Woman on The Run Page #4

I'd thought I'd never find you!

Now, stay right here. I'll be back

in five minutes to explain everything.

- All right, Mr. Johnson, come along.

- My name isn't Johnson.

Yeah, and I suppose

that isn't your wife either?

No, but I wish it were.

Do you have any identification?

Yes, I have. My name is

Steven Carruthers, optometrist.

And while we're on the subject, I think

you'd better have your eyes examined.

So, Frank is a fugitive from the law?

Well, that's just like him.

He's so adventurous.

- Adventurous? Frank?

- Oh, yes, indeed.

Sit down, Mrs. Johnson.

I guess you never visited

our workshop before.

What makes you think he's adventurous?

Oh, but he is. All the places

he's gone and all the things he's done.

You know, my life

has been pretty uneventful.

Straight from high school to this job.

From my rooming house, to the

streetcar, and then down here to work.

In the evening, back

to my rooming house again.

But since he's been here, it's different.

He... he makes my life kind of exciting.

I never get tired of listening

to the stories he tells

about his trip down to Mexico,

when he was wandering around

with all those bullfighters.

And when he shipped off to Tahiti in

that old freighter and then jumped ship.

Oh, I'm sorry. I suppose you've heard

these stories many times, Mrs. Johnson.

I never heard them. He never told me.

He didn't? Well, maybe

he didn't want his wife to know...

Oh, I'm sorry if I talked out of turn.

Of course you haven't.

Shouldn't the mail be here?

Why, yes. Yes, it should. Why?

Frank sent me a letter in care of you.

Oh, he did?

I don't know

what Mr. Andersen's going to say,

when he finds out

Frank isn't coming in today.

You know he's got a terrible disposition.

He doesn't exercise enough.

Course, I don't either. But then...

Well, I'm gonna protect Frank.

He saved my job once.

You know, Mr. Andersen was gonna fire me.

But Frank said, "If Mr. Maibus goes,

you can pay me off too!"

Oh, they had a terrible argument.

They even took it upstairs to Mr. Winston!

Well, we're still here.

Frank was too valuable.

Look, Mr. Maibus, don't tell anyone

about that letter that's coming.

Oh, no, no, no. You can trust me.

Not even the police.

The police? Are they coming here?

They're very apt to.

But just don't mention the letter

or anything about

my being here at all, huh?

Well, I don't know how good

I am at deceiving people,

but if it's for Frank, I'll try.

Hey, Maibus! You better get

the lead out and get upstairs.

Andersen's blowing his top.

OK, I'll be right up. Is the mail in yet?

- How should I know?

- Nice people.

Sometimes I think it'd be better

for Frank if he got himself fired.

Why, he doesn't belong around here.

Look at all the time he puts

in these mannequins.

Say, I just noticed something.

This looks like you.

Very flattering.

Is that the way he sees me?

Well, it may be a little severe,

but it shows he was

thinking about you anyway.

Yes, and what he was thinking.

Mail!

You've only got two today, Mr. Maibus.

Wasn't Frank here?

No, no, he's late.

Was there a letter for him?

No, I just had a new song

I wanted him to hear.

Frank's the only one

who listens to me sing.

Oh, brother, have I got a crush

on that man! Mm-mm!

- No letter.

- Oh, but there's got to be one.

Well, maybe it'll be here on

the afternoon mail at three o'clock.

If one comes, hold it for me. And

let's just keep it our secret, shall we?

Morning, Mrs. Johnson.

He didn't show up for work

this morning, did he?

- Where's your new pal, Legget?

- I haven't the vaguest idea.

I wouldn't get too cozy

with that guy, if I were you.

He'd crucify his grandmother for a story.

I haven't found him

as objectionable as you are.

What right have you,

prying into my personal life?

Having me followed

as if I were a criminal?

I'm sick of it, I'm sick of you,

and I want it stopped.

Mrs. Johnson,

didn't your husband ever beat you?

Are you going to have

these men stop following me?

The man who killed Joe Gordon

isn't stupid.

If I'm smart enough to use you as

a bird dog to lead us to your husband,

so is he.

You may be very happy to have a cop

around, before this thing's over.

That I doubt.

Stick with her.

How could I lose a redhead like that?

Oh, don't be so grumpy this morning.

All I'm trying to do is help you.

Do you know that you've got a little

shadow? Uh-huh, there she is.

Well, it's a nice morning for a ride.

Oh, by the way, here's your letter.

- Well, how did you...

- Surprised? Don't be.

Ten dollars and an underpaid

store clerk can get you anything.

But don't you worry about it.

I'll put it on my expense account.

But how did you know about it?

The menu. You shouldn't have left it.

It was very careless of you.

I have inquisitive eyes.

Do you always open other people's mail?

Mm-hm, every chance I get.

Say, did you get a load of

the female impersonator

- ...they've got following you?

- No.

Well, let's duck her

and get down to business.

Hey, Mac, turn left on the next street

then right up the alley.

OK.

- Mean anything to you?

- Oh, a lot of things.

- Something to go on?

- I'm not sure.

What does he mean in there

about the doctor and the ampoules?

It's medicine he needs.

He has a bad heart.

- How bad?

- Bad enough. I just found out.

He's got to have these pills

and he can't get them anywhere.

The police have seen to that.

Yeah? Squeeze play. That Ferris is smart.

- Will he die?

- I don't know. I spoke to his doctor.

It isn't serious,

only under certain conditions.

That would explain...

"The police will probably read this

note so I can't tell you where I'll be.

"But if you think back,

you'll know where to find me."

What am I, a mind reader?

Well, he gives you a clue

in this next line.

"I'll be out in the open, under the sun,

"in a place like the one

where I first lost you."

There is no "first" in things like these.

This is kind of obscure.

Does he always talk to you like this?

No, it's our first murder.

You know, Mrs. J, your husband's

a pretty clever guy at that.

Oh, I know you don't think so, but he is.

He's testing you.

He's asking you to admit

that your marriage is a failure

and that it's your fault.

He's saying that he understands you

but that you don't understand him.

Now, listen, Mr. Legget of The Graphic.

I've had just about enough

of the all-wise male.

In the past ten hours, I've met three men,

three men who, all put together,

haven't known Frank for one fraction

of the length of time I have.

Yet they all know him better than I do.

Well, along the way,

I found out a few things myself.

I found out how Frank Johnson

really feels about me.

That at the first chance,

his first excuse, he took off, ran.

That he didn't even think enough of me

to confide in me that he was ill.

Then, at the store, in the faces

of those mannequins,

I saw what he really sees in me.

All right, it's OK

if that's the way he feels about it,

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