The beginning of The Third Man

The beginning of The Third Man

A voice begins narrating about the current situation in Vienna, with shots of various famous monuments and buildings in the city. A voice hears at the street. I don’t know a person is a woman, or man. But a voice says, “I never knew the old Vienna before the war with its Strauss music, its glamour and easy charm. Constantinople suited me better. I really got to know it in the classical period of the Black Market”. Some people look for money, and trade boots, nylon stockings. If people wanted it enough hm, and had the money to pay. Of course, a situation like that does tempt amateurs. But, well they, you know, they can’t stay the course like a professional. Similar signs are erected at the entrance to the British, Russian and French zones. Its divided into four zones, you know each occupied by a power. The American, the British, the Russian and the French. The center of the city that’s international, policed by an international patrol. An American and Russian officer salute as they face each other protecting their respective zones. One member of each of the four powers. All strangers to the place, and none of them could speak the same language, expect a sort of a smattering of German. Buildings in the city lay in ruins from bomb raids during the war. A voice says he was gonna tell you about Holly Martins. An American came all the way here to visit a friend of his. The name was Harry Lime. Anyway, there he was. Poor cheap. Happy as a lark and without a cent. A train pulls into the station. Martins arrives at Lime’s flat. He climbs the stairs to Harry Lime’s flat. A PORTER signs in German next to the banisters of the floor above. Pains sits at a table near the window readings as he listens in on the two men. Calloway says “It wasn’t petrol”. And he says like this. He’s only a scribbler with too much drink in him. Martins says you’re not going to close your file at a dead man’s expense. When I’m finished with you, you’ll leave Vienna, you’ll look so silly. Martins and Paine enter the hotel. Major Calloway said this gentleman’s got to have a room for tonight. He’ll be off tomorrow. Sergeant is Mr.Holly Martins. Crabbin walks over to Martins. He reoresents the C.R.S.of GHQ. The place is cultural re-education section. Very important in a place like this. Its propaganda. Last week he had Hamlet. The week before he had Hindu Dancers. He says “If you’d agree to be our guest, he make a person welcome. He lectures on the contemporary novel. He says Goodness. Martins was trying to punch his major in the eye. ‘Goodness. That’s awkward. Martins takes the receiver. Kurtz speaks on other end. He hangs up and approaches Crabbin before walking to the door. The story of The lone Reider of Santa Fe is a man who was victimizing his best friend. The police have a crazy notion that he was mixed up in some sort of a racket. Everyone in Vienna is. He was hard up, he sold some tires on the black market. The two step out onto the road. Harry went to cross. And from up there came the truck. It was just about here. Kurtz can’t remember the exact words. Holly always called him that to us. He was anxious about us. To see that you got safely home. Tickets, you know, and all that. Kurtz says” What’s the good of another postmortem”? Suppose you dig up something, well discreditable to Harry? Anna and Martins arrive at her flat building. [622/3459words]