Original subtitles

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

I hope you'll excuse the use of this mechanical device, but I have a mild

of laryngitis, and I don't wish to strain my voice.

Tonight's story is end.

Tonight's story is end.

Tonight's story is end.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

I hope you will excuse this broken record, but it was improperly handled.

Tonight's phrase called, Listen, listen.

Listen, listen.

Listen, listen.

But listen, listen really is the name of the story.

Listen, listen.

Listen, listen.

Listen, listen.

I think we shall indulge in some mental telepathy.

Look at the expression on my face and see if you can tell

what is coming next.

Sergeant Oliver.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Sergeant.

Yeah? Well, at last, the weather seems to be clearing. The rain's almost over.

Uh -huh.

I was told outside that you were the detective in charge.

I thought that you might listen to something that I... Listen to what?

Well, it's my belief... I have a theory that... Have a seat.

Smoke? Thank you. I've never smoked. I drank for that matter. My wife and I

raised that way, very strict.

Some people consider it old -fashioned.

All our neighbors, I mean, they consider us old -fashioned, but... Why'd you

come here to tell me?

Are the police satisfied with the solution of the stocking murders?

Very. You shouldn't be.

Why not?

It's the third murder.

What about it?

Well, everybody knew about the first two murders.

Anybody could copy them. The stocking, the lipstick, just copy them for the

third murder. The Jameson girl.

What's your name?

Smith.

Jasper F.

Occupation? I'm a bookkeeper.

Jasper F. Smith, bookkeeper.

Did you kill the Jameson girl? No.

Did you see anybody else kill her? No.

Good, we got that straight.

It's my theory.

Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. And we appreciate your theory, Mr. Smith, very,

much.

It indicates civic pride. You know what I mean?

I'm going to tell you what I told the others with civic pride who had a

It just so happens, see, that all three of them stuck in murders are sewed up

tight. So that's the only reason you come to this office in a rainy

No, no, please. You come to the wrong place.

The Jamison girl wasn't even killed in this district. Yes, I know that, but I

thought that you'd listen to my ideas. Well, take him to the East 51st Street

station.

East 51st Street.

Well, who... Whom shall I ask for?

You ask for Lieutenant King.

He's in charge.

Lieutenant King?

Yes, sir. He'll be glad to listen to you.

Thank you.

Don't forget now. Ask for Lieutenant King.

Me, I'm a simple sergeant, see, but him, he's a lieutenant.

If you'd just... Good afternoon, Mr. Smith.

What did you say your name was?

What did you say your name was again?

Morgan, Cyrus Morgan.

Yeah, the iron slump.

Okay, what can we do for you? Well, it's about the stalking murders.

Yeah, what about it? Well, I thought that... Yes, Mr. Morgan, you thought

I understand you're in charge of the case.

I was.

Oh. The case is now in the hands of the district attorney.

Well, you could give the district attorney new evidence.

We have all the evidence we need.

For all three cases?

Well, for the first two.

But it's the third case, the murder of the Jameson girl.

I'll tell you, we could always use someone to testify that they saw Schultz

into the Jameson girl's place.

Did you see him go in that night? Is that why you're here? No, no, no,

like that.

Then why are you here?

Well, my theory is that... Mr. Morgan, please, my time is valuable.

If you'd just spare me a few minutes.

Okay, shoot.

Three girls, all very young, all living in walk -up apartments alone.

Then... Three weeks ago today, the first girl was found by her cleaning woman in

her pajamas, dead, strangled, with a brand -new nylon stocking knotted around

her throat.

And on her forehead was scrawled a capital A in lipstick.

Then, one week later, the second girl was found in her bathrobe, strangled

a stocking, an A smeared on her forehead with a lipstick.

And another week later, a third... Wait a minute.

Either take the rap for Schultz and confess, or stop handing out details I

by heart. I assure you, I'm very familiar with all three cases.

I happen to be a very busy man. But it's the third case, the last murder.

Helen Jameson was found exactly like the other two.

The next day, we picked up this phony stocking salesman we'd been hunting for

since the first murder.

There he was, a look in his eye, gold lipstick in his pocket, and he'll get

chair. So what's your point?

Well, the papers say that Schultz hasn't confessed to the Jameson murder.

Yeah? Well, you see, we've got him cold on the first two murders as far as the

Jameson case. But you aren't sure that he killed the Jameson girl, don't you

see?

Supposing somebody else did it.

No, no. See here, Mr. Morgan, all three murders fit a pattern.

That's just it.

Now, please, please listen.

The first two murders make a pattern.

The stocking, the lipstick, so anybody who wanted to kill the third girl could

do it the same way without any risk because they could count on the police

believing it was the last of a series.

My dear Mr. Morgan, when you were a child, I bet you were a whiz at cops and

robbers. I say the police are making a mistake.

You say, do you? So you think the police are incompetent? No, no, I... Well, I

want to tell you something. You've come to the wrong place to say so.

I didn't mean...

I know how difficult it is. It's not difficult at all, don't you understand?

It's a pattern.

Nylon hose, red lipstick, crazy man caught. Stop wasting our time. Take your

complaints to the district attorney. Take them to the commissioner. Take them

City Hall if you like it.

But get out of here before I call a psycho ward at the hospital and have you

committed as a public nuisance.

Hey, what's the matter?

You sick?

No.

I'm all right, thank God.

A little dizzy, but I'm all right. You sure?

Yes, you see, I forgot about eating lunch.

Thank you.

Thank you for listening to me.

Hey.

You better get yourself something to eat.

Okay, thank you.

Could I speak to a reporter?

Reporter? This is the one at desk.

Look, if you want to talk to a reporter, why don't you go to Aces?

Well, isn't this the Chronicle building? Sure it is. But right now, all the

reporters are off duty.

Hanging one on.

Hanging one on? You know, having a belt.

A drink.

Oh. Well, where is Aces?

Hold on.

8th near 43rd. Most of them go there.

Aces, 8th near 43rd. Thank you, young man.

That's Ace's bar.

Yes, sir. Can I help you? I didn't expect a place like this to look so

pleasant. What do they have, sir?

Have?

Oh, nothing.

Nothing? Well, I really don't know.

May I suggest a sherry?

Wine.

Yes, I guess that's harmless enough. A small glass of sherry.

What a pretty color.

It's like gold.

Just like gold.

Do you care for another?

No, no, thank you.

They say that newspaper men use this place a lot.

Some do.

Are there any here now?

That's Mr. Beekman of the Chronicle.

I think I may have another sherry.

Mr.

Beekman?

You're on the Chronicle.

Who's your friend?

My name is Reed.

Ralph Reed.

Oh, Mr.

Ralph Reed.

Well, I meet, uh, what's your name?

Slatt. Meet Slatt. How do you do?

Hi. I could buy you both a drink?

Oh, you sure can. Another round, Charlie, on Pop's check.

Sure. I'll have another sherry.

Yes, sir.

As a reporter, you must be very interested in the stalking murders.

Well, what do you think?

I want Mr.

Beekman to listen to my theory about the Jameson case.

Sure.

Mr. Beekman, were you assigned to them the stalking murders, I mean?

I imagine you got a real kick reading about them, huh?

Cute little devil you are, Pops.

Interested in pretty girls?

Dead?

You don't understand.

Here's to little men who are fascinated by pretty girls who get strangled. No,

no. It's the last murder, don't you see?

The police are wrong. I know they're wrong. And I want you to... Easy, Pops.

Come on. Take it easy.

Could I sit down?

Sure, old fellow. Right over here.

Sit down.

What's wrong?

I'm a little dizzy.

I shouldn't have ordered the wine.

I'm not used to wine at all.

Will this pay for the drinks?

I mustn't stay here anymore.

I shouldn't have come here at all.

Well, it's all right. Now, don't get excited.

The police are fools.

And you're a fool, too, for not listening.

Take it easy, you silly old man. Go home and sleep it off. Poor Helen. She

wasn't killed by that man, Schultz. You could have a headline if you'd listen.

All right, that's enough. You need some fresh air. Let's go. I've got to tell

him about Helen. All right, some other time. Out.

Please, I...

Pardon me.

Is there someone in there who'd listen to me?

You mean a priest?

Yes. Yes, I need a priest to listen to me. Well, by now I imagine Father

Rafferty's in the rectory.

Right next door. You see, over there.

He'll be happy to help you. Thank you.

Yes, sir? May I see Father Rafferty?

Step in, please.

I'll tell Father.

Good evening, sir.

Won't you come in, please? I'm Father Rafferty.

How do you do?

My name is Herbert Johnson.

My real name, that is. If you wish confession, Mr. Johnson. I'm not of your

faith. Well, then what? I saw your church and it looked friendly.

I thought maybe someone like you would listen to me.

Listen? Of course.

But you look ill, Mr. Johnson. No, no. My housekeeper can fix you a cup of hot

tea. No, no, thank you.

If you'd just listen to me.

Well, by all means.

Let's take off this wet raincoat.

You sit right here by the fire.

Well, now.

It's about the Jameson case.

Jameson, Mr. Johnson?

The last of the three murders.

You know about the three murders. Perhaps this is a matter for the police.

I've been to the police.

Well, how can I help you?

By listening.

Very well.

It's a heavy burden for me to bear all alone.

Perhaps we can lighten it.

This third murder... Before you speak, Mr. Johnson.

Yes?

If there's murder on your conscience and you wish to be absolved... Absolved?

You mean forgiveness?

By God.

No.

No, I didn't come here for that.

Very well, then.

A mistake has been made.

You've read about the three girls murdered.

Three girls?

The stocking murders, just recently.

Oh, yes.

Pitiful, those young women.

I remember reading in the papers. The first two murders were in all the

Even pictures.

Close -ups, you remember? That big A on the forehead.

But, Father, if anyone wanted to kill the Jameson girl...

It would be the easiest thing in the world to do it the same way.

And the police would arrest the first killer and never bother to look for

another.

Don't you see how simple it was?

Was?

You mean you think that's how it happened? Yes.

Mr. Johnson, you must be wrong.

Somewhere I've read that they caught the man who really committed those dreadful

murders. He committed only the first two murders, not the third.

Well, then, if you have definite evidence, go to the... Oh.

But you said you've been to the police.

And they found your theory wrong.

Set your mind at rest.

You did what you thought was right. No, no, you don't understand.

You see, I... I know the Jamison girls' family very well.

Poor people.

May God comfort them. Her father, her mother. Well, I mean her family. They

very, very strict.

Helen left home when she was only 17.

17?

Well, that's so young.

So young.

So pretty.

So alive.

Now I see that she only wanted to have a little fun.

Well, like all young people, Mr. Johnson. No.

No, not all young people.

Some men, some women have no fun, no joy while they're young.

But this girl, this Helen Jameson, she liked pretty clothes.

And going to shows.

The theater?

Yes, she loved the theater.

So when she left home, she went on the stage with a new name.

And she worked hard and she got along.

She kept in touch, but... She never saw her father and mother.

Because she was tired or they preached at her about the wages of sin.

The wages of sin or death?

She was warned.

And she was murdered.

No, no, you can't mean that.

You realize how monstrous your notion is?

Better keep such unhealthy theories to yourself, Mr. Johnson.

Now, let's take it from the police point of view.

They've arrested a man and they're convinced that he killed all three

he didn't. Well, is it likely the police are wrong? I hardly think so.

But if you feel that strongly about it, perhaps I can help you. How?

Let me give you a letter to a friend of mine.

He's a detective in 51st Street. King is his name.

Lieutenant King is a fine... What's the matter?

I've seen the gentleman.

He dismissed me.

Dismissed you?

Well, then, obviously... Sorry to disturb you, Father, but it's 7 .30 and

Mission Society is waiting for you. Oh, yes, I'd better get ready. Thank you,

Miss Andrews.

Mr. Johnson, my advice is to forget all this theory of yours.

Yes, Father.

This tragedy happening to people you know well has worried you a great deal.

You're a kind man, but you've dwelt too long on this poor girl's death.

Get some rest.

Have faith in the police and in God's justice.

In God's justice?

Yes.

As I thought, you have a fever.

You get right home and take a hot drink and go to bed.

By tomorrow, you'll have forgotten all about this theory of yours.

But, Father, don't you... Yes.

Thank you. Good night, Father.

I'm sorry I troubled you.

Are you soaked through and through?

Oh, dear, I've been so worried you'd catch cold in this weather.

I'm all right.

Do you think it thoughtful to worry me by being gone all day and not even

home in time for... I'm sorry I was late for dinner.

I cooked your favorite dessert, grenadine rice pudding.

Well, I'll just set the table.

No, no, please, I couldn't eat.

You look so tired.

Go to bed, Herbert. Get a good night's sleep.

You know, I tried to tell them, but I couldn't get the words out.

They listened all right, but they wouldn't understand.

How could they?

All right, dear, let's not talk about it. You're exhausted in that nasty rain.

Let me fix you a cup of nice hot soup.

I even went to the police today.

Yes, dear, don't talk about it.

I'll just fix you something nice and warm.

Please, no. I said no.

Well, then take off your slicker. You'll catch cold sitting here like this.

You think about things too much.

Now, be a good boy and let me help you get off with this nasty, dirty raincoat.

And your hat.

I tried to tell them they never will believe me now.

I haven't the courage to say anything ever again.

I tried to make them understand, but they wouldn't listen.

They wouldn't believe that a mother could do such a thing.

the strange behaviour of our sponsor.

So, for the next minute, pay strict attention, lest he become

more neurotic than he is.

I shall see you in sixty seconds.