Deadline at Dawn Page #6

- He killed my sister.

Where is your eyes, you gangster?

That boy couldn't hurt a fly.

Can't you see it in his face?

Wait. There's been a murder

committed here. Let's face it.

And you had a motive, Mr. Brady.

And you had a motive.

Why not call the cops

if you are so legitimate?

You think I need this gun

to hold you here?

The man knows something, Lester.

We'll start

with some gas-station courtesy.

- What's Mr. Raymond's wife's first name?

Nan.

The waiter's name in your restaurant

with who you were in cahoots...

...and your sister found it out?

Why?

Put nothing in writing,

that's the first law of life.

Time is on the wing. Don't waste it.

I read all the incriminating papers

you are looking for.

- And I bunked them away like a squirrel.

Why?

Intuition.

- But you can get those papers back.

How?

We want till 6:
00

to clear this young man.

Somewhere, a murderer's running loose.

You'll have to help us find him.

Don't I see you talking to my sister

in the restaurant some time ago?

Never seen her before tonight.

What about my offer?

Edna.

It's the Babe.

Are you home, Edna?

He was here before.

Edna, it's late.

I can't get a drinkie anywhere.

Throw down a bottle, will you?

It's that drunk, Babe Dooley,

the ball player.

Throw it down, Edna.

I'll have to come up there

if you don't throw it down.

Hey, where do you think you are?

On a picnic? Move on now.

Hey. It's the Babe. It's Babe Dooley.

Are you for me or against me?

- Are you?

- Why, nothing's too good for the Babe.

Then go up there.

Can't navigate up stairs. My friend's...

Are we gonna cop

the pennant this year, Babe?

Get me the bottle

and we'll cop the house.

He's coming up here. The cop.

What are you going to do?

- Be careful, Val.

- Shut your face, Lester.

What's cooking down there?

It's Babe Dooley.

- He says a friend lives here.

I'm her brother. She don't like this.

- Gives a bad name in the neighborhood.

- Well, all he wants is a drink.

Here, give him this. But far away.

- I'm sorry to make any trouble.

Excused.

Edna! Edna!

There's a fat ball player

who some night will die in the street.

Okay, you got till 6 a.m.

We start with some clues.

Mentholated cigarettes.

Who smokes them?

Who chews gum? Who rides in subways?

What about a man in evening clothes?

He was here tonight.

Would your sister know him?

Man in evening clothes?

Sure, about 50,000.

Statistics tell us that a white carnation goes

with a tuxedo coat.

Do you know a man

who wears white carnations?

Why?

- Because he was here tonight.

Who said?

- This says.

- You find this here?

- On the table.

What time is it now?

- Uh, 10 minutes past 4.

I know where the sick pigeon is tonight.

You come with me, Lester.

- I have a 10:
00 rehearsal. I better get sleep.

- Sleep rots the brain, don't it?

- We'll all go.

- You'll stay here.

No, we'll all go.

All right.

Gee, time takes so long

and it goes so fast.

- The sun comes up soon, don't it?

- Too soon.

Edna.

Edna.

Edna.

Edna.

Edna.

Edna.

Police! Police! Police!

What are you thinking, June?

Tired, son?

Well, I'm in trouble and sick at heart,

I know that.

But nothing can happen to me.

- I was dead once. Didn't I tell you that?

- No.

Drowned in a river when I was 12.

The doctor declared me dead,

but they revived me after two hours.

The next day I played two games

of handball.

Then I fell down in a faint

and had to stay in bed six weeks.

So nothing more can happen to me.

Night air goes to your head like dope,

don't it?

Mr. Bartelli, you hit me

in a very unfair manner before.

Sorry about your sister...

...but I'm apt to punch you before 6:00,

that's the truth.

Val.

What's Val Bartelli doing here?

And who's the gang with him?

- Did you tell him this was a private party?

- Couldn't stop him. You know how Val is.

Uh, whiskey and soda.

- No dice.

It's much too late for drinks.

- Sandwiches?

- No.

Anybody want some sandwiches?

I'll get some mineral water

and a few lemonades, waiter. Please.

- What a pleasant surprise, Val.

Who's all the people here this late?

Oh, it's a private party

for a retiring police captain.

Oh. This boy is leaving.

I'm showing him some sights.

- Oh, fine.

- Don't tell Sleepy we're here.

Oh, sure, Val. Sure.

All cops. Delicious.

- That means we'll have to wait.

- For what? Till school opens?

Why not turn him over to the cops?

- And if he didn't do it?

- He done it.

- Wait, better wait, Val.

- He'll see you if you stand.

No, he's blind as a bat.

Blind?

That's all right.

I finished that plate.

Had the most beautiful marble.

- Gee.

- Don't waste your pity.

This girl has got a head.

If I can get him outside a minute...

The party will be breaking up soon.

- Blind.

- Breaks your heart, don't it?

The city is full of men like that.

Nerves and worry.

Living on cigars

and bicarbonate of soda...

...wrung out by sleepless nights.

He'll sleep good in a box.

Mr. Bartelli, the bed bugs

will never forgive you.

Your skin is made of iron.

Don't make a fuss in here.

What's the plot?

I'm to baby him along all night?

- Why not be patient, Val?

- Do you feel better?

Yeah.

What would you like to do?

Because I suggest you do it.

Well?

That's right, we'll wait.

It's not your nature to wait.

Not yours and not your sister's.

Take, break, smash and kill.

You and your sister alike.

What do you know about my sister?

You forget

I read her intimate correspondence.

Highly perfumed.

The perfume.

This is Miss Bartelli's perfume on me.

The bottle spilled, remember?

Suppose I stand at the piano

and don't make a sound.

He gets a good whiff.

- What will that prove?

Nothing if he's innocent.

But if he's guilty,

we'll see it with our eyes.

This girl has got a head.

Uh, friends who have been so kind

as to make this gathering possible...

...the hour grows late and we must part.

Parting is such sweet sorrow,

as the poet says.

And yet it would be amiss of me...

...not to say a few words before

"We Won't Get Home Until Morning."

I have heard myself referred to tonight

as "a credit to the force."

We all had the pleasure of a visit

along about 1 in the morning...

...from Inspector Unkefer.

And his spouse. Bless her.

In brief, as I am trying to say it...

...you have made my cup

to overflow this evening.

And it would be amiss of me,

as previous stated...

...if I didn't acknowledge this single honor

you have bestowed upon me.

From the bottom of my heart,

and I know Mrs. Bender here at my side...

...concurs in this sentiment...

...there is not the words to thank you.

- Who's that?

Is that?

Uh...

- Who is that?

Is someone standing here?

Mrs. Bender...

Yes.

- Who is it?

at my side...

Edna is dead and you killed her.

- What? What's that?

For better or worse.

But I doubt if she has ever shared

a prouder moment...

...than we are living right here and now.

Um...

- Well, as I began to say...

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes