Breaking into an express shipment.

Toss your gun out, Davey.

Davey, you got a gun?

I got a gun, Ness!

(gunfire)

(gunshot)

(gunshot)

(thudding)

He had it made, had it all.

NESS: Did he?

WINCHELL: With Little Davey dead and Boley in prison,

the Alliance of Master Butchers soon fell apart.

For the literal-minded, one ironic note--

the cash value of a Croix de Guerre

is approximately three and a half dollars.

The worst crime that could have been proved against Davey--

petty larceny.

The worst sentence-- six months in jail.