A Place in the Sun Page #5

I didn't get much sleep. I was even

a little airsick on the plane.

Poor George.

Anyway, I've got good news.

Mother and Dad are beginning to melt.

You're winning them over

with your boyish charm.

They'll let us announce it when I

come home from school at Christmas.

- At Christmas? Let's run away.

- Run away?

- Right now.

- But we don't have to.

Not the way things are going.

Mother will want a big wedding.

I've always dreamed of having one as

long as I can remember. All girls do.

Now don't start getting moody again!

Come on, you change

and I'll meet you on the terrace.

- Any identification on the girl?

- Yeah, this employment card.

From the Eastman Industries.

Alice Tripp or something.

The man gave his name

as Gilbert Edwards?

Yeah.

You can drag that lake,

you won't find him.

- How do you figure that, Bear Bait?

- I figure he left here in an auto.

When I went up to my cabin

around suppertime,

there was a Coup

parked in the woods up there.

About nine o'clock,

somebody started up that auto

and drove off awfully fast.

- Hi.

- Hello.

George, where you been? Got another

woman stashed around someplace?

- You've been gone so long.

- Can't we be alone somewhere?

- We could take the speedboat.

- Yeah.

So they wanna be alone. We can't

have that. Come on, Lazy Bones!

Go!

How about some company?

Come on, everybody!

- There's no room for you!

- We'll fix that.

District Attorney Frank Marlowe's

officers investigate further.

An hour ago,

the coroner informed the press

that although the girl's death

was caused by drowning,

bruises would indicate

that a struggle took place.

The District Attorney has evidence

that the girl's male companion

may still be alive.

Three Boy Scouts have reported

that a young man, visibly upset...

You look tired, George.

- That's what I told him.

- Take a rest.

I think maybe that's a good idea.

Excuse me, won't you?

- Any news on the drowning?

- The papers see it as a murder.

- He's alive and he's drowned her.

- You read too many mysteries.

She was probably a chatterbox,

and he picked her up

and threw her overboard!

- I've been looking for you, sir.

- What is it?

Mr Vickers would like to see you

alone. He's in the living room, sir.

Sit down, will you?

I thought that you and I might

have a chat before dinner.

- Care for a drink?

- Please.

I'm gonna make it a double. I'm gonna

be a little bit personal, George.

It's about you and Angela and

this talk about your getting married.

I don't know whether

I'm for you or against you.

- I don't know you well enough.

- I know how you feel, Mr Vickers.

Who am I to think of marrying Angela?

Angela has everything.

Talk of marriage aside, we know

almost nothing about your background.

There's not much to know. What there

is, I've wanted to tell you myself.

My family is...

We were very poor people.

My family devoted their lives

to a kind of religious work.

Conducting sidewalk services,

street singing.

I was part of all that,

until the law came along and said

I ought to go to school.

I only went to school

till I was 13 years old.

We didn't ever have any money

for anything, so I left home.

I was gonna do something about it.

I took any job.

Busboy, elevator operator, caddie.

I had no training, no education.

Then I came here,

went to work for my uncle.

That's my background, Mr Vickers.

There's nothing very much

to recommend any approval.

But I love Angela more than

anything in the world.

I'd do anything to make her happy.

Even if it's right that

I shouldn't see her any more.

Easy, boy.

Forthrightness is a prime virtue.

I admire your frankness.

I should apologise for eavesdropping,

but I'm glad I listened.

Does that answer all your questions?

All I ask is that you two

don't do anything hasty.

- Let's get out.

- A drive.

- I just wanna be alone with you.

- Let's go.

I can't believe that this horrible

thing could happen to Alice.

- She was such a sweet, quiet girl.

- Ever meet any of her boyfriends?

There was a young man, but he hasn't

been around in a few weeks.

And who was he?

It's a small town. Any scandal would

hurt my business something awful.

There will be a scandal

if you don't cooperate.

I never met him, mind you,

but the girls said he was an Eastman.

But it couldn't be...

Not one of the Eastmans!

Get me the District Attorney's office

in Warsaw.

Here we go!

Look, he's gaining.

Safe! Safe and sound!

Calling car 41.

Man believed in your vicinity...

- The third time this summer.

- I can't understand it!

Height 5'10", hair dark,

complexion fair, build light.

- What's your name?

- George Eastman.

I'd hate to some day be picking up

the pieces of a pretty girl like you.

- Take it easy, will you?

- Anything you say.

I just love that officer.

He's so bloodcurdling.

And he writes such a nice hand.

Darling, what is it?

I'm tired, very tired.

Yes, you must be.

Darling, let's never leave this

place. Let's just stay here alone.

Don't let father upset you.

I'm the one who counts.

You're the only one.

The only one.

People are gonna say things, I know.

Things about me. About me, I know.

- It's gonna make you stop loving me.

- Don't talk like that!

- I was asleep.

- You were dreaming.

You were talking.

You said, "Not my fault."

Then you said something

I couldn't make out.

Then you said,

"Angela, don't hate me."

That was a bad dream, a false dream,

because I'll always love you.

We'd better go now. Mother's liable

to send out a posse for us.

You go in. I'll be along in a minute.

Every time you leave me for a minute,

it's like goodbye.

I like to believe it means

you can't live without me.

Is your name George Eastman?

Yes.

- You're under arrest.

- Why? What for?

Start walking back down the road and

you'll find out. Go on, get going.

And no monkey business, either.

That's him all right.

Mr Marlowe, here's your baby.

You're George Eastman? I suppose

you know what you're charged with?

No.

You don't know anything

about the murder of Alice Tripp?

- I'm not guilty.

- We've evidence.

- You're not going to deny it?

- Yes, I deny it.

Let's take you to the Vickers' and

see what your friends say about you.

Please don't take me back there!

I'll tell you all I can.

Don't take me back there.

I didn't intend to. I just wanted

to see what you'd have to say.

Take him to Warsaw, boys,

and lock him up.

We'll go to the Vickers' and

see what they have to say.

Say he's a relative,

came to the house once. Got that?

And have Hollister take his name off.

You had no inkling of his relations

with that girl?

No.

None of you knew

of this boy's double life?

No.

Mr Marlowe, if you've no further

questions for my daughter and me...

- ...will you excuse us?

- Of course.

Mr Vickers, I have no desire

to harass an innocent person.

I'd like to keep your daughter free

of scandal, but if the papers...

I'll keep her out of the papers.

You keep her out of the trial.

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