Marked Woman

Oh, that's the cocktail bar, huh?

What's in there?

It's a private dining room.

From now on, it's the gambling room.

- Make a note of that, Charlie.

- Right.

Take him out for a walk.

It's too stuffy in here.

That, it's crummy. Change it.

But, Mr. Vanning, it's French.

I had it specially designed.

It's still crummy. None of the classy

spots use that kind of stuff anymore.

I want the kind that sticks up

in the ceiling.

- Indirect lighting.

- That's what I want.

- Hello, Gabby. Still around?

- Yeah.

Emmy Lou is the name, Mr. Vanning.

All right, now. This is it.

I'm taking over this joint.

From now on,

you're working for me, understand?

Most of you have been around long enough

to know how I operate.

If you don't,

read the papers and find out.

Up to now, this night club racket's

been run on a penny-ante basis.

That's out.

From now on, I'm organizing it.

When I organize anything,

I make it pay big money, or else.

Now, this town is full of big shots

from the sticks.

They keep pouring in by the carload,

looking for one thing:

The kind of time they can go home

and brag about.

And torch songs with soft lights

aren't going to satisfy them.

We know the action they want,

and we are going to give it...

...from tiddlywinks to roulette.

But they're going to pay for it plenty,

understand?

In other words, a clip joint.

Yeah, and run on a high-class basis.

Your job is to soften them up

so they can be taken.

There's only one way to work

on chumps:
Our way.

With no holds barred.

High-class?

- You don't like it, huh?

- It all depends.

How much is there in it for us?

About 50 times what you're getting now.

But you don't get it for nothing.

Every week, you're going to kick back

part of what you make to me.

That goes for protection, hush money,

lawyer's fee, bail bonds, anything else...

...to square the rap

in case the law steps in.

That's one thing

you won't have to worry about.

Anybody that sticks with me

gets taken care of.

Maybe you like this setup,

maybe you don't...

...but you're going to take it.

I got every nightclub in town...

...and every girl working in

every nightclub, sewed up.

You're going to work the way I tell you,

or you don't work at all.

You got that straight?

All right, the place will be closed

until we get it fixed like I want it.

And cut a peephole in the door. The chumps

go for that "hard to get in" angle.

Come on, let's get out of here.

- Wait till I get my pay.

- Hurry up. We'll be outside.

Hey, you. Yeah, you.

Kind of old ain't you?

I need young dames here,

the kind men go for in a hurry.

- But I've been here a long time...

- That's the trouble.

You won't do. You're through.

You said you took care

of people who were loyal to you.

- She never worked for me.

- But she has for Beler.

And she's always been on the level.

How do you know what she can do?

Why kick her out

just because you're taking over?

Sure, she's okay, Vanning.

Why don't you give her a break

and let her prove it?

- You know, she can't wreck the place.

- Yeah?

- Okay.

- Thanks, Mr. Vanning.

- Pretty smart girl, aren't you?

- I get along.

How about coming up to my place

for a drink? I'd like to know you better.

- No, thanks.

- Why not?

Well, you've told me I was working for you.

So I work for you.

That's as far as it goes.

Anyway, I'm sort of afraid

of your social set.

- Afraid?

- Yes.

I might get to learn too much about you,

like Audrey Fleming did.

Remember?

If I'd wanted to end up in the river...

...I'd have taken a jump

off Brooklyn Bridge five years ago.

- You're not afraid to talk anyway.

- We're among friends.

And I think we'll get along a lot better

if we understand each other.

- I think I'll be a big help to your business.

- Maybe you will at that.

Good night.

- Smart girl.

- Maybe too smart.

- Thanks, Mary. You were swell.

- Forget it, Estelle.

- Good night, Mr. Vanning.

- Good night.

- What's her name?

- Emmy Lou.

Make a note of it.

Here you are, girls.

Wait a minute, let's walk.

We'll need some fresh air after that one.

That sign, what's it mean?

- Well, come on. What does it mean?

- Intimate.

- What does that mean?

- You know, intimate.

Personal. Get together. Like this:

Oh, well, why don't it say

what it means?

- Change it.

- To what?

- What was that you said?

- Intimate.

- Intimate. Make a note of it.

- Right.

Good morning.

I don't really look old, do I?

What does he expect a girl

to look like at 6 in the morning...

...after dragging heavyweight

salesmen around a dance floor?

Like a debutante?

If he saw me when I'd come to work

and my makeup was fresh...

Oh, let's skip it, Estelle, and go to bed.

We're all fagged out.

Well, let him fire me.

What do I care?

I don't want any part

of his clip joints anyway.

And if you do, you're crazy.

He might as well put a gun in our hands

and send us out on stickups.

Well, what are you going to do?

You heard what he said.

It's Vanning or nothing.

Well, this isn't the only way

to make a living.

- Do you know a better one?

- Well, I can always go back into vaudeville.

Oh, stop kidding yourself, Estelle.

Your dancing days are over.

You'd need counterweights

to keep your arches from falling.

Well, then I'll get a job in a factory,

behind a counter, anyplace.

- At 12 and a half a week?

- That's enough for me.

For cigarettes.

We've all tried this 12 and a half

a week stuff. It's no good.

Living in furnished rooms,

walking to work.

Going hungry a couple of days a week...

...so you can have some clothes

to put on your back.

I've had enough of that

for the rest of my life.

And so have you.

Well, of course she has.

She's just burned up

because Johnny said she was getting old.

Aren't you, honey?

You're a sweet little hyena, aren't you?

Well, it's true, isn't it?

You know, working for Vanning

isn't gonna be any bed of roses.

- And you don't have to rub it in.

- You're gonna work for him.

But I'm not getting into his trap.

And I'm not taking any chances of getting

a slap in the face with a spade either.

You know, we're letting ourselves in

for enough as it is.

Some will wind up in the short end,

but not me, baby.

I know all the angles, and I think I'm smart

enough to keep one step ahead of them...

...till I get enough to pack it all in and live

on easy street the rest of my life.

- I know how to beat this racket.

- Yeah? How?

That's what I've been trying

to find out for years.

- Good evening, gentlemen.

- Hey.

- Oh, look at that.

- Keep the change.

This way, please.

Where are they from?

Picked them up at Waldorf-Ritz,

metal industries banquet.

It's locked. Hey, captain,

commodore, come on.

Just a second, gentlemen.

From the Waldorf-Ritz.

McGrew sent them.

Say, are we having fun?

- Good evening.

- How do you do?

- How many?

- Four, please.

Right this way, please.

Are there going to be any more

in your party?

I don't know.

Are there?

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