Panic in the Streets Page #7

I can put a couple of bucks on for you.

Thanks, Blackie.

You don't feel good,

huh, Poldi?

I got a pretty good doctor.

Maybe he can take a look at you.

I'll be all right.

I'm just sort of cold in my head.

- I ought to be in bed.

- Aw!

- "Aw" what?

- Aw, you're always bellyaching, that's what.

- Nobody asked you.

- Leave him alone, Fitch.

Maybe he's got a touch

of swamp fever or something.

Look, Poldi, I wouldn't have had him

bother you. I wanted to ask...

About Kochak? I never should have

brung him that night. I'm sorry, Blackie...

- But you got your dough and everything, so...

- I wasn't thinking about him.

- But now that you bring it up, tell me...

- He was nothing. Honest.

He was nothing... Just enough to have

every cop in town looking for him.

They're grabbing every guy in sight,

whether he's got a record or not.

Yeah. They even picked up

the master criminal here.

Why do you suppose

they're doing that, Poldi?

I don't know, Blackie. It's like

I told Fitch... He was a cousin of mine.

- But I don't know nothing else about him.

- Some cousin.

- He might have killed you if I hadn't been there.

- Yeah, a fine cousin.

I thank you, Blackie, but he didn't

bring nothing into the country.

- I mean... He was...

- What made you say that, Poldi?

I don't know, Blackie.

I just thought that...

...maybe the cops

or maybe you thought that...

I got to get out of here

and get some water.

Sit down, Poldi.

Here's some water.

What made you say that?

I don't know, Blackie.

I just thought that you figured that...

- Why would I figure that?

- I don't know. But there was nothing. Nothing at all.

- Can't you believe me?

- Why should he?

Don't talk like that, Fitch.

All Poldi said was he didn't bring nothing in.

Poldi ought to know.

The guy was his cousin.

He was going to stay with you,

wasn't he, Poldi? He left his stuff with you.

- I don't know where he was gonna stay.

- Sit down, Poldi.

I'm talking to you.

It ain't polite to get up when...

I thought there was something funny

about that shirt.

"La Pere, Lisbon. "

- When was you in Lisbon last?

- You lied to Blackie, Poldi.

He don't like to be lied to. You know

what I mean, Poldi? He don't like it.

He just had a couple of shirts.

You can have 'em all, Blackie.

- That what I smelled. What have you got on?

- I ain't got nothing on.

You're lyin' again.

Perfume.

Dough to go out last night.

I'm disappointed in you.

I treated you like a friend,

and look at you.

- I ain't lying. Honest, I ain't.

- See why I'm always right, Fitch? Because I never trust nobody.

You make an exception, and...

You remember how it was when we

took Poldi in? Share and share alike?

Yeah, that's right, Blackie.

What's yours is mine.

Only Poldi doesn't believe that. He's like

everybody else... Just out for himself.

- No, no, no. That isn't true. I wouldn't do nothing...

- What am I going to do with you?

What would you do if you was in my shoes,

and a friend double-crossed you?

How would you...

Hi, Poldi.

Hi, handsome.

Blackie, can I see you

for just a minute?

Sure, baby.

Anything wrong?

No, nothing.

What's the matter with you?

Why don't you tell him?

I don't know nothing,

I tell you.

Blackie, honey,

I've just got to have a hundred dollars.

Sure, honey, if you really...

I'll be with you

in a minute, kid.

Thought that dame

gave him the brush.

You see, Fitch? Didn't I tell you

he's been holding out on us?

- Blackie, I didn't mean to let him get away.

- That's all right, Fitch.

Don't get sweaty.

Where's he gonna go

that we can't find him?

Come on.

Car 17, car 17...

He was tied up right off the end

of the dock here this morning.

Car 12. Captain Warren. Captain Warren.

Emergency. Woman sick.

124 Governor Nichols.

High-fever case.

Captain Warren.

Captain Warren.

Please acknowledge.

The woman called him Charlie.

Doesn't that mean anything?

- Not to me, mister. I've got a nephew named Charlie...

- I'm sure he's a nice fellow.

That's great.

Oh, I don't know.

That was my last idea.

- Captain Warren!

- What?

- There's a call.

- What is it?

It's a woman. Sick.

Fever case. It's an emergency call.

What's going on here?

Not now, lady.

The boys in the patrol car are

picking up the husband, Captain.

They'll have him here

in a few minutes.

I wish that doctor

had called sooner.

I'll have to quarantine the whole apartment.

Gafney will inoculate.

Call in and tell Monahan

I want a detail here right away.

- Cover the entrance yourself. Nobody in but the husband.

- Yes, sir.

- No chance of a mistake?

- Nah. You couldn't miss it.

Oh, Paul, I want all that bedding burned

after you get her out.

- That door.

- Yes, sir.

What about the death certificate?

It's got to be filed.

The doctor put down a tentative diagnosis

of pneumonia with complications.

- That'll do for now.

- How about the body?

- I'll have the Board of Health take care of it.

- What happened? What you do here?

Oh, clear these people

out of here.

Where's my wife?

Rita?

Where is she?

What you do?

- Let me see my wife.

- I can't let you go in there.

- What you do to her?

- Your wife is dead.

Dead?

Dead. Rita?

She can't be. You lie.

She's dead, mister.

This afternoon she said

she just don't feel good.

- I'm sorry.

- She...

Remember me, Mefaris?

We showed you a picture of a man

and asked if you knew him.

- You lied to us. Who was he?

- I don't know. I don't know.

If you'd told us the truth, there's a chance

your wife might not have died.

- Who is he?

- I don't know! I don't know.

Look, Mefaris, I want to

know about this man.

He had the disease that killed your wife.

Now, who is he?

- His disease killed my wife?

- Yes. Now, who is he, who is he, who is he?

Kochak.

His name was Kochak.

- I don't know him. Poldi brought him the other night.

- Who is Poldi?

- Rita served him.

- Who's Poldi? Where does he live?

- Where does he live?

- Gloria Hotel, I guess.

Come on. There's nothing you can do for him.

Let's go.

- The ambulance is outside now.

- Ben.

- Yes, sir?

- Have them work with Gafney. This place is quarantined.

Get the address of Mefaris' restaurant.

Quarantine that.

Then try and get a list of everybody

who's been in there in the past three days.

- Yes, sir.

- I wonder how many people have been in there.

- It's gettin' pretty rugged.

- Oh, look, you stay and take charge, will you, Ben?

- Send for any help you need.

- Right.

- Nobody in or out. Nobody!

- Right.

Come on. Gloria Hotel.

Let's go!

- Gloria Hotel, huh?

- Right.

Thanks.

Nobody in or out.

Nobody. Come on.

- What do you want?

- I'm looking for a fellow named Poldi.

- He's not up in his room.

- Where is his room?

All right. Follow me.

- Never mind why I want him. I want him!

- I swear to you, Captain...

...if I know the guy has a record,

I never take him in.

- I run a clean establishment.

- I know. Nothing but retired millionaires and honeymooners.

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