"It's the voice of my one love" "And it promises ecstasy" "Day and night, it is calling me" "But I'm afraid to go" "Julie" "Though I run to escape it" "Still it calls irresistibly" "And although it's my destiny" "Sorrow is there, I know" "Warm are his arms" "Tender, his kiss" "But in his eyes" "Hidden, the danger lies" "Julie" "Must I go where he leads me" "Though it be through eternity" "Oh, I know I will never be free" "Free from the voice that calls" "Julie" "How can you humiliate me like this?" "What you said to him in front of all those people, it's unforgivable." "Is it because he's a cousin of Bob's?" "Is that it?" "No." "It's because he's a man... any man!" "And you were annoyed because I stood there and talked to him for 10 minutes." "Is that it?" "Well, if this is what married life is going to be, then we have nothing, absolutely nothing!" "And I can't bear it any more, Lyle, I really can't... and I won't!" "You're hurting... take your foot off of my..." "You're hurting me!" "Please!" "Please." "You're hurting me!" "Get your foot" "You'll kill us!" "Lyle!" "Please." "Please!" "What are you doing?" "Lyle!" "Please!" "Lyle!" "Lyle!" "Lyle!" "Julie!" "Julie!" "Julie." "Oh, Julie..." "I'm so sorry... so desperately sorry." "Help me fight this thing." "I was jealous, jealous... blindly jealous." "Julie..." "Julie, you've got to believe me." "I only meant to frighten you." "That's all I wanted to do at first." "I started grinding that pedal harder and harder, and I couldn't stop." "I couldn't stop." "It was the thought of losing you." "Julie..." "I love you so very much." "He'd nearly killed us both, yet he seemed so sorry, so desperately sorry, that my heart went out to him." "I didn't know what to think." "I just didn't know." "Darling..." "Cliff told me something this morning that was very upsetting." "He told me that Bob did not take his life for the reason we supposed at all." "And he said it couldn't have been a financial thing because he even tried to help him." "Naturally, he assumed that there was some... inner thing that he didn't know about." "This must have come as quite a shock to you." "Yes, it did." "Of course, it did... because, Lyle, if financial worries weren't at the bottom of all... then what was?" "I don't know... but I never believed that money problem idea." "You know that." "Well, it just makes no sense... no sense at all." "Look, Julie, it's as inscrutable to me as to you... and everyone else why a man like Bob would commit suicide." "But the fact remains, Bob did do it." "He's gone." "And you are now Mrs. Benton." "You're cold." "Shall I get you something warm?" "No." "I'm all right, thank you." "Julie, there is no sense in rehashing this thing." "I'd appreciate dropping the subject of Bob once and for all." "Let it lie." "Bury him." "You're... you're jealous of him." "Yes." "I was jealous of him from the start... from the moment I first saw you." "So... even while I was still married to Bob, even before he died, Lyle was jealous of him." "Oh, it gave me a feeling of apprehension" "I couldn't shake." "I had to talk to Cliff." "I had to have more answers." "Cliff." "Oh, hiya, Julie." "I had to see you just for a minute." "I've got all weekend." "How about over there?" "Fine." "Excuse me." "As a matter of fact, I should be at the lodge right now." "I have a golf date with Peggy Davis." "I just wanted to ask you something about our conversation." "Sure, Julie." "What's up?" "Cliff, are you sure that Bob had no reservations about accepting that loan?" "I'm sure he didn't." "It's just as I said yesterday, it was a good deal for Bob, too." "He knew that." "Then why did he do it, Cliff?" "Why?" "You expecting him?" "Who?" "Lyle." "Oh, as a matter of fact, he could drop by anytime, I guess." "Tell me something, Julie, does he blow his stack that way often?" "No, he doesn't." "Of course not." "He's a very sweet and wonderful guy, ordinarily." "Ordinarily?" "Except for that jealousy of his." "You're due at the lodge." "Come on, I'll walk with you." "All right." "Julie, yesterday... yesterday after you left here, anything happen between you and Lyle?" "Why do you ask that?" "I saw that look on Lyle's face when he went barging after you." "I didn't quite like it." "Got a cigarette?" "Yeah." "Something did happen, didn't it, Julie?" "It's not important, Cliff, really." "I have a feeling there's something more seriously wrong than you're letting on." "Well, it's partly my fault, in his belief." "I threatened to leave him." "Threatened to leave him?" "Yes, and I didn't mean it." "But that's what made him go off the deep end." "It was right after we left here." "Julie, let me get this straight." "You mean he jammed the accelerator- jammed it all the way down?" "Cliff, he didn't know what he was doing, really he didn't." "So it was a crazy risk, an irrational thing to do, Julie." "Has he always been so jealous?" "No." "It's just since we've been married." "Cliff, I don't know what I'm going to do about it." "Really, I don't." "I can't say, "Lyle, darling, I love you." "You've got to believe me and have faith and trust."" "He doesn't understand it." "If I go to the club and chat with someone... like you, for instance... he has hallucinations." "The rope hung from the rafter in the basement." "Bob had stood on something- a box, wasn't it?" "He'd apparently kicked it out from under him?" "Please, Cliff, do we have to talk about it?" "Really, it's very difficult." "Julie... did it ever occur to you that Bob's neck could have been placed in that rope after he'd been strangled?" "After..." "By a murderer." "I mean, it is a possibility." "By someone who wanted him out of the way." "Julie..." "Julie, was anyone else there that night?" "No... no one else." "Wasn't Lyle there when it happened?" "I told you he wasn't." "Julie, nothing more can be done for Bob." "But you're in danger, grave danger." "That's why I've questioned you this way, to make you see it." "Lyle was there, wasn't he?" "All right." "Yes, he was there." "He was our house guest, but that doesn't prove anything, does it, Cliff?" "It doesn't prove one thing." "Come on!" "I'm coming!" "Hello!" "Hi." "Would you care to join us?" "No." "I'll wait for you in the lodge." "All right." "When I got back to the lodge," "Lyle was in the middle of a business call to New York, so I went on in." "Frankly, I was in no mood for golf." "After a few holes, I had had it." "Mrs. Benton." "Hello, Harry." "One diamond." "Pass." "Three diamonds." "Pass." "Five diamonds." "Pass." "I pass." "Lyle was talking to his manager, they were working out his tour for the Fall." "You see, Lyle was a very talented pianist, topflight in his field." "Can I have a package of these, please?" "Pass." "You lay them out, partner." "Um... scotch on the rocks and a manhattan, please." "Thank you, ma'am." "Julie, I've been thinking it over." "These interlocking bits of suspicious evidence... the way they add up..." "I'm expecting my husband..." "They can't be ignored." "They simply can't." "I said I'm expecting my husband." "Julie, I've got to make you see this." "Cliff, you have no proof of anything and I will not..." "Yesterday, during that wild, crazy ride in the car, he very nearly killed you, and why?" "Because he was jealous." "That's why." "He didn't know what he was doing." "Don't you see?" "Jealous over nothing." "What would happen if he had real provocation." "You were in love with Bob, you were married to Bob." "Bob stood in his way." "He was jealous of Bob." "Yes, he was jealous of Bob." "He admitted it?" "He told me last night." "Cliff, don't think I haven't been worried about this." "It's driving me crazy." "It's there, and it won't go." "Is that it?" "Peggy." "Oh, hi, Lyle." "Say, was your wife off her game this morning- but off." "Really?" "How about joining us for a drink?" "We'd love to." "Would you excuse us?" "Julie, you've got to face it." "If Lyle did do this thing, and it is possible- more than possible." "You know that" "What's to stop him from again pressing that accelerator to the floor... only next time, for keeps?" "Hi." "Mr. Henderson." "This is wonderful." "Lyle." "How are you, Peggy?" "I was just playing bridge with some friends." "Well, have one drink with us anyway, please." "All right, just one." "I'm sure they won't mind waiting." "Say, speaking of waiting, you surely kept me waiting for ages this morning, Julie." "I'm sure Julie had a good excuse." "That man... he knows how it is." "Uh, what are you drinking, Peg?" "Same as yours, please." "Martini." "What is, Peggy?" "Well, you know your wife." "Golly, she bumps into people, and she yaks and yaks." "You were talking to someone?" "I bumped into everybody this morning." "I just couldn't seem to get to the golf course." "It was the darnedest thing." "Thanks a lot for the drinks." "Bye, Peg." "See you later." "So long, Peg." "Darling, I forgot my bag." "Would you get it, please?" "I'll get it." "Cliff, I can't stand this anymore, having these doubts and suspicions and whispering behind his back." "I've got to find out." "But how?" "I'm going to find out for myself, and I'm going to find out tonight." "Julie, be careful." "Thanks, darling." "Bye-bye, Cliff." "Good-bye." "I'd listen by the hour to Lyle practicing." "He played so beautifully." "But today there was something strangely disturbing about his music, a sort of savage fury that... that was almost frightening." "Gradually, as I listened to him play," "I began evolving a plan." "It was a desperate, last-resort measure to learn the truth." "I wondered if I had the courage to go through with this plan." "It could cost me my marriage if Lyle were innocent." "If he were guilty..." "it could cost me my life." "I lay in bed listening to the roar of the ocean, the slap of the spray against the window." "I was fighting to get up my courage." "This was it." "My heart was pounding, but I was determined to go on with my plan, and I had to make it seem convincing." "Even if the words choked in my throat," "Lyle had to believe them." "Lyle?" "Yes?" "I was just thinking about... what you told me, about how much you love me." "Darling, if... if Bob hadn't died... what would you have done?" "Why do you ask?" "If there had been one way... just one way... to have gotten me... free from Bob... would you have done it?" "Done what, Julie?" "Killed him." "Do you think I'd have gone that far?" "Yes." "And still you married me." "Maybe my love for you was just as violent as yours for me." "I'd like to believe that, but..." "Bob committed suicide." "That was the verdict." "Yes... that was the verdict." "Julie... you didn't even suspect such a thing as late as yesterday in the car." "Why do you say that?" "Because if you had thought I killed Bob to have you, you'd never have been foolish enough to threaten leaving me." "Then you admit having done it?" "Yes." "Yes." "Don't ever try to leave me." "Don't ever try to leave me." "I had to lie there in his arms, lie there in panic and wait for morning to come." "I knew now that if I tried to leave him, he'd kill me... kill me as quickly as he did Bob." "Oh, yet, my every impulse was to bolt for the door, and to run for my life, but I didn't dare." "I had to bide my time, and act like everything was normal, but I had thought of one idea." "It was worth a try." "Anything was worth a try." "Oh, Lyle, we're out of eggs and cream." "Look, I'll run to the market and I'll be right back." "Right back." "Uh, don't bother, we'll eat something else." "But you always have eggs for breakfast, in the morning, and besides, I like cream in my coffee." "And I don't mind going." "Well, I'll come along and keep you company." "Look, darling, you know, this is really stupid." "Why should we go all the way to the village when I can go that... the next house and borrow whatever we need?" "Are they friendly?" "I'm sure they won't mind." "Wonderful." "So we'll walk a little." "Oh, but you don't have to go." "Don't you want me?" "Darling, this is not a very good idea, because I'm gonna get my feet wet if I go on." "You want me to carry you?" "I'll go back and get the coffee boiling, and you go on." "All right?" "I have lots of things to do." "All right." "Sick with fright," "I put the kettle on and started it boiling, just in case." "Then I went to the window and watched until Lyle went over the rise." "Now I breathed easier." "I knew I'd have a good 20 minutes until he got back." "It only take a few seconds to put some clothes in a bag." "It wasn't too much of a risk." "I didn't know what that noise was, but it gave me a sudden feeling of panic." "All at once- my clothes- nothing mattered." "But I had a chilling urge to get out of that house, and get out of it fast!" "I hitched a ride into Monterey." "But I never took my eyes off the road in back, not for a second." "I knew that Lyle's car could loom into sight at anytime, and I was terrified." "Thank you so much." "I'm very grateful." "That's quite all right." "Del Monte Lodge." "Operator, would you please give me Cliff Henderson, and hurry." "Just a minute, please." "Just a moment, please." "His line is busy." "Operator, I can't hold on any longer." "Would you please tell him that Julie Benton called and would he meet me at the Monterey police station, right away?" "Thank you." "Pardon me." "Please, where is the police station?" "Two blocks up, one block over." "Do you have a back entrance I could use?" "Right through that arch." "Pardon me, please." "I hate to interrupt, but it's very urgent." "What is it, ma'am?" "May I see whoever's in charge?" "Go through that door, please." "Sergeant, this lady would like to speak to you." "Sergeant, I'm Mrs. Lyle Benton." "Let's use this room in here." "Thank you." "Won't you sit down?" "Now, what can I do for you?" "Sergeant, I think I should start at the beginning." "You see, I was married once before, and I lived near San Francisco, in Palo Alto." "Yes?" "Sergeant, I want to report a murder." "Thanks, driver." "Where can I find Mrs. Lyle Benton?" "Mrs. Benton?" "Is there a young lady here?" "She sent for me." "Oh, yeah, straight down and to your right." "Thank you." "Julie." "Cliff, it's true." "It's all true." "Yes." "Yes, I understand that." "He's talking to the police in Palo Alto." "Yes, naturally." "Oh, naturally." "Well, I guess that about does it." "Well thank you very much." "Good-bye." "What did he say?" "Mrs. Benton, you must understand that once a case is closed, you have to come up with some pretty substantial evidence before the police will reopen it again." "That applies anywhere- - New york, London, Hong Kong or Palo Alto." "But he admitted it." "Is that enough for you?" "He admitted it to me!" "Of course, Mrs. Benton, you realize we only have your word for that." "You haven't provided us with a bit of direct evidence or even one corroborating witness." "On the other hand, I just talked to the chief up there." "And he told me that the matter was thoroughly investigated at the time." "Can they be wrong?" "Can they?" "That's possible." "Still, they seem completely satisfied that the man took his own life." "I'm afraid our hands are pretty much tied." "Oh, by the way, I'm Sergeant Cole." "Cliff Henderson." "This is Detective Pope." "At best, it would just be Mrs. Benton's word against his." "Surely you can see that." "Besides, the law doesn't allow a wife to testify against her own husband." "So she's dead on that score alone." "But you're not even going to question the man?" "May I see you a moment?" "Oh, sure." "Be right back." "I know he did it." "I know it." "Julie, I know it seems incredible but you've got to try to see their point of view." "What can the police do?" "The sergeant will be right here." "He's questioning your husband now." "He's here?" "Yes." "He came of his own volition." "He'll deny everything, of course." "Well, there you are." "I know a lot of fellas that make some pretty wild threats if they get teed off enough, including mayhemor murder, and anything that happens to pop into their head..." "This isn't just a threat." "Look, if we called in every guy who threatened his wife," "We'd need a jail the size of the Pentagon." "We're not talking about threats... this man committed a murder... he admitted it to his wife." "Then there are vindictive women." "They'll make up anything to get back at some man." "I assure you, Mrs. Benton is telling the truth." "But can she prove it?" "And, of course, the burden of proof is on her." "As a matter of fact," "Mr. Benton has some pretty fancy accusations of his own." "Accusations?" "What accusations?" "About you and Mrs. Benton." "Well, that's ridiculous." "He says your accusations are ridiculous." "How 'bout the car, that wild ride in the car yesterday?" "Did you tell them about that?" "Yes." "I told them everything." "Well, what does it prove?" "He emphatically denies this car business, even denies threatening you last night." "And you accept his denial?" "You're not going to do anything about it - anything at all?" "We can't arrest a man on the grounds of an uncorroborated verbal threat." "Couldn't you cross-question him?" "Get at the truth, you know how." "That's your job." "What about the lie detector?" "Even if we put him in jail, some lawyer would have him out of there in two minutes flat." "And he could sue us for false arrest in the bargain." "Obviously, we can't place a guard over her 24 hours a day, even if we were allowed to." "In fact, we've barely enough men to handle our regular work." "Come on, Julie." "Come on." "It's hopeless." "Julie... you're making a mistake... a terrible mistake." "We're getting you out of town, but fast." "There's no telling what he'll do now." "The next flight isn't till 4:10." "I looked it up, just in case." "The first thing we'll have to do is latch onto a car." "I don't have one." "I hitched a ride from San Francisco with some friends." "Hello!" "The taxi driver told me I could rent a car here and deliver it back in San Francisco." "Is that right?" "Sure." "How soon can we get going?" "Well, sir, I just have to write up the contract." "Make it 10 bucks if you in 4 minutes flat." "Oh, thanks, mister." "Thanks." "Hey, pull out the Plymouth." "Get it ready on the double!" "I'm sorry I spoiled your weekend." "That's all right." "I had to go back tonight anyhow." "Starting a new mining project tomorrow up at Lodi." "Your name Mrs. Lyle Benton?" "Somebody wants you on the phone." "Hello?" "Please, can you hurry?" "Your driver's license, sir?" "I'm writing as fast as I can, lady." "I only got two hands." "He must have checked all over the airports, bus depots, the works." "Now let me see, is this your present address?" "Yeah, yeah." "So he finds us here." "What can he possibly do?" "How long will it take?" "If you've got an oil company card, you can charge it, you know." "Here we go." "Please hurry!" "I'm almost done." "There you go." "Now, you want to sign right down there." "All right." "Here." "Hey, check the gas, will you?" "Never mind that, we'll have to take a chance." "Do you have to do that?" "How else can we check the mileage?" "Does that alley lead to the street?" "Yes, sir." "Cliff made it back to San Francisco in less than two hours." "He didn't want to risk Lyle catching up with us." "We went directly to the most crowded hotel in the city." "I'd like a room for Mrs. Bowers, please." "Cliff even insisted I sign the register under an assumed name." "I'll take the key." "That's all right." "I have it." "Thank you." "He took every precaution." "Now, Julie, believe me, you can't be too careful." "Oh, I know, Cliff, but what about tomorrow and the next day, and the next day?" "And the day after that?" "Hey, get ahold of yourself." "Maybe if you had dinner," "You wouldn't feel so black." "No." "I'm not hungry." "Thank you." "Uh, tell ya what, how about settling for a drink instead?" "All right." "I'll be right down." "10 bucks if you make it in 4 minutes flat." "Thanks, mister." "Thanks." "And I really mean it, Cliff." "Julie..." "Julie, don't call any of your friends." "Nobody must know where you are." "All right." "I'll be right down." "Hello?" "Hello." "Mrs. Bowers?" "Yes." "Monterey calling." "Just a minute, please." "Hello." "Darling." "Julie..." "Julie, you're going to die." "How did you find me?" "Darling, you can't get away from me, no matter how many times you change your name, no matter how many places you go, no matter what." "Lyle, you're insane." "Maybe... on one subject..." "One only." "You." "What did I do?" "What?" "Nothing." "Just wait for it to happen." "You'll never know when that's going to be, Julie." "It was Lyle." "Cliff, he said he wants to kill me, and he means it." "You talked to Lyle?" "Just now on the phone." "He called you?" "He called me from Monterey." "How does he know that I'm here?" "That's a good question." "Cliff, I'm so scared." "Let's go." "Easy." "He must have phoned some local detective agency, worked through them." "If he took a plane, he'd be here in less than an hour." "Wait a minute, I've got it." "He knew darn well we'd head for San Francisco." "After all we both live here." "I suppose so, but let's get out of..." "Don't you see, there are only three highways leading into the city." "He knew we'd have to use one of them." "They spotted us on the road?" "And trailed us here- why not?" "Lyle could have given him our description, make and color of the car - even the license number." "They're probably watching us now." "Probably." "Cliff, what am I going to do- go through life running away from this man?" "I can't stand..." "First thing is to get our drink." "After that we'll have another go at the police." "I'm afraid they gave you the right dope down at Monterey." "You intend to stand-by till Mrs. Benton is murdered?" "Is that it?" "Well, I can understand how you'd feel this way, Mr. Henderson, but we're up against it." "There simply isn't any law that will permit us to take action at this time." "Where's Mrs. Benton?" "She's at my desk." "I want to see her." "She's pretty upset." "She's taken quite a beating on this thing." "I'll to try to spare her, as much as possible." "It's a very real problem, believe me." "As a matter of fact, one of our men was up against the same thing recently." "Oh, that's right - it was about his wife." "After a lot of crazy threats her ex-husband finally caught up with her." "What happened?" "Sorry to report, it was fatal." "Pardon me, Lieutenant, this is urgent." "So you can see we understand the gravity of your predicament." "Surprising how many men flip like that over a woman." "Yeah, usually it's an estranged wife who wants no part of the guy." "Yes, that's part of the pattern." "Most of these lovesick guys would rather kill their wives than let them go." "You know in the bay area here, we average twoof these cases a week." "A week - that many?" "Yes." "Just about." "Julie, this is Lieutenant Pringle." "Mrs. Benton." "How do you do, Lieutenant?" "Mrs. Benton, under the circumstances, the only thing that I can suggest is that you change your identity and get away from here as quickly as possible." "Lieutenant, I can't take it anymore." "I really can't." "Julie..." "He admitted killing my husband." "He admits that he wants to kill me, and nobody can help me do anything!" "It's fantastic!" "Well, it does sound fantastic." "I'll admit that." "The truth of the matter is, there isn't any island of safety for a woman in your spot." "I'm sorry, but that's the way it is." "The trouble, Mrs. Benton, is that most women don't think it can happen to them." "They stick around." "They rationalize." "Don't let her make the mistake of staying around here." "I can give you names of women who did" " Mrs. Pauline Sutton." "She was shot at the corner of 4th and Market Street." "Remeber the headlines?" "Mrs. Alice Dexter," "Mrs. Joan Summers and her two children." "All right, Lieutenant, you've made the point." "Boy, this is really something..." "Mrs. Benton comes to the police for help, and they frighten the daylights out of her." "Cream and sugar in your coffee?" "I don't want anything." "Well, I assure you, it's not pleasant for us to sit around with our hands tied." "But yours aren't." "Now you get her out of town." "These fellas will stop at nothing to get the woman, They' kill anybody that gets in their way, and they usually wind up killing themselves, too." "All right, Lieutenant." "Julie, I'm afraid the Lieutenant's right." "You've got to leave here." "All right." "All right." "Cliff, I'll have to go to New York and try to get back with the airlines." "It's the only solution." "Maybe you could wangle an overseas run." "I'd buy that for you." "No." "I can't do that." "It involves seniority." "I'll have to start with a non-sked." "I don't know." "Mrs. Benton was an airline hostess before her first husband died." "I'll tell you what, Mrs. Benton... if you'll promise to leave on the first plane in the morning" "I'll assign two men to stay with you until you go." "Thank you very much." "I'm not supposed to do it, but I will." "Why don't you go home and pack?" "With my men there, you won't have anything to worry about." "I want a couple of men up here right away." "You still have time to get a couple of hours rest." "Even though we had two police officers with us," "I felt morbidly apprehensive about returning to our apartment in San Francisco." "Fortunately, in spite of our Summer home in Carmel, we'd left most of our things there." "I knew it was crazy, but I had the chilling sensation of being watched by Lyle." "I could feel his presence." "It was ominous." "It was strangely disturbing." "What's up?" "Better take a look." "All right." "It's coming from the parking lot." "Somebody left a tape recorder going in a car!" "Somebody left a tape recorder going in his car." "A wire for Mr. Henderson." "Oh, thank you." "Lodi 8-5299." "Yeah?" "Hello, Mr. Henderson." "A wire just came from Mrs. Benton." "Oh, read it to me, please." ""Is Lyle laying low or merely not caught up with me yet?" ""The suspense is nerve-wracking" ""simply impossible - Dodge occasional San Francisco flight and hold job." "Arrive 6 P.M. tonight." "Spending night with Denise Martin," "Havemeyer Arms, 1047 Wyton Drive."" "1047 Wyton Drive." "Go ahead." ""Your offer fly Denver very sweet." "However, this saves you trip."" "Look, I have to hang up now." "Send her a message, tell her I can't leave here before 6:00." "Well, wait a minute..." "Yeah?" "What'll I tell that Mr. Royston?" "He keeps calling, says it's important." "See if he can make it in the morning." "Here's where the trouble is." "Hello?" "Mr. Royston?" "Yes." "I just talked to Mr. Henderson." "He could he see you tomorrow morning, however it'd have to be early." "But I can't make it tomorrow." "That's impossible." "Well, unfortunately, Mr. Henderson has to get right back to Lodi." "Is he, by any chance, coming in tonight?" "Yes, but he has an appointment." "I see." "Well, could he possibly switch that appointment?" "No." "You see, it's a personal matter, and the party is leaving town tomorrow early." "Then perhaps he'll be some place tonight where I can phone him." "I'm afraid not." "I suppose I could drive to Lodi myself." "How early is he leaving there?" "I'm sure he can't leave before 6:00." "Thank you." "Good-bye." "Anything for me?" "Hmm... what do you know?" "Special messenger, no less." "Oh, looks like you've got a date, too." "Yes, I have." "Uhm, Denise, would you mind very much if I just stayed at the apartment and then kind of scrambled him some eggs, or something?" "What?" "After spending the day wet-nursing 50 characters in a plane, you mean you want to cook for the guy?" "No." "It's just that I just don't feel much like going out tonight, that's all." "Do you mind?" "No." "Let's face it, honey, you've been jittery as all get out ever since we landed." "What gives?" "Oh, it's nothing." "Really, it isn't." "Then how come you were so uneasy driving over here?" "You kept looking back all the time as though you were scared to death." "It's just that somebody lives in this town that I don't want to see." "That's all." "You know, this silly elevator takes forever." "I usually walk down." "Sorry." "Well, here we are." "My date should be along any minute." "Oh, you'll like him." "He's a dreamboat." "Well, this is it." "It's very cute." "The bedroom's in here." "Which bed do you want?" "Be my guest." "I don't care." "It doesn't matter." "You take that one." "I'll take this one." "The bathroom is in here, and this is the kitchen." "The refrigerator is full, so live a little." "I'll be out till 2:00." "Oh, by the way, where are the pots and pans?" "All right." "What's the big idea?" "I had hoped you'd lead me right to her door." "I figured it was you." "I'm sorry to let you down, Benton." "But you haven't." "Not yet, that is." "Look, Benton, Julie's not here, she's blown San Francisco, she's blown it for good." "Not for good." "She's here tonight." "For tonight, at least." "Where is all this getting you?" "Even if she was here, I wouldn't admit it, you know that." "Men can do funny things at the point of a gun." "You're driving me there." "Get in." "You mean make it a two-way deal- Julie and me?" "It's a long drive." "Anything can happen." "It's a calculated risk for both of us." "I'll give you 30 seconds to make up your mind." "10... 20... 25... 26, 27..." "Let's go." "Good." "There's my date, wouldn't you know it?" "Finish zipping, will you?" "You know, he's a real square." "He's always on time." "You look lovely." "Close the bedroom door, will you?" "Yeah." "Hi, Tom." "Hi, Denise." "Come on in." "Thanks, you look wonderful." "Thank you." "Julie, are you dressed?" "Tom is here." "Oh, just a minute." "I can't come out." "Julie, this is Tom." "I've heard a lot about you." "Oh, thank you." "Well listen, we're gonna have to run, okay?" "You take care of yourself." "I will." "Have fun." "Nice to have met you." "Thank you, nice meeting you." "Hello?" "Is Denise Martin there?" "No, she isn't, I'm sorry." "She's out for the evening." "This is the dispatcher at Amalgamated." "Oh." "Well, I'm sorry." "I don't think that I could locate her for you." "I don't know where she is." "Is this Julie Benton?" "Yes." "One of the girls supposed to go out of here at 11:45 tonight on flight 36 is ill." "Looks like you're it, Miss Benton." "Oh, no." "Oh, I can't tonight." "Really, I can't." "Isn't there somebody else that you could call?" "Please." "Well, I'll do my best, but I'm about at the end of my list." "I'll call you back." "Get me the Sheriff's office, quick." "Sheriff's office?" "You better send somebody out here in a hurry." "There's a fella been shot, and he's in a bad way." "From the looks of him, he ain't gonna last long." "My name is Ellis." "Ellis." "Yes." "4 miles this side of the mine, on the Smith Creek Road." "That's right." "Yes." "Good-bye." "I got to... got to reach a girl." "Her name is..." "Julie Benton." "The man who... shot me." "He took her address." "He's on his way to San Francisco to murder her." "What's the woman's number?" "I don't know." "She's staying with a girlfriend." "What's her name?" "I can't remember." "I wrote it down, but I can't remember." "Do you know the address?" "Some... some kind of an apartment house." "Something like..." "Havenhurst." "No. no, that's not quite it." "Begins with a..." "begins with a "Hav"..." ""Have."" " Yeah, yeah." "I'm quite sure that's right." "Have you got a classified directory?" "No." "Maybe the San Francisco operator can help us." "Yeah." "No, he don't know the address." "Operator..." "Operator... just read me... read me the name of every apartment house that begins with "Have."" "Please hurry." "No, no." "No, it's not Havelin." "No." "Yeah, that's it." "Yeah." "Havemeyer Arms." "Put the call through right away." "It's urgent." "No, don't stop!" "Keep trying." "Hello?" "Hello?" "Operator." "Hello?" "Hello?" "It's no use." "They don't answer." "I don't know... how much longer I can hold out." "You better write this down." "Her name is..." "Benton." "Julie Benton." "Havemeyer Arms." "She's staying at a..." "girlfriend's apartment." "Call the police, the San Francisco police." "Tell them they have to find her right away." "Every second counts." "Hurry." "Hurry." "The sheriff's substation at Lodi radioed in that a man was shot, as reported." "Did you get the victim's name?" "His operator's license gives "Clifford Henderson."" "That certainly completes the picture." "Yeah, in no uncertain terms." "Ask the Sheriff to stand-by in case Henderson regains consciousness." "We need more dope on the whereabouts of Julie Benton." "It may save her life." "If anybody ever doubted that Ellis fella's story, there it is." "There's the place." "Question any man who tries to enter." "Have him identify himself." "You cover the rear door." "Try the mailbox just for luck." "Hello?" "Miss Benton?" "Did you find someone?" "I'm afraid I have bad news." "It looks like you're elected." "Oh, couldn't you wait just a little bit longer?" "I've waited as long as I dare." "You'll have to hurry out here as it is to make it." "All right." "I'll be right there." "No one's in." "No Julie Bentons in any of 'em." "Hardly would be if she's bunking in with some girlfriend." "There's 64 apartments in this place if you're interested." "All right." "You take the far end." "We'll work our way up." "How do you do?" "I'm Lieutenant Pringle of homicide." "Do you know a Julie Benton?" "Julie Benton?" "No, I don't." "Thank you." "They just radioed in." "Henderson's off the critical list." "The bullet missed vital organs, but the doctors won't let him be questioned yet." "Okay, tell them to stand by." "I just got one more apartment to check." "Take this end." "I'll take the other." "Yeah." "Take this side." "Excuse me." "I'm Lieutenant Pringle of homicide." "Do you know a Julie Benton?" "No." "Sorry, I don't." "Thank you." "International Airport, Amalgamated Airlines entrance, and please hurry." "Hurry." "Mace, come here." "This is it, a note for Henderson." ""The girl who was supposed to go out on the flight took sick." "I was the patsy." "It was go or lose my job."" "What else?" "Just a lot of blah-blah apologies about standing the guy up." "What about a flight number?" "Did she give that?" "No, not even the airport." "You suppose Benton knows she's a stewardess?" "No telling what Henderson might have told him at the point of a gun." "Yeah, but even Henderson didn't know about this flight tonight." "So where is Benton?" "He had plenty of time to get here by now." "Of course, he could have gotten wind of that flight." "We'd better find her." "The apartment belongs to a girl named Denise." "Julie Benton left a note about her leaving." "Not much help." "Look, Lieutenant." "Amalgamated Airlines." "Undoubtedly they both work for the same outfit." "That figures." "We're one step closer anyway." "Amalgamated." "That sure rings a bell." "Must be one of those non-skeds." "It leaves from either International or Oakland." "There it is." "Amalgamated Airlines." "Just a minute, please." "Hello!" "Hello!" "I've had that happen to me." "Nothing's more exasperating." "Hello!" "Yes, captain?" "Let's go." "San Francisco tower, this is Amalgamated 36." "Taxi instructions." "Amalgamated 36, clear to runway 28 right." "Roger." "Fasten your seat belt, please." "Please fasten your seat belt." "Amalgamated Airlines." "This is the police." "What time does your next flight leave?" "Our only flight tonight, sir, is flight 36, 11:45 from International." "International, 11:45." "Can you connect me with flight operations?" "No, sir, but the number is Juno 3-5997." "Juno 3-5997." "Thank you." "It's almost 11:50, Lieutenant." "Well, let's hope these non-skeds aren't too particular about leaving on time." "Amalgamated Airlines, flight operations." "Has flight 36 taken off yet?" "It's taxiing the runway now, sir." "This is Lieutenant Pringle of homicide." "Do you have a stewardess aboard named Julie Benton?" "Just a minute." "I'll check the board." "Gear up." "O.K., thanks a lot, fella." "Let's go." "She's on it, huh?" "Yeah." "The plane just took off." "Well, that's a relief..." "Or is it?" "No, it's too far-fetched." "That same idea occurred to me." "They keep those hostesses pretty busy." "Maybe he got by her, without her seeing him." "It is possible." "If he knew about the flight." "Well, if he didn't about that flight, where is he?" "All kinds of things could have held him up." "He could have had car trouble." "Well, he's not going to show up now..." "It's almost an hour late." "Look, why can't we play it safe?" "Call the car and have them alert the pilot." "What can it cost us?" "It can cost us 60 lives." "If that guy's on board, it's dynamite." "It's not something you fool with through an intermediary, not with a shipload of passengers, you don't." "Any new dope on Henderson yet?" "They can't talk to him yet, but he's going to be all right." "Stay here in case that guy shows up." "International Airport, wide open." "Give the company the time off." "Roger." "San Francisco tower, Amalgamated 36." "San Francisco, Amalgamated 36," "Off at 54." "Climbing VFR." "Hello?" "Oh, yes." "Right away, captain." "The captain wants to see you." "Thanks." "Julie, San Francisco wants to talk to you." "It's a Lieutenant Pringle of homicide." "Hello?" "I don't quite know how to break this to you." "What happened, Lieutenant?" "It's about your husband, he just shot a man." "Oh, no." "First, I want you to know he'll definitely pull through." "It was Clifford Henderson" "Cliff." "Of course, the chances are he's not aboard, it's a longshot, but we can't let the plane leave the state until we make sure." "We're nearly at the border now." "Ease back to San Francisco." "Keep the plan over the desert where there are no lights that he can identify." "Lieutenant, if he had reached the airplane, wouldn't he have tried something?" "Wouldn't he have tried to kill me or" "No, not necessarily." "That might make it too easy for you." "Take over." "All right, what do we do about it?" "I'm going back and look." "That's what to do about it." "Please, Mrs. Benton, don't you realize that once he knows you've seen him, you're done for." "At least, if he is on board, it will get it over with." "What do you think's liable to happen, if that guy starts taking pot shots in a cabin full of people?" "How about keeping Julie up here with us?" "If he suspected something was up, he'd break the door in." "Nothing is going to stop him." "Look, I've been gone too long." "I've got to get back." "You keep a revolver there, don't you?" "Yes." "Well, have it ready." "Remember, this guy's shot one man." "He doesn't care what he does now." "This is it for him." "Oh... if only this is a false alarm." "Suppose Julie describes the man, and I go back and look." "That's too dangerous." "We found that out the hard way- too many guys fit a general description." "Lieutenant, this is the first officer." "Would it make any sense if I concealed the pistol and went back there with Julie?" "So she spots the guy, then what?" "Well, if he went for his gun, I could shoot first." "You hope." "O.K., O.K., so it was a pretty dumb idea." "We better settle on something pretty quick." "Jack." "Lieutenant, the trick is my getting a look at all the passengers' faces without being obvious, right?" "Think you can do it?" "I have to, that's all." "Just one flicker of recognition, and it's sure death, you know that, don't you?" "No." "It's too risky." "Sitting here, doing nothing is worse." "What if he breaks in here?" "I guess you're right." "All right, then." "Now, everything must appear normal, completely normal." "You go straight to the back of the plane, stall a minute, then ease your way forward, row by row from behind." "Good luck." "O.K. Thank you." "Here, Jack." "Rough job, Julie." "It's like asking you to be casual with a time bomb in your hand." "If only my heart would stop pounding." "Silly, isn't it?" "He probably isn't even there." "Well, here goes." "Stewardess, may I please have a pillow?" "Thank you." "Pardon me, miss." "Two coffees, please." "Yes." "Right away." "What on earth were you doing up there so long?" "The boys were in a very talkative mood." "Your hands are shaking." "What's wrong?" "I'm so jittery." "It's one of those days." "I know what you mean, honey, some of these characters can get you down." "See what I mean?" "Probably wants a drink of water, no less." "Oh, thank you." "Miss." "Miss, would you please tell me the time?" "It's 2:20." "He's here." "What do we do?" "Hold it." "I'll buzz you back." "All right." "Apparently he doesn't realize she spotted him." "Phone your top brass." "Explain it's a critical emergency." "Get 'em over here, fast." "Furnish a police escort." "Anything to hurry it up." "Minutes count." "Call your top-level C.A.A. boys." "They might as well be in on this, too." "The field manager - where is he?" "Get him here on the double, and anybody else you can think of." "One decision has to be made, and made now... should I leave Julie in the cabin or bring her up here?" "That's a tough decision." "Either way, you're running a risk - a fearful risk." "Just a matter of balancing degrees." "Well, it's my ship." "I've got the ball." "Shifting to automatic pilot" "Here, Jack." "Excuse me." "Hello?" "Can Valerie overhear?" "No." "Come up at once." "Be casual." "Everything depends upon it." "I'll bring a tray to cover up." "Good." "The door will be unlocked." "Slip through it quickly." "Speed may be vital." "The ship's on automatic pilot." "We're ready for anything." "All right." "The captain's just ordered her up." "She's on her way." "This waiting can drive you nuts." "Stewardess." "Why don't you try to take it?" "Why those were shots, and they came from up here." "Please, there's nothing to be alarmed about - just one of the motors backfired." "It happens now and then." "I never heard a motor backfire before." "It could happen if the mixture was too lean." "Nothing serious." "Please don't worry." "Amalgamated 36, come in!" "You made a mistake, Julie." "I told you you made a mistake." "If you're going to shoot me, get it over with!" "No." "I have a better idea." "I promised you it wouldn't be easy." "You're going to be in this airplane... high in the air... with nobody to fly it." "Well, now I know that was a shot." "Don't you think so?" "I know it was." "I'm going to see for myself!" "No, no!" "Wait!" "You can't go in there!" "Pardon me." "Stop it!" "Stop it!" "How dare you handle the woman that way!" "Please, everybody stop it." "Move on to your seats!" "Please, please do not panic." "The captain has been injured, and we need a doctor." "I'm a doctor." "I'll get my bag." "Please sit down." "Everyone, please go back to your seats." "Everything will be all right." "Please go back to your seats!" "When hysteria gets out of hand like that it, madam, it can be fatal." "It had to be stopped." " We're very sorry." "Please take your seats!" "Will you please be seated?" "Everything's going to be all right." "Now, please in the back- will the passengers in the back please take your seats again?" "Thank you." "Val, do everything you can to keep the atmosphere light till I get back." "Oh, I'll try, but I have a basket of questions to ask you." "Gum?" "Well, we're going to have one break anyway... nice clear morning." "Doctor, was he hit?" "Yes, and it's more serious than he thought." "Jack." "And the captain?" "He's dead." "How bad is that wound, doctor, really?" "You'd better know the truth." "He's liable to black out at anytime." "It's that bad?" "That bad." "If there was any guarantee of my staying conscious," "I'd put it down in the nearest cabbage patch." "A shot of adrenaline chloride should help some - that'll retard the internal hemorrhaging." "Julie, there might be another pilot onboard." "No, there isn't." "I've already asked." "Did you alarm those passengers?" "No, I didn't alarm them." "I put it in such a way that they thought I was asking for another reason, don't worry." "Good going." "We're out of luck." "Yeah, Julie asked." "Yes, yes." "I know." "I know." "That's our only out." "Thank you." "Looks pretty grim, Julie." "I'm not going to set down in Sacramento." "I just can't take the chance, not on any "heads I make it, tails I don't" basis." "This is the first officer." "We are returning to San Francisco." "We'll land in approximately 26 minutes" "At International Airport." "International Airport?" "Jack, why are you going to San Francisco?" "For two reasons" " I need the daylight, and, even more important, I need precision radar." "It's the only field that has it." "But the weather's clear." "Honey, will you sit in that seat, please?" "Julie, will you sit in the seat?" "Jack!" "The tower can tell enough from their radar screen to bring the ship in and land it, if someone follows their instructions - someone with guts." "Jack, I can't." "You've got to." "Look, Julie, it can be done if you just..." "If I black out on you, it's gonna be that, or else." "But it doesn't make any sense because I can't fly!" "Will you put on the earphones?" "Obey instructions." "I'd do it, but I can't leave this man." "Not if we want to keep him going." "I don't dare ask for a volunteer at random." "There's no telling what kind of character we're liable to draw." "Besides, it would panic the passengers for sure." "I think you should know something." "You'd better not pull any punches, doctor." "This is no time for it" "Your pulse is getting weaker." "If you faint, this amytal nitrate should revive you for a time." "For a time?" "Julie, I've seen you under fire." "You're it." "You've been around airplanes long enough to know something about them." "Once I flew a plane, Jack." "The pilot gave me the controls." "We were deadheading with no passengers." "This is not flying alone, and it's not landing the plane!" "Have you got your feet on the rudder pedals?" "Yes." "Good, now hold 'em steady." "All right, now grip the wheel." "Grip it tight." "It takes a lot of strength to hold it." "Yes, I remember." "I managed it before." "Good." "Time's running against us." "I'm taking it out of automatic control." "It's all yours, Julie." "You're on your own." "Do you know how to use the ailerons?" "I think so." "We'll see." "I'm going to drop the left wing." "All right." "Now right the ship." "Bring it back." "That's it." "No, no." "You've overcorrected, honey." "Back again." "There." "No, no." "No." "Back the other way." "Keeping the nose level is one thing the tower can't help with." "Doctor, help her watch it." "Right." "No, that's too much." "Now back up." "That's it." "No, no." "Julie, easy." "Easy." "Down." "That's it." "All right." "Now, I'm throwing the ship off course." "All right." "Now stop the turn." "Now bring it back." "Bring it back, Julie." "That's it." "No, back a little." "Julie, back, back." "Nose down, Julie." "Nose down." "That's good." "Oh, Julie, that's all right." "This is the radar equipment." "Have you identified the flight?" "Yes." "They're over Livermore now." "We identify a ship on the radar screen by having the pilot make several large turns." "He's letting her get the feel of the controls." "How is she doing?" "Terrific." "He's turning her over to us in a minute." "Fella's getting pretty weak, though." "Almost passed out once." "San Francisco tower, this is Tri-state 74." "Tri-State 74 hold position." "We have an emergency." "We'll call when it's clear." "This is really something." "She can pull it off all right, if she'll just keep her head and her nerve." "That's mostly what it will take." "You'll understand when you see how we do it." "Having nearly a 9,000-foot runway- that helps a lot, too." "San Francisco tower, this is Northern 97 over Palo Alto for landing instructions." "Northern 97, Maintain a position in VFR condition, vicinity Palo Alto." "We have an emergency." "We'll notify you when it's clear." "There they go - all the equipment we can muster." "San Francisco tower, this is Amalgamated 36." "Stewardess Benton is now ready to take over." "We have the aircraft in positive radar contact now." "This is the aircraft- we have radar contact right here, 17-mile-range mark." "Good." "You didn't stop that left turn promptly enough." "Stop right turn." "That's it." "You're on course." "Nose down a little more." "Stop." "Reduce speed slightly." "That's it." "Very good." "Julie, remember what I told you." "All four throttles at once." "Right, left wing - it's dipping." "You're on the ball, doctor." "You're going too high on the glide path." "Bring it down." "That's good." "Now hold it there." "This thing's got me." "This blip is our plane." "The presentation shows distance from the runway." "There's the runway." "If she goes to the right or left, of this line, she's off course." "You can see this light moving closer to the field all the time." "Now here's our ship on the other presentation." "This one gives us distance and height." "This line shows the angle of descent." "It's our job to keep Julie Benton right on both lines." "This will bring her out, smack on the edge of the runway, lined up dead center." "It's calibrated down to feet." "It gives us almost as much dope as if we were in the cockpit ourselves." "Put it this way- we're using the girl as an instrument to transmit our instructions to the controls." "So she can understand, we're giving turn instructions as 'stop turn', rather than compass headings." "I see." "Take a little more left rudder." "Stop turn." "How am I doing?" "Great." "Keep it up." "He just blacked out again." "It looks very bad." "That's the last of my amytal nitrate." "You're in sight of the field now." "It's dead ahead." "Warn her not to freeze up on the controls." "Look honey, we know it's rough, plenty rough, but don't get taught." "Be as relaxed as you can." "Start right turn." "Stop right turn." "A little more right rudder." "That's it." "Pull your right wing up a little, honey." "That's it." "Gotta keep the wings level." "Bring the nose down a little more." "Hold it there." "The nose is perfect now." "Try and keep it at that angle." "Will he live?" "He's got every chance, if we get him to surgery in time." "He's coming around." "Complete landing cockpit check." "Wheels down and locked." "Grip that wheel tight, Julie." "You'll feel a big drag as the wheels drop into place." "I don't know how much longer I can hold out." "Have you lowered your flaps?" "The flaps act as a brake." "The ship will slow down as they fall into place." "The nose will tend to balloon up on you, Julie." "Watch it." "You know where the air-speed indicator is?" "Yes." "Good." "Show it to the doctor." "Doctor, help her watch it." "Now, don't let it get below 120." "We'll crash if you do." "Remember, keep your eyes on that air-speed indicator." "Not lower than 120." "Don't let it drop below 120." "He's out cold." "If it starts to go below 120, ease forward on the throttles." "Push a little more left rudder." "Just a little." "That's it." "It's no use." "It's getting a little too close to that 120 mark." "Thanks." "Kick on a little more left rudder." "There's a slight cross-wind... you're drifting to the right." "Watch it." "How is that?" "Hold it there." "You're lined up perfectly with the runway centerline, but watch that air-speed indicator." "The air-speed, doctor, how is it?" "It's on the nose." "There's the field straight ahead." "See it?" "Yes." "How do you feel?" "I'm terrified." "Look, honey, even an experienced pilot feels queasy when we bring him in for an emergency GCA approach with visibility 0." "I can understand that." "I'd rather be a novice at the controls with visibility unlimited." "It's a lot less frightening than putting down blind, believe me." "The radar ground mobile unit will now take over for the actual landing." "I'll handle the throttles for you." "You keep coming down, right at the runway." "When you get a few feet above the pavement, they'll tell you to pull the stick back." "Do it instantly." "I understand." "It'll take all your strength you've got, but get it back, or you'll shear off your front landing gear." "Remember, all the way back." "Anything else?" "Nothing." "The plane'll settle the field by itself, but keep those rudder pedals straight." "Do you know where your transmitter is?" "Yes." "Turn it until it shows a seven, that's channel seven." "Mobile unit 4, take over." "Good luck." "Okay." "That's all we can do in the tower." "She's just about ready to touch down." "This is mobile unit 4." "You're lined up very well over the centerline now." "Just keep your wings level." "Hold it steady." "That's good." "There's a little cross wind blowing down here, that'll have a tendency to make you drift to the left." "Bring up your right wing." "You're drifting to the right." "Bring up your right wing." "That's good." "Now push the left rudder." "You're lined up good." "You're a little high." "Push your nose down." "Your left wing is dropping." "Bring your left wing up." "Don't let it slide off to the left." "That's it." "A little more right rudder." "Bring it over with the right rudder and... bring up the... your left wing is dropping too much!" "Bring that left wing up." "You'll drift too far to the left." "That's it." "Now you're holding it." "Don't over-control the ship." "Your nose is dropping too much." "Bring your nose up." "That's it." "Good." "Now bring that right wing up." "Now hold it right there, hold it right there." "Fine." "Now you're headed right towards the end of the runway." "When you come over the boundary, I'll tell you to flare out." "Do that by bringing the yoke right back into your stomach." "Now, get ready." "Bring the yoke back easily." "Bring it back." "Bring it back." "Bring it back." "Now hold it right there." "You flared out 15 feet high." "Let it drift down." "Hold it off now." "Keep your right wing up." "That's it." "Pull the throttles all the way back." "Throttles back, doctor!" "That's it." "You're coming in great." "Hold it right there." "Bring it back." "Bring it back." "Good." "Now, you've bounced off." "Just hold the yoke right where it is." "That's fine." "Bring it back a little more." "Bring it all the way back down." "There you are." "You've touched down." "Now you'll stay down." "Put your feet on top of the rudder pedals." "These are the brakes." "Now, push forward on the pedals." "Push forward on both pedals." "That's it." "Now you're braking down good." "You're slowing down." "That's fine." "Now you're drifting to the right of the runway." "Push on the left rudder." "Push on the left rudder." "That's it." "You're coming up fine now." "You're slowing down good." "Now push on the right rudder a little bit." "That's it." "Hold it right there now." "You're almost stopped." "You've made it!" "I wouldn't go through that again, not for anything."