All language subtitles for Hunt the Man Down 1950

(dramatic music)

(dramatic music)

- Come on, Professor,

I'll drive you home.

Shally, you and Bill lock up when you

put the money in the safe.

- All right.

- Pretty late, you don't mind?

- No, I don't mind.

- Good night. - Good night.

- Good night, Bill. - Good night.

(door opens)

- Bill, just one lumber.

Please, Bill.

- I told you I can't play.

- I heard you play this one once

when you thought no one was around.

♪ Wishing will make it so ♪

♪ Just keep on wishing ♪

♪ And care will go ♪

- You don't have to murder it.

(piano music)

(humming)

♪ The curtain of night will part ♪

♪ But ♪

♪ Mm ♪

♪ So if you wish long enough ♪

♪ Wish strong enough ♪

♪ You will come to know ♪

♪ Mm ♪

- Play another one.

- It's the only one I know.

- I don't believe it.

- You don't?

- No, and I don't believe

you couldn't get yourself

a decent job if you really wanted one.

Well, I've heard professionals

who couldn't play half as well.

- I like this job, Sally.

I've told you that before.

Now leave me alone.

(piano music)

- Let me get your coat, Sally.

(piano music)

- Put the money in here, sister.

(piano music)

(gun fires)

(piano music)

- I'm sorry, madam, but

that matter does not come

within the jurisdiction of

the district attorney's office.

Your husband has run

away with another woman.

I suggest you call the

Bureau of Missing Persons.

Hello, Mac.

- Hello, Brans.

Little item here might interest you.

- Local dishwasher hero

kills Paperbag Bandit.

The so-called Paperbag

Bandit, who was Harris' merchant

in the Salinas area

for months, is dead today

due to the heroism of a

dishwasher who is so modest

that he objected to

having his picture taken.

William H. Jackson, an

employee at Happy's Place.

- Salinas, son.

Paperbag Bandit?

- It's not him I'm talking about.

Take a look at that

local hero who was so modest

he didn't want his picture taken.

- He looks kind of familiar.

- He ought to, you prosecuted him for

murder, first degree.

- Richard Kincaid.

- Yeah.

- He escaped before the trial was over.

How long ago was it?

10, 11 years?

- 12.

- 12 years?

Have you sent out an alarm?

- They picked him up in

Bakersfield half an hour ago.

- It was one of my first big cases.

And I'd have wanted.

- Maybe the DA will

assign it to you again.

- I think he will.

And I'm still gonna win it.

- The Honorable John

Spears, judge presiding.

Be seated.

- Richard Kincaid.

Are you Richard Kincaid?

- Yes.

- Where's your attorney?

- I have no attorney.

- Have you any money to

hire one or any property?

- No.

- Then I'll appoint the

public defender to represent you.

One of his very able deputies is here

now, Mr. Paul Bennett.

- Yes, your honor.

Is your true name Richard Kincaid?

- Yeah.

- You were accused by the

people of the state of California

of murdering Daniel J. Bryan

on the night of May 8th, 1938.

Mr. Bennett hears a transcript

and he has any information on the case.

- Your honor, I'd like to

confer with my chief on this case

and ask for time to study

it before entering a plea.

- Very well.

I'll continue the case for one week.

- Hello, Mr. Kincaid.

I'd like you to meet Mr. Knight,

head of the public defender's office.

- Hello, Mr. Kincaid.

- Hello.

- We've investigated your statement

that you can't afford a lawyer.

Apparently it's true.

- It's true, all right.

- And Mr. Bennett will conduct your case

if you want us to handle it.

If you don't, we can't insist.

- Do I have to insist?

I'm afraid I don't understand the

etiquette of this game.

Why bother with the trial?

Why not sentence me and be done with it?

- You know why, Mr.

Kincaid, it's not the American way.

We don't do things

like that in this country.

- Oh, what's this nonsense?

First, the law arrests me.

Then it both prosecutes and defends me.

Is that the American way?

- Don't get us wrong, Kincaid.

You think because Republic servants

were on the side of

those other public servants

whose job it is to prosecute you.

We're not.

Public defender's office has as good a

record of acquittals

as the finest lawyers

in private practice.

Naturally, Mr. Knight's proud of that

record, and so am I.

- Gentlemen, I apologize.

I hope I don't mar your record.

- Now we'll hear your story, shall we?

Sit down.

- Well, in the first

place, I'm not guilty.

Now I know you've heard

this before, but it's true.

It began right here in Los Angeles.

On a Saturday night about nine o'clock,

I dropped into a place

called Jimmy's Bar for a drink.

You wouldn't think a

simple thing like that

would ruin a man's life, would you?

But if I'd have picked any other place,

none of this would have happened.

Somebody jostled my arm,

and I spilled part of my drink

on the girl next to me.

I apologized, and first thing I knew,

I was talking to her in the man with her.

A nice young couple.

In the casual way you do in bars,

they took me along with

them, and I met their friends.

There were two other

couples and one girl over.

Her name was Joan Bryan,

and she was very pleasant.

Believe it or not, but I didn't notice

she was wearing a wedding ring.

Then one of the crowd, a

guy named Kerry McGuire,

suggested we all go up to his home

and continue the party there.

His wife urged us to,

and we all accepted.

At Kerry McGuire's

house, we were all very gay.

I played piano, of course.

I nearly made a career of it at one time,

and they all seemed to enjoy it.

(piano music)

(laughing)

- I think that was great.

Am I glad we found you.

- Wait, I love the forest egg.

- Yeah, no, no, you've

got enough punishment

for one evening.

- Oh, come on.

- He wants to relax a while now.

- Sure, let the kid rest.

Alice, put on a couple

of those rumor records.

I want to show off a couple of steps.

- I don't want to show off period.

- Yeah, I'd love it.

(dramatic music)

(dramatic music)

It was a nice young

crowd, clean cut, attractive.

I never guessed then

how important these people

were going to be in my life very soon.

There were three couples, all different.

The first was Kerry and Alice McGuire.

Kerry was a natural born

host and natural born sailor.

His wife, Alice, was just

the kind that men like that

usually marry, small,

pretty, very gentle,

apparently a little overwhelmed

but this wonderful guy

had actually married her.

The other two couples weren't married,

just going together.

But one I called the quiet ones,

even when they run but it

looked more like Waltzing.

A man walked along

with slender and serious

in business for himself.

He owned a small machine shop.

The girl, Roleen Wood, she looked like

she might write poetry.

I called the other couple the Galigians.

Brick Appleby was a big

friendly bear of a man

who'd played college football.

Was now doing very

well as a junior executive

of a large firm.

Pat Sheldon was the perfect campus queen

to his campus hero.

At last but certainly not least,

there was Joan Bryan, all by herself.

Maybe ought to do something about that.

Shall we dance?

- Yes, I'd love to.

(upbeat music)

- What, Dan?

- Dan, come on in.

- How are you?

- Give your hat and coat,

we're having a little party.

- Yeah, let's do it.

- Surprise everybody, Dan's here.

He got back soon or any thought?

- Hi, Dan, welcome home.

- Well, Dan, you know everybody,

except the guy dancing with your wife.

- Dan, this is a surprise.

How did you know where to find us?

- Oh, I just took a chance.

- Dan, this is Dick

Kincaid, Dick, my husband.

- Dick's an old friend.

We met him two hours ago.

But he's made a great hit with everybody.

- So I say.

- Hi, Dan.

- Hello.

You go on dancing, I'm gonna get a drink.

- Right this way.

- I guess it'll make such a hit with him.

- Oh, he gets that way sometimes.

Doesn't mean anything.

Come on, let's dance.

- All right.

About an hour later,

I went to the bedroom to get my coat.

Suddenly I heard the

door close behind me.

I looked up and there was Dan Bryan.

I knew right away that he

was drunk and that he hated me.

- Dick Kincaid, eh?

- That's the name.

I've got just one thing

to say to you, Kincaid.

Stay away from my wife.

- Okay.

- Maybe you think I'm a fool.

Maybe you think I

haven't known for a long time

that she's been seeing somebody else.

- Has she?

It wasn't me.

I never saw her before tonight.

- Who do you think you're kidding?

I heard her on the phone

making a date for tonight

at Jimmy's bar.

I went there and who did

you come up with but you?

- I just met her with

a few of her friends.

Why don't you ask them?

- You're lying.

- You're drunk.

You get out of my way, I'm going home.

Not till I get

finished with you, you're not.

- Huh?

- Fred!

- What's going on in here?

- Is somebody getting killed?

- Almost.

Pull the gun on me,

I'll take it away from him.

- Dan, what on earth?

- Shut up.

Trying to protect your lover, are you?

- Dan!

- Excuse me.

I think I'll go home.

It's been nice meeting most of you.

- Hey Dan, wait a minute.

- What?

(grunting)

- It's a good thing your

friends were here, Brian.

I'd kill you.

It was just the sort of

thing you say when you're mad,

that's all.

But later that night, I

learned this afterward.

Joan Brian was awakened or so she said

by the sound of a pistol shot in the room

where her husband was sleeping.

She went in to see what had happened.

(dramatic music)

The first thing she noticed

was that the window was open.

She went over to Dan, he was dead.

Shot through the heart.

When the police arrived,

they found his gun on the floor.

The gun I'd taken from

him earlier in the evening.

It had his fingerprints

on it and it had mine,

no one else's.

They said it couldn't

have been suicide, so,

I'd left only one alternative, me.

- Where were you at the time?

- Taking a walk, believe it or not.

When I can't sleep, I

sometimes take a walk to get sleepy.

The elevator boy at my

apartment saw me go out

and he saw me come back.

The times fitted the time to the murder.

- I suppose your newfound friends

all testified at the trial?

- Yes, all seven of them.

Roline Wood.

- No, I never saw him before that night.

He spilled a drink on my sleeve.

He might have done it on

purpose for all I know.

- Joan Bryan.

- I've never had a lover.

Dan was always jealous over trifles.

- Carrie McGuire.

- Yes, Dan was always very

jealous and hot tempered.

He seemed very sore when

he came in that evening.

- Alice McGuire.

- And then Dan shouted to Joan,

trying to protect your lover, are you?

And then he hit him.

- Rick Appleby.

- Well, and Kincaid said to Dan

where they were holding him.

It's a good thing your

friends are here, Bryan.

- Oh, I kid ya.

- Pat Sheldon.

- The look on his face was murderous.

That's all you could call him.

- And Walter Long.

- He said he pulled a gun on me

and I took it away from him.

I thought he might

have put it in his pocket.

- They all agreed on that.

They thought I had taken the gun with me.

It was too bad that at the time

I hadn't mentioned throwing it on the bed

because with that and my

threat as they called it,

and my fingerprints on the gun,

the prosecutor had a perfect case.

He knew it.

The jury knew it and I knew it.

It was a death sentence.

I knew I didn't have a chance.

And then when I was desperate,

a chance to escape was

shoved right in my face.

It was near the end of the trial

and the guard was taking me back to jail.

When suddenly he

began to act very strange,

he was having an attack of some kind.

I tried to help him, but

there was nothing I could do.

And then while I acted on instinct,

I got those handcuffs off

and I started out of there.

That night I caught a

freight train out of town.

I was lucky.

- And after that?

- I wasn't so lucky.

I took one cheap

meaningless job after another.

Anything I could find.

Farm work, migratory labor, anything.

Then one night when I was

working as a dishwasher,

a bandit took a shot at me.

I got my pictures in the papers.

That was it.

- Yes, we got the story on that bandit.

You did a good job there.

- We'll enter a plea of not guilty,

but it's not going to be

easy to prove your story.

- Should I start making

plans to escape again?

- Oh no, don't do that.

I want to talk this off with Mr. Bennett

and we'll see you again very soon.

- As I said before, gentlemen,

I hope I don't mar your record.

- Well, Paul, what do you think?

- Same as you.

That story of his, he tells it well,

but no jury would ever believe it.

- Well, he certainly

makes a good impression.

- Yes, there's a lot in his favor.

He's led an honest

life ever since his escape

and that couldn't have been easy.

The owner of the cafe trusted him,

went out and left money in the till.

That business with the stick-up man,

he was a real hero there.

- If he hadn't been a hero,

he wouldn't have been caught.

Let's go over and talk

to the district attorney.

Maybe he'll accept a different plea.

- All right.

(door opens)

- Mr. Register?

Hello, Sally.

- Hello, Bill.

I mean-- - Dick.

- Dick?

- I had to come to tell you

that I know you're innocent.

- Thank you, Sally.

That means a lot to me.

- I've been talking to a

lawyer about your case.

- Yeah, so have I.

- Oh, well, I thought you

probably didn't have any money.

- I don't.

- Well, then how could you--

- How could I get a

lawyer or how could you?

- Oh, well, I have a

little money saved up.

About $500.

And Dick, he'll take your case.

And he's good too, very good.

- He is.

- Yes, he's very good.

- Sally, do you know why I

was so mean to you that time

in Salinas?

- Oh, you weren't mean.

You were just being kind.

Well, you couldn't even

tell me your real name,

so naturally I--

- Sally, look at me.

I was mean to you

because I was weak and selfish.

I didn't have the strength

to go away and leave you,

as I should forget.

Sally, this is Mr. Bennett

from the Public Defender's Office.

Miss Clark.

- How did you do, Miss Clark?

I have some pretty important news.

- No, no, stay here.

I want you to hear it too.

- All right.

Mr. Knight and I have just been

to the District Attorney's Office.

We made a very strong

plea about your good record.

It wasn't easy to talk to

in your particular case,

but he finally made us an offer.

- He did, what was it?

- You'll accept a plea of manslaughter.

That'll carry only a moderate sentence

who'll probably be out in

parole in a very few years.

- What if I don't accept his offer?

- Then he'll go after you

for first degree murder,

and he'll go after you hard.

- You think he'll get me?

- He might.

I'll do my very best

for you, but I might lose.

You'll have to face that.

- Yeah, I'll have to face that.

- There's no telling what a jury will do.

If they find you guilty,

well, they may recommend mercy.

That's a life sentence.

If they don't, it's death.

- Oh, Dick, you can't take the chance.

You can't.

Oh, Dick, what's a few years?

- You'd wait those years, wouldn't you?

Wait for a middle-aged man

who has to start his life over again?

A jail bird, a murderer?

- Oh, don't talk like that.

You'd be free, and

that's all that matters.

- No, Sally, your life matters too.

- Dick, you've got to take his offer.

- No, Sally, I run away too long.

Help me to take the big chance.

I'm innocent, Mr. Bennett.

You've got to prove it.

- Okay, we'll do our best.

Goodbye, Miss Clark.

(door creaks)

- Hello, son.

- Hello, Pop.

- Haven't seen you in the dog's age.

Don't keep any busy.

- Too busy.

Watch out for that thumb.

- Which thumb?

- What's on your mind, son?

- I need your help in the case, Pop.

I've never asked you

before, but I am now.

- Well, how can I be of any help?

- I'm a retired cop, not a lawyer.

- You can help me find seven witnesses.

- Seven?

- Yeah, in this case, it's important.

There's a man's life at stake,

and we're stuck for time.

The DA's pressing for an early trial.

He doesn't need witnesses.

He's got their testimony on paper

just the way he wants it

from the previous trial.

Oh, sure, he's got to

try to produce them,

but that's all he's got to do, try.

I've got to find those people,

and I've got to get new evidence.

It's the man's only

chance, and I need your help.

- What's mine with

your own investigators?

- I've only got two, and they're both

up to the next in other cases.

- Oh, I know, we should have more,

but we can't get them until the county

gives us a larger budget.

- Yeah, it's tough all right.

- You help me, Pop?

- You know how I feel, son.

- I spent 30 years

chasing crooks and murders,

and seeing too many of them

set free by smart lawyers.

- Yeah, I know, but

sometimes those men are innocent.

One out of every 10 men accuses innocent.

- And this one is innocent, of course?

- Strictly between you and me, Pop.

At times, I'm sure he's guilty,

but I also know this, if he was rich,

he'd have the biggest

lawyers in town working for him.

Well, it's my job to see

that a poor guy like this

gets just a square

ideal, guilty or not guilty.

- Son, I'll help you on one condition.

- What's that?

- That when this case is finished,

you go back to work for

the district attorney.

- Look, Pop, I've found my work,

and it's not with the district attorney.

Don't worry, I'll get help somewhere.

- Paul.

- Forget what I just said.

- Okay, Pop, I've been

sitting around too long.

I wanna work off a little fat.

- Well, there seems to be

no Kerry or Alice McGuire,

Joan Bryan, Roleen

Wood, or Patricia Sheldon

in these telephone books.

On the other hand,

there are 14 Walter Lungs

and a Burnell Appleby

who lives in Long Beach.

- Burnell?

There can't be more than one of him.

- That's right.

Let's call on him.

Maybe he can give us

a lead on the others.

- And maybe you won't need my

valuable services after all.

- I doubt that.

Bookbinding, huh?

College athlete, rising

young executive with a big firm.

- He rose right to the bottom.

(bell ringing)

- What's that smell?

- Leather and glue.

- No, something cookie?

Indian curry.

- Hello, can I help you?

- We'd like to talk to you, Mr. Appleby.

It'll take a little time.

If your wife has dinner

ready, we can come back later.

- I haven't any wife and

I'm in no hurry for dinner.

What's on your mind?

- I'm Paul Bennett from

the Public Defender's Office.

This is my father who's helping me.

- How do you do?

- I'd like to talk to

you about Richard Kincaid.

You may remember, you

were a witness at his trial.

- Kincaid?

Oh yes, the fellow who

killed Dan Bryan, but he escaped.

- He's been found recently.

He's gonna stand trial again very soon.

I don't think he killed Dan Bryan.

- Oh, this is very interesting.

Let's go in the back

room where we can sit down.

- Fine.

Better watch your step back here.

It's a little crowded.

(door opens)

- So you think Kincaid is innocent?

Well, who do you think did it then?

- I don't know.

That's why I wanna get a complete picture

of what happened that night.

- Well, I'll help you all I can.

I told everything I knew at the trial.

- Could you add anything

at all to that testimony?

- No, I'm afraid not.

- Has anything happened in

the years since the trial

that might give us a

new slant in the case?

- No, I can't think of anything.

Kincaid said he threw

Dan Bryan's gun in the bed.

- Are you sure you didn't see it there?

- No, I didn't.

I'm sorry.

- Well, maybe somebody else did.

Can you tell me about your friends who

were there that night?

What's become of them?

- I can only tell you about one of them.

I lost track of the others years ago.

- And that one?

- That one was Pat Sheldon.

We were very much in love

and became engaged in 1940.

I only, before we had a

chance to get married,

I was drafted.

One of the first.

I didn't get out for five years.

I was wounded at Anzio

and hospitalized for months.

With no idea what went on.

As soon as I got out of it,

I found that there hadn't

been any letters from her

for a long time.

As soon as I got home, I looked her up.

I found her.

- Where?

- The cemetery.

She had died of pneumonia

while I was in the hospital.

- Let me see those photos, will you, son?

(paper rustling)

- She sure was a beautiful girl.

- Is that a picture of Pat?

- Yeah.

Would you like to have it?

- Thanks, sir.

It wouldn't do any good, you know.

I'm blind.

- Five local residents drop out of sight.

No police records, no nothing.

14 Walter Longs, but none the right one.

Come on, Pop, we need a hunch.

What am I not paying you for?

- I'll give you a hunch.

Skid Row.

- Skid Row.

You mean we're gonna find

them six blocks from here?

- I mean, it's a wonderful

place to look for information.

Guys who want two bits for a drink.

It's surprising what a lot of

information they have at times.

- See, I know a lot

of people on Skid Row.

- So do I.

- Let's give it a try.

Do you have those pictures?

- Sure.

- We'll start at opposite ends

and work toward each other.

- All right.

- Look, Joe, you ought to

know some of these people.

- Yeah, sure, they're

all buddies of mine.

- Yeah?

- Live in Beverly Hills,

across the alley for a my estate.

We play croquet and have a

dish of tea every afternoon.

(laughing)

- Great, get the addresses.

- Just for that, I ought

to have a raise and salary.

- I just doubled and

I want another hunch.

- Plead him guilty.

- Yeah.

Hey, there's Eddie the Elbow.

Gets around to that.

- No use, son.

I've hit him already.

- How long ago?

- 10 minutes.

- Oh, well.

Hello, Eddie.

- Hello, Mr. Ben.

How's the poor man's mouthpiece?

- Fine, thanks, Eddie.

Say, I wanted you to give me a stir on

any of these people.

(soft music)

- You want to run him in for something?

- You know I never run people in, Eddie.

I got them out.

- Then why was this ton of law

showing me the same rogues, gallery?

- He's my father.

He's helping me.

- I'm not running anybody in.

I'm retired.

- Oh, yeah?

Once a cop, always a cop.

- Yeah, you cut it out, Eddie.

- I'm sorry, Mr. Bennett.

I know you can't help

but who your old man is.

- That's right.

And I can't help but

who my son is either.

- How about these pictures?

Take a good look.

- No soap?

- Well, there's one in there.

Looks a lot different now.

But try 142 Aliso Street.

Upstairs, in the back.

- Good.

- Which one?

- I ain't no stool pigeon.

I'm sorry, Mr. Bennett.

But I gotta go someplace

where the air's fresher.

(door creaks)

- Find a lot of friends you got here.

What did you do for that splendid fellow?

Save him from a Narsan wrap?

- What's the matter, Pop?

You're back here?

- Hmm.

- Hi, I'm back here.

- I hear something.

- So do I.

- Mice.

- Yeah.

- Hello, I'm Paul Bennett from

the Public Defender's Office.

Can I talk to you for a minute?

- What about?

- Well, can I come in?

- A little late would help.

- Did you mind telling me your name?

- Marie.

- Here.

- Do you live here alone?

- No, I live across the hall.

I just come in to visit.

- Who's this?

- A gentleman, a friend of mine.

- What's his name?

- Lefty.

- Is that all?

- That's all I know. - Well, listen, McGuire, get up.

- Pop, no, let me.

- McGuire, listen to me.

Listen carefully.

Do you remember the

Dan Bryant murder case?

- Murder case?

- What murder?

- How long will he be like this?

- Another day, maybe two.

- Listen to me.

You were married, remember?

- Married?

- Your wife's name was Alice.

Do you remember that?

- Alice?

- What happened to her?

- Got a divorce.

- When?

- A long time ago.

- Where does she know?

Where does she know?

- Last time I heard some kind of show.

- Where?

- Where?

- Oh, the poor fella needs a drink.

If he couldn't hear

that, he can't hear anything.

- Thanks.

We'll come back

tomorrow when he sobers up.

(door slams)

(somber music)

(somber music)

- Give me a nickel.

- I ain't got a nickel.

- Give me a nickel.

(somber music)

(door creaks)

- Hello, hello?

- This is Carrie McGuire.

That's right, you heard me.

Carrie McGuire, remember?

You and I better have a little talk.

(door creaks)

- Hello.

Oh, hello, Pop.

Say, is McGuire sobered up yet?

- Yeah, we should have

taken him with us last night.

He went out, came back with some dough,

gave some to the duchess.

- Only a few bucks, the

chisel, after all I'd done for him.

- And then went out again.

Nah, she don't know where he got it.

But don't worry, Paul, I'll find him.

And this time I'll

bring him in drunk or sober.

- Okay, Pop, we can head up to you.

I'm on the trail of Alice McGuire.

Remember he said she was

with some kind of a show?

- Yeah, that's right.

While you cover the saloons,

I'll cover the theatrical agencies.

This between you and me,

I think I've got the tougher job.

Good luck.

(dramatic music)

I'm not sure, but

I've got a vague feeling

that she once had something

to do with the show, Pops.

- Showbox theater, huh?

- Thanks a lot.

(upbeat music)

(upbeat music)

(upbeat music)

(audience applauding)

(audience applauding)

- Good evening.

Come right in and make yourself at home.

I'll be right with you.

- It's a wonderful show.

- Thank you.

- I'm looking for someone

that was sold to work here.

I wonder if you could help me.

- You've come to just the right person.

I founded this theater.

I know everyone who was

ever connected with it.

- Her name is Alice McGuire.

- Alice McGuire?

No, I've never heard the name.

- There's a picture of her.

- I've never seen her.

I'm sorry.

- Well, thanks anyway.

- Wait a minute.

May I see that picture again, please?

This looks a little like Peggy Linden.

- Peggy Linden?

- My assistant.

- I wonder if I could

talk to her if she's here.

- I'll take you to her.

She's back in the shop.

I'll be right with you folks.

Peggy, this is Mr. Bennett

from the public defender's office.

He wants to talk to

you for a few minutes.

Excuse me, I must get back to my public.

- Thank you.

- How do you do, Mr. Bennett?

- How do you do, Ms. Linden?

The name is really Alice McGuire, is it?

- Yes.

- I'd like to talk to you, Mrs. McGuire,

about your ex-husband, Carrie.

Do you mind?

- Carrie?

No, no, I don't mind.

Is he all right?

- Well, he was yesterday.

- Howdy, look.

- Well...

- Been drinking, hadn't I?

- Yes.

- Poor Carrie.

I tried so hard to help him.

- Was there a woman with him?

- Yes.

- Well, it wouldn't be

Carrie unless there was.

It's really not his fault.

He's just so attractive.

- I was ill for quite a long time,

sort of a nervous breakdown.

And when I got well,

well, I looked quite different.

So then we were divorced, and...

And I haven't seen him since.

- And you took a new name.

- Well, I wanted to make a new life.

It's really my maiden

name, I just dropped the Alice.

- Ms. Linden, I'm defending a

man who's accused of murder,

but who I feel is innocent.

- Richard Kincaid, you

may remember the case.

- Yes.

- He escaped, but he's been found,

and there's gonna be another trial.

Is there anything you could

add to what you told earlier?

- No.

No, I don't think so.

- Do you have any idea who

else might have killed him?

- No.

- You didn't see the gun on the bed

where Kincaid said he threw it?

- No.

- I hate to ask you this, but I must.

Isn't it possible that

Carrie might have gotten up

later in the night when you were asleep

and going out of the house?

- I don't see how he

could have without waking me.

- Let me ask you this.

Dan Bryan seemed awfully

sure his wife had a lover.

Do you think there

might have been something

between her and Carrie?

- There could have been,

between him and any pretty woman,

but I never suspected Joan.

- We're looking back now for 12 years.

Do you have any idea who

her lover may have been

if she had one?

- Well, I was never sure, but about a

year after the trial,

she married Walter Long.

Maybe there's no connection.

- Walter Long?

- Yes.

- Where are they now?

- Let me see.

They moved somewhere out of the city.

I never visited them.

I'm afraid I don't remember the address.

- Will you try to, please?

It's very important.

- No.

No, it's gone.

I may have it on some

old slip of paper at home.

If I find it, I'll let you know.

- Will you do that?

Here's my number.

My office will always know

where to get in touch with me.

And will you call me

just as soon as possible?

- Yes, yes, I will.

- Good.

And give me your address.

- It's 763 Driscoll

Avenue, Driscoll Street,

that is, apartment 29.

- 29?

Fine.

Thank you very much, Miss Linden.

Good night.

- Oh, Mr. Vint.

Would you do me a favor?

If you should seek carry again,

would you give him my very best regards?

- Sure.

So far, we found three of your witnesses.

No, four.

Pat Shelda is dead.

Appleby was blinded during the war

and runs a bookbinding shop.

Maguires were divorced eight years ago.

- Did you get anything out of them?

- One interesting thing.

A year after her husband was killed,

Joan Bryan married Walter Long.

- Walter Long.

The quiet guy who

stumbled around in Walt's time.

The guy who owned the machine shop.

So he was the one.

Well, what do you know?

Well, well, that settles it, doesn't it?

- Not entirely, no.

But it'll help.

At least the jury

will probably believe you

when you say you weren't Joan's lover.

- You still don't

think I'm innocent, do you?

- You say you're

innocent, so I assume you are.

And I'll fight just as

hard for you as I know how.

- I know you're innocent.

- That, my dear, is fate.

Something Mr. Bennett

can't be expected to have.

Who told you about Walter and Joan?

Kerry McGuire?

- No, I haven't had a

chance at question Kerry yet,

but I expect to soon.

My very best operator's bringing him in.

- Come on, Lefty.

Quit guzzling that poison.

- I'm your friend.

I'll take you to some good liquor.

What do you mean, poison?

- Poison?

- He's right.

I've drunk better

alcohol out of compasses.

Come on, pal, let's go.

(engine rumbling)

Right about here, there's

a shortcut over into town.

(chuckles)

I'm talking to myself.

(engine rumbling)

(tires screeching)

(engine rumbling)

(tires screeching)

(gun firing)

(engine rumbling) (tires screeching)

- Doc says I'll be able to

use my arm in a couple of days.

- I'd probably need it to rest.

- Personally, I don't think Becky Collins

had anything to do with killing McGuire.

- Becky Collins?

- He's got a good legitimate business.

Runs a sporting good shop.

He wouldn't get mixed

up in anything shady.

- Thought this was the only shady thing

he wasn't mixed up in.

Those goons who killed McGuire,

have their bodies been identified?

- Uh-huh.

- Becky Collins, boys?

- Not sure.

One of them, Pete

Flugel, might have been once.

Quit trying to pump me, will you?

Whatever the boys from homicide told me

was as strict as confidence.

They haven't even called on Collins yet.

Sorry, Pop.

- Sheriff's office.

Her friend jumped to her

conclusion, I'm afraid.

All I said was I worked for the county.

And from the public

defender's office, Paul Bennett.

- Nice of you to look

in on us, Mr. Defender.

Sit down.

- I thought maybe you could help me.

I'm investigating a murder.

- Don't get funny, pal.

- I'll be glad to help

you all I can, Mr. Defender.

Duty of every good citizen.

Of course, I'm sort of

out of things these days.

My business keeps me tied down.

- Yes, I can see it's rather demanding.

- Listen, wise guy.

- Shut up.

You get fired out of here.

You might need the public

defender yourself someday.

Just what murder case we're

interested in, Mr. Defender?

- Well, there are a

couple as a matter of fact.

Did you ever hear of the Dan Bryan case?

- Dan Bryan?

Boys, we ever hear of

the Dan Bryan murder case.

When'd you get it?

- 1938.

- 1938?

Well, what do you expect?

I didn't come out here till 43.

- Oh, did you ever hear of Kerry McGuire?

- Kerry McGuire?

Boys, we ever hear of Kerry McGuire.

We never heard of Kerry McGuire.

(phone ringing)

Hello, who?

Paul Bennett?

Yeah, just a minute.

Anything to oblige the county?

- Hello.

- Hello, Mr. Bennett?

Your office gave me this number to call.

You made me promise not to waste any time

once I found that address.

Well, I found it.

The address of Walter and Joan Long.

- That's great.

I'm extremely obliged to you for calling.

What is that address?

- Well, you remember I told

you that they moved out of town

after I divorced Kerry?

That reminds me, Mr. Bennett.

Have you seen Kerry again?

- Oh, yes, I have.

- Well, did you, did

you deliver my message?

- No, I didn't.

I'll explain why when I see you.

Now, please, if you'd give me that

address you spoke of.

- Oh, yes, yes, the address.

It's...

- Hello?

Hello?

(door opens)

- Police.

This is Bennett,

public defender's office.

Go up to 763 Driscoll

Street, apartment 29 right away.

I'll meet you there.

There's a woman in trouble.

- Everybody gets in trouble.

- I heard a yelling for

help and I come and run.

A guy just slugged her, see?

Then he run out.

I didn't see his face.

- Officer, I'm Bennett,

public defender's office.

- Well, she's alive.

Look out, Mr. We gotta go.

- Wait.

(water splashing)

- Here you go.

Here you go.

Won't you sit down?

- Thank you.

- Well, what can I do

for the public defender

of Los Angeles County?

- I'm afraid this isn't going to be

a very happy subject, Mrs. Long.

I'm defending Richard Kincaid

and I'd like to ask you

some questions, if I may.

- Richard Kincaid?

- Yes, there's gonna be

another trial very soon.

It was announced in

the papers just recently.

I thought perhaps you'd seen it.

- No, I didn't.

Does this mean that Walter and I will

have to testify again?

- I'm afraid so.

- But it's also unnecessary.

We've told all there is to tell.

The man's guilty.

- No.

- What?

- He's innocent, I'm sure of it.

- Of course you have to say that.

- No, I'm sure.

Now.

- Then who did kill Dan?

- That I'm not quite so sure yet.

- Mrs. Long, you and your

husband are going to be asked

some very personal

questions on the witness stand.

May I ask some of them now?

If I can find out the truth,

you may be spared

some embarrassment later.

- Go ahead.

Ask what you like.

- Thank you.

- You may ask me too.

- Walter, this is Mr. Bennett.

- With the public

defenders office, I know.

Carl's told me.

Shall I save you the trouble

of asking your

embarrassing questions, Mr. Bennett?

My wife and I were not in love

at the time of Dan Bryan's death.

I didn't kill him.

Did you, my dear?

- No, of course I didn't.

- Is there anything else?

- Yes.

- Well, maybe we better

take this sitting down.

- Where did you last see Kerry McGuire?

- Kerry McGuire?

- Oh, about eight or nine years ago.

- Yes, about that.

- I'd hope to ask your wife

this in private, Mr. Long,

but now you'll have to hear it too.

Was Kerry ever anything

more than a friend to you?

- What an insulting question to ask.

- Yes, I'm sorry.

You care to answer it?

- No, of course he wasn't.

- Did he ever try to blackmail you?

- Certainly not.

- Or you?

- He did not.

- I know these are painful questions,

but this is a very ugly

affair and getting uglier.

McGuire seemed to

know something important.

The day before yesterday, two thugs,

apparently acting on

orders, murdered him.

- What? - Murdered him?

- Yes.

The day after I tried to

talk to him about this case,

and that's not all,

yesterday there was

another attempted murder.

- Attempted?

- This time it was Alice McGuire.

A man broke into her

apartment and tried to kill her.

Fortunately, she'll recover.

- Why should anyone

try to kill poor Alice?

- Someone must have thought

she knew what Carrie knew.

- Well, don't look at me.

I have a perfect alibi.

I was in a business

conference all day yesterday.

- I see.

What's that quotation?

"Times change and we change with them."

Especially the witnesses in this case.

I found them all now,

except for only in wood.

- Were you once engaged, George?

- No, we were just friends.

Do you have any more questions?

Thank you.

I'll ask them at the trial.

And thank you, Mrs.

Long, for your courtesy.

Goodbye.

No, don't bother.

I can find my own way out.

- What a terrible business.

- Yes.

- I have a headache.

I'm going to lie down.

(dramatic music)

- Well, Mr. Defender, the

trial starts in two days.

Got your case complete?

- I wish I had.

Look, Paul, here's another

letter and answers to the ad

we put in for Rolene Wood.

Postmark Tucson, Arizona.

No postage, had to pay three cents.

- Was it worth it?

- Oh, I don't know.

It's the screwiest

looking one in the lot.

- I'll say it is poetry.

The fruit is dead and

yet the leaves are green.

I saw the world and yet I was not seen.

My thread is cut and yet it is not spun.

Now I live and now my life is done.

Rolene Wood.

What's that under the name?

- Well, that's what I was wondering.

- M-C-C-C.

That looks like a

picture and some rocks, a road.

- That's it?

Picture Rocks Road.

I've been in Tucson.

There's a road by that

name a few miles out of town.

- M-C-C-C is a number.

- 1300.

1300, Picture Rocks Road.

It's an address.

- It's a kicking up pants.

It just proves there's jokers everywhere.

- Yeah, but Tincaid

said she wrote poetry.

- Well, why didn't she

write it straight out?

Whatever she wanted to say.

- Maybe there was some good reason.

Looks like the same handwriting.

Only more hurried.

Get me a ticket on the

next plane to Tucson.

(plane engine roaring)

(phone buzzing)

- Hello, I'd like to

talk to Miss Rolene Wood.

- Rolene Wood?

What do you want to talk to her about?

- Well, it's a personal matter.

I just got a letter from her.

- A letter?

Let me see it.

- As I said, it's a personal matter.

Is she at home?

- No, she ain't.

- I know more than Apollo, peropt.

As he lies sleeping, I

behold the stars as mortals roar.

- Excuse me.

- Say, mister, in

this part of the country,

we don't like folks who shove their way

in where they ain't wanted.

- I'm sorry, but I've

got to talk to Miss Wood.

- All right, go ahead.

- Talk to her.

- Miss Wood.

Did you send this letter?

- Yes, yes, I did.

- I've come all the way down here

to ask you one question.

Do you know anything

about the Dan Bryan case?

- I know all about it.

- You do?

Do you know who killed him?

- I don't dare talk about it now.

We've got to get away.

They're holding me.

(screaming)

(thudding)

- Now, will you tell me

what this is all about?

- Who are you anyway?

What do you want?

- I'm defending a murder,

and I want Miss Wood as a witness.

- Oh, no you don't.

- I'm afraid I do.

I'm from the public

defender's office in Los Angeles.

Will you come with me, Miss Wood?

Miss Wood.

- She ain't no good as a witness.

She's crazy.

- She's been crazy for years.

She was in the state of silent.

- Silent?

Oh.

- We're a guardians.

My boy bought in me.

I'm her aunt.

- Romaine, look at me.

Do you have any idea

who killed Dan Bryan?

Was it Walter Long?

Joan Bryan?

Pat Sheldon?

Bernal Appleby?

Alice McGuire?

Carrie McGuire?

Did you do it?

- Oh, no, I couldn't have done it.

- Why not?

- I just couldn't.

You can ask Pat Sheldon.

We roomed together, you know.

If I'd have gone out, she'd have hurt me.

She's a very light sleeper.

- She was.

She's dead.

- Dead?

Oh, no, she couldn't be.

Pat Sheldon.

My best friend.

Oh, no, she couldn't be.

- Hey, mister, ain't you done enough?

You won't get nothing out of her.

(crying)

Suppose you get out of here

and go on back to Los Angeles.

- Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye.

This honorable superior

court, Department Number 22,

in and out of the city

and county of Los Angeles

is now in session.

The honorable John Spears, Judge

Presiding, be seated.

- People of the state of California

versus Richard Kintee.

(footsteps)

- Are you ready, Counselor?

- Yes, Your Honor.

- We're ready, Your Honor.

Your Honor, ladies and

gentlemen of the jury,

you've all heard the

phrase, "History repeats itself."

12 years ago, I stood

here in the same courtroom,

prosecuting a certain

young man for murder.

That young man ran away,

afraid to hear the jury's verdict.

Today, he sits here

again, not quite so young now,

but faced by the same body of

evidence, the same witnesses,

though they're not so young now either,

and some of them are dead.

And I stand here again too,

still prosecuting him for the same crime.

You see, I don't like

people to get away with murder.

That man has gotten

away with it for 12 years.

And frankly, I think that's long enough.

(crowd chattering)

- Now, when you picked

up your coat from the bed,

you could see, of course, the lights run.

- Yes, I could see, very clearly.

- And there was nothing

else on the bed at all?

- No.

- Thank you.

- Now, a lot of questions.

Your Honor, that

completes the people's case.

- It's nearly 4.30.

The court will adjourn

until 10 o'clock Monday morning.

The members of the jury are

asked to keep an open mind

and not discuss the case with anyone.

Court adjourned.

Our turn will come.

- Right.

(footsteps thudding)

- Oh, I'm terribly sorry.

I should have noticed. -

Oh, that's quite all right.

- Mr. Bennett, it must be awfully tough

having to come all the

way in from Long Beach.

Why don't you let me give

you a ride to the train?

- Well, thanks, but I'm

not going straight home.

I don't get into town very often,

and when I do, I like

to take flowers to Pat.

- Oh, perhaps you'd take me to a taxi.

- Why don't you let me

take you all the way?

I'd like to very much,

unless you'd rather not.

- That'd be very nice.

- Fine.

(dramatic music)

(dramatic music)

- We go out this way.

Pat must have been a wonderful person.

- Very gay person.

- Do you have any family?

- Just a father.

- Alyssa's grand shelter.

Quite a character.

- Sure is true.

I told Brick Appleby she was dead.

Even took him to a

grave and said it was hers,

and the poor guy asked me to.

Isn't he a lot happier

thinking that she died loving him,

instead of finding out

that she abandoned him, me,

and all decency to

marry the guy that she did?

In case you want to know who she married,

it's none of your business.

- As happens, it is my business.

It's an eating bother.

I think I know who she married.

Thanks.

(door creaks)

- The prosecutor has told you that

history repeats itself.

But history never repeats itself exactly.

And there's a great deal

more to this case today

than there was 12 years ago.

I know that this court and

the attorney for the state

are anxious to see justice done.

I asked them to bear

with me while I bring out

some developments that have occurred

quite recently in this case.

- Go ahead.

- Thank you.

I'd like to call as my first

witness, Mr. Wallace Bennett.

They were professional killers.

They killed Carrie McGuire

and they tried to kill me.

Their mistake.

- I was in the hospital for five days.

The doctor said I was very lucky

that the blow didn't kill me.

- One murder and two attempted murders

of people vitally

connected with this case.

I'm going to call a witness now

who I think can explain all these events.

Mrs. Packie Collins.

(footsteps)

Please take the witness then.

Is she pretty?

- She is very attractive.

- Raise your right hand,

place your left hand upon the Bible.

Do you solemnly swear the testimony

about the giving of the matter now

pending for this court

should be the truth,

the whole truth, nothing

but the truth's help you got.

- I do.

- State your right name.

- Mrs. Packard Collins.

- Please be seated.

- Pat, Pat, Pat!

- Order in the court.

Sit down please.

There will be no demonstration.

- What was your name

before your marriage?

- Patricia Sheldon.

- I see.

Mrs. Collins, a year or two after the

murder of Dan Bryan,

were you engaged to

marry Mr. Bernell Appleby?

- Yes.

- But before you could

marry him, he was drafted?

- Yes.

- Did you ever know a

man named Kerry McGuire?

- What a few years ago.

- Yes.

- Now between the time

Mr. Appleby was drafted

and the time you married Mr. Collins,

did you and Kerry

McGuire become considerably

more friendly than before?

- No, I did not.

- Well, you did see him

more frequently, did you not?

- Perhaps I did.

I was lonesome.

I--

- I understand.

Now later, quite recently in fact,

did Kerry McGuire try to blackmail you

with a certain piece of

knowledge you learned about you

during that relationship?

- No, he didn't.

- Now Mrs. Collins, listen closely.

Did you recently

arrange to have two men follow

Kerry McGuire and kill him?

- I certainly did not.

- Did you send someone

to kill Alice McGuire

because you were

afraid she may have learned

that same certain knowledge from her

husband in the past?

Perhaps while he was drunk?

- I did nothing of the kind.

- Now let's go back a few years.

Were you ever jilted by Dan Bryan?

- No.

- Didn't you and Dan Bryan

take out a marriage license

in San Bernardino County just two months

before he married Joan?

- I--

Yes, we did.

- And that license was never used?

- No.

- Did you hold any ill feelings?

Did you harbor any hatred toward him

because it was never used?

- No.

- Now let's go back to

the night of the murder.

You were at the party

at Kerry McGuire's house

earlier in the evening.

- Yes.

- You heard the quarrel between Dan Bryan

and Richard Kincaid.

- Yes, we all heard it.

- Now later, when you got

your wrap, did you go alone?

- Yes.

- When you picked up your wrap,

did you see a pistol on the bed?

- No.

- You didn't see a pistol?

Pick it up very

carefully in your gloved hand

in order not to leave your fingerprints

and put it in your purse.

- No, I did not.

- You did go home,

however, to an apartment

you shared with another girl.

- Yes.

- What was her name?

- Roline Wood.

- She was a good

friend of yours, wasn't she?

- Yes.

- What became of her?

Do you know?

- No.

We lost track of each

other about a year later.

(footsteps)

- Now, let's get back

to the night in question.

Later that night, when you

thought Roline was asleep,

did you slip out and murder

Dan Bryan with his own gun

and leave it there?

- I certainly did not.

- Then when you got

back, you found Roline--

- I never left the apartment.

- Your Honor, I object.

He's trying to trap the witness.

He's assuming

something she's already denied.

- Objection sustained.

- All right, you

didn't leave your apartment.

You're sure of that.

- Absolutely.

(sirens blaring)

- Now, Mrs. Collins,

the truth if you please.

You did leave your apartment, didn't you?

Didn't you?

- Yes.

- And you took the gun

with you and killed Dan Bryan.

And Roline Wood knew it.

She knew it, didn't she?

- Yes, yes.

(somber music)

- Pat Sheldon!

You are Pat Sheldon!

You are Pat Sheldon!

They told me you were dead!

Dead, but you're alone!

(screaming)

- That girl couldn't testify.

Pat's hanged herself.

That lawyer's trapped her.

As a prosecutor, I

recommend that this woman

be held to answer for her crimes.

(somber music)

- What can you say to a

man who saved your life?

- All you can say is thank you.

It's not very much.

- That's plenty.

- Oh, dear.

(somber music)

(footsteps)

- Something bothering your papa?

- Yeah, I was wondering, could

the public defender's office,

when the budget allows it, of course,

could they use a one arm investigator?

- Well, it might.

That depends as soon as you have a mind.

(laughing)

(somber music)