Window, The (1949)

[bunniefuu]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

[TRAFFIC BUSTLING]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MELLOW MUSIC]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

Bang!

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

Hey, boys, I shot you!

Why didn't you die?

Ah, pipe down!

What time is it?

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

[TRAIN RATTLING]

- Hello, Ms. Kellerson.

- JEAN: Hello, Tommy.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

Hi, mom.

- Hey, what time is it?

- BUTCH: 4 o'clock.

- 94 degrees.

- Did I win?

Oh, yeah?

Who says you win?

Wait a minute.

"Dave Harris, 91.

Paul, 93.

Butch, 95.

Tommy, 94."

See. What'd I tell you?

I win. Come on, pay me.

What are you gonna buy?

I'm gonna save up

and buy me a horse.

A horse? Where you gonna keep it?

In the bath tub?

Gonna keep it on our ranch.

Since when do you got a ranch?

- Since a while ago.

- Where is it?

- Way out West.

- Whereabouts out West?

Texas.

Wherever Tombstone is.

Anyway, it's near Tombstone.

Ah, what are you talking about?

You haven't got a ranch.

You know, it's not really mine.

It's my dad's.

If your dad's got a ranch,

what are you doing living here?

Well, uh...

As soon as they sh**t all

the Indians, we're gonna move.

How long does it take

to sh**t Indians?

TOMMY: Oh, I don't know.

Maybe a couple of days.

You mean, you're gonna move

in a couple of days?

TOMMY: Sure.

We may even go sooner,

and sh**t the Indians ourselves.

That's why I wanna buy me a horse.

- Hey, where are you going?

- I know how to sh**t Indians.

Indians sh**t with

bows and arrows.

Oh, they do not. They got g*ns

and they ride horses.

Oh, what are you giving us?

You're just making it up.

- No. Really.

- Oh, shut up...

[SIREN WAILING]

[BELL RINGING]

TOMMY: I was gone long today.

And when I came to the corner,

all these men were

laying in the street.

And then, a big truck came along

and k*lled 'em all, except one.

And he was abandoned.

So, I took my g*n and I shot him.

All by myself.

How many bandits

did you k*ll today?

Well, I didn't have to

use too many b*ll*ts, pop.

The heat k*lled most of 'em.

Glad the heat's good

for something.

Sure doesn't make you

feel like eating.

Cold supper is all

I can think of in this weather.

TOMMY: I liked it, mom.

Tasted kinda like chicken.

It was chicken. Sure you

don't want some more?

No. I'll get some coffee

and donuts, midnight.

That's not good for you.

Oughta eat something, pop.

Can't work on an empty stomach.

Ah, working nights is

not so good for the appetite.

I know a man that

worked at night once.

- He was a robber--

- Now, Tommy, that's enough.

I think we've heard enough

about robbers for one day.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Oh, do you mind if we show

the apartment now, Mr. Woodry?

Show the apartment?

What for?

Well, since you're moving, I...

I'd like to show as soon as--

Since when are we moving?

Well, there must be

some mistake, Mr. Johnson.

- We're not moving.

- Oh, yes, you are.

I heard it from

the couple of the tenants.

Just this afternoon.

And I brought these folks...

I... I'm afraid there has been

a mistake, Mr. Johnson.

- We're awfully sorry.

- I can't understand. I...

ED: Tommy.

At it again, huh?

I didn't mean any harm, mom.

- Honest, I didn't.

- You never mean any harm.

But like I've told you

a hundred times,

someday, you're gonna get

us all into trouble.

MARY: What'd you say?

It was just some of the kids.

We got to talkin'.

And I guess, I said,

we were moving out to a ranch.

Tommy, how would they feel

if they'd rent the apartment

to those people

and put us out on the street?

TOMMY: I didn't think

they'd believe me.

You never think so.

But, you see, they do.

Why do you wanna

tell stories like that?

Gee, I don't know, pop.

I'm sorry.

If you don't stop, I'm

gonna have to punish you.

- You know that, don't you?

- Yes, sir.

Go to your room.

MARY: Don't worry about it, Ed.

You're gonna be late for work.

[TRAIN RATTLING]

[MELLOW MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

Mom.

Mom, you awake?

What is it, Tommy?

It's so hot. Can I go out

and sleep on the fire escape?

I suppose so.

But be careful.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[JEAN GASPS]

JEAN: Joe!

[MAN GRUNTS]

[THUDS]

[THUDS]

Why'd you have to

bungle it like that?

- Why didn't you fix his drink?

- JEAN: I did, Joe.

But I guess he saw me do it.

See, if anyone is in the hallway.

JEAN: I don't see anybody.

JOE: Take a look out of the window.

JEAN: Nobody there.

JOE: Here's his

identification papers.

He's a mate on a ship.

That's good.

They disappear easy.

- Mom. Mom.

- What?

I've got somethin' awful

to tell you.

- What is it?

- I just saw a m*rder.

A m*rder? Where?

Upstairs. The Kellerson's.

They just stabbed a man.

- Oh, for goodness sakes.

- Honest, mom--

Waking me up in the middle

night like this.

But, mom, I saw the whole--

If you don't stop it, I'm gonna

have to take a hair brush to you.

- Please, mom--

- Tommy.

With all the stories you tell us,

no wonder you have nightmares.

- Nightmares?

- Yes. Nightmares.

You've had a bad dream.

You're soaking wet.

Now, go on

and go back to bed.

But, mom...

And go to sleep like a good boy.

[MELLOW MUSIC]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

Better go up first and see

if anyone's on the roof.

It's alright.

[INTENSE MUSIC]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

You stay here.

[TRAIN RATTLING]

Couldn't have been a nightmare.

My pillow!

[INTENSE MUSIC]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

- Did you hide him?

- Yeah.

Suppose somebody finds him there?

So, what?

They'll never trace him to us.

[INTENSE MUSIC]

[TRAIN RATTLING]

- Up already?

- I couldn't sleep, mom.

You know why I couldn't.

MARY: Everybody has

nightmares, Tommy.

Only people don't go around

saying they're real.

Well, they get into

a lot of trouble.

Honest, mom.

MARY: Oh, Tommy. We won't hear

anymore about it now.

If you didn't have a nightmare,

then you're making up

another story.

Better watch what you say

to your father, this morning.

Remember, he isn't expecting...

- Hello, dear.

- Good morning.

- Hi, Tom.

- Good morning, pa.

MARY: What kind of a night

you had?

Oh, it was a scorcher.

I'll have your breakfast

ready in just a minute.

What's the matter with you?

You don't look like

you went to bed.

Don't think he got

very much sleep.

- Pop?

- Hmm?

I've got something to tell you.

Okay. sh**t!

Something terrible happened

last night.

You know the Kellerson's upstairs?

Yeah. I've seen 'em

coming and going. Why?

Well, they k*lled a man.

Tommy.

Wherever did you get that idea?

Well, well, I just got out on

the fire escape, pop.

But it was so hot,

I climbed up to the Kellerson's.

That's how I saw 'em.

Pop, you gotta believe me.

Someone's gotta believe me.

He had a nightmare last night, Ed,

and he's all upset.

It wasn't a nightmare. And I'm

not making it up. I saw them.

Tommy, the Kellerson's

are nice people.

- They never bother anybody.

- They just act that way, mom.

So you won't know

anything about 'em.

Tommy, how would you like it

if someone went around saying

your mom and I k*ll people?

But they did. I watched them

through the window.

Listen, I remember once, years ago,

I was about your age.

And it was a hot night

like last night.

I dreamt the whole house

was on fire.

I woke up screaming

and yelling my head off.

And mother and dad

came in and it...

it took 'em quite a while

to calm me down.

And even after they talked to me,

I still couldn't believe that

there hadn't been a fire.

They had to let me

get up and look around.

Now, do you see what I mean?

You see how real dreams can be?

Yes, pop. I've had

dreams like that, too--

Well, now here, you can't

expect me to go upstairs

and ask the Kellerson's if they

k*lled somebody, can you?

No. Then, they'd run away.

[SCOFFS] Come on, now.

Sit down and have some breakfast.

You'll feel better.

I'm not hungry, pop.

Not a bit.

Well, maybe you'd better go in

and rest a while.

Till you feel like eating.

Pop.

If you see a thing

with your own eyes,

it can't be a dream, can it?

You don't want me ever to be

ashamed of you, do you?

No, pop.

Well, don't you see that might

happen if you keep this up?

People are going to say that

Ed Woodry's son

doesn't know the

difference between

what's real and what isn't.

Well, they... they might even

say that you're a... a liar.

- But, pop--

- Look. Look, Tommy.

I've got a lot of nice things

planned for you

when you grow up.

And I want you to live up to

them by being honest now.

A father wants to be

proud of his son, Tommy.

Why, there's nothing that'd give me

more pleasure than to be

walking down the street someday

and have somebody say,

"There goes, there goes

Tommy Woodry's father."

But, if you, if

you're gonna get all

mixed up the way

you're now, I...

I don't know what

we're gonna do.

I'm sorry, pop.

I'm very tired, Tommy, I'm...

I'm gonna get some rest.

I want you to stay in

your room today

and think over what I told you,

very carefully.

I'll talk you again before

I go to work tonight.

I don't know

what's the matter with him.

Tommy, you know your father

has to work hard for us,

don't you?

TOMMY: Yes, mom.

And... he can't work

when he's upset.

TOMMY: I know.

Then why don't you try to help us

by behaving yourself?

TOMMY: Mom, pop don't want me

to lie, does he?

Of course, not.

Well, if I'd say it wasn't true

about the Kellerson's

that it was all a lie...

then, then, I'd be doing what

pop doesn't want me to do.

I'd be lying.

If someone had really m*rder*d somebody,

like you say...

then the police would

know about it.

That's their business, Tommy.

That's right, mom.

It is their business.

Certainly.

Now, I'll go call your pop

before he goes to bed.

And you can tell him that

everything you said about

the Kellerson's wasn't so.

Oh, no, mom. Don't.

'Cause, then I'd be lying,

and pop don't want me to lie.

We're both too easy on you, Tommy.

TOMMY: Don't get mad

at me, mom.

Now, you're going to

stay in this room.

And I mean,

without your lunch or your dinner.

Until you decide to give in

and let your father and me

have some peace.

[DOOR SHUTS]

[MELLOW MUSIC]

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[CAT MEOWS]

[MEOWS]

[MELLOW MUSIC]

TOMMY: Pardon me, sir.

I want to report a m*rder

I saw last night.

MAN 1: Is that so?

What's your name?

TOMMY: Tommy Woodry.

I went on a fire escape last night--

Hold on, not now, hold on.

- What's your address?

- 225, Hull Street.

I went on a fire escape

last night. Then...

MAN 1: Just a minute, son.

Just a minute.

Now, you go down that hallway

to a door marked "detectives".

You go in there

and tell them all about it.

What do you want, boy?

It's about a m*rder, sir.

Who... who sent you in here?

The man at the desk up front.

I saw a man m*rder*d last night.

- What's your name?

- Tommy Woodry.

I was looking through the window--

- What's your address?

- 225, Hull Street.

Where did you see

this man m*rder*d?

- Upstairs from where I live.

- Go on.

Mr. and Mrs. Kellerson did it, sir.

It was the man they

were stealing from.

Oh, you know the people

that did it?

What are they like?

Well, they don't look like murders.

They don't?

Son, did you ever have nightmares,

bad dreams that scare you?

Yes, sir.

Lots of times.

But not this time.

This was real.

Come, son,

tell us what you saw.

Well, I went out on my fire

escape last night,

and then I went

to the one above me

because it was cooler there.

I fell asleep, and when I woke up,

I looked through the window.

The shade was up

just a little bit,

so I couldn't see everything.

But there was a fight

and then somebody took some scissors

and they stabbed this man

in the back.

I thought you said

you couldn't see everything.

I couldn't, but--

Then how do you know they

stabbed him?

Well, I saw him when he fell

on the floor,

there was blood on his back

and he was dead.

Have you ever turned in

any fire alarms?

You know, just to get a little

excitement stirred up?

Oh, no, sir. Never.

Did you tell your

parents about this?

Yes, sir.

MAN 2: Why didn't they come

and tell us about it?

Speak up, son, why didn't they

tell us about it?

They didn't believe me.

MAN 2: Why didn't

they believe you?

They... they think I'm always

making things up.

Oh, they do. Huh?

And are you always

making things up?

Sometimes, but I'm not

going to anymore.

You know, son, it's a pretty

serious thing

to make something like this up,

don't you?

Oh, yes, sir,

I know that.

I'm not making it up.

Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt

anything

to run over there

and have a look around.

Alright, where do they live, son?

225, Hull Street,

on the fifth floor,

right upstairs

from where I live.

Remember, this is not official.

So don't go sticking

your neck out.

Get into their apartment

on some pretext or other

and see what you can find out.

- Alright.

- Go along, son.

He'll see that

you get home safely.

- Oh, no, I can't go home.

- Why not?

Well, maybe they found out that

I know, they'll k*ll me, too.

Don't worry about that, son.

Nobody's gonna k*ll you.

Not with me along

to take care of you.

Oh, no, please. I'm afraid.

Son, don't be afraid.

Mr. Ross will take

good care of you.

Come on.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

- I can't go in the front way.

- Well, why not?

Well, if you'll take me

on back on fire escape--

Oh, oh, no, we're going right

to your mother.

I'm not going on

any fire escape. Come on.

Here it is, thanks a lot.

Now, I think we better see if

your mother's home.

- Yes?

- How you do, Mrs. Woodry?

I'm bringing your boy back

from the police station.

Police station?

Oh, it has nothing to get

alarmed about.

He had quite a wild story

to tell us.

We thought we better come over

and see what it was all about.

Tommy, you didn't tell them.

Please don't pay

any attention to him.

- He's always making up stories.

- Oh!

If it isn't Indians,

it's gangsters.

And if it isn't gangsters,

it's something else.

Someone's always getting k*lled.

Like a born storyteller, eh?

MARY: I don't know what

we're going to do with him.

We nearly lost

our apartment yesterday

because of one of his tales.

And now, the Kellerson's...

They're really very nice people.

TOMMY: I didn't make it up

about the Kellerson's.

I saw them!

Be quiet. Haven't you done

enough for one day?

You know, if I were you, ma'am,

I'd talk to his teacher.

Yes, yes.

Or maybe even a doctor.

Well, we'll have to do something.

Mean time, I'd certainly keep

an eye on him.

MARY: Yes, I will.

I'll promise you that.

Thank you for bringing him back.

Not at all, goodbye.

[FOOTSTEPS]

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

See who it is.

Go on, don't act suspicious.

Open the door.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Open it wide.

- Good morning.

- Hello.

Sorry to bother you, ma'am.

I'm Mr. Proctor.

We're making an estimate on

some repairs in the building.

You mind if I

looked over the apartment?

I haven't had a chance to clea--

Oh, tell him to come in,

there's plenty needs doing.

Well, alright,

but it's pretty messy.

Please don't pay

too much attention to it.

- Thank you. Good morning.

- Good morning.

It's about time they got around

to cleaning these places up.

Yeah, I find most of the

apartments in pretty bad shape.

- Yeah.

- Look at that fixture.

It never worked since

we've been here.

The bed in there

ain't been painted

since the place was built.

JOE: Pretty crummy, ain't it?

The wallpaper's falling off

the wall.

I remember one time

we tore the paper off,

we found a couple of hundred

dollar bills behind it.

Confederate money.

The roof's been leaking for a

long time, it ruined a rug.

Every time it rains,

the water just pours in.

I'll take a look at that

when I get up on top.

Any more rooms?

There's another bedroom in there.

[CLATTERS]

I guess I can do it, folks.

I think I've got everything.

When'll you get around

to fixing it?

No, I don't know. That's hard to say.

This is only an estimate.

We'll turn in our bid, but I'm not

even sure we'll get the job.

If we do, we'll take care

of that for you.

Thank you very much.

- Bye.

- You're welcome.

I was kind of scared, Joe.

What for?

He doesn't know anything.

Anyway, I was scared.

Please, mom.

I don't care whether you like it or not,

you're gonna apologize to them.

I'm gonna teach you a lesson

this time, young man.

- Please, mom, no.

- Come on.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

- Hello.

- Excuse me, Mrs. Kellerson.

Tommy has something

he wants to say to you.

Well, what is it?

MARY: Tommy.

JEAN: Anything wrong,

Mrs. Woodry?

He's been a very bad boy.

He doesn't look like a bad boy.

What did he do?

Well, since he won't tell you,

he's been making up

stories about

you and your husband.

Terrible things. And I

brought him up here to apologize.

To try to teach him a lesson.

Stories?

What kind of stories, Tommy?

MARY: Go ahead.

Tell her what you said.

No.

Oh, never mind, Mrs. Woodry,

don't be upset.

I know how little boys are.

He'll grow up.

I certainly hope so.

I don't know what we're going to do

with him in the meantime though.

Don't worry about him.

How's your sister getting along?

Oh, she's much better.

Thank you.

Oh, that's good.

MARY: You ought to be

ashamed of yourself.

Humiliating me

in front of her like that.

I was going to

let you go outside.

But now you stay in your room

all day.

No, she knows.

She knows that I saw 'em.

- They'll k*ll me, too.

- Tommy, stop it.

And if you go out that window again,

young man,

you'll really be sorry.

I... I won't, mom.

It's no place for me to go.

[FOOTSTEPS]

JOE: You're getting excited

about nothing.

JEAN: But the kid

knows something.

JOE: What does he know?

He didn't see us.

Nobody did.

How can you be sure, Joe?

He might have been

on the fire escape.

I've seen him playing out there

lots of time.

It was late.

He wouldn't be out there

at that hour.

But he must have told them

something.

Why would she want him

to apologize?

Alright.

The only thing we can do is find

out exactly what he knows.

JEAN: But how?

Well, we wait to catch him alone.

- I'll have a talk with him.

- Wait to catch him alone?

What do you want me to do,

go down there now

with his mother and father there?

No, of course not.

Alright, we'll wait.

I'll think of something.

False alarm.

Kid's mother says he's always

making up stories.

Got them in a jam yesterday.

They almost lost their apartment.

What about the Kellerson's?

Perfectly ordinary pair.

Went through the whole place.

You see anything unusual?

Not a thing.

Oh, it's funny what imagination

will do, though.

I saw some stains on the floor.

It turned out to be a place

where the roof leaks.

I suppose we're lucky we didn't

make it official.

- Yeah.

- How did you get in?

Said I was an estimator.

Say, if any more kids turn up

with stories,

will you send Dorcy out with them?

I don't know anything about

interior decorating.

Aren't you going to eat?

I'm sorry, pop,

I'm not hungry.

Well, that's not good, son.

Drink your milk, Tommy.

Did you stay in your room all day?

I don't wanna lie, pop.

ED: Well, did you?

No, pop.

ED: Where did you go?

I... I went to the police

and told them about the Kellerson's.

That's what I wanted to tell you.

After, Ed. I didn't

want to spoil your supper.

Sneaked out of the room

without my knowing about it.

Police only brought him back again.

Naturally, they wouldn't

believe him.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Yes?

This telegram was delivered

to our apartment by mistake.

I... I thought it might be

important.

MARY: Thank you,

Mrs. Kellerson.

[DOOR SHUTS]

It's from Uncle Charlie, Ed.

Helen's worse. I'll have to get

over there right away.

They'll need me.

Take me with you, mom.

I can't take you with me, Tommy.

And Helen can't stand children

around when she stays sick.

Besides, I might have to stay

all night.

If I do, there wouldn't be room

for you.

- Then you can't go.

- Why not?

It's all a trick, the Kellerson's

sent that telegram.

- Oh, Tommy.

- Mom, you got to listen to me.

You've got to believe me.

Tommy, why do you

act up like this

when you know how worried

your mother is?

Mom, you can't leave me alone.

He must be sick, Ed.

He must be.

Acting like this,

and not eating all day.

- They'll k*ll me!

- Tommy, Tommy.

Now, look here.

What makes you think that this

telegram is a trick?

I know it, they know

mom's got a sick sister

and they know you work nights.

They want me to be left

here alone.

If we could prove to you that

Uncle Charlie really sent

this telegram, then would you

stop all this nonsense about

the Kellerson's and admit that

you're wrong, would you?

- Yes, pop.

- Good.

Then in some way we'll prove to

you that the telegram is real.

Suppose we go to the drugstore

and call up Uncle Charlie?

You can talk to him yourself.

Ask him if he sent it.

- How does that sound?

- Okay, pop.

Swell, come on.

Tommy and I decided

we better phone Uncle Charlie

just to make sure

he sent the telegram.

Well, alright. I guess I should

call him first anyway.

[PHONE DIAL CLICKING]

Hello, Charlie, this is Mary.

Yeah, I got it.

How... how is she?

Well, I'm on my way over now,

but listen,

will you talk to Tommy,

he has something he wants to ask you.

Yeah, he's right here.

Hello, Uncle Charlie.

Well, did you really send

that telegram to mom?

Oh, nothing.

I just wondered.

Here she is.

Hello, Charlie.

Did you talk to him?

- Yeah.

- Did he send the telegram?

Now are you satisfied?

You going to let your mother go

and not make any more trouble?

He won't be afraid anymore,

will you?

- No, mom.

- That's a good boy.

It's still early, but I

might as well get to work.

I can ride away

with you on the bus.

Tommy's going to be

a good boy now, Ed.

He's going to behave himself.

If you want your supper,

the plate's in the oven.

Thanks, mom.

You'll stay in the house

tonight, Tommy.

You're not very well

and I don't want to be worried about you.

- While your mother's gone.

- Okay, pop.

You can get your own breakfast

if I'm not back in the morning.

- Can't you?

- Yes, mom.

Oh, Tommy.

- See you in the morning.

- Bye, pop.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[FOOTSTEPS]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[FOOTSTEPS]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[INTENSE MUSIC]

[MELLOW MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[DOORKNOB CLICKING]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[DOOR CLOSES]

ED: What are you up to?

It's a good thing

I decided to come back

and see if you're alright.

Otherwise, you'd be

out in the streets again.

I'm sorry, pop.

I am, too, Tommy.

You're forcing me to do

something I dislike very much.

If I didn't have to go to work,

I'd stay here myself

and see that you didn't get in

any trouble.

But I can't do that.

So I'm going to see to it

that you stay in this room.

- Please, pop. Don't.

- I wouldn't.

Not if you give me any reason to

believe that I could trust you.

Take me to work with you, pop.

I won't be in your way.

Honest, I won't.

Tommy, your mother and I

are very worried about you.

Tomorrow morning, first thing,

we're going to take you

to see a doctor.

Find out what's the

matter with you.

I'll try and get off

as soon as I can.

But you're staying in this room

until I come back.

Goodnight, Tommy.

[MELLOW MUSIC]

[INTENSE MUSIC]

Is he leaving?

Better wait a while

and make sure.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[CLOCK TICKING]

JOE: It's after two.

We waited long enough.

Where is the passkey?

You go down the fire escape.

Take this with you.

[FOOTSTEPS]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[INTENSE MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

Hello, Tommy.

Now, you'll be quiet

if you don't want to get hurt.

What's the matter with you,

Tommy?

Don't you like me?

Have I ever done anything to you?

What are you running around

telling stories for?

- They're not stories.

- No.

Or maybe if you told me what

they were, I could explain.

I don't want you thinking

these terrible things.

What is it you think I did?

You know what you did.

But I don't. I don't know

what you're talking about.

Now, come on, Tommy.

Let's be fair.

You can't accuse me of something

and not tell me what it is.

You... you k*lled somebody.

Oh, come on, Tommy.

You don't really believe that.

I was out on a fire escape.

I saw you.

Oh?

You sure you didn't imagine it?

No, I saw everything.

The scissors and the man!

Well, then, Tommy,

if you really believe that,

I think there's only

one thing we can do.

Go to the police

and tell them about it.

You haven't been to the police

already, have you?

No.

Alright, then,

I'll tell you what we do.

We'll go down to the police station,

right now.

I don't want you believing

these things about me.

We wanna be friends.

Maybe the police

will convince you, huh?

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

Oh, uh, Jean, uh,

Tommy and I are going

down to police station.

- JEAN: Police station?

- JOE: Yeah.

There's something we

wanna get straightened out.

But, Joe...

Oh, you can come along with us.

Come on, Tom.

You know which way it is, Tommy?

Yeah, I... I think

it's up this way.

Let's go.

You know, I'll be glad when we get

this all straightened out, won't you?

I think we've gone far enough.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[MUFFLED SCREAMING]

[CLATTERING]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[TRAIN CHUGGING]

[TRAIN BRAKES SQUEAL]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[TRAIN CHUGGING]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[CAR APPROACHING]

Very ashamed of you, Tommy.

Now you get in there

and behave yourself.

[ENGINE REVS]

225, Hull Street.

Let me go, let me go...

Joe, we can't go back there.

We got no choice.

We gotta get him off the streets.

Let me handle this.

[TOMMY GROANING]

Help!

Help, police!

TOMMY: Help!

Help, police!

- Well, what's the trouble?

- They're gonna k*ll me!

He's one who's gonna get when we

get home tonight, that's what the trouble.

And you can holler

at all the policemen

you want to, young man,

that won't save you.

He even once

turned in false alarm

to keep me from

giving him a shellacking.

A good lickin' never hurt

anybody, boy.

My old man used to give me

enough of 'em when I was a kid.

Hey, still in all,

I never thought of callin'

the cops when he did.

They k*lled a man last night!

Honest, they did!

JEAN: Oh, Tommy...

I watched them

through the window,

I saw them k*ll him!

Say, are you the kid

who was down the station house

this morning and claimed

he saw a m*rder?

Yeah!

Yeah, that was me!

What? You went and bothered

them too?

Oh, Tommy,

that's the last straw.

Oh, it wasn't so bad.

Nobody paid any attention to him.

Well, it was bad enough,

and he's gonna get plenty

when I get him home.

Don't worry, son.

Maybe it won't be too bad.

They're not my mom and--

[ENGINE WHIRRING]

[TOMMY GRUNTING]

I've had enough of this!

Get over here!

Let me out!

Let me...

Can you beat it?

After he's given us all that trouble,

he's gone to sleep.

Just like a kid.

Mine do it all the time.

Yeah.

You better carry him, Joe,

so he don't wake up.

Yeah...

Sure can wear themselves out.

- Ain't it cute, though?

- Yeah.

[ENGINE WHIRRING]

Tommy?

Tommy!

[TRAIN CHUGGING IN DISTANCE]

What're we gonna do with him?

We're gonna figure out a way

for Tommy to have an accident.

Oh, uh, pardon me, officer.

Have you seen anything of a

little boy about so high,

he's nine years old,

has dark hair

and a light complexion.

No, I haven't.

How long has he been gone?

Well, I don't know, I... I came

home early from work tonight,

because I've been

worried about him.

He's been acting

kind of funny all day.

When I got home, he was gone.

He, uh...

He left me this note.

Said he was gonna

run away from home.

Well, I know better than that,

but I...

I can't imagine

what's happened to him.

Ah, kids do funny things.

Don't worry about him.

I'll call and get some help.

We'll find him for you.

Patrolman Delaine leaving his post

to look for a missing boy.

I'd like to have

a radio car help me.

Will you send it over to, uh...

225, Hull Street.

225, Hull Street.

I'll meet them there.

Yeah.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

Put out the light.

Joe, you can't do that!

What's the matter?

Plays out here all the time.

Said so yourself.

[INTENSE MUSIC]

You're gonna be alright.

Aren't you, Tommy?

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

- He's not here yet.

- Was he here all alone?

Yeah, his mother had to

go over to her sister's tonight.

Would you mind

waiting here a minute?

No, not at all.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

Can't let you do it, Joe.

[INTENSE MUSIC]

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

I thought maybe

I could find him upstairs.

I'll bet I know where he is.

On his way over to his mother.

Let me have the boys

take you over there.

You'll probably

run right into him.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

- Is he in here?

- Yeah.

There's no stairs

past the third floor.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[CAR ENGINE STARTS]

Help! Pop!

Help!

Pop!

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[INTENSE MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[TOMMY SCREAMS]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[JEAN SCREAMING]

[JOE GROANS]

Stay back!

Leave me alone!

Leave me alone, I said!

[WOOD CREAKING]

[JOE SCREAMS]

[THUDDING]

TOMMY: Help!

Help!

[TOMMY SCREAMING]

[TOMMY SCREAMING]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

Police department.

237, Hull Street.

237, Hull Street.

Report back. Charles.

Stand aside.

Stand aside, folks.

[SIREN WAILING]

Stand aside.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

What's the trouble?

Condemned building collapsed.

- Anybody hurt?

- One fellow was k*lled.

There's still somebody

up on the third floor.

There's a kid trapped

up in the rafters,

they're trying to get him down.

Tommy.

Hold it, folks.

Get back, here.

I wouldn't get in the way

if I were you.

Come on, get back here.

Stand back.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Come on, get back.

MAN 3: Don't move, son.

Hold as still as you can.

We'll have some help in a minute.

Don't let him see us.

Come on, boys.

Hurry it up!

We don't have time

to get a ladder in.

But here's a net.

I'll throw the light on it.

Can you see it?

You see it now?

Look down there.

Sit up very carefully.

And do just as I tell you.

Don't jar that beam.

Easy, now.

[WOOD CREAKS]

Keep your eyes open.

Keep your hands and feet

close together.

When I count three...

jump!

Are you ready?

One.

Two.

Three!

Jump!

Hurry, jump!

[MEN GRUNT]

- Are you alright?

- Sure, pop.

Tommy, are you hurt?

Stand back, please,

and let them out.

Wait a minute, pop.

That man they just carried out

was Mr. Kellerson.

And... and his wife's trapped

up here in the building,

and if you still don't believe me,

well, the man they k*lled up there

is in a closet.

Honest, pop!

Maybe we better get down

to headquarters

and get this story

straightened out.

Move back, folks.

Let 'em out.

- Alright, break it up.

- Move back, folks.

Let 'em through.

Alright, let 'em through.

Break it up.

Step back.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[ENGINE WHIRRING]

And that's all the truth.

That was some jump, son.

Yeah, but I know one thing.

I'm never gonna be a fireman.

I don't like jumpin'

in those nets.

I'm proud of you, Tommy.

And from now on,

I promise I'll believe you.

I'm glad, pop.

And from now on,

I promise I'll never make up

another story.

That'll make us all happy.

I'll bet when we get

down to the station,

a lot guys are going to

point at me and say,

"There goes

Tommy Woodry's father."

[ALL LAUGHING]

[SIGHS]

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]