Playback Page #33

KILLAINE:

Identification on possible, Sir.

Not conclusive.

MCKECHNIE:

(reading out loud)

"Superintendent J. McKechnie,

Vancouver Police Department.

Replying your inquiry Elizabeth

Kinsolving. Subject was indicted,

first degree murder her husband,

Lee Kinsolving, January this year.

Guilty verdict set aside by

presiding judge. Prisoner

discharged, Whereabouts now unknown.

Fingerprint classification"--

(he holds up the

other telegram and

looks at Killaine)

And exact correspondence, Killaine.

Killaine stands white and silent.

MCKECHNIE:

(dropping the F.B.I

telegram and

continuing to read

the other)

"Physical description: Age 26,

Height 5 1 3/4 inches: Weight,

188 pounds:
Light brown hair: Deep

blue eyes:
Small, perfectly formed

features:
Ears and earlobes small:

Slender build:
Wears size 4 AA

shoe:
Quiet refined manner: New

York accent:
No charges pending.

No prior criminal record. Mayfield,

Mother's name. Air-mailing you

photographs today. Signed Hubert

Tollison, Chief of Police,

Greenwater, North Carolina."

(slowly McKechnie

drops this wire on

top of the other --

to Killaine)

She bleached her hair, or course.

(pause)

Would your sensibilities be

offended, if I sent out a general

alarm to pick up this girl?

KILLAINE:

I think you'd be entirely justified,

sir.

MCKECHNIE:

(with a sudden roar)

But you still think she's innocent.

KILLAINE:

I do.

he reaches into his pocket, takes out his badge, places it

on the desk, on top of the two telegrams

KILLAINE:

I think you'd like to have this.

McKechnie looks down at it without expression, speaks very

slowly,

MCKECHNIE:

I believe you won decorations during

the war.

KILLAINE:

Two.

McKechnie picks up the badge and holds it on the flat of

his hand, looking down at it.

MCKECHNIE:

There are people in this world who

don't think a police badge is a

badge of honor. I'm not one of

them.

KILLAINE:

Nor I. This is why I gave it to

you.

MCKECHNIE:

(same tone)

You're a young man. You're

romantic. You think a pretty face

and a clean conscience go together.

You think a soft voice means a

soft heart. You'll grow out of

that.

KILLAINE:

Not too far, I hope.

MCKECHNIE:

(suddenly very

Scotch, the harsh

and eloquent

Covenanter)

This badge is not an old newspaper

you can cast down on the desk. It

is not a thing you can give up as

of no value. It may be taken from

you--and you may die defending it.

But you'll not use it to make cheap

dramatic gesures with.

(pause; Killaine is

rocked back on his

heels)

It's a naked steel of the sword of

Justice. Put it back in your pocket

and hold tight to it--and someday

you might grow into a worthiness

ye lack now.

Killaine reaches out and takes the badge. He looks down

at it, his face bitter and ashamed.

MCKECHNIE:

Get out of here!

KILLAINE:

What are my orders, sir?

MCKECHNIE:

You think I'm wrong about this bit

of a girl. Go out and prove it

against me!

Killaine steps back, salutes, wheels about and exits scene.

McKechnie looks after him, expressionlessly. The door

CLOSES off. He presses a button. A uniformed OFFICER

enters, McKechnie holds the two telegrams toward him.

MCKECHNIE:

Condense these for an immediate

all-stations pick-up order.

INT. VANCOUVER POLICE HEADQUARTERS - KILLAINE'S OFFICE --

DAY:

As he enters. Crosses to his desk, takes a small, steel

mirror out of drawer and examines his chin.

CAMERA MOVES TO AN OVER-THE-SHOULDER SHOT

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