Original subtitles

Well, back to the sweat shop, honey.

Mr. Griffin's office.

Edna, this is Jeff Dillon, I'm back,

if our distinguished editor cares.

I'll ring him.

How was Africa?

Dark, sweetheart, very dark.

Jeff!

Hi, Griff.

We were afraid you might get hung up

with that new trouble over there.

Nope. Big bird come, take man away.

I just got in.

What are you doing right now?

Changing my shirt.

I'm a little bushed.

Be right over.

Alrighty.

Mr. Howard's office.

Hi Margie, this is Jeff Dillon.

Is he there?

It's Thursday, Jeff.

Oh yeah, editorial board meeting, I forgot.

Well, listen, tell him I received his cable in London

about the Chumby article.

And Eva's staying there to write hard on the colour plates,

they should be in over the weekend.

Okay, get your new assignment yet?

Come on, Margie, what new assignment?

I just got off the plane.

Oops, bye now.

Margie, hey!

Margie!

You're elected, Jeff.

Hey, Griff, what's this about a new assignment?

We'll get to that.

This is Peggy Chan.

Peggy, this naked man is Jeff Dillon,

a top editorial writer, and for my money,

one of the best political analysts since Walter-

Nevermind the oil job.

Now what about- Writes like Brisbane

and thinks like Reston.

It's getting higher and higher.

What's it for, Griff?

Peggy here's your new editorial assistant.

Well, what happened to Ruth?

Promoted.

Thats what you get for teaching them how to write.

Mr. Dillon, I brought you my personnel profile

in case you re interested in studying my qualifications.

Oh, I don't have to study them, Peggy.

You graduated from the Columbia School of Journalism.

You're 23 going on 24.

Barbara Streisand is king of the world.

You take guitar lessons three times a week

and you just love a plate of apples and good talk.

Daddy is paying for your psychoanalysis

and your uncle something or other

owns 10,000 snares of Janus Enterprises.

Oh.

Actually, Jeff, she can write.

She's been doing copy and byline on "Now" for nearly a year.

Well, then what's she doing over here?

I asked to be assigned to you, Mr. Dillon.

I happen to think you re the top feature writer

in the country, not just here.

At least I did think so until about a minute ago.

How do you like them apples?

Listen, Im sorry, Peggy, I really am.

It's just that I don't like surprises, that's all.

Now look, Griff.

Oh, that's your corner over there.

Don't make waves, please.

Now, Griff, what's all this nonsense

about a new assignment?

You've already got the job, so don't bleed on the rug.

Personal request from our senior editor.

He wants you to do an in-depth man of the year type profile

on Aristide Larkin.

What, that tycoon that makes a million dollars a week,

or something silly like that?

Yeah, he's here for some big oil do.

He's staying at the Ritz Plaza.

You'll see him between 10:30 and 11:30, more later.

He can't wait.

I think he wants to run for Congress.

He'll never get past the primary convention.

Not with his track record.

Ours is not to reason why.

Can I quote you on that?

He's a great kidder, Peggy.

Beware of the clinches.

This jokers reputation isn't just for writing.

You know, I didn't always wanna be a writer.

I used to really wanna be a model,

and I was so gawky when I get outta college.

Didn't look half as good as I look right now.

So I put all these rollers into my hair

and I walked into the biggest agency in New York

and I said, Listen, I wanna be a model.

You know, you wouldn't be handling that so casually

if you Knew what it was.

Well, its a Beshanga or Bekanga fertility fetish,

probably about 18/70.

Probably Bekanga the nails identify it.

If you want something very much,

you drive a lot of metal into it.

And then you wish and you wish, a lot of magic.

Man it's called.

If there's anything I hate,

its a noodge who's intelligent.

I like them dumb and nappy.

I speak four languages, not including English.

My doctoral thesis was in archaeology

and I majored in poli sci.

Poli sci.

How do you look in a bathing suit, Peggy?

You will probably never know.

And moreover, I am an excellent runner.

I always get the fast ones.

Well, go down to the camera shop

and get a reflex camera with a 90 millimetre lens.

For portrait work with synchro flash?

I've already arranged it with Eddie Mars.

He's gonna go with us.

And I told him to bring a studio tape recorder,

just in case.

He's downstairs waiting for us.

Shall we go?

If there's anything I hate, it's an efficient dame.

Haven't you heard that a woman's place is in the home?

n, come on.

don't you believe in the equality of man and woman?

Not only believe in it,

I'm going to fight to get it back.

She's dead.

Murdered or something, she's lying in there dead!

This is our floor.

No, we wanted-

Oh yes, this is our floor.

You're not going to do anything silly

like fainting, are you?

Who, me?

Well, take some pictures.

It'll give you something else to think about.

Ritz Plaza, Room 10A. Miss Ellen Brown."

Hmm. Usually it's Smith.

You know, that could be a right name.

It says EB on the luggage. How many pictures do you want?

A couple is enough.

I don't know what we'll do with them anyway.

We're a very high-class magazine

Just a moment there, I've sent for the hotel manager.

No one goes in until he gets here.

Tm the manager.

Oh, I didnt' realise that. Well, please go right in.

Be careful not to touch anything,

the police don't like that.

Yes, well, thank you.

Are we on?

Well now, I'll tell you, Mr. Dillon,

or maybe I ought to call you Jeff,

since they tell me you're the wonder boy

of the publishing world.

I read that piece you did on the general.

They ought to give him the purple heart for it.

Mm. Now let's see.

We were, yeah, we were talking about money.

What I call the numbers racket.

You ever see a million dollars?

No.

Oh, it's not very impressive.

A million in $10 bills make a stack only two feet high.

Now a Dillion dollars. laughs That's something else again.

That is really something else.

You know, a lot of us forget how much money,

a billion dollars really is.

Now a billion dollars in $10 bills,

that'd make a stack higher than the Empire State Building.

I'd like you to visualise that, Jeff.

You visualising it?

Yes, sir. It's a pile, all right.

Somehow I don't feel I've got your complete attention.

I said I didn't want any-

Oh, yes. Of course, put him on.

Wait ‘til I get in the other room.

You two finish up here, I'll meet you back at the office.

Are you going back downstairs?

Something tells me there's a story down there.

Tell him I'm at the bank, measuring a billion dollars.

Hold it.

You here before?

Mm-hnmm. Jeff Dillon, Fame Magazine.

Oh, what are you poking around for?

I don't know, a story, maybe.

I started on a newspaper, haven't gotten over it yet.

Any information on her?

Yeah.

Checked in three days ago under the name of Ellen Brown.

Obviously a phoney.

Got a prescription from the hotel doctor

for some sleeping pills and then had her hair done.

In our beauty shop!

And she charged it!

She had her hair done and then this?

That's what a dame will do.

Listen, I've seen it happen a dozen times.

Seems like they wanna look pretty

in the morgue or something.

I've had them hold the freight elevator,

So you wont have to go through the lobby.

Why don't you just drop her down the chute

and let the post office mail her out of town?

Hello there. Marcia Davenport?

Mm-nmm. Who's this?

I guess you wouldn't know if I told you, honeychild.

This is Gantry. Call me Gant from Uvalde, Texas.

I'm up for the big oil convention.

Now you remember me, don't you?

I never forget anybody in oil, sweetie.

I met you with Ellen one time, just passing by.

Yeah, that's right, Ellen.

Now you remember?

She gave me this number, said you'd know where to reach you,

Oh, you must meet Ellen Bowen.

That's who I mean, honeychild, Ellen Bowen.

You know where I can reach her maybe?

I've got a little old shiny bracelet

I promised her last time.

Well, I haven't even seen her in six months.

I thought she was outta town or something.

Must be rough on you coming all this way to strike out.

Yeah. Won't I do?

No.

Bowen.

Hi. How did the interview go?

He's still talking. Mm-hmm.

He followed my mic around like a puppy dog

‘til I finally ran outta tape.

Oh, here we are. TLC.

477-6599. rotary spinning

What are you doing?

Playing games.

Nine. The phones ringing.

Answer it.

Well, hello there.

This is Jeff Dillon, Fame Magazine.

Dillon, that's right.

Fame. Mm-hmm.

How'd you get my private number, Mr. Dillon?

Well, if you answer a few questions, I'll tell you.

Gryphon wants to know if you're back yet.

We're trying to get some information

about a Ms. Ellen Bowen.

I said her name was- I heard you.

Why are you asking?

She was found dead this morning.

Suicide.

Hello?

Thomas Mr. Dillon,

if either you or your magazine

try to connect me In any way with that young woman,

I'll sue you both for everything you've got.

I don't know anybody named Ellen Bowen.

In that case, how did you know she was a young woman?

Struck blood.

What did Gryphon want?

Oh, he said he'd be right up, not to go away.

Uh-nuh.

It was a big shot with the initials TLC

and a private phone in his office.

Nearly faints when he is asked about a dead girl

named Ellen Bowen.

He might have been involved with her.

He's the right sex for it.

Now why didn't I think of that?

Look Dickie Bird, go down to the circulation department

and let them run these initials through the cherry picker.

See what they come up with, huh?

Gotcha. Right.

That was a little fast for me.

Circulation department.

They've got big card machines that go zip

and answer questions.

See if there's a subscriber with the initials TLC.

Hi, Griff.

Biscayne Apartments.

Ms. Belle Lamar, please.

That's a nice tie you've got.

Hello? Hello, Ms. Lamar.

This is Jeff Dillon calling of "Fame Magazine."

I'm a friend of Ellen Bowen.

A friend of Ellen Bowen?

That's right. Do you know ner?

I'm not sure.

Where does she live?

She doesn't anymore.

She was found dead this morning, suicide.

That's why I'm calling.

Oh, no. Hey, listen, I'm going out.

I cant talk to you now anyway.

I don't know her. I never heard of anybody that name.

Just leave me alone.

Hello? Hello? Hello?

Are you through talking to Ms. Lamar?

Yeah, I guess I..

This is the desk of the Biscayne Apartments, isn't it?

Well now look, there's 10 bucks in it for you

if you can tell me where Ms. Lamar goes when she leaves.

I'll be over later, okay?

Make it 20 and I'll follow her.

That's a deal.

What are you doing?

I don't know yet.

So far I'm just making people drop their teeth.

Yeah, well, speaking of that, what'd you do to Larkin?

He said you walked out on him.

Well, he was talking about money

and you know how that makes me feel, Griff.

Anyway, Peggy got his whole life story on tape.

Didn't you, Peg?

Not that we'll ever use it.

That's what I came in to tell you about.

The state convention just threw Larkin's name

out of the primary, so we scrubbed him.

If he isn't good enough for the voters,

he isn't good enough for us.

Good thinking. Right, Peggy?

Did you get anything?

Thomas L. Cruikshank, Vice President, Osirus Mutual Fund.

All American halfback, 1948.

He married that tobacco heiress, they have two children.

They live in Bel Air.

The only other TLC ran a hand laundry.

Is this the office number? Yes.

Hey, well wait a minute, Griff.

I think we have something here.

Receptionist Osirus Mutual Fund, good morning.

Mr. Cruikshank, please. Peggy, fill Griff in.

Mr. Cruikshank’'s office.

Is he there, please?

This is the District Attorney's office calling.

Yes, this is Mr. Cruikshank.

What can I do for you?

Mr. Cruikshank, were checking into the death

of Ms. Ellen Bowen.

Now we know, don't we?

What's there to know ?

Some girl kills herself in a plush hotel

and nobody wants to admit that they know her.

I wouldn't, either.

There's a story in this, Griff, I can feel it.

Why don't you write about three inches

of ain't it a shame and forget it?

Wed need pictures to get any more out of it.

Well, Peggy knows somebody in the police department.

In charge of file pictures, don't you, Peggy? Hmm?

Yeah, I do.

Very well.

He's mad about me. Cost you a hundred dollars, though.

50 is the most it would cost, Peggy.

It's just not our kind of a story.

Human interest, it's more of a newspaper.

Well, how often do we get a chance at human interest?

Now look, Griff, with Larkin scratched,

we've got the space and two days

before we lock up the phones.

Now let me take a crack at it.

I'm hooked on this, Griff. Please.

All right.

All right, but if you go dry,

just get out from under quick.

Right. Right.

If you didn't nave this,

you wouldn't have anything at all.

And by the way, I never saw this.

Police catch you with it.

You eat it, not me.

A regular prince.

Oh, let me try one.

All right.

All right, try the one on Purdy. P-U-R-D-Y, Purdy.

Yeah. Uh-huh, this is he.

Who wants to see me?

Ben Welcome?

Well, who's Ben Welcome?

What's the address?

Uh-huh. Yeah.

I've got it.

What does he wanna see me about?

Hello?

Hello?

Hello, may I speak to Mr. Purdy, please?

Well, Ms. Purdy, then.

Research. This is Jeff Dillon.

Will you do me a favour? Look up Ben Welcome for me.

I think he was before some congressional committee

a couple of years back, if I remember correctly.

Yeah, I'll hang on.

It's a Ms. Purdy.

She isn't in yet, but some kind of a big party going on.

Oh, and while you're at it,

get the address of the Biscayne Apartments for me.

Yeah.

Yeah. Ben Welcome, that's right.

Gambling syndicate?

Yeah, that’s him. That's him.

Is that big potatoes or small?

That big?

Okay, thanks. Thank you very much.

Biscayne Apartments is only three blocks across town.

That's where I'll go first then, Ms. Purdy's party.

I hope her name its Polly and she's pretty.

Then I'll be at Pretty Polly Purdy's party.

Eating pickled peppers, I presume.

There it is, I knew I saw it.

Ben W. Ben Welcome, that is.

A real no-no, hun?

He's a very bad boy.

A very bad boy.

And he wants to see me.

I wonder how he knows he wants to see me.

Well, I guess I'll have to ask him.

Hey, what am I supposed to be doing

while you're out having all the fun?

Well, check the morgue.

See if anybody takes an interest in the body.

Oh, and print up those $50 photos

from your friend in the police department.

My friend can use the extra money.

Mm-hmm. For a new Nat.

That one makes my eyes water.

Biscayne Apartments.

I'll ring.

I spoke to you about Ms. Lamar, remember?

How could I forget a memorable occasion like that?

What'd you do to our little Belle?

She went out here like an astronaut.

Where did she go? She didn't say.

You gave her fits.

What'd you say to her?

Why?

She checked out, bag and baggage.

Didn't even leave a forwarding address.

That mean anything?

You must be dynamite.

I'm loaded.

Pat.

Yes.

He just left.

Oh, he believed me, all right. $20 worth. chuckles

I tell you, he believed me. He won't come back.

If I'd known how pretty he was,

I might not have arranged this.

Hey, why don't you want him to know you're here?

On, if it was me, I'a-

Hello? Hello?

Hello there. Hi.

Come in. Well, thank you.

Are you a friend of Hazel’s or George?

George. Good old George.

Oh, you just missed it. They just cut the cake.

Mm, what a shame.

Stay right here, I'll get you a piece.

No glass? Hmm?

No glass?

Oh, I just came in.

Why don't I just cup my hand?

Hold still.

Looks like everybody showed.

Nobody could believe it until they saw it.

I still cant believe It.

Hazel and George.

How about that? What do you know?

I wonder what they'll call the baby.

Boy, you don't fool around with chitchat, do you?

Party like this? Theres a lot more chit than chat.

All right, delicious. Who are you?

Jeff. Jeff Dillon.

Hi, Jef.

Leona. You like?

Mm-hnmm., I like.

And whose little friend are you?

George. Good old George.

George is too square to have any friends like you,

George is in the market.

Who do you know?

Marcia Davenport.

It would be Marcia. Want me to get her?

Heck no. No.

Just for that, you can have more champagne.

In fact, you can Nave the whole bottle.

My hand is getting cold.

Well, we don't want that to happen now, do we?

Would you give this to George? He needs it right away.

It's empty.

Well, you know, George, it has something to do with taxes.

Quite suddenly, I hate Marcia Davenport.

I'll give her up. If you ask me nicely.

Leona Purdy, darling.

Beat it, sweetie. I saw him first.

Purdy.

Leona Purdy.

Where we can we go and talk, Leona Purdy?

I thought you'd never ask.

You might as well know right away, I'm very affectionate.

Oh well, we have to take the bitter with the sweet.

Good kisser. Lots of practise, you'd think, right?

Bugle lessons, Boy Scout camp.

I bet you got a merit badge.

Trying to guess my weight? Handkerchief.

I got it.

Lipstick? No, I think I bit you.

What kind of toothpaste do you like?

Leona, it says in the book

that I'm supposed to do the pursuing, remember?

Well, I haven't read it,

I'm waiting til they make it into a movie.

Well, besides, there's something I have to ask you.

Yes, whatever it is.

It's about Ellen Bowen.

Are you going to make love to me?

Or are you going to talk a lot about other women?

Play nice children, but don't bite.

Well, the magic seems to be leaving.

That was one of your very dearest friends,

Marcia Davenport.

She was either in a terrible hurry

or she doesn't know you from a hot rock.

Any comment?

Would talking fast make a difference.

I didn't think so.

Well, there you are.

I'm a big, fat liar and I speak with crooked tongue Tonto.

Don't bother to show me to the door, I'll throw myself out.

Not so fast, buster.

I can get used to your being a stinker.

I just wont tune you in all the way, that's all.

No matter what. Now, fill me in.

I'm a writer. Features Fame Magazine.

I'm getting material for a story on Ellen Bowen.

What makes Ellen Bowen worth a story?

She killed herself sometime last night.

No.

Men.

I didn't mean to hit you with it so hard,

but I had to know.

For a lot of reasons, I had to know right away.

I'm all right.

I didn't know her very well, but I liked her.

It's such a surprise.

Shall I? Oh, yeah.

Hello.

Oh, no. All right, just a minute.

It happens to be for me, sorry. Go ahead, Peggy.

But someday, I'll tell you what bad timing is.

Do you want the good news first or the bad?

Well, kind of good news.

Somebody named Eddie's been calling the morgue

to identify the body.

He'll be there after work, he said.

Next, another call from Ben Welcome's office,

asking where you are.

You go there next, gotcha.

Better make it fast, here's the bad news.

You've got a five o clock meeting upstairs with his majesty,

our Managing Editor.

Tell him the rest of It.

It seems that your friend and mine, Thomas L. Cruikshank,

will be there and the police.

They are, it seems, interested in

having your heart on a plate.

Tell them what?

How do you spell it?

Okay, I'll make a note.

I have to leave. I'm not sure I care anymore.

I don't blame you.

But just in case a kind thought creeps in after I'm gone,

Where shall I find you?

Right here. I am your hostess.

Shall I send you a bread and butter note?

No. Bring it.

Would this evening be too soon?

Take a chance.

All righty.

Hey, you know anything that starts this badly

cant get worse.

We'll see.

I'm really a good hearted, clean living,

completely harmless guy.

In that case, don't come back.

Later.

Mr. Welcome is dressing. He'll be right down.

He does know you're here.

No, no, don't do that.

Mr. Welcome doesn't like daylight.

Mr. Welcome forget to wind his alarm clock?

I'm on the night shift, Mr. Dillon.

Nobody in my business makes a buck in daylight.

I get up with a feature race at San Francisco.

I've been doing my homework on you.

You're a good writer. Lots of style, easy to read.

Which finger do you use?

I guess that’s the way you guys work, huh?

Cut up the customer, see what comes up.

Hey, you want some coffee?

No, thanks. I'm in a hurry.

Mind if I tell you something?

Nice young fella like yourself?

Never go outta your way to make an enemy.

You get enough just moving around.

You said you wanted to see me. You said it twice.

As a matter of fact, I did.

See, I need a good writer.

Somebody with a little zing.

Hey, that sounds like you, doesn't it?

Well you see, I got these hotels here and there.

Cash flow, they call it. Lots of bookkeeping.

I pay my taxes, Mr. Dillon.

Very careful about that. I pay my taxes.

Now you gonna let me talk or you wanna tell me about things

I know more about than you?

Sorry. I got carried away.

I like you.

You know that? Really?

Yeah, I like you.

You jump a little slowly,

but you don't come all unglued,

talking to the big shot grifter.

You understand that kind of talk, Mr. Dillon?

Cheap, ain't it? The talk, I mean.

You learn it in prison.

I'm listening.

Well, I got this publicity department.

I mean, it's a public relations thing.

They write these stories, only they come out soft.

They block you.

Now, if I had a guy that could write like you indistinct.

How much does it pay?

How many weeks?

I like you, 20 weeks.

That much?

And I suppose I could even keep the job I've got now?

Just toss something off for you every once in a while?

As long as I was nice about this and that, right?

She's my secretary, she can hear.

Well, how did you call her? I didn't see you make a move.

Well, I got a button on the floor. Come on, Mr. Dillon.

Yes, you will, no, you won't. What is it, what?

You know already.

I'm going to keep right on digging up

facts about Ellen Bowen.

Is that why he called you, to take notes?

Well, then get the name right.

Ellen Bowen. B-O-W-E-N. Bowen.

Who's she?

Who phoned you and said I was asking questions?

TLC? Belle?

Don't know them.

You don't know them?

You knew Ellen Bowen.

Who said so? She did.

What'd she say?

She said, If anything happens to me, tell Ben.

He'll know what to do.

Who she Say that to? Me.

You re a liar.

How do you know?

Try again, kid.

Okay, I'll level.

There wasn't anything to connect you with her,

nothing at all.

Except that I got you a message a little too soon

after I started digging.

Listen, Ben, gimme a little background on her,

help identify her.

She'll be buried and that's the end of it.

You know, if she isn't identified

and nobody claims the body,

the police will have to keep looking.

They re looking now, Ben.

How d she die? Bye-bye pills.

Is that straight? Cross my heart.

How long did you know her? A couple of years maybe?

What was she, then? 21, 22 years old?

She must have really been something in those days.

A fuzzy pink peach right off the tree.

Beautiful, young, full of juice.

She had the prettiest hair and the whitest skin I ever saw.

Just seeing her lying there on that mouldy carpet all alone.

Stone cold. Her wrist was cold when I touched it.

Who drove her to the wall, Ben?

Ah, Carla, that’s enough. He gets the idea.

Now you know why I called her.

A little high class secretarial work.

I used to have a bodyguard.

One of those guys with his nose right next to his ear.

You know one of these here.

Every place we went, people used to stare and look at him,

‘cause he was so tough looking.

He had no class at all.

She threw him out. Will you believe it?

She threw him out by herself. Like an audition scene.

I think you better go now.

See, I told you why it gets embarrassing for a fella.

One more thing.

This dame you're bleating about.

Any connection with me is only in your head right now.

Be a good kid, keep it there. Medicare will love you for it.

You, huh? Couldnt' wake me up and ask me about it, huh?

No.

You had to go and call him

and then you wake me up when it's too late.

You had to do that.

Afternoon, girls.

Hi, Margie. Hi.

They're all here.

Maybe you wish you stayed in Africa.

What happened to your forehead?

I shaved too high.

Any steam coming out?

Well, just an occasional scream of agony.

What did you do to the police?

I don't know, they like to pick on me.

Well, wish me luck.

Hold this for me just in case.

If I come out running, hand it to me as I come by.

Okay, Jeff.

I'd call it criminal intimidation,

posing as the district attorney.

I think you know the cast of characters.

Yes, sir.

They want to hang you by the thumbs.

I don't care what you do with him.

I just got a few questions I want answered.

Correction, Mr. Cruikshank wants you strung up.

Maybe we will.

Now who's first?

I am.

Dillon, how did you find out this girl's real name?

I mean, we couldn't make it until we heard from him.

And now did you get his name in connection with her?

I told you, there was no connection.

I suddenly remembered that I met her once,

at an after theatre party, and that was all.

Dillon, please. Where are you getting your stuff?

I don't think I Nave to tell you that.

That's privileged information.

You know, like doctors and lawyers.

Anyway, there's no crime involved in this case. As of now.

You better be right, Dillon.

You better be clean,

because you're up to here in our business.

It's my business, too.

Now your job, as I understand it,

is to write factual material,

not irresponsible insinuations.

Here you are, Lieutenant.

Oh, thank you, honey.

I haven't written anything yet. Mr. Cruikshank.

When do you do, do you intend to

connect me with this girl?

There was a connection. You just admitted it.

Which is more than you did when I phoned you this morning.

And you're obviously wetting your shirt

or you wouldn't be here.

Jeff, that's enough. You're way off base.

I told you face to face to lay off the story.

You remember that, don't you?

Well, do you?

Sure, sure, I remember.

So long, friend.

Dillon, what's got you so hooked on this Dame? What?

Mostly its because every time I mention her name

to people, they suddenly leave town

or start pounding on a desk or me.

And where do you get the names

of all these nervous people?

Where?

Uh..

Crystal ball I keep in my desk.

All right, all right.

We're just making the same circles.

Lewis.

Do you wanna put the arm on him?

Not yet.

Then I guess that takes care of you.

Mr. Cruikshank, how much blood do you want?

I want him to stopped cold.

If you wont do it, I'm very close to your board chairman,

Mr. Carl Janus.

Nice fella, our Chairman of the Board.

Would it cool you off if I fire Dillon?

Guess that's it.

You re fired.

Thanks for your time. I enjoyed it.

Well, you don't need me anymore.

I'll say when.

Howard, you can take this job-

I've been told before what I can do with a job.

Where'd these pictures come from?

Police files.

I've got a pipeline, man inside.

He really believes that, doesn't he?

Peggy Chan, a girl in my office.

She's my new editorial assistant.

See that she gets a bonus.

It's already taken care of. New hat.

Can she write?

If she writes the way she talks, she's a genius.

I'll remember that.

Tell me, Jeff, which one of these pictures

do you think would-

like the one where she looks..

She looks very young, like a little girl.

Next week's cover. It's got a good feel to it.

Spend what you nave to if you have to, but don't go crazy.

Hey, I couldn't be happier, but I thought..

You know Griff, I once had a boss like you.

I couldn't do a thing about him, at the time.

How much money are we paying you a year?

30. Thousand.

That's an awful lot of money to pay for oatmeal.

Now you leave.

Busy day.

How did you get involved with this dead floozy?

Don't know.

She looked young, unused

And everybody was so anxious

to just sweep her under the nearest rug.

Bad case of indignation, I guess.

Hmm. Bleeding hearts are out of style this year.

Hit me with a stick. I just may do that.

Now, back to work.

Wanna know where I'm getting my information?

No.

No, if anyone goes to jail for withholding evidence,

it's you, sweetheart.

Griff learned how to get out from under by watching me.

You know, you're not so tough.

Beat It. With pleasure.

Hi, Peg.

I got your message, is he still here?

Yeah, he's in there now, looking at the body.

Did you get his name? Eddie Franchot.

1438 Bank Street. Oh, good.

What are you doing? You got a story going?

Well, let's hear it.

Are you ready? Mm-hmm.

This week in a luxury city hotel

died a girl nobody knew.

Lovely even in death, star tossed on the city heap was she.

Oh, hey, that's something.

Love that German syntax.

Brings a lump.

I'm supposed to be your editorial assistant.

We call you that instead of giving you a raise.

I was only trying my wings.

Hey, you wanna rough out this story? Okay.

But you'll use 10 word sentences and no commas.

On listen, break this down. Bring it back to the office.

Call every name, every number, anything you can get.

I'll chase people down and keep phoning in.

Where will you be later if anything comes up?

You're too young.

Hey, action. Let's go.

The name, we got. Address.

Oh yeah, the relationship to the deceased. Hi, Jeff.

What-

Husband. Ex-husband.

We were divorced three years ago.

Next of kin. You know, family?

No family except me.

Her brother's dead.

You have to nave all this?

Late this afternoon somebody put up $500

for a funeral for her.

If that wasn't family, who was it? You?

Do I look like it was me?

Jeff Well, who was it then?

Jeff Dillon, Fame Magazine. I'm doing a story on her.

What for? Who cares when somebody dies?

Everybody dies, so what?

don't you think a little attention

ought to be paid to her?

You were married to her.

I imagine you must have been in love with her, more or less.

I never stopped, not for a minute even. Not even now.

Okay. Okay, you loved her, she loved you.

Then what happened?

Mind your own business.

It's over, isn't it? I mean, there it is in black and white.

You fall down dead, he types it out nice and neat.

All the traffic lights turn green

and everything goes right on like before.

So let it go, let it go. It's over.

We just cant let her die like that,

without anybody caring.

I cant do it and I didn't even know her.

Is there money in it?

I mean for me.

You re the sensitive type, I can see that.

Well, me, I'm hungry, one of the all time great losers.

You wanna know anything about it? It'll cost you something.

It cost me plenty.

Smells in here. You think I wouldn't mind.

Listen, I didn't ask to be born.

If you had, you'd have been turned down.

Lemme see.

What about that $500 for the funeral money?

Oh, plain money order.

Messenger brought it in an envelope.

Was there anything on the envelope?

Like Osiris Mutual fund, maybe?

Just a plain envelope.

You wanted something?

No, just an idea. Thanks.

Drop around. Always glad to see a live one.

Okay, Lazarus.

Well, you get around, don't you?

Get in? Why not?

Certainly.

I have a date.

I'd hate to need medical attention beforehand.

Where you heading?

Downtown.

Tell Marty the address.

Oh, no thanks. I'll be able to get there somehow.

You'll get there somehow.

I'm sorry about you losing your job.

That's the way it goes.

Today a hero, tomorrow, a bum.

I just got the feeling I lost a couple of points.

He did get fired, didn't he?

All right, shake him.

Do me a favour. Get cute.

What are you looking for? Maybe I can help you out, fresh.

Don't forget to look under his lapels.

I always used to Keep my bookie sheets under my lapels.

Now that’s where I always keep them.

You know, this is a waste of time. I ditched it.

You ditched what? Whatever you're looking for.

You know nobody likes to hurt news writers.

Now you know that, huh?

I know that.

And I’m counting on it.

Next time,

don't.

Ta-da.

I gave you up long ago. What time is it?

Three diamonds after ruby.

Were you getting ready for bed?

Not yet.

Come on in, I've got something hot waiting for you

in the kitchen.

Cute.

Have you eaten?

No, I thought we'd go out somewhere.

And you thought wrong.

I decided to impress you with my cooking right away.

Well, I'm impressed.

Hey, aren't you going to kiss me or something?

I'm afraid of taking up too much of your time.

I'll have you know my psychoanalyst approves of you.

Incidentally, shes all paid up. My mother is never sick.

I already have a mink coat

and my teeth are absolutely magnificent.

Does that suggest anything to you?

Terror. Quivering terror.

Don't fight it. You haven't got a chance, you're captured.

Hey, would you like to pose in the nude for me?

No. No, I would not like to pose in the nude for you.

I've thought it over very carefully and the answer is no,

I would not like to pose in the nude for you.

But I'm an artist. There's nothing wrong with it.

It's like, it's strictly professional,

like a doctor or a lawyer.

Lawyer? Well, anyway, how about it?

No, Leona, N-O.

What are you against, posing or nudity?

Neither. I catch coldies.

Leona, I cant make up my mind about you.

You re not exactly the girl next door type.

You need something.

Either a spanking or some Doris Day lessons.

Now look, if we re going to make big circles together

and it looks as though we are,

you'll nave to quit bumping into me on the turn, okay?

Yes, oh mighty lord and master.

You say, me do.

Phone ring, me go?

Mm-hmm.

Hello?

Now I am mad.

I am really mad!

Don't tell me. Is that for me?

It's for me.

And it’s a girl, too. Just in case of tithes.

Is this you, Peggy? No, no, don't answer.

It has to be you. Now, listen.

Did I tell you I'd be at this number?

How many places did you try before you called me here?

Now what is it you want, you dynamite-

I'm supposed to be efficient, aren't I?

I mean, you told me to keep track of things

while you're out somewhere doing whatever it is

you're doing out somewhere that you're so mad about

I did not, I got straight A's in English.

All right.

Eddie Franchot called, wanted to talk to you,

Said it was urgent.

Also, I tracked down that messenger service

that delivered the money order to the morgue.

The money came from Dizzy Shaner.

Yeah, that's him, he-

Yeah, the one that played shortstop

for the Red Sox a couple years ago.

No, I don't know his address.

You can look it up for yourself, I'm going home.

Don't you get any time off of bad behaviour?

I'll have to ask.

What happened to the girl I was with?

I thought you might prefer brunettes.

There must be some way to get in gear with you.

Well, don't blow any fuses.

I have to go see an ex-ballplayer named Dizzy Shaner.

Maybe he likes girls.

He's a little before your time or I'd take you with me.

Then I have to go see a man named Franchot.

They mean anything to you?

Eddie Franchot? Mm-hmm.

He used to be married to Ellen for about 20 minutes.

Did you know her then or after?

After.

She used to model for me. I was doing fashion ads then.

I remember I had a lot of trouble making her look shapeless.

Did Ellen ever talk about Franchnot?

Why they got divorced, for instance?

He was some kind of a promoter.

He got financing together for Broadway shows

and summer theatre like that.

And something happened

and he lost all of his money, if he ever had any.

Did Ellen ever say what happened?

Well, I kind of got the impression that..

While he was in some kind of trouble,

he got beaten up, hurt.

I mean, really bad. It did something to him.

She said whenever the phone rang, he'd shake all over.

Finally, he made her give him a divorce.

She used to call me off and on, about work usually.

And then about a year ago, she didn't need a job anymore.

She became the mistress

of Mr. Thomas L. Cruikshank of Bel Air.

You don't miss much, do you?

Except me.

Have you any idea what you are doing to my ego?

If you pat me, buster,

I am going to break a few of your most useful bones.

Now believe me,

someday we'll look back on all this and we'll chuckle.

I'll start without you. I'll see you tomorrow?

Breakfast? Lunch.

I'll feed you with raisins and I'll ply you with wine.

I'll loosen you up.

If I were any looser, I'd come apart!

Are you worth all this trouble?

Yeah.

Bits and pieces.

Bits and pieces.

Put ‘em together, you got something.

People and watches, they're all the same.

What do you want?

You sent a money order for $500

to pay for Ellen Bowens funeral.

We'll start with that.

Do you smoke cigars, Mr. Dillon?

Help yourself, they re good cigars. I'm not allowed.

Stupid doctors think I care

whether they bother to keep me alive or not.

But I don't wanna blow another man's batting average,

so I don't smoke.

But if you should light up and happen to puff my way,

I wouldn't mind it a whole lot.

Sure.

You see this thing I'm in?

This body.

It used to be something.

I mean, I was glad to live in it.

Keep it up all night,

fill it full of booze, chase it around like an alley cat

and get it to play first class baseball

every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

What's left of it.

It's for the doctors to practise on.

What do you care if I chip in for somebody's funeral?

Well, why shouldn't I?

Ellen Bowen was important to a lot of people, why you?

She worked for me.

Kept house, cooked, looked after me, even kept me clean.

Imagine a girl like that with such a lousy job.

She didn't seem to mind.

I never heard a gripe out of her.

She never even left the house,

except to go to the store or something.

How long was she here?

About a year, ‘til last August.

I'm surprised she stayed that long.

Such a lousy job.

Well, how did you meet her?

I mean, how did it happen that she was working for you?

My nephew fixed it.

He Knew I needed somebody, so he brought her around.

I told her it was a lousy job, but she just smiled.

She liked baseball.

Of course, she was a Yankee fan.

Women.

They're all Yankee fans. Who knows why?

You know,

there s some words a man my age

don't use anymore because they don't sound right.

But about her..

Jeff You loved her.

Yeah.

Come on, you gonna smoke that heater

or just let it burn down?

Tell me.

When she..

Was there any pain?

I wouldn't like to think there was any pain.

Jeff| She looked very peaceful.

She couldn't have been very peaceful.

And done what she did.

But I could write a book about hurting.

I just wouldn't like to think it hurt her.

Blow on me, will you? Blow on me.

Sure.

Why did leave?

I don't know. Such a lousy job, I guess.

Was there anything unusual just before she left,

like phone calls or visitors maybe?

Yeah, she did get some phone calls.

A dame with a funny name, I remember.

Like a stripper.

Belle Lamar? That could be it.

She fixed lunch that day, like always.

Then I found a note under the plate with the cottage cheese.

She knew I hated cottage cheese.

I always put it off to last.

Don't look for me.

You're a good person.

A good person, she says.

Signed, Ellen.

Shaner.

Could it be that she was sort of hiding out here?

What I mean is hiding from killers?

What would a girl like that know about killers?

You've got a lot of nerve.

Come in, it's open!

I ought to take that cigar away from you.

And besides, I got no respect for somebody

who puts the knock on somebody who's dead

and cant defend themselves.

Jeff Sorry.

Besides, you smoke like a Boy scout.

And how did you get here, pray tell?

Another vision in your crystal ball?

He sent funeral money to the morgue for Ellen Bowen.

Listen, I got a theory about you and your crystal ball.

Wanna hear it? Mm-mm.

Well, I'm gonna tell you anyway, so listen.

There's only one way you could have got

such a big lead on us, one way only.

Back there at that hotel, you picked up something.

An address book, a notebook, a diary, something.

That's what it says in my crystal ball.

You wanna search me?

Not if you don't care.

But ll tell you what I'm gonna do.

I'm gonna book you on suspicion,

right as soon as I get through here.

Mr. Shaner. I'm Lieutenant Lewis, police.

This is my partner, Flaherty.

Dizzy Hi.

Gee, Dizzy Shaner.

You know, I used to get a sore throat

yelling for you at Everett's Field.

You smoke cigars?

Nah, stomach.

Dillon!

Dillon!

Open up, Dillon!

Dillon, this is getting rough, Dillon!

Did it have anything to do with Ellen?

Eddie, try hard. Was it about Ellen?

I loved her. I always did.

Even after.

They worked me over, I had no guts after that.

Call the police. There's been a murder.

There's been a murder, call the police. Don't you care?

don't you care?

Where's the phone at? Can I use the phone?

Hey, hey.

Sorry mister, but I thought you was dead.

I've been thrown away.

Sorry, buddy. Better luck next time.

There you go.

Is that you, Peg?

Oh, don't you ever send me down to that fashion department

again, because I wont go.

They're freaky down there!

Did you get the makeup all right?

They wanted to put it on me.

When I finally told him it was for a man,

three of them followed me back up here

just to get a look at you.

Ah. Oh, boy. I wish I wouldn't smile.

I know something that'll prevent it.

There's a warrant out for your arrest.

Lieutenant Lewis has called here five times this morning

for you, frothing at the mouth.

Well, if you're going to froth, that's the place to do it.

One of them must have kicked me.

A golfer, looks like,

What's the matter? Am I bleeding or something?

You look like you're living broad just died.

Do you Nave to joke about everything?

You think I'm used to patching up men

that have been kicked around and practically killed?

You d think I'd had a lot of practise at doing this.

Feel good?

Not friendly. Not friendly at all.

More? No, no, no.

No, no thanks. No thanks.

Its Lieutenant Lewis again. He's really after you.

Don't blame him.

Every time I ask questions about Ellen Bowen,

somebody gets murdered.

Guess he has to figure I know something.

What do you know? A lot.

But there are one or two missing pieces.

I wish I knew why Eddie Franchot got killed.

Who done it? Who?

Welcome did it.

But I cant prove it, not yet anyway, but I will.

Because now I'm mad.

Hey.

What? Where did my story go?

I left it here for you to read.

Come on, give.

There's one thing I loathe and detest.

It's an ambitious 23-year-old kid with a lot of talent.

It's a good story, Peg.

I cut out a half inch of gee willickers and sent it in.

To print?

Me in Fame Magazine?’ To print?

You're not going to cry, are you?

Oh, Peg.

In your story, you quoted a woman who worked for Ellen.

Hazel Phillips, the housemaid.

Now how did you get onto her?

She was in the book, Hazel.

I went to see her last night.

She worked for Ellen and that guy that was keeping her,

Cruikshank, I guess. Mm-hmm.

The maid said there was some kind of fight, didn't she?

Yeah, beat her up, drunk.

Jealous, I guess.

Something about Ellen giving money to Franchot.

Anyway, the maid heard the whole thing.

It was very violent, she said.

And then Cruikshank came ripping out of the bedroom

and sent her home.

But she did hear a conversation

that Cruikshank had on the phone with a man named..

Are you ready?

Ben Welcome.

Jeff The next day the maid got two weeks notice, right?

Yeah.

But how? From Ellen Bowen personally?

I mean, did the maid ever actually see Ellen after that?

No, she got a letter from Cruikshank a few days later

with two weeks salary in It.

She never did see Ellen again.

OKay.

There had to be a favour in there somewhere.

It fits.

What does? I'll tell you later.

First, I'm going to tell Cruikshank a few things.

And I want you to keep tabs on him.

Find out where he goes and what he does.

As for me, I'm going to have lunch with a little girl.

Yeah. Oh, yeah, I'd love to Nave lunch.

I said, sure, Id love lunch.

I'll even pay for it, that's what I think of you.

Right now? I'm painting my portrait.

You wanna know what I have on?

I'm such a groovy model.

Oh, what time? I'll be there.

If it's a French restaurant, I might even come as I am.

Worry about that, lover.

How am I supposed to keep tabs on Cruikshank all day

if he stays in his office after you leave?

Well, that’s your problem, but do it.

We have others.

They'll be on every news stand in the country

day after tomorrow, about the same time as the funeral.

I warned you, you and that managing editor of yours,

there are laws against libel.

Something that turns out to be true

isn't libel anymore, Mr. Cruikshank.

Anything more you have to Say can be said to my attorney.

You thought you killed her, didn't you?

Thats how Ben welcome got such a hold on you.

You met her at a party and fell for her, a real flip.

But she was married and she wouldn't play games.

So you Nad her husband, Eddie Franchot, taken care of.

A couple of goons worked him over so bad,

he never really recovered from it.

And who would take care of a little chore like that

and never think twice if you did him a favour or two,

like financing him?

Why, Ben Welcome, that's who.

Get outta here. Not yet.

You re gonna Nave the whole banana, brother.

Ellen started letting you pay the bills for her.

What choice did she have?

But she gave most of the money to Eddie Franchot,

to keep him alive.

And when you heard about it, you beat on her.

You had a fight with her.

The maid heard the whole thing!

It was an accident.

She fell down.

I didn't mean to hurt her.

You thought you killed her.

And who would get rid of the body for you?

Well, your old friend, the favour man. Ben Welcome.

Only you hadn't really killed her.

He just let you think you had.

Why cut down the money tree?

At least I didn't kill her.

There isn;t any crime involved.

Well, there is now.

Eddie Franchot was shot to death last night.

Ellen Bowen was the reason.

Boy, she must Nave been first class

to hold you off so long, so hard.

And pretty desperate in the end to do

what she finally did to herself.

Tell me something. Mr. Thomas L. Cruikshank,

what do you see when you look in the mirror?

Waiter Salad for the gentleman?

Yes. Pour it right over him, please.

No tip if you do.

Yes, salad, thank you.

Tell me, lover,

what did you do for sleeping pills before you met me?

I'm sorry. Really, I am.

I was out all night. Really out.

Where?

You wouldn't believe it.

Well, I decided not to believe anything you say.

You know, you're something really different.

You're the first date I ever had who got makeup all over me.

Are you trying to tell me something?

I picked up a few bruises.

Underneath his fine pink bloom of skin,

I look like somebody who did it and ran.

I noticed your eye right away.

Is it hanging out again? Don't joke!

I really worry about you.

You re not doing anything dangerous, are you?

Hey, I'm really getting to you, aren't I?

Tell me.

Am I casting that magic spell?

AS a matter of fact, you are.

Only, there's one thing about us that really worries me.

Its something were both going to have to face together.

What if I get pregnant?

Oh, I'm so sorry, sir. I don't know how that happened.

Is there anything the matter with the coffee?

The coffee, sir? Anything that matter with with the coffee?

No, I just asked-

It's hot. The coffee.

Hot, hot, not, hot, not, very hot.

Hot coffee.

Hot.

Coffee. Hot. Hot.

Hot.

Pardon, mademoiselle.

I'll just be just a minute.

Just a minute.

Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no. This is one too many.

Now, look, bird girl. I thought I told you-

You told me to keep tabs on Cruikshank.

And I did as long as it meant anything.

I was in the outside office interviewing his secretary,

pretending I was doing a feature on sex and the career girl.

Be a good story incidentally.

Only how would you get the pictures?

Jeff whistling Ah, Cruikshank.

Well, Welcome arrived and they went into the office

and he and Cruikshank yelled for about a half an hour

until finally, Welcome left,

then Cruikshank made a phone call.

I'm not so sure I wanna work for you anymore.

Cruikshank? He killed himself.

End of story.

Not if I Knew what that last phone call was.

But you wouldn't nave known about that.

Oh, wouldn't I? Look at this.

When the secretary ran into the office,

I stole this list of all his phone calls

that he made before he died.

And this is the last one he made.

Biscayne Apartments, Miss Belle.

Belle Lamar.

I knew you wouldn't be so mad if you knew

what I interrupted you for.

Now, listen, the girl you're interrupting,

when she comes out, take her to the park

and buy some peanuts to feed the pigeons.

Would you do that?

Tell her I got run over.

It's the only thing she'll forgive me for.

Thanks, Peg.

Remember me?

The $20 sucker?

Friend of Belle Lamar,

who really didn't shake out after all.

Well, um, she came back.

Well, I would've called you,

put I didn't know who you are.

I've only been on this job a couple of weeks

and I don't know everybody.

Well, I don't hardly know anybody.

Okay, Okay, she came back. What's the apartment number?

A big girl like you.

What do you want?

Go away.

Please.

I can't. I've got no choice, I'm coming in.

Go away now! I'm coming in.

Come on! Come on, push.

Push your way in. I'm used to it, come on.

Why don't you leave it open?

I mean, let the world come in, huh?

I'm used to it.

What do you want anyway?

Your ego massaged, hmm?

A mother substitute?

A little bit of love?

Well, I know all about love.

I'm here about Ellen Bowen.

You're some kind of key to all this.

Keys.

Oh, cheerfully supplied.

Any size, any shape, any form.

This is where Ellen Bowen came when she left Dizzy Shaner.

She got a phone call from you and came here.

Then something happened that made her

decide to kill herself, what was that?

I mean, she had everything.

What happened here with Ellen?

Listen, Mr.

I have been in this room for nearly a week now.

I mean, staring at the walls.

Looking, thinking.

There's one thing I think is

I don't answer any questions.

None.

Because..

‘Cause this is my last cigarette.

Should I smoke it?

On no, that’s an important question, isn't it?

You know what I did this morning?

Do you know what I did?

I stole milk from down the hall.

Isn't that really important?

So is death and suicide and murder.

Like Eddie Franchot, do you hear me?

Belle screaming

You had to sniff around, huh?

You had to sniff around

until you found out everything.

You'd think.

Well, there's still a couple of pieces missing, wiseguy.

One thing.

Why was Francnot killed?

Why him?

He was completely harmless.

See, wiseguy ?

You don't know everything.

Now you never will.

Open up, it’s the police!

Hold it right where you are!

He got away, right down the fire escape.

Put out a bulletin.

Help me get out of this, will you?

Operator, how do you get the police?

A regular scientist.

That's probably the same gun

Welcome used on Franchot.

You lost one in your little crystal ball.

Ellen Bowen. No, she didn't commit suicide.

Postmortem came in this morning.

Those pills she took were practically 100% cyanide.

Well, that wraps it up.

I'm supposed to take it to Howard's office

the minute you okay it.

Marjorie, Jeff Dillon. I have to talk to him, it's urgent.

Take off the 30/30.

It's finished. No, it isn't.

Howard, listen.

I'm calling about the tag on the Ellen Bowen story.

Now it's okay as far as it goes,

But it isn t finished.

I know they re waiting to lock up the forms,

but there's something wrong.

I don't know what's wrong.

I just have a feeling there's more to it.

Welcome himself said there was,

but it didn't mean anything what I knew.

Well, why would he kid me?

Just to make me feel bad

while he was blowing my brains out the window?

Look, Howard. Howard, just give me one hour, okay? OkKay.

And if I come up empty,

I'll commit Hari Kari in your reception room.

You're way out on a limb.

I've been out on a limb so long

I feel like building a nest.

Why was Eddie Franchot killed?

I know the rest of it, But I..

Why Eddie Franchnot?

The only thing I can think of just doesn't make sense.

Hey! There you are!

I've been looking everywhere for you. Haven't I, Peggy?

Phone calls, messages. I've been desperate.

Isn't that right, Peggy?

Where is she? I kept saying to myself.

Why cant I find her? Where is she?

Where can she possibly be? Right, Peggy?

I told you she went riding when you didn't show up.

I told you.

Thanks, Peggy.

First of all, I do not take gifts from men.

And if I did, they wouldn't be peanuts!

Second, would you believe me if I told you

I'm actually sought after by men?

They call me, pester me for dates!

But not you! whip cracking

No. knowing you is a lot like being all alone in life.

So I nave decided to give you up.

What little there is of you.

Wait a minute. Now, let me explain.

Oh, talk, talk. I am sick of talk.

You wanna fight? Put em up!

Come on, you yellow belly.

Fight! Put ‘em up like a man!

Come on!

Now I know.

You love me.

Beat it, Peg.

She can stay. It's educational.

An ah. She has to turn in a story on that girl you...

Peggy, where did they take Belle Lamar?

To jail, protective custody.

How would you like to go to jail?

You're not going to stay, it's just a visit.

Okay. I'll change.

You can help me with the zipper.

Pleasure.

I'll watch, it's educational.

Let's go.

I still don't see what good it does,

dragging me all the way down here,

just to meet somebody Ive never even met before.

Leona, I explained it to you in the cab. Eddie Franchot.

Why would he get killed if all he did was go to the morgue

and identify his ex-wife, why?

There was only one possible reason. Only one.

The woman in the morgue wasn't Ellen.

Ellen Bowen, that's all.

You re Ellen Bowen.

It was Belle Lamar who died in the hotel, wasn't it?

She guessed most of the story.

I didn't tell her anything.

But she just kept after me all the time.

And then she-

She takes my luggage, my clothes.

I didn't have anything, I couldn't go anywhere.

She had your address book with her when she died.

She went to the hotel so she wouldn't be found

when she started to blackmail Welcome.

But he found her.

Then he started to look for you. That's where I came in.

Lucky for me.

I was beginning to think I was running out of luck.

Why did you go and stay with Belle Lamar?

Was she that good a friend of yours?

I arranged that.

I would've told you sooner,

but it just didn't seem to matter if Ellen was dead.

I couldn't tell you the truth.

I was afraid of him.

I'm still afraid.

You'll be safe here until he’s caught.

I like your guy. '

You could nave prepared me for her being alive.

I almost fainted.

I'm not sure I wanna talk to you anymore.

And people said we wouldn't last.

Somebody following us.

I know.

10 bucks if you lose them.

Hold on tight.

There you go.

You stay with him and go to the police.

That street up ahead.

Cut in fast, hit the brakes, and I'll jump out.

Leona!

Go get him.

Look for keys.

This one!

Get in the back and stay down.

No matter what happens, stay down.

Stay down.

Whenever I say anything nice to anybody around here,

it costs me a raise.

But I guess this time it's worth it.

I'm doing something that I don't very often do.

I'm making a personal trip

to your office to congratulate you.

This is the first time on record

that I remember a weekly magazine hitting the streets

with an up to the minute news item before all the dailies.

Well done. Well done, all of you.

Accolade.

And you young lady, you write like an angel.

How did you know that I-

I must have forgotten to take your name off, Peg.

And you, Jeff. What can I say to you?

How about take a few weeks off, young man?

Oh, he wouldn't say that.

Would you? No.

See, I told you, he wouldn't say that.

Tell him you quit.

I quit.

Glenn Now, see here, young lady.

I'd be grateful if you keep

your pretty little nose outta my business.

Jeff works for me.

Tell him the decision you made.

We're going away together.

We're going away together. On a honeymoon.

On a honeymoon.

We might even get married.

You cant leave now, I need you here.

I've got a big story coming up and nobody to handle it.

If you leave, I'll fire you.

You don't care. I don't care.

You'll never work again.

I'll see to it that you don't have a pot to put flowers in.

Now, now wait.

Wait a minute.

I was only negotiating. I really do need you.

I might have to do some work myself

if you don't stick around.

It's not that Im against sentiment.

You wouldn't believe it, but I'm sentimental to a fault.

rotary spinning

Leona I'll do it. I like to do it.

Men wear such interesting clothes.

Does that sound terrible?

Doesnt bother me.

It'll get all rumpled.

No. What's the matter?

Maybe Im shy.

You need a drink, maybe.

I like your paintings.

Moulage, Arshile Gorky.

And that one, Deselle.

I wish I could afford a Deselle.

When I first came here, I thought they were copies.

I don't believe in imitations.

Neither do I.

I nate phonies.

I was going to tell you.

No, you weren't.

I've been giving you a chance at it, a long chance.

Ever since this afternoon.

When it turned out you were the reason

Ellen went to stay with Belle Lamar.

Is that so terrible?

Not if you told me about it.

I would've chewed it over a little,

and that would've been the end of it.

But you didn't tell me. And there had to be a reason.

You were involved, up to your pretty ears.

You didn't know what was going on.

I know enough and I know the name of the game, blackmail.

You were collecting from Ben Welcome.

Ever since he got Cruikshank on the hook, probably.

A long time.

Enough to start collecting art and diamonds.

I could have been given-

No more lies! I've had enough.

Well, what does it matter?

Making a man like Welcome pay for what he'd done?

I didn't mean any harm.

I didn't know it was gonna turn out that way.

No.

You sold me out all along the way.

Did you think I'd never get around to wondering

now Welcome always Knew where I'd be and what I was doing?

He was always ahead of me.

At the morgue, Franchot’s place, all the way.

Even at Belle Lamar's apartment. There he was, waiting.

He had to be getting phone calls, from you.

Who didn't mean any harm.

I was afraid of him!

You had the best reason, sweetie baby.

You were driving him up the wall.

And this afternoon at the garage,

when you wouldn't stay in the taxi and go for the police.

You Knew he wouldn't even stop to take care of me.

It was you he was after.

I was just an extra added attraction.

You were the target.

It's over now.

Cant it be really over?

Oh, it is.

30/30, doll girl. End of story.

I'll miss you.

I don't think I'll ever quite forget you, but I'll try.

And there'll be time, about 10 years is my guess.

don't call me when you get out, I'll call you.

You re not going to- I already have.

Hand mailed special delivery.

You better start thinking about lawyers

and bail and what you'll wear in court.

Oh, I get it now.

It's just a joke.

You re just joking.

I should have known you wouldn't really-

That girl at your office said

you left a message for us to come here.

Pretty Polly Purdy here. She arranged things for money.

Blackmail.

Maybe she even had something to do with Belle Lamar

getting a surprise among her sleeping tablets.

Well, you ask her the details.

The party is over for me.

You still don't know all of it.

You don't know one thing.

The most important part.

I fell in love with you. I would've changed for you.

I really would've changed.

If you'd only kept quiet.

That's the trouble.

I would've changed too, Leona.

I got your message and I did what you asked.

What happened?

I don't wanna talk about it right now.

I wont wanna talk about it tomorrow either,

or the day after.

What did you do to yourself?

Why?

I don't know, you look different. Better.

Maybe I'm just getting used to you.

What are you sitting around for?

I don't have anything to do.

Well, find something to do.

As a matter of fact, you can get me some aspirin.

And stop hunching over the way you do!

Didn't they teach you anything

at that idiotic school you went to?

Among other things,

I happened to nave had the best posture

in the entire school.

I'll bet you did.

sync and corrected by Davantshe