Three Strangers Page #4

between man and wife...

Aren't intended

for other ears.

I wouldn't dream

of inquiring.

But also,

he advises me

On everyday matters.

He does?

We discuss everything

and everybody.

You in particular he

esteems, Mr. Arbutny.

It's very flattering.

He says I'm to do everything

you say, and anything.

Ahem.

Well, I must be

on my way.

You'll dine with me some

evening, Mr. Arbutny.

I shall be delighted.

I believe dear Robin

will, too.

That's very good

of Robin.

Number, please.

Whitehall 3040.

National securities.

Mr. Case.

One moment, please.

Hello?

Case, Jerome K. Arbutny

speaking.

Yes, Mr. Arbutny.

About that

South African stock,

I wonder if it

would be wise to sell?

It would mean taking

a slight loss.

Yes, I know.

But you see,

it's not exactly

Within my, uh, scope of

operations to speculate.

There's a considerable

amount of money involved.

A very considerable sum.

Well, that's for you to

decide of course, Mr. Arbutny.

But I have it on

excellent authority

That the stock's

due for a turn.

You say excellent

authority?

The very best.

I see, I see.

Well, for the time being,

we'll let the account stand.

Very well,

Mr. Arbutny.

Look here, Fallon,

The crown's got

an excellent case.

Eyewitness

and all that.

This alibi

better be airtight.

Icy's testimony

will be all right.

Yes, but it isn't

enough.

We need corroboration.

All right. We call in

Major Beach.

The major was with us

the night it happened.

All night-Ain't that

right, Icy?

That's right.

Very well, then.

But I better have

a little talk with him.

So long, Fallon.

So long.

Well, what are you

waiting for?

To tell me how much

you miss me?

How'd you know?

What's on your mind?

We need money.

The devil you do! You've

had 2 quid so far this week!

They got to have money

to keep undercover.

Where in heaven's name are

they hiding, in the Savoy?

You know where

they are.

I've given them plenty

for their room and grub.

Johnny gets restless

unless we keep him in booze.

Too bad about Johnny.

If he gets too restless,

he gets caught. So what?

We ain't gonna

let him get caught.

Oh, you ain't?

Seems like you're taking

pretty good care of him.

You got him

in this fix,

I'm going to

get him out.

We need money.

Suppose I say no?

Then I'll say no tomorrow

in the witness box.

For tuppence

I'd bust you up!

And bust your alibi

at the same time?

It wouldn't be

so good.

Make up your mind, Bert.

Do we get the money?

I was with Bert-

Mr. Fallon.

We never left

the house.

You say you had

a visitor.

Yes. Major beach.

Major beach is

a good friend?

Yes.

How long have you

known Major Beach?

Oh, several years.

Then you know all

about Major Beach.

Well, a good deal.

And you would

have me believe

That you and

the prisoner

Spent a pleasant evening with this man,

Whom you say you

admire and respect?

Yes. He told us about something

that we'd never heard of before.

Bert thought it was

wonderful,

And he was going to join

up as soon as he could.

That's all,

miss crane.

Defense:

I call Major Beach.

Bailiff:

George Alfred beach.

Major beach, on the night

of October 16,

Did you call at

the prisoner's home?

Yes.

At what hour?

About 8:
00.

Was anyone there besides

the prisoner Fallon?

Oh, yes, a friend of his. Miss Crane.

How did the 3 of you

spend the evening?

We spent, uh,

a quiet time.

What do you mean

By quiet time,

Major Beach?

A quiet time is

a period of silence

In which the parties present

open up their souls

To the divine spirit.

I take it that

you're interested

In the oxford

movement.

Oh, I am, intensely.

Did you have

a particular purpose

In calling on

Mr. Fallon?

Yes. I wanted to interest

him in the movement.

And did you succeed?

Enormously.

Mr. Fallon told me the quiet

time had been a revelation to him.

He felt like

a different man.

At what time would you

say your quiet time ended?

Oh, uh, it was about 12:00

when I looked at my watch.

Hmm. Cross-Examine.

Major Beach,

Do you hold the rank of

major in the British army?

Uh... well, uh-

As a matter of fact, I-

Answer yes or no.

Well, uh...

"Major" is a sort of

honorary title.

Conferred upon you

by yourself.

Uh, yes... well,

heh heh.

You were in

the army, however.

During the war.

A private.

How long

did you serve

Before you were

court-Martialed?

Oh, well, uh...

A m-Month.

For breaking into

medical supplies,

Stealing drugs, and

attempting to sell them.

On which charges you

were found guilty

And sentenced to

a military prison

For the duration

of the war.

It was a miscarriage

of justice!

When did you become interested

in the oxford movement,

Major Beach?

Oh, well, uh,

let me see...

About 5 years ago,

I guess.

In the past 5 years,

Have you measured

your conduct

According to

the precepts

Of that

organization?

I might say so.

Were you absolutely

pure, Major Beach,

In answering to

a statutory charge

In Melbourne, Australia,

November 9, 1933?

Absolutely.

And were you

absolutely honest

In answering a drug

charge October 13, 1936?

Well, uh-

Was it absolute

unselfishness

Which led on

February 2, 1936,

To your trial

and conviction

In Norfolk

for perjury?

I was entirely

innocent!

Is it absolute love for

Bertram Fallon or for money

That prompts you to give

false testimony here and now?

My lord, this man

is obviously not

A member of

the oxford movement,

Nor of any other

religious body.

Because of the proven

incredibility

And the devious character

of the witness,

I move that his entire testimony

be stricken from the records.

Motion sustained.

Silence in the court!

My lord,

if it please the court,

My client desires

to change his plea

From not guilty to guilty,

and put his fate

Into the merciful keeping

of the court.

If it please your lordship,

he desires to make a statement.

The prisoner may make

a statement.

My lord,

I want to say I took part

in the robbery.

I told a lot of lies

up to now,

But mainly because I wanted to

protect the others.

But I don't see why a man ought to hang

for a crime somebody else committed.

I guess that's what's going to happen

if I don't tell the whole truth.

I'm not asking to be let off,

All I want from this court is

not to be hanged.

If you won't hang me,

I'll turn king's evidence.

"I'll name

the guilty ones

And I'll fix it for you

to catch them. "

I don't want

to hear it!

Well, you said

one of us would blow,

Only you guessed

the wrong one.

Come on, Gabby, don't

tell me that this thing

Has destroyed your faith

in human nature.

All I want is to get

me hands on Fallon.

That's all I ask.

Yes, but just that may be

a little bit difficult.

They're taking very good

care of him these days.

I'll find a way.

Gabby, Gabby,

I'm afraid you have

a vengeful nature.

It can't do you any good,

you know, it's-

Johnny? Gabby?

It's me.

Hello, hello.

Welcome home.

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