Tension Page #3

Yeah, it looks like my Aunt Agatha.

It does, huh?

Well, it happens to be only me.

Do you see it?

- Hmm?

- What?

- That faraway island.

I see it.

It's beautiful, but you're not on it.

I've been looking for it all my life.

You don't know how to look.

Let me show you.

See it?

Yeah.

Yeah.

You see, it's easy. There we are.

- We happy?

- Only on weekends.

The rest of the week you traipse around

from island to island selling cosmetics.

- Ha-ha, out there too? Ha-ha.

- Yeah.

I gotta cut that out.

Be sure that you do.

- How long is it that we've been out there?

- Oh, let's see.

- Ten years, 20.

- And you still love me?

I still love you.

We could make it real.

Yeah. Real.

If this were an island.

You...

...and me...

It's the right girl with the wrong guy.

Sorry. Wrong guy.

It can be real, Paul.

It can be real.

But nothing could be real in Warren's life...

...as long as Barney Deager lived.

He was through with waiting.

He would put Paul Sothern

to work now.

Right now.

Only one thing:

He would have to be sure that

Warren Quimby would never be suspected.

He would have to prove

there was no bad blood...

...between himself and Barney Deager.

Warren, you better get out of here.

You've gotta talk to me.

Listen to what I have to say.

We'll be ready to eat in a few minutes.

Okay, Warren, say it. Say it

and get it over with once and for all.

- Don't break up our life this way.

- What life?

We could have had a nice home.

I had a good job. I made a good living. I...

Look, Warren,

we've been through this all before.

- Think it over.

- We had our chance.

It didn't work out. That's the way it is.

But it doesn't have to be that way.

Come back. You'll see. I'll...

I'll never bring up what's happened.

You can have anything you want.

- I've got everything I want.

Okay, Warren? Anything else?

I guess that's it.

- There's no way to force you.

- That's right.

You know what you want.

You always did.

You know, I don't have to tell you...

...but if you ever change you mind

the door's open.

I know. I know.

A man doesn't give up his wife

without a try, Deager.

Sure.

- Can't blame me.

- Sure. Sure.

Funny guy.

He's not a bad little guy at all.

Fine trip, for nothing.

I thought we were gonna beat

his brains in.

The least you could've let me do

is hang one at him myself. Just one.

I got nothing against him.

It wasn't his fault.

The trouble with you, Mr. Quimby, you keep

turning that other cheek until you're dizzy.

Freddie was his eyewitness to the fact...

...that he was a generous

and forgiving husband.

His last problem was solved.

This was the night.

Having parked his car on a side road,

he hit the highway.

He would get to Barney Deager's place

through a series of hitchhikes.

Finally, he was ready to use Paul Sothern

for the reason he'd created him.

Finally, he was ready to commit

the perfect crime.

Thanks a lot. Good night.

Wha...?

That's right.

Yeah, it's me. Quimby.

Warren Quimby, the four-eyed punk.

I came down here to kill you. I could kill

you and I could get away with it too.

Had it all planned out just like this. I'd kill

you and end this whole rotten business.

But that's crazy.

I must have been crazy.

She's not worth it.

If it hadn't been you,

it'd have been some other guy.

That's your worry now.

Yeah. Yeah, sure.

That's your lookout now.

And just to make sure,

I'll get the divorce.

Come on, Deager. Throw me out like

you did the last time. Come on. Come on.

Where is she?

Gone to the movies, huh?

Is that what she told you?

What do you want, Quimby?

Me? Nothing.

You and me are even now.

She's all yours.

Is that you, Mr. Sothern?

- Yeah. Hello. Hello.

Mary's not in.

- Well, where is she?

- Out.

When's she coming back?

- She waited for you all day.

- I know, but where did she go?

I don't know but she'll be back.

Now, listen, Mrs. Andrews,

and listen good.

When she comes back,

you tell her to wait right here.

I won't be gone long. Tell her

I'm coming back. I'm coming back for good.

Yeah. I'm gonna stay here.

I'm gonna move in all my things.

No more road.

I'm gonna be here from now on.

Oh, good.

No, no, no, no. Don't...

Don't tell her anything like that.

I'm wanna tell her myself.

Hey, just tell her to wait.

All right. She'll wait.

And Mrs. Andrews.

Somebody's gonna break a lease

with you. Either Mary or me, okay?

All right.

I came back, Warren.

I came back to you.

This is where I belong.

You always knew it, didn't you?

Oh, I don't blame you, baby.

But Warren, if you'll take me back, I'll...

It'll be like it was before. Remember?

In San Diego, you and me?

All right, Warren. Deager's dead.

Huh?

Murdered.

Murdered.

How?

Shot.

The house boy gave me a break.

Let me get my bags out

before the police arrived.

So don't worry. He'll cover for me.

He'll say that I was a day guest.

You think all you had to do

was come right back here.

Come running back to me,

a nice and comfortable dope.

Oh, no, Claire. Not anymore.

You go find yourself another

Barney Deager. You're good at that.

Do anything you like

but you're not staying here.

- I'm not?

- No.

- You're into this up to your neck.

- It's your neck.

- Stop arguing...

- I had nothing to do with it.

- Save that for the cops.

- I got nothing to hide. I'll tell the truth.

Fine.

Fine.

And what's the truth?

You gonna tell them

you hated Barney Deager?

That you hated Barney Deager

so much you could've killed him?

Tell them

that he kicked you off the place?

That he beat you up.

Tell them that he stole your wife.

Nobody had more reason to kill him

than you, Warren.

I'll tell you what you're gonna tell them.

You're gonna tell them

that he and you and I were...

Mr. Quimby?

Sorry to disturb you at this hour.

I'm Collier Bonnabel,

lieutenant, Homicide Division.

My partner, Lieutenant Gonsales.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

- Mind if we come in?

- Yeah, yeah. Sure, sure.

- Mrs. Quimby at home?

- Yeah, she is.

- Good. We'd, uh, like to talk to her.

- To both of you.

- Sit down.

- Thank you.

- You, uh, knew Barney Deager, didn't you?

- Yeah.

Know him long?

Gentlemen, this is my wife.

Claire, this is Lieutenant Bonnabel.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

Lieutenant...?

- Gonsales.

- How do you do?

They're from the police.

You left the Deager place

before the police arrived.

Mrs. Quimby,

you shouldn't have done that.

You shouldn't have left.

It makes us come after you.

Couldn't stand the sight, eh?

Well, women always seem to react

that way.

Makes a bad impression though,

your running away like that.

I know, I'm sorry.

- How long did you say you knew Deager?

Well...

Oh, uh, two years, maybe three.

How long was it, honey?

Two or three years?

Two or three years.

- See him often?

Yeah. Yeah. Often.

I mean, socially.

That's what my husband meant,

lieutenant.

Close friends, eh?

All summer

I've been going there to swim.

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