Original subtitles

Friday at Pizza Flicks.

Before Baker Street, the curling pipe

smoke and the role of a lifetime, the

Basil Wrathbone was Pho, the cultured

amateur sleuth created by novelist SS

Vanine. When a man known as cockroin is

found with an arrow through his heart

and a lone bishop left at his side, it's

no nursery rhyme, but a deadly game in

which the next move could be checkmate.

Hallelujah.

Hallelujah. Oh,

you are

you?

Pine,

what is it, sir?

Oh,

it's Mr. Robbins, sir.

>> Fine. Young Sperling was here with him

this morning. See if he's still around.

Well, I called the district attorney.

>> Yes, sir.

>> Good morning, professor. How are you

this beautiful morning? Terrible thing

has happened. A young man, a friend of

my nieces, has been murdered at my

house.

>> Try to calm yourself, professor. I'll

get pants on this at once. In the

meantime, give me all the details you

can over the phone.

>> Well, in the first place, I said I heard

it.

>> It's Mr. Michael, sir. He seemed rather

urgent. Would you speak to him?

>> Certainly.

I say old fella, don't you ever sleep.

>> There's been a murder committed, Philo,

at the home of Professor Dard.

>> Professor Dard?

>> That interests me. Malcolm, lead on.

>> A man named Robin was killed with a bow

and arrow.

>> Robin killed with an arrow.

My dear fellow, confess you've been on a

wild chase with Mother Goose.

>> No, that's the story.

>> A fairy tale in terms of blood, eh?

All right, madam.

I'll meet you there in half an hour.

Dark suit, dark hat, dark tie, and um

bring me more hot coffee.

>> Very good, sir.

>> Uh Yama,

look on my reference shelf. Bring me um

Dr. Elmer's book on archery,

the home book of verse, and the German

dictionary.

>> Very good, sir.

What do you know about this officer?

>> The body's in the yard, sir. Sergeant

Heath is in charge. Says he has a case

frightly solved, sir.

converted this old garden into an

archery range.

>> Oh yeah, Mr. L is quite

>> I think you find this very

>> Good morning.

>> Good morning, sir. Hello, Mr. Man. Nice

to see you, sir.

>> Oh, sorry they troubled you, Mr. Martin.

It's an open and chef case. My eyes got

him practically solved right now.

Firstderee murder.

>> How nice for you, Sergeant. But as long

as I'm here, you don't mind if I take a

little look around, do you?

>> No. Go as far as you like.

>> Thank you, Sergeant. Come over here.

>> Over here, Mr. Marge.

>> Yes, Mr. Man. How about the bow that

fired the arrow?

>> Well, that was our one best bet. But one

of the servants picked it up in the

alley here and carried it into the

archery room and gummed up the

fingerprints.

>> What have you done about Sperling? Oh,

we got his address. He lives up

Westchester away. A couple of my men are

bringing him here now.

>> Very good. Oh, officer.

>> Yes, sir. Would you mind illustrating a

point for us? Not at all, sir. Now, when

I touch you with my stick, I want you to

fall over backwards as if you've been

hit in the heart with an arrow.

>> Yes, sir. Now, stand uh just where you

are. That'll do. Thank you. Ready? Yes,

Sergeant.

You will notice that the first instinct

of a man shot in a vital organ is to

draw in his arm towards the womb.

His legs are doubled up.

You will also notice that his hand has

fallen at his head.

Now, Sergeant,

in Robin's case, the arms and legs are

straightened out, and his hat

not only lies at his feet, but is a good

foot and a half away from

All right, officer. That will be all.

Thank you.

Now, we're wasting our time, Mr.

Markhamm. That's the good of all these

theories. Sperling's the boy we want and

when my men bring him in the case will

be closed. Why Sperling was probably in

love with the Galard girl. Have a scrap

with Robin. Grabs a bow and arrow

follows Robin outside. Shoots him

through the heart and beats it.

>> Sergeant, you're much too trusting for

this deceitful world. If everything

happened as neatly as that, life would

be very simple and uh very dull.

>> Yes, but finally now wait a minute,

Marcus.

Don't ignore the fact that Robin was

facing the arrow and therefore would

have had time to cover himself.

More by Joe, I've overlooked something.

When a man is stabbed in the heart,

there is almost sure to be an immediate

flow of blood, especially when the tip

of the weapon is larger than the shaft.

>> Yes, that's all. It's uh it's quite

possible, Sergeant, that you'll find

some blood spots on the floor of the um

uh the archery room. Look and see, will

you

see here, Van? What's in your mind? Oh,

numberless things.

They all boil down to the notion that

Robin wasn't killed with a bow and arrow

at all. Hang at it all, Mr. Vance. You

had the dope. All right. There's a dark

stain on the cement floor and the

coroner here says it's human blood.

>> Good morning, doctor.

>> Good morning.

>> You fellas must have an arrangement with

these people. Every time I have a day

off, they go and get themselves

murdered. And the nice fancy murder you

picked out for me this time.

>> Uh,

if I were you, doctor, I should uh I

should examine the base of the skull for

a bad fracture.

Why? Your suspicions were right, Vance.

The skull is fractured and badly, too.

Looks like he'd had a crushing blow.

>> Professor and his niece are ready for

you in the archery room, sir.

>> All right, Sergeant. You're in charge.

>> That's it.

>> Oh, Sergeant.

>> Yeah. Just because this case looks so

simple. I trust you happen to be elected

to take your usual excellent

photographs.

>> Why certainly not, sir. They're being

developed right now.

>> Thank you, D.

>> Hey, come on.

Get busy and take these pictures. What's

the idea? You just spending the day here

or something?

>> Dave.

>> Oh, good morning, Professor.

>> Oh, Mark.

>> I regret that a tragedy should be the

reason for this meeting.

>> Yes.

>> You remember my niece, don't you?

>> Yes, indeed.

I want you both to meet Mr. Pho.

>> How'd you do, sir?

>> If you tell him just what you know of

the tragedy, he'd be a great help to us.

>> Won't you sit down, gentlemen?

>> You sit down, my dear, will you?

Well,

I told Malcolm practically everything

that I knew over the telephone.

Robin and Spering called Sebel, but she

was out playing tennis.

I heard them talking up in the drawing

room for a few minutes and then they

came on down here. I worked in my study

for about an hour and I thought I heard

a noise. It sounded like a scream, but I

couldn't be sure because the the maid

was using the vacuum in the hall. Then I

I stepped out onto the balcony

and saw the body of Paul Robin.

The rest you know

about that uh scream, Professor.

Could you be at all sure from what

direction it came?

>> I know I couldn't be sure that it was a

scream that I heard. It might have been

an automobile siren. We hear so many

traffic noises from the drive.

>> Where were the other members of your

household at the time of the murder?

>> The cook had gone to market fell without

playing tennis.

Mr. Anderson, my adopted son, had left

for the university.

We phoned to him, but he wasn't there.

So, we left him a message. Oh, I do hope

they've been able to find him by now.

>> Oh, I see.

I say

there's an arrow missing here.

>> That's strange.

>> It's been taken in great haste, too.

This holder

has been badly bent.

>> Poor cockroin.

Cockroin.

>> Oh, we all called him that. We did it to

him.

>> Mr. Lard, did you happen to know by any

chance that Sperling in German means

sparrow?

>> Yes. Yes, I know.

>> Do you speak German?

>> No.

>> And how did you know that Sperling means

sparrow?

>> Well, the other day, Robin stepped out

onto the archery range just as Mrs.

Sperling aimed at a target. Mr. Darn was

watching and called to Robin. Be

careful. You're a [ __ ] robin and that

archer is a sparrow.

>> Mr. Arnison seems very well acquainted

with his nursery rhymes.

>> What happened here?

>> Just a minute. Where do you think you're

going?

>> I'm Ericson. I live here. I have a

telephone call for Of course. If you

don't want me to come in, that's all

right for me.

>> I'm sorry. I didn't know who you were.

>> Why is this house littered with

policemen who at best are hardly

ornamental?

>> There's been a murder, sir. A young man.

They've been expecting you, so you'll

get the details inside. A murder.

>> Come on, Johnny. Come on.

>> Mother, I want to go home cuz I'm

hungry.

>> Mother's busy. There is

Eric,

>> I'm so glad you're here. Robin's been

killed.

>> Robin. Cockroin.

>> Well, his name was against him, wasn't

it?

>> Oh, please don't don't be cynical now

for my sister.

>> I'm sorry, darling.

>> And and Johnny.

Oh, I I know how hard this is for you,

Johnny. What What great pals you and

Robin work.

>> I I can't believe it.

>> Hello, Marc. Good morning.

>> Morning. Mr. Vance, Mr. Anderson.

Morning. How are you? This is John, one

of my students. Oh, yeah.

>> Robin was the best friend I had in the

world.

And I'm going to find the man who

murdered him.

Taking death tragically is one of the

weaknesses of you. So, we have a real

murder mystery, have we? Might I be

entrusted with the details?

>> Where were Robin and Sperling when you

left?

>> Downstairs in the archery room.

>> Is that so?

Well, did you overhear anything they

said?

>> I don't listen at keyhold.

>> Well, little bright eyes, they ought to

erect a statue to you for being the

first woman who don't.

Was there anybody else in the archery

room when you left this morning?

>> I thought I heard Mr. Ducker,

but he sneaks in and out at all hours of

the day and night.

>> Wow.

Now we're getting somewhere.

>> You I wish you'd tell me all about this

case and let me work it out along

scientific lines of

>> Of course. We couldn't very well promise

to tell everything.

It might be indiscreet. Wait a minute.

Wait a minute, Malcolm. I really don't

see any reason why Mr. Anderson

shouldn't apply his scientific knowledge

to this crime. I'm quite sure he can be

depended upon.

Oh, I'm very dependable.

>> Well, that if you

>> Mr. Arnison,

>> the first thing you can do to help us is

to tell us something about the Duckers.

We're going to interview them next.

>> Well, this Ducker is a little um

peculiar or perfectly harmless. She

thinks the sun rises and sets in her

brother. If I were you, I'd take Mr.

Lars along with you when you go to

question mark. Miss Trucker liked her.

>> Oh, here it is. That's a very good

suggestion, Anderson.

Oh, Bill. Darling, look. These gentlemen

are going to interview the Duckers now,

and I said you go along with them. It

would make it easier for Miss Ducker.

>> Why, yes, sir.

>> And now, if you can spare me for a

while, I have some lecture notes I ought

to edit. Certainly, Mr. An.

>> Oh, Mr. L.

>> Yes.

>> How good an archer is Mr. Ducker?

Well, he knows nothing about archery.

>> Oh,

Mr. Ducker is hardly the type to be

interested in archery. When you see him,

that you'll understand. Uh, tell me, Mr.

L, is Miss Ducker an inist?

>> No, not exactly.

You see, one day when they were

children, she let her brother fall. He

injured his spine and became a [ __ ]

And from that day on, her entire life

was ruined.

She Well, it affected her so deeply that

she hasn't been able to leave her room

since.

>> Where is Miss Dra's room located?

>> Her room is the one with the bay window.

She sits there a great deal and watches

us at archery practice. You know, uncle

says her condition is a sort of insanity

of tenderness.

>> Does Mr. Guta reciprocate his sister's

tenderness? Well, please don't judge Mr.

Ducker too harshly. He's had so much to

bear, but we know him well and are fond

of him.

>> Yes.

>> Oh, good morning, doctor.

>> Good morning, Mr. Lie.

>> Mr. Vance.

>> Yes, I'm Dr. Vanel.

>> Good morning, doctor. This is District

Attorney Malcolm.

>> How do you do?

>> Good morning, doctor.

>> I have attached a remote stethoscope to

my patient to safeguard her and at the

same time not interfere with your

questioning.

>> Any undue strain on her heart will prove

fatal. So, if she excites herself, I'll

have to stop you.

>> We'll be as brief as possible, doctor.

>> Thank you.

>> I'm sorry to intrude, Miss Ducker, but

I'd like to get a view of the archery

range from your window.

I wanted to come right over there. I

knew how upset you would be. Yes, child.

>> Mr. Lucker,

as your window has such a clear view of

the archery range, we hoped you might be

able to help us.

>> No, no, I saw no one. I haven't looked

out of my window all day.

>> It's most unfortunate. Had you looked

out of your window this morning, you

might have seen who killed Mr. Robin

with a bow and arrow.

>> An arrow through the Robin's breast.

>> That seems perfectly natural, doesn't

it?

>> Is your brother at home, Miss Ducker?

>> My brother? What do you want with him?

>> Then now, don't distress yourselves,

please. We only thought that uh perhaps

your brother might have seen someone on

the archery range this morning.

>> He saw no one. He couldn't have seen

anyone because he wasn't here. He went

out early this morning and he hasn't

returned.

>> Oh, but dear Adolf was at our house this

morning. He came to see Eric today.

>> No, Adolf went away somewhere downtown.

He wasn't anywhere near your house.

I know he wasn't.

Well, I should have known it.

>> Mr. Dreer, we were just speaking about

you.

Merely as a matter of form, would you

mind telling us where you were between

10 and 11 this morning? The hour the

hour of this morning's tragedy

between 10 and 11.

>> I guess Mr. Ducker,

what did you see?

What? What do you mean?

>> I mean it was about that time when I

heard a scream in this room.

>> You didn't? No, no, I didn't scream. I

didn't scream.

>> I'm sorry, gentlemen, but I'll have to

ask you to conclude this interview now.

>> All right. Certainly, doctor.

>> If you don't mind, I'll stay with Miss

Ducker.

>> Mr. L.

Goodbye, Mr. Ducker. Thank you.

I wonder

I wonder if you'd mind coming with us,

Mr. Ducker.

Don't go with them, Adolf. Don't go.

They're the enemy. They need to hurt

you.

Oh, Mr. Dreer, just what did you do when

you visited the Delard home this

morning?

I went down in the archery room and

glanced over the magazines.

There was a chess problem in one of

them. I sat down and worked it out.

>> Are you uh you interested in chess, Mr.

Draer?

>> Tremendous.

But this this particular problem was

easy to solve.

It took me less than half an hour.

Oh,

then you must have been in the archery

room when Mr. Robin and Mr. Sperling

came there this morning.

>> Were you under the impression, Mr.

Ducker, that they'd been quarreling?

Uh, now that you mentioned it, there did

seem to be a coolness between them, but

I I I left the room almost immediately

after they entered.

>> Anyhow, you're quite sure that you heard

your your sister scream at the hour of

the murder this morning?

>> What are you driving at?

I tell you, I heard her scream. I don't

care whether she admits it or not. I I I

was in my room at the time of the murder

and you can't prove anything different.

What is her scream got to do with the

murder anyway?

Didn't she tell you she she saw nothing?

All right, Mr. Ducker.

That will be all for the present. Thank

you.

Oh, back already. This is Mr. John

Pardy, the famous chess player.

>> How do you do, Mr. Pardy?

>> These gentlemen are Mr. Markhamm, the

district's attorney, and Mr. Pho.

>> I trust I'm not intruding, but I

perceived that something unusual had

happened here. It occurred to me I might

be of some service.

>> Occurred, my dear Pardia, no doubt you

were hanging out the window all morning,

panting with curiosity.

Oh, may I be permitted to see Professor

Dillard?

>> Professor Dard had a very hard

>> certainly, Mr. Pardy. I think you'll

find him upstairs.

>> Oh, thank you.

>> Oh, um,

Mr. Pardy.

>> How good a chess player is Mr. Ducker?

>> Why, he isn't really a player at all.

Oh, he thinks he is. Of course, he has

some understanding of the theory of the

game.

>> Oh, yes.

>> If I can be of any assistance, I shall

be very glad to see the murderer brought

to justice.

Here's

a funny one, sir. The officer outside

thought he'd take a peek in the mailbox

and found this.

Read that.

Is there by any chance a typewriter in

this house?

>> No, never has been one to my knowledge.

Thank

the bishop. Dear me, I hope the church

isn't involved in this mystery.

>> That would be embarrassing. Tom Crank

wrote that note, Mr.

Don't forget, Sergeant, this prank of

yours would have to know a good many of

details.

He would have to know that Robin's

middle name was Cochran,

that he was presumably killed by a bow

and arrow,

and that Sperling was with him around

the time of the murder.

>> Well, that's what I said.

>> You tell that to the sergeant.

>> We got him, Sergeant. He beat it

straight home from here and was packing

up when we walked in on him. Said he was

going on a weekend trip. Well, young

fella thought you'd get away, did you?

Oh, you're one of those silent lads, are

you? Say, we'll have you talking so much

that lock jaw will look like a case of

St. Ver. Shall I send him to

headquarters, sir?

>> Perhaps Mr. Sperling won't object to

answering a few questions here.

Mr. Sperling, what time did you leave

here this morning?

>> About a quarter at 10.

>> And Mr. Robin?

>> I don't know what time Robin went. Say,

look here. What's this all about anyway?

>> Mr. Robin

was murdered here this morning around

10:00.

>> Robin murdered.

Who? Who killed him?

>> We don't know yet. He was shot through

the heart with an arrow.

Mr. Sloving,

>> would you let me see your right hand?

>> No, no, no. Easy now. Easy.

>> All right. I took that hunting arrow

down. Robin and I had an argument about

it, and I cut my finger doing it, too.

But But that doesn't say that I I I

killed him.

>> Oh, no. No, of course not.

>> Hey, Mr. Sperling, if you left here at4

to 10, what were you doing between then

and 11:00 when you took the train to

Westchester?

I I was sitting in the park. Oh,

twittering to the little birdies, I

suppose. What were you doing there?

Feeding nuts to the squirrels. Nuts.

Here, Mr. Markhamm. You going to let

this bird make monkeys of us? Let me

send him to headquarters.

>> Send him in and Adams, check his alibi.

>> Yes, sir.

>> You know, Mr. Vance, I got nothing

against theories

except that you can't hang them.

>> Mr. Arnison,

do either Mr. Party or Mr. Ducker own a

typewriter?

>> Yes, they both do. Would it be any

trouble to you to secure me samples of

type from both those typewriters?

>> No trouble at all.

>> Now see here, Mr. Mass. What's the good

of all this hoie when I got the murderer

right outside?

>> Nevertheless, Mr. Anderson, I should

like those samples of type, if you don't

mind, Sergeant.

>> Eric.

>> Yes, sir.

>> How can you sit there calmly and discuss

books and theories and formulas when

right outside this house that poor boy

was married? Doesn't it mean anything to

you?

>> My dear, don't you see what I'm doing

for your sake? You must put Robin out of

your head. Cruel and unnecessary as his

death seems. Life is cruel. But what can

we crawling microbes do about it? Not

that you aren't a very charming micro.

>> I know. I'm just terribly nervous.

That's all. If only I could do something

to distract my mind.

>> I wish I could take you out somewhere

tonight, but unfortunately I promised

Markham and Vance that I'd meet them at

the service club. Oh, but why must they

drag you into this? Why can't you keep

out of it, Eric? Please. It It frightens

me.

>> My dear child, Eric is quite right.

>> After all, what have we to fear?

>> Well, what is it?

>> Oh, Ducker, what the f you doing out

there? Why I'm looking for the brunt

instrument that was used to bash in

Robin's head.

If I can only find that, I've got a

theory that'll surprise all these

experts.

The scientific mind,

that's what counts.

>> Ah, competition. Another scientific mind

on the trail.

>> Um, I'm too nervous to take you any

longer to be a mathematic. Excuse me.

>> Certainly, my dear. Good night, darling.

>> Oh, you you've startled me. You always

slip into a room so quietly no one ever

hears you.

>> Oh, my dear, you mustn't be rude to Mr.

Pardy. Oh,

>> I'm sorry.

>> Pardon me. I'm a little earlier than

usual.

>> Good night.

>> Good night, dear. Oh,

I've had that quotation tight you asked

me for. I hope it's the right one.

>> Thank you. That's quite right. Good

night.

>> Good night, my boy.

Won't you sit down, buddy?

>> Oh, James,

have you have some coffee?

>> Thanks. Help yourself.

>> I wonder why Arnerson asked me for that

quotation. He hardly looked at it.

I really don't know.

>> No, Malcolm. I can't quite agree. Well,

>> good evening, Eric.

>> Hello, Hon. The great brains are hard at

work. Eh, I felt the vibration as I

entered the room. Why don't you sit

down?

>> Thanks. I will

>> have a cigarette. Thank you.

The

>> juvenile Sherlock Holmes, not to be

outdone, has been collecting typewriter

specimens.

>> Good. Thank you.

Now, let's see.

>> The style of the uppercase G used in the

bishop note was changed before either of

these typewriters was put on the market.

And the E, the most frequently used

letter of the alphabet, is out of

vertical alignment.

Hey. Oh, hey, gentlemen. Pardon me,

gentlemen. Would you have some coffee?

>> No, thank you. Or some nut.

>> No,

this was received by the world in the

last mail. The Herald and the Times

copy, too.

The station number. This was mailed from

the neighborhood of the murder.

>> It was also mailed

after you put Sterling under arrest.

Bishop was afraid the public wouldn't

get his joke. So he explained it to the

press. Now the thing to do to analyze

the person with a type of mind would

find himself bishop.

I saw several chess bullets

in the deed archery room this morning.

A bishop is a very important piece in

the chess game.

I wonder if that's what it means.

>> No, you're wrong. The bishop's signature

is undoubtedly the workings of a mind

deranged by religious man. Isn't that

your reaction on it?

>> Yes. And no, I can imagine an insane

mind who would use a chess man or a

church man.

>> Gentlemen, I think we're all wasting our

time. There are enough suspicious

elements in this case to warrant our

making arrest. And I propose to act, not

sit here all night and see.

>> My dear M, the people have invested you

with the power of action. But if you

insist on plunging in wildly and making

reckless decisions, well, you'll have to

make them alone. But I shall withdraw

from the case.

You know, gentlemen, this is no ordinary

crime and we cannot proceed in an

ordinary manner.

Mark my words,

this is not a single murder that we are

trying to solve.

It is the beginning

of a series of murders,

ghastly and inhuman

You Yeah.

>> Hello, darling. Belle, would you read a

story to me my big book today?

>> We thought Miss Belle hasn't got much

time, darling.

>> A just one.

>> Well, maybe just one little one, huh?

>> Yes.

>> All right.

>> Who said I was going to read to you?

Huh?

Come on. Come on. Sit down. That's it.

We want to hear, don't we?

Everybody's here today. Huh?

>> Yes, darling. What? Tell me now. What

would you like to hear? Huh?

>> I'd like to hear

>> Jack and J.

>> I'd like to hear Robin.

>> I'd like to hear Cinderella.

>> Well, now here's one.

>> All right. Now,

listen. Everybody must keep quiet.

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch

a pale of water. Jack fell down and

broke his crown and Jill came tumbling

after.

And a merry old soul was he.

>> Are you looking for somebody?

>> Mhm. But he'll be here in a minute.

He called for his pipe and he called for

his gold.

Little Miss Muffet sat on a trumpet

eating her curds and playing

>> when along came a spider and sat down

beside her and frightened Miss Muffet

away.

Harry, you're frightening me.

>> I'm sorry, darling. I'm just a clumsy

brute.

>> Oh, the bell got

home. And Dr. Watson, what's I hear

about Johnny Spri being shot? Well,

there's nothing much to tell except that

Johnny Sprig was shot this morning with

a little gun through the top of his

head.

>> More story book nonsense. What a pity

his parents called him Johnny. It sealed

his doom. Brilliant student, almost a

genius.

>> An extraordinary thing happened last

night, Arnison. The murderer visited the

Ducker household around midnight and

left a black bishop from a chess game at

Miss Ducker's door.

>> A chess bishop? Well, that clears the

church anyway.

>> Just as a customary routine.

>> Yes.

>> Would you mind telling us where you went

last night after you left us at the

Stigerson Club?

>> That's easy. I dropped in at the theater

to see an Ipsson play, an old favorite

of mine. When I got back, Professor was

still up writing it. Fardy and Ducker

have been visiting him. Hardy had shown

him one of his chest problems, and he

and Ducker had quarreled about almost

every position on the board. Fardy had

gone on to his chest pub. And at what

time did you arrive home from your

theater?

>> A little after midnight. Too late to

have distributed chessmen to the

neighbors.

>> I'm sorry to disappoint you.

>> You're not necessarily under suspicion,

Arnison, but uh you can help us by

answering some questions.

>> Glad to.

>> Are there any revolvers in this house?

>> No. No revolvers, no sliding panels, and

no secret stairways.

>> And you say that Mr. Party went straight

from here to his chess club? Yes, and I

assure you that Mr. Pardy is the last

man in the world to suspect as a

murderer.

>> Oh, yes. Yes, I'm sure of it. But, uh,

we mustn't hurt his feelings by

neglecting him.

>> So, um, I think we'll pay Mr. Pardy a

little visit.

>> Yes, I should think that a chess expert

would be of great help to you in solving

the crime,

>> Mr. Van. Oh, I'm I'm so glad you're

here. Some some dreadful thing seems to

be happening to to everyone that comes

to this house.

I'm afraid. I'm afraid for all of us.

Something keeps saying to me which of

you will be next.

>> My dear Mr. Lard, our problem is to

match normal thinking against the

abnormal scheming of a criminal mind.

Please believe me when I tell you that

we're doing everything in our power to

help you. Come along, Malcolm.

>> Eric. Oh,

>> if only you could take me away

someplace. I only feel safe when I'm

with you.

Hey, you know this young

did you know that?

>> Hey,

did you know this young sprig that was

shot this morning?

>> Yes. And if you ask me to shot the wrong

man,

what kind of

turn it off?

What kind of a guy was this uh ducker

with the crooked back?

>> If the only thing crooked about you was

your back, you'd be lucky.

>> Hey, did you see Did you see

Did you see anybody go out the front

door this morning?

>> It ain't what goes out of this house

that counts as a trash that comes in.

>> Okay, it's about

turn that thing off. It's about time you

had some respect for the hand of the

law.

>> The hand of the law. The only thing I

ever see around here is a lot of flat

feet.

>> Oh, is that so? I was

>> Oh, yeah.

I wish you'd come down to earth and

admit that we have a good circumstantial

case against Dr.

>> I'm not so sure that we have.

>> Who else could have done it? Sperling's

out. His alibi sounded crazy, but it was

okay. Feeding nuts to squirrels. And so

he was. He left enough peanut shells to

have fed an elephant. Oh. Uh, that's a

pretty little thing you're playing, Mr.

V. One of my favorites. It's the

Nutcracker Sweet

by Chakovski.

>> Oh, Chakovski.

Uh, yes.

I don't know. You may be right, Martin,

but my chief objection to your

conclusion is that the case against

Draer too easy. I wish I had more cases

that were too easy.

>> Remember,

our criminal is super sane. If acts are

not senseless, they are hideously

perfect and precise. Consequently, that

same mind would never permit the case

against him to appear as easy as our

case appears against.

>> How are you going to reconcile Mother

Goose rhymes with a super sane mind? The

brim humor of an intellect which says

cynically, "Behold, this is the world

you take so seriously. Light is a

child's game. hardly important disaster

to make a joke about.

>> You'll find that's a sound theory,

Malcolm.

>> Well, theory sure makes well talking,

Mr. Vance. But when it comes to action,

give me facts. It ain't what you imagine

that counts then. It's what you see.

Right.

Right. As usual, Sergeant, but it all

depends on what you see. For instance, I

can see that tonight you took a young

lady out to dinner, that you didn't have

enough money to pay the bill, that when

you told her you you were coming on

here, the young lady became tearful, and

you promised to join her later.

>> Oh, come now,

>> quite simple, Malcolm. Really? I know

that he took a young lady out to dinner

because he shaved since this afternoon.

You didn't have enough money to pay the

billing and wrote a check to cover it.

For there is a an ink stain on your

finger, and you're otherwise immaculate.

I know that the young lady became

tearful, and that you wiped away her

tears, for there is a a smudge of

mascara on your handkerchief. You

promise to join her later because you've

been looking at your watch ever since

you arrived. Theory, my dear Sergeant,

all

>> Well, at least you wouldn't mind if

Sergeant Heath brought Ducker here

tomorrow morning. Then we can find out

what he knows and act accordingly.

>> No, no, not at all. Not at all.

>> Well, I guess I'll be going before you

tell me what I did last night.

>> Have something before you go silent.

It's right there.

Oh, thanks. It's too easy.

Nevertheless, Marcus, he's the mightest

sergeant you have in your force. Indeed,

he is.

What A terrible fog over the river.

>> I can never remember the fog being so

thick before.

>> Confidentially, professor,

don't you think that par

has been acting rather peculiar of late?

You know as well as I do that part D was

always strange.

>> She's worse than ever.

>> I think he's responsible

for those detectives snooping around.

I don't think so.

The fog is getting worse.

Good evening, pleasure.

A fine way for a grown-up guy to earn a

living, ain't it? Playing around here in

the fog.

>> Aren't you neglecting your chess this

evening?

You shouldn't forget that practice makes

perfect. It would hardly be of much use

to practice, my dear Ducker, without you

to hang over my chair and criticize my

moves as you do. So brilliantly.

>> Yes. Well, a little criticism won't harm

you.

>> Oh, gentlemen. Gentlemen, please.

I wish there was some way to be

comfortable around here. Those old dodos

will stand there and dab all night.

>> I ain't stuck on this kind of a case,

you know.

If I was picking them, I'd like a nice

snappy love

>> nest. Gentlemen, he's getting late. Good

night. Goodbye.

>> Well, the boys are leaving us. I'll pick

up my man by getting to the street ahead

of him and seems safely off to bye-bye

land.

>> I'll pick up party the same way. Right.

Some kids in the park found the body

about 7:00 this morning. The doctor said

he must have fallen off the wall about

10:00 last night. Killed instantly.

>> Has Miss Ducker been notified?

>> No, I told him we'd attend to that.

Ducker was our principal clue and he

pulled off a wall.

Pulls off a wall. A hunchback falls off

a wall. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.

Another Mad Mother Goose Ryan.

>> Well, I sure got a hand to you, Mr. Man.

You're right. Here's another one of

these goofy notes. I'm going to wake up

some morning thinking I'm little B peep

and start chasing sheep.

The world

Humpty Dumpty's sat on a wall. Humpty

Dumpty had a great fall. All the king's

horses and all the king's men

cannot put Humpty Dumpty together again.

The bishop.

Sergeant, did your men trail and the

professor last night? Well, they tried

to, but they lost them in the park. So,

they went back to the house to wait.

Sure enough, the professor shows up in

about 10 minutes. But part D, he don't

show up for nearly half an hour.

This trucker is dead.

Her poor heart gave out. Some sudden

shock.

She must have known.

If we knew the exact time, it might help

us.

I should say it was within a a few

minutes of her brother's death.

Miss Menzel,

what time did Miss Ducker usually go to

bed? 10:00, sir. It was the doctor's

orders.

May heaven forgive me. I sent off last

night myself.

I see it all now. Markham.

Miss Ducker went to take her medicine

for retiring. Found her water cut off

empty. Came in here to get some, was

surprised by her brother's murderer,

who then forced open this desk to obtain

something of Duckers that he knew to be

of value. That's all, Mr. Enzel. We will

turn to arrangements here.

I've asked Sergeant Heath to bring Mr.

Pardy over here. If you don't mind,

professor, I'd like to question him

before you.

>> Oh, I hope nothing that I have said will

cast any reflections on Mr. Pardee. I

should be terribly distressed.

>> Not at all. merely a formality.

>> Professor D.

>> Good morning, Mr. Pardy.

You have of course heard of Mr. Ducker's

death. I should like to Won't you sit

down?

Thank you. I should like to ask you a

few questions.

What conversation did you have with Mr.

Ducker in the park last night.

>> Right. Right.

I went for a stroll in the park and

meeting Professor Dillard and Mr.

Ducker. I stopped for a moment, not

wishing to appear rude. Ducker was in a

beastly mood and made so many insulting

sneering remarks that I I left. Mr.

Pardy,

can you explain to me why why you

arrived home so much later than

Professor Dillard?

When you both left, Mr. Ducker, at the

same time,

>> I I sat down by the 79th Street entrance

and uh smoked a cigarette.

>> Rather a foggy night to sit on a park

bench, wasn't it, Mr. Pardy? Anyone see

you sitting there?

>> Rather a foggy night to depend on

eyewitnesses,

wasn't it, Mr. Vance?

>> Certainly, Mr. Pardy.

My mistake.

That will be all for the present.

>> Dear me. Dear me.

>> This has been a wretched business for

you, but I think it will soon be over. I

just heard the sad news. Frightful

business, isn't it? The trucker is wiped

out and more story book nonsense to

boot. Oh, Eric. Eric, please. May I be

excused?

>> Certainly, sir. Certainly.

Sergeant, he tells me that one of his

men saw you walking toward the park last

night around 10:00. That you didn't

return for an hour just as a matter of

form to please the sergeant here. What

were you doing in that time?

>> I mailed a letter at the other end of

the park.

>> Yeah.

Well, where was the ladder addressed so

we can be sure that it gets there

safely?

China.

China.

A classmate of mine is an instructor in

the University of P. King. Honest.

>> Yes.

>> What was the scientific formula of a

drug was working on it?

>> Oh, a tremendously important thing. It

would have made him famous and rich.

>> He kept a notebook, I suppose.

>> Yes, a very complete one, and never let

it out of his sight. The whole theory

was in that little book.

That must have been what was taken from

the top drawer of the desk in Ducker's

bedroom at 10:00 last night.

Draer was always standing behind me

criticizing me.

and I hated it.

Yet tonight

it seems odd not to have him there.

I've looked around half a dozen times,

expecting to see him there, to to feel

him leaning over my shoulder.

Perhaps the fact that you disliked him

so in life makes you regret his death

the more.

No one knows the intricacies of the

human heart.

Why don't you go to bed early and try to

relax?

>> Yes.

Yes. I I believe I will.

Good night.

>> Good night.

>> Oh, you.

>> It's raining outside, sir. Will you

permit me to escort you across the

street?

>> Oh, thank you. It's very good idea.

Good night, dear.

>> Good night,

>> Eric. Are you sure the house is safely

locked up?

>> Well, of course, dear. It's all locked

up. Nobody can get in. You can rest

easy.

>> Eric,

>> who has the key to the attic door?

>> Well, I don't know, darling. No one's

used it for years. Pine, I suppose. Why?

>> Well, I I I heard a a strange tapping

noise there last night.

>> Nonsense, dear. It couldn't be anything

but pigeons. Now, will you go to bed

like a good little girl and stop

imagining things?

You're not nervous with me so near.

Well, I'll I'll try not to be silly.

Good night.

>> Good night, darling.

Robin

Springer.

When the gong sounds once, it will be

exactly midnight.

You are now back in the main studio and

the orchestra will resume its program.

Yeah.

Heat.

Very well, Mr. Michael.

>> That's all.

I'll be hanged if I know what to make of

this note.

This is the house that Jack built. The

bishop.

Well, we'll go ahead serving our warrant

for Pard's arrest and worry about this

note later. Is the car waiting?

>> Yes, sir.

>> There's your warrant.

What's wrong, mommy? Mr. Vance is inside

waiting for you. Senator explained

complete relaxation is essential at a

time like this.

on your back with every muscle at rest.

>> I always thought that guy Vance was

cuckoo.

>> Breathe deep. Exhale.

Good morning. This radio's been running

all night.

And now party.

>> How did you know about this, Vance? H a

reporter from the times came to see me

this morning and brought me the latest

bishop note.

It occurred to me at once that um John

Pardee was Jack and that he'd been

murdered. So I um I sent the note along

to you knowing that you'd figured it out

as I had and uh come along here.

Certainly simple reasoning.

>> Well, that's what we thought right away,

didn't we, Mr. Markhamm?

>> Well, hardly.

>> What do you make of it, Ben?

>> Why, it's as plain as the nose on your

face, Mr. Markhamm. by this guy. Part D

wasn't murdered at all. He was the

bishop. Why, I suspected him right

along. And yesterday, I put flarity to

watching him. And when Par found out I

had him, he knew the game was up and

committed suicide. Why, it's very

simple. Well, I guess we can call the

bishop murder case closed. Now,

>> Sergeant, what about the uh house that

Jack built? Huh?

See, it um it collapsed when I barely

leaned against the table, and yet it

didn't topple over when Pard fell across

it.

>> Well, what of it?

>> Don't you understand? The House of Cards

was not built by Pardi, but by the

murderer after Pard was killed.

>> Oh, that's just what I thought.

You say that this chest table is set up

just as he left it last night.

>> Precisely. He was the last man to touch

it.

>> Curious.

These chessmen are set up just as they

were the night he resigned the contest

at the club.

The black bishop is one move away from a

checkmate.

Well, we mustn't take you any longer,

professor. No, he's had a very trying

day.

>> I'm sorry, Mr. Arnison isn't here

tonight.

The some of the students are doing an

Ipsson play, and you know Arnison's

passion for Ipsson.

>> The Pretenders is the play they're doing

tonight.

>> Oh, yeah.

>> I've I've just been reading it over

again myself.

>> Oh, I am Am I including? Good evening.

>> No, my dear. Come right in.

Mr. Zance and Mr. Markhamm were just

leaving.

They've been asking me if I had any

opinion to give on this tragic affair.

>> I feel as if we were all living in a

dreadful nightmare

and couldn't wake up.

>> Mr. Van, do you as a student of human

nature share Mr. Arnison's enthusiasm

for Ipsson? Well, I I've read Ipsson a

great deal, and there can be little

doubt that he was a genius of a high

order, but I I think he has his

superiors.

>> When I know Mr. Arnerson would enjoy

talking the play over with you, the

pretend, you know, is his favorite.

>> Well, since you're unable to throw in a

new light on this mystifying affair, I

think um if you'll pardon us, sir, we

ought to be going. Good night, Mr. L.

Good night, sir. Good night, professor.

Good night.

>> Oh, I I think I think I'll stay here for

a while, Uncle.

I'm too too restless to go to bed.

>> Well, my darling, you must remember that

when one is young, all wounds heal and

in time are forgotten.

Good night, darling.

>> Good night.

as I see it. Malcolm,

the professor was trying to convey some

suggestion to us without actually

putting it into words.

And we we were supposed to guess.

Yes.

Yes.

That's why he wanted to see us while

Anderson was away at the Ipsson.

Oh, what a fool I've been.

Malcolm. Malcolm, come here. Look at

this.

Arnison.

Bishop. That's what the bishop meant. It

had nothing to do with chess. He meant

to tell us that Arnison was the bishop.

Arnison. We have no moment to lose.

We've got to get back to that house at

once. You're right, madam. Now that

we've been told who the murderer is, it

makes us partners in crime if we permit

innocent people to spend even another

hour under the same roof with him. You'd

better telephone to Heath. Right.

Eve, meet us at the Dard home at once.

Bring a couple of men with you.

George.

>> Yes, sir. Go through the 69th Street

entrance. It's quicker.

>> Yes, sir.

All right, have a bit of time.

>> Forgive me, professor, for breaking in

on you like this.

>> Why? Well, what does this mean,

gentlemen?

>> We haven't time to explain now. Every

moment of delay spells danger.

>> Yes. Yes. Yes.

Come, come in, gentlemen. Come in.

Put your hats down there, will you,

please?

>> We want to see Mr. Arnison at once.

>> Fine. Yes, sir.

These gentlemen wish to see Mr. Anderson

go to his room and call him. Yes, sir.

Mr. Vance found what was disturbing you.

After we left here tonight, he showed me

his copy of the Ipsson play you referred

to. For days that player has been on my

mind, poisoning every thought. What does

it mean?

>> It means that you have led us to the

truth.

>> Professor Dard, Mr. Arnison is not in

his room, sir.

>> Fine. See if Mr. Lard is in her room.

>> Yes, sir.

>> Please.

>> I'm sorry. It is absolutely necessary.

All right. Fine.

>> Yes, sir. Oh, can't we keep the poor

child out of this terrible affair? Her

heart is heavy enough already. I don't

see why we should disturb Mr. Lance.

After all, he's honest and well. Okay,

Marco, it's too late to consider

anyone's feelings now. For the

information that we have on hand, we

must not leave a stone unturned. Sir,

>> sir, Mrs. Lard's room is not being slept

in.

>> What?

>> Then, Professor, much as I regret taking

drastic steps, it would be necessary for

us to search this house. Come on, he

anything. I will come with you. If you

will please we get to this door's room

at the end of the corridor. I'm

>> very sorry.

>> All right. You sit right with me. Go

right ahead. You lead the way. Me and my

men are right behind you.

>> Now um which is Mr. Lard's room.

>> This one here.

>> Take one of your men. Look around there.

>> Come along with me. Sweeny

>> and uh Mr. Anderson.

>> That one there.

>> Come along Arthur.

Careful.

Watch your step.

It's nothing for the wind.

>> He obviously isn't here.

>> All right, let's get through the rest of

the house.

>> I could have sworn that you didn't leave

the house this evening.

>> Could I do anything for you, sir?

>> Nothing in the room, sir.

>> Now, where does that door lead?

>> To the attic, but it's never used.

>> Who has the key?

>> Fine. Fine. Bring the key to the attic.

>> I lost it, sir.

>> Lost it.

>> Very well. We'll break it open. Fire.

Are you mad? You can't do that without a

warrant.

>> I'm going to search that attic if I have

to spend the rest of my life in jail.

>> It's all right, Malcolm. Mr. Vance must

do whatever he thinks necessary.

>> All righty. 20. Get to it.

Right.

All right. Hold it.

The chimney of this lamp is still warm.

>> You were certainly justified in breaking

in here.

>> I I agree with you, Malcolm. Oh, this

this is incredible.

Now this lamp was put here

in order to use the light somewhere in

this radius.

Now let me see.

Anderson told you there never was a

typewriter in this house.

the same type as that used in the bishop

murder notes.

I I wouldn't have believed it if I

hadn't seen it with my own eyes.

I don't I don't understand, Marcus.

Seems

>> We can't accomplish anything more now.

We better go downstairs and wait for

Arnison. But my niece, you're not going

to abandon the search for her. Why,

nothing matters until we find her.

And I warn you, if she has come to any

harm to Arnison, I shall not be

responsible for my actions.

>> Please control yourself, professor. We

all understand how deeply you feel. But

we cannot find your knees except through

Arnison.

>> Why? He must control yourself when you

see him. And let us handle this in our

own way.

Very well,

>> gentlemen.

Take charge of the typewriter, boys.

Yes, sir.

>> Sergeant. Yes, sir.

>> No.

Yes, sir.

It's certainly a harrowing experience.

I hope for all our sakes that Arnison

will come back soon.

Has it occurred to you that

he may not come back?

>> What do you mean? Oh, I I have often

heard him quote Leech's famous words,

"One should die proudly

when it is no longer possible

to live proudly." You mean suicide?

>> If he were convinced that the evidence

against him was strong enough,

is Mr. Anderson in the habit of leaving

the house of Desire of the Night? only

during the last two weeks. Since then,

he's been apt to disappear at odd hours

and reappear at even odd hours.

>> You see the word the bishop written

there.

Do you recognize the type, Mr. Anderson?

I thought so.

We found the typewriter on which this

was written hidden in the attic of this

house. Well, I I don't see you have a

cast iron case against anyone at that.

After all, a typewriter isn't a thing

that only fits one person.

You got to do better than that, Mr.

Vance.

>> I assure you, Mr. Arnerson, that we know

who is guilty.

>> Really? You almost terrify me. By any

chance I should happen to be the

murderer, I should be almost inclined to

admit defeat.

But since you know who the bishop is,

why all this pala?

>> Oh, Mr. Man,

you are right. The girl was in the

cupella, not hurt, but unconscious from

shot.

And the worst of it is, Mr. Vance, she

don't know who did it.

>> Very good, Sergeant.

>> Yes, sir.

Well, Professor,

it's been a very tiring night for all of

us, and I'm sure we should be most

grateful to you if you would offer us a

glass of your excellent port.

>> Oh, why? Why certainly? I'm not quite

myself tonight.

>> Thank you, sir.

>> Malcolm,

>> thank you.

I hope this horrible business will soon

be over for your sake. You're bearing up

wonderfully. You'd put to shame a man

half your years.

Well,

>> since when have I been a tea turtle?

Help yourself.

All right.

While you were talking to Mr. Markhamm

just now,

I changed the wine glasses.

The glass from which you are about to

drink is the one you prepared for Mr.

Arnison. I u I trust it makes no

difference to you.

And what would you say if I told you

that we had found your niece and that in

spite of all precautions, she recognized

the man who seized her.

And I had everything so perfect.

It was so easy to keep myself innocent,

to throw the guilt from one to another

until it struck where I planned it from

the beginning on you.

You who robbed me of the only things

that I live for.

My fame as a scientist,

the affections of my niece,

the only creature in the whole world

that I love.

Now,

now you'll rob me of the triumph of

seeing you sent to the tear.

It would have been perfect.

Perfect.

But for you

fools, idiots, children, all of you

baffled by Mother Goose,

three blind

mice. I'll let him break it.

He's dead.

Do you realize what you've done, b this

is murder?

Here is the glass prepared for Mr.

Anson.

It was the poison that fermented in his

own diseased brain that killed him. Fear

>> Ben, I've been suffering tortures. For

heaven's sake, what's happened to Belle?

>> No, that's all right, Arson. She'll be

here in a minute. She uh she surprised

the professor in the attic tonight and

he locked her up safely until he could

get you out of the way. She was in no

real danger. She was the one person in

the world that he never would have

harmed.

But he certainly prepared us for your

suicide. You see, he could then have

explained things in his own way and been

the only one left for her to cling to.

Oh yes. Uh one other point. She didn't

recognize him.

>> Why? Um, that was a little dramatic

license on my part. Arnison, I owe you

an apology for the way in which I

treated you. Oh, no apology necessary,

old son. I knew you didn't have your eye

on me. You gave me a terrible shock, but

of course, I knew I had to play up. I

didn't know just what you were after,

but I tried to follow your cues as well

as possible. I hope I didn't bungle the

job. Play up? What do you mean?

Pretend you are guilty. Trust me and

play up. Well, no wonder you acted

guilty. Tell me, Vance, how did you know

that the professor intended to poison

Arnison? When I followed you down the

stairs just now and heard him preparing

you so carefully for Arnison's suicide,

I was more than ever on my guard. I gave

him his opportunity by going to Heath at

the door and uh watched him

in this.

>> Mhm. Of course, I knew he hated me. He's

been losing his intellectual grip. For

months, I've been doing all his work for

him, and he naed me for it. Then, too,

he felt that I was robbing him of bell.

But what diabolic hatred to kill four

men in order to send me to the electric

chair.

>> Well, the four were not intentional,

Anderson. He meant to hang only the

robin murder on you. But something went

wrong. You had an alibi that he didn't

reckon on. Sprig was the next. That

seemed to him the perfect crime. He was

your pupil and close friend, and

everything went off just as he had

planned it. But then he made the

frightening discovery that Ducker had

seen him kill Robin.

Miss Ducker, too. Perhaps

that knowledge destroyed what little

sanity was left in his diseased brain,

and he killed Pard. He became a killer

with one obsession. To see you convicted

of these murders and paying the supreme

penalty.

>> Eric.

spell my poor darling.

>> Well, Mr. Vance, we did it again.

>> Don't think that, Sergeant.

>> Why not?

>> It's poison.

And uh I need it for evidence.

>> Well,

thank you, Sergeant, for your

assistance.

>> Well, you're a good detective, too, Mr.

L.