Lady in the Death House (1944)

[bunniefuu]

Oh, please, just a few minutes more.

I'm almost finished.

Will you please give this letter

to the warden?

- It's for Mr. Finch.

- I will.

The last mile.

The last long walk to the death

chamber and... eternity.

An eye for an eye.

A life for a life, it is so written.

The state which cannot give life

demands a right to take life.

Mary Kirk walked those 39 steps unafraid...

...leaving behind a letter,

a document of courage.

"In one hour I shall be dead.

k*lled by the hand of the man I love.

I can hear the preparations

for my execution.

I can feel the expectant hush

through the cold walls."

The timing's what made this case tough.

I saw Finch tonight at the Grotto,

about seven, still trying to solve the case.

- Even at that late hour.

- I don't deserve so much credit.

Dr. Bradford's the one you boys

should feature.

Well, give us the story,

that's why we're here.

Yeah, give us the story, Finch.

Well, this is the key that unlocked

the Mary Kirk m*rder case.

It belongs in here until it

becomes exhibit A.

Something to remind me that you're

never licked until you give up.

I remember that case, Finch.

A p*stol-packing mama.

Was she tough.

An ace of spades was the k*ller's

calling card in the Macomber m*rder.

Boy, was she torrid.

I thought you were falling

for her, Finch.

How about the little blonde who

met you at the Grotto tonight?

- Suzy?

- You're a wolf in criminologist clothing.

I'm supposed to be a psychologist.

Well, boys, here's the story.

I'll start at the beginning.

Some of you may not know that part.

Well, none of us knew you were

in on it until after the trial.

I'll begin with the time I met Brad.

Dr. Bradford.

I had dropped in at the Grotto

for a drink.

Bourbon and soda, please. No ice.

So after all that, what could I do?

I just had to accept the mink coat.

Oh, I'm sorry.

That's all right.

Have one with me.

You know about the bird trying

to fly with one wing.

Bradford's the name.

Dr. Dwight Bradford.

When I had friends, they called me Brad.

My name's Finch.

Waiter.

Waiter!

Two more of the same.

- Bob, we've had enough.

- I want a drink.

Put that thing down and

get me a drink!

- Office around here?

- No, I'm not a practicing physician.

- I'm doing some research.

- You're lucky, doing something you like.

Aren't you? Charles Finch,

the criminologist.

I've seen your picture in the papers.

I keep insisting that I'm

a psychologist.

And I say I'm a scientist,

but I haven't proved it yet.

That's not all. I've got another job,

have to.

Scientists really make a living.

But I don't talk about it.

Oh, please, Bob, I wish you wouldn't.

Oh, let go of me!

Oh, look!

Got it?

- Are you all right?

- Yes, yes, I'm all right.

Thanks very much.

As a two-men fire department

you do all right.

As a one-woman fire, you were

pretty good yourself.

- I'll fix that for you.

- Huh?

There we are.

Sorry to do this to your coat,

Mr. Flint.

Oh, that's unnecessary.

- Guess you'll have to come along.

- That's all right.

You'd better go back and

finish your drink.

Here.

Excuse me.

Good night.

The fire department's taking me home.

Come on in. We're inspecting

the damage.

- This is my sister, Suzy Kirk, Mr. Finch.

- How do you do?

Nothing exciting like that ever

happens to me.

It's always Mary.

Don't bother, doctor,

it's completely ruined.

Suzy, didn't you come in just

before we did?

Oh... why, no!

I've been home all evening.

I knew Suzy was lying.

But thought no more about it.

In fact, the incident had been

almost forgotten.

When one night I received a call

from Dr. Bradford.

He wanted me to meet him

at his laboratory...

...saying there was a special reason

for requesting it.

Mr. Finch, I wanted to tell you some

of the things I'm doing.

Bourbon and soda, isn't it?

And no ice?

- Um, no... no ice.

- Pardon me.

A few months ago...

the papers and magazines carried

some surprising stories...

...about the celebrated Dr. Ziegfeld

who has since died.

He claimed he had revived animals

after they'd been dead for some time.

Yes, I read about it.

Now, from my own research,

I'm convinced that he was right.

And I'm determined to carry

on his work.

The very essence of life, I believe,

clings to cells.

And is held in the heart of atoms

for an indefinite length of time.

Depending somewhat upon

how we meet our end.

If you could find some way to bring

people back from that borderland,

you'd be one of the world's

greatest benefactors.

Take, for instance, a case of

death by drowning.

Or electrocution.

I told you I had a job I dislike...

that I hate.

I'm the executioner for the State.

I'm the man who throws the switch

to k*ll for those condemned to die.

That's not what one might call

a pleasant job but...

In your case, I can understand it.

Not only that, but I must work. It costs

quite a lot to run this laboratory...

...and I have to have money.

And I suppose you have opportunities

to study those who have been...

...legally put to death.

Only with limits.

Permissions must be obtained.

There's a lot of red tape,

and properly so.

This is undoubtedly an imposition, but I

simply had to talk it over with someone.

You're a criminologist and a psychologist.

Here's to Mary.

And to me.

You don't mean it!

My congratulations.

Not so fast. What will she think

when I tell her about my job?

I don't believe any psychologist

could answer that...

...without knowing Mary better.

It depends entirely upon

her temperament.

She might understand, regard the matter

with complete objectivity.

Then she might loathe me.

Finish your drink and come with me.

I can't stand the suspense any longer.

I want you to have dinner with us

tonight at the Grotto, if you will.

Of course.

Here's to luck.

Good luck.

I'm sorry to be late.

- How are you, Mr. Finch?

- Glad to see you again.

A man named Richard was telephoning

Suzy and he was so insistent...

...that I was trying to find out

where she was.

- Did you leave a message for her?

- Yes, I did.

I left word where she could find me.

Mary, I...

Would you...

Would...

Would you care for a drink?

I'd like a cup of coffee.

Coffee... Waiter!

Bring the lady a cup of tea, please.

I said coffee!

Oh... she said coffee.

Mary, this is probably the strangest...

This is probably the strangest... um...

Proposal?

Yes, that's it.

Proposal?

What kind of proposal?

Why, you know, um...

A proposal.

Proposal. It's probably the strangest

proposal because...

I mean., it's rather odd that, um...

The guy that's gonna propose invites

a third party to be present at such a time.

Mary...

I want you to...

to...

Is "marry" the word?

Yes, it is.

Yes, that's the word.

- I love you!

- Look, perhaps I'd better leave.

No, no! Don't you leave!

There are some things about me

that Mary must know.

She might want to talk them

over with you.

Well, I have an idea. Suppose you go

to the bar and finish your drink.

And I'll stay here and talk to Mary.

All right, I'll go to the bar.

Give me a high rideball.

We don't have a high rideball.

How about a "gerbon with binger ale"?

- Gerbon and...

- Yes.

- Gerbon...

- Yes.

If you could look upon Dr. Bradford merely

as an instrument of the law.

Oh, but surely he'll get another job.

- If he loves me, he...

- He does love you!

And we might get him another

job as you suggest.

In fact, I already have an idea

that might work out.

But, Mary, try to understand...

that his chief reason for

holding his position...

...is because through his prison association

he has opportunities for investigation.

Oh, but I couldn't, Finch.

I simply couldn't.

Look, he'd be leaving me at night

and I'd wait...

...watching the clock, knowing

that when the hour came, Brad would...

Oh, I couldn't.

I've got to speak to you.

For just a moment.

- Excuse me.

- What happened?

I'll be right back.

Did you tell her?

- Yes.

- What did she say?

You could if you wanted to.

You just won't help.

Suzy, I can't. Why don't you

tell me who's in trouble?

Well, he's a friend of mine...

and I feel I'm responsible.

The one who was calling this evening?

I don't know who you're talking about.

Suzy, I'm sorry.

I haven't the money...

- You would if it wasn't for...

- If it wasn't for what?

Nothing!

Your sister seems upset.

- Can I be of any assistance?

- No... thanks.

Suzy's always taking somebody else's

troubles on her shoulders.

Sit down, Mary.

Well... I'm sorry, Brad.

There's nothing more

to be said, is there?

Mr. Finch has probably told you

how I feel about... things.

- But somebody has to do it.

- But it doesn't have to be the man I...

Oh, give it up, Brad, please.

I... I can't, Mary.

Not yet.

Take me home, Brad.

Some time passed. I used

to see Brad now and then.

He was quite depressed, rejected.

One night, we were dining together

at the Grotto when...

But, um... let's get back to this

letter for a moment.

"In a few minutes, I must answer

with my life.

Because out of my father's past,

a specter has come back to haunt me.

To provide a motive for m*rder."

Now, in order to better understand this,

we should know a little more

about Mary.

Yes, yes, all right.

Oh, Miss Kirk.

Mr. Gregory, I've got to find

some filing space.

And these papers are very old.

Can't we destroy them or store

them some place?

My, my, Tom Logan.

I was too smart for that crook.

I was appointed head of the civic

committee to clean up the city.

Picked the right man.

Busted the racketeers in jig time.

- Logan was k*lled.

- That was a dozen years ago.

How did you know that?

The complaint's dated.

Oh, of course.

I thought you were too young

to remember.

About the age of Tom Logan's

oldest girl, I should guess.

And there was a younger one.

Logan died when she was born.

I tried to find them both

clunking in a reform school.

But some relative of the mother's

took her out of the state...

Two little crooks, I suppose.

Couldn't be anything else.

Blood will tell.

I pride myself on the fact that

everyone working for me in my bank...

...comes from the right people.

I've personally examined their backgrounds

and know they can all be trusted.

What about me?

You're the one exception.

Frank Ross, my oldest friend,

recommended you.

His word's good enough for me.

You've been with me for five years.

And you wouldn't be in this confidential

position if you hadn't shown the right stuff.

Thank you, Mr. Gregory.

- What about the papers?

- You can get rid of them.

No use of clogging up things

with these records.

I've got a whole scrap of newspaper

clippings at home.

I'll take care of these the first thing

in the morning.

And if there's nothing more,

I'll go home now.

All right, good night.

I told you never to come here again.

- I don't want Suzy to know.

- Oh, slow down.

I got good news for you.

I'm leaving town.

I'm taking up a little collection

from some of my friends and, um...

...thought maybe you'd like to contribute.

I haven't got much.

You've taken almost everything...

I helped Tom Logan plenty when

the going was rough.

And that's something you wouldn't

want me to tell Mr. Gregory.

So think it over.

It would be worth a lot to you,

wouldn't it, if you never saw me again.

That money I've saved is for Suzy.

Her education. She's going

to college this fall.

Suzy can go to work.

I've got to have 500 more and then

I'll never come back.

You can tell Mr. Gregory

if you want. Everything!

What's happened?

Mary... why did you...

He said somebody named Mary done it.

Get me the police quick.

I may have some news

for you. Good news.

It'll take a little time, but...

Mary, what's happened?

I was hoping I could find you here.

Something dreadful has happened.

Please come with me right now.

You say you found the man before he died

and he said something about this girl.

He said, "Mary, why did you?"

Who was the man?

Who was he, Mary? You'd better tell us.

The police can find out.

Oh, Brad.

Who are you?

She's my sister Suzanne.

What do you know about the man

that was m*rder*d here tonight?

Was it that blackmailer?

His name was Willis Millen.

Good, now we're going places.

Millen, eh?

Millen...

I know, he was a front man for Tom Logan

when he was running that pinball racket.

So he was blackmailing you, was he?

Yes.

And you stood it as long

as you could but tonight you rebelled...

... and you hit him over

the head with that statue.

I didn't k*ll him.

I wasn't even in the room!

Brad, you believe me, don't you?

Of course I do.

We'll get your fingerprints

off that statue.

You'd rather expect to find her

fingerprints on it, wouldn't you?

This is her home.

You know, every so often we bump

into you, Charlie Finch.

You've probably forgotten that

I have a couple of witnesses...

...who saw her hit him over the head.

I'm afraid I'll have to ask you

to come to headquarters, Miss Kirk.

Have you found any other clues?

I didn't search the place.

One of the boys did,

he didn't find anything.

This isn't one of those tough cases

that depends on clues.

Perhaps.

But my experience is there's no

such thing as a sure conviction.

Not even when there's a confession.

The girl claims she didn't do it.

Perhaps you'll need a key to unlock the

mystery before you're through, Sergeant.

It'll take more than a key

to get her out of jail.

I had a key, all right.

But a key without a door to unlock.

It wasn't difficult to find out

where Millen lived.

But the key didn't fit his lock.

Then I questioned Suzy regarding

her boyfriends.

But she was reticent. She was more

than that, she was cagy.

Sometimes I thought she didn't

care what happened to Mary.

Then, one day,

I discovered a thumbprint on the key...

...which matched exactly with one

I had found on the statue.

There were plenty of Mary's

prints there,

so they disregarded the only

important one.

"Mr. Gregory, of course, will always

believe that I am guilty.

He will probably witness my

execution with a smile.

Well, he won't have long to wait.

They will come for me soon now."

I went to see Gregory.

Your interest in this case, Mr. Finch,

is in my opinion entirely unwarranted.

The shame and humiliation this has brought

upon me is almost unbearable.

I can't hold my head up again.

I can understand your emotion,

Mr. Gregory.

But it's the girl who is going

on trial... for her life.

Tom Logan's daughter.

That's the bitter pill I have to swallow.

If you could help me in

some way to clear her,

you'd be helping your case

at the same time.

I don't see what I can do for you.

Well, being human in your

defense of Mary Kirk.

"There isn't much more to be said.

I don't blame those people at the trial.

It was all against me.

I lived a nightmare of days."

I first met Mr. Millen one night

when my sister was out.

- He came to the house.

- Did he mention money?

Yes. He supposed I knew

Mary was paying him.

Did you tell her about the visit?

Yes, but I never mentioned

I knew about the money.

Robbery couldn't have been the motive.

We found a large roll of bills

in his pocket.

If I'd known she was using an alias,

that she was Tom Logan's daughter...

- Objection!

- Objection sustained.

- I can say what I think!

- Not in this court.

Mr. Gregory, it is Mary Kirk Logan

who is on trial, not her father!

But I..

You will confine your answers to

the questions asked.

Suzy...

Do you believe your sister is guilty?

Yes.

Why do you think that?

I heard Mary threaten him once.

When I was in the bedroom

and she didn't know it.

Then I seen her bring something down

over his head and he fell.

You can identify her, you are sure

it was the defendant?

- Yes, we went in!

- Yes, we know, Mr. Avery.

But you mean to tell the judge

and this jury...

...that you could be sure

it was the defendant?

That the figures on the window shade were

so distinct you couldn't be mistaken?

I'm positive.

I gotta believe my own eyes.

There's only one thing to do.

Put Mary on the stand.

Perhaps the sincerity will convince

some of them.

When I came out of the bedroom,

I saw no one.

He was lying there.

I wanted to get help...

In all of my sixteen years as

attorney for this county,

I've never tried a case so clear-cut.

Everything is there.

The alias under which the

defendant was known.

The blackmailer from out

of her past.

The growing desperation,

the final demand,

and the k*lling!

Why should I waste your time...

...pointing out the little things

that go to prove her guilt?

We've presented witnesses

to the crime.

This is a question of honesty.

Human beings can be mistaken,

Two witnesses have sworn they

identified the defendant.

But it is possible, through the

confusion of rapid action...

...silhouetted on the window shade,

that they could be wrong.

I put the defendant on the witness stand

so you could judge her honesty.

If she were dishonest,

she could have claimed Millen attacked

her and she struck him in self-defense.

She didn't claim it because

she was telling the truth.

We find the defendant guilty

as charged.

On the night of April 15th,

at 11 o'clock,

I don't suppose up to that moment...

...that the thought occurred

to either Mary or Brad.

But fate of one so conspires as to make

him the executioner of the girl he loved.

Yet, fantastic, inhuman,

call it what you will,

each read the thought in the

other's eyes.

Brad could have refused.

That is true. However, he didn't.

Perhaps he hoped to bring her back to life

after she'd been declared legally dead.

Up to this point there was nothing

unusual as m*rder cases go.

But a strange psychological change

was taking place,

as you will see.

Except for Brad and me,

I don't suppose there was a single

person who believed her innocent.

Neither did the boys, who have

been covering murders for years.

Now, if you'd been in my place,

and believed her innocent,

what would you have done?

- Gone after Suzy.

- That's exactly what I did.

Suzy was an interesting

psychological study.

Although emotionally unstable,

she was not vicious.

Now, mind you, when I say

Suzy lied, she did.

But she was convinced that

Mary was guilty.

Why shouldn't she protect her boyfriends

if they were innocent?

However, there was one who

wasn't innocent.

But someone Suzy by no stretch of the

imagination could connect with the crime.

And like many adolescents,

her defense mechanism...

...made her evasive.

I know you're anxious to help

your sister.

Of course, but how can I help her?

Someone might have k*lled Millen

while she was in the bedroom.

I suppose they could...

But Mary said she didn't see

or hear anyone.

Someone who got in the back door,

through the kitchen.

One of your boyfriends, perhaps.

Mr. Finch!

If you'll forget your indignation,

perhaps I can save your sister

from the electric chair.

What do you want to know?

To start with, the first night

I met you,

the night that Dr. Bradford and I

brought your sister home,

I saw you get out of a coupe

in front of your house.

You told your sister you'd been

home all evening.

I was home, no matter what you think.

I just went out when I heard

someone honk.

Who was the man?

I don't remember. Let's see...

Who was it?

Oh, yes, Bill Elsworth, that's who it was.

- Where can I find him?

- Oh, I haven't the remotest idea.

He's a boy I met at a dance.

You might give me the names of all

the other boys you know.

That you go out with.

All of them?

Well, I hope you've got

plenty of paper.

Well, I could believe there'd be

a long list.

Oh, Mr. Finch.

Good morning.

Does Bill Elsworth live here?

He does when he's home. But he's been

in South America for over a year.

I thought so.

Excuse me.

There wasn't a clue in the whole list.

A lot of youngsters most of them, many

of them were not even in the country.

And I had caught Suzy

in another lie.

- What about Millen's friends?

- Millen was always a cheap grafter,

a coward.

I tried through his friend to get a clue,

but even the underworld despised him.

Well, he was no friend of Tom Logan's.

And while we're on this subject,

the bragger was out to make

a name for himself.

That's why he went after Logan

and his pinball machine.

To hear Gregory tell it, you'd think

Mary's father was a gangster.

He was running a legitimate business

till the City Council banned the games.

That was my chief reason for

investigating Millen's friends.

I hoped I might be able to hang

something on Gregory.

Well, as you know, there was

an appeal.

Motion for a new trial was denied.

But anything to gain time.

However...

...we lost.

And once more I went to see Mary.

Not yet.

Is it trouble in finding someone

with a motive?

Do you remember the night you came

out at the Grotto to meet Brad and me...

...and you were late? You said some man

had been telephoning Suzy.

Do you recall his name?

No, I don't.

It was a first name.

I'd never heard Suzy mention

him before.

But try. Try to remember who it was.

What did he say?

Well, he didn't say much.

He was excited. He said, "Tell her...

"Tell her...

Yes?

I can't remember.

Perhaps this will help.

When Suzy came into the Grotto,

what did she say?

Did she use his name?

No. Al she said was that she had

to have some money...

...and I tried to find out what

it was for but she wouldn't say.

- She wanted me to lend it to her.

- How much did she want?

- A thousand dollars.

- Hm.

You and Brad were there at the time.

I didn't feel I could pursue the subject.

I just told her I couldn't

let her have it.

Someone, a man Suzy knew,

had to have a thousand dollars.

Maybe she'll remember that.

I'll come again, Mary.

Call me tonight, will you?

Anything new from Finch?

- No... but...

- He's still at it.

And he's the best man in the country.

- It's good to have a friend like him.

- I wish I could help as much.

- If only I could do something.

- You've done everything anybody could.

You know I love you, Mary.

- You believe me, don't you.

- I do.

"The matron has come to me now,

and I must close this.

But I want to tell you something

that will be difficult for you to believe."

Incredible as it may seem,

as the hour of execution approached,

Mary became resigned to the fact that

Brad was the executioner for the state.

To quote her,

"I want it to be Brad.

I know now how the women of our

western plains must have felt...

...when facing death at the

hands of savages."

By processes of reasoning, she came

to regard Brad the executioner,

...as that one small cog in the machinery of

the law by which she was doomed to die.

The jurors that voted the conviction,

and the judge who passed sentence,

were far more responsible, in her opinion.

Well, she's right. But who'd expect

a woman to be that logical?

- That brings us to tonight.

- At the Grotto.

And Suzy.

- The usual, no ice.

- Hm, just the man I want to see.

Any last-minute developments

in that Mary Kirk case?

- Nothing.

- It's 7 o'clock.

I guess the execution will come

off on schedule.

- At eleven.

- You asked me to meet you here?

Yes, and you're right on time.

Come on.

Let's find a booth.

Finch is still trying. I talked to that little

dame and she doesn't know anything.

And I mean anything.

And coffee.

Suzy, I don't believe you are consciously

sending your sister to the electric chair.

But I am positive that you hold

the key to the m*rder.

If you bring that subject up again,

I'll leave.

You've lied to me several times.

Whom are you protecting?

Sit down!

If you attempt to leave, I'll take you

to jail for questioning.

- Jail?

- Yes, jail.

Now, whom are you protecting?

You're protecting someone.

And I believe that that man k*lled Millen.

I'm not protecting anyone.

I've got a right to some privacy.

Oh, do you think I'd keep anything back

if I thought it would save Mary's life?

Let me be the judge of that.

Suzy,

seemingly unimportant things are

sometimes of the greatest importance...

...to the trained investigator.

Of course you want to save Mary. But you're

working on the assumption that she's guilty.

You told me that.

I don't believe she is.

I'll tell you tomorrow everything I know.

You'll see then how unimportant...

Oh, please don't do that!

- It makes me nervous.

- Oh, of course.

But tomorrow will be too late.

I just happen to know something...

which doesn't concern anyone

in the world but...

But whom?

Oh, someone you wouldn't know.

It has nothing to do with you, or me,

or Mary or anyone else.

You'd better put that car key back in your

pocket before you forget it.

How did you know it's a car key?

It could just as well be a house key.

Oh, I don't know!

I just supposed!

No... no message for me?

No, sir, Mr. Finch hasn't telephoned.

Not since early this afternoon.

It was nice of him to give me hope.

- Nothing from...

- No, doctor.

She didn't ask for someone else

to take my place?

No, sir.

Suzy,

I'll let you keep your secret if you tell me

the name of the man who was in the coupe.

The one you said was Bill Elsworth.

I said that because it was

none of your business!

I never dreamed you'd

check up on me.

Who was it?

That key belongs to the man

who was in the coupe.

I'm sure of it!

What's his name?

Ah! I remember his name!

You tried to borrow money

from your sister for him.

- His name is Richard.

- Oh!

You wouldn't tell me because you

were afraid it might involve you...

...in some personal scandal.

He was... very close to you,

wasn't he?

Am I right?

- No... no!

- But I promise to keep you out of it, Suzy.

Look at it my way.

Richard had a key to the back door.

How did you know that?

I didn't.

You've just told me.

- Oh...

- Needing money desperately,

...he got into the kitchen.

He saw the roll of bills that

Millen had and...

He couldn't possibly have done it.

I'm convinced that he did.

Otherwise, how could his car key

have been on your floor?

Oh, how horrible!

But it's too late!

He's leaving town tonight!

Alone, or with somebody else?

- Oh... he wouldn't do that.

- Don't be too sure.

Do you think we can find him, Suzy?

We can't. It's too late,

I tell you, we can't!

Come on, let's try.

- Here's where he keeps his car.

- Is he getting away in it?

Yes, that's what he said.

- That's his car.

- Good, we're in time.

- Where does he live?

- Around the corner.

The key fits all right.

Now there's nothing to do but wait.

And pray. Pray that he comes in time.

What time is it?

You've got half an hour.

Half an hour.

Richard.

Suzy.

What are you doing here?

I just had to see you before you left.

I needn't have gone if you'd got

me that money.

Why didn't you grab Millen's money

when you had a chance?

- Where were you?

- I protected you.

Now you're deserting me,

you're letting my sister die!

- Why, you...

- Stand where you are!

- All right, I'll...

- Quick!

Snell's proved to be a

coward at heart.

He wasn't hard to handle.

He was stalling as much

as I suspected.

He worked at Gregory's bank

and wanted to be a big shot.

So he stole some money and tried

to cover it up...

then he stole some more to make

his first theft good and so on.

Suzy was fretted by his intentions and tried

to get some money from Mary for him.

Heaven knows for what reason.

What really happened was...

I told you never to come

here again.

- I don't want Suzy to know.

- Oh, slow down.

I've got good news for you.

I'm leaving town.

I'm taking up a little collection

from some of my friends and, um...

...thought maybe you'd like to contribute.

- You've taken all...

- I helped Tom Logan plenty...

...when the going was tough.

And that's something you wouldn't

want me to tell Mr. Gregory.

That money I've saved is for Suzy,

her education.

- She's going to college this fall.

- Suzy can go to work.

I've got to have 500 more and then

I'll never come back.

You can tell Mr. Gregory if you want to.

Everything!

Mr. Millen.

Wait until Gregory hears this!

Hello, get me Governor Harrison

on the phone.

What? Then hurry!

It's a matter of life and death.

Try the executive mansion.

He told me he needed...

Hello? Out?

Well, find him.

All right. Well, try there.

Governor Harrison had

a broadcast tonight.

His wife doesn't know where

he went from there.

Yes?

Is Governor Harrison there?

Left ten minutes ago?

Did he go home?

Did he have anybody with him?

Just his chauffeur.

Thank you.

Suzy, get on that telephone

and keep trying.

The police here will help you.

Tell Mrs. Harrison who you are...

...and that we have a confession.

We're fighting against time.

Get me a motorcycle escort.

I'm going to go and try to convince that

warden if I can get there in time.

Oh, couldn't you telephone him?

He won't listen to anybody

but the governor. That's the law.

But if I see him, I might get him

to delay the execution.

Oh, I'll get the governor somehow.

State Prison.

What are we doing here, Jennings?

Oh, this is it?

Good.

It's not a very nice place

for a governor to be seen. But...

Hush, Jennings, nice places,

as you call them,

never have the kind of sandwiches I like.

What can I do for you fellas?

Uh... oh, excuse me!

I just listened to you on the radio,

Governor Harrison.

- It sure was a swell speech.

- Thank you.

Now, could you make us a couple

of Denver sandwiches...

...smothered in onions.

I'll make you the best ones

you ever ate.

About time, Dr. Bradford.

Yes, I... I know.

Of course you know how I feel.

How we all feel about it.

Thank you.

There's always the millionth chance

the governor will intervene.

I'll be right by the telephone, sir.

We're late.

Get on with it, doctor.

Come, come, no one here wants

to see that girl die.

But the law says she must.

- No word from Finch?

- No.

And none from the governor.

She's innocent, Warden,

you know she is.

I believe she is, since coming

to know her.

- But it's...

- We can't k*ll her!

We can't.

We have no choice.

Maybe you have no choice.

But I have.

I'm not going to throw the switch

until I hear from Finch.

Think of the girl. You can't let

her sit there waiting.

- It's t*rture.

- I can't, I can't!

Pull yourself together.

You're a doctor.

I'm human.

Listen, Warden, I thought I could.

I refused to give up this job

when she asked me to.

This is different.

I love her, I can't k*ll her.

Law or no law!

- Stand aside, I'll throw the switch.

- No, you won't!

No one will.

I'll give you one more chance.

If you refuse, I'll call the guards

with orders to sh**t.

Call them. That'll give her

a few more minutes.

And it'll take them some time

to get me.

Call them!

Listen to me and you'll have

the scoop of the year.

We've got Snell's confession.

My sister's innocent!

Help me! Please, please!

I'll give you one last chance.

Come out!

I'm glad you liked it, Governor.

We are interrupting this program

for an important announcement.

We are trying to reach Governor Harrison.

If Governor Harrison hears this,

please call Warden Lewis at once.

Snell, a bank teller, has confessed

to the m*rder of Willis Millen.

Mary Kirk Logan is innocent.

Governor Harrison, please call

Warden Lewis immediately.

Just keep him here until I come out.

Yes... Yes, sir.

It's the governor.

Stop, Warden, they got her

a stay of execution.

A bank teller by the name of Snell

has confessed.

The governor hasn't all the facts,

but is satisfied it's so.

Thank heavens Dr. Bradford saved her.

Is the governor on the wire?

Yes!

Release her.

Pull yourself together, Brad.

And bring Mary to me as soon

as you have her released.

The warden gave me this

when I was leaving.

That letter would be worth a nice

piece of change to my paper.

Sorry, Max, it doesn't belong to me.

Now, now, let's not be so solemn.

It's a rare thing for the ghost elect to be

able to destroy her last will and testament.

Which reminds me.

This letter is your appointment to the staff

of the Chicago Reasearch Foundation.

With Professor Michaelson.

- Thanks for everything,

- Ah...

Well, here's to the new job,

the lovely wife...

And a dear friend.

I prefer my toast this way.

Waiter! Waiter!

Put that thing down and get

me a drink!

- Please, Bob, you've had enough.

- I want a drink!

Darling, I think we'd better leave.

This is where we came in.

Are you coming?

No, no... I think I'll stay.

I still have my overcoat,

and you never can tell.