All language subtitles for Framed.1947.720p.BluRay.x264-ORBS

(TIRES SCREECHING)

(TIRES SCREECHING)

(TIRES SCREECHING)

(TIRES SCREECHING)

(HORN HONKING)

(CLATTERING)

- Our truck!
- Yeah.

Truck drivers think
they own the road.

Look at that fender.

- They'll pay for that fender.
- Pay for it? I saw what happened.

- We don't pay you a nickel.
- ASSISTANT: That's right.

- DRIVER: You own this truck, don't you?
- MANAGER: Yes, it's our truck,

but we're not paying you
one red centavo.

I got witnesses.

I can get twice as many witnesses.

In the first place,
you got no right parkin' here.

In the second place,
you didn't stick your hand out.

- We can sue you.
- That's right.

- You pay me for my fender!
- Pay the man.

Who are you?
I never saw you before.

What are you doin'
drivin' one of our trucks?

Well, your Flagstaff office
needed a driver in a hurry.

They didn't tell me
this truck here had no brakes.

Go on, pay the man for his damages.

- We pay nothing.
- ASSISTANT: That's right.

Now, wait a minute.
I get fifteen dollars for this run.

I'll take it now.

See the cashier in the morning.

I'll take it now.

(LIGHT MUSIC PLAYING FAINTLY)

(MUSIC PLAYING LOUDER)

- Straight shot.
- Bar whiskey?

- How is it?
- Bar whiskey.

Bar whiskey.

Ooh, that's awful.

Why drink it?

You like to clean glasses?

I don't mind.

(CASH REGISTER PINGING)

What's goin' on up there?

Little gamblin'.

I thought it was
illegal in this state.

So is spittin' on the floor.

- Can anybody go up there?
- Nope.

Only a select group.

Who do I have to know?

It's not who you know,
it's what you can show.

Oh?

What's it worth?

It's a 21-jewel movement.
The case happens to be pure gold.

- Ten dollars.
- It's worth sixty, I'll take fifteen.

(TRAY CLATTERING)

Kind of warm, isn't it?

That's him, officer. That's him.
The one sitting at the bar.

What's your name?

Lambert.
Now, what's the trouble?

Your full name.

Michael Lambert.
L-A-M-B-E-R-T.

Let's have your driver's license.

This expired three months ago.

Hey, that's right.

Well, I, er...

- I've been out of the country.
- Driving trucks?

There's nothin' wrong with
drivin' trucks, but it's not my business.

So it seems.

- Wanted to get down into this town.
- Why? Do you know anybody here?

No. I was lookin' for a job.
I'm a mining engineer.

Now, suppose you tell me
what's the trouble?

We'll let the judge tell you.

I wouldn't have time to read
all the charges against you.

Let's go.

- Come on, let's go.
- All right, all right!

(DOOR CLOSING)

"Reckless driving.

"Driving through a boulevard stop.

"Driving without a license."

Plead guilty?

Yes, sir.

It's not as simple
as all that, though.

Fifty dollars or ten days.
Pay the clerk.

I haven't got fifty dollars.

That's the man
that oughta be fined.

- JUDGE: What man? That man?
- MIKE: Yeah, that trucking foreman.

Now, he knows
that truck had no brakes.

What about that?

Your Honor, they all have
excuses when they break the law.

No man works for our outfit,
unless he agrees

to full responsibility
for any traffic violations.

We gotta do that, Judge, or them drivers
would bankrupt the company.

Did you agree to this?

I suppose so.

I needed the money.

Then they hand me a truck
without any brakes.

I fought that truck for seven hours
comin' down into this cheap town.

Fifty dollars, or ten days.

I told you, I haven't got it.

Ten days.

That's all right,
ten days is all I want of this town.

I'll pay the fine.

- For this man?
- Yes.

Pay the clerk.

Case is closed.
You're free to go.

CLERK:
Name?

Always the same.

Always the same.

Same old pair.

Women, and...

(CLATTERING)

Hey.

And you know whose fault it is?

—The woman's.
—No, it's... it's mine.

But not anymore.
I'm gonna settle down,

and I'm gonna be a success.

Success, that's me.

Sure, I know.

Yeah.
Well, this is the pay-off.

Bailed out by a woman!

- She's waiting for you.
- Yeah? Well, let her wait.

I'm through with all that.
I'm gonna settle down.

I'm gonna make good.
You hear? I'm...

I'm gonna make good.

I'm gonna make good.

That's right. Make good.

That's right.
I'm gonna make...

It isn't the money, Julio.

Oh, because we can stretch
and give you a little more.

No, I'm just tired,
and I wanna quit.

- His clothes?
- Yes.

Well, when a girl like you
wants something,

she gonna get it.

Come on, Mike.

Come on.

Pretty girl.

You're beautiful, Paula.

Yes, Mike.

(BED SPRINGS JANGLING)

(SIGHING)

(GROANING)

I've found him.

What does he look like?

Same height as you.

Same build.

And his face?

Not like you at all.

Well, doesn't matter.

We'll fix that.

Are you upset?

No.

Excited?

A little.

Oh, but you, darling.
You must be exhausted.

All evening on your feet
in that crowded, smoky place.

I shouldn't have let you do it.

You couldn't do it,
and it had to be done.

Five weeks of looking,
waiting, and looking.

Sometimes, I felt it wasn't worth it.

Not even for a quarter
of a million dollars.

If it weren't for this place,

to come here in my free time,
and relax,

and feel like a human being...

I don't know what
I would have done.

Paula,

you think it was
wise to quit?

- Quit the La Paloma?
- Yeah.

Why not? We're ready.

Yeah, that's true.

Better to quit now than
disappear without a word.

This way it's finished.

You sure he's the man?

Of course.

And he knows no-one in town?
No relatives? No connections?

No-one but me.

We've got to make sure
he doesn't make any other friends.

I'll make sure.

Steve, it's wonderful luck.

He's very much like you.

Really?

Not really.

Remember the day I met you?

That first day,
two years ago, almost.

How could I forget?

I was modeling furs
for a living.

You were standing on
the steps being photographed,

and that Chicago wind
was blowing through your hair.

You looked like
an angel in furs.

Someone else's furs.

You were beautiful.

Steve...

do you have the card
for the safety deposit box?

Oh, of course.

It's all filled out.

You just sign it.

What about the keys?

- The keys?
- To the safety deposit box.

Oh, I've got them.
I'll have to keep them with me.

In case anything goes wrong,
I can put the money back in a hurry.

- Steve?
- Yes?

How soon?

A week, four days, three days.

I have a lot of things
to take care of.

The sooner the better.

Yes.

It's late. We'd better go.

- I'll turn the car around.
- I'll be right down.

Don't worry.

I'm sure it'll work.

It has to work.

Why, Beth.

You still up?

I couldn't sleep.

What's the matter, Bess?

All right, so I've
stayed out all night again.

Would you like an accounting?

I didn't ask you
where you've been.

I don't particularly
want to know.

- It's your own business.
- Of course, dear.

And if I did tell you, I'm sure
you'd take it for granted I was lying.

Please, Stephen, please.
I'm not trying to make a scene.

Don't you think it's time we thrashed
this out like two sane people?

Yes, yes, I know, Beth.

You're gonna say all the things
you've been saying for weeks now.

- "Something's been happening to us."
- Hasn't it?

I've told you repeatedly,
you imagine all these things.

Stephen, no woman imagines it
when she ceases to feel like a wife.

And now what are you
talking about?

About the way
you avoid the issue.

You have a quaint and childish way
of admitting all your sins.

I'm not asking you to admit them.

I'm asking you to do
something about them.

I'm sorry, Beth, but
I'm a little too old to change.

I'm not a hypocrite.

No, I suppose you're not.

It's a strange thing.

Been married nine years,

I still don't know
exactly what you are.

I'm exactly what you
wanted me to be.

I'm a respected vice-president

of the respected
Empire Trust and Savings Bank.

All thanks to you, Beth.

All that I am,
and hope to be,

I owe to my angel wife.

You talk as though
you didn't want it.

On the contrary,
it's exactly what I do want.

My father described you
pretty accurately

before we were married.

An opportunist?

He was quite right, Beth.

But even he admitted
I was an intelligent one.

I had a good education,
and made no use of it.

But I had nice manners,
and a fine disposition.

So you married me,
and made me respectable.

You wanted to know what I am.
I told you.

Now, do whatever
you like about it.

(HARD SLAP)

That's for telling me
what I bought and paid for.

(SIGHING)

What time you got?

Clock right up there.

Were you on duty last night?

Yup.

You see me come in?

Yup.

How'd I get here?

Lady brought you in.

Lady? What lady?

Didn't say.
Just brought you in.

How much for the room?

We collect in advance.

Who'd you collect from? Me?

Nope.

The lady.

The lady...

Mm-hmm.

Hey.

CLERK:
Phone booth's over there.

Thanks.

Where can I get
some coffee around here?

CLERK: Across the street,
down about a block.

Put your sample down there.

I have no sample.
You opening up any new mines?

Oh, might be.
Do every once in a while.

Well, I'm...
I'm a mining engineer.

Is that so?
Got a regular degree?

Sure I have.

Oh, I don't want to
see your credentials.

I ain't gonna hire ya.

Oh.

Well...

do you know anybody who might?
I'm a...

pretty fair man in my field.

- Had experience?
- Plenty.

Tell you what, son.

There was a man came in here yesterday
with a sample that looked pretty good.

Assayed pretty good, too.
Got the report all ready for him.

Yeah? What is it?

Well, I'm not supposed to say.

Silver.
And assays pretty high, too.

- That so?
- Might be able to use you.

If I were you,
I'd stick around.

Awful nice feller, too.
Old codger's been trying and trying.

Looks pretty good, eh?

Yeah, you sit right down there
and wait for this fellow.

Should be in right about now.

Well, thanks a lot for the tip.
I'll wait.

Course, I wouldn't take a job like that
no matter what they paid me.

Packing up them trails,
and no trails at all.

Log bunkhouse, cold at night,
and bitter cold in the day.

Live off beans and coffee,

boil 'em in the same pot,
most likely.

- Hello, Sandy.
- Hello, Jeff. How are ya?

- Want anything special?
- Now, don't kid me, Sandy.

Haven't you got that
assay for me, or not?

Well, might have it,
might have it.

Let's see, got to
put it here somewhere.

JEFF: Come on, come on,
hurry it up, hurry it up.

Ah, yeah. Here it is.

I dunno. Am I readin' right?

Regular assay, accordin' to form.

- Looks good.
- Is good.

I knew I had something.
I was dead sure of it.

Look, Sandy.
Don't that say...

"121 ounces per ton."
That's right.

Maybe I struck her this time?
Maybe I struck her?

They said it was all worked out.

By gee, Sandy, I'm gonna
open up that mine in two weeks.

- You see if I don't.
- Jeff!

Want a man
to work with you?

Who? You?

Me? Not me, you old fool.

- A mining engineer. College graduate.
- Eh?

Might be a good man for you.

- Hey, engineer!
- Yeah?

This is the miner
I was telling you about.

- How are you?
- Hey, don't I know you?

Sure, you're the fella
ran into my car yesterday.

- That's right.
- Glad to see you.

Sandy, this here
is an honest man.

SANDY:
What'd I tell you?

So you're a mining engineer, huh?

Well, I'm a lot better at that
than I am at driving trucks.

(CHUCKLING)
He's a good man.

Well, think you can use me?

Well, come on, man, come on.
Let's celebrate first.

Well, I'd do better with something
a little more solid in here,

- if it's all right with you.
- Sure!

Gosh, I'm glad I met you this way.

So long, Sandy.

Red Mountain, here.

And here's the old shaft.

The tunnel heads
right up this way.

Now, right here
is where the vein ran out.

They thought!
(CHUCKLING)

They missed it by just that far.

And pretty...
Man, you should see it.

- What's the condition of the tunnel?
- Not bad.

- Timbers in pretty good shape.
- Water nearby?

Yeah, yeah, we got a mountain stream
right up here.

Solid in the winter, dry in the summer,
and flooded in the spring.

Far from here?

Man, it's ten thousand up, and
fifty miles from the nearest house.

- That bother you any?
- Oh, no. That's good.

Man, when we get goin',

by gee, I've gotta
buy myself a new hat.

This one's been snowed on, spit on,
chewed on by mountain squirrels.

Brought you luck, though, hmm?

Not for the last three years,
it hasn't.

By gee, we got her now.

We can cut five hundred a day
outta that vein.

Say, I wanna sign
a contract with you.

Whatever you say.

Ten per cent of all silver
you can cut out of that mountain.

That fair enough?

Fair? That's ten per cent more
than I figured on!

All I wanted was a job.

- That's the way I want it.
- It's your money.

I'll get it out of you.
You'll work all the harder.

Now, you go ahead
and finish your breakfast.

I'm gonna go buy a new hat, and
get to that Empire Bank before noon.

Are you on good terms with the bank?

With a report like this?
Man, this is money!

(CHUCKLING)
Is it a deal? Do we go to work?

- Sure.
- Good. It's a deal.

You pack your shirts and be over at
the assay office at two o'clock.

Right.

By gee, I forgot your name again.

Oh, it's, er... Mike Lambert.

Jeff Cunningham.

(KNOCKING)

Come in.

Well!

You didn't call, so I just dropped in
to see if you were all right.

- You were in a bad way last night.
- Yeah?

You act as though
you wish I hadn't come.

Mmm? No, no.

No, I just got a lot of things
on my mind, that's all.

I noticed that last night.

What do you mean?

When you kept running away
from liquor and women.

Or was it a woman?

Don't count on anything
I said last night.

Liquor blanks me out.

Oh? I'm sorry about that.

Why?

You said I was beautiful.

I told you, I never remember what I do
after I've had a couple of drinks.

You handle everything just like a man.

Going somewhere?

Mm-hmm.

What are you running
away from this time?

I got a job out of town.

Don't go worryin' about your money.
You'll get it back.

You know I'm not worried
about the money.

You make more sense
when you're drunk.

Maybe.

You're afraid.

Of what?

Me.

That's to show you
how wrong you are, lady.

Paula's the name.

I came here to get
a job, that's all.

Now I got it.

Better than that, the owner's
cutting me in on ten per cent

of all the silver
I can get out of that mine.

That's the first break
I've had in a long time.

Now, nobody's gonna spoil it.
Not even me.

I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to interfere.

It's all right. Forget it.

Where's the mine?

Oh, it's about fifty miles from here.

Who owns it?

Feller named Cunningham.

When do you leave?

This afternoon, two o'clock,
if there's no hitch.

How can there be a hitch?
You said it was all set.

No, not in my deal.
I mean the money arrangements.

Cunningham's at the Empire Bank now,
negotiating a loan.

It takes dough
to get that silver out.

I see.

You know, I wish you all
the luck you deserve, Mike.

Thanks.

If you ever need
another button sewed on,

the address is 211 Clark Street.

Goodbye, Mike.
Good luck.

This looks all right, Cunningham.

Mr. Price, you never said
a truer word.

You know, I never thought that hill
had anything left in it but rocks.

We'll have to send one of our men
out tomorrow to look at the property.

Well, that suits me fine.

- Now, what would you estimate the...
- (BUZZER SOUNDING)

Oh, excuse me, Cunningham.

- Yes?
- Helen Bailey on the phone.

- I'll call her later.
- She says it's very important.

All right. Hello?

Steve? Are you alone?

- No.
- Then just listen.

There's a miner named Cunningham
on his way to see you,

or maybe he's there already.

- Yes.
- He's offered our man a job.

I don't know how he made
the connection, but he did.

I see.

Yes, that's a very sound idea.
Thank you. Goodbye.

Now, Cunningham, what did you
estimate the loan should be?

Well, er... my rough figuring
comes to thirty thousand.

- Uh-huh.
- How's that sound?

Well, frankly, it sounds like
far too much.

Well, I don't know...

I suppose we could scrape through
with five thousand less.

That's still too much.

I don't figure it that way.

Cunningham, you realise the bank
can't afford to take a gamble

- on as big a sum as that?
- Why not?

I paid back every red cent I ever
borrowed, and paid it on time.

This bank knows me.

Oh, we can't do business
on sentiment, Cunningham.

This is not sentiment!

Now, here's what I suggest.

A short-term note,
say, three months...

- Short-term!
- ...for five thousand dollars.

What? That wouldn't even
pay for the tool shack.

- What you're doin' is turnin' me down.
- Oh, I wouldn't say that, Cunningham.

I've done business with this bank
for fifteen years.

That's long before you came here,
long before you married your money,

and long before you ever
sat in that chair.

Last time I'll ever
come to this bank.

You give me a lot of greasy talk,
then you turn me down!

- I'm sorry.
- You're not sorry, but you will be.

(DOOR SLAMMING)

- You've got lots of time now.
- What's wrong?

- No loan.
- What... What happened?

I don't know, exactly.

That no-good
vice- president of the bank...

The deal was all set,
and suddenly...

I just don't understand it.

Well, there's another
bank in town, isn't there?

Yeah, there is, sure, but they
won't touch a mining investment.

No, I'll go outta town,
to see my old partner Walt Donovan.

He may be able to dig me up
a couple of thousand, maybe more.

Well, er... what about...
what about our deal?

- Does it still go?
- Well, sure, man.

Sure it does, Mike.

- But you know how things look.
- Yeah.

If I'm not back in two or three days,

maybe you'd better get yourself
another job, huh?

Okay. Good luck to you, Jeff.

And you got a new hat out of it
anyway, huh?

It is kinda pretty, ain't it?

Same?

- No.
- What'll you have?

You got a match?

Thanks.

Lookin' for someone
in particular?

- No.
- She quit last night.

Good for her.

(BUZZER)

Come in.

Mike!

Expecting somebody?

Certainly not you.

I thought you were on your way?

- I was.
- Well?

- Deal fell through.
- Oh, I'm sorry.

So am I.

Maybe I shouldn't be.

Sit down, Mike.

Thanks.

I just left the La Paloma.

See anything interesting?

Heard you quit your job.

I hope it wasn't because
you got mixed up in my troubles.

Oh, no.

I was just tired.

You're a strange girl.

Working in a two-bit café,
and yet you look like...

Like what?

I'm trying to decide.

- Mike?
- Yeah?

- There's a bottle of rye in the kitchen.
- No, thanks.

- Sure?
- I don't need it.

What happened? Did you
swear off liquor, and women?

Maybe.

The deal meant an awful lot
to you, didn't it?

Somethin'.

You don't wanna
talk about that.

Depends on how you tell it.

Oh, it's a very short story.

- Money.
- How much?

More than the bank
wanted to risk.

What are your plans?

I don't know. Depends.

Maybe I'll hang around
a couple of days. Just wanna...

What?

Catch up on things.

And then?

Oh, Vancouver, Alaska...

- Still running away?
- Not yet.

I can see several good reasons
why I should stay.

Put it in the garage, Paula.

- What's happened?
- It's nothing to be alarmed about.

It's hardly five o'clock.
We've never come here this early.

- What's the trouble?
- There's no trouble.

It's just that the bank examiners
are coming the day after tomorrow.

Then there is trouble.

No. No, it's quite
the usual thing.

But when they arrive,
they work about two weeks.

I don't want the delay.
I think it's dangerous.

I agree.

We can't wait that long.

How about your car?
Plenty of gas in it?

Yes, Steve.

All right, we'll leave it
here in the garage.

It'll only be for the night.

But, darling,
what about the money?

Do you think I'd forget that?

Of course not, Steve.

But there are so many things.

It's in your safe deposit box.

All of it?

Two hundred and fifty thousand.

They'll be searching for that money
from here to Los Angeles,

and all the while
it'll be right under their noses,

in my own bank, in your name.

Now, Paula,

under that robe,
you'll find a wrench.

Now, about your friend Lambert...

I'll get him here.

But remember,
it's your place, not mine.

He still thinks I'm a waitress.

I want to go over this
from beginning to end.

That sign,
"Dangerous Curve", on the right.

- That's where I stop, and where you...
- I know.

- Steve?
- Yes?

I'm worried about one thing.

- What's that?
- What if they find something?

To identify him?

Well, when there's an accident,
there's usually a fire.

Suppose there isn't?

There will be.

There'll be nothing left
to identify.

And Lambert becomes Price.

Yes, Steve.

A just end for an embezzler.

Let's take a look.

For the first time, I really believe
it's going to happen.

Tomorrow night.

Tomorrow night.

(LIGHT MUSIC PLAYING)

- Hey. Club open?
- Yup.

That's yours for ten bucks.

It's the same watch,
and it still runs.

Is it a deal?

Okay.

- Drink?

On nine.

CROUPIER:
One nine, come on the winner.

Get your bets in early, gentlemen,
comin' right up.

- Craps, seven-eleven.
- On seven!

CROUPIER:
Four. The point is four.

- Hard way, Joe.
- Ten he comes.

CROUPIER: Come bets.
Every bet on the field now.

- On four!
- CROUPIER: Lose, seven out lost it.

Next player.

Put 'em down early, now.
They're comin' right out for a number.

Win seven. Seven a winner.
Good beginner.

Shoot it!

CROUPIER: Win seven,
you win some more.

- Comin' right up for a number now.
- Shoot it.

CROUPIER:
Win yo-leven. Another winner.

- I'll take the money.
- What? You quit? You plenty hot!

- Don't be loco!
- CROUPIER: Comin' on up for a number.

Craps, seven-eleven...

Hey. Psst.

I'll buy that watch back
for twenty bucks.

Come on, come on.

Expecting me?

Of course.

You feel so good.

What's the matter?

I came to pay off my debt.

Forty... fifty.
That's for the fine.

Three dollars,
for room number seven.

Five dollars you gave me for
whatever the five dollars is for.

And here...

that's for your trouble.

Mike, you're insulting!

No, I couldn't insult you.
That wouldn't be possible.

You're drunk.

I wish I were.

Now, this is beginnin' to make sense.

A waitress that doesn't look
like a waitress, quittin' her job.

Why?

'Cause she's tired?

(CHUCKLING)

Expensive perfume.

Plenty of money. Money to
throw away on a guy like me.

Pay his fine, gettin' him a room.

What for? A laugh?

Are you through?

Yeah, I'm through,
and I'm gettin' outta here.

You're getting out of here,
but first you're gonna tell me...

I got nothin' to tell you.

What's the matter with you?

I was standin' at the corner of Fifth
and Clark Street about an hour ago.

- You fool.
- A car stopped at the curb.

- Do you know who that was?
- I don't wanna know.

You've got to know.
It was Price,

who happens to be vice-president
of the Empire Bank.

Congratulations.

I didn't go for my sake.
I went for yours.

That's great.

Doesn't the Cunningham deal
mean anything to you anymore?

Well, what about it?

I persuaded Price
to reconsider the loan.

He's going with us tomorrow
to look at Cunningham's property.

You understand, Mike?
You've got the deal.

Yeah?

You don't have to believe it. You have
the appointment. See for yourself.

What did you do to persuade him?

- What's the difference, now?
- A lot of difference!

I don't want a woman
frontin' for me.

I wanted you to get the job.

I couldn't let you drift away.

Pick up the money, Mike.

How does a...

a waitress at the La Paloma come
to know the vice-president of a bank?

A lot of people come to La Paloma.

Mmm. So I've noticed.

One way or another,
a smart girl gets to know

in which closet
they keep the family skeleton.

And when she rattles that skeleton...

Bingo!

Where's the skeleton
in the Price family?

Mrs. Price.

But it's a long story.

Going to stay to hear it?

Where are your cigarettes?

Same place as...

as they were last night.

Have you finished those letters?

- No, Mr. Price. You see, those estim...
- Never mind. I'll sign them tomorrow.

I'm driving out to look at
the Cunningham holdings.

- Cancel all my appointments for today.
- Yes, Mr. Price.

Oh, um...

I want to see the examiners when
they arrive first thing in the morning.

Been in our city long, Mr. Lambert?

Oh, a couple of days.

Say, aren't you going to have one of
your engineers look the place over?

A banker, Mr. Lambert, has to
know a little about most everything.

I happen to have
a mining degree.

Mmm? Good enough.

Suppose we take these samples back

and have another assay run on them,
just for confirmation?

- Suit yourself.
- It'll give us a clearer picture.

Okay. Just a second. I'll get
something to carry them in.

Everything working out, Mr. Price?

I imagine so.

- Must seem a boring trip.
- On the contrary.

(DOOR CLOSING)

Had to dump out Cunningham's
laundry, but he won't mind.

You know, Mr. Lambert, I think
I may have been too hasty yesterday.

Cunningham, of course,
was a little rude.

I got angry, naturally.

Well, I don't think
Cunningham meant to be.

Well, it looks good to me.

In fact, I think we stand
to make a little money.

Well!
That calls for a celebration.

Not a bad idea.

Where would you like to stop?

I don't know this section at all.

I'll tell you what, we might
turn off to my place.

I've got a little shack up there.

I'm sure we can fire the fixings.

I need something to warm me up.

Well, personally, I'm off liquor.

Well, one drink won't shorten
a man's life appreciably, now will it?

Oh, what a lovely place!

- MIKE: Yes, quite a shack.
- PRICE: Come on in.

Make yourselves comfortable.

- Lambert? Let me take your hat.
- Thanks.

Well, I'll fix some drinks.

- Wonderful.
- How would you like it, Miss Craig?

Water? Soda?

- Some sherry?
- Sherry.

- Whiskey, Lambert?
- All right.

Just a short one, though.

You know, Cunningham's gonna be
mighty happy when he hears about it.

Yes, I think we can do business.

Well, here's luck.

And a little extra.

To all of us.

Is anyone else hungry?
I'm famished.

Well, let's go. There oughta be
a diner along the road somewhere.

Nonsense. I have all the staples
in the refrigerator.

Eggs, bacon, the usual things.

- And perhaps Miss Craig would...?
- Fine. Where's the frying pan?

Right out here. Your coat?

Where can I wash my hands?

- Right at the head of the stairs.
- All right.

So far, so good.

Stall for time.

It's still too early.

Find everything, Lambert?

Yeah.

(DOOR CLOSING)

What's got into you?

Why are you drinking?

To you.

Won't you join us
in the kitchen, Lambert?

I like it better out here.

- Something's the matter with him.
- I know.

He saw your robe upstairs.

My robe!

He's in love with you.

What'|| we do?

Let him drink.

It'll make it that much easier.

PAULA: He's passed out.
You'll have to carry him.

(HEAVY BLOW)

Come on, Mike. Come on!

(CRASHING)

Paula?

Banker killed in accident!
Here y'are! Read about it!

All about the auto crash!
Banker killed in auto crash!

Here y'are!
Read all about it!

All about the auto crash!

Paper?

Here y'are!
Banker killed in auto crash!

How do you feel?

What happened to me?

Don't you remember?

No.

The only thing I remember is a...

white robe.

Mike, let's not pretend anymore.

- No, let's not.
- I did lie to you about Price.

But that's over. Th...
That's past.

- That was before I...
- Before what?

Before I met you.

Don't you see, Mike?
Price never meant...

I don't care what he meant to you.

I'm pullin' outta this.

Mike...

Have you seen this?

"Stephen Price killed..."

Well, that's impossible.
We were with him.

Says here he was...

"alone in his car".

Have you been to the police?

- If the accident...
- We can't go to the police.

Well, why not?

It wasn't that kind
of an accident.

What do you mean?

You killed him, Mike.

Don't you remember?

- Yes.

Oh, no, you...
You're outta your mind.

I tried to stop you.

You were drunk.

You accused him
of making advances.

When he called off the deal,

you got angry, and hit him.

He fell against the fireplace,
hitting his head.

I killed him?

No.

Just an accident.

Where are you going?

- To the police.
- You can't.

He's dead, and as far as everyone
is concerned, it was an accident.

Listen to me.

If you go to the police, you'll hang.

You came into this town
a drifter,

and they'll never believe that
you didn't mean to kill him.

- Does it matter?
- I'll hang, too.

I helped to cover for you,
to make it look like an accident.

And I thought
I had somethin' this time.

Go pack your things.

We're going to leave town.
Tomorrow.

I'm right back where I started.

Nowhere.

Paper, mister?

Paper?

"Auto accident proved murder."

How do they know
it was murder?

It says so,
right here in the paper.

"A blow on the back of the head,
with blunt instrument,

"causing severe
cerebral haemorrhage."

WOMAN: Oh, that's awful.
Have they got the murderer?

Oh, they got him all right.

GUARD:
Five minutes, that's all.

How are you, Jeff?

Bad! How would you feel
with a charge like this against you?

Mike, you know I didn't do it.
I couldn't kill anybody.

I didn't like him,
but I wouldn't kill him.

Oh, take it easy, Jeff.
Of course you didn't do it.

And they gotta prove it
before they can convict you.

Well, I'm sorry, Mike.
I didn't mean to fly off the handle.

I'm in a tough spot.

Well, you have your alibi.

You went out to
see your friend, Donovan.

That's just it. He wasn't there.

I stayed in his shack overnight and,
when he didn't show up the next day,

I came on back to town.

Well, they claim that you...
you threatened Price.

I did no such thing.

I went to see him about the loan.

First, he says, "Yes, Cunningham,
fine, Cunningham."

I think the deal's all set.

And then we were interrupted,
and he talked on the phone, and

when he got through with his call,
he wouldn't hear of the deal.

He offered me five thousand!

I didn't threaten him,
but I told him off, and walked out.

GUARD:
Sit down!

- I know you didn't do it.
- Yeah, sure.

They say my laundry bag
was in the wrecked car.

Mike, I swear,
I don't know how he got it.

I wasn't with him.

Jeff...

I was the last man with Price.

You?

Well, we drove up to the mine.
He changed his mind about your deal.

- Wanted to go through with it?
- Mmm.

Then he backed out again.

That's when I may have killed him.

Don't you know?

No. No, I don't. I...

I had a few drinks. I...

Mike,

you didn't murder anybody.
No more than me.

I don't know.

There's something loco
about this man, Price.

Changes his mind,
then he changes it again.

I don't get it.

He wasn't crazy. Not Price.

Now, wait a minute, Jeff.

You say that when you went
into his office, he got a phone call?

That's right. He did.

- Well, what did he say?
- Oh, nothing, just "yes, no, yes, no".

Yeah, yeah, well...
who was he talking to?

I didn't pay any attention.

Just a phone call.
None of my business.

Yeah, maybe that's somethin'.

Or maybe it's nothin',
but it's all we got.

Police oughta know.

No, they'd only
throw me in jail.

Time's up!

Look, Jeff. I think I have
an idea who mighta done it.

But what I don't know is why.
I need time to find out.

And I promise you, you're not
gonna be in here more than 24 hours.

Another day won't make no difference.

Mike, don't get in no trouble
on account of me.

It's all right, Jeff.

(DOOR BEING LOCKED)

Can't you read?

I'm lookin' for Mr. Price's secretary.

- Who?
- Mr. Price's secretary.

- Well, she's not here.
- I know that. What's her name?

I don't know her name.
What do you want to know for?

Well, I gotta see her.
I'm a...

I'm a reporter.

Can you find out?

(INAUDIBLE)

(BUZZER SOUNDING)

- I'd like to see Miss Woodworth.
- She's retired for the night.

Wait. Is she the young lady
that worked for Mr. Price?

I'm her husband.
What do you want with her?

- I'm a reporter for the Chronicle.
- Look, brother,

every cop in town's been
questioning my wife.

The phone's been ringing
all day long.

They've talked to her till she
don't know what she's saying.

Why don't you give her a break,
and come back tomorrow?

Mister, this is important.
There's a man in jail.

He'll be in jail tomorrow, too.

It may mean this man's life,

and all I want is one minute
of Mrs. Woodworth's time.

Let him come in, Jack.

Mrs. Woodworth, I'll be very brief.
It's about Jeff Cunningham.

You say you overheard a quarrel?

That's right.

He was shouting insults
at Mr. Price.

Well, while Cunningham
was in Mr. Price's office,

Mr. Price got a phone call,
didn't he?

He had a dozen calls.

Didn't you ring Mr. Price
on the interphone

while Cunningham was there?

Yes, I did.

Is that important?

Well, it may prove vital.

Who was it who called?

Well, let me think...

Try to remember.

You don't have to answer him
if you don't want to.

- He's not the police.
- It's my job.

Look, was it a man
or a woman who called?

Oh... it was a woman.

What was her name?

Try to think.
I've got to know.

Why? What's the hurry?

I've gotta make
the morning edition.

Look, your wife's trying to cooperate.
Why shouldn't you?

Whittier... Nelson... Carlson...

Barclay...

Oh, gee, it's right on
the tip of my tongue.

Never sent a reporter, is that it?

Just what I figured.

No, you send for the police.

I'll hold him here.

Yeah. Be a pleasure.

Oh, I know! Of course!

Helen Bailey.

That's the name.
Helen Bailey.

- Did you ever see her?
- No.

But she called
three or four times a week.

Helen Bailey, of course!

Thanks.

You've helped a lot.

How about a cup of coffee
before you leave?

Oh, no, thanks.
I'm in a hurry.

No need to hurry.

The Chronicle has no
morning edition. Never did.

Sit down.

Sorry.

(SIREN)

(CAR DOOR CLOSING)

(ENGINE STARTING)

WOMAN: When you hear the tone,
the time Will be 9:15.

(BUZZER)

Mike!

- I'm so glad.
- Hello, Paula.

Been frantic all night
worrying about you.

Where have you been,
and what have you been doing?

Thinking.

Oh, don't.

Don't think about it.

There's nothing we can do.

We'll leave this town
in a couple of hours.

I'll fix you some coffee.

I went to see
Cunningham yesterday.

He's in a bad spot.

Well, he'll get out of it.

After all, he is innocent.

Proving it is something else.

There's nothing you can do.

I can confess.

Oh, no, Mike.
I can't let you.

We've got to think of us.

- Paula?
- Yes, darling?

You know this town pretty well.

Some.

Do you know a woman named

Helen Bailey?

No.

No, I...
don't recall the name.

Why do you ask about her?

- Who?
- Helen Bailey.

No reason,

except that she was
a friend of Price's.

How do you know?

It was in the paper this morning.

Price's secretary talked to
Miss Bailey several times,

but claims she never saw her.

Darling...

I have to go to the La Paloma
and pick up my last check.

We'll need every cent
of the money.

Mike, I'm sorry.

I'll get another.
You run along.

I'll be right back.

Now, don't run away again.

I won't.

(DOOR OPENING)

Open it, Paula.

(DOOR CLOSING)

Open it.

You'd let me go on
believing that I'd killed him.

I had to hold you.

You killed him...

for that.

It was either Price or you.

He wanted to kill you,
let you burn.

So they'd think it was him.

It woulda hurt less that way.

I couldn't tell you before, Mike.
I was afraid I'd lose you.

I didn't care what you were
or what you did before we met.

Listen to me.

We met by luck.
We had a few hours.

We belong to each other, Mike.
You know that.

Sure.

I wanted it that way
more than anything in the world.

But it's no good, Paula.

Mike...

Mike, listen to me.

We can go away.
Anywhere.

All that money's ours.

We can do anything we want.

What about Cunningham?

Would you let him die
for something he didn't do?

We could get him a good lawyer.

It's no good, Paula.

I can't let this go.

I waited too long, Mike.

You don't know what it is
to wear someone else's clothes.

To have to smile
when you don't want to.

Oh, Mike, if I'd only known you
before I met Price.

Then this is goodbye, Mike?

Mike!

Help me.
I'm scared, Mike.

They're out there.

You told them.

You'll get a big reward for this.

You keep it.