Cunningham) published in December 1947.In fact, the film""s story has often been interpreted as a morality play or parable, or as a metaphor for the threatened Hollywood blacklisted artists (one of whom was screenwriter Foreman) who faced political persecution from the HUAC during the McCarthy era due to actual or imagined connections to the Communist Party, and made life-altering decisions to stand their ground and defend moral principles according o their consciences.He is buzzed in after ringing the doorbell - she catches the door before it locks.In the dark, interior corridor outside an apartment where sleazy, honky-tonk music is heard playing, she fumbles within her purse and akes out her deadly pistol.Too much pain.But I have an honorable compromise.Just walk away.Give me the pump, the oil, the gasoline and the whole compound, and I""ll spare your lives.Just walk away.I will give you safe passage in the Wasteland.Just walk away and there will be an end to the horror.I await your answer.You have one full day to decide."[Note: This was the age-old story of the seige of a circled, westward-bound wagon-train, or the assault on the Alamo.Mundson: He""s a boy.Gilda: Boys have the darndest way of growing up, Ballin.Almost when you""re not looking.Mundson: But I""ll be looking.In the casino lobby before dinner, Johnny mentions that he has seen evidence at the roulette wheel that Mundson is allowing for bribes or winnings ("payoffs") o keep a short-statured blackmailer (Saul Martell, credited as Little Man") quiet - for some unknown reason.