Any racetrack is potential for excitement, drama, but not all the excitement takes place
when the horses are running.
Sometimes there's excitement before the first better appears, behind the scenes, on the
other side of those windows, or the peri-mutual ticket sellers are getting ready for the first
race.
Thousands of dollars every day pass through the hands of these men.
Men like Fred Dana, who usually is a cashier, but is filling in for one of the sellers who
was ill today.
But Dana's different from the other men here.
Dana has ideas.
Fred Dana, age 26, profession, the fast buck.
Getting close to the time for the bedding windows to open, and in comes the ticket paper to
load the peri-mutual machine.
Special paper, impossible for counterfeiters to duplicate, carefully guarded.
A carton of paper, paper worth thousands of dollars in the wrong hand.
Fred Dana's hands.
Well, Rafferty, I didn't break down and confess, I guess it must be up to you.
Over two thousand bucks in counterfeit tickets passed the track last week, you must be cleaning
up.
You can go in now.
Don't worry about it, thing, Rafferty, rubber hoses don't hurt, it's just those thumb screws.
You want to know what I was thinking while I was waiting to go in for the third degree?
No, not especially.
I was trying to figure out whether the girl made the uniform or the uniform made the girl.
You keep working at it, maybe in a year or two, you'll figure it all out.
Hey, you go okay, listen.
One day when you're not walking your feet, come on out there to track it, make me a call.
You can always tell what window I'm working, the one with the longest line, my magnetic
personality.
Don't forget to take off your badge, I don't want to be scarred for life.
I got nothing out of them, $7,000 were the counterfeit tickets in three weeks, as long
as they got the paper, that could be just the beginning.
How can they counterfeit a ticket for a winning horse before the race has won?
Well, they don't, all they do is print up tickets on all the horses and then they cash
in the winning ones.
Oh, you finished the chart, you got anywhere?
Oh, I think maybe a lead.
All right, let's have it.
Well, I hear the schedules of all the cashiers showing which window they worked at which
date for the past month, apparently they change around a lot, you know, $2 window, $5, $10,
$1,500.
Yeah, check.
Okay, now I've circled in red the dates in which counterfeit tickets were found.
I'm with you.
Now, here's what interests me, this cashier, Fred Dana, on April 15th, Fred Dana was on
the $10 window and $10 counterfeit tickets were passed, on April 23rd, he was on the
$5 window and $5 counterfeit tickets were passed, the same for the next two times.
Well, it could be just a coincidence, of course.
Could be.
Do you want to take a flyer out of this?
Yeah.
I kind of like to get out of this office and try my luck with the track.
$2.10 tickets on number four.
You're in the wrong line, lady, we cashed tickets here, not selling, going up to my, well,
look who's here, the finest in New York's finest, you accept my invitation, huh?
My day off, I decided to try my luck.
Too bad tomorrow's my day off instead of today, I'd, I'll pick a few winners for you.
I haven't had a shift tomorrow, I could get here three, I like winners.
Honey, you just picked yourself one right now.
Give me the whip, give me the whip, you really care, don't you?
Well, I make the money, honey.
Much more important than money, that's what gets you where you want to go.
Where's that?
At the top.
Top of what?
The heap.
You know, I've been everything from a spieler and a conny to a short order cook, sure.
But I'm on my way now, the old bog, you know, that's the answer.
Ah, I know what you mean, I like it myself.
What are you doing being a lady cop?
Oh, that's always ways of picking up extra money.
Like what?
Oh, like, uh, like taking a page of your tape and the count as a ticket record.
What?
You heard me, and cut.
You?
I'm interested in money too, are you surprised?
Oh, boy, I couldn't be more if the Statue of Liberty dropped a torch.
Well, I'm full of surprises.
You really think I've got something to do with this counterfeit ticket business?
Oh, no, I don't think it, I know it.
You see, I made out a chart, and you happen to be at the right window every time a counterfeit ticket was passed.
I haven't turned it in to anybody yet.
But you will.
Try it.
Unless I kick in, huh?
Uh-huh.
Put in the fix.
Well, what do you know?
You mean behind all that class, you're just another operator out for a fast book?
Look, don't complain.
I'm doing you a big favor.
I'm only asking for a little one.
Well, you're wasting your time.
I don't know for nothing about this, uh, what, is it counterfeit ticket business or something?
Well, you have it your own way.
I'll tell you what, tomorrow afternoon at 5.30, I'll meet you at, uh, the bar, Chung Lowe's, on West 50th.
If you're not there, well, then I'll, uh, I'll turn in my information.
You're going to be awful lonely all by yourself with all that chop suey.
Ha-ha.
Don't you worry about me.
I'll see you tomorrow, or the next day, or the day after that, at headquarters.
Excuse me.
I didn't like the idea of you being here alone today.
Ha-ha.
I didn't think you would.
Oh, look, sweetheart.
I didn't come here today because of that jazz you gave me yesterday.
Hmm.
Why did you come?
Well, I figured, uh, if you really want to make some dough, I'll put you in touch with a guy who can do you some good.
What kind of good?
The kind we're both interested in.
This guy's a big operator.
At least he was.
And he will be again.
He's the type of guy that if you're playing along with him, he'll get you right to the-
To the top.
Maybe we'll both meet there.
You want to meet him?
Sure.
What have I got to lose?
Hey, Harry.
Come on over.
This is Harry Bates.
Sit down, Harry.
You're on the police force, huh?
Yes.
That's right.
The name Harry Bates don't mean nothing to you?
No, I don't think so.
Okay, you're too young.
Those were the good days.
I was Duke Malone's right hand when Duke was headman.
After his accident, I had to disappear.
But now I'm back, building my own organization.
Maybe we could, uh, use a girl like you in my organization if you're smart.
Well, I'm smart enough to know I'd like to be in on that phony ticket racket.
Didn't he tell you?
Yeah, he told me.
You've got some wrong ideas about my organization.
I'm just a promoter.
Deals.
All kinds.
Real estate, trucking.
I even want to fight a sailor Jack Kohler.
You ever hear of him?
No.
Good man.
We're going to build him.
Wonderful trouble.
He's got a record.
Would be kind of nice if that record could just sort of disappear from the main files downtown.
Well, it's been very nice talking to you.
Like I said, maybe my organization could use a girl like you if you're smart.
If you want to get in touch with me, here's my address.
You coming, Freddie?
Yeah, Harry.
How about seeing you, honey?
Or will I?
Hello?
I didn't expect to see you.
Well, I told you I was both prizes.
Well, I'm glad to see you.
Oh, Miss Bates.
Make it, Harry.
Sally, you know who this lady is?
She's a cop.
Yeah, no kidding.
Sailors like me don't have no love for cops, do you, Sally?
But I think we're going to like this one.
Did you bring something for me?
Well, you've got it all, huh?
That's pretty good.
Look, Sally, your whole record.
Mug shots, fingerprints, even the report from the psychiatrist about you.
That's good.
Frankie, get that gadget out of the top drawer of the file that I bought the other day.
I want you to try it out.
OK, Sally, you can go now.
I said my organization could use you if you're smart.
Now I know you are.
Here.
Here's a couple of hundred just for a starter.
Well, go ahead.
Take it.
What was that for?
A sentimental gesture.
A picture of you taking money from me.
You might call it an insurance picture.
Insurance in case you ever get any funny ideas.
Think of everything, don't you?
That's right, sweetheart.
They never laid a finger on me.
Why?
No evidence.
OK, you keep in touch with me.
I'm going to use you a lot.
To be to have the wrong idea if you think I'm interested in running errands,
small change.
Like this.
You've waited a minute.
You waited until I tell you to go.
I guess I got the wrong idea.
I thought you were a big operator.
Don't worry, sweetheart.
I'm big.
Then what happened to the track operation?
Didn't you hear about that place where you worked the heats on?
Yeah, I heard.
You see, that's what I'm talking about.
They call in the cashiers and they question them
and they're pretty sure that nothing's going to happen for a while.
You see, this is the time that 10, 15, 20,000
and counterfeit tickets should be passed out there.
Spread over three or four races.
You could clear $30,000 or $40,000 in one afternoon
and then call it quits.
Too many tickets for one man to pass.
For that one day, you use three or four shills to cash them.
Where are you going to get shills you can trust with that kind of money
or that kind of information?
I'll guarantee the people I get for you.
Why?
Because I know four or five people that I've got something for.
They try anything funny. They get picked up.
Fast.
You see, Mr. Babes, all you have to do is supply the tickets.
On to the rest.
For a straight 10% take.
Lady, you got yourself a deal.
Well, that's the kind of talk I like.
I got the message you wanted to see me.
Yeah.
Sit down.
Thanks.
Um, fuck that.
Maybe I got rocks in my head, but I...
I want to talk to you.
It's something I got to say.
What?
Get out. Get out before it's too late.
What kind of an act is that supposed to be?
What do you mean, act?
Isn't no act.
I'm trying to tell you something.
Something that Bates thought would be a good idea to tell me.
Find out whether I could be trusted or not.
Well, you tell Bates for me that I... Bates.
Bates, he's got nothing to do with this.
And why are you so anxious for me to get out?
Well, I...
I...
I'd like to see somebody like you back up against the wall.
You're only kidding yourself.
Kidding myself?
Yeah, sure, I know you.
Got your eye on that green stuff, but...
you're in the wrong lead.
Look.
Once Bates gets a hold of you,
he'll hang on to you till you're no good to him or anybody else.
Not even to yourself.
I don't get it.
Why is Bates so, uh, so bad for me and so good for you?
Oh, that's different.
It's different. I'm just a foul mouth for a fast fuck.
I always have been, always will be.
You don't think much of yourself, do you?
No.
I'm what you might call a realist.
I know what the score is.
A guy like me's got to cut corners.
I got to play along with a fella like Bates
if I'm ever going to be somebody, but you... you...
If somebody already...
they might, you don't need Bates.
You could marry some great guy.
Any guy whose wife might want to marry you?
You could buy a house like you see in the ads
with the flowers and kids and stuff.
That's for you?
That's what you think is for me.
But you don't know.
I know what I want and I know how to play it.
Something everybody has to decide for himself.
Look, I'll get... I'll get that picture back for you
and I'll get you a fighter's record
and you can put it all back in the files.
Everything will be all right.
Thanks, but if I want any favors, I'll ask you for them.
You know, maybe you're kidding yourself.
Maybe you better find out if you like Bates
and the whole setup.
And if you don't, get out.
There's one thing I know you're wrong about.
You're somebody already.
Well, I just got Sunny Boy trying to steal
this little Valentine you asked for.
I didn't ask for it or anything else.
I told you, she's nothing.
You didn't want Sunny Boy to take this picture
and sell his record back for you?
If I didn't want you to have that record,
I wouldn't have brought it to you in the first place.
If I didn't want to be in on this deal,
I wouldn't be here now.
Don't blame me for what goes on in his mind.
That's... that's his business.
What does go on up there, Sunny Boy?
Get my ideas, huh?
You thought if you surprised Sweetheart with this stuff,
she'd get cozy with you, huh?
Huh? Answer me!
Oh, I think yes.
You thought you could make time with her.
You, that's a laugh.
Those kind of ideas need knocking out of that thick head of yours.
Oh, you ought to throw you out of here.
That's what I ought to do.
But maybe you learned your lesson.
Yeah, I think you learned your lesson.
Do ya?
Yeah.
You don't look at me when you talk to me.
Now, what was your answer?
I said yes.
You can let him go, Frank.
Okay, Sweetheart.
What's the good word?
They're, uh, they're laying off the track till they get a leave.
Uh-huh. Just like you said.
So I've set it up for tomorrow.
Tomorrow?
I've got three shills ready to cash in the tickets.
All you have to do is get the tickets to me.
Okay, okay.
I, uh, I can pick them up when you print them.
I tell you where to pick them up. You don't tell me.
Sure, anything you say.
You just have your shills ready at the $50 winter right after the third race.
They'll be there.
I've got trouble with those track cops, honey boys, so I want you alone to back me up.
In case anything goes wrong.
What can go wrong? There's nothing to worry about.
Just in case.
I've got to think of everything. Remember that.
Everything's set.
All set.
Those three men are going to pass the tickets.
Well, those are the shills, huh?
Tell me about them.
What do you mean?
I want to know what you've got on each one of them.
I'd just like to know those things. Any objections?
No, but I...
Well, then what have you got on the two men who are talking together?
Well, one of them is a fence for stolen auto parts.
The other one's wanted for robbery and dollarware.
And how about the fellow by himself?
He runs a protection racket.
The Bronx.
The Bronx, huh?
That's his territory.
Now, satisfy.
Yeah.
Well, you better give me the tickets so we can get started.
Tell me, boys, got them.
Now, you wait for me in this corridor right around here.
I don't want to handle them out here in the open.
All right, but we don't have much time for the race.
I'll worry about that.
I want to check those shills.
There might be phonies, cops.
Well, don't hurt to check.
Now, you go over to that one reading the paper.
Ask him what part of town he works.
Play it cool.
If you don't say the Bronx, we know somebody's lying.
You tell him we're skipping the fourth race.
Go ahead.
The lady friend said not to worry if you're going to wait.
OK.
Say, uh, haven't I seen you around somewhere?
I think she said you worked some territory over in the Queens,
huh?
Yeah, that's right.
Queens.
Oh.
That's funny.
I thought I'd seen you in the Bronx.
No, Queens.
Oh.
All right.
Well, like I was saying, there's going to be some delay,
so we're skipping the fourth.
She said for you to wait here.
OK.
What's taking so long?
Have my mind.
Now, what's the word?
You are right.
We're skipping the fourth.
We're skipping the fourth.
Why?
Because those shills are cops.
Well, that's a laugh.
I smelled it.
You dirty little double-crossing.
You smelled it.
I had her picked right from the start.
Come on, sweetheart.
Let's see what you have in your hand.
Come on.
Come on.
I don't take care of that.
I'll handle this.
Must have been pretty funny that day.
Me sitting there trying to get you to go straight.
Oh, come on, Ken, the chatter.
We're walking right out of here, the three of us.
Give her her bag so she can't go back there
and talk to those friends of hers.
We're always so interested in where the tickets were,
weren't we, honey?
Well, there won't be a ticket hungry by the time
we get to the gate.
That's your evidence.
All right, come on, sonny boy.
Well, come on.
This is no time to wait around.
You're going in the wrong direction.
What?
What are you talking about?
Those cops are out there.
But I'm talking about is that you're going
in the wrong direction.
What's eating you, sonny?
We're going out the way I say.
No, we're not.
Listen, you punk, I don't want no trouble from you.
Give me that gun.
Come on, give me the gun.
Get your hand back, Harry.
I'll lose a couple of fingers.
Come on, sonny.
You come with me and I'll make it or something, something big.
You go out there and you're just another punk with a record.
Yeah, I know.
Tell me something.
Did you decide to play this straight because
what I said that day?
No.
No.
I always say it's straight.
Give me that.
I'll just, uh, I'll just keep these.
For souvenir.
I talked to you about going straight.
I end up there.
Had a funny, huh?
No.
I think you always wanted to be straight.
I think you just found it out.
Let's go, Harry.
I'm going to give you a tip.
You know why you never fooled me?
Why?
Because you can't hide class.
Well, I don't know.
You did a pretty good job on yourself for quite a while.
Come on, big treasure, let's blow this joint.
You can't win.
So long.
Fred liked the word class.
To him it had to do with the way someone spoke or looked.
But to me, making a decision,
as tough as the one that Fred made and sticking by it,
no matter what,
well, that's class.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
