Tension Page #6

- How do you do, Miss Chanler?

- Good evening.

Freddie, another cup of coffee

for the doc, on me.

No, thanks. I'll just sit here.

I'm pretty busy.

Oh. How's your wife, doc?

- Fine.

- She's a great little gal, your wife.

Cute as a button.

Uh, she, uh, isn't around, is she?

No.

I was just telling Miss Chanler that you

people make the best cup of coffee in town.

- That's good, isn't it?

- It's really good.

You know, I can't decide

whether it's the taste or the aroma.

Which is it, doc?

Oh. I'm sorry. I clouded up your glasses.

Here. Let me.

- That's all right.

- Well, here. Use my handkerchief.

Go ahead, doc. Use it.

Okay, doc?

Great.

Oh, say, doc. Now, to get back

to Ms. Chanler here.

She just had a really tough break.

Fella she knew, neighbor,

lived right next door to her...

...suddenly disappeared.

- That's too bad.

- Yeah.

We're trying to help her find him.

You know, in our business,

you come across a lot of screwy things.

Some you accept, some keep you awake.

Now this fella of Miss Chanler's,

what do you think his name was?

- Paul Sothern.

Hmm.

They were in love. From what she tells me,

they figured on getting married.

Now, that's what gives me

the heebie-jeebies.

What would prompt a guy

to vanish from the face of the earth...

...to leave no trace

and not even be man enough...

...to let the girl he's supposed

to be in love with know?

He didn't tell her a thing, did he?

Lieutenant,

this is a pretty personal thing.

I resent you're discussing it

in front of a stranger.

I'm sorry but...

- But for your information...

...and for Mr. Quimby's, I want you

to know I have complete trust in Paul.

Whatever he's doing or wherever he is...

...I know he's doing the right thing

and the best thing for both of us.

And you do make wonderful coffee.

Hey, Miss Chanler.

She seems pretty upset.

Though, why she should be

about a heel like that, I can't figure.

- Good night, doc.

- Good night, lieutenant.

Well, Quimby was pretty good.

With all the squeeze,

he hadn't cracked...

...even in front of the girl he loved.

Yeah, the tension was working

but nobody was ready to break.

Needed more pressure.

Claire.

She was a smart baby and tough.

But I thought I knew what would work

on her, all the way down the line.

- Nice layout, huh?

- Yeah.

Wish it were mine.

It's Paul Sothern's.

- Oh, did you find him?

- No, just this place, but, uh...

He doesn't seem to be using it.

I figured if I gave it a good going-over...

...I might get a better idea

of what he was like.

You know, what kind of fellow he was?

Neat...

...sloppy.

How he lives.

You know what I mean.

That's why I called you.

I figured a woman could tell better

about that.

- Don't you think?

- Yeah, I guess so.

He was, um, a very neat kind of a guy.

Not many clothes.

But he dressed well.

It's new.

Expensive.

Yeah.

Lipstick.

La Femme number seven.

Is that good?

- I use it myself.

- Huh.

Must belong to Sothern's gal.

- Oh?

- Yeah.

She doesn't seem

to know much about him though.

Uh-huh.

I don't think she's holding out on us.

She's the one that brought his picture.

She lives right next door.

What do you think of that guy?

Know him?

That help?

- Warren's Paul Sothern?

- Yeah.

It's kind of hard to believe,

isn't it, honey?

- Why that four-eyed little pill pusher.

- Come off it.

- That lying, chea...

Hold it, Claire.

Oh, Miss Chanler.

Would you mind...?

Lieutenant.

- Please.

- You've caused me enough trouble?

I'm sorry, but I just wanted to tell you

that we haven't been able to find him yet.

Oh. This is Miss Claire, one of the

department secretaries. Miss Chanler.

Miss Chanler

and Paul Sothern were neighbors.

I can tell you why he's missing.

- Been a murder. He's mixed up in it.

- No.

- Sorry.

- No. Not Paul.

I know what this means to you.

I'm really sorry.

- You're wrong. I know you're wrong.

But I...

You know, I never have that kind of luck.

A dame as nuts about me

as she is about Paul Sothern.

- So that's Warren's girl, huh?

- Uh-huh.

Sweet, breathless.

So he had a girl all that time. Hmm?

Nice layout.

But he kept me over a drug store

in a rat trap.

He made a big stink

over a $25-bottle of perfume.

Take it easy. Take it easy.

You're talking to me, Claire.

That's like talking to an old friend.

I know you from way back.

- So?

- So.

I got a file goes back

further than you'd like to remember...

...and up to where you wish

you could forget.

And that includes San Diego.

I like that part about San Diego.

- That makes good reading, Claire.

- Yeah?

I never pulled anything like this.

- The lying, cheating, thieving...

- Relax, baby. Simmer down.

The guy did you a favor.

Look at it that way.

All this. The apartment, that girl.

It makes it look

as if he walked out on you.

Yeah. Leaves you in the clear.

It's the way you want it to be,

isn't it?

Claire.

You've done your duty.

You tried to cover up for the guy.

You tried hard.

Maybe you had to,

but you don't have to anymore.

And when this is all over,

I know just the place to forget it.

Acapulco.

- Uh-huh?

- Uh-huh.

I go down there all the time.

You ever been down there?

No.

You'd love it.

Would I?

Yeah.

Well, let's get out of here.

Gotta go lock up a man for murder.

If you'll notice, I've changed the four grams

of the main ingredients to six grams.

Now, take care of that for me, will you?

Yes. Yes, I certainly will, doctor.

- Yes?

- That's all right. I'm in no hurry. I'll wait.

Some cigars.

- Couple of these Las Palmas.

- Two for a quarter, sir. Thank you.

Matches, please?

I'd, uh, like to see something

in cosmetics, please.

Yes, ma'am.

You shouldn't be here. You're just

gonna get yourself in a lot of trouble.

How can I help? Let me help.

Mary, please.

Do as I ask...

...and keep away from me.

- Don't shut me out, Paul. Let me help you.

- There's nothing you can do but wait.

I've done nothing wrong.

Oh, I know that. I know it.

It's just that I'm so frightened, Paul.

They're in your apartment right now.

The police. And Paul, it's all my fault.

I gave them the picture.

I was trying to find you, Paul.

Paul, I... I keep calling you Paul.

- Otherwise, I'd have to call you Mr. Quimby.

- Warren.

Oh, Warren, what are we going to do?

Mary, I don't wanna see you

get messed up in a thing like this.

Go home, wait. Wait for me. I'll...

Don't turn around.

Oh, they're here.

You've only got a second. Please go.

Warren, they say you're a murderer.

You've gotta get out of here.

It's gonna be all right.

- Freddie?

- Yeah?

I have to leave. Close up the place

and call the district manager. Tell him. Huh?

Okay.

Sorry, folks, you'll have to leave.

We're locking up.

First time since the place has been open.

We're locking up.

I almost locked you in.

Coffee, Quimby?

It's not as good as yours, but coffee.

Here have some.

Look, Quimby,

why don't we wind this thing up, huh?

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