All language subtitles for Blue Dahlia (1946) colorized

Hey, fellas, give a look.

How about that good -bye drink, Johnny?

Why not?

One bar is just like another.

As long as they got bourbon.

Or a reasonable facsimile.

["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] That shit?

Bourbon straight with a bourbon chaser.

Same.

Two separate glasses.

Get it?

Why wouldn't I get it?

["Pomp and Circumstance"] Somebody call me a monkey.

Give that thing a rest, will you?

Pipe down.

It's his nickel.

["Pomp and Circumstance"] Did somebody call me a monkey?

Nobody calls nobody nothing.

Just forget it, will you?

That thing gives me a headache.

Well, ain't that a pity?

I told you I had a headache.

Put that back, but quick.

You put it back.

Why are you...

Bit of us.

Steady, Corporal.

Get out of my way.

I said steady.

You didn't get those stripes from blowing your top.

Hey, cut that out.

Cut it out, do you hear?

You two guys want to fight so bad, why don't you get into a uniform?

Well, you figure I had out when I got this, huh?

What do you figure?

There's a plate in here as big as your brains.

It may be bigger.

Well, I don't want no roughhouse in here.

Go on and get back to your bar before you get a face full of knuckles.

Come on, Buzz.

OK, now you got that out of your system.

Thing was getting my goat.

My mistake, fella.

That's OK.

Skip it.

So long.

So long.

Bye.

Hey, we better get going, too, if we're going to catch that buzz.

Hey, look, Dope.

We already caught the buzz.

Yeah, that's right.

We did, didn't we?

Yeah.

That must be getting dumb.

Here's to you, Johnny.

Yeah, you're lucky stuff.

At least you got a wife to come home to.

Boy, if I had a wife and kid to come home to, what's the matter?

Must be getting old.

That stuff kicks me right in the teeth.

When do we get the meter, Johnny?

Any time.

The door will always be open.

We won't need no dress suit to get in there, will we?

At Cavendish Court Hotel in bungalow, sounds like an out of door.

I never- I, uh, I got a lead on an apartment.

If we, if it comes through, we'll give you a ring.

Good.

Well, here's to what was.

Take care of our boy, George.

You bet I will.

See you soon.

OK.

Johnny.

Yeah.

Don't you think you ought to call her before you go home?

Maybe.

You know, it sounded very happy somehow.

Yeah.

No.

Thanks for watching!

Thank you.

Mrs.

Morrison, please.

What name shall I say?

Mrs.

Morrison is my wife.

Oh, yes, sir.

Oh, uh, would you mind if I surprised you?

Oh, no, of course not.

Take Mr.

Morrison to bungalow 93.

This way, please.

Thank you.

Surprise is right.

What did you say, honey?

Nothing to you.

So far, then.

I'll take it from here.

Thank you, sir.

I'm afraid not.

I'm looking for my wife.

Oh, the place is full of them.

You are beautiful.

What's your name, huh?

Morris.

Does my wife live here?

It's funny.

What's your name?

Hey!

Hey!

Look who's here.

Helen's got a husband.

Relax.

Hey, Helen, why didn't you tell us you ate something like this?

Why didn't you let me know?

I wanted to surprise you.

Well, take off your coat, Johnny.

You're home, you know.

It's been a long time, Helen.

Or much too long.

Well, you're not in uniform.

No, they decided I had enough for a while.

So they put me on the inactive list.

Oh?

Buzz and George are out, too.

Buzz was wounded, and George's eyes went back on him.

Buzz and George?

My crew.

I used to write you a bathroom.

Don't you remember?

Oh, sure.

Well, it's great to have you back, Johnny.

Come and meet my friends.

Oh, must I now?

Well, certainly.

Dick, hold the piano a while.

Hold it.

Please, everybody, come and meet my husband.

There's Lieutenant Commander John Morrison of the United States Navy.

He's just back in the South Pacific.

Johnny, this is Charlie and Beverly, Rick and Com...

Eddie!

Eddie!

We're based on Quachlan.

What were you flying, sir?

Liberator.

Excuse me, Dick.

Johnny, this is Eddie Harwood.

I'm glad to know you.

Heard a lot about you.

Guess you had a rough time of it.

I'm afraid my experiences are pretty dull.

I can't believe that.

Hey, wouldn't you like a drink?

Not right now, thanks.

I'd like to get cleaned up a little.

Oh, take your things in there, Johnny.

Excuse me.

I think I'd better breeze.

Why?

Pretty obvious.

I suppose there is some water.

Pardon me.

Well, if it ain't my beautiful man,

you and I are going to have a little drink together right now.

Hey, breathe over.

We've got the wrong lipstick on, mister.

Stop it!

You're entirely right.

I'm sorry.

Forget it.

Ladies and gentlemen, I think you'd better leave.

My husband would like to be alone with me.

He probably wants to beat me up.

Perhaps you want me to apologize.

Apologize, darling?

But you don't have to.

You're a hero.

A hero can get away with it.

Seems I've lost my manners.

Or would anyone here know the difference?

I don't care what she says.

I think you're wonderful.

I'll call you later, hello?

Oh, come on darling, I'm so sorry.

I'm not sure of me at all.

Thank you.

What are you doing?

Looking at this photograph of Dickie.

I've never seen her before.

Why didn't you send me one?

I thought I had.

Let's talk this out, Helen.

Would you mind not drinking any more just now?

Oh, for heaven's sakes, don't start preaching.

I take all the drinks I like, any time, any place.

I go where I want to with anybody I want.

I just happen to be that kind of a girl.

I'd have thought Dickie's death would have made a little more difference.

We lived in a five -room house, and I did the laundry.

And I never went anywhere, because I had a kid to look after.

I don't have a kid to look after anymore.

And the people I go with now don't use a kiss as an excuse to suck each other.

Keep on drinking that, and you won't need an excuse.

Really?

You're not paying for my drinks.

Well, why don't you answer it?

You want to run everything else around here?

Hello.

This is Johnny.

Oh, hello, Buzz.

You got the place, huh?

Yeah.

Yeah, where George lived before.

Walked right into it.

Yeah.

It was 19 guys ahead.

It was put there like George here.

Oh, that's great, Buzz.

Hey, what's your telephone number?

Hillside.

Eight, six, six, one.

Okay, bye.

Boys found an apartment.

Yes.

I didn't know these things were ever blue.

They're Eddie Howard's calling cards.

He owns a nightclub on the strip called the Blue Dahlia.

Helen, let's try just once more.

I'd love to.

I'm a girl that tries and tries.

Well, suppose we begin by...

You're not drinking anymore, huh?

Suppose we begin by you minding your own business.

So you've had enough.

Take your paws off me!

Maybe you've learned to like hurting people.

I could tell you something about Dickey that would hurt you plenty.

What about Dickey?

What about Dickey?

There's noisy in here, aren't you?

So what?

What do you call that, a prayer meeting?

Okay, Mr.

Morrison.

Just doing my job.

Better close up.

It's gonna rain.

Okay.

Oh,

maybe you'd better pull the blinds down too if you're gonna push your wife around.

Call from the house detective.

Pretty, isn't it?

Now, what about Dickey?

Forget it, Johnny.

It was nothing.

I...

What about Dickey?

It was nothing, I tell you.

Clark, tell me, will you?

Johnny, please.

It could happen to anybody.

I'd been to a party.

I had to take Dickey with me.

I had a few drinks.

Oh, stop the tears.

All right, hero.

I was drunk.

I was in a car smash.

Dickey was killed.

I wrote you he died of diphtheria because I was afraid to tell you the truth.

Well, how do you like it?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Johnny!

Thank you.

That's what I ought to do.

But you're not worth it.

You're two three three eight mr.

Howard please mrs.

Morrison calling will you call me please yeah Johnny oh oh yeah mrs.

Morrison George and me we're Johnny's pals I know that's why I'm calling we had

a quarrel he walked out on me walked out on you well don't you worry about a

thing George and me we'll bring it back if we have to frog march him yeah sure

he'll come over here yeah I'll call you as soon as he shows up that's all right

very George hey it's ready when I quiet in there quiet I got a sick baby .

George.

We eat eggs.

Johnny's wife just caught up.

Yeah?

Not swell.

No, it ain't swell.

He just walked out on her.

Did you hear from him?

No, not yet.

He will come over here though, won't he, George?

How to find him, he won't.

But I just told his wife we'd bring him back.

What are we gonna do?

Look, Buzz, there isn't anything we can do.

This is one problem Johnny's got to handle by himself.

Yeah, but if he's not gonna come...

Forget it.

Whatever's the right thing to do, Johnny'll do it.

Well, we ought to do something.

We gotta find Johnny.

Yeah, we'll talk about it afterwards.

Let's eat first.

We've got real eggs.

Wanna crack him up, will you, while I get the rest of these things ready?

Buzz.

Thank you.

Yes, sir?

Is Mrs.

Morrison in?

Who shall I say is calling?

I'll just say Buzz.

Buzz, that's my name.

Oh, 93.

I'm sorry Mrs.

Morrison isn't in.

Oh.

Would you care to leave a message?

Well, do you mind if I wait around?

Not at all.

It's over there.

Huh?

The bar.

Oh, thank you.

Bourbon, in a minute.

Didn't we beat out the blue dally the other night?

I may have been there, but we certainly didn't meet.

Sure, we have mutual friends at...

Hey, you, that's my seat.

Don't pick yourself an orchid.

A masterful target.

All I want is a drink and quick.

Hey, how about that?

Take one of mine.

Thanks.

Shall they tell me?

I'll buy you a drink some rainy night.

It's raining now.

All right, I'll buy you a drink.

And no passes.

Uh -huh.

What's the matter?

Don't you believe me?

Uh -huh.

Okay, so I won't buy you a drink.

Uh -huh.

It's the end of that conversation.

Wait a minute.

You can buy me a drink.

Well, you're not in this joint.

I've had enough of it.

Come on.

It's really coming down now.

We haven't far to go.

Look, uh, you don't want to go out and act.

Why don't we go back to the bar?

Anyway, I came here to see somebody,

and I ought to stick around till she gets here.

Well, you can phone from my place and leave word where you are.

You live here?

Sure.

Come on.

What's the matter?

Scared?

Hey, Frank.

Sorry.

No pickup tonight.

Good evening, Mr.

Harwood.

Good evening, Molly.

Kind of wet out, isn't it?

It certainly is.

Hello, Addy.

Here.

Evening, Leo.

How's everything?

Took in seven grand last week.

That's fine.

Have a drink?

No, thanks.

You're alone tonight, huh?

Huh?

Good.

I was afraid that Morrison's name was getting to be a habit.

Look, Leo, you run the Blue Dahlia.

I'll take care of my private life.

We're hooked up together, Addy.

You getting a jam?

I getting a jam.

You can forget Helen Morrison.

Her husband's back from the South Pacific.

Let him take care of her.

Uh -huh.

If you think my wife left me because of another woman,

it was something else entirely, Leo.

Like how you make some of your dough?

Like you're putting in with people like me?

It's quite possible.

She was in the bar a little while ago.

She just left.

She gave me a message for you.

She's going out of town for a few days.

And saved some money on flowers.

She could have told me that herself.

Maybe she figured it'd sound worse coming from me.

Any checks for me to sign?

Yeah, there's a shoe.

Do you, uh...

Do you ever know a guy named Quinlan?

Never heard of him.

I'm going to stretch somewhere back east.

Don't get cute with me, Leo.

Nothing cute about her.

I heard this crinoline spoke to you in the parking lot the other night,

when you were with Mrs.

Morrison.

Called you by some other name.

Did he?

Oh, not if you say he didn't.

But it doesn't matter now, anyway.

The crinoline was mucked off a few nights ago over on East 5th.

I'll make sure I think I'd be interested.

I'll make sure I think I'd be interested.

Just don't get too complicated, Eddie.

When a man gets too complicated, he's unhappy.

When he's unhappy, his luck runs out.

Yes?

Just a minute.

She's calling him.

To Morrison, dang.

Hello, baby.

I was just going to call you.

It's about time.

I've been calling you all evening.

Hold on a minute.

Hello?

No, of course he's not here.

No, he hasn't just stepped out.

He's gone.

G -O -N -E.

Gone.

He'll be back all right, baby.

It's all my fault.

I think he's a nice guy.

He was so far away, and I'd never seen him.

I guess I didn't realize how it looked.

Now, wait a minute.

I'm not hinting.

I'm saying it straight out.

I think we'd better call it a day.

Supposing I don't want to call it a day.

Two walkouts in one evening would be just a little too much for me, Eddie.

Ever think of that?

And if I don't want to call it a day, I'm quite sure you won't.

For a very good reason.

I'd better come over and talk to you, huh?

Say half an hour?

Right.

I told you she was poison.

They're all poison sooner or later.

Almost all.

Get in.

Well, you could get wetter if you lay down on the gutter.

I wasn't trying to get wet you got to have more sense to take chances with

strangers like this it's funny but practically all the people I know were

strangers when I met them I'm going to Malibu is that any use to what's in

Malibu houses people I have some friends there any hotels motel maybe you pick

up many people like this at night not many only one or two at a time you're

right right that wasn't funny I'm sorry but nothing's very funny to me tonight

It all blows up in your face sometimes,

doesn't it?

What does?

Whatever you're doing.

Wherever you're going.

I thought you were going to Malibu.

I flipped a coin.

Hence, I got a Malibu.

Tails, I got a Laguna.

What happens if the coin rolls into the Davenport?

You got a long beach.

Oh, you can smile.

I was beginning to wonder.

You sure you won't have one?

No, thanks.

Thank you.

I'm back anyway?

No, I was just wondering what the J .M.

stood for.

You don't have to wonder, I'll tell you.

That's no fun.

Let me see.

How about Jack Mason?

It's fine for somebody named Jack Mason.

Well, then, how about Jeremiah McGonigal?

Nobody was ever named Jeremiah McGonigal.

Why?

I think I like Jeremiah McGonigal.

Dull.

No sense of humor.

Well, that's two strikes on me.

How about Jimmy Moore?

Jimmy Moore?

Is that really your name?

Don't you like it?

I once knew a boy by the name of Jimmy.

He had rabbit teeth.

I guess I'll learn to forget him, though.

I was only eight years older.

Are you sure that that cornea flip came up heads?

Yes, why?

Well, it was Malibu.

We just passed.

Was it?

Where have you been?

Out.

Out where?

Guess I got lost.

You guessed, don't you know?

Yeah, I got lost.

Where's Johnny?

Johnny hasn't been here.

Johnny?

Buzz, are you all right?

Certainly I'm all right.

Why wouldn't I be all right?

What's the idea of running out without telling me?

You've been gone a couple of hours.

Well, for Pete's sake, you might at least say something.

I'm sleepy, George.

I'd better telephone my friends or they'll think something's happened.

It won't be long.

Thank you.

It's the end of the line.

Is it?

It has to be.

It's a long way back to Malibu.

Well, what about you?

I'll make her.

And if I knew how, this is where I'd say thanks.

For everything.

I didn't do it for thanks.

I know that.

Well, don't you even say good night?

It's goodbye.

And it's tough to say goodbye.

Why is it?

You've never seen me before tonight.

Every guy's seen you before.

Somewhere.

The trick is to find you.

Thank you.

And now, folks, bright and early on this beautiful sunny day,

the flowers are fresh from the rain,

and there isn't a cloud in the sky to bring you once again your favorite

breakfast program, Melodies of the Morning.

Well, well, well.

Aunt Dre again.

Couldn't make it to bed, huh?

Honey, I don't know where you put it.

Come on now.

Let's...

Oh brother yeah what's that I'll be right over and call mr.

Hughes over there out and keep your mouth shut ever know me not to looks like

there was a brawler yeah been dead for hours suicide could be better be much

gun now don't start playing detective dad we'll have enough of that from the

professionals what's the number down there don't you think we ought to look

around a bit before we call the police be a fool the sooner we get started the

sooner we get out of here what's the number michigan 5211 good morning We will

now continue with our morning music.

Elena?

Take the number three with orange juice.

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for watching!

Thank you.

Remember me?

What happened to Nellaboo?

I guess it's where we left it.

I stayed here at the end.

Why?

Do I have to have a reason?

No.

It's nice after the rain, isn't it?

Uh -huh.

I didn't expect to see you again.

Jimmy, why don't you go back and fix it up before it's too late?

Maybe you'd like better if I'd mind my own business.

You think you could?

I could try.

It's my wife.

I had an idea it might be.

And there's nothing to fix up.

And if there was, I wouldn't want to fix it up anyway.

What about you?

You weren't going to Nellaboo last night.

You were trying to run out on yourself.

Like me.

Maybe you're right.

Well, where do we go from here?

We don't go anywhere.

Who said goodbye last night?

You catch the bus for up north, and I go back to Malibu.

That's right.

Could we take a walk along the beach first?

Look for moon stones.

Tides out.

We can even go waiting, if you like.

If I run upstairs and change my shoes, will you be here when I get back?

Aye.

Not like last night?

No.

Check, please.

Yes, sir.

The cause of a death has so far not been definitely established.

All aboard.

Sought for questioning is her husband.
Lieutenant commander John Morrisson

Recently returned from the South Pacific
.

Lieutenant commander is described as about 20 years old.

Weight 160 pounds, light brown hair,
light brown or blue eyes.

When last seen he was wearing civilian clothes
with a Navy raincoat and was carrying a

civilian suitcase.

Her lifeless body was found sprawled on a Davenport in her exclusive Wilshire

Boulevard hotel bungalow.

Passengers for bus 382 leaving for Los Angeles.

All aboard.

The discovery occurred early this morning when neighbors complained about the

loud playing of the radio.

The cause of her death has so far not been definitely established.

That's mine.

Oh, I'm on it.

Wait a minute.

Okay, okay.

Let's measure.

All right.

Anything for us?

Nope.

Get your junk off this bench.

You pull us while you're here.

Well, how do you like being pinched, George?

We're not pinched.

Relax.

That's the difference.

They brought us here and we're here.

What's your name, Copper?

Save it.

Maybe they don't have names.

Maybe they just have numbers.

Calm down, can't you?

How long do we have to wait here, Copper?

Until the captain gets ready for you.

And don't call me Copper.

You get that, George?

He says don't call him Copper.

Five down.

Is it all right if we smoke two Copper?

You are.

You want to make trouble?

Yeah, you want some?

Here.

George?

Thanks, copper.

Where's Captain Hendrickson's office, please?

Right there.

Get this guy.

Who is it?

Eddie Harwood.

What's the clue down here?

Hold it, Mr.

Harwood.

Nothing to do with you, fellas.

Skip it.

Captain Hendrickson, please.

I'm Eddie Harwood.

Just have a seat.

Hello, Mr.

Harwood.

Hello, Dad.

Okay.

And Harwood's here, too.

Pussy buzzer, will you, Cap?

Captain Hendrickson's office.

Homicide bureau.

Detective Lieutenant Lloyd speaking.

Call back, please.

Call back, please.

Shoot.

Captain Hendrickson's office.

Homicide bureau.

Detective Lieutenant Lloyd speaking.

Call back, please.

Okay.

Stand by.

Who do you want first, Cap?

Let's take Harwood.

Pity to keep him waiting.

Right.

Come in, Mr.

Harwood.

I won't take up much of your time, Mr.

Harwood, but I always like to meet the people involved in the investigation.

Involved how?

Sit down.

You knew Mrs.

Morrison well, don't you?

Fairly well.

How long have you known her?

You've got all that.

So I have.

Slightly less than a year.

Met her through mutual friends.

Correct.

She owned a business in Beverly Hills.

Do you have any interest in that?

I loaned her some money when she first bought it.

The money's been repaid.

I see.

Purely a business transaction.

I'd regard a secured loan at 6% as a business transaction.

I suppose you think I'm wasting your time.

You're married, aren't you, Mr.

Harwood?

My wife and I are separated.

Do you want to know why?

Not unless it has a bearing on your relations with Mrs.

Morrison.

It hasn't.

Where is Mrs.

Harwood at the moment?

No idea.

Any idea where she was last night?

Look here, Hendrickson,

if you think my wife had anything to do with Helen Morrison's murder...

So you're taking it for granted that Mrs.

Morrison was murdered, are you?

Well, wasn't she?

We haven't called it murder so far.

Yes, but the newspapers...

Well, then I just assumed it.

Sure.

But you're quite right.

She was murdered.

We have the autopsy.

Well, thanks for coming in, Mr.

Harwood.

I guess that's all for now.

Am I under suspicion?

I don't know.

How do you feel about it?

Hello, George.

Isn't George there?

George Copeland?

No, George isn't here right now.

Who's this calling?

Who's calling, I said?

There's just one thing I'd like you gentlemen to bear in mind.

Even if you are close friends of Morrison's, you can't help him to hide out,

so don't try.

I'm an attorney, Captain.

I understand perfectly.

I'm glad to hear it.

If he gets in touch with you, make him come in.

It's the only sensible thing for him to do.

Bologna,

if you think we're going to help you tie a murder to a guy who's flown us

through 112 missions, you're off your nut.

We haven't accused Morrison of murder so far.

Now what's holding you up?

Have these men driven back to their apartment.

Bring in that new old.

Any chance for a room here?

I'm sorry, sir.

We haven't had a vacancy in eight weeks.

You know where I can find one.

That's a pretty difficult thing to say these days.

I'm afraid I can't help you.

All right, thanks.

You, just a minute.

Got a match?

OK.

Use one of my own.

Suitcase gets kind of heavy, don't it?

Yeah, let's do you.

Every hotel in town's loaded.

Thought it might be a little help.

A little place down on Santa Monica Boulevard.

What's the racket?

Think it's a racket called a cop.

How far away is this place?

About six blocks.

Transportation and everything.

OK.

Okay You saw Harwood go up to this dame's apartment and knock on the door no

answer you went away went away of where Well, you see captain.

There's a side gate to the hotel ground.

We've seen the joint.

Well, that's where he went out What time was this?

Well, I've told you gentlemen tell us again It was about seven o 'clock.

It was raining.

You like standing in the rain I gotta make my rounds see if everything's okay.

Nobody cutting up too much You got a passkey to the bungalows Surely you don't

think I why not Plenty of genial old parties like you commit murders.

That isn't a very nice thing to say captain Mrs.

Morrison the lights were on the radio was going.

Why would I want to get in you tell us?

She didn't answer when Harwood knocked didn't that interest you would that be

any of my business?

You boys got a nice technique That'd be worried for a minute No hard feelings,

of course.

That's all new, for now.

This is a terrible thing for the hotel.

Trying to tough on the Morrison dame, too.

Go on, beat it.

Call this dump a hotel?

That's what the sign said.

Clean sheets every day.

They tell me.

How often do they change the fleas?

Very funny.

Customer Corelli?

That'll be ten bucks.

In advance, Mr.

Moore.

There'll be ten for us, too.

What?

Our, uh, commission.

Get it?

Let me back that money.

You ain't gonna get difficult, are you, pal?

Okay, boys, you win.

Oh!

Hot, ain't it?

Yeah.

Hi, Corelli.

Anybody up here belong to that plumber down front?

Why?

Some crazy woman driver just tore a fender off it.

I didn't hear nothing.

No?

What's a fender?

Forget it.

Your car?

Could be.

Come on down, then.

We gotta make a report.

Let's skip it, huh?

You heard what I said, didn't you?

Come on down.

That's a hot car.

Come on, get back here.

Come on, get up, you.

Come on, quick.

Turn around.

That's it.

You want to play rough, huh?

You boys make it easy for us.

All right, get going.

Who are you?

Jimmy Moore, San Francisco.

All right, Correlli.

Yeah, he just registered.

Okay.

Get moving.

Thanks, pal.

You still want that room?

You're sure nobody's dead, isn't it?

Right back this way.

You live in San Francisco, Mr.

Moore?

Yeah, when I'm there.

Nice town.

I like it here better.

Anything you need, just ask for it.

Where's your phone?

Back down the hall.

Thank you.

Granada Towers.

Mr.

Harwood, please.

Thank you.

Here, Mr.

Harwood.

Who let you in?

Houseman don't have much trouble getting into places.

I come up the forest stairs.

Thought it was a good idea not to be seen.

Drink?

I don't mind if I do.

Easy on the water.

I told the homicide boys a good straight story.

They're satisfied.

For the day anyway.

But you know how these dicks are.

Tomorrow they might get to figuring I was holding something back.

Thank you.

Nice.

And were you holding something back?

Well, I, uh, hung around a while.

After you knocked on Mrs.

Morrison's door, I mean.

Pretty wet, wasn't it?

Weather don't bother me.

Used to be a copper myself.

15 years of it.

Sit down.

How much did they pay you over there?

28 a week and found.

Not very much, is it?

No, it's not for a fact.

Well, thanks.

So you thought you'd like to make a little more, and that's why you're here,

huh?

Oh, you've gotten me all wrong, Mr.

Harwood.

Yeah, I know.

I know.

How old are you, Dad?

Going on 57.

Well, you've got a lot of life left.

Unless you get careless.

I don't aim to get careless.

The cops don't pay you any money, and I do.

Here.

Gee, this sure is white of you, Mr.

Harwood.

Yes, isn't it?

Finish your drink?

Oh, I...

Thank you.

Well, I guess I'd better be going now, Mr.

Harwood, but...

Wait a minute.

You forgot your cigar.

Oh.

I think it's out.

Cigars go out awful easy, don't they, Dad?

Good night.

Hello, Eddie.

Hello, baby.

Long time, no see.

Not so long, is it?

You even send these blue flowers to yourself, don't you?

I thought you went out of town.

I came back.

You still have this?

It's around.

Sentimentalist, aren't you?

I only wish I had you with it.

Sure, I know I've got lots of faults, but...

Being in love with you isn't one of them, is it?

Look, baby.

It's too late, Eddie.

Why?

Why is it too late?

Just is.

Helen Morrison didn't mean anything to me alive.

No.

She doesn't mean anything to me dead.

She means something to the police, though.

The police have the whole story.

My part of it in any case.

How do they like it?

As well as they ever like anything?

Well, I guess everything's lovely, then.

Who did killer Eddie?

Did you read the papers?

I don't have to believe everything I see in them.

Well, if Morrison didn't kill her, he certainly set himself up pretty.

Your gun even had his initials on it.

Careless of him.

I met him.

He's the kind of guy who wouldn't care much what he did.

When he walked in on that party...

He didn't like it.

How would you know I know the kind of party it would be Well,

so long as I know you're all right Eddie So I do mean that much to you.

I guess so I Take me to the mezzanine, please Yes, sir.

Is mr.

Harwood in I'll see What name please more?

Mr.

Harwood You Give me the desk, please Mr.

Harwood's line is busy at the moment What's his apartment number?

Oh, I'm sorry.

You'll have to be announced.

I'll try again in a moment Desk who well just a minute for you,

sir Me Hello Please don't ask any questions.

Get out of the hotel right away Yeah,

but why does it take so long because when a man's in the service they file his

photo in Washington They have to get it from there What I'm wondering is who

glommed the photo the maid said was in the bedroom.

My name was Morrison and it'd be me Yeah,

the description we got could fit a thousand guys Thank you.

Mr.

Harwood, please.

Captain Hendrickson calling.

Yes, sir.

Mr.

Harwood.

Anybody following us?

I don't think so.

It's too bad.

Do you want to get caught?

When did you find out that somebody was trying to catch me?

This morning, when I saw you get rid of your coat.

Are you angry at me for trying to help you, Jimmy?

Maybe you'd better call me by my right name.

None of this would make any sense if you didn't know it.

All right.

Johnny.

Johnny's quite a nice name, too.

But Jimmy didn't have the police after him.

It takes a lot of lights to make a city, doesn't it?

I know you didn't kill your wife, Johnny.

You do?

How?

Just from knowing you.

You don't know me that well.

Well enough.

You think you have to find out who did kill her, though, don't you?

Something like that.

Suppose you wonder why I don't let the police do that job.

Have I acted as if I thought that?

They're looking for me.

And if they catch me,

they're not going to worry about trying to pin it on somebody else.

I've thought of that, too.

That isn't all.

Even if we weren't happy, Helen was my wife.

And a man who killed her isn't going to get away with it.

He just thinks he is.

You're talking about Eddie Harwood?

I didn't mention any names.

Who else could it be?

I wouldn't know, would you?

Seems you know more about it than I do.

Do I?

Things like picking me out of the air at a hotel desk.

You get around, don't you?

And your timing's good.

It was good last night when you picked me up in the rain.

Or was it?

I don't know.

I don't know anything.

I don't even know your name.

Johnny, you'll have to trust me.

I have something to settle, too.

You'll have to trust me a lot.

Why?

I haven't got time to play games.

Suppose you keep your secrets, and I'll keep mine, huh?

Okay, Johnny, if that's the way you feel about it.

Coming?

Turn that radio down.

Turn it down, I tell you!

Calm down, can't you?

Other people have to live.

This headache I got don't calm down.

Why don't Johnny call up or something?

Maybe he forgot the number.

Maybe he doesn't want to take the chance.

Maybe he's not even in L .A.

That's three maybes.

You're not stuck, are you?

You know, I, uh...

I used to think of Johnny on the dodge like a cheap criminal.

You ought to go straight to Hendrickson and tell him his story.

Sure.

Tell it to the cops.

Maybe you like cops.

Well, I don't.

I hate their guts.

And you better hope you never tell it to the cops either.

What you need is a drink.

Let me see.

I seem to have misplaced your name for the moment.

Where were you keeping it?

But you're a friend of John Morrison's, aren't you?

Never heard of him.

Come on in.

Who are you?

I work over at the Cavendish Court.

Newell's the name.

They call me Dad.

You work at what?

Well...

You're the housekeeper, aren't you?

Yeah, some folks call me that.

I don't suppose you gentlemen know where Mr.

Morrison is, do you?

Would we be likely to tell you?

No, I suppose not.

Would information about his movements be worth anything to you?

Depends on what the information is.

Well, information ain't all this so easy to get.

Quit stalling.

Where did you see Johnny?

I haven't said I did see him so far.

This guy's looking for a piece of change.

You just think of that?

Well, as a matter of fact, it was a long walk over here.

Why don't you call a couple of those cops you're so fond of?

He's been cheating on their time.

Oh, now, wait a minute, gentlemen.

You got me all wrong.

Would that be possible?

I happened to be going by Mr.

Harwood's hotel this evening.

Oh, you put the bite on Harwood, too.

I resent that.

I saw Morrison go into the hotel and cross over the desk.

Then what?

I didn't have time to wait for any more.

He was standing at the desk when I left.

I had to get to work.

That guy really likes his work.

And how?

Where does Harwood live?

Bernada Towers in Wiltshire.

You know everything, don't you?

Oh, I get around.

Is that all you've got to tell us?

So far it is.

Thanks.

Nights Mr.

Harwood usually goes to his club, the Blue Dad, yet.

If that's of any interest to you.

Haven't I seen you before?

For what?

It's going to be last night in the rain.

Of course, I could be mistaken.

Good night.

Mr.

Harwood, please.

Mrs.

Harwood calling.

Eddie?

Yes, it's me.

I've changed my mind about something.

Do you want to take me out tonight?

Fine.

Find what you wanted.

You look good in a uniform.

Nice kid, too.

Yours?

Why didn't you tell me you was hot?

I'm taking care of lots of hot boys.

All it takes is a little of that.

What makes you think I'm hot?

You ain't talking to one of them cheap heist guys like them mugs that brought

you here.

I've been in this business a long time.

Jimmy Moore, huh?

Seems like I read somewhere.

It could have been the paper.

I've got a guy named Johnny Morrison.

The cops wanted to talk to him when I found his wife got croaked.

No comment, huh?

Suit yourself.

Maybe I better keep this while you think things out.

Thanks for watching.

Thank you.

Do your hands hold up?

Do you want to hold them up for a while?

Corelli, who's he?

Never mind put him on You, Leo?

I ran a joint over in Santa Monica.

The guy coming in tonight and registered as Jimmy Moore.

Get the initials.

J .M.

He's a Navy flier.

That mean anything to you?

Is he there now?

Oh, moved out on you.

You don't seem to have much to sell, do you, Corelli?

Sure.

Sure.

Yeah, I'll take care of you.

Sell on, Corelli.

You're certainly a hard man to catch up with, am I?

Nice to know you, Mr.

Moore.

That is your name, isn't it?

You know my name and why I'm here.

I don't, but you can tell me while I finish dressing.

If I were in your shoes, I'd be 500 miles away.

Half the cops in LA are looking for you.

Only half?

All I have to do is pick up that telephone.

You go out of here and handcuffs.

Why don't you?

I don't have to be that kind of rat.

What kind of a rat are you?

I'm not a police informer anyway.

Neither am I.

So far, whatever that means.

You rate yourself a pretty tough boy, don't you?

Tough enough to find out who killed my wife.

Well, everybody seems to think you killed her.

Not quite everybody.

I think you killed her.

Don't be a dope.

Just because I took Helen out a couple of times and you put on that injured

husband act.

What's a dope in your book?

A guy without sense enough to get out while he can.

And hole up in some quiet place where people don't know yet.

Nobody knows me here.

They soon will.

Easy for you to call.

Me, I'd have to call long distance.

I still don't get it.

No.

How long has it been since you were in New Jersey?

I don't get that either.

Just why in New Jersey?

Are you going to answer the door?

Let them break it down.

Hello, baby.

Get your drink?

Not now, thanks.

I'll wait.

I'll just be a minute.

What made you change your mind?

Still have trouble with your bow tie.

Aww.

I'm sorry, uh, this is Mr.

Moore, Mr.

Moore, my wife.

How do you do, Mr.

Moore?

I'll get my coat.

Oh, uh, fix yourself a drink.

Well, why don't you say it?

It might just as well have told you.

You would have read it in the papers tomorrow anyway.

It didn't save myself much, did I?

You don't owe me an explanation.

I didn't want it this way.

I'll bet you didn't.

Johnny, don't you realize you're in danger here?

That isn't what worries me.

I came here to do something.

But you fixed that, too.

Johnny!

So long, baby.

Come on, George, will you hurry up?

Are you boys going somewhere?

Oh, for crying out loud, come in here.

Hey, George!

Johnny!

See how I glad to see you.

What a hear you turned out to be.

Where have you been keeping yourself?

Well, I tried to call you, but some strange voice answered the phone.

That was the cops.

They took us down for questioning.

Are you all right?

Depends on what you mean by all right.

Hey, you got a drink?

You bet.

You want it in a glass or a funnel?

As usual.

Bourbon straight with a bourbon chaser.

Come on.

Oh.

Oh, this is for me.

You guys did all right for yourself.

Hey, I'll pour that into you.

Uh, what are you going to do, Johnny?

Any ideas?

It's pretty obvious.

You haven't much choice.

You're not going to give yourself up to the cops.

Why not?

Johnny's right.

The longer he hides out, the tougher it'll be, and he can't hide out forever.

No, not if somebody rats on him, he can't.

Meaning me, I suppose.

Johnny, did that housekeeper see you downstairs?

Housekeeper?

The one at the Cavendish Court.

He was here just a while ago.

He saw you go into Harwood's Hotel.

I wonder what he was doing there.

Maybe there was a buck in it.

George, what do you think my chances are if I get myself up?

When a record like yours and after what happened,

no jury in the world would convict you.

We're not going to take that chance, Johnny.

You and me are going to scream out of here.

The cops won't be looking for two guys.

Hey, wait a minute.

You boys think I killed her.

Well, it...it doesn't make any difference what we think.

Legally.

Legally.

You can skip the rest of it.

Wait a minute, Johnny, it don't matter to me what you're trying...

Johnny, wait a minute!

Well, I hope you're satisfied.

Morrison.

In case you've been expecting this, haven't you, Mr.

Morrison?

How much don't you give that house paper?

Why?

Well, you bought yourself was a pinch.

Take a look.

They got him.

Well, now maybe we can do something.

Hey, this isn't the way to headquarters.

Let me see that badge again.

This is a courtesy badge.

You got courtesy, didn't you?

Can you handle them alone?

Hope I didn't hit him too hard.

I might need him for bait.

Thank you.

Hold it.

Give it to him.

Wise guy, huh?

It's easy to remember, but so hard to forget.

Mr.

Howard, there are two men asking to see you.

Any idea what they want?

I'm sorry they wouldn't tell me.

I know it's over.

Suppose they'll tell me?

These nightclub monkeys do all right for themselves, don't they, Jewish?

Looks like there's a living in it.

You wish to see me?

We're friends of Johnny Morrison's.

Well?

You've heard of him, haven't you?

Come into my office.

Have a seat.

Let's stand up.

What's on your mind?

About half an hour ago,

Johnny was picked up outside our apartment by a couple of plainclothes men.

What's the best thing that could have happened to him, isn't it?

That's what we thought, half an hour ago.

Only they didn't happen to be plainclothes men.

We checked at headquarters.

And are you surprised?

Maybe you ought to tell me what you're talking about.

There's a guy you really gotta draw a picture for, George.

Then take it easy.

Take it easy.

That's all you do.

Take it easy.

What does it get you?

What did it get Johnny?

Maybe you can answer that funny face.

Before you answer that, get this through your head.

If anything happens to Johnny,

you're looking at a couple of guys who'll spend a lot of time taking care of

whoever did it.

I'll remember that if it seems important.

We'll take care of that, too.

Hello?

Captain Henderson?

Put him on.

These guys are full of nifties, George.

Yeah?

Just a minute.

Yes, Captain?

We've dug up a little more information,

something we're rather anxious to talk to you about,

to keep in the spare of the time.

I'll be right down, Captain.

I'm leaving now.

Okay?

Who the way will you get back?

Make yourselves at home.

What do I think?

Yeah, that's really something, ain't it?

You think you busted it?

I could be.

The table hit it plenty hard enough.

Yeah, hey, put it in here.

Put some salt in.

It might help.

That was just hot.

That does feel good.

Well, let her tie him up just in case.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Give me another drink, will you?

Yeah.

How much do I have?

Oh, it was in the bill for what bill for pretty good fountain pen to huh, huh?

What else did you get?

Nothing.

Come on.

Hand it over Okay There's ethics in this business the same as any other Excuse

me, I thought my husband was in here.

Hmm.

Give a look how it's been I bet she caused plenty.

Hey George, how much would it cost to get you to button your lip just once?

I'm sorry.

Mr.

Harwood went out You're George and Buzz, aren't you?

Female detective.

Johnny told me about you.

Why would he tell you anything?

Just so happens I'm a friend of his, too.

Since when?

We only hit town yesterday.

How long does it take to become a friend of Johnny Morrison's?

Oh, excuse me, Captain Hendrickson's under form.

Ask him for Mr.

Harrowood.

What shall I tell him?

Tell him to go soak his head.

Get out of here and close that door.

I got to listen any more to that monkey musical.

Mr.

Harrowood's on his way to the captain's office.

Just tell him he's left, Paul.

Yes, madam.

It's a shell fragment right above the air.

Kept playing over and over and over again.

Like it was the only record they had.

It's in one of those ritzy bungalows.

Buzz, what are you talking about?

I don't know.

What are you doing that for?

Doing what?

Picking it, that flower.

I don't like it.

Say, that's funny.

That's the same monkey music they kept playing in the apartment next door.

Oh, that's funny.

All day long, beating in my head.

You got to pull yourself together, fella.

It wasn't next door either.

It was someplace else.

The music was right in the same room with us.

And she kept picking at that flower.

Just like you were doing.

Only she wouldn't stop.

She kept right on doing it.

Hello, this is Mr. Howard.
Is Paul there ?

What?

Give me that again, slow.

Okay, tell him to relax.

Yeah, I'll be right back.

Still playing the hotshot, huh?

Looks a disappointed.

The boys did their best.

Mr.

Bower.

Don't you mind telling me how you found out?

Recognize that photograph on the floor?

Or read what's on the back of it.

That would be Helen.

She wasn't the girl to throw away this kind of information.

Why didn't you make sure of that before you killed her?

In a hotel bungalow?

With a .45?

I could have arranged things better than that.

Like you arranged this?

This could have stood a little more polished, too.

Just a cigarette.

Maybe you're right at that.

Not much of a hotshot after all.

Such a nice, clean start I had, too.

Helping another wild kid shoot a bank messenger back in Percay.

And for free.

Didn't have a dime on him.

And I spent the next fifteen years trying to kid myself it never happened.

I get on a war plant, nightclub.

I even marry a girl.

A girl oughtn't have given me the time of the day.

This is how I end up.

What makes it even worse is the cops aren't interested in either of us anymore.

They've already got their killer.

When?

They caught up with him at the Blue Dahlia a little while ago.

One of your buddies.

He just confessed.

What are you trying to get me?

There's the phone.

I'm sorry.

All right.

No.

Okay, so she did give me a little dough once in a while to keep my mouth shut.

What's so wrong with that?

That's the last I got.

Yo, come here.

Are you positive this is the man you saw go into the bungalow with Mrs.

Morrison?

I already told you I did, didn't I?

Ain't that enough?

It's our business to know what's enough.

Take it easy.

Now, let's get back to the shot you heard,

seeing you finally made your mind up to tell us about it.

Oh, now, wait a minute, Captain Hendrickson.

I ain't trying to hold anything back.

It might have been backfire.

It ain't always so easy to tell.

What time was it?

Here's I can figure about ten minutes to eight.

And what time did you say this man got home?

I didn't say.

I didn't even say he went out.

Quit trying to cover up for me, George.

Give them what they want.

What for?

To back up the evidence of a cheap blackmailer?

Hey, just a minute.

Shut up and sit down.

Over there.

Come on, son.

You just about told us you killed her.

Why not give us the rest of it?

Why do you have to keep pounding at him?

What more do you want him to say?

It's got to make sense to us, too, Mrs.

Harwood.

You didn't go there to kill her.

You'd never even seen her before.

What did she do that got you going?

The thing she said.

What she was.

What she did to Johnny.

She didn't even care.

All she did was picket that flower.

And the gun lying right there in the chair, asking you to use it.

My head hurts.

I don't remember so good.

Sure you remember.

It's Johnny's wife we're talking about.

You remember Johnny's wife all right.

Johnny.

George.

George, where's Johnny?

Why ain't Johnny here?

He'd know I wouldn't mean to do a thing like that.

No, why wouldn't you?

All he had to do was grab hold of the gun, jab it against her heart,

and squeeze the trigger.

That's the way it was, wasn't it?

Come on!

Give out!

Don't try to dumb me up on us.

That's the way it was, wasn't it?

Sounds like you said it all.

Johnny.

Hello, Mr.

Morrison.

About time we got together.

Nobody's going to get hurt with this, except maybe me.

Okay, Buzz, light it.

Johnny, you're crazy.

Let him alone and give him back that gun.

He can't do it anymore.

He can do it with his eyes shut.

On your feet, Buzz.

On your feet, I said.

Now give him back that gun.

Now give him back that gun.

Thank you.

All right, fella, light it up.

Okay, Skipper.

I did it.

I did it, didn't I, Johnny?

Sure you did.

Jab it against her heart, huh?

Still buying that?

I have to.

That's how she was killed.

What says he killed her?

It was his own idea.

Who sold him the idea?

I did.

Would be me, wouldn't it?

Would you mind telling me how?

He got terribly upset when I began to pull the petals from this flower.

This is beginning to make sense.

He must have seen Helen do that, too.

It was my gun.

Helen and I were crawling.

We were loud.

You knew that.

You heard us.

Or didn't you tell him about coming through that door?

Sure I did.

And I had to, didn't I, Mr.

Morrison?

Well, you got a fall guy standing right in front of you.

What more do you want?

I just happen to be dumb enough to want to get the right fall guy.

When your wife was killed, you were...

50 miles north of here.

Let's you out, doesn't it?

Let's Mrs.

Harwood out, too.

Makes things a little tough for us, doesn't it?

Yeah, you're right out in the limb.

So all you've got left is to pick on him.

We've still got Harwood, if we can find him.

Well, you can count Harwood out.

That's interesting.

And if you know where Leo's ranch is, maybe you'd better go take a look.

Think you can arrange that?

Any further details?

No, look, Captain, I'm not trying to run your business.

You're doing fine.

I'm not proud.

You were swollen there a minute ago, Buzz.

Still got that old circus shot, ain't it, Johnny?

Sure you have.

It's got to have a lot more.

Come on, tell me the part that counts.

Counts?

Yeah, come on, come on.

That's what they keep saying.

I hit that match just like I used to, didn't I, Johnny?

You can't remember, Johnny.

He just doesn't know.

Well, what's the matter with me, Johnny?

There's nothing wrong with you, Buzz.

You just got to think.

You got to remember, that's all.

All right, now, for me.

For me, what happened in the bungalow?

Come on, come on.

Oh, that's right.

Yeah, there was a bungalow, Johnny.

Yeah.

And she, well, she kept picking at that flower, Johnny.

Just, just like that one over there.

And it was raining, and I, Come on, what happened, Buzz?

Come on.

My head, the music was beating, Johnny, beating, beating, beating, beating,

beating, beating music in my head.

Is the radio here?

Johnny, you don't think I did it to you, Johnny?

There's no radio here.

Just the speaker from the dance floor.

Turn it on.

The funky music, you can't hear me.

The funky music.

Okay.

She did buy me a drink.

What's wrong with that?

I didn't even know who she was, and so she started talking about Johnny.

Will you cut that music out?

Go on with the rest of it, Buzz.

Why didn't you kill her?

Who says I killed her?

You can't hear me, that stuff.

Not even you.

I wouldn't dirty my hands on her.

All right, turn it off.

I didn't mean that, Johnny.

I just had to get out of there.

I couldn't take it anymore.

She called me back, but I just kept right on going.

And I don't know where.

I guess I must have gone home.

That's where I went, wasn't it, George?

He was wet enough to have walked all the way,

and he got home just three minutes past eight.

Are you satisfied?

You could have told us that a long time ago.

I guess you know why I didn't.

I wasn't sure enough when that shot was fired.

Are you sure now?

You've got a witness, haven't you?

A witness you yourself called a cheap blackmail.

Now, just a minute.

I could be called that once too often.

You be sure to tell us.

What makes you so top -heavy all of a sudden?

For all anybody here knows, you could have killed Mrs.

Morrison yourself.

Except that you fixed the time.

Well, maybe I kind of made a mistake there.

Five or ten minutes either way would be hard to tell.

I was kind of busy keeping the rain off my neck.

I ain't the wristwatch type, you know.

That umbrella of yours must have got pretty wet last night.

That's what I bought it for.

You ought to have left it on the porch instead of letting it drip all over Mrs.

Morrison's carpet.

I did leave it on the porch.

That is a...

All right.

Might as well wrap it up for tonight.

We don't seem to be getting any place.

We'll want signed statements from all of you, but tomorrow will be time enough.

Yeah, I got to get back the job myself.

Well, good night, all.

No hard feelings, I hope.

Oh, Captain, we should put in a good word for me with the hotel manager.

He's kind of sore at me.

Surely not for blackmailing the guests.

All right.

You don't really think you're going out that door, do you?

What are you getting at?

How much did you up the ante on her when her husband came home?

What did she threaten to do?

Get you fired?

Or was she going to have Harwood's friends give you the treatment?

Maybe she was going to blow a hole in you herself when she wouldn't know how to

handle that kind of a gun.

All you had to do was grab it out of her hand.

I guess even a very cheap blackmailer could do that.

Cheaper?

Sure.

Cigar and a drink and a couple of dirty bucks.

That's all it cost to buy me.

That's what she thought.

Found out a little different, didn't she?

Maybe I could get tired of being pushed around by cops and hotel managers and

ritzy dames and bungalows.

Maybe I could cost a little something just for once.

And if I do end up in a slab...

Boy, and I sunk.

And that was one of the easy ones.

I must be getting old.

Felt kind of sorry for the old gent at that.

Thanks, Bill.

You're welcome, Mrs.

Howard.

Good night.

We seem to be saying good -bye again.

You're welcome, Mrs.

Howard.

Won't be so difficult this time, I guess.

Last night when I made myself walk out on you, remember?

I said every guy had seen you before, somewhere.

I remember.

But the trick was to find you.

I remember that, too.

Do you think I'd ever forget it?

Thank you.

Uh, let's go find someplace where we can get a drink, huh?

We've got to wait for Johnny.

We've got to wait for Johnny.

What do you think I am, a camel?

Come on.