03x04 - Heart of Gold

[bunniefuu]

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 b*at 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 .

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 , , , .

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 ,
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?

$ , 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 b*at me up
on the way home.

I guess they thought I had
more money than I had.

Well, why did they
b*at 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 b*at 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 Kn*fe
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 k*lled 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.