Original subtitles

[slow jazz music]

[slow jazz music]

[upbeat jazz music]

[upbeat jazz music]

[slow jazz music]

[slow jazz music]

[cans clattering]

[door creaking]

[door creaking]

[door slamming]

[door slamming]

[slow jazz music]

- Look, will you do me a favor?

- Look, will you do me a favor?

If you're gonna prowl, stomp.

I can sleep through noise,

but the patter of bare feet wakes me up every time.

but the patter of bare feet wakes me up every time.

- You know somethin'?

- You know somethin'?

You don't have to go to Athens to see ruins.

You don't have to go to Athens to see ruins.

- Athens?

- Athens?

[swelling jazz music]

[swelling jazz music]

[engine rumbling]

[engine rumbling]

[dynamite banging]

- Oh. Ah.

Oh, man.

Arnie?

Arnie?

Oh.

Oh. Oh.

Oh. Mmm.

[soft jazz music]

- Morning.

Uh, during Algebra I didn't feel so good.

Uh, during Algebra I didn't feel so good.

Mrs. Woods said I better come home.

Mrs. Woods said I better come home.

- What's the name of that guy that comes

- What's the name of that guy that comes

into the place all the time?

He wears those thick glasses.

You know, the guy who's always asking me

to play Down By the Old Mill Stream.

to play Down By the Old Mill Stream.

Doc, Doc.

- Oh, we're out of coffee.

I left a note so you know I didn't make any this morning.

I left a note so you know I didn't make any this morning.

I'll go get some now.

I'll go get some now.

Eggs, too.

I'll need some money.

- Line, Long.

- Line, Long.

Or um, Harris?

Come on, Arnie, help me remember.

Come on, Arnie, help me remember.

You know the guy.

He always sat by the window all the time

He always sat by the window all the time

and he beats his hand on the table to the music.

and he beats his hand on the table to the music.

Well, anyway.

Well, anyway.

I heard Kitty say that he's the best kid doctor

I heard Kitty say that he's the best kid doctor

in St. Louie.

She oughta know.

She oughta know.

She's got a kid herself. [chuckles]

She's got a kid herself. [chuckles]

What do they call kid doctors?

What do they call kid doctors?

It's a special name, ah,

I used to know it, I used to know it.

I used to know it, I used to know it.

It's a special name.

- Oh, pediatricians.

- Oh, pediatricians.

- Yeah, [chuckles] yeah, that's right.

[laughing]

[laughing]

Pediatrician.

Ah, you gotta get better just talking to a guy

Ah, you gotta get better just talking to a guy

with a title like that, huh?

- I'm okay.

- I'm okay.

I don't need a doctor.

- Um, Mrs. Broffer came early today, huh?

- Um, Mrs. Broffer came early today, huh?

- Um, Mrs. Broffer came early today, huh?

Boy, she sure emptied out the basket fast.

Boy, she sure emptied out the basket fast.

- I'll get milk, too.

- I'll get milk, too.

I'll need $2.00 dollars.

- Oh, sure, Arnie.

- Oh, sure, Arnie.

What'd you do with my wallet?

What'd you do with my wallet?

- Oh, I put it on the table.

I'll just take $2.00 dollars.

I'll just take $2.00 dollars.

- Well, Arnie.

Gee, take as much as you want, kid.

I mean, go out and buy yourself something.

I mean, go out and buy yourself something.

- Two's plenty, Dad.

- Two's plenty, Dad.

[soft jazz music]

[soft jazz music]

[door clicking]

- Hey, Arnie?

- Hey, Arnie?

You know you have a beautiful handwriting?

You know you have a beautiful handwriting?

They tell you that in school?

They tell you that in school?

We're gonna get out of this dump, kid.

We're gonna get out of this dump, kid.

I got my eye on a place.

I got my eye on a place.

Arnie?

[soft jazz music]

[soft jazz music]

Arnie?

Arnie?

Arnie?

Arnie?

Arnie?

You gone?

You were the one who threw my bottles out.

You were the one who threw my bottles out.

You threw my bottles out, didn't you?

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

[pins clattering]

[pins clattering]

- [Hannibal] Hey, Angie?

My friend wants a boilermaker.

My friend wants a boilermaker.

- [Muddy] No, no, no thanks.

- [Hannibal] Whiskey with a beer chaser.

- [Hannibal] Whiskey with a beer chaser.

[pins clattering]

- You never miss, do you Hannibal?

- You never miss, do you Hannibal?

- Yes or no?

- Yes or no?

I told you three o'clock today or I find another boy.

I told you three o'clock today or I find another boy.

Yes or no?

- I, ah, I only drink after dark.

- Drink up.

- Drink up.

- Um, 5000?

- I could get Willie for three.

- I could get Willie for three.

That's why you've been playin' hard to get.

That's why you've been playin' hard to get.

Holding me up till the last minute, eh?

Holding me up till the last minute, eh?

- Please, Hannibal.

Don't make me argue, huh?

I don't like to argue.

I don't like to argue.

People should get along.

- You come in for three, we get along.

At five, we're gonna argue.

At five, we're gonna argue.

We're gonna scream at each other for five.

We're gonna scream at each other for five.

- Well, three is no good for me.

I need five.

It's for Arnie.

- I know lots of 13-year-old kids.

- I know lots of 13-year-old kids.

None of 'em can tell the difference between

three grand and five grand.

three grand and five grand.

They're both like 10 mil to a kid.

You can make 'em just as happy with a threesey

You can make 'em just as happy with a threesey

as a five.

- So long, Hannibal.

This isn't the way, Hannibal.

This isn't the way, Hannibal.

Things should go smooth, nice and easy.

Things should go smooth, nice and easy.

I don't want any trouble.

Let's just forget the whole thing, huh?

Let's just forget the whole thing, huh?

Go get Willie.

- I say, sure.

- I say, sure.

There's plenty in it for everybody,

but why should you be greedy?

but why should you be greedy?

Muddy, all you gotta do is drive.

Muddy, all you gotta do is drive.

You just sit there, you wait, and then you drive.

You just sit there, you wait, and then you drive.

30 minutes work.

What's wrong with a hundred bucks a minute, huh?

What's wrong with a hundred bucks a minute, huh?

Huh?

- Hey, you see these teeth?

- Hey, you see these teeth?

See my hair?

You know what happens in stir?

After awhile your teeth start goin' bad,

After awhile your teeth start goin' bad,

you're hair starts thinning out.

I don't want to go back there,

I don't want to go back there,

not for $3000 dollars.

For five, for Arnie, okay.

For five, for Arnie, okay.

I'll take my chances.

Willie don't know the streets the way I know the streets.

Willie don't know the streets the way I know the streets.

If you get caught in that freeway traffic

at the four o'clock spill,

at the four o'clock spill,

the cops are gonna drop you a block after

you leave the factory.

you leave the factory.

You got no choice, Hannibal.

You gotta knock it over at four o'clock

or else there isn't anything to knock over, right?

or else there isn't anything to knock over, right?

or else there isn't anything to knock over, right?

- [Hannibal] Hey, Angie.

Another round.

Another round.

Bring me one, too.

- You know what scares me?

- You know what scares me?

He's too polite.

He's too polite.

I can understand when a man hasn't seen a kid

I can understand when a man hasn't seen a kid

after eight years.

He can change.

After all, he's only 13.

Does eight to five against me.

You know?

He pretends I'm sick, not drunk.

Sometimes when he picks me up off the floor

Sometimes when he picks me up off the floor

he says, "Come on, Dad.

he says, "Come on, Dad.

"You're tired."

Now why is that, Hannibal?

Huh?

What does it mean?

You know what I think it means?

I think that he don't care enough about me

to tell the truth, to be honest.

Not that I blame him.

Not that I blame him.

Any day now if I don't do something,

Any day now if I don't do something,

he's gonna walk out that door and never come back.

he's gonna walk out that door and never come back.

He hasn't been with me that long

that I can afford to lose him now.

that I can afford to lose him now.

Not just yet, not right now.

Not just yet, not right now.

[dramatic music]

- Well if you still don't like it here,

we could always move into the country

we could always move into the country

and get a little closer to the quarry.

- I didn't say that.

I said living in Gaslite Square was like

I said living in Gaslite Square was like

living inside a drum.

living inside a drum.

I haven't had a good night's sleep since we got here.

It's not that I don't like it.

It's not that I don't like it.

It's just that I don't know how long I can last.

[women laughing]

[women laughing]

There's so many distractions.

[upbeat jazz music]

[upbeat jazz music]

Somebody's been tampering with your compass, old buddy.

Magnetic north lies that way.

Magnetic north lies that way.

- Ah, but mine point stwoo, south.

- Ah, but mine point stwoo, south.

- It's a simple case of arithmetic.

South, three girls.

South, three girls.

North, six girls, right?

- Right.

- Right.

- Now suppose we go south.

There are two of us and three of them.

There are two of us and three of them.

Two and three don't mix.

That's like oil and water.

Somebody has to be an outsider.

Somebody has to be an outsider.

Result negative, right?

But if we go north, there are two of us and six of them.

But if we go north, there are two of us and six of them.

Now two goes into six three times.

Now two goes into six three times.

That's what you call a nice abundance of riches

That's what you call a nice abundance of riches

and nobody's an outsider.

Result positive.

Result positive.

So we go north, right?

- Right.

[sighing]

[sighing]

Oh boy.

[upbeat old-time piano music]

[upbeat old-time piano music]

- Hey, that's the guy I told you about

from across the hall this morning with the kid.

from across the hall this morning with the kid.

[throat clearing]

[throat clearing]

[upbeat old-time piano music]

[upbeat jazz music]

[upbeat jazz music]

It's after 1:00.

He oughta be asleep.

- Come on, let him go.

- This time of night, he should be in bed.

- This time of night, he should be in bed.

- Why?

So he can get up early in the morning

So he can get up early in the morning

and hide those empty whiskey bottles?

- Excuse me.

- Excuse me.

- Go ahead.

Ride the white horse.

Spin yourself a dragon.

Spin yourself a dragon.

[upbeat old-time piano music]

[upbeat old-time piano music]

- 1:15 for five bucks.

[upbeat old-time piano music]

[upbeat old-time piano music]

[glass clanking]

[glass clanking]

[crowd laughing]

[crowd laughing]

Now you know why this joint is called the 1:15 Club.

Now you know why this joint is called the 1:15 Club.

- For once honey, let Mike help him.

- For once honey, let Mike help him.

- He's tired, that's all.

Can't you see how tired he is?

Can't you see how tired he is?

- Tonight, Mike will take him home.

- Tonight, Mike will take him home.

- No, I can do it, thanks.

- No, I can do it, thanks.

- Ah.

Now don't go away, everybody.

Now don't go away, everybody.

I'll be right back.

[crowd laughing]

[crowd laughing]

You say it and I'll play it.

[laughing]

[laughing]

You say it and I'll play it.

[laughing]

[laughing]

Woo!

You say it and I'll play it.

You say it and I'll play it.

[horn whistling]

[horn whistling]

- Most of the traffic turns east,

- Most of the traffic turns east,

heads down towards the expressway, right, buddy?

heads down towards the expressway, right, buddy?

So what do you think is our best route west?

So what do you think is our best route west?

- Hannibal, do you like organ music?

- Gives me the creeps.

- Gives me the creeps.

About six blocks up we hit Harding Boulevard.

About six blocks up we hit Harding Boulevard.

Now from there we gotta get to Appleton

before the cops can get their roadblocks up.

before the cops can get their roadblocks up.

- You wanna see the plans?

- You wanna see the plans?

- No, I just came out here today

because I like to breathe all this carbon monoxide.

because I like to breathe all this carbon monoxide.

- See, he's got this thing about drums.

I gotta get his mind off it.

I gotta get his mind off it.

I guess maybe he figures that Percy would make

I guess maybe he figures that Percy would make

a better father than me, you know?

a better father than me, you know?

Or maybe he figures that in hitting the drums,

he's hitting me.

he's hitting me.

Anyway, I gotta, I gotta get him to switch.

Anyway, I gotta, I gotta get him to switch.

Maybe a pipe organ, huh?

See, it's built right in the wall like in a theater.

See, it's built right in the wall like in a theater.

See, it's built right in the wall like in a theater.

And this landlord says, you want to put

And this landlord says, you want to put

in a pipe organ, go ahead.

That was nice of him, wasn't it?

That was nice of him, wasn't it?

I mean, I know a lot of landlord's who wouldn't

even let you nail a picture in the plaster.

even let you nail a picture in the plaster.

That's somethin', huh?

That's somethin', huh?

- Now listen to me, Muddy.

- Now listen to me, Muddy.

Saturday at four o'clock,

me and Hacky and Boyd are gonna walk through

me and Hacky and Boyd are gonna walk through

those factory gates.

those factory gates.

We're gonna knock over a 50 grand payroll.

Then we're gonna walk out and we're gonna expect

Then we're gonna walk out and we're gonna expect

to see some real driving with you at the wheel.

to see some real driving with you at the wheel.

Now I don't know what you're up to here,

but I don't think you can cut it.

but I don't think you can cut it.

- You know, Hannibal?

- You know, Hannibal?

It would be a better world to live in

if people smiled all the time.

Sky blue, 24 hours a day.

Sky blue, 24 hours a day.

The worst thing we could do is to turn west

The worst thing we could do is to turn west

and hit Harding Boulevard.

That's what the cops will be thinkin' we'll do.

That's what the cops will be thinkin' we'll do.

The best thing to do is hit the freeway

in all that traffic.

in all that traffic.

- All right, Muddy.

You're out, Willie's in.

You're out, Willie's in.

- Get me a pickup truck and four motor scooters.

- Get me a pickup truck and four motor scooters.

We'll carry them in the back of the truck.

We'll carry them in the back of the truck.

When you, Hacky, and Boyd come out,

you get in the truck.

you get in the truck.

We go with the traffic.

I take an outside lane.

In three minutes we're on the freeway.

In three minutes we're on the freeway.

Right in the middle of all that traffic

Right in the middle of all that traffic

we ditch the truck.

We stop everything, cause confusion.

We stop everything, cause confusion.

We get out of the truck, we pull the motor scooters off,

and we go across the parkway.

and we go across the parkway.

We cut in and out of cars.

We go in places where even the cops can't follow us,

We go in places where even the cops can't follow us,

even with motorcycles.

even with motorcycles.

Right?

- Muddy, you're a genius.

You're a living, breathing genius.

You're a living, breathing genius.

- I gotta get back now.

- I gotta get back now.

I don't want my kid on the streets after school.

- Sure, Muddy, [chuckles] sure.

- Sure, Muddy, [chuckles] sure.

[bongo drum music]

[bongo drum music]

- Hey, little moth.

Come meet the flame.

Come meet the flame.

[bongo drum music]

- How'd you know I was here?

- How'd you know I was here?

- I could hear your wings.

- I could hear your wings.

- You don't need anyone, do you, Percy?

- You don't need anyone, do you, Percy?

- You got to feel it all the way.

- You got to feel it all the way.

Even the in-between.

Else wise, you need the music.

Else wise, you need the music.

A man who wants to play drums,

he can't hold nothin' back.

he can't hold nothin' back.

Not even tears, Arnie.

Especially not even tears.

Especially not even tears.

[bongo drum music]

[bongo drum music]

[solemn instrumental music]

[solemn instrumental music]

- Hi, Arnie.

I'm Tod Stiles.

This is Buz Murdock.

This is Buz Murdock.

We're neighbors.

We live right across the hall from you and your dad.

We live right across the hall from you and your dad.

We give you a lift home?

- No, I can walk, thanks.

- No, I can walk, thanks.

- Can't even get a foot in the door.

- Can't even get a foot in the door.

- You gotta take it outta your mouth first.

- You gotta take it outta your mouth first.

- Maybe you could do better.

- Maybe you could do better.

- Why not?

The neighborhood I was raised,

The neighborhood I was raised,

if a kid's dad was sober one day a week,

if a kid's dad was sober one day a week,

they ran him for mayor.

[drum and cymbal music]

[drum and cymbal music]

Oh, boy.

That sock cymbal style.

That sock cymbal style.

Strictly for squares.

Strictly for squares.

Why don't you use the top cymbal for your steady rhythm

and use that bass for the unexpected punctuation.

and use that bass for the unexpected punctuation.

Come on, let me show you.

That way you get rid of that sock four you've been using.

That way you get rid of that sock four you've been using.

Come on, move over, will ya?

Come on, come on.

Come on, come on.

[drum and cymbal music]

[drum and cymbal music]

You see, you get variety by syncopation,

You see, you get variety by syncopation,

the use of a main phrase.

Listen.

[drum and cymbal music]

[drum and cymbal music]

Six beats in length.

The three against two.

The three against two.

Did you hear it?

Don't lump the bass so much.

Don't lump the bass so much.

Remember, it's the drummer man that puts

the fire in the group.

the fire in the group.

And it's the rhythm section that makes jazz.

And it's the rhythm section that makes jazz.

- Man, where'd you learn?

- Well, Fridays was trash can day.

- Well, Fridays was trash can day.

Had a whole block full of kettle drums.

- You're just makin' that up.

- You wanna see the scars?

- You wanna see the scars?

See, I didn't have a father.

See, I didn't have a father.

I mean, I didn't have anybody to buy me

a set of drums like this.

a set of drums like this.

- I bought those with my own money.

- I bought those with my own money.

Took me forever to save up.

- Well, like I say, I hit trash cans on Friday.

- Well, like I say, I hit trash cans on Friday.

I had lampposts seven days a week.

Iron fences, manhole covers,

Iron fences, manhole covers,

window screens and whiskey bottles.

window screens and whiskey bottles.

Had the whole philharmonic on my block.

Not to mention a few skulls I used to practice on.

Not to mention a few skulls I used to practice on.

Not to mention a few skulls I used to practice on.

Where I came from you learned to be a drummer real quick.

Where I came from you learned to be a drummer real quick.

Don't mess up that beat.

Don't mess up that beat.

- [Arnie] You gotta go already?

- [Arnie] You gotta go already?

You just got here.

- Well, there's a place I want to check on

- Well, there's a place I want to check on

and I thought if there's a St. Louis branch

I'd drop by this afternoon.

I'd drop by this afternoon.

Have you got much homework?

- [Arnie] Will you keep the top down?

- [Arnie] Will you keep the top down?

- Is there any other way to go?

- Is there any other way to go?

- [Arnie] Let's cut out.

- Wanna leave your father a note?

- Wanna leave your father a note?

- [Arnie] I don't want to think about him right now.

- [Arnie] I don't want to think about him right now.

- How'd you do it?

- How'd you do it?

- I used to hate social workers.

They used to treat me like a virus

They used to treat me like a virus

and then they'd take their nose cones off

and then they'd take their nose cones off

and ride the 644 to Long Island

to their homes and worry about the crabgrass

to their homes and worry about the crabgrass

growing in the backyard.

Is that me?

Have I become the social worker?

Have I become the social worker?

Kids aren't goldfish that you pick out of a tank

at some five and 10,

at some five and 10,

something you throw away because they belly up.

something you throw away because they belly up.

You're stuck with 'em.

Once you start with 'em, you're stuck for good.

Once you start with 'em, you're stuck for good.

And afterwards, for every mark you leave on them,

And afterwards, for every mark you leave on them,

they leave 10 on you.

[horn honking]

You know, if anybody had done to me

You know, if anybody had done to me

when I was a kid that I'm now gonna do to Arnie,

when I was a kid that I'm now gonna do to Arnie,

taking me to the kind of place I'm gonna take him,

taking me to the kind of place I'm gonna take him,

I would a killed 'em.

I would a killed 'em.

Wrap 'em around a fire hydrant.

- [Tod] Where are you gonna take him?

- [Tod] Where are you gonna take him?

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

[soft instrumental music]

[knocking]

[knocking]

- [Tod] Hi.

- Um, I'm Muddy Mullins in G2.

- Um, I'm Muddy Mullins in G2.

- Yeah, come on in.

- Yeah, come on in.

- I seen you guys around in the club

and on the street.

- I'm washin' out some socks.

Why don't you come on in?

Why don't you come on in?

- I was comin' up the street and I, ah,

- I was comin' up the street and I, ah,

I seen Arnie with your buddy.

- Yeah, well, they'll be right back.

You play great piano, Mr. Mullins.

You play great piano, Mr. Mullins.

- I was gonna cook up a couple of steaks,

but I don't want to put 'em on until

but I don't want to put 'em on until

I'm sure he's comin' back.

I'm sure he's comin' back.

Pretty soon now, huh?

- Yeah, sure.

- Ah, nice meeting you.

- Ah, Mr. Mullins.

You're a widower, Mrs. Beckanbar said.

You're a widower, Mrs. Beckanbar said.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

- So was my dad.

We made out fine.

- This is the place.

- My dad played here for a Polish wedding.

- My dad played here for a Polish wedding.

- Come on.

- I used to be so ashamed the way my mother drank,

I'd lock myself in my room the minute I came in from school

I'd lock myself in my room the minute I came in from school

and I'd wait till my father came in from work.

and I'd wait till my father came in from work.

When he'd come in,

I'd run to him and plead with him.

I'd run to him and plead with him.

"Daddy, divorce her.

"Daddy, divorce her.

"She's no good, divorce her.

"She's no good, divorce her.

"Take me away.

"Take me someplace where we can raise our shades

"and live like normal, happy people."

"and live like normal, happy people."

- There's a kid I know down there.

- There's a kid I know down there.

Come on, let's go say hello, huh?

Come on, let's go say hello, huh?

- I was so busy feeling sorry for myself

- I was so busy feeling sorry for myself

and so ashamed of my mother,

I just couldn't think straight.

I just couldn't think straight.

But now that I've been coming to this group

But now that I've been coming to this group

and I've learned all of us have the same problem,

well, I don't feel like a, a freak.

well, I don't feel like a, a freak.

I feel that if you have a mother or a father

I feel that if you have a mother or a father

who's an alcoholic, you can help 'em.

I guess it's like they say.

Misery loves company.

Misery loves company.

But since I've been coming here,

But since I've been coming here,

I don't feel miserable anymore.

I don't feel miserable anymore.

I don't feel so, so alone.

[soft instrumental music]

[soft instrumental music]

- [Buz] Arnie!

- [Buz] Arnie!

Arnie?

Arnie!

Oh, kid.

You gotta stop runnin'.

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

- Hacky picked her up in east St. Louie

early this morning.

Used car lot that don't open till noon.

Used car lot that don't open till noon.

He says she got lots of juice,

but ah, you better check the engine.

but ah, you better check the engine.

- All night.

All night long, Buz and me,

we've been out lookin'.

Boy, he took it real bad.

He says, he says it's his fault.

He says, he says it's his fault.

You don't think it's his fault, do you, Hannibal?

You don't think it's his fault, do you, Hannibal?

[glass breaking]

Oh!

What, ah!

What, ah!

Oh.

- You don't drink till after dark, remember?

- You don't drink till after dark, remember?

- I don't know where he got to.

- Who?

What are you talking about?

What are you talking about?

- Arnie.

My boy, Arnie.

I don't know where he got to.

I don't know where he got to.

- He finally did it, huh?

- He finally did it, huh?

All right, buddy.

Pick the glass out of your pocket.

Pick the glass out of your pocket.

Here.

Don't cut yourself.

Don't cut yourself.

You got some fancy drivin' to do today.

You got some fancy drivin' to do today.

Here.

You gotta favor these famous hands.

You gotta favor these famous hands.

Come on, Muddy.

Pick the glass outta your pocket.

Pick the glass outta your pocket.

[glass clattering]

[glass clattering]

Just up and left, huh?

- The first year she brought him up to see me.

- The first year she brought him up to see me.

The third Sunday of every month.

The third Sunday of every month.

Boy, he sure looked different through that chicken wire.

Boy, he sure looked different through that chicken wire.

And she had a habit of always tying

his tie too tight, you know?

his tie too tight, you know?

So I said to him, Arnie, you're gonna choke yourself.

So I said to him, Arnie, you're gonna choke yourself.

Go ahead, kid.

Unloosen your tie.

Unloosen your tie.

And he sits there and he just stares at me

And he sits there and he just stares at me

because he never did anything that

she didn't want him to to do.

she didn't want him to to do.

After awhile it begins to bug me, you know?

After awhile it begins to bug me, you know?

Him in that tie and her sitting there

staring at me through the chicken wire.

staring at me through the chicken wire.

So I says to her, listen,

you know what they do to guys in here?

you know what they do to guys in here?

They hang them.

They tie 'em around the neck and they hang them.

They tie 'em around the neck and they hang them.

Now will you loosen the tie on that kid?

Now will you loosen the tie on that kid?

A little thing like that and she stops bringin' him.

A little thing like that and she stops bringin' him.

The next month she comes up and no Arnie.

The next month she comes up and no Arnie.

And she says to me, "Listen Muddy,

And she says to me, "Listen Muddy,

"you know what a father should be to a boy?

"you know what a father should be to a boy?

"He should be like a mirror, that's what.

"He should be like a mirror, that's what.

"A boy should look into the mirror of his father

"to see what he'll be.

"to see what he'll be.

"What kind of a cracked mirror are you," she says.

"What kind of a cracked mirror are you," she says.

"Somebody oughta scrape the quick silver

"off and make a window out of you.

"off and make a window out of you.

"That way maybe you won't block the view," she says.

"That way maybe you won't block the view," she says.

And I lose my head, you know,

and I try to grab,

and I want to get through that chicken wire,

but I can't.

She died that next year, and I never saw her no more.

She died that next year, and I never saw her no more.

Or the kid.

He was passed from one foster home after another.

He was passed from one foster home after another.

I ask ya, Hannibal, is that a life?

- Check the engine, Muddy.

Then we'll see how she looks underneath.

- Eh, she was right.

- Eh, she was right.

Diane was right.

What kind of a lousy cracked mirror am I?

What kind of a lousy cracked mirror am I?

I can't even stand to look at myself.

I can't even stand to look at myself.

How can I expect Arnie to?

Well, isn't that just like me, huh?

Well, isn't that just like me, huh?

A pipe organ.

I was gonna by him with a pipe organ.

I was gonna by him with a pipe organ.

And look what I was gonna do to get the money.

And look what I was gonna do to get the money.

[paper ripping]

[paper ripping]

All I ever wanted was to do the right thing.

All I ever wanted was to do the right thing.

But tryin' to do it, it always came out wrong.

But tryin' to do it, it always came out wrong.

I don't know why.

Because I wanted to do the right thing.

Because I wanted to do the right thing.

Maybe this time, huh?

Maybe this time, huh?

There's no easy way, is there, Hannibal?

There's no easy way, is there, Hannibal?

Go get Willie.

Go get Willie.

I'm not drivin'.

[soft instrumental music]

[soft instrumental music]

[dramatic music]

Cut it out, will ya?

Cut it out, will ya?

- [Hannibal] Come on, Muddy, buddy.

- [Hannibal] Come on, Muddy, buddy.

Come here, come here, Muddy.

- [Muddy] You're not gonna stop me, Hannibal.

You're gonna have to shoot me first.

You're gonna have to shoot me first.

And if I can still breathe,

I'm gonna crawl out of here if it's the last

thing I ever do.

I'm gonna find my kid, if I have to crawl all over town.

I'm gonna find my kid, if I have to crawl all over town.

- You like to drink, don't you, huh?

- You like to drink, don't you, huh?

How about it, Muddy?

How about it?

- [Tod] Hey, Mud?

- Who is that?

What did you tell them, loose lips?

What did you tell them, loose lips?

- I didn't tell him anything.

I just told him where he could find me

in case he found out about,

in case he found out about,

he found out about Arnie.

he found out about Arnie.

I'm down here.

- Buz just called in.

He thinks maybe he found him.

He thinks maybe he found him.

Can't tell for sure.

- Well, what do you mean he can't tell for sure?

- Well, what do you mean he can't tell for sure?

- Come on, hurry up, will ya?

- Come on, hurry up, will ya?

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

- Arnie!

Hold on, kid!

Hold on, kid!

Hold on, kid.

Hold on, kid.

[horn honking]

- Where is he?

Where's my kid?

- Yesterday when I told him I worked here

- Yesterday when I told him I worked here

he said that's what I need, is a hole in the ground.

- Well, where is he?

- Well, where is he?

- I saw him in the garage and I went after him,

but he ducked out and then I heard him

yelling from up there.

yelling from up there.

Don't ask me how he got up there.

[dramatic music]

Hey!

Hey!

You'll scare him right off!

- Get in.

[tires squealing]

[dramatic music]

[grunting]

[grunting]

We could try from the top.

We could try from the top.

There's a rope in the warehouse.

There's a rope in the warehouse.

[tires squealing]

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

Keep it in reverse just above an idle.

Keep your foot on the brake just in case

those rocks under the wheels--

those rocks under the wheels--

- Wait a minute, wait a minute.

Where does it say that you're the mountain climber?

Where does it say that you're the mountain climber?

- Whose kid is he, huh?

That's my kid.

That's my kid.

That's my kid.

That's my kid down there.

[engine starting]

[engine starting]

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

- Ah!

- Take it easy, Arnie.

- Take it easy, Arnie.

Arnie, take it easy.

Arnie, take it easy.

I won't drop ya, Arnie.

I won't drop ya.

I won't drop ya, Arnie, come on.

I won't drop ya, Arnie, come on.

[soft instrumental music]

[soft instrumental music]

[upbeat old-time piano music]

[upbeat old-time piano music]

- [Tod Voiceover] Whoever invented time,

- [Tod Voiceover] Whoever invented time,

God should wind him back across ten million

turnings of the earth,

turnings of the earth,

and make him sweat out the next 10 minutes with us.

and make him sweat out the next 10 minutes with us.

Whoever invented clocks,

he should be made to come back, too,

he should be made to come back, too,

and endure the eternity between 1:14am

and endure the eternity between 1:14am

Central Standard Time and 1:15,

only a minute away.

Let the men who measure things tell us

what a minute really is.

what a minute really is.

Is that the total 13 years of boy's life

Is that the total 13 years of boy's life

depend on the moving hand of a clock?

Is it all 34 years of man?

How much ridicule can a minute contain?

How much ridicule can a minute contain?

How much despair?

How much hope?

How much hope?

[glass breaking]

[glass breaking]

[upbeat old-time piano music]

[upbeat old-time piano music]

[upbeat jazz music]

[upbeat jazz music]

- [Speaker] This has been a Screen Gems film presentation.

Herb B. Leonard, executive producer.

Herb B. Leonard, executive producer.

[upbeat jazz music]

[upbeat jazz music]

[END CREDITS]