The Walking Dead

Order.

Order in the court.

This court will recess for 15 minutes.

That Martin's as good as acquitted.

That judge wants to watch his step

of the Loder crowd.

They're bad babies to play with.

Hey, lady, I bet you 5-to-2

that Judge Shaw lets Martin go.

- Scram.

- Oh, wait a minute.

Aw, skip it.

I'll bet you 10-to-1

that Judge Shaw lets Martin go free.

- Make it 100-to-1 and I'll take it.

- Oh, professional guy, huh?

Boy, this is a fine thing.

Here's a guy who walks into City Treasury,

grabs himself 350,000 bucks...

...and there isn't a judge in town

to give him the rap he deserves.

- What are you nervous about, Martin?

- I'm not nervous.

What's that on your forehead, dew?

If it were any other judge,

I wouldn't be worrying.

- I'm not worrying.

- Well, you're not on trial.

Stop looking guilty.

No judge will send you up,

not even Shaw.

Yes, you can set up an acquittal headline,

and if it isn't used, I'll pay for it.

Rewrite it, sweetheart. This is a feature.

I'll give you the lead as soon as

Judge Shaw comes out of conference.

Roger, you can't go through with this.

There was another telephone call

a half hour ago.

A man said if you convict Martin,

that they'II...

Roger, I'm afraid.

I've been threatened time and again.

It's the oldest trick in the world.

But don't you see,

I've got to do my duty.

Isn't your duty to your children and to me

just as important as your duty to the state?

Roger, I'm afraid.

I wish I was as sure as you are.

What's he calling recess for?

- Oh, stop being a fool.

- What's the matter with you?

He's got the jitters.

You'd think he was on trial.

- Yeah, he's the sensitive type.

- Well, I'm not at all sure.

- Well, you will be.

- Say, I'll bet you...

- I didn't know it was you, boss. I'm sorry.

- Well, what's your bet?

Bet you 10-to-1 Judge Shaw gives Martin

the keys to the city.

If you need money that bad,

I'll take you for 50.

- Fifty?

- Yes, 50-to-500. You made a bet, kid.

Yeah.

Order.

Order in the court.

This honorable court is now in session.

Dinner at my house at 8.

We'll celebrate.

The defendant stand up.

Stephen Martin,

this court finds you guilty.

Guilty of the charge of diverting

public funds from the City Treasury...

...and the misappropriation of said funds

as mentioned in the indictment.

It's the judgment of this court...

...that you be imprisoned in the penitentiary

for a period of 10 years.

And furthermore, this court recommends

that no application for parole be considered.

I can only add

that it's the public's misfortune...

...that the law under which you were

convicted doesn't carry a heavier penalty.

The court's adjourned.

This court's adjourned.

And I thought I bet on a sure thing.

Aw.

Ha-ha-ha.

Heh, a straight shot and I missed it.

You always miss the straight ones, Nolan.

Your play, Loder.

This isn't the sort of celebration

I had planned for poor Martin.

Don't waste too much sympathy

on Martin.

The only thing that's good about him,

he can keep his mouth shut.

Sentenced to 10 years

in the State Penitentiary.

- It's a long time.

- What are you jumpy about?

Look here, we've gotta do something.

Even if he keeps quiet,

we're still mixed up.

Judge Shaw and his DA are on the warpath.

He'll get us all.

Relax, Merritt, relax.

The DA and his office doesn't worry us.

I'll agree that Judge Shaw

is a serious menace to our organization...

...but Mr. Loder and I

have, uh, decided to give him attention.

I don't get you.

Why do you think we're playing pool

with young Trigger?

Yeah, come on, Trigger, take a shot.

Dig for your dimes, boys.

- This is where I do my stuff.

- What do you mean?

Figure it out.

Take a look at this shot.

Nice shot, Trigger.

Now, if you can just drop

Judge Shaw that easy.

What? You're not going to murder him.

- You get it.

- We can't do that.

Sure we can. I never miss.

That's a pay ball, gentlemen.

Dime, please.

- It will be easy for the DA to trace it to us.

- I can assure you it won't.

Murder, as Trigger will tell you,

is a very fine art.

- Covering up afterwards is even finer.

- Shaw is a hero right now.

The public is never going to stand

for another unsolved murder.

- They'll demand...

- Quite right.

They'll demand a solution and a closed case

and we'll give it to them.

I have a splendid solution.

John Ellman, fresh out of prison,

sent there by Judge Shaw.

- Are you sure it'll work out all right?

- Positive.

I'll make it doubly sure by personally

defending him for Shaw's murder.

- Make the best speech of my career.

- And lose the case.

What name shall I communicate

to Mr. Loder?

Tell him, uh...

Tell him it's something personal.

- Very well, I'll tell Mr. Loder.

- Thank you.

But I do not think

he will look up on you.

Excuse me, sir.

A nameless person to see you, sir.

- Shall I inform him to remove himself?

- No. Tell him to wait.

Thank you, sir.

Trigger, time you got going.

- Skip out the back way.

- Okay.

- Why are you bringing him here?

- He thinks I'm gonna help him.

He'll be a cinch for the job

that Trigger's got for him.

- I'm Loder, did you wanna see me?

- Yes, sir.

My name is John Ellman.

A man told me to come and see you.

He said you're always ready

to help a fellow.

Ellman, eh? Oh, yeah, I remember.

Judge Shaw sent you up

for second-degree murder.

Yes, for 10 years.

- Some woman in the case, wasn't there?

- It was my wife.

- I struck a man, I didn't mean to kill him.

- Sure, sure.

- Well, what can I do for you?

- I want a job, Mr. Loder.

I'm a musician, and a good one too.

Look, I'Il... I'll show you.

That's fine.

I said, that's fine. Cut it out.

Why, you don't look like

you could hold a job if you got one.

You ought to go away somewhere,

get a fresh start.

I know, but I haven't any money.

- If you could lend me some?...

- You guys are all alike.

I can pay it back

just as soon as I get a job.

- Sure, that's what they all say.

- But they said you'd help me.

Sako, get him out of here.

This way.

Got a light, buddy?

Hmm. Thanks very much.

Kind of tough running out of matches.

Say, I remember your face.

Name's on the tip of my tongue.

Aren't you John Ellman,

the fellow they railroaded to prison?

Yes.

Wait a minute, buddy.

I knew I'd seen you someplace before.

John Ellman. Huh.

- How are things going for you?

- Not so good.

It's tough going after a stretch, isn't it?

How long you been out?

- Two weeks.

- Say, you look kind of cold.

How about coffee to warm you up, huh?

- Sure.

- Draw two, Mike.

Yes, sir, two cups of coffee.

That's right.

If you're having tough luck,

I may be able to help you out.

That's very kind of you.

- Could you use a good job?

- Well, what sort of a job?

Oh, it's on the up-and-up.

Sort of detective work.

I need a man to watch the house

of Judge Roger Shaw.

Judge Shaw?

- Why, he's the man who sent me to prison.

- He did?

- Well, ha, ha, isn't this a small world?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes