High Wall Page #2

Oh, I recognize your responsibility,

but please don't

overlook ours.

You've had him 6 days.

It may take

6 months.

For what?

I don't want Kenet

psychoanalyzed.

I just want him

cleared for trial.

He's sane.

I'm talking

about legal sanity.

That's all the district

attorney's office is interested in.

We don't care anything

about neurosis, psychosis,

or arterial thrombosis.

Did he know the difference

between right and wrong

when he killed her?

That's the only question.

And did he, Mr. Wallace?

Well, of course he did.

Examine his background.

He was a bomber pilot.

He married

during the war.

Head injury in combat, operation

performed in an army hospital,

successfully.

When he came home,

he was restless.

He had to keep moving.

After the war, he went

to Burma, flying freight.

He left his old mother

and his wife and his child here.

Mrs. Kenet got a secretarial job.

I suppose she had to.

What point

are you making?

A month ago in Burma,

he was in a slight crackup.

In a company hospital, they

gave him a complete check-up.

That's a cable from

the Doctor in charge.

"Advised Kenet second

operation imperative.

"Warned him possible

violent headaches,

"impaired muscular

coordination, fainting spells,

and loss of memory."

My diagnosis

exactly.

You see, Mr. Wallace,

the accident following surgery

formed the blood clot

that's pressing on his brain.

Sure, and that's his defense.

He was planning on using

this Doctor's diagnosis

as a license

to murder his wife.

Why, he banked over $20,000

in the last 2 years.

He wasn't sharing any of that

with his wartime wife.

Everything you've said, Mr. Wallace,

only proves our contention.

We cannot certify

to the patient's sanity

until we observe him after

he's had a second operation.

And he's refused

surgery.

Well, his mother's consent's

all you need.

She's a reasonable old lady,

kind of sickly.

Shouldn't have any trouble

with her.

We'd prefer getting

his consent, of course,

but if you insist,

we'll see her today.

Will you and Dr. lorrison

take care of that, please?

Fine. Let's

get it over with.

Oh, uh, Doctor, he'll pull

through all right, won't he?

Certainly.

Good. I'd hate

to lose him.

We might ask the people

next-door where they've gone.

Ha ha ha!

Still don't rate

a knife and fork?

I told you, Mr. Kenet,

when you're here

awhile.

We do things gradually around here,

one thing

at a time.

You got a cot

in your room today

instead of that mattress, didn't you?

Sure, sure.

Full house, huh?

It's always full.

This is just the first of 3 shifts.

Just like

the Waldorf.

You ain't kidding,

and we got specials, I

guess, on room service.

Go ahead. Dig in.

I beg your pardon, sir, but would

it bother you if the radio played?

No, not at all.

You're quite sure,

sir, you wouldn't mind?

Of course not.

That's extremely kind

of you, sir.

Thank you.

That's

old man slocum.

How long

has he been here?

Oh,

over 20 years.

Seems to agree

with him.

He does all right-

3 squares a day,

he likes music,

and he gets it...

And all

on the county.

We're fortunate.

Usually the radio offers

such a limited variety.

I hope this selection

pleases you, sir.

Yeah,

I like chopin.

Oh...

Oh, you-

you know music.

Oh, that's

wonderful, sir.

I'm so happy to make

your acquaintance.

You see, nobody in

this entire institution

loves music but me.

I brought dozens

of records with me

when I arrived here

3 weeks ago.

3 weeks?

Yes.

But I soon learned to keep

my music under lock and key.

You know, sir, we don't

live in a very honest world.

On the day

of my arrival,

i brought out my Beethoven, the eroica.

The entire album

was gone

but I'll find it.

I listen for the eroica all the time,

and I hear it...

I hear it being

played somewhere...

All the time.

You'll hear it,

too.

Won't you help me

find it?

Sure.

He'll help you.

Come on. Finish

your chow.

Oh, what a joy to find

someone who appreciates music.

We'll

become friends...

Great friends.

We'll grow old together with our music.

Oh! Oh, you were

only trying to be polite.

The music

does annoy you.

Oh, please don't go.

I'll-I'll turn it off.

I'll-

want

your cigarette?

Yeah.

You know, getting upset don't pay.

I blew my big chance in the ring

on account of getting upset

right before the fight.

Walked right into the other

guy, leading with my chin.

Besides, getting upset's

bad for the digestion.

You know, you're something

of a psychologist

yourself, Delaney.

Oh, I dabble a bit.

What's wrong

with that?

You can't keep your nose to

the grindstone all the time.

Man's got to have

some outside interest.

Feeling better, Mr. Kenet?

Oh, he's doing fine, Doctor.

Yesterday was visiting day.

Yes?

Then why didn't I see my visitor?

I got certain rights,

even in a place like this.

Don't tell me my mother wasn't here.

There is no discrimination

against any patient, Mr. Kenet.

You're entitled to see visitors.

Your mother was not here.

I told you that.

That's all, Delaney.

Is that the truth?

There's no reason

to lie, Mr. Kenet.

Thanks. That's all I wanted to know.

That pleases you,

doesn't it?

You've been hoping your mother

would know what you wanted

and take your son

away someplace

where no one would

know him and tell him.

You must have majored

in psychology, Doctor.

Look, your time's

valuable. Don't waste it.

You can't talk me

into that operation.

You've made up

your mind?

No operation,

no trial.

Then I'm here

permanently, right?

Possibly.

Definitely.

How about getting me

out of this chicken coop?

I rate the ward,

don't I?

There are some pretty

nice people in ward c,

very friendly, like Mr. Slocum,

a great lover

of music.

Then you're really

content to stay here?

I don't know where a

man could do better-

3 squares, chopin,

Beethoven,

all on the county.

Mr. Kenet, I'm sorry I

have to tell you this,

but your mother

died last night.

We went

into your house

and found her

lying on the floor.

You knew she'd been ill,

chronic heart condition.

Apparently, recent events

were too much for her.

But don't let that

alter your decision

to stay here, Mr. Kenet.

Your son will

be taken care of

in the county

orphanage.

I know why you

object to surgery.

You don't want

to go to trial.

You know there's a chance of acquittal

on the grounds of

temporary insanity,

but you don't want

to risk a trial.

You don't want

to be acquitted.

You'd rather spend the

rest of your life here

than face your son

again.

You're afraid. You feel

you never can explain to him

why you killed

his mother.

You want to escape from

reality, and you can.

But do you know what happens to a child

when he suddenly loses

his entire family?

Do you know

what life is like

for an orphan in a public institution?

Yes, you'll escape

reality, Mr. Kenet,

but your son

will not.

Good-bye, Mr. Kenet.

Hello. Anybody home?

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