The Unknown Man

[ Joe Bucknor narrates: ]

"I work in that building

across the street."

"That's our new Hall of Justice."

"It cost us taxpayers

twelve million dollars."

"Ten million was actually

spent on the building."

"The other two got kinda lost."

"It's that way in our city."

"It always was that way."

"But this is not a story about

corruption. Far from it."

"This story is about justice."

"There she is, up there. With a bandage

over her eyes and pigeons as playmates."

"Human nature being the way it is .."

"The lady can use all the help

she can get around here."

"Officially, that's my job."

"And unofficially, that's Andy Layford."

"Layford is head of the

Citizens Crime Commission."

"Right now, 3:
30 in the afternoon .."

"The Commissioner is taking a look

at Hulderman's on Cedar Street."

"You could know our town a lifetime

without knowing Hulderman's."

"But it so happens a few weeks

ago, his son made news."

"By having a knife plunged

in his back late one evening."

"We don't have the knife,

but we do have the killer."

"At least we believe so."

"The dark, nice-looking guy

between the drunk and the conman."

"That's him."

"This is the attorney's

room in the county jail."

"A prisoner waiting trial .."

"Can ask to see his mouthpiece

here any hour of the day or night."

"That's the boys lawyer,

Wayne Kellwin, sitting opposite."

"At 3:
45, four blocks away."

"A pretty girl is showing

a dinner dress."

"A very pretty girl."

"The look of the lady

may give you ideas."

"But it won't tell you why a young man

is behind bars on a murder rap."

"He is."

"You just saw him."

"Yes, she'll take it."

"She thinks Brad will like it."

"Brad is her husband.

Bradley Masen, attorney at law."

"He'll like it alright."

"They've been married 24 years,

the Bradley Masens."

"But for Stella, Brad still wants

the top of the Christmas tree."

"And he can afford it too."

"The best civil lawyer in town and

one of the finest in the country."

"That's Bradley Masen."

"Mr Kellwin is here, Mr Masen."

Who?

"Wayne Kellwin."

Oh. Have him come in will you please.

Brad.

Wayne.

Well, well. How are you, boy?

It's been a long time.

The class of '25. That makes

it a quarter of a century.

Correct, so help me.

So help us both.

Say, you look great, fellah. You're

getting to look just like your old man.

What more can a guy want?

Well, not a thing if it's true.

Of course it's true.

Sit down over there.

Remember the speech

he gave us at graduation?

I still have a copy of it some place.

Fine words, Brad.

I can't say I've lived up to

them the way you have.

Most of my campus dreams

failed to go the distance.

How? Who says so?

Oh, I'm not kicking. I've done okay.

But you've really made it, fellah.

And they tell me you've kept your

hands clean and you buttons shiny.

How about a drink?

Motion granted.

Is that your boy?

Ah, yes. He's ..

Twenty-three now.

In his last term.

Law school?

Of course.

Of course .. the Masen, Masen line.

I'm hoping he'll join

me here in November.

That will be great for you both.

It will give me a chance

to do the office over.

That might not be a bad idea.

It's a little old-style, conservative.

Don't go changing things

that suit you, Brad.

It tells the world what you are.

It wouldn't do for me of course. But my

clients wouldn't do for you as a rule.

What do you take these days?

All there is, from larceny to murder.

Which, by the way, brings me to you.

Ah ..

What was that you said:

"brings you to me"?

Murder.

Murder?

Has somebody killed somebody?

Somebody has killed somebody.

But not my client.

Not Rudi.

Rudi?

Rudi Wallchek. That's the boy's name.

I say "boy". He's 26 but

he looks younger.

Really?

It's a tough case, Brad.

It looks bad for the boy,

but he innocent.

And that's why I've come to you.

To me?

I want you to defend him.

But I'm not a trial lawyer.

I never take criminal cases.

That's why I am here.

Look Brad, I've been in

this game a long time.

There isn't a gimmick I

haven't pulled in my day.

But you're different.

You really believe in law and

justice and everyone knows it.

I think if you'll take this case,

the boy might have a chance.

Wayne I'm flattered, but

honestly .. it's out of my line.

I never take criminal cases.

I'd stumble an fumble.

You know, sometimes a lack of

technique works wonders with a jury.

Come on, fellah. Give the boy a break.

I've got a half dozen very

important cases coming up.

A lot of money involved.

You'd only get peanuts from Wallchek.

Maybe five hundred if you're lucky.

Well. I guess that does it.

I tried anyway.

So long, Brad.

Bye, Wayne.

Good to see you.

Nice to see you.

Say hello to the big money

for me, will you. Yep.

"Winterbottom versus Wright."

You've got the longest eyelashes.

"Winterbottom versus Wright."

I've got it. Let's go to the movies.

Later.

You've got the cutest nose, too.

"Winterbottom versus Wright."

"The supplier of the charity is

without anything more."

"Not responsible in damages to a user."

With whom he has no ..

Contractual relationship.

That was overruled by

McPherson versus Blewitt.

It was?

Definitely.

"One is not at liberty to put a

finished product on the market."

"Without subjecting the component

parts to ordinary and simple tests."

How are you, Ellie?

Good, Mr Masen.

Why the monkey suit?

We're having dinner at Andy Layford's.

How is the Dean?

Father is fine, thanks.

I think he'll call you. He will ask you

to make this year's commencement speech.

Oh no.

I'd be proud to. A great honor.

But you wouldn't do that to me, Dad.

I think I would. If the Dean

asked me, I might accept.

That's going to make a tough

afternoon even tougher.

Oh, you just don't know how he

suffers trying to live up to his father.

Dad had the same problem.

Only his father was a judge.

Mine is just a .. just a crummy lawyer.

Tell me just between the

two of us, how is he doing?

He won't concentrate.

He won't get through his

finals if he doesn't concentrate.

Well look at her Dad, I ask you.

Man to man.

Could you concentrate with this around?

Ah, man to man, I must

say I see what you mean.

Stella!

Coming.

How about giving us a lift to

the theater? Okay.

Stella!

Here I am.

Uhoh.

It looked perfectly wonderful

on the girl who modelled it.

Now, please say something nice.

It still looks wonderful.

Really, Brad?

I like it. Very much.

I like you very much.

So what do you think, Dad?

Could I have two months?

And then I could take in

Mexico and go up the coast.

Start right in after graduation, huh?

You understand how I feel.

All full of theories and stuff.

I'd like to .. I'd like to

polish up on life a bit ..

Before settling down in an office.

Well, maybe it's a good idea.

Not that life doesn't come

into the office occasionally.

And death too.

What was that?

Today, I was asked to

defend a murder case.

Which one?

The .. uh ..

The Wallchek boy.

What did you say?

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