The Face Behind the Mask

Excuse me please, could I trouble you for a match?

Sure. Here you are.

Thank you very much. I do not smoke.

What time is it, please?

Quarter past ten.

Thank you very much. So it is.

Say, what is this?

I am practicing my english.

Oh, I see. Your first trip to the States?

Yes... Look.

She is beautiful.

Yes, I know how you feel. I get the same thrill

every time I come home.

She is very beautiful, too.

- Your wife?

- No.

Soon. When she comes to America.

Well, good luck.

Don't lose your passport.

New York is a very beautiful city, huh?

Do you wanna buy it?

Oh, no thank you. But...

Can you tell me where there is a good hot-and-cold-water hotel?

The Carlton Plaza.

It's six blocks up, one block over,

and two blocks to your left.

Thank you very much.

They're waiting for you.

Six blocks up... one block over...

two blocks to the left... Carlton Plaza.

Six blocks up... one block over...

two blocks to the left.

They are waiting for me!

Mr. Policeman... I'm gangstered!

- What?

- I'm stolen.

My 59 dollars... I give all my

pengos for dollars on the boat.

The boat bankman can prove it.

You take it up with the Lieutenant here.

He handles all the big cases.

No, not him! I need a policeman!

I'm a policeman.

Look, all the money I had, it is gone.

I'm lost.

I have no more.

- Take it easy.

- But you can see, it is all gone.

When was the last time you saw it?

I don't know...

Oh, yes. On the boat.

A man was talking about gangsters

and I was frightened.

I went to the washroom and...

I am found. I put it here.

Thank you, Mr. Policeman. Thank you.

You have found my money.

American police is wonderful.

Yeah, we're pretty smart, all right.

Yes. Thank you, Mr... Mr...

- O'Hara. Jim O'Hara.

- Thank you, Mr. Jim O'Hara.

One block to the left and

two blocks to the right...

One block to the left, two...

My hotel is lost!

- Now what are you talking about?

- My Carlton Plaza hotel.

- The Carlton Plaza!

- Yes, with hot and cold water.

I better straighten you out again.

How about a cold drink?

I will make more money so I can bring

my Mara over from Hungary.

And we will be married

and then we are going to have one boy, one girl,

One boy, one girl, one boy.

Five. All americans.

And the boys will be watchmakers like me.

All I have to do is find quick a job.

The first thing to do is to

find you a place to live.

Terry Finnegan's place, it's just the thing.

It's clean, comfortable and cheap.

Look. You just walk down that street

for five blocks.

Blocks, again?

You cannot come with me?

No. I'm due back at Headquarters.

But you'll find it easy enough.

Just walk five blocks.

Straight, no turns.

Five blocks.

It's the Excelsior Palace.

You can't miss it.

But if I am lost again,

I come to you, Mr. O'Hara,

to police headquarters and you

can find me again.

You're a very good friend.

I will never forget.

It was the Policeman O'Hara who sent me.

You know, the policeman without uniform.

Sure, I know the old hog-trotter.

I want a room please for my home.

Oh. For your home.

Well mister, we got 27 empty rooms.

Take your pick.

If it wasn't for the cafe, I'd.. have to close down.

How much, please, for my room?

Six bucks a week.

Bucks? Oh, I know you mean six dollars.

That's right. Now... here. Sign right there.

We only got two rules, and they go for everybody.

No ironing. Because it blows out the fuses.

No cooking in the rooms, because

it's very bad for the cafe business.

Thank you very much.

- What's your line?

- Please?

- Are you looking for employment?

- No, I want a job.

What's the matter?

That chicken-livered dishwasher!

Every time his wife has a baby, he walks out.

And she always has 'em when there's a wash on!

I can't leave the stove, and the dishes are piled up from here to...!

- The dishes are dirty?

- That's putting it mildly, mister.

- But I wash, I can wash dishes!

That's right, this guy wants a job.

Can you wash 'em without smashing 'em?

In America I can do anything.

Okay, let's go.

Oh, it is wonderful here, Mara.

Wonderful.

You know, Mara, we will be rich.

I have a job already, and very soon

we'll be together.

Not this time, Finnegan.

Mr. Finnegan partially identified him.

Ah, the poor little guy.

He was so... hopeful.

What are his chances?

Third-degree burns, 50/50 chance.

Well look, if anything happens,

will you please let me know? And...

Here, slip him that for extras.

Unfortunately I gotta go to

Chicago on a case and I don't know

when I'll be back.

But you can always reach me

in care of police headquarters.

It's Lieutenant James O'Hara.

Give him that. And don't let him

leave here without notifying me.

You see, I feel responsible for the little guy.

I sent him to that hotel.

Yes, Lieutenant O'Hara.

Doctor, really the bandages are coming off now?

That's right. Is everything ready, nurse?

- Yes, Doctor.

- Lower the windowshade, please.

Tell me, Doctor, and soon I can go and

look for work?

What kind of work do you do?

Oh, everything. Watchmaking, wood-carving...

I have very clever hands, Doctor.

I worked in an airplane factory, too.

I can do anything mechanical.

I am a mechanical genius!

It's a good thing the fire didn't get

your hands, isn't it?

Yes.

Now just relax. I have to cut this,

and it may hurt a little.

Get out!

Why did she scream?

What's the matter?

Why is that mirror covered?

My face.. where is my face?

What did you do to my face?

Maria... oh, Maria.

That poor boy.

I saw that sign in your window, sir.

I'm an expert watchmaker.

- Good.

I would like very much to work here, sir.

What experience have you had?

Oh, I had experience in Hungary.

I was apprentice for three years...

And for two years, I was master watchmaker in Varazdin.

I'm sorry, the job is filled.

I forgot to take the card out of the window.

But I would work for very little, sir.

The job is filled.

I can do anything you need, sir.

In my country I learned everything

about aviation.

For one year I worked in a factory

and then I went on a field.

I even flew solo.

That was when I was in the army, for two years.

I can do anything with these hands.

I'm sorry.

I know, but my face makes no difference

how I can work with my hands.

I'm sorry, mister, but there's nothing doing here.

I know... I know.

Got a match, please?

Wait, you...

Scared you, didn't I?

You thought I was a cop, huh?

Well, let's see what Santy Claus left us.

Don't get nervous, buddy.

Relax, I ain't gonna hurt you.

Well, that cheapskate.

Only 12 bucks.

What do you expect from these stockbrokers?

He'll come back for it.

Well, what do you want me to do? Keep

it safe and sound for him? Not me.

Here... Go on, take it.

My name is Dinky. What's yours?

- Janos.

- Janos?

Okay, Janos. You know this is a

pretty good break for both of us.

I've been watching you.

I knew what you was thinking before this happened.

I was back there flipping a coin

to see if I'd stop you or if I wouldn't.

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