1
00:00:04,438 --> 00:00:06,705
Captioning sponsored by
AandE TELEVISION NETWORKS

2
00:01:26,820 --> 00:01:29,420
ARCHIE GOODWIN: <i>Every
Friday morning at 11:00</i>

3
00:01:29,456 --> 00:01:31,301
<i>Nero Wolfe signs
the salary checks</i>

4
00:01:31,325 --> 00:01:32,925
<i>for Fritz and Theodore and me.</i>

5
00:01:32,960 --> 00:01:34,604
<i>He never likes spending money</i>

6
00:01:34,628 --> 00:01:35,827
<i>but that particular day</i>

7
00:01:35,863 --> 00:01:38,296
<i>he was more sour than usual.</i>

8
00:01:38,332 --> 00:01:40,566
What's the matter, you
got bugs in the orchids?

9
00:01:40,601 --> 00:01:42,212
No, but I saw
your bag in the hall

10
00:01:42,236 --> 00:01:44,303
and I note your finery.

11
00:01:44,338 --> 00:01:46,705
Straining as you are to be gone.

12
00:01:46,740 --> 00:01:49,719
It is gracious of you
to wait for this pittance.

13
00:01:49,743 --> 00:01:52,911
This meager return for
your excessive labors.

14
00:01:52,946 --> 00:01:54,880
Especially since
the bank balance

15
00:01:54,915 --> 00:01:57,049
is the lowest its
been in two years.

16
00:01:57,084 --> 00:01:58,862
That deserves an
answer. Here it is.

17
00:01:58,886 --> 00:01:59,951
As for finery...

18
00:01:59,986 --> 00:02:01,764
I'm headed to the
country for the weekend.

19
00:02:01,788 --> 00:02:03,121
And I'm dressed accordingly.

20
00:02:03,156 --> 00:02:05,557
Lovely.

21
00:02:05,592 --> 00:02:07,792
As for straining... I'm not.

22
00:02:07,828 --> 00:02:09,327
As for pittance...

23
00:02:10,331 --> 00:02:11,630
Yes, you're right.

24
00:02:11,665 --> 00:02:13,799
As for bank balance...
Well, you have a point.

25
00:02:13,834 --> 00:02:14,933
I'm willing to help.

26
00:02:14,968 --> 00:02:17,302
After all, it's just a
pittance anyway, so...

27
00:02:17,337 --> 00:02:18,403
Archie!

28
00:02:18,438 --> 00:02:20,138
Yes?

29
00:02:21,375 --> 00:02:23,008
Phooey!

30
00:02:23,043 --> 00:02:25,210
Nuts!

31
00:02:25,246 --> 00:02:27,946
<i>By Monday morning, the air
might possibly have cleared</i>

32
00:02:27,981 --> 00:02:30,082
<i>if it hadn't been for
the torn up check.</i>

33
00:02:30,117 --> 00:02:33,585
<i>We both knew the stub would have
to be voided and a new check drawn</i>

34
00:02:33,620 --> 00:02:36,854
<i>but he wasn't going to tell
me to do it without being asked</i>

35
00:02:36,890 --> 00:02:39,291
<i>and I wasn't going to
do it without being told.</i>

36
00:02:39,326 --> 00:02:40,625
<i>A man has his pride.</i>

37
00:02:40,660 --> 00:02:42,093
<i>And with that between us</i>

38
00:02:42,128 --> 00:02:45,197
<i>the stiffness Monday morning
lasted through lunch and beyond</i>

39
00:02:45,232 --> 00:02:47,243
<i>into the afternoon,
and for all I cared</i>

40
00:02:47,267 --> 00:02:49,468
<i>it could have lasted
into the next decade.</i>

41
00:02:50,804 --> 00:02:52,103
Yes, may I help you?

42
00:02:52,139 --> 00:02:53,571
You're Archie Goodwin?

43
00:02:53,607 --> 00:02:54,773
Yes.

44
00:02:54,808 --> 00:02:57,342
Can you bring my
suitcase in, please?

45
00:03:01,281 --> 00:03:03,114
I want to see Nero Wolfe

46
00:03:03,150 --> 00:03:05,450
but of course he's
always up in the plant room

47
00:03:05,485 --> 00:03:06,518
from 4:00 till 6:00.

48
00:03:06,553 --> 00:03:08,687
That's why I chose
this time to come.

49
00:03:08,722 --> 00:03:10,188
I want to see you first.

50
00:03:10,223 --> 00:03:11,590
Well, I'm flattered, but...

51
00:03:11,625 --> 00:03:12,891
The door to the front room.

52
00:03:12,926 --> 00:03:15,627
The door to the dining
room down there on the right.

53
00:03:15,662 --> 00:03:16,895
The office on the left.

54
00:03:16,931 --> 00:03:18,730
Yes.

55
00:03:18,766 --> 00:03:20,898
Hall's wider than I expected.

56
00:03:20,934 --> 00:03:23,134
Shall we go into the office?

57
00:03:24,738 --> 00:03:25,904
I had to go away.

58
00:03:25,939 --> 00:03:28,507
I had to go somewhere
and stay there till October 26.

59
00:03:28,542 --> 00:03:30,175
Someplace where
no one would know

60
00:03:30,210 --> 00:03:31,877
and no one could
possibly find me.

61
00:03:31,912 --> 00:03:33,044
I thought about it

62
00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:35,647
and figured the best place
was Nero Wolfe's house.

63
00:03:35,683 --> 00:03:37,416
A hotel or a rooming
house wouldn't do

64
00:03:37,451 --> 00:03:38,984
because they need to know names.

65
00:03:39,019 --> 00:03:40,819
Would $50 a day be enough?

66
00:03:40,854 --> 00:03:42,487
You won't tell us your name?

67
00:03:42,523 --> 00:03:43,421
No.

68
00:03:43,456 --> 00:03:45,023
Have you committed a crime

69
00:03:45,059 --> 00:03:47,036
or have you been
an accessory to one?

70
00:03:47,060 --> 00:03:49,260
Are you a fugitive
running from the law?

71
00:03:49,295 --> 00:03:50,061
No.

72
00:03:50,097 --> 00:03:51,262
Well, prove it.

73
00:03:51,298 --> 00:03:52,364
That's silly.

74
00:03:52,399 --> 00:03:53,476
I don't have to prove it.

75
00:03:53,500 --> 00:03:54,766
You're going to stick to this

76
00:03:54,801 --> 00:03:55,879
"no names, no identify"?

77
00:03:55,903 --> 00:03:57,435
I certainly intend to.

78
00:03:57,471 --> 00:03:59,904
Well, then you better
leave Mr. Wolfe to me.

79
00:03:59,939 --> 00:04:02,084
I'll bring you up to your
room, I'll leave you there.

80
00:04:02,108 --> 00:04:03,786
When he comes
down, I'll tackle him.

81
00:04:03,810 --> 00:04:05,877
It might help if he
saw some cash.

82
00:04:08,215 --> 00:04:11,482
Seven days, $50 a day.

83
00:04:11,518 --> 00:04:14,219
$350.

84
00:04:14,254 --> 00:04:16,154
With the
understanding, of course

85
00:04:16,189 --> 00:04:19,023
that it's not a deal until
Mr. Wolfe accepts it.

86
00:04:19,059 --> 00:04:20,259
Of course.

87
00:04:20,294 --> 00:04:23,328
And if he accepts,
I'm willing to pay more.

88
00:04:27,234 --> 00:04:29,000
It's bigger than I thought.

89
00:04:29,036 --> 00:04:31,114
I appreciate this, Mr. Goodwin.

90
00:04:31,138 --> 00:04:32,871
Ah, certainly.

91
00:04:32,906 --> 00:04:35,640
You know, I'm going to
have to watch you unpack.

92
00:04:35,675 --> 00:04:36,908
Watch me? Why?

93
00:04:36,944 --> 00:04:38,143
For the kick.

94
00:04:38,178 --> 00:04:40,646
You know, there's probably
a thousand or more people

95
00:04:40,681 --> 00:04:42,147
in the metropolitan area

96
00:04:42,182 --> 00:04:44,849
who think Nero Wolfe
has lived long enough.

97
00:04:44,884 --> 00:04:47,218
And one or more of
them may have decided

98
00:04:47,254 --> 00:04:50,188
to put a copperhead or
a rattler in your hatbox.

99
00:05:03,236 --> 00:05:05,403
Nothing dangerous so far.

100
00:05:09,042 --> 00:05:11,109
I guess that'll do.

101
00:05:12,246 --> 00:05:16,681
I haven't inspected you
handbag or your person.

102
00:05:16,716 --> 00:05:19,885
So, uh, I hope you don't mind...

103
00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,186
I locked the door.

104
00:05:24,958 --> 00:05:27,625
Did you put that
money there, Fritz?

105
00:05:27,660 --> 00:05:29,794
No, sir, I did.

106
00:05:29,829 --> 00:05:31,462
Indeed.

107
00:05:31,498 --> 00:05:33,731
Thank you, Fritz.

108
00:05:34,968 --> 00:05:37,368
Well, flummery?

109
00:05:40,540 --> 00:05:41,873
No, sir.

110
00:05:41,909 --> 00:05:43,241
Then what?

111
00:05:44,411 --> 00:05:45,644
Well...

112
00:05:45,679 --> 00:05:48,747
<i>So, I explained.</i>

113
00:05:48,782 --> 00:05:51,717
She seemed sweet and unspoiled

114
00:05:51,752 --> 00:05:54,152
and has fine legs

115
00:05:54,187 --> 00:05:56,254
and if we like her
and get used to her

116
00:05:56,289 --> 00:05:58,156
one of us might
want to marry her.

117
00:05:58,191 --> 00:05:59,490
Phooey, Archie.

118
00:05:59,526 --> 00:06:01,960
However, the
immediate point is this...

119
00:06:01,995 --> 00:06:06,298
Since I am responsible for that
handy little contribution of cash

120
00:06:06,333 --> 00:06:09,801
you may feel like signing
a replacement check

121
00:06:09,836 --> 00:06:13,338
for the one that I
tore up on Friday.

122
00:06:14,374 --> 00:06:17,909
Archie, that was an
admirable performance.

123
00:06:17,944 --> 00:06:19,144
Well, thank you.

124
00:06:19,179 --> 00:06:20,623
Friday, I spoke hastily

125
00:06:20,647 --> 00:06:21,991
and you acted hastily

126
00:06:22,015 --> 00:06:23,414
and the fait accompli

127
00:06:23,450 --> 00:06:26,418
of that torn check
had us at an impasse.

128
00:06:26,453 --> 00:06:30,888
By contriving one of your
fantastically puerile inventions

129
00:06:30,924 --> 00:06:32,902
you have made the
problem itself absurd

130
00:06:32,926 --> 00:06:34,059
and so disposed of it.

131
00:06:34,094 --> 00:06:36,394
Admirable. Very satisfactory.

132
00:06:36,429 --> 00:06:38,630
I...

133
00:06:38,665 --> 00:06:41,832
I didn't know we had 50s in
the emergency cash reserve.

134
00:06:41,868 --> 00:06:43,913
You'd better get rid
of that. Put that back.

135
00:06:43,937 --> 00:06:45,448
I don't like money lying around.

136
00:06:45,472 --> 00:06:47,305
No, see, that didn't
come from the safe.

137
00:06:47,340 --> 00:06:49,084
No, that came
from the visitor...

138
00:06:49,108 --> 00:06:51,076
As described, up
on the south room.

139
00:06:51,111 --> 00:06:53,177
I didn't invent anything

140
00:06:53,212 --> 00:06:54,579
puerile or not.

141
00:06:54,615 --> 00:06:56,455
Nothing was invented, you see?

142
00:06:56,483 --> 00:06:59,384
Now shall I bring her
down and you can decide.

143
00:06:59,419 --> 00:07:00,384
Bah.

144
00:07:00,420 --> 00:07:01,653
Bah?

145
00:07:03,824 --> 00:07:05,123
(<i> bell ringing</i>)

146
00:07:05,158 --> 00:07:06,491
What are you...?

147
00:07:06,526 --> 00:07:08,092
(<i> whistling tune</i>)

148
00:07:10,397 --> 00:07:11,696
Would you like another beer?

149
00:07:11,731 --> 00:07:12,764
Fritz, Fritz...

150
00:07:12,799 --> 00:07:14,799
Yes, a little point
of information.

151
00:07:14,835 --> 00:07:17,802
Our lady visitor that's
upstairs in the south room

152
00:07:17,837 --> 00:07:18,970
is she old, haggard

153
00:07:19,005 --> 00:07:22,207
crippled, deformed, ugly?

154
00:07:22,242 --> 00:07:23,875
No, Archie.

155
00:07:23,910 --> 00:07:25,410
She's quite the opposite.

156
00:07:25,445 --> 00:07:27,712
No, no.

157
00:07:27,748 --> 00:07:29,247
She precisely the opposite.

158
00:07:29,282 --> 00:07:31,416
Thank you, Fritz.

159
00:07:40,627 --> 00:07:41,726
Is it true?

160
00:07:41,761 --> 00:07:45,296
Have you actually
installed a woman

161
00:07:45,331 --> 00:07:46,676
in a room of my house?

162
00:07:46,700 --> 00:07:48,311
Now, not installed, exactly.

163
00:07:48,335 --> 00:07:50,968
You see, that implies
a personal kind of...

164
00:07:51,004 --> 00:07:52,381
Where did you get her?!

165
00:07:52,405 --> 00:07:54,238
I didn't get her as I told you.

166
00:07:54,273 --> 00:07:55,507
She came.

167
00:07:55,542 --> 00:07:56,574
I invented nothing.

168
00:07:56,609 --> 00:07:57,620
I am just reporting.

169
00:07:57,644 --> 00:07:58,609
You take that money

170
00:07:58,645 --> 00:07:59,611
bring it up to her

171
00:07:59,646 --> 00:08:01,524
and give it back
to her right now!

172
00:08:01,548 --> 00:08:03,193
Dinner is in 20 minutes.

173
00:08:03,217 --> 00:08:06,685
I want her out of the
house in ten minutes!

174
00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:10,221
Well, you see, I mean
normally I would... do... that.

175
00:08:10,257 --> 00:08:12,101
But, you see,
acting as your agent

176
00:08:12,125 --> 00:08:14,893
I practically promised
her that you would see her.

177
00:08:14,928 --> 00:08:18,063
Now, if she sees you

178
00:08:18,098 --> 00:08:20,098
she'll probably
drop this mystery act

179
00:08:20,133 --> 00:08:21,699
and she'll divulge her name.

180
00:08:21,735 --> 00:08:22,934
And the resulting fee

181
00:08:22,969 --> 00:08:25,537
will take care of my
salary checks for a year.

182
00:08:26,973 --> 00:08:28,539
Okay, well

183
00:08:28,575 --> 00:08:30,720
she'll just have to get
baccala someplace else.

184
00:08:30,744 --> 00:08:32,243
I shouldn't have mentioned it.

185
00:08:32,279 --> 00:08:33,310
Baccala?

186
00:08:33,346 --> 00:08:35,313
Yeah, I happened
to mention to her

187
00:08:35,348 --> 00:08:38,350
we're having baccala for dinner
and she said, "What is that?"

188
00:08:38,385 --> 00:08:40,085
And I told her, and she said

189
00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:41,719
"Salt Cod isn't fit to eat

190
00:08:41,755 --> 00:08:43,454
no matter how you cook it."

191
00:08:43,490 --> 00:08:45,290
So... all right, all right.

192
00:08:45,325 --> 00:08:46,857
You know what? Skip it.

193
00:08:46,893 --> 00:08:49,995
Since we have to return
that money to her anyway

194
00:08:50,030 --> 00:08:52,997
I've contributed nothing
to the bank account.

195
00:08:53,033 --> 00:08:56,501
And the situation
regarding my salary check

196
00:08:56,536 --> 00:08:58,603
snaps back to this morning

197
00:08:58,638 --> 00:09:01,372
and it leaves me
no alternative...

198
00:09:01,407 --> 00:09:04,008
(<i> doorbell ringing</i>) Archie,
don't tear that check!

199
00:09:04,044 --> 00:09:06,377
Yes, may I help you?

200
00:09:06,413 --> 00:09:07,946
My name is Perry Helmar.

201
00:09:07,981 --> 00:09:09,013
I'm an attorney.

202
00:09:09,048 --> 00:09:10,614
I want to see Nero Wolfe

203
00:09:10,650 --> 00:09:12,783
about a matter
of utmost urgency.

204
00:09:15,054 --> 00:09:16,933
<i>Now ordinarily,
when a stranger calls</i>

205
00:09:16,957 --> 00:09:19,457
<i>I let the caller wait while
I go check with Wolfe.</i>

206
00:09:19,493 --> 00:09:21,992
<i>But I wanted to give
Wolfe another tack to sit on</i>

207
00:09:22,028 --> 00:09:24,462
<i>and postpone a showdown
over our guest upstairs.</i>

208
00:09:24,497 --> 00:09:25,574
Sit right here, please.

209
00:09:25,598 --> 00:09:27,165
Mr. Wolfe, I am a senior partner

210
00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:29,400
at a law firm of highest repute.

211
00:09:29,435 --> 00:09:32,003
A young woman for
whom I am responsible

212
00:09:32,038 --> 00:09:33,371
has just disappeared

213
00:09:33,406 --> 00:09:35,873
and she must be found
as quickly as possible.

214
00:09:35,909 --> 00:09:37,208
So I will pay you $5,000

215
00:09:37,243 --> 00:09:40,278
plus necessary expenses
if you will find her

216
00:09:40,314 --> 00:09:43,548
and have her communicate
with me by October 25

217
00:09:43,583 --> 00:09:46,384
which is, what,
six days from now.

218
00:09:46,419 --> 00:09:49,020
However, I will pay double that

219
00:09:49,056 --> 00:09:51,589
if you produce her in
New York alive and well

220
00:09:51,624 --> 00:09:53,325
by the morning of October 26.

221
00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:55,060
Tell me about her, briefly.

222
00:09:55,095 --> 00:09:56,294
You're an attorney.

223
00:09:56,329 --> 00:10:00,098
You should know what I need
to decide whether to take a job.

224
00:10:00,133 --> 00:10:03,267
Well, sir, why would
you decide to refuse it?

225
00:10:03,303 --> 00:10:04,935
I don't know.

226
00:10:04,971 --> 00:10:06,437
Very well.

227
00:10:06,472 --> 00:10:08,317
I'm am Priscilla
Eades legal guardian.

228
00:10:08,341 --> 00:10:10,185
I am also the
trustee of her property

229
00:10:10,209 --> 00:10:12,021
according to the
will of her father.

230
00:10:12,045 --> 00:10:13,889
So, this evening
I paid a call to her

231
00:10:13,913 --> 00:10:16,547
to discuss some business;
however she was not there.

232
00:10:16,583 --> 00:10:19,817
Her maid became alarmed
because she was expecting

233
00:10:19,853 --> 00:10:21,919
her mistress to come
home for an early dinner...

234
00:10:21,955 --> 00:10:22,998
I don't need that much.

235
00:10:23,022 --> 00:10:25,289
You don't?

236
00:10:25,324 --> 00:10:27,725
I see.

237
00:10:27,761 --> 00:10:30,094
Well, I found on
her writing desk

238
00:10:30,130 --> 00:10:32,230
an envelope addressed to me.

239
00:10:32,265 --> 00:10:34,532
Inside was a handwritten note.

240
00:10:34,567 --> 00:10:38,302
It reads, "Dear Perry, I hope
you won't be too mad at me

241
00:10:38,337 --> 00:10:39,904
"for standing you up.

242
00:10:39,939 --> 00:10:43,741
"I doubt if you will hear
from me before October 26

243
00:10:43,776 --> 00:10:45,010
"but you will then all right.

244
00:10:45,045 --> 00:10:46,377
"Please don't try to find me."

245
00:10:46,413 --> 00:10:47,778
Love, Pris."

246
00:10:47,814 --> 00:10:53,751
Now, October 26 will be
my ward's 25th birthday

247
00:10:53,787 --> 00:10:56,254
when according to the
terms of her father's will

248
00:10:56,289 --> 00:10:57,789
the trust will be terminated

249
00:10:57,824 --> 00:11:00,424
and she will take complete
control of her property.

250
00:11:00,459 --> 00:11:01,759
90% of Softdown...

251
00:11:01,795 --> 00:11:04,562
A large and successful
corporation that makes towels.

252
00:11:04,597 --> 00:11:07,565
There are complications,
however, as there usually are.

253
00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:09,267
Such as?

254
00:11:09,302 --> 00:11:12,871
Such as Eric Hagh,
Priscilla's former husband

255
00:11:12,906 --> 00:11:15,373
and her one disastrous blunder.

256
00:11:15,408 --> 00:11:18,876
She ran away with
him when she was 19

257
00:11:18,911 --> 00:11:20,545
to South America.

258
00:11:20,580 --> 00:11:23,381
She left him after three months,
and then she divorced him.

259
00:11:23,416 --> 00:11:26,117
How does that blunder
complicate her inheritance?

260
00:11:26,153 --> 00:11:27,185
Well, two weeks ago

261
00:11:27,220 --> 00:11:29,098
I received a letter
from Eric Hagh

262
00:11:29,122 --> 00:11:31,089
claiming that she
signed a document

263
00:11:31,124 --> 00:11:32,924
shortly after they were married

264
00:11:32,959 --> 00:11:34,859
granting him half
of her property.

265
00:11:34,895 --> 00:11:37,062
You say her name
was Priscilla Eades?

266
00:11:37,097 --> 00:11:38,429
Yes.

267
00:11:38,465 --> 00:11:40,832
She took back her maiden name.

268
00:11:40,867 --> 00:11:42,567
I think I met her.

269
00:11:42,602 --> 00:11:43,968
Got a picture?

270
00:11:44,004 --> 00:11:45,336
Yes...

271
00:11:45,371 --> 00:11:47,939
I have a picture.

272
00:11:47,974 --> 00:11:49,641
I have two pictures.

273
00:11:54,213 --> 00:11:56,614
(<i> humming softly</i>)

274
00:11:56,649 --> 00:11:58,115
HELMAR: Now I doubt

275
00:11:58,150 --> 00:12:00,051
that his claim has
any legal validity

276
00:12:00,086 --> 00:12:02,286
but morally there
may be a question.

277
00:12:02,322 --> 00:12:04,956
It is indubitably a
question with my ward.

278
00:12:04,991 --> 00:12:06,958
The letter came from Venezuela.

279
00:12:06,993 --> 00:12:09,226
I fear that she might
have gone there

280
00:12:09,262 --> 00:12:10,973
to speak to him and see him.

281
00:12:10,997 --> 00:12:12,730
She's worth looking at.

282
00:12:12,765 --> 00:12:15,065
And I don't just
mean the pictures.

283
00:12:15,101 --> 00:12:17,368
Like I said, I
think I've met her.

284
00:12:17,404 --> 00:12:19,737
In fact, I'm sure
of it... Recently.

285
00:12:19,773 --> 00:12:22,339
I just can't remember
where or when...

286
00:12:22,375 --> 00:12:26,043
It was the night we
had baccala dinner.

287
00:12:26,079 --> 00:12:29,547
What the devil are
you gibbering about?

288
00:12:29,582 --> 00:12:31,482
You heard me.

289
00:12:31,517 --> 00:12:33,717
Baccala dinner.

290
00:12:37,423 --> 00:12:39,724
(<i> clearing throat</i>)

291
00:12:43,663 --> 00:12:46,397
I, uh... will
consider your offer

292
00:12:46,432 --> 00:12:47,766
Mr. Helmar.

293
00:12:47,801 --> 00:12:49,412
If I decide to take it

294
00:12:49,436 --> 00:12:51,214
Mr. Goodwin will contact

295
00:12:51,238 --> 00:12:53,637
your office tomorrow
morning at 10:00.

296
00:12:53,672 --> 00:12:55,240
HELMAR: Tomorrow morning?

297
00:12:55,275 --> 00:12:56,774
I need an answer now.

298
00:12:56,810 --> 00:12:59,087
WOLFE: What
would you think of me

299
00:12:59,111 --> 00:13:00,890
If I, solely based
on information

300
00:13:00,914 --> 00:13:02,580
you supplied me here and now

301
00:13:02,616 --> 00:13:04,815
decided to accept
a job and work on it?

302
00:13:04,850 --> 00:13:06,917
What would I think?

303
00:13:06,953 --> 00:13:09,821
That, sir, is what I want.

304
00:13:09,856 --> 00:13:11,189
Surely not.

305
00:13:11,224 --> 00:13:13,202
Surely you would be
employing a jackass.

306
00:13:13,226 --> 00:13:18,095
If you want the kind of detective
who will dive in heedlessly

307
00:13:18,131 --> 00:13:19,641
based on requests
from a stranger

308
00:13:19,665 --> 00:13:22,333
Mr. Goodwin will give you
some names and addresses.

309
00:13:22,368 --> 00:13:24,636
Very well.

310
00:13:24,671 --> 00:13:27,238
I'll expect a call from
you in the morning.

311
00:13:32,578 --> 00:13:36,380
The subtlety of a rhinoceros.

312
00:13:38,250 --> 00:13:40,218
Bring her down here now.

313
00:13:41,988 --> 00:13:44,088
And here we go.

314
00:13:50,496 --> 00:13:52,430
Mr. Wolfe?

315
00:13:52,465 --> 00:13:55,032
You look exactly right.

316
00:13:55,067 --> 00:13:57,067
Just as I thought.

317
00:13:57,103 --> 00:13:59,603
I... (<i> clears throat</i>)

318
00:13:59,639 --> 00:14:01,072
don't shake hands with you

319
00:14:01,107 --> 00:14:03,608
because you might
later think it an imposition.

320
00:14:03,643 --> 00:14:04,608
But we'll see.

321
00:14:04,644 --> 00:14:06,177
Sit down, Miss Eades.

322
00:14:06,213 --> 00:14:08,712
What did you call me?

323
00:14:08,748 --> 00:14:11,082
Your name: Eades.

324
00:14:11,117 --> 00:14:13,351
B-but how...?

325
00:14:13,386 --> 00:14:15,920
Why didn't you tell me?

326
00:14:17,957 --> 00:14:20,169
Not that it makes
much difference.

327
00:14:20,193 --> 00:14:22,505
I suppose I'll have
to pay you more.

328
00:14:22,529 --> 00:14:24,528
But I was willing
to do so anyhow.

329
00:14:24,563 --> 00:14:25,797
I told Mr. Goodwin so.

330
00:14:25,832 --> 00:14:27,264
And he told you

331
00:14:27,300 --> 00:14:29,634
he was taking the money
you gave him tentatively.

332
00:14:29,669 --> 00:14:30,935
Conditional on my approval.

333
00:14:32,272 --> 00:14:34,772
Your presence here

334
00:14:34,807 --> 00:14:38,108
Miss Eades, is preposterous.

335
00:14:38,144 --> 00:14:40,277
This is neither a rooming house

336
00:14:40,313 --> 00:14:42,680
nor an asylum for
hysterical women.

337
00:14:42,716 --> 00:14:43,981
It is my office...

338
00:14:44,017 --> 00:14:45,616
I am not hysterical.

339
00:14:45,651 --> 00:14:47,251
Very well, I withdraw it.

340
00:14:47,286 --> 00:14:50,054
It is not an asylum for
unhysterical women.

341
00:14:50,090 --> 00:14:51,889
It is my office and my home.

342
00:14:51,925 --> 00:14:55,793
For you to come here and ask
to be allowed to stay a week...

343
00:14:55,829 --> 00:14:59,163
Sleeping and eating in the
room directly above mine

344
00:14:59,199 --> 00:15:01,132
without revealing your identity

345
00:15:01,167 --> 00:15:04,735
or any of the circumstances
impelling you, was grotesque.

346
00:15:04,771 --> 00:15:06,604
I'm sorry.

347
00:15:06,639 --> 00:15:07,805
I'm terribly sorry.

348
00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:09,040
I'll leave at once.

349
00:15:09,075 --> 00:15:10,842
If you please, there has been

350
00:15:10,877 --> 00:15:11,909
a development.

351
00:15:11,944 --> 00:15:13,644
We have had a visitor.

352
00:15:13,679 --> 00:15:16,380
He left here only
a few minutes ago.

353
00:15:16,416 --> 00:15:18,716
A man named Perry Helmar.

354
00:15:18,751 --> 00:15:19,784
Perry?

355
00:15:19,819 --> 00:15:22,286
Y-you told him I'm here?

356
00:15:22,321 --> 00:15:24,822
No. He wanted to
hire me to find you.

357
00:15:24,857 --> 00:15:28,459
He told me of the communication
he received recently

358
00:15:28,494 --> 00:15:31,195
from your former
husband now in Venezuela

359
00:15:31,231 --> 00:15:33,431
regarding a document
you once signed

360
00:15:33,466 --> 00:15:35,299
giving him half your property.

361
00:15:35,334 --> 00:15:37,335
You did sign such a document?

362
00:15:37,370 --> 00:15:39,269
Yes.

363
00:15:39,305 --> 00:15:42,173
Wasn't that a
foolish thing to do?

364
00:15:42,208 --> 00:15:45,109
Yes, but I was a fool then

365
00:15:45,144 --> 00:15:48,179
so naturally I was foolish.

366
00:15:48,214 --> 00:15:50,915
Mr. Helmar offered to pay
me $10,000 and expenses

367
00:15:50,950 --> 00:15:52,984
if I were to produce
you in New York

368
00:15:53,019 --> 00:15:55,553
alive and well by the
morning of October 26.

369
00:15:55,588 --> 00:15:57,121
Produce me?

370
00:15:57,156 --> 00:15:58,455
That was his phrase.

371
00:15:58,491 --> 00:16:01,692
The moment Mr. Goodwin
recognized the photographs

372
00:16:01,727 --> 00:16:02,727
and informed me

373
00:16:02,762 --> 00:16:04,996
I was, of course,
in an anomalous

374
00:16:05,031 --> 00:16:06,597
position.

375
00:16:06,633 --> 00:16:08,332
A man I've never seen before

376
00:16:08,368 --> 00:16:10,301
comes and offers me $10,000

377
00:16:10,337 --> 00:16:12,903
to find and produce
a certain object

378
00:16:12,939 --> 00:16:14,605
by a certain date.

379
00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:15,974
And, by chance...

380
00:16:16,009 --> 00:16:21,512
By chance alone, that object
is locked in a room in my house.

381
00:16:21,548 --> 00:16:23,247
Is there any reason

382
00:16:23,283 --> 00:16:27,851
I should not disclose it
to him and collect my fee?

383
00:16:27,887 --> 00:16:30,221
I see.

384
00:16:30,256 --> 00:16:31,522
So, that's how it is.

385
00:16:31,557 --> 00:16:33,924
He was lucky he
brought the photographs

386
00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:36,394
for Mr. Goodwin to
recognize, wasn't it?

387
00:16:36,429 --> 00:16:39,430
I suppose I should
congratulate you, Mr. Goodwin.

388
00:16:39,465 --> 00:16:41,599
There was no legal or
professional obstacle

389
00:16:41,634 --> 00:16:43,367
to prevent my
disclosing you to him

390
00:16:43,403 --> 00:16:45,770
and demanding payment.

391
00:16:45,805 --> 00:16:50,274
But, confound it,
there is my self-esteem.

392
00:16:50,309 --> 00:16:54,178
Also, there is Mr. Goodwin.

393
00:16:54,213 --> 00:16:56,280
I have rebuked
him for installing you

394
00:16:56,316 --> 00:16:58,049
and told him to get rid of you.

395
00:16:58,084 --> 00:16:59,594
And if I now collect
ransom for you

396
00:16:59,618 --> 00:17:01,886
he will be impossible to
live with or to work with.

397
00:17:01,921 --> 00:17:03,587
You got that right.

398
00:17:03,623 --> 00:17:05,401
But if my self-esteem

399
00:17:05,425 --> 00:17:08,792
will not let me profit
by your presence here

400
00:17:08,828 --> 00:17:13,564
neither will my self-interest
permit me to suffer loss by it.

401
00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:17,235
So I have two alternative
suggestions to offer.

402
00:17:17,270 --> 00:17:20,638
The first is simple.

403
00:17:20,673 --> 00:17:22,974
You told Mr. Goodwin, in effect

404
00:17:23,009 --> 00:17:24,308
there was no limit

405
00:17:24,343 --> 00:17:27,344
to the amount you
would pay to stay here.

406
00:17:27,379 --> 00:17:28,780
I now say, $10,000.

407
00:17:28,815 --> 00:17:30,248
This is blackmail.

408
00:17:30,283 --> 00:17:33,484
You're saying if I
don't pay you $10,000

409
00:17:33,519 --> 00:17:38,455
you'll tell Perry Helmar I'm
here and you'll get it from him.

410
00:17:38,491 --> 00:17:40,124
I'm saying no such thing.

411
00:17:40,159 --> 00:17:42,660
I said, I had an
alternate suggestion

412
00:17:42,695 --> 00:17:44,762
if you don't like the first one.

413
00:17:44,797 --> 00:17:48,566
You can be out of here in
five minutes, with your luggage

414
00:17:48,601 --> 00:17:50,835
and there will be
no surveillance.

415
00:17:50,870 --> 00:17:53,604
We will forget you exist
until 10:00 tomorrow morning

416
00:17:53,639 --> 00:17:55,651
at which point I shall
phone Mr. Helmar

417
00:17:55,675 --> 00:17:57,553
take his job on the
terms he proposed

418
00:17:57,577 --> 00:17:58,675
and start after you.

419
00:17:58,711 --> 00:18:00,844
I'm not paying you any $10,000.

420
00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:01,979
It's ridiculous.

421
00:18:02,015 --> 00:18:03,015
As you please.

422
00:18:03,049 --> 00:18:04,381
You have no time to lose

423
00:18:04,417 --> 00:18:06,483
if you expect to
make it a job for me.

424
00:18:06,519 --> 00:18:09,153
Archie, will you bring her
luggage down, please?

425
00:18:09,189 --> 00:18:11,789
I can manage. Thanks.

426
00:18:21,300 --> 00:18:22,333
Uh, good morning.

427
00:18:25,137 --> 00:18:26,182
Uh, Fritz said

428
00:18:26,206 --> 00:18:27,304
you wanted to see me.

429
00:18:27,340 --> 00:18:28,372
Yes. Good morning.

430
00:18:28,407 --> 00:18:29,740
What time is it?

431
00:18:29,776 --> 00:18:32,209
8:32.

432
00:18:32,244 --> 00:18:36,747
Oh, please get Mr. Helmar
at his office 10:00 sharp

433
00:18:36,782 --> 00:18:39,050
and put him through
to me upstairs.

434
00:18:39,085 --> 00:18:40,651
Meanwhile, it won't hurt

435
00:18:40,686 --> 00:18:42,898
to ring Miss Eades'
apartment to see if she's there...

436
00:18:42,922 --> 00:18:44,355
if you haven't done so already.

437
00:18:44,390 --> 00:18:45,856
Uh, no, sir.

438
00:18:45,891 --> 00:18:47,424
Then try it.

439
00:18:47,460 --> 00:18:51,462
If she's not at home, we must
be prepared to waste no time.

440
00:18:51,497 --> 00:18:52,796
Get Fred, Saul, Ory.

441
00:18:52,831 --> 00:18:54,676
Have them be here by 11:00.

442
00:18:54,700 --> 00:18:56,967
No, sir. I don't refuse to play

443
00:18:57,003 --> 00:18:58,880
but I will not be a
part of any fudging.

444
00:18:58,904 --> 00:19:00,871
Now, you said we would
forget about her existence

445
00:19:00,907 --> 00:19:01,938
until 10:00 this morning.

446
00:19:01,974 --> 00:19:03,341
I have done so.

447
00:19:03,376 --> 00:19:05,521
But I don't know who or
what you're talking about.

448
00:19:05,545 --> 00:19:07,322
Now, should I come
back upstairs at 10:00

449
00:19:07,346 --> 00:19:09,324
and see if you have
any further instructions?

450
00:19:09,348 --> 00:19:12,149
No.

451
00:19:12,185 --> 00:19:14,151
Very well.

452
00:19:14,187 --> 00:19:15,187
I mean, yes!

453
00:19:21,894 --> 00:19:23,461
Inspector.

454
00:19:23,496 --> 00:19:24,762
Goodwin.

455
00:19:24,797 --> 00:19:26,942
Mr. Wolfe won't be
available for two hours

456
00:19:26,966 --> 00:19:29,366
but you know that
as well as anybody.

457
00:19:31,371 --> 00:19:32,481
Will I do?

458
00:19:32,505 --> 00:19:34,471
Yeah, you will...

459
00:19:34,507 --> 00:19:35,873
for a start.

460
00:19:35,908 --> 00:19:37,608
What?

461
00:19:37,643 --> 00:19:40,144
Last night a woman was murdered

462
00:19:40,179 --> 00:19:44,148
and your fingerprints
were found on her luggage.

463
00:19:44,184 --> 00:19:46,083
How did they get there?

464
00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:48,919
That's no way
to do it, Inspector.

465
00:19:48,955 --> 00:19:51,956
My fingerprints could be
found on women's luggage

466
00:19:51,991 --> 00:19:53,557
from Maine to California.

467
00:19:53,593 --> 00:19:55,159
You want to give me a name

468
00:19:55,194 --> 00:19:57,195
address, description of luggage?

469
00:19:57,230 --> 00:19:58,829
Priscilla Eades.

470
00:19:58,865 --> 00:20:01,565
Oh...

471
00:20:03,869 --> 00:20:05,268
I see.

472
00:20:05,304 --> 00:20:08,139
618 East 74th Street.

473
00:20:08,174 --> 00:20:09,874
(<i> rings buzzer</i>)

474
00:20:09,909 --> 00:20:12,209
A suitcase and a hat box.

475
00:20:12,245 --> 00:20:13,711
Both crocodile.

476
00:20:13,746 --> 00:20:15,513
She was, uh, murdered?

477
00:20:15,548 --> 00:20:16,513
Yes.

478
00:20:16,548 --> 00:20:19,250
And your prints were fresh.

479
00:20:19,285 --> 00:20:20,584
How come?

480
00:20:23,189 --> 00:20:25,756
Well?

481
00:20:25,791 --> 00:20:27,457
Uh, yes, Mr. Wolfe.

482
00:20:27,493 --> 00:20:29,604
Inspector Cramer here
was just informing me

483
00:20:29,628 --> 00:20:31,896
that a woman named
Priscilla Eades was murdered

484
00:20:31,931 --> 00:20:34,498
and that my fingerprints
are all over her luggage.

485
00:20:34,533 --> 00:20:37,167
He wants to know why and
whether or not I knew her.

486
00:20:37,203 --> 00:20:39,603
Did I know her?

487
00:20:43,075 --> 00:20:46,577
GOODWIN: <i>Cramer expressed
appreciation for the information I provided</i>

488
00:20:46,612 --> 00:20:48,323
<i>taking dozens of pages of notes.</i>

489
00:20:48,347 --> 00:20:50,814
<i>After a while, he even
started calling me Archie</i>

490
00:20:50,850 --> 00:20:53,283
<i>which had happened
before, but not often.</i>

491
00:20:53,318 --> 00:20:55,085
I guess it's all on the level.

492
00:20:55,120 --> 00:20:57,955
You too busy to
answer a question

493
00:20:57,990 --> 00:21:00,757
from a citizen in good standing?

494
00:21:00,792 --> 00:21:03,861
Well, I have to be at
the D.A.'s office at 10:30.

495
00:21:03,896 --> 00:21:06,174
Why did you want
to make it so tight

496
00:21:06,198 --> 00:21:08,310
about the time Helmar left here?

497
00:21:08,334 --> 00:21:11,769
It was about an hour later

498
00:21:11,804 --> 00:21:14,605
that Miss Eades left.

499
00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:18,075
Well, around 1:00
a Margaret Fomos

500
00:21:18,110 --> 00:21:22,847
was found in a vestibule
on East 29th Street.

501
00:21:22,882 --> 00:21:26,850
Strangled with a
cord... Not very thick.

502
00:21:26,885 --> 00:21:28,085
Her purse stolen.

503
00:21:28,120 --> 00:21:30,487
Back when she
was still breathing

504
00:21:30,522 --> 00:21:32,889
she was a maid
for Priscilla Eades.

505
00:21:32,925 --> 00:21:36,093
Around 4:00 they found the bag

506
00:21:36,128 --> 00:21:38,528
in a nearby trash can.

507
00:21:38,564 --> 00:21:40,664
And one of the
investigating officers

508
00:21:40,699 --> 00:21:43,034
who was working
with Lieutenant Rowcliff

509
00:21:43,069 --> 00:21:46,270
started to wonder why she
was strangled over a bag.

510
00:21:46,305 --> 00:21:49,740
Going over the contents of
Fomos's bag with her husband

511
00:21:49,775 --> 00:21:51,508
one missing item stuck out...

512
00:21:51,543 --> 00:21:53,844
The keys to Priscilla
Eades' apartment

513
00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:55,145
where she worked.

514
00:21:55,181 --> 00:21:57,259
Hmm, that officer's going
to have your job some day

515
00:21:57,283 --> 00:21:58,283
you know that.

516
00:21:58,317 --> 00:21:59,850
Well, he's welcome to it now.

517
00:21:59,886 --> 00:22:02,819
Priscilla Eades was found
on the floor of her apartment.

518
00:22:02,855 --> 00:22:05,456
She'd been hit in the
head with a fireplace poker

519
00:22:05,491 --> 00:22:09,260
and strangled with a
cord... Not very thick.

520
00:22:09,295 --> 00:22:13,430
The killer was waiting for
her when she got home.

521
00:22:13,465 --> 00:22:15,499
Well...

522
00:22:15,534 --> 00:22:18,235
thank you for
answering the question.

523
00:22:18,271 --> 00:22:20,204
Well, it's the least I could do

524
00:22:20,239 --> 00:22:23,374
considering how cooperative
you've been, Archie.

525
00:22:25,678 --> 00:22:28,278
I believe you, for a change.

526
00:22:30,683 --> 00:22:36,119
Especially since Wolfe
doesn't have a client.

527
00:22:36,155 --> 00:22:38,355
And none in sight.

528
00:22:38,390 --> 00:22:41,558
He'll be in a hell of a humor.

529
00:22:41,594 --> 00:22:44,094
And I don't envy you.

530
00:22:57,709 --> 00:23:00,844
I suppose Mr. Helmar
will soon know

531
00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:04,682
if he doesn't already,
of our stratagem.

532
00:23:04,717 --> 00:23:08,385
And I doubt it's worth the
trouble to communicate with him.

533
00:23:08,421 --> 00:23:10,588
He wanted his ward alive, and...

534
00:23:10,623 --> 00:23:12,723
well, that's out
of the question.

535
00:23:12,759 --> 00:23:14,824
But he's the only
contact we have

536
00:23:14,860 --> 00:23:18,528
and no matter how sore he
is, we should start with him.

537
00:23:18,564 --> 00:23:21,665
Start? Start what? With whom?

538
00:23:21,701 --> 00:23:23,100
We have no client.

539
00:23:23,135 --> 00:23:25,102
She was here.
She wanted to stay.

540
00:23:25,137 --> 00:23:27,904
We kicked her
out. She got killed.

541
00:23:27,940 --> 00:23:31,808
I should think that would have
some bearing on your self-esteem

542
00:23:31,844 --> 00:23:33,810
as you were
discussing last night.

543
00:23:33,846 --> 00:23:35,278
Nonsense.

544
00:23:35,314 --> 00:23:38,182
Okay, I guess I
knew how it would be.

545
00:23:38,217 --> 00:23:41,552
I realize I have, uh,
my personal problem.

546
00:23:41,587 --> 00:23:43,921
I put her back
out on the street.

547
00:23:43,956 --> 00:23:45,868
I put her in the taxi
that sent her home

548
00:23:45,892 --> 00:23:47,157
and now... she got it.

549
00:23:47,193 --> 00:23:48,492
I-I-I will<i> not</i>

550
00:23:48,527 --> 00:23:51,128
undertake a major
and expensive operation

551
00:23:51,163 --> 00:23:52,896
with no chance of income

552
00:23:52,932 --> 00:23:56,333
merely because you have
been piqued by circumstance.

553
00:23:56,368 --> 00:23:58,736
I will do my best to
make people know

554
00:23:58,771 --> 00:24:00,871
that I'm not working for you.

555
00:24:00,907 --> 00:24:03,173
Some won't buy
it; can't help that.

556
00:24:03,208 --> 00:24:06,810
If you decide you'd rather
have me quit, well, okay.

557
00:24:06,845 --> 00:24:09,413
But I don't have
time to discuss it

558
00:24:09,448 --> 00:24:12,482
if I'm going to catch
this guy before lunch.

559
00:24:12,517 --> 00:24:14,295
<i>I had a pretty good
idea where to start.</i>

560
00:24:14,319 --> 00:24:16,987
<i>Priscilla Eades stood to inherit
90% of Softdown, Incorporated</i>

561
00:24:17,023 --> 00:24:18,633
<i>if she made it to
her 25th birthday.</i>

562
00:24:18,657 --> 00:24:22,025
<i>She missed by six days.</i>

563
00:24:22,060 --> 00:24:25,129
<i>I called my friend Lon
Cohen at the</i> Gazette

564
00:24:25,164 --> 00:24:27,764
<i>and learned that now her
90% was going to be divided</i>

565
00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:29,900
<i>between a handful
of Softdown officers.</i>

566
00:24:30,936 --> 00:24:33,170
Goodwin, Detective.

567
00:24:33,205 --> 00:24:35,806
I'm here investigating the
murder of Priscilla Eades.

568
00:24:35,841 --> 00:24:37,519
I want to ask you
a few questions.

569
00:24:37,543 --> 00:24:40,054
We'll start with you at
the end of the table there.

570
00:24:40,078 --> 00:24:41,612
What's your full name?

571
00:24:41,647 --> 00:24:43,347
I'm Jay Luther Brooker.

572
00:24:43,382 --> 00:24:46,650
Now, what does
that "J" stand for?

573
00:24:46,685 --> 00:24:48,952
That's J-A-Y,
Jay. I'm president.

574
00:24:48,988 --> 00:24:51,366
When did you first learn
of Miss Eades' death?

575
00:24:51,390 --> 00:24:52,790
This morning on the radio.

576
00:24:52,825 --> 00:24:55,993
Uh-huh. Can you
explain your whereabouts?

577
00:24:56,028 --> 00:24:57,728
Yes.

578
00:24:57,763 --> 00:24:59,964
I was in bed.

579
00:24:59,999 --> 00:25:02,966
I have a suite at the
Prince Henry Hotel.

580
00:25:03,002 --> 00:25:05,514
ARCHIE: Well, you
understand the situation

581
00:25:05,538 --> 00:25:06,803
Mr. Brooker.

582
00:25:06,839 --> 00:25:09,106
You see, a lot of
people stand to profit

583
00:25:09,141 --> 00:25:11,074
from Miss Eades' death, right?

584
00:25:11,110 --> 00:25:13,710
How much are you going
to inherit from the company?

585
00:25:13,745 --> 00:25:15,211
Well, under the terms

586
00:25:15,247 --> 00:25:19,249
of the will of the late
Nathan Eades... the, uh, son

587
00:25:19,284 --> 00:25:21,084
of the founder
of the business...

588
00:25:21,119 --> 00:25:26,823
19,362 shares of the
common stock come to me.

589
00:25:26,859 --> 00:25:29,927
The same amount goes
to four other people...

590
00:25:29,962 --> 00:25:31,261
Miss Duday

591
00:25:31,297 --> 00:25:33,263
Mr. Quest, Mr. Pitkin

592
00:25:33,299 --> 00:25:35,866
and, uh, Mr. Helmar.

593
00:25:35,902 --> 00:25:37,546
Uh, smaller
amounts go to others.

594
00:25:37,570 --> 00:25:39,614
Right, right, well,
I'll get those names

595
00:25:39,638 --> 00:25:41,516
but I want to...
start here first.

596
00:25:41,540 --> 00:25:43,040
What's your name? Bow tie?

597
00:25:43,075 --> 00:25:48,145
Well, sir... I am Bernard Quest.

598
00:25:48,180 --> 00:25:51,047
I've been with this
business 62 years

599
00:25:51,083 --> 00:25:54,051
and Vice President for 29.

600
00:25:54,086 --> 00:25:55,285
Oh. You?

601
00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:56,653
WOMAN: Viola Duday.

602
00:25:56,688 --> 00:25:58,022
I was Mr. Eades' secretary.

603
00:25:58,057 --> 00:26:00,791
During his last illness,
the last 14 months of his life

604
00:26:00,826 --> 00:26:02,392
I ran the business.

605
00:26:02,428 --> 00:26:05,807
My present title is Assistant
Secretary of the Corporation.

606
00:26:05,831 --> 00:26:07,964
Mm-hmm. And you?

607
00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:14,538
Oliver Pitkin, Secretary and
Treasurer of the corporation.

608
00:26:14,574 --> 00:26:16,573
WOMAN: Um, Daphne O'Neil.

609
00:26:16,609 --> 00:26:17,686
But I don't think I belong

610
00:26:17,710 --> 00:26:19,454
in your little black
book, Mr. Detective.

611
00:26:19,478 --> 00:26:22,146
You see, I wasn't
in Mr. Eades' will.

612
00:26:22,181 --> 00:26:24,492
I was just a good
little girl when he died.

613
00:26:24,516 --> 00:26:26,750
Um, I've only worked at Softdown

614
00:26:26,785 --> 00:26:28,318
for four years now.

615
00:26:28,353 --> 00:26:30,520
Now I'm the Softdown stylist.

616
00:26:30,556 --> 00:26:32,990
DUDAY: Perhaps you should know

617
00:26:33,025 --> 00:26:35,458
that if Miss Eades had
lived until next Monday

618
00:26:35,494 --> 00:26:37,961
Miss O'Neil would be
looking for another job.

619
00:26:37,997 --> 00:26:40,509
Miss Eades did not
appreciate Miss...

620
00:26:40,533 --> 00:26:42,132
Is-is this necessary, Vi?

621
00:26:42,167 --> 00:26:43,333
I think so.

622
00:26:43,368 --> 00:26:45,936
No one's going to be
able to hide anything

623
00:26:45,971 --> 00:26:47,938
so why not shorten the agony?

624
00:26:47,974 --> 00:26:49,506
They'll dig up everything.

625
00:26:49,541 --> 00:26:51,875
That for ten years
before Nate Eades died

626
00:26:51,910 --> 00:26:53,544
you tried to get him to give you

627
00:26:53,579 --> 00:26:55,679
a third of the
business... and failed.

628
00:26:55,715 --> 00:26:57,881
That Ollie here

629
00:26:57,916 --> 00:27:00,195
beneath his mask
of modest efficiency

630
00:27:00,219 --> 00:27:01,918
is fiercely antifeminist

631
00:27:01,954 --> 00:27:04,388
and hates to see a
woman run anything!

632
00:27:04,423 --> 00:27:05,889
My dear Viola...

633
00:27:05,924 --> 00:27:07,557
That<i> my</i> appetite

634
00:27:07,593 --> 00:27:09,470
and ambition for
power are so strong

635
00:27:09,494 --> 00:27:11,339
that you three men
and Perry Helmar

636
00:27:11,363 --> 00:27:13,463
much as you fear
and distrust each other

637
00:27:13,499 --> 00:27:14,965
fear and distrust me more!

638
00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:17,045
And you knew that when
Priscilla was in control

639
00:27:17,069 --> 00:27:18,479
I would have had top authority!

640
00:27:18,503 --> 00:27:21,372
They'll learn that
this... <i>Daphne O'Neil...</i>

641
00:27:21,407 --> 00:27:24,074
My God, what a name
for her... <i>Daphne...</i>

642
00:27:24,109 --> 00:27:26,042
It means "laurel tree."

643
00:27:28,714 --> 00:27:32,249
That she was playing Perry
Helmar and Jay Brooker

644
00:27:32,284 --> 00:27:33,817
against each other

645
00:27:33,852 --> 00:27:36,320
and with October 26 approaching,
she was getting desperate

646
00:27:36,355 --> 00:27:37,521
and so were they.

647
00:27:37,556 --> 00:27:38,655
That Jay...

648
00:27:38,690 --> 00:27:39,690
Aah!

649
00:27:40,625 --> 00:27:41,591
(<i> laughing</i>)

650
00:27:41,627 --> 00:27:44,093
You... you asked for it, Vi

651
00:27:44,129 --> 00:27:47,698
and if you're counting on
Ollie and me being with you

652
00:27:47,733 --> 00:27:51,034
as I think you are, you're
making a big mistake.

653
00:27:51,070 --> 00:27:52,847
ARCHIE: Miss Duday
is absolutely right...

654
00:27:52,871 --> 00:27:54,983
It's all going to come out...
The good and the bad...

655
00:27:55,007 --> 00:27:56,273
And the quicker, the better.

656
00:27:56,308 --> 00:27:59,175
It wouldn't be a bad
thing, Mr. Brooker

657
00:27:59,211 --> 00:28:01,022
if you followed Miss
Duday's example.

658
00:28:01,046 --> 00:28:03,747
Why don't you tell me what
this conference was about today.

659
00:28:03,782 --> 00:28:07,451
Uh, we were saying that we
would have to accept the fact

660
00:28:07,486 --> 00:28:09,853
that the nature of
Miss Eades' murder

661
00:28:09,889 --> 00:28:13,923
created a very unpleasant
situation for all of us.

662
00:28:13,959 --> 00:28:16,626
We agreed that
it was unthinkable

663
00:28:16,662 --> 00:28:18,261
that any of us could possibly

664
00:28:18,297 --> 00:28:20,241
have been involved
in her murder...

665
00:28:20,265 --> 00:28:22,110
Yeah, it's not like any of you

666
00:28:22,134 --> 00:28:23,967
had any motives.

667
00:28:24,002 --> 00:28:26,903
BROOKER: We discussed
the letter that recently arrived

668
00:28:26,938 --> 00:28:29,139
from Eric Hagh, Miss
Eades' former husband.

669
00:28:29,174 --> 00:28:30,540
Do you know about that?

670
00:28:30,575 --> 00:28:31,875
Yes.

671
00:28:31,910 --> 00:28:34,410
The letter was
sent from Venezuela

672
00:28:34,446 --> 00:28:37,381
but he could easily have come
to New York by ship or plane

673
00:28:37,416 --> 00:28:39,750
or... heck, he didn't
even need to come...

674
00:28:39,785 --> 00:28:41,951
He could have hired
someone to kill her.

675
00:28:41,987 --> 00:28:43,619
Why?

676
00:28:44,657 --> 00:28:48,125
We don't know why.

677
00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:50,026
We were only trying to find

678
00:28:50,062 --> 00:28:52,796
some plausible
explanation for her murder.

679
00:28:52,832 --> 00:28:55,365
But how do you figure
Eric Hagh was the killer?

680
00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:58,935
I mean, if he had his document,
all he had to do was wait a week

681
00:28:58,971 --> 00:29:02,005
for Priscilla Eades to
suddenly get a lot more property

682
00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:04,407
which he could come
and claim half of.

683
00:29:04,442 --> 00:29:05,809
DUDAY: One possibility

684
00:29:05,845 --> 00:29:08,712
would be that she had denied
she had signed the document

685
00:29:08,747 --> 00:29:10,659
or that he<i> thought</i>
she was going to

686
00:29:10,683 --> 00:29:12,983
and he was afraid he
would get nothing at all.

687
00:29:13,018 --> 00:29:17,487
No. No, no, 'cause she already
stated that she had signed it.

688
00:29:17,522 --> 00:29:18,922
Had she? To whom?

689
00:29:20,492 --> 00:29:25,095
Uh... look, I'm asking
the questions here, okay?

690
00:29:25,130 --> 00:29:26,540
Now... (<i> door opens</i>)

691
00:29:26,564 --> 00:29:30,967
Ho, well, for God's sake.

692
00:29:31,003 --> 00:29:32,469
You're under arrest.

693
00:29:32,504 --> 00:29:34,304
Oh, yeah? You
got that in writing?

694
00:29:34,339 --> 00:29:35,839
I don't need writing.

695
00:29:35,874 --> 00:29:37,007
I'm taking you.

696
00:29:37,042 --> 00:29:38,820
I'm Lieutenant Rowcliff,
Manhattan Homicide.

697
00:29:38,844 --> 00:29:40,889
Outside, this man said he
was a policeman, did he?

698
00:29:40,913 --> 00:29:42,379
Isn't he?

699
00:29:42,414 --> 00:29:43,847
No. Did he say he
was a policeman?

700
00:29:43,882 --> 00:29:45,982
We're a pack of
fools! He's a reporter!

701
00:29:46,018 --> 00:29:49,552
Eh, he's no reporter.

702
00:29:49,588 --> 00:29:51,021
(<i> chuckling</i>)

703
00:29:51,056 --> 00:29:54,591
His name is Archie Goodwin...

704
00:29:54,626 --> 00:29:58,628
and he's the confidential
as-s-sistant of Nero Wolfe...

705
00:29:58,663 --> 00:29:59,962
(<i> blows raspberry</i>)

706
00:29:59,998 --> 00:30:01,431
private detective.

707
00:30:01,466 --> 00:30:03,900
(<i> chuckling</i>): Oh-ho-ho-ho,
I'm taking you.

708
00:30:03,935 --> 00:30:06,236
In the act of
impersonating an officer.

709
00:30:06,271 --> 00:30:08,372
Handcuff him and
search him, Doyle.

710
00:30:08,407 --> 00:30:10,251
ARCHIE: Look, look, downstairs

711
00:30:10,275 --> 00:30:12,576
and up here, I
identified myself by name

712
00:30:12,611 --> 00:30:14,610
and I said the word "detective."

713
00:30:14,646 --> 00:30:16,146
I showed my license

714
00:30:16,182 --> 00:30:17,959
which no one
bothered to examine.

715
00:30:17,983 --> 00:30:19,661
I never said I was a policeman.

716
00:30:19,685 --> 00:30:21,897
I asked some questions,
which these people answered.

717
00:30:21,921 --> 00:30:23,565
Now, you can apologize
now and get out.

718
00:30:23,589 --> 00:30:25,755
You asked questions about what?

719
00:30:25,790 --> 00:30:28,069
About the death
of Priscilla Eades.

720
00:30:28,093 --> 00:30:31,094
Oh. You lied to Cramer
when you told him

721
00:30:31,130 --> 00:30:33,496
that Wolfe had no c... client.

722
00:30:33,532 --> 00:30:36,166
No, I never lied about whether
or not he had a<i> c-client</i> or not.

723
00:30:36,201 --> 00:30:37,779
He didn't have one then;

724
00:30:37,803 --> 00:30:39,102
he doesn't have one now.

725
00:30:39,137 --> 00:30:40,703
Then what are you doing here?

726
00:30:40,738 --> 00:30:43,373
I'm here for personal
reasons. Strictly on my own.

727
00:30:43,408 --> 00:30:45,542
Mr. Wolfe has
nothing to do with this.

728
00:30:45,577 --> 00:30:49,412
So, Wolfe has a c... client

729
00:30:49,448 --> 00:30:52,549
and a client... that he
doesn't care to acknowledge.

730
00:30:52,584 --> 00:30:54,495
And you have the
gall to come here

731
00:30:54,519 --> 00:30:57,954
and try to cover for him by
telling another outrageous lie?

732
00:30:57,989 --> 00:30:59,800
You know, I've
taken great pleasure

733
00:30:59,824 --> 00:31:01,357
in lying to you in the past

734
00:31:01,393 --> 00:31:03,371
and surely I will
lie to you again...

735
00:31:03,395 --> 00:31:05,139
Mr. Wolfe... That's enough.

736
00:31:05,163 --> 00:31:06,696
That's more than enough.

737
00:31:06,731 --> 00:31:08,064
Giving false information;

738
00:31:08,100 --> 00:31:10,133
withholding evidence;
material witness;

739
00:31:10,169 --> 00:31:13,136
obstructing justice...

740
00:31:13,171 --> 00:31:16,139
and impersonating an officer.

741
00:31:16,174 --> 00:31:18,107
T... T...

742
00:31:18,143 --> 00:31:19,976
Take him, Doyle!

743
00:31:20,011 --> 00:31:21,711
Hey, be careful... I'm ticklish.

744
00:31:21,746 --> 00:31:23,758
There's one other
thing I wanted to know.

745
00:31:23,782 --> 00:31:26,149
When you saw Priscilla Eades...

746
00:31:30,322 --> 00:31:33,790
GOODWIN: <i>I spent four hours
being asked the same question</i>

747
00:31:33,826 --> 00:31:35,725
<i>by every member of the NYPD</i>

748
00:31:35,761 --> 00:31:37,672
<i>and when they'd run
out of interrogators</i>

749
00:31:37,696 --> 00:31:39,607
<i>they handed me over
to the D.A.'s office</i>

750
00:31:39,631 --> 00:31:41,476
<i>and then stuck me
in the hall to wait.</i>

751
00:31:41,500 --> 00:31:44,500
<i>I figured they at least
owed me a few phone calls</i>

752
00:31:44,536 --> 00:31:47,804
<i>preferably in a quiet office
with a door that closed.</i>

753
00:31:47,839 --> 00:31:50,351
WOLFE: based on
the idiotic assumption

754
00:31:50,375 --> 00:31:51,774
that Mr. Goodwin and I

755
00:31:51,810 --> 00:31:54,544
are old acquaintances.

756
00:31:54,580 --> 00:31:56,480
So what happens today?

757
00:31:56,515 --> 00:31:58,926
Mr. Rowcliff took advantage

758
00:31:58,950 --> 00:32:00,651
of the absence of Mr. Goodwin

759
00:32:00,686 --> 00:32:02,986
whom he fears

760
00:32:03,021 --> 00:32:04,654
and petulantly envies

761
00:32:04,689 --> 00:32:06,656
and entered my house by force.

762
00:32:06,691 --> 00:32:08,124
That's a lie. I rang.

763
00:32:08,159 --> 00:32:09,159
Shut up!

764
00:32:12,230 --> 00:32:13,996
He was ass enough to think

765
00:32:14,032 --> 00:32:15,999
that I would speak with him.

766
00:32:16,034 --> 00:32:18,034
Naturally, I ordered him out

767
00:32:18,070 --> 00:32:21,437
and when I persisted
in my refusal

768
00:32:21,473 --> 00:32:25,675
I turned to leave and
he put a hand on me.

769
00:32:25,710 --> 00:32:30,680
He then took me into
custody, under warrant

770
00:32:30,715 --> 00:32:33,450
conducted me out of my home

771
00:32:33,485 --> 00:32:37,053
and in a rickety old police car

772
00:32:37,089 --> 00:32:40,356
with a headstrong
and paroxysmal driver

773
00:32:40,392 --> 00:32:45,661
brought me to this building.

774
00:32:45,697 --> 00:32:49,966
I had assumed,
charitably, that it was

775
00:32:50,001 --> 00:32:51,801
some major misapprehension

776
00:32:51,837 --> 00:32:56,839
that had driven Mr. Rowcliff
to this frenzied zeal

777
00:32:56,875 --> 00:32:59,810
but I learn from you, Mr. Bowen

778
00:32:59,845 --> 00:33:04,013
that it was merely a
fit of nincompoopery.

779
00:33:04,049 --> 00:33:07,917
That you-you think
that I have a client.

780
00:33:07,953 --> 00:33:11,821
That I know something that
you don't know and would like to

781
00:33:11,857 --> 00:33:13,501
and that you can
bully it out of me.

782
00:33:13,525 --> 00:33:15,525
Well, you can't!

783
00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:17,861
I haven't got it!

784
00:33:17,896 --> 00:33:20,897
But you are correct

785
00:33:20,932 --> 00:33:23,399
in assuming that I
have a client... I do.

786
00:33:23,435 --> 00:33:24,734
I knew it.

787
00:33:24,769 --> 00:33:26,869
As you may know

788
00:33:26,905 --> 00:33:29,606
Mr. Goodwin is not indifferent

789
00:33:29,641 --> 00:33:32,676
to those attributes
of young women

790
00:33:32,711 --> 00:33:37,047
which constitute the
chief reliance of our race

791
00:33:37,082 --> 00:33:40,917
in our gallant struggle against

792
00:33:40,952 --> 00:33:42,885
the menace of the insects.

793
00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:47,023
He is also especially
vulnerable to young women

794
00:33:47,058 --> 00:33:48,091
who have a knack

795
00:33:48,126 --> 00:33:51,160
for stimulating
his love of chivalry

796
00:33:51,196 --> 00:33:52,396
and adventure.

797
00:33:52,430 --> 00:33:55,232
Priscilla Eades
was such a woman.

798
00:33:55,267 --> 00:33:58,635
Within hours of her eviction

799
00:33:58,670 --> 00:34:01,570
by him, at my behest

800
00:34:01,606 --> 00:34:05,041
she was brutally murdered.

801
00:34:05,077 --> 00:34:08,178
He then bounded out of my
house like a man obsessed

802
00:34:08,213 --> 00:34:10,913
after telling me he was
going, single-handed

803
00:34:10,949 --> 00:34:12,882
after the murderer.

804
00:34:15,387 --> 00:34:19,055
It was... pathetic

805
00:34:19,091 --> 00:34:20,990
but also

806
00:34:21,026 --> 00:34:23,760
thoroughly admirable.

807
00:34:23,796 --> 00:34:28,965
And your callous and
churlish treatment of him

808
00:34:29,001 --> 00:34:32,502
leaves me with no alternative.

809
00:34:32,538 --> 00:34:33,970
I am at his service.

810
00:34:34,005 --> 00:34:37,674
You mean Archie
Goodwin is your client?

811
00:34:37,709 --> 00:34:39,742
All that rigmarole

812
00:34:39,778 --> 00:34:41,244
was leading up to<i> that?</i>

813
00:34:42,414 --> 00:34:44,247
I'm hungry.

814
00:34:44,282 --> 00:34:45,949
I had a soda fountain lunch.

815
00:34:45,984 --> 00:34:48,585
I could eat a porcupine
with quills on it.

816
00:34:48,620 --> 00:34:50,186
Let's go home.

817
00:34:58,530 --> 00:35:03,232
A paradise for puerility.

818
00:35:08,073 --> 00:35:10,140
I'm a client, now, Fritz.

819
00:35:10,175 --> 00:35:11,374
And he's a buffoon.

820
00:35:11,409 --> 00:35:13,388
No, sir, I sit here not as a gag

821
00:35:13,412 --> 00:35:15,289
but to avoid misunderstanding.

822
00:35:15,313 --> 00:35:17,791
As a client, the closer
to you, the better.

823
00:35:17,815 --> 00:35:19,115
As an employee

824
00:35:19,151 --> 00:35:21,751
nothing doing until my
personal problem is resolved.

825
00:35:21,786 --> 00:35:23,019
Now, you tell me how much

826
00:35:23,055 --> 00:35:25,099
you want for a retainer
and I'll write a check.

827
00:35:25,123 --> 00:35:27,368
Otherwise I will bound out of
this house like a man obsessed.

828
00:35:27,392 --> 00:35:28,358
Confound it!

829
00:35:28,393 --> 00:35:29,871
I'm helpless. I'm committed.

830
00:35:29,895 --> 00:35:31,038
Yes, sir, you are.

831
00:35:31,062 --> 00:35:32,073
Now, what about a retainer?

832
00:35:32,097 --> 00:35:33,097
No!

833
00:35:34,233 --> 00:35:37,066
You care to hear
how I spent my day?

834
00:35:37,102 --> 00:35:38,501
Care to, no.

835
00:35:38,536 --> 00:35:41,337
But how the devil
can I escape it?

836
00:35:41,373 --> 00:35:42,806
Report, I mean...

837
00:35:42,841 --> 00:35:44,707
Tell me.

838
00:35:44,743 --> 00:35:46,342
Well, we're in a pickle.

839
00:35:46,378 --> 00:35:47,677
You see...

840
00:35:50,248 --> 00:35:52,482
How many of these
five people can you have

841
00:35:52,517 --> 00:35:54,751
in this office by 11:00
tomorrow morning?

842
00:35:54,786 --> 00:35:57,820
As it stands now,
without any bait?

843
00:35:57,856 --> 00:35:59,867
Yes. I wouldn't bet on one.

844
00:35:59,891 --> 00:36:01,090
I'm ready to try.

845
00:36:01,126 --> 00:36:03,493
I might get something from
Lon Cohen to use as bait

846
00:36:03,528 --> 00:36:05,440
if I bought him a
thick enough steak.

847
00:36:05,464 --> 00:36:06,963
Well, do so.

848
00:36:06,998 --> 00:36:09,266
Invite him to dine with us.

849
00:36:10,335 --> 00:36:11,368
Tonight?

850
00:36:11,403 --> 00:36:13,203
Yes.

851
00:36:19,577 --> 00:36:22,412
I'm, uh, in a pickle, Mr. Cohen.

852
00:36:24,549 --> 00:36:28,951
I have committed to
investigate a murder

853
00:36:28,987 --> 00:36:34,290
but I have no<i> entre,</i>
I need a toehold.

854
00:36:34,325 --> 00:36:35,991
Who killed Priscilla Eades?

855
00:36:36,027 --> 00:36:37,760
I intended to ask you.

856
00:36:37,795 --> 00:36:38,995
(<i> chuckling</i>)

857
00:36:39,030 --> 00:36:40,363
I don't know.

858
00:36:40,398 --> 00:36:42,310
You can shed no
light on this subject?

859
00:36:42,334 --> 00:36:43,299
Uh, well

860
00:36:43,334 --> 00:36:46,770
maybe I can, and,
uh, maybe I can't.

861
00:36:49,608 --> 00:36:50,873
Am I in your debt

862
00:36:50,909 --> 00:36:52,942
or are you in my
debt, Mr. Cohen?

863
00:36:52,977 --> 00:36:54,555
All right, that's
the point, isn't it?

864
00:36:54,579 --> 00:36:56,290
Well, I'm happy to
say that we're square.

865
00:36:56,314 --> 00:36:58,225
I'll call it square if
you'll call it square.

866
00:36:58,249 --> 00:36:59,516
You'll call it square?

867
00:36:59,551 --> 00:37:00,616
Yeah.

868
00:37:00,652 --> 00:37:01,884
Means you're in my debt.

869
00:37:01,919 --> 00:37:02,964
What do you know?

870
00:37:02,988 --> 00:37:04,186
Oh, wait a minute.

871
00:37:04,222 --> 00:37:06,489
I'm not in your
debt if it's square.

872
00:37:06,525 --> 00:37:10,093
If it's square, then we're
starting from scratch, okay?

873
00:37:10,128 --> 00:37:11,728
If it's square, I
give you something

874
00:37:11,763 --> 00:37:13,429
I get something
back; that's square.

875
00:37:13,465 --> 00:37:14,497
If it's relevant.

876
00:37:14,533 --> 00:37:16,066
Yeah, and I get an exclusive.

877
00:37:16,101 --> 00:37:18,734
I determine its relevance.

878
00:37:21,373 --> 00:37:24,340
Fine, fine.

879
00:37:24,375 --> 00:37:26,809
Okay, um... Priscilla Eades.

880
00:37:26,845 --> 00:37:30,279
Priscilla Eades
completely and routinely

881
00:37:30,315 --> 00:37:32,248
changed her life
every two years.

882
00:37:32,283 --> 00:37:34,617
She'd go from being
a college student

883
00:37:34,653 --> 00:37:36,753
to being a New
Orleans party girl

884
00:37:36,788 --> 00:37:39,022
to being a South
American housewife

885
00:37:39,057 --> 00:37:41,190
to being a divorced Salvation
Army tambourine shaker

886
00:37:41,226 --> 00:37:43,192
until finally she became
a corporate executive.

887
00:37:43,227 --> 00:37:45,361
How's that for relevance?

888
00:37:45,396 --> 00:37:47,597
What?

889
00:37:50,702 --> 00:37:51,668
Okay.

890
00:37:51,703 --> 00:37:52,735
(<i> clears throat</i>)

891
00:37:52,770 --> 00:37:54,270
How about this, then?

892
00:37:54,305 --> 00:37:55,505
This may help.

893
00:37:55,540 --> 00:37:57,307
Um, an informal poll

894
00:37:57,342 --> 00:38:00,910
of all the reporters
working on this case

895
00:38:00,946 --> 00:38:03,980
favors Oliver
Pitkin as the killer.

896
00:38:04,015 --> 00:38:05,548
And that's just
the male reporters.

897
00:38:05,583 --> 00:38:07,450
The females seem to
like, uh, Viola Duday.

898
00:38:07,485 --> 00:38:10,019
And Franklin, at<i> The Times</i>

899
00:38:10,055 --> 00:38:11,521
he's betting on Sarah Jaffe.

900
00:38:11,556 --> 00:38:14,624
That's just because, you
know, he likes impossible odds.

901
00:38:14,659 --> 00:38:17,527
Sarah Jaffe? Is that a name
that you've come across?

902
00:38:17,562 --> 00:38:19,429
No. No, no reason why you should

903
00:38:19,464 --> 00:38:22,298
unless you like
impossible odds, too.

904
00:38:22,333 --> 00:38:25,201
Sarah Jaffe, actually, was
probably the closest person

905
00:38:25,237 --> 00:38:26,202
to Priscilla Eades.

906
00:38:26,237 --> 00:38:27,837
Was she mentioned in the will?

907
00:38:27,872 --> 00:38:29,171
No, no, no, she already got

908
00:38:29,206 --> 00:38:31,273
ten percent of the
company from her father.

909
00:38:31,309 --> 00:38:32,275
Single?

910
00:38:32,310 --> 00:38:33,643
Widow.

911
00:38:33,678 --> 00:38:36,413
Her husband was
killed in Korea last year.

912
00:38:36,448 --> 00:38:38,781
And sh...

913
00:38:45,957 --> 00:38:47,390
Archie?

914
00:38:48,693 --> 00:38:51,527
<i>Lon was probably
mistaking Wolfe's expression</i>

915
00:38:51,562 --> 00:38:53,529
<i>for indigestion,
but I knew better.</i>

916
00:38:53,564 --> 00:38:55,898
<i>Something Lon said
had got Wolfe thinking</i>

917
00:38:55,934 --> 00:39:00,069
<i>which meant I could
expect a very busy morning.</i>

918
00:39:02,341 --> 00:39:05,274
<i>My conception of a widow
was formed in my early boyhood</i>

919
00:39:05,310 --> 00:39:07,310
<i>from a character
called Widow Rowley.</i>

920
00:39:07,345 --> 00:39:08,711
<i>I have known others since</i>

921
00:39:08,746 --> 00:39:11,714
<i>but the conception had
never been entirely obliterated</i>

922
00:39:11,750 --> 00:39:13,790
<i>so there's always
an element of shock</i>

923
00:39:13,818 --> 00:39:16,419
<i>when I meet a woman who
has been labeled a widow</i>

924
00:39:16,454 --> 00:39:19,388
<i>and I find she has some
teeth can walk without a cane</i>

925
00:39:19,423 --> 00:39:21,891
<i>and doesn't constantly
mutter to herself.</i>

926
00:39:21,926 --> 00:39:23,425
Good morning.

927
00:39:23,461 --> 00:39:24,994
Please, come in.

928
00:39:28,567 --> 00:39:30,699
May I take your hat and coat?

929
00:39:30,735 --> 00:39:31,735
Uh, yes, thanks.

930
00:39:38,109 --> 00:39:40,676
Uh, thank you for seeing
me on such short notice.

931
00:39:40,712 --> 00:39:43,679
Please come in, sit down.

932
00:39:43,714 --> 00:39:45,014
I was in bed when you phoned.

933
00:39:45,050 --> 00:39:47,817
I assume you've had breakfast,
but how about some coffee?

934
00:39:47,852 --> 00:39:48,818
Uh, thank you, yes.

935
00:39:48,854 --> 00:39:49,819
No, not there!

936
00:39:49,854 --> 00:39:52,355
That's my husband's place.

937
00:39:52,390 --> 00:39:53,534
(<i> clearing throat</i>)

938
00:39:53,558 --> 00:39:54,691
You could sit there.

939
00:39:54,726 --> 00:39:55,692
Here?

940
00:39:55,727 --> 00:39:57,894
There.

941
00:39:57,929 --> 00:40:00,496
Olga! Cup of coffee, please.

942
00:40:00,531 --> 00:40:01,898
Coming, ma'am.

943
00:40:04,001 --> 00:40:04,967
Hmm.

944
00:40:05,003 --> 00:40:06,302
It's all right.

945
00:40:06,337 --> 00:40:08,304
I'm a nut, that's all.

946
00:40:10,208 --> 00:40:12,528
You know my husband's dead?

947
00:40:13,711 --> 00:40:15,078
So I understand, yes.

948
00:40:16,615 --> 00:40:17,747
He was in the Reserve.

949
00:40:17,782 --> 00:40:18,782
A major.

950
00:40:18,816 --> 00:40:19,782
Coffee?

951
00:40:19,817 --> 00:40:22,818
When he went away one
day in March a year ago

952
00:40:22,853 --> 00:40:25,321
he left his hat and
coat in the hall.

953
00:40:25,356 --> 00:40:26,901
I didn't put them away.

954
00:40:26,925 --> 00:40:29,659
When I got word
that he had been killed

955
00:40:29,694 --> 00:40:30,960
three months later

956
00:40:30,995 --> 00:40:32,394
they were still there.

957
00:40:32,430 --> 00:40:34,964
That was a year ago,
and there they are.

958
00:40:34,999 --> 00:40:39,768
I'm simply sick to death
of looking at them, but...

959
00:40:39,804 --> 00:40:41,270
there they are.

960
00:40:45,476 --> 00:40:47,009
That's, uh...

961
00:40:47,044 --> 00:40:49,512
that<i> was</i> your husband's
place at breakfast?

962
00:40:49,547 --> 00:40:51,714
Mm. I'm sick of
looking at that, too.

963
00:40:51,750 --> 00:40:54,717
Weren't you surprised
when I told you on the phone

964
00:40:54,752 --> 00:40:56,018
"All right, come up"?

965
00:40:56,053 --> 00:40:57,186
Yeah, a little.

966
00:40:57,222 --> 00:40:58,721
Of course you were.

967
00:40:58,756 --> 00:41:01,068
A while back, I decided
to quit being a nut

968
00:41:01,092 --> 00:41:02,736
and I decided how I would do it.

969
00:41:02,760 --> 00:41:04,672
I would have a
man sit here with me

970
00:41:04,696 --> 00:41:06,206
at breakfast, in Dick's place

971
00:41:06,230 --> 00:41:08,865
and I would have him
take that awful hat and coat

972
00:41:08,900 --> 00:41:10,944
out of that hall, and
did you hear me?

973
00:41:10,968 --> 00:41:13,369
"No, not there... That's
my husband's place."

974
00:41:13,404 --> 00:41:15,571
I simply lost my nerve.

975
00:41:15,607 --> 00:41:18,674
Do you suppose
I really<i> am</i> a nut?

976
00:41:18,709 --> 00:41:20,743
(<i> cup and saucer sliding</i>)

977
00:41:32,023 --> 00:41:32,989
Toast, please.

978
00:41:33,024 --> 00:41:35,124
I'd like some toast.

979
00:41:37,295 --> 00:41:38,261
Oh, excuse me, you know

980
00:41:38,296 --> 00:41:39,473
but if you want this to stick

981
00:41:39,497 --> 00:41:40,707
I should eat something, right?

982
00:41:40,731 --> 00:41:41,697
Yeah.

983
00:41:41,733 --> 00:41:42,698
Right.

984
00:41:42,733 --> 00:41:45,001
No marmalade, jelly?

985
00:41:48,339 --> 00:41:50,840
You know, if you hadn't
been so rude about the bread

986
00:41:50,875 --> 00:41:52,274
I would soon have been crying.

987
00:41:52,310 --> 00:41:53,876
Yeah, I thought so.

988
00:41:57,481 --> 00:42:00,149
Will you take that coat
and hat away with you?

989
00:42:00,185 --> 00:42:01,517
Certainly.

990
00:42:01,552 --> 00:42:03,152
Now, I understand...

991
00:42:03,187 --> 00:42:05,654
that you and Priscilla Eades...

992
00:42:05,690 --> 00:42:07,557
were best friends.

993
00:42:07,592 --> 00:42:09,370
When was the last
time you saw her?

994
00:42:09,394 --> 00:42:11,360
I don't think I want
to talk about it.

995
00:42:11,396 --> 00:42:12,594
Okay.

996
00:42:12,630 --> 00:42:13,908
That's, that's fine.

997
00:42:13,932 --> 00:42:15,131
That's all right.

998
00:42:15,166 --> 00:42:16,276
You owe me three dollars.

999
00:42:16,300 --> 00:42:17,266
What?

1000
00:42:17,302 --> 00:42:18,312
Sure. Taxi fare here

1001
00:42:18,336 --> 00:42:20,347
to take your husband's
place at breakfast.

1002
00:42:20,371 --> 00:42:22,249
That's the only
reason you let me in.

1003
00:42:22,273 --> 00:42:23,238
There'll be a little more

1004
00:42:23,274 --> 00:42:24,819
'cause I have to stop
at the Salvation Army

1005
00:42:24,843 --> 00:42:25,953
to get rid of the hat and coat.

1006
00:42:25,977 --> 00:42:26,943
That's three bucks.

1007
00:42:26,978 --> 00:42:28,311
I prefer cash.

1008
00:42:30,715 --> 00:42:32,948
Have I ever met you before?

1009
00:42:32,983 --> 00:42:35,150
Well, not that I remember

1010
00:42:35,186 --> 00:42:37,353
and I think I'd remember.

1011
00:42:37,388 --> 00:42:38,587
Why?

1012
00:42:38,622 --> 00:42:41,657
You seem to know exactly
the right things to say.

1013
00:42:45,029 --> 00:42:47,596
Pris and I have been
friends since we was four.

1014
00:42:47,631 --> 00:42:49,031
We got to be like sisters.

1015
00:42:49,067 --> 00:42:51,600
We shared a place in
the Village after college

1016
00:42:51,635 --> 00:42:53,702
and then, all of a
sudden, she was off.

1017
00:42:53,738 --> 00:42:55,738
Next thing I knew,
here came a letter

1018
00:42:55,773 --> 00:42:58,007
saying she had found
a prince, married him

1019
00:42:58,042 --> 00:42:59,542
and they were off for Peru.

1020
00:42:59,577 --> 00:43:00,843
Maybe I still have it.

1021
00:43:00,878 --> 00:43:03,345
I remember she
enclosed a picture of him.

1022
00:43:05,750 --> 00:43:07,990
Since that time, have
you heard from her?

1023
00:43:09,087 --> 00:43:10,052
About a month ago.

1024
00:43:10,087 --> 00:43:11,254
She phoned.

1025
00:43:11,289 --> 00:43:12,622
Back in New York.

1026
00:43:12,657 --> 00:43:15,091
Back to her maiden name.

1027
00:43:15,126 --> 00:43:17,459
She decided she wanted to
take over her father's business

1028
00:43:17,495 --> 00:43:18,461
and wanted my help.

1029
00:43:18,496 --> 00:43:20,296
Your help or your shares?

1030
00:43:20,331 --> 00:43:21,463
Both.

1031
00:43:21,499 --> 00:43:22,665
She said she wanted to elect

1032
00:43:22,701 --> 00:43:24,000
a new board of directors...

1033
00:43:24,035 --> 00:43:26,202
All women, including me...

1034
00:43:26,237 --> 00:43:28,704
And we would elect Viola Duday

1035
00:43:28,739 --> 00:43:31,741
president of the corporation.

1036
00:43:31,776 --> 00:43:34,142
Is that right... "president
of the corporation"?

1037
00:43:35,446 --> 00:43:38,080
Sounds right, sure.

1038
00:43:38,115 --> 00:43:39,793
Miss Jaffe, I have
to tell you something.

1039
00:43:39,817 --> 00:43:41,795
I'm here under slightly
false pretenses, okay?

1040
00:43:41,819 --> 00:43:44,687
I said Mr. Wolfe and I
need some information

1041
00:43:44,723 --> 00:43:45,899
and that's true.

1042
00:43:45,923 --> 00:43:47,000
We also need some help.

1043
00:43:47,024 --> 00:43:48,736
You realize that
with Priscilla gone

1044
00:43:48,760 --> 00:43:51,227
that leaves five people
who are basically in control

1045
00:43:51,262 --> 00:43:52,728
of the remaining Softdown stock.

1046
00:43:52,763 --> 00:43:54,630
Yes. Certainly.

1047
00:43:54,665 --> 00:43:55,865
Well, we want you

1048
00:43:55,900 --> 00:43:57,978
to bring an action against them.

1049
00:43:58,002 --> 00:43:59,780
We want you to ask a court

1050
00:43:59,804 --> 00:44:01,170
to get an injunction

1051
00:44:01,206 --> 00:44:03,005
restraining them from exercising

1052
00:44:03,041 --> 00:44:05,475
any of the rights of
ownership of that stock

1053
00:44:05,510 --> 00:44:08,210
until it's determined
whether one or more of them

1054
00:44:08,246 --> 00:44:11,647
might have acquired that stock
through commission of a crime.

1055
00:44:11,682 --> 00:44:14,183
Why should I do that?

1056
00:44:14,219 --> 00:44:16,063
Well, because you
have a legitimate interest

1057
00:44:16,087 --> 00:44:18,032
in the proper handling
of the firm's affairs,

1058
00:44:18,056 --> 00:44:21,490
see, and you were...
well, you were also

1059
00:44:21,526 --> 00:44:23,807
Priscilla's oldest friend.

1060
00:44:25,029 --> 00:44:27,296
I don't know, I thought maybe...

1061
00:44:27,332 --> 00:44:29,399
Who do you think killed her?

1062
00:44:30,735 --> 00:44:32,668
I don't know.

1063
00:44:32,703 --> 00:44:34,670
I wish you...

1064
00:44:34,706 --> 00:44:36,071
Don't do this.

1065
00:44:36,107 --> 00:44:37,118
Miss Jaffe, you realize

1066
00:44:37,142 --> 00:44:39,085
that we can't just
march in like the cops.

1067
00:44:39,109 --> 00:44:40,521
We have to come
up with something

1068
00:44:40,545 --> 00:44:42,423
something to get to
these people, you know

1069
00:44:42,447 --> 00:44:44,046
and this will get to them

1070
00:44:44,082 --> 00:44:47,082
and Priscilla, she would
be asking the same thing.

1071
00:44:47,118 --> 00:44:48,396
I mean, if she could talk.

1072
00:44:48,420 --> 00:44:49,986
Well, I won't do it.

1073
00:44:50,021 --> 00:44:51,387
I won't do that.

1074
00:44:51,422 --> 00:44:54,289
Please show yourself out.

1075
00:44:57,661 --> 00:45:00,997
<font color="
Evening TELEVISION NETWORKS

1076
00:45:01,032 --> 00:45:04,366
Captioned by Media Access
Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org


