L'assassino sul tetto

[In an apartment, a woman can be seen approaching a door when she hears the bell ringing. This is Penny Spencer. When she opens the door, she sees Police Lieutenant Spencer carrying a man, the latter is Paul Baxter]

Lt. Spencer: Do you mind if I say I'm glad this is the list time I'm gonna have to do this?

Penny Spencer: [starts walking towards another room] Bring him in here, Spence.

Lt. Spencer: [looks at the intoxicated Baxter] Come on...

[Penny and the Lieutenant enter a room where they lay Baxter on a bed. After positioning him, they take a closer look at him]

Lt. Spencer: Look at him. Paul Baxter and clean sheets they just don't add up. Do they, sis?

Penny Spencer: A shower and shave will help.

Lt. Spencer: It'll take a lot more than a shower and a shave to make anything add up for him again.

Penny Spencer: You just don't have any faith in him at all. Do you, Spence?

Lt. Spencer: Penny, I got more faith in these guys than most people have. In fact, I got so much faith in them I can predict exactly what'll happen when you clean them up and turn them loose. He'll go get drunk again.

Penny Spencer: Anybody deserves another chance.

Lt. Spencer: We got him another chance on every newspaper in town.

Penny Spencer: [turns towards the door] Well, he still needs help.

Lt. Spencer: Oh, come on, sis, why don't you just settle for being a good newspaper woman till the right guy comes along, huh?

Penny Spencer: He is the right guy.

Lt. Spencer: And the top reporter in town at twenty-five and he's an alcoholic bum before he's thirty. You call it right?

Penny Spencer: You made me a promise, Spence.

Lt. Spencer: I know, I know, I just don't want to see you through your life away, I want to see you happy, that's all.

Penny Spencer: Then keep your promise... I love him.

Lt. Spencer: Alright, you'll love him. You're my sister, I happen to love you. Believe me, that's the only reason I'm going through with this deal. I took me a long time to make Lieutenant you know, I could be back pounding a beat in thirty seconds if the department found out what I'm up to. So I think that gives me a right to make you promise.

[Penny remains silent]

Lt. Spencer: Look, if he goofs this one up, you see him for the last time. I mean it, Penny. I want you to promise me this is the end of the line.

Penny Spencer: [softly] It's the end of the line.

Lt. Spencer: [puts his hand on his sister's shoulder] Good night, sis.

[the Lieutenant leaves the apartment]