The Window (1949) - full transcript

[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 shoot all
the Indians, we're gonna move.

How long does it take
to shoot 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 shoot the Indians ourselves.

That's why I wanna buy me a horse.

- Hey, where are you going?
- I know how to shoot Indians.

Indians shoot with
bows and arrows.

Oh, they do not. They got guns
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 killed 'em all, except one.

And he was abandoned.
So, I took my gun and I shot him.

All by myself.

How many bandits
did you kill today?

Well, I didn't have to
use too many bullets, pop.

The heat killed 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 murder.

A murder? 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. Shoot!

Something terrible happened
last night.

You know the Kellerson's upstairs?

Yeah. I've seen 'em
coming and going. Why?

Well, they killed 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 kill 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
killed 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 murdered 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 murder
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 murder, sir.

Who... who sent you in here?

The man at the desk up front.

I saw a man murdered 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 murdered?

- 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 kill me, too.

Don't worry about that, son.

Nobody's gonna kill 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 killed.

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 kill 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 kill 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 killed 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 kill 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 killed a man last night!

Honest, they did!

JEAN: Oh, Tommy...

I watched them
through the window,

I saw them kill him!

Say, are you the kid
who was down the station house

this morning and claimed
he saw a murder?

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 killed.

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 killed 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]