Public Enemies
INT. ROOM 323 – DOOR OPENS
Dillinger tips the bellhop a dollar. Water runs. Dillinger goes to the window – checks the street, checks for exits in case of emergency.
DILLINGER You want company?
BILLIE (O.S.) After.
INT. BATHROOM – BILLIE
in the tub. Dillinger enters —
DILLINGER First time you ever put me off. You getting tired of me?
BILLIE (his answer) Get in here. She stretches out and wets her hair. She sits up to reach for the shampoo. Dillinger’s got it and rubs it into her hair. Dillinger hears something in the street. He goes to the window and sees a car parked irregularly. TWO MEN get out.
DILLINGER Get dressed. Right now. He turns and runs into…
INT. ROOM 323
He’s pulling a Tommy Gun out of his case when
CRASH!
THREE MEN burst in. One is the Clerk. He cracks Dillinger across the head with the stock of his shotgun. Dillinger falls to his knees. Clerk hits him twice more. Billie rushes into the room.. She’s naked. The two men from the street haul Dillinger, bloody and semi-conscious, to his feet and throw him against the wall and cuff him.
CLERK /EYMAN
Put clothes on, miss.
INT. JAIL — DILLINGER
handcuffed is escorted through the outer cell block. He reacts. In the opposite direction in shackles
PIERPONT + MAKLEY
escorted by six guards are being moved out of the jail.
DILLINGER What happened?
PIERPONT Fire in the hotel. Firemen found our guns. Laid for us! Sorry, John.
DILLINGER (shouts after them) Where they taking you?
PIERPONT (shouts back) We’re getting Shanghaied to Ohio!
DILLINGER Where’s Billie…? Thenthey’re gone. They now move Dillinger through.
COP EYMAN Your girl’s been put on a bus back to Chicago. We ain’t holding her.
INT. JAIL CELL – DILLINGER – NIGHT
is reading “Startling Crime” magazine. He HEARS holding cell outer doors opened. He looks over.
MELVIN PURVIS
is there. Cowley and Baum are with him. Purvis is brought to the cell. The COP who brought him goes back to his card game with four or five Tucson Deputies. We SEE Winstead and Hurt in their suits and ties are there, too. They lounge at ease. A Tucson Deputy gives them coffee. Eye contact with Dillinger. But Dillinger reacts to Purvis.
(BEAT) Well, the man who killed Pretty Boy Floyd. He might have been “Pretty,” ’cause he sure was not “Whiz Kid Floyd.” Deputies stifle laughter. Dillinger comes up close to Purvis. They are eyeball to eyeball. Only the bars separate them.
DILLINGER (CONT’B) (loud, for the cop’s benefit) Now these Arizona boys, here?
(BEAT) They pulled on us right out. Didn’t ask Washington for permission. Didn’t make mistakes. Arizona Deputies enjoy the flattery. Dillinger studies Purvis…
DILLINGER (CONT’D) Sorry about that fellow Barton.. .one who got killed at the Sherone Apartments. Is he getting to Purvis?
DILLINGER (CONT ‘ D)
Newspaper said you found him alive. It’s the eyes, ain’t it? They look at you right before they go. Then they drift into nothing. Keep you up nights.
PURVIS What keeps you up, nights, Mr. Dillinger? Now Dillinger reads him like an X-ray.
DILLINGER (doesn’t answer) You act like a confident man, Purvis. Bu _, I don’t see it. You know a few things. You’re probably okay when there’s a group° of you got the other guy outnumbered. But death and mayhem up close? I am used to that and you are not, are you? When it’s toe to toe, “One of us will die right here, right now,” I don’t think you got the get up and go. Purvis has nothing to say. He stares at Dillinger. Then he turns to leave.
PURVIS Goodbye, Mr. Dillinger.
DILLINGER I’ll see you down the road. From ten feet away.
(QUIETLY) No you wont. The only way you’ll leave a jail cell is when we take you out to execute you.
DILLINGER Oh, yeah? We will see about that.
(BEAT) Go get yourself another line of work, Melvin. Purvis gestures for the guards to let him out — Dillinger lays back down on his cot. The Tucson Deputies stare after Purvis, one laughs. After a moment…
DILLINGER (CONT’D) (to Tucson Deputies) I was joking about the “we’ll see about that.” I’ll let you boys keep me in this jail awhile.
COP EYMAN We’d like that, Johnny, but don’t get too comfortable. They’re moving you.
DILLINGER `Where to?
COP EYMAN ‘Indiana.
DILLINGER why? I have absolutely nothing I want to do in Indiana.
EXT. SKY OVER CHICAGO – AERIAL: LOCKHEED LODESTAR LANDING
GEAR – NIGHT
descends. Its 6:10pm on a snowy Tuesday evening, January 30th. Below are dim jeweled street lights in the dark white snow of the city.
EXT. MIDWAY AIRPORT RUNWAY – LOCKHEED
An assembly of photographers, 85 Chicago P.D. officers and a crowd have come to greet the biggest celebrity in America.
AS DILLINGER DESCENDS THE AIRPLANE STAIRS
FLASHBULBS POP. Lake County, Indiana PROSECUTOR ROBERT ESTILL puts Dillinger’s jacket over him to guard against the cold. Two huge Chicago cops put Dillinger into the back of a car. With outrider motorcycles, the caravan takes off out of the airport into the snowy night.
EXT. CHICAGO STREETS – CROWDS – NIGHT
crane to see the Dillinger convoy as they hear approaching sirens. It heads east towards the Indiana border and the town of Crowne Point.
INT. LAKE COUNTY COURT HOUSE + JAIL — (CROWN POINT, INDIANA)
– SHERIFF LILLIAN HOLLEY – NIGHT
at her desk when.
DEPUTY
He’s here. A diminutive woman, SHERIFF HOLLEY goes to greet the massive cops who bring John Dillinger into her reception area and its crowd of 30 reporters.
SHERIFF HOLLEY (to reporters) Back up over there. Dellinger looks at the crowd. Per the “Chicago Daily News “His diction was amazing – better in many instances than that of his interviewers — his poise no less so… There Was no hint of hardness about him, no evidence save in the alert presence of armed policemen that he had spent his formative years in a penitentiary. He had none of the sneer of-the criminal… Looking at him for the first time.,.heIates as the most amazing specimen of his kind ever seen outside of wildly imaginative moving picture.”
SHERIFF HOLLEY (CONT’D) You can take the manacles off of him now.
REPORTER Johnny, are you glad to see Indiana again? Dillinger’s slow charismatic smile…
DILLINGER About as glad as Indiana is to see me. Everybody laughs.
REPORTER #2
Did you smuggle the guns into Indiana State Penitentiary for the big break of September 26th?
REPORTER How’d you get them in?
(CONTINUED )
(SMILES) Right there, you’re too inquistive…
PHOTOGRAPHER
Hey Bob… (to Prosecutor Robert Estill) Put your arm around Dellinger. FLASHBULBS POP. They fluster Estill. Dillinger props his elbow on the prosecutor’s shoulder and cracks a broad grin. The Prosecutor complies. They look like old pals.
REPORTER When was the last time you were in Mooresville?
DILLINGER Ten years ago. I was a boy and foolish. I held up a grocery store which I never shoulda done cause Mr. Morgan was a good man. And they sentenced me to 10 years in the state penitentiary for a 50 dollar theft. In prison, I met a lot of good -t las. I helped fix up the break at “f chigan City. Why not? I stick to my friends and they stick to me.
DILLINGER’S EYES SEE him work the reporters. He knows that they are sympathetic. He plays them like a champ. The New York Times called this moment… “a modern version of the return of the prodigal son.”
ANOTHER REPORTER
How long does it take you to go through a bank?
DILLINGER One minute and 40 seconds flat. Dillinger nods and turns away. He – not the Sheriff – ends the press conference.
TNT. FBI OFFICE – NEWSPAPER PICTURE: PROSECUTOR ESTILL
with his buddy, John Dillinger resting an arm on his shoulder.
HOOVER (O.S.) Why is this clown Estill fraternizing with the man he is scheduled to prosecute?! REVEAL we are in Hoover’s office.
INT. LAKE COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT BUILDING – LOUIS PIQUETT –
DAY LOUIS PIQUETT – a former bartender and Chicago gangland’s melodramatic mouthpiece – is escorted to the cellblock by jailor LEWIS BAKER.
INT. UNOCCUPIED OPEN CELL
Dillinger’s waiting for him. Dillinger holds Piquett’s business card. They shake hands.
DILLINGER You come highly recommended by Alvin Karpis. What can you do for me?
PIQUETT What’s on your mind?
DILLINGER The electric chair. There’s none of Dil linger’s cocky joie de vivre. Thaw-‘s for reporters.
INT. LAKE COUNTY COURT – JUDGE MURRAY – DAY
is on the bench. Dillinger is shackled to his chair. The courtroom is packed. Walls are lined with deputies holding rifles. Reporters scribble. The gavel quiets the crowd.
PIQUETT (on his feet) Your honor! Are we to have a hearing in accord with the laws of this nation, or is the State to be permitted to incite an atmosphere of prejudice? The very air reeks with the bloody rancor of intolerant malice. The clanging of shackles brings to our minds the dungeons of the Czars, not the flag-bedecked liberty of an American courtroom. I request the court to direct that those shackles be removed forthwith!
ROBERT ESTILL This is a very dangerous man, your Honor.
DEPUTY HOLLEY
(Lillian Holley’s nephew) And I’m responsible for the safeguarding of the prisoner.
P IQUETT
Who are you?! Are you a lawyer? What right have you to address this court?
JUDGE MURRAY Alright, remove the handcuffs from the prisoner.
ROBERT ESTILL Your honor, we’d like to relocate the prisoner. Only Indiana State Prison in Michigan city can guarantee Dillinger will not escape.
JUDGE MURRAY Sheriff Holley?
SHERIFF HOLLEY I concur, your honor.
PIQUETT Sheriff Holley, I think it’s a very nice jail you have right here. What makes you think there’s anything wrong with it?
SHERIFF HOLLEY There isn’t anything wrong with my jail! It’s the strongest jail in Indiana.
PIQUETT That’s what I thought. But of course, I don’t want to embarrass Mrs. Holley. I appreciate that she’s a woman and if she’s afraid of an escape…
SHERIFF HOLLEY I’m not afraid of an escape. I can take care of John Dillinger or any other prisoner.
JUDGE MURRAY Okay, Dillinger will stay here. Dillinger’s staying in crown Point. Dillinger’s relieved.
PIQUETT Thank you, your Honor. The Defense will need four months to prepare itself.
ROBERT ESTILL It should take 10 days.
PIQUETT To go on trial in 10 days would be a legal lynching of this lad! There’s a law against lynching!
ROBERT ESTILL There’s a law against murder!
PIQUETT Then observe the law part. Or just stand Dillinger against the wall and shoot him. Then, there’s no need to throw away the State’s money on this mockery.
JUDGE MURRAY (to both lawyers) Calm down.
PIQUETT I apologize to the court. (indicating Estill) Bob and I respect each other very much.
JUDGE MURRAY (warns Estill) Watch out or he’ll be putting his arm around you, too. Laughter ripples.
JUDGE MURRAY (CONT’D) The trial starts in one month on March 12th. DILLINGER as he stands, handcuffs are reapplied. He leans to Piquett, whispers.,.
DILLINGER Atta boy, counsel.
E /I. LAKE COUNTY JAIL – MORNING
SAM CAHOON,, a 64-year-old janitor, trots through the rain and into the jail. He shakes the rain from his coat, waves to a GUARD and passes through to the
CORRIDOR
It runs the length of the jail. At the far end is the barred door to the criminal cell block.
INT. CRIMINAL CELL BLOCK
Cahoon gathers his mops.
CAHOON Bryant! GUARD BRYANT pulls a lever, opening the cells in the cell block. Dillinger and 14 PRISONERS step out of their cells, free to roam the corridor behind the barred cell-block door. Cahoon and TWO TRUSTEES, carrying boxes of toilet paper, soap and Dutch cleanser, enter. Dillinger jabs something in Cahoon’s belly. Cahoon gets a glimpse: it’s a small black gun.
DILLINGER -Cpme on, Sam, we’re going places. A hulking black prisoner, HERBERT YOUNGBLOOD, holding a length of ipe, materializes next to Dellinger and ushers Bryant and the Trustees into an empty cell. Youngblood pulls the lever, locking the cells.
DILLINGER (CONT’D) Boys, get in there. Dillinger, Youngblood and Cahoon set off down the corridor.
INT. LAKE COUNTY JAIL, CORRIDOR – DILLINGER
DILLINGER Call the warden.
CAHOON Warden! Warden? Come on back! Warden LEW BAKER emerges from the office. Dillinger raises the gun.
WARDEN BAKER That ain’t real.
DILLINGER Anything you say.
Dellinger grabs him by the shirt, spins him round and jams it under his chin.
INT. LAKE COUNTY JAIL, WARDEN`S OFFICE – FOUR GUARDS
look up, startled.
DILLINGER No one move or I’ll plug the warden. Dillinger grabs two Tommy guns. Youngblood starts tying up their prisoners. Baker stares at Dillinger’s pistol.
WARDEN BAKER I was right, wasn’t I? It’s not real.
INT. GARAGE
at the rear of the jail. A mechanic named EDWARD SAAGER is hunched over the engine of a 1927 Nash when he feels something shoved into his back. He turns to see
DILLINGER Alright, which of these here cars is the fastest, and you’re going with, so don’t… lie.
SAAGER That would be the Ford in the corner. It’s got the new V-8.
DILLINGER We’re taking that.
(HESITATING)
That’s Sheriff Lillian Holley’s personal car. That even more highly recommends it. Dillinger starts ripping ignition wires out of the other cars. Dillinger, Youngblood, Deputy Sheriff Blunk, and Saager are herded into the Sheriff’s Ford V-8.
EXT. CROWN POINT MAIN STREET – FORD V-8 – DAY
with Dillinger driving. Youngblood’s in the backseat covering Saager + Deputy Sheriff Blunk. They cruise out of town.
INT. HOLLEY’S FORD V-8 – YOUNGBLOOD
YOUNGBLOOD We got a car following.
Youngblood shoves the Thompson out the window and fires some rounds. Meanwhile, Dillinger floors it, The V-8 roars, rockets them ahead.
DILLINGER (re acceleration) Wow. Mr. Youngblood, are we clear now?
YOUNGBLOOD We are.
DILLINGER okay, folks. Dillinger checks his rearview mirror, then the speedometer. He’s impressed.
DILLINGER (CONT’D) (addressing the two hostages) I’m going to write to Henry Ford. “Dear Henry Ford, Your 1934 Ford is the best damned getaway car in America. Yours -truly, John Dillinger.” (eyes tense hostages) Relax folks… Dillinger ajoys the speed. He starts to hum. Then…
DILLINGER (CONY°D)
Okay. Who knows The Last Round-up?”
(SINGING)
“Get along little doggie, get along..”
INT. J. EDGAR’S OFFICE – RADIO
Only Tolson and J. Edgar Hoover are there.
REPORTER How did he act?
DEPUTY SHERIFF SLUNK Well…he sang part of the way.
REPORTER What did he sing?
DEPUTY SHERIFF SLUNK You know The Last Round-up.” (half-sings “The Last Round-
UPS= )
“Get along little doggie, get along…
NARRATOR (Lowell Thomas voice) As John Dillinger escaped from the Crown Point jail …or as folks now call it, the “Clown Point Jail”…he appears immune to the forces of law. And commenting in his fireside address on March 5th, 1933…
FDR
The Federal government, you know, cannot be held up to mockery in this way… Hoover is rocked. It’s as if FDR is saying Hoover is the man responsible for the federal government being mocked…
NARRATOR (pause; heraldic music) Meanwhile, the Emperor Haile Selassie.
INT. WALGREENS DRUG STORE, GARY, INDIANA – PHONEBOOTH:
DILLINGER watches cars, people, then.
DILLINGER (into the phone) It’s me, Baby.
INT. WILLIE’S FURNISHED APARTMENT – NIGHT
It’s basic, the furniture is worn. Billie clutches the phone to her ear.
DILLINGER (PHONE)
I can’t talk long. Are you okay?
INT. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE
Baum is listening intently to John Dellinger. An acetate disc turns. The stylus cuts. Agent Madala is calling Billie’s local exchange to see if the operator can trace the call.
INT. BILLIE’S APARTMENT – BILLIE
BILLIE Don’t come to Chicago.
INT. ROOM IN TELEPHONE EXCHANGE – BAUM
DILLINGER (O.S.) I promised I’d look after you, didn’t I?
TNT. WALGREEN’S DRUG STORE – DILLINGER
BILLIE Yes.
DILLINGER And you believe me, don’t you? You know I will look after you.
BILLIE Yes.
DILLINGER Say it. Say you know it.
BILLIE Don’t come to Chicago, Johnnie.
DILLINGER Say it.
BILLIE know you will look after me.
DILLINGER love you, Baby. Dillinger ends the call. Hamilton waits in a Hudson at the curb.
INT. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE
Madala shakes his head – no trace.
I/E. PURVIS’S PIERCE-ARROW – ACROSS FROM BILLIE’S APARTMENT
BUILDING – ON PURVIS
With Baum.
PURVIS She knows we’re watching and he knows we’re listening.
EXT. CAROLE SLAYMAN’S WHOREHOUSE, REAR YARD – DILLINGER
drives the ’34 Ford. Next to him, now, is Red Hamilton. The ‘ 34 Ford drives into the backyard. Johnny’s out and approaching the rear door, his jacket over his right arm partially hiding the Thompson. He’s glad to be back…
DILLINGER (big smile) Hiya Sport.
SPORT How’re ya doin’ Mr. Johnny? You gotta hold it right there… Where’s the warm welcome…?
DILLINGER Where’s Carole?
SPORT They got moved to Newport, Kentucky.
(BEAT) Can’t stay here no more, Mr. Johnny. The smile falls off Dillinger’s face.
DILLINGER Says who?
INT. KITCHEN – MARTIN ZARKOVICH
makes himself visible in the doorway. Unseen are two big cops with shotguns who stay hidden inside.
ZARKOVICH (moves into doorway) Sport’s only following orders. So am I. He demonstrates that his palms are empty. He’s smart enough not to be armed.
ZARKOVICH (CONT’D) They thought you might come here. Zarkovich is nervous. Dillinger reaches for his front pocket.
ZARKOVICH (CONT ` D )
Your money is no good.
DILLINGER I don’t get it.
ZARKOVICH You go talk to your pal, Gilbert.
DILLINGER About what?
ZARKOVICH Talk to Gilbert Catena. Dillinger, not taking his eyes off windows and doors, backs away. He knows there are more men. Zarkovich is nervous and frozen because…
RED HAMILTON’S
front sight rests on Zarkovich’s heart which he would blow out the back of his chest with the souped-up 351 Winchester. Now, Dillinger pulls the ’34 Ford out of the backyard with Red still on the running board. Zarkovich almost faints in relief.
EXT. BRICK STREET IN KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS – THE ’34 FORD – DAY
pulls to the curb. Weeds. Vestiges of prairie. An old house sits at the back of a lot. A workshop is near the road. A sign says ‘�Lieboldt Repair.”
FRONT DOOR;.:.:- DILLINGER
on the bel,:, ,A worn-looking woman answers. She is HARRIET
LIEBOLDT.
DILLINGER We’re looking for Oscar…is he home?
MRS. LIEBOLDT I’m Mrs. Lieboldt. And he ain’t home. He’s dead. Johnny glances at Red.
DILLINGER I sure am sorry, ma’am. Was it an. accident?
MRS. LIEBOLDT He accidentally got in the way of a shotgun when it was going off. What do you want?
DILLINGER Oscar had “tools” of mine, he was repairing them.
MRS. LIEBOLDT Everything that was here? Those people took it all away. It ain’t here no more.
INT. KEDSIE AVENUE CIGAR STORE – GLASS DOOR
slams open. Dillinger and Red enter. Red throws two customers outside, closes the door, flips the sign to CLOSED. Dillinger confronts Gilbert Catena with a 45 pulled from one of two shoulder holsters and dead centered on Gilbert’s forehead.
DILLINGER I went to East Chicago to lay low. The welcome mat was not out. And I kept hearing your name.
(BEAT) Then at Oscar’s, my gear is gone. The deadly look in Dillinger’s eyes leaves no mistake.
DILLINGER (CONT°D)
I am going to ask you once.
(BEAT) And I just did.
GILBERT Let me make a telephone call. Dillinger nods.
GILBERT (CONT’D) (into phone) Gimme Phil…
(BEAT) He’s downstairs. He hangs up. He gestures to a doorway and stairs leading to the second floor. Johnny and Red throw Gilbert up the stairs first.
INT. SECOND FLOOR – GILBERT, DILLINGER + RED – DAY
enter. They see office remodeling in progress. FIVE TECHNICIANS run wires, installing phones. EIGHT CLERKS with shades on and ledgers man phones. Other men are looking over blueprints. They look up. They are Jake Guzik and his brother, Phil D’Andrea and seven or eight assorted Syndicate soldiers.
FOUR HEAVYSET SOLDIERS
come forward to frisk Johnny + Red. They gesture for them to open their coats to allow the search.
D’ANDREA (irritated; to Catena) Anybody see him come in?
GILBERT I don’t think so. SOLDIER ONE. Dillinger turns the man, slams a knee into his kidney, pulls him back off balance, holds him up with one 45 under his jaw, as he draws the second 45 and sweeps the group…
DILLINGER Wanna know if we’re armed? Were armed. He dumps this guy on his ass, his heavy shoe an ounce from crushing his larynx. Red’s two Thompsons concealed on shoulder straps are out from under his coat. Frozen time. Phil D’Andrea sits on the corner of a table. Only he stays relaxed.
D’ANDREA k around, Johnny. What do you see?
1 1 DILLINGER
A`lot of telephones.
D’ANDREA You see money. Before last month there were independent wire services letting bookies know who won the third race at Sportman’s Park. 300 of ’em. Now there’s only one. Ours. General News. Nationwide. On October20, you robbed the bank in Green Castle, Indiana. You got away with $74,802. Split 5 ways, that’s $14,960.40. You probably thought that was a big score. Dillinger stares at him. Where’s this going?
D’ANDREA (CONT’D) (indicates the room) This room makes that much every day. That is how money gets made. And it keeps getting made, day after day after day. It is a river of money. Flowing right to us. And it gets deeper and it gets wider.
(BEAT) Unless the cops come through that door.
DILLINGER But they won’t.
D’ANDREA That’s right. We pay them not to. Unless they know you’re here. Then they come through the door, no matter what.
(BEAT) What does that tell you?
DILLINGER I’m popular.
D’ANDREA You’re bad for business. What this is, is called obsolescence.
D’ANDREA (CONT’D) So the Syndicate got a new policy, Johnny.
(BEAT) Guys like you? We ain’t laundering your money or bonds no more. You ain’t holing up in our whorehouses anymore. No armorers. No doctors. No nothing.
(BEAT) That’s the way it is. D’Andrea comes closer to him.
D’ANDREA (CONT’D) And I am a messenger. This is business.
(QUIETLY) Between us… He reaches into a pocket for cash.
D’ANDREA (CONT’D) You need something to tide you by in case you’re short? Dillinger and Red’s looks say it all. They start out.
D’ANDREA (CONT’D) Okay-but can you do me a personal favor? Dillinger hesitates.
D’ANDREA (CONT’D) For my son, Mark. You’re his hero.
CONTINUED:( 3)
D’Andrea pulls out piece of paper and a pen. Dillinger looks at him like he’s crazy. Then he signs the autograph.
D’ANDREA. (CONT’D)
Good luck to you. You too, Red.
TNT. CIGAR STORE – DILLINGER + HAMILTON
cross through.
HAMILTON Why’d you sign that asshole’s paper?
DILLINGER I don’t know.
EXT. JUSTICE DEPT. BUILDING + STAIRCASE – PURVIS WAS KEPT
WAITING. HE NOW JOINS HOOVER + SUYDAM
who are briskly exiting the building. Hoover’s angry. His voice is clipped and rapid-fire.
HOOVER …they call Crown Point, “Clown Point.” ,,.,The Bureau of Investigation cannot catch “”Public Enemy No. 1, but Arizona cowboys z�. The President of the United States -s’aid Dillinger is making a mockery of the system of justice in this country. That means I am allowing Dillinger to make a mockery of the system of justice in this country. It is a dark cloud. There is a silver lining in that cloud. By escaping, John Dillinger has given us a second chance to get John Dillinger.
(BEAT) Hamilton has a 17 year old sister in Detroit. Arrest her. Dump her in the tank. Pick up all known Dillinger associates. Doctors. Question family members. Pierpont’s mother in Indianapolis. Dillinger’s family in Mooresville. Foreigners. We suspect all of them of harboring…
PURVIS Hamilton’s family hasn’t had word from him in years …
HOOVER That’s the point. Motivate them to get “word.” Create informants, Agent Purvis.
HOOVER (CONT’D) I want suspects interrogated “vigorously.” “Grilled.” No misplaced sentimentality. As they say in Italy and elsewhere these days…”take off the white gloves.” By this point, they’re down the Justice Department staircase. Purvis is dismissed. Hoover steps in front of a…
MOVIETONE NEWS CREW
where 35 boys, aged 12-15 have been waiting in a line. High voltage enthusiasm suddenly imbues Hoover.
HOOVER What’s your name, son?
HARRIS
Harris. The cameras roll.
HOOVER (turning to camera) G-Men all over the country have picked up: the gauntlet flung down by the outlaws and wanton murderers. And these junior crime fighters, these junior G-men… COLOR DESATURATES into BLACK + WHITE. We don’t kno °why.
(CONTINUING) .every one of them., stopped some crime from occurring and forestalled an entry into the black book of criminal deeds. I am rewarding them with these medals today. My friend, Harris here, is the first… Hoover pins the first medal on Harris. And OVER that we HEAR OFFSCREEN…
(LOW) You can size up a score like nobody’s business, Tommy. You’re a good egg, but I don’t like Nelson.
WHY IS JOHN DILLINGER’S VOICE HERE?
BLACK + WHITE OF HOOVER
cuts to photograph of…
BLACK + WHITE PRETTY BOY FLOYD,
bullet-ridden on a slab in a morgue. And we HEAR..
(BOOMING) Pretty Boy Floyd. He thought he could lead a life of crime with impunity… PULL BACK to reveal. .JOHN DILLINGER. We are in…
INT. MOVIE THEATER – DILLINGER’S
listening to Tommy Carroll. Next to Dillinger in the row is Red.
TOMMY CARROLL
(WHISPERS) You got Lester wrong. He thinks the world of you. Whole country thinks you’re a hero. Beyond their on the screen Pretty Boy Floyd`s face is replaced by Harry P e rpont’s mug shot. Now, SHOUSE,enters and sits next to Tommy. We haven’t seen him since Johnny threw him out of the car in Indiana. He holds out his hand…
(WHISPERED) Johnny, willing to let bygones by bygones… Nothing from Dillinger. On the screen now is Pierpont’s image.
(BOOMING) Recently convicted of murder in Lima, Ohio and sentenced to die in the electric chair is John Pierpont…
CARROLL John, we gotta all be friends or this ain’t gonna work.
DILLINGER Red told you. After we take the bank, we bust out Pierpont and Makley.
SHOUSE They got the prison surrounded by National Guard…
MOVIE ANNOUNCER (V.0.) And Director J. Edgar Hoover would like you in the audience to help us apprehend… Public Enemy #1.
NOW ON THE SCREEN: JOHN DILLINGER
The men freeze.
MOVIE ANNOUNCER (V.O.) (CONT’D)
.Dillinger is thought to be in Indiana or Illinois and has been known to travel with this man. Look around you, ladies and gentlemen… Red Hamilton’s photo. Shouse tries to rise. TOMMY slams him back into his seat.
HAMILTON Oh Jesus… Now the LIGHTS come up!
MOVIE ANNOUNCER (V.0.) They may be sitting right next to you! Turn to your right and turn to your left… Audience turns right and left. Dillinger and Hamiltn and Tommy turn their heads, too, searching for desperadoes.
JOHN DILLINGER The exposure is so outrageous it makes Dillinger laugh out loud. That makes the people all around talk and joke.
DILLINGER’S HAND
grips his45. Shouse is grey with fear. Houselights darken. Finally, Looney Tunes starts. Daffy Duck.
(LOW) After the bank we’ll figure out if we can bust out Pierpont and Makley…
HAMILTON Shouse, you step out of line one inch and and I will kill you. Then I will kill your parents for having had you. Then I will kill their pet dog.
DILLINGER Where’s the bank?
CARROLL Sioux Falls. Nelson says there’s $800,000 in there. He got us a great place to hole- up after ’til the heat blows over.
DILLINGER + RED walk up the aisle to CAMERA. Cartoons continue behind them.
HAMILTON “Don’t work with people you don’t know and don’t work when you’re desperate.” Walter Dietrich. Remember that?
DILLINGER Walter forgot …when you’re desperate, ‘f iat’s when you got no choice.
INT. LOBBY` SECURITY NATIONAL BANK & TRUST COMPANY (SIOUX
FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA) – NELSON – DAY
throws open his overcoat, draws his Tommy gun and FIRES a burst into the ceiling, bringing down plaster and light fittings. EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS panic.
BABY FACE NELSON Everyone on the floor! This is a hold-up.
DILLINGER (passing Nelson) You’re turning it into a circus! What the hell are you doing? Meanwhile, a terrified CLERK presses a button and the alarm rings loudly outside.
(RANTS)
I’d like to know who set that alarm off. Who the hell did it? Who? Dillinger and Red get to the BANK PRESIDENT and shove him towards the vault. Nelson is working himself into a frenzy. He points his gun at one terrified Customer after another.
BABY FACE NELSON (CONT’D) If you want to get killed, make a move. What about you? How about you?
VAULT
Its a lot less than $800,000.
DILLINGER Where in the hell’s all the big money?
OUTSIDE THE BANK
A traffic cop, ROGER POWERS, runs up. Van Meter surprises and disarms him in classical fashion, but…
LOBBY
Through the window Carroll sees a motorcycle cop, HALE KEITH, arrive outside. Nelson scrambles onto a desk and FIRES a burst through the plate glass.
BABY FACE NELSON I got one, I got one! I got a cop!
VAULT – ON DILLINGER
can’t believe this is fucking HAPPENING.
EXT. THE SECURITY NATIONAL BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Dillinger and Hamilton emerge with the Bank President, FOUR TELLERS for a scrum of hostages. Carroll and Nelson,,:.,have a ragtag bunch. They’re almost at the car. Nelson turns to the onlookers.
NELSON What are you looking at? Nelson FIRES over their heads. Hostages scream and try to break loose. Nelson advances on the crowd… Out of a JEWELRY STORE, HARRY BERG, emerges and fires at BABY FACE NELSON, who is wearing a bullet-proof vest. Nelson sprays the area. Berg dives back in his store, BYSTANDER, JACOB SOLOMON, is hit in the stomach and crumples. Delay allows…
EXT. ROOFTOPS ACROSS THE STREET — DEPUTY
with a 44-40Winchester gets a bead on
He squeezes off a ROUND. The shot hits Dillinger in the back of the left shoulder and exits his upper arm.
DILLINGER Son of a bitch!
BANG! The second shot hits Carroll in the head, knocking off his hat. Dillinger fires up at the DEPUTY, tries to lift Carroll, blood gushes from his head. He appears to be dead. Dillinger leaves him. Sixteen year old, JOE PAWLOWSKI — fueled by adrenaline, runs across the street and jumps onto Nelson’s back. Nelson, screaming with rage, throws him through a plate glass window, FIRES two rounds and runs to join the others — PURE CHAOS. Dillinger throws Nelson in the car.
