Scene 14 Flashcards
Tony: -Only, I’m going away the day after tomorrow (door buzzes)
Hello, Tony
Tony: Hello, max
May I come in?
Tony: Of course, you’re quite a stranger
I’m sorry I haven’t been around before. I wasn’t sure how you felt- after…
Tony: Thats alright. It’s rather chilly in here. I’ll switch on… You can’t blame them I suppose, it’s cheaper than the zoo and far more topical
I had to come in case there was anything
Tony: I’m afraid it’s settled, Max, our lawyer received this from the Home Secretary this morning
You mustn’t give up trying, it’s not over yet
Tony: I’m afraid it is. We’ve done all we can. I went to the prison this morning, to say goodbye, but she wouldn’t see me. I was rather glad, she never did like goodbyes. I shan’t see her again.
Tony, I take it you’d do anything, to save her life?
Tony: Of course
Even if it meant going to prison for a few years?
Tony: I’d do absolutely anything
I think you can- I’m certain- if you tell police exactly the right story
Tony: The right story?
Listen, I’ve been working this out for weeks, just in case it came to this. It may be her only chance.
Tony: Let’s have it.
You’ll have to tell the police you hired Swann to murder her
Tony: What are you talking about?
It’s alright Tony, I’ve been writing this stuff for years, I know what I’m doing. Margot was convicted because prosecution made out that she was telling one lie after another and the jury believed him. But what did this case amount to? Three things- my letter, her stocking, and the idea that because no key was found on Swann, she must have let him in herself. Now Swann is dead. You can tell any story you like about him. You can say that you did know him. That you’d met him and worked the whole thing out together. Now the blackmail. Swann was only suspected of blackmail for two things. Because my letter was found in his pocket and because you saw him the day Margot’s bag was stolen.
Tony: Well?
You can now tell the police that you never saw him at Victoria. That the whole thing was an invention of yours to connect him with the letter
Tony: But the letter was found in his
Because you put it there
Tony: you mean I should pretend that I stole her handbag
Sure you could have
Tony: but why?
Because you wanted to find out who was writing to her. When you read my letter, you were so mad, you decided to teach her a lesson.
Tony: but I can’t say that I wrote those blackmail notes
Why not? No one can prove that you didn’t.
Tony: all right, I stole her bag and blackmailed her what else?
You cut my letter and planted it on Swan after he’d been killed
Tony: wait a minute when could I have done that?
After you got back from the party, and before the police arrived, at the same time, you took one of Margot’s stockings from the mending basket and substituted it for whatever Swann had used
Tony: Max, I know you’re trying to help, but can you imagine anyone believe in this?
You’ve got to make them believe it
Tony: but I wouldn’t know what to say you’d have to come with me
No, I couldn’t do that. They know the sort of stuff I’ve right. If they suspected we talked this out, they never listen. They must know I was here.
Tony: Max it’s ridiculous. Why should I want anyone to murder Margot
Oh, one of the stock motives, had Margo made a will
Tony: i, yes, I believe she had
Are you the main beneficiary?
Tony: I suppose so
Well there you are
Tony: but thousands of husbands and wives, leave money to each other without murdering each other, police wouldn’t believe a word of it. They take it for exactly what it is a husband desperately trying to save his wife
Well, it’s worth a try they can’t hang you for planning a murder that never came off. Face it. The most you’d get would be a few years in prison.
Tony: thanks very much
And you’d have saved her life. That doesn’t seem too big a price.
Tony: that’s fine coming from you, Max. Her life might not be in danger at all, if it hadn’t been for you. It was because of your association with her that she lost the sympathy of the jury. Don’t get me wrong, Max, if there was the slightest chance of this coming off of course I’d do it. But it’s got to be convincing. How how could I have persuaded Swann to do a thing like this?
You’d have to say you offered him money
Tony: what money, I haven’t got any
You would have Margo’s money
Tony: it would be months before I could leave my hands on that. And people don’t commit murder on credit. No, we’ll have to think of something better than that.
All right, we will. There is an answer and we’ve got to find it. How much time have we got
Tony: It’s tomorrow morning. (Offstage door slams)
Sssssh!
