- 1 year ago
Step into the gritty streets of 1950s New York City with Vintage Justice: Decoy Episode 6, a compelling chapter in television history. Starring Beverly Garland as the fearless Officer Casey Jones, this episode dives into the raw realities of crime, justice, and the unique challenges faced by one of the first female police officers on screen. As part of the groundbreaking Decoy series — the first American police procedural to feature a woman in the lead — this episode blends suspense, noir atmosphere, and sharp character-driven drama. Whether you're a classic TV aficionado or discovering Decoy for the first time, Episode 6 offers a riveting look into the golden era of crime storytelling.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00There are plenty of fun places in the big city, movies, Broadway shows, places that give you a
00:20floor show and an orchestra for the price of a meal. But there are other places for the lonely
00:25people who buy their happiness by the court, and you get a built-in smile with every drink.
00:32Lorraine Culver, and she knew the ropes. Can I buy you a drink? Sure you can, one for the road.
00:40What's your name? Jane Doe. What's yours? John Smith. A 10% cut on all the drinks she sold for the
00:49house, and a few laughs. But she got more than she bargained for.
01:08Where are you? Oh. What do you want to see me about?
01:24No. No. Don't. Don't. The girl who sold drinks for the house wound up in an alley with a yellow
01:49rose in her hand. Thousands of girls come to New York looking for jobs and careers. They
02:03come in by train. By bus. Hearts pounding with hope as they step off. Into the richest city
02:15in the world. The rewards don't come easy. They take study. Train. Skill. But there are
02:27some who think there's an easier way. They find other streets in the city. Jungle streets.
02:34Where you can trade anything for a buck. And girls like Lorraine get lost.
02:39Why do you figure a dame keeps a bracelet in her coin first, Casey? Maybe she's afraid
02:46of burglars. Yeah, maybe she's right. She was choked to death last night. Not for this,
02:53Lieutenant. You can buy these for a dollar all over town. It's inscribed.
02:58Till death do us part. Poor kid. L? For Lorraine. Lorraine Colbert.
03:06Anything else? I'll take a look. A rose? Not for purity. She, uh, she pushed drinks over
03:17at Ben's show place. You know the joint? Yeah. Vice Squad had something on it last week.
03:21Right. They had a tip, but nothing came of it. Up to now. Right. And, uh, it gives us a wedge.
03:30Padlock the place? No. Big Ben didn't have a padlock off in 48 hours.
03:36We, uh, we found that stashed in the lining of her purse.
03:43Nice looking guy. Who is he? No lead yet. But remember the face.
03:49You, uh, you may run into him around the show place.
03:55So?
03:58Uh-huh. Do you think, Casey?
04:02Sure. But only in the bathtub.
04:04Well, wash the soap suds off your bag.
04:08As of now, Ben's show place is short one hostess.
04:13You'll be looking for a new girl.
04:14Good-bye.
04:24You'll be looking for a new girl.
04:26Even in the bathtub.
04:27You'll be looking for a new girl.
04:27Come on.
04:28Come on.
04:29Take care.
04:30Come on.
04:31Come on.
04:31Let's see.
04:32Okay, come on.
04:34Are you the owner?
04:57What's it to you, sister?
04:58I, uh, I'm looking for a job.
05:01Yeah? Why here?
05:03We didn't run no help wanted, Ed.
05:05Oh.
05:07Well, I'm, I'm a friend of Lorraine Culver.
05:09She wrote me to come to town.
05:10She'd help me get work here.
05:12She ain't working no more.
05:14She was killed last night.
05:19Oh, no.
05:20Oh, no.
05:25She's the only one I knew here.
05:29What'll I do now?
05:30Go on back where you came from.
05:33I pay you to serve drinks, not hand out free advice.
05:42She's a friend of Lorraine.
05:44Who asked you?
05:48What do you want?
05:50Oh, I'm, uh, I'm Connie Redman.
05:51I'm, I'm looking for a job as a singer.
05:53We don't have much use for singers around here.
05:55Oh, well, I'll do, uh, anything to get started.
06:01Let's see what you got to get started.
06:05Take off your coat.
06:07Oh.
06:16Get back to work.
06:25You got looks.
06:27You got a figure.
06:28But it takes brains to work on this job, too.
06:33Well, I'll, uh, I'll do my best.
06:37I'll do my best.
06:38Okay.
06:39Your job is selling drinks for the house.
06:42You get a 10% cut on all the suckers by.
06:45The bigger the tab, the bigger your cut.
06:49Can you handle your liquor?
06:51Yeah.
06:52Yeah, I think so.
06:54We don't want no luscious here.
06:56So learn the tricks.
06:57A good trick is to order a ginger ale chaser with all your drinks.
07:03You get rid of most of the liquor in the chaser.
07:05Oh.
07:06I get it.
07:08And no weepy stories.
07:11Look happy.
07:12Be friendly.
07:14Most guys who come in here are really buying time with a dame.
07:19What if they get too friendly?
07:21A smart girl learns how to handle that when she's six.
07:24A smart girl learns how to handle that when she's six.
07:54A smart girl learns how to handle that when she's six.
07:55Yeah, sure.
08:00Sit down.
08:04Now, a couple of scotches.
08:13Spot anything O'Brien?
08:15Yeah.
08:16These glasses are as phony as the smiles.
08:19False bottoms.
08:21Supposed to cover me, not the booze.
08:22Careful.
08:27There you are, baby.
08:28Here's your laughing water.
08:32How are you holding up?
08:33Oh, not bad.
08:35I'm managing to get rid of most of the stuff I order.
08:38How?
08:39Well, simple.
08:40Oh, I'm sorry.
08:41Those guys are so busy playing footsies under the table, they don't pay any attention to what's happening on top.
08:54That's pretty neat.
08:56Oh, Brian, please.
09:01I've got enough fighting off to do.
09:03Bartender's watching.
09:07Listen, I just saw a guy going to Ben's office.
09:11He didn't look like the barfly type.
09:13I'll check him on my way out.
09:18Give me the high sign if you want me to, uh, tailor.
09:22Right.
09:23Meantime, you might salute her a couple more scotches and make mine with a ginger ale chaser.
09:27Here he comes.
09:28Here he comes.
09:28Hold it.
09:40Ladies first.
09:47You, uh, you better stick around because I'm always running on matches.
09:55You're new here.
09:56Yeah.
09:57It's my first night.
10:01You're wasting your time.
10:03Well, it's for me to decide.
10:08Not if you work for Ben.
10:12Well, I can see you know your way around here.
10:15I've been here before.
10:17It surprises me.
10:18You don't look like the type for this sort of spot.
10:22Neither do you, sweetheart.
10:24Well, actually, I, um, I came to look up a friend,
10:26and I just kind of, well, I just kind of walked into the job.
10:31Who's your friend?
10:34Was.
10:36She was, um, Lorraine Culver.
10:40Lorraine?
10:41I knew her.
10:44Wasn't the message clear?
10:46I told you to get out and stay out.
10:48You think you're going to work on me like you work on your girls?
10:52You've got a big mouth, Gordon.
10:53Good night, Miss, uh...
10:58Connie.
10:59Connie Redman.
11:01Good night, Connie.
11:08I suppose your time wasn't wasted.
11:11Thanks.
11:11And good luck.
11:15You'll need it.
11:30You.
11:32Just don't get too ambitious.
11:33I don't get it.
11:37Lay off Gordon.
11:38All I did was ask you to buy me a drink.
11:41Save the charm for the customers.
11:44What makes him so off-bounds?
11:48He's my brother.
11:52The promise could be made in the show place
11:53and kept around the corner.
11:55As long as there was a payoff.
11:58The girl was playing it straight.
12:00Leave the customer at the front door.
12:07The girl go out through the alley.
12:10No violations.
12:12Smart.
12:13Smart.
12:30Get away from me.
12:40What's your matter?
12:42You lost sunshine and smiles for the price of a drink.
12:44I got more than that.
12:45You work too fast, Al.
12:49Don't play me like your friend Lorraine.
12:51You got a guy, say so.
12:53What guy?
12:53In her case, a husband.
12:55What's wrong in having a husband?
12:56She was keeping it a secret.
12:58A big secret.
12:59I don't like that kind of trick.
13:02I bet.
13:03I must have made you real angry.
13:07Forget it.
13:09You ain't married, are you, baby?
13:11Oh, stop it, Al.
13:12I ain't a pretty face, but I know what a dame likes.
13:14Look what I got you.
13:17No, Al.
13:20Okay, play it solo.
13:22I'd be lucky if that.
13:23You dames are the kiss of death.
13:25That's not how it played out for Lorraine.
13:27She's dead.
13:28Yeah, but her husband got it first.
13:31What happened, Al?
13:42Al.
13:43Al, listen.
13:43Well, story checks out all right.
14:11Lorraine's husband was found murdered in a cheap rooming house about two weeks ago.
14:15Who was he?
14:17John Rowan from Pittsburgh.
14:18Came town about a month ago.
14:22Any connection with Ben's show place?
14:24No, just Lorraine.
14:26She was working there a couple of months before he got here.
14:28They had a spat.
14:29She ran out on him.
14:31Till death do us part.
14:33I guess he didn't expect it to be so soon.
14:36Lieutenant, I've got an idea.
14:38Can I have that bracelet?
14:40Sure.
14:41But be careful.
14:42And stick close to O'Brien.
14:45Yeah, I will.
14:47You know, after working Ben's show place, it's worth a few chances to close those places up for good.
14:52Oh, what a grind.
15:00Are you kidding?
15:05Where's Big Ben?
15:06Out for the night.
15:09You learn fast.
15:11Chasing the money guy already.
15:13How come a doll like you comes to work in a trap like this and then you expect to be treated like you're queen of the maid?
15:20I don't figure you either.
15:21A brush-off shit makes you soar.
15:22That's not out.
15:24Yeah, what is that?
15:26Always getting the train down.
15:28I never get used to it.
15:30I'm sorry, Al.
15:31Save the hearts and flowers.
15:36Six months working in this joint, you won't be good enough for me.
15:40Pushing drinks?
15:41That's not so awful.
15:43You'll branch out.
15:46I don't think Lorraine was mixed up in anything like that.
15:49So how come her husband drops into town unexpectedly, takes one good look around his joint, and weeps in my shoulder half the night?
15:56Johnny was a sentimental guard.
15:58What's wrong with that?
15:59Well, look where it got him.
16:02All he had to do was lay off.
16:04I tried to warn him, but he had to go and tip the cops off to the place.
16:09Is that why they gave it to him, Al?
16:13Why didn't you wake her?
16:22I got good reason to lay low.
16:25What's that?
16:26I love living, baby.
16:44Smile on Brian here at satisfying customer.
16:46Did she make any headway?
16:49Well, the husband was ready to talk.
16:50He may have had Lorraine sold on the idea, but I'm not sure.
16:53Hey, what are you doing with that bracelet?
16:55The killer sees that, he's liable to recognize it.
16:57Well, somebody has to do something.
16:59Well, he was a lawyer.
16:59To be honest, if you're in the right place, he's liable to see him.
17:02Well, he who's in the right place, he's liable to see him.
17:03Oh, boy.
17:04Oh, boy.
17:04What?
17:05Oh, boy.
17:06I'm sorry.
17:08Oh, boy.
17:08Oh, boy.
17:10Oh, boy.
17:10Oh, boy.
17:10Oh, boy.
17:12Oh, boy.
17:14Oh, boy.
17:14Let's go.
17:44Hey, Mr. Troy, old boy, old Troy, old Troy.
17:54Mr. Troy, I want to buy you a drink.
17:56Some other time, pal. Some other time. Thanks a lot.
17:59Oh, one of the girls will appreciate your courtesy.
18:07Hello, Ben.
18:14Who gave you permission to come in here?
18:18Nobody.
18:20If you want to catch a fly, you have to use a little honey.
18:23Meaning?
18:25Meaning I'm just crazy about honey.
18:28I'm not crazy about greedy little flies.
18:31I'm familiar with the breed.
18:40Give you hello and you've got your hot little hands stuck out for the apartment, the furs and the diamonds, huh?
18:46Well, girls got to get along.
18:49Any girl.
18:56I'm not talking about any girl.
18:59Oh, you got me wrong, Ben.
19:01All I'm looking for is a break.
19:03What kind of a break?
19:06Well, I want to get out of this penny, Annie's stuff.
19:08And you, you got connections?
19:11Where did you learn all this?
19:15Oh, I figured.
19:17What an important man like you.
19:24You're all right, baby.
19:25Not like your friend Lorraine.
19:28Willing to travel?
19:29For what?
19:31Big money.
19:32Your type's a big draw south of the border.
19:38Have a drink.
19:41Private stock.
19:48Well, to a lasting friendship.
20:01Well.
20:04I expected you to be waiting with a fistful of dough.
20:08Not this.
20:09Oh, shut up.
20:12You don't worry me.
20:15You.
20:16Beat it.
20:22He never was much with a dame.
20:24He means.
20:26Pardon us, Connie.
20:30Lorraine wore a bracelet like that.
20:33Lots of girls wear them.
20:36With an L on it?
20:38L for lover.
20:40My boyfriend's cute, Titus.
20:49We're in trouble.
20:51He'll must be drunk.
20:53That Connie dame's a phony.
20:54She's wearing Lorraine's bracelets.
20:56You always did get wide-eyed around a dame.
20:58Tell the truth, Ben.
21:01What's always bugged you is the way they get wild-eyed over me.
21:07I got orders for you.
21:08The boys want you out of town.
21:11And did you quote them my payoff figure?
21:15No go.
21:16You take the five G's and like it.
21:17My big brother, Ben.
21:20Big shot Ben with the butt tips.
21:24They whistle at the top and you roll over and beg.
21:27Now look.
21:27You weren't so smart killing her here.
21:30It put everybody on the spot.
21:32The boys don't stand for that.
21:34I don't have to take the rap for it.
21:36It could have been you killed her as easy as me.
21:39Maybe.
21:41But you're it.
21:43If I were you, I'd take the five G's and blow.
21:50No wonder you weren't worrying about that phony dame out there.
21:54You got me tagged for the fall guy.
21:56She's not my package.
21:58If she's got you on the spot, that's your problem.
22:03Okay, big brother.
22:06I'll take care of it myself.
22:08And you can tell the boys, I'm holding out.
22:22And in case there's a change in plans, I'll be home all night.
22:35So long, Connie.
22:37Mm-hmm.
22:38Play it cozy a minute.
22:46Then get over to Gordon's apartment.
22:49I'll get out as fast as I can to meet you there.
23:00Leaving?
23:01Without a good night, baby?
23:02I'm going to hurry, Al.
23:05You're a good kid, Connie.
23:07I don't know who you are and I don't want to know, but it can't be done.
23:11John and Lorraine tried to talk and they got stopped, both of them.
23:16Connie!
23:17Need a light?
23:24Need a light?
23:26Gordon.
23:28Told me you were always running out of matches.
23:30Why are you wasting your time?
23:31Why are you wasting your time?
23:32It's after hours.
23:33I'm not working for the house on this one.
23:35Look.
23:36Ben won't like this.
23:38He sure won't.
23:40You're not playing it smart.
23:42I'm smart, baby.
23:44This time Ben's paying a premium.
23:46I'm using his knife.
23:48Let him sweat now.
23:50Thank you, Al.
24:02I appreciate that.
24:04I'm glad you're on my side.
24:06I'm not.
24:08But I couldn't hold still for another one.
24:14You took a chance and I appreciate that.
24:16I always used to watch, Gordon.
24:18He was so slick with the dames.
24:23He had the looks all right.
24:25Yeah.
24:27But there was nothing inside to match.
24:38Well, that finishes the setup and Ben's show place.
24:41The show place, but not the setup.
24:43That's still operating in half a dozen places on the street.
24:46We do a job, Casey.
24:49And that's all.
24:56So long, Al.
25:02Lorraine thought she had it made.
25:04Just act happy, be friendly.
25:07For a 10% cut of the drinks.
25:09That isn't hard.
25:12It's easy living.
25:13Easy money.
25:16But Lorraine found out that it wasn't easy living.
25:20And it wasn't easy dying.
25:21Ajax had it not, but Kern was an obstacle.
25:41See you next time.
25:43Let's see.
25:43See ya.
25:44See you next time.