Original subtitles

Good evening.

This looks like a hand grenade, doesn't it?

Please don't be frightened. It really isn't a grenade, it's a music box.

You see, if this were real, and I were to pull the pin,

I'd be blown into bits in a few minutes.

But when I pull the pin on this one,

we shall hear the sweet strains of I'm All Shook Up.

Watch.

There must be something wrong.

Oh, it's all right. I just got the wrong grenade.

The musical ones didn't have this inscription on it.

It says, "Whoever finds this grenade, I love you."

(SIGHING)

While I stand here waiting for something to happen,

suppose you observe as our drama unfolds.

SIDNEY: The Harolds case. Acquittal.

The Rogers case. Acquittal.

The Williams case...

I fought for a conviction in every one of them.

Warren, my dear boy, a Prosecuting Attorney is like a race horse.

It doesn't matter how hard he runs.

Either he wins most of the time or he's put out to pasture.

And if I can't gallop into the homestretch

with this case, it may be my last race.

Warren, I'm your father-in-law,

I'm deeply concerned about your future.

But a woman has been murdered in her kitchen

and you'd think the circus had come to town.

Sidney, wouldn't you say that I've proved Rodman guilty?

Absolutely from every legal aspect.

But a jury doesn't want only logic.

They want passion. The public doesn't want

only argument. It wants theatrics.

Surely you're not asking me to put on a performance?

(SIGHING)

It's not up to me to ask you anything,

my boy. But I do know one thing.

You send Rodman to the chair and you insure your political future.

But I've already been promised the nomination for District Attorney.

Warren, there's a large group of the boys down at City Hall

that would like to see Vance on the ticket for D.A. instead of you.

WARREN: Vance?

I know, I know, he's five years younger,

he hasn't half your experience.

But he has charm and assurance.

And he's not afraid to use any cheap trick to make a jury laugh or cry.

That is it, isn't it?

People talk about him on street corners.

How many people know your name well enough

to recognize it on a ballot come election time?

Okay, Sidney.

Okay, if that's what they want, I'll put on a show for them.

There's...

(SIGHING)

There's one more thing.

It concerns Doreen.

Doreen?

Since the day you two were married, I've never interfered in...

(SIGHING)

Go ahead, Sidney, please.

She came to see me last night. She seemed rather unhappy.

Do you know why?

No, she didn't say.

She'd be furious if she knew I even dropped a hint.

Sidney, if you have even the faintest idea.

She loves you very much, Warren.

Naturally, she has your success at heart.

But the fact that you haven't gotten

to the top as quickly as you'd hoped...

(SIGHING)

That's just a guess on my part.

Doreen's been a great help to me.

Perhaps I've said too much. If I have, I'm sorry.

But this may be your last chance, Warren, politically.

You've got to get a conviction.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

The judge is ready.

All right, I'm coming.

Ladies and gentlemen, you now have the incontrovertible facts.

Each of you must look into his own conscience,

and admit that if this man, Rodman,

is allowed to leave the courtroom scot-free,

then murder is being rewarded by toleration.

And so, the State demands that Rodman

be punished to the full extent of the law.

Cold-blooded, premeditated murder is the most heinous of human crimes.

This killer of the woman he promised to cherish.

This slayer of his mate in life must not be

allowed to seek the respite of a prison.

So, I demand a death sentence.

You will return one of three verdicts.

Guilty of murder in the first degree,

guilty of murder with a recommendation

for life imprisonment, or acquittal.

The jury will now retire to consider the evidence.

(CLAMORING)

Oh, there he is.

VANCE: Oh, hi, boys.

Hello, Mr. Vance.

Oh, no, Charlie. You can't quote me in that paper of yours.

Off the record?

Well, off the record, I have to hand it to Selvy.

He was trying his best to make a show during the summation.

A matter of poor timing?

You know, too little, too late.

Oh, I saw a couple of jurymen with their eyes open.

(ALL CHUCKLING)

But they were crying when the defense worked them over.

No, gentlemen, I'm afraid Selvy has lost again.

Don't be too certain, Vance.

Anyone want to bet?

Give me odds?

Oh, come now, gentlemen, no gambling in the Halls of Justice.

But I'll tell you what I'll do.

I'll buy you both a drink at Gallagher's.

Follow me.

I think I'd like the divan covered with this.

(PHONE RINGING)

Hello?

WARREN: Darling.

Warren, what was the verdict?

The jury's still out.

Where are you?

Gallagher's.

The jury may be out for hours.

Doreen, will you come?

Yes, dear.

I'm sorry I'm late. The traffic was just awful.

What do you want? Martini?

No, I don't think so right now.

Oh, why don't you relax? Everything is going to be fine.

I wish I was sure.

I felt pretty confident until this morning. Sidney spoke to me.

What did he say?

He seemed worried about my nomination for District Attorney.

He seemed to think everything depends on this case.

He upset you, I'm sorry.

Doreen, I know I haven't come up as fast

as you and your father thought I would.

But please be patient with me?

Now, Warren, I really believe in you.

Do you?

Do you think I'd be sitting here if I didn't?

Someday your name's gonna be important in this state.

(SIGHING)

All you need is just the

chance to prove yourself politically.

There's just no telling how far you can go.

Well, hello, lovebirds. Oh, Hank.

Hello, Hank. How are you? Nice to see you.

I've my fingers crossed.

Thank you, Hank.

It's like old times, isn't it? Sweating it out?

Remember the three of us sitting out the Ashley trial?

Seven hours that jury argued and then let Ashley go scot-free.

Well, Hank, you know.

I think this time Warren's jinx is broken. You just wait and see.

(CHUCKLES) Let's hope so.

If anyone is obviously guilty, it's Rodman.

Good luck.

Thank you, Hank.

Mr. Selvy? Yes?

How long before the jury gives its verdict?

I don't know.

Will it be guilty?

I think I proved Rodman guilty. But I don't know.

Selvy, the jury's sent word it's reached a verdict.

What do you know, less than two hours.

Mr. Selvy, I have something important to say to you.

Mr. Selvy, please.

Mr. Selvy, it's very important.

Mr. Selvy!

Now listen to this one.

"I am dining on the biggest black crow in town."

(CHUCKLING)

"Congratulations on the Rodman conviction.

"Vance."

Oh, I'm so proud of you.

You know, you're going to be Governor someday.

Delusions of grandeur.

Now, the District Attorney's office is the first step to the...

Governor's mansion.

We better make one step at a time.

There's no harm in planning ahead.

You'd be the most beautiful Governor's lady

in history of the world, do you know that?

Warren?

Mmm-hmm?

Now, before we start your fall campaign for D.A.,

why don't we take a vacation?

We haven't been to Europe since...

Since our honeymoon.

Where do you want to go?

Italy? Rome?

How about Florence?

How about

that little green stucco hotel on the Via Del Sorto.

Do you know how much I love you?

(DOORBELL RINGING)

Let's not answer it.

(DOORBELL RINGING)

Whoever it is, I'll get rid of him.

Yes?

You remember me, Mr. Selvy? Could I speak to you?

Not tonight. Why don't you come to see me

at the office tomorrow morning?

Please, only for a minute. It's very important.

All right. Come on in.

This is my wife, Mr...

Barnes. Ed Barnes. I'd like to talk kind of in private, Mr. Selvy.

No, no, no, honey.

Mr. Barnes, anything that you want to discuss with me,

you can discuss in front of Mrs. Selvy.

If you'll come to the point quickly, please.

That man you just convicted.

Rodman? What about him?

I've been in Florida for a couple of months.

I didn't read a paper or hear a radio or nothing.

Then when I come back, he's already on trial.

I didn't know what to do. You can see that, can't you?

See what?

I should have come to you sooner but I was scared.

About what?

Then yesterday, when you was summing up to the jury,

I made up my mind I'd talk to you.

Because this guy Rodman, well, he's kind of young.

What is he, 34?

I'm past 60. Warren.

Yes, Mr. Barnes, either make sense or you'll have to leave.

But I need your advice. Something awful.

For heaven's sake, about what?

Rodman didn't kill his wife.

I did.

WARREN: Can I get you another drink?

Please.

Gosh, I'm sorry. I kind of upset your wife, barging in like this, huh?

WARREN: It's all right.

(POURING DRINK)

Now, about this preposterous tale of yours.

It's true.

I can't let another guy die for something I did.

I proved Rodman guilty beyond any shadow of a doubt.

Why you wanna come here with your story, I don't know, nor do I care.

Because it's a lie from start to finish.

If it's a lie, Mr. Selvy, a bright lawyer like you could catch me.

Why don't you ask me questions, huh?

That's exactly what I intend to do.

Let's get to your story right now.

I was hitchhiking east.

The 14th of July?

The 10th of July.

Go on.

I got a lift into Wilford.

I was walking around town trying to figure to get food, a job, anything.

Then I saw this big fancy house.

A big brick house on the corner?

A white wooden house on top of a hill.

Am I right?

I knocked on the back door.

This nice lady answered.

She didn't have no job for me, but she give me a sandwich.

What was she wearing?

Something blue.

I wondered when you were gonna slip up. She was wearing a pink dress.

It won't do no good. It was blue.

All right. Go on. Get on with it.

While she was gone, I looked around the jars and the cupboard for dough.

She came back, caught me at it and got sore.

She didn't yell or nothing but I knew she meant trouble.

That's when I did it. I went off of my head.

How did you do it?

Just those? Just those?

A black scarf on the back of a chair.

No, no. I remember now. It was tan. A tan scarf.

Why were your fingerprints never found?

I wiped them off.

(PHONE RINGING)

Look, ask yourself.

Would I be sitting here talking like this if I didn't do it?

It took a lot out of me to come here, Mr. Selvy.

I know a big man like you wouldn't

want to send an innocent man...

I proved Rodman guilty.

But I killed her.

Warren.

Father's on the phone. He wants to talk to you.

No, not now, dear. Tell him I'll call him back.

Darling, it's very important. Why don't you take it in the bedroom?

Yes, Sidney?

I see.

Yes, there's going to be that vacancy in the Sixth Ward,

and the boys all think you should run for US Representative.

(CHUCKLES)

Yes, isn't that fine?

Yes.

No, couldn't we have lunch tomorrow?

Fine. Good night.

(SIGHING)

Well?

It was the Rodman case that did it.

I guess when you won that case, they could see what

father and I had been insisting all along was true.

The people's choice.

That's right.

And when they want you down at the Hall, you're in.

I can't accept now.

Why not?

Well, you heard that old man. He killed Mrs. Rodman.

Warren, that's...

That's just an old drunk.

I can't let an innocent man go to the chair knowing somebody else did it.

I have got to ask for his pardon first thing tomorrow.

Darling...

This is...

This is running for congress.

This is what you have always wanted, isn't it?

That was before Barnes showed up.

I can't let Rodman go to the chair.

Well, he's guilty...

I don't care what the old man says.

What if he isn't?

Look, Warren.

You see, darling, it's...

It's Rodman or us.

You know, this could be the beginning of

everything you ever wanted.

All right.

All right.

Well, Mr. Barnes.

You're gonna need another drink for what you're going to go through.

What do you mean?

Well, you just confessed to a murder.

You understand that, don't you?

I don't get it. This paper's blank.

That's for your confession. I'll fill in the rest later.

I don't know.

What did you think you were gonna get for a murder?

A gold medal, a pat on the back, a free ticket home?

I guess I didn't think about it.

I just kept thinking about that guy who's innocent.

What did you think they were gonna do to you?

Jail.

I'm old. Rodman's young.

It's only right they should let him go and put me in jail.

You think you're gonna spend the rest of your days

playing checkers in some prison cell?

You're dead wrong, Mr. Barnes. You're no

better than Rodman. They're gonna burn you.

Burn me?

Prison, yes.

But not that.

2,000 volts, and they'd give it to you

for three minutes just to make sure.

No. I won't sign.

I didn't mean what I said.

Operator, give me the police.

What are you doing?

Putting you in the chair instead of Rodman.

No. No. Don't do it.

It's not true. I didn't kill her.

It's a lie. It's all a lie.

That's right, Mr. Barnes. It's a lie, it's all a lie from start to finish.

And I never saw you before in my life, did I?

All right, get out of here.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Selvy.

I didn't know what they'd do to me.

All right, get out of here.

Yeah, thank you.

Go on, get out of here.

How do you like it, darling?

Well, it's brand-new. It cost you a fortune.

No, no.

No more elbow lifting, it's 7:30.

It's time for you to get ready.

Ready?

You remember, father's taking us

to the Governor's testimonial dinner.

I wonder what Rodman's having for dinner.

Why don't you go and shave? I'll lay your things out.

I can't go.

Of course, you can go.

Father will cheer you up. He always does. Come on.

Only an hour and a half left.

Warren, you promised not to think about that.

You know something?

You really need to shave.

An hour and a half left to live, and he didn't even do it.

Now, listen to me.

Rodman killed his wife.

You presented that evidence brilliantly.

The jury found him guilty, and you got

a conviction. And I'm proud of you.

So is father.

Now, would you please get dressed?

Would you please go without me?

Darling, I don't want to leave you alone.

I want to be alone.

I'd rather be alone.

I'll be all right.

Oh, Warren, I...

I mean, I can't keep father waiting, he's...

He's one of the principle speakers.

All right.

I'll be home just soon as I can.

All right.

(TICKING)

(DOOR CLOSING)

What are you doing here?

The door was unlocked.

Every single day I tried to forget, but it was no use.

Yesterday, I hitchhiked here. I couldn't stay away no more.

There's only a few minutes, Mr. Selvy.

I told you not to come here.

There's only a few minutes left, Mr. Selvy.

That's right.

At 9:00, it will all be over.

But there's still time. I thought it all out.

I'm willing to die. You've got to call the Governor.

It wouldn't be any use.

I'm going to try.

Get away from that phone. Stay away from that phone.

(GRUNTING)

(BODY THUDDING)

(DOOR OPENING)

Warren.

What on earth?

SIDNEY: He's dead.

I did it.

But what happened? What was old Barnes doing here?

You know him?

Of course. I'd know old Barnes anywhere.

When I was on the bench, he was always confessing to murder.

He'd study the evidence, and then claim he did it.

Bit touched, but harmless.

Warren, why did you do it?

(CLOCK CHIMING)

Thus, as it so often happens, a life is ruined.

A promising career is nipped in the bud.

All because of one mistake made in the heat of the moment.

There's a lesson here for all you good folk.

Just one mistake.

If Warren had only killed his wife first,

he would have gotten away with it.

I'm sure you're wondering what happened to the grenade?

A little gray-haired old lady came by selling apples,

and I managed to slip the grenade into her basket.

By now, she should be selling apple sauce.

She very kindly gave me this. However, I just don't feel hungry.

(EXPLODING)

How shocking.

She gave me a grenade, disguised as an apple.

It's getting so you can't trust anyone these days. At any rate,

we shall be back another time to explore further

the dark alleyways of human behavior.

Until then, good night.