Original subtitles

Your daughter's here, Mr. Wynant.

Mr. Wynant.

Mr. Wynant!

Haven't you got any more sense than to shout like that?

Well, I'm sorry, but...

two weeks' work gone for nothing!

But I just wanted to tell you...

I don't care what you wanted to tell me.

Get your things! Get out!

You're through! Get out! Get out!

I'm going.

Good thing I'm going away.

No peace. No quiet.

Everybody interrupting me.

Did you tell him?

I didn't get a chance.

Dad!

Why didn't somebody tell me you were here?

I'm sorry to interrupt

your work, darling,

but this really is important.

How are you?

What, another young man?

It's the same one.

It's been the same one

for three months.

Forgive me. How are you?

Now take a good look at him, dad.

Try to remember him because...

He's going to be your son-in-law.

Well!

If it's all right with you.

And if it isn't?

He's still going to be your son-in-law.

You see how much we have to say.

But, dad, this is really

what I wanted to talk to you about.

Do you mind if I look around?

No. Help yourself.

Oh, Tom, show this... where are you going?

Home. I'm fired.

Who fired you?

You did.

Forget it. Forget it!

Will you show this gentleman around?

Yes. This way, sir.

Thank you.

Dad, mother's planning on a big church wedding.

Yes, she would.

I hate all that fuss,

but I'll do it on one condition...

that you're there to give me away, darling.

What would your mother say to that?

It's my wedding, isn't it?

Yes, but wouldn't it be embarrassing

to have all of us there...

your mother, me, your stepfather?

He can stay home.

Please, daddy, won't you?

If you think it would be all right.

Now, wait a minute. When's it going to be?

I'm leaving town tonight.

Where are you going?

That's a secret. I can't even tell you.

I've got an important idea to work on.

What? A new invention?

Yes. I don't want somebody to steal it from me.

We were planning on being married

right after Christmas.

I'll be home before Christmas.

Is that a promise?

That's a promise I won't forget.

Where's MacCaulay? It's time I started.

Oh, how's your brother?

Oh, he's all right.

I'd like to see him. Why don't you bring him?

You know how it is.

He's sort of under mother's thumb.

Yes, I know. I know.

You're not missing much. He's cuckoo.

Like all the rest of us?

Say, has this fellow...

has he seen the whole family?

Yes, and he still wants to marry me.

He's a brave man.

Yes.

Thanks a lot, old man.

You certainly have an interesting plant here.

I didn't know that you invented

that smelting process, Mr. Wynant.

This is the first metal that came through.

Three kinds of ore... gold, silver, copper.

Well, isn't that interesting?

Daddy, does that still bother you?

Only in bad weather.

It isn't bad weather now.

Then you'd better get home before it is.

Good-bye, darling, and don't forget...

the 30th of December.

- Good-bye, boy. - Good-bye.

Take good care of Dorothy.

Show her that there is such a thing

as a happy marriage.

I'll do my best.

Good-bye.

Is it all settled?

Grand! Say, why did your mother divorce him?

I think he's swell.

It seems he has a secretary.

Oh! Well, I'll do my own typing.

Ooh! Dad's a good barometer.

Here's a taxi.

Hello, Mr. MacCaulay.

How are you? Get under this.

No. We're taking your cab.

Your father still in there?

Yes. He's waiting for you.

Did he tell where he's going?

Wouldn't say.

Well, good-bye, Miss Wynant.

Here's your change, boss.

You wouldn't drive slowly, so no tip.

That's ok, sweetheart. I got it anyway.

Oh, Mr. Wynant.

Hello there. Did you get my money?

I do wish you'd tell me where you're going.

I'm not telling anyone.

Suppose some business should come up.

That's just why I'm going.

There's 100, 200, 300...

oh, here. Never mind.

I wish you'd count it. There's $1,000 there.

I trust you.

Isn't there anything else I can do?

Have you bought your ticket?

No.

Let me do that.

Yeah, you might do that.

You might get me a ticket for...

No, you don't.

Thanks and good-bye.

What will I do if something comes up?

Settle it yourself. What have I got a lawyer for?

Is Julia going with you?

No.

What if you need more money?

I've left instructions with Julia.

She'll get it from you.

You don't tell me a thing.

I don't know where you're going,

when you're coming back,

or how to reach you if any business comes up!

Hello, Tanner.

Mr. Wynant.

My daughter's going to be married, Tanner.

Nice young man. She just brought him in.

Well, congratulations.

I'm going to make her a wedding present.

Thought I'd better do it now before I forget it.

I can drop them on the way...

that's funny.

Where are those bonds?

Bonds, sir?

I know I put them in there.

Maybe Miss Wolf has them, sir.

Yes...

Maybe she has.

Joe, how do you like yours?

Straight.

You women sure take a lot of punishment.

You're in the wrong place, buddy.

Am I?

What do you want?

Who is it, Joe?

That's what I want to know.

We're just having a little drink.

Yes, so I see.

Well...

See you later, Joe.

Didn't know I was talking to the boyfriend.

So long.

So long, Joe.

Who's that man?

He isn't anybody,

just a fellow I used to know.

I thought you'd given up that sort of friend.

It's the first time I've seen him in years.

Didn't want him to think I was high-hatting him.

You know how I feel about that sort of thing.

Don't worry. You won't see him again.

Tell me, did you change your mind about going?

No. I just came back for a second.

I want to get those... Bonds.

Bonds?

What bonds?

The government bonds,

the ones you took from the office safe.

Oh, yes.

You told me to sell those a long time ago.

I'd never tell you to sell those.

I bought those for my daughter.

But don't you remember...

now, see here, Julia,

you're counting too much on my absent-mindedness.

You've been taking a little here and there for some time

without my saying anything about it,

but this is $50,000.

Do you realize you're accusing me of...

no one else had the combination to that safe.

You took them. What did you do with them?

What if I did take them?

I'm sick of seeing you hand out

thousands of dollars to your family,

supporting a gang of loafers

that don't care a darn about you,

a wife that kicked you out

the first time your foot slipped.

Not one would help,

and I've given my whole life to you.

If you kicked off tomorrow, where would I be?

Out in the gutter.

Who has a better right?

I want that money, or I'll hand you over to the police.

Go ahead.

They'll be pretty rough with you... With your record.

That's a fine thing to say

after what I've been to you.

Hello. Give me...

well?

All right. I'll give it to you.

25,000... that's all I've got.

You're going to return every cent of it.

I can't. I haven't got it.

What'd you do with it?

I never had it.

Then there was someone in with you. Who was it?

I'll answer that.

Hello.

Hello.

Hello!

Hello!

You don't need to tell me.

I have a pretty good idea.

What are you going to do?

Stop worrying about your father.

He'll turn up all right.

Yes, but, Tommy, today's Christmas Eve.

He's just forgotten.

You know how he forgets everything.

No. He never forgets a promise to me.

I'm worried, Tommy. I know something's happened to him.

What could happen to him, darling?

Now, will you stop worrying?

You see, the important thing is the rhythm.

You must always have rhythm in your shaking.

Now, a Manhattan you shake to fox-trot time,

a Bronx to two-step time.

The dry Martini

you always shake to waltz time.

Oh!

Mmm!

- What is it? - Just a minute.

Now, mind you,

there's a still more modern trend in...

here. Let me have... thank you.

Certain people...

hello there.

Hello.

Another glass.

How are you?

You know, we do know each other.

Well, of course we do. We've known each other for years.

Aren't you Nick Charles?

Yes.

You don't remember me. I'm Dorothy Wynant.

Not that scrawny little bit of...

yes.

How did you ever remember me?

You used to fascinate me... a real, live detective.

You used to tell me the most wonderful stories.

Were they true?

Probably not.

Tommy, this is Nick Charles.

Hi, Tommy. Have another glass.

He worked once on a case for my father.

Yeah. Some nut wanted to kill him.

How is your father?

That's what I came to ask you. He's disappeared.

Don't say that, darling.

He's just away somewhere working.

I can't find him. I've tried everything.

I thought you might know.

I don't know anything.

I've been in California for the last four years.

What about his lawyer?

Used to be some bird by the name of Mac, uh...

Oh, MacCaulay?

Herbert MacCaulay.

I tried him once.

Try him again.

Here's a Nickel.

Thank you. I'll be right back.

You know, she's got me worrying, too.

Oh, you mustn't worry about him.

Mind you, he's a great guy but screwy.

Madam, I'm very sorry,

but no dog...

Asta!

I'm sorry, madam. No dogs allowed.

You cannot take the dog in there.

I'm not taking him. He's taking me.

Oh!

Are you hurt, madam?

No. Women and children first, boys.

What is the score anyway?

Oh, so it's you he was after.

Hello, sugar.

He's dragged me into every gin mill on the block.

I had him out this morning.

I thought so.

This is Tommy. My wife.

How are you, Tommy?

Tommy, I don't usually look like this.

I've been Christmas shopping.

Madam, we shall take the dog out.

It's all right.

It's my dog... And my wife.

You might have mentioned me first on the billing.

The dog's well-trained.

He'll behave himself.

He might bite somebody.

He's all right. Look. Lie down.

Lie down.

Stand up.

See?

Any luck?

Yes. He's just around the corner.

Your father?

No. MacCaulay. I'm just going to go see him.

Oh, uh, my wife.

This is Dorothy Wynant.

I'm sorry we have to rush.

We're stopping in the normandie for a couple weeks.

Drop around. See us.

We'd love to. Thank you. Good-bye.

Sit down, sugar.

Oh, Leo, uh...

Yes, sir.

Two cocktails.

Pretty girl.

Yes. She's a very nice type.

You got types?

Only you, darling...

lanky brunettes with wicked jaws.

Leo.

Compliments of the season.

Who is she?

Oh, darling, I was hoping

I wouldn't have to answer that.

Come on.

Well, Dorothy is really my daughter.

You see, it was spring in venice,

and I was so young,

I didn't know what I was doing.

We're all like that on my father's side.

By the way, how is your father's side?

It's much better, thanks. And yours?

How many drinks have you had?

This will make six martinis.

All right. Will you bring me five more martinis, Leo?

And line them right up here.

Yes, ma'am.

Hmm...

What hit me?

The last Martini. How about a pick-me-up?

No!

I can't lie here.

I've got to get up

and trim that darn Christmas tree.

What's the idea of pushing me?

Who's that?

It's probably Santa claus.

Hello, MacCaulay! Come in.

Dorothy told me you were here.

I was going to telephone, but...

that's all right. Sit down, won't you?

What are you drinking?

Oh, nothing. Thanks. Nothing.

Oh, that's a mistake.

I wanted to see you.

What's Mimi up to, Mr. Charles?

Dorothy's mother? Does she have to be up to something?

She usually is...

trying one way or another to get money out of Wynant.

I wanted to find out if you were, uh...

Sleuthing for her.

I haven't been a detective in four years.

My wife's father died and left her

a narrow-Gauge railway, lumbermill, and, uh...

Oh, several other things.

I'm taking care of them.

What's the fuss about? Is he in hiding?

You know as much about it as I do.

I haven't seen him in three months.

No word at all?

He sends word through his secretary Julia Wolf

when he wants money.

I give it to her, and she gives it to him.

That's still on, huh?

Excuse me.

Hello?

Oh, just a minute.

For you.

Is there a Mr. MacCaulay in the house?

Oh. Oh, pardon me.

Yes? Oh, just a moment.

My wife.

How do you do?

Yes? What were you saying?

He is?

Well, where is he now?

Oh, very well.

Oh, excuse us.

He's back in town... Wynant.

Wynant?

Yes. He's waiting for me now.

Forgive me, Mrs. Charles,

but I've been so upset.

You know, it's no joke

working for a man like that.

Well, I guess I'd better be off.

Good-bye.

Merry Christmas.

Same to you.

Next person that says "merry Christmas" to me,

I'll kill them.

I'm going to telephone that poor child.

At least she'll be glad to know he's alive.

Asta!

Hello?

Oh! How are you?

Oh, I'm Mrs. Jorgenson now.

Dorothy? No, she isn't here.

Is it something about her father?

Perhaps I can take the message.

Oh, uh... Here she is now.

Hello?

I just wanted to relieve your mind.

He's alive, and he's all right.

Oh, thank goodness.

What is it? Has he found him?

Do you know where he's living?

Oh. Well, at least I'm glad he's all right.

Thank you for calling. Good-bye.

What is it? What is it?

Nothing.

It's something about your father. Where is he?

He's fine. Isn't that enough?

No!

You want money, you haven't any right to.

He made a big settlement on you.

That's gone long ago. Where is he?

Mother, I won't have you hounding him for more money.

I can tell you, mother.

You've been listening on tha t extension.

Of course. What's an extension for?

That's right, Gilbert. What did he say?

He said that father's in town.

He's been seeing Julia right along.

That woman!

She can tell you where father is.

Mother, you wouldn't.

I didn't say I would,

but we've got to have money.

Did it ever occur to you that Chris might work?

Shh!

Oh!

Now you've hurt his feelings!

Chris?

You have an oedipus complex, and you won't admit it.

Please, Gilbert.

The trouble with you is you won't face facts.

I know I have a mother fixation,

but it's slight. It hasn't yet reached the point...

stop it, Gilbert. Stop it.

Don't mind what she says, Chris.

How can I help but mind? I'm constantly humiliated

just because I haven't money.

I'll get some.

Yes. You've said that for weeks.

Why don't you see Julia? She handles his money.

Chris!

All right, all right.

I couldn't go near that woman!

I said all right.

What are you going to do?

What I said I'd do.

You wouldn't!

Wouldn't I? Just watch me.

Oh, Chris!

Chris!

Chris!

Get me Miss Wolf

at the clarkston apartments.

Hello... Miss Wolf?

Uh, this is Mrs. Jorgenson.

I wonder if I may see you.

Yes, of course.

Thank you.

Miss Wolf's apartment, please.

9a. Who's calling, please?

Never mind. Miss Wolf is expecting me.

Miss Wolf?

Miss Wolf!

Aah!

Quick! Quick!

Send somebody up here right away.

Something terrible has happened!

Julia Wolf. 145 west 55th street.

That's me.

What is it?

Woman murdered.

Where you been?

Out making money.

Let's see it.

I haven't got it yet,

but I'll get it.

Come on. Give out, girls. Give out.

Shake the bodies a little.

Get the rhythm.

Keep it up. I can't hear any rhythm.

Come on. Shake your feet.

Hello, morelli.

Hiya, stutsy.

Hey, uh...

Didn't you know Julia Wolf?

Yeah.

Why?

Somebody just bumped her off.

I thought maybe you'd like to know.

Yes?

Telephone, Mr. MacCaulay.

Who is it?

The police.

Hello?

Murdered?

Yes. Yes, I'll be right over.

What you gonna tell them?

I'm gonna tell them everything.

You don't think Mr. Wynant...

I don't think anything,

but I heard a fight a while ago!

All right, girls.

Oh, yes. Come on.

When was the last time you gave her money for Wynant?

Yesterday. I gave her $1,000.

Any signs of that, bill?

No. Perhaps it was a robbery.

Her with that sparkler on her finger and $30 in her purse?

It looks like Wynant came to collect

and ran into a little trouble.

Downstairs they haven't seen him in three months.

There's a lot of things they don't see here.

You haven't heard from him in that time?

He hadn't written me.

Then you have heard from him.

He telephoned me today.

I wasn't in. My secretary took the message.

He wanted to meet at the Plaza.

What time?

About 3:00.

Did you go?

Yes. He didn't show.

His house and shop is closed,

and he ain't at any hotel.

So you seen your duty, and you done it, huh?

You gonna stop at that?

No, sir.

He'll turn up when he sees this in the papers.

You can't think he had anything to do with it.

You know what they fought about that night he went away?

I didn't know they had a fight.

Well, thanks.

We'll get in touch when we need you.

I may go?

Yeah, go ahead.

Mr. Guild, come here.

Here's something very interesting.

Hmm...

And there she was, lying on the floor dead.

The police said that she'd been killed

about 10 minutes before I got there.

I thought you said you weren't going there.

Did they find any clues?

A gun, fingerprints?

Not a thing.

Was there much blood?

Gilbert, don't be so horrible!

Nonsense. She got what she deserved.

Did you kill her?

You had a perfectly good motive.

Don't talk like that

when the police get here.

You said they'd finished with you.

They'd finished for the present.

I've got my alibi. I was at the library.

Where were you?

Children, I want to speak to Chris alone.

Well, I'll go.

I'll be in my room.

Is Mrs. Jorgenson in?

Yes. Come right in.

Oh, Mrs. Jorgenson,

a few points I'd like to clear up.

Why, yes. Yes. Won't you sit down?

Thank you.

You were in the room with the body

from the time it was discovered until we came?

Why, yes.

Did you, uh...

Did you see anything in Miss Wolf's hand?

Oh, no.

Are you sure that at no time you left the room,

that a maid or bellboy might have slipped in there

and been alone with the body?

I don't think so.

I was so upset,

I hardly knew what I was doing.

The medical examiner seems to think that, uh...

That the body had been touched,

that someone had forced open the girl's hand

after she'd been killed.

Moreover, we found that she had in her possession

$1,000 the night before.

I'm sorry I can't help you.

Hmm...

Well, that's quite all right.

We'll be going along.

Thank you.

Good-bye.

Could I see the body?

I've never seen a dead body.

Why do you want to?

I've been studying psychopathic criminology,

and I have a theory.

Perhaps this was the work

of a sadist or a paranoiac.

If I saw it, I might be able to tell.

That's a good idea,

but don't bother to come down.

We'll bring the body right up to you.

What have you got there?

None of your business.

You took that money from her hand.

I didn't.

What are you hiding?

Evidence that's worth a great deal.

Hand that over to the police.

I'll do nothing of the sort.

Very well. I will.

I don't think you will. It's your father's.

I don't believe you. You're lying!

There.

Oh! Oh...

Now will you believe me?

Ammunition?

Come on, stock up.

No. Let this one ride.

You'd better. Hard times may catch you.

Nick, who are these amazing people?

Just old friends. Romans, countrymen, what do you say?

This is like old times, Nick.

Remember the fun we had when we were broke?

Those were the good old days.

Don't kid yourself. These are the good old days.

Hey, Nick, I think your wife is great.

Thanks. I wanted you to see her...

And I wanted her to see you.

Want to buy a piece of this pug, Nick?

I'll sell you 25% of him for 5 grand.

He's been knocking them cold. Ain't afraid of nobody.

Put that down, or I'll slug you.

Having a good time?

Swell.

Here's that man again. Ammunition?

Thank you.

You're very welcome.

Thank you.

Highballs and cocktails... the long and short of it.

That's a pun.

The punster should be punished.

♪♪ For tomorrow may bring sorrow ♪♪

♪♪ So tonight, let us be gay ♪♪

Another cocktail?

Thank you very much.

Oh, do.

I certainly think your husband's great.

Well, I'm glad somebody does.

Cocktails?

Have a cocktail?

Thanks. Nick Charles here?

- Yes. - You're his wife?

Yes. Hey, Nick!

Nice guy. Sent me up the river one time.

Hello, face.

Long time no see.

Long time.

I needed the rest.

Was he a good detective?

I wouldn't know.

That time he caught me was an accident.

Come on, kid. Shed the chapeau.

Divest yourself of raiment

and join the yuletide revelers.

Hey, revelers, I want you to know face peppler.

All you got to do is find out who they are.

Don't bother to announce anyone.

Just send them all up.

I know.

It's all right. They're his friends.

...the Julia Wolf murder.

Police found tha t the secretary was a gangster's girl.

They're now looking for the gangster.

Clyde Wynant, is still missing.

Can't you fellas think of anything but business?

Good case for you.

Haven't you heard the news? I'm a gentleman now.

Nick, reporters.

Salutations, boys.

You're just the man I want to see.

I'm from the American, Mr. Charles.

Give us a statement.

We hear you're on the Julia Wolf case.

I don't know anything about it.

Give us a break.

I never try to kid reporters.

I'm telling you the truth.

Why are you in town?

My wife's on a bender.

I'm trying to sober her up.

Oh, waiter, drinks, please.

Into the kitchen, son,

and thaw out some ice.

Grandma, what large glasses you have.

Is he working on a case?

Yes, yes.

What case?

A case of scotch. Pitch in and help him.

Say, I've got to order some food.

Isn't it a waste of energy?

That sounds like an interesting case. Why don't you take it?

I haven't time. I'm busy seeing that you don't lose

the money I married you for.

Room service, please.

It sounds like a good case.

A girl mysteriously murdered. Nobody knows who did it.

They haven't found any clues... no gun, no fingerprints.

I'll bet you dollars to dog biscuits

that they never thought of...

I don't want to hear anything about it.

Is that my drink over there?

What are you drinking?

Rye.

Yes, that's yours.

Send me up a whole flock of sandwiches.

I'd like to telephone my mother

and wish her a merry Christmas.

Well, why don't you?

Well, I haven't got any Nickels.

Forget the Nickels. There you are. Go ahead.

Thank you.

Have a hunka?

I'll have two hunkas.

Attaboy.

Hello. Give me long distance.

I want to talk to San Francisco.

Nick, I've got to see you...

Alone.

Hello there, beautiful.

Come on. I'll take you over here.

Look what's come to our party.

Let's get away from the wolves.

Who's the little brunette?

I used to bounce her on my knee.

Which knee? Can I touch it?

Well, baby, what's on your mind?

You heard about Julia Wolf?

Yeah.

There.

Oh, Nick! Nick, you're hurting me.

Of course. That's what I intend to do.

What are you trying to tell me, that you did it?

Yes, I killed her.

Sit down.

I hated her for coming between my mother and father.

She kept me from seeing my father.

I went down there to ask her where he was,

and she wouldn't tell me, so I shot her.

How many times?

Once or twice.

Where did you hit her?

I hit her in the... in the heart.

What did she do?

She fell over.

Did she scream?

Yes.

Which way did she fall?

She fell over backwards.

Whom are you trying to protect?

Oh, Nick, I...

now wait a minute.

She was shot four times.

She couldn't have screamed

because she was killed instantly.

Who do you think did it?

I don't know.

Where did you get this?

I bought it in a pawnshop.

Another lie?

No, Nick. That's the truth.

Oh, Nick.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Don't be silly. Take this.

No, thank you.

Want to powder your nose?

Everything's over there.

Where did you get that?

She brought it, to make me believe that she did it.

What are you going to do with it?

Nothing, till I find out if it's the gun

that Julia Wolf was killed with.

Don't let the reporters get to her.

They may believe her.

Say, isn't that Dorothy Wynant?

Yes. Wait a minute.

She doesn't know anything about it.

And you said you weren't on the case.

I'm not.

Hello! Hello, ma!

Here. Give me that, will you?

Wait. It's San Francisco. Hiya, ma!

Ma, get off the wire. I want to talk business.

Operator, give me dry dock 4-8000.

Hey! Hey! Don't do that.

Don't tell your paper I'm working on anything,

because I'm not.

He's working on that little girl.

Welcome to...

oh, Nick! Nick!

Mimi! Well, for the love...

I want to talk to you about something.

I know. It's a convention.

You got your roller skates on? Let's get rolling.

I'll take you right, uh... No. Here, let's, uh...

If you don't mind, we'll... Let's just step in here.

Well!

I'm sorry, but it's the only place we can be alone.

Won't you, uh... Sit down?

Why, hello, Mr. Wynant.

Come in and have a drink.

I don't drink.

I tell you Clyde Wynant is absolutely crazy to stay away.

The police think he has something to do with it.

What do you think?

I know that he hasn't, but I want to see him.

There's something important I want to tell him.

MacCaulay won't help a bit. He thinks I just want money.

Don't you?

Oh, you're always teasing.

I beg your pardon.

We're just chatting.

Nick, you will help me find Clyde, won't you?

Mimi, there are a thousand detectives in New York.

Why don't you hire one?

Yes, but he knows you. Just get in touch with him

and tell him Mimi says everything is all right

but that I've just got to see him.

I don't want any part of it.

You take Dorothy home...

Dorothy? Is she here?

Yes. She's in there with my wife.

What did you tell them? What did you tell them?

Wait a minute.

It's too bad you didn't bring your whip.

She didn't tell us a thing.

I was so excited,

I didn't realize what I was doing.

Come on, Dorothy. We'll go home.

She doesn't if she doesn't want to.

You can stay here. We'd love to have you.

That's sweet of you. No, thanks. I'll go.

Where's Gilbert?

Gilbert? Is he here?

We might as well be living in the lobby.

There's a physiological as well as psychological angle

in my father's relationship with Julia Wolf

that the police have overlooked,

I think it settles the whole question.

My father was a sexagenarian.

He was?

Yes. He admitted it.

A sexagenarian, eh?

But we can't put that in the paper.

Well, why not?

You know how they are. Sex?

Then just say that he was 60 years old.

Is that what that means?

Of course. Hey, that's my hat.

Come and get it while it's hot.

Come on.

Give us a break.

I swear I don't know anything about it.

Telephone, Nicky. Telephone.

Oh, I thought it was the door.

Hello?

Mr. Charles, I'd like to lay a proposition before you.

Well, I can't discuss it over the telephone,

but if you'll give me a half-hour of your time...

Yeah. It's about Julia Wolf.

Hello?

What is it?

Aw... some guy trying to sell me insurance.

Where's Miss Wynant?

Why, she's gone.

Which way did she go?

She went out the back door.

You mean the little brunette?

Yes.

Oh, I'm sorry, old fellow.

Thanks. I'm engaged for this one.

Wait. No. Don't do that.

I want to talk to ma.

So you think you're a fighter, eh? Ha!

So what?

So listen, worm!

Oh, Nicky...

I love you,

because you know such lovely people.

Nick.

Nicky.

What?

You asleep?

Yes.

Good. I want to talk to you.

Well, that's jolly.

Wouldn't you like to do a little detecting

once in a while just for fun?

Can't you get to sleep?

No.

Maybe if you took a drink, it'd help you.

No, thanks.

Maybe it'd help if I took it.

Everybody says you're a grand detective.

Well, they were kidding you.

I'd like to see you work.

Tomorrow morning,

I'll get you a whole lot of detective stories.

I know, but that girl's in a tough spot.

There's nothing I can do to help her.

She thinks you can.

Wouldn't hurt you to try.

Well, darling, my guess is...

Wynant killed Julia

and that Dorothy knows about it.

Police will catch him without any help from me.

I think I would like that drink.

My darling.

I'll give you your Christmas present now

if you'll give me mine.

At breakfast.

Well, it's Christmas now.

Uh...

Breakfast.

What are you going to give me?

I hope I don't like it.

You'll have to keep them anyway

because the man at the aquarium said

he wouldn't take them back.

Did you hear a knock?

Yes.

Well, it might be something important.

Well, sure, it is.

Mr. Charles here?

Yes.

I got to talk to him. That's all.

All right. Come in.

You wait here.

I'll tell him you're here.

What in the name of...

someone to see you, dear.

Good. I was afraid I was about to go to sleep.

Get out of bed. Let me straighten this.

You're worse than an infant.

Funny. I think those blankets

must be a little cockeyed.

Right, asta?

There.

You've got the funniest look on your face

I ever saw in my life.

Hurry up. That man's waiting for you.

I want you to tell me something.

Give it to me straight. Get me?

Would you mind putting that gun away?

My wife doesn't care, but I'm a timid fellow.

You idiot.

Asta! Asta, come here.

All right, shoot... I mean, uh...

What's on your mind?

You don't have to tell me you're tough.

I heard about you. I'm Joe morelli.

I never heard about you.

I didn't knock Julia off.

All right, you didn't.

I ain't seen her in three months. We was all washed up.

Well, why tell me?

I wouldn't have any reason to hurt her.

But that dirty little nunheim got sore with her

because I clicked and he didn't,

and he put the finger on me.

This is all swell, brother,

but you're peddling your fish in the wrong market.

Stutsy Burke says you used to be ok.

That's why I'm here.

How is stutsy? I didn't know he was out of stir.

He's all right. He'd like to see you.

What's the law doing? Do they think I did it?

Or is it just something else to pin on me?

If I knew, I'd tell you.

I don't know anything. Ask the police.

That would be the smartest thing I ever did...

the police captain's been in the hospital 3 weeks

on account of we had an argument.

The boys would like that down to their blackjacks.

Stutsy says you're on the level.

Why don't you be on the level?

I am on the level. If I knew anything...

what's that?

I don't know. That makes this your party.

Open up! Police!

Why, you two-timing...

Take him, Bob.

Nora.

Nora. Say, give me that bottle, will you?

What knocked her out?

I did. She was in the line of fire.

Somebody call a doctor, will you?

Here, baby.

Help me up on the bed with her.

Are you all right?

You darn fool! You didn't have to knock me out.

I knew you'd take him. I wanted to see you do it.

There's a girl with hair on her chest.

Nicky, are you hurt?

No. He just grazed me.

You are! Somebody get a doctor.

There's one called already.

Get into bed. Are you all right?

Sure. I can't even feel it.

I'll get some towels.

Hmm. Pretty close.

Have a shot, will you?

Here you are, but you'll be ok.

Tough luck.

Aw, shut up!

Here, darling. Use this.

Baby, it's only a scratch.

Want a drink?

What do you think?

How did you people happen to pop in here?

We hear this is a meeting place for the Wynant family.

We figure we'll stick around

in case the old boy himself should show up.

Then we see this bird sneak in,

and we decide to come up.

Lucky for you we did.

Yes. I might not have been shot.

You know this monkey?

That dirty little rat nunheim...

shut up!

Is he a friend of yours?

I never saw him before.

What did he want with you?

He wanted to tell me he didn't kill Julia Wolf.

What's that to you?

Nothing.

What did he think it was to you?

Ask him.

I'm asking you.

Keep on asking.

Frisk the dump.

Not without a warrant.

So you say. Go on, Bob.

Tough, huh?

Charles, we're both of us

going about this thing in the wrong way.

I don't want to get tough with you,

and I'm sure you don't want to with me.

There's one question I want to ask.

Are you willing to swear to a complaint

for this guy's plugging you?

That's another one I can't answer now.

Maybe it was an accident.

What's that man doing in my drawers?

Here you are, lieutenant.

You got a pistol permit?

No.

Ever heard of the Sullivan act?

Oh, that's all right. We're married.

This gun yours?

No.

Whose is it?

I'll have to try to remember.

Ok. We got plenty of time.

I guess I'll have to ask you

a lot more questions than I figured.

We'll come around tomorrow when you're feeling better.

All right. Come on, boys.

Say, where's asta?

Asta? As...

asta, come here.

Ha! You're a fine watchdog.

He's got more sense than you have.

I'm glad you're not on this case.

On it? I'm in it. They think I did it.

Well, didn't you?

Ah...

Well...

I hope you're satisfied.

Huh?

Where am I?

You're not in a shooting gallery.

Ah, but, sugar,

this is the nicest Christmas present I've ever had.

You act as it were the only Christmas present you ever had.

Say, where did you get that wrist watch?

It's a Christmas present.

Yeah? Who gave it to you?

You did.

Well, you must admit

I've got pretty good taste, haven't I?

You finished with this?

Yes. I know as much about the murder as they do.

Oh, I'm a hero.

I was shot twice in the tribune.

I read where you were shot five times in the tabloids.

It's not true.

He didn't come anywhere near my tabloids.

Ah! Bull's-eye.

Hello? Who is it?

Oh, send him right up.

Who was that?

Mr. MacCaulay.

The Mallorys.

Oh, dear. I forgot all about them.

Aren't you hot in that?

Yes, I'm stifling, but it's so pretty.

The kirbys.

Is that another Christmas present?

Mm-hmm.

Did I give it to you?

Yes.

I'm spoiling you.

Why, Nicky, this is from Clyde Wynant.

He says, "will you take charge

"of investigation on Julia Wolf murder?

Communicate with Herbert MacCaulay."

Let me see. Where's it from?

Philadelphia. Then he didn't do it.

I don't know.

He wouldn't ask you to handle it

if he were guilty, would he?

Your guess is as good as mine, baby.

Aw, Nicky, take the case.

You take it. I'm too busy.

How do you do? Come in.

Good morning. Well, I'm afraid

this isn't a very merry Christmas for you.

Oh, he's all right.

How are you, MacCaulay?

Oh, I'm fine. You're coming along better than I am.

I hope you're not seriously hurt.

No. Just a scratch. I've forgotten it.

What a delightful toy.

That's asta's Christmas present.

I got word from Wynant this morning.

So did we... I mean, Sherlock here.

Darling, will you, uh...

Pass you your drink? Yes.

Hmm.

Thank you.

What are the chances of getting you

to do what he wants?

Slim.

Would it help any

if I could persuade him to meet you?

It might.

He gave me a code message to insert in the times

in case I wanted to get in touch.

I don't suppose it would do any harm to put it in.

I've done that already. He should appear.

Hello?

It doesn't look well, his staying away now.

Police.

For me?

Hello?

Where?

Allentown?

Yes.

Well, when is the next train?

Right. I'll get that.

Wynant's tried to commit suicide.

They want me to go down and identify him.

Well, I guess this changes the whole story,

doesn't it?

That looks like an admission of guilt.

And I had such hopes.

If you got on the case, you'd be able to clear him.

I thought that Mimi... the way she acted,

I was sure that... Oh, well.

Well, there's no use thinking about that now.

I'm sorry to have wasted so much of your time.

Good-bye. Have a merry Christmas.

Thank you. Same to you. Good-bye.

Asta, is your balloon busted?

So is mine.

What's the matter with you?

The mystery's all gone.

I was hoping you'd find out who did it.

Maybe I will.

Well, Wynant...

I don't believe he did it.

Why don't you?

No reason. Just a hunch.

But I'm going to find out.

I'm tired of being pushed around.

Come on, Dr. Watson. Let's go places.

Good morning, Nick.

Well, it's not a very nice trick

you're trying to pull on me, running out like this

when I was giving you time to rest up

before I asked you those questions.

About the gun?

That never was a gun.

Don't waste time talking about that.

Man to man, are you on this case?

Man to man, I'm not.

But he's interested.

I'd rather you work with us than against us.

That suits me.

It's a bargain. Anything you want to know?

What about the suicide?

A phony. The boys didn't even have to go down.

I thought it might be.

They're going to think

every thin man with white hair is Wynant.

You think Wynant did it?

I don't know. He certainly planned something.

He closed up his apartment and shop.

Were you there?

Yes, but I couldn't find a thing.

I figure Wynant went to Julia's apartment

and found morelli there,

sees she's two-timing him. There's a fight.

He doesn't pull anything then on account of morelli.

Lets his lawyer give her money to give to him

so that she'll think it's all blown over.

When she isn't expecting it, he lets her have it.

No proof?

No, nothing as yet to cinch it.

50 will get you 100, he didn't do it.

What do you mean?

He was too absent-minded to hold a grudge.

Who's your candidate?

I haven't gotten that far,

don't think that everything points to Wynant.

What about your alibis?

Ok... Mrs. Jorgenson, the boy,

Dorothy, MacCaulay, even morelli.

We had to let him go.

What about jorgenson?

I'll check on that.

Mrs. Charles, this must be dull for you.

Dull? I'm on the edge of my chair.

What about nunheim?

He's all right. We know all about him.

He does a little stooling for us.

Did you know that he'd been hanging around Julia?

No.

Holding out on you.

Let's look into that. Taxi!

This may get a bit rough, baby.

I think you better let us go alone.

Catch me letting you go alone.

Grant's tomb.

Taxi!

Who is it?

John.

Hello, lieutenant.

Sit down, Nick.

I wasn't expecting you, lieutenant.

You said you'd phone.

Have a shot?

What's the idea telling me

you knew the Wolf girl just by sight?

That's all I did, lieutenant. That's the god's truth.

Maybe I said hello to her or "how are you?"

Or something like that when I saw her,

but that's all I did. That's the truth.

Hmph!

You open your mouth,

and I'll pop a tooth out of it.

Oh, is that so?

Yeah!

Cut it out. Cut it out!

We didn't come here to watch you two roughhouse.

She's driving me nuts.

She's been ragging me all day.

Maybe if you quit running around after other women,

you wouldn't have so much trouble with this one.

Now, that's a lie, lieutenant.

Anybody that says that is a liar.

Want to take a poke at him?

I didn't mean you, mister.

Come on. She can't hear you now.

You know how it is, a guy knocking around.

You'd have done better to have told me that

in the beginning.

Where were you

the afternoon she was knocked off?

You don't think I had anything to do with it!

Where were you?

Marion!

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

I don't like crooks, and if I did like them,

I wouldn't like crooks that are stool pigeons,

and if I did like crooks that are stool pigeons,

I still wouldn't like you!

Marion, don't go! Marion, wait a minute!

I'll do anything you say. I'll behave! Don't go.

Let me get after her. Let me bring her back.

I'll do anything.

I'll answer anything you want.

Sit down. We didn't come here

to watch you two dance around the maypole.

Where were you the afternoon that girl was killed?

I don't know. I can't remember.

I can't tell you just offhand.

Maybe I was down at Charlie's shooting pool.

Maybe I was up here. I don't know.

She'd remember.

How'd you like to be thrown in the can

on account of not remembering?

Give me a minute. I'll remember.

You know I ain't stalling. Alwa ys come clean with you.

Gee. Gee, sure.

Sure. I... I remember.

I wouldn't blame you if you threw me in the can.

Look, I remember where I was.

That... that's the afternoon... wait a minute.

I'll show you.

Well, what do you think of him?

Well, I think we're on the right track.

Who are you phoning?

I'm phoning your office

so they can send out a man to trail him.

I want to see where he goes.

Trail him? Trail who?

Nunheim.

Give me that phone. Give me that phone.

Bill, pick up nunheim. Tell the boys.

He just left here... went down the fire escape.

Cover the grand central and Pennsylvania stations.

Check all airports and all steamship terminals.

What's that? No. Have lefty radio all the cars.

He was dressed in a black pair of pants.

How should I know if his underwear's embroidered?

Listen, they've been questioning me again today, see,

asking me what more I know, where I was that day.

Wait a minute. I ducked out on them.

Look, if you want me to play dumb anymore,

I want 5,000 more.

5,000, and I'll blow town today.

Ok. Where?

All right. Right away.

See that you're there

and see that you bring it with you.

Aah!

"Arthur nunheim, honorary member."

Nope, not a thing.

Find out about that bullet yet?

Yes. It's the same gun that killed Julia Wolf.

And how are your folks?

Hello?

Oh, how are you?

No, we didn't find a thing.

Your wife.

And, lieutenant, I've got something.

I've been doing a little detecting on my own.

That flatfoot I married thinks he's smart,

but I'm just one jump ahead of him.

That's swell, Mrs. Charles.

How did you like Grant's tomb?

It's lovely. I'm having a copy made for you.

What have you got, baby?

I can't quite hear you.

Oh. We'll be right up.

She's up at Mimi's.

Jorgenson has disappeared.

Chris may be at the club. That's not important.

You should have told them that he disappeared.

But he has nothing to do with it.

That's not for you to decide.

Everybody's under suspicion,

especially running off like this.

The police are going to want a description of him.

Is this his picture?

He didn't do it!

They'll want more than your word.

I'll tell them who did do it,

and I'll give them proof.

Dorie.

Oh, Tommy.

Please don't cry.

I can't help it. You don't know.

Darling, you can't go through any more of this.

You get together some clothes and your skates,

and we'll go to my family in the country.

You've got to get your mind off all this.

Darling, you've been so sweet,

but there's only one thing you could do for me,

and that is to go and never see me again.

What are you talking about?

Please, you can't get mixed up in this.

Do you think I care about that?

Tommy, you don't understand.

You don't know what's going to happen.

All I know is I want you to marry me.

I can't marry you. I can't ever marry you.

Dorothy!

Would you like to have murderers for children?

That would be fun, wouldn't it?

Perhaps they'd all murder each other

and keep it in the family.

That's what father should have done.

He should have killed Gilbert and me.

We wouldn't have this to go through.

You're talking like a crazy person.

Why not? I am crazy. All our family's crazy.

Dorothy, I love you. Do you understand that?

Tommy! Tommy!

Please go. Go.

Sleuthing isn't much fun after all, is it?

I feel awfully sorry for that girl.

Find anything?

She's ready to talk.

Wouldn't do any harm, though,

to find out where he is.

You're wrong about all your children being murderers.

Now, I've studied the mendelian law of inheritance

and their experiments with sweet peas,

and according to their findings...

and they've been pretty conclusive...

only one out of four

of your children will be a murderer.

The thing for you to do

would be just to have three children.

No, that might not work.

The first one might be the bad one.

I'll have to look that up.

You needn't bother about looking that up.

I'm not getting married, I'm not having any children.

From now on, I'm just out for the ride.

I took it from her hand.

It was Mr. Wynant's watch chain.

I wanted to protect him.

Well, I guess that cinches it, eh, Charles?

He killed them both...

the Wolf girl and nunheim.

50 will still get you 100.

That's enough for me.

Extra! Wynant's ex-wife produces murder evidence!

Extra! Extra!

Double murder charge against Wynant!

Extra! Extra!

Wynant wanted in second murder!

Extra!

I wish they'd stop that.

I wonder if they'll find him.

He must be in New York.

Where do you think you're going?

I'm a-gonna take asta for a walk.

He's just been.

Well, we're going sightseeing.

What's that?

That's known in burgling circles as a flashlight.

Nick, what are you up to? What is this?

Ooh! Looks like a holdup.

What are you going to do?

I'm going to find out why Wynant's shop is closed.

He went away, didn't he?

He went away a lot when I knew him,

but he never closed the shop. I got a hunch.

Do you think he's hiding there?

I don't know, but I'm going to find out.

I won't have you going down there.

Hey, you got me into this.

I know, but he's a crazy man.

He might kill you.

He won't kill me.

I've got asta to protect me.

All right. Go ahead. See if I care.

I think it's a dirty trick

to bring me to New York

to make a widow of me.

You wouldn't be a widow long...

You bet I wouldn't.

Not with all your money.

Well, any port in a storm.

Good-bye, sugar.

Nicky!

Huh?

Take care of yourself.

Oh, sure I will.

Say it as if you meant it.

Well, I do believe the little woman cares.

I don't care.

It's just that I'm used to you, that's all.

If you let anything happen to him,

you'll never wag that tail again.

You sure this is the place?

Yeah.

You don't want me to wait, do you?

Certainly. Not afraid, are you?

No, I guess not.

All right, asta.

Asta?

Come on, asta.

Asta?

Asta, you're not a terrier. You're a police dog.

Whew!

No, asta. No, no.

Asta, get away from there.

Come on.

Come on.

Hello. Lieutenant guild, please.

Hello, John?

This is Nick Charles.

I'm up in Wynant's shop.

Well, I found something.

It's a body.

Stick 'em up!

Turn around.

Don't make a move,

or that dog will tear you to shreds.

You can come out. He won't hurt you.

Up to your old tricks, Tanner?

You're Mr. Charles, aren't you, sir?

Yes. How did you get in?

I have a key. I worked here, till they closed it.

You worked here?

Yes. Julia Wolf got me a bookkeeper job.

Well, that's a hot one.

Where did you ever learn bookkeeping?

That last time you sent me up,

I learned bookkeeping in sing sing.

I figured it would be an in for me somewheres.

Somewheres where they might leave the safe open.

Honest, Mr. Charles, I never touched that safe.

Them bonds that was missing... Julia Wolf took them.

Trying to put it off on her, huh?

She did. That's why he got sore at her and killed her.

Listen, can I take my hands down?

Ok.

I did do a bit of chiseling.

I come to bring the money back

and fix up the books.

Easy!

It's all right, Mr. Charles.

It's just a pocketbook.

I didn't want him to find out

and come after me.

Save that. Tell it to the police.

Police?

Move over, will you?

Haven't you got that yet?

You wouldn't know

anything about this, would you?

No, sir.

Take him down to central. I'll talk to him later.

Hmm. Wonder what Wynant had against this one.

Quicklime.

Mind if I look these over, doc?

No. Go ahead.

Just rolled them up and threw them in.

Lucky thing for us these weren't entirely eaten up.

Extraordinarily lucky.

No identification.

Must have weighed 250 pounds if an ounce.

Here's something.

Hmm. Rubber tip.

Must have been lame.

Who wouldn't be,

carrying all that weight around?

I should say he stood about 5'11",

wouldn't you, doc?

Yeah, about.

"D.w.r."

"R."

Say, that case you worked on,

that man who threatened to kill Wynant...

what was his name?

Rosebreen.

Say, could this be the man?

I never saw him.

I don't think anybody ever saw him.

He threatened to kill Wynant

on account of some invention he'd stolen, right?

Yes. We figured that was just blackmail.

He still wouldn't mind getting rid of him, would he?

Doc, how long would you say this body had been here?

Can't say offhand.

At least a couple of months.

A couple of months?

That's just when Wynant closed the shop!

It's an open book.

Wynant killed this guy and planted him here.

Julia knew about it, so he killed her,

and nunheim caught him at that,

so he bumped him off.

Well, boys, I guess we'll be going.

Nick, you did a swell job.

You wouldn't mind paying me that $100 now, would you?

Wait till you catch Wynant.

I'll get him, all right!

Bring that stuff out to the car.

You going to run him through the polariscope?

Yes.

You mind if I come see it?

I'm very interested in that body.

Step right over here, Mr. Charles.

There's the bullet he was killed with. See?

Hmm.

Ooh...

What's that?

Oh, just an old piece of shrapnel.

Shrapnel, huh?

Mmm. Well, maybe he was in the war.

That would account for his cane and his limp.

Yes. Yes.

Extra! Extra!

Read all about the finding

of the body!

Extra! Extra!

Read all about it!

Hey, doggy. Come on.

Look down at the floor, at the body.

Mr. Charles, this way.

Get that out of here!

Just a moment. Mrs. Charles, one family group.

For the woman's page.

Do the police know where Wynant is?

No.

You think they'll find him?

I know they will.

Got anything else to say?

- No. - What about this rosebreen?

I don't know anything about it.

Can't you tell us anything about the case?

Yes. It's putting me behind in my drinking.

Let's get this in.

What's your next step, Nick?

Back to California to rest up from this vacation.

We'll see you before you go.

Good-bye, boys.

Good-bye.

Back to California, huh?

My soul, woman.

I give you three murders,

and you're still not satisfied.

Oh!

Well, if you insist.

Well, I don't insist.

No, I wanted you

to stay here and find Wynant.

I did find him.

He was down in his shop.

Nick!

That was his body that was down there.

Darling, you'd better lay off that liquor.

Well, that's a fact.

Wynant's body?

Yep.

Say, don't you want something to eat?

Everybody thought it was rosebreen.

That's what they think...

guild and the rest of them.

They take it for granted

it was another one of Wynant's victims.

Guild's out looking for Wynant.

That's all that troubles him.

What makes you so sure it was Wynant's body?

Well... Several things.

Oh, hello. Fred? We're hungry again.

And lots of onions. Oh, and, uh, coffee.

You're driving me crazy. What things?

Hmm?

What things make you so sure?

Oh! Well, take the clothes, for instance.

They were very carefully preserved,

and the body was

just as carefully destroyed.

Whoever killed him was counting on one thing...

that skeletons all look alike.

Well, they do, don't they?

Sure.

You're not getting another swallow until you open up.

I remember that Wynant had shrapnel in his shin.

It used to bother him.

I looked for it and found it.

How long has he been dead?

A couple of months.

Oh, then he couldn't have committed those murders.

Smart gal.

Wynant dead. Does Dorothy know?

No. Nobody knows but you.

I'm going to tell her.

You can't do that.

She's going crazy.

She'd rather know he was dead than...

I can't tell anyone. I haven't told guild.

Why?

I'm lying low until I get the dope.

I won't go off half-cocked.

What will you do?

I'm going to get the murderer,

and I've got an idea.

You want to see me take him?

Yes.

Have you got a nice evening gown?

What's that got to do with it?

Have you got a nice evening gown?

Yes, I've got a Lulu. Why?

I'm going to give a party and invite all the suspects.

Suspects? They won't come.

Oh, yes, they will.

I'll get guild to issue the invitations.

Who do you think did it?

Mimi.

Mimi?

Mimi, jorgenson,

morelli, Tanner.

What were you doing

on the night of October 5, 1902?

I was just a gleam in my father's eye.

Let's see. You at the head.

And you on my right.

Thank you.

I'll put MacCaulay here. He can help me.

Ought to be a lady next to him.

I've got Mimi.

I don't think Mimi likes him.

Then it's Mimi.

Who goes next to me?

Leave that open. See what you draw.

Put Dorothy there.

And then Tommy?

I'll keep Tommy on this side. Put Gilbert next.

Nice boy. Who's next to Gilbert?

That bird that shot me.

Morelli? This is going to be good.

I'll put Mimi's gigolo husband here.

Have they found him?

They've found him.

Who goes next to him?

I'm leaving that open.

I have a feeling he won't come alone.

Where will you put guild?

Down at the end,

where he can keep an eye on things

when the trouble starts.

That little friend of nunheim's,

the frying-pan juggler, there.

Are you sure one of these people is the killer?

Positive.

I can't stand the suspense.

Which one did it?

I wish you'd tell me.

I wish you'd tell me.

Mr. Charles.

These men will interfere with your beautiful dinner.

How's it going, boys?

Oh, swell. Now, how's this?

Yes, "misseur."

Mmm. Terrible.

That's all right.

Your men will serve the dinner.

These boys are just here in case.

I think they're going to be all right.

Hello, Mrs. Charles.

Oh, hello, Mr. Guild.

I see you're all set.

Do you think they'll come?

Most of them are here already.

My men are picking up the rest.

Bring them in, boys.

You're a great help to a hostess.

I wish I had you at all my dinner parties.

Let go of my arm, you big lug!

I ain't done nothin'.

Oh, it's you, huh?

We only wanted you to dine with us.

If you think I'll talk, you're crazy.

Just 'cause I was mixed up with a stool pigeon

don't mean I'm one, too.

Absolutely not. Show the lady a chair.

On your way, sister.

Did you find Dorothy?

No, but she'll be here.

What you need is a drink.

I should think you guys are tired of picking me up.

Step this way, kid.

What's up?

It's outrageous!

How do you do, Mrs. Jorgenson?

How dare you send a detective after us?!

We wanted to be sure you'd get here.

I told him we couldn't come.

We're going to the theater.

Nicky's putting on a little show of his own.

You must stay. Please come have a cocktail.

What's the gag?

You know as much as I do.

Have a cocktail.

No, thanks.

I said have a cocktail!

He wants us to have a cocktail.

Hi, MacCaulay.

Take off your hat and coat

and join our festivities.

Oh, Tanner. What's this?

They had me in jail last night.

Don't think a thing of it.

Tanner, take off your things.

What is it, Mr. Charles?

I've got something, I think.

Come in, Tanner.

Where's Dorothy?

I thought she was with you.

She left the house this afternoon.

Here she is now.

We picked them up at the Pennsylvania station.

Come on in.

Hello, Nick.

A party, huh?

Yes.

Celebrating father's third murder?

They were trying to make a getaway.

We were doing nothing of the sort.

You can't get away with this.

How right you are.

Take this... Gentleman's hat and coat.

Music. Much music.

Nick interrupted me

at a very important time of my life.

I was about to take my first false step.

I'm getting out of here.

No. You stay here.

If I stay, I'm going to take a poke at him.

Then I insist that you stay.

Here's jorgenson.

Why, Chris!

How do you do? I'm Nick Charles.

Chris, where have you been?

None of your business.

I swear it isn't my fault.

I tried to keep you out of this.

Take your hands off him.

Do you hear me?

Chris, what does this mean?

Sorry we're late.

We had to break down the door.

Chris, how could you? Oh!

Do come in and make yourselves comfortable.

Take the gentleman's hat and coat.

Come, friends, and get it.

Tommy, would you like to be end man?

Mr. Jorgenson, next to Tommy.

Dorothy, you and Mr. Quinn are here.

MacCaulay, here, if you will.

Tanner, down there.

Oh, Mrs. Jorgenson, next to Mr. Jorgenson.

I'm Mrs. Jorgenson!

Put it over there, sister.

I was Mrs. Jorgenson before you were.

Oh, Mimi, uh... You're here.

Oh, waiter,

will you remove the illumination, please?

Ladies and gentlemen, be seated.

Now, my friends, if I ma y propose a little toast.

Let us eat, drink, and be merry,

for tomorrow we die.

You give such charming parties, Mr. Charles.

Thank you, Mrs. Charles.

Perhaps you'll tell us now

why we're here.

We're here because I have some very important news.

What is it?

Just this.

Clyde Wynant did not kill Julia, nunheim, or anyone.

What are you talking about? It's in the papers.

He didn't kill them?

What did I tell you?

I'd like to believe that.

I knew they'd pull something.

If you got money,

you can get by with anything.

Quiet! Let him have his say.

What makes you say that, Nick?

I saw him last night.

Where?

That's nothing. I saw him myself.

I told you.

It's a frame-up.

When did you see him?

Last night, in my apartment.

Is that so? What did he say?

He wanted to know how I was

and how the children were.

What was he wearing?

Uh, brown suit, brown shoes,

a white shirt,

a grayish tie with reddish-brown

or brownish-red dots in it.

Tell the men.

I saw him, too, wearing a green suit.

What are you saying? You weren't even there.

I know, but I saw him.

Where?

I was gazing in my crystal.

Waiter, will you serve the nuts?

I mean, will you serve the guests the nuts?

Mimi, I'm afraid you're lying.

I really did see Wynant last night.

Are you kidding?

What's the idea of holding out on me?

You saw him yourself.

That was his body

buried in the shop.

Nick!

Dorothy, it's terrible to tell you this way,

but your father is dead.

He's been dead three months.

I'm terribly...

you have something on your coat.

Oh, darling, please don't cry.

It's terrible, I know,

but isn't it better that way?

I'll take care of her.

Uh, Tommy...

Tommy, you sit here.

Waiter, will you kindly remove that?

What? No one eating?

Ah! Mimi, I see it hasn't affected your appetite.

Because I don't believe a word of it.

What's your proof?

A piece of shrapnel in his shin.

If he didn't do it, who did?

The murderer is right in this room,

sitting at this table.

You may serve the fish.

Eat something, you fool.

Won't you tell us who?

I don't know.

I thought if we had a little get-together,

we might find out.

Nice food, isn't it?

Yes. It's the best dinner I ever listened to.

Who do you think did it?

Morelli.

You can't pin this on me!

What am I, the fall guy?

Sit down!

I only want to ask a question.

Morelli, you knew Julia.

Yeah.

Was she gypping Wynant?

She don't say. I figure she is.

Why's that?

I wanted 5 grand. She gave me cash.

Thanks. Three months ago...

the night that Wynant caught you

in Julia's apartment, morelli...

he discovered Julia was cheating on him

and splitting it with some man.

That man was... Tanner.

Oh, I'm so sorry, Tanner.

Don't you want some wine?

No. Really, Mr. Charles,

I had nothing to do with this.

Tanner, sit down.

That's all right, Tanner.

You're driving me crazy.

Oh, now, let me see. Where was I?

Oh, yes.

Wynant went to find the man

he accused of having cheated him.

That man, knowing he was caught dead to rights

and with prison staring him in the face,

took the only way out.

He killed Wynant.

Now, Mr. Jorgenson...

yes?

You're not eating. Don't you care for oysters?

I was listening

to what you were saying.

Good.

This murderer is very clever.

He studied this whole thing out very carefully.

You'd understand that, wouldn't you, Gilbert?

Yes. No!

He planned the whole thing beautifully.

After he killed Wynant,

he wired MacCaulay using Wynant's name

and told him to close the shop.

Which I did.

Naturally.

Then he destroyed all of Wynant's clothes

with the exception of his watch chain.

He figured tha t someday that might come in handy.

Then he took Wynant's body

and buried it with another man's clothes...

a fat man's clothes to throw us off the track.

He put in a belt buckle with an "r" on it,

hoping we would think it was rosebreen...

an old enemy of Wynant's who disappeared years ago.

Oh, morelli,

would you mind holding your knife some other way?

You're worrying Gilbert.

If that knife's missing,

I'll look for it in your back.

After our hero had killed Wynant,

he had a brilliant idea.

He realized he and Julia could still collect money.

Wynant was supposed to be out of town.

No one knew where.

Our hero wrote letters to MacCaulay,

signing Wynant's name,

so MacCaulay would continue to send money to Julia.

He even telephoned MacCaulay.

That first day you came to see me,

he telephoned he was in town.

He called while I was out.

Wasn't he slick about that?

That same afternoon, Julia telephoned him.

She said that you were coming, Mimi.

I wanted to ask about Mr. Wynant.

Exactly. Well, our hero got terrified.

He was afraid that Julia would break down and tell you

he had murdered Wynant.

So he went to Julia, and he killed her.

He left Wynant's watch chain in her hand.

Is this true?

I don't know.

Why are you saying it?

It's the only way it makes sense.

I hope you're well.

His plan was working beautifully.

Everybody believed that Wynant was in town

and that he had done it.

There was just one hitch...

a bird named nunheim... Your friend.

Nunheim had gone to call on her.

He heard the shots.

He saw the murderer leave.

He knew who did it.

If he knew, he didn't tell me!

You can't drag me into this!

Our hero had paid nunheim once to keep his mouth shut.

When nunheim threatened him again,

he bumped him off.

Oh, he was very clever.

Everybody, even our astute friend guild,

thought Wynant was alive and was the murderer.

You can skip that.

But our hero had just one weak link in his chain.

The telegrams and phone calls were all very well,

but no one had actually seen Wynant,

so our hero picked on poor Mimi to strengthen his case.

Mimi is the only one at this table

who can tell us who the real murderer is.

Mimi, who told you to say you saw Wynant?

Nobody told me. I did see him.

Let my mother alone!

What were you paid?

It's true.

I did see him. He isn't dead!

You're lying. You'd do anything for money.

You were getting a good price for saying you saw Wynant.

You figured you won't get anything if he's dead.

I'm not staying here to be insulted!

MacCaulay, you drew up Wynant's will.

Wasn't Mimi cut off if she remarried?

I have no right to answer that.

Tanner, isn't that true?

Yes.

That shouldn't keep you from telling the truth.

Mrs. Jorgenson, were you ever divorced from Chris?

No.

You see, Mimi,

under the law, you've never remarried.

You're still one of the heirs.

Are you holding out for a few dollars

when you can get the whole estate?

Remember the other two mixed in with him... Julia and nunheim.

When he thought they might talk, he bumped them off.

He won't take any chances on you.

Do you want to be next?

You dirty little...

Well, there's your murderer... MacCaulay.

MacCaulay?

Sure. Want me to wrap him in cellophane?

Come on. Get in there!

MacCaulay! I can't believe it.

Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle!

Nicky, he might have killed you!

You sorry he didn't?

I'm glad you're not a detective.

Not a hip in a carload.

Well, here's to you two!

And to you two, too!

Why, the rat! He can't top us.

No.

Toot, toot!

Shall I keep these fresh for you?

Yes, thank you.

My gracious!

It's 1:00.

It's what?

It's 1:00.

No, baby, it's 11:00.

It's 1:00. I set my watch ahead.

You set your watch to 12:00, didn't you?

You're in New York, for instance...

Nick.

San Francisco is 3,000 miles west of New York.

The sun does not get to San Francisco...

Nick. Nick!

Yes, baby.

Does that mean it's bedtime?

Well, that's a thought.

Oh, well.

Come on, sugar. Leave us do it.

Asta.

Well, good night, children.

Good night.

And flights of angels

sing thee to thy rest.

Same to you, Nick.

Good night.

Nora, I can never thank you enough.

Oh, don't be silly.

- Good night. - Good night.

Gosh, darling,

I thought they'd never leave.

Oh, I thought you'd never leave.

Baby, the sun rises in the east.

It sets in the west.

If it's 12:00 in New York, automatically it's...

Nicky, put asta in here with me tonight.

Oh, yeah?