M (1951)
David Wayne: Martin W. Harrow
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Quotes
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Martin W. Harrow : You see, I've discovered something very important -- very important for everybody to know: I haven't got it all figured out yet -- I can't put it all -- my fingers -- keep it all -- pieces together, but it's too important. People gotta listen: You see, my mother always told me that -- this always took me a while to figure out -- but my mother always said that men are born evil and cruel and awful. Not just all people, but men! Men are evil and low, and that's the hardest thing for man to fight against. That's the hardest thing for man. You have to be hurt, you have to be punished in order to be good, you have to be whipped and tortured and crucified in order to understand! She's a good woman. She's beautiful, her hand's gently crossed on her breast. Why should she suffer? Why should she of all women when she -- see that's what I never understood. This is important -- this part: When I stole the blanket for her, she knew I was trying to be good, but she made me take the blanket back to the sheriff. It was only at the County Farm that I really understood: I found a bird, a blackbird. It had a broken wing and I nursed it. And then when it was almost well and wanted to fly away and I thought about it escaping, I remembered that it was a world of men; a bird flying into a world too ugly and cruel -- too ugly and cruel for birds and children, so I knew I had to kill her children! The bird! I had to kill a bird so I'd be punished and keep her out of the fire! Now you see? It's been the coldest winter too while I was looking for work. There'd be many things I could do if I could only get this figured out. If they don't hang me by the neck, I may have time to figure it out at the County Farm. County Farm! Hanged by the neck until -- my father should have been hanged for the things he did! She said so! When I think of the vile, horrible, ugly, cruel things I have to do in order to be punished! I don't wanna do them! I don't want to, but I can't help myself! I can't help myself! I CAN'T HELP MYSELF!
