Ma Barker's Killer Brood (1960) - full transcript

(Screaming)

It's gasoline! I never saw you

before. I never did anything to

you. Oh

no, no. Please, I never did

anything to anybody to deserve

this. help! Help! Somebody! No

stop! (Screaming)

(Bell chiming)

Nothing is accomplished by

prayer alone. We need two

things to build the Sunday

school annex: the Lord's

blessing

and your contributions. The Lord

has done his part. Now, let us

see you do yours.

While Deacon Thatcher and his

assistants pass the collection

trays, we will be honored by

master Herman Barker, who will

render Rock of Ages on his

violin.

(Rock of Ages playing)

Well Ma, how did you like our

little surprise? I was never so

disgusted in my life. It sounded

like a cat gobbling razor

blades.

I thought Herman played very

well. I did. I didn't miss a

note.

And you didn't miss showing this

town that we're raising a

weakling. I was against wasting

money on fiddle lessons. We need

it for other things

Music will give him character.

It's making a sissy out of him

and nothing disgusts me more

than a sissy. I ain't a sissy,

Ma! I

clobbered a kid my size. Did you

ever clobber anyone? No.

But I could if I wanted to.

Herman isn't a sissy, he's

strong as the other boys.

Oh, is that so? While Herman was

sawing that fiddle in church,

what

was the other boys doing?

Listening? Not on your life.

Show

'em, boys... Where did you get

these? Out of the collection

plate, without anyone being the

wiser. That took guts. How long

has this been going on? Oh, a

couple of weeks, it was their

own

idea. I thought it was kind of

cute. Pretty slick, ey, pop?

Last

week we got over $1. What kind

of a mother are you? Letting

your

son steal from church. Not

letting them George, encouraging

them.

It's going to stop. No, it's

going to continue, because I've

decided that's the only way

they'll ever have anything.

What can you give them? An

education. An education... You

have

one, what good did it do you? I

live a decent life.

A decent life? Do you call patch

pants, garnered socks, in this

run

down fleabag a decent life?

Well, we're in a depression,

things

will get better. You bet they

will, because I'm teaching my

kids to take what

they want. I'd rather they were

fiddle players than crooks.

Fiddle

players! Ma! They'll be fiddle

players over my dead body. Go

practice on that. Pa, look what

she's

done!. You're going to let her

get away with that?

He's just like you, a sissy that

won't fight back. I tell

you there's only one thing

that's worth anything in this

world

and that's guts. I'm going to

teach my kids to show plenty of

'em!

Lloyd, look over by

that box office and whistle if

you see anybody coming. Gotcha.

Herman, you'll get the money.

How come I got to swipe the

money? Because that's the way

Ma planned it. And if you don't

do what she said she's gonna

beat the tar out of ya. I don't

care,

I don't want to do it. Alright,

I'll do it. You do my job. Let's

get

going.

(Singing)

Charlie, will you stop kicking

around here and hit

the hay? We got to pull out of

here tomorrow.

Yes sir. The gang got me a whole

handful that moon... Yes. Loaded

with moonshine. Will you shut up

and go to bed? Or I'll can ya

right here on the spot.

(Carousel music playing)

Charlie! Turn off

that merry-go-round.

Hey, you little crook, come back

here with that

dough!

Where are you taking me? To

jail. Maybe the sheriff can get

it out of you, who that other

kid was. Gee, you think Herman

would blab?

He's kind of chicken. I don't

know, we'd better get home

and tell mom. Yeah... Honey. Why

is it we're always at each

other's

throats? I guess we just think

differently. You didn't used to.

You are something special.

What's that?

The boys have come home. Coming

home at this hour in the

morning?

Katie. What's going on here?

Tomorrow's a school day. Why

don't you leave my boys to me?

We got the loot, Ma. The carnie

caught him. We were lucky. We

didn't get

caught. What carnie? What loot?

Where did you get the cashbox?

Will you shut up and let me

handle this? Where's Herman now?

The Sheriff's

dragged him to jail. You mean

Herman let himself get caught?

Carnie was too fast for him. The

Sheriff's got him now. A lousy

56 bucks.

Chicken feed. Did you know about

this, Ma? Well, of course I knew

about it. I cased the set up and

helped them plan it. For the

love

of heaven, Ma, what are you

making out of our boys? I ain't

got

time to argue with you. I got to

get over to that sheriff's

office and get Herman out.

That's stealing. Just as sure's

there's a God in heaven, Ma,

you're going to be struck down

for what you're teaching our

sons. Ah, shut up. You're not

going to town in

that get-up? Well, what else

would a worried mother wear when

she

reports her kidnapped son? Pop,

can we go on and watch the fun?

You boys

get to bed. C'mon pop, we just

want to have some fun. Get to

bed.

Shoulda asked Ma. She wears the

pants in the

family. It's all a mistake, Ma.

This guy says I was in on a

heist.

A heist? What is that? Well, you

know Ma, stealing. My goodness.

I hope

you don't think my boys have

been stealing? That's right,

lady. Where are your other boys,

Mrs. Barker? Why, they're home

in bed, of

course. Been there all night?

Why, certainly they have.

They're growing boys. And I

insisted they get to

bed every night at 8:30. I don't

know what got into Herman

wandering around so late at

night like this. How'd you know

he'd be here?

Well, I didn't know. I went into

his room to see if he was

covered up. He's had the

sniffles you know, and he was

gone. Not having a phone, not

knowing which way to turn, I

came running down here to see if

you could help me.

Look sheriff, I'm out 150 bucks

and I want you to do something

about it. My goodness, it don't

seem like that carnival took in

much business. How would

you know, lady? That'll be

enough you two. Mrs. Barker it's

beginning to look like your boy

is mixed up in the theft of this

man's money.

I don't see how that could be.

I've always raised my sons to be

honest and God-fearing. Why,

they go to church every Sunday.

I'm not interested in whether

they go to church or not, Mrs.

Barker. Fact of the matter is,

your boys are under suspicion

for several other robberies

around here. That's a lie.

That's a fact, Mrs. Barker.

And if I hear about them being

mixed up in anything else around

here, I'm going to run you and

your brood right out of town.

Talk about police persecution.

You're not the moral high

ground. That'll be all Mrs.

Barker, now

take your brat and get outta

here. You going to prosecute

this

little crook? On the evidence

you've given me? What about this

kid

starting up my merry go round?

Oh,

by the way, my good man. Here's

a quarter for my boys ride. I

don't want you to think I'm

ungrateful.

What did I do? What did I do?

What do you think, you

numb-skull? You got caught,

that's what

you did. Doc was supposed to

start the merry-go-round and you

were

supposed to take the money. I

was scared, Ma. Next time, don't

try

to change the plans. I won't Ma,

honest. Don't get caught. Don't

worry Ma, I won't, ever again.

Better not let Ma catch you with

that fiddle. She said I

could have it. She even said I

could have a new one. Yeah, if

you

got enough guts to steal the

money to get it.

Alright boys, time for school.

Ma, we got to go to school? Of

course you do. You

could write the principal we're

sick. Let him think my kids are

sickly? You could write that

grandma was dead. Grandma was

buried 10 years ago. So, what?

We could dig her up and have

another

funeral.

That ain't funny.

This story in the newspaper

isn't very funny either. Thieves

broke

into the office of the Wilder

Carnival last night and made off

with over $300. Cheapskate.

Herman Barker, son of Mr. And

Mrs. George Barker. You're

famous.

There it is, in black and white

for the whole town to see.

What's

wrong with that? Says here they

didn't have enough evidence.

Sheriff

can't pin anything on my boys.

Herman is innocent.

I've had enough of this. I'm

going to give you boys a

whipping

that's long overdue. I'll show

you who's head of this house.

Katie, we're going to have an

understanding right now. You bet

we are. We are going to decide

which way our boys are going.

I've already decided. The way

you're leading, they'll all wind

up in

prison! Not my boys.

If I have to choose between

dying in prison or dying in the

poorhouse, there's not much

choice between them.

They chew so hard. What makes

you so dead set against law and

order? It's not the law I hate.

It's living my whole life and

growing

old and die and never have

anything, or seeing anything, or

being anything.

There's millions like us.

I grew up in a family of 10

kids, wormy corn pone, watered

gravy. Katie, the Bible says man

does not live by bread alone but

by...Stop it! That's why I was

always so scrawny. Too much

Bible, and too

little beef. Too many songs, too

little sow belly. I was

sick of the litter. When I did

get any dresses they was faded

from washing, worn from wearing

with frizzly hems from too much

down. My toes played this little

piggies through every cheap pair

of

cotton stockings I ever had.

George, did you ever wear

bloomers? Katie, we're talking

about the boys.

I'm talking about bloomers. My

bloomers... Hand-me-downs from

seven sisters. My playmates used

to love to shove me down on the

playground so my dress would fly

up and you could see Old

Homestead Flower written across

my bottom. A girl doesn't forget

those things.

Katie, the soul can rise above

any pain or shame. You mealy

mouther.

What good's a soul without a

body to carry it around in?

The body needs food. And food

takes money. And how much money

do you bring into this house?

(Laughs) Jobs are scarce. The

boys can

steal more in one week than you

can make in a month. Money isn't

everything.

Every time you do get a few

bucks ahead, you spend it on a

stupid thing like a boat or a

dog or...

There's nothing disgraceful

about being poor. Some of our

greatest

Americans came from poverty.

Take Abraham

Lincoln. Lincoln, it won't be an

Abraham. It'll be a 16 cylinder

job that will take me out of

this place at night.

You wanted an understanding,

well you're gonna get it. We

don't

need your chicken feet. We don't

need you. So why don't you beat

it!

Why don't you take your things

and get out?

Pa, take me with you, please.

Son, I'll send for you. Now,

you say the Chinaman keeps his

money here on the floor? Yeah

Ma, it's in the barrel. Barrel?

Yeah, you should

hear him every time we go in

there, he says:

(fake Chinese) -Me go back to

China. I got news for that

Chinaman, he ain't going

nowhere.

Now, let's be serious.

Well, boys, I... Boys, say

goodbye to your father. We'll be

seeing

you. Have a good trip. Don't

take any wooden nickels.

You're just running

us out of town cuz we're poor.

I'm running out of town, Mrs.

Barker, cuz you robbed the

Chinaman, but I can't prove it.

Worse than a bolsheviki. Just

wait til I write my

Congressman about you denying

the rights of an honest citizen.

A

poor widow woman at that.

Where will we go? I don't know

Mrs. Barker, but the further the

better. And don't you come back,

because if you do I'll put you

and your whole brood in jail.

Sticks and stones may break our

bones. Names will never hurt us.

And so we drove into a future

unprejudiced against childish

pranks. Years past, and my boys

grew into a fine young men.

How was our rehearsal, Ma?

It was lousy. Ma, we gonna do

the job tomorrow? No, Doc, we're

too

rusty. We're gonna rehearse it a

few more times. Look, I'm tired

of rehearsing. Herman, you need

it the most.

As the armored car reaches this

point, I come tearing out of

here

like I'm out of control. I cut

in ahead of him. The

guards kill you with machine

guns fire. Now, who'd shoot an

innocent old lady all alone in

her car? Before they have

recovered from their surprise...

Herman comes in behind and

blocks them. I jump out and

shoot tear gas through

that side port. When that front

guard opens up, I let him have

it. Herman? I go

down the other side, when the

driver gets out... Go on. Well,

I

knock him out. You kill him,

Herm. And don't chicken out.

Don't you worry

about Herman. He may be

squeamish but he always does his

part.

I steal the second car and drop

the guard when he un-

buttons the rear door. What if

it doesn't open up, Doc? I

grab the guard's keys,

unlock the rear door. Swing it

open, jump back. I spray the

inside with a full clip. Us boys

grab the money. We make our

getaway as planned and

rehearsed.

Shoot him, Herman! Shoot him,

Herman!

Hello, Central? There's a hold

up -- machine guns and

everything. Right out there.

Council and Madison. (Gun shots)

Give us a hand! Give them a

hand. I can't, Ma.

I said give him a hand!

There's the oil barrel. Give me

that machine gun.

You're drunk again, art. A

gentlemen does not get drunk, he

becomes

inebriated. You're scum. Ma,

when're you gonna get rid of

this booze hound?

He's harmless, besides, I'm

married to him. Until death do

us part. Hey, don't go

giving me ideas. What do you

want? I was wondering if I might

have

my portion of that King's

ransom.

Oh yeah, here's half a sawbuck.

Go back down to the

speakeasy and finish getting

fried. Well, at least the tavern

keeper is an articulate

conversationalist. Yeah, just

make sure you don't say nothing

you shouldn't. That is Art,

unless you want to

wake up stone dead some day. Oh,

my lips are sealed... Look, Ma,

you're pretty smart. But that

old coot, he's gonna get us in a

jam

one of these days, just you wait

and see. Well, if I'm wrong

about him,

I'll get rid of him. Well, how

much do you think we got? About

15,000. Well, you said we'd get

about twice that much. Oh, stop

crying. We got more than enough

to get Freddy out of the big

house. Get me an envelope.

Hurry! You're not gonna send 10

grand through the mails are you

Ma? Ah, of course not. Herman is

taking it.

Why me? Doc might spend it on

dames. Lloyd might throw a

party,

and you haven't got the nerve to

do anything unless I tell you!

10 grand, that makes Fred a

little expensive. Makes us a

little short, don't it? Don't

fret. This is chicken feed

compared to what

we're going to get. You're

planning the big one, Ma? Yep.

And I'll tell you about it when

I get good and ready. Now, I got

to write

Freddie and let him know he's

getting sprung.

You'd rather play

with a mouse than read a letter

from home? It's not a mouse,

it's a

hamster. Read the letter, might

be good news. Chip...

Connections.

Put it away. Read the letter

I'm getting sprung. Ma's already

put up the money. I wish I had a

Ma like that. She's throwing a

big blow out for me when I get

home. I'll be there. Stop

dreaming, you got two years to

go. Them coppers,

they shorten your hitch for

digging coal. Well the coal you

could dig, I could stick in my

ear. I got an organization.

Lifers

are digging for me. They're not

going anywhere. I slip

them candy, cigarettes, money.

Al, Ma'd like you, you got

brains. Yeah Freddy...

But more important than brains,

guts. What did you do that for?

Everything squeals when it dies?

Pigs, calves, people... I never

heard a hamster squeal.

Yeah...

Like I said, Ma'd like you real

good. Ma, what's, what's Machine

gun Kelly doing coming here

anyway? Well, it

seems Dillinger and Baby Face

Nelson did a pretty good job so

Kelly wants me to plan a kidnap.

A kidnap? That's crazy, Ma. The

FBI, they'll ring us out like

dish

rags. We don't handle the body.

Kelly takes that risk. Well,

that's different. Hey, suppose

you bring that living dog of a

girlfriend with him? You lay off

her. She's 10 cents a yard

material. Beautiful. But stupid.

But beautiful. But stupid. Now

lay off of her, no dames.

Honey, why give our good money

to an old bag? I've already

planned the deal. Ma's the best

in the business. I'm as smart as

Ma Barker. You know the trouble

with you is, when you

look at me all you think of is

is this. You never take time to

find out what's up here. Yeah,

well. Let's see what Ma's price

is.

I hear she has body bag Fisher.

Any fisherman knows

he'll get stuck if he fools

around with a hook. (Door

knocks) Come in. Hi.

Hello, Kelly. Oh, this is my

girlfriend Lou. Oh.

Well, pleased to meet you. Come

on in. This is my boy, Doc. He's

quite a ladies' man. Well,

honey, let's get lost while Ma

and Kelly

talking business. Kelly... No

wonder you like to take Lou

with you wherever you go. I

don't get you, Ma. She leaves

really easy. You're much older

than I thought. May I call you

Grandma? I ain't a grandma yet.

I keep my boys away from the

likes of you.

Ma sure topped you that time.

Appears to me like Lou's the

kind

of a girl who's always getting

topped. Let's get down to

business. You want to plan a

kidnap with a man named Jackson?

How did you know that?

Nevermind. You ain't got a dime.

Well, he

certainly has, he's a

millionaire. His home is

mortgaged, his car ain't paid

for, he gets 20,000 a year and

his

wife's jewels are all in hock. I

don't believe it. Oh, honey.

Just because you had a few dates

with him while his wife was out

of town. That's a lie. She was

there all the time. Yikes, some

girlfriend you got Kelly. Ma, it

was part of casing the job. Plan

your job with fatter fish. How

much? 50 grand. Why you old

battle-axe, we wouldn't give

you... Oh sweet child. You say

that again,

and I'll rattle your tonsils til

that mink turns into the rabbit

it is. I got no time for cheats

or phony blondes.

(Singing)

Baby Face, I didn't know you

knew Fran.

Why, him and me was classmates

at Kansas State. Did you get the

dough we sent? Sure, how do you

think I'm paying for this party?

Machine

Gun Kelly should have talked to

you before he snatched Jackson.

Oh, what happened? The guy

didn't have a crying dime.

What did you do with the skinny

fish? I had

to throw him back. See, he's

here tonight. Well, there's

lonely Davis, Vick and Homer Van

Meter. Excuse

me. I want to talk to somebody.

I guess you heard we took a leaf

from your book. Not my book. It

ain't written yet. But when it

is, it won't have a stupid

chapter like that Jackson job

you pulled. Can't a girl make

one mistake?

Like breathing? Honey, I'll

still be around when you're worm

bait.

They'll have awful tough chew.

Honey, I hope you won't feel out

of place here tonight. Well, no.

Why should I? I reckon you've

never

met any big shots. Oh, I've been

around. Yeah, in circles.

(Piano music playing)

(Singing)

Now how about Lloyd?

(Singing)

Don't lust for fur. You know,

I'm kind of stuck on that fur.

Well, if I have to work you

over, you're gonna become mighty

unstuck.

Listen, you better take it easy

fella. Big as you are, you got a

long ways to fall. Look friend,

nobody puts the rush on Machine

Gun Kelly's girl.

Now, now, Kelly, you want to

shoot it out with Johnny

Dillinger,

you better go outside. Don't go

messing around with my new

furniture.

Dillinger? You heard the name?

Yeah, who hasn't? So you know

what I was saying about my baby.

I

mean, a lot of guys make passes

at her. And I bet you don't drop

a

single one. That's a good one,

Johnny. Huh, baby?

Well, that was close. Why'd Ma

go and stop it? I would like to

see a

little action. Oh, you had

enough, forever. And so have

you.

Watch it.

I'll lay you 10 to 5 that

Dillinger could take him without

messing

the hair. Al!

So you made it. I told you I

would. Ma, Ma, this is Al

Carpus. Al

Carpus, I'm

glad to see you. Frank's told me

a lot about you and if it's

half as good as he says, you're

okay in my book. What, did he

tell you I was a

fine upstanding citizen?

Imagine this guy, when we were

in prison, he organizes a Boy

Scout

troop to help him shovel coal,

huh, Al? Yeah, yeah, they they

did

they're good turn. Have you

located yet Al? No,

no, no, not yet. Why don't you

come in with us? Sure, we'd be

glad to have you. Where are your

boys, Ma? Oh, well there's

Lloyd over there, and Doc and

Herman are out on business.

Except, they should

have been back a long time ago.

Fred, go get Al a drink.

Step on it, kid, will ya?

I am. Floorboard it!

(Police sirens)

What do we do if they catch us?

Just forget it, Herman, hurry

up, will you?

Doc? Doc! Yeah. Yeah, they got

us.

Come on, I'll help you. No, no

go on. I'll be right behind you.

Ma's voice: Don't get caught.

Don't get caught!

Ma? Where's Herman? Cops get

him? Is

he hurt? Not anymore, Ma. He

shot himself. Right, right to

the head.

Why'd he do a stupid thing like

that? It was my fault. I always

told

him don't get caught. He wasn't

as strong as my boys. My boy!

When can

I see him? Most likely tomorrow.

Take him back home. But Ma, the

sheriff told us never to come

back. He better not show no

objections to a mother going

back home to bury her own!

He is like a man which built a

house and laid the foundation

upon a rock. And when the flood

rose, the stream beat vehemently

upon that house, and could not

shake it. It was founded upon a

rock. But he that heareth, and

doeth not, is like a man that

built a house upon the earth,

against which the stream did

beat, and immediately it fell.

And the ruin of that house was

great.

To thy keeping, we commit the

soul of Herman Barker, who of

dust thou art

made and to dust thou shalt

return. Amen. Katie, this didn't

have to happen. I know. If only

you'd been a better father.

(Phone ringing)

Hello? Oh?

Who told you? I see. No, we're

leaving right now.

Thanks a lot. Boys, get Arthur's

bags and load everything back in

the car. Why? Who was that, Ma?

Big Biff said someone shot off

his mouth

at the speakeasy, and the cops

know it was you with Herman. Oh,

bourbon

breath? Who else? Let me carve

him, Ma. Not here. We'll stop

for a little picnic

between here and St. Paul. St.

Paul, that the big one, Ma? Get

those things lowered in there.

I'll talk about it later. Well,

Arthur, I'm gonna enjoy hearing

you squeal. Yep, c'mon.

Ma, you're the best cook that

ever lived. Your turkey cooks

moist, never dry. Yeah, Ma,

she's pretty good on cooking

gooses too.

She even baked you a pie. Al,

Ma's won prizes at the county

fair.

Not only for baking, for cooking

too. Carve us up a piece of

pie. No, thanks, I've had mine.

Freddy. Lloyd?

Why be so stingy with it?

So you'll have time to eat. The

others are larger. They'll

be around longer. They didn't

shoot off their mouths at the

barn.

Ma. I didn't. Don't you go

trying to deny it. I told Al and

the boys that

if you shot off your bourbon

mouth at that bar and got us in

dodge, I was gonna finish you. I

was gonna do something about it.

Now finish your pie. Ma, you

wouldn't do anything foolish,

not to me?

After all, I'm your husband. I'm

just about to divorce you

the quick way. I consider it a

favor you let me do it. Let's

draw

straws. By right it's my job,

I'm the oldest. Don't seem right

you doing it, it being your own

flesh and blood. Not ours

Al, Ma found and married this

guy about five years ago. I got

a

better idea, now gimme that gun.

Russian Roulette. Ma, you are

the

slickest ever. Al, even money he

gets it before the third shot.

You got a $10 bet, Fred. No, Ma,

no!

I'll help you. Oh god, this is

murder. You're pretty weak old

man.

Let me help you... Better luck

next time.

(Gunshot) You owe me 10 bucks.

Wasn't worth it. Why not? Didn't

have much chance to squeal.

Nelson, you tell Davidson and

Van Meter to do exactly what I

planned. Where do we bring your

cut? Listen, baby face, you show

up

around here and I'll kill you.

You don't bring it, you send it.

You wrap the amount I said in

white paper and mail it to me.

If we

bring it up. You do it exactly

like I planned it. My jobs

always

come off.

Babies in this business. Carpus,

Nelson and the others moved into

the Sioux Falls bank. Right on

schedule. Took their places

right on schedule. The vault was

opened right on schedule.

Shooting the cop was not on the

schedule. Everything's under

control here. Take your time.

They collected $50,000 and made

their

getaway right on schedule. I was

right proud of them.

It was nice of you to select our

bank, Mrs. Henderson. Well,

after

Mr. Stilwell and the bank in St.

Louis recommended you so

highly, I just couldn't think of

going to another bank. Since my

dear, dead, departed

husband. Drink this, Mrs.

Henderson. We've all suffered

the loss of a loved one. Thank

you.

I do hope I like St. Paul. Of

course, living with my sister

has its drawbacks. Her home's

way out near the Hamlin School.

My

daughter attends Hamlin school.

What a lovely child. Thank you.

Now, how

can we serve you? I would like

to liquidate

my holdings in St. Louis. and

invest here in St. Paul. I see,

well, our real estate department

should be of service. Meanwhile,

I'd like to have a safety

deposit

box. I'll have my secretary

arrange that. You've been so

kind. If there's anything you

want Mrs. Henderson, I hope

you'll think of our bank. I

will, indeed I will. Alright,

boys, here it is.

This the surprise you're gonna

spring, Ma? Nope. It's the

commercial state bank. You're

going off your rocker, Ma, it's

the toughest bank in the country

to crack. He's right mom, be

lucky to get a handful of

nickels out of that joint. Yeah.

How about a boat? Who said

anything about money? What are

we going to do? Swipe the pins

and blotters? Snatch... We're

going to snatch the

president. That's a federal rap,

Ma, you want the FBI on our

tail? I

always told you, it takes guts

to make a bundle. Like how much,

Ma?

200,000. That's a lot of scratch

Ma, it'll be red hot. Yeah, I've

been

craving for some cool cabins in

Chicago, Miami, and Reno. Real

raking from Alcatraz. Listen to

me!

On Monday morning, 10:15. You

and Doc will leave this place.

You

will drive to the Hamlin school

at the corner of Sixth and

Washington.

And pick up our diplomas. You

will park on Sixth Street

near the East entrance. Within

three minutes, Courtney will

arrive. You hope.

He will. Because I'm going to

call him and tell him his

little girl is took sick at

school and he's to come and get

her. And he's gonna ask how sick

is she?

Nothing serious. Just an upset

stomach. But we thought it best

if she was home in bed. Have you

called Mrs. Courtney? We tried

to,

but your phone is out of order.

I see. Very well. I'll come and

pick her up right away. Thank

you. Miss Chase, I'll be back in

about an hour.

You must get a grip on yourself,

Mrs. Courtney. If

they harm him...

They won't if you follow

instructions explicitly. That's

why you must take this phone

call with as much calm as

possible. It's after nine

o'clock. I can't go through with

it!

Do something stupid, and

failing... I thought when the

FBI came in,

they would handle everything.

They must have your cooperation

Mrs.

Courtney. (Phone ringing) You

will be fine.

Hello? Yes, this is Mrs.

Courtney. Now listen

carefully, because I don't want

to repeat myself. Put the money

in a small package and put it at

the end of the Front street

wharf. Yes, is my husband

alright?

Don't worry about him.

Just have the money ready. When

I get to the wharf, what shall I

do? A speed boat will come by, a

man will call your name. Give

him the money. Yes, I will.

Please don't hurt him. We...

I need him so. You can have him.

We're honorable people, Mrs.

Courtney. Keep your

word, we'll keep ours.

Relax, Ma. Worrying won't help.

According to

the schedule, they're two hours

overdue. So they had a flat

They'll be

here. It don't take two

hours to fix a flat, besides,

they had three spare tires just

in

case. Listen, Ma.

Ain't our car, I can tell by the

sound. You go in the house, you

know what to do. (Whistling)

You here all alone? Sure looks

like it, don't it? How did you

know where to find us? We heard

some rumors, Ma. We put two and

two

together.

Cut out the hearts and flowers.

Ma, we knew this was your job.

We know how you work. Alright,

boys. Lou, are you pulling

another

Jackson Boehner? I bubbled that,

but this time I've got you out-

smarted. Oh, my, it does look

bad, don't it? What's your

proposition? We kind of

figured to take Courtney off

your hands, Ma. Are you offering

any cash?

Of course we are. Lou figured

we'd pay about... Not one red

cent. But

honey, you said 50 grand!

That was before we found Ma

alone. I never heard of such a

thing, trying to steal another

mob's kidnap. Why, it ain't

honest. You're in no spot to

refuse, Ma. Do you want to

gamble on that? Can you beat

four of a kind? Depends on how

big

they are. I'd call them aces.

Oh, honey, you've never been

known to be very bright. Looks

more like Jokers to me. You're

slipping. A Joker is still an

ace.

Not in Texas poker. We strip out

the Joker. And that's just what

I'm going to do with your hot

hand. Fred! That's a pretty low

card, Ma. Maybe I oughta draw

another.

Carpus!

You better draw your limit, Ma.

And fast. I'm losing patience.

Baby

Face Nelson.

And a friend in Carpus and baby

face and me ain't enough, then I

got

a wild card. A real wild card.

Johnny Dillinger.

5s beat 4s. I'd say Ma has the

best hand. After this, folks

will be calling you Pop Gun

Kelly. Yeah, they sure will, Ma.

Like I always said, you're the

best in the business. I bet you

do, Kelly. Boys put up your

hardware. You mean lay down

their hardware, don't you? Well,

I guess we can't do business so

we'll be on our way.

Now, is that any way for a guest

to act? You'll stay for dinner.

Pick up those boys' guns.

They're getting right and dusty

laying there on

the ground.

Why did you do that? Well, I saw

it move and I didn't

want it to bite you.

What's he doing here, Ma? Kelly

heard that

we kidnapped somebody. I

declare, I don't know how those

rumors get

around. Kidnapped? That's a

laugh. You get the letters like

I told you?

Yeah, it's in the backseat.

Good, take the car around in

back, and put the

letters in the icebox. We'll

have some for supper...

Darling.

These are the nice men I told

you about. A. Bruiser.

Stravary. Baxter. Mr. Baxter. I

know you've had a harrowing

experience, Mr. Courtney so I'll

be as brief as possible. Thank

you, I am very tired. Do you

have any idea of who your

abductors were?

I was blindfolded the whole time

and they only talked in whispers

in my presence. Can you tell us

where they took you? No, I

can't. Can you estimate the

length of time you traveled? It

was hours. 4, 5, 8? Well, I'd

say roughly about eight hours.

Do

you recall any unusual sounds?

No. Just the incessant whirl of

the tires on the highway. And

we'd

been traveling for about six

hours and the sound change

changed.

To what? The way tires sound

when you're driving on wet

pavement.

Rain, within a radius of 300

miles. We'll check on that. Can

you tell us when they stopped

for gas? They didn't.

That is, not at the filling

station. Before we hit the wet

pavement, they turned off on a

side road,

poured gas into the tank on

metal container. I could hear

them toss the can to the side of

the road. Very good, Mr.

Courtney. I was placed in a

cellar basement, I think it was

very damp. I could hear cows,

ducks, chickens. A lot of

hammering. I could hear a

railroad train

several times a day. How far

away was the sound? Seemed to

be about two miles away. Well,

this gives us something concrete

to work on. Thank you very much,

Mr. Courtney. If we need any

further information, we'll be in

touch with you. Thank you, sir.

Good night, Mrs. Courtney.

Good night. Good night. Darling

were they rough with you? No,

they

treated me well. I had water and

cigars. Did they feed you? Are

you hungry? That's the only part

of the whole thing I really

enjoyed. Enjoyed? The meals.

That cook served the best food

I've ever tasted. I wish I

had one of those cherry pies

right now.

This is the only place it rained

that day. I want the area

covered. We'll use as many men

as necessary.

Find the road where that car

pulled off to put in gas, and

there we should find that empty

gas can.

Reading about you in the paper.

It's a good picture too.

Then you know we're in real

trouble, Doc. So you get your

tools

because you got a little

operation to do. What kind of

operation?

You'll find out soon enough.

Maybe plastic surgery. I haven't

done any plastic surgery for

years. Well, you're going to do

one

now. Maybe you'll get that old

diploma back, Doc. Now get your

tools.

Look, my hands. Take something

for them, and do it fast will

ya?

Because when Ma gets here, she

won't like it if you botch this

job. Now get your tools.

Oh Doc, you're getting to be a

real rump pot.

Look, Ma, you better get

somebody else. My nerves are

shocked, besides I never

specialized in surgery. Oh, take

a good big drink. Don't get

bolted. I love my boy, and if

you don't do a good job, I'll

give you the same operation

without ether. This is no time

for jokes. I haven't told a joke

in 20 years. Ma, is this gonna

hurt? No son, no. He's gonna put

you

to sleep and when you come to

it'll all be over... Ma, I don't

mind about the

fingerprints, but do I have to

change the face?

Every post office in this

country has a picture of your

face. Now don't you worry, don't

you worry. Your mom will take

care

of you, just like she always

does. You butcher, you're

hurting my boy. Give

me another slug. You had enough.

You're cutting deep. You want to

take

over? Old Doc Gottfried, sop to

the underworld.

Stop it, you're hurting my boy.

Give him some more ether. Ya

know, Ma, that's pretty

funny. I used it all.

You're hurting him. Well, let

him hurt! You talk about your

boys having guts, well let him

hurt.

Hey, Doc said to take it easy.

Am I hurting my own son? You're

doing fine. Hey,

you know if I like what that Doc

did, I'm gonna have him make

me look like Valentino. Ah, my

fingers! Sorry son, I'll take it

easy.

What's wrong, Ma? What did he do

to me? Did nothing, not a

thing. You mean I look just like

I did? He let you suffer all

those weeks for nothing. That

dirty, stinking butcher!

No no, no, no, please I

never did anything to anybody to

deserve this. It's Ma, Ma

Barker. Please, Mr.

I'll get lost, anything. Help!

I'm burning! Stop! No!

How could they be sure this was

Dr. Gelfie?

Well, his wallet wasn't burned.

And the initials on the back of

his

watch, it's pretty conclusive.

How do you interpret this?

Gangland vendetta?

If his medical services were so

valuable to the underworld,

why would they rub him out? He

was on the schiz, or parrot

fever? Yacking too much. Could

have been the Barker gang.

Went to Dr. Gelfie for a face

lifting and rubbed him out so

there'd be no witnesses. Do you

think the Barker gang would

engage in this sort of thing?

Why not? This is the work of

animals. They're all animals

when they're on the run. And

there's a chance some members of

the gang may have had their

features altered so we won't be

able to recognize them.

Well, they may alter their

features, but they very seldom

change their habits. Sooner or

later. One of them will tip his

hand.

Yeah? Nelson. Hi, Nelson. Hi,

Kelly.

Where's Dillinger and Van Meter?

They couldn't make it. Want

a drink? Yeah. Where's Lou?

Taking a bath, she'll be out in

a second. What's on

your mind? The biggest kidnap in

history. You will have to go

some to beat the Barker job. Do

you figure a quarter of a

million dollars will beat it?

It might if it comes off. Who

set it up? We did. You're

kidding. After that Jackson

coop, you couldn't cop a bag

of marbles at a dime store. We

tried to get Ma Barker to

mastermind the job, but she

wants 50 G's. It's worth it. In

advance?

I've got a better idea. I'll get

Doc Barker. Yeah? And he's just

as smart as Ma. And a lot

cheaper. But the G needs an M,

you

can't get him. I'll get him.

Yeah, maybe you will at that.

And

I'll get even with Ma Barker and

the bargain.

Honey, will you help

us? Honey, I'm still hot from

that Courtney job. Oh, think of

the

fun we could have. Are you

kidding? You know Kelly would

never go

for this arrangement. And Ma,

Ma, she would skin me alive.

Hook me.

Honey, it's so hot. Can I tell

Kelly you're in? All the way.

I've had my eye on you for a

long time, Doc. Zip me...Don't

leave. I'm just going to

call Kelly. Well, don't you tell

him that I agreed. I'll tell him

you'll

give him an answer next week.

I'll be right back.

Did you

forget your nickel, hon? You

don't have to knock.

We've always been told it was

the right thing to do. Thought

you

was somebody else. Obviously, at

this point we usually frisk for

concealed weapons, but I think

we can waive the procedure this

time. You've been entertaining,

Doc? Who's Doc? My name is

Austin

Bennett. Well, at least the

initials are the same. Stretch

out and be comfortable.

Wasn't that Machine Gun Kelly's

girl that just left. Look, you

guys, you just can't barge in

here like this with your guns

drawn and call me false names

and accuse me of playing around

with Lou. Oh, is that her name?

We didn't know. Look, who'd you

guys mistake me for anyway. Huh?

Has anyone ever confused you

with Doc Barker? The notorious

robber and kidnapper? Doc

Barker? No, I never heard of

that guy. I'm

sorry. Now, can I get dressed?

Too hot, stay comfortable? Got a

search

warrant? You know, it's illegal

to read somebody's private mail.

If you'd care to dress and come

down to headquarters with us to

press charges. Well, I ought to,

just on principle. Listen to

this. You

get a kick out of Ma, she spends

all her time feeding Old Joe the

alligator. This is as good as a

map. Where's the envelope?

There wasn't an envelope. Fred's

rich now, you know, he

sent that by text. All the way

from Florida? Montana. What's

a Florida alligator doing in

Montana?

Maybe he fell in love with a

buffalo? Now, look, you guys are

wasting your time. I'm gonna get

dressed. Either you book me or

let me go.

Alright, get dressed. We'll take

you with the stock. I'll leave a

little

note. You do that. In the

meantime, I'll get out of

general bulletin to all

alligator farms and tourist

courts to look out for an

alligator named Joe. Boy.

You guys sure throw the

taxpayers money around, don't

you? True. True. Why, even right

now I'm planning to

spend some on a train trip to

Florida.

Cause I got a strong hunch, I'll

find me a Barker named Fred. An

alligator named Joe, and a

werewolf named Ma.

We worked hard so the

stockholders declared the

dividend. Split the 200,000 and

scattered. Fred and I chose

Florida. It's so lovely in

winter.

How was your walk?

Lousy. What's the matter with

you son? You've been moody for

days.

Ma, you always wanted to be

somebody and have a lot of

money. Okay, you got both. Why

don't we quit?

I always kind of hoped to

retire. Might be kind of fun at

that.

Traveling first class, living

good. Giving my grandkids a ride

on my foot. Let's do it mom.

(Phone ringing) That's my call

to Doc.

Hello?

Oh yes, operator. What? He

checked out? When? A week

ago...Did he leave

a message? Any forwarding

address? I see. Thank you. Fred!

Fred, they got him!

The stinking cops! Oh, you know

Doc, it's some dame. It is not,

they got him.

Otherwise he would have given me

a message. Get packing... That's

the place.

Let's move in. Against the

Barkers, you move by inches, on

your belly.

We'll wait, we got a carload of

agents coming up. You can't make

a

reputation that way. No,

newspaper publicity wouldn't

hurt come next election. They're

loading suitcases into the car.

Cover that shack over there. The

deputy can work his way into

those weeds out front. Avery and

I will take the side and the

back. Give us five minutes. What

if they move out before you get

into position? Well, the

closest men take them. Don't

trust them. Stay low and shoot

straight.

Car loaded? Well, get moving. I

smell cops. Ma, I'm tired

of running.

It's run for safety or walk to

the hot seat. Either way, we

keep

moving.

Fred, Ma Barker, we're officers

of the Department of Justice. We

want you to come out one at a

time. Unless you come out, we'll

use

tear gas to force you out. Get

out. My finger's still swollen.

Ma, we don't,

we don't have a chance! Oh, yes

we have! It's either shoot our

way out of here or rot in

prison. You hear us, Ma? You

can't surround a house with one

man.

Sound it off, men. Ready? Okay,

team, ready. In place. Real

tricky. Four

men trying to sound like eight.

Four to two Ma, we haven't got a

chance. I'm gonna quit. Wait a

minute, listen, there's one man

up front

in the weeds. Another one

outside here in the shed. I got

an idea. They're

up to something. We should have

split one and one with the local

law.

Those boys don't know how tricky

Ma can be. Too late to do

anything about

that now.

Boys, you wouldn't shoot...Put

up your hands! Fred's got a gun

on my back. Can you imagine

that? My own flesh and blood

using me for a field. Drop it,

Fred.

Looks like they got us. We got

the Barkers! (Gun fire)

If that means what I think it

does, the odds are even now.

It's all over.

It's all over. Not without a

fight, it's toe to toe! I'll

work around and cover the

front. Let's make a simp out of

this place. I gotta quit. Back

to the window while I

change this clip.

Please give up. If we surrender

at least we'll be alive. You

gutless

hunk, you're as yellow as your

old man. (Gun fire) We're gonna

get killed.

Stop shaking, and start

shooting.

Ma, I'm quitting. Stop you

blubbering or I'll kill you

myself! Ma, you don't know what

you're saying. You've gone

crazy! I'd rather see my son's

dead

than know that one of them was a

coward.

Fred?

Son?

Freddy....Oh, Freddy!

They was against us, they was

always against us.

Don't you see? We had to fight.

I'm going to go out fighting the

whole damn world!

I'll kill you, you butchers!

I'll kill you!

Didn't know the old witch, you'd

swear she was just somebody's

sweet old grandmother.

Like the wolf in Red Riding

Hood. Epitaphs of the turbulent

30s.

Suicide to avoid capture, Herman

Barker. Killed resisting arrest,

Ma Barker, Fred Barker. Killed

trying to escape Alcatraz, Doc

Barker. Murdered by a jealous

girlfriend, Lloyd Barker.

Sentenced to life imprisonment

Alvin Carpus, Machine Gun Kelly.

For as a good tree bringeth not

forth corrupt fruit, neither

does

a corrupt tree bring forth good

fruit. None left his mark. Each

left his stain.