Rope Page #8

if anything, Rupert knows,

but I promise you he'll be out of here

in five minutes, one way or the other.

Phillip, for those five minutes,

you've got to pull yourself together.

- Brandon, Brandon -

- Now look.

I'm not going to get caught

because of you or anyone else.

No one is going to get in my way now.

(Door Buzzer)

Brandon, it's not loaded, is it?

(Door Buzzer)

(Rupert) - Sorry to bother you, Brandon.

(Brandon) - lt's no bother. Come in.

I knew you were leaving tonight.

I didn't want to be left without my case.

- Hello, Phillip.

- Hello.

I didn't mean to alarm you before.

You didn't alarm him. I'm afraid

Phillip's a little antisocial tonight.

- Oh? I thought perhaps -

- Any idea where you left the case?

No. No, not at all.

Completely unlike me to forget it, isn't it?

I suppose a psychoanalyst would say

that I didn't really forget it at all.

I unconsciously left it

because I wanted to come back.

But, uh...

- Why should I want to come back?

- Yes, why?

Dor the pleasure of our company

or another drink.

That's a good idea.

May I have one for the road?

Of course. A short one?

No, I'd prefer a long one,

if you don't mind.

Not at all.

Phillip, will you fix Rupert a drink?

Now let me see,

the last I remember having the case

was when I was there.

I was just going to open the chest

for Mrs Wilson, when you came over.

And then what?

I think I, uh -

Wonder where it could be.

Oh, well, here it is, right where I left it.

Gentlemen, I beg your pardon.

I'm very sorry.

I, uh -

Well, may I have that drink anyway?

Of course.

- You really don't mind?

- No. Why should we?

- Well, you might be -

- What?

- Tired. You're sure it's alright?

- He said you could have it!

- Thank you.

- Don't mind Phillip.

- I'm afraid he's had a few too many.

- Well, why not? Why not?

After all, it was a party.

Well, it's very pleasant to sit here

with a good drink and good company.

I'm glad.

- Please don't let me be in the way.

- Of what?

- I know you have things to do.

- What do you mean?

Packing, last-minute odds and ends.

You are driving

to Connecticut tonight, aren't you?

- Yes, but we're all packed.

- Oh, I see. All ready.

All except one guest,

who must be gotten rid of.

Well, I'll be off as... uh...

as soon as I finish my drink.

There's no need to hurry, Rupert.

Thank you.

I, uh... would like to stay a bit.

Perhaps even see you off.

I always hate to leave a party,

especially when the evening

has been unusually stimulating,

or strange, like this evening.

What do you mean, 'strange'?

Did I say 'strange,' Brandon?

You often pick words for sound

rather than meaning.

I don't exactly know what I meant,

unless I was thinking about David.

- What was strange about David?

- His not showing up.

You don't think anything

really did happen to him, do you?

- What could have?

- He could have been run over or held up.

- In broad daylight?

- That's right, I'd forgotten.

Yes, it must have been broad

daylight when it happened.

When, uh... what happened?

When whatever did happen to David.

Nothing, probably.

Still... where is he?

- What's your theory?

- Mine?

I was considering

Janet's for the moment.

- Oh? I didn't know she had one.

- Yes, you do.

I couldn't help overhearing Janet.

She thinks you kidnapped David, or did

something to prevent him from coming.

I'm not interested in Janet's prattle,

but you always interest me, Rupert.

Do you think I, uh... 'kidnapped' David?

It's the sort of mischief that would

have appealed to you in school,

for the experience,

the excitement, the danger.

But it would be slightly more difficult

to pull off now, though, don't you think?

- Ah, you'd find a way.

- How?

I mean, suppose you were I.

How would you

get David out of the way?

You're much better

at this sort of thing than I am.

What would you do if you were I?

Well... if I wanted to get rid of David,

I'd invite him for a drink

at the club or some quiet bar.

or better still, I'd invite him here.

- Then no one would see us together.

- That's good. And no witnesses?

- Yes, that's right.

- Then what?

Well...

Well, let me see.

(Rupert)

At the right time, David would arrive.

l'd walk slowly

out of the room, into the hall.

l'd greet him, tell him how fine

he's looking and so forth,

and, uh... take his hat.

Then l'd bring him in here,

make some small talk

to put him at his ease,

probably offer him a drink,

- and then he'd sit down.

(Brandon) - Yes?

(Rupert) l'd try to make it all

very pleasant, you understand?

Phillip would probably play the piano.

Now, as l recall, David was quite strong.

He'd have to be knocked out.

So l'd move quietly behind the chair

and hit him on the head with something.

His body would fall forward on the floor.

(Brandon)

Then where would you put him?

(Rupert) Well, uh...

Well, let me see.

Well, I think I'd get Phillip

to help me carry him out of the room,

down the back stairs, and the

two of us would put him in the car.

- You'd be seen.

(Rupert) - What?

Well, you said yourself

that if anything did happen,

it must have happened in broad daylight.

Oh, that's right. I'd forgotten.

I'd have to find someplace

to hide the body until dark.

Yes, you would, but where, Rupert?

Yes.

Yes, where?

- Cat and mouse! Cat and mouse!

- Phillip!

- Which is the cat and which the mouse?

- That's enough of that.

- Mind your own business.

- That's enough, Phillip!

I told you before,

mind your own business!

It really isn't any of my business.

I'm not his keeper.

With him in this condition, though

there doesn't seem to be

much point in your staying, Rupert.

That is...

unless you came back to find something

besides your cigarette case.

You mean, for example,

to find if you really got rid of David?

- Yes, that's what I mean.

- Oh, you're as romantic as Janet.

I don't think for a moment

that you kidnapped David.

I'll admit Janet put the notion in my head,

but I never would have mentioned it,

if it weren't that you seem to be carrying

fear of discovery in your pocket.

- What?

- That's a gun, isn't it?

(Laughing)

That teased my suspicions

more than anything else.

And to tell you the truth,

it really scares me a little.

I'm terribly sorry, Rupert.

I don't blame you, but... well, here.

You can relax.

I have to take it up to the country.

There have been several burglaries,

and mother's a bit on edge.

- Uh, finished, Phillip?

(Phillip) - Alright.

(Brandon) Did you hear

what Rupert said about the gun?

He thought... Laughing)

It's odd the way one can pyramid

simple facts into wild fantasies, isn't it?

(Brandon) - We all do, don't we, Phillip?

(Phillip) - Yeah.

(Brandon) Particularly after a few

drinks. How is yours, Rupert?

(Rupert) l think l'll be running along.

(Brandon) Phillip, you'll feel much

better once you get out in the open air.

l don't think there'll be much traffic

and we ought to make good time.

(Rupert) lt's a lovely night

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