White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd (1991) - full transcript

[music playing]

LOUIS MARSDEN (VOICEOVER): I've
always been a quiet, logical,

and emotional man.

I've only had two
passions in my life--

my career as an investigator
with the district attorney's

office in Los Angeles,
California and a woman.

I saw her for the first time
in the early morning hours

of Monday, December 16, 1935.

When I got the call to
go to the Palisades,

my boss told me to expect just
a routine Hollywood suicide.

Like many passions,
this one started



with an irrational thought.

It was cold by the
ocean that morning.

And I had an impulse to pull her
fur up over her bare shoulders

to keep her warm, as if it
wasn't too late for that.

My name is Louis Marsden.

Her name was Thelma Todd.

(WHISPERING) Why
did you suggest her?

Well, Marsden.

What took you so long?

I know how you guys
in the DA's office

love to show up in time to
pose for the newsreel footage

when a celebrity kicks off.

It's a life altering thrill
to see you, too, Unger.

What do you got?



Not much.

Her chauffeur drove her home
from a party Saturday night.

That's the last time anyone
saw her until the maid found

the body this morning.

Saturday night, 36 hours ago.

All right.
What about the other two?

Who are they?

UNGER: He's Roland West,
one of the partners

in this lovely establishment.

She's Jewel Carmen,
West's ex-wife--

or, uh, estranged wife.

I'm not quite sure.

She doesn't look too broken
up about the whole thing.

Let's put it this way.

Her house overlooks the
duplex her husband was sharing

with Thelma Todd.

Cozy, huh?

Sounds like just another
typical Hollywood marriage

to me.

What's the verdict, huh?

Carbon monoxide,
plain and simple.

Carbon monoxide?

What about the bruises
on her neck and blood?

She probably fell against the
dashboard when she passed out.

Time of death, I'd say
around dawn yesterday.

How's that possible?

Rigor mortis hadn't
even started to set in.

Belated congratulations
on your medical degree,

Mr. Marsden.

Dawn yesterday.

And I hate to disappoint you,
but all we're looking at here

is either an accidental death
or just another run-of-the-mill

movie star suicide.

Like hell!

That's my daughter you're
talking about, you inept,

ignorant fool.

She would never take
her own life, never.

Oh, for God's sake, what's
the matter with you people?

Don't you know a murder
when you see one?

MAN (ON PROJECTOR): As
friends of Hollywood

and throughout the
world mourn the loss

of Thelma Todd, whose sudden and
still unexplained death brought

an untimely end to the career of
one of the silver screen's most

glamorous and beloved comedians.

Known to friends and fans alike
as the inevitable Hot Toddy,

Thelma approached
life both on screen

and off with an unbridled sense
of fun, her indomitable spirit

an inspiration for those her.

The small town New England
girl was catapulted to stardom

by her beloved mother and
frequent companion, Alice Todd,

who entered Thelma
in a beauty contest

the summer after her
high school graduation.

Even as Thelma's career
continued to soar,

she began to devote
much of her time

to the opening of a popular
beach front restaurant that

bore her name.

Thelma Todd's
Sidewalk Cafe quickly

became Hollywood's
favorite watering hole.

Its guiding light has
been extinguished now

Thelma Todd is gone.

But her beauty and
the laughter she

brought us will live on
in our hearts forever.

We'll miss you, Thelma.

Rest in peace.

Mr. Marsden, I believe.

Allow me to introduce myself.

I'm district attorney
Buron Fitts, your boss,

the man who left no less than
four urgent files on your desk

this morning, which don't
seem to have been touched.

Of course, if you'd rather
devote your time to watching

newsreels than taking care of
the work for which you're being

paid, I assure you that can
be permanently arranged.

Look, Mr. Fitts, I'm sorry.

I-- I just can't get the
Todd case off my mind.

There is no Todd case.

Look, Marsden, I know how
easy it is to get caught up

in the press hysteria.

But I will not have one of my
investigators wasting his time

or the taxpayers' money just
because the victim happened

to be a celebrity.

Mr. Fitts-- just
a minute, Mr. Fitts.

Forget she was a celebrity, sir.

She was also a
person, a human being.

And with all due respect,
sir, I know this is Hollywood,

and I still find investigating
the murder of any human being

worth as much time
and money as it takes.

Murder?
What are you talking about?

You read the reports.

Every single one
of them concluded

the death was accidental.

That's true, but did you get
a chance to put those reports

side by side, compare them?

No, I saw no point.

Well, I did.

And they don't add up.

- Really?
- Yeah.

Take the medical
examiner's report.

He puts the time of death
sometime early Sunday morning,

but according to the autopsy,
he was off by nearly 24 hours.

There was undigested food in
her stomach that wasn't served

at the party she went to on
the night she supposedly died.

All right, so she stopped
off somewhere on the way home.

At 2:30 in the morning
after a five-course dinner,

she had the chauffeur stopped
someplace between Hollywood

and the beach because she
has a sudden craving for peas

and carrots?

Is that all, or is there more?

Everyone at the
party swears she only

had a few sips of champagne.

But according to her
blood alcohol level,

she was legally drunk
at the time she died.

And I've had no less than
six phone calls from people

claiming to have either
seen her or talked

to her as late as Sunday night,
which means the ME is saying

that a dead woman had a
busier Sunday than I did.

That's enough, Marsden.

I beg your pardon, sir.

I said that's enough.

I know what you said, sir.

I just can't believe
you don't find this

as disturbing as I do.

It's not that.

It's just we can't--

Well, it's just one.

What are you telling me?

Surely you're not asking me
to drop my investigation?

No.

Of course not, Marsden.

We just have a very delicate
situation on our hands.

That's all.

And what I'm asking
you to do, what

I'm ordering you to
do is simply proceed

with complete discretion.

You're not just star
struck, are you?

I don't go to
movies, Mr. Fitts.

The first time I
ever saw Thelma Todd,

she was lying dead in that car.

She was smaller than I
expected, all by herself.

And I just kept thinking, she
must've been so frightened.

I have to know who did this.

No subpoenas, no pressure,
and above all, no press.

I trust I make myself clear.

Perfectly clear, Mr.
District Attorney, sir.

I'll be only too happy to
answer any of your questions.

I just don't understand why you
think any information I have

might be relevant.

You were business partners.

You were living together.

We shared a duplex purely for
convenience to the restaurant.

Thelma lives-- lived here.

I live here.

Our quarters were strictly
and completely separate,

as you can see.

At whose insistence?

Thelma's, yours, or your wife's?

May I offer you something?

Nothing, thank you.

My wife and I are
separated, Mr. Marsden.

But even if we weren't, I'm
afraid of all the many emotions

I seem to inspire in women,
jealousy is not among them.

As for Thelma and
me, I treated her

too well for her to love me.

So let's just say I was willing
to settle for the insult

of occasional gratitude.

Look, I know how difficult
this must be for you.

Really?

You know what it's like to
devote 10 years of your life

to a woman, doing everything
you can to avoid being yet

another name on a
long list of admirers,

to actually have an impact,
to significantly contribute

to her happiness, only
to watch her throw it

all away time and time again.

Toddy and I were working on
the same lot when I met her.

It became immediately
apparent to me

that her talent was being
pitifully underestimated

and misused.

And I undertook to move heaven
and earth to do something

about it.
- Cut!

That's a print.

Ho ho ho, good work, Toddy.

Great.

Next set-up.

I know, I know.

On the surface, it's
just another comedy.

But I find the symbolism
of a man throwing himself

on a pile of intimate apparel
oddly moving, don't you?

Oh, cheer up, Roland.

It's the first night all week
no one had to wash meringue out

of my hair.

Good.

Because we're going to dinner.

We are?

How nice.

Where am I taking you?

You're not even
remotely funny.

Well, according to billboards
all over the country,

I'm a laugh riot.

I'll have you know that's
laugh with two F's.

I am taking you to
the Coconut Grove,

where we're going to order
the finest bottle of champagne

in the house and
drink to the success

of that brilliant new dramatic
actress, the dazzling Ms.

Alison Lloyd.

Well, you know me.

I'll drink to anything.

And God bless her after
all she's been through.

Who the hell is Alison Lloyd?

She's your target.

What?

I just got back
from Universal.

The deal's all worked out.

You and I are about to start
our first film together,

a Roland West production
starring Alison Lloyd

in her dramatic debut.

Well, what's wrong
with starring Thelma

Todd in her dramatic debut?

This is going to open up
a whole new career for you.

You need a new name.

I'm not about to allow audiences
to sit there, watching my work,

waiting for Thelma Todd
to make her usual entrance

with a rubber chicken.

Oh, Roland, I love you for
believing in me like this.

But I'm doing pretty well
with that rubber chicken.

And I've had almost no
dramatic training at all.

I'm just not sure I'm ready.

I'm sure enough
for both of us.

Believe me.

Do you know how long I've waited
to hear you say you love me?

Oh, Roland.

Now get out of here.

I'm going to change.

I want to slip into something
more Alison Lloyd-ish.

ROLAND WEST: Six months
later, the studio

arranged a sneak
preview of the film.

Unfortunately, they
invited the general public.

Oh, I don't know.

I think that a woman will make
it into something someday.

Maybe a waitress.

What time is it?

What day is it?

Look, if you hated it that
much, we could have left.

Darling, this is all
the studio's fault.

This is a special picture.

It needs a special audience.

Well, of course.

What were they thinking?

They should have
screened it for a few bus

loads of blind deaf people.

I just need to do a little
recutting, that's all.

It's not that bad.

Don't you dare sit
there and tell me

that the most humiliating
experience of my life

was not that bad.

Roland, the only thing
that's keeping me

from catching the first
train back to New England

is the fact that that
was Alison Lloyd who

bombed up there tonight.

At least Thelma Todd
still has a career.

Thelma, no.

Please.

What about our future?

Well, I don't know
about your future.

But my future involves
polishing off the biggest bottle

of champagne I can find in honor
of the late great Alison Lloyd.

You're invited to join me.

Alison would have
wanted it that way.

So I found another brilliant
script for Thelma and me

to do together.

But by that time, her
mother had arrived.

You've met Alice Todd, I assume.

Rather overdressed,
handsome woman.

Could have had a stellar career
as a human torture chamber.

So she immediately
took over Thelma's life

and sold her right back into
that demeaning bondage, which

somehow passes for comedy
in this pathetic town.

You see what I
mean, Mr. Marsden?

I saw greatness in her.

I jeopardized my own reputation
to guide her towards it.

And she just turned her
back and walked away.

Forgive me for this, Roland,
but I think most men would have

let her go, moved on.

I don't know whether it's
to my credit or my detriment.

But I am decidedly not most men.

So when she slammed that
particular door in my face,

I simply found a way
to open another one.

And thus was born Thelma
Todd's Sidewalk Cafe.

I surprised her with the idea
one night at the Coconut Grove.

It's a perfect
location, overlooking

the ocean near Malibu.

It'll be a gold mine.

Roland, I don't know anything
about running a restaurant.

You don't have to.

All you have to do is
put your name on it

and be there to welcome all
these terribly famous, terribly

rich, terribly hungry, terribly
thirsty friends of yours.

You mean like Toddy's or
Thelma's Place or Thelma Todd's

Sidewalk Cafe.

Well, that's lovely.

But there's no sidewalk.

Oh, don't get technical on me.

I like it.

It's kind of friendly
and Parisian.

Oh, Roland.

To think that people,
important people

would come all that way just
to see me, just because my name

was up there?

You know what that
would mean to me?

And you and I would be partners.

Yes, with a third party who
is putting up part of the money.

Third party?

Oh, wait a minute.

You don't mean Jewel.

You talked your wife into this?

Oh, Roland.

I guess when you're as rich
as she is, you can afford

to be broadminded.

Still, I'm not exactly
her favorite person.

Excuse me, Ms. Todd.

Compliments of Mr. DeCicco.

Oh, for God's sake.

Who?

Pat DeCicco.

He's an agent.

From what I hear, he's more
trouble than he's worth.

Tell Mr. DeCicco Ms.
Todd's not interested.

Oh, but Ms. Todd is.

Ms. Todd.

My friends and men who
send roses call me Toddy.

Toddy.

I'm Pat DeCicco.

I've been wanting to meet you
ever since I got to Hollywood.

Well, what a coincidence.

I've been wanting to
meet you ever since you

got to Hollywood, too.

I see you've heard of me.

No, I haven't.

Do you dance, Pat?

Yes, as a matter
of fact, I do.

What about your
escort over there?

Well, you're
welcome to ask him.

I think you'd look
ridiculous together.

ROLAND WEST: It was like
watching an oncoming train

wreck and knowing there's not
a damn thing you can do to stop

it.

Till the day I die, I'll never
understand why Toddy was so

relentlessly drawn
to that parade

of cruel, opportunistic back
alley slime like DeCicco and--

And?

And all the others.

Surely I can get you something?

Roland, really, I'm fine.

But Pat DeCicco married her.

Well, let's face it.

That's a lot more than you
were able to offer her,

under the circumstances.

If you call leaving a woman
alone for days at a time,

not letting her know
where you've been

or when you're coming back,
and using her as a punching

bag on those rare occasions when
you are around, marrying her,

then yes, I guess he did.

And she took it
for two long years,

until she finally had
the sense to leave him.

I'm sure you can guess
who she turned to,

to pick up the pieces.

You were just a nonstop
prince of a guy for that woman,

weren't you?

Thank you.

It's high time someone
recognized that fact beside me.

Now that's when she
moved in with you.

I'm sorry, she moved
in next door, right?

As I said, it was convenient.

We were about to
open the restaurant.

Those were good days with
DeCicco gone and the hilarious

insanity of getting
ready to open.

I wish you could have
seen her on opening night.

She was breathtaking and happy
for the first time in so long.

What are you doing?

Don't ever sneak up
on me like that again.

I just couldn't breathe.

I needed some air.

You can breathe later.

The Selsnicks are
waiting for you.

Fine, I'm coming.

I'm coming.

ROLAND WEST (VOICEOVER):
I had no idea who he was.

But I can still remember this
hollow feeling, this sense

that something was coming, that
neither Toddy nor I would ever

be that happy again.

And I was right.

It wasn't long before
it all began to crumble.

[knocking]

ROLAND WEST: Who is it?

The police.

And quit stalling, West.

We'll shoot our way
in if we have to.

I'll make a deal with you.

If you lend me my
spare key, I won't

say a word about your hair.

Do you have any
idea what time it is?

Time?

What is time really
when you think about it?

I've had it, Toddy.

I'm not doing this again.

Next time, you can go
find somewhere else

to go sleep it off.

Do you understand me?

Ooh, Roland, I just love it
out when you're so forceful.

Yeah.

Well, you'll be wild about this.

I've also had it with trying to
keep that restaurant going all

by myself.

You can kiss your days as
an absentee owner goodbye.

Oh, really?

A group of 14 tourists
came to the restaurant

tonight, foolishly believing
that because they had made

reservations at Thelma
Todd's Sidewalk Cafe,

they'd actually get to
see Ms. Thelma Todd.

But guess what?

She wasn't there, so they left!

Oh, no!

Oh, 14 whole people.

Oh, my God, Roland,
what is to become of us?

Toddy.

Toddy, listen to me.

We can't go on like this.

If things keep going
the way they have

for the past couple
of months, we're

going to lose the restaurant.

And you're trying
to blame me for that?

You're the drawing card!

You're supposed to be there,
greeting the tourists,

greeting your friends.

But no, you can't be bothered.

You're too busy going out
every night, going God knows

where with God knows who.

Let's get this
straight, Roland.

Where I go and what I do
is none of your business.

It is when it's sending
us into bankruptcy.

Us?

How the hell much
have you invested?

How about 20 hours a
day, seven days a week?

Doesn't that count
for something?

Oh, apparently not, if we're
in as much trouble as you say

we are.

You know, when this
whole thing started,

I distinctly remember
you telling me

that all you needed
from me was my name.

So tell me, why
suddenly am I having

to pour most of my salary back
into the restaurant every week?

If you don't like the
way I'm running things,

I'll be only too
happy to buy you out.

With what, your looks?

You mean Jewel will be only
too happy to buy me out.

And why would she be
so happy to buy me out

of a restaurant that,
according to you,

can't make it without me?

I don't have any idea
what you're talking about.

Oh, yes, you do.

And I promise you, I'm going
to get to the bottom of this

or die trying.

Or die trying?

Were those her exact words?

Did you tell that to the police?

Mister-- Mr. Marsden, I'm
afraid I had a bit too much

to drink.

I-- I suddenly can't even
remember telling you.

And now if you'll excuse me,
I'm feeling a sudden desire

to call my attorney.

LOUIS MARSDEN (VOICEOVER):
Alice Todd asked

if I preferred coffee or tea.

I chose coffee.

She served tea.

Sit down, Mr. Marsden.

Thank you.

It's a very cruel thing,
Mr. Marsden, for a mother

to outlive her children.

I had a son, did you know that?

He was only 10 when he died.

Now Thelma, this is
more than any woman

should have to endure.

I hope you know
how sorry I am.

I wouldn't be here--

Don't apologize.

I'm glad for the company.

God knows none of
Thelma's supposed friends

bothered to stop by, give a bit
of comfort, a little support.

I've been completely forgotten.

Well, I can assure
you that's not true.

Roland West mentioned
you just yesterday.

I said friends, Mr. Marsden.

I wouldn't let that
parasitic filth into my home.

You do know, don't you,
why I was so comfortable

with their living arrangements.

I'm willing to bet
whatever equipment

he has is purely decorative.

He did at least give
me credit, didn't

he, for saving Thelma's career,
after he almost destroyed it

with that Alison Lloyd insanity.

Well, that
subject did come up.

But that's not
exactly how he put it.

Now that you've
heard Roland's version,

the truth should be a
refreshing change of pace.

The second I heard
that Roland West was

on the verge of destroying
my daughter's career,

a career I had made
possible in the first place,

I caught the next
train to Hollywood.

I took my daughter by the hand.

I marched her into
Hal Roach's office.

Those are our terms, Mr. Roach.

Take them or leave them.

But I should warn you, if
you choose not to take them,

I've already spoken to three
other studio heads who will.

Name one.

How dare you challenge me?

I only came here out
of courtesy, you know.

I felt that since Thelma's
the best and so are you,

the two of you belong together.

Obviously, I was wrong.

Thelma, let's go.

Thanks for the memories, Hal.

Get back in here and sit
down, both of you, please.

I have no intention
of losing Thelma.

In fact, I've got something
very exciting in mind for you.

Why didn't you say so?

I don't know.

I suppose it's been so
long since someone hauled

out the old other studio gag, I
wanted to hear it myself again

for old time's sake.

Your terms are no problem.

I'll have the papers
drawn up this afternoon.

But no more loan-outs.

No more of that
Alison Lloyd crap.

Oh, believe me,
nobody's more anxious

than Thelma is to have that
whole humiliating incident

behind her.

Actually, I wanted to
keep having it thrown

in my face for the
rest of my life,

but OK, we'll play it your way.

Now what is this exciting
thing you have in mind for me?

Get this.

I want to team up
you and Patsy Kelly.

I want to turn the two of you
into a kind of a female Laurel

and Hardy.

You're Laurel.

She's Hardy.

What do you think?

Mr. Roach, you're a genius.

Yeah, I know.

Thelma?

Patsy and me working together?

You know, she was
my first friend

when I came to this
town of Paramount.

I love it, Hal.

And I knew you would.

And so will everyone
else, you mark my words.

But just to protect
the concept, I'd

like to add a potato clause.

A what?

A potato clause.

It's no big deal.

It simply guarantees that you'll
keep your weight within five

pounds of what it is today, or
you terminate your contract.

Now you'd sign
that, wouldn't you?

Yes, she will sign that.

Thelma never had a problem
controlling her weight.

And if she does,
I'll take care of it.

You have my word.

We'll discuss it later.

HAL ROACH: It's up to you.

In or out?

ALICE TODD (VOICEOVER):
Thelma's career

would have died that day
in Mr. Roach's office

if I hadn't been there.

But within a year, she was a
huge star, making more money

than she'd ever dreamed of.

And with my help,
even the potato clause

wasn't that much of a problem.

The only thing missing
was the right man.

Thelma had a list of
admirers as long as your arm.

Oh, but she was always far
too willful for her own good.

And to this day, I believe
that's why her marriage to Pat

DeCicco didn't last.

You liked Pat DeCicco?

I thought he had
potential, yes.

God knows he was attractive.

He was on his way to
becoming an important agent.

It was the oddest
thing about Thelma.

She was smart enough
to pursue powerful men,

but she never understood
how to handle them.

And how is that?

You are there
when they need you,

and you disappear
when they don't.

You listened, but you don't ask.

You take what you're given,
and you make it be enough.

In a way, the demand for
attention that made Thelma

a star was the same thing that
drove all the really worthwhile

men away sooner or later.

You'd think she would
have learned better

from her relations
with her father.

His closed office door
was strictly off limits,

for example.

But from the time she
was old enough to walk,

Thelma thought nothing of
bursting right in, even

in the middle of a meeting.

And she always had
the same old excuse.

What was that?

She just wanted him
to kiss her goodnight.

Well, did he?

Of course not.

Can't reward such selfish
disrespectful behavior.

No matter how hard we
spanked her for it,

she still refused to apologize.

I don't know what I did to
deserve such a willful child.

She did the same
thing to Pat DeCicco.

Broke my heart when that
marriage ended, but I suppose

it was inevitable.

I hope I'm not
being indelicate,

but Roland West suggested
there might be another man.

Oh, how encouraging
to know he's

learned to recognize a
man when he sees one.

Maybe one day, he'll favor us
with a vague impersonation.

I'm not sure exactly
when they met.

There was a relationship
I had hopes for.

This man made Pat DeCicco
look like an amateur.

And Thelma had obviously learned
a thing or two about priorities

during her marriage.

That night that Mac
showed up, for example.

Excuse me, Mac?

Oh, Mac.

Anne McMahon, she and
Thelma grew up together.

They were inseparable.

Well, come in, but Thelma
may not be back for hours.

Maybe you'd better just
get settled in your hotel,

and then I'll have her call you.

You did make
arrangements, didn't you?

If not, I'd be happy
to do it for you,

although I'm not sure
there's anything nearby

within your price range.

Oh, Al, Hollywood hasn't
changed you a bit, has it?

You're just as warm and
considerate as ever.

But thank you, I've already
checked into my hotel.

And honestly, I
don't mind waiting.

Oh, but please don't
feel you have to sit here

and entertain me, really.

I mean that.

Well, I was reading.

Well, then you just
go right back to it.

I'll be fine.

Oh, and don't worry.

I promise not to steal anything
or leave any smudge marks

or fingerprints all over
your lovely furniture.

I know how much you hate that.

[beeping]

Oh, me, that's her.

Wow.

ALICE TODD: Oh, I
didn't tell you, dear.

Thelma is seeing someone.

ANNE MCMAHON: No,
Alice, you didn't.

Is that him?

That's his driver, dear.

Mother, I have to hurry and--

Mac!

I can't believe it,
is it really you?

Who else would go out
in public in this dress?

Oh, what are you doing here?

Surprising you at the moment.

And I may be moving here.

What?

There's a teaching
position opening up.

I've got an interview
day after tomorrow.

Oh, you're kidding.

That's too good to be true.

Mother, isn't that fantastic?

I'm beside myself.

I'm sorry I haven't
kept in touch lately,

but so much has been happening.

So I see.

Oh, God, he's waiting
while I change for dinner.

Oh, but I want to stay here.

I just--

Oh, look, I don't want to
interfere with your plans.

But oh, I'm sure if
you tell him it's

been three years since
we've seen each other,

he'll understand.

I seriously doubt it.

Well, I know.

We'll go talk to him together.

I'm dying to meet him.

No, Mac, Mac, no, I--

I just don't think
it's a good idea.

It's awfully real to keep
him waiting this way, dear.

I'd hurry if I were you.

I have to go.

I'm sorry, Mac.

Oh, it's all right.

It's all right, really.

I don't believe this.

You're shaking.

What do you think?

I'm going to get back on the
train and leave in a huff?

A 3,500 mile huff?

Promise me you'll be
here when I get home?

Oh, well, I'll just
go back to the hotel.

Hotel?

Don't even think about it.

You're staying here,
isn't she, mother?

Well, if she's already
made arrangements.

Oh, you're going to stay here.
Promise me.

All right, I promise.

Now come on, we can
talk while you change.

LOUIS MARSDEN: So who was he?

I beg your pardon.

What was his name?

I'd like to talk to him.

I don't know.

You don't know?

Thelma never told you his name?

Did you ever ask her?

I didn't make a habit of
prying into my daughter's

affairs.

Ha.

Sorry, a little tickle
in my throat there.

Listen, I'm sorry to have
to ask you to relive such

a horrible morning, but on
the day your daughter died,

you were sure she'd
been murdered.

Now why?

- Who told you that?
- Nobody.

I was standing right there.

I heard you myself.

Well, you heard wrong.

What?

I believed then and I
believe now my daughter's death

was just a tragic accident.

But you distinctly
said she'd been murdered.

Mr. Marsden, I feel one of
my sick headaches coming on,

and I need to lie down.

I'm afraid that
you'll have to leave.

But Mrs. Todd--

Good day, Mr. Marsden.

LOUIS MARSDEN (VOICEOVER): Pat
DeCicco, the only man Thelma

Todd ever married.

Roland West said he abused her.

Alice Todd said
he had potential.

His house was large.

I wondered if it was
built for comfort

or if DeCicco just needed this
many rooms to hide his secrets

in.

Well, let me guess.

You decided you had to come
out here and meet this monster

named DeCicco, huh?

The man who was so mean to poor,
little, helpless Toddy, right?

Yeah, something like
that, although I'm almost as

interested in why
Alice Todd seems

to be such a big fan of yours.

How much did that
cost you, Mr. DeCicco?

You think I bought
off Alice Todd?

I think somebody did.

Alice and I have an
understanding, that's all.

In a way, we have
a lot in common.

Well, there's a thought you
could lose your lunch over.

We both loved Toddy.

And we were also
the only two people

on the face of this Earth who
knew what it was like to live

with her.

And let me tell you
something, Marsden,

it was no stroll in the park.

LOUIS MARSDEN: Did you love her?

In the beginning, yes, I did.

You know what?

What?

I've never done this before.

Stop it.

No.

What I meant was I
have never made love

to a man in the same
night I met him.

Is it true?

Mm.

That rose and two
hours of dancing

saved you, mm, at least three
dinners and more champagne

than I even care to think about.

I hope you're proud of yourself.

No, I'm just flattered by me.

Oh, modesty does not
become you, Mr. DeCicco.

Oh, but it was worth a shot.

What the hell.

I was afraid that if you found
out too soon what a big ego I

really had, you'd run
screaming out of this room.

Mm-mm-mm, too late.

I already figured it out.

And what do you know?

I don't think I'm
going anywhere.

I don't scare that easily.

I don't believe you.

You know what you need?

PAT DECICCO: You want a list?

Silk sheets.

My sheets are good enough
for a big deal movie star.

These sheets aren't good
enough for the man she's with.

Is it too soon in our
relationship for me

to buy you some,
or would you like

to spend the next month or
two pretending this is just

a casual thing?

You want to buy
me silk sheets?

I want to buy you
everything you ever wanted.

I want to spoil you rotten,
show you off, and make

you so happy you'll wonder how
you ever survived without me.

How do I hold
up my end to this?

All you have to do is love me.

And be there to
kiss me good night.

Boy, did that
ever hit the papers.

The kind of publicity
that you can't even buy.

It was certainly the best
career move I ever made.

Movingly put.

You might suggest
that as an epitaph.

Marsden, did you ever
go out with a movie star?

Oh, yeah.

All those guys at
the DA's office

have to beat them
off with a stick.

Well, it has a
downside, believe me.

Most of her friends
just tolerated me,

like I was along for the ride,
like I wasn't worth taking

seriously.

Now the way I saw it,
I had two choices.

I could let it beat me,
or I could cash it in.

I cashed it in.

I think I did pretty damn well.

And so when the
opportunities came

for me to expand my professional
horizon, shall we say,

I grabbed onto them.

If she wanted to
marry Mr. Thelma Todd,

she came to the wrong place.

I'm Pat DeCicco.

And she just couldn't handle it.

Toddy was at a wrap party
for some movie she just

finished filming.

I stayed home because I needed
to make some business calls.

I like to make my
calls in private.

And I knew she was on her way.

So I locked the bedroom door.

She was a little loaded
when she got home,

and she was taking some
diet pills or something.

I'll never understand what
set her off like that.

Pat?

Pat.

Honey.

Pat?

Pat, please open the door.

Pat?

Open this damn door now!

Hold on just a second.

Don't you ever
lock that door on me.

Don't you ever defy
me, you understand me?

Shut up!

Shut the hell up.

Now I'll open that damn door
when I'm good and ready,

you got it?
- Oh!

Pat, no!

No, please.

Open the door, Pat.

Open this door.

All right, where were we?

THELMA TODD: Pat!

We were at the Union.

Damn you!

Leave the door open!

Never lock the door!

Do you hear me?

Look, I'm going to have
to call you back, OK?

Open the door!

Pat!

Do you hear me?

Pat, please.

Stupid drunken bitch.

Pat, please open the door.

Please.

Please open the door.

It was the first
time I ever hit her.

No, it wasn't the last either.

I'm not an easy man, Marsden.

But I made it clear
right from the jump

that no woman ever
pushes Pat DeCicco.

And Toddy's problem was
even on those rare occasions

when she wasn't loaded.

She just never
got that straight.

Doesn't exactly
sound like you held up

your end of the bargain either.

I beg your pardon.

Well, how did she put it?

All you had to do was to be
there to kiss her goodnight.

I'm a businessman.

I go where the
opportunities lead me.

And while Toddy and
I were together,

that happened to be
out of town a lot.

Like where exactly?

Like wherever, Marsden.

The more I was gone,
the more she drank.

The more she drank,
the more I was gone.

What about other women?

Oh, you sound just like her.

There were no other women.

I didn't have the time, the
patience, or the energy.

What about other men?

Well, that's not
really my style.

How about you?

That's very funny.

I'm talking about another
man in your wife's life.

What about it?

There were rumors.

Are they true?

PAT DECICCO: Yes, so?

So how did you
feel about that?

We were separated nearly
five months before she met him.

That's not what I asked you.

All right, I
didn't like it, OK?

OK, so what did
you do about it?

Not a damn thing.

Oh, come on.

You expect me to believe
you just rolled over?

I didn't have much choice.

LOUIS MARSDEN: Really?

Why's that?

I was the one who
introduced them.

A friend of mine
wanted to meet her,

and they asked me to arrange it.

I hadn't seen her in a while.

So I called her like I was
checking in to say hello.

She sounded good.

In fact, she said she hadn't
had a drink in four months.

She was real proud
of herself for that.

Anyway, she let it slip
that she and Roland West

were going to the
Grove that night.

And I knew from
personal experience

how easy it was to
get her away from him.

You're going to
have to practice.

You used to be much
better than that.

No, we weren't.

We were both just
too drunk to care.

Now only one of us is.

What's going on over there?

Did you see who just came in?

I don't know.

I wasn't watching.

My, the seas do part for the
privileged few, don't they?

That's power, Roland.

Raw power.

I wish I could see who it is.

Oh, my God, it's Pat.

Pat DeCicco couldn't
draw a crowd like that

if he was handing
out $100 bills.

Where are you going?

Well, my estranged
husband and I

seem to find ourselves
in the same restaurant.

I believe this is what's
known as a situation.

Far be it for me to be
uncivilized about it.

Pat, what a nice surprise.

Toddy, look at you.

You look wonderful.

Thank you.

So do you.

I don't mean to interrupt.

I just wanted to say hello.

Oh, wait, there's
someone I want you to meet.

Thelma Todd, this is a friend
of mine from New York, Charles

Lucifer.

Ms. Todd.

Mr. Lucifer.

I've been looking
forward to meeting you.

Please join us.

I'd love to.

You don't mind?

He insists.

I'm sure you're getting
tired of hearing this,

but you're even more
beautiful in person

than you are on the screen,
which I didn't think possible.

Thank you.

You'd be surprised how not
tired I am of hearing it.

I suppose my reputation for
being drawn to American women

precedes me.

I guess the same could be
said about me and Italian men.

DeCicco is Italian.

I'm a Sicilian.

There's a difference.

There certainly is.

I understand you own a
very popular restaurant

near the ocean.

Yes, I do.

We're closed on Monday night, so
my partner and I came over here

to badmouth the food.

Are you interested in
the restaurant business,

Mr. Lucifer?

I am now.

We must drink to its success.

I'm sorry, I don't drink.

One glass.

I would be mortally
wounded if you refused.

To your restaurant
and its success

beyond your wildest
dreams, Ms. Todd.

My friends call me Toddy.

Mine call me Lucky.

You delivered your own
wife to Lucky Luciano?

It's not something I'm
particularly proud of.

But when the man says
jump, I say, how high?

I don't suppose the
man happened to say jump

on the night she died.

Or is it possible
he didn't have to?

LOUIS MARSDEN (VOICEOVER):
According to Alice Todd,

Thelma thought of Patsy Kelly as
her first friend in this town.

I doubted that.

After all the other key
players in Thelma's life

had tried to mislead
me, why not Patsy Kelly?

I don't remember the last time
I was so glad to be wrong.

It's called "Made to Order."

I play a maid who gets mistaken
for an English baroness.

Now you know those two men who
just locked me in the pantry?

Yes.

I've no idea who they were.

They just pay me enough
to make these things.

They don't pay me enough
to figure them out.

Actually, I was supposed
to start a film with Toddy

this week.

You know when this
thing really hit me

for the first time is
when I saw them changing

the name on her parking space.

I mean, here was this little
man with his can of paint

and his brush just doing his
job, and I wanted to kill him.

Look, for what
it's worth, everybody

I've talked to says your
friendship meant a lot to her.

She said you were the first
friend she had in this town.

Oh, that's nice.

Thanks for telling me that.

Yeah, I was there her very
first day at Paramount.

I was on salary, which is
a polite way of saying that

between movies, I did windows
and washed the executives'

cars.

So I got the nod to take the
new kid to her dressing room.

And when I saw her standing
there, helpless and so scared

to death, the minute I laid
eyes on her, I hated her guts.

I mean, just what this
town needed, right?

Another gorgeous,
skinny, dumb blonde.

So they tell me
you're from back east.

Mm-hmm.

How long have you
been in Hollywood?

Four days.

Well, if you need any
help finding an apartment,

I'd be happy to go with you
one weekend when you're ready.

Thanks.

Yeah, I'll snap up every
opportunity for the two of us

to get together
and chat like this.

Uh-oh.

Run for your lives,
boys and girls.

Here she comes.

Is that really--

Gloria Swanson,
the one and only.

And may I simply add, thank God.

I love that scarf.

Go to Helms and
get me a new one.

Have it back here by noon
or don't bother coming back

at all.

Well, well, well.

What have we here?

A little secretary
or a clerk, perhaps?

What occupation requires enough
stupidity to stand in my way,

staring at me like
a beached mullet?

I'm an actress, Ms. Swanson.

And ever since I
can remember, I've

wanted to be just like you.

But now that I
finally met you, I

want you to know I'd
rather have my head shaved.

From that day on,
Ms. Gloria Swanson

went out of her way to
avoid Ms. Thelma Todd.

And I went out of my way not to.

But you know what I
still lose sleep over?

Good Lord, I look like
George Washington in drag.

Anyway, what I still lose sleep
over is I couldn't have loved

Toddy more, but maybe I could've
loved her a little better,

you know?

It always seemed like there
was a circle of people

around her, feeding off of her
and never giving anything back.

And I saw what was happening.

And sometimes I
spoke up about it.

But what did I really
do about it, you know?

Oh, they had me outnumbered.

But that's no excuse.

I mean, her own
mother, for God's sake.

Oh, do me a favor, will you?

Name it.

Amputate my feet.

Mine, too.

It was a killer today, huh?

I'm missing an earring.

See, that's one of the
interesting differences

between us.

I usually just wear two.

Shut up.

Are you going to
Groucho's tonight?

- Are you serious?
- Mm-hmm.

I can't believe you're going.

We have 6:30 in the
morning calls, you know?

Well, it's supposedly
a strictly A list party.

What's he going to say?

Come to my house tonight, I'm
having a bunch nobody's over?

I'd have a lot more
fun if you were there.

Forget it.

I need my eight hours sleep.

Eight hours?

Here.

Take these, then you
only need two or three.

Keep it.

Mother's getting that
prescription refilled

in the morning.

I wouldn't touch these
with a 10-foot pole.

Well, you would if your
career depended on it.

Here, hook me up, OK?

See?

A perfect size 6 and more energy
than I know what to do with.

And you know what else?

What?

I'd trade places with
you anytime you like.

I watched her party
seven nights a week.

I watched her live on
champagne and pills.

Sometimes I spoke up about it.

Sometimes I gave her a
hug when she needed one.

So what?

It didn't add up to
much in the end, did it?

Did it ever affect her work?

Not until she married
that baboon, DeCicco.

Have you had that pleasure yet?

Yesterday.

Lovely man, isn't he?

Yeah, he's an agent like
I'm the queen mother.

But even then, there
was only one morning

when she wasn't right on time
on her mark, lines learned

and ready to go.

Come on, let me look at it.

How bad can it be?

That bad, huh?

Oh, Patsy, what
am I going to do?

Leave the bastard.

No, I mean now.

No amount of makeup in the
world is going to cover that up.

[knocking]

Toddy, it's Hal.

I hear there's been
some kind of a hold-up.

What's the problem?

Toddy?

Oh, God.

This is all I need.

I can't face him.

I'll take care of it.

OK.

HAL ROACH: Toddy.

Patsy, what the
hell is going on?

I'm sick, Hal.

Toddy won't come out
of her dressing room

because you're sick?

She's been taking care of me.

It's a female thing.

I'd be happy to go into detail
for you if you want me to.

No.
No, I don't want--

no.

I'm sorry, I need to go home.

But I'll be back first thing
in the morning, good as new.

Promise.
- OK.

Do what you have to do.

I mean, if you need a
doctor, either one of you,

just let me know.

I will.

Thanks.

Oh, thank you, Patsy,
you saved my life.

Then why do I feel like
I just joined the campaign

to help shorten it?

It's OK.

LOUIS MARSDEN
(VOICEOVER): People

typically choose their
words carefully when a DA

investigator's in the room.

But there was nothing
typical about Jewel Carmen.

Quite frankly, Mr.
Marsden, I hated her.

Given the circumstances,
I'm not surprised.

Ah, yes, the circumstances.

My husband's famous unrequited
love for the late, great Thelma

Todd.

You think I was
jealous, is that it?

How conventional of you.

Look around.

You see before
you concrete proof

that nothing is more transitory
or more destructive than love.

Roland is a broken,
pathetic man because of it.

Toddy is dead because of it.

I, on the other hand, seem to
have come out of this nightmare

perfectly intact.

Do you know why?

I'd love to hear it.

It's very simple.

I understand the only
basic law of human nature.

Love walks.

Money talks.

Money is the only truly lasting
power there is, Mr. Marsden.

Any woman can get a man
to fall in love with her.

But a smart woman prefers
a man who's weak enough

to be dependent on her.

Because that's the one
man who will never leave.

Toddy was not a smart woman.

That's why I hated her.

Well, maybe she was learning.

She walked out on Pat DeCicco.

She learned nothing
from Pat DeCicco.

Anyway, he was gone by the
time we opened the restaurant.

But he'd been replaced.

And despite the
fact the restaurant

could have provided her
with real independence

for the first time in her life,
that stupid, stupid woman kept

following her heart
right out the door.

Of course, Darryl.

And where do you
think you're going?

Well, I think I'll
go out for a while.

Not a chance.

The Zanucks and the Thalbergs
will be here in half an hour

expecting to see you.

What am I supposed to tell them?

Tell them dinner is on me.

Trust me.

They'll appreciate it a lot
more than the infinite pleasure

of my sparkling repartee.

Really?

And what kind of
profits are we supposed

to make if you
continue providing

free meals for the wealthiest
customers we've got?

Oh, Roland, I don't
have time for this.

Could you two
speak up a little?

There's a table in the corner
that can't quite hear you.

Thelma's leaving again.

I'm sure she is.

And you think whining at
her at the top of your lungs

is going to stop her?

See, Roland,
Jewel understands.

No, Toddy, Jewel doesn't.

Make no mistake about that.

I just know a lost
cause when I see one.

So you agree
with your husband.

You think the restaurant was
going under because it didn't

mean enough to her.

Is that what he thinks?

You know, Roland once
considered becoming a surgeon

like his father.

God only knows how many innocent
lives were saved when he went

into showbiz news instead.

This restaurant was one of
the most important things

in the world to her.

That's what makes the irony
of all of this so cruel.

Somehow, she managed
to put something

that was so important to
her in serious jeopardy.

And it was more than
she could handle.

That's why we were going
under, Mr. Marsden.

I don't know what the connection
was, and I don't want to know.

But I think Thelma finally
followed her heart straight

to her grave.

This just doesn't
make any sense.

I mean, I deposited my last
two paychecks three days ago.

There should be more
than enough money in here

to cover everything.

Well, I can cover it for
now, but I agree with you.

Something definitely
is not right.

I think maybe we
should hire an auditor.

Oh, and I spoke to an architect
this morning about expanding

into that spare room.

[knocking]

Excuse me, Ms. Todd, but
the boss needs to see you.

Oh, really?

Well, tell the boss I'm busy.

He can call first next time.

You don't really want me
to tell him that, do you?

He says it's important.

All right, I'll be
there in a minute.

Well, he's waiting.

I said, I'll be
there in a minute.

I'm not sure how long
this is going to take.

I'll be back as soon as I can.

Do you want to tell
me what's going on?

You don't want to know.

I do if it affects
this restaurant.

Now you listen to me,
and you listen closely.

You want to play with
my husband, be my guest.

I'll even fluff your pillows
and light your cigarettes

afterwards.

Play with my money,
on the other hand,

if what you've gotten yourself
into costs me one dime,

you won't even live long
enough to regret it.

Just a figure of
speech, you understand.

If you think I'd
repeat that under oath,

you're out of your mind.

You should have brought
a witness, Mr. Marsden.

As it is, it's only
your word against mine.

This conversation
never took place.

It's all right.

I'll deal with that
when the time comes.

Count on it.

But for now, let's get back
to this Mousey character.

I don't suppose you happened
to catch a last name.

We were never
formally introduced.

If I had to guess, though,
I'd say it probably

ends in a vowel.

But come to think of it,
there was a picture of him

in the newspaper recently.

According to the caption,
he's had an unexpected change

of address to Alcatraz.

LOUIS MARSDEN (VOICEOVER):
I'm interested in Lucky's

relationship with Thelma Todd.

You want to know, did
they have a thing going?

Sure they did.

Was it serious, like, was he in
love or something, who the hell

knows?

Personally, I don't
think the guy knows

how to spell the word.

But was he hooked on her?

In spades, like a big stupid
fish right from the get-go

the first second he
laid eyes on her.

She was so beautiful.

Anyways, as soon as
Lucky dumped DeCicco off,

he had me load the
limo with champagne,

and I drove the two
of them up the coast

to that restaurant of hers.

So tell me, why do
they call you Lucky?

A few business
associates and I

were on the receiving end
of some machine gun fire

from a passing car.

My associates died at the scene.

I walked away without a
scratch, even though I was, uh,

talking a bit,
complements of Mr. Capone.

Anyway, this story got around.

And I became known as Lucky.

And who was I to argue?

So everything they
say about you is true.

I could ask the
same of you, you know.

Oh, look.

There it is.

This is a perfect location.

You're looking at the best
thing that ever happened to me.

See that sign?

Thelma Todd's.

I finally have something to
point to and say, this is mine.

My name matters.

I matter.

Come on.

Let's take a walk on the beach.

Mm, no.

Beaches are sand.

City boy, the only thing sand
is good for is to mix cement.

I hate sand.

I will be mortally
wounded if you refuse.

Mousey, we're going
for a walk on the beach.

Check it out.

Right, boss.

Check out the beach?

What's the matter?

Are you scared?

Just cautious.

Sorry you never heard of it.

You think it's funny.

I think it's hilarious.

Come here.

No.

What did you say?

I said no.

You come here.

Where are you going?

Work.

No.

You think I wouldn't
rather stay here with you?

Oh, please, don't do this.

No, I hate early
calls enough as it is.

So be late.

What are they going to do?

Start without the star?

They could fire me
if they wanted to.

I thought they freed the
slaves in this country.

I don't think a man with as
many women working the streets

as you have has any
right to criticize.

Don't ever bring that
up again or any other part

of my business.

Just what I need,
another Pat DeCicco.

Don't compare me to
that low rent errand boy.

Oh, Toddy.

It's important for me
that you know this.

My business is just what I do.

It's not who I am.

You believe that?

I believe that.

May I go now?

Temporarily.

THELMA TODD: When
will I see you again?

Very soon.

I'm going to be here a while.

And while I'm here,
you're spoken for.

Capiche?

THELMA TODD: Capiche.

[bell]

God, you're quick.

Where were you?

Right outside the
door, where he belongs.

All night?

Well, I don't think I've ever
seen two men work quite this

closely before.

Just out of curiosity,
Mousey, did the earth

move for you, too?

Shall we?

Is Thelma Todd the
reason that Luciano started

making regular trips out to LA?

She was part of it, sure,
but all of it, come on.

Lucky wanted a whole lot
more than Thelma Todd.

He wanted Hollywood,
the whole time.

He wanted to own it, sewed
up in his hip pocket.

How?

According to the DA
files, Frank Nitty and

what's left of the
Capone organization

have already moved in out here.

That's the point.

What was left of Capone
was easy to take care of.

Then Lucky focused his
attention on Nitty.

He was willing to do
anything to muscle him out,

even if it meant
putting a hit on him.

Needless to say, Nitty
knew it, and he didn't

take too kindly to it either.

Lucky paid me real well.

Sometimes it was enough.

Sometimes I thought I deserved
a bonus, like that time we were

leaving the Coconut Grove
by the back entrance.

Look out, get down!

[gun shots]

Are you OK?

I'm so sorry.

I can't do this.

I can't put you in
danger like this.

We've got to stop seeing each
other until this blows over.

I love you, Toddy.

I love you.

What?

Come on.

I'll have Mousey drive you home.

No.

No.

I want to go with you.

Please?

Are you sure?

Did you mean what you said?

That you love me?

I meant that.

Then yes, I'm sure.

You know, Marsden,
I'm glad you're here.

I'm glad you're
checking this out.

It's not my place
to have opinions,

but I got to tell you, compared
to the bimbos Lucky usually

dragged around, Ms.
Todd, she was OK.

She's the only one never treated
me like a piece of furniture.

I really appreciated that.

Anyways, things didn't
heat up between them

until after her divorce
from DeCicco was final.

So do you think Luciano
was planning to marry her?

If that's what it took.

The boss wasn't stupid.

He waited until she trusted
him before he went to the cafe

for the first time.

Welcome to Thelma
Todd's Sidewalk Cafe.

This being a Monday, I
have the rare pleasure

of offering you the table
of your choice with no food

whatsoever.

But I'm sure you'll find the
ambiance chic, and yet at

the same time, eerily uncrowded.

It's nice.

Very nice.

May I offer you an amusing
glass of wine perhaps,

compliments of our hostess,
the very glamorous movie star.

What's up there?

A storeroom in the office.

Mousey.

It's perfect.

Really?

You think so?

You know, actually, I
think it would look better

with the paint cans over
there and the cases of beets

kind of centered.

Toddy, I could make you
a fortune with this room.

What are you talking about?

This restaurant is
packed every night.

And you're still losing
money, am I right?

How do you know that?

I make it my
business to know that.

Now you turn this
room over to me,

and I'll have you in the
black within a month.

Would you like to know how?

I want to make
this into a casino.

What?

Strictly first class,
strictly private, everything

done, taste and discretion.

A kind of casino with Thalbergs,
Zanucks, Cagneys, and Gables

of the world are going to
feel comfortable and protected

while they drop all that
nice money into our pockets.

Lucky, I hate to break this
to you, but this is California.

Gambling is illegal here.

The police would have--

The police will be no problem.

You have my word.

And you have my word.

Forget it.

I will not let you put a
casino in here not in a month,

not in a year, not
in my lifetime.

You don't understand.

Oh, I think I
understand perfectly.

Don't forget I
know how you work.

The minute I say yes to
a casino, you've got me.

And from that
moment on, either I

go along with any kind of
felony you care to commit here--

drugs, prostitution,
gun running,

whatever-- or you
have me busted.

And then one day, I
look up and all my life

has come down to is a choice
between one kind of prison

or another.

Well, thank you very
much, but no thank you.

That's-- Toddy.

Toddy.

Toddy, it'll stop at the casino.

I swear.

It stops now, Lucky.

The answer is no.

Let's drink to the success
of your restaurant, Ms. Todd.

Get out.

You believe that?

Get out.

Let's go somewhere and talk.

Get out!

You need to think.

I understand that.

We'll talk tomorrow.

You call me.

MOUSEY (VOICEOVER):
Lucky waited.

But Ms. Todd, she never called.

You know, Marsden, I was kind
of proud of her for that.

But I also know what
a bad sport the boss

was about being ignored.

Now that didn't
hurt, did it, Mister--

what the hell is his damn name?

Lochenspiel Toddy.

Lochenspiel?

I mean, Lochenspiel--
this is the eighth take.

I'm sick of this.

Why can't his name
be Smith or Domes?

Lochenspiel is funnier.

Not if I can't
remember it, it's not.

And I'll be in my dressing
room until you're ready.

What's going on
with you lately?

Oh, give me a break, Vincent.

Don't you stand there, Mousey.

Ms. Todd needs a glass of water.

How the hell did
you get in here?

Lock the door on your way out.

Please, Mousey, don't do this.

I'm sorry, Ms. Todd.

All right, say what you
have to say, and then get out.

I'm at work, for God's sake.

You didn't leave
me any choice.

You've been avoiding
me for a week.

A man not known
for his patience--

What do you want?

Your decision on the casino.

I think when you hear
what I have to say--

I gave you my decision.

Whatever you have to tell
me won't change my mind.

Your restaurant
is losing money.

It's going to continue
to lose money.

The more you pour into it,
the more you're going to lose.

Reason for that is very simple.

Name is Frank Nitty.

Who?

Frank Nitty.

Controls every union your
restaurant deals with.

Between kickbacks and payoffs,
every dime of profit you turn

goes straight into
the Nitty's pocket.

OK, fine.

I'll find some way to stop him.

[laughs] You?

I see.

You're going to stop him.

Grow up, Toddy.

No one can stop him but me.

He's too big.

He's everywhere.

He's even branching
into the movie business

now, working his way in through
the unions, from the bottom up.

Fortunately, that's a mistake.

What I know that
he doesn't, the way

to own this industry, and
therefore this town, is you

start at the top--

stars, producers, studio
heads, everyone who frequents

Thelma Todd's Sidewalk Cafe.

Oh my God.

All of whom would only be
too happy to finish off a fine

meal, a nice bottle of
wine, step across the hall,

and drop a bundle in an
elegant, highly discreet,

well-protected casino.

You don't really believe that
Jack Warner and Louie B. Mayor

would be stupid enough to
gamble away their studios?

Of course not.

But we'll extend
them generous credit,

which they will be stupid
enough to gratefully accept.

Before long, I'll hold the
markers of the most powerful

people in this town.

And believe me, when I own a
man's marker, I own the man.

And when I own the right
men, I'll own Hollywood.

And Frank Nitty will be
nothing but an ugly memory.

You and I will be wealthier
and more respected than either

of us ever dreamed possible.

Or look at it this way.

It would be a lovely way to
thank me for your freedom.

What?

You think Pat DeCicco
suddenly went off by himself

and decided to
grant you divorce?

Or the courts pushed it through
so quickly out of the kindness

of their hearts?

Now armed with more information
than is even safe for you

to know, would you care to
reconsider your decision?

I was afraid of that.

MAN (ON PHONE): Yeah, well,
she's told me everything.

Tell them you
don't want trouble.

OK.

No, I don't know yet.

MAN (ON PHONE): Well,
you better know.

I need to think.

MAN (ON PHONE): All
right, all right.

Now I'll go back to you.

MAN (ON PHONE):
OK, I'll be here.

[mutters]

She called the-- she
called the DA's office.

Made an appointment.

How much does she know?

Too much, thanks to me.

Much too much.

Well, that's not
necessarily a problem, is it?

Who's the appointment with?

Fitts.

Did she do it?

Did she keep that appointment?

What?

You don't know?

The day after that
phone call, the Feds

clamped the murder charge on me.

And my goombah
Lucky cut me loose.

11 years I laid my life on
the line for that rat bastard.

All of a sudden, he
never heard of me.

Anyways, what I just told you,
I don't know a damn thing.

No, she never kept
that appointment.

I never thought these words
would come out of my mouth,

but I mean this.

I'm real sad for that lady.

Yeah.

Aren't we all?

BURON FITTS: OK, let's hear it.

What have you got?

Murder, Mr. Fitts.

You're sure?

Yes, sir.

And am I safe in assuming you
haven't discussed your findings

with anyone, the
press, the police?

No, sir, just you.

Good.

It would be a huge
mistake to leak something

this big until we
have a solid case.

We don't want to give anyone
time to cover their tracks.

And you better be damn
convincing, Marsden.

I'm not turning this over
to the grand jury on nothing

more than a bunch of
half-baked theories.

I've got a lot
more than that, sir.

I've got everything we need,
including a list of witnesses

whose testimony will prove that
Thelma Todd probably didn't die

until early Monday
morning, 36 hours

after the medical
examiner's estimate.

And I can reconstruct
most of those 36 hours.

I'm listening.

The chauffeur said he picked
her up at 7:45 on Saturday

night to take her to a party.

One more time, I'm locking
this door at 2 o'clock.

If you don't have your
key, be home by then

or sleep on the damn
stairs for all I care.

Because I'm not getting
up to let you in.

Do you hear me?

Roland, everyone within
a 50 mile radius hears you.

Now shut up about it.

LOUIS MARSDEN (VOICEOVER): She
arrived shortly before 9:00.

According to the
others at the party,

she wasn't drinking
much that night.

And she seemed to be
having a good time,

until an unexpected
guest showed up.

Toddy, this is a surprise.

What are you doing here?

Well, I convinced
Ida that it wasn't

going to be a problem
inviting us to the same party.

Well, you were wrong.

Would you excuse us
for a minute please?

Forget it.

Anything you have to say to me,
you can say in front of her.

Fine.

You set me up, you bastard.

You knew exactly why your
little friend wanted to meet me,

and you went right
along with it anyway.

And I'm going to make
you pay for this.

Why don't you grab--

Oh, yeah, good idea.

Oh, that's--

LOUIS MARSDEN (VOICEOVER):
DeCicco's date

said that's all
she heard, and he

refused to talk about it later.

But she said Thelma was very
shaken when she and DeCicco's

came back inside.

DeCicco's and the girl
left shortly after that,

but we know that Thelma
stayed until much later.

At 1:30, she asked Sid Grommin,
a friend of Roland West's,

to call and tell West
she was on her way home

and to wait up to let her in.

But as she was leaving,
one of the waiters

told her someone
wanted to see her.

From the waiter's description
and from what he overheard,

I'm sure it was Vinny Corelli,
one of Luciano's lieutenants.

Put the car in the
garage and go home.

I don't want to
leave you, Ms. Todd.

Peters, just go.

Get out of here.

Yes, ma'am.

Let's take a drive.

We need to talk.

LOUIS MARSDEN (VOICEOVER): Early
Sunday afternoon, Mrs. Wallace

Ford received a phone call.

Hello?

THELMA TODD (ON
PHONE): It's Toddy.

I'm sorry, what?

THELMA TODD (ON PHONE):
I said it's Toddy.

Oh, hi, darling.

What's wrong with your voice?

THELMA TODD (ON PHONE): Nothing.

You're not sick, are you?

THELMA TODD (ON PHONE): No, no.

I mean, you're still
coming to the party tonight?

THELMA TODD (ON
PHONE): Yes, I just--

I'll be there.

I just wanted you to know
I'll be a little late.

I don't know.

Toddy?

Hello?

Toddy?

LOUIS MARSDEN (VOICEOVER): She
never made it to the party.

And none of her friends
ever heard from her again.

Late Sunday evening at
approximately 11 o'clock,

Mr. and Mrs. George
Brill, a couple from Ohio,

happened across a Phaeton
matching the description

of Luciano's, with a
man and a woman inside

in a cul-de-sac
south of Wilshire.

They were lost, so--

You want me to interrupt that?

I don't care.

Ask them.

We've been driving around
here for over an hour,

and I'm tired of it.

LOUIS MARSDEN (VOICEOVER): The
Brills thought the woman looked

familiar from a distance,
but they couldn't place her.

Admit it.

OK, I admit it.

But it's not going to
change anything, Toddy,

can't you understand that?

No, you can change
it if you want to.

I've got no choice!

GEORGE BRILL: Forgive
me, folks, but--

Beat it!

My wife and I are lost.

I wonder if you could tell
me how to get to Holly Ridge.

No.

Three blocks south
and to the left.

Wait a minute.

That was Thelma Todd.

Will he testify?

LOUIS MARSDEN:
I'm working on it.

But I think Luciano got
to him before I did.

I showed him Lucky's mugshot and
asked if he could identify him

as the man in the car, but he
said no without even glancing

at the photo.

But before his
amnesia set in, he

swore he saw Thelma Todd alive
in Luciano's car in Beverly

Hills as late as 11
o'clock Sunday night.

Now, I can't prove what
happened after that,

but I can make a
very educated guess.

Sometime after the
Brills saw them,

Luciano must have
driven Thelma back

to the duplex above
the restaurant.

Toddy, I'm begging
you, change your mind.

I can't.

Then there's
nothing more I can do.

Goodbye, Toddy.

LOUIS MARSDEN (VOICEOVER):
She wasn't driving that night,

we know that.

So there was no reason on
earth for her to be in the car

when she was found.

We also know she
didn't go to the duplex

and come back to her car again.

For one thing, she would have
had to wake up Roland West

to let her in.

And why wouldn't she
have changed her clothes?

Why did she die in
the same clothes

she'd worn to that party
some 36 hours earlier?

There's only one possible reason
she never made it to her door.

Luciano was too smart
to stop her himself,

so he just paid someone
to do it for him.

Luciano wanted it all.

And she got in his way.

All Thelma Todd ever wanted was
someone to kiss her good night.

Well, you've done
a fine job, Lou.

Damn fine job.

I'll tell you what.

Your family lives up near
San Francisco, right?

Why don't you take a few days
off and spend the holidays

with them?

You've more than earned
a little vacation.

Thank you, sir.

But I don't think so.

I've come to care a
lot about this case.

And I really--

And so have I, thanks to you.

That's why I want to handle
it personally from here on in.

We're going to the
grand jury, Lou.

I'm going to make that
phone call right now.

So you better take a break
while you've got a chance.

You're going to be
my star witness.

Well, that's great news, sir.

I can't tell you how
glad I am to hear that.

And I'm really
looking forward to it.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

LOUIS MARSDEN (VOICEOVER):
I was about 200 miles south

of San Francisco when
the accident happened.

I don't remember much about it,
but the highway patrol report

listed the cause as
defective brakes.

By the time I regained
consciousness,

my file on the Thelma
Todd case had vanished,

and the grand jury
hearing was over.

Pat DeCicco was never
called to testify,

and Lucky Luciano's name
was never even mentioned.

The grand jury handed down a
verdict of accidental death.

With Thelma's death,
the cafe died, too.

Alice Todd told the press she
was relieved that the truth

finally come out.

Roland West went into seclusion,
where his failing health

led to a nervous breakdown.

On his death bed, he said
he killed Thelma Todd,

a confession only he believed.

Pat DeCicco went on to become
a vice president of United

Artists Theaters.

Lucky Luciano never
returned to Los Angeles

after the day Thelma died.

And my former boss,
Buron Fitts came

to be known as the head
of one of the most corrupt

administrations in the history
of the Los Angeles District

Attorney's Office and
ultimately took his own life.

No one ever paid for the
death of Thelma Todd,

so I guess in the end,
just like everyone else,

I failed her, too.

I'm sorry, Thelma.

I'm sorry.

[music playing]