Stranger on the Third Floor Page #3

anything to do with it?

And why did I believe

Briggs was guilty?

But that was different.

He said himself he'd kill Nick

if he only had a gun.

I've never said anything

like that.

Oh, yes, I have.

That time in Nick's..

Everything very special,

just as you like it, Mr. Ward.

Thanks, Nick. How's tricks?

Oh, everything is fine,

thanks. Thanks.

How is the newspaper business?

- Fine, fine, thanks.

- That's good.

- Another cup of java, Nick.

- Coming up.

- Great character.

- An artist.

You know, it isn't every dope

can make a cup of coffee

like this.

It's a big secret.

But I like you girls so much,

I tell you how.

You see, I put a raisin

in each cup of coffee

to make it sweet like you.

- Good evening, Mr. Meng.

- Good evening. Good evening.

Well. One of my best customers.

I'll have a bottle

of milk, my friend.

- Milk?

- A bottle of milk, please.

- Shall I wrap it up?

- No, thank you.

Oh!

- Oh, look, a runner.

- Oh.

- Who is that citizen?

- It's my next door neighbor.

He looks as though his mind

would stand a little laundering.

Hello, neighbor.

Uh-ha, shouldn't drink coffee

before going to bed.

Milk's the thing.

Makes you sleep like

an innocent babe.

Goodnight.

Did you ever want to kill a man?

My son, there's murder in every

intelligent man's heart.

He's no man. He's a worm.

Kind you ought to jump on

with heavy boots.

You'll have to do

an awful lot of jumping.

The Earth is covered with them.

It would be a real pleasure

to cut his throat.

Say, you're not kidding.

Put down that knife.

But it was just talk,

just something you say.

You can't convict a man on that.

In every crime,

there has to be a motive.

I hadn't any.

Wait a minute.

How about last month,

the night it rained?

Are you sure it's alright

for me to come up here?

Certainly, I was never told

not to have friends in my room.

Michael.

I like your room.

It's very nice.

Oh, I've read this one.

I-I liked it, didn't you?

Mm-hmm.

You're face is wet.

Thank you.

I'm glad I came up.

I have the rain

to thank for that.

- I've always liked the rain.

- I do too.

Now.

The park was wet

and damp tonight.

It's snug and warm here.

- I'm tired of the park.

- Me too.

I'm tired of the movies.

They're so dark I can never

see your face.

I'm tired of the bus tops

even in spring.

- I hate Riverside Drive.

- So do I.

I hate every place..

...where I can't take you

in my arms.

I've always wanted

to see your room.

To know where you sit

when you're tired

and where you sleep.

- Do you talk in your sleep?

- I don't know.

I've always lived alone.

Telling your secrets

to the walls.

'Maybe.'

Darling... your shoes

are soaking wet.

You'll catch cold.

Your stockings too.

You better take them off.

I'll get you something

to dry them with.

- Who's that?

- I don't know.

Go and see.

- Who is it?

- 'Me, Mrs. Kane.'

What do you want?

Mr. Meng says

you've got a woman.

What if I have?

It's against the rules

of the house.

'You oughta know better.'

There she is. Look at her legs.

I'm surprised at you, Mr. Ward.

I made it quite clear

that ladies aren't allowed.

- You said nothing.

- I did.

'I tell all my tenants.

Get her out of here.'

Yes, this is

a respectable house.

Get out of here.

Both of you,

before I throw you out.

Don't you dare.

I'll call the police.

Please, Michael,

don't argue with them.

Don't worry, I'll go at once.

Oh, no, you won't.

You won't leave because

of this obscene, old fool.

- I ought to wring your neck.

- Take your hands off me.

- Mrs. Kane.

- Michael.

- Mr. Ward!

- Let him go please.

Get him out of here

before I kill him.

Alright.

You heard him, you heard him.

You saw him assault me.

- You're my witness.

- Alright, alright.

I'm sorry, darling.

Terribly sorry.

I don't care. I really don't.

They can't hurt me.

I should've known

this would happen.

He's always spying on me.

He had his ear glued to the wall

the minute we came up.

Forget it darling, please.

You must believe me. She never

told me I wasn't to have you up.

Of course, she didn't.

Look, it stopped raining.

I love the smell of the park

after the rain.

Don't you?

Yes.

I love the park anyway

and the movies

and Riverside Drive.

- Michael, stop it.

- Jane, why do you love me?

- What makes you think I do?

- Just a hunch.

Let's go, Michael,

before they come back again.

You're right, let's.

- What's the matter?

- Nothing.

I'm moving outta here tomorrow.

- Why bother?

- What do you mean?

Hmm, nothing I just thought that

in a few weeks,

we both might move.

Darling?

What's the matter?

Don't you like the idea?

Why didn't I think of that?

- Why didn't you think of what?

- Of getting married.

Michael, you really never did?

Not because I'm bashful.

I just could never figure out

what we'd live on.

That doesn't matter.

I can wait.

- You will?

- Forever..

- ...if necessary.

- It won't be that long.

One of these days,

I'll get a break.

I got mine tonight.

Poor, Jane,

they'll drag her into it.

But Meng isn't dead.

What's the matter with me?

I'm just tired.

I can't think straight anymore.

If I could only drive it

outta my mind..

...and get some... sleep.

Wake up.

Why did you do it?

Speak up. Why did you kill him?

Come on. Come clean.

Confess, and we'll go

easy on you.

- I didn't.

- Stop lying.

- You know you killed him.

- I didn't.

The stranger did it.

The man in the hall.

- Where'd ya hide the gun?

- I never had a gun.

Where did you put the knife?

- What knife?

- This one.

'You thought

we wouldn't find it, eh?'

I didn't kill him.

I didn't. I didn't.

Extra, extra. Read all about it.

Extra, extra, read about it.

Extra, extra, read all about it.

Extra..

'Wow! Has he got a byline now?'

'How'd you know he did it?'

Who cares. What a story!

What a story!

Oh, Michael, why did you do it?

I didn't do it, Jane.

I didn't.

It was that man I saw.

Nobody believes me.

But you do, don't you?

Do you? Do you?

- Do you?

- Michael, you're hurting me.

I'm your lawyer.

I'm to defend you at your trial,

but I must know the truth.

I didn't do it.

That's what they all say.

Now, here is my advice.

Plead guilty and throw yourself

on the mercy of the court.

- I won't do it.

- Don't be a fool.

You want to get

the chair like Briggs?

I won't admit something

I didn't do.

Somebody on that jury

will believe me.

Oh, yeah?

Ladies and gentlemen

of the jury.

The state will prove that

the defendant, Michael Ward

deliberately, willfully,

intentionally

and with malice of forethought

murdered Albert Meng

on the night of May 17.

- But I didn't.

- The defendant will refrain.

He has a vicious temper.

Always picking fights.

Once, he almost struck me.

But it isn't true.

- I object.

- The defendant will refrain.

Sit down.

I heard with my own ears

what he told Mr. Meng

when he asked him to get his

lady friend out of his room.

And what did he tell Mr. Meng?

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