Marked Woman Page #4

Much too smart to be protecting

a murderer like Vanning.

I'm not protecting anybody but myself.

Now, Mary, we're trying to help you.

- I'm doing all right.

- For how long?

Until Vanning gets as much as he can

and throws you in the ashcan...

...just like he's done with everything

he's ever laid his hands on.

And we're trying to put a stop to that,

help people like you.

But there's nothing we can do

unless you're willing to help yourself.

Now, why don't you give us a break.

What kind of a break

have you ever given us...

...outside of kicking us around

every chance you could get?

There's only one kind of a break we want

from you, and that's to leave us alone.

And let us make a living

in our own way.

Or is that asking too much?

Anything else you wanna know?

How do you like the inside of a jail?

- Me?

- Yes, you.

Because that's where you're going.

Maybe you don't know it,

but there's a law in this state...

...that makes an accessory to a murder

equally as guilty as the murderer himself.

Now, unless you tell me

exactly what happened and who did it...

...I'm going to indict you for murder.

Nice. Just when I got

everything running fine.

- It'll blow over.

- Yeah.

In the meantime, every one of my joints

gets a bad reputation.

What do you suppose people thought

they were before this happened?

- Ice-cream parlors?

- Never mind that.

I want it stopped.

What kind of a guy is this Graham?

Young, ambitious.

What's his price?

Did you ever hear the story

about the virtuous young man?

Someday you're going to give me

one of those answers...

...and I'm going to bust you

right in the nose.

Tell it to me in English.

He can't be bought.

Is that plain enough?

Yeah.

Too plain.

Anybody that wouldn't take dough is crazy.

Crazy men are dangerous.

A guy like that is liable to get too big

and really put the clamps down.

And where will we be?

Oh, I've got something worked out

that will take care of that.

- Is it cute?

- Everything I do is cute.

When I get through with him...

...he'll be lucky to be able get a job

as a second assistant to a notary public.

Swell.

- Did you spring the girl yet?

- No.

What are you waiting for?

When I promise to get my girls out

in case they get jammed up, I mean it.

- Get her out.

- She stays in jail.

Listen, Gordon.

You're doing all right as my lawyer.

But I don't like it

when you start trying to be my boss.

Get that girl out

before she starts squawking.

- That's just what I want her to do.

- What?

Only she's going to squawk

the way I tell her to.

How do you do, Miss Dwight?

Sorry I was delayed.

I got here as soon as I could.

Now, before we accept this case, there are

several things I'd like to discuss with you.

- Who sent you?

- Vanning, and keep it under your hat.

It's about time.

- Well?

- Sit down.

Look, that's all I've been doing

for the past two days...

...is standing up and sitting down.

I don't need a lawyer to tell me that.

- When do I get out of here?

- You don't.

- Oh, I see. A little conniving.

- Yeah, that's right.

I go to bat for Vanning...

...and I get paid off

by taking the rap for him.

Listen, jurisprudence, I pay Vanning

good money to settle little things like this...

...and he's going to get me out of here.

Now, listen, you know Vanning takes care

of all the people that play ball with him.

- You've got to stay here and help him.

- Help him?

What is this, a charity affair?

He's gonna help me, and do it fast.

Now, if he doesn't get me out of here

by tonight, I am going to...

Do nothing.

Vanning was telling me

that you said something about a girl...

...that was found in the river

by the name of Audrey Fleming.

Now, you don't wanna be found

in that spot, do you?

You sit down and listen

to what I got to say.

What did you want to see me about?

- How long are you going to keep me here?

- That entirely depends on you.

You wouldn't do this to me

if I were somebody important, would you?

No.

You'd be afraid.

Somebody higher up might find out.

You might lose your job.

But with me, you can get tough.

People like us, we don't count.

We're nobodies. Setups to be kicked about

by whoever feels like it.

Well, I won't stand for it.

- Either you let me out of here, or I'Il...

- Or what?

Coming in here like this

isn't gonna help you at all.

There's only one way

for you to get out.

Tell me what happened

the night Krawford was murdered.

- I can't.

- Why not?

- I'm afraid.

- Of Vanning?

Yes. He'll kill me.

- He did have something to do with this?

- No, he didn't. He was...

Oh, please don't ask me to talk.

He'll kill me.

Help me to prove he's responsible,

I'll put him where he won't kill anybody.

You don't know what he's like.

He stops at nothing.

People disappear

and are never heard of again.

I don't want that to happen to me.

I'm young and I wanna live.

I don't wanna die.

All right. Come on, now.

Pull yourself together.

Here, use this.

Thanks.

- Pretty tough going for you girls, isn't it?

- Yeah.

Sometimes it's too tough.

There's no use crying about it.

That's the way it is.

That's the way it's gotta be.

No, it doesn't.

You're not the only one that was born

with two strikes against him.

I probably got kicked around

just as much as you did.

I didn't like it any better than you do.

The only difference between us...

...is that, well, I did something about it.

You won't.

Now, Mary, if you'll help me to put Vanning

and his crowd where they belong...

...you'll not only be helping yourself...

...but you'll be helping

thousands of other girls just like you.

If you won't...

...well, then you'll just keep on getting in

deeper and deeper until...

Well, l... I guess you know the rest

of the story just as well as I do.

- Now, you see that, don't you?

- Yeah, I see.

Well, now, why won't you tell me

what you know?

Well, what have you got to lose?

Nothing. Not a thing.

Then you'll talk?

- Why not?

- Good girl.

Oh, Smith, come in here

and bring your book.

And now, Miss Dwight...

...you've testified that when you arrived

at the Waldorf-Ritz Hotel...

...you saw the deceased being dragged

into a taxicab by two of the defendants.

- Is that right?

- Yes, sir.

Can you identify these men?

Yes, sir.

Will the defendants please rise?

Will you indicate the men

you saw that night?

Go ahead, Miss Dwight,

you have nothing to be afraid of.

Which are the men?

Those men standing there

behind Mr. Vanning.

And you positively identify

William Borno and James Meller...

...as the two men you saw drag the

deceased, Ralph Krawford, into the taxicab?

Yes, sir.

- Have you ever seen these men before?

- Oh, sure.

They're a couple

of Vanning's strong-arm men.

They work as bouncers at the club.

Thank you, Miss Dwight.

Your witness.

- You say your name is Mary Dwight?

- Yes, sir.

Is that your true name?

Answer the question.

- Is that your true name?

- No, sir.

- Then what is it?

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