You Can't Win

What for this?

Medicine.

What for medicine?

Make you sleep.

What for sleep?

What for sleeping?

I think maybe steal your money?

How come

you need money?

I come your store,

I look and I see.

Luc zhe...

Luc zhe...

No. No no no...

No no no, no luc zhe.

No luc zhe. Him no good.

Me good man.

Me have plenty China friend.

Good friends.

Chew Chee.

Chew Chee?

Him good friend.

I help him.

I have a China letter in my, in my pocket. See?

Check my pockets.

In this pocket.

My pocket.

China letter.

Chew Chee!

Letter say...

...you good man.

What for you good man?

What for, huh?

There comes a feeling

of helplessness...

When the prison gates swallow you up.

Cut you off from the sunshine,

from the flowers of the world.

That feeling soon wears away...

If you got the guts.

Mother's dead?

What is dead?

A man can get ahead by honest work, John.

You know that, don't you?

So you come to see about a job, huh?

It's about time you thought of that.

Instead of laying around,reading eating up your father's money.

You know when I was your age...

I had four jobs. At the same time.

And you can too

if you got the gizzard. Have you got the gizzard?

Yes, sir.

Do you know what a front is?

No sir.

You're the front.

You see that door over there?

Yes, sir.

Never go in there.

You stand here.

In case someone wants a cigar.

And you look out that window.

And if you see anything queer or you see a new copper

on the beat, I want you to knock...

...right here on this wall, like so.

Better check for dogs.

Hey. I want you to go out front,

look at the sidewalk. Then go back to the front door.

All right?

We have a mutual friend,

Mrs. Alexander?

She speaks very highly of you.

The name's Older, Fremont Older.

I'm the editor for the San Francisco Call.

Maybe we could help each other.

If the bulls catch us

you let me do the talking. Okay.

I'll tell em' who we are, where we're going.

You just listen.

You never tell 'em your real name.

Just clam up kid, tell 'em you're not comfortable

saying anything unless you got a lawyer, right?

Now they might slug you, but don't talk.

That's your only salvation.

Damn, I wish that stool pigeon

moon weren't so bright.

I want to come in.

I'm ready.

No. Prowlers they, uh, work better alone.

Okay?

Less confusion.

Smiler...

Where are you going, son?

I'm going to see my father.

Let go of me! Let go of me!

Did you make a statement?

Did you tell them

you two were making the house?

I didn't say anything.

Well that's good.

You do the right thing

you got a family...

and you do the wrong thing

you're alone.

You understand me, kid?

Think so?

Now Smiler,

He was your friend, wasn't he?

He had what you call... quality.

He had character.

He had...

see...

he did wrong things,

but he did them in the right way,

at the right time.

And any friend of Smiler's...

Is a friend to the Johnsons.

You heard of the Johnson family?

Oh, well, the Johnsons are everywhere,

right they're on a road, wherever ye go...

they'll take care of ye.

I think you might want to stick with the Johnsons.

I think you might find a home

with the Johnsons.

You understand?

Please.

You're going to tell me all about that robbery

young man? -Oh...

These are the names and addresses of

about 50 people that carry burglary insurance.

Tells us where they live,

tells us they have valuables, tells us they are careless.

It also tells us

in a showdown, they will give up

their valuables without a murmur.

I want to know about

dogs, kids, servants,

sick people.

But don't ask a question

in the neighborhood.

You never scrape acquaintance with the nurse girl

to ask questions.

All you got to do is walk by

and look.

Sanc, I don't know how to thank you.

Get yourself a newspaper,

get a book,

read where you can get a good

look at the house and its occupants.

Look at the porches especially, hmm?

It's a good time of the year for a supper sneak.

It's dark when they're dining.

Come and sit down.

John?

What's the matter?

Buy anything you like.

Of course you want clothes

that won't detain the eye for a second.

Expensive as you like.

But neutral.

Be positive in yourself.

But no positive clothes.

Understand?

If I'm grabbed with this stuff,

I'll rot in jail before I put a finger on you.

And if you get grabbed

and you try to get a light jolt by turning me in.

You're wrong.

I'll throw it all in the river and you rot in jail.

Are we square?

Yes, ma'am.

We're square.

Feel free to enjoy the house.

Oh! Come here, come here.

Have fun kid.

No no no.

I'm not done with him yet.

Okay? Don't drag him in there.

We've got some time.

Tiger milk.

To Smiler.