Dangerous to Know (1938) - full transcript

- See that?

- Yeah.

See that?

- Steve Recka.

Oh.

- It's all right, buddy.

No harm done.

- Thanks.

Guess I'll stick around,

I'd like to get a look at Steve Recka.

- He never comes down to the city hall.

His secretary runs all of his errands.

- Mr. Recka's secretary is here, sir.

He says it's urgent.

The Mayor will see you immediately.

Oh, hello, Nicki.

Oh, what's so urgent?

- Not a thing, Mr. Mayor.

You're just going to find out why the boss

had the dictograph installed.

- Our friend Councilman Merkel

having another political conference?

- Yeah, I just trailed

John Rance to his office.

- What? I don't understand.

Rance is Recka's right hand man.

- And Merkel is trying

to get something on Recka

so he can make himself mayor.

Put it all together, and it spells...

Something.

You want to be mayor

next election, don't you?

- Sure.

But not a mayor like Bradley.

Recka's office boy.

- You're just like everybody

else in this town, Merkel.

You're afraid of Recka.

- Nobody can be mayor in this town

unless Recka elects him.

Well, he controls the

whole political machine.

- Well, what of it?

If you throw a monkey wrench

in the right direction,

you can cripple any machine.

- But first, Mr. Rance,

you must have the monkey wrench.

- Listen to this.

The other day, Recka

called me and he said,

"From now on, you are going

to sit right at my elbow."

- In that case, you'd

know every move he makes.

- Sure.

And before he makes

it, you'll know it too.

You get the idea.

- Sure, I get it.

We'll drive Recka and his

grafters out of the city hall.

We let ourselves in on some of this money

they've been stealing

from the city treasury.

Then it's a deal.

It's a deal.

- Is there no honesty among men?

- You can search me, Mr. Mayor.

- Well, Steve's gonna

hear about this immediate-

- I'll take care of that.

Can you be at Recka's house at 9:007?

- Well, I'm scheduled to

address some club tonight

on how to run a city government.

- One of the boss's speeches?

- I'll go over now.

- You can't.

The boss is staging a birthday party.

Make it around 10:30 tonight.

- But surely Mr. Recka

is coming to his own birthday party.

- Of course.

When I remind him it is his birthday.

- Oh, hello, Harvey.

Do you know Madam Ying?

- The unhappy fact is, I don't.

- This is Harvey Greggson.

President of the Centre

Bank and Investment Company.

- How do you do?

- I called to pay my respects

to Mr. Recka on his birthday.

- He'll be delighted, I'm sure.

- Oh, yes, yes.

Mr. Recka always likes

to see his old customers.

- Old customers?

- Before repeal, Steve's scotch was rated

the finest in the country.

- Oh, but this tea.

- Mr. Recka always believed in

prohibition, and still does.

- He should. He made millions out of it.

- I do nothing of the kind.

- That's allowed.

There's Recka's hostess.

- And what do I care?

If you invite that man to dinner,

I'll walk out of the house.

- I'm not going to invite him.

You are.

- Steve Recka?

That kind never gets into our house.

- That's why you must ask him.

He's very anxious to meet nice people,

and I'm very anxious to be reelected.

- I don't care if you are. No.

Definitely no.

- Oh, Madam Ying.

Have you met Mrs. Carson?

- I'm so glad to know you, Mrs. Carson.

- You're Mr. Recka's hostess, aren't you?

- Yes, his hostess.

- Hostess?

- Hostess.

Will you excuse me?

I'll get Mr. Recka.

- Don't let us detain you, please.

- Steve.

Oh, Steve?

What music.

Listen.

Only Bach could compose that.

- Yes, I know, it's beautiful.

But your guests are waiting downstairs.

- He died in 1695.

Senator Carson is here.

- Senator Carson.

Windbag.

And Judge Parker's here.

- Mm, let him wait.

He once made me wait

three years for a parole.

And the president of

your bank, Harvey Greggson.

- Greggson.

He's very sociable since I

saved him from bankruptcy.

He's a rubber stamp.

- But Steve, it's your birthday,

and they've come to pay their respects.

- They've come to remind me

there are still things I can do for them.

They're small and cheap.

They are what I don't want to be anymore.

And yet there are so many

fine men in this city.

Judges, congressmen,

senators, real people.

Why don't they come to my house, Lan Ying?

- Perhaps they don't want to know you.

- May I see you, boss?

It's very important.

- Go back to my anxious friends.

Say I'll be down soon.

- But Steve, you...

- Can't you hear me?

What did you find out?

- I followed Rance into Merkel's office.

- How nice of Mr. Recka.

- What?

- To put his name on the plaque,

so we wouldn't think it was Napoleon.

Margaret Van Case?

Margaret!

What are you doing here?

- Shh! I crashed the party.

I telephoned your house,

and they said you were here.

I've always wanted to see Steve Recka.

- Well, you're not going to.

- I didn't mean to be rude, Emily.

It's always open season for

crashing cocktail parties.

- Not that, darling.

Besides, there isn't a

cocktail in the house.

You just don't belong here.

Come, we'll see you-

- Now Emily, be reasonable.

Margaret's perfectly welcome,

and I'm sure Mr. Recka

would like to meet her.

- And I'm sure she'll

find him interesting too.

- Oh, I know I will.

- Don't bother to introduce us.

I'll fade into the background and watch.

- No, we're going.

- There's Recka now.

- Thank you.

Thanks, everybody.

All my good friends who

have remembered my birthday,

and reminded me that I'm one year older.

But I forgive you.

- Steve.

- I want you to meet Mrs Carson.

- It is so good of you

to visit my house, madam.

Thank you.

- I see madam doesn't like me.

- Well-

- Oh, she doesn't like

me because I take up

so much of her husband's time.

But I didn't know he had

such a charming wife.

From now on, only one conference a week.

- All the charm of a diplomat.

- Yes, and 10 times the generalship.

- Yes, I know.

He just got in control of the Centre Bank.

He's my boss now.

- Hello.

Hello.

- You seem to dislike crowds

as much as I do, Ms. Van Case.

- How did you know my name?

- From your pictures in the newspapers.

- Oh.

- Are you surprised I

read the society page?

- A little.

Are you surprised to see me here?

- A little.

But tell me something about yourself.

Something I haven't

read in the newspapers.

- Oh, I'm afraid the

newspapers have covered it all.

"Teas, parties, charity bazaars, dances.

Among those present, who

are Miss Margaret Van Case."

Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

- No.

- No?

- No.

The other Margaret Van Case is

the one I want to know about.

The one who is here now.

You.

- And suppose I won't tell you about her?

- Oh, let me remind you.

Trespassing is against the law.

- Don't tell me Steve Recka admit

there is such a thing as the law.

- I told Miss Van Case she'd

find Mr. Recka interesting.

- I'm sure she will.

- Was that necessary?

- Oh, get your things. We're going.

- Not until you invite Recka to dinner.

- Then we're here for the winter.

- And so, behold, the

last of the Van Cases.

I live in a lovely old house

that the Chamber of Commerce Bulletin

used to describe as one of

the "show places of the city".

And now every morning when I awaken,

I'm afraid that I'll find

a factory in the backyard,

or a filling station on the front lawn.

- You're joking.

- I wish I were.

They've zoned the district

for new industries.

"Progress", they call it.

The city must grow.

- Hm, yes.

Yes, many times I have

ridden through your district.

The beautiful old houses remind

me sometimes of great music,

something from the past,

that dead men have given us.

- Don't tell me you read poetry.

-Hm?

Oh, no.

I've never read a poem...

But I've seen many.

- How do you do, Mr. Recka?

- How beautiful.

- You love music?

- Oh, yes. Especially Mozart.

- Well, he doesn't know Mozart.

Listen.

No feeling.

I would like to play

Mozart for you, or Wagner.

- Do you play?

- When I'm alone.

- Then I could never hear you.

- There are people who do

not rob you of being alone,

and yet are there.

You will let me play for you

after the others are gone?

- Well, I don't know, I-

- We must run along, Steve.

- Oh, I'm so sorry.

My parties are very dull, I'm afraid,

but this one has been brightened

by a beautiful presence, madam.

- Why, it's been delightful,

and a great pleasure.

- If that were true, I

would be a happy man.

- But Mr. Recka, it is true.

And we want you for dinner tomorrow night.

You'll come, Steve?

- How could I refuse your kind invitation?

- We'll be delighted to have you.

Are you coming, my dear?

- Oh, I'll be along in a minute.

I have my own car.

- Don't take up too much

of Mr. Recka's time,

he's a very busy man.

- You mind your own business, John.

Tomorrow night, Mr. Recka?

- Madam.

- You should've been a

musician instead of...

- But I am a musician.

- Yes, that's right.

You are.

- Instead of what?

- I don't know why, I was very young then,

but I still remember-

- The stories about Steve Recka?

Gangster?

Yes.

- But no stories about Recka the musician?

- No.

No stories about

Recka who loves beauty.

- Or talks like a poet.

No.

- No.

That is not news.

- Don't waste your talent, Steve.

She's gone.

- Stop here.

- Hey, boss.

Let me.

- This is my business.

- Hello, Steve.

- Hello, John.

- Come in.

You didn't come

to my birthday party.

- Oh, I'm sorry, Steve.

I had to go to the dentist.

Oh, oh.

You had a toothache.

Too bad.

I hate pain, John.

- It's alright now.

- Sure, sure.

- Everything is alright now.

- Well, let's have a drink.

You are in such pain,

you forget I don't drink.

But you get yourself one, John.

- Alright, Steve. I'll be right back.

- It's warm in here.

- Well...

To your birthday, Steve.

- Thanks.

- May you have many of them.

And may you live long.

- Thanks.

Same to you, John.

Tell me, when you were at the dentist,

did you happen to see

Councilman Merkel there?

- Steve, I can explain that.

- Oh, I know.

I know, John.

Merkel tempted you, hm?

Oh, of course, I understand.

But the boys don't.

- Steve, you wouldn't turn

me over to them, would you?

- They'll never get

you, if you do as I say.

Sit down, John.

Write as I dictate.

Start off.

"Dear mother.

I have decided to go away...

For a long time.

Do not think I'm a coward."

- Steve, what are you...

- Write it.

"Goodbye."

Sign it...

"John."

- Steve, don't kill me.

No, Steve.

If you'll only gimme a chance,

I'll square everything.

- You are going to do that now.

- Yeah, that'll get it.

- What's that you put in?

- A pinch of Latakia.

- Lotta what?

- Latakia!

- Well, maybe they call it that too.

- Huh?

- When you grow up young fella,

you'll learn that the best smoking

is something that cost 10 cents.

- Ah!

- Hiya, Pop.

- Hello.

- Some aroma, huh?

- Yeah, and take a look, Inspector.

That's got some aroma too.

- No!

- Yeah.

- I can't believe it.

- Well, he's in the morgue right now.

He ain't there for his health.

- Ah, death due to

falling from 11th floor.

No evidence to indicate foul play.

Acci...

Accidental?

Yeah, as accidental as

a punch in the snoot.

- Say, you don't think Recka had any-

- Why, sure. Who else?

- Well, nobody saw him come in,

nobody saw him go out.

He must be invisible.

- Invisible is right.

All except in their little score book,

and the score is now Steve Recka, 8,

John Q. Public, nothing.

- Looks like a shut out.

- Yeah, maybe, and maybe not.

We haven't been to bat yet.

Well, I'm gonna take a

run over to the morgue

and see my old friend John Rance,

then I'm gonna visit my

old friend Steve Recka.

Not that I don't trust you, baby.

- Yeah?

- There.

You see?

- Oh, I know, Steve.

But that district is ideally located

for a factory and warehouse section.

If we don't go through with the plans-

- Now why, Mr. Mayor, do you

always hesitate about my ideas?

Hm?

I run the city well, do I not?

The people are happy, everybody has money.

It is a prosperous administration.

Of course, Steve.

- Huh.

In fact, it's the best

administration in history.

Now and then a few cranks

complain in the old graft,

but in the end,

everything works out

all right for everybody.

- Oh, I get your point.

Yes.

If we allow the zoning commission

to put up factories there,

we'll ruin those beautiful old homes.

- That's it.

- And some of our finest

citizens live there.

That's the Weatherbys,

the Margas, the Van Cases.

- We will make the

district a beautiful place.

Boulevards, parks, nice lights.

You know, those high

ones along the sidewalk.

- We won't have any trouble

changing the plans, I'm sure.

The council will be easy

to handle with Merkel away.

- Oh...

Councilman Merkel has gone away?

- Yeah.

He's leaving tonight, said

he'd be gone for a month or so.

Physician prescribed a rest.

- Poor Mr. Merkel.

He's not well, eh?

No.

- Too bad.

He's such a fine man.

Well, it's convenient...

Sounds like an ambulance.

- Inspector Brandon,

of the homicide squad.

- What does he mean

storming into this district

like a madman?

- He's making a call on me.

- Well, that's terrible.

I'll have the chief reprimand him.

- Oh, no, please, please,

let him have his job, Bradley.

It's one of the few pleasures he has.

Joke I don't understand.

- Only Brandon and I understand.

You better go.

- What?

- That way.

- Good evening, Inspector-

- Oh, hi, Empress.

You know, I think it's

about time that Recka

got you a butler's uniform.

You always seem to answer

the door when I call.

- That's because I always

know when to expect you.

Feminine intuition.

- Yeah, and while we stand here

and chew the rag as we always do,

Recka has the chance to

think up the answers, hm?

- A labor of love.

Misunderstood.

- Ah...

I know more than you think I do.

I know that you're the only

honest thing around here.

Just why you stick is beyond me.

- Perhaps you'd like to

join Steve at supper.

- Boy, I should be delighted,

if it was his Last Supper.

- My friend!

Inspector.

- Hi, Recka.

If you don't mind, Empress,

we got a couple things to talk about.

- There's nothing wrong?

- Oh, why should there be?

No.

- I'm sorry, Steve.

- You didn't come to my

birthday party today.

- No.

I'd just come from a party.

With me, and the coroner, and John Rance.

Me and the coroner did all the talking.

- Yes.

Poor Rance.

You know, when I heard about it,

it spoiled my appetite.

- It spoiled his.

- Yeah.

- Oh.

I'll be back later, boss.

- Come in, come in!

Nothing special, just our friend.

Maybe you'd like to say hello.

- Hello, Inspector.

- Now, you haven't trained

this monkey very well.

He ought to make a little

bow when he says hello.

- Bow, please.

A little one.

- Ah...

He'll never be as good as Rance.

- Poor Rance.

He had everything to live for.

Why should he kill himself?

- How did you know it was suicide?

The verdict's only 10 minutes old.

It only looked like suicide.

- Who would kill him?

- Who?

Now I got his name in my little book.

- Same little book?

- Mhm.

And his name's on almost every page.

- When I catch him,

I'll have you promoted.

Me and Rance were...

Like that.

- Yeah.

You and Feeney were like that.

You and Cornell were like that.

And they both spoiled a

couple of appetites for you,

by committing suicide.

- Death is such an unpleasant

subject, Inspector.

- Well, let's forget it.

- Yeah.

Tell me, is this just a friendly call?

- No, not exactly.

I'm returning this.

- Oh.

The birthday present I sent you.

Tell me, Inspector...

Is there anything

significant about the fact

that we were born on the same day?

- Yeah, maybe there is.

We won't die on the same day.

- Oh.

Yeah, I'll put this with

the other, it makes seven.

Seven envelopes.

Seven years.

And you still pay rent in a small cottage.

No, no, you're a very

strange man, Brandon.

- Just a fool copper.

But I like it.

Oh...

To you, from me.

Little birthday present.

Oh...

You touch me deeply, Inspector.

- Oh, it ain't anything.

Mm-mm.

No, no, no, it's all for you.

- Delicious!

Delicious!

- You know, we got 'em in

a lot of different flavors.

There's one I'd really like to

have you try sometime, Recka.

- Smart copper!

- Ah, keep your teeth shut, Nicki,

I'm liable to knock 'em out for ya.

- Oh, please, please, Inspector.

Please forgive him, he means no harm.

Why, you're both my dear friends.

- Who...

Oh, you and Nicki are like that, huh?

- Oh, of course.

- You get it Nicki?

Like that.

- Hey, boss!

- Have a piece of handcuff.

- That isn't funny to me.

- You have no sense of humor, Nicki.

- I don't wanna like that.

He suspects, boss.

- Don't be a fool.

He knows.

He stopped suspecting five years ago.

- I got all the dope you want, boss.

- Not now.

Four wins!

62nd and two-

- Yeah, yes.

I can see the board.

- Thanks for the tip

on number four, Steve.

Do you always know who's gonna win?

- When my horse is running, I do.

Number five in the next race.

- I'll shoot the bankroll.

- Sit down.

- I wanna place a bet on a horse.

- Shut up.

What about Miss Van Case”?

- No money, no father, no mother.

Lives with her aunt.

- Poor girl.

- She's got a boyfriend.

- So what?

- He's a swirl like herself.

Phil Easton, ex-football star.

Young, good looking.

- Good looking.

Good looking.

How much money has he got?

- No money.

Sells bonds.

- Bonds salesman.

- He belongs to the

Windhaven Country Club.

- If he's broke, how

can he belong to that?

- He was born into it,

which is the only way anyone ever gets in.

- Phone the company he works for.

Tell him Mr. Recka wants to

buy $20,000 worth of bonds.

And tell him Mr. Recka would like...

Hello.

Would like to buy them from Mr. Easton.

- Hey, but if you buy the bonds from him,

he'll get the commission.

What's the idea?

- So he can pay up his club dues.

Get moving.

Hey.

Tell him to be at my house at 7:00.

- I'm Phil Easton.

- Please, come in.

- Thank you.

I didn't get the message

until a little while ago.

Mr. Recka's, I mean.

He said to be here by 7.

I'm a little late.

- He's about to leave for dinner,

but I'm sure he'll see

you if he said he would.

Won't you sit down?

- Thank you.

- Mr. Easton to see you, Steve.

I'll take these.

- I'm late, Mr. Recka.

That's all right.

- I got your message.

- Mm.

Then you know what I want.

$20,000 worth of bonds.

- Yes, that's what they said.

I have a list of offerings here.

Industrials, municipals.

We have a new municipal offer-

- No, no, no, no.

I never buy municipal bonds.

Anything else, use your own judgment.

Get me up a list.

- Well, that's certainly

fine of you, Mr. Recka.

I'll have it for you in the morning.

- Then I'll see if you are as

smart as I've heard you are.

- Well, I'm afraid you're flattering me,

but I like to hear it just the same.

You know, young man, trying to get ahead.

Wants to marry a girl.

- Yeah.

Maybe with a commission,

you can get married.

- You mustn't mind him, he's only joking.

- Oh, but he's not so wrong at that.

Three or four more deals like this,

and there will be a Mrs. Phil Easton.

- Show me you know something

about the bond business

by the ones you pick out and maybe...

Maybe I have some plans for you.

You mean that, Mr. Recka?

- Sure.

- Well, I hardly know what to say.

Things like this just don't

happen to bond salesmen.

- But they do.

- Yes.

Oh, wait till Margaret hears this.

Margaret?

That's a pretty name.

- She's a very pretty girl too.

You'd think so if you saw her.

You may have seen her

pictures in the paper.

She gets around a bit.

Margaret Van Case?

- Margaret Van Case?

- Do you know her?

- I've seen her pictures in the papers.

- Then you know why

I'm so crazy about her.

Well, I'll run along, Mr. Recka.

And thanks again.

I'm going right out and

hitting myself over the head

with a horseshoe.

Good night, sir.

- Good night.

- Good night.

- Mr. Recka's residence.

- Is this Mr. Recka's hostess?

This is Mrs. Carson speaking.

Will you give him a message, please?

Ask him if he'll be good enough

to stop at Miss Van Case's home

and bring her to dinner with him?

- I'll give him the message.

I'm sure he won't mind.

Goodbye.

- I'm going to the Carsons for dinner.

- Yes.

- I may be late.

You go home.

- Alright, Steve.

Mrs. Carson wants you to

pick up Miss Van Case.

I told her you would.

- You are an excellent hostess, Lan Ying.

You always know the right answers.

- Is there a pipe organ

in the Carson home?

You are not so smart

where women are concerned.

To Margaret Van Case, you are novelty.

Nothing more.

- I take back what I said.

You do not always know the right answer.

- I'm not answering questions now.

I'm telling you that this

girl belongs in another world.

A world you don't know.

One you can never enter.

- You think so?

- I know it.

Stay where you belong, Steve Recka.

- And here's a list of new customers

in the investment department.

- You'll find some of the

best names in the city

on that list, Mr. Recka.

- Yeah.

Yes, I see.

- I don't mind saying that

Phil has done an excellent job

in a little over two months.

- You're doing fine.

I said he was a smart, young fellow.

I surround myself with

capable manpower, like you.

And like you.

- Thank you, Mr. Recka.

- Manpower is everything.

Napoleon was a great general,

but without smart officers

and a strong army,

what could he do, hm?

So ..

Well, I work the same way.

Now, really, gentlemen,

this bank must be the

best bank in the city.

Why?

Because I'm proud of this city,

and it must have nothing but the best.

Someday, Mr. Recka, the

public will reward you

for your interest in its welfare.

- The public has always been good to me.

- Yes?

Miss Van Case is here

to lunch with you, Mr. Easton.

- Well, you better tell her that-

- Tell Miss Van Case to come in.

You mustn't break a

lunch with that, my boy.

- Three men in a conference.

- We're practically finished though.

- Then you won't need me.

- Yes?

- Mr. Easton.

- Mr. Cortland is here, sir.

- Oh, well, tell him I'll

see him in a few moments.

That's Terry Cortland.

I've been working on him for weeks

regarding a trust fund.

I guess you're out of luck, darling.

- If you can get Terry

Cortland for a customer,

I'll be willing to skip lunch.

- That's not necessary.

You can lunch with me.

- Oh, but I don't want

to disrupt your plans.

- They include lunch.

- Fine.

Thanks a lot, Mr. Recka.

Well, you'd better hurry. I

don't wanna keep Terry waiting.

- We're being put out.

- See you later, big business.

I saw an architect sketch

in the paper today, Steve,

that pictured a beautiful garden spot.

- Yes, yes, I saw it too.

- I'm likely to awaken any morning

to find a landscaped

garden in my backyard,

and a gurgling fountain on my front lawn.

- They're much nicer than

factories and filling stations.

- But you shouldn't have done it.

I?

The council killed the zoning ordinance,

and decided to put in a park system.

No, I had nothing to do with it.

- Stop being modest, Steve.

I know you did it, and I appreciate it.

But I think we should

understand each other.

Apparently, you haven't noticed this.

Phil gave it to me last night.

Well, aren't you going to congratulate me?

- No.

Phil is only a boy.

You deserve a man.

- But I love Phil.

- What can he give you?

- Himself.

- Not enough.

- Oh, I know you are rich and powerful,

and I should be all agog

because you wanna marry me.

But honestly, I'm not.

It may be a shock to you, Steve,

but even you can't have

everything you want.

- If someone had told you three months ago

that today you would be

having lunch with Steve Recka,

you would've said no.

Now today you tell me I cannot have you.

And yet, three months from now-

- Three months, three

years, 3,000 years, Steve.

No.

- I'll take the dollar lunch

with a chicken soup and roast beef.

What will you have, Inspector?

- Uh, same.

- Thought you didn't like roast beef.

- I work up an appetite for

red meat every now and then.

- Make his rare.

- Well...

Won't be long now.

- What won't?

Mhm.

- Who's the girl?

- Margaret Van Case.

Of the Van Cases?

-Yep.

The town's front family.

- What's he doing with a girl like that?

- He's making his first bad move.

Trying to trade a

blackjack for a silk hat.

Yep.

It won't be long now.

- The boss wants you to

put this in the safe.

- What is it?

- Dynamite.

- It looks quite innocent.

- Yeah, it costs $50,000.

- For such a little package?

- You know how Steve is,

nothing but the best,

especially for the girl he's gonna marry.

- Marry?

- Sure. Miss Van Case.

He's got a taste of society now.

And if he don't crush it

with this Van Case girl,

it'll be with somebody else.

- I told you to go to the airport.

- You told me to go to the jewelers

and pick up that package.

- Go to the airport!

A plane arrives in 10 minutes.

- Who am I supposed to meet?

- Just stand there.

They'll come to you. Hurry.

- Well, where will I take them?

- They'll know where to go.

Is that all?

- For you, it's plenty.

He is beginning to ask too many questions.

You want to talk, Lan Yin?

- Yes.

- Well...

Well, what do you want?

- Nothing.

- You're a strange person, Lan Yin.

You want nothing?

I've never before met

anyone who wants nothing.

- I possess everything within my reach,

so I've stopped wanting.

- Mr. Confucius?

- Lan Ying.

- I like Confucius better!

And I do not want what I cannot have.

There is no such thing.

- There is one thing.

- No, there is not! Nothing!

Nothing, I tell you.

- You're making a mistake.

You reach too far, Steve.

- Swell place.

Why did Rick ever tell us to come here?

- What's the idea?

What happens next?

- I told you, I don't know.

I don't know anything, see?

Not anything.

- Shh. Put that away.

- Hello, Steve.

- Beat it.

Now listen, you two.

This job is easy, but

it must be done right.

- It'd be funny if I'd

forgotten how to do this.

- Mm.

To work for Recka, you have to

be everything but an acrobat.

-Yep.

Even that might come in handy.

And how's that?

- Not bad, Professor.

Not bad.

- Just a little something

I've picked up in my travels.

"Mr. Easton, have you any gilt-edged bonds

that might retain a nominal investment?"

- These make 74,000.

These make 180,000.

And these bring the total to $218,000.

How do you wanna pay for them, Mr. Thomas?

- In cash.

I don't like checks.

I have the money right here.

- Well, that's a lot of

money to be carrying around.

- The money will soon be your

responsibility, Mr. Easton.

- But these bonds are just

as negotiable as cash.

Why not leave them here

in a safe deposit vault?

- Yes, I might do that.

- Fine.

I'll make out a vault slip right away.

- Is...

Is that clock right?

- Yeah.

Afraid of being locked in the bank?

I think I can get you off.

Now, if you'll sign these-

- Just be quiet, Mr. Easton.

- Don't be a fool.

You couldn't get out the front door.

Here's the stuff.

- How did you get in that way?

Where did you get the key?

- Quiet, Mr. Easton.

All right, answer it.

Mr. Easton?

- Yes?

The guard is

here, sir, for those bonds.

They're ready to close the vault.

- Tell the guard...

Tell the guard to leave the

vault open for a few minutes.

Yes, sir.

All right, let's go.

- You mean me?

Yes, you. Come on.

Get going.

- Police headquarters?

Inspector Brandon, please.

- Inspector Brandon speaking.

- Take a look at number

7, Eden Apartments.

- What's the matter? Somebody

playing their radio too loud?

- Number 7, Eden Apartments.

- Follow Brandon out there.

Inform me what happens.

- Yeah, that's Easton, all right.

- Come on!

Yeah, he's dead drunk.

He must've been working with a mob,

and they crossed him up.

Say, that's why I got this tip.

They figured that this pinch

would give them time to get away.

- I'll call a wagon.

- No, no.

We'll take him in and keep

it quiet as long as possible.

- Good idea.

- Come on, bud.

Come on, get up!

- Get some water, will ya?

Come on, come on, come on, come on.

Come on.

- This is Nicki.

They picked him up.

- Get the bonds.

Send Crouch and Hanley out of town,

in an automobile,

then go to police headquarters

and keep your eyes open.

- Okay.

Don't argue with me.

The boss wants you to stay away

from railroad stations and airports.

That's why you're leaving in this car.

- Okay.

- Mr. Recka is expecting you.

- What is it, Steve? Have you some news?

- Yes.

I sent for you to tell

you they found Phil.

- Found him? Where, Steve?

When? Is he all right?

- Not so fast, please.

Yes, I think he's all right.

- Take me to him.

- Not yet.

He's under arrest.

- No.

No, Steve, that can't be.

Phil isn't a criminal.

- When a man disappears with over $200,000

belonging to someone else,

that's why the police call him.

- Then...

Then you think he's guilty.

- I said the police, what

I think doesn't matter.

- But you have enough power to free him.

To clear him.

- Sometimes it's not

so easy to fix things.

It's too bad.

Nice boy like Phil.

Prison? Disgrace?

- That's what you wanted, wasn't it?

To see him in disgrace.

You put him in that job.

Why?

So that this would happen.

It sounds fantastic, doesn't it?

But it's the truth.

You wanted me, so you built Phil up,

and then knocked him down.

No one would believe that, would they?

But we know it's the truth, don't we?

Well, why don't you answer me?

- You have answered for me.

- Is there no way he can be

cleared without your help?

- No way.

- Is there no way I can show

you up for what you are?

- No way.

- All right.

Then, what's your proposition?

If I marry you, you'll clear Phil?

- As though this never happened.

- As your wife, I'm to open the doors

of respectable society to you.

- Yes.

- I love Phil.

You understand?

- Yes.

- And I hate you.

- Even so, I'll try.

- Very well.

I'll go through the ceremony.

I'll be your wife, as far

as the appearances go.

And I'll do everything in

my power to pay you back

for what you've done to Phil and me.

You love me, don't you, Steve?

- Yes, Margaret.

- That's fine.

That makes it so much easier.

I'll take, but I'll never give.

I'll show you what living

in contempt really means.

Before you're finished

with me, Steve Recka,

you'll think your gangster

enemies were amateurs.

And in the end, I'll go

back to the man I love,

if he'll still have me.

Well, do you still want me?

- Yes.

Yes, it cannot be any other way.

I cannot do any other thing.

- And you'll get Phil out of this?

- Yes.

Go home, pack.

Meet me at the airport at 7:00.

- But Phil, what about-

- Phil, Phil.

I will have him released immediately.

When we return. you can explain to him

that you married me because you wanted...

A rich husband.

- No, Steve.

No, I must see Phil before we leave.

- Then there's no deal.

- Very well.

The airport at seven then.

- Come on, come on!

Quit stalling, will ya?

But since you're not smart,

a man with whiskers walks into your office

and wants to buy some bonds.

A man with whiskers!

- Oh, what's the use?

You won't believe anything I tell you.

I've had enough of this!

Let me phone my lawyer.

- Ah, you're can have

all the lawyers you want,

after I book you.

- You can't keep me here like this!

- Oh, yes, yes I can.

I can keep you here for

24 hours on suspicion,

before I book you.

- I'll get it.

- Come on, get wise.

Don't make me shove you around.

Here.

- Thanks.

- Now look-

- Who?

Oh.

Good news.

Habeas Corpus Parker's on the phone.

- Inspector Brandon talking.

Yes, I did. I arrested him this afternoon.

Well, I'm only questioning him!

Yeah.

Yeah, all right.

All right, I get it.

That was one of the

city's big minds talking.

He just got a message from

his great friend, Mr. Recka.

Mr. Recka wants you booked right away

so his lawyer can spring you on bail,

you understand that, don't you?

- I think so.

- Okay, Phil Easton,

I arrest you for the

crime of grand larceny

and conspiracy to commit robbery.

That's the legal phrase, see?

But you don't have to worry about that,

because Mr. Recka's lawyers

will fix everything.

But get this...

I'm not through with you,

and I'm not through with Mr. Recka,

you can tell him that from me!

Take him out and book him,

his bail's probably waiting.

Elevator three, going up.

- Eh, what's these?

Traffic violators?

- Yeah, they drove through a red light.

- Well, we found these guns in their car.

- Well...

Come on in, boys.

It's just about tea time.

We haven't got any tea,

but we can have a little chat, huh?

Come on.

- These are the airplane

tickets Mr. Recka ordered.

- Tickets?

- Yes, ma'am. Two tickets

for the 7:15 plane.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

- The boss in?

The cops got Crouch and Hanley.

Brandon's got 'em.

He's working on them now!

- For what were they arrested?

- They tried to beat a stop sign.

The cops frisked the car

and found two heaters.

- Too bad, for Crouch and Hanley.

- But suppose Brandon rings in Easton

and he identifies 'em?

- Relax, Nicki, relax.

It will need more than

Easton's identification.

It would need those bands.

- One...

Two...

Three..

Four.

- What's this?

- The bonds, of course.

- Look again.

- Newspapers.

- Well, Nicki?

- Hey, boss, you don't

think I'd take them?

You don't think I'm that crazy?

I didn't open this bag until this minute.

- You let Crouch and Hanley go

without checking up on them!

- I didn't have no chance to!

I wanted them to scram, like you said. I-

- Shut up!

The police frisked their car.

They found two guns.

- And the bonds.

- And Brandon is working on them now.

- And he's got the bonds.

The bank gave the serial

numbers to the cops.

- Shut up, I said!

- But if Brandon rings in Easton now,

they won't be able to

spring Crouch and Hanley,

they'll sing to save their own necks.

That Crouch, he's a rat.

- Brandon will not ring in Easton.

Come in, Mr. Easton.

- I'm looking for Margaret.

I went to her home, and she's not there.

I thought she might be here.

Don't worry.

I'm sure everything will be all right.

- Well, well, how glad I am to see you.

- Thank you, Mr. Recka,

for sending that lawyer.

I

- It was the least I could do.

- And you believe in me?

You know I didn't do it?

- Not for a moment did

I think you were guilty.

Mr. Recka, I

don't know what to say.

Say nothing, I will talk.

We will straighten everything out.

You mean the robbery?

- Yes, I think we can clear things up.

Will you excuse us, please?

- Of course.

These are the stolen bonds.

- You know everything, don't you?

Like Inspector Brandon.

- More than Inspector Brandon.

Who were those men that Steve

hired to steal these bonds?

- How would I know?

- You knew where to get the bonds.

- Yes, but...

Stop asking me questions!

- You've told me enough.

- And all you have to do is

take a look at the two men

and see if you can identify them

as the ones who held you

up and stole the bonds.

- And this Nicki is waiting

there now with the police?

- Yes.

In the Ace Garage at the

corner of 10th and Detroit.

I'm sure all our troubles will

be ended when you meet Nicki.

- Thanks, Mr. Recka.

- What a pity.

He's such a nice fellow.

- You mean you're going to...

- I have to.

He's in my way now.

- Is that why you're sending

me to the Ace Garage?

- Yes.

- Oh, no, boss.

Not Easton.

I couldn't.

- Afraid?

- You know I'm not afraid.

- Maybe you will sooner go there with him.

Hm?

And wait together.

- Okay, boss.

- When you get there, he'll

be waiting in the garage.

- Hiya, Nicki.

- Keep going.

- What's the idea?

- Pipe down and keep going.

Get in that car.

- James.

- Say when.

- I am surprised, Lan Ying.

- Oh, come see.

Just one highball.

- I have never seen you drink before.

- You'll never see me drink again.

I promise you that.

- You know what I think about liquor.

- Of course.

But please, join me, just this once.

Please.

- You are acting very strange, Lan Ying.

- Not the way you expected

me to act, is that it?

- Expected you to act?

About what?

- Nothing, Steve.

Well, here's health.

When I pause like that, you should say...

"And happiness."

- I hate toasts.

You know that.

-So do I.

Music is much better.

♪ Thanks for the memory

of candlelight and wine ♪

♪ Castles on the Rhine ♪

♪ The Parthenon and moments

on the Hudson River Line ♪

♪ How lovely it was ♪

♪ Thanks for the memory ♪

♪ Of rainy afternoons,

swingy Harlem tunes ♪

♪ And motor trips and burning lips ♪

♪ And burning toast and prunes ♪

♪ How lovely it was ♪

♪ We'll say goodbye with a highball ♪

♪ Then I'll get as high as a steeple ♪

♪ For we were intelligent people ♪

♪ No tears, no fuss ♪

♪ Hooray for us ♪

♪ So, thanks for the memory ♪

♪ And strictly entre-nous,

darling how are you ♪

♪ And how are all the little dreams ♪

♪ That never did come true ♪

♪ Awfully glad I met you ♪

♪ Cheerio and toodle loo ♪

♪ And thank you so much ♪

- You're trying to tell me

we are no longer friends?

- We'll always be friends.

- You know that I'm going away?

- Aren't you?

- Yes.

Do you know whether I will return?

- Will you?

- I don't know.

- I have no use for so much money, Steve.

- You will keep it, in

case I should return.

You are the only one I can

trust, even better than myself.

I have been thinking...

Maybe I'm like the crazy fellow

who went looking for that pot of gold

at the end of the rainbow.

He didn't find it.

Maybe she's a rainbow.

Maybe she will break me into little bits,

and I will...

Crawl away.

Maybe.

But I will be sure of one thing.

Lan Ying is waiting.

- Waiting for the little bits

that can never be put together again.

- Yes.

Yes, because you are a friend.

A real friend.

Before I didn't know it

so much, but now I do.

Maybe I'm a little sad.

I cannot understand it.

I'm sitting on top of the

world, and I'm not happy.

- The top of the world

is a lonely place, Steve.

- Lan Ying.

Lan Ying.

Lan Ying, what is it?

Lan Ying, you are the one who

always tells me everything.

Answer me, Lan Ying!

All right, Mr. Recka.

Drop it.

- No...

No!

I didn't do it.

I didn't.

I couldn't killer her.

Brandon, I couldn't!

Not Lan Ying.

- Give me your hand.

You can't eat these, Recka.

- No. No, Brandon!

You got me wrong.

You can't do this.

You can't, Brandon!

You're a square cooper.

- Eight men you've killed.

And now you're gonna hang

for something you didn't do.

- No, no!

You can't do this.

- The law's caught up with you, Recka.

If this doesn't do it, we've

got you for the Rance murder.

Come on, Recka.

- Make all the arrangements.

It must be beautiful.

Very beautiful, James.

She liked Handel's Largo.

Tell the organist to play it.

- Mr. Recka.

Is there anything you'll need, sir?

- No.

The one thing I need,

I can never have again.

- So then I says, "I

don't know nothing, see?

Nothin'."

And the cops, they don't

say anything for a while.

And finally one of 'em says, "Scram!"

So just as I'm walking out,

Brandon comes walking in with the boss.

With the boss wearing bracelets!

"First degree murder."

Says Brandon, when he books the boss.

"Maybe," says Brandon...

"You'd like to call your lawyer."

But the boss don't say

nothing, just shakes his head.

Couple of weeks and I'll

know how to play this thing.

Then maybe I'll throw a party.

Do you think them swells would come

if I threw a party for 'em?

- I'm sure they wouldn't.

And even if they did,

I wouldn't be here to open that door.

- And then Lan Ying gave me the tickets

and said you'd be on the plane.

That's why I'm here, darling.

- Lan Ying.

- What did you say?

- What a beautiful name.