High Wall Page #6

man of the air corps-

a full colonel

- earning a large income.

After the war

was over,

the only job you really

wanted- at the university-

paid less

than $200 a month,

and Helen wouldn't stand

for this kind of comedown,

and so you went

to Burma, hating it.

Steve, you've

got to admit this

to yourself

consciously.

Those years

in Burma alone,

you were building up

a deep, accumulating

resentment against your wife.

Steve...

Steve?

I have a patient

resting in my office.

Would you take him

to Ward C about 8:00?

Yes, Doctor.

Good night.

Good night.

Good night, Joe.

Good night, Doctor.

106 maple street, please.

It was very clever of you

to pretend you were asleep.

Here's your window key,

Doctor.

When this

is discovered,

it isn't going

to help your case.

If you go back now,

no one need ever know.

You're risking everything for nothing.

"For nothing." Even if I'm acquitted,

I still can't face my son again.

How do you explain to a kid

of 6? What do you tell him?

"Forget it, Richard. When I killed

your mother, I was temporarily insane"?

Maybe I say, "you're

better off, Richard,

without that kind of a

mother, so I killed her."

What can you do?

Try to prove

I didn't kill her.

It's the only way I'll

be able to face him again.

It's worth taking

any chance for.

Oh, Steve, you so desperately

want to face your son again.

You're

perfectly willing

to accept the delusion of innocence.

Don't you realize there

isn't a thread of evidence?

Don't you know you

can't confront a man in-

who said anything

about confronting anybody?

Wait a minute, Doctor.

We're going to do

this my way.

We're going in there

to telephone.

You better not do anything

to make me jumpy.

I'll kill you or anybody

else that gets in my way.

2 coffees, please, and

where's your telephone?

Right over there.

Thank you.

I think-

a hamburger? Sure.

2 hamburgers to go.

What do you want on them?

Everything. Hold it just a minute.

Do you want

onions on yours?

I won't have them

if you don't.

Yes, onions on both.

I'm all out of

change. Pardon me.

Well, that's cozy.

A private room for

the cost of 2 hamburgers.

There's nobody home.

Come on.

Don't do anything to

make me nervous, Doctor.

Just stay

right where you are.

Let's go back. This doesn't

make sense. It's too dangerous.

I'll be right behind you

just in case you slip.

I know this

is against the law.

Steve, please-

a murderer always returns

to the scene of his crime.

You're thinking of that

old Chestnut, aren't you?

This is just

sheer foolishness.

Don't give me

so much static.

Come on. Stand over here. Right there.

Steve, this isn't going-

now, let's see.

I came in.

You came

from the kitchen.

You started

to back away,

guilt written

all over you.

You want

to take care of me.

You want a chance to

explain, to take me home.

"Think of Richard. Think of

your son." You're his mother.

Yeah. This is

the exact spot.

But when I came to,

she was...

She was over by the divan.

How did she

get way over here?

The carousel.

What else-

there's something missing.

That's what's missing.

It was smaller,

but something like this.

Let me have your lipstick.

This is what was missing-

Helen's overnight bag.

Somebody came in and took

it while I was unconscious.

Don't you see?

My fingers had scarcely closed

around her throat when I blacked out.

I couldn't possibly

have strangled her.

It was a perfect setup

for Whitcombe.

Steve, let's go.

You don't believe me,

do you?

You think I'm imagining all this

to square myself with Richard.

It's getting late.

We've got to get back.

Now, let's put

everything in order

just the way we found it.

Don't touch it. Everything

stays just the way it is.

It's getting late. The

patient has to get back.

Checking back in, Joe.

Ok, Doctor.

Keep going.

I'm going back in

the way I came out.

All this is confidential

between Doctor

and patient, isn't it?

You're in a hurry to get in

and report this, aren't you?

Well, I can't stop you,

but just remember,

you're the one who sold

me on the idea of surgery,

of fighting for an

acquittal. Why did you bother?

The guard will be

making the rounds

any minute, now, Mr. Kenet.

Look, Doctor-Ann,

I came back here

with you, didn't I?

I didn't have to.

I could have run away.

Nobody will know I've been

gone if you don't turn me in.

Now, you've

got to give me a break.

If I go back to solitary now,

there'll be no release, no trial.

I'll never be able to

do anything for Richard.

You will keep quiet

about it, won't you?

All right. You better

go in now, Mr. Kenet.

Thanks.

Thanks very much.

Dr. dunlap?

Yes.

I'm sorry

to disturb you, but-

that's quite all right. This can wait.

Sit down, Ann.

I've had rather

an odd experience

with one of my patients-

Mr. Steven Kenet.

Yes?

I went down to my car a

little while ago to go home,

and the strangest thing

happened...

To me.

Yes?

Suddenly, an idea

concerning him hit me.

Well?

Well, I thought it would be

so much better if...

Dr. dunlap, I'm sorry,

but I don't think

I can tell you

my idea now.

It doesn't seem

very clear to me somehow.

I'm not being

very coherent.

I'm afraid

you're not, Ann.

It was very stupid of me

to come in and bother

you this way, Doctor.

As I sat here

telling the idea,

I realized it wasn't even

formed in my own mind yet.

Well, suppose

you sleep on it.

Ideas sometimes crystallize

after a good night's rest.

That's true.

Good night, Doctor.

Good night, Ann.

Remind me to speak

to poward

about arranging a few

days off for Dr. lorrison.

She's tired

and nervous.

Why aren't you

asleep?

I'm expecting

a visitor.

Sure. Sure.

Is there a plane

for Mexico city tonight?

For just one.

Willard Whitcombe.

Yes. I'll pick up the ticket

in one hour.

Yes?

When your telephone

didn't answer at your home,

I knew I'd find you

still at the office.

Your day is never done,

is it, Willard?

The entire board of

directors is here at my home,

and we've just concluded

our quarterly meeting.

Monday will mark

your 20th anniversary

with brattle press,

Willard.

It's a most appropriate day

for you to become

a vice president

and member of the board.

Ha ha ha!

He's speechless.

Of course it's a surprise.

It's a wonderful surprise.

Yes, reverend holmsby. I-

yes, it... will be

a great incentive.

Thank you

for your kindness.

Oh, yes, Mr. Grant.

Thank you, sir.

Yes, of course.

Good night, sir.

That reservation I made-

Willard Whitcombe.

Mexico city. I made it

just a few minutes ago.

I want you

to change it, please,

to tomorrow night.

Thank you.

I made an appointment

by telephone

with Dr. dunlap.

Willard Whitcombe.

Oh, yes, sir.

He's expecting you.

Through there,

first door to the left.

Mr. Whitcombe is on his way in.

I'm Dr. poward.

Oh.

Dr. dunlap will be

with us in a moment.

Coming in, I saw quite

a lot of the patients

walking about

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