The Dark Corner Page #3

He'll go on trying. Now are you satisfied?

No. I wanna know why.

I had a private agency in San Francisco.

This guy Jardine was my partner.

He was a... barrister.

Swift cookie with the women.

They came in coveys.

He worked his charm,

and he worked a little blackmail on the side.

I didn't wise up until I caught him stashing

away dough that belonged to the firm.

I called him on it. He promised to cough up.

We drove out to his place in Burlingame

to get to his private safe.

Along the road he slugged me,

wet me down with Scotch,

set me behind the wheel for a takeoff.

I hit a truck, killed the driver.

Manslaughter.

Two years, less time off for good behaviour.

Jardine had a fixed alibi.

It wouldn't break and it wouldn't bend.

That's the last I heard of him,

until White Suit showed up last night.

Now you know why.

All except why you wouldn't tell me before.

A guy likes to hold his head up...

not look like a chump.

That's not the real reason. Come on, say it.

You're not so tough, Brad.

You just think you are.

I've cracked you wide open and you know it.

(phone rings)

Hello?

Yeah.

What's the address?

Right. Yeah. Thanks.

Oh, Tony.

(Jardine) Darling.

- You're taking quite a chance, aren't you?

- He won't be back for hours.

Anyway, I'm at the point

where I don't care any more.

I'm glad, darling.

- I'll get you a drink, hm?

- Please.

It's so strange, Tony.

He loves me, gives me everything

a man can give a woman.

But still it isn't enough. It isn't enough, Tony.

I know, dear. I know.

Here you are.

Why, you're upset, darling.

Why don't you drink that down?

Cigarette?

Tony, I tried.

I made a bad bargain

and I tried to stick it out with him.

But I just keep sitting

listening to his paintings crack with age.

I want you to take me

away with you, Tony. Please.

Look, Mari. Hardy can afford you,

but he doesn't make you happy.

I love you, but I have no money.

Tony, darling. What does that matter?

I have already borrowed money from you.

Do you think I want to go through life

being taken care of like a pet poodle?

Darling, we have my jewels. They're yours.

You're taking them for me, for my sake.

- Darling, I wanted you to say that, but I...

- No more buts.

Just tell me when we can go.

It must be soon.

Perhaps tomorrow.

I have some business

I have to take care of first.

I'll let you know.

(door buzzer)

(buzzer sounds insistently)

(thud)

- Hi, Tony.

- Hello, Brad.

Still catering to the female trade.

Take it easy, Tony.

What do you want here?

I'm just delivering a message

from me to you.

Lay off. Keep that tail off me.

- Stop playing me for a clay pigeon.

- I don't know what you're talking about.

I'll explain in simple terms.

Like a two-year term for manslaughter.

I kept remembering that pretty face of yours,

Jardine, all the time I was in hock.

If you're not sharp,

you're not gonna have that pretty face.

You're not gonna have any face at all.

I haven't hired a tail.

And I haven't been after you.

I didn't even know you were out.

And that's on the level.

You on the level? Why, for six bits

you'd hang your mother on a meat hook.

(knocks telephone, bell rings)

Hello, operator? I want the police. Hurry.

(breathes heavily)

That's nice lipstick, baby -

whoever you are.

But you're wasting it on the wrong guy.

(police siren)

- Darling, who was it?

- No one you know.

- I phoned the police.

- You what?

The police. They'll be here in a minute.

Don't you realise they'll find you here? Come

on. Go out the back way. Through the kitchen.

(door buzzer)

(door rattling/knocking)

- What's going on around here?

- Nothing, officer. What can I do for you?

- We got a call at the station.

- Why, that's absurd. I was alone. Reading.

A woman phoned in.

You read pretty rugged stuff.

- Who's the guy? Her husband?

- No.

Look, forget about the dame. Who's the guy?

Look, we got a report to make. If you don't

talk here, we'll have to take you downtown.

- Officer, can't we discuss this...?

- What's his name?

His name is Galt.

Bradford Galt.

"Galt, Bradford."

"Fight. Apartment 204."

- You forgot your hat.

- Thanks.

- Are you all right?

- Perfect.

Your coat's torn.

You oughta see the other guy.

- May I come up?

- Sure.

Well? What happened?

We talked.

One thing led to another,

and he led with his right.

- After that he stopped talking.

- Mm-hm.

Where did that get you?

Nowhere. But I feel a lot better.

Come on over here where you belong.

Oh. No, thank you.

If you're feeling that much better,

I think I'd better go home now.

What about that maternal instinct?

That doesn't work after sundown.

You sew a nice seam.

You got any other talents?

I can cook.

Isn't my Turner divine?

Look at it. It grows on you.

You make it sound like a species of fungus.

Oh! Don't run away, Hardy.

You promised to show me that new Raphael.

The one I've been hearing about for years?

I must see it, Hardy.

It arrived this morning. It's in the vault.

- Shall we look at it now?

- Wonderful, Hardy. I'd love to see it.

We're looking at the Raphael. Will you come?

- I'd like to. I've never been downstairs.

- Mrs Kingsley?

This is the portrait that Italian family

refused to sell, isn't it?

Yes. I saw it a great many years ago

and thought it enchanting.

When I couldn't buy it,

I became obsessed with owning it.

So like you, Hardy.

Merely the passion

of the true collector, my dear.

The rest of the Peruscini family

would've sold long ago,

but the old count refused every offer.

I knew I couldn't buy it while he was

still alive, so fortunately, he decided to die.

And I got it.

(Mrs Kingsley) Oh.

Why... Why, it's Mari.

The resemblance isn't pure accident.

- (Mrs Kingsley) You mean it was retouched?

- Certainly not.

I found the portrait long before I met Mari,

and I worshipped it.

When I did meet her

it was as if I'd always known her.

And wanted her.

Oh, how romantic.

- If you prefer to be maudlin about it, perhaps.

- Hardy hates sentiment.

The light is atrocious,

why not take it upstairs?

I want to have it revarnished.

I also want to get another frame for it.

- Shall we go?

- Oh, I wish we could've taken it upstairs.

Tony.

- (low voice) Can we leave tonight? Can we?

- (low voice) Yes, darling.

We're expected at Mrs Kingsley's.

I can make some excuse,

meet you at your apartment.

All right.

- Have MacDonald close the vault.

- Yes.

No one saw you come in?

I came through the side door,

as per instructions.

Also, I never saw you in my life before.

Good. Now, tell me what happened.

- It didn't work. It was a busto-crusto.

- A what?

- A flop.

- Oh. Well, go on.

Galt went over to Jardine's place last night

and pushed him around some, but that's all.

Somebody called the cops, but Galt got out.

- What time did this happen?

- About one o'clock. I was out front.

Look, if you want my opinion,

I think you're wasting your time.

This guy Galt is a smart cookie. He ain't

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