Compulsion Page #5

Paulie's just the kind of

cocky little punk you'd pick.

- Arthur, that's a terrible thing to say.

- But it's the truth, Mumsy.

You said yourself he was a fresh little

smart aleck who ought to be spanked.

I've said the same thing about

every child in this neighborhood.

Including you, Arthur Strauss.

That doesn't mean

you have to repeat it.

What will these gentlemen

think of me?

I think you've been

very gracious, Mrs. Strauss...

but I also think

we're imposing on you.

- Ready, Sid? A pleasure, Mrs. Strauss.

- Bye, Mrs. Strauss.

- Good-bye.

- UhWait a minute. Uh

- Wouldn't you like to stay for dinner?

- No thanks, Artie.

- Gonna start checking on that nursemaid.

- I'll go with you.

- I can tell you what she looks like.

- That won't be necessary, Artie.

- Thanks just the same.

- Arthur, dinner's in an hour.

- You know how your father

likes to have you here. - Yeah.

- So long, Artie.

- See you in the morning, Artie.

Arthur, don't drink anymore before dinner.

- You know how it affects you.

- How?

Don't pout, dear.

You should go and callJudd.

- He's been trying to get in touch

with you all afternoon.

- Who cares? I'll call him after dinner.

- Then come and see the ladies.

They're dying to meet you.

And they'd be fascinated to hear

what you know about the case.

Oh? Okay.

Oh, that's my good boy.

- Central 1099.

- Where'd you get that typewriter, Steiner?

Why, I've had it

for some time.

- Why do you ask?

- Not bad, Juddsie. Not bad at all!

I was just trying to get to you,

you damn fool!

Me? I don't keep an Underwood

portable with a bent key!

Didn't I tell you

to get rid of that thing?

Now they've made a positive identification

of it. Suppose they suddenly decide...

to search all the houses

in the neighborhood, huh?

- If you think it's that important,

I'll get rid of it. - It is.

- I'll find a place for it.

- And leave another pair of glasses?

I've seen enough of your hiding places.

This time, I'll do it myself.

Tomorrow afternoon, maybe.

We could drive out by the, uh

- Stockyards.

- Not tomorrow afternoon.

Oh, you got another date?

You ditching me

for some girl?

I haven't been able

to find you for three days.

I've been doing exactly what we said:

Watching the cops run around in circles.

Who's the girl?

Ruth?

A girl Ruth!

Gonna take her birding?

Hegewisch?

She said

she was interested.

Good idea. You'd have her out there

all alone, huh? No witnesses?

Yeah, yeah. You'd

be perfectly safe.

Girls never talk about it afterwards.

She can scream her head off.

Oh, what's the matter?

Isn't that what you planned?

No, it isn't.

- You're not falling for her, are you, Judd?

- Of course not.

- I just hadn't thought of that.

- But this is your chance!

Now, look. We agreed to explore all the

possibilities of human experience, didn't we?

And emotionally detached?

- But together, Artie.

- Sure, but I've done things alone.

You can too!

Don't tell me you

haven't got the nerve.

It's perfect!

And the best part is that Ruth

won't be suspecting a thing.

What's the matter?

You... want me to...

order you to, Judd?

Right up in the top branch.

I can't Oh! Wait.

I saw something move.

That's it. Here.

Yes! There!

Oh, it's beautiful.

I'm so glad you

brought me here, Judd.

What is it, Judd?

You seem so sad.

That's a sentimental term.

There's no such thing

as sadness.

Only the reality

of things happening.

You don't really

believe that, Judd.

Over there, for instance. That's where

they found the body of the Kessler boy.

Is that sad?

Yes, it is.

Terribly sad.

Is it sad that you're here?

All alone, with me?

Just you and I, and little

Paulie Kessler's ghost.

- You shouldn't joke about that.

- Why not?

What's one life,

more or less?

There were nine million

people killed in the war.

- What does one little Chicago boy matter?

- Judd!

You're not that cruel.

- No?

- No.

Murder's nothing.

It's just a simple experience.

Murder and rape?

Do you know what beauty there is in evil?

Is there?

Yes.

- You're trying to frighten me, Judd.

- If you were to move now

- Why don't you run?

- Is that what you want me to do?

Yes!

- Do you have to attack me, Judd?

- I don't have to do anything!

- If I attack you, it's because I choose to!

- No!

Are you afraid of me?

I'm afraid for you, Judd!

I'm afraid for you.

Judd

Oh, God!

Oh, my God!

I'm so ashamed!

Artie?

- What is it?

- AJudas goat.

- Didn't you ever see one?

- No. What does it do?

Watch, and you'll find out.

See, when they get to the slaughterhouse, he

ducks to one side, and the silly sheep...

go in to get their throats cut

that black devil knows it.

- Did you get rid of the typewriter?

- Uh-huh.

There's a pit out back,

where they bury all the entrails.

Nobody'll go near that.

So, uh, how did you

make out?

Oh, fine.

You're pretty smug about it.

But if you did,

how come you're not sweaty?

Like after Paulie. And after you

found out about those stinkin' glasses.

I just wasn't rational

at the time.

After thinking about it, I realize there was

nothing really distinctive about them.

- There must be hundreds exactly like them

- 4,200, to be exact.

- I asked Lieutenant Johnson.

- You asked the police?

Sure! Why not?

I figured we might as well know.

So, I asked Johnson why they weren't

following that lead.

You fool!

You're

sweating again, Juddsie.

Why? Now we know!

They can't trace 4,200 pair.

They can't trace anything. The whole case'll

blow over in a couple of weeks.

Hey, come on. Let's go watch them

slaughter the sheep.

I looked all through

my bedroom, gentlemen.

I just don't understand it.

I'm positive I had them last night.

Have you seen those

glasses of mine, Emma?

The ones with the black rims?

On my desk, perhaps?

I just cleaned your room this morning,

Mr. Judd. They weren't there then.

- I don't think I could have lost them.

- They wouldn't be...

- someplace else around the house?

- Well, I only use them for study.

- What do you think?

- The boss is pretty definite about it.

- It's the State's Attorney. He gave us orders

- Mr. Horn.

I'm a great admirer of his.

I'm a law student, you know.

He wanted to talk personally to anybody

on the list who didn't have their glasses.

I see. Then I expect you want to take me

down to the Hall ofJustice with you, now.

Not exactly. The Pennington Hotel.

Mr. Horn's taken a suite there.

Just to protect

anyone he talks to.

You know what the reporters

will do with something like this.

Of course.

Very considerate.

Shall we?

I certainly wouldn't want you to admit

something you're not sure of, Judd.

But it is possible you could

have dropped these out there.

Yes. It is possible.

If they actually

were mine, sir.

As I say, I very often carry them

in the breast pocket of my jacket.

This jacket,

as a matter of fact.

When I take my classes

to Hegewisch.

And you were out there Tuesday,

the day before the crime.

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