 It's hard for me to remember how it began. It started just like any other day. We had no way of knowing it would end like this It seems like such a long time ago that phone call to Jesse But it can't be more than just a few hours only a few hours since that ride home with Buck. I Thought how impatient I was to be here. I haven't been putting in overtime lately And I was Jesse out of the hospital and little Johnny here and just beginning to know me I couldn't wait to see them. It's been like that every night I guess sometimes it's best. We don't know what's coming How's this Henry swell anywhere along here book? Thanks, Buck. You sure you don't want to stop in for a minute. You haven't seen the kid yet You know see I'd like to but I got to get home early myself tonight. The wife's got some kind of a meeting I'll have to take care of my own kids. Okay, see you tomorrow night Hank. All right. Hey, hold it right there Oh, I didn't see officer. What's wrong? You'll have to wait a while. You can't go down that street. That's where I live What's the matter anyway? There's no one in sight the whole blocks deserted. That's how we want to keep it I'd like to get home my wife's waiting for me. You'll be a little late. Well, wait a minute Look, will you keep your place down and stay back you get hurt if you don't You have to someone write Juleska Juleska But he's wanted for murder. That's right And he's been living in this neighborhood. Where right across the street down three doors It's a cop every 10 feet from here to the river Better go back in that drugstore and wait call your wife if you want. Yeah, I think I'd better What'd you say he was crossing down three doors? Yeah, we're in the apartment house right next to it. You don't think there'll be any gunplay Just tell her to stay inside and keep a door locked. She'll be all right. Thanks Hi Charlie. Is that Juleska guy there after you know he's been living in the boarding house right next to you Yeah, I know how long has it been going on Charlie? They've been almost a half hour now a half hour What are they waiting for? Don't ask me. I got here about 5 30 when the police were just coming in They only took about five minutes to cover the block and a party of six or seven went in after them They haven't come out. Oh, oh, I've been watching why I wonder you didn't hear anything that sounded like shooting. No Want to hear something by now does seem funny doesn't unless he got out of his room But he couldn't get far. I want to get Jesse on the phone. She'll be wondering why I'm late. Oh, sure What's the matter honey? I thought you weren't gonna answer I was looking after Johnny. Are you okay? Just getting hungry Well, go ahead with a supper. I'm gonna be late. I Don't want to scare you Jess, but there's gonna be a little trouble next door I don't want you to leave our apartment trouble. Yeah, the police are after someone who's been hiding out in the boarding house next to us The whole block is surrounded. I won't be able to get home till it's over. You're not to come out Yes, there's nothing to be afraid of Jesse. All right, just stay inside and keep the door locked There's no need for that now. Bye dear what? Jesse hello Charlie. Oh, yeah, how high is that boarding house? There's a three stories. That's right Just like your place and that alley between them. How wide is it pretty narrow? I guess but there's a cop on both ends On the roof Charlie could anyone make the jump across is it too wide for that? I don't know She didn't sound right Charlie. She talked quick quiet like she wanted to get off the wire like yeah Like there was someone with her Charlie. I tell you I spoke to her on the phone about ten minutes ago And I'm sure there's something wrong up there captain. What makes you sure she was afraid of something I know she was something right there in the room with her. I didn't notice how different she sounded Well, I hung up. Where do you live in the boarding house? No the apartment house next door on the third floor Roader yes, sir Farrell's got some men going into the apartment house next to Gillesca stop. Yeah, he's in there with her, isn't he? He's in with my wife. I don't know fella. He could be anywhere now. You didn't find him in his room No, he's not in the boarding house. I knew it. He's with Jesse and my son take it easy He got across the roof didn't he our apartment is on the top floor. He could get an easy enough Maybe let me go up there captain. Please. Let me go up there. I want to be with my wife and kid Sorry hidden if it's true. He'll use them as hostages to make us hold our fire It's better that there are only two what difference does it make would you fire any sooner because they're only two not it at all I'm not even sure he's there. You haven't given us any real proof It's the only way you can make sure look look if everything's all right if he isn't there I'll call a drugstore and haven't tell you so if he is. Oh, well, I'll let you know somehow We can think of some kind of a signal You can't stop me anyway, it's my home my wife. That's in danger. I have a right to be there could stop you mister Should stop you but you won't I can go Listen to me. Yeah, you may be wrong about this, but what do you want me to do go straight to your wife? Don't do any investigating on the way. No looking down the alley or around corners Go there and lock the door behind you If you pass anyone you don't know on the stairs or in the halls keep going don't look back He's trapped Hayden and he's scared now and he'll kill you if he thinks you're on to him I know it if he's not in your place when you get there and he probably won't be Call headquarters and ask for grimes. I'll have him standing by and he'll flash the message to my car If he is there There's nothing I can tell you you'll be on your own But don't try to signal you wouldn't get away with it and it's not necessary If I don't get your call ten minutes after you go in we'll know yes, sir I can say this Hayden if he's there Don't try anything brave. You know what I mean. Yeah Looks easy in the movies that usually works for a good guy, but this isn't the movies and You'll have three lives at stake Just relax to whatever he tells you keep a good distance from him Don't make any quick moves And above anything else don't watch a clock or the streets down here He's been in spots like this before and you'll know what it means. I know It's about all I can tell you just be careful We want this man Hayden. We want him badly, but we don't want anyone hurt getting him least of all a private citizen Understand I do thanks. Okay captain for I was holding up his men But he wants to know the score and get him over to my car order and have his men surround the apartment house Block every exit and put someone on the fire escape on the first floor, but no noise do it quietly. Yes Okay, Hayden you can get going. Yeah, he's not there Get the call in right away. Sure. I walked fast and I didn't look around I knew he might be anywhere now around the next corner hiding in the shadows around every side of me And up the stairs on the first landing the second But I couldn't turn back and I didn't dare slow down and I saw the door to our rooms at the head of the apartment House stairs He was there. I knew it now I could almost hear the heavy silence behind the door as he listened while I came closer. I Hesitated only a moment. I knew what I'd say. I lifted my hand to the door Jesse Jesse, it's me. You all right Jess honey, what's wrong? Why didn't you answer my knock? Honey, is everything okay? Jess, what is it? Company Henry Your salads are funny over the phone. I thought there was something wrong. It's okay, isn't it? Why don't you answer me Jess? Henry Where what get your hands over your head get up against the wall and don't make any noise Or I'll kill you arms grow heavy We leaned back against the wall and I saw Jesse turn white and our eyes begin to close with fatigue The room was quiet and there was no noise from the streets outside We could only wait. I Watched him in the shadows and remembered what the captain said about trying anything brave But he was smaller than I thought and only a few feet away And I wondered if it would really be so hard. Don't try it. Mr. This is a 45 I'm not afraid of your gun. It's because you never been hit You're hearing me and I know what you're thinking, but don't try it. I'm warning you You won't ever know what it means to wish you could die till you get a slug in the stomach Henry It's all right. I know he means it. I mean it. It won't do any good, you know No matter what happens to us. No matter how long you stay here, they'll get you listen there guys Just like me those blue suits don't make them Superman. They make mistakes like everyone else They already made a big one. Oh, they shouldn't have sent you My wife didn't sound right when I spoke to her over the phone. I came up to find out why yeah She gave it away She's sorry about that. Just did it. All right, Henry Please it's all right. Did he hurt you just never mind that she just got out of the hospital. Would you like to see her go back? I hope they kill you They might I thought about it. I Guess maybe you better start thinking about it, too It'll happen next time you make it crack like that and we don't don't I'm gonna ask you a couple of questions And you're gonna give me the right answers the right answers. Mr. The first time you'll get hurt bad What do you want to know? Where were you when you made that phone call? Drag star across the street and your wife don't sound right. You think maybe something's wrong. Yes You want to get up here? You want to find out why yes? What takes you so long? What? We don't hear you coming up the stairs till almost 15 minutes after she hangs up You're doing all that time No, no at first. I wasn't sure she did sound like there was something wrong It was only after I hung up and got to think about it that I started to worry And then I made up my mind to come up, but it was later. You don't stop to talk it over with the cops Oh, why should I how can I know was you in here cops all over the block looking for me searching every building streets Probably closed off and your wife sounds scared over the phone, but she won't say why sounds like someone's with her But she won't say who and you don't think it might be me Well, yes Maybe I began to you don't say nothing to the cops though. Oh, just come up all by yourself. Yes You sure are there? Yes Okay I'm all right. What do you take me for a kid? There's a line of cops five feet thick around every building in the block and no one gets through unless they let him You're here cuz they put you here, and I'm giving you just five seconds to tell me why what's the big plan? I don't know about their plan. I don't know what they're going to do, but they know you're in here Don't stop. I did go to the police when I thought it was you here with my wife I don't think they believed me at first, but I talked to captain into letting me come anyway If you weren't here, I was supposed to call him right away, and if I was Nothing just wait And if they didn't hear in ten minutes it meant Man, I couldn't call but you were in this room. You what time did I too late much too late They know Juleska. There's no more searching down there in the dark around this building. They're all together You haven't got a chance. They know I Got a chance as long as I ain't alone. I got a chance You lady Go get that kid Why do you want him we'll do anything you're saying you need to touch our kid you look okay You don't want to hurt the kid nothing will happen if you do like I tell you Get him lady All right, Jesse. It's all right. I'm sure of it Yeah, I haven't got much time Juleska. You know it Killing our baby is something you wouldn't do You can bring him in Jesse If you say so You're so sure this is the end of the line for me and those cops down there so sure Well, I'm telling you I got lots of time and you're gonna help me take it. Yeah, that's right Now back up to the wall peel off that jacket. What you heard me take off the jacket and throw it on the floor Sure. Why not? What are you gonna do? I'm not gonna do anything. You're gonna take it for a while. What do you mean? You don't see it, huh? I'm kind of surprised. I don't see any way out for you. That's what you mean. They know you're here Yeah, they know I'm here you made sure of that didn't you so they're covering every way out doors windows alleys What do you suppose it happened if I tried one of them? I think they'll kill you yeah, I Start out that window and every cop down there comes to make sure I don't finish the trip Maybe a couple come running up here that leaves lots of cops down on the bottom of the fire escape and a couple of cops up Here in the room, but not many anywhere else in the alley or on the streets or down near the river They'll all be watching the guy in the fire escape won't they and the guy in the fire escape He don't need to be me Tessie Won't work. You're crazy to think that'll work. I gotta take that chance now You're going up that window misty and you're gonna take your time doing it. They've seen me They know what I look like they saw a guy in a leather jacket right close up Now you're a guy in a white shirt three stories over the street coming down a fire escape That makes you a different guy That makes you Roy Juleska. What if they start shooting the minute I step out that window What if they do it's a chance you got to take you don't want me to take all the chances. Ah The little guy bring him in He's asleep You sleep What's his name? Johnny Johnny, huh? That's a nice original name cute little kid too I Don't guess you'll put up any arguments. Will you mister? No, no arguments and I'll be right here with both of them I see our little schemes working, so don't try no tricks on the way down. No What does he mean? Henry What's gonna happen? You can read about it in the papers, lady Now go turn out the light Why turn it out, but don't try nothing neither one of you you got your kid in here now And there's no telling who'd get hit if I had a shoot wild turn it out Jesse. No, yeah, I like come on Now you the window, okay? They're all waiting Get going You can't let him go out there Don't think he's you They'll kill him Jesse. It's all right. Hold on to Johnny and wait for me. It'll be all right I stepped out onto the iron platform and started down as slowly as I could But they'd seen the light go out and already I could hear quick moving on the street I could feel every eye begin to follow me down the narrow steps Juleska was right. It was going to work But it was happening too fast They'd find out too soon who they really had and then I knew there was a part of the plan He hadn't told me I jumped back into the wall But it was already too late from the window behind me He fired down into the police their guns flew up automatically and everyone was aimed at me Pain that came from everywhere And I could hear the shouts and bits of brick fell as the bullets hit around me It was shouting that faded away Waves of pain and other voices Other voices Don't touch him. Let him alone. He's losing blood. I gotta have a doctor. You don't get a doctor, lady Why don't you go? What are you waiting for? Haven't you done enough? He's been shot. He's hurt and you stand there. You'll be all right. Don't try to move darling. You'll be all right. Is it gone? No, mister. I ain't gone Our little scheme Don't look like it's gonna work It should have no reason it shouldn't But they're moving up on the stairs right now. Don't move Henry. We'll get a doctor. It'll be over in a minute You're glad, huh? I'm not glad It's ugly all of this I feel sorry for you. Well, don't I've been running for a long time. I think it'll feel good to stop It's funny when they're after you when you're running away. You look the same act the same as you always did But it's different on the inside. You're all tight and twisted no matter what you're doing. You can't relax can't get a good deep breath Yeah, I think I'm almost glad Roy Gillesco, you know those guys are gonna do a lot of bragging tomorrow We know you're in there come out with your hands up or we'll come in and after you they finally get me Gillesco dangerous guy You killed a man. Yeah, I killed a guy. I got mad real mad things happen when you get that way things You can't stop But when it's over no matter how it happened you're different from anyone else. You're a killer One day you're just a guy and something happens and you're a killer. Please go Please haven't you heard us enough sure I'll go. Why not don't make much difference now, huh? Buddy, you know what I mean, don't you? You're just a guy. Yeah Put your gun down Maybe they'll give you a chance chance. What chance I've been waiting for a chance all my life Give her the gun. It'll be better. Forget it. Get out of the way lady I'm going out you wouldn't You wouldn't try Why don't you let me have your gun get back get way back just see it's all right, Henry That's it Stay there I Stay just like that hold it right there Don't come any farther. Where's johnny and the other room went back You haven't got a chance Drop that thing and come down with your hands over your head He shouldn't yes Yes Why didn't it work? They shut up me And then there was at least a half a minute when he could have gotten out that door Why didn't he made him wait? Don't talk darling. It's over now. What happened. Tell me When the police fired he started for the door He was almost out and he stopped he He came back Henry It was still shooting you he went out onto the fire escape and lifted you into the room And he started out again for the door and we could already hear police on the stairs It was too late Is he all right? I don't know. I I think so. Would you get a doctor, please? One's on his way Take it easy mister. You're going to be okay Just lie easy. Yeah sure It's funny Not funny strange Strange for a killer