Playback Page #39

BETTY:

(catching a little

enthusiasm from

him)

But that's what I'm doing. Couldn't

they think of that?

BRANDON:

If they had any reason to. Why

make it tough for themselves? Why

go to all that trouble? Here's an

open book. Close it. No reason

to keep it open. She was a nice

girl, anyway. And perhaps she

didn't kill him on purpose. Perhaps

she didn't kill the other one.

You never know. Give her the

benefit of the doubt. Leave her

stay where she is. Close the book.

Finis.

BETTY:

Killaine...

BRANDON:

The best interference runner we've

got. He thinks he's in love with

you--and he's a gentleman. Come

here, baby.

He pulls her towards him, holds her in his arms, and kisses

her.

BRANDON:

I'm not. Or I wouldn't be doing

this right now.

(softly)

Even if I didn't like you, I'd

have to do it. Like the guy that

was dealt thirteen spades in a

bridge hand. Or filled an ace-

high flush. You couldn't get him

out of that game to give him the

Pulitzer Prize.

They pull apart. Brandon starts the car again. As it

gets into motion, he looks forward through the windshield,

brakes suddenly, with a grim expression.

WHAT HE SEES:

SHOOTING FORWARD THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD OF THE CAR

Along the block, at the end of which is Charlie's Place.

The sign can be made out vaguely. A police car stands in

front of the door.

BACK TO BRANDON AND BETTY

BRANDON:

(with forced

carelessness)

Must be raid day at Magruder's.

They always raid him before he

opens, so he won't lose any

business.

WIDER SHOT - EXTERIOR OF THE CAR

As Brandon turns it in a fast U-Turn, CAMERA PANS IT OUT F

SIGHT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, THEN PANS BACK TO PICK UP

THE POLICE CAR IN FRONT OF MAGRUDER'S.

CLOSE SHOT of the Police car - uniformed CHAUFFEUR at the

wheel. One of the car doors is standing open.

EXT. CHARLIE'S PLACE -- DAY

PAN TO THE ENTRANCE OF CHARLIE'S

Another uniformed COP is standing at the door. He pushes

the door open, looks inside, up the staircase.

CAMERA PANS TO SHOOT UP THE DARK, EMPTY STAIRS

WIPE TO:

INT. CHARLIE'S PLACE -- DAY

As seen before, except that the place is now tidied up,

the tables are in order, arranged for the night. A door

at the back opens and a PLAIN CLOTHES DICK, one we have

not yet seen, comes through, starts walking rapidly in the

direction of the street stairs. Through the open door we

HEAR Driscoll's voice.

DRISCOLL (O.S.)

(not too loud)

I want a man from the I-Bureau

down here as soon as possible.

There's some stuff in the waste

basket I'm afraid to handle.

CUT TO:

INT. CHARLIE'S PLACE - MAGRUDER'S OFFICE -- DAY

As Driscoll replaces phone, turns to face Magruder, who is

handcuffed, with a Man standing beside him. Magruder is

scowling. Driscoll brings up his left hand, showing on a

spread handkerchief the sawed-off belly gun that Magruder

took away from Goble and put in his desk drawer.

DRISCOLL:

What always throws me about people

like you is that you're so stupid.

Don't you know these things have

numbers on them? And that they

have to be registered if they're

owned legally? And that if we

find a man dead with his pocket's

empty--and identify him and find

out he's a private detective from

San Francisco--

MAGRUDER:

(tough)

It needs music.

DRISCOLL:

(ignoring him and

continuing right

on)

All we have to do is call the San

Francisco Police and get numbers

for his guns. For the love of the

Saints, Magruder, if you're going

into the murder business, why don't

you learn a few rules? You must

have been pretty desperate to move

him out of here in broad daylight.

Magruder reacts. This one catches him right square on the

point of the chin.

DRISCOLL:

(softly)

Don't you know we have people down

in the district working for us?

They might look like tramps to

you, and some of them are. But

they have eyes.

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