Stranger on the Third Floor Page #4

He told him,

"You'll be sorry for this.

I'm going to kill you."

'But I didn't. She is lying.'

The defendant will refrain.

Keep your mouth shut.

'Do you realize you're

under oath to tell the truth'

'the whole truth

and nothing but the truth?'

I do.

Did he say it before,

"I'll kill him?"

I-I don't remember.

Would you swear

he didn't say it?

Would you? Would you?!

No. No, I wouldn't.

I'm sorry, Michael.

I had to tell the truth.

You hated Meng, didn't you?

Yes, but I didn't kill him.

Did you ever think

of killing him?

I don't know. I might have.

That's all.

No, it isn't.

I'm telling you I didn't do it.

Ladies and gentlemen,

you're the jury.

Please believe me, I'm innocent.

There was a man in the hall.

A stranger, he..

Why aren't you listening to me?

Please, Your Honor.

They are not listening.

Make them hear me,

they've got to.

The defendant will refrain.

I didn't kill him, I didn't.

- I didn't, I didn't.

- Order in the court.

'You can't convict me.

I didn't kill him, I didn't.'

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury

have you reached a verdict?

Guilty.

I'm not guilty.

The stranger killed him.

There. There he is.

Why don't you do something?

He'll get away. Arrest him.

Michael Ward... face the court.

It is the judgment of this court

that you be taken

to the state prison

'and be there... put to death'

'in the manner

prescribed by law.'

And may God... have mercy

on your soul.

I'm not afraid to die.

Even though I don't know

why I have to.

But before I do

I've got to know

there's someone on this earth

who does believe I'm innocent.

You're the last man

I'll ever talk to.

Please say you don't believe

I killed him.

Now, you're looking

for somebody to believe you.

To say you ain't done it.

Why should they?

Did you believe me?

Would you tell me

you didn't think I done it?

No. Ha ha!

Okay, kid, go and die.

'...thy name, thy kingdom come.'

'Thy will be done on earth

as it is in heaven.'

'Give us this day

our daily bread'

'and forgive us our trespasses'

'as we forgive those

who trespass against us.'

'And lead us not

into temptation'

'but deliver us from evil.'

'For thine is the kingdom'

the power and the glory

My, my, quite an occasion,

isn't it?

Look, look, he's alive.

I told you not to drink coffee

before going to bed.

That proves I didn't kill him!

Let me go! Let me go!

Can't you see he's alive?

Let me go! He's alive!

He's alive! He's alive!

He's alive. He's alive.

He's alive. He's alive.

He's alive. He's alive.

He's alive.

Of course, he's alive.

But why don't I hear him?

I'll go in there

and wake him up.

Dead.

- Hello.

- Jane, listen.

Get dressed

and meet me in the park.

I can't now. I'll tell you

when I see you.

It's terribly important.

Bring all the money

you have with you.

Yes, hurry.

Please, Jane. I've got

to leave town at once.

The minute they find the body,

I'll be arrested.

But, Michael,

pull yourself together.

Nobody's going to arrest you.

- Why should they?

- I've told you why.

Doesn't make sense.

Besides, where will you go?

They'll find you no matter

where you hide.

It's only chance I've got.

Did you bring any money?

Michael

don't you realize it'll only

make things worse for you?

Why don't you try

to figure it out first?

Are you even sure

that Meng's dead?

Of course, I'm sure.

Nobody can live with his throat

slashed open like..

- His throat.

- What is it, Michael?

- It was cut just like Nick's.

- What are you talking about?

Nick on the corner,

don't you remember?

He was killed the same way.

The same way.

The same man killed

them both, I tell ya.

- The same man?

- It must be.

Couldn't have been anybody else.

Then you think

that boy is innocent?

Of course, he is.

Ah, but what's the use?

I can't prove it.

They'll convict me

just like they did him.

Can't you see, Jane,

I've gotta get away.

And let Briggs die

when you know he's innocent?

What can I do? I can't help him.

Yes, you can. You can help

the police find the man you saw.

A lot you know about cops!

They won't even listen to me.

They will, they've got to.

Alright.

If that's what

you want me to do.

Please.

- Where are you going?

- I live here.

You can't go in now.

There's been a guy killed.

I know I called the police.

Well, that's different. Come on,

the lieutenant wants to see you.

- What do you say, doc?

- Death was instantaneous.

- The jugular vein was cut.

- How long ago?

Oh, I'd say about six hours.

This guy here says

he sent in the call.

- Hello, lieutenant.

- Hello, Ward.

- You found the body?

- Yeah.

Do you live in there?

Yeah, that's my room.

Any leads so far?

Nothing much. They're checking

for fingerprints now.

- What do you know about it?

- Not much.

But I've got a slant

that might help you.

A man was hanging around

last night when I came home.

Yeah? Maybe he was

visiting somebody.

Maybe. But when I spoke

to him, he ran.

He did, huh? Well, thanks, Ward.

It's a lead anyway.

Here's another one.

- Remember Nick?

- Sure.

His throat was cut the same way.

- That's right.

- Yeah?

I don't think

it was a coincidence.

- You don't, huh?

- What do you think?

Well, I think...

Don't you think we'd better

let the DA know?

A fellow was convicted

for the other murder yesterday.

I guess so... if we can

get him outta bed.

Yes.

Amazing..

...almost incredibly so.

Have you men out to pick up

this fellow he saw?

Yes, sir, I have.

- No sign of him yet, I suppose?

- No, sir. Not so far.

I see. Well, sit down

while I shave.

In the meantime, something's

got to be done about Briggs.

Oh, yes, yes, of course.

Now, uh, let me get

this straight.

You said that, uh,

you had a... premonition..

...that Meng was dead

right after you ran

into that queer-looking

customer in the hall.

Yes, sir.

Hmm, extraordinary.

We could use a few men

with a gift like that

on the police force,

eh, lieutenant?

Why didn't you do

something about it?

It was only

a vague feeling I had.

I see. What made it

less vague later on?

I had a nightmare, I told you.

Mm-hmm, you must be psychic.

Do you, uh, often have

such nightmares?

No, I don't.

I didn't get you outta bed

to talk about my dreams.

What's gonna be done

about Briggs?

Why are you

so worried about him?

Because I helped you

convict him.

Yes, that's true.

You were the only witness.

So now you believe both murders

were committed

by the same man, eh?

Yes, I do.

Um... maybe you're right.

As you pointed out,

there are certain similarities

between the two crimes.

But you missed one.

Perhaps, the most important.

Both murders were discovered

by the same man. You.

What are you driving at?

Tell me... has there ever been

any insanity in your family?

Listen, I'm as sane as you are

and if you think I had anything

to do with it, you're crazy.

'I tell you, it was

that man I saw.'

Might be... but

for your sake, Ward.

I hope you didn't

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