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00:01:22Well, here we are.
00:01:24A turn down here at the next block.
00:01:26Thanks, mister.
00:01:27I'll get off there.
00:01:29♪♪
00:01:35Want anything else?
00:01:36No.
00:01:37Hey, you.
00:01:41Me?
00:01:42Yeah, you.
00:01:43Where you heading?
00:01:45East.
00:01:46You're dead.
00:01:48I thought if you was heading north,
00:01:49I might be able to help you out.
00:01:51I'm pushing the Salt Lake,
00:01:52and I don't like to ride it alone at night.
00:01:54I'm one of those guys that gotta talk,
00:01:55or I fall asleep.
00:01:57Oh, certainly, Mike.
00:01:58Pardon me, he's got Lou to keep company,
00:02:00but I ain't got nobody at all.
00:02:02Where you coming from?
00:02:04West.
00:02:06West.
00:02:07Yeah, sure, I know, but where, L.A.?
00:02:09Maybe.
00:02:10I got a cousin out in L.A.
00:02:12You don't say.
00:02:13Yeah, he's been out.
00:02:15You're not much of a talker, are you?
00:02:17My mother taught me never to speak to strangers.
00:02:19Oh, a wise guy.
00:02:20So what?
00:02:21Okay, okay, don't get sore.
00:02:23He's trying to be sociable, that's all.
00:02:26Hey, Glamorous.
00:02:27Get changed for a dime, will you?
00:02:36Let's have something quieter this time, Joe.
00:02:38My head's splitting.
00:02:39Is that what's wrong with it?
00:02:44Done with your coffee?
00:02:46No, and don't rush me, will you?
00:02:56Hey, turn that off.
00:02:57Will you turn that thing off?
00:02:58What's eating you now?
00:02:59Yeah, what's eating you?
00:03:00That music, it stinks.
00:03:01Oh, you don't like it, huh?
00:03:02No, turn it off.
00:03:03Now, wait a minute, pal.
00:03:04That was my name, see?
00:03:05This is a free country.
00:03:07And I play whatever I wanted.
00:03:09Okay.
00:03:11Sure, and if you don't like it,
00:03:12you don't have to listen to it.
00:03:13And you can leave here anytime you want to.
00:03:15Okay, okay, I'm sorry I asked.
00:03:17First good piece played tonight,
00:03:18and you don't like it.
00:03:19Some people just ain't got any good taste.
00:03:34That tune.
00:03:36That tune!
00:03:38Why was there always that rotten tune?
00:03:40Following me around, beating in my head,
00:03:42never letting up.
00:03:47Did you ever want to forget anything?
00:03:49Did you ever want to cut away
00:03:50a piece of your memory or blot it out?
00:03:52You can't, you know.
00:03:54No matter how hard you try.
00:03:56You can change the scenery.
00:03:58But sooner or later,
00:03:59you'll get a whiff of perfume
00:04:00or somebody will say a certain phrase
00:04:02or maybe hum something.
00:04:03Then you're licked again.
00:04:07I can't believe that you're in love with me.
00:04:09I used to love that song once.
00:04:11So did the customers back in the old
00:04:13break of dawn club in New York.
00:04:15I can't remember a night
00:04:16when I didn't get at least three requests for it.
00:04:18Sue, she was always selling it too.
00:04:22Those were the days.
00:04:33Your eyes are blue.
00:04:35Your kiss is too.
00:04:37I never knew what they could do.
00:04:40I can't believe that you're in love with me.
00:04:47I used to love that song once.
00:04:50So did the customers back in the old
00:04:52break of dawn club in New York.
00:04:54I can't remember a night when I didn't get at least three requests for it.
00:04:58So did the customers back in the old
00:05:00break of dawn club in New York.
00:05:02You're telling everyone you know
00:05:05that I'm on your mind each place you go.
00:05:08They can't believe that you're in love with me.
00:05:14I have always placed you far above me.
00:05:20I just can't imagine that you love me.
00:05:26And after all is said and done
00:05:29to think that I'm the lucky one
00:05:32I can't believe that you're in love with me.
00:05:44It wasn't much of a club really.
00:05:46You know the kind.
00:05:48A joint where you could have a sandwich and a few drinks
00:05:50and run interference for your girl on the dance floor.
00:05:55I pounded the piano in there every night
00:05:57from eight until the place closed up
00:05:59which usually meant four in the morning.
00:06:01A good job as jobs went in those days.
00:06:07Then too there was Sue
00:06:10who made working there a little like working in heaven.
00:06:13But how we felt about each other
00:06:15well there was nothing very unusual in that.
00:06:18I was an ordinary healthy guy
00:06:20and she was an ordinary healthy girl
00:06:22and when you add those two together
00:06:24you get an ordinary healthy romance
00:06:26which is the old story.
00:06:28Sure, but somehow
00:06:30the most wonderful thing in the world.
00:06:40All in all I was a pretty lucky guy.
00:06:43Mr. Paderewski, I presume.
00:06:45It's beautiful.
00:06:47You're going to make Carnegie Hall yet, Al?
00:06:49Yeah, as a janitor.
00:06:51I'll make my debut in the basement.
00:06:53I don't blame you for being bitter, darling
00:06:55but you mustn't give up hope.
00:06:57Why, someday...
00:06:59Yeah, someday.
00:07:01If I don't get arthritis first.
00:07:03In the meantime, I'm going to be a doctor.
00:07:05I'm going to be a doctor.
00:07:07I'm going to be a doctor.
00:07:09I'm going to be a doctor.
00:07:11I'm going to be a doctor.
00:07:13The doctor of necessity,
00:07:15al-Roryreesht.
00:07:17In the meantime, let's blow this trap.
00:07:40Like to get something to eat, hon?
00:07:42I can't stand much more of that dump.
00:07:45Did you see that drunk tonight, trying to paw me?
00:07:48No, what drunk?
00:07:49Does it matter what drunk?
00:07:52Say, what's the matter with you tonight, darling?
00:07:54That's the third time you've started to tell me something and then stopped.
00:07:58We shouldn't have any secrets from each other, Sue.
00:08:00Next week we're going to make with a ring and a license.
00:08:02You and me will be a team.
00:08:03Yes, that's right.
00:08:04In the Bush League.
00:08:06I don't get you.
00:08:07We've been struck out.
00:08:10That's a funny way to talk, darling.
00:08:12Don't you want to marry me?
00:08:13Al, look, I love you.
00:08:14You know I do.
00:08:15And I want to marry you.
00:08:17But?
00:08:18But not now.
00:08:19Only after we've made good.
00:08:22Sunday I'm going away.
00:08:24Oh, I know you'll think it's silly.
00:08:26That's why I hesitated to tell you.
00:08:28But I'm going to California.
00:08:30I want to try my luck in Hollywood.
00:08:33That's the most stupid thing I ever heard of.
00:08:35Don't you know millions of people go out there every year and wind up polishing cuspidors?
00:08:39I thought you had better sense.
00:08:40You sound as if you don't think I have any talent.
00:08:42That has nothing to do with it.
00:08:44I'll make out all right.
00:08:45Maybe.
00:08:46But what about me?
00:08:47Doesn't it mean anything to you that you're busting up all our plans?
00:08:49We may not see each other for years.
00:08:51It won't be that long.
00:08:53I thought you loved me.
00:08:54I do.
00:08:55You know I do.
00:08:59Well, here we are.
00:09:04Al.
00:09:06Al, why can't you see my side of it?
00:09:08I'm young.
00:09:09We both are.
00:09:11And we've got all the time in the world to settle down.
00:09:15Really, darling.
00:09:17What I'm doing is the only sane thing to do.
00:09:21I hate the thought of being so far away from you.
00:09:24But we'll be together again someday.
00:09:28Maybe you'll decide to come out too later on.
00:09:31So long.
00:09:32Al.
00:09:34Aren't you going to kiss me goodnight?
00:09:37Sure.
00:09:38Why not?
00:09:41Goodnight.
00:10:07Goodnight.
00:10:08Goodnight.
00:10:09Goodnight.
00:10:37Goodnight.
00:10:42Goodnight.
00:10:47Goodnight.
00:10:52Goodnight.
00:10:57Goodnight.
00:11:03Goodnight.
00:11:08Goodnight.
00:11:13Goodnight.
00:11:16Goodnight.
00:11:21Goodnight.
00:11:26Say, Roberts, you hit the jackpot this time.
00:11:2910 bucks.
00:11:38When this drunk gave me a place to stay, I couldn't get excited.
00:11:42I asked myself what it was. A piece of paper with germs.
00:11:46I couldn't buy anything I wanted.
00:11:48I couldn't...
00:11:53Then I thought of something.
00:12:02KRESTVIEW 65723
00:12:05HOPES AND DREAMS
00:12:18It's been a while. I'd like to make a call to Los Angeles.
00:12:22Ms. Harvey. Sue Harvey.
00:12:26The number is Krestview 65723.
00:12:31Hello, Sue?
00:12:59This is Al.
00:13:00Oh, baby, it's great to hear from you, too.
00:13:02What's that?
00:13:03You do?
00:13:04Oh, me too, darling.
00:13:05I thought I'd go batty without you.
00:13:07I just had to...
00:13:08Huh?
00:13:09You're working as a hash slinger?
00:13:12Gee, honey, that's tough.
00:13:14Those guys out in Hollywood don't know the real thing when it's right in front of them.
00:13:17You just stick it out, Sue, baby.
00:13:19Keep going around to those casting offices.
00:13:21I'm sure you'll click.
00:13:22Look, I'll tell you what.
00:13:23You stay put out there.
00:13:24I'll come to you.
00:13:25No, don't try to stop me.
00:13:27Just expect me.
00:13:28Train?
00:13:29Who knows?
00:13:30Train, plane, bus, magic carpet.
00:13:31I'll be there if I have to crawl, if I have to travel by pogo stick.
00:13:35And then let's get married right away, huh?
00:13:41That's the stuff.
00:13:42That's what I've been wanting to hear you say.
00:13:45Well, goodbye for now.
00:13:49I'll be seeing you soon.
00:13:50Yeah.
00:13:51Bye.
00:13:52The only way I could cross country was to thumb rides, for even after hocking everything,
00:14:04I only had enough money to eat.
00:14:07Money.
00:14:08You know what that is.
00:14:09It's the stuff you never have enough of, little green things with George Washington's picture
00:14:14that men slave for, commit crimes for, die for.
00:14:19It's the stuff that has caused more trouble in the world than anything else we ever invented,
00:14:23simply because there's too little of it.
00:14:25At least I had too little of it.
00:14:28So it was me for the thumb.
00:14:34Ever done any hitchhiking?
00:14:49It's not much fun, believe me.
00:14:51Oh, yeah.
00:14:52I know all about how it's an education, how you get to meet a lot of people and all that.
00:14:56But me?
00:14:57From now on, I'll take my education in college, or in PS 62, or I'll send $1.98 in stamps
00:15:03for 10 easy lessons.
00:15:14Thumb rides may save you a bus fare, but it's dangerous.
00:15:18You never know what's in store for you when you hear the squeal of brakes.
00:15:24If only I had known what I was getting into that day in Arizona.
00:15:27Yeah, throw that in the back seat.
00:15:31Okay, let's go.
00:15:32Make sure that door is closed.
00:15:33You know, Emily Post taught her how to write a book of rules for guys thumbing rides.
00:15:55Because as it is now, you never know what's right and what's wrong.
00:15:58We rode along for a little while, neither one of us saying anything.
00:16:02I was glad of that.
00:16:04I never know what to say to strange people driving cars.
00:16:07And two, you can never tell if a guy wants to talk.
00:16:10A lot of rides have been cut short because of a big mouth.
00:16:15So I kept my mouth shut until he started opening up.
00:16:20Hand me that little box in the compartment, will you, pal?
00:16:27Hold the wheel, will you?
00:16:39How far are you going?
00:16:40L.A.
00:16:41Wow, you're really traveling, aren't you?
00:16:43Yeah, but I don't expect to make it for a couple of years at the rate I've been promoting rides.
00:16:47Not much luck, huh?
00:16:48Sure, all bad.
00:16:50Not many people stop for a guy these days.
00:16:52Afraid of a stick-up, maybe.
00:16:54Ah, they can't blame him.
00:16:56Where are you coming from?
00:16:57New York.
00:16:58Well, New York.
00:17:00You're in luck this time.
00:17:01I'm going all the way.
00:17:03Right through to Los Angeles.
00:17:06Can you drive a car?
00:17:07Sure.
00:17:08Whenever you're tired, let me know.
00:17:10I'll holler.
00:17:13I guess at least an hour passed before I noticed those deep scratches on his right hand.
00:17:17They were wicked.
00:17:19Three puffy red lines about a quarter of an inch apart.
00:17:24He must have seen me looking at them because he said...
00:17:27Beauties, aren't they?
00:17:29They're going to be scars someday.
00:17:32What an animal.
00:17:34Whatever it was, it must have been pretty big and vicious to have done that.
00:17:37Right on both counts, New York.
00:17:39I was tussling with the most dangerous animal in the world.
00:17:42A woman.
00:17:44She must have been Tarzan's mate.
00:17:46Looks like you lost the bout.
00:17:48Certainly wasn't a draw.
00:17:50You know, there ought to be a law against dames with claws.
00:17:53Yeah.
00:17:54I tossed her out of the car in her ear.
00:17:56Was I wrong?
00:17:58Give a lift to a tomato, you expect her to be nice, don't you?
00:18:01Yeah.
00:18:02After all, what kind of a dame some rides?
00:18:05Sunday school teachers?
00:18:06Yeah.
00:18:08A little witch.
00:18:10She must have thought she was riding with some fall guy.
00:18:13To me, it was been booking horses around race tracks since I was 20.
00:18:17I've known a million dames like her.
00:18:20Two million?
00:18:21Yeah.
00:18:23Stopped the car, opened the door.
00:18:26Take it on the Arthur Duffy sister, I told her.
00:18:29That's the stuff.
00:18:30As I was done, huh?
00:18:32But if you want to see a real scar, brother, get a load of this.
00:18:38Wow.
00:18:39I got that one dueling.
00:18:41Dueling?
00:18:42Yeah, we were just kidding, of course.
00:18:44My dad owned a couple of Franco-Prussian sabers.
00:18:47Kept them on the wall for decorations.
00:18:49Well, one day, another kid and I took them down.
00:18:52The old man wasn't around, had a duel.
00:18:55He got me in the arm here.
00:18:58Pretty mean cut.
00:18:59Infection set in later.
00:19:01Yeah, I can see that.
00:19:03Now give me that box again, will you?
00:19:05Yeah.
00:19:07Pain made me lose my head, I guess.
00:19:09I began slashing.
00:19:11Before I knew it, I'd put the other kid's eye out.
00:19:14That was tough.
00:19:16Well, it was just an accident, of course.
00:19:18Do you know how kids are?
00:19:20I got scared, decided I was going to run away from home.
00:19:23Old man almost caught me when I was packing my duds.
00:19:26He was a little bit scared, but he was a good kid.
00:19:29He was a good kid.
00:19:30He was a good kid.
00:19:31He was a good kid.
00:19:32He was a good kid.
00:19:33He was a good kid.
00:19:34He was a good kid.
00:19:35He was a good kid.
00:19:36If the bloody rag I had wrapped around my wrist
00:19:38hadn't caught his attention, he'd have seen the bundle for sure.
00:19:42But I beat it when he was phoning for a doctor.
00:19:45That was 15, 16 years ago.
00:19:48I haven't been home since.
00:19:54Pull in there for a bite or something, huh?
00:19:56A bite or something?
00:19:57Brother, was I hungry.
00:19:59I hadn't had anything in my stomach for hours.
00:20:02Yet, even with that gnawing in the pit of my belly,
00:20:05to my belly I didn't want to be in too big a rush to put on the feedback first I
00:20:10had to make sure this guy knew the score if I got him down on me goodbye ticket to
00:20:14Hollywood I'll wait out here for you mister there's the money don't worry
00:20:19about paying for it this time it's on me well that's what Pascal think nothing of
00:20:23it you make your first million maybe you can do the same for me come on New York
00:20:26I gotta make the West Coast by Wednesday the horse running at Santa Anita named
00:20:29a private bicycle means don't have my money make it all right he did most of the
00:20:36talking during the half hour we were in the place I ate he rambled on about his
00:20:42old man whom he hadn't heard from since he ran away as a kid now he happened to
00:20:45become a bookie and then all about how he got rooked in Miami one race 38
00:20:50grand they cleaned out my book how do you like that that was tough luck yeah
00:20:55and I'm supposed to be the smart guy will you just wait I'm going back to
00:20:58Florida next season with all kinds of Jack and you'll watch those stinkers run
00:21:01for cover or anything else no thanks I've had plenty
00:21:05let's check this sister Oh just a miniature change sir keep it sister
00:21:19oh thank you sir call again I'll be waiting outside for you when you finish
00:21:22work job check I drove all that night while Haskell slept like a log after a
00:21:37while I began to get sleepy myself I was happy though soon I'd be with Sue again
00:21:45the long trip was practically over and I'd be no more hoofing it down the
00:21:48concrete I began to think of the future which couldn't have been brighter if I'd
00:21:54embroidered it with neon lights it was nice to think of Sue shooting to the top
00:22:00it's amazing what a full belly can do to your imagination
00:22:06your eyes oh your kisses too I never knew what they could do I can't believe
00:22:18that you're in love with me
00:22:24you're telling everyone you know I'm on your mind each place you go I can't
00:22:34believe that you're in love
00:22:55mr. Haskell mr. Haskell
00:23:02mr. Haskell wake up it's raining don't you think we ought to stop and put up the
00:23:06top
00:23:15mr. Haskell I'm gonna put up the top
00:23:31until then I've done things my way but from then on something else stepped in
00:23:36and shunted me off to a different destination than when I had picked for
00:23:39myself but when I pulled open that door
00:23:46mr. Haskell what's the matter are you hurt are you hurt mr. Haskell start
00:23:53yourself I'll listen to it but I know what you're gonna hand me even before
00:23:58you open your mouths you're gonna tell me you don't believe my story of how
00:24:01Haskell died and give me that don't make me laugh expression on your smug faces I
00:24:08saw it once he was dead and I was in for it who would believe he fell out of the
00:24:13car why if Haskell came to which of course he couldn't even he would swear I
00:24:16conked him over the head for his dough yes I was in for it
00:24:20instinct told me to run but then I realized it was hopeless there were lots
00:24:24of people back down the road who could identify me that gas station guy and the
00:24:27waitress would be in a worse spot then trying to explain why I beat it the next
00:24:32possibility was to sit tight and tell the truth when the cops came but that
00:24:35would be crazy they'd laugh at the truth not have my head in the noose so what
00:24:41else was there to do but hide the body and get away in the car I couldn't leave
00:24:44the car there with him in the gully that would be like erecting a tombstone
00:24:58you
00:25:16my idea was to cover him with brush not to rob him but then I remember that even
00:25:20if I only drove the car for a hundred miles or so I would need money for gas
00:25:24besides it was stupid of me to leave all that money on a dead man not only that
00:25:30I'd have to take his driver's license in case I was stopped or something I didn't
00:25:35like to think about it but by that time I'd done just what the police would say
00:25:38I did even if I didn't my clothes the owner of such an expensive car would
00:25:43never be wearing them some cop might pull me in on suspicion
00:25:55you
00:26:12hey you this your car don't you know better than to leave a car without wheels
00:26:16halfway in the middle of the road that's the way accidents happen I'm sorry
00:26:21officer I was just putting up my top I didn't think well and the next time
00:26:24think I'll let you go now but watch your step in the future I know that's a
00:26:28lonely stretch but cars come by here once in a while we have plenty of
00:26:31crack-ups
00:26:51I left nothing in the car to give me away as Roberts if they found a dead man on
00:27:01the gully now it would be me
00:27:10as I drove off it was still raining and the drop streak down the windshield like
00:27:16tears
00:27:19I kept imagining I was being followed that I could hear sirens back in the
00:27:23distance just how long it took me to cover the 60-odd miles to the California
00:27:27state line I don't know I lost all track of time but the rain had stopped and the
00:27:33Sun was up when I pulled up to the inspection station
00:27:38hello carrying any fruits or vegetables any livestock or poultry I'd see your
00:27:49registration and driver's license please
00:27:55anything in the baggage compartment this baggage Charles Haskell jr. 830 brown
00:28:02eyes dark hair identifying marks none are you Charles Haskell jr. yes I'll
00:28:08remember if you're employed and you stay over 30 days you take out California
00:28:11plates all right officer but I'll only be in the state a short while right you
00:28:16go now
00:28:24I couldn't drive any farther without some sweet cops or no cops I knew I had
00:28:29to hit the hay and hit it hard I was dead tired
00:28:59oh no you can't mr. Haskell no
00:29:11mr. Haskell you can't die I don't think I did it no mr. Haskell no
00:29:41who's there it's the maid can I come in and clean later in a half-hour
00:30:11there was no time to lose every minute I had to be Charles Haskell was dangerous
00:30:21and I'd have to be Charles Haskell until I got to some city where I could leave
00:30:24the car and be swallowed up
00:30:30that meant driving the car as far as San Bernardino maybe even to Los Angeles in
00:30:36a little town I might be noticed but in a city I should be safe enough then
00:30:41after I ditched the car I could go on to sue but those five minutes at the
00:30:46state line made me realize it might be a good idea to find out a little bit about
00:30:49mr. Haskell and if anybody asked me questions I could give the right answers
00:30:54the first thing I found out was that I had seven hundred and sixty-eight
00:30:58dollars this was a lot of Jack but believe me was the kind of money I'd
00:31:04rather not have
00:31:11and then I found out from a letter Haskell was carting around in his bag
00:31:15that he wasn't the open-handed easygoing big shot who went around buying dinners
00:31:20for strange hitchhikers before I got done reading it I saw him more as a
00:31:24chiseler it was written to his old man in California the one he hadn't seen in
00:31:30so many years in it Haskell posed as a salesman of hymnals of all things it was
00:31:38easy to see where Haskell expected to raise a new stake for his book in Miami
00:31:42by rooking his old man that was about all I found out from his effects and it
00:31:49was enough I told myself maybe old man Haskell was lucky his son kicked off he
00:31:56would never know it but it saved him from taking a flyer in sacred literature
00:32:00preferred
00:32:08near the airport at Desert Center I pulled up for water there was a woman
00:32:33hey you come on if you want to ride
00:33:03how far you going how far you going that took me by surprise I turned my head to
00:33:31look her over she was facing straight ahead so I
00:33:34couldn't see her eyes but she was young not more than 24 man she looked as if
00:33:41she'd just been thrown off the crummiest freight train in the world yet in spite
00:33:46of this I got the impression of beauty not the beauty of a movie actress mind
00:33:50you or the beauty you dream about when you're with your wife but a natural
00:33:54beauty a beauty that's almost homely because it's so real
00:34:00then suddenly she turned to face me how far did you say you were going Los
00:34:04Angeles LA LA is good enough for me mister
00:34:09I was afraid of what'd you say oh nothing just thinking out loud people
00:34:14getting in trouble for doing that what's your name you can call me Vera if you
00:34:19like you live in Los Angeles no why are you coming from oh back there needles
00:34:27no oh sure Phoenix you look just like a Phoenix girl and the girls in Phoenix
00:34:34that bad the girl must have been pretty tired because she fell asleep not 20
00:34:38minutes after she stepped into the car she lay sprawled out with her head
00:34:42resting against the bar door like Haskell I didn't like that part of it
00:34:46much but I didn't wake her up it wasn't that this girl still worried
00:34:51me I've gotten over that funny feeling I had when she looked at me which I put
00:34:56down it's just my jangled nerves with her eyes closed the test has gone out of
00:35:01me she seemed harmless enough and instead of disliking her I began to feel
00:35:06sorry for the poor kid probably had had a rough time of it
00:35:11who was she anyway and why was she going to Los Angeles and where'd she come from
00:35:16in the first place the only thing I knew about it was her name not that it made
00:35:21any difference a few hours more and would be in Hollywood I'd forget where I
00:35:25parked the car and look up soon this nightmare of being a dead man would be
00:35:30over with his name was well it was no business of mine where did you leave
00:35:34this body where did you leave the owner of this car you're not fooling anyone
00:35:39this buggy belongs to a guy named Haskell that's not you mister you're out
00:35:43of your mind that's my name Charles Haskell I can prove it it's my driver's
00:35:47thank you for the trouble mister Evan Haskell's wallet only makes it worse it just so
00:35:51happens I rode with Charlie Haskell all the way from Louisiana he picked me up
00:35:55outside of Shreveport you rode you heard me and it all came back to me all the
00:36:01talk about dueling and scars and scratches there was no doubt about it
00:36:06Vera must be the woman Haskell had mentioned she must have passed me while I
00:36:10slept well well I'm waiting my goose was cooked she had me that Haskell guy
00:36:18wasn't dead yet he wasn't stretched out stiff and cold in any Arizona gully he
00:36:23was sitting right there in the car laughing like mad while he haunted me
00:36:27well there was nothing I could say it was her move Vera whatever her name was
00:36:34was just my luck picking her up on the road couldn't have been Helen or Mary
00:36:40or Evelyn or Ruth it had to be the very last person I should ever have met that's
00:36:46life whichever way you turn fate sticks out a foot to trip you
00:36:56I told her everything but she didn't believe my story I should have saved my
00:36:59breath that's the greatest cock and ball story I ever heard so he fell out of his
00:37:04car say who do you think you're talking to a hick listen mister I've been around
00:37:08and I know a wrong guy when I see one what you do kiss him with a wrench now wait
00:37:12a minute what I told you was true you see that's why I had to do it you think I
00:37:16killed him well the cops would have thought so too yeah well maybe they still
00:37:19think so what makes you so sure I'll shut up about this girl I'm innocent give me
00:37:25a break will you. It won't do me any good having a bench the cops are no friends of
00:37:30mine now if there was a reward but there isn't thanks don't thank me yet I'm not
00:37:37through with you by
00:37:38a long shot let's see that role. Is
00:37:47that all I still have is not enough no I thought he had more than I know of you can
00:37:52search me think I'm holding out on you well maybe I will at that he told me he was
00:37:56going to bet three thousand dollars on
00:37:57a horse named paradise on Wednesday at Santa Anita he was stringing along him and
00:38:01three hundred maybe sure three bucks three hundred it was
00:38:04a piece of cheese a big blowhard listen Mr Don't try and tell me anything about
00:38:08Charlie Haskell remember I knew him better than you did OK then you knew he was
00:38:11a foreclosure that explains the three grand bet I'm not so sure he didn't have that
00:38:15three grand Why should I believe you you got all the earmarks of
00:38:19a cheap crook now wait
00:38:20a minute you're
00:38:21a cheap crook and you killed him for two cents I change my mind and turn in I don't
00:38:25like you right all right don't get so I'm not getting sore but just remember who's
00:38:29boss around here if you shut up and don't give me any arguments you'll have nothing
00:38:33to worry about but if you act wise well Mr you pop in the jail so fast it'll give
00:38:38you the bends I'm not I see that you don't you know it's crooked as you look I'd
00:38:42hate to see
00:38:42a fellow as young as you wind up sniffing that perfume that Arizona hands out free
00:38:46to murderers I'm not
00:38:47a murderer of course you're not ask I'll knock his own head off he fell that's how
00:38:51it happened just like I told you and then he made you
00:38:53a present of his belongings I explained why I do that doesn't make a difference one
00:38:57way or another I'm not
00:38:58a mourner I liked Haskell even less than I like you yeah I saw what you did to him
00:39:03what do you mean scratches on his wrist sure I scratched him. So you did.
00:39:09So your idea was to drive the car a little way maybe in the sand Bernardino then
00:39:14leave it you weren't going to sell it sell it you think I'm crazy somebody else's
00:39:18car so all I want to do is leave it somewhere and forget I ever saw it not only
00:39:22don't you have any scruples you don't have any brains I don't get you maybe it's
00:39:26a good thing you met me you got yourself caught sure why you don't don't you know
00:39:31a deserted automobile always rates an investigation. But the cops find
00:39:36a car then they get curious they wonder where the owner is so all right they don't
00:39:41trace Haskell they trace you I never thought of that the only safe way to get rid of
00:39:46the car is to sell it to
00:39:47a dealer get it registered under a new name say stop at the next door I want to get
00:39:52a bottle and do some shopping before we hit L.A. OK we find
00:39:56a place I'll drop you off and pick up later nothing doing you're coming in to from
00:40:00now on you and I like the Siamese twins have it your way I don't get the point the
00:40:05point is I don't want you to get lost I'm not going to beat it if that's what you're
00:40:08afraid of I'll say you're not I'm going to see that you sell this car so you don't
00:40:12get caught thanks of course your interest wouldn't be financial with it you would
00:40:17want a small percentage of the profits well now that you insist how can I refuse
00:40:23a hundred percent will do fine I'm relieved I thought for
00:40:27a moment you're going to take it all I don't want to be
00:40:29a hog. Few hours later we were in Hollywood I was recognizing places to and
00:40:35written about it struck me that far from being at the end of the trip there was
00:40:40a greater distance between Sue and me than when I started out. There wasn't kidding
00:40:45with that Siamese twins crack she rented a little apartment as Mrs Charles Haskell
00:40:52when I objected to this she explained that it was on account of the car the dealer
00:40:56might think something was funny he called and found we were using different names.
00:41:05Home sweet home. Not bad either.
00:41:16Case is any doubt in your mind I'll take the bedroom. Sure is stuffy in here.
00:41:27I'm. Keep the window shut OK.
00:41:35No crow downstairs so there's
00:41:37a phone in bed behind this door. You know how to work.
00:41:49I invented it. Some joint one
00:41:56can't have everything. I'm
00:42:02first in the past. I don't know why but I figured you would be.
00:42:17Boy oh boy it sure feels good to be clean again. I must be ten pounds lighter.
00:42:24You must be. Well it's
00:42:27a ride isn't exactly the way you keep your schoolgirl complexion.
00:42:34I wish that guy with the sacks would give up.
00:42:41Forget it.
00:42:47I'm afraid I might take you up on it. I didn't want to give you
00:42:52a drink I wouldn't have offered it. I'd be
00:42:55a sorry Roberts you got yourself into this thing. You should be grateful I'm not
00:43:00turning you in. If I wasn't regular you'd be in the pen this minute being
00:43:04photographed fingerprinted and being pushed around by the cops. So cheer up get rid
00:43:09of that long puss. Is your conscience bothering you.
00:43:14It isn't. That's
00:43:24a spirit. He's dead no moment around to bring him back.
00:43:32Anyway I never could understand this worrying about something that's over and done
00:43:35with I look there for the last time I didn't kill it Haskell was
00:43:38a sick man and he was there before he fell out of the car I don't know. He died of
00:43:43old age. So it'll make you sociable. It didn't kill him.
00:44:01Thanks.
00:44:13We're out of liquor Roberts. Yeah. Too bad I felt like getting tight and I
00:44:20well I think he succeeded in my time as
00:44:24a prima donnas cause it that's good I want to get tight why what have you got to
00:44:30get tight about Oh I don't know few things.
00:44:37You should have my worries if I had your troubles I'd stay sober and I've got the
00:44:42key to that door. If you're
00:44:49right I'm always right. You know I don't like your attitude Robert well there's
00:44:55a lot of things I don't like.
00:45:02Life's like
00:45:02a ballgame you got to take a swing at whatever comes along before you wake up and
00:45:07find it's
00:45:07a ninth inning. You read that so that's that's real Roberts I was bellyache.
00:45:15While trying to make the best of things. Maybe that's what's wrong with the whole
00:45:19world get the professor people themselves out trying to buck fate that take you for
00:45:25instance you're lucky to be alive why suppose Haskell would open your door you'd
00:45:31be playing
00:45:31a harp now think of that. You think. I'm tired. There's
00:45:39plenty of people die in this minute I would give anything to trade places with you.
00:45:46I know what I'm talking about. I'm not so sure at least they know they're done for
00:45:52it aren't to sweat blood wondering if they are. Your philosophy stinks pal.
00:45:58We all know we're going to kick off someday it's only a question of when.
00:46:05What got us on the subject anyway we'll be discussing politics next. Yeah.
00:46:12Or you had the butts. On the table sucker.
00:46:24We bought each other with conversation for
00:46:25a couple of hours longer every five minutes one of us was wishing we had another
00:46:29bottle or radio or something to read. Then finally we ran out of chat.
00:46:36I know it's only eleven o'clock but I want to get up early and make the rounds of
00:46:39the used car lots now worry about that we've got all the time in the world maybe
00:46:43you have but you think I want to stay cooped up in this place any longer than I
00:46:46have to your bed it's not
00:46:47a bad place they plenty for things like this in New York wouldn't like it was
00:46:51the Ritz.
00:46:57Liquor you got a mean cough want to do something about it. Now be honest with Camille
00:47:03said. Nobody you know.
00:47:11Wasn't that the day in the diet of consumption. Wouldn't it be a break for you if I
00:47:15did kick off. You'd be free with all Haskell's dough and car.
00:47:22I don't want to see anybody die. Not even me. Especially not you one person died
00:47:28and you did that's all I need. You don't like me do you.
00:47:37Like you. I love you. My favorite sport is being kept prisoner.
00:47:45After we sell the car you've got
00:47:46a place for all I can but not until then.
00:47:56I'm going to bed.
00:48:06Good night Robert don't try to sneak away during the night all the doors are locked
00:48:10anyway I find you got in the morning I'll notify the police they'll pick you up
00:48:15don't worry I know when I'm in
00:48:16a spot. Well good night I hope that portable rack isn't too uncomfortable for you
00:48:22don't lose any sleep over.
00:48:45The.
00:49:01First few. Six.
00:49:10Two.
00:49:15Hello. Hello.
00:49:29No. Not yet. Tomorrow.
00:49:34I'm. This were fiction
00:49:43I would fall in love with her marry her and make
00:49:45a respectable woman of her well she'd make some supreme class a sacrifice for me
00:49:50die. Soon I would fall a little over
00:49:53a grave make some crack about there's good in all of us but there are unfortunately
00:49:59was just as rotten in the morning and she'd been the night before.
00:50:03All right all right I'm coming here it's almost no. So what
00:50:09the dealers will be there all day I'll be there all year to wait that long shut up
00:50:13you make it is like
00:50:14a husband. Do I read a whistle you sure do but let's go
00:50:22let's go let's go I spent eighty five bucks and two hours preparing bait and all
00:50:25you can say is let's go. Come on.
00:50:32We've had
00:50:36a few used car lots last night down this way what do you think we can get for this
00:50:40he I don't know plenty let me handle everything. We can get two thousand dollars
00:50:46I don't know but don't worry I'll squeeze as much out of this guy as I can I let it
00:50:50go cheap without
00:50:50a fight you might think I'm still in the car and listen don't make any slips and
00:50:55call me Roberts that'll cook us I don't need you to tell me that you better just
00:50:59sit by and keep your mouth closed remember we're both in the soup if anything
00:51:03happens I get it right you're my wife Farrah Haskell. After the day is closed let's
00:51:10go back to that place on Hollywood Boulevard where I saw the fur jacket I want to
00:51:14ask after the deal is closed I'm saying goodbye to you that's right I forgot I guess
00:51:19I'm getting kind of used to you. That's
00:51:22a habit you can start breaking let's try this place in the middle of block.
00:51:29Good afternoon what can I do for you we're interested in selling
00:51:36a car if the price is right. Well if it's in good mechanical condition it should
00:51:42blue book for about sixteen hundred. Only take a look at this motor sixteen hundred
00:51:48are you kidding.
00:52:00Well maybe eighteen fifty before I let it go for eighteen fifty I'll wreck it and
00:52:04collect the insurance first.
00:52:10I did this for a single out of drive.
00:52:19While the mechanic inspected the car we had. Last we were all worn out we had
00:52:24a compromise his price.
00:52:30OK it's
00:52:31a deal all right come on we'll sign the papers I have the ownership papers right
00:52:34here with me look there in the meantime we clean a dash compartment maybe some
00:52:38stuff in it all right darling. Eighteen hundred and fifty
00:52:45bucks that dirty.
00:52:46Dirty.
00:52:55New York. But you bought the car in Miami. I want to see about the insurance we can
00:53:02either have
00:53:02a transfer to cancel what kind of insurance do you have Mr Haskell. I know
00:53:09the papers there. I don't see any surely you know what type of insurance you carry
00:53:16in the car the name of the company. Yeah but well if you'll just tell me the name
00:53:22of the company I'd be very glad to take care of all the details well. Not yet well
00:53:28don't. Wait
00:53:30a minute. What's the matter change your mind yes I'm sorry I guess I have.
00:53:35But there are.
00:53:42Got me out of
00:53:43a tight spot there but I still don't understand all this you're well in
00:53:46a minute I almost threw away
00:53:48a gold mine eighteen fifty isn't to be sneezed at the car doesn't look for as much
00:53:52as I thought we're not selling the car you want to keep it now wait
00:53:56a minute very you said yourself I wouldn't be safe until the car was in someone
00:53:59else's name I'd like to be free of this mess when I go that's just it Robert you're
00:54:03not going. There's
00:54:05a drive in the next corner pull in there we'll get
00:54:07a bite to eat and I'll explain what is this another one of your brilliant ideas.
00:54:18Oh I think you want to make mine
00:54:19a ham sandwich and coffee and for you there I don't care the same. Thank you.
00:54:26Thank you. Get this Vera been pretty patient so far I've done everything you asked
00:54:35me to do but no more shut up you've taken Haskell's money you can have the door we
00:54:39get from selling the car but you're not going to keep me
00:54:41a prisoner it's
00:54:42a good thing I bought the paper take a look at that there I'm in no mood that.
00:54:57No yes no I won't do it yes you will you think I'm crazy it's possible I tell you.
00:55:03Excuse me.
00:55:09Not the one. No one could possibly get away with an act like that be wise to me in
00:55:17a minute don't be you look enough like him the same color in the same build see I was
00:55:22close but can you almost had me fooled for a while Oh grow up Vera don't you think
00:55:27a father knows his own son and there must be other relatives a father won't have to
00:55:30know you will wait he gives up the ghost he's an old geezer and he won't pull through
00:55:34and as far as other relatives are concerned they haven't seen in fifteen or twenty years.
00:55:40Eight I'm not hungry. And I won't do it it's not as tough as it sounds remember you've
00:55:45got all kinds of identification his car letters like I could never get away with it it's
00:55:49the stupidest thing I've ever heard the old boy has scads of dough look in the paper
00:55:53their personal fortune assessed at over fifteen million he'll leave plenty I tell you maybe
00:55:58cut off his son how do we know it's out there I won't have anything to do with it.
00:56:04I think you will. Look Vera I'll do anything within reason but not that so forget it find
00:56:10yourself another stooge. You'll be fixed for the rest of your life as Charlie Haskell
00:56:16you can take your inheritance and go away no more worrying about the rent no sweat and
00:56:19scheming wondering where your next meal's coming from think about that Robert Vera
00:56:23please you're talking too loud unless I'm splitting fifty-fifty with you sure why not
00:56:28we're both alike both born in the same gutter take it easy Vera there's people around here
00:56:32you don't know what you're talking about well wait'll we read that old man Haskell's dead
00:56:37and you show up like you read in New York that he was sick no suppose he doesn't die
00:56:43he will I know he will something tells me
00:56:48but as much as I insisted I would have no part of her scheme Vera was taking it for granted I would
00:56:55neither of us had our mind on the cards as we played that night I knew we were just trying
00:57:00to kill time between newspaper editions this was a death watch for Vera maybe it was for me too
00:57:08don't you realize if I'm caught they'll want to know where I got the current stuff
00:57:11and they'll have me on a murder charge if you're smart you won't get caught
00:57:14I knock with seven and if I'm caught don't you realize you'll be out too 18 points that gives me
00:57:2130 how will I be out you'll be out eighteen hundred and fifty dollars we would have gotten
00:57:26on the car really Vera you'd be an awful chump he threw away all that dough in a dizzy long shot
00:57:30let me sell the bus tomorrow with the money it'll bring and what you've already got a clever kid like
00:57:34you can run it up in no time then we'd both be in the clear I'll be in the clear anyway maybe
00:57:39maybe but if I got caught I'd get good and sore at you you know you mean you'd squeal
00:57:45oh no not squeal exactly never mind what you meant
00:57:49even if you did tell the cops I was in on it with you
00:57:52what could they do to me they might give me the same medicine they gave you yeah a rope
00:58:01but I'm on my way now
00:58:02I'll be to him we'll be rushing it all right but think of the 1850 you'd lose you'd kick
00:58:08yourself along the block and let get away from you I'll take the chance want another drink you're
00:58:13being a goon that's the way people wind up behind the eight ball once they get a few dollars to
00:58:17become greedy and want more my my Caesar oh you know that Roman general he got his for being greedy
00:58:24he wasn't satisfied so the final wind-up was he took the count a couple of days ago you didn't
00:58:29a couple of days ago you didn't have a dime why you were so broke you couldn't pay cash for a
00:58:33postage stamp now you've got almost 700 with 1850 in the offing take my advice don't try for more
00:58:39I'm tired of this game let's have some blackjack play solitaire okay I will if that's the way you
00:58:44feel about it that's the way I feel about it getting sore and throwing things won't help
00:58:47much Roberts I'm really doing you a favor I help you out of a jam by keeping my mouth shut
00:58:51I show you how to make some soft money and what thanks do I get thanks sure I would rather call
00:58:56the cops and tell him you killed a man and stole this money yes you did no I didn't you know I
00:59:00didn't all right then suppose I call the cops pure innocent what do you got to be scared of
00:59:09okay call him you mud go ahead and call him see if I care at least they'll give me a square deal
00:59:15you want me to call them you heard me but I'm warning you if I'm pinched I'll swear you were
00:59:19in on it I'll say that you helped me if I fry I'll get even with you you wouldn't dare you didn't
00:59:25yeah and try it and see call him yeah okay I will
00:59:44information I want the number of the Hollywood police station
00:59:51okay I got it thanks
00:59:56wait a minute Vera you wouldn't do that oh wouldn't that and I'll show you if I would
00:59:59take it easy now let's talk this over this was early in the evening and the conversation while
01:00:04hectic was at least pitched low but as the minutes passed and more obstacles to her plan popped into
01:00:11my head the air got blue each word coming from our lips cracked like a whip I reminded her that
01:00:18as Charles Haskell I didn't even know my mother's name where I'd gone to school the name of my best
01:00:24friend whether I had an aunt Emma or not my religion and if I had ever owned a dog I didn't
01:00:30even know what my middle initial stood for I also pointed out that the real Haskell had a scar on
01:00:35his forearm his people never saw that scar he told me he ran away right after putting out the kid's
01:00:41eye yeah but his father knew he was cut there'd have to be some kind of a mark so what the old
01:00:46man's dead or will be I hope by tomorrow morning's papers anyway you could cut yourself a little
01:00:52couldn't you boy for that kind of dough I'd let you cut my leg off you're drunk and you're crazy
01:00:59mad Vera turn me in if you want to but I won't get mixed up in this besides how do we know Haskell
01:01:03was such a phony maybe wasn't the man's son at all maybe he just dreamed it up well dreaming or not
01:01:07you won't be dreaming when the law taps you on the shoulder there's a cute little gas chamber
01:01:13waiting for you Roberts and I hear extradition to Arizona's a cinch where's that phone Vera
01:01:21leave me alone I want a phone call please I hate you you're a stinker you leave me alone I'll let
01:01:31you alone when you promise to leave the phone where it is you're drunk you don't know what
01:01:33you're doing you're hurting me will you promise all right you hurt me I'm sorry but it's hot in
01:01:47here open up a window it's not hot don't tell me now do you do it or do I do it
01:01:54you're no gentleman see yeah all right I'll open up the window
01:02:08Vera open the door please open the door Vera open the door don't use the phone listen to me
01:02:13I don't like you Roberts you're no gentleman see you hurt my hand and I'm gonna get even with you
01:02:21if you don't open the door I'm gonna kick it down Vera
01:02:24Vera don't call the cops listen to me I'll do anything you say Vera let me in I'll break the
01:02:31phone
01:02:49huh
01:03:01so
01:03:10the world is full of skeptics I know I'm on myself in the Haskell business how many of you
01:03:17would believe he fell out of the car and now after killing Vera without really meaning to do it
01:03:22how many of you would believe it wasn't premeditated in a jury room every last man of you
01:03:28would go down shouting that she had me over a barrel and my only out was force
01:03:33the room was still so quiet that for a while I wondered if I had suddenly gone deaf
01:03:40it was pure fear of course and I was hysterical but without making a sound
01:03:47Vera was dead and I was her murderer murderer what an awful word that is but I'd become one
01:03:55I'd better not get caught what evidence there was around the place had to be destroyed
01:04:00and from the looks of things there was plenty looking around the room and things we'd bought
01:04:04was like looking into the faces of a hundred people who'd seen us together and who remembered me
01:04:08this was the kind of testimony I couldn't rub out
01:04:12no I could burn clothes and hide bottles for the next five years there'd always be witnesses the
01:04:18landlady for one she could identify me the car dealer the waitress in the drive-in the girl in
01:04:22the dress shop and that guy in the liquor store they could all identify me I was cooked done for
01:04:30I had to get out of there while once I had remained beside a dead body planning carefully
01:04:35how to avoid being accused of killing him this time I couldn't this time I was guilty
01:04:43I knew it felt it I was like a guy suffering from shock things were whirling around in my head
01:04:51I couldn't make myself think right all I could think of was the
01:04:55guy with a saxophone and what he was playing it wasn't a love song anymore it was a dirge
01:05:20so
01:05:30so
01:05:49but my problems weren't solved I had to stay away from New York
01:05:54for all time because Al Roberts was listed as dead and had to stay dead
01:06:00and I could never go back to Hollywood someone might recognize me as Haskell
01:06:06then too there was Sue I could never go to her with a thing like this hanging over my head
01:06:14all I could do was pray she'd be happy
01:06:28I was in Bakersfield before I read that Vera's body was discovered
01:06:33that the police were looking for Haskell in connection with his wife's murder
01:06:38isn't that a laugh Haskell got me into this mess
01:06:42and Haskell was getting me out of it the police were searching for a dead man
01:06:50I keep trying to forget what happened
01:06:52and wonder what my life might have been if that car of Haskell's hadn't stopped
01:06:59but one thing I don't have to wonder about I know
01:07:05someday a car will stop to pick me up that I never thumbed
01:07:08yes fate or some mysterious force can put the finger on you or me for no good reason at all
01:07:38you