The Unknown Man Page #6

know where he was a 9:30.

Alright .. he was here.

Wallchek?

There is a perfectly simple explanation.

The Crime Commission puts me in

contact with criminals every day.

What they tell us about each

other is often valuable to us.

You didn't want me to know he was here.

Why?

We guarantee a man secrecy if he talks.

The D.A. says that somebody is running

this town that the law can't touch.

He is too big, he's too powerful.

Does he? That's very intelligent of Joe.

If I believe that, I'd ..

This is America 1951.

You couldn't get away with it.

Of course not.

But suppose.

Purely for argument's sake.

Suppose I were what you

appear to believe I might be.

Come out here. I'd like

to show you something.

Suppose all this were one man's kingdom.

That he'd built up an organisation that

reaches into its homes, offices, shops.

He controls and corrupts it

for his own satisfaction.

Ruling it from the shadows.

Behind and above the law.

Suppose this were true and no-one

could do anything about it.

What would you do?

I'd fight him with everything I've got.

You wouldn't get to first base.

Not with a man like that.

Try the courts and he'll smear you.

Blacken you, even get you disbarred.

Go higher?

And he'll go higher, too.

After your wife, your boy.

He has the power to break

you and he will break you.

Until everything is gone.

Home, work, family.

There is just you.

Disgraced and powerless.

Then what would you do?

What could you do?

I might kill him.

Never.

No, really you wouldn't.

Not for one moment.

I know you.

You are soft and sentimental.

You love the law. Love it and serve it.

You're Bradley Masen. So you get tricked

and cheated by the any Rudi Wallchek ..

Who plays you for a sucker.

If I am what you think I am.

That knife cut young Hulderman

to bits on my instruction.

If I am what you think I am, I had that

man run down by a truck this morning.

But of course, I'm not.

How did you know he

was run down by a truck?

You said so.

I said he was dead.

I didn't say how he died.

I think this joke has gone

far enough, don't you.

It's getting late.

I have a heavy day tomorrow.

Can I get you a nightcap?

No?

Well.

Goodnight then.

Let's see.

Did you have a hat?

Is it in?

Yes.

His man found him an hour later.

I'd like to think it was the drinks.

I'd like to think I was drunk.

I'd had a couple.

I wasn't used to it.

That wasn't it.

I knew what I was doing. I ..

I knew exactly.

What happened?

Couldn't it be self-defence?

No. It wasn't. It wasn't.

He just talked and I hated him more

than I've ever hated anybody in my life.

He turned and looked

at me .. just before he fell.

He had an expression

of absolute amazement.

Oh, my darling. My darling.

I'm not making any excuses.

I haven't any.

But ..

I want you to understand

this, if you can.

When I killed him, for one second, I ..

I thought it was right.

Everything I've ever believed in.

Justice, morality, the law.

He laughed at.

He laughed at the law.

So I killed him.

Alright, alright. Take it easy, fellahs.

He says "take it easy, fellahs".

Sure, what's the hurry? One of the

top men in town gets rubbed out.

Is that important?

Why don't we all go home?

What's the D.A. doing?

He stares into a little crystal ball.

Maybe he don't know it, but this job

is liable to bust him out of office.

Yeah. You boys had better

come up with something fast.

The boys are getting nervous.

Let 'em sizzle.

Call Bradley Masen.

Tell him to get over here right away.

I think you got him, sir.

These fingerprints definitely show ..

Can't you do any better than that, Ed?

Okay, sir. He's cold.

Look .. see these tented arches, here.

They are blurred but not too badly.

And the loops and the composites

add up all along the line.

I guess that does it.

Did you get Masen?

"Sorry, Mr Bucknor. Mr Masen

went out a half hour ago."

Where'd he go?

"They don't know, sir."

Try his office.

"Right away."

Alright, Sarge, go get him.

Right.

You can let them in now.

Thanks, Ed.

Gentlemen.

Oh .. Brad.

Brad, are you sure?

Are you expecting him?

Do you know where I could reach him?

Well would you have him call the

D.A.'s office please the moment he ..

Thank you.

Yes, please?

I have to see the D.A.

Sorry, the D.A. is tied up.

But I must see him. It's about

the death of Andrew Layford.

Name, please?

Bradley Masen.

Yes, Mr Masen. Just a moment, please.

Mr Masen, Mr Bucknor.

"Where?"

Here. In the office.

"Send him in."

Yes, sir .. go right in, sir.

Thank you.

Layford was killed

between 9 and 10 o'clock.

Oh come in, Lancelot.

You all know Bradley Masen?

Yeah.

Sure.

This about completes the cast.

Send him in, Sam.

Come on over here, Brad.

You just have to be here for this.

Rudi, no need to tell an

old campaigner like you ..

You don't have to talk

unless you want to.

Okay Rudi, why did you do it?

Was Layford getting in your hair?

He knew too much and he was on to you?

Show us how you did it Rudi.

Was it this way?

You're crazy! I had nothing to do with

it, I tell you. Nothing. I'm innocent.

Sure, like a tarantula.

I never touched the guy.

I never touched him.

He's all yours, Sarge. Take him away.

It's about time to go, boys.

Well, it's kind of a beautiful

morning, don't you think?

The mills of the Gods grind slowly but

they grind exceedingly fine. Hallelujah.

Ah, the morning gets more beautiful.

No bobbles today?

What? What's happening, Brad?

Our prize rat just got his comeuppance.

I told you it would all

come out in the wash.

You want to take "Honest Abe" here on a

vacation. He looks a bit out of whack.

I hear it's kind of

pretty up Alpina way.

Woods and flowers and a trout

stream way up in the hills.

So long, children. I'll be seeing you.

I know I've no right to

try to influence you.

But you're going to, aren't you ..

Hello, Bob.

It's alright, Brad.

Have a good evening, Bob?

Yeah, I guess so.

That Ellie is really something.

We got into an argument.

She threw the book at me ..

But I threw it right back.

Do you know, we kinda liked it.

It seems the more we go for

each other, the more we ..

Go for each other.

That's love, I guess.

Yeah, I guess.

Night.

Brad.

Wallchek's a murderer.

He committed murder.

Not this one.

Alright, not this one.

He didn't kill a vile degenerate.

He only murdered a decent honest

boy who never hurt anyone.

And now he's to pay for it.

Can't you see there's a ..

A higher justice in that?

I can see the irony of it, but justice?

That's another thing.

Well it may not be Man's justice.

But it could be God's.

That still doesn't let me out, Stella.

God would any normal person.

Alright then, I'm not normal.

I can't help it.

But I've tried for two whole days

and I just can't stomach it.

You've no right to ask me.

I am asking you.

No, Stella. No.

Brad!

No, no, no. I can't.

Do you want to destroy everything?

Our home, our life together?

Even our love.

You don't mean that.

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