Never Trust a Gambler (1951) - full transcript

NEVER TRUST A GAMBLER

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Why is it that guys in these subpoenas
always live on the other side of town?

What was that street again?

Walton Street.

The name's Steve Garry.

KEY WITNESS MISSING

Steve Garry fails to appear in
Gould wife murder trial.

101 Walton St.

Very well, he's either out
or he's asleep.

Bachelors never sleep.



I'll get the passkey from
the superintendent.

- That's it?
- That's it

All right, Garry, open up,
Sheriff's Office!

We'll have to use the key.

Hey, Jack!

- Where does that door lead to?
- To the back hall.

But he wouldn't go out that way.

There he goes!

Then we tried to seal every
escape from the alley.

But he slipped through.

Get on the teletype.

Police on all western cities.
Photos, descriptions,

...give them everything you've got
to make it strong.

Steve Gerry's got to be found.
- Yes, sir.



HOMICIDE DIVISION
Los Angeles Police Department

Eyes brown, hair dark brown.

Wanted here as important missing
witness in Gould murder trial.

Donovan, that's the photo
they sent down.

Oh, what's the inside
on this Captain?

Well, you can find out, Lou.

If you read a little further
than the comic strips.

I've got enough reading
with our own murders,

...now it's gotta be a Missing
Persons Bureau in San Francisco.

Hey, don't ask us a lot of
favors, eh?

Well, there's in your lap, boys.

Just one face.

One face in one million nine hundred
and fifty four thousand.

- Hello, Fred.
- How's my favourite school teacher?

- Hello, Virginia.
- Steve!

Close the door, will you?

You've added housebreaking
to your other talents?

I came here because I had to.

I know.
I read all about you in the papers.

Papers told you why I left, but not
why I came here.

Whatever it is, I don't
wanna hear about it.

It's over for us.

I'm not exactly on friendly
terms with the police.

I'm in Los Angeles
to hide out.

- Find some other place.
- I'm going to.

But I need a few hours.

I thought I could count on you
to give me a break.

A break?

That's fine coming from you.

What kind of a break did you
give our marriage?

That was another guy, Virginia.

I've changed now.

What you've done and what you do
is not my business anymore, Steve.

I'm not gambling.

It wasn't just my money
you gambled away.

It was our future.

Every chance of having a home
and a secure marriage.

Those things are gone now.

Words won't bring them back.

Virginia...

I don't blame you, I can't blame
you for not believing me, but...

Here's something you can believe.

Hey, you see? 600 dollars
deposit in the bank every month.

I couldn't do that if I were
still gambling.

Our divorce wasn't because of
an empty bank book.

It's because of a man
I couldn't trust.

I wish I could explain without
the police breathing down my neck

I hope to, but...

I'm trying to prove I'm not
the same man anymore.

I straighten myself up, Virginia,
I, I...

...I've got a good solid job
in San Francisco...

...with Phil Gould in the
charter boat business.

You have to believe me.

The life of my friend
depends on this.

That's the reason why
I had to come here.

You doing something to help somebody
else, you certainly have changed.

Phil Gould is my best friend.

And how can you help him
by hiding in Los Angeles?

Why weren't you with him when
he needed you?

If I were, he wouldn't have a chance.

You see...

Phil and his wife used to fight
like wild cats.

I was out with him the night
before she was found dead.

That was the night they had
their big blow up.

The D.A. know all this.

If he got me on the stand and drag
any part of that story out of me,

...Phil will go to the gas chamber.

I see.

No, you don't see.

The way you say it, you think
Phil is guilty just as they all do.

But he's not.

If you never believed anything I ever told
you before, you've got to believe that.

It doesn't make any difference
what I believe.

You have to go.

You've got room here.

If I could just stay here tonight.

I'll find some place to go tomorrow.

You'll have to find it now.

Can't you remember anything except
the old mistakes?

There were good things too,
Virginia.

You turned them into lies.

Not all of them.

Not the way I thought about you,
that hasn't changed.

I don't know, Steve, because...

...I don't know you anymore.

Try to know me, try to find out.

Go to the kitchen.

I'll see who he is.

Oh, Virginia.

Could you lend me a couple
of dollars till tomorrow?

Well I, I...
Certainly, Phoebe.

Thank you so much.

Oh, if you're going out,
I'll walk you to the corner.

All right, Phoebe, I'll meet you
outside in a minute.

Oh, all right.

It was Phoebe, my neighbour
from across the court.

You can stay here tonight.

But that's all.

Thanks.

I have to get some food?
there's nothing in the house.

There's anything to drink?

Oh, it's been a rough night.

I'll see.

I'd like a small bottle
of whisky, please.

That'll be fine.

How much is it?

Two dollars.
Just for today.

Take it out of it.

Sergeant McCloy.

Remember me?

Used to date your roommate
Dolores.

Oh, yes, Mr. McCloy.

Thank you, I'll pay myself.

No, you wouldn't argue against
a pal buying a lady a drink, will you?

The bottle is not for me.

No?
A new roommate may be?

No, Mr. McCloy, I'm living
all alone now.

Alone?

A pretty school teacher alone
and unprotected?

Looks like I'd better see you home.

- No, thanks, I'm quite all right.
- Oh, you can say that again,

...but I'm not the man that let a...

...nice girl go wandering
around the streets by herself.

I'm sorry, but I had to go
right away.

Well, that's fine, I'm off duty and
my car is parked right outside.

Now, wait a minute, baby.

I bought you that bottle,
didn't I?

And you're welcome to keep it.

Now, please, will you let me
get into my car?

Ok.

No hard feelings.

I'll take a rain check on that
drink together.

What do you say?

- Here it is, Steve.
- I'll take it.

Nothing fancy, but it'll be quick
to prepare.

You are wonderful.

It's starting to rain.

Sorry, there isn't any bottle.

I had one for you, but I ran into
a detective who use to date Dolores.

My ex-roommate.

- It's pretty high and hard to get rid of.
- A detective! That's all I need.

There's nothing to worry
about now.

It's plenty to worry about, my photograph
may be in the evening paper.

Put the food in the kitchen
while I get rid of my coat.

Oh, it's probably Phoebe again.

Stay in here while I get rid of her.

- Mr. McCloy!
- Hello, honey.

You know, I kind of had you
on my conscience.

Please, stop annoying me,
you can't come in.

I'm already in, honey.

You wouldn't turn me out
in the rain now, would you?

I came back on account
of that bottle.

So kind of bad taking it
away like that.

I figured...

...you might need it.

In case you were entertaining.

Say!

You fixed the place up since
Dolores left.

You have to go now,
Mr. McCloy.

I'm going out and have to
change right away.

That's fine.

I'll jus sit down right here and
have a nice quiet one for the road.

There's a glass and ice
in the kitchen.

You don't have to tell me
where the kitchen is.

I know my way around here.

Have your drink and...
And then you'll have to go.

Maybe that'll be the last of him.

That's not the idea on the sound
of this voice.

Go in there quick.

Brought you a shorty, Virginia.

Now you've had enough.

And so have I.

If you don't get out of here I'll...
- What will you do, Baby? Yell?

Call the cops?

Don't try that innocent
stuff with me.

You wanna play rough.

Steve!

Steve...

So you had to go out tonight, eh?

Innocent little school teacher.

Come on you!

I wanna take a look at you.

Steve!

Steve, watch out!

He's all right, isn't he?

No, he isn't, Virginia.

But you couldn't help it,
he would have killed you.

We'll have to phone the police.

Is nothing else we can do, is there?

I don't know.

If we can only tell them
what happened.

It was an accident.

Accident...

Wait a minute!
Wait a minute...

I hope nobody heard the shot.

It's all clear out here.

The sound could have come from
the radio, couldn't it?

We could plug the bullet hole.

How are we going to
phone the police?

Not yet, Virginia.

We can't hide a killing.

I brought this trouble on you,
I'll take care of it.

First thing to do is to
take him out of here.

I'll use his car.

McCloy is full of liquor, the police
will think is a drunk driving accident.

Then I'll be able to keep you
out of this mess.

But I'm part of it.

It's because of me you got into
the fight with McCloy.

We're in this together.

I won't have you mixed up in it.

If necessary,
I'll go to the police myself.

Even if it means
giving up to protect Phil.

Then you really wanted to help him.

I think you have changed, Steve.

I'll get him out of here.

Will you bring his car
around to the back door?

And I'll come back here.

If it is all right with you.

Wait till no one see us
from the front.

Open the car door.

Open the car door!

Get his hat and coat quick.

Hey, those fellows sure
are in a hurry.

What do you think it is?

A smashup, a fight or a fire.

There's not much left here.

- Where they got the body?
- It fell off, further up the hill.

Come on, Ben.

No pictures now, Bob.
We'll give you a break later.

Oh, get out of here!

- Hiya, Sergeant.
- Hiya, Frank.

He must have pitched out
when the car rolled over.

We found him wedged
against that tree.

Oh, it's McCloy, all right.

I never would've tagged him to get
dead in an automobile accident.

How well you know him, Will?

Too well, he was my partner
for three years.

This is all his stuff.

Have a look at his gun.

- Who found him?
- I did.

We followed the tracks of his car
up the hill and...

...found him there.

Ed...
One shot has been fired.

I want a paraffin test
right away.

- Have you come up with nything, doc?
- Plenty.

Death caused by skull fracture.

I think he's been dead
for about four or five hours.

If your timing's right, he was dead
long before his car hit the bottom.

I never figured McCloy as a man
who'd drive up lonely hill tops...

...without company.

He couldn't have driven at all.

Do you have any theories, doc,
as to the cause of the fracture?

Well, we'll know better after
the coroner's check up.

Well, I'll talk to you later.

Those footprints we found
on top of the hill...

...were headed some place
in a hurry.

- We're able to make it a cast.
- Just about.

I'd say the man weighed about
a hundred and seventy pounds.

It's the same size as McCloy's.

Either this guy knows that McCloy
was up here and came back from...

Or he killed McCloy first and drove
him up in his car.

Last night was, was his night off,
wasn't it?

Off or on, he only had one thing
in his mind: a skirt.

Well, it's all yours and poisoned.

What's it, Steve?

I don't know, it's something
outside the door.

It's just the newspaper.

Maybe it's something in it about...

I searched the whole place looking for
something to plug...

...that hole that would match
this ceiling.

And the best thing I could find was
this kitchen soap.

How does it look?

I'd never know there was
anything there.

Another thing's been bothering me.

If McCloy's body got burnt
in the fire,

...how will we be able to prove
that he was full of liquor?

It's like waking up
with a bad dream.

Yeah, I know.

I'll put some coffe on.

Nothing on the front page.

Steve!

What is it?

It's al right, Virginia.

I know how you feel.

We won't have to go through this
much longer.

The trial is almost over.

Then we can go to the police
and tell them everything.

Don't you think it's
about time you...

...left for work?

I guess I'd better call them
and tell them I'm not well.

No, Virginia.

It's got to be the same
as any day and any week.

Nothing different,
nothing changed.

You see that, don't you?

Yes.

Come on, you'd better get
your clothes changed.

I'll fix the coffee.

You still take three sugars,
don't you?

Yes.

You're gonna be a nice
little boy, aren't you?

Then you know we're doing
the big eating.

Here you are.

Oh, good morning, Virginia.

I was just thinking
of paying you a visit.

- How are you, Phoebe?
-All right.

Oh, you're looking a little tired,
aren't you well?

I had trouble getting asleep.

Oh, I got asleep all right,
but something woke me, a shot.

Didn't you hear it?

A shot?

Well no, I don't think so.

Well, of course I couldn't
swear it but,

...I did hear something about
ten o'clock last night.

I asked Tom and Mrs. Henson,
they didn't hear it either.

Coming to think of it, I think
I did hear that shot.

It was on a mystery program
on the radio.

So that's what it was.
How can you say?

Come back here, Pancho.
There's nobody in there, you silly fool.

- Now....
- Good-bye, Phoebe, I'm late.

What's the matter?
What happens?

You've been caught stealing again,
Emil Gillis.

Don't pretend to me
you're asleep. Get up there!

There's two detectives out there
looking for you.

But, Ginger,
I haven't been stealing.

Not since that one time.
- You tell that to the police.

Get in there and hurry up.

Come on!

Mr. Gillis?

We'd like to ask you
a few questions.

Please, have a chair, Mr. Gillis.

There must be some mistake,
I haven't done anything.

Liar!

Mrs. Gillis, nobody's accusing
your husband of anything.

Once, two years ago,
the company investigated me.

But I was clear.

Wouldn't you think that
had teach him a lesson?

It didn't happen again.

We believe you, Mr. Gillis.

You don't know him!

Please, Ginger.

Mr. Gillis,

...around midnight, most of
your regular passengers...

...are workers on the late shift, aren't they?
- Yes, sir.

- They use monthly ticket books, don't they?
- That's right.

- How much of them didn't?
- Well, let's see.

About three.

There were two at the Woodside station
and one at the Lansing station.

And that's absolutely all the dimes
I collected in the hills.

- All men?
- Two of them.

One old guy short and fat.
I've seen him before.

- And the other?
- Well...

He was about average height,
good looking. Didn't wanna talk much.

Can you guess his age,
and his weight?

He can't even guess his own!

Oh, I'd say about thirty odd.

And maybe a hundred and seventy.
- Good.

How was he dressed?

Well, let's see...

He was wearing a trench coat.

Yes, sir, I remember him perfectly.

Got my bus full of mud.

He acted real nervous too.

Like he was trying
to cover up something.

That you would know
from experience.

Where did he get off the bus?

Hollywood and Hyland.

I don't know where
he went from there.

That's very good, Mr. Gillis.
What time was that?

Twelve twenty seven.
I've got an schedule.

Do you think you could...

...recognize him if you
saw him again?

Yes, sir. As plain as the Liberty
head on a dime.

He'd recognize that all right.

Thanks very much, Mr. Gillis.

You've been very helpful to us.

We...
We may call on you again.

Oh, any time I can help
the police department.

Yes, sir.

Oh, pardon, ma'am.

Police officers.

We're looking for a young lady
by the name of Dolores Alden.

She moved away two months ago.

But there's the girl Dolores roomed with,
she might be able to help you.

Virginia.

These gentlemen are from the police.

- ?Yes?
- They are looking for Dolores.

We're sorry to disturb you, but we're
anxious to find Miss Alden.

Did she leave a forwarding address?

Yes, she did.

I'll get it for you.

Here, you'd better let me
help you with that.

Oh, it's so silly about
misplacing my keys.

Here they are.

Thank you, I'll take
the packages now.

I'll help you inside with them.

Just put the packages down
anywhere, please.

Hey, what's this?

That's a good looking boat.

It's a model of the one
my father owned.

- Here's the new address.
- Oh, thanks very much.

D'you mind if I ask you
a few question about her?

Just routine.
- No.

Did she live here long?

Only two weeks.

I hope she's not in any trouble.
- So do I.

Her name and this address
were in this book.

It was in the pocket of a detective
by the name of McCloy.

He was murdered early this morning,
we found his body in a hillside.

So, we thought...

...Dolores might be able to
tell us something about him.

Did he come here often?

Only once.

Then you did meet him.

Yes, but only very briefly.

Dolores had quite a few men friends.

Was one of them dark,

...rather good looking about
medium height?

I don't remember any one like that.

Well...
Perhaps Miss Alden will.

Ed, the...

...woman across the way thought
he heard a shot about ten last night.

She said you told her you
heard it on the radio.

Is that right, Miss?

Yes.

That's very possible.

I'm sorry we had to disturb you,
miss...

Merrill.
Virginia Merrill.

Miss Merrill.

Thanks for being so nice.

They're gone, Steve.

I heard them.

Did you remember bring me
some cigarrettes?

There're some in one of the
packages over there.

Oh, that was a little close
for comfort.

I just couldn't keep them out.

Hey, wait a minute.

Wait a minute.

Steve, I'm not very good at covering up
and hiding things.

I know it's been
a little tough, Virginia.

But we have to hold out
a little longer.

I wonder if we should.

There isn't any other way.

McCloy's death wasn't an accident
to the police.

But we know it was an accident.

We do know it was an accident,
don't we, Virginia?

I'm sorry.

I guess I just couldn't help it.

Attagirl.

I hope McCloy had a lot
of numbers in that...

...little black book of his.

They're taking plenty of time
with that little blonde.

I wonder if they're giving her
the third degree.

I don't know.
I didn't get my degree at this college.

Well, thanks, John.

You never saw McCloy after
that one night.

Not me. I would rather go out
with an octopus.

And if you find the guy
that killed him,

...I'd like to give him ten bucks
reward and shake his hand.

Well, I guess that's all.

Oh, thanks for coming in.

- Did the Alden girl get here yet?
- Yes, sir.

Well, send her in, the rest can go.

You may go in now, miss Alden,
the sergeant will see you.

You two can leave.

Good luck kids,
I guess I've made the team.

Have a chair, miss Alden.

You shared an apartment
with a Virginia Merrill.

Not for long, sergeant.

You see, she's the intellectual type and
I'm what you'd call the emotional type.

But she's a good jill.

How did you happen to know her?

We were in higschool together
back home.

I was between jobs and rent.

So I asked her to help me out.

While you were staying there
you had a friend.

Named McCloy, is that right?

That depends on what you mean
by the word 'friend'.

I'm afraid this is more serious than
you realize, miss Alden.

In case you don't know
that he was murdered.

So I read in the paper.

- How well did you know him?
- Not as well as he would've liked.

I hate affectionate drunks.

Did he ever introduced you any
of his men friends?

No, sergeant, he was a lone wolf.

Did he ever mentioned
anything about...

...someone having a grudge
against him?

No, Sarge.

On a date with a guy like that,
the conversation is never complicated.

They start out by telling you
what they are gonna do for you.

And they scream if you want
a hamburguer.

But they gladly buy you a liquor store.

The autopsy showed he had enough
in him to have loaded a carrier.

Knowing what a natural lover
he was,

...he was probably showing some
woman his favourite view.

Her husband neglected
to stay out of town.

So McCloy got caught
on the wrong hilltop.

Thank you, miss Alden.

Your theory is about as good
as any we've on hand.

Oh, if there's any more questions,
we'll get in touch with you.

I hope I won't be seeing you.

On business, that is.

How did McCloy ever had the time
to squeeze in his police work?

I wonder if he was up
on conduct charges.

Probably pulled his pistol in a
drunken brawl over a woman.

Mister X caved in his skull,

...so he tried to cover up
by faking the accident.

You know? I have a hunch we're gonna
uncover something pretty rotten.

Maybe the department will be better off
if this case went unsolved.

But he was a policeman
and someone did kill him.

Sergeant Donovan, Homicide.

What?

You sure?

Okay, thanks.

I checked all radio and television
stations and there was no shot fired...

...on any program around ten
o'clock the night before last.

Maybe we'd better question the people
who thought they heard it.

There's the bottle from
McCloy's pocket.

Better check the Sun Beam Liquor Store.

While you question the
pretty school teacher.

You ought to be a detective, Lou.

- Hello.
- Hi.

Did you ever see that before?

No refunds, mister.

Will you check your sales records
for the day before yesterday?

Oh, yeah.

I... I, recollect selling that bottle.

Let's see.

Yeah, here it is.

I remember.

It was purchased by a good looking girl.
- You know her name?

No, I figure she lives in the
neighborhood, though.

I've seen her in the market
section before.

Was she alone when she bought
this bottle?

She was at first,

...and then some fresh guy
came up and paid for it.

Said something about knowing
a roommate.

Kind on his late forties, uh,

...wearing a hand painted
necktie?

Yeah!
Yeah, that was him.

I figured what he said about
the roommate was sort of a...

...get-acquainted line.

Yeah, well you figured wrong.

Do you have a pay phone around here?
- Oh, yeah, yeah.

Here, you can use mine.

Thanks.

Why!

This bottle sure looks like it went
through a long time.

Yeah, it went through a murder.

Homicide.

Ezra.

Brecker.

I wanna check up on
Virginia Merrill.

Three, five, four Benton.

Yeah.

Right.

Murder?

You sure can't trust those
innocents looking ones, can you?

Oh, I don't know,

...that's not my job.

Eh...

That's for the phone.
- Oh, that's all right, I...

How do you like it here?

Very much.

But I still can't understand why
you asked me.

Well, it seemed the best way
of finding out if you'd come.

Why shouldn't I?

Well, lots of reasons.

You might not like having
lunch with a.... detective.

- And the others?
- Well, you....

You might have thought the
invitation was purely...

...police business.

Isn't it?

May be we'd better postpone
the business...

...until at least after
we've had lunch.

I didn't know detectives
ever postpone business.

You know?,
you've got a lot to learn.

And maybe your education
should start right now.

- I'll concentrate very hard.
- Good.

First of all,

...the popular conception is that
detectives are hard-bitten...

...flip guys.

Fast with their fists and
fast with their women.

- Are they?
- No.

No, they're not.

Most of them are actually
human beings.

Of course, they're working hours
a little irregular,

...they have to associate with
all kinds of people.

But, somehow...

Somehow they even worry about some
other people who get into trouble.

You know, I've even heard of
detectives who got married,

...and became pretty good
at doing dishes.

Well, they say school teachers
can be very human too.

Exactly, even I had
school teachers all wrong.

The first one I met I thought
she was made of chalk...

...and spent all her time off
practicing...

...how to beat her pupils over the
knuckles with a ruler.

Of course, I was a little younger then
and had strong knuckles.

- Now you've changed your opinion?
- Completely.

- Then you'll do me a favor?
- Sure, sure.

You brought me here to ask me
a lot of questions.

I'd like to get over with it
before lunch arrives.

Okay.

You win.

Win until I slip on my badge.

Now...

You said you heard a shot on
a mystery program,

...do you happen to remember
what program that was?

No.

But are you sure you heard
one at all?

Well, there was some sound...

I thought it could have been a
truck backfiring in the street.

But, didn't you tell your neighbor you
heard one on a mystery program?

Well yes, I guess I did.

Phoebe thought she heard
a shot and...

...and I thought it might
put her mind at rest.

In case it had been a shot.

But, of course, I didn't really think
there was any.

You're right.

For your information we checked
and there was no shot...

...fired on any program around ten
o'clock the night before last.

Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?

Maybe we should do some
investigating on these dishes.

Oh, yes, let's.

Looks wonderful.

But first...

First we should read our fortunes.

A long nose smells only trouble.

Tall handsome stranger
will enter your life.

Oh, boy, it's good!

I heard the car,
why you used the back door?

I don't think I could've stood
another Phoebe's quiz programs.

Phoebe's already been asked
this afternoon.

Who was it, Steve?

One of those detectives
who were here yesterday.

He was nosing around,
talking to a lot of people.

Looks like the bloodhounds
have dug up a bone.

I know.

What do you know?

There's nothing to worry,
you only...

Only what?

- Steve, you're hurting me.
- Oh, sorry, I'm getting kind of jumpy.

You're not very good
hiding things, Virginia.

I wasn't going to hide anything.

Sergeant Donovan came to the school,
he asked me out to lunch.

- And you went?
- How could I help it?

You didn't have to fall
for the bait.

Can't you see he was trying to mix
you up in a lot of questions?

What did you think, maybe he was
interested in the color of your eyes?

I don't know, I don't know.

He asked me about the shot
and I answered him.

Do you think I wanted to go?

To sit there knowing he was
examining every word...

You could have been smart enough
not to give him a chance to.

Steve, what are you gonna do?

I don't know.

One of those detectives
may be coming back here.

And I'm not gonna be waiting
here to find out.

You'd better has to be here.

Listen, honey.

They can't tie you up in McCloy's
killing if I'm out of here.

So don't talk to anyone.

Don't worry about anything and
don't let them frighten you.

I'll try.

I'll find a place to stay and I'll
phone you, letting you know where I am.

We can't keep on hiding the truth
much longer.

The detectives are sure to find
out something and then...

Nobody is gonna find out anything
until we tell them.

And we can't tell them anything until
the trial is over in San Francisco...

...and Phil is safe.

I guess you're right.

It'll be all right, Virginia.

You wait and see.

You wait here and we'll go
to the police together.

All right.

If I only had a car,
it'd be easier.

You take mine.

Here are the keys.

You never let me down,
do you, Virginia?

Hello?

Who, Dolores?

I didn't recognize your voice.

Virginia, I have something
important to tell you.

Can you meet me at the Club Pierre
on La Brea in half an hour?

Look, doll, I've said
it's important.

To you, so you'd better
be there.

Just ask for me.

All right, Dolores.

At the Club Pierre in half an hour.

Sorry I had to drag you
over here, honey.

I couldn't get a way to meet you
any place else.

That's all right, Dolores.

You work in a show?
- Not this season.

That's the photographic concession
of the Club Pierre.

Groups and individuals,
two bucks the shot.

And we do take tips.

Kind of a long way from my Youngstown
High School, isn't it?

Cigarrette?
- No, thanks.

That's right, you don't smoke.

How've you been, Dolores?

Keeping body and soul together.

But I didn't bring you over here
to talk about myself.

Sit down.

You've got yourself in some kind
of trouble, haven't you?

Why no, Dolores...

Look, you don't have to do
a fan dance with me.

I've been entertaining
a few friends of yours.

Friends?

A couple of seeing-eye dogs.

The cute one is called Donovan.

Anayway, they knew we came
from the same town,

...so they asked me a
few questions about you.

What did they want to know?

Oh, just names, places,
your family, your former husband.

Hobbies...
- My husband!

I'm sorry, honey, I didn't know
you wanted to keep it secret.

Yes, I said you were once married
to Steven Garry.

But you haven't seen him since he got
in that jam in San Francisco.

Have you, Virginia?

No, of course not.

Look, honey.

You once did me a favor when
I needed a roof over my head.

If there's anything I can do
to help you now,

...I might be just the kid
who could do it.

Thanks, Dolores, but...

...I think it's just, just a
routine investigation.

Yeah, I've got the routine
investigation too.

About that McCloy character.

I know.

Well, I thought you could use
the information.

I'm very grateful.

Remember, honey,

...I know a lot more about what happens
outside the books than you do.

So, if you need me,
just give a yell.

Thanks.

Hi, Carol.

So long.

Mind if I come in too?

Well, no.

You startled me, I wasn't
expecting to see you.

I'm sorry, this isn't the
kind of a visit I'd like.

Wish this were a box of candy
or some flowers.

What is it?

Open that up.

Ever see it before?

I don't know.

You should; that's the bottle you bought
at the Sun Beam liquor store...

...the night before last.

Isn't it?

Who paid for that bottle?

McCloy.

Why did McCloy wanna pay for it?

I don't know, he wasn't
a friend of mine.

He knew Dolores.

Yes, I know all about that.

What I wanna know is where
you and McCloy went...

...after you left the liquor
store together.

Didn't go anywhere.

He wanted me to go out
with him but I refused.

I left him in the parking
lot and came home alone.

You're sure of that?

Of course I'm sure.

Now you don't believe anything
I say, do you?

I think you're covering
for someone.

Him.

Your ex-husband, Steve Garry,

...was identified by a bus
driver the night before last...

...in the vicinity where McCloy's
body was found.

Why are you telling me all this?

'cause I think Steve Garry came here
to this apartment.

He was here, wasn't he?

Yes.

He was here.

Why did you let him stay here?
You knew he was wanted.

Yes I know, he told me why.

And you were willing to jeopardize
yourself for a...

...cheap gambler?

- He's not that.
- Dolores told me all about him.

He's a different man now, I know,
I'm sure of it.

How?

Because for the first time in his life
he's stuck to a decent business.

What was it?
Marking cards or...

...loading dices?

You're all wrong,
he's giving up gambling.

He and a man named
Phil Gould,

...went in a boat business together
in San Francisco.

And he saved his money,
he showed me his bank book.

Six hundred dollars deposited
every month.

- And you believe that?
- Yes, I do.

So you let him stay here.

No, he's gone now.

And I supose you don't know where.

No, I don't.

And if you think he's hiding here,
you're welcome to search.

I already did while I was waiting
for you to come back.

Chain smoker, isn't he?

I don't supouse you can
arrest him for that.

No.

Not for that.

Hello?

I'm sorry, you have
the wrong number.

Perhaps it wouldn't have been a wrong
number if I left a little sooner.

I have no idea of what
you're talking about.

You're a mighty fine
girl, Virginia.

A kind of a girl most men
wait a long time for.

I'm as sure of that as I'm sure
you mixed up with the wrong guy.

Because of him, you probably
have some sense of...

...false loyalty.

And that's the reason you're
telling me only half the truth.

I have enough on you
to take you in right now.

I could hold you as a necessary
or a material witness.

Or for harboring a
suspected killer.

But I know you're not a criminal.

You're just a decent girl
who has got mixed up.

I'll be back tomorrow to hear
the other half of the truth.

You better sleep on that.

They got an old picture of me
in here...

...back on the Barnes case.

Yeah, that's a pretty nice
looking picture.

I better get you some blocks
for Christmas.

What that's supposed to be, anyway?

A high pedestal.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Only...

Whose is supposed to be,
for me?

No.

A fellow I've never met.

But I figure anybody that noble,

...should be up on one.

Steve Garry, eh?

Yes, uncle Lou, Steve Garry.

All right, there're..

...two kinds of men
I don't trust.

One, habitual drunks.

Two, habitual gamblers.

Like our friend Steve Garry.

But Virginia trusts him.

I put the heat on her
but it didn't do any good.
(La presion?)

I have a hunch she's protecting
a full-grown rat.

But I couldn't prove it.

How much heat did you
put on her?

All there was, the bottle,
the bus driver,

...and Dolores.

She thinks he's reformed himself
into the all-american boy.

Putting his salary in a bank
every month.

And hiding out to help his friend.

Too bad.

But she's a swell looking girl.

Why brought that up?

Nothing.

Only for my eyes you seem
more worried about her than Garry

You're off the beam, Lou,
and you know it.

And I had an uncle
that reminds me of you.

He was a doctor,
pretty good doctor,

...his only trouble was he once
fell for one of his pacients.

He spent so much time
curing her,

...it nearly lost him his practice.

You better go home and
get some rest, Lou.

You're talking in your sleep.

No, the story had a happy ending,
my uncle recovered.

- He married, eh?
- No. She ran off with another guy.

Let's get back to Steve Garry.

All right, I'm back.

There may be a way
of knocking this guy...

...off his pedestal.

I wanna find out if he won
his bank account,

...or earned it.
- Okay.

That's on the teletype
of San Francisco.

Find out what they've got
in the Gould file.

I wanna set a teletype
to the Chief of Police,

...San Francisco.

Yeah?

Virginia.

I wasn't expecting you tonight.

Who was with you
when I phoned?

Donovan.

I thought it might be.

- Were you followed?
- I don't think so.

Steve, they know who you are.

Who told them, you?

Would I've come here if I did?

I'm sorry, Virgina, I...

I'm sitting alone in this room.

Listening to those waves.

I'm getting edgy.

Donovan knows so much already.

Don't you see? I can't go on hiding
behind lies.

There's only one thing
left to do.

- You mean give up?
- Yes, Steve.

Going together now,
tonight.

And put an end to all this
running and hiding and liying.

And an end to Phil Gould too, eh?

I've tried to help you for his sake
as long as it was possible.

It isn't any more.

All right, Virginia.

Can't let you go back alone.

We'll do what you want.

You'll see.

It has to come out
right this way.

Donovan isn't against us.

We did the best we could.

The important thing now...

...is to stay together.

Isn't it?

Yes, that's the most important thing.

We'd better get started.

The car is down the road.

Might just as well move a bed here
and save rent.

We never run out of reasons
till we sleep.

Brecker, Homicide.

Yeah, he's right here.

San Francisco.

Right.

Yeah.

What?

Yeah, that's on the nose.

Yeah.

Yeah.

The quiz we've sent on that Garry
started a landslide.

I'm starting my indigestion.

Hold on to you seat, Lou.
We struck paydirt.

Six hundred?

By check.

Okay.

Will do.

Garry didn't make any money
on the boat business...

...because there wasn't any business.

What do you know? Garry is a liar.

And that isn't all, he just become
the number one suspect...

...for the murder of Mrs. Gould.
The D.A. knew she was being...

...blackmailed, but didn't know
by whom.

Her canceled checks showed she cash one
for six hundred the first of every month.

So our teletype told them
where it went.

A liar, a blackmailer
and probably a murderer.

Those're the same amounts
Garry put into his bank.

Well...

This knocks the bottom
out of the Gould case.

Garry was ducking the witness stand
to save his own neck.

And, if Gould got exonerated,

...Garry can keep on running.

Maybe you've got two killings
for the price of one.

Well, I hope one of them
will make Virginia talk.

Wasn't that the road back
to Los Angeles, Steve?

Yes, I guess it was.

But I was thinking about Phil.

Virginia, we can't throw away
everything we've done...

...and turn back now.

A man's life it's the most important
thing he's got.

All right, Steve.

I know where we'll be safe.

There's a friend of mine named
Cap Douglas, down in San Diego.

He sold me the charter boat,
he owns me a favor too.

We can make it in a couple
of hours.

But first, we'll need some gas.

What'll be, folks?

- Fill it up.
- All right.

Stay in the car.

We can't take any chances.

That'll be 3.93.

Sorry, mister, I can't change
a twenty,

...I'll have to go across the road
and break it in the diner.

Never mind, I have a credit card.

Phone Donovan L.A. Police.
Garry escaping.

I'll look in the bedroom.

Hey, something's leaking.

Your girlfriend needs a new roof.

She's gone.

Ed.

Yeah.

It was the plug of the bullet hole.

This is the other half
of the story, eh?

That's the story
I never wanted to hear.

Donovan.
Get me Grant.

The car's gone.

Grant?

Get this.

A blue Ford 49 convertible.

License number California 218,

...X 3382.

What's that?

A call just came in from an
all-night station on highway 101.

Virginia wrote a note
to contact me.

Car heading south.

Right.

- Got a half hour head-start on us.
- May be difficult to pick them up at this time.

Faster, Lou, what's the matter?
You're afraid of getting a ticket?

There's a law against
hedgehopping.

Do you think Garry will be crazy
enough to try for the border?

Wouldn't be so crazy if he
tried it by water.

Ah, it could be.

He knows about boats.

Frank's having the local boys put up
roadblocks near the harbours.

Just in case.
- Yeah, that's too bad.

That will spoil some of their
poker games.

That's the end of the road for us.
We can't go any further by car.

Steve, don't you see
it's hopeless?

We can make to the Cap
Douglas's from here.

Hold on!

Come on, honey,
let's get going.

Get out of the car.

Get out of the car!

How long you've been waiting
for this chance?

It's no more than half a mile from here.
Let's see how fast you can walk.

Cap!

Don't try anything,
I'm warning you.

Cap!

Cap, wake up!

What in blazes is...?

Oh, Garry, where'd you come from?

I'll tell you all about that later.

Right now what my wife
and I want is a boat.

Hi.

Got some for us?

Yeah.

Come on in and I'll see
what I can do for you.

Come on.

You and the lady kind of
caught me unexpected.

You should've telephoned, Steve.

Rest yourselves there.

Well, let's see.

I need a power cruiser
like the Albatros.

Yeah?

It's not what you need, it's...

...what I've got.

Why don't you make yourselves
comfortable, you and the missus.

Sit down, Virginia.

Now, let's see...

There's a fishing party
coming in Saturday.

You'll be back by then?
- Yeah.

Do you start right away?

Yeah, I don't know why not.

I'll have to get some gas into her.

After we get some coffe
into ourselves.

Cap, look, forget the coffee, eh?

All right.

Don't give him the boat,
he's running from the police!

Shut up!

All right.

Take me to the boat.

You won't get far
without gas.

Where is the gas?

Oh, it's...

It's out here.
Behind a shed.

Let's get it!

Police!
Aaaaah!

Help!

Help!

You hear that?

Let's go!

Police!
Get me the police!

Down at the shipyard.
That way.

- Hi, sergeant.
- Howdy.

- Have they got them yet?
- Not yet.

They're back in that building
somewhere.

Can't get near on account
of the girl.

I hope they don't hurt that girl,
she's the one who warned Cap Douglas.

Otherwise he would've given
Garry the boat.

Using her as a shield
right til the end.

Come on, let's go.

Better keep undercover.

He's already used his gun.

Keep the boys from getting trigger-happy,
I don't want anything to happen to that girl.

You two cover each end
the building.

Come out, Garry,
you haven't a chance!

Bring up that spotlight!

Light on that wall.

Come on!

- Stand here back of the cables.
- Uh-huh.

I wanna try to separate them.

Give me a chance to get
around behind them,

...and throw a couple of wild
shots to attract his attention.

- All right.
- Get the rest of the boys!

I can't go any further, I can't!

Stand on your feet.
Stop that acting!

Did you hear me?

All right, on your feet.
On your feet!

Garry!

Here, give me a hand.

- Take her to the car.
- Where's Garry?

Hey, Ed!

Oh, any luck?

Well, we managed to separate
Garry from the girl.

She's safe in the car.
- Good.

Now we can close in.
We blocked off every escape.

Garry hasn't a chance
of getting out of the yard.

Come on!

All right, Donovan.

Don't move.

There he is.
Out there on the arm.

Wait a minute.
Where is Donovan?

Hey, Donovan!

Hey, Donovan!

Put down that gun, Steve.

I'm not gonna shoot you.

They will.

They'll think you're me.

Don't yell.

Hey, Donovan!

Come on.

Give us some cover, will you?

He's trying to cross over to the
other crane to make a getaway.

Some way, he'll get over
the other pier.

I'm just telling your friend here
how far Garry fell off his pedestal.

Think you can take care
of this prisioner?

- I'll try.
- Hope in.

- So long, Jim.
- Come on, boys.

SUBTITLES FROM SCRATCH BY
HAMMETT AND GAMBOLER