Scarlet Street Page #7

Something hidden.

Sometimes it seems as if she

were two people.

I mention that in my notice...

would you care to see it?

Mr. Cross, there's a man outside

who says he wants to see you.

- Who?

- I didn't get no name, sir.

But he says he was a detective.

- You the detective?

- Well, I used to be, Mr. Cross.

Don't you recognize me?

No.

Homer!

Quite a shock, huh?

Now don't faint, Mr. Cross.

Keep your head.

I'll explain everything.

Well, I was in trouble at the time,

I'd been...

collecting a little money from

the speakeasies along the waterfront.

Word got around to headquarters.

I was up for investigation.

One night I'm down by Brooklyn Bridge...

trying to fix things up...

A man runs into the speakeasy and says:

"A woman just jumped off the bridge."

So I run out and tear off my coat,

jump in...

The way I felt, I'm hoping

I don't come up again.

You mind?

Well, there I am, swimming

around in the dark...

I had hold of her hat once...

the next thing I know, I'm all tired out.

I heard a tugboat whistle,

and right down on top of me...

comes a coal barge...

so I grab ahold and climb aboard.

I look down at my hand,

and what do you think I got?

Her pocketbook!

That's what I grabbed ahold of

when I thought it was her hat!

And inside is 2700 dollars

in folded money!

Imagine anyone committing suicide

with that much money!

Well the coal barge unloaded

on a banana boat...

bound for Honduras...

Well, I went with it.

But if you're not dead...

Then I'm not really married to Adele,

am I?

What's it worth it to you for me to...

keep my mouth shut and just...

fade away?

Yes but...

If you're Adele's husband...

Wait a minute. I can see you need Adele.

I need money.

You're a cashier...

it ought to be easy for you to get

your hands on a couple of thousand...

Well, I...I...I couldn't do a thing like that.

- You're going back to her?

- No!

But not to do you a favor, Mister!

I'm clearing out for Adele's sake.

And don't think you're gonna get

any peace of mind, either.

I might turn up again someday!

She'd kick you out in a minute

for a man like me.

I'll get you some money.

Now you're using your head!

But you'll have to wait here.

I can't get it until after we

close at six o'clock.

I'll wait, Cross.

- Hello, Johnny. Hello, Kitty.

- Hiya, Marchetti!

Hi.

Don't forget the champagne, Baby!

Nice car you have, Johnny.

She go fast, eh?

I'd like to see any cop

trying to catch me.

Say, I'll give you four bits

for a bucket full of that ice...

Okay, Johnny.

Can I borrow the icepick?

- You give it back, eh?

- Sure, sure!

Thank you.

Only 200?

Well, that's all I could get.

Don't you think your wife's

more than that?

Look, I want you to get all

that's coming to you, Mr. Higgins.

Now what about the insurance money?

The insurance?

Adele collected it.

It's really yours, isn't it?

She keeps it right in her bedroom.

Now I wouldn't touch a penny of it,

Mr. Higgins, but...

if you took it, it would be perfectly legal.

- But just how would I get it?

- That's easy.

This is the night that she

always goes out to the movies.

I let you in, you take the money...

I let you out.

But why don't you get it?

Why, I've got to be able to

say that I didn't touch it.

You know Adele...

What if she don't go out...

and I show up...

Your goose is cooked, isn't it?

Yes, but...

- I can play it safe.

- How?

Well, you come along the street

at 11 o'clock tonight...

Okay?

Why are you whispering?

How come the lights are out?

Mrs. Michaels. You remember

Mrs. Michaels, don't you?

- Oh, yeah.

- And the neighbors.

Where is the money?

In there...in the bottom drawer of the chest.

Okay, give me the flashlight.

Police!

Murder!

Christopher!

Christopher, turn on the lights!

Johnny!

- Oh, Johnny!

- Lazy Legs!

Jeepers, I love you.

What's that?

Chris?

- Johnny, is it Chris?

- Call him, quick.

Chris!

Chris!

I ought to push you over on your head!

How did I know he was coming here tonight?

I don't understand it.

- You don't understand anything!

- But why get sore at me?

Well what are the use of my brains

if I'm tied up with a dumb cluck like you?

- I told you to watch your step, didn't I?

- That's right, blame it on me.

Oh why did you keep me here tonight?

I didn't want to stay.

Johnny! Don't talk like that.

Well it's the truth, I'm fed up with you!

Johnny!

That's the only thing you ever understood,

I'm through with you!

Jeepers, I love you, Johnny.

Jeepers, I love you, Johnny.

Oh Lord, have mercy upon us sinners!

The way of the sinner is made plain with stones.

But at the end thereof is the pit of Hell.

Oh Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner!

- Hallelujah! Amen!

- Hallelujah! Amen!

Millie? Yeah, Kitty.

You seen Johnny?

Oh, I thought he'd go to Tiny's.

Was he getting tight?

Oh, just a fight.

Listen, he can't live without me

any more than I can live without him.

Said he was coming back here?

To beat me up?

Jeepers, the way that guy

shoots off his mouth!

Oh you don't have to warn me,

that's just the way he talks.

If you were in love you'd understand...

Oh stop it!

Johnny wouldn't kill a fly.

That's love, Honey!

Here he is now!

And has he got a bun on...

Goodbye, Hon!

Hello, Johnny.

Come on, Johnny, I heard you.

You lied to me, Kitty.

It was him, wasn't it?

Can I help it if I'm in love?

No, it's just an infatuation.

You couldn't love a man like that, Kitty.

He's evil!

He wouldn't let you alone,

isn't that right?

I wanted to kill him.

But it's wrong.

Why did you come here?

- To ask you to marry me.

- And what about your wife?

- I haven't any wife, that's finished.

- For cat's sake, you didn't...

Her husband turned up, I'm free.

Oh now...don't cry, Kitty.

I know how you feel, but that's all over now.

We all make mistakes.

I don't care what's happened, I...

I can marry you now, I...

I want you to be my wife.

We'll go away together, away far off, so...

You can forget this other man.

Don't cry, Kitty.

Please don't cry.

I'm not crying you fool, I'm laughing!

Kitty...

Oh you idiot, how can a man be so dumb?

Kitty...

I've wanted to laugh in your face

ever since I first met you!

You're old and ugly

and I'm sick of you.

Sick! Sick! Sick!

Kitty, for Heaven sake!

You kill Johnny?

I'd like to see you try.

Why, he'd break every bone in your body!

He's a man.

You wanna marry me, you?!

Get out of here! Get out!

Get away from me! Chris! Chris!

Get away from me! Chris!

Chris!

Hey!

You better look out, Johnny.

You'll kill somebody!

Chris!

Hold on, Chris, wait a minute.

What made you do it, Chris?

When these officers called me,

I wouldn't believe it.

- We were tipped off on the telephone.

- By a man named Higgins.

I checked the cash before you came in.

You know how much is missing?

- Over 1200 dollars.

- We'll take him along.

You can make the complaint, Mr. Hogarth.

Hold on, Morris.

- I just can't do it.

- But Mr. Hogarth...

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