In thousand-dollar bills. They were genuine. I examined them. EVIE : ( slowly )And for that he wants you to say, ‘I don’t remember’.
BALDWIN : Just that: three words only. JOHN : But you won’t? BALDWIN : ( shaking his head ) Those three words would choke me if I tried to speak them. For some other man, perhaps, it would be easy.
But for me? All of my past would rise up and strike me in the face. It would mean to the world that for years I had been living a lie: that I was not the honourable man I thought I was. When John Gresham offered the money, I was angry.
But when I rejected it, and he showed no surprise, then I was pleased. It was a compliment, don’t you think so? JOHN : ( slowly ) Rather an expensive compliment. BALDWIN : Eh?
JOHN : A compliment which cost you a hundred thousand dollars. BALDWIN : A compliment which was worth a hundred thousand dollars. I’ve never had that much money to spend in my life, John, but if I had, I couldn’t imagine a finer way to spend it. Let’s understand better: At this point, Gresham understands that it is impossible to persuade Baldwin to accept the bribe.
JOHN : ( slowly )Yes. I suppose so. MARTHA : ( after a pause ) Will the depositors lose much, Robert? BALDWIN : ( emphatically ) The depositors will not lose a cent.
We were able to save something from the wreck, Gresham and I. It was more than I had expected–almost twice as much–and with what Gresham has it will be enough. EVIE : Even without the hundred thousand? ( Baldwin does not answer.
) JOHN : ( insistently ) Without the money that Gresham had put away for you? BALDWIN : Yes, I didn’t know there was the hundred thousand until today. Gresham didn’t tell me. We reckoned without it.
EVIE : Oh! JOHN : And you made both ends meet? BALDWIN : Quite easily. [ He smiles ] Mr.
Marshall is running