Original subtitles

Come on.

Hey, wait for baby.

Nora: Come in.

Nora® butterfield 8-4-5-9-7.

- Where'll we put these, lady? - Put that there.

- And put that there. Man 1: Yes, ma'am.

- And put that here. - Yes, sir.

A-a-ah. Nah, don't be rude. You'll get yours.

Nora: Mrs. merrick, please.

- Is the baby alright? - Yes, ma'am, he's asleep.

Would you mind waiting until the new nurse comes?

Yes, ma'am. Nick: Ah...

Don't forget to remember to,

uh, drop in often.

It's always a pleasure, Mr. Charles.

Here's another of those "call long island operator number 15."

Don't you think you ought to call?

Certainly not. She knows better than that.

I told her I was bringing the wife along this time.

I don't know why I always take it for granted

that you're kidding.

Oh, hello, darling.

We just got in a little while ago. Ah, just a moment.

Will you bring up a passkey for that connecting door?

Man 1: Yes, ma'am. - Thank you.

Oh, we had a lovely trip. Nick was sober in Kansas City.

That's a very bitter woman.

Tonight? Oh, we'd love to.

I haven't been to a night club in a... hello?

I'm sorry, Mrs. Charles, but it's long island again

and they insist on cutting in. Yes, I'll tell her.

Go ahead, long island.

Hello? Hello, Nora?

This is colonel macfay.

Uh, well, don't you ever pay any attention to your messages?

Oh. Well, how are you? And how's the famous detective?

Oh! Quit, has he?

Well, I should have thought with all the publicity he got

over the last two cases...

Oh. I see. Uh...

Well, listen, young lady, I've sent my car in for you.

Uh, the weekend?

Uh, I don't think, uh...

Uh, we just got off a train.

And, uh, there's the baby, you know?

Mm, hold on. = I'm afraid...

It's a trap.

He just wants to get me down there

to go over that yearly statement.

It isn't about business, is it, colonel macfay?

Oh.

Told you.

Well, can't it wait till you come to town?

No, no, no. I... I... I'm not coming to town. No.

No, I, I'm just staying close to the house for a while.

You've got to come to me this time.

Well, that's not much to ask.

Very well, we'll come.

Mm...

Well, after all, we've never been down there.

It'll be nice in the country. A quiet weekend.

Good air for the baby and...

I think they have a pool.

Yeah. I'll see a lot of that pool.

I'll be up to my ears

in financial statements, business forecasts.

Well, you have to do it sometime, he can't do anything

without you.

Mommy, you shouldn't try to figure out

a highly technical problem like that.

You'll strain yourself.

You see?

Hi-ho. Seems like man's work's never done.

Nora: Come in.

Uh, beg your pardon, ma'am.

Uh, I... I'm colonel macfay's chauffeur.

- Oh, yes. - Uh...

I thought I might help with your luggage.

As you wish.

Come in.

I'm from Ms. Sherwood's agency.

Oh, yes. Miss, uh...

Dorothy. Dorothy waters. These are my references.

Ms. Sherwood spoke to you?

- About salary? - Yes, Mrs. Charles.

If you'll excuse me for saying so, Mrs. Charles,

it takes nearly two hours to get out to colonel macfay's.

- It does? - It's getting rather late.

- We oughta hurry. - Yes.

We have to go to long island,

so I'll phone the agency later.

If you don't mind. = oh. No, indeed.

The baby's awake now, Mrs. Charles.

I wonder... oh, dear.

Come in!

Are you the party that wanted the passkey?

Party? I'm more like a riot.

Uh, the bedroom, the connecting door.

Sorry, ma'am. We'll have to hurry.

Shall I take the baby? = or shall 1?

Oh. Boy!

Boy, this is going to be a cinch.

Heaven help honest folk in a hotel like this.

Nick! Well, I'm a monkey's uncle.

I didn't know this was your apartment.

Hiya, creeps. = gee.

- I'm glad to see you, Nick. - Yeah?

Yeah, even if it did cost me one of the prettiest jobs

I ever lined up for myself.

You know, I've been trying to get my hands

on those keys for the last two weeks.

Well, that's that.

Creeps: How have you been? - Nickie, we must hurry.

How are you, Mrs. Charles? I didn't recognize you.

How are you? = oh, I'm fine.

Uh, mommy, this is, uh, creeps binder. Remember?

- Creeps? - Creeps! Creeps!

You remember. Nick sent me up the river.

Oh. Oh, it's nice you don't feel bad about it.

Well, why should I? Gee... It took a genius to outsmart me.

- Uh, wanna touch me? - Really, creeps.

You shouldn't run him down like that.

Oh, no, Mrs. Charles. = oh.

Nickie's doing something.

Well, I guess I won't need this anymore.

- Oh, do you mind? - No. Make yourself at home.

Nora: What's the matter? What's the matter?

What have you got?

Asta's bone.

You shouldn't leave it around. You're older than he is.

You ought to know better.

Creeps: Gee, a baby.

- Yes. Yeah. - Is it yours?

- Yes. - Yes.

Well, what do you know.

- I... is ita boy? - Certainly.

Hey. Ki-chi-kitch.

- What is it here? - Say hello to Mr. binder.

- Can he talk? - A few words.

Well, I ought to rate one of 'em, eh?

- How about it? Come on, see. - Say hello.

Eh? Nick: What's the matter?

I was just trying to think who he looks like.

- Anyone I know? - Yeah. I got it.

It's the missus. Hey.

Hey, why didn't you tell me you had a kid?

Well, you know...

Oh, now, you don't have to feel that way about him.

He's alright.

You should see some of the monkeys I seen.

And the fathers are taking bows.

Feel better now, mommy?

Creeps: How old is he? - He'll be a year next Monday.

Monday?

We'll throw him a party, I'll get the mob

to bring their kids over and we'll throw him a party.

What do you say? = well, uh...

Uh, we have to go to the country.

Yes. =I...

We don't quite know how long.

It's a date then.

I'll get my brother to let me bring his kids over.

He's got two of the cutest little tricks.

Well, that's very kind.

Creeps: Now leave it to creepsie, Mrs. Charles.

I'll throw you a baby party you never seen the like of.

Well, goochie-goochie-goo.

Your father has such lovely friends.

Oh, that's alright. Think nothing of it.

Glad to do it.

How much further is it? = well...

The house is a little ways up the hill

to the left, it's about a mile

around to the gates.

- Hey! Stop the car. - We'd better not, Mr. Charles.

- Stop the car, I tell you. - Alright, you take it.

Nora: What happened?

You wouldn't believe me if I told you.

Come back here, asta.

Nora: What are you hunting for?

I thought I knew, but now I'll take anything I can find.

- What is it? - Not a thing.

I wish you'd tell me what it's all about.

What happened to the chauffeur?

He was scared. Now I am.

Scared of what? I don't see anything.

There isn't anything. That's what I'm scared of.

Mommy, let's go back to New York.

We can't do that. Colonel macfay's expecting us.

Well, then let's go someplace

and get a drink and think it over.

Uh, well, the nearest drink is macfay's.

Mommy, you're a stubborn woman.

Hey.

Would you, uh, mind opening the gates?

What do you want?

We're bringing back colonel macfay's car.

I see that, alright, but how do I know what you want?

Uh, this is the Charles family.

Nick: Nick Charles and family.

Anyone can say that.

I suppose you say it to colonel macfay.

There's a party down here, he says his name is Charles.

Ah? Well, he looks to me like a pool parlor dude.

Okay, if you say so.

Alright, go ahead.

Thank you.

Hey, there. Just a minute. Just a minute.

It's alright. We've been announced.

Those are my feet.

What's the idea of the kid?

Well, we have a dog, and he was lonesome.

That was the idea, wasn't it, mommy?

What is all this about? = you'll find out.

I'll go with you to see that you arrive safe.

Come in. Come in. Oh, you...

Make yourself useful for once and bring in the bags.

I'm Mrs. bellam, the housekeeper.

We're sorry we're late, but we lost your chauffeur.

Oh. Bless your heart.

That's quite alright. Think no more about it.

Come this way.

Uh, but all these guards and everything.

- Is the colonel alright? - Oh, bless you, yes.

He's waiting dinner. But then you needn't hurry.

- If you'll just follow me. Macfay: I won't have it.

I'm not a child. I won't put up with it.

What's the use of saying we won't put up with it when...

- We are putting up with it? - It's a lot of April-foolery.

You call it what you like. I've seen what I've seen.

It was the Cuban. =I don't think...

You need to worry anymore, sir.

Obviously, the two men had a falling out.

One of them killed the other, so...

The other, I'm the one

that doesn't want to be killed.

Father dear, Freddie means that he...

- How are you, colonel? - How are you, my dear?

Nick: Ah, colonel. - Glad to see you.

Wasn't there a body in the road, Mr. Charles?

- He don't believe me. - Oh, yes. Yes.

- You see? - A body?

Yes. It was gone when I went back.

Ah, just a trick. It's all part of their game.

Part of their plan to terrify me.

Now go on. Go on, go on.

Everybody brings these wild stories to me.

- But nobody tries to help me. - But what is it, colonel?

Nothing wrong with Nora's estate, I hope.

"Estate." "estate." Is that all you're worried about?

Doesn't anybody care what happens to me?

Father dear, why don't you have dinner first?

And then you can tell 'em all about it afterwards.

None of us has even met Mr. and Mrs. Charles yet.

Oh. My adopted daughter, Lois, here.

It seems awful we've nhever met before.

Yes, doesn't it?

Oh, a... and I'd like you to meet my fian...

- Mr. Dudley horn. - How do you do?

And, uh, this is Mr. Coleman, father's secretary.

How do you do? = Mr. Coleman.

- Jesse, down! Down, Jesse! - Charmed, I'm sure.

Yeah, Lois, take this dog of yours outside where it belongs.

Jesse, where are your manners? Come on.

Macfay: Thorough nuisance. = it wasn't his fault.

- Nick smells like a dog. - Hm?

I mean, he smells like asta.

- Now, are you ready for dinner? - Yes, I would like a...

Well, that's alright. Never mind about washing.

Here, Freddie, lock up that liquor cabinet.

But maybe Mr. and Mrs. Charles would like a...

Mrs. Charles doesn't drink, and I want Mr. Charles

to have a clear mind.

Now, well, well, what about the others?

I never knew such a lot.

As if I haven't got enough to worry me over.

Here you are, sir. = tell them to serve dinner.

Yes, sir.

Just, well, get it over. I want to have a talk with you.

I want to get you working on this.

Uh-huh, you know, I came down here

to discuss business, Nora's estate.

Well, this is business, Nora's business, your business.

I'd like to know what's going to happen to the estate

if something happened to me.

Nothing's going to happen to you.

Everything's going to be alright.

You go on in. I'll send the baby upstairs.

- And I'll take care of Nick. - Well, don't be long.

And put the lights out. No use wasting money.

Nick: Getting me in on another case, huh?

That old penny-pincher can afford the best detective

in the business, he's just trying to get one

for nothing. You're abetting him.

I don't know what you're talking about.

No? Then what was all that business at the door?

I was just picking his pocket.

I haven't been married to you for nothing.

Mommy.

Supposing you had somebody working for you

and he did something they put him in jail for?

He did it. You didn't do it.

You even try to get his sentence cut down, but you couldn't.

Well, when he gets out, he comes to you and says it's your fault.

- Your fault? - He wants a lot of money.

And when you won't give it to him, he says he hopes

you're not going to be pigheaded because he's dreamed twice

about your dying.

And the third time he dreams things, they come true.

Now what do you think?

Well, I wouldn't think I had to hurry up my dying

on his account.

Was this the man playing dead beside the road?

No, it's his servant, the two of them

have terrorized the whole place.

Have you, uh, reported them to the police?

Macfay: I'm not altogether a fool. Of course, I have.

They can't very well arrest a man

just because he told you his dreams.

But he tells me he's dreaming about me dying!

I know church well enough to know that's a threat.

- Church? - Phil church, an engineer.

Worked for me ten years ago.

And he's been in jail ever since?

Yes.

Dudley: Uh-huh. Yes. He got out about a month ago.

He's been living down the road here for the past ten days.

You think he really means to kill you?

No, no, no! I don't think he means to kill me. I know it!

Please, father, Mr. Charles is only trying

to get it straight in his mind.

There's nothing to get straight!

The man means to kill me, and I'm asking Mr. Charles

not to let him do it.

That's simple enough, isn't it?

Even for Mr. Charles.

No.

- Colonel macfay? Macfay: Yes. Yes, yes. Well?

- The swimming pool's on fire. Macfay: What?

What? = nickie!

Stay where you are!

One move out of you and I'll blow your head

right off the end of your neck.

Hold it.

Kill him if he even bats an eye.

Tom, take that gun out of Mr. Charles' face

and stop bellowing.

Awfully glad to see you, Mr. horn.

Ain't the right guy.

Dudley: What is it?

Nick: It's the dog. Yup. Dudley: Jesse?

Dead? = yeah. His throat's cut.

Oh, he was a swell dog. This is gonna be tough on Lois.

- Find anything? - Only them.

Man 2: They don't look like nothing, don't lead nowhere.

Hm. They're footprints, alright.

Our man had rags wrapped around his feet.

You know a lot about them things, mister?

Yes. Back home I'm a boy scout.

What's happened, Dudley? What is it?

- It's Jesse. He's been killed. - Jesse! Oh, no!

Oh, please don't, darling. You better go back to the house.

Oh, why'd they have to do an awful thing like that?

Please don't. Freddie, take her back.

Is this the kind of thing that's been going on?

More or less. Some of it's silly, but it's nasty, too.

What do you think's behind all these tricks?

What's the tricks really up to?

Trying to scare the colonel into

coming across with some money.

Could any of the people on the inside be working with him?

Oh, I don't think so, servants aren't much good,

but I imagine they're honest.

Does macfay really owe him anything?

Not the way we look at it. You see...

His job was to get results without bothering the colonel

with too many of the details.

We were trying to put over,

well, call it a public utilities enterprise,

and some of the details were pretty illegal,

were traced as far as church.

- But not as far as the colonel? - That's right.

In other words, if everything goes okay,

the colonel gets the profits. If not...

Church goes to jail, huh? = that's about it.

And that's your job with the colonel how?

Something like that.

How could they do a horrible thing like that?

Why, I've had him ever since he was a puppy.

How do they get in here? That's what I want to know.

How do they get in? Well?

I'm afraid the bathhouse is pretty badly damaged.

I don't care about the bathhouses or the dogs.

What are you going to do to protect me?

Uh, if they can get in here to do this,

they can get in here to do anything.

You've got to help me, Charles.

Have you tried talking to church?

Yes, but it didn't do any good. I used to work under him.

And he seems to think I had a hand in sending him up.

How about making a bargain with him?

You know, after all, he did do ten years in jail.

I won't pay him a penny, he can

burn the house down before I pay him a cent.

Well, maybe Mr. Charles is right, father.

Maybe it would be better if you...

I thank you to keep out of this.

When I want your opinion, I'll ask for it.

Don't you dare talk to her that way.

You oughta be thankful she cares whether you live or die.

Freddie. = you little...

You can't bulldoze me any longer.

I don't care how much money you have.

That may interest Dudley, but it doesn't mean a thing to me.

Now look here, Freddie, I know you have a crush on Lois,

but don't make any cracks like that.

- Dudley! - What's this?

And what if I am in love with her?

That's nobody's business but my own.

And if you really cared for her, you wouldn't let that

old man talk to her that way.

Why, she's too good for you. And for you, too.

And you needn't bother to fire me.

I'm going. = is this true?

Has that whippersnapper been making up to you?

No, no. Of course not. He's never said anything that...

And you, Dudley, you ought to be ashamed of yourself.

Lois. Lois.

Alright, desert me. All of you.

Go on, you, too. Why don't you go?

Colonel macfay, it's... it's just the baby.

And now take your precious baby and go!

But, understand, this is the end.

There's the mining company's reports,

the lumber company and the railway.

There you are. Now you take them on from now on.

You manage them. I'm through!

How do you like your quiet weekend?

"Production of lumbers, seasonally adjusted.”

Good heavens, do you understand that?

Oh, sure, sure, that's, uh,

that's "the indirect ratio between the sales depreciation

and the unrealized inventory losses.”

- Understand? - Oh, yes.

Uh, but, uh, naturally,

"allowance has to be made for the major cyclical downswing."

You, uh, you get that, of course.

- Naturally. - Oh, do you?

By reference to a straight line correlation formula.”

Don't you think you'd better go and see church?

Mommy, I'm going.

Hey, asta, come here.

That's not that kind of a cat.

Now what are you sticking your pretty nose in here for, chum?

- Sorry, the door was open. - Alright, you made your joke.

Now, pull your freight. Get going.

Just as you say, chief.

Good evening, sir. = hello.

Mr. church expecting you. = oh.

You know, you're going to catch a cold,

lying in damp roads on dark nights.

Oh, no, sir, I dress warm in this country.

- Well, I'm Phil church. - How do you do?

- Sit down. - Thank you.

Phil: Well, this is smitty.

- We can talk in front of her. - How are you?

How do you do? = have a drink?

Oh, yes. Yes.

Dum-dum.

- Uh, sit down. - Yeah, thank you.

Go on with your packing, honey.

- You bet. - Going away?

Yeah. Yeah, back to Cuba.

It'd be nice if you'd give us all

the gory details first, though.

- Gory details? - Yes.

Oh. You mean the dead dog and the burning bathhouse?

- No. No, afterwards. - Nothing happened afterwards.

But I dreamed...

Hey, look, you're not tricking me.

Are you? = no.

You give me your word that nothing happened afterwards?

My word. = he's nuts.

If you listen to him, he'll have you nuts, too.

Oh, you can laugh if you wanna, but I don't laugh at my dreams.

Listen, I came all the way back from Cuba

after the second one to try to make the colonel see reason

before it was too late.

Because the third one's the end on my schedule.

Well...

This afternoon I had the third dream.

How does he usually die in these dreams?

Oh, he's all battered up.

His throat cut. It's all kind of messy.

It's just the sort of death you'd expect that slob to have.

It'd be funny if it happened that way, wouldn't it?

No, it's funnier that it didn't.

Hey, look, are you sure he's alright?

How long ago did you leave him?

Nick: Half an hour.

Oh. It must have happened after you left.

Well, that's the end of him as a possible gold mine.

Now we got to think about you.

- Me? - Yes.

Why pick on me? I can introduce you to a lot of rich people.

Oh, don't kid me, Charles.

Your father-in-law was macfay's partner

back in the days when my foot slipped.

If my father-in-law had anything to do with this,

I'll give you a check right now, but I want proof.

Oh, there's always the catch in it. Proof.

Look, nobody but me was putting anything on paper in those days,

Charles, that's why nobody but me went over.

I knew you were gonna be tough to deal with.

And I can't honestly say that I've ever dreamed about you

or, or about your wife

or about your baby yet.

Phil: Stop it, dum-dum! Stop it!

Men are such rowdies.

That's to remind you not to dream about my family.

Call a cab. We'll catch the nine o'clock train.

Still headed for Cuba? = still Cuba.

But I'll be back.

I think as time goes on you'll,

you'll see your way clear to doing business with me.

You mean, continue to do business with you.

Come along, asta. He doesn't want to play anymore.

Thanks for not shooting me.

Oh, that would only have made things worse.

There you are. Three for New York.

Now, what'll you have?

Yes, just this minute. Want me to stop them?

No, no. That's fine, thanks. They've left.

Nick: Oh. That's more like it. Nora: Thank heavens.

Macfay: I knew you'd scare him off.

I wouldn't be too sure it's over.

What do you mean?

My guess is that whatever he meant to do in the first place,

he still means to do.

If I were you, colonel, I'd move to New York.

- I'm going to stay right here. - Alright.

Remember, though, that if you stay here,

you're very apt to stay here.

Nonsense. The moment he knew you were here, he lit out.

- That's all there is to it. - I hope you're right.

But his talk with me didn't sound like it.

He wants to include Nora and me in this shakedown

on the grounds that her father was your partner.

Was he in on this mess?

'Cause if he was, I wanna settle with church.

Sure. Sure. Give him anything he wants.

A few thousands here, a few thousands there.

What does it matter? All grows on trees.

That isn't answering my question.

Here. Run along, all of you. Run along.

- Goodnight, sir. Sleep well. - Goodnight, father.

You know my father wasn't in this

if there was anything wrong.

My father was just as honest as yours.

Some day you'll find what a hot recommendation that is.

You knew Nora's father, Charles.

Do you think he was a crook? = no.

- Do you think I'm a crook? - Mm, no.

Well, for the sake of argument, can you pretend you think I am?

- Oh, I can do that, alright. - I thought you might.

Now, Nora's father knew more about lumber and mines

than any man in this country.

But he didn't know the first word about finance. I did.

So if I'm a crook and Nora's father's an honest man,

why should I give him a share of any crooked deal I put over?

I don't understand a word of it,

but I know you've said something nice.

- Thank you. - Come on, you big flatfoot.

- Goodnight, colonel. - Goodnight.

Macfay: And don't let me hear anymore about paying church.

I've slaved for that money of yours

and I feel about it just as if it were my own.

His own?

You're suspicious of everything.

Well, I'd hate to wake up some morning and find

the fortune I married you for was gone.

Stop talking that way.

Of course, I can always earn a good living as a detective.

But what worries me is what are you and nickie going to live on?

You needn't wait up any longer, Dorothy.

Thank you, madam.

Goodnight.

Goodnight, sir.

You know, she wouldn't be a bad looker

if she took her specs off.

- I'll speak to her. - Oh, don't get her hopes up.

- Nickie in there? - No, I'm keeping him in here.

Tonight. = in here?

Yes, I wanted to be sure he was safe.

Where is he?

In the bureau drawer. = the... in the bureau?

Well, that's fair enough.

He loves it, he went right to sleep.

Nick: Ah. I hope it doesn't get to be a habit.

It'll be a little inconvenient when he grows up.

Hey, you, uh, didn't put my things underneath there?

No, they're in that chest. = oh.

Nora: I may be a little prejudiced,

but I think he's alright.

Asta, just a minute.

There you are.

My, it's stuffy in here. Open the windows, dum-dum.

What time is it? = five minutes to 11:00.

You've got to go right away again, don't you?

No. I've got a few minutes.

I hate these schemes where all the pieces have to fit together.

Too many things can go wrong. = we can't miss.

Well, I wish you'd dream up some way

to get that Nick Charles out of there.

I don't trust him. He looks like a guy with insomnia to me.

I don't like him around,

but I don't see how he can gum our game.

It was airtight without him, it'll be airtight with him.

Don't let this goog bother you.

Plenty of winners have had 'em.

Hello, smitty.

- Busy? - Well, n... no.

No, never too busy to see a friend. Come on in.

- Oh, well, what do you know? - Nothing much.

- Uh, hello, church. - Hiya, diamond back.

- Come on in, sit down. - I only got a minute.

A guy came in from up the river this morning

with a line from your husband.

Oh? Well, what is it?

What did tip say?

Uh, do you mind?

No.

Well, what's tip up to now?

Still kicking about wanting a larger cell?

He's been thinking again.

He just sent down a lot of orders for material and stuff

with the warden's name forged on 'em.

Let's see.

He wants you to make a deal with someone

who can pass himself off as the warden's go-between

and collect the rake-off.

Nothing can stop that boy.

- He's a smart little guy. - Too smart.

Seven years I've been married to him

and he's so slick he hasn't been out of the can

long enough to finish our honeymoon.

Don't seem to be breaking your heart.

You, uh...

You spend a lot of time with this guy, church, don't you?

Uh, don't start that again.

He's just a friend, like I told you.

Any guy can get to be too good a friend, like I told you.

- When's he going to Cuba? - How did you know he was going?

- 1 get around. - He's going tomorrow.

Good. Hope nothing happens to upset his plans.

Be seeing you.

Some day I'm gonna skin a knuckle on that four-eyed gent.

You'd better catch him without the cheaters on.

He's plenty good as long as he can see.

Yeah?

Eleven o'clock. Time to go.

Adios. = good luck.

- Wish me luck. - Say...

I thought this was strictly business.

- You know, I could go for you. - Oh, don't give me that.

I've been fooled too many times.

- You love me, don't you? - Well, what if I do?

I'm only in this for the coin.

We'll have plenty of coin from now on, baby.

We? = you and me.

What do you say? Want to play for keeps?

Okay.

Now, uh, maybe I oughta know a little more

about the ins and outs of what you're doing.

What's the matter, losing confidence in me

since I stopped that punch?

No. I haven't got that much sense.

Time for you to make that telephone call.

Goodbye, honey.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Hello, this is Mrs. h. Culverton Smith.

I'd like to speak to... I would like to speak...

Nora: Oh. You want to play.

Alright, if you'll promise to go back to sleep.

There.

Ah. Hm?

You want to play with him? Oh, no. He's asleep.

Alright, you can play with him, but promise not to wake him.

No, it's alright. It won't come off.

Pull it, you'll see.

Work hard, honey. Maybe you can get it out.

- Hm? - It's alright, darling.

It's just the baby.

Oh. He's getting so big.

Hm?

We're going to have to make up our minds

who's going to tell him.

Hm? Tell him what?

About life. Nick: Huh?

- Life. - Whose life?

Now, nickie, this is important.

- This is your responsibility. - Hm.

If he were a girl, that would be different, then I'd do it.

Hm.

But you know more about boys than I do,

so you ought to tell him.

Hm.

Alright.

Where is he? = oh, not now.

I mean, when he's about 14.

Here, you hold him.

Nick: Hm.

- Oh, how nice. - I heard you talking.

And I wondered if there was anything wrong.

We were just playing with the baby.

- I'm sorry we woke you. - Oh, no, you didn't.

I couldn't get to sleep anyway.

- Come on in. - Well...

I don't wanna disturb you.

Nonsense, we're dying for company.

Nick just has to put on his robe.

- Yes, dear. - Oh, please don't.

I mustn't stay. You wanna go to sleep.

Well, some of us do and some of us don't.

Oh! Isn't he lovely?

In all the excitement, I hadn't even seen him.

He's a darling. = we sort of like him.

We might as well. We're stuck with him.

Hello, sweetheart.

Isn't it kind of late for you to be up? Hm?

He's still running on California time.

Come on, give me a smile. Come on.

- That sounded like a shot. - That was a shot.

Just a minute. = there's a candle on the table.

Please hurry. Father. See if he's alright.

Wait here with Nora.

That's a mean way to die.

Know any good ways? = I better tell Lois.

- I heard the noise. - Macfay's been murdered.

Well, we all have to go someday.

Shall I call the sheriff? = yes.

Man on radio: Calling all cars. Attention all cars.

Wanted for murder, Phil church,

age 37, height 5 feet 11 inches,

weight 185 pounds, eyes brown,

hair dark, gray at the temples.

Last seen wearing a light-gray suit.

Photograph every inch of that sill.

What have we got, doc?

Bruise on left temple, it's a blunt instrument.

Throat cut with fairly large heavy blade.

Death instantaneous. Right wrist broken.

Been dead about half an hour.

That check with the time they found him?

Check.

That ought to be enough to go on.

I'll go into things more thoroughly tomorrow.

- Thanks, doc. - Mr. Charles says...

That Cuban threw a big knife at him.

That might be the same knife.

It'll have the marks of his dog's teeth on the handle.

Get some of the boys busy in the bushes to look for it.

Yes, sir. Uh, come on, Jim.

He, he must've gone out the front door.

He? Who?

Uh, church. Or the Cuban.

How do you know? =I don't know.

I just seen the front door open when I went down the cellar.

What was you doing in the cellar?

I went down to fix the fuse.

What fuse? = the fuse that was blowed out.

How did you know it was blowed out?

I don't know nothing.

I was just doing what Mrs. bellam told me.

- And you were here reading? - Yes.

Ain't that kind of late for a lady your age to be up?

I don't think so.

Got things on your mind that worry you?

- Keep you awake? - No, I just don't sleep much.

You've been working for him a long time.

- Haven't you? - Sixteen years.

And you knew this Phil church

when he worked for the old man?

Yes, indeed, I knew him.

Now, you just sit right down here

and make yourself comfortable.

We're going to have a nice, long talk

about what you knew about him.

You weren't in bed and you're all dressed.

- Where were you? - I was sitting here, writing.

- Writing what? - A, uh, play.

Oh. Go on, what kind of a play?

A mystery play.

So you write about murders.

Eh? You ever think much?

About murders. = no.

And you say Ms. macfay and Mrs. Charles

were the only ones in your room when it happened.

- Then there was someone else? - Yes.

- Who? - The baby.

Oh, yes, the baby.

But, uh, not the nurse?

No, no. The nurse was in her own room, asleep, I imagine.

You better ask her. Her room is across from ours.

She ain't in there, she ain't anywhere in the house.

She's gone.

Personally, I think she's very wise.

Oh, is that so?

This is a murder we're trying to clear up, lad.

So let's don't hang up on who tells what.

Now, who gets the money?

According to his last will,

Ms. macfay was to get everything but $100,000.

That went to Mrs. bellam.

Well, uh, what do you figure

all but a $100,000 would amount to?

Certainly several millions.

And you say you've been asleep about an hour

when you heard the shot.

I said half an hour, if you'd

stop wasting time here

and started looking for church.

I got a lot of time to waste.

Now, this church, you say

you worked together. Are you and he still pretty close?

- We were never pretty close. - Oh, you didn't like...

- Each other much, huh? - That's right.

Well, are you unfriends enough that you'd like

to see him go back to jail, or maybe the chair?

Are you suggesting that I'd frame him?

Ah, don't get sore over a little thing like that.

Wait till you hear what I'm really gonna suggest.

It seems to me, Mrs. Charles, that every time

your husband gets in with a girl,

the insurance companies take an awful beating.

Now, it's nice, very nice for a wife to trust her husband,

but get this, there's that wynant girl

he knew before he was married.

He comes here to New York and, bing, there's a murder.

He goes back to the west coast, there's a good-looking girl

there, and, bing, there's another murder.

He comes back here, meets this Lois macfay and...

And bing! Bing!

Bing! There's another murder.

Listen, we're not dishing the dirt on your husband

for the fun of it.

We're trying to show you what you're up against.

It ain't in the books that a man that's had that many numbers

could settle down to one.

Was he really like that?

Was he? Ooh, baby.

I always thought he was bragging.

Did he ever tell you about the coal man's widow in Cleveland

that wanted to set him up into the agency for himself?

Was that Jeanette? = no.

And the lighthouse keeper's daughter in...

= uh... - The what?

The lighthouse keeper's daughter.

What was her name?

What it all comes down to is this Lois.

You're wrong to think there couldn't be

anything between them.

They're just making a monkey out of you.

- Covering up for them. - I'm sure you're right. Uh...

But what was the lighthouse keeper's daughter's name?

- Lettie finhaden. - Lettie finhaden.

He wasn't in the room with you when it happened, was he?

I say, he made you give him that alibi, didn't he?

Oh, no.

Van slack: Oh, Mr. Charles.

I'm Van slack, the assistant district attorney.

- Oh, yes. - I, uh, thought perhaps...

Well, of course, we, everybody knows your reputation,

but, uh, if you don't mind...

- Oh! Not at all. - Hm.

Well, I'm a, a little confused.

- Mm-hmm? - The, uh, lamp torn away.

A glass of water knocked over...

Seems to have been quite a struggle.

= mm-hmm. But nobody heard anything.

Funny you didn't, Mr. Charles.

Uh, the way I figure it,

macfay was lying here reading the paper.

He puts it down and he turns off the lamp.

The murderer comes in through the door,

uh, or the window.

Macfay hears him, he grabs for his gun.

It was his gun, wasn't it?

Oh, yes. Yes. Uh, he kept it on the table.

Hm.

From the looks of this hole,

where would you say the bullet was fired from?

Well, I, uh, I figured it come from, uh, about here.

Hm.

Then the murderer was already bearing down on his arm

when macfay got the shot away.

Or it could've gone off when it hit the floor

after the arm was broken.

A paraffin test will show you

whether macfay pulled the trigger.

Yes, yes.

Then the murderer knocked him back on the pillow

with a blunt instrument.

Then went after him with a knife.

Anything to show that he came in through the window?

No, not yet.

One of the servants said the front door was open.

Yes, if you and the two other gentlemen came,

as you said, when the shot was fired,

wouldn't you have, uh, seen or heard or, uh... hm?

I didn't get here that quickly.

The lights went out. = oh.

An electrician can tell you if it happened

when the wires were cut from that lamp.

- Electrician. Yes. - Mm-hmm.

Did you people have a man watching church?

Well, not exactly. I suppose I should have, but, uh...

Well, the colonel was always yelling about something,

imagining things, which you know yourself,

is all pretty ridiculous.

Could've been turned into a practical joke, couldn't it?

Then, uh, you didn't have a...

Uh, you didn't have a heavy-set man

with thick glasses watching church?

- No. - I thought not.

I'd never seen a country cop with a $6000 coupe before.

So I took down his number. I'll get it.

Did you get anything out of Mrs. Charles?

No, she's bats.

I wish my old lady was bats that way.

Here, darling, please drink this.

No one will tell me anything.

I'd feel better if I knew whether father...

Did he die without...

There was no pain. He died instantly.

Oh. Where was he shot?

He wasn't shot. It was a knife.

- A knife? Why... - Don't talk about it now, dear.

Let's all get out of here as quickly as possible.

She can't stay here. = that suits me.

Just as soon as we finish with the police.

Did you have your session with them?

Oh, yes. Yes.

It was very interesting.

Do you think the police are going to be enough or sh...

I should say there were more than enough.

Son, you better take a bromide.

You're shaking like a leaf.

Is there something you haven't told us?

Yes, what is it, horn?

Well, it's no wonder I'm jittery.

There, there's someone out to get Lois.

- How do you know? - I had a warning.

Over the phone, just a little while ago, man's voice.

He said, "call everybody off

or Lois macfay will get what her old man got."

- Oh, no! - We've gotta call everyone off.

- We've got to. - You can't call the police off.

Once they're in.

The warning said call off everybody.

It must have been one of church's gang.

Sure. You think church murdered the colonel, don't you?

Don't you? = of course.

Your dog is outside, running

around with a knife in its mouth.

Asta. Quickly. = that will be asta.

Ah, we're gonna have to shoot that mutt.

We'll never find him like this.

Wait a minute, he's not gonna come running

up to a lot of strange men with lights.

What do you think he is, a moth?

Hey, call your men off, will you?

Let me have a flashlight. = give me that.

Hey, boys, lay off. Give Mr. Charles a chance.

I'll, uh... where did the dog find the knife?

We don't know. He, he came around thataway.

- Where is he now? - He went thataway.

I'll go thisaway.

Asta.

Asta, come here. Hey, give it to me. Give me that back.

Lois: Charles. - What?

- Mr. Charles. Mr. Charles. - Yes? Yes, dear.

Well, what is it? What are you doing out here?

- What is, what's the matter? - It's... he has a gun.

He has what? = look out!

- Why, it's horn. - Well, can you beat that?

What were you shooting at him for?

I wasn't shooting at him, he was shooting at me.

- Why were you shooting at him? - Well, everybody else was.

No, she's alright, she's alive. It's just her arm.

Carry her into the house.

What was she doing here?

She came out to tell me that someone was after me.

And she yelled and pushed me out of the way

just as he started shooting.

You don't think she might have been trying to... hm?

- You know? - What do you mean?

Put me on the spot? No. No. No.

If she hadn't pushed me out of the way, his first bullet

would've caught me. I almost heard it go past.

It was just a thought.

Well, here's the knife.

That's the one that was used, alright.

Could be the one that was tossed at me.

Uh, not much chance of fingerprints

after the dog has been playing with it

for nobody knows how long.

I'm apologizing.

Take it in. Tell them to check it anyway.

Funny that that dog should have got hold of it the second time.

Yes, yes, yes, you may be right. Mm.

Uh, Ms. macfay,

when did you first suspect horn of killing your father?

I didn't say that. I didn't say he killed father.

Your father objected to horn as your suitor, didn't he?

- Why, yes. - And if you had married horn...

He'd have cut you off without a dime.

I suppose he would have.

As soon as your father was dead,

you became extremely attractive financially.

- Oh, don't. Please, don't. - Please, Mr. Van slack.

She's been through too much already.

Sorry, son.

What was the first reaction you saw on horn

after the discovery of the murder?

Why, nothing. He...

He just came to tell me that father had been killed.

Yes, yes, then what?

And then he said to say

that we were together when it happened

so the police wouldn't bother me.

- He said that? - Yes.

H... he was only trying to protect me, and...

Ha, he was trying to protect himself, child.

No, no, he couldn't have. Freddie.

Take it easy, Lois.

Maybe father was right about Dudley,

and I wouldn't listen to him.

Oh, poor father.

Alright. Alright.

- Well, I guess that does it. - Does what?

Well, don't you get it? = no.

We know that horn and church are enemies.

When church starts to threaten macfay,

horn sees a chance to frame him.

He kills macfay using the Cuban's knife to do it.

If he wanted to frame church with the knife,

why should he try to kill me when I find it?

Looks to me as if you've got two mysteries on your hand

instead of one.

Now you know why I retired. Good luck.

You're not walking out on me, are you?

I'm not walking out, I'm running out.

Mind you, if there were any reasonable chance

for me to help you, it'd be different.

But during this quiet little weekend in the country,

my family's been threatened, I've had a knife thrown at me,

I've been shot at and I've been suspected of murder.

From now on this is your case, you handle it.

I'm going back to New York and forget it. Come on, mom.

Come on, Lois. Come on, Mrs. bellam.

Come on, Freddie.

Maybe I'm wrong. Come on, asta.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Dream butcher hunted! Extra! Extra!

Dream butcher hunted! Read all about it!

Extra! Extra! Dream butcher hunted!

Read all about it! Dream butcher of long island!

Extra! Extral

dream butcher hunted! Read all about it!

Dream butcher of long island!

What is it? What are they calling?

Nothing. Nothing.

- Have they found him? - Not yet.

- How do you feel? - Sort of funny.

The doctor gave you something to make you sleep?

Six o'clock? Have you been here all that time?

I didn't want you to be alone when you woke up.

You're so good to me.

Why shouldn't I be good to my own flesh and blood?

Oh. Forgive me. I didn't mean ever to tell you.

It, it just slipped out.

I don't understand. = don't hate me.

Oh, please, don't hate me. I couldn't bear it if you did.

I am your mother, but I don't ask anything.

Only to be allowed to stay near you.

We heard you talking, so we knew you were awake.

- Are you alright, Lois? - Why, yes. Yes.

What's the matter, Lois? You look upset.

It's nothing, it's, it's just that

I'm so all at sea with father and Dudley gone.

To have to go on deciding things all alone, it...

You won't be alone long.

Wait till the news of your five millions hits the front pages.

You'll find you've got relatives all over the world.

Look, Lois, I haven't much to offer you,

and I don't ask anything in return.

But whatever happens, or wherever you are,

you can always know I'm standing by.

Lois: Oh, Freddie dear, you're so sweet.

Oh, Mr. Charles. Mr. Van slack's in your room, waiting for you.

Oh, thank you.

Mommy, I'll see you later.

What do you mean later?

I got rid of all those reporters.

What did you tell them?

Told 'em we were out of scotch.

What a gruesome thought. Oh.

- Hello. - Hiya, Charles.

I don't like to disturb you, but, uh, fact is

we seem to work quite well together.

And I thought perhaps you might reconsider

and, uh, come back on the case.

Come back on the case? I've never been out of it. What's up?

Well, the New York police found the woman who was with church.

I'm on my way up there now. Would you care to come along?

- Sure. - I'll get my hat.

I, uh, I've been trying to trace that nurse, Dorothy waters.

We have some fingerprints from the references

she gave to Mrs. Charles.

They're checking them now.

How about that license number?

Oh, that car belongs to a man by the name of Vogel.

Gambler racketeer. I'll see him later.

That's for you.

Hello? Speaking. Who is it?

Never mind names, just a friend of yours

telling you that if you know what's best for you,

to lay off that macfay case.

You understand? Let it alone.

If you don't, we'll ship that body of yours back in a box.

Oh, uh, uh, thank you,

but we, uh, we have an encyclopedia.

Shh!

Isn't that nickie crying? = oh.

That wasn't the baby. He's sound asleep.

Nickie! Nickie!

Oh, go on and ring.

Hello? I've got to rush. Will you call back later?

Hm?

What?

Oh, uh, Mr. Charles is not here.

This is Mrs. Charles speaking.

Uh, Mr. Charles and I always work together.

I have an important information. You come where I tell you.

But understand, I am not a stool pigeon.

- So do not bring any police. - I see.

What's the address?

I'll be there.

Hello, lieutenant. = well...

How are you, Mr. Charles? Say...

Things sure pop when you're in town, don't they?

- They certainly do. - Hello, Mr. Van slack.

Hiya, guild. Is this the Smith woman's apartment?

Yeah, but if your killing was at one o'clock last night,

then she's in the clear, we had a plant here

from before midnight till after 3:00,

and she was in here all the time.

- Are you sure? - Positive. I was here myself.

How did you happen to be watching her place?

Well, it turned out to be a false alarm,

but she called me up on the telephone last night,

uh, said that there was someone hanging around, that, that...

Say, could she have been using me as an alibi?

Why, she can't do that to me.

Oh, hello, Nick.

Well, nice to see you again, lieutenant.

Pleased to meet you. Oh, come on in, sit down.

I'll go get you a cup of coffee.

Never mind.

So you picked on me to give you an alibi, huh?

I got to lose a night's sleep so you can duck a murder rap?

So help me. I never thought it was gonna be murder.

What did you think then? = well...

I knew Phil church was trying to get dough

out of macfay, but I never knew he meant to murder him.

Yeah. You know it now, don't you?

I don't know anything that's got

anything to do with murders.

Murders? How many other murders were planned besides macfay's?

I don't know anything about anybody's murders being planned.

Ah, you're psychic, eh?

You get alibis for murders

you don't even know are gonna happen.

I'm never gonna need an alibi for murder

'cause I'm never gonna have anything to do with murders.

Ah...

- Where is church? Smitty: I don't know.

He and dum-dum left here about 11 o'clock last night.

I ain't seen or heard of him since.

- Where were they going? - I don't know.

- When are they coming back? - They're not coming back.

They said they were going to Cuba.

Whose coat is this? = Phil's. Phil church's.

What's it doing here if he's not coming back?

Smitty: It's been here two or three weeks.

How long have you known church?

Just since they sprung him.

Didn't take you long to tie up with him, did it?

We weren't playing for keeps.

- I was only stooging for him. - Stooging?

Well, there are a lot of rackets

where it's handy to have a girl around.

Blackmail rackets?

I mean, a lot of rackets except murder.

- There's my bell. - Sit down, I'll get it.

Well, hello, diamond back.

Come on in. Ha-ha. Join the party.

We're just asking smitty a few questions.

About church? I always figured he was a wrong guy.

What do you know about him? = me?

Nothing, except that he's been spending a lot of time

hanging around smitty.

You haven't been unloading to these people yet, have you?

Only from here up.

Did you ever hear about talking through a lawyer?

We've got enough on her already to hold her

as a material withess.

Is this the man you saw watching church's house?

- Yes. - Why, you big ape!

- What's the answer? - Her husband's a pal of mine.

He's been hanging on the wall upstate.

You know how those guys get to worrying.

Well, I've been sort of keeping an eye on her for him.

So that's what's been going on, huh?

What do you think's been going on?

I was nuts about you, do you?

I hear church is going away.

For all I know, this cluck might think she's going with him.

Van slack: Suppose she had gone? - That's supposing too much.

There goes dum-dum.

What have you done to Phil church? What have you done?

L, uh, I don't know what you're talking about.

Don't act like that. You know what I mean.

You found out we were going away together

and you knocked him off, you,

you big lug.

Lay off, you.

Get off me. When I find those glasses, I'll kill you!

You dirty rat. You'd beat your own mother, you would.

Beat the hide off you if I find those glasses.

Let, let go! Lay off me.

I haven't hurt church. You got my word for it.

Smitty: You would lie about the weather,

you double-crossing, four-eyed...

Vogel: Give me my glasses. - What for?

Smitty: Wanna play policeman? Vogel: Where are my glasses?

Smitty: I always knew there was plenty of copper in you,

you big, flatfooted stool pigeon.

Vogel: Me my glasses and I'll get out.

Smitty: To dream him, that's what I'll do.

He'll dream you right into the Hudson river

where you can't do nothing more than poison the fishes,

you mousy-looking...

Let go, let go there.

Come on. Come on.

- Get in there, you. - Alright, Harry.

- Headquarters. 152nd street. - Okay.

- Uh, west indies club. - Yes, sir.

Follow that cab.

Mr. Nick Charles, is it not? =ltis.

- You are alone? - The good are often alone.

I fix it so you will not be good long.

Eh, senor Jones, this is carmelita.

- How you doing? - Dorita, marcita.

You'll have a little bite to eat?

No.

Where's the phone? = over there.

- I'll wait here. - Okay.

Uh, uh, how about a little slug of something?

Yes, they want... just a little snack is all they want.

- Si, senor. - Uh, cigarette?

Oh-oh!

- Uh, who gave you this? - The lady over there.

Hm. Uh, you'll excuse me?

Uh, an old friend, a very old friend.

Uh, uh, thanks.

This way...

Now, mommy, you know better than to come to a place like this

your first day out of bed.

What if the health officers find out?

They'll put you right back in quarantine.

I won't stay in quarantine. I don't care who catches it.

- Oh... - Well, I must be going.

- Goodnight. - Goodnight.

I'll trade you two mumps for a measle, Bella.

Madam, how long have you been leading this double life?

Just since we've been married. = oh.

How did you know I was here?

I saw a great group of men standing around a table.

I knew there was only one woman in the world

who could attract men like that.

A woman with a lot of money.

- Uh, bacardi. Two bacardis. - Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

- The same. - Yes, madam.

Give me 14 dollars and 75 cents.

Fourteen dollars... what for?

- A man. - Another one?

This is the man who phoned after you left.

He's somewhere right in this room.

He said he heard you were looking for dum-dum.

Now, dum-dum owes him 14 dollars and 75 cents, and won't pay him.

He said that if I gave him the 14 dollars and 75 cents,

he'd tell me where dum-dum was.

Well, how're you gonna contact this mysterious informer?

I told him I'd be holding the money

in a handkerchief like this.

Oh.

But you didn't have any money until I showed up.

I was doing alright. I'd have gotten it.

Madame, at last. = hello.

I knew you would come to me.

I've been watching you all evening

with that thought in my heart

and in my eyes.

Shall we, uh, dance?

Uh, well, yes, I think it would be better.

Where is dum-dum? « dum-dum?

Yes, I, I think I'd like to find him as soon as possible.

- Are you in love with him? - Wait. No.

Oh, then why should he spoil the beauty of this moment?

Well, really. Uh, I have a husband, you know?

Ah, a stupid American iceberg, eh?

No, he's traveled abroad.

Ah, does he ever speak to you in burning words

that make you go half mad with joy and, uh, yearning?

Well, he's, he's kind of cute. = cute?

Ho! Incredible.

Who's that?

Uh, stupid American iceberg.

Hello, dum-dum. How's tricks?

Hiya, dum-dum.

Mr. Charles. = sit down.

Make out alright with the police?

- Always I do. Nick: How about church?

He making out alright? = that I do not know.

I come to ask you.

- Where do you think he is? - Oh, I don't know where he is.

Your ear is getting into our drinks.

What's eating you? I didn't mean anything.

You never mean anything,

but that don't keep you from trying.

I do not know where Mr. church is.

Think he killed macfay?

Does a man say he think his friend killed?

Say, listen,

I can tell you right now who killed most of the guys

that get themselves killed in this town.

Who are you looking at now?

- Is that little swine dum-dum? - Why, uh...

Wait. If you are not in love with him, why do you leave me?

Look, here's your money. Let me go.

Money? Between you and me?

You're driving me mad!

Doesn't look as if my wife's coming back.

- Uh, won't you... - Sure. Thank you very much.

Have a drink? = don't mind if I do.

Have several. =- mm-hmm.

Say, you're working on this murder case, aren't you?

Uh, if you call this work. Do you know Phil church?

Know him? Hm. Many's the bottle him and me split in this joint.

And over at his gals flat, too.

Oh, you mean, uh, smitty?

No, no, Linda mills, the one he had before smitty.

Oh, Linda mills. Uh...

Oh, a young girl, very pretty. = that's the one.

Cute-looking doll, I guess, under all that war paint.

- But, mm, plenty tough. - Mm.

- Yeah, lives at the, uh... - Chestevere apartments.

Chestevere. Don't tell me he's mixed up with her.

Sure he is.

I think that boy must have a scooter.

Just back from Cuba and... = Cuba?

- Oh, I thought he said that... - No. If you call this Cuba.

He's been hanging around these joints

ever since he got out of stir.

Say, you know more about this than the cops do.

And they're all wrong if they think

Phil was mixed up in that thing down in the island.

Why, I saw him myself, going in at about 11 o'clock...

Alright. Put those lights on!

Remember me?

Oh, uh, senora, a... are you alright?

- Yes, I'm alright. - Oh, something hit me.

Oh, that's too bad. Goodnight.

Um, him. Uh, goodnight.

Why, nickie, I believe you care.

Where are we going?

Well, I'm going to find a Ms. Linda mills.

I wanna get there before anyone beats me to it.

Oh, uh, uh, chestevere apartments.

- And hurry. - Yes, sir.

Uh, hey, wait a minute, hawkshaw.

Now, I'd like to go in there by myself.

You go everywhere alone. I'd like to have some fun, too.

Hm.

Here.

- Yes? What'll you have? - Why, we would like to, uh...

Oh, go right ahead, madam. You got here first.

You ain't together? = oh, no, no.

Unfortunately.

What was it, honey?

- I'd like to look at a room. - Well, come right in.

You looking for a room, too?

Looking for Linda mills. = oh.

- Say, you're him, ain't ya? - Who?

Ain't that your picture in the evening news?

Afraid it is.

Well, I'll declare!

Is she, uh, in?

Oh, you can't ever tell about her.

How's chances of finding out? = I'll see.

Don't say anything in front of this party.

Hm? Oh. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

What do you want, honey? A single or double?

A single room, please.

You stay here. Come with me, dearie.

Got just what you want, and reasonable.

Come right on in, honey, this is

one of the best rooms in the house.

Scat. Get out of there. I'll have that window fixed.

Look around for yourself, dearie.

I'll be back in a minute.

Is Linda mills involved?

What would make you think she's involved?

You being here, then looking

for that friend of hers, that church.

- You know church? - I seen him going in and out.

When's the last time you seen him?

I don't know. Maybe a couple of weeks.

Her room's down here at the end of the hall.

Ms. mills! Ms. mills, it's me, Ms. dolley!

Are you in, dearie?

Hm.

I guess she ain't in, alright.

- Do you mind if I look around? - Help yourself.

What does she do for a living?

Don't ask me. I'm not running a ymca.

She's been here about a year and she's good pay.

That's all I know and all I care about.

That's what I tell some of the others when they kick

about her throwing noisy parties

and having fights in her flat.

- She have noisy parties? - You know how girls are.

- No. How are they? - Oh, go on. Don't kid me.

Dolley: Yes?

- Oh, this is a nice room. - Uh, I... it's taken, dear.

It's taken. If you don't like the other, I got plenty more.

This way, dearie.

Alright, get 'em up.

Turn around, wise guy.

- Turn on that radio. - Okay.

Got any famous last words?

You've got until that radio warms up.

- Thanks. - What's your favorite program?

You know, this is your party.

I'm rather partial to "professor quiz."

- He ain't loud enough. - Hey.

That program's made to order, ain't it?

Alright, now don't move, both of you

or I'll blow you in two.

Drop those rifles and reach.

Nick: Thank you, lieutenant.

It's a good thing you phoned me to trail you, ain't it?

Yes, ain't it?

You know, you boys should stay off fire escapes

when there isn't any, uh, any, any fire.

You're coming to the station with us, ain't you, Mr. Charles?

Oh, no, I can't. I have a lady waiting.

- A lady? No fooling? - Surprised?

Well, I always thought that you and the missus

was the ideal couple.

Yeah, but... oh, uh...

Well, uh, you know how it is, lieutenant.

Yeah. I know. Uh...

Any idea who these mugs are? = no, I wouldn't know.

You'll find out, big shot. There's plenty more of us.

Come on, dummy up, you! Alright, Flynn, take them out.

Oh, just a minute, lieutenant, would you mind taking the boys

down the way they came up?

L, uh, don't wanna alarm the lady.

Huh? Oh. Sure thing.

Alright, Flynn. Out the window.

You know, there ain't nothing frightens off romance

like the touch of the law.

Oh, by the way, Nick, any time you'd like to have me

take Mrs. Charles out to a, a movie, uh,

you know, so as you can get away for a while...

Oh? Would you do that? = oh, sure.

I, I wouldn't mind it at all. Really, not at all.

Uh, uh, uh...

Well, you know me, pal.

Sure, I know you, pal.

Always kidding. All in the spirit of fun.

- Yeah? - Yeah. Just kidding.

- Finished? - Yes.

Uh, tell me, uh, how long since you've seen Ms. mills?

Well, I ain't seen her in a couple of weeks.

But I don't make no part of seeing my people

unless they're behind in their rent.

Mm. What does she look like?

The way she slaps that make-up on,

you'd think she's an old-timer.

But she don't need to. She's real pretty.

- Young? - Yes, but don't fear.

She knows all the answers.

Wished I knew as much when I was her age.

Uh...

I hope I haven't kept you from renting a room.

Who, her? Oh, I don't think she knows what she wants.

Seems too bad. I thought she was rather pretty.

Well, stick around. Maybe you'll be able to work out something.

Thanks, but I'm, uh, married.

That don't mean a thing, and you know it.

Ooh.

Oh, come in. Come in. We were just talking about you.

- Oh, yes? - This gentleman here...

Was just saying that you're the

prettiest girl he'd ever seen.

And take it from me, he ought to know.

Oh, excuse me. This is Mr. Charles.

Miss... I... I didn't catch your name.

Finhaden. Lettie finhaden.

Well, that's the fastest piece of work I ever saw in my life.

Mr. Nick Charles, please.

Good morning, Mr. Charles. This is guild.

Well, we've got something on that nurse.

We just found that her fingerprints

match up with an Agnes borup.

I know Agnes well, and from that landlady's description

of Linda mills, it just about fits her.

My guess is, if we get her, we get church.

Uh-huh.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Mm-hmm.

No, I, I don't think so.

Well, for one thing,

a new love has come into church's life.

Smitty may have stooging for him at first,

but it's the real thing now.

They're planning on going away together.

Come on up here. I may have something for you. Yeah.

What? What have you got? = tell us.

Did you find out something?

Well...

Aren't you interested, Mrs. bellam?

Oh, yes. Yes.

Ah.

I haven't got it all worked out yet, but, uh...

Freddie, maybe you could help me.

You're writing a mystery play. = oh, that.

- How did you get your man? - I haven't gotten that far yet.

I'm stuck for a finish.

Oh, that's too bad.

Well, there's still one or two pieces missing,

but I know this much.

Everything that's happened has been part of a plan. Church...

- The baby party. - You said it. Come on, mug.

Alright, boys. Alright now. Now, hit it.

J happy birthday to you happy birthday to you j

j happy birthday dear nickie j

j happy birthday to you jj

- hiya, Nick! - How are you, Nick?

Glad to see you. = oh-ho-ho...

- You, too, Larry? - You know me, Nick.

Try anything once.

- Hey, uh, this is the missus. - Pleased to meet ya.

- Glad to meet ya. - Well, how are ya?

She's okay for my money. I wish I'd have seen her first.

Man 3: Hey, wait a minute. You can't come in here.

What do you mean I can't come in? Why? Why?

You heard what they said. You gotta have a kid.

I got a kid. =- who's down here? Huh?

It's whacky.

- Hello, whacky. - Hiya, Nick.

- I'm glad to see you. - Glad to see you.

I didn't know you were married.

Married? They didn't say I had to be married.

They just said you had to have a kid.

Come on in and meet the missus. Mommy...

Hey, hey, you didn't snatch that, did you?

We don't wanna put the heat on this party.

No. I got it legitimate. I rented it for a buck.

Okay. Okay. We don't want no hot tot.

Well, don't worry, he's as cold as a cucumber.

- Come on, kid, here. - Whacky.

- This is Mrs. Charles. - Hello, whacky.

It's mutual. It's mutual. He's a pip, ain't he?

- Look at that sucker. - Let's put them all in the pen.

- The pen? - Uh, she means the kiddie pen.

Gee, I hope it's not a bad omen.

Alright. = put them in.

I'll get some ice cream. = no. No.

This is our party. We got the stuff right here.

Hamburgers, hot dogs and salami.

And there's root beer and Coca-Cola.

Didn't you bring nothing but root beer and Coca-Cola?

You wanha make the kids sick?

Well, I don't know. I had the kid out before.

- Nickie? - Uh?

Will you order some ice cream? = yeah.

- It'll be right up. - You're telling me.

Nick: Room service, please.

There's a man outside, he wants to see you.

I put him in the study.

Oh, I thought Mrs. bellam might be here.

- I don't know where she is. - Can I do something?

I just wanted someone to keep an eye on nickie.

- Let me. - Oh, that's very nice, but I...

Well, Lois should get some sleep anyway.

Well, thank you very much.

Send it right up.

Who is this man? =I don't know.

- A big man with heavy glasses. - Ah, Vogel.

Vogel? Who's Vogel?

He's one of the missing pieces.

Church: Get your hands up.

Both of you.

- This is Mr. church, darling. - Skip it.

I got no time to waste.

Told you I'd be seeing you, Charles,

but I didn't know it'd be this soon.

I've been dreaming again, Charles.

Only, this time it's about you.

You ought to be psychoanalyzed.

Twice I've seen you dead in my dreams.

Both times you were all battered up,

just like macfay was.

So if you don't wanna be a widow, Mrs. Charles,

get him on a train tonight.

I got a feeling I'm gonna have that third dream.

- I'm packing right now. - Okay.

Now if you're smart, you'll wait five minutes

before you blow any whistles.

- Get him. - Uh, what?

- Don't mind me. Go on, get him. - Well, why?

Never saw a man trying so hard to get caught.

Now look at the clown, climbing across

that ledge in broad daylight.

Well, why does he want to get caught?

Oh, just part of his plan.

Where is he? What happened, Nick?

- Who do you want blasted? - A man's just been killed.

I think you boys better get out

of here before the police arrive.

- Grab your kids... - Oh, there's still more!

What happened?

Men, get out of my way, will you?

Freddie, will you get nickie? = oh, of course I will.

Well, don't you think we oughta notify the police of that?

They'll be here any minute.

Where's nickie? Where's Nick? = must be in the pen.

Well, come on. = there he is.

Come on, nickie, we better get out of here.

Here. Here. Here. Well...

You, uh, you want to see me?

It wasn't important.

Just dropped in to see if there's anything new.

I'll wait till you're free. «= I'm free now.

- Uh, tomorrow will do. - Tomorrow you may not be free.

You better wait.

Stand aside. Stand aside. What's going on here, Casey?

Phil church was shot, he fell in the alley, we arrested this man

and woman. They were the only ones around when it happened.

I had nothing to do with it, lieutenant.

Found this in the trash can.

One shell empty.

It wasn't mine, lieutenant, I

don't have any reason to kill Phil.

Bring them along upstairs, boys.

Come on.

Hear from the doctor?

Doctor says he was shot with a .38.

Judging from the angle at which the bullet entered the body,

it could have come from most anywhere.

They're working on the gun now to see if it's, uh, the one.

Hm.

What were you doing in the street down below?

Mr. church told me he was coming here. I tell her.

Then I'm afraid she come over and butt in maybe,

so I come maybe to stop her.

Stop her? From what?

Well, I don't know what she might do.

She get excited on the phone.

Hey, what are you trying to do, frame me?

Look, I know that Phil church is trying to pull a trick

that's too slick for his own good,

so I come over here to head him off.

Why, you certainly picked a good way to do it.

Look, I have nothing to do with this.

I don't know anything about any murders and I'm never...

Now don't give me that stuff again.

Well, what about it? Did you see her do it?

I just seen her and was crossing street

to her. Truck got in my way.

If you wanna know who killed Phil church, ask him.

You heard him last night threaten what he'd do

if me and Phil ran off together. Ask him.

- You kill my Mr. church? - Ask him where's his gun.

I've got my gun right here. Don't try to hang this on me.

You kill my Mr. church? = sure he did.

He killed Phil.

Here, come on. = wait a minute.

- Get out of there. - Break it up.

That's enough. That's enough. Break it up. Alright.

- Come on, let me do it. - Come on.

- Nickie, nickie, do something. - Hm?

- Break it up. - Oh, yes, of course.

- Alright, break it up. - Take that.

Here now, you, here, you spitfire!

There. Sit down there.

You asked for it.

Uh, did somebody, uh, drop this chip?

- Oh, yes. It's mine. - Oh. Good.

Now one more session like that, and I'll call up the wagon

and drag you all downtown.

May I, uh, say something? = go ahead.

Uh, well, uh, I have a hunch

that if we find out who murdered macfay,

we'll find out who murdered church.

Maybe it'll clear things up if we start from the beginning.

Tell me this first.

If, uh, if you were trying a man for murder

and he suddenly produced an airtight alibi,

what would happen?

He'd go free.

Suppose after you freed him, you found that he was guilty,

that he planned the whole thing, what could you do?

Nothing. Nothing at all.

I see. Well, thank you very much.

You mean you'd let him get away with it?

Well, we'd have to, you can't try a man

for the same crime twice.

If he's acquitted, he could even boast about it,

and we couldn't touch him.

Ah, that was church's plan.

What was?

His idea was to advertise himself as the murderer,

while his accomplice did the dirty work.

He takes a house on long island, he threatens macfay,

he terrorizes the household.

After the murder, he disappears

still calling attention to himself as the killer.

And when things look blackest for him,

he walks in here, inviting me to take him.

His plan was to get tried for that murder,

spring a last-minute alibi

and walk out of that court scot-free.

You mean that he had this alibi all the time?

Yes, but he didn't want us to know it.

That's why dum-dum beat up a drunk last night

when the drunk tried to tell me.

- You did? - Was that it?

Was that why you hit him?

I hit him because he start a fight.

Maybe Vogel will tell us. He didn't want it known either.

What are you trying to pull?

- Your men jumped him, too. - Were you in on this?

You think I'd be in on a thing with that rat?

Looks bad for you, Vogel.

You tried to keep smitty from talking.

Your men threatened me on the phone.

Told me if I didn't lay off...

My men? What men?

The ones who dropped that chip at the west indies club.

Last night. = oh.

Come on, diamond back, spill it.

Okay. Okay.

I, uh, I run a place uptown.

It's... well, it's a place.

Get what I mean? Or should I wait for my lawyer?

We get it, you don't want to admit

you run a gambling joint. Go on.

Uh, the night before last, church comes in

and sits in a game for two-and-a-half hours

including the time macfay was killed out on the island.

Then you, you helped him get his alibi.

I tell you I wasn't in this with him.

I didn't know what was going on.

Then why did you keep it quiet?

That night a bunch of my best customers were there.

A bank president.

Big guys like that. Big and respectable.

If they have to get up in court and admit they were playing

in my place, they might as well cut their throats.

So I'm out to get the guys who can spill it.

And your men were out to get me, thank you. Mm.

I knew church's plan was good,

but I didn't know it was that good.

Oh, he was a genius.

Let me show you something else he planned.

Oh, wait a minute. Let's not talk about church.

He's dead.

- It's the killer we're after. - Yes, I'm coming to that.

- You mean you know who he is? - I have a pretty fair idea.

And if this trick turns out right, I'll be sure.

Let's say this is macfay's room and that this is his bed.

We'll fix things just as we found them

the night of the murder. Let me see.

There was a newspaper on the floor. Stop me if I'm wrong.

- Here's a paper. - Now, let me see.

There were some books.

- I'll get those, nickie. - Thank you, mommy.

- A glass of water. - I'll get it.

Nick: Ah, no, no, Mrs. bellam, you stay here.

One of the boys will get it. Now...

Now, Freddie, would you mind standing over there?

- Surely. - And watch everything.

Very carefully.

- A lamp. - I'll get that.

Nick: As I remember, a cord was pulled from the lamp.

Let's see.

- Forgot the gun. - Yes, I have my own right here.

There we are. Now, may I have the books, mommy?

You know, this trick should work. Church planned it.

And church was an engineer. Here we are.

Now, if you'll just let me have the paper.

- Here's the paper. - Thank you.

Just one sheet will do.

It was just one sheet that was wet, wasn't it?

- Well, yes. - Yes.

Paper serves as a nonconductor.

I'll place this small piece between the exposed wire,

the metallic part of the gun.

Now the water, please.

You're watching this carefully, Freddie?

Oh, yes. Yes.

This might be your finish.

Now, just drop the water into this indentation.

There you are. Do you mind plugging that in?

Thank you.

Twelve minutes past.

Now do you all mind stepping down the other end of the room?

But nothing happens. = give it time.

Run, mommy, fast. Anyone want a drink?

But, really, Mr. Charles,

where does all this get us?

Well, you remember you said it was funny

that I didn't hear any sounds of a struggle in macfay's room?

Well, I did think that, uh...

Well, I didn't hear any sound of a struggle

because there was no struggle.

Oh, but all this, his broken wrist,

the shot he fired.

- Macfay didn't fire that shot. - What?

He was dead when it went off.

The murderer staged this whole thing, just as I have,

to make it look as if there'd been a row.

This little trick gave him or her

a chance to get away and get an alibi.

Well, that broken wrist sort of eliminates a woman, doesn't it?

Even a woman could do that.

Oh, uh...

- Mrs. bellam. - Yes?

You were the last one to see colonel macfay, weren't you?

- Yes. - What time was that?

About midnight. But you can't say I did it.

He wasn't killed until one o'clock.

You mean the shot didn't go off until one o'clock.

We don't know yet when he was killed.

You were an old sweetheart of macfay's,

weren't you? Weren't you?

Well, what's that got to do with it?

Uh, maybe we better have everybody in on this.

Try the second door down on the left.

The key's in the lock.

Who is it?

If I know my perfumes, it's Dorothy,

or Agnes, or whatever her name is.

I haven't done anything. You let me go!

I, I told you I haven't anything to do with this.

Then what are you doing here? =I came to see Mr. Charles.

When I came to work for you, Mr. Charles,

I'd just gotten out of prison.

- Good gracious! - I was going straight.

But I knew the police would never believe me

after that killing, so I lit out.

But I couldn't rest easy.

I had to explain to Mr. Charles.

Well, why should you, an ex-convict,

known the world over as a great detective?

Because Nick Charles never refused

a break to anybody in his life.

And I meant to prove to him and Mr. Charles

that I could make good and

then I was going to tell them.

That's alright. I knew about you.

Wait a moment, guild here says

this woman was the one at the chestevere apartments.

I'm afraid, for once, the lieutenant is wrong.

She wasn't.

Look, nickie, it's smoking.

It worked.

Hey, give me that rod.

I knew it was dum-dum all the time.

Was it him? = no.

Dum-dum was only trying to get the accomplice

who killed his Mr. church.

Well, but who, who... = I'm afraid...

You people haven't been paying attention.

This little trick I just showed you

gave the murderer five minutes to get away and get an alibi.

There was only one person who used that particular alibi.

Church planned this trick

and you carried it through.

That's why church had smitty to stooge for him,

so no ohne would suspect that

he was mixed up with another woman.

Nora: Nick... - What are you saying?

You're friends with church

and dum-dum, that's why your dog

was friends with them, let them come and go as they pleased.

That's why your dog stood on his hind legs,

as the prints showed, with his paws

on his killer's shoulders, when he got his throat cut.

Well, if they were such good friends,

why did they have to kill him?

To avoid any suspicion that you

and church were working together.

It's a lie. I killed macfay.

Be careful, Freddie, you know what happened to horn

when he tried to protect her.

What do you mean?

I mean that horn must have known

that she committed the murder.

He was jittery that night, almost out of control.

He told us he'd had a threat against Lois' life.

That was to divert suspicion from her.

Horn wanted to get me off the case.

When I went out on the grounds looking for asta and that knife,

he knew that it would be fairly safe to take a shot at me.

If he was caught, he could blame it on the darkness,

you were afraid of horn, afraid

that he might break, and give you away.

Besides, you were really stuck on Phil church.

So you let horn go out to get me and then you ran on ahead

and warned me so that I'd have time to draw a gun on him.

And then you pushed me out of the way of his bullet,

figuring that I'd shoot him in self-defense,

which is what I might have had to do,

but the police stepped in

and did the job for both of us.

Nickie, you're just guessing,

you're saying horrible things.

It's the only way that makes sense.

Sense, what sense could there

possibly be in my killing father?

Because you wanted his money and you wanted it now.

Well, father gave me everything I could possibly need.

- Why, he... - That wasn't your kind of life.

Your kind of life was the Linda mills life

that you've been leading ever since you got nerve enough

to sneak out of the house at night

after the folks went to sleep.

- Linda mills? - Yes, my sweet.

"Lm" for Linda mills and Lois macfay.

Linda mills, who sleeps without pillows, just as you do.

Linda mills, in whose apartment there's a scorched spot

beside the bed, and a bullet hole in the wall

where this trick was rehearsed.

Why, you can't mean these things.

- Tell him it isn't true. - It's easy enough to prove.

We'll just take her over to see Mrs. dolley.

Of course, when dum-dum comes to, he can tell us,

but, uh, I wouldn't advise you to wait for that.

Dum-dum"s a little sore at you for killing his Mr. church.

My killing church? Oh, now, really...

You found out right after the murder

that he ditched you for smitty.

And you knew it that he had you in a spot

where he could blackmail you for life.

So you shot him as he stood on that ledge,

and threw the gun out your window.

You're right about Linda mills and all the other things.

I got sick of playing little red riding hood to that old guy.

So when Phil was fooling around trying to get money out of him,

I found we spoke the same language.

I'm not sorry for it. It was a chance, and I took it.

Now, what I'm getting at's this, I'll make a deal with you.

And what will you offer us, the moon?

You like that brat of yours, don't you?

Alright, you let me walk out of here

and I'll send him back in a half-hour.

Freddie, what did you do with him?

- I put him in Lois' room. - Go look.

She can look all she wants. She won't find him.

If anything's happened to that kid...

Nick! Nick! = is he there?

It isn't nickie. Nickie's gone.

Make up your mind, send me to the chair

or get your kid back all in one piece.

Man 4: Now wait a minute. You can't go in there.

I gotta go in there. I want to go in there.

Let me in here. Where's my baby? Where's my baby?

- Where's my Raphael? - He's in here.

He's right in here.

Man 5: I'm with you. - Trying to pull a fast one, eh?

I saw it wasn't their kid, and I took a chance.

- You can't blame me for trying. - Well, come on.

- You ungrateful little fiend! - What's the matter, ma?

Don't you call me ma!

So you admit it's a gag, huh?

Well, better luck on your next racket.

- Alright, get going. - Give me a gun!

Give me a gun. Give me a gun! = what? Another murder?

That dog. He won't let me have the baby.

Asta.

Take it. Quiet now, will you?

Where's my baby? Oh.

Oh, my Raphael, my beautiful baby.

Oh, my lovely little cherub.

Now you see, you can't blame me for making a mistake.

They both look alike, don't they?

You imbecille! My gorgeous.

- My beautiful Raphael. - Alright.

Don't get excited. = you don't tell me...

Mommy?

Let's sit down. = sit down? What for?

Just to get a little rest

after our quiet weekend in the country.

Oh...