Original subtitles

(Chorus singing)

The scales of justice

weigh the fates of many men.

And in my files there are many stories of those

who have broken the law.

The story I'll never forget

is about a man who wasn't a criminal,

not in the strictest legal sense,

yet he tried to live above justice.

Martin Strang was one of the greatest criminal lawyers

ever to appear before my bench.

A man whose brilliant but tainted mind,

with almost diabolical shrewdness,

cheated the forces of law and order too many times.

Yes, this is the strange, bitter, ironic story

of a man who gambled with life and death

and who put his thumb on the scales of justice.

The breaking point in Martin Strang's career

undoubtedly came when James

Tilton, the murderer once freed by Strang, struck again.

It was early last summer.

Shh.

(Dog barking)

(Gunshot)

If Strang had been at home to answer the call

from Lieutenant Edwards

at the homicide bureau that early morning,

he wouldn't have seen his wife

in the arms of Doctor James Anderson.

Now perhaps number 29

Euclid Arms would not have been the setting for a weird

and unusual crime.

What is done is done.

Yes?

Are you ready for breakfast

dear? - In a few minutes

when I finish shaving.

What did you do last night

take a sleeping pill?

Door was locked

I tried to wake you.

No, I had a headache.

I went to bed early.

You looked like you had a rotten night.

Not at all.

My, you’re in a nasty mood this morning.

You shouldn't be

you know, you're in the headlines again.

Congratulations, darling.

Musical murderer strikes again.

Man acquitted a year ago by noted criminal lawyer

Martin Strang,

goes berserk, kills boy and dog.

Let’s see that.

[phone rings]

Hello?

Yes, one moment.

Your pal Edwards, the Homicide

Bureau wants to speak to you.

Hello?

Hello, Strang.

Where have you been all night?

I've been trying to get you for hours.

Didn’t get in ‘till very late,

and I guess my wife didn't hear the phone.

Why? What's up?

Yeah I just read about it, it looks like a mess.

Of course

I'll take the Tillton case. What else can I do?

I don't know, counselor. Dozens have been asking for you.

I don't think I'd like to be in your boots this time.

What are you driving at?

What's Doc Anderson got against you?

Nothing that I know of. Why?

He's pulling a fast one Strang.

He's asked

for a private examination of Tillton at 8:00 this morning.

If I were you, I’d just happen to drop in.

Thanks for the tip, Lieutenant.

I can just make it.

I'll be there.

You're not going to take the Tillton case again.

Are you Martin?

It isn’t a question of whether I want to take the case or not.

It's a question of ethics.

The murdered boy, Tony Toreno.

Martin Strang, prominent criminal attorney

who a year ago won

an acquittal for the murder on a similar charge.

Nice picture of you, Martin.

John Tillton, the musical murderer.

I doubt you could get any money out of him.

He looks down and out.

Isn't that a shame?

An 11 year old boy,

might have grown up to be a great violinist.

He was crippled, Martin.

Crippled.

A helpless boy and his dog.

And you set free the man who killed them both.

Not very pretty, is it, Martin?

I say it should worry you

to free so many murderers.

Doesn't it pray on your conscience?

What difference does it make to you?

None I suppose, I don't play

the violin.

Your client looks young. With you to defend him

he should be able to do away with quite

a few innocent people before he dies.

You’ve changed your hairdo

Lucile, it's quite becoming.

You didn't answer my question,

doesn't it worry your conscience?

No, not at all. Because I'm a gambler.

I like to gamble.

If I don't take their cases, somebody else will.

But I always stay within the bounds of legal ethics.

You're a fine man to talk about legal ethics.

You killed your own brother with those legal ethics.

Yeah.

I'm sorry Martin.

Sit down.

Finish your coffee.

Made two wire

recordings. One most children would study.

The other, I think, is the one

the boy was playing when he was killed.

At least the music was on the rack.

Excuse me, Doctor Anderson.

Mr. Martin Strang is here to see you.

Yes, he's taking the

Tillton case again.

Oh.

Show Mr.

Strang in.

Come in sir. - Thank you.

Hello Marty.

Doc. - Have a seat.

Thank you. Lieutenant. - Hello.

I stopped by the jail to see Tillton.

They said he was over here.

Where is he? - Inside.

You boys are getting to work pretty early.

What's on your mind?

I like to handle these cases

as soon as possible after the crime.

I have a theory about Tillton’s.

I'd like to try something on him, if you don't mind.

What?

Sodium pentothal

The stuff we started using during the war.

Something we didn't have the last time you got Tillton off.

Truth serum, huh?

Well, that's the popular name for it.

The facts of the case point to a psychosis of some kind.

With this drug, we can break down

Tillton’s defenses and make him talk.

What are you looking for

Doc, a motive? - Yes.

You know as well as I do

that testimony taken under the influence of drugs

is not admissible in court.

Yes, we know, but

it’ll save a lot of time.

Alright,

if Tilton has no objections, I haven't.

I doubt if he'll object.

He looks pretty washed up to me.

Shall we go ahead?

Three. - Don't fight it Tillton.

Relax. - Four.

Five.

Did your parents ever quarrel?

- No.

They got along all right.

Did your parents ever

discuss money problems in your presence?

Money problems?

Financial difficulties?

They had no financial difficulties.

We had plenty of money.

Enough money for you to study the violin?

Stand up please.

Play for me.

Oh, I,

I can't, I,

I can't.

Sit down.

What happened to your hand?

Was it crushed? - No.

But isn't that you playing?

Isn't that the way you used to play?

No. My brother.

To show off.

Didn't you like your brother?

Like him?

I hated him.

Why did you call him a show off?

Thought he was smart.

I knew music.

He was just a machine,

a machine.

He read the notes

and played them like a parrot.

No meaning.

When I tried to tell him, he'd get his violin

and play.

Then he'd hand it to me and say,

“Let's see you do it.”

He knew

my hand.

Ever since I was a baby,

my hand.

I couldn't play.

I couldn't play,

There's a gun.

On the table

Tillton.

There's a gun on the table

beside you Tillton.

Tillton,

there’s a gun.

Nice music,

good technique.

That boy plays the violin beautifully.

Just to show me

I can't.

They all do.

They follow me around with their violins

and laugh at me because I can't play.

Can’t play.

I, I-

That’s enough take him out.

Well, what's the verdict Doc?

Well, as far as I'm concerned, the man is as normal as you

or I. - What?

I know it's a bitter pill for you to swallow Strang.

I shouldn't like your job of defending him.

It'll hardly make you look like a public hero.

Well, the man is obviously insane.

The man has a neurosis

perhaps. He may have been out of

his mind for a few minutes

when he committed the crime, but in my opinion, he's sane.

Well, I guess you know what you're doing.

I'm sorry, Marty.

Well, live and learn, I always say.

I'll send for these later.

Be seeing you around counselor. - Goodbye Lieutenant. - Goodbye, Edwin.

That was very smart manipulation, Jim.

Even if it does put me on the spot

Do you handle everyone that cleverly?

I've had a lot of practice.

No hard feelings, I hope.

No, of course not. It's all in the game.

I was just thinking

it's a shame your talents are wasted on a county job.

Well, my work gives me a lot of varied cases.

It's a good experience. - I suppose so.

You don't get the competition here

you do in private practice.

As a matter of fact, I intend to go

into private practice very shortly.

A little fed up with all this.

But you’d miss it. Catering to a lot of tired dowagers

wouldn't be very interesting.

I don't think you'll give this up.

I intend to. - I wish I was sure of myself as you are.

You know, I used to be.

To tell you the truth,

these murder cases are getting the best of me.

I don't even sleep well lately.

Guilty conscience?

Maybe so.

Maybe you're right.

You mean springing so many murderers?

Look, if it's Tillton you're worried about, forget it.

After all, you didn't hold the gun that killed the boy.

I don't know, you know, Lucille keeps harping

about my legal practice,

seems to be preying on her mind, too.

I get strange thoughts sometimes.

Like last night.

Last night?

What happened?

Oh, nothing, really, except that I had dinner downtown.

It was the maid’s night out, and Lucille didn't want to cook.

So when I got home, I found Lucille had locked herself

in her bedroom. It was a funny thing.

I knew she was in there.

And yet I had the strangest feeling

that I was alone in the apartment.

I almost awakened her, to be sure.

Did you? - Awaken my wife?

You don't know her. I'd have never heard the end of it.

I guess I should have, though.

I didn't get to sleep until the wee small hours.

I thought you looked tired when you came in.

Tired?

I'm really tired.

Say Jim, you don’t have any sedatives lying around that I could

take at night do you?

I never seem to have time to get to a doctor.

Well, I- - Don't worry

I'm not going to run down and report you to the medical board.

It's not that, but the heat's on.

So many suicides from sleeping pills lately.

Oh, of course I know,

you wouldn't be so silly.

It's not a bad idea, but I don't think I'll do that yet.

You know why? I want a big funeral.

There wouldn't be many mourners.

Seriously, Doc, I've got to get some sleep.

Why don't you go up to your place on the lake and relax?

What you need is a good rest.

All right.

You fix me up with some sleep, and I'll take your advice.

Well, I shouldn't,

but all right.

Here you are.

Oh.

Don't take more than one of these at night.

Thanks.

Take care of yourself, Marty.

Oh, I’ll need to. Now that I found out my client Tillton is sane

I’ll really need to. Give my regards to Doctor Freud.

Strang threw away

Doctor Anderson's envelope of sedatives with disgust.

It's already served his purpose.

The gun obtained by this ruse is now in the files

marked Exhibit A, for it played an important part

in the events that were to follow.

Hello?

You know, Doc, I don't

want to stick my neck out too far,

but I would like to take those two recordings

to another alienist and have him examine Tillton.

I don't think that'll be necessary, Edwards.

After all, there's

no use putting the county to extra expense.

Well, that's your department.

But that's what I'd like to do.

Why don't you drop it, Lieutenant?

I'll take the responsibility.

Okay.

But unless I miss my guess,

Strang will have another alienist on the case

before the day's over.

We'll see.

Mr. Strang?

Oh. Hello, Riley.

Baby arrived yet?

That's what I want to talk to you about.

Sure has Mr. Strang.

Twins, boys.

Twins? - Yeah.

Let's see.

I bet you $25 it’d be a girl

I think. Twin boys? Club hits a jack

Four to one. There you are, congratulations.

100 bucks.

Oh, you don't know how this will help me, Mr.

Strang.

You know, I need the $25 for my bond.

It expired last week.

Expired? That’s serious isn’t it?

Yeah, but this will take care of it.

And the rest.

Boy, what that'll do for Molly and the kids.

You know,

the boys in the department, have it in for you, Mr.

Strang.

Especially since this Tillton case.

But I know you're one swell guy.

Thanks, Riley.

Nice to know I got one friend left.

Lucille.

Lucille.

Well hello, Marty.

Didn’t expect to find you home at this time.

Anything wrong?

You look worried.

What are you doing with that?

Oh, isn't it cute?

And it works.

Guaranteed to

keep the children happy for hours.

Think he’ll like it? - Who?

Johnny, of course.

It's his birthday. Oh Martin,

I didn't think you would forget.

Not your own brother's little boy.

How very thoughtful you are, Lucille.

Especially when the boy's father shot himself.

Oh, of course

you'll have to forgive me.

I just didn't stop to think.

Where are you going? - Out.

Ladies and gentlemen.

Yes, sir-ee.

Practically giving these things away.

Step right up. Step right up.

Here you are, sir.

Ever see a gadget like this?

Here you are. Here

hold it in your hand there. Here.

No, you pull on the trigger there.

See, that's. See how it works?

See this box come outta that thing? Quite

a gadget isn’t it?

Why don’t you take one home for the kids eh?

What’s the matter? Haven’t you got a quarter?

No one will ever know what Martin Strang had planned

that day as he walked across the park.

But a chance incident only a few yards away

put another man into the game and changed the course,

but not the running.

Hey, you.

Hey, hey you!

Oh, you don't know how this will help me

Mr. Strang, I needed $25 for my bond.

It expired last week. - Expired?

Yeah. - That's serious, isn't?

A murder trial involves

many things: facts, people, and their emotions.

On the day this trial began, it was hot,

humid.

The heat smothered everyone

and everything like a strange, ominous robe.

It was just as if the courtroom had set the stage

for the weather.

I looked at the prisoner.

His name was William Jackson.

The charge against him was murder.

After the customary preliminaries in the courtroom,

I opened the trial.

William Jackson,

you were charged with the murder of Patrolman

Patrick Riley.

While said

officer in the performance of his duty

was attempting to make your arrest.

Said offense being in violation of section

1141 of the Criminal Code, which states,

“Whoever purposefully and willfully kills a sheriff

constable or policeman while said sheriff, constable,

policeman is in discharge of his duties,

he is guilty of murder in the first degree

and shall be punished by death.

Before asking you how you plead,

it is my duty to inform you

that you are entitled

to benefit of counsel. Have you an attorney?

Yeah.

Stand up.

Yeah. I,

I got a lawyer, Your Honor.

Is he present in this courtroom?

I don't know, I,

I never seen him.

He, he wrote me a letter.

Well, who is your attorney?

My lawyer is Martin Strang.

Officer see if Mr. Strang in the courtroom.

That won't be necessary, Your Honor.

Strang’s appearance was completely unexpected.

Public sentiment had run high against him

when,

only a few days before,

he had appeared to defend James Tillton,

but now to voluntarily defend the man

who shot

down a public servant in cold blood was an insult to

his profession

that would place Strang in the contempt

of all those who practice before the bar.

I was afraid you weren't going to come,

thought maybe you might change your mind or something.

I said I'd be here and I'm here.

You still want me for your attorney?

Sure, sure.

Your honor, have I permission to address the court?

You have Mr. Strang, proceed.

Your Honor, I represent the accused,

William Jackson.

I enter on his behalf a plea of not guilty.

And if it pleases the court,

I should like the privilege of private conversation

with my client before proceeding.

Now, let's see. this is irregular, Mr. Strang.

But under the circumstances, your request is granted. Court declares

recess, one half hour. - Come on Jackson.

Now, before we do anything, I

want you to understand one thing.

I'll only say it once

so listen carefully.

I'm not a charity institution.

I'm a lawyer.

I didn't take this case out of sympathy.

I took it for one reason.

I want something from you.

I'm going to give you something.

But I want something in return.

Do you understand?

Yeah, yeah, I understand Mr.

Strang. What is it you want?

You’re in a spot.

You haven’t a friend in the world.

Nobody cares if you live and the state

wants you to die.

They want you in the electric chair.

Now, you've only one chance in a million

of beating this rap.

That one chance is me.

But if you take the chance, you'll have to pay me.

But not in money. I have something else in mind.

I'm going to ask a favor of you.

Sure.

I know the fix I’m in.

If you get me out of this, I'll,

I'll even kill for you.

You will?

Yeah.

I'd even kill for you.

But don't tell me what you will do.

I'll tell you.

You remember that, when the time comes,

I'll tell you.

You understand?

Yeah, yeah, I understand Mr.

Strang.

Come in.

Time's up, Mr.

Strang.

You better get back to the courtroom.

You're on your way, Jackson.

(Reporters talking over each other)

Quiet! Quiet! Quiet!

No, I don't want to ask any favors,

I just want to ask a couple of questions.

Why, Martin,

we just want to ask you a couple of questions.

Look, we're bone dry on this- - Quiet!

We're bone dry. We got nothing on the guy.

We got nothing on you handling the case.

What's behind it? Why are you doing it?

You know the guy's broke? - Look, we only want to ask why. Why?

All right, take it easy.

I've never held out a story on you, have I?

Not yet.

All right then let's drop it for now and I'll make you a promise.

When this is over, you'll have your story.

And more than that,

it may be the story of my last case.

You're kidding.

Oh, this is no joke, believe me.

All right, Jackson, come on.

That Strang.

I love that lawyer. He sure makes copy.

If I only knew the story of this guy Strang.

His mind is warped,

he put his kid brother through law school

and then had him disbarred.

Yeah, just like sending him a tombstone.

And the kid shot himself.

Yeah, I’ve watched that guy in court

case after case.

You never know what he's going to do,

but he's always got

something up his sleeve. - So? I got something in my pocket.

Any buyers? Regard Horace Greeley.

Observe. See, before your startled,

naive, eyes

a pair of dice in action.

Hey, fellas, break it up and get downstairs.

The place is busting loose. Your motion is premature. Mr.

Strang, the district attorney, hasn't concluded his address.

On what grounds do you request I direct a dismissal?

On the grounds, Your Honor,

that the district attorney

has already proved in his opening statement

that the defendant

is not guilty of the charge for which he has been indicted.

Your honor, I object. With due respect for my colleague

before the bar,

I feel that- - If I may interrupt you, Mr.

District Attorney,

you have stated that to obtain a conviction,

the state must show that Patrolman Riley

was an officer in the discharge of his duties

at the time of his fatal shooting.

Have you not? - Mr. Strang the statement’s in the record.

Your honor, I respectfully call

your attention to section 74723.

Which section states

and provides that no law enforcement

officer shall be deemed lawfully constituted

until after having posted

appropriate bond with the clerk of the court.

Your honor may satisfy himself by an examination

of the records that the bond of Patrolman Riley expired

four days before his death, and therefore, Your Honor,

Patrolman Riley was not the lawfully

constituted officer at the time of his shooting,

and therefore

the accused, William Jackson, could not have violated

the criminal section under which he has been indicted.

Bailiff will produce the records for

my examination. I declare a short recess for that purpose.

If it pleases the court, that won't be necessary.

I should like to produce in evidence,

and for the court's inspection, this affidavit and true copy,

which proves that the bond of Patrolman

Riley expired, as I heretofor stated.

I looked at the records, I could see what must happen.

Strang had found a loophole in the law, and

a murderer was going to go free on a legal technicality

and I could do nothing.

My hands are tied.

The judge must follow the letter of the law.

Strang's face showed what he was thinking.

He used the law to evade the law.

On examination,

I find the records to be, as counsel has stated.

It is my duty now to proceed with this case

with the facts as presented.

No doubt the results of this case

will be held up as a grave miscarriage of justice,

and in some quarters

will be regarded as a violation of all precepts of moral

rights from data and presentments known to me,

I believe this to be an example of a man guilty without

extenuating being freed,

turned loose upon a

society denied the protection

which is the intent of its own laws.

But it is incumbent upon me to do only as the law dictates.

No other choice is open to this court.

So, with full knowledge that the ends of justice

are being defeated, I find it my duty to, and I hereby do

direct the dismissal of this case.

Strang,

I suppose, had a certain personal satisfaction.

His client, Jackson, was free.

Undoubtedly

Jackson was overjoyed,

but I still wondered as I watched them. Strang

most certainly knew the district attorney

would obtain re-indictment, and I knew they'd be back.

You sure you won’t have a cigarette?

No, no, thanks, Mr. Strang.

Well, I always say there's nothing like a good smoke

after a hearty meal. - It was a hearty meal at that.

The condemned man ate a hearty meal.

Maybe that's a joke,

but I ain't condemned no more.

And you did it.

You sure are a smart lawyer

Mr. Strang. Well it was really very simple.

First, I determined the facts of the case

and after that, it was purely a matter of law.

You can never be tried again on that charge.

You sure got the brains.

Real brains.

But I've been thinking.

Why did you do it for me? - Why?

You're going to ask me questions?

Well, I'll tell you one reason why I did it.

Because I'm a gambler.

I read of your arrest, and I saw that you were going

to be brought up on the cop killing statute.

I decided to gamble,

and it was a gamble, Jackson.

But when I gamble, I always bet on a sure thing.

And I knew I had a sure thing.

And I got off.

I never thought it could happen.

I've been in a lot of jams, but I never killed no cop before.

I didn't think I could get away with it.

Gives me cold shivers now to think about it.

Yes why did you kill him?

You weren't in trouble.

He was only trying to arrest you for a misdemeanor.

Why did you shoot him?

I, I really don't know, Mr.

Strang. It's

it's all kind of mixed up.

I can understand that.

Sometimes I get mixed up myself.

I even get afraid.

Oh, I wasn't afraid.

No? - No I mean that. I was strong.

I was going to have a say in this deal.

All my life I've been pushed around.

I'm not a big shot.

I'm just a little guy, breathe on me and I fall over.

I've heard that one

you know. They say, good stiff breeze and you drop dead.

I'm just a little guy.

When I'm a kid,

I'm a little kid.

I get in a fight and I get beat up

and I come home.

My old man beats me up.

I get in a jam, and I get sent to reform school.

And the guards beat me up.

Mr. Strang, listen to me.

I'm listening.

I'm sick and tired of getting pushed around.

I'm not going to get shoved in

no more corners.

When I get in a corner now, I get out.

How do you mean, you get out?

Oh, don't misunderstand me, Mr.

Strang.

You got me out this time, and I'm grateful, I mean it.

I’d do anything in the world for you.

You will?

Sure.

Good.

You see this?

I want you to put it on.

You know what it is?

Yeah. It's a straitjacket.

Like, like they put on crackpots, insane people.

Like, in an asylum.

That's right.

It's simple, but it's tricky.

Here, I'll show you how it works.

Hey, wait a minute.

You don't think I'm out of my mind, do you

No.

Oh, this is part of the favor you're going to do

me. Don't you remember?

Okay

if that’s the way you want it. Anything you say.

All right, let's get at it.

They tell me

there’s some kind of a trick to getting out of these things.

Oh, there's no trick to it at all.

I'll show you how to get out of it.

So first you put your arm on the sleeve, I'll hold it for you.

You know, I like to fool with things like this, Jackson.

It's a form of relaxation for me.

You see all day long- No, wait a second.

Your arm doesn't come out of the sleeve on this.

Just push it in. All day long,

I'm getting people out of trouble.

There that’s what I mean about the sleeve,

you see? I get criminals out of trouble.

Murderers like you, been doing it for years.

Now let’s have this other arm. Men who kill people.

It's quite an experience, I can tell you.

Let’s have the other arm.

There, that’s it.

I guess

I've helped more than 100 men escape the chair.

Sometimes I lay awake at night thinking about it.

Oh, now, here's what you do here.

Just fold your arms in front of you.

That's right,

so I can bring these straps around behind.

Over 100 murderers.

But it's a gamble, and it's exciting.

I think I've gambled with just about everything in my life.

Horses, money, cards.

I've even thought of gambling

with human lives.

Here we are, Jackson.

It's a neat little gadget.

What do you mean

gamble with human lives?

Sit down.

I'm just asking you.

So you asked, sit down.

But Mr. Strang.

Now sit there.

If you get up, all you can do is move around.

You want to try it? What is this?

This is your payoff to me.

You mean all I got to do is just sit here,

as my promise to you?

Yes, that's part of your promise.

The other part is that you're going to play a game with me.

A game in which we both win or lose.

Both you and me? - Yes.

If you win, I win.

If you lose, I lose.

What kind of a game is this?

We're going to play roulette

with a revolver.

Yes. I gamble with human lives.

There was to be a third player,

a certain Doctor Anderson.

A most obliging gentleman

The doctor. This is his gun.

This is his apartment.

Very nice, don't you think?

I toyed with the idea of the doctor

getting the credit for anything that might happen here,

but I guess it's best that we two play alone

just you and I.

So the game continues

Jackson,

minus the third player.

Just a game.

Only a game.

But I've improved on it.

Now, strictly speaking, the way the game is played,

a shell is put into the gun, the cylinder is spun,

the hammer falls.

Maybe it

falls on an empty chamber or on a live shell, you see?

Yeah, yeah. - But we'll play a different way.

You'll have more of a chance.

What do you mean?

Just what I said.

Now don’t get up.

Your hands are tied, remember?

Just like the hands of the judge who set you free.

Now, I'm going to tell you precisely

why I saved you temporarily from the electric chair.

Have you ever looked at the moon?

Did you ever look at it

night after night,

after blessed

night and wonder why you're doing what you're doing?

Are you crazy? - Why?

Why? Because I want to gamble with a human life.

No.

I have it all figured out,

in my own mind that straitjacket.

This gun.

But why kill me?

Why don't you just kill yourself?

If that's what you want, why don't you just

kill yourself? - That would be suicide.

No. I've waited for a case exactly like yours

Because

I want to play my game with a man who is legally dead.

But you said I was free.

Well, you are.

You are temporarily.

But you'll be re-indicted.

The state will get you for murdering a civilian,

not for murdering a policeman. I could make a bet with you.

I could bet you the indictment is already drawn.

That's why I'm not wasting any time.

If you live,

we'll have a drink and shake hands.

This is a gamble in which we both stand to lose everything.

You can always win back money you’ve lost, but not a life.

I'm placing my biggest bet.

Put that gun away.

It's just a game.

It's a gamble.

Half the shells in the bowl have the powder removed.

Half do not.

We'll take one, this one

We'll put it in the firing

chamber of this gun.

Now, just to show you

I don't know whether it's a live shell or a dud.

You see the decanter with the brandy under

the skull?

You see? It was a dud.

We might pick all duds.

Look Strang,

I said I'd do anything.

I said I’d even kill for you.

Yes you said that,

I remember

you said you'd kill,

but you thought of killing someone else, didn't you?

You didn't think you might kill yourself.

I can't do that Strang.

I can't, I tell you, I can't.

Nobody wants to die.

But if your time's up, your time's up it’s

a chance you've got to take.

Now let's pick a cartridge.

A little brass, a little lead.

We'll stir them up.

We'll pick the one you like.

How about this one?

You like this one?

Is this the one we should use? - No Strang.

No, you can't do this. - Oh.

So maybe this one

or this one.

How about this one, Jackson?

Look,

if you look real close, there's a little knick in the casing.

Maybe I scratched it as I was removing the powder.

Maybe.

What do you think?

Should I use this?

No, no!

You've got to pick one sooner or later, Jackson.

And remember the odds.

The odds are with you.

50/50 on the live or dead shells and 5 to 1 on the gun.

You got to take a chance. You've got to pick one.

This one.

Is this it?

Oh, you can't do it.

Then I'll do it for you.

Strang.

Now we're ready.

This is what I've been waiting for.

If I win this bet, I'll prove to myself

that saving the lives of all the soulless, wretched,

stinking bits of rottenness like you was good.

If I lose, I kill you

and they kill me

and I'm ready.

Are you?

The shell is live,

the shell is dead.

The cylinder is going to spin.

I'm going to spin the cylinder.

Watch it Jackson. - You can't Strang.

You can't!

You're crazy.

We won.

We both won.

Hey what's the matter with you?

Oh, you can't take it huh?

You blacked out on me.

You don't like to gamble, Jackson.

You're an old gambler.

Gamblers don't faint.

Well, it's all over now. You're all right.

We're both all right.

Come on now. Here.

Come on, we'll have a drink.

Come out of it.

We'll have a drink.

Shake hands.

Martin.

Martin.

Martin

Martin.

I didn't know you were in.

I was just about to call the office.

Well really, Martin, what are you planning to do with that?

What's the matter with you?

Are you drunk?

Well, I don't know about you,

but this bores me.

I'm going to bed. - No.

Now if we’re going to have one of your usual dreary-

No. For once in your life,

you're going to be an attentive wife.

You're going to listen to an extremely sordid,

but very fascinating, case.

You know perfectly

well I'm not interested in your filthy case,

but I'll listen.

Apparently, I have no choice.

This is a case you'll be extremely interested in, my dear.

There's no money in it.

Poor fool hasn't any.

Then why take it?

Why waste my time? I'm tired.

I didn't say

I was taking the case, but I might become involved in it.

You see, I'm rather sorry for this fellow.

Although he has to suffer

for his part in this crime, it's quite clear that

that he was roped into his present position

by a woman for whom I have the utmost contempt.

He's fairly intelligent,

only a rather scheming woman of a certain type,

such as the one we are about to discuss

could have, could have forced him into such an obvious trap.

Trap?

Yes. the trap

you have made Doctor Anderson walk into.

Now I know you're drunk.

Don't be naive, Lucille.

It isn't becoming to you.

I've known about you

and Doctor Anderson for months.

I don't know what you're talking about.

You know you've been the only one for me,

but you've never had time for me.

In all the years we've been together,

has it ever matter to you what I felt, that I could be lonely.

That I might want to be something more than just Mrs.

Martin Strang?

A decorative asset to a successful career? Yes.

I turned to Jim Anderson for companionship.

Someone to talk to.

Someone who at least treated me like a human being.

It was that and nothing more.

Martin.

Martin, can't you understand?

It was because I couldn't

reach you through

all these years that I turned to someone else for comfort.

It was innocent enough.

You must believe that.

Oh, Martin.

Martin, if you only knew how lonely it's been.

I know,

I do know.

Darling, I knew you would.

My poor, sweet.

Now you sit down

and I'll tell you a story that will break your heart.

This is guaranteed to put you to sleep.

Once upon a time, there was a kid.

Nice, average kid

who wanted nice, average things out of life

like when he did something he thought was great

he could run home and tell his father about it

and see his mother act like she thought he was a hero.

Now doesn’t that just bring the tears to your eyes?

And what's that got to do with us?

I'm coming to that.

He grew up in more ways than one.

A struggling young lawyer with a nice shining goal

before him.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

But it didn't pay off, not in money.

The people whose cases he took

gave him encouragement and affection.

But you can't live like that all your life.

There has to be that one person

to rub out all the emptiness of being alone.

So he met her

and she was beautiful.

A little hard about everything, he thought. But

maybe that was just her defense against life.

And he fell in love with her.

In six months he'd saved enough

and they were married.

The first year was wonderful.

He loved her so much he thought he was going batty

with happiness.

He wanted a son.

But she told him they couldn't afford it.

If he hadn't been so much in love with her, he'd have known

then she was hedging.

Pretty soon he noticed a change in her.

The small flat

looked like a pigsty when he'd come home at night.

And she always found something,

something wrong.

But she said it was nerves.

And why?

Why didn't he get something that paid more?

And he did

a lot more.

He did a good job of defending one killer

after another and became famous.

And her nerves disappeared

with that first mink coat, he got her.

It was then he suggested again, they have a child.

This time she told him flatly

that kids just bored her.

And then he knew

she never loved him.

What's this got to do with us?

It is us.

Me, a king size failure.

And you, Lucille,

a vicious, scheming little tramp.

Shut up!

Now you shut up and listen to me.

I hate your soul.

For years I've hoped I never have to

see you or touch you again.

Yes, I love Jim Anderson

and he’s ten times the man you will ever be.

Do you hear that, Martin? Do you hear? - Hear it?

I think it's wonderful

you love him so much

and yet you were content to live here with me.

You didn't even have the decency to ask for a divorce my

poor, cheap Lucille.

You know what? You're insane.

You've gone completely insane.

No, I'm not, but that's what you would hope for.

You'd hope I'd go insane and kill myself.

Follow in my brother's footsteps, didn't you?

Didn’t you?

I'll tell you how sane I am.

I've made a will,

leaving everything I have to the families who have suffered

at the hands of the rotten murderers

I freed.

Freed in my blind, stupid attempt to make you happy.

Now get out.

This is more than I'd hoped for.

This is your big moment, Jackson.

Or is it Doctor Anderson's

big moment? Yes.

Yes, it is.

This is gambling.

Try it again, Jackson.

That was one.

Try it again. You're nervous.

You amaze me,

doctor Anderson would love to be in your shoes.

Or is he?

Maybe.

Maybe.

We'll see.

That's two.

Now try-

You're scared, Jackson.

You look scared.

Just like when you shot Riley.

You're a dead man anyway Jackson.

You're dead.

Don't lose your nerve.

That's three and four.

Now It's 50/50, doctor Anderson.

It's 50/50, an even chance.

Better luck this time.

Jackson.

No more.

Nobody's going to push me around

no more.

Well hello, Lieutenant.

You're keeping late hours, aren't you?

Oh, that's my job.

I didn't expect to find you here.

I thought you closed at 5 on the dot.

When did you last see Martin Strang?

Why? When he was here on the Tillton case.

Why? - Jim.

Oh, I beg your pardon.

Don’t go Mrs. Strang. I've been trying to locate you.

Me? - Yes.

Do you mind answering a few questions?

No, not at all.

Do you have apartment 29 at the Euclid Arms?

No.

Do you?

Why, yes, I took it quite recently.

Nice place.

I didn't know you had that kind of money.

Maybe I have a couple of rich patients on the side.

A couple of rich lady patients, perhaps.

Just what are you driving at, Lieutenant Edwards?

Your husband was found there tonight.

Dead.

I don't understand, I, did he-

Did he leave any kind of a note? - A will.

Oh. How could he?

How could he commit suicide?

He had everything to live for.

He didn't commit suicide, Mrs. Strang.

It was supposed to look that way.

The fact of the matter is, he was murdered.

Where were you around 10:00 tonight, Mrs. Strang?

I was at our mountain cabin,

and I can prove it.

I was here

in my office all evening,

but nobody saw me.

Well, that's too bad,

because the gun that killed him was registered

in your name.

I'll have to book you on suspicion of murder

Anderson.

I’m sorry Mrs. Strang you'll have to come along too.

Don't you touch me.

Jackson was picked up

by the police as he tried to leave town

weeks after the shooting of Martin Strang.

Again, I looked at the prisoner.

William Jackson,

you are arraigned for the murder

of a civilian, Patrick Riley.

You have refused counsel

and then now I ask you, how do you plead?

Guilty or not guilty?

Guilty, your honor.

But not all fates are weighed on the scales of justice.

As William Jackson waited in the death house for execution,

he confessed to the murder of Martin Strang,

but his confession came too late.

Doctor Anderson had killed himself

three days before with an overdose

of the very prescription Martin Strang had scorned.

Martin Strang,

the unloved, feared, hated. His

was the story of waste, waste of a mind misused.

You have seen his last, most destructive hour,

God rest his soul.

And the souls of all those who lose their way.

(Choir singing)