The Racket Page #4

All right, come on. Back. Everybody, | come on. All the way. Back. Way back.

Come on, back.

What happened?

One of them got away. | The other one went up the stairs, I think.

Get him out of here.

Get back, folks.

All right, move on back. | All right, move back. Move out.

I called the coroner, Captain.

Yeah, one got away, one got killed.

Still not the one I want.

- Where's Nick? | - Mr. Scanlon is not at home, sir.

- I said, where is he? | - I am not empowered to say.

- Does this empower you? | - I don't know, sir.

Honestly, sir.

He had me pack an overnight bag for him | and left an hour ago.

Well, you pack another one and send it | down to the 7th District jail.

What, is he there, sir?

He will be.

Was it bad, Mac? Much damage?

- A fizzer. | - How's the wife, Mac, okay?

Takes more than that to scare her.

Go away, boys. | Read about it in the papers tomorrow.

Ah, Mac, not even a statement?

A guy who plays around with dynamite... | You finish it.

District Attorney Welsh is | waiting for you, Captain.

Thanks.

It's outrageous, Mac. Outrageous!

- You can count on my office. | - Where's Nick?

Nick?

You got evidence against Nick?

There's never any evidence against Nick. | The evidence always gets lost.

Witnesses disappear, | the record room has a fire.

We haven't even got a picture of him | in our files.

Kids like Johnson don't even know | his face.

No wonder the Governor appointed | a special crime...

- Well, none of this is evidence. | - Well, a confession will be.

Suppose you did pick him up, | he'd have a writ here in 10 minutes.

I'd like to spend 10 minutes | alone with Nick.

- You say yourself he's hiding. | - Not from the old man, he isn't.

You could find him.

I've never seen any connection | between them.

Oh, Welsh, this is me, remember? | McQuigg.

You can save that line for the voters.

Well, maybe after the election.

- There'll be one less honest judge. | - Now look here, Mac. That's pretty strong.

Welsh, there's decency in you. | Why don't you give it a chance?

The old man's making me a judge.

Convicting Nick Scanlon could make you | our next governor.

- No, Mac, you don't understand politics. | - All right, forget that.

Just between ourselves, tip me off. | It won't go any further. Where is he?

Mac, I don't know where he is. | Now, don't do anything reckless, Mac.

I'm conservative. You're the reckless one. | You're playing with fire.

- See if Johnson's still here, will you? | - Yes, sir.

- He'll never help you. | - He could be honest.

- Too much pressure from above. | - Well, I can add a little from below.

- The old man's behind him, Captain. | - Yes, sir.

He'll probably be at the Paradise Club | watching Irene Hayes.

- Yes, sir. | - Pick him up. Quietly.

- What's the charge, sir? | - Vagrancy.

- Yes, sir. | - If he resists,

there's a city ordinance against | expectorating on the public pavement.

That includes expectorating | broken teeth, sir?

Oh, yes, that's very unsanitary.

- Where did she telephone from? | - All I heard was the club, sir.

Then Mr. Joseph went out at once.

And then this perfectly ferocious man | came and roughed me up.

- What did he say? | - I hardly know, sir.

Then he...

- He what? | - Nothing, sir.

I tried to dissuade him, sir, but he was | an extremely determined person.

And I, Mr. Scanlon, wish to give notice.

You what?

I hardly know, sir. I'm very bewildered.

That? To meet Irene Hayes?

- Just an introduction. | - You want a receipt or a mortgage?

- What's wrong with a tip? | - It's so lonely.

Where have you been since Okinawa?

- Bob! | - Dave, how are you, kid?

- It's good to see you. | - Gosh, it's good to see you, too.

I've been taking | very good care of him, Officer!

Yeah, so I see.

Hey, wait a minute. Did he call you officer?

- Since when? | - I'm a police officer.

How about you? | You keeping up with your writing?

City Press. | I'm a reporter now. Cub.

Atta boy! You stick to it.

And leave Irene Hayes for the wolves.

Well, why the face? | You haven't even met her, have you?

Have you?

- I don't need to. | - Four dry martinis.

Where's the boyfriend?

- Oh, now, wait a minute. | - Come on, come on.

Well, he's in her dressing room, | but, please, don't make any trouble.

This is a respectable place.

Oh, sure, sure.

You know, that's real funny.

- Yeah. | - What?

Oh, no.

Oh, Joe, act your age.

- I don't believe it. | - It's true.

Is this your car?

- Yeah, what about it, flatfoot? | - It's stolen.

Get out slow.

You said Nick gave you this car | to make up.

He will. Be quiet.

Do you know who I am?

Do you know who I am?

Yeah, you're an auto thief | carrying concealed weapons.

I'll have you busted for this.

You can't ride with the prisoner,

but the 7th District jail is | only a short walk.

Yeah, come around. | Nick'll have me out in 10 minutes.

Can I help you, Miss Hayes?

City Press.

Thanks, I already subscribe.

Well, you don't understand. I'm a reporter.

How would that help me?

Well, look, I mean, | I can protect you, sort of.

It's a rough neighborhood.

How would you know?

Well, I've been around here lots of times.

I drop in to catch your act | practically every night.

All right. Let's protect each other.

- Want us inside, Nick? | - No.

I don't like the looks of this one.

Where's Joe?

Honest, Mr. Scanlon, I told him. | Just like you said.

Where is he? Where'd he go?

Well, I hate to tell you this, Mr. Scanlon. | Well...

- Stop stalling. Let's have it. | - Well, then...

- That thing's getting close. | - So?

This is McQuigg's district, you meathead.

It's gone right on past. Next street.

I was going to fire her, | just like you told me, Mr. Scanlon.

- Where'd they take Joe? | - 7th precinct.

How about the tommy?

She's on her way there now. | Walking, I think.

Cops got Joe, picked him up.

Now, we're going to pick up that tommy.

She's walking to the station, | probably took the shortest way.

You see, he was my sergeant.

He really looked after us, | kind of like an older brother.

Sounds like a scoutmaster.

You sure you were in the Marines?

Got an honorable discharge that says so.

Good. I hope your cop friend's got one. | Maybe they'll take him back.

Oh, no, no, no. He's married now and...

You mean that guy could get him fired?

Why don't we talk about you?

Why me? Why not you?

So you used to catch my act every night.

All I can say is you've got no ear for music.

It wasn't your singing.

Well, at least the boy is frank.

No, no, no, I don't mean that. I mean...

Stick to the newspaper business. | Stay out of nightclubs.

You might get your feelings hurt.

- What's your first name? | - Dave.

You like the newspaper business, Dave?

- You like nightclubs? | - No, I don't.

But I like to eat three times a day.

There she is. Slow her down a little.

- There's a guy with her. | - So there's a guy with her.

- Nick, listen, this is McQuigg's district. | - I know that.

This is not smart, this is Hoosier stuff. | Nick, I'm telling you.

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