The Young Savages Page #7

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I've gone a hundred miles out of my way

to find out what makes

these monsters tick.

I've been to Harlem time and again.

To their homes.

They spit in my face. What more can

anyone do? What would you do?

- I don't know.

- Don't you?

All right, I made a mistake.

Was it a mistake?

Don't you believe what you said?

All right, Hank, I meant every word

I said the other night.

Something else you said.

Old Hank Bellini.

Danny Di Pace said it, too.

"What's the matter, Mr. Bellini?

You ashamed of being a wop?"

My old man was ignorant.

He thought the way to be a good American

was to change your name.

It was always easy for me to explain,

"My father did it. "

Now I realize I not only went along with it,

I was glad.

I was secretly glad my name

was Bell instead of Bellini.

It was part of getting out of Harlem.

- Like marrying you.

- You married me because you loved me.

Hank, I know what you're

going through now.

Somehow you'll find the answer.

"Grand jury of the county of New York

by this indictment

"accuses Arthur Reardon, Daniel Di Pace

and Anthony Aposto

"of premeditated murder

in the first degree

"on the 25th day of July 1960,

"in the county of New York,

by feloniously stabbing Roberto Escalante.

"And at the stated time and place causing

the death of said Roberto Escalante,

"without excuse or justification.

"Signed, foreman of the Grand Jury,

William Henry Baines. "

- Bell?

Does the Defense wish to open?

This is the lab report on these knives.

- Your Honor.

- Thanks, Hardy.

- Aren't you gonna read it?

- When I get ready.

- Didn't think we'd find them, did you?

- You didn't, they just turned up.

It's quite interesting, you better read it.

...it is not fact but a mere accusation.

I'm sure you will keep your minds open

until you have heard all the evidence

from both sides,

and that your verdict will be a just one.

Thank you for your attention.

State your name, address and age.

Louisa Maria Philippa Garcia Escalante,

Forty-nine and a half, West 110th Street,

16 years old.

Louisa, are you the sister

of the murdered boy?

Objection.

Rephrase your question, Mr. Bell.

Are you the sister of Roberto Escalante?

I was.

On the afternoon of July 25, 1960,

were you seated on the front steps

of the apartment house

where you live at 49 and a half,

West 110th Street?

- Yes, sir.

Who was there with you?

- My brother, Roberto.

Anyone else?

Yes, sir. My friend Maria Creva.

- What were you doing there?

- I was talking.

And your brother?

He was making music on the harmonica.

The three of you were seated on

the front steps minding your own business,

watching the world go by. Is that correct?

Roberto was not

watching the world go by.

- You mean he was blind?

Yes.

- And he was playing the harmonica?

- Yes.

Did anything happen to

disturb that moment?

- Them! Those boys were...

Louisa. Louisa.

Try to control yourself.

Sit right down.

Try to tell me as clearly and as calmly

as you can just what happened.

Three boys came down the street.

When they got by our stoop,

they pulled knives out of their pockets

and stabbed Roberto.

They stabbed him many times.

They killed him.

Did he draw a knife?

He did not have no knife.

Did he act in any way as though

he were going to attack them?

Why would he attack those boys?

He did not know they was there.

He was blind.

Why would he attack those three boys?

What did the boys do then, Louisa?

They run away.

Did you get a good look at them

before they ran away?

Yes, sir.

If you saw them again,

would you recognize them?

- Yes, sir.

- Are they in this courtroom?

Right over there.

Louisa, just so there can be

no possibility of a mistake.

Just so the court will know exactly

who you are talking about,

I want you to leave the witness stand, go

to the three boys who killed your brother,

and place your hand on the

shoulder of each one to identify them.

Miss Escalante, now the court realizes the

extent of your emotional involvement

- in this case.

- Nice work, Hank.

Here, read this.

Quite interesting.

I'm not through with her yet.

- Now, if you'd like a short recess...

No, I'm all right.

I'll be all right.

I want to answer the questions.

Louisa, what is your occupation?

- Occupation?

- What do you do for a living?

You're under oath, Louisa, remember that.

What do you do for a living?

I am a hooker.

You mean you're a prostitute?

- Yes.

- When did you become a prostitute?

I was 14.

You became a prostitute

when you were 14?

- Yes.

- Were you coerced into it?

Objection, Your Honor. I see no purpose

to this line of questioning.

Bell, do you have a point here,

which applies to the case?

I do, Your Honor.

- Proceed.

Were you coerced into this profession?

Coerced?

Did someone, an older man for instance,

cause you to become a prostitute?

No, sir. I thought of it myself.

Thought of it yourself, why?

We had no money

and my mother was sick.

Couldn't you get a job?

I was 14.

I tried to get a job, they do not

give me a working permit.

- What about your brother?

- He was blind.

Did you make some money this way?

I did.

Did your mother ask you

where you got the money?

- Yes.

- What did you tell her?

I told her I was on the street.

You told your mother

you were a prostitute?

- Yes.

- What did she say?

She said,

"Why didn't we let her die?"

Mr. Bell, why are you pursuing this line?

Your Honor, I'm trying to get at the truth.

Thank you, Louisa.

No more questions.

- Your witness, Mr. Randolph.

No questions.

Is the Defense ready?

Your Honor, the Defense requests

a short recess.

Court will recess for 10 minutes.

That was a masterful presentation, Hank.

Come on out to the hall.

Have your picture taken with me.

You go ahead, Dan.

I want to look this over.

We're ready, Dan.

That was nice.

State your name, age and address.

Anthony Aposto,

16, and what was that?

Your address.

The court has Anthony Aposto's address.

Anthony, sit down.

Anthony Aposto,

are you also known as Batman?

- Yeah.

- Well, why do they call you Batman?

I don't know, everybody calls me Batman.

Where did you get the name?

- Batman, he's in the comics.

- I see.

Do you like reading comic books, Anthony?

- Yeah, sure I like the pictures, you know?

- What about the words, Anthony?

Well, they're okay too, I guess, yeah.

Well then, perhaps you have

a little trouble with the words.

You know, I'm not such a hot reader.

Anthony, what do you like about Batman?

Batman. Well, he ain't afraid of nothing,

you know.

And, well, he wears this

cool black suit all the time.

And he's always fighting, you know.

Do you like to fight, Batman?

- Sure.

- Are you a good fighter, Batman?

Oh, boy. My old man will tell you. You

know something, I pack a hell of a wallop.

- That's right.

- Why?

- Has he watched you?

- No, I walloped him once.

Why do you like to fight, Batman?

I don't know why.

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