Three Strangers Page #9

post time is 2:
00,

And as we're getting on

to that about now,

You may expect, I think, to hear

the summons of the starting line.

Mrs. Shackleford, I'm

not asking. I'm demanding.

Do you hear what I say,

Mrs. Shackleford?

What?

I'm not going to

gamble my share.

No?

You must give me

the ticket, you must!

I have a man waiting

downstairs to buy it.

There's just time

before the race!

Half of what I get out

of it, I'll give to you,

And you can do with it

as you like, bet it or not!

You're wasting

your breath.

Radio:
... except for fog,

Crystal:

oh, it's you!

But I thought that-

oh, isn't

it wonderful, the most..

Mr. West.

Mr. Arbutny.

So you did come back

after all.

When did you find out?

About the ticket?

Only about 10 minutes ago.

I'm dying for a drink.

Oh, madam Kwan Yin.

Arbutny:
Mr. West,

if I could have a word with you.

You're a lady

of your word-

What's the trouble,

Mr. Arbutny?

Are you so disappointed

I wasn't hanged?

No, to the contrary, I don't

know how it is you're here,

But I'm glad,

believe me.

That ridiculous agreement we made about

not selling any part of the ticket.

I hope you don't intend

to hold me to it.

He wants

to back out.

There's no reasoning

with her.

You must help me

get my share now, Mr. West.

I want to sell it

before the race.

I can't afford to gamble.

No? Why?

Because I need

the money.

See, I'm a thief...

At least I shall be a thief

in the eyes of the world

Unless I get this money.

I'm not truly a thief.

I'm an honest man,

Mr. West, believe me.

I meant no harm

when I did what I did.

My intentions were

perfectly honorable.

When I explain to you

the circumstances,

I'm sure you'll understand.

I am the trustee

of an estate,

An estate of

several thousand pounds.

It was my duty

to invest the money,

The law says,

in government securities,

First mortgages, and certain

other preferred stock.

But I saw a chance of making

a large profit for the estate

By investing in

common stock.

Do you follow me?

In a general way.

It was my intention-

My perfectly

honorable intention-

Should the unexpected happen and

the stock fall off a few points

To make it up, the loss,

out of my own savings.

Believe me,

I'm telling you the truth.

Oh, but then

the stock fell too low,

And now you need this money

to make up for the loss.

That's precisely what

happened, precisely.

You understand

my case perfectly.

If I don't make it up,

I'll be disgraced.

In fact, I shall be

sent to prison

Like any common

criminal.

Oh, excuse me,

Mr. West.

Mr. Arbutny, I believe

in sticking to a bargain,

Especially when

a gamble is involved.

But as far as I'm concerned,

you may have your third.

Thank you!

Thank you!

Radio:
he's supposed

to be very fit.

His odds are

quoted at 20-1.

Arbutny:
did you hear what

he said, Mrs. Shackleford,

I can have my third

as far as he's concerned.

It's two against one.

Do you hear me?!

It's two against one!

Radio:
the favorite is, of

course, the 5-Year-Old corncracker.

At 3-1, a really handsome

horse with a long back...

Time is nearly up.

Mrs. Shackleford, you

must give me that ticket!

It's a matter

of life and death!

Mr. West, will you stop that

playing at a time like this!

Why?

Because... because...

Can't you see what's

happening to me?

Well, why don't

you sit down and rest?

How can I rest?

I must have that ticket.

A man is waiting on the corner

with a check only a block away.

I must have it!

Make her give it

to me, Mr. West.

Make her give

it to me now!

Or it will be too late!

What can I do about it?

It's up to her.

Radio:
the horses, I see, are

now coming up on to the track

According to

their post positions.

And except for

the scratches,

The post positions

of the horses,

As in the papers.

Mrs. Shackleford,

for the last time,

will you give me that ticket?

It means nothing to you.

If I don't have that money,

I've lost everything.

I've lost

everything, too.

And everybody...

Except one.

Mrs. Shackleford!

No! You may not

have the ticket!

Don't ask me again.

I warn you, money means

more to me than my life.

It means my honor.

I was going to kill myself

because I didn't have the money.

It means more to me

than your life,

Than all our lives.

You must give me

the ticket!

You must not try and stop me,

Mrs. Shackleford.

Believe me,

you must not.

Out of my way,

Mrs. Shackleford.

No!

No!

Take your hands

off it!

Take your hands

off-!

Radio:
and they're off!

It's dolomite, sagittarius...

Get some

whiskey quick!

Radio:
Tarlatan lies still

And the remainder of

the field avoids him.

He's getting up now uninjured.

Dolomite leads by

less than a length.

Outsider is running

nose and nose...

She's all right,

isn't she?

She's not all right.

Mr. West?

She's dead.

Oh, no, no.

You better drink what

you have in your hand.

Radio:
with the long shot

a length and a half in the lead.

Arbutny:

oh, Mr. West.

Maybe she isn't...

Sometimes gives

the appearance...

When the person's

only unconscious.

I tell you,

she's dead.

She is dead.

Radio:
neck and neck

past the grandstand...

They're coming to

the finish.

And corncracker wins!

Corncracker.

Did he say

Corncracker?

Kwan Yin's horse.

Kwan Yin...

The ticket!

Oh...

How much is

it worth?

30,000.

30,000!

15,000 apiece.

We'll be rich!

Aren't you forgetting

something?

What?

Isn't there another name

with ours on that ticket?

Oh, what are

we to do?

First thing, the ticket

has to be destroyed.

Beg your pardon?

Don't you see?

The agreement on the back of

that ticket with our names...

That's the only connection

between her and us.

It wouldn't look very good

for either of us.

Destroy the ticket?

Destroy 30,000?

Don't think for a moment the

idea appeals to me either.

Oh, what I couldn't have done

with my share of that money,

But now, this ticket! It looks

like a signed confession of murder!

But it wasn't murder.

I'm not

a murderer! Really!

No more than

I'm really a thief.

I had no wish

to kill her.

Just something took

possession of me.

Lifted my arms, and I

could do nothing to stop it.

Perhaps you're right.

Maybe you couldn't

help it.

But it will be very difficult

to convince a jury.

Come, give me the ticket.

When we leave here,

I'll destroy it.

Anything you say,

Mr. West.

I can't think anymore.

You tell me-

Come on, drink your drink. All of it.

Drink your drink.

This is

an evil room.

She was a very

beautiful woman.

She was a devil.

Devil!

Come on, Mr. Arbutny.

I'm sure we are

being watched, Mr. West.

Come on.

She's laughing at us.

Let's go.

Let's go.

You're safe now.

If only she'll remain

here behind us.

But I'm afraid...

I'm afraid.

Are we being followed?

No, we are not.

One can't see her,

of course...

Nor hear her.

One can only feel

her presence.

She's following us.

I'm sure of that.

She'll follow

wherever I go!

Will you be quiet if you

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