Another Man's Poison Page #5

Now, if you'll excuse me, doctor.

Mr. Preston, if i hadn't had to come here this morning

i doubt if could pluck up enough courage to ask you

what i'm going to ask you now.

Doctor, i don't want to seem rude...

oh, won't you humor an inquisitive neighbor

by asking him to sit down for a minute?

All right.

Oh, thank you.

In return.. Uh.. a cigarette?

I don't smoke, myself.

Not a very good brand.

I'm afraid i carry the for my clients.

Thank you.

What did you want to say?

Mr. Preston, can i help you in any way?

I don't quite follow.

Well, for the last couple of days

i've taken the liberty of studying you.

Studying me?

Oh, purely for the purposes of research, you see...

i happen to be a keen amateur psychologist.

I don't think i like being put under a microscope.

I hope i haven't offended you?

No.

Good.

What have you discovered?

That you're running away from something.

What do you mean?

Oh, not physically, of course,

i mean mentally. You're an escapist.

What makes you think so?

Well, your long rides alone.

Your apparent preference for your own company,

to the exclusion of everybody else,

including your charming wife.

You're running away from something, and

i can't help wondering what it is!

You study all your friends this way?

I must say, i find the escapist character fascinating.

It's an interesting diagnosis, doctor.

I must let you read my diary.

Oh, i doubt if you keep one, mr preston.

You don't look like a man

who confides his secret thoughts even to paper.

Well, doctor, to what do we owe this honor?

Good morning, i, uh..., i called to return the dictionary.

My dear,nyou look radiant!

Fresh air. It's wonderful in thenmoors in the early morning.

So green and washed and bright.

You should have come with us, george.

I tried to.

Well, i really must be going.

I see you're still driving a death trap.

Yes, but now even i have to admit

she's on her last legs!

Au revoir.

Don't i get a good morning, darling.

Who does he think he is always snooping around here?

Can't we ever be alone in this house?

George!

I'll be in the study...

i didn't mean you. It's henderson. He gets on my nerves.

I want to see you.

That is, if larry will excuse you.

Marital bliss. Not a very good example, is it?

It's henderson. He makes him angry.

Yes, i know. I heard it.

And, while we're on the subject of making people angry,

why did you sneak in the front door,

instead of coming in here the quick way?

Oh, orders. Mustnt stop you working.

I'm going to ask you a question.

Well, what is it?

And yet, i don't want to ask you, because

i know you're going to answer me truthfully, and

i dread to hear the answer.

Then ask me just the same.

Larry, you first met janet a year ago,

when i took you to her birthday party. Do you remember?

Yes, but what's the question?

Between then and coming here the night before last.

Have you been seeing her without..

Very well, there you are.

They're only your fingerprints now, george.

The party's over.

They know whom they're looking for.

Your photograph's in all the papers.

You got away with henderson, but there'll be others.

It's time you were moving on, george.

And if i refuse?

Oh, you wouldn't be so stupid.

You may still have the passport and the money.

It's obvious we don't get along as man and wife,

and if you leave now there'll be no questions asked.

Janet, are you all right?

There's your boy scout.

Quite all right, thank you.

I just knocked a lamp over.

Now why don't we be sensible?

I've more chance here than on the run,

and you've more chance while i'm here.

I have nothing to run from.

You're up to your sweet little neck in accessory to murder.

For the love of heaven, janet,

can't you see it's madness to play against each other?

Henderson may guess the truth, but he can't prove it.

Nobody can.

As long as we stay together.

Very well, george. Play it your own way.

Now, if you have no objection,

i'll join the boy scout.

Good evening.

The study windows were locked.

I know. I locked them.

You're back early, for once.

Rain's pretty heavy.

Too bad.

Where is my dear wife?

Don't tell me you've tired of each other already.

She's taking care of fury.

We have a rival, that is.

She loves that beast.

I take it you don't.

People who love animals too much, seldom love their follow men enough.

I do not like the human race. I do not like it's silly face.

But give me a puppy for a friend,

and i'll be faithful to the end.

Have a drink.

Not for the moment.

Go ahead. Do you good. Help you to see straight.

No, thanks.

Got it all mapped out, haven't you?

The engineer knows all the answers.

Except one.

Women.

That's your problem, isn't it?

Mine, too.

Look...

don't you think we ought to decide this...

don't worry about chris she can't hear.

She's upstairs in her room.

I know becauseni heard her crying.

If you had any sense in that surveyor's head

you'd go upstairs to that girl of yours,

tell her you're in love with her and marry her.

Quick.

I appreciate your concern...

she's a nice kid. I don't like to see her get hurt.

I wouldn't say you're a great authority on marriage, mr. Preston,

mine or anyone else's.

Stay away from janet.

If you think i...

keep away from her larry. I'm telling you for your own good.

You're a marked man. She's marked you.

She's got you here.

She's kept chris busy, to leave you with time on your hands..

You're a marked man, larry.

Who locked the study windows?

I did... i like to know when people come in.

I'm sorry i raised my voice, larry.

With janet, everything has to be smooth... and soft and green,

like poison ivy.

You've obviously been drinking again.

I've been telling our young friend about women.

Larry, i'm sorry.

Hark at that soft tone there.

Soft and caressing as quick sand!

Soon as we get anywhere near the truth they turn soft on us.

That's their trick.

Watch out for it, larry. It'll pull you down.

Then all you've got left to fight 'em with is force.

Force!

Put that down.

Behaving like a child.

No, don't leave, larry.

Janet needs your company.

I don't think she needs the two of us.

That's true.

In which case, i shallnbehave like a gentleman,

i shall go.

I don't know quite where.

Maybe down to the village to amuse myself.

Maybe over the moor.

Yes.

Yes, that's an idea that might amuse me very much.

I think i'll take your horse for a gallop.

Don't you go near fury.

He's mine.

Don't touch him.

I'll stop him.

No, larry, let him go.

He'll be trampled if he tries to mount.

But i've got to for his own sake!

It's his own fault.

I'm going to change my jacket.

The typing's in the study.

It's finished and checked.

I put it in an envelope. It's addressed to the agent.

Thank you, chris.

Janet.

I've got eyes and ears, and senses

oh, you've got more than that, chris.

But it's obvious you don't know what to do with it.

You can have any man you want can't you, janis?

Just by snapping your fingers.

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