Original subtitles

What about Asia? He'll have to go in the baggage cal, won't he?

Why should he have any special pvivileges?

- He'll vide with us and like it. - But those ave the rules, aven't they?

Well. we'll camouflage him under your coat.

Out of sight, out of mind. It's a cinch.

Two to Sycamove Springs, please.

- Nick. Asta. Catch him. - Heve. you get them. Asta.

Asta. Asta.

Excuse me.

Asta.

All right, come on.

Here. here. what's going on?

Nick Charles.

- Hi. Clancy. - Nick, I'm surpvised at you.

L thought you could handle the stuff.

- L tvipped. l was Chasing my dog. - Oh. sure.

Clancv. I've had nothing but a swig of cidev all day.

- NickY. ave you hurt? -l think he hurt his head, MIS. Charles.

- He's saying he's only been drinking cidev. - And it's true.

He's going down to visit his folks, they don't like drinking.

Now. let's get down to the train and get comfortable.

- Camouflage, you know. - Oh. yes.

Thanks, Clancy.

Pavdon me.

It's cozy, isn't it?

That's French fo¡ "bottoms up."

- Tickets, please. - Nicky...

...do you really like cidev?

Like it? l love it. Why, just the pure. natural juice of the apple.

- What could be better, fo! instance? - A dry manini, fo! instance.

That honible stuff. Almost took the lining off my stomach.

Why do you cave? lt didn't show.

- Good gvacious! - Whafs the matter?

- Nicky. - BlockbusteL

Upsy-daisy.

- Tickets, please. - You know, mammv. l don't think...

...you've taking this veform movement of mine very seviously.

Not very.

You just wait. A couple of weeks on this cidev, and I'll be a new man.

Well. l son of liked the old one.

That's the nicest thing you've said to me...

...since l got my head caught in that Cuspido¡ at the Waldorf.

That wasn't the Waldorf. That was the Astor.

- Asta? - AstoL

All animals must go in the baggage car.

That's not an animal. that's my fu¡ coat.

If it can wag its tail. It goes in the baggage car.

So it was going to be a cinch, eh?

Very well.

Credit me with an enov.

Hey. Hey. mister.

When you pass the kitchen will you ask the chef to warm this up?

L don't dance, bub.

Body temperature.

Good gvief. Ave you on milk now?

I'm warming this up fo¡ a friend.

L beg your pavdon.

WhY. if it isn't Nick Charles.

Where did you drop in from? You sure ave a sight fo¡ sore eyes.

- Hi. Bvogan. - Cut off my legs and call me Shony.

- Small world, ain't it? - Ain't it?

- Ain't it. Where you going? - We've off on a little Vacation.

- Sycamove Springs. -l get it. l get it. I'll play dummy.

You've on the wrong horse, Bvogan. This is Mrs. Charles.

Oh. sure. sure. How do you do, MIS. Charles?

- What ave you doing these days? - Traveling in postcavds.

- Pavdon? - Postcavds Postcavds. Seasonal gveetings.

Say, l cover Sycamove Springs. I'll look you up on the way back.

That will be nice.

- Well. so long. - So long.

Nick. how am l doing?

Swell. But stick close to me in Sycamove Springs.

Right. How's my postcavd chanel?

All right. But look, don't those gveeting cards have some poems or mottoes?

- L think so. - Yeah.

- Memovize a few. - You mean, like:

Roses are red, viulets are blue A happy birthday's what I'm Wishing you

Yes. that's it. Roughly.

Iget it.

"Willa Wanna."

Desdemona, Minnetonka, Nipiwana. How far is that baggage car anyway?

Oh. l imagine it's somewhere between Pocahontas and Sitting Bull.

Well.

- Any Suggestions? - Make like an eel, mama.

Move people.

Oh. I'm sony.

Oh. my cigav.

- And that was my last one too. - Excuse me.

- Would you please let me pass? - Why should l?

Well. How'd you like to be manied to that type?

Oh. excuse me.

- My word. - I'm so sony.

Why don't you look where you've going?

Darling. ave you sure you've vubbing these people the right way?

The blockbustev.

- What the"? -lt was him.

That was my foot!

MY foot!

- Will you please let us through? - Well!

Oh. certainly.

Make way fo¡ this lady and her baby.

Make way, she wants to get to the dining car.

Make way fo¡ the mother. Follow me.

Bad strategy. Asta. You forgot to protect your rear flank.

Nicky.

L still don't understand what gave you this sudden desire...

...to go back to Sycamove Springs after all these years.

Well, it'll make a nice Vacation. won't it?

A chance to see Mother, Dad.

I'll bet they're anxious to see you, and not just the family.

Whole town will probably tum out. After all, you ave the local boy who made good.

Now. darling. come, come.

Oh. don't be so modest, Nicky.

Won't it feel good to get a pat on the back from your old man?

A pat on the back? What would l do with it?

Don't kid me. If your father gave you a pat on the back...

...you'd pop your vest buttons all over the pavlov vug.

You just don't know my vest buttons. Look.

Darling. see it?

The old windmill.

It's still there.

When l was a little punk. that was my secret hideaway.

Good heavens. What secrets were you hiding in those days?

Com silk, detective stories and-- Look.

Right there was the little old schoolhouse.

Once on Halloween. l bumed it down slightly.

That must have handed your father a big laugh.

Yes. he just voaved all the way to the woodshed with me.

Nicky...

...you never got along. you and your father, did you?

Never got along? l wonder whatever gave you that impvession.

Oh. he's never come to see us in New York.

Well. he's pretty busy, you know.

Of course, there is one other little thing.

- He thinks l play too hard. -lndeed?

And drink too hard.

Wonder whatever gave him that impvession.

Sycamove Springs. This is you, folks.

Well. We've very much obliged to you.

- Buy yourself a little smoke. - Thanks, but--

- Compliments of the pup. - Spitz?

No. just gvowls.

That's funny.

- Wondev if they got my letter. - Of course they did.

There's your veception Committee.

It's Crazy Mary. She's a town character.

- Hello. Mary. Remember me? - Yes. Nick Charles.

Yes. that's right. Darling. this is Mary.

- Hello. Mary. - My wife.

Poor woman. Wheve's the baby? l heard you had a baby.

- All aboavd! - Baby.

Baby. Baby.

What's he gonna do now?

Idon't know.

Desdemona.

That's Crazy Nick. He was always like that.

Asta. No.

Let's surprise them, huh. sweet?

- It's a surprise. - The doctor isn't in.

- No? - But you can go to Dr. Claywonh.

He's just down the street.

- Is Mrs. Charles in? - She's in the kitchen.

- Whafs Cooking, Ma? - Oh. just making a little tea.

- Nick. Nick, my davling! - Hiya. Ma.

Oh. how wonderful that you could get here fo¡ your birthday.

- Wasn't it? - Nova.

- Hello. dear. - Davling.

What a lovely suit. Why didn't you tell me you were coming?

- Didn't Dad get my letter? - WhY. no.

He didn't say anything to me about it.

Wait a moment. That's what he must have meant...

...when he said theve'd be two extra fo¡ dinner.

Oh. your father. Wheve's Junior?

We didn't wanna take him out of school. He's in kindevganen, loves it.

Oh. he must be simply huge by now. Hello. Asta. 0h, I'm so excited.

Come along. I'll get you two settled. You know something...

...l believe the plan is going through.

- Fov the hospital? - Yes. Isn't it wonderful?

Nova. they're going to build a hospital fo¡ the doctor...

...with a laboratory for research work. Something he's dreamed of all his life.

WhY. good heavens, Hilda. What ave you doing there?

Take the bags upstairs.

- Ave you all right? - WhY. of course I'm all right.

This is my son, the famous detective.

What is the matter with you, Hilda?

Detective?

- This is all your fault. - Mine?

It behaves like this when there's excitement in the house.

You mean that this table hasn't been fixed yet?

If you wanna make yourself useful, fix it.

- Theve's a scvewdvivev in the kitchen. -l don't need one.

I've got a gadget in my pocket that'll do anything...

-...fvom manicuving to safe-cvacking. - Safe-cvacking. Nicky.

Now. how did this get in here? Come along. help me with the tea.

And take off your pretty hat.

Just a little elbow gvease.

There we ave.

Now...

That's the last time that'll ever come down.

- Well. doctor. - Oh. Nora. dear.

Sony l missed you at the station.

That's all right. l managed to get him here.

Yes. so l see.

- Hiya, Pop. - Hello. son. Well...

...let's get him on his feet.

- Come on. Up you come. - You know, l was just fixing this table.

Yes. l know. And l suppose that's furniture polish?

- ThaL Dad. is cidev. Taste it. -l don't have to. l believe you.

- One swallow. -lf you say it's cidev, it's cidev.

- Please, DI. Charles. - Oh. well.

WhY. Nick. This is cidev.

What a dinner. What a dinner.

Ma. I'm glad to see that you still have that same old magic touch with the skillet.

- It was delicious, Mother. - Just son of thvown together.

Sure. just thvown together. She's been over that steve fo¡ hours.

Oh. now don't pay any attention to him, Nick.

Hilda. bring the coffee in here.

Dad. that certainly is fine news about the hospital.

Yes. Sam Ronson's going to make a vecommendation...

...at the next meeting of the board.

And a vecommendation from him is as good as an order.

- Who's Sam Ronson? - The town bankev.

He has a hand in everything here. l suppose he's what you'd call a typhoon.

Don't you mean "tycoom" Mother? Typhoon is a son of big wind.

Well. that's Sam Ronson.

Nick. tell us something about your work in New York.

Yes. Nick. do.

Have you gone to work? What ave you doing?

Oh. same old thing.

So you've still a policeman.

Well. I'd havdly put it that way.

- No? How would you put it? - I'd say that Nick was move of a genius.

Mv Nick?

You see, Nick doesn't actually work with the police.

In fact, people call on him who think he's better than the police.

He's paid very large fees because his work is important. Extremely important.

My dear Nova, l didn't say it wasn't important.

You implied that you didn't think it was very important.

You gave the impvession you thought that Nick walked the streets swinging a club.

- If l gave that impvession, I'm heanily sony. - Oh. sure. A very handsome apology.

It Nick thinks it's important to be a policeman...

...that's all that matters, l suppose.

- But you don't know what he does, doctor. - Davling.

Why don't you pop out to the kitchen and speed up the coffee?

Some cases Nick solved were considered absolutely impossible.

Darling. let me show you the view from the front povch.

- It's beautiful in the moonlight. - The Wynant murder?

Or the Fingers 0'Toole case? The slaughtevhouse mystery?

Or take Stinky Davis.

- Stinky Davis? - Stinky Davis?

The Stinky Davis case illustvates what l mean about Nick.

Yes. I'm sure it does, Nova.

Do you still take two lumps in your Stinkyn? l mean, in your coffee?

Just imagine: Four muvders, all stvangulation, no fingerpvints, no clues.

- The police were baffled. - Of course.

All they had were tour bodies. What did they do?

- They dumped the whole thing in Nick's lap. -l see.

Nobody suspected Stinky. because he'd been a cvipple...

...since nitro went off while he was cvacking a canistev in Salt Lake.

Everybody thought it was Rainbow Benny. But Nick knew...

...that Rainbow was an expert with the shiv. Stvangling was out of his line.

Smart Nick. They turned the heat on Slashev Martin who van a dice joint in Chinatown.

Slashev had an alibi with Squinty Burke and Studsy Green, so that took cave of him.

But all the time Nick was certain that Stinky Davis was the killer.

Why? Because he had him pegged right away...

...for a two-timing, double-Crossing rat.

Would the police listen to Nick? No.

They told him it was a hophead theory. Wild as loco buttons...

...because Stinky was a cvipple and couldn't navigate.

Nick got the bvushoff from the police.

They coldshouldeved him out. But did that stop him?

No. sir. He knew the case was hot...

...and he was set to cock on the front bumev.

He said, "Stinkv. you've the two-timing. double-Crossing rat...

...who stvangled Knobs McClule, Gveasy Joe and Horse-faced Dan and Denver Mike."

And then he turned his back on Stinky. And the trick worked.

Stinky got up out of his wheelchaiv and tried to stvangle Nick...

...with a wive he'd hidden in his mouth.

But just in time, Nick turned around. gave him the old one-two...

...and knocked Stinky coldev than an ice floundev.

Stinky wasn't a cvipple at all. He was just using it to cover up his crimes. Now...

-...what do you think of that? - Well, if Nick suspected...

...that Stinky wasn't a cvipple, why didn't he have him examined by a doctor?

The whole thing's so silly.

Dr. Charles...

...you ave impossible.

Now. you see. You've upset her.

Spivited little thing, isn't she?

Well. you know how women ave.

No. how ave they?

Mother, come here.

Isn't he beautiful?

Mother, what's wrong between Nick and his father?

- Hasn't Nick ever told you? - No. he's seldom talked about it.

It seems silly, but the doctor had his heart set...

...on Nick becoming a doctor so they could work together.

That's how the whole idea fo¡ the hospital started.

- But Nick had a mind of his own. - And became a policeman.

Yes. that's about it.

L wish he could do something to impvess his father while he's here.

Is there any crime in Sycamove Springs?

Gvacious, no. The only excitement we ever had was a vunaway horse last Christmas.

There's nothing Nick wants move than a pat on the back from his father.

- If he got that, he'd pop a button. - Did he admit that?

No. You know Nicky.

We were married three years before he told me he loved me.

Well, if you've looking fo¡ crime in Sycamove Springs...

-...you'll have to commit it yourself. -l wonder.

Nicky always says that there's a Skeleton in nearly every closet.

If you vattle it hard enough. something always happens.

But would Nick like it if you went around vattling people's skeletons?

Oh. he'd be fuvious.

But if some crime did break. It would be a wonderful chance fo¡ him...

...to show his father what a great detective he is.

Studying hard, junior?

Oh. hi.

Guess l must have dvopped off.

- Would you like to lie here? - No. no. stay where you ave.

L don't want to distuvb you while you've working on your lessons.

I'll pull up one of these chairs.

- Can't l help you? - No. You've made enough effort.

L was just thinking about a little gal by the name of Alice Brody.

We used to come out here on hot summer nights and play on her banjo.

The boys used to write their names on it.

She manied a bvewev from Milwaukee.

What did he play, the bull fiddle?

No. she was very fond of beev.

- You sure l can't help you with that? - No.

No. you might get all sweaty and die.

Well. hello there.

Nick. you old son of a gun.

Why didn't you let me know you were in town?

- Oh. hello. Bruce. - Hell0. Nick.

Well, looks like the old days.

Yeah. 0h, darling. meet an old schoolmate. Bruce Claywonh. Mrs. Charles.

- How do you do? - How do you do, Mrs. Char"?

Well. I'm certainly glad to meet you.

- Now l know the secret of Nick's success. - Yes. If it weven't fo¡ her money...

...l probably would've had to go to work like you, Bruce.

What do you do, MI. Claywonh?

I'm a small-town doctor. Always will be, l guess.

Nick had the right idea. "Get where the money is, and it'll come to you."

- That's what he said. - Did l say that?

Well. he was always the smart one anyway. Mvs. Charles.

What ave you doing now? You here on a case?

No. No. We've just visiting the folks.

Now. let's see something of you while you've in town.

- L've gotta run. I'm gonna have a baby. - Dvink milk.

Oh. not me. Down at the hosp--

He was always a clown, MIS. Charles. He used to put us in stitches.

- Goodbye. - Goodbye.

Goodbye.

How would you like to put me in stitches, papa?

Well, if it isn't little Nicholas Charles.

Old home week.

It's Mrs. Peavy. isn't it?

- Well. hello. - You've gvown.

Yes. in all directions.

You remember my nephew. Willoughby?

- Oh. yes. of course. How ave you? - How do you do?

He seems to have gvown too.

- And l suppose this is Mrs. Charles. - Yes. I'm Mrs. Charles.

I'm so sony. This is my old schoolteachev, Miss Peavy. And Willoughby Peavy.

- How do you do? - How do you do?

Willoughby is working out at the plant now.

Ave you in town on a case, Nicholas?

No. I'm just trying to get a little rest.

L davesay there's plenty of evil in Sycamove Springs.

And it's your duty to fenet it out.

Well. l davesay.

Hew to the line. Let the chips fall where they may.

Asta. Asta. Asta, no.

What a nasty little dog.

- Come along. Willoughby. - Oh. don't huny away.

L hope l see you again, MIS. Charles. Without your dog.

Darling. is that why you bumed the schoolhouse down?

Why did you shoot your mouth off about me fo!?

Hush up. l just told them you work at the plant.

L didn't tell them what you were doing.

Having trouble with that?

Very funny. I'm sure.

Children!

Hello. Mother.

L saw all those people stopping, Nicky.

You've getting to be quite a public character.

Yes. l feel like a public something.

It's funny. they all assume he's working on a case.

- Mind if l come in? - Not at all, Lauvabelle, come along.

- Don't belong. - No.

- Who's this? -lt's Lauvabelle Ronson.

She's the daughtev of that typhoon l was telling you about.

- You've Mrs. Charles, aven't you? - Yes.

Oh. l knew it. l knew it when l saw you from the car. l felt it here, inside.

- Lauvabelle goes to dvamatic school. - Oh. l see.

- And this is your famous husband. - Yes.

He looks all right when you get him dvessed up.

You've here on a mystery. A deep. deep mystery in Sycamove Springs.

L feel it here, inside.

Well. I'm sony to disagvee with your insides, Miss...?

Just call me Lauvabelle.

But I'm really just here fo¡ a little rest.

You must pavdon Nick, Lauvabelle. He's been working hard in the city. He's tired.

Oh. yes. l know how these geniuses ave. All nevves.

But l realize you can't talk about it, even if he is here on a case.

- No. No. We mustn't talk about it. -ln fact, we don't have to.

Everything is so frightfully hush-hush these days. But l know.

And l think it's wonderful.

Good gvacious. Who's making that vacket?

That's Tom Claywonh. l pvomised to drive him to the train. He's leaving fo¡ Boston.

Has he got his dischavge from the Army yet?

Yes. But since he came back from the South Seas, he's been as nervous as a cat.

- Poov boy. - And so jealous.

WhY. he won't even let another man talk to me.

- L haven't said anything. -l must take my leave now.

But we've going to see a lot of each other. I'm sure. l feel it here.

- Inside? - Yes.

And don't forget, Lauvabelle. we mustn't talk about it.

Oh. l understand, MIS. Charles. And your secret couldn't be in better hands.

It's all over town, Mrs. Charles. that Mv. Charles is here on a case.

- Il you could only give me a little statement. -l never discuss Mv. Charles' activities.

He happens to be out now.

But Mv. Charles is in town. Mv. Charles is a detective...

...and you can draw your own conclusions.

Thank you.

"In an interview with Mrs. Charles by the Sycamure Springs Evening News...

...she vaised an eyebvow and said. 'l never discuss Mv. Charles' activities...

...but you can draw your own conclusions."'

Now that's a lot of malavkey. WhY. I've known Nick Charles fo¡ years.

If there was anything going on in this town, he'd be the first to let me know.

Look at that. Nick Charles is in town. Paper says he's here on some investigation.

He's after us. We gotta get that painting and get out of here.

The painting hasn't come in yet. l was at Cvumps this morning.

L can't understand that. Ave you sure you asked fo¡ the painting of the windmill?

Of course I'm sure.

- Well. then why--? - Now. Edgar, calm down. We'll get it.

Well. l don't like that flatfoot snooping around town.

- We'll go down there now. - All right, all right.

Mister.

Oh. how do you do?

- How much is this? - This?

Oh. you don't want this. Oh. gvacious me, no.

- But l do want it. - No. no. l can't sell that.

That's by one of our local boys. lt just came in.

L have a standing offer fo¡ all of his work.

- Some crazy woman thinks he's a genius. - But l happen to like it.

That old windmill has a certain sentimental association fo¡ my husband.

And I'd like to give it to him fo¡ his birthday tomorrow.

How much does the other woman pay you?

Fifty dollars. She buys all of his work.

- L'll give you 60. -l beg your pavdon?

L said, I'd give you $60 fo! it.

But you'll never make money paying $60 fo! a $50 painting.

But l don't want to make any money.

My husband spent his whole youth in that windmill.

And he's sentimental about it. Tomorrow is his birthday.

- Can't you understand that? - Yes. but l pvomised her.

- She'd be awfully mad at me. - Don't worry about that.

Yes. but l like to keep my pvomises if l can.

- Ten. Fifty. -l wish I'd gone into some other business.

- Sixty. - Theve you ave.

Oh. don't worry about that.

- Thank you. Good day. - Good day. And happy birthday.

- Has it come in yet? - Yes. Has what come in yet?

- The painting. - Painting? 0h, l have a lot of paintings.

There's the Barelaut Buy. The Stay at Dawn...

...and Waiting for the Hubert E. Lee, all of them bad.

No. no. Don't you remember me?

I'm the woman who collects Benons. You were expecting another one in today.

Oh. that. Well, l just sold that.

Sold it. To whom?

To that woman who was just in here with a birthday.

You-- You old fool.

L knew she'd be mad at me.

There goes your painting.

Well. somebody's going to pay plenty fo¡ that picture before we've through.

And it isn't going to be me.

- Oh. good evening, Willoughby. - ML Charles.

You looking fo¡ clues?

No. I'm not. But my pup seems to have found something.

Yeah.

Well...

Come on, Asta. You've had enough botany fo¡ one night.

"'L never discuss Mv. Charles' activities.

You can draw your own conclusions."'

There you ave.

L thought you were never coming.

- Something happen? - Nothing.

- I'm just glad to see you, that's all. - Oh. well.

Has papa's little hunchy-punchy-bunchy been having a busy time?

- Well. I-- - We mustn't tive ourselves out, must we?

What have you got behind your back?

The paper. l couldn't find it.

Father, does the old woodshed still stand in its shelteved nook amongst the trees?

Yes. Nick.

And does the tvusty vazar stvop still hang behind the door?

Oh. no. no. l use an electric vazar now.

Well. necessity is the mother of invention.

Now. you've gonna get it where Nellie wove the beads.

No. Nick! Not here in front of your parents!

- Stop it! -"But you can draw your own conclusions."

- Nicky! - This will teach you the power of the press.

A fine son you've brought up. A wife beatev.

A bvave boy. I've wanted to do that to Mother fo¡ 40 years.

L dave you.

Who can that be?

Well. one way to find out.

- Ave you Mv. Nick Charles? - Yes.

L wonder if l could talk to you fo¡ a few minutes.

You see, there's something I've gotta get off my mind.

He's dead, Nick.

- Don't move him, Dad. - No.

Is that you, Nick?

- Bvogan? - Yeah.

- Wheve ave you? - Heve. Here in the bushes.

- Did you hear a shot? - No.

- Thafs funny. neither did l. - WhY. something happen?

- NickY. what is it? - Davling. it's MI. Bvogan. You remember?

He was just coming to call on us.

What's he doing in the bushes?

Why. I--

- He was lighting a cigavette. - Yeah.

Will you come up to the house with us?

A man has just been shot.

The bell vang. l opened the door. He keeled over.

Mother, Dad. this is an old friend of mine. Mv. Bvogan.

How do you do, MIS. Charles? How do you do?

How do you do, sir?

Time and tide wait fo¡ no man.

Nick. you'd better phone Bruce Claywonh.

He's the official coronel in this town. He lives just down the street.

- Yes. What's his number? -148.

You know, doctor. this is just typical of Nick.

Wherever he goes, you always find bodies. It's just typical.

Is Dr. Claywonh there?

Just a moment.

- DL Claywonh. - Yes?

- Phone fo¡ you. - All right.

Thank you, Mrs. Hobby.

- Hello? - Hello. Bruce. This is Nick Charles.

A man's just been shot over here.

- What? Well, who is it? -l don't know. Will you notify the police?

Yeah. sure l will, Nick. And I'll come right over too.

I'll be through here in just a minute.

Now. Nick. l don't want to seem too personal.

But if you tell me you don't know anything about this thing, all l can say is baloney.

Mac. it happened just as l said.

The bell yang, l went to the door, the boy started to say something and was shot.

- Did you ever see him before? - No.

His name's Peter Benon.

Yes. l know. l know that, DI. Charles.

L was just telling you. He lives at Tom's Auto Court.

L know that too. Just because you've gotten used to me, Dl. Charles...

...doesn't mean l don't have a brain. l can handle move than traffic.

Then handle it and let's get it over with.

I'm not used to policemen in my living room...

...or people messing around in my laboratory.

- L like peace and quiet. - Good fo¡ you, DI. Charles. Tennyson says:

Peace shall pipe un her pastoral hill A Ianguid note and watch her harvest ripen

Thanksgiving.

Nick. did it occuv to you somebody mighfve been trying to shoot you...

-...and hit the boy instead? - Well. that's an angle.

He might have taken a shot at you and missed.

And a miss is as good as a mile.

Mv. Bvogan, if it isn't too much trouble...

...would you mind telling me where you came from?

WhY. I'm a friend of Nick's. Get it? And l was just passing by. Get it?

- So l thought I'd just stop in. - Get it?

Do you usually drop in the bushes?

Well. can't a fellow stop to light a cigavette?

If Mv. Charles can be of any help to you, Ml. MacGvegov...

-...I'm sure he'd only be too glad. - No. I'm on a Vacation.

Besides, you can't just bavge in on another man's case.

You could be called in as a specialist, couldn't he, Father?

Of course a man could be called in as a specialist. You told me so.

- Well, if l need any help, I'll ask fo¡ it. - Thafs the right spirit.

The safety of this community couldn't be in better hands.

- Who'd like some cidev? - Nick. 0h, Nick. heve's the bullet.

L don't know about such things. but l imagine it was filed from a .45...

...or something in that general field.

- Well. give it to Mac. It's his show. - Thanks.

- L'll send this to a good ballistics expert. - Nick's a good ballistics expert.

I'm a ballistics expert who's on a Vacation. Who'll have cidev?

Very little water in mine.

- Is the cidev in here? - Yes. sir.

- Hilda? - Yes. sir.

How about some glasses?

- Hilda? - Yes. sir.

- Suppose you do the honors? - Yes. sir.

- Thank you, sir. - Yes. sir.

What's the idea? We ain't had a vacancy in two months.

You have now. Peter Bevton's just been shot.

Peter Bevton's been shot?

Number 19 with a bath and Shower.

L want to ask a few questions about him.

Know nothing about it.

Less you notice in this business, the better it is. Mum's the word around here.

Mum's the word.

Well. l always said something would happen to that boy.

Yeah? Why?

Bad-tempeved and omevy. He had a fight the other night.

- A fight, huh? With whom? - Don't know the name.

The other fellow ended up with two black eyes like a vaccoon.

- What was the fight about? - Can't say fo¡ sure.

But like as not it was over that Lauvabelle Ronson.

She was tvaipsing over here all the time.

- L said. mum's the word. - Mum's what word?

Yep?

Yep. Nope.

- Was that MacGvegov? - Yep.

- Is he on his way? - Yep.

Okay. When he comes. I'll be in number 19.

L hope you haven't touched anything in there.

- Nope. - We clean once a day. ln the morning.

- You two had better stay here. - Yes. sir.

And remember, mum's the word.

"Cubana Pevfecto."

"Boston Children's Home."

Why don't you girls goto bed?

I'm wonied. Something might have happened to him.

Nonsense. Nick's old enough to take cave of himself.

To think that l tell to¡ that cidev voutine.

He's probably got the case half-solved by now.

But where can he be?

He's probably turning that auto camp upside down.

It's possible he might be turning a drink upside down.

Not on your tintype.

When Nick puts his mind on a thing. he never makes a false step.

That's my boy.

Well, let's see, Asta. Where shall we put it?

L really shouldn't give him a birthday present at all.

Sneaking off like that, getting drunk...

...without me.

Running into an old sweethean.

If all his old sweetheans were laid end to end...

...I'd use them as a sidewalk.

But he's a pretty good guy.

He keeps us in dog biscuits.

L hope he likes it.

"Nova. darling. what a lovely surprise."

Darling. what time is it?

It's almost 11:00.

0h, buy, I'm Iate And I've gut a date

Deep in the heart of Texas

I'll choose a tie Then [must fly

Deep in the heart of Texas

Deep in the heart of Texas

Darling. wheve's my belt with the gold buckle?

Buckle, buckle, who's got the buckle?

Buck/e down, Winsucki Buck/e down, down, down

There it is, right in front of you.

Deep in the heart of Texas

Some detective.

Deep in the heart of Texas

Don't tell my fomato [gut a date with a putatu

Deep in the heart of Texas

Goodbye, mama I'm off to Yokohama

Nicky. What is this sudden epidemic of kisses fo!?

For my birthday, Iemembev?

Deep in the heart 0!--

You know what that is?

Remember that old mill l pointed out to you from the baggage car? Well, that's it.

What a pain in the neck that turned out to be.

Full of Snakes, skunks, poison ivy and a tvuant Officer.

Gives me the shudders just to look at it.

How dear to my heart Are the scenes of my childhood

Deep in the heart of Texas

- Hilda, take this out and burn it. - Don't you like it?

No.

Can't say l blame you.

Hilda. what ave you doing with that picture?

Mrs. Charles told meto burn it.

Let me see.

Why, l think it's very pretty.

It's just the thing to give to the bazaav at the hotel.

It's all right with me.

- L'll tell Miss Lauvabelle you've here. - Thank you.

Miss Lauvabelle!

Miss Lauvabelle!

- L hope I'm not distuvbing you, Miss Ronson. - Oh. it's all right.

You came to talk to me about Peter Barton, didn't you?

Yes. and you've very bvave to see me at a time like this.

Oh. it doesn't matter.

People ave bom, people die, life goes on.

Poor Peter.

At least he has uutsuared The shadow of our night.

Envy, pain and hate can touch him not.

That's Shelley. l always tum to the poets fo¡ comfort in all my sonows.

Yeah. me too.

Now. about Peter.

L just wanted to ask you a few things about his friends, his family.

He was alone. He had only me.

Well. he must have talked about his family, though. His childhood?

He talked of nothing. Our souls and Spirits communed.

Words would have been empty. Meaningless.

Yes. l can understand that.

- Cigavette, MI. Charles? - Thank you, no.

- A cigar? -l've rather lost interest in cigars.

Father has some very good ones. A special brand he keeps all fo¡ himself.

- A special brand? - Yes. Won't you try one?

"Cubana Pevfecto."

Well. yes. yes. this does interest me.

Thank you.

You and Peter saw quite a good deal of each other?

Yes. Fellow artists, you know.

That fight he got into recently must have been rather distvessing to you.

- Fight? - Yes.

- He gave somebody a pair of black eyes. -l know absolutely nothing about that.

Is that so? Your father didn't appvove of Peter, did he?

Poor Dad. So provincial, you know. He just didn't understand.

Oh. l tried again and again to explain to him how platonic and beautiful it was.

But he just made scenes.

L thought he was gonna have a stroke or something. lt was awful.

- You poor child. - Oh. and it wasn't only Dad.

No one understood what Peter and l meant to each other.

WhY. Tom Claywonh made such a fuss if l even--

Well. you wouldn't be interested in all that.

On the contvavy. What about Tom?

Well. you know what an emotional type Tom is. And so jealous.

WhY. if he heard l spoke to Peter, he'd hit the ceiling.

- Did he ever hit Peter? - Oh. no.

- Weve you afraid he might? - Well. you see--

Oh. MI. Charles, Tom had nothing to do with Petefs death. l know that.

But the last time you went out to see Peter...

...wasn't it to wam him that Tom was jealous? Pevhaps made thveats?

You've quite wrong, Ml. Charles.

Was it to wam him against your father?

- My father? - Yes. he didn't want you to see Peter.

He made violent scenes about it. You told me so.

You-- You tvicked me into telling you that!

Tvicked you? Say, what do you think this is, Miss Ronson, a pavlov game?

A man has been muvdeved. Your father thveatened Peter, didn't he?

That isn't true. You must believe me. l sweav it!

- L believe you. - No. you don't.

You've trying to trick me into telling you move. l won't.

And l won't listen to your accusations. Get out!

Go on. get out!

I'm sony if l upset her, Ml. Ronson.

What do you want here?

L wanted to talk to Lauvabelle about Peter Benon.

- What about Peter Barton? - Well. fo! one thing, he's dead.

And you think my daughtev killed him?

Well. no. but l wanted to ask her a few things about him.

Who his friends were...

...and who his enemies were.

Why did you object to him seeing your daughtev, Ml. Ronson?

- Who says l objected? - Youv daughtev.

I'm not responsible fo¡ what Lauvabelle says.

She is a girl with a very vivid imagination.

Why should l object to him?

That's what l would like to know.

Now look, Charles, I'm just as interested in seeing justice done as you ave.

But l think you ought to be caveful.

L know that you don't want to hurt innocent people.

You don't want to damage good veputations needlessly.

That might be havmful to the whole community. Your own family.

Your own father might have ambitions and plans that could be vuined.

You mean my fathefs ambition fo¡ a hospital might be blocked?

Just think that over, Charles.

Yes.

L will think it over, Ml. Ronson. l will indeed.

And I'll also think over what you were doing in Peter Bevton's cabin...

...the day he was killed. Good day.

Well. hiya. Mac. Right on the job, l see.

Say, that was a dirty trick changing those numbers.

L didn't find out l was in the wrong cabin till this morning.

- That was just the Halloween in me. - Well. this isn't Halloween.

- Say, l thought you were on a Vacation. -l just thought I'd help a bit.

Well. you didn't happen to run into anything, did you?

- Are you keeping an eye on Crazy Mary? - Why Crazy Mary?

Well. as l remember, she used to go on the warpath at times, didn't she?

How does anybody get into her shack to talk with her?

Nobody does, except Doc Claywonh.

Last time l tried l got conked on the head with a coffeepot.

- No. - Say, talking of the devil...

- Hello. Nick. - Hiya, Bruce.

Hello. Mac. How ave you?

L was telling Nick you've the one who could get him in to talk to Mary.

- Oh. sure. any time, Nick. - Thanks. How did the autopsy come out?

We found that that bullet entered the boy's back...

...through the large vhomboid on the left...

...and was stopped by a stemocostal joint on the right.

- That tells us a lot, doesn't it? - Yeah. Does it?

Well. Mac. keep pitching.

Bad ones. Always gave me his bad pictures to sell. Never his good ones.

Just higgledy-piggledy, that's what he was. Yes.

You know, artists ave all like that.

They keep their good pictures and sell their bad ones.

It seems a good artist is just natuvally higgledy-piggledy.

Maybe that's why he's a good artist.

Or maybe it's veversed.

How much did you usually get fo¡ his paintings?

Whose paintings?

The boy we've talking about. Higgledy-piggledy.

Oh. yes. that one. Fifty dollars a picture.

Could you have gotten move fo¡ his better ones?

Gvacious me, yes. Twice as much. Three times.

L guess the boy was loaded, huh?

- He was what? - He had no economic problems.

Yes. or else maybe he was just. you know...

Higgledy-piggledy? Yes. I'm sure he musfve been.

Well. thank you very much. Goodbye, now.

L beg your pavdon?

L said. goodbye, now.

"Goodbye now"? There's no sense to that.

Obviously it's now. l mean. you wouldn't say, "Goodbye tomorrow."

OI. "Goodbye two hours ago."

You've got hold of something there, brother.

I've got hold of some...?

L haven't got hold of anything. And I'm not your brother.

If he's on official business, why doesn't he let somebody know about it?

Why the mystery?

Besides, we have a pevfectly good police depanment of our own.

Well. what do you want me to do?

L just want to give you a word of advice.

L have reason to believe that Mv. Ronson is not at all pleased...

...with his intevfeving in people's lives.

It's upsetting the town. lt might be better it you asked him to leave.

To leave? But he's my son.

He's just a meddling fool, that's what he is.

- Did Ronson say that? - No. no. no. that's my opinion.

Have you talked with Ronson about this?

- No. but l have reason to believe-- - What you believe doesn't interest me.

L think I'll be leaving.

L think you've making a great mistake, doctor.

You've been working on that hospital project of yours for years.

L know your heavfs set on it, and it's pvactically a reality now.

It would be a Shame if. at the last minute, it fell through.

Tatum, l think you've a stinkev.

L think Tatum is a two-timing, double-Crossing rat.

Now. now. now. Mother, Mother. We mustn't spoil Nick's birthday.

Now. you must smile. Now, smile.

No. no. nice pretty smile. That's right.

That's beautiful, Ma. Thanks, Dad.

That's lovely, Mother. One, two, three, four--

Don't be a cad. Why. this makes me feel as if l were in short pants again.

That l want to see.

- Heve goes. - Oh. make a wish.

Oh. yes. All right.

Heve's luck to Dad's hospital.

Don't tell your wish. lt may not come true.

Well. this one will.

Hang onto your hats.

A man. There was a man.

- Wheve? -ln your room.

- Who was it, Hilda? -lt was dark. l couldn't see.

L walked in, and there he was.

- What happened? -lt was the table you fixed.

It's fainted again.

Come out of there.

- It's me, Nick. - Well. fo! the love 01--

- Did you see anyone? - No. l stepped into the bushes fo¡ a minute.

- WhY. Bvogan! - Why? What's up?

Somebody's been casing my room.

- L must have missed him. - You certainly did.

I'm sony. But l got the dope from Boston.

You were right about the kid. l got it all written out here.

- Nick! -lt's Mv. Bvogan, dear.

I'll let you have this lot ata dollar a dozen.

- Good evening, MIS. Charles. - Lighting a cigavette again?

No. no. l was just going to ask him to have some cake with us.

Well. of course. He can't stay out here in the bushes.

There's tricks to every trade. as the saying goes.

L had 3000 matemity cards announcing the birth of a baby girl.

All of a sudden, everybody starts having boys.

Here l am stuck with a lot of cards.

It's pvactically impossible to sell boys' cards fo¡ girls' cards.

Especially when the picture was of a stovk wearing a hat with a diapev in his mouth.

The diapev was what we call a bveakaway. Get it?

Nicky. how long have you known Bvogan?

Darling. did l tell you how pretty you looked to¡ my birthday dinner?

No. you didn't. Nicky, has Bvogan got a police record?

Well. l meant to tell you.

Honey. you hair is tinged with the vusset Shades of a beautiful autumn.

Look. you've holding something back about Bvogan.

He's a definite criminal type. l can tell by the shape of his head.

Well. yes. there was a little something about an old lady...

...who was found in a tvunk once.

And your ears ave like the twin petals of a budding rose.

Later, davling. Now, look. I've got this all figuved out.

Bvogan was in the bushes the night the murder was committed, check?

He was there again tonight when our room was vansacked. Double check.

Nicky. he's our man. And something's got to be done.

- And that's not it. - Not even on my birthday?

Oh. well.

Oh. darling. don't you see? He'll get away if you don't get busy.

- I'm on my Vacation. - Oh. Nicky. you've driving me crazy.

This case is serious and all you do is fuddle around and guzzle cidev.

I'll switch to pvune juice.

All right, if you've going to neglect your duty. I'm not.

Bvogan is mixed up in this. and I'm going to find out how and why.

Mv. Bvogan, have you any gveeting cards fo¡ a man going to bed?

- No. but... - Well. you'd better start working on them...

...because that's where I'm going.

- Well. l guess I'd better mosey along too. - Excuse me.

Must you go, Ml. Bvogan? There's still some cake left.

Thank you, MIS. Charles. But you know the old saying:

"A man's eyes ave often bigger than his belly."

- Good night. - Good night. What a nice man.

L didn't mean to talk business at your party, Nick.

But you know, there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.

- Nova knows who committed the murder. - Yeah. who?

- You. - Me?

- BoY. that is interesting. - Look, l think she's gonna tvail you, see?

So give her a little exercise. Take her fo¡ a nice long walk.

- L've got something l wanna do. -l get it.

- NickY. l think I'll go fo¡ a little walk. - Want me to go with you?

No. no. I'm just going to the dvugstove.

- Good night, Nicky. - Good night, darling.

- Now. try to get to bed early. - You know me.

Hello. Bvuce? Nick Charles.

Busy?

How'd you like to take me out to Crazy Man's?

Nick. remember when we used to come up here fishing?

BOY. you sure caught the big ones.

- It's all in a flick of the wvist. -l guess l never did flick right.

Stay in the car till l call. You've liable to get conked on the head. Oh, Mary.

Mary. it's me, Dl. Claywonh.

Hello. Mary. l just wanted to talk to you fo¡ a minute, huh?

Get out of here. Get out.

- Now. now. Mary. Nobody's gonna hurt you. -l don't want him around here.

Why didn't you tell me he was with you? Get him out.

- He just wants to ask you a few questions. - I'm not answeving any questions.

You leave me alone. Do you hear? You leave me alone.

L don't want to answer any questions. Now get out.

L want to talk to you about Eleanor Morgan.

Eleanor Morgan?

L have a lot of information, Mary. From Boston.

- You know about Eleanor Morgan? - Yes.

- Nobody knows about Eleanor Morgan. -l do. Mary.

- Petev know you were his mother, Mary? - No.

- But l watched over him best l could. - Suve you did.

Who do you think killed him?

How should l know?

He fought with somebody at the auto camp. Gave him a couple of black eyes.

Who was that?

- It was Bill Burns, out at the plant. - What was the fight about?

- L won't tell you nothing. Get out. - I'm trying to help you.

No. Nobody's trying to help me. They've all against me.

L know what they're after. They've not gonna get it.

L know somebody that will get it fo¡ me.

If anybody else comes nosing around, they're gonna get something they don't like.

- Now get out! - Now. all right, Mary.

All right, we've going. we've going.

Holy smoke! Peter Bevton's mother?

Well. where does the Eleanor Morgan come in?

That's the name she used at the hospital in Boston where he was bom.

And later, when she tumed him over to the Children's home, she used Benon.

Hiya. Mac. What delayed you?

For a guy who's on his Vacation. you certainly buzz around a lot.

L looked fo¡ you, Bruce. Wanted you to come here.

- Nick couldn't get anything out of her. - Oh. yeah?

Well. I'll get something out of her.

He got something out of her.

There, okay?

Hello.

How ave you?

- Hi. Cutie. - Hi. babe.

- Hello. sister. - Gentlemem l...

Say, ain't you in that buvlesque show at the Grand?

There's my uncle. I've gotta go now.

- Goodbye, Cutie. - Goodbye.

Yes. sir?

Let's see now. Where was l going? Oh, yes. What time's the next train to New York?

-10:14. - Thank you.

That man who was just here.

- He was asking about a train, wasn't he? - Yes. ma'am. The 10:14 to New York.

Give me a cup of coffee and two aspivins.

Hello. Ml. MacGvegov.

I'm so glad you've here.

Always glad to see a member of the Charles family.

There's a man here. l want you to anest him.

- What fo!? - Does it have to be fo¡ something?

No. no.

You just pick out anybody at all, and l put him in jail fo¡ life.

But this man's gonna leave town.

Look. Mrs. Charles, l had a little business with your husband a while ago...

...and l got a big headache out of it.

L can't anest anybody fo¡ you unless they do something to get anested.

Get that? They've gotta do something.

L think you've being very technical, Ml. MacGvegov.

Make that four aspivin.

I've been looking fo¡ you.

OkaY. take your time. Take your time.

This is the ball you need, you know.

- Whafs she doing in here? - Whafs the idea?

- I'm sony. - Looking fo¡ somebody?

HeY. what ave you doing in here?

- Theve she is again. - We could offer her some assistance.

- Say, what have you got against me? - Oh. I'm so sony.

Sony. ladY. but we don't allow no unesconed females in here.

Isn't that an old-tashioned point of view?

- L mean, after all, times have changed. - She's with me, bavtendev.

Two beers, and huny it up.

L hope you don't mind my bavging in like this.

That's quite all right. Poolvooms ave so informal.

Well. l wanted to talk to you. You see...

As a matter of fact. I've been following you.

- You've been following me? - Evev since you left the house.

It's silly. l know, but my wife has got her heart set on a picture.

One you bought at the Cvump An Shop.

And I'd like to buy that painting from you.

Painting? 0h, the windmill.

Yes. Personally, l don't like it. but my wife is keen about it.

- I'm prepared to pay you a good price. - A good price?

- Say. $500. - Five hundred dollars!

Why, l only paid $60 fo! it.

You can't make any money paying $500 fo! a $60 painting.

Well. money doesn't matter when it comes to making the little woman happy.

That's a fine quality in a husband, Mv...?

Dvaque, Edgar Dvaque.

Then it's a deal?

- Well-- - Fine. can l get the painting now?

Well. not now. I'll get it fo¡ you later. I'll bring it to you.

Well. I'd like to get it as soon as possible.

I'm stopping at the Sycamove Springs Hotel--

Sycamove Springs Hotel. That's where they're holding the bazaav.

That's right. l have to leave town tonight.

And I'd like to get the painting before l go.

You beast!

This man insulted me!

Break it up in there. Hold it, you guys! Break it up there!

My. mY-

Cut it out, will you? Come on.

Give me the police depanment, please.

There's no use denying it. You did have a fight with Peter Benon.

Yeah.

Looks to me as if you got move than your share.

All I'm asking is. what was the fight about?

Well. MI. Charles, it seems to me...

...that's nobody's business but Bevton's and mine.

Now that he's dead...

...it's only mine.

Why didn't you like him?

Well. l like people that ave stvaightfovwavd and honest.

L want to be able to peg them.

If l can't peg them...

...l don't like them.

I see.

Well, if that's all you've going to ask me. l think I'll be going along.

The fact that the boy's dead doesn't seem to have made...

-...vevy much impvession on you. - Why should it?

Death hasn't endowed him with any new vinues, has it?

Well. that's a little bvutal. but honest.

Do you...?

You know of anyone who might have had cause to kill him?

The way he was cutting thvoats at the plant...

-...it might have been a number of people. - What about you?

Mr. Charles, when you've got anything on me, you can serve your papers.

But until that time. l figure my time is my own.

- What did he want? - Just wanted to ask me a few questions.

Questions about what?

Come on, Asta.

Nicky! Come on, come on.

Don't stand there stavgazing. We've got to huny.

- Huny? Where to? - We've going to a dance.

- He offered me $500 fo¡ it. - Five hundred dollars fo¡ a dance?

- It was there under your nose all the time. - Undev my nose?

L had him thvown in jail. but he might get out.

- Then he'd get the painting. - Painting?

Sycamove Springs Hotel.

L figuved as long as l had one man anested, l might as well have him locked up too.

Did you do all this on cidev?

L thought you'd be proud of me. killing two birds with one stone.

- Two birds? - Yes. they're both in jail.

- Who's the other? - Bvogan.

- Bvogan's in jail? - Yes.

- Oh. Ml. Charles. - ML Charles. Buy mine.

Oh. sure. sure. I'll split my business up among you.

Give them to the boys.

- Good evening, Ml. Charles. - Oh. hello.

L bet you think I'm a silly girl fo¡ behaving the way l did.

- You were right to be angry with me. - I'm not angry with you.

- Aven't you, really? - No. Here, I'll prove it to you.

- L'll take all your tickets. There. - You can prove it even better...

-...by dancing with me. - All right, put me down fo¡ a dance.

- Do you jittevbug? - No. put me down fo¡ a slow polka.

Was that necessary? Do you have to shine up to him like that?

Oh. Tom. you've impossible.

Nicky. it's gone.

- Whafs gone? - The painting l gave you.

- The painting you gave me? -l mean, the painting l didn't give you.

- Come again? - Fov your birthday.

The painting that you gave me but you didn't give me 101...

l beg your pavdon? l didn't understand.

- Gvacious me, what ave you doing in here? - Remembev me?

- I'm looking fo¡ the painting of the windmill. - WindmilL

Everybody's looking fo¡ the painting of the windmill.

Now you get out of here. Goodness gvacious!

All a paintev has to do nowadays isto get killed, and he becomes a genius.

- What? Did you say the paintev was killed? - Yes. Peter Benon.

- All higgledy-piggledy. - Was that painting by Peter Barton?

Gvacious me, yes. Everybody's been after that painting.

First the blend, then Sam Ronson. and now you.

- Sam Ronson? - Yes.

- Wheve is it? -l sold it to the blend.

Well. Mv. Cvump. what was the blond's name?

Mrs. Edgar Dvaque. She lives here in the hotel.

Dvaque. Why. that's the name of the man who offered me the $500.

- Wait here. - Wheve ave you going?

- To do business with the blend. - You think she'll give it to you?

L can try. darling. Anything fo¡ an. I'll be right back.

- No. no. l think I'll go along and chapevone. - Well...

Oh. hello. sailor.

- Why aren't you dancing? -l haven't got any tickets.

- Heve. - No dance tickets? Of course you have.

- Theve you ave. And heve's your partner. - Gee. thanks!

Nicky!

Nicky!

What's the number of Mv. Dvaque's room?

-124. -124. Thanks.

- Good evening. - Evening. Willoughby.

- Hello. -l see you've decided to stay in town.

L never had any intention of leaving.

- By the way, Tatum. - Yeah?

When the hospital's built, you must come in and have my father treat your nose.

- Theve's nothing wrong with my nose. - Theve will be.

Oh. pavdon me.

Come in, come in, dear. It's Mrs. Dvaque.

How do you do, MIS. Dvaque?

Well. you certainly got right down to business.

L found her on the floor.

She was out cold. Somebody had conked her before l got here.

- What about the painting? -lt's gone.

- We've going after it. - Glad to have met you, MIS. Dvaque.

- Clevk. - Yes. sir?

- You better have someone go up to 124. - Whafs wrong?

- Mvs. Dvaque is indisposed. - Oh. my.

Now. let me think. Let's see.

Peter Benon painted it. Everybody wanted it.

Dvaque offered 500. Mrs. Dvaque got it. She got conked.

Let's see, now. who else wanted it?

Crazy Mary said she knew somebody who would get it fo¡ her.

That might be it.

There's Ronson.

Ronson. Ronson said he wanted it too.

Yes.

There's the doc.

- I'd love to. - As soon as l check--

- Bvuce, excuse me. Ave you busy? - We've gonna have a dance.

How'd you like to take me fo¡ another vide?

- Well. I'd like to, but-- - Thafs fine. Come on, let's go.

- Wheve ave we going? - To Crazy Man's.

- Thafs where we belong. - Come on, Asta.

Dr. Claywonh's going to miss all the dances.

Don't worry about me. I'm not much of a dance¡ anyway.

Nick was the one the girls always wanted to dance with.

L hear he also played the banjo.

- She's dead. - Nicky.

Nicky. look.

Shot with her own gun.

HeY. that's one way of destvoying fingerprints, huh?

- Cevtainly is. Yes. - We'd better call MacGvegov.

Asta. Asia, what is it?

That's it. Your birthday present.

Asta. you'll get an extra bone fo¡ this.

Nicky!

- HeY. what ave you doing up at this hour? -l came down to ask you that.

Well. l was just concentvating on this little gem.

Funny thing to concentvate on at this hour of night.

Why don't you tackle it in the morning when you've freshev?

Say, you've pretty fresh right now.

You know, this has to be solved by morning.

- We've in the home stvetch. - How's it look fo¡ the finish?

Well. I'm not passing out any tips just yet.

Secret.

Wonied?

Say, you ave wonied, aven't you?

Oh. I've handled tvickiev shows than this.

But your old man wasn't in the audience watching you.

That's it, isn't it? Or pan of it anyway.

You'll get it.

You may not be any great Shakes as a detective, but you've lucky.

You'll solve it. And your father will be proud of you.

He'd better be. Unless he wants to hear that Stinky Davis story again.

No. no. no.

Not that, dear. Not that.

- L'll be waiting fo¡ you, darling. Good luck. -l'll need it, sister.

And don't call me sister.

Sit down. Make yourself comfortable.

L demand to know why we were brought here.

- Nick Charles' orders. -l demand to see Nick Charles. Where is he?

Search me.

L demand to know what those people ave doing in my laboratory.

- L don't know. - Wheve's Nick Charles?

- L don't know. - You don't know much, do you?

No. but l don't have to.

Mrs. Gveen's little boy's just swallowed 50 cents.

I'll get it, Hilda.

Hello. sister. Nick Charles here?

- Who wants him? - Yeah. who wants him?

- Is your name "sistev"? - Wheve's Nick Charles?

- He's a friend of ours. - What do you want?

- Pull in your ears, pop. - Listem you. You behave--

- You leave him alone. - Look, bub. he sent fo¡ us.

- Whafs your name? - My name's Slugs Lannigan.

- His is Finnigan. Mickey to you. - Yeah.

Well. why didn't you say so? Go on in there and sit down.

And keep quiet.

- Is it always like this, Nova? - Always.

You have my deepest Sympathy.

- Mvs. Charles, where is your husband? -l don't know.

Why don't you sit down and take it easy.

I'll just make some cocoa to quiet their nevves.

Cocoa? What a break.

Why is it necessary to held us all into a room like this?

For a very simple reason. This is the way he always works.

And this time he has a very special reason.

Whatever he does. no matter how idiotic it may seem...

...nobody ever outguesses him fo¡ long.

Just wait, you've going to be mighty proud of him.

I've seen him work on situations like this that looked hopeless...

...when Suddenly the guilty party cracks up and starts trying to shoot his way out.

He's not going to tum this place into a Shooting gallery.

That's the way these things usually wind up. It's called the payoll.

L usually duck under the sofa when it starts.

It's outvageous. Tveating people in this high-handed fashion.

Where is he?

Oh. he's probably ananging a few suvpvises fo¡ us.

Right now it may be pan of a strategy of nevves to keep us all on edge.

But when the stage is set. he'll make a dvamatic enhance.

I'm usually nervous too. But this time I'm not.

- You see, l know who it is. - You do?

Well. who is it?

Wouldn't you like to know?

There he is. And mighty beautiful timing, I'd say.

- Hiya, Slugs. Mickey. - Hello. Nick.

- Got them, huh? - All here.

- Good. Suppose you unwvap them, huh? - Suve.

Sony l had to keep you all waiting.

L just want to ask you a very few simple questions.

Nothing really difficult or involved.

Just some little things. And I'm sure you'll all want to help.

Mv. Dvaque, do you like it?

A genuine Benon, MIS. Dvaque.

By the way, how's your head?

That mean anything to you, Willoughby?

- To me, no. - It will.

- ML Ronson. Does it mean anything to you? - No.

- Suve? - Of course l am.

All right. I'm just asking.

- Ronson's cooked. - ML Cvump. that mean anything to you?

Gvacious me, yes. Squidgv. isn't it?

- Worse than that. - Pvecisely. Yes, yes.

Now. I'm about to demonstrate something to you.

And in order to do it. the room will have to be dark.

L hope you don't mind my taking a few Ordinary pvecautions.

But sometimes people have a habit of canying fivearms.

- So. Mac. will you take over? - Evevybody's going to be seavched.

- Fvisk them. - Yes. sir.

He can't do that. There won't be a payoff.

- Now. look here, this is going too far. - Nick. stop being absuvd.

These people aren't cviminals. They've vespectable citizens.

- They don't walk around with guns. - Heve's one.

As supevintendent of the plant. l handle the payvolls.

- L need it fo¡ protection. - This is a .45 Army Colt.

- Thafs the same kind of a gun killed Benon. - Let me out of here! I've got to get out!

- You've got to let me out of here! - WaiL Take it easy.

You can't hold me. You've got nothing against me.

- L've got an appointment. - Youv appointment will have to wait.

- It can't wait. Really, it can't. - With whom was your appointment?

- L can't tell you. - Well. I'm afraid you'll have to stay then.

L wonder if she's acting.

- Wheve did you get this? - That?

L bought that at an auction. It's just an antique. You can't tive it.

- Just an antique, huh? - Heve's another one.

Well. quite an arsenal fo¡ a peaceful community.

- Well. what's your story? - WhY. l need it working around the bank.

Well. we've not around the bank now. Mv. Tatum.

I'm sure you can spave it fo¡ a few minutes.

Charles, if you can't vindicate these actions, I'll see that you go to jail.

I'll keep that in mind, Ml. Ronson.

- Dad. I'm going to use your fluovoscope. - All right.

Slugs, will you close those cunains. please?

And. Mickey. you might keep an eye on the Dvaque family.

If you'll all gathev around the fluovoscope here. I'll pvoceed to the demonstvation.

Mv. Ronson, just move in here close, will you?

Yes. and you too, Willoughby. And Bill Burns.

All right. Now if someone will just close those cunains.

All set?

- Anybody know what that is? - Golly. l got a bavgain, two pictures.

And l don't mean the windmill or this little dog down here in the comer.

Look closely.

Willoughby. don't you vecognize that?

- Good heavens. - Holy smokes.

All right, open the cunains.

Well. Willoughby?

- WhY. it's pan of the plans fo¡ the pvopellev. - Thafs right.

A foreign power would pay a lot of money for that.

- Well. they couldn't be stolen. - Why not? This was.

Well. we've protected ourselves against it.

The plans ave divided into five different parts.

Nobody is allowed to see or to work on move than one pan.

Is that so?

Oh. Slugs. Let's have those other tour paintings.

- Heve they ave, Nick. - And tell them where you got them.

WhY. where you told me. ln Anthony Cvonefs an gallery in New York.

Anthony Cvonev. Known to his intimates as Tony.

Make a note of that, Ml. Dvaque. Oh. Ml. Cvump.

Do you vecognize these?

Gvacious me, yes. Why those ave the pictures l sold to her.

Thank you.

And under these four innocent-looking paintings...

...ave the designs fo¡ the other parts of your pvopellev. Suvpvised?

Yes. l am.

Bill. will you tell me now why you fought with Peter Barton?

Well. he tried to push me out of my job. Always making trouble.

- What kind of trouble? - Angling fo¡ somebody else's job.

He was always doing that. He should have been filed.

- Why wasn't he? - Thafs what I'd like to know.

He must have had a drag somewhere.

Willoughby would just switch him from one depanment to another.

See what l mean? The fingefs on him now. But my money's on Bvogan.

Thank you. 0h, I'm sony to be Iate. l was up at Mrs. Stanton's.

You know, that baby's about due.

Well. I'm glad you came. I'm going to need you.

- Shall we search him fo¡ weapons too? - Suve. Everybody's doing it.

- Well. l sunendev then. - Heve's something.

- Is that loaded? - Well. just with blanks.

Bruce, we've trying to get all the facts about Peter Benon.

How he lived and how he died.

By the way, when l phoned you...

...after Benon was shot. where were you in your house?

Well, let's see, I-- Oh. sure. l remember.

L was working on my stamp collection all that evening in my study.

- No one distuvbed you during the evening? - No.

- Well. l had one patient. - But you didn't hear the shot?

- No. l didn't. - No.

All right, Willoughby. Maybe you'd like to explain to us now about Benon.

The boy just didn't seem to get along with people.

You could have discharged him. couldn't you?

Yes. but he seemed such a nice, honest chap.

Well. he was a very good walkman.

Why don't you tell the truth? You were told to take cave of him. You had orders.

-0vdevs! From whom? - Fvom someone higher up.

Someone on the board of divectors. Mv. Ronson.

L gave no orders. The boy was recommended to me.

- L asked Willoughby to look after him. - Willoughbv. you better speak up.

L vefuse to be held responsible fo¡ this. l wanted to let him go.

- ML Ronson wouldn't let me. - Thafs a lie!

Oh. is it. Ml. Ronson? l think we both know better than that.

What time was it when we got out to Crazy Man's?

- You mean the last time? - Yes.

- About midnight. - How long would you say she'd been dead?

About half an hour. Not move than an hour.

- How does that check with you? - Me? What do l know about it?

- You ought to. You were in her shack. - I? ln her shack?

Cenainly. After you bopped Mrs. Dvaque on the head.

Sit down, goldilocks.

You bopped her, gvabbed the painting and took it to Man's.

- L never heard anything so absuvd. - Look here, Nick.

You've making some rather serious accusations.

Sam Ronson wouldn't do a thing like that.

Dad. l know this is going to sound a little fantastic...

...but I'm going to tell you a little faivy tale.

Once upon a time in this town. about 20-odd years ago...

...a local playboy van off to Boston with a young housemaid to get manied.

Unfovtunately, the housemaid wasn't quite right in the head.

Well, in Boston, the playboy got into a banoom bvawl and was killed...

...leaving the housemaid in a very tough spot.

It seems a baby was on the way.

Now. the dead playboy had a big brother.

But brother wanted no pan of it.

So the housemaid had to goto a County hospital in Boston to have her baby.

And the records show that later she placed him in the children's home there...

...under the name of Peter Benon.

Shall l go on, Ml. Ronson?

No. No, you win, Nick.

Pevhaps you'd rather tell us about it yourself.

L tried to help her. But she was 5o...

So inational.

The boy gvew up in the orphanage.

When he was of age, l sent fo¡ him and got him a job here in the plant.

He didn't seem quite well-balanced to me.

Crazy Mary kept hounding me.

L didn't want any scandal fo¡ my daughtefs sake.

Well. evevything went on all right until Crazy Mary discoveved...

...that her boy was mixed up in a vacket...

...to copy some pvopellev designs.

She wanted to stop him.

But she was helpless without vevealing to him that she was his mother.

Howevev...

...when the boy up and got himself killed, there was something she could do.

She could protect his good name.

So she blackmailed Mv. Ronson into vemoving the evidence against her boy.

This painting.

He took it to her last night after he removed it from Mrs. Dvaque's room.

- Is that true, Ml. Ronson? - Yes. But l didn't kill Crazy Mary.

No. but you slugged me.

- WhY. you small-town thug! - Heve!

Now. now. MIS. Dvaque!

Keep on doing what you've been doing. I'll have the cocoa in a few minutes.

Well...

Now. we know the technique that was used to deliver the paintings.

Benon copied the plans. painted over them...

...and placed the paintings lol sale with Willie Cvump.

Mrs. Dvaque bought them...

...and, through her husband, they were delivered at Tony Cvonefs in New York.

A nice, safe anangement.

Very little danger...

...and lots of money in it fo¡ everybody. Thousands.

What?

- Does that surprise you, MIS. Dvaque? - Tell him nothing, honey.

You mean you haven't told your honey how many thousands...

...Cvonev gave you every time you delivered one of these?

- Thafs a lie. - Well. l just don't think...

...you should have been cheated. Mrs. Dvaque. After all, you took a big risk.

And now you've involved in a murder.

Oh. no.

L didn't have anything to do with that. l only bought the paintings...

-...and turned them over to Edgar-- - Shut up.

- You've blabbing like he wants you to. - I'm not getting mixed up in any murder.

You didn't tell me it was gonna be anything--

Someone's always hitting that poor Mrs. Dvaque.

Dvaque. you ananged the scheme to steal these plans...

...through someone here in Sycamove Springs.

Someone who lives here and is well-vegavded in the community.

- When we find who that individual was-- - Nick! Look out!

Gvacious me!

Here you are, Nick. lt was exactly where you said. There's one cartridge missing.

Ladies and gentlemen. this is a vifle called the Nambu.

It's used by Japanese snipers in the Southwest Pacific.

It has long range and great accuracy. And this one's equipped with a silencev.

Many of them were brought back by our boys as Souvenirs.

- My brother Tom brought that gun back. - Right.

- You've not trying to imply he--? - I'm not implying anything.

- L agree that it was his gun. -l think that's as good as implying it.

L agree with Bruce, Nick. These people ave my friends.

A little while ago, you had us believing Sam Ronson was guilty.

- Ronson's just a red hening. -l don't cave if he is a red hening.

I'll never believe Sam Ronson killed anybody.

He didn't kill Mary, Dad. When he anived at her shack, she was already dead.

How do you know that?

He took the painting to her. That was the evidence she wanted.

Had she been alive, she would have destvoyed it immediately.

- She never got her hands on it. - Let go of me.

You got no right to bring me here. l haven't done anything.

Tom. l tried to get away. They wouldn't let me.

- Whafs the big idea? - Come in, Tom. and join the party.

We've trying to catch a muvdevev.

Bruce, according to your autopsy report...

...Peter Benon was shot with a .45 revolver.

The bullet entering the large left rhomboid, puncturing the posterior lobe...

...of the left lung and the lower lobe of the right lung. lacevating the pavenchyma...

...gvazing the aorta and lodging against the 12th right costal vib.

- Thafs your boy. -ln other words...

...it entered about here, passed all the way through his body...

-...and ended up down there. ls that right? - Thafs right.

Well. that's very strange.

Because fo¡ a .45 revolver to get that amount of penetvation...

...it would have to be filed almost point-blank.

And fo¡ a bullet to have tvaveled downwavd at such an angle...

...the revolver would have to have been filed...

...by some little gvemlin hanging from our povch voof.

Well. there was no little gvemlin.

So he couldn't have been shot with a revolver. No.

The bullet that killed Peter Benon was filed from a vifle.

From a distance and at an elevation. A vifle equipped with a silencev.

A vifle like yours, Tom. Which has one bullet missing.

- What ave you driving at, Nick? - Simply this.

Bruce. you switched bullets on us at the autopsy.

It was a Japanese vifle bullet you removed from Bevton's body...

...but it was a .45 revolver bullet you handed MacGvegov.

What's the answer?

Well. l did that to protect Tom.

Because everybody knew how jealous he was of Benon on account of Lauvabelle.

- You thought Tom might have killed Barton? - No. But what was l to think?

He had been vaving around the house that night.

Oh. indeed.

Mrs. Hobby, on the night of the murder...

...when l phoned Dr. Claywonh to come over, where was he?

- He was upstairs, sir. - You've quite sure of that?

Yes. sir. l remember distinctly of going to the stairs to call him.

How long before that had Mv. Benon left the house?

- Well. just a few minutes, sir. - Thafs all. Thank you.

So l was right, Bruce.

- Benon was at your house. - Well. l told you l had a patient, Nick.

But you withheld the fact that the patient was Bevton.

It seems that you were not downstairs in your study as you said.

Well. l might have, fo! a minute...

Ave you trying to blame this on me?

Bruce, when we went out to visit Crazy Mary the first time...

-...you stood outside and called to her. - Whafs the matter with that?

- Thafs the only way you can get in. - But last night you didn't call.

- You just bavged right in. Why was that? -l didn't just bavge in. I...

Well. l was excited, l guess. l don't know why l didn't.

I'll tell you why. Because it would have been silly to call to a dead woman.

You knew she was dead. Because you'd killed her.

- L think you've crazy. - What was your business with Dvaque?

- L never had any business with Dvaque. - You called on him at his hotel.

- L Checked on that. - Well. that is professional.

He was a patient of mine...

A patient?

- Is that right, Dvaque? - Thafs right.

Is it true?

He's never been sick a day since I've known him.

Thank you.

Dvaque gave you a chance to pick up some important money.

And you talked that bumble-bvained Benon kid into canying out the scheme.

When the news got out l was here on a mystevious investigation...

...Barton got into a panic. Decided to come to me, make a clean breast of it.

That would have cooked your goose. When Benon left you and came here...

...you vushed to your bvothefs room. gvabbed his vifle...

...and as Benon reached us. you shot him.

- You've a liav. - No. you've the lia!, Bruce.

You lied about your association with Dvaque...

...about being downstairs when Benon was shot.

You knew Crazy Mary was dead. You switched bullets at Bevton's autopsy.

L told you, l did that to protect Tom.

Miss Ronson, where was Tom the night that Peter was muvdeved?

He was in Boston. l phoned him that night.

So you weven't pvotecting Tom. you were pvotecting yourself.

Any other answers, Bruce?

Yeah. I've got one move.

You were always the smart boy, Nick. You knew all the answers.

You caught the big fish. You beat me at everything.

It's gonna be different this time. It's gonna be a tie. You've got me, but I've got you.

- You haven't the nevve to pull the trigger. - Haven't l?

- No. - Get him, gentlemen!

- Dvop it, Bruce! - Let me alone!

- Dvop it or l'll-- - Take your hands off me.

L forgot to tell you. Bvogan removed the fiving pin from that gun.

- No. you can't beat me again. - Get him out, men.

Let me at him. You can't beat me again!

Mv. Charles.

I've been wanting to do this ever since you got here.

May l have your autogvaph? It's fo¡ my mother in Walla Walla.

Gee. thanks!

That was wonderful, Nick. Great work, my boy.

Well!

WhY. Nicky. l do believe you've popped a button!

[ENGLISH]