Ring of Fear (1954) - full transcript

(CROWD CHEERING)

NARRATOR: Every year, come spring,

joyful news spreads up
and down the land,

"The circus is coming to town."

From the gaily-coloured train
pour tons upon tons of equipment,

hundreds of people and animals
from all over the world.

Camels from Egypt,

horses from Arabia,

elephants from Africa,

and llamas from Peru.

Ponies, lions, tigers, monkeys,
and maybe kangaroos.



Tons upon tons of food,
for the circus gets hungry.

Tons of meat, hay, grain

and mountains of peanuts, popcorn,
Cracker Jack, hot dogs

and let's not forget pink lemonade.

A corps of pressmen
have been sent ahead

to ballyhoo the circus coming.

And in a hundred different towns,
the kids will be up early and working

setting up seats
and hauling water for the elephants.

The big top will rise,
the deserted fairgrounds,

the lonely parks and barren sandlots

will become, as if by magic,
a place of laughter and thrills.

Man and beast all have work to do
to build a house of fun.

The canvas boss
and his roustabout crew

work hard till the job is done,



while acrobats, jugglers,
daredevils, freaks,

pretty girls, trainers, clowns

make ready their acts
of laughter and chills.

Their job, to bring joy and happiness
to the young and the old,

the hopeful and despairing
throughout the land.

The circus is standing,
the midway is filling,

so strike up the band.
Let the show go on.

The animals are ready,
the people are ready,

ready to give all they've got,
because they are, first and last,

people of the circus,

some of them fortunate,
others living in a memory.

I tell you, I'm not crazy, gentlemen.
I'm as sane as any of you here.

I know I did mad, strange things
after I received this wound in Iwo Jima,

but I'm normal now,
normal as any man alive.

You must realise that I am cured.

You tell us so many different stories,
and we check

and find you've told us a pack of lies.

Perhaps you'd like to tell us
something about this.

The attendants have often observed you
talking to this picture,

a girl, circus performer.

I beg your pardon, I...

You leave me so little privacy, I...

Yes, I talk to her.

I often talk to her during the dull days
and long nights.

But, surely, I'm not the first man
to want to remember a woman

and to wish to speak with her again?

Now if this be lunacy, gentlemen,

a fence would have to be built
around the universe.

Perhaps you'd like to talk to us
about her.

It's not a new story.

I loved her

but she married another man.

If you'd elaborate,
perhaps we could help you.

No, Doctor.

No man can ever recapture a dream.

DOCTOR 1: You prefer not to elaborate?

As usual,
you've shown us very little cooperation.

Lieutenant, you may escort the patient
back to his room.

A room? A cage!

Thank you, gentlemen.

- Your recommendation, Doctor?
- No improvement, still hopeless.

Maximum security recommended.

Schizophrenic.

Maximum security recommended,
could be homicidal.

(CARS CIRCULATING)

Beautiful scenery from here.
Once you're...

"All state police,
all county municipal cars.

"Escapee, driving a ton-and-a-half truck,
painted green."

MAN ON RADIO: "Approach with
caution. Known to be dangerous."

(POLICE SIREN WAILING)

- Good evening.
- Hi.

This town is strange to me.

Where is there a place around here

a man with a little money
can get a decent meal?

The Star, up on Main Street.

- I'm going up that way. I'll show you.
- Thank you very much.

Yeah, Star puts up a good blue plate
for $1.

Dandy.

(EXCLAIMING)

(TRAIN HORN BLARING)

Steady and you're all right.

(MAN SCREAMING)

MAN ON TV: And now for the late flash
of local news.

The mental patient,
who yesterday morning

escaped from the state institution,
was found dead late last night

ground to bits under the wheels
of a Transcontinental Limited

on which he was evidently
attempting to steal a ride.

This is Wendell Niles,
saying good morning to you

after our before-dawn newscast.

Gee, a guy would really have to be nuts
to try to flip a Transcontinental.

Ain't that the truth?

BOY 1: Hey, mister, when does
the Clyde Beatty Circus train get in?

Pretty soon,
one of the dispatchers just told me.

You kids going to carry water
for the elephants?

- If we can get the job.
- Sure, you'll get it.

DUBLIN: You know, I used to do that
myself, once, when I was your size.

(BAND PLAYING)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

(AUDIENCE CLAPPING)

(CHILDREN CHEERING)

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)

(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

(DOGS BARKING)

(PEOPLE EXCLAIMING)

- Why, it's...
- Yes, it is.

- Been a long time, eh, Twitchy?
- Yeah, it sure has.

It's been a long time since you
and I was drunk that night together.

I remember that.

That was the night
that Clyde had to get that cat off of you.

You know,
I've been circusing a long time

and I think that's the most exciting thing
that I have ever seen in my life.

It was when you were crawling around
on your hands and knees

and Clyde was holding the cat off

and he was laughing
all at the same time.

I'll never forget Beatty's laughter
for as long as I live.

(LION ROARING)

(WHIP CRACKING)

What'd you do? Come back to try
and get a job with the show?

- Clyde does need a director.
- No.

No, I don't want a job, not just yet.

Remember that night
we were drunk,

you told me how you hated Clyde?

Well, I just couldn't figure that out

because I remember the time...
He saved your life, you know.

People exchange confidences
when they're drunk.

You still dream of that dead girl?

Dublin, you haven't told anybody
about that, have you?

Up to now, no.

Listen, my friend,

this cat gets loose tonight
in the horse trailer.

He gets loose, because you open
the cage and you drive him in there.

Well, you talk like a lunatic.

I'll forgive you because you're illiterate.

In the King's English, a lunatic
is a person who acts without a motive.

I have a motive, my friend.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

Now get out of these clothes.
We're going into town.

I've got plans to discuss with you.

- Get out of these clothes, and hurry!
- But I tell you...

(LION GROWLING)

After Twitchy takes care
of the training rope

you'll take care of Beatty.
Huh, kitty-kitty?

(HORSE NEIGHING)

(LION ROARING)

- What's happened?
- Our kitty is loose in the horse trailer.

- Shall I get Mr Beatty?
- Beatty's in town. Get a gun!

(GUNSHOTS FIRING)

(SINGING IN SPANISH)

(EXCLAIMING)

- What are you doing? Swimming?
- No, serenading.

Looks good on you.

- That's beautiful, I think, Mrs Valerie.
- Thank you.

In Connecticut,
I throw bounce in your net once

and for one month
I go around with my neck like this.

You've got to be careful
playing in those nets, Gonzales.

It takes lots of training and practise
not to get hurt.

- Hi, Mr St Dennis.
- Hello, Pedro. How are you?

Hello, darling.

I see you got
your talent back perfectly, huh?

It's coming.

Darling, do you want to fix the rigging
for the matinee

and I'll go along and relieve
the baby-sitter so she can eat, all right?

- All right, sure.
- Thank you.

Take it easy, huh? Get a little rest.

Your wife is very pretty
and very nice, I think, Mr St Dennis.

I think so, too, Pedro.

Hey, Mr Wallace?

Could I have some more advance
on my pay?

What for?
You'll only blow it on a dame, "I think."

Well, that's what I mean.

Put the rope on him, boys.

(LION ROARING)

You won't give up on that cat,
will you Clyde?

Going to work him a while
on the training harness.

- Kind of feel him out.
- Now look,

we can replace a cat on the show,
we can't replace you.

- That's a bad one, you know that.
- All good ones are like that.

I wouldn't give you a nickel
for one without spunk.

You wouldn't, now? Well, I would.

Okay, Troy, let him in.

(GROWLING)

(ROARING)

(HISSING)

(WHIP CRACKING)

(ROARING)

(GUNSHOTS FIRING)

Brother!

What's the matter, Clyde? A bad rope?

That rope was brand new.

Hey, Mr Wallace,
you remember when I asked you,

you should let me learn
how to be a lion-tamer?

- Yeah.
- Well, I'll take it back.

- Your IQ has gone up.
- IQ?

I don't know.

(LION ROARS)

I'll take it back, Mr Wallace.

Next time, Beatty.

Still trying to make a trained dog
out of a mutt, I see?

I thought you wasn't ever gonna be seen
on the lot again.

Until now, Twitchy, until now.

Couldn't you at least use
a better brand?

How's your money holding out?

I wish you wouldn't make me do this.
Clyde's my friend.

A couple of times he paid for me
to take the cure.

- Pity it didn't work.
- It wasn't his fault.

Clyde's my friend, I tell you.

He gave me a job when no other show
in the country would have me.

- He's my friend, a real friend.
- I'm your real friend, too, Twitchy.

Did I go to the police when I found out
that you were wanted

and what you were wanted for?

(WHIP CRACKING)

How's it going?

All right up till now,
but we're not through yet.

What are you trying to do?
Make something happen?

I'm getting as jumpy
as the rest of the troupe.

Settle down. You're the ring director.
Keep it going, we're running behind.

There it is, girls, the jinx again.

- Right in front of your eyes...
- All right, break it up! Out!

- Listen, Tillie, cut out that mumbo.
- Mumbo?

Reading those cards, you're giving
everybody the creeps, including me.

- I sometimes give myself the creeps.
- Well, cut it out.

You're either the wardrobe mistress
or an unemployed fortuneteller.

Now make up your mind.

TWITCHY: Everything happened
so quick you couldn't tell.

What happened?

I don't know.
Some sort of a mix up, Mr Wallace.

We all seemed to get
in each other's way

and there was a section of cage,
fell right across his back.

- Go get an ambulance.
- Yeah.

(JOE GROANING)

It's all right, Joe.

Take it easy.
We'll have you fixed up in no time.

You tell me this show ain't jinxed?

Wait a minute, you guys,
what are you talking about?

There is no jinx on this show.
That was an accident, do you hear me?

Just an accident is all.

Twitchy must be hitting the bottle again.

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)

Sir, can you tell me
where I can find Clyde Beatty?

Go away, you bother me.

How do you like that book?

How do I like that book?
Day and night, that's all...

Hey!

- Ain't you Mickey Spillane?
- Yeah, that's right.

Well, that did it.

I want to ask you a question.
Why don't you like me?

Never saw you before, did I?

You want to know something?
You ruined my life.

I used to be a law-abiding citizen,
minding my own business,

good to my mother, good to my family,

made the best coffee on the midway,
then you come into my life.

- What happened?
- What happened?

I'll show you what happened.
This is what happened.

That's all I ever do any more,
read the books.

I don't even make coffee any more.

$42 I take in, in three months.

I'll tell you what we'll do.

Let's get you started on another author.
Here's the latest.

Fresh off the press.

"Tonight, I Die."

But, Mickey, I ain't even finished...

(BAND PLAYING)

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)

Clyde doesn't want you worried
about all the grief we've had lately.

- Such as?
- Well, I'll give you a short rundown.

Like when we were in Frankfort,
one of the cats got out,

got into the horse car,

clawed up about $10,000
worth of show horses.

Clyde wasn't there to get the cat out.

We had to shoot him, and there went
a $10,000 tiger, just like that.

Then we're going from Roanoke
to Charlotte,

fire breaks out, part of the trailer,
$20,000 worth of equipment burnt up.

What, you think somebody's
trying to sabotage you?

Definitely. I'm going to show you why.

It's part of a training harness for a cat.

The other day in the cage,
the rope broke.

If Clyde hadn't been the top man in his
field, he'd never have gotten out alive.

Who do you think is the mainspring
behind all of this?

That's your racket.
That's why we hollered for you.

(GROWLING)

(AUDIENCE CLAPPING)

(WHIP CRACKING)

- Hey, kid. You going into town?
- Yeah, get laundry for Mr Wallace.

Smuggle me in a jug, will you?

No, anybody who gets you drunk
gets fired.

Here, you can keep the change.

Here, this is a sawbuck.
It'll make a fin for yourself.

Come on. Please, kid, 'cause I'm dying.
Come on.

- Where you get the money?
- Never mind that.

Come on! Get me a jug, will you?

You know, Mr Beatty don't give you
money until the end of the season.

Mrs Beatty, she even buy your clothes

because you took money
to buy a pair of shoes

and you bought some gin.

Shoes is better than gin, I think.

I want $500 a week and second billing.

$500? Who do you think you are,
Lillian Leitzel?

And I want a compartment
that ain't over the wheels.

Probably want your own
privilege card, too.

- Anything else, Your Majesty?
- I want to bring my husband along.

- Does the bum work?
- Part of the time.

He's a Santa Claus
in a department store.

- Well, that's a seasonal occupation...
- Hi, Tiny.

- Hello, Clyde.
- Hello, Mr Beatty.

Did you send her a telegram
to join the show?

- Yeah.
- She's asking for a lot of money.

She's worth it.

How'd you like to stand on your head
on a trapeze

50 feet above the ground,
without a safety net?

I wouldn't like to do without a hairnet.
Looks like you're in the show, kid.

See you.

You'd think all the blood would rush
to her head and get her dizzy.

Well?

Hello, Clyde. How are you?

Dublin O'Malley.

You remember me, Frank, don't you?

With mixed emotions.

Mickey Spillane, Dublin O'Malley.
He used to be our ring director.

Yes, you're the writer fellow, aren't you?
I read some of your books.

How clever of you
to catch those criminals.

Well, it's changed a lot
in the six years I've been gone, Clyde.

It's a great thrill to be back, though.

I was passing through a town
the other day,

saw some of your papers
standing on the billboards.

- DUBLIN: So I said to myself...
- You want a job?

Well, now, Clyde,
I'm doing pretty well by myself.

But I suppose you never lose the smell
of the circus in your blood, eh, Frank?

We need a director.
Do you want the job?

You were always a great one
for interruption...

Somebody has to. What is it, yes or no?

Well, in a word, yes, Frank.

Come over to the office,
and I'll give you a contract.

Okay. I'll see you, Frank.
Nice to have met you, Mr Spillane.

- That's a windy character.
- Yeah, he's windy, and he's a character.

- You don't seem to like this guy much.
- No, I don't.

That's not the point. He used to be
stuck on our top aerialist, still is.

Now she's married
to a jealous husband

- and there could be trouble.
- Hold it.

Here comes a beef. I can smell 'em.

Mr Wallace, that new polish
they've been using on my swords

tastes just awful.

Can I get some
that tastes like peppermint?

Okay, go to the prop department,

tell them to give you
some peppermint polish.

- Thanks.
- Honey, this is Mickey Spillane.

Hello, Mr Spillane. Are you married?

Slips my mind at the moment.
Nice to have met you.

Slips his mind?
Well, that's a new answer.

- Hi.
- Hi.

- Hi, Frank.
- Hi, chicks.

- Mario.
- Hello, Frank.

Shreveport should've had that canvas
standing three and a half minutes ago.

Now, get that pressed, will you?

Burnout in Barre
and two tractors held us up.

Some dope left the plugs out of the
crankcase when they changed the oil.

Be sure they're standing, boss.

Your show, Mr Director. Take over.

Be sure it's not three and a half minutes
late when you tear it down.

- I'm gonna take a gander at the stands.
- Okay, Frank.

Hey, you. Spot that hay truck
over behind the menagerie.

What a beautiful child.
What a beautiful mother, too.

Dublin O'Malley.

Back from the wars, ma'am.

You've got a very beautiful daughter,
Valerie.

Yes, she is.

Little lady, come here to me.

People are always asking
one of your size, "What's your name?"

Now, that must get very boring.
So I tell you what I'll do.

I'll give you a name,
and we'll keep it just between ourselves.

No matter what other people call you,
I'll always call you Angel

- and you'll call me Dublin.
- Hey, Dublin.

- Hey, sweetheart.
- Suzie, you come along with me

until your mother's through
with the matinee.

- Bye-bye, Angel.
- Bye, Dublin.

Bye-bye.

- You're back with the show?
- Yeah, ring director.

You know, I always wanted a daughter.

It's funny, because most men,
when they think of children

they think of sons.
How old is she, Valerie?

Five, the 6th of June.

I wonder if you ever knew my husband,
Armand St Dennis.

He came with the troupe
when Ben got arthritis.

It was right after you went in the Army.

Hey, get those gillies moving!

Come on, I'll walk with you
as far as the front of the show.

It must be a wonderful thing
to have your daughter

come bouncing into the bed
in the morning, waking you up.

- You, maybe, with a bit of a hangover.
- I'm very happy.

- My husband and I think that we're...
- Hey, you!

DUBLIN: If you ever cramp a cat cage
in such a short turn again...

I'll pay you off on two things.

Now ease that wagon
back into line again

like as if you were moving eggs.

Often, when my husband
and I are talking circus,

I tell him you were the best
circus director I ever knew.

Do you ever think of me, Valerie?

- I don't understand.
- Of course you understand.

I often thought of you
out there on the foxholes.

I thought a lot of things about you.

That night when we played Buffalo
and after the show, you remember?

We took the rowboat,
went out on the lake...

- Dublin.
- Yes?

My husband's a wonderful fellow,
and we're happy.

He's very much in love with me
and with Suzette.

- Well, I...
- What are you trying to tell me, Valerie?

Please, don't make it
so he finds out about us.

He's very jealous.

Because before he even met you
another man found you entrancing?

That's a very narrow way
to look at things.

I should think
that no man would want a wife

that hadn't been found attractive
to other men.

Why, Valerie, you look
as if you're on the verge of tears.

Have I said something
to make you unhappy?

If so, I'm heartfelt sorry.

It's just the way it was before,

when we were together,
before I was married.

The words you say
aren't the words you mean.

- And you always kept me so tormented.
- Tormented?

I thought we were very happy when we,
as you phrase it, "were together."

Oh, fine.

I'm very glad that you're happy
with your handsome husband

and beautiful little daughter.

All right, you joeys, step it up there.

You're half a minute late
in your entrance, already.

Hello, Dublin.

Don't take any extra bows, will you.
We're a minute late already.

Right. Dublin?

I want you to meet my husband.
Armand, Dublin O'Malley.

- I'm very happy to meet you, sir.
- How do you do?

- You have a very beautiful daughter.
- I'll have to agree with you on that.

And if I may say so,
a very beautiful wife, too.

We see eye-to-eye again.

- And if you'll excuse me.
- Surely.

(BLOWING)

(AUDIENCE CLAPPING)

And now, high above the centre ring,

the Clyde Beatty Circus
proudly presents,

the absolute acme in aerial artistry.

Introducing,
The Flying St Dennis Troupe.

(PEOPLE EXCLAIMING)

(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

(AUDIENCE CLAPPING)

Now, ladies and gentlemen,

St Dennis will attempt a feat that
no other person has ever dared to do.

A daring flip,
catching the free-flying trapeze

and returning without the use of a net
or a safety device of any kind.

Let all eyes be on the great St Dennis!

(DRUMS BEATING)

(PEOPLE EXCLAIMING)

Attention, please!

Will all the vendors stop selling
and retire to their seats?

Now, ladies and gentlemen,
boys and girls,

directing your attention
to the big steel arena

where you're about to witness

one of the largest and finest group
of jungle-bred, wild animals

ever to appear at one time.

Black-maned African lions,

trained, and now presented

by the world's greatest
wild-animal trainer,

the one, the only, Clyde Beatty!

(ROARING)

(GROWLING)

(GROWLING)

(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)

Clyde, you've been getting in that cage
for 20 years. Doesn't it ever get boring?

- Boring? It's always a kick.
- I'll take my kicks out of Scotch.

Hey, could you tell me
where I could find Mr Wallace?

- You found him.
- My name is Martin.

I'm from Signet Books.
I have a letter here from my editor.

Glad to know you, Mr Martin.
This is Clyde Beatty.

- That's a great show there, Mr Beatty.
- Mickey Spillane.

- Are you the Mickey Spillane, the writer?
- Yeah.

I've read your stuff.

- Quite a character you got there.
- He sure is.

Well, as I understand it,
your magazine wants to run

a series of articles on our show.
Is that it?

Yeah. I'd like to travel right along
with you and meet all the people.

And, of course, my magazine
will reimburse you for all my expenses.

Won't be necessary.

Moving and feeding one more person
won't matter.

On the other hand, his magazine
can write out his expenses.

Is that right, Mr Martin?
Quite an item, huh?

Frank's a world's
champion string-saver.

If you want me to save any money,
I've got to save something.

Come on over to the office, Frank,

and I'll sign those papers
you've been hounding me about.

Make yourself at home, Mr Martin.

- Sure thing. Thanks.
- See you.

Why don't you leave me alone,
you bum?

My letter get you all steamed up?

I was real happy back at my desk

in the city with a raft of hired hands
doing my detecting for me.

Saygner give you
all the credentials you needed?

Yeah, just like you told him.

Look, I've caught all the thieves
and killers I'm going to.

- From now on, I'm going to relax.
- So relax.

Dublin. Dublin O'Malley,
this is Paul Martin.

Dublin's the show's director.

- Hi.
- Glad to meet you.

I'd like to have a few minutes
of your time.

I'm doing some articles on the circus.

Sure. Anytime you say.
Look, I gotta run now. I'll see you later.

- You got any suspects?
- Yeah, 'bout 300 of 'em.

That's the number of people
who travel with the show.

- Fine.
- That is, all except O'Malley.

He joined up
after the trouble had already started.

That's just great.

- One out of 300 eliminated.
- Yeah.

And now, ladies and gentlemen,
above ring number three,

Clyde Beatty presents
the queen of balance and control,

the lovely Maria Cutten!

(AUDIENCE CLAPPING)

(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

DUBLIN: Here come the elephants.

The Clyde Beatty Circus
proudly presents

the only herd of hind-leg
marching elephants in the world.

Trained by Richard Shipley

and presented by Milonga Cline.

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)

I never saw so many 7s
and 11s in my life.

I draw so many 7s and 11s, I think.

With a crap game, huh?

Please, Mr Wallace,
I'm not a stoolpigeon.

Mr Wallace, do me a favour.

- I wish to be rich.
- Who don't?

Here, Mr Wallace,
you save this for me. Please.

- $1.
- Yeah.

I think I will be rich
when I have $1 million.

So every day I give you $1

and in one million days
I will have $1 million.

Do you know
what a million days amounts to?

No.

Three hundred years,

seven months, 48 days.

That's a long time, I think,
but I will be patient.

That's it.

- Good morning, Dublin.
- Good morning. How are you?

Good morning, Millie.

Darling, you run along with Millie
to the commissary.

Your mama will come get you
when you're through eating.

- All right?
- Okay.

There you go.

- Bye-bye, Angel.
- Bye, Dublin.

- Be good now.
- SUZIE: Okay.

I made the most beautiful shot
of the child.

Her darling little head framed
by those clouds up there.

When I develop it, I'll let you have
a colour print of it, Valerie.

Thanks. You always were a genius
with the camera.

I used to wonder
why you didn't go into it professionally.

Leave the circus that I love,
these people that I love?

I couldn't do that, Valerie.

You look wonderful this morning.

Tell you what,
let me make a picture of you, huh?

Here, stand right over here.

That's just fine now.

A fine crosslight here.
Let's see what we got here.

You remember the study
I made of you in Miami

on a pier in Biscayne Bay?

The trade winds whipping around us.
Your hair tossing in the breeze.

Globes of spray on your cheek
like small glistening pearls.

- Do you remember that?
- Yes, I remember.

Hold that. That's the look I want.
Right like that.

No, I didn't like that one after all.
Let me try another one, huh?

Why don't you turn your body
right around to me, like that?

Yes, that's fine.

You know, I've often thought
of that study I made that day in Miami.

If you let me have it back for a bit,
I'll make myself a copy of it.

- I... It got lost.
- Lost?

- What a pity, Valerie.
- Yes. I'm sorry.

Look, Dublin,
after we had that talk last week,

I had a feeling of being frightened.

But then I thought about us,
you know, before,

I realised I didn't have to be frightened,
because after what was between us

you wouldn't do anything to hurt me.

- Would you?
- Hurt you?

- Why, Valerie.
- I knew it.

I guess I was frightened because...
Well, I have everything I want now.

I'm in love, Dublin.

So much so, it's a little bit terrifying.

My heart stops
when Armand's in the air

and doesn't start again
till he's made his catch.

You know, Valerie, this is a man I envy.

- ARMAND: Hi.
- Hello, darling.

Getting your picture taken?

Couldn't find a prettier subject,
could you, Dublin?

Say, Dublin, why not take a picture
of the two of us together?

Yes, I'd be delighted to.

You'll have to stand
a little closer together, though.

- How's this? Does this suit you?
- Yes.

It's a fine composition.

You know,
some fine philosopher once said

that lovers should always gaze
upon each other

as if it was their last hour on earth.

I hope the lens on this camera
is good enough

to capture the looks on your faces,
because it's there.

Thank you, Dublin.
Come on, honey, we have to go.

- Hey.
- You got me, huh?

Look, I'll make a fair trade with you.

I'll give you three passes
for the big top

and three passes for the side show.
Is that a deal?

- Sure.
- You got them.

- Thanks!
- Thanks!

- Hello, Frank.
- Hi, Dublin.

I used to be great at this racket
when I was a kid.

Paymaster is looking for you.

(GROWLING)

Looks like, with you and that cat,
it's hate at first sight, isn't it?

Yeah, it seems like it, doesn't it?

(GROWLING)

Clyde see you doing that,
he'll split your hair with a tent spike.

Wish this was a high-powered rifle,

'cause I'd have one right between
those gleaming yellow eyes of his.

Trouble with you is
the cats prove to you you're yellow.

If you had any teeth,
you'd lose them right now.

You don't scare me.

I saw you screaming
like a scared woman

the night that Clyde
grabbed you out of that cage in time.

Here comes Clyde now.

Maybe you'd like to tell him
you got a beef about me.

I settle my own beefs.

- Morning, Mickey.
- Hi, Paul.

It's about time we cleaned up
on this thing, Clyde.

His name isn't Paul. It's Jack Stang.

He's a hotshot copper out of New York.

- You don't mean...
- That's right. He's the one.

I got something for you, Clyde.

Ran your rope test
through my lab back East.

"Segment of rope
put through Wilson test.

"Fibres were weakened by saturation
and hyposulphite of soda."

- That's film developer.
- Jack says it has 100 uses.

We better go check the lockers.
See if we can find some of this stuff.

Shall we?

You know,
I've had 100 pictures made of Suzette.

- This is the best ever.
- Thank you very much.

You know, an odd thing,
did you notice

your nose is straight like a ruler?

Valerie's nose is like
a compass course

shortest distance between two points.

But Angel's nose is...
Well, it's got a little tilt to it.

You know, a cute little Irish tilt.

You know he's right.
Both of our noses are straight

and she does have a little tilt,
a little pug nose.

- You're very observant, Dublin.
- It's a gift with me. I like to look at faces.

Fortunately, nobody likes
to look at mine.

Can't get over that little tilt, though.

- It is cute.
- On a girl, but I don't think so on a man.

I once had a girl,

well, I shouldn't say I had her really,
because she preferred another man,

- but she...
- Excuse me.

Mr St Dennis, you like to take a look
at your trailer, see if it's spotted right?

Okay. Excuse me a moment, honey.
Thanks, Dublin.

You're welcome.

I'm gonna go ride by myself.

Valerie, the look on your face,
you'd think you were scared of me.

Dublin, I don't want any more
of those double-meaning remarks

with that vile inference.

Vile inference?
What do you mean, Valerie?

Couldn't bring myself
to put it into words,

but if you ever made that plain
to my husband, he might kill you.

(BAND PLAYING)

Hey, Mr Wallace,
I want you to watch this.

- Maybe you can give me a raise.
- Maybe I can. Let's see it.

(MUMBLING)

Foul!

Pedro, tell the paymaster
to give the kangaroo a raise.

Two heads of lettuce a week.
On this show, we only buy winners.

I'm sorry about you.
You ruined me after I love you so much.

(MUTTERING)

The very idea of beating
such a sweet, harmless thing

serves you right.

Mildred, you better start looking
for somebody else

because I gonna divorce you.

(HORSE NEIGHING)

- I've been looking all over for you.
- Yeah, plenty of places.

- You mind if we talk a little business?
- No, go ahead. What's up?

Look, Mick, this routine
of interviewing people for a magazine

- doesn't seem to get us any place.
- I agree.

Of all the people I've talked to

not one indicated any motive
of wanting to cause trouble.

- They all love Beatty.
- Could be this rat you're looking for

knows you're on the prowl
and is trying to cover up, huh?

Well, he's doing a pretty good job of it.

We're no further ahead in this case
than we were a week ago.

Did you have to interview him yet?

He's one guy that you told me
that wasn't a suspect.

But I keep him on ice, anyway.

You better thaw him out.
Could be he's just our man.

Yeah, just like it happens
in the books, huh?

Well, he's got a camera.

He could have this
hyposulphite of soda, too.

He could also have a good reason
for wanting to wreck the Beatty show.

Sure, and so all we gotta do is

- prove these little items.
- Prove these little items.

- Come on, let's go see Little Boy Blue.
- Right.

After the war,
I became a drifter of sorts.

Like so many more of my type,

I found it difficult to adjust
to the ways of peace for a while.

I went to sea,
went halfway around the world,

but always the truth of the old saying
came back to me,

"Once circus, always circus."

I bet you never could give
any blood to the Red Cross,

too much sawdust in it.

Hey, tell me. How does the circus
stack up to the prewar days?

There have been some improvements
and some changes, naturally

but Clyde always has a good show.

How is Clyde these days?
He changed any?

Apart from a few more scars, I'd say

no, not one speck.

He seems like a pretty good Joe.
Of course, I don't know him like you do.

He is, as you say, "a pretty good Joe."

You know, it's too bad that he's been
having such a run of ill luck lately.

A close call
when that training rope broke.

Yes, indeed.
Wasn't that a frightful thing?

Do you think that's more of that
so-called jinx dogging the circus?

- Is there any other explanation?
- Yeah, it could have been rigged.

Good heavens, man!

You don't think anyone would do a thing
like that deliberately? Not to Clyde?

Does he think so?

No. It was one of the ideas my friend
Mr Spillane cooked up.

Right or wrong,
that's the way it goes in my book.

I heard you were here down
gathering material for your new book.

It's no secret.

- We should get together, Michael.
- I'd love to.

Would you excuse me
for a moment, please?

Angel, come on over here.
I got a birthday present for you.

Come on.

Turn your back. Close your eyes.

- What is it, Dublin?
- Well, open your eyes and you'll see.

- A doll.
- Yes, a doll. Do you like it?

- Yes, I love it, Dublin.
- Let's see.

- Do you love me?
- Yes, Dublin.

How much?
You're a sweetheart. I love...

- Hello, Valerie.
- Hello.

Look, Mama,
for my birthday, from Dublin.

It's lovely.

- Did you thank Dublin?
- Indeed, she did, with kisses.

Perhaps you'd like to show
your lovely doll to Millie.

- Okay.
- All right, darling.

- Bye-bye, sweetheart.
- Bye, Dublin.

What's the matter, Valerie?

Surely, you can't disapprove of a man
giving a birthday present to a child?

I do, but that wouldn't have stopped you.

There's something
I want to get straight, Dublin.

This is a programme
from Baraboo, Wisconsin.

It was the only time
we ever played Baraboo.

That was seven years ago

and you left between the matinee
and the evening performance.

Seven years ago,
have you got that straight?

There's an old saying, Valerie,
and a true one, too,

"Liars can figure and figures can lie."

Hello, honey.

- What's the matter?
- There's nothing the matter.

Oh, yeah? It's the second time
I've seen tears in your eyes

- around this guy.
- Please, Armand.

Some nostalgic memories
brought the tears to her eyes.

Yeah?

Dublin!

I couldn't harm anything
that you find precious.

- Take me home, Armand. Please.
- Okay.

- I wonder what's the beef?
- The guy's wife, probably.

Wallace told me
that she and O'Malley were old pals

or something.

So this is where you've been hiding out
between performances, huh?

Well, it's secluded and smelly.

You're going to poke your eyes out
the way you're shaking.

You must have a fine hangover.

I feel awful.

But it ain't just the hangover.
It's what you made me do to Clyde.

You used to be an aerialist,
didn't you, Twitchy?

- Yeah.
- With the big shows?

Yeah, The Flying Didjonomous.
My two brothers and myself.

- Until you lost your nerve, huh?
- Yes, I did.

And you still help
rig the aerialist act, Twitchy?

Yes. They all know
that I'm hip to the rigging.

Fine.

At today's performance,

St Dennis' second catch-fall
will break

right after he hits it from the trapeze.

No, I ain't going to do that, now.

San Jose, wasn't it?
What you were telling me about?

- San Jose is in California, isn't it?
- I tell you, I ain't going to do it.

California, the death penalty
is cyanide gas.

Put you in a small glass cubicle

and the witnesses are out there,
watching you.

And a machine drops these
cyanide pellets into a tub of ammonia

and the fumes come up slowly, slowly.

You try to hold your breath, because
you know what's going to happen.

All these long months,
you've been thinking of it

but finally you have to breathe.

- Look, Dublin. Dublin, will...
- Finally, you have to breathe.

The cyanide fumes go deep down
into your lungs

and the witnesses out there
watch as your face turns blue.

Your mouth opens wide
to gasp for that oxygen

that might mean life to you.

For the love of God, will you...
Dublin, will you quit?

Dear Twitchy, I was only telling you
what might happen.

Dublin, he's a nice guy

and she's a mighty fine woman,
and they have a pretty baby.

- Yeah, but I don't want...
- Today's performance, eh, Twitchy?

Dublin, I...

And now, high above the centre ring

the Clyde Beatty Circus
proudly presents

the absolute acme in aerial artistry.

Introducing,
The Flying St Dennis Troupe.

(AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING)

(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)

Now, ladies and gentlemen,
boys and girls,

the great St Dennis will attempt a feat

that no other person
has ever dared to do.

A daring flip,
catching the free-swinging trapeze

and returning without the aid of a net
or safety device of any kind.

Let all eyes be on the great St Dennis!

(BAND PLAYING)

(ALL EXCLAIMING)

(SCREAMING)

(AUDIENCE SCREAMING)

- Are you hurt?
- No, I don't think so.

Just my hands are burnt.

(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

That wasn't part of the act.
He could have been killed.

Who do you think
that would make real happy?

Come on.

Listen, they think it's part of the act.

Find whoever made the final check
on that rig and then run 'em off.

And add some words.
If I do, I'll add knuckles.

Twitchy checked the rigging.

- Twitchy?
- Yeah.

We've gone as far as we could
with him. Pay him off.

- Pedro.
- Yeah.

- Find Twitchy for me.
- Can I...

- I said, find him for me.
- All right.

I never saw it happen on this show
or any other show that I know of.

Those guy wires are checked
six ways from Monday

by anyone who gets
even a foot off the ground.

Who had charge of the rigging?

Twitchy, the little clown,
he does all the rigging.

He's done it enough
to spot a defect in a second.

- He missed one this time.
- I don't know, Mickey.

I'm beginning to think there's something
in this jinx business, after all.

Well, there is. Only, when we find it,
we'll find two arms,

two legs, two feet,

maybe no teeth,
because this jinx won't get taken easily.

So let's see if our jinx
wears a clown suit, okay?

- See you later, Frank.
- Yeah.

If I had any class, I'd get another job.

(ACCORDION PLAYING)

(ELEPHANTS TRUMPETING)

Dublin?

I looked in the joeys' car for you.
I waited for hours.

Well, I've been hiding back there

because Mr Wallace and Clyde,
they've been hunting for me.

- I brought you back a bottle.
- Did you?

I had a bottle back there,
but it slipped and broke.

It was awful,
hiding back there in the dark

- with nothing to drink.
- I know.

But maybe you wouldn't want
to give me a drink

after I tell you what I'm going to do.

- What's that?
- Well, I'm going to Clyde

and I'm going to tell him everything.

- You got your mind made up about this?
- Yes, my mind is made up,

but I wanted to come to you first
before I told Clyde

so that you could get a headstart,
'cause Clyde'd kill you.

- He might.
- He would.

I don't want to see Clyde
get in any kind of trouble.

I thought it wasn't me
you were worried about.

You ain't going
to give me a drink now, huh?

- Sure.
- Will you? Give it to me.

I asked the man
for the strongest stuff there is,

a 160-proof rum.

He said it'll knock your head right off.

Do you mind if I go first?

- No, you go right ahead.
- Thank you.

(ANIMALS GROWLING)

It's wonderful.
It burns the mouth, though, a little bit.

Fine filtered water for the precious cats.

Now can I have mine, now?

- Can I have...
- Sure, here.

Much obliged.

(COUGHS)

That is strong, ain't it?

There's your chaser.

(GROWLING)

(TRUMPETING)

What is this?
Someone must pull the plug, I think.

One little twist and I fix the little spigot.

Mr Wallace! Mr Wallace!

Looks like your jinx
didn't wear a clown suit after all, pal.

When is this going to stop?

What else can happen?

One thing more.

Maybe we won't have to wait now.

This top will fold up
like a busted balloon.

It's just horrible, Frank. I just heard
about it outside. When did it happen?

Postmortem will show that.

I'd sooner know how it happened.

Poor Twitchy.

Poor little guy.
He never even hurt a flea.

- Well, he pretty near killed St Dennis.
- What?

Twitchy.

He rigged that kill swing,
got paid off the hard way.

- I wonder...
- Why?

I just can't see him
getting paid off like that.

Who would kill anybody that way?

Nobody but a madman.

No, Twitchy might have rigged it,
but Twitchy's a drinking man

and he'd have to be all gouged up
with that joy juice to pull that stunt.

That doesn't get him drowned,
Mr Wallace.

I've seen him dunk his head in there
many a time just to sober up.

Was that faucet running
when you come in here?

Sí, all the way.
The tank was over-fulling.

I go turn it off, then I see Twitchy.

I get scared and I run, like,

for Mr Wallace.

Yeah, and he bent over too far.

I wish we could be sure
that he was drunk.

We'll get the answers to that

when the medical examiner
makes his postmortem.

In the meantime,
somebody with a nose for little details

can check up on movements,
until Twitchy's death

starts to make a little sense.

Yeah, well, that's not going to be
so easy, not around here.

- Why?
- Did you ever watch people in a circus?

What do you think they're looking at?

Somebody sneaking in the side
entrance? They're looking at the acts.

I see what you mean.
What about the acts themselves?

No, they're too busy
with their own specialties,

warming up, making last minute
adjustments and all that, you know.

And here's what our little friend
on the drink got over-primed on.

Watch those prints.

Looks like we're not going to need
a postmortem.

That's a little rich for Twitchy's blood,
isn't it?

I'll say it's a little rich
for Twitchy's blood.

That bottle belongs to me.

There's isn't another soul on the lot
drinks that brand, but me.

Did you leave it here, fellow?

No, Mr Spillane,
I haven't been in here all evening,

but I bet I can guess how it got in here.

Poor old Twitchy had a taste for this.

I had a locker full of it in my trailer.

I think I'd better get a call in
to the police.

I already did.
They'll be here in a few minutes.

So who left it here?

The murdered? Or the murderer?

Hi, Dublin.

Gentlemen, I was just on my way
to get the police.

What gives?

Wanted something in there
and really tore it.

The lock held,
but the wood split around it.

Did you find out what he used
to do it with, O'Malley?

No, I didn't find anything.

Apparently, whatever he used,
he took it away with him.

Yeah, he'd do that, wouldn't he?

Yeah, now, if you don't mind,
I think I should tell the police about this.

I think you should. Here.

Make great watch charms.

Great as long as you wear them
outside your skin.

I don't mind your moving, Mr Wallace.

I just want to be sure
that you don't leave the State.

Why don't you give him a certified copy
of your itinerary, Mr Wallace?

That'll satisfy the Commissioner.

COMMISIONER:
Yeah, that's a good idea.

I don't want to close the show
just for a lack of motion.

C'mon over to the office. We'll get
the whole thing straightened out.

- Coming?
- No, I hate business.

You go ahead. I'll sop up some sun.

Something new happening in the case?

Nope. All the uniforms want is
to be sure we're where they can get to

- anytime they want us.
- I see. I thought, perhaps...

Did you ever kill a man, Dublin?

I'm looking for a killer, Dublin.

Think you found him, Michael?

I wouldn't be a bit surprised.

- Me?
- Yeah, Dublin, you.

Dublin with the pretty speeches
and the flavoured tongue of the old side.

This makes me a killer?

There are a few other things
called facts

and some other things
called suspicions

and one other thing called intuition.

- I think you're mad.
- Me?

All right, Michael, what are your facts?

I guess you're entitled to hear them.

Entitled to keep them on your mind
right up to that minute

when you're trying to scream
your last scream

and a rope around your neck
won't let it come out.

Facts, Dublin.

The tiger's training rope
saturated with hyposulphite of soda.

Treated so it'd break
and a man would be killed.

This you have in your possession.

The facts, Dublin.

The day of Twitchy's death,

that water tank had just been painted.
It wasn't quite dry.

The killer who held Twitchy
under that water

leant hard against that tank. Look.

So, then your facts
seem in order, Michael.

May I ask what your suspicions are?

A bottle of liquor
lying beside a drowned clown.

Who put it there?
The clown, or the killer?

- You yourself told...
- In my mind, I see

a fast-thinking killer with a quick tongue
offering the explanation first

and posing the problem afterward.

I see you prying
that cabinet door open yourself, Dublin.

Those are wonderful suspicions,
Michael.

Well thought out.

But, of course, I forgot

you've a mind for those things,
don't you?

May I ask what your
final point of analysis is?

This thing that you call intuition?

Yeah.

Your eyes, Dublin,

they belong to a homicidal maniac.

And yours, Michael,
yours belong to a blind man.

Your intuitions, Mr Spillane,

purely re-thought-out facts. Intuitions?

See what they've done for you now?
See where they've got you?

You stupid, blundering,
unconscious idiot, you.

- Hey, Frank?
- Yeah.

- Have you seen Mick?
- A while ago.

He wanted to know if you were back
from town with that telegram.

Here it is.

Report on the prints on the rum bottle.

- Holy cats! Dublin O'Malley.
- Yep.

Homicidal maniac on the loose.

Better find Clyde.
Mickey might be with him.

You go. I'm going to tail O'Malley.

They're probably in the big top!

Don't move, Michael.

Don't do any little thing that might
make me have to kill you right now.

See, I didn't mind your facts.
I didn't even mind your suspicions

but it was your intuition that I hated.

You saw it in my eyes,
didn't you, Michael?

Yes, I'm mad, but it was people like you
that made me this way.

Take one last good look
at my eyes now

because it's the last thing
you're ever going to see.

You can lie there
and hear yourself scream

as this acid bathes your eyes.

And wish, perhaps, that you'd never
come to a circus in your life.

Take one last good look at my eyes,

Mr Spillane.

Jack, get me out of this place!

- You know what I ought to do?
- Yeah, what?

I ought to leave you here.

Valerie, I'm sorry.

We just got news
that Dublin is a kill-heavy maniac.

- What?
- Dublin was our trouble, honey.

All the time we thought he was away,
he was in an institution.

He's insane.

(TIGER GROWLING)

- He killed?
- That's right. He killed.

We've got to stop him
before he kills again.

Armand. Armand.

Armand!

Armand, my darling,
it's so good to be home.

So safe.

Did you hear about Dublin?
He was mad.

He was mad all the time. He killed.

He killed people that he said he loved.

You can still be safe, my lovely.

One last kiss for old time.

Or perhaps one that says
everything is new again.

For you there is no madness,
my darling.

No madness. Love.

The kind of a love that no other man
could ever give you.

We had it once, Valerie.

No. No. No!

If it's my guess,
he's making tracks away from the lot.

We better be sure. It's you.

- Did you find Dublin?
- We had him, but he got off the hook.

Cops'll be here in a minute.
Let's go around the lot.

If he's holed up, we can dig him out.

We won't find him standing here.
Let's fan out and start digging.

Mr Beatty! Mr Beatty!

(GROWLING)

Mr Beatty!

Dublin, he's in the animal tent,
and he's letting the big cat out.

We've got to get that cat.

If he gets out of that tent,
God knows what'll happen.

(BIRDS SCREECHING)

(GROWLING)

Stay here and no one will get hurt.

I've got to get that cat back in the cage.

If that cat gets into town...

There he goes.

Spread out and take it easy.
Don't get too close to Clyde.

(TRAIN HORN BLOWING)

(GROWLING)

That baby has something on his mind.

(TRAIN HORN BLOWING)

(LAUGHING)

- Mickey!
- Yeah?

- You got your gun?
- Yeah!

If you get a chance,
maybe you better use it.

Okay.

Good boy, Clyde!

That was a close one.

(TRAIN HORN BLOWING)

(TIGER GROWLING)

Get back to the caboose.
Tell them to stop that train!

DUBLIN: Wait!

(DUBLIN SCREAMING)

That's Dublin.

It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

NARRATOR: Come spring,
the country will be greening up

and there'll be a new crop of kids.

And the circus will roll again,
because that's what the circus is for,

to make happy the hearts of the young
and of the old.