while there was no one to take care of my brother.
Well, I guess I forgot to talk to you about salary.
Would 75 a week be all right?
Well, uh...
Don't worry, it doesn't come out of the shop.
My brother got $100,000 insurance after the accident.
It comes from that.
Uh, 75 will be plenty.
Oh, I didn't know how tired I was.
I'd ask you to stay for a drink or something, but...
Oh, it's all right, I'm tired too.
Well, good night.
Mr. Horton.
Good night.
Watch out for the hairpins.
Yeah, I will.
Thanks.
Hi, any customers?
I sold an ashtray.
Good morning, Leslie.
You know, it's such a nice day,
it's a shame to be cooped up here.
Why don't we go out in the sunshine?
No.
You need a little color.
No.
You haven't been out of this room since I got here.
Three days.
All right, we won't go outside.
Would you like some more ammunition?
Sleep.
You've had ten hours.
Such a thing as too much sleep.
Horton. Chair.
What?
Chair!
Oh.
I'll be back soon if you need me.
Thanks.
What for?
Selling the ashtray.
Glad to be of service.
There.
There you go.
Now, let's do the exercises.
The ones we did yesterday.
Come on. No.
Come on, one... No.
Two.
Look, I know it's painful and I know it's hard,
but it's gonna do you good.
I told you about the hospital I worked in.
Now, I saw fellows with half your mobility to start with
jet back the use of themselves.
Little by little.
First it was a toe, and then a-
And then a finger, and then a hand
and pretty soon they could walk.
Now, that was something to see.
But they had to work for it.
Couldn't start and stop. Couldn't start and stop.
He shouldn't have started in the first place.
Um...
What's the point of raising his hopes?
Well, I didn't think there was anything wrong in trying.
The doctor tried.
Ben, he tried everything.
I know. I didn't think someone should just give up, you know?
Those exercises are painful.
He's had so much pain.
I pray every night he won't suffer anymore.
I know, I know, but I-
Well, I know how you feel.
Horton.
Exercise.
Leslie, you'll only make yourself worse.
Get her out!
Give me a minute.
Okay.
Here we go.
One, two.
Prays.
Three, four.
Now, you control your breathing like I showed you.
Come on.
One, two.
Don't let her use you.
Three.
Four.
One, two.
Horton.
I heard you.
Three, four.
Grab ahold.
One, two.
Three, four.
What's the matter?
Horton.
What about him?
You should see him with Leslie.
It might sound crazy, but I wouldn't be surprised
if he had him walking soon.
Yeah, that does sound crazy.
Just forget about it. I tell you, you should see them.
You're not getting soft on the guy or something.
Now, that wouldn't fit.
Of course not.
It's just...
Well, he-
He just doesn't seem the kind of drifter you'd expect.
You're the one who told me he ducked when he saw that cop,
right? I know, I know.
So make your pitch.
There's no telling what a guy like that
would do for a couple of bucks.
He's not like that.
Well, what is he like?
I don't know.
I don't know, but don't get angry.
I- I'll-
I'll talk to him. You'll see.
I'll take care of it.
She named my brother after Leslie Howard
and me after Norma Shearer.
They made a movie, Romeo and Juliet together.
My mom was in it too.
She was an extra.
That's how she met my father.
He was an electrician on the set.
Am I going on and on?
No, it's fine.
They opened the shop when things got bad in Hollywood.
My dad always said that was the end of the line.
The pier.
You don't like to talk about yourself, do you?
I find you much more interesting.
Who, me?
An old maid?
Hm.
I got the impression that Lars was going to change all that.
Lars and I?
He's nice.
But he doesn't make waves.
But he, uh...
He looks to me like he's in love with you.
Little boy stuff.
Norma, I can't make you any speeches. Uh-
I'm not asking for any.
Or promises.
You talk too much.
Oh! The tide!
Oh, Ben!
Oh, you think that's funny, huh?
Oh.
Quiet all of a sudden.
It's, uh, kind of a relief.
You get used to that old merry-go-round music.
Not me. I couldn't.
You could if it meant a place of your own.
One of these days Leslie is gonna be able
to take care of himself.
It'll change.
You really think so, Ben?
You know, he ate by himself this evening.
At least, he picked up the spoon.
Picked up the spoon.
And I'm gonna be 27 in two months.
He's making good time, Norma.
I hate you.
Why is that?
Because...
Because you make me feel like,
right here and now, and not someday...
Like-
Like I'm a woman.
Mm.
You better get away.
You better get as far away from me as you can.
Why?
Because I'm no good for you.
I'm no good for anybody.
You want an argument?
I'm serious.
You know the kind of dream I keep having?
It's about a man.
A man who comes into my life and carries me off.
Sets me free.
Um...
You're not the first woman that ever dreamed
of a knight on a white horse.
He's not a knight or anything.
Just a guy who comes out of nowhere.
A guy who's had it rough and can see it in someone else.
That's just a dream, Norma.
But in the dream...
The way he sees it, I'm in prison,
and Leslie's keeping me there.
So it's like it's
either my life or his. Leslie's.
You understand?
That's not a dream, Norma, that's a nightmare.
That's what makes it so horrible.
Whenever it happens, I wake up happy
thinking something wonderful is about to happen.
Well, you can't blame yourself for a dream.
Ben.
I had that dream again.
The night before you came to the shop.
Norma, people have all sorts of dreams.
It's a way of getting rid of our anger or frustrations.
There's nothing wrong with dreaming.
You can dream about anything you want.
Just don't get it mixed up with reality.
I better go check on Leslie.
Sure.
You're not mad at me or anything?
Sure I am, can't you tell?
You wanna tell me about it?
I got soaked on the beach.
I know.
He was up here for over an hour.
It's not what you think.
Lars, it's not.
How do you know what I think?
I talked to him about Leslie.
And?
It didn't work, that's all.
Listen, Norma, up to now it's been just you and me.
No games, no secrets, right?
You've had enough proof of that.
Okay, so if he doesn't play by the rules, we change them.
Lars. No, we change the rules.
We waited a long time to land this one.
I know.
And don't start thinking about throwing him back.
Or me neither.
You've got it all wrong, Lars.
No, I've got it all right.
I just want to make sure you do.
That's it.
The receipts.
How much?
A hundred- You count 'em, Horton.
Call me when you're finished.
I've been watching you and her lately, like I said I would.
And after I told you how she hates me.
Ah, you don't know that, Leslie.
I do know that, I see it in her eyes,
so don't try and tell me different.
It's like a war, Horton,
and I wanna know whose side you're on.
A hundred and twenty-five dollars.
Horton?
Horton, you talk about helping me!
Horton? Ben?
Oh. I-I sat up.
I sat up, Ben.
By myself.
Without any help.
You. It was you.
No, you just got mad, Leslie.
You just got mad.
Where's your father?
Made a couple of dollars yesterday
and he's out boozing it up.
My brother went to the bank.
Ben took him.
What are you talking about?
He hasn't been outside since the accident.
He sat up today. By himself.
You're kidding.
It was Ben.
I told you, the exercise and all.
Lars, it's almost spooky.
He got to you, didn't he?
No.
Norma, how many chances do you think we're gonna get?
You want to spend the rest of your life on this stinking pier
playing nursemaid to Leslie?
You think I wanna stay here with my dad stinkin' up
the place with his dirty booze?
I gotta get out of here.
And so do you.
I know.
Okay, now, let's look at the facts.
Why do you think he went to the bank?
To deposit the receipts.
No.
Leslie would've made you do that, same as usual.
We gotta find out.
That money is ours, Norma.
Awarded for injuries.
I always thought that was some kind of bad joke.
Awarded. I couldn't even hold it.
But now, look!
Take as much as you need, Horton!
This money ought to go back in the bank vault.
It's been there too long, like me.
Here, now, take as much as you want.
Look, um,
Leslie...
You can pay me by learning to walk, all right?
If you won't take it, will you help me spend it?
I'm going to be moving on soon.
I told you, I like to travel.
Then let me travel with you.
We'll leave any time you say.
Even tomorrow.
My sweet little sister can have this shop.
Now, we'll go someplace lazy, maybe like an island.
With girls and, uh,
gin in coconut shells.
Gin in a coconut shell.
I have to think about that.
You get some rest.
We'll talk about it later.
It's getting late, I guess we better get back.
What time is it?
About 11.
Let's not.
What?
Go back.
Let's just stay right here
and go someplace where everything's happy all the time.
Norma. What have we got?
You and me, I mean.
Something good right now.
Right now.
Nothing more?
I told you-
But things can change.
Not by themselves maybe,
but if you sort of give them a little help.
Yeah.
Maybe we'd better be getting back.
I'm getting cold.
Horton.
Lars was supposed to meet me here at 11:00.
You seen him?
No, I haven't, I'm sorry.
Never mind.
Hello, I'm back.
No, Ben! No, Ben, please!
Let me in!
Come on.
Come on, let me in!
Open the door!
Come on, let me in!
Hey!
Let me in!
Hey, open up!
You!
Open the door.
Get- Get the police.
Get-
Lars!
Norma, he killed your brother.
He k-
He did it.
No, I didn't.
He was here.
Are you trying to say that Lars-?
I'm trying to say I didn't kill him.
Well, go on, ask him. He was here.
Why don't you ask me yourself? I haven't been here all night.
Isn't that right, Norma?
Well, go on, tell him.
Tell him.
Lars and I have been together all evening.
I'm gonna get the police.
OFFICER All persons not residents or in business on this pier
are ordered to leave at once.
This is by order of the police department.
Let's go, folks.
Move on, please.
Let's move.
There's the guy I told the whole story to.
Well, a good story bears repeating.
All right, like I said, Miss Sessions and I were walking
down at the beach- Hold it.
When you finish getting those pictures in there
get some out here for me, will you?
Now, you were down by the beach.
That's right, and then we came back here
to meet my pop for coffee.
Yeah, that's right. And before I forget here,
Horton comes right in here,
and the next thing I knew
that poor cripple's screaming his lungs out.
"Ben don't!" he keeps yellin'.
I heard him a couple of times.
Very convenient.
What's that mean?
I understand you recommended Horton for this job.
Was he a friend of yours?
No.
I felt sorry for him.
Got the pier locked in tight, lieutenant.
What about Horton?
Look, I'm after a man, not a tactical exercise.
Get going.
Yes, sir.
Now, didn't you tell Officer Scheer that when Horton
ran out of here he had an overnight case with him?
Yes, sir.
And that was Leslie's bag, and it was open.
I could see it was full of money.
How much? You have any idea?
How would I know?
What do you think, I counted it?
About 25,000?
I told you, I don't know.
That's right, that's what you told me.
That's right, that's what I told you.
Lieutenant!
Yeah. We got him.
You got the wrong fish, lieutenant.
He's gotta be around here somewhere.
Wagner, Nicholson, round up all the men you can
and bring 'em down this end of the pier.
We'll ring the whole area.
Come with me.
Ben.
We may be here for a while.
I think you owe me that much.
I'm sorry.
I couldn't help it.
Couldn't you?
Lars made me do it, I swear.
The other night? That dream of yours?
Now we both know what it is you wanted me to do.
No, I wanted us to-
You wanted what, Norma?
I don't know, I just wanted to get away.
And it didn't matter with whom, did it?
Just whoever to kill your brother and give you the money.
It didn't matter if it was Lars or me
or some man walking down the - No, no.
It wasn't like that, it wasn't.
I love you, Ben.
It's been a long night, Norma.
It's true. Forget about it.
You know what you want, you got the money, you got Lars.
You can buy yourself a pier.
Or go to that place you talked about
where everyone's always happy.
Lars would have killed me, you don't know what he's like.
I got a good idea.
Ben.
As soon as I get away from Lars,
I can write to the police and tell them the whole story.
Everything.
They'll let you go and then I can meet you someplace.
No, thank you.
I can tell them Lars threatened to kill me
and that's why I lied.
They'll believe me because he'll still have the money.
Norma, I'm wanted on a murder charge.
Oh, that's just plain crazy.
You don't have it in you to kill anyone, I know that.
I didn't kill anyone but a jury convicted me.
What kind of a story is that?
It's a true story.
Miss Sessions?
Miss Sessions, you all right?
Look, tell him, uh-
Tell him you can't see him right now.
You're too upset to see him.
You'll go away and I'll never see you again.
Miss Sessions!
If the police take me, they'll... execute me.
And look who's the loser either way.
All right.
Did he hurt you?
No, he didn't hurt me.
Take him away.
I'm sorry you had to go through this, Miss Sessions.
Lieutenant.
Lieutenant, he's not the one who killed my brother.
Lars and I planned it together.
What I said upstairs...
I guess I meant it.
You may be required to make another statement.
Where can you be reached?
The YMCA.
Piece of advice, fella.
Next time you get mixed up in something you didn't do,
don't run away, no matter how bad it looks.
I'll remember that.
Save up a lot of loneliness
and you're apt to spend it somewhere.
This time on a lonely pier,
livened only by the sound of an ancient calliope.
And the brass ring caught by a fugitive
can only give him another brief ride to nowhere.