Original subtitles

Thank you.

Yes.

Morning, Jenkins.

Yes, that's right.

The Lidoff Soho story is out.

Hmm? Oh, no. No.

We'll do a remake of the crooked gambling racket story.

Yes. And let's have some fresh stuff.

With the accent on the vice. How it works.

The, um... The facade that surrounds it.

The dirt behind the lace curtains angle.

Yes. Yes, that's the idea. Oh, and maybe have a layout on my desk first thing in

the morning.

Yes, Mr. Farrell? Mr. Carter there yet?

I know Mr. Farrell. He hasn't come in yet. Yes, I have. Oh, just a moment.

He's just arrived.

Tell him I want to see him.

Very good, Mr. Farrell.

Do you want me?

Of course.

You wanted to see me?

The Soho story is dead.

So I see.

We had no choice, Johnny.

What do you mean?

Until the police have finished their investigations, I'm discontinuing

Billy's series.

You're making a big mistake, Ken. Now, listen, Johnny, I'm in charge of this

magazine. I think I know what I'm doing.

How's your sister taking it?

How do you think she's taking it?

You know, Johnny, if there's anything we can do for the children, I mean...

There's one thing you can do.

You can dig that story out of the waste paper basket and give it to me to

finish. Now listen, Johnny.

You're not a crime reporter. I worked long enough with Billy. Stick to the

camera. There's nothing you or I can do to solve his murder. Well, somebody's

got to do something. Well, leave it to the police. It's their business.

Willington's in charge of the case. He's a friend of yours. He was a friend of

Billy's. He won't let the case die on his hands.

Well, I guess you're right, but I feel there's something I've got to do if you

just put me on the case.

Listen, Johnny.

Billy was a crime reporter for years.

He exposed any number of criminals in his time.

He could have been a crook who'd waited for years for a chance to pay off.

You don't believe that?

I don't believe anything.

Now, come on.

Let's get back to work. Okay, but I'm still going to find Billy's killer.

Johnny, you heard what I said. Drop it.

Billy died because he dug too deep into the Buxton murder.

I know how you feel and I appreciate what you want to do.

But as far as this magazine is concerned, that story is dead.

You understand?

Dead. So is my brother-in-law.

Mr.

Carter. Yeah. Those contact prints you asked me to get yesterday.

Yeah. You remember, you asked me to look them out.

Thank you very much.

Mr. Carter.

What you shouldn't upset yourself, sir Maybe you're right Gary. Maybe you're

right That stuff on the Buxton murder did you find it for me?

Well, oh, yes, mr. Carter get boy Small

clippings I got in the show business file. Thank you

Carrie

Can you think of a good reason why a guy like Mark Buxton would buy shares in a

club like the Silver Galleon?

I don't know, Mr. Carter.

Neither do I.

But I'm gonna find out.

You are?

Yes, I am.

You scared the wits out of me.

That wouldn't be hard.

I mean, I'm stupid.

To look at me twice, it'd have to be.

Look, Joanie, I've got to talk to you.

Oh, far away.

Mark Buxton was a partner in this club, wasn't he? Yes, why?

What was his angle?

Angle? Yeah, how come he got mixed up in a crummy joint like this? What do you

mean, crummy joint? I run this place. It's a nice, respectful place. Yeah,

yeah, yeah, sure, I know. It's a swell dump. But I thought your boss was a guy

by the name of Austin.

Yes, Austin lives in the flat upstairs.

Leaves everything down here to me.

Everything?

Did you ever meet this guy, Buxton?

Once or twice, yes.

Who did he used to come in here with?

How often?

I don't get it, Johnny.

Why all the questions?

Billy Peters was working on the Buxton case when he was murdered.

Billy was also my sister's husband.

Oh.

So you see, I've got to know.

I'm sorry, Johnny, I didn't realize.

All right, it's all right.

But I can't help you much.

Buxton did come in here for a drink occasionally.

Alone?

Usually, but... Now I come to think of it, he usually wound up with Ted Austin.

Thanks.

Austin, eh?

Johnny, must you get mixed up in this? Are you kidding?

It's for the police to deal with.

Leave it to them.

Don't you worry about me.

But I do.

With you and Peggy.

Peggy, your sister?

What's the matter?

The show and all that? I thought they were packing them in. What's the

trouble? I wish I knew.

She's worried about something. I do know that.

Probably some boyfriend.

Not Peggy.

She's not like me.

I can only pin it down to something that happened a couple of months ago.

It was the night Ted Austin drove her home.

Austin? When she got in, she was crying, and I asked her what was wrong and tried

to comfort her.

She flew into a rage and nearly bit my head off.

Nice, grateful little sister.

It's Peggy all over.

She always has been one for fighting her own battles. That's how she made the

grade in show business.

Since then?

Well, I can't put my finger on anything particularly.

You see, we don't really see much of each other apart on Sundays, even though

we do live together.

I'm pretty well tied down here at the club and she has the show, but... But

what? Well, since then she's been seeing Austin at least once a week.

Like that, huh? No, Johnny, not like that.

Austin isn't in her class, not even as a casual beau.

It's silly of me, I suppose, but I'm scared, Johnny.

Really scared.

You just leave it to me, honey.

What are you going to do?

See Austin.

It's that way, isn't it?

Be careful, Jim.

I'm always careful.

Very nice of you to see me, Mr. Austin.

I won't take up much of your time.

I'm interested in two deaths.

Mark Buxton's and Billy Peters.

He used to work in the same magazine as I do.

I'm told Buxton was a pal of yours.

Billy Peters was also my brother-in-law.

I've got a funny feeling these two deaths were connected.

I want to get to the bottom of it.

Mark Buxton, to start with.

Millionaire playboy.

Deauville, Longchamp, Monte Carlo, the south of France.

He got around all right. He even got himself into the glossy newspapers and

magazines.

Even got himself into ours.

With all his money, Café de Paris, Maxim's in Paris, the stork room.

He could have bought the lot.

I wonder why he was satisfied to settle for a few shares in a club like the

Silver Galleons, Mr. Austin.

Why?

Why, Mr. Austin?

What's it got to do with you?

Because this was a double murder.

I'm very interested.

How does that concern me?

Buxton was your partner, wasn't he?

So, he was my partner.

A millionaire has a whim.

I indulged it.

That doesn't give me control over his destiny.

No?

Look, Mr. Carter...

I don't know what you're getting at.

But so far as Buxton's death is concerned, I've told the police all I

know.

Oh, I know it's tough about this brother-in-law of yours, but so far as

I'm concerned, I never even met him.

I can't help you on that score.

I wonder.

Mr. Carter, I'm a very patient man.

I've been listening to you for the simple reason that I always listen to

people talking.

But I don't like your insinuations, that's pretty fine talk coming from a

big-time racketeer Get

out

Okay,

I'll get out but it doesn't finish there no no

Let me give you a word of advice.

You can stick your neck out just so far without getting it chopped.

Just remember that, Mr. Carter.

I'll remember.

I'll remember that and other things.

Oh, just a moment.

Here, Mr. Carter.

Hello? Carter?

Yeah, hello. Who's speaking?

Never mind.

I've got a message for you.

Okay, let me have it.

That's just what we will do if you keep poking your nose into other people's

affairs. Understand?

Trace this.

No, not exactly.

Why don't you give me a few more details?

People who don't mind their own business are liable to end up riding in a hearse

horizontally.

That's very interesting.

Why don't you tell me some more?

Just stop playing the big hero.

Do as I said. Keep your nose out of other people's business.

Hello?

Yes. Thank you.

O'Sullivan's Billiard Hall.

Hmm. What do you know?

Mike's place.

Heard it before, but it's still funny.

How are you, Paula, tonight? I hear the show's going very well.

Mm-hmm. Would you like another drink?

Okay.

Jerry, send a couple of doubles over to Jack, will you?

Certainly, madam.

How are you tonight?

Oh, Peter, nice to see you again. Very well.

Oh,

hey there.

Nice to see you again. Sit down, sit down, sit down.

Hi,

Johnny.

Why don't we look pretty tonight?

Wonder what we looked like first thing in the morning.

Why don't you find out?

Is that a proposal?

I'm strictly the conventional type.

That's what I was afraid of. Don't be afraid of it. Lots of people get

married.

Jerry, two brandies, please.

Boston,

huh?

This is where I get thrown out.

I doubt it.

That would be admitting he was afraid of you.

Could be.

Who's the dish?

Evelyn King.

One-time child heiress.

Bags of money and no brains.

Meow.

What's she doing with him?

Sporting that figure with drink, I hope.

Another sucker like your sister, huh?

You got any fresh ideas on the subject?

Yes, I followed Peggy home from the show one night.

She went to a nursing home.

A nursing home? Where is it?

It's in Collette Street.

Run by a Dr. Miller, I think.

I want to take a look at it.

Yes? Could I see Dr. Miller, please?

He's not in.

Well, maybe I could make an appointment. I think I got a null, sir. I'm sorry.

Dr. Miller isn't taking any fresh patients at the moment. Oh, but I'm a

sick man. I suggest that you consult your local doctor. He'll give you the

right treatment, I'm sure.

Good night.

Take it easy.

This gun's loaded.

What do you think you're doing here anyway?

Waiting for a bus, maybe?

All right, smart guy. Stop moving.

I'll take you to where you can wait in comfort.

The back of the house.

We've got a room you can have for the night. Red brain.

Move or I'll blow a hole in you.

Yeah, go ahead and do that.

You'll wake up the dead.

Say nothing of all the police in the district.

Thank you.

Commissars Lindsay and Fordyce, limited.

You've got me dressed.

In reply to yours at 16, we are interested in your new part of this

purpose.

Your representative, Corns, might be glad to discuss it in fuller detail.

Yours, sir.

Well, then.

Come in.

That'll be all for now, Miss Peresford.

Where have you been, Johnny?

I've been around.

Around isn't good enough.

I had an urgent assignment for you.

I'm sorry, where is it? I gave the details to Kerry.

Oh, fine.

Now, just a minute, Johnny.

I've been worrying about what you said the other day about Billy and the Buxton

case.

Let the police handle it, Johnny.

Yeah, sure.

That's fine.

Stick to your work and keep a level head.

I'm right with it.

Say, what was that assignment, Carrie?

Um, 3.30, Adria Hotel, Suite 418, Miss Brazil.

Who? Miss Brazil.

She's the runner-up in the Miss Universe contest.

They say her figure's just perfect.

Yeah, I know. 42 busts and a featherweight brain.

Carrie, do we have anything on a Miss Evelyn King?

Hey!

I don't know, Mr. Carter.

Well, look, be a good little girl, will you, and look it up for me? She's a

very, very rich socialite.

Well, go on, get with it.

Carrie?

You know how to work one of these things, don't you?

Yeah, sure. Remember when I took those pictures of you when you were sick?

Yeah.

Look, do you know where the Adria Hotel is?

I think so.

Down the back of them You see what's the place called? Yeah, that's it here now

Take this and go and point it at miss Brazil and then beat it back here. Will

you mr.

Carter? Look, it's nearly half-past. You want to get me fired?

Mr. Carter, I didn't know mr.

Carter. She dead and if you're not over the every hotel in five minutes, you're

out fire Mr.

Carter, hmm, you can still interview both miss Brazil and miss King if you

want What do you mean? Well, look. You see, she lives almost next door to the

Adria Hotel.

So she does, you clever little girl.

Thank you.

Miss Brazil? Yes.

I'm Johnny Carter, Weekly Illustrated.

Oh, come in.

Thank you very much.

They tell me you've been all over the world. Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore,

Rome, Paris.

Well, tell me, how does London match up?

London is beginning to look most interesting.

Yeah.

Well, if it's all right with you, I'd like to get started, Miss Brazil.

Oh, of course.

Let's get started.

I mean the pictures.

If you'd like to just stand over there by the flowers. Just take up a pose.

Make you feel comfortable and relaxed.

You just look at me.

Like this?

Right. Just a bit around.

That's better.

And your chin up just a little bit.

Let's have it. That's it. Okay. Hold that just like that. Fine.

That's fine. Now, if you'd like to go over to the chair there, please.

That's it. Wonderful.

Now, put your left arm on the arm of the chair. Your left hand. Yeah.

That's it. Okay.

Just around a bit.

That's it. And your left elbow down.

That's wonderful. Now, just chin up and look at me. Right up here. That's it.

Hold it.

That's fine. That's another one. Now, by that column behind you. Now, can you get

up near that column?

That's it. Right there.

Now... Just slightly the other side.

Yeah, and lean against the column.

Lean against it. Come around this way a bit more for me. I said, now hold it.

Okay.

Fine. Now how about just over by the flowers?

Take a nice relaxed pose over there.

Of course, turn around towards me. I said, now breathe out.

Ready? Okay, now breathe in.

Hold it.

That's fine.

Well, that's just about it. I'd like to wrap it up.

I have an idea.

A much better idea.

Why don't you have a drink? I'll be back in a moment.

Oh, uh... All right.

Like this, no?

Yeah.

Yeah, like that.

Hold it, will you?

You just hold that just like that.

Yeah, well, that's just about it. I've got to go now.

You're going so soon?

Well, yes, I've got an interview.

Interview? Well, I've got to talk to somebody.

Who wants to talk?

Yes, sir. I'd like to see Miss King, please.

I'm sorry, Miss King cannot be seen today.

She has a very bad migraine headache.

Oh, this is very important.

Maybe you will call back later, sir. Later's no good. I've got to see her

now. But, sir, she can't see no one.

You tell her I was sent by Mr. Ted Austin.

Come this way.

You wait here.

Thank you.

What do you want?

Money. But Austin said... What did he say?

That he wouldn't send anyone here.

Maybe he changed his mind.

How much?

A thousand.

What's it for?

It can't be for Dr. Miller.

No? Clothier and Austin said there'd be no more expenses until after the

convalescence. Oh, but that was... Here.

That was before the relapse.

Of course, if you don't want to pay.

No, no, wait.

Auster and that doctor are making a good thing out of this, aren't they?

Are you telling or asking?

This money I'm paying isn't all going towards Hunter's medical expenses.

He's a very sick man.

But it was an accident.

If Auster hadn't turned up when he did, I... You'd have what?

Gone to the police, I suppose.

Why didn't you?

You know as well as I do.

Hasn't he got enough from me? I've found all the cash I can.

Well, there's plenty of stuff you can sell.

And if I tell Austin and Mello you can go to the devil?

Try it.

Why, you cheap, dirty little crook!

I won't stand for any more of this.

I'll go to the police.

I'll expose you, all of you. I don't care what happens to me.

It'll be worth it just to get even with you, you stinking, blackmailing, slimy

little rat.

I won't take any more of it, do you hear? I won't, I won't.

Look, take it easy, honey.

I'm not really from Austin.

I'm a friend and I'd like to help.

My name's Carter. I'm from the Weekly Illustrated. Here.

Phone that number if you want proof.

I'm sorry about the double talk, but I had to know. There's...

A lot of people have been involved with Austin, and one of them was... Well, he

was a very close friend of mine, and he was killed.

Killed? Yeah, I am after him, too.

So far, I've only got a few of the pieces put together, but you can supply

the rest.

You want to help?

What do you want to know?

Just what happened. How did you get involved with Austin and this Dr.

Miller?

I don't know if I can... You better remember.

If not... If not what?

If not, the little scene we just acted might come true.

Austin will bleed you to death.

Can I fix you a drink?

Please.

This man, Hunter, what does he mean to you?

Nothing. It was an accident. Thank you.

All right, then tell me everything right from the beginning.

I'd been out one night, doing the rounds, looking for excitement.

We finished up in some bar. We?

My escort and I.

Silly young man about town. More money than sense.

Like me.

In this bar, we met Austin.

My friend knew him and introduced us.

He seemed pleasant enough and so we drank together for a while.

And then, suddenly my escort passed out.

Austin offered to drive me home, but I had my own car.

I remember getting into it.

And that's all.

And then?

The next thing I knew, I was in the country.

I was at the wheel of the car, and there was a man in the road, under the car,

moaning. He was covered in blood.

I didn't know what to do.

Then suddenly Austin turned up out of the blue.

He said he'd followed me to see if I was all right.

I'd said something about... Going for a drive in the country to get some fresh

air.

Followed me and come upon this.

Very convenient.

Yeah, I thought so at the time without realizing the consequences.

I was told to deal with the matter for me.

I was only too glad.

And then a week later he came to me.

Said the injured man had been taken to a nursing home.

Unfortunately, a press man had turned up at the scene of the accident and taken

pictures.

Also very convenient.

Of course, he showed you the prints.

That's right.

Unfortunately, Austin had managed to bribe the photographer to destroy the

plates. Yes.

And you've been paying for it ever since?

That's about it.

Huh?

Can I have one of your cigarettes?

Help yourself.

I'll have one, too.

This young friend of yours, is he in the racket, too? Oh, not Jack.

He's just a fool who drinks too much and gambles too heavily.

Thank you.

Sorry.

Yeah, I think I can guess the rest.

He's probably one of Austin's victims who's being blackmailed and supplying

him with a wider and richer clientele.

I don't understand.

Your meeting with Austin was no accident, you know.

Once your young friend had served his purpose, they doped his drink, he passed

out. Your drink got the same treatment with a slightly delayed action.

Just long enough to get you into the car, and then one of Austin's

accomplices drove you out into the country. They fixed the accident.

You've been paying for it. Yes, but Hunter, the man I hit, he's in a nursing

home, badly hurt.

Yeah, he's hurt, but you just take off those bandages. You won't find a

scratch. But Dr. Miller, the nursing home.

Nursing home might be legitimate, and Dr.

Miller too, but he's probably under Austin's thumb somehow or other. Anyway,

the whole thing smells of a frame-up to me. That settles it.

I'll not pay another penny.

Hey, now, wait a minute.

Well, you're not suggesting I go unpaying, are you?

I'm not suggesting anything. It's just a friendly warning.

Warning? Well, you don't suppose Austin's overlooked the possibility that

one of his clients would start talking, do you? So?

What can he do?

What can he do? He can kill you.

Kill me?

That's what I said. Kill you.

Oh, but it's unbelievable.

Well, he's done it twice before.

One was Mark Buxton. The other one was my brother-in-law who found out too

much. You better pack a bag and hide out somewhere.

But why should I run away?

Why can't I go to the police?

Go to the police and face a hit-and-run drunk driving charge? You said the

accident was fate.

Yeah, but where's your proof?

Now, you better leave this to me. I have a pal at Scotland Yard. I'll talk to him

and see what we can do. In the meantime, you do what I say.

I don't know.

I'll think about it. Don't think. Just go.

Perhaps.

Perhaps.

Well, nobody can say I haven't tried. You've got my card. Keep in touch and

don't do anything rash.

I've got to go now. If anything develops, I'll let you know.

Goodbye.

Johnny! Hi, honey.

Well, I need a drink.

Do you know where it is?

Yep.

Johnny? You want one?

No, I need one.

What do you know?

Somebody's watching me.

Who's he?

Search me.

What's he doing at your car?

Your guess is as good as mine.

I can't fit him in yet, but I'm pretty sure about the others.

Johnny, you're imagining things.

I think I know why Billy was killed. I think I know all about the trouble with

Peggy and Mark Buxton.

I think I even know how Ted Austin fits in.

Well, tell me, Johnny, how serious is the trouble Peggy's in?

Well... Yes, come on, Johnny, tell us. How serious is the trouble Peggy's in?

Peggy is in no trouble that can't be cured.

Cured?

Yes, that's what I said.

Cured. What's she been saying about me?

Peggy, I thought Johnny might be able to help you. Help me? What do you mean?

Do you know a guy by the name of Hunter?

Hunter? Maybe. I don't know.

Look, I'm going to tell you a story.

Tell me where I go wrong.

It all started with a car accident.

The same kind of accident that happened to Evelyn King.

If you don't hide out, they'll pay a little call on you. And it won't be just

a polite little social call either. They don't even stop at murder.

But how can I leave town, Johnny? I've got a show to think about. Yeah, I know,

I know. The show must go on and all that. But getting murdered is pretty

important too. You don't understand.

And neither do you. But Peggy, you've already explained about Austin

blackmailing you. It's exactly the same thing that happened to Evelyn King. I

can't understand how they made you sell their drugs.

Well, it's true.

But what could I do?

After the accident, I had a nervous breakdown.

You remember, Joe, when I said I was going away on tour?

Well, I wasn't on tour. I was in Dr. Miller's nursing home.

He treated me with drugs, and when I got out, Austin forced me to keep on selling

the stuff to my friends. Don't worry, don't worry. I've got an idea.

It's vital you keep out of sight for about 24 hours, somewhere nobody can

find you.

The best place to hide is right in the middle of a lot of publicity.

Hello? Ah, yes, put him through.

Johnny, I knew you would telephone.

My pictures, they're the goods, huh?

Yeah, you don't need pictures to prove that.

Look, you've got a pretty big apartment there, haven't you? You could put

somebody up for a night or so if you had to.

But of course, Johnny.

Only, unfortunately, I have to go to a press reception tonight.

Perhaps some other evening, huh?

No, no, look, enough is enough. This isn't for me. It's a girlfriend.

Oh, well, I don't know, Johnny.

Oh, come on, baby. She needs a bed.

Okay, then. Bring her around.

I'll wait for you.

But don't forget, I have to go out and I can't take her with me.

Okay, we'll be right over.

Come on, let's go. Austin will never think of looking for you there. But the

show... Never mind about that. You've got an understudy. But where are we

going? I must know where we're going. Leave that to me. Wait a minute. I must

take some clothes with me.

It's all right, Peggy. I've already packed a few things for you. Enough to

last for a little while. Come on, come on. Let's go.

You know the drill?

Yes, sure.

Just convince her in a nice way that it's bad to make threats.

Show them I'm not fooling around.

What about a gun?

Use your hands.

Just in case she's difficult to convince.

Okay. But be careful.

Hit the light.

You know, this is really thrilling.

I always thought that London was strictly a two-day tour. And what do I

get?

Blackmailed dope peddlers?

It's fabulous.

I just can't wait to get back home and tell everybody.

Well, as long as you wait till you do get back home, all right. But one word

till then and you'll be killing Peggy. Oh, I won't say a word.

I'm just glad to help.

Well, I really must be going now. There are a whole lot of newspaper men waiting

downstairs to meet me.

How about you, Johnny? Shouldn't you be there?

No, no, thank you. I've got all I needed earlier.

Well, goodbye.

See you later.

Much later if the party's any good.

All right, Peggy, you're perfectly safe in this apartment. I want you to take it

easy, relax, and get plenty of rest, okay?

Okay, fine.

Right.

Wait a minute.

Who's that?

It's me, Joan.

No.

What's going on up here? I got tired of waiting down there.

Everything fixed? It's okay, Joan. I'm going to stay here with Miss Brazil.

Oh, that's fine.

Well, I hope Evelyn King's as sensible as Peggy here.

I'd hate anything to happen to her now.

Well, surely she wouldn't be so foolish as to stay in town after what you told

her. I don't know. You know, she was spoiled very much and used to getting

her own way. She's very obstinate.

We'd better pay a call on her anyway.

Remember what I said?

Take it easy, relax, get some rest.

Okay. Bye-bye. Bye.

Taxi!

Why, Peggy, come in.

Isn't it rather late to call?

Ted, you've got to... Calm yourself, Peggy. Here, mix you a drink.

I don't want one.

Oh, please yourself.

Now, what is it?

Ted, you've got to let me off the hook.

What do you mean?

It's Johnny Carter.

He's going to find Billy Peter's murderer.

How does that affect us?

He knows about Evelyn King, about Hunter.

He knows I've been pushing the stuff for you.

Look, Ted, I've worked years to get where I am now. Ever since I was a

little girl, I've always wanted to be a star, to have an audience at my feet, to

be successful.

Well, I've made it now.

Please, please don't spoil it for me.

Very touching.

I can almost see the headline now.

Peggy Foster, musical comedy star, arrested on a dope charge.

You dazeline!

You frame me? That accident was a fake. I didn't hit anyone.

Well, well, well.

And what do you propose to do about it?

I've told you.

You've got me hooked.

There's nothing I can do.

That's where you're wrong, my dear.

You can do a lot.

This Johnny Carter knows all about the accident racket.

He knows you're pushing drugs for me.

What else does he know?

Well, what else does he know?

He said that Evelyn King and I were the only two that could give evidence to get

you convicted.

Well, I don't think Evelyn King will talk.

How about you?

If it's the last thing I do, I'll put you behind bars where you belong.

I think it's time you had another course of treatment.

What do you think, Peggy?

It's very odd.

Yeah, hold on there, will you?

All right, come on in.

Come on.

Better try and find a light somewhere.

You take a look around here.

I'll go in the bedroom.

Come on, it's all right.

Watch out.

Johnny, come here.

What is it? Look.

Come on.

She'll be all right.

Come on, help me.

Do what you can for her, will you? I want to get to her phone.

Here.

Hello, Scotland Yard.

Inspector Wellington, please.

He's not in.

Oh, I'll call back later.

Wellington's not in. He'll be back in about five minutes. I'll call him later

and tell him what happened.

Johnny, you're not going to leave me alone.

Look, she's going to be okay. Call a doctor, okay? Take care of her.

What's the matter, Mr. Hunter?

All alone?

No other patients?

Who the blazes are you?

And what do you want? I want to talk to you.

Looks like you made a pretty speedy recovery, huh?

No head wounds?

No abrasions?

I'm not going to talk to no one.

Except me, Hunter. You're going to talk to me.

How'd you get my name?

A mutual acquaintance of ours. She told me all about you.

Miss Peggy Foster.

Seems she ran over you in a car.

Yes, that's right. Nearly crippled me, she did. But look, I'm not supposed to

talk to you unless the doctor... And there was that brunette, Evelyn King.

She met with an accident, too. She ran you over.

You've had an awful lot of bad luck lately. Oh, I don't know anything about

an Evelyn King. What are you talking about? I'm talking about accidents.

It was Mark Buxton. He met with an accident, too, didn't he?

Look, what's the matter?

Don't you know the highway code?

It says look right, look left and look right again.

Get out of here.

I'm not talking. You're not what? I'm not talking. Do you want a bet?

Remember what we used to say in school?

This is going to hurt me more than it will you.

I hate doing this, Hunter.

But if I have to, I'm going to.

I want to know everything.

I want to know how you run the car accident racket.

I want to know who's involved and I want to know who killed Billy Peters.

Who? No, now.

Don't give me that, Hunter.

I want to know who killed Billy Peters, you understand?

Who killed Peters?

All right, all right.

I'll speak.

What's in your debt?

He killed Peters.

Why?

Peters found out about the racket.

Said he was going to publish the story, expose the gang.

Well, who's in the gang, Farrell? No, not so far as I know.

Austin's the boss. It's Doc Miller.

Miss Fry, Cashmaker, myself.

That's all there is to it.

Go on.

Austin blackmails two sort of people.

Those he can blackmail for money, and those he can blackmail into selling

drugs.

What about Buxton? He was paying his money, wasn't he? Yeah.

Austin did that.

Did him in because he... He discovered that Austin was peddling drugs. He said

he'd rather go to jail for drunken driving than help him to ruin people's

lives that way. Said he was going to the police.

That's all I know.

Okay, Hunter, I believe that.

So Austin killed Billy Peters, huh? That's right, Buster.

Austin killed Billy Peters.

Like you, Peters got too inquisitive.

And I expect he'll let me do the same for you.

Go to search him, Cash. He might have a gun.

That little toy you've got in your hand there, you found that, I suppose, huh?

You must know Nosy Parker.

The boss lent it to me.

I see it's a .45.

The police tell me it's a .45 that killed Billy Peters.

What did you tell him? He wasn't beating her up for nothing? Nothing, Swampy. I

never told him nothing.

You're a liar.

But it don't matter.

Because he ain't gonna tell anybody anything.

Mac, take him to the car.

Drop that gun.

What's going on?

Well, it looks as though we've won.

What do you mean, we?

My name's Johnson, private detective.

I've been following you for some days.

What do you know?

I was asked to keep a fatherly eye on you.

Oh.

Give me that thing, will you?

I've got some unfinished business to attend to.

Willie, where'd you come from?

Johnson invited me.

Seems he has more sense than you. He confides in the police.

You know who it is. Oh, I know.

Little Mr. Big Guy wants to fight the whole world all alone.

I didn't do too bad.

Look, how's Evelyn King?

Comfortable. Did she talk?

She talked.

Did you pick up Austin?

Not yet, but we will.

What about Dr. Miller and the nurse?

I've got a call out for them.

Get these two out of here.

Come on, on your feet.

Look, I told you everything.

They can't arrest me.

I'll testify against Austin. I'll do anything.

You rat.

Get him out of here.

Look after him.

Well, I think this is the 45 that killed Billy Peters.

I think it belongs to Ted Austin.

Thanks, Johnny. It's a pretty smart bit of work.

It'd be nice if we can prove it.

Is he dead? I'm afraid so, sir.

Get the ambulance.

Right, sir.

Well, there's one who won't be of any use to us, I'm afraid.

What's your next move, Willie?

Pick up Austin.

Any idea where the phone is?

Doc's office, I guess. Down the hall. All right, I'll find it.

I'll be with you in a few minutes.

Going someplace?

What's it got to do with you?

I'm your guardian angel, remember?

So you are.

You forgot to tell me who put you up to this.

You never gave me a chance to.

You've got it now.

Well, it started with a client of mine. He was being blackmailed.

I seem to have heard that one before.

He wanted me to get to the bottom of this affair. So I started.

He's a friend of yours and a friend of mine.

Cozy.

Who? Your editor, Ken Farrell.

Farrell? Yes. You thought he was mixed up in this affair, didn't you?

How did you know?

Farrell's no fool. He can read you like a book.

Want a cigarette?

Thanks.

You don't read as good as Farrell.

Thank you.

What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at Miss Brazil's flat.

Johnny, thank heavens you're safe. I thought I'd never get out of here.

I was so frightened when I heard the shooting.

I thought that you... Never mind about me.

What's the matter with you?

Come on, sit down.

Who did that?

Austin?

Yes. I'm sorry, Johnny. I know I should have stayed at the flat, but I couldn't

stand it after your... Yeah, but this place, of all places.

I know it was a silly thing to do. I know it was.

But, well, I was just crazy with worry. I thought I'd tell Austin about my

career, make one last appeal to him, and at the same time tell him of the danger

he was in.

Well, I thought he might leave me alone.

I know it was a dreadful thing to do because I was putting you in danger.

I should have known that nothing would ever change, Austin.

You can say that again.

All you did was make things worse.

Austin saw the possibility of getting you in deeper by disfiguring you,

putting an end to your acting career, and forcing you to go to him for some

more money.

Well, I suppose so. Look, Johnny, am I going to be all right? You're going to

be all right. Don't worry.

We're going to Jones now.

Okay? Yes. Well, let's go.

Don't worry.

She'll be all right, Miss Foster. I've given her a sedative.

Well, what about her face?

Happily, there'll be no scars.

Within a couple of months or so, she'll be as right as rain.

That's very good news. Thank you very much, Doctor. That's all.

Come on.

Well, you got nothing to worry about. You're gonna be okay.

You've done a lot for me, Johnny. I'm very grateful.

Well, then you just hurry up and get well.

I got a job for you.

Just what did you mean by that last remark?

Well, I just thought you'd look good as a bridesmaid.

Oh, Johnny.