Original subtitles

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

Good morning, Sergeant. Morning, Padre.

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

It looks like an awfully good day, eh?

[Music]

[Music]

Heat. Heat.

[Music]

[Music]

Heat. Heat.

[Music]

Heat

up here.

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

Heat.

Heat. Heat. Heat.

[Music]

strangled, I'd Not very imaginative.

Thank you, doctor. Come, Thorp. That

makes three three murders. And I and we

we we're still nowhere near a solution.

With uh your permission, Inspector, I

think we should reconstruct, so to

speak, the whole thing from the

beginning with chronological order,

reorganizing all the bits and bobs from

last Wednesday, the day before the

reading of the will.

[Music]

Welcome your lady ship. Oh,

Barbara darling child. Hello, Aunt

Glattis. How are you? Did you have a

pleasant trip? Perfectly abominable,

darling. My son drives like a village

idiot. Georgie? Georgie? You haven't

greeted your cousin Barbara.

How are you, Barbara? Hello, Georgie.

Peter, I hope you remember the night

table. Of course, your lady ship is

already in your room. I wouldn't have

forgotten your favorite tape.

Three-legged. Precisely. Your

the first to arrive, I am. Yes, Auntie.

But the other should be here any moment.

Oh, I don't mind. I'm rather glad to be

able to have a word with you in peace.

Naturally, you already know the

dispositions of my brother's will. No, I

haven't the vaguest idea. Really, dear.

I appreciate your discretion, but you

were the only one that contankerous old

goat could bear to have near him. Oh,

actually in the last 6 months I didn't

see him more than three times, if that.

He shut himself up in the observatory

with his telescope day and night. And

when the time came, he even dictated his

will there directly to the solicitor. I

see. And tell me something. Did he learn

about his daughter before he died? That

she was expecting a child of me? Yes.

But he didn't say anything about it. You

know what he was like? Yes. I wonder if

the thought of Isabelle's brat softened

him to the point of leaving everything

to her after she abandoned him to marry

that that failure. Oh, Anthony isn't a

failure. He's a very intelligent man.

Not very practical, but I suggest we

change the subject because here they

come.

[Music]

How are you, Peter? How wonderful to see

you again, Miss Isabelle. It's been such

a long time. Mrs. Not miss. I'm married.

You know that, Peter. Forgive me, but I

shall always think of you as Miss

Isabelle, and your husband is the boy

next door. Hello,

Georgie. Aunt

Glattis. Hello, Barbara. Welcome

back. Oh, aren't they just two moving

these family reunions?

Why, Isabelle? You're quite the perfect

picture of the young expectant mother,

aren't you?

Of course, it was because you didn't

want to risk getting over upset in your

condition that you just couldn't come to

your father's funeral. No, Aunt Glattis.

I didn't come because I wasn't

well. And I wasn't well because I lost

the

[Music]

baby. I'm so

[Music]

sorry.

[Music]

Heat. Heat.

[Applause]

Well, you've made it, Uncle Lawrence,

all in one piece. You lacked the

sporting instincts of a gentleman, Ted,

and it's quite deplorable. Hell,

everybody. Hey, how much are these

spaceships for frustrated astronauts

actually cost? You don't think I paid

for it, do you? The Thor had hardly

entered our minds for a moment, T. What

are you careering in these days? Drug

peddling, counterfeit banknotes, or the

white slave trade? Dear old Aunt

Glattis, always count on you for a kind

word. Pauline, darling, I'd like you to

meet my dear Aunt Glattis.

[Music]

I suppose someone may appreciate your

attempt at humor, my boy, but uh may I

remind you that this is the the family

home and not some sorted motel. Oh,

uncle, that's no way to talk of a lady.

Dear family, let me introduce Pauline,

my wife, the Duchess of

[Music]

[Music]

Canwell. It would have been worth

marrying her just to see your faces at

this moment.

Welcome to our home, my dear. I'm

Barbara. Hello. Driving with Ted is

always a tiring journey. I'm sure you

must be dying for a cup of tea. Oh,

thank you. We really are a grand family.

Aunt Larice, my sweet little voucher.

Smile.

Come on. Let's go and strip the flesh

off at Carrion together. We can tear

each other to pieces later. How

delightful.

Beautiful guns. The old goat knew his

weapons. Mhm. Tomorrow I might do a

little shooting. Want to come along? Not

a bad idea. Anybody else for shooting?

We could all go, I'd say. After all, the

solister won't be here until afternoon.

If it means rising at dawn, eliminate

me. Very well. If we're to get up so

early in the morning, best we say good

night. Off you go, darling. Take your

bath and

Georgie. Huh?

A bath and off to bed. Oh, really,

Mommy? I'd much rather take a shower. So

funny. Such a dolly clown. What

nonsense. Only animals and Americans get

washed standing up. But a gentleman

takes a bath. Now say good night and run

along. Really, Mommy? You're being Not

another word. Do you hear? I bet the day

that Georgie finally gets around to

cutting her throat, she'll tell him it's

terribly bad for

Well, I only hope he doesn't do it

tonight. We're all too sleepy to be

disturbed.

Good night, darling. Good night. Hang

on. I'm coming, too.

Forgive me, Barbara. I haven't even

tried to thank you yet. It was wonderful

of you to stay with Daddy right to the

end. Oh, it wasn't any great sacrifice,

Isabelle. Though the rest of the family

thought I did it just to just to get

something out of it.

You know, I I really didn't care very

much for your father. You're the only

real human being that's worthy of this

tribe, Barbara. And I only hope that

daddy remembered you in his will the way

you

deserve. Anyway, I want you to know that

there is always a place for you in this

house. Thank you, Isabelle. Good night,

Barbara. Good night, Bel.

[Music]

What's the matter, Peter?

I I wanted to be sure that everything

was in order for the night. Miss

Barbara,

you may go, Peter. Thank goodness.

Enjoy.

[Applause]

[Music]

do no.

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

I told you, Mommy, I'd much rather have

a shower.

Criminal. No, no, no. Criminal.

I want to see you die. I was only

joking.

[Music]

What are you doing here all alone?

Oh, I'm getting old. Before you stands

an aged poet looking into the mirror of

time. Well, tell us. What does he see?

Well, I see two children hiding here,

holding hands. A voice calls to them.

Remember what a shrill voice Isabelle

had when she was a little girl. Help.

Anthony. Barbara, hurry. Come here.

[Music]

What's the

matter? Did you catch

anything? What are you all staring

at? What the devil's that?

Georgie. Georgie.

Georgie, come here this instant. Come

here, you rob

beast. No, no, no. Georgie

Sorry. Hey

[Music]

Shall we begin? If you all so desire, I

can emit the reading of the

preliminaries of Sir Henry's will. We do

so desire, Mr. Thornton. We do indeed.

Very well. Then I shall confine myself

to reading the terms of this testament

that concern the parties

present to Sergeant Elawishas Thor. Uh

present to Sergeant Elawishas Thorp who

for 25 years every Saturday has

patiently allowed himself to be beaten

at chess and who has been of prodigious

help for the cultivation of the Azelas.

Pride of my hot house, I bequeath the

rarest of my earthly possessions, all of

my 200 pots of

aelas. I rest with the certainty that

Sergeant Thorp shall give himself to the

cultivation of these splendid plants

with the same dedication he applies to

his duties as an officer of the law. To

my

sister, to my sister, Lady Glattis

Victoria Campbell, and to her son,

George Harold Gregory, fourth Vic Count

of Glenra, to my brother, Lawrence Brown

Carter, heir to the Baroner Veil and

Lord of Mrron, and to my nephew,

Theodore Collins, Duke of Canwell, I

leave a bequest of inestimable value to

which I hope they will dedicate fitting

care. I refer to the historical archives

of our distinguished

family. From these they will learn, and

I trust with celitary effects on their

damn snobbery, that our fortunes derive

from a certain Captain Johannes Carter,

enriched by illicit slave trading. Our

ancestor, I am certain, would have been

delighted to know that the documents

which speak of his lurid history are to

end up in hands so similar to his own.

To my daughter Isabelle, I bequeathed

the wedding ring and personal effects

formerly belonging to her mother. As for

my personal wealth, she demonstrated her

contempt for it by leaving this house

against my will. I feel it fitting,

therefore, to respect her sentiments by

not leaving her a

penny. With all due respect, as

witnesses, I must ask you to hear out

the final stipulation of Sir Henry's

will.

I dispose finally that all the wealth

and the property which constitute my

patrimony go to my niece Barbara Ward

whom I nominate my soul heir. Although

read in America by a father whom I never

could admire, I owe Barbara my gratitude

for the affection with which she has

remained by me, bringing a little

serenity to these last lonely years of

my life on earth.

Being of sound mind and body, I hereby

sign and seal this my last will and

testament. 15th of January, 1970. Henry

Carter, second baron of Bale. That

rotten old son of a Ted.

I thank you in the name of the whole

family, Mr. Thornton.

I'll see you out. Oh, thank you.

Good day to you

all. The damned miserable rotten

cheating old bastard.

Isabelle, listen. You should say

something. After all, you were his only

child. He can't do this to you. Well, he

has done it and I expected it. We were

so much alike. Oh, darling, it's not the

money I'm thinking about it. No, of

course not. Oh, you keep out of this.

Don't be such idiots. We're all involved

in this. Little Miss Florence

Nightingale had it all figured out. She

did. A sneaky [ __ ] Mommy, stop dead.

I'd like to express my very humble

sympathetic regret.

Sorry.

Condolence. Barbara's very

young. I was just

thinking I was just thinking that

When you're as young as that, you don't

think about making a

will. So if, for example, something

happened to her, the inheritance will be

divided into equal

parts. There'd be enough for everyone.

What are you saying, George? Well,

exactly what you're all thinking right

now, Mommy.

Ah, but you haven't heard the end of

this. I'll contest a will. I will. Oh,

well now come on. You're not being fair,

will pastor. It's not my fault if Sir

Henry decided like he did. H take it you

100 plants and be off with you right

away out of my greenhouse. He didn't

will you that.

But I can't go pulling them out of our

house now. It'll be sore death.

They are pretty. You really deserve the

merry.

Oh, very well then. They can stay. Oh,

thank you. You just remember that for me

them flowers don't exist any longer. You

got that? I'm wiping them out of my

life. You look after them. You'll

fertilize them and you'll water them. Is

that clear?

Yes. You can have your blooming Aelia's

policemen copper. Grandmother always

told me never trust a policeman. They're

a race car. Totally humans. Look for

way 26 27

[Music]

89. Well, at least for once, nobody will

be able to say the butler did it.

[Laughter]

Georgie, I warned you and you promised

not to do it again. But mommy, it wasn't

me.

You mean it was he who did it? Well,

well, I mean, is he in the Abby to do

it? This is nothing. If you only knew.

Wake up, Peter, and we'll all have a

good laugh. The sergeant's getting

fidgety.

misunderstanding, you say? But of

course. Mhm. Yes. Only there's very

little to

misunderstand because you

see waking this good fellow would sort

of

be a bit difficult.

[Music]

Like

[Music]

Heat. Heat.

[Applause]

[Music]

Oh, duck.

Sergeant

Thorp. Uh, yes, sir.

I I really thought you were getting here

by train, sir. Fortunately, we do have

one or two cars left in Scotland Yard.

Dr. Carlilele, the police doctor. Sir,

Sergeant Higgins, our scientific expert.

Hi. Now, would you show us the way to

the Carter estate, please? Ah, yes, sir.

Be glad to to think that in all my

30-year career, sir, no one's ever

offered me a ride in a radio police car

before this very incident.

You go on to the house,

[Music]

Miss Barbara Ward. Yes. I'm Detective

Inspector Gray. Scotland Yard, I

suppose. naturally. How do you do?

Please excuse me. I've been doing some

gardening, trying to get my mind off

what's happened. The whole thing is

shaken me up terribly. Yes, I

understand. Is there um perhaps anyone

you suspect? No, not in the least. Peter

was a member of the family, you might

say, directed the household for years

and was wellliked and respected by all

the servants. Mhm.

I am convinced that the murderer was

someone from outside the house,

Inspector. A burglar Peter caught in the

act or perhaps even a poacher. We have a

lot of them around, you know. Yes. In

fact, various elements do indicate an

outsider. All the same, I'm afraid I'll

have to ask you some questions, miss.

But Sergeant Thorp has questioned

everybody. I don't think Sergeant Thorp

is particularly competent of this kind

of investigation. It's beyond directing

traffic.

As you wish. Then I'm at your

disposition.

Get down.

[Music]

What happened, Inspector? I have an

unpleasant feeling someone took a shot

at you, Miss Ward, from the look of this

round little hole. But that's not

possible. I didn't hear a shot. Right.

They must have used a silencer,

obviously.

And we can't even be sure where the shot

came from. Did you see anyone hanging

around? Thor,

what? Nobody. But inspector, you surely

can't think that someone My dear young

lady, I've never heard of poachers using

silencers. Have you?

Besides, a shot came from above. What's

up there? An observatory, Miss Ward?

Yes. Toward the end, Uncle Henry turned

to astronomy as one might to religion.

He slept here and had his meals set up

to him by the dumb waiter. He lived like

a hermit, refusing visitors and family

alike. He spent practically all of his

time without ever leaving this room. No

one's been here at all since his death.

So, it seems. Inspector, sir. Well, what

is it, Sergeant?

With your permission, sir, I think I

found the pistol. The one they shot a

while ago. I think it's a mouser made in

Germany from the shape. Miss Barber, the

pistol? Where is it? It's no longer

there, sir. Sergeant, have you found it

or haven't you? I guess it would be

better for one to say it's no longer

where it was.

[Music]

[Music]

Did any of you take a pistol from that

wreck? Did any of you see someone else

take a pistol from that

wreck? Does anyone suspect that someone

may have taken a pistol from the wreck?

[Music]

You remember what sort of gun it was? Of

course, inspector. A target pistol. A

very accurate weapon. Not too accurate,

fortunately.

[Laughter]

Georgie, Georgie,

Sergeant Thorp, Thorp, you do take short

hand, of course. Uh, very frankly, sir,

no.

No matter. If you take a look in my bag,

there you'll find a tape recorder. Tape

recorder? Yes, sir. With microphone

attachment. Phone attachment. Uh, is

this it? Obviously. Record all the

statements and you can copy them out

later. Yes, sir. Obviously.

Ready when you are, Thor. Huh? Yes, sir.

Ready? I

am. Right then, let's begin. First of

all, I'd like to

know if all the members of the household

are present.

It's quite simple. Is everybody present

or not?

Uh, Ted isn't here. He's my husband.

Might I ask where he is? On impulse, I

would say no.

As for my whereabouts, what the devil

has that got to do with you? And who the

devil am I talking to anyway? Ah, I'm

Detective Inspector Gray, CI Scotland

Yard. Someone took a shot at your

cousin, Barbara. Someone is not a very

good shot, it would seem. Yeah. Would

you mind telling me where you've been?

Oh, strolling around. I went out with

the intention of taking a few photos of

the landscape.

It might seem strange to you, but uh

photography is a hobby of mine. Oh,

really? So, it's a hobby of mine, too.

Sorry. Do you mind very much, sir, if I

take a look? Yeah, I'll with you, sir,

in a minute. What are you looking for,

Sergeant? The pistol.

What did you say?

I was saying that uh your sergeant is

quite crafty, but he won't find any

pistol in there. How did you know the

shop was fired by a pistol?

Well, you said so. No, I just said

someone fired a shot.

Oh, yes, true. And I instinctively

looked straight at the gun rack where

Obviously, there's a gun missing.

I'm a bright boy, you see. Mhm. Yes, I

see. Never since such a conglomerator of

knobs and thingamy jigs. Why is the ft

put beside this M thing? The distance

scale. Sorry, sir. It's also terribly

curious. In other words, sir, you were

seted at 6 feet, which in meters is 2

meters. Oh,

God. Your pictures will be out of focus,

I'm afraid. Unless your landscape was

only 6 ft away.

I didn't say I took any photos. I just

said that I went out with the intention

of doing so. Of course, Sergeant, when

you satisfied your photographic

curiosity, could you be so terribly kind

as to go back and look after my tape

recorder?

Irresistible. Yes, quite. Barbara, this

cake is absolutely delicious.

Could I have some more whipped cream,

please, Mommy? Of course you can.

Lawrence, do you mind passing the cream,

please? At once, my

dear. Ted, please.

You're not helping yourself, Barbara.

It's not like you. Try to eat, darling.

You've hardly touched a thing. What is

it, Barbie? I hadn't noticed. But you do

look a little pale, dear. Quiet. Is

something wrong. Well, the dessert's not

poisoned, that's for sure. Will you

please stop it when I think that one of

you here no later than this morning

One of us. What?

What the hell do you mean? She's joking,

of course. Aren't you?

Oh, yes. Please forgive me. I'm a little

overro. Self-control, darling.

Self-control. Whatever will the

inspector think of us. The inspector was

thinking he might even take more

advantage of your excellent

hospitality to the point of asking if

you may stay the

night. You might suggest that to

Barbara. She is the lady of the house

now.

Certainly, inspector, if you think it

might help. Yes, I think it'll be most

opportune. Should we go into the library

for some coffee?

[Music]

Huh? Arthur.

Whiskey,

[Music]

you clumsy fool. Very sorry, sir, but

Peter was the butler. I've no training

in this work. Thanks a lot. That's

bloody obvious. Leave the bottle and get

out.

Ted, what's got into you? Nothing. Just

leave me alone.

Ted, darling, cut that out. You worry

me, Ted. You're so nervous. You should

have started worrying a little sooner,

baby. What do you mean?

While it was a question of flashy cars

and fine clothes, you could put up with

my nervousness, couldn't you? That's not

fair. You know that isn't true. Oh,

sure, sure. You're in the club of the

onetrack minders. Money, money, money.

But I want to tell you something. By

tomorrow night, one way or another, I'm

going to get my hands on those 20,000

quid. Sh. Take it easy. It's a sure

thing. Money in the bank.

[Music]

Hello. Hello.

[Music]

a kid.

Georgie, what you want to do to me? Shut

up or I'll strangle you. No.

Georgie, are you trying to tell me by

any chance that you you want to put me

to bed?

That's right. But if you try to resist,

you'll never get out of your life. Okay.

[Laughter]

Oh, hell. Instead of making me nearly

die of fright and ruining my dress,

couldn't you just ask me? Not

[Music]

simpler.

Listen, in the world there's men and

there's

women. You follow me? All right,

then. Now, when a man fancies a woman,

he says to her, "Look here, I really and

truly do fancy you. So, how about us

going to bed

together?" You see, it's

easy. After which, she either says

no. Oh,

yes. It's your first time, isn't it?

[Music]

[Music]

You love peace.

[Music]

[Laughter]

[Music]

No. No. Thank you,

Mommy.

No. No. Dude,

no. Mommy, no.

I won't do it anymore. I promise.

Please. No. No.

Oh. Now. What is it with my silk

stockings? What have you done? Nothing.

Dirty delinquent. No.

Where have you been? Looking at naked

ladies.

You

deserve God. What am I going to do with

you? You'll be the death of me, Georgie.

I swear it. Sometimes you almost

frighten

me.

Georgie. Oh,

Georgie. You must promise me to stop

doing these things. You

understand? Otherwise, I don't know

where it'll all

end. Promise me, George, you my good

child.

Please don't cry, Mommy. I'm sorry.

[Music]

Going into the village? Yes, with the

inspector's permission. I have a few

things to do. Did you want to come

along? No, no, I'm busy.

Uh, listen. Would you mind leaving the

spool of film down at the chemist to be

developed? Tell them I'll uh pop in

sometime to pick it up. No hurry. Be

glad to. Well, I'm off. Bye. Bye.

Thanks.

[Music]

Like I said, got to strip the whole

engine down. Oh, how long will that

take? Well, there's the weekend coming

up. We'll have to leave it till Monday,

I'm afraid, miss. Oh, no.

I've come to rescue a lady in distress.

Obliged. Only that I'm going in another

direction.

So am I.

[Music]

I'll take those.

I was beginning to worry about you,

Isabelle. I'm sorry. That old rattle

trap of ours has broken down again. And

this gentleman was kind enough to give

me a lift home. I thought we might ask

him to stay for tea.

Why not stay for dinner?

H very tricky shot and I can't

concentrate under these

circumstances. What are you thinking,

Thorp? Sir. Oh, I was just thinking that

nothing's really beyond the Scotland

Yard. Yes, I was actually referring to

the more immediate dilemma of how to

place the red ball into the right pocket

thought.

Hello. Oh, Scotland Y. Ah, don't move

your

name. Spector Gray speaking. What? Who

is this? How dare you

ask? How dare you? Sergeant, some old

mad woman on this phone who wants to

know how far we've got with the

investigation. Oh, the operator. It's

Maybel, the town's telephonic snooper.

If we don't make her listen at all,

she's liable to drop the connection with

your call to the yard. I'll arrest her.

Is everyone gone crazy around here?

England, not at the blast of Amazon.

May Bill thought. Oh, just

fine. Nope. You're about as far ahead as

we

are. But he's tracked down every

possible clue.

He's not particularly

polite. We can talk on it, but first the

call to the yard. Eh, no, he don't mind.

You can listen if you like. Scotland

Yard, sir. Ah, how come?

Hello. Yes, great speaking. Did you get

the information I wanted? Good. Yes. Go

ahead. Marvelous.

Mhm. Wonderful. Thank you. Good news,

sir. Un accustomed as I am to anticipate

results, Thorp, but I feel I can say

that I'm very, very close to the point

of solving this case.

Lovely indeed.

Yes, my dear Thor. The moving finger

having pushed the right button set into

motion the wheels of criminal research,

uncovering the blackard behind the bush.

Bush, sir. Right.

Mr. Ted Collins, the young man who just

happened to be strolling around the park

at the time of the attempt on Miss

Barbara's life, has a police record,

fraud, grievous bodily harm, and right

now he's run up a huge debt to an

unsaavory individual listed in our files

as an unlicensed bookmaker. A very nasty

customer indeed. Go get Mr. Ted Collins

Thorp.

Yes, sir.

Ah, at last somebody efficient here. Oh,

excuse me, Inspector, but there's

something very strange going on. Mr.

Ted's room is locked from the inside. I

knocked and knocked, but no one

answered.

Ah, you're here. Where's your husband? I

don't know. An hour ago, he was upstairs

in our room. Why?

Right. Right behind you, sir.

In here.

Mr. Collins. This is Inspector

Gray. Open the

door. Mr. Collins, I order you to open

this door.

Collins. You're only weakening your

position. Open. I

say open this

door. Mr. Collins is an inspector.

Great. Oh, blast him. Take a look.

Well, not much to see. He's got the key

inside blocking up the old sir.

Collins. Open up the door once. You hear

me? Open it once.

[Music]

That is

[Music]

all. It's not my fault.

[Music]

It's all my fault. I didn't believe.

Yeah. Take it away, please.

Pistol.

Yes. Just as I thought. That's the same

one that disappeared from the gun case.

Yes. All right, everybody outside.

YouTubers rather cases closed. Just

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

Come along, please. Now, don't stay

around the case. What was that? Now,

stay where you are. No panic,

please.

Thorp. Thorp, what are you doing on the

floor?

Accidentally hit the ground, sir. Did he

make a noise? Noise? I thought the roof

had fallen in.

I suppose even you have now realized

what happened, a thought.

Uh uh it's still a bit bit cloudy, sir.

Good grief, man. It's so clear. This

suicide is practically a signed

confession. And as with the pistol, but

I'm sure the ballistic test will show

that it's exactly the same weapon that

was used in the attempts on Miss

Barbara's life.

H well, probably. No doubt about it.

Desperately pressed for money, Collins

tried to kill his cousin to save his own

neck with the money from the

inheritance. His time was running out

and the creditors, a very nasty lot,

believe me, were breathing hot down his

neck. So what does he do? He takes the

pistol, hides behind some dense foliage

in the park, and waits for a suitable

moment. He fires, but misses his target.

Then to his dismay, I arrive. You

remember his rather violent reaction to

that? Well, now his back's against the

wall. He knows I can't help but uncover

the truth. So, he begins to go to

pieces. Takes his pistol out again, aims

at his right temple,

and he killed himself. Did the butler

kill himself, too, sir? The butler? Yes.

Yes. Well, I can't be expected to

explain every little detail right on the

spur of the moment, thought. However, I

have no doubt that I shall find a

perfect logical motive for that murder,

too.

Thor, Paul, what the hell are you doing

now?

Thor, are you mad? What are you doing

down there? Back in a minute, sir. Don't

move. Whatever you do, don't move.

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

Help. Pop. For present,

sir. Pop. Oh. Uh, here he is.

What does all this

mean? If I may, sir, you've been

listening to a concert like motif for a

solo gun and Mr. Collins got it in the

piticado. Pity? I mean, yes, of course I

knew that. Yes. Well, tell us your

theory first, Sergeant, as us.

Now we got a killer that purposely locks

Collins in his bedroom. Why? So as to

plan it that we don't find out he was

killed at least 2 hours earlier. Collins

was killed with a silencer. Remember

those drops of resin or what call it

that muck up the muzzle when you use a

silencer? Yes. Yes, of course. Yes. Now

the killer takes the weapon and plants

it on Collins to make it look suicidal.

He locks and leaves the key inside the

door then ups the sound of a speaker.

Now mind a dumb waiter gets down on the

shoot to where? The shoot to where

to a nifty little tape recorder all set

up on which the killer manages to record

the pistol shot.

Eh, to get through the whole recording,

our killer had an hour's worth of tape.

And so by placing a shot halfway

through, there was ample time to mix him

with the others and I give Collins the

way to blow his brain gel.

But when I didn't hear his body so go

plunk to the ground, it put me to wonder

in a trifle. Very good thought. Quite

elementary, of course. But

uh you haven't figured out who did it

yet, eh? I'm sorry if I misled you on

that certainly got a blooming idea. H

no, you sure now? I don't. No. What?

We've got him. Then I don't quite

understand. Oh, well, couldn't expect

you to. I haven't had my experience of

investigations. The murderer has left

the proof in our hands. The tape

recorder Thorp. You couldn't do it here

of course but through the resources of

the C will trace his own a matter of

mayor ars thought mere hours. Sir as a

matter of fact a mere glance. Oh really?

Let's see now. This is the property of

detective inspector El Gray.

[Music]

[Music]

Do her some tea. Don't touch me. I don't

want any of you to come near me. You

frightened me. You must try to get a

grip on yourself, Pauline. Sure. And I

should just stand here like you sipping

my bloody

tea. But I know that someone in this

house murdered my husband.

[Music]

[Music]

Oh, Barbie darling. Would there be

another cup of tea? Excellent idea for

your auntie gladness. May I have another

raspberry tart for me? That's gluttony,

my boy. Bean your sin. Be glad. I'll put

it back then. Oh, poor chy darling. What

would you call this, Sergeant?

Your permission, sir. I'd call it play

acting.

[Music]

Heat. Heat.

[Music]

Barbara,

what's wrong? You look as if you've seen

a

ghost. Would you like a drink? No, not

just now. Thank you. Well, then I'll

drink for both of us.

What's come over you, Anthony? You never

used to drink at all. Do a lot of things

these days. I never used to

and vice versa. I remember you used to

write some lovely music.

Afraid you're the only one to appreciate

that. Oh, except me, of

course. Barbara, I'll tell you something

I've never even told Isabelle. what her

father said when he heard that she was

going to marry me at all

costs. He was seated right here. I can

see him now. Crusty old pirate with his

red face glaring at me. Anthony, you're

a good lad, but you're not worth a damn,

not a porpus penny. My daughter has the

courage to face poverty, but she needs a

man at her side. A real man. Trouble is,

even when she does open her ICU, she'll

be too proud to admit she made a

mistake.

Anthony, you know very well Uncle Henry

was morbidly jealous of Isabelle, no

matter whom she Well, wait. I I haven't

finished yet. He also told me something

else. He said it would take a different

kind of woman, one with a driving force,

with an inner strength to make a man out

of an an entity like

me. A girl like

Barbara. He told me a girl like Barbara

will make you a happy man. Anthony.

[Music]

Come on.

Can I help you

sil

come with this simple expedient we'll

soon Find out who's been roaming the

house by night. I fix one and all the

doors. So if anyone opens this door, the

thread will

break. Coming thorough.

[Music]

I forgot a receipt that I should give to

Pauline. It was Ted's really. You think

I should give it to her now?

Fine, dear. Whatever you like.

I suppose it's boring, but I didn't

realize I could go spend the night out

and you couldn't care less. Why,

Anthony? I trust you. That's why. It

should make you happy.

Oh, yes. I'm just too so damned happy,

dear.

Georgie. My god, you frighten me. Miss

Pauline, I fancy

you. How about us going to bed together?

You You can either say yes or no.

Yes, of course. Why not? But on one

condition that later you tell mommy kins

all about it. Ei

[Music]

[Music]

Good boy.

[Music]

[Music]

But I got in a boot before he hit me. So

all we got to do now is look out for

who's got a black eye and a button too

few. Eh. Yes. Yes. Yes. Let's start by

seeing who's been running around at

night before they tell us the usual pack

of lies. Ah, so Miss Barbara's been out.

Aha. Oh, here's another speed test.

Don't surprise me at all. You take those

two. Well, here's another night out. How

about you, Thorp? This one, too, sir.

Amazing. Here we have another one.

Here's one still intact. Ah, good.

See, Thorp, it's the classical process

of

elimination. I say, would you be kind

enough to tell me the meaning of this

infernal dinner at such an ungodly

hour? Are you inspecting my toilet,

Sergeant, or the cut of my mustache?

What's going on, Inspector?

I don't know yet, but I know I don't

like it. What don't you like now,

Inspector?

Dawn is a bit early for a conference,

don't you think, Inspector? Yeah, maybe.

Maybe. I don't see any black eyes yet,

Thorp. I ain't exactly a lightweight

with me, Mitts. And I assure you, the

right hook of mine will left a scar,

sir.

Seriously, Inspector, you didn't wake us

up at this hour just to talk about

boxing, did you? You haven't all woken

up, it seems to me. Miss Pauline must be

a particularly heavy sleeper. She must

be tired. Poor

[Music]

thing. Mrs.

Collins. Mrs.

Collins, would you kindly open

[Music]

Inspector Pauline isn't also. No, she

isn't. She's simply disappeared.

Well,

Thor, excuse

me. Nothing. No. I opened every single

drawer in the ratty house, but I

couldn't find a suit with this ear

cloth. What's lacking her button? Quite

added to the famous black eye that you

insist upon, Thorp. It leads us

inevitably to an outsider. It's quite

obvious.

That body woman had an accomplice. It's

as clear as daylight. What's clear about

that? Why would they commit two murders?

Answer me that, dear lady. And why the

attempt on Miss Barbara, may I ask? My

dear sir, if you must know, I don't

consider it at all dignified of you to

keep on asking other people to do your

work. Pop, take a note. Top priority,

contact all cars in the county. Be on

the lookout for a black woman with a

white man with a black eye and a gray

button missing. All right.

Really is a splendid day, don't you

think? Yes, it is. Particularly for this

time of year. Let's do something. Well,

we could play a few holes of golf. What

do you say? Think it's a wonderful idea.

The course isn't really in shape and

frankly don't know as I much feel like

it. Oh, come on. It'll do you good.

[Music]

It's strangled, sir.

Not very imaginative. Thank you, doctor.

Comes

[Music]

up. Three murders and I'm still We're

still nowhere near a solution.

With uh your permission, sir, I think we

should reconstruct, so to speak, the

thing right from its beginning with

chronological order. We could start with

Wednesday, sir, which coincides with the

reading of the will. Thor, I've already

filled in 10 rather expensive little

notebooks, and I know even less now,

neither did the

beginning.

Inspector Gray. Yes. What is it,

Constable? You just stopped a fellow for

speeding, but when I saw him close up, I

remembered your message to all cars.

[Music]

Well, well, well. Look who's

here. Ah, missing link.

[Music]

close match, huh? Quite.

Ah, congratulations, Ar. I see your

right hook is as good as you said it

was. Well, he ain't no softy yourself

neither, sir. Listen here. Listen.

What's it about? What's all this? What

do you want with me?

What do we want with him?

All right, I admit I exchanged a few

punches with a copper. Making a big fuss

over it, aren't we? Well, I'll say you

know very well that's not the principal

charge.

Really? Then what is premeditated

murders? Sir,

three murders, in fact. You must be

joking. No, not unless you have a

perfectly good explanation of your

presence in the house last night.

Isabelle, I'm sorry. I I'd go a long way

to save a lady's reputation. Only I

couldn't risk murder to do it. Explain

yourself, Sunny Jim.

Last night, I was uh I made an

appointment that morning to be together

with Exactly. How do you mean together?

We were in a room on the ground floor

till early this morning. Clear. Fine.

When I was about to leave, the lights

went out and you know the rest. I'm

sorry. I What do you say to that, madam?

Miss Isabelle, what do you say?

Last night, I only went out of my room

to give Pauline the receipt for the

photographs that Ted asked me to have

developed. I haven't the slightest idea

why this gentleman has chosen to

embarrass me in this way. He's lying.

How can you say that? I I had only seen

the gentleman on one occasion and that

was yesterday afternoon. You know that's

not true. I don't know why he's

lying, but he is lying. Isabelle, for

God's sake, what are you saying? You've

got to tell the

truth. Isabelle, you can't leave like

that. There's no pain in that. They'll

hang me. No.

Isabelle. Isabelle, tell them the truth.

Tell them

[Music]

he's

go. Oh, darling. I I only want to get

you something to wear. You can't go

around in that state. Now, let's see

what I have

here. There's nothing like a change of

clothes to help a woman's morale.

[Music]

[Music]

Belle, I think Anthony knows you were

I know he does. Even if I had told the

truth, what good would it have done to

us to make a scene like

that? Oh,

sure. He would have said

nothing. He would have been so damned

comprehensive in expressing his trust.

Why don't you leave him?

Because though I know he's a

failure, only Anthony can rescue our

matrimony. And I love him.

[Music]

No, it's Isabelle.

Good God. For a moment, I saw that dress

and I thought it was you. No, it's it's

Isabelle, Inspector, and I I'm the one

who killed her. What? I killed

her. I killed her.

Why?

Don't you see I'm the

one? You mistook me for Isabelle on the

floor just now. The murder must have

done the same thing.

That bullet was meant for me. She was in

my room with my clothes. It's as if I

killed her myself. No, no, no. Just Just

try to keep calm now. The shot came from

outside. Any thought?

From outside and more than likely from

that window, sir.

Keep off the floor, Thor. Yes, sir.

They're damn blurred, but looks like

they've been made by a man, too. Afraid

that won't help you very much, sir. Why

not? Well, nowadays it's stylish for a

lady to wear a man's shoe. I'm referring

naturally to the golf course. Well,

that's obviously. Yes. Quite.

It's mad. Oh, nothing, sir. It's just

that doesn't it strike you like there's

something funny in this

room?

Funny? Huh? Don't rightly know, sir.

It's like a sensation. Know what I mean?

What do you call it? An intuition. Sir

like uh like there's something that's

different now from what it

was. Oh well, natur the windows open.

Uh

probably do keep a clearhead Thorp.

[Music]

[Music]

Barbara, wait.

What's the matter, George? I got to talk

to you right away. Not now. It's

terribly important, my little cousin.

What's it all about?

Not here. Somewhere quiet. Somewhere no

one can hear us. Barbara, don't you

trust me?

I trust you, George. I have to trust

somebody. Otherwise, I'll go out of my

mind. It's terribly important.

Meet me in 10 minutes down at this

table. Nobody ever goes there.

Okay.

Oh,

Barbara, mind you don't say anything to

the

inspector? It's in the interests of the

family. Yes. Yes, sir. I know they're

one of the leading families in the land,

and up till now, I've used all possible

tact discretion. But if they go on lying

and covering up for each other like a

bunch of thieving gypsies, then I'll

lock up the lot of them. Sir.

Well, if it's not asking too much,

explain what you're standing there like

a stuffed dummy. Thorp. Wake up, man.

Oh,

sorry. I got it. And yet, I can't

explain the meaning. Uh, like, I mean,

why am I hearing a noise going on and

around in my head, sir? Like a buzzing

bee that's trying to tell me something.

What do you have in your head, Thor? a

brain or a bloody beehive. Do you think

that with four murders to solve, I've

got time to stop worrying about your

damned buzzing noises, you hobnail

country yoke old bunkin?

[Music]

Last night, I only went out of my room

to give Pauline the receipt for the

photographs Ted asked me to have

developed.

The receipt for the photographs Ted

asked me to have

developed. To give Pauline the receipt

for the photographs Ted asked me to have

developed. To have

developicious. No, no, no. I don't want

Scotland Yard. Would you put the call on

through to Reggie? Reggie the

photographer. Mhm. Reggie, this is

Thorp. I got a little thing here. I

believe there's some pictures you were

developing for the Carters and the

receipts made out for out to Ted Cons.

Tell me, uh, is there a chance I mean,

you probably took a look at those

photos, right? Right. Right. Oh,

nobody's there. Just pictures that got

to do with the

estate. Huh? But listen, can you explain

what about a

clock? A clock and a pistol? Funnier.

Listen, Reggie, would you mind very much

bringing me over them photos? Huh? You

gave that to Ted

C. You

did? No. No. No. No. Would you repeat

that? Ted

Collins? It's not that I doubt your

word, Reggie. But do you know Ted

Collins? Oh, I thought Listen, Reggie,

could you kindly describe him? I mean,

give me me a description of this Ted

Collins. Yeah. Oh, I know the fellow

right now. Thanks a lot,

Reggie. So, a

clock and a pistol

[Music]

now. Pardon?

Heat. Heat.

[Music]

Hey. Hey, you two there. It's me, Thorp.

Come on up right away and you might get

the others.

Oh, please take a seat, everyone. I

mean, there's no sense standing around

now, is there? Uh, your lady should put

George together then.

What's the meaning of this? What the

devil's going on, Thorp? Nothing, sir.

Nothing, sir. before noon. Not a

blooming thing. Not before 12.

I

Hey, that clock's working. Exactly, sir.

That's what I too kept marveling at.

It's not supposed to be ticking, and yet

it's ticking. Strange if no one's been

in here for over a month. Oh, so there

are ghosts here in the old family home,

too. The devil in this ain't no fantasm,

mil. All

right.

Cuz it's somebody in here that wants all

of Sir Henry's money, every ruddy coin.

What are you trying to do, Sergeant?

Would you mind very much if I pick the

murderer

out? Or would you prefer to do it, sir?

No, no, no. You carry on, Sergeant. If

you make a mistake, I'll correct you.

Well, thank you, sir.

So according to you, one of us here is

the guilty

party. You realize, I hope, Sergeant,

the seriousness of what you're saying,

Lady

Campbell, offending your sensitivities

ain't nearly as serious as committing

four killings, don't you think? Even if

two of them were not foreseen in the

murderous plan. Which two, Paul? Huh?

Well, of course to you it's obvious I'm

talking about Ted Collins and Pauline,

sir. Yes. Ted Collins, sir, would

managed to find out who shot at cousin

Barbara. But thanks to a photo, he had

it all figured out. Mhm. But the

murderer got to him first and then also

killed his wife for fear that she knew

too much. Do you think he was going to

use that photograph for blackmailing?

You're asking for my opinion. You've

definitely missed your vocation. should

have been on the stage. Romeo and

Juliet, I should think is suited to your

temperament, Sergeant. Sergeant Thor in

a story of love. Oh, lovely. You really

hit the night on the edge.

Yeah. But there is an

actor and of great

emotion in a story of murder

and and love.

What does all this charade mean,

Sergeant Thorp? It means that uh I could

tell you it was the killer and the way

it happened and

all, but I'd still have to prove it.

It's a matter of seconds. No, the killer

knows that I

know. You might call it a battle of

nerves.

But I've got the murderer truly

petrified

now. I'm really very sorry, sir,

but you've got about a 30 second margin.

What does that mean, Sergeant? I I don't

understand.

Look

Oh, father chthorp. With your

permission, sir, a telescope.

Oh, the

weapon. Clever, eh, inspector. Another

stretch of wire. Wire, wire, wire, wire,

wire, wire. And the journey ends inside

the clock. No.

My god, I've got it. Oh,

congratulations, sir. Thank you. You

can't fool now, George. I know you

picked up them photos, passing yourself

off as Ted

Collins. You're not covering up for no

one now. So out with them photos, lad.

So that's it. Because of those photos,

huh, Georgie? Isn't that the reason you

called me outside just now? Yes, that's

right. And I know what you'd given me to

thank me. How did you come into

possession of this photo?

Pauline gave her the receipt from the

chemist

shop. It was at night and she was

frightened. She didn't want to be

alone. But I left her because I was too

afraid of mommy. George, how could you?

Oh, why could you? Old vicious [ __ ]

butt.

Uh, Miss Barbara, since there had to be

a second will, whatever became of it,

did you destroy it? What second will,

Sergeant? Well, there had to be a

particular motive for the murder of the

butler before the opening of the first

will. Obviously, he witnessed the later

will. Isn't that right?

Yes. Uncle Henry made a new will few

hours before he died. Mhm. It'd be a

thieving, miserable trumpet.

Well, there's no point in shouting. I

doubt the second will got you anything

better. So, who was to inherit it all? I

think Isabelle.

Isabelle. She'd always been in my way.

She always cut me off from everything.

The inheritance. Anthony. Me. You didn't

kill her for that. I killed her for you.

Anthony for us. Great stuff, little

cousin.

What was a good lawyer in the old

balance of the mind disturbed bit? You

should be back in circulation in about

10 years.

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

Well,

Thorp, this Carter case has been quite

tricky. Yeah, it's quite

tricky. And I we sorted them out, eh?

And I must say, you've been quite a help

to me. Oh, I didn't do very much really.

Oh, no. What's fair is fair. And don't

worry, I won't forget to mention you in

my report. I say, I don't suppose you'd

care to have me transfer you to London,

Scotland Yard with me.

You're not bantering, sir. No, I mean, I

thought I thought I belonged in a barn.

Just thinking of London, sir, is

frightening.

Couldn't resist one last joke. Eh, very

funny. Oh, yeah. All right, lad. Come

on. On your

feet. If I may, sir. What if he's not

joking? What do you mean? Supposeding he

really is dead.

You're the expert, Thorp. How fast can

we get the hell out of here? London's 2

hours by drain, sir. Right. Carry on,

Thorp.

[Music]

Heat.

Heat. Heat.

[Music]

[Applause]

Heat. Heat. Heat.

[Music]