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.

♪