The Turning Point (1952) - full transcript

♪

(police sirens)

(police siren)

Hurry up,

boys, there he is.

Let's clear the way,

clear the way.

Clear the way,

clear the way.

What do you have

to say, Mr. Conroy?

I've said all I can say

to the boys at the airport.

We haven't had a

chance to get set up yet.

Well, we've got it, the governor

sent it out, Mr. Conroy.

You've been given

extraordinary powers

to break up the

syndicate of crime.

Well, does that

mean Neil Eichelberger?

Well, if it turns out

to be Eichelberger,

we'll take care of that.

Anyway, they've got me in

to see if I can clean things up.

But what specifically

are you after, Mr. Conroy?

Everything illegal, bookie, slot

machines, graft, corruption.

And you think the Eichelberger

syndicate controls all this?

If it does, we'll find it out.

When we find it

out, we'll break it up.

Do you think the

situation is serious enough

to call for such measures?

Well, for some reason

or other,

I know the pendulum seems

to have swung back again.

And as your newspapers

have repeatedly pointed out.

This city has become

infested with crime again.

It'll be our job to wipe it out.

Oh, please don't ask me how.

Thanks.

May we have a picture, please?

Yeah, sure, help yourself.

Shaking hands to Mr. Fogel.

Yeah, certainly.

Thank you,

thanks a lot, fellas.

I'm gonna need your help.

I know you'll

go along with me.

I'll give you everything

I can as soon as I can.

There's nothing

more now, believe me.

Thanks a lot.

Thank you, Mr. Conroy.

Hey, listen, what

do you think?

Boyish charm?

Are you kidding me?

I'll need more men.

We'll find out when do a

break it up just like that.

Oh, brother.

You'll want to get organized.

Shall we make it 12:30

in the Mayor's office?

Fine.

Thank you very much.

Good luck, Mr. Conroy.

Thank you.

You know the department

is squarely behind you.

Thank you very much, Captain.

Thank you, gentlemen,

thank you, thank you.

Mandy-- oh.

Hello, Johnny.

I was wondering about you.

Oh, Johnny, please.

Oh, dignity

beginning at noon.

We've been here since 6:00.

Order will come later.

Oh, one thing I

want for myself, a car

with a siren and a red light.

You don't think

it might be misunderstood.

Okay, we'll

skip the light.

Hi.

Jerry.

How are you, kid?

I was looking for

you in that crowd.

I'm gonna let you get

the bugs out of your system.

Congratulations.

Thanks.

This is great, Jerry.

Oh, uh, Jerry McKibbon,

Ms. Waycross.

How do you do?

Hello.

Amanda's helping me out.

Combination of girl

Friday and spiritual advisor.

Oh, Johnny.

Also picnics on weekends.

Amanda Waycross?

Yes, why?

I just wanna get the names

of the brain trust, right?

Oh?

Oh, you got into a crime wave

should make quite a

story on the society page.

Jerry's a reporter.

I was beginning to suspect.

Congratulations anyway.

Thank you.

Jerry and I grew up together

down in Caroline Street.

It's nice you both have

such important friends.

Yes, isn't it?

Uh, Johnny, they're

all kinds of messages,

none of them less than

cosmic, and your mother called.

I promised

I'd have breakfast with her.

Come on with me

Jerry, we can talk.

I'll ride along,

but they'll wanna have

their dear boy to themselves.

No, they want to see you--

it's been years.

(Amanda)

If anyone calls?

Tell him he just went

out to get tattooed.

I suppose that's

as good as anything.

And please call the house--

say I'm on my way.

What's your angle, Jerry?

I'm supposed to do some

color stuff on you, Johnny.

Do you feel like a

colorful character?

Not exactly.

How's it been with you?

Oh, scraping by.

I've read some

of your stuff--

very tough, very bright.

There's a trick to it.

I propose the problems, but

never suggest the solutions.

What are the problems?

Vice, graft,

corruption, war.

None of it's simple.

We're weak human beings

and the human equation

smears everything up.

All too sound.

You're the boy

for the solutions.

So it seems.

Why don't you help us out?

How?

Take a leave of

absence, come on in with us.

As a press secretary or a guy to

point out Eichelberger to you?

Write your own ticket.

I'll point him up for

nothing, wish you luck

and you can

take it from there.

You don't go along with us?

I go along with you fine.

You can give me a

gun, a ready-made pardon

and I'll shoot the guy for you.

I don't go for the

paper hat and the tin god.

Do you know what it

would mean to a man, Johnny,

to break the

Eichelberger syndicate?

DA's office, the Governor's

chair, seat in the Senate.

That's right.

I don't want any of it.

Why not?

No political ambitions.

Clean hands, pure heart,

and no political future, huh?

That's me.

You're a stocker, Johnny.

Eichelberger's sitting on

top of a $200 million empire.

Have you got any idea

what he'd do to protect that?

Well, roughly.

Let me ask another.

You really know

why you're in this?

There's a job to be done.

They tagged me.

I was around.

You were.

You're a man

who wants to do good

and they want a man to do good.

Sure, you always

wanted to do good.

I don't say that's wrong.

I say that's the way you are.

You've been discovered.

You made quite a

splash at the University,

telling the other

do-gooders the theory

of how the

law should be.

You're

made-to-order for them.

So, they suck you in with your

clean hands and pure heart.

Happy little amateur?

A kid standing in the sun

with books under his arm.

And if a flagpole falls

on you, it's just an accident.

You don't think

I'm up to the job.

I think you give it one fine

whirl and I'll be cheering.

It's all nice and cozy.

Same old story.

Election's a year-off and

the Governor's trying to stir up

some free

advertising for himself.

Oh, are you sure you don't

want something else, Johnny?

No, thanks, Mom.

You're beginning to

sound like Jerry, Pop.

What's Jerry's saying?

He thinks

I'm a sucker, a fall guy.

Could be, but you're old

enough to know your own mind.

Are you working with

him on this, Jerry?

No, I'm

painting a picture

of a special

prosecutor's home life.

I was afraid of that.

Well, Jerry couldn't write

anything we wouldn't like.

Why, he's just like

my own boy.

I'm not so sure.

The important thing is, Johnny,

how you feel about all this.

Well, Pop,

I think it's great.

I've always hoped

that someday

we'd work out a

way to be closer.

So far, our jobs

haven't allowed it.

Now, we'll be together.

What could be

better than that, huh?

Well, Johnny, I know,

but I don't just

see how you mean.

Well, haven't you heard

from the department yet?

Heard what?

By special request

the Governor,

you're my

chief investigator.

No, son.

No, I won't have it, I--

Why not, Pop?

It's already been discussed.

Well, then you

can undiscuss it.

I'm a cop, Johnny.

Just a hardworking,

hoodlum-pinching cop

and I want to stay that way.

At least until

they pension me off.

I'll leave the

brainwork for you.

You've got

the education for it,

but leave me where

I'm comfortable, huh?

Oh, Pop, it's not

as simple as that.

I can get all

the bright young men I want,

but what I

need most is a cop,

an honest cop--

one who knows this town.

Pop, it's

already been decided.

Well, we'll

talk about it later.

Gosh, I thought

he'd jump at it.

Thanks for

breakfast, Mrs. Conroy.

I'll see you later.

Yeah.

Be seeing you, Mike.

Oh, come

back anytime, Johnny.

Don't stay

away so long.

Uh, he'll see

you in a minute.

We'll have the answers

tomorrow, all right, son?

(indistinct chatter)

Hello, Harrigan.

Mr. Eichelberger.

Yeah?

McKibbon from The Chronicle.

Well?

I thought you'd like

to make a statement.

About what?

Conroy.

Sure, you can quote.

I am happy that

such an investigation

has been started,

since it can only clear

me of all charges

leveled against me

by the gentlemen of

the press of this city.

Thank you.

Anytime.

You're a friend

of the Conroys.

How do you mean?

You know them.

No.

Harrigan's a

friend of Matt Conroy's.

We all grew up in

the same neighborhood.

Uh, yes,

years ago.

One of the

finest men I ever knew.

I thought you

kept that friendship up?

You guys get the idea of

the diploma you get

when you graduate

from journalism school

makes you different

from anybody else.

Don't believe it.

(door closes)

(phones ringing)

That's a lot of money for

a whisky salesman to make

even for a man

that does sell whiskey.

It's all on

the income tax report.

Of course it is.

Now, let's' talk about

the Manzinates case.

Never heard of it.

I'll refresh your memory.

1948.

Peter Manzinates

was a produce dealer

who refused to pay

to the organization.

He took a trip to Canada

and he never came back.

Maybe that guy

liked to travel.

Keep your attention here.

March 1948,

you took a leave of absence

from the police force.

You were gone three weeks.

A vacation.

Did you like Canada?

I've never been to Canada.

You and Jimmy Chop

went to Canada.

You took Manzinates to

Canada and you murdered him.

I said I've

never been to Canada.

I don't know Manzinates

and I never heard of Jimmy Chop.

Manzinates left town the same

time as you and Jimmy Chop.

It's a big town,

people come, people go.

March 27th, you resigned

from the police force.

On the same day, you went

to work for Eichelberger.

The second day--

the first day, we talked terms.

Selling whiskey?

I didn't sell whiskey then.

What did you do?

Odd jobs.

Killing people?

Odd jobs like that?

You are cute, too.

That fact is that

you were shaking down

a lot of small-time

bookmakers.

Eichelberger got you off.

He did you a favor

and you did him one.

You arranged

the Manzinates killing.

I never heard so

much junk in my life.

You are a cop,

Silbray, and you sold out.

Baloney.

And if it's the last thing

I'd do, I'm going to nail you.

All right.

Let's see if

Jimmy Chop has a better memory.

You can go, my

friend, but not for long.

I'd rather nail one crooked

cop than a hundred hooligans.

Get out.

We just got to

find that Manzinates.

Shall I blow it?

No, no, just leave it.

I don't know when

Mr. Conroy will be back.

And is there

anything else, Miss?

No, thank you.

I have your story--

do you mind?

I don't mind anything.

There's plenty of

hot coffee there.

I must say,

you write very well.

Thank you.

You don't think

very much of us, do you?

I think a whole bunch of

your clever-as-all get-out.

Huh.

And I thought I said so in a

style that was all but heroic.

It's the style

I mean-- It, uh,

has a twist to it.

Such as?

Such as, uh, if the pulp

mills of America can continue

supplying enough paper

to this efficient staff,

something

must come to light.

The detached cynical

observer frankly amused

by the follies

of other humans.

Well, that's all

there, I agree with you.

I'm one fine writer.

And it carries over

into your personal attitude.

McKibbon,

you're heavy with it.

Get a firm hold on yourself.

Thanks, I will.

As a matter of fact,

not all people are happiest

being exhibitionists.

But I am, I suppose.

I didn't say that.

Your trick of entrance again.

Forgive me for not rising.

Proof of my exhibitionism,

I imagine, is for

a girl whose experience

with crime has been

limited to a parking ticket.

And you're quite a girl.

Just stick a nose into a

professional cleanup campaign.

Why should I--

Walk barefooted

through the pigsty--

it had crossed my mind.

Do you want me to tell you?

Not particularly.

You prefer

your own explanation.

Frankly, it doesn't make any

difference one way or another.

You're a handsome dame

who does what she wants to do

so why worry about why?

(door opens)

Well, I think

we're in business.

We've located Mrs. Manzinates

through a nephew

of hers out on Oakmont.

She's here, living

at 446 Palm Street

under the name of

Mrs. Stephen Nover.

Oh, off the record, Jerry,

this is not for publication.

Naturally.

Johnny, the

first real break.

If she'll talk.

Better keep her on ice.

Matt will--

huh, Pop?

Yeah, sure, son.

Break off everything

else in the morning.

Matt will have her

in at 10:00.

Leave everything

to me, Johnny.

I'll have her

here bright and early.

We've waited a long time

for this.

See you in the morning.

(Johnny)

Right.

(door opens)

(door closes)

Mandy, what do you

say we chuck all this?

Go out and have a

real dinner somewhere?

I'll even blow to

a bottle of wine.

Amanda prefers

the simpler things in life.

That's what you think.

Come on with us, Jerry.

No, thanks,

I got to work.

I'll see you later.

♪

(bell ringing)

Paging Mr. Baldwin.

Paging Mr. Baldwin.

Calling Mr. Baldwin,

Paging Mr. Baldwin.

Paging Mr. Baldwin,

Calling Mr. Baldwin.

But, Johnny,

we've had leaks before.

I can't help

questioning the wisdom of--

Question what, me?

I forgot my copy.

I don't blame you.

If I were the professor,

I'd question me, you,

the DA, the

whole kit and kaboodle.

I'd screen everybody.

You know

they've been screened.

I'd screen them again.

I'd get to know

them intimately

back to the time

they were born.

I'd question my own mother.

(knocking)

It's open, come in.

To what do

I owe the honor?

I wanna talk to you.

Fine.

No dinner with wine?

I'm not going.

What about your

hurry to get to work?

I had to do

my flower arrangements.

Have a seat.

Thanks.

Wasn't what you

said when you left--

wasn't that meant

to be provocative?

If you're gonna say

something, get down to it.

What did you mean when you

said you'd question everyone?

Just that.

Would you please seat down so

I can throw myself at your feet?

As you say...

let's get down to it.

Good.

I, uh, came here

to ask you exactly

what it is

you've been holding

behind your

eyes these past weeks.

I wish some of

you ivory tower people

would stop

trying to be so smart.

I wish you'd put

your socks on

and go home and

sit by your fireplaces

and read mystery

stories where everything

turns out nice

and tidy in the end.

If you must know, I

think you're a square.

And Johnny's a square.

You're standing in a coal

chute and don't know it.

And you're a whale of

a tough guy, McKibbon.

I am.

A real know-it-all guy.

You know all

about the viciousness.

You're at home in the slime.

You put your finger on all the

bodies that have been buried,

but you won't tell.

Oh, no.

That's too amateurish--

that would destroy your pose.

We're the dilettantes and

you're the tough professional.

As one exhibitionist to another,

why don't you cut it out?

Come on.

446, wherein is

hidden Mrs. Stephen Nover,

alias Mrs. Manzinates.

You understand,

Mrs. Manzinates,

we'll have men there.

You won't know who they

are, but they'll be there.

I'm gonna know everything you

say, everything you tell them.

I'm not afraid.

Of course not.

You're an old woman,

Mrs. Manzinates.

What should you be afraid of?

It is true.

You have a nephew, Peter,

who works in a

gas station in Oakmont.

He's a fine boy, Peter.

You're very fond of him.

That's also true,

isn't it, Mrs. Manzinates?

All we want

is peace, that's all.

Just peace,

Mrs. Manzinates.

You put peace on

your face tomorrow

and everything

will be all right.

All right.

(door closes)

That was Ackerman, all right.

Jerry, what do you think?

She's all right.

They were

just selling insurance.

(doorbell buzzing)

Jerry, what are

you doing out here?

I wanna see you.

All right,

come on in.

What's the trouble?

Is your wife asleep?

Yeah,

sit down.

I checked on 446 Palm Street,

there wasn't a cop there.

Well, I didn't

think it necessary.

Ackerman was there though with

a couple of his goons teaching

the facts of life

to Mrs. Manzinates.

What?

Don't act surprised.

Why shouldn't they be?

You called Harrigan right

after you left us at the hotel.

Jerry, you're crazy.

I know you're working

with Eichelberger,

Matt--

specifically Harrigan.

Are you drunk?

I've known it

for three weeks.

I've tried to figure

out what to do about it.

I've come to the conclusion

it's your problem.

Jerry, this is

nothing to joke about.

Look, Matt,

I grew up with Johnny.

I know how he feels about your

little tin god on a mantelpiece.

It's always been

that way--

Partly the reason

he's in this today.

I don't think

you wanna see him torn

to pieces

any more than I do.

Everybody's filling

you with pap.

I don't wanna see

you in jail any more

than I'd like to see

you found in an alley,

staring up at a

curbstone only not seeing it.

Those are the only alternatives

I've been able to come up with.

You figure out one.

I won't have

any more such talk.

I'm gonna print

the story about

what happened

at Manzinates today,

only for Johnny's sake I'm

going to leave you out of it.

I'm going to

give you a chance.

It's a lie.

But if you don't

want him to find out

that his father has been

crossing him every day

of the calendar,

you better start figuring

a way to get yourself clear.

Get out.

I'll give you 24 hours.

(Matt)

Get this one thing

through your heads.

We need each

other in this thing.

Maybe you'll need

me more than I need you.

But this is the last

time I go running around just

because somebody on

this outfit blows a cork,

you hear that, Iman?

Anything I got

to turn over to you,

I'll report just

like I've been doing.

Knock it off.

How do you explain this?

McKibbon was there yesterday

when we got the word

on the Manzinates woman.

He was asked to

respect the confidence.

By who?

(Matt)

By John.

And you will

let it go at it?

What was I to do, arrest him?

You're a newspaper man.

And he high-tails it

down to Pond Street

and sits on the curb.

And you didn't

think it important

enough to tell us, Matt.

Why was that?

He's always kept

his word before.

You sap--

you wooden-headed sap.

Take it easy, Matt.

Wait outside for us.

He's all right--

take my word for it.

What kind of logic

is that?

A business like

this depending on someone

you think

you can trust.

Hasn't he told

us everything so far?

Small stuff, stuff you

put in the window to get

the suckers inside--

when it comes to a showdown,

he'll pull a

switch so fast,

our necks will get

twisted watching him.

All right, that's

enough from both of you.

We built a great

outfit-- almost foolproof--

but we've got the same

weaklings any business has.

People-- if we've got

one or 500 people,

we got that many

weaklings starting right here.

I want it known around.

I want it circulated

in their bloodstreams.

Everybody's under

glass from here on out.

This Conroy kid is

tougher than we thought.

He's got angles and it

looks like staying power.

We'll match him.

Money, brains, time, anything

else-- tell our men that.

Lay it on the line.

Tell them they're

going to be under glass.

I want a system set up.

I want them to

know there's a system.

I want fear working for us and

we'll begin with Matt Conroy.

♪

(Johnny)

How can anyone have

known where she was?

Take it just as an example of

what you'll be up against all

the way down the line with all

this money

flowing from the bookies.

That wasn't money,

It was intimidation.

One or the other.

The fact remains, it proves

there is a working pipeline.

Oh, no, no shop

Johnny-- skip it please.

This is why

I wanted to get you

out of your office

for a minute or two.

Come along--

you haven't met everyone.

Excuse me.

Give him time.

He's young as a politician.

So gentlemen, what do you

think of him, hmm?

Hello, Jerry.

Hi.

You need all these

witnesses to draw me out?

You probably

know everyone, don't you?

Almost too well.

Nice hideout you've

got here, Ms. Waycross.

Thank you.

With a bird's eye view of

our very corrupt city.

May I get you a drink?

Jerry, excuse me.

Hello, Johnny.

This was a fine stunt.

I gather

Mrs. Manzinates did arrive

at the hearing

perfectly briefed.

That's not the point.

How did you know what was

going on down at Palm Street?

A shot in the dark.

I guess you realize

what this does to us.

I printed a simple story

that happened to be true.

I thought it might

help put pressure on.

Anything wrong with that?

If you can see it--

Tell me.

It's a no good tramp

newspaperman's trick.

Break any confidence for a

little run-of-the-mill story.

I thought

something better of you.

Okay, professor.

Jerry.

Hello, Matt.

I'd like to speak

to you a minute, Jerry.

I'm sorry, Jerry.

Oh, forget it.

Can I fix you something?

Oh, you're very sweet.

Rustle me up

a ham sandwich.

Jerry, I'm in a spot.

I think I mentioned

something about that last night.

Yeah, I'm sorry

I lost my temper.

Suppose I admit what

you said last night.

Yeah?

And level with you.

Yeah?

Will you go along?

That depends.

Well, we both

heard the same kind

of stories

hundreds of times.

Unless you've been

through it yourself,

it's hard to understand.

Try me.

Jerry, the way they got it

worked out, a cop is supposed

to be something

more than human.

He's supposed to

work harder than anybody,

be more honest than anybody.

Pay for his own bullets

when he shoots a crook.

Naturally, he's not

supposed to want money

or things for his family.

He's altogether too

high principled for that.

Well, it works out fine for a

while and then somehow

or other, you get to be 40.

You find yourself

looking in the windows

at the things other people

look at, then you start

wanting things

because by this time,

you've got a

kid growing up and you

want some of

the things for him.

And then you

find you're in debt.

Then suddenly, you find

some easy money in your pocket

and then you

find they own you.

So, now they've got

me in the nutcracker.

How do you get out, Matt?

You've got to help me, Jerry.

If I believe you.

I have never asked

anything from anybody before.

There's only

one thing you can do.

Deal behind

Eichelberger's back.

Sell Johnny on the

idea you've got a plant

and feed him

phony information.

And try hard to stay alive.

There's that too.

Or you can tell Johnny.

No, I can't

do that, I...

Matt, how do you make me

believe you're on the level?

Eichelberger had

me up this morning.

There's a folder on the DA's

files they're worried about.

1934, Lloyd Casilon.

He blabbed about a

lot out of the things

that didn't

make much sense then.

They would now if anybody

wanted to put them together.

The old days, that's

what they're worried about.

They want me to get

that folder for them.

Now how do I duck

that and stay alive?

I think that's fine.

I think it's just great.

When do they want it?

Tonight.

Get it and give it to him.

Only first

have it Photostatted.

I may be tailed.

You ought to know

how to handle that.

(Woman)

Good night.

(Amanda)

Bye. Thanks.

(Woman) Bye.

(Amanda)

See you soon.

(Matt)

Now, thanks, Jerry,

I'll see you about it.

All right, Matt.

Would you mind

if I eat as I run?

Where are you going?

Say, is your car downstairs?

In the garage.

Lend me your keys.

No.

Operator, this is

Ms. Waycross's apartment.

Would you order

a cab right away?

Thank you--

see you later.

Hello, operator.

This is Ms. Waycross,

please cancel that cab.

Johnny.

I've got to run out,

the others won't mind I hope.

Mandy.

Yes.

Do you mind telling

me what you're doing?

I don't think

it's just curiosity.

I think it's business--

I don't know.

All right.

I'm awfully

doggone in love with you.

You're sweet, Johnny.

Explain it to

your politicos, will you?

Sure.

I cancelled the cab,

come on, get in, I'll drive you.

Move over.

Thanks, Stew.

You're lucky these days.

How about it, bud?

There's no trick

to Photostatting.

It's against the rules.

There are no rules

for this committee.

Wait here,

I'll be right back.

Yeah, yeah,

he was just here.

And I'm holding them

in my hands right now.

Make the Photostat

and let him have it.

No, let him have it.

It don't mean a

thing, not a thing.

Right.

I guess I'm

not supposed to ask

who you've

been following and why.

No.

But I suppose

it was all right.

What?

Whatever it is I'm

not supposed to ask you.

It was quite all right.

Relax a little, McKibbon.

Perhaps we both should.

Jerry, I know

what you think of me.

I guess I knew that day

you met me and looked at me.

I got into this because of

Johnny, because he was in it,

and because I have so much

respect and admiration for him

and I thought

I might help in some way.

And I wanted to be

doing something with some use.

Can't you understand that?

Yeah, sure.

I still wanna help,

but you've made it so

it isn't easy anymore.

And Jerry,

I'm beginning to be afraid.

It's going to be all right.

Is it?

You relax a little.

I'm hungry.

We have time before we go

looking for the next body.

Okay.

So there you have it--

the life and times

of one Amanda Waycross.

Not very inspirational.

I'd say very dull.

This novel you wrote,

what was it about?

About three chapters.

I mean content.

About young love

in Mississippi.

Ooh, remind me

not to read it.

You bet I will.

There's one point in your

life story that escapes me.

Yes.

I mean Johnny.

I know.

Well?

I went up to State

U to interview him

for one of my fine reviews.

And strangely enough,

he didn't turn against you.

No.

He fell in love with you.

I suppose so.

Was it immediate?

Instant.

You have that kind of effect.

What a nice thing to say.

You ought to know it by now.

It's getting late.

Does it matter?

It's supposed to.

May I help you clean up?

No, thanks.

I'll leave it for Ellen.

Do you want me to go?

Yes.

Mandy, you're not much good

as a cloak-and-dagger woman.

We've been yapping all night and

what have you found out from me?

I found out enough.

We both have-- something

we didn't wanna know.

Do you want me to go now?

Yes.

Why out here?

You wanted to be

careful, didn't you?

You could be

going home to lunch.

It would have

been simpler to mail it.

Neil's waiting for you.

Why?

Something about John.

Where?

In the oil

station up the street.

(screaming)

Holdup, holdup, holdup.

Police officer--

drop that gun.

(woman)

Police! Police! Police!

(screams)

(woman)

Police! Police!

Well, there's

nothing to be done for him.

Guess somebody better

call the police.

He'll never knew

what hit him.

Neither of them

knew what happened.

(phone ringing)

Hello?

Jerry?

Yeah.

Oh, we just a got a flash--

a shooting out on

34th and Schuyler.

Matt Conroy killed.

Oh, no.

Some guy robbing a market--

get out there, will you?

Yeah, yeah.

Where'd you say

it was, then?

34th and Schuyler.

Yeah, okay.

(siren wailing)

A fine guy like that and

some little two-bit thief.

I almost wished

Matt hadn't got him.

I wish we could have

had him for a small while,

just a short while.

Are you

satisfied with it, Clint?

I can't find much wrong.

Twenty witnesses--

they're all telling.

Big sister act, huh?

Yeah, the usual thing.

He was the unlikeliest

man in town to get killed,

wasn't he, Clint?

In a manner of speaking.

A hood wouldn't

put a finger on him.

No.

He had a badge on his vest

and a paper in his pocket,

and the paper said

nobody could touch him.

What's eating you?

Don't you think the department

takes care of its own?

You got a good question there.

Let's both think

of an answer to it.

Accordingly killed

in the line of duty.

No connection has been

established between his death

and his official position

with the crime commission.

Now you'll have to

excuse me.

Will you come with me?

John.

Johnny, I'm so sorry.

Matt Conroy and

I grew up in the

same neighborhood

and I'll miss him.

He was a fine man.

His widow should be proud of

the way he served his community.

As I said to Mr. Martin, I said,

That was just like Matt Conroy.

Brave as a tiger,

that's what he was.

Brave as a tiger.

Thank you very

much, Mrs. Martin.

You're very kind.

Mary, is there

anything I can do for you?

(Mrs. Martin)

And to think that

such a brave man

should be killed

by such hoodlums.

Jerry.

Yeah?

I think I should know.

What?

I think it's

important to all of us.

Know what?

About Matt.

What about Matt?

He stepped in front

of a bullet

and now he's

waiting to be buried.

What else?

Jerry, don't close me out.

I've never felt so lost.

Last night,

everything seemed so simple.

Mandy?

Yes.

You don't believe

it was accidental?

No.

Why not?

What did you and Matt

talk about at my place?

Why did you

follow him downtown?

Years ago, it seems

he took some money.

I gathered it was to

put Johnny through college.

They were using him.

And upon my excellent advice,

he tried to double cross them.

Oh, Jerry.

What do I do

now, call the cops?

And what do I tell

Johnny about his father?

That he was a crook?

And how can I

tell him about us now?

Mandy, would you--

would you come in a

minute and help mother?

Station WRRG again

takes you to the offices

of the Crime

Commission where John Conroy

and his staff continue

their relentless questioning

of witnesses

alleged to be connected

with the so-called syndicate

Conroy is out to break.

Mr. Eichelberger, we'd like to

ask you about some

of the statements you made

to our investigators

if you don't mind.

Not at all.

I'm glad to

talk about anything.

On my part, Mr. Conroy, I'll

be happy to get on the record

and clean up some of the things

they've been printing about me.

I've got a statement

here I'd like to read.

(John)

Uh, you can put it

in the record later.

All right.

You're in the trucking

business, Mr. Eichelberger?

(Neil)

That's right.

Have been for years.

Run a lot of trucks.

And how would you estimate

your income for that business?

Well, it's all on the

tax records, Mr. Conroy.

I couldn't say offhand.

(John)

Well, would

you say about $100,000?

Yes, I guess

so, a little more or less.

And, uh, do you have

other sources of income?

(Neil)

That's right.

Could you tell

us what they are?

Well, they're varied.

I own a few pieces

of other businesses and I

lend a good deal of money

here and there, charge interest.

You lend money to bookies?

Oh, that I couldn't say.

I lend money to people I know.

What they do with

it, I don't always know.

Uh, they could be

bookies, some of these people?

They could at that,

Mr. West, some of them.

I wouldn't know.

And the control of all

this money, Mr. Eichelberger,

wouldn't you say that gives

you control of these bookies?

No, I wouldn't.

That's what they like to say

about me, czar of the bookies.

That's nonsense, it isn't true.

I lend money

just like a bank does.

Did it ever occur to

you, Mr. Eichelberger,

did you ever

suspect for a moment

that this money was being

used for illegal purposes?

I worried about it for years.

Anybody who has

as many friends as

I have is bound to know a few

and in these times, you, um,

come to realize that

you could be sitting on

a powder keg

and not knowing it.

You see, a lot of

people helped me get started,

helped me a lot, so, uh, how

can I always act like a bank?

(John)

You would get

notes for these loans

as you call them,

Mr. Eichelberger?

Sometimes, yes.

(Man)

They would be

given to you directly?

Well, one way or another.

And if stock with the security,

it would be registered to you?

(Neil)

Sometimes, yes.

I'm assuming that you are a good

businessman, Mr. Eichelberger.

Well, that I'll go along with.

And that you'd see that these

loans to these friends of yours

would be handled in

a business-like way.

If you watch your

pocketbook, you'll learn that.

(John)

Did you

occasionally buy these stocks?

Well, uh, I guess,

you could call it that.

Sometimes I buy

them and hold them.

Sometimes I wouldn't.

Sometimes I just

put them in the safe.

(John)

And on the occasions

when you did buy them,

you used some

sort of clearinghouse

for these security

transactions, I suppose?

Yeah, that's right.

Isn't it a fact,

Mr. Eichelberger,

that you own a company

for just that purpose?

No, that's not true,

I don't own it.

I have some shares

in a securities company.

What company is that?

Well-- I'd like

to consult with my lawyer.

(John)

Go ahead.

One, Arco Securities.

I've done some business

with them, among others.

And the cash transactions,

you kept a record of those?

Mr. Conroy, you make it sound

like I was loaning millions.

As a matter of fact,

you were, weren't you?

That is if we accept

for a moment the premise

that they were all loans?

No, I wasn't,

and that's what comes

of all this sensationalism,

the kind of stuff

the papers have been printing.

A guy makes a two dollar bet,

he's a big gambler.

I lend a few bucks

and I'm a czar.

You wish to say

that there is not a large,

thoroughly organized syndicate

centered in this city?

I don't know about it

being organized.

But as long as gambling

is illegal

and profitable,

it'll always be there.

Tell me, Mr. Conroy,

how many people in this room

do you believe never made

a two dollar bet?

(laughter)

Station WRRG returning you

to the Harrison Hotel,

headquarters

of the Conroy Committee.

John Conroy continues

his questioning

of Ms. Lillian Smith,

former lady friend

of Roy Ackerman.

(John)

And that's when you

came back from Florida?

Yeah, right about that time,

I guess.

(John)

And you gave a series

of parties here in the city?

I didn't give any parties.

Some fellas gave party.

If I give parties,

they got to pay for them.

Why should I do that

when the parties are for fellas?

Did Roy Ackerman

come to any of these parties?

That schmo, I wouldn't even

have him around.

(laughter)

How much money did you have

when you came back

from Florida?

I don't know--

fifteen thousand,

twenty thousand,

more or less.

How should I know?

Five or six thousand dollars

wouldn't make

any difference to you?

I don't know much

about money.

I just use it for spending.

(laughter)

Where did you get the money?

From fellas, where else?

That's a silly question.

(laughter)

This meeting will recess

until 2:00 p.m.

(crowd chattering)

(Man)

WRRG now brings

you the third day

of the Conroy

Committee investigations.

John Conroy

has for the past hour

been attempting to

break down the testimony

of another alleged member

of the Eichelberger syndicate.

That was in June 1935.

What was your salary

at that time?

Uh,

I think it was 80 bucks a week.

(John)

Who paid it to you?

Um...

Arco.

Arco what?

Arco Securities Company.

Did Arco employ you?

I don't know,

I made a deal with Roy.

Roy Ackerman?

Yeah, yeah, that's right.

But you said you were paid

by the Arco Securities Company?

I said I got my checks

from Arco.

Were you ever arrested

and questioned?

Um, maybe I was--

I don't remember.

You don't remember

being arrested for murder?

Uh, the cops can get in the

habit of hauling a guy in.

And you gave bond for $25,000?

Huh, if you say I, I did.

Didn't you?

Okay, okay, I did.

Where did you get the money?

What, for the bond?

Uh, I sold some stock.

Twenty-five thousand dollars

worth of stock

on an eighty dollar salary?

Well, uh,

oh, well, see, I had.

Let me remind you

that you are under oath.

To whom did you sell

the stocks?

Uh,

well, uh,

I think, uh--

it was a long time ago.

Maybe it was Arco.

Uh,

look, I don't know

from nothing.

(crowd chattering)

He's got a hit on them.

It isn't a case of

finding a buried body.

It's a case

of mathematical law.

A thousand of stray pieces

of information--

he connects them right,

he can spell out

the whole story.

Well, whether he

knows it or not,

he's got it all

right here.

I wouldn't have believed it.

Arco, almost every

other page, Arco.

Where did the money

come from? Arco.

What was

the holding company? Arco.

But it had to be, Neil,

for the income tax record.

20 years at work

for the federals.

Now comes along the professor

with a bee in his pants.

And gets lucky.

It's isn't luck,

it's hard work.

He's building

step by step,

setting a trap.

Then he'll subpoena

Arco's books

and spring it tonight,

tomorrow morning,

the next day.

What's wrong with our

just losing books?

It wouldn't stand it,

It would amount to

the same as a confession.

There's no way to do it small.

The whole building

will have to go.

Go?

Even the fire department

gave us a couple of notices

that the gas furnace

was dangerous.

But there are apartments

above the place--

a dozen people

live there.

You can wake them up

and carry them out.

You'll be a hero.

Neil, you can't.

You wouldn't believe

we'd do it?

No.

That's what makes it good.

I don't think a jury

would believe it either.

(footsteps)

(whistling a tune)

All right, hurry it up.

Get the ledgers

out of there.

Get those files.

I'm gonna check the current.

I'll be right back.

Hank?

Yeah.

How is it?

Coming.

But make sure

all the windows are closed.

Okay.

Make it snappy.

Hurry it up.

All set.

All right,

let's use the back door.

(brakes screeching)

What's that, listen.

She loves the way

he says good night.

Just a kid.

All right, all right,

why don't we get on with it?

Get going.

Hank?

(Hank)

Yeah.

We're going.

Okay.

Are you sure

there won't be anything left?

I know my business.

Yeah, but...

The rock this place

is gonna get,

there won't be anything

big enough to put together.

Okay.

Okay, turn it on.

(gas hissing)

Why doesn't it go?

Shut up, it'll go.

(explosion)

(sirens blaring)

(crowd chattering)

(child crying)

Quite a coincidence,

isn't it?

Johnny, I'll dig on this

for the rest of my life

if necessary.

(sirens blaring)

(crowd chattering)

(child crying)

Anybody get out alive?

One or two are still fighting.

But won't be by morning.

It's more or less

the official opinion.

Did you go out there?

Yeah.

Maybe you can get it

across to your readers

these aren't just a lot of

gangsters killing each other,

that the people of this

fine Midwestern city

are in danger of their

lives in their own beds.

It ought to make

quite a story.

The story is here.

Yeah.

I should have listened

to you months ago.

You suggested I wasn't

the man for the job.

I changed my mind.

We both have.

I don't know

how long it will take me

to get the smell of that

burned flesh out of my nose.

You can't blame yourself.

Can't I?

You warned me, Fogel,

the police.

What was it you said

about me, Jerry?

I was a kid standing

in the hot sun

with a dream on my face.

That's past, Johnny.

Take a look at those files,

evidence, testimony,

thousands of pages of them.

And to what purpose?

They can't even be used

for wallpaper.

(thud)

To get anywhere now,

to unify a case

against Eichelberger

would take

a major piece

of criminal evidence.

According to the police,

they'll have a lead on

the explosion in 48 hours.

What's your own opinion?

Before they can get anything

that will tie

Eichelberger to it,

if they ever do,

your commission will be dead

and buried-- you know that.

Yeah.

Well, so what?

Shall we strike off a medal

commemorating

Mr. Eichelberger?

How many more people

do you want me to kill?

I dug up a story,

a murder story.

And if we play it right

and have any luck,

we can panic them

into making a sucker move.

What murder?

If we can get one man close

enough to go into the chair,

the whole cup will spill over.

What murder?

I'm gonna knock you to

your knees again, Johnny.

You'll have to get me

on my feet first.

Matt's murder.

That wasn't a thief shooting

his way out of a store.

It was a planned execution

all the way down the line

to the double cross with

the little guy they used.

Why?

What would be

their motive?

Matt was

working with them.

He told me so himself.

He was trying to

shake loose.

No.

I don't believe it.

Of course not.

Check it yourself.

Take a look

at his income tax returns

from 1939 on.

Johnny.

Yes, Mom.

Oh, what is this?

You've been down here

two hours.

Nothing, Mom.

Just some papers of Dad's

I wanted to see.

Well, would you like

something-- a glass of milk?

No thanks, Mom.

I've got to

get back downtown.

Oh, is there

something wrong?

Nothing more than usual.

Oh...

good night, Mom.

(typewriter keys clacking)

I can't stop you

from printing it, Jerry.

All you had to do was ask.

My father was a crooked cop.

You can decide how much good it

will do to publicize that

and what it will do

to my mother.

But before you decide,

you must know that I'm quitting.

I'm getting out.

Johnny.

That means the whole

investigation collapses.

They can appoint someone else.

Will they?

You know they won't.

They'll dig into the record

and find out that all this time

and all this money

produced absolutely nothing,

that the sacred investigation

was a complete flop.

And from then on, they'll play

political hopscotch.

A committee will be appointed

to investigate

the investigation.

And in due time, they'll return

with a comprehensive report

that will be promptly

filed and forgotten.

And in the meantime,

the people will wind up

right where they were,

at the mercy of the hoodlums.

Is it important to you?

Yes, it is.

You are the boy

in the sun now, huh?

Maybe I am, Johnny.

But something

occurs to me--

even allowing for the apathy

of the people,

and their lack of integrity,

and their occasional

lack of intelligence--

and that's the fact they all

want desperately to believe in

a certain majesty of the law.

And for people like us,

like you and me,

the greatest crime in law

is the lack of faith in the law.

And that's when we join hands

with the hoodlums.

If they can convince us

of the uselessness

of knocking out crime,

the difficulty, the fact

that personal sacrifices

may be too great,

then we might as well

hand over the city

and the state

and the nation too

to the Neil Eichelbergers

and let them run it for us.

That's a very late

point of view

coming from you,

but a timely one,

I suppose,

in terms

of a newspaper story,

but I don't think

I need a speech

about honor and integrity

from either one of you.

(door closes)

I understood what you meant

about Jerry and me.

I'm sorry

I couldn't have told you.

It's not important.

I can't apologize

and ask your forgiveness.

I can only ask you to try

and understand and believe

that we tried very hard

not to have it happen.

But Johnny, don't let

this influence your decision.

If you walk out now,

you'll regret it all your life.

Isn't it a tragic thing

if people all over

this nation can be told

that a man like Eichelberger

can tear a man like you apart

with his dirty fingers?

What are we coming to,

Johnny,

that a man like that

can do this to all of us?

(phone ringing)

Hello?

This is Conroy.

Hello, Johnny.

I'm holding a press conference

in my office at 10:00.

I'm giving them the facts

about my father.

You gonna stick

with the job?

Yes--

I'm calling you now

so you can have whatever

lead this will give you.

Johnny, what about

your mother?

I think you pointed out

that sometimes

a few people have to pay

an exorbitant price

to help the law.

I want to talk to Mr.--

Mr. McKibbon.

(phone buzzing)

Hello?

Mr. McKibbon?

Yes, who is this?

Well, you don't know me,

Mr. McKibbon.

I just read your story.

Well, that's nice,

but who is this?

My name is Carmelina...

Carmelina who?

It doesn't matter.

It's about Monty LaRue.

Where are you Carmelina?

Was that honestly

how he was killed?

Yes, it was--

I can prove it to you.

Where are you?

Hello, Carmelina.

Hello.

I'm glad you called.

You're not sorry you did,

are you?

Was that how he was killed?

Yes, exactly

the way I wrote the story.

They just shot him like that

after we did it for him?

They planned to double cross

him-- he didn't have chance.

Were you his wife?

Yes, but I didn't want him

to get into it.

Of course not.

I couldn't stop him.

He was crazy.

I don't know

what got into him.

He was crazy to be a big guy.

I know.

They told him

they'd make him a big guy.

Who told him, Carmelina?

They.

Were you there

when they made the deal?

In the next room.

But you heard them?

Yes.

Did you see Monty's body,

Carmelina?

There was a hole smashed

right through his head.

You'd like to have them

pay for that, wouldn't you?

Yeah, that's what I want.

Who was there, Carmelina?

A fella named Roy.

Roy Ackerman?

Yeah,

and a fellow named Herm.

What was his last name?

What's the matter?

It's them.

Head down.

How did they know

you were here?

I don't know.

I live in the next block.

Have they seen you?

Yes.

Are they coming?

No.

When they start this way,

I want you to get up

and walk toward that door.

Walk, do you understand?

They'll kill me.

They'll kill us--

I shouldn't have called.

I want you to walk

toward that door.

Do you hear me?

They're coming.

Go ahead.

Hey, lady.

(gunshot)

Carmelina?

Carmelina.

Carmelina!

Carmelina.

(typewriter keys clacking)

And arrange for a spot break

on every station

at hourly intervals.

Good.

Now, here it is.

Carmelina,

give yourself up

to the police.

As long as you

are at large,

you are in danger

of your life.

The police are your

only protection.

You got it?

Good.

Carmelina LaRue,

described as female,

27 years, 5'6", 116 pounds,

large dark eyes, black hair,

olive complexion.

Don't worry, Roy,

we'll find her.

We'll find her

or the cops will.

I said stop worrying.

What's the matter

with you, Roy?

I'll tell you

what's the matter.

That dame is the only

person in the world

with a finger

that can point--

that can point

straight at me.

She ran, didn't she?

She knows better

than to talk.

She talked

to McKibbon.

And you know it

wouldn't stand in court.

Who will be sitting

in court, Neil?

Waiting to see

if it would stand or not.

I'll tell you who.

Me.

And I'll tell you

something else.

This guy McKibbon

is the only guy

who can identify

the LaRue dame.

Anybody else they bring in

is just a frightened dame,

but he knows her.

Neil, the day he shoved

his nose in,

our luck started going bad.

You go ahead and worry

about the court.

I'm gonna change our luck.

You'll do nothing

of the kind.

The first and only

blunder we made

was in knocking off

Matt Conroy.

You didn't think so

at the time.

I do now.

Now get this, Roy.

This is a positive order.

Lay off McKibbon.

We'll find her

and we'll wash it up.

I want Detroit,

Logan 60126.

♪

(phone ringing)

Hello?

Who wants him?

This is Harry, Roy.

What's all that noise?

(Harry)

Just playing some old

records I just got in.

Hey, turn that thing off!

Now, Roy.

Look,

you still got

that guy Red around?

Red?

Are you kidding?

He's right here.

(Roy)

I'd like

to borrow him.

Okay.

When do you

want him?

(Roy)

Now.

Put him on a plane

right away.

You're my pal.

You're my pal,

Jerry,

but I hear nothing.

Keep working, Bink.

Find Ackerman

and don't let him

out of your sight.

Let me know

if he even coughs.

Okay, it's a deal.

Come on, girls, step up.

Way over to the end.

Hands down.

All right now, girls,

keep your heads up

and your hands

by your sides.

Hey, you with the white

blouse, wake up.

Keep your head up there.

Jerry, any of these?

No.

All right, men,

keep sweeping.

He says

it's none of these,

but don't pick up

the same gals all night.

That's all.

Oh, Jerry.

Yeah.

You better stay here.

Why?

We don't wanna

lose you, sweetheart.

You're the only one

who can identify the girl.

They know that

as well as we do.

I'm touched

with your concern.

You stay here.

Listen, Clint,

there's a girl

out there somewhere

scared to death

with every hoodlum

in town looking for her.

We'll get here.

Yeah, you've done

fine so far.

I suppose you'll know

just where to look.

Maybe not,

but I started with her.

The least I can do

is stay on my feet.

Take a couple of men

with you.

You got a couple

of men left,

let them look

on their own.

McKibbon, your paper

on the phone.

Hello?

Jerry, I got a call for

the board-- Sammy Lester.

Do you know him?

Lester?

No.

He says he used

to manage Monty.

Monty LaRue?

He says he knows the girl

and they have a tip for you.

He won't talk

to anybody but you.

Okay, put him on,

Ed.

Hold it.

(Sammy)

Hello.

Yeah, this

is McKibbon.

Where are you?

In a drugstore

on Canal Street.

Yeah.

Maybe I can give you

something.

Sure, what

do you got?

Well, not on the phone.

Where are you?

At the fights.

Listen,

I'll leave a ticket

at the box office for you.

Come alone.

I'll take the next seat

as soon as I can get away.

I got a boy in a bout here.

How do I know

you, Sammy?

How do I know

what this is?

You're not worried,

are you, pal?

In the middle of the stadium,

how safe can you get?

Now look, I don't want

any trouble.

Okay, Sammy.

(crying)

Take care of her, honey.

Mr. Conroy,

Mr. Conroy, she's here.

She's here.

You're gonna

be all right.

You're fine now.

You're safe,

do you hear?

We're going

to take care of you.

It's all right.

It's all right,

you're gonna be fine.

You're safe now.

I'm John Conroy.

There's nothing

to be afraid of now.

You are Carmelina?

Yes.

Here.

Drink this.

This testimony and

the mass of other stuff,

you've got them.

I think, sir.

In any court in the land.

And they'll break none.

No question.

All right,

let's pick him up.

Everyone on the list,

Eichelberger, Ackerman,

all of them.

Let's go get them, boys.

Mike, stay here, will you?

What about Jerry?

Still haven't got him.

Well, stick with it.

I'd like him

to be in on this.

Hello, Ed, yes.

At the fights?

He couldn't be.

Where?

At the fights.

Why at the fights?

Yes.

Yes.

They said he got

a tip about Carmelina.

I don't like it.

Tell him to hold on.

Hold it, Ed.

Have you still got

a detail downstairs?

Yes, still standing by.

Get it and get over

to the arena quick.

Yes, sir,

Take charge.

This is Dave Fogel--

how about that information?

(crowd shouting)

McKibbon.

That's him.

Get him

in your mind, Red.

There's no chance

for a mistake.

I could pick him out

in a million.

Are you satisfied

with the set up?

You know me.

I can find a guy

across this whole joint.

Let me work it out.

(crowd shouting)

(police whistle blowing)

Great shot from up here.

Yeah.

(bell rings)

(crowd shouting)

I've been trying

to find you.

I've seen

Ackerman here.

He fingered you

when you come in--

some out of town guy.

He's gonna put

the gun on you.

Get out of here,

but don't get in the clear.

(crowd shouting)

(referee)

Two, three, four, five,

six, seven, eight, nine, out.

(crowd cheering)

Jerry!

Jerry!

Jerry.

There's a gun on me.

Get away and keep

in the crowd.

(gunshot)

(screaming)

Get the doctor, please.

Get the doctor.

Right.

Come on.

(gunshots)

Hey, if they get

this guy,

they can get Ackerman.

They will,

and we got Carmelina.

Don't talk, Jerry.

Oh, darling.

(gunshots)

(whistle blowing)

(overlapping chatter)

(gunshots)

I'll admit, I never

thought I'd see that.

Let's go.

(siren blaring)

There was a shooting

at the arena at the fights.

One of Ackerman's gunmen

got Jerry McKibbon.

(Man)

Let's get moving.

Come on.

Where is he?

Downstairs.

What happened?

Where's the hospital?

Sometimes someone

has to pay

an exorbitant price

to uphold the majesty

of the law.

He said so himself.

♪