Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Oh, there you are.
Pardon me.
Good evening,|fellow hobbyists.
I've decided to do it myself.
I'm sure most of you would|expect me to be all thumbs.
This is definitely untrue.
The way things are going, I should|be lucky to have any thumbs at all.
Tonight's story is about|a parolee, and so I thought you might be|interested in this machinery which has been designed|as a therapeutic measure for paroled convicts who may still harbor|homicidal tendencies.
It gives them a healthy outlet|for their energies.
We have a saw, lathe, drill.
As my first project, I've been converting Chippendale|furniture into kindling.
I'm sure my work here|would only bore you, so we've arranged to show you|tonight's story in just a moment.
Perhaps I should explain.
|This is a circular saw.
Yes? Are you Mr.
Collins? Right.
I'm Jackie Blake.
I'm a friend|of your brother Allie's.
What do you want? Well, Allie asked me to come|by and see you and his mother.
Who is it, Ralph?|It's no one we want to see, Ma.
What kind of a way|is that to talk? I'm sorry|Come on up, boy.
Don't pay any attention|to Ralph.
What was it you wanted? He's a friend of Allie's,|he wants to make trouble, what else?|Ralph! Well, Allie wouldn't be|where he is today if he had sense enough to stay|away from the likes of him.
I didn't know him before.
|I met him in prison.
You must be Jackie Blake.
Yes, ma'am, that's me.
Allie told me all about you in his|letters.
He said you were coming.
Don't you remember, Ralph?|I told you.
Come on in.
|Oh.
Yeah.
Sure, I remember.
Come on in, kid.
I'm sorry.
How's Allie?|Here, let me take your bag.
Oh, he's fine, Mrs.
Collins.
Is he? He writes he is, but I'm always afraid|they make him say that.
Oh, no, no, it's true.
|He's got a job in the library.
That's one of the best jobs|you can get up there.
He told me that you probably wouldn't|believe what he said in the letters that you'd think he was just|trying to make you feel good.
That's why I came to see you,|so you'd know.
Well, it's nice you came.
I have been worried.
Worried.
Ma's a great worrier.
I told her Allie could take care of|himself, but she won't pay attention.
Take care of himself in a place|like that? He's just a child.
Not much older|than Jackie here.
He may be young,|but he's no fool.
Anyway, now you know he's|okay, you can stop worrying.
And I got to beat it.
|I got a heavy date.
Ralph, I wish|you'd stop drinking.
Come on, Ma.
Okay.
Nice I met you, kid.
|Yeah.
Ralph! Come home early.
You got to|go to work tomorrow morning.
You see what I mean?|A born worrier.
Goodbye.
Well.
I guess I better get going.
Oh, no, not yet.
Sit down on that nice comfortable|chair.
It was Allie's favorite.
Besides, you must be hungry.
Well, I had|a little supper, ma'am.
Well, I bet you could do with a|piece of meat loaf, home cooked.
Well, if you're sure|it's not too much trouble.
Not a bit.
Make yourself at home.
|I'll be right back.
And all they wanted me|to do was drive the car.
Nobody told me anything|about the job.
Oh, I mean I knew it wasn't|something on the level, but I didn't think it was|anything big like a bank.
We got caught.
But I got off easier|because I was only 17.
The judge gave me five years.
I got paroled after two.
I'm certainly talking|an awful lot.
Well, I asked you|to tell me about it.
Yeah, I know, but it's funny.
I'm not much|of a talker usually.
You didn't hate it up there|the way Allie does, did you? No, I didn't.
After a while, I began to feel|everyone else was in the same boat.
Never really belonged|anywhere.
Not like Allie.
He's never been alone.
|He's always had you and his brother.
It didn't save him, though.
If he'd stayed away from those hoodlums|the way Ralph and I asked him to, it might have, but he didn't.
He told me|they were his only friends.
It's this neighborhood.
It's not a fit place|for anybody to live.
But I got a little nest egg|I'm saving.
Allie tell you about it? I'll soon have enough|to get him out of here.
I think you have a nice place|to live, Mrs.
Collins.
You're a nice boy, Jackie.
No, I mean it.
|It's comfortable, you know.
It's the best|I can do now, anyway.
Well, I guess|I better get going.
Thanks a lot for the meal.
|That's all right.
Where are you going now,|Jackie? Well, I have to find|a place to live.
Parole officer got me a job in a|garage, and all I need now is a room.
Mrs.
Collins, could I come|back sometime, see you again? Would you like|to live here, Jackie? Allie's room isn't being used.
|It's not very fancy but it's better|than a rooming house.
It sure is.
But I wouldn't wanna|push myself in on you that way.
No, I'd like it.
It gets pretty lonesome here|with Ralph out so much of the time and Allie away.
Well, I'd like to|if you're sure you want me to.
I want you to, very much.
Here's your breakfast.
You can't|go to work on an empty stomach.
I better get started.
I don't|want to be late my first day.
You can drink a cup|of coffee before you go.
Hey, what kind of a job|you got, anyway? In a garage.
I'm pretty good at cars|and I like fooling around with them.
What are they paying you?|Forty bucks a week.
Forty bucks a week? They're sure|breaking their hearts, aren't they? Can they afford it? How do you expect|to get along on that? He's just starting.
They don't pay|you much when you're a beginner.
Well, they don't pay you much when you got a|record because they know they don't have to.
Well, I don't need much|anyway.
I got to get going.
Let's see how you look.
|Go brush your shoes.
The things are on the floor|by the stove.
Okay.
He's a nice kid.
I'm glad he's gonna stay with us.
|It'll make you feel less lonely.
Yes, it will.
Funny.
He's like a member|of the family already.
That's 7, 8, 9, 10.
Hope it runs good for you now.
Hi, Jackie.
How's it going? Okay, Mr.
Brown.
What's the matter? I went by the parole office|on my way to work this morning.
You weren't there yet.
|I know that.
Then why do you have to come|here checking up on me? Part of a parole officer's job is to keep|in touch with the man he's working with.
It's not just checking up,|Jackie.
It's seeing that they're satisfied|with the job, happy at it.
Do you think|you're going to be? Yeah.
I mean, it's my first|day, it's kinda hard to tell, but I think|I'm going to like it.
I'm glad.
I've already heard|from your boss.
He called me to tell me|how satisfied he was.
Says you're a born mechanic.
I always liked|working around cars.
It's kind of nice to be|earning money for a change.
It'll be even nicer when|you get your first week's pay.
I got to get back to the job.
You told them this morning that you're|taking a room with a private family instead of in a rooming house.
The only trouble is you forgot to tell them the|name and address of the family.
Sorry.
It's 1275,|Nicholas Street.
And the name of the family?|Collins.
Pleasant people? Yeah.
Well, you seem all set.
Nice place to live, good job.
You should be all right.
There's just one thing.
|What's that? The insurance company sent|a man around to see me today.
They still think I know where|that money is, don't they? Why don't they let me alone? $150,000 dollars is a lot of money.
|None of it was ever recovered.
I never saw it.
I was just|driving the car, I told you that! We were supposed to meet|afterwards to get our split.
I got caught before|I ever saw any of them again.
Don't get all worked up.
|I believe you.
I only told you because|they might come and see you.
If they give you too much|trouble, let me know.
Okay? Okay.
|Good.
See you next week.
Well, I'm not sure how late I'll|be, Mrs.
Collins.
I mean, Ma.
No, no, nothing wrong.
Mr.
|Clark asked me to do a valve job.
Has to be ready|first thing in the morning.
Okay, I'll get|something hot to eat.
All right, see you later.
Bye.
We're closed.
Is that a fact? Where's the money, Jackie? The money? I don't know.
|I just drove the car.
That's too bad.
We were hoping|you'd be more cooperative.
Get Mrs.
Collins, quick! Go get her.
Mrs.
Collins.
|Mrs.
Collins! Mrs.
Collins! What is it? What? Jackie.
Jackie? Ma.
Ma, help me get up.
No, don't try to talk.
|Come on.
Put your arm around.
|There.
Take it easy now.
You'll be all right.
Lie down, Jackie, lie down.
Put your head back.
There.
No, no.
It'll be all right.
There, it's all right.
|It's all right.
No, no, no.
I'm gonna get a doctor.
|No, no, no.
No doctor.
Jackie, you're hurt.
No, no, I'm just banged up|a little.
I'll be all right.
How did it happen? Some guys beat me up|on the way home.
I guess they thought I had|more money than I had.
Well, why did they beat you up|if they just wanted your money? Ma, if I could just get|some sleep, I'll be all right.
Hey, Ma, when is|that kid going to work? You know, I'm tired|of him hanging around here.
Don't talk|like that, Ralph.
He ought to stay home|and let me take care of him.
How about another cup of|coffee, Ma? It might wake me up.
Yes?|Mrs.
Collins? That's right.
My name is Brown.
I'm|Jackie Blake's parole officer.
Oh.
Won't you come in?|Thank you.
There isn't|anything wrong, is there? No, no, I just want|to see Jackie if I may.
Oh, this is my son, Ralph.
How do you do?|Hi.
I better go, Ma.
|I'm late already.
All right, Son.
|Don't be late for supper.
Nice to have met you,|Mr.
Collins.
Yeah, same here.
Bye.
Won't you have|a cup of coffee? Why, thank you.
Jackie is here, isn't he? Yes, he'll be right out.
He's getting ready to go to work.
Fine.
You sure there isn't anything wrong?|He isn't in any kind of trouble? It's not trouble, really.
It's more|of a technicality than anything else.
I can tell you because|you're involved in it.
What do you mean? When Jackie told us he was taking|a room with a private family, we automatically|put through a check on it.
We found that he knew|your son in prison.
That's right.
|He was a friend of his.
That's why he came here|in the first place.
Well, unfortunately,|Mrs.
Collins, a man on parole isn't allowed to|associate with men he knew in prison nor their families.
You mean he can't stay here?|I'm afraid not.
What are you|talking about? Good morning, Jackie.
What happened to you? I had an accident.
Now what is this about my|not being able to stay here? You heard what I told|Mrs.
Collins.
Yeah, I heard.
Rules are rules.
|You know that.
All I know is I'm not|leaving here.
Why should I? You think I'd be better off in some|crummy rooming house alone without anyone? Getting all worked up|isn't going to help.
Oh, swell.
|It's real easy, isn't it? All I got to do is say,|"Yes, sir, if you say so.
" Well, I'm not gonna do it.
|Now wait a minute, Jackie.
Can I say something? Of course.
If that's one of your rules, I|think it's a pretty stupid rule.
Just a moment, Mrs.
Collins.
|It's true my son is in prison, but that doesn't mean|we're criminals.
We're a decent,|respectable family, and no harm's gonna come|to Jackie with us.
It's good for somebody|to look after him, somebody who cares for him,|somebody he cares for.
Somebody once said that rules|were made to be broken.
If you feel so strongly about it|and Jackie feels the same way You bet I do.
I'm supposed to use my|discretion as to what's helpful.
I'll let you stay.
Thank you.
|Thank you, Mr.
Brown.
Jackie.
You understand I'm taking a|big responsibility doing this? Now don't let me down.
I won't.
Well, now that's settled, why|don't you have your cup of coffee? Thank you.
I wonder if I could|speak to Jackie for a moment.
Certainly.
Thanks, Mr.
Brown.
It's all right.
Now, you want to tell me|about this "accident"? It wasn't an accident.
|What happened? Couple of guys beat me up.
They|think I know where the money is.
What did you tell them? What could I tell them|except I didn't know? Who were they? How would I|know? I never saw them before.
How did they know anything|about it? I wish I knew.
Now look, Mr.
Brown, I didn't tell|Mrs.
Collins anything about this.
I don't want to get her|mixed up in it.
That's a good idea.
The less|anybody knows about this the better.
Only thing is you have to|watch your step from now on.
I will.
Only, why doesn't|everybody let me alone? I'd be very happy just working|and having a home.
Is that so much to ask? Hi, Ralph.
Look who's here,|Little Boy Black and Blue.
What's the matter?|You mad about something? Me, mad? Why should I be mad at|you, a good little boy like you? Now what's the matter with|you, Ralph? Are you drunk again? Don't you tell me|what to drink.
No, okay, I'm sorry.
Where's Ma? Her name is Mrs.
Collins to you.
I guess it's dinner time.
|I ought to set the table.
Yeah, sure.
Sure, go ahead, set the table.
|Come on, Ma's little helper.
Yeah.
Yeah, you're so anxious to be tied in her|apron strings, why don't you just put it on? Now lay off, Ralph.
Hey, go on.
Put it on.
|On you it'll look good.
Now let go of me, Ralph.
Sure, I will, after you and me has had|a little talk.
We got nothing to talk about.
Oh, yes, we have.
I'll tell you what.
I got a|little proposition to make to you.
You're so anxious|to be part of this family? I'll let you buy your way in.
What are you talking about? Look at that|innocent little face.
I'm talking about the money.
|I want to know where it is.
How did you know about it? Allie told me.
Allie? I don't believe you.
Well, how else would I know?|He wrote me about it.
How could he?|They read the letters.
I got news for you.
There are ways of getting letters|out of prison without them being read.
Why do you think|he sent you here? 'Cause you're a good friend|of his? Don't make me laugh.
Where is it? I don't know.
|I tell you, I don't know.
Where is it? I tell you, I don't know! You don't fool me.
|I know what you're gonna do.
You gonna stick around here, and|live off us until things cool off.
And then one day|you'll disappear, find the money|No.
and then live easy|the rest of your life, huh? At least that's what|you think you're gonna do.
I'm not.
I swear I'm not.
You bet you're not! No, come on, Ralph.
|Leave me alone.
Come on.
I got to go in the kitchen|and set the table.
Go ahead.
Go on.
Go ahead.
Go on! What those two other guys that I|sent couldn't get out of you I will.
Now, you stay|away from me, Ralph.
Come on, kid.
You better give me that knife|before you get hurt.
No! I'm telling you,|stay away from me.
You're not gonna hit me again.
|I'm warning you! Okay, okay.
Friends.
Huh? Jackie! Ralph.
My son! My son! You killed him.
I didn't mean it.
|I tried not too.
Help! Help!|Ma! No, no, no, no.
Ma, don't look at me like that I'll take his place.
I can.
|I'll make it up to you.
You'll take his place? All we wanted was the money! That's why I took care of you.
|That's why I was nice to you.
We wanted the money! Help! Help! Excuse me a minute.
There.
I've decided to give this machine to a|very dear friend of mine for two reasons.
He's insufferable|and wears long ties.
As for the girl|you saw earlier, you will be pleased to know|that she acquired a job as a result of appearing|on our program.
A talent scout saw her and immediately signed her up|as a pair of book ends.
And speaking of ends,|that is what this is.
Of our show, that is.
But we shall be back another|time with another story.
Good night.