DETOUR (1945)
159 shots over 1:07:38, read from the Internet Archive copy Detour (Detour.mp4, 640×480, 29.97 fps). Shot boundaries by PySceneDetect's adaptive detector; each frame links to the Archive's player at that second. Registry dossier: DETOUR No renewal found. JSON
Measurements: black-and-white film on its keyframes (0 of 159 shots judged colour), average shot 25.5s long, a frontal face detected in 48% of keyframes. Shots are detected automatically and each is represented by its midpoint frame.
Transcript
Machine transcription of the Archive copy's audio with Whisper large-v3-turbo (temperature 0); the model heard it as en. 482 segments kept, 70 dropped as the kind of hallucination the model produces over music and silence. Each timestamp links to the Archive's player at that second. This has not been checked against the film and can be wrong.
- 1:24 Well here we are I turned down here the next block. Thanks mister. I'll get off there.
- 1:36 Want anything else.
- 1:38 No. Hey, you. Me? Yeah, you. Where you're headed? East. You're there.
- 1:50 I thought if you had no other might be able to help you out. Push in the Salt Lake and I don't like the ride alone at night.
- 1:56 I'm one of those guys got a talk right all the time.
- 1:59 Oh, certainly. Pardon me, he's got Lou to keep him company, but.
- 2:03 I ain't got nobody at all.
- 2:04 Where you coming from?
- 2:06 West. Sure I know that. Where L.A.?
- 2:10 Maybe.
- 2:11 I got a cousin out in LA. You don't say. Yeah, he's been out. You're not much of a talker, are you? My mother taught me never to speak to strangers. Oh, wise guy. So what? Okay, okay, don't get sore.
- 2:23 He's trying to be sociable, that's all.
- 2:27 Hey, glamorous. Change for a dime, will you?
- 2:34 I'm sorry.
- 2:39 Let's have something quiet at this time Joe my head splitting that was wrong with it.
- 2:47 Done with your coffee. No.
- 2:49 And don't rush me, will you?
- 2:58 Hey, turn that off. You turn that thing off. What's eating you now? Yeah, what's eating you? That music, it stinks. Oh, you don't like it, huh? No, turn it off. Oh, wait a minute, pal. That was my name. See? This is a free country. I play whatever I wanted.
- 3:11 Sure, if you don't like it, you don't have to listen to it. And you can leave here anytime you want it. Okay, okay. I'm sorry I asked. First good piece played tonight and you don't like it. Some people just ain't got any good taste.
- 3:41 Following me around, beating in my head, never letting up.
462 more segments
- 3:48 Did you ever want to forget anything? Did you ever want to cut away a piece of your memory or blot it out? You can't, you know. No matter how hard you try. You can change the scenery. But sooner or later you'll get a whiff of perfume where somebody will say a certain phrase or maybe hum something.
- 4:05 Then you licked again.
- 4:08 I can't believe that you're in love with me.
- 4:10 I used to love that song once. So did the customers back in the old Break of Dawn Club in New York. I can't remember a night when I didn't get at least three requests for it.
- 4:19 Sue?
- 4:22 She was always selling it too.
- 4:23 Those were the days.
- 4:53 I never knew what they could do. I can't believe that you're in love with me. You're telling everyone you know that I'm on your mind each place you go. They can't believe that you're in love with me.
- 5:23 that you love me. And after all is said and done to think that I'm the lucky one, I can't believe that you're in love with me.
- 5:45 It wasn't much of a club, really.
- 5:48 You know the kind.
- 5:49 A joint where you could have a sandwich and a few drinks and run interference for your girl on the dance floor.
- 5:56 I mounted the piano in there every night from 8:00 until the place closed up.
- 6:00 which usually meant four in the morning. A good job was jobs went in those days.
- 6:08 Then, too, there was Sue, who made working there a little like working in heaven.
- 6:15 But how we felt about each other, well, there was nothing very unusual in that. I was an ordinary healthy guy and she was an ordinary healthy girl. And when you add those two together, you get an ordinary healthy romance.
- 6:25 which is the old story
- 6:28 Sure.
- 6:29 But somehow...
- 6:30 The most wonderful thing in the world.
- 6:40 All in all, I was a pretty lucky guy.
- 6:55 Mr. Paderewski, I presume. It's beautiful. You're going to make Carnegie Hall yet, Al? Yeah.
- 7:01 As a janitor.
- 7:03 I'll make my debut in the basement.
- 7:05 I don't blame you for being bitter, darling, but you mustn't give up hope. Why, someday... Yeah, someday. If I don't get arthritis first. In the meantime, let's blow this trap.
- 7:34 Like you have some lead on I don't think so well I lose my appetite working this big.
- 7:40 Let's go home. OK. I can't stand much more of that dump. Did you see that drunk tonight trying to call me.
- 7:48 No, what drunkard?
- 7:49 Does it matter what drunk?
- 7:51 Say, what's the matter with you tonight, darling?
- 7:55 That's the third time you started to tell me something, Linstop. We shouldn't have any secrets from each other, Sue. Next week we're gonna make with the ring and the license. You and me will be a team. Yes, that's right. In the Bush League. I don't get you. We've been struck out.
- 8:10 It's a funny way to talk, darling. Don't you want to marry me? Al, look, I love you. You know I do, and I want to marry you. - But? - But not now.
- 8:19 Only after we've made good.
- 8:21 Sunday I'm going away. I know you'll think it's silly. That's why I hesitated to tell you.
- 8:29 But I'm going to California. I want to try my luck in Holland.
- 8:33 That's the most stupid thing I ever heard of. Don't you know millions of people go out there every year and wind up polishing cuspidors? I thought you had better sense. You sound as if you don't think I have any talent. That has nothing to do with it.
- 8:44 I'll make out all right. Maybe. But what about me? Doesn't it mean anything to you that you're busting up all our plans?
- 8:49 We may not see each other for years. It won't be that long.
- 8:53 I thought you loved me. I do. You know I do.
- 9:00 We are.
- 9:04 Oh.
- 9:05 Al, why can't you see my side of it? I'm young.
- 9:10 We both are.
- 9:11 And we've got all the time in the world to settle down.
- 9:14 Oh, really, darling?
- 9:17 What I'm doing is the only same thing to do. I hate the thought of being so far away from you, but... but we'll be together again someday.
- 9:27 Maybe you'll decide to come out too later on. So long.
- 9:32 Al, aren't you going to kiss me goodnight? Sure, why not?
- 9:40 Amen.
- 9:41 And I...
- 11:26 Say, Roberts, you hit the jackpot this time. Ten bucks.
- 11:38 So when this drunk handed me a 10 spot after a request, I couldn't get very excited. What was it I asked myself? A piece of paper calling with germs.
- 11:45 It couldn't buy anything I wanted. It couldn't...
- 11:53 And I thought of something.
- 12:18 Long distance. I could put a call through to Los Angeles. Miss Harvey.
- 12:23 Sue Harvey, H-A-R-V-E-Y. The number is Crestview 65723.
- 12:53 I'm not.
- 12:56 Hello, Sue?
- 12:58 This is Al.
- 13:00 Oh, baby, it's great to hear from you, too.
- 13:02 What's that? You do?
- 13:04 Oh, me too, darling.
- 13:05 I thought I'd go batty without you. I just had to...
- 13:08 Huh?
- 13:10 You're working as a hashlinger?
- 13:12 Gee, honey, that's tough. Those guys out in Hollywood don't know the real thing when it's right in front of them.
- 13:17 You just stick it out, Sue, baby.
- 13:19 Keep going around to those casting officers.
- 13:21 I'm sure you'll click.
- 13:23 Look, I'll tell you what, you stay put out there, I'll come to you.
- 13:26 No, don't try to stop me. Just expect me.
- 13:28 Trained?
- 13:29 Who knows, train, plane, bus, magic carpet. I'll be there if I have to crawl.
- 13:33 I have to travel by pogo stick.
- 13:35 And then,
- 13:37 Let's get married right away, huh?
- 13:39 That's the stuff.
- 13:42 That's what I've been wanting to hear you say.
- 13:45 Well,
- 13:46 Goodbye for now.
- 13:49 I'll be seeing you soon.
- 14:00 The only way I could cross country was to come rides. Or even after hocking everything I only had enough money to eat. Money.
- 14:08 You know what that is?
- 14:09 It's the stuff you never have enough of. Little green things with George Washington's picture that men slave for, commit crimes for, die for. It's the stuff that has caused more trouble in the world than anything else we ever invented. Simply because there's too little of it. At least I had too little of it. So it was me for the thumb.
- 14:39 Ever done any hitchhiking? It's not much fun, believe me. Oh, yeah, I know all about how it's an education, how you get to meet a lot of people and all that. But me? From now on, I'll take my education in college, or in P.S. 62, or I'll send $1.98 in stamps for 10 easy lessons.
- 15:14 Thumbing rides may save your bus fare, but it's dangerous. You never know what's in store for you when you hear the squeal of brakes.
- 15:23 If only I had known what I was getting into that day in Arizona.
- 15:30 Not the backseat.
- 15:33 Okay, let's go. Make sure that door is closed.
- 15:50 You know, Emily Post ought to write a book of rules for guys thumbing rides. Because as it is now, you never know what's right and what's wrong. He rode along for a little while, neither one of us saying anything.
- 16:03 I never know what to say to strange people driving cars. Then, too, you can never tell if a guy wants to talk. A lot of rides have been cut short because of a big mouth. So I kept my mouth shut until he started opening up. Hand me that little box in the compartment, will you, pal? Hold the wheel, will you?
- 16:39 I'll find out LA. Well you're really traveling out. Yeah but I don't expect to make it for a couple of years the rate I've been floating right. Not much luck. You're all bad. How many people stop for a guy these days. Fright of a stick up maybe. I think I'm a. Where you coming from New York. Well New York.
- 17:03 Right through to Los Angeles.
- 17:06 You can drive a car? Sure. Whenever you're tired, let me know. I'll holler.
- 17:13 I guess at least an hour passed before I noticed those deep scratches in his right hand. They were wicked. Three puffy red lines about a quarter of an inch apart. He must have seen me looking at them because he said... Beauties, aren't they? They're gonna be scars someday.
- 17:33 Whatever it was, it must have been pretty big and vicious to have done that. Right on both counts, New York. I was tussling with the most dangerous animal in the world. A woman. She must have been Tarzan's mate. Looks like you lost the bough. It certainly wasn't a draw. You know, there ought to be a law against Dainsworth Claus. Yeah. I tossed her out of the car in her ear. Was I wrong? Give a lift to a tomato, you expect her to be nice, don't you? Yeah.
- 18:03 what kind of dame's thumb rides? Sunday school teachers? Yeah.
- 18:08 A little witch. She was the fellow she was riding with some fall guy. A me who's been booking horses around race tracks since I was 20. I've known a million dames like her. Two million? Yeah.
- 18:24 Stopped the car, opened the door.
- 18:27 Take it on the art of Duffy's sister, I told her. What's the stuff? As I was done, huh?
- 18:33 But if you want to see a real scar, brother, get a load of this.
- 18:38 Wow. I got that one doing. Dually? Yeah, we're just kidding, of course. My dad owned a couple of Franco-Prussian sabers. Kept them on the wall for decorations.
- 18:50 Well, one day, the kid and I took them down. The old man wasn't around. Had a duel.
- 18:56 He got me in the arm here. Pretty mean cut. Affection sat in later. Yeah, I can see that.
- 19:03 Now, give me that box again, will you? Yeah.
- 19:18 Pain made me lose my head, I guess. I began slashing. Before I knew it, I put the other kid's eye out. That was tough. Well, it was just an accident, of course. Do you know how kids are? I got scared, decided I was going to run away from home.
- 19:33 Oh man almost caught me when I was packing my debts.
- 19:37 The bloody rag I had wrapped around my wrist hadn't caught his attention. You've seen the bundle for sure.
- 19:44 I beat him when he was calling for a doctor.
- 19:47 I was 15 16 years ago. I haven't been home since.
- 19:55 Well in that for a bite of something huh. A bite of something brother was.
- 20:00 I'm hungry. I hadn't had anything in my stomach for hours. Yet even with that gnawing in the pit of my belly, I didn't want to be in too big a rush to put on the feed bag. First, I had to make sure this guy knew the score. If I got him down on me, I'd buy a ticket to Hollywood.
- 20:16 I'll wait out here for you mister.
- 20:18 If it's the money don't worry about paying for it. This time it's on me.
- 20:21 Well, that's why you're... Pascal, make nothing out of it. You make your first million, maybe you can do the same for me. Come on, New York. I gotta make the West Coast by Wednesday. The horse running in Santa Anita named Powered Bicycle.
- 20:31 He's out of me if I'm on him make it all right.
- 20:34 He did most of the talking during the half hour we were in the place. I ate.
- 20:40 He rambled on about his old man whom he hadn't heard from since he ran away as a kid. Now he happened to become a bookie.
- 20:47 And then all about how he got rooked in Miami.
- 20:49 One race 38 grand.
- 20:51 They cleaned out my book.
- 20:52 How do you like that?
- 20:54 That was tough luck. Yeah, and I'm supposed to be the smart guy. Will you just wait? I'm going back to Florida next season with all kinds of jack.
- 21:00 You watch those stinkers run for cover.
- 21:02 Want anything else?
- 21:11 Let's check that, sister.
- 21:16 Oh, just a minute. Your change, sir.
- 21:23 No.
- 21:23 Shop check, huh?
- 21:33 I drove all that night while Haskell slept like a log. After a while, I began to get sleepy myself. I was happy, though. Soon I'd be with Sue again. The long trip was practically over, and there'd be no more hoofing it down the concrete. I began to think of the future,
- 21:53 brighter but embroidered with neon lights. It was nice to think of Sue shooting to the top.
- 22:01 It's amazing what a full belly can do to your imagination.
- 22:04 Your eyes are blue, your kisses too I never knew what they could do I can't believe that you're in love with me You're telling everyone you know I'm on your mind each place you go
- 22:34 I can't believe that you were in love with me.
- 22:56 Mr. Haskell. Mr. Haskell.
- 23:04 Don't you think we ought to stop and put up the top?
- 23:15 Mr. Haskell, I'm gonna put up the top.
- 23:34 But from then on something else stepped in and shunted me off to a different destination than the one I had picked for myself. The one I pulled open that door.
- 23:46 Mr. Haskell, what's the matter?
- 23:48 Are you hurt?
- 23:50 Are you hurt, Mr. Haskell? Start yourself.
- 23:54 I'll listen to it.
- 23:55 But I know what you're gonna hand me even before you open your mouths.
- 23:59 You're gonna tell me you don't believe my story of how Haskell died... and give me that "don't make me laugh" expression on your smug faces.
- 24:09 I saw it once. He was dead. And I was in for it. Who would believe he fell out of the car? Why, if Haskell came too, which of course he couldn't, even he would swear I conked him over the head for his dough. Yes, I was in for it.
- 24:21 Instinct told me to run. But then I realized it was hopeless.
- 24:24 There were lots of people back down the road who could identify me. That gas station guy and the waitress. I would be in a worse spot then, trying to explain why I beat it.
- 24:30 The next possibility was to sit tight and tell the truth when the cops came. But that would be crazy. They'd laugh at the truth. Not having my head in the noose. So what else was there to do but hide the body and get away in the car? I couldn't leave the car there with him in the gully.
- 24:46 That would be like erecting a tombstone.
- 25:16 My idea was to cover him with brush, not to rob him. But then I remembered that even if I only drove the car for 100 miles or so, I would need money for gas.
- 25:24 Besides, it was stupid of me to leave all that money on a dead man. Not only that, I'd have to take his driver's license in case I was stopped for something. I didn't like to think about it.
- 25:36 But by that time I'd done just what the police would say I did, even if I didn't. My clothes. The owner of such an expensive car would never be wearing them.
- 25:45 Some cop might put me in a suspicion.
- 26:13 Hey you this your car. Don't you know better to leave a car that we'll have way in the middle of the road.
- 26:20 I'm sorry officer I just bring up my top I didn't think well the next time think I'll let you go now but watch a step in the future. I know that's a lonely stretch but cars come by once in a while we have plenty of crack up.
- 26:50 I left nothing in the car to give me away his robber's. If they found a dead man in the gully now, it would be me. As I drove off, it was still raining, and the drop streaked down the windshield like tears.
- 27:20 I kept imagining I was being followed, that I could hear sirens back in the distance. Just how long it took me to cover the 60-odd miles to the California State Line, I don't know. I lost all track of time. But the rain had stopped and the sun was up when I pulled up to the inspection station.
- 27:41 Hello. Carrying any fruits or vegetables? Any livestock or poultry? No.
- 27:50 driver's license please. Anything in the baggage compartment? What's baggage? Charles Haskell, Jr. Aids, 30 brown eyes, dark hair, identifying marks none. Are you Charles Haskell, Jr.? Yes. Well, remember, if you're employed and you stay over 30 days, you take out California plates. All right, officer, but I'll only be in the state a short while.
- 28:16 Right you go now.
- 28:25 I couldn't drive any farther without some sleep. Cops and no cops. I knew I had to hit the hay and hit it hard. I was dead tired.
- 28:46 Oh, you can't ask.
- 29:16 Mr. Haskell, he can't die.
- 29:21 I think I did it.
- 29:26 No, Mr. Haskell. No. No.
- 29:46 The maid, can I come in and clean? Later. In a half hour. All right, sir.
- 30:13 Oh.
- 30:17 There was no time to lose. Every minute I had to be Charles Haskell was dangerous. And I'd have to be Charles Haskell until I got to some city where I could leave the car and be swallowed up.
- 30:31 That meant driving the car as far as San Bernardino. Maybe even to Los Angeles. In a little town I might be noticed, but in a city I should be safe enough. Then, after I ditched the car...
- 30:42 I could go on to sue. But those five minutes at the state line
- 30:47 Made me realize it might be a good idea to find out a little bit about Mr. Haskell.
- 30:51 And if anybody asked me questions, I could give the right answers. The first thing I found out was that I had $768. This was a lot of jack. But believe me, it was the kind of money I'd rather not have.
- 31:21 hikers
- 31:22 Before I got done reading it, I saw him more as a chiseler.
- 31:26 It was written to his old man in California.
- 31:29 The one he hadn't seen in so many years.
- 31:31 In it has composed as a salesman of hymnals
- 31:35 Of all things.
- 31:37 It was easy to see where Haskell expected to raise a new stake for his book in Miami. By rooking his old man.
- 31:46 That was about all I found out from his effects.
- 31:48 And it was enough.
- 31:50 I told myself...
- 31:52 Maybe old man Haskell was lucky his son kicked off.
- 31:56 He would never know it.
- 31:57 But it saved him from taking a flyer in sacred literature preferred.
- 32:27 I pulled up for water.
- 32:29 There was a woman.
- 32:35 Hey, you! Come on if you want a ride.
- 33:25 - How far are you going? - How far are you going?
- 33:29 I surprised and I turned my head to look her over. She was facing straight ahead, so I couldn't see her eyes. But she was young, not more than 24.
- 33:40 Man, she looked as if she'd just been thrown off the crummiest freight train in the world.
- 33:45 Yet in spite of this, I got the impression of beauty. Not the beauty of a movie actress, mind you, or the beauty you dream about when you're with your wife, but a natural beauty. A beauty that's almost homely because it's so real.
- 33:59 Then suddenly she turned to face me. How far did you say you were going? Los Angeles. L.A.? L.A.'s good enough for me, mister. That's what I was afraid of. What'd you say? Oh, nothing. Just thinking out loud. People getting in trouble for doing that. What's your name? You can call me Vera, if you like. You live in Los Angeles? No.
- 34:24 Where you coming from? Oh, back there. Needles? No.
- 34:29 Oh, sure. Phoenix. You look just like a Phoenix girl. And the girls in Phoenix left that? The girl must have been pretty tired because she fell asleep not 20 minutes after she stepped into the car. She lay sprawled out with her head resting against the bar door, like Haskell. I didn't like that part of it much, but I didn't wake her up.
- 34:50 It wasn't that this girl still worried me. I'd gotten over that funny feeling I had when she looked at me, which I put down as just my jangled nerves.
- 34:59 clothes and the test was gone out of her. She seemed harmless enough. And instead of disliking her, I began to feel sorry for her. The poor kid probably had had a rough time on that day. Who was she anyway? And why was she going to Los Angeles? And where'd she come from in the first place? The only thing I knew about it was her name. Not that it made any difference. A few hours more and we'd be in Hollywood. I'd forget where I parked the car and look up Sue. This nightmare of being a death
- 35:29 man would be over. Where the stain was, well, it was no business of mine. Where did you leave his body? Where did you leave the owner of this car? You're not fooling anyone. This buggy belongs to a guy named Haskell. That's not you, mister. You're out of your mind. That's my name, Charles Haskell. I can prove it. It's my driver's license. Save yourself the trouble, mister. Having Haskell's wallet only makes it worse. It just so happens I rode with Charlie Haskell all the way from Louisiana. He picked me up outside of Shreveport.
- 35:59 and it all came back to me. All the talk about dually and scars and scratches. There was no doubt about it. Vera must be the woman Haskell had mentioned. She must have passed me while I slept. Well? Well, I'm waiting. My goose was cooked. She had me. That Haskell guy wasn't dead yet. He wasn't stretched out stiff and cold in any Arizona gully. He was sitting right there in the car laughing like mad while he haunted me.
- 36:29 There was nothing I could say. It was her move. Vera, whatever her name was.
- 36:35 It was just my luck picking her up on the road.
- 36:38 Couldn't have been Helen.
- 36:40 or Mary or Evelyn or Ruth.
- 36:42 It had to be the very last person I should ever have met.
- 36:46 That's life. Whichever way you turn, fate sticks out a foot to trip you.
- 36:56 I told her everything, but she didn't believe my story. I should have saved my breath. That's the greatest cock and ball story I ever heard. So he fell out of his car. Say, who do you think you're talking to, a hick? Listen, mister, I've been around, and I know a wrong guy when I see one. What'd you do, kiss him with a wrench? Now, wait a minute. What I told you was true. You see, that's why I had to do it. You think I killed him. Well, the cops would have thought so, too. Yeah, well, maybe they still think so.
- 37:21 What makes you so sure I'll shut up about this? Girl, I'm innocent. Give me a break, will you?
- 37:27 It won't do me any good having you pinched. The cops are no friends of mine. Now if there was a reward, but there isn't. Thanks. Don't thank me yet. I'm not through with you by a long shot. Let's see that roll. Is that all Haskell had? Isn't it enough? No, I thought he had more. Not that I know of. You can search me and think I'm holding out on you. Well, maybe I will at that. He told me he was going to bet $3,000.
- 37:57 on a horse named Paradisicle on Wednesday at Santa Anita. He was stringing you along. He meant $300. Maybe. Sure, $3.00, $300.00. He was a piece of cheese, a big blowhard. Listen, mister, don't try and tell me anything about Charlie Haskell. Remember, I knew him better than you did. Okay, then you knew he was a four-flusher. That explains the $3.000 bet. I'm not so sure he didn't have that $3.000. Why should I believe you? You got all the earmarks of a cheap crook. Now, wait a minute. Shut up. You're a cheap crook and you killed him. For two cents, I'd change my mind and turn you in. I don't like you.
- 38:27 Don't get sore. I'm not getting sore. But just remember who's boss around here. If you shut up and don't give me any arguments, you'll have nothing to worry about. But if you act wise, well, Mr. Hill pop into jail so fast it'll give you the bins. I'm not arguing. See that you don't. You know, as crooked as you look, I'd hate to see a fella as young as you wind up sniffing that perfume that Arizona hands off free to murderers. I'm not a murderer. Of course you're not. Haskell knocked his own head off. He fell. That's how it happened. Just like I told you. Sure. And then he made you a present of his belongings. I explained why I had to do that.
- 38:57 I'm not a mourner. I like Taskel even less than I like you. Yeah, I saw what you did to him. What do you mean? Scratches on his wrist. Sure, I scratched him. So you did. So your idea was to drive the car a little way, maybe into San Bernardino and then leave it. You weren't going to sell it? Sell it? You think I'm crazy, somebody else's car? See, all I want to do is leave it somewhere and forget I ever saw it. Not only don't you have any scruples, you don't have any brains. I don't get you. Maybe it's a good thing you make.
- 39:27 at me. You'd have got yourself caught sure. Why, you dope. Don't you know a deserted automobile always rates an investigation? Huh? Look, the cops find a car. Then they get curious. They wonder where the owner is. So all right, they don't trace Haskell. They trace you. I never thought of that. The only safe way to get rid of the car is to sell it to a dealer. Get it registered under a new name. Say, stop at the next store. I want to get a bottle and do some shopping before we hit L.A.
- 39:57 - I'll pick you up later. - Nothing doing. You're coming in too.
- 40:00 From now on, you and I are like the Siamese twins. Have it your way. I don't get the point. The point is, I don't want you to get lost. I'm not going to beat it if that's what you're afraid of. I'll say you're not. Well, I'm going to see that you sell this car so you don't get caught. Thanks. Of course, your interest wouldn't be financial, would it? You wouldn't want a small percentage of the profits. Well, now that you insist, how can I refuse? A hundred percent will do. Fine. I'm relieved. I thought for a moment you were going to take it all.
- 40:30 - Good luck.
- 40:31 A few hours later we were in Hollywood. I was recognizing places Sue had written about. It struck me that far from being at the end of the trip, there was a greater distance between Sue and me than when I started out. Pira wasn't kidding with that Siamese twins crack. She rented a little apartment.
- 40:49 as Mrs. Charles Haskell. When I objected to this, she explained that it was on account of the car. A dealer might think something was funny if he called and found we were using different names.
- 41:05 Home sweet home.
- 41:06 Yeah.
- 41:07 Not bad either.
- 41:16 In case there's any doubt in your mind, I'll take the bedroom.
- 41:19 Yeah.
- 41:21 It's really stuffy.
- 41:31 Keep the windows shut.
- 41:32 OK.
- 41:35 The old crow downstairs said there's a folding bed behind this door.
- 41:44 You know how to work it?
- 41:49 I invented it.
- 41:54 Some joint. One can't have everything.
- 42:02 I'm first in the bathtub.
- 42:04 I don't know why.
- 42:05 But I figured you would be.
- 42:17 Boy, oh boy. It sure feels good to be clean again. I must be ten pounds lighter. You must be.
- 42:27 Well, bitch and rides isn't exactly the way you keep your school, girl complexion.
- 42:34 I wish that guy with the sacks would give up.
- 42:37 Get some of my nerves.
- 42:40 Forget it. Have a drink.
- 42:47 Aren't you afraid I might take you up on it?
- 42:50 I didn't want to give you a drink. I wouldn't have offered it.
- 42:55 Why be as sorry, Roberts? You got yourself into this thing. You should be grateful I'm not turning you in.
- 43:02 Why, if I wasn't regular, you'd be in the pen this minute being photographed, fingerprinted, and being pushed around by the cops.
- 43:08 So cheer up.
- 43:09 Get rid of that long puss.
- 43:13 Oh, is your conscience bothering you?
- 43:15 Come on.
- 43:20 No.
- 43:21 It isn't. Swell. That's the spirit.
- 43:25 He's dead and no moment around will bring him back.
- 43:32 Anyway...
- 43:32 I never could understand this worrying about something that's over and done with. Now look, Vera, for the last time I didn't kill him. Haskell was a sick man. Maybe he was dead before he fell out of the car. I don't know. Sure, sure. He died of old age. All right.
- 43:46 So if it'll make you sociable?
- 43:49 You didn't kill him.
- 44:13 We're out of liquor, Roberts.
- 44:15 Yeah.
- 44:17 Too bad.
- 44:18 I felt like getting tight tonight.
- 44:20 Well, I...
- 44:21 I think he succeeded.
- 44:22 Am I right?
- 44:24 There's a prima donna's corset.
- 44:25 That's good. I wanted to get tied.
- 44:28 Why?
- 44:30 What have you got to get tight about?
- 44:31 Oh, I don't know.
- 44:33 few things.
- 44:35 Hm.
- 44:37 He should have my worries.
- 44:39 If I had your troubles, I'd stay sober.
- 44:41 And I've got the key to that door.
- 44:47 Yes.
- 44:48 Maybe you're right. I'm always right.
- 44:52 You know, I don't like your attitude, Roberts.
- 44:55 Well, there's a lot of things I don't like.
- 44:58 Shit.
- 45:02 But life's like a ball game.
- 45:04 You gotta take a swing at whatever comes along before you wake up and find it's a ninth inning.
- 45:08 You read that some? That's a kill, Roberts.
- 45:11 All you do is bellyache.
- 45:14 Making it easy and trying to make the bitter things.
- 45:18 Maybe that's what's wrong with the whole world.
- 45:21 Get the professor.
- 45:22 People themselves out trying to fuck fate. Now take you for instance.
- 45:26 You're lucky to be alive.
- 45:28 Why, suppose Haskell had opened your door?
- 45:30 You'll be playing a harp now.
- 45:32 Think of that.
- 45:35 You think of it.
- 45:36 I'm tired of thinking.
- 45:38 as
- 45:39 Plenty of people die in this minute.
- 45:41 I would give anything to trade places with you.
- 45:46 I know what I'm talking about.
- 45:48 I'm not so sure.
- 45:50 At least...
- 45:50 They know they're done for it.
- 45:52 They don't have to sweat blood...
- 45:53 Wondering if they are.
- 45:56 Your philosophy stinks, pal.
- 45:59 We all know we're gonna kick off someday.
- 46:02 It's only a question of when.
- 46:05 But...
- 46:06 What's got us on this subject anyway?
- 46:08 We'll be discussing politics next.
- 46:11 Yeah.
- 46:13 Where'd you hide the butts?
- 46:16 On the table, sucker.
- 46:18 I'm going to go.
- 46:24 We bored each other with conversation for a couple of hours longer.
- 46:28 Every five minutes, one of us was wishing we had another bottle or a radio or something to read. Then finally, we ran out of chatter.
- 46:38 I know it's only 11 o'clock, but I want to get up early and make the rounds of the used car lots.
- 46:41 Don't worry about that.
- 46:43 We've got all the time in the world.
- 46:44 Maybe you have, but if you think I want to stay cooped up in this place any longer than I have to, you're batting.
- 46:48 It's not a bad place.
- 46:50 They pay plenty for things like this in New York. I wouldn't like it if it was the Ritz.
- 46:58 Rock liquor.
- 46:59 You got a mean cough, oughta do something about it.
- 47:02 I'll be all right. That's what Camille said. Who? Nobody you know.
- 47:12 Wasn't that the day in the diet of consumption? Yeah.
- 47:16 Wouldn't it be a break for you if I did kick off?
- 47:19 You'd be free with all Haskell's dough and car.
- 47:21 I don't want to see anybody die. Not even me? Especially not you. One person died of me. If you did, well, that's all I need.
- 47:33 You don't like me, do you, Roberts?
- 47:37 I don't like you. I love you.
- 47:41 My favorite sport is being kept prisoner. After we sell the car you can go to Blazers for all I care. But not until then.
- 47:55 I'm going to bed.
- 48:06 Good night, Roberts. Don't try and sneak away during the night. All the doors are locked.
- 48:10 Anyway, if I find you gone in the morning, I'll notify the police.
- 48:14 They'll pick you up. Don't worry, I know why I'm in this spot. Well, good night. I hope that portable rack isn't too uncomfortable for you.
- 48:22 I'm losing my sleepover, will you, sir?
- 48:54 Oh, Chris, forgive me.
- 49:04 Six. Five.
- 49:08 Stop.
- 49:10 Two.
- 49:12 We are here.
- 49:14 Hello?
- 49:16 Amen.
- 49:16 Hello.
- 49:19 Hello.
- 49:21 Hello?
- 49:29 No.
- 49:30 Not yet, darling.
- 49:34 Tomorrow.
- 49:35 Maybe.
- 49:40 If this were fiction, I would fall in love with her, marry her and make a respectable woman of her, or else she'd make some supreme class A sacrifice for me.
- 49:50 and die. Sue and I would ball a little over her grave and make some crack about there's good in all of us.
- 49:57 But Vera, unfortunately...
- 49:59 was just as rotten in the morning as she'd been the night before.
- 50:03 *Tonk*
- 50:04 All right, all right, I'm coming. Look, Mary, it's almost noon. So what? The dealers will be there all day? They'll be there all year, too, but they're just gonna wait that long. Shut up. You make us like a husband.
- 50:16 Come on.
- 50:18 Wow.
- 50:20 Do I rate a whistle? You sure do, but let's go.
- 50:23 Let's go, let's go. I spent 85 bucks in two hours preparing bait and all you can say is let's go.
- 50:28 Come on.
- 50:36 We passed a few used car lots last night down this way. What do you think we can get for this heap? I don't know. Plenty. He's let me handle everything. Think we can get $2,000? I don't know, but don't worry. I'll squeeze as much out of this guy as I can. If I let it go cheap without a fight, he might think we've stolen the car. And listen, don't make any slips and call me Roberts. That'll cook us. I don't need you to tell me that. You better just sit by and keep your mouth closed. Remember, we're both in the soup if anything happens. Forget it and drive.
- 51:04 You're my wife, Farrah Haskell. Look, after the deal's closed, let's go back to that place on Hollywood Boulevard... where I saw the fur jacket. I won't hide. After the deal's closed, I'm saying goodbye to you. That's right, I forgot. I guess I'm getting kind of used to you. Well, that's a habit you can start breaking. Let's try this place in the middle of the block. I'm sorry.
- 51:32 Good afternoon. What can I do for you? We're interested in selling a car. If the price is right.
- 51:40 Well, if it's in good mechanical condition, it should blue book for about $1,600.
- 51:45 Tony, take a look at this motor. $1,600. Are you kidding?
- 51:54 Oh.
- 52:01 Well, maybe 1850. Before I let it go for 1850, I'll wreck it and collect the insurance first.
- 52:10 This motor's seen a lot of driving.
- 52:19 While the mechanic inspected the car, we haggled.
- 52:25 from his price. OK it's a deal. All right come on we'll find the papers I have the ownership papers on here with me. Look there in the meantime we've been a dash compartment maybe some stuff in it. All right darling. Eighteen hundred and fifty bucks that dirty.
- 52:54 New York, huh?
- 52:57 But you bought the car in Miami.
- 52:58 Beautiful.
- 53:00 Well, let's see about the insurance. We can either have it transferred or canceled.
- 53:04 Uh, what kind of insurance do you have, Mr. Haskell?
- 53:07 Well, uh...
- 53:08 Aren't all the papers there?
- 53:13 I don't see any.
- 53:14 Surely you know what type of insurance you carry in the car.
- 53:17 The name of the company?
- 53:19 Yeah, but, uh... Well, if you'll just tell me the name of the company, I'd be very glad to take care of all the details. Well... Did you sign the papers yet?
- 53:27 Not yet. Well, don't. We're not selling the car. Well, wait a minute, Mrs. Pascoe. Come on, darling. What's the matter? Change your mind? Yes, I'm sorry. I guess I have. But Vera... Let's go.
- 53:42 You got me out of a tight spot, Vera. But I still don't understand all this. You will in a minute. I almost threw away a gold mine. 1850 isn't to be sneezed at. The car doesn't book for as much as I thought. We're not selling the car. You want to keep it. Now, wait a minute, Vera. You said yourself I wouldn't be safe until the car was in someone else's name. I'd like to be free of this mess when I go. That's just it, Roberts. You're not going.
- 54:05 There's a drive-in in the next corner. Pull in there and we'll get a bite to eat.
- 54:08 What is this, another one of your brilliant ideas?
- 54:18 Oh, can I take your order? Lake Minor ham sandwich and coffee. And for you, sir? Oh, I don't care. The same.
- 54:31 Get this, Vera. I've been pretty patient so far. I've done everything you asked me to do, but no more. Shut up.
- 54:39 You can have the dough we get from selling the car. But you're not going to keep me a prisoner. It's a good thing I bought the paper. Take a look at that. Vera, I'm in no mood. Read that.
- 54:57 No. Yes. No, I won't do it. Yes, you will. You think I'm crazy? It's impossible, I tell you. Excuse me.
- 55:09 Blow the horn when you're through.
- 55:14 No one could possibly get away with an act like that. It'd be wise to me in a minute. Don't be, Yala. You look enough like him. The same coloring and the same build. See how his clothes fit you? No kidding, you almost had me fooled for a while. Oh, grow up, Vera. Don't you think a father knows his own son? And there must be other relatives. So a father won't have to know you. We'll wait till he gives up the ghost. He's an old geezer and he won't pull through. And as far as other relatives are concerned, they haven't seen you in 15 or 20 years.
- 55:40 Eat. I'm not hungry. And I won't do it. It's not as tough as it sounds. Remember, you've got all kinds of identification. His car, letters, license... I could never get away with it. It's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. The old boy has scads of dough. Look in the paper there. Personal fortune assessed at over 15 million. He'll leave plenty, I tell you. Maybe he cut off his son. How do we know? It's out, Vera. I won't have anything to do with it.
- 56:04 I think you will. Look, Vera.
- 56:09 But not that. So forget it. Or find yourself another stooge. You sick. You'll be fixed for the rest of your life as Charlie Haskell. You can take your inheritance and go away. No more worrying about the rent. No sweating, scheming, wondering where your next meal's coming from. Think about that, Roberts. Vera, please, you're talking too loud. Unless I'm splitting 50-50 with you. Sure, why not? We're both alike. Both born in the same gutter. Now take it easy, Vera. There's people around here. You don't know who you're talking about.
- 56:35 We'll wait till we read that old man Haskell's dead. Then you show up.
- 56:38 Like you read in New York that he was sick? No. Suppose he doesn't die? He will. I know he will. Something tells me.
- 56:48 But as much as I insisted I would have no part of her scheme, Vera was taking it for granted I would.
- 56:55 Neither of us had our mind on the cards as we played that night. I knew we were just trying to kill time between newspaper editions. This was a death watch for Vera.
- 57:06 Maybe it was for me, too.
- 57:08 I'll realize if I'm caught.
- 57:09 They'll want to know where I got the car and stuff. And they'll have me on a murder charge. You're smart. You won't get caught. Try not for seven. And if I'm caught, don't you realize you'll be out too? Eighteen points. That gives me thirty. How will I be out? You'll be out. Eighteen hundred and fifty dollars we would have gotten on the car. Really, Vera, you'll be an awful chump. You threw away all that dough and a dizzy long shot. Let me sell the bus tomorrow. With the money it'll bring and what you've already got, a clever kid like you can run it up in no time. Then we'd both be in the clear. I'll be in the clear anyway. Maybe.
- 57:39 Maybe. But if I got caught...
- 57:42 I did good in sort of chill, you know. You mean you squeal? Oh, no, not squeal exactly. Never mind what you meant.
- 57:49 Even if you did tell the cops I was in on it with you, what could they do to me? They might give me the same medicine they gave you. Yeah. A rope.
- 58:01 But I'm on my way out. Oh.
- 58:05 I'll be doing, we'll be rushing it. All right. But think of the 1850 you'd lose. You'd kick yourself along the block, but it'd get away from you. I'll take the chance. Want another drink? You're being a goon. That's the way people wind up behind the eight ball. Once they get a few dollars, they become greedy and want more.
- 58:21 My, my. Caesar! Who? You know that Roman general? He got his for being greedy. He wasn't satisfied, so the final windup was he took the count. A couple of days ago you didn't have a dime. Why, you were so broke you couldn't pay cash for a post-it stamp. Now you've got almost $700 with $18.50 in the offing. Take my advice. Don't try for more. I'm tired of this game. Let's have some blackjack. Play solitaire. Okay, I will if that's the way you feel about it. That's the way I feel about it. Getting so enthroned things won't help much, Roberts.
- 58:48 I'm really doing you a favor.
- 59:01 All right, then.
- 59:05 Suppose I call the cops.
- 59:07 Here, Innocent, what do you got to be scared of?
- 59:09 Okay. Call them in mud. Go ahead and call them. See if I care. At least they'll give me a square deal.
- 59:15 He was a miracle.
- 59:16 You heard me. But I'm warning you. If I'm pinched, I'll swear you were in on it.
- 59:20 I'll say that you help me. If I fry, I'll get even with you. You wouldn't dare, you kid! Yeah?
- 59:26 And try and see. Call him.
- 59:29 Here.
- 59:30 Okay, I will.
- 59:31 I'm going to go.
- 59:44 Information?
- 59:47 I want the number at the Hollywood police station.
- 1:00:00 Now let's talk this over. This was early in the evening and the conversation while hectic was at least pitched low. But as the minutes passed and more obstacles to her plan popped into my head, the air got blue. Each word coming from our lips cracked like a whip. I reminded her that as Charles Haskell I didn't even know my mother's name, where I'd gone to school, the name of my best friend, whether I had an Aunt Emma or not, my religion, and if I'd ever owned a dog.
- 1:00:30 I didn't even know what my middle initial stood for. I also pointed out that the real Haskell had a scar on his forearm.
- 1:00:37 His people never saw that scar. He told me he ran away right after putting out the kid's eye. Yeah, but his father knew he was cut.
- 1:00:42 It'll have to be some kind of a mark. So what?
- 1:00:45 The old man's dead or will be, I hope by tomorrow morning's papers. Anyway, you can cut yourself a little, couldn't you? Boy, for that kind of dough, I'd let you cut my leg off. You're drunk and you're crazy mad, Vera. Turn me in if you want to, but I won't get mixed up in this. Besides, how do we know? Haskell was such a phony. Maybe he wasn't the man's son at all. Maybe he just dreamed it up. Well, dream it or not, you won't be dreaming when the law attacks you on the shoulder.
- 1:01:11 There's a cute little gas chamber waiting for you, Roberts. And I hear extradition to Arizona's Ascension. Where's that phone? - Vera. - Leave me alone. - Vera. I want a phone call, please.
- 1:01:26 I hate you, you stinker. You leave me alone! I'll let you alone when you promise to leave the phone where it is. You're drunk. You don't know what you're doing. You're hurting me. Will you promise?
- 1:01:35 All right.
- 1:01:43 It hurt me.
- 1:01:44 I'm sorry, but... It's hot in here. Open up the window. It's not hot.
- 1:01:49 Don't tell me. Now, do you do it or do I do it?
- 1:01:53 You're no gentleman, see? Yeah.
- 1:01:56 All right, I'll open up the window.
- 1:02:07 Here, open the door. Here.
- 1:02:09 Please open the door.
- 1:02:10 Vera, open the door. Don't use the phone. Listen to me. I don't like you, Roberts. You're no gentleman, see? You hurt my hand, and I'm going to get even with you. If you don't open the door, I'm going to kick it down, Vera. Vera.
- 1:02:23 Then I don't call the cops. Listen to me. I'll do anything you say.
- 1:02:27 Vera, let me in.
- 1:02:30 I'll break the phone.
- 1:02:57 The world is full of skeptics. I know. I'm one myself. In the Haskell business, how many of you would believe he fell out of the car? And now, after killing Vera without really meaning to do it, how many of you would believe it wasn't premeditated?
- 1:03:27 last man of you would go down shouting that she had me over a barrel and my only out was force.
- 1:03:33 The room was still. So quiet that for a while I wondered if I'd suddenly gone deaf. It was pure fear, of course. And I was hysterical.
- 1:03:43 But without making a sound.
- 1:03:46 Vera was dead. And I was her murderer. Murderer? What an awful word that is. But I've become one. I better not get caught.
- 1:03:57 What evidence there was around the place had to be destroyed. And from the looks of things, there was plenty. Looking around the room at things we'd bought was like looking into the faces of a hundred people who'd seen us together and who remembered me. This was the kind of testimony I couldn't rub out. No. I could burn clothes and hide bottles for the next five years. There'd always be witnesses. The landlady for one. She could identify me. The car dealer, the waitress in the drive-in, the girl in the dress shop, and that guy in the liquor store. They could all identify me.
- 1:04:27 I was cooked. Done for. I had to get out of there.
- 1:04:32 While once I'd remained beside a dead body, planning carefully how to avoid being accused of killing him, this time I couldn't. This time I was guilty.
- 1:04:43 I knew it. Felt it.
- 1:04:46 I was like a guy suffering from shock. Things were whirling around in my head. I couldn't make myself think right. All I could think of was the guy with the saxophone and what he was playing. It wasn't a love song anymore. It was a dirge.
- 1:05:49 But my problems weren't solved. I had to stay away from New York for all time. Because Al Roberts was listed as dead and had to stay dead. And I could never go back to Hollywood. Someone might recognize me as Haskell.
- 1:06:05 Then, too...
- 1:06:07 There was Sue.
- 1:06:10 I could never go to her with a thing like this hanging over my head.
- 1:06:14 All I could do...
- 1:06:16 was pray she'd be happy.
- 1:06:19 Come on.
- 1:06:23 All right.
- 1:06:29 I was in Bakersfield before I read that Vera's body was discovered. That the police were looking for Haskell in connection with his wife's murder.
- 1:06:38 Isn't that a laugh? Haskell got me into this mess.
- 1:06:42 and Haskell was getting me out of it.
- 1:06:44 The police were searching for a dead man.
- 1:06:49 I keep trying to forget what happened.
- 1:06:53 And wonder what my life might have been if that car of Haskell's hadn't stopped.
- 1:06:59 But one thing I don't have to wonder about...
- 1:07:02 I know. Someday a car will stop to pick me up that I never thumbed.
- 1:07:13 Yes. Fate, or some mysterious force, can put the finger on you or me for no good reason at all.
The video itself is not here and never will be; only the shot list, one small frame per shot, and text read off the frames by OCR. The status badge is the registry's finding about the copyright record, which is separate from whether this particular Archive copy is the film it says it is.
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