feels that Baldwin is betraying his dear friend Gresham and thereby causing embarrassment to John. BALDWIN : He said that if he had paid me what he should have, I would have put by more than a hundred thousand by now. JOHN : That’s so, isn’t it, Dad? BALDWIN : Who knows?
I never asked him to raise my salary. When he raised it, it was of his own accord . ( There is a pause. He looks around .) Well, what do you think of it, Evie?
EVIE : ( hesitantly ) If you go on the stand tomorrow… BALDWIN : Yes? EVIE : – And they put John Gresham in jail, what will people say? BALDWIN : They will say I have done my duty, Evie, no more and no less. EVIE : Will they?
BALDWIN : Why, what should they say? EVIE : I don’t think so. Of course, but other people might say that you had turned traitor to your best friend. BALDWIN : You don’t, mean that, Evie?
EVIE : When they find out that they haven’t lost any money–when John Gresham tells them that he will pay back every cent–then they won’t want him to go to jail. They’ll feel sorry for him. BALDWIN : Yes, I believe that. I hope so.
Let’s understand better: Martha also justifies Gresham’s act of offering Baldwin money stating that it is a compensation for his low salary. She starts coercing Baldwin to accept the bribe. 12th - - The Hour of Truth Page JOHN : And they won’t feel too kindly disposed towards the man who helps put him in jail. MARTHA : They’ll say you went back on an old friend, Robert.
JOHN : When you pull out your notes in court, to be sure of sending him to jail! ( He breaks off with a snort .) EVIE : And Mr. Gresham hasn’t done anything really wrong. JOHN : It’s a technicality , that’s what it is.
Nobody loses a cent. Nobody wants to see him punished. EVIE : Except you, Father.