- 7/15/2025
In the gritty streets of 1950s New York, one brave policewoman goes undercover to dismantle a dangerous criminal ring. As the city’s underworld closes in, she must rely on her instincts and courage to survive the trap she helped set. This suspenseful noir-style crime drama delivers tension, intrigue, and classic storytelling at its best.
Restored public domain television crime drama. A bold tale of justice, deception, and danger.
Restored public domain television crime drama. A bold tale of justice, deception, and danger.
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00There are plenty of fun places in the big city, movies, Broadway shows, places that give you a
00:20floor show and an orchestra for the price of a meal. But there are other places for the lonely
00:25people who buy their happiness by the court, and you get a built-in smile with every drink.
00:32Lorraine Culver, and she knew the ropes. Can I buy you a drink? Sure you can, one for the road.
00:40What's your name? Jane Doe. What's yours? John Smith. A 10% cut on all the drinks she sold for the
00:49house, and a few laughs. But she got more than she bargained for.
01:08Where are you? Oh. What do you want to see me about?
01:24No. No. Don't. Don't. The girl who sold drinks for the house wound up in an alley with a yellow
01:49rose in her hand. Thousands of girls come to New York looking for jobs and careers. They
02:03come in by train. By bus. Hearts pounding with hope as they step off. Into the richest city
02:15in the world. The rewards don't come easy. They take study. Train. Skill. But there are
02:27some who think there's an easier way. They find other streets in the city. Jungle streets.
02:34Where you can trade anything for a buck. And girls like Lorraine get lost.
02:39Why do you figure a dame keeps a bracelet in her coin first, Casey? Maybe she's afraid
02:46of burglars. Yeah, maybe she's right. She was choked to death last night. Not for this,
02:53Lieutenant. You can buy these for a dollar all over town. It's inscribed.
02:58Till death do us part. Poor kid. L? For Lorraine. Lorraine Colbert.
03:06Anything else? I'll take a look. A rose? Not for purity. She, uh, she pushed drinks over
03:17at Ben's show place. You know the joint? Yeah. Vice Squad had something on it last week.
03:21Right. They had a tip, but nothing came of it. Up to now. Right. And, uh, it gives us a wedge.
03:30Padlock the place? No. Big Ben didn't have a padlock off in 48 hours.
03:36We, uh, we found that stashed in the lining of her purse.
03:43Nice looking guy. Who is he? No lead yet. But remember the face.
03:49You, uh, you may run into him around the show place.
03:55So?
03:58Uh-huh. Do you think, Casey?
04:02Sure. But only in the bathtub.
04:04Well, wash the soap suds off your bag.
04:08As of now, Ben's show place is short one hostess.
04:13You'll be looking for a new girl.
04:14You, uh, well, uh, I got in.
04:16I got in.
04:26Are you the owner?
04:56What's it to you, sister?
04:58I, uh, I'm looking for a job.
05:01Yeah? Why here?
05:03We didn't run no help wanted, Ed.
05:05Oh.
05:07Well, I'm a friend of Lorraine Culver.
05:09She wrote me to come to town.
05:10She'd help me get work here.
05:12She ain't working no more.
05:15She was killed last night.
05:19Oh, no.
05:20Oh, no.
05:25She's the only one I knew here.
05:27What will I do now?
05:30Go on back where you came from.
05:39I pay you to serve drinks, not hand out free advice.
05:42She's a friend of Lorraine.
05:44Who asked you?
05:48What do you want?
05:48Oh, I'm, uh, I'm Connie Redmond.
05:51I'm, I'm looking for a job as a singer.
05:53We don't have much use for singers around here.
05:56Oh, well, I'll do, uh, anything to get started.
05:59Let's see what you've got to get started.
06:05Take off your coat.
06:07Oh.
06:16Get back to work.
06:25You got looks.
06:27You got a figure.
06:28But it takes brains to work on this job, too.
06:33Well, I'll, uh, I'll do my best.
06:38Okay.
06:39Your job is selling drinks for the house.
06:42You get a 10% cut on all the suckers buy.
06:45The bigger the tab, the bigger your cut.
06:49Can you handle your liquor?
06:51Yeah.
06:52Yeah, I think so.
06:54We don't want no luscious here.
06:56So learn the tricks.
06:58A good trick is to order a ginger ale chaser with all your drinks.
07:03You get rid of most of the liquor in the chaser.
07:05Oh.
07:06I get it.
07:08And no weepy stories.
07:11Look happy.
07:12Be friendly.
07:13Most guys who come in here are really buying time with a dame.
07:19What if they get too friendly?
07:21A smart girl learns how to handle that when she's six.
07:24Oh, my gosh.
07:24Oh, my gosh.
07:54Yeah, sure.
07:59Sit down.
08:04Now, a couple of scotches.
08:13Spot anything, O'Brien?
08:15Yeah.
08:16These glasses are as phony as the smiles.
08:19False bottoms.
08:21Supposed to cover me, not the booze.
08:24Careful.
08:27There you are, baby.
08:28Here's your laughing water.
08:32How are you holding up?
08:33Oh, not bad.
08:35I'm managing to get rid of most of the stuff I order.
08:37How?
08:39Well, simple.
08:40Oh, I'm sorry.
08:41I'm sorry.
08:49Those guys are so busy playing footsies under the table, they don't pay any attention to what's happening on top.
08:54That's pretty neat.
08:56Oh, O'Brien, please.
09:02I've got enough fighting off to do.
09:03The bartender's watching.
09:07Listen, I just saw a guy going to Ben's office.
09:11He didn't look like the barfly type.
09:13I'll check him on my way out.
09:18Give me the hi sign if you want me to, uh, tailor.
09:22Right.
09:23Meantime, you might salute her a couple more scotches and make mine with a ginger ale chaser.
09:27Here he comes.
09:28Here he comes.
09:37Hold it.
09:39Ladies first.
09:40You, uh, you better stick around because I'm always running on matches.
09:55You're new here.
09:56Yeah.
09:57It's my first night.
10:01You're wasting your time.
10:03Well, it's for me to decide.
10:08Not if you work for Ben.
10:10Well, I can see you know your way around here.
10:15I've been here before.
10:17It surprises me.
10:18You don't look like the type for this sort of spot.
10:22Neither do you, sweetheart.
10:24Well, actually, I, um, I came to look up a friend and I just kind of, well, I just kind of walked into the job.
10:31Who's your friend?
10:34Was.
10:35Uh, she was, uh, Lorraine Culver.
10:40Lorraine?
10:43I knew her.
10:44Wasn't the message clear?
10:45I told you to get out and stay out.
10:48You think you're going to work on me like you work on your girls?
10:52You've got a big mouth, Gordon.
10:56Good night, Miss, uh...
10:58Connie.
10:59Connie Redmond.
11:00Good night, Connie.
11:08I suppose your time wasn't wasted.
11:10Oh, thanks.
11:12And good luck.
11:15You'll need it.
11:18You.
11:32Just don't get too ambitious.
11:35I don't get it.
11:37Lay off Gordon.
11:38All I did was ask you to buy me a drink.
11:41Save the charm for the customers.
11:45What makes him so off-bounds?
11:46He's my brother.
11:52The promise could be made in the show place and kept around the corner.
11:55As long as there was a payoff.
11:58The girl was playing it straight.
12:03Leave the customer at the front door.
12:07The girl go out through the alley.
12:09No violations.
12:12Smart.
12:13Smart.
12:13Smart.
12:16Get away from me.
12:40What's the matter?
12:42You lost sunshine and smiles for the price of a drink.
12:44I got more than that.
12:45You work too fast, Al.
12:49Don't play me like your friend Lorraine.
12:51You got a guy, say so.
12:53What guy?
12:53In her case, a husband.
12:55What's wrong in having a husband?
12:56She was keeping it a secret.
12:58A big secret.
12:59I don't like that kind of trick.
13:02I bet.
13:03I must have made you real angry.
13:04Forget it.
13:09You ain't married, are you, baby?
13:11Oh, stop it, Al.
13:12I ain't a pretty face, but I know what a dame likes.
13:14Look what I got you.
13:17No, Al.
13:20Okay, play it solo.
13:22I'd be lucky if that.
13:23You dames are the kiss of death.
13:25That's not how it played out for Lorraine.
13:27She's dead.
13:28Yeah, but her husband got it first.
13:30What happened, Al?
13:42Al.
13:43Al, listen.
13:43Al.
14:00Well, story checks out, Al, Ryan.
14:11Lorraine's husband was found murdered in a cheap rooming house about two weeks ago.
14:15Who was he?
14:17John Rowan from Pittsburgh.
14:18Came town about a month ago.
14:22Any connection with Ben's show place?
14:24Just Lorraine.
14:26She was working there a couple of months before he got here.
14:28They had a spat.
14:29She ran out on him.
14:31Till death do us part.
14:34I guess he didn't expect it to be so soon.
14:36Lieutenant, I've got an idea.
14:38Can I have that bracelet?
14:40Sure.
14:41But be careful.
14:42And stick close to O'Brien.
14:45Yeah, I will.
14:47You know, after working Ben's show place,
14:50it's worth a few chances to close those places up for good.
14:52Oh, what a grind.
15:00Are you kidding?
15:05Where's Big Ben?
15:06Out for the night.
15:09You learn fast.
15:11Chasing the money guy already.
15:12How come a doll like you comes to work in a trap like this
15:16and then you expect to be treated like you're a queen of the maid?
15:20I don't figure you either.
15:21A brush-off shit makes you sore.
15:22That's not out.
15:24Yeah.
15:25What is that?
15:26Always getting the train down.
15:28I never get used to it.
15:30I'm sorry, Al.
15:31Save the hearts and flowers.
15:33Six months working in this joint,
15:38you won't be good enough for me.
15:40Pushing drinks?
15:41That's not so awful.
15:43You'll branch out.
15:46I don't think Lorraine was mixed up in anything like that.
15:49So how come her husband drops into town unexpectedly,
15:52takes one good look around his joint,
15:54and weaves him my shoulder half the night?
15:56Johnny was a sentimental guard.
15:58What's wrong with that?
15:59Well, look where it got him.
16:00All he had to do was lay off.
16:04I tried to warn him,
16:05but he had to go and tip the cops off to the place.
16:09Is that why they gave it to him, Al?
16:13Why ain't you working?
16:22I got good reason to lay low.
16:25What's that?
16:28I love living, baby.
16:30Smile on Brian here.
16:45It's satisfying customer.
16:47Did you make any headway?
16:49Well, the husband was ready to talk.
16:50He may have had the reins hold on the idea,
16:52but I'm not sure.
16:53Hey, what are you doing with that bracelet?
16:55The killer sees that.
16:56He's liable to recognize it.
16:57Well, somebody has to do something.
16:59I'm not sure.
17:00I'm not sure.
17:05I'm not sure.
17:21Oh, yeah.
17:21Hey, Mr. Trial Boyle, Trial Boyle!
17:51Troy!
17:54Mr. Trial, I want to buy you a drink.
17:56Some other time, pal. Some other time. Thanks a lot.
17:59Oh, one of the girls will appreciate your courtesy.
18:07Hello, Ben.
18:15Who gave you permission to come in here?
18:18Nobody?
18:19Honey? If you want to catch a fly, you have to use a little honey.
18:23Meaning?
18:25Meaning I'm just crazy about honey.
18:27I'm not crazy about greedy little flies.
18:31I'm familiar with the breed.
18:40Give you hello and you've got your hot little hands stuck out for the apartment, the furs and the diamonds, huh?
18:46Well, girls gotta get along.
18:54Any girl.
18:56I'm not talking about any girl.
18:59Oh, you got me wrong, Ben.
19:01All I'm looking for is a break.
19:03What kind of a break?
19:04Well, I, I want to get out of this penny on his stuff and you, you got connections?
19:13Where did you learn all this?
19:15Oh, I figured.
19:17What an important man like you.
19:19You're all right, baby.
19:26Not like your friend Lorraine.
19:28Willing to travel?
19:29For what?
19:31Big money.
19:32Your type's a big draw south of the border.
19:38Have a drink.
19:38Private stock.
19:48Well, to a lasting friendship.
20:02Well.
20:04I expected you to be waiting with a fistful of dough.
20:08Not this.
20:10Oh, shut up.
20:12You don't worry me.
20:15You.
20:17Beat it.
20:22He never was much with a dame.
20:24He means...
20:26Pardon us, Connie.
20:30Lorraine wore a bracelet like that.
20:33Lots of girls wear them.
20:36With an L on it?
20:38L.
20:38Oh, the lover.
20:40My boyfriend's cute.
20:42I...
20:42We're in trouble.
20:51You must be drunk.
20:53That Connie dame's a phony.
20:54She's wearing Lorraine's bracelets.
20:56You always did get white-eyed around a dame.
21:00Tell the truth, Ben.
21:01What's always bugged you is the way they get wild-eyed over me.
21:07I got orders for you.
21:08The boys want you out of town.
21:12And did you quote them my payoff figure?
21:15No go.
21:16You take the five G's and like it.
21:18My big brother, Ben.
21:20Big shot Ben with the butt tips.
21:23They whistle at the top and you roll over and beg.
21:26Now, look.
21:28You weren't so smart killing her here.
21:30It put everybody on the spot.
21:32The boys don't stand for that.
21:34I don't have to take the rap for it.
21:36It could have been you killed her as easy as me.
21:39Maybe.
21:41But you're it.
21:43If I were you, I'd take the five G's and blow her.
21:45No wonder you weren't worrying about that phony dame out there.
21:54You got me tagged for the fall guy.
21:56She's not my package.
21:58If she's got you on the spot, that's your problem.
22:03Okay, big brother.
22:06I'll take care of it myself.
22:11And you can tell the boys,
22:13I'm holding out.
22:22And in case there's a change in plans,
22:25I'll be home all night.
22:35So long, Connie.
22:43Play it cozy a minute.
22:46Then get over to Gordon's apartment.
22:49I'll get out as fast as I can to meet you there.
23:00Leaving?
23:01Without a good night, baby?
23:02I'm in a hurry, Al.
23:05You're a good kid, Connie.
23:07I don't know who you are,
23:08and I don't want to know,
23:09but it can't be done.
23:11John and Lorraine tried to talk,
23:13and they got stopped, both of them.
23:16Connie!
23:24Need a light?
23:27Gordon.
23:28You told me you were always running out of matches.
23:31Why are you wasting your time?
23:32It's after hours.
23:33I'm not working for the house on this one.
23:35Look.
23:37Ben won't like this.
23:38He sure won't.
23:41You're not playing it smart.
23:42I'm smart, baby.
23:44This time Ben's paying a premium.
23:46I'm using his knife.
23:48Let him sweat now.
23:59Thanks, Al.
24:00I appreciate that.
24:04I'm glad you're on my side.
24:06I'm not.
24:08But I couldn't hold still for another one.
24:14You took a chance, and I appreciate that.
24:16I always used to watch Gordon.
24:19He was so slick with the dames.
24:22He had the looks all right.
24:25Yeah.
24:27But there was nothing inside to match.
24:30Well, that finishes the setup and Ben's showplace.
24:41The showplace, but not the setup.
24:43That's still operating in half a dozen places on the street.
24:47We do a job, Casey.
24:49And that's all.
24:50So long, Al.
25:02Lorraine thought she had it made.
25:04Just act happy, be friendly.
25:08For a 10% cut of the drinks.
25:09That isn't hard.
25:12It's easy living.
25:13Easy money.
25:16But Lorraine found out that it wasn't easy living.
25:20And it wasn't easy dying.
25:21Well, I won't let it be.
25:22And I'm sorry.
25:24But there's nothing.
25:25I don't know.
25:25But I can't do it.
25:26I can't do it.
25:27I can't do it.
25:27I can't do it.
25:28But.
25:29I can't do it.
25:30I can't do it.
25:31But.
25:31The End
26:01The End
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