Tom was vain.He had to prove to himself that he was still attractive to women.Maybe he did boast to that woman that he was in good health.What else would you expect him to do?Bannion asks how they could afford an expensive second house in Lakeside and insinuates that their second home was probably beyond their humble means on a typical cop""s salary (Bertha: "A wealthy policeman would be a novelty"):There""s a chance that Lucy Chapman might try a little blackmail.[Note: Film-makers Joel and Ethan Coen paid homage to Sturges and his admirable film by naming their own 21st century filmO Brother, Where Art Thou (2000)?] After some failed attempts dressed as a hobo and companionship on the road with an aspiring blonde actress simply called The Girl (Veronica Lake in her second picture following her work inI Wanted Wings (1941)) and wearing boy""s clothes, he succeeded in losing his freedom, identity and name, health, pride and money.The Burnham""s new 18 year-old next door neighbor Ricky was videotaping their strained conversation, and watching through his viewfinder.He was found to have two bullet wounds in his back, and a surgically-implanted capsule with a red LED display was also located in his hip implanted under the skin.