Phantom Lady Page #3

Boss, she's been sitting there

all night.

Like last night and the night before.

Staring at me.

Sure she keeps staring at you.

She wants another drink.

We're closing up, Miss.

We're closing up, Miss!

What are you after?

Beat it!

What's the trouble, mister?

- You think you're smart, don't you?

I'm on to you!

- Is he bothering you, Miss?

No, it's alright.

- He's a lush, huh?

Keep out of this!

It's between us.

You got something to tell me...

You're wasting your time. - You know

what's going to happen to him?

You can prevent it.

You don't want that on your conscience.

If you want me to, I'll...

- Don't interfere.

Okay, lady.

Well?

- I ain't talking, see?

You ain't got nothing on me.

Nothing!

You want to find out anything,

ask the guy who give it to me.

Who bribed you?

I...

- Wait a minute!

Let me go!

Take your hands off me!

Look out!

How did you get in here?

- Your landlady.

Remember me? I'm a tired police

inspector named Burgess,

If youre looking for Mr. Henderson you'll

find him just where you put him.

Come on, that's nonsense

and you know it.

That job was done when I turned him

over to the DA.

It's so easy to be smug and wear

a badge on your mind, isn't it?

You must feel very proud of yourself!

Found a new job yet?

Why don't you go home to Kansas?

I'm staying here. I have things to do.

Like going around frightening barmen?

That's what I'm paid for,

to know those things.

Why did you follow him?

Maybe I needed the exercise.

Try Central Park next time.

The air's better.

I don't have to tell you anything!

- Maybe not.

But what business is it of yours to go

around... - It isn't any of my business!

He hasn't anyone else to fight for him!

He won't appeal, he has no money,

no friends!

I had to do something.

You could have come to me.

Forget it, Inspector.

I know Scott's innocent.

So do I.

What do you mean?

I won't say I did my job poorly. The

evidence shoved him into the chair.

Since the trial, I've been doing

a lot of thinking.

The only defense Scott offered was

the woman with the funny hat.

My kid could have done

a better job of describing it.

Only a fool or an innocent man would

have stuck to that alibi.

A guilty man would have been smarter!

Scott wasn't being smart,

he was telling the truth!

The case is closed officially...

but I'd like to help unofficially.

Well, how about it?

Hi, chick!

Let me take a look at you!

Hey, you look even better than you

did sitting in the theater!

You could have knocked me cold

when you gave me the eye!

You sure know how to beat it out!

- Thanks, baby.

The handle's Cliff, Cliff Milburn.

- I'm Jeannie.

I gotta have fun tonight, Jeannie!

Like jive?

- You bet! I'm a hep kitten!

Oh, baby!

Come in!

Come on in, baby!

This is it!

You just going to stand there? What

are you looking at? It's just a room.

Gee, Cliff...

With all the dough you make...

- My dough goes for other things, baby.

5 and 10.

I'll get you something better!

- Will you Cliff?

Will you?

Honest?

Just name it!

What do you want, baby?

I could make you look classy.

That's cheap!

Suppose you don't like my hat either.

Stick with me. I'll stake you to

a carload of hats!

Cliff, you're sweet.

I bet you don't know what sort of hat

would look good on me. -Me?

I'm an authority on hats!

I get paid for knowing about hats!

Yeah, Cliff?

Yeah!

You can tell me!

Ain't I your friend?

Yeah.

Listen, Cliff... you get paid, why?

Why?

I know all them that sit

in the front row!

$500 just for looking at a dame

and saying I didn't!

Tell me about it, Cliff.

Forget it.

She give you the $500, Cliff?

No.

Who gave it to you?

Some man.

Wait a minute!

What did the man say?

- Alright...

"That's for you," he said.

All of it!

$500 if you say there was no dame.

No matter who asked you say, "No!"

Keep on saying "No!"

And then he beat it.

Give me a cigarette...

- I haven't any...

That's me!

Everything about me!

They sent you.

Somebody's after me!

You made me believe you liked me.

- I do.

I do, Cliff!

Don't you remember?

I was making you laugh!

I was kissing you!

You made me believe you liked me!

Wait until I get you.

Where are you?

Have a phone?

- Yes!

There!

What's the matter, Miss?

You have any trouble?

Max, come out front!

Hello? Hello?

Oh, Mr. Burgess...

No, I'm alright but hurry.

I'm at... what store?

- Joe's

Joe's Delicatessen just down

from his house.

How long will it take you?

Oh, good.

Maybe I can help you.

- Don't ask...

I'll fix some coffee for you.

Who's that?

It's only me, Cliff.

What a place! You can feel the rats

in the walls.

What did you come here for?

- It's good to sit down again.

I've been standing for hours on the

sidewalk while you drummed away.

Listen, Mister...

I wished I'd been in the room while you

were playing. You're a fine technician.

Exciting girl you took there with you.

Yeah?

Yeah.

You brought her here.

Jeannie! She's okay

She was magnificent!

She loathed you, but she went with you.

She would have humiliated herself

to make you talk.

I didn't tell her anything!

- Why lie, Cliff?

You can have back your $500!

- Don't come near me!

Please.

What are you thinking about?

How interesting a pair of hands can be,

They can trick melody out of a

piano keyboard.

They can mold beauty out

of a piece of clay.

They can bring life back

to a dying child.

A pair of hands can do

inconceivable good.

Yet the same pair of hands

can do terrible evil.

Destroy, whip, torture...

even kill.

I wish I didn't have to use my hands

to hurt another human being.

Here he comes!

Thank you very much.

- You're very welcome.

Thanks for coming so soon.

He saw her! Somebody bribed him!

- I have a warrant in my pocket.

I'm going with you.

- You stay in the store.

This time it's an accident.

- We have proof now!

He told me that...

- No good, Carol. They won't accept it.

He's dead.

Hello, Kansas.

- Hello, Mr. Henderson.

How are you?

- Oh, I'm fine.

I've gained weight. They're fattening

me up for the slaughter.

I have a date in 18 days.

But your appeal...

It's denied.

Stop feeling sorry for me!

I'm not very sociable these days.

You're the only one who comes

to see me.

You don't need to apologize,

Mr. Henderson.

I understand.

Mr. Henderson... even the guards

call me "Scott. "

And another thing: last week we

kept talking about me...

let's not this time!

Let's talk about anything else!

You pick the subject.

We don't have to talk at all

unless you want to.

Serves you right for coming up here!

Oh, I'm sorry.

I didn't mean what I said.

I just took it out on you.

Matter of fact, I'm darned

glad to see you.

Youre wasting your time coming up here.

You ought to be out having fun

with some fellow.

My boss?

Boss? That was quick!

Didn't know you had another job.

So you've fallen for each other?

That's fine.

Yeah, that's fine!

Guess I'd better go.

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