Anatomy of a Murder

Your pal just drove into town,

Mr. McCarthy.

I'll have one more, Toybo.

I'm afraid I'll have to pay

my bar bill tomorrow.

- You're good with me, Mr. McCarthy.

- Thank you, Toybo.

- Good night, Toybo.

- Good night, Mr. McCarthy.

Operator.

Operator, I want...

...489 Thunder Bay.

I want to speak to Mrs. Manion.

M-A-N-I-O-N.

This is Paul Biegler speaking.

Iron City 700.

- Will they know when she'll be there?

- No, they don't.

I see. You just leave a message.

Tell her to call this number.

- What do you say there, Counsellor?

- Save your money.

- What's in the brown paper bag?

- It might be a cabbage head.

But it wouldn't be.

You're a very suspicious man.

True.

I'm everlastingly suspicious of...

...andlor fascinated by...

...the contents of brown paper bags.

- Can I sneak a peek?

- You do that, Counsellor.

You do that.

After you sneak a peek,

why, you uncork whatever you find.

Shall I pour?

- Your privilege.

- My pleasure, sir.

You fought this soldier by yourself.

You've been drinking alone, Pauly.

I don't like that.

Drop the stone, Counsellor.

You live in a glass house.

My windows were busted a long time ago,

so I can say as I please.

- Have an Italian cigar?

- No, thanks.

Those stinkweeds

are another sign of your decadence.

Pauly, it's a fact.

Since Mitch Lodwick beat you out

of the office of public prosecutor...

...you haven't been worth salt for peanuts.

Not that I don't understand how you feel.

A man who gets beat out of an office

he's held for a long time...

...feels his community has deserted him.

The finger of scorn is pointed at him.

None but the lonely hearts

shall know my anguish.

Pauly, you are a good lawyer.

You ought to make like one.

Be here ready for clients, not fishing...

...and playing that rooty-tooty jazz.

I'm making a living.

I run a few abstracts and divorce Jane Doe

from John Doe every once in a while.

Threaten a few deadbeats.

And in the evening I sit around...

...and drink bourbon whiskey and read law

with Parnell Emmitt McCarthy.

One of the world's great men.

That was a kind word, Pauly.

You know, I might have been.

That's one of the reasons I hate to see

your talent pushed aside by lesser men.

I look at you and see myself years ago,

with the same love for the smell...

...of the old brown books in a dusty office.

Here's a rose, a lily...

...a sweet lupine.

The United States Supreme Court Reports.

What shall we read this evening,

Counsellor?

How about a little Chief Justice Holmes?

Restrain Chief Justice Holmes for a minute.

I might have a client. Waiting for a call.

- Hello?

- Mr. Biegler?

This is Paul Biegler speaking.

Hello, Mrs. Manion?

- What?

- Mr. Biegler?

I'm sorry I missed you.

Did you get my message?

Who? What is that name?

Just a minute, please.

We seem to have a bad connection.

It's a woman named Manion.

Maida took a message from her.

In Thunder Bay? If she wants you

to represent her husband, say yes.

- I don't know what it's all about.

- Pretend you do and say yes.

- Hello?

- Mr. Biegler?

This is much better now.

Yes, I can hear you fine.

I waited for your call all afternoon.

Yes, well, I just got in a few moments ago.

You've read about my husband?

Muffy, please.

Yes.

Mr. Biegler,

have you read about my husband?

Yes, I have. A little.

Will you defend him?

I don't know.

I'd have to know more about it.

Will you talk to him?

He's in the county jail.

Will you see him in the morning?

He's very anxious to see you.

You've been so highly recommended.

I have?

Yes, someone told him about you.

Rate this script:(0.00 / 0 votes)