The Racket Page #2

- And banking $600. | - In four different banks.

- What's the plural of bigamy? | - Oh, we can't prove that yet.

His friends even get | their laundry mixed up.

- So Higgins was a romantic? | - Oh, versatile.

You name it, Higgins did it, | and we'll prove it.

Well, this is all fine, but...

- Where does it lead? | - Exactly.

Higgins was up to his armpits | in the Acme Real Estate Company.

- Are you sure? | - We've had two sessions with him.

- Would he talk? | - All lies, but they led to this.

- Well, get him back. | - Oh, he's coming back. Voluntarily.

To explain some little discrepancies. | In about five minutes.

Yes, indeed. A beautiful morning.

- Beautiful for Welsh. | - Our candidate.

Yes, we're giving Welsh | a great opportunity for public service.

You're late, Higgins.

- Connolly, where's the old man? | - He's not in.

- He promised me that judgeship. | - He changed his mind.

- Whoever heard of Welsh? | - That's the point.

All right. Tell the old man I'm through!

He's reconciled to that.

Now, if you will just sign this, please.

- Connolly, I lost my head. I didn't really... | - Just there at the bottom.

- If I do, is everything okay? | - Sign it.

Now, if you'll stamp this, Davis.

- Notary. Your notary stamp, Davis. | - Oh, sure, sure. I'm a notary.

Hello, Higgins.

Why, hello, Mr. Scanlon. | Didn't know you ever came up here.

- Down? | - Hold it, son. This man's going with you.

Thanks, Mr. Scanlon. Thanks.

Blow, shyster.

All settled, Nick, | just as the old man told you it would be.

Signed and witnessed.

You boys got a lot of faith | in human nature.

He talked once before. He'll talk again.

Either a man's the type who talks | or he's not. Higgins is the type.

Now, he may or he may not be. | Anyway this stops it.

So this is the fancy Dan Operation | I've been hearing about.

This is it. | Quite an improvement, don't you think?

Not so much for the coroner to do.

He gets paid.

When we take over | the operation of a city...

This is my city, bright boy!

Just an expression, Nick.

But now that you're associated with us, | you'll be seeing a lot of new techniques.

Like this one?

You'd handle it differently, no doubt.

A little rougher, maybe.

Nick, with our organization, | those methods are no longer feasible.

"No longer feasible," he says.

The old man considers physical violence | outmoded, unnecessary.

What do you know? I think Higgins had | an accident down there.

Nick!

- He just fell. Like that. | - His heart, maybe.

- Hey, this guy's been shot. | - Shot?

I'm going to beat that light.

Watch it. Copper.

You guys in a hurry or something?

Sorry, Officer. | I got to get these brakes adjusted.

Okay, okay. Go ahead.

Johnson, a guy got shot | just around the corner on Oak.

for a limousine driven by...

I thought so.

Manslaughter. Extortion. Larceny.

And parole.

Get me a wanted report.

This is the kind of thing the old man hates | and is changing.

Too many loose ends. | Too much emphasis on the physical.

I'm quoting, as you know, Turk.

Could you quote some more?

- Policy? | - Yeah, policy. Nick Scanlon.

There's an election coming up. | Maybe after that's over...

The old man moves cautiously. | "Give a man enough rope," he says.

What was the circulation of this report, | all departments?

What district is Johnson in?

McQuigg's.

What's the matter with Nick?

What's he using for brains? | McQuigg's poison.

Since we're talking about McQuigg,

can't something be done about him? | Can't the old man...

Too much has been done about McQuigg | as it is.

He's been shifted, exiled, you might say, | but he always crops up.

That's what I mean.

McQuigg's got a great reputation.

Do I have to remind you again | about the election?

If we bust McQuigg,

every newspaper in town | will be down on us.

They'll want to know, "Why, why?"

Sure, but newspaper readers forget fast. | It goes in one eye and out the other.

Why can't McQuigg cooperate? | We've given him every chance.

Maybe he's honest.

All right, Turk. This is your baby. | See what you can do with it.

So he says, | "How do you like your new captain?"

I says, "I've been in the army. | I'm used to hard-boiled top kicks."

McQuigg is a good policeman.

I don't know about good,

but he's the toughest so-and-so | I've ever met on the force.

Tears the whole place upside down | in one week.

Well, it needed it.

This ain't a hot spot.

Hey, you a relative or something, | Johnson?

No, I just think policemen should be | tough and honest.

Please, no speeches. It's just a job.

If it's a job, get on it.

- Time for inspection. | - He's got you, too, eh, Delaney?

You a comedian?

Let's go.

Hurry it up, men.

Atten-hut!

Ready, Captain.

Boys, you don't know me | and I don't know you.

I run a precinct one way.

We might as well understand each other | right now.

I have rules and I make no exceptions.

Our job is protecting the public, | the taxpayer.

Don't ever forget that.

I will not stand for laxity, | slovenliness or second best.

You do your jobs right | or you'll hear from me.

As for dishonesty or shady stuff, | one time and you're out.

There's no excuse for it.

What happens in other precincts | is none of our business.

Our job is to just make sure | that our own house is clean.

If a man breaks the law and you see him, | arrest him.

I don't care who he is | or what influence he's got.

I'll take the responsibility.

Understand that?

- All right. | - Okay, men. Dismissed.

- Johnson. | - Yes, sir.

That was a nice make, Johnson.

- Good work. | - Thanks, Captain.

Hi.

City hall on fire?

I'm hiding out | from the new crime commission.

- They must know where to start. | - All reformers start well.

Well, at least they got you out | in the daylight.

Your district's safe in daylight.

What's up, Turk?

Your beat man, Johnson, | turned in a good make.

Yeah, I know. I just commended him on it.

What's Johnson like? Ambitious?

In the right way, yeah.

- What else? | - Everything you're not.

That covers a lot of territory.

Combat veteran, | third man in the civil service exams.

Clean record, no relatives, | no pull, no politics.

Poor kid.

- He'll learn. | - No.

It's political pets like you | who will learn from kids like Johnson.

Can I start now?

- Oh, send Johnson in, will you? | - Yes, sir.

Johnson, the Captain wants you.

Johnson, this is Sergeant Turk

of the state's attorney's | Special Investigation Department.

- This is a good make, Johnson. | - Thanks.

- If you're sure it was Durko. | - Positive.

- But you didn't recognize the other man? | - No.

- Even after you'd run the files? | - He's not in the files.

- What's this all about, Turk? | - Our department wants Durko.

Then find him and pinch him.

Yeah, but if your beat men | scare him prematurely...

Murderers in my district will be pinched | on sight!

You tell the state's attorney so from me.

Keep your shirt on, Mac.

Nice work, Johnson.

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