Original subtitles

One of the evils uncovered by the McClellan Committee was

the evil which results when a crooked union conspires

with crooked management to keep down the wages of honest

American workers by means of sweetheart contracts.

The hearings were in their fourth week,

and the reason for my being in Washington was to cover

the proceedings in my column entitled The Corruptors.

One of the star witnesses called on by the committee

to testify on his behalf was Chuck King,

who advocated a new union for his company despite repeated threats against his life.

Just outside of Chuck King's apartment, another show was going on.

This one without any seeming political overtones.

Help!

But he died, Allison. That boy died.

Yes, he did.

Unless I'm mistaken, Marino may be here to find out how he died.

Suppose he has some questions about the late Mr. King.

Not handling.

When I told you Chuck King was causing trouble, I didn't mean he was to be killed.

I didn't mean anything like that. That's exactly what you meant.

Now look, Mr. Wilson.

Let's consider what you've got going for you here.

See all those workers out there working away like busy little bees?

All sorts of cunning things with lathes and planers, all manner of machinery.

Empty heads on muscular backs.

For you, Mr. Wilson.

Do you want to measure that against some boys dying? Do you?

Do you?

I don't even want to look at you.

It's all right with me.

Then don't you bait me.

Look, can I say something? Thank you.

I think you got things a little confused, Mr. Wilson.

You're not going to tell me that you've never

destroyed anybody to get where you are.

That boy was destroyed quickly.

The tactics were different.

The results you're familiar with, Mr. Wilson.

What you did is murder. That boy was screaming his

head off about the crooked union you had here.

He's going to go to Washington and tell everything he knew.

You paid me $200,000 to see to it that you got that crooked union.

You wanted to keep wages low, grievances at a minimum.

You wanted to see to it that nothing went wrong.

I did that for you, Mr. Wilson, didn't I?

How's your daughter?

Put that picture down.

All I did was ask how Patricia was.

Leave her alone.

Leave her alone.

I hate to be the one to tell you, Mr. Wilson, but your daughter is...

You know her latest bit? She's standing out in front of the gate

passing out pamphlets saying that you cheat your employees.

Mr. Marino is here, sir.

Show him in.

You be careful with that fellow. Don't worry about it.

Mr. Wilson?

I'm Jack Wilson. It's a pleasure, Mr. Marino. How do you do?

And this is my public relations consultant, Robert Allison. How do you do?

Pleasure.

I appreciate this interview, Mr. Wilson. Not at all.

I know you're a busy man. Well, I guess we both are. Let's get right down to cases,

then. What did you have in mind?

I'm doing a series on sweetheart contracts. Sweetheart contracts?

That's bad business. We don't believe in that.

Those are contracts where management and labor are strange bedfellows.

They're always substandard as far as employee salaries and benefits are concerned.

They're frequently arranged through a middleman.

Often called a labor relations consultant.

I understand you have such a contract here, Mr. Wilson, do you?

Our employees are as happy as birds.

The only thing substandard about us is our bowling team.

We were last in the league. Then why are you holding an election here next week?

Why have some of your employees petitioned for a new union?

When are you going to get around to mentioning the alleged murder?

Well, why not now? The boy's name is Chuck King.

He advocated the new union.

Went to Washington, and now he's dead.

He got in a drunken brawl, got himself cut up, and now he's dead.

Just that?

Exactly that.

Nothing whatever to do with his union activities?

Not a thing.

I think you ought to see how things have run around here, Mr. Marino.

No punches pulled, holding back nothing. Well, that'd be fine.

There's a meeting of our workers' council in about 15 minutes. You know,

our company built clubrooms.

And I'm sure they're very fine clubrooms.

They are.

Let's take a look-see.

All right.

Let's take a look-see.

And besides the frankfurters, coleslaw, baked beans, potato salad,

we got 60 gallons of ice cream, 200 cases of soda pop, beer. How about beer?

We'll run a pipeline from the brewery just for you.

I got 20 barrels of beer down here, Mr. Allison.

Well, it looks like we're going to have a pretty good picnic, doesn't it?

Yes, sir.

Jonesy, you send all the vouchers to the paymaster. Don't forget it.

How about that?

Jonesy, do you mind?

Go right ahead. Look, what I'd like to talk about

today is the up-and-coming union elections.

Now, you won't stop me if I'm wrong,

but it looks like we got a pretty fine local going

for us here, doesn't it? I mean, all of you.

People working under you.

You're all making out pretty good, aren't you?

That's a big thing, isn't it? I mean,

what management wants me to mention here today is that, well, it's above money.

It's a direction. It's a social life.

It's the good times that we have together, the

softball leagues, the basketball leagues.

Now, pretty soon you're gonna have to decide on

whether or not to bring a new union in here.

Now, that's a union that doesn't understand our problems.

They talk about money, more money.

But as your friend, I want to tell you something.

I don't know whether this management can survive paying you higher wages.

Oh, it could.

Believe me, it really could. Honest. You're

being conned. Why are you conning me, Ralph?

Why am I asking you a question like that, you rat?

Hello, Patty.

Hello, Patty.

You all know Miss Wilson?

She went to Europe for some culture.

And to learn how to behave herself.

Yeah, you bet.

Well, carry on. Unfurl the banners, beat the drums slowly, and all that jazz.

And I'm sorry for the interruption, but I'm the boss's daughter,

and that makes it all right, you know?

No, you don't know.

You don't even know you're being conned.

Well, it doesn't look like Europe did much good. Tom,

what do you think about what I said? Oh, miss.

Miss.

What do you want?

My name's Reno. I'm from New York.

I hate New York.

I'm writing an article on your father's mind. Trisha!

Why?

You, uh, broke up the meeting, honey.

I'm glad.

I know.

You glad I'm back, Robbie?

Of course I'm glad.

Liar!

Good, sweetie.

Suffer, please.

It's a girl with a problem, wouldn't you say?

Yeah, I'd say so.

What is her problem?

Whatever's at hand that she wants, that's her problem.

And also, too much money and too much booze, who

knows? Now, Mr. Marino, the place is yours.

You go anywhere you want, talk to anyone you want.

You'll find out what I told you is true.

We're all happy as little birds around here.

Excuse me, I got some work to do.

Let's not forget this. Why don't we say it out loud? Mr. Ellison,

Cat and Mouse is for negotiators.

We're not here to negotiate, are we?

What you want me to do is sell out my... Did I say anything like that, Miss Becker?

No, you didn't.

You're very pretty, Miss Becker.

Thank you.

But if I go to Hawaii, how long?

Oh, I'd say...

About a couple of weeks. In other words,

you want me out of town during the elections.

That's right. But I should be directing my union during that time, Mr. Allison.

How can you do that when you're in Hawaii?

I'm president of an honest union. The way I see it, Mr. Ellison,

the union now entranced at the Empire Lumber Company

is not exactly honest. I wouldn't say that.

Oh, I know you wouldn't say it, but I would.

And that's why the elections are being held next week, Miss Becker.

The workers are going to vote on whether they want an honest union, my union,

or the union they now have. Do you see that, dear?

All I know is that I'm going to Hawaii.

Why did Mr. Allison bring you here, dear? I told you I met Miss, uh,

Becker in the travel agency. She was buying a ticket to Hawaii.

And by coincidence... That her stateroom is right next to mine.

Isn't that nutty?

Oh, and what about expense money? It'll be waiting

for you at the hotel. Say, uh, $50,000?

That's about it.

And that's the whole picture?

That's the whole picture.

Well, to you, Miss Becker, aloha. Huh?

Now, get out.

Well, aloha.

Now, Mr. Allison, if you don't mind, well, maybe we can offer you more money, Mr.

Hummers. Maybe that can be arranged.

Now, what did that prove, that you're an honest man, that you run an honest union?

Well, let me tell you something, Mr. Hollis. I sat in a chair like yours once,

and a man came into me, and he talked to me, and I got smart.

So you can't be bought, huh?

Well, before this is over, Mr. Hollis, a lot of people are going to be.

And there's nothing you can do about it.

The next few days I spent around the mill, listening, talking, getting information.

The election was getting closer, and opinions were becoming more categorical.

As of now, who would win the election? The new union or the old was a toss-up.

Then a new development.

Intimidation, or what seemed to be. We don't need this kind of thing around here.

Next thing they'll be doing is beating me up, or you, or you, or you.

We don't need this kind of thing around here. They wait for the night shift.

Then look, this is what they do,

just because I won't have anything to do with their mill and lathe union.

They hire goons to do this. Look, mister.

Unless you think the Mill and Lake Union had anything to do with that. Who are you?

My name is Hollis. I'm here to help organize the Mill and Lake Union. Yeah, well,

you're just a man I want to see.

Now, you get your lousy goons out of town. You don't belong.

We were doing great until you came in. Who needs you?

You do.

You really do, my friend.

Look at this car. Look at my windshield. Look at the tires.

Mr. Hollis, my name's Marino.

Oh, yes, I understand you've been trying to get in touch with me.

Is now a pretty good time? Oh, sure.

How about some coffee?

Fine.

You know, I've heard a great deal about you, too.

Tell me, uh... What are you doing here?

Oh, I'm doing a piece on sweetheart contracts. Well,

you've come to the right place for that. Thanks.

You think my union really wrecked that man's car?

Nope. That's an old trick, you know.

He was paid to have his car wrecked. Probably paid to yell at my union about it.

Got me to fix up his car like new and probably give him a raise. Neither.

Mister. Huh?

I was in the parking lot just now. So?

I just want you to know that I'm on your side.

Why?

The lousy contracts we've got now, that's why.

You want to know something?

I make less money here than jobs just like mine in the next town. Well,

you know how to vote then, huh? And I'll tell you something else.

My family's got an emporium.

You know, an appliance store.

The wages that people get here, they can't pay their bills.

So you tell me, what good is it to have a factory here

if they don't have enough money to live right?

Well, you tell your friends that. You don't have to worry about that, mister.

You can't buy refrigerators on picnics and ping-pong.

I just wanted you to know how I felt, that's all. Well, thank you very much.

Well, you could chuck a good one up for us, and that's

one that Allison lost. You ever meet Robbie?

Yeah, I met him, all right.

He's an influence peddler, a metal man. He knows the crooks on both sides,

and he gets them together. He's a real spoiler. But a charmer.

He's a charmer, all right.

He creates goodwill, makes surveys, organizes

picnics, ball games, Christmas turkeys.

Good coffee.

Hold it a minute. What are you after? Me?

Somebody ask you to keep an eye on me?

Robbie, maybe?

Whatever gives you that idea, mister.

Maybe it's because I see you every time I look over my shoulder.

You got me all wrong, mister. I just work around here.

Taking a little walk.

You know, unconstitutional.

Anything wrong with that, mister?

It's the face.

Everybody thinks they know me.

I've been watching him and remembering.

You go well with company picnics in twilight.

I go well with everything, sweetie.

You wouldn't know.

You just waltzed me around in quiet corners at night times before.

They were wild times, weren't they?

I found a few in Europe while I was away.

They were wild, too.

I missed you, Patty.

What do you want from me, Robbie?

Nothing.

Robbie, forget it.

We need to talk, don't we, Patty?

No.

I need to talk to you.

What about... I don't know, I just know I need to.

Let it happen, Patty.

Sure.

Let's walk.

Is it always that easy for you?

Is what always that easy?

The world, people, girls.

You appear, and always someone to move aside and say, be my guest.

Yes.

You want to know?

Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's not so easy.

But nothing daunts Robbie, hmm?

You do.

Oh, I'm something special.

Well, let's put it this way, Patty. You're never far out of my mind.

Always up there somewhere in the corner of me.

That boy who brought me the drink said the same thing earlier.

He was so sincere, his glasses missed it.

Don't put me on, Patty.

I don't want jokes.

What do you want?

I want you. I need your help.

You need help?

That's right.

I want you to set me straight on some things,

things that I don't seem to understand anymore.

Like truth, and honor, and dignity, platitudes like that?

Like that.

For the people who work for my father, the people you're selling out,

like you sold me out. You just walked away when you got what you wanted, this job.

Hey, see, I do need your help.

Don't you think we could start again, Patty?

Sure.

Why not right now? The place by the lake? We always used to enjoy walks by the lake.

I used to go there alone while you were... I doubt it.

No, not tonight, sweetie.

Tease yourself with it.

And when you're going out of your mind, call me.

I'll call you.

Then I'll probably laugh at you.

I know.

Bye, Paddy.

And it is kind of ridiculous.

My own daughter.

My own daughter standing on... Soap boxes, Papa.

Ranging to his employees that her father is a thief.

Well, you are, Pop. Dad.

You know what I think?

I think that Brandy is the booze of the defeated.

Is that why we both drink it?

I don't understand you.

I know.

For example, I don't understand why you don't move back into this house.

Because I have a house.

It's my own. It's away from everything.

And your own house is better to be lonely in.

But you don't understand that either, do you?

I'm with you.

Now what?

Robbie Allison.

Oh, Robbie.

I think we ought to drink to Robbie.

For he is a sling and arrow of both our misfortunes. Wouldn't you say so?

No.

Oh, but he is.

You were with him at the picnic.

I don't want you to see him again.

Because he's evil.

Why not?

He is.

And corrupt.

That too.

Cynical.

Without the morals of a... Snake?

Oh, no, no, no, no.

I think a special word should be coined for him.

Yes?

Oh, it's been three days since that picnic, Angel.

That's right, that long.

Where are you? Oh, yes. Yes, I know where it is, Robbie.

Well, I'll try. I really will, but I'm not sure.

Look, why don't you wait an hour or so, and if I'm not there by then,

we'll make it some other time.

Goodbye.

Are you going to meet him?

It's the nature of the beast, Pops.

I don't like it either, but I can't help it.

You stay here.

Are you kidding?

I don't want you to leave this house.

Oh, come on.

Patricia, why must you always humiliate me, embarrass me?

I don't know.

That must be part of the beast, too.

Good evening, miss.

Who is he?

Well, that's Sidney.

He's an old school child of mine. We sculled together and shared a locker.

You look lovely. Very lovely.

I tried.

You got it made just the way you are, Patty. Don't tell me you have to try.

Oh, but I do.

To correct an impression.

Yours of me. May I have a brandy?

Well, that's why we're here. Drinks and impressions.

Johnny, a brandy for the lady?

Let's start this whole thing off with a thud, shall we?

I don't trust you.

I think what you want to do is make me love you again, so that you can use me again.

For what, honey?

If that rotten union of yours gets voted out, then you'll be out of a job.

That's right, and I like my job.

And I've been saying it should be voted out.

That's because you're a flip, honey.

Don't call me honey.

Honey doesn't go with this dress.

Okay.

I believe that these people are not getting what belongs to them.

And it's good to believe in something.

Isn't it?

What I'm trying to do is set things straight between you and me.

Well, that's fine, honey.

I believe in it, honey.

You want to talk about it, Simone?

No.

You want to dance?

Yes.

You still do it, don't you?

Play a little road roulette, drive with your eyes closed.

Do what?

Would you cry if I got killed?

We'd go together, honey.

Now, that's an interesting thought, isn't it?

A few days ago, there was some talk about your needing help.

And I mentioned the lake.

Yeah, let's do that.

All right.

Stop for a bottle?

Why not?

I know you.

Who am I?

My enemy.

Why?

Because I want you to be.

Because it's more exciting that way, isn't it?

All right.

Oh, Robbie, I am worried about you, sad about you, what you do to yourself,

what you do to people, what you do to me. I know.

Don't change.

No. You know what?

I hate you.

Hi, Paul. Well, am I glad to see you.

Why weren't you on flight 702? Well, I overslept,

but I did get the second flight out. Oh, brother. Boy, am I hungry.

Have you ordered yet? Look, I'm sorry to give you the rush act, Jack,

but we're right up against a deadline. The union elections are only in a few days.

Right now, it looks like a toss-up.

But first, is there anything new on that murder in Washington? Oh, yeah, yeah.

Turns out that the organ grinder did see a stranger right near the house.

But I think he was a little scared because his description wasn't very clear.

At least there's something to work on. Hey,

what do you want me to do about this Robbie Allison?

I want you to meet him.

See if you can get him to make a deal with you.

You know, there's not much time left, Pa. I know, but I was thinking if you were...

Well, sort of an advanced man, you know, a representative of a syndicate, say,

that was trying to relocate a factory.

Now, your concern is labor.

You don't want to have any bother about high labor costs, understand?

What about a cover? Well, that's all said, I've been talking to New York.

You're Robert Agnew, construction consultant.

And there it is.

Eighty acres, Mr. Agnew.

Just begging.

Begging for concrete pylons to be driven into it.

Concrete and steel, that's all it needs. Oh?

That's the kind of plant you had in mind, wasn't it, Mr. Agnew?

A real modern-type mill? That'd be a show place?

That's right.

Let me tell you, we're eager for you to have it.

Real eager.

What about the labor picture? Oh, very handsome, Mr. Agnew.

Right pretty.

We understand about runaway factories.

Don't kick it around, Mr. White. Just lay it out straight.

We think about establishing a new mill.

We think about the labor picture.

So tell me about it.

We got our help from out of the field, some small non-paying farms.

You set them up in glass, concrete, and steel, like I told you.

Pay them every week.

They're going to be grateful. They're going to

love you, Mr. Agnew. What about the unions?

What do they have to say?

That's the smallest worry you've got in the whole wide world.

All you got to do is buy the property, tell them what you want,

offer them your hand, and they're going to eat right out of it.

It'll say that in the escrow? Better than that.

I get it all arranged before we even set down to wheel and deal.

You arrange it, huh?

It'd please me to do that, Mr. Agnew.

And I know just the man you want to see.

Yeah.

Yeah, Charlie, go on.

Hold it, Charlie.

The organ grinder finally got over being scared. He described the man. Youngish,

blonde, medium height. Said he could identify him if he saw him again.

Ask him about mug shots.

What about mug shots, Charlie?

Said he went through a whole library full of them. Nothing.

Anything else?

No, not right now.

OK, Charlie. Thanks a lot. You're a good boy.

Yeah. Keep in touch.

Well, that gets us nowhere. Oh, I wouldn't say that.

That nice man from the industrial development company's

got me set up tonight with Robbie Allison.

Three of us for dinner. Three of you, huh?

That's pretty advanced. I hope so.

I'll give you a full report on it.

Hey, where you going?

Oh, they didn't include you.

Oh, I got one of my own.

With a monkey.

He kicked him like he was nothing.

Like he was dirt or something.

Freddy's got more brains in his tail than that big guy's got in his whole head.

Big guy?

Your size.

Mmm, smaller maybe. And he wore a dark suit, just like I told the detective.

What do you want to ask me for? All these questions, I've got no head.

Who else am I going to ask? He doesn't talk.

Don't you be too sure.

Freddy's a genius.

Now you stop that, Freddy. You behave.

Did you see him coming out of the building? I didn't see nothing. All of a sudden,

he was there. This guy kicking my little fella.

He's got it coming, right? Then help us find him.

Sure, how? Already told the police.

He was a guy with blonde hair and a mean-looking face, the kind that never laughs.

Kind of young.

College kid.

You show him to me. I bet I recognize him.

Freddy, you behave. You hear me? I gotta feed him. Tomorrow's another working day.

Well, all right, Mr. Amato.

I'll leave this address with you in case you think of something else.

It'd be a pleasure. Freddy may want to see

that guy get kicked back. Believe you, us.

Hey, wait a minute.

I remember something else.

That guy, he had sick feet.

Sick what? Feet.

The guy that kicked Freddy. He had on those shoes a special

made for flat feet. Oh, what do you call them?

The laces on the side, made right to the feet. Oh, space shoes. That's the ones.

Oh, Freddy, how many times I got to tell you, it's no good you eating shoes.

It's way past his dinner time.

Feed him, Mr. Romano.

Feed him good.

Here you go, Freddy.

All for you.

How about that?

Turns out Freddy can talk after all, right?

Let me impress you, Miss Agnew.

You name it, it's yours. We haven't got it, we get it. Anything you want.

Shin-shin.

We'll eat later.

We meeting who, Mr. Allison?

Robert Allison Associates Incorporated. That's me, Robbie.

Robbie to my friends. What's it take to be your friend, Robbie?

Frankly speaking.

That's right.

Well, I checked on you, Mr. Agnew.

The syndicate you represent in New York has the type

of financial rating that I like to deal with.

Well, now we can be friends, huh?

You want your mill to run like a clock, I'll take care of it.

Oh, I think our management can take care of that. Well,

I'm not demeaning your management. I'm just offering you my good and unique office.

For how much?

Well, we'll consider this meeting to be an exploratory one.

Well, that's okay, but before we get away from it,

I would like to get a few numbers in my mind.

$25,000 buys you three months of me and my expenses.

What you said, your good and unique office.

I'll explain to you exactly what that means a little later on.

You like my taste? I think you've got great taste, Robbie.

It looks like you two are going to have fun together, huh?

Seems to be sort of a chemical reaction.

Have fun doing what?

Mr. Agnew is planning on building a mill here.

He's going to have a lot of lonely nights here.

You're having a dull moment.

I'll take a rain check.

Until you come up with someone else. All it needs is all the speed I can handle.

Get in trouble? Forget it, Sidney.

Let go of me. Let go of me.

You're making it a little difficult.

You made me cheat. I'm ashamed.

All right, call your friend back.

He doesn't know what he's missing.

Goodbye, Annie.

Robbie.

Get your hands off of me. You're a stone. Get your hands off of me.

Robbie.

All of a sudden, I can't stand the sight of you.

They're no use to me anymore. That spells D-E-A-D.

D-E... Dead, honey.

It spells dead.

Buy yourself some drinks when that runs out.

I'm sure any of these gentlemen here will be glad to oblige.

Scotty, don't leave me.

I'll tell him what you are.

I'll tell him what you've done. I'll tell him all the rotten,

evil things that you've done.

You tell him, honey. You're in a floor show.

You know who he is?

That's Robbie Allison. Dirt and filth and...

Robbie Allison.

Well, now, just sit there and go get him. You

tell him, girlie. You tell him. Whoa, girl.

Go, girl. Don't stop now.

Patricia, you home? Patricia?

Patricia?

What?

What are you doing here?

What?

You said, what are you doing here? What do you want?

Do you know what I ought to do to you?

Should have done it a long time ago, Pop.

Really should have.

The paddle over the knee, the whole thing.

What kind of scene was that at that nightclub?

A doozy.

That's what scenes like that are called, doozy.

You gonna hit me, Daddy?

Daddy?

You gonna hit me? No.

No.

No, no, no, no, no. I got put down, Papa.

The lad put me down. Oh, Robbie just turned his back and walked away.

He hurt you?

Oh, come off it, Pop. Even the pose is lousy.

Let me help.

Now say it. Say, I'll kill him.

Say, I'll kill Robbie.

I'll say it, Dottie.

You can't.

And you know why?

Because you need him.

For power, for money.

Because you don't have the guts to perform your own corruption.

I'm not going to let him hurt you anymore.

Nothing you can do about it. Daddy, don't you know what he is?

He's my death.

I don't understand that kind of talk.

I know.

But that's what he is.

His face is what my death looks like.

He...

Forget it, forget it, forget it.

Patty, I'm sorry for everything, about everything that happened. I'm sorry.

Why didn't you do that a long time ago?

What?

Touch me.

Where were you?

Where were you when I needed you, when I was helpless, when I cried?

I never saw you cry.

That's right.

I never do.

You're right about that.

I never do. Oh, Patty.

No!

It's too late! It's too late! Everything's over! It's over!

Patty!

Why did you come here, Patricia?

Because I've made up my mind about something.

I don't want to die.

What?

You don't know what I'm talking about either, do you? What?

No, I don't.

Please take my word for it.

And my living depends upon my cutting Robbie out of my life.

I take your word.

I had an idea that you might like to get him. Isn't that how you say it?

Well, yes.

Fine. Then I'm on your side.

What has Robbie been doing to sabotage the union elections?

I don't know.

Did he ever mention Chuck King to you, the boy who was murdered?

Oh, Mr. Marino, he's a bright man. Do you really think he'd tell me he's a murderer?

No.

Still, there must be something.

Men would come up to his apartment.

What men?

Men from the factories.

New men who just turned up.

I know.

Probably just about the time the Labor Relations Board

gave permission for a new election.

Men who suddenly turned up as new employees in key positions of the factories.

All of them in favor of keeping the old union, talking it up.

We have a term for it, the mysterious stranger technique.

They came to Robbie to report.

I guess so.

Did you ever hear what was said?

No.

Well, not at that end, then.

No, it was Sidney.

He was always there.

Who was Sidney?

Young and blonde and evil-looking.

He never said anything, and every time I came around,

Robbie would tell him to leave.

That's all, huh?

Yes.

I guess I'm not much help, am I?

I don't know. I don't know if I'd do much good,

but why don't you go to your father? Tell him about Robbie.

Mr. Marino, my father and I have never talked the same language.

Why do you think I moved out of his house?

You live by yourself?

Yes.

Where?

I have a house just north of town.

It's perfect.

What?

Suppose you got a little bit wrecked. Not very much,

just a few hundred dollars worth.

I don't understand what you mean.

Robbie is going to wreck your house tomorrow night.

Going to what?

You'll have to go to him, Patty. I'll tell you what to say.

No, no, I'm not going to.

You've got to.

Why? Just tell me why.

Because we can stop him.

Stop him from dirtying everything he touches.

All right.

I'll get it, Sidney. How do you do?

Hello, Robbie.

What can I do for you?

I want to come in.

Oh, your magazine?

No, no, I wouldn't do that.

I'd just go away.

Good man.

Sidney.

Morning, miss.

Pretty busy, Patty.

I want to tell you how sorry I am.

Tell me.

I'm sorry.

Why don't you write it on a postcard 500 times and mail it to me?

Robbie, I'll do anything you want.

Now I know you don't know what you're talking about.

I do, Robbie.

I'll do anything you want.

Like what?

Like the elections tomorrow.

What about it?

Well, you want to win, don't you?

We don't want a new union at the mills, do we?

No.

The talk, as I decide, could win.

That's all right.

If something's bugging you, Patty, what is it, huh?

Well, everybody knows what I think of that rotten

company union of yours, isn't that so?

But you've been a little out of touch lately, honey.

That miniature accustomed place by the gate handing out pamphlets.

Maybe I've been taken.

By whom?

This new company union, which isn't really

honest at all. In fact, it's very corrupt.

How does that figure?

What could swing the election? Something spectacular, like my house.

I could say that whatever happened to my house

was done by this shiny new honest union.

Would you?

For you, I would.

If you asked me to, I would.

I'm asking.

I did all of it.

Stick around a while, Mr. Allison.

You won this one, Mr. Marino, but tomorrow is another day. A better one for us,

maybe. Well, let's not kid ourselves, huh?

There's always gonna be enough people around that'll buy my pitch.

Easy money.

Promises. We learn all the time, Robbie.

Today it's Pat Wilson growing up, tomorrow the rest of us.

One day your kind, the glib boys, the boys with all the answers,

will wind up right where you are.

Let's go.

What happened at first was predictable.

The smashed windows, the stench bombs, the paint.

The rest wasn't predictable.

Suddenly, all the bits and pieces about the mysterious

killer's looks took on a composite picture.

The blonde hair, the youngness of him, the dangerous expression,

and most important of all, his shoes.

I had an idea how Annette had picked up Chuck King's murderer as well.