Blackmail (1939)

[bunniefuu]

Get out of here. Call your men. Clear out.

We've been pouring mud and cement, Mr Blaine.

But now the derrick is down the hot metal will keep it going for days.

The other wells? We must do some something now.

Get back there. What's going on over there?

Bernie is going to dynamite. He's crazy.

He doesn't know a thing about handling powder.

Stop him, Anderson.

I don't want the men taking any foolish chances.

Hey! Come on back! Get out of there.

He can't hear you. Bernie.

Come on back! Bernie!

Bernie.

Bernie!

Blaine won't save money if his whole field blows up.

Anderson, what can we do?

It's a job from an expert, Mr Blaine. Alright, get an expert.

Ingram is the best man in the State.

He'll cost seven or eight thousand. Get him.

[ Telephone ]

Hello?

No, this is Ingram's assistant. Mr Moose McCarthy.

Yeah?

Oh, a fire?

Fine.

Bad, huh? That's swell.

Okay, Mr Anderson. I'll get Ingram. We'll be there in two or three hours.

A couple of hours won't make no difference.

Now don't get excited.

We're only eighty miles away.

The last fire, we was fifteen hundred.

Oh. Forget about your fire.

With us handling it, you've got nothing to worry about.

Goodbye.

Hello, operator?

Give me West Bank 602 and rush it.

Hey, Bunny.

Hop over to the beer parlor and get the g*ng.

We got to go to a fire.

You got a good little fire right here.

Yeah, that's nice.

Hey, operator.

Well, let me know when you get him. It's important.

This is Mr Moose McCarthy.

Okay.

That is nice.

Now is a good time to try that new fire extinguisher.

A company sent it to us on approval.

Number One.

"Putting out an oil fire."

"In a heavy wind."

Uhoh.

Reckon it's cos it ain't an oil fire?

Maybe. We got any oil?

We got some furniture polish. Get it.

Pour it on.

I ain't the fireman.

Ah ..

I thought it would work.

They are a very reliable firm.

They sure is.

Good evening, Sarah. The hat.

Tell your Mom I haven't finished, Joey.

How long you been on that phone?

Wait a minute, Joey.

I guess maybe .. a long time.

And I can remember how happy your Dad was ..

When you first learned to talk.

I'll see you at four, Joey. They got me now.

Come on out and wash your hands. Your supper is almost ready.

Where is the boss, upstairs?

You can't go up. Mama's getting dressed.

Hello?

Yes, operator.

Your line has been busy. I have an urgent call from Mr Moose McCarthy.

Okay, put him on.

It's Moose McCarthy.

Huh?

Well .. yeah .. uh ..

You've got the wrong number.

Ha!

Get out of here.

Gee, Chief, you look beautiful.

Just like a bride.

You are not supposed to be here.

I knew we should have gone out the back way.

Moose, I'd like to have you meet the prominent John R Ingram.

Pleased to meet you.

Hey, what are you doing here, anyway?

I see a gleam in Moose's eye. Look.

It's more than a gleam.

That's an oil fire. What field, Moose?

Blaine's Viceroy number 3.

I got the men and the truck waiting outside.

Is she a good fire? Tops.

Thanks for getting me out of this.

It's been dreadful meeting you, Mr McCarthy.

I'm sorry, Helen. Oh, that's alright.

That's the way it is with an Oklahoma Cinderella.

The clock strikes any hour at all ..

And the pumpkin coach turns into a ..

Fire truck full of mugs.

The prominent John R Ingram.

Never miss an important fire.

Well, you could go on to the party.

Of course.

Yeah, but you'll come with me, huh?

Of course.

Pretty cute little fire, eh Chief?

Yeah, have them rig two gin poles.

We'll swing these plugs in on a cable. Okay.

Okay boys, let's go.

Alright, boss.

I like to see a man happy in his work, Ingram. But not this work.

Well, why not?

Some guys get fun out of driving a boat through a storm.

They figure they're regular seagulls.

Well, there is lots of seagulls.

Only my job is more special.

Get the sh**ting cable ready.

Tie it all three ways and when you're ready let us know.

Okay, Moose.

Okay with the poles, Chief.

Alright. Take the strain.

Watch her. She's going to foul on that wreckage.

Lift it higher.

Hold it. She's fouled.

She's jammed solid. We're going in.

Check the hoses, Moose.

You kids ready? Alright boys, stretch in.

Look out.

He's gotta go in.

It ain't the first time. Take it easy.

Here we go. Have you got it? Yes.

Remember, I don't like them done a second over three minutes.

Three minutes it is.

One of these days you're going to crack that thing.

And get your suit all slopped up.

When I do, it's good luck. It always has been.

Don't worry, honey.

I feel a lot easier in this than I did in that stiff shirt.

The hose is ready, Chief.

Good luck!

That guy Ingram takes to fire like a duck to water.

Okay? Happy now?

Nothing to it.

We'll cap it off now. Round up the boys.

Hey .. look!

Turn away.

They've gone now.

I don't think he got you.

No honey, he didn't get enough to matter.

Now don't you worry, honey.

Here.

There is your breakfast.

Absolutely perfect.

Tonight I've got a surprise for you .. toast, lady?

White? Or whole-wheat?

Oh, John ..

Hello.

Hi.

Hi, hon. Hi, Pop.

Well, looks real doesn't it.

Now do you believe is not a fairy tale? Yeah, when I see the oil.

When are we going to see the oil? In a few weeks. I hope.

We gotta finish the derrick and then drill.

Maybe quite a ways down.

It's really very simple, Hank.

You build a derrick and drill. All you get for the effort is a million dollars.

I think I'll drill up a million dollars on the school playground.

When it's recessed.

Hi, John. Hi.

I hope you hit the stuff.

I always had an idea there was a good structure here.

So did my wife.

She's had me eating the dirt on this field for two years.

Got me thinking I can taste the oil.

Does oilfield oil taste like castor oil, Pop?

Not exactly.

Yeah. A real oilman's well.

Drilled just right.

Kinda fun at that.

Oh, it's nothing.

It wasn't original with me. Lots of people drill oil wells.

Gee, I don't think it's as good as blowing up oil-wells.

Ain't you going to blow up any more wells, Pop?

I sure am.

Well Ma told me .. Hey. - What?

So that's why you said put money into an oil-well, we can buy a house later.

Why that of course, never crossed my mind.

It didn't, huh? Of course not.

I see.

But now you do mention it.

Blasting fires would be a cute hobby for an oil millionaire.

Oil millionaire?

Well ..

Come on, Hank. Coming.

Gee, dad. This dirt don't taste any different from any other dirt I ate.

Oh Hank, look at your face.

Well, it doesn't.

Well, no wonder. Wait a minute now.

First you got to rub it down.

Yeah.

Now. Now taste it.

Oil!

What did I tell you, huh?

Hey.

Howdy, ma'am.

We ain't got no jobs. We ain't giving out any money.

What do you want?

If you just could spare a bite of breakfast ..

Or maybe just a cup of coffee I'd be mighty grateful.

I've got my work to do.

I can't be making meals for everybody that comes to the back door.

I sure am hungry.

Oh alright. I'll make you a sandwich.

That one of them gas refrigerators you got there?

Uhuh.

Mighty expensive, ain't they?

We can afford it. We're not living beyond our means.

Oh, I ain't criticising, ma'am.

How are these Ingrams to work for?

You ain't a Westbank man are you?

Well, how does a foreigner know his name?

Why, I just seen it on the mailbox.

Is he the Ingram I've seen in the newsreels?

The fellow who explodes out them oil fires?

He's the man.

It's a mighty nice likeness.

I've seen it four times.

I seen it a few times myself.

Mighty dangerous work.

I bet he makes plenty doing that.

There's your sandwich. Sit yourself down there and eat it. I got my work to do.

Ain't no call for you to get excited, ma'am.

I'm just waiting to see your boss, Mr Ingram.

Mr Ingram.

Mr Ingram.

There is a man in there. He busted in.

You got a nice place here, John.

Helen, take Hank upstairs.

Go ahead. Alright, Sarah.

Come in, John.

I know, Johnny.

You're going to say: "It's as small world, ain't it".

And I'm going to say "ain't it".

Then .. then I'm going to sit down ..

I'm going to say: "I'm awful glad to see you".

And you're gonna look at me and wonder if you're glad to see me, ain't you?

Yup.

But I'm not going to wonder for long.

Well, you are glad to see me.

Here you are all set up nice and cosy and ..

Going under a fancy new handle.

Getting your pictures in the newsreels where any fellow can see your face.

Now let's talk straight.

Good and straight.

You can stop sizing me up for a shakedown.

I'm not paying a cent.

Oh, gee golly Johnny, don't use a nasty word like that.

I'm only trying to be friendly. I didn't do that robbery.

No man alive can send me back to any chain-g*ng and live to tell about it.

Would you like to try it?

No. Sure not. Certainly not.

Gee golly, Johnny. You got me all wrong.

It ain't nothing to me who you used to be, except you was my friend.

One night I seen your pictures in the newsreels and I says to myself ..

It's fate, Bill Ramey. Just crazy old fate.

Good old Johnny, I says. He'll help me out.

So I got out here just as fast as eight freight trains could get me here.

That's the truth of it, Johnny. There's no reason for you not to believe me.

No reason for me to believe you.

Well .. Johnny.

You see, I figured that you might be kinda worried about seeing me or ..

Or seeing anyone who knew you nine years ago, but you ain't got no call to be.

If I'd wanted to harm you Johnny, I could have done it long time ago.

What do you want?

I ain't asking for dough, Johnny.

Just a job of work.

From an old friend. That's all.

Alright, Bill.

Here.

This will take care of you today.

See me in my office tomorrow.

If you're really here as a friend it will work out okay.

Helen.

This is Bill Ramey.

Mrs Ingram.

How do you do, Mr Ramey.

Howdy, ma'am.

Me and John is old friends.

I used to know him when we was shipmates.

When I was "John Harrington" he means.

Helen knows all about that.

Lookee John. If you'll excuse me, ma'am.

I may be some down-and-out, but I still got an asset.

You being so nice to me.

I want you to ..

Hold is kinda, as security for this here money you just give me.

It's just a deed to my broken down farm in Maine.

Just a crazy old farm I got nothing out of, but ..

I want you to hold it.

Forget it.

Oh, honest John, I ..

I wouldn't think of it. Well thanks, John.

It's awful nice seeing you folks.

I guess I'll amble on down town now.

It certainly is ..

Nice to be welcomed into a friend's home.

After all these years.

Yes folks, I ..

I'm mighty grateful.

Don't worry about him, darling.

He isn't going to start anything.

What if he does?

For nine years we've gotten along pretty good.

Not any trouble.

There isn't going to be any trouble now.

Come on, Ramey. Latch on to it.

Hold on to that thing.

Look out!

What are you trying to do?

I'm sure butterfingers. That is a tough job.

Shut up! And get off the floor.

Hi, Moose. Hi, boss.

How are the cores looking? Good. Just like you figured.

Ah, that's swell. I've a hunch this is going to be a big producer.

Five thousand bucks a day coming in. Oh boy.

I sure hope you get it, Johnny. You certainly deserve it.

You've been around these here wells a heap of years.

I guess you ought to know when you got a good one.

Oh, I plum forgot. Here ..

I got this mouth-organ for your kid.

You shouldn't spend your money like this, Bill.

Thanks.

Well, I .. I just wanted to do something.

It ain't much I know. Here .. take it.

Look.

I ain't never asked you no favors, but now I got a favor I got to ask you.

Sure, Moose. What is it?

Will you let me grab that guy by the back of the pants ..

And throw him from here to three weeks from Thursday?

Well, maybe for Christmas if you're a good boy.

What's the matter with him, anyway? I can't figure the guy.

He's always asking questions and never seems to learn nothing.

He knows everybody's business and none of his own.

I've been thinking about him so much I've got a headache.

Now look, all these years you've been doing alright without thinking.

What do you want to start for now, you big lug?

Chief.

That last fire must have given you a softening of the brain.

Giving that guy a job.

Ah, give the guy a chance, will you.

He's alright.

Goodnight, John. Goodnight.

Goodnight John. Night.

I'd kinda like to talk to you, Johnny.

I've been hankering for a moment to see you.

Sort of .. private like.

Sure, Bill.

Goodnight, Chief.

What is it?

Well, if you're going into town, maybe I could ride with you?

Get in.

Well, it's kind of a touchy subject.

It ain't what you think, Johnny. It's just that for nine years now I been ..

Going around with a big worry sitting on the back of my neck.

And I'm staying up nights lately worrying all around.

Worrying about what?

Well, you're going to be a little surprised and maybe just a mite sore.

And I won't blame you.

I'm only asking that you hear me out.

What is it?

I knew all along that you didn't do that there robbery nine years back.

You knew?

How did you know?

The reason I know that you didn't break into that Purser's safe ..

Is because .. I did it.

You?

And you let me ..?

Johnny, I told you not to get ahead of yourself before you heard me out.

There we was sitting in the harbor and I got bad news of my mother being sick.

And I just had to have some money quick, so ..

I opens the safe and takes it out.

Yes. And when they got the police aboard you hid the money under my mattress.

Johnny, I didn't even stop to think that was your room.

I just got panicky scared and rushed down to our quarters ..

And just threw that stuff into the first cabin I come to.

Why Johnny, you was the last man on that boat that I'd ever gotten into trouble.

You was my friend.

Yes, but you kept your mouth shut and they arrested me and convicted me.

Johnny, if I thought they'd convict you I'd never have sailed out of the harbor.

But by the time I heard that they did convict you, you'd escaped already.

So I figured I'd better keep my mouth shut.

We was both out of it and no harm done to either.

Well, you're in trouble right now.

Right up to the neck. Look, Johnny.

I'm the only man who can clear you.

And there ain't no other way of proving your innocence ..

Without my getting up and talking before witnesses.

I'll get you all the witnesses you want. No, no Johnny. You don't understand.

I'd like to confess right now. For free.

But I can't Johnny. I just simply can't. Well, why can't you?

Well I ain't thinking of me, honest I ain't, Johnny.

I'll get five years in the chain-g*ng and that ain't no picnic.

And you get off and all cleared.

I figured that for that you'd be willing to see that my family is took care of.

And they get a little stake to start on after I get out the prison, you know.

And .. say twenty-five thousand ought to take care of everything.

What?

I'd pay you twenty-five thousand so I don't have to serve your time?

Now look, Johnny. After all, it ain't such a bad bargain for you.

You don't have to hide no more.

And you can change your name back to Harrington ..

And you don't have to worry about your boy growing up to know.

Of course, I know you ain't got twenty-five thousand in cash.

I ain't insisting on cash. Say ..

Five thousand right off and ..

Your note for the rest in instalments, and then I sign the confession.

Yeah? The confession is no good because I paid for it.

Well, all the time I had for thinking, I ..

Kind of thought of that too Johnny, and here's the way we make it legal.

See, we say that for the $25,000 you're buying my broken-down farm up in Maine.

Of course, it ain't strictly worth it. And I give you the deed for the farm.

And of course, I know you'll want to give me some security for the note, see.

I don't mind what it is. Your oil well?

And there we are all right and tight.

And there ain't a lawyer in the world that wouldn't say so.

Where are you going, Johnny?

Up to my office.

And I hid the money under the mattress in Harrington's bunk.

If I'd had more time, I could have made it more interesting.

This is interesting enough.

And here is the deed to the old farm up in Maine all signed up regular.

Alright. Sign the confession and we'll drive right over to the Police Station.

Well, I tell you how she sits, Johnny.

I'd feel much more comfortable talking to them Cops ..

If I had your check and note in my pocket first.

I'll pay you off after we've turned over the confession to the police.

Well, I'm awfully sorry about this, Johnny.

But you got to see my side of it, too.

After all, I'm nothing but a stranger in this town and you know everybody.

Cops and all.

If you changed your mind about paying me, who'd believe my story agin yours?

You're not making it easy to trust you.

Once I sign this confession.

There is nothing to stop you from taking that check and note away from me.

Another thing, I can't cash that check until after 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.

And it ain't fair I should be arrested before my family is took care of.

Where do you get off not trusting me?

You don't trust me none.

Go ahead! Sign it!

Sign it! Look, Johnny.

Maybe we don't trust each other.

But there is one person that both of us trusts.

Uncle Sam.

What do you mean? Look.

I mail this confession to you.

And you take that check and note.

And mail it to me at my hotel.

Then in the morning.

We both get what we want.

You know that I ain't going to skip town.

Until after I get that check cashed.

In the meantime ..

You've got my confession.

See?

Okay.

You got a stamp?

Go ahead. Sign it.

Don't worry .. I'll sign it.

I know there isn't a chance of me getting out of here alive unless I do.

You're right, Ramey.

Here it is, Johnny.

There she goes.

So long.

Here, wait a minute young man.

That won't do at all.

No, siree.

Can I go up to the well with you after school, Pop?

Well not today. I'm going to be mighty busy today.

But I tell you what we'll to do tomorrow.

We're going to make a big day of it .. the county fair.

Gee Dad, the fair? Uhuh.

It ain't my birthday. Hey.

"Isn't" my birthday.

Well, we'll call it a "special extra bonus" birthday.

Now go along, scoot. And if you see the postman, tell him to hurry.

I sure will.

Hey, wait a minute, Joey.

Morning, John.

Sorry to bust in on you like this.

Not at all.

I haven't seen you since Christmas. That's just what I was remembering.

This ain't Christmas, John.

We got a phone call about you.

From who? I don't know.

The chief has got some information. He wants to take some fingerprints.

Why?

I don't know, John. But we have to ask you to come along and not cause trouble.

We have a warrant.

John.

I'm sorry, Mrs Ingram.

Call Moose. Tell him to find Ramey.

Don't let him get out of town.

Okay. I'm coming.

Don't worry, darling.

Anything for me?

Oh, good morning, Mr Ramey. Good morning.

Yes, sir.

Yeah. I guess that's all.

Are you sure?

Well, I'll look again.

Oh, sorry.

Here is one.

I missed it because it was all marked up.

And Mr Ramey.

The government says you'd better be careful.

You put a used stamp on there.

Is that so?

Well the government won't let you do that.

Well, I guess we all make mistakes.

But you'd better not do that again.

Sure won't do that again.

We're going to walk you to the police station.

Certainly, gentlemen. It's a pleasure.

About all there is to it.

Of course I do remember writing a letter.

But there was something wrong with the stamp, and it came back.

But it wasn't nothing important. What was in that letter?

Well you see, Johnny and me had a little deal on.

About some property I own up in Maine.

I figured I could tell him about it just as quick as I could write it to him.

Where is that confession?

I don't know what you're talking about, Johnny.

Ingram told us a story and we're holding you until we check it.

Certainly. Hold me as long as you like. But I don't know whatever for.

What is it, Webber?

About holding this man Ramey. That call came through five minutes ago.

The Southern Authorities say they've never heard of a William Ramey.

There is no warrant out for him.

They only want John Harrington.

Ramey.

I told what I'd do to anybody that tried to get me back on the chain-g*ng.

This is your only chance.

Talk now.

John!

Look out!

Hold him, Moose.

Let me go.

You leave me alone with him for five minutes. I'll make him talk.

Bring him here.

We'll hold him.

I don't know what you want to hold me for.

There might be something else on you.

And we're keeping you here until we've gone over you with a fine toothcomb.

Fingerprint him.

Go ahead. I don't mind.

There ain't no record agin me. No wires in the world.

[ Door knocks ]

Who is it? It's Moose.

Oh come in, Moose.

I don't know.

It just don't seem to make any sense to me.

The madder I get, the less sense it makes.

It's a good thing for that Ramey he left town.

If I'd have ever got my hands on him ..

Oh, you would have only made things worse. That won't do any good, Moose.

Well If that wouldn't do any good, what would?

Just keeping our heads.

And making John keep his.

You can't blame him for being crazy, ma'am.

Gypped out of five thousand bucks and sent down for five years.

That's right.

Get it all out of your system now.

Hey Mom, look what Moose brought me.

Where you going?

To see your father, dear.

Can I come too?

No.

No, I think you'd better stay here.

Oh, please.

Then Pop can see my helmet, too.

Alright.

Come on.

Ingram - Harrington, is ready.

Those Southern deputies are out front getting an order on you.

They aim to take the first train out, so you haven't got much time.

Hiya, Chief. Hiya, Moose.

Where is Helen and Hank? Outside.

I thought maybe I'd get myself out of the way first.

Keep fighting the fires, Moose.

This extradition business cost us everything we had.

Don't worry about that.

We'll put out every fire in the state until you get back.

I'm leaving you a big job.

Keeping things going for Helen .. and Hank.

If I was to leave the job to anybody in the world, I'd want it to be you.

Glad you feel like that, Chief.

I'll be careful of expenses, too.

Because I know how important it is we got to have money.

We can't take any chances of missing a payment to Ramey and losing the well.

Payment to Ramey? You think I'll pay .. John.

Your lawyer told you there's nothing else you can do but pay.

There is plenty I could do to Ramey.

He wouldn't be thinking about payments.

Now, you've got to do it for me.

It wouldn't do any good.

We all gotta just keep our heads.

Yeah, just forget the whole thing?

Hiya, Dad. Got my helmet.

Oh that's swell. Say, you look great.

A regular oil-man.

Just like his dad.

When are we going to see the fair, Pop?

Say, I'm sorry about that, Hank.

But look, maybe this will ..

Oh Moose, you got a dollar? Yep.

Here. This will fix it up, won't it?

Gee, a dollar? Uhuh.

Is that our prisoner?

Take the suitcase.

Here, what are you doing with my dad's suitcase?

It's alright. Never mind, Hank.

I couldn't get everything into one bag.

I'll bring you whatever you need when I come.

You ain't going to visit him, lady.

On the chain-g*ng ain't nobody sees him but his lawyer.

What's a chain-g*ng, Pop?

Well, look Hank.

I'll tell you what you do.

You go out with Moose. He'll get you an ice-cream soda. Hmm?

Sure. Great.

Moose, get him one. You bet.

Gosh, a dollar and a soda!

Gee, Pop. I thought you forgot my extra bonus birthday.

No, I didn't.

Harrington, you've got five minutes.

Gee, Pop. What's all this for?

Where are you going?

I'm just going away on business.

For a little while.

A little while?

That's right. Just a little while.

Go ahead, Moose. Come on Hank.

Come, give me your coat. He's been searched.

His wife may have brought him a present.

We like to do things our way.

You escaped once.

We ain't aiming to let that happen again.

Can't you do that outside? We want to talk.

Go on, talk.

Don't mind them, darling. Don't mind anything.

We've so much to live for.

We've had nine wonderful years and there must be others. There will be.

Think of them.

Sure. Johnny.

You won't ..?

Promise me. It means so much.

You won't ever try to ..

You see, it's not like the other time.

You could take a chance then, but now ..

Hank and I are counting on you.

Promise me.

Sure. I promise.

Alright, Harrington.

You won't need all this stuff.

Here, shove those in your pocket.

Well, we've got to catch a train.

Come on honey, kiss him goodbye. No Johnny, please.

Come on.

John. Don't leave me like that.

It's all a mistake. You don't belong here.

Why, you're the man who drove the car into the hydrant on Atkinson Street ..

The night Hank was born.

The milkman who pulled you out of the wreck said you were crying like a baby.

I told you a thousand times I wasn't crying.

Oh, I love you so.

Now, you're not to worry.

I'll be alright. Of course you will.

I'll come back.

I promise you I'll be back.

God keep you.

Harrington.

Light 'em up.

Come on. Come on.

Boss Brown with a prisoner.

Howdy boss Miller. I brung him.

Well, get him out.

So you're Harrington?

Yep.

Mighty pretty clothes.

Yeah. But you don't think I'll have much use for them.

No.

Well, you're the boss.

I might have to teach you that.

No. I just figured it out for myself.

My old lady expects me home for supper. Now, if you'll just sign for this man.

Write in my name.

There's a fellow getting through today. You got to take him to the rail station.

Hawley.

Coming by.

You don't have to ask permission. Now go on by me.

Getting in.

Get in, Hawley.

We trained him good.

Rawlins.

Fix him up.

Come on.

You don't remember me?

No.

I'm the fellow you got away from when I was fetching to from the chain-g*ng.

You?

Uhuh.

I've changed a lot.

Anybody changes up here.

Even a guard.

Here.

Put these on.

Give me a set of shackles.

I was on the city force then.

Had a nice soft job.

Lived pretty decent.

Now I'm like those other low-down, hillbilly White Tr*sh.

And I got that way on account of you.

Alright. Then it was you or me.

It came out: me.

I've been serving out your time.

Well, here I am.

And I've been waiting for you.

Alright, Sam.

Here. Fix him up.

Spread 'em out.

Five.

Six.

Seven.

Eight.

Nine .. ten.

Come on, hurry it up.

Eleven.

Twelve.

Go ahead.

Why don't you say it? Say what?

They can't do this to me.

Well, they're doing it.

We had guys that that tried to be bright.

They got dumbed up.

Ever see them guards use a whip?

Maybe you heard about the stocks?

And the sweat-boxes. Sure.

He heard it and abandoned it.

Yeah, if a guy used his head he could get by.

You mean, lick this place?

No.

Just don't let this place lick him.

You'll do fine.

Rise and shine. Get out the pull chain.

Get on the pull chain!

Take the chain. Take the chain.

Good morning, Mr Harrington.

Take it away.

Come by me! Come by me!

Come on.

Come on, spread 'em out. Spread 'em out.

[ Singing: ]

"We .. take this hammer."

"Hammer to my Captain."

"Tell him I'm gone."

"Lord, tell him I'm gone."

"If he asked you."

"Did I leave here running?"

"Tell him I is flying."

"Lord, tell him I is flying."

"Take this hammer."

"Hammer to my Captain."

What face you see?

Face?

Everybody sees a face down there.

They keep digging their picks into it.

I don't see nothing down there.

Excepting what I'm supposed to see.

Mud.

Come on, Harrington. Get that licked.

Seeing mud don't make you work hard enough.

They like you better if you're a little crazy like the rest of us.

Wiping it off.

Wipe it off.

I'm waiting for you, Harrington.

You've got a little money on the outside.

I'm working on a way to get out of here.

Now if you can lay your hands on a little dough.

Not me. I'm staying right here.

Until I've finished my time.

Come and get it.

What do you want?

I got a permit from the camp from John Harrington's lawyer.

He's right over there.

Harrington. Yes, sir?

Is that your lawyer?

Yes, sir. Hop over there.

Coming by. Come by me.

Chief .. it's sure good to see you.

Sit down.

Sorry it took so long getting here.

You got to have a conference with every official in the state to get a permit.

How is Helen and Hank?

Fine, Chief. Fine. Everything is fine.

Never mind the gab. We just got a minute.

Well, why did you ask me to come?

Everything is fine.

That. What you just said. That everything is fine.

Chief, you wouldn't ask me to come this far just to say what we've been writing.

It isn't the truth. I asked you to come here to tell me what's really happening.

Well, what's really happened is what we wrote you.

Helen and the kid is in good health.

The well is doing fine. Business is okay.

Piling up dough in the bank. The well is doing fine?

It took you all this time to dig down 4,000 feet?

Well .. we ran into some hard rock.

If there was 4,000 feet of hard rock, the geologist must have been a fool.

Yeah. I guess maybe he was.

Perhaps you stopped drilling as you didn't have the money?

No, of course not. Yet Helen had to move.

I know. Smaller house, more comfortable. That's it.

It don't explain why she picked a place on the wrong side of the railroad track.

Now stop playing games with me, Moose.

Honest Chief, we ain't playing games.

Business is so good you couldn't take a plane out here fast like I asked you to.

You had to come out here on a bus.

Okay, you asked for it.

We stopped drilling alright.

Helen did have to move.

You see, I only had a couple of fires to fight.

And we used the money I made on them to track down Ramey's story to get you out.

Yep. It's bad alright.

But it ain't as bad as you think. We've still got the well.

And what's more we got the dough in the bank to keep Ramey from getting it.

You have got the money in the bank to pay Ramey?

Sure, that's what I was just telling you.

Are you sure? Yeah.

I'm glad to hear that because I've been worried about it.

That's why I wrote the bank to find out. Huh?

We changed banks. Huh?

Oh, I mean it's in my bank.

Honest, Chief.

When the next fire comes in we'll have some money.

Then maybe we can buy it back.

Let's go back.

Let's go back.

You didn't have the five thousand.

Ramey's got the well.

My well. Ramey's got it?

Let's go back, Harrington.

No, Chief. Anyway, he ain't struck no oil.

Ramey's got the well.

That's what he wanted the first day he came. We let him get it. Gave it to him.

Ramey's got the well.

Let's go back, Harrington.

You writing me fairy tales like I was a kid!

Let's go back, Harrington.

Like a kid.

Crazy.

Crazy.

See it now?

Every time I swing.

Keep that pick swinging, Harrington.

Ah!

Let me get up!

I'm going to k*ll him.

Let me get at him.

Brains.

Brains.

They're beating the brains out of him.

I'd sure hate to be in d*ck Tracey's shoes.

He gets in some awful jams.

Yeah, the poor guy.

I wish we knew how he got out of this one.

Well, he's out of it by now.

This paper is two months old.

Aces full.

Eight hundred and fifty dollars.

Getting a little sun, huh?

Hey.

That's healing up pretty good.

Got a letter for you.

I'm sure glad you're getting this paper.

Gives me something to do on Sundays.

A fine Gal.

I'll keep her.

Nice to show the boys, Don't get much chance to look at women around here.

Don't let that guy Rawlins make you do anything crazy.

Come on. Read your letter.

I bet you could kick yourself for selling that well of yours.

Now that it's turned out so good.

It says here that that fellow Ramey ..

Is making a deal to sell your old well for 700,000 bucks.

What?

Going to retire. Travel.

Pretty soft. Come on, let me see that.

Still want to make a break out of here? Sure.

If we could get some money.

And somebody on the outside to help.

I'll get them.

I knew you'd come around, sooner or later.

Steel bolts and a file.

File the rivets off, put these in their place. The chains come off when we want.

You took care of the rest?

Yeah. Wrote the letter. He's on his way right now.

Get every word of this.

I need money and clothes for me and the other guy.

I had a hunch what you wanted it for, John. I don't like it.

Now look. I got it all figured out. All you got to do is what I tell you.

Once I get out of here I handle Ramey myself.

The reason I don't like it is because it'll do you no good.

You'll be worse off than you are here. That's going out the wrong way.

Oh no.

Any way that leads to Ramey is right with me.

You won't have a chance. All the country will be looking for you.

No, listen to me. You listen to me, too.

Maybe you don't know what this will do to Helen, if you break out of here.

She's hurt .. sick.

If you do this, it might k*ll her.

Right now, I'm not thinking about anybody except Ramey.

If he sells the well he'll go out of the country. I'll never get my hands on him.

I'm going to break out of here.

If you don't help me, the chances are a 100-1 I'll get k*lled.

Are you going to do what I tell you?

Well, when you say it like that ..

Get a fast car.

We'll be working in the swamps.

Fix it up like it belonged to a salesman.

You know, sample cases, anything.

Then park it by the fork in the Oakdale Road the first day after a heavy rain.

After a rain? Yeah, wait until it rains.

Then have the car ready the next morning.

What time?

Well, not before 9 o'clock. But park there too long and someone will spot it.

The fork in the Oakdale Road.

After a heavy rain. 9 o'clock.

Yeah, and don't make any dumb breaks.

But this ain't smart, Chief.

This ain't so smart.

How you doing?

Great. Pretty smart of you.

It's better to do this filing while it's raining.

I can hardly hear it myself.

Okay.

Here.

Stick in the steel bolts and blacken them up so they look like rivets.

Hey, make it snappy. We haven't got much time.

Okay.

Now, if we can only pass shackle inspection.

Come on, take the chain away. Take the chain away.

Hurry it up.

Come by me. Come by me.

Come by me.

Come by me.

Three.

Alright, spread 'em. Spread 'em.

Four.

Come by me.

Spread 'em.

Five.

Fixing 'em up.

Fixing 'em up.

Now is our chance.

Hey! Look out!

You felled it the wrong way. You'll get the leather for this.

I thought you said .. Shut up.

Get over there and start cleaning out that brush.

Here. Two men with a saw.

Start cutting this up.

Hey Trusty! Get a jack under this wheel.

Put on that spare tire. We got all these cars jammed in here.

Coming by.

Come on in.

Yeah. You take this.

Work along the bank.

Fixing 'em up.

Fix 'em up.

Fixing 'em up.

Fix 'em up.

[ Rattle ]

Hey, look! There is a snake!

Snake!

Let's get out of here.

What is it? What's up? Rattlesnake.

Where is it? Get back there.

There it is! Right in there!

There, there.

Hey, you! You! Bring the dogs.

Coming by!

A convict got away about twenty minutes ago.

White man. Name is John Harrington.

"Good luck. Moose."

What's going on here? Where are you from?

Up the line. I'm a travelling salesman.

You got any identification? Oh ..

Yeah.

That's my driver's license, and that's my office card.

Uhuh. What's it all about?

We're looking for an escaped convict.

Well.

You know the way to Denham, mister? No.

Thought you said you were a travelling salesman.

Well, all this is new territory for me. I've been working through Tennessee.

Well, I'll show you the way.

Get in.

Jack, you stay with our car.

Our car broke down.

Straight ahead, turn to the left at the next fork.

Is this convict headed for Denham?

Maybe.

We're picking up a man there that knows him by sight.

Oh.

How'd he get away?

A green sedan.

They get his license number? No.

The guards were too busy sh**ting to take notice.

Oh.

Look Sheriff. You know, Denham is off my regular route.

If you don't mind, I'd like to stop and telephone my office I'll be delayed.

Go ahead. There's a phone up at the gas station.

Oh, thanks.

I won't be a minute.

Got a match, Herb?

What's that? A convict spoon. That's him!

Search the truck. Take the other side.

See anything?

Nothing but boxes.

Packed solid, Sheriff.

He's around here someplace.

Okay?

Alright .. let him go.

Take a look around over there.

Charlie, take a look on the other side.

Nothing here.

I bet you four bits the next truck is all boxes, too.

Well, I'd give four bits for a pretty girl to come along.

Alright. Go ahead. Get going.

Did you check that closet? That's the last.

Why don't you guys clear out of here?

I'm sorry Mrs Ingram but we're all through now.

Sorry.

They are leaving one guy over there by the coal box.

Hey.

They must know something we don't know.

John must be getting closer.

They are just guessing.

I guess.

If they knew where he was they wouldn't listen to our phone ..

And ask to read our mail.

Maybe it's better if he doesn't come here.

I don't know.

John knows what he's doing.

If he was smart enough to get away, he'll duck 'em here alright.

Anyway, the closer he gets to home.

The better chance we have of helping him, huh?

Well.

I'll be seeing you in the morning.

Hello? Cooper reporting.

McCarthy is just leaving.

Sure he's alone.

Nobody there but the wife and kid.

Yes, of course I'm standing by.

John.

Oh John darling, I'm so glad.

I was hoping you would come here first.

Where is Ramey?

He's gone. Gone where?

I don't know. He left suddenly. When he found I'd escaped?

I've good reason to .. No Johnny, please.

Why'd Moose let Ramey get away? Why not stop him?

Don't think of Ramey. I'll stop thinking of him if ..

I know, I know. But please don't think about him now.

Come here.

Just sit down.

I'll fix you some coffee.

We'll have to hurry though. The police just left.

You'll want some other clothes. I've got them all ready for you in the bedroom.

The car is waiting, the tank is full.

And I've got some money. Twenty dollars.

Oh dear. I forgot it completely.

The milk for Hank. Hank?

He isn't sick, is he?

Oh no, no. It's just that he's not sleeping so well.

A little warm milk helps.

Here, let me take it to him.

I ..

You'd better.

Hi, Ma.

You awake, dear?

Nope. Fast asleep.

Gee Mom, where's your glass?

Aren't we going to make it a party?

Not tonight darling. Mother has some work to do.

Well, I'll be glad when Pop comes back and you don't work so hard.

Here is your milk, dear.

He said "a little while".

But it's been a very long little while.

But not much longer.

Drink your milk, darling.

That's enough, Ma.

I wish he'd come.

Then we could move back home.

And I'd get my new suit and ..

Hey, where is my little pioneer?

I'm tired waiting.

I want to go home.

Hank.

Hank, I'm surprised.

See, Mom.

I was only fooling.

It's fun.

I got you.

And Papa will come back.

Then we'll all go home.

Of course we will.

Now lie down.

Goodnight.

Sleep tight.

Pleasant dreams.

I've let you down, you and Hank.

Go on, tell me I was wrong. I've ruined everything.

I know.

I should have stayed on. No, it's alright.

You've been through so much. I know.

It couldn't be helped. I should have thought.

Never mind, darling. It's alright.

Well.

Whatever we do. No matter how you add it up.

It all comes out at the same place.

You and Hank.

You're the ones who'll pay for it.

There just isn't any answer.

I can't go back. No, that wouldn't help.

Five more years added to it and where are we then?

But that's just why you must go away someplace. With a car you can make it.

Hank and I will join you. We'll start all over. I don't care.

No, there is no starting all over.

We've tried it once before.

Only it would be worse now. Then what can we do?

I don't know.

Only I'm through running.

Sometime you got to stop and this is it.

But the police will be here. We'll be trapped.

If Ramey would only come back.

No.

No, you mustn't see Ramey.

Has he sold the well? No.

Good.

John, what are you ..? It's the one chance.

No John, no! m*rder is no answer.

Oh John, I can't bear it.

Upstairs. The attic. It's safer outside.

Sorry to bother you again. I'll keep men around your house tonight just in case.

Well, that's alright. Just thought I'd let you know.

Goodnight. Thanks.

You take that side. Come on you two.

See anything? No, sir.

George? Right here.

Oh .. you'd better go on down the alley.

Wait a minute.

See what's in here.

Take a look in that lumber yard.

Oklahoma calling, Mr Ramey.

Hello?

Yes.

This is Harry Selby, your watchman at the well.

She's on fire. She's what?

What you doing about it?

I called on Moose McCarthy. He's the only outfit around here.

Well, hurry him up. Tell him to get going.

Wait a minute. How did it happen?

Did you see anybody hanging around? Did they catch Ingram?

No sign of him at all?

No, Mr Ramey.

You'd better come right out here.

No, no. I'm much too busy.

Well.

Alright. I'll take the first plane.

Did the police here get my wire? Yes, Mr Ramey.

There are two cops waiting in your car right now.

I paid you to be a watchman. Where were you when that fire started?

Watching. Mr Ramey.

I was trying the lock on the tool-house.

I heard a bang, turned and saw the flames start.

Step on that there gas. We've got forty miles to go.

The Chief say you was to stay with me all time I'm here? - Yes.

Why, I ain't worried about anything.

But I'm a tax payer and I don't have to take chances.

Watchman.

How is McCarthy doing with the firefighting?

He ain't started, Mr Ramey.

He said he couldn't do nothing without no written order.

He can't do it?

You mean to say that when a well starts burning ..

McCarthy just sits around until the owner signs a lot of papers?

No, not generally.

But McCarthy says how this is a kind of a special case.

There is McCarthy over there.

Hey, McCarthy!

Hey, McCarthy!

McCarthy, wait!

Wait.

Read it and sign it.

Twenty thousand dollars? I ain't selling you the well.

Twenty thousand is the price. You need me more than I need the twenty thousand.

You ain't the only firefighting outfit. No.

There's another outfit working on a fire twelve hundred miles from here.

Why don't you write 'em a letter, Mr Ramey?

You try hijacking me and I'll see you don't ever get another job.

Okay. Get yourself another boy.

Moose.

Moose.

That Moose is driving plenty a hard bargain, but it's okay with me.

McCarthy, wait a minute.

Wait a minute, McCarthy.

McCarthy, wait a minute!

Okay boys, we'll get ourselves another fire. Let's go.

McCarthy .. McCarthy!

McCarthy, wait. Wait a minute.

Hey, McCarthy.

No, no. No Johnny, don't.

No .. I didn't do nothing.

Please .. please. Please don't.

No. No, Johnny. Help, help! Nobody is going to hear you.

Let me go, Johnny, Let me go.

How do you like it Ramey, huh?

That's where I live and that's where I'm taking you.

I can't stand the heat. Let me go, Johnny.

That's Ingram.

I set that fire. I knew it would bring you back.

It's hotter in there. You're not passing out before you see where I'm taking you.

I can't stand it .. the heat!

In my face.

They'll get you for this.

Fine, they'll be doing me for something good this time.

Let me go, Johnny. You're going in there, Ramey.

You're going to burn in your own oil.

You'll burn too!

Oh no, I'll be looking at you. I won't feel it.

Wait a minute, Johnny. Wait a minute.

I did the robbery! I stole the well!

I did the robbery. I did it! I did it!

And wake up! Wake up!

I can't stand it! I did the robbery!

I'll tell anybody only let me go.

Aah!

John!

What are you doing? Let him go.

I've waited a long time for this. But he's no good to you dead.

Oh, leave me alone.

John, don't do it.

I did the robbery, I tell you. I did the robbery.

Let me go, Johnny. Let me go.

I'll tell them you're innocent. I did the robbery.

I'll tell the Cops I framed you. I'll give you back the well.

I'll give you anything.

But don't do it, Johnny. Let me go.

Let me go.

What happened?

It's alright, Johnny. Everything is alright.

Don't mind me. I'm just here as a nurse maid.

Where is Ramey? He's all taken care of, John.

He spilled the whole story. We've got everything down in black and white.

How you feeling, Chief?

Oh, I ain't apologising.

Hey, how about taking a look at that crater?

You know, that's your well that's burning out there.

My well? Sure.

Somebody ought to put it out.

Well.

What are we waiting for?

Get me a suit.

Get the hoses ready. Stand by with the shields.

Hey, Moose.

Helen.

0h, Moose.

John. Yeah?

Not a second over three minutes.

Three minutes it is.

All clear ahead.