let's go someplace quiet. i'll give you the low-down on mitchum.
two sets.
karen, this is sid hudgeons from hush-hush magazine.
is she?
you lost me, sid. who?
i need an extra fifty. two patrolmen at twenty apiece and a dime for the watch commander at hollywood station.
no. it's felony possession of marijuana.
stand there with your camera. i'll stop here so you get grauman's chinese in the backgrouns.
police!
yeah, it's subtle.
hi.  i'd like to get a delivery to beverly hills.
look, a friend of mine gave me this number. i just --
this is sgt. vincennes. requesting a name and address on a phone number. hollywood zero-one- two-three-nine.
i just called it.
a bootleg.
white, you better get a lease on stens before he kills someone.
what do i have to do?
the show, sir?
okay. i'll do it.
you're the key witness?
i should've known. what's the chief throwing you?
yeah, exley. what's the payoff?
you're playing an angle, college boy. you're getting something out of this so you don't have to hobnob with the fucking rank and file cops who'll hate your guts for snitching. if they're making you a detective, watch out. some bureau guys are gonna burn in this and you're gonna have to work with friends of theirs.
i'm snitching three old timers who'll be fishing in oregon next week. next to you i'm clean. and smart.
just remember, bud white'll fuck you for this if it takes the rest of his life. they already suspended him. just pray he cops a deal and stays on the department because that is one civilian you do not want on your case.
i won't be there. they're toning down my profile.
gee. the great jerk-off book caper of 1953.
yeah, cap. back in narcotics.
working whores with squad two.
sid, it's vincennes.
no. but i've got something going with ad vice.
don't know. i'm chasing picture books. fuck shots, but the posers don't look like junkies. it's well done stuff. i thought you might have heard something.
what about fleur-de-lis? their slogan's 'whatever you desire.'
if we go by the list, we have about zero chance of making the collar. but i know a guy who knows what's going on south of jefferson. i'm betting he could put us at 50. 50.
leonard bidwell?
how's the left these days?
i saw you fight kid gavilan. i like your style.
you got a brother up in folsom. i know because i put him there.
how'd you like to make it 1960? i know the judge and sergeant exley here is friends with hte d.a.
we're looking for three colored guys who like to pop off shotguns. one of 'em owns a purple merc coupe.
you wanna buy your brother ten years? you don't have to say anything. just look at this list and point. here.
that's five minutes from here.
shit. someone beat us here.
hey.
what do you got?
so long, vice. badge of honor, here i come.
what?
just don't shoot me.
freeze!
you think golden boy can handle it, cap?
he's good. i'll give him that.
sid, how are they hanging?
what's he doing here, sid?
sure, he just tried to throw me off the force last christmas as a little joke.
and reynolds?
yeah.
something like that.
fleaur-de-lis. 'whatever you desire.'
yeah. me and patchett go way back.
really? how?
yeah. me neither.
loew's free. congratulate him.
sid, why would a guy like pierce patchett get involved with running dope and hookers?
around.
i'm pretty sure i can get you a part on the show.  but tonight? pretend it's an acting job, kid. showbiz.
it'll be our secret.
come on, sid. where are you?
it's vincennes! open up!
sid, cut the crap. i --
shut up!
he's dead. i was just there. somebody slit his throat.
loew didn't go with him. you're sure?
a bottle of scotch.
yeah. sergeant jack vincennes requesting. i need the home address on a pierce patchett.
give me a minute, will ya?
damnit.  what?
even i'm not that crazy.
yesterday that might've meant something. pull me off. you'd be doing me a big favor.
transfer me, suspend me. just leave me alone.
yeah. my whole life.
i ain't a priest, lieutenant. i can't hear your confession.
what?
you should be the last person who wants to dig any deeper into the nite owl, lieutenant.
is there more to that, or do i have to guess?
so what's the point?
i don't remember.
i'm trying to figure what angle you're playing this time, but i sure as hell can't see one.
the nite owl was solved, lieutenant.
okay, college boy, i'll help you. but i want half the collar.
he's in the brown derby with johnny stompanato. check that. i gotta go.
bud white. he sees us and we're dead.
jesus.  maybe white's not so dumb after all.
movie star hookers. whatever you desire.  it's fleur-fr-lis again.
high line whores. with plastic surgery to look like movie stars. and who knows what else? it's run by this guy pierce patchett. you want to talk to him?
she is lana turner.
she is lana turner.
guy's as cool as they come.
what are you going to do?
great. you get the girl, i get the coroner.
buzz meeks?
of him. he was around when i first joined the force. a bad egg.
come on, exley. where are you?
two minutes, dudley. it's important.
you remember buzz meeks, dudley?
twelve years ago he worked a vice roust with dick stensland. they arrested a pierce patchett on an extortion scam. guy ran hookers. he'd have them photographed with their johns, then double-dip for some blackmail. charges got dropped. insufficient evidence. you were supervising officer on the case and i was wondering if you remember anything about it.
part of it has to do with a murder. i've been working with ed exley on it.
it's a private investigation. i fucked something up and i want to make amends.
no.
have you a valediction, lad?
rollo tomasi.