I Wake Up Screaming Page #4

- Brother, when that guy says

you're cooked, you're cooked.

He hasn't lost a conviction

in his entire career.

Here. Pin the crepe

on Cornell. His career is dead.

Mr. Christopher, I'm terribly sorry if

you've been caused any inconvenience.

- I hope none of our men were too rough with you.

- No, no. Not at all.

They've been

perfect little gentlemen.

The fact is, somebody has made

a terrible mistake. I was just explaining...

to Miss Lynn here that it seemed so logical

that you were the guilty one.

- Doesn't it now?

- No. I think we know the identity of the killer.

- Who is it?

- A boy by the name of Harry Williams-

switchboard operator

at the apartment house.

- Do you mind if I go now?

- Not in the least, Miss Lynn.

Sorry to have

troubled you.

- Good-bye.

- Good-bye.

What makes you think

Williams did it?

We just got a call from one of our men.

Williams has been missing since 5:30 last night.

He's probably hiding out

somewhere, scared and shaky.

- But don't worry. We'll find him.

- Well, you'd better be quick about it...

because if I find him first, you're gonna have

another murder on your hands.

Jill!

Jill,

can't we be friends?

This is a nice time

to be thinking about that.

I'm sorry you told that story

about the car.

I couldn't help it. Besides,

it didn't mean anything anyway.

Vicky didn't know what she was saying.

You know that, don't you?

Sure.

May I take you home?

No, thanks. I don't want any more reminders

around than are necessary.

Well, it's the first time I ever had

a bad dream with my eyes open.

- What do you want?

- Someday, you're gonna talk in your sleep...

and when that day comes,

I wanna be around.

It's no use, Cornell.

I'm not the type.

- Have you got a warrant?

- No. This is strictly my own idea.

- I'm working on my own time.

- Then get out of here.

I don't like rats in my bedroom.

Now, wait. You don't seem

to realize I'm doing you a favor.

I'm keeping you posted

on the progress of this case.

For instance, I found this cigarette butt

crushed out in her clothes closet.

There was also an evening slipper

that had been stepped on...

as if somebody

had waited there, hiding.

- Do you often smoke in clothes closets?

- Not since I was a kid.

It happens

to be your brand.

According to the latest statistics,

including the army

and navy.

- Maybe it was a mass murder.

- I know it doesn't mean much by itself...

but every little bit counts.

When I get all my evidence together,

I'm gonna have you tied up...

like a pig

in a slaughterhouse.

Perhaps they're

keeping it from you...

but they told me at headquarters

that they think Harry Williams did it.

- I think they're wrong.

- Oh, I see.

They believe Williams did it,

but you're the holdout.

- You're the bright boy. Is that it?

- Maybe.

You know, you're like something

out of a museum.

You oughta have a magnifying glass

and one of those trick hats with earflaps.

Why don't you look

in that box?

- Collar buttons.

- That's right.

Say, you're wonderful. You know,

I think I'll carry you around just for laughs.

I don't mind the kidding.

You're a pretty cocky fellow, Frankie.

You've had your own way for a long time.

- First with Vicky Lynn and now with her sister.

- Get out of here.

Find Harry Williams. That's your job.

And if I ever catch you around here again...

they'll have to

pick you up with a sieve.

Hello, Harry.

- Hello, Miss Lynn.

- I thought you'd gone away.

I just went over to Brooklyn

to see my parents.

I didn't realize it would cause such a fuss.

I explained everything to the cops.

- Oh. I thought-

- Well, you shouldn't have thought that, Miss Lynn.

You know I wouldn't

do a thing like that, don't you?

Yes.

- I'm moving. I've come for Vicky's things.

- Yes. I know.

The superintendent told me

you were coming.

I have everything here,

all packed and ready to go.

- But who packed them?

- I did.

Well, you shouldn't have done that.

You should've gotten permission.

I wanted to help.

I thought it might be of some help.

Well, as long as you've done it, thanks very much.

Will you help me carry them?

[Switchboard Buzzing]

Hello?

Just a minute. It's Mr. Christopher.

He wants to speak to you.

Tell him I'm not in;

I've gone away.

- She's not in. She's gone away.

- Where has she gone?

He wants to know

where you've gone.

Just tell him

there's no forwarding address.

Sorry.

There's no forwarding address.

- Was the funeral nice?

- It was very quiet.

There wasn't anybody there except me.

- I wanted to come.

- Why didn't you?

I didn't think

it was my place.

[Whistles]

- Good-bye, Miss Lynn.

- Thanks, Harry, for helping with the bags.

I don't want your money.

Now, give me those reports on Robin Ray

and Larry Evans in the Lynn case.

[Man On Speaker]

Yes, sir.

- Good morning, Chief.

- What do you want?

- Nothing much.

- Then get out of here and get to work.

You're falling down on this case, Cornell.

You haven't got a thing so far.

- I got my suspicions.

- Suspicions? What good

are suspicions without proof?

Now that Harry Williams is out of the running,

we're no further along than we were.

I'll get something out

of him; just give me time.

- I thought you said Williams didn't do it.

- I'm not talking about Williams.

- I'm talking about Frankie Christopher.

- Christopher. Christopher!

All you talk about is Christopher.

What about some of the others?

That ham actor Robin Ray or Larry Evans,

the newspaper columnist? Let's sweat him.

Better leave the newspaperman alone

till you get something solid.

- He might give you a bad notice.

- All right. Call in the actor.

- He couldn't kill mice.

- Did I ask for your opinion?

Bring in the actor now!

All right. I think

you're wasting your time.

- Do you mind if I bring in Frankie Christopher too?

- What do you want him for?

- Have you got anything new?

- No. I just like to have him around.

- Hello, Robin.

- Oh, hello, Christopher.

- What are you doing down here?

- They asked me to come along.

I seem to be

their favorite customer.

You know, it's perfectly ridiculous.

I had nothing to do with this.

I just came down

to be obliging.

How do they go about these things?

What do they do to you?

Oh, nothing much. It's sorta like

playing handball, only you're the ball.

Say, you should've

worn overalls.

- I'm afraid you're gonna get

that suit all messed up.

- Are you serious?

- What do you think?

- This way, boys.

[Murmuring]

Follow me.

- No lights?

- You're lucky.

Go ahead. You're an actor.

Pretend you're going to your execution.

Sit right over here,

fellas.

##[Vicky Singing]

##[Continues]

- ##[Ends]

- [Rattling Doorknob]

Let me out!

Let me out of here!

Take him up to my office.

There was something so young,

so fresh, so full of life...

about Vicky that the very sight of her

gave me new hope.

She made me feel that

perhaps I might succeed again...

in both my life

and my profession.

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