High Wall Page #7

in your park.

With all that freedom,

this hardly seems

to be an institution.

Well, freedom is a comparative

thing, Mr. Whitcombe.

Yes.

When the patient's

not violent,

when they're

almost well, I mean,

I suppose they're permitted

occasionally to go into town,

to the movies?

Only under

proper supervision.

And those

who escape?

Well, that happens

occasionally-

this isn't a prison-

but we usually

get them back.

Oh, Mr. Whitcombe, Doctor.

Oh, yes.

I'm sorry I was held up, Mr. Whitcombe.

It's perfectly

all right, Doctor.

It's very kind of you

to see me.

Not at all. Very generous of you to take

this interest

in our patient.

Frankly, I'm a little

ashamed that I waited this long.

Kenet's wife worked for

Mr. Whitcombe, Doctor.

Oh, splendid girl

and a devoted wife.

She was terribly upset

about him in Burma.

His letters were becoming

more and more irrational.

But, of course, you people

know all about that.

He's better now?

After the operation,

I mean.

He's improved

considerably.

Sufficiently

to release him for trial.

That's fine.

Then my offer

will be coming along

at the right time.

I'm sure it will be

appreciated.

We'll have him

sent down

to the visiting room

right away,

and an attendant

will take you there.

I'm going there, Mr. Whitcombe.

Oh, well...

Thank you.

Thank you

very much.

Get me ward c.

Yes, sir.

Right away.

Mr. Kenet-

I've got a visitor.

How did you know?

I've been

expecting him.

Well, come on.

Let's get going.

He'll wait.

There's

your visitor.

Ah. You don't know me, Mr. Kenet.

I'm Willard Whitcombe.

Yes?

You've been

expecting me?

Have I?

I must apologize

for not visiting you sooner.

You've been in here,

um, quite a while,

in and out.

Well...

Your wife

worked for me.

She worried about you

a great deal...

That is, your injury

and your state of mind.

A very fine

criminal lawyer.

He's positive he can

get you an acquittal

on the grounds

of temporary insanity.

Naturally, a lawyer

of his stature,

his services come high,

but you're not

to be concerned about that.

I'm assuming all costs.

Why should you?

Well, I feel

that your wife...

That is, I'm sure

she'd want me to do

all I can.

I'm sure she would.

Fine, Mr. Kenet. Then

I'll send this attorney

around to you at once.

Don't bother.

But he can get you off.

You want to be acquitted,

don't you?

I will be.

Incidentally, that friend of yours,

that fine

criminal lawyer,

hold on to him.

You might need him.

I know what you're

thinking, Kenet,

whom you're

depending on.

That man has been here

to see you,

cronner the janitor.

You haven't heard?

He can't testify for you.

Poor fellow met

a tragic end.

Fell down

the elevator shaft

from my floor

to the basement.

The police said

he died instantly

as a result

of the accident.

Just a minute,

Whitcombe.

Be sensible, Kenet.

My offer is

your only way out.

Better

accept it now.

I'm leaving tomorrow for

some of that Southern sunshine

cronner prized

so highly.

Remember,

any accusation

you make against me

will be ridiculed,

the ravings of

a pitiful lunatic.

Cronner is gone.

There's no possible way you

can prove I killed your wife.

You did it.

Of course I did.

You admit it!

Oh...

I'll kill you!

You did it!

You admitted it!

I'll kill-

let go of me!

He killed my wife!

Don't let him get away!

Stop him! Stop him

from leaving town!

Oh, so you're going to

release him for trial.

Homicidal maniac.

No! That man

killed my wife.

Didn't you hear him

admit it?

He killed 2 people.

Don't you see?

He'll get away

if we don't stop him.

This is Willard Whitcombe.

You have a reservation

in my name

for Mexico city tonight.

That's right.

Cancel it, please.

Yes.

He played me for a sucker,

Delaney, and I went for it.

Don't you worry

about anything.

That's going to make

you feel much better.

I walked right into

his parlor.

He had every move planned,

just like a chess game.

You're going to feel

great after this bath.

I'll never feel great,

not until I get him.

He killed her, Delaney.

He admitted it.

Yeah. I know

he killed her.

Now, just take it easy.

Last night, when I was

in his apartment,

that's what

brought him here.

He had to find out

how much I knew.

Sure. Last night when

you were in his apartment.

This bath's going to

do you a lot of good.

Look, Delaney, I got

to see Dr. lorrison.

Get her for me,

will you? Right away.

Sure, sure.

I'll go get her.

Here. How's that

for service?

oh, give me a home

where the buffaloes roam

where the deer

and the antelope play

where seldom is heard

a disparaging word

and the sky

is so cloudy all day

beep beep.

Let me out!

Let me out!

This is where

I came in.

Isn't this

the guy that told you

he liked this place?

Wanting to spend the rest

of his life here,

all on the county?

Well, the d.A.'S

fixing it up for you, pal.

Dinner, gentlemen.

Let's get downstairs.

Come, gentlemen.

Faster, gentlemen.

Faster!

Say, Hale, just a minute.

You get your dinner later.

You're on room service now.

But wait a minute. I

want to ask you something.

Come in.

Hello, George.

Ann, would you mind

giving me a lift?

Mother's got

the car today.

I'd be glad to.

I ought to

apologize to you.

You were 100% right

about that patient Kenet.

What about him?

If there was ever

any doubt about him,

it was cleared up

today.

What happened?

We almost released

a homicidal maniac.

He tried to kill

a man, a visitor.

He's back

in isolation now,

and we've asked the

district attorney

to apply for a permanent commitment.

I'll just drop

these records.

All right.

glory, glory, hallelujah

glory, glory, hallelujah

Steve.

Steve?

Ann, here I am.

Steve.

What happened?

Get me out of here.

I've got to get out.

Now, tell me calmly,

Steve, what happened?

Come in.

They said you tried

to kill someone.

You afraid to come in?

No, of course not.

Who was here today?

Whitcombe.

I told you he'd come.

I lost my head.

It's as simple as that.

Whitcombe was desperate to

find out how much I knew.

I thought I had him,

but he got me instead.

You remember the janitor

in the apartment house?

Well, he's dead.

Whitcombe killed him.

How do you know?

He told me so.

He confessed.

He told you

he killed the janitor?

Not only that. He told

me he killed Helen.

You see, he had to

get rid of the janitor

to keep him from

testifying for me,

so he killed him, made

it look like an accident.

That's how he could

come here

and boast that he'd killed

Helen right in my face.

Like a fool,

I grabbed him.

That's exactly what

he wanted me to do.

I see. All right, Steve.

We'll tell the police.

It's too late.

Haven't you heard?

They already told the district attorney.

I'm committed here

for good.

Anything I say

from now on

will be the ravings

of a maniac.

You will help me get

out of here, won't you?

Oh, of course I will.

Be patient.

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