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[ Prelude ]
[ Scene 1: In the Sheriff's Office ]
SHERIFF PETERS: Now, Mr. Hale,
explain to the County Attorney
just what happened.
COUNTY ATTORNEY HENDERSON: Yes, Mr. Hale,
tell us what you saw
at John Wright's farmhouse yesterday morning.
MR. HALE: Harry and I had started to town
with a wagonload of potatoes.
As we neared the Wright place,
I said I'm going to see
if I can get John Wright to go in with me
on a party telephone.
We spoke about it once before
but he put me off
saying folks talked too much anyway.
Well, I guess we all know
about how much he talked himself.
But I thought, maybe,
if I asked in front of his wife.
Well, Harry said he didn't know
as what John's wife ever wanted
made much difference to John.
When I got there,
I couldn't see or hear anything.
They must be up.
Why, it's past 8 o'clock.
I opened the door
and there sat Mrs. Wright
rocking back and forth.
She had her apron in her hand
and was kind of pleating it.
She looked as if she didn't know
what she was going to do.
She didn't pay much attention.
How do, Mrs. Wright.
It's cold, ain't it?
I want to see John.
Can't I see him?
"No," says she.
Why can't I see him?
"Cause he's dead," says she.
Dead? Where?
What did he die of?
"Of a rope around his neck," says she.
Oh, god! Oh, my god!
Harry! Harry!
Take the wagon!
Find a farmhouse with a phone!
Get the Sheriff--now!
Who did this, Mrs. Wright?
Don't you know?
Weren't you sleeping with him?
Somebody slipped a rope around his neck
and strangled him
and you didn't wake up?
"I sleep sound," says she.
[ Scene 2: The kitchen of John Wright's farmhouse, early the next morning ]
COUNTY ATTORNEY HENDERSON: This feels good.
Come up to the fire, ladies.
MRS. PETERS: I'm not cold.
SHERIFF PETERS: Before we move things about--
--By the way, has anything been moved?
No.
I sent a deputy out this morning to make us a fire.
but I told him not to touch any--
--Somebody should have been left here yesterday.
I had my hands full yesterday.
I knew you'd be back from Omaha
and as long as I went over everything myself--
--You're convinced there was nothing important here,
nothing that could point to any motive?
Nothing here but kitchen things.
I guess we'll go upstairs first
and then out to the barn.
Here's a nice mess.
Oh, her fruit.
It did freeze.
She worried when it turned so cold.
She said the fire would go out
and her jars would break.
Can you beat the woman?
Held for *** and worrying about her preserves.
I guess before we're through,
she'll have something more serious
than preserves to worry about.
MR. HALE: Well, women are used to worrying
over trifles.
And yet for all their worries,
what would we do without the ladies?
Dirty towels!
Not much of a housekeeper,
would you say, ladies?
MRS. HALE: There's a great deal of work to be done on a farm.
To be sure,
and yet I know
there are some Dixon County farms
which would have such dirty towels.
Those towels get dirty awful quick.
Men's hands aren't always as clean as they might be.
Ah, loyal to your sex,
I see.
You and Mrs. Wright were neighbors.
Yes.
I suppose you were friends too.
I've not seen her much of late.
I haven't been in this house--
it's more than a year.
And why is that?
Didn't you like her?
I liked her, I liked her well enough.
But farmer's wives have their hands full, Mr. Henderson,
And then--
Yes?
It never seemed a very cheerful place.
No, I wouldn't say she had the homemaking instinct.
Well, I don't know as Wright had either.
You mean they didn't get along?
No, no, I don't mean anything.
But I don't think any place
would be any cheerfuller
for John Wright's being in it.
I'd like to talk more of that
a little later.
I want to get the lay of things upstairs.
I suppose anything Mrs. Peters does will be all right.
She was to take some clothes for her,
and a few little things.
Yes, yes,
but I would like to see what you take, Mrs. Peters.
Yes.
And keep an eye out for anything
that might be of use to us.
Yes, Mr. Henderson.