Hoodlum Empire (1952) Movie Script

3
Good evening, Commissioner.
- Oh, Commissioner.
- Senators. Gentlemen.
This is Inspector Willard
of our department.
- Senator Stephens.
- Inspector.
Senator Blake. How are you?
Senator Tower. How do you do.
The police department have been
helpful to us, Inspector, Senator?
- This is Ralph Foster, chief counselor.
- How do you do.
Here's the witness list, Senator.
There are 23 main witnesses
on this list.
We've been able to serve
subpoenas on 19 of them.
One of those served is Joe Gray.
There's nothing much on Gray,
except in the back files.
We've got a lot on him, Inspector.
But I'm sorry to say that we have not
been able to serve Nicholas Mancani.
He's still out of the country.
And he probably won't
come back for a long time.
You pay, Frankie. Add 50 for gettin'
up in the middle of the night.
Ok, Miss Williams.
They're in your office, sir.
Take that valise upstairs.
Hello, boys.
- We've been doing a little night work.
- Oh, yeah? That's good.
- How you feeling, Charley?
- He don't feel.
I'm worried about you being here.
It's not safe.
Why not? What's the matter?
Every cop in the country's
looking for you.
Nobody sees me. If you use a bat
on them, they still don't see me.
- You don't see me now, either.
- Honey, I see you. Here.
Suppose I'm asked by the senators
to tell your whereabouts?
Tell them I'm still fishing.
You've got to use a little imagination too.
Imagination in
court is called perjury.
Well, look...
what are we all going to do, huh?
Join a Sunday school just
cos some people ask questions?
- I think what...
- Counselor, don't think.
You do what you get paid to do protect
the interests of your client, Ok?
I was merely trying to do that.
Go upstairs and get us some
breakfast. I'm starving.
I'll try at that fish you caught. Uh?
- Oh, Floyd...
- Morning, Miss Williams.
Get the boss's breakfast.
Then go back to bed. You look awful.
Yes, Miss Williams.
'Ah, you did a nice job
on these books.
'You boys should get yourselves
a couple of hours of sleep. '
You don't want to be sleepy
when you're talking to the senators.
Charley, you've been getting
a lot of bad publicity.
What's the matter? Why can't you
forget what a tough guy you are?
Now, when you get on the stand, I
want you to be nice to the senators.
Say you want to help them out.
You want to tell them everything,
but you just don't remember. You're
sorry your brains don't work.
They'll believe that,
if they believe anything.
Be smart, Charley - act dumb.
When the senators put
the finger on me, you lambed out.
Why did you come back now
with all the head on, Nicky?
You worried about Joe?
Why?
Why should I be worried about Joe?
He wouldn't blow the whistle.
I'm not as sure of that as you are.
Or maybe you're worried too?
Ok.
I'm going to tell you why I'm here
and I want you to remember it.
I came back to make sure that Joe
won't be killed.
Unless, of course, it's...
absolutely necessary.
'Joe Gray has just come in.
Joe is Nicky Mancani's nephew.'
It is believed that he is still 2nd in
command of Mancani's gangster organization.
'This committee will now
come to order.'
Is Mr Nicholas Mancani present?
Nicholas Mancani.
Senator Stephens? Yes, what is it?
I am Benjamin Lawton,
attorney for Mr Mancani.
I want to tell the committee that we
have had no success.
My office has not been able
to contact Mr Mancani.
Your office advised us last week, Mr
Lawton, that Mr Mancani was in Cuba.
He was in Cuba. We were
told that he was on a fishing trip.
There is no radio on the boat
he chartered.
Fishing? I sensed there might be
something fishy about his trip to Cuba.
Enter Mr Lawton's statement
on the record, please.
I'm sure that if my client knew of your
desire to have him appear,
he'd be anxious to comply
with the committee's request.
Will you call the next name, please?
Charles Pignatelli.
Raise right hand please.
Do you swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth and nothing
but the truth, so help you God?
I do.
Sit down, Mr Pignatelli.
For the record, let it be said that the
witness appeared with Attorney Ben Lawton.
- Your name is Charley Pignatalli?
- Charles K Pignatelli.
Do you know Nicholas Mancani?
Of course.
How long have you known him?
All my life.
Do you know Joe Gray?
Sure, I know Joe Gray.
How long have you known him?
Since he was a kid.
Are you in business with
Nicholas Mancani?
I'm not in business with anyone.
I'm retired.
You have a large income, I believe.
I get along.
From what source do your earnings
come?
Investments.
What kind of investments?
Different kinds.
Are any of these investments
legitimate?
I have advised my client not to
answer because the inference is that
there may be activities of my client
that are not legitimate.
There's no inference in this questions.
Weren't you and Mancani in the booze
business during prohibition days?
We sold a little whiskey then, yes.
- A little? You sold it by the
boat load, didn't you?
I don't remember exactly how much.
The truth is, that you and Mancani
are still in illegal business, aren't you?
Businesses that are dirty and rotten.
And you use the same violent methods
you practiced selling booze.
Isn't that right?
I told you, Senator.
I'm a retired man.
Are Nicholas Mancani or Joe Gray investors
with you in any of this businesses?
Maybe. Maybe not. I don't know.
Tell us what you know about
Joe Gray's activities.
Well, I heard he had some partners,
local fellas in Central City,
I think there some kids he met
while he was in the army.
That's right.
We did get to know each other in the army.
But they weren't kids. They were men...
'real men.'
Flat out.
Keep it down. Medic. Medic.
Dawson got it. Keep those ropes down.
Keep flat, Ted. Don't give them
another crack at you.
It's Mike. Get down.
Sucker. Dead man over there? Yeah.
Take it easy, kid. We'll pick you up
once it quietens down.
They're warming up, I think.
I thought the artillery would be up by now.
We don't need those slobs.
Keep your ears tucked in.
Is the sergeant calling turn?
Report and move on. Pleasure.
Be still.
It's all right. I'm a friend.
Is that you, Padre?
Are you bad, Joe?
She knocked off that Kraut that
tried to finish the job.
Comprende English?
Yes. You stay here. I'll get help.
I just want to say...
You mustn't.
I just want to say thanks.
Your arm getting tired?
Any better, Joe?
That must be good blood.
Maybe one of your friends back in
the States gave it. Not a chance.
My friends don't give blood
to anybody.
How's the pain now?
Ok, we'll fix that.
That oughta do it.
What are you doing here, Captain?
We got in from the road when
we saw you hit that farmhouse.
Thought they had you guys stopped.
Nobody stops me and my mob, Captain.
Never did, never will.
That machine gun made it look
pretty bad.
Machine gun?
I knew about machine guns a long
time before I saw this man's army.
You took quite a gamble.
Any kind of gamble you want, sucker.
Horses, sucker luck, blackjack,
dice. You name it, we do it.
Just locking you in, kiddo.
Ok, Copper.
Don't forget we've got connections.
I'll break you if you
don't keep your nose out it.
You putting the collar on me?
Fine pal you are.
Don't talk now.
I owe Silk.
You're lousy, Copper.
Stop rousing me.
Do you hear? Stop rousing me...
He's asleep now. He was delirious.
Maybe.
Baretti and Dawson got hit.
Bad? Dawson is.
Dawson was from your hometown,
wasn't he? Most of them are.
Dawson's a member of my church
back there.
That's the tough part
of the national guard outfit -
you know your men,
maybe even their wives and kinfolk.
Sometimes, I hope I don't
have to go back and tell
them what happened
to all these men we've lost.
Sorry, Simon. That's
the wrong thing to say, I know.
Dawson and Baretti joined
the Guard when they were boys.
Wanted to spend their summer
vacations at the encampment.
To tell the truth, I joined when I
started in politics - to get votes.
Gray here didn't join.
Guess he couldn't fix
the draft board.
Sorry, Captain,
but I don't believe that.
When a New York racketeer comes
to you as a private first class
with a bunch of National Guard
replacements...
you don't think that's the way
he wanted it, do you?
The lieutenant's a good solider.
Well, maybe that's because he was used
to this kind of fighting before he get in.
The captain will have to admit
that he's earned his rank.
The captain?
Don't formalize it, Simon.
I admit he earned every promotion
he got, in spite of me.
I suppose he'd say,
he made his point the hard way.
I'm sorry, Simon.
All I meant to say was, politics and
war... they make strange bedfellows.
Padre, we're leaving, sir.
Run him nice and easy, Tracey.
- Mouchoir, s'il vous plait, Mon oncle?
- Oui.
Merci.
Hi, Marte. Hi.
Bonjour, Monsieur Dufor. Hi.
Pour vous...
Merci. Merci.
Ok, Uncle.
You're a little early today.
You usually get here about 4 o'clock.
We left sooner.
Vous prenez Les fruits?
Merci. Merci.
Ok, keep.
The lieutenant's waiting for you
at the hut, Marte.
- Voulez vous?
- Oh, thanks.
All right. Let's not rob her.
She's brought this stuff
for the lieutenant.
How's the outfit? Ready to move?
Well, the replacements
have started coming in.
And as green as we were.
For a bunch of green men, you
did all right. Every one of you.
Your regulars Sunday
visitors are here, sir.
An old friend of yours, Padre.
It's Marte. Marte.
I'm so glad you could be here today.
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will
be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts
as we forgive our debtors.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
God of our fathers
Whose almighty hand
Leads forth in beauty
All the starry band
Of shining worlds
In splendor through the skies
Our grateful songs
Before thy throne arise.
Home, boys.
Hey, Padre, now you can tell the folks
back home what heroes we are.
How Company F is winning the war.
I can tell them that, all right.
If you run into Amy, you can tell
her... You know what to tell her.
Say, you'll be back there
in time to christen the baby.
Amy will like that.
I like it too, Ted. But just a
temporary baptizing.
Just long enough for us to get back
and give the kid a real christening.
With music and food...
Mama Mia will cook the food.
And can she cook. That ravioli,
that spaghetti...
Don't wake me up, boys. I'm living.
The baptizing will be a good one, eh?
Yeah, they're really dreaming it up.
You're going to be there too, no?
I don't think so.
You'll be godfather. No. You've got
to be George to be godfather.
Only if your name George?
No.
George is a way gamblers have
of saying someone's Ok.
You know, all right guy.
Good.
George means good to gamblers.
George for good.
I'll remember that.
Then YOU must be George?
No. Not like they are.
Not like you are.
You see, they all came from
the same state...
province.
Most of them have been friends since
they were kids. Small town kids.
Village kids.
- Peasants?
- No.
That means farmers, they just
came from the same small city.
- Provincials?
- Yeah, that's right.
But, er, don't let them
hear you calling them that.
Oh, no. I won't.
When I was first sent to this outfit
I thought, What a bunch of apple
knockers to fight a war with.
Oh, apple knockers means hicks, farmers,
no provincials.
But they have something that big
city people just don't seem to have.
You've heard about men who would be
willing to die for each other.
They would.
A lot in this outfit have.
Look at the chaplain.
You boys know you don't need me.
God will look after you
if you just remember him.
He talks about God as if...
well, as if God grew up
with the gang.
Maybe he did.
Maybe they grew up with him.
I've missed a lot of things.
But I didn't know how much
I'd missed until I met these boys.
And you.
Me too?
You rich American have so much.
I'm sure there's nothing I...
You live in a big city.
I am...
apple knocker. Peasant.
You just miss your home
in New York City.
In New York City, Americans are...
are rich.
They have everything.
Americans that live in the
little town
have a little business,
little house, a small car...
have more.
They're not rich Americans.
If one owns all that,
then he must be a very rich American, no?
Would you like to live like that?
Oh, I think so.
I don't know.
Lieutenant?
Joe, I have to get
back to base hospital.
I think they're going to
ship me home in a few days.
- Well, good luck, Padre.
- Thanks, Joe.
- Maybe we'll meet in the States sometime.
- There's a good chance.
- Goodbye, Marte.
- Goodbye.
I guess we'll never
see each other again.
- Would you like to take 8 to 500, Padre?
- I'll pray for it.
So long.
'I hear that Joe Gray and his partners
run a gas station and garage. '
We're interested in businesses
other than the gas station.
How can I talk about
what someone else does?
I'm sorry. That would be
repeating a rumor.
Oh, what a ham. No. He's doing
pretty good.
Was Joe Gray ever
a partner of Mr Mancani?
The $64 dollar question.
I don't know.
Oh, he should've ducked that one.
What? Are you a lawyer now,
or something?
We're on TV, so everyone's a lawyer.
I know perjury when I hear it.
When did you last talk to Joe
Gray? When he got back from the war.
'What did you talk about on that
occasion? I don't know.
'Hard to remember -
It was a long time ago. '
'That part is true.
It was a long time ago.
'A long time ago... '
How does it feel to be back
in the old home town?
New York is your home town, isn't it?
It was. Will be again, I guess.
I was through with New York.
Yeah, but that was back there.
Now you're back here.
It makes a difference.
You did apply to
disembark here, didn't you?
A few things I have to get
cleaned up. Personal business.
You run home and don't waste any time
getting yourself elected for something.
- Good luck, sir.
- Thanks.
- So long, Mark.
- Be good, Joe.
Hey, Joe.
- So long, Pete.
- So long, Joe.
We'll be seeing you soon, huh?
Very soon. I only have to
spend a couple of days here.
Well, so long.
Hey, Captain, where you going?
I thought you was
coming home with us.
Ain't you and Marte getting
married in Padre's church
and settle down? Ain't we going
into business like we talked?
Don't worry, Louis. Everything will
go according to plan.
Boy, you had me scared for a minute.
So long, Captain.
It wasn't a bad war, was it?
- Just ended too soon.
- Ended too soon?
Oh, my aching back.
Joe.
Captain Gray.
Joe...
Oh, Joe...
- Are you all right?
- Yeah, I'm Ok, Connie.
I...
I don't know what to say.
- Imagine me speechless.
- Oh, you look great, Connie.
Are you happy, honey?
Oh, I was so proud of you standing there,
talking to those other officers.
I said to myself, Get that Joe -
best looking guy in the crowd.
You tired, baby?
Oh, no, Connie. I'm just trying to
get used to being back home. I know.
You've changed a lot though, Joe.
Your face is thinner and...
you seem quiet...
Connie... Have I changed much?
No. You haven't changed a bit.
And we're going to make up
for lost time.
You're going to forget
there ever was a war.
You're only going to know there's me.
Oh, we're going to start just where
we left off, Joe baby.
We're really going to live it up.
You're home.
Kid... Kid, am I glad to see you.
That's my boy - that's Joe.
Look at him. He looks good, huh?
- Well, he just had an ocean voyage.
- Nicky, it's great to see you.
Huh, wait a minute...
Look at all the stars.
How come you let those square heads
blow you? I forgot to duck.
Tell all your old pals. They dropped
by to have a drink with you.
- They're still all the same.
- Here he is. Hello, Joe.
It's good to see you, Joe.
Joey, do you remember Judge Lawton?
Yes, I remember the judge.
He's quit the Bench now
and heads our legal department.
Nice to see you again.
Very happy to be here on such an
auspicious occasion, captain.
This is Louis Draper.
- Louis.
- Glad to know you, captain.
- Quite a welcome you got here.
- It sure is.
- Boy, you look Ok.
- Hey, I like your ribbons.
He didn't get those ribbons
in a dance bar, I tell you that.
C'mon, kid, everybody knows you.
- Here he is, gentlemen.
- Hey, Judge.
Eddie, Frankie.
Here's our boy. You all know him.
Don't he look great?
What is this - a meet?
A conference, Joe, and these gentlemen
are all my associates, colleagues.
And everything that runs these days,
we run.
Look, when you left town, I was nothing
but a bum with a million bucks.
But what's a million bucks now?
It's just peanuts. Some peanuts.
What we don't own outright,
we control outright.
We got New York locked tight.
And we got Jersey, Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Washington...
What do you mean, you got?
We got, that's what I mean.
We got the parts of Florida
that count, Chicago, Cleveland...
Now...
Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada,
all the protected areas of the West Coast.
Down here, New Orleans is ours
as are parts of Texas and Arizona.
- You get it?
- I'm beginning to.
In all those parts...
slot machines, gambling establishments,
big city horse books and wire
services we own and run.
How much did our horse book
business do last year?
- Telling...
- In straight playing, in lay-offs,
a little over 100 million.
100 million? There isn't
that much money.
Eddie, what was your gross?
About 80 million.
Eddie handles the slots all over the
country. It must all be wide open.
Well, if it ain't, we open it.
Tell him.
We have friends, we have enemies.
A lot of square cops and officials
that don't care about a buck.
But we work it all very high class.
We keep lobbies in some state
capitals and one in Washington.
A lobby is people who
take care of our interests.
They see that Honest John
politicians don't throw a curve.
We have publicity guys that
build up our charity work,
or keep our names out from that swamp.
And the campaign funds.
We give it to any candidate who'll take it.
Some say no, but some say yes.
We're in everything that people want.
And we're all
working together like that.
Which finger is the Chicago Mob?
Don't say finger
when you talk about me.
Why not?
Cut it out, Joe.
Sit down, Charley.
He's got a right to ask questions.
Let me tell you, Joe.
I called a little meeting
three years ago down at Hot Springs.
Me, Charley, Larry Little Louie,
Pence and the others.
Anybody come out alive?
You bet. I made 'em two propositions.
What do you want I talked?
You want to play cops and robbers
or you want to go into business?
There's a war on, I told 'em.
All the suckers got dough...
Stiffs from Oakland, black-market
chisellers and nothing they can buy.
No new cars, no new homes, nothing.
And they all wanted action.
- We give it all, plenty.
- And the man with the whiskers?
Smart.
Pay the man with the whiskers
his taxes, I told them.
Pay Uncle Sam on every bit of dough
he's got a chance of finding out about.
Payment over payment.
Let him pay you something back
like we was chums.
We got the best taxman, the best lawyers.
One misses, the other jumps in.
I didn't know classy lawyers
handled people in the rackets.
Now, they all fight for our business.
And why? Because we're all retired
and respectable citizens.
Everybody wears a nice clean front.
I'm in real estate, Charley's in oil,
Sporty there is an art dealer.
He's got a plush showroom full of
Rembrandt's and Picasso's.
Everybody's got something
that's strictly legal.
Now, the boys and I,
we got a little business to talk.
Connie.
This won't take long.
Now he's all yours.
You're gonna be so surprised.
Captain, your new barracks.
How do you like it?
I supervised the job myself.
I wanted everything to be just right
for you when you came back.
Joe, what is it? What's eating you?
Joe, act like you're glad to see me.
You're my guy, remember?
Connie,
I met a girl in France.
Oh-h. So THAT'S what it is.
Is your conscience bothering you?
Forget about it.
I figured you'd meet lots of girls
in France.
Connie, this is THE girl.
She saved my life
the night I was wounded.
After I got to know her,
I fell in love with her.
I would have written you about it,
but I thought maybe that YOU'D...
That I had found somebody else?
I wasn't looking
for anybody else, Joe.
I'm gonna marry her, Connie.
I hate to tell you like this.
I'm sorry.
Don't be sorry for me.
I blame it on the war, like
everybody does about everything else.
Later on, I guess
I'll wish you good luck,
but... right now, I could kill you.
- Ok to come in?
- Sure.
We got to have a drink together.
Everything went smooth as silk
and you, my boy, are set for life.
Yeah, you are gonna be
in the big money now, kid.
You know, when his mother was alive,
I told her, don't worry about Joe.
He's gonna by all right,
his got his Uncle Nicky.
I will take care of him better than
his old man would... Drink up.
No, thanks, Nicky. Not just now.
What's the matter with you?
What's the trouble, kid? Talk up.
I'm leaving, Nicky.
I don't want any cut.
I don't fit in any more.
Oh, a little too big for you, huh?
Don't worry. It'll be bigger than
that. You're gonna be a big guy.
I don't want any part of the deal.
I made up my
mind if I did come back,
I was coming back to something
different. It's not for me.
Not any more.
No?
Well, uh...
what's for you?
I'm going legit, straight.
You got something to do with this?
Not a thing.
You know too much now.
You can't just walk out.
You know I'll never talk
about what I know.
Nicky, there's nothing personal in this.
You've been in the rackets, figuring
the angles since you was a kid.
Now you expect me to believe
you want to be a chump.
Why? I lived with chumps
the past four years. Real chumps.
Chumps enough to like
the way they live.
Even big enough chumps to fight
and die for. Ok, hold the soap box.
You're gonna do what I say.
What I say.
So long, Nicky.
Bye, Connie.
Did you and Mancani put up the money
and make Joe Gray your representative
in a slot-machine company?
I refuse to answer.
Did you personally invest the sum
of $100,000
- in the slot-machine company?
- I don't know.
Mr Pignatalli, the Chair directs you to
answer, and I warm you...
failure to do so will cause me to
seek a citation for contempt
from the United States Senate.
I still refuse to answer.
How much did you take out
of the slot machines?
That's more important than you put in.
I didn't say I took anything out.
I didn't say I was in on the deal.
But you were in it
and it was a rotten deal.
You had slot machines all over the
city - in stores opposite schools.
Children lost their lunch money.
Why, even you had boxes
put in front of the machines,
so the little ones could step-up
higher to put their money in.
Come on, you.
You were the chief and
nickel-nurser of this outfit.
How much did it amount to?
And how much of it did
you use to pay politicians
and corrupt dishonest police officials?
- I don't know.
- Yes, you do.
And you know, when you go
down the scale of evil men,
there's none more
evil than one who robs,
exploits and corrupts
the innocent mind of a child.
What was the amount of silver
you sold your soul for?
I'm not saying anything.
The Chair is directing you
to answer this question.
No answer.
You must some day answer
to this transgression,
this transgression of the rule of
all good men to protect the young.
You defied the rules of our Lord
and the rules of our country.
Never in all my years
have I looked on one so low
as he would fatten and batten
on such unholy food.
I nudged you with my knee.
Why didn't you answer
the simple questions?
Why should I tell that rub anything?
Give the impression you're
co-operating with the Committee.
He was just trying to needle me.
All that stuff about robbing kids.
What am I, their fathers and mothers?
Your answer on
Joe Gray wasn't very wise.
Look, will lay off with me,
tell it to Nicky.
The way we're handling Joe is his idea.
Gotta be smart, gotta be smooth.
We also gotta sweat in case Joe
gets mad and starts talking.
In the old days,
he wouldn't be able to talk.
Joe's all bottled up.
Don't worry about him.
Hear that, counselor? Don't worry.
No, he could just give it to all of us.
But we're being very, very smart.
Maybe so smart we all wind up in jail.
I don't like it, see. I trust nobody.
And nobody trusts you, sweetie pie,
so that makes it even.
- C'mon upstairs, dinner's ready.
- C'mon, get something to eat.
- I don't want anything to eat.
- We got broiled senators on toast.
Sounds pretty good to me.
- Keep her company.
- I don't want no company.
- Charley will be up when he feels better.
- Oh, good.
Joe. Marte.
Why didn't you let me know
you were coming?
Oh, I came by plane this morning.
Our children are all right.
This isn't gonna
be very pleasant for you.
Oh, I don't care about that, Joe,
as long as I'm with you.
I'm glad you're here, Marte.
If a man's in trouble, his
wife should be with him.
I'll get you registered, have a boy,
take a few bags.
Hey, why don't you look
where you're going?
Oh, I'm awful sorry, excuse me,
please. I didn't realize.
It's all right.
I should've watched where I
was going. Was all my fault.
You got the connecting room, Simon.
Hello.
Simon Andrews? Who is it?
Cab driver.
Did you just come up
from the court building?
I found a wallet in the cab.
Just a minute... Simon,
where's your wallet? Right here.
I must have lost it. It's his,
all right. Can you bring it up?
I can't leave my cab, mister.
I'm right outside the hotel.
End of the line.
Be right down.
Ok, sir, I'll be looking for you.
Cab number 149.
You the fella that found a wallet?
- Wallet?
- Yes.
I don't know anything about a wallet.
- Hey, looking for a wallet?
- Yeah.
Over here.
All right, Gray, the
boss wants to talk to you.
Don't get cute or you'll get hurt.
Go on in, Gray.
He's waiting for you.
Hello, Joe.
Say, what kind of a dumb deal is this?
Relax, will you?
I just wanna talk to you.
About what?
They're gonna sweat you pretty good
when they get you on the stand.
- How do you saw at that today?
- I wanna make a deal.
I don't want any deals.
I think maybe I can change your mind.
You see, your wife's coming up, too.
She's right behind you.
Maybe with her here,
you will wanna make a deal.
Oh, I hope nothing happened.
There's a car in the alley.
She doesn't like it, Joe.
She's trying to get away.
Charley, no.
Come here.
I told you what?
I tried to make a deal.
He wouldn't go for it.
I said no.
Upstairs.
Go on.
You - oh-oh.
You must be pretty dumb
to fall for an old gag like that.
I'm surprised at you.
You know Charley.
When he gets nervous,
he develops bad tendencies.
You want a drink?
No, I think I'll go back to the
hotel. I don't want Marte to worry.
I don't come in when I come in -
you don't go back to no hotel.
You down on the sidewalk
with a whole crowd around you
trying to figure out did he
jump or did he fall?
I know what you're thinking.
Thanks.
Charley's nervous.
He's afraid you're gonna talk.
You can't talk, Joe.
I got the hooks in you.
No matter which way you turn...
you're still on the hook. Remember that.
But, maybe that's better
than being down there, huh?
- Good night, Miss Williams.
- Good night.
- And don't forget what I told you.
- Oh, don't worry about me.
They can ask me anything they like.
I'll tell them anything I please.
As you will.
Joe.
- Connie...
- Outside.
- What're you doing?
- Now, don't play dumb.
C'mon, let's get it over with.
If you got something to say, say it.
If you haven't,
it's my turn to brush you, remember?
Yes, I remember.
You know what they're trying to do.
You're gonna help them, aren't you?
Well, aren't you?
I don't know anything about anything
and you'd better stick to the same tune.
Going down?
You drink this about every 20 minutes,
you won't worry about anything.
I only worry
about one thing, Charley.
I'm not smart.
Somebody say you were?
That's pretty good.
But why should they?
What I mean, Charley, is I handle
all kinds of money for you boys.
Keeping money.
None of it is keeping money from me.
You get paid.
Sure, but not off the top.
Now, if I was cut in...
Wait. Why should YOU be cut in?
To keep me happy.
I might be called as a
witness at this hearing.
And?
I can forget everything
I know if I'm happy.
Charlie, you need somebody
on your side around here.
- Nicky is Ok, I know, but...
- You said it. Nicky is Ok.
But is right.
I'll take care of this, my friend.
I'll never forget it, Charley.
All right.
I'll talk to Nicky tomorrow.
Tonight's no good with him.
I'll take care of this.
I want you to remember this.
Whatever you get...
you're gonna get it from Charley
Pignatalli, not from anybody else.
- I'll remember.
- Tomorrow, you'll be Ok.
I really think I deserve a cut, don't you?
Sure.
A man that keeps quiet
deserves anything.
And you're gonna be very happy
and very quiet after tonight.
Draper...
this is from Charley.
Miss Connie Williams.
Raise your right hand, please.
You swear to tell the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth...
- So help you god?
- I do.
Can't you stop those
fellas before I go blind?
I think you've had enough pictures
for the time been, gentlemen.
All right, Mr. Foster...
Your name is Connie Williams?
That's right. Miss Connie Williams.
Miss Williams, do
you know Nicky Mancani?
Yes, sure, I know him.
You know his present whereabouts?
How could I? I'm just
a friend of his, not his nurse.
Well, as a friend, do you know?
Certainly not.
He could be any place.
Did you know Morris Draper
that was found murdered?
Yes, I knew him. But I don't know
where he is now either.
How well did you know Draper?
He did some income tax reports
for me, that's all. A book-keeper.
You had some investigation of your
tax returns, haven't you?
Are you kidding?
I've been questioned,
bothered by so many taxmen,
I'm beginning to think they break
the new ones in on me.
Tell us the source of your income,
Miss Williams.
Here we go again. I play the races,
I bet on basketball or football.
Some fellas I know give me tips.
Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose.
Is that your sole source income,
young woman?
Fellas give me money and presents,
just like a lot of fellas give
a lot of girls presents and money.
You're rather well known
for the parties you give.
I like parties.
I give 'em to get my friends together
or just because I feel like it.
Don't everybody give parties?
Don't senators?
You spent over $14,000 in Miami,
in two weeks time.
I don't Know.
Maybe I did, maybe I didn't.
Can you tell us the names of some of these
fellows for whom you've
arranged these parties?
Nobody special. Just anybody.
Look, I don't burn up my own money
feeding these freeloaders.
Mister if you pay the bills,
I'll give a party for you.
She ought to be an actress.
- Do you know Joe Gray?
- Sure. I know him.
Did he give you money, too?
Sure. Cars, jewelery,
fur coats, everything.
- What's Joe Gray's business?
- I don't know his business.
You seen him lately?
Not since he's been married,
that was five years ago.
He hasn't given
me any money since then
or any presents either, in case you
and his wife are worrying about it.
Or any tips on horses or basketball games?
How could he? I haven't talked to him
I hadn't even heard anything about him.
She's covering him up. She's
supposed to refuse the answer now.
She's nervous, that's all.
Here's a list of the gambling places
that you bet with.
I don't know anything
about those places.
But you've made wages by
telephone with them, miss Williams.
Maybe I did bet, I don't know,
I bet all over.
If I can't get one place, I try another.
Some of those places are a name,
and that name is Joe Gray, isn't it?
If Joe Gray had anything to do with
those places, I'd never bet with them.
Sounds as if you dislike him.
You finally caught on. I don't like
him. He's just a fella I knew.
She's covering him up.
I thought she was smart. Quiet.
You never heard any rumors even about him
in connection with the places on this list?
No, I did not.
She's still stuck on him.
Listen to her.
Any further questions, Mr Foster?
- No.
- Senator?
Gracious, no. I've no more
questions, let her step down.
Is about time.
Oh, for heaven's sake.
Get out of here.
Let me out.
Get me Judge Lawton's office.
I got a question. How come I'm the
only one to put the finger on Joe?
That Connie protected him every time.
Judge Lawton, please.
Nicholas Mancani.
Hello, Ben.
Mr Mancani, do you think
it wise to call here?
Oh?
Oh.
Yes.
Tell them I'm sorry I didn't
know about it sooner.
I will be glad to appear
tomorrow, or any time.
That's right. Just got in town.
Mr Mancani, are you financially interested
in any gambling enterprises?
I refuse to answer that question
on the grounds that it might
tend to incriminate or degrade me.
If the question means gambling
activities prior to six years ago,
it is beyond the
statute of limitations, then I...
Prior to six years ago, were you in
the gambling business, Mr Mancani?
Prior to six years ago, I had
some gambling interests, yes.
- You know Joe Gray?
- Naturally, is my nephew.
Prior to six years ago, was Joe Gray
part of your gambling deals?
No harm in saying it.
At that time, he was.
You made a good deal of money
during prohibition, didn't you?
I made some.
You were a bootlegger. Weren't you?
Didn't you know bootlegging was illegal?
Senator Tower, I know there was a law
against it. It was an unpopular law.
A matter of fact,
we bought a lot of applejack
- from farmers in your own state.
- You know that gambling is illegal?
Yes senator, I know that, but...
nobody can operate a gambling business
unless people make bets with him.
Anybody who runs a gambling business
has got to have plenty of partners.
People that are going to bet.
A lot of good citizens bet, you know..
When did you last see Joe Gray?
Day came back to the
States from the army.
- And you've not seen him since?
- No, I don't recall that I have.
You know why
he moved to Central City?
My counsel tells me that I may
refuse to answer the question.
I don't want to answer questions
about somebody else's activities.
Are you're not a part of his activities?
I'm advise that I must
refuse to answer that question
on the grounds that it might tend
to incriminate or degrade me.
Then, tell us, without tending to
degrade or incriminate yourself,
what you can about the
operations in Central City.
'It's an easy one
for you to duck, Nicky.
Just tell 'em you know nothing, but...
- What you need, bud?
- Fill her up.
L&W? First time I've seen that
round here. You new on this route?
Yeah, first trip.
Say, where's Bremer's Warehouse?
- Turn at 48th Street. Right turn.
- Thanks. 48th, right turn.
We got special rates for truckers.
Best lunch room this side of Chicago.
You got quite a load back there.
One-armed bandit, huh?
One-armed bandits is right.
Hey, how much do one
of them slots weigh?
About 100lb, empty.
They're always empty
when I play' em.
What do I owe you?
- 5.40 less 10, that's 4.86.
- Keep it.
- Thanks. Want a bill for this?
- No bill.
Ok. Give us a try when
you really need service.
Yeah, yeah, sure. C'mon let's go.
I gave the guy our
regulation 10 off for trucks.
Might be a good customer.
Hauling bandits?
What's he hauling?
- Slot machines.
- Where's he going? Florida?
No, Bremer's Warehouse.
- Must have had 500 of them.
- 500 slots, are you sure?
It's a 10 ton truck, loaded up
full and half.
Bremer's has been closed for years.
Well, it must be
open for business now.
- That's bad.
- What, Joe?
Moving in slot machines.
It's a big racket.
- Nickel and dime stuff.
- Nickel and dime stuff, huh?
Multiply 500 by 10.
- 5,000.
- Now by 7.
35,000.
Now by 52.
- That's 1,820,000.
- That dollars?
Yeah, dollars. Each machine must do $10
a day, seven days a week for a year.
The graft grows and then
they move in the punch boards.
That's penny, nickel,
dime and dollar stuff.
That'll add up to another million easy.
Mamma Mia. We're
in the wrong business.
No, the wrong town.
That's grocery money, gas and oil
money. And it's only the beginning.
When you see slot machines, someone
is taking crap for protection.
We ought to put a couple in here and
pick up some of that easy dough too.
You know, being with you guys made me
wanna be square and get out of the rackets,
and now you wanna
put me right back in.
Clout him with a tire iron, Louie.
Joe, I'm a little bit worried.
Anything special?
This slot machine
business is really growing.
- They have them all over town.
- Yeah, they're doing it big.
Can't you go to the mayor
or the chief of police?
Tell them what it means.
No, I can't.
When I quit, I quit both ways.
I won't help them, Simon,
but I can't be a stool-pigeon.
- Goodnight, Daddy.
- Goodnight. Little Zae.
Here...
Are you ready to
hit the trail, partner?
- Sure.
- Here we go.
Hang on.
Duck, partner.
Left.
Up the hill.
Hello?
Hello.
Hello, Louis?
What's the matter, kid? Can't you
talk? I'm here, Louis. What is it?
Joe, come on over quick,
There's a couple of guys over here
that are trying to give us...
'Hello. Louis. '
You're a wise one, eh?
Does it take two of you to whip him?
Shut up.
Put one on each side
of the jukebox.
Girls, this play is for you.
It might win you a buck or two.
They hit him, Joe.
Are you all right, Louis?
Yeah, Joe. Easy, Louis.
You think you're pretty rough.
We'll show you how tough we can be.
There's trouble, all right.
All right, all right, all RIGHT.
All right.
Now the machines.
All right, get 'em in the car.
How did it start? I told him
we didn't want the slots.
Said they had a lot of
pull around here.
They could stop trucks
from coming and ruin our business.
Knock it off.
Big guy shoved me
and I went to the phone.
All very businesslike, isn't it?
Why not? It is a business.
We have a very good checking system.
That machine separates the coins.
Each bag must weigh
a certain number of pounds.
We know how much per pound
nickels are, dimes are, quarters...
Then they come over here.
Get a count of the rolls.
Oh, Then they check
one against the other?
They'd better check.
Tommy, take those two machines
up to the repair room.
What happened?
We tried to locate the machines in
a smart guy's place
- and he threw them out.
- Threw US out, too.
Him and some other yokels.
Don't tell me there's any trouble
about locating the machines, Charlie.
I understood there would be no
strong-arm stuff.
We don't want anything
like that to get around.
It will be bad, I know some
people down at City Hall.
Where was that?
A lunch room and a service station
run by a guy called Joe Gray.
Were there many people
in there when it happen?
Commissioner, please...
nothing to worry about. A little
window dressing, that's all.
I should warned you, boys.
Rough you up a bit, did they?
- Good enough.
- Well, here you are...
Take care of Tommy, will you? You
can charge this one up to me.
Joe Gray can't afford to
have those machines in his place.
Has to protect our friends,
like the commissioner.
To protect me?
Yeah, make him look good
in case there's ever a question.
Joe Gray's the boss of the outfit.
He's the guy you're working for.
So, Mr Mancani, you disclaim
all knowledge or participation
of any of Joe Gray's activities
in Central City?
Well, I know he lives there...
and nursed some kind of business
there, but that's all I know.
When were you in
Central City last, Mr Mancani?
To tell the truth,
I never stayed overnight there.
I just passed through once in a while...
- on motor trips.
- Try to remember this exactly.
Did you ever see Joe Gray on these trips
when you just passed through Central City?
Of course not. If I did,
I would remember it.
'I remember it.
I can't stop remembering it. '
Nick. Hello, kid.
What are you doing here?
I never thought I'd see you in this
town. Oh, Marte... This is my wife.
Marte.
- Hello.
- Hello, Marte..
You must excuse me
for breaking in like this
I was just passing through.
I thought I would come and see
what kind of a niece I have.
I'm your Uncle Nick.
- Yes, I know. Joe has told me about you.
- Ah, you're a nice-looking girl.
It's a nice little place.
You're looking good too.
I hear you've got some little ones.
Yes, a boy and a girl.
They're upstairs asleep.
Al right if I take a peak?
I don't want to disturb them.
- It's all right.
- Sure. I'll take you up.
Oh...
that's some boy.
Look at that.
Looks like her - the wife.
- She's almost...
- Sish. Wake her up.
They don't wake up that easy.
How you been doin', Joe?
All right. I've got a nice little
business going.
- Making money?
- Some.
A nice little business...
- You must stick to it.
- That's what I'm doing.
You're busting into mine.
Oh... I see.
That's why you're here.
Charley was pretty steamed up about
what happened last week here.
You harassed a couple of our boys.
They tried to move in on me,
slugged one of my buddy.
I know all about it.
You know how it is when you
move in a new location.
There are always arguments.
You're moving in here?
This is a kind of small town for a
big operation like yours.
I thought you just
went for the big spots.
Things change.
We don't operate on the big towns now.
We have the little ones the
in-between, the link-up.
How did you get sent here?
The usual way. Bought protection.
Oh, you know... But right now,
we could use a little help.
No, Nicky. Count me out.
Not for me, never mind me. But a lot
of your old friends are in on this.
Nicky, my real friends are here.
They're the people you're going
to hurt, the people of this town.
- I'm not going to help you do that.
- Ok, don't help.
- But don't stand in our way.
- Let's get this straight...
I don't want any part of your deal,
or anything to do with anybody
that has any part of it.
You're a lucky guy.
You've got a nice home, wife, kids...
You got a lot to lose.
Take my advice...
Don't try to stop us.
On any of these trips, did you look
over any of the gambling outfits there
the slot-machine company,
the casino, the lay-off officers?
No reason for me to do that.
But you do know there are
such places running there?
Oh, I'd heard there was,
but I can't swear it's true.
Just tell us what you do know
about gambling in that city.
You ought to tell him.
You knew all about it.
Most of us gamble on something...
a little bridge, a little poker,
a day at the racetrack -
but some of you place your $2 bet
on a horse with a bookmaker,
give it to the man on the cigar stand
or to someone in the office who
knows someone who will take a bet.
Now, that $2 bet seems like a small thing.
But that $2 bet and the nickel slot machine
are two things I wanna talk about.
These two apparently harmless actions,
practiced by people
who think they are law-abiding,
provide a crime
syndicate in the United States
with over $20 billion a year in
revenue. That's 20 billion.
There are other national sources of revenue
pouring into that same stream.
The punch-board, the numbers
racket... sweepstake tickets...
the football-pool tickets
and wages...
That stream of revenue permits these
hoodlums to corrupt politicians,
police officers, judges, and even up to the
higher echelons of public servants.
These hoodlums do this by contributing to
election funds and campaign funds.
These people deal in evil and murder.
They do their deeds for money.
And when you gamble with them,
you are their partners.
Partners in a system that leads
to crime, corruption and murder.
I want you to remember that.
I want you to think that over.
I want you, instead,
to become MY partners...
and fight this vicious system.
You were great, skipper, great.
- Thank you, Louis. Hello, Simon.
- Hello, Bill.
You know, it's quite a surprise
seeing you all here tonight.
When we heard you were
opening up your campaign,
we decided to drive-up and
get you up a good start.
Thanks Bif.
Joe he said, let's close-up to hear
what the old man has to say.
- It was a great speech, Bill.
- Joe...
Mrs Stephens took me up
to see the children.
Oh, they're adorable. The big one
woke up. How old is he?
Mike is 10.
He looks at his mother and
asks, how did Papa do?
When Alice said fine, he answered
good and went back to sleep.
How many do you have, Bill?
Three. Mike and the two girls.
- Let's get to the food.
- What's the sense of saving it?
So you liked
what I said tonight, huh?
- Yeah, I liked it.
- I meant it, Joe.
I know you did, Bill, and I think
you got a lot of votes tonight.
You got mine.
I'll even make a campaign contribution.
I'm not gonna stall around about this, Joe.
You're pretty smart,
coming up here and telling me
what a great speech I made
and that you'll contribute
to my campaign fund.
- Is that smart?
- Joe...
- you're part of what I'm fighting.
- You're wrong...
as wrong as a man can be.
No, I'm not. You're running pretty
strong in Central City, Joe.
All I'm running
is a gas station and a garage.
- What about the Flowers Club?
- What about it?
I understand it's yours.
- I've never been in it.
- And Blinky's Book?
- I've heard of it.
- You own it, or part of it.
You're in the
slot-machine deal department.
Bill, you're not talking sense.
You rent six notorious houses around
the Sportsman's Bar and Grill.
I don't even know where
the Sportsman's Bar and Grill is.
All right, forget it. If you don't
own or operate any of these places,
you bring me the Joe Gray that does
and I'll apologize.
Hey, I'd better be getting back
to the others.
The boys will think
I'm making a deal with you.
Alice, do they look like the boys I've
been talking about all these years?
The best patrol in the army.
Paesano.
We'd better get started back, honey.
- Hello.
- I'm afraid I don't know you, sir.
- What's the name?
- Gray. Joe Gray.
Oh, Mr Gray... Excuse me.
I'm sorry, Mr Gray. Come right in.
How do you do, Mr Gray?
How are you, sir?
Fine.
I expected to see
you around here long before this.
Hello, Joe.
Hello, Lonnie, when you get in town?
About three months ago.
I wanted to look you up,
but they told me that
wasn't the way we were doing it.
Glad to see you.
Meyers is in the cashier's office.
Doing wonderful, just doing wonderful.
I've got the books here to show you.
This is the weekly tally.
You know, we burn this every week.
Of course, we're losing
money on the restaurant
but that's in another set of books.
Yeah, I figured it was.
- How are you handling my cut?
- Like I was told.
Pollack picks it up
every night when we close.
Something wrong, Mr Gray?
No, nothing's wrong.
I didn't think so,
with Pollack handling it.
Well, I just thought
I'd look things over. Much obliged.
- So long.
- So long, Mr Gray.
- And if there's anything wrong...
- Goodnight.
I'd like to know how the bills
are paid at those addresses.
The meter's in the name of Joe Gray.
I thought they were.
All on the first by cash...
I see. Thank you very much.
I'm just checking on Gray's credit.
What's up? You've been on that phone
all day. Gonna buy some real estate?
Look Louie, you can you
hold down here, can't you?
- I wanna go out for a little while.
- Sure, sure.
As a matter of fact, I may
be gone all afternoon.
Sure, go out and enjoy yourself.
We'll make it.
I don't believe you know me,
Chief Tayls. I'm Joe Gray.
No. I know a lot about you.
What's on your mind?
I find that my name is tied into some
things that are going on in this town.
So do I, Mr Gray, and if I had my
way, I'd throw the book at you.
We have an anti-gambling squad and a
vice squad that's supposed to do that job.
I just running a desk, instead
of running you and all your kind in.
The only business I have is a gas station.
I want you to understand that.
I know you want me
to understand that.
I've been in this force 22 years,
and I and a lot of others on here are
just waiting to get our hands untied.
Then we'll show you and your mob
that we understand how to
take care of the lot of you.
You get out of here.
And don't you ever come back in here
until they bring you in with cuffs on you.
Ricky's bookmaking joint,
the slot machine outfit...
I'm tied into everything,
just like Bill Stephens said.
On the records, wherever you
look, you find Joe Gray.
But those signatures would
be forgeries, won't be, Joe?
Yeah, but they'll be good forgeries.
And all the grapevine talk
has me tagged as the boss.
What are you gonna do about it?
Get out of this town.
And tell no-one where we're going.
You don't mean we have
to leave our home...
leave our friends, leave here
because we are afraid?
- No, Joe, we can't do that.
- What else can we do?
We'll stay here.
You told me so many times that
people have no fear in this country,
that if the cause is just, that a
man's rights are protected always.
- What do you think, Padre?
- She's right, Joe.
Of course I am right.
We have people here who
know us, like Simon, like the boys.
They'll help us in our trouble.
If we run away from here now,
we'll be like the poor people
on the roads during the war.
They left their homes
to go out and die in strange places.
It didn't help them to run, Joe.
It's not going to help us.
What about the racing wire service that
goes there, the lay-offs that are handled?
I'm retired, senator.
I hear this and I hear that, but I
can't be sure if what I hear is true.
In that regard, Mr Chairman, I'd like
to say something to the witness.
We can't tell from your testimony
what's true and what's not true either.
We know that words are frequently
woven into a web to deceive,
and we know that the signs of
deception are sure signs that
anyone with any sense can feel.
And your evasions, sir, have about
them, the smell of falsehood
and the stench of lies.
You pretend you want to aid us
in finding the truth, and I say pretend.
Because you've no such purpose.
Mr. Mancani...
we're not misled by your manner,
we're not impressed by your arrogance,
and we're not
beguiled by your plausibility.
I know that at this moment, you feel
victorious, you feel like a winner.
A slimy tricky man
of cleverness and cupidity,
but so far as I'm concerned, sir,
you are so apparent,
that your artifice
and your guile serve only
to show the shallowness and the stupidity
of one who tries to confound
the truth with smirks and grimaces
and a tawdry imitation
of frankness and sincerity.
We're not yet done with you, Mr. Mancani.
You may step down, Mr Mancani.
The committee will
adjourn at this early hour
to permit its members to meet
in executive session tonight.
The meeting is adjourned.
If he didn't like that tongue-lashing,
it'll only make him tougher tomorrow.
He keep on giving the impression
he's trying to cover-up for me,
and every time he answer a
question he'll get me in deeper.
Suppose when you get on the
stand you tell the truth.
Stephens wouldn't believe it.
He has cancels checks made out to me,
records of payrolls, all rigged, but...
all convincing.
There must be some way you
can prove they're wrong.
Stephens thinks he can
get Nicky through me.
I'm the man in the middle, Marte.
Mancani lied when he said he
didn't see you in Central City.
- How can I prove it?
- Let me tell that he did come to our house.
No, I can't get you mixed up in this,
honey, I know what they're like.
Why can't they leave us alone?
When you know too much,
they won't let you get out.
I'm afraid of a lot of things...
things I've told Simon, but no-one else.
Not even you.
You made up your mind what
you want, Simon?
I'm not hungry.
I'd kind of like to be alone.
You'll be alright?
I can see better without my eyes
than most people can with them.
- Goodnight., Marte.
- Goodnight.
- So I looked pretty good on television?
- Ha, you were great.
And I got no beef for the
way you handled Joe.
He was frying. That senator
gave it to you pretty good, too.
Well, he was very interesting to me.
He has a large vocabulary.
What is it?
'Reverend Andrews to see you. '
He says he has some word
from Joe Gray.
Send him in. Is that the blind
preacher from Central City?
Yeah.
Those Holy Joes
always bring me bad luck.
You better see him.
- Come in, please.
- You're Mr Pignatalli?
That's right. Mr Mancani
is not here right now.
- A friend of mine...
- I know you're not alone and...
- I'd like to talk to you privately.
- Sorry, boys, this is private.
I would rather meet with
nine cross-eyed black cats
than bump into one of those crows.
Every time I see one,
something bad happens.
What can I do for you, Reverend?
I'm not asking for anything
from you and Mr Mancani.
I'm demanding it.
Strong talk, minister.
I'm not frightened by
you or any of your people.
I know a lot about you, Mr. Pignatalli.
And, unless you and Mancani right the
wrong that you have done Joe,
I'm going to Bill Stephens and ask him
to let me testify and tell what I know.
Alright, and what'll you tell?
Joe is a good boy,
goes to church?
I'm going a tell him how you
took over the racing wire,
what happened to Jelly Cohen,
where the bottle money
is cached and how much it is.
I'm going a tell him what I
think happened to Draper,
and I'm gonna prove
that Mancani perjured himself
when he said he didn't see Joe in
Central City. Shall I go on?
You can prove that?
The FBI can prove it because
I'll tell them where to start.
Joe wouldn't do that.
He has some idea about
loyalty to Nicky Mancani.
I have no such idea.
Joe send you up here?
Joe or no one else knows
that I'm here. You framed Joe.
They won't believe him,
but they'll believe me.
Preacher, looks like you
got me over a barrel.
Only I can say but yes.
We'll clear Joe.
That's all I want, but you're
gonna start clearing him tomorrow.
Ah, this way is closer.
You don't mind if we handle
this in our own way?
- All I want to know is that it's done.
- All right.
You can tell Joe that it's settled.
I'll talk to Nicky tonight.
Operator, would you take
this gentleman down, please?
All we had to go on was this hotel
key, so we called the hotel.
Is Simon?
Being blind, your friend probably
stepped into the open shaft.
It's an easy place to have an accident.
Is there anything else
you want from me?
No, sir, there is they call you..
Oh, poor Simon seemed
so sure of his steps.
It wasn't an accident.
They killed him.
OH, no, they wouldn't.
They did. I want you
to go back home right away.
- But you'll be alone...
- You've got to get out of here.
- Take the first plane out.
- I can't leave you now.
Don't even go back to the hotel
to pack. Go right to the airport.
When you get home, tell the Dawsons to
stay in the house with you and the kids.
Oh, Joe.
Driver, take this lady to LaGuardia
Airport. She's in a hurry.
Driver, I'm not going to the airport.
Please take me to the
Federal Building. Hurry up.
Is Senator Stephens here?
- Does he expect you?
- No, I'm Mrs Gray. I must see him.
Hello, Marte.
I'm permitted to come here?
Is it all right?
- Of course. Come and sit down.
- Thank you.
I came to tell you that...
that Simon is dead.
Simon? Dead?
- But... how?
- Joe said he was killed. Murdered.
Why? Why would
anyone want to kill Simon?
Because he believed
my husband is honest.
Because he wanted to help him.
He gave his life for him.
You don't think my husband is honest.
Maybe you won't understand why...
Simon did.
Simon always did believe in Joe.
And, you never will?
I can't. In the face of his past,
the records...
testimony. Marte, I'd like to...
I'm sorry, Miss Williams, the boss
said he wasn't to be disturbed,
not to let anybody in.
You don't think he meant me, do you?
Oh, no, wait a minute, you wouldn't
put me in the grease, would you?
Why don't you call,
see if it's all right?
You should have been a traffic cop.
The boss tells me to do something, I
do it. You can't call me a cop for that.
Well, that was smart.
Joe, listen, get out of here.
They're looking for you.
I'm not supposed to be...
Is Nicky in there?
Don't let him see you.
Joe, listen I'm leveling with you.
You're walking right into it.
- I know you killed him.
- Let loose of Charley.
- Get up.
- Nobody killed nobody. '
Just because some fella
had an accident...
It wasn't an accident.
You killed him.
How can you say a thing like
that to me or to Charley?
When we never even saw the guy.
Information?
Get me Senator Stephens' office
in the Federal Courts Building.
Hurry, it's an emergency.
I want you to let me testify.
The others want to
make my husband ashamed
by saying what his life was.
I want to make him proud when I tell
how decent, how honest
his life is now
Marte, I'll consider calling you.
I want to tell
how Mancani lied today.
While he was on the stand?
Yes. He did come to Central City,
he did see Joe. I heard them talk.
I am not afraid.
I want to tell everything
that happened that night.
I'm sorry, Senator, but there's
a call I think you ought to take.
Excuse me.
Yes? Who?
Connie Williams. Joe Gray is here
now... In Mancani's office.
I've got a tape recorder going,
getting everything they're talking about...
It's upstairs in the study.
I'll show you when you get here.
Yes, I see... I will.
He's in bad trouble. Hurry, please.
Cool down. Cool down.
I had to tie you in all those deals,
otherwise something much worse
would've happened to you.
Try to make everybody be nice,
everybody wants to be rough.
Oh, Connie. Come in, come in.
Say hello to one of your old
playmates. What are YOU doing here?
Connie, Joe says we are all bad people.
We tried to do an accident to
some friend of his.
I didn't know you and Draper
were such good friends.
Don't be making dumb cracks about Draper,
we're talking about somebody else.
Draper's no news.
I don't need a blueprint in all
of the jobs you pulled.
Listen, Draper asked what he got
just as you're asking for it now.
Did Simon ask for it?
Is that why you killed him?
You told that Holy Joe too much
about us. He was gonna talk.
Charley don't like people that are
going to squeal and neither do I..
I knew it was you.
And now I'm gonna nail
you and your whole mob.
You're too smart to
do anything like that, Joe.
You don't know what you're
saying, is just talk.
I'm gonna talk. I'm gonna
spill everything I know.
All bottled up? Listen to him, will you?
He'll blow the whole thing wide open.
Ah, he's just blowing off steam.
You couldn't do that to me, Kid.
We go too far back for that.
You've changed, Nicky. You think you're
bigger than anyone in the world.
No matter how fancy you talk,
or how legal you say you are.
Inside, you're a killer.
And that's all you are.
You're like Charley.
Anyone gets in your way, you push.
Nicky. Joe don't mean that.
He's just upset, he don't...
- Nicky.
- Get him.
Maybe that will remind
you when you was a kid,
when I bought your food,
when I sent you to school.
When I, took care of you.
Ok. You don't wanna be smart, good.
Let him be dumb.
No, Nicky. Don't do it.
You can't. Stephens knows he's here.
So what? So we all saw him
go up to his room with Brinkley.
So jump out of the
window and killed himself
because he was afraid of what would
come out in the investigation.
They won't believe it.
They won't believe a word of it.
Because they've heard every word that's
been said in this room. Every word of it.
How do you know that? Hm?
How do you know that?
They're upstairs right now in your
study, they been listening.
- You got an ear rigged up in here?
- Wait.
Why didn't you tell me this before
we spill everything? Before.
You let them in.
Connie, you crossed me up?
Why? On account of Joe, Connie?
You crossed me up on account of Joe?
Joe...
So they're listening in?
All right, let 'em hear this.
- Who's Joe Gray?
- I'm Joe Gray.
We got a call from Senator Stephens.
- What's going on here?
- Ask him.
He's dead. Asking him
won't do no good.
Joe Gray.
For the record, I would like to state
that we have positive proof now
that Joe Gray was a victim
of his former associates.
I would like to say here
that it'll need the help of Mr Gray
as we'll need the help of all of you
if we're to break this corrupt
and ruthless gang of hoodlums.
Laws are not enough.
There'll be other Mancanis and Pignatellis
if you permit it. Only you can stop it.
The committee, Mr Gray,
has revoked your subpoena.
And as chairman of this committee,
I would like to say that we regret the pain
and embarrassment that
you have been caused.
And to this, Joe,
I would like to add my public apology
for the personal injustice
I've done you for so long.
Simon always told me
I was wrong about you,
but he had to lose his
life to prove it to me.
Forgive me, Joe.
- Call the first witness, please.
- Silky Tanner.