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00:00 [Music]
00:04 San Francisco's Chinatown was just waking up.
00:08 I was on my way to keep an appointment with Rose Kai.
00:11 I've known her since she was a little girl.
00:14 Her father was one of my oldest friends.
00:17 She sounded very upset when she called me.
00:20 She begged me not to ask questions but to meet her right away.
00:24 That was about 45 minutes ago.
00:27 No matter how I tried, I couldn't imagine what was troubling her.
00:31 Only last night I'd had dinner with her family and Ty Ling.
00:34 They hadn't seemed upset or worried.
00:36 I kept telling myself that Rose was probably in love with some nice young man
00:40 and wanted me to talk to her father.
00:42 Hello, Rose.
00:44 I was so afraid you might not be here.
00:46 I got your message.
00:48 Last week my cousin was killed.
00:51 Two days ago, my brother was killed.
00:55 I'm sorry.
00:57 How?
00:59 I don't know.
01:01 But I saw Ty Ling and your father yesterday.
01:03 They didn't tell me anything about it.
01:05 We're told not to ask questions, not to tell anyone.
01:09 They need your help.
01:11 Only don't tell them I told you.
01:14 No, I won't.
01:17 [footsteps]
01:19 It was just 8 a.m. and I figured Ty Ling at this hour would be opening his shop.
01:29 I was a little angry to think that he hadn't said anything to me about Rose's brother's death.
01:33 If anything was wrong, I wanted to help.
01:35 Chinatown isn't very big, so I decided to walk.
01:38 I recognized Mr. Castor.
01:40 In a way, he's practically a landmark in this section of the city.
01:43 His job and his hobby is to take street pictures, and he knows everybody.
01:48 Hello, Castor.
01:49 Hi, Mike.
01:51 If I hadn't been in a hurry, I'd have stopped to talk.
01:54 Instead, I went on to Ty Ling's.
01:56 I didn't quite know why, but I had a feeling that time was important.
02:00 [music]
02:02 [thunder]
02:13 [music]
02:15 Mike.
02:18 Darling.
02:19 I want you to meet Mr. Frank Parker, Mr. Lanyard.
02:24 Hello, Parker.
02:26 I have a meeting. I have to be leaving.
02:28 - Nice to meet you, sir. - Thanks.
02:30 Won't you sit down?
02:32 Who's Parker?
02:36 He's a good friend of ours. He's our attorney.
02:39 I'll send for some coffee.
02:41 Don't bother.
02:43 When I saw you yesterday, I asked you a simple question.
02:46 You lied to me.
02:48 - I lied to you? - Yes.
02:50 I asked you how things were going, and you said, "Great."
02:53 Well, there are some things I can't complain about.
02:56 Your nephew was a friend of mine.
02:58 I was shocked to hear he was killed. Why didn't you tell me?
03:01 There are times, Mike, when one finds it necessary to be silent.
03:05 Rose's brother was also a friend of mine.
03:07 I wasn't invited to the funeral. Why?
03:09 I wish you wouldn't ask me any more questions.
03:12 At the moment, I can't answer them.
03:14 Yeah, I think I understand.
03:17 - You don't trust me. - That's not the reason.
03:23 What is the reason, then?
03:28 I'd like to tell you, but I can't.
03:30 If you wanted to, we wouldn't be standing here playing chess.
03:32 But it wouldn't be fair to you, to involve you.
03:34 Let me decide that, will you?
03:37 Two weeks ago, my son was struck down with a hatchet.
03:41 As you already know, Rose's brother and cousin were killed.
03:46 Any one of us might be next.
03:48 A society calling themselves the Tong has been formed.
03:52 We do not know who is its leader.
03:54 They want weekly payments from us,
03:56 and if we do not join and pay them their dues each week,
03:59 we will all be killed.
04:00 Sounds like Chicago in the '20s.
04:02 We must settle this problem ourselves.
04:04 We cannot go to the authorities, at least not yet.
04:07 I don't agree with you.
04:09 We must not attract the wrong kind of attention.
04:12 If it should get into the newspapers,
04:14 there would be the old cry and fear of "Tong."
04:17 Because of ignorance, people have been misled by this word.
04:20 The Tong was merely a society.
04:23 Families belonged to them.
04:25 Oh, it's true, in the old days,
04:27 some of the Tongs fought with each other,
04:29 but that's in the past.
04:31 Have you any idea who's behind all this?
04:34 We see a man who comes into the store to collect the money.
04:38 So far, we have refused him, but it has been costly.
04:41 Is he from San Francisco?
04:43 I've never seen him before.
04:45 All I know is his name, Chang.
04:48 Tiling was terrified.
04:54 He said the hatchet was a warning,
04:56 but he didn't want to involve me.
04:58 I told him when a hatchet is thrown at me,
05:00 I'm automatically in the game.
05:02 He didn't know much more
05:03 except that the strong-armed man was called Chang.
05:05 I left wanting to find Mr. Chang.
05:07 Tiling had said Frank Parker was his attorney.
05:10 The odds were against Parker
05:12 being able to tell me anything more than Tiling,
05:14 but even a long shot sometimes clicks.
05:17 I went to his office.
05:19 Oh, nice of you to drop by, Mr. Langyard.
05:22 - Would you sit down? - Thanks.
05:24 - Can I do something for you? - I don't know. Perhaps you can.
05:27 Parker, how long have you been Tiling's attorney?
05:31 A little over a year. Why?
05:33 Then you know all about the trouble, huh?
05:36 Mr. Langyard, I don't agree with my clients,
05:39 but they've instructed me not to discuss their problem with anyone.
05:42 If it makes you feel any easier,
05:44 Tiling told me about the town.
05:46 I also know about the killings and his son.
05:49 It's the most horrible thing I've ever seen.
05:51 A hatchet man has never been attractive.
05:54 Now that you know, is there anything you can do?
05:57 I don't know. I can try.
06:00 And if you're not successful, then what?
06:02 Got any ideas?
06:04 I may sound like a coward,
06:07 but certainly money isn't as important as a life,
06:10 and already it's cost more than one.
06:13 Mr. Langyard, I've heard about you,
06:16 and I implore you to help,
06:18 but if you're not successful, please stop the violence.
06:21 Tiling will listen to you.
06:24 Tell him either to go to the police or meet the town's demands.
06:28 Yeah, you may be right.
06:32 I'll think about it.
06:34 Thanks, Parker.
06:37 When you live around violence, you develop an instinct.
06:46 I had a feeling I was being tailed.
06:48 I couldn't spot anyone in particular,
06:51 so I headed into one of the many alleys.
06:54 I didn't hear or see the silk cord.
06:57 I only felt it tighten around my throat.
07:00 The feeling didn't last long, because everything went quiet and black.
07:04 My mouth was dry and my head ached.
07:14 I didn't know where I was, but I knew it was somebody's cellar.
07:17 The room was dimly lit.
07:20 The only window was too high for me to reach.
07:28 Then I saw it for a second, my breath stopped.
07:31 I don't know how long the snake had been in the cellar with me.
07:34 I knew only that I wanted out.
07:36 I moved to the staircase.
07:38 The snake headed for me.
07:41 [Music]
07:45 [Music]
07:48 [Music]
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07:57 [Music]
08:03 [Music]
08:10 [Music]
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08:20 I watched it as it reared.
08:30 I tried breaking down the door.
08:33 Then I discovered it wasn't locked.
08:42 Before I turned around, I knew I wasn't alone.
08:45 I knew too that at last I had met Mr. Chang.
08:48 What's the matter, Lanyard?
08:55 Didn't you like your companion?
08:57 We thought you'd like him for a pet.
09:00 We're set on this tonight.
09:03 And when we do, it'll be out on the street where everyone can see you.
09:07 You're a dead man, Lanyard.
09:10 Dead man, get out.
09:12 See you tonight.
09:15 [Music]
09:18 Maybe I'll see you before then.
09:24 [Music]
09:29 Mr. Castro had heard the rumor I was a dead man.
09:40 He didn't want to have anything to do with me.
09:43 He didn't have very much choice.
09:46 A few seconds later, he was sure that my hours alive were limited.
09:50 The hatchet had missed me by not more than a couple of inches.
09:54 I'll never get hungry again, so heaven help me.
09:59 No more shortcuts.
10:01 Let's stick to the streets.
10:04 I told him that I wanted to see every photograph that he'd taken for the past two weeks.
10:12 We headed straight for his studio.
10:14 I kept watching the people as we passed.
10:17 I was trying to figure out who was behind this whole operation.
10:20 I couldn't forget the fear of my old friends.
10:23 I looked at Castro.
10:25 He was no different, just plain frightened.
10:28 Under different circumstances, I would have been highly amused.
10:32 Castro's studio was decorated like a Halloween witch's hut.
10:36 Castro was truly a strange little man.
10:40 I happen to be fond of Halloween.
10:43 I don't know how much this will help you,
10:49 but here are all the pictures I've taken the past two weeks.
10:52 Thanks.
10:54 I'll never understand you.
10:57 Why?
10:59 What do you get out of this?
11:01 What do you get out of taking pictures?
11:06 Okay.
11:09 Only I'd rather live my way.
11:12 Who is he?
11:14 How would I know?
11:17 He didn't send for his picture.
11:19 Everybody in town knows who he is. Quit stalling.
11:21 I'm a middle man. I never take sides.
11:24 I can use for you. You're on my side.
11:27 Why don't you try the Hong Hong Cafe at about five?
11:35 They serve a wonderful pizza.
11:38 It better be good, or I'll be back.
11:42 I'll be back.
11:44 Can I have a beer, please?
12:10 It was 4.57 when I reached the Hong Hong Cafe.
12:14 I hoped that Castro's tip was right.
12:17 It was.
12:19 The restaurant door opened.
12:21 Chang walked in.
12:23 What did he say?
12:26 He didn't see me.
12:32 Got any peanuts?
12:35 Mr. Chang was going to have a visitor.
12:38 He was going to get some very special treatment.
12:40 And I was going to enjoy it.
12:42 You want me to wait for you?
12:45 Okay, boss.
12:48 Right. I'll wait here.
12:51 I'm sorry.
12:58 I'll wait here.
13:01 What's the matter, tough guy?
13:10 Don't you miss having your boys around?
13:13 What do you want?
13:14 Answers. Lots of them.
13:16 I don't know. Nothing.
13:19 No?
13:21 Let's start from the beginning. Where do you come from?
13:24 Portland.
13:26 What do you do?
13:28 I'm a member of the association.
13:31 Who's the chief?
13:34 I don't know.
13:36 Who killed Tiling's nephew and the others?
13:39 You're asking the wrong guy.
13:42 Listen, Chang.
13:44 I don't like being pushed around.
13:46 I don't like being told I'm a dead man.
13:48 I don't like having a noose around my throat.
13:50 I especially don't like you.
13:54 What's the matter?
13:57 I'm with you.
14:00 You didn't give the others a chance.
14:03 It was now only a question of waiting. It was almost over.
14:16 Chang had been talking to the head man when I came in.
14:19 He was on his way over.
14:22 Soon I'd have all the right answers.
14:25 Frank Parker.
14:30 This is a surprise.
14:32 You've been waiting long?
14:34 Not too long.
14:35 It must have been quite important. I came as quickly as I could.
14:37 Your phone message said to hurry.
14:39 Who do you think you're kidding?
14:41 Say, what's happened to you? What's the meaning of this?
14:44 Take a look.
14:47 He told me everything.
14:49 We're about to talk.
14:51 We're about to talk.
14:53 Parker must have ducked into one of the alleys.
15:05 He couldn't have gone far.
15:07 I went to Tie Ling's. I had news for him.
15:09 But I found out he was one step ahead of me.
15:12 You need not worry. Frank Parker will never get off the streets.
15:19 What fools we've been.
15:21 You were holding out on me.
15:23 Mr. Castor was in the alley.
15:25 He saw you and Parker in back of the Hong Hong Cafe.
15:27 We have surrounded the area. We will take care of it.
15:29 Let me take care of him.
15:31 My son died an hour ago.
15:33 You said you didn't want to attract attention. The wrong kind.
15:35 Don't do it now.
15:37 We will turn him over to the proper authorities.
15:39 That's your intention. But you can't trust any kind of a mob.
15:41 They might lynch him.
15:43 We know what we are doing.
15:45 I don't think you do.
15:47 I've been with you for 30 years.
15:49 Frank Parker is not worth that much.
15:51 Fidey. Fidey.
15:55 Tie Ling and the rest wanted revenge.
16:03 If they caught Frank Parker, I knew what would happen.
16:05 Tie Ling didn't care about the consequences.
16:07 He just lost his son.
16:09 They had all stopped thinking straight.
16:11 They wanted nothing but to get their hands on Parker.
16:13 I had to get to him first.
16:15 I started looking everywhere.
16:17 The buildings, the cellars, the alleys.
16:19 He was nowhere to be found.
16:21 Tie Ling must have given the word as soon as he realized
16:23 the true identity of Parker.
16:25 The community had quietly and effectively sealed off any escape route.
16:27 Sometimes even the most peaceful people
16:29 can become brutal and savage.
16:31 Tie Ling and the merchants had reached that point.
16:33 I meant it when I told Tie Ling that by doing the wrong thing,
16:35 he would set his people back 50 years.
16:37 No matter how much they tried to stop him,
16:39 he would never be able to.
16:41 He would never be able to.
16:43 He would never be able to.
16:45 He would never be able to.
16:47 Tie Ling's men were either in front of me
16:49 or half a dozen steps behind me.
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18:01 - I noticed on every corner,
18:25 every street men were waiting.
18:27 They weren't attracting any attention.
18:29 The town was doing business,
18:30 people were casually shopping.
18:32 Yet no animal was ever hunted with more care.
18:34 A long time ago, I learned that when a crowd is noisy,
18:38 you can quiet them.
18:39 But when men are silent, anything can happen.
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19:22 I went to Parker's office, he wasn't there.
19:30 Tiling's men came out and scattered.
19:32 I went in another direction.
19:34 Then I saw him.
19:40 He was lucky.
19:42 I wasn't gonna kill him, but...
19:45 (dramatic music)
19:48 (dramatic music)
19:51 - Wait a minute, wait a minute.
19:52 You got nothing against money, have you?
19:53 - I live much better with it, if that's what you mean.
19:56 - Look, I planned this thing for a whole year.
19:58 Play ball with me and I'll cut you in half.
20:01 We'll make a fortune.
20:02 - Who else is involved in this?
20:03 - I got a couple guys working for me,
20:04 but I pay 'em off late at night.
20:06 Look, we can clean up.
20:08 - Who spotted me this morning?
20:10 - I did, don't you understand?
20:11 I have no partners, we'll cut 50/50.
20:13 - Who threw that ax at me?
20:14 - Chang.
20:15 - Did he kill Tiling's nephew too?
20:16 - Yeah, yeah, look, there's just the two of us.
20:18 There's plenty for both of us right down the middle.
20:20 - Oh, I seen some rats in my time,
20:22 but you top everything.
20:24 (dramatic music)
20:26 (dramatic music)
20:29 - You wanna kill the guy?
20:52 Wait a minute, I'm Lieutenant Sampson, homicide.
20:56 - Sorry, Sampson, I didn't recognize you.
20:59 - We've been onto this thing for days.
21:01 We knew Tiling's problem.
21:03 You might tell Tiling that even the newspapers knew
21:08 and kept it out of print.
21:09 - That's great.
21:11 - Oh, they think this is yours.
21:19 - Thanks.
21:23 - We got it off Chang.
21:25 (dramatic music)
21:27 - What time is it?
21:39 - It's six o'clock.
21:42 - It's been a long day.
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21:51 - Caster.
22:14 What are you doing here?
22:17 You come to see me off?
22:18 - I have been designated as a delicate.
22:22 It's a gift from Tiling and all the others.
22:28 - Oh, they didn't have to do that.
22:30 Tell them I appreciate it, will ya?
22:32 - It's worth a lot of money.
22:33 Say, maybe you'll have a way of living
22:35 that's not so bad after all.
22:37 - Hello, Caster.
22:38 You and I have one thing in common.
22:40 If we had our way, every day would be Halloween.
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