I Am the Law (1938) - full transcript

- Ancl so my friends,

the shortest distance between two points

is a straight line.

So, I'll come directly to the point.

Some of you will end up
being ambulance chasers.

Some of you may wind up
in the Supreme Court,

of the United States.

Whatever you do,

I warn you, don't become a law professor.

If you do, the same terrible
thing will happen to you,

that's happened to me.



At the end of every six years,

just when you're beginning
to get into your stride,

and are enjoying your work,

you're handed a reward.

A vacation with pay, for a whole year.

They call it a sabbatical year.

In leaving you, I leave
not only my students,

but my friends.

I shall miss you.

Ancl you,

I shall miss most of all.

In the year since you graduated,

I've kept in touch with you.

It was a great joy to me
to visit your offices,



help you with your first cases.

To sit in with you occasionally in court.

Now for a whole year,
I shall be out of it.

I suppose you will survive.

I'm not so sure that I will.

Goodbye my friends.

Bye to you all.

J' Glory to our alma mater J'

J' From your knees with pain J'

- My boy, the only time a man should start

on a leave of absence, is right
after rigour mortar sets in.

- Well, you won't mind it
once you get on the boat.

- Now that's what I dread the most.

Paul, come home with me will you?

Perhaps you can help persuade my wife,

that we can have a wonderful
vacation right here in town.

- I would love to, John, but
I've got a court hearing at 11.

- Well, I'll go with you,
perhaps I could be of assistance.

- Oh no thanks.

Your wife would never forgive me,

if I took you away on the last clay.

I'll see you off at the boat though.

So long, Professor.

- Goodbye.

- Habeas, here's a job for you.

Thank you, Habeas.

- Jerry.

Why have people continually
traipsing around?

Why's some other part of the world,

more interesting than the part you're in?

- You haven't had a
clay off in seven years.

You've got to renew yourself.

- Now look, Jerry.

Why couldn't I renew
myself without going away?

- No.

- We could have a wonderful time together

you ancl I right here in town.

- Oh no John, if we stayed here,

you'd be over the school every clay telling

the Dean how to run things.
- No I wouldn't.

- Oh yes you would.

Or you'd be at the
office of your graduates,

telling them how to run their offices.

- No, I wouldn't.

I'd stay home with you
darling all clay long

and renew myself till
I was blue in the face.

- Oh John.

Oh, please now.

Let go of me, so I can finish packing.

- I will, if you let me help you.

- Oh, now John, please.

Go away ancl let me pack.

- Where shall I go?

- Go to a movie.

They're playing Snow
White down the street.

- Well, I saw that Monday.

- Oh, see it again.

- Well, the theatre
doesn't open until noon.

Where will I go until then?

- Take a walk.

Window shop.

Your pocket.

- What?

Oh.

- Oh John.

Oh, you've burned the pocket out of almost

every coat you own.

Oh now please, get out of here before

you set the house on fire.

- Yes, clear.

Move on.

- What's the matter?

What is it Mr. Roberts?

- Hello, police department.

Somebody just threw a
stench bomb in my theatre.

You'd better send over a
lot of police right away.

- Tell Austin's to get
pictures and the story

ancl I don't want any alibis.

- This is my brother-in-Iaw, Mr. Tom Ross.

He's the managing editor.

He'll do something for you.

This is Mr. Roberts.
- How do you do Mr. Roberts?

What seems to be the trouble?

- Well, I-

- Well, Mr. Roberts runs
the university theatre.

He's the victim of a vicious conspiracy.

Outrageous.

- What happened Mr. Roberts?

- Mr. Ross-
- You know, you made a mistake

when you signed up with
the Theatre Owners'

Protective Association. Ancl
the moment he did sign up Tom,

the other outfit started to make trouble.

- What other outfit?

- Well you see-

- Well, the Theatre Owners'
Mutual Aid Association,

they started to throw stench bombs,

but the first outfit objected,

so, threatened by the second outfit.

- Now wait a minute, John,
suppose you let Mr. Roberts

tell me his story.

- But I don't wanna talk.

- Ancl what's the idea coming here?

- Because he insisted.

I haven't anything to say.

I'd rather have stench
bombs thrown in my theatre,

than dynamite bombs in my home.

- Well, if Mr. Roberts
won't give you the facts,

then I will.

I'm gonna see this thing through.

- Oh, for heaven's sake, John,

you act as that this was
the first stench bomb

that was ever thrown.

- How can you say that,Tom?

There was a panic in the theatre.

People might have been hurt, maybe killed.

- Well, what do you
expect me to do about it?

- Well, headline it, get some action.

- At your age, John.

There's nothing we can do about it.

This town is infested with
every conceivable racket.

They pay no attention to the law,

for one headline, more
or less being tuned.

- Well, something ought to
be clone about it by somebody.

Why this poor man...

why, he's gone.

- That's fine. Now, if you get outta here,

maybe I can get some work clone.

Go tell you a story to the
governor's civic committee.

Just drop in there.

You'll hear about rackets,

it'll make stench bombs
smell like violets.

- Where do they meet?

- The State House.

Wait a minute.
You're not really going there?

- You bet I am.
- But I was only kidding.

It's a private meeting.

- Intimidation of witnesses
has made it impossible,

for the grand jury to
get anybody to testify.

Corruption ancl bribery have sabotaged

this investigation from the start.

The governor has threatened
to call out the militia.

Not only that, but I have information

the federal government
intends to take a hand,

unless we show some results.

It's up to you, Mr. District Attorney.

- It's always up to the District Attorney.

- What have you clone?

The governor authorised appointment

of a special prosecutor.

Why hasn't one been appointed?

- For the simple reason that I can't
find anyone to take the job.

- Can you blame him?

What man in his right senses

would step into a spot like that,

when the District Attorney himself admits

that he can't cope with the situation?

- Gentleman.

The shortest distance between
two points is a straight line.

I've been listening to
you now for over an hour.

Really, aren't you making a
mountain out of a mole hill?

- How did you get in here?
- I walked in.

- Who are you?

- Well, my name is Lindsay.

I am a professor of law.

I think I have a good
grasp of the situation.

I'm sure that you don't
need any state militia,

federal men, or outside help of any kind.

- I quite agree with you,

but since this is a private meeting.

- Oh, I don't mind that at all.

New York had trouble like
this and cleaned it up.

Now, I'm sure we can do the same thing.

After all, who are these racketeers

that you've been talking about?

There're a very low order of people

from what I can gather.

While you gentlemen,

well you have everything in your favour,

the forces of law, money, public opinion.

Now, I'm sure that if
you tackle this problem

in a scientific way that you can-

- Sergeant,

would you kindly inform this gentleman,

that this is a private meeting?

- All right.

- I'm afraid I was in the wrong.

I had no business intruding,

after all, I'm only a taxpayer

and everybody knows
taxpayers have no rights.

- Oh professor, I'd like a word with you.

My name's Eugene Ferguson.

My son was one of your law students,

graduated a couple of years ago.

- Not Paul Ferguson?

- Yeah.

- Well, I'm delighted to meet you.

- Yeah.

- He's spoken to me about
you great many times.

- Not have as many times as
he's spoken to me about you.

He thinks you're the greatest authority
on law in the country.

- Well I think he's the
best student I ever had.

I predict a brilliant
future for him in the law.

- Well, that rates a drink.

- Oh, I rarely indulge in the afternoon.

- Well, it's almost evening.

- Yes but your meeting?

- Well, they can get along without me.

If they won't listen to you, I will.

- You know, the right man
could step in and clean out

the whole nest of them in 30 clays.

- I know just the man, but unfortunately

he's going away on a sabbatical leave.

- You mean me?

' Why not?

Well, of course, if you've
made all your plans to leave.

- Mr. Ferguson,

I'll make a confession to you.

I consider it no hardship

to postpone my trip for a few weeks.

- Two weeks?
- Yeah.

- Come now professor, it
may take longer than that.

- Oh no, no I wouldn't.

- Oh, I know you probably look forward

to your vacation for a long time.

- Well Mr. Ferguson,

I have an awful fear of an ocean trip.

- Two more Emil.

Of course, I don't know
how much the job will pay.

- Well, but that doesn't
interest me in the least.

The university pays my salary.

You know, the mere sight of a
steamer funnel makes me ill.

- Well, I'm sure I could
sell the committee.

They've got to find somebody pretty soon.

- I get seasick just
thinking of a steamer.

Smell anything burning?

Oh.

- We don't have to worry
about the state militia,

or the G men.

I've just landed a fish
that'll swim downstream.

I'm glad to hear it.

Or even we can't cope with the G men.

- Kitchell, I've got a special prosecutor

that'll fit right into my wrist pocket.

Call the boys together and tell 'em

we have nothing else to worry about.

- Don't be excited.

You've got plenty of time.

- It's plenty of time.

1o minutes.

- Mrs. Lindsay.

Perhaps the professor
is waiting at the house?

- No, he called me at seven
and told me to meet him at the pier.

He was with Paul Ferguson's father.

Said he was having dinner with him.

Paul, did you see your father?
- There's no one home yet.

- Well, did you try

the office?
- He isn't there.

All ashore

who are going ashore.

- Now, now Jerry.

Don't be worried.
- Oh, I'm too worried to be worried,

if he isn't dead already,

I'll kill him when I see him.

- Oh, hello everybody.

Oh my clear, I have a
great deal to tell you.

- Yes, I have a great deal
to tell you too.

- The most curious chain
of events this morning.

You know when I left to see Snow White?

- Yeah, I know the wicked queen.

Now you come on before they
pull the gang plank up,

you can tell me about it on the boat.

- Wait a minute.
Just what I want to tell you.

We're not taking the boat.

I'm afraid we're gonna
have to postpone the trip.

- What?

- I've been drafted.

- Mr. Ferguson, your
father's in your office.

He'd like to speak to you.

- Oh, thank you.

Hello Dad. They just
told me you were in here.

- Hello Paul.

Paul, I wish you would consult with me

before you accepted this position.

- I wanted to spring it
on you as a surprise.

I thought you'd be tickling a bit.

- I'm not keen about
you're going into politics.

- Well, this isn't politics, Dad.

It's a job.

A swell job.

- It's a dangerous job.

If you fail, it's a mark against you.

If you succeed, you're
a target for trouble.

- Well, if you feel that way about it,

why did you recommend Lindsay?

- Lindsay isn't my son.

You're all I have Paul.

You've got a nice law practise

and I can help you a lot.

Ancl I think I can fix it
with Lindsay to let you out.

- No, no, no Dad.

Listen, Dad,

I have enlisted for
the duration of this war.

We're going to clean out the rackets.

All of them, from the top to the bottom.

Quiet, please.

We're on the air.

Take pleasure in presenting
the newly appointed prosecutor.

The honourable John Lindsay.

- This is the first and
I hope the last time

I will impress you.

The motto of this country used
to be millions for defence

ancl not a cent for tribute.

There's something alien and
un-American has come along

ancl tried to change that motto to,

millions for tribute and
not a cent for defence.

I'm addressing myself,

not only to victims ancl
potential victims of rackets,

but to the organised mob of criminals,

who have not

taking over your government.

I hope that some of them are tuning in,

because I think we should
all understand each other.

The rackets started as petty larceny.

Hey mister.

They're big business now.

- My name's Girard.

- How do you?

- What's the idea refusing
install our slot machines here?

- Why I told your man why.

We have a high school across the street.

This is no place for gambling.

- All right, quit stalling.

I want an order to instal
some machines today.

The racketeers
pay their filings

with their salaries.

- Well, you won't get it.

Now get outta here.

- All right, come on.

- You refused to testify
for the grand jury,

because you've been
threatened and intimidated.

Now, if you who are the
victims of these rackets,

won't cooperate by offering
frank and complete statements,

how am I gonna make any headway?

I'm sure you wanna help.

- Maybe we're not thinking of ourselves.

Maybe some of us are
thinking of our families.

I've got a wife and two children.

Last week, I tried to take
out some life insurance.

I was asked if I intended to testify.

I was told that if I did,
I couldn't get a policy.

- Now what's the name of that company?

- The Acme Insurance Company.

- Acme Insurance Company.

Well, we'll see about that. Mr...?

- Butler.

- Butler.

Thank you.

BrophY-

Mallet.

Gentlemen,

these men are detailed as my bodyguards.

I'll be glad to assign 'em
to the first one of you,

who will agree to testify.

They'll act as your
bodyguards clay ancl night.

I'll assign two men to
anybody else who testifies.

Now, surely that should remove your fears.

That'll do, boys.

- Are you gonna knuckle
down to these crooks,

or will you help us fight them?

- All right, gentlemen, you're excused.

- Simpson, you have the names of these men

were just in here, haven't you?

- Yes, sir, I have.

- You must have dug them
up from uncler a stone.

- They were the list given
us by the grand jury.

- But I want you to get me a
complete set of their books,

- But how am I going to do it?

- Mr. Simpson.

How long were you employed in the
District Attorney's office?

- Six years.

- Well, didn't you learn anything?

Every time I ask you to do
something, you ask me how.

- You're supposed to be
an assistant around here.

You know what an assistant is?

One who assists.

To assist means to help.

- I know, but uncler the law..

- Are you trying to teach
the law to Professor Lindsay?

- No sir, but in order to get the book-

- I'll show you how to get them.

I'll have them here inside of 24 hours.

- YES.

Mr. Simpson calling.

- All right, put him on.

- Hello, Simpson.

- Mr. Kitchell.

They're going to grab the
books of those witnesses.

- All right, Simpson, I'll call you back.

- Hello?

YES.

Thanks.

- Who was it?

- Simpson.

He says a couple of Lindsay's men

are out looking for me.

What goes on here?

- Oh yes.

I took care of that.

I thought somebody ought
to tip Lindsay off,

to get in touch with him.

We got him his job.

It's time we were using him

to help us clean up some of the riff raff.

Boys like Con Cronin and his bunch.

All the undesirable elements.

You know something?

When we get this thing organised,

it'll be a recognised industry.

People will get used to it

ancl the money they pay will
come under the item of overhead,

like insurance.

You mark my words.

Someday, we'll be listed
on the stock exchange.

- Well,

where's Miss Ballou?

- Disappeared.

She must have left town.

- Left town?

I can't understand this.

Whenever I send for people,
they always leave town.

How do you explain that?

Do they know when I'm gonna send for them?

- I don't know Mr. Lindsay,

but we looked high and low for her.

- Searched very inch of the town.

' Yes?

It's Frankie Ballou.

- Send her in.

- Hello, boys.

Looking for me?

- YES.

Have a seat, Miss Ballou.

All right, boys,

you can have the rest of the week off.

Next time, I want you to find somebody,

look behind you to see
if they're following you.

- The next time you
wanna see me just call,

I'll be right down.

- Well, thanks for the tip.

I'm a sort of a
greenhorn in this business.

- Oh, that's alright.

You won't be in it long.

- What's that?

- I said you won't be in it long.

Unless of course you start to get busy

and prosecute some of
those nasty racketeers.

- You know, I'd really
like to prosecute a few.

Ifl could only find any to prosecute.

- Intend to go after me?

- Oh no, no, not at all, Miss Ballou.

- Then what do you want me for?

- Well, just what is your
occupation at the present time?

- At the present time I'm listening.

- Yes, I know.

But what is your training?

What do you do?

- A little of everything.

- Oh, Jill of all trades.

- Mistress of none.

- Yeah.

Have some candy.

- Candy?

Oh, now that's no way to get fingerprints.

Wait a minute, let me see.

There.

There.

If you want something, just ask for it.

- Well, thank you, I'll try to remember.

I suspect you're a very
intelligent young woman.

- I know my way around.

- I don't, I'm afraid that's the trouble.

- You'll never get
anywhere chained to a desk.

You know, if you're gonna
throw people in jail,

the least you can do is to meet them.

- Well, I call that invincible logic.

- I know where quite a few
of the bodies are buried.

How would you like a
personally conducted tour?

- I'd like nothing better.

If you could spare the time one evening?

- Well, how about tonight?

- Tonight?

What, you mean it?

Well, I,

oh, well it can wait.

- Yes.
- Get me Mrs. Lindsay please.

Tell me, do we dress?

- Oh no, most of the joints are informal.

- Hello?

Oh, hello darling.

I'm afraid I have to back
out of dinner tonight.

' Again.

You break every night this week.

- This will take a minute or two.

Anyway, I'll have
all to myself.

- Yeah, yeah sorry clear.

But it has to be clone tonight.

Yes, well you must remember,
I only have 3o clays.

Every night you work.

- It's most important.

Well, I'll call you later.

The best wife in the world, but a wife.

- Good evening, Miss Ballou.

- Two please, Jimmy.

- This way please.

- Hello.
- Hello.

- Who protects this place?

- Con Cronin.

- Well, we seem to be throwing ourselves,

to Cronin enterprises exclusively tonight.

- He's got the cafe racket
pretty well sewed up.

- You wanna see me, Girard?

- Is it all right I buy the
proprietor of the place a drink?

- I don't drink.

- Well, let's sit down.

I want to talk to you.

Baby, your nose needs powdering.

- I get it.

- Oh, by the way, that reminds me.

I promised to call my wife.

Will you excuse me?

- Why certainly.

- You've got a nice place here, Martin.

I hear you make two grand a week profit.

- I don't want any
trouble with you Girard.

I don't need protection.

I made a deal with Con Cronin.

- Oh, that's too bad.

Too bad Marty.

You got a nice place here.

You know I'm in the wrecking business.

I'll be right back, Jess.

Hi ya Frankie.

- What's the idea of patronising

one of Con Cronin's places?

- What about you?

- I'm here on business.

- So am I.

I was just talking to Martin.

- Yeah.

- You know what I think,

we're working this thing all wrong.

Instead of taking the
places away from Cronin,

we ought to take Cronin
away from the places.

I think I'll hang around here tonight.

If Con Cronin drops in-

- You'll do nothing of the kind.

We don't want any rough
stuff here tonight.

Did you see the man I came in with?

That's the honourable John Lindsay.

The man who's going
to clean up this town.

- With what?

- With our help.

- Listen,

we don't need any help.

- Or does Eddie.

- Here he comes.

Well, there's no answer.

I suppose Mrs, Lindsay's retired.

- That means you won't
have to hurry home, huh?

- The morning is ours.

- Here's to a long morning.

- May it be as instructive as the evening.

Now I've learned a lot tonight.
Thanks to you.

- You learned practically
everything I know,

except the Big Apple.

- Oh yes the Big Apple, you know,

that's always been one
of my secret ambitions.

But I don't believe I'll
ever get the hang of it.

- Oh sure you will. You
were swell in the last one.

- Was I?
- Yes.

- Well, you know, someday when I get time.

- No time like the present.

- What you mean right now?

- Why, certainly. Come on.

- Oh, this place ought to be fun.

- But you know, I really
feel sort of guilty

with John at the office,
up to his ears in work.

- I don't.

Sorry you're the gopher,

but this is going to happen every time

he misses supper at home.

Oh, oh Miss.

Look Miss.

Come on Paul.

- How dare he?

Research?

- Oh Miss Ballou,

this could be none other than my wife.

Yes, and this is my assistant.

Very much my assistant.

Mr. Paul Ferguson.

- How do you do, Mr. Ferguson?

- How do you do?
- Pardon me.

Your table is right over here.

- Oh, do you mind if we join you?

- Oh no, no, no.

Not at all.

You sit right with us.

We'll all sit together
ancl have a nice party.

Well, I didn't expect you here.

- Paul.

I didn't know the professor
could dance so well, did you?

- No. It's as much of a
surprise to me as it is to you.

- When now, wait a minute. Now
I give you my word of honour.

I've never danced the Big
Apple before in my life.

- Well he learns quickly Mrs. Lindsay.

He took to it like a duck to water.

Your husband's just full of rhythm.

- So you've noticed?

Cream?

- Yes, just a little.

- Hello, Mr. Cronin.

- Has Frankie Ballou been here tonight?

- She came here a little while ago.

- Anybody with her?

- Yeah.

An awful hard looking ape.

- Hello Frankie.

- Well, hello Con.

I want you to meet my friend, Mr. Lindsay.

This is Con Cronin.

- Glad to meet you, Mr. Prosecutor.

- Well, the pleasure is mutual.

We were discussing you
earlier in the evening.

- Yeah?

My ears have been burning all night.

This is my wife, Mrs. Lindsay,
ancl my chief assistant,

Paul Ferguson.

- Ferguson?

Any relation to Eugene Ferguson?

- Father.

- Well, well.

I'm glad I ran into you
tonight, Mr. Lindsay.

- Well, so am I, Mr. Cronin.

Won't you sit down, Mr. Cronin?

- It's a pleasure.

- Oh, it's fine.

Oh, thank you.

- I've been very anxious
to get in touch with you.

' Yes?

- You see, I run a legitimate business.

All my clients will tell you so,

but I've been having a
little trouble lately,

with some of these imported hoodlums,

that are trying to move in

and they're not gonna get away with it.

Make a note of that, Frankie.

- I certainly will, Con.

Does anyone here have a piece of paper?

- Yes, I think I have.

- Well, this is all very
interesting, Mr. Cronin.

- You'd be surprised at
the setup in this town

ancl you'd be surprised too. Mr. Ferguson,

I'd like to make an appointment with you
in your office tomorrow.

Well, I keep
open house in my office.

Anybody who wants me, walk in.

- Con, let's dance.

- I'd love to, Miss Ballou.

All right, I'll see you in your office

tomorrow, Mr. Prosecutor.

- I'll expect you, Mr. Cronin.- All right.

- Wanna take a tip from me, Cronin?

Leave town tonight.

- How can I do that, when I have a date

in the criminal courts tomorrow?

- Be a mistake for you to call on Lindsay.

- Oh, I'm not gonna see Lindsay.

I'm gonna see his
assistant, Paul Ferguson.

- Why Paul?

- I think maybe I can get
him to see the situation

a little clearer than Lindsay.

Understand?

- Oh yeah.

Yeah, I understand.

- I wanna know where
you dug up Miss Ballou.

She looks like a Greek goddess.

- She is a Greek goddess
and she came bearing gifts.

- Beware.

- Oh behave.

I've been playing baby face all night.

- The trouble with some people is,

they think they know it all.

I know a little something myself.

- A little knowledge is
a dangerous thing, Con.

- Not if you use it right.

- I can't understand the
sudden burst of cooperation.

First the young lady and now Mr. Cronin.

But I'll know more about them
before another day's over.

- Murder at cafe as
prosecutor dances Big Apple.

Big Apple.

A murder committed right under your nose.

No wonder we've had complaints.

- Well, I assure you, Mr. Leander,

it was all in the line of duty.

- I think it would be
more in the line of duty.

If you made some arrests
ancl got a few indictments.

- Well arrest and indictments
will come when I'm ready.

- When you're ready?

- So I couldn't get anything
out of the witnesses I sent for,

ancl so we seized their books,

but every one of them has your erasures.

- The very people we're trying to help,

were the least inclined to cooperate.

- Yes, we're not getting any help

from the board of supervisors.

We need more funds to carry on the work.

Why aren't we getting any?

- Lindsay, the reason they're
holding up appropriations

is because you're not getting results.

- Results?

- I think it's an outrage to
put a man in a spot like this

and expect miracles.

We owe Mr. Lindsay, all
our confidence and support.

As far as I'm concerned, he's got it.

- Thank you Mr. Ferguson.

Now, if you don't mind, gentlemen,

I have a lot of work to do.

- Will you tell Mr.
Lindsay, Ms. Ballou is here.

- Go right in.

He's expecting you.

- Thank you.

Hello.

- Oh, hello Frankie.

- You know, you're the
only man in the world

that could get me up at
this time of the morning.

- Oh, parclon my appearance,

I've been here all night working.

- That's what I call keeping
your nose to the grindstone.

- Well, it's one way of
keeping your nose clean.

Sit down, Frankie.

Did you notice those three
men who just left here?

- Well, yes.

- Acquainted with any of them?

- No.

- All right.

You know Eddie Girard.

- Eddie Girard?

- Yes, think hard.

I'm sure you'll remember.

He was on the clance floor last night,

when Cronin was killed.

- Who was he?

- Well, you must have seen him.

- Well, as I told the police,

I was dancing at the time

and I always dance with my eyes closed.

- Eddie Girard came over
to our table last night,

when I went out to phone.

Now, what did he want?

- He thought I was a movie star
and he wanted my autograph.

- Is that why you borrowed that notebook

from Paul Ferguson, to
write your autograph?

- Yeah.

Yeah, that's it.

- Eddie Girard killed Cronin, didn't he?

- Did he?

- Now, you know he did.

I know it too.

- Well, if you know it,
why don't you pinch Eddie?

- Because I can't prove it.

- Well, you can't prove anything by me.

- Matter of fact, I'm not
interested in who killed Cronin,

but I would like to know why he was killed

and I've got a hunch you know.

- I think myself that Cronin

died of softening of the arteries,

how that slug ever got into
him I couldn't tell you.

Of course when it happened

I was dancing.
- Yes, I know.

You were dancing with your eyes closed.

Tell me this.

Who's taking over Mr. Cronin's business?

- What business?

Oh, I see you've been raiding
The Daily Press morgue.

- Oh yes.

YES.

I spent a great many hours
after I left you last night,

going over these clippings.

Ancl I was interested to find,

that you were in several
of these clippings.

- Those were the clays I was
the little girl reporter.

- Yes, I see you had a byline,

by Frances Ballou, an interview.

And who do you suppose it's with?

- Might be anyone from
Einstein to Babe Ruth.

- As it might be Eugene Ferguson.

- He wanted to find out
if I knew you or not

and he found out.

He's been reading newspaper clippings

and he dug up that old interview.

- Well, what does that prove?

- It proves he has a hunch

ancl so have I, Gene.

He's a whole lot smarter
than you think he is.

- He's so smart, he can't
get the board of supervisors

to give him another nickel.

He's on his way out right now.

- Mrs. Butler.

- YES.

- I'm Mrs. John Lindsay.

My husband's the special prosecutor.

I wonder if you could
spare me a few minutes.

- Come in.

- Thank you.

- Have a seat, please.

- Thank you.

Mrs. Butler.

I came to talk to you about our husbands.

Well, I'll talk about my husband first.

Now, I was very much opposed
to his taking this job

as special prosecutor,

aside from the fact that it
interfered with the vacation,

which I'd been planning for a long time.

I felt the job was a
difficult and a thankless one.

- To say nothing of it
being a dangerous one.

- Yes, but since he took the job,

well, naturally I started rooting for him.

- Naturally.

- John has no political
ambitions whatsoever.

He's refused compensation from
the city for his services,

because the university
is paying his salary

during his leave of absence.

And as soon as this job is clone,

he's going back to his classes.

That's why I came to see you.

- What have I got to do with it?

- A great deal.

He can't very well finish this job without

starting it, can he?

And he can't very well start it,

if the very people he's trying to help,
won't let him.

Like your husband for instance.

- My husband has received death threats.

- But so has John,

but he's not paying the
slightest attention to them.

Why should your husband?

- He has two good reasons.

I'll show them to you.

- Tom, I've got the books of
the Acme Insurance Company

right here in front of me.

I'm convinced that they make a
business of breaking windows,

in order to sell insurance.

Well, you promised to find out for me,

who controls that company?

- Keep your shirt on.

I got it for you.

Ancl you won't like it.

90% of the stock of the Acme company,

is owned by Eugene Ferguson
under a fictitious name.

- Eugene, what do you mean Paul's father?

You sure of that?

I'll call you later.

- Ancl will you call up
my father and tell him

I won't be able to have
dinner with him tonight?

Thank you.

Hey John.

What have you got there?

- The books of the Acme insurance company.

- Isn't that the company
that turned Butler down

when he applied for insurance,

said he was a bad risk or something?

You want me to go over
these Acme books with you?

- No, no, I'm quite able
to go over these myself.

- You've been up all night, John.

You better go home and get some sleep.

- You better get out and let me work.

When I need your advice, I'll ask for it.

- Hello, Paul.

- Well, hello.

Well, what did you do
to your chief assistant?

It looks as if somebody just proved

there was no Santa Claus.

Oh, what happened, John?

- Well, I've just gone over the books
of the Acme insurance company.

They've been doing a terrific business
lately in plate glass insurance.

Every policy on their books
was applied for by the client,

right after he had his
shop window smashed.

- Well, what's that got to do with Paul?

- Well, nothing only that Eugene Ferguson,

happens to be the principal
stockholder of Acme?

- No.
- Yes

and he's in deeper than that.

He knows Frankie Ballou.

I believe she works for him.

Now, this is the trail
I've been looking for,

but how can I follow it?

Maybe I ought to ask Paul to resign.

Maybe I ought to resign myself.

I was a fool to take this
job in the first place.

- You were not.

- Well haven't you been nagging
me ever since to chuck it?

- Not chuck it, finish it.

- Well, how can I finish it now?

The cards are stacked.

Ifl go after Ferguson, it'll wreck Paul

and I can't do that Jerry.

He's like a son to me.

- Hello?

Who is it please?

Oh, put him on.

John, it's Mr. Butler.

- Well tell him I'm not in.

I broke my back trying to
get those people to open up

and not one of them offered to help.

- But don't you think you shouldn't-
- No, it's a waste of time.

- I'm not so sure about that.

- Yes, what is it?

- I've just had a talk with my wife.

If you can assure me protection,

I'd be willing to come to
your office and testify.

- Assure you?

Why. Mr. Butler, I'll
guarantee you protection.

Just hold on a minute.

' Yes?

- Tell Paul Ferguson to come
into my office right away.

- The things I'm going
to tell you, Mr. Lindsay

will open your eyes.

- Well, that's fine.

Fine, Mr. Butler.

I'm sure you won't regret it,

but look, I'll send a man.

The best man I have. He'll
be right over to pick you up

and see that you get safely to my office.

Paul, I've just heard from Butler.

He's ready to testify. Now
you go right up to his house

and bring him down here
before he changes his mind.

- Jerry-

- Come on now, get going.

- Come on.

- Jerry.

I've clone it, I've clone it.

- Mr. Butler.

- YES.

- I'm from Mr. Lindsay's office.

- Oh.

He phoned you were coming.

I'll be right with you.

I'll come back as soon as it's over

ancl tell you all about it.

- That's the right thing to do

and I'll be waiting to hear from you.

- Now that I made up my
mind, it's a kind of relief.

There's a lot I've got
to tell Mr. Lindsay.

- I know just how you feel.

- Oh, Mrs. Butler.

- Yes.
- I'm from Mr. Lindsay's office.

I've come to take Mr. Butler downtown.

- Well, he just left with someone
from Mr. Lindsay's office.

- Are you sure?

- Why, of course they'd
left just a minute ago.

- John, Butler wasn't there.

- What's that?
- He'd already gone.

Some man who said he was from your office

had come for him before I got there.

- My office?
- Yes.

- Why we were the only
ones who knew anything..

Yes?
- Say John,

one of those witnesses who
refused to testify was killed.

His name's Butler.

He was shot and thrown from a car.

They just found him.

- Paul.

They killed Butler.

How could they have known it?

Why only you ancl I ancl Jerry
knew that he was coming here.

Nobody could possibly have known unless,

unless.

Yes, unless.

My staff.

I wanna see every one of
you get in here, all of you.

Get in here.

Come on, hurry up.

Now, listen to me.

I sent Paul Ferguson to
bring Butler to my office.

Somebody got to Butler's
house before Paul did

and now Butler is dead.

He's coming down here to testify.

Now nobody knew about that, but my wife,

Paul and me,

until some stool pigeon in this office

sent out the information.

The grapevine started right here.

Now one of my own staff killed Butler.

Staff.

Before I started this investigation,

I should have sent for the
street cleaning department

and the fumigators to clean
up the whole pack of you.

You.

You've got shifty eyes.

Don't like your face, never did like it.

As for you two flat-footed morons,

I'd have clone a whole
lot better to get myself

a couple of poodles.

You're all a bunch of blithering,

double crossing,
incompetents with hookworm.

I don't know which one of you sent out,

the tip that killed Butler,

but I'm going to find out.

In the meantime, you're
fired, the pack of you.

Come on Paul.

- Hey, he can't fire us Brophy,

we're civil service.

- Yeah.

- Hey fellas.

The professor will be
with you in just a moment.

Would you mind stepping
in here in this room?

No, sure.

Come on.

- Hello Bert. Just the
man I wanted to see.

- Who were those men?

- They don't know it yet,
but they're my new staff.

Fine youngsters with no strings attached,

no political tie ups.

People I can trust.

I've cleaned house.

Threw out that rotten bunch.

The past servants of the
people, kit and boodle.

From now on, it's gonna be different.

- Wait, John, there, isn't
gonna be any from now on.

- What do you mean?

- I've just come from
the board of supervisors.

They blame you for Butler's death.

They've clamped down on you.

No more money.

- They want me to quit?

- Listen, John, a man's
a fool to butt his head

against a stone wall.

You know, I want to help,
but my hands are tied.

- All right Bert.

I'll stop butting.

You have my resignation.

- I'm sorry, John.

I know just how you feel.

- No, you don't.

You don't know the half of it.

Hello boys.

- Hello.

- How are you, Professor?

Good to see you.

- Well I dreamed of holding
a reunion with my graduates,

but I never thought it
was gonna be like this.

Well thank you for coming down.

Sit down, please sit down.

Gentlemen.

The shortest distance between two points,

sometimes a very rocky road.

You know what I've been up against,

since I've taken this job?

Well, I haven't been able to lick it.

I failed.

You've all seen this headline,

Butler was shot to death.

Why?

What did he do?

What was his crime?

Nothing.

Who was he?

He was just a man like you and me.

He had a little business.

He voted, he paid taxes.

He had a wife and a couple of kids

and he took darn good care of them.

He was killed because
he was going to stand up

and tell the truth.

Ancl I promised him protection,

but I couldn't keep that promise,

because my office was infested

with an nest of stool pigeons.

Ancl so I fired them ancl I sent for you.

You were the best students
I had, honour graduates.

I brought you here to offer you that job.

Well, that was a few hours ago.

Since then, gentlemen,

I have been fired.

' Fired?

Professor?

- Yes, but I'm not quitting.

I'm gonna keep right on
going as a private citizen.

I took an oath over the
dead body of Butler,

that I would smash the
system that killed him

and every man behind that system.

I'm gonna fight them with
all the weapons I could find,

they're own if necessary.

Fair or foul, above or below the belt.

I'm gonna lick them,

or else I'm gonna wind
up on a slab like Butler.

But I need help to do that.

I need you.

I want you to come into this fight.

Now, there won't be much money in it

and there'll be times when
you won't be getting any,

you'll have to be on the job
24 hours a clay and every clay.

Now I'm not hiring the staff.

I'm recruiting a regiment.

Ancl if you enlist, it's for
the duration of the war.

- Wait a minute, Professor.

We, well, some of us can't,

We're working.

- Well, what are you working at?

- What are we working at?

What do you mean?

- Well, you ought to know professor, law.

- Why, we're practising law.

- What law?

The law is dead.

I taught it to you, but it
was all a waste of time.

You won't be practising any law,

until you bring the law back to this city.

- Professor, you can't lick that bunch.

- Their hold is too
powerful, they're too strong.

- Yes and getting stronger.

Why?

Because decent people in every community,

say what you're saying.

They sit back ancl they
watch organised crime,

eat way at the very foundations
of their own government.

They, you and I, we're to blame.

Now, when are we gonna wake up?

When are we gonna get
fighting mad and call a halt?

Why we live in the community, don't we?

Some of you'll marry here.

Build homes, raise children.

Now you want this a place fit to live in.

I for one would rather be clead

ancl out of it than go
crawling through life,

taking orders from the
lowest ancl filthiest elements

in our social strata.

I'm going to fight.

Now how many of you're
gonna fight with me?

- I'm in.
- Count me in.

Well, that's fine.

Now sit down, let's get organised.

Paul, have you the list of
the loan sharks with you?

- Right here.

- Now gentlemen,

we're gonna need money to
carry on this investigation.

Don't worry, Tubby.

This isn't a touch.

I'm going to raise the
money by borrowing it

from the loan sharks.

- Loan sharks?
- That's a unique idea.

How do you...

- I'm going to make them
finance their own destruction.

They did a business of
$2o million last year,

so they must have plenty of money.

I want you men to go out ancl
get all you can out of them.

Rig up your own references.

- Yeah, but how are we gonna pay 'em back?

- Well, don't worry about that.
When it's time for them to collect,

they can come and see me.

Now, gentlemen,

the shortest distance between two points

is to have you boys help me
pack up my files and records

ancl get 'em out of this milieu dump.

Come on.

Now, wait a minute boys

that table belongs to the city.

- Good fishing today?

- Swell. They're biting on everything.

- Here's 100.
- Here's 200.

- 15o.

Bless their little hearts.

I don't know what we do without
the clear little loan sharks.

- Hello Bert, thank you for coming.

- I went to work the minute you called me.

You know I told you, you could count on me

for anything, except money.

- Well, thank you. Is he my man?

- Yes, Inspector Gleason,
Mr. Lindsay.

- How do you do Mr. Lindsay.
- How do you do.

Well, tell me something
about the inspector.

- He's one of the men who didn't
toe the line with certain people.

So he was transferred to
the marshes with the goats.

- Good enough. Man after my own heart.

- Oh, come in Mrs. Butler.

How are you?

- Well, I just came over to tell you

that I'm moving out of the city.

- Moving?
But the business.

- There isn't any business.

They haven't given me a minute's peace,

since my husband was killed.

- I want rookies, youngsters
who are just starting in.

I want you to pick them, check up on them,

organise them and hold. 'em
ready for me until I need them.

- John, please.

- Oh good morning, Mrs. Butler.

- She was followed by three men in a car.

They're waiting outside now.

I just saw them.
- What?

Jerry, call up Tom and
ask him to send a report

and the camera man out here right away.

- What for?
- Do as I tell you.

Inspector, would you mind stepping out

and asking those three
men to come in here?

Paul, you go with the inspector.

- Hello?

Hello, get me Tom Ross quick.

- Tell 'em it's a scoop.

- Hello Tom, it's a scoop.

Now, I don't know what
it is, but it's a scoop.

Now, send a reporter and a
photographer up here right away.

- Make it two photographers.

- Two photographers.
- Wait a minute.

Come yourself.

- What's your hurry?

- Come on in gentlemen.
You're just in time for tea.

_ Get going.

- I think that's everything, Inspector.

- Now, I want a picture
of these three men.

- Well, that's a waste of time.

You can get their pictures
out of the rooms gallery.

- Yes, but I want a nice group picture.

All right, boys.

- Close in there fellas.

Thank you.

- Now, we'll call this one before.

Later, we'll take another picture.

We'll call that one after.

Now gentlemen,

there's been a lot of bosh
printed in the newspapers

ancl pulp magazines,

which has tended to
create a false impression,

concerning the psychology of the hoodlum.

They've been represented as
men of desperate courage,

exceedingly tough hombres.

Well, I've always had an
opposite point of view.

Observe that they always
come in groups, not alone.

Observe that they always
come armed with guns

and other assorted weapons.

Take note of the fact

that it took three of
these alleged guerillas

to terrify and intimidate
one small unarmed woman.

Unarmed ancl alone, I'm sure
that their actual courage

is on a par with their intelligence.

Nil.

Now, with the permission
of the district attorney,

I'd like to prove this with an experiment.

- It's all right with me.

- Thank you.

I'd like to have this experiment
photographed in detail,

if you don't mind.

Okay.

- You.

Now it's my intention
to beat your head off.

Perhaps it'll be other way around.

Anyway, we're gonna find out.

Now, nobody's going to interfere.

You'll be good enough to move
that furniture back a little.

I think we'll have a little more room.

- Just a minute.

Just a moment, boys.

My fault.

I shouldn't have turned my back on him.

All right, come on.

- Mack, this is Ross speaking.

I've got a scoop for you

ancl I want it on the
street within an hour.

Professor and one of the hoodlums

are having a battle right now.

After the professor gets
through delivering a lecture

on hoodlum psychology, he
chooses one of the hoodlums.

The hoodlum cops a sneak on the professor,

while he's taking off his coat

and knocks him on his divan.

He's fighting furiously.

This professor with his left,
knocks him onto the desk.

He picks the professor up
and with a right cross,

knocks him over into the corner.

- Don't you think we
ought stop the professor?

- Professor comes out
and misses the hoodlum,

but the hoodlum didn't miss the professor.

- John stop it.
- Ancl pops him right on the button,

knocking him into the crowd.

- The professor carried back

ancl the hoodlum hits him with the right

ancl knocks him over into the French door.

Picks him up off floor
with a well put right,

knocks him onto the desk.

- Give it to him John.

Give it to him.

The professor's
on him like a wild man.

They're all off
the desk onto the floor.

- Finish him John, finish him.

- Come on.

Back to the floor.

The hoodlum's on top of him.

Professor grabs him ancl
he's getting up with him.

Professor might have bitten off

a little more than he can chew.

Right on the button and the
hoodlum is out like a light.

' QED.

- Huh?

- Quod erat demonstrandum.

Has been demonstrated.

- Professor, can I take this one?

- Oh no. This is my lecture.

He chooses the next one,

who shows no fight, so
with a well placed right-

- Get back hoodlum.

Seeing that both of these pals

around for third trying.

- You've gotta hand it to the professor.

I got a good mind to make him a proposition.

Get him into the organisation.

- Be a whole lot better to get your son

outta Lindsay's organisation,

or else wise him up and
get some good out of it.

- I'd rather throw the whole
thing overboard than do it.

- Sure.

Your chin isn't out like mine.

I'm the one Lindsay's gunning for.

He's using your son as a sharpshooter.

Why should I be the Patsy?

He sweated Barrett and
got Mrs. Butler to talk.

Now, ifl were running things-

- You're not,

- Don't get me wrong.

I'm only thinking of your welfare.

- Don't worry about me.

I ain't gonna lose any
sleep over a screw ball,

without an organisation,
without any money.

- He's lined up an organisation

and he's found a way to borrow money.

You know where.

- By the way Gene, the Acme
books haven't come back yet,

have they?

- What's Eddie Girard doing these clays?

- Memorandum to Paul Ferguson.

Advertised newspapers,

asking all people who borrowed
money from loan sharks

to communicate with me here.

Memorandum to Craig.

Check on the list of photo dealers

ancl see which of them instal
the Kitchell car system.

- Memorandum to John Lindsay,

reminding him that the shortest
distance between two points,

is a straight line.

You know, I've been trying to decide

what racket I'd take up.

- What?

- So I'd get a little attention.

- I have been neglecting you haven't I?

- Being neglected is all right,

but you haven't even been seeing me.

- Oh, nonsense.

I haven't taken my eyes off you

since the clay I flunked
you in them law courts.

- Yes, now I'll never
forgive you for that.

Oh clear, if only I hadn't
sent you out that clay

to see Snow White.

- Jealous of her?

- John, you know,

I went out ancl brought
you a present today.

- What'd you get?

- You go and see,

it's in that top drawer of that bureau.

- Where, over there?

Well, why didn't you
put it in this drawer?

- Now, you go see what it is.

Come on.

- What you mean now?

- YES HOW.

- That must be it.

It feels heavy.

What's this?

- The next time you may not
get a chance to disarm them.

- But aren't you afraid I might get hurt?

It's the closest I've ever
been to one of these things.

How does it work?

- Well, you see that thing there?

- Yeah.

- Well, that's the safety pin.

It's on now, so you
can't pull the trigger.

- That's right.

' See?

Yeah, but when you push it down.

- Do you mean like this?

Look out.

He got away.

Jerry, get Gleason on
the phone right away.

I'll need a couple of his rookies.

Habeas, you're fired.

- Now, you chumps ought to know

better than to bust in a guy's place

without a warrant.

- Yes, well you'll have
to excuse the boys.

You know, they were
only recently sworn in.

They don't know the ropes yet.

- I guess you don't either.

You're wasting your time and mine.

I can prove by 40
witnesses, I wasn't there.

- Where?

- Anywhere.

What's the pinch for?

- Parking your car near a hydrant.

That's a good one.

Mr. My car is in the garage.

Come on.

What's the charge against me Mr. Lindsay?

- I think this guy's got a gun on him.

- Well, go on, take a look.

- Well.

Carrying the gun without a licence.

- I got a licence.

- Well, where is it?

- There you are.

- What's the matter with your hand?

I suppose you shot it
by cleaning this gun.

- Yeah, that's it.

- What's the name of the
doctor that treated your hand?

- There wasn't any doctor.

- Well, who fixed up your hand?
- I did it myself.

- Oh, practising medicine
without a licence, huh?

Take him along boys.

- All right.

All right.

On your way.

On your way outside.

- You promised me an exclusive.

Now what have you got on Girard?

- Murder of Cronin.

Murder of Butler.

Attempted murder of yours truly.

We mustn't rush into print just yet,

because I can't prove it.

- Rush into print?

You promised me tonnes of copy

and what have I had?

When do we open up?

- When we close in.

My new staff is doing marvellous work.

They're accumulating plenty of evidence,

but we are out for more.

- But John, you ought to
give the newspapers a little,

they're yelling their heads off.

- Well, let 'em yell.

- The people are holding mass meetings,

petitioning the governor,

criticising Berry for working with you.

First thing you know, they'll
take it away from you.

- Oh no, they won't take it away from me.

Now, get away from that waiting wall.

I've got work for you to do work.

- Work? You've got most of my reporters
working for you already.

- Well then hire some more.

- What for?

- Now listen, Paul
Ferguson's been checking up

on Moss Kitchell.

His office is a front.

He gets together with his
boys at his apartment.

They hold a meeting there
several clays a week.

- What's there?

- Floor plan of an apartment.

- Kitchell's?

- Yes and the one next to Kitchell's.

Now look, this is the closet.

Now the wall of this closet,

is the wall of Kitchell's living room.

I was just wondering if it were possible

to plant a motion picture camera,

in the closet of this empty apartment.

- I get it.

I'll assign one of my best burglars,

to plant that camera for you.

Not only a camera, but a dictaphone too.

You'll not only see
him, but we'll hear him.

- Well, great.

- Send Austin in here, quick.

- Austin.

See if he can shove it over now.

That's swell.

- How's it look, Austin?

- Swell.

They can pan all over the
room and see everything.

- That's fine.

Now, I want someone to stay
in this room 24 hours a clay.

- Yeah, but how about some food?

- Don't worry. I'll see that you get it.

Ancl all the film you get,

I want you to turn over
to Mr. Lindsay in person.

_ Qkay.

- Gentlemen, this situation
is becoming dangerous.

If the people aren't protected by the law,

they'll take the law into their own hands.

I must ask for your resignations.

- I'm sorry, Governor,
but I refuse to resign.

- In that case-
- What I need

is help now more than ever, Governor.

- Mr. Lindsay, you've
tried to do this job,

but it's been too big for you.

You've failed.

- We haven't failed.

We're all ready for the final push.

We've tracked them down,
every one of them.

We know who they are and how they operate.

We're ready to clean them out,
if you'll just give us a little more time.

- How much time?

- 24 hours.

- All right, Lindsay, go to it.

- Oh, thank you, Governor.

- John, that was a good bluff.

But I do know who they are
ancl just how they operate.

Haven't got any proof.

- I don't care. I'm gonna
arrest every one of them.

I want them all brought
directly to my house.

I don't want any of them booked,

or taken to a police station.

- But you can't pull people in without

bringing charges against
them ancl having some proof.

- Are you gonna help me round them up?

- John, I strung along
with you all the way,

but this is suicide.

If you cause wholesale risk

and then can't back them up.

Well, we are not only washed up,

but we're in line for
criminal prosecution.

- Well, I don't care.

I'm gonna take that risk.

It's gonna be a pleasure to rot in jail,

ifl can drag a few of
the swine in with me.

Now, stand back.

Come on.

- We're gonna ask you
boys a few questions.

We want you to tell the truth,
'cause we know the answer.

Lindsay is opposed
to brutality in any form.

You're not his prisoners, or his guests.

Plate glass game.

If you talk, Mr. Lindsay
will make it easy for you.

- Take your hats off.

What are their names?

- Joseph Miller ancl
Alfred Harris, loan sharks.

- Loan sharks in the kitchen.

- Come on.

- Hello?

- Hello, Paul Ferguson?

- Just a minute.

Paul, it's for you.

- Joe Smith, Jake Blackman, poultry racket

- Hello?

- This is Moss Kitchell.

I know there's an order to pull me in,

but if I'm pinched,

you'll be the one that will suffer most.

If you wanna know why,

come around to my
apartment and I'll tell ya.

- Apartment 317, I'll
be there in 10 minutes.

- Bill Jones, Art Green.

- Hello?

- Hello Moss?

- YES.

- You don't have to worry about Lindsay.

As I told you, no matter
what he has on you,

he'll never have a chance to use it.

I'm taking care of that tonight.

Ancl after Lindsay's out of the way,

I'll see to it that Paul leaves town.

Hello?

- It was fixed to look like
suicide, but it wasn't.

Kitchell was killed
because somebody knew that

I was coming to see him.

He was killed because he
was gonna tell me something.

That's why Cronin was killed.

That's why my father didn't
want me to work for you.

That's why you wouldn't let
me look at those Acme books.

You wanted to protect me.

You said this is a war.

All right, everybody gets hurt in the war.

- Yeah, wait a minute.

Where are you going?

- Tom Ross is in there.

I'm gonna tell the world how my father's

mixed up in this thing.

How he's posed as a civic minded citizen

when all the time he's
been double crossing me

ancl the rest of the city. My own father,

the head of this whole slimy outfit.

I'll give Ross a story. A whole chapter.

- No, this is a closed chapter.
- Oh no, it isn't.

- Now, wait a minute.

I'm still in charge of this job.

If you're working for me, you're
gonna take orders from me.

- Well how come?
- You've gotta trust me, Paul.

You're not gonna say a word
about this to your father,

or anybody else.

- Oh, you're wrong, John.

I've got to get this

out in the open.
- Yes, yes, but not now.

We're not ready for it yet. If
those arrests be made today,

they can be made to stick, yes.

But if they don't,

it's we who are gonna be behind bars.

Now, go out there ancl work them over.

Go ahead, break those crooks down.

- Mr. Lindsay.

- Yeah?

- We've got it.

It's just what we've been praying for.

Why today's film will blow
the lid right off this town

and the record too.

- Well, good. Let's run it.

- Oh, Mr. Lindsay, can I see-
- Not now, see me later.

It's opportunity
I wanna give you men.

- What a story we're getting tonight Paul.

- Yeah, what a story.

- I wanna get my lawyer.

- Oh, I'll get you a lawyer.

The place is full of lawyers.

Take him in there.

You carry on Fred.

I'm gonna make these loan sharks talking.

- Coffee, Paul?

- No thank you, Jerry.

- Helen, coffee ancl
sandwiches to the staff.

Here's some coffee.

What's the matter, John?

- Sit down, Jerry. Take some dictation.

The last will and Testament
of Eugene Ferguson.

Go ahead.

I, Eugene Ferguson, being
of sound and disposing mind

and memory, and not acting uncler duress,

menace, fraud, or undue influence
of any person whatsoever,

do make, publish, and declare this to be

my last will and Testament

and the men are following.

- Is that all, John?

- John, I've got to talk to you.
- Just a minute, Paul.

- Yes, that's all Jerry.

Get it out as quickly as possible.

- Yes, darling.

- It's hopeless, John.

We can't break them down.

We've got to get those
witnesses to identify them.

- Where are they on the patio?

- YES.

Every man who refused to
testify before the grand jury.

- Yes, every one except Butler.

Oh, I better see them alone.

Gentlemen.

I'm glad to see you here.

The last time I talked to
you, you all had Iockjaw.

You refused to identify the racketeers,

who were robbing you,

and running your business for you.

I'm giving you another chance now,

to prove that you are men who
will stand up for your rights.

- John Butler stood up for his rights.

- YES.

Ancl I'd rather be in his shoes than yours.

You walked out ancl left
him to face the job alone.

- At least we're here, Mr. Lindsay.

- Yes, doing what?

Waiting around for
hardening of the arteries.

- It's easier to talk, but
I have a family to think of.

- I tell you, there isn't
anything to be afraid of.

We have the headman ancl his
assistant Moss Kitchell,

was killed tonight.

- What could will that do?

Someone else will take their
places, organise a new gang.

- Not if we get all of them,

that's why we can't
afford to let any of them

to slip through our fingers.

There they are in there.

All I want you to do is to identify them.

Now we've spent nearly a year

gathering evidence against them.

I know they're guilty, but I
need your help to prove it.

Now, will you help me?

Have I risked the lives of
25 young lawyers for nothing?

Why, they gave up their
careers just to help you.

Ican't fail.

I won't fail just
because you're a bunch of

white belly jellyfish.

- Mr. Lindsay, we've been beaten up.

Our homes have been bombed.

Do you think we're gonna cringe,

because of a few harsh words?

- Well, how can I make you
realise just how serious

this whole thing is?

- I'm not going to risk my future.

- Well, there is no future,

if you pay tribute to rackets.

- I'm not ashamed to say that I'm afraid.

I'm a peaceful man.

Violence terrifies me.

I'd rather pay than be beaten.

- Even if we could face them,

we have to protect our families.

- But how?

Don't you realise that when
you pay for protection,

you're not only setting
yourselves up, but your sons.

Yes ancl their sons too.

- Gentlemen.

I don't all together
agree with Mr. Lindsay,

that we have nothing to fear,

but we do live here.

We work here ancl unless we do something

to clear up this tenable situation

and make our city a
safer place to live in,

we're worse than the man
he's asking us to identify.

- Why of course you are.

- I'm ready.

Come on, George.

- Good.

- I'm ready too,

we should have done this a long time ago.

I'm with you, Professor.

Line them up to one side.

All right, men.

Line them up over here.

Come on you fellas snap into it.

Over on this side.

Hurry UP-

- Commissioner if these
men are identified,

have them taken to the dining room.

Gentlemen, I turned my
home into a rat trap,

for your convenience.

Now, do any of these rodents
look familiar to you?

- I know this crook.

I paid him money every week for protection

he forced down my throat.

- That's the man that smashed my window.

And that's the guy that came next morning,

to sell me plate glass insurance.

That's the man
who wrecked my laundry.

- He handles a strong
arm squad in the book.

This one was wrecking
my track,

before I started paying for protection.

- That's the man that
came in with two other men

and beat me up, 'cause I wouldn't pay.

With me too.

Wait till I get him in court.

- This one held me and hit me like this.

- Now take it easy Mr. Hay.

That man drove a truck
through the window of my store.

- Miss Ballou, statement for the press?

- Not tonight.
- Thank you.

- Hi Professor.

- Hello Frankie.
- What goes on here, revolution?

- Yeah, something like that.

The way they're bringing them in now,

I'll have to get the
ballpark for the overflow.

In here Frankie.

I must apologise for
asking you to come here

at such a late hour.

- Well that's all right, I'm used to it.

- Sit down Frankie.

- You said you wanted me to meet somebody?

- YES.

Would you please?

Miss Ballou, I want you to
meet Mr. Eugene Ferguson.

- How do you do?

- Sit down Eugene.

Oh, well, by the way Eugene,

when I introduced you to Miss Ballou,

I neglected to mention just who she is.

Among other things,

She's the lady who killed Moss Kitchell.

- It isn't polite to contradict.

But according to the extras,

they're yelling on the streets.

Moss Kitchell committed suicide.

- Yes, yes, of course.

But we know better, don't we?

- What did you want to see me about John?

- Oh yes, we'd better
get down to business.

The shortest distance between
two points is a straight line.

I have some very interesting film,

which I'd like to show you.

Ancl I think everything is in order.

- Stop pacing Moss, you make me nervous.

- What's all the excitement, Boss?

You know, I don't like to come here.

- Heard about this round-up didn't you?

- Yes, what of it?

- They're not gonna get me in it.

I'm serving notice right now.

I'm not holding the bag for anybody.

- You won't have to.

I don't care what Lindsay's got on Girard.

He'll never be able to use it.

- You said that before
ancl he's still around.

Even if you got Lindsay outta the way,
what about your son?

He probably knows as much as Lindsay does.

Why didn't you get him out
of there when I told you to?

You're gonna knock him off too?

What kind of a rat is he?

- You shouldn't have
said anything about Paul,

it's dynamite.

- Well, maybe it's time
to use a little dynamite.

- What are you going to do?
- Call Paul Ferguson.

- Cronin had the same idea.

You know what happened to him.

- Hello, Paul Ferguson?

This is Moss Kitchell.

I know there's an order to pull me in,

but if I'm pinched, you'll be
the one that'll suffer most.

If you wanna know why come
around to my apartment

and 1'll tell ya.

Okay, I'll be here waiting.

You're gonna end on the hot
seat, unless I get what I want.

- What do you want?

- Well, I want you to write me a story.

Just the same as if you were
still working for the press.

- A story of my life?

- YES.

Beginning six years ago,

when you left the paper
and became involved

in these rackets.

Now, if I like your story,

there's a bonus in it for you.

- What's the bonus?

- Your life.

Of course you'll have to stand trial,

for the killing of Moss Kitchell,

but I'll see to it that
the district attorney

bears down easily.

I'll guarantee you to
save you from the chair,

if you'll give me a signed story,

that'll help bring convictions.

- What about him?

I won't write a line if
it'll send him to the chair.

- Ancl I promise you it won't.

- You'll give him a break too?

- YES.

Not on your account.

I'm thinking of somebody else.

Yes, I know.

- There's a typewriter in
here and plenty of copy paper.

- It's all right, dear.

Go ahead.

The story she's writing in
there for tomorrow's paper?

- Well that depends,

you know, Gene, some of the
best stories never get printed.

Sit down.

I wanna talk to you about Paul.

He's a fine boy, Gene.

He's on the threshold of great things.

My leave of absence will
be over in a few clays.

I wanna get back to my
classes, I missed them.

I'll be glad to have somebody
like Paul take my place.

I'm gonna arrange with Berry to let Paul

handle all the prosecutions.

He can be the next district attorney

and from then on, he
has only one handicap.

' Me?

- YES.

Ancl your money.

Now you've got an awful lot of it, Gene,

too much for Paul to inherit.

Have you ever made out a will?

- No.

Never got around to it.

- Well, I made one out for you.

Read it.

You'll see that I left only a fraction

of your estate to Paul.

- What's this?

A trust fund for a family
of the name of Butler.

- YES.

I don't know whether
you remember him or not,

but he was one of my witnesses.

He was killed before he could testify.

He, I suppose more than anybody else,

was responsible for the
success of this investigation.

He left a wife and a couple of kids.

I've been sending them money,

but I think a trust fund
would be more proper,

don't you?

The rest of the estate will go to a fund,

to carry on the work
of this investigation.

I can think of no better use

to which your money could be put.

- This will is dated a month ago.

- Yes, I dictated it
tonight, but I dated it back.

Looked better that way.

- I see I've appointed you executor.

- Would you rather have somebody else?

- No, I think not.

- I'll arrange my witnesses later.

I think you better sign it now.

- You talk as if I were
going to die pretty soon.

- We all die pretty soon.

yes

we do.

There are things I'd like to attend to,

before the fun begins.

- What?

- I'll be around when you want me,

the way you'd want me.

- I'll trust you to do the right thing.

- Well,

it's getting pretty late.

I sent my chauffeur back.

I don't suppose there are any cabs

around this time in the morning.

I wonder if you'd let me borrow your car?

- My car?

Why, yes.

Yes, certainly.

Here are the keys.

- Thank you.

I hope Frankie's story will prove helpful.

Good night.

- Good night.

- I gotta see Lindsay.

It's on the level I tell you.

They get the finger on him

ancl all the cops in the
world can't stop it.

- Come along.

- John.

This man says there's a plot to kill you,

before the night's over.

- What?

- It's true, Mr. Lindsay, I
didn't want any part of it.

They rigged up your car with a bomb.

It's set to go off the minute
you step on the starter.

- There's a bomb in my car?

Paul.

- That's it.

That's your car.

Somebody's been killed.

- Shut up.

Come on.
- Please Mr. Lindsay.

They'll hang me for this.

Gimme a break.
- Shut up I told you.

Take charge of this, man.

I wanna talk to him later.

- What was that?

- Somebody planted a bomb
in Professor Lindsay's car.

- Paul.

' Yes?

- It was your father.

He just borrowed the keys to my car.

- You gave it to him.

You sent him out of here to be killed.

- I didn't know anything about the car.

- You killed Eugene Ferguson.

- I tell you, I didn't
know anything about it,

but he did.

Ancl he had courage enough to die that way.

He had to go out some
way, we both knew that.

I left it up to him.

What could I do?

Hound him to the chair,

put him in chair for the rest
of his life and let Paul..

He did have courage, Paul.

He just took the wrong direction.

You keep on going and
you'll go a long way.

- I've got work to do, Professor.

Thank you.

- Oh John.

It's all so horrible.

It's all right, honey.

It's all over.

Professor, we sure did miss you.

- How does it feel to be back, Professor?
- Great, thank you.

- Professor it sure seems like old times
to see you again.

- Think you can make a lawyer outta me?

- Well, I'll try.
- Thanks.

- Ah, the old school.

It's great to be back, Jerry.

- Yes, after a nice long restful vacation.

Yes, there's nothing like it.

- Now, now don't you worry.

We'll have that honeymoon yet.

You just keep packed and ready.

We're going.

- Yes, when?
- Well on my next sabbatical,

- But that's six years off.

- What, so soon as that?

- Oh John.

- You know, it's complaining like this,

that breaks up the most
successful marriages.

' John.

- What's the matter?

Oh look.

- Oh, well you know,

it's things like this that make

the most successful marriages successful.