The Third Man (Dramatized) recap

American Western writer Holly Martins reaches occupied Vienna to take a job offered by his friend Harry Lime, only to be told that Harry has died in a road accident. Doubting both the police description of Harry as a racketeer and the conflicting testimony of Harry's associates, Holly investigates with help from Harry's lover, Anna Schmidt. He discovers that Harry is alive and has been hiding in the Soviet sector. Major Calloway then proves that Harry's gang stole penicillin, diluted it, and sold it to hospitals, causing deaths and severe injuries. Holly reluctantly helps the police set a trap. Harry flees through the sewers, kills Sergeant Paine, and is wounded by Calloway; Holly finds him trapped and shoots him. After Harry's second funeral, Anna rejects Holly by walking past him without a word.

American Western writer Holly Martins arrives in occupied Vienna after his old friend Harry Lime promises him employment, but learns that Harry has just been killed in a street accident. British military policeman Major Calloway calls Harry a serious black-market criminal. Holly rejects that account and questions Harry's lover, Anna Schmidt, and the supposed witnesses Kurtz, Popescu, and Doctor Winkel. Their stories conflict, and a porter claims that an unidentified third man helped carry Harry's body. The porter is murdered before he can speak further. Holly then sees Harry alive, briefly illuminated in a doorway. Calloway explains that Harry's organization stole penicillin, diluted it, and sold the useless or contaminated medicine to hospitals, with fatal consequences. Holly confronts Harry on the Ferris wheel and hears him dismiss his victims as insignificant. After hesitating, Holly agrees to lure him to the police, though Anna warns Harry when she learns of the plan. Harry is chased into the sewers, where he kills Sergeant Paine and is wounded by Calloway. Trapped and unable to escape, he is found by Holly, who shoots him. At Harry's second funeral, Holly waits for Anna, but she passes him without acknowledging him.

Holly agrees to help Calloway trap Harry after seeing the victims of the diluted penicillin racket, but Anna discovers the plan and warns Harry. Holly nevertheless arranges a meeting, and Harry is pursued into Vienna's sewers when the police close in. He shoots and kills Sergeant Paine before Calloway wounds him. Holly finds his former friend unable to escape and, after a final silent exchange, fires the shot that kills him. Harry is buried for a second time. Holly waits along the cemetery road for Anna, hoping their shared loss has brought them together, but she walks past him without stopping. Calloway's case is closed, while Holly leaves Vienna having exchanged his idealized memory of Harry for knowledge of the harm Harry chose to cause.