In This Our Life Page #8

- I'm very sorry.

I'm afraid I'll have to see her.

You see, it's about an accident.

A very serious accident.

She hasn't been in any.

There must be some mistake.

Perhaps we can clear the matter up.

You see, we received a report...

Roy, what is it? What's happened?

It's nothing, dear. Don't be frightened.

This is Inspector Millett.

I'm mighty sorry to disturb you,

Mrs. Kingsmill.

But I've been sent here

to investigate an accident.

What has that got to do with me?

Well, perhaps I'd better tell you

what we know so far.

Last evening, about 7:30,

a car struck a girl and her mother...

...as they were crossing Granite Boulevard

and Sawyer Street.

The woman was badly injured

and the little girl was killed.

Killed?

Nobody saw the accident.

But one woman saw a sport car

speeding away from the spot.

She couldn't get the number...

...but a car with bloodstains on it

was found in an alley.

We traced the license number

and, well, it seems the car is yours.

But how could it be?

I got home about 7:30

and went to bed early with a headache.

Oh...

Yes?

What is it, dear?

Roy, it's awful. I can't believe it.

Believe what?

If someone else was using your car,

you'd better tell us, Mrs. Kingsmill.

- I can't. Please don't ask me.

- You've got to tell us.

Stanley, dear. It's no use.

You can't protect whoever it is.

They'll find out anyway. It's better

for them to know the truth from the start.

Well, I can't believe it.

That he'd run away from...

He just said that the little girl was dead.

I know it's awful, but it isn't your fault.

But it was. I mean, in a way it was.

Because, you see,

I'd come in from a drive...

...and instead of taking the car

to the garage as I usually do...

...I left it out front.

- You see, he was going to wash it, but...

- Oh, Stanley, it wasn't.

It couldn't have been.

I don't understand it either.

He's always so careful.

It's not like him at all unless...

Oh, unless he'd been drinking.

But he doesn't drink. I've never known

him to touch a drop in his life.

Well, it seems everyone knows

who it is except me.

Sorry, I'll have to ask you...

...to give me the name.

- No.

I'd be obliged to take you to the station.

I don't wanna do that unless...

I can't. I just can't.

His name is Parry Clay.

He's a colored boy who works

in a law office and does odd jobs.

- We've known him a long time.

- And his address?

Wilson Street.

- I don't know the number.

- We'll find it.

I'm sorry. I understand how you feel.

Thank you. You've been very kind.

It's nothing. I just did what I had to do.

You can have the car back any time.

We've already taken photographs.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

We've gotta do something about Parry.

If they send that boy to prison,

it'll ruin his life.

I'll get Uncle William.

He'll be back from Johns Hopkins tonight.

In the meantime,

I'll stop off at Craig's office.

- You've got enough on your mind.

- Nothing's as important as this.

But it was my car

and that makes it my responsibility.

- You don't have to do anything about it.

- I think, first of all, I'll go to Parry's mother.

I couldn't have Minerva think we'd let

her down when her boy's in trouble.

Minerva, I want you to tell me exactly

what happened.

Do you understand?

No matter what it is, I've got to know.

Have you spoke with Miss Stanley?

I was there when she told her story

to the police.

Child, this seems hard to say.

But what Miss Stanley told

the police about my poor boy...

...there ain't a word of truth, so help me.

Then Parry had nothing...

Minerva, how do you know that?

Because Parry come home from office,

and that was about 6:00.

And he stayed home all evening

studying some legal books.

But he took the car to wash it.

Didn't he pick it up on the way?

No, ma'am. Miss Stanley called up

and said she was gonna use the car...

...and for him not to bother.

But why didn't Parry say that?

Why didn't he tell the police?

I don't understand.

The police just come and took him off.

And he tried to tell him

but they don't listen to no colored boy.

Minerva, you wouldn't say that unless...

Miss Roy, I ain't never lied to you

or your daddy all my life.

And nothing can make me lie.

Not even Parry.

Oh, Minerva, I believe you.

I'll go and get Mr. Craig right away.

We'll do all we can.

Yes, ma'am.

- Craig, I've just been to see Minerva.

- Yes? What about?

- Parry had nothing to do with the accident.

- What do you mean?

Just that.

He was at home when it happened.

Minerva told me and I believe her.

Craig, you're his lawyer.

Parry's put his trust in you.

- You've got to get him out of this.

- No, I'm not his lawyer.

I'm not gonna handle the case.

I couldn't get him off.

Yes, the evidence would be bad if Stanley

were telling the truth but she isn't.

- She wouldn't lie?

- She has before.

Oh, but not about a thing like this.

She may be wild, but she has feelings.

She wouldn't set out to hurt anybody.

No, all she wants is to be happy.

No matter what it costs somebody else.

- She's young.

- So is Parry.

Just because of what Stanley did to us,

you mustn't misjudge her now.

Letting a boy suffer

for something he didn't do.

You mustn't accuse Stanley

of anything so terrible.

After all, she is your own sister.

You mustn't forget that.

I mustn't let you forget it.

Is all this defense because Stanley's

my sister or because she's Stanley?

No, don't answer that.

I don't want to know.

Oh, Roy. How about a Scotch?

I've got a new bottle.

- No.

- No? Why not?

I could dance all day and all night.

Then you wouldn't need to drive fast,

would you?

- It's the same thing, isn't it?

- Why do you say that?

You do drive fast, don't you?

Peter said I was the best driver

he ever saw.

- Peter said?

- Yes.

What do you think

is going to happen to Parry?

Craig will get him off

with a light sentence.

Then you're certain it was Parry

who was in the accident?

Naturally. Who else would it be?

Stanley, what time last evening

did Parry pick up the car?

Oh, I got home about 7:00.

It must have been some time after that.

Where had you been?

What business is it of yours?

Why do you keep asking me questions?

I've told you all I know about it.

Stanley. Stanley.

We can't always help what we do.

The awful thing is not to face what

we've done, to make someone else face it.

What has that got to do with me?

For your own sake,

please tell me the truth.

What truth? What are you talking about?

I'm talking about a woman

in the hospital badly hurt...

...to be told her little girl is dead.

Well, it wasn't my fault.

You said it wasn't my fault.

I can't help what...

What someone else does.

Minerva says that Parry wasn't out

of the house last evening after 6:00.

Whenever they're in a tight spot

they lie for each other.

She says you called Parry...

...and told him you didn't

want the car washed.

She lied.

- Parry says the same thing.

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