Boys Town Page #8

- I can't help that.

- Sheriff, I'm the head of a community...

with complete autonomy

and a better record than any in the State.

I'll be responsible for Whitey

until he's able to be questioned.

Well, if the boy's hurt,

I'll take your word, of course.

But I'll have to leave a deputy.

Tim, you stand by.

I'll call later.

The wound is superficial, Father.

Nothing to worry about.

Leave us alone, please, Sister.

All right, Whitey, let's have it.

- What?

- The whole story.

- There ain't nothing to tell.

- Stop that.

They found your cap near the bank...

and they followed your trail to the church,

where I found you.

Why don't you leave me alone?

If I hadn't gotten there first,

you'd be in jail now.

Whitey, I don't believe you're guilty.

You might as well save your breath.

I ain't talking.

It was a bad day when I brought you here.

I've always said there was no such thing

in the world as a bad boy.

I've built my life on it.

You're the only boy in all these years

that hasn't had a heart somewhere...

that I could reach, somehow, sometime.

Whitey, over 200 boys have a home here,

but tomorrow night...

they won't have any home.

And that's up to you, Whitey.

Because I never worked as hard

with any boy in my life. I never had to.

I don't know nothing to tell,

nothing to tell nobody.

Were you mixed up in robbing this bank

and killing that watchman?

I heard some shots. I got scared,

and I ran out to the alley...

and I got plugged.

Then somebody picked me up and took me

to the place where you found me.

- That's all I know.

- You're lying!

You know a lot more than that.

I just got through telling you all I know!

Who picked you up in the alleyway

and carried you?

You're shielding someone.

Are you going to see these boys

turned out into the streets, into alleys...

into reformatories, and worse?

Lose their home?

All right, Whitey, that licks me.

Yes, it was a sad, bad day

when I brought you here.

It was, indeed.

The Sheriff left a deputy to watch you.

I'll turn you over to the police tomorrow.

He doesn't feel like talking tonight.

Well, my friend,

you're sticking to the finish, huh?

Eddie, come on down and see Hargraves.

They're getting out extras, bad ones.

They've got the case tried...

and they've got you hung,

unless you can do something about it.

- Is this it? Is it Boys Town?

- Yes.

- I got here, didn't I?

- Have you come far?

- Are you Father Flanagan?

- Yes.

How far, son?

I hitchhiked, maybe a week, but I got here.

I suppose you're hungry?

Yes, sir.

Eddie, please. We have to get downtown.

- Freddie!

- Yes, Father.

Freddie, see that he has a bath,

and some food, and a place to sleep.

- What's your name, son?

- Charley Haines.

All right, Charley,

tomorrow we'll talk things over.

Thank you, Father.

What's the matter?

I'm going.

It's all over.

What's the matter, kid?

I want to make a confession.

A what? All right, let's have it.

No, you got to get Father Flanagan.

Don't want to talk to nobody else.

Okay.

Beat it, Mo. I'll wait here.

It's my kid brother.

How'd you find us?

I heard you tell these guys where to go.

What are you doing?

Steering the cops here?

- Nothing like that.

- Lay off that stuff, Rod.

Listen, Joe, you gotta make a break.

I kept my mouth shut, see,

told nobody nothing.

But I'm as good as arrested

for that job down there.

I had to even make a sneak to get here.

- Why, you...

- Paul!

Wait a minute. Let's get this.

That school, with those kids.

They're gonna be closed up tight.

Those kids sent to reform school.

It's taken away from Father Flanagan.

I don't care what they do to me...

but I ain't going to see those kids

tossed out like that.

Joe, I can't do it.

I'm telling you straight.

Get out, take your chances...

because the minute I get back,

I'm gonna spill the beans.

I don't wanna do it, Joe, but I gotta do it.

I gotta.

It's okay with me, kid.

On your way. We'll make a break.

Joe!

Stay where you are.

We break when we said we would.

Before daylight, and the kid sticks

until we're well on our way.

Get it?

- Here you are. Get your paper!

- Papers!

Paperboy.

"Authorities threaten

to close Boys Town."

- Sorry, Father.

- Thanks.

Extra! Boys Town suspect.

Murder at bank robbery! Extra!

Night watchman killed! Extra!

- Hello, Father. I came as soon...

- Mr. Hargraves.

What kind of Christian logic can allow you

to destroy us...

before anybody gets to the bottom

of tonight's business?

That sounds pretty terrible as you put it.

I don't know how much

this boy had to do with it.

I can't get him to talk.

But I have a hunch he's not guilty.

I think you should pull your punches

until somebody...

finds out something, and does it definitely.

Now I really do.

Father, I left this office an hour ago,

because women's clubs, societies...

- everybody was calling me.

- All I'm asking for is a little time.

My friendship for you is definitely known.

If I pull any punches, they'll say I forgot

my duty as a newspaperman for you.

- I can't stand for that.

- All right.

Suppose tomorrow you find out

the whole thing is wrong.

Suppose you find out the boy isn't guilty...

and that my record is clean and clear

of anything like this.

How will you feel then?

You are my friend.

Now tell me, how will you feel?

All I want is a little time

to let the thing clear itself. That's all.

Excuse me.

Yes? Police Headquarters?

Your friend, Whitey Marsh, has escaped.

Two of the other boys went with him.

I believe you made yourself responsible

for him.

That means something like

"accessory after the fact."

Well, I'm afraid that's all.

Sorry, Father. Goodnight.

Hello, Reynolds?

That boy, Whitey Marsh,

escaped from Boys Town.

Two of the other boys went with him.

Put that where the public can see it.

And, Reynolds...

feature an editorial against sentimental

rubbish about juvenile derelicts.

Whitey's at Bogg's Tavern.

Whitey's at Bogg's Tavern.

Whitey's at Bogg's Tavern.

Whitey's at Bogg's Tavern.

Whitey's at Bogg's Tavern.

Whitey's at Bogg's Tavern.

Whitey's at Bogg's Tavern.

- Good night, Dave.

- Good night.

Freddie! Tony!

Sister, what's happened?

The boys, they're all gone.

I don't know, Father.

I do, Father.

They're going to Bogg's Tavern,

after Whitey.

Bogg's Tavern?

Please find Whitey, Father.

All right, Pee Wee. You go to sleep now.

Freddie, Mo, Tony.

Haven't I troubles enough

without all of you going crazy?

We're not crazy, Father.

Whitey's with his pals.

We're going to get them.

You'll do nothing of the kind.

They may be murderers.

There's been a man killed.

They can't kill all of us, Father.

So that's the way you feel about it, huh?

Keep out of it, Father, will you, please?

No.

Bless your hearts.

Turn out those lights. Let's go.

Here they come.

Don't move.

Hey! Wait a minute, fellows,

give me a chance!

Won't somebody give me a chance?

Give me a chance to explain!

Clear a way, there.

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