Witness for the Prosecution (1982) - full transcript

( distant dog barking )

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( shrieking )

NO! NO, NO!

NINE, NINE...

( phone rings )

Man: EMERGENCY. WHICH SERVICE?

POLICE!



GET ME THE POLICE!

( thunder crashes )

Sir Wilfred: NOT SO FAST, YOU NINCOMPOOPS.

WHERE'S THE CAR?

WHAT ARE YOU GAPING AT?

I SHOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU

FOR ALL YOUR CARE AND KINDNESS.

THE WHOLE OF MY LIFE,

I'VE NEVER...

BEEN SO MISERABLE.

WELL, I WISH YOU ALL GOOD DAY.

I HOPE FOREVER.

COME ALONG, COME ALONG. WHAT'S KEEPING US?

I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS BEING DISCHARGED TODAY.

DISCHARGED? HE'S BEEN EXPELLED.

Nurse: THERE GOES THE OLD FOX AT LAST.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT.

GOOD-BYE, SIR WILFRED! BYE, SIR WILFRED!

Nurses: BYE! BYE!

YOU THINK HE'LL BE BACK AGAIN?

IF HE DOES, I'M LEAVING.

Miss Plimsoll: OH, MY, WHAT A MISERABLE DAY.

JUST PERFECT FOR YOUR HOMECOMING.

YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS SAY

IT'S WORTH HAVING THE RAIN

JUST TO APPRECIATE THE SUNSHINE--

WHEN IT COMES.

OH, TELL ME, IS THERE TOO MUCH DRAFT?

SHALL I SHUT THE WINDOW?

NO, JUST SHUT UP, WILL YOU?

NOW, YOU'RE BEING NAUGHTY AGAIN,

SIR WILFRED.

WE MUST KEEP OUR SPIRITS UP.

I JUST ADORE LONDON.

IT'S SO ECCENTRIC.

WERE YOU KNIGHTED AT THE PALACE, SIR WILFRED?

NO, AT THE ZOO, I THINK.

LOOK, THERE'S HARRODS.

I BUY ALL MY STOCKINGS THERE.

AMAZING.

YOU KNOW,

I ALMOST MARRIED A LAW STUDENT YEARS AGO,

BUT HE CAUGHT PNEUMONIA AND WENT,

JUST LIKE THAT.

DIED OF FRIGHT, DIDN'T HE?

CAREFUL, NOW, SIR WILFRED.

REMEMBER, YOU'VE BEEN FLAT ON YOUR BACK, NOW,

FOR TWO MONTHS.

OH, STAND BACK, STAND BACK.

WILLIAMS, MY CANE.

HERE HE COMES!

ME, ME.

GOOD MORNING.

SIR WILFRED.

( telephone rings ) THANK YOU.

EVERYONE, BACK TO WORK.

( weeping )

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?

WELL, I-- I WAS AFRAID

AFTER YOUR HEART ATTACK THAT--

BUT HERE YOU ARE, YOUR OLD SELF AGAIN!

ANY MORE OF SUCH SENTIMENTALITY,

AND I GO STRAIGHT BACK TO HOSPITAL.

NOT LIKELY. THEY WON'T TAKE YOU BACK.

PLIMSOLL, PUT THOSE IN WATER.

COME ALONG, CARTER.

LOOK AT THIS ROOM.

OLD. UGLY.

MUSTY.

I NEVER KNEW

I COULD MISS ANYTHING SO MUCH.

MISSED YOU TOO, CARTER.

MUSTY OLD BUZZARD.

WELL, THANK YOU, SIR.

I'M NOT A RELIGIOUS PERSON, SIR,

BUT WHEN THEY TOOK YOU AWAY IN THAT AMBULANCE,

I LIT A CANDLE.

OH, THANK YOU, CARTER.

OH, ACTUALLY I WAS LIGHTING IT

FOR MYSELF, SIR.

I MEAN, IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO YOU,

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS?

OH, INDEED.

I STARTED WITH YOUR FIRST...

MURDER TRIAL, YOU KNOW.

INDEED, YOU DID.

THIRTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO.

I'VE STILL GOT THE SAME WIG.

FACE IT, CARTER, WILL YOU?

YES, SIR, I'M...

I'M AFRAID WE PUT IT AWAY, SIR.

PUT IT AWAY?

IN MOTH BALLS.

MOTH BALLS.

I SUPPOSE YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T GOING TO PRACTICE AGAIN.

OH, NO, SIR,

WE HAVE SEVERAL INTERESTING BRIEFS FOR YOU.

A DIVORCE CASE, TAX APPEAL,

VERY SIMPLE-- EXCELLENT FEES.

NEVER THAT.

I'M SORRY, SIR WILFRED,

BUT YOU'RE NOT TO UNDERTAKE

ANY MORE CRIMINAL CASES.

THE DOCTORS--

DOCTORS?

THEY'VE DEPRIVED ME OF EVERYTHING--

TOBACCO, ALCOHOL,

FEMALE COMPANIONS.

CARTER.

YES, SIR?

BRING ME A BIGGER BOX,

BIGGER MOTH BALLS.

AND PUT ME AWAY IN IT, TOO.

11:30, SIR WILFRED.

TIME FOR A NAP BEFORE LUNCH.

LATER.

COME, NOW, LET'S GET YOU UPSTAIRS.

LET'S GET YOU UNDRESSED

AND WE'LL LIE DOWN.

WE?

WHAT A PROSPECT.

UPSTAIRS, COME ALONG NOW.

OH, DON'T-- DON'T PULL ME.

I--I COULD STRIKE.

OH, YOU WOULD NEVER DO THAT.

YOU MIGHT BREAK YOUR CIGARS.

WHAT-- WHAT CIGARS?

THE ONES YOU'VE BEEN SMUGGLING.

HOW--HOW DID THEY GET THERE?

IN HOSPITAL HE'D HIDE THE BRANDY, TOO.

WE CALLED HIM "WILFRED THE FOX."

I'M CONFISCATING THESE.

JUST... JUST ONE?

NO. UPSTAIRS, PLEASE.

I MEAN, UH,

J-JUST A PUFF?

AFTER MEALS?

Miss Plimsoll: NOT BEFORE, NOT DURING, NOT AFTER.

CIGARS, SIR WILFRED, ARE...

DON'T BE SURPRISED, CARTER.

SOME DARK NIGHT,

I SHALL PLUNGE HER THERMOMETER

INTO HER HEART.

( typewriter keys tapping )

OH, NO, SIR.

YOU MUSTN'T WALK UP.

WE HAVE THE LIFT NOW.

THAT LIFT HASN'T WORKED FOR A YEAR.

INDEED, SIR, THAT'S WHY

WE HAD IT REPAIRED FOR YOUR RETURN.

THE DOCTOR WAS ADAMANT ABOUT IT.

HE ORDERED IT.

ARE YOU SURE THAT IT'S--

OH, YES, IT'S QUITE RELIABLE NOW.

SHALL WE GO?

Mayhew: GOOD MORNING, MISS O'BRIEN.

AH!

MAYHEW!

SIR WILFRED!

HOW VERY GOOD TO SEE YOU

BACK ON THE JOB AGAIN.

NOTHING SCHEDULED

EXCEPT A FEW DULL CIVIL CASES.

WELL, IN THAT CASE, I THINK

I MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING INTERESTING FOR YOU.

I HAVE MY CLIENT RIGHT HERE WITH ME

AND, UH...

THIS IS MR. LEONARD VOLE.

AND HE'S IN QUITE A GHASTLY MESS,

I'M AFRAID.

OH?

HOW DO YOU DO, MR. VOLE?

WELL, ACCORDING TO MR. MAYHEW,

NOT VERY WELL, SIR.

SIR WILFRED.

IT'S 11:45.

I KNOW WHAT THE TIME IS.

SORRY, NEXT YEAR, MAYHEW.

NICE--NICE TO HAVE MET YOU, MY BOY.

MY PLEASURE, SIR.

Sir Wilfred: HOW INTERESTING.

HERE WE ARE.

COME, COME ALONG, SIR WILFRED.

SIR WILFRED!

SIR WILFRED!

SIR WILFRED!

WHILE HE'S CONVALESCING,

HE REALLY CAN'T ACCEPT ANY CASE

OF A CRIMINAL NATURE.

THE DOCTOR HAS REQUESTED ALL--

Miss Plimsoll: SIR WILFRED!

AH, GENTLEMEN.

SIR WILFRED.

NOW, IT'S ALL RIGHT, CARTER.

WE'RE NOT TAKING HIS BRIEF.

BUT MAYHEW IS AN OLD FRIEND,

AND I'M SURE HE COULD

DO WITH SOME ADVICE.

OH! YES.

WELL, I--I--

I COULD GIVE YOU FIVE MINUTES, COULDN'T I?

WELL, THAT'S VERY KIND OF YOU, SIR, BUT--

Miss Plimsoll: WILFRED! AH, NO, MAYHEW.

JUST YOU AND I, PLEASE. THANK YOU.

( sighs )

SIR WILFRED!

YOUR NAP!

YOU GO AHEAD AND START IT WITHOUT ME.

( sighs )

THIS IS YOUR FAULT, MR. CARTER.

HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?

I TOLD YOU-- EXCUSE ME.

UH, BUT IF IT'S ANYONE'S FAULT,

IT'S MINE.

IT SEEMS SILLY TO ME NOW,

BUT MR. MAYHEW THINKS

THAT I MIGHT BE ARRESTED

AT ANY MOMENT.

FOR WHAT?

WELL...

FOR MURDER.

THIS, UH, WOMAN,

A MIDDLE-AGED WIDOW,

WAS LIVING WITH, UM,

A HOUSEKEEPER IN HAMPSTEAD.

THE HOUSEKEEPER CLAIMS

THAT MR. VOLE VISITED THE WIDOW

THE SAME EVENING SHE WAS FOUND DEAD--

STRUCK IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.

I SEE.

HE SEEMS SUCH A NICE, HARMLESS CHAP,

SIMPLY CAUGHT

IN A WEB OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

I WONDER, COULD YOU PERHAPS

THINK OF A LINE OF DEFENSE?

I THINK BEST WITH A CIGAR.

OH, OH, YES, SIR.

YES, OF COURSE.

HE'S A MAN OF GOOD CHARACTER--

AN AMERICAN WITH A--

AN EXCELLENT WAR RECORD.

I KNOW YOU'LL LIKE HIM.

SHE'S CONFISCATED THE MATCHES.

A LIGHT?

OH, SURE. I'M SORRY.

UH, I'LL GET YOU ONE.

NO, NO-- NO, NO, NO, NO.

YOU DO KNOW MISS PLIMSOLL.

THIS WILL TAKE ALL OUR CUNNING.

YOUNG MAN.

A RATHER IMPORTANT POINT.

IF YOU COULD JUST JOIN US

FOR A MOMENT?

OF COURSE, SIR.

THANK YOU.

SIR?

GIVE ME A MATCH.

WHAT?

GIVE ME A MATCH.

I'M SORRY, I NEVER CARRY THEM.

OH, MY GOD.

YOU SAID I'D LIKE HIM.

I DO HAVE A LIGHTER, HOWEVER.

CHARMING FELLOW.

MR. VOLE, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT

HAVE MURDERED A MIDDLE-AGED WIDOW,

BUT YOU'VE SAVED THE LIFE OF AN OLD BARRISTER.

WELL, IT'S ALL SO FANTASTIC.

I HAVEN'T MURDERED ANYONE.

MY GOD!

I HATE VIOLENCE OF ANY KIND.

I'M ONLY HERE BECAUSE CHRISTINE--

THAT'S MY WIFE--

THOUGHT I MIGHT BE IMPLICATED IN SOME WAY.

DO I REALLY NEED TWO LAWYERS?

EXCUSE ME, JUST-- IT SEEMS SILLY.

MR. VOLE.

THOSE WHO COMMIT MURDER IN THIS COUNTRY

FACE THE HANGMAN.

IS THAT SILLY?

NO, SIR.

I--I--I-- I DIDN'T MEAN--

MAYHEW, YOU EXPLAIN TO HIM,

WILL YOU?

I AM A SOLICITOR, MR. VOLE.

SIR WILFRED IS A BARRISTER,

AND ONLY A BARRISTER

CAN PLEAD A CASE IN COURT.

THE FACT IS

I MADE A STATEMENT TO THE POLICE.

THEY SEEMED QUITE SATISFIED.

THEY SEEMED SATISFIED.

HE MADE A STATEMENT

AND THINKS THAT'S THE END OF IT.

YOU ARE A PRINCIPAL SUSPECT.

WHY? WHY--WHY SHOULD I BE ARRESTED

FOR SOMETHING I HAVEN'T DONE?

RELAX, MR. VOLE.

YOU ARE NOW IN THE HANDS

OF THE FINEST BARRISTER IN LONDON.

MAYHEW.

I MAY HAVE TAKEN YOUR CIGAR,

BUT I'M NOT TAKING YOUR CASE.

HOLD THAT, WILL YOU?

I SUBMIT WE CALL ON MR. BROGAN-MOORE.

A VERY ABLE MAN.

OH, CARTER.

ASK MR. BROGAN-MOORE TO COME TO ME

AS SOON AS HE LEAVES THE COURT.

YES, SIR. SIR WILFRED.

I HAVE NEVER KNOWN SUCH INSUBORDINATION

SINCE I WAS A NURSE IN THE FRONT LINES

DURING THE WAR.

OH, THANKS VERY MUCH.

WHAT--WHAT-- WHAT SORT OF WORK

DO YOU DO?

WELL, I'VE WORKED AT ALL SORTS OF JOBS.

MECHANICS, MOSTLY.

I LIKE WORKING ON CARS THE BEST.

PICKING UP NEW GADGETS FOR THEM.

OH, YES. I SEE.

WELL, YOU'RE NOT WORKING NOW?

NO.

HOW DID YOU GET TO KNOW MRS. FRENCH?

ON OXFORD STREET.

ONE DAY, I--I-- I SAW THIS OLD LADY

CARRYING A LOT OF-- OLD LADY?

WELL, SHE WAS IN HER 50s, WASN'T SHE?

WELL, SHE'S CARRYING A LOT OF PACKAGES,

AND THEN, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET,

SHE DROPPED THEM.

SHE WAS TRYING TO PICK THEM UP,

AND I SAW THIS BUS COMING TOWARDS HER.

I YELLED AT HER

AND SHE MANAGED TO GET TO THE CURB IN TIME.

WELL? AND THEN?

WELL, I PICKED UP THE PACKAGES FOR HER.

I WIPED SOME OF THE MUD OFF.

I TRIED TO CALM HER DOWN.

I PRESUME SHE WAS GRATEFUL.

OH, YOU'D HAVE THOUGHT I'D TRIED TO SAVE HER LIFE.

AND THEN?

WELL, THEN SHE ASKED ME TO COME AND SEE HER.

AND SO YOU WENT?

WELL, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE RUDE TO REFUSE,

AND SHE SEEMED VERY LONELY.

HER HUSBAND HAD BEEN IN THE COLONIAL SERVICE

AND DIED AT THE AGE OF 45.

MMM, POOR GUY. HEART ATTACK.

PLEASE.

NOT WHILE I'M SMOKING.

AND SO...

WELL...

AND--AND THEN...

YOU SAW HER

QUITE-- QUITE FREQUENTLY.

YEAH, WE'D, UM,

SIP SHERRY AND, UH,

PLAY CANASTA.

YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY WEIRD

TO THINK OF HER NOW--

LYING THERE IN THAT LIVING ROOM,

MURDERED.

OH, I ASSURE YOU,

THEY HAVE MOVED HER BY NOW.

NOT TO HAVE DONE SO WOULD BE UNFEELING AND UNLAWFUL...

UNSANITARY.

UH, Y-YOU SAY THAT HE WAS IN HER PLACE

ON THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER?

OH, YES, BUT I LEFT BEFORE 9:30.

THE HOUSEKEEPER CLAIMED THAT EMILY FRENCH

WAS STILL ALIVE WHEN SHE CAME BACK AT 10:00.

HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU GET OUT OF HER?

NOTHING. NOT A CENT.

THE TRUTH.

HOW MUCH?

WHY SHOULD SHE GIVE ME ANY MONEY?

BECAUSE SHE WAS IN LOVE WITH YOU.

( laughs )

EXCUSE ME, SIR.

IT JUST-- THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

SHE LIKED ME.

SHE, UM...

YEAH, SHE EVEN PAMPERED ME--

LIKE AN AUNT-- BUT THAT'S ALL.

I SWEAR IT.

WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL HER YOU WERE A MARRIED MAN?

OH, I DID TELL HER.

DID YOU TAKE YOUR WIFE TO SEE HER?

NO.

WHY NOT?

WELL, BECAUSE. UH...

WELL, SHE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION

THAT CHRISTINE AND I DIDN'T GET ALONG TOO WELL.

DID YOU GIVE HER THAT IMPRESSION?

NO, SHE SEEMED TO WANT TO BELIEVE IT THAT WAY.

BUT YOU NEVER CORRECTED THAT IMPRESSION?

I WAS, UH...

AFRAID SHE'D LOSE INTEREST IN ME.

BECAUSE SHE WAS RICH.

YES, I SUPPOSE SO.

AND YOU WERE AFTER HER MONEY.

I... WERE YOU?

YES, IN A WAY, I--I...

I WAS HOPING FOR A LOAN, THAT'S ALL,

FOR AN INVENTION OF MINE.

THAT'S ALL IT WOULD HAVE BEEN.

IS THAT SO BAD?

THE HOUSEKEEPER WAS OUT.

JUST YOU...

AND THAT LONELY WOMAN

IN THE EMPTY HOUSE.

HOW EASY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TO--

NO!

WHEN I LEFT HER, SHE WAS ALIVE.

I KNOW THINGS DO LOOK BAD FOR ME,

BUT I SWEAR TO GOD I DIDN'T DO IT.

YOU DO BELIEVE ME, DON'T YOU?

NO, YOU'RE WRONG, MR. VOLE.

THINGS DON'T LOOK BAD FOR YOU.

THEY LOOK ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE.

YOU'VE NO ALIBI,

NO WITNESS.

JUST MY WIFE.

THE TESTIMONY OF A DEVOTED WIFE,

I'M AFRAID, DOES NOT CARRY MUCH WEIGHT.

AH, BROGAN-MOORE.

COME IN, COME IN.

SO GOOD TO SEE YOU OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.

THEY WERE GLAD TO GET RID OF ME.

AH, YOU KNOW MAYHEW.

THIS IS HIS CLIENT,

MR. LEONARD VOLE.

THE EMILY FRENCH MURDER.

INDEED. HOW DO YOU DO?

Sir Wilfred: AH, NOT TOO WELL, I'M AFRAID.

HE'S NO ALIBI. HE'S A HOT POTATO.

I'M DELIVERING IT RIGHT IN YOUR LAP.

MUCH OBLIGED.

WELL, YOUR BEST DEFENSE WILL BE LACK OF MOTIVE.

IF HE'S SPONGING ON HER,

WHY KILL HER OFF?

NO MOTIVE.

NO MONEY, I'M AFRAID.

YOU WILL HAVE TO SUE FOR YOUR FEES.

I'LL SIMPLY PUT A LIEN ON HIS £80,000.

WHAT £80,000?

WHY, THE £80,000 THAT MRS. FRENCH LEFT YOU.

LEFT ME?

THEY FOUND HER WILL THIS MORNING.

CONGRATULATIONS.

MY GOD, YOU'VE GOT TO BE JOKING.

EIGHTY?

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

I'VE GOT TO CALL CHRISTINE RIGHT AWAY.

THIS INHERITANCE...

DOESN'T MAKE THINGS LOOK ANY BETTER FOR ME, DOES IT?

I WOULDN'T THINK SO.

SO, NOW THEY'LL SAY I DID HAVE A MOTIVE.

I WOULD THINK £80,000

A VERY HANDSOME MOTIVE.

EXCUSE ME, SIR.

THERE ARE TWO GENTLEMEN HERE

ASKING FOR MR. VOLE.

THE POLICE? YES, SIR.

TELL THEM TO COME IN. YES.

MY GOD. IS THIS IT?

I'M AFRAID IT MAY BE, MY BOY.

BUT I HAD NO IDEA SHE'D LEAVE ME ANY MONEY.

HOW COULD IT BE A MOTIVE?

NOW, DON'T WORRY, MR. BROGAN-MOORE

WILL BRING ALL THAT OUT IN COURT.

AH. CHIEF INSPECTOR HEARNE.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PROMOTION.

OH, WELL, THANK YOU, SIR WILFRED.

SORRY TO DISTURB YOU IN YOUR CHAMBERS.

NO, NOT AT ALL.

WE HAVE YOUR DANGEROUS MR. VOLE HERE.

YOU ARE LEONARD VOLE?

YES.

I HAVE A WARRANT FOR YOUR ARREST

ON THE CHARGE OF MURDERING ONE EMILY FRENCH.

I MUST WARN YOU, ANYTHING YOU SAY

WILL BE TAKEN DOWN AND MAYBE USED IN EVIDENCE.

PARDON ME.

I'VE NEVER BEEN ARRESTED.

DO I HAVE TO BE HANDCUFFED?

THAT WON'T BE NECESSARY.

Mayhew: I'LL GO TO THE STATION WITH YOU,

SEE YOU'RE PROPERLY CHARGED.

WILL YOU EXPLAIN TO MY WIFE?

YES, OF COURSE.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING.

WELL.

DID YOU GIVE HIM YOUR MONOCLE TEST?

YES, I DID.

AND? CURIOUSLY ENOUGH,

HE CAME THROUGH WITH FLYING COLORS.

HMM.

Carter: UH, EXCUSE ME, SIR WILFRED,

BUT MISS PLIMSOLL HAS ISSUED AN ULTIMATUM.

IF YOU'RE NOT IN BED IN ONE MINUTE,

SHE WILL RESIGN.

( grumbles )

IF YOU REFUSE TO TAKE PROPER CARE OF YOURSELF, SIR,

I WILL BE FORCED TO RESIGN, TOO.

BLACKMAIL.

ALL RIGHT, CARTER.

I'LL GO QUIETLY.

IT'S BEEN A BIT HECTIC THIS MORNING.

AH, MISS PLIMSOLL,

HOW ALLURING YOU LOOK.

LIKE A CAGED COBRA.

HOW DO I MANAGE TO RESIST YOU?

UH, WILFRED,

WOULD YOU CARE TO QUESTION MR. VOLE'S WIFE?

SORRY, I'M IN NO CONDITION

TO COPE WITH WEEPING WOMEN.

YOU'LL WANT A DOZEN HANDKERCHIEFS.

Christine: NO.

THAT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY.

Christine: HOW DO YOU DO?

I AM CHRISTINE VOLE.

WELL...

I'M WILFRED ROBARTS.

THIS IS MR. BROGAN-MOORE.

THERE'S SOME RATHER BAD NEWS FOR YOU, I'M AFRAID.

DON'T BE AFRAID.

I'M QUITE DISCIPLINED.

HE'S BEEN ARRESTED, HASN'T HE?

AND CHARGED WITH MURDER?

I TOLD HIM HE WOULD BE.

YOU SHOW EXTRAORDINARY FORTITUDE.

MY FRIEND HERE

WILL TAKE ON YOUR HUSBAND'S DEFENSE.

OH?

YOU WILL NOT PERSONALLY DEFEND LEONARD?

WELL, REGRETTABLY NOT.

MY HEALTH, YOU SEE.

I'VE HEARD YOU DESCRIBED

AS THE "CHAMPION OF THE HOPELESS CAUSE."

PERHAPS THIS CAUSE...

IS TOO HOPELESS.

SIR WILFRED.

I INTEND TO HAVE A VERY SERIOUS DISCUSSION

WITH DR. HARRISON.

IT WAS A GREAT MISTAKE TO LET YOU COME BACK HERE.

I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN YOU

DIRECTLY TO SOME FAR OFF RESORT,

LIKE BERMUDA.

NEVER.

YOU JUST WANT TO SEE ME

IN THOSE NASTY LITTLE SHORTS.

NOW.

PUT THESE ON, IF YOU PLEASE.

BOTH TOPS AND BOTTOMS.

I'LL MAKE YOUR BED.

I MUST SAY,

I FEEL RATHER SORRY FOR MR. VOLE.

THAT WIFE OF HIS

SOUNDS ABSOLUTELY HORRID.

THAT FOREIGNER.

I THINK ENGLISH GIRLS

ARE SO MUCH MORE CARING

AND SENSIBLE.

MY MOTHER--OH, I COME FROM DORSET--

MY MOTHER USED TO SAY

THAT NO SELF-RESPECTING DORSET MAN

WOULD EVER DREAM OF MARRYING A FOREIGNER.

HAVE YOU EVER STAYED IN DORSET?

OH, I DO SO LOVE IT.

SUCH A HAPPY, HAPPY CHILDHOOD.

OH, YES. WHEW!

WELL, MY CAREER NOW

TAKES ME TO SO MANY PLACES

I HAVE NO TIME TO BE HOMESICK.

NO, NO, THAT ISN'T TRUE.

SOMETIMES I FEEL JUST...

SO LONELY, YOU KNOW.

SO LONELY.

OH, BUT ONE MUST KEEP BUSY.

ONE MUST KEEP ACTIVE.

I THINK YOU'LL AGREE WITH ME THERE.

IT'S SO REWARDING, YOU KNOW,

TO BE IN THE SERVICE

OF THOSE WHO NEED PROFESSIONAL CARE.

DO YOU LIKE FISH?

ALL OF US MUST DO WHAT WE DO BEST

IN THIS WORLD.

AND SO I REMAIN--

CONTENT...

SIR WILFRED!

TO THE CLUB, WILLIAMS.

YES, SIR.

( rapping on window )

Sir Wilfred: FORGIVE MY HASTE,

BUT MY NURSE MIGHT BE FOLLOWING

ON HER BROOMSTICK.

Sir Wilfred: AM I TO UNDERSTAND, MRS. VOLE,

THAT YOUR HUSBAND'S ENTIRE DEFENSE

DEPENDS ON HIS WORD AND YOURS?

UNFORTUNATELY, A JURY

IS OFTEN SKEPTICAL OF A MAN

ACCUSED OF MURDER

SUPPORTED ONLY BY THE WORD

OF HIS ADORING WIFE.

ALWAYS.

Mayhew: INDEED. HE'S QUITE RIGHT.

OH, I SAY!

AREN'T THESE BEAUTIES?

YES, WELL-- NO, NO, YOU GO ON,

MY DEAR FELLOW.

QUESTION THIS CHARMING LADY.

I--I WON'T INTERRUPT YOU.

( clears throat )

YES, WELL...

I TAKE IT, THEN,

THAT YOU KNEW THAT YOUR HUSBAND

HAD BEEN SEEING MRS. FRENCH REGULARLY.

I KNEW IT FROM THE DAY

HE CAME HOME WITH A PAIR OF GREEN SOCKS

SHE HAD KNITTED FOR HIM.

I SEE.

A PAIR OF SOCKS.

WELL, THAT'S, UH, QUITE NATURAL.

ALMOST ENDEARING.

LEONARD CAN BE VERY ENDEARING.

HE HAS A WAY WITH WOMEN.

I ONLY HOPE HE WILL HAVE AN ALL-WOMAN JURY.

WE WILL BE ACQUITTED IN TRIUMPH.

YOU KNEW SHE'D LEFT HIM MONEY IN HER WILL?

A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY.

YOUR HUSBAND HAD NO PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE OF THIS.

IS THAT WHAT HE TOLD YOU?

SURELY YOU'RE NOT SUGGESTING ANYTHING DIFFERENT?

I DO NOT SUGGEST ANYTHING.

QUITE OBVIOUSLY...

MRS. FRENCH LOOKED UPON YOUR HUSBAND

AS A SON OR A NEPHEW.

( chuckles )

MY GOD, WHAT HYPOCRITES YOU ARE IN THIS COUNTRY.

OH, I'M SORRY IF I SHOCKED YOU, SIR WILFRED.

NO, NO, NOT AT ALL.

PLEASE GO ON.

THERE.

IS THAT MORE COMFORTABLE FOR YOU,

SIR WILFRED?

HOPE YOU DON'T MIND THIS.

DOCTOR SAID

I SHOULD TAKE A STROLL TWICE A DAY.

I DON'T MIND IN THE LEAST,

BUT I DON'T SEE WHAT MORE I CAN TELL YOU.

WELL, LET'S GO BACK

TO THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER.

YOUR HUSBAND CAME HOME BEFORE 9:30.

IS THAT CORRECT?

IS THAT WHAT HE SAID?

YES.

THEN IT IS CORRECT.

HE CAME HOME BEFORE 9:30.

WE WANT THE TRUTH, MRS. VOLE.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE UNDER OATH.

YES, THE TRUTH...

AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.

Sir Wilfred: MRS. VOLE,

DO YOU LOVE YOUR HUSBAND?

LEONARD THINKS I DO.

WELL, AND DO YOU?

AM I ALREADY UNDER OATH?

MRS. VOLE,

WHATEVER YOUR GAMBIT MAY BE,

DO YOU KNOW THAT UNDER ENGLISH LAW

YOU CANNOT GIVE TESTIMONY

AGAINST YOUR HUSBAND?

HOW VERY CONVENIENT.

THE PROSECUTION

WILL ATTEMPT TO HANG YOUR HUSBAND--

A HUSBAND WHO LOVES YOU.

LOVES ME?

LEONARD WORSHIPS THE GROUND I WALK ON.

I ASSUME

THAT YOU LOVE HIM AS MUCH?

YOU WANT TO KNOW TOO MUCH.

AUF WIEDERSEHEN, GENTLEMEN.

DON'T WORRY.

IF LEONARD NEEDS AN ALIBI,

I SHALL BE VERY CONVINCING.

THERE WILL BE TEARS IN MY EYES

WHEN I SPEAK.

YOU ARE A VERY REMARKABLE WOMAN,

MRS. VOLE.

AND YOU ARE SATISFIED,

I HOPE?

I'M DAMNED IF I'M SATISFIED.

Sir Wilfred: I WANT YOUR HONEST APPRAISAL.

DO YOU THINK LEONARD VOLE IS INNOCENT?

I DON'T KNOW.

I'M SORRY,

BUT OF COURSE, I'LL DO MY VERY BEST.

( sighs )

YOU NEEDN'T CONCERN YOURSELF.

I SHALL TAKE IT ON FROM HERE.

SIR WILFRED.

YOU MAY WISH TO KNOW

THAT I HAVE CALLED DR. HARRISON

AND GIVEN HIM A COMPLETE REPORT

ON YOUR SHOCKING BEHAVIOR.

GIVE ME A MATCH.

SIR WILFRED!

DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID?

GIVE ME...

A MATCH.

( match strikes )

MR. MAYHEW.

SIR WILFRED.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW

HOW GRATEFUL I AM, SIR,

THAT YOU ARE GOING TO REPRESENT ME.

WELL, I'VE STRUCK A BARGAIN

WITH MY DOCTORS.

THEY'LL LET ME GO ON WITH THE CASE

IF I GO OFF FOR SIX MONTHS TO BERMUDA.

THANK YOU, SIR.

LET'S HOPE WE'LL BOTH BE THE BETTER FOR IT.

Mayhew: WOULD YOU PUT THESE ON, PLEASE?

WHAT FOR?

BECAUSE THESE ARE THE CLOTHES

YOU WORE ON THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER.

WE'LL CIRCULATE A PHOTOGRAPH,

AND HOPE THAT A WITNESS

MIGHT HAVE SEEN YOU LEAVING MRS. FRENCH

TO VERIFY THE TIME.

Photographer: BY THE WINDOW, PLEASE.

DO WE REALLY NEED THIS?

UH, HAT, PLEASE?

MY WIFE KNOWS WHAT TIME I CAME HOME.

Photographer: ONE MORE IN PROFILE, PLEASE.

I JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND

WHY CHRISTINE HASN'T COME TO SEE ME.

IT'S BEEN OVER A WEEK.

Mayhew: I'LL PICK UP THE NEGATIVES LATER, THANK YOU.

RIGHT.

NOW, WAIT JUST A MINUTE.

ARE YOU KEEPING SOMETHING FROM ME?

IS CHRISTINE ALL RIGHT?

ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, MR. VOLE,

I THINK YOUR WIFE'S TAKEN IT VERY WELL.

IT MUST BE DAMN TOUGH ON HER.

WE'VE NEVER BEEN SEPARATED BEFORE.

NOT SINCE WE FIRST MET.

WAS THAT IN GERMANY?

RIGHT.

I WAS WITH THE AIR FORCE,

STATIONED OUTSIDE OF HAMBURG.

I MET HER IN A NIGHTCLUB.

SHE WAS WAITING ON TABLES

AND HOPING TO LAND ANOTHER JOB--

ACTING IN THE THEATER.

AND YOU BROUGHT HER OVER HERE?

YES, I, UH, RENTED A FLAT

ON EARL'S COURT ROAD.

AND, UH...

WHEN SHE SAW IT FOR THE FIRST TIME,

SHE WAS SO HAPPY.

SHE JUST BROKE DOWN AND CRIED.

HEARTWARMING.

SHE LOST ALL HER FAMILY IN THE WAR.

I'M ALL SHE HAS.

OH, YES, YES.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW SHE FEELS ABOUT ME,

BUT YOU'LL FIND OUT WHEN SHE TESTIFIES.

MR. VOLE,

I'M NOT PUTTING YOUR WIFE

IN THE WITNESS BOX.

WHY NOT?

SHE'S A FOREIGNER.

THE COMPLEXITY OF OUR LANGUAGE--

PROSECUTION MIGHT...

CATCH HER UP.

WE HEAR IT MAY BE MYERS FOR THE PROSECUTION.

WE CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE ANY CHANCES.

HE'S GOOD?

FORMIDABLE.

IRRITATING MAN, MR. MYERS.

I'D TAKE GREAT PLEASURE

IN BEATING HIM.

OFFICER?

BUT CHRISTINE MUST GIVE EVIDENCE!

YOU MUST TRUST ME,

IF ONLY BECAUSE I'M A MEAN, ILL-TEMPERED OLD MAN

WHO HATES TO LOSE.

LET US WISH EACH OTHER GOOD LUCK.

SIR WILFRED, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.

I CAN'T FACE THIS WITHOUT CHRISTINE!

Vole: I NEED HER!

WITHOUT HER, I'M SUNK!

YOU UNDERSTAND?

IT'S REALLY RATHER TOUCHING,

THE WAY HE COUNTS ON HIS WIFE.

LIKE A DROWNING MAN

CLUTCHING AT A RAZORBLADE.

( indistinct chatter )

Clerk: SILENCE!

IS YOUR NAME LEONARD VOLE?

YES.

YOU ARE CHARGED ON INDICTMENT

THAT ON THE 14th DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1954,

YOU MURDERED EMILY JANE FRENCH.

VOLE, ARE YOU GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY?

NOT GUILTY.

( grumbling, chattering )

Judge: MEMBERS OF THE JURY, YOU ARE SWORN

TO TRY THIS CASE ON EVIDENCE.

YOU MUST SHUT OUT EVERYTHING FROM YOUR MINDS,

EXCEPT WHAT TAKES PLACE IN THIS COURT.

YOU MAY PROCEED FOR THE PROSECUTION, MR. MYERS.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP,

I APPEAR IN THIS CASE

WITH MY LEARNED FRIEND, MR. BARTON.

AND FOR THE DEFENSE, SIR WILFRED--

SIR WILFRED ROBARTS AND MR. BROGAN-MOORE--

I--I TRUST WE ARE NOT TO BE DEPRIVED

OF THE LEARNED AND STIMULATING PRESENCE

OF SIR WILFRED THIS MORNING?

MY LORD, MAY I ASSURE MY LEARNED FRIEND

THAT SIR WILFRED IS IN THE OLD BAILEY

AND WILL BE IN HIS SEAT SHORTLY.

YOU MAY PROCEED, MR. MYERS.

THANK YOU, MY LORD.

( clears throat )

THE FACTS IN THIS CASE ARE VERY SIMPLE.

MEDICAL TESTIMONY WILL PROVE

THAT MRS. EMILY FRENCH

WAS MURDERED BY A BLOW

FROM A BLUNT AND HEAVY INSTRUMENT.

IT IS THE CASE FOR THE PROSECUTION

THAT THIS BLOW WAS STRUCK

BY THE PRISONER--

LEONARD VOLE.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

JUST A BIT OF NERVOUS HEARTBURN.

ALWAYS GET IT THE FIRST DAY OF A TRIAL.

240 OVER 130.

YOU SHOULDN'T BE HERE AT ALL.

I SHOULD BE IN THE COURTROOM.

THE TRIAL'S BEGUN.

SYRINGE, MISS PLIMSOLL.

SIR.

NOW, BE A GOOD, BRAVE BOY, SIR WILFRED.

IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO KNOW

THAT I AM DESCENDED FROM A WARRIOR FAMILY

WHICH TRACES ITS BRAVE PAST

BACK TO RICHARD THE LION-HEARTED.

( muttering )

YOU'RE TO HAVE A CALCIUM INJECTION DAILY,

A TRANQUILIZING PILL EVERY HOUR,

AND IN CASE OF A SUDDEN PAIN OR SHORTNESS OF BREATH,

POP ONE OF THOSE NITROGLYCERIN TABLETS

IN THE BLACK BOX UNDER YOUR TONGUE,

AND I'LL LEAVE YOU SOME DROPS AS WELL.

THAT'S ENOUGH, DOCTOR.

THE JUDGE WILL BE ASKING FOR A SALIVA TEST.

AH, WE'D BETTER GET

THAT THERMOS OF COCOA WITH ME.

HELPS ME TO WASH DOWN THE PILLS.

LET ME SEE THAT, PLEASE.

MY LEARNED PATIENT

IS NOT ABOVE SUBSTITUTING BRANDY

FOR THE COCOA.

OH! IT IS COCOA.

HMPH. SO SORRY.

YES, TAKE CARE OF THAT, CARTER.

Dr. Harrison: NOW, SIR WILFRED, IN THE COURTROOM

YOU MUST AVOID OVEREXCITEMENT.

WATCH YOUR TEMPER.

KEEP BOTH YOUR VOICE AND YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE DOWN.

OH, IT'S ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, DOCTOR.

I SHALL BE QUITE SAFE WITH THE PILLS

AND THE COCOA.

ALONG, CARTER.

WE THEREFORE PLACE THE TIME OF DEATH

BETWEEN 10:00 AND 10:30 P.M.

THAT IS JUST BEFORE JANET MacKENZIE CALLED US.

WAS THE SEVERE BLOW

TO THE BACK OF THE NECK

THE CAUSE OF DEATH?

YES, SIR.

DEATH WAS INSTANTANEOUS

CAUSED BY ONE BLOW

FROM A HEAVY AND BLUNT INSTRUMENT.

NO OTHER SIGNS OF A STRUGGLE?

NO, SIR. ONE BLOW.

WOULD THAT INDICATE TO YOU

THAT THE MURDER HAD TAKEN HER BY SURPRISE?

MY LORD.

I'M TAKEN BY SURPRISE

THAT MY LEARNED FRIEND

SHOULD ATTEMPT TO SOLICIT FROM THE WITNESS

AN OPINION AND NOT A FACT.

Judge: QUITE SO.

MR. MYERS, IT SEEMS THAT SIR WILFRED

HAS JOINED US JUST IN TIME TO CATCH YOU

ON A POINT OF LEGAL PROCEDURE.

PLEASE REPHRASE YOUR QUESTION.

MY LORD, I WITHDRAW THE QUESTION.

DID YOU SAY

THE ROOM GAVE THE IMPRESSION

THAT A ROBBERY HAD TAKEN PLACE?

Hearne: YES, A WINDOW WAS BROKEN

WITH GLASS ON THE FLOOR,

AND FRAGMENTS WERE FOUND OUTSIDE.

FRAGMENTS OUTSIDE, HOWEVER,

WERE NOT CONSISTENT

WITH THE WINDOW HAVING BEEN FORCED

FROM THE OUTSIDE.

SO, WHAT YOU ARE SAYING

IS THAT SOMEONE HAD ATTEMPTED

TO MAKE IT LOOK AS IF THE GLASS

HAD BEEN FORCED FROM THE OUTSIDE?

Sir Wilfred: MY LORD, I MUST PROTEST.

MY LEARNED FRIEND IS PUTTING WORDS

IN THE WITNESS' MOUTH.

IF HE ANSWERS HIS OWN QUESTIONS,

THE PRESENCE OF THE WITNESS WILL BE SUPERFLUOUS.

( chuckling )

Judge: QUITE, QUITE.

DON'T YOU THINK SO, MR. MYERS?

YES, INDEED, MY LORD.

( clears throat )

WAS ANY OF THE LADY'S PROPERTY MISSING?

NOTHING, ACCORDING TO THE HOUSEKEEPER.

IS IT NOT YOUR EXPERIENCE, SIR,

THAT BURGLARS USUALLY BURGLE

WHEN THEY BREAK INTO A HOUSE?

YES, SIR.

DO YOU PRODUCE A JACKET, INSPECTOR?

YES, SIR.

AND IS--

IS THAT THE JACKET?

IT IS, SIR.

I PROPOSE THAT THAT BE TAGGED--

"EXHIBIT ONE."

WHERE DID YOU FIND IT, INSPECTOR?

IT WAS FOUND IN THE PRISONER'S FLAT.

I HANDED IT TO OUR LAB

TO, UH, TEST FOR BLOOD STAINS.

DID YOU FIND BLOOD STAINS?

OH, YES, SIR,

THOUGH AN ATTEMPT HAD BEEN MADE TO WASH THEM OUT.

WHAT TESTS DID THE LABORATORY MAKE?

FIRST, TO DETERMINE THAT STAINS WERE HUMAN BLOOD,

AND THEN TO, UH,

CLASSIFY THE GROUP OR TYPE.

AND WERE THE STAINS OF A PARTICULAR TYPE?

OH, YES, SIR.

THEY WERE TYPE "O."

DID YOU TEST THE BLOOD OF THE DEAD WOMAN?

WE DID, SIR.

THAT WAS ALSO TYPE "O."

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, INSPECTOR.

Sir Wilfred: INSPECTOR.

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE THAT THE BURGLAR

MIGHT ENTER AN EMPTY HOUSE,

AND THEN SUDDENLY ENCOUNTER MRS. FRENCH

AND STRIKE HER?

AND THEN, DISCOVERING THAT SHE IS DEAD,

PANIC, FLEE,

WITHOUT TAKING ANYTHING?

YES, SIR, IT--

IT'S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE.

MY LORD, I MUST SUBMIT

THAT IT IS ENTIRELY IMPOSSIBLE

TO GUESS WHAT GOES ON IN THE MIND

OF AN ENTIRELY IMAGINARY BURGLAR.

Judge: YOU'RE QUITE RIGHT, MR. MYERS.

PLEASE LET US CONFINE OURSELVES TO THE FACTS,

SIR WILFRED.

WHEN YOU QUESTIONED THE PRISONER

AS TO THE STAINS ON HIS JACKET,

DID HE NOT SHOW YOU

A RECENTLY-HEALED SCAR ON HIS WRIST

AND TELL YOU THAT HE'D CUT HIMSELF

WHILE SLICING BREAD WITH A KITCHEN KNIFE?

YES, SIR, THAT IS WHAT HE SAID.

DID HIS WIFE NOT TELL YOU THE SAME?

YES, SIR, BUT AFTERWARDS--

SHE TOLD US-- NO, JUST-- JUST YES OR NO,

IF YOU PLEASE.

DID HIS WIFE TELL YOU HE'D CUT HIMSELF

WHILE SLICING BREAD?

YES, SIR.

I'LL ASK YOU TO EXAMINE THIS KNIFE.

( spectators chattering )

WILL YOU PLEASE TEST THE EDGE

WITH YOUR FINGER?

WELL, NOW, CAREFULLY, NOW, CAREFULLY.

DO YOU AGREE

THAT THAT KNIFE IS RAZOR-SHARP?

YES, SIR.

SUCH A KNIFE COULD INFLICT A CUT

WHICH WOULD BLEED PROFUSELY.

IT MIGHT, SIR. NOW, THEN.

YOU STATED THE BLOOD ON THE PRISONER'S JACKET

AND THE BLOOD OF MRS. FRENCH

ARE THE SAME TYPE--"O."

CORRECT.

AND IF THE PRISONER'S BLOOD

SHOULD BE OF THE SAME TYPE, "O,"

THEN THE STAINS ON HIS JACKET

MIGHT VERY WELL HAVE RESULTED

FROM THE KNIFE.

DID YOU ANALYZE THE PRISONER'S BLOOD?

NO, SIR.

I HAVE A CERTIFICATE,

NORTH LONDON HOSPITAL.

LEONARD VOLE IS CERTIFIED TO BE TYPE..."O."

( murmuring, chattering )

Usher: CALL JANET MacKENZIE!

( alarm ringing )

( ringing stops ) ( sighs )

Usher: SILENCE!

TAKE THIS IN YOUR RIGHT HAND,

AND READ ALOUD WHAT'S ON THIS CARD. Miss Plimsoll: PSST!

PSST! CARTER!

Miss MacKenzie: "I SWEAR BY ALMIGHTY GOD

"THAT THE EVIDENCE I SHALL GIVE

"TO THIS COURT

"SHALL BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH,

AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH."

Usher: THANK YOU, MADAM.

Myers: IS YOUR NAME JANET MacKENZIE?

YES.

WERE YOU COMPANION-HOUSEKEEPER

TO THE LATE MRS. EMILY FRENCH?

I DON'T THINK HE COULD GET THROUGH THE TRIAL

WITHOUT HIS MEDICINE EVERY HOUR.

I WAS HER HOUSEKEEPER.

I'VE NO OPINION OF SO-CALLED "COMPANIONS."

POOR FECKLESS BODIES,

AFRAID TO DO A BIT OF HONEST WORK.

BUT YOU DID KNOW HER VERY WELL?

TEN YEARS.

SHE TRUSTED ME.

AND MANY'S THE TIME I'VE PREVENTED HER

FROM DOING A FOOLISH THING.

WILL YOU TELL US,

IN YOUR OWN WORDS,

WHAT HAPPENED ON THE EVENING

OF SEPTEMBER THE 14th?

IT WAS A FRIDAY.

AND MY NIGHT OUT.

AND I WENT OFF TO SEE MY NIECE--

A FIVE MINUTE WALK.

I'D PROMISED TO TAKE HER THE PATTERN--

A PAPER PATTERN--

AND I'D BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE

WHEREIN I REMEMBERED I FORGOT IT.

SO, I WALKED BACK TO THE HOUSE

IN THE RAIN.

THE PHONOGRAPH WAS PLAYING IN THE SITTING ROOM.

MRS. FRENCH WAS LAUGHING.

SHE WAS IN THERE WITH HIM.

NO! THAT ISN'T TRUE!

I HEARD THEM.

ARE YOU QUITE CERTAIN

YOU HEARD MR. VOLE?

AYE, HE VISITED HER OFTEN ENOUGH.

SO, I WENT UP TO MY ROOM

AND I FETCHED THE PATTERN,

AND THEN I HEARD THIS NOISE--

CRASHING GLASS,

AND A THUMP, AND THEN ANOTHER THUMP.

AND--AND WHAT DID YOU DO?

I WAS FRIGHTENED.

SO, I RAN DOWN TO THE SITTING ROOM,

AND THERE SHE WAS DEAD

AND EVERYTHING TOSSED HITHER AND YON.

DID YOU REALLY THINK

A BURGLARY HAD TAKEN PLACE?

OH, MY LORD. I MUST PROTEST.

Judge: QUITE RIGHT.

I WILL NOT ALLOW THAT QUESTION TO BE ANSWERED,

MR. MYERS.

HOW MUCH DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THE PRISONER?

I KNEW HE NEEDED MONEY.

NOT THAT HE'D EVER ASKED HER FOR IT.

HE WAS TOO CLEVER FOR THAT.

WERE YOU AWARE THAT HE WAS A MARRIED MAN?

NO! NO, INDEED. WE WERE NOT.

JANET! MY LORD.

I MUST PROTEST.

WHAT MRS. FRENCH KNEW

OR DID NOT KNOW

MUST BE PURE CONJECTURE

ON THE PART OF THE WITNESS.

I WILL PUT IT THIS WAY--

( clears throat )

YOU FORMED THE IMPRESSION

HE WAS A SINGLE MAN. WHY?

WELL...THE BOOKS SHE ORDERED--

ABOUT WOMEN WHO HAD MARRIED MEN

YEARS YOUNGER THAN THEMSELVES

ABOUT DISRAELI AND-- AND HIS WIFE.

I KNEW WHAT SHE WAS THINKING.

I'M AFRAID WE CAN'T ADMIT THAT.

WHY?

MEMBERS OF THE JURY,

IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE FOR A WOMAN

TO READ DISRAELI

WITHOUT CONTEMPLATING MARRIAGE

TO A YOUNGER MAN.

( chuckling, murmuring )

CONCERNING HER WILL--

SHE HAD IT REVOKED--

THE OLD ONE--

AND, UH, A NEW ONE DRAWN UP.

I HEARD HER TELEPHONING HER SOLICITOR,

AND SO DID HE-- HE WAS RIGHT THERE.

YOU ACTUALLY HEARD MRS. FRENCH

DISCUSSING HER NEW WILL

WITH HIM?

YES. HE WAS TO HAVE ALL OF HER MONEY.

NO ONE ELSE MEANT TO HAVE WHAT HE DID.

WHEN DID THIS TAKE PLACE?

SEPTEMBER THE 8th.

IT WAS A WEEK TO THE DAY BEFORE SHE WAS MURDERED.

THANK YOU.

THAT CONCLUDES MY EXAMINATION.

( spectators murmuring )

Sir Wilfred: NOT JUST YET...

MISS MacKENZIE.

YOU'VE GIVEN US TESTIMONY ABOUT TWO WILLS.

IN THE OLD ONE,

WHO WAS TO RECEIVE THE BULK

OF MRS. FRENCH'S ESTATE?

I WAS.

AND IN THE NEW ONE--

ONLY A SMALL ANNUITY FOR YOU,

AND THE REST TO THE PRISONER,

LEONARD VOLE.

A WICKED INJUSTICE

IF HE EVER TOUCHES A PENNY OF THAT MONEY.

I CAN QUITE UNDERSTAND

IF YOU FEEL...

ANTAGONISTIC TO THE PRISONER.

ME? A-ANTAGONISTIC?

HE'S A SHIFTLESS, SCHEMING RASCAL,

BUT I AM NOT ANTAGONISTIC TO HIM. ( laughter )

HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH YOUR MISTRESS

COST YOU THE BULK OF HER ESTATE.

I NEVER LIKED HIM.

YOUR CANDOR IS MOST REFRESHING.

( spectators laugh )

YOU SAY YOU HEARD THEM

ON THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER THE 14th.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR THEM SAY?

THEY WERE LAUGHING.

WHAT DID THE PRISONER SAY?

JUST LAUGHING.

QUITE SURE ABOUT THAT, ARE YOU?

AYE. THE DOOR WAS CLOSED.

OPEN--IT WAS OPEN A WEE CRACK.

DID YOU PASS THE DOOR QUICKLY?

WELL, LONG ENOUGH TO--TO HEAR.

OH, COME, COME, MISS MacKENZIE.

I'M SURE YOU DON'T WANT TO SUGGEST TO THE JURY

THAT YOU WERE AN EAVESDROPPER.

IT WAS HIM. I KNOW IT!

WELL, DID YOU SEE HIM?

DID YOU ACTUALLY SEE HIM?

UH--HER.

WHAT?

I COULD SEE HER,

BUT I KNEW HE WAS THERE.

WHY? BECAUSE YOU HEARD HIM?

YES.

UNDER THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE, MISS MacKENZIE,

DID YOU APPLY...

( quietly ) FOR A HEARING AID?

A WHAT?

( speaking quietly ) FOR A HEARING AID?

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

MY LORD, I MUST OBJECT

TO THE WAY THIS QUESTION IS BEING PUT.

I'LL REPEAT...

THE QUESTION, MY LORD.

I ASKED YOU--

IN A NORMAL TONE OF VOICE,

AUDIBLE TO THE OPEN COURT--

DID YOU APPLY TO THE NATIONAL INSURANCE

FOR A HEARING AID?

Miss MacKenzie: YES, I DID.

DID YOU GET IT? NOT YET.

AND YET YOU STATE

THAT YOU COULD HEAR THE PRISONER'S VOICE...

( quietly ) IN A ROOM BEYOND?

WHAT?

( murmuring )

NO MORE QUESTIONS, MY LORD.

( murmuring continues )

PERHAPS YOU COULD HELP ME, YOUR LORDSHIP.

I APPLIED FOR THE HEARING AID

OVER SIX MONTHS AGO.

AND-- MY DEAR MISS MacKENZIE,

CONSIDERING THE RUBBISH

BEING TALKED ABOUT THESE DAYS,

YOU HAVE NOT MISSED ANYTHING.

( spectators laughing )

OVER WE GO.

AND NOW, IF IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP,

I SHOULD LIKE TO CALL UPON OUR FINAL WITNESS

FOR THE PROSECUTION.

CALL CHRISTINE HELM.

( whispering ) CHRISTINE?

Usher: CALL CHRISTINE HELM!

CALL CHRISTINE HELM!

( comments indistinctly )

Usher: THIS WAY, MADAM.

PLEASE REMOVE YOUR GLOVE, MADAM.

TAKE THIS IN YOUR RIGHT HAND,

AND READ ALOUD WHAT'S WRITTEN ON THIS CARD.

"I SWEAR BY ALMIGHTY GOD

"THAT THE EVIDENCE WHICH I SHALL GIVE

"SHALL BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH,

AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH."

THANK YOU, MADAM.

MY LORD, I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT

ONLY TOO OBVIOUS

TO POINT OUT TO THIS COURT

THAT THE WITNESS SUMMONED HERE BY THE PROSECUTION

IS THE WIFE OF THE PRISONER,

LEONARD VOLE,

AND THEREFORE-- MY LORD.

I MUST CALL MY LEARNED FRIEND'S ATTENTION

TO THE FACT THAT, UH, I SUMMONED, UH,

CHRISTINE, UH, HELM,

NOT CHRISTINE VOLE.

YOUR NAME IS, IN FACT, CHRISTINE HELM?

YES.

CHRISTINE HELM.

AND YOU'VE BEEN LIVING AS THE WIFE

OF THE PRISONER, LEONARD VOLE? YES.

ARE YOU ACTUALLY HIS WIFE? NO.

WE WENT THROUGH A FORM OF MARRIAGE IN HAMBURG,

BUT I ALREADY HAD A HUSBAND

LIVING SOMEWHERE IN EAST GERMANY.

HE IS STILL LIVING TODAY.

Myers: BUT YOU NEVER TOLD MR. VOLE?

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN STUPID TO TELL HIM.

HE WOULD NOT HAVE MARRIED ME,

AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT TO STARVE

OVER THERE IN THE RUBBLE. THANK YOU.

Sir Wilfred: MY LORD.

THERE IS PROOF OF A MARRIAGE

BETWEEN THE WITNESS AND LEONARD VOLE.

THERE'S NO PROOF WHATSOEVER

OF AN ALLEGED PREVIOUS MARRIAGE.

BUT THE ALLEGED PREVIOUS MARRIAGE

IS EXTREMELY WELL-DOCUMENTED.

I HAVE A CERTIFICATE.

( murmuring ) MRS. HELM,

IS THIS THE CERTIFICATE

OF YOUR MARRIAGE

TO ONE OTTO LUDWIG HELM?

THE CEREMONY HAVING TAKEN PLACE

IN BRESLAU

ON APRIL THE 18th, 1942?

YES.

THIS IS THE PAPER OF MY MARRIAGE.

Judge: I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT CERTIFICATE.

HAVING HAD THE BENEFIT OF SIR WILFRED'S OPINION,

YOU MAY PROCEED, MR. MYERS.

THANK YOU, MY LORD.

MRS. HELM,

ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE TESTIMONY

AGAINST THE MAN

YOU HAVE BEEN CALLING YOUR HUSBAND?

I AM WILLING.

IN THE--THE NIGHT IN QUESTION,

YOU STATED TO THE POLICE

THAT, UH, YOUR HUSBAND

RETURNED HOME BEFORE 9:30.

DID HE, IN FACT, RETURN HOME BEFORE 9:30?

NO.

HE RETURNED AT TEN MINUTES PAST 10:00.

CHRISTINE! WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?

THAT'S NOT TRUE! YOU KNOW IT'S NOT TRUE!

Usher: SILENCE!

Judge: AS YOUR COUNSEL WILL TELL YOU, VOLE,

YOU WILL VERY SHORTLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY

OF SPEAKING IN YOUR OWN DEFENSE.

Myers: NOW, THEN.

MR. VOLE RETURNED AT TEN MINUTES PAST 10:00.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

HE WAS BREATHING HARD.

VERY EXCITED.

HE TOOK OFF HIS COAT

AND LOOKED AT HIS SLEEVES.

THEY HAD BLOOD ON THEM.

GO ON. I SAID,

"WHAT HAS HAPPENED?"

AND WHAT DID THE PRISONER SAY TO THAT?

HE SAID,

"I HAVE KILLED HER."

CHRISTINE!

WHY ARE YOU SAYING THESE THINGS?!

WHY ARE YOU LYING?!

SILENCE!

( murmuring, chattering )

OOH, SHE'S AWFUL, THAT ONE!

I'VE KNOWN IT ALL ALONG.

SIR WILFRED,

WOULD YOU LIKE ME

TO ADJOURN FOR A FEW MINUTES?

MY LORDSHIP IS MOST GRACIOUS.

BUT PRAY, LET THE WITNESS CONTINUE.

WE'RE ALL SO CAUGHT UP

IN THE SUSPENSE OF THIS HORRID FICTION.

TO HAVE TO HEAR IT IN INSTALLMENTS

MIGHT PROVE UNENDURABLE.

PROCEED, MR. MYERS.

Myers: THANK YOU, MY LORD.

MRS. HELM, UH, IS IT TRUE

THAT YOU TOLD THE POLICE

THAT THE PRISONER RETURNED HOME BEFORE 9:30?

YES, BECAUSE LEONARD WANTED ME TO SAY THAT.

BUT YOU HAVE CHANGED YOUR STORY SINCE THEN. WHY?

I CANNOT GO ON LYING TO SAVE HIM.

HE MARRIED ME,

AND I WAS GRATEFUL TO HIM

FOR GETTING ME OUT OF GERMANY.

ALWAYS.

WHAT HE HAS ASKED ME TO DO

I HAVE DONE,

BECAUSE I WAS GRATEFUL TO HIM.

BUT NOT BECAUSE YOU LOVED HIM?

NO. I NEVER LOVED HIM.

SO IT IS OUT OF GRATITUDE

TO THE PRISONER

THAT YOU GAVE HIM AN ALIBI

IN YOUR STATEMENT TO THE POLICE?

YES. NOW YOU FEEL YOU WERE WRONG TO DO SO?

IT IS MURDER.

THAT WOMAN WAS A HARMLESS OLD FOOL,

BUT I CANNOT BE AN ACCOMPLICE TO MURDER FOR HIM.

I CANNOT DO IT.

I WILL NOT DO IT.

SO THIS IS THE TRUTH?

HE RETURNED HOME AFTER 10:00

WITH BLOOD ON HIS SLEEVES,

SAYING, "I KILLED HER."

THAT IS THE TRUTH.

THAT IS THE TRUTH--

BEFORE GOD?

THAT IS THE TRUTH--

BEFORE GOD.

THANK YOU.

MRS. VOLE.

OR MRS. HELM.

WHICH DO YOU PREFER TO BE CALLED?

IT DOES NOT MATTER.

OH, DOES IT NOT?

IN THIS COUNTRY, WE ARE INCLINED TO TAKE

A RATHER MORE SERIOUS VIEW OF MARRIAGE.

HOWEVER, FRAU HELM,

IT WOULD APPEAR THAT WHEN YOU FIRST MET THE PRISONER,

YOU LIED TO HIM ABOUT YOUR MARITAL STATUS.

I WAS DESPERATE TO GET OUT OF GERMANY.

YOU LIED, DID YOU NOT?

JUST--YES OR NO, PLEASE.

YES. THANK YOU.

AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY,

WHEN YOU WERE ARRANGING THE MARRIAGE,

YOU LIED TO THE AUTHORITIES?

I DID NOT TELL THEM THE TRUTH BECAUSE--

YOU LIED TO THEM?

YES.

IN THE CEREMONY OF MARRIAGE ITSELF,

WHEN YOU SWORE

TO LOVE AND TO HONOR

AND TO CHERISH YOUR HUSBAND,

THAT, TOO, WAS A LIE?

YES.

AND THEN, WHPOLICE

ABOUT THIS WRETCHED MAN

WHO BELIEVED HIMSELF MARRIED AND LOVED--

( inhales sharply ) YOU TOLD THEM--

I TOLD THEM WHAT LEONARD WANTED ME TO SAY.

YOU TOLD THEM

THAT HE WAS AT HOME WITH YOU BY 9:30,

AND NOW YOU SAY THAT WAS A LIE.

YES. A LIE.

AND WHEN YOU HAD SAID

HE HAD ACCIDENTALLY CUT HIS WRIST,

AGAIN YOU LIED.

YES. AND NOW, TODAY,

YOU'VE TOLD US A NEW STORY ENTIRELY.

THE QUESTION IS, FRAU HELM,

WERE YOU LYING THEN,

OR ARE YOU LYING NOW,

OR ARE YOU NOT, IN FACT,

( spectators murmur )

( breathes heavily )

( whispering ) THE OTHER PILL!

UNDER THE TONGUE.

Myers: MY LORD, IS MY LEARNED FRIEND

TO BE ALLOWED TO BULLY AND INSULT

THIS WITNESS IN THIS MANNER?

Judge: MR. MYERS, THIS IS A CAPITAL CHARGE,

AND WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF REASON,

I WOULD LIKE THE DEFENSE TO HAVE EVERY LATITUDE.

INDEED.

THE WITNESS HAS VIOLATED SO MANY OATHS

THAT I AM SURPRISED THE TESTAMENT

DID NOT LEAP FROM HER HAND

WHEN SHE WAS SWORN IN HERE TODAY.

I DOUBT THERE'S ANYTHING TO BE GAINED

BY QUESTIONING YOU ANY FURTHER.

THAT WILL BE ALL,

FRAU HELM.

MRS. HELM,

DO YOU KNOW THE MEANING

OF THE ENGLISH WORD "PERJURY"?

YES.

IT MEANS TO SWEAR FALSE UNDER OATH.

AND ARE YOU AWARE THAT IN THIS COUNTRY,

THE PENALTY FOR PERJURY

IS A VERY HEAVY TERM OF IMPRISONMENT?

YES, I AM AWARE.

MINDFUL OF THIS,

DO YOU SAY THAT THE EVIDENCE YOU HAVE GIVEN

IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH,

AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?

SO HELP ME GOD.

THANK YOU.

THAT CONCLUDES THE CASE FOR THE PROSECUTION, MY LORD.

Judge: SIR WILFRED,

ARE YOU READY FOR THE DEFENSE?

MY LORD,

MEMBERS OF THE JURY,

THE PROSECUTION

VERY ABLY PRESENTED

AGAINST THE PRISONER, LEONARD VOLE,

A CASE OF THE MOST OVERWHELMING CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

YOU HEARD THE EVIDENCE

OF JANET MacKENZIE,

A WORTHY AND DEVOTED HOUSEKEEPER,

WHO SUFFERED TWO MOST GRIEVOUS LOSSES--

FIRST, THE DEATH OF HER BELOVED MISTRESS,

AND SECOND,

BEING DEPRIVED OF AN INHERITANCE OF £80,000,

WHICH SHE HAD FULLY EXPECTED TO RECEIVE.

MAY I EXPRESS MY SYMPATHY TO HER

ON BOTH THESE...

MISHAPS.

AND FINALLY,

MOST DAMAGING OF ALL,

THE PROSECUTION HAS PRODUCED A SURPRISE WITNESS,

ONE CHRISTINE HELM,

WHOM THE PRISONER MARRIED

AND REMOVED FROM THE RUBBLE OF HER HOMELAND

TO THE SAFETY OF THIS COUNTRY,

GIVING HER HIS LOVE

AND THE PROTECTION OF HIS NAME.

THOUGH A WIFE CANNOT

GIVE EVIDENCE AGAINST OR HARMFUL TO HER HUSBAND,

HER MARRIAGE TO HIM HAS PROVEN FRAUDULENT

AND BIGAMOUS.

I WILL ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THIS MARRIAGE

FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH.

THIS, THEN, IS THE PROSECUTION'S CASE.

IT IS NOW THE TURN FOR THE DEFENSE.

WE COULD PRESENT A VARIETY OF WITNESSES

TO HIS CHARACTER,

HIS WAR RECORD,

THE LACK OF ANY CRIMINAL ASSOCIATION IN THE PAST--

HOWEVER, I WILL CALL UPON THE ONLY ONE WITNESS

WHO CAN SHED LIGHT UPON THIS TRAGIC RIDDLE--

THE PRISONER HIMSELF.

I CALL UPON LEONARD STEPHEN VOLE.

( murmuring, chattering )

Usher: SILENCE!

TAKE THIS IN YOUR RIGHT HAND,

AND READ ALOUD WHAT'S WRITTEN ON THIS CARD.

"I SWEAR BY ALMIGHTY GOD

"THAT THE EVIDENCE I SHALL GIVE

"WILL BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH,

AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH."

Sir Wilfred: YOUR NAME IS LEONARD VOLE?

IT IS.

DID YOU OR DID YOU NOT

ON THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER THE 14th LAST

MURDER EMILY FRENCH?

I DID NOT.

( spectators chuckle )

Usher: SILENCE!

HAVE YOU, IN FACT,

CONCLUDED YOUR EXAMINATION OF THE WITNESS,

SIR WILFRED?

MY LORD.

THE PRISONER HAS NOW ENDURED

THREE DAYS OF THE MOST PROFOUND MENTAL AGONY AND SHOCK.

THE DEFENSE FEELS

HIS FACULTIES SHOULD BE SPARED

FOR THE CROSS-EXAMINATION.

( murmuring )

Usher: SILENCE!

MR. VOLE,

WHEN YOU FIRST MADE THE ACQUAINTANCE OF MRS. FRENCH,

WERE YOU EMPLOYED?

NO.

YOU HAD MONEY, THEN, IN SAVINGS?

NOTHING.

DID YOU RECEIVE ANY MONEY FROM MRS. FRENCH?

NO, NOT A PENNY.

DID YOU EXPECT TO RECEIVE ANY? NO, SIR.

DID YOU KNOW THAT SHE HAD LEFT YOU MONEY

IN HER WILL?

NO, SIR.

WHEN YOU WENT TO VISIT MRS. FRENCH

FOR THE LAST TIME,

DID YOU WEAR ATRENCH COATTRENCHCOAT

AND A HAT?

YES, I DID.

WAS IT THIS COAT AND HAT?

YES.

MY LORD, UH,

THE DEFENSE CIRCULATED THIS POSTER

IN THE HOPE THAT A WITNESS WOULD COME FORTH

WHO HAD SEEN THE ACCUSED

LEAVE MRS. FRENCH'S HOUSE AT THE TIME STATED.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE EFFORT WAS WITHOUT RESULT.

HOWEVER...

THE DEFENSE WILL BE PLEASED TO HEAR

THAT A WITNESS HAS NOW COME FORWARD

WHO SAW THE PRISONER WEARING THIS HAT

( chuckles ) AND THIS COAT.

LAMENTABLY,

IT WAS NOT ON THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER,

BUT EXACTLY ONE WEEK BEFORE.

WERE YOU OR WERE YOU NOT IN A TRAVEL AGENCY

IN REGENT STREET ON THE 8th OF SEPTEMBER,

INQUIRING ABOUT SCHEDULES AND PRICES

OF FOREIGN CRUISES?

WHAT IF I WERE?

THAT ISN'T A CRIME, IS IT?

OH, NO, NO, CERTAINLY NOT.

MANY PEOPLE GO ON A CRUISE...

IF THEY CAN PAY FOR IT.

BUT YOU COULDN'T PAY FOR IT,

COULD YOU, MR. VOLE?

NO.

AND YET, YOU CAME INTO THIS TRAVEL AGENCY,

UH--OH!

WITH A LADY.

A BLONDE.

A HONEY BLONDE, I UNDERSTAND.

( spectators murmur )

TELL ME, PLEASE,

HOW ON EARTH DID YOU EXPECT TO PAY

FOR SUCH AN EXPENSIVE AND LUXURIOUS CRUISE?

I DON'T KNOW.

IT WAS, UH-- IF YOU DON'T KNOW,

PERHAPS I CAN TELL YOU.

ON THAT VERY DAY,

YOU HEARD MRS. FRENCH ALTER HER WILL,

LEAVING YOU THE BULK OF HER MONEY.

I DIDN'T.

I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE WILL.

AND IN THE AFTERNOON,

YOU SET ABOUT MAKING PLANS

TO DISPOSE OF THE MONEY.

NO. IT WAS NOTHING LIKE THAT.

I, UH...

WELL, I--I MET THIS GIRL AT A PUB.

I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER HER NAME,

A-AND, UH,

WE HAD A COUPLE OF DRINKS.

WE LEFT TOGETHER.

WE WENT PAST THIS DISPLAY WINDOW,

AND THERE WERE POSTERS OF BLUE SEAS AND...

PALM TREES, AND WE WENT IN.

A MAN GAVE ME SORT OF A FUNNY LOOK

BECAUSE I WAS DRESSED A LITTLE SHABBY,

AND, UH, IT IRRITATED ME,

SO I KEPT ASKING FOR THE SWANKIEST TOURS,

YOU KNOW, ALL DELUXE, AND...

CABIN ON THE BOAT DECK, JUST...

PUTTING ON AN ACT.

AN ACT, MM-HMM.

( chuckling )

AN ACT...

WHEN YOU KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO INHERIT £80,000?

NO, IT WAS NOTHING LIKE THAT.

I DIDN'T THINK OF KILLING ANYBODY

OR...INHERITING ANY MONEY.

JUST A COINCIDENCE THAT MRS. FRENCH

WAS KILLED ONLY ONE WEEK LATER?

I DID NOT KILL HER.

THEN WHY DID CHRISTINE HELM

TESTIFY AS SHE DID IN THIS COURT?

I DON'T KNOW WHY.

I DON'T EVEN--

KNOW WHY I STILL CALL HER MY WIFE.

SHE MUST BE LOSING HER MIND.

SHE SEEMED REMARKABLY SANE

AND SELF-POSSESSED TO ME.

SO, INSANITY, THEN,

IS THE ONLY REASON YOU CAN THINK OF?

I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

GOD...

WHAT'S HAPPENED? WHAT'S CHANGED HER?

I CAN'T TELL YOU.

UNLESS, OF COURSE, SHE'S SPEAKING THE TRUTH.

SHE SAYS YOU CAME HOME

WITH BLOOD ON YOUR CLOTHES.

I CUT MY WRIST!

YOU CUT YOUR WRIST DELIBERATELY.

NO! YOU CAME HOME AT TEN MINUTES AFTER 10:00.

THAT'S NOT TRUE!

YOU'VE GOT TO BELIEVE ME.

YOU'VE GOT TO BELIEVE ME.

YOU'VE GOT TO BELIEVE ME!

AND YOU MURDERED EMILY FRENCH!

I DIDN'T!

I--I SWEAR TO GOD, I DIDN'T!

I'VE NEVER HURT ANYONE.

EVER.

I...

( sniffs ) OH, GOD.

IT'S A NIGHTMARE.

( sniffling )

IT'S SOME...

GHASTLY... ( breathing heavily )

HORRIBLE NIGHTMARE.

( breathing heavily, shakily )

GOOD EVENING, SIR WILFRED.

HOW DID IT GO TODAY?

OH, SIR WILFRED?

I'M FROM HAWKS AND HILL.

I'VE BROUGHT YOUR BERMUDA SHORTS

ALONG FOR A FITTING.

MY--MY WHAT?

I THINK YOU'D BETTER SLIP INTO THEM NOW, SIR WILFRED.

OTHERWISE, WE'LL NEVER HAVE THEM READY

FOR TOMORROW. TOMORROW?

MY DEAR MAN, I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A MURDER TRIAL.

BUT IT'LL BE ALL OVER BY TOMORROW AFTERNOON,

AND THE BOAT TRAIN DOESN'T LEAVE UNTIL 9:40.

LOOK, YOU WORK IT OUT.

YOU KNOW MY SHAPE.

YOU'VE STABBED IT OFTEN ENOUGH.

BUT SIR WILFRED,

YOU MUST GO UPSTAIRS AND HAVE A NICE, LUKEWARM BATH

AND YOUR CALCIUM INJECTION.

AND THERE'S STILL A GREAT--

DEAL OF PACKING TO BE DONE.

RIDICULOUS TALK ABOUT BOAT TRAINS.

HOW DO WE KNOW?

THE JURY MAY BE OUT FOR DAYS.

NOT IN THIS CASE, I'M AFRAID.

SEEMS FAR TOO OPEN AND SHUT.

OH, I WATCHED THEM

WHEN FRAU HELM WAS ON THE STAND.

THEY DIDN'T LIKE HER.

TRUE, THEY DIDN'T LIKE HER,

BUT THEY BELIEVED HER.

THEY LIKED LEONARD VOLE, BUT THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE HIM.

I MUST SAY THAT TRAVEL AGENCY BUSINESS

WITH THE BLONDE DIDN'T HELP MATTERS.

EH, CIGAR, WILFRED?

( whispering ) NO.

WILFRED, DO YOU THINK SHE LIED?

DO YOU?

I DON'T KNOW. I'M NOT SURE.

WELL, I AM.

SHE LIED.

THE ONLY QUESTION IN MY MIND IS, "WHY?"

WHAT'S HER GAME?

WHAT'S SHE UP TO?

WHY?

SIR WILFRED,

I HOPE THAT IN YOUR FINAL SPEECH TOMORROW

YOU WON'T LET YOURSELF

GET TOO EMOTIONALLY INVOLVED.

YOU MUST THINK OF YOUR PHYSICAL CONDITION.

HE'S RIGHT.

I WANT TO SEE YOU SAVE YOURSELF.

THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE YOUR LAST CASE.

YES, IT IS.

BUT TILL IT'S OVER, I AM STILL A BARRISTER,

AND MY CLIENT'S LIFE'S AT STAKE.

THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS-- HIS LIFE.

HE HAS A RIGHT TO EXPECT THE BEST THAT I CAN GIVE.

IF I CAN'T STAND UP TO MAKE MY LAST PLEA FOR HIM,

I'LL MAKE IT SITTING DOWN.

AND IF I FEEL OUT OF BREATH,

I'LL TAKE A PILL.

I'LL TAKE TWO PILLS.

I'LL TAKE THE LOT.

AND THE BOX AS WELL.

( telephone rings )

YES?

Cockney Woman: HAVE I GOT SIR WILFRED ROBARTS' OFFICE?

YOU HAVE.

PUT HIM ON.

WELL, WHO IS THIS?

NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

I'VE GOT SOMETHING HERE TO SELL HIM.

NO, I'M SORRY, BUT--

THE LEONARD VOLE CASE.

LEONARD VOLE?

I'VE GOT THE GOODS ON HIS WIFE.

YEAH, UH, JUST A MOMENT.

THERE'S A WOMAN WHO SAYS

THAT SHE HAS "THE GOODS" ON MR. VOLE'S WIFE.

WILFRED ROBARTS, HERE.

MEET ME ON TILBEY STREET.

BY THE DOCKS. NUMBER 27.

SECOND FLOOR. I'LL WAIT AN HOUR.

BRING PLENTY OF MONEY.

AND COME ALONE.

UH...WHO IS THIS?

DAMN.

DRUNKEN WITCH.

EVERY MURDER TRIAL, WE ALWAYS GET SOME OF THEM.

ALWAYS WITH SOME ULTIMATUM.

"MEET ME AT TILBEY STREET."

"DOWN BY THE DOCKS."

( chuckles )

"BRING PLENTY OF MONEY."

BALDERDASH!

BALDERD-- ( sighs )

( grumbles )

I'M NOT GOING ON SOME WILD GOOSE CHASE

IN MY CONDITION,

JUST BECAUSE SOME DRUNKEN HARRIDAN...

SIR WILFRED, YOU--

YOU'RE COMING WITH ME, MAYHEW.

Mayhew: GOOD HEAVENS, SIR WILFRED, WHERE ARE WE?

IT LOOKS POSITIVELY SINISTER.

Sir Wilfred: STEADY, MAYHEW.

AH, HERE WE ARE, WILLIAMS.

SLOW DOWN.

I DON'T LIKE THIS.

I DON'T LIKE THIS AT ALL.

YOU STAY HERE, MAYHEW.

NO. I CAN'T LET YOU GO UP THERE ALONE.

IT'S FAR TOO DANGEROUS.

I'M COMING WITH YOU.

SHE WANTS TO SEE ME ALONE.

AND SHE SHALL.

VERY WELL.

BUT IF YOU'RE NOT BACK IN TEN MINUTES,

I'M COMING AFTER YOU.

SECOND FLOOR, I BELIEVE.

CAREFUL, OLD FRIEND.

STAY CALM.

( stairs groaning )

Mayhew: MIND YOU DON'T TRIP, SIR WILFRED.

( coughing )

( knocks twice )

( wheezes, coughs )

( hoarsely ) WELL, WELL.

SIR WILFRED ROBARTS.

HA!

WHO ARE YOU?

NEVER YOU MIND.

( coughs, sniffs )

I WOULDN'T HAVE RECOGNIZED YOU WITHOUT YOUR WIG.

YOU LOOK LOVELY IN THEM WIGS, YOU DO.

THANK YOU.

( sniffs ) WOULD MY GENTLEMAN FRIEND...

CARE FOR A DRINK?

NO, THANK YOU.

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT FOR ME?

LETTERS.

THAT'S WHAT I'VE GOT.

LETTERS...

THAT WIFE OF HIS WROTE.

YOU MEAN, LETTERS WRITTEN BY CHRISTINE VOLE

TO HER HUSBAND?

HER HUSBAND?

HA! DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH.

POOR RUDDY CHUMP.

HE'S BEEN TOOK IN GOOD AND PROPER, HE HAS.

AND THESE LETTERS PROVE IT.

MAY I SEE THEM?

YOU CAN SEE ONE,

AND THEN I WANTS ME MONEY.

£100.

£100?

TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT.

ALL RIGHT.

LITTLE BEAUTIES.

YOU'LL SEE.

( coughs )

YOU CAN TAKE THAT PIECE OF GLASS OUT NOW.

ARE THEY AUTHENTIC?

THEY'RE HERS, ALL RIGHT.

WHERE DID YOU GET THESE?

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?

AS LONG AS SHE GETS WHAT'S COMING TO HER.

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT AGAINST HER?

HERE!

I'LL GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO DREAM ABOUT, MISTER.

WANT TO KISS ME, DUCKY?

( cackles )

NO, I DIDN'T THINK YOU WOULD.

DID CHRISTINE VOLE DO THAT TO YOU?

YOU COULD SAY AS MUCH.

CHAP I WAS GOING WITH

GOT TO SEEING HER ON THE SLY,

AND I CAUGHT THEM TOGETHER.

TOLD HER WHAT I THOUGHT OF HER, DIDN'T I?

AND HE GIVE ME THIS.

I'VE WAITED YEARS TO PAY HER BACK,

AND NOW IT'S COME.

I'M DEEPLY SORRY, MADAM.

HA! I'LL BET!

Mayhew: SIR WILFRED?

ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, I--

I--I'LL BE WITH YOU.

MADAM,

I'LL DRINK YOUR WHISKEY NOW.

Usher: PUT UP LEONARD VOLE.

( soft chattering )

YOU MAY SIT DOWN.

( clears throat ) SINCE THE DEFENSE

HAS CALLED BUT ONE WITNESS,

IT HAS THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD LAST.

THEREFORE, MR. MYERS,

IF YOU ARE READY,

LET US HAVE THE FINAL SPEECH FOR THE PROSECUTION.

Myers: MY LORD,

MEMBERS OF THE JURY,

I BELIEVE THE ONLY CONCLUSION

TO BE DRAWN IN THIS CASE

IS A VERDICT OF "GUILTY"

AGAINST THE PRISONER.

I--I WILL NOW--

IN THE COURSE OF--

( murmuring )

I THINK YOU HAD BETTER BEGIN AGAIN,

MR. MYERS.

THAT IS, IF SIR WILFRED

IS AT ALL INTERESTED IN OUR PROCEEDINGS.

OH, I AM. INDEED.

I NOW ASK THAT THE CASE FOR THE DEFENSE

TO BE REOPENED.

I'D LIKE A WITNESS TO BE RECALLED.

MY LORD, I--I MUST, UH,

STRENUOUSLY PROTEST.

EVIDENCE OF THE MOST STARTLING NATURE

HAS COME INTO MY POSSESSION ONLY LAST NIGHT.

THE COURSE MY LEARNED FRIEND PROPOSES TO TAKE US

IS QUITE UNPRECEDENTED!

I ANTICIPATED MY FRIEND'S OBJECTION.

I AM PREPARED TO MEET IT WITH AMPLE PRECEDENT.

THE CASE OF THE CROWN AGAINST STILLMAN,

ON PAGE 463.

1926.

APPEAL CASE.

ALSO, THE CROWN AGAINST PORTER.

AUGUST 11th, 1930.

WINCHESTER ASSIZES, ON PAGE 231.

AND FURTHER,

THE CASE OF SULLIVAN.

I'M SURE YOUR LORDSHIP WILL REMEMBER IT,

SINCE YOU APPEARED FOR THE PROSECUTION.

I DID? YES.

OH, YES, I DO RECALL NOW.

WHAT IS THIS NEW EVIDENCE YOU HAVE, SIR WILFRED?

LETTERS, MY LORD.

LETTERS FROM CHRISTINE HELM.

MY LORD, THE PROSECUTION CONTINUES ITS OBJECTION.

IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME RIGHT,

IN THE CASE OF YOUR OWN OBJECTION

IN THE CROWN VS. SULLIVAN,

YOUR OBJECTION WAS UPHELD.

YOUR MEMORY, FOR ONCE, SERVES YOU ILL, MR. MYERS.

MY OBJECTION WAS OVERRULED AT THE TIME

BY MR. JUSTICE SWINDON,

AS YOURS IS NOW, BY ME.

CALL CHRISTINE HELM.

CALL CHRISTINE HELM!

CALL CHRISTINE HELM!

( murmuring )

( murmuring continues )

IF YOU'VE STILL GOT YOUR DOUBTS ABOUT VOLE,

I DON'T MIND BETTING YOU A VERY SMALL BOX OF CIGARS.

MRS. HELM.

YOU APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE STILL UNDER OATH?

Christine: YES.

DO YOU KNOW A MAN NAMED MAX?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.

Sir Wilfred: IT'S A SIMPLE QUESTION.

DO YOU KNOW A MAN NAMED MAX?

CERTAINLY NOT.

OH.

WELL, IT'S A FAIRLY COMMON NAME.

AND YET YOU MEAN YOU'VE NEVER KNOWN

A MAN BY THE NAME OF MAX?

OH, PERHAPS IN GERMANY,

BUT THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.

I SHALL NOT ASK YOU TO GO BACK AS FAR AS THAT.

JUST A FEW WEEKS...

TO SEPTEMBER THE 20th, LAST.

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT THERE?

A LETTER.

I SUGGEST THAT ON THE 20th OF SEPTEMBER

YOU WROTE A CERTAIN LETTER--

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

ADDRESSED TO A MAN NAMED MAX.

I DID NOTHING OF THE SORT.

THE LETTER WAS BUT ONE OF A SERIES

WRITTEN TO THE SAME MAN.

THESE ARE LIES.

ALL LIES!

YOU WOULD SEEM TO HAVE BEEN ON, LET US SAY,

ON "INTIMATE TERMS" WITH THIS MAN.

SIR WILFRED!

THAT ISN'T TRUE!

Judge: THE PRISONER IN HIS OWN INTEREST

WILL REMAIN SILENT.

I'M CONCERNED ONLY WITH ONE PARTICULAR LETTER.

"MY BELOVED MAX,

"AN EXTRAORDINARY THING HAS HAPPENED.

I BELIEVE ALL OUR DIFFICULTIES MAY BE ENDED."

THIS IS A FORGERY.

IT ISN'T MINE.

IT ISN'T EVEN MY LETTER PAPER.

IT ISN'T? NO.

I WRITE MY LETTERS ON SMALL, BLUE PAPER...

WITH MY INITIALS ON IT.

LIKE THIS?

( spectators murmur )

THIS HAPPENS TO BE A NOTE FROM MY TAILOR

FOR A PAIR OF EXTREMELY BECOMING BERMUDA SHORTS.

( spectators chuckle )

( chuckling )

"WILFRED THE FOX," THAT'S WHAT WE CALL HIM,

AND THAT'S WHAT HE IS.

Sir Wilfred: NOW, MRS. HELM,

YOU'VE BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO IDENTIFY YOUR LETTER PAPER.

WOULD YOU CARE TO HAVE AN EXPERT

IDENTIFY YOUR HANDWRITING?

DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU!

LEAVE HER ALONE!

DAMN YOU! MRS. HELM.

LET ME GET OUT OF HERE.

( murmuring ) LET ME GO!

MRS. HELM!

USHER, GIVE THE WITNESS A CHAIR.

SIR WILFRED, WILL YOU NOW READ THE LETTER

SO THE JURY CAN HEAR IT?

"MY BELOVED MAX.

"AN EXTRAORDINARY THING HAS HAPPENED.

"ALL OUR DIFFICULTIES MAY SOON BE SOLVED.

"LEONARD IS SUSPECTED OF MURDERING THE OLD LADY

"I TOLD YOU ABOUT.

"HIS ONLY HOPE OF AN ALIBI

"DEPENDS ON ME.

"SUPPOSE I TESTIFIED THAT HE WAS NOT AT HOME WITH ME

"AT THE TIME OF THE MURDER--

"THAT HE CAME HOME WITH BLOOD ON HIS SLEEVES--

"THAT HE ADMITTED TO ME

"THAT HE KILLED HER?

"LEONARD SAYS HE WOULD NEVER LET ME LEAVE HIM.

"BUT IF THIS SUCCEEDS,

"HE WILL BE LEAVING ME.

"THEY WILL TAKE HIM AWAY FOREVER

"AND I WILL BE YOURS.

"I COUNT THE HOURS, MY BELOVED,

"UNTIL WE ARE TOGETHER.

CHRISTINE."

( chattering, murmuring )

Usher: SILENCE!

WILL YOU GO BACK TO THE WITNESS BOX, MRS. HELM?

I NOW ASK YOU AGAIN,

CHRISTINE HELM,

DID YOU WRITE THIS LETTER?

Judge: BEFORE ANSWERING, MRS. HELM,

I WISH TO WARN YOU--

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED PERJURY IN THIS COURTROOM,

I MUST ADVISE YOU

NOT TO ADD TO YOUR CRIME.

I...

WROTE...

THE LETTER.

I KEEP ASKING MYSELF, SIR WILFRED,

WHICH IS THE HARDER--

YOUR HEAD OR YOUR ARTERIES?

WELL, ALL I CAN SAY IS YOU--

YOU'D BETTER STOP CHANCING YOUR LUCK.

WELL, WE'RE ALL PACKED, DOCTOR.

THE LUGGAGE IS IN THE CAR.

OH, I HOPE THE JURY DOESN'T TAKE ALL AFTERNOON.

I CONCEDE.

CONGRATULATIONS.

NOT YET.

OH, COME NOW, IT'S ALL OVER.

WRAPPED UP NEAT AND TIDY.

WHAT'S WRONG?

EVERYTHING.

IT'S ALL JUST A LITTLE TOO NEAT.

TOO TIDY.

AND THAT'S PRECISELY WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.

YOU'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE VERDICT, ARE YOU?

IT'S NOT THEIR JUDGMENT...

THAT WORRIES ME.

IT'S MINE.

PUT UP VOLE!

MEMBERS OF THE JURY,

ARE YOU ALL AGREED UPON YOUR VERDICT?

WE ARE.

DO YOU FIND THE PRISONER AT THE BAR,

LEONARD VOLE, GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY?

NOT GUILTY, MY LORD.

( spectators murmur, cheer )

Usher: SILENCE!

SILENCE!

LEONARD VOLE.

YOU ARE FOUND NOT GUILTY OF THE CHARGE

AND ARE HEREBY DISCHARGED

AND FREE TO LEAVE THE COURT.

Usher: BE UPSTANDING!

ALL PERSONS

WHO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO

BEFORE MY LORDS, THE QUEEN'S JUSTICES

OF THE CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT,

MAY DEPART HENCE,

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!

( soft murmuring )

( murmuring continues )

THANK YOU, SIR.

FOR EVERYTHING.

YOU WERE WONDERFUL.

JUST SAY WE WERE LUCKY ALL AROUND.

THE WARDEN HAS YOUR BELONGINGS, SIR.

HE'LL TAKE YOU TO SIGN THE PAPERS

AND THEN RELEASE YOU.

GREAT. I'LL GO WITH YOU.

I BROUGHT YOUR HAT AND COAT.

LET'S GO QUICKLY--

BEFORE THEY CHANGE THEIR MIND.

HE'S QUITE CHIPPER, ISN'T HE?

ONLY AN HOUR AGO, HE HAD ONE FOOT ON THE GALLOWS

AND THE OTHER ON A BANANA SKIN.

YOU OUGHT TO BE PLEASED, WILFRED.

AREN'T YOU?

NOT YET.

WE'VE DISPOSED OF THE GALLOWS,

BUT THERE'S STILL THAT BANANA SKIN

SOMEWHERE...

UNDER SOMEBODY'S FOOT.

WAIT IN HERE, MADAM,

TILL WE GET RID OF THE CROWD.

COME ON, BREAK IT UP!

ARE YOU READY, SIR?

BECAUSE MISS PLIMSOLL WILL BE WAITING.

LET ME FINISH THE LAST OF THE COCOA, CARTER...

WHILE I'M STILL BEYOND HER JURISDICTION.

YOU BRITISH CAN GET SO EMOTIONAL.

I APOLOGIZE FOR MY COMPATRIOTS.

AH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

I DON'T MIND BEING PUSHED AROUND OR CALLED NAMES,

BUT I DO HAVE A LONG RUN, NOW, IN MY NYLONS.

IN CASE YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR

WITH OUR PRISON REGULATIONS...

NO SILK STOCKINGS ALLOWED.

PRISON?

WILL I GO TO PRISON?

INDEED, YOU'LL CERTAINLY

BE CHARGED WITH PERJURY,

TRIED FOR IT,

AND TO PRISON YOU SHALL GO.

WELL.

IT WON'T BE FOR LIFE, WILL IT?

IF I WERE THE JUDGE, IT WOULD BE.

YOU LOATHE ME, DON'T YOU?

WHAT A WICKED WOMAN I AM,

AND HOW BRILLIANTLY YOU EXPOSED ME.

THE GREAT SIR WILFRED ROBARTS DID IT AGAIN.

WELL...

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.

YOU DIDN'T DO IT ALONE.

YOU HAD HELP.

WHAT ARE YOU DRIVING AT?

LEONARD IS FREE.

AND WE DID IT.

WE?

WE.

YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I CAME TO SEE YOU?

AND YOU TOLD ME

THAT NO JURY WOULD BELIEVE AN ALIBI

GIVEN BY A LOVING WIFE,

NO MATTER HOW MUCH SHE SWORE

THAT HER HUSBAND WAS INNOCENT?

THAT GAVE ME THE IDEA.

WHAT IDEA?

THE IDEA THAT I SHOULD BE A WITNESS.

BUT NOT FOR MY HUSBAND--NO.

FOR THE PROSECUTION.

THAT I SHOULD SWEAR THAT LEONARD WAS GUILTY,

AND THAT YOU SHOULD EXPOSE ME

AS A VICIOUS LIAR,

BECAUSE ONLY THEN WOULD THE JURY BELIEVE

THAT MY HUSBAND WAS INNOCENT.

SO...

NOW YOU KNOW THE WHOLE STORY, SIR WILFRED.

( with Cockney accent ) I'LL GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO DREAM ABOUT, MISTER.

WANT TO KISS ME, DUCKY?

I SUSPECTED SOMETHING.

BUT NEVER THAT.

THANK YOU FOR THE COMPLIMENT.

IT IS A LONG TIME SINCE I WAS AN ACTRESS.

BUT I HAVE NEVER PLAYED SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART.

AND ALL THOSE BLUE LETTERS?

IT TOOK ME HOURS TO WRITE THEM...

TO INVENT MAX.

THERE NEVER WAS A MAX.

THERE NEVER HAS BEEN ANYONE BUT LEONARD.

ONLY LEONARD.

OH, MY DEAR.

WHY COULDN'T YOU HAVE TRUSTED ME--

WORKED WITH ME TRUTHFULLY?

HONORABLY?

WE WOULD HAVE GOT HIM OFF.

I COULD NOT TAKE THAT RISK.

YOU SEE, YOU THOUGHT HE WAS INNOCENT.

AND YOU KNEW HE WAS INNOCENT.

I UNDERSTAND.

NO, SIR WILFRED.

YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

I KNEW HE WAS GUILTY.

GOOD GOD!

THAT CAN'T BE TRUE.

I WISH TO GOD IT WASN'T.

BUT LEONARD DID COME HOME A FEW MINUTES PAST 10:00.

HE DID HAVE BLOOD ON HIS SLEEVES.

AND HE DID TELL ME

THAT HE HAD KILLED THAT WOMAN.

HE PLEADED WITH ME.

I KNEW...

ONLY I COULD SAVE HIM.

AND YOU--

YOU DID SAVE HIM.

A MURDERER.

AGAIN, SIR WILFRED,

YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

I LOVE HIM.

I TOLD YOU SHE WAS AN ACTRESS.

AND A GOOD ONE.

I KNEW SHE'D DO SOMETHING FOR ME,

BUT I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT,

OR HOW.

LEONARD, DARLING.

FOOLED YOU COMPLETELY, DIDN'T SHE?

NO.

IT WAS YOU, VOLE...

WHO REALLY FOOLED ME.

AFTER 37 YEARS...

TO BE SO BLIND,

SO STUPID.

EASY.

WE BOTH GOT OUT OF IT ALIVE.

BETTER TAKE YOUR PILL.

THERE ARE STILL COURTS IN ENGLAND.

THEY'RE NOT THROUGH WITH YOU YET.

WELL, SURE THEY ARE. YOU KNOW THAT.

YOU DID TOO GOOD A JOB, SIR WILFRED.

YOU GOT ME OFF. I CAN'T BE TRIED AGAIN.

THAT'S THE LAW.

SOMEHOW, IN SOME WAY,

YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS.

I AGREE.

LET'S DOUBLE YOUR FEE, TO BEGIN WITH.

AND HOW ABOUT A NEW HEARING AID FOR JANET MacKENZIE?

AND FOR YOU, MY DEAR,

£5,000 TO PAY FOR YOUR PERJURY TRIAL.

THAT OUGHT TO GET YOU OFF EASY.

OH, THANK GOD IT'S OVER.

I COULD NEVER GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN.

BUT NOW-- YES.

I'VE GOT YOU BACK.

UH, CHRISTINE.

CHRISTINE, I THINK THAT THERE'S SOMETHING,

REALLY, THAT WE HAVE TO FACE,

AND THE SOONER THE BETTER.

WHAT? WELL--

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

YOU AND I, UH,

WE'VE BEEN PRETENDING HERE, ALL ALONG--

IN THE TRIAL, I MEAN--FOR EVERYONE.

WE DON'T WANT TO PRETEND ANYMORE, NOT TO EACH OTHER.

WE'VE CHANGED.

WE DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THE WAY THINGS WERE.

BUT, LEONARD, I--

BELIEVE ME, I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO REGRETS,

BUT IT'S OVER.

NO.

WE'VE ONLY 20 MINUTES TO CATCH THE BOAT TRAIN,

SIR WILFRED.

Christine: ( whispering ) MY GOD.

YOU CAN'T MEAN THAT. ( breathing shakily )

YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME.

NOT NOW.

I SAVED YOUR LIFE GETTING YOU OUT OF GERMANY.

YOU SAVED MY LIFE HERE IN THIS COURTROOM.

NOW WE'RE EVEN, RIGHT? NO.

Woman: LEONARD, DARLING,

HOW MUCH LONGER ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO STAY HERE?

I'M RATHER ANXIOUS TO GET OUT OF THIS PLACE.

( gasps ) WE'LL BE LEAVING IN A MINUTE.

( moans )

THAT'S ONE OF THE FEW TRUE STATEMENTS THAT WAS MADE.

YOU SEE, WE DID MEET AT THE TRAVEL AGENCY.

OH, LEONARD, PLEASE!

OH, DEAR GOD, PLEASE LISTEN TO ME!

I LOVE YOU-- NO, NO, CHRISTINE,

LET'S NOT MAKE IT ANY WORSE,

OR THEY MIGHT TRY YOU AS AN ACCESSORY!

NO! AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!

LET THEM!

I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY DO.

OR IF THEY MUST TRY ME,

LET IT BE FOR MURDER!

( gasps )

( screams )

( woman screaming )

( gasps )

( woman screams ) LEONARD!

( sobs )

( woman continues sobbing )

OH! ( sobbing )

NO!

SHE--SHE KILLED HIM!

NO. SHE EXECUTED HIM.

A REMARKABLE WOMAN.

BETTER BRING BACK THE LUGGAGE,

AND YOU CAN DISMISS THE CAR.

WE WON'T BE LEAVING NOW,

WILL WE?

NO.

THANK YOU,

MISS PLIMSOLL.

GET BROGAN-MOORE TO MY CHAMBERS DIRECTLY.

AND HAVE MAYHEW THERE, TOO.

WE'RE APPEARING FOR THE DEFENSE

IN THE TRIAL OF CHRISTINE VOLE.

COME ON, OLD MAN.

SIR WILFRED!

YOU FORGOT YOUR BRANDY.