Born to Kill Page #5

- Work is fine, but what you want...|- All right, skip it.

- Sam, it's such a silly...|- I said, skip it, and I meant skip it.

Hello, Sam. Hello, darling.

- Have a good trip?|- Yes, wonderful.

Yes, until I spoiled it|with my crazy notion.

Sam wants to run the paper.

Darling, if you'd had any business|experience at all...

But you've been a fighter and managed|a cattle ranch or two.

How could you know anything|about running a newspaper?

I told Sam if he'd only take a job|in the office to start with...

...till he learned the business...

Look, Sam, you wouldn't suddenly...

Georgia and I can settle this|without anybody else butting in.

Sam, Fred's part of the family.

- He has a right to butt in, as you call it.|- So he doesn't like it.

Only because it doesn't make sense, Sam.|Does it to you, Helen?

No, it doesn't.

- I'm sorry I made a scene.|- Oh, now.

It's just that I...

I don't know.|I can't stand fighting with Sam.

- Easy does it, Georgia.|- It won't seem so tragic in the morning.

No, I suppose it won't. Good night.

- Night.|- Night.

- Well, I'll call you tomorrow.|- Fred.

- You're angry with me.|- No.

- Sure not?|- Yes.

You do see that I can't cancel|that invitation, don't you, darling?

Yes.

Well, aren't you gonna kiss me|good night?

Good night, Helen.

Helen.

Helen.

Why were you against me tonight?

You don't know what I have in me.|You don't know what I can do.

I can run that paper, and better|than most, if I had a chance.

- I believe you could.|- Then why were you against me?

Because Fred was.

And you love Fred desperately.

I love Fred.

You love Fred.

Why this sudden passion|to run the paper?

I'd be on top.

I could make people or break them.

I could do that. Do you understand?

Yes. I think I do.

Sure you do.

Because your roots are down|where mine are.

I knew that the first time I saw you.

Soul mates, huh?

Stop laughing.

Well, for a man who's just returned from|his honeymoon with an attractive wife...

...you're very ardent.

What's wrong with you?|You know how I feel about Georgia.

- Do I?|- Unless you're a fool.

She means no more to me|than Fred to you.

Very interesting.

- I must get this milk to Georgia.|- He means nothing to you. Say it.

- He does, though.|- What? What, Helen?

Fred is peace and security.

- It's his money, then.|- Yes, partly.

All my life I've lived on other people's|money. Now I want some of my own.

But there's another kind of security|that Fred can give me.

Without him,|I'm afraid of the things I'll do.

Afraid of what I might become.

Fred is goodness and safety.

And what am I?

You?

You're strength, excitement...

...and depravity. There's a kind of|corruptness inside of you.

That would drive most women off.

- Yes.|- But not you. You have guts.

Georgia told me how you found those two|in Reno. You had guts then.

- You didn't yell or faint.|- No.

And it wasn't only finding them dead,|it was the way they were dead.

The kid jammed in the doorway,|the Palmer dame under the sink.

- Blood on her hair.|- Blood all over. You didn't yell.

No, I didn't.

Helen.

Oh, there you are.

- What are you doing here?|- I'm moving in.

- Whose idea was that?|- Helen suggested it.

Good night.

You sure picked a fine time to bust in.

I need a drink.

Hello, I want to speak to Albert Arnett|in Reno, please.

Do you know the number?|- Yes.

What is the number, please?|- 22-766.

Who's calling, please?|- I'm Mrs. Brent.

Thank you. I'll call it.|- Thank you.

You got a good-Iooking wife with|all the dough not locked up in the mint.

- Play it close to your vest.|- Meaning what?

Leave Helen alone.

- Why?|- I just told you.

Not that I blame you, of course.|Helen's a creamy dish, but she's...

I ever catch you looking at Helen,|I'll tear your throat out.

- Oh, Sam...|- Never mind the "Oh, Sam."

Just remember what I told you.

No, I don't want to talk to anyone else|in Reno.

Just find out where Mr. Arnett|can be reached in San Francisco, please.

- What's wrong?|- Helen. She just phoned a guy in Reno.

- Reno?|- I don't get her.

I don't get her at all.

- Maybe I was a fool. I would have sworn...|- What?

Maybe not. Maybe she is against me.

I don't know. She puts herself|in my arms and tries to trap me.

- She feels and digs and looks inside of me.|- Sam, Sam, take it easy.

We'll work it out somehow.|Just take it easy.

"Where every prospect pleases,|and only man is vile."

That quotation occurs to me|quite often in my profession.

Mr. Arnett, I've been very curious|to know what progress you've made...

...since I last saw you.

I've done rather well.

How well?

My investigation concerning Mr. Wild|is almost complete.

And when you fill in what's missing...?

I shall turn everything over to my client,|who, I believe, will inform the police.

Naturally, I'm deeply interested.

- After all, it does concern my brother-in-law.|- So it does.

And it would be very trying|for all of us...

...if he were linked up with anything like...|- Like murder?

Unfortunately, Mr. Wild is already|linked up with it.

In fact, I would go so far as to say|that not only is he linked up with it...

...but he's the chief performer|in this case.

I presume that so far your client|knows nothing.

Your presumption is correct.

- Mr. Arnett, I...|- It's quite all right, Mrs. Brent.

I am a man of integrity, but I'm always|willing to listen to an interesting offer.

- Well, I'm prepared to pay handsomely.|- Good.

Obstructing the wheels of justice|is a costly affair.

- Five thousand dollars should do it.|- Fifteen thousand dollars should do it.

I think you're basing your demands|on false premises, Mr. Arnett.

- I am not a rich woman.|- I know that.

But your sister is very rich.

So is Mr. Grover,|whom you are planning to marry.

Seven thousand.

Fifteen.

I doubt very much if I can manage|to get it.

In that case, I shall have to|forge ahead with my inquiry.

And may I remind you that Nevada courts|have rather puritanical views.

Why, some of our more|impassioned juries even insist...

...that a man who commits murder|pay with his life.

You know, Mrs. Brent,|I'm a simple man.

And I'm somewhat confused about|your motive in protecting Mr. Wild.

He's my sister's husband.|It should be quite obvious.

He was your sister's husband when|I came to your house the first day...

...and you had no intention|of protecting him then.

In fact, you went out of your way|to supply me with information...

...which might assist me.

Of course,|Mr. Wild is a most attractive man...

...and I suppose even a sister-in-law...

...on sufficient acquaintance...

...might succumb to his charms.

Good night.

Good night.

Has it occurred to you?

Neither of us looks like|a scoundrel, do we?

- Where have you been?|- That's my affair.

Where have you been?

Seeing a man called Albert Arnett.|He's a detective.

Seeing him about what?

He has a client who thinks you committed|a murder. I told him that was fantastic.

I knew you hadn't committed|any murder.

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