All language subtitles for The Spider (1945)

[MUSIC]

[MUSIC]

New Orleans, city of many moods, gay,

reflective and sometimes sad.

Canal Street, surging 20th century tempo,

in the mellowed wine of old world

tradition, romance and mystery.

I discovered myself walking

through the Latin Quarter.

It's laid and fear made

a frosty whip on my back.

But my impulse, my fear that something

had happened to my sister drove me on.

This cane, a woman I'd never seen before,

came to my dressing room tonight and said

that she could prove my

sister had been murdered.

I couldn't believe her.

Yet she seemed so positive.

Instead, if she were

wrong, I could go to the police.

I couldn't.

I could never embarrass my

friends again with my notions.

Florence Kane told me to see

Chris Cotton and her partner.

I knew I had a question.

Florence Kane said I'd find the answer.

Here.

[KNOCKING]

Who was there?

Well, if you're looking for

Mr. Conlon, he ain't in there.

Yes, I am looking for Mr. Conlon.

Have you any idea where he might be?

I think he's over to the Creole Bar.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

You're welcome.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Hiya, Pick.

What's new in the world of drama?

That's just the trouble.

Nothing.

For stories, this town's

tighter than bark on a tree.

Say that again.

You know, some days a

guy can't make $1,000.

What you two guys need

is some fresh material.

And if you ask me nicely, I can give you

something that's really hot.

Like the story of my life, for instance.

That ought to be good.

I can see it now in a Sunday supplement.

The Adventures of Chris Conlon.

No, no, no.

No, I'm sorry, Junior, but as a news

item, you're a good private investigator.

Who said he was a news item?

Who said I was a good

private investigator?

I'll buy him a dinner at Antoine.

Chris.

The lady here looking for you.

See what I mean?

You want to see me?

- Your Chris Conlon? -

That's who you asked for.

Yes, I'd like to.

Sure.

Over there.

Drink?

No. No, thank you.

I'm listening.

It's warm in here.

You didn't come here to

give me your weather report.

It's silly of me to be so nervous.

What I want you to do for me, Miss

Conlon, is really very simple.

Will you pick up an

envelope and bring it to me?

I'll wait here for you.

And you've come to the wrong man.

What you need is a schoolboy working his

way through Kinnega.

Now I know just the right little place...

No, please. I was sent

to you. I need your help.

All right. I want two things.

One, a $50 retainer.

Now, two, the truth

about what's in the envelope.

I can't tell you. I don't know.

No dice.

But just to pick up an envelope...

What's in the envelope?

My birth certificate.

Just give that to her and

she'll give you an envelope for me.

Who?

Your partner, Florence Kane.

Florence Kane, huh?

Yes, she said she'd be

waiting for you at her apartment.

Her apartment?

Just a minute, Kitty.

Let me have the phone, will you, eh?

Hello, Florence. I just

talked to your little pigeon.

Yeah, I got the trinket.

What?

Draw me a diagram, baby.

No dice. I'm not

coming over to your place.

You go over to my apartment. We'll talk

about it over there.

Yeah.

You know, if my dear old

father were here, he'd say,

"Chris, my boy, give the lady back a $50.

You'd feel better in

the morning if you do."

And are you going to?

I can't hear a word he says.

What's your name?

Judith Sniff. I'm

staying at the Hotel Royal.

Wait here. I'll be back in a few minutes.

Mrs. Smitty.

When did he leave?

Thanks.)

Hello, Wonder Boy.

Hiya, dollface.

Well, your girlfriend contacted me.

She's a black man.

Don't be silly, Chris.

This is a private deal.

Oh, anything that doesn't come through

the office is a private deal, huh?

Is that your understanding?

Florence, I don't like it.

It smells like a shakedown.

And I particularly don't

like you using me as a fence.

What difference does it make?

You got a nice piece of

change out of it, didn't you?

Fifty.

Fifty? You should have hit her for a

century. She's got plenty.

You're putting a squeeze

on this, Dame, aren't you?

Have you got something for me, Chris?

Yeah. A little

knick-knack. With a grand, maybe.

But first, what have you got for her?

After all, she is my client.

Come on, Flo, let's have the envelope.

What kind of a sucker do you think I am?

I haven't got the envelope with me.

No envelope, no knick-knack.

Well, it just so happens, it's at my

apartment, safely locked up.

We'd better go get it, but quick.

Wait till I put on a new face.

(SIREN WAILING)

Hey, Flo! Come on, will you?

Water!

(SIREN WAILING)

Release that chorus.

Release that chorus.

Release headquarters.

Now, Mr. Chris, I thought I'd tell you

that a lady came by your office,

said that she was looking for you.

Mr. Chris, what are you doing?

Henry, I'm in a terrible jam.

What is it?

You and I have known each

other a long time, right?

That's right, Mr.

Chris, and you can trust me.

Good. Something's happened to Miss Kane.

Oh, Miss Kane, is that all?

Anything can happen to Miss Kane.

He's been murdered.

Murdered? Well, I... Murdered?

Oh, Mr. Chris, that's

might a big trouble.

Henry, you don't think I did it?

Oh, Mr. Chris, I wouldn't

think that you'd harm anyone.

Good. Now, the police

mustn't find the body here.

If they do, the finger will be on me. I

won't stand a chance.

We've got to get her out of here.

We've got to get out of here.

You've got to get her

out of here, Mr. Chris.

Henry, you've got to help me.

Well, I guess you're right, Mr. Chris.

Anything that you said.

You know what this means if we're caught?

I ain't in the mood to think of that now.

Let's take the body over

to her apartment. Come on.

Yes, Mr. Chris.

Henry!

(HORN HONKING)

Well, of all things!

(KNOCKING)

Good heavens! Stop that racket!

You'll be waking up all the tenants.

What is the trouble, Mrs. Gillespie?

Trouble enough.

Somebody's hogging that elevator.

A service in this place is terrible.

Mr. Chris, Mr. Chris!

Ah, Mr. Chris!

Well, aren't you going

to do something about it?

Yes. I suppose I'll have to.

It's not up there. It's

down in the basement now.

Oh, it's you, Mr. Karma.

I've had a complaint about you.

Mrs. Gillespie says

you're an elevator holler.

Given my apologies, I'm

sorry she had the body.

That's all right. She

complains about everything.

Is that your laundry, Mr. Conlon?

Yeah, I let it's the morning.

Would you like me to take yours?

Oh, it's all right, since

it's already in the car.

Henry will take care of

it. Thank you very much.

Okay, Mr. Conlon. After

this, pickups will be on Tuesday.

I won't forget. Good night.

Get in that back seat with the laundry.

The laundry?

Yes, hurry.

Oh, Mr. Chris, you know

that ain't no laundry.

Come on, get that.

All right.

Ow! Mr. Chris, Mr. Chris, can I come up there

and sit down with you?

No.

Don't you think we didn't

catch this thing far enough?

We've got to get it upstairs

in the Miss Cain's apartment.

Now, you stay back

there with the laundry.

Mr. Chris, you couldn't

convince me that this is laundry

if you talked to me
until I was black in the face.

(knocking on door)

Oh, here's the sheet, Mr. Chris.

Mr. Chris, this is all I can stand. I

want to get out of here.

(knocking on door)

Warren, you like men?

Put me in the left car.

Warren?

I heard Mr. Chris hurry.

Warren?

(screaming)

Don't worry about it, Henry.

Hide that sheet and get some sleep.

If you leave me, Mr.

Chris, I'll be right in you.

Hello, Ed.

Let me toss that little redhead sitting

in the second booth.

She must be there. She's waiting for me.

Keep your shirt on, Chris.

She left about ten minutes ago.

I'm close enough.

Hotel Royal? This is

Chris Coleman, Sally.

I'll bet you five bucks you got a Judith

Smith registered at your hotel.

No? Thanks, Sally.

Someday I'll win a bet from you.

Hello, Chris.

Hiya, fellas. Why don't you come in?

I'm kind of late, aren't you?

Busy? That could be, Lieutenant.

Is there anything I can do for you?

Mm-hmm. Let me see your hands.

Are you reading palms for a living now?

It's cautious that I worry about you. I

wouldn't want blood poisoning to sit in.

Let's see the other one.

Ah, that's too bad. How'd that happen?

I backhanded a drunk who

hadn't shaved in a week.

Sure you weren't playing around with some

roses on a trellis that

leads from a lady's balcony.

I don't know any lady.

You know, Flo Kane?

Sure I know Florence.

But I'm trying to live that down.

When'd you see her, Liz?

This afternoon here in the office.

Chris, Florence Kane is dead.

What?

Oh, well, she didn't die of old age.

And whoever did it came down the trellis

from her balcony and scratched his hand.

Let's go, Chris.

So you didn't see

Florence Kane tonight, huh?

Told you that before, Castle.

You were kind of stuck on

each other, weren't you?

We were good friends.

We were on the force

together. You know that.

You didn't have a

battle with her, did you?

We got along very well.

Who was the woman you met

in the Creole bar tonight?

I told you, a client.

Yeah, privileged information.

That's right. And I'm still a licensed operator, and that's her.

She's a good friend. She's a good friend. She's a good friend. I'm still a licensed

operator, and that's her property.

You still won't tell me where you went

when you left your

client at the Creole bar.

Not without her consent.

Well, maybe we can tell you.

Miss Van?

Come on in, Miss Van.

Who?

Didn't you?

I met with Chris Connell, but that

doesn't say she ever did.

Did you see me at Florence's apartment?

Did you hear my voice?

Oh, no, no, sir. I didn't.

You guys grow up. You can't put me in

Cain's apartment

tonight, and you know it.

Thanks, Miss Van. You can go.

Stay in town.

Now look, Chris.

Whether you know it or not, I'm the best

friend you got in the department.

I know how these things happen.

You meet a new woman, but there's the

lead she'll partner.

She won't leave you alone.

You try to reason with her, she threatens

to dirty up your life.

You lose your head, next thing you can

remember, there she is.

That's how those things

happen. I can understand that.

Juries, too.

Go along with me, Chris, and you'll get

better in a square

shake. I promise you that.

Now, what do you say?

Book me or let me go.

I won't talk a deal after tonight. I'll

go for a first-degree rap.

You know where I sleep?

Sure.

I'll wake you when I'm ready for you.

Good night, Captain.

Good night.

Good night.

Imagine me almost forgetting something. I

can pin on somebody.

Welcome to our city.

Oh, forgive me. I took the liberty of

waiting. A thousand pardons.

Five hundred will do. What do you want?

Just one minute of your time.

You had to speak up. What do you want?

The envelope.

Please.

Whatever, the one you

were to get for my wife.

Your wife, huh?

Something new has been happening.

By the way, where can I get in touch with

her? I wasn't able to

keep our appointment.

Oh, that's just as well, perhaps. She

wishes you to give me the envelope.

I'm sorry, but you'll

have to identify yourself.

Identify?

Oh, nothing personal,

my friend. Just routine.

What's your wife's name and address?

Oh, but of course.

I'm so sorry.

This is more like it.

Maybe we can get someplace now.

Turn around.

Take off your coat.

Drop it.

Get over there.

You will stand with

your face to the wall.

Like this?

Elevate your hands and keep them up.

That's the first thing you tell them in

case you ever do this again.

You're doing it backwards.

You first offense?

First stick up for my office, too.

I don't like stick ups.

They're not in my line.

My wife was most cautious.

Judith Smith or Terry Royer.

What's that accent?

Romanian, Bulgarian, Serbian?

Of no importance.

Please wear the envelope.

Haven't you found it?

Enough of this evasion, Mr. Conlon.

A lady is very dear to me, and you have

been well paid for the envelope.

Where is it?

I wish you'd quit

pointing that gun at me.

He ain't pointing no more, Mr. Chris.

Thanks, Henry. I'm glad

you're not a sound sleeper.

After what happened tonight, I ain't

gonna never sleep again.

Mr. Chris, what is this all about?

What did this man come here for? Is it

something about Miss Kane?

He was fishing. Now he's got me doing it.

What do you know? Romanian and no wife.

Fear them? Is that

gentleman of the acting profession?

I guess so. Let's let

them over on the couch.

Yes, sir.

Oh, Mr. Chris, I

didn't hit him very hard.

Just a scratch hit to the outfield.

It's like you stretched it into a double.

How did you know about the envelope?

I... I was sitting in the booth next to

you, and you were talking to the lady.

What lady?

Judith Smith.

She's a phony. There's nobody by that

name at the Hotel

Royal. What's the real name?

She chooses to give you that name. She

has a good reason for doing so.

I want to know who she is.

The envelope, please.

She has paid you for it.

She's entitled to it. I

only wish to give it to her.

How did you know my name?

I heard her mention it.

That's the truth. I'm not lying.

Here Henry, you watch

him. I'll get him something.

Oh, Chris. Oh!

Henry, you hurt?

Oh, Mr. Chris, that stick-up

man ain't no gentleman at all.

Why, he cheeked me in my stomach, and

then the gun went off.

You shouldn't have let him go.

Mr. Chris, I'm beginning to think that I

should turn my

resignation in for this job.

You can't quit now, Henry. I need you.

I know, Mr. Chris, but I think that I...

You'll feel better in the morning. I'll

get to bed and just forget

about what's happened tonight.

Well, I might go to bed, but I won't

guarantee you that I'll forget about it.

Running up trowelaces. Dead people.

Round on elevators. Hitting people in the

head in dead bodies.

I don't see how I can forget it. I don't see it.

The secrets of the human mind were once

an open book to the

sightings of ancient Egypt.

Tarrows trundled when the

people of the Spider-House spoke.

The enigma that spent the 1st century.

Delilah, the

reincarnation of ancient Egypt.

Relax, Delilah. Relax. Your mind is full of the spirit. Relax, Delilah. Relax.

Your mind is now a blank page.

Ready to receive the

messages that will come to you.

Relax.

From a deep hypnotic trance, Delilah is

now tuned to your secret mind.

I will now cast among you, give you a moment to see what you have done.

I will now cast among you, give me any

object, and Delilah will

call out its name and history.

May I have something,

please? Do you mind?

What am I touching, Delilah?

You are touching a man's throat.

And the color?

The color is gray check.

And what is the insignia in his lapel?

It is an emblem of World War

II. He is a discharged veteran.

And where was he wounded, Delilah?

Okinawa.

That is correct.

The answer to your

question is no, sailor.

You wish to ask a question, sir?

Ask you what's written on

the back of the envelope.

Delilah, will you tell me what is written

on the back of this envelope?

Just send the waves I send forth.

Delilah, can you tell me what is written?

It is a name and an address.

That's correct, Delilah.

Now will you please tell

us the name and the address?

Come, come, Delilah. Just concentrate.

The name is Judas...

The name is Judas Smith.

The address is the hotel...

Hotel.

Excuse me.

What's wrong, Delilah?

I'm ill.

Ladies and gentlemen, Delilah has asked

me to offer her most humble apologies.

You all right?

Yes.

Delilah, what's the

matter? What has happened?

Nothing, Mark. Nothing

really. I felt a little ill.

Grown cut the actual.

Delilah, are you in some kind of trouble?

I'll be all right, Proct. Don't worry.

Hello, Smitty.

Sorry I couldn't keep our appointment.

You got the envelope?

No, I was a little late.

You see, when I got

there, Franz Kain was dead.

Dead?

Yes, murdered.

You evidently didn't read the morning papers, Miss Smith.

My name is Neils Smith. I'm not a real person. You're a real person. I'm not a real person. You didn't know that Franz

Kain was going to be murdered?

You don't think that, do you?

I don't think anything. All I know is I

got a seat on the merry-go-round.

I didn't have a chance to give her this.

Thank you.

Where do we go from here?

I don't want to get

mixed up with the police.

I guess we better just

forget things for a while.

Listen, Franz Kain was my partner, and

I'm going to find out who killed her.

As far as the police are concerned, I'm the number one suspect. You don't know who killed her? No, I don't know who killed her. As far as the police are concerned, I'm

the number one suspect.

You?

Yes, me. What was in the envelope?

I told you. I don't know.

Then who killed Franz Kain?

I don't know. I'm telling you the truth.

Why do you mean a phony

name and a phony address?

She told me to give you a retainer, but

to tell you nothing.

Not even to give my right name. You were

just the go-between.

I was a chump.

How do I know the police, outright?

Maybe you had a fight with her.

Maybe you thought you weren't getting a

big enough cut out of the deal.

Look, we're in this together.

If you're not going to be on the level

with me, I'll blow everything wide open.

You're going to talk,

either to me or to the police.

I don't know anything to tell.

Okay, it's your neck.

From here on out,

you're strictly on your own.

I'll hold on to this.

It didn't pay for a

lawyer, for one of us.

[Music]

Yes?

Do you feel better now, dear?

Oh, yes, much.

I thought I'd faint on stage.

What does it matter?

Well, it must be the heat.

Lala, who is truly

Smither, the hotel warrior?

I don't know.

Well, it was an aim I

flashed and combed to you.

It was on the back of an envelope.

Was it?

Mm-hmm.

I don't remember.

I'm worried about you, dear.

Is there anything bothering you?

No, why should there be?

You've been acting so strange and upset

for the past couple of days.

Are you sure there's

nothing worrying you?

No, really, I understand.

Well, if there were, you'd

let me know, wouldn't you, Lala?

Of course, Dennis, but

please don't worry about me.

On stage for the Sword Illusion Act.

Take care of yourself.

And get some rest.

I will.

Come in.

Well, I'm glad to see you.

Well, you're looking

pretty sharp this morning.

Sit down.

Just about to promote a little breakfast.

Had yours?

Well, I could go for a tea, Mr. Conlon.

You can call me Chris if you want to.

I knew you'd be along pretty soon.

Now, for the last time,

what was in that envelope?

I don't know.

Look, if you don't tell me

what was in that envelope,

you're gonna kiss me

right off to the hooska.

They think I did it.

I tell you, I don't know how to--

How'd you meet France Kane?

Well, Miss Kane came to my dressing room

and told me she had proof

that my sister had been murdered.

That she was willing to part with this

proof for consideration, the brooch.

Well, that's better. Now

we're getting someplace.

Suppose you tell me the whole

story right from the beginning.

The original great Giron was our father.

My sister and I went in the act.

We were practically born backstage.

When Father died,

Ernest, the present Giron,

who was his understudy,

took over his place in the act

and married my sister.

One day after the show, when he came back

to their dressing room,

he found a note.

She'd run away. She said

he'd never see her again.

And did he?

No. She went to South America and got a

divorce from them about a year later.

And that's all.

I knew you'd come clean

with me sooner or later.

Have you any reason to

believe your sister is dead?

No, except that I haven't

hurt them for some time.

When was the last time and where was she?

A few months ago. A cable from Rio.

She's been in South

America for the past four years.

Were you and your sister friendly?

Oh, very.

What about this Giron?

Are you friendly with him?

Naturally.

How long has it been since

you've played New Orleans?

We haven't played here for years.

Giron doesn't like this town.

He asked Barack to cancel the date, but

Barack forgot to wire

the booking office in time.

Barack? Where does he fit in this?

He's our company manager and invented

most of the equipment that we use.

Father brought him to this country.

Does Barack know about

Florence's visit to you?

I don't see how he possibly could.

What are you getting at?

You don't think he...

That's right. I don't think. I'm just

trying to keep the record straight.

Someone in the setup knows about your

little visit to Florence.

Someone who followed you to the cafe

where you met me and then

followed me to my apartment.

How are you going to find out?

Ask me something easy.

I've got to get in to Florence's

apartment and find out if the evidence

she had for you was still there.

You really believe she knew

something about my sister?

She knew enough to get killed.

Lyla, you've got to go now.

I'll be careful, Lyla. And don't do

anything to hear from me.

By the way, do you have

a picture of your sister?

Oh, yes.

I couldn't tell you apart.

Very few could. That was the basis of

most of the illusions in our act.

Do you mind if I keep it? No.

But I thought you were going

to turn me over to the police.

Can a guy change his mind?

I'm really staying at the Hotel Royal.

Is that an invitation or a threat?

Goodbye. So long, Smitty. [door opens]

Chris!

Hello, Wanda.

Gee, Chris, I'm awfully sorry. I was

afraid I'd gotten you

into one sweet mess.

Oh, that's all right,

kid, but you can help me now.

Yeah.

You keep that cop upstairs busy.

While I sneak in to Florence's apartment,

I've got to get something.

That ought to be easy.

He's a little interested now.

[sirens]

Say, did you hear any--

What did you say to the inspector?

Well, I said, "Inspector,

here's the way I see it."

Hey! It's okay,

Johnny. Everything checks.

What are you doing in here, Connor?

Just checking over some of

Ms. Kane's personal effects.

Checking over?

Yeah. My partner. You know.

Hey, wait a minute!

How did you get in here?

Just like any other respectable citizen,

right through the front door.

I didn't see you come through that cross.

Of course you didn't. You weren't there.

I didn't leave that door for one--

What did you have to do for

her, Johnny? Move her sofa?

Well, I was only gone a minute. I still

got to report you was here.

And that you weren't at the front door?

But if I wasn't here, you wasn't here.

Thanks, Johnny. You got to

rain check on a favor from me.

Hello, Anchorage.

How are you, Grille?

Hello, Johnny.

Hello, Jean.

Why, Mr. Conlon.

Haven't seen you in a month of Sundays.

But you're sorry about Ms. Kane.

Yes. It's pretty rough.

Say, Jean, what unsolved cases have you

gotten the records for around 1940?

Hey, what is this, anyway?

Florence came in here

asking the same question.

How about letting me see

the files you gave Florence?

I didn't give her the

file. I just let her look at--

How did you know?

People pay me to be psychic.

Come on, Jean. Be a good girl. Let old

Chris see what was in that file.

Mr. Conlon, you could

talk your way out of jail.

I may have to, yet.

If you promise not to

tell anybody I told you--

I promise.

Well, it's all about a girl who was

murdered in a little

hotel off Canal Street.

They never did find out who she was.

And her boyfriend, who registered in the

room down the hall,

disappeared overnight.

You've got a pretty good memory. What was

the name of that hotel?

Let me see.

Forget. Wait a minute.

I'll lose my job if this leaks out. You

better not forget your promise.

I won't.

I thought you told me

you didn't give it to her.

I didn't. I just let her

look through it. She must have--

That's right. Lifted it,

leaving you holding the sack.

That's gonna be pretty hard

to explain, won't it, Jean?

But if you're a very good girl and keep

quiet, I might be able to

get that stuff back for you.

We did a good story on the cane case.

I guess the paper will

be giving you a bonus.

All under day's work.

No. I forgot to mention it.

Sorry, fella. Florence was a little

racketeer, but she was a

good gal along with it.

Got any ideas how come?

Maybe.

Maybe you could pick up

a few loose ends for me.

Weren't you on the city police about four

years ago when some girl was murdered in

the hotel off Canal Street?

Yeah, the Bourbon Hotel.

It was five years

ago. I covered the story.

The name was Strangle. She registered

under a phony name from a phony town.

They never did find out who she was.

Any angles to the case?

Well, the police made a big whoopty-doo

about some mysterious stranger who

disappeared overnight.

But I think he was probably making New

Orleans a one-night stand.

The body was never identified.

Everything was ripped off or closed.

Even the laundry marks. So they sent the

body to Pottersfield.

That's right.

I used the case about a year ago for a

Sunday supplement story.

Unsolved mysteries of New Orleans.

The old man gave me a

bonus for that, too.

Colin, you're pointing

like an old bird dog.

Smells like something to the front page.

Why don't you go see a nose specialist?

I've been to the

hospital for a long time.

Yes?

I'd like to talk to the manager.

I am the manager and the owner.

My name is Christopher Conlon.

Dutrell. Henri Dutrell.

Mr. Dutrell.

About four or five years ago, you had a

murder in this hotel.

Yes?

What is it, Henri?

What does the gentleman want?

Oh, Mr. Conlon, my wife.

Oh, you do.

Mr. Conlon, ask about the...

Yes, yes. I heard. What does he wish?

Mr. Conlon, you are newspapermen.

No. Please write no more

about the unfortunate matter.

I'm sorry, but you don't understand.

Oh, please, why do not

the newspaper forget it?

I am not a newspaperman. I'm a detective.

Oh, Charles and

Sperling, I did not understand.

Monsieur, we are pleased to help you.

Good.

I just want a little information.

Do we?

Do you remember the

woman that was killed?

May we?

I'd like to see the register

for the time that she was here.

Marie de Register.

I don't think so.

Marie de Register, Mr.

Riley, means nothing.

Nowadays, who gives the right name?

I don't think he...

[door opens]

Hmm, Eric Campbell.

That's the name he used, huh?

It could be anybody. The

identity was never traced.

Oh, thanks. I guess

you've done all you could.

He drew that very same tree.

The man, he flipped the pen.

Who, Campbell?

The man who disappeared after the murder.

The friend of the murdered girl.

They had a little

argument right here in the lobby.

Then they go upstairs and when we found

our buddy, he had disappeared.

We never see him again.

Would you remember him

if you saw him again?

I shall never forget him.

Did you see him, Mrs. Dutreff?

Oh, no, you see, Marie and

I had just married recently.

She was not here at the time,

but I often told her about him.

I'd like to do something for you.

There'll be some tickets for you tonight

at the Grand Theatre.

Oh, Merci, Monsieur. Merci.

But we cannot both go.

One of us must stay here.

Oh, that is true.

But you go only.

But are you sure, darling?

Not surely. Why not?

It will do you good to see his show.

Very well, then. I go.

And when I return, I

shall tell you all about it.

Oh, good. I'll probably see you there.

Whee!

And perhaps after the

show, I'll buy you a drink.

Whee! I shall buy you a drink.

(SINGING IN FRENCH)

Marie? Wait.

I have to decouple anything, Monsieur.

Do you want to stand in also?

Yes, please.

(SINGING IN FRENCH)

There.

Now I go to the

kitchen to prepare dinner.

(SPEAKING FRENCH) (SINGING IN FRENCH)

You were the last one to

see him alive, Mrs. Dutra.

Oh, yes. I was up here.

Here it was less than 20 minutes ago.

You say he was dressing to go out?

That's right. He was going to be the

detective, Mr. Conlon.

Conlon? Was Chris Conlon up here?

Oh, no, no. I mean, no.

Mr. Conlon left.

And then Dutra comes up

here to shave and Dutra is...

He was very happy.

They were going to his show.

What is it, Doc Strangulation?

Sure. The murder award gloves.

The mark of the seams is on his neck.

Just like Flo Kane.

And Conlon was mixed up in that.

Looks like he didn't keep

his shirt clean after all.

Get your hat on, Chris.

What's the beef this time?

This is a pinch, Conlon,

and don't give us any trouble.

A pinch?

Yes. And you know the old formula,

whatever you say from here on

out will be used against you.

You still think I'm

ready to flaunt, Kane?

And Dutrael, too.

Dutrael's been murdered?

Yeah. Same route Florence Kane went,

strangled about an hour ago.

I got a hunch you were in Florence Kane's

apartment the night she was murdered.

I know you were at

Dutrael's this evening.

There's just too many

coincidences in your life, Conlon.

You've got a lot to explain.

Everything I've got to explain, you'll

know at the proper time.

As far as I'm

concerned, that's right now.

What is this case you want to

Dutrael's identification on?

That's information

which belongs to my client.

The same client I take it that you met at

the Creole bar that night?

Maybe.

Well, you're no longer entitled to

privileged information, Conlon.

Your license as a private

investigator has been suspended.

Okay, Castle, you win.

Her name is Lila Nielsen.

She's appearing at the

Grand Theater with Garonne.

And there's another guy in the show also

mixed up in this barrack.

He pulled the gun on me in

this office the other night.

Tondi, bring those three

people into headquarters.

We'll find out what this is all about.

Right. You're still under arrest.

Let's go.

Hello, Inspector.

Good evening, Conlon.

You're just in time.

Tracy?

Yes, sir.

Is this the man you caught

in Florence Kane's apartment?

Yes, sir.

But he was a partner, so I thought

everything would be all right.

You knew when that place was sealed up

that nobody was supposed to go in there.

Go on up to my office.

Sit down, Conlon.

I went up there to go through her effects

this afternoon and found

the place had been frisked.

Then Tracy broke down and confessed.

What are we after, Conlon?

Evidence that we're leaving the house. Maybe I'll believe

that, and maybe I won't.

If you had any information, you should

have worked with the police.

Conlon, you're booked right now.

Violating police authority by

entering a sealed apartment.

That's enough to hold you.

Before I'm through,

it's going to be murder.

Conlon, I think you've lied consistently

throughout the entire investigation.

That's a matter for debate. Look here, Castle. Wind it up. You haven't got the right to do it. You're going to be a real good man. I can account for every minute of my time

since I left New Trallon until

you picked me up at my office.

Besides, I've got a date.

You've got a date, all

right, with a cell back there.

Okay. Prefer your charges.

I'll submit to arrest.

What's the real charge? Murder?

Walter, I've got

these show people outside.

Good. Pick up that other party.

Yeah, on the way down here.

I'll tell you what the charge is, Conlon. I'll tell you what the charge is, Conlon. I'll tell you what the charge is, Conlon. After I hear what they've

got to say, bring them in.

Sit down.

Will you come in, please?

This is Detective

Lieutenant Castle, Miss Nielsen.

Miss Nielsen? Mr. Garonne?

Mr. Garonne? And, uh, Mr. Barak?

Mr. Barak. How do you do?

Won't you sit down, folks? I'd like to

ask you a few questions.

First of all, Mr. Conlon's under arrest.

On the charge of entering a sealed apartment in which a murder has been committed. Now, Miss Nielsen, you contacted Mr.

Conlon the other

evening in the Creole bar

and engaged him to do some

work for you. Is that right?

I was sent by his partner, Miss Kane.

Mr. Conlon was to obtain

certain evidence and information

for which I was prepared to pay.

Information of what character?

Miss Kane said she had proof that my

sister had been murdered several years ago.

Mr. Conlon was to act as the victim of the murder. Miss, I'm sorry. Miss, I'm sorry. Miss, I was murdered several years ago.

Mr. Conlon was to act as the go-between

to present this evidence.

Did he turn this evidence over to you?

No.

Did you pay him for this evidence?

I gave him a diamond brooch which Miss

Kane mentioned with the consideration.

Did he give it back to you?

No.

Where is the brooch, Conlon?

In the safe of my office.

If I ever heard of a

shakedown, this is it.

Miss Nielsen, do you

believe your sister's death?

No, I have no reason

to believe she's dead.

You heard from her recently?

Some months ago, from South America, a

cable from Rio de Janeiro.

What have you got to say to that, Conlon?

I merely acted as a go-between.

Yeah?

May I interrupt?

Go ahead.

It seems to me this man is either insane

or a crook of the lowest order.

His partner and he seem to have preyed on

the national concern that

Miss Nielsen has for her sister.

They're trying to profit by it.

You can say that again.

Hello, Newsom.

My divorced wife.

I've also heard from her since we

separated some years ago.

Doesn't matter if I've

been in the past few months?

I don't know whether you

realize it or not, Miss Nielsen,

but Florence Kane was one of the biggest

chisels in this town,

always just one step ahead of us.

And Chris Conlon was her partner.

Just a minute.

You be quiet.

Just what's your

connection in this case, Mr. Barak?

What do you know?

Nothing.

Conlon says you pulled a gun on him in

his office the night

Florence Kane was murdered.

Yes, that's right.

But I was merely

protecting Miss Nielsen's interest.

I overheard him promise to bring her an

envelope, and she gave him the brooch.

And when he did not return, I just tried

to force him to hand something over.

Did you get anything?

No.

Any new entries, Tanti?

Let's see.

All right, Henry, tell us about that

laundry routine I yet.

Okay, Tanti, you don't have

to give Henry the sweat cure.

Mr. Chris, I just noticed you

wouldn't do anything with Rome.

Florence Kane was killed in my apartment.

Who did it, I don't know, but I was in

the next room when it happened.

I knew the thing had been on me, so I

forced Henry to help me carry the body

over to her apartment.

Officer, he didn't do it.

How do you know?

How do I know? I just know. That's all.

You went outside.

That's all, folks.

You're playing dates from

the billboard, I presume?

That's fine.

Oh, Miss Nielsen, you may

have to return to testify.

Book him.

Suspicion or murder.

Wait for me. I won't be long.

Inspector, this is Miss Nielsen.

Good morning, Miss Nielsen.

Good morning, Inspector.

Won't you sit down?

What can I do for you?

I want to put a bail

for Mr. Conlin's release.

I'm sorry, but that's impossible.

Conlin's held on suspicion of murder.

We won't accept bail.

But he didn't do it, Inspector.

He had no reason to. He couldn't have.

You'll have to let me

be the judge of that.

There's been two murders committed.

Conlin's been johnny on

the spot in both crimes.

And until I hear difference,

I'm holding him for murder.

Then might I see him for a moment? I'm

still his client, you know.

Yes, you can see him, if you wish.

Yes, sir.

Have Conlin brought down here.

Yes, sir.

Miss Nielsen, if I were you, I'd be

careful in my dealings with Conlin.

He's a pretty dangerous

customer to get mixed up with.

As you said before,

Inspector, let me be the judge of that.

Okay, it's your neck.

Mr. Conlin once made the same remark.

And don't think he was kidding.

Hello, Lila. Fancy meeting you here.

Lila, Miss Nielsen wants to have a

private conversation with you.

I'm stretching the rules

to let you use this office.

Well, that's bigger for you, Inspector.

Chris, why don't you tell them

everything? Why stay in jail?

Just a minute.

I thought you could stick to focus.

I'm going to inspect. There was a little

too anxious to have us use this office.

Okay, Lila.

What were you saying?

Did you find anything

in the cane apartment?

Sure.

My sister wasn't, I did.

Yes.

Do you know who did it?

I think so.

Who?

Chris.

Why don't you tell them? Get out.

Because I still need

more information about them.

You can help me.

How?

Get him to write the name

Eric Campbell on a slip of paper.

Eric Campbell?

What has that name got to do with it?

Chris, I...

I got you into this mess.

I'm willing to do anything in the world

to get you out of it.

Darling, let me do this my own way.

I'll get out.

All right, Chris.

I'll get the signature for you.

Let me kiss you for the buck.

Thank you, Inspector.

Oh, don't thank me.

Come on, Conlin.

Everything all set?

Yes.

Oh, here are the baggage

decks for you and Lallis.

Would you give them to her?

All right.

Attention all cars.

Chris Conlin, private detective.

Escape from custody.

Wearing gray suit.

Panama hat.

Age 28.

Smooth shaven.

Return to Central Police Station.

That's the cane case.

He was her partner.

He hangs out at the pre-old bar.

That's just around the corner.

Come in.

Why, Lila, what's the matter?

You haven't even packed here.

Oh, I'm just a bundle of nerves.

This whole fair has upset me, trying to

pack and catch a train

in that interrogation

at the police station.

Well, that's all over with now.

We'll make it all right.

We'll be out here in an hour.

But I don't know where anything is.

Besides, I'm all behind in my packing.

I have a good mind to

stay behind two or three days

and join the show later.

But, Lila, we need you.

Nonsense. Margot can do the act just for you. I'm not going to do it. I'm not going to do it. Nonsense.

Margot can do the act

just as well as I can.

Yes, but she hasn't your finesse.

She's not as quick on the coat.

Her answers are always too slow.

Here, let me help you.

Oh, confounded anyway.

What is it now?

I forgot to mail my nylons to that

wardrobe lady in Newark.

She can mend the run like magic.

Well, I'll mail them for you.

Where are they?

Over there on the desk.

Oh.

You haven't addressed it.

What's the address?

In Newark theater, Newark.

What's the name?

Oh.

Some Scotch name.

Oh, yes, now I remember.

Mrs. Campbell.

Mrs. Eric Campbell.

I made it on the way downstairs.

Oh, no, don't bother.

I have some letters to mail anyway.

I'll do it myself.

I can easily do it.

No, never mind.

Never mind. You must have

some packing to do yourself.

All right. I'll call back

for you with a cab in an hour.

All right, Chris. He's gone.

Did you get it?

Yes.

Good girl. Where is it?

On the desk.

He's a saint to contact the

girl. He's in 510, isn't she?

Right.

This is the signature from

the reg of the Hotel Berber.

They're identical.

It's written by the same

hand in any court in the world.

And Giron murdered my sister.

There's no doubt of it,

babe. He just clinches it.

Giron must have overheard

you talk with Florence Kane.

Then he followed you to the

Creole bar where you met me.

He then picked up the trail on me when I

went to Kane's apartment.

He had to kill Kane before she

could hand over the evidence.

He must have been

telling me every minute.

So when he found I had contact with

Dutrell who could identify him,

he had to kill Dutrell, too.

I phoned Castle and had him pick up Giron

at the railroad station.

But he's going to

pick me up here in a cab.

Good. You can walk

him right into the trap.

Drop that thumb.

Don't think you're going to

get away with this, do you?

It's the only solution. A desperate run

by the only one, Carter.

Nobody's going to walk

me into any trap, Lila.

There's not so many problems.

Scroon, do you know what you're doing?

Desperate problems. Call for

desperate remedies, my dear.

The whole thing will be

very clear to the police.

Mr. Connan already suspected of murder

and attempted to kill me.

I had to kill him in self-defense.

And due, Lana, the

confusion will also kill.

Grab that gun. Don't move, Giron.

Get a gun, Tony.

All right, get him up, fellas.

Take him out.

I'll press. It looks like you're going to

get about six months for jailbreak.

If you lock us both up, I'll take life.

Who's there?

If you're looking for Mr.

Connan, he ain't in there.

Yes, it is Mr. Connan I'm looking for.

Have you any idea where I might find him?

Well, he might be over at the Creole Bar.

That's where he

transgendered most of his business.

Oh, of course. Thank you.

Thank you.

Um, Mr. Lila.

Is this the way this whole thing started?