The Glass Key Page #7

Better wire them that you and the missus

are on the way.

- What is this? A rip?

- Uh-uh.

- Just a piece of pretty good advice.

- Well, I don't get it.

Why don't you get smart?

Tomorrow Paul's gonna beat that indictment

you hung on him

and the first guy he reaches for

is gonna be you.

In a pig's ear he'll beat it.

Okay. But when he nails your ears

over the courthouse door,

don't say I didn't warn you.

Hey, Ed. Ed, wait a minute.

Ed, wait, wait. Now, look.

I'm not arguing. See? All I'm asking,

is how is Paul going to beat the rap?

Will you listen to me

or do I have to write it down?

In the first place there isn't

a judge on the bench

who'd dare hold Paul

now that the Sloss thing is cleared up.

Well, but...

And in the second place,

and hold on to this one,

it wasn't Paul that killed young Henry.

Hey, how did you figure that out?

By that talk I had with him in the hoosegow.

We got down to cases

and he told me he did it.

But... But that don't add up.

Look, rummy, it adds up swell.

If Paul had done it,

he wouldn't have waited till now to tell me.

He's covering up for someone.

Taking the rap.

Taking it for someone extra special.

If you'll do like I'll tell you,

we'll make the pinch

and you can postpone that trip to Omaha.

Say, Ed, are you sure you know

what you are talking about?

I knew what I was talking about

when I brought in Jeff, didn't I?

Yeah.

Yeah. Well, what do you...

- What do you want me to do?

- Swear out a warrant for murder.

- Who's the party?

- Janet Henry.

Janet Henry. Janet Henry?

Why, that's the old man's daughter.

That's young Taylor's sister.

Why, that's the girl...

That's the girl that Paul's been

covering up for.

- Oh, well, I couldn't do...

- Listen to me.

I got on her like a car load of bricks.

It started when she jumped her brother

about Opal

and ended up with young Henry

where they found him.

All along Paul's known she did it

and he's been covering up for her.

And all along she's hated Paul's guts

and hated him for himself and

for the stranglehold he had on the family.

She's the one that's been circulating

those poison-pen letters.

Running off at the mouth to Matthews.

Trying to shove Paul into the electric chair.

I tell you, it's got to be her. So get busy.

Say, you're not talking about

just ordinary people, Ed.

This is Janet Henry.

I want no part of it.

Better have, Farr.

There's only one guy that ever kicked Paul

in the pants and got away with it.

McCluskey, remember?

And he jumped 18 floors into Centre Street

before Paul got at him.

(DOORBELL BUZZING INCESSANTLY)

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

- What is it?

- I want to see Miss Henry.

- At this time of night?

- Yeah, this time of night.

- I couldn't possible disturb her.

- Then I'll do it.

That's out of the question,

you can't possibly...

I can't... You can't come in here.

What is it, Peter,

what's the matter? Beaumont.

- I wanna see your daughter.

- I'm afraid you are overstepping yourself.

Get her down here or I'll go up

and drag her out of bed.

I'd better call the police, Mr Henry.

- You don't have to. They're already here.

- What?

- You gonna get her or will I have to?

- Ed.

- What is it?

- Okay, Farr, there's your party.

Oh, I don't know, Ed, now. I've...

Mr Farr, I must ask you

to explain this intrusion.

You see, Mr Henry, it was like this...

Ed, what does this mean?

It means Farr has a warrant for your arrest.

Arrest? What for?

- The murder of your brother.

- Why, man, you're crazy.

- You'll have to prove it.

- That's absurd.

On whose evidence

was this preposterous warrant issued.

- My evidence, and brother, it's hot.

- Ed?

Okay, Farr, take her along.

All right, go on up and stand by

while she gets her clothes.

Wait.

I think, Mr Farr,

you'd better prepare another warrant.

I'm the one you want.

I killed my son.

I... I followed Taylor and Paul

after they quarrelled here at the house.

I caught up with him in the street.

I told Taylor that he was

ruining my political career.

He struck me. He was going to strike again.

Well, we... We scuffled.

Somehow, he... He fell,

and his head hit the kerb.

When Paul and I lifted him up,

he was dead.

- It was an accident.

- And Paul?

I made him promise not to say anything.

I was getting worried. Afraid we'd have to

hang the girl to make the old man crack.

MAN:
Excuse me, please.

(CLAMOURING)

I'm glad to see you beat it, Paul.

MAN 2:
Yeah, the whole thing was a frame,

eh, Paul?

PAUL:
It's good to get out of that cage,

I can tell you. Well, I'll see you later.

Who you gonna run for Governor

in place of Henry?

I haven't picked him yet. But whoever it is,

you can bet on him for a winner.

MAN:
That's right.

(ALL LAUGHING)

- Take those first.

- Yes, sir.

Ed, I had to come.

I want you to take me with you.

Ed,

there's no use pretending.

You love me and you know it.

No matter what you'd say to the contrary,

there'd always be something inside of me

that would say you were lying.

But Paul?

- No, I...

- You owe him plenty.

Paul's been fine.

And in my heart,

I'll always be grateful to him.

But if I'm married in gratitude,

it would be all I'd have for him.

The answer's still no.

Still leaves us on different sides

of the tracks.

Let's dynamite those tracks.

Take me with you.

You two got it bad, huh?

Well, what are you waiting for, you goon.

Are you kidding?

What do you want me to do?

Run out and bring you a preacher?

Come on,

get going before I change my mind.

Hey.

I suppose you think I'm nuts?

No, the other one.

But if you figure on getting married

with my rock, you're nuts.

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