The Letter Page #3

I won't be so lonely.

It'll make me feel better

just to be that near.

I know you think I must be mad, Howard.

Maybe I am.

I haven't closed my eyes

the last three nights.

Get some sleep and out of those clothes

before you see Leslie.

You don't want her

to have to cheer you up.

She's a plucky girl.

It's monstrous to have kept her

in that filthy prison all this time.

They had no choice. Anyhow, it's less

than a week now and she'll be free.

It's a farce. Why make her

go through the ordeal of a trial?

Because she admitted killing, and in

a civilized community, a trial's inevitable.

She shot him as she would have

shot a mad dog.

You don't have to convince me, Bob.

I know. I'm sorry.

Strange that Hammond

was able to keep his life so hidden.

That gambling house he owned,

and especially the Eurasian woman.

I think it was finding out about her

that turned opinion so against him.

-Will she be one of the witnesses?

-I shan't call her.

I'll just produce evidence

that Hammond was married to her.

Well, I know you're busy, Howard.

-I can't tell you how grateful I am.

-Nonsense, Bob.

Now, stop worrying about the trial.

That's your lawyer's job.

So long, Bob.

-Bring your things across soon as you can.

-Right.

Come in.

-Yes?

-If you are not too busy, sir...

...might I trouble you for a few words

in private conversation?

No trouble at all, Ong.

The matter upon which I desire

to speak to you...

...is very delicate and confidential.

Well, what matter is it?

It has to do with the case

of The Crown v. Crosbie.

Yes?

A circumstance has come

to my attention, sir...

...which seems to put a different

complexion on the case.

Please come to the point, Ong.

What circumstance do you refer to?

A friend has brought me information, sir,

that there is in existence a letter...

...from the defendant

to the unfortunate victim of the tragedy.

That's not surprising.

During the course of seven years...

...I've no doubt Mrs. Crosbie

often had occasion to write to him.

But the letter, sir, was written on the day

of the late Mr. Hammond's death.

Well?

You will, no doubt, recall, sir,

that Mrs. Crosbie has stated...

...that until the fatal night, she'd had

no communication with the deceased...

...for several weeks.

Yes?

In my opinion, this letter indicates

that her statement, perhaps...

...was not in every respect accurate.

Have you seen the letter?

I have with me a copy, sir.

The original is in possession of a woman.

She happens to be the widow

of Mr. Hammond, deceased.

What makes you think this letter

was written by Mrs. Crosbie?

I have every confidence

in the veracity of my informant, sir.

That's more than I have.

It's inconceivable...

...that Mrs. Crosbie

should have written such a letter.

Might I suggest, sir,

that it would be well to make sure?

Since my friend is of the opinion

that the letter might be of some interest...

...to the prosecutor.

I'm obliged to you, Ong.

I'll give the matter my consideration.

Very well, sir. Do you wish me

to communicate that to my friend?

-It might be well to keep in touch with him.

-Thank you, sir.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Mr. Joyce?

Mr. Reed was coming to see you in half

an hour. I've canceled the appointment.

Yes.

Yes, that's right.

Stay in the visiting room

as long as you want.

-The warden's orders.

-That's very nice of him. Thank you.

Howard, how good of you to come.

-Morning, Leslie.

-I wasn't expecting you.

-How are you today, Mrs. Cooper?

-Fine. It's a different place...

-...since Mrs. Crosbie's been here.

-She's been so kind. Everyone has.

It's a shame she has to stay here at all.

Well, I'll just wait outside. You can call me

when you're finished, Mrs. Crosbie.

Thank you.

Oh, how lovely. I do miss my garden.

You're looking very well, Leslie.

Well, this is a wonderful place to rest.

Well, it's only five days more.

I know. Every morning when I wake up,

I say, "One less."

Just like I used to when I was in school

with the holidays coming.

Don't feel sorry for me.

The time has passed very quickly.

Done a good deal of reading,

and I've worked on my lace.

It's Robert I'm worried about.

He's taking it terribly hard.

Poor darling.

He's much more anxious about you

than you seem to be about yourself.

Well, Howard, I must confess to you...

...I'm not looking forward to testifying

in court.

One thing that's impressed me

is that every time you've told your story...

...you've told it in exactly the same words.

You've never varied a hairsbreadth.

And what does that suggest

to your legal mind?

Well, it suggests either that you have

an extraordinary memory....

Or?

Or that you're telling the plain,

unvarnished truth.

I'm afraid I have a very poor memory.

I suppose I'm right in thinking that you

had no communication with Hammond...

-...for several weeks before the catastrophe.

-I'm positive of that.

The last time I saw him was at

a tennis party at the McFarrens' .

Don't suppose I said more than two

words to him.

They have two courts, you know,

and we played different sets.

-And you hadn't written to him?

-Oh, no.

Well, at one time you were on

fairly intimate terms with him.

How did it happen that you stopped

asking him to anything?

Well, we didn't have much in common,

and he's very popular, you know.

A lot of calls upon his time, and...

...well, I didn't see the necessity

of showering him with invitations.

You're quite certain that was all?

Well, I may as well tell you....

We heard about his wife.

And once, quite by chance,

I actually saw her.

Oh?

You never mentioned that.

-What was she like?

-Horrible.

She was all covered with gold chains

and bracelets and spangles...

...her face like a mask.

And it was after you knew about her

that you stopped...

-...having anything to do with Hammond?

-Yes.

I think I should tell you that there is

in existence a letter in your handwriting...

...from you to Geoff Hammond.

Well, I often wrote him a little note

about something or other...

...or to get me something if I heard

he was going into Singapore.

This letter asks him to come and see you

because Robert was going to be away.

But that's impossible.

You see, I never did anything of the kind.

Better read it for yourself.

-But that's not my handwriting.

-I know.

It's said to be an exact copy of one

written on the day of Hammond's death.

What does it mean?

-That's for you to say, Leslie.

-I didn't write it. I swear I didn't.

If the original is in your writing,

it'd be useless to deny it.

-Then it'll be a forgery.

-Be difficult to prove that.

-Be easy to prove it was genuine.

-It's not dated.

It might've been written years ago. If you'll

just give me time, I'll try to remember.

Leslie, the prosecution could cross-examine

your houseboys.

They'd find out whether someone took a

letter to Hammond the day of his death.

Howard, I swear to you,

I did not write this letter.

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