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Scarlet Street (1945)
Well boys, I hate to break up a good party...
but you can't keep a woman waiting, can you? - You know how it is, boys. - Yes we do, Mr. Hogarth. - That's right, JJ. - I'll say you can't, JJ. I see you can all understand, all right. Well believe you me, boys, I've had the time of my life tonight. And speaking of time, I have here a 14-karat 17-jewel timepiece. And that's only right, because the man I'm giving it to is a 14-karat 17-jewel cashier. - Hear hear! - Hear hear! Pass it along to him, boys. - That's a beautiful watch, JJ. - It's wonderful! Chris. Read what's engraved inside, Chris. To my friend Christopher Cross... ...in token of 25 years of faithful service,... ...from JJ Hogarth, 1909-1934. Speech! Speech! - Speak up, Chris, speak up. - Come on, Chris, speech! Well I... ...I hardly know what to say, JJ. This...why, it's beautiful. I never expected to own a watch like this. No sir, I... Well...all I can say is that we've got the best boss in New York. Good going, friend. Congratulations, old boy, congratulations! Good boy, good boy! Thank you, Chris. Thank you, my old friend. - God bless you. - Thank you. - Have a smoke before I go. - Well, I...don't usually, JJ. Go ahead and try it. It's made special for me. A dollar apiece. - Here, Charlie. - Oh, thanks. Thank you. You're not supersticious, are you, Chris? No, no, no sir, no sir. Now don't break up a good party, just because I've got to go. Everything is charged to JJ. That's very nice of you, boss. You can drink all you want... only don't come in late Monday morning with a hangover! Good night, boys. Good night! - Aren't you a lucky dog. - I'll treasure this for the rest of my life. I'll bet you will. Hey fellas, look! Look, come here! Hurry! Get a load of that dame. That's JJ's wife? The boss is stepping out! - Say, if I had the dough he's got, I'd step out too. - Must be a load of laundry tonight! There's nothing like the smell of spring. Which way do you go, Chris? I guess I'll take the East Side subway. It gets me to Brooklyn a little quicker. Hey, you haven't got an umbrella! No, I'll take you to your bus. - No, it's out of your way. - I don't mind walking. The fresh air, the spring. I'm a little drunk. Never mind, I'll catch the next one. You go on over to the subway. No, I don't mind waiting, I feel kind of lonely tonight. Say, Charlie... You suppose JJ is running around with that young lady? It looks that way. - I wonder what it's like. - What, Chris? To be loved by a young girl like that. You know, nobody ever looked at me like that, not even when I was young. Yes, when we're young we have dreams that never pan out... but we go on dreaming. When I was young, I wanted to be an artist. I dreamt I was going to be a great painter someday. So I'm a cashier. - Do you still paint? - Yes, every Sunday. That's one way to kill time. You know, Sunday is the one day of the week I don't like. I never know what to do with myself. - Why don't you come over tomorrow and see me? - Thanks, Chris, I'll do that. - Good night, Chris. - Good night, Charlie. See you tomorrow. Good night. - It stopped raining. - Yeah, half an hour ago. Which way is it to the East Side subway? Around the corner, past the "L", - four blocks. - Thank you, Officer. I guess I got turned around. These streets are all mixed up in Greenwich Village. - Yeah. Is he hurt? - I'll go call a policeman. - No, wait...wait! Officer! Officer! - Where did they go? - In that direction. - What does he look like? - I don't know. - I didn't see his face. - He took 15 dollars. He didn't believe it was all I had, so he began pushing me around... and this gentleman ran in and knocked him down. That's right, Officer, he was right there. I couldn't hold him, he got up and ran. Wait here. Come on, let's get out of here. But we have to wait for the officer. I don't want to get my name in the newspaper, do you? - The newspaper? - Sure. We'll have to go down to the station house and make a complaint. And every time they make an arrest, they send a detective to your house... ...for weeks. Oh, it's a nuisance. - Won't you take me home? - Why, yes... Well, sure...that is...if you think that... Well, here's where I live. I'm sorry I can't ask you to come up. I share my apartment with another girl, Millie. Good night, and thanks for everything. Don't you... don't you want a cup of coffee? All right. - Hello, Kitty. - Hello, Tiny. - Oh, this is Mr... - Cross. - Glad to know you, Mr. Cross. - How do you do. You seen Johnny? No, not since he left here. - Two coffees, please. - I think I changed my mind. I could stand a drink--a Rum Collins. - One Rum Collins? - Yes, yes. Oh come on, keep me company. Well, you see I've already had a good deal of champagne... - You want champagne? - No, no... Make mine the same. You know, ever since I first saw you I was wondering what your name was. - Kitty. - It's really-- Katherine, Katherine March. My friends call me Kitty. What do your friends call you? Chris. Chris Cross. Chris Cross! Yes, the boys tease me about it, but I don't mind. Why are you looking at me? Is my face dirty? It's beautiful. I'll bet it is. Gee, I'm a sight! Thank you, sir. Cheers, Chris. Miss March... Kitty. Yes, Miss--I mean... Kitty... Well, look...Kitty,... since I'm old enough to be your father... You're not so old. You don't think so? You're not a boy, you're just... ...mature. I like mature people. Well, what I wanted to say was... you shouldn't be alone in the street so late at night. I was coming home from work. You work this late? What do you do? Guess. - You're an actress! - Oh, you are clever! Now that you know all about me, tell me about yourself. - What do you do? - I? - Well, you see... - Don't tell me. - You work in a bank? - No. Well let's see, Greenwich Village is full of artists... I meet you in Greenwich Village... You must be an artist. Right? Well, I... - Yes, yes, I paint. - Of course, you're a painter. I love paintings. To think I took you for a cashier. Well... You know those art galleries on Fifth Avenue? The prices they charge! I saw one little picture that cost 50,000 dollars. They called it a... - Seesan. - Cezanne. He was a great French painter. I'd like to own that painting. You would? For 50,000 dollars? Well, you can't put any price on masterpieces like that. They're worth...well... Whatever you can afford to pay for them. You know what, Chris, I bet I saw some of your pictures there and didn't know it. Next time I'll look for your name. No, no, no... I don't sell my pictures. Not in New York, you mean? - No, I... - I know. I bet you sell your pictures in Europe, France or some place like that. You can tell I don't know much about painting. I bet you get as much for your pictures in France as those Frenchmen get right here in New York. You're never appreciated in your own country. Well, that's one way of looking at it. But you know, when I paint I don't think of money. - I just paint for fun. - Fun? Yes, I think it's the most fun I know, painting. I wish I had all the time to paint. - But don't you have time? - No, I...well...yes... You see, I... Well, you know... Business takes a lot of time. No wonder, when you get all that money. What play are you acting in? - It closed tonight. - Which one? The one I was in. What time is it? - It's only ten past two. - Only? It's time for Kitty to be in bed. So you won't forget me. Thank you. - Can I see you again? - Sure, sometime. - Well, if you give me your telephone number... - I haven't got a phone. May I write you? That's the address. Good night, Chris. Kitty, who is Johnny? Why do you ask that? I just heard you ask the bartender. Oh sure, he's just a fella I know, he's Millie's boyfriend. You know, the girl I live with? Good night, Chris. Good night, Kitty. Christopher! Christopher! Yes, Adele. - Well, well! But this is a pleasure! I didn't expect to see you, Charlie! - But Chris, you asked me. My wife... Well, it's good to see you anyway. That was a swell party last night, wasn't it, Charlie? Say, what time did we go home? After midnight, wasn't it? You know, I haven't been to bed yet. You haven't? I guess I might as well act as drunk as I thought I was, eh Charlie? No, no... Oh, I've got to do the dishes for Adele. - You don't mind, Charlie, do you? - No, no, go right ahead. Say, did you paint this? Great Scott, no! That isn't painting, that's mud. - Done by a photographer. - Who is it? The late departed... Oh...your wife's former husband. Detective Sargeant Higgins, Homer Higgins. Say, that's a real medal, isn't it? Yeah, Adele got it. - Your wife? - Yeah. After he was drowned in the East River. Jumped in to save a woman. Neither body was found. Oh...too bad. Yeah, too bad. - Oh, thank you, Charlie. - Not at all. How long have you been married, Chris? Five years... Well... She didn't want to spend his insurance money, so she rented out a spare room. Well, I was trying to save money to buy paints, so I moved in. Oh, she was sweet... Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. And... Well, you know how these things go. Smoke? Oh... guess I better not. Where are your paintings, Chris? They're out in the hall. - Would you like to see what I did today? - Yes, I'd like to. Where did you find a flower like that? You mean you see this when you look at...that? Well, yes...that is, I sort of feel it. You see, when I look at that flower, I see someone... Is there anything private in this house? I'm sorry, Adele. We better get out of here. All right, Adele... Can't you get those lazy legs off that couch, maybe? Come here. Can't you do any better than that? That's all you think about, Lazy Legs, hmm? What else is there to think about... If you want more heat in this apartment, Miss... - you'll have to call a janitor. - You idiot. How come you're holding out on me, Baby? Oh, stop talking about Saturday night! I'm not talking about Saturday night... I'm talking about this. It sounds like a schoolboy trying to make a date. You must be robbing the cradle. - What's so funny? - You are. He's old enough to be my father. That's the old fellow who came to my rescue Saturday night...My hero! No kidding! See? You were too tight to remember anything. If I hadn't told the cop to go in the wrong direction, he'd have picked you up. This the old fellow who butted in? The painter? He's rich and famous and very sweet too, Johnny. He doesn't pull any rough stuff like you. Why, I had a chance to clean up in a crap game. All I needed was 50 bucks... And what did you show up with? That's all I had. Besides, you kept me waiting two hours in the rain. - And then you gave me a dirty look. - I didn't give you a dirty look. Listen, any girl who waits two hours in the rain for a guy is gonna give him a dirty look. Trouble with you, baby, is you have no imagination. - What do you expect me to do? - I expect you to use your brains. For cat's sake this chump is crazy about you! This is a set-up. He's in the big money, isn't he? You said 50,000 a picture, didn't you? And here I am, knocking my brains out, trying to raise a little capital... and this is right in your lap. You don't have to call what's-his-name and get a measly 50. This bird is goofy about you! Write him, date him up. I can't take money off an old man like that! For cat's sake, get big-hearted and smart, Lazy Legs! Why, I see fellas in the big dough without half my brains... but ability isn't enough! You gotta have money to make money. Capital! But the boys at the Acme Garage would cut me in on a half-interest if I can put up the money. - How much do they want? - Three or four thousand. Yipe! For cat's sake, I'm not talking about chicken feed! Use your imagination. You get an interest in a business like that... and it's a cinch to squeeze out your partners. Then you're on easy street. Jeepers, the pipe dreams you have! Now what about the letter? Oh, I can get 50 or a hundred perhaps, but I can't get the kind of money you're talking about, I wouldn't know how. Johnny! - Johnny, where are you going? - Where I won't be wasting my time. Johnny, Johnny... I don't know why I'm so crazy about you. Oh, yes you do... Now what about my proposition? You don't have to tap the old chump for much... not at first. We'll get you a decent apartment. Someplace where I'll like to come and see you, not a dump like this. Well, Lazy Legs? - May I come in to my own apartment? - Hello, Funny Face. Why don't you just move in, Johnny? - Then I can move out. - Now, Millie... - Stop picking on my fianc. - How do you spell that word? With an "F", like in "Funny Face". She pays half the rent, doesn't she? That was the general idea, Big Shot, when we signed the lease. I don't mind if you want this place to yourself. To you, Baby. - What's he mean by that? - Oh, nothing. You know Johnny. Yeah, I know Johnny all right. Has he bought you that engagement ring yet? You seem to worry more about it than I do. The new 45-dollar model. Only Roger let me have it for 18. He said he made a profit at that. I thought you said you were modeling girdles for the catalog? I have been. I ache like a dog! If corsets ever come back, I swear I'll quit modeling. Why don't you go back to work? With that figure, if you weren't so darn lazy... Who do you think you are, my guardian angel? Not me, honey. I lost those wings a long time ago. That's what I thought. No wonder you got fired, you're so darn snippy. You never could get to work on time after you met that Johnny. Honey, what's happened to you? Don't you wish it could happen to you! I'm in love, crazy in love! With a man who pushes you around the way I wouldn't push a cat around. You leave Johnny out of this! With your looks and figure you could get any man you want. Sure, but there's only one I want. Yeah, and he's making a tramp out of you. You wouldn't know love if it hit you in the face! If that's where it hits you, you ought to know! That robin sings just like I feel. Look, there's a pair of them up there, they're building their nest. Say, where'd you learn that? When I was a kid. But I haven't done that in 40 years. I feel like a kid myself today. Sold any pictures lately? No. Why don't you paint my picture? I'd like to. Could I bring my easel to your apartment? I'm afraid my girlfriend wouldn't like that. How long does it take you to paint a picture? Sometimes a day, sometimes a year. You can't tell, it has to grow. I never knew paint could grow! Feeling grows. You know, that's the important thing...feeling. Now you take me, nobody ever taught me how to draw, so I just put a line around what I feel when I look at things. Yeah, I see. It's like... it's like falling in love, I guess. You know... First you see someone, and then it keeps growing... until you can't think of anyone else. That's interesting. The way I look at things, that's all art is. Every painting, if it's any good, is a love affair. I never heard anyone talk like that before. Well... ...there aren't many people you can talk to this way. So you keep it to yourself. You walk around with everything bottled up. Yeah, that's right. That's the way it is with me too. I'm sort of keeping things bottled up too, Chris. The truth is, I'm in a jam. - You, Kitty? - You probably guessed it... I'm broke. Even this dress belongs to Millie, I can't pay my rent. - How much is it? - Oh, forget it. I shouldn't have told you. - It'll spoil your day. - Oh, but Kitty... I'll get out of it somehow. I couldn't take anything from you, Chris. - Well, no...yes...I mean... - No, no, I couldn't. I've never taken money from a man and I'm not going to now. And I'm not going to spoil our friendship. Oh, but Kitty... I couldn't pay you back. Chris! Maybe I could pay you back. If you put up the money for a studio apartment, then I'd have a place to live, and you could paint there. Don't you see? You could paint my portrait. What's the matter? Don't you want to paint my picture? - There's something I've got to tell you, Kitty. - What? I deceived you. I lied. I'm a married man, Kitty. Why didn't you tell me, Chris? You know I'm not the kind of a girl to run around with a married man, don't you? You know what you said about meeting someone? How you begin to like them, and... and you can't think about anybody else? You should have told me you had a wife, Chris. - Yes, but I'm not in love with her, Kitty. - Well, you married her. I was lonely, I couldn't stand my loneliness. Poor Chris. Then you're not angry with me? Why, I suppose I ought to be, but I'm not. Not with you, Chris. I'm going to let you help me. - How much do you need? - 500 dollars. I need 500 dollars. I could pay it back 10 dollars a week. That's all right, Mr. Cross. But you'll have to have a co-signer. - Thank you, no. - Property owner. - Property owner? - Just a formality. - Thank you very much. - Anytime. Well, write to that old skin-flint Hogarth to give you a raise. You don't even make enough money to buy me a radio. I have to run downstairs every night to listen to the radio. The way I have to scrimp and save... and you wasting money on paints. I'd like to know what you'd do without me... Poor dear Homer. If only he had a grave where I could put some flowers. Why, you couldn't ask me to marry you! I had to put the words into your mouth. I'd have been better off a widow. The only reason I put up with you is because I'm married to you... - I'm stuck. - Yes, and I'm stuck too. Have you been drinking? No, I haven't. Let me smell your breath. Then what's the matter with you? Why are you shouting at me? You keep blaming me for not buying you a radio. You think I like running downstairs every night to listen to the radio? - Why don't you buy a radio? You have money. - His insurance money? Well, I don't want a radio, you want it. I'll never touch those bonds. They're for my old age. If Homer were alive I'd have a radio. He made a good salary. He gave me a good home. Well, you're living in the same apartment, aren't you? Yes...but it didn't smell of paint! I can't sleep for the smell of paint. And all your silly pictures cluttering up the hall... If you don't get rid of that trash... I swear I'll give it to the junkman! - Adele! - I will. I swear I will. And the things you paint... It was bad enough when you used to copy picture postcards. Well, Utrillo copies postcards, and he's considered a great painter. And now I suppose you're copying Utrillo or whatever his name is? And you're getting crazier all the time...Oh, yes. I saw what you're doing. Girls...snakes... Next thing you'll be painting women without clothes! I never saw a woman without any clothes. I should hope not! The Happy Household Hour's just coming on, dear. I'll be right down, Dora. Mr. Cross came home late. Go ahead and eat... and then do the dishes. "This is The Happy Household Hour... brought to you at this time by Happy Hour Bubble Suds. No soap gives you more happiness, more washings and more suds per package, than Happy Hour Bubble Suds. Ask your nearest grocer for the large economy-size package today. And now for the next episode of 'Hilda's Hope for Happiness'. As you remember, we left Hilda in the laundry... ...Bubble Suds... ...Hilda... Christopher! Christopher! What are you doing? I was... I was looking for the paper. Are you blind? No. Didn't you...didn't you like the radio? It went off right in the middle of a program. I wouldn't have such a radio. - Say, did you read this? - Read what? This murder in Queens. A man killed his wife with a window weight... put her body in a trunk and shipped it to California. - It says here... - I read the paper, thank you. He didn't get away with it, did he? He'll go to the chair, as he should. Yeah, a man hasn't got a chance with these New York detectives. Can't you put that paper down and do the dishes? Adele... you didn't mean what you said about giving my paintings away to the junkman? You'll find out... Well, you won't have to. A friend of mine is taking an apartment in Greenwich Village, I'll move everything there. Well, if he's fool enough to let you do it... - Go ahead. The sooner the better. - Yes. Top floor. You'll get plenty of light. Lots of privacy. You heard of Tony Rivera, the illustrator? He had this apartment on a three-year lease. Couldn't work anywhere else. This was his studio. The sketches on the wall are Rivera's. He'd do that with his models sometimes when he was working on a magazine cover. Some people would pay a lot of money for those. Are you an artist, Miss March? - Where's the bedroom? - This way. What's the rent, Mr. Jones? left here stored in the basement. They go with the apartment if you care to use them. Here you are...the bedroom. I don't like the wallpaper. Will they change the paper? I guess so, on a year's lease. I'll pick it out myself. Well, don't break the bank! Hello, Lazy Legs. I thought I heard the doorbell. I didn't hear anything. Say, is this all you've got? I'm lucky I have that left, the way you were throwing it around last night! You even bought me a book, Honey. You're supposed to be an actress, aren't you? Shakespeare, for Pete's sake! Say, that's all I have left! You know where to get more, don't you, Lazy Legs? Told me he hadn't sold any pictures for a long time... And now I'm in hock for all this! Look, Kitty... I need at least 1000 dollars. - Ouch! - Well, you've got him softened up... Now, push him around a bit. He seems to get scared when I talk about money. Listen Baby, you've got him right where you want him. He's on the hook and can't get off. - He can walk out, can't he? - He's got a wife, hasn't he? Just drop a hint that his wife might find out about this apartment... and he'll shell out fast. That's blackmail... It's only blackmail, Baby... when you're dumb enough to get caught. - Is that him? - Told you I heard the doorbell. For cat's sake!...Get rid of him. Why... Don't you answer doorbells? - I thought you were mad at me. - Peace offering... - Scotch! - Thanks, Honey. I didn't think you were out, it's only 10 past 12. I rang and rang downstairs and then I found the door was open. Well, well, well. You're doing all right for a working girl. Now don't start that again! Don't tell me he's under the sofa, too! No, Bright Eyes. You can come out, Johnny. All you have to do is call, Funny Face. You must have made a killing in Wall Street, Mr. Prince... Could be. The last time I saw Johnny he was talking about going to Hollywood. I might try it yet. Why, I read in a movie magazine about a fella who landed in Hollywood stone broke... and cleaned up a million! No experience, either. All he had was looks, and he worked in a drugstore. If he worked, Johnny, he didn't look like you. - Will you two stop fighting? - I'm not fighting, Baby. She just doesn't know my speed. Why, I hear of movie actors getting 5000...10,000 a week! For what? For acting tough, for pushing girls in the face. What do they do I can't do? You're so clever, why don't you do it? I might, Funny Face, I might! Chris! I brought over some of my things, Kitty. I'll bring some more tomorrow... The rest on Saturday. - Oh...You have company. - It's just Millie and Johnny. - John...? - You know, Millie's boyfriend. Come on...I want you to meet them. Millie, this is a friend of mine, Mr. Cross, Miss Ray. - How do you do, Miss Ray? - Pleased to meet you, Mr. Cross. - And...Johnny Prince. - Glad to know you, Mr. Cross. How do you do? Seems to me I've seen you before somewhere... Could be...could be, Mr. Cross. Yes, I... I just don't seem to remember... Maybe I'm mistaken. Could be. - Well, I have to run along, kid. - I'll go with you, sweetheart. Oh, don't bother, Johnny. I wouldn't think of letting you go alone...Darling! You might get run over by a streetcar. Goodbye, Mr. Cross. Nice to see you. - Thanks for the scotch, Millie. - That's okay...Bye! - So long, Kitty! - So long, Johnny! Now what's the matter, Chris? I don't think I like that young man she's in love with. Oh, Johnny's all right... Oh, I know he is, or he wouldn't be a friend, but... - There's something about him that... - She's crazy about him! Would you...Would you like to see my pictures? Not yet. Come sit down, Chris. You happy? - For the first time in my life. - Very happy? I think of you all the time. All I want is to see you, be near you. I know I haven't any right to ask you this, but... Have you ever...? Well...there must have been other men who... Just one, Chris. You still see him? I've forgotten him. Look, Kitty...if I were single... - if I had no wife... - But you have a wife! Yes I know, but if she'd... Well...if something would happen that would make me free... Would you marry me? Oh, let's not talk about it now, dear! What I'm worried about is getting a job. Living like this...it's expensive. I don't like to ask you for anything more because...well, you say you haven't sold any pictures lately. Yes, but...don't you have enough money? You have no idea what a problem money is for an actress, Chris. Talent doesn't count in the theatre. Everything is pull! Contacts, knowing the right people... You have to get an agent... they charge plenty... - Wear smart clothes, be attractive. - But Kitty, you're beautiful! Chris, your face doesn't mean a thing! It's clothes, perfumes, making the right impression. Why, an actress needs 1000 dollars just to get a decent wardrobe. - 1000 dollars? - At least. Maybe I can borrow it from Millie. Or her boyfriend...Johnny. He's got plenty of money. Oh...No, no, no, Kitty. Not from Johnny. Why not? I'll get you the money some way... Chris, you're a darling! I really believe you're in love with me. I am, Kitty, I am! Chris, you're a caveman! I like you to like me... well...there's a limit. Yes, I know... I've got to go, I've supposed to be back... I'll come here tomorrow at noon, Kitty. I'll be waiting for you. I'm sorry you have to go... Bye-bye, Dear. - Don't forget the money! - I'll get it. - Bye-bye, Chris. - Goodbye! I don't get it. The poor sap must be a hophead, seeing snakes on the "L"! Imagine anyone paying money for this stuff? Say, are you sure he's not a phony? He's too dumb to be a phony! - You're right there. - Then how did he get all the money? Why, if he had to work for a living, he couldn't make 50 dollars a week. You just don't know art. Maybe not, but I'm gonna find out about it. I kinda like this one. But where would you find flowers like that? I wonder if I couldn't sell these! And what do I do when he asks where they are? Say you put them in storage. You know, you got to protect him... You can't leave valuable paintings lying around where somebody can pick them up. You'd get in trouble. Any gallery would know his work! He tried to kiss me today... and don't think I liked it! Oh, you've been kissed before. Say...they're not even signed! That doesn't matter, they'd know them. Not where I take them, Baby! Johnny...I can't stand to have anyone touch me but you. I hate him when he looks at me like that! If he were mean or vicious or if he bawled me out or something I'd like him better. You don't love me, or you'd understand what I mean. - No? - No. No? Well...maybe. Working late tonight, Mr. Cross? I'm about through, Ben, you can let me out in a minute. Yes, sir. I just caught you in time! Cash this for me, will you, Chris? It's personal. Yes, yes...Yes, of course, JJ. - Here you are, JJ. - Thank you, Chris. Good night. Good night, JJ. - Hello, Nick. - Hi. What do you got? The fellow who paints those gets Hey! What's the matter with you, Nick? Where'd you pick them up... over in Washington Square? The Village long-hairs are peddling junk like that... for the price of the canvas. These weren't painted by any Village long-hair! That's my pawnshop, isn't it? And that snake is strictly from the Bronx. This fellow lives in Brooklyn. He's famous! - Yeah, what's his name? - Well, I... Look, Nick, I've brought you stuff before and you never asked for any name on it. That was jewelry! Bring me some more of that and we can do business, Johnny. Take this junk back to Washington Square where you got it! I can see you've got an eye for art! That's one of my best. Take a look at these... I didn't know you were a painter. I'm not. - Are they any good? - Well... they've got something. A certain peculiar... something. But no perspective. - Is that important? - I should say it is! Look at my paintings. Where did you buy them? I didn't buy them, I want to sell them. You want me to sell them on commission? - How much do you think they're worth? - I always start everything at 25. Then...you know, it's a hard business selling pictures. People don't buy art nowadays! No appreciation, no taste, no perception... No perspective, huh? Let me have your name and address. I'll come back later...So long. - Hello, Johnny. - Hiya, Tiny. Where'd you get that? Off Nick. What about my ring? - You know how much a good diamond costs? - I gave you 900 dollars. Will you pipe down? You've been telling me what a dope the old guy is... Maybe you're the dope. He told you his paintings are worth a lot of money... - Did you check up on his story? - What's wrong with it? They're worth just 25 bucks apiece! That's what's wrong with it. You're crazy! - If I weren't a gentleman... - Well don't get sore! Well then don't tell me I'm crazy! I tell you the old boy's a phony. His money isn't phony, is it? He could borrow dough, or have it stashed away... - Or even steal it. - Chris steal? Jeepers, Johnny, he's not the type. He wouldn't have nerve enough to steal! Well he didn't get it from his pictures. He may be dumb, but not about art. The day he took me to the museum he explained to me how everything was done. You should have heard him. People stood around and listened. - What museum? - The Metropolitan. Yipe! They've got pictures there worth a million bucks. Where you going? I'm going to make a money out of you, Lazy Legs. You can't take his pictures to the museum! Who says I can't? You know who bought them? Janeway. Damon Janeway! - Don't you know who Mr. Janeway is? - No. He's an art critic! The best authority in New York on Modern Art. He took one look and bought them both. I couldn't even give him my pictures. Not for nothing! He wants to get hold of you. He told me to telephone him. You wait here, eh? No, no... Sorry... For cat's sake, what's so funny? You are, Smarty-Pants! You're the Mr. Fix-It who was gonna make a monkey out of poor dopey little Kitty... So you gave away two pictures for a couple of dimes... - and now you can't collect the dimes. - Oh dry up! - Jeepers! - Now what? - What am I gonna tell Chris? - He won't find out. The heck he won't! That Janeway's a crtic... he writes for the newspaper. Golly, you got us in a spot. I told you not to do it! You're just nervous! The old guy that sold them doesn't know me from Adam. Give me that drink, I can use it. - Chris? - No, he's got a key. Well go ahead, see who it is. Hurry up! I beg your pardon, but... we're looking for a man, and I'm afraid we don't know his name. And I'm afraid I can't help you. I'm sorry... Look! There! These are his. Oh, there he is! Why did you run away from me like that? Here, 50 dollars less 20 percent. I don't know what you're talking about! But the pictures you brought me! Perhaps we'd better introduce ourselves: My name is Janeway. - This is Mr. Dellarowe. - How do you do? What is it you want? We'd like to find out who painted the pictures. - You don't know? - Of course they don't know! That's what we're here for. Look, if you're a friend of the painter, you'll put Mr. Dellarowe in touch with him. Why'd you buy those pictures if you didn't know who painted them? - Because they're good. - Who painted them? No, Johnny, no! Oh don't be so modest, Miss March. Now you see? You got me in bad. She made me promise not to tell. That's why I made out like I didn't know. She's funny about her painting. Never lets anyone see it. Doesn't even put her name on her pictures! So I observed. You're an extraordinary artist, Miss March. - Oh, no. - See? She can't stand for anybody to talk about her. She got the idea her pictures weren't any good. That's why I took those two to you... to give her confidence... I knew they were good. Now I'll take that money. I never would have guessed it was a woman. Nor I...You're work is very strong, Miss March. - May we see some more of it? - Sure...go ahead! - Look in her studio. - Thank you. You're crazy to try a thing like this! For cat's sake, I thought they were cops! I know what I'm doing... they don't know from nothing. I can't fool that crtic! You always wanted to be an actress... Now's your chance. You've been around the old boy long enough to pick up his lingo... Feed Janeway some of that...I'll get him in here alone with you. No, no...wait! How long has she been painting? Ever since she was a kid, Mr. Janeway. - Never went to art school, did she? - No, she just picked it up... I guess I'm the only one who's been encouraging her, kind of... Helping her along...as a friend... You know, just a friend. - I didn't get your name. - Prince. Say Mr. Janeway...she's kind of upset. Maybe you'd go in and talk to her? Be glad to. Well, Mr. Dellarowe? I wonder if Miss March would let me have all of these? Well that depends... What's in it for her? Prices will have to be built up, Mr. Prince, but... I can usually tell whether a canvas has been painted by a man or woman... But you fooled me completely, Miss March. Your work is not only original, but has a masculine force. How long does it take you to paint a picture? Sometimes a day...sometimes a year. - You can't tell, it has to grow. - Of course. It's a matter of feeling, you know how feeling grows? It's like... Like falling in love, I guess. That's a very good description. The way I look at it...Every painting, if it's any good, is... a love affair. - May I quote that? - Oh, no, no... Please don't write about me. I can see you're going to be a very hard case. Why don't you have confidence in your work? Because I can't draw. You do all right. I just put a line around what I feel when I look at things. You're a very stimulating person to talk to. How are you two getting along? I think I'm breaking the ice. Kitty, Mr. Dellarowe wants to handle all your work exclusively... Is it all right? As a friend I'd advise it. Could you come to the galleries tomorrow? - What time? - Any time that's convenient. How about twelve o'clock? And then lunch afterward with me. Well, I... She'll be there. I'm glad you're around, Mr. Prince, to make up her mind for her. I can see you're tired, Miss March. This has been enough for one evening. We'd better go. Until tomorrow? Thanks, Mr. Janeway...so long. Good evening. - Good night, Mr. Dellarowe. - Good night. - Good night. - Good night. Lazy Legs... I don't know what you told Janeway but you've got him eating right out of your hand. It won't stop with lunch... - Well, what's the difference? - If you mean... Oh, stop acting like a green kid. Let him talk about what he wants to talk about, and he won't talk about art. If I had any sense I'd walk out on you! You haven't got any sense. Right here...just like you'd sign a letter. Come on! - Katherine March. - Kitty? For cat's sake!...Put that one back. Kitty? - Chris! - Oh, Kitty, I happened to be in the neigh... Hello, Mr. Cross, I just dropped in. I thought Millie was here. Say, I hope you don't mind me looking at your picture? Oh no, not at all, Mr. Prince. Fine work, that's remarkable painting. You have a little trouble with perspective, don't you? Yes, that's one thing I could never master: Perspective. Well, I guess I'll have to run along. So long, Mr. Cross. If Millie drops in, tell her I'll be at Tiny's place. Don't bother, I'll let myself out. Has he been here long? No, why? - I don't like him. - Johnny's all right. He's a nice fellow, Chris. Really he is. I don't know why you don't like him. Well...was he the one? One what? Well you said there was one man... Oh for heaven's sake, won't you ever forget that? - Was he? - No! - Kitty... - Go ahead and paint if you want to... I'm not going to stick around if you're going to torment me! Kitty... Oh, Kitty... Oh, leave me alone, I'm going out for dinner! Kitty, don't be angry. Well, why do you come here if you want to quarrel? I didn't ask you to come here! Oh, please Kitty. Oh, for Pete's sake! - Go and paint! - I can't. I can't do a thing when you're angry with me. Do you want me to go? I want you to stay here and paint! Chris...I'm sorry, Chris, but why do you torment me about something that's over and done with? Well, because I... - Would you marry me? - You can't. - Well, something might happen. - What? You better not let your wife hear you talking like that. Of course I'd marry you if you were free, but... You're not, so...Let's not talk about it. Now you go on and paint. Could I paint you? Well, I was going to do this myself, but... Paint me, Chris. There'll be masterpieces. Hello, Adele. I dropped over to the butcher shop like you told me to. They got a nice piece of liver... How long have you known Katherine March? Answer me! - I don't know what you're talking about. - How long have you known her? Well now, don't get excited, let me help you off with your coat. You're the one who's excited...Look at you! And keep away with that knife. You want to cut my throat? How long have you known her? - I don't know what you're talking about. - Don't lie to me! You've been copying her work for years! Pretending you painted those pictures out of your own head and all the time... you were just copying the work of a real artist. I'll bet you're at Dellarowe's every day making notes! - Where? - You know where. Dellarowe's Art Gallery in 57th Street. They've got a window full of paintings by Katherine March. You're talking crazy! She gets 500 dollars for a single picture. She's a genius! No wonder I used to think sometimes there was something in your work... Now I know why! If you ever do any more painting around here I swear I'll write that woman a letter telling her you're stealing her ideas! You're a thief! Hogarth had better watch out... Or next thing you'll be stealing his money! Not that one, Honey. Dellarowe's asking for more pictures... Chris just finished it, he'll miss it. Janeway says the new pictures are... the best things you've done! Wasn't I right about Janeway, Lazy Legs? Yeah, but he gets on my nerves. I been out to dinner with him three times this week and now he's talking about breakfast! He's getting that look in his eye... All you gotta do is keep it there! It's all very well for you to say... but what about the wear and tear on my nerves? Papa will take care of Kitty. Baby's gonna have a big diamond ring... and a shiny limousine... - and a penthouse. - And Johnny? He goes with the penthouse. Chris... How did my pictures get into Dellarowe's window? Oh, Chris! Don't be angry with me... No I'm not angry, I just can't understand. It's not possible! Forgive me, Darling, I... I needed money. They were going to take the furniture back! It was humiliating... I couldn't ask you for more, you've been so generous. I just couldn't! So I sold some pictures. - To Dellarowe? - Yes. You actually sold those pictures? Yes. I know I shouldn't have put my name on them but Mr. Dellarowe wanted to know who painted them and I just couldn't give him your name. Now I can't tell him different...can I? No. The funny part is that it didn't seem to make any difference. Yes, well the funny part is it made a great deal of difference. If I'd brought those pictures to a man like Dellarowe he wouldn't have taken them. I'm a failure, Kitty. Oh, you're a great painter, Chris! Mr. Dellarowe said so and so did Mr. Janeway. That is... - they say I am. - Well they're gonna keep on saying it. - Oh, Chris! - Oh now don't... Don't Kitty, now don't cry. I'm happy!...Why, it's just like a dream. Oh Chris, you're so good, so kind. What difference does it make whose name is on those pictures... yours or mine? Why, it's just like we were married! Only I take your name. Well, that gives me a little authority around here. I want to paint your picture, Kitty. How about it? Come with me. Know what we're going to call this? "Self-Portrait". DELLAROWE GALLERIES EXHIBITION OF KATHERINE MARCH - Hello, Damon! - Hello, Ned. Hello. Well! This is the first time that I've ever agreed with you, Janeway. Thank you. I find the painter even more fascinating than her paintings. What's she like? Mona Lisa without the smile... Something hidden. Sometimes it seems as if she were two people. I mention that in my notice... would you care to see it? Mr. Cross, there's a man outside who says he wants to see you. - Who? - I didn't get no name, sir. But he says he was a detective. - You the detective? - Well, I used to be, Mr. Cross. Don't you recognize me? No. Homer! Quite a shock, huh? Now don't faint, Mr. Cross. Keep your head. I'll explain everything. Well, I was in trouble at the time, I'd been... collecting a little money from the speakeasies along the waterfront. Word got around to headquarters. I was up for investigation. One night I'm down by Brooklyn Bridge... trying to fix things up... A man runs into the speakeasy and says: "A woman just jumped off the bridge." So I run out and tear off my coat, jump in... The way I felt, I'm hoping I don't come up again. You mind? Well, there I am, swimming around in the dark... I had hold of her hat once... the next thing I know, I'm all tired out. I heard a tugboat whistle, and right down on top of me... comes a coal barge... so I grab ahold and climb aboard. I look down at my hand, and what do you think I got? Her pocketbook! That's what I grabbed ahold of when I thought it was her hat! And inside is 2700 dollars in folded money! Imagine anyone committing suicide with that much money! Well the coal barge unloaded on a banana boat... bound for Honduras... Well, I went with it. But if you're not dead... Then I'm not really married to Adele, am I? What's it worth it to you for me to... keep my mouth shut and just... fade away? Yes but... If you're Adele's husband... Wait a minute. I can see you need Adele. I need money. You're a cashier... it ought to be easy for you to get your hands on a couple of thousand... Well, I...I...I couldn't do a thing like that. - You're going back to her? - No! But not to do you a favor, Mister! I'm clearing out for Adele's sake. And don't think you're gonna get any peace of mind, either. I might turn up again someday! She'd kick you out in a minute for a man like me. I'll get you some money. Now you're using your head! But you'll have to wait here. I can't get it until after we close at six o'clock. I'll wait, Cross. - Hello, Johnny. Hello, Kitty. - Hiya, Marchetti! Hi. Don't forget the champagne, Baby! Nice car you have, Johnny. She go fast, eh? I'd like to see any cop trying to catch me. Say, I'll give you four bits for a bucket full of that ice... Okay, Johnny. Can I borrow the icepick? - You give it back, eh? - Sure, sure! Thank you. Only 200? Well, that's all I could get. Don't you think your wife's more than that? Look, I want you to get all that's coming to you, Mr. Higgins. Now what about the insurance money? The insurance? Adele collected it. It's really yours, isn't it? She keeps it right in her bedroom. Now I wouldn't touch a penny of it, Mr. Higgins, but... if you took it, it would be perfectly legal. - But just how would I get it? - That's easy. This is the night that she always goes out to the movies. I let you in, you take the money... I let you out. But why don't you get it? Why, I've got to be able to say that I didn't touch it. You know Adele... What if she don't go out... and I show up... Your goose is cooked, isn't it? Yes, but... - I can play it safe. - How? Well, you come along the street at 11 o'clock tonight... Okay? Why are you whispering? How come the lights are out? Mrs. Michaels. You remember Mrs. Michaels, don't you? - Oh, yeah. - And the neighbors. Where is the money? In there...in the bottom drawer of the chest. Okay, give me the flashlight. Police! Murder! Christopher! Christopher, turn on the lights! Johnny! - Oh, Johnny! - Lazy Legs! Jeepers, I love you. What's that? Chris? - Johnny, is it Chris? - Call him, quick. Chris! Chris! I ought to push you over on your head! How did I know he was coming here tonight? I don't understand it. - You don't understand anything! - But why get sore at me? Well what are the use of my brains if I'm tied up with a dumb cluck like you? - I told you to watch your step, didn't I? - That's right, blame it on me. Oh why did you keep me here tonight? I didn't want to stay. Johnny! Don't talk like that. Well it's the truth, I'm fed up with you! Johnny! That's the only thing you ever understood, I'm through with you! Jeepers, I love you, Johnny. Jeepers, I love you, Johnny. Oh Lord, have mercy upon us sinners! The way of the sinner is made plain with stones. But at the end thereof is the pit of Hell. Oh Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner! - Hallelujah! Amen! - Hallelujah! Amen! Millie? Yeah, Kitty. You seen Johnny? Oh, I thought he'd go to Tiny's. Was he getting tight? Oh, just a fight. Listen, he can't live without me any more than I can live without him. Said he was coming back here? To beat me up? Jeepers, the way that guy shoots off his mouth! Oh you don't have to warn me, that's just the way he talks. If you were in love you'd understand... Oh stop it! Johnny wouldn't kill a fly. That's love, Honey! Here he is now! And has he got a bun on... Goodbye, Hon! Hello, Johnny. Come on, Johnny, I heard you. You lied to me, Kitty. It was him, wasn't it? Can I help it if I'm in love? No, it's just an infatuation. You couldn't love a man like that, Kitty. He's evil! He wouldn't let you alone, isn't that right? I wanted to kill him. But it's wrong. Why did you come here? - To ask you to marry me. - And what about your wife? - I haven't any wife, that's finished. - For cat's sake, you didn't... Her husband turned up, I'm free. Oh now...don't cry, Kitty. I know how you feel, but that's all over now. We all make mistakes. I don't care what's happened, I... I can marry you now, I... I want you to be my wife. We'll go away together, away far off, so... You can forget this other man. Don't cry, Kitty. Please don't cry. I'm not crying you fool, I'm laughing! Kitty... Oh you idiot, how can a man be so dumb? Kitty... I've wanted to laugh in your face ever since I first met you! You're old and ugly and I'm sick of you. Sick! Sick! Sick! Kitty, for Heaven sake! You kill Johnny? I'd like to see you try. Why, he'd break every bone in your body! He's a man. You wanna marry me, you?! Get out of here! Get out! Get away from me! Chris! Chris! Get away from me! Chris! Chris! Hey! You better look out, Johnny. You'll kill somebody! Chris! Hold on, Chris, wait a minute. What made you do it, Chris? When these officers called me, I wouldn't believe it. - We were tipped off on the telephone. - By a man named Higgins. I checked the cash before you came in. You know how much is missing? - Over 1200 dollars. - We'll take him along. You can make the complaint, Mr. Hogarth. Hold on, Morris. - I just can't do it. - But Mr. Hogarth... I know you've done your duty and I'm obliged to you. There's a box of cigars on the table, take them along with you. Okay, Mr. Hogarth, it's up to you. Chris, it was a woman, wasn't it? I thought so. I'm not going to put you in jail, Chris... only of course you're through. Well I didn't do anything! I want a law... I want a lawyer. - Where was he picked up? - Riverside Drive. He tried to get away in the murdered girl's car. That was my car! This is yours, too. It's got your initials on it, but it's her blood. Here's 140 dollars that was taken out of her pocketbook. That was mine. It's her diamond ring, worth You guys know a lot, don't you? It cost 1200! These are personal jewelry. Not much value, but he cleaned her out. But why wouldn't I? She didn't have any more use for it, did she? Listen you guys, I want a lawyer! I'm a citizen, I got my rights! This belongs to you too, huh? It's got your fingerprints on it. Well naturally, I picked it up. How did I know she was dead? I thought she was asleep, at first. She didn't paint those pictures! Old Cross isn't as dumb as he looks. He painted them! The accused brought me two pictures. He told me Miss March painted them. In my expert opinion, there's no doubt about it... She was a very great artist. She told me she was an artist when she rented the studio, he was with her. I didn't like him then and I don't like him now. Yeah, he was mean when he was drunk. He said he was gonna fix her when he left my place around 2 a.m. That's when I tell him: "You look out, Johnny, you're gonna kill somebody." So he kills her with my icepick. And then I heard her say "Hello, Johnny", before she hung up. He was there, all right. But what I don't understand is this talk about her being an artist. I never saw her paint. That was one of her peculiar traits: She never let anyone see her paint. I've compared her handwriting with her signature. There's no question. Mr. Cross paint? He only copied her work. He's a thief! He stole from me, from his employer, from Katherine March. My wife, I mean my former wife, is correct. I really can't paint. My copies were so bad I had to destroy them. For cat's sake! He's lying! - Hello, Mr. Cross! - Hello. Tom Crocker, Evening Globe. Oh yes, Tom Crocker. Joe Williams, Morning World... Conway's with the Ledger. Hello. - Cigarette? - No thanks. Going to Sing Sing? Yeah. I don't like to cover executions... but I must say this is one I don't mind. You sure cooked County's goose, Mr. Cross... when you testified you couldn't paint. Nobody cooked County's goose except Johnny... the way he shot off his mouth. He was a dead pigeon when he dragged the girl's name through the mud. I watched the jury. If he'd kept his trap shut, he might have got off with his life. Sure, the evidence was only circumstantial. What do you mean? He got a fair trial, didn't he? Yeah, but there's always a doubt. I suppose you fellas are going to say it was a miscarriage of justice! That someone is getting away with murder? Not me, there's no such thing! Mr. Cross, nobody gets away with murder. - How's that? - Oh, don't get him started! He'll talk your ear off, that's his pet theory. All right, go ahead and laugh all you like. But no one escapes punishment. I figure we have a little courtroom right in here: Judge, jury and executioner. I don't get it. Murder never solves anything, how about it, fellas? You've covered lots of trials. I'm sorry, but I have to admit you're right. The problem just moves in here where it can never get out. Right here in solitary. So what? So you go right on punishing yourself. You can't get away with it. Never. Well, that doesn't make any sense. Well you haven't seen as much of murder as I have, Mr. Cross. I'd rather have the judge give me the works than have to do it to myself. What time do they throw the switch? I didn't do it, I tell you I didn't do it! Won't anyone believe me? Give me a break, somebody! I never got a square deal in my life. Won't somebody, somebody give me a break... Johnny! Johnny! Oh, Johnny! Johnny! Lazy Legs, Lazy Legs... Johnny darling...Johnny darling... I'm here, baby...Jeepers I love you, Johnny... Johnny. Lazy Legs, Lazy Legs... Jeepers I love you, Johnny... Oh Johnny, now we're together... Yeah...He killed me too, Kitty... He brought us together, Johnny... Forever... Kitty... Oh you idiot, how can a man be so dumb? No, Kitty, no! You wanted to marry me? You? She's mine, Chris, mine...forever. Leave me alone! You killed me, Chris, you're old and ugly and you killed me... You killed me, you killed me, you killed me! No, Kitty, it's him! You were innocent, you were pure, that's what he killed in you. He's the murderer! No, he's not. Not Johnny. You see, Chris? She loves me... That's why you had to die. You're the one I killed. She's mine, Chris. You kill Johnny? I'd like to see you try. - Kitty... He'd break every bone in your body. - Kitty! He's a man. - Kitty!! Johnny...Johnny... Oh, Johnny!...Johnny! Jeepers, I love you, Johnny. There's something wrong in there. It's all right old man, it's all right... Johnny. Oh Johnny. Jeepers, I love you, Johnny. Get up, come on, get up, get up! Oh, it's you. Haven't I told you to keep out of this park? You know the Mayor's orders. Get on down to the Bowery, where you belong. Come on, come on. Who's that rick? He has a crazy idea he killed a couple of people... five or six years ago. Can't get it off his mind. Always trying to give himself up. Wants to be tried and executed... you know these nuts. Well, there goes her masterpiece. I really hate to part with it. For 10,000 dollars I shouldn't think you'd mind, Mr. Dellarowe! Johnny. Oh Johnny. Lazy Legs. Jeepers, I love you, Johnny. |
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