Witness for the Prosecution Page #10

Mrs French for the last time,

did you wear a trench coat

and a brown hat?

- Yes, I did.

- Was it this coat and hat?

Yes, sir.

My lord, the defence, in its efforts

to establish an alibi for the prisoner,

circulated this photograph,

hoping to bring forth a witness

who had seen him leaving

Mrs French's house or entering his own

at the times that he has stated.

Apparently, this splendid effort

was without results.

However, the defence

will be pleased to learn

that, at the last moment,

a witness has come forward,

and that the prisoner had been

seen wearing this coat and this hat.

Lamentably, he had not been seen on the

night of the murder but one week before.

On the afternoon of October 8, were you

not in a travel agency in Regent Street?

And did you not make inquiries about

prices and schedules of foreign cruises?

Supposing I did? It's not a crime, is it?

Not at all. Many people go on a cruise

when they can afford to pay for it.

- But you couldn't pay for it, could you?

- Well, I was hard up. I told you that.

And yet you came to this particular

travel agency with a clinging brunette?

A clinging brunette, Mr Myers?

My lord, the lady was so described to me.

She was very affectionate with the

prisoner, constantly clinging to his arm.

Oh.

You then admit that you made inquiries

about expensive and luxurious cruises?

How did you expect

to pay for such a thing?

- I don't know. It was...

- If you don't know, perhaps I can help.

On the morning of the very same day,

you heard Mrs French change her will,

- leaving you the bulk of her money.

- I didn't!

And in the afternoon,

you started plans to dispose of it.

No! It was nothing of the kind.

I was in a pub and I met a girl.

I don't even remember her name.

We had a drink and walked out together.

We passed the window and saw the fancy

posters, all blue seas and palm trees.

The Grecian isles or somewhere. We went

in for fun and I started asking for folders.

Well, the man gave me a funny look

because I did look a bit shabby.

Anyway, it irritated me,

so I kept asking for the swankiest tours,

all de luxe and cabin on the boat deck,

but it was just an act!

An act? You knew that in a week

you were going to inherit? 80,000!

No! It wasn't that way at all.

It was make-believe and childish but...

it was fun and I enjoyed it. I never thought

of killing anyone or inheriting any money.

It's just a coincidence that Mrs French

should be killed only one week later?

I told you! I didn't kill her!

Do you know any reason why Christine

Helm should give the evidence she has

- if it were not true?

- No. I don't know why my wife...

I don't know why I still call her my wife.

She must be lying or out of her mind.

She seemed remarkably

sane and self-possessed.

- But insanity is all you can suggest?

- I don't understand it.

Oh, God! What's happened?

What's changed her?

Very effective, I'm sure.

But in this court we deal with fact.

And the fact, Mr Vole,

is that we've only your word for it.

That you left Mrs French's house

at the time you say,

that you came home at 5 and 20 minutes

past 9, and that you did not go out again!

Somebody must have seen me

in the street or going in the house!

One would think so. But the only person

who did see you come home that night

says it was ten past ten

and that you had blood on your hands.

- I cut my wrist!

- You cut your wrist deliberately!

No, I didn't! I didn't do anything.

But you make it sound as though I did.

I can hear it myself.

You came home at ten past ten!

No, I didn't! You've got to believe me.

You've got to believe me!

You killed Emily French!

No, I didn't! I didn't do it!

I didn't kill her! I never killed anybody!

God, it's like a nightmare.

Some ghastly, horrible dream.

Good evening, Sir Wilfrid.

How did it go today?

Oh, Sir Wilfrid.

I'm from Hawks and Hill, sir, and I've

brought your Bermuda shorts for a fitting.

What?

- You'd better slip these on, Sir Wilfrid.

- I'm in the middle of a murder trial.

It'll all be over by the afternoon,

and the boat train doesn't go until 9.40.

You work it out. You know my shape,

you've stabbed it often enough.

Upstairs. You need a lukewarm bath

and your calcium injection.

And there's a lot more packing to be done.

It's ridiculous having boat reservations.

The jury may be out for days.

Not on this case, I'm afraid.

It seems too open-and-shut.

I watched when Frau Helm

was on the stand. They didn't like her.

No, but they believed her. They liked

Leonard Vole but they didn't believe him.

And that travel agency business

doesn't help either. Cigar?

No.

- Wilfrid, do you think she lied?

- Well, don't you?

I'm not sure.

I am. She lied. Whether she calls it

Meineid or perjury, she lied.

The only question is why. What's

her game? What is she up to? What?

I hope that in your final speech you

won't become too emotionally involved.

- You must think of your condition.

- He's right.

I want to see you save yourself.

This isn't going to be your last case.

Yes, it is. But until it's over,

I'm still a barrister.

My client's life is at stake.

That's all that matters - his life.

He's entitled to the best that I can do.

If I can't stand up to make my final appeal

for him, I'll make it sitting down.

If I become short of breath I'll take a pill,

or two pills, or all of them and the box too.

(telephone rings)

- Yes?

- (woman) This Sir Wilfrid Robarts' place?

- Well, yes, it is.

- Let me talk to the old geezer.

- Who is this speaking, please?

- Never you mind. Let me talk to 'im.

I'm afraid that's impossible.

What is the nature of your business?

It's business all right.

I've got something to sell 'im, I 'ave.

Well, really, madam!

And what I want to sell 'im,

believe me, 'e'll want to buy.

- It's got to do with that Leonard Vole.

- Leonard Vole?

It's about that German wife.

I've got the goods on her and it's for sale.

This is Wilfrid Robarts speaking.

Now, what is this all about?

Well, hello, ducky.

What is this you said

about Mrs Leonard Vole?

I'm not just saying.

I've got it in black and white.

- You've got what?

- Listen to this carefully, ducks.

I'm at the buffet at Euston Station

at the far end of the bar.

I'll be here for 30 minutes

because that's when me train leaves.

If you want the lowdown on

that German bag, get yourself here.

What lowdown?

What do you know about her?

Uh-uh. Not on the phone.

You'd better get on over here,

and bring plenty of money.

Now, just a moment! Hello? Hello?

That's... bilge. Some drunken crank.

You get those in every murder trial.

Giving me an ultimatum, Euston Station in

Balderdash.

I'm too old and too sick

to go on a wild-goose chase.

- Come on, Mayhew.

- Where to, Sir Wilfrid?

Euston Station, where do you think?

Now, sir?

Shortly.

Cigar!

Sir Wilfrid, where are you going?

Your bath, your massage,

your dinner, your injection!

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