Victim Page #3

- These have been in water.

- Yes.

The boy tried desperately to get rid

of them. We had to have the drain up.

Newspaper cuttings, pictures

carefully preserved in a scrapbook...

And all pertaining to

you and your career, sir.

Do you know Barrett?

Yes, I met him some time ago.

He, uh

- He thumbed a lift one night.

Said he'd missed the last bus to Fulham.

It was on my way home, so I dropped him off.

- Did you see him again?

- Yes.

He was working on a building

site quite near my chambers.

I often used to see him standing

down there at the traffic lights -

The Strand-Waterloo intersection.

It seemed churlish not to give

him a lift now and again, so...

I did.

- Then I stopped.

- Oh?

Why did you do that, sir?

I came to the conclusion

that he was waiting for me.

Wet or fine, he was always there.

I see.

So that was the end of it?

No. He, uh, started writing.

Telephoning.

I destroyed his letters...

Warned him not to call.

We believe that Barrett

was being blackmailed, sir.

He's been stealing from his

firm for months - Over 2,000-

With nothing to show for it.

Had less than half a dollar in

his pocket when we picked him up.

Did he give you any hint, any

impression that he was being blackmailed?

No.

Then it started after

you finished seeing him?

It would seem that way.

Have you any idea what Barrett

might have been paying to keep quiet?

No idea at all.

You knew, of course,

he was a homosexual.

I had formed that impression.

You know also, sir, that as many as 90%% of

all blackmail cases have a homosexual origin.

I follow your train of

thought, Inspector...

But I wouldn't know if it applied

in this particular instance.

- You can't hazard a guess, sir?

- No.

Well, there's no doubt that a law

which sends homosexuals to prison...

Offers unlimited

opportunities for blackmail.

Well, thank you, sir. You've

been extremely helpful.

Thank you.

Do you, um

- Do you have any line on the blackmailer?

No, sir. We couldn't get a word

out of Barrett, which is a pity.

Blackmail is the simplest of crimes when

we have the cooperation of the victim.

Almost impossible when we haven't.

Can I, uh

- Can I see Barrett?

- I'd like to talk to him.

- That's not possible, sir.

Barrett hanged himself in

his cell this afternoon.

He's dead.

I'm sorry to have kept

you waiting, Mr. Stone.

The inspector's free now.

I'll take you up in a moment.

Thanks.

This way, Mr. Farr.

That was Eddy Stone, sir.

We fetched him to identify the body.

Stone?

He works as a ticket clerk

at twofosters tube station.

- Friend of Barrett's.

- Oh.

- Good night, sir.

- Good night.

Did you know your friend

was being blackmailed?

No. I just thought he was brassed off.

How well did Barrett

know Mr. Melville Farr?

Who?

The gentleman I was with

when I saw you in the hall.

I don't know. I've

never seen him before.

Boy didn't mention

anyone called Farr to me.

I see.

Your friend was very secretive.

Didn't he confide in you?

No. Why should he?

- Uh, look, can I go now?

- I don't see why not.

If you do decide to remember

anything Barrett said, let us know.

Blackmail's a serious business.

So's murder.

He's right. This blackmailer

as good as murdered Barrett.

I want him before he

does any more damage.

- Did Farr recognize him downstairs?

- No, sir.

Nevertheless, whatever the blackmailer had on

Barrett concerned Farr. Of that I'm certain.

But Mr. Farr's married, sir.

Those are famous last words, bridie.

He took Barrett into his car.

- No harm in giving the boy a lift.

- Maybe not.

It's the subsequent lifts that worry me.

Check on Barrett's background,

find out if there are any relations.

- And tell Sgt. Hoey to get out his Sunday suit.

- Very good, sir.

If only these unfortunate devils

had come to us in the first place.

If only they led normal lives

they wouldn't need to come at all.

If the law punished every abnormality,

we'd be kept pretty busy, Sergeant.

Even so, sir, this law was

made for a very good reason.

If it were changed, other

"weaknesses" would follow.

I can see you're a true

puritan, bridie, huh?

Well, there's nothing

wrong with that, sir.

Of course not. But there was a time

when that was against the law, you know.

Uh, very good, sir.

- Oh, hello, darling.

- Hello, darling.

Sorry I'm late. Did, uh

- Did william telephone you?

Yes. He said you had

some marvelous news.

He could hardly contain himself.

Marvelous news?

Oh, yes. The Lord Chancellor

accepted my application.

That's wonderful!

We must celebrate.

I:

- I don't feel very much like celebrating tonight, if you don't mind.

Mel, are you all right.

Is something wrong?

William said you were so pleased.

What happened on the way home?

He said you had to go

to Fulham Police Station.

- Were you in an accident or something?

- No, no.

I'm all right.

I'm sorry.

I'll go and run your bath.

Is that you, Eddy?

Who else?

- Here's your milk.

- Thanks.

Oh, there's some letters

by the phone for you.

- When did they come?

- Monday or Tuesday.

Took 'em in with mine. I forgot.

Good-Bye.

- I hear Farr's taking silk.

- That's right.

QC. At 40. There's no

stopping the blighter.

We'll see him on the bench yet.

Well, he's got a big enough

practice. He'll be able to afford it.

Mr. Farr.

- What do you want?

- I want to talk to you.

- I only see people by appointment.

- I think you ought to see this photograph.

That's what Boy was paying to keep quiet

- You and him.

I just found it.

You'd better come upstairs.

- Morning, Mr. Farr.

- Morning, william.

If there are any calls, you take

them. I don't want to be disturbed.

- Yes, sir. We're in court this morning, sir.

- Yes, I know we are.

It's clear enough now. Boy stole all

that money to pay for the negative.

But the bastards never sent it.

Just another print as a reminder.

How, uh -

How could they have taken this?

They were obviously trailing boy.

Telephoto lens. It's an old dodge.

You were in the car.

You would never see them.

Have you shown this to the police?

Well, of course I haven't.

That's what he was trying

to prevent. Don't you see?

Yes, I see.

I see.

Why did he have to go and -

Hang himself?

He knew the priest would

get it out of him in the end.

He didn't want to involve you.

You'll be all right?

- Yes.

- He should have come to you.

Wasn't big enough to be on his own

like that. He should have come to you.

He did.

I thought he was trying to blackmail me.

I wouldn't even talk to him.

Jesus.

Poor old boy.

He didn't stand much of a chance

between you and the blacky, did he?

No.

Well, I'd better go. I just

thought you'd want to know.

No, Stone, wait a minute.

Do you know who was blackmailing him?

No.

Well, I'm going to find out,

and you're going to help me.

What for? They'll pack it in now.

Now that he's dead. I mean,

they're scared of tackling you.

Otherwise they would have

done it in the first place.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes