All language subtitles for Charlie Chans Secret English

(tense orchestral music)

(light orchestral music)

- I'm afraid you're on a
wild goose chase, Mr. Chan.

- Have sometimes caught wild goose.

- Well, if you ask me,

there's something fishy
about the whole business.

A man walks out on a
fortune seven years ago.

Then all of a sudden,

he appears from nowhere to claim it.

A little tough on the
Colby heirs if he's alive.

- Tough on Allen Colby if dead.

(water gurgling)

- Ah, they're bringing him up now.

Get back.

Take in on the winch.

All right, swing him aboard.

All right, get him down there.

- Body not that of Allen Colby.

- Well, I guess that ends it.

- Not so certain.

Passenger list indicate
30 persons on board.

27 rescued by lifeboats.

Two bodies recovered today.

27 plus two make 29.

Leave one body missing.

Maybe Allen Colby escape
by clinging to wreckage.

- Well, if he did, the
sharks got him by now.

You can't drift around in
these waters for two weeks.

- May have been picked
up by boat without radio.

- Must not overlook any possibility.

Mr. Chan.

I found this in one of the bunks.

- Thank you so much.

Initials AC.

Allen Colby.

- As soon as you get Duke
aboard, get under way!

- How soon we make port?

- Oh, a couple of hours.

- May send radiogram, please?

- Sure.

They can relay it from the land station.

What do you wanna say?

- To Mrs. Henrietta Lowell, San Francisco.

Fate of Allen Colby still uncertain.

Leaving Honolulu at once
on new clipper airship

to continue investigation on mainland.

Sign Charlie Chan, please.

- D.

E.

A.

D.

Dead.

There can be no doubt, Baxter.

Allen is dead.

It was a message from his father.

- To be perfectly frank, madam.

This sort of thing makes me quite creepy.

- Oh, nonsense.

- A radiogram, Mrs. Lowell.

- We haven't finished yet.

Sit down.

Hand me the telephone.

Oh, get off the wire, Alice.

You can talk to Dick some other time.

- All right, Mother, in just a second.

Dick, I'll have to go now.

- All right.

Now remember, darling.

we've got a date tonight if the chief

doesn't send me out on a story.

- Well, I like that.

You think more of your old
newspaper than you do me.

Well, Dick, I simply must hang up now.

Mother wants to use the phone.

Of course I do.

Good-bye.

- Call Mr. Phelps's office for me.

- Yes, ma'am.

- [Alice] What is the wire?

- Another radiogram from Charlie Chan.

He's arriving sometime today.

- The line's busy, ma'am.

- Try again.

And remind me to call Professor Bowan.

I want to tell him that we're holding

a seance tonight at 8:30.

If you have nothing else to do,

take some flowers out to Colby House,

and tell Ulrich to have everything ready.

- All right, Mother.

- Do you want Baxter to help you?

- No, thanks.

I'll shanghai Dick.

- Hello, Mr. Phelps?

Just one moment.

Mrs. Lowell.

- Hello, Warren.

- It's your mother.

Yes, Mrs. Lowell.

He's arriving today?

Yes, everything concerning
the estate is in order.

I've been going over matters
with your son-in-law.

He and Mrs. Gage are here now.

Certainly, I'll tell them to be there.

At 8:30.

Yes, I'll come too.

Good-bye.

- Was she talking about Allen?

- No, Charlie Chan.

He's arriving this afternoon.

- He must have definite news about Allen.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be coming
all the way from Honolulu.

- I don't see why Mother
had to drag him into this.

- Well, you can hardly
blame her for being worried.

If Allen is alive, it places
a great responsibility on her.

- But from what you've said,

it places a great
responsibility on all of us.

We'll have to turn the estate over to him

and account for every penny we've spent.

- Well, after all, it
was his father's money.

- But Mother was Uncle Bernard's sister.

Regardless of Allen, she should
be entitled to something.

- Unfortunately not, if Allen is alive.

(engine revving)

(metal clanking)

(eerie music)

(mysterious music)

- Ulrich!

Ulrich!

Ulrich!

Ulrich!

(dramatic music)

(knife thuds)

(light music)

(clock chiming)

- Hello, Alice.
- Hmm.

Where were you when I
called at the office?

- Now wait a minute.

I had to go out on a story.

So I phoned your mother, and
she said you were coming here.

- Well, I wanted you to
help me with these flowers.

- More spook business tonight?

- Oh, please don't kid about it, Dick.

At least not when Mother's around.

I'm always nervous when
I come to this old house.

- Oh, don't worry.

I won't let the old bogeyman get you.

I want you myself.

- Even if Allen came back

and claimed all the money and I was poor?

- Say, when I marry,

I don't expect to work for a living.

- Aw, go away.

You're just a fortune hunter.

- How'd you guess it?

(distant banging)
- Dick, what's that?

- [Dick] Well, it's not a ghost!

(cat meowing)
- Oh, it's Lucifer.

Something must have frightened him.

- There, Alice.

You have the solution
to all ghost stories.

- Not to all the things
that happen in this house.

- You know, I don't see why your mother

doesn't have this old
squirrel's cage torn down.

- She's too devout a
believer in psychic research.

Why, this place means as much to her

as it did to Uncle Bernard.

- Yeah, and he was a little cracked.

- Oh, don't say that, Dick.

He believed in it.

That's why he rebuilt this house
with all these funny rooms.

- So the poor spirits could have a home.

Come on.

Let's get out of here

and go somewheres a little more cheerful.

- Not yet.

I have to arrange those
flowers for tonight's seance.

And you're going to help me.

- I very rarely visit the old house, sir,

since Mr. Colby died.

It was only because of your late arrival

that Mrs. Lowell told
me to bring you here.

- Thank you.

- Oh, it's a pleasure, sir.

I don't mind admitting
to you frankly, sir,

that I don't feel at all
myself in this atmosphere.

- No?

- No, sir.

There's a tinge of the graveyard
which positively awes me.

- Yes.

Mysterious shadows of
night cling to old house,

like moss on tombstone?

- Quite right.

Quite right, sir.

That, sir, is the front door.

The back door is at the rear.

- Most interesting.

Shall we enter by front door?

- Yes.

Yes.

This way, sir.

The family will be waiting
for you in here, sir.

- These are the accounts
you spoke of, Mrs. Lowell.

- No, not now.

- Mr. Chan.

- Oh.

I'm so glad you arrived, Charlie.

I knew I could depend on you.

You know everyone here.

- Good evening, Mr. Chan.

- Greetings at end of journey,

like refreshing rain after long drought.

- Yes, yes, Mr. Chan, but
let's get to your report.

- Yes, Charlie.

What about Allen?

(mysterious music)

(cat hissing)

(light music)

Then it's your belief
that Allen is still alive?

- Cannot be certain but, if so,

suspect life may be in danger.

- Now why do you say that?

- Observe.

More than one attempt made
on Allen Colby's life.

- Just a scheme to create an impression.

This fellow may be an impostor.

- Correction, please.

Passport visaed by French
and British consuls

indicate he is real Allen Colby.

- Then why did he wait all these years

before communicating with his family?

- Investigation prove Allen Colby

enlisted in French Foreign Legion,

was taken prisoner by Riffs.

Escaped only recently.

Could not have communicated sooner.

- Unless he was drowned, we can expect him

to appear at any time to claim the estate?

He has a right to the
money, more than we have.

What is it, Ulrich?

- Professor Bowan and Carlotta

are ready to start the seance.

- Tell them we'll be there in a moment,

and see that we're not disturbed.

- I can't stand that man!

He's forever staring at me.

Why don't we get rid of him?

- We've gone over that before, Janice.

Shall we go into the other room?

- Perhaps Mr. Chan would rather wait here.

He may not be interested in a seance.

- I'm sure he will be.

Tonight Professor Bowan has promised us

a message concerning Allen.

I would like to have you present.

- Would appreciate very much.

Chinese people interested
in all things psychic.

- Yes.

- Have they started
the seance yet, Ulrich?

- They're just about to begin, miss.

- Thanks.

You're always causing me grief.

If we'd been late, Mother
would have been furious.

- Is everything ready, Baxter?

- Yes, ma'am.

- Sorry I'm late, Mother.
- All my fault, Mrs. Lowell.

Say, you're Mr. Chan, aren't you?

- Humbly acknowledge name.

- Glad to meet you.

I've heard a lot about you.

I'm Dick Williams of the Globe.

Anything I can print on the Colby case?

- There's nothing for publication.

I've asked you repeatedly to consider

our family affairs confidential.

- Yes, but--

- Mr. Gage very wise.

Best place for skeleton
is in family closet.

Thank you.

Nothing to say.

- Come, Charlie.

This is Professor Bowan,

our adviser in psychic research.

And this is our medium, Carlotta.

- So pleased.

Most fortunate gift to
be able to cross bridge

to dwelling place of honorable
ancestors before arriving.

- Shall we begin?

- If you'll take your usual
seats, we will commence.

- Take this chair, Charlie.

Will that be all right, Professor?

- Quite all right.

Tonight I wish to ask for
your special concentration.

We will try to bring word of
Allen Colby from the beyond.

It may be difficult.

We shall ask his father, Bernard Colby,

who has been our guide
before, to assist us.

We will pause a moment in meditation.

Mr. Gage, will you turn down the lights?

(suspenseful music)

- There is a presence here.

He has a message for Mrs. Lowell.

It is her brother, Bernard.

He says that Allen is there with him.

He is happy.

He wants to come to you.

(dramatic music)

(woman screaming)

- Stop it!

- Lights, turn on the lights!

- Allen Colby.

Murdered.

Notify police immediately.

Touch nothing.

Until police arrive.

- Thanks for your information, Mr. Chan.

- You're welcome.

- You know, what beats
me is how Allen Colby

got ashore without our getting wind of it.

- Somebody knew it.

That's how he trapped Colby
here and finished him off.

- Yes, he must have
been trapped, all right.

You know, Allen was the type of fellow

who could have defended himself.

A knife in the back.

- If strength were all, tiger
would not fear scorpion.

- Not a sign of fingerprints.

- Oh, he used gloves or a handkerchief.

This fellow was smart enough for that.

- Have observed former resting
place of murder weapon?

- I've already checked that.

No fingerprints there either.

- What did you find, Doctor?

- Knife pierced right
ventricle of the heart.

He's been dead about four hours.

- You want an autopsy?
- Oh, no, not necessary.

See you in the morning.

- Oh, Harris, got the rest
of them in the other room?

- Yes, sir.

- Come along, Mr. Chan.

You too, Williams.

I want to talk to everyone
who was present here tonight.

Bowan, you must've been
pretty sure Colby was dead

when you started your seance.

- That isn't true.

We were merely seeking a
message concerning him.

- Just before this
terrible thing happened,

I felt a strange new presence about me.

I knew we were in contact
with Allen Colby's spirit.

- And with his body
hidden behind the panel,

it was easy for his spirit
to get here, wasn't it?

- Pardon interruption, please.

May ask cause of Allen Colby's
separation from family?

- Oh, certainly, Charlie.

There had been a quarrel,

or rather a misunderstanding
between Allen and his father.

You see, Allen didn't share
our belief in psychic things.

- Is this digging into
family affairs necessary?

- It is when we're looking for facts.

If all I wanted was a motive

I wouldn't have to go any
further than the Lowell family.

- What do you mean by that?

- Simple enough, isn't it?

Allen Colby alive meant

the loss of a fortune for all of you.

- So sorry again to interrupt.

Money from Colby estate
used for psychic research?

- As executor of the
estate, I can answer that.

Only such sums were used as
Mrs. Lowell saw fit to donate.

- And that would have ended,
too, if Colby had returned?

- Yes, I suppose so.

- Were you here earlier today?

- Why, yes.

I stopped by Ulrich's
cottage about six o'clock

to remind him to have everything
in order for the seance.

- You were here at house?

- No.

I've had a slight cold,

and I left almost immediately
to take care of it.

- Is that right?

- As far as I know, it is.

- Pardon undue curiosity.

You were here all day?

- That's what I get paid for.

- Strange you did not know
Allen Colby had arrived.

- I said once, I didn't.

- Who else beside Professor
Bowan visited here today?

- Why, I was here.

- You also?

- What for?

- He came here to meet me

when I brought the flowers for the seance.

- What time was that?

- I was here first.

Alice came in at 5:30.

I'm sure of the time because
I noticed the clock was fast

and I was about to reset it.

- Strange.

Ancient clock tell very latest time now.

- Someone must have fixed it!

- Well?

Who reset the clock?

- You don't think I'm lying, do you?

- You arrived at what time, please?

- About a quarter past five.

- And the murder took
place around five o'clock.

- I can tell you, Morton,

there was nothing wrong when I was here.

- You and Miss Lowell were planning

to get married shortly, weren't you?

- Why, yes.

What of it?

- Congratulations.

- Haven't we had enough
of this inquisition?

- For tonight, yes.

But until this matter is settled,

be on hand to give the
authorities any help they need.

That's all.

- Excuse, please.

- Ah, a headache for
the police department.

- Yes.

- Have you any ideas, Mr. Chan?

- Solve mystery, cure headache.

- (chuckles) Okay, we'll
split a box of aspirin.

Oh, Harris.

See you in the morning?

- Thank you.

Will bring aspirin.

- Ambulance here?
- They've just arrived, sir.

The men are coming in now.

- Almost finished?
- Yes, last plate.

I guess I'll have to quit.

Pretty hard to catch up

with murderers these days, Mr. Chan,

especially when they don't
leave their signatures.

That's what I call
fingerprints; signatures.

But when they do leave them,

it's just like signing their confession.

- Yes, fingerprints very valuable

if detective can catch owner of fingers.

- That's right.

Found anything interesting?

- As son Lee would say, "Play hunch."

- [Henrietta] Charlie!

- Excuse, please.

- Oh, there you are.

Come along with us.

We'll put you up at the house.

- Thank you so much, but
with your permission,

may spend night here?

- Here?

- Yes.

Would like to make more
complete investigation.

- Oh, very well.

As you wish.

Baxter, prepare one of the bedrooms.

And you had better remain
here with Mr. Chan tonight.

- Oh, all night, ma'am?

- Certainly!

I'll send something
over for your breakfast

in the morning, Charlie.

- But what about your breakfast, ma'am?

Nobody knows how you
like your toast but me.

- I know how I like my toast.

Good night, Charlie.

- Quiet little place, isn't it, sir?

- Yes.

Very restful.

- Oh, yes, sir.

- Like silence in graveyard.

- Oh.

Yes, sir.

Like a graveyard.

This way, sir.

After you, sir.

- Thank you so much.

(Baxter yells)
- Where'd the, oh.

Hello, sir.

- Observe.

- Oh, very interesting, sir.

Very, very interesting.

May I inquire what it is, sir?

- Corroboration of deductions.

- Then we can leave here at once, sir.

Should I pack your bags?

- Thank you so much, but must
first request able assistance

in subduing malevolent
spirits in ancient house.

- What do you mean, sir?

- We investigate downstairs.

- Now, sir?

- Yes.

(door slamming)

- Do you think that could be spirits, sir?

- Very practical spirit to enter by door.

Come.

- That's all.

And see that those gates are locked.

Well, here I am.

- Why you come back?

- You said you were staying
here to investigate.

I want to know what's going on.

- Others know you return?

- I don't tell them everything I do.

- Think advisable Baxter
take you home immediately.

- Hmm!
- He's quite right, ma'am.

Now, I think--

- You don't think.

You think you think.

I think.

Where should we start?

In here?

- Very well.

Perhaps woman's intuition,
like feather on arrow,

may help flight to truth.

- That's settled.

Baxter, the door.

- Oh.

- Well, Charlie?

- May ask question, please?

- Anything you want to.

- Phenomenon of music
always accompany seance?

- Nothing unusual about that.

That was merely a manifestation
from the world beyond.

- Electric fixtures repaired recently?

- No.

They haven't been touched for years.

- May step on table, please?

- Certainly, Charlie.

- Very strange.

Brass tarnished with age,

but screw head very young.

Boy Scout knife like lady's
hairpin, have many uses.

Radio speaker.

Very simple solution of
music from world beyond.

- I can't believe that
Professor Bowan and Carlotta

would purposely deceive us.

- Necessity, mother of invention,

but sometimes stepmother of deception.

Distinguished professor
stand here tonight.

(lightly knocking on cabinet)

Switch turn on radio
receiving set up there.

- If Bowan has done this

then all of our seances
have been based on trickery.

- When pilot unreliable ship
cannot keep true course.

Permission, please, to try experiment?

- Certainly.

- Turn down lights, please.

- But then we shan't be able to see, sir.

- [Henrietta] Do as Mr. Chan says.

- They're off, sir.
- Thank you so much.

Please to turn on dim light, as in seance.

Appearance of Allen Colby in
secret panel most convenient.

Maybe find clue.

Please.

Would be so kind to take position
occupied by deceased body?

- Oh, could I be excused, please, sir?

I'm not very good at that sort of thing.

- Role of dead man require
very little acting.

- Oh, but really, sir, I--

- [Henrietta] Go on, Baxter.

Go on.

- May request holding
handkerchief before face,

when in position?

(tense music)
- Charlie, look!

There, on the handkerchief!

- Earlier in evening,

use same handkerchief to
wipe face of Allen Colby.

- Oh, now, really, sir, I--

- Be quiet, Baxter!

What about the handkerchief?

- Chemical analysis of same

prove face of murdered man,

treated with solution of quinine sulfate.

- For what reason?

- Quinine sulfate,

when exposed to rays of ultraviolet lamp,

produce mysterious light
which accompany apparition.

- Well, where could it come from?

- Answer well hidden,
but hope to find same.

(light fast-paced music)

Please!

Do not move handkerchief.

Ultraviolet-ray lamp.

Filter on back of mirror

allow only invisible
ultraviolet rays to enter room.

Solves mystery of spirit light.

- It solves more than that.

It proves that Bowan
knew that Allen was dead.

He may even have murdered him.

- Finding web of spider

does not prove which spider spin web.

- I gave Bowan all the funds he asked for.

I even made provision for him
and Carlotta after my death.

And they knew that if Allen returned,

they would never receive another penny.

In face of present evidence,

- may be wise to change plans for future.

- Huh!

I'll see to that.

Mr. Phelps has an accounting
of the estate prepared.

I intend to go over it.

And at the same time,
I'll make a new will.

- Most excellent precaution.
(intense music)

(guns firing)

- [Baxter] Ow-ow-ow!

You are all right?

- Except for the punch
in the ribs you gave me.

Why, you knocked me down.

- Most happy.

Punch in ribs more
desirable than shot in back.

- There's no argument about that.

Where's Baxter?

Baxter!

- Here I am, ma'am.

- Well, you would be.

Well, what do we do next?

- Suggest leaving here immediately.

- That's a very good idea, sir.

We're locked in, sir.

- Locked in?

Nonsense.

(object rattling)

- Can you hear that, sir?

- Oh!

Fred, it's you.

- [Fred] What's happened?

- Somebody tried to kill Charlie.

- What?

I think you acted very
foolishly in coming here

at this hour of the night.

Fear for Mrs. Lowell's
safety reason for visit?

- Exactly.

Janice and I went to her
bedroom to say good night.

When I found she wasn't there,

I had a hunch she was over here with you.

I saw her car outside and came in.

- Thank you.

Suggest you go home now.

With Baxter.

- Have something very important.

Would like your able assistance.

- Of course, if there's anything I can do.

- Now, look here, Charlie.

I want to know--

- Tomorrow, please.

You go home now.

- Oh, very well.

Come on, Baxter.

- Thank you.

Observe anyone leaving
house when entering grounds?

- Not a soul.

- Ulrich admit you?

- No.

The gates were unlocked.

- Strange.

Someone very familiar with ancient house

fire gun from there.

- I know this place inside and out.

It's a regular honeycomb of passages

that start everywhere and end nowhere.

You want me to show you?
- No.

Will investigate honeycomb later.

Maybe find bee.

Shall we go?

At present, much concerned
about Mrs. Lowell.

- What do you mean?

- Not so certain gunfire
directed at humble self.

- You think the attempt
was made on her life?

- Maybe.

Suggest you go to police at once.

Request guard for Mrs.
Lowell day and night.

- I'll go immediately.

- Caretaker keep very late hours.

- [Fred] Ulrich's a queer old bird.

- Have noticed Ulrich
not friendly to family.

May ask reason why?

- Oh, Allen was engaged
to Ulrich's daughter.

After he left home, he broke with her,

and she committed suicide.

Ulrich held Allen responsible.

- Strange house have more
than one skeleton in closet.

(bell ringing)

Good morning.

- Good day.

- May ask question, please?

You were here yesterday at
cottage about five o'clock?

- Yes.

- Then if Allen Colby ring
bell, would have heard same?

- Well, I didn't hear him.

- Strange someone should climb over wall

without first trying bell.

- If someone were sneaking
in here to commit murder,

do you think they'd ring the bell

to let me know about it?

- Correction, please.

Murderer would not climb
over wall near gate.

Would look for more secret place.

Thank you so much.

(suspenseful music)

(lightly knocking on walls)

(ominous music)

(distant hammering)

(door closing)

- What do you want?

- Pardon intrusion, please.

Observe radio aerial on roof.

- Well?

- Perhaps earphones reason
for not hearing bell yesterday

when Allen Colby arrive.

- I tell you I didn't hear the bell.

I don't know where I
was or what I was doing.

- Radio transmitter used last night

to broadcast music for seance?

- You're barking up the wrong tree.

I don't know nothing about radio.

This stuff belongs to my son.

I'm shipping it to him.

You can't catch me on that.

- Only thing Charlie Chan
catch is cold in head.

(sneezes)

Can spare quinine, please?

- I haven't got any.

- Perhaps give to Professor
Bowan who suffer from cold

when visiting here yesterday.

- Why don't you go and ask him?

- Very good idea.

Thank you so much.

So sorry professor not at home.

Hope to get valuable information
about seance last night.

- Can I help you?

- Thank you.

Small point of information.

When in contact with spirit world,

find ultraviolet light useful?

- I don't understand you.

- Very peculiar circumstance.

Allen Colby's face treated
with solution of quinine.

When exposed to ultraviolet light

produce glow not from spirit world.

- If what you say is true, Mr. Chan,

it has nothing to do with us.

There has never been any
fraud connected with my work.

The power which was given me

to communicate with the other
world has never been misused.

- Have utmost respect for true
believer in psychic things.

But can explain, please,

source of music which
accompany seance last night?

- Yes.

I'll show you.

It was sent from this transmitting set.

We always use music as a
background for our work.

- Hmm.

Most interesting.

Repeating device with control
switch at Colby House,

so music can be picked up at any time?

Shortwave coil.

(electricity sizzling)

- That ought to keep him quiet long enough

for us to make a getaway.

- Then it's true.

You knew about Allen Colby.

- There's no time to talk now.

If Chan was that close on us,

the police won't be far behind.

Come on!
- I'm not going.

I was no part of it.

- But you can't prove that to the police.

(doorbell buzzing)

- Where's Bowan?

- You'd better go in there at once.

- Charlie.

- What happened?

- Get a chair.

- Are you all right?

- When firecrackers
stop exploding in head,

will be quite all right.

- You need the aspirin this time, Charlie.

Now, where's Bowan?

- He left just before you came in.

- That's why you sent us in here.

You were covering up for
him to make a getaway.

You're under arrest.

Take her out, Harris.

- Let's go, sister.

- Get on the phone and send
out a general broadcast.

- Yes, sir.

- I want to be the first to
congratulate you, Charlie.

You let the murderer of Allen Colby

slip right through your fingers.

- So sorry.

Like child who play with
matches, get burned.

Live and learn.

- Yeah, live and learn.

When we pick up Bowan,

I'll send you an
invitation to the blow-off.

- Thank you so much.

- I guess Morton's right.

It must have been Bowan who killed Colby,

and tried to get Mrs. Lowell last night.

- Wheel of fate has many spokes.

- Which means you have
something on your mind.

What is it?

- Mind at present like hangover
after misspent evening.

Must keep important
engagement with Mrs. Lowell.

Hat, please.

- And the sum of $100,000

to endow the Colby Foundation
for Psychic Research.

Such foundation to be
administered by Warren T. Phelps

on behalf of my dearly beloved friends,

Alfred and Carlotta Bowan.

That is the clause you want
to strike from the will?

- It certainly is.

- Then I'll draw up a new document.

I'll have it ready for
your signature tonight.

- Have you any idea how much

these people have cost me so far?

- I'll have to check over your accounts

to get the exact amount.

- We're going over all
the accounts tonight

when Mr. Phelps brings the new will.

- Ulrich wants to see you, madam.

- What is it, Ulrich?
- I've come to quit.

- That will be a relief.

- And it'll be a relief to me too!

I don't have to stay here
to be spied on by policemen.

I don't know anything about Allen Colby!

It's his fault that my
girl is in her grave

and he got what was coming to him.

- That's enough!

Wait in the hall, and I'll pay you off.

- In my opinion, it would be better

to watch Ulrich than look for Bowan.

He's hated Allen enough to kill him.

- No one being overlooked.

When weaving nets, all threads counted.

- I'll be back with the
new will after dinner.

- Make it 8:30.

- I'll have those figures
ready for you by then.

And don't worry.

Mr. Morton will have a police guard here

until Bowan is captured.

Good-bye.

- Good-bye, Mother.
- Good-bye, dear.

Well, Charlie, what are your plans?

- What hour is dinner, please?

- 7:30.

- And after dinner, what
is usual occupation?

- Generally, I spend an hour
here at the Ouija board.

- I must repeat, madam,
that this sort of thing

leaves me a little creepy.

- 8:25.

- Not much chance of anything happening.

Even one of Bowan's spooks

couldn't get through this police net.

- Unknown danger, like summer lightning,

strike where least expected.

- I'll have another look around.

- Just a minute.
- All right, Myers.

Mr. Gage is one of the family.

- Thanks.
- Picked up Bowan yet?

- No, but we'll get him.

He hasn't a chance of getting out of town.

(doorbell buzzing)

- Excuse me, madam.

Good evening, sir.

- Has Mr. Phelps arrived yet?

- Not yet, sir.

(gun firing)

- Search the neighborhood.

- What's the matter here?

- Mrs. Lowell was shot through the head

from outside the house.

- What?

- Must request no one enter
except police at present.

- Yes, but you can't stop me.

- Better stay here.

You wouldn't like to see it.

(knocks on door)

- Find anything?

- Not yet.

But this gentleman just drove up.

- Dick has told me.

It seems unbelievable.

- Whoever it was outguessed us.

- I don't see how it was done

with the place surrounded by police.

- Also strange murder should occur

at exact hour of appointment.

- Hello.

Morton speaking from the Lowell house.

Send out the homicide
squad and the coroner.

You'll want to hold the body

till after the inquest of course.

- What's happened?

Was it Mother?

Let me go to her!

- Can do nothing now.

- Why did you let it happen?

You knew she was in danger.

It's all your fault!

(Alice sobbing)
- Alice, please.

- Better take the young lady

away from the house for the night.

We'll have a lot to do here.

- Come along, Harris.

- Mr. Chan, I can't
help but feel that Alice

is right in holding you responsible.

You proved that Bowan was guilty

of the murder of Allen Colby.

You knew he made an attempt

on Mrs. Lowell's life last night,

yet you failed to turn
him over to the police.

- Most humbly regret very fatal error,

which cost life of dear old friend.

- Mr. Chan.

I'm sorry I lost my head.

I know you did the best you could.

- Extend deepest sympathy.

But though loved one
seem to be taken away,

remain always near.

Mr. Baxter.

- Yes, sir?

(Baxter yelling)

- So sorry, but need your help.

What do you make of this?

- Someone's been smoking, sir.

Oh.

The villain must have stood right here

when he fired that fatal shot.

- No.

Hasty deduction, like ancient egg,

look good from outside.

Shot come from high-powered rifle

fired from distant place.

- Really, sir?

- May ask, please, to climb tree?

- Oh, must I, sir?

- Ample proportions
limit athletic ability.

- Yes, sir.

Will you give me a leg up, sir?

When I was young,

I used to be quite agile, sir.

Well, there's not very much

to be seen from up here, sir.

- Observe small branch near right hand?

- [Baxter] Oh.

Oh, yes, sir.

- Break is clean cut?

- Might have been done with a saw, sir.

- Thank you so much.

Please hold finger on branch.

- [Baxter] Oh!

(mysterious music)

- Ahh!
(ominous music)

- [Charlie] Please remove
body from line of vision.

- Well, it, oh!

Oh.

(suspenseful music)

(dramatic music)

- Oh, Mr. Chan!

Mr.

Hey!

Ohh!

Ow!

(doorbell ringing)

- Good morning.

- You're on the job early, Mr. Chan.

Find anything?

- Hope to establish important fact.

- Let me in on it.

- Must first exact promise of silence.

- I promise.

- As son Lee would say, "Okie doke."

Let us go.

- Well, what led you to this, Mr. Chan?

- At last, find use for simple geometry.

High-power bullet take shortest distance

between three points.

Criminal very clever.

Arrange device so when
electric hammer strike bell

also operate trigger on rifle.

- And after the first shot was fired,

it kept pulling the trigger.

- Yes.

- Be careful.

You've reloaded the chamber.

- How you know magazine was full?

- Well, I thought it might be.

- Quite right.
- But that's dangerous.

Why, hen the clock strikes again--

- Do not disturb.

20 minutes after nine.

Suggest we return to
Lowell house immediately.

- She was sitting right there

when the shot came through the window.

- Pardon interruption, please.

- Oh, come right in.

Got into any new trouble?

- So sorry to disappoint.

May offer slight demonstration, please?

- Help yourself.

What's it going to be,
interior decorating?

Why don't you try a couple
of sunflowers in it?

- Atrocious libel on Chinese
art quite sufficient.

Have only little time to wait.

Please to stand back.

(light music)

Stand back!

(gun firing)
(glass shattering)

- Are you all right, Baxter?

- I don't know, sir.

- You win, Charlie.

What's the answer?

- If the tongue in tower bell could speak,

would have solution.

- What does that mean in English?

- Suggest we take short walk.

(phone ringing)

- Hello?

Hello?

It's your office, sir.

- Hello.

Morton talking.

Be there right away.

Well, they've caught Bowan.

Instead of your short walk,

how about a short ride to my office?

- Voice of professor may tell us more

than tongue of silent bell.

- I didn't do it, I tell you.

Whoever killed Allen Colby
tried to hang it on me.

- And I suppose you didn't
plant that trick light

and wash Allen Colby's face with quinine

so you could pull a phony
ghost at your seance.

Have you anything to say?

- Leave her alone.

She had nothing to do with it.

- Well, how about it?

You can save yourself a lot of grief

by turning state's evidence.

- I have nothing to confess.

I have always acted in good faith.

- That's all for now.

Take 'em out.

Four hours wasted,

but I'll get it out of 'em
if it's the last thing I do.

- Have idea.

- Another one?

- With proper lever,

baby's fingers can move mountain.

- What do you mean?

- Believe have plan to secure
much-desired confession.

- I don't see why we should
have been called here

for this morbid nonsense.

- There's no use complaining about it.

- Why, you got no right
to bring me into this.

- Yes?

Well, you're here, brother.

- All right, Harris.

Come on inside.

All set, Charlie.

- Thank you.

Please.

Request everyone take same positions

as on night of eventful seance.

- Oh, Harris.

Stand by the door.

Have men in the hall.

Be sure the outside of
the house is covered.

- Yes, sir.

- Pardon, please, inconvenience

of bringing everyone here tonight.

Motive for recent murders,
like tangle of many strings,

ends of which held by
persons in this room.

First string held by psychic mediums.

Professor Bowan and Carlotta
had $100,000 endowment

to lose by change in will.

Same change deprive Mr. Phelps,

administrator of estate,
from handling large fortune.

Have ascertained he had recently

big losses in stock market.

Caretaker Ulrich have old-time grudge

against Allen Colby for
tragedy to daughter.

Other strings held by Lowell family

who have everything to lose

if Allen Colby return to claim estate.

Tonight, will try very sincere experiment

in effort to untangle motives.

Will call upon spirit world
for message from great beyond.

Proceed, please.

- Mr. Gage, will you turn down the lights?

We will pause a moment in meditation.

(mysterious music)

- I feel

a presence.

Near.

It is a woman.

She is trying to come to us.

Her image is becoming clearer.

Clearer.

She is trying to speak.

She has a message.

A message for--

- Mother!

- I have come back

to tell you the truth.

I know now, the one who fears discovery,

the one who murdered--

(glass shattering)

(all shouting)
- Turn on the lights!

See that no one leaves this room.

- Someone make very foolish mistake.

Throw knife at spirit
reflection in mirror.

May come out now.

- Mrs. Lowell!
- Mother!

- Mother, darling!

- Oh, I'm so happy.

- Yes, dear.

You have to die to really find out

how much people miss you.

- But why did you do this?

- I'll let Charlie explain that, dear.

- Sincerely hope explanation
will justify cause of anguish.

Person who throw this knife

also kill Allen Colby when
he return to claim estate,

place body behind secret panel.

Then use ultraviolet-ray device

to make body appear as
apparition at seance.

Same murderer also try to kill Mrs. Lowell

on night of business conference

but make mistake of shooting dummy,

which humble self and Mr.
Morton place at study window.

Same murderer now in this room.

Use twin of knife that kill Allen Colby.

Observe.

Both knives now missing.

- As I stood up right here,
someone passed me in the dark.

- I heard someone too.

It was you, Ulrich.

- It wasn't!

I was over there near Mr. Morton.

- You went for that knife.
- I didn't, I tell you!

- Liar!

I saw you!
- I didn't!

- Moment, please!

- You are guilty man.

- I?

You're crazy.

- Contradiction, please.

Took precaution before seance tonight

to cover blade of knife with graphite.

Telltale fingers sign confession.

- Stand back!

Everybody!

Stay where you are!

(cat hissing)
(Baxter yelling)

(women screaming)
(gun firing)

- You commit murder in attempt

to cover evidence of
forgery in Lowell accounts.

Own act tonight convict you.

- All right, Harris.

Come on.

- There, there, dear.

I know you had nothing to do with it.

- Very grateful for valuable assistance.

Believe that, tonight,

you practice deception for first time.

- I wish I could say
the same for you, Bowan.

- After all, I'm the
one who was imposed upon

and I withdraw all charges against them.

- We'll mark it closed, Mrs. Lowell.

- Thank you.

- There's a train east at 11:45.

- Good-bye.

- You take now.

- Oh, Charlie, I think
you've earned a rest.

Now we can settle down
to a comfortable visit.

- (chuckles) So sorry, but must return

to happy family in Honolulu.

- You've done a great job, Charlie.

Heh.

I wish I could make you a
present of the city hall.

- (chuckles) If family
continue to increase,

may consider generous offer.

(all quietly laughing)

Thank you so much.

(grandeur orchestral music)

(energetic orchestral music)