Tension

I'm Collier Bonnabel.

I'm a cop.

I'm a lieutenant detective

in, uh, Homicide.

That's a fancy name for murder.

We get plenty of tough cases.

Solved most of them, sure. But how?

I only know one way, one thing

that breaks them wide open.

Tension.

I work on people, on suspects.

Play up to them.

Play up to their strengths,

pour it on their weaknesses.

Romance them or ignore them.

Kiss them. Press them.

But whatever way...

...keep stretching them.

Everything,

everybody's got a breaking point.

And when they get stretched so tight,

they can't take it any longer:

This is the corner of St. Anne's and 13th.

That's an all-night drug store.

Never closes.

You know, in a town as big as this,

there are only four or five of them.

Oh, that's Warren Quimby.

He's the night manager.

Lives in an apartment

right over the drug store.

You know, these stores have everything:

Raisins and radios,

paregoric and phonographs...

...vitamin capsules and cap pistols.

They'll serve you a cup of coffee...

...sell you a pack of cigarettes

or a postage stamp...

...and in a pinch,

they'll even fill a prescription for you.

It's kind of tough on Quimby,

working nights.

Twelve hours a night, five nights a week.

But it pays well.

That's why Quimby took it.

You see, he didn't mind

the temporary hardships...

...because he knew where he was going.

He was planning.

Planning for the day when he would be able

to do more and better...

...for himself...

...and his wife.

Hello. Uh, Mel-West Theatre?

Could you please tell me

what time the second feature's over?

Thanks.

- Want a cup of coffee or something?

- No.

- You sure?

- Sure.

Look, you can tell me

to mind my own business...

Okay, Freddie. Mind your own business.

I don't like to see anybody

get kicked around, especially a nice guy.

Thanks, Freddie.

Uh, why don't you

get back to the counter, huh?

- Is she worth it, Mr. Quimby?

- Ha-ha-ha.

Uh, go on back to the counter, will you?

But the way she treats you all the time,

and you take it...

She's here.

Claire, darling.

I was worried about you.

Nothing to worry about.

Did you enjoy the show?

- It was all right.

Somebody wants some pills.

- Could I buy you...?

- Drift.

Something else, Mrs. Quimby?

Still with that Mrs. Quimby business,

eh, junior?

Don't start that again, please.

Claire's my name. Call me Claire.

But you're the manager's wife,

Mrs. Quimby.

That makes me poison?

Look, I got a good job here with plenty

of golden hours, so don't stink me up.

- Ha, okay, junior. I'll have some dessert.

- What kind?

I'll leave that up to you.

- Something sweet.

- Pie?

Yeah, pie's all right.

- Seen Barney Deager lately?

- No, I haven't seen him.

Not that you would tell me.

Thank you.

Stunning, isn't it?

On her.

It'd look better on you.

- Think so, huh?

- Yeah.

- Thanks, that's nice.

- And I got something nice to talk about.

- So?

- Yeah.

Wanna hear more?

- Where you parked?

- Around the corner. Gray sedan.

- Junior.

Yeah?

Tell Mr. Quimby I've gone

to the apartment.

All right, Mrs. Quimby.

Thanks, junior.

Thank you for...

Mr. Quimby.

- Yes?

- We're short of coffee.

- She say where she was going?

She's gone up to the apartment.

I'm not kidding about that coffee,

Mr. Quimby.

Hey, hey, morning paper.

Get your morning paper.

Read all about it.

- Mr. Quimby.

Yeah?

I'll be a little late tonight

but Charlie will be here.

- Fine.

- Hold the light.

- Looks like a nice day.

- Yeah.

Yeah. It was a beautiful morning.

Most people look forward to the morning

as the beginning of the new day.

As a hope, promise of good things

about to happen.

But to Warren, it only meant:

Would Claire be there?

There was always the fear.

The fear that he'd open the door

and find the room empty.

Everything was all right. She was here.

And there was nothing he wouldn't do

to keep her here.

He'd work...

...save...

...do without things he wanted.

Anything to keep her happy.

Anything to hold on to her.

Yes?

- What's the matter?

- It's just your breakfast.

- It's a wonderful morning.

- Mm-hm.

- How do you feel, huh?

- I feel awful.

- Hey, you burned the toast again, baby.

- Oh, I'm sorry, darling.

- You should have scraped it off.

- Here.

That's all right. I'll eat it this way.

Claire, darling, I got a surprise for you.

- Did you get a raise?

- Better than that.

Hey, what's better than money?

What is it?

I'm not gonna tell you.

This you gotta see.

- Oh, come on. Give.

- Ha-ha. Come on. Get dressed.

- A new car. You got a new car.

- No, even better. You'll see.

- Come on. Come on. Hurry up.

- Warren.

Come here.

You're cute.

What are you stopping here for?

Look.

- Isn't that a beauty?

- Are you kidding?

Gee, it would be wonderful to live out here,

darling. Fresh air, room to entertain.

- It's great for kids.

- You wanna know something?

I think it's a miserable spot.

It's 30 minutes from nowhere.

I thought this was what you wanted.

What do you think I took the night shift for?

Saving and doing without

so we'd have enough money to do this.

We still don't have enough.

- The FHA even approved the loan.

- Fine.

Let them live here.

Ha-ha, come on, darling.

At least look at it.

You'll love it, you know.

It's got everything you want.

It's got a big living room.

It's got a real dining room.

It's got full size baths,

a wonderful kitchen out in back there.

You know, it's even got a garbage disposal.

It's...

You coming?

It's a nice scent. I like this.

Well, don't like it too much.

That's the $25 size.

Oh, be a big man.

You took a bottle of that

home last week.

I could take this too and not tell you.

Nobody would know.

Company's insured.

Don't even say things like that.

Big guy would spend this on me

in one evening.

What's with you anyway?

Now, look, you be sure to tell your mother

to read the directions carefully, huh?

- She can read English, can't she?

- You kidding?

Oh. It's a beautiful car, Barney.

- You're a big man.

- You been true to me?

I haven't budged from the apartment.

I haven't budged.

Mm-hm.

- That one been bothering you?

- No.

- Well, can we go?

- Yeah, in a minute.

- Hurry up.

- All right.

- Junior, tell him I've gone upstairs.

All right, Mrs. Quimby.

Had she gone with Barney Deager?

Or was she upstairs in the apartment?

He didn't expect to find her,

but he hoped, prayed.

If she wasn't there...

...what would he do then?

Now he knew.

Maybe he'd always known.

Couldn't lie to himself any longer.

He'd have to live a life without her.

But for Warren...

...that was the end of the road.

- Mr. Quimby, if she isn't in the ap...

- Shut...

Not now, Freddie.

He couldn't give her up.

Not even now, not even knowing.

Not without a fight.

But how do you fight?

Where do you begin?

Claire.

Claire.

Claire.

- What are you doing?

- I'm leaving.

I'm through.

I got what I'm looking for

and I'm gonna grab it.

- Barney Deager?

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