All language subtitles for The.Dummy.Detective.2025.1080p.WEBRip.x264.AAC.2.0

It's not easy being a private detective

with a wooden partner.

The world: a stage of
shadows, voices, illusions,

where no one can be trusted, even yourself.

Everybody has something they're hiding.

A dark secret, it messes
with your head after a while.

Sometimes I wish I was the wooden one.

I, the puppet master,
yearning for redemption

through a simple reversal of control.

Another night tossing
voice in a dingy dive bar,

when I saw her sitting there,

I knew right away she
would change my life forever.

You'd think I'd have
learned better by my age,

but all guys are suckers for lookers.

Even old private dicks.

Excuse me. Excuse me.

Hey, I can end the act
with a really dramatic

thing here, Mr. Trillo.

What? - Can do a tongue twister.

How about that Peter Piper one?

Peter Piper picked a
pack of pickled peppers.

If Peter Piper picked a
pack of pickled peppers,

how many packs of pickled
peppers did Peter Piper pick?

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you.

Thank you.

It's no use, Mr. Trillo.

Let's give it up for Van Trillo and Ezra.

Come on, you can do
better than that. Let's go.

All right, all right.

All right.

Don't give me that look, Suede.

It's open.

She's a looker.

Can I help you, Miss...

Lake, Chloe Lake.

I need your services, Mr. Trillo.

You see, Mr. Trillo? Some
folks appreciate our talent.

What's the occasion, Ms. Lake?

Birthday party, communion, bar mitzvah?

I don't need a ventriloquist,
I need a detective.

You are a detective,
aren't you, Mr. Trillo?

I heard that you use your
dummies to question suspects.

Throws them off guard.

- What else did you hear, Ms. Lake?
- That it's effective.

You've got me talking
to one of your dummies,

or should I say, detective partner?

Ezra's not my detective
partner. Sam Suede is.

I'm their underpaid assistant.

Can you talk to people
without a third party involved?

What's the problem, Ms. Lake?

I received a call about my mother

when I was at an audition for a play.

By the time I got to my mother's house

in Canarsie she was already... mm.

The coroner said it was a heart
attack, but she was murdered.

- How do you know?
- Because someone phoned me

saying he murdered her and
he would murder me as well.

Could be a crank.

He knew details only
a murderer would know.

Did you recognize the voice?

No.

Then I received another call
this afternoon, a death threat.

He knew everywhere
I'd been and where I was.

Sorry, I can't help you, Ms. Lake.

I'm leaving for Cleveland, working a case.

There are loads of private
detectives in New York.

Most private dicks are
corrupt, just like the cops.

Pay each other for leads, go
to the same bars and brothels.

I need an outsider, Mr. Trillo. Like you.

What makes you think I'm-

An outsider?

That's what people say about
you because you're... weird.

I would be terribly grateful.

Sorry, Ms. Lake.

My number.

I do hope you change your mind, Mr. Trillo.

As quickly as it came, the moment passed,

yet the memory of her gaze lingered.

A reminder of the power of a pair of eyes

to cut through the noise.

I didn't think you
could say no to a looker.

You're finally thinking
with the right head.

I know. It's okay.

Welcome.

I'm afraid we don't allow pets

of any kind here, love.

He's my mother's cat. Was.

I needed some place to
get away to that was quiet

and remote and there's no
one to take care of Charlie

now that my mother's...

Oh.

You poor dear.

All right, love.

Just keep your precious
little pussy inside your room.

Upstairs and to the left.

Thank you.

I know, Charlie. Ooh!

He's a little jumpy.

We bill at the end of your stay.

And help yourself to tea
or a little nibble in our parlor.

Thank you.

Oh, Charlie. It's okay, it's okay.

I know, Charlie. He's
not usually like this.

Mm.

Intending to rest,

she was shocked instead to see her dear,

sweet cat lying dead.

I trust you'll
find your stay here

relaxing, Ms. Lake.

I bought this inn shortly after
my husband died suddenly.

Ah, we were very young
when we came to America.

The atmosphere is most
conducive for writing.

What do you write?

Murder mysteries. - (gasps) Ah.

That's my favorite genre.

And your name's Harriet Hubbard?

Oh, no. I write under a
pseudonym, Elvira Cutler.

Yes.

I've read one of your novels.

The one about the passengers
on a train to World's End

that are all murdered
by that mad ventriloquist.

Did you enjoy it? - I loved it.

Hmm. - (gasps) I just saw

a ventriloquist performance
in Brooklyn yesterday.

Did you?

My inspiration
for the book was Elliot Black,

who has lived here at the
inn for many years now.

He was a very famous
ventriloquist at one point.

Is he?

Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no.

Oh, no. He could not possibly
be a murderer.

Though, he is quite eccentric.

It is in deference to him

that I do not allow cats, normally.

He does not tolerate them.

I'm not intolerant,
I'm allergic.

I was not trying to
be offensive, Mr. Black.

I was merely explaining.
- Yeah, no offense.

It's the most offensive
people who say that.

He never leaves the premises.

He's an agoraphobic.

He lives only to broadcast his radio show.

World's End is the only village

where you can hear his program.

Hmm.

Some people appreciate me.

Did you forget about this, Dinky?

My fan letter.

See, Dinky, people do
listen to my radio show.

I wrote him a fan letter
a couple of years ago.

From your room to his?

Oh, no.

I posted it anonymously,
out of pity, I suppose.

I was there the fateful night

that he lost control of his dummy.

It so unnerved him that he was never able

to perform ventriloquism again.

The poor man.

Sing the song, Dinky.

No.

Our, our, our friends in the audience

are, are waiting, Dinky.

They may be your friends, Elliot,

but I wouldn't be caught dead

with this bunch of stupid,
ugly mother suckers.

What, what,

what's the matter, Dinky?

There's nothing to
matter with me, Elliot.

I'm just sick and tired of being your prop

to get cheap laughs with your corny jokes.

Oh.

Here, get me outta
here. I'm sick of this crap.

Not gonna take it anymore, Elliot.

Don't ever do this again, Elliot.

I tried to help that woman
and look at the thanks I get.

She'll ruin everything for me.

I shouldn't feel responsible for her.

It's not my fault her parents are dead.

I'm coming.

I'm Harriet Hubbard,
the proprietor. Welcome.

Dr. Andre Cox at your service.

I present to you, Mr. Archibald Grimsly

and Mrs. Hortense Grimsly.

Ah, you don't happen to
be members of the family

that owns Grimsly Bank, do you?

What an honor to have
you stay at Les Saisons.

And a doctor too.

Ah, Dr. Cox is not an ordinary doctor.

He's my personal physician
and personal assistant.

Ah. I don't believe
you have a reservation.

Indeed, turns out we
do have rooms available.

We bill at the end of your stay.

We certainly are not staying here.

Our car just broke down,

and there's no cell phone signal available.

Oh, you won't find a phone
signal here at World's End.

We're in a dead zone.

Uh, can we use your
phone to call a garage?

A garage on a Sunday
afternoon? (laughs) Oh.

Well then call for a taxi to take us back

to our estate in Connecticut.

It's nearly dusk.

You won't find a taxi driver
to come here after sunset.

That taxi driver was murdered down the road

the other night.

Oh. (breathes uneasily) Oh.

I guess we can
tolerate this for one night.

Oh, I suppose.

Uh, please sign in. Thank you.

Oh! Ah!

Oh, you're a doctor.

I'm not a veterinarian.

Well, surely you're
more qualified than I.

Ah.

Well, who would do such a ghastly thing?

The texture
indicates a vitamin B deficiency.

The neck, look at... Ah!

Yes, yes. I, I was getting to that.

As I suspected, the neck is broken.

This cat has been murdered - Ooh.

- Stabbed multiple times.
- I'm so sorry, my dear.

Oh.

Shall I call the police?

No, it won't matter.
It's just a cat.

Do you want me to remove the feline?

No.

Yes.

Eh.

Uh.

Ah. Eh.

First to be killed was
a creature with a tail.

The next victim will be higher
on the evolutionary scale.

Ah, wicked.

Please. I am sure I will be next.

I can't help you, Ms. Lake.

I'm afraid to be here.

So go home.

I'm afraid to be anywhere.

I'm flying to Cleveland tonight.

Oh, please reconsider.

Hey!

Sorry.

A voice in his head told him

to call her right back,

but he was determined not to give into it.

Thank you.

Not again. Hey, Ezra.

Long time, no see. How you doing?

Hey, Chris. You are a star now.

What is the secret to your success?

Well, you know, I like to
train my ventriloquist a lot.

Ha-ha. - Well, my trouble

is that my ventriloquist is not

as intelligent as your ventriloquist.

Well, I don't know if I should,
uh, you wanna handle that?

Well, I mean, you guys are doing great.

You know, that's all you gotta do.

Just get out there and keep going.

Well, another trouble I have

is that Mr. Trillo is very annoying.

Ezra, between me and
you, this guy is annoying too.

Ha-ha. Hmm, hmm, hmm.

Oh my God, Nik and
Chris. Can I get a picture?

Well, Ezra, we gotta go. Nice to see you.

Have fun in Cleveland. - So long, guys.

Mr. Black, are you all right?

It's the rain and the thunder.

- Excuse me, Mrs. Hubbard.
- Yes, Mrs. Grimsly?

What is this?

Shepherd's pie.

But where is the potato?

Les Saisons-style.

I love pie.

Ah, take it away.

Uh, I'll wait for the main course.

Actually, it is the main course.

You see, we didn't
anticipate these many guests,

but fortunately, we had
enough pies on hand.

Uh, uh, they look like they were frozen.

Precisely, last year. - Oh.

Could I have mine to go, please?

Oh. (chuckles) - There's a hair in mine.

Les Saisons-style.

Ms. Lake, do join us for supper.

I'm leaving.

Well, what?

Ms. Lake, no World's End taxi's

going to come here at this hour

Then call one from another town.

I don't care where. Just get one for me.

Please, calm down, my dear.

I cannot stay here.

Ah, well, why don't you just join us

for a little shepherd pie?
- I want a taxi now.

Welcome.

Do you want a room, sir?

Yes. - Oh, well, we happen

to have one available.

Oh, but Ms. Hubbard, I, uh,

I just decided I'm gonna stay.

I wasn't counting your room, love.

I was expecting you would stay.

I have more luggage in the taxi.

Well, he must have
gotten a taxi from far away.

A World's End driver would know better

than to drive here at night.

Hmm.

Where's the cat?

Mrs. Hubbard took him away.

Why'd you let her do that?

What, did you expect me
to keep his carcass on me?

Any idea who made those
threatening phone calls?

The stillness of the night softened

the feeling of danger that
lurked silently in the air.

Breathing in the calm before
the inevitable storm.

I felt the unsettling presence
of the angel of death.

Who will be his victim tonight?

Eh. Goodness.

Hey, is this Cleveland?

No, it's World's End, New York.

Gee, I always wanted to go there.

Hey, next time we fly,
can you get me a seat?

I hate riding in cargo.

I don't know.

Oh, oo! Hey, watch it!

Sorry.

Ms. Lake?

Ms. Lake?

Oh! Oh my God!

Oh, my poor baby! Oh my God!

Oh, gee! Oh, oh!

Archie. Oh, my Archie!

Mrs. Grimsly,
someone bludgeoned him

with this frozen pie. - Oh, no, no, no!

Oh, pie! Oh!

I think he
went in the wrong room.

He wanted to kill me.

My dear,

why would anyone want to kill you?

Mm.

Where's the cat? - In the garden.

Two feet under.

Did Ms. Lake give you
permission to do that?

She asked me to remove that cat.

What else should I have done?

Any
fingerprints have melted away.

I want everyone in the parlor.

Okay. Yes, sir.

A room full of suspects,
including yours truly.

The two detectives scrutinized us all,

reading our looks, gestures, inflections.

Any one of us could be the murderer.

Do we need all these candles?

How else are we gonna see?

I'm pyrophobic.

The murderer of that poor
taxi driver has not been caught.

How was he killed?

I saw that taxi driver stop by here

to ask directions shortly
before he was murdered.

According to the news reports,

on his way back from World End,

someone smashed his windshield with a rock,

causing him to stop the vehicle.

Then the assailant
stabbed him with a knife.

Ah!

Oh, dreadful, isn't it?

But wonderful material for a crime novel.

Before Grimsly was whacked,

somebody killed Chloe's cat.

We don't have to listen to you.

And you're the only known cat hater here.

I'm feline phobic.

Fearing cats is different from hating them.

Mr. Trillo is a private detective.

Private, so he's not a cop.

Ah, there, you see?

Oh, everything's
all bright again.

Now can we call the police?

Right.

Everyone else stay here.

It, it's almost midnight.

I have to go back to my
room to broadcast my show.

Nobody's going anywhere until we say so.

Don't listen to him, Mr. Black.

Maybe this crap works in New York City,

but it won't work around here.
- Sit down, Mr. Cox.

It's Dr. Cox. - Yeah, whatever.

Sit down.

You expect to get a lot of
money out of this, don't you?

It's a good racket being a gigolo.

Looking for this?

How'd you get that?

Oh, when you bumped me in the dark.

Oh, ooh! Hey, watch it!

Sorry.

Now sit down.

The phone line is still dead.

What is that man
doing here with that thing?

He's not a thing,
sweetheart. He's my partner.

I refuse to stay here.

Looks like you've got
something to hide, Mr. Black.

I can't disappoint my listeners.

You gotta be kidding, on
your frequency in this weather?

You'll be lucky to get two or three drunks

listening in downtown World's End.

Listen, I've got to broadcast my show.

Oh, dear.

Mr. Black. - That "ventrikolist" attacked

that poor man.

Do something, Andre!

Somebody stop them before they kill us all!

Calm down, Grimsly girl. It's late.

You're tired and cranky.

Let's all just get some sleep.

You hurt my voice.
I can barely talk.

Oh. - He'll be all right.

He was gentle.

Now everybody go back to
your rooms and lock the doors.

Oh!

Oh, I'm afraid I have no spare rooms.

Looks like somebody's gonna have

to share with sweetie pie.

How about you, doc?

Oh, I could open a cot in the office. Mm?

Where am I?

Uh, you just need some sleep and rest.

Oh, I can't sleep.

I'm frightened of those New Yorkers,

especially that wicked little one.

I'll stay with you. You
just need more medicine.

Oh, I'm certain they will try to kill me.

Fear not, my lovely lady.

I'll protect you with all my life.

You're the most beautiful
woman that I've ever seen.

So beautiful. - Oh, shut up.

Ah. - There.

Any minute now, you should be feeling...

Greetings, friends of the night,

and welcome to our nightly reverie.

May the sweet sounds
of yesterday transport us

to a place where time
stands still and all is good.

I invite you now to relax

and enjoy the tranquility of the night

while the village sleeps.

♪ Then what will I do
when ♪

Were these windows
locked when you arrived?

No, actually, they were
open, but I locked them.

So, how did you figure
out that Dr. Cox is a gigolo?

Huh, well, it's
obvious she doesn't have him

around for his medical expertise.

Hmm. - I mean, he's charming,

handsome, and doesn't
know that he's an idiot.

Huh.

Okay, I don't think anyone
entered through these windows.

Mm.

(gaps) Oh.

I didn't expect you to turn around so fast.

So, do you think he killed
Grimsly and Charlie cat?

Or is there another deranged
criminal on the loose?

Could you help me with my

necklace?

Do you always take advantage
of your clients, Mr. Trillo?

I should have listened to Suede.

Oh, don't get me
wrong. I'm into older men.

Oh, it's so frustrating.

I just don't understand how men

always get the wrong impression of me.

Stay
in your room, Ms. Lake,

and lock the door.

Hmm.

Oh!

What are you doing, Mrs. Hubbard?

I'm going
to sit in the parlor a bit.

Are you kidding?

Uh, I write a chapter here every night.

It might be your final chapter.

I'm not frightened.

You better give that to me. - Oh, what?

And leave my self defenseless?

Mrs. Hubbard, go back to your room.

I have been called the
Queen of the Crime Novel,

and I will not have my writing disrupted

by an insensitive criminal.

It's not perfect. Don't point that at me!

What's not perfect? - The soundproofing.

I'll reinforce the door
when I have the money.

What are you doing out here?

Exercise.

Take it out slowly. ♪ What a romance ♪

Take what out? - Whatever that is

in your pocket.

♪ So my dream's not in vain ♪

♪ My love will remain ♪

What's that for? Self-defense.

Why don't you stay in your room?

Claustrophobic.

What about your radio program?

I play long musical
segments so I can go for strolls.

And now can I get back to my broadcast?

The clouds
obscure the lonely moon.

Another victim will surely die soon.

I know, Dinky.

You're jealous of Sam Suede.

You wanna talk again the
way he does, but I can't let you.

Remember what happened the
last time I threw you my voice?

You kept it right on stage,

and you said the most horrible things.

It took me hours to get it back.

If I let you have it again,

I'm not sure I have the
strength to take it back.

Think of the trouble we'll be in.

No, that I'll be in. They'll blame me.

Do you understand? Me.

We must do
something about that woman. Oh.

I warned you not to come here.

Well, we're stuck here now,

at least until the storm breaks.

And we have a murderer to catch.

This is a first class mess.

Maybe he's not in the house.

Could be a secret trap door or something.

I think you're on to something, Suede.

He could have been hiding
someplace, killed the cat,

then hid again until he
had a chance to kill Grimsly.

Then snuck out again.

- He must be a lunatic.
- Maybe he's still inside.

We gotta grill everyone here.

Certainly, it's not even a question.

I can talk to some of them by myself.

You can't talk by yourself, Ezra.

I'm doing it right now. Just like Suede.

I don't think so. Ah,
I think I'm imagining it.

The hell you are. - We will vote.

But I mean, it's one thing

if I'm holding your head sticks,

but you're over here, you're over there.

If somebody else saw
me talking to you like this-

Don't be influenced
by what other people say.

What do others know about us?

What is it, Ms. Lake? - Call me Chloe.

I want to
apologize for my behavior.

You came here to protect me.

I want to show my appreciation.

Oh wait, (chuckles) he's gotta go.

Go where? - Uh, turn his head away

or something.

And the other two.

Don't take me away.

I want to see the two of
you do the hoochie-coochie.

Wait a second. You're
hiding something, Chloe.

I think you know who made
those threatening phone calls.

If I knew,
why wouldn't I tell Trillo?

Maybe you're scared or
embarrassed or ashamed.

That's ridiculous. How would
I benefit from withholding...

You've got me talking
to one of your dummies again.

There's something you
are not telling us, Chloe

Us? - Mrs. Lavinsky,

we'll discuss this later, okay?

Okay. This is a little too weird for me.

I...

No, look, no, it's not, - Ah.

It's not like that.

Ah, ah, Chloe. - I'm good.

Chl-Chloe, just... - I'm good.

I did you a favor.

Chloe, open the door.

Someone came in here, slashed your blanket,

ransacked your room
while you were in my room?

Apparently.

He must have attacked me in the dark,

thinking that the pillows
were me in the bed.

I don't know.

Why do you put all those...?

I like pillows.

Dr. Cox. Oh, Dr. Cox.

Oh, did you hear something too?

What was Dr. Cox doing up there?

Oh, I don't know. Is Ms. Lake all right?

Yes. Go to your room, Mrs. Hubbard.

I didn't see anything.

Our mistake, Mr. Trillo.

I was in an awkward position.

I'm gonna look around.

Don't go alone.

It was a comforting
thought for Trillo to know

that while he prowled the dark hallway,

his trusted partner kept watch.

Oh, oh, oh!

You again. - You come prepared,

don't you?

Son of a bitch, how'd you... Turn around.

Huh? - Do it.

Hands on the wall. Let's
see what else you've got.

Is this private enough? - Open it.

You killed Grimsly 'cause
you're romancing his wife

and you want her dough.
- I'm not talking to a dummy.

He doesn't wanna talk to
you. Okay, talk to me, Andy.

Fine, I'm "shtooping"
her. Supplemental income.

I mean, can you blame
me? She's still ripe, eh?

You came here intentionally, didn't you?

The car engine died. - You killed it.

Convenient that you're the chauffeur

in addition to being a fake doctor.

Fake my ass.

I guess your anus is as
fake as your medical degree.

You figured this is a good place

to stop and kill Grimsly,

'cause the cops will think that the killer

of the taxi driver did it.

I didn't kill him.

Why are you stalking Chloe Lake?

I'm not. - Why did you kill her cat?

I didn't.

What's her connection to Grimsly?

What's that tattoo on
your back? A gang symbol?

What's
the name of your gang?

We've got all night, Andy.

Come on, doc. Make it easy on yourself.

Trillo, I got it. The tattoo.

A dog skull?

A dog wags its tail.

Skull wags. Scullawags.

Ah a play on words. Cute.

You're in the Scalawags gang.

I quit a long time ago.

I thought I had
shaken loose from the dastardly

Scalawags gangs long ago,

but now feared that they
had regained the scent

and had me in their sights.

Trillo?

Oh, it's me,
Ms. Lake, Mrs. Hubbard.

Are you all right?

Ah, yes, I'm fine. Thank you.

May I talk with you?

Oh, I was worried about you, my dear.

I saw the light was on, and well,

I wondered if you wanted some company

during this dreadful night.

Yeah, come.

Oh, huh.

Actually, going to pull
this down a little bit.

There we go.

Oh, (gasps) that feels
so good, Mrs. Hubbard.

Please, please, please call me Elvira.

I do so love my pen name, Elvira Cutler.

All right, Elvira. Uh-huh.

Mm.

Release all your tensions. There we go.

Oh!

Oh, don't worry, darling.

That's just Mr. Black
falling down the stairs again.

Oh, I better check on Mr. Black.

Ah, I broke my leg!

Nonsense, Mr. Black. - Oh, ow!

You always think you've broken something

when you fall down the stairs,

but you've broken nothing yet.

Ah!

The klutz, he falls down
the stairs quite regularly.

I suffer from vertigo.

I know what you're thinking, Mr. Suede,

but you're in no position to judge me.

Oh my heavens, Andre.

I'm afraid you're going
to need it, Hortense.

Very well, if you must.

That is not where this
needle must go, Hortense.

Then where in heaven's name must it go?

Oh.

I need to talk to you, Mr. Black.

No time now. I need to
play the next musical segment.

I'll wait.

♪ I want to be happy ♪

♪ But I won't be happy
till I make you happy ♪

Don't come near my desk.

Wasn't that lovely?

Perfect for making us feel cozy

and comfortable on this
cold, rainy night in World's End.

I don't know about you, dear friends,

but I feel exquisitely warm

and safe here in the dead of night.

Goddammit.

I forgot to turn it off.

Everyone in World's End heard me damn God.

Why didn't you stop me, Dinky?

You don't vent him anymore, do you?

You know, make him talk.
- I know what vent means.

No, I don't.

Why not?

I'm sure Mrs. Hubbard told you.

That incident at the
nightclub? Ancient history.

Why don't you try again?

I don't need to.

He communicates with me silently.

You talk to him and he
answers telepathically?

Sometimes.

Haven't you ever found that you,

that you don't need to
with you and Mr. Suede-

What does Dinky tell you to do?

Mainly hold him,
pick him up, but I can't.

Why not? What are you afraid of?

Ah, his power over you.

What if he told you to do
something that you know is wrong?

Something wild, something evil, criminal?

I'm trying to talk to you

as one ventriloquist to another,

and, and, and you're
trying to hold it against me.

Maybe it's all subconscious.

You follow his orders, unaware of it.

How about you, Mr. Trillo?
Do you still control Suede?

I'm asking the
questions here, Mr. Black.

You're afraid to answer.

You're losing control also,

if you haven't already lost it.

You're afraid to even pick up Dinky.

Someday you'll
have no control over Suede.

That's what you're afraid of.

That he'll say horrible
things to embarrass you.

The way that Dinky humiliated me.

People will say you're
crazy, like they said about me.

Will you then retreat into
obscurity the way I did?

Away from the scorn and mocking
eyes of an ignorant society?

Latch onto one more socially
acceptable obsession like I,

I found with my vintage songs?

Something that stirs
dark emotions within you,

but (sighs) reminds you
that you're alone forever.

Just you and your dummy in
a black hole of utter despair.

That's very eloquent, Mr. Black,

but you're talking about yourself, not me.

If you're hiding any
information about these murders,

you better tell me now.

Our ability to breathe
life into our dummies,

Not a gift from God, Mr. Trillo.

It's a curse from the Devil.

The price, our souls.

I hope it was not too painful, Hortense.

Perhaps I need another.

Huh, you just need to sleep, Hortense.

I hope I can.

It sickens me to think of
that New York detective

snooping about with his horrid puppet.

Any decent person
would feel that, Hortense.

Oh.

Some of my readers assume

that I enjoy violence, but I don't.

Truly, I'm drawn to it
in a very clinical way.

Hmm. - Keep your eyes

closed, Chloe.

I, I won't be a moment.

You are a lovely woman,

and you shouldn't have
to suffer such distress.

Soon you will sleep long and peacefully.

Chloe, open the door.

Ah, Elvira was just
giving me a neck massage.

I mean, Mrs. Hubbard.

You left the door unlocked again.

Oh, sorry. - What's with a knife?

Oh, I saw a thread on Ms. Lake's collar,

and I was, I was going to snip it.

I see it.

Mm, yes, well, good night then.

Oh, Mrs. Hubbard, the
Scalawags gang used to be active

in upstate New York around here, right?

Oh, dreadfully. Yes.

It was the infamous Grimsly
Bank heist a few years back

that sullied their reputation,

created a very nefarious
attitude around them.

Immediately after the
heist, one of the robbers

murdered the others then
fled with the millions of dollars.

- Lot of dough here.
- The boss will be pleased.

What happened to him?

Perhaps the Scalawags
found him and dealt with him,

whacked him, as you say.

So that Scalawags guy who
double-crossed his buddies,

is his identity known? - Oh, no.

I, I don't believe it is.

Um, no, I don't think so.

Oh, but do you think that the,

the Grimsly Bank heist has anything to do

with Mr. Grimsly's murder?

Hmm. Well, I'll leave
you two, (sighs) three to it.

Good night.

Who's there? Identify yourself.

What are you
hiding from us, Chloe?

I don't wanna talk to him, Trillo,

You may be able to trick
Trillo, but no me, doll face.

Trillo, stop it.

You know that phony doctor, don't you?

Did you meet him at
one of your acting gigs?

Was he an actor like you?
Or was he your sweetheart?

Did you play games with
him the way you do with Trillo?

I've never met him before.

Why does he wanna kill you?

I don't know. - Why did he kill Grimsly?

- I don't know.
- Then what is it, doll face?

What's your connection to Grimsly?

It's not me, it's my
mother.

It happened before I was born.

Grimsly went backstage at the theater

where my mother was dancing.

He seduced her into a relationship,

and then he beat her every night.

She couldn't escape.

She would've gone to the police,

but Grimsly with his money and his power

had the entire police
department in his back pocket.

So she was trapped with
that monster for two years

until she met my father,
and he scared Grimsly away.

- How do you know about this?
- My mother told me.

How did you know he was gonna be here?

I didn't. - Then why did you come here?

You know why I
came here, to escape my stalker.

With all the country
inns in Upstate New York,

why this one? - (sighs) I read about

this place in a magazine,

but then I saw Grimsly checking in,

and when I heard his name, I was shocked.

And then
somebody killed my Charlie cat.

I called you and you said no.

So I packed my bags
and I was ready to leave,

but then you walked in the front door.

Why didn't you tell Trillo this?

Trillo, please.

I didn't wanna air my
mother's dirty laundry. I didn't-

Did Grimsly know who you are?

I don't think so. I don't see how.

I mean, my mother's maiden name is Parker.

Her married name is Lovick.
My stage name is Lake.

I don't know how it's all connected.

My father died when I was six,

and all I ever wanted was my daddy.

Daddy.

♪ Dear one, the world ♪

♪ Is waiting for the sunrise ♪

♪ Every rose is heavy with dew ♪

♪ The thrush on high ♪

♪ His sleepy mate is calling ♪

♪ And my heart is calling you ♪

Dr. Cox? Oh, Dr. Cox?

Oh my God! Oh, somebody else is dead!

Who did this to you? Was it the doctor?

You know, the the half-wit gigolo?

It, it was...

- Tell me, tell me who?
- It was...

Ah, he's dead.

Oh!

Oh.

Glorious.

- Why did you kill him?
- I didn't kill him.

I left before he was killed.

Why didn't you come to us first?

To tell us about the intruder?

I didn't know who it was in the shadows.

It could have been you
for all I know... I mean, you.

You knew that Scalawag, didn't you?

And you knew he was gonna
kill you so you killed him first.

You were scared, so you
struck first with the knife.

It's understandable, doc.

You had to do it just like
you had to kill Mr. Grimsly.

You wanted the lady's dough,

but first you had to
get rid of her husband,

so you swiped the
frozen pie from the kitchen,

snuck into his room during the blackout

and struck him on the head!
- I didn't do it!

Whack, whack, whack on the head!

No.

Then you had to get rid of the gangbanger

who had a contract out on him for leaving.

Or maybe you're the guy who went AWOL

on the Grimsly Bank heist.

The double-crossing low life

who killed his partners and stole the loot!

I didn't come here to be exonerated.

Hey, it's understandable, doc.

You had to do it just like you had

to kill Grimsly to marry Mrs. Grimsly.

My matricidal plans
are none of your concern.

I won't let anyone stand in my way.

Huh! - Oh, oh!

Holy shit.

Oh, my meniscus!

Oh.

Oh, that doctor,
such a pleasant fellow.

It's a
pity he's a murderer.

Let's have another

cup of tea, shall we?

To calm our nerves.

How could tea
possibly calm my nerves?

Well, I brew my chamomile stiff.

I don't like it stiff.

Well, that's not what
Dr. Cox says.

Uh. - Listen, we needn't be

concerned here now that
we know who the murderer is.

Oh, Mr. Trillo, have you tied up

that dreadfully deceitful Dr. Cox?

We can't hold doc without evidence.

But the knife?

The murderer wore gloves.

So no fingerprints. - Oh.

So no one's ruled out.

So no one's leaving yet.

Well, you can rule me out.

How could I have climbed down those stairs,

murdered the intruder,
and then back up the stairs

all on my dilapidated leg?

Mm.

Mm-hmm. And not a
soul saw me nor heard me?

Quite right.

I've gotta get back to my room.

Why you!

Oh! (groans) God!

Where is she? - I don't know!

Where are the photos? - I have no idea!

Uh!

Bullshit!

I told you last week to have
them ready when we come here.

She said she tore them up.

That blackmailing bitch threatened

to make the photos public if Mrs. Grimsly

doesn't pay her to give them back!

I told you to have them ready!

I know it! Neither of us have them!

Huh, you think you're protecting her,

but you're signing her death sentence.

Mrs. Grimsly doesn't
know that you're her uncle,

but I do.

Tell me where she is or
gimme back the photos!

I can't tell you what I don't know!

This is a soundproof room, huh.

Ha-ha-ha!

I'll be back by 9:00 AM.

It'll be your last chance, Mr. Black.

Uh! - Ow!

Chloe, dear, why don't
you stay in my room?

No, thank you. It'll be dawn soon.

You'd be very comfortable
in my room, dear.

It's a king size bed.

I'm sure. - A California king size.

That's nice, but-

Northern California!

That is very nice,
I'm sure it's so wonderful,

but no, I'm sure I will
be - Oh, darling, let me in!

Just fine here! - Oh, wait.

Wait a minute now.

I really don't think you
should be alone, my dear.

No, thank you. - I...

Someone's bound to be murdered again,

and she wants to be alone.

No one is certain in whom they can trust.

As seasons change, another
victim soon will bite the dust.

Ah, exhilarating.

Ow!

Oh, I broke a rib! Ah!

Nonsense.

Here, Mr. Black.

Oh, I have a first aid kit in the office.

Come now. Come, come.

Oh my goodness. You,
ah, you've been eating.

Okay, come now, you're
okay.

Doctor, I
heard that manly screaming

and was afraid you were hurt.

Thank God it was just
Mr. Black again.

Very nice.

I need another shot.

Oh, I'll gladly give you
a shot when we're alone.

A real shot, nincompoop.

Oh, oh, oh!

I found this downstairs.

Looks nothing like the doc.

Sally Dorner, AKA Harriet Hubbard.

I'm sorry, dear friends,
for that lengthy pause.

We had some technical
difficulties here in the studio.

I hope you've enjoyed
this night as much as I have.

And now as the sun begins
to rise over World's End,

I bid you a fond farewell,

until tonight at midnight
when our journey begins anew.

What are we gonna do, Dinky.

So Sally Dorner is her real name.

And her husband's name is Gunther Dorner,

the AWOL gangster in
the Grimsly Bank heist.

Look at the name she chose

for new identity is an innkeeper.

That should be a dead giveaway.

Yeah. Like Old Mother Hubbard.

Not very original.

Why didn't they leave with all that dough

from the bank heist?

Go to Tahiti or something?

Maybe her husband is in Tahiti.

Check the phone line.

Still dead.

I've heard that
some authors like to act out

their plots before they write them.

So?

You notice how Mrs.
Hubbard is always writing

in her notebook right
before someone gets killed?

Oh, Andre. Yeah.

Oh, (inhales) oh, you do
know where to stick that needle.

Oh.

It's impossible.

Why wasn't she afraid
to sit alone in the middle

of the night in the parlor
with a murderer on the loose?

She's eccentric. I'll grant
that, but a murderess?

Help me rule her out.

Chloe, dear. Were you
able to get some sleep?

A bit, yes.

Ah, well.

I'm finished.

Let's talk in my room, shall we?

No.

Ah, I meant, ah, won't you
please keep me company

while I enjoy my breakfast?

Well, of course, my dear.

I haven't touched my raspberry tartine.

Mm. Hmm.

Mm.

Mm, hmm.

Lovely. (chuckles)

Homemade. - Mm.

It's really good.

Andre, how dare you?

Oh, but, but, but, Hortense,

you said you enjoyed my shots.

Shots are one thing,
snuggling is quite another.

Oh. - Oh.

Andre, did you kill my sweet Archie?

N-No, of course not.

I would be so disappointed
if you behaved so childishly.

I, I understand, Hortense.
But now that he's...

You're free to...

Oh! - Look, nevermind.

We often go raspberry picking

in the fields here. - Ah.

We've got... Uh.

That's mine. - How did you predict

each murder, beginning with a cat?

I jot down my ideas as they come.

I had no idea that
her precious little pussy

would actually be whacked.

What about Grimsly and the intruder?

I have a sense of the macabre.

A sixth sense, you might say.

You'll notice I didn't
actually name anyone.

This is embarrassing.

Give her back the notebook.

Oh, thank you, my dear.

This is Dr. Cox's gun.

The one that someone swiped from my room.

What was it doing under your mattress?

Your door was open
and I saw it on the bed.

Very careless of you.

The murderer could have taken it easily.

So I decided to take it for safekeeping.

The New Yorker is carrying a gun.

Uh, stay calm. - It's a well-known fact

that New Yorkers are incapable

of carrying a gun without firing it.

Everyone's
here except Mr. Black.

Well, surely he sleeps during the day.

Oh, no, no, dear. He's an insomniac.

He's never missed breakfast ever.

He wouldn't be caught dead sleeping.

How could she have
known that Black lives here?

I found a newspaper clipping

in Black's room in the wastebasket.

I put it on the desk.

Oh, that poor dear.

How was he murdered?

Stabbed.

Oh.

I'll get more tea.

Old Mrs. Hubbard, why did you kill them?

Huh. - I don't blame you

for killing that taxi
driver.

He was gonna rat you out to the Scalawags.

But why did you kill the others?

I didn't kill them. I only...

You only killed the taxi driver.

You recognized him as a
Scalawag when he stopped here

at the inn that night
asking for directions.

You also could tell
that he recognized you,

figured that he'd go back
and tell the Scalawags.

Then they'd send a hitman to whack you

for hiding Gunther all those years.

So, you hid alongside the road with a rock

and a knife in your hands.

When the taxi driver
returned in that direction

from World's End, you had your chance.

Hmm.

Gunther left soon after the bank heist.

I have no idea where he is
today and whether he's alive.

Huh, but I knew that the
Scalawags would send someone

to ask questions as to the
whereabouts of Gunther.

He would not have believed I don't know

and would have tried to
murder, uh, whack me.

Of course, I had to prevent that.

Apparently, he had already
put in a call to the Scalawags.

Huh, I knew that was a possibility,

but I was not scared of Dr. Cox

since it was clear that he was an imposter.

Even with that tattoo on his back?

Oh.

Oh, little gang wannabes
often do such things

that aid in their fantasy.

Ah, I knew that
Dr. Cox wasn't a Scalawag,

nor was he a doctor.

Yeah, because he's too
dunderheaded to be either, right?

Hey, I'm just as intelligent as you are.

You're more intelligent than both

of those detectives, Andre.

And certainly savvier than Trillo, anyway.

Oh, I have a headache. I'm going to rest.

Nobody move till I get back.

Your mother. Right?

You knew Black was here.

You came here to confront
him. Same with Grimsly.

How could I have known
either of them would be here?

Your father died when you
were six. Major abandonment.

Then Black romanced your
mother and abandoned her.

You knew about Grimsly. - Stop it.

You're afraid of men abandoning you,

so you push them away,
making it a vicious cycle.

I said, stop it.

You desperately want a father,

so you gravitate toward older men.

Don't you dare!

How dare you psychoanalyze me?

You of all people with those dummies.

What happened in your childhood

to drive you to create alter egos?

To think that a hunk of
wood is an actual human?

What trauma? What abuse?

Who abused you, Trillo.

I didn't say anything about abuse.

Why couldn't I stop him?

Stop who, Chloe?

Elliot Black.

Mr. Black started a
relationship with my mother

shortly after my father died.

The abuse started on my
first day of kindergarten.

I was so excited that day.

That night he came into my room.

He warned me not to tell anyone.

You must have felt like killing him.

Do you actually think I could have

stabbed him in the back?

You think I'm a...

I didn't know he would be here.

I didn't kill him, but
I'm not sorry he's dead.

Of all the indignities,

being forced to wait here with a murderer.

Uh.

Andre, take me out of here.

Both of you sit down or I'll tell her

where you got your
phony medical certificate.

You would do anything this
lady tells you to do. Right?

You would even kill an innocent woman.

Andre, you don't have to answer her.

A woman who's only
crime is that her mother

was seduced by a wicked man many years ago.

And now Mrs. Grimsly wants to destroy

all reminders of her husband's infidelity.

That's not the case at all.

The woman was blackmailing Mrs. Grimsly,

who was threatening
to release photos of her

with me in compromising positions.

Andre?

How could Chloe Lake have such photos?

Chloe Lake?

I'm talking about Elliot
Black's niece, Abigail Black,

who used to be a maid
at the Grimsly Estate.

Elliot Black's niece?

You never told me
Abigail's uncle lived here.

So the car didn't break down.

You planned to stop here on purpose to try

to get those photographs
through Abigail's uncle.

Oh, you imbecile.

What an asinine reason to
stop here at this ghastly place.

But Hortense, Abigail is
in hiding with those photos,

and her uncle wasn't
returning any of my calls.

It was a perfect opportunity.

And you, what's your name?

Sarah Levinsky.

Levinsky. I suspected.

There was a time when your kind of puppet

wasn't allowed in polite society.

You wouldn't know polite society

if it bit you in the tuchus.

The problem
with you, Mrs. Levinsky,

is that you don't know your place.

The trouble with you, Hortense,

is that you're inferior to a puppet.

Ah!

Uh, Hortense.

Oh, fiction gold.

Trillo?

Ah, ah, yeah, I'm back
here.

Ah, the phone lines are still out.

Why don't you come for a
walk with me to the village?

It's a lovely day and it's not very far.

You asked me if I believed
you could stab him in the back.

Yes.

I told everyone he was
stabbed, I didn't say where.

Only the murderer knew it was in the back.

I assumed.

Chloe, I understand about Grimsly

if he hurt your mother, and if Elliot Black

really abused you, I'd give
you a pass on that one too.

But he didn't.

You said that the abuse began on the night

of your first day of kindergarten.

Yes.

Kindergarten begins at five years old.

So? - You said that your father

died when you were six.

Elliot Black met your
mother after your father died.

He could not have been
in the house that night.

But he was.

Chloe, it was your father.

No. - Your father

abused you, Chloe. - No.

You couldn't face that so your mind

and your memory made Black the abuser.

You murdered an innocent man.

He was not innocent. He used my mother.

They had a relationship.

That doesn't mean that he used her

Just like Grimsly used her.

Just like Dr. Cox uses women.

Just like you wanted to use me.

Did you also kill the intruder?

That was a mistake.

I couldn't sleep,
so I went downstairs,

and I saw Dr. Cox lurking in the shadows.

So I snuck up on that gigolo
bastard and I stabbed him.

Only it wasn't Dr. Cox.

How was I to know there
was an intruder in the house?

Chloe,
you even killed the cat. Why?

My mother made me
do it.

For practice so I could kill Grimsly.

Mommy?

Who, who, who are you talking to?

Mommy.

I know, Mommy. He's just like the others.

Chloe, your mother's not here.

I know, Mommy. I know what I have to do.

Uh, your mother's dead, Chloe.

I'm sorry, I know. - Your mother's dead.

Your mother's dead, Chloe.

You're imagining, you're
imagining her voice.

Chloe, I'll get you help.

Chloe, you're imagining a...(gasps) Oh, oh.

Uh, I'll get you help. I'll, put it down.

Put the knife down. I'll get you...

I don't wanna shoot you, I don't,

I don't wanna shoot you, Chloe.

It hurts. Oh, it hurts.

They've been questioning
us all day and evening.

Ms. Lake murdered the cat
and then cut her own mattress.

Yes.

Then she killed Mr. Grimsly.

Then she did me a huge
favor by killing the intruder,

which she mistook for Mr. Cox.

Yes. - Who was actually

a Scalawag hitman looking for me.

Apparently. - And all along

she imagined a stalker.

She imagined all kinds of things.

But she stalked Elliot Black

For an imagined crime so
long ago, she murdered him.

Mm-mm-mm.

Did she also know
that Mr. Grimsly would be here?

I don't think so.

She came here to murder Black.

Grimsly was an unexpected bonus.

Such a sweet woman.

You know the, the criminal
mind is endlessly fascinating.

You, Mrs. Hubbard, will be convicted

of murdering that taxi driver.

Oh, nonsense.

I did the police a
huge favor by neutralizing

that horrible gangster in self-defense.

I doubt if they'll even bring any charges.

You'll definitely be accused
of harboring Gunther Dorner.

Oh, rubbish.

I was suffering psychological abuse,

and I feared for my life
had I gone to the police.

Mr. Trillo, you are free to leave.

Along with Mrs. Grimsly and Dr. Cox.

Oh. - A police car is waiting

to drive you three into town.

I knew it would all work out.

What about Mrs. Hubbard?

She can stay here for now.

And aren't you going to arrest Mr. Trillo

for the murder of Ms. Lake?

This tape

clears him.

Accidental death.

If we are gonna arrest anyone for that,

it would have to be the dummy.

And no judge I know
would be amused by that.

Mon dieu, mon dieu

Fiction gold.

It's not easy being a detective
with a wooden partner.

You dance with darkness,
flirting with danger at every turn.

Yet the chance to uncover the truth

makes every peril worthwhile,

for it's the truth that sets us free.

For now, at least.

If there's anyone out
there, you should know

that Elliot Black has made
his final journey into the night.

Thanks for making his
nights a little less lonely.

Mm, maybe he just imagined you.

Maybe he was talking
to himself all these years,

but he believed you were there,

and that's what counts.

What about Dinky?

What's Dinky gonna do
now?

One last time, this is for Elliot Black,

while the village sleeps.

♪ Just like a melody that lingers on ♪

♪ You seem to haunt me night and day ♪

♪ I never realized till you had gone ♪

♪ How much I cared about you ♪

♪ I can't live without you ♪

♪ All alone, I'm so alone ♪

♪ There is no one else but you ♪

♪ All alone, by the telephone ♪

♪ And I wonder when you will call again ♪

♪ I'm all alone every evening ♪

♪ All alone, feeling blue ♪

♪ Wondering where you are and how you are ♪

♪ And if you are all alone too ♪