The Early Ayn Rand

HASTINGS: [Looks at him with new interest, says slowly:]

Quite so. [Then lightly again:] Congratulations, Mr. Sookin. You're beginning to understand my ways of thinking. You may be right. But there's another possible method of being clever. The person who framed Steve might do his best to act afterward as if he were protecting him.

INGALLS: Greg!

HASTINGS: [His voice driving on intensely] Keep still, all of you! Do you see, Miss Knowland? You've put on a beautiful show of protecting Steve. And yet, it was you who gave away the story of that interrupted love scene. Why? To show us that you were jealous? Or to damn Steve?

INGALLS: [In a tone of such authority that HASTINGS has to remain silent] All right, Greg. That's enough. [His tone makes everyone look at him] You wanted to know how I could stop you? Very simply. [Takes a notebook out of his pocket and throws it down on the table. Takes out a pencil and stands holding it in his hand, over the paper] Unless you leave Adrienne out of this, I'm going to write a confession that I did it.

[ADRIENNE stands stock-still, like a person hit over the head]

HASTINGS: But, Steve, you didn't do it!

INGALLS: That's your concern. Mine is only that she didn't do it. I'm not going to put on a show of protecting her — as she's been trying to protect me, very crudely. I'm not going to hint and throw suspicion on myself That's been done for me — quite adequately. I'm simply going to blackmail you. You understand? If I sign a confession — with the evidence you have on me, you'll be forced to put me on trial. You'll have no choice. You might know that I didn't do it, but the jury won't be so subtle. The jury will be glad to pounce upon the obvious. Have I made myself clear? Leave Adrienne out of this, unless you want an unsolved murder on your record — and on your conscience.

ADRIENNE: [It is a scream of terror, of triumph, of release all at once— and the happiest sound in the world] Steve! [He turns to look at her. They stand holding the glance. It is more revealing than any love scene. They look at each other as if they were alone in the room and in the world... Then she whispers, choking:] Steve... you, who've never believed in self-sacrifice... you, who've preached selfishness and egoism and... you wouldn't do this, unless... unless it's —

INGALLS: [In a low, tense voice, more passionate than the tone of a love confession] — unless it's for the most selfish reason in the world. [She closes her eyes. He turns away from her slowly. HELEN, who has been watching them, lets her head drop, hopelessly]

HASTINGS: [Breaking the silence] God help us when people begin protecting each other! When they start that — I'm through. [Throws the notebook to INGALLS] All right, Steve. Put it away. You win — for the moment. I'll have a few questions to ask you about this — but not right now. [To ADRIENNE] Miss Knowland, if you were actually protecting him, you have no respect for my intelligence at all. You should have known I wouldn't believe that Steve is guilty. I know a frame-up when I see one. [To the others] And for the information of the scoundrel who did this, I'd like to say that he's an incredible fool. Did he really expect me to believe that Steve Ingalls — with his brilliant, methodical, scientific mind — would commit a sloppy crime like this? I could readily accept Steve as capable of murder. But if he ever committed one, it would be the finest job in the world. There wouldn't be a hair's weight of a clue. He'd have an alibi — as perfect as a precision instrument. But to think of Steve leaving fingerprints and cigarette butts behind!... I'd like to get the bastard who planned this and punch him in the nose. It's not a case, it's a personal insult to me!

TONY: And to Steve.