The Big Town Adventure (1953)

zay

The Big Town Adventure (1953) is a classic drama set against the excitement and challenges of big-city life. Follow the characters as they face unexpected situations, personal struggles, and important choices in this vintage film from the 1950s.

Transcript

00:00:01The End

00:00:33The End

00:01:22Hey, hey, hey, so that's the big town.

00:01:27Yeah, terrific, isn't it, Francis? Sort of takes your breath away.

00:01:30But not my appetite.

00:01:31How can you look at that wonderful sight and think of anything so trivial?

00:01:34Being hungry is not trivial, cousin.

00:01:36You'll soon find that out unless we start raising a little lettuce pretty pronto.

00:01:42In New York City? Raise lettuce?

00:01:44Oh, you mean money?

00:01:45Yeah.

00:01:46Oh, don't worry. We'll get a job.

00:01:47We?

00:01:48Let me see. What would I be good at?

00:01:51Getting into trouble.

00:01:54I think I'd be best suited for the newspaper business.

00:01:56Yeah, I can see it now. 42nd and Broadway.

00:01:59X-ray. Read all about it. X-ray.

00:02:03I don't mean selling them. I was an editor once, you know.

00:02:06You?

00:02:06Yep.

00:02:06What paper?

00:02:07The Weekly Informant.

00:02:09Weekly. Never heard of it.

00:02:11It was in high school.

00:02:12Here we go again.

00:02:14The Rover Boys in New York are from popular to publisher.

00:02:18You have no confidence in me, have you?

00:02:20Check.

00:02:21Well, I don't expect to be an editor or a publisher right away.

00:02:24Modest boy.

00:02:25Well, with my background and my experience, I'm sure to get some very important position.

00:02:28Something I'm really fitted for. You'll see.

00:02:30Yes, yes.

00:02:55Coffee, boy.

00:02:56Rewrite.

00:03:00I'll walk.

00:03:20Oh, Miss Ames.

00:03:21Hey, Pete.

00:03:22Huh?

00:03:22You see my pipe around anywhere when you cleaned up?

00:03:24Pipe?

00:03:28Oh, I don't clean up anymore, Mr. Ross.

00:03:30I'll ask a new guy about it.

00:03:31I'm a full-time coffee boy now.

00:03:33Well, congratulations.

00:03:34Thanks.

00:03:34The way you're going, I better keep an eye on my job.

00:03:37Oh, you don't have to worry. I'm not going to be a sports writer.

00:03:39I'm going to do yarns on murders and rackets.

00:03:41You know, big important stories like Mr. Austin.

00:03:42Coffee, coffee, boy.

00:03:43Oh, excuse me.

00:03:45Uh, yes, sir, Mr. Austin.

00:03:47Stick this on the chief's desk, kid. I've got to beat it to the 8th precinct.

00:03:50You bet, Mr. Austin.

00:03:54Thanks, kid.

00:04:05Did you call this a gossip column?

00:04:08Frankly, I think it's dull.

00:04:10Deadly dull.

00:04:10Is it my fault high society's turned over a new leaf this week?

00:04:13Then why did young Van Cleave get a black eye at the cameo club?

00:04:17And where did the Arthur girl go on her honeymoon with the crooning pugilist?

00:04:20Polly Pry of the Clarion seems to know.

00:04:22She's also cost the Clarion 50,000 in libel.

00:04:24Would you like that?

00:04:32Well, Mr. Austin's copy, sir.

00:04:43May I get you a Coke or something, Miss Ames?

00:04:46No, thanks.

00:04:47But if you could whip up some poison for that one, I'd appreciate it.

00:04:51Well, I think your column's swell. Never miss it.

00:04:53I'm flattered, but there may not be a column to miss unless I can dig up some wealthy and prominent

00:04:57family skeletons.

00:04:58Copy, boys.

00:04:59Excuse me.

00:05:04Say, is Mrs. Potterby what you call the society stuff?

00:05:07Mrs. Henry Potterby, the banker's wife?

00:05:10Yeah.

00:05:10I'll say she is.

00:05:12Why, do you know something?

00:05:13Come on, come on, give. What about Mrs. Potterby?

00:05:16Oh, well, nothing, really.

00:05:17It's mostly about a chorus girl named Trixie Blue.

00:05:19What does Trixie Blue have to do with Mrs. Potterby?

00:05:21Well, nothing. She doesn't even know her.

00:05:23But you see, her husband...

00:05:24Whose husband? Trixie's?

00:05:25No, Mrs. Potterby's. But he won't be for long.

00:05:27Don't you believe it. They're devoted to each other.

00:05:30Well, not since the raid.

00:05:32Raid? What raid?

00:05:33The one at the Wilburton Arms.

00:05:35Say, what's the name of that perfume you use?

00:05:36Oh, Five Roses. Now, look, about that raid. Who did the raiding?

00:05:40Mrs. Potterby. She found her husband in one of the apartments.

00:05:42And that's where Trixie Blue comes in?

00:05:44Oh, no, no, no. She was there all the time. It's her apartment.

00:05:47Look, Sterling, are you...

00:05:48That's my last name, Miss Ames. I wish you'd call me Peter. My friends do.

00:05:52All right, Peter. But are you sure about this Potterby yarn?

00:05:55Of course I'm sure. I wouldn't tell you if I wasn't.

00:05:57But where could you find out about it?

00:06:01Well, that's something I can't tell anyone.

00:06:03But if you don't trust me, maybe you'd better wait and see.

00:06:05Copy, boys.

00:06:15This is Mrs. Potterby.

00:06:17Who?

00:06:19Yes, Miss Ames.

00:06:21The Daily Record understands you...

00:06:23You, uh, found your husband last night under, uh, shall we say, most embarrassing circumstances.

00:06:31You couldn't possibly know that.

00:06:34The photographs haven't even been developed yet.

00:06:47You were right as rain, Peter, darling. I'll never doubt you again.

00:06:50Oh, can I take your copy?

00:06:51No, I'm gonna take this one into his nibs myself.

00:06:54But thanks a million.

00:07:00Peter, darling.

00:07:02Copy, boy.

00:07:03Copy, boy.

00:07:16Copy, boy.

00:07:42Copy, boy.

00:07:46Copy, boy.

00:07:50Hey, Pete, how about you?

00:07:58Do you feel all right?

00:08:03What's it I smell, huh?

00:08:06Oh, it's five roses. Couldn't you just bathe in it?

00:08:09Well, that'd be one way of becoming the mule of distinction.

00:08:16Copy, boy.

00:08:18Yes, sir.

00:08:19To rewrite.

00:08:20Oh, yes.

00:08:21Oh, Sterling.

00:08:22The mayor is chewing his fingers off up to his elbow trying to figure out how I learned about the

00:08:26new highway proposal.

00:08:28Thanks a million, kid.

00:08:29Oh, that's okay.

00:08:33Mr. Vance, have you had a chance to talk to Mr. Henderson about me yet?

00:08:36Well, not yet. But I won't forget it.

00:08:40Well, thanks a lot.

00:08:41Roger.

00:08:45Sterling, thanks for this tip.

00:08:47Oh, you're welcome, sir.

00:08:48But don't forget to put in a good word where the boss won, will you?

00:08:50Sure.

00:08:50When you get time.

00:08:51Sure, sure.

00:08:56A peach?

00:08:57For a peach.

00:09:01Pete?

00:09:02You got any stray sports items laying around?

00:09:05Well, I don't know if it's important, sir, but the Cleveland Indians are trading Phil Garris for Bernie Schwartz.

00:09:08You don't know if that's important.

00:09:10When did this happen?

00:09:11Oh, it hasn't happened yet.

00:09:13They're meeting secretly tonight in a secret place to close the deal for a secret amount of money.

00:09:17Boy, would I like to know how much that is.

00:09:21Oh, the secret amount of money is $40,000.

00:09:41I don't mean to bother you, Mr. Austin, but I wonder if you'd do me an awfully big favor when

00:09:45you have a minute to spare.

00:09:45You caught me in a very spare one, Pete.

00:09:48Just name it.

00:09:49Well, I rewrote that piece like you suggested, sir, and I wondered if you'd mind taking a look at it

00:09:55again and see how I did.

00:09:59You know, my one ambition is to be an ace reporter like you, sir.

00:10:03And, of course, I know it takes a long time, but I want to help expose crooks and stuff.

00:10:08Stuff is right, as in turkey, which is what you can do with that double-talking rehash on the 10th

00:10:14Avenue murder.

00:10:14How can I get a yarn on it when the DA and the police have climbed up, even on City

00:10:19Hall?

00:10:19But you're an ace reporter, lover boy.

00:10:21A little thing like that shouldn't stop you.

00:10:23Get a story.

00:10:26Get a story, the old buzzard.

00:10:29No one even knows who the corpse is yet.

00:10:38Well, if it's any help, sir, the murdered man was identified as Joe Brang,

00:10:42a small-time New Jersey gambler.

00:10:44He was shot twice for the head at short range with a .38.

00:10:47Now, Captain Cranston, the ballistics expert, said it was the same weapon used in that Westchester bank robbery last week.

00:10:51Now, they've got a dragnet out for an ex-convict named Eddie Frippert.

00:10:54That's why they don't want anyone to know.

00:10:55He and Brang were working together, and the police figured that after they pulled the bank robbery,

00:10:58they got into an argument over dividing the loot.

00:11:01Hey, I hope that helps, sir.

00:11:03But you left out Frippert's middle name, Sterling.

00:11:07Oh, Max.

00:11:08Look, kid, is this on the level?

00:11:09Well, you're not just playing reporter and making all this up.

00:11:11Oh, no, sir. It's just like I told you. Honest.

00:11:13But when it's so hush-hush that a fairly smart news hawk like me is stymied,

00:11:16how in blazes did you get a line on this?

00:11:19I...

00:11:21I can't tell you, sir. You just have to take my word for it.

00:11:24Okay, I'll do it.

00:11:26After all, no smart reporter divulges a source of his information, does he?

00:11:32That's a million, kid.

00:11:58Oh, uh, will you save me a special bunch of violets for tomorrow, Mrs. Chekov?

00:12:01I have a date for the movies.

00:12:02Oh, that's fine, Mr. Sterling. With your nice little girl?

00:12:05Uh, no, with the lady.

00:12:06Oh, well, I'll save you a nice bunch for you.

00:12:09Oh, thank you very much. Bye.

00:12:12Oh, hello, Mr. Bruno.

00:12:13Buongiorno, senor Sterling.

00:12:14Oh, gracias. Buenos Aires.

00:12:16Como esta el amigo tu?

00:12:18Huh?

00:12:19How is it? Your friend.

00:12:21Oh, Francis.

00:12:21Si, si, Francis.

00:12:22Oh, he's fine, thank you. Just fine. Bye.

00:12:26Baza.

00:12:27Si que es baza.

00:12:28Baza.

00:12:32Oh, hello, Mr. Schola.

00:12:34Hello, Mr. Sterling.

00:12:35I'll have four bunches of carrots, please.

00:12:36Just a sale of the last bunch.

00:12:38Yeah, but I ask you to save some for Francis.

00:12:40Sorry. Tomorrow, maybe.

00:12:41Salvador, let me have a cute cucumber, please.

00:12:43Uh-huh.

00:12:48Mr. Sterling.

00:12:50Mr. Sterling.

00:12:54Mr. Sterling.

00:12:56We were running short, so I saved these for you.

00:12:59Oh, gee, thanks a lot, Miss Schola.

00:13:01You called me Maria yesterday.

00:13:04All right, Maria.

00:13:05Well, I hope your father won't be angry about these.

00:13:07I know he doesn't like Francis.

00:13:08Oh, it's not that he doesn't like Francis.

00:13:10He just thinks it's foolish of you to keep such an expensive pet.

00:13:13But Francis isn't a pet. He's a friend.

00:13:14Well, I know, and I've explained that to Papa.

00:13:17Well, then he doesn't think I'm foolish anymore.

00:13:19Oh, no. Now he thinks you're crazy.

00:13:21Oh.

00:13:22Oh.

00:13:23Well, thanks a lot for these, Maria.

00:13:28Looks like your little Maria.

00:13:29She's a crazy nuts about the guy next door.

00:13:32She's not a crazy nuts. He's a crazy nuts.

00:13:35Why did you say that, Salvador?

00:13:36You remember the old stable I keep on the back when I used to be peddler?

00:13:39Si.

00:13:40Well, this man, he pays me every month to keep his pet over there.

00:13:43It's not so crazy.

00:13:45Everybody likes to keep pets.

00:13:47But this pet is a mule.

00:13:48A mule?

00:13:49You don't mean to say a mule.

00:13:51Si, a mule.

00:13:52Una mule, it's possible.

00:13:53When I tell you that that's crazy, it's crazy.

00:13:54But it must be for sure.

00:13:55But that's going to end up in the manicorio.

00:13:56But no!

00:13:57But that's going to end up!

00:13:58Seconds.

00:13:59Oh, thanks.

00:14:01Excuse you.

00:14:03Oh.

00:14:04Here's your paper.

00:14:08Thanks, Pete.

00:14:13Hey, here's the story I gave you on that Joe Brain killing.

00:14:17Sure.

00:14:18Made front page.

00:14:19Well, how come it's under Dan Austin's name?

00:14:22Oh, I passed it along to him.

00:14:24Why?

00:14:25He's our best reporter.

00:14:26Oh, why should any reporter get his name on your story, huh?

00:14:31It'll be different after tomorrow.

00:14:32I'm going in and demand that Mr. Henderson make me a reporter.

00:14:34Oh.

00:14:35Oh, says you.

00:14:38Hey, they're raising taxes again.

00:14:42Remind me to write a letter to the president.

00:14:45Francis, I think the time has come for me to settle down.

00:14:49To lead a more normal life.

00:14:51I want to get married.

00:14:54Come again?

00:14:56I said I want to get married.

00:14:57That's what I thought you said.

00:15:00I'm in love.

00:15:01I thought you looked goofier than usual.

00:15:03But on you, it's hard to tell.

00:15:06It's a wonderful feeling, Francis.

00:15:09You've been watching the birds and the bees?

00:15:12You know, when I look at her, I get hot and cold. Cold and hot.

00:15:16Yeah.

00:15:16And when she looks at me, it's like being struck by lightning.

00:15:18Oh.

00:15:19My heart starts going pitter-patter, patter-pitter.

00:15:22Like the raindrops.

00:15:23And my blood starts roaring like a hurricane.

00:15:25Is that love or a weather report?

00:15:28That's not funny.

00:15:30You don't seem to realize this is one of the most important moments in a man's life.

00:15:33A man, he says.

00:15:35Ha!

00:15:37She ain't a bad dish as females go.

00:15:41Who isn't a bad dish?

00:15:43Maria.

00:15:44Maria?

00:15:45Well, she's just a little girl.

00:15:47I'm going to marry a woman.

00:15:49A woman of the world.

00:15:51Alberta Ames.

00:15:53Well, kiss my great-aunt Regret who won the Derby.

00:15:57Not that tomato that writes all that grape juice in the daily record.

00:16:01Alberta is not a tomato.

00:16:03Be that as it may, have you set the date?

00:16:07Huh?

00:16:08No, not exactly.

00:16:09I haven't even proposed to her yet.

00:16:11Oh, then the dame hasn't lived yet.

00:16:15I'm taking her to the movies tomorrow night.

00:16:17Gee, I wish you could see how sweet, how wonderful, how lovely.

00:16:22Love.

00:16:23It's worse than a bad case of hoof and mouth disease.

00:16:27You have no understanding.

00:16:35Well, here we are.

00:16:37Are we?

00:16:39Oh, yes, we are, aren't we?

00:16:42Well, I certainly enjoyed the movies, Miss Ames.

00:16:45So did I.

00:16:46All three of them.

00:16:58Well, it's been a wonderful evening, Miss Ames.

00:17:00Thanks for bringing me home.

00:17:01Good night.

00:17:03Peter, aren't you going to ask me in?

00:17:08In my apartment?

00:17:10Just you and me alone?

00:17:11Well, after all, Peter, I do trust you completely.

00:17:15Oh, yes, yes.

00:17:17Well, it's just that, well, after all, I'm a man of the world.

00:17:21Tish, tish, tish.

00:17:29Hey, he's biting off morning chew.

00:17:35Well, it's not much, but it's cheap.

00:17:38Go ahead.

00:17:41Go ahead.

00:17:44Go ahead.

00:17:46Go ahead.

00:17:51Go ahead.

00:17:53Thank you, Peter.

00:18:01How about a drink?

00:18:02Oh, well, you name it.

00:18:04Fruit beer.

00:18:04No, a lemonade.

00:18:05An orange paint.

00:18:06Maybe we'd better skip it.

00:18:07Oh, no, no.

00:18:08I'll go.

00:18:08I have to drive.

00:18:21Why don't you sit over here?

00:18:22Oh.

00:18:32Do you know Keats?

00:18:35Well, I don't know him very well.

00:18:44Miss Ames.

00:18:45Alberta to you, Peter, dear.

00:18:48Alberta?

00:18:50Gee, thanks.

00:18:52You know, I just love the smell of that five roses on you.

00:18:55Oh, I didn't know it was noticeable.

00:18:57Oh, I'd know you'd buy it even if I were blindfolded.

00:19:02Alberta, I have a confession to make.

00:19:04Yes, Peter?

00:19:06Well, you dropped this in the office the other day, and I picked it up and kept it.

00:19:09I hope you don't mind.

00:19:10Mind?

00:19:11Why, I'm flattered.

00:19:12I may even say I'm thrilled.

00:19:15Well, you know, there comes a time in every man's life when he has to start thinking of the future.

00:19:20Peter, you're not going to pop the question.

00:19:23Yes.

00:19:25Alberta?

00:19:26Tomorrow, I'm going to ask Mr. Henderson to make me a reporter.

00:19:32Well, um, I think you'd make a good reporter, Peter, with all your connections.

00:19:38Connections?

00:19:39Well, you know where you get all that wonderful inside information.

00:19:42Oh, that.

00:19:43Don't you think you ought let Alberta in on it?

00:19:45Just to prove how much we trust each other.

00:19:47Please, don't ask me.

00:19:49See?

00:19:50You really don't trust me.

00:19:51I do, I do.

00:19:52Then you mustn't keep secrets from me.

00:19:54Yeah, but...

00:19:55Please, Peter.

00:19:57Tell Alberta.

00:20:07All right.

00:20:09It's Francis.

00:20:10Who's Francis?

00:20:11He's a friend of mine.

00:20:13We met in the army.

00:20:14He saved my life.

00:20:15He carried me seven miles through enemy lines.

00:20:17Seven miles?

00:20:18He must be quite a guy.

00:20:19Oh, he's Tobs.

00:20:20The only mule in the world with a purple heart.

00:20:22Mule?

00:20:23Purple heart?

00:20:25Peter, what are you talking about?

00:20:28Francis.

00:20:28He won a decoration in Burma.

00:20:30He's got it pinned up in his stall.

00:20:32Now I'll tell one.

00:20:34Oh, it's the truth, Alberta.

00:20:35Come on, I'll take you out the stable so you can meet him.

00:20:37Meet him?

00:20:38Oh, yes.

00:20:38You can see for yourself.

00:20:39It's just out through the kitchen.

00:20:40Come on.

00:20:41Please.

00:20:42Please.

00:20:45I've always wanted you to meet Francis anyway.

00:20:48You'll get a big kick out of him.

00:20:52I hope he's still up.

00:20:57Oh, the lights are on.

00:20:58He's probably reading.

00:21:00He reads.

00:21:01Oh, sure.

00:21:02He's been through the Encyclopedia Britannica seven times.

00:21:04Come on.

00:21:15Hiya, Francis.

00:21:16You decent?

00:21:30Well, look sharp, you lucky fellow.

00:21:31I brought Miss Ames out to meet you.

00:21:35Uh, uh, Alberta, this is Francis.

00:21:39Well, say hello to the lovely lady.

00:21:43I think he's waiting for you to say hello first.

00:21:45Oh, now really, Peter, I'm...

00:21:46Well, he's a little unusual when it comes to things like this.

00:21:49Oh, that's putting it mildly.

00:21:52Oh, well.

00:21:53Hello, Francis.

00:21:54Now, come on, let's go.

00:21:55Wait, wait, wait.

00:21:56Francis, where are your manners?

00:21:58Say hello.

00:21:58Let's not play games, shall we, Peter?

00:22:00You've had your little joke, and it's been grand fun.

00:22:03But now, if you'll both excuse me, I've had enough.

00:22:06Oh, please, Alberta, you must believe me.

00:22:08Francis gives me all my news tips.

00:22:09He picks them up over the back fence.

00:22:10Gossiping with the neighbors, no doubt.

00:22:12That's right.

00:22:12You see, a lot of traffic cops keep the horses in the stable next door.

00:22:15And Francis talks things over with them every night.

00:22:16With the traffic cops?

00:22:18No, with the horses.

00:22:19You must think I'm a complete idiot.

00:22:21Not complete, doll, but you'll do.

00:22:25Why, you little...

00:22:26Now, Alberta, I...

00:22:27If you so much has ever come near me again, I'll...

00:22:29But you, you don't...

00:22:32There goes the bride.

00:22:35Scratch one tomato.

00:22:37Well, now you've done it.

00:22:38I've done you a favor.

00:22:40But she'll never speak to me again.

00:22:42That dame is just playing you for a sucker.

00:22:45I will not tolerate such disrespect for the future Mrs. Sterling.

00:22:48You'd have a better chance with Cleopatra.

00:22:51She's dead.

00:22:52You'd still have a better chance.

00:22:55Grow up, will you?

00:22:56Look, I'm old enough to decide things for myself, you know.

00:22:59Ha, ha, ha.

00:23:01So that's how it is.

00:23:03Lucky for you that I'm a Mueller principal.

00:23:05What do you mean, principal?

00:23:06I promise to make a reporter out of you and I'll keep my word.

00:23:11But after that, you're on your own.

00:23:14Well, Francis, I...

00:23:15Snap off the lights on your way out.

00:23:19All right.

00:23:20All right.

00:23:21That's the way you want it.

00:23:22Jack?

00:23:24I'll show you.

00:23:25Roger.

00:23:26I'll get to be a reporter without your help.

00:23:28Oh.

00:23:28I'll talk to Mr. Henderson in the morning.

00:23:30Ha, ha.

00:23:31I'll show you.

00:23:34Yeah.

00:23:40Good night, lover boy.

00:23:46Mr. Henderson, sir.

00:23:48I've been here quite a while now.

00:23:49And I think at that time I became a reporter.

00:23:51Oh, Ed, did you tell Mr. Henderson I'm waiting?

00:23:53Yeah.

00:23:54Yeah.

00:23:54Well, he knows.

00:23:55He knows.

00:24:07Well, beautiful, how'd you make out last night?

00:24:12Terrific.

00:24:12I met the informer in person.

00:24:14Oh.

00:24:15Tell me more.

00:24:16His name is Francis.

00:24:17Francis?

00:24:18Uh-huh.

00:24:19And he is the stupid, his rattiest looking mule I ever laid eyes on.

00:24:23He really has a mule?

00:24:24A mule.

00:24:25Oh, you're kidding.

00:24:25I am not kidding.

00:24:26He took me out to the barn and he introduced me to the filthy beast.

00:24:29But it wasn't in the mood for chit-chat.

00:24:32I knew the kid was punchy, but I didn't think he was that bad.

00:24:35He's either punchy or awfully smart.

00:24:37What do you mean?

00:24:38It's a pretty good way of telling people to shut up when they get too curious.

00:24:42Miss Henderson, I've been here quite a while now and I think it's high time that I be...

00:24:45Oh, Ed, did you tell him I'm waiting?

00:24:47Yeah, yeah.

00:24:47He knows.

00:24:48He knows.

00:24:50Oh, Dan.

00:24:51Yeah?

00:24:51The boss wants to see you and he's running a temperature.

00:24:53What's eating the old buzzard this time?

00:24:55The chief of police and the DA are in his office.

00:25:03This is the sort of thing we can't have.

00:25:05It makes our job twice as tough.

00:25:07Come in, Dan.

00:25:07Shut the door.

00:25:08Well, good morning, gentlemen.

00:25:10Crime must be taking a holiday.

00:25:12Never mind the wisecracks, Austin.

00:25:14It seems you've upset the authorities.

00:25:15No end.

00:25:16Where did you get the lowdown on the Joe Brang killing?

00:25:19Oh, so that's it.

00:25:20Was it somebody in my office?

00:25:22Was it someone in the police department?

00:25:23Now, we've got to know because...

00:25:25Just a moment, gentlemen.

00:25:26A newspaper man can't tell you where he gets his information.

00:25:29I've been saying that for an hour.

00:25:30It's a matter of ethics.

00:25:32Ethics be hanged.

00:25:32If it's someone in the police department, I'll make them sorry for the...

00:25:36Come in.

00:25:37Well?

00:25:39If you please, sir, I'd like to speak to you.

00:25:41Can't you see I'm busy?

00:25:42But this can't wait, sir.

00:25:43It's terribly important.

00:25:43Well, what is it?

00:25:44What is it?

00:25:49Well?

00:25:52Well, sir, I have been here for quite a while now.

00:25:54And I think it's high time that I became a reporter, sir.

00:25:56And I love her.

00:25:58Well, all the boys...

00:25:58One moment like this, get out!

00:26:00Get out!

00:26:01We've had to drag that out by Eddie Frippert.

00:26:03And because of your premature story, he's given us the slip.

00:26:06He's probably in Mexico or on his way to Europe by this time.

00:26:09Excuse me, sir.

00:26:10All right, son.

00:26:10You've asked for him.

00:26:11See the cashier.

00:26:12You're through.

00:26:12All I want to tell you about this, Mr. Frippert...

00:26:14I don't care anything about...

00:26:17Now...

00:26:18What about Eddie Frippert?

00:26:20I know where he is.

00:26:21You what?

00:26:21You know where he is?

00:26:22Yes, sir.

00:26:23Well, where is he?

00:26:24What?

00:26:24Where?

00:26:26I don't think I should tell you now that I don't work here anymore.

00:26:32Better call him back.

00:26:33What do you mean?

00:26:34He is where I got the story.

00:26:36What?

00:26:37Get him!

00:26:39You!

00:26:40Come in here.

00:26:41Do you want me, sir?

00:26:42Get in here.

00:26:45Well, let's have it.

00:26:46Come on.

00:26:47Where is he?

00:26:48Where's who?

00:26:49Frippert, Eddie Frippert.

00:26:50Where is he?

00:26:50You said you knew.

00:26:51Oh, I do, I do.

00:26:52Well, speak up, boy.

00:26:52Speak up.

00:26:53Well, he's...

00:26:55I don't work here anymore.

00:26:57For heaven's sake.

00:26:58You work here.

00:26:59Are you sure?

00:26:59You work here.

00:27:00Put it on paper?

00:27:00You work here.

00:27:01I do?

00:27:02Now, where's Eddie Frippert?

00:27:04Well, he's at 318 De Lacy Street.

00:27:06Apartment 3B.

00:27:10Hold his headquarters, quick.

00:27:13He's under the name of Eddie Phillips.

00:27:32Come here, I'm!

00:27:45Who is it?

00:27:46The janitor.

00:27:47There ain't no janitor, copper.

00:27:58Hello, it's your call.

00:28:00Oh, Hanson speaking.

00:28:04Good.

00:28:05You were right, boy.

00:28:07I'll be right over.

00:28:08Well, Frippett was there.

00:28:11He's in custody.

00:28:18Well, Sterling, you'd better start talking.

00:28:20Yes, give it to us straight.

00:28:22Who do you know in my office?

00:28:23Your office? Who are you?

00:28:24The district attorney.

00:28:25Well, how do you do?

00:28:26The district attorney?

00:28:27I didn't even know you had an office.

00:28:29How do you make your connections with police headquarters?

00:28:31Yeah, well, I guess I take the rapid transit to 42nd Street.

00:28:33Don't be funny.

00:28:34Who tipped you off to Eddie Frippett?

00:28:37Oh, that.

00:28:38Yes, that.

00:28:39Well...

00:28:40I can't tell you.

00:28:42Why not?

00:28:42I can't tell you, that's all.

00:28:43Go ahead, Pete.

00:28:44Tell them about your mules.

00:28:46What mules?

00:28:46What about a mule?

00:28:47Sterling has an educated mule that tells him things.

00:28:50What?

00:28:50What sort of nonsense is this?

00:28:52He doesn't mean Mule Johnson, who is with the Tracy bomb.

00:28:55No, this mule's name is Francis.

00:28:56Oh, stop beating about the bush.

00:28:58Now tell us where you get your information.

00:29:00I can't tell you.

00:29:01Good boy, Sterling.

00:29:03Lesson number one.

00:29:04A good reporter never divulges the source of his information.

00:29:07But really, Mr. Henderson, if I... if you'd only...

00:29:11A reporter?

00:29:13Me?

00:29:16Well, I...

00:29:20Stop the presses.

00:29:23Stop the presses.

00:29:26Turn out the front page.

00:29:28Copy, boy.

00:29:31Stop the presses.

00:29:32Stop the nonsense.

00:29:34Yeah.

00:29:34Stop the nonsense.

00:29:36What are you supposed to be?

00:29:38Well, I'm just practicing how to be a reporter.

00:29:40After all, with all the scoops you're gonna give me.

00:29:42Oh, I should've stood in bed.

00:29:44Well, what's wrong?

00:29:45Making you a reporter was one thing.

00:29:48Fixing it so you can keep the job?

00:29:50Well, that's another.

00:29:52Yeah, well, wait till I'm a top reporter on the record.

00:29:54Alberta will come crawling, begging me to forgive her.

00:29:58Bushwa with ketchup.

00:30:00Stop dreaming.

00:30:01Let's get to work.

00:30:02For this, I got the purple heart with four palms.

00:30:23Hey, you.

00:30:25Yes, sir?

00:30:25What's the idea of the mule?

00:30:27Huh?

00:30:28Oh, uh, well, I happen to be a member of the press, sir.

00:30:30We were just roaming around to pick up some news.

00:30:32And do you have to take the mule along with you and block traffic to do it?

00:30:34Well, he's the one who gets the story.

00:30:36Oh, a wise guy, huh?

00:30:37No, sir, I'm not a wise guy.

00:30:39Well, look, he's getting a story right now.

00:30:41He's what?

00:30:42From your horse.

00:30:52I tell you, there's nothing wrong with me.

00:30:54Look, the square pegs in the square holes,

00:30:55and the round pegs in the round holes.

00:30:59Now, Dr. Foster, about this young man's psychotic obsession

00:31:02concerning a talking mule.

00:31:04It's not an obsession.

00:31:05Dr. Goodrich, I'm convinced that this obsession

00:31:07is definitely an image symbol.

00:31:10Tell me, young man, when you were a child,

00:31:12why did you hate your father?

00:31:13I didn't hate my father.

00:31:14Then why did you hate your mother?

00:31:16I didn't hate my mother.

00:31:17Well, you certainly hated somebody.

00:31:18I didn't hate anybody.

00:31:21Here.

00:31:25Tell me, here, Doctor, what do you think?

00:31:27Do you suppose we ought to...

00:31:2820 seconds longer than the last time.

00:31:31Hey, come in.

00:31:33Yes, officer, what is it?

00:31:34Okay, Doc, I'll take him off your hands now.

00:31:39Come along, kid.

00:31:40The man's waiting for you.

00:31:43The man?

00:31:57Oh, Mr. Austin, am I glad to see you.

00:32:00I was afraid it was...

00:32:00Cheer up, kid.

00:32:01The release took some doing, but you're all in the clear now.

00:32:04Oh, well, that's wonderful.

00:32:05Does Mr. Henderson know?

00:32:06Not a thing.

00:32:07I covered up for you.

00:32:08Oh, you're swell.

00:32:09Thanks a lot.

00:32:11Look, kid, there's no point in antagonizing the police unnecessarily.

00:32:16Forget all this nonsense about the mule.

00:32:19Yes, sir.

00:32:19But do you know where he is?

00:32:20Where who is?

00:32:21Francis.

00:32:22I said forget it.

00:32:24Yeah, but if he doesn't hear from me, he'll worry.

00:32:26Worry?

00:32:27A mule?

00:32:28Well, yes, he's very high-strung.

00:32:29High-strung?

00:32:31Yeah, I've been in that room now for three hours.

00:32:34I've been pushing him over a square.

00:32:39I am not going to move another peg until Mr. Austin arrives to get me out.

00:32:43Get you out?

00:32:44He's the one who put you in.

00:32:53Ha.

00:32:55The breadwinner.

00:33:01Hiya, Francis.

00:33:02It's about time you got home.

00:33:04Huh?

00:33:05Where you been?

00:33:06That's a nice welcome after what I've been through today.

00:33:08Yeah?

00:33:09They had me under observation.

00:33:10Twice.

00:33:11So?

00:33:11They thought I was crazy.

00:33:12And they let you go?

00:33:14That's not very funny.

00:33:15Pete, I told you a thousand times, if you so much as mention me, you'll wind up in trouble.

00:33:20Yeah, but everyone keeps asking me how I find out things.

00:33:22You don't have to tell them.

00:33:24Just wink and act mysterious.

00:33:26Like this.

00:33:28Ha.

00:33:29Get it?

00:33:30Well, I'll try it.

00:33:32All right.

00:33:33What about some news?

00:33:33We haven't picked up any today.

00:33:35Hey, what do you mean, we?

00:33:38I didn't take Florabel to lunch for nothing.

00:33:41Florabel?

00:33:42Who's Florabel?

00:33:43Sharpen your pencil, kid.

00:33:45Wait.

00:33:46Ha, ha, ha, ha.

00:33:47Wait.

00:33:48Are you ready?

00:33:49Okay, go ahead.

00:33:51Huge gem robbery.

00:33:52The swank jewelry store of Van Cardell and Company was robbed in broad daylight this morning by three armed men.

00:34:02Mr. Van Cardell said...

00:34:05Mr. Roger Van Cardell, the owner, was on the telephone when Duke Treswell, A.C. Ducey Davis, and Red Crispy,

00:34:11three sing-sing parolees entered.

00:34:12Duke Treswell immediately pulled a gun.

00:34:15Sterling, in my 30 years of newspaper work, that's the neatest piece of reporting I've come across.

00:34:20Oh, thank you, sir.

00:34:22Not a word on the police radio, nothing on the teletype, and you've scooped every sheet in town, even to

00:34:27identifying the robbers.

00:34:28I don't see how you did it.

00:34:30Oh, connections.

00:34:38Yes, Henderson speaking.

00:34:40Yes, Chief.

00:34:44What?

00:34:46Are you sure?

00:34:53Sterling?

00:34:54Yes, sir?

00:34:54That was Inspector Hanson on the telephone.

00:34:56Oh, really?

00:34:57Yes, he told me why there were no police calls about the robbery.

00:35:00Well, I guess I didn't want to frighten off the robbers.

00:35:02No, Sterling, because there didn't happen to be a robbery.

00:35:04Oh, no robbery.

00:35:06No robbery?

00:35:07Well, there must have been.

00:35:08Why must there have been?

00:35:09He told me all about it.

00:35:10Who told you all about it?

00:35:11Francis.

00:35:11The mule?

00:35:12Yes, sir.

00:35:13A madman who carries on conversations with a talking mule, and I had to believe him.

00:35:17But, but, Mr. Henderson, sir.

00:35:18Young man.

00:35:19What?

00:35:19Do you realize what you've done?

00:35:21We'll be sued by these three men.

00:35:23We'll be sued by the jewelry store.

00:35:24We'll lose half of our circulation.

00:35:26Thirty years in the business, and you'll own me, and the daily record in one fell swoop.

00:35:30But, but, Mr. Henderson.

00:35:31Young man.

00:35:32Which one of my competitors put you up to this?

00:35:34Speak up.

00:35:35Which one of them did it?

00:35:36Well, it was my own idea.

00:35:37I mean, no one did.

00:35:38I'm going to finish as soon as I get...

00:35:40Hello.

00:35:40Help me.

00:35:42Hello.

00:35:43Yes.

00:35:44Yes, Henderson speaking.

00:35:45This is Roger Van Cartel of Van Cartel and Company.

00:35:47How dare you, Mr. Henderson?

00:35:49How dare you?

00:35:50This establishment prides itself on being absolutely impregnable.

00:35:54Mr. Van Cartel, I assure you, the entire thing's a mistake.

00:35:58A horrible mistake.

00:35:59And an expensive mistake, Mr. Henderson.

00:36:02Our clients may hesitate about storing their valuables with us.

00:36:04We are therefore going to sue your paper for thousands.

00:36:07We'll sue for millions.

00:36:09Mr. Van Cartel, we'll print a retraction.

00:36:11You've got nothing to worry about.

00:36:13Absolutely nothing to worry about.

00:36:17Sterling, I demand to know where you got this story.

00:36:20Do you know how it is, Chief?

00:36:22I don't know.

00:36:24Where did you get it?

00:36:25A smart reporter never devotes the source of his information.

00:36:28Smart reporter, huh?

00:36:29I'll get it out of him, Chief.

00:36:31I'll handle this, Mulvaney.

00:36:33Now, look, son.

00:36:35You knew all about the crime before it was committed.

00:36:38You knew the participants.

00:36:39You knew the details.

00:36:40You must have been in on it.

00:36:41No, sir.

00:36:42Now, unless you explain to me how you knew so much, I'll have to arrest you as an accessory before

00:36:47the fact.

00:36:47But, but...

00:36:50Well, if you must know, it was through Tootles.

00:36:52Who's Tootles?

00:36:53Is she Duke Creswell's girl?

00:36:54Now, take it easy, men.

00:36:55Now, tell me, who is Tootles and what's her last name?

00:36:58She doesn't have a last name.

00:37:00She's a horse.

00:37:00You mean she's a big, fat broad?

00:37:02No, she's a horse.

00:37:03Another one of your jokes, huh?

00:37:05There's no joke, sir.

00:37:06Well, I think I'd better explain.

00:37:08I think you'd better.

00:37:09Yes, well, you see, sir, Duke Creswell goes around with a waitress named Annie.

00:37:13And Annie has a sister named Minnie who works in the laundry.

00:37:15And she goes around with one of the drivers.

00:37:17And his horse's name...

00:37:18Tootles.

00:37:19Yes.

00:37:19Yes, his horse.

00:37:21That's right, sir.

00:37:22And when Tootles heard about the proposed robbery, she told Florabelle.

00:37:25And who is Florabelle?

00:37:27She's on the police force.

00:37:28Listen, wise guy, we don't have any Florabelles on the police force.

00:37:31Oh, yes, you do.

00:37:32She's a traffic horse.

00:37:33A traffic horse?

00:37:33Yes, up in Harlem.

00:37:35And when Tootles stole Florabelle, Florabelle told Francis.

00:37:37And Francis...

00:37:38And...

00:37:39And...

00:38:00Splendid, young man.

00:38:01A new record for this boy.

00:38:03Oh, does that mean I can leave?

00:38:04Leave?

00:38:05Are you crazy?

00:38:06That's what we're trying to find out, doctor.

00:38:09Oh, yes, yes, yes, of course.

00:38:10Now then, gentlemen, about these schizophrenic hallucinations...

00:38:14They're not schiz...

00:38:15They're not hallucinations.

00:38:16Francis does talk.

00:38:18Tell me, young man.

00:38:19Do you ever hear strange noises?

00:38:21Unusual sounds.

00:38:22Peculiar vibrations.

00:38:23What do you mean, sir?

00:38:24Well, whistles, bells, horns.

00:38:28Oh, yes, sir.

00:38:29Regularly?

00:38:30Yes, sir.

00:38:30How do you explain that?

00:38:32I live down by the East River.

00:38:33No, no, young man.

00:38:35You don't understand.

00:38:36Do you ever smell unusual smells?

00:38:38Smells?

00:38:39Yes, strange smells that you can't identify.

00:38:41Oh, yes, sir.

00:38:43How do you explain that?

00:38:44I live down by the River.

00:38:46Is it one particular mule, or do all mules talk to you?

00:38:50Just one, sir.

00:38:51Francis.

00:38:52But did you ever hear things talk to you?

00:38:55Tables, chairs, airplanes, toothbrushes?

00:38:59No, sir.

00:39:00Of course not.

00:39:01How about chickens?

00:39:02Can chickens talk?

00:39:03No, sir.

00:39:04How about parrots?

00:39:05Can parrots talk?

00:39:05No, sir.

00:39:06Ah, the parrots can talk.

00:39:08I know they can.

00:39:08But you said they can.

00:39:09But you're all looking at me like I'm crazy.

00:39:11Now, I'm not going to answer one more question until I can talk to Francis.

00:39:23What do you think, gentlemen?

00:39:25I say, let him talk with the animal.

00:39:27It might be most interesting.

00:39:30You mean, you mean the mule will come here?

00:39:33No, no.

00:39:34I'll go along with Sterling and observe his behavior during an actual period of hallucination.

00:39:41Young man, we've decided to let you converse with this mule.

00:39:45Well, it's about time.

00:39:46May I use a phone?

00:39:47Phone?

00:39:49Telephone a mule?

00:39:50Yeah.

00:39:51No, no.

00:39:52We want you to speak to him in person.

00:39:54And Dr. Goodrich will go with you.

00:39:56Yeah, but...

00:39:56Yes.

00:40:01Good afternoon, Francis.

00:40:07So, this is Francis.

00:40:10Yes, sir.

00:40:12There couldn't be any mistake, could there, Sterling?

00:40:15No, sir.

00:40:17Francis, this is Dr. Goodrich, a psychiatrist from the hospital.

00:40:21Would you please tell him that I'm not crazy?

00:40:24Is the mule talking to you now?

00:40:26No, sir.

00:40:29Now, Francis, I know we've been through this before.

00:40:32But please, please, you can't let me down now.

00:40:35Easy now, easy.

00:40:36No, he's just being stubborn, that's all.

00:40:38Oh, is that what it is?

00:40:39Yeah, every time I...

00:40:40Now, come here, my boy.

00:40:41Well, I...

00:40:41I understand perfectly.

00:40:43You are worried because your animal friend won't speak to you.

00:40:45Well, yes, sir.

00:40:46But you needn't be.

00:40:47You must realize that there's nothing unusual in what has happened to you.

00:40:50I've seen hundreds of cases, and they recover.

00:40:53Yeah, but there's nothing wrong with me.

00:40:54I know.

00:40:56In your mind, there is a void.

00:40:59Well, like a vacuum in nature,

00:41:01it demanded filling, you see.

00:41:04Well, not exactly.

00:41:06Almost always we find such cases seek some person or animal who is in trouble.

00:41:11Hurt, suffering, or miserable.

00:41:13Like this silly creature.

00:41:15Just look at him.

00:41:17Undersized, dull-eyed, spiritless, decrepit, stupid.

00:41:20As sad and broken down a beast as ever heaven created.

00:41:24But I still got my own teeth.

00:41:26Can you tell?

00:41:27My teeth...

00:41:28Who said that?

00:41:30I did.

00:41:31Who is I?

00:41:33I is me.

00:41:35But who is me?

00:41:36Well, don't you know who you are, Doc?

00:41:39Well, who...

00:41:40I told you you could talk, didn't I?

00:41:41I told you.

00:41:42Sure I can talk.

00:41:44But none of this drivel I've just been listening to.

00:41:46It is not drivel.

00:41:48Why, here is a clear case of hyper-imaginative reaction induced by emotional starvation.

00:41:53Acute symptoms of urban claustrophobia.

00:41:56Hogwash.

00:41:57Don't you believe him, young man?

00:41:59I've had many years of successful practice.

00:42:01Many years.

00:42:02Doctor, you know what I think?

00:42:04No, and I don't care.

00:42:06I think you're off your rocker.

00:42:09Impossible!

00:42:10Why is it impossible, Doc?

00:42:12I'm the psychiatrist.

00:42:14Common medical reaction.

00:42:17We use a garden term to describe it.

00:42:19The God complex.

00:42:21Very common.

00:42:21That'll do.

00:42:23That'll do.

00:42:23Calm yourself, Doc.

00:42:26Now, just a few questions I'd like to ask.

00:42:28Help me.

00:42:29Are you married?

00:42:30I am not.

00:42:32At your age, do you go out with girls?

00:42:36I have no time for women.

00:42:38Clinically correct.

00:42:39A good income, Doc?

00:42:41Largest in the hospital.

00:42:42Hey, that fits together nicely.

00:42:44Quite a build you got there, Doc.

00:42:46Remnants of an athlete.

00:42:48What do you mean, remnants?

00:42:49Well, Doc, we ain't as young as we once were, are we?

00:42:54Just that my hair's thinning.

00:42:56Tell me, how do you sleep?

00:42:58Perfectly.

00:42:59No dreams?

00:43:00Of course I dream.

00:43:01About being chief of staff at the hospital?

00:43:05Well, yes, as a matter of...

00:43:06My dreams are my own affair.

00:43:08I'm being insulted.

00:43:09Get me out of here.

00:43:10Of course.

00:43:10Get me out.

00:43:11Get him out.

00:43:12I think we'd better leave.

00:43:13Yeah, take him out.

00:43:14I'm being insulted.

00:43:15Get me out.

00:43:17Get me out.

00:43:18Unhappy case.

00:43:20Next patient.

00:43:48Thanks, Sam.

00:43:54Is this on the level, girl?

00:43:57Huh?

00:43:59Direct from the start.

00:44:11Wall Street.

00:44:13A lot of my cousins got their assets frozen here in the year 1929.

00:44:22Peter, a fella tried selling me that Brooklyn Bridge once.

00:44:25You know something?

00:44:27What?

00:44:27I should have bought it.

00:44:29Thanks, Jake.

00:44:31You're sure on the ball today.

00:44:33Hey, yeah.

00:44:35This is new.

00:44:36Come on, Francis.

00:44:37Check.

00:44:39The Duchess of Jersey is eloping with their chauffeur.

00:44:44Mother should see me now.

00:44:49Pretty, ain't it?

00:44:50You know, if them fellers could get together in there, they could help a heap of folks over

00:44:55a high hurdle of human understanding.

00:44:57Yes, sir.

00:44:59You mean you silly plugs can't find out who's the head of this protection racket?

00:45:04Huh?

00:45:05Mix on the right people.

00:45:07You better lay low for a while.

00:45:35Good evening, Mr. Sterling.

00:45:36Hello, Mr. Francis.

00:45:38Maybe, Mr. Seidler.

00:45:45Oh.

00:45:46Good evening, Mr. Scholar.

00:45:47Oh, my good friend, Mr. Sterling.

00:45:50Here, have a nice apple.

00:45:51Hey, Maria, look who's here.

00:45:53Oh, thank you.

00:45:54Hello, you nice mule.

00:45:56Oh, you really make a nice pet.

00:45:58I like you very much.

00:46:00Hello, Peter.

00:46:01I saved these turnips for Francis.

00:46:03I thought he'd like them for a change.

00:46:04Well, that's certainly nice of you, Maria.

00:46:06Thank you very much.

00:46:10Go on, go on.

00:46:11Run along.

00:46:13Ah, they make a nice couple.

00:46:15Maria, was that a lunatic?

00:46:17Lunatic?

00:46:17What do you mean, lunatic?

00:46:18You know who that is?

00:46:20That is Pietro Sterling, DA, number one newspaper reporter.

00:46:24He's a big shot.

00:46:25You told him he was a coconut.

00:46:27Coconut?

00:46:27Don't say coconut.

00:46:28Don't go on.

00:46:29I'll lose my patience.

00:46:30I'll lose my patience.

00:46:31No, it's not going to happen.

00:46:37You know, we haven't seen very much of you these days.

00:46:40Well, the newspaper man has a pretty busy life, Maria.

00:46:43Oh, I know.

00:46:43I see your name in the paper every day, and I'm so proud.

00:46:47Are you really?

00:46:48Yes, and so is Papa.

00:46:50Oh, then he doesn't think I'm crazy anymore, huh?

00:46:52Oh, no.

00:46:53Now he says, oh, that fellow Pietro.

00:46:54He's got plenty of brains upstairs.

00:46:59You've got an awfully pretty laugh, Maria.

00:47:01Do you think so?

00:47:03Yeah, it bubbles.

00:47:04It kind of makes you want to laugh some more.

00:47:07Oh, fudge.

00:47:12What did you say?

00:47:15I said it's, I'm a pretty good judge.

00:47:19Peter, you always think of me as a little girl, don't you?

00:47:23Well, you are, aren't you?

00:47:24I'm going to be 18 tomorrow.

00:47:2718?

00:47:28Tomorrow?

00:47:28Uh-huh.

00:47:29Well, you certainly don't look it.

00:47:31I suppose it's the way Papa dresses me.

00:47:34He still wants to think I'm his little bambina.

00:47:37Oh, bambina.

00:47:37That's cute.

00:47:39Well, that's not too bad, after all.

00:47:42Hey, why don't we go out tomorrow night and celebrate your birthday?

00:47:45Oh, Peter, I'd love to.

00:47:47Oh, that would be a real birthday.

00:47:49Well, I'll tell you what we'll do.

00:47:50We'll go out.

00:47:51Keep chewing on this.

00:47:52Oh, that's a second of time.

00:48:03That's a two-blast, you know?

00:48:04You don't want to take any help.

00:48:05Get it out.

00:48:08Let me help you.

00:48:08Oh, no.

00:48:09Do you know who those men were?

00:48:11Come on, Giuseppe.

00:48:12Pateros.

00:48:13I think they were the insurance people.

00:48:16The insurance people?

00:48:17What do you mean?

00:48:20No.

00:48:21No.

00:48:22No.

00:48:22Don't ask me.

00:48:23I don't know nothing.

00:48:24Please, don't ask me.

00:48:25All right.

00:48:26Break it now.

00:48:27Come on.

00:48:27Give him some air here.

00:48:28Get moving.

00:48:29Come on.

00:48:29Get along with me.

00:48:30You know better than that.

00:48:31Come on.

00:48:32Move along.

00:48:33Come on.

00:48:33Break it now.

00:48:37I'm going to take a chance, Pete.

00:48:40If that horse was right, the yarn I'm going to give you

00:48:43will bust this town wide open.

00:48:46You mean that old peddler getting beat up?

00:48:47Is that important?

00:48:48Yeah, and he's just one of the hundreds of little guys

00:48:50that's being jipped by one of the biggest brackets in this town.

00:48:54From now on, you're a crusader.

00:48:56A crusader?

00:48:57You're not a top reporter until you started a couple of crusades.

00:49:01Start riding.

00:49:03Shoot.

00:49:05Racketeers terrorizing small merchants.

00:49:07Racketeers, huh?

00:49:08Don't interrupt.

00:49:10That peddler's horse was tough enough to understand.

00:49:13How come?

00:49:14Oh, he'd talk with an accent.

00:49:17Racketeers terrorizing small merchants by Peter Sterling.

00:49:23Under the guise of selling insurance, a group of racketeers...

00:49:27Headed by a supposedly reputable businessman...

00:49:31has been exacting tribute from small merchants, peddlers and street vendors in various parts of the city.

00:49:36I don't like it, Brad.

00:49:38Not one bit.

00:49:39Looks like one of our clients did a little talking, Mr. Garnett.

00:49:42Headed by a supposedly reputable business man.

00:49:45The newspaper didn't get that from any client.

00:49:49Nobody knows about me except you and a few of your boys.

00:49:53You know you can swear by me and the boys, Mr. Garnett.

00:49:55I don't swear by anyone, Mitchell.

00:49:57Well, it might have been just a lucky guess.

00:49:59Some reporter fishing in the dark.

00:50:01I can't take any chances.

00:50:02I've worked too hard keeping myself in the background.

00:50:08Get me Alberta Ames of the Daily Record.

00:50:11I've got to find out what this fellow Peter Sterling knows.

00:50:16Miss Ames and I used to be rather chummy.

00:50:19I'm sure she'd be glad to cooperate.

00:50:21Miss Alberta Ames, please.

00:50:24Yes?

00:50:26Why, certainly.

00:50:29Jeff, darling, how very nice.

00:50:32Spent such a long time.

00:50:34Yes, too long.

00:50:37Now, but you can do me a slight service and you'll find me most grateful.

00:50:45Who?

00:50:48Yes, yes, I know him quite well.

00:50:52I'm sure he'll be delighted.

00:51:01The cosine of light over infinity calculates out to X.

00:51:10Well, that figures.

00:51:18Well, how do I look?

00:51:20Oh, no.

00:51:21You didn't have to rent that monkey suit just to have a date with Maria.

00:51:25Oh, it's, it's not Maria.

00:51:27Something else came up.

00:51:28Something very important.

00:51:29Oh, you made up with that tomato.

00:51:32She's not a tomato.

00:51:34How did you know?

00:51:35By the look on your puss.

00:51:37Well, I told you she'd change your mind about me.

00:51:39She came over today and apologized for the way she's been acting.

00:51:41So you still think that night-bloomin' cabbage goes for you?

00:51:45Of course, it would never occur to you that she might love me.

00:51:48You?

00:51:49Me.

00:51:51Pardon my hairy legs.

00:51:53Anyway, you gotta skip the date.

00:51:55Skip it?

00:51:56What for?

00:51:57Pete, I got some real hot news for you.

00:52:01Hot news?

00:52:02Oh, can't it wait?

00:52:04Listen, I just found out who the head man is in the protection racket.

00:52:08Yeah, yeah, uh, well, can't it wait till I get back?

00:52:11Do you want the story or don't you?

00:52:13Well, of course I do, but you don't understand.

00:52:15It's, it's just not Alberta.

00:52:16I have a dinner date with some very important people at Mr. Jefferson Garnett's home.

00:52:20Garnett?

00:52:21Yeah.

00:52:21That's a guy.

00:52:22He's the head of the racket.

00:52:24Oh, don't be a jackass.

00:52:25Look who's calling who, who.

00:52:28Why, you're just making that all up because you don't like Alberta.

00:52:30Ah, figures.

00:52:31Well, I got a right to pick my own friends.

00:52:33And so have I, fancy pants.

00:52:35So button up your lip.

00:52:36Don't slam the door.

00:52:38Well, you, you.

00:52:38Oh, I am scrayed.

00:52:46Oh, Peter.

00:52:48Oh, why, you didn't tell me we were going formal.

00:52:51Huh?

00:52:52Well, we're not.

00:52:53I mean, there's been a change in plans.

00:52:55I was just coming over to tell you.

00:52:56A change?

00:52:57Yes.

00:52:59Miss Ames has invited me out to meet some important people.

00:53:02Oh, well, do you know how it is with newspaper men?

00:53:04We need influential contacts.

00:53:07Oh, sure.

00:53:08I, I understand, Peter.

00:53:09That's all right.

00:53:10Yeah.

00:53:11Well, we'll go out tomorrow night, okay?

00:53:16Well, uh, Maria, here, I want you to have these.

00:53:19And happy birthday.

00:53:21Oh, no, I couldn't, Peter.

00:53:22You better keep them for your date.

00:53:24I brought these carrots for Francis.

00:53:27Well, thanks.

00:53:29Uh, well, I, I was a little rude to Francis just now.

00:53:31Perhaps I'd better go back and apologize.

00:53:44Oh, here.

00:53:44Here, you give these to Francis.

00:53:47No, it's okay.

00:53:49Bye.

00:53:53Good evening, Alberta.

00:53:54Well, Petey, boy, don't you look shod.

00:53:57Well, you look beautiful, too.

00:53:59Here.

00:54:00Oh, they're lovely, Petey.

00:54:22I'm so miserable, Francis.

00:54:39I'm so crazy about him.

00:54:42He doesn't even know I'm alive.

00:54:48It's lucky for me you don't know a word I'm saying.

00:54:51How can you care for that guy?

00:54:55Francis!

00:54:56All right, all right.

00:54:59But, but, but you're talking.

00:55:00Well.

00:55:02But, but, but, but, but you're talking.

00:55:03Muse can't talk.

00:55:03Well, women can, unfortunately.

00:55:07Now, relax.

00:55:09I want you to give Pete a message for me.

00:55:12Message?

00:55:13Yeah.

00:55:13Tell him from now on he's on his own and not to look for me.

00:55:17Oh, you're not leaving him.

00:55:19Oh, I'm finished, true.

00:55:21And tell him that's 30 for tonight.

00:55:23But, but you can't go.

00:55:24He'll miss you.

00:55:25He needs you.

00:55:25Who says I can't?

00:55:27Him running out on his friends for that Alberta Ames dame?

00:55:31Oh, but she is beautiful.

00:55:33Yeah.

00:55:34And glamorous.

00:55:35Yeah.

00:55:35I guess that's the reason Pete likes her.

00:55:38Yeah.

00:55:38He always thinks of me as a little girl.

00:55:40Then why don't you grow up and get glamorous?

00:55:43Me?

00:55:44Why not?

00:55:46Hey, in a couple of hours, I could give you enough zing to land a fish like him.

00:55:51But how?

00:55:53Well, let me see.

00:55:54Well, first you gotta forget that Pollyanna ooze in your voice and give out with some low and throaty tones.

00:56:00You know, the kind of stuff that makes boys act like men and men act like boys.

00:56:05Ha, ha, ha.

00:56:06Listen.

00:56:06Ah, E, I, O, oo.

00:56:12Come on, say it.

00:56:13Ah, E, I, O, oo.

00:56:19Yeah.

00:56:20You're putting a little smaltz in it.

00:56:22Let me hear you say,

00:56:23How now, brown cow?

00:56:26How now, brown cow?

00:56:29Now roll it low and easy again.

00:56:32Come on.

00:56:33How now, brown cow?

00:56:36Oh, yeah.

00:56:38Now you're changing from a sapling into a tree.

00:56:41Throw it soft and throw it low and you'll catch yourself that schmo.

00:56:46Hey.

00:56:48What kind of perfume you using?

00:56:50Oh, uh, sweet summer breeze.

00:56:52Sweet summer breeze.

00:56:54That's strictly for the cradle trade.

00:56:57For the long pants, you want moment of madness.

00:57:01Oh, I'll get some first thing in the morning.

00:57:03Okay.

00:57:05Uh, uh, let me see your wall.

00:57:08Uh, yeah.

00:57:11Oh.

00:57:12Take those skis off.

00:57:15Put some bounce in it.

00:57:17Try it.

00:57:18Go ahead.

00:57:21Oh, no.

00:57:23Here.

00:57:24Get a load of this.

00:57:25Da-da-da-da-da-da.

00:57:28Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da.

00:57:31It don't mean a thing if you ain't got that swing.

00:57:34I can't see it.

00:57:35You got something to sell, so you sell it.

00:57:38Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da.

00:57:41Da-da-da-da-da-da-da.

00:57:45Strictly from the nursery.

00:57:48Hey, that'd fracture them.

00:57:50In the kindergarten.

00:57:55No chic, no savoir-faire.

00:57:58What's that?

00:57:59I don't know, but that dress ain't got it.

00:58:05What about the one I've got on?

00:58:07Yeah.

00:58:08Take it off.

00:58:09I beg your pardon?

00:58:10I got ideas.

00:58:11Take it off.

00:58:12Why?

00:58:12Oh, I'm gonna make a few alterations.

00:58:15Well, I can't take it off in front of you.

00:58:17Why not?

00:58:18Cause, I just can't.

00:58:20Do you want Peter, don't you?

00:58:25All right, turn your head the other way.

00:58:26I'm old enough to be your mother.

00:58:29Your father.

00:58:31I'm old enough.

00:58:32Don't peek.

00:58:33All right.

00:58:34Hurry up and get that dress off.

00:58:36I got a wonderful idea.

00:58:39Yeah.

00:58:40All right.

00:58:40If this works.

00:58:42Uh-huh.

00:58:43Now rip out the sleeves.

00:58:44The sleeves?

00:58:45Lower the hem of that dress five inches.

00:58:47Five inches?

00:58:47And the neckline right down to the shoulders.

00:58:50Why, Fred, is that so daring?

00:58:51Hey, you know, after I get you dressed up,

00:58:54you know what Pete's gonna do?

00:58:56What?

00:58:56He's gonna take you in his arms and he's gonna say,

00:58:59Oh, darling, to me, you're the quintessence of feminine loveliness.

00:59:05Oh, Francis.

00:59:07Oh, slush.

00:59:17You're getting everything you want?

00:59:18Very nice, Mr. Garnett.

00:59:20Excuse me.

00:59:27And how are you two getting along?

00:59:28Oh, just fine.

00:59:29It's a lovely party, Mr. Garnett.

00:59:31Oh, it certainly is.

00:59:32Well, I was very pleased that you could come.

00:59:35You know, I've been watching your career with a good deal of interest.

00:59:37Well, have you really?

00:59:39Well, you've become one of our most important newspaper men in such a short time,

00:59:43it's miraculous, really quite miraculous.

00:59:46Well, you're right, Mr. Garnett.

00:59:47We're all very proud of Peter down at the record.

00:59:50It's nothing, really.

00:59:51Nothing.

00:59:52Your kind of muse is very important to our city.

00:59:55Let's go into the library where we can talk quietly.

00:59:58I'm sure that Miss Ames will excuse us.

01:00:00Oh, you go right ahead.

01:00:01I can manage to amuse myself nicely.

01:00:07Please, let me.

01:00:10Excuse us.

01:00:11Certainly.

01:00:17Of course, the way out there.

01:00:26Make yourself comfortable.

01:00:28Oh, thank you.

01:00:35That was a very interesting story you had in today's record.

01:00:38Oh, glad you enjoyed it, sir.

01:00:40There's one thing that puzzles me, though, P.S.

01:00:42P.S.? What's that?

01:00:43They're your initials, aren't they?

01:00:45Oh, oh, yes, sir.

01:00:47I'm known as J.G.

01:00:49It's informal, and I like it better than nicknames, don't you?

01:00:52Oh, yes.

01:00:53That's J.G.

01:00:55That business about a protection racket.

01:00:57That's a horrible thing, terrorizing people.

01:00:59Is your story based on actual fact,

01:01:01or just an imaginary bit of sensationalism?

01:01:04Oh, it's actual fact, sir.

01:01:06One never knows what goes on right under one's very nose, does one?

01:01:09Yeah.

01:01:10You were a very clever young man to uncover something like that,

01:01:12even before the police.

01:01:15It's all in a day's work, sir.

01:01:18This reputable businessman you mentioned

01:01:19as being head of the organization,

01:01:21do you have any idea who he is?

01:01:23No, not yet, but I expect to find out

01:01:25who he is later on this evening.

01:01:27Really?

01:01:28That's interesting.

01:01:30Very interesting.

01:01:35Something funny, Mr. Sterling?

01:01:37I was just remembering.

01:01:39Francis tried to tell me it was you.

01:01:41Me?

01:01:42Yeah, the head of the racket.

01:01:43I guess that's Francis' idea of a joke.

01:01:45And who is Francis?

01:01:48It's one of my connections.

01:01:50Well, he must have rather a strange sense of humor.

01:01:52I should like to meet the gentleman.

01:01:54No.

01:01:55No, no, you wouldn't.

01:01:56I shouldn't have even mentioned him.

01:01:57Well, on the contrary,

01:01:58I think you should tell me all about this Francis person.

01:02:00Well, if you don't mind, sir, I'd rather not.

01:02:03Is he the one who told you about the protection racket?

01:02:07Yes, sir.

01:02:08Then I insist on meeting him.

01:02:10If I'm supposed to be mixed up in this,

01:02:11he certainly must tell me where he gets his information.

01:02:13Yeah, but Francis won't talk, sir.

01:02:15Well, this is one time he'll have to, I'm afraid.

01:02:17Well, if you even try to make him, you'll be sorry.

01:02:20Are you threatening me, Mr. Sterling?

01:02:22Beg pardon, sir.

01:02:23May I serve either of you gentlemen with a drink?

01:02:25Not now, Mason.

01:02:28I'm afraid you misunderstood me, Mr. Garnett.

01:02:30I wasn't threatening you at all.

01:02:31It's just that Francis is very unusual.

01:02:33He's very, very stubborn.

01:02:34He won't talk to strangers.

01:02:36Sterling, how do you think I got where I am?

01:02:38It's from knowing how to handle people.

01:02:40But, Francis, it's not people.

01:02:43Well, you won't believe me,

01:02:44so I'll take you out to meet him sometime.

01:02:46Sometime?

01:02:47What's wrong with it now?

01:02:49Now?

01:02:50Now.

01:03:06He lives in a place like this?

01:03:08Oh, no, sir.

01:03:08I live here.

01:03:09Francis lives in back, in the stable.

01:03:11Oh.

01:03:12Did you say stable?

01:03:14Oh, yes, sir.

01:03:15What sort of character is he?

01:03:17Well, well, he's, uh...

01:03:18Well, I'd rather you'd see for yourself, sir.

01:03:20I'll lead the way.

01:03:25There's something strange about this boy, Parker.

01:03:27If I'm not out in three minutes...

01:03:29I understand, sir.

01:03:37The lights are out.

01:03:39Must be asleep.

01:03:48Wake up, Francis.

01:03:49I've brought company.

01:03:54Hard sleeper.

01:03:56Francis!

01:03:58Francis!

01:04:02He's not here.

01:04:05You mean to say somebody lives here?

01:04:07Well, you'd better prepare yourself for a surprise, J.G.

01:04:10A surprise?

01:04:11Yes, sir.

01:04:12I was afraid to tell you before, for fear you wouldn't believe me, but...

01:04:14Well, Francis isn't a man.

01:04:18Well, this is hardly a place for a woman.

01:04:22Well, well, Francis isn't a woman either.

01:04:24Isn't a man, isn't a woman?

01:04:26What in blazes are you talking about?

01:04:27Uh, well, uh, well, Francis is a mule.

01:04:30A mule?

01:04:31Yes, sir.

01:04:32Well, I didn't come down here to visit any mules.

01:04:35What about this person who's been giving you those newspaper stories?

01:04:37Well, that's Francis, sir.

01:04:40The mule?

01:04:42What sort of juvenile prank is this?

01:04:44Oh, it's not a prank, sir.

01:04:45Oh, wait till Francis gets back.

01:04:46You find out.

01:04:46Gets back?

01:04:47Where is he?

01:04:48Yeah, but he's probably out getting some stories.

01:04:50Sterling, are you talking about a mule?

01:04:52Yes, sir.

01:04:53I know it sounds unusual, but Francis is an unusual mule.

01:04:56Wait till you talk with him.

01:04:56You'll see.

01:04:57Wait till I what?

01:04:58Talk with him.

01:04:59And you can pick any subject.

01:05:03You've been having a little joke at my expense, haven't you, Mr. Sterling?

01:05:06No, sir.

01:05:07Well, either that or you're a mental case.

01:05:08Well, certainly not, sir.

01:05:10Say, what is this all about?

01:05:11I'm not in the habit of being made a fool of.

01:05:13But, sir, J.G., Mr. Garnett, you don't understand.

01:05:15You're bending me.

01:05:16Listen, if you, if you give me...

01:05:22Mr. Garnett!

01:05:23Mr. Garnett!

01:05:24Mr. Garnett, speak to me.

01:05:25Mr. Garn...

01:05:28Mr. Garnett, speak to me, Mr. Garnett.

01:05:30Listen.

01:05:34I heard a shot.

01:05:35Mr. Garnett!

01:05:36He's dead.

01:05:37Look, the killer's outside.

01:05:38I've got to get...

01:05:39No, you don't.

01:05:39I don't?

01:05:39I don't what?

01:05:40You don't go away.

01:05:41What do you mean?

01:05:42I don't...

01:05:42I didn't kill him.

01:05:43We'll let the cops decide that.

01:05:44Oh, no.

01:05:45Police!

01:05:46But...

01:05:47But I didn't do it.

01:05:47I didn't do it, I tell you.

01:05:49I didn't do it, I tell you.

01:05:50I didn't do it.

01:05:51All right, then.

01:05:51Who did?

01:05:52I don't know.

01:05:52Maybe Mr. Garnett had enemies.

01:05:54Jeff Garnett was a respected gentleman.

01:05:56A respected...

01:05:57Mr. Hanson, how can you say that?

01:05:58He was head of the protection racket.

01:06:00Where did you get that fantastic notion?

01:06:02From Francis.

01:06:03He tried to tell me, but I thought he was kidding.

01:06:04Who's Francis?

01:06:05I told you, gentlemen.

01:06:06Don't start that mule talk again.

01:06:08If you're trying to build up an insanity place,

01:06:10Telling, it won't work.

01:06:10Look, if you just sent for Francis,

01:06:12it could clear this whole thing up in a minute.

01:06:13Look, will you please send for him?

01:06:15Me?

01:06:15Send for a mule?

01:06:16I should say not.

01:06:17Well, then, would you send for the girl

01:06:18that lives next door to me?

01:06:19She'll bring him here.

01:06:19What's her name?

01:06:20Maria Scola.

01:06:22Maria Scola?

01:06:23What connection has she with this case?

01:06:25Maria?

01:06:26Well, none.

01:06:27She's been outside in that waiting room

01:06:28for two hours.

01:06:29Maria's been out...

01:06:30Sit down.

01:06:36Would you come in here, please?

01:06:43Maria, am I glad you're here.

01:06:45Oh, I came as soon as I heard.

01:06:48You gentlemen are all wrong.

01:06:50Peter didn't kill Mr. Garnett.

01:06:52I know he didn't.

01:06:53Well, that's what I've been trying to tell him.

01:06:54I've been over here.

01:06:59Gee, you look different.

01:07:01It's your hair.

01:07:03And the dress.

01:07:05And your eyes.

01:07:10Everything.

01:07:11You really think so, Peter, honestly?

01:07:13Well, yes.

01:07:14Well, I never noticed before.

01:07:16You're so pretty.

01:07:17I mean, you've grown up.

01:07:20Oh, thank you, Peter.

01:07:22You know, I quite...

01:07:23Well, I...

01:07:25I hate to disturb you two, lovebirds.

01:07:30But have you any evidence on the killing, Miss Scola?

01:07:33Evidence?

01:07:33Yes.

01:07:34Do you know who killed Garnett?

01:07:36Oh, I know.

01:07:37Oh, but I know that Peter couldn't.

01:07:38Well, he couldn't kill anyone.

01:07:40Well, they won't believe I'm innocent.

01:07:41But they'll change their minds when Francis gets here.

01:07:43Oh.

01:07:44Look, Maria, would you please go home and get him?

01:07:46Uh, I can't.

01:07:50Francis is gone.

01:07:51What?

01:07:52He's gone.

01:07:54Gone?

01:07:54What do you mean gone?

01:07:56Well, he told me to tell you goodbye.

01:07:58And he says, from now on, you're on your own.

01:08:02My own what?

01:08:04Oh, no.

01:08:06No, he can't be gone.

01:08:09He can't get along without me.

01:08:21And you are certain, Captain Cranston,

01:08:23that the bullet which killed Jefferson Garnett

01:08:25was fired from this gun, Exhibit A?

01:08:31Absolutely certain, sir.

01:08:34And this is the same gun, is it not,

01:08:36upon which were found the fingerprints of the defendant?

01:08:38The same gun, sir.

01:08:40That will be all, Captain.

01:08:44Your witness.

01:08:48No questions.

01:08:59And when I reached the stable,

01:09:00I saw Mr. Garnett lying dead on the floor.

01:09:03And Mr. Sterling, with the gun in his hand,

01:09:04was trying to run away.

01:09:05So I stopped him.

01:09:07And how long a period of time elapsed

01:09:09between the firing of the shot

01:09:11and your arrival at the stable?

01:09:12Oh, less than a minute, sir.

01:09:14That will be all, Mr. Parker.

01:09:17Your witness, Mr. Cavendish.

01:09:19Um, no questions.

01:09:30I was serving the guests.

01:09:33I went into the library for a moment.

01:09:35And what did you see and hear?

01:09:37Mr. Garnett, may he rest in peace,

01:09:40was facing this, this person.

01:09:43He was asking this, uh, this person,

01:09:46are you threatening me, Mr. Sterling?

01:09:49And that was all you heard?

01:09:51Yes, sir.

01:09:52I closed the door immediately.

01:09:55Very good.

01:09:58Your witness?

01:10:05No questions.

01:10:08Aren't you going to ask anybody any questions?

01:10:10What's the use?

01:10:11Our only hope is to throw ourselves

01:10:13on the mercy of the court.

01:10:15Oh.

01:10:16What?

01:10:22She don't look so good, Marie.

01:10:24I've been watching the jury two weeks.

01:10:26The way they look at him,

01:10:27I'm afraid it's no good.

01:10:28Papa, look.

01:10:29Ferenc's on already.

01:10:31You'd think he was never coming back.

01:10:33He's only chance

01:10:34to plead in sanity upstairs.

01:10:36Oh, Papa, you know he isn't crazy.

01:10:37No.

01:10:38You wait until the jury

01:10:39hears him talk about the mule.

01:10:42Papa.

01:10:43Huh?

01:10:44I want to tell you something

01:10:45that I've never told you before.

01:10:47I've talked to Francis.

01:10:48That's nothing.

01:10:50When I used to be a peddler,

01:10:51I used to talk to my horse.

01:10:53Oh, giddy up.

01:10:54Back up.

01:10:55Oh, but Papa, you don't understand.

01:10:57I've talked to Francis

01:10:58and Francis has talked to me.

01:11:00Sure, sure.

01:11:00I remember what...

01:11:03You mean, uh,

01:11:04Francis, the mule?

01:11:05He, he talked to you?

01:11:07Yes, Papa.

01:11:08Oh, mama mia.

01:11:09This is contagious.

01:11:11Oh, that's my affiliate part.

01:11:12Oh, Papa, you've got to believe me.

01:11:13Francis really talks.

01:11:15Oh, please, un momento.

01:11:16We not get excited.

01:11:18When you say this mule talk,

01:11:19you don't mean he talk.

01:11:21You mean he talk the mule talk.

01:11:22No, Papa.

01:11:23Francis really talks.

01:11:25Exactly the same I do in English.

01:11:27You don't call that dialect English,

01:11:29do you, paisan?

01:11:31Who say that?

01:11:31Oh, you've come back.

01:11:33So you don't like the way I talk, huh?

01:11:34I don't like the way I talk.

01:11:35Francisco, the mule.

01:11:37Oh, mama mia.

01:11:39Oh, look ahead.

01:11:41Papa!

01:11:41Papa, what's the matter?

01:11:43Papa!

01:11:44After the shot was fired, Mr. Sterling,

01:11:46and you picked up the gun,

01:11:47what did you do next?

01:11:48Well, I started after the murderer,

01:11:50but the chauffeur stopped me.

01:11:50But you do admit that you and Garnet

01:11:52were scuffling just as the shot was fired?

01:11:54Yeah, yes, sir.

01:11:55Oh.

01:11:56And what was this scuffle about?

01:11:59Well, I think he was worried

01:11:59about how much I knew.

01:12:00How much you knew about what?

01:12:02About him being head of the protection racket.

01:12:03What?

01:12:04That's not true.

01:12:05It's a lie.

01:12:07Mr. Sterling.

01:12:09Yes, sir?

01:12:09You've just made a serious charge

01:12:11against a person who's unable to defend himself.

01:12:13Do you have any evidence to support your statement?

01:12:16Well, no, sir, but I'm sure Francis does.

01:12:18Francis?

01:12:19Who is Francis?

01:12:22Well, I...

01:12:22I...

01:12:26Well, I might as well tell you now as later.

01:12:29Francis is a mule.

01:12:37Young man,

01:12:38the acoustics in this courtroom

01:12:39are not as good as they should be.

01:12:41It sounded as though you said mule.

01:12:44I did say mule, Your Honor.

01:12:48Mr. Evans,

01:12:49has this defendant been examined by a psychiatrist?

01:12:52Yes, Your Honor,

01:12:53by one of the top men in the psychiatric field,

01:12:55Dr. Ernest Goodrich.

01:12:56Is Dr. Goodrich in the court?

01:12:58No, Your Honor.

01:12:59He's in a sanatorium,

01:13:00a complete nervous breakdown.

01:13:06What were his conclusions

01:13:07as to the defendant's mental condition?

01:13:09That he was sane, Your Honor.

01:13:12Why, I knew you wouldn't believe me, Judge,

01:13:14but Francis is a mule,

01:13:16a regular mule

01:13:17with four legs and big wobbly ears,

01:13:19and he talks,

01:13:20but he's got more brains

01:13:21and a bigger heart than anyone I know,

01:13:23and I should have listened to him

01:13:25because he's the best friend I ever had.

01:13:27Young man,

01:13:28in view of the findings

01:13:29regarding your sanity,

01:13:30all this testimony

01:13:31about a talking mule

01:13:32will have no effect.

01:13:34This court takes judicial notice

01:13:36that there is no such thing

01:13:37as a talking mule.

01:13:38There never has been

01:13:39and there never will be

01:13:40and there never...

01:13:41You can't bring him in here.

01:13:42But he's a witness.

01:13:44You can't bring a mule

01:13:45into the courthouse.

01:13:46But I told you,

01:13:47he's a witness

01:13:47and he wants to testify.

01:13:49Come on, Francis.

01:13:54Francis!

01:13:55Francis!

01:14:01Young lady,

01:14:02what's the meaning of this?

01:14:03Sir, this is Francis

01:14:05and he's come here

01:14:06to help Mr. Sterling.

01:14:08Help him?

01:14:09Yes, sir.

01:14:09He wants to testify.

01:14:11Don't you, Francis?

01:14:12Kissed?

01:14:13Young lady,

01:14:14this courtroom

01:14:14is no place for facetiousness.

01:14:16I shall have you held in contempt.

01:14:18But she's not in contempt,

01:14:19Your Honor.

01:14:19Francis did come here

01:14:20to help me,

01:14:20didn't you, Francis?

01:14:21Well, go ahead

01:14:21and tell His Honor

01:14:22all you know about Mr. Garnett.

01:14:29Go ahead.

01:14:30Say something.

01:14:32Speak up!

01:14:35Young man,

01:14:36are you trying to convey

01:14:37the impression

01:14:37that this animal,

01:14:39this dumb animal,

01:14:40has the gift of speech?

01:14:42Well, I don't know

01:14:43if it's a gift, Your Honor,

01:14:44but he speaks all right

01:14:44when he feels like it.

01:14:45Yes, well, apparently

01:14:46he didn't feel like it.

01:14:48Well, I guess he wants

01:14:49to be sworn in first.

01:14:51Sworn in?

01:14:52This is ridiculous.

01:14:53Oh, no, sir.

01:14:54Excuse me.

01:14:55Mr. Cavendish,

01:14:56would you ask Francis

01:14:57to the witness stand, please?

01:14:58Me put a mule

01:14:59on the witness stand?

01:15:00I should say not.

01:15:01But he'll testify

01:15:01about Mr. Garnett

01:15:02and the protection racket,

01:15:03won't you, Francis?

01:15:05Oh, I've taken

01:15:07all the interruptions

01:15:07I intend to take.

01:15:08Bailiff, clear this beast

01:15:11from my courtroom.

01:15:13Your Honor, you mustn't.

01:15:14You can't.

01:15:14Mr. Cavendish,

01:15:15you're my lawyer.

01:15:16You're supposed

01:15:17to be helping me,

01:15:17so would you please

01:15:18put Francis

01:15:18on the witness stand?

01:15:19I couldn't.

01:15:20Why, I'd feel like

01:15:20a jackass talking

01:15:22to a mule.

01:15:23And how'd you think

01:15:24I'd feel talking

01:15:25to a lawyer?

01:15:26What?

01:15:26Now, there's no need

01:15:27for sarcasm.

01:15:32That wasn't you.

01:15:33That was the mule.

01:15:35I hoped to kiss

01:15:36a duck.

01:15:37It was the mule.

01:15:44Clear the courtroom!

01:15:45Clear the courtroom!

01:15:50Take the stand.

01:15:52All right, Francis.

01:16:08Sit down, Judge.

01:16:24Raise your right hand.

01:16:25Uh-huh.

01:16:26Your right foot.

01:16:27Uh-huh.

01:16:28Well, raise your right hoof.

01:16:30This is the best I can do.

01:16:33Yeah.

01:16:34Yeah.

01:16:38You hereby swear

01:16:39to give to the cause

01:16:40now in hearing the truth

01:16:41to hold truth

01:16:42and nothing but the truth

01:16:43so help you?

01:16:44I do.

01:16:46What's your name?

01:16:48Francis.

01:16:49Is that Francis

01:16:50with an I

01:16:50or Francis with an E?

01:16:52What kind of a crack

01:16:54is that?

01:16:55Well, are you a boy mule

01:16:57or a girl mule?

01:16:58Well, that should only interest

01:16:59in another mule.

01:17:02Well, we need the information

01:17:03for the records.

01:17:04Are you a male

01:17:05or a female?

01:17:07Do I sound like a soprano?

01:17:10It's Francis

01:17:11with an I.

01:17:12Well, he's waiting

01:17:13for you to question him.

01:17:14Huh?

01:17:15Oh.

01:17:17Yeah.

01:17:26Well, uh, sir,

01:17:28animal, mule,

01:17:29uh, Mr. Francis,

01:17:30will you please tell

01:17:31the court and the jury

01:17:32what, if anything,

01:17:33you know about

01:17:34the alleged murder

01:17:35of Jefferson Garnett?

01:17:37Well, any one

01:17:38of a thousand people

01:17:40could have killed Garnett.

01:17:42He was the head

01:17:43of the protection racket.

01:17:44How do you know?

01:17:46Every peddler in town

01:17:48knows, and they're

01:17:49all afraid to talk,

01:17:50but not their horses.

01:17:52What do you mean,

01:17:53not their horses?

01:17:55Just what I said, Judge.

01:17:57By tomorrow,

01:17:58I could have

01:17:58a hundred horses

01:17:59here to testify.

01:18:01A hundred horses?

01:18:02You mean all those

01:18:03horses talk, too?

01:18:04Talking horses?

01:18:06Don't be fantastic, Judge.

01:18:08I'd have to interpret

01:18:10for those morons.

01:18:11Your Honor!

01:18:13I object!

01:18:15Stay out of this, Blackstone.

01:18:17It's between me

01:18:17and the judge.

01:18:19The witness,

01:18:20this, this animal

01:18:22is testifying

01:18:23from hearsay.

01:18:24The Court of Appeals

01:18:26in the case

01:18:27of the People

01:18:27versus Martin

01:18:28interpreting

01:18:29section 8256

01:18:31of the Code

01:18:32of Criminal Procedure,

01:18:33approves such testimony

01:18:35in cases involving

01:18:36murder in the first degree.

01:18:38Look it up, Counselor.

01:18:39Volume 526

01:18:41at page 321

01:18:43under point 3,

01:18:44three-quarters

01:18:45of the way down

01:18:46on the left-hand side

01:18:48of the page.

01:18:51Judge,

01:18:52come here.

01:18:57If you'll adjourn

01:18:59until tomorrow,

01:19:00I'll have Garnett's

01:19:01real killer for you.

01:19:08This mule's adjourned.

01:19:10Huh?

01:19:11This court

01:19:12is this mule.

01:19:15Ten o'clock.

01:19:16Tomorrow morning.

01:19:20Thanks, Judge.

01:19:37Oh, no.

01:19:39Maria.

01:19:40Maria.

01:19:41Did they catch the killer yet?

01:19:42No, not yet.

01:19:49Francis.

01:19:51Francis, wake up.

01:19:54Hey, what's

01:19:55the big idea?

01:19:57You picked

01:19:57to find time

01:19:58to go to sleep.

01:19:59Got anything

01:20:00better to offer?

01:20:02But nothing's

01:20:03happened yet.

01:20:04You wake me up

01:20:05just to tell me that.

01:20:07Look, you said

01:20:08the killer

01:20:08would be here tonight.

01:20:10I did.

01:20:11Now pipe down.

01:20:12Let me get

01:20:13the rest

01:20:13of my shut eye.

01:20:15You don't seem

01:20:16to realize

01:20:17I'm heading

01:20:17for the electric chair.

01:20:19Well,

01:20:19when you gotta go,

01:20:20you gotta go.

01:20:22Come on, Sterling.

01:20:23Let's get going.

01:20:24Oh, please.

01:20:24The killer still may show up.

01:20:26Not a chance.

01:20:26It'll be light

01:20:27in a few minutes.

01:20:28I'm sorry, miss.

01:20:29Well, you meant well,

01:20:30Francis.

01:20:36My trial's as good

01:20:37as lost right now.

01:20:38Come on, Sterling.

01:20:44Maria.

01:20:56It's Skola.

01:21:00A car

01:21:00just to pull up,

01:21:02chief.

01:21:02It was running

01:21:03without the lights.

01:21:04Maybe our man

01:21:04gets set.

01:21:05All right.

01:21:09Francis, wake up.

01:21:11Wake up, Francis.

01:21:12Oh, I'm awake.

01:21:14Well, the killer's here.

01:21:15Well, that figures.

01:21:16Well, you still haven't

01:21:17told us why he's coming here.

01:21:18To kill me?

01:21:19To kill you?

01:21:20Oh, no.

01:21:21Yeah.

01:21:22He's afraid

01:21:22I'll put the finger on him.

01:21:24Shh.

01:21:24Get your head down.

01:21:25Now.

01:21:27Now.

01:21:56Dan Austin.

01:21:57Mr. Austin, I...

01:21:58I don't understand.

01:22:00Start talking.

01:22:01I don't know

01:22:02what this is all about.

01:22:04I...

01:22:05I came in

01:22:05to get a story

01:22:06about the mule

01:22:06and I got shot instead.

01:22:08He need a gun

01:22:08to get a story?

01:22:09I always carry a rod.

01:22:11Have ever since

01:22:12I was threatened

01:22:12by a hoodlum.

01:22:14As I came in,

01:22:15I heard a noise

01:22:16and drew the gun.

01:22:17That's all there is to it.

01:22:18You're lying, Austin.

01:22:19Am I?

01:22:20Suppose you prove I am.

01:22:22If you know anything,

01:22:23we'll get it out of you.

01:22:25Yeah?

01:22:26You're not scaring

01:22:27some frightened kid.

01:22:29Wait a minute.

01:22:32I'll handle this.

01:22:35Come on.

01:22:36Start talking, you.

01:22:37Stop him.

01:22:38He killed me.

01:22:39Sterling, talk to him.

01:22:40He'll listen to you.

01:22:41Well, when he's like this,

01:22:42he won't listen to anyone.

01:22:43All right. Come on.

01:22:45Start talking.

01:22:47Juan.

01:22:48Juan.

01:22:48I'll listen to you,

01:22:50Mr. Austin.

01:22:51Tell us why

01:22:52you killed Jeff Garnett.

01:22:54I don't know

01:22:55what you're talking about.

01:22:56Don't you?

01:22:57You've been sore at Pete

01:22:59ever since he took your spot

01:23:01as the number one reporter

01:23:02on the record, right?

01:23:03You're wrong.

01:23:05I've always been Pete's friend.

01:23:06When you found out

01:23:08Garnett was the head

01:23:09of the racket,

01:23:10you decided to try

01:23:11a little blackmail

01:23:12on the jet, huh?

01:23:13You're crazy.

01:23:15Then when Garnett

01:23:16refused to be shaken down,

01:23:17you got cold feet.

01:23:19That's the most ridiculous

01:23:20thing I ever heard.

01:23:22Is it?

01:23:23You was afraid

01:23:24Garnett would get you,

01:23:25so you got him first

01:23:26and tried to kill

01:23:27two birds

01:23:28by pinning it on Pete.

01:23:29You're a disgrace

01:23:31to the newspaper profession.

01:23:33You can't prove a thing.

01:23:34I don't have to prove it.

01:23:37I'm giving you

01:23:38three seconds to admit it.

01:23:40You better talk.

01:23:47One.

01:23:49You've got to protect me, Chief.

01:23:51It's your duty.

01:23:52This is illegal.

01:23:53If he hurts you,

01:23:54sue him.

01:23:55Two.

01:23:59Three.

01:24:01I'm getting on the target.

01:24:04The next one's

01:24:05coming at you.

01:24:06No.

01:24:06You better talk.

01:24:06No, I'll admit it.

01:24:07I'll admit it.

01:24:09I killed Garnett.

01:24:13Oh, shucks.

01:24:15Just when I was

01:24:16going to have some fun,

01:24:18you've got to confess,

01:24:20shooting off

01:24:20your big mouth.

01:24:22Yeah.

01:24:25Are you ready

01:24:26to go home, Francis?

01:24:27Home?

01:24:28With autograph hunters

01:24:30and sightseers

01:24:31stampeding that joint?

01:24:33Uh-uh.

01:24:34We've got to move.

01:24:36Yeah, I guess he's right.

01:24:37With you so famous,

01:24:38it'll be hard to find

01:24:38a place with any privacy.

01:24:40Well, I guess this means

01:24:41that you'll be leaving New York.

01:24:42Yeah, I suppose so.

01:24:44Who said anything

01:24:45about leaving New York?

01:24:46Yeah, but I thought...

01:24:47Well, I'll do the thinking

01:24:48around here.

01:24:50You see, Pete,

01:24:50something happened yesterday

01:24:52on my way

01:24:53to the courthouse.

01:24:54What do you mean

01:24:55something happened?

01:24:56Well, I, uh...

01:24:58Oh, guys,

01:25:00I feel so good.

01:25:02look me straight in the eye.

01:25:03Huh?

01:25:04Why, Francis,

01:25:05you're in love.

01:25:08Oh, we couldn't be.

01:25:10Why not?

01:25:11I'm only human.

01:25:12I was just strolling

01:25:14through the park yesterday

01:25:15and there she was.

01:25:18Who?

01:25:19A chick.

01:25:20I always was partial

01:25:22to the blonde.

01:25:24Oh, gosh.

01:25:34Excuse me.

01:25:36Francis.

01:25:37Huh?

01:25:38Francis, that's a zebra.

01:25:40Oh, don't let

01:25:41them pajamas fool you.

01:25:46Oh, don't be impatient,

01:25:49sugar.

01:25:49Oh, my...

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