The Case Against Brooklyn Page #2

New York Police Department.

Onwards and upwards.

We're starting all over again, isn't it?

Yeah, except I'm ten years older.

Ten years handsomer.

I like older men.

Things gonna work out, Pete...

I know it.

It must be Jess...

You got enough for dinner?

Ever since you do homework together,

I shop for three.

All right.

Hi.

-Hi, mother.

Posies! I picked them in Prestbury Park.

That's against the law!

You're speaking to an officer,

ma'am, I am the law.

Oh, they're lovely.

-Thank you.

Put them in water.

-Ah, honey?

While you're at it would you put

a little scotch in one please.

Hey, officer! You're not in uniform.

Hey, pappy.

Well, aren't we snazzy, huh?

What a bomb - a real bomb.

-All right, all right, all right.

Don't overdo it, huh!

-Very cute!

Now you can put it back in mothballs.

Why?

-Why?

Uniform's the pounding of beat, honey.

We're plain clothes.

Hey, Jess...

-Like 'Badge 540' here.

Hey, Pete. I want you to watch this guy.

Watch him closely.

See how he does it.

You may learn something.

What's he talking about?

Oh, it's nothing, honey. It's

our first assignment, it's plain clothes.

Didn't you tell her how we're gonna

lower the boom on the bookie circuit?

Jess, will you shut up, this is

supposed to be a secret investigation.

We can tell her.

Pete rented an apartment on 29th Avenue,

near the Polombo garage.

A few of the younger men

who could pass for students

were ordered to enrol

at different colleges.

Known hotbeds for gambling.

Others got jobs as truck drivers,

telephone line men and waiters.

Some of the rookies were given

a course in wire tapping procedure.

Hi, pappy.

-Hi.

Hey, this ain't a bad looking joint.

We could throw a little

party in this place.

All in a night's work,

you understand what I mean?

Yep, well I just may do that, but, er...

You're not invited.

-Somebody...

Widow, huh?

She's not a bad looking dame.

-I don't care what she looks like.

She's gonna appeal to me.

You're really going on the make, huh?

You know a better way

to get a dame to talk?

No.

Seriously, Pete...

You wouldn't go that far, would you?

Seriously?

Yeah, I'd go that far.

'Badge 540'... New York's finest.

You heard what the man

said about opportunity.

Well, I wanna be at

the head of that line.

Look, you look that file over and in about

ten minutes you go down the corner bar.

I'll see you there.

If I get a lead on anything

follow me out of there and look

the place over from the outside.

Yeah, I'm off to the garage

and a start of a beautiful friendship.

Remember, when you see me...

you don't know me.

Harris' story was that he had just returned

to Brooklyn after living in California.

He knew Lil Polombo was now

running her late husband's garage.

May I arrange a park here by the month?

25 dollars.

One wash job a week,

no pick ups, no deliveries.

Fine.

I just moved in to the neighbourhood.

Is there a shoe repair around here?

Right down the block there's

a shoe repair, a delicatessen,

bar, candy store and a fortune teller.

Thanks, if I need anything else,

I'll ask the fortune teller.

That'll be 25 dollars in advance.

Fine.

Tel... there's horse named Uncle Barney

looks good in the fourth at Hollywood Park.

You know where I can lay a bet.

Why gamble? Save your money

for the better things in life.

Like whisky.

Ah, er...

those odds at 20-1 looks good to me.

Do you know where I can lay a bet?

Tell you what...

-Yeah?

That Hecht's stand down the street...

-Yeah?

Get a cabby,

it'll take you out to La Guardia.

Hop on a plane and you'll be in

California in time for the race.

Oh, Mervin, if I were single,

I'd marry you.

You doll!

Hi ya, folks!

What do you have?

-Beer.

Two beers, draught.

-Two beers, draught. Coming up.

I heard about your husband.

It's too bad.

It must have happened right

after he took that shellacking.

Make a donation in his name.

I'm just trying to put you wise.

Too what?

Well, when you've been around as long

as I have you know a couple of things.

Er...Gus had insurance, didn't he?

-So?

So play it smart.

In suicide they don't

pay double indemnity.

Who said anything about

double indemnity or suicide.

Everybody carries double indemnity.

Now look...

If those insurance d*cks find out

about that strong-arm treatment.

They're gonna snoop around for five years

to prove that Gus was in trouble and...

then he drove himself off the road.

Hey, all of a sudden you're

so interested in my welfare.

I know it's none of my business but...

I know you're alone now

and I'm kind of alone, I...

So we orphans have to kind

of take care of each other, huh?

Ah, the gentleman from California.

-Hi, can I buy you a drink?

I already had one,

but you can give me your car keys.

You took them with you and your car's

blocking traffic in my garage.

Oh, I'm sorry.

-Thanks.

Why don't you sit down?

-All right.

I thought everybody was

moving the other way.

How come you come from the coast here.

Business.

-Oh, yes, a special kind?

Rudi's a business expert.

He drives a laundry truck.

Your business, my business, his business.

I don't mind... I had a piece of luck,

an aunt left me a couple of houses

the other side of Mannick Avenue.

I grew up around there.

Around here?

-Yeah.

Yeah, I've been looking at

you over my shoulder up here.

Aren't you Lil Alexander?

-I was.

PS47, sixth grade,

Miss Lederman's class, right?

No... What!

I don't believe it.

Oh, I don't remember you.

-Well, I sure remember you.

We were both twelve years old.

I was looking at you, but... er...

you were looking at those

big guys of fourteen.

Oh, that's me all right,

always looking at 'em.

Trouble with me,

I never got past the fifth grade.

Oh well, um... I've got some business.

I'll see you around.

And, er... remember... just say the word.

Sure Rudi, thanks.

Well, I guess I'd better get back too.

So the grease monkeys can get a break.

Hey, er...

wait a minute, you might need keys.

Oh, I must have forgot them.

I don't even know your name,

is it still the same?

Mrs Polombo.

Well I... it was... I guess it still is.

My husband's dead.

-Oh.

Just Lil.

Get another beer, huh?

So you went to PS47, huh?

-That's right.

It isn't too late to make that bet.

-Yeah?

Back of the barber shop,

round the corner here.

Tell them, 'Mervin.

the cheerful loser sent you'.

And while you're there,

give my love to my response.

Here, with you I feel lucky.

One on the house.

-Ah... thanks.

And the winner, Uncle Barney.

In the spread sheets...

... Coffee Clutch, Big Emma,

Coral D and King Jonas.

They're coming down to

the line of finishes.

Coffee Clutch by a length and a half,

Big Emma, Coral D and King Jonas.

I ain't seen you around.

I just moved in to the neighbourhood.

First National? I got a cheque

for ten dollars on Pete Harris.

Is it good?

For ten bucks you got to

check with Dun & Bradstreet?

You'll be surprised at things

horse players will try.

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