The Lawless Page #4

Joe...

Don't you feel sorry for that boy?

Sure... but it's not my fault

he hit a cop and stole a car.

Then you DON'T feel sorry for him!

He's nothing to ME.

No... he's nothing to YOU.

You boys wouldn't be putting

a little pressure on me would you?

No.

As long as I don't mention

the kids' names in the paper?

It won't cost you anything

to be practical.

Well, maybe just a little self-respect

Hey... what are you doin' in there?

Get outta there!

C'mon... beat it!

Get outta here!

Go on... wait a minute!

Aren't you the kid

they're lookin' for?

Leave me alone...

I haven't done anything!

Drop that fork!

Drop that pitchfork, do you hear!

Hey... come back!

Everyone is ready for the flash...

that will bring you a climax

to the greatest manhunt in the history

of this lovely little town.

Heavily-armed men,

tense with expectancy...

with their police radios

ready for the kill.

Oh Larry... here's a man who can really

take you behind the scene.

A great newspaperman who gave up

covering the world and writing books

to come to Santa Marta

and edit "The Union. "

Come over here Larry, where

the camera can see you.

Larry has a nose for news... he was

right in the middle of the riot.

Well let's call it a fight between

a lot of hot-headed kids, eh?

Well call it whatever you want to,

but it sounded like a riot to me.

I was there.

Don't tell me the Rodriguez

kid didn't slug a policeman?!

That I didn't see.

- Hi, Mark!

- Hello Jonas.

I'm covering the story too,

you know!

Well, step right over here.

This is it, folks!

They've got him cornered!

He just tried to kill a farmer with a

pitchfork and he's standing at bay!

Stay tuned to KTJC for

the TV scoop of the year!

Let's go at this systematic...

Now keep strung out... and if

you happen to see him

don't take any chances of him

getting away.

- Hello, Mitch.

- Hi ya, Chet.

You're sure he's out there?

Yeah, he's out there all right.

The longer you all stand there,

the higher my taxes'll be.

Alright men... don't shoot

unless you have to.

Why shoot at all?

Ain't you the new editor of "The Union"?

Yeah.

I chased the boy in here...

if anybody should ask.

Name's Cadwallader.

See that pipeline over there?

If I was the sheriff... which I ain't

because I never was lazy enough

to work for the county...

I'd hike right along it to the river.

Thanks.

Look out, mister, they don't shoot YOU.

Come on, boys!

I think he's over there.

Yeah... here's your desperate criminal!

But you better bring a handkerchief...

he's crying his eyes out.

You'll be alright.

So don't worry.

Could we have him right here

in front of the camera, Chief?

Right here.

That's right... move him over a little bit.

You are witnessing the climax of one of

the most dramatic manhunts

in the history of Josinto county.

Tight-lipped, sullen Rodriguez...

who with a wild night of crime,

stole 2 cars

and attempted to attack

a pretty 15-year old girl

is in the custody of the law...

and must pay the penalty for his crime.

That kid works for me. I always said

he was no good.

None of 'em are any good.

Break it up, everybody.

That's it!

Say, mister... could I please call my folks?

Later! Go over there!

Two.

Well, you know the place I mean... on 40th

St, right next door to the "Herald Trib. "

Where they have a stuffed fish

and a suit of armour

and they play this game of "Matches".

- "Blakes".

- Yeah! "Blakes".

That's where I met him.

Full of Old Fashioneds and a plan

to buy the "Tombstone Epitaph".

Well, I was young

and impressionable and...

The next thing I knew we had a weekly

in a town called Clovis, just out of Fresno.

Two kids, and the sheriff

hanging around our door.

So what does Joe do,

but get a job in Africa.

When I met him, he was in Australia.

Still full of Old Fashioneds, I'll bet...

But without the desire

to buy the "Epitaph".

I inherited the desire.

What gets into newspapermen?

Why can't they act like people?

I don't know about Joe.

Me, I was fed up with moving

from one job to another

and being told what to write

and what not to write.

You just think you were.

One of these days you'll walk out

on your wife and kids

and end up in New York,

which you never should have left

in the first place.

Not me! In the first place,

I haven't got a wife.

Wilson says to tell you the girl's parents

filed a complaint against the kid.

Thanks.

You can use my office

if you want to.

I know how you feel,

Mrs Rodriguez.

I'm a mother myself.

Did they hurt him?

No, they just scared him.

Could we see him, please?

Just for a moment...

Could we see him?

They have him in Blake's office f

or questioning.

They won't let anyone see him.

Not even his mother?

I don't think it'll work...

but I'll try it.

The chief must be in a good mood.

He said yes.

That was Paul's mother

saying thanks.

She has nice warm lips.

What we gonna do about him?

We'll have to get a lawyer...

the best in town.

They're throwing the book at him.

Assaulting an officer... grand theft auto...

attacking girl...

But why?... He didn't hurt the girl.

You and I might believe that,

but THEY don't.

Can his father afford $25,000 for bail?

He hasn't any money... how could he

possibly hire a lawyer?

That's what he's going to

have to do.

But how? What with?

Can't you do anything?

Tell people he's a poor scared kid.

Tell them to let him go.

That'd be like yelling at a thunderstorm...

who'd hear me?

And if they did... who'd listen?

Isn't it worth a try?

No... they'd turn on you,

wouldn't they?

For the first time in your life,

you've got what you want.

You can't lose it.

And nobody listens.

Thanks.

For understanding.

Extra... Santa Marta hoodlum captured

Read all about it.

Rodriguez stood there,

mud-covered, sullen...

cool...

a trapped animal,

if ever I saw one.

I moved closer to him...

stared deep into his eyes...

hoping to find some spark...

a little ember of remorse...

but all I could see was cruelty...

Not bad, huh?... for a country girl.

Maybe a little overripe,

but not bad.

Where was I, Mac?

Oh yeah... cruelty.

That's right... they got the streets

to Sleepy Hollow blocked off.

There's fears some of those gangs

might try to break into the jail.

That COULD happen.

No, there's no real trouble yet, but...

there's some mighty

angry people around.

Bail's $25,000. Looks like the kid's address

ll be the county jail for quite a while.

You must be psychic.

Or did you look in your crystal ball

and see a man trying

to figure out what to do.

I wanted to see if you were

carrying through on the boys.

Are you up to something?

Nothing to speak of.

Just so you keep your head.

Remember you like this town.

You like your place in it.

Don't let that heart of yours

start bleeding.

- You better stick to...

- Mothers Day?

Pretty close to deadline, Larry.

So sit down and make yourself useful.

You type a lot faster than I do.

A kid named Paul Rodriguez

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