Decoy Page #2

you'd have sense enough

to climb up off the trash heap.

- To your level?

- There's worse.

Do they have this kind of trash

on your level, Jo Jo?

No.

Don't have this kind either.

Someday you're gonna

go too far, Portugal.

Uh-huh.

When I do, I'll be coming after you.

I'd like to skin that flatfoot.

- His skin's pretty tough, Vince.

- Maybe.

I'm gonna find out someday.

Well, what about Frankie?

- What about him?

- That's up to you.

Look, honey, that appeal ran me 15Gs.

That means that altogether

I've got 45 grand invested in that guy.

You'll get it back

if we get Frankie out.

I'm not so sure I want to get him out.

$45,000 is a lot of money.

Maybe I don't mind losing it.

Well, which is it?

Me or your $45,000?

I don't know.

I don't know.

Maybe I might wind up with both.

Jim Vincent was tough

and shifty, like an alley cat,

and about as hard to handle.

But if I wanted Frankie out of jail,

I needed help,

and Vincent was willing.

Simple arithmetic it was.

Step one was finished.

It was now time for step two.

Good morning. Can I help you?

- Is Dr. Craig in?

- Yes. Come in, please.

Is it anything serious?

You see, the doctor is asleep right now.

Of course, if it's terribly important...

Oh, no, no. I understand.

Don't wake him. It's just a shoulder pain.

Doctors don't have much chance to rest,

do they?

Dr. Craig doesn't.

There's a lot of work in this neighborhood.

Then there's the free clinic

and, of course, two days a week

at the state prison.

There was an execution

at the prison late last night

and he's the officiating doctor.

Well, what would be the best time?

I couldn't sleep...

- I'm sorry.

- This is Miss...

Shelby, Margot Shelby.

How do you do, Miss Shelby?

Miss Shelby's been waiting to see you.

Won't you come in?

- What seems to be the trouble?

- It's my shoulder, doctor.

It aches a little.

I thought Lloyd Craig

would be easy,

but only part of him reached out to me.

The other part clung desperately

to the ideals that

have driven him all his life.

Ideals that have sent him into the slums

to heal the poor.

Ideals so strong they've become

a shield against his poverty,

his bitter loneliness.

I had to smash that shield.

I had to. I had to. I had to.

Darling?

What's the matter? You look so unhappy.

Oh, that. Don't think about it now.

I can't think of anything else.

Day and night I...

Give me a cigarette.

Please.

Look, Margot. No, don't interrupt me.

I've got to talk about it now.

- I can't go through with it.

- You don't have to, dear.

- But I thought you said...

- I've been thinking about it, too.

I can't stand watching you

fight yourself this way.

I don't want to hurt you.

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