The Dark Corner Page #6

- Meet you at your place.

- Where will you be?

Absorbing culture at the gallery.

I don't wanna die ignorant.

- Where's Galt?

- He isn't here. What do want me to tell him?

You can tell him goodbye.

He's going to the chair for murder.

- May I help you?

- Yeah. I want to look around.

Well, it's almost closing time,

but if I can be of any help to you...

Yes, you can. You can take the tour with me,

tell me about the paintings.

- And I'd like to ask you some questions.

- I'm at your service.

Oh, has Mr Pagacelli been in today?

- The great Dutch critic.

- I don't believe I know him.

He's a big beefy guy with a broken nose.

He wears a white suit,

even though it's early in the season.

- Are you sure you haven't seen him here?

- Why, no. I'm sure I haven't.

Maybe you'd care for something like this.

Uh-uh. (snorts)

I don't think so.

She looks like she's been stuffed with kapok.

(knock at door)

Come in.

Shall I close the vault, Mr Cathcart?

- Everybody's gone?

- One customer with Miss Dennis.

You may go. I'll lock the vault.

There's something to put away.

- Good night, Mr Cathcart.

- Good night.

This is one of Donatello's finest pieces.

- How much is it?

- $40,000.

- Wrap it up.

- You mean you'll take it?

- How much for the pedestal?

- It's just one of our ordinary pedestals.

I know, but I've got to have it.

- By the way, who owns this place?

- Hardy Cathcart.

- Is he in?

- I believe so.

I realise a small sale doesn't entitle me to any

unusual consideration, but I'd like to see him.

Why, certainly. Would you follow me, please?

I'm sorry. Mr Cathcart must be in the vault.

- Just make yourself comfortable.

- I will.

- I'll tell him you're here. He'll be right up.

- No hurry.

Mr Cathcart, a gentleman in your office

wishes to purchase the Donatello.

- He wants the pedestal too.

- That can be arranged.

He wants to take it with him.

He asked me to "wrap it up".

- "Wrap it up"? The Donatello?

- Yes, sir.

I'll attend to it myself.

You may go now, Miss Dennis.

- Good night.

- Good night.

- Mr Cathcart will only be a minute.

- Thanks.

- Would you care for a glass of sherry?

- No, never touch it.

- Well, then. Good night.

- Good night.

(door opens)

Hardy, I...

Oh, I'm sorry.

I thought my husband was here.

- Mrs Cathcart?

- Yes?

Your husband's in the vault.

He'll be up in a minute.

Thank you.

I believe we have

a mutual acquaintance, Mrs Cathcart.

- Yes?

- Anthony Jardine.

He's a very good friend of my husband's.

- Have you seen him lately?

- Oh, not for several days.

I'm afraid you won't be seeing him

for a long, long time.

- He's been murdered.

- Murdered?

Oh, no!

That's what I came

to see your husband about.

Hardy?

Hardy did it.

How dare you touch her.

Keep your hands off her.

Cathcart, huh?

It's good to see you out in the open at last.

It cuts you down to size. Way down.

Strange, Mr Galt.

Seeing you here

causes me to revise my opinion of you.

It's gone up.

Now... shall we go?

- I prefer privacy.

- What for?

For our little chat.

Downstairs.

You came to see me, Mr Galt.

About the Donatello, wasn't it?

Actually, I'm interested

in a piece of modern art.

Something stiff as a statue by now.

It was finished the night before last.

I think it belongs in your collection.

A Tony Jardine.

Nonsense. I never handle anything

as worthless as a Jardine.

No. You mishandled it.

Did I? When it was found in your apartment?

Perhaps it was delivered

to the wrong collector.

- Sure you can't claim it?

- Positive.

Actually, this Jardine really belongs to you.

- You paid to have it done.

- Did I, Mr Galt?

Somebody had to pay that muscle artist

to brush him off. Or didn't you ever pay him?

Perhaps you launched him out the window

to get what was coming to him.

Mr Galt, your imagination

is beginning to bore me.

- Step in there.

- Listen to me. You can't get away with this...

Can't I?

You're a criminal. I apprehended you.

Your wife knows you bumped off

her boyfriend. You think she'll keep quiet?

What my wife does is no concern of yours.

Leave her out of it.

Jardine's corpse was found

in your apartment, and that ends it.

Oh, no, it doesn't. Not by a long shot.

You pinned the evidence on me,

but when the police finish digging,

they'll find out you had a better motive.

That's the only sensible thing

you've said so far.

I dare say, at a trial, our respective motives

will make an interesting case.

Who knows, it might even have the

distinction of reaching the highest court.

But unfortunately, Mr Galt,

you won't be around to hear the decision.

Now, get in there.

(gunshots)

(sobs)

Hey, Mac.

Do you suppose anybody in his right mind

ever buys a piece ofjunk like that?

Sure they do. That is art.

Thanks, Reeves.

Good night, Reeves.

Good night. I'll see you

first thing in the morning.

Would you make that later in the day? We

have a date in the morning. At the city hall.

He hasn't asked me yet, but I told him

from the beginning I was playing for keeps.

Looks like it'll have to be

tomorrow afternoon.

- OK. I'll see you then. And congratulations.

- Thanks.

- Good night.

- Good night.

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