The Dark Corner Page #2

she's been out in the rain feeding the poultry.

- Mrs Kingsley, Mr Jardine.

- How do you do?

- You know Lucy Wilding.

- Nice to see you.

- Mr and Mrs Bryson.

- How do you do?

And the woman

who brightens my reclining years.

Don't exaggerate.

It's only our third anniversary.

You're not decrepit yet, old boy.

Then why do I detect a rather tactless

emphasis on that "old boy"?

We present the perfect picture

of Beauty and the Beast.

You can be a beast at times, Hardy.

As long as I'm amusing, you'll forgive me.

But senility is unforgivable.

Stop talking like a fool. You're the most

attractive man in the room and you know it.

Remind me to tell you, my dear,

that I adore you.

Quite a turnout, Hardy. Everybody's here.

Yes. A nauseating mixture of Park Avenue

and Broadway. It proves I'm a liberal.

Oh, be honest, Hardy.

You're celebrating your anniversary

and drumming up trade for the art gallery

at the same time.

I never confuse business with sentiment.

Unless it's extremely profitable, of course.

But there is an exhibition tomorrow?

That happens to be a coincidence

I was at great pains to arrange.

Mrs Kingsley, I may have that Turner for you.

The landscape?

Oh, Hardy, how wonderful. It thrills me.

- You know what I mean.

- Will you forgive me?

Yes, I do, Mrs Kingsley.

That enjoyment of art is the only remaining

ecstasy that is neither immoral nor illegal.

- Did you receive my Van Gogh?

- Yes. This afternoon.

I... I would've preferred cash,

but if you're short, a painting will have to do.

I imagine I can always dispose of it.

- May I have my letters now, please?

- Certainly.

I'm very proud of you tonight, my dear.

Every man in the room covets you.

I never want you to grow up.

You should remain ageless, like a madonna,

who lives and breathes and smiles,

- and belongs to me.

- That's sweet, Hardy.

(ringing)

Cathcart residence.

Yes, I think he is here.

Might I have your name, please?

- Tell him it's the guy from San Francisco.

- (slide whistle)

Hey. Come here.

- You want a nickel?

- Yes.

Here. Now shut up!

Hello? Hello. Yeah.

Yeah, it worked just like you said.

It took him two nights to spot me.

He took me up to his office.

Pushed some muscle at me.

I played softie.

Yeah, I told him the name.

And when he heard it, brother, he took it hard.

It hit him right where he lived.

Yeah.

Right.

(#jazz)

Oh, boy. Music like that

does something to me.

Yeah, they're OK.

You weren't even listening.

What are you thinking about, Brad?

Oh, just that maybe

you won't be around very long.

- I'm thinking about that Tahitian secretary.

- Well, you won't like her.

Maybe not. Those grass skirts rustle.

- I told you before, they're a fire hazard.

- So are you.

Pl-ease, Mr Galt.

- How about it, huh?

- OK.

What is it, Brad?

I got a feeling something's closing in on me -

I don't know what it is.

That's me.

- What happened with that guy last night?

- White Suit?

He milked easy, but it came out pretty thin.

I wouldn't be so jumpy just about you.

Oh, yes, you would.

Cos I'm playing for keeps, remember?

Wanna tell me about it?

No.

If you're sharp, you'll get out now, fast.

I got a feeling I'm living

behind the eight ball.

Something's gonna happen. When it does

you'll end up in the corner pocket,

with a lot of grief.

Get out now, Kathleen.

You're a poor salesman, Brad.

I'll be back in a minute.

You'll be smart if you're not here.

- Hello, Reeves.

- Hi, Galt.

- I was gonna look you up in the morning.

- Fine. What have you done?

- Nothing. Just wanted to talk.

- Go ahead.

There's a shyster lawyer in this town with a

swank office, a secretary and no law practice.

This shyster's name is Jardine.

He's put a tail on me.

I think he wants to finish where he left off.

You'd think after San Francisco

he'd leave you alone.

He will. This is just for the record.

- Don't play it too close.

- I'm still working by the book.

Jardine is definitely not the bookish type.

Yeah.

I know.

I decided to wait.

I don't want you to be

in that corner pocket all alone.

In addition, I might add,

you've aroused the maternal instinct in me.

I want to look out for you.

- You hate him an awful lot, don't you?

- Who?

The man who hired White Suit.

He makes it easy.

Brad, what has he got on you?

Nothing. Nobody has,

and nobody's going to.

Not you either.

All right, but remember I can get

brand-new tough guys for a dime a dozen.

Here.

Get yourself two dozen.

I'd rather pick you up at a rummage sale.

I'm a sucker for bargains.

Speaking of which,

if you can't get nines in those nylons,

I'll take eight and a half or even ten.

Doesn't matter.

I'll make a note of it.

Come on, let's finish the dance.

- Thanks, Brad. Good night.

- "Good night"?

Can't I come up for a minute?

I'm thirsty. I want a drink of water.

There you go again,

pitching low and outside.

OK.

You all right, buddy?

- Brad, are you all right?

- Yeah.

- Did he hit you?

- No, I scraped it on the hydrant.

You'd better take it easy for a minute. Let's

go in Mrs Schwartz's for a cup of coffee, huh?

Come in. Sit down.

- Can I do something for you?

- Some hot coffee.

Yes, surely. A nice cup of coffee.

Brad, was that an accident?

I don't know. The jury's still out.

Hey, mister. I saw that car.

I got part of the number too.

- What was it?

- I only got the first part. 6-3-N-9 something.

- 6-3-N-9.

- Yes.

- Is that all you got? What kind of a car?

- I couldn't see very well. I think a Lincoln.

- Here, kid.

- Gee, thanks, mister.

Do you think you can trace that number?

I know a cop I can call.

He can check on it, call me back.

What do you think you're gonna prove, Brad?

Maybe nothing.

But I know a guy who's handy with a car.

They tell me you have to be in San Francisco.

You know, on account of the steep hills.

- There a phone in here?

- Back on the wall.

(loud car horn)

Oh, it's getting late.

I've got to go to Scarsdale.

Scarsdale? At this time of night?

Unfortunately.

Such is the hectic life of an art collector.

For six months I've been trying

to get a Turner landscape.

Tonight of all nights,

the owner is in the mood to talk business.

Confidentially,

I've got to close the deal tonight.

I've already sold it to Mrs Kingsley.

Then you can't afford to haggle over price.

Lovers of beauty

never haggle over price, Tony.

I probably shan't return much before dawn.

How I detest the dawn.

The grass always looks

like it's been left out all night.

- Can I drop you anywhere?

- No, thanks, I have my car. Good night.

Good night, Hardy.

- Scarsdale.

- Yes, sir.

How long will it take to trace that number?

He's working on it.

He'll call me back in a minute.

- Stop looking at me like that, will you?

- Like what?

As if I belong in a test tube.

Look, a guy named Jardine's afraid of me.

He put a tail on me the other night.

I think he tried to kill me tonight.

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