Street of Chance Page #4

for the last 50 years.

The bar and solarium and the

alcove over there where...

It happened?

-Yes.

You certainly don't want to go

back in there, do you?

That's just where I do want to go.

You'll go alone.

-Why?

Only two things would take

anybody in there.

A morbid mind or a completely

hardboiled way of looking at life.

I don't happen to have either.

Oh, I'm hardboiled.

-Or insane.

You wouldn't have come back here

if you weren't.

Tell you what, Ruth, go to the bar

and get me a shot of brandy, will you?

I'm not feeling as hardboiled

as you think.

Right now I'm not so sure what I think.

No lights remember.

Don't go too far

and don't be gone too long.

Ruth!

What is it? What happened?

You heard me.

How could I help it?

Do you suppose if there had been

anybody upstairs they'd have heard it?

Naturally.

Do you remember

You said on the night of the murder,

you didn't hear anything from the bar?

But Bill and Alma swore they did

and they were all the way upstairs.

Proving what?

Proving that they're lying.

Nobody yelled at all.

Do you mean to say that

you scared me out of a year's growth...

Just to...You, you...

What's the matter with you?

If you're going to

fly off the handle this way,

you're not going to be much help.

What do you expect me to do

when you play tricks like that on me?

Oh, Dan.

Dan, don't do a thing like that again.

-All right, I promise.

You see, I just had to try it.

Now how about my drink?

I ought to mix you a mickey.

Ruth.

There's an old woman in there.

She saw me.

It's only Grandma Diedrich. Here.

Grandma Diedrich?

You're certainly not worried about her?

She'll tell everybody she saw me.

What is the matter with you anyway?

Ever since I dragged you in

off the street this evening

you've been making

some of the strangest cracks.

You know the terrible strain

I've been under.

I know but getting all upset about

a harmless old woman who...

What is it?

Tell me what's happened to you.

I get frightened

when you say such things.

It's sounds like you're cracking up.

All right.

All right, I'll tell you.

I hadn't wanted to tell you because

It's not easy to believe.

But on the street the other day

I was hit on the head.

Oh, Danny.

I did I swear.

It was something from a building.

And you haven't been able to remember

anything since.

To a certain extent,

that's exactly right.

Especially about the Diedrichs.

You gotta believe me, Ruth.

I do.

You gotta try to help me remember.

There are certain questions

that will sound nonsensical.

Sure, any little thing you want.

Ruth.

Too bad you weren't hit on the head

before Harry Diedrich was killed.

Oh, Dan, I'm sorry.

I shouldn't have said that.

Forgive me. Kiss me and forgive me.

I've got to look around some more.

Don't be frightened.

I won't hurt you.

Do you know who I am?

Danny Nearing.

I want to talk to you.

Harry Diedrich was your son, wasn't he?

I didn't kill him. I couldn't have.

I want you to know that.

I've come back to this house

with the police

practically breathing down my neck

to find who did.

I don't know where to start.

I don't know what to do.

I need someone to help me

and there isn't anyone.

I'm sorry.

I didn't realize.

You can't talk.

You would help me if you could.

Is the light too strong?

Sorry.

Better?

You understand everything

I say, don't you?

You mean you do.

One blink means yes?

Two blinks could mean no then.

Now we're getting somewhere.

Mrs. Diedrich, I'm going to ask you

a lot of questions.

You can answer yes or no just like that.

One blink for yes.

Two blinks for...

Danny, what are you up to now?

What's that lamp lit for? Are you crazy?

Wait a minute. That's all right.

I've drawn the blinds.

I've just made a discovery.

I think I found a way to talk to her.

What?

-We've worked out a system.

One blink for yes and two blinks for no.

Now watch this.

Oh, Danny, leave her alone. She's sick.

Would you like me to turn your pillow?

It's a shame the way they neglect her

since Harry died.

She really ought to have a nurse.

I don't know what she'll do

now that we're leaving.

Leaving?

Yes.

-No.

Once you've satisfied yourself

that there's nothing

in this house that can help you

and if the police don't grab you,

we're going away.

I know a place in Colorado that...

The only chance we've got

to get to Colorado

with every road in the state

being watched.

We can do anything with enough money.

And I've got some. I saved it for us.

Listen. What's that?

There's a car coming up the drive.

-It's Alma and Bill.

Now we're in for it.

I'll put the car away.

Do you have your key?

Yes.

You might have a drink ready for me

when I get in.

All right.

What's going on in here?

Oh, good evening, Mrs. Diedrich.

What are you doing back from town?

Well, I have something

I want to talk to you about.

Must be tremendously important

to bring you back on your night off.

It is.

As soon as you finish fussing with

Grandma, you'll find me in the sun room.

Good night, Grandma.

Oh, Ruth.

Yes, Mrs. Diedrich.

Ruth, how did this happen to be here?

Oh, I'm sorry, that's mine.

The reason I came up here tonight

was to tell you that I'm leaving.

You're leaving?

-Yes.

I hope you don't plan

to go too far away.

Because the police

might not approve exactly.

I can go anywhere I please.

They have my statement.

I'll sneak you through the kitchen into

the yard and join you as soon as I can.

Better turn out that light. Be careful.

We'll it try again later tomorrow

the first chance I get.

Oh, good evening, Mr. Diedrich.

I'd heard you came back from town.

Who told you?

Joe Marucci. He seems to be quite

fascinated by your movements.

I can't say that I blame him.

Mrs. Diedrich's waiting for me

at the bar.

Oh, do you mind if I join you?

How did this happen?

Oh, I dropped it.

Why?

I was getting a little brandy

for Grandmother Diedrich when I

I heard a noise that startled me.

-What sort of a noise?

It sounded like a crying

that came from the alcove.

Nonsense.

So you helped yourself to another drink.

Two of them.

One was for your mother-in-law.

I see, of course.

You're a clever girl, Ruth.

I always suspected as much.

What is all this?

What was it you were saying

a few minutes ago about leaving?

Oh, it's just that I'm getting married.

Really, who to?

After all, Mrs. Diedrich, that's rather

my business, don't you think?

Who's going to be the best man?

Danny Nearing?

I don't have to take that sort of thing

from you and I don't intend to.

Shut up, Bill.

You're quite right.

I'd like to go to bed now,

Mrs. Diedrich, if you don't mind.

Very well.

As to your leaving,

I'll naturally expect you to stay

until I can make other arrangements.

And if I were you, I think I'd

tell the police where you're going.

Thank you, I will.

Good night.

-Good night.

Maybe you'll give me a short synopsis

of what this is all about.

Wait.

Bill.

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