The Other Side of Midnight Page #11

that's as far as I'd go:

- We can't stop now!

- We can! I cannot go through with it!

I'll just take my chances

on your telling Demeris:

- I will! You know I will!

- Look, damn it, good!

You do it! All I know

is that here is where I get off:

I will tell him!

You don't believe me?

Cathy?

Cathy, why did you

lock the door, honey?

Cathy, open the- Damn it!

Cathy, open the door, honey!

Cathy? Cathy?

Cathy!

Cathy!

Cathy?

Cathy?

Cathy!

Cathy!

Honey? Cathy?

Cathy?

Innocent, Costa:

Innocent:

I'm sorry for all this:

I know all the discomfort

it has caused you:

I wanted to kill you.

Before you were

arrested and charged:

Had I found you, I would have:

Why didn't you?

Because you killed me first:

I've never needed anyone before:

- Costa-

- No, let me finish:

I'm not a forgiving man:

If I could do without you,

believe me.

I would:

If I could.

Replace you-

Noelle, I need you:

I want you back:

A little late for that, no?

If I could have you freed,

would you come back to me to stay?

Before you answer,

know this:

You could never see him again:

You could never have him again:

I would-

I would stay with you:

Then we are going

to forget the past:

It's gone:

It could not be altered:

The future-yes:
The future is

all we must give our attention to:

I've engaged an attorney

for you both.

The finest in Europe:

He has never lost a major case: Never:

Perhaps you've heard of him-

Napoleon Chotas:

[Laughter]

[Chuckles]

Yes, indeed, gentlemen:

This trial approaches farce.

And that is why I felt compelled

to rise at this time.

And call for an end to it:

Can one really place credence.

On hearing of the babblings

of an hysterical woman.

That her husband tried to kill her

in those caves.

When that very husband

was responsible for her rescue?

Hardly the action of a murderer:

The doctor admitted that she was

in such a confused state.

That she required sedation:

Huh?

And what else have we?

Oh, yes:

A pathetic hotel porter.

Who thought he recognized

Noelle Page.

Going to the bungalow that night,

et cetera, et cetera:

Straws in the wind, gentlemen!

But what I ask is, where is the body?

Scraps of nightgown

found on a dock.

Do not spell murder to me:

And, indeed, gentlemen,

murder is not what this trial is all about:

This trial is about

adultery and fornication.

And the press has already tried.

Convicted and condemned

the participants:

Now, there are many theories as to what

could have happened to Catherine Douglas:

Accident, suicide- Who knows?

But, gentlemen,

you do not convict.

A man and a woman

for possible murder!

Therefore, let us put an end

to this waste of public money.

And terminate these proceedings:

The defendants

have been punished enough:

The publicity of this trial.

Will follow them

the rest of their lives:

- Enough is enough:

- [Murmuring]

Mr.:
Prosecutor:

Maitre Chotas's concern

for time of this court.

And the spending of public money

does him credit.

And I intend to follow his advice.

And bring the proceedings of this court

to an end as soon as possible:

Although, perhaps,

not in the way he suggests:

In passing, I should like to say.

That the evidence of the

French investigator Barbet.

That the defendant Page.

Has known Douglas

since at least 1945:: :

Indicates something more

than just a casual affair:

I would also like to remind him

that Mr.:
Douglas.

Did not call for help

to rescue his wife.

Until the cave guide

asked him where his wife was.

As he was seen leaving the caves:

But, be that as it may,

with the court's permission.

I will produce an additional.

And I think conclusive

piece of evidence:

Permission is granted:

[No Audible Dialogue]

This is a piece of notepaper

discovered on the floor.

Of the Douglas bungalow bedroom:

It was found by a cleaning woman who,

not realizing the value of it.

Did not hand it over

to the authorities immediately:

On it is a message.

Which we believe was written

by Mrs.:
Douglas:

Believe? Believe?

Unsigned notes?

More straws in the wind:

We will produce a witness-

Mr.:
William Fraser from America-

who will testify that it is indeed

a note written by Mrs.: Douglas.

And who will produce samples

of her handwriting to substantiate it:

What does the note say?

"My husband and Noelle Page.

"Are in the next room:

They are going to kill me:"

[Spectators Chattering,

Murmuring]

Plead guilty?

Are you crazy?

Please, Mr.:
Douglas,

just listen to me for a moment:

Now, you listen to me!

You listen to me:

You want us to plead guilty to a murder

that we didn't commit:

Now, do you get that? We did not do it!

Her death was an accident:

That is what you say,

but can you prove it?

You are not in America now, Mr.: Douglas:

You are in Greece.

And under Greek law,

you are guilty until proven innocent:

Then prove us innocent:

Now, you certainly won't do that.

By having us plead guilty:

- I have no option:

- No option?

- Now, what the hell are you talking about-

- Larry!

Sit down, please, and listen

to what Mr.:
Chotas has to say:

I am listening,

and I don't like what he has to say:

I will confess to an accident,

but not to murder:

Mr.:
Chotas:

Thank you, mamsell:

When I took this case.

I was confident

we had a good chance:

But this new evidence of the note

has changed everything:

That is why I applied

immediately for an adjournment:

And I informed a certain person of the possible

consequences of such a new development:

He agreed with me

that a drastic remedy was necessary:

So acting upon these instructions.

I applied for a conference

with the Council of Judges:

That was granted to me last night:

If the defendants.

Change their plea to guilty.

The judges agreed.

To give each one of you

a five-year sentence.

Four years of which

will be suspended:

So in reality.

You will have to serve

no more than six months:

You, Mr.:
Douglas,

will be deported.

And never allowed

to return to Greece:

Now, I must say in all honesty.

That this arrangement.

Was not an easy thing to accomplish:

The primary reason

for the court's leniency.

Is the interest of mamsell's patron:

[Bell Ringing]

Will the defendants come forward?

I am sure that the defense

is well aware.

That the Greek courts

have never given the maximum sentence.

When a murder has not been

definitely proven to have been committed:

My colleagues and I were,

for that reason.

Frankly surprised when the accused

changed their plea to guilty:

And we were troubled-

troubled that the change in plea

came only after.

Some damaging and rather irrefutable

evidence had emerged:

Mid-trial did not seem to us

a time for conscience.

To suddenly manifest itself:

Where was conscience before?

Nor can the easing of conscience

be in any way accepted as atonement.

For a crime that was

visited cold-bloodedly.

Upon a helpless, defenseless

and terrified woman:

And so, under the powers

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