Two of a Kind

Yes, yes.

This lad was sent to us from a Chicago orphanage.

Up till the time that he went over the wall, I mean escaped,

there was every indication that Lefty was going to be with us for quite a long time.

-Lefty? -Michael.

But I never heard him called anything but Lefty.

And you considered him a bad boy?

Well, there aren't any bad boys in a chaplain's book.

Difficult, yes.

Maybe a little too sharp for his own good, shall we say?

I remember one time we organized a charity bazaar here

and Lefty was the committeeman in charge of the games of chance.

Well, he fixed every wheel. He left us right after that.

And you have no idea where he went?

I have a very definite idea where he went.

You see, there was a carnival in the town at the time

-and it left the same night that Lefty did. -You think he went with it?

Remembering the bazaar, yes.

Then somebody sent me a picture postcard of the show, unsigned.

I can't imagine who.

"Coney's Colossal Carnival."

-Yeah, I remember Lefty. Too well. -Do you know where he is?

I spotted him the night he come aboard. Only 17, 18, but smart.

For a while he was my partner. I wasn't so bad-looking then.

He picked up this racket fast,

casing the chumps for me and even telling a few fortunes.

Then he found out there was a lot more dough in the dice and card hustles.

I used to tell him, "Lay off that stuff, Lefty. You don't need it. You got eyelashes."

Had a way with women, huh?

You'll find out when you catch up with him.

That's him.

-And that was me, believe it or not. -Where is he now?

Right after that picture was taken, he got a little hot with the law

and joined the Navy to cool off.

Then the war came along and caught him in a sailor suit.

Better try the Navy.

When you find him, give him a little squeeze for me.

Maybe around the throat.

Straight message.

-That him? -Yes. Oh, yes, that's him.

Wife desertion seems to be one of his minor faults.

-His record's bad? -Not in the service.

There's all kinds of citations here. Volunteered for underwater demolition.

That's a tough racket! And he was one of the best, apparently.

But outside of the line of duty,

he's got enough marks against him to sink an admiral.

Suspected of crooked gambling, fighting, several charges by women.

-Nothing ever proved, though. -Do you know where he is now?

Yes, I do.

A request for his Insurance Refund came in last month,

-from this address in Los Angeles. -Los Angeles?

Yes. Why?

Why, that's where I started looking for him. Well, back I go.

Before you type up the brief on the Hotchkiss case, Miss Jennings,

please put those calls through. Yes.

-Miss Kirby calling, Mr. Mailer. -Long distance?

-No, sir. -Put her on. Hello.

-Miss Kirby. Any luck? -Lots. Just got in from Washington.

I'm at the airport and I'm going direct to my place.

I'll meet you and your attorney for dinner this evening and we can discuss the case.

You come to my apartment in an hour. I'll be busy this evening.

Well...

Very well. I'll meet you at your attorney's office in an hour.

I've missed you, Brandy.

-Three months is a long time. -Evidently.

-But I think we've found our boy. -Where is he?

Well, I haven't got him hidden under the bed, Vincent.

But he's here in LA and I know exactly where.

How about that?

Looking for him all over the country and he's right here in our backyard.

-What's he like? -I don't know, yet.

But I intend to find out tonight.

No, I mean from the records. You must know something about him.

-How's he shape up? -An orphan.

About the right age. Seems to have the proper outlook on life.

Looks, I don't know. I've only seen two photographs of him.

One in a sailor suit and the other in a fortune teller's arms.

But could be okay. I'll let you know after tonight.

Don't worry, I'm taking Todd along for protection.

Forty-nine. Fourth row.

Forty-nine. Fourth row.

Sixty-seven. Last row.

Sixty-seven. Last row.

Fifty-three. Fourth row.

Fifty-three. Fourth row.

Twenty-two. Second row.

Twenty-two. Second row.

Number 20. Second row.

Number 20. Second row.

I've been watching you, young lady. You're not having much luck.

You need more than luck to win in these joints.

That's where you're wrong, mister. This might still be your lucky night

or the young lady's.

Possible winner. Hold your cards, ladies and gentlemen, in case of an error.

-Fifteen. -Fifteen.

-Twenty-two. -Twenty-two.

-Forty-five. -Forty-five.

-Fifty-six. -Fifty-six.

-Seventy-two. -Seventy-two.

-That's a winner! -Hey, you won, baby! That calls for a drink.

You got $100 coming from the cashier.

We'll thank you to call them points.

You collect it for me, Todd, darling, and bring me a drink.

Sure. Sure thing.

What are you so bored with, beautiful, the game or the mug?

-Twenty-seven... -He's not your type.

Take a powder before he gets back. I'll meet you in the parking lot.

Forty-nine. Fourth row.

Forty-nine. Fourth row...

-Number 12... -Give me the police and hurry.

...first row.

Never mind, chum, she's with me. My car's over here.

-I didn't expect to be so lucky tonight. -Neither did I.

I'm glad you spoke up. I was bored.

-You won't be, for long. -I don't think so, either.

Hey, you!

-What's the matter, mister? -Listen, fellow, nobody steals my girl! Here.

-Was she with you? -Wise guy...

-Todd, wait a minute. -That's all right, baby. I'll handle this.

There's a misunderstanding, Mac. I don't fight. I'm a disabled vet.

I got a weak ticker. I'm not supposed to get excited.

Well...

Let's go. Wait a minute!

-Almost forgot your winnings! -Thanks.

Arrest this guy! I'll file charges.

Wise guy.

-Farrell. -Farrell.

Assault and battery. Guilty plea. $300 or 20 days?

Yeah, well, that's what I want to talk to you about, you see...

Fine's been paid.

Beat it, trouble.

Aren't you going to thank me for paying your fine?

Yeah. And thanks for the way you spoke up when the cops arrived.

All you had to say was the big ape was annoying you or something,

and I might not have gone to jail at all.

I wanted to see how you'd make out with the police.

I gave my right name.

I know. So, you're clean, at the moment. I'm glad.

Get in.

Slide over.

I don't like people to say "get in" or "get out" in that tone of voice.

-I'll try to remember. -Now, we're going to get along.

We'll see. Drive someplace where we can talk.

Talk.

I've been looking for you for a long time, Mike.

And I've been looking for you all my life.

-That's pretty corny, you know. -I know. But I'll improve.

-What's your name? -Brandy.

And I've heard all the jokes about it.

I meant it when I said I'd been looking for you for a long time.

All the way from an orphanage in Chicago.

-And I thought it was my personality. -That part was a pleasant surprise.

-I'll bet. -By the way,

Father Lanahan and Minnie Mitt send regards.

All right, let's see how deep the water is. What do you need me for?

I don't need you, but maybe I can use you.

There's not a bill in there smaller than 100.

I got a job.

After throwing the game and slugging one of the customers?

And I happen to know you're down to your G.I. Insurance Refund.

Okay, so I'm a little short right now, but that Bingo job was just a side-line.

I got 200 slot machines in a warehouse across the line.

-I'm just waiting for things to open up, see. -Nickel machines?

You know, you can be very unpleasant.

This is just a down payment. Expense money.

-What's the loser's end? -Penitentiary, naturally.

-Naturally. And the winner's? -You get rich.

-And you? -I get richer.

Money isn't everything.

I don't think I'd like the job.

-Maybe I spoke too soon. -I think you'll like this job, Mike.

I can't say yes or no until you tell me what it is.

I only tell you the first step until I'm sure you're with us.

-Us? -There's plenty to go around.

-We're shooting for millions. -I like that kind of talk.

For this,

-you lose this. -Come again?

I need a man who looks like you, left-handed, about your age, an orphan,

with the tip of his left little finger missing.

I'm going to start falling apart soon enough. Don't rush things.

You're a gambler. A lot of card dealers have it taken off, don't they?

I understand the shadow of that tip is the only way you can spot a fast shuffle.

Bright girl!

Okay.

I'll go along as far as the finger tip for this role.

Good. Now, get back...

I mean, would you please get back into the car, Mr. Farrell?

What are we doing here?

-You don't waste any time, do you? -I wasted too much looking for you.

What do I do? Walk in and ask the first quack I see to start chopping?

No, it has to look like an accident.

You walk in with a smashed finger and tell them you caught it in a car door.

And how does it really get smashed?

In a car door.

-Gentle soul, aren't you? -This is the best way.

Right to there.

Lipstick. The doc's liable to think you've bit it off.

You'd better have a cigarette.

Do I make with the door or do you?

I do.