The Racket Page #7

Hello, Lucy.

We've had a little trouble here.

Will you come on in?

- Hit it, I told you. Hit it. | - It's on the floor.

... occupants killed a policeman.

So you bumped a cop? Personal.

And I'm sitting minding my own business.

Shut up.

We've been trying to tell you | and trying to tell you. Now this is it.

Just drive.

- Can you beat that train? | - I could try.

- What do you think? | - They killed a policeman.

Davis will be here with a writ | of habeas corpus.

You will have Nick released immediately.

He must've been crazy.

Perhaps. If so, he may be inclined to talk.

They may not catch him alive.

We don't count on things like that. | Were there any witnesses?

- I don't know. | - Find out!

And, remember, whatever happens, | Nick must not be allowed to talk.

Chief, may I see you?

- Anything on that red line? | - No, sir.

I'll take her home.

Thanks, Mary. I've got lots of work to do.

Do it well, Tom.

- Can you talk yet? | - Sure.

Did you see who did the shooting?

He couldn't. He was downstairs with me.

So you kicked his face in, huh?

You'll get him killed. | You can't even protect your own cops.

And who's trying to protect cops?

Look at them. Three of the finest | that ever walked the beat.

Killed on duty trying to protect | the people of this city.

Just as Johnson himself was killed | here tonight,

probably trying to protect you!

How can any cop protect anybody | without honest witnesses?

So the buzzards are gathering, huh?

- Dave, do you hate me? | - No.

McQuigg's right. I was all for myself.

I never had anyone to be for.

You'll be all right.

Dave, if you talk, they'll kill you.

If you'd have told me | where Nick was last night...

Well, we don't know Nick did this.

So that's the party line, huh?

Who else would kill a policeman | in the station?

- No proof, have you, Mac? | - A confession will be proof.

No, Nick will never confess.

He will to me | before you take him out of here.

Mac, we're here to help.

We'll help each other.

I'll give you the pleasure of hanging him, | Mr. Prosecutor.

We'll stick around, Mac.

They won't stop at anything now.

You think I will?

Here he is, Captain.

Threw his gun away. They're looking for it.

The other man got away, sir.

This is the one I want.

Did that chump driver of mine | pull something in here?

Born with an alibi in your mouth, huh?

Alibi?

What is all this, Tom, a routine roust?

You don't remember, huh? | Maybe I can refresh your memory.

I don't talk without my lawyers.

Your lawyers are probably busy | trying to frame your driver.

- Who was he, Nick? | - Breeze Enright.

Breeze Enright.

I sent him up last winter for 10 years.

He must've got parole. | You know how those things are.

What did it cost you, Nick?

Paroles come kind of high | in election years, they tell me.

It will be worth it | if they hang this rap on him.

Maybe, if I knew what the rap was.

The sooner you know, | the sooner they can put the fix in, huh?

Where've you been?

This may be too smart, Nick.

I got a writ here.

What are you today, Davis?

Just a bondsman, Captain, | and this, a habeas corpus.

Issued before he did it.

It's all legal, Captain.

Habeas corpus, it's the law.

You'll get contempt of court for this. | Get Welsh.

What do you mean coming in here drunk?

And disorderly in a police station?

- And resisting arrest? | - Yeah.

Lock him up till he's sober.

And book him for murder.

Tearing up writs, framing guys,

booking me for murder.

Why you dumb cop!

Big, brave copper.

Someday, maybe I'll get you | on my own grounds.

Anytime, anyplace.

And no squawks now | about police brutality.

I was just protecting myself.

Book him.

Have you gone crazy?

Send Nick up here right away, will you?

- You can't tear up a writ of habeas corpus. | - I did it.

The judge will have you suspended.

He'll bless me for saving his neck.

- But this is a court order! | - For a murderer.

How would that look in print | just before an election?

He's got a point, Mr. Welsh.

You haven't proved murder.

You just make yourself comfortable, | Mr. Prosecutor. I'll be right back.

Well, Ames?

Mac, you can't make him | identify Nick Scanlon.

I don't have to make him, he's honest.

- Dave, you can't. | - I've got to, Irene.

Well,

if honesty's the style around here, | can I play?

Good girl. Now, listen...

Let Enright take the rap.

He can plead self-defense, | you get him a second degree sentence

and I'll buy him out later | when things quiet down.

It isn't that simple, Nick.

You're paid to make things simple, Judge.

Ready, Mr. Prosecutor?

Cut the comedy and get me out of here.

Right in here, please.

You know this man?

Not his name, but I saw him kill Johnson.

Now, listen, sonny,

take a good look at me. | Maybe you'll change your mind.

I'm not afraid of you.

Wait'll my boys get through with you.

Your boys.

They'll take care of you, too.

Your boys take care of everything for you, | don't they, Nick?

I thought you were so tough.

What's this tommy doing in here?

Fighting with kids. | Is that the way you got your reputation?

Joe didn't think much of you,

but at least he always bragged | about how tough you were.

That was one thing | he never apologized for.

What are you talking about, dime a dozen?

I'm talking about your brother Joe | always apologizing for you.

Joe never apologized for me in his life.

All the time.

And now it begins to look like | you're not even tough.

Why, you cheap, little, clip joint canary.

Hey, brute, | you kicking that kid in the face!

He got in my way.

There's your confession, Mac.

You didn't tell me you had a witness.

You didn't tell me you had a phony writ.

Don't ditch me, Welsh.

Well, one witness isn't conclusive.

They found his gun, Captain.

- Has it been dusted? | - Yes, sir. It's lousy with fingerprints.

Exhibit A, Mr. Prosecutor.

Listen, Judge, better get me out of here.

Phone Connolly.

Captain, I'd like to interview | the prisoner alone.

I'm going to do the same thing.

However, you may have him first.

You two come with me.

Get the old man himself.

Yes, we're trying, we're...

Phone for you, Mr. Welsh.

Going somewhere?

Now, listen, Connolly, I...

Excuse me, sir. | I thought it was Connolly, I...

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Oh, yes, sir. Of course, sir. | He's right here, sir.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Yeah.

Just...

Just as you say, sir.

It's the old man. He wants to talk to you.

Yeah, chief.

Yes, sir.

- Did you get the old man? | - Yes, yes, I got him.

Come on, come on. What did he say?

Mac, I've just got to have | a few more minutes.

Make it short.

Nick, the old man says | you got to stand arrest.

- What? | - Just till after the election.

Don't you guys know by now | you can't play games with me?

You know the publicity you'll get.

- Listen, you... | - We can't carry you and the election, too.

You better go back to the old man again | and tell him something for me.

I'm not holding still for any arrest, | especially in the 7th District.

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