The Wrong Man Page #2

Yes, I see. She can come in.

About how long would it take

to make the loan?

Oh, it'd just be a matter of days.

Thank you very much.

Glad to have helped you.

Is he gone?

- Yeah.

Where's Miss Duffield?

- In with Mr. Wendon.

There's the reason he didn't do anything.

That was the man that robbed you

a while back, wasn't it?

I'm almost sure.

What did you think?

I'm sure...

- Miss Duffield see it?

She's gone on in there.

- She...

She said the way he entered

the room was so very strange.

He put his hand in his pocket...

...and all he took out was this folded paper.

He said he just wanted a loan

on his wife's policy.

I'll call the home office.

Maybe you and Pop

can come over Sunday?

I hope we can, Manny. It was good of you

to come all the way out here today.

Ciao, Ma.

- Ciao.

I'd appreciate it if you ladies

would wait at home.

Stay near a telephone and I'll call you

within the next couple of hours.

All right, let's pick him up.

Well, you know Daddy.

He said 5:
30,

and he's always on time.

Mom, what time will Dad be home?

- Who is it?

About 5:
30, I think.

Who's calling, Robert?

It was some man. He didn't say.

What time is it?

It's 5:
25.

If he walks up the steps,

it'll probably be him.

What do you suppose

they call him for short?

Well, his first name's

Christopher. Probably Chris.

Hey, Chris.

Your name Chris?

You calling me?

- Is your name...

...Christopher Emanuel Balestrero?

- Yes, it is.

We wanna talk.

We're police officers.

What about?

- Come to the precinct and help us out.

I'm just getting home.

I'd like to tell my wife where I'm going.

Oh, you'd better come along

and tell her later.

Where is it?

- 110th Precinct.

Won't take long?

- Shouldn't take long.

I'd like to tell my wife.

It's all right, Chris.

Just a routine matter.

Come down to the precinct,

we'll tell you about it.

Found this man outside a liquor store.

Saw this man take this

without paying for it.

Sit down, Chris.

Here?

- Fine.

Now...

...of course you're wondering

why you're here, Mr. Balestrero.

Yes, I am.

- I'll tell you the whole thing.

There's been a number of holdups

in this area...

...all pulled off by one man.

People have come forward

with descriptions of the man.

It's been brought to our attention

that you fit the description.

I fit the description?

- That's right.

Of the holdup man?

- Yep.

Well, it's crazy. That's crazy.

Sure. From what you say,

this whole thing's a big mistake.

Why are you keeping me?

Everything has to be done according with

certain procedure, you see.

People bring accusations.

All right, we look into the matter.

See if there's anything to it.

- I'm completely innocent.

We can't take anybody's

word for that, you know.

We have to clear you before you can go.

How do you clear me?

- It's purely a routine matter.

But I'll tell you something.

It's nothing for an innocent man

to worry about.

It's the fella that's done something

wrong that has to worry.

Well, there's one thing.

- Yes.

I've never been late without calling...

...and I'm always on time.

- That'll be taken care of.

Now, there's one thing

we'd like you to do for us.

We'd like you to go and

visit a couple of stores...

...if you don't mind that.

Not if it'll help.

- It might.

It just might.

Let's go.

What do you do at the Stork Club?

Play in the band.

I'm a bass player.

I suppose you have some

pretty high old times there.

What do you mean?

- Oh, women, drinks...

...dancing, that sort of thing.

- I don't drink.

No?

- Of course, I don't dance at the club...

...I just play in the band.

Is this the one?

- Yeah, this is it.

You familiar with this neighborhood?

Yeah. I've been around here.

Ever been in this store?

No. The liquor store?

No.

Now, if you'll just walk

into this liquor store...

...walk to the back of the store,

turn around and come back here.

In...?

- Walk in...

...walk to the back of the store,

turn around and come out again.

Won't that look funny?

- Not at all.

You're just helping us out.

The fella in the store is expecting you.

I don't say anything?

Well, you can if you want to.

It isn't necessary.

Was that all right?

Get into the car.

Lenny's?

- Yeah, that's right.

Your wife ever go to the Stork Club?

No.

No, we have two children,

even if we didn't.

Even if you didn't?

- Costs money.

What costs so much, admission?

No, there's no admission price...

...but the people who go there

are well-to-do.

They wear expensive clothes.

Everything you order is expensive.

Oh, but you had lots of money at times.

No, I never have.

I'd like you to do the same thing again.

In the store?

- Yeah, they're expecting you.

Just walk in. Same routine.

Wait a minute.

Are you from the 110th Precinct?

- Yes, sir.

Can I do anything for you?

- No, no. The police sent him over.

Do you recognize him?

- Well...

That's right, you weren't

here Christmas Eve.

Well, I was here when the fella came in

in November, though.

You want him to walk up and down again?

Yeah.

Would you do that again,

walk back with your hat off?

Well?

Gee, I don't know.

Okay, you can go.

What was...?

- Did you get your change?

No. Say...

I'll give you a ring.

Right, sir.

Okay, next one.

It's been over an hour since

I called last time, Mother...

...and he still hasn't come home.

There must have been an accident.

Mother. Father.

- Be quiet.

Mother, come now.

Will you be quiet?

I'm on the phone.

No, it's just the boys.

Yes, I called the hospitals...

...but they didn't have anybody

answering his description.

Well, this is unlike Manny.

If he couldn't make it home

for dinner, he'd call.

I wouldn't worry about Manny, Rose.

I used to worry sometimes...

...but that's just because he's so steady

you never expect him to be late.

Well, we wanna ask you...

...have you ever been in the offices

of the Associated Life of New York...

...in the Victor Moore Arcade building?

I was there this afternoon.

Why did you go there?

I wanted to find out

how much I could borrow...

...on my wife's insurance policy.

She's gotta have a lot of work

done on her teeth...

...and the dentist said

it was gonna be $300.

I wanted to find out

how much I could borrow.

Have you ever been in that office before?

Yes.

Yes, we've got four policies there...

...my wife and I and the two boys.

We've each got one.

There was a strike some time ago.

The collectors were on strike, and I went

into the office to pay the premiums.

It was a long time ago.

- How long?

Oh, about a year.

It's a year since you've been in that office?

I was there this afternoon.

- But before...

...it was a year.

- That's right.

Today, you went to ask about a loan?

Yeah.

- You need money, then?

Yes, I told you, for the dentist.

What do you make a week

at the Stork Club?

Eighty-five.

- That's the take-home pay?

Yes.

- You play the horses?

Play?

Well, I have,

but not very often.

How often?

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