City Heat

1

(DOG BARKING)

(MUSIC PLAYING OVER JUKEBOX)

(DOOR CLOSING)

- LOUIE:
Evening, Lieutenant.

- Louie.

- LOUIE:
Coffee?

- Yeah.

Forget it, Lieutenant.

The free refills were killing me anyway.

Mike Murphy been in yet?

- Who?

- Murphy. Michael.

Uh, I don't know him, pal.

That's funny.

I hear he eats here every night.

LOUIE:
Murray, you say?

Murphy, brick brain.

Your ears need unplugging?

- So?

- No, he ain't been in yet.

(CLATTERING)

I'll wait.

(HONKS)

(FABRIC RIPS)

MIKE:
Damn. Damn.

Hello, Louie.

Got an emergency.

They need your meat loaf

down at the river.

The levee's got a hole in it,

and meat loaf's the only thing

that can stop it up for a year.

(LAUGHING)

Hey.

Somebody left the cage door open, huh?

It's out.

What's the occasion?

Archie, how you doing?

(DOOR OPENS)

- Not too bad. And you?

- LOUIE:
Not too bad.

Good.

- How's the stew?

- LOUIE:
Not too good.

That's too bad.

I was really counting on the stew.

I had my mouth kind of set on it,

you know. I'll try The Ritz.

Maybe not.

- This here is Archie.

- Really? Ain't that peculiar?

- What?

- See, Archie,

we're looking for a gumshoe

named Mike Murphy.

Guy about your size

with a mustache like you.

Even drives a Model A Roadster like you,

with the same license plate, too.

Now, ain't that peculiar?

Yeah, that's peculiar.

(GROANING)

They're a couple of cupcakes.

I guess this wouldn't work again.

(GRUNTING)

Oh, Speer.

Lieutenant, aren't you gonna do anything?

How about a refill?

He can take care of himself.

I'm not disturbing you, am I?

I got a situation here.

I know we're not really close

anymore, but let by...

(GLASS SHATTERS)

Mmm-mmm.

- You back?

- (CHOKING) F***, yes, I'm back.

You know why I'm back?

Because I'm being killed.

What are you gawking at?

Ow.

(COIN CLINKING)

- You waiting for them to kill me?

- They competitors?

Or did you just have your nose

in the wrong ass?

- There's plenty left for you, you know.

- Say when.

Mike, please. There's not much left.

Anytime, Speer.

Until then, you watch your step.

You hear me?

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about rumors of a cheap,

frayed-collar, hole-in-the-shoe peeper

who's trying to climb in bed

with the wrong kind of snot balls.

Of course, that wouldn't be you.

You're too much of a fancy Dan.

So?

- I'll be watching.

- I'm shaking.

So long, shorty.

You pathetic son of a b*tch!

He's so pathetic.

I turned in my badge, you know.

I got my own... I got my own office now!

I got my name in gold!

You're just jealous!

You're so insecure, it's unbelievable!

Is this frayed?

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

DEHL:
How you doing, boss?

- Fine, fine, doing fine.

- All righty.

- Keep the change.

- Thanks a million. Much obliged.

The finance company just called.

Those mugs last night were after your car.

- Repo guys?

- Uh-huh.

Seems they don't enjoy their work

as much as they used to.

You owe $98.98, Mike.

It's the cash or the keys.

(DOOR OPENS)

- Mahoney.

- Who?

The landlord.

Do I have to do everything myself?

I told you to send that check

in weeks ago.

Oh, my gosh!

You know what I can't stand?

It's irresponsibility.

- I know. I'm so...

- DEHL:
Still singing that song, Murphy?

Ain't never worked.

Ain't never gonna work.

You remember my silent

and invisible partner, Mr. Swift.

We thought you were Mahoney,

president of

the Landlord's Malevolent Association.

- Behind in our rent again.

- The word is "still."

Well, tell Mr. Mahoney

to fix the plumbing,

or we're gonna move

to a better class of dump.

Mike, catch me. I'm gonna faint.

And I suppose Murphy and Swift

are financially delinquent

with regards to their secretary.

- Somewhat.

- One week, two weeks?

- Three.

- For shame.

- Months.

- Oh, now that's what I call loyalty.

And a little bonus. How's that?

Addy, take a letter somewhere.

Yes, sir, Mr. Murphy. Sir.

Ah, yes.

Free Spirit in the seventh.

Ah.

You've never been that lucky,

and you ain't that smart.

- People change.

- Not you.

I heard a rumor about you last night.

Tale telling, Mike? (SCOFFS)

- I didn't figure you were the type.

- Snot balls play hard.

It warms my cockles knowing you care.

You're not that good, Dehl.

(PHONE RINGS)

Hello. Hey, sugar. Fine.

Tonight at 8:
00?

Okay. Bye-bye.

Gotta breeze, Mike.

Promises to keep and all.

Oh, by the way,

don't be surprised if you receive

a little bonus real soon, my friend.

Why would that happen?

Well, maybe because

you're the only guy around

who's got trouble telling dark from light.

- Take care of yourself.

- Oh, yeah.

(DOOR CLOSING)

Don't spend it all in one place.

I won't even ask.

- I appreciate that.

- Here.

That's your bonus.

I'm investing in the company.

Can't do much detecting without a car.

Addy...

Thank you.

I'll see you.

(SINGS "EMBRACEABLE YOU")

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(KNOCKING)

It's all arranged.

You must not give it to Pitt

before I've gone.

Tomorrow night.

(APPLAUSE)

(GIGGLING)

Ginny, baby.

(CHUCKLES)

If it's worth $25,000 to Primo Pitt,

then it's worth twice that much

to Leon Coll.

- Dehl.

- Why not?

You know why not.

If you double-cross Pitt...

I got protection from Coll.

Now listen, when you finish here,

meet me back at my place, okay?

Dehl?

- Please don't do this.

- (LAUGHING)

Come on, baby, stop worrying.

In 48 hours, you'll have

everything you ever wanted.

(CHUCKLES) Hey, sugar, cheer up.

There ain't nothing left

but the good times.

(DOOR CLOSES)

(HUMMING)

(RUDY VALLEE'S "LET'S DO IT" PLAYS)

(PHONE RINGING)

Hello?

- Mike?

- Hello, sweetness.

Guess what I'm doing.

From the sound, you're either

making gin or taking a bath.

Lying there all warm and soapy,

watching your pores open up.

I could help. Come right over there

and get all those hard-to-reach places.

Actually, I'm making a list

for this party I'm giving.

Would you come, Mike, please?

I need cheering up, you know.

I haven't smiled since last Tuesday.

Do you remember Tuesday?

- Was it raining?

- Yes, it was.

Oh, maybe I'm confused. Maybe you were...

Monday. Yeah, or Sunday. Yeah.

- Sunday was nice.

- You b*tch, I was with you Sunday,

and Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday.

Well, what happened to Thursday?

Thursday I was in traction.

Well, do you want to be Friday?

Come to my party.

- I might be late.

- Oh, early is boring.

That's why I like you so much,

because you're always so late.

How about I come over

and be late right now?

No, I've too much to do, um...

Just come to my party.

Oh...

Maybe.

Good night, luscious.

(PHONE RINGING)

Okay, I'll come over and buff your body

and bring a nice glow to your cheeks.

And I'll bring a nice foot to your ass.

Who dialed the phone for you, Speer?

I've been hearing that rumor again.

Once is a pain in the ass,

twice is a bore.

Once is all you get, pal.

I'm tired, Speer. Why don't you save

the patter for the pulp reporters?

Well, there's a good card at the arena

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