Original subtitles

CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY WARNER BROS.

AH HA HA HA HA HA!

SO...

WHAT WILL IT BE, STRANGER?

CAN I INTEREST YOU IN A MAI DIE?

OR WOULD YOU PREFER A RUM AND CHOKE?

OR MAYBE YOU'D LIKE SOMETHING A LITTLE STRONGER.

I'VE GOT JUST THE THING.

IT'S A NASTY LITTLE SNOOTFUL

ABOUT A NEWS HOUND NAMED CHARLIE

WHO NEEDS A MURDER STORY AND A DRINK,

BUT NOT NECESSARILY IN THAT ORDER.

AH, WHAT SOME PEOPLE WON'T DO

FOR A GOOD STIFF ONE.

I CALL THIS LITTLE EYEOPENER DEADLINE.

HEE HEE HEE HEE HEE HEE!

MY NAME IS CHARLES MacKENZIE. AND I'M A NEWSPAPERMAN.

UH, AT LEAST I WAS UNTIL A LITTLE WHILE AGO.

I'D DO ANYTHING TO GET A STORY.

ANYTHING.

THAT WAS MY REPUTATION.

THE WAY I FIGURED IT, PEOPLE HAD A RIGHT TO KNOW.

FIRST AMENDMENT, RIGHT?

THAT'S WHAT THIS COUNTRY'S ALL ABOUT, RIGHT?

I WORKED ON SOME PRETTY HIGH-CLASS NEWSPAPERS IN MY TIME, YOU KNOW.

PRETTY GOOD MAGAZINES, TOO.

BUT, UH, HMPH...

I HAD A LITTLE PROBLEM.

HE'S REALLY BEEN STRUGGLING THIS SEASON.

SINCE THE ALL-STAR BREAK,

HE'S BEEN UNABLE TO GO

MORE THAN, I'D SAY, FOUR INNINGS IN A STRETCH.

YOU SLEEPING, CHARLIE?

I WAS JUST RESTING MY EYES, MIKE.

IT'S AWFUL LATE.

GETTING CLOSE TO MIDNIGHT.

YOU TOLD ME YOU HAD A MEETING OVER AT THE NEWSPAPER.

YEAH, SURE. I GOT TO PAY A LITTLE SURPRISE VISIT

TO OLD PHIL STONE DOWN AT THE PAPER,

BUT I STILL GOT TIME FOR ONE MORE.

WHY DON'T YOU LAY OFF, CHARLIE?

HOW ABOUT A NICE CUP OF COFFEE?

HEY, MIKE, I CAN LAY OFF ANY TIME I WANT.

HEY, CHARLIE, I'M TALKING TO YOU AS A FRIEND HERE.

YOU GOT TO SEE SOMEBODY ABOUT A JOB. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR.

GO HOME. SHAVE. GET YOURSELF CLEANED UP, HUH?

I DON'T NEED ANY GOOD-GROOMING ADVICE FROM YOU.

JUST WHO THE GODDAMN HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

HEY, CHARLIE. CHARLIE, LISTEN.

I DON'T MEAN ANYTHING BY THIS.

I'M JUST TRYING TO HELP YOU OUT.

I MAY BE A LITTLE DOWN ON MY LUCK RIGHT NOW,

BUT I HAVE BEEN THERE, RIGHT AT THE TOP.

I HAVE TALKED THINGS OVER

WITH SENATORS, MILLIONAIRES, SPORTS CHAMPS.

YOU NAME IT.

I DON'T NEED TO TAKE ANY SHIT

FROM SOME DRINKPUSHER WORKING IN A SKID ROW GIN JOINT.

HEY, CHARLIE, BACK OFF. I SAID I WAS SORRY.

HEY, MIKE,

I'LL BUY THAT LADY A DRINK.

SO, WHAT'S A PRETTY LADY LIKE YOU DOING IN HERE?

WAITING FOR SOMEBODY?

NOBODY SPECIAL.

SEE, I'M A REPORTER, ALWAYS TRYING TO GET AT THE FACTS.

A GOOD-LOOKING GIRL SITTING IN A SKID-ROW BAR ALONE...

THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE SHE'S A HOOKER.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS,

I'M NOT FOR HIRE.

I'M REAL PARTICULAR.

GOOD. GLAD TO HEAR IT.

OH, YOU'RE GLAD YOU WON'T BE ASKED TO SLEEP WITH ME?

THAT'S KIND OF INSULTING.

WHAT? HEY, I WOULDN'T MIND SLEEPING WITH YOU.

DON'T DO ME ANY FAVORS.

ALL RIGHT. LOOK, LET'S START OVER.

OK, KIDS, HERE'S YOUR DRINKS.

YOUR HEALTH, UM...

CHARLIE. MY NAME'S CHARLIE.

YOU'RE A REAL FRIENDLY GUY.

I LIKE YOU, TOO, UH...

VICKI.

VICKI. MMM...

I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING YOU IN HERE BEFORE.

COME HERE EVERY NIGHT OR SOMETHING?

I TOLD YOU, I'M A REPORTER ON THE CRIME BEAT... MURDER, RAPE, ROBBERY.

SO I COME IN HERE A LOT ON BUSINESS.

HEY, MAYBE I SHOULD DO AN INTERVIEW WITH YOU.

HAH, WHAT'S YOUR STORY?

YOU KNOW MY STORY.

I'M PRETTY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS ABOUT THIS BABE.

OH, SURE, SHE WAS GOOD-LOOKING,

AND A GREAT BODY...

PROBABLY KNEW HOW TO USE IT, TOO...

BUT I'VE BEEN WITH LOOKERS BEFORE, LOTS OF THEM.

BUT ANYWAY, SHE SET OFF SOMETHING SPECIAL IN ME.

IT MADE ME FEEL REAL, YOU KNOW...

BACK IN TOUCH.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A LADIES' MAN.

NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE MEETING THEM.

LOTS OF GIRLFRIENDS, COUPLE OF WIVES.

AFTER A WHILE, THEY ALL DRIFTED AWAY

AND WOMEN DIDN'T SEEM SO IMPORTANT ANYMORE.

IT WAS THE BOOZE, I GUESS.

ANYWAY, THERE WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THIS ONE,

LIKE MAYBE SHE COULD MAKE ME FEEL 25 YEARS OLD AGAIN.

I THOUGHT, WITH HER,

MAYBE I COULD GET IT ALL BACK.

I GOT TO GO, HONEY.

WHERE?

IT'S 9 A.M.

MOST FOLKS HAVE TO GO TO WORK IN THE MORNING. THEY'RE NOT FREELANCERS LIKE YOU.

HEY, WHY DON'T YOU MEET ME FOR LUNCH?

OK, LOOK, CHARLIE,

LET'S JUST GET A FEW THINGS STRAIGHT, OK?

I'M NOT LOOKING FOR SOMETHING PERMANENT.

I'VE HAD A LOT OF BOYFRIENDS.

REAL SOLID RELATIONSHIPS DON'T WORK FOR ME.

I DON'T LIKE GETTING TIED DOWN.

I LIKE MEETING GUYS, SEEING SOMEBODY NEW.

IT'S EXCITING TO ME, AN ADVENTURE.

I'M GOING TO MAKE THINGS REAL EASY FOR YOU.

WE HAD A GREAT NIGHT. THERE'S THE DOOR.

YOU NEVER HAVE TO SHOW UP HERE AGAIN.

YOU MEAN THAT? THAT'S HOW YOU FEEL?

YEAH.

I'VE GOT MY OWN PROBLEMS.

I LIKE THAT, CHARLIE.

THAT'S A GREAT ATTITUDE.

I MEAN, IT'S OK IF WE SEE EACH OTHER SOME MORE.

I JUST DIDN'T WANT YOU TO THINK

THAT IT'S GOING TO GO ANYWHERE.

I SAID "HAVE LUNCH," NOT "GET ENGAGED."

I'M SORRY, MR. MacKENZIE,

BUT MR. STONE IS TOO BUSY TO SEE YOU NOW.

OH, HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?

YOU HAVEN'T EVEN ASKED HIM.

I'M AN OLD FRIEND.

HE DOESN'T SEE ANYONE WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT.

OK, MAKE ME AN APPOINTMENT.

I CAN'T DO THAT UNTIL I'VE DISCUSSED IT WITH MR. STONE.

HEY, HEY, PHIL.

CHARLIE MacKENZIE, YEAH. HOW ARE YOU, CHARLIE?

I'M GREAT, PHIL. LOOK, I GOTTA TALK TO YOU ABOUT A JOB.

I'M AWFUL BUSY RIGHT NOW, CHARLIE.

SORRY. MAYBE SOME OTHER TIME.

5 MINUTES, PHIL. JUST GIVE ME A CHANCE.

OK, 5 MINUTES.

IT'S GOOD SEEING YOU AGAIN, PHIL.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

HOW'S NORMA AND THE BOYS?

THEY'RE FINE, CHARLIE. JUST FINE.

I RAN INTO LEON LAST WEEK.

WE HAD A GOOD LAUGH.

HE REMINDED ME OF THAT EXCLUSIVE I GAVE YOU

ON ROY ANGEL. HUH?

REMEMBER THAT?

THE GLOBE HAD HIS CONFESSION

BEFORE THE COPS DID.

WE USED TO MAKE THAT D.A. SQUIRM, DIDN'T WE?

YEAH, YEAH. SURE WE DID, CHARLIE.

GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE, PHIL.

I NEED A JOB.

I WISH I COULD, BUT I'M UP TO MY ARMPITS HERE.

THINGS ARE GONNA BE DIFFERENT.

I'M GOING TO QUIT DRINKING.

YEAH? I HEARD THAT ONE BEFORE. NOTHING EVER CHANGED.

LOOK, I MET THIS GIRL.

SHE MADE ME SEE I'VE BEEN WASTING MYSELF.

I STILL GOT A LOT TO GIVE.

ALL I WANT IS ANOTHER CHANCE.

I'M A DAMN GOOD REPORTER. YOU KNOW THAT, PHIL.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I'M GONNA DO.

I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A TRIAL RUN. YOU WANT A JOB?

YOU GO OUT THERE AND YOU PROVE TO ME

THAT YOU CAN STILL BRING IN A STORY.

DAMN RIGHT. I'LL GET YOU A PAGE-ONE BREAK.

NO. BRING ME A MURDER, CHARLIE,

SOMETHING JUICY.

OH, CHARLIE, I THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT TIME FOR YOU TO SHOW UP.

YOU OUGHT TO BE HAPPY TO SEE YOUR BROTHER.

I AM HAPPY TO SEE YOU.

AND YOU OUGHT TO BE HAPPY TO SEE ME,

BUT YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT SEEING ME.

YOU JUST WANT ANOTHER LOAN.

OH, CHRIST.

SO I HAD A RUN OF BAD LUCK,

BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

I JUST GOT A JOB TODAY,

EXCEPT THEY WON'T PAY ME

UNTIL I GET A BIG STORY,

SO I'M STILL STRAPPED.

WHAT, YOU THINK I LIKE ASKING?

YOU WANT TO SEE ME BEG?

YOU KNOW, YOU'D THINK YOU'D COME AND VISIT ME

EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE JUST TO MAKE IT LOOK GOOD,

BUT NO. YOU JUST SHOW UP FOR THE RENT MONEY.

LISTEN, IT'S NOT LIKE I DON'T HAVE ANY FEELINGS FOR YOU.

THIS IS THE LAST TIME, CHARLIE.

NOW, YOU'VE BEEN HITTING ME UP FOR 500 EVERY MONTH,

AND I'VE BEEN SUCKER ENOUGH TO GIVE IT TO YOU.

BUT THIS IS THE E... DON'T COME BACK ANYMORE.

LISTEN, GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE.

YOU GOT IT ALL WRONG.

YOU GET A DISABILITY PENSION. I GOT NOTHING.

I'M GONNA BE OUT THERE, POUNDING THE PAVEMENT NIGHT AND DAY.

I'VE HEARD ENOUGH. YOU GOT THE MONEY. JUST GO.

I KNOW YOU'RE JUST GONNA GO TO SOME BAR AND YOU'RE GONNA DRINK YOURSELF STIFF.

I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING, MILDRED.

THIS TIME MAYBE YOU'RE WRONG.

I GOT NEWS FOR YOU. I'M QUITTING DRINKING AS OF TODAY.

SEE, I'VE BEEN HITTING THE BOTTLE A LITTLE TOO HARD LATELY.

AND, YOU KNOW HOW IT GOES. ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER.

SO I'M SWEARING OFF THIS STUFF...

WHILE I'M ON ASSIGNMENT.

HEY, MIKE, I GOT A BIG WELCOME HOME AT THE PAPER TODAY.

I GOT MY OLD JOB BACK, EVEN GOT A CASH ADVANCE.

THEY SAID THEY MISSED HAVING A REAL PRO AROUND.

HEY, CHARLIE, CONGRATULATIONS!

I ALWAYS KNEW YOUR LUCK WAS GONNA CHANGE.

WHAT WILL IT BE?

TWO COFFEES.

HEY, GOING LIGHT, HUH?

QUITTING DRINKING AS OF TODAY.

THAT'S GREAT, EVEN IF YOU'RE ONE OF MY BEST CUSTOMERS.

EVERYBODY, CHARLIE HERE'S GOING ON THE WAGON.

YAY, CHARLIE! HEY!

SO, CHARLIE,

HOW WAS THAT FOR A STORY?

HEH HEH HEH!

BANNER HEADLINE, BABY.

YOU REALLY HAVE GONE ALL DAY WITHOUT DRINKING?

MMM...

I THOUGHT MAYBE YOU KINDA HAD A PROBLEM.

DAMN RIGHT. I'M OFF THE STUFF.

AND TOMORROW I'M GONNA SHOW YOU

WHAT A REAL TOP NEWSPAPERMAN LOOKS LIKE.

I'M GOING TO BREAK A BIG STORY. I CAN FEEL IT.

HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA DO WITH THE CASH ADVANCE?

I'M GOING TO BUY YOU SOME EARRINGS. YEAH.

DOWN AT THE PAPER,

THEY'VE WRITTEN ME OFF AS A DRUNK.

A LOT OF PEOPLE GOT A REAL PREJUDICE AGAINST DRINKING.

IT NEVER HURT MY WORK.

NO MATTER WHAT THE BASTARDS THOUGHT.

I WAS ALWAYS TOP MAN ON THE CRIME BEAT, RIGHT TO THE END.

I ALWAYS WRITE A GREAT LEAD.

AND YOU CAN'T TEACH THAT. YOU KNOW?

YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TO BUY ME THE EARRINGS, CHARLIE.

WHY? I'M ACTING TOO MUCH LIKE A BOYFRIEND?

THIS IS A GOOD THING. LET'S NOT SPOIL IT.

I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO MOVE IN

OR GET MARRIED.

HELL, I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOUR LAST NAME.

RIGHT. NO LAST NAMES. NO PHONE NUMBERS.

LET'S JUST ENJOY BEING HERE, OK?

LIEUTENANT JAMISON, PLEASE.

YES. THIS IS JAMISON.

ROY, HI. CHARLIE MacKENZIE HERE.

I'M DOING A PIECE ON HOMICIDE DOWNTOWN.

I WANNA COME OVER AND RUN SOME THINGS BY YOU.

RIGHT. DIGGING FOR DIRT.

NO. I AM NOT DIGGING FOR DIRT.

I JUST WANNA CHECK A LITTLE INFORMATION.

YEAH, WELL, I CAN CONNECT YOU WITH...

SHIT, ROY, I DON'T WANNA TALK TO YOUR P.R. GUY.

I WANNA TALK TO YOU.

SORRY, CHARLIE. ROY...

ROY?

VINCE, I'M TRYING TO HELP THIS KID OUT, DOWN AT THE GLOBE.

YOU KNOW, GIVE HIM SOME LEADS. YOU GOT ANYTHING?

NOTHING TODAY, CHARLIE.

OH, COME ON, VINCE.

WE ALL KNOW THAT THE HERALD KILL STORIES IT THINKS IS TOO RAUNCHY.

LOOK, I GOT NOTHING FOR YOU.

VINCE, I'LL PAY YA. I MEAN, THE KID IS DESPERATE.

GIVE HIM AN ASPIRIN.

YEAH, ALL RIGHT, WELL,

CAN YOU GIVE ME RICKMAN'S NUMBER. I'LL TRY HIM.

YEAH. THANK YOU, GRACE.

METRO.

HOWARD RICKMAN, PLEASE.

WHO'S CALLING?

CHARLIE MacKENZIE HERE.

CAN HE GET BACK TO YOU?

NO. I'LL CALL HIM BACK.

JAKE FOLEY.

FOLEY, YOU GOTTA HELP ME OUT.

I'M COMING UP DRY.

I MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING.

CAN YOU MEET ME LATER ON? I NEED IT TONIGHT.

LOOK, I'LL TRY.

OK, I'LL CHECK IN WITH YOU LATER.

COME ON, BERNARD, LET ME COME TO THE MORGUE TONIGHT.

I'M OFF DUTY.

WELL, WHEN DO YOU GET BACK ON DUTY?

I'M TAKING MY SICK LEAVE.

YEAH, SURE. SEE YOU LATER.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

HOW'S IT GOING, CHARLIE?

OH, FINE. JUST TRYING TO HOOK UP SOME OLD CONTACTS.

YEAH. CRIME BEAT'S ONLY AS GOOD AS ITS INFORMANTS. RIGHT, CHARLIE?

YEAH, BUT SOMETHING'S GONNA BREAK.

SOMETHING GOOD.

I'M GONNA DELIVER FOR YOU BIG-TIME.

YEAH. I HOPE SO, CHARLIE. I HOPE SO.

HOW'S IT GOING?

LOUSY. HAVEN'T GOT A GODDAMN THING.

THIS GODDAMN CITY'S DEAD.

JUST WHEN I NEED A GOOD RIP-SHIT MURDER, THERE'S ZILCH GOING ON?

GOTTA KEEP AT IT. THAT'S THE WAY TO GO.

OH, YOU KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT IT. YOU KEEP AT IT.

HEY, CHARLIE. COME ON.

I'M TELLING YOU,

I'VE BEEN CALLING IN FAVORS RIGHT AND LEFT.

I'VE BEEN LISTENING IN ON THE POLICE RADIO BAND,

BEEN TO THE MORGUE, THE HOSPITALS. NADA.

CHARLIE, IT'S ONLY 9:00.

POUR ME A DRINK, MIKE.

CHARLIE, I'M TALKING TO YOU AS A FRIEND HERE.

YOU GOT A CHANCE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT, TO GET BACK TO WORK.

I AM WORKING!

THERE'S NOTHING THE MATTER WITH ME.

THERE'S JUST NOTHING GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

I'M TAKING A BREAK.

WHY DON'T YOU GO ON UP THE STREET TO THE GREEK'S, HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT?

HE MAKES A GREAT BOWL OF CHILI. IT'S GONNA PICK YOU RIGHT UP.

HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE, YOU RELAX A MINUTE,

THEN, CHARLIE, YOU GO OUT THERE AND YOU GET THAT STORY.

I'M PULLING FOR YOU, KIDDO.

I DON'T WANT TO GO

TO SOME GREEK'S GREASY SPOON.

I'M THIRSTY. I'M BROKE.

I HAD A REAL HARD DAY.

NOW, ARE YOU GONNA GIVE ME A DRINK?

NO. I'M YOUR FRIEND. I'M NOT GIVING YOU ANY BOOZE.

ALL RIGHT, THE HELL WITH THIS.

SO I SAID TO THE GODDAMN CODE INSPECTOR,

"WHAT'S THE DEAL? YOU COME IN HERE EVERY TWO MONTHS.

"YOU'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND SOME LITTLE PROBLEM.

YOU'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO GET ME FINED."

YOU KNOW THE TRUTH? THEY WANT MONEY.

YOU DON'T PAY THESE GUYS OFF, THEY KILL YOU.

THAT'S ALL THERE IS.

THOSE GODDAMN BUREAUCRATS, THEY WORK FOR THE CITY.

THEY'RE ALL CROOKS.

THEY ALL GOT THEIR HAND OUT, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

YEAH. I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.

NOW, COULD I READ MY PAPER IN PEACE, HUH?

SURE. NO PROBLEM.

READ YOUR PAPER.

Man: YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE TONIGHT.

YOU'RE A DIRTY, FILTHY WHORE.

YOU WILL NOT DO WHAT YOU WANT! YOU'RE IN MY HOUSE!

Woman: WHO WILL STOP ME, YOU?

Man: I AM. YOU STAY HERE WHERE I TELL YOU TO STAY.

YOU'RE PATHETIC!

YOU'RE NOT GOING OUT AGAIN TONIGHT!

DON'T LAUGH AT ME.

LET GO OF ME!

I'LL SHOW YOU. YOU STAY HERE WITH ME.

YOU LISTEN TO ME, WOMAN!

AAH!

I KILLED HER.

YOU WANT TO TALK?

IS THAT YOUR WIFE IN THERE?

LEAVE ME ALONE.

COME ON. TALK TO ME.

GET IT OFF YOUR CHEST.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

NIKO STAVRO.

SO, WHAT HAPPENED?

WHAT WAS THE FIGHT ABOUT?

I STRANGLED HER.

SHE'S BEEN PLAYING AROUND.

I JUST COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.

I HAD HER FOLLOWED BY A DETECTIVE.

SHE'S BEEN PICKING UP GUYS IN BARS...

BUMS AND WINOS, AND SCREW WITH THEM.

SHE, SHE JUST WANTED TO HUMILIATE ME.

SHE WAS NO GOOD.

SHE WAS JUST A TRAMP.

TWO YEARS AGO, SHE CAME IN HERE

AND SHE ASKED ME FOR WORK AS A WAITRESS.

SHE COULD CHARM A SNAKE.

A MONTH LATER, I WAS MARRIED TO HER.

SHE USED TO FLIRT WITH EVERY MAN THAT CAME IN.

I DIDN'T MIND AT FIRST.

I... I WAS PROUD

TO HAVE SUCH A YOUNG, GOOD-LOOKING WIFE.

RIGHT. BIG DIFFERENCE IN YOUR AGES, HUH?

I HARDLY SAW HER ANYMORE.

SHE'S OUT HALF THE NIGHT, SLEEPING HALF THE DAY.

I LOVED HER. I...

TONIGHT SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO GO OUT.

I TRIED TO STOP HER.

SHE STARTED TO LAUGH AT ME.

GOD HELP ME.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE.

NOW, I'LL STAY AND HELP YOU WITH THIS, HUH?

SO, WHERE'S THE PHONE?

IT'S IN THERE.

HELLO, MAY I HELP YOU?

PHIL STONE.

YEAH?

CHARLIE MacKENZIE HERE.

HOW'S IT GOING, CHARLIE?

OH...

I'LL...

UH...

PHONE YOU BACK.

OH...

CHARLIE?

VICKI.

OHH! CHRIST!

HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?

CHARLIE.

CHARLIE...

CHAR...

YOU CALL THE POLICE?

UH... YEAH.

THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING THE GLOBE. MAY I HELP YOU?

CITY DESK.

ONE MOMENT.

CITY DESK.

THIS IS CHARLES MacKENZIE.

ARE YOU READY FOR MY FEED?

YEAH, CHARLIE, GO AHEAD.

GOOD. HERE GOES.

INFLAMED BY JEALOUSY,

A DISTRAUGHT LOMAX PARK MAN TONIGHT

SQUEEZED THE LIFE OUT OF HIS UNFAITHFUL WIFE

WHILE SHE LAUGHED AND TAUNTED HIM.

NIKO STAVRO,

REPORTED TO BE A GREEK IMMIGRANT,

HAD HIRED A PRIVATE DETECTIVE

TO FOLLOW HIS WIFE VICKI

WHEN HE BECAME SUSPICIOUS THAT SHE HAD A LOVER.

AFTER HE FOUND OUT THE DETAILS

OF HER SECRET SORDID LIFE,

HE FLEW INTO A RAGE AND STRANGLED HER.

QUOTE. UM...

"SHE WANTED TO HUMILIATE ME.

"SHE WAS NO GOOD.

SHE WAS JUST A TRAMP."

STAVRO WEPT

WHEN HE CONFESSED HIS CRIME TO THE POLICE.

SO NOW... GET THIS...

I'M GOING TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT MY DOUBLE LIFE...

CRIME REPORTER AND CRIMINAL.

IT'S A GREAT ANGLE, HUH?

I'M GOING TO START TO WRITE IT

JUST AS SOON AS I GET OUT OF THIS THING,

BUT FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S SOMETHING I GOT TO DO...

I REALLY DO NEED TO HAVE A DRINK.

POOR CHARLIE.

I BET HE WISHES THAT HE'D KILLED THE STORY INSTEAD.

HEE HEE HEE HEE HEE!

PERHAPS NOW THEY'LL LET HIM WRITE

FOR THE PAPER'S HORROR-SCOPE COLUMN.

CARE FOR ANOTHER DRINK,

OR SHOULD I JUST PUT A HEAD ON THIS ONE?

HA HA HA HA HA HA!

CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY WARNER BROS.

CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE... www.ncicap.org...

CAPTIONS COPYRIGHT 1991 TALES FROM THE CRYPT HOLDINGS