Original subtitles

(upbeat music)

(instrumental music)

[Dennis] Most people would trade San Francisco

for heaven and call it an even swap.

If heaven would throw in a couple of outfielders

and 20,000 cash.

You don't get much argument,

but down on the waterfront it's a little tougher to prove.

The embarkadero's on the west side of the bay,

and the piers stretch out different sizes

like straws on an old broom.

The piers start from south of the ferry building,

and stagger clear past the China docks,

and hide somewhere out of sight.

Pier 23, that's where I come in.

Me, Denny O'Brien.

I rent out boats and do anything else

that means long odds and short hours.

My sideline's trouble.

But as long as I get paid I can't be responsible

for the guys who hire me.

Anyhow it's a way to make a living,

and if you never save enough to get married

at least you've got enough to leave town on.

Down at the waterfront everything's

as hard to peddle as secondhand toothbrush.

And a set of moral won't cause any more stir

than Mother's Day in an orphanage.

Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco's own.

And if you love seafood this is paradise.

Market Street, this is the hub.

I always get the latest edition of the paper.

Yes sir, this town's really got some good points.

Oh, there's the Opera for instance,

and the presidio.

I'm a pigeon for an auction sale.

They draw me like hoppy pulls the kids.

I needed to buy things like Eisenhower needed more medals.

One for grinding meat, and the regular batter mixer.

Now, who'll start the bidding off

with a substantial bid of, say, $5?

Do I hear $5? $5.

$5, thank you very much, I've got 5, 5, 5, 5,

I want to hear 10, I've got 5 and I want to hear 10-

- $10.

10, thank you very much, madam.

I've got $10, who'll say $15? $15.

I've got $15, thank you very much.

I've got $15 now, do I hear $20?

[Woman] $20.

[Auctioneer] $20, thank you very much, $20.

I'm up to $20... $22.50, thank you very much sir.

We're up to $22.50, do I hear $25?

[Woman 2] $25.

[Auctioneer] $25 thank you very much madam.

Mind if I sit down?

They're your legs lady, if they're tired rest them.

Thanks, you didn't seem to mind the view from over there.

As a matter of fact it was better from over there.

Oh, no, you're not leaving.

Please don't go, stay.

If I stay, will it make you proud?

Well I want you to do me a favor.

It's a small one, there won't be any trouble.

That's too bad, I like trouble.

They're going to auction off

a black leather suitcase in a few minutes.

It belongs to me and I must have it back.

Will you bid for me?

You speak the language, bid on it yourself.

I can't, there are good reasons, believe me.

If you'll bid for me I'll give you $50 for yourself.

You hired yourself a bidder, how high do I go?

Top every bid, I want that suitcase at any price.

And now, ladies and gentlemen,

the next item of special interest

in fact I wish I could afford to bid for it myself.

This is it.

Is this fine black leather suitcase.

Why the leather alone is worth

at least $25, and it's hand made.

Now, I've got a secret to tell you,

this little suitcase is locked

and we don't have the key, there's no telling

what you're going to find inside.

Now who's got sporting blood?

[Man] Two bucks.

Two dollars, why that's an insult.

Why, the leather alone is worth

more than $25, who'll say $15?

Do I hear another bid?

$10.

[Auctioneer] Ten, the man says, that's more like it,

who'll give $25?

I've heard 10, 10, 10, who'll give $25?

Start pitching for our team, mister.

$25.

Twenty-five dollars, 25, who'll say $50?

$50.

[Auctioneer] Now we're getting somewhere,

this is action, the gentleman bids $50.

Double it.

$100.

[Auctioneer] The man in the back row bids $100.

Now who'll give $200, come on, folks lets get with it.

$200.

Pretty good competition, lady.

I've got you, keep bidding.

$300.

$500.

That suitcase must be filled with gold.

It is.

[Auctioneer] That's what we like to hear, action.

$700.

$800.

$800, I've got $800 the bid is $800.

I want $1,000, don't give up now mister.

I've got $800, who'll say $1,000?

Can you take it off your income tax?

You make the noises, I'll juggle the figures.

$1,000.

$1,000 ladies and gentlemen.

$1,000, who'll say $1,500, I've got $1,000

who'll say $1,500 now?

Alright, ladies and gentlemen, $1,000.

For the first time, $1,000, alright,

for the second time $1,000.

For the third and last time, $1,000.

Sold to the gentlemen in the rear of the house

for $1,000 you step right up and claim your suitcase.

Here's the money, you go get the suitcase, hurry back.

Sure.

Look, don't let him open it.

Whatever you do, don't let him open it.

It's your party.

Okay, thanks.

[Auctioneer] Thank you sir, if you just

sign your name right there the suitcase is yours.

By the way, I've got a little bunch of keys here.

What say we open up the suitcase

and show the folks what's inside.

Just one of my relatives.

Oh, thank you very much sir.

And now, ladies and gentlemen,

just to stimulate the bidding a little bit

I'm going to step off and bring on a brand new item.

Hey, pop, where's the girl?

The blonde with the dark glasses?

It's a jail term, son, I don't follow them home anymore.

Look, she was here just a minute ago.

You must have seen her leave.

Nope.

She had to go right by you to get out.

Come on, think, pop.

Hm, no son, not when you get to be my age.

[Dennis Voice Over] Well, the blonde was gone.

I felt kind of silly, the same way you do

when you're being fitting for new shoes

and discover you've got a hole in your sock.

I expected to find anything from a bunch

of telephone books to gold bricks.

But what could I do with this thing?

I wondered why that guy was bidding against me.

And what happened to the girl who

paid a thousand bucks for a horn.

For a thousand bucks you can buy

a whole brass section.

Does the little boy blue want to blow his horn?

You looking for talent or did you

drift into the wrong dressing room?

I'm just looking for a smart boy.

My name's O'Brien, you could be right.

I'm the guy you left behind at the auction.

I know.

Now that you've made yourself at home,

let's get acquainted.

What's your name?

Dunlap, Larry Dunlap.

Now trot out the girl who was coaching you.

Sorry, I'm no Houdini.

I wasn't any part of her disappearing act.

I don't even know her name.

I'll make it easy for you, her name's Claire Underwood.

I wouldn't trust her unless I found her

dead in the cemetery.

Yeah?

What do you want from me?

I'll take the suitcase you bought at the auction.

You know, apart from the fact

that you didn't find any welcome mat outside,

I paid a thousand bucks of somebody else's money

for that suitcase, which according to the law

gives them title to it.

Do you want me to repeat that in words with one syllable?

Look, O'Brien, I didn't come here

to listen to a lot of lip, that sax happens to belong to me.

You ought to take better care of your toys.

Going to give it to me or shall I start hunting?

You better get yourself a hunting license.

That sax can't be all that important.

It is to me, maybe I want to start a hot shop.

I think I'll hang onto it for my client.

We've still got some unfinished business together.

I'll double whatever she promised you.

A thousand bu... fifty bucks.

Just double your salary, huh?

A hundred bucks, okay?

Pay as you enter.

I pay on delivery.

(crash)

(dramatic music)

[Dennis Voice Over] When I started coming to

my head felt the size of a social worker's heart.

But I was enjoying the pretty pictures

until I saw that badge, and the puss

of Inspector Bruger of San Francisco homicide.

Making a wish, O'Brien?

Well if I am it didn't come true, you're still here.

Oww, I think my hip's crushed

the bullets are sticking through the skin.

Broken bones, junk.

Junk, he says, my favorite English bride.

Alright, Kelly, wait for me outside.

What are you collecting?

Alibis, what's yours for last night at 12 o'clock?

Depends on what night this is.

This isn't night, the sun's shining and its Thursday.

I was in bed.

You got a witness?

No, I...

How about the guy you bought that suitcase from?

Tell me more.

The auctioneer, Cole, says the $1,000 bucks

you gave him got homesick and left.

He says somebody robbed him before

he had a chance to count it good.

What's your story?

Well why does Cole think I'm an Indian giver?

He says you paid him a return visit

and helped yourself to the thousand bucks.

Let's have the pitch.

Well that's a wild one, Bruger.

You see, I was forced to do this dame a favor.

I bet you force easy.

Well as a matter of fact I was

bidding on a suitcase for her at an auction

and while I was up paying, and signing for the suitcase

she took a run.

Oh, thank you.

You've got a very active memory.

Can you think of her name?

Sure, Claire Underwood.

Hunt her down and see what it gets you.

What's her connection with Charlie Beebee?

What's a Charlie Beebee?

He was a musician, somebody shot him dead.

Never heard of him.

Maybe you just heard of his instrument.

Oh, let me guess it was a saxophone, huh?

You know, Bruger, I don't get this.

You covered an awful lot of territory.

A murder I can understand, but a robbery.

Robbery detail gets us Cobb and Cole,

about somebody holding him up for

a thousand bucks they paid for a suitcase

with a saxophone in it.

So they trace the saxophone and find out

it's Charlie Beebee's, they know I'm on

the Beebee case and they tip me off.

Simple, huh?

Yeah, too simple.

I think that saxophone is connected with the murder.

Where is it?

I don't know, a torpedo named Larry Dunlap

walked in and sapped me for it.

Yeah?

How hard did he sap you, O'Brien?

Hard enough, why?

Because there's blood on the carpet here.

It can't be yours, you don't have any.

How'd it get here?

Why, I don't know, maybe somebody

got lost and figured this was a blood bank.

Or maybe they thought it was a morgue

and left a body, I'll look around.

Oh, look under the carpet maybe it was a little guy.

Okay, O'Brien, I'm not taking you in yet.

But if there's blood, there must be a body.

It'll show, and when it does we'll

turn it in for yours.

You'll have to stand on your head

to pin this one on me.

Maybe I will.

Shouldn't be too hard for you with that square head.

[Dennis Voice Over] There was a line of question marks

doing a time step in my foggy brain.

Why did that lug Dunlap slug me?

Who left blood on my rug as a deposit?

How come a brass horn would bring a thousand bucks?

Maybe that sax was solid gold after all, huh?

That babe must have known what was in the suitcase,

why make a red cap of me?

And where's my fifty buck tip?

I better talk to my roommate, ex-professor

Frederick Simpson Shicker, ex because he found

glasses more inspiring than classes.

Provided the glasses had one of the three fates in them.

Scotch, rye, or bourbon.

Oh, Professor, you're an angel from heaven,

I was just going out to look for you.

I have the instinct of the homing pigeon my boy.

You must have mislaid that instinct last night,

where were you?

Do I question your whereabouts?

On the unfortunate discovery that I

had run out of funds occassioned

my return at the moment, as you know

the soulless minions of commerce demand cash on the line.

And you know, my boy, I had five dollars

stashed here somewhere.

Yeah, well, forget it for now.

We got trouble.

What is the nature of your trouble, Dennis?

Well, a flashy dame named Claire Underwood

caught up with me at Cole's auction place and...

[Dennis Voice Over] After I left the professor,

I ran over my leads, you could have

counted them on one finger and you'd still have to cheat.

I decided the first guy to look up was the auctioneer.

Where closed until tonight's sale, mister.

I told you we're closed right now,

but if there's anything I can do for you.

You can tell me a straight story,

the one you told the police to get them

polishing up the electric chair for me.

You're the guy that bought the black suitcase.

You got a good memory, how good is it for robbery?

Well, it was dark outside, someone hit me from behind.

I thought it was you, when I come to

a thousand bucks was missing, so I called the cops.

Well after all, you guys went off your rocker

with that bidding, I never figured you'd go that high.

So when I found that even grand was missing,

I figured maybe you wanted your dough back.

Your story started fast, but you're fading in the stretch.

Another thing, just a little mistake,

but that dough wasn't mine.

That a gun in your pocket?

If it'll make you talk about that suitcase I'll say yes.

Well I don't know what you mean.

I told you you were taking a chance

when I put that suitcase up for sale, remember?

I got to make a living.

You don't have to crowd the mint.

Now look, just what is it about that suitcase

that gives it a thousand dollar price tag?

I don't know, I tell you, I don't know a thing.

You're lying.

Well it was just a suitcase,

another suitcase with a sax in it.

So you knew what was in it all the time.

Well a guy's got to live.

That's a matter of opinion.

Go ahead.

Well, it was a nice sax, I know something

about musical instruments and this one

was one in ten thousand so I called a friend of mine,

a hotshot musician, I thought he might be interested.

What's the friend's name.

Becker, Becker, yeah Bud Becker,

he plays the tenor sax down at the Downbeat club.

I sold him the whole works for $200.

That sax was something real special, huh?

Yeah, you should have held out for more dough.

Look, Becker's a friend of mine

on my wife's side, you wouldn't hurt him, would you?

I mean, I...

Stop stuttering, you'll give your kids a complex.

(jazz music)

[Dennis Voice Over] The sax player I wanted to see

was out friend blowing his brains out,

so I went back to the dressing room

where the musicians grabbed their second wind

with a short one.

Hello, Denny, you don't look angry.

It's the scenery, what are you bidding on here?

Take a guess.

Alright, I'll guess you killed Charlie Beebee

for a saxophone.

Guess again, why would I kill anyone

for a saxophone?

You tell me why it was worth a thousand dollars

and I'll answer your question.

Alright, Denny, maybe I'm sentimental.

Charlie Beebee was my boyfriend,

and I wanted to keep his sax as a memory.

Must have been quite a memory.

You didn't meet Charlie.

No, but I met Larry Dunlap, he wants the sax too, why?

How should I know, maybe he's taking lessons.

Please, Denny, if you just leave now I promise you

I'll give you double what I owe you from the auction.

Not enough, count up your bills, lady,

and tell me how much a murder rap's worth.

We can haggle about that later,

meet me at the Ajax Hotel and I promise you

you'll get a better figure.

You going to add some interest.

The music stopped, Denny.

So what, we're not dancing.

I know, but you're hurting me.

Start telling me about a sax.

I told you, I've got to see Becker first.

Then I'll tell you everything.

After you talk him out of his horn?

Yes, is it a deal?

You're too anxious to sign.

But it's a deal.

Beer, professor?

A refill, Henry, prepared with

your incomparable mastery which

transfused the vilest of rot into

nectar fit for the gods.

Them big words get me, professor.

They sure sound nice.

But from there on they're past me.

Now, you want a refill is that it?

Your capacity for lucid deduction

uplifts my soul, Henry.

Oh, Dennis, you're a welcome sight.

Why the table, did you fall off the bar?

I paused here for but a moment of susis, sir.

A drink for Mr. O'Brien, Henry.

One like his, mister?

Not like anybody's, skip it.

Skip it?

He is a mundane soul, humor him Henry.

Bring it to me instead, bring the bottle.

Yes, sir.

[Dennis] Well, Shickle?

First communicae meager, but not totally unsuccessful.

It seems the Underwood filly has done time.

[Dennis] Yeah?

Six months I believe, for shoplifting.

But it's rumored that upon emerging

from her incarceration she was destined

if not for better things, at least bigger.

[Dennis] Uh huh, proceed.

Well, your Mr. Dunlap had a predilection

for merchandise, best described in the polities

of the half world as hot.

What about Beebee?

The late lamented Mr. Beebee

was a society musician, in demand at coming outs,

receptions, and the like, tis rumored that

his worst crimes were in the cause of music

with his saxophone.

A society side man, a shoplifter, and a fence.

That's a cozy little trio.

Yes, Dennis, but what does it all add up to?

A headache, well I've got a date,

you go on down to headquarters,

if Sargent Riley's on the desk

you might get a lead from him, call me later.

I'll do that, Dennis.

And, professor, go easy on the lemonade, huh?

Oh, I've given it up, my boy.

(instrumental music)

[Dennis Voice Over] There wasn't much I could do

except wait for Claire to show at her hotel.

The clerk told me Claire hadn't come home yet,

but for five bucks he could tell I was a friend

and he gave me her key.

I cased the joint and everything was gone

from the closet but the moth balls.

Can I come in, O'Brien?

You're a big boy now, Dunlap, make up your own mind.

Where's Claire?

You're early, I guess she's still busy.

I'll wait.

May be a long wait, I'm not going to hang around.

The fun's just beginning, sit down.

I guess I am tired.

Yeah, this heater makes everybody drowsy.

Now what are your connections with Claire?

What are you doing, writing a gossip column?

No, the obituary, and you're going

to make the morning deadline.

You're too cocky, Dunlap.

Better not turn your back, or did you already?

Yeah, on Claire.

Her aim was bad, the best she could do

was wing me.

So it was your blood that ruined my carpet.

Listen, when they pass the hat

for your funeral, I'm going to be generous.

In the meantime, you just stay put

till Claire gets here with the saxophone.

I hope she's got plenty of groceries

in the icebox, because if you're going to wait here

until you get that saxophone we'll both die of starvation.

She's not going to show.

What makes you a prophet?

A guy named Bud Becker.

He had the sax last, she was warming up

an argument with him.

Keep spouting, what are the rest of her plans?

Well now she was warm, but she wasn't

sending up smoke signals.

Oh, we've got company.

Hey, what's this, aren't you in the wrong room?

Claire said...

Are you Becker?

Yeah, Bud Becker.

Claire said for you to come up here

and wait for her, didn't she?

She said she'd be along after a little bit,

and you two would spend a comfortable

evening alone together, huh?

How'd you know?

I mean she said to come here, she said to wait for her.

Look, fella, cut the lip, just tell me where you left her.

She, she was at the DownBeat club.

I don't feel so good.

She just said to meet her here.

I feel kind of woozy, I guess I gave

the new sax too big a ride tonight.

The one you bought from Cole?

Yeah, yeah, what a sweetheart.

You know, you look all your life for a horn like that

and then all of a sudden, zoom, you see it.

What did Claire want tonight?

She wanted to buy it.

But can you see high fitz peddling his strad?

You know, after I played that thing just once

gee it'd kill me to give it up.

I feel sick, I'm going to go home.

You'll never make it on your knees, what's the matter?

I don't know, I guess somebody

must have slipped me something.

(dramatic music)

Wasn't one of us, kid, be sure

and give your two weeks notice.

You on a spree, O'Brien?

Yeah, with your foot in the bell.

Who's your friend?

He's nobody's friend now.

He name was Bud Becker, he was a musician

at the DownBeat club.

And his wallet's empty, how long you been here?

Just long enough to catch the last act.

This is Bruger, give me homicide.

Hello, I got a customer for the doc here.

Send the wagon to the Ajax Hotel.

Yeah, and I want a lab report fast.

I tail a guy named Dunlap here

and I find you and a dead body.

I think he's been poisoned.

Well don't look at me, talk to Claire Underwood.

What about?

Well I left her at the DownBeat club,

she was warming up an argument

with him about his sax.

Did she get it?

I don't know, but if she didn't.

Dunlap's wasting man hours.

He just left here and I got an idea she's on his list.

Yeah, and I'm about to get an idea myself.

Is it her?

I think you and that Underwood dame

are running some kind of racket.

She left you behind to front for her.

(laughter)

You haven't seen her, Bruger,

she doesn't need that kind of help.

Alright, big shot, you can be on your way.

But don't think you're in the clear.

I think you're in this up to your ears

and I'll go a long way to get you.

A long way.

I'll be around.

(phone rings)

Hello?

Yeah, Shick, I just walked in.

Aw, Dennis, I've been trying to get you.

You were right about the cozy little trio.

Only you didn't know how cozy.

[Dennis] Okay, enlighten me.

Uh, the late Mr. Beebee and the girl

were good friends, but Mr. Beebee was

in the process of forming a mutually profitable

partnership with your Mr. Dunlap.

Including Ms. Underwood out.

Ah ha, and Ms. Underwood found out about it

and didn't like the idea, so she included herself in.

And Beebee...

Is forcibly assisted to his reward, shall we say.

[Dennis] With a thousand buck saxophone

playing the funeral march.

Uh, Riley tells me Bruger is greatly

agitated about you, Dennis, he thinks

you're planning a drastic step to evade justice.

Someone ordered a reservation on

the 2 AM plane to Mexico in the name of D. O'Brien.

I'm being jockeyed, professor.

It's either Claire or Dunlap, look,

I'm going to go out to the airport.

But I want you to do a quick job for me first.

A musician named Bud Becker kicked off

about an hour ago, now,

Bruger sent his body down to the morgue

for a lab report, I want you to see

if you can find out what that report was

and phone me back, yeah, I'll wait here for 10 minutes.

Alright, thanks.

(phone rings)

Yeah, what'd you find out?

The lab report shows Becker died of poisoning.

Alright, thanks, I'm going out to the airport

and see what I look like taking a plane for Mexico.

Bye.

[Dennis Voice Over] You could word it

any way you like, but the big riddle

was still that saxophone.

Claire had it, and Dunlap wanted it.

And a couple of guys had died for it.

Sorry I had to borrow your name, Denny.

You're too little for it, baby.

I've got a big ego, Denny, and this gun bolsters it.

Tell that to homicide, they'll take a nibble

out of either you or Dunlap.

Well, you better throw him Dunlap,

I've got a date in Mexico City.

It's a blind date, Claire, you're going

in the wrong direction.

Well, quite a bon voyage party.

Well Larry I thought you'd gone.

I want that case and the saxophone.

[Claire] You won't need this kind of music

where you're going, Larry.

If I go, you go with me, sweetheart.

Get out of my way...

Nice work, O'Brien, even if you did

let the girl get away.

I thought I'd give you a break, Bruger,

and let you nab one of them.

I knew you'd be waiting at the plane,

to put the handcuffs on me.

Now you flatter yourself, we've been

tailing Ms. Underwood ever since

we spotted her opening a safety deposit box at the bank.

Safety depo...

Well, sure, that's it, where's that sax?

You play requests, too?

Yeah, only nothing but Faust comes out.

The jewel song.

[Bruger] Wow, half a million dollars

worth of right answers.

[Professor] So that's why they wanted the intrument.

Sure.

Then what?

I think Claire and Beebee were operating as a team.

Jewel thieves, they stashed the stuff

in a box at the bank.

Did she kill Beebee?

[Dennis] I think so.

But what about the sax?

Well if you ask Claire real nice,

I think she'll tell you that it held the key

to the whole thing.

A key to a box full of pretty baubles.

But where does Becker fit in?

Well it's a funny thing, but he was

the only one who was interested in the horn

because it played pretty notes.

So he swapped it to Claire for a mickey.

That was one time that he really played

music that was out of this world.

Maybe your luck is changing, Dennis,

maybe you'll stick to renting boats for a while.

Well, maybe.

(knock)

Oh, company.

You're O'Brien aren't you?

It's too late to change now.

You've got a crummy layout filler.

If this is a tax estimate I'll agree with you.

Just an observation, your boats in any better condition?

They'll go as far as the gas will take them.

What's on your mind?

I want to rent one of them tonight.

The name's Spadely, Edgar Spadely.

Sounds like a cop.

Well that's close, I'm a private detective.

Yeah, what program?

I got a job I can't handle myself.

I thought maybe I could throw it your way.

Maybe you can, start throwing.

Does fifty bucks sound easy?

Not the way you say it.

Pitch me another one.

I want to hire you and your boat tonight.

I've got a client, a girl from Knob Hill.

I want you to take her out to a yacht party

this evening.

Is she lonely or slumming?

Don't be self-conscious O'Brien,

she just hates to go to parties alone.

If she's got money, she's got friends.

Let one of them take her.

It's a fast crowd, she wants somebody

who can keep her out of trouble.

What kind of trouble?

Strong liquor and strong men.

What's the matter, hasn't she got any willpower?

She hasn't proved it yet.

What's her name?

Vicky Jason, but if you get real friendly

you'll think up one of your own.

You'll never be out of a job, Spadely.

Where do I find her?

She'll find you, be at Pier 23, about 8:30.

What's the name of the boat?

It's called the Sea Breeze, anchored just north

of Goat Island, you got it?

Yeah, everything but the fifty bucks.

Yeah, here.

It's an easy fifty.

It's never easy, by the time you're through

it all earns hard.

Now stop beeping, wait till you see her.

There's a lot of guys that'd give

their right arm just to go out with her.

I'll bet if you set the deal, they did too.

Hey, professor.

Hello, Dennis, and goodbye.

I'm aware of your delicate condition,

but you'll have to pardon the intrusion.

What do you know about a private eye named Spadely?

Edgar Spadely?

Yeah, that's him, what about him?

Never heard of him.

He's a con-finesse man, who parasites

on a dozen illicit enterprises.

Commonly known as rackets.

Yeah, I was afraid of that.

What's your connection with him?

Oh, I made a little deal with him.

Take some dame off his hands for a night.

Have you suddenly gone soft in the cerebral?

Taking a dame off the hands of Edgar Spadely

as you put it, is like starting a new political party

in the Kremlin.

Maybe I should have held out for a little more dough, huh?

Mmm.

[Dennis Voice Over] I could use the fifty bucks alright,

but it still doesn't look good.

It was like getting a crutch for a Christmas present.

(instrumental music)

Good evening, Mr. O'Brien.

That depends.

Yes, it does.

I don't understand this, where is everyone?

Surprised, aren't you?

Maybe we came a little bit early.

Maybe about a week too early, huh?

The invitation said tonight.

You believe me, don't you, Denny?

For fifty bucks, do I have to?

I would for less.

I believe you would.

Alright, stop pouting, as long as

we're going to be here alone we might

as well enjoy ourselves.

I'll mix us a drink.

Hey, fix me a story, what'd you drag me out here for?

You sound like a husband, Denny,

we just met.

Does that slow you down?

Just a little, but the drink will warm me up.

May I pour you one?

Sure.

Alright, Denny, say when.

You have your own ideas about that.

I'll work on them.

Look, lady, give me a hint.

What are we playing?

Don't be so reluctant, Denny.

Is there anything wrong with me?

What do your friends think?

They're usually crazy about me.

I'll bet.

You make me sound conceited.

Don't you like women?

Yeah.

Only I get my thrills from billboard.

That's just propaganda.

Come here and try some of the real thing.

Alright, what'll it lead to?

Does it matter now?

It matters later.

Then we'll worry later.

Try it again Denny, you started a little late anyway.

That's fine, hold it.

This will make a great picture,

the papers will eat it up.

I should have known.

What's the meaning of this?

Well, ask your husband, he thinks

it'll look good enough to win a divorce.

I'm sure of it darling, you're going

to lose everything this trip.

I'm cutting you off without a cent.

You forget alimony, darling.

Not with the evidence in this camera.

And I'll name your boyfriend as co-respondent.

Look, mister, I was framed in this thing.

Your wife and I aren't even friendly.

And that goes for all of us,

I know your kind, I know all about you O'Brien.

What did you do, write to my mother?

You'll be writing to the governor

if you don't leave now.

Okay, I'm leaving, excuse me.

You'll hear from me, O'Brien, you'll hear from me.

[Dennis] Alright, I'll hear from you.

You'll hear from me right away.

[Dennis] Tell me, Spadely, does he mean

I'll be hearing from him?

[Dennis Voice Over] I knew I had to see Jason

and square things with him.

The next morning I called his office

and found out he'd gone back out to his boat.

When I walked into the main cabin,

Jason was stretched out as dead as last year's love.

Hello, what are you looking for?

A way out.

Well, how'd you get on board?

I knew a termite, now it's your turn to lie.

I don't have to, I'm Sheila Bates,

Arnold Jason is my uncle.

Well you picked a good time to be relative.

What are you talking about?

Arnold Jason's dead.

Arnold dead, he couldn't be!

Does he sleep with his eyes open?

Then you killed him, didn't you?

I remember you now from that picture,

you're O'Brien aren't you?

You did it.

I can say yes to part of that.

You were in love with my aunt,

I heard all about it.

So you decided to get rid of Arnold.

Listen, sweetheart, I met your uncle once.

The only thing I had against him was your aunt.

Don't talk that way about my aunt.

She's a fine woman.

Sure, only your uncle complained.

They just didn't get along, that's all.

That's reason enough, maybe she shot him.

She wouldn't have!

A divorce is much easier.

Yeah, it's cheaper too.

Maybe she killed him for his money.

You're wrong again, Mr. O'Brien,

the will reads everything goes to me.

That takes her out, doesn't it?

Yeah, but it kind of puts you in.

You're building up a big lead.

Alright, we'll do it my way then.

Why don't you use your chin?

It's prettier than that gun.

It's softer too.

I found you with my uncle's body, Mr. O'Brien.

We'll let the police decide who looks guiltier.

I'm awfully sorry, darling, but I don't have time.

You know, you're kind of a tough family.

There, that's better, now I'll see you later.

I'll call the police, they'll get you.

You won't get far.

What makes you think I want to get far?

I'll just leave you here to cool off, bye.

Hello, O'Brien, how do you feel?

You want my temperature?

No, your confession, are you ready to talk

about Arnold Jason?

Nope.

I think we've got a sure thing this time, O'Brien.

We've got you tied down better

than a guy with eight kids.

You'd believe anything a girl told you, Bruger.

If it pinned you down to a murder I would.

Look, if you've got a case roll it out.

The guy was dead before I got there last night.

That's one man's opinion.

Why would I kill the guy?

To many women, too much whiskey,

how would I know?

I got hired to take a dame named Vicky Jason

to a yacht party last night.

I got paid fifty bucks for the job.

At that price I can do without love.

I don't know your problem, O'Brien,

but in the picture I saw you weren't talking

politics with the dame.

I got roped into that scene.

You even tied your own knot.

Look, I tell you I never saw the girl before.

I didn't even know she was married.

Sheila Bates had a better story.

Well she had more time to make it up.

Why don't you check on her and the will,

she gets all the dough.

I don't think she's the type.

Oh, Burger, you wouldn't know a plan

if it was sticking out of your lapel.

I tell you one of the Jason bunch tumbled the guy,

and they're using me for a patsy.

They'll be less scandal that way.

Yeah, and more noise.

Why don't you pick up a private eye

named Ed Spadely?

He conned me into the deal.

I should take the word of a shamus.

Alright then check on what time

Sheila Bates called homicide last night.

What does that give me?

A little sense, maybe.

At least you'll know what time

I was supposed to have killed the guy.

And if that checks with the time he died,

I'll give myself up.

Let's go downtown now, big shot.

You're a little slow in the morning, Bruger.

You can't take me down town.

Are you off your rocker?

Jason was killed three miles

out of your territory, you couldn't hold me

if you wanted to guess my weight.

Alright, smart boy, don't throw the book at me.

Tomorrow I'll make you eat the print.

I'll be around.

We'll put a tail on you, and when you make a slip

we'll pick you up.

Your guys couldn't catch a fly in a glue factory.

And you're safe if you can sprout wings.

[Dennis Voice Over] I knew after Bruger left,

I'd have to shift into high gear.

There were lots of questions floating around,

and there were no answers.

Why did Vicky Jason let homicide believe

I was the other love?

It didn't figure unless she was trying

to plant a motive on me for killing her husband.

Hello, professor, I was just thinking about you.

Hello, Dennis, I see you've emerged

from last night's adventure in a reasonably

whole condition.

Well I'm not so sure about that.

What happened?

I got mixed up in a divorce scandal.

Oh, I'm afraid I can't help you much there.

No, especially not since it turned into a murder rap.

Homicide's trying to pin it on me.

Oh, Brugle wasn't whimsical?

No, say, you remember that dame

I was to take off of Spadely's hands last night?

Well her name was Vicky Jason.

All I was supposed to do was to take her

out to a yacht party and watch her

have a good time.

Were you supposed to stop her or help her?

I never found out, when we got out there

nobody was on the yacht.

She went into a desert island routine.

Would you prefer to omit the rest?

Oh no, she gave me a big bear hug

and threw me a big fat kiss.

Then her husband and Spadely came barging in

with a camera.

Did you try to explain the situation to the husband?

Yeah, I went back this morning

to try to talk to him, he wouldn't listen.

He was dead.

Oh, I should have known.

Jason's niece, Sheila Bates came in

and found me with the body.

She's hollering murder, since she inherits all the dough.

She's got a loud voice.

She seems to have a motive.

I don't know about that, maybe so,

but my money's still on Vicky.

She told homicide I was her big moment.

Looks bad, Dennis.

Yeah, sounds like a family affair.

But I got a hunch that guy Spadely

is in for more than a fee.

Dennis, would you do something for me please?

Sure, Shicker, what?

Would you take out an insurance policy?

Somebody might need the dough.

Well I think you mean that.

I do, who's going to support me after you're gone?

(instrumental music)

Why, Mr. O'Brien I'm happy to see you.

Why, did you buy another gun?

I just called your shop, I want to talk to you.

Won't you come in please?

Ask me again, and I'll get the wrong idea.

Let's sit down, shall we?

I'm going to shock you, Mr. O'Brien.

I think you're innocent.

Should I say the same for you?

I mean, I don't think you killed my uncle Arnold.

Baby, I've been sold on myself for a long time.

I know, but I wasn't.

I was too fond of my aunt to believe it of her.

But now I think she killed Arnold.

Why, did she talk in her sleep?

No, Arnold talked in his diary.

I found Arnold's diary this morning.

I just got through reading it.

What did it say if it won't make you blush?

It was the last entry, Mr. O'Brien.

Arnold was afraid that Vicky was

going to hill him if he went through

with his divorce plans.

I just couldn't believe it at first.

It happens in the best of families.

The diary's up in my room.

I'll give it to you, but I want you

to make a promise first.

Oh, so you got a price too, huh?

Look lady, I'm pushing a murder rap.

I'll get what I want if I have to use my elbows.

I'll make it easier, I just want you to promise

you'll never tell Vicky how you got it.

Okay, you got a deal.

But you can't let me down, Mr. O'Brien.

Can I trust you?

On some things.

Go get the diary.

Alright, excuse me.

I'll save you the trouble, Sheila.

Vicky, you heard?

Enough, now get out of here.

I'll get out, and I won't be back.

[Dennis] She's got some ideas of her own.

And I've got one for homicide.

Wait a minute, Denny, you don't believe her do you?

What have I got to lose?

Me.

You're confused, lady, I like myself better.

That's not what I told the inspector.

I know, so stop quivering that lip

and get me that diary.

Let go of my arm, Denny.

I don't have a diary, Sheila made up the whole thing.

She was lying.

She sounded awfully sure, she must have

had a lot of practice, come on give.

Alright, Denny, throw your muscle around.

But it's not going to get you anywhere.

Alright, I'll let the boys down at homicide try.

You'll be sorry.

Now get out of here and leave me alone.

If that's what you want.

[Dennis Voice Over] The diary could have been

the real thing, but I knew if it fingered Vicky

she wouldn't give it up easy.

I told Inspector Bruger the story,

and mentioned the diary.

I could still hear him laughing.

It sounded like a bottle being rinsed out.

(instrumental music)

Hello, O'Brien, you look like

you got trouble.

I just made out a new will,

I'm leaving it all to you.

What do you want?

A couple of words, maybe.

Take a whole sentence, I'm friendly.

That's good, take your hand out of your coat then.

It's heartburn, O'Brien.

I never carry a gun, don't take those kind of cases.

What kind of a case was that

you roped me into last night.

Oh that one.

Yeah, you got a nice smile, Spadely.

Wonder how it would look without teeth.

Look, O'Brien, you're in business for yourself.

You know how it is, a buck's a buck.

And you don't care how you make it, huh?

Well let's not get moral, you don't fit the part.

I don't shape up as a patsy either.

I figured you needed the dough.

Arnold Jason hired me to plant

a correspondent with his wife,

and you were handy.

What's the matter with your own boys,

they out on strike?

Well it's a matter of type casting.

You look better than anybody else.

Especially for a murder rap, huh?

Oh, now look small time.

If I could figure out everything

I'd close shop and start telling fortunes.

You'll do better if you start telling me

about Vicky Jason.

I've already told you about her.

What do you want now, a pencil sketch?

She told homicide that I was her 16 candle lover, why?

Well let's not get big-headed,

she says the same thing about

all the guys she goes out with.

Okay, so I flatter easy, tell me something I don't know.

Why don't you ask her, why should I explain

for her bad taste?

Because maybe you were working together.

Because maybe you had a deal to knock Jason off

and make me the fall guy, so you wanted

to make your story good, you both told homicide

I did it for love.

That's a big statement my boy.

Maybe you better have some backing.

Maybe I've got some already.

Sheila Bates had a diary that said Vicky did it.

I agree, Vicky did it, but not with me.

All of a sudden it came to you, huh?

No, I've been mulling it over for quite a while.

But you know how it is when you're

dealing with a woman like Vicky.

No, tell me how is it.

Come on, what's your tie-in with it?

I got dealt in by the husband,

that's all I know.

I bet your files prove you're a liar.

I wouldn't go into those O'Brien,

that's not ethical.

Especially if Vicky's name's listed, huh?

I wouldn't let you do that with a search warrant.

(crash)

(dramatic music)

(phone rings)

Hello?

Hello, O'Brien, this is Bruger.

How'd you know I was here?

[Bruger] I've had you tailed, remember?

Oh, okay, so I'm here but I'm leaving.

Goodbye.

Don't hang up.

[Dennis] Oh, I know it's costing you a nickle.

It'll cost you more.

Things are beginning to shape up.

Alright get to the point.

I took your advice, father, that boat

is inside our zone, you're on the hook again.

Well you better change your bait.

Alright, we'll start with Vicky Jason.

I just spoke to her, she must have loved you a lot.

She wouldn't say yes for two hours.

But she finally broke down and confessed

that you killed her husband.

[Dennis] She's lying.

About her age maybe, but not about you.

Bruger, trade your brain in for a dry cell.

I told you before get ahold of that diary.

We listen to all tax payers, O'Brien,

we picked it up an hour ago.

Let me read you a passage from it.

You better be careful, this may be a party line.

I'll just read the last entry.

It says I'm going to trap Vicky with O'Brien tonight.

They say he's threatened to kill me.

I'm afraid something is going to happen.

And we both know what happened, O'Brien,

you tell me why.

Get hold of Jason's niece Sheila,

and tickle her for some answers.

I tell you that diary had a later entry in it.

It said Vicky was going to kill him.

That's a good story but it won't hold up.

Because the rest of the pages in that diary

have been torn out.

Now you stay right where you are,

I'm coming over after you.

[Dennis Voice Over] If I held still for homicide,

I'd have as much chance to make it out

as a barefoot boy in a basement full of glass.

What did you find out about Spadely?

It's a success story, he started at the bottom

but worked his way up to a window shade

and became a private detective.

Now he's engaged to devote more time

to keyholes than a locksmith.

How does he tie in with Vicky?

She and Spadely indulged in an adolescent romance

while in high school, but she's been

an old fashioned girl ever since.

Old fashioned?

Unfortunately she drank too many of them

with too many different men to suit her husband.

He was trying to get a divorce,

long before you were inveigled

into lending your involuntary aid.

Well what held up the proceedings?

Sheila, their niece, after losing her parents

several years ago she moved into the Jason's

who became very fond of her.

But she had her aunt's ideas.

Well, they weren't hereditary

because she's got some ideas of her own now.

She's been hollering that Vicky

killed her uncle Arnold.

Hm, Vicky must be a little deaf then.

She just filed a claim asking to be made Sheila's guardian.

Oh, now it begins to add up.

That way she can control the dough

that Jason left to Sheila.

Not quite, Sheila's old enough

to choose her own guardian, and she's turning down Vicky.

Who does she favor?

Spadely.

What, that's going to bring on some complications.

They'll all be legal, though,

she's eloping tonight with Spadely to Reno.

She's at his apartment now.

I think I'll join them.

(dramatic music)

Should I apologize for the intrusion?

We're just leaving, O'Brien.

Can I do anything for you on the way to the door?

Yeah, you can hesitate, we're going to stay a while.

Get out of the way, O'Brien.

Sure, as soon as you clear me with homicide.

I told you Vicky was your girl,

now use your head.

You used it the last time, now I can't

get you out of my mind.

[Spadely] Mail me a letter, come on Sheila.

I'll do that, I'll mail it care of the warden.

What's he talking about, Edgar?

A murder rap baby, and it's going to

be harder to duck than a handful of rice.

I'll go along with that, Dennis.

Vicky, what are you doing here?

Just what do you think, darling?

Well it's a little late, Sheila and I

have made up our minds.

Just like you made up those stories, huh?

Well you're not going to get away with it.

I'll tell Sheila everything.

[Spadely] Go ahead, tell her you shot your husband.

(smack)

Alright, break clean, no fighting.

You can't go with him, Sheila,

he's responsible for Arnold's death.

It was his idea from the beginning.

That's a lie, Vicky, you killed Arnold

because you wanted to be trustee of his will.

While you're talking, Vicky,

tell her you knew that Arnold was going

to divorce you, tell her why you had to kill him

so you could become her guardian.

I'll tell her you promised to marry me.

You're just saying that because you're jealous, Vicky.

You want to hurt me.

Not you, Sheila, just him.

He's not good enough for you.

You overrate me, we're in love,

and we're going to be married.

You heard her, Vicky, we're leaving.

Yes, you're leaving, but in different directions.

I'll swear that you killed Arnold with me.

Sheila put the gun away.

Listen to her, Vicky, you've already killed one man.

There's no ceiling on it, you ruin one life

and that's par for the course.

Give me a break, Vicky, let's make a deal.

I don't think so Edgar.

Stop where you are.

Vicky, I want you back, it'll be just you and me.

I mean it.

Say it again, Edgar.

I want Sheila to hear.

I want you back, Vicky, we'll take our chances together.

We already took them, and you lost.

Now wait a minute, Vicky, I'll take out

the marriage license and tear it up.

(gunshot)

Give up the gun now, lady, you won't need it.

I didn't think it would happen this way.

Don't worry, Vicky, where you're going

it won't happen again.

Take her in and book her, Kelly,

for the murder of her husband.

(crying)

Don't feel badly dear, things could be a lot worse.

You could have wound up married to that guy.

I'm going to take her home, Bruger, okay?

O'Brien, tell me what does a gal do

with a half million bucks?

I don't know, same thing she does with half a buck,

I suppose, only she looks better doing it.

(instrumental music)