Original subtitles

♪♪

Thank you.

Here you are, son. Keep the change.

You know, maybe we should have telephoned from Kansas City.

Nonsense.

It wouldn't be a surprise if I told Everett

I decided to fly out with you.

Oh, come on, now, Ivy.

Fess up.

You can't tell me that you came all this long way

just to surprise your husband.

Well, with Everett staying here

every time he comes west on business,

the least I can do is say thank you to Mona.

Yes.

And perhaps get a glimpse of that man she married, huh?

Oh.

Lottie, wouldn't you be curious.

To have a sculptor in the family.

And such a famous one.

Well, all I can say is it's a blessing

that that poor little niece of yours finally caught somebody.

Oh, now, it was never Mona's fault.

She's just born innocent, that's all.

And after getting burned

by that awful continental person.

But Hannibal is so different, she says,

and so nice to her.

And I also hear he's steadfast.

♪ Who put the overalls in Mrs. Murphy's chowder? ♪

♪ Nobody answered, so he shouted all the louder ♪

Well, my goodness.

Dickens! Answer the door!

Ainsley, I can't stop you from opposing me

at the meeting today, but let me remind you

that I have guided Stanton Press for over 18 years and...

Oh, Hannibal, for heaven's sakes!

"Misguided?"

I fail to be amused.

As long as the faithful stockholders,

good sound women like Lottie Porter and...

Oh, all right, all right.

Old biddies, if you like.

But, Ainsley, as long as they support my policies...

Everett.

As long as they... Lottie.

Ivy!

Well, I'll have to call you back, old chap.

Yes, yes, I mean, I'll see you at the meeting, old boy.

Bye.

Hello, Everett, dear.

Ivy, what on earth? Yes.

I decided not to stay home this time, Everett.

Lottie said that she'd like some company on the trip, so...

Oh, but you know how busy I am.

And Lottie will have to be at the stockholders meeting.

Well, you just go about your work.

I'll stay at Lottie's hotel and just keep out of the way.

Maybe gossip a little with Mona.

Oh, but Mona's not here.

She's, uh, she's gone out of town.

Old friend very ill in Seattle.

Oh, dear.

But-but, Everett, the meeting.

If Mona's not going to be here, what about your election?

Oh, I have Mona's proxies, don't you worry about that.

We'll keep those rascals out of Stanton Press, never fear.

Well, while you two tycoons are tycooning, perhaps I could just

gossip a little with Mona's husband, then.

Oh, Hannibal's not here, either.

I mean, uh, no.

You see, when he's busy, he just won't be disturbed.

And Hannibal's very busy just now.

He's so busy, you know, works so hard, so conscientious...

Mr. Hannibal Harvey live here?

Who's calling, please?

Just tell him Mr. Whitey.

Would you come in.

I-I mean, uh... Oh, blast it.

Telephone. Excuse me.

Ivy, you know what your husband is sometimes?

He's an old biddy.

Come on.

- Let's go up anyway. - All right.

Let's do it.

The singing was up here, wasn't it?

Yes, yes, it was.

Mona must have fixed up the old library for Hannibal.

Oh, really? Oh.

She has lovely taste, you know.

Yes, well.

- Shh. - Now, this way?

- Yeah. - Okay.

Oh, Hannibal!

Sit still, you ticklish cow!

Hannibal, be sweet.

If you don't sit still,

I promise you I'll cut you out of my will!

Oh.

Madame, would you please close the door?

There's a draft!

Oh, that's all right, sweet.

- I don't mind. - "Sweet"?

Out, out, out!

This is no place to collect for the Temperance League. Out!

Excuse me, sir.

Well, what is it?!

There's a Mr. Whitey to see you, sir.

Whitey? Why didn't you say so before.

Excuse me, girls.

Oh, thank you.

That's-that's Mona's husband?

That's right, dearie.

That's Hannibal.

Isn't he sweet?

Setting gold, of course, not platinum.

Hurry up, old boy.

Will you hurry up?

- This all there is? - Uh, no, no.

There's, uh, there's something over here.

Yes, how about this diamond thing, hmm?

Ah, yes.

This, too, is your own wife's, I take it?

Yes, yes.

Perhaps if she could locate some other items.

She's out of town, I told you.

And keep your voice down.

Come along.

Don't be so nervous, Everett.

After all, it's only a stockholders meeting.

Now, on our yearly report, Lottie, you'll notice that

textbook sales are up slightly,

but the publication of hymnals has dropped.

Of course, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about.

It's like a cattle drive through Grand Central Station.

Now, how much?

You only want to borrow on your wife's jewelry?

Certainly. I don't want to upset her.

All I want is a loan for a couple of days,

and I'll find some way of bailing them out.

Now, how much?

Well, Mr. Harvey, I'd say four,

maybe five with the necklace thrown in.

Splendid! You're a prince and a scholar, sir.

Now, could I, could I possibly have it right now?

$500? Yes, I can.

$500? Why, you sneaky little thief.

But, Mr. Harvey, some of this is only costume jewelry.

And a liar to boot!

That's what you are. Now, listen here...

But that's all that anyone would loan you...

Out, you two-toed little pygmy!

Mr. Harvey! Mr. Harvey!

Get out of my wife's house now!

All right, ladies, we can go now.

Out! Out, you! Out!

Everett, don't you dare go.

- I want to talk to you. - But, Mr. Harvey...

Out, you spammy little toad!

- Out, out, out, out. - Yes.

- Everett. - Uh, Hannibal,

the meeting starts in less than an hour.

Splendid, splendid. Now, I need some money.

Oh, oh, of course, of course.

Yes, I can let you have 20 or... $10,000.

Huh?

Oh, uh, go on, Ivy dear, go on.

- I'll meet you in the car. - Look, be a good man

and just write out a check to me.

And don't ask any questions, huh?

I don't have $10,000.

That, uh, fussy little dodo over there is your wife, isn't she?

- Maybe she could... - Oh, Hannibal.

Of all the times for you to...

Yes, yes, yes, yes, I know.

I've spent my allowance.

Now, look, you run Mona's affairs.

All you've got to do is... No! No.

I can't take $10,000 for...

What sort of trouble are you in, anyway?

I thought I'd get me a glass of milk.

Okay, Hannibal?

Her.

But you gave her $1,000 the other day, didn't you?

Bonnie's grandmother needed some teeth, that's all.

Now, look, this is urgent.

I need that money, but I cannot write to Mona...

Well, it's about time you understood

that our business is urgent, too.

Stanton Press.

I'll get you an apple, okay, sweet?

And for heaven's sakes,

get some clothes on that creature.

Oh, are you leaving already, ladies?

This is the kind of a day that makes you

just want to stay at home in the garden and dig.

You know what I mean?

- "In the garden and dig." - Everett...

No, Hannibal, I can't help you!

Good-bye!

Now, Everett, watch your temper.

Pipsqueak!

Gee, did I say something?

The whole world is full of pipsqueaks!

And you know why? Money.

People were people until some idiot decided

to paint chicken feed green.

Isn't that funny?

Green never bothered me.

And now the whole world is full of pipping and squeaking.

- Excuse me, sir. - What is it?

While you were upstairs, there was a telephone call for you.

Who was it?

He wouldn't give his name.

Had a rather odd accent, I thought.

Said he would call back.

Oh.

All right, Dickens.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Uh, a glass of milk for you, too, maybe?

Bonnie, dear Bonnie.

No, it would stick in my craw.

$10,000?

Why, yes, Mona, that does seem excessive.

For a piece of marble, you say?

Carrara marble.

The maid here took the message just a few minutes ago.

And why the office should call me here

all the way in Seattle, I-I don't know.

But it was Rex Ainsley's secretary, I guess.

And for some reason, she thought I should know that Hannibal

has asked for $10,000 from my drawing account.

In order to buy marble; yes, I understand that.

But what do you want me to do?

Well, you know, Hannibal's such a baby.

About money matters, I mean.

Well, I just am afraid he's being stung again, Perry.

You should see the way he'll empty his pockets

for anyone who asks.

It's one of the things I love so much about him.

And one of the reasons his allowance is overdrawn.

Oh, that ridiculous allowance.

That was his idea, you know.

He was so worried about marrying a wealthy woman.

Well, anyway, I tried to reach him,

but he's apparently already left the house.

And you want me to keep him from being swindled.

All right, Mona, don't worry.

Oh, no, I'm not worried.

It's just, well, I'll be up here for several more days.

And, well, my friend isn't really that sick,

but Hannibal said there's no reason for me to come home

as long as he's so busy working.

So... well, I... That's all, I guess.

There's nothing more I can do for you?

No, I... well, I just didn't want my baby

to be cheated at marbles, that's all.

Bye-bye, Perry.

Yeah, sure, sure.

I-I sell to Hannibal Harvey.

Some Carrara marble, I believe it is.

Yeah, that's right.

I got the finest stone here in the west, you know.

All the sculptors, they only buy from me.

And that Hannibal...

he's got the finest taste of them all.

The finest.

Only, right now, he's a bum.

What do you mean he's a bum?

What do I mean? He's carving in wood.

Wood!

Making statues for termites.

Oh, he's a great little joker, that guy.

- Don't you think so? - Joker?

Look, mister, he hasn't bought

any stone from me in over six, seven months.

No $10,000 order for...?

I got all excited about that, too.

No. And he's not going to order any, either.

I checked with his model the minute that dame telephoned me.

Some dame telephoned you about this?

Yeah.

Looks like today we're all getting our legs pulled.

I don't know who that dame was.

Someone's secretary or something.

That's-that's all I know.

Wait, wait, Mr. Harvey, you can't go in there.

There's a stockholders meeting that just...

All right, then, give me the check.

You were supposed to have it ready.

I phoned you, didn't I?

But Mr. Ainsley said...

What difference does that make?

Look here, this is Mona's company,

that's an emergency checking account,

and I am Mona's husband.

Now, where is the check?!

Mr. Harvey, please.

I know we could usually accommodate...

Hear, hear, what's going on out here?

Hannibal, it's good to see you.

Hello, Rex, look, I-I'm, I'm sorry

for barging in on your secretary like this.

It's the check for his marble.

Oh, yes, of course, well, I am sorry about that.

She acts as if there's something wrong with me using marble.

Oh, no, no, that's none of our business.

It's just that Everett's given instructions, that's all.

Instructions about what?

Stockholders meeting, you know, books open for inspection.

I've frozen all the accounts for a few days.

Well, I don't know anything about business,

- but it seems to me... - Now, look here, Hannibal,

if you need a little money on the Q.T.,

perhaps I could cosign a loan or something.

What's wrong, is that cute little model of yours

kicking up her heels?

Oh, for crying out loud.

Hannibal, I was only kidding.

You and me... We understand each other.

Don't mess with the old fuddy-duddies.

Ainsley, Rex.

They're waiting in there for the rest of your report.

Call on me, kid, anytime.

I thought I asked you not to make any trouble.

I didn't make any trouble.

Don't you know what that bird's up to?

He's trying to get control of the company.

He'll use any trick he can think of.

Now, listen here, I didn't do anything wrong in there.

That's why I've stopped everything.

No one can even pay a bill right now but me.

Good, good for you.

And if you give Ainsley one piece of ammunition,

one whiff of scandal about the Stanton family...

Why do you think I was so upset about Lottie Porter seeing

that Bonnie person of yours traipsing around the house?

Don't you understand?

Mona only owns 32% of Stanton Press,

and unless I keep the rest of it in line...

Now, listen, sonny boy,

don't you imagine I'm thinking of Mona, too?

This is a straitlaced old Bible-publishing firm.

It's going to stay that way, understand?

No matter how many crazy sculptors get married to the...

Mr. Stanton, please, they're calling you.

Yes, yes, uh...

Straitjacket, prison.

That's what it is... Paupers' prison.

Live in a castle and you can't raise a dime,

not even... five cents.

Oh, you know, I-I should have hauled Mona out

of this benighted place long ago.

But, Hannibal, a woman likes security, y-y-you know,

a home and things like that.

Take me, for instance.

I'm not going to model for the rest of my life.

I mean, a career in the arts is one thing, but...

Bonnie, Bonnie, eat your apple, there's a good girl.

- Will you? - Sure.

You see, the whole trouble is, they're afraid of me.

They're afraid that I'd give 'em a fat eye.

Nobody trusts me, not one single, solitary person

in this entire family of dodos.

Mona does.

And remember, don't spit your seeds on the floor, will you?

But, but I was just saying that...

Yeah.

Oh, yeah, Dickens, I'm on.

You can get off now.

Hello.

Well, I'm sorry, but he's in conference right now.

If I may know whom is calling, I can take...

Mr. No... No what?

Hello, hello.

Nonno Volente at your service again, Mr. Harvey.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, I know.

Look, I-I'm terribly sorry

I didn't get to call you back sooner.

Uh, there's been a, um, slight delay about the money.

You mean... no offense intended...

As the husband of Mona Stanton, $10,000 creates such a problem?

Oh, really.

Problem?

No, of course not, no, no.

Uh, no, look, if you, uh,

if you could give me a day or two, I'm sure that I can...

And I am sure that in a day or two,

you will be regretting this delay.

Now, as a gentleman I have done my duty.

It would pain me to take the money

from the other party I mentioned,

but you see, I have these nagging gambling debts

and I myself have only until this evening.

Now, just, just a minute, now, look, I'm sure that I can...

By this evening... Did you hear me?

And I'm sure we shall all feel better

if your charming wife is spared the ugly alternative, huh?

If you'll only give me... Tonight, I said.

Bloodsucker.

Uh, well, anyway, as I started to say,

Mona sure does trust you, so you don't have...

Dear heart, will you take your apple and...?

Well, I, I already done everything with it.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, wait, wait, wait a minute,

wait a minute, that's it, of course.

Ha-ha, yes, Mona trusts me,

but Everett doesn't and he's the lad with the money.

- Oh, I tell you. - Huh?

This is going to be delicious.

Hannibal, Hannibal.

Really, Hannibal.

Oh, I tell you, Mona would enjoy this as much as I have, I think.

Oh, those old biddies.

Did I say something?

Did you say some...?

Bonnie, you're a genius, you're a marvel,

you're an intellect, you...

You can write, can't you?

What?

Why, Hannibal, I don't think that's very nice.

Lovely, lovely.

Now, then, let me see.

Everett wanted a black sheep, did he?

Well, he's going to get one.

Here, take this, take this.

You want me to write something?

Yes, yes, something short, sweet, and to the point.

Let me see.

"Dear Hannibal."

Uh, well, I usually call you "Hannibal sweet."

Do you?

All right, then, very well, put that down.

Uh, "Hannibal sweet..."

Oh, uh, um, you know, this is a favor

I'll, I'll never forget, you know.

I mean, this is a favor we'll both forget afterwards,

won't we, huh?

Oh, I-I'd do anything you say, I guess.

All right, then do your worst.

Now, let me see.

"Hannibal sweet."

Well, write it, write it,

- put it down, put it down. - Yeah, uh-huh, write it.

"Hannibal sweet,

unless you give me $10,000 by tonight..."

Uh... n-not so fast, I...

- "Unless you give me $10,000..." - "Han... ni... bal..."

- "...by tonight in cash..." - "...sweet..."

"the whole world will come to a shattering end."

"The world will know of our relationship

and how you made me a slave to your charms..."

What, what does she think she's doing?

Your relationship?

Hannibal, why didn't you show me this sooner?

Well, I-I don't know, I had hoped to have...

Never mind, I understand,

and I'm sorry for the nasty things I've said about you.

Oh, no, no, that's all right.

If they were true, I-I deserved them.

I never dreamed it had gone as far as blackmail.

Why, the cheap, little...

No, no, no, Everett, you must understand

that artists are no good, none of us are.

Yes, yes, but...

But I-I promise you this... I won't hurt Mona.

And I guess I, I was thinking of the company,

Lottie Porter, Rex Ainsley, and the stock,

but, good heavens, if anyone gets wind of this...

Hannibal, I'll get that money for you if I have to steal it.

Yes.

♪ Who threw the overalls ♪

♪ In Mrs. Murphy's chowder? ♪

♪ Nobody answered ♪

♪ So he hollered all the louder ♪

♪ It's an Irish trick that's true ♪

♪ I can lick the Mick that threw ♪

♪ The overalls in Mrs. Murphy's chowder. ♪

What are you doing, creeping around here?

I came in the back way.

I didn't want Dickens to know we're up to anything.

Oh, Hannibal, this is the last time I pull you out of a hole.

Spare me the lecture, please.

Did you get the money and did you bring it over to Bonnie's?

I sent it over to her apartment by insured messenger.

- Good. - I instructed the messenger

to get a signed receipt.

I told you, one must be businesslike about these things.

That's the trouble with you, Hannibal, you don't...

No, no, now you've saved the family name again, Everett.

You're a prince among men.

Here, let me shake your hand, old boy.

Yes, well, I think I'll go out and get a beer

on the strength of that.

Beer?

Oh, Hannibal, how can you be so immorally callous?

I'm warning you, the next time you get mixed up

- in anything, the next... - Oh, relax, relax, it's all over.

Now, all's well that ends well.

Oh, yes, yes, you can say that.

I'm the one who will have to face the stockholders.

You're the one that's going to get to Heaven.

Wouldn't be a bit surprised

if you got elected to the board, too.

- The board? - Don't forget that, huh?

Uh, huh?

♪ Nobody answered ♪

♪ So he hollered all the louder ♪

♪ It's an Irish trick that's true. ♪

- Ah, good evening, Dickens. - Good evening, sir.

Oh, incidentally, you needn't wait up for me, hmm?

Thank you, sir.

- Oh, sir. - What?

Shouldn't I take Mrs. Harvey's luggage up to her room?

What are you talking about?

She's in Se...

Sorry you didn't tell me, sir, that

Mrs. Harvey was returning this evening.

I wouldn't have gone out on my errands.

If the maid across the street hadn't mentioned the taxi...

What taxi?

The taxi Mrs. Harvey arrived in.

She arrived in a taxi?

But she went out again.

That was some time ago.

I thought perhaps you'd seen the bags and that you knew.

No, I-I didn't know, I...

Uh... go on to bed, Dickens, huh?

Thank you, sir.

Everett!

Everett, come on down here!

What on earth are you up to now?

What did you do with that note?

- The note? - Yes, the note.

Oh, oh, yes, the note... I left it in here.

You see, I was still a little suspicious of you...

The, the writing...

Until I found something else that Bonnie had written.

I crumpled it up and I left it right on the...

All right, all right, where is it?

Well, I, I thought I left it on the desk here.

It's not here.

Yeah, you...

Bonnie.

Bonnie, Hannibal.

Bonnie, my wife just got...

Everyone's got suitcase...

What's this?

Oh, no, you're not.

You're not going anyplace, Bonnie, not with all that money.

Bonnie.

Bonnie, where are you?

Bonnie.

No.

B-But Bonnie... No, it, it was a-a joke.

All it was was a joke.

The young woman makes her demands rather clear,

doesn't she?

"$10,000 in cash by tonight."

It was crumpled.

I, I-I wouldn't even have seen it

except that I always look at my mail when I first get home.

Your husband wasn't at home?

I don't know where he is.

I, uh...

Well, this note from Bonnie caught my eye, and...

she has such unusual handwriting, so I read it,

and my taxi was still outside,

and, well, the first thing I thought of

was to come to you for help.

I just can't understand it... That sweet little girl.

Paul Drake can handle Bonnie.

I'm worried about you and Hannibal.

Oh, Perry, I've always trusted him so...

Well, not about money matters, of course,

but money's not important.

As Hannibal says, money is just stupid chicken feed

that stupid people...

Mona, I wouldn't jump to conclusions

on the sole basis of this note.

Oh, I'm not.

No, I-I'd just like to find him, that's all, and...

I know, you were upset this morning

when we talked on the phone.

No, no, I wasn't. Really, really I wasn't.

The only reason I came back from Seattle is...

is that my friend was so much better.

And you wanted to save your marriage.

Oh, Perry... please find him quickly.

That could be Paul.

Hello?

Yes, she is.

I'll take the message.

Uh, just a moment.

It's a man named Ainsley.

He wants to know if you ever gave Hannibal the combination

to the office safe.

$10,000 taken right out of this little box.

You can check the balance slip for yourself.

How did you discover the loss, Mr. Ainsley?

I dropped by a short while ago

to do some night work on the stockholders business.

Miles behind.

Was a janitor working down the hall.

He said he thought I was already here.

He'd heard someone come in earlier,

using a door key and all that,

and, uh, he didn't pay any attention.

- Would you care for a drink? - No, thank you.

Then when I opened the safe to get one of my ledgers...

I understand.

The money was gone, and you immediately concluded

that it could only have been taken by Hannibal Harvey.

That's obvious.

A man who doesn't even work for Stanton Press.

Well, I was certainly aware Hannibal was looking for money.

Hannibal couldn't hope to make proper notations

in the books tomorrow morning,

since I assume the cash belonged to a different fund...

Your printing company's payroll, or something like that.

Mr. Mason, I only asked the question.

You say Mona didn't give Hannibal the combination

to the safe, so that's that.

'Cause there are no more than two or three people

who have that combination.

You didn't bother to check the obvious.

Your employer, for example,

who has a perfect right to come in here.

Everett?

Well, I didn't want to bother him.

His wife's in town. He's probably busy.

Very thoughtful of you, Mr. Ainsley.

All right, I'll call him right away.

If this isn't robbery,

I don't see any reason to make a thing out of it.

I agree.

I merely wondered why you were.

You seem quite eager to incriminate Hannibal.

You had your secretary check on that marble order, for instance.

Now, see here.

You think I'm just trying to make trouble, don't you?

Yes, I keep my eye on things.

Lots of things.

This company is stuck in the mud!

The Stantons won't even publish paperbacks!

They won't even go in for reprints!

Yes, yes, of course, I'd like

to blow things wide open, and if it weren't for...

Yes?

It's for you.

Thank you.

Hello?

Perry, I'm at Bonnie Dunbar's apartment.

And Andy's sort of leaning over my shoulder.

Andy?

Paul, what's...?

Oh, I see.

All right, Paul. Thanks.

It would seem that you now have what you wanted, Mr. Ainsley.

The money was delivered, all right, but it was gone.

Just the empty envelope in another room.

Not with her body.

Has Andy ruled out simple robbery?

$10,000 is enough temptation to make someone a thief.

It's always a possibility.

Of course, a lot depends on who knew Bonnie had the money.

But look, Perry... I know, Paul.

Only glad your boys had at least a head start

in looking for Hannibal.

Police doctor says death was caused

by a blunt instrument, maybe half an hour before I got there.

What was that business about the telephone receiver?

Well, the cord was wrapped around her arm,

but the main struggle was in the living room.

Looks as if she broke loose, ran in there to grab the phone,

then got hit from behind before she had a chance

to call for help.

Yeah?

Oh, fine, Tompkins. Thanks.

Just spotted Hannibal at a bar called the Potted Penguin.

I was just going to call you.

The money... you've got it?

Well, you were just going to call me, were you?

I'm only a couple of hours late,

but you were just going to call me, eh?

Well, I knew I could depend on you.

What do you mean, you knew you could depend on me?

You've got the money already, haven't you?

You've been up there.

You've been in Bonnie's apartment, haven't you?

- Well, haven't you?! - Stop that! Stop it!

Mr. Harvey, there's something you should know.

Now, please, you must listen to me!

Oh, you bet your life I'll listen to you.

Now talk, come on!

Please! Not here! Please!

Fellow with a beard who came in a few minutes ago.

Where is he?

Right out there.

Hi.

I think it's about time

I had a little talk with you, Mr. Harvey.

I think so, too, Mr. Mason.

There's something that you should know. I...

Can we go to your office?

Okay, call me if you get anything else.

Well, make yourself at home, Lieutenant.

Sorry, Perry, but, uh, this is Mr. Harvey, isn't it?

I'm Lieutenant Anderson, Homicide.

Yes, I'm afraid it is.

Well, it's a long story, Lieutenant.

See, I had this plan for raising $10,000

by having my model blackmail me.

I went to her apartment a little while ago

to pick up the money...

Hannibal, you should tell this to me first.

What difference does it make? It's me they want.

They're going to arrest me anyway.

Maybe you ought to know we've already arrested

the prime suspect in the murder case of Bonnie Dunbar.

Who is it, Andy?

This gentleman's wife... Mona Stanton Harvey.

Hannibal.

Oh, darling.

Take it easy, darling. Take it easy.

Take it easy.

Everything is going to be all right.

- I didn't... - It is, I promise you.

I didn't kill her. I didn't!

Of course you didn't. Now why would you?

She was a friend of yours.

You certainly never could have believed that crazy note.

No. No, no, no, I didn't.

I don't even know how I could have been curious, or... or even

wanted to go see her.

Hannibal, I failed you.

You failed me?

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

Mona, Hannibal says

the man for whom he was obtaining the money,

- Nonno Volente... - Hmm?

Was romantically involved with you at one time.

Oh, Volente?

Oh, yes.

The continental charmer.

Oh, did he take me in!

He had these letters of yours, darling.

Letters? My letters?

He told your husband he would sell them to a scandal magazine

unless he was paid $10,000.

Oh.

I should have strangled him right then and there.

But I-I didn't want you to know, darling.

I didn't want you to be upset again.

You know what kind of a story it would make.

"Owner of the Stanton Press,

"dignified ladies' editor involved

in a blackmail scandal."

Oh, darling, there wasn't anything

that bad in those letters.

I know, I know.

And anyway, what do I care about the old fuddy-duddies?

As long as you love me.

I do.

How could you ever believe a...?

Oh, Hannibal, listen to us.

Shh.

I think you'd better listen to me, Mona.

Oh, Perry.

You're angry with me, aren't you,

for letting you think that I went straight

to your office after I found the note?

It would have helped slightly

if you'd told me you'd been to Bonnie's apartment,

and that you knew she was dead.

Well, I... I had to be absolutely sure

that Hannibal was in the clear first.

You see... Go on.

Well, when I got there, I-I knocked,

and nobody answered the door,

but the door was open,

so, I-I just walked in.

There was money all over the floor,

and then I saw into the bedroom.

Shh, darling.

When-when I got there a little later, all the money was gone.

There was just an empty envelope.

Sorry, Mr. Harvey.

Sorry.

- Oh. - Oh, darling.

I'll be back in a minute.

Does that help?

Oh, a little, maybe.

First it was Bonnie...

That-that nice, harmless, brainless little child.

It was my fault.

I got her into that mess, you know, Perry.

And now...

Now it's my wife that's blamed for it.

And I couldn't even make a good job of confessing it!

Hannibal, think for a moment.

In the first place,

perhaps Bonnie wasn't as nice and as harmless as she seemed.

What?

Well, unless it was simple robbery.

Someone had to have a reason to kill her.

But why would anyone want to kill her?

We'll get to the why later.

The question now is, who?

Mr. Stanton, you heard the testimony

of the handwriting expert

that the decedent wrote this blackmail note.

Yes. Yes, I compared it myself that night.

There was an IOU to the cook

that Bonnie had written for some apples.

It was lying there on the desk, too.

I see.

But after seeing the blackmail note,

you apparently went down and broke into the company safe

to raise the money for Mr. Harvey.

I didn't break into the safe.

As the executive publisher of Stanton Press,

I set aside the $10,000,

intending to replace it

from my personal fund the next morning.

I see. And why didn't you report it to Mrs. Harvey?

Well, I thought she was still in Seattle.

Anyway, good heavens, I wouldn't have wanted, uh,

Mona to know about Hannibal and that creature.

Really? Didn't she know about her already?

I... I don't understand.

Mr. Stanton, you just referred

to the decedent, Bonnie Dunbar,

as "that creature."

Now, did you ever make similar remarks

in front of your niece, the defendant?

Well, I may have commented on certain indecorum

that existed in front of the servants, that's all.

Oh, come, come, Mr. Stanton. Isn't it true

that that remark of yours

and certain similar remarks by other people

caused Mona Stanton Harvey

to hire a private detective to check up on her husband?

You're twisting that!

I'm sure it was to satisfy herself

by disproving the gossip that she hired him.

Only as a precaution.

Just tell us what you know, please, Mr. Stanton.

I do not know anything about any detective.

You don't know that three nights before the murder,

there was a rendezvous at the Stanton beach house in Trancas?

You don't know that the private detective reported on this fact

to the defendant by telephone in Seattle?

Objection, Your Honor.

Objection sustained.

Mr. Burger, you are not here to give testimony.

I'm sorry, Your Honor.

The detective's testimony will be introduced later.

I-I simply said that Mona had received a...

a long-distance telephone call,

and seemed upset by it, that's all.

Afterwards, she told me it was from a-a private detective.

My goodness, there's nothing the matter with that.

It was upsetting enough for poor Mona

to have to come all the way to Seattle

for my sake at a time like that.

At a time like what, Mrs. Banks?

In your direct testimony,

- you implied that... - No!

No, I-I didn't mean to imply anything.

It was just that when Mr. Burger asked

if Mona trusted her husband...

You stated that you'd seen Mona crying several times

in your home in Seattle.

Well, yes, but...

she could've been crying for any number of reasons.

Exactly.

You'd been quite ill, hadn't you, Mrs. Banks?

Mona was exhausted from caring for you, wasn't she?

You never actually heard her say one word suggesting anything

but affection for both her husband and his model?

Of course not!

Of course I didn't!

Or that she was suspicious of their relationship.

No. Never.

Thank you, Mrs. Banks.

It was just that I'd never seen Mona cry before.

I mean, she always holds everything in so.

Just because I'm so terribly suspicious of my own husband,

I didn't mean to imply that she was of hers.

I mean, I didn't mean to imply...

Of course, Mrs. Banks.

And the truth is, Mona merely left your house

and returned to Los Angeles without explanation.

Yes.

Well, y-yes!

Isn't that what I said?

But I don't know when Mrs. Harvey returned home.

You see, I was busy that evening,

and when I returned I discovered her luggage,

and I realized that she'd come home and gone out again

during my absence.

Did you ever see this before?

I'm not in the habit of reading other people's mail.

Mail, Mr. Dickens?

I asked you if you ever saw this crumpled piece of paper before.

I... did notice a crumpled piece of paper somewhat like that

on the desk in the study.

Caught my eye, you know?

One little thing out of place.

Ours is a very tidy house.

But you didn't pick up this crumpled piece of paper?

I had to go out, I tell you, for several hours.

The maid across the street can corroborate.

- And you never saw the paper again? - No.

Obviously, Mrs. Harvey saw it when she came home,

and took it with her when she left.

You are the messenger who picked up $10,000

in front of the Stanton Press offices?

I picked up a package from that man there.

And what did you do with the package?

Well, I had a few other stops to make,

but then I delivered to the address he'd given me.

And you delivered it to Miss Bonnie Dunbar personally

and had her sign for it?

- Yes, sir. - Very well, then.

Since you may have been the last person to see her alive,

would you recall for us, please,

any details that you remember?

Well... she spoke fast.

Seemed real jumpy.

She asked me if I was heading back downtown,

asked if I could maybe give her a ride.

- And what did you answer? - I said, "Lady, I got nothing

but a motorcycle... Why don't you call a cab?"

She shut the door, and I left.

And that was all there was to it,

you just got on your motorcycle and rode away?

Oh, no. As I was coming out,

I seen this cab make a drop. I went out

to try to flag it down for her, but I was too late.

By "making a drop," you mean letting out a passenger.

Now, did you see the passenger who got out there?

Uh-huh.

And is that person in this courtroom today?

Yes, she is.

It was that lady, right there.

The position of the telephone?

Well, the telephone cord

was wrapped around the decedent's arm.

It looked as if she was trying to call for help

when the killer came up from behind her...

Objection, Your Honor. It's pure supposition

that the decedent was in the process of calling for help.

Surely, Your Honor, in light of the previous testimony,

the decedent was agitated, she needed immediate transportation.

Now, uh... objection sustained.

- It's still supposition. - Very well, Your Honor.

No further questions. Counselor?

No questions.

I call Mr. Nonno Volente to the stand, please.

All right, Lieutenant, you can step down.

Raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth,

the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

Yes. You see, I was to meet Mr. Harvey that evening

in the Potted Penguin.

But I was nervous, and when he didn't come right away,

I went to this Miss Dunbar's apartment.

Why there?

I mean, as opposed to his place.

Well, I had done enough checking to know that there was this, uh,

arrangement between Mr. Harvey and the girl,

- know where she lived... - Objection.

Objection sustained.

Well, I only meant, Your Honor,

that between an artist and his model

there is always an arrangement.

All right, never mind.

Just answer the question.

Mr. Volente...

what did you see when you went into that girl's apartment?

I saw money.

Money everywhere!

Now, by nature, I'm a neat person,

so seeing the mess I started to pick it up.

But that's all, you understand... Merely to take it off the floor,

not to take it for myself.

But then I saw the girl, dead, and I was frightened.

I see. You took the money with you

because you were frightened.

Well, I had no wish to become involved in a murder.

Taking the money was an oversight.

I see. Why didn't you report it

to the police, Mr. Volente?

Well, as I said, I had no wish to become involved in a murder.

Now, you say that you went back to the Potted Penguin

and waited there for some time.

Why, since you already had the money,

did you find it necessary to wait for some time?

I was also waiting for some gamblers I know

- to give the money to them. - That's better.

But then Hannibal Harvey arrived, and you left. Why?

Mr. Harvey. He said he would take care of the gamblers

if only I would go away.

And when I told him what I'd seen,

he said I should go far away and fast.

Then he would pay me more money.

He said that when you told him what you saw?

- Yes! - Would you tell this court, please,

what you told him you saw?

And I remind you, sir, that you're under oath.

I told him who I saw leaving Miss Bonnie Dunbar's place

when I got there.

He offered me money to keep quiet and go away.

Mr. Volente... who was the person you saw

leaving Bonnie Dunbar's apartment

just before you found her dead body?

I saw the woman there, Mrs. Harvey.

♪♪

♪♪

See what Burger's doing?

He's painting Mona as the only possible murderer.

Well, she didn't do it, I tell you, she didn't do it.

Well, the messenger saw Bonnie alive

when Mona was arriving,

and then Nonno found Bonnie dead after Mona left.

Perry, I don't see how you can get out of...

Well, I'll tell you how.

You've got to put me on the stand, Perry.

I'll tell them exactly what happened.

How I personally dictated that blackmail note.

And what do you think that would prove?

Well, this is a happy group.

- What have you found, Paul? - Well, it didn't take long

to check out that private eye's report.

That rendezvous at the beach house, for example.

There isn't a clue as to who might have been there

with Bonnie... just that some man drove there in Hannibal's car.

Who else drives it?

Oh, anybody. I always leave the keys in it.

- Is there more, Paul? - Enough to believe

that Bonnie was secretly mixed up with somebody.

- But who? - That's the point.

There's only one man that report can absolutely identify.

He's the guy that sneaked into Bonnie's house with a package

a couple of days before the murder.

What guy? Uh, who was it?

Rex Ainsley.

Yes, I visited Miss Dunbar several times.

And I only stayed for a few moments.

What was in the package you brought to her, Mr. Ainsley?

It was a, uh, little gift.

What sort of gift?

A, uh, pressure cooker.

Pressure cooker?

Yes, her taste in gifts is rather domestic.

Then there were other gifts?

No, that's not what that implies.

I've already explained to the district attorney.

Our relationship, Bonnie's and mine,

was strictly along business lines.

Would you explain it to the court?

Well, I, uh...

not to go into boring detail,

felt it an obligation to Stanton Press

to know what the Stanton family was up to.

The gifts, in other words,

were payment to Bonnie for spying at the Stanton house.

It was not really spying.

And you always gave her domestic gifts?

Yes. She hoped to be married soon.

Married? To whom?

She never told me.

But I, like everyone else around the Stanton home,

uh, thought it was pretty obvious.

- She and Hannibal. - Why, that no-good, lying...

Order. Order in the court, please!

If that hussy was planning to get married,

she certainly wasn't acting like it.

Why? What happened?

Well, late that afternoon, I was out at the house

for a few minutes, and what I saw when I went in the door...

I have no further questions

of this witness, Your Honor.

You may step down.

No, it's not me.

I've never considered marriage in any form!

Mr. Dickens, is it necessary for me

to put a woman on the stand who saw you kissing Bonnie Dunbar,

saw you kissing her the very day she was murdered?

Wait. Please.

I-I was only attempting to kiss Bonnie.

She resisted me quite successfully, I'm afraid.

Do you expect this court to believe that?

But it's true.

Miss Dunbar made it quite plain

that my attentions were useless,

because she was planning to marry someone else.

Someone who was about to divorce his wife...

- Mr. Hannibal Harvey. - That's a dirty lie!

I love my wife, and I always have!

Order, order, please!

Now, listen, I'm not gonna stand here

and listen to that rubbish!

You're fired, Dickens!

Leave me alone, will you?

Mr. Dickens,

did Bonnie say it was Hannibal?

Well, she... said there would be a divorce,

even if she had to ask for it herself.

A divorce that would light a powder keg under that...

tidy, distinguished old house.

A divorce like that, on those grounds,

would do irreparable damage

to the reputation of the family name,

to say nothing of the publishing firm itself.

And divorce, therefore, must be avoided at all costs.

Oh, yes, at all costs.

Mr. Stanton...

Mr. Stanton, you testified earlier

that you compared Bonnie's handwriting

in the blackmail note with her writing in another note

- lying on the desk. - Yeah, about the apples.

Yet Dickens later denied seeing loose pieces of paper

in his tidy, well-kept house.

Did that, uh, second note,

the one to the cook, really exist?

I, uh, beg your pardon?

Or were you trying to persuade the court

that you didn't know Bonnie very well?

Not even well enough to recognize

her rather unusual handwriting despite the fact

you frequently lived in that house,

made your headquarters there

- every time you've come to Los Angeles. - Now, see here!

Mr. Stanton...

you were the secret man in Bonnie's life, weren't you?

That, uh, that messenger boy, he saw M-Mona

going into Bonnie's apartment.

Mr. Stanton, I asked you...

That-that other man, that Volente man,

he found Bonnie dead after Mona left.

Yes, the evidence is rather damaging against Mona, isn't it?

But suppose another person had been inside Bonnie's apartment

- all that time. - What?

Someone who remained out of sight

when Bonnie spoke to the messenger boy.

Oh, yes, it could've been... A-a robber, maybe.

She tried to reach the phone, you know.

She-she tried to call for help.

But suppose she hadn't been calling for help.

Suppose she'd been calling a taxi or a hotel downtown.

Your wife was staying at a hotel that night,

wasn't she, Mr. Stanton?

Was Bonnie trying to call your wife,

trying to reveal everything to her?

Is that why you killed Bonnie?

I didn't mean to.

Oh, Bonnie, I didn't mean to.

Perry, what I still don't understand is

how Uncle Everett could be in two places at once.

The messenger said he got the money from him.

The messenger also said he made a couple of stops

before he reached Bonnie's apartment.

During which time he got wind of the fact

that Bonnie was trying to get hold of his wife

to have a showdown with her.

So he tore over to stop Bonnie, and that was it.

Come to think of it, he did everything, didn't he?

Clucking over me to hide what he was really doing,

and then getting Mona all upset.

Well, I should have had enough trust

not to hire a private detective.

Shouldn't I have trusted you about those letters, too?

Of all the silly, stupid...

- Forgive me, darling? Ah. - Yes.

Well, Paul, this is where we came in.

I'm sorry. Bye. Bye.

Bye-bye.

♪♪

Well, it just goes to prove

that a little trust is a good thing.

- I agree with you completely. - Fine.

Then maybe you'll trust me with some money for lunch.