The Paradine Case Page #4

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- Tony.

- Simmie can get someone else.

- But what will she say?

- What the devil does it...

matter what she says?

The case isn't so difficult.

Any of 50 men can handle it.

Is that what you want? We'll leave

for Switzerland. Tomorrow perhaps.

- Darling.

- What's the matter now?

Nothing's the matter. Just thank you.

Thank you...

for being so good.

I knew my old Tony couldn't have

changed that much.

Well, what do you say?

Lausanne or Saint Moritz?

No, darling, neither. You're

going up to Cumberland...

then you're coming back

and going to court.

No, I am tired. You're right.

You're not too tired, Tony.

You're not too tired.

There aren't 50 men

who can save her.

There's only one Anthony Keane.

You've always had such big ideas

about me.

No I haven't. Besides,

I have a stake in this too.

I don't know what you mean.

I wouldn't like a woman to be

hanged, any woman...

just because my husband had

a rendezvous with her.

In jail.

Oh, Gay.

Let's go to bed darling.

Not now.

- You'll come up to Cumberland?

- I'll be waiting here.

Cosy, comfortable and protected.

Goodnight darling.

Goodnight.

- Have I a sitting room?

- Yes, sir.

- Do you want to see it?

- Yes, please.

Would you like some fish and salad

before you go to bed?

No, thank you. Any chance of

a whiskey and soda?

Okey-doke.

Your bedroom's number 17,

I'll have your bags sent up.

Thank you.

- Are you a detective?

- No, why?

- Oh, I just wondered.

- Why do you ask?

- Have you had trouble here?

- No, not exactly here.

But we don't like

being in the Sunday papers.

Haven't you heard about

the poisoning case?

That was Colonel Paradine.

He had Hindley Hall.

Your fire's going out.

- Yes, I heard about that.

- This chimney won't draw.

We found a dead owl in it.

That murder's been the talk of the

place. Mrs Paradine did it, they say.

That's better. The sticks were damp

and the wind's in the wrong way.

- Did you know her?

- Nobody knew her.

She'd ride over here once in a while

on her black hunter.

Pleasant enough,

but she never spoke to no-one.

- Did she always ride alone?

- That's got it.

Yes, now I come to think of it,

she always was alone.

And now the Colonel's dead

and the house is up to let.

I heard it was. That's why

I came in fact.

Oh, that's why you're here.

I was wondering.

- Will you see the house tomorrow?

- Yes. I think so.

Would you mind the pony and trap?

Our car's all booked up for tomorrow.

- It's only about 8 miles.

- Fine. Make it about 10 o'clock.

Okey-doke.

Up there in those trees is the hall.

Where the poor Colonel lived.

Many times I've seen him out

walking, blind as he was. With Andre.

- Andre?

- Andre LaTour, the Colonel's servant.

The queer one.

- Is anyone living at the hall now?

- Only the caretaker, Mrs Clark.

Maybe Andre's back

from London now.

They say he knows more about

the Colonel's death than he'll tell.

He's a queer one all right.

- In what way?

- I don't know.

He keeps himself to himself.

Perhaps it's because he's foreign.

Never seem quite the same,

do they?

Hey, LaTour. Here's a gentleman from

London with an order to see the hall.

- I'm interested in renting the house.

- In renting the house, Mr Keane?

Will you come in please?

If you'll wait here Mr Keane,

I'll open the shutters.

- Isn't he coming back?

- He might and he might not, sir.

Will you step this way?

This is the morning room,

the poor Colonel's favourite room.

It has a fine view, sir.

He loved her to describe it...

each time the seasons changed.

- Did she...

- I'll show you the upstairs, sir.

And this was her room, sir.

I'm sorry it's so untidy,

I was packing up her things.

If you'll excuse me,

I'll open up the other rooms.

LaTour.

- Sir?

- I should like to see the gardens.

- Would you take me round?

- Very good, sir.

Wait there for me,

I'll be down immediately.

Don't bother with the other rooms.

LaTour's going to show me the garden.

Very well, sir.

What door's that?

It's LaTour's room.

LaTour? Why wasn't he

in the servants'quarters?

She felt he should be near

the Colonel.

Well, I may drop in again to...

tomorrow.

- Where's LaTour?

- I couldn't say sir.

- But he was to show me the garden.

- He was called away.

All right, back to the inn.

Can I have a word with you, sir?

Come in.

- What can I do for you?

- It's not an easy question to answer.

- How did you know this was my room?

- I saw you come up from the lake.

And then this light go on.

- You've been watching the inn?

- Yes, I walked over from Hindley.

- To see me?

- Yes, sir.

It came to my mind it would be well

to see you.

Sit down.

Why didn't you come to the front

door? Why come in the back way?

They'd all gone to bed. I didn't

want to disturb the household.

- But you might have come earlier.

- I didn't care to come earlier, sir.

- Why not?

- I'll leave that to you, sir.

- What is it you want with me?

- Beg pardon...

but I thought it was you

wanted to see me.

- What caused you to think that?

- Well, you came to the hall.

I didn't come to the hall to see you.

I came to see the house.

But you asked me

to show you the garden.

Yes. You said you would and then

you shot out of sight like a rabbit.

Why?

I don't know.

I think first:
"No, I do not want

to talk to him."

And then I think perhaps I'm wrong.

Remember this LaTour:

You forced yourself on me.

I didn't seek you out.

You're going to be a very hostile

witness in this case.

And you're not

one of my witnesses.

And it would be most improper

for me to...

try to establish contact with you.

- I came on you entirely by chance.

- But you wanted to come on me, sir.

You say so,

but it's my job...

to save the life

of your former mistress.

Beg pardon.

She was not my mistress.

Colonel Paradine was my master.

Have it your own way.

I would never

have served a woman.

It's not in my character to do that.

I insist upon knowing your reason

for wanting to see me tonight.

If you tell me why you came

from London...

I'll tell you why I came here.

So it's to be a bargain is it?

Why should I

make a bargain with you?

Call it what you like.

All I say is:

You tell me and I'll tell you.

Seems fair enough to me.

Cigarette?

- No, thank you, sir.

- You don't smoke?

I won't smoke, sir. Thank you.

I know why you wanted to see me:

She sent you.

She? Mrs Paradine doesn't know I'm

here. She had nothing to do with it.

- Seems I'm wrong then.

- Why would she send me?

She might have her reasons.

- I don't know what they might be.

- Perhaps you don't know her as I do.

Mrs Paradine is my client. I know her

as her lawyer. That's sufficient.

You may not think it, but you're

on the wrong side sir.

- And I tell you so.

- What do you mean exactly, by that?

You'd better make yourself clear.

Excuse me. You've only known her

since she's in prison.

Is it not so?

Then how can you know her?

If you did,

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