Original subtitles

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

Tonight's topic is self -defense, a matter of importance to everyone,

especially the ladies.

The first rule is to be suspicious of strangers, especially if they are

to the waist and have arranged mattresses on the floor in advance.

In nine cases out of ten, they are jujitsu instructors.

Put out your hand and appear to be friendly.

Then pick out a corner of the room.

I have a feeling I'm not going to pass this course.

I won't tell him why it was he couldn't throw me. He was standing on my foot.

Now our story follows this one -minute attack on your sensibilities.

against which there is no defense.

I'm sorry, I haven't any change.

You can't break a five?

No, it's all right. You take the beer and pay me later.

I must have an honest face.

No, I have some change here. What's it come to?

No, mister, please.

Never mind.

Don't worry about the beer.

Don't turn around.

Stay right where you are and don't turn around.

Go. You got the money.

My husband's gun. I was afraid to reach for it. He keeps it here.

Gerald R. Clark.

Is that with an E? Yes, sir.

Age? 38.

Address?

2114 North Hope Street.

That's apartment 11.

Married? Single.

Occupation? I'm a radio engineer at station WLPQ.

Lieutenant,

how's the boy?

He's pretty badly wounded, but he's still alive.

Who is he? Kid named Phillips.

Jimmy Phillips, 18, no previous record.

What's the rest of that, Lou?

Mother divorced.

Works as a switchboard operator for an answering service.

Father remarried, living somewhere in New Jersey.

Unable to locate.

Mr. Clark.

Would you mind telling us something?

Sure.

You never been in that liquor store until tonight?

No.

How'd you happen to go there?

Well, I was on my way to a friend's house to play some cards, and I decided

pick up some beer, so I just stopped off at the first place it was open.

Never saw the lady who owns a store before?

No.

Well, now, please don't misunderstand me.

I think you showed a lot of nerve going after that kid.

But... That thing had been stolen from you.

And you didn't even know Mrs. Gruber.

Why did you take such a risk?

Because he pointed his gun at me.

I don't get you.

When I was in the army in World War II, I served in France and Belgium and

Germany. Never on the line, though. I never had to kill anybody.

But I did see a man get killed once, though.

I was outside a bar in Brussels.

A British soldier, a friend of his shot him by

mistake, I think.

They were having an argument about a girl and this one fellow had a gun and

kept pointing at the other one and they kept yelling at each other. And all of a

sudden the gun went off and that was the end of a man's life.

And the one who got shot, I was watching him and he kept wanting

to do something.

He kept looking at that gun that was pointed at him, and he didn't know what

do.

And it made me realize how special a loaded gun is when it's pointed at you.

And tonight, when that kid pointed that gun at me, and I thought, what makes him

think that he can do this to me?

And I had to fight back.

I... I'm a child.

I'm inside, Lieutenant Schwartz.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, well, have him call me back as soon as he's free.

Look,

Lieutenant, do you suppose I could make a phone call? My friends are probably

wondering what happened to me.

Yeah, sure.

As far as that goes, you can leave now.

We know where to get in touch with you.

I suppose it sounds empty to say I wish it hadn't happened.

Mr. Clark, don't let it throw you.

Man's got a right to defend himself.

Have a seat.

I'll tell the lieutenant you're here.

Thank you.

Lieutenant?

No, I'm not a policeman.

Luke Hart will see you in a minute.

Thank you.

I can't believe it.

I don't understand it.

You think you're doing your best for your children.

For the given things.

Love.

tried with Jimmy.

Jimmy? I can't give him everything.

I had to help him buy his automobile that he must have needed something

else.

Nobody. He was gone tonight opening up a store with an empty gun.

Empty gun?

He was shot.

Three times, and the gun wasn't even loaded.

Wait a minute, hold it.

Yes, Mr. Clark.

Is it true?

Is what true?

That the kid I shot was carrying an empty gun.

Yes, but there wasn't any way you could have known that.

Excuse me, Doc, go ahead.

Yeah.

She's waiting outside the office.

Yeah, I'll tell her.

Well, you did the best you could.

Okay, Doc. Thanks for calling.

Philip's boy died five minutes ago.

Good night, Philip.

Good night, the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit,

that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.

the peace of God which passes all understanding.

Keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge of love of God and of his Son,

Christ, our Lord.

And may the blessings of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy

Spirit be upon you now and remain with you all.

Amen.

Excuse me.

Are you a relative of Mrs. Phillips?

No, she works for me. Why?

You run the answering service. That's right.

Who are you?

My name's Clark, Gerald Clark.

I'm the man who killed her son.

Oh.

What do you want?

I know how she must feel about me, and I don't expect to change that, but I... I

was wondering if there isn't something that I could do.

To help.

I'm not trying to buy my way out of this, but... Well, the funeral.

Maybe I could pay for that. I've already taken care of it.

Then may I share the cost with you? Well, this isn't necessary. No, she

have to know about it. I wouldn't want her to, but I would consider it a favor.

Please.

Is it enough?

This is very thoughtful of you.

That's the least I can do, Mr.

Willett. Henry Willett.

I'm glad to know you.

Thanks for letting me help. Forget it.

And don't punish yourself too much about this.

I knew Jimmy.

His mother's a fine woman, but he wasn't the angel she likes to think he was.

His death's been very hard on her, sure, but no matter how you add it up, it was

his own fault.

Eventually, she's going to have to face that.

Only Mrs. Phillips?

Mr. Clark?

Mr.

Clark, the reason I came here today is because this morning

when I came to work, Mr. Willett told me about the money you gave him yesterday.

Oh, I wish he hadn't done that.

Well, I'm glad he did. I'm...

I'm very grateful. Well, it's nothing. It's nothing at all. I just wanted to

help. Well, you've helped, and it was most generous.

I, um... I had a long talk with Lieutenant

Schwartz, and he's trying to make me see what happened and how Jimmy... Uh,

Mrs. Phillips.

Thank you. I'm trying to come to terms with it, and I thought maybe perhaps you

might help.

Well, certainly.

Anything, Mrs. Phillips.

I wondered if you'd talk to me.

Anytime,

Mrs. Phillips. Anytime at all.

Now?

Well, I'd like to, but I'm just on a coffee break.

How about when I get through working

tonight? I'm off at 8 .30.

That will be all right.

Well, where shall we meet?

It doesn't matter.

Somewhere where we might talk.

There's a coffee shop right around the corner, Al's.

Yes, I know the place, but...

Isn't it rather noisy?

Yes. Well, my place is just a few blocks from here. Could we meet there?

Yes. Yes, I think that would be fine. That's 2114 Hope Street, apartment 11.

Apartment 11.

All right. Nine o 'clock? Yes, nine o 'clock will be fine.

Thank you.

Won't you come in?

Thank you.

May I take your coat?

Yes, thank you.

Did you have any trouble finding the place?

No.

The numbers on the mailbox are in sequence.

But the way they have the apartments ringed around the swimming pool, it's

pretty easy to miss the one that you're looking for. You have a lovely

apartment, Mr. Clark.

Well, thank you.

It's comfortable.

May I get you something?

Coffee or a drink? I have some imported beer. Coffee would be fine.

I won't be a minute.

Mr. Clark.

Yes?

As I told you, I had a long talk with Lieutenant Schwartz.

Maybe it's too soon to talk about it.

No.

We don't have to.

Yes, we do. I want to.

Whatever you say.

Lieutenant Schwartz explained to me what happened that night.

And I read Mrs. Gruber's statement.

So I'm not trying to minimize what Jimmy did.

Mrs. Phillips, there's no point in blaming Jimmy now.

Oh, what he did was wrong.

Walking into the store with a gun, scaring people half to death.

That poor old lady, Mrs. Gruber.

Yes.

And you.

You were frightened, too.

Weren't you?

Very.

Because you thought he'd shoot you, kill you.

That's right.

After Jimmy left the store, you took the Gruber's gun and followed him.

Yes.

And shot at him.

I shot at the car.

How many times did you shoot?

I don't remember.

The lieutenant said four shots had been fired.

Then I guess they were.

And that three of them hit Jimmy.

Yes.

After you fired the first shot, why did you fire the second?

Because all it did was smash the window.

But you just said you were only shooting at the car.

I meant I was shooting to stop the car.

And after the second shot, did the car stop?

Yes.

Then why did you fire the third?

Because I was afraid.

That Jimmy didn't fire back at you. But that didn't mean he wouldn't. I didn't

know his gun was empty.

And even after that, after shooting at him three times and not having any fire

return, you still walked up to the car and fired another

shot. Yes, because he might have been lying there waiting for me.

With an unloaded gun.

But I didn't know that.

And it never occurred to you?

Why should it?

He stuck a gun in my back and he threatened me.

You don't know what that's like.

You don't know how it feels having a gun pointed at you.

I had every reason to believe that gun was loaded.

What would you think?

What would anybody think?

I'm sorry about your son, Mrs. Phillips.

I'm so sorry I can't see straight.

But I don't know what else I can say.

I didn't start this.

I didn't want it to happen.

This gun is loaded, Mr. Clark.

Listen.

You don't know what you're doing.

Don't.

Don't. I didn't know his gun was empty.

I was just frightened.

So are you frightened now?

I was trying to defend myself, that's all.

What good will it do to kill me?

You'll just ruin your own life.

What will it solve? It won't bring it back.

You'll be killing me for nothing.

For no reason in the whole world.

I'm not the one who started this trouble with your son, Mrs. Phillips. He did!

I thought his gun was loaded, I swear it!

You don't have to be afraid anymore, Mr. Clark.

I'm not going to kill you.

Goodbye, Mr. Clark.

I told you not to point a gun at me.

realize it's impolite to point, but Gerald's reaction was a trifle drastic.

I think you too will be glad to know that he was subsequently apprehended as

emptied his revolver into the figure of Uncle Sam in an army recruiting poster.

And now I shall be back after this word from a very prudent gentleman who points

with pride, but only to himself.

That is all we have to offer tonight.

We shall be back next week with more of the same.

Until then, good night.