Original subtitles

This is grotesque.

Well, it certainly is, yes.

Four of the suspects come to your house, uninvited

ready for a good heart-to-heart

and what do they get?

They get bounced.

Get... get Saul, Fred and Norian

and-and have them come here by 3:00.

No, 2:30.

2:30.

I felt uplifted. That he was calling his operatives in

for assignments was promising.

No, 2:00.

Have them be here by 2:00.

You and I will have lunch early.

I'm going to tell Fritz.

That he had changed it from 3:00

when his lunch would've settled

to 2:30 when digestion would've barely started was impressive.

That he had advanced it again to 2:00

with an early lunch was inspiring.

And then go to tell Fritz instead of ringing for him...

all hell was popping.

I want to see Faith Usher's mother.

Find her and bring her to me.

There's no need to take notes.

There's nothing to note

except the bare fact that Miss Usher's mother

is alive and must be somewhere.

Is her name Usher?

Why don't you listen?

I told you that's all I know.

Do we keep covered?

Yes, but not at the cost of missing your mark.

Lon Cohen, please.

There are a dozen Ushers

in the Manhattan directory.

Lon, it's Archie.

Listen, real quick.

I need to get some information from you

about the whereabouts of Faith Usher's mother.

What do you know?

Oh, you do? Really, huh?

Skip the phone book.

Lon Cohen says a woman named Marjorie Betz

claimed Faith Usher's body

at the morgue on Wednesday.

That's B-E-T-Z.

Address: 812 West 87th Street.

She had a letter signed by Elaine Usher

mother of Faith.

Same address.

A Gazette man saw Mrs. Usher

leave the apartment sometime Wednesday

and hasn't been able to find her, see.

And Lon doesn't think anyone has.

End of chapter.

Nobody skips for nothing.

Find her. Bring her.

Use any inducement likely to effect results.

I want to see Wolfe.

Wait here.

His tone indicated that his plan was to get Wolfe down

and tramp on him.

So I left him to his mood.

Our client is right...

Did he have an app...?

I may be wrong.

I hope to God...

Have a seat, Mr. Laidlaw.

Well, sir?

Did you send a note to the District Attorney

telling him I'm the father of Faith Usher's child?

No, I did not.

Did you?

No, of course not.

Have you told anybody either?

Plainly, sir, you are distressed

and must be indulged.

But nothing has happened to release

either Mr. Goodwin or me from our pledge of confidence.

If and when it does

then you will be the first to be notified.

Now I suggest that you retire and cool off a little.

When I left here this morning

there were police waiting for me in my office.

They took me to see Bowan, the District Attorney himself.

He asked me if I wanted to change my statement

that I had never met Faith Usher before Tuesday, and I said "no. "

They had some kind of evidence?

They had a note.

It came in the mail yesterday.

Typewritten, no signature.

It said, "Have you found out yet

"that Edwin Laidlaw is the father of Faith Usher's baby?

Ask him about his trip to Canada on August 1956."

I just sat and stared at it.

It was worth a stare, even if it had been false.

Did you collapse?

No, by God, I didn't.

I think my subconscious mind had already decided what to do.

I was too stunned to decide anything

so I must've already decided to refuse to answer any questions

about anything at all.

Which is what I did.

They kept me for two hours.

You admitted nothing?

No.

Not even that you had been on a trip to Canada

in August of 1956?

I admitted nothing.

I didn't answer a single question.

Satisfactory... Highly satisfactory.

This is indeed welcome, Mr. Laidlaw.

Welcome?

Certainly.

We have at last goaded someone to action.

This is most gratifying.

If there was a small shadow of a doubt

that Miss Usher had been murdered, this removes it.

Still, it is true that you...

you yourself may be the culprit

but I would prefer to believe

that the murderer has felt compelled

to create a diversion.

And that is gratifying.

Now he is doomed.

But good God, they know about me.

They know no more than they did before.

They receive at least a dozen

of these unsigned accusatory letters every day.

And they have learned that the charges in most of them

are groundless.

We have 30 minutes.

You told me that no one on earth

knew of your dalliance with Faith Usher.

Now we know you were wrong.

We must review every moment that you spent with her

where you might have been seen or heard.

I- I must go at 4:00, but Mr. Goodwin will... will continue.

When Wolfe undertakes that sort of thing he is worse

than a housewife bent on finding

a speck of dust the maid overlooked.

Did you become involved with her immediately?

Intimately, I mean.

What was it about her

that first attracted your interest?

Be specific.

Start at the very beginning.

I can only remember so much...

When 4:00 came

time for Wolfe to go up and play with the orchids

I carried on.

And we wre working on the third day in Canada...

somewhere in Quebec... when...

Uh, she lost her diary in...

Hold on, hold on.

I wish I could've said I was surprised.

All right. Come on.

Let's go. Let's move.

Inspector Cramer's looking for you.

But how would he know...

Never mind how; Let's go.

This way out.

Mr. Laidlaw wants to leave

through the back in a hurry

and I haven't time because Cramer wants in.

Show him out, quick, and you haven't seen him.

I suppose it's me you want

since you know Wolfe won't be available till 6:00.

Open up, Goodwin.

You know damn well what my orders are.

There are to be no callers admitted

There are to be of 4:00 and 6:00

unless it's for me.

I know. Open up.

Okay... if it's for me.

Where's Laidlaw?

Search me.

There are lots of Laidlaws.

I haven't seen one.

Yeah... nuts.

Cramer! Cramer!

All right, now he said

that he came to see me.

But then he rushed past me

and he started yapping something like

"Where's Laidlaw?"

He had such a craving for someone named Laidlaw

that his morals are shot.

Are you demented?

You know, some day, some day...

Some day what?

You'll recover your senses?

You're horning in again.

Goodwin turned a suicide into a murder

and here you are.

This afternoon, Laidlaw was called downtown

and when he left, he headed for you.

So I know he came here.

So I come...

If you weren't an Inspector I'd say that's a lie

but since you are we'll call it a fib.

You do not know he's here.

I know he hopped a taxi

and he gave the driver this address.

So where was I supposed to think he went?

Correction.

You suppose he had been here.

All right... "I suppose. "

Have you seen Edwin Laidlaw

in the last three hours?

This is quite beyond belief.

You know how rigidly I maintain my personal schedule.

You know how I resent any interference

in these two hours of relaxation.

Yet you enter my home, by duplicity

you come charging up here to ask a question

you have no right to an answer!

So you don't get one!

Indeed, under these circumstances

I doubt you could put a question

to anything whatsoever that I would answer!

I know where it hurts, Inspector.

You still haven't gotten over the day

that you came with a warrant

looking for a woman named Clara Fox.

Later you found out she was in the orchid room

after you'd searched the entire house.

You figured if you could rush up there now

without letting me have a chance to give the alarm

you'd find him with Laidlaw.

The problem is, he wasn't there.

So now you're stuck.

You ought to take off your coat before you...

...leave, or you'll catch a cold.

Well dressed

a little bit flashy.

No job, but she's never short of money.

And she seems to like men.

We must find her, confound it.

I wait to see Mrs. Usher

not merely because her daughter said she hated her

now there is also the fact that she has disappeared.

Yes, sir.

Nero Wolfe's office. Archie Goodwin speaking.

Ah, hello.

Oh, y-yes, that's fine.

20 minutes on the outside.

All right.

Well, that was, uh, Celia Grantham.

Wants to see me urgently.

I think she wants to know

why I won't go dancing with her anymore.

Miss Celia...

Mr. Goodwin.

Mother wants to see you.

I thought you did.

I do.

But it only occurred to me

after she got me to decoy for her.

She's down in the music room

with the Police Commissioner.

They wanted to see you

and thought you might not come

so she asked me to phone you.

But before all that

I want to ask you something.

What is it about Edwin Laidlaw and that girl...

Faith Usher?

Search me. Why?

Well I thought you'd know about it

since it's you that's making all the trouble.

You see...

I may marry him some day

since you've turned out to be a skunk.

Are you a skunk?

I'll, uh, think about it and let you know.

Uh, so what is it about Laidlaw and Faith Usher?

That's what I want to know.

They're asking questions of all of us

and they're typing samples on all of our typewriters.

I think they got an anonymous letter.

Well, I wouldn't let it

wreck your marriage plans, Celia.

Because even if there's an anonymous letter

that says Laidlaw fathered Faith's baby

why, it proves nothing.

If he was the father of her baby

that means if I married him we could have a family.

And I want one.

I'm worried he might be getting into a jam

and you're no help.

I'm sorry.

Suit yourself.

If you'd rather duck mother and Police Commissioner

you know where your hat and coat are.

I'll tell them you got mad and went.

Mmm. I wouldn't want you to get into a jam.

Oh, that's sweet.

Come on. it'll be fun.

Take me down.

Take you down where?

Archie.

Mr. Goodwin.

He came up on his own.

I warned him you were laying for him, but here he is.

Mr. Skinner, Mr. Goodwin.

Mr. Goodwin, Mr. Skinner.

We've met. Have a seat.

I wish to say I would've preferred never to have you

in my house again.

Well, your daughter said you wanted me to come.

Was that just to tell me I'm not welcome?

I have just spent

the worst three days of my life.

And...

Cecil, please.

And you are responsible.

I want you to know

that I think you are capable of blackmail.

And I think that's what you have in mind.

And I will not submit to it. And if you try anything...

Mom.

Hold it.

That's libelous.

And useless.

Goodwin, this is unofficial and off the record.

My colleagues don't even know I'm here.

Let's just assume something. Just an assumption.

Well, assuming is one of my talents.

Let's just assume

that on Tuesday evening when something happened

that you said you would prevent

you were exasperated.

And, in the heat of the moment

you blurted out that Faith Usher had been murdered

thus committing yourself.

Can I comment as you go along

or do I have to wait until you're through?

I realize it would be difficult for you now to admit

that you were mistaken.

But I have a suggestion.

I suggest that you wanted to be

absolutely sure of your ground.

So you came back here this evening

to review the scene

and found me here.

And after a closer inspection

you realized, though, you had nothing to apologize for.

You have been... unduly positive.

You'll just concede

that it is possible that Faith Usher

did poison her own champagne.

And if the official conclusion is suicide

you will not challenge it.

Shut up.

I will, of course, be under an obligation

to ensure that you will suffer no damage or inconvenience.

Uh, we realize you probably have to consult with Wolfe

before you give us a definite answer.

You can phone him from here.

Or go to him.

I'll wait for you here.

This has gone on long enough.

You through?

Yes.

You know, my mother once told me

"Never go someplace where you're not welcome. "

Maybe I'm sensitive

but I feel like I've sat through this long enough.

Celia.

Good evening.

Good evening.

The next morning, Saul phoned to report.

All right.

They'd been staking out Elaine Usher's apartment

the one she shared with Marjorie Betz

but there had been no sign of her.

At noon, Saul reported in again.

Still no progress in the search for Elaine Usher.

Nothing happening her apartment.

Mon Dieu!

But at 2:30 the phone rang again.

I got her.

Man from a messenger service went to the apartment

and when he came out, he had a suitcase with him.

The tag read "Miss Edith Upser

Room 911, Hotel Christie. "

I was tempted to tackle her right then and there

but I thought I better wait for instructions.

Well, it sounds like you need a staff there, Saul.

I'll be there in 12 minutes.

No.

Proceed, Saul, as you think best.

For this sort of juncture your talents are as good as mine.

Yes, sir.

Preferably in a mood of compliance

but get her here.

Yes, sir.

It is Saturday

and I have received my check for the week.

I would like a month's severance pay.

Phooey.

No phooey.

I am severing relations.

It has been 88 hours since I saw that girl die.

And your one bright idea... granted it was bright...

was to bring that girl's mother here.

Now I refuse to sit on my fanny while Saul gets to go...

Shut up.

Archie.

Archie.

I've shut up.

This is natural.

That is...

it-it's in us...

and-and whatever is in life is natural.

You're headstrong, and I am magisterial.

And our tolerance of each other is a recurring miracle.

I- I did not have one idea... right or not... I had two.

We have neglected Austin Byne.

Ever since he got you to that party

by pretending an illness he didn't have

and the fact that he chose Faith Usher to attend

he deserves better of us.

We must attend to him.

How? By telling him we don't like his explanations

and ask him to give us some new ones?

Nonsense. You're not so ingenuous.

Survey him. Explore him.

Well, I already have.

He has no visible means of support.

He has an apartment, a car

plays table stakes poker, doesn't go naked.

Uh, the apartment, by the way, hits my eye

and if you hang this murder on him

and our tolerance miracle runs out of gas

I'll probably take the apartment.

Perhaps the best course would be

to put him under surveillance.

If I postpone writing this check

is that an instruction?

Yes.

Well, it might be good to get out, get a little air.

And get away from the miracle.

When starting to tail a man

it is desirable to know where he is

so I was a little handicapped.

I dialed Byne's number, no answer.

So at least I knew where he wasn't.

Over the next two hours I ate five pieces of pie...

two rhubarb and one each

of apple, green tomato and chocolate

and drank four glasses of milk and two of coffee.

To keep from arousing curiosity

either by my tenure or my diet, I made sketches of the cat.

In the Village, that accounts for anything.

I could only hope

that Dinky wasn't set to spend the evening

curled up with a good book or even without one.

But that didn't seem likely since he would have to eat

and I doubted that he did his own cooking.

Archie.

Jesus!

Saul, what the hell are you doing here?

Are you on her, too?

You might've told me.

No. I'm tailing the guy that just walked by.

Where's yours?

In Tom's Joint. She's just came.

I'll be damned. Have you seen her?

Have you spoken to her?

Does she know you?

No, no. This guy knows me.

One'll get you ten they're in there together.

Go have a look.

Well, I never bet against fate, but I'll check it out.

They are together in a booth.

There's nobody with them and he's eating oysters.

Ah, he'll soon be eating crow.

Now, listen, we got a real problem.

He's mine; she's yours.

Who's in charge?

Well, that's easy... Mr. Wolfe.

I was afraid so, damn it.

All right.

Well, he's in there eating oysters

so there's plenty of time to phone.

You or me?

You. I'll stick here.

This is the Wolfe residence.

Hey, Fritz, let me talk to Mr. Wolfe.

Archie, it's dinnertime.

Yeah, I know. Tell him it's urgent.

Well?!

I have a report.

Saul and I are having an argument.

See, he thought...

What the devil are you doing with Saul?

It's a question of protocol, see?

See, I tailed Byne here and Saul tailed Mrs. Usher

to the same restaurant.

Now they're sitting together in a booth.

So, the question is, who's in charge, Saul or me?

So we thought the only way to settle it without violence was

to call you.

Yes, at mealtime.

Yeah, I know.

They should've known better, huh?

Do they know they have been seen?

No, no, not at all.

Could you eavesdrop?

Possibly, but I doubt it.

Very well, bring them here.

There's no hurry. I've just started dinner.

Just give them no time for private exchange

after they've seen you.

Have you eaten?

Yeah, I've had plenty of pie and milk, I'll tell you that.

Ask Saul, maybe he could join us.

I don't think I have enough birds.

Forget Saul.

You might need him.

Look, I'm not a magician.

Are we destitute that we can't have another bird?

No, I mean, I can't make it appear...

Hi, Dinky. Sorry for butting in.

I'd like to introduce

a friend of mine, Mr. Saul Panzer.

Miss Usher, this is Saul Panzer.

Saul Panzer, Mr. Byne.

Let us out or I go out over you.

And the name is Ups...

Now just a little calm, all right?

Can I get you anything?

If we have a situation you only make it worse.

Now take it easy, see?

What do you want?

I'm trying to tell you.

Mr. Panzer and I want to know why the two of you

had arranged to meet in a dump like this.

That's what we want to know.

I expect others will be, too.

That's right... like the press, the public, the police

the District Attorney

and Nero Wolfe.

We can't expect him to explain it here

in this den of smog.

That's right.

Now either Mr. Panzer can phone Inspector Cramer right now

or we'll take you to talk to Mr. Wolfe. Whichever you prefer.

Look, Archie, it's not as it seems.

It looks funny, sure, but we didn't plan this.

I met Mrs. Usher a year ago

when her daughter was at the Grantham House

and when I came in here and saw her...

After what's happened, naturally he spoke to me...

Save it!

Both of you.

Phone Cramer.

No, listen.

Uh, uh, ah, listen, damn it.

No listening. You got one minute to decide.

Either we call Cramer for you

or you go talk to Wolfe.

One minute, go.

The cops! The cops!

Would you just listen to...

No listening. You got 40 seconds left.

If you're playing stud and there's only one card to come

and the man across has two jacks showing

and all you have is a mess

it doesn't matter what his hole card is

or yours either.

Check, please.

I prefer to speak with you separately

but first I want to make sure

there is no misunderstanding.

I intend to badger you

but you don't have to submit to it.

You may get up and leave.

If you do, you will be through with me

and henceforth you will deal with the police.

I make that clear

because I don't want you bouncing up and down.

I wish to speak privately with Mr. Byne.

Take Mrs. Usher to the front room.

Now I've heard your explanation

for being in the restaurant with Mrs. Usher.

You expect me to accept it?

No. I told Goodwin that

because the truth would only embarrass Mrs. Usher.

I can't help it; I met her three years ago

and for about the past year, I've been intimate with her.

And your meeting with her this evening was accidental?

No. She knew I was Mrs. Robilotti's nephew

and she wanted to know how her daughter died.

I'm afraid I couldn't tell her

more than what she read in the papers.

Is that your story?

Yes.

Then I'll see Mrs. Usher.

After I speak with her, I'll ask you in again with her present.

Archie, take, uh, Mr. Byne

and bring in Mrs. Usher.

Of course, madam

my reason for speaking with you separately is transparent:

to see if your accounts agree.

Since you have had no opportunity for collusion

agreement would be, if not conclusive, at least persuasive.

You use big words, don't ya?

I try to use words to say what I mean.

So do I.

I don't know what Mr. Byne told you

but I called him up this morning and asked to see him.

He suggested the joint and I went.

Not very thrilling, is it?

Only moderately.

Have you known him long?

I don't really know him at all.

I met him somewhere a year ago.

I don't remember where.

Why did you leave your home

and go to a hotel under another name?

I didn't want to see people.

I knew reporters would come... and cops.

Bring in Mr. Byne, Archie.

I don't want to prolong this beyond necessity

but I would like to congratulate you.

You have both lied so cleverly

that it would have taken a long

and costly investigation to impeach you.

It was anadmirable performance.

Unfortunately for you

the performance was wasted.

When you left your hotel room, Mrs. Usher

I had one of my man search it

and he found a most interesting document.

Wh-what document?

It's a letter from Albert Grantham

in which he concedes being the father of your child.

Perhaps the best way to identify it

is to quote an excerpt from it.

Let's say paragraph four:

"So I have given my nephew, Austin Byne

"a portfolio of securities, the income of which is tax-exempt:

"an amount more than $2 million.

"The yield will be about $55,000 annually.

"My nephew will remit half to you

"and keep the other half to himself.

"If you disclose the relationship we once had

or make any additional demands

this agreement is null and void. "

That was paragraph...

Get back.

You hit me!

Give that back to me!

It will be returned to you, madam

after it's used as an exhibit in a murder trial.

No one has been murdered!

You are in error, Mr. Byne.

Sit down!

Now, does this agreement state

that your remittance decreases if your daughter should die?

Yeah. I only get half as much or even less.

Are you telling the truth? Was she murdered?

I'm afraid so, madam.

I would like to see the agreement.

I have sent Mr. Cather to your apartment to look for it.

It will expedite matters

if you'll phone him and tell him where it is.

My God, you threatening to call the police on me?

I'll call them myself.

I'll tell them a man has broken into my apartment

and he's there now.

Here, Dinky, use my phone.

He's not going to find the agreement

because it's not there.

It's in a safe deposit box and it's going to stay there.

Tomorrow is Sunday

so it must wait until Monday.

However, Mr. Cather didn't go to the trouble for nothing.

He will use your typewriter and write something with it.

"Have you found out yet

that Edwin Laidlaw is the father of Faith Usher's baby?"

You smile.

Are you amused?

Because you don't have a typewriter?

Sure, I have a typewriter.

Did I smile?

You were wrong to smile.

That was a mistake.

You couldn't possibly be amused.

So you must be pleased.

By what?

I'll try to guess.

The guilty machine is elsewhere.

It should be easy to find.

For instance, the bank vault

where you have the safety deposit box.

Archie, you go to my box regularly.

Would it be remarkable for a vault customer

to ask for a typewriter?

Remarkable? No.

Beat it, Elaine.

I want to talk to Wolfe.

Please wait in the front room.

You win.

So I spill my guts.

Where do you want me to start?

Why did you send the note to the police?

Well, they were going on with the investigation

and I was afraid they might dig up I knew Faith's mother

and about the arrangement.

And if she was murdered

I figured Laidlaw probably did it.

Why?

That day he went to Canada

I saw the both of them together in his car.

I put the rest together.

So now you know he's the only one with reason to kill her!

You had one.

I wasn't there!

True, but those who were there

can also plead lack of opportunity.

I told Elaine she'd still be getting her half of the money.

Go ask her.

You told Mr. Goodwin

that your selection of Miss Usher

to be invited to the party was fortuitous.

But now that explanation won't do.

When Mrs. Irwin gave me the list,

and I saw Faith's name

I thought it would be... ironic to invite her.

'Course my aunt could cross Faith off

and then tell Mrs. Irwin.

And then I thought of another funny idea:

Have Laidlaw there, too.

I know I'm a fool, but there you are.

Did Miss Usher know that Albert Grantham had fathered her?

Oh, dear God, no.

No.

Wolfe leaned back, closed his eyes

and his lips started to work.

They pushed out and in, out and in, out and in.

Sooner or later, he always does that.

I should have a sign made

"Genius at work" and put it on his desk when he starts it.

The time has come to attack the central question:

How was Faith Usher murdered?

Archie, get Mr. Cramer.

No, damn you!

After I've spilled my guts...

Mr. Byne, don't squeal until you're hurt.

I've got you and I intend to keep you.

Call Mr. Cramer, ask him to invite

everyone from the party

to my office tomorrow morning at 11:00.

He may come as well

particularly if he wishes to apprehend a murderer.

You and Ms. Usher will remain here as my guests.

I don't want either of you to have a chance

to confer with anyone, and this will ensure it.

I had no idea what he had in mind

but I knew one thing:

The murder had already been solved

and tomorrow I would know how.

You have explained the purpose of this gathering, Mr. Cramer?

Yes, you're going to prove if, uh, Goodwin

was either right or wrong.

I didn't say prove.

I said I intended to satisfy myself

and deal with him accordingly.

Ladies and gentlemen, I will not keep you long.

At least, not most of you.

I have no exhortation for you

and no question to ask.

To form an opinion

of Mr. Goodwin's competence as an eyewitness

I need to see not what he saw

but a close approximation of it.

We'll do the best we can.

Archie?

First of all Mr. Hackett, if you could take

a position behind the bar?

Wolfe's idea was to reproduce, as nearly as possible

the scene of the crime.

It was a damn silly idea

since you could've put seven or eight

of that office into Mrs. Robilotti's drawing room.

If recreation was essential, he could've broken

his rule to never leave the house on business

and moved the whole performance uptown to Mrs. Robilotti's.

But he was too stubborn for that.

...if you could take your positions by the bar.

The distances are wrong

but the relative positions are correct.

Mr. Panzer here is going to be Faith Usher.

This ashtray here... this represents the bag

that Faith Usher had which contained the poison.

Mr. Wolfe... all set.

Uh, Mr. Hackett...

I understand that when Mr. Grantham went to the bar

for champagne for himself and Miss Usher

two glasses were there in readiness.

You had poured one of them

a few minutes earlier

and the other just before he arrived.

Is that correct?

Oh, yes, sir.

And as I told the police and the District Attorney

one of the glasses had been sitting there...

three or four minutes.

Well, that will prove to be relevant, Mr. Hackett.

Please pour a glass now, and put it in place.

The bottles and the cooler on the table were champagne

and good champagne; Wolfe had insisted on it.

Fritz had opened two of them.

Keep the bottle in your hand.

I'll explain what I'm after, and you may proceed.

I want to see it from various angles.

After Mr. Grantham delivers his glass to Mr. Panzer

that is to say, Miss Usher

I will ask him to repeat

his performance by delivering glasses

individually to everyone.

I was as confused as everyone else

about what Wolfe had in mind.

But I had sympathy for the others.

Unlike them, I was comfortable

with that unique brand of confusion.

I'd experienced it many times before

in that very room.

Oh, uh, I hope I didn't spoil it.

It was in poor taste.

I meant it to be.

This whole thing has been in poor taste from the beginning.

I appeal to all of you.

Did anything about

Mr. Grantham's performance strike your eye?

Yeah.

He carried the glasses the same every time.

The one in his right hand

thumb and forefinger were on the bowl.

The one in his left hand, he held that by the stem.

And he kept the one in his right hand

and handed them the one in his left hand.

I had never before seen Wolfe look at Pearly

with unqualified admiration.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Stebbins.

Thank you.

You not only have eyes, but know what they're for.

Will anyone corroborate

Mr. Stebbins?

I do.

I will.

Will you, Mr. Cramer?

What's your conclusion?

Well, surely that's obvious.

Anyone who is sufficiently familiar

with Mr. Grantham's habits

and who saw him pick up the glasses and start off

with them would know which one he would hand to Faith Usher.

Please bring in our guest.

Mrs. Robilotti.

May I present Mrs. Usher.

Faith's mother.

It's a pleasure.

A great pleasure.

Mother.

What'd she do that for?

That is all, ladies and gentlemen.

I wish to continue

but only with Mrs. Robilotti, Mr. Byne

Mr. Laidlaw and Mr. Robilotti...

by courtesy, if he chooses to stay.

The rest of you may go.

I needed your help for this demonstration

and I thank you for coming.

Uh, it would be a pleasure to serve you champagne

on some happier occasion.

You mean we have to go? I'd like to stay.

Good night.

Madame.

I regret the indignity you have suffered under my roof.

Oh, you stage it, and then you regret it?

I do regret it, Mrs. Robilotti.

And I had no hand in it.

All right. Let's hear it.

You have seen it.

Certainly, I staged it.

You heard me deliberately bait

Mrs. Robilotti to insure the desired reaction

to Mrs. Usher's appearance.

Before commenting on that reaction

I must explain Mr. Byne's presence.

He is here because it was something he said that informed me

that Mrs. Robilotti knew

her husband had fathered Faith Usher.

That's a lie. A damn lie.

I choose my words, Mr. Byne.

I didn't say you told me that

but that something you said informed me.

Speaking of the people invited to the gathering

you said, "Of course, my aunt could cross Faith off

and tell Mrs. Irwin... "

And you stopped

realizing you'd slipped.

When I let it pass, you thought I'd missed it, but I hadn't.

There was no implication.

Nonsense.

Why should your aunt refuse

to have Faith Usher in her house?

Granting that there were many possible explanations

there was only one suggested by the known facts.

That she knew Miss Usher was

her former husband's illegitimate daughter.

You can't have it both ways.

You said she wouldn't let Faith Usher in her house

because she knew she was Uncle Albert's daughter?

But she did have her in her house.

She knew Faith was invited.

She let her come.

I know.

That's the point.

That's my main reason

for assuming that your aunt killed her.

Hold it. Mrs. Robilotti, I want you to know

I find this as shocking as you do.

I doubt it.

I didn't know that a man could go as low as this.

This is incredible.

Murder is always incredible.

No, I have committed myself now, Madame.

Before witnesses.

And if I am wrong, I shall be at your mercy.

I wouldn't like that.

Mr. Cramer, you are shocked.

I can expound, or you can attack.

Which would you prefer?

Neither one.

Well, in that case

you have trimmed long enough, Mr. Byne.

Did your aunt know Faith Usher was the daughter

of Albert Grantham?

I told her a couple of months ago.

She called me a parasite for living off my uncle's money.

So I lost my temper

and told her why he gave me the money.

To care for his illegitimate daughter.

Liar.

You stand there and you lie?

You told me because you wanted to blackmail me.

You wanted to get more millions out of me

because the millions you got out of Albert

weren't good enough for you.

You bloodsucker.

You leech...

Stop it.

I submit to you

that Mrs. Robilotti deliberately let Faith Usher come

to the party so she could kill her.

How did she get Faith Usher's cyanide

out of her purse and into the drink?

Confound it!

Must I shine your shoes for you?

I doubt she ever went near the bag.

I suggest you inquire

whether Mrs. Robilotti had access

to a supply of cyanide.

You might even find that she procured some herself.

I do not pretend

that I am showing you ripened fruit

which you only need to pick, Mr. Cramer.

I undertook merely to satisfy myself

whether Mr. Goodwin was right or wrong.

I am satisfied.

Are you?

I'm going home. Let me pass, please.

Not right now.

I'm afraid you're going to have to answer some questions.

Uh, uh, uh, uh...

Louise.

Louise.

Now if you'll excuse me, it's time for lunch.

You're welcome to join me in the dining room if you wish.

Good day, Mr. Laidlaw. We'll be in touch.

Archie?

You've left my life in tatters.

I'm sorry, Celia.

This must be a terrible shock to you.

It changes everything.

I could never marry a man who put my mother in jail.

Yes, well, that's always a wise policy.

As if you didn't know...

you skunk.

I guess I'll just have to find someone else.

Edwin.

My dear.

My dear, would you please take me home?

My pleasure.

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