Original subtitles

Mr. Wendice's watch had stopped. Some of us compared times.

Thank you. See, it was when Mrs. Wendice came in here...

...to answer his call that she was attacked.

Did you phone Margot before or after your boss?

Tony, I know what I wanted to ask you.

Why did you telephone me last night?

Now, just one moment, before I lose the thread of this.

Now, at three minutes past 1 1, you left your party to phone your boss.

Yes, I used the lobby pay phone.

How long were you on the phone to your boss...

...before you called your wife?

I never did speak to him.

I couldn't remember his number, so I rang my wife to look it up in the address book.

You mean, you hauled me out of bed to get his number?

I had to. My boss was flying to Brussels this morning.

I wanted to remind him of something. It was rather important.

Wasn't there a directory in the hotel?

Yes, but his country number wouldn't be in that directory.

-And did you phone him? -Oh, no.

When I heard what happened here...

-...I forgot all about it. -Yes.

Mr. Halliday, Mr. and Mrs. Wendice are coming...

...to my office now to make their statements.

Would you give me your address, sir? I may want to get in touch.

-Certainly. -I'll just get my coat.

-I'm staying at Carfax Hotel. -Just write it down there, will you?

Your telephone number as well.

-You ever been over here before, sir? -Yes. Yes, about a year ago.

-There you are, sir. -Thank you.

Mr. Wendice, there's quite a crowd in front of the house.

I was going to suggest we left by the garden.

-lsn't there a gate at the far end? -Yes.

The gate may be locked.

-Would you mind taking a look, sir? -Certainly.

How much does he know about you and Mrs. Wendice?

-I beg your pardon? -You wrote a letter to Mrs. Wendice...

...from New York. It was found in the dead man's inside pocket.

I didn't mention it because I wasn't sure how much Mr. Wendice knew.

Have you any idea how it got there?

No.

-Where's Tony? -He's just gone into the garden.

Mrs. Wendice, when you lost your handbag...

-...did you lose a letter as well? -No.

Margot, it was found in the dead man's pocket.

You did lose it, didn't you?

Yes, I did.

I asked you that before, didn't l?

Yes, but you see, my husband didn't know about it.

This man was blackmailing you, wasn't he?

It's no good. Tony will have to know.

-No. -It's the only thing we can do.

After Mrs. Wendice lost my letter...

...she received these two notes.

Last October?

How many times have you seen this man?

I've never seen him!

-Mr. Halliday, come with us. -Yes, of course.

Mrs. Wendice...

...when you make your statement...

...there may be other police officers present.

I shall warn you first that anything you say...

...will be taken down and may be used in evidence.

Now never mind what you've told me so far.

We'll forget all about that.

But from now on, tell us exactly what you know about this man...

...and exactly what happened last night.

If you try and conceal anything at all...

...it may put you in a very serious position.

I wish you'd explain what you mean by this.

I will.

Now, do you admit that you killed this man?

Well, you say you did it in self-defense.

Unfortunately, there were no witnesses...

...so we've only your word for that.

But I heard it all, inspector, over the telephone.

What exactly did you hear, Mr. Wendice?

I heard a series of faint cries.

Did you hear anything to indicate that a struggle was going on?

What I did hear, inspector, is perfectly consistent with what my wife told me.

So all you really know of the matter is what your wife told you, isn't it?

Now, you suggest that this man came to burgle your flat.

But there's no evidence of that.

There is evidence, however, that he was blackmailing you.

-Blackmail? -Yes, I'm afraid that's true, Tony.

And you suggest he came in by the window.

And we know that he came in by that door.

But he can't have come in that way. That door was locked.

And there are only two keys.

My husband had his with him. Mine was in my handbag.

Here.

You could have let him in.

Are you suggesting she let him in herself?

At present, that appears to be the only way he could've entered.

Don't you even believe I was attacked?

How do you think I got these bruises on my throat?

You could have caused those bruises yourself.

A silk stocking was found outside the window.

It had two knots tied in it.

Does that mean anything to you?

I suppose it must have been the stocking he used.

We found the twin stocking hidden underneath this blotting pad.

Can you explain why your attacker should do that?

No.

Those stockings were yours?

-No! -We know they were.

One of the heels had been darned with some silk that didn't quite match.

We found a reel of that silk in your mending basket.

Tony, there was a pair of stockings here.

I've heard of the police deliberately planting clues to ensure a conviction.

His men were here for hours last night.

They could have taken those stockings and done anything.

Of course. Probably wiped his shoes...

-...on the doormat as well. -Hello?

Hello, Roger, thank heaven you're in.

Tony Wendice here. Listen, we had a burglary last night...

-...and Margot was attacked. -Margot? Was she hurt?

She's all right, but the man was killed. The police are here.

Don't laugh. They are suggesting that Margot killed him intentionally.

I wouldn't say that if I were you, sir.

-Well, that's a good one. -Yes, it is funny, isn't it?

Could you come around at once, Maida Vale Police Station?

-Yes, be there right away. -Thanks, old boy. Goodbye.

It's all right, darling. Roger's gonna meet us there.

Mr. Wendice, I should advise you--

Our lawyer will give us any advice we need, thank you.

Margot...

-...here's your handbag. -Thank you.

-You are coming? -But of course, inspector.

Yes. Well, I just-- I mean, I just wondered.

I charge you, that on the 26th of September...

...you did willfully murder Charles Alexander Swan.

Do you wish to say anything in answer to this charge?

And did you, at any time in your life...

...meet this man Swan?

You received a letter from Mr. Halliday.

This letter was found in the dead man 's pocket.

Now you say you did not know him.

Do you find the prisoner, Margot Mary Wendice...

...guilty or not guilty?

Guilty.

The sentence of this court is that you be taken to the place...

...from whence you came, from thence to a place of lawful execution.

-Hello, Mark. -T ony.

I....

Have you gotten any news from the home secretary?

Then it's tomorrow?

T ony, I take it you'd do anything to save her life.

-We've done everything. -No, we haven't done everything.

I've been trying to figure out something...

...just in case it came to this.

I really believe it's her only chance.

Let's have it.

Margot was convicted because nobody believed her story.

The prosecution made out she was telling lies...

...and the jury believed him. What did his case really amount to?

Just three things: My letter, her stocking...

...and the fact that because no key was found on Swan...

...she must've let him in.

-Don't tell me-- -Wait a minute.

Now, hear me out. This is where you come in.

Now, you've got to go tell the police and tell them some story.

Anything to convince them Margot wasn't lying after all.

The police aren't likely to believe anything I tell them.

Tony, I've been writing this stuff for years.

I've figured out something for you to tell them.

Now, let's take those points one by one.

Margot says she never let Swan in through this door.

Okay.

He must have opened it somehow.

Suppose you tell the police that you left your key out here somewhere?

Then Swan could have let himself in.

-How did he know it was there? -You told him.

But I haven't met Swan in 20 years.

Tony, Swan is dead.

We've gotta make the most of that.

You can tell any story you like. You can even say...

...you two met somewhere and planned this whole thing together.

Planned what?

Are you suggesting I arranged for Swan to come here...

-...to blackmail her? -No.

To kill her.

-Kill Margot? -That's it.

-Why? -Because she said so.

"He came from behind the curtain...

...and he tried to strangle me."

Okay, that's what he did.

Just support everything she said.

Don't you see? That's my whole idea.

What about your letter?

A man doesn't kill the person he blackmails.

-That doesn't make sense. -I know. It worried me too.

But I've got that licked.

You tell them that you stole her handbag yourself.

Why should I do that?

Because you wanted to read my letter.

When you read it, you got mad and decided to teach her a lesson.

You wrote those blackmail notes.

Nobody can prove you didn't.

And you can also say you never saw Swan at Victoria Station.

You just invented that to try to connect him with my letter.

You see how it all hangs together?

But your letter was found in his pocket.

-You put it there. -When?

Sometime before the police arrived.

And you could have also...

...planted the stockings at the same time.

Mark, why should I want anyone to kill Margot?

I know, Tony.

It's tough for us to see because we--

We both love her.

But we need a reason now.

We need it badly!

Let's take one of the old stock motives.

-Had Margot made a will? -Yes, I believe she had.

-Who was the beneficiary? -Why, I am, I suppose.

-There's your reason! -Thousand of husbands and wives...

...Ieave money to each other without murdering each other.

The police wouldn't believe it. They'd take it as a man...

...trying desperately to save his wife.

Well, I certainly think it's worth that try.

Face it, they can't hang you for a murder that never came off.

The most you'd get would be a few years in prison.

Thanks very much.

It's a small price to pay. You'd save her life!

That's fine coming from you, Mark.

Her life wouldn't be in danger at all if it hadn't been for you.

It's because of her association with you...

...that she lost the sympathy of the jury.

Don't get me wrong, Mark.

If there was the slightest chance of this coming off, I'd do it.

But it's got to be convincing.

For instance, how could I have persuaded Swan to do a thing like this?

You offered him money or something.

What money? I don't have any.

Yes! You'd have had Margot's.

It would be months before I get my hands on that.

And people don't commit murder on credit.

No, I'm-- I'm afraid you'll have to think of something better than that.

I know you're trying to help.

But can you imagine anyone believing a story like that?

Yes, I can. If you make them believe it!

I wouldn't know what to say. Come with me.

That would be a mistake. They know the stuff I write.

We wouldn't stand a chance--

Hello, inspector.

Is it about my wife?

-No, sir, I'm afraid not. -Then what is it?

I'm making inquiries in connection with a robbery that took place...

-...about three weeks ago, sir. -Can't it wait a few days?

Of course, sir. I'm very conscious of your position.

If I may, I'd like to say how deeply sorry I am--

Yes, inspector, all right. Now, how can I help you?

The cashier of a factory in Ledbury Street was attacked in his office...

...and two men made off with several hundred pounds...

...mostly in pound notes.

What is all this to do with me?

In these cases, all police divisions are asked to keep a lookout...

...for anyone spending large sums of money.

-I see. -And I was wondering...

-...if you'd sold anything recently for cash. -Why?

My sergeant happened to be making inquiries...

...at Wales' Garage the other day, and it appears that you...

...settled an account there recently for...

...just over �60.

Yes, I happened to have quite a bit on me...

...so I settled for cash.

I see. Had you just drawn this money from your bank?

Have you been to my bank, inspector?

Yes, as a matter of fact, I have. But they wouldn't help me.

Bank statements are always jealously guarded.

Yes, but I'm rather surprised you didn't come to me first.

It was only a routine matter after all.

I didn't want to disturb you.

Where did you get it, sir?

Is that any of your business?

If it was stolen money, yes, sir, it is my business.

-Do you mind if I smoke? -Go ahead.

Do you really think I've been receiving stolen money?

Until you tell me where you got it, I shan't know what to think, shall l?

You see, if you got this money from someone you didn't know...

...I mean, that might be the very person we're looking for.

Hello.

-ls this yours? -What is it?

Somebody's latchkey. It was lying on the floor just here.

No. Mine's here.

No. No, it's not yours.

It may be mine, then.

Yes. Yes, it is mine.

It must have dropped out of the pocket. There's a small hole there.

That's the trouble with these latchkeys, they're all alike.

-Sorry, sir, you were saying? -I don't think I was, was l?

Yes, yes. About that money.

I'd be grateful if you'd tell me where you got it.

A hundred pounds is a lot to carry around.

-You said 60 a moment ago. -Did l?

Oh, yes. Yes, my sergeant decided to dig a little deeper...

...before he put in his report.

He said that you also paid a bill at your tailor's...

...and another for wines and spirits.

I'm sorry he went to that trouble. Had he come to me, I could have explained it.

I simply won rather a large sum at dog-racing.

-Over �1 00? -Yes. Over �1 00.

It has been done before, you know.

Why didn't you tell me this straightaway?

I was ashamed of being caught going to dog-racing...

...when my wife was under sentence of death.

Yes, I know how it is. It helps take your mind off things.

Well, that answers everything, doesn't it?

I'm sorry to bother you at this time.

Not at all, inspector. Not at all.

There's just one other thing, sir.

Have you a small, blue attach� case?

-You found it already. -Why, have you lost it?

Yes. I was going to report it this afternoon.

-I think I left it in a taxi. -I see.

We must try and get it back, mustn't we?

Where did you pick the taxi up, sir?

Hyde Park Corner, about half an hour ago.

-Anything valuable? -No. A few books and--

-Any money? -Two or three pounds in an envelope.

-Not 200 or 300? -No, I'm afraid not.

-Just as well. -Tell me, inspector...

...how'd you find out about the attach� case?

The wine shop said you had it when you paid your bill...

...so my sergeant checked on your garage and tailor.

They remembered you had it when you paid them.

Yes, well, I use it instead of a briefcase, you see.

These taxi men are pretty good at turning things in.

I hope you'll find it all right, sir.

Inspector, before you go...

...I think Mr. Wendice has something to tell you.

Oh, has he?

And I'd like to show you something in here, sir.

No wonder you couldn't bear to sleep in her bedroom.

There must be over �500 here.

Where did you get it?

I can tell you why he got it.

This money was to have been paid to Swan...

...after he murdered Mrs. Wendice.

But as you know, there was an accident...

...so it wasn't necessary to pay Swan after all.

He couldn't produce this without questions being asked...

...so he lived on it.

He's been living on it since the 27th of March.

Well, Mr. Wendice?

Before you came, he was trying to persuade me...

...to go to the police with the most fantastic story you ever heard.

Apparently, I bribed Swan to murder my wife so that--

Correct me if I go wrong, Mark.

So that I could inherit all her money.

And that isn't all.

You remember Mr. Halliday's letter?

Well, apparently, Swan didn't steal it, I did.

And I wrote those two blackmail notes...

...and I kept Mr. Halliday's letter and planted it on the body.

-And the stocking-- -Yes, the stocking.

I'd better tell this. It sounds more like a confession.

I substituted-- Is that the right word?

Yes, I substituted my wife's other stocking for the one that--

You do follow me, don't you? What else, Mark?

He told Swan he'd hide his key somewhere out here...

...probably up on this ledge.

Swan let himself in.

He hid behind the curtains, then Wendice telephoned.

-That brought her-- -One moment.

If Swan had used Mr. Wendice's key, it would have been on him when he died.

Besides, how did Mr. Wendice get in when he returned from the hotel?

She could have let him in.

He could've taken his key from Swan's pocket before you got here.

He let himself in with his own key. That came out in the trial.

-Don't you remember? -Come on, Mark. Your move.

Swan could have taken the key down from here...

...unlocked the door...

...then replaced the key on the ledge before he came in.

This is all very interesting, but it isn't getting me any nearer...

...to what I came to find out.

But this is life-and-death. What else matters?

What matters to me is where Mr. Wendice got this money.

That's all I want to know.

Just a moment. Please, sir.

Inspector, wait a minute! Look at this.

The last check he wrote was on the 26th of March.

That's the day before this all happened. He's been living off it since.

-That's his bank's-- -Mr. Halliday.

Sorry.

He hasn't drawn any large sums from his bank. Nothing over �53.

But look, inspector...

...practically every week, �35, 40, 45, 50.

He could have saved it up.

I could have been planning all this for years.

-Then where did you get it? -Do you really want to know?

-I warn you. You won't like it, Mark. -Come on.

All right, you asked for it.

When she called me back from the party that night...

...I found her kneeling beside Swan's body, going through his pockets.

She kept saying he had something of hers, but she couldn't find it.

She was almost hysterical. That's why I wouldn't let police question her.

In the state she was in, she would have told every lie under the sun.

The next morning, she showed me the money...

...just as it is now, all in �1 notes.

And she said, "lf anything happens to me, don't let them find this."

Well, after she was arrested, I took the money in that case...

...to Charing Cross Station and left it in the checkroom.

Whenever I needed money, I took it out...

...and left it in some other checkroom.

I knew if you had found it, she wouldn't stand a chance.

You see, she was just about to give it to him when she killed him instead.

You don't expect anyone to believe this, do you?

I have really no idea. What about it, inspector?

I must say, I suspected something like that.

You're not going to check up on this? She's being hanged tomorrow.

All this has been out of my hands for months.

-There's been a trial and an appeal-- -Of course it wouldn't mean much to you.

You'd have to admit you arrested the wrong person.

-I think you'd better go. -You bet I'll go.

But you've made one mistake.

What will happen when Margot hears this?

-She'll deny it, of course. -And perhaps she'll change her will.

You'll have done it all for nothing, Tony.

If I'd told that story of his, would anyone believe me?

No, not a chance.

Before nearly every execution, someone comes forward like this.

This must have been distressing for you...

-...coming as it did. -You suppose they let him see her?

I don't want her upset just now.

Have a word with your lawyer. He might be able to prevent it.

You should get that money in the bank before somebody pinches it.

Thank you. I think I will.

I hope Mr. Halliday's not waiting outside to see me.

Would you mind just taking a look, sir, to make sure he's gone?

-All clear. -Good.

By the way, sir, I was asked to tell you...

...there are a few belongings of Mrs. Wendice at the station.

-What sort of things? -Just books and a handbag.

They'd like you to come and collect them.

-You mean, after tomorrow? -Yes, or today if you like.

Just ask the desk sergeant. He knows all about it.

Well, goodbye, Mr. Wendice. I don't suppose we shall meet again.

Goodbye, inspector, and thank you very much.

-Maida Vale Police. -Chief inspector here.

Give me Sergeant O' Brien, quick.

-O'Brien here. -Hubbard.

Look, O' Brien, I've got back in again.

-Start the ball rolling. -Right away, sir.

Inspector Hubbard.

It's me, Mark Halliday.

Now what are you up to? What's the idea?

-What are you doing? -Never mind.

-I was wondering why-- -Get out of here.

-Listen, inspector-- -Shut up!

If you want to save Mrs. Wendice, keep quiet. Let me handle this.

How are you possibly going to--?

Look, what is all this?

They talk about flatfooted policemen.

May the saints protect us from the gifted amateur.

You'd better prepare yourself for a surprise, Mr. Halliday.

Margot!

Hello, Mark.

-Where's Tony? -He....

-He's gone out. -When will he be back?

We're not sure.

-Was that you who rang just now? -Yes.

-Why didn't you let me in? -You've got a key.

-Why didn't you use it? -I did...

-...but it didn't fit the lock. -You know why, don't you?

No, I don't. Has the lock been changed?

May I have your bag a moment?

Whose key is this?

I thought it was mine.

I don't know.

What's going on here?

Your husband's explained this, you know.

You can tell us all about it now.

What is it?

I don't understand.

No, I don't believe you do.

-Pearson. -Yes, sir.

Take this handbag back to the police station...

-...and get that car out of the way. -Yes, sir.

Wait a minute, you clod. You can't walk down the street like that.

You'll be arrested. Here, put it in this.

Margot, how did you get here?

I don't know.

About an hour ago, the warden came to see me...

...and just said I was to be taken home.

Then two detectives brought me here.

They said I could go, but I couldn't get that door open.

Where's Tony?

He was supposed to visit this morning...

...and they said he couldn't come.

Has anything happened to him?

No. Nothing.

I don't want to interfere...

...but do you think you could tell us what you're up to?

Mrs. Wendice, what I'm about to tell you may come as a shock.

Yes?

We strongly suspect that your husband had planned to murder you.

Tony arranged for Swan to come here that night and kill you.

How long have you known this?

-Did you suspect it yourself? -No, never.

And yet....

What's the matter with me, Mark?

I don't seem able to feel anything.

Shouldn't I break down or something?

It's delayed action, that's all.

In a couple of days, you're gonna have the most wonderful breakdown.

When did you find out, sir?

Well, the first clue came quite by accident.

We discovered that your husband had been spending...

...a large number of pound notes all over the place.

It ran into over �300.

And it appeared to have started at about the time you were arrested.

Now, I had to find out where he got that money and how.

Then I remembered that after you were arrested we searched this flat.

And I saw a copy of his bank statement in that desk.

So yesterday afternoon, I went to the prison and asked to see your handbag.

While I was doing this, I managed to lift your latchkey.

Highly irregular, of course, but my blood was up.

And then this morning, when your husband was out...

...I came back here to look at his statement.

I never saw it because I never got through that door.

You see, the key that l'd taken from your handbag...

...didn't fit the lock.

Williams?

Wendice.

That was a near one.

Maida Vale Police. O'Brien speaking.

Hubbard. Look, O' Brien, he's found out about his raincoat.

He just came back and couldn't get in.

I think he's on his way to the station now.

Has Pearson arrived with the handbag?

-Yes, sir. -Good. Now, listen.

Give Wendice those books and the handbag...

...and make sure he sees the key.

Better make him check the contents and sign for them.

If he wants his own key and raincoat...

-...tell him I've gone to Glasgow. -Right, sir.

-Any questions? -No questions.

Call me back when he leaves the station.

Right, sir.

Well, Mr. Halliday, have you got it?

I don't think so. Where's Mrs. Wendice's key?

It took me just half an hour to find it.

But if it was there, why didn't Wendice use it just now?

He didn't use it because he doesn't realize it's there.

He still thinks it's in the handbag.

You see, you were very nearly right.

He told Swan that he would leave your latchkey under the stair carpet.

And told him to return it to the same place when he left.

But as Swan was killed, we assumed that your key...

...would still be in one of Swan's pockets.

That was his little mistake because Swan had done...

...exactly as you suggested, Mr. Halliday.

He unlocked the door...

...then returned the key before he came in.

And it's been out there ever since.

And the key Wendice took out of Swan's pocket...

-...and returned to her handbag was-- -Swan's own latchkey.

Mind you, even I didn't guess that at once. Extraordinary.

You know, it had always puzzled me that no key was found on Swan's body.

After all, most men carry a latchkey about with them.

And then I had a brain wave.

I took the key that was in your handbag...

...to his girlfriend's, Mrs. Van Dorn's, and unlocked the door of her flat.

And then I borrowed her telephone and called Scotland Yard.

-Why did you bring me here? -You were the only other person...

...who could possibly have left that key outside.

I had to find out if you knew it was there.

Suppose I had known?

You didn't.

-Mark. -Yes, darling?

I think I'm going to have that breakdown.

-Inspector Hubbard? -O'Brien?

Yes. He's just left the station.

Right.

Try and hang on just a little longer.

Williams, he's just left the station!

-Give me a thump if he comes this way. -Do you have a handkerchief?

What happens now?

Sooner or later, he'll come back here.

As I've pinched his latchkey, he'll try the one in the handbag.

When that doesn't fit, he'll realize his mistake.

Put two and two together and look under the stair carpet.

But if he doesn't do that, all this is guesswork.

-We can't prove a thing. -That's perfectly true.

But once he opens that door, we shall know everything.

-What will you do then? -I'm to phone the home secretary.

-He's standing by for a call now. -And Mrs. Wendice?

Will have nothing else to fear.

-All right, Margot? -Yes, I'm all right.

Quiet, now, you two.

-What's he doing? -He's wondering why...

...that key doesn't fit.

He's going around to the back entrance. He's stopped again.

He's looking at the handbag now.

He's trying to remember when he put the key back in there.

Now he's given up.

I'm afraid we've had it this time. He's going way down the street.

Hold it. He's stopped again.

He's turning round.

He's staring at the key.

Of course, that's Swan's key, isn't it?

Now he's got it! He's coming back fast.

He's remembered.

Well, as you said, Mark, it might work out on paper, but....

Congratulations, inspector.

By the way....

How about you, Margot?

Yes, I could do with something.

-Mark? -So could l.

I suppose you're still on duty, inspector.

>> Napisy pobrane z http://napisy.org >>>>>>>> nowa wizja napis�w