Original subtitles

Would you like some advice?

Lon, shut... shut...

Up?

Thank you.

Please, just play, please, today.

Could you please bet?

I'll see you.

Call.

Call.

Call.

Okay, what have you got?

A pair of fives with an ace, high.

Oh, boy. Whoa.

Kings and queens.

Full house.

Sure is.

That beats the three deuces...

three deuces that I stayed in with.

Come to papa.

It's your deal.

Why do you always do that?

What?

You lose, you keep losing, and yet you bet.

You know why? You can lead a whore

to culture but you can't make her think.

Ante in, please.

Yeah, who's not in?

Guess.

Yes.

Those are Mr. Wolfe's colors.

Uh, yeah, an apology of sorts.

What, he gave that to you?

"Gave" is too strong a word.

No, it appeared on my desk...

with no note, after we closed the Sorell case.

The ace means that you have

to open the bet...

Wait a minute.

You're talking about the Sorell extravaganza?

This is the... this is the tie?

No, no, this is not, uh, the tie.

It's a reasonable facsimile.

Huh. Nobody ever explained

how that tie happened to get there... and I asked.

Yeah, you did, well...

Now the truth can now be told, see.

It got there because my boss is a schlampick.

Uh, a schlampick.

Are you going to be a while?

Oh, yes, he will.

A minute, a minute.

You see, the whole thing never would have happened

if he hadn't left it on the desk.

It all started at lunch.

Wolfe splashed a drop of sauce from the spareribs

right on his tie.

Wolfe can't stand a spot on his clothes

even in private,

so he removed it and left it on his desk.

I continued to dedicate my time

to glaring at the necktie until the doorbell rang at 5:20.

On the doorstep I found Bertha Aaron, private secretary

of Lamont Otis, who was a senior partner

in the law firm of Otis, Edey, Hydecker and Jett.

She was very nervous.

It's so very confidential.

I can't go to Mr. Otis about this

because he's 75 and he has a bad heart

and, uh... it might kill him.

Last Monday evening, I saw a member of the firm

with our opponent in a very important case.

With the opposing counsel?

No, n-no, the opposing client.

You see what a hole I'm in.

That might be unethical

but might be or accidental.

No, no, no, no.

They were together in a booth in a cheap restaurant...

The kind of place she would never go to, never.

The client.

Yes... of course it was conceivable...

just barely... that he wasn't a traitor

so this afternoon I went to tell him and find out.

Well, the way he took it, the way it hit him

there isn't any question.

The problem, Miss Aaron, is that

there are some cases that he just won't touch.

Not even indirectly.

I- I- I don't understand.

All right, well, you told me the name of your firm.

You said it's a big case.

You said the opposing client is a woman.

I read the papers... your client is Morton Sorell.

The opposing client is Rita Sorell, right? The actress?

Yes.

Yeah, well, there you have it.

It's a divorce case.

B- but this isn't about the divorce.

Well, you may know that.

I may know that, but Mr. Wolfe...

I can ask.

But, uh... why don't you give me the details.

As I said, I'm...

And she did tell me everything very precisely...

everything except the name of the partner

she'd seen at the lunchroom.

That she refused to say

until Wolfe agreed to take the case.

Excuse me for interrupting...

What time is it?

Uh... 19 minutes to 6:00.

Well, it can wait 19 minutes.

Well, you know, okay

but when you come down and find her in the office

without warning, don't start bellowing.

You violate our understanding by interrupting me.

Okay, now that you're interrupted

I might as well go on, though.

So I did.

There's this woman who came to see you

and I let her in, and she started talking about...

Then came the ticklish part.

Her firm's client is Morton Sorell.

The opposing firm's client ison Sorell.

Is that why you came prancing in here?

I didn't prance in here.

I walked in here.

You know very well I do not

involve myself...

No, I know... you don't get evidence

on a divorce, but... this is different, I'm telling you.

A marital squabble is likely to be

the primary issue in this case.

Send her away.

I had flubbed it. I don't like flubbing things

so I kept at it

for another ten minutes, flubbing it even more.

I don't know why.

I think it was Bertha Aaron's eyes.

They were good eyes and looked straight at you.

I arranged my face so Bertha Aaron would know

Wolfe's answer was no as soon as she looked at me

but my face rearranged itself

as soon as I looked at her.

And there was Wolfe's tie.

It never should have been there.

You can come down now.

She's gone.

You said she was gone.

Well, she is. She's dead.

I presume that she was alive

when you left her to come up to me.

Yes, sir, she was alive then, yeah.

After I cut your necktie off...

Necktie?

Yes, the one you left on your desk.

You dare to suggest

that she was strangled with my necktie?

No, I don't suggest, I state.

And I will go on to state

if you hadn't left it

on your desk so handy...

she might not be laying there dead.

Shut up!

Or if we'd come down here sooner...

Shut up!

Yes, sir.

I will not accept it!

Uh... do you want to make the phone call or should I?

I gave him five seconds, to be polite

and then went to the kitchen and called the police.

I'll make the call.

And, uh... now, the rugs.

If you and Wolfe use the name that you withheld from me

to collect a fee, Goodwin, I'm going to get you for it

if it costs me an eye!

I've been trying to figure out

for years who it is you remind me of.

Now I know... an animal I once saw in a cage, begins with B.

I was talking.

Yeah, and I was interrupting. Look.

A woman comes here to consult with Nero Wolfe

gets murdered in his office with his necktie

while he's upstairs playing with his orchids.

Now, he hasn't been able to swallow any dinner.

He won't even try.

My heart bleeds.

If we knew who it was

Don't you think...

You'd get yourself hired to go him.

And you say you know us.

No, I would have gone after him, huh.

Without a paying client?

No, sure I would.

With any luck, I would have

brought that killer back here

before you and the scientists arrived.

Yeah, this killer... how did he know she was here?

How did he get in?

You know, I've gone over this

with Stebbins and with Rowcliffe and with you.

It's all in the statement.

She left her office after she confronted him.

Now, she would have been a cinch to tail.

He sees her coming to the famous Nero Wolfe residence

and he dials this number.

Well, it didn't ring in the plant rooms

where I was, it rang in the kitchen

but Fritz isn't there, see?

It rings and rings and rings in the office

right under her nose.

She's a trained secretary; she picks it up.

He says, "I'd like to offer you an explanation. "

Hello?

Point is, she lets him in here.

There you have it.

The rest is in the report.

What the hell.

But I'm warning you, Goodwin...

if it costs me both eyes.

Sure, yeah.

Yes?

Yeah, they've gone.

Fritz is standing watch in the kitchen

expecting a call for food, so you'd better buzz him.

I- I don't... want any... food.

I'm going to bed.

Will you sleep?

If the occasion calls for it, yeah.

Because I can't.

I can't even read.

Have you ever known me to show rancor?

I'd have to look in the dictionary. What is it?

Vehement ill will.

Intense malignity.

Ah. No.

I have it now

and, uh, it... it's in the way.

I can't think clearly.

My brain processes are muddled.

I...

Confounded... rancor is a pimple on the brain.

You said the army of occupation was gone!

I... I meant to disconnect the bell for the night.

Well, do so immediately.

I think I will.

Uh, Fritz, oh-ho-ho-ho.

Steady, steady.

Yes, yes, here.

Yup, yup, yup, okay.

Okay, here you are.

I'll get the door.

Yes, sir?

I'm Lamont Otis.

I'm here see Nero Wolfe about my secretary, Miss Bertha Aaron.

This is Angela Paige, my associate

a member of the bar.

A valued and trusted employee of yours

has died by violence under my roof.

I owe you an apology.

A weak word; there should be a better one.

If you have come to reproach me, proceed.

I have come here to find out what happened.

Miss Aaron was in my confidence for many, many years

and yet I do not know why she came here.

Miss Aaron feared the effects of her problem on you.

What?

Her words, Archie?

Yeah, she said he had a bad heart and it might kill him.

Oh, what nonsense.

Absolutely ridiculous! Bosh!

I- I do not intend to have, uh, another death under my roof

to apologize for, this time induced by me.

She exaggerated it.

Bertha was so devoted to Mr. Otis.

Well, are you willing to take responsibility

for its effect on him?

I'll take the responsibility!

After all, it's my heart.

Very well, Archie, give Mr. Otis a copy of the statement.

Angela, I do think it's rather a personal matter.

I think perhaps you had better leave the room

if you would, please.

You may wait in the front room, Miss Paige.

But Mr. Otis, if it's really all that bad...

No, no, no, no, please leave.

Please leave this room.

This room is completely soundproofed.

Sit down.

I'm not surprised Miss Aaron thought this might kill me.

I'm really surprised it didn't.

Once you have

recovered from the shock, you may be tempted

to minimize the damage to your firm

by allowing the culprit to escape his doom.

It is conceivable that you might cheat the police

of their prey in this manner, but not me.

My self-esteem has been severely injured

and I can only find satisfaction by exposing the murderer.

It is mere conjecture that a member of my firm killed...

Phooey!

You're an ostrich, sir.

I reserve comment on your suggestion

that I've been moved by personal consideration to balk justice.

Now... what do you want to do?

If you help me, I have two objectives:

to get the murderer

and to make sure that your firm suffers as little as possible.

If you don't, I'll only have one.

Well, then, let us begin.

This might be prolonged.

Miss Paige might not wish to wait.

Oh, a good idea.

Perhaps you would bring Miss Paige

back here.

Would you do so?

Yes, you.

Please, Miss Paige back in the room.

As I entered the front room

there were words on the tip of my tongue

but once again, that was as far as they got.

I was prepared to see her lying under the window

with my necktie around their throat

even though I was still wearing it.

I was relieved to see she wasn't.

She's not there.

She climbed out of the window?

Both doors were locked.

The window is open, so I think she probably walked...

Have you any notion

why Miss Paige might have been impelled

to leave by a window?

What's going on here?

I'm not feeling well.

I just arrived in this house.

I've not had a good time here.

I don't know what's going on.

I need my pills. I don't know...

Maybe we should do this another time.

No, no, please. Let's go on.

Are those pills reliable?

They're far more reliable than any of you people here.

Now give me that water!

The man is having a seizure.

Get him water!

Good Lord.

Are you sufficiently calmed?

Yes, sir.

It might be suggested that X was in a position

to give Mrs. Sorell information

against her husband, your client.

Is that true?

Yes. There was a divorce

but blackmail would be a better word for it.

Not technically... but that's about he sum of it.

And for the next two hours, Otis emptied the bag

which, for a lawyer, must uite a unique experience.

As Rita Ramsey, Mrs. Sorell dazzled Broadway

in "Reach for the Moon".

For two years she continued to dazzle Broadway

while spurning Morton Sorell.

But then one day she abandoned her career to marry him.

The marriage was on the rocks in a year.

The lovely Rita had become a missus

to get her paws on a bale of dough

and she was not going to settle for the terms

of the marriage agreement.

She wanted more than half, and she had carefully collected

evidence of certain enterprises of Sorell's to get it.

And which member of your firm was in a position

to give her weapons?

All of them.

Our client is vulnerable, and we have frequently conferred on it.

The three partners:

Edey, Hydecker and Jett...

Miles Hydecker had appeared for Mrs. Sorell

when she'd been sued by her former agent.

He was tight with money and too interested

in his work and his hobbies... chess and politics...

to bother with women, including Mrs. Sorell.

Frank Edey, the brilliant idea man

had drafted the Sorell marriage agreement.

Married, two children

interest in other women, definitely

but no obvious interest in Mrs. Sorell.

Young Gregory Jett made partner

when he won a big case for Morton Sorell's corporation.

He was a frequent guest at the Sorell penthouse

but hadn't been noticeably attentive to his hostess.

Jett was single and careless about his income and outgo.

He owed money to the firm.

As I say, I can't imagine any of these three

being involved in what we're talking about.

Uh, Fritz? Fritz, Fritz...

When I let him out at two hours past midnight

Otis was still alive.

He had wanted to know what Wolfe would do

and Wolfe couldn't tell him

because he didn't know himself.

Look, will you please don't...

You're destroying my hat.

Yes?

I have two ducks, turnips à la glace

and wild rice.

No! You know very well I... I never eat at night.

But you have had no dinner!

No! Let me starve!

I can make you an omelet! Anything!

No!

Go to bed!

Want me to call Saul, Fred and Orrie?

No.

If I don't know how I'm going to proceed

how the deuce can I have errands for them?

Is that rhetorical?

No, it is not.

There are the obvious

witless tasks of, uh...

interrogating the law firm personnel

and finding the restaurant.

By mid-morning

Mr. Cramer will have a hundred men pursuing those.

Nah, 200. This is special.

Will they tackle Rita Sorell?

Not right away.

Cramer warned me about mentioning

Bertha Aaron's observation.

Evidently they want to save that one.

You have a flair

for dealing with personable young women.

Sure. They melt like chocolate bars in the sun,

but if you think I can ask that specimen

who she had lunch with in that cheap restaurant

and she's going to murmur his name in my ear...

Could you bring her here?

What? To see your orchids?

Possibly.

I don't know.

I'm not myself.

I spent the next morning

composing a note to Mrs. Morton Sorell

claiming I'd seen her in that lunchroom

with an interesting companion.

Then I to Lon Cohen's

to find out where to deliver it.

What? Are you kidding Rita Sorell?

You want Rita Sorell's address?

What for?

Ah, well, now, as a gentleman, I can't say.

You don't know the meaning of that word.

Ah, come on, you know I'm good for it.

Exclusive, right?

Is there any other kind?

Fine... she decamped

her husband's digs on Park Avenue

for the Churchill Towers, I think.

Yeah, Curchill Towers on 63rd.

Archie, she's never going to see you.

Oh, yeah?

Even money that I'm sitting in Rita Sorell's apartment

within ten minutes.

Daring. Very daring.

All right, three gets you two.

u're going to be sitting on a curb

for an hour and then you're going to get sent home.

We're on.

Oh, no, I'm just saying good-bye.

Thank you, Lon. Churchill Towers.

Yeah, uh... exclusive!

She obviously wanted to know

who had seen her in that lunchroom.

Since that alone confirmed that she was there

I decided not to waste my first lie of the day

and tell her the absolute truth.

Well, at least you're handsome.

Ah, well...

Very handsome.

But what's this about? It's crazy.

Where'd you get it?

I wrote it. I made it up.

The card was just a trick so I could get to you.

My name is Archie Goodwin

and I have been at your feet for years, see?

And the only pictures in my heart are of you.

And one smile from you, just for me

it would be rapture.

See, my constant dream...

now that you left your husband...

would be that I could render some little service

some small thing, some big thing, you know...

to earn me that smile.

Have you any particular service in mind?

I can sew buttons.

So can I.

Come in.

You know, I could walk along behind you...

and carry your umbrella or your rubbers

in case it rained or snowed.

Well, it might be better to carry a gun.

Oh?

You mentioned my husband.

Are you brave?

Well, I would be if you were watching.

You might have read, Mrs. Sorell

something about a murder

in Nero Wolfe's office yesterday.

The victim, Bertha Aaron

was a private secretary to Lamont Otis

who's a senior par...

Oh, and you said that so nicely

about my pictures in your heart.

Nero Wolfe is working for my husband, isn't he?

Uh, no, he's not.

No, he's not working for anyone but himself.

You're lying.

I only allow myself

so many lies in the day, Mrs. Sorell.

Nero Wolfe wants to get even

with whoever killed that woman in his office

and he thought maybe you could tell me

something about Bertha Aaron.

I can't.

Why, I never even noticed her.

Well, that's too bad.

I'm still at your feet.

And I like you there.

You're very handsome.

Would Mr. Wolfe work for me?

If he did, he'd soak you.

And If he's got any pictures

in his heart... which I doubt...

they're not of beautiful women.

But you could call him and ask him.

I'll have to think about it.

I may ring you later.

I'm sorry I can't help.

You never would have dreamed

she was a champion bloodsucker.

When I got back to the brownstone

I expected to find Wolfe

settled in his chair behind his desk with his current book.

But he wasn't.

Good morning.

Good morning, I...

You forgot to leave the necktie in there.

Yes, well, the necktie.

We'll discuss that someday... the necktie.

Ebenezer?

No, Elite.

Well... what are you preparing?

Lunch, if you're interested.

Of course.

That's Gregory Jett.

He just spent the morning

in the district attorney's office.

I excused myself because I wanted to hear from you

before speaking with him.

I thought I might observe him.

That's a good idea

because he may have muttered

"By golly, the rug is missing. " Did he?

Enough of this foolery.

Did you speak with that woman?

I did.

She told me I was handsome... twice.

Did she admit to being in the lunchroom?

No, we talked for about five minutes.

It never... never came up.

She never mentioned it, but she let me in

and she may not suspect that there's a connection

between her being in the lunchroom and the murder

but it's doubtful.

Oh, she's tough as nails, and she's after $30 million.

By the way, this Gregory Jett guy.

What's eating him?

I don't know. We shall see.

Fritz.

I told you my business was urgent.

You're rather cheecky, aren't you?

Moderately so.

If there is any pressure, sir

the pressure is on you, not on me.

I demand to know what was in the statement

that your man here gave to the police

and to show it to Mr. Otis, an old man

suffering from shock over the death of his secretary

was irresponsible and reprehensible.

Well, cheek meets cheek. I must bucle my breastplate.

Suppose I choose to deny

the existence of such a statement?

Damn you!

She said she saw Goodwin give it to him!

When did Miss Paige tell you this?

Why? Last night...

on the phone.

We, um... well, we are engaged.

It has not been announced.

Oh. Then your explanation must now account

not only for your own concern

but also for Miss Paige's flight

through a window.

Miss Paige knew Miss Aaron had knowledge

of a certain, um... episode

of which Mr. Otis would have violetly disapproved.

Ah... and the nature of this episode?

I can't tell you

not even in confidence.

Did it concern Mrs. Morton Sorell?

So that's it!

I want... no, I demand to see that statement.

I have a right...

Don't start barking again.

There was nothing in it

either explicit or allusive

concerning the episode

that you have just volunteered to tell me about.

But thank you anyway.

Mr. Wolfe...

The rest of the partnership

straight from the police precinct.

Jett, I believe you know Edey and Hydecker.

Jett, what are you doing here?

I have my reasons.

Police questions.

Obviously they think she was killed

by someone connected with the firm.

Judging by their questions

they don't just think it, they know it.

But they don't say why.

Mr. Wolfe, what was she here for?

Oh, I don't know as I never saw her alive.

Mr. Goodwin, you admitted her.

Was she was alone?

Was, uh... did you see anyone else around?

On the sidewalk?

No, it was dark, of course.

This time of year it gets dark around 4:46.

And you conducted her in here.

Did you leave the door open?

Generally I make a habit

of making sure that the door is locked.

Habits are dangerous things.

What did she tell you?

The time had come

for my first lie of the day.

Nothing.

Nothing?

Nothing.

You expect me to believe

that you did not insist

on knowing the nature of her case

before you presented it to your employer?

You don't have to.

Nero Wolfe's office, Archie Goodwin speaking.

This is Rita Sorell, Mr. Goodwin.

I have decided...

Hold on, hold on.

You remember I told you about that woman

who told me that I was handsome?

She's... she's on the phone.

Oh, yes... oh.

Yeah. Go ahead.

You decided what?

I have decided that you were too clever for me

not mentioning at all what you had written on the card

when that was what you came for.

You want to know who the man was, don't you?

Yeah, well, that would be most helpful of course.

I want to help.

You're so very handsome. His name...

is Gregory Jett.

Oh, well, thank you very much.

Yes.

She's a confounded nuisance

but I suppose we'll have to humor her.

You'll have to recant.

Completely?

Yeah.

Who was that?

No more cross-examination.

That was Mrs. Morton Sorell on the phone.

What?

Archie?

Yeah, well, if it had been 20 seconds earlier

the phone call... I wouldn't have had to lie.

See, Bertha Aaron told me several things.

One, that a member of the firm

was seen in conference with Mrs. Sorell.

And two, that when confronted about this

the member of the firm

had no explanation whatsoever.

This is incredible.

I don't believe it!

Nor do I.

Do you expect us to believe...

I said no more cross-examination, Mr. Hydecker.

Miss Aaron did not name him

but Mrs. Sorell just did.

Although I... question her veracity.

Speaking to only one of you...

if you could be identified

by your whereabouts

the police would have you in custody.

For reasons of their own

they chose not to question your whereabouts

on the night of the meeting, but I do.

So let's get to it!

Find seats for yourselves.

Well, the partnership all had good alibis.

Like good lawyers, they even had people to verify them.

They left together as partners... three abreast...

a solid front of mutual trust and understanding.

In a pig's eye.

Do you want me to put Saul on the alibis?

Phooey! One with his fiancee

one watching a chess tournament

and the other one at home

with children in bed, sleeping. Worthless!

I was afraid of that.

If you're a mere top-flight detective like me

you'd rather go after an alibi than eat.

You ask a man where he was at 11 minutes past 8:00

you put it in your notebook and then you wear out

a pair of good shoes

looking for somebody who says he was somewhere else.

But if you're a genius

you don't give a damn about alibis.

All you care about is food.

I think it's that the problem is too simple.

One of three men committed murder.

We know how, where and when.

So we got to figure out who.

That's it, right?

Well, it's simple.

Eeny, meeny, murder, moe.

Is it this rancor?

Is it this pimple on your brain?

Is it that your brain processes are still muddled?

Lunch is served, sir.

Ah, yes.

Because what this needs is a good stiff dose of genius

and now yours is taking off for lunch?

One of Wolfe's principles

is that he won't work his brain on business

while he eats

but it was a week for violating principles.

Get out of the way...!

Do you have an appointment?

Yeah, we got a warrant for your arrests...

Come back after 6:00, Mr. Cramer.

For interfering with justice.

Tommyrot!

Wait out in the front room. I will be available on 6:00.

You revealed the contents

of Goodwin's statement

to men suspected of murder.

Which of those three jackasses told you that?

Was it Edey?

You knew damn well

we were withholding that meeting!

Purley.

Hands off!

I am not bound

to respect your tactics

either by statute

or by custom.

I've been waiting for years

to serve these, Wolfe.

But you don't serve them, do you?

So they are only cudgels for you to brandish.

To what end do you make this display?

What is it that you want?

You want my help?

Is that what this assertion of uniformed authority is about?

You want my help, don't you?

I want the truth!

Phooey!

Phooey is right.

We got Edey, Jett, and Hydecker.

Eeny, meeny, murder and moe.

According to Goodwin's statement

one of them killed Bertha Aaron.

Yes.

But if a jury takes Goodwin's statement as it stands

they're off the hook.

Purley, give me that paper.

I got a chart.

Bertha Aaron arrives at 5:20.

Goodwin leaves her at 5:40 alive and well.

When he gets back, it's 6:10

and she's dead.

Now here's the problem:

The three partners had a scheduled meeting at 5:30.

Edey is there, Jett comes in a minute late.

Hydecker rolls in at 5:45.

He'd been out buying theater tickets.

And they discuss the case

until 6:35.

You see what that means?

I can add.

Yeah. The only one who even fits

is Hydecker, and if the timetable is right

he had six minutes to get in, kill her

go buy theater tickets

and get across town at rush hour.

So either they're lying

or Goodwin's lying.

There is a third assumption.

Yeah, that Bertha Aaron

didn't mean she saw one of the partners in the lunchroom.

She saw one of the other 20 lawyers

associated with the firm.

Yes.

Look Wolfe, I can imagine how yoou must have felt

seeing her lying there

with your necktie wrapped aound her throat.

You want the glory.

You want the gloguy before we do

so you show Goodwin how to fake some reports

and we spend a couple of days chasing around.

With your goddamn ego

that would seem perfectly all right.

You wouldn't be obstructing justice.

Remembering all the stunts I've seen you pull

do you deny that's what you did?

Serve your warrants, sir.

Do you deny that's what you did?!

Serve your warrants! I defy you!

Archie, get Mr. Parker.

Tell him Mr. Cramer is waving

feeble bits of paper at me.

Have his secretary phone this number

every ten minutes for the next hour.

If Fritz answers the phone

and says we have been forcibly removed

he'll know where to find us.

Well?

Boss?

Oh, for the love of... nuts!

You think it's occurred to him?

I doubt it.

But when it does, he'll probably mess it up.

It has occurred to you?

Sure. I don't have a pimple on my brain.

Well, we must forestall him.

What time is it?

Just turn your head a little to the right

see that there's a clock

right there on the...

It's ten after 3:00.

Very well.

We'll arrange it for 6:00.

Tell Mr. Cramer he may fetch his murderer at 7:00.

Uh, Mr. Wolfe.

Miss, uh, Rita Ramsey Sorell.

It's a pleasure to have you here, Miss Ramsey.

Oh, thank you.

I'm not in the habit

of going to see men when they send for me.

Maybe that's why I came.

Yes, well, unfortunately our discussion

is of a more serious nature.

I need your help.

I need your help in resolving a...

crisis in my self-esteem...

indeed, in my soul.

Uh, f-for that, uh, I want us to be frank

and unreserved.

Uh, I think we should be alone for that.

Why, Mr. Wolfe, you do know women.

Yes, Archie, if you please.

Bye, Archie.

You told Mr. Goodwin on the phone

that you had lunch with a man

a man who was a partner at a law firm

which represents your husband.

He was representing himself.

You told Mr. Goodwin on the phone today

that that man was Gregory Jett.

What if I don't deny it?

What if I repeat it?

It was Gregory Jett.

If in addition to... scattering dust

you were gratifying an animus

you'd better try again.

It wasn't Mr. Jett; it was Mr. Hydecker.

So... I sat in a booth with a man

and didn't know who he was?

I take it back.

You know nothing of women.

25 hours ago

he followed Miss Aaron to this address

and when he saw her enter my house

he sought a phone.

What for?

To call you, madam

to tell you that your scheme had been revealed.

Mr. Hydecker

does not believe

that you came here determined to murder her.

He believes that when you saw her alone

and learned that she had not yet seen me

on an impulse, you seized a paperweight

and struck her.

He believes that

when you saw the necktie on this desk...

If he says I killed that woman, he's lying.

He killed her.

That's why I've come here today, to put it right.

He did phone me yesterday, twice...

first to warn me we had been seen

and an hour later to say that he had dealt with it

that our plan... his plan was safe.

So I knew he had killed her.

Well, that's why I've come here today

to put it right.

Am I too late?

No, a purge can both... cleanse your conscience and end the...

the terrifying dilemma that is in my soul

but there is a crucial piece that we need.

What time

did he phone you the second time?

I don't know exactly.

It's important.

It's important that we be precise

both for the police and for the court.

It was...

between 5:00 and 6:00.

Yes, around

half past 5:00.

You're sure?

Yes, I'm sure.

He came to me about a month ago.

He said he had information about my husband

that I could use to get my rights.

It's a lie!

I never went to her.

She came to me.

Oh, now you talk?

When you were accused of murder

you had nothing to say.

He wanted me to agree

to pay him a million dollars for it.

Would you be prepared to testify

under oath?

Well, I suppose I'll have to.

Then you're a dunce, madam.

Oh, no, Mr. Wolfe, I'm not a dunce.

Oh, but you are.

One detail alone

would sink you... one, single, simple fact.

What are you talking about?

When you came here yesterday, you were not in a hurry.

You were not contemplating murder

so you had no reason to use caution.

I didn't come here at all.

I need only telephone Inspector Cramer

and tell him to locate the cab driver who picked you up

at or near the Churchill yesterday afternoon

and drove you here.

He will have noted the time.

Oh, yes?

Then why don't you?

There's the phone.

Use it.

Because 25 hours ago, here in this room

you subjected me, madam, to the most severe humiliation

that I have suffered in many years

and I am getting even.

I am watching you squirm.

I will not say

that it gives me pleasure, but...

Let me go!

Let me go! No, you will not!

I'm going out! Let me out!

Unhand me, you beast!

You are to be quiet!

No, you unhand me, sir!

Archie!

Archie! Archie...

Confound it!

Archie, there's been a gross misunderstanding.

I shall take care of you.

I believe

it's time for my show.

Lon!

What are you doing here?

Wh-What is going on?

Archie... Archie, let me go!

I've got to do my show.

My audience is waiting.

Uh, just a minute, Mr. Cramer.

Yeah?

As you know, I dislike

appearing in court and being subjected to the public gaze.

You're a goddamned screwball, that's all I know.

If you tell the district attorney

that Mr. Goodwin is capable of testifying on my behalf

I will not find it necessary to relate to newspapers

how the police overlooked such an obvious assumption

as the one I acted upon.

Cards?

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