San Francisco Page #8

And that party's been going on

for two days and nights straight running.

There isn't a rougher joint

on the whole Barbary Coast...

than that home right here on Nob Hill.

They call this

the wickedest city in the world...

and it's a bitter shame, it is.

For deep down underneath

all our evil and sin...

we've got right here in San Francisco

the finest set of human beings...

that was ever rounded up on one spot.

Sure, they had to have

wild adventure in their hearts...

and dynamite in their blood

to set out for here in the first place.

That's why they're so full

of untamed deviltry now.

But we can't go on like this.

Sinful and blasphemous,

with no fear for God in our hearts.

That's the reason why I want my boy

to have a good woman near him...

and raise fine, beautiful kids

for the glory of our heritage.

You can make a fine man of him.

And maybe one day...

you'll be proud

that you met up with the family...

of old Maisie Burley, the washerwoman.

- I'm glad I know you now, Mrs. Burley.

- Maisie to you, darling.

Maisie.

Jiggers! Jiggers! The joint's pinched!

- Wait a minute. Where you going?

- It's closing here.

It's gonna be closed, so where you going?

- Hey, what's the big idea?

- Go on, you kids. Get back to the stage.

- Get out!

- Come on!

- No rough stuff now. Nobody get hurt.

- Good evening, Charlie.

- Good evening, lad. Sorry I have to do this.

- What's the charge?

- Serving liquor without a license.

- We've got a license!

- It's been revoked.

- What'll the rap be, Charlie?

Probably $5,000 fine and a year in jail.

- You know Judge Cardigan.

- Yeah, I know him.

But Burley knows him better.

I'd like to help you, but you know

I have me wife and me kids to care for.

Yes, yes. I understand, Charlie.

Look, I've been counting on winning

that prize money from the Chicken's Ball.

Will you give me a couple hours to rustle

up bail and get my entertainers out?

Well...

How about being at the station

before 6:
00 in the morning?

Okay, I'll be there. Thanks.

It's an outrage.

Burley's timed this so that

you can't cop that prize money tonight.

- Come on, Babe, let's take a ride.

- Will you bring me back?

- That's up to him.

- I'll have you all out in plenty of time.

Well, Blackie, had enough?

- Hello. What's eating you?

- We can't fight Burley, Blackie.

So he's got you buffaloed, eh?

It's tough, but if we trail along with you

we'll get just what you're getting.

And none of us can afford to be raided.

I'm not here on my own.

The boys sent me.

The district's full of little mugs who

are counting on me to go through for 'em.

- And I'm going through.

- Now wait a minute.

You haven't done any business

since they started raiding you.

Where are you going to get the money

to carry on your campaign?

Whoever wins that $10,000 tonight

could carry us clear through the campaign.

- Not if I win it.

- Why not? It's a good investment.

We'll build a new Coast that'll top

anything San Francisco's ever known.

The old Coast has been

pretty good to me, Blackie, yes...

and it's been pretty good to you, too.

Up to now.

Well, I'm not going to quit.

Are you fighting for the Coast, or are

you fighting Burley for a personal reason?

We think that it's personal. And we've had

a bellyful of this boudoir battle.

So long.

Get away! Don't you dare take my purse!

- Want anything from inside, Blackie?

- What?

No.

Well, I guess I might as well

turn out the lights.

By golly, that's right.

There's no use of running up your light bill.

You can't do that!

You know, that's the first time

the joint's ever been locked.

I threw the key away the night it opened.

See you before 6:00, Blackie.

Come on, let's get going here, now.

Come on.

- Come on. Break it up.

- Paper!

Get your early morning paper!

- Hiya, Blackie.

- Oh, hello, Bill.

- Have a paper.

- Yeah, thanks.

That's all right. It's on me tonight.

Paper!

Get your paper! Early morning edition!

- Hey, hey, wait a minute.

- Oh, you're jealous.

That's the matter with you.

- Mary, I love you.

- I'm glad.

Mr. Burley, the caterers are here

from the Poodledog Restaurant.

Fine. Have them put the tables

on the stage.

Yes, sir.

- You'd better look after things, dear.

- Right, as usual.

Oh, wait. You forgot to ask

the stagehands for the banquet.

- Did I?

- I asked them.

Darling.

- All right, boys. Let's start the music.

- Father Mullin.

- Mary.

- Were you out front tonight?

Your last night?

I'm glad someone of the old crowd

remember me.

I got my invitation to your wedding, Mary.

- Are you coming?

- Of course.

Good.

Mary, are you happy?

Yes. Yes, I'm happy.

Then everything's all right.

- Good night, my dear.

- Won't you stay and join our party?

No, I'm sorry. I must run along.

Well, good night.

God bless you.

Is madame tired?

No, no. I'm quite all right, thank you.

Come in.

- They're calling for you, dear.

- But I've got to change.

Don't bother now.

Change before we go to the ball.

- The ball?

- Why, sure.

We're going to wind up

at the Chicken's Ball.

- Oh, no, Jack.

- Why not?

- Well, I...

- That's all right, dear.

I happen to know

that Blackie Norton won't be there.

"Eat, drink and be merry,

for tomorrow you die."

- Dead men don't have any fun.

- That's right.

Alice, look what I found

in one of the dressing rooms.

Well, I can recommend him, honey.

He's my cousin.

Good evening. Just this way, please.

Good evening, folks.

Do you mind if I sit down?

- Hello, Della. I'm glad to see you again.

- You won't be for long.

I just dropped over to tell you

what I think of you.

You know, I haven't seen this woman...

since she walked out

on the best man in San Francisco...

to marry the town's number one rodent.

- I think you better go, Della.

- Oh, no.

I've got a few things

I want to tell you, too.

Now, in case you folks don't follow me,

I'll tell you that this mouse here...

has just had a padlock

put on The Paradise...

and thrown all of

Blackie Norton's performers in jail.

That's what Blackie got for picking

this phony up out of the gutter...

- and giving her a chance.

- Come on, folks.

Hold still.

Don't think I want to breathe

the air near you...

any longer than I have to.

You ought to make that mouse

awfully happy.

Here's a five spot, brother.

I'm buying back me introduction to you.

Ladies and gentlemen, now...

that distinguished proprietor,

that illustrious showman...

"Alaska" Joe Kelso presents...

the Golden Gate Trio.

There's a big sensation

Going around the town

Called the Philippine dance

Philippine dance

Blackie!

Beat it, will you?

All right, Della.

How about it, kid? Did you get them out?

Well, what's the matter?

Aren't there any hockshops open?

No. It wasn't any use.

My troupe's being held without bail.

Without bail?

- There they are now, celebrating.

- Who?

Burley and your ex-nightingale.

Are they?

He won't be satisfied

until you're under a wet rock.

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