The Sin of Nora Moran

pvault

Films in Public Domain

Transcript

00:00:00The

00:00:30THE END

00:01:00Anything else you wish, Mr. Grant?

00:01:23No, that's all. You may go to bed.

00:01:30See who that is.

00:01:38Well, hello, Edith.

00:01:40What's the matter? Is something wrong?

00:01:42I found these letters in the exit.

00:01:44Read them.

00:01:45I have a woman. She doesn't sign her name.

00:01:55Not on any one of them?

00:01:56Not on any one of them. But read it. It's most enlightening.

00:02:00Not on any one of them.

00:02:30Winter. My fire. My house.

00:02:36Spring. Spring comes to the love nest.

00:02:40The tree outside the living room window is budding.

00:02:42And I win the bet. The blossoms are yellow.

00:02:46Isn't it beautiful?

00:02:48Two lovers in their sylvan retreats staring at the trees.

00:02:52And now Summer.

00:02:54That same Summer when I was working so hard for him.

00:02:57Steaming, planning, doing everything in my power to help him.

00:03:00And he was having a cheap backstreet affair.

00:03:02Probably there's some other explanation.

00:03:04And her counting the hours until she saw him again?

00:03:06Thanking him for the house he bought her with my money?

00:03:08He didn't buy the house.

00:03:10Oh.

00:03:12So you do know about it.

00:03:14I thought you would.

00:03:17Edith.

00:03:18I'm probably asking you the impossible.

00:03:20But my advice to you is to burn those letters.

00:03:24Forget them.

00:03:25Forget them?

00:03:27Forget that you, my own brother, let me go on living with a man who was coming to me from

00:03:30the arms of a common cheap little...

00:03:33If you don't tell me who she is, I'll find out some other way.

00:03:37I'll get detectives.

00:03:39I'll show them these letters.

00:03:40You wouldn't do that.

00:03:41Oh, wouldn't I.

00:03:43I'll make her suffer.

00:03:46Edith.

00:03:51Come here.

00:04:00Sit down.

00:04:11Do you ever hear the name Nora Moran?

00:04:29Nora Moran?

00:04:31This may refresh your memory.

00:04:41What has she to do with it?

00:04:48That's the girl.

00:04:51This woman and Dick?

00:04:53I don't believe it.

00:04:55It's true, nevertheless.

00:04:59You said you wanted her to suffer.

00:05:03Did you ever witness an execution?

00:05:06Why, of course not.

00:05:08Did you ever see the preparation for one?

00:05:12A cold-blooded preparation.

00:05:15From the disposal of a burned-out, lifeless thing

00:05:17that a few moments before the execution was a human being.

00:05:22They begin in the afternoon.

00:05:36The electrocution's at eight tonight.

00:05:39Yes, we'll get it there by six.

00:05:41She's five foot one.

00:05:44She's five foot one.

00:05:46Okay, five foot one.

00:05:54I've got to shave her head.

00:05:55She didn't eat a thing.

00:06:01You wouldn't eat her.

00:06:03She's only 21.

00:06:06I've got to keep that age.

00:06:07I wonder what she's thinking.

00:06:16Her suffering had been so mute and pitiful

00:06:19that they tried to relieve her.

00:06:24Just that quiet.

00:06:26You'll soon be asleep.

00:06:27Mrs. Watson,

00:06:43are you sure they sent the telegram to Father Ryan?

00:06:47Yes.

00:06:48He'll be praying for you.

00:06:57There might still be a chance for you

00:06:59if you'd only tell why you did it.

00:07:02No.

00:07:03Why won't you tell, dearie?

00:07:10But you could tell me.

00:07:13Not anyone.

00:07:14I don't know.

00:07:15I don't know.

00:07:15Gradually, the opiate quieted her body,

00:07:17but her mind was too disordered.

00:07:19And in her confused state,

00:07:21everything became grotesque and unreal.

00:07:24We've all experienced it.

00:07:26And in our helplessness,

00:07:27we call on the one who means protection to us.

00:07:30To Nora, it was Father Ryan.

00:07:32Now was when she was a child.

00:07:36Nora's five years old.

00:07:38She's been with the sisters two years.

00:07:39And she's always been a very good child.

00:07:46Well,

00:07:47there's only one thing that's holding me back.

00:07:54Yes, your honey.

00:07:56I was only saying.

00:07:58I wanted to see how you'd fit on me lap.

00:08:05Darling,

00:08:06come over and try it.

00:08:09We got a car.

00:08:13Are you out?

00:08:14Sure.

00:08:15Bar and a couple of payments.

00:08:17Shh, what's a couple of payments?

00:08:18Between two good Irishmen like the child and me.

00:08:21Oh,

00:08:22the child and you.

00:08:24It's already the child and you.

00:08:27Well,

00:08:28we'll see.

00:08:31We'll see.

00:08:33Happiness for eight years.

00:08:35But she remembered only the tragedy that ended.

00:08:39And the car killed him, Father.

00:08:56I didn't know for hours why they didn't come home.

00:08:59What do you want to do now, Nora?

00:09:05Sinful even to think of it now.

00:09:07But Mother Moran wanted me to...

00:09:10What was that?

00:09:13Learn to dance.

00:09:15She always said that when she could afford it, I could go to a school.

00:09:17Do you want to do that?

00:09:21Yes.

00:09:25I paid all the debts and there's three hundred dollars left.

00:09:28Would it be wrong to use the money for that?

00:09:30No.

00:09:32Not wrong, Nora.

00:09:34Certainly not the wisest thing.

00:09:36But I want so much to do it.

00:09:39The money would last long enough until I studied.

00:09:40And by that time I could get a job in a cafe.

00:09:43I might even get a job in a show.

00:09:51Months of practice.

00:09:53Long hours of hard work because she felt prepared.

00:09:56And although her money was almost gone,

00:09:58she started out like thousands of others,

00:10:00confident of immediate success.

00:10:01There was the glamour of the theatre.

00:10:04The lights and the crowds.

00:10:06Intoxicating to her because she now felt herself to be a part of it.

00:10:10There were the stage doors, a promised mystery and excitement.

00:10:13And the daily round of booking offices.

00:10:15When she still felt that each new day was to mark the beginning of her success.

00:10:20And then the refusings.

00:10:21Endless days.

00:10:23Voices that spoke.

00:10:25Nothing today.

00:10:26No experience.

00:10:27Nothing today.

00:10:28No.

00:10:29No, you won't do.

00:10:31Nothing today.

00:10:32Signs that haunted her.

00:10:34Chorus filled.

00:10:35No casting today.

00:10:36Chorus filled.

00:10:38Chorus filled.

00:10:39Until she knew the panic that comes with your last dollar.

00:10:42And the desperate necessity for any kind of work.

00:10:44The failure there until she saw the end.

00:10:52I'm afraid you're too young to work in a circus.

00:10:55No, I'm not.

00:10:57I'm not too young.

00:10:58I'm old.

00:10:59Oh, please let me have it.

00:11:01Please.

00:11:02All right.

00:11:04Report to Paulino at King Brothers Circus.

00:11:10Excitement.

00:11:11A job.

00:11:12Sound of a collab.

00:11:13Tongues.

00:11:14Acrobats.

00:11:14Thrills.

00:11:15Excitement.

00:11:16Rehearsing what she'd say.

00:11:18Afraid someone would beat her there.

00:11:20And then he's there.

00:11:20of acc devastating.

00:11:36Let's go.

00:11:37Oh.

00:11:38Oh.

00:11:43Oh.

00:11:45Oh.

00:11:46Let's go!

00:12:16she's just about the same size as your last partner all right okay you look very nicely

00:12:38oh Mr. Polino I don't have to go in the cage do I? no no all you have to do is to wear that outfit and look pretty and can the sister

00:13:08Nora was happy in the excitement of Circus Light the hurdy the bustle the thrill of moving on a new town the whole thing was a glorious adventure

00:13:38one night

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00:24:46It's the circus! Listen!

00:25:04You must leave. You must leave now.

00:25:13That's you.

00:25:14No, I won't. You must.

00:25:17But don't you understand? If we don't see him, it won't happen.

00:25:22It's too late now. You must answer it.

00:25:33Yes. That's right. I must.

00:25:44I beg your pardon. My name is John Grant and I'd like to see Mr. Crawford. Why, he's...

00:25:58I don't bother lying. I know that he's here.

00:26:03Well, when are you finding me here? Miss Moran, do you know Mr. Grant?

00:26:07How do you do? I just dropped in to see Miss Moran's father. He's an old friend of mine.

00:26:11Not in at the moment, I suppose? No.

00:26:13I see. Where could we talk?

00:26:18Would you mind if we talked in here?

00:26:19Fine. Fine.

00:26:22Excuse me.

00:26:24Go now, please. Don't talk to him.

00:26:26I must, dear. You stay out here.

00:26:42Miss Moran's father's been sending her flowers.

00:26:44Well, it's hard to find out about this. There's an extra out. An extra? About this?

00:27:13Yes.

00:27:18How could they have got out of it?

00:27:21Well, this isn't even our state.

00:27:24Oh, well, there isn't anything to it anyway.

00:27:27I met her while I was in New York.

00:27:29So when she moved down here, she dropped me a note.

00:27:32Purely a friendly note to call.

00:27:33Every Monday and Friday.

00:27:35With an alibi like that, you don't rate the front page.

00:27:37You want to be in the comic section.

00:27:41Has Edith seen it?

00:27:42I don't know. She can read.

00:27:47What'll I do?

00:27:48Squirm a while. I'll watch.

00:27:50I ought to get something back for my money.

00:27:52Talking like that will help, John.

00:27:54You've got to think of something.

00:27:55All right. You do the thinking. I'll do the talking.

00:27:58The story hasn't broken in the papers yet.

00:28:00You mean you told me that?

00:28:03I just wanted to give you a taste of how you would feel if I did break it.

00:28:06But if you're not out of here in exactly ten minutes, that's what's going to happen.

00:28:10I'll break it myself.

00:28:11I'll break it on the front page of every newspaper in the state, and you along with it.

00:28:14And you wouldn't do that, wouldn't I?

00:28:17Let me tell you something.

00:28:18You're running for governor.

00:28:19You're a married man.

00:28:21The fact that you're married to my sister doesn't mean a thing to me.

00:28:23That's her business.

00:28:24But I've spent a lot of time and money building you to where you are.

00:28:27And if you think for a moment I'm going to let you toss it just because you've fallen for some cheap little dame, you're mistaken.

00:28:31She isn't cheap.

00:28:32You bet your life she isn't.

00:28:33She's going to cost you plenty.

00:28:34What do you mean?

00:28:36Figure it out for yourself.

00:28:38Why do you suppose a girl from a New York nightclub would bury herself in a place like this?

00:28:41How do you know she comes from a nightclub?

00:28:42How did I know that she was in a circus before she was in a nightclub?

00:28:46I've got her number.

00:28:47I know her past history.

00:28:48You're crazy.

00:28:49Am I?

00:28:50Well, I'll tell you just how crazy I am.

00:28:52Either you end this thing right now or you're through.

00:28:54You'll go back to being an officer.

00:28:57What did you mean about knowing her history?

00:28:59Get her in here and ask her yourself.

00:29:00No, please.

00:29:01No.

00:29:02All right.

00:29:03I'll get her in myself.

00:29:04Can you talk to me?

00:29:08Come in.

00:29:18You heard what was said?

00:29:20Yes, I heard.

00:29:21All of it?

00:29:23I guess so.

00:29:24It's true, isn't it?

00:29:26What?

00:29:28About you being with the circus.

00:29:29The same one that's playing here tonight.

00:29:32Yes.

00:29:33That's right.

00:29:34What was your name then?

00:29:36The same as it is now.

00:29:38Shouldn't it have been something else?

00:29:41Or have there been so many you didn't bother with that?

00:29:43Men like him who were married.

00:29:44Men.

00:29:45Men.

00:29:46Who were married.

00:29:47Men.

00:29:48Men.

00:29:49Men.

00:29:50Men.

00:29:51Men.

00:29:52Men.

00:29:53Men.

00:29:54Men.

00:29:55Men.

00:29:56Men.

00:29:57Men.

00:29:58Men.

00:29:59Men.

00:30:00Men.

00:30:01Men.

00:30:02Men.

00:30:03Men.

00:30:06I do it better that time.

00:30:28You did it all right.

00:30:30It's because I've dreamed it so much.

00:30:32It really happened.

00:30:33All I could think of was that he has a wife.

00:30:35That hurts so that I couldn't think of much else.

00:30:38But now it's different.

00:30:40Every time I dream it, I think of different things to say to him that'll hurt him and make him leave.

00:30:44But I can't do it anymore.

00:30:46I just can't.

00:30:48You won't have to.

00:30:50Why?

00:30:52Don't you remember?

00:30:56I don't have to go through that again, do I?

00:30:59It happened.

00:31:01But that was because I didn't leave soon enough.

00:31:03Don't you understand?

00:31:03All I have to do is go now.

00:31:04It won't happen.

00:31:05Don't you see how easy it is?

00:31:07I'll just leave.

00:31:07I'll go now.

00:31:08It won't happen.

00:31:09But it did happen.

00:31:10You killed him.

00:31:13Yes.

00:31:14That's right.

00:31:16I killed him.

00:31:19And upon said trial, was found guilty of murder in the first degree for said killing.

00:31:24And on the 14th day of May 1933, was sentenced to be put to death.

00:31:30Come.

00:31:31Come, look at her.

00:31:33But I don't want to.

00:31:35Come on, look at her.

00:31:38I don't want to.

00:31:40Come on, look at her.

00:31:48What's the matter with her?

00:31:48she's dead I don't like the way they fixed her hair she part of it all why

00:31:57why did they do that so the current would go through her head it doesn't go

00:32:03through her head it goes through her head her arms and her legs that's a lie it

00:32:09goes through her head her arms and her legs if you don't believe it come to the

00:32:13execution tonight they're going to kill her again the warden wasn't pleased with

00:32:18the way she died I won't have it I can't do that but they've done it don't you

00:32:23understand she's dead

00:32:31not dead I'm dreamy

00:32:36don't let me go back to sleep again please help me to wake up

00:32:43I must go back to sleep

00:32:46oh Nam you were dreaming weren't you

00:32:50yes

00:32:51maybe if I walk I can stay away

00:32:57you can't do that

00:33:00yes I can

00:33:02if you'll help me

00:33:18and upon said tribe was found guilty of murder in the first degree for said

00:33:22killing and on the 14th day of May 1933 was sentenced to be put to death

00:33:29stop it

00:33:32why don't you be human

00:33:34don't you see she's almost crazy

00:33:36but I'm supposed to read it

00:33:38I'm supposed to read it here in her cell

00:33:41all right read it here

00:33:43can't you read it to yourself

00:33:45I guess I'll do that

00:33:48maybe if I just mumble it would be all right

00:33:51mumble and be damned

00:33:53what's that

00:34:08six o'clock

00:34:10tomorrow

00:34:12tomorrow

00:34:13at six o'clock that night Nora wasn't the only one walking the floor

00:34:19I was in my office listening to the prison whistle

00:34:23and I realized that I'd been listening to it all day

00:34:26I didn't know what to think

00:34:28Dick was now the government

00:34:29he promised to refuse to stay at execution

00:34:32I didn't know whether he'd hold to his promise

00:34:34I didn't know whether she'd stick to hers

00:34:36what do you mean

00:34:38what are you trying to tell me

00:34:40when Dick left that night

00:34:42I stayed to settle with her

00:34:47would you please go now

00:34:49as soon as we understand each other

00:34:51I'll give you what you want within reason

00:34:53that settles the account for all time

00:34:55no future payments

00:34:57no kickback

00:34:58you understand

00:34:59there'll be no kickback as you call it

00:35:02no payments at all

00:35:03so you can go now

00:35:05what's your game

00:35:07I doubt if you don't stand it

00:35:09goodbye

00:35:10wait a minute

00:35:12wait a minute

00:35:14have you any money

00:35:16enough

00:35:17enough for what

00:35:18to take me where I'm going

00:35:20who rented this place

00:35:24he did

00:35:26is the rent paid

00:35:28till next Wednesday

00:35:30when are you leaving

00:35:32on the next train

00:35:34you might as well take this

00:35:36it's his

00:35:40you better not to give you some money now

00:35:42no

00:35:43but if you change your mind

00:35:46I'll be at the Carton Hotel tonight

00:35:48good night

00:36:18I sat in a hotel room trying to figure the girl out.

00:36:25I couldn't believe she turned down money.

00:36:27But at the end of two hours when she hadn't called,

00:36:30I decided she wasn't going to.

00:36:48Well, so you changed your mind about the money.

00:36:56No.

00:36:58Come in here.

00:37:02Come in here, please.

00:37:08Help me move this.

00:37:09What's wrong?

00:37:11Push it away from the fireplace.

00:37:12Please.

00:37:17What happened?

00:37:19Who is it?

00:37:21Polino.

00:37:22He was with the circus.

00:37:24He's the man I live with.

00:37:27Been watching the house all evening.

00:37:29Came in after you left.

00:37:31He'd been outside watching and listening.

00:37:33Said he was going to blackmail Dick.

00:37:35He knew all about us.

00:37:37He wanted me to come back to him and help him get money from Dick.

00:37:40Then you...

00:37:42Yes, I...

00:37:43I hit him with that whip.

00:37:44I hit him three times.

00:37:45Three times over the head.

00:37:49What'll I do?

00:37:50You'll wait here till I call the police.

00:37:52No, don't do that.

00:37:53Why not?

00:37:54We must keep the police out of this.

00:37:56Wait a minute.

00:37:57I happen to be a district attorney.

00:37:59It's my business to prosecute people who commit murder.

00:38:01If this had happened 40 miles from here in my county,

00:38:04it would be my duty to send you to the vector chair.

00:38:07So if it's in your mind to have me help you get away with this,

00:38:09you may as well save your breath.

00:38:10I didn't know you were a district attorney.

00:38:13I thought you'd be willing to help me to keep Dick out of this.

00:38:16Dick?

00:38:16He is out of it.

00:38:17I know, but don't you see if they arrest me, the whole thing will come out.

00:38:21He rented this house.

00:38:22He's been coming here for months.

00:38:23There are a dozen different things that'll drag him into it.

00:38:26If the newspapers get hold of it, they'll ruin him.

00:38:28They won't care about me, but he's an important man.

00:38:30They'll tear him to pieces.

00:38:32And his wife along with him.

00:38:33Damn it, why didn't you think of this before you committed murder?

00:38:43He went to bed drunk every night.

00:38:46Who?

00:38:47Helena.

00:38:48What about it?

00:38:48We could take him in your car to where the circus train is loading.

00:38:53Then when we got to the darkest part of the street, we could throw him out.

00:38:57Someone with the circus is bound to find him.

00:38:59And they'd find that he'd been murdered.

00:39:00No, they'll just think he's drunk.

00:39:02They found him like that before.

00:39:05What about the wound in his head?

00:39:06When we've thrown him out, I'll put a rock under his head.

00:39:11They'll think he hit it when he fell.

00:39:12They'll think that's what killed him.

00:39:14Nothing doing.

00:39:16Oh, don't.

00:39:19Wait.

00:39:20Please.

00:39:21Don't you realize what you're doing?

00:39:23You're destroying everything that has taken you years to build up.

00:39:25And it isn't necessary.

00:39:26All I'm trying to do is get Polino away from this house.

00:39:30Suppose I helped you.

00:39:32And you got caught, that Riley.

00:39:33You mean, would I tell that you'd helped me?

00:39:37I wouldn't do a thing like that.

00:39:56Turn here.

00:40:06Slow up now.

00:40:28Can you manage it alone?

00:40:36Yes.

00:40:41Let me out around the corner.

00:40:42We'll never get away with this.

00:40:43Yes, we will.

00:40:44There's no one inside.

00:40:44Go on.

00:41:09Go on.

00:41:09You can imagine my feelings as I drove away and left her.

00:41:23All I could think of was getting out of that town.

00:41:25So I checked out of the hotel and drove home.

00:41:28I've changed my plans, Keto.

00:41:38Bring a hot drink to my room.

00:41:39I went through hell that night.

00:41:47One minute I knew that she was sincere.

00:41:49The next minute, I was certain that I'd walk with the cleverest little trap of magic.

00:41:54No matter how I figured, the answer was the same.

00:41:58If she was sincere, the plan was a thousand to one shot.

00:42:01If she succeeded, she'd collect me.

00:42:04If she failed and she'd been lying, she'd talk.

00:42:06And faced with the rest, how did I know about what she'd pin the actual murder onto me?

00:42:11My word against her.

00:42:13And the very integrity expected of me as a public official would have thrown the balance

00:42:17against me if we're known that I was mixed up.

00:42:21I figured the consequences of what I've done from every possible age, except the one that

00:42:26actually happened.

00:42:27Mr. Grant.

00:42:45I'm sorry to disturb you, sir, but headquarters on the phone.

00:42:49They say it's very urgent.

00:42:50All right, Keto.

00:42:53Hello.

00:42:54Yes.

00:42:55Good morning, Mr. Grant.

00:42:56There's been a murder on a circus train that pulled in here this morning.

00:43:02Pulled in here?

00:43:03Yes.

00:43:04We've got the girl who did it, but we can't get anything out of her and other circus people.

00:43:08The whole thing's a mix-up.

00:43:12Yes, I'll come right down.

00:43:22If you people are trying to shield this girl, you're going to regret it.

00:43:27Was this man dead when you found him in the street?

00:43:30Was he?

00:43:31Don't ask me.

00:43:33He was drunk.

00:43:34If I was drunk, how is it you don't know?

00:43:37Well, I was thinking of something else.

00:43:39It's quite apparent that you were both drunk.

00:43:42Did you put him to bed on the train?

00:43:44Did you?

00:43:45Did you?

00:43:46What do you mean, did I?

00:43:47What was you doing all the time?

00:43:49Well, I...

00:43:50Go on.

00:43:51I'm waiting.

00:43:53She's the one.

00:43:54Yes, so I gather.

00:43:56Did you see your husband and his friend bring Paulino on the train?

00:44:00I did not.

00:44:01I've seen him drunk so many times I wouldn't have noticed it.

00:44:04Did any of you see him?

00:44:06Did they?

00:44:07Don't ask me.

00:44:08I was thinking of something else.

00:44:10That's enough.

00:44:11We'll get the girl.

00:44:16Have the prisoner brought in.

00:44:22Now, which one of you met the girl?

00:44:24We both did.

00:44:25You say she hasn't been to the circus for some time?

00:44:28About three years.

00:44:29When you met her, was she going toward the train or away from it?

00:44:36Beer.

00:44:37I bet there was drinking beer.

00:44:39You keep your pants on.

00:44:40A lot you got to say, Roar, and drunk yourself.

00:44:43She was going toward the train.

00:44:46Why, if it isn't little Norris's eye when I saw her.

00:44:49I saw her first.

00:44:50She bumped into her.

00:44:53Staggered, more likely.

00:44:54You shut up.

00:44:55Now, listen.

00:45:02You people wait in the outer room.

00:45:07Come in.

00:45:10God bless you, darling.

00:45:15Sit down, Miss Moran.

00:45:17You admit killing Paulino.

00:45:27Yes.

00:45:28How did you kill him?

00:45:29I told you I hit him over the head with a whip.

00:45:32What did you do with a whip?

00:45:33I threw it away.

00:45:35Where?

00:45:35From the train.

00:45:37From the train.

00:45:38Why did you kill him?

00:45:40That's my business.

00:45:41But it also happens to be the state's business.

00:45:44I've told you I killed him.

00:45:45Isn't that enough?

00:45:46This thing has been going on all morning.

00:45:48Suppose you let me talk with her alone.

00:45:50This is the district attorney.

00:45:55It's my duty to tell you that until you get a lawyer, you don't have to answer any questions you don't want to answer.

00:46:01You can ask me questions, but I won't tell them any more than I told you.

00:46:04What happened?

00:46:17I ran into those women.

00:46:19Shh.

00:46:19Keep it loose, darling.

00:46:21Were you close to the body when you ran into them?

00:46:23No.

00:46:25Put a rock under his head, and then I went back to my bag.

00:46:28While I was around the corner, I heard old Jake and Miller coming along.

00:46:32They stumbled over him.

00:46:33They were so drunk, they didn't know he was dead.

00:46:36I watched them drag him onto the train.

00:46:38Well, why in the name of heaven did you get on the same train?

00:46:41Couldn't help it.

00:46:43While I was watching them drag Paulino away, those women bumped into me.

00:46:47Scared me, so when they recognized me, I went to pieces.

00:46:50I don't remember much until I came to when the train was moving.

00:46:54How did they pin it onto you?

00:46:56Police did that.

00:46:58Circus people tried so hard to hush up my past with Paulino, I guess they overdid it.

00:47:01They all think I killed them on the train during the night.

00:47:05And of all places in the world, the train had to pull in here.

00:47:08Do you realize that I've got to prosecute you?

00:47:10Well, what difference does that make?

00:47:12Somebody else might trace it to the house in Wilchester.

00:47:15You'll know how to keep Dick out of it.

00:47:17You mean you're going through with this?

00:47:18I killed Paulino.

00:47:21I did it to save Dick.

00:47:23And you helped me to keep him out of it.

00:47:26Why should I turn now and undo everything we've done?

00:47:28It would ruin Dick.

00:47:29It would ruin you.

00:47:31It wouldn't have me.

00:47:33I'm still guilty of murder.

00:47:35All right.

00:47:36You're guilty of murder and I'm the prosecuting attorney.

00:47:38That's the way it stands.

00:47:39That's the way we're going to go through with it.

00:47:40And let me tell you something else.

00:47:42If you're doing this in the hope that Dick Crawford as governor will grant you a pardon,

00:47:45you may as well forget it.

00:47:46Because that man would sacrifice anything or anyone to satisfy his ambition.

00:47:55You know the rest of it.

00:47:57She went through the entire trial without a word in her own defense.

00:48:00Prosecuted by a man who was as guilty as she was.

00:48:03Sentenced to die by an unsympathetic jury.

00:48:05And still never a word.

00:48:07Well, what of it?

00:48:08She was guilty?

00:48:09Well, I certainly don't condone what you did.

00:48:11But it wouldn't have done her any good to drag you into it.

00:48:13Wouldn't have done her any good.

00:48:15Why, any lawyer who knew the whole story could have built up such a case for that girl,

00:48:18the Dick would have been run out of the state.

00:48:20I would have been sent to prison for life.

00:48:21And she would have walked out of that courtroom as free as air.

00:48:24Why, think of the case.

00:48:25The girl is being kept by a man in high public office.

00:48:28She commits murder for him.

00:48:29And the district attorney turns around and helps her cover up the murder and then prosecutes her.

00:48:35And furthermore, the murder was not committed in this state.

00:48:37This state had no legal right to try her.

00:48:39I had no legal right to prosecute her.

00:48:41What difference does it make which state tried her?

00:48:44She committed murder.

00:48:46And as for her saying nothing in the courtroom, it's perfectly obvious she did that expecting Dick to get her off.

00:48:51But the one thing in his favor is that he didn't let it influence him when he was faced with his duty.

00:48:56He had the courage and honesty to refuse to save her in spite of who she was.

00:49:01This state had invested him with certain powers and duties.

00:49:03And I'm glad that he at least lived up to that trust him.

00:49:06Edith, are you making a campaign speech or just being a damn fool?

00:49:09Like most wives in your self-righteousness, you refuse to recognize any kind of love but your own.

00:49:18You never understood Dick.

00:49:20Neither one of us ever tried to understand him.

00:49:23He was just something that we kicked about between us to satisfy our own purposes and ambitions.

00:49:26We never considered whether he might want what we offered him.

00:49:30We simply forced him into it.

00:49:32You always made him feel that he was the weaker.

00:49:35You made him look up and be dependent upon you.

00:49:38Nora worshipped him.

00:49:40In her eyes, he was a great man.

00:49:43She never questioned him.

00:49:44She never asked for anything that he didn't offer.

00:49:47And through her love, he attained, or I think he attained something that you or I will never experience.

00:49:56Edith, I want to read you a letter.

00:50:01It's from Dick.

00:50:04Sit down.

00:50:11It starts simply, John, I'm going away with Nora.

00:50:15Away?

00:50:16That's how he puts it.

00:50:19You would call me insane if you knew what had happened to me tonight.

00:50:23And my relating it to you may seem an attempt to justify myself.

00:50:27I don't know.

00:50:29But I ask you to visualize the early hours of the evening.

00:50:32You've read all the mountains we get.

00:50:35governor denied it.

00:50:36Remember, read all about it.

00:50:37Nora will ran to die at eight.

00:50:39Remember.

00:50:40Governor denied it.

00:50:41Reprieve.

00:50:42Nora will run to die.

00:50:43Remember.

00:50:44Next day.

00:50:45Remember.

00:50:46Read about it.

00:50:47Nora will run to die at eight.

00:50:48Remember.

00:50:49Did you switch a direct line into the governor's office?

00:50:53No.

00:50:54Did he want me to?

00:50:55You tell me where he wants today and I'll appreciate it.

00:50:57Shall I go back and do it?

00:50:58No, leave it alone.

00:51:01Governor denies reprieve.

00:51:02Have a favor.

00:51:03Read about it.

00:51:04I tried to shut out the thought of Nora, her faith in me, the happiness we could know.

00:51:31Her happiness in those first few months.

00:51:35But her voice, memories of her, kept coming back.

00:51:54Do you live in New York?

00:51:56I'll stay another week.

00:51:57May I see you again?

00:51:59Of course.

00:52:01May I send for you?

00:52:04Would you come to me?

00:52:05Anywhere.

00:52:11The stove works.

00:52:13And the radio works.

00:52:15The fireplace works.

00:52:17It's so lovely to live in the house with everything that works.

00:52:20I can't stand it.

00:52:21Oh, you've got it.

00:52:23Do you think we could get the president for three Mondays and four Fridays in a week?

00:52:29Why?

00:52:30For those of the days I see you.

00:52:33Or have there been so many you didn't bother with that?

00:52:35Men like him who were married.

00:52:42Men.

00:52:43Men.

00:52:43When I left my actions with those of a stupid schoolboy, driving away I began to realize, how could I pass judgment of Nora?

00:53:01I was a married man, offering her nothing but the question of the security of the house, part of my time.

00:53:19And I knew that no matter how many men there had been in her life, there was only one.

00:53:25Now, I went back.

00:53:27Nora.

00:53:45Nora!

00:53:55Nora!

00:53:55Nora.

00:53:56All right, Governor.

00:54:00We got something?

00:54:04I knew we were going to meet someday, but I didn't think it was going to be so soon.

00:54:08Don't listen to him. Don't talk to him. Go away. Please.

00:54:11Hey, how much is she worse to you?

00:54:26Hey, how much is she?

00:54:56Come on.

00:55:26Dead. A murderer.

00:55:44The thought of exposure terrified me.

00:55:45I imagined things.

00:55:58There's no one out there.

00:55:59But I saw a face at the window.

00:56:04You imagined.

00:56:07Perhaps. I don't know.

00:56:09Oh, my God, Nora.

00:56:16But it wasn't your fault.

00:56:18You did it in self-defense, dear.

00:56:20If you hadn't done it, he would have killed you.

00:56:22But I'm the only one who knows that.

00:56:25And when they find out about us, they won't believe anything I have to say.

00:56:28There's no way out.

00:56:29Oh, but there is a way.

00:56:30If you'll only go.

00:56:32Leave you to face this?

00:56:34I wouldn't have to face it.

00:56:36I have a plan.

00:56:37If you'll only leave and trust me.

00:56:39Can't you understand why I'm asking you to do this?

00:56:44Don't you realize that it isn't killing him that will ruin you?

00:56:48It's me.

00:56:50The months we've spent here.

00:56:53They'll take those months from us and spread them across the front page of every newspaper.

00:56:58They'll make them ugly and cheap instead of what they were.

00:57:02I'm not asking you to be cowardly.

00:57:06I'm asking you to let me keep the only happiness I've ever known.

00:57:11You'll go.

00:57:13Won't you?

00:57:18No.

00:57:19Yes.

00:57:22No.

00:57:24I don't ask you to believe what happened next.

00:57:27I simply say it happened.

00:57:29Don't do that.

00:57:29All right.

00:57:33What are they doing to you?

00:57:35Nothing, dear.

00:57:37They're hurting you.

00:57:38You're frightened.

00:57:39What is there to be frightened of?

00:57:42Death.

00:57:43There's nothing to fear in death.

00:57:46Father Ryan is with me now.

00:57:47I want you to hear what he's saying.

00:57:49And remember it always.

00:57:51It's the prayer for the dead.

00:57:52No.

00:57:53I don't want to hear it.

00:57:54Don't make me hear it.

00:57:55But it's beautiful.

00:57:57Listen.

00:57:57Eternal rest.

00:57:59Give to them, O Lord.

00:58:00And let perpetual light shine upon them.

00:58:04Eternal rest.

00:58:05And perpetual life.

00:58:07Is that frightening?

00:58:10No.

00:58:11Then think of it that way.

00:58:13Think of me that way.

00:58:15I can't.

00:58:16All I can think of is that you are dying for something I did.

00:58:19I'm not dying for something you did.

00:58:21I'm dying for all the good things you're going to do.

00:58:24And I'm dying rather than give up something that was precious to me.

00:58:27My life with you.

00:58:29I could have life with you if I told the truth.

00:58:31If I had the courage to tell the truth, I'd be free.

00:58:34They might put me in prison, but I'd be free.

00:58:36I'd be free of Grant.

00:58:36What of your wife?

00:58:38You can't do that to her.

00:58:41She's like him.

00:58:42They're both alike.

00:58:43Dominating, scheming, planning my life.

00:58:45And they always win.

00:58:47I wanted to pardon you, but he wouldn't let me.

00:58:52Why do I say you wouldn't let me?

00:58:55I could have done it.

00:58:57I can do it now.

00:58:58I can phone now and stop it.

00:59:00I can sign an unconditional pardon and you'll be free.

00:59:03What's free, dear?

00:59:04To go out and struggle.

00:59:07And perhaps no more men like Polina.

00:59:09To go on day after day knowing that somewhere in the world you're beginning to hate me.

00:59:14Why should I hate you?

00:59:15Because people change.

00:59:18What will she be 15 years from now?

00:59:20Just someone who can put you behind the bars anytime she wants to.

00:59:24Do you want to go through life waiting for that to happen?

00:59:27Let her die.

00:59:28That was his voice.

00:59:29I didn't think that.

00:59:30He said it.

00:59:31You heard him, didn't you?

00:59:32I wouldn't want you to think I felt that way about you.

00:59:34I know you wouldn't change.

00:59:36You understand it was his voice.

00:59:37Don't let me die because you're afraid.

00:59:40Let me die because it's my destiny to die.

00:59:43Let me feel that I'm dying and make it possible for you to go on.

00:59:46You said there was no one there.

00:59:57You looked and you said there was no face at the window.

00:59:59You said I imagined it.

01:00:00You did.

01:00:01And what's he doing here?

01:00:02If he saw me, why doesn't he say something?

01:00:04Why doesn't he come out in the open?

01:00:05What's he waiting for?

01:00:07There's no one there.

01:00:08Yes, there is.

01:00:09And I know what he wants.

01:00:10He's waiting.

01:00:11He's waiting until I let you die.

01:00:13And then I'll have to kill him to keep him from telling.

01:00:14That'll be three murders.

01:00:16The first wasn't murder.

01:00:18You did it in self-defense.

01:00:20If I let them kill you, it'll be murder.

01:00:22And then I'll have to kill him.

01:00:23That'll be three.

01:00:25The first wasn't murder.

01:00:27And the second one hasn't happened.

01:00:29The first wasn't murder and I can stop the second.

01:00:33I'll stop it now.

01:00:34I'll stop it now.

01:00:36Stop it.

01:00:38Stop the execution.

01:00:39I'm the governor and I say stop the execution.

01:00:41I did it, do you hear?

01:00:42I killed him and you can't execute her.

01:00:49I did it.

01:00:54I did it, Nora.

01:01:06At first I couldn't understand her going so quickly.

01:01:09And then I looked at the phone.

01:01:13It was dead.

01:01:16Nora was dead.

01:01:23Did she know that I had tried?

01:01:26I think so.

01:01:27Because her voice came to me.

01:01:29Quiet.

01:01:31Reassuring.

01:01:32There's nothing to fear, isn't it?

01:01:35Listen.

01:01:36The eternal rest give to them, O Lord.

01:01:38And let perpetual light shine upon them.

01:01:41Eternal rest and perpetual light.

01:01:44Is that frightening?

01:01:50I couldn't have put those words in her mouth.

01:01:53She must have been here.

01:01:54She must have been here.

01:02:12I don't know.

01:02:13I know she was here.

01:02:29So while I can still hear her saying,

01:02:32eternal rest give to them, O Lord,

01:02:35and let perpetual light shine upon them.

01:02:43It ends there.

01:02:52Or does it begin?

01:02:55I wonder.

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