All language subtitles for The.Talk.of.The.Town.1942.1080p.WEBRip.DD2.0.x264-SbR

[MEN CHATTERING]

MAN:
it started
the fire.

I'm convinced that this fire
was deliberately set.

But by who, Mr. Holmes?
By who?

[ALARM RINGING]

[WHISTLE BLOWING]

[WHISTLE BLOWING]

Dilg escaped?

Escaped?

[THUNDER CRASHING]

Miss Shelley--

One move, and I'll brain ya.

I'd appreciate the keys
to your car.

You get out of here,
Leopold Dilg.

I'm sorry, Miss Shelley,
but it's very important.

I'm warning you!

[GROANS]

Oh. Oh!

Dilg! Dilg!

Excuse me.

Dilg, what are you doing here?
You broke out of jail.

In passing, it was necessary
to hit me on the skull.

You fool, the whole police force

must be looking for you.

The whole country.

I would like to stay here.

You can't. I'm fixing
this house up for rent.

It'll be occupied tomorrow.

Why did you escape?

Come on, you've got
to get out of here.

Now come on, please.

Oh!

What's the matter?

My ankle.

Oh, my gosh!

How far do you expect
to get with that?

And where are you going?

I would appreciate
any suggestions, Miss Shelley.

Why didn't you think of that
in the first place?

Miss Shelley...

do you believe I could
burn down a factory?

You're crying.

One day you love
the whole world,

and all of a sudden, every--

[CAR DOOR SHUTS]

No!

Get upstairs, quick.

[KNOCKING AT DOOR]

Quick. Now, look...

I want you to go in the attic.

And keep quiet, you understand?

Close that door behind you.

Get up there, quick.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Good evening.

I am Michael Lightcap.

Oh, uh, Michael Lightcap.

Oh! Oh, Professor Lightcap.

You weren't supposed
to arrive till tomorrow.

Your secretary wrote--

My secretary is getting married.

Nothing
deranges a woman's mind
more than marriage.

My entire life has been
in complete confusion

for the last two months.

You must be the person
with whom we corresponded.

Yes, Nora Shelley.

How do you do, Miss Shelley?
How do you do?

An excellent name.

Yes. Uh, it's raining,
isn't it?

Definitely.

Uh, we're having
an early summer.

Yes. Could we continue
the conversation inside?

It's rather damp out here.

Oh, nothing is ready.

I-I thought that tomorrow
about noon--

Really, I suggest a hotel.

Well, I planned
to spend the night here,

so I'll spend the night here.

NORA:
Oh, uh...

Standing under
an open umbrella
inside a house, bad luck.

Silly superstition, isn't it?
Yes.

Still, in a new, strange house,

you never can tell what's liable

to turn up, so why take chances?

[RIP]

I've had that umbrella 11 years.

I'm so sorry.

There's a certain...
nervous, impulsive quality

about you, Miss Shelley,

that I find
in many of my students.

Disease of the age.

Yes, sir.

I'll get my bag.

Get up in the attic.

Didn't you hear?
That's the new tenant!

You shouldn't have
broken his umbrella.

Get up in the attic.
Do you know who he is?

He's number-one legal genius
in the state.

Dean of Commonwealth Law School.

He eats with the governor.
He writes to the president.

Yeah, a very cold character,
Mr. Lightcap.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

He's back.

Now remember,
keep quiet up here.

And later, out you go.

I wonder where.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Oh, darn.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Oh, hello.

Why did you lock the door?

Did I?
Why, isn't that queer?

Miss Shelley,
there seems to be
a strange atmosphere

hanging over this house.

Soon as I get the curtains up,
it'll be... all right.

Yes.

You're a very sarcastic man,
aren't you?

I've just finished teaching
for nine months

400 weary young men the
rudiments of law,
Miss Shelley.

I've had to drive
all the way down here myself

because my man went to see

his ailing mother
in West Virginia.

I've had a long, hard trip,

and I was looking forward to
a cheerful, brightly lit house

a warm bed.

And I find myself,
late on a rainy night,

in this shambles.

I must confess,
Miss Shelley, I...

I've never seen
such monumental inefficiency.

Well...

Why didn't you tell
your blithering secretary

to get things right before she
ran off and got
herself married?

Is it my fault because
you come barging in here

24 hours ahead of schedule?

If you'd come tomorrow
like you were supposed to,

this house would have been
efficiently whipped together.

Yes, and it would've been
cheerful and bright.

Are you through?

Yes.

There's a certain justice
in what you say.

However, the violence
with which you say it--

Well, I'm sorry,
but I--

I accept your apology.
Please accept mine.

And now, may I ask...

is there
a bedroom in the house
fit to be slept in?

The master bedroom
happens to be quite fit.

Thank you.

Oh, I'll show you where it is.

No, no, I can find it.

It's, uh, the second floor.

I assumed it wasn't the attic.

Good night, Miss Shelley,
you may leave now.

Oh, I think I'd better
stay and finish this job,
if you don't mind.

I'd rather you
leave everything
as it is for the time being,

and go home.

Good night, Miss Shelley.

Uh, right in there.
Good night.

Thank you. Good night.

I forgot my hat and coat.

Uh, Miss Shelley?
Miss Shelley?

Would you please close the front

door noiselessly when you leave?

Thank you, good night.

Good night.

[TAP]

[WHISPERS]
Hey, where are you?

I was going to break your neck.

Lucky you spoke.

Yes, it certainly was.

All right, Leopold,
he's asleep now.

You used to live here, you
and your mother, didn't you?

Yes. We live in town now
and rent this place.

Come on, get up.
You can make it
if you go quietly.

My ankle is so swollen now,

I couldn't walk
five yards with it.

Oh, why does everything
happen to me?

What are you going to do?
You can't stay here.

You're still
the prettiest girl
in Lochester.

Now, look.

This escape was insane.
You haven't
been convicted yet.

The best thing for you to do
is to go on back.

Maybe they won't convict you.

The first day I saw the faces

of those 12 citizens
on the jury,

I knew my goose was cooked.

[EXHALES]

They don't like me.

What do you suppose
they think now

after this stupid jailbreak?

Why, that you're
as guilty as sin.

It's possible I am.
Don't you think?

Maybe. Maybe not.

Leopold, as far as I know,
you're capable of anything,

even burning the factory.

You were the wildest kid that
ever went to
a Lochester school.

You wore pigtails then.
I was in love with you.

Always collecting
a bad reputation,

even after you grew up.

Speeches on street corners,
petitions.
Any kind of a squawk,

and Leopold Dilg's
right in the middle of it.

Something like this
was bound to happen.

What's wrong with you, anyway?

Well, it's a form
of self-expression.

Some people write books,
some people write music.

I make speeches
on street corners.

This is no time for nonsense.

You're even prettier now.

Look, what about Yates?
Does he know what you've done?

Yates?

Yates. Sam Yates,
your lawyer.

Don't you know your own lawyer?

The state made me
a present of a lawyer.

If anybody can help you,
it's Sam Yates.

I'll call him,

and that's the end of the line
as far as I'm concerned.

And whatever Yates decides,

he's got to get you out of
this house by
the crack of dawn.

That ankle had better be better.

Thank you, Miss Shelley.

See that you keep quiet up here.

Yes, Miss Shelley.

[CREAKS]

Miss Shelley.

Uh...

I thought you had gone.

Uh, I was hoping you'd be awake.

I must say, this is irregular.

Uh... I'm in trouble.

In trouble?

Yes, it's Mother.

And what has Mother
to do with it?

Well, we live in a house
over in town,

and we scrape
on each other's nerves.

Sometimes the fights,
the things
we say to each other...

Today we-- We had one
of our disagreements.

You have no idea how ugly.

The only thing
that works is absence.

I thought that--

Well, I thought
I'd stay here tonight.

You see, you weren't supposed
to come until tomorrow.

I'm sorry, forgive me.
I'll go now.

Miss Shelley.

If you wish, another room.

Oh...

Oh, thank you so much.

Oh, there are plenty
of blankets.

Oh, thank you.
Good night.

Good night.

[CHUCKLES]

Uh... I was wondering...

if I could borrow a pair
of your pajamas.

Oh, thank you so much.

Don't mention it.
Good night.

Good night.

Uh...

If you're worried
about anything,

there's a lock
just inside the door.

It works very simply, just...

Thank you. Good night.

Hello, is Mr. Yates there?

Do you know where I can find
him? It's very important.

Nora Shelley.

You haven't any idea
when he'll be back?

You haven't.

No, he won't be able
to reach me.

I may call again later,

or very early
in the morning, yes.

Goodbye. Thank you.

[CHIMES]

[SNORING]

[SNORING LOUDLY]

She must have adenoids.

[LEOPOLD SLAPPING CHEST]

Oh, my gosh.

Hey. Hey!
Hm?

Get back in there.

Good morning, Miss Shelley.

A morning for the angels.

A morning for jailbirds
to keep their heads in.

What have we for breakfast,
Miss Shelley?

Oh, lovely, lovely.

Really lovely.

Beautifully lovely.

Good morning.

Morning.

Did you... sleep well?

Mm, fair, thank you.

That's good.

Your adenoids trouble you,
don't they?

Hm?

Perhaps I shouldn't mention it,

but to tell you the truth,
Miss Shelley,

I have never heard such
magnificent
snoring in my life.

Wha--?

Oh. Yes, isn't it awful?

You know,
they're as big as your fist.

I'll be greatly obliged
if you'll patch things up
with your mother today.

Certainly.
I'll go right home

just as soon as I get
things straightened up.

Miss Shelley, I intend to be
at work within the half-hour.

I will appreciate your getting
dressed and
leaving immediately,

without slamming the door.

But, Mr. Lightcap,
your breakfast.

I'll have it ready in a jiffy.

If you don't mind,
I'd prefer to--

Hello, is Mr. Yates there?

He's left the house?

Where to? Do you know?

Listen, this is
Miss Shelley again.

Did you tell him
I phoned last night? No.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

No, thanks.

[CONTINUOUS KNOCKING]

Mother.

Nora Shelley, what is this?

Now, quiet.
Don't get alarmed.

What's going on here?

What do you mean
by staying out all night?

Where did you
get these things?
Why didn't you phone me?

It's all very simple, dear.

Who owns that great,
big car out there?

Professor Lightcap,
the tenant.
He arrived last night.

These are his pajamas.

Well!

Don't be a silly old woman,

and take that look
off your face.

I stayed to finish the house.

It got very late,
too late to phone you--

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Hi, Nora.

Donald Forrester,
what are you doing here?

Say, that's some getup, Nora.

What do you want, Donald?

Came to interview Lightcap
for the Lochester Sentinel,

the fastest
growing newspaper--

Don't be ridiculous.
He's not even here yet.

Not expected for weeks.

I'd know his pajamas anywhere.

How'd he know that?
Mother!

Hey, Henry.
If we can get a shot
of Miss Shelley in those--

Henry, you lift that camera,
and I bust it.

Now go on, get out of here.
I'll throw something--

It serves you right, Nora.

Now, you get dressed at once
and come right--

Oh, a beard.
I take it all back, baby.

And what, may I ask,
is going on here?

Uh... Professor Lightcap,
this is my mother.

Well, Professor Lightcap,
I'm so glad.

I've heard of you, but I was
afraid you were a younger man.

Professor,
my name is Forrester,
from the Lochester Sentinel.

I'd like an interview.

I'm sorry.

For instance, your opinion
in the Dilg case would--

Listen to that, Nora.
Dilg's escaped.

No!
DONALD: Yeah.

What would you say
about a jailbreak

under circumstances
like that, professor?

A clear admission of guilt,
don't you think?

I have no thoughts
on the matter.

I'm not acquainted
with the case.

The burning of
the Holmes factory--

Mr. Lightcap does not wish
to be interviewed.

He wishes his breakfast.

And reasonable solitude.

Yes. Now, Mother, will you
please?
And will you please go?

Will you come right home?
Yes, dear, I will.

Good morning. Where does
it go, Miss Shelley?

Uh, right over there, please.

Excuse me, bud.

No, right over there, Eddie.

You, uh... weren't expected
till noon, you know.

That is becoming quite...
Quite evident.

[SNEEZES]

Bless you.

Thank you.

You must have been caught
in the rain last night.

I was.
Your mother doesn't seem
very frightening this morning.

Oh, she's very changeable.

Why should I be
frightening this morning?

Now, Mother, Professor Lightcap

wants to do some work.
Come on.

I wish you would
get out of those pajamas.

Why, Sam Yates!
Look at you.

Hello, Nora.

I'm hiding in the middle
of a parade.

Why, Sam Yates.

Michael. I'll be doggoned.

How did you know

this is the one
man in the world
I wanted to see?

I didn't.
I didn't know you knew him.

I went to school
with him, that's all.

What did you call me about then?

I didn't call you.
You didn't?

Holy smoke. Where did
you get that outfit?

They gave me a message--

Somebody must be cuckoo.

Have you been fighting, Sam?

Why, I fight on the average
of three times a day.

At school you had
a tendency toward riots.

I thought you'd outgrow it.

I can't stand the way
this town is going after

a fellow named Leopold Dilg.

Anybody who believes the swill
Holmes passes out about him

has got to settle with me.

I take it, Sam,
that you're Dilg's lawyer.

I am not his lawyer. That is,
I am. The state appointed me.

But Dilg doesn't want me.
He's innocent, he says,

and why does an innocent man
need a lawyer?

Original thinker.

He certainly is.

He's the only honest man
I've come across in this town

in 20 years.

Naturally,
they want to hang him.

Sam, really.

He's been shouting for years

that Andrew Holmes is
crooked as a dog's hind leg.

Mind you, he's just a worker

with gumption enough
to fight the big
political boss.

Getting quite a following too.

So, what happens?

He predicts the mills
will burn down.

They do.
One man is burned to death.

Here's Holmes' chance.

"It was Dilg," he says,
"Go get him."

He starts lashing this burg
into a frenzy.

He rigs this phony trial
against him.

Dilg escapes because he knows
he hasn't got a chance.

And the way this
town feels now,
if they catch up with him--

What did you expect me to do?

You, the most distinguished
legal mind in the state,

your name at the head
of a committee

to demand
a fair trial for him,
somewhere else in the state,

away from the prejudice
of this town.

This Judge Grunstadt
who's trying the case,

is nothing but
a tool of Holmes
and out to get Dilg.

He's said as much.

You're not buying the idea.

Sam, my business is with
the principles of law.

I can't allow myself
to get mixed up

in these little local affairs.

The philosophy
behind the deed,
that's my field.

May I quote that, Mr.
Lightcap?

No!

SAM:
Little squabbles, eh?
Personality.

[POLICE SIREN WAILING]

And now what?

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Who lives here?

Professor Michael Lightcap.

You take the house,
I'll take the grounds.

Where do you think you're
going to take the grounds?

Have you got a search warrant?

Dilg escaped,
if you don't know it.

We're searching every house
on this side of the road.

Have you a warrant?
Now, look, lady.

Look, we've been here all night.

There's nobody here but us.

Professor Lightcap came here
for a quiet summer.

He wants to write a book.
Listen--

No warrant, out!

That's from the Constitution,
isn't it, Sam?

Well, not exactly
in those words.

We guarantee,
nobody's here but us.

That's too many. Now, will you
please leave, all of you?

You're wasting
my entire morning.

Yes, Mother, will you, please?
Donald. Both of you.

Don't come home
in those pajamas.

No, dear, I won't.

Here we are. Watch it, now.
Here we come.

Now, will you please put that
down? Just put it down there.

I've rented this house,
and I don't want

a lot of policemen
in it or truck-men--

Shippers, bud.
Or shippers bud...

or reporters or mothers.

[SNEEZES]

Bless you.

Now, don't come--

You be sure to
take them off now
and come home soon.

Well, so long, Michael.

I'm sorry, Sam.

You're still wearing it, I see.

It's becoming.
You've grown into it.

And what's that?

It's the coffee boiling.

Well, take it off.

You do it, will you?
I've got to speak to Mother.

Say, do you know who's up
in that attic right now?

Leopold Dilg.

Who?
Dilg.

In that attic?
Yes.

Now?
Yes, now.

He stumbled in here last night
with a bad ankle,

five minutes before
Lightcap arrived.

[LAUGHS]

What's funny?

"Can't get involved in little
local affairs," says Lightcap.

There's a little local affair
right in his own house.

You've got to get him
out of here.

Why?
Why?!

Where could he be as safe

as in the home of a dean
of a law school?

Are you kidding?

Nora, Dilg's life
won't be worth a dime

if I turn him back
to that jury now.

Lightcap can help us,
but it'll take time.

That's nothing to me,
one way or the other.

He can't stay up there.

Why not?

Are you insane?
Who'd take care of him?

You.
Me?

Miss Shelley.

Yes, just a minute.

I can't hang around here,
even if I wanted to.

Lightcap's ordered me out
50 times since last night.

I'm here now only by the grace
of being in his pajamas.

One minute I'm out of these,
and I'm out on my ear.

Then stay in 'em.
LIGHTCAP: Miss Shelley?

Yes, I'm coming.

I'll keep in touch with you.
Oh, Sam!

Miss Shelley, the coffeepot
is about to explode.

Uh, I'm coming, Your Honor.

Uh... I'm coming.

[SNIFFING]

Would you like some hot coffee?

Thank you.

Is that the way
you like your eggs?

Thank you, yes.

Uh, by the way, Miss Shelley,

if you could arrange
to get out of my pajamas,

I'd take it as
a great personal favor.

Oh, certainly. Certainly.

Just as soon as
I clear things up a bit.

Please leave things
just as they are, will you?

I intend to start right away.

Uh...

Professor Lightcap,

what are you going to do
about your lunch and dinner?

Yes, I thought of that.

Is there a good employment
agency in the town?

Yes, there's Mrs. Hines.
She's very good.

Will you leave me
her telephone number, please?

You want a cook, naturally.

Mm-hm. And a stenographer.

Would you have any objections

to both functions being
performed by the same person?

Very advantageous, you know.

You want it quiet,
no extraneous
people tramping about.

Do I understand that you are
applying for this position?

Yes.

Miss Shelley,

judging by the last 12 hours,

how quiet do you think
it could be in this house

with you in it?

Oh. Well, you mustn't
judge by that.

Take right now for instance.
Nice and peaceful, isn't it?

Mm-hm.

[MOTOR BACKFIRING]

Excuse me, please.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

[ENGINE SPUTTERS]

Michael Lightcap?

Yes, indeed. Telegram for you,
Professor Lightcap.

Professor Lightcap, for you.

Of course,
if you get telegrams,
it's not my fault.

[MOTOR BACKFIRING]

Bad news?

No, it's from my man, Tilney.

Oh, is he arriving?

No, not for a few days.

You see, it happens
to be my birthday,

and Tilney always remembers it.

Oh.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Miss Shelley,
do I look 40 years old?

Yes, you--

That is, in a way, you do.

Miss Shelley, will you let me

have Mrs. Hines'
telephone number?

As I said, really, I represent
the perfect solution.

Cook-secretary
and secretary-cook.

$40 a week and board.

Miss Shelley, I dictate
150 words a minute.

Well, some people think
more slowly than others.

And I have a very strict regime.

Breakfast at 8,
eggs every other morning.

No eggs tomorrow.

Luncheon at 1,
an hour for correspondence,

work from 3 to 6, dinner at 7.

Light meals,
but carefully prepared.

Now, how could you find time
for all of that?

But that's easy. I could cook
while you're reading,

and things like that, you see?

I think someone
a little more mature.

Oh, please, let me try.
I'd love to work for you.

It would be
a mental holiday for me.

You only need
a cook for a week
until your man arrives.

It'd be a shame to give
the job to some woman

and have her miss out
on a permanent position.

You see, it doesn't
matter to me.

I'm a teacher in high school,

and this is just
my summer vacation.

You agree with me there,
don't you?

Well...

You'll never regret this move,
really, I assure--

Uh...

Your clothes, Miss Shelley.

We got them here
as quick as we could.

Uh... uh, uh, uh,

take them r-r-right upstairs,
Eddie.

First door to the right.

Please.
Yes, ma'am.

I'll be out of these pajamas
in a jiffy.

You can start collecting
your thoughts, professor.

When I come down,
you can plunge
right into work.

Uh, the, uh...

beginning is always
a little difficult.

Uh, yes, sir.

Jot down this title:

The Relation of Literature
to Legislation

in the 18th Century in England.

Yes, sir.

The effects--

There's no need to say "Yes,
sir" to each line I dictate.

No, sir.

The effects of literature
upon legislation...

is a study that
has long claimed
the interests of scientists--

Uh, social scientists
in every country in the world.

Uh... the law...

is the sum of the experience
of civilized man.

The sign...

The sign that man
has emerged from the jungle.

Period.

The 18th century represented
perhaps the high point

of man's intellectual
development.

Reason, simple and pure

was the weight
against which human problems

were held in balance.

Law became, for the first time,

the instrument of pure logic

with each man's rights
and responsibilities

considered from the viewpoint
of the possible and reasonable

rather than the--

[SNEEZES]

Bless you.

Thank you.

Pay close attention,
Miss Shelley.
Did you get that?

NORA:
"Each man's rights
and responsibilities

considered from the viewpoint
of the possible and reasonable

rather than the..."

Rather than the feudal
conventions

of divine and everlasting
rights.

It was the aim
of the lawmakers
and the law administrators

to build the law firmly
on principles

which are above
small emotions, greed

and the loose thinking
of everyday life.

Impossible.

What is the law? It's a gun
pointed at somebody's head.

It all depends upon which
end of the gun you stand

whether the law is just or not.

Who is he?

Uh...

He's the gardener, Joseph.

Joseph, this is
Professor Lightcap,

the new tenant.

Pleased to know you.
Excuse me, I...

Still, what you say,
your point of
view about the law

is very interesting.

Thank you.
Yeah.

It represents
the ideal condition.

I don't approve of,
but I like people

who think in terms
of ideal conditions.

They are the dreamers, poets,

tragic figures in this world,
but interesting.

Uh... how are the zinnias
getting along, Joseph?

Dying.

You see, professor--

Joseph, if you don't mind,
I must get on
with my dictation.

And you might see if you can
save the zinnias from dying.

Certainly.

Still, I don't know, professor.

It might do you good
to talk to somebody like me.

I'm a practical man.

I have certain very practical
relations with the law.

Uh, the zinnias, Joseph.

Miss Shelley, I think we might
as well take our work inside.

It's getting rather chill--

[SNEEZES]

Bless you.

If you'll excuse us, Joseph.

[POLICE SIRENS WAILING]

And now, what's that?

What are you trying to do?

When I hear
a man talk nonsense,
I always get an impulse.

You get upstairs.

With this ankle, it's too late.

Then hide somewhere, quick.
Get in there.

See who it is, will you?

Oh, I'm looking for
a Professor Michael Lightcap.

I was told
he arrived here yesterday.

Yes, indeed.
Come right in.

Well, well, Senator Boyd.

Professor, how are you?
I'm glad to see you.

This is quite a surprise.
Sit down.

Oh, no, thanks,

I'll only be with you a minute.

I... have a bit
of news for you.

Oh?

Rather important.

Excuse me.

Oh, Miss Shelley,
this is Senator Boyd.

Senator, my secretary.

And cook.
And cook?

How do you do, senator?

How do you do?

Excuse me.

Now, sit down.

I tracked you down
because
the news I have for you

couldn't be entrusted to
the mails or
the telegraph wire.

And by the way, professor,
what party do you belong to?

Oh, no party. I just vote
whichever way I see fit.

An independent voter.
Uh-huh.

The backbone of the country.

Senator Boyd, please,

won't you tell me what...?

Well, Lightcap...

I came here to say
that the president

would be pleased to appoint you

to the bench of
the Supreme
Court in September.

Well? Would you be
willing to accept?

I'd be willing to accept.

Wonderful. Perfect.

Congratulations.

In six weeks, your name will
be submitted to the Senate.

Yes.

The Senate will investigate,
naturally,

but I don't think
we have to fear that.

But I'd be careful.

I'd keep the name
out of the papers,

in any connection,
if I were you.

I've been keeping my name
out of the papers

for nearly 20 years.

Of course. Well, I've got
to start back now.

You must have something
before you leave.
Miss Shelley.

Oh, no, thanks, really.

Goodbye, Michael.
Congratulations.

Thank you.

You'll hear from me.

Goodbye.

Oh, Miss Shelley, yes.

Where were we?

Oh, yes, bring your book.

You're not going
back to work now.

Hm?

Bring your book.

But you've done
a good morning's work.

Besides, this is your birthday.

And really, professor,
you've got a honey of a cold.

I feel personally
responsible for it.

I'm going to start
taking care of you.

I'm going to put you to bed

and feed you hot, nourishing
broths and hot lemonade.

Hot lemonade?
Yes.

Now, now, don't be silly.
Bring your book.

Oh, there's something to what
Miss Shelley says, professor.

You ought to take
good care of your health.

Supreme Court.
What do you know?

This stuff he reads
is remarkably dead.

You eating again?

That prison food was terrible.

Nora,
Supreme Court appointment
or no appointment,

we're dragging him into this.

Yeah, we certainly must.

Oh, we must, must we?

Look at him, Sam.

Calm and relaxed like he was
cruising on his yacht.

All he did was go out
and get his neck in a noose,

and now he sits there
and says, "We certainly must."

How do you suggest
we start, Leopold?

Hm?

Well, what have we here?

An intelligent man, but cold.

No blood in his thinking.

So we must start
to thaw him out.

Oh, we thaw him.

Can't let a man like that

take a seat on
the highest court
in our land.

Bad for the country.

Oh, I see.

All of a sudden what he's
concerned about
is our country.

Our country first, yes.

Then my neck next.

Leopold, that's all very
beautiful and commendable,

but this thawing-out process,
we haven't got months,
you know.

Oh, plenty of time. I like
to break out in a cold sweat

every time the doorbell rings.

How do you
propose we thaw him,
Leopold, with a blowtorch?

Well, we have to give
that some thought.

We have a good start.

The prettiest woman
in Lochester.

LIGHTCAP:
Miss Shelley.

Miss Shelley.

Miss Shelley,
I'm feeling a little tired.

I think I'll get some sleep.

Oh, that's wonderful.

That's just what you need,
plenty of rest.

Yes, it's been quite a day.

This is for you, for being
such a good patient.

[CHUCKLES]

Thank you, Miss Shelley.

The professor's custard.

Oh, not now, Joseph.
Thank you.

Not at all.
I was on my way to bed anyway.

Feeling better, professor?

Much better, thanks.

You know, I'm really
very grateful to you both.

Oh, say nothing of it.

Your cold will thaw.

Everything thaws.

Good night, Joseph.

Oh, and I hope
your ankle is better.

Thank you.

Good night, Miss Shelley.

Good night.

Ah, professor, good morning.

Good morning.

Well, what's wrong?
Well...

Oh, excuse me, professor.

I didn't think
you'd be down this morning.

No, that's quite all right.
Stay as you are.

No, the gardener shouldn't
be eating in here.

Nonsense.
Sit down, I insist.

Good morning, Miss Shelley.

Are you sure you should
have gotten up, professor?

Oh, yes, I'm quite well.

Perfectly normal.
Oh, that's good.

Is there a morning paper?

Uh, I'll see.

No, it hasn't come yet.

Wonderful cook, professor.
We're in clover.

I'll take this out of your way.

Well, Joseph, this is
very nice and companionable.

You know, there's a touch
of the philosopher about you

that I like.

And you interest me
enormously, professor.

Good. Good.

Ah.

Sit down, Miss Shelley,
and have some breakfast.

Yes, I just must get the coffee.

Wonderful.

Ever had borscht, professor?

What's that?

Beet soup with sour cream.
It's a Polish dish.

Yeah. With an egg
beaten in it.

Don't let
anybody give it to you
without an egg in it.

We must have some, Miss Shelley.

Yes, of course.

As soon as I finish my course
in American cooking, I'll...

Or you can buy it
at Mrs.
Pulaski's Polish dairy,

near the factory.

Pulaski's. By all means,
let's get some.

[LOUD WHIRRING]

LEOPOLD:
Well, here we are, professor.

[SCREAMS]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no!

This is not your egg morning.

Well, you...

You certainly think
of everything, Miss Shelley.

Boy, that's too bad
about your paper, professor.

Still, if you read yesterday's
paper, why read today's?

Just some more
about that terrible man Dilg.

Dilg?

Oh, the fugitive from justice.

Or a miscarriage of justice.

Your opinion too?

Might be yours too, professor,
if you knew Andrew Holmes.

He makes the laws.

He puts a fellow like
Judge Grunstadt on the bench.

Grunstadt takes orders.

Well, the voters may exercise
their right of the ballot

and remove him.

No, this corruption is so thick,

even the ballot can't touch it.

That's the way
every decent
person around here

feels about it.

If feelings had
any influence on the law,

half the country
would be in jail.

Facts, Miss Shelley, facts.

My dear professor,

people wind facts around each
other like pretzels. Please.

Facts alone,
that's a nut without a kernel.

Where's the soul?
Where's the instinct?

Where's the warm human side?
Thanks.

All right, Joseph.
You conduct the law your way,

on random sentimentality,

and you will have
violence and disorder.

Mm-hm. And your way,

you have a Greek statue:
beautiful, but dead.

All right, two schools
of thought.

I see your point of view,
theoretically.

In fact, I respect it.

I wish I could
respect yours, professor.

Uh...

J-Joseph puts it
a little strongly, professor.

He does respect you, of course,

but as you can see,
he's for the practical side,

the everyday, garden-variety
type of human experience.

Yes, and makes the law up
as he goes along.

Out of common sense, yes.

In fact, professor,
the way I see it,

you don't live
in this country,
you just take up room in it.

Now, Joseph!

That's quite all right.

Discussion amongst friends.

Of course. Delightful.

All you know about
the American scene

is what you read in
newspapers and magazines.

Somebody else's impressions
hashed up for lazy people.

If you don't feel it yourself,
you've learned nothing.

Just like having somebody
tell you about his operation.

Miss Shelley, I appear
to be a total loss.

That'll do, Joseph,
for this morning.

Professor...

I challenge you
to make an experiment.

Spend half a day with your books

and the other half
finding out what people do.

By the way, with these
indoor habits of yours,

you've got the complexion
of a gravel pit.

You know, Joseph, you're
no oil painting yourself.

No, a mummy would be closer.
They wore beards too.

Well, Joseph,
what would you suggest?

Well, there's
a baseball game today.

Baseball? Hm, baseball.

[CHUCKLES]

Joseph, are you crazy?

Baseball? Lightcap?

If I know the habits of
our leading
Lochester citizens,

Professor Lightcap
is about to have

a very enlightening experience.

Pass the beans.

Peanuts, peanuts.

Come on, Dockwoilor.
Pickle it!

Hi, judge.
Hi.

Hello, judge.

Get your fresh-roasted
Georgia goobers,
10 cents a bag.

MAN: Hello, Your Honor.
GRUNSTADT: How do you do, sir?

Hello, judge.
Hello.

Hello, Miss Shelley.
Hello, judge.

Anything happen?

Connolly speared
a line drive over third

in the first inning, a beaut.

Oh, Professor Lightcap,
this is Judge Grunstadt.

Lightcap. Why, of course.
How do you do, sir?

How do you--?

Well, this is a great honor.

Thank you.
Did you say Judge, um...?

Uh-huh. Grunstadt.

Doubt whether you ever
heard of me, but your work...

I've read it in the Law Review
every year.

Admired it deeply.
Who hasn't?

It's profound. Yes, austere.
Absolutely austere.

Hey, sit down, you're not
made out of glass.

Yes, indeed.
Oh, how I envy you, sir.

You work in the quiet
of your library,

and the world
does not interrupt.

REFEREE:
Ball one!

You blind?!
That was right
across the plate!

But me, I labor in the vineyard.

You've heard of the Dilg case,
I take it?

LIGHTCAP:
Yes, yes.

GRUNSTADT:
There's luck for you.

First case I've had in 10 years

that drew any outside attention.

Slide, you idiot, slide!

And right in
the middle of the trial,

the swine skips out
like a butterfly.

And I was preparing
a brilliant
opinion on the case.

Before the trail was finished?

They hadn't brought
all the evidence in, had they?

Uh, no, but he was
as guilty as Judas.

How do you know he was?

The clearest thing in the world.

The town malcontent.

Holy terror, even as a boy.

Throw it, throw it,
you blockhead!

Would you consider it ethical

to judge a man
before all the evidence is in?

My dear fellow, he broke jail.

That rather proves it,
doesn't it?

Why,
even a library philosopher
like you, professor,

would have to admit that.

Miss Shelley, I think we've
had enough baseball for today.

All right.

You're not going.

Oh, I have to.
I have work to do.

That's too bad.

Great thing, this baseball.

Gets the legal cobwebs
out of the brain.

Oh, uh, I have this box.

Any time you'd like
to see a game--

Thank you.

Sit down, will ya?

Yes, you play very well.
Where did you learn?

My father. He was the kind
of man who resented work.

It interfered with chess,
and argument.

[CHUCKLES]

Yes, you...

You're a man of many parts.

I look forward
to a very pleasant summer.

Thank you, professor.
Your king is still in check.

Yes, now, let's see.

Thanks for lending me
these slippers, professor.

Certainly been a relief.

Well, that's good.
I'm glad.

Cozy here, isn't it,
Miss Shelley?

I'm so glad
you're comfortable, Joseph.

Did you actually hear
what that fool Grunstadt said?

Yes, wasn't it remarkable?

Joseph, what do you think?

Judge Grunstadt was sitting
in the box right next to us

at the game today.

Oh. Hm, I hear
he's a very charming man.

He's an idiot.

Writing an opinion of a case
before hearing
all the evidence.

Ah. Preposterous fake.

[TSKS]

That's serious.
Your rules don't allow that.

Naturally not.

Hm. And what do you
do about it?

I?
You or anybody.

Oh, there's--

There's nothing to do.

Well, I can't intrude
on the-- On the business

of the superior court
of the county.

So you just turn your face.

Joseph, you don't understand.

I understand this much:

You laugh at my kind of law
and wink at the other.

What kind do you practice?

I refuse to be dragged
into any further discussion

of the philosophy of law.

Well, then let's not.

Joseph, I'm sorry.

It isn't that I
have no respect
for your intelligence,

which, I may say,
I find extremely lively.

But you're taking
a vacation from law, though.

Exactly.

But I was a little sharp,
I'm afraid.

Don't mention it.

Now, let's see.
My king is in check.

As a matter of fact, Joseph,
I may add that
I'm very grateful

for your presence in the house.

And you're a big treat
to me, professor.

Thank you, Joseph.

[DOGS BARKING]

They've picked up Dilg's scent.

They'll let us know
when they get him cornered.

They never miss.

Well, anyway, you
wouldn't believe it, Sam,

the way those two
like each other.

Maybe the thaw
is actually setting in.

Maybe.

That professor, he's got
a mind like a steel trap.

And sometimes he seems
like such a little boy,

I feel like going over
and kissing him.

Not a bad idea.

Never do that.

What are you doing out?

An active man has
to stretch his legs.

Naturally you feel
like kissing him.

He's a wonderful man.

I only meant that I--

Of course.

And the way he looks at you,
too, Miss Shelley.

Well, when a thaw sets in,
anything can happen.

Leopold, will you stop
acting like a fool?

The woods are full of police.

His man Tilney
may arrive any minute.

Oh, there's plenty of time.

Leopold, Holmes is whipping up
such hysteria,

in a few days they'll go over
this whole country

with a fine-toothed comb.

Tomorrow he's pulling a big
affair at the factory ruins.

Pictures and sob stories.

Well, that's fine.

What do you mean?

A most important experience
for our professor.

Leopold,
I'm getting awfully--

How do you think I'm going
to get him down there?

There are some very old
buildings down there.

Some of the best examples
of early American architecture

in New England.

And he's a cultured man from
Boston. Should be simple.

[DOGS BARKING]

Get back in the attic.

LIGHTCAP:
Joseph!

We're getting close, sheriff.

We got him, sheriff.

All right, Dilg, come down.

Them hounds of mine never miss.

Come on out,
or I'll shoot you out.

NORA:
Don't shoot!

Don't shoot.
Don't shoot, boys.

Take off that beard, Dilg.
I could
recognize you anywhere.

I told you he wasn't Dilg.
His name is
Professor Lightcap.

I'm sorry, professor,
but I've never known hounds

to make a mistake
like this before.

This town is made of nothing
else but mistakes.

You bad, naughty dogs.

And I'll thank you to call
your men off
and your dogs too.

Yes, sir.
I'm sorry--

I'll see that you lose
your badge for this.

But Mr. Yates--
I can't understand it.

I raised those hounds since
they was little, tiny pups

and this is the first time
they ever made a mistake.

Um, uh... that house there
was built in 1740.

Oh, yes, yes.

[DOGS BARKING]

Beaver.

It's a game. First one
to spot a beard.

Beards are quite unusual
in these parts.

Yes, I suppose they are.

I don't think I
ever told anyone
how I came to grow it.

I was one of the youngest
men ever to graduate

from Harvard Law School.

In fact, I was teaching at
Commonwealth before I was 22.

And I had a frank and open face.

People in trolley cars
used to call me "sonny."

Boys I was teaching
would slap me on the back.

Women would wink at me
in the street.

Is that bad?

No, but I was busy and
had no time for nonsense.

The beard became
a sort of fortress.

And then I suppose
I grew attached to it.

Well, I think it's very pretty.

Well now, what am I
to say to that?

I wonder what's going on
over here.

Pulaski's, the borscht place.

We must get some for Joseph.

Oh,
I'm afraid we haven't time,
professor.

Oh, but think of his face,
the ecstasy.

You're going to spoil that man.

Spoil Joseph? Oh, no.

Yes, sir.
Some borscht, please.

A quart.
Yes.

With an egg in it.

It must have an egg
beaten up in it.

Yes, sir.
In a moment, sir.

Ma, come on.

Look. Look at those two.

I see them. So?

They ordered a quart of borscht.

So?

With an egg!

Is that a crime?

Only one customer ever
orders it that way:

Leopold Dilg!

Sherlock Holmes,
I suppose you think

that he's Leopold Dilg
with a beard, huh?

I'm going to follow them.

Oh, my own private Federal
Bureau of Investigation.

I'm an American citizen.

In America, everybody
is responsible for everything.

I'm following.

Oh, he's such a...

With an egg.
It's wonderful. 30 cents.

Thank you.
Thank you.

I think this is the way
back to the car.

But this is the shortest way.
Just up around
the corner here.

Oh.

Well, well, as I live and
breathe, Michael Lightcap.

Hello, Nora.
Hello, Sam.

What's cooking over there, Sam?

Holmes is having pictures
taken for the press

to remind people
that Dilg is a villain.

I think our car is this way.

Oh, you mustn't miss this.
See that pose?

That's how you try a case out
of court and
stack the evidence.

PHOTOGRAPHER:
Right there, Mr. Holmes.

Hold it.
That's good, thank you.

Step up and see how it's done.

Sorry, Sam, no.
I have an appointment.

Mr. Lightcap,
for goodness' sakes.

I'm very glad
to see you again, sir.

Oh, I want you to meet
Mr. Holmes. Mr. Holmes?

I'm afraid I must be going--
Oh, you must.

Mr. Holmes?

Mr. Holmes, meet
Professor Lightcap,

Professor Michael Lightcap.

Well, well, I'm glad
to see you, sir.

I don't wonder this tragedy
attracted even you.

As a matter of fact--

I have never known
public feeling

to run so high in Lochester.

As for Mr. Dilg,

justice will not be cheated.

I'm sure it won't.
Miss Bush.

Here's
an example of how deeply
this tragedy has struck.

Miss Bush, a friend of
Clyde Bracken, my foreman,

the man who was killed
in the explosion.

This is Professor Lightcap.
Pleased to meet you.

We found her here today
searching the ashes.

I was looking for a wristwatch
I gave Clyde
just two weeks ago.

All they found of Bracken

was a tiny athletic medal
he had won in school.

It gives a girl a queer feeling.

One night, you got a man weighs

211 lbs, and the next day, wham,

all you got left
is a medal for shot-putting.

Yes, well, I'm sorry--

Too bad they're not
taking a picture

of Dilg swinging
from a telegraph pole.

Who said that?

I did.

Jake, I told you anybody
I heard talking like that

had to count on fighting me,
now put them up.

Sam,
I've licked you four times
in the last two weeks.

I'm mighty tired of hitting you.

Go on, put them up.

Sam Yates, you're a disgrace
to the legal profession.

Save that wind
for the bench, judge.

MAN:
Jake, now, come on.

MAN 2: Break it up.
MAN 3: Let him go.

WOMAN:
Hit him!

MAN 4:
Go on, break it up.

MAN 5:
Why don't you
guys act like men,

Miss Shelley?

Oh, Professor.
I looked all over
for you, and you'd gone.

I won't have it, Miss Shelley.

Yates deliberately
dragged me into this.

It's been his purpose
since the day I arrived.

Well,
if that is Sam's idea, his
motives are far from selfish.

That has nothing to do with it.

I know, but professor,
you take a man like Holmes

whipping people into hysteria
with public shows and things,

why, it just makes you wonder.

Not me. I've said again and
again, I cannot be involved.

And if it's your purpose
to see that I am--

Well, well, professor...

This amounts to violence.

And from you?

Making charges against
Miss Shelley without evidence?

Perhaps I'd better
resign, professor.

No, Miss Shelley.

You're right, Joseph.
I apologize, Miss Shelley.

Now, you see,
a happy family again.

And the question is,
are we ready for dinner?

Are we ready for dinner?

I'll be right down.

Any time you're ready, Joseph.

One minute!

I'm very sorry I lost
my temper, Miss Shelley.

Oh,
that's all right, professor.
You're quite forgiven.

I've been
thinking of something
the past few days.

I may be going to Washington.

I can't tell you in what
capacity. Not just yet.

But I'll need someone there
with me,
more than a secretary.

Someone I can trust and respect.

It would be an important job,
for life.

It would mean your giving up
your career in Lochester,

so I can't urge you to take it,

but I sincerely wish you would.

Well, I don't know what to say.

Oh, I realize.

But all I'm asking now
is that you will consider it.

Yes, I will, thank you.

That's wonderful.

Here we are.

All ready?

Come on, Miss Shelley.

That's good, sit down.

My dear professor.

Did you make these, Joseph?

Not bad, eh?

Aren't they wonderful?
Why, they're beautiful.

Who put on soup plates?
There's no soup.

No soup, eh? No soup.

My dear Joseph,
while strolling
in town today--

No, that's a bad beginning.

My dear Joseph, to cement
the bond that binds our happy
little family together,

what could be more fitting,
as dear friends are seated
at the festive board,

what could be more fitting than:

Borscht!
It's that rubber band.

Pulaski's, I'd know it anywhere.

Wait a minute.
I won't get a taste.

Fancy you thinking of that.

With an egg in it.

You scared me, professor.
What a man!

Is that the kind
your mother used to make?

What did you say, Miss Shelley?

Is that the kind
your mother used to make?

Yeah, almost.
Here we go.

Here. Use the cup.

I'm an old hand at this,
don't worry.

Nectar, Miss Shelley.
Nectar.

NORA:
Don't spill it.
Give me lots, I love it.

Professor.

What are you going to do?

Call the police and tell them
to come pick up Leopold Dilg.

No, no you won't do that.

Professor...

I'm sorry I spoiled your party.

Of course, there's no use
discussing the merits
of my case right now.

I'm afraid not, Joseph--
Leopold.

I have a simple duty to perform,

and I must do that
before anything else.

Listen, professor.

When he hid in that attic,
he didn't know who you were.

LEOPOLD:
Nora.

Well, here we have the two
schools of thought, professor.

This time in action.

That telephone to you
means law and order.

And to me, well, I've got to
stop you using that telephone.

By violence, if necessary.

Yes, I see.
That's bad.

I have a very warm feeling
for you, Joseph,

but I must use this telephone.

And if you do, professor,

and I am as fond of you
as a brother

I'll be compelled
to knock you down.

No! No, please, professor,
let's be sensible.

I should regret that too.

I've never been
fonder of a man
in my life, but--

Operator?

Give me the police station.

Hello, is that the police?

No, please!

Oh, Leopold.

Nora, I'm sorry, but--

Cover the house.

[KNOCKING]

He's up there. Come on.

Take that room, sergeant.
Take the other room, Ed.

Does Mr. Lightcap live here?

Mr. Lightcap?

Mr. Lightcap!

Speak to me, sir.

Pardon me, sir,
are you the doctor?

Yeah. See that he gets
rest and quiet.

Why, Tilney.

Are you all right?

You. You knew it was Dilg.

All those lies, attentions,
just for Dilg.

You and Sam Yates.

You planned it all, didn't you?

Mr. Lightcap, you better
take it easy, sir.

You're a silly, dangerous girl.

You had me feed and lodge a
notorious
fugitive from justice.

You endangered a lifetime's
career for a stupid gesture.

Michael, let me tell you--

Our association
is at an end, Nora.

That's a tip-off, professor.

Had to get good and sore

before he got around to
calling me by my first name.

Miss Shelley.

"Nora" when you're angry,
remember?

That will be all, Miss Shelley.

That will not be all,
Mr. Lightcap.

Dilg is innocent,

regardless of
all the reasonable
evidence dredged up by lawyers

in that holy institution
of yours.

I'd rather be hated by 40
frozen legal giants like you

than turn him over
to those bloodthirsty idiots
of Lochester.

You were right to grow a beard.

You were an old man
all your life.

Put on a proper costume
just as soon as you were able.

Don't ever shave it off,
Mr. Twilight,

somebody might think
you were alive.

That would be misrepresentation.

Come on, Sam,
let's get out of here.

When did you hide Dilg
in that house?

The night of the escape,
wasn't it?

I didn't hide anybody.
Oh, you didn't?

Then when did you first know
he was there?

Last night, just before you did.

Showed up from someplace,
there
he was in the kitchen, hungry.

Care much for borscht,
Miss Shelley?

Hm?

I said, do you care much
for borscht?

You know, that's very funny.

I bought some yesterday
at Pulaski's.

With an egg, perchance?

Why, yes!

I remember, the professor
said distinctly,
"With an egg."

Oh, the professor was with you?

I'm sure Pulaski didn't
leave that out, did he?

And the professor asked
for it with an egg?

With an egg.

Dilg has been buying it there
for years with an egg!

Are you trying to tell me

that
the professor deliberately
bought that borscht

for Leopold Dilg?

I'm telling you he didn't know
who he was buying it for.

He didn't know Leopold Dilg
from Adam.

But you did.

That's quite a statement, Chief.

And what kind of a statement
would you care to make?

I'd say that two men liking
borscht with an egg in it

is amazing.

I've never heard
of such a thing before.

I promise you, Scott,
if any rumor or scandal

attaches to Lightcap's
name out of this incident--

Just a few questions
we must have answers to.

Senator, these questions
have nothing to do with
Professor Lightcap, naturally.

But they bear strongly
on a lady named Nora Shelley.

Yes, well, go on, Mr. Scott.
Get it over with.

Exactly how did the assault
take place?

I was trying to get to the
telephone to call the police,

and he hit me from the back.

How did you recognize Dilg
in the first place?

From a newspaper picture.

In fact, at that very moment,
I was unwrapping some--

Borscht?

Yes, yes,
I never can pronounce it.

And you had never
seen Leopold Dilg

before he appeared
in this room last night?

He said so, didn't he?

I won't tolerate that tone
toward Dean Lightcap.

You'll end by dragging him
into this mess.

Tilney, pack Mr. Lightcap's
things at once.

Tilney, leave things
just as they are.

I came down here
to write a book
and I'm going to do it.

They have every
right to ask me
any question they choose.

Dilg was found
on the premises.
Now, Mr. Scott, go on.

How did you happen to go to
Mrs.
Pulaski's for the borscht?

Miss Shelley and I
were strolling by.

I suggested buying some.

Do you mean to say that you went

in to get borscht for yourself?

Yes, I love it.

I have loved it for years,

especially with an egg in it.

He loves it.

Okay.

That's all.

Oh, hello!

What did you have to say?

I know you're anxious
to get out in the sunshine,

so I'll make it brief.

I was held for questioning,
I was questioned,

and they just said, "Miss
Shelley, you are free to go."

I don't know why.

It certainly pays
to bring up children.

Your daughter goes off one night

to put up drapes
in the country house

next time you see her,
she's in the police station.

You mean to say they haven't
found him yet, Sam?

Not up to 15 minutes ago.

It's a miracle that lunatic
didn't knock you down,

or kill you outright.

It's a morning of miracles.

Sam, they wouldn't have let me
go if Lightcap hadn't lied,

and I can't believe he did.

You go ahead, Mother,
I'm going along with Sam.

Oh, no, you don't.
You need sleep and so do I.

And I can't get it with you
gallivanting around. Come on.

Phone me if anything happens,
Sam.

Tilney, what are you doing?

But we never have
flowers around, sir.

The odor is distracting
when you work.

Yes, I know,
but just for a change.

After all, it's spring
in the country.

Just leave them
where they are, will you?

Yes, sir, Mr. Lightcap.

Tilney.
Yes, sir?

Why does a man lie?

Well, sir, he just comes by it
sort of naturally.

Now, you take the best of men,
in a case of self-protection,

or to carry out some desire
of their heart--

I know. But to lie against
your deepest principles,

that it took your
whole life to build.

Maybe we'd better go
back to Boston, sir.

No. No, I came
down here to write...

but I can't write.
I don't understand it.

Tilney, where's my hat?

Hello, Sam.

Hi, Mike.
What can I do for you?

Well, you can stop being
critical of me, Mr. Yates,

both you and Miss Shelley.
It's unfair.

Well, we'll try to stop.

Sam, Dilg's escape
is lawlessness and riot.

I can't allow myself
to get into this.

I can't even afford
to have an opinion about it.

And yet...

there are things
whirling around in my brain.

There's Grunstadt and Holmes,
Miss Bush, shot-put medals.

Sam, you ought to be able to
uncover some
shred of evidence.

Have you gone over
the entire ground?

Day and night for a month.

Total profit to date

is the fire inspector's report
six weeks ago.

There at the end of the page,
in Bracken's own handwriting,

Bracken is the foreman
that was killed,

it says, "Sprinkler system
slightly defective."

Sure, so was the whole joint.

Worn out, ready
to go up in smoke,

or deliberately
burned by Holmes
and Bracken for insurance.

LIGHTCAP:
You know, this Bracken's
handwriting is moronic.

And Miss Bush's affection
for him, that's not sincere.

I think she's putting on an act.

She and Holmes
are thick as fleas.

Ah.

Well, quite possibly
there are some things

going on behind the scenes.

Quite possibly justice
is being hoodwinked, Sam.

You don't say.

Yet, if Dilg walked
into this room right now--

Yes, I would. I'd have to.

I'd go straight to that
telephone and turn him in.

Now, goodbye, Mr. Yates.
Bye, Michael.

Mr. Lightcap!

Hello, Tilney.

No, sir. You can't do that.
You can't.

Sorry, Tilney, there's work
to do. It's in my way.

Oh, no.
For 15 years, sir--

15 years. Beaver.

You have beautiful hands.

Scholarly.

Clyde had hands you could use
to knock in spikes with.

Who is Clyde?

"Who was Clyde?"
would be more accurate.

I'm in mourning.

It's a great hardship,

because I'm the type of girl
who loves to get around.

Thank you.

You visiting here
for the summer?

Yes.

Gee, I wish he wasn't dead,
at least for one night.

I sure would love
to go dancing tonight.

Miss Bush, I wonder if
I might have the pleasure

of taking you dancing tonight?

The pleasure?

Well, say now,
that's really something.

I don't know what to say.
It takes my breath away.

Why, you're real cute.

Listen,
you blow your horn at 7
tonight right outside, sonny.

Will you stop walking around
and lie down for a while?

I can't figure it out.

Why can't 100 policemen
find one man with a bad ankle?

What the dickens is that to you?

Nothing. It's just killing me,
that's all.

Tilney.
Yes, sir.

I have a great regard
for your judgment, Tilney.

In practical matters,

I'd consider it equal,
if not superior, to my own.

Thank you, sir.
But you worry me.

If you wanted to get some
information out of a woman,

how would you go about it?

Uh-oh. I feared as much.

Now come on, Tilney, help me.

Well, Mr. Lightcap, I've lived
a cloistered life, like you.

In fact, with you.

On a subject of that sort,

well,
we're babes in the woods,
both of us.

Yes,
but you were married once,
weren't you?

Oh,
that was the folly of youth,
sir.

Ah, but you wooed her
and won her. How?

Well, by the darndest series
of lies you ever heard.

I gave her a character and
charms she never possessed.

I played to the well-known
weakness of every woman alive

and perjured my soul
for a thousand years to come.

That's very interesting.

Maybe we'd better go back
to Boston, sir.

No, no, Tilney.
Hurry along.

We must keep our appointment.

Yes, sir.

Why, of course.
I should've known.

Oh, what a dope.

You up again?
Where do you
think you're going?

Mother, if you're not
out of that doorway

by the time I get dressed,
I'll mow you down.

You dance divinely, Miss Bush.

Your physical coordinations
are... are remarkable.

I thought I'd heard them all,
but your line is brand new.

You know, you're definitely
a superior person, Miss Bush.

Far too superior
for this kind of exhibition.

Oh, you're cute.

You know what? If I was free,
I would take you
very seriously.

Oh, but you are free,
aren't you?

Your gentlemen friend
is dead, isn't he?

That's the general impression.

What do you mean?

Little Regina
is drinking too much.

It makes the tongue
very, very loose.

Dance, honey?

Your hands are beautiful.
Extraordinarily beautiful.

Aw.

Would you like to kiss me?

Cultured.
It's a cultured kiss.

You know, you are rare, Regina.

Your beauty makes my head swim.

Like music.
Like music from a band.

Oh, if I were only free.

Oh, but you are free. You're
only saying
that to torment me.

No, I'm not.
I've got a letter from him.

He wants me to meet him
in Boston in
a couple of weeks.

The first moment I saw you,

you seemed to strike a rich,
deep note inside of me.

Like an organ.

More.

All women after this
will seem different.

That moronic handwriting again.

"C. Barnard, General Delivery
Boston."
So that's where he is.

That's where who is?
Hey, give me that letter back.

I feel like dancing.

You heard me!
You give me that back.

But I hate--
Give me that letter back!

Regina, darling.
Don't "Regina, darling" me.

There's something fishy
about you, mister.

Help! Throw this guy out!

You dirty double-crosser.
Get him out of here!

Leopold.

Leopold.

Hello, Nora.

Oh, Leopold.

Oh, you idiot.

I figured the attic,
that's just where you'd go.

Your ankle.
You couldn't go anyplace else.

[CRYING]

Come on, sh.

Now, now.
Nora Shelley, crying?

I've been out of my mind
for 24 hours.

I thought you were dead.

Well, what an idea.

You know something, Nora?

Our friend, the professor,
lied to the police.

I knew it.

He did something else tonight:
Shaved off his beard.

But why?

Who can tell what a man
in love will do?

In love? Who with?

You.

And I know just how he feels.

The prettiest girl in Lochester.

Leopold, I've been
so miserable to you.

I never really knew you.

Oh, Leopold.

Stop saying "Leopold"
like that, tenderly.

It sounds funny.

You can't do it with
a name like "Leopold."

Oh, shut up.

Where's this thing
going to end, anyway?

Here you are, back in the attic.

Now he's pulling tricks.

Where did he go
without his beard?

He'll be all right.

He won't be all right.
He's a child.

I know just how you feel.

Now don't start
that soupy stuff again.

You don't know
how I feel about anything.

Nora, you'd like that job
in Washington, wouldn't you?

Well, come on, tell me.

Well,
who wouldn't grab a chance
to get out of this burg?

Certainly, and with him.

You know, Nora, I've been
sitting here wondering.

It's all wrong.
The whole thing's wrong.

What's all wrong?

Well, I've been wondering.

Suppose you two had met
up here this summer

and the case of Leopold Dilg
hadn't butted in.

Now wait a minute.

No.
That isn't the whole thing.

That's quite a man,
an important man.

And quite a career too.

Can't kick a career
like that around.

And who said I was
so right about the law?

Leopold, what do you mean?

Oh, nothing. I was just
wondering, that's all, Nora.

What are you wondering about?

Oh, just wondering.
Can't a man wonder?

Well--

Nora, you'd better get going.

Now, wait.

Come on. You're just
taking chances up here.

Now, I'm going to get Yates.

You stay here,
and don't you budge.

Everything's going
to be fine, Nora.

Remember what I said.
Don't you go any place.

Hurry, Tilney.
Yes, sir.

Pardon me, please.

Miss Shelley, I have
every reason to believe

that Clyde Bracken is still
alive. It seems that--

What are you staring at?
If you find my
face unpleasant--

No, no, I--

What are you doing here?
I came to--

Did you say "Bracken"?
Bracken, yes. Alive.

Well, I guess at last you know
the truth about Mr. Dilg.

I don't know anything
until I can prove it.

A stickler to the last.

I bet if you
knew where he was--

I would turn him in.
Yes, I would.

You just took that beard
off your face.

Inside, you're as whiskered
as the Smith Brothers.

Suppose you turn me in
right now, professor.

Leopold!

Oh, that's too bad, in a way.

It was a delightful beard.

Leopold.

What do you say, professor?

Get back up there.
What's the matter with you?

Leopold, I'm leaving
immediately for Boston

to find Clyde Bracken.

How about dropping you off
at the police station?

Do you hear?
Bracken's alive.

Very interesting.

I beg your pardon, please.

Oh, Tilney, I'm very hungry.

Do you think you could find
a chicken leg

or something
I can nibble on as I ride?

That's all right, Tilney.

A whole chicken.
He has an enormous appetite.

Will somebody please
listen to me?

Bracken's alive.
Why should Dilg go to jail?

It's the principle.

The law says
that's where I should be.

Thank you, Leopold.

Now it's you.
Before it was him.

Will somebody please
light around here?

My dear Nora,

centuries of precedent
say the professor is right.

Good friends like us
should be in agreement.

Thank you, my friend.

That'll be all tonight, Tilney.

If they get him in jail,

they'll make pate de foie gras
out of him.

Doesn't that mean
anything to you?

That's a bridge we can cross
when we come to it.

Right.
Who knows who's right?

Why does Dilg have to make
all the concessions?

Isn't there one concession
in your bones?

Concessions?

I shaved off a beard
I was fond of.

I lied to the law.

I danced with a blond
beauty parlor owner.

I kissed her in public.
Concessions! Ha!

Whenever you're ready, Leopold.

Quite ready, my friend.
Thank you, Leopold.

Don't mention it, professor.

After you, professor.
Thank you, Leopold.

They're both nuts.

You're not getting away from me.

LIGHTCAP:
Mind if I move this truck?

We'd better go in my car.
Here, Leopold, get in.

Leopold,
will you do me a favor
and sit on the floor, please?

Look! Police. I told you.
Drive right through.

It's a signal to stop.
It's the law.

Leopold,
get down on the floor.
Do as I tell you.

Yes, Nora.
Oh!

Don't be silly. Stop it.

What's the matter?

Where are you going?

Just into town.

Drop me a little way down
the road, will you, please?

Yeah, sure.

Oh, uh--

I don't want to crowd you.

You're not crowding us a bit.
There's plenty
of room up here.

I'll tell you
when we come to it.

Got a cigarette?
No, I'm sorry.

That's okay.

What's this place
up at the next road?

A trap for Dilg.
Got them all around here.

A kid said he saw him
about 3 this afternoon

near the reservoir.

Think you'll get him?

No doubt about it, lady.

And when we do, well, darned
if I don't feel sorry for him.

Why?

Oh, I don't know. I've got
a feeling the word's gone out.

"Let's not be
too ambitious, boys."

What do you mean?

You mean, they'd turn him
over to the crowd?

If there was a demand.

And they're making sure
there is.

Maybe.

Oh, here we are.

Thanks, bud.

If you hear of a good opening
in a nice business,
let me know.

Cramped down there.

Did you hear what he said?
I told you.

Oh, nonsense.
Fellows with badges

always have more inside
information
than the president.

Hey, where you going?

Leopold, I don't think
I'll have time

to take you
to the police station.

How's that?

I've decided to take you
to Boston with me.

Well now, that's a very
noble gesture, professor,

but that fellow
was talking through his hat.

My place tonight is in jail.

I'm sorry to disagree with you,

but we're on the road
to Boston now.

That is taking the law
into your own hands,
professor.

Oh, shut up, will you?

Leopold, sometimes there are
extenuating circumstances.

The letter of the law
is sometimes wrong.

I'm afraid I can't agree
with you, my friend.

Well, I'll have
to be firm, Leopold.

In that case, I'll have
to pull on your brake.

Oh, stop it!
We'll all be killed.

Leopold.
What?

I can walk.

Walk with that ankle?

Sure, that'll be all right.

Well, Miss Shelley...

on to Boston.

Professor, you're wonderful.
You're really wonderful.

Thank you, Nora.

Oh, Leopold. Poor Leopold.

Did he hit you, Leopold?

Does that make it feel better?

Where did he hit you?
Does that feel better?

[ENGINE STARTS]

MAN:
Any mail for John A. Smith?

CLERK: John A. Smith?

MAN: Yes, sir.

Three hours.
My feet are tired.

Can't we go someplace
for a cup of coffee?

You'd better stay where you are.

Do you have to stand
right next to that thing?

What thing?

Nobody would recognize
me from that.

Doesn't catch the spirit.

Hey.

C. Barnard.

CLERK:
C. Barnard?

Mr. Bracken.

You've got the wrong
party, friend.

Oh, I think not, friend.

We're leaving for Lochester
and inviting you to join us.

I'm staying right here, friend.

In that case, friend,
we may have to insist.

You mean violence, professor?

Dilg.

NORA:
Look out!

Come on, Bracken,
let's have the truth.

Turning state's evidence

is about the only hope
you've got now.

You know that, don't you?

Talk.

Leopold, how about
stopping the car

and giving him
another going over?

Pleasure.

Okay.

Wait a minute.

Holmes paid me to burn it.
The factory was on the rocks.

His only chance
was the insurance money

for that broken-down barn.

That's what Leopold
said for years.

Why did you have to play dead?

To get people more excited.

So when Holmes pinned it on
that thorn in his side, Dilg,

he could put him away good.

A very simple plan.

LIGHTCAP:
It's astonishing.

Well, it won't be long now.

Better go straight to
the Lochester City Hall,

Miss Shelley.

No, no. Drive straight home.

Home? Why?

Well, they're apt
to mob me first

and ask questions afterward.

What are you going to do?

Telephone the district attorney.

No, no. Wait.

Hey,
Bracken, go over there and
sit down where I can see you.

You don't have
to telephone anybody.

I'm taking Bracken
to City Hall myself.

What?
What about the mob?

The mob won't hurt anybody.

I just wanted to get you
home here and out of trouble.

I don't understand. Why?

Professor, you've solved
this case beautifully,

and I'm very grateful to you.

But this country
needs a man like you

on the Supreme Court bench.

I don't want to take
the risk of losing that.

That's very thoughtful
of you, Leopold.

But I see things
differently now.

So do I.

I want to see this job through.

I'd sooner do that

than hand down
the finest piece
of literature from the bench.

I'm sorry, my friend, but I'm
not quite in accord with you.

Now stop it! This is no time
to be doing that act again.

The professor's right.
Friendly

feelings are one thing, Leopold,

it's fine of you,
but a mob's another thing.

I'll take feelings every time.

Professor,
I'll have to ask you
to put down that telephone.

I'm sorry, my friend.
Police?

I'm warning you.
Oh, dear.

Sorry, Leopold. I must.

Now, don't!

Police, this is
Sweetbrook Cottage.

Dilg and Bracken are both--

NORA:
Look out! Bracken!

Hello?

Hello?

Charlie, riot squad.

Mr. Lightcap?

Mr. Lightcap?

What? Again?

My goodness, a double-header.

Mr. Lightcap. Mr. Lightcap.

Is he dead, ma'am?
Mr. Lightcap, speak to me.

[POLICE SIRENS WAILING]

Police! Oh, Tilney,
we've got to hide him.

We've got to get him
in the attic.

Take his head.
Hurry. Hurry.

Dilg! All right,
boys, it's him.

Step aside, Miss Shelley.

Put the bracelets on him.

NORA:
Darn you! Get out of here!

Keep the town blazing hot
against this criminal.

They laughed at
the Bracken story.

I said, how did he get
that cut on his head?

They say to the professor,

"Maybe some of our men shot at
him in the woods, grazed him."

[ANGRY VOICES]

What's that?

Mob. Parade.

They're after your scalp.
Holmes is on the job again.

This is where we came in,
isn't it, Sam?

I gotta get busy.

Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye.

All persons having
anything to do

with the Honorable
Judge Grunstadt,

Justice of the Superior Court
of the county of Lochester,

may now draw near,
and you will be heard.

God save the Commonwealth.
Gentlemen, be seated.

Nobody believes
this Bracken story.

Dilg and Yates tried it,

you'll go up there and make
yourself
ridiculous with it too.

Haven't you run
enough risk already?

Will you please
get out of this town?

No. No, a man's life
is at stake. A friend.

Michael, I'm warning you,
I just came through that town.

It's got a desperate look in
its eye.
They're out for blood.

Miss Shelley.

Nora, I know just how you feel.

I didn't understand at first.
I didn't know Leopold.

But I know now.

You couldn't help feeling
the way you do about him.

Now don't you start that.

Who says I feel any way
about anybody?

Why does everybody try
to make up my mind for me?

Why don't you and Leopold
mind your own business?

Why should my love life
be kicked around
from pillar to post?

I hear you're in love
with Regina Bush.

Regina Bush.

Yes, Regina Bush,
of the Dolores Beauty Salon.

How do you like it?

Regina Bush.

Nora, where did I see a gun
somewhere around this house?

Tilney, where is it?

A gun?

I know.

Here we are.
It's loaded.

Don't you think
we'd better--

No. Tilney, you get my hat.

What are you going to do?

I'm going to settle
this Dilg business,

if I have to shoot to kill.

Michael, you can't do it.
Oh, can't I?

Listen,
my great-great-grandfather

fought off a couple
of dozen Indians

for a whole week in 1756,
and I'm a direct descendant.

Now you tell that to the Senate.

If that isn't good enough
for the Supreme Court bench,

it's just too bad.

What are you going to do?
What are you going to do?

Where is he?
Where's who?

Clyde Bracken.
He isn't here.

Come on out of that closet,
Bracken,

or I'll let you have it!

The state will tolerate
only one verdict
from this jury.

And that verdict should be
quick: Guilty!

Clyde Bracken, Judge Grunstad.
Bracken?

Where are you, Mr. Holmes?
Clyde Bracken, alive.

There's the man
the law is looking for,

not Leopold Dilg.

His only crime was that he
had courage and
spoke his mind.

[OVERLAPPING OBJECTIONS]

This is your law
and your finest possession.

It makes you free men
in a free country.

Why have you come here
to destroy it?

If you know what's good for you,

take those weapons home
and burn them,

and then think.

Think of this
country and of the
law that makes it what it is.

Think of a world crying
for this very law.

Then maybe you'll understand
why you ought to guard it

and why the law has got to be
the personal concern
of every citizen,

to uphold it for your neighbor
as well as yourself.

Violence against it
is one mistake.

Another mistake is for any man
to look upon the law

as just a set of principles.

Just so much language
printed on fine, heavy paper.

Something he recites
and then leans back

and takes it for granted

that justice
is automatically being done.

Both kinds of men
are equally wrong.

The law must be engraved
in our hearts

and practiced every minute,
to the letter and spirit.

It can't even exist

unless we're
willing to go down
into the dust and blood

and fight a battle every day
of our lives to preserve it

for our neighbor
as well as our self.

Could you tell me where I could

find Professor Lightcap, please?

In the judge's chambers, madam.

Around there?

Yes, miss.
Thank you.

Supreme Court now open.

Good morning.

Good morning, sir.

You look wonderful, sir.

Now, Tilney,
you mustn't be absurd.

Well, it must be
getting near the time.

[KNOCKING]

Miss Shelley.

Come in, come in.

I knew you wouldn't fail me.

Well, you--

You look fine, Miss Shelley.

You must stop staring.

Oh, I'm sorry.

It's just a robe, isn't it?

And where's Leopold?

I tried to bring him with me,
but he just disappeared.

Where? Why?

Well, you never can tell
about Leopold.

Oh, but he must come.

Now, why do you look like that?

I really don't know.

It just all seems so far
from Sweetbrook.

No, it isn't.
Sweetbrook will never be far.

You know, that's what
I wanted to say to you.

Sweetbrook,
those few weeks there--

I wonder if I can say this
just as I want to.

Well, what I'm trying to say--

You see-- Look at me.

A dream of 20 years come true.

More happiness
than any man deserves.

That chair.

But now there's something
else, Nora: my friends.

I want to see them as happy
as I am. Nothing less will do.

Leopold, what a fine fellow.

And I've been thinking, Nora,

that if someone were
to take his hand and say:

"Leopold, my reckless friend,

here's love and companionship
forever."

Well, some day
that man would--

You see what I mean, Nora?

Mr. Justice...

it's time, sir.

Mr. Justice.

Far from Sweetbrook? Never.

Leopold.

Where are you going?

That's all I wanted to see.

The rest is about law,
very boring.

He looks fine up there,
doesn't he?

Yes.

Well, our country's
in good hands.

The woman's touch.
Indispensable.

You better go back in.
But where are you going?

Home. Lochester.
Why, what about it?

Then what?

Oh, you're going to like
Washington. Wonderful town.

He's a wonderful man too.

Position, dignity,
a place in life.

Exactly where
a fine woman belongs.

Well, Nora...

see you sometime.

Leopold.

Oh, I'm in a hurry.
You better go back in.

He's perhaps looking
around for you.

I'm getting pretty tired
of having people

try to make up my mind for me.

Well, stop it
and do as I tell you.

Leopold.

You take a stubborn woman,
they're a curse.

My mother always warned me
against stubborn women.

Leopold.

Now, stop following me
or I'll call the police--