Murder! Page #8

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Really? Your...

Your indifference

astonishes me.

Aren't I right

in thinking

that you were a member

of the Druce company

at the time?

Then you knew

both women concerned.

Yes, I knew them

both quite well.

Now, let's begin.

Oh, by the way,

mr. Fane,

I understand you're

appearing at present

at the circus.

Would that interfere?

No, it was my old job,

and I've gone back to it

because times have been

a little difficult and--

however, I understand

you wouldn't be starting

for 2 or 3 weeks.

No, I don't suppose so, no.

Let me give you...

Some idea of the scene.

Here is a table in front

of a fireplace,

more or less a ....

On the table there's

the remains of a meal.

And, of course,

the brandy flask.

You know, mr. Fane,

of course, you know all

the details of the case.

I can't help wondering,

why nothing

spectacular developed

in connection

with the brandy.

Thinking as a dramatist,

I can't help feeling

that the brandy

was not exploited with

sufficient imagination.

Then, of course,

the law has no sense

of drama, has it?

No.

No.

Then again,

let me see.

I thought it best

to begin from a point

just before

the actual murder.

There's a short scene

between the 2 women...

Which turns

into a quarrel.

In the middle of it,

you make your entrance,

on the words--I got

this from the evidence--

"friends? I can tell you

things about your friends

that you don't know."

Just carry on from

that point, would you?

Now, how on earth

did you know

the entrance was

from the window?

That's highly clever.

And look, mr. Fane,

you've forgotten

your script.

The script.

Now, where are we?

"Friends? I can tell

you things..."

Wouldn't it be better if

I were to pick up the poker

before I made the entrance

to the room?

Excellent idea.

I'll put that in.

Thank you.

May I have the poker?

No, I'm terribly sorry.

We only have

electric fires here.

Would this pencil do?

Very well.

We must get on

without the poker.

You can use

your imagination, eh?

Now then...

Through the window,

into the room.

You creep through

the double doors.

The 2 women are

facing each other.

You come slowly around,

taking care

not to be heard

and gradually you

approach the one

whose back is to you.

Now, you raise the poker

that is in your hand

as the other woman

says...

"You fool! Don't you know

that he's a half--"

what a pity, sir John.

The scene isn't finished.

I was getting quite

worked up to it.

I thought perhaps...

You might be able

to collaborate with us.

I'm so sorry, sir John.

I'm afraid I understand

so little about playwriting.

Perhaps later on...

When the script

is finished...

You'll allow me to give

you another reading.

Find out what time

Fane comes on tonight.

I shan't be...

How do you do, sir John?

Who'd have thought

of seeing you here?

Well, you see,

I'm, uh...

I'm working for

sir John now.

Yes. mr. Markham

is helping me

with my new play.

I suppose

you find brandy

steadying

for the nerves?

Mine's very nerving work,

you see, sir John?

You never know

what may happen.

Hurry up. You're next.

I presume you've come

to talk to me about...

That part again, sir John.

You know perfectly well

what I've come here for.

Hurry up, Fane.

There'll be a wait

if you're

not careful.

If it isn't....

How are you,

sir John?

Come to see

the show?

No, not exactly.

I've really come

to see mr. Fane.

Sir John,

if you wouldn't mind

coming down to see me

after my act,

I shall only

be too pleased

to talk over

that little matter

we were discussing.

For god's sakes,

play something!

Fane says he has

decided to colloborate

in my play after all.

He says...

"The 2 women

are standing

"facing each other

in dead silence.

"They are so lost in the

tension of the moment

"that they do not hear

the murderer creep through

"the double doors

into the room.

"The murdered woman is at

that instant going to speak.

"The murderer

springs forward.

"He hurls

the first woman aside.

"She is stunned

by the fall,

"but he doesn't

notice it.

"Infuriated,

"he strikes out

at the other woman

"with the poker.

"She falls

by the fireplace,

"she's dead.

"He nearly faints

at the sight of the blood.

"He drinks the brandy,

"then he sees the other

woman beginning to stir.

"He must get away...

"Through the back window.

A leap or two.

Finally, a climb into

the theatre dressing room."

That accounts

for the broken basin.

"But how to get home

undetected from the theatre.

An idea. The policeman's

uniform he wore on the stage."

There's your policeman,

Markham.

"He walks home

a murderer.

"A murderer

on an impulse.

"The silence of

the mouth of a woman

"who knew his secret and

was going to reveal it

"to the woman

he dared to love.

There's a melodrama

for you, sir John."

Well, Markham...

You have it all.

Poor devil.

And Diana Baring...

She knew all the time...

He was a half-caste.

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