Midnight

You see, I loved him.

I mean, I loved him when he didn't love me anymore.

Day-in and day-out, watching him get further

and further away from me.

I could see it in his eyes when he looked at me.

I could see he hated me.

Hated me because I needed him.

Oh, I was so frightened, so mixed up.

It's so horrible to see someone who's

become part of you, slipping away slowly.

To feel helpless and empty, lonely.

And frantic, wanting to do something, anything.

Anything to bring him back,

to patch things up, to try

to tie together the few remaining bits of happiness.

And then, that awful day

when he drew the money from the bank,

and I knew the end I'd been waiting for had come.

That all my fears were realized.

That he was going away.

I went mad.

He mustn't go away, he mustn't go.

Anything to stop him, anything.

That's all I wanted to do.

I didn't mean to Kill him.

I only meant to stop him.

To stop him from going away.

I want to ask you one question.

Did you take the money after you killed him?

You may answer that, Mrs. Saxton.

Yes.

The question is, is she guilty or isn't she?

Then, was it premeditated?

Did she know what she was doing at the time?

As I see it, we've got a big responsibility in this.

We ought to make sure it's all clear

in our own minds before we vote.

Well, Mr. District Attorney, what do you think of it?

Justice will be done, of course.

- I mean, privately. - I never

have a private opinion.

Okay.

Governor?

- Think so? - Why not?

On the front page for weeks.

On the wires all over the country?

- You become a household word. - Naturally,

there's been considerable interest.

The public is always interested

in anything that affects public models.

Public models. It's just good entertainment.

Too bad she didn't have the right lawyer.

Oh, you don't think they'll”?

Sure.

They couldn't. It was a crime of passion.

That jury doesn't know what passion is.

Bunch of saps.

My father is the foreman.

Sorry.

- He's really awfully nice. - You're awfully nice.

- You're awfully fresh. - That's right.

Well, gentlemen, are we ready to vote?

Any objections?

All right, let's vote on the first question.

Guilty of murder in the first degree.

Write yes or no.

Guilty of murder in the first degree.

And on the days following, was placed

on trial for the murder of John Saxton

in the said county of this state

on the fourth day of December.

And upon said trial was found guilty of murder

in the first degree for said killing.

And on the 18th day of April,

was sentenced to be put to death

in the manner provided by the law,

on Sunday in the week beginning the 15th day of August.

Now, it is hereby ordered that execution

on the said sentence be done

upon said Ethel Saxton by you,

the said agent and warden of the state prison

in the manner provided by the law,

on such day of the week beginning

on the 15th day of August, as you shall determine,

within the walls of your said prison,

or the yard, or enclosure thereto adjoining.

Don't be silly.

It's a lucky break for both of us.

You get the money and I get the story. Nobody loses.

It's open and shut. Why, it's a walk away for both of us.

Well, I don't know. It ain't as simple as all that.

Old man Weldon had a lot

of trouble with you newspaper reporters.

He's liable to, I don't know,

he's liable to take a poke at ya

or slap us both into jail or something.

See, I'm in a funny position, eh.

Him being my father-in-law and me living at the house.

Just temporary, you understand.

Like that.

How do I know you won't cross me up?

Listen to me, boy.

What's your first name? Joe, isn't it?

Yeah, call me Joe.

That looks like we knew each other, see?

Listen, Joe. I'm putting myself in your hands.

Now, I'll come 'round to the house about three o'clock

just so that they all get acquainted with me, see?

Mrs. Weldon will be there, won't see?

Well, sure. And Ada.

Ada, that's your wife, yeah.

- How'd you know? - Yeah.

Now, later tonight about nine,

I'll be around with a shortwave set

and then you'll get your money.

If I try to cross you, all you gotta do

is throw me outta the house.

That's simple enough, isn't it?

Suppose Weldon gets onto it, or Ada?

Well, you still got an out.

You didn't know any more about me than they did.

You get sore at me the same way they do.

I help them throw you out, huh?

Yeah.

Okay. Okay.

What's your idea in getting Weldon in on all that?

Well, nothing really important.

You see, my newspaper will

broadcast a special private broadcast of the execution.

A phony, you see, giving all the details,

which you will pick up on the shortwave set.

And which Weldon will overhear.

Just another angle on the execution.

We just wanna see how he acts.

Well, I don't know.

That's kinda tough on the old man.

- I don't know. - Well, I'll see you

at three, then, eh?

Okay? And then later at the house tonight.

- Yeah. - Yeah.

At three.

- Have a drink? - A drink?

I gotta play a guy here in a minute for four bits a game.

That a boy. Keep the old head clear, eh?

Well, it's a bargain then, huh?

- Yeah. - All right, fine.

So long.

So long. So long.

Works out swell.

I go to Chicago.

Let these mugs settle their own troubles here.

Get my cut.

And I shake this girl Stella.

A cute kid. She's not right for me.

Too fast, you know? High brow.

Always asking questions that are hard to answer.

Nice kid.

But I'm not ready yet to settle down

in the suburbs and wear golf panties.

I gotta get my million first.

Besides, there's...

Well, I'll be stuck in Chicago for six months.

I'll be going out to the ballpark,

betting on the Giants and the Yankees.

What I lose on the Giants I can make up on the Yanks,

or maybe the other way around.

Say, kid, are there any bulletproof grandstands out there?

- Want a light? - Yeah, thanks.

- Gonna be a late session. - You're telling me.

- Arthur? - Say, Stella,

you spending the weekend in there?

- Ada? - All right!

- Is my dress ready? - Stella!

How many times have I asked you not

- to yell from upstairs? - All right, Dad.

Ask Ada to bring up my dress, will ya?

I'll tell her.

She's going out with that Mr. Boni.

Boni?

She cried when he called up just now.

He didn't want to come out, but she persuaded him.

She's been like that on and off for weeks.

Worries me.

Stella? Stella?

Coming!

Want me?

- What's the matter? - Where are you going tonight?

I'm not making any plans.

- Gar's coming out. - I don't like that boy.

- He seems kind of flashy. - Suits me!

Stella! Stella!

- Yes? - I don't want you

to go anywhere, be seen anywhere tonight.

I'd rather you didn't go out at all.

I don't know what Gar's plans are,

but I'll tell you where I'm going when I see him.

Stella!

Now look here, Stella.

I stood for all I'm going to today.

Everybody pestering me.