All language subtitles for Three on a Ticket

(wistful orchestral music)

(bright music)

- Angel, what are you doing?

- A beauty, exercise, silly.

- You don't need that.

- Oh no?
- No.

- With all those dizzy blondes
throwing themselves at you,

I'm not taking any chances.

And besides, I want you to
love me when I'm old and gray.

- Why should a couple of
years make a difference?

Anyway, I'm allergic to blondes.

Can I help it if
I'm irresistible?

- Oh, ho-ho.

Before you dislocate your arm
patting yourself on the back,

suppose we start
today's business?

You are operating a
business, you know.

- Okay, angel. How's business?

- Picking up.

- Yeah. Where's my breakfast?

- In your desk.

There's a Jim Lacy who
called this morning, Mike,

and he seemed terribly
anxious to see you.

- Jim Lacy.

Jim Lacy?

- Said he just
arrived from New York.

- Oh, sure, I remember him.
He used to be a private eye.

Most of his work had
a very peculiar odor.

(suspenseful music)

Oh, there he is now.

It's Lacy, all right.

He was drilled by a
small-caliber bullet.

How he got here under his
own power I'll never know.

(suspenseful music)

Looks like a piece
of a baggage check.

It must've been important

or he wouldn't have
hung onto it like that.

- Well, don't you think
you'd better call the police?

- Well, wait a minute.

Rafferty would love to catch me

with an extra body lying around.

He'd never listen to reason.

Well, there's nothing here
that tells me anything.

Except somebody paid him a big
wad of dough for something.

Private eyes don't carry
that kind of money. I know.

Here, enter that as
Exhibit A in the Lacy case.

You'd better call Homicide
now. Tell 'em what happened.

But remember, you haven't
seen me this morning.

I haven't been in the office.

Come on, come on,
angel. Get busy!

I'll slip out the back way.

- Police?

Homicide, please.

- I just got a wire
from Washington.

They want a pickup on a guy
named Jim Lacy for questioning.

(phone rings)

Hello, Rafferty talking.

- Uh, hello? This
is Michael Sha...

This is Phyllis, Mich...

This is Phillip...

Mike's secretary, Phyllis.

A corpse just walked in
and fell down on the floor.

- What!

- You don't have to shout at me.

I said a corpse just walked
in and fell down on the floor.

- That's what I
thought you said.

Keep him there! I
want to question him.

What am I saying?

She said a corpse walked in
and curled up on the floor.

If a guy is dead he
should be in the morgue,

not walking around!

(Phyllis whistles wanly)

- Oh...

(bright music)

- Well, here's where I
get a prize bawling-out.

It makes Phyl mad when
I show up late for work.

Well, why the convention?
What's happened?

- Suppose you tell me.

- I don't know. I left my
crystal ball at home, Pete.

Give me a hint.

- She said he wandered
in here and dropped dead.

- Well, if that's what she
said, that's what happened.

- Don't give me that, a guy's
not gonna go out for a walk

with a slug in his
chest like him.

- How about it, Doc? Could he
have walked after he was shot?

- That depends upon
a number of factors:

the man's constitution,

direction and location
of the bullet...

I'd say it's possible,
but not probable.

- Possible's good enough for me.

- I suppose you don't
even know who he is.

- Do I have to be
introduced to a man

before he can walk in
my office and drop dead?

- I'll tell you who he
is. His name is Jim Lacy.

And he phoned your office

just before he walked in
here and dropped dead.

- Well, could be Jim Lacy.

I haven't seen him
in about 10 years.

He never was a pal of mine.

Well, look, can I help
it if somebody plugs him

on his way to my office?

- Take him away, boys.

- Hey, Phyl, you're hot news.

How about giving
me your impression

of having a guy drop
dead at your feet?

- How would you like
an impression of
the back of my hand?

- I'm sorry I was late
this morning, angel.

It must have been pretty rugged.

- That's what I'd call
an understatement.

- Listen to me, Shayne.

The government is interested
in this guy Jim Lacy.

I got a wire from
Washington to pick him up.

Now, if you're withholding
any information,

you'll find yourself
playing with a hot potato.

- Thanks for the tip, Pete.

Your interest in my
welfare touches me deeply.

- My interest in your welfare
I could stick in my eye

and not even know it's there.

And you, you're under suspicion

for knowing more
than you've told.

- Don't worry, angel, he
can't pin a thing on you.

- Hey, Mike, what's this
business about Washington?

- You heard him. You know
as much about it as I do.

- Mike, don't you think that-
- No, I don't.

I've been tossed right into
the middle of something.

I'm gonna play it my way till
I find out what the score is.

(suspenseful music)

- Hey, Phyl, what's this gimmick
that Pete Rafferty's after

that Mike won't talk about?

- If Mike doesn't tell
you, Tim, I can't.

- No, of course not.

Well, I gotta go write a story
about a perambulating corpse.

The city editor's gonna think
I'm nuts. I'll see you later.

- Oh!
- Hello!

- [Woman] Are you Mr. Shayne?

- Would it help any if I was?

- Not much.

I'd like to see Shayne.

- Do you have an appointment?

- Is that necessary?
- Definitely.

Mr. Shayne doesn't see anyone

unless they have an appointment.

- It's very important
that I see him right away.

Jim Lacy said he was a
man I could depend upon.

- He told the truth.

- Please help me, Mr. Shayne.

- If you're in a jam, why
don't you hire Jim Lacy?

He's in the business.

- He doesn't have a license
to operate in this state.

I'm nearly frantic, Mr. Shayne.

If you don't help me, I
don't know what I'll do.

- Well, you tell
me your troubles.

I'll see if I can take the case.

Please see that we're not
disturbed, Ms. Hamilton.

Sit down.

(soft music)

Cigarette?
- Thank you.

- How do you happen
to know Jim Lacy?

- I met him through
a friend of mine

when I was in the chorus
of the New York show.

- When'd you see him last?

- Yesterday.

I was surprised to
have him look me up.

I didn't know he was in town.

- [Mike] What's he doing here?

- He said something about
being in on a big deal.

That was all.

What's this have to do with me?

- I don't know. It's your story.

What's the trouble?

- I was married to a
man named Mace Morgan,

but I left him when I
found out he was a crook

and I tried to start
my life over again.

I met a man named
Charles Worthing

and fell very much
in love with him.

And he fell in love with me.

- Worthing know
about Mace Morgan?

- No, I was afraid to tell him.

I wasn't to blame, but it
wasn't a very pretty story.

I thought he might
hold it against me.

- Go ahead.

- So when I found out that Mace

had been convicted of a robbery
and sent to prison, I...

I thought I could
escape from the past.

I came here intending
to quietly get a divorce

and thought everything
would be all right.

I was very happy.

(doorbell buzzes)

Mace!

- Hello, baby.

Surprised?

- Mace, I thought you were-

- Yeah, I know.

You thought I safely
laid away on ice.

But they haven't built the
hoosegow big enough to hold me.

- We were finished
a long time ago.

Why did you have to come here?

- I've been keeping
tabs on you, sweetheart.

I know all about
this big romance

that's come into your life.

- Is there any reason
why I shouldn't be happy?

Just because I wouldn't let
you make a tramp out of me?

- Of course not, baby.

I want you to be happy.

But, uh...

It should be worth
something to you.

- What do you mean by that?

- Oh, this Worthing character.

He's got plenty of blue chips.

But I'll raise an awful smell
if you try to get a divorce.

Go ahead, marry him.

You and I can work out a deal.

- Blackmail?

- Must you be so crude?

I've got something to sell.

You can buy it or
not, if you like.

But you better not play
around with any idea

of turning me over to the
police as an escaped con.

Or I'll cook up
a story about you

that'll make you
look like something

that belongs on a garbage wagon.

Goodbye, baby.

Think it over.

- You see what a
hopeless position I'm in.

I can't keep paying blackmail
the rest of my life.

- What do you want me to do?

- Well, he's an
escaped convict and...

If you try to arrest him
and he should try to resist,

you could...

- Knock him off?

- If that's what
you want to call it.

- It's a little out of my line.

I haven't killed a
husband in some time.

Could be quite a
business though.

- You will help me?

- Leave your name and
address with my secretary.

- You won't let me
down. I know you won't.

- I'll let you know.

- And I'll expect
to see you soon?

- Yeah.

- Make a note of my
name and address.

Helen Brimstead.

Glen Manor Apartments.

- Will the key be under the mat?

- Remind me sometime
to rearrange your face.

It would be a pleasure.

- Mike! Did you...

Yes, you took the
case all right.

- Aw, Phyl, don't be
like that. We can-

- Mike, don't. You'll
get lipstick all over me.

- Huh? Oh. (laughs)

You know what happened?
- Sure.

She put her arms around
your neck and kissed you

before you could fight her back.

- That's exactly what happened.

- Yeah, and I'll bet you put
up an awfully big struggle.

What'd she want?

- She wanted me to
kill her husband.

- Are you going to do it?

What are you doing?

- I got an idea this
piece of cardboard

is gonna be very important.

- If it's that important,

why don't you turn it
over to the government?

- I think I'll hang onto it
awhile, see what develops.

- You know, I don't know
why I don't get a job

in a nice, quiet establishment.

At least I wouldn't have
to look for my boss' name

in the obituary column.

- Angel, you'd be bored
to death the second day.

(Phyllis laughs)

(suspenseful music)

Jim Lacy is murdered on
his way to my office.

Helen Brimstead wants
Mace Morgan bumped off.

Gotta be a tie-up somewhere.

I think we're being tailed.

It might be one
of Rafferty's men.

- Looks like they're
coming closer too.

- Might not be
the police at all.

We'll get a look at
'em when they come by.

(dramatic music)

Run for it, Phyl!

(foghorn bellows)
(suspenseful music)

(bell clangs)
(ship horns blowing)

- Search him.

- He ain't got it on him.

- Well, you shouldn't
have to knock him cold.

We'll have to make him sing.

- This is all very
flattering, gentlemen.

Suppose you tell me
what it's all about?

- Sure, we'll let you know.

Want you to do us a
little favor, that's all.

- And you have such a
nice way of asking favors.

I don't see how I can refuse.

- [Thug] That's being smart.

We want what you
took from Jim Lacy.

- Lacy was a dead man
when he got to my office.

Cops beat me to him.

- Don't stall me,
I read the papers.

Lacy had plenty of jack on him

and the cops found
less than 10 bucks.

Whoever lifted the jack
lifted something else.

I want that something else.

- Sure wish I
could help you out.

(dramatic music)

- Work on him, Trigger.

(dramatic music)

(blows thud)

(blows thud)

(Mike groans)

Is your memory any better?

- Yeah, I have a very
good memory for faces.

- Tie him up.

We'll stop being
gentle with him.

(dramatic music)

Now we'll see just
how tough you are.

- How tough do I have to be?

- Not so very.

Just give me that piece
of baggage check Lacy had

when he started for your office.

It's no good to you.

(car approaching)

It's the cops. They're
heading this way.

Get out the back door.

- Nevermind me,
get those two guys

that went out the back door.

- Mike!

- Hello, Phyl.

- Well, at least you're tied up

with something else
besides a blonde.

- (laughs) How'd you do it?

- Elementary, my dear Mike.

I trailed the car till I
saw where they brought you

and then I called the police.

- I'll give you a
gold star for that.

You know, there's
no longer any doubt

about that piece of
cardboard being important.

- Couldn't you have
thought of an easier way

to find that out?

- Oh, I don't know. I guess I
always do things the hard way.

(suspenseful music)

- Surround it.

(foghorn blaring)

Come out with your hands up.

You!

- What's all the
excitement, Pete?

- I got a report there
was a kidnapping.

Was somebody trying to be funny?

- Mike was kidnapped
and brought here.

- Yeah, a little
misunderstanding.

They were very sorry and
left before you arrived.

Sorry to have troubled
you, Pete. Thanks anyway.

Come on, angel.

What are you looking for?
- Bodies.

- Oh, the janitor probably
swept them out this morning.

- You two certainly have
a gruesome sense of humor.

(Phyllis screams)

- [Mace] Shut up or
I'll break your neck!

- You know, if this keeps up

they're gonna
cancel my insurance.

- Nice clients you have,
Mr. Shayne. Who was that?

- He didn't leave his name.

Mike, come here!

(dramatic music)

- Boy, someone was sure
trying to find something.

What was that?

- Bait to catch a murderer.

Think I'll go see a
blonde about a man.

- Okay, let's go.

- Oh, uh, I won't need you
this time. Strictly business.

- Your definition of
business can be very elastic.

- You're such a nice girl.

(Phyllis laughs)

- What a mess.

- Yeah, Mike seems to be on
the wrong end of this case.

They're bringing
the fight to him.

- I know and I'm
worried about him.

I wish he'd turn the
whole thing over to...

Someone else.

- A government agent, perhaps?

- I didn't say that.

(doorbell buzzes)

(doorbell buzzes)

(suspenseful music)

- Stay where you are.

Don't turn around.

Who are you? What
are you doing here?

- I might ask you
the same question.

- Yeah, you might, but I'm in
a position to ask questions.

I'd like to have an answer.

- I don't answer questions

unless I can see
who I'm talking to.

I'm funny that way.

- All right, turn around.
Don't try anything foolish.

Sit down there.

- Well, Helen didn't tell me
she was going to have visitors.

- Aw, you're not here
on a social visit.

You better tell me
just where you fit in.

- That's what I'd like to know.

(gunshot cracks)

That Mace Morgan?

- No. I've never
seen that man before.

- Do you have idea might come
here looking for information?

- It must've been a prowler.

No one except Mace would have
any reason for coming here.

- We'd better turn him in to
the police. I'll see you later.

Oh, nothing to
get excited about.

Just a burglar.

- I don't see how it's possible

for one man to be such
a pain in the neck.

- What's the idea having
me picked up, Rafferty?

- Mr. Shayne.

I want you to meet Mr. Pearson,

a special investigator
from Washington.

- All right, it's a
pleasure. Now listen, Raff...

- Oh.

Hello.

- I can hardly
call it a pleasure.

- Who do you think
you are, Shayne,

going around slugging
government men?

- How am I supposed to
know he's a government man?

When a man pulls a gun on me,

I slug him if a get a chance.

- Maybe you better tell us

what you were doing
in that apartment.

- [Mike] I was there
to see a client.

- Oh?

What's the nature of
your business with her?

- The nature of all my
business with all my clients

is strictly confidential.

- Hey, what's this I hear
about Mike being arrested?

- He hasn't been arrested.

He's merely being asked to
cooperate with his government.

- Well, cooperation
works two ways.

I never play ball
with my eyes closed.

- I'm not telling
government secrets

to the whole wide world.

- What do you
think I am, a hell?

- Tim's all right.
You can trust him.

- I'll say that much for him.

- Very well.

My job is to prevent the plans

of a newly developed
secret weapon

from falling into the
hands of a foreign power.

A power not friendly to
us, to say the least.

I won't go into how we
learned all the facts,

but the plans were stolen by
a hoodlum named Mace Morgan

and by a crooked New
York private detective
named Jim Lacy.

Morgan was wanted for robbery

and was picked up the next
day by the New York police.

We had Lacy under
constant surveillance,

but we weren't able
to locate the plans.

When Lacy jumped out here,

I was convinced those plans
had been sent out here

immediately after
they were stolen.

But I couldn't believe
that Lacy and Morgan

would trust any confederate.

- What was the robbery
they hung on Morgan?

- Oh, he held up the messenger

of a Wall Street brokerage
firm, Grossenstein & Barton.

- They ever recover the money?

- No, but that
was a police case.

We weren't interested
in that angle of it.

- Then when Lacy came out here,

Morgan managed to
crash outta stir, huh?

- Yeah, that's right,

which is further proof that
the plans must be here.

I don't know how you manage
to be so well informed.

- What, didn't
Rafferty tell you?

I make a living
as a private eye.

- Yeah, one of the best, mister.

When you got him batting on
your team, you can rest at ease.

- Only I'm not sure it's
my turn to come to bat.

- You better come clean

and tell us all you
know about this case.

- Now remember your blood
pressure, Pete. Be calm.

- I'll be calm when I see a
bunch of lilies on your chest.

- That all you wanted with me?

- Yeah.

- Mike, haven't you
anything more to say?

- No, I think that's all
at the moment, angel.

Come on, let's go.

- How does Shayne rate?

Does he hope to sell
his information?

- I don't know what he hopes,

but I could be arrested
for what I hope about him.

- Okay, so I'm something
the cat dragged in.

- What are we supposed to think?

Here's a matter vitally
important to your government

and you hold out information.

You trying to chisel a payoff?

- Mike, I was
terribly disappointed.

I should think you'd be
glad to aid the government.

- I don't know
what's the matter.

There's a lot of pieces here

that don't fit together
like they should.

I'll wait and see what happens.

(suspenseful music)

Mace Morgan.

Jim Lacy.

Helen Brimstead, Morgan's wife.

Maybe.

Pearson, the fed.

Two hoodlums, one of
them named Trigger.

Mr. X, foreign agent.

Piece of cardboard.

Mike Shayne.

- It floors me.

I can understand Mike giving
Pete Rafferty the brush-off.

You can't blame him for that.

But why should he get
coy with the government?

(phone rings)

- Hello, Michael Shayne,
private investigator.

I'll see if he's
in. Who's calling?

- Oh, it's you again.

Mike, your repulsive
blonde is on the phone.

- You mean impulsive.

(Phyllis chuckles)

Hello, Mike Shayne talking.

Well, you know where my office
is. You've been here before.

- It would be dangerous
for both of us

if I were seen coming
to your office.

Why can't you meet me here?

- Where are you?

- Hunter's Lodge on 12th Street.

- Okay. I'll be over
in 10 or 15 minutes.

Well, I'll leave you
two to your sorrow.

I hope you both
enjoy a good cry.

- At least he could
feel ashamed of himself.

- Well, let's not hang
Mike without a trial.

He always comes through
somehow, right-side up.

- That's what makes me so
mad. He's always right.

(both laugh)

(soft music)

- I just learned about Jim Lacy.

I'm sure Mace Morgan killed him.

- Relax. Why should
that worry you?

- Mace probably learned
that I saw Lacy.

He must have been suspicious.

- Suspicious that you and Lacy
were going to bump him off?

Can't blame a fella for
getting a little sore

about a thing like that.

Uh...

Now tell me why the government
is interested in you.

- The government has no
reason to be interested in me.

Why do you say that?

- That character I met
up in your apartment

was a special investigator
from Washington.

You didn't know that, did you?

- No! I didn't know who he was.

The police came and they wanted
to know who knocked him out.

That's all I know.

- Find it hard to
believe the government

is interested in your
romantic difficulties.

Look, I want the whole story

before I get mixed up
with the government.

- Well, they have no reason

to be snooping
around my apartment.

Mace Morgan's the only
one I'm worried about.

Mace is a killer and I
can't go to the police.

I know my life is in
danger. Please help me.

(suspenseful music)

Mace.

- What are you cooking
up with this private cop?

Trying to put me on the spot?

- You're the guy who turned
my office upside down.

I owe you something.

- So what?

(dramatic music)

All right, smart guy.

I'll take that piece of
cardboard you lifted from Lacy.

And I want it right now!

- I don't like guessing games.

What cardboard are
you talking about?

- Don't give me that.
You know what I mean.

If you'll smart
you'll hand it over

and bow out before you get hurt.

I been double-crossed.

Been played for a sucker.

But I'll be tough on anyone

who stands in my way from now on

and I've got no time to
fool around with you!

(gunshot cracks)

- Up with 'em.

Why did you kill him?

- Who says I did?

- You were fighting with
him and now he's dead.

That pins it on
you for my money.

- Hey! There was
a woman in here!

- That might give us a motive.

Tell it to the homicide
boys when they get here.

Call headquarters.
- Okay.

- There's the body.
Nothing has been touched.

- Uh-huh.

Well, don't tell me this one
walked in and dropped dead.

- All right, Pete, I won't
if you don't want me to.

- Okay, funnyman. I'll
book you for murder.

Try and get a laugh outta that.

- Well, it is murder to
shoot an escaped convict

when he comes
waving a gun at you?

- [Pete] What are
you trying to pull?

- I'll make it simple.

That's Mace Morgan,
he's an escaped convict.

That's his gun lying
over there on the floor.

- Hey, there was a woman
around here a while back,

but she disappeared.

- Who was the woman?
- What woman?

- He said there
was a woman here!

- Well, ask him.

Is it any of my business
if a woman comes in here?

- Yeah, that was
Morgan all right.

Did you take anything
out of his pockets?

- Looking for anything
in particular?

- Search him. He may
be concealing evidence.

- Just a minute, you've
got no right to search me.

- I think different.

How do you want it?
Rough or gentle?

- Gentle.

- That's all.

- Satisfied?

- I'm satisfied
you're in contact

with people wanted
by the government.

And that can lead
to serious trouble.

- And you know how unhappy
I'd be to see you in trouble.

- Pete, I lie awake nights

worrying about
making you unhappy.

- Mm.

(brooding music)

- Hello, chum.

You seem to be a
pretty bright boy.

- That's what my
friends tell me.

A thousand bucks.
- That's right.

Wouldn't you rather have
that than a broken neck?

- Something to think about.
- Give it a thought.

You've got something that
isn't worth a dime to you.

Lay it on the line
and take the grand.

- What's the matter? Don't
you play rough anymore?

- I can play rough if
that's the way you want it.

But I'm willing to buy
if you're agreeable.

Well? What do you say?

- I said I'd think it over.

- Think fast because this offer
won't stay open very long.

- Gimme some bourbon.
- Yes, sir!

- I said think fast.

- Shayne, you'd
better walk soft.

Pete Rafferty's pretty sore.

- Thanks for the tip.

Remind me to send
you a Christmas card.

Goodbye, chum.

(pensive music)

- Beg your pardon!

- Oh, I'm terribly sorry.
I didn't see you coming in.

- Oh. Well, that's all right.

I've had nearly everything
thrown at me anyway,

except the Guide to Glamor.

Mr. Shayne in?

- No, I haven't seen
him this afternoon.

- Oh.

Inspector Rafferty tells me

that Shayne has a pretty
high regard for your opinion.

- Well, I don't see
that that's anything

to get hysterically happy about.

- Oh, I'm not trying to make
you happy. I need your help.

You know, I'm here to recover

a vitally important government
secret that was stolen.

And now with Lacy and
Morgan both dead, I...

Well, I find myself
in a blind alley.

- I'm not a detective.
How can I help you?

- Well, I'm convinced
that Shayne has evidence

that would be of
great help to us.

But I'm afraid a
woman's convinced him

to throw in with the other side.

- I wouldn't believe
that about Mike.

- Well, there was a woman with
him in that cocktail lounge

when Morgan was killed.

He let her get away.
He covered up for her.

It all adds up to one
answer as far as I can see.

- You could be wrong. And
I'll do my own arithmetic.

- I hope I am wrong.
I need his help.

I came here hoping
you might be able

to persuade him that
it'll be to his advantage

to cooperate with
his government.

- I can agree with
you on that 100%.

- Thanks.

- I'd like to know
more about that meeting

in that cocktail lounge.

- Yes, I'm slightly
curious myself.

- Yes, that might answer
a number of questions.

Well, I'll see you
again. So long.

Oh, uh...

And may I suggest that you
don't need any Guide to Glamor?

(soft music)

- We're getting noplace fast.

We can't stall around forever.

- I was surprised to
see Barton in town.

I'd like to know what
he has up his sleeve.

- Barton's nothing
to worry about.

He's in no position
to shoot off his face.

- I know that,

but he didn't come out
here just for the ride.

- Shayne's our
headache, not Barton.

With Lacy and my dear departed
husband Mace Morgan on ice,

we would've been sitting pretty

if Shayne hadn't
stepped into the parade.

- Yeah, Shayne's plenty tough.

He won't buy and he won't scare.

But there must be some
way to make him crack.

(doorbell buzzes)

See who it is.

(suspenseful music)

- Hello.
- What do you want?

- I'd really like
to take you apart

and see what makes you tick,

but I'll restrain that impulse.

I'm giving you formal
notice that Mike Shayne

is no longer interested
in you or your problems.

- Baby, you're
talking out of turn.

- Think so?

When a case leads to murder,

it's time for him to give it up.

- Just how do you
plan to do that?

- That, my dear, is a
professional secret.

- Let me tell you a little
secret, bright eyes.

Just keep your nose
in the typewriter

if you care about
staying healthy.

- You're in no position
to make any threats.

The police would like
to know your part

in the death of Mace Morgan.

- What makes you think I
had anything to do with it?

- Oh, I'm not bad at putting
two and two together.

You called Mike to meet
you at a certain place.

There was a woman present
when Mace Morgan was killed.

Now who do you suppose
that woman was?

I don't believe
you're very eager

to get in a cozy little
chat with the police.

- Why don't you ask
our charming visitor

to sit down and make
herself at home?

She'll be here quite a while.

- What's the idea?

- Maybe we've found a way to
make Shayne be reasonable.

- I don't get it.

- Maybe he cares more for her

than he does for a little
piece of cardboard.

Could be.

- You'll never force Mike

to do anything he
doesn't believe is right.

- We'll let Mr.
Shayne answer that.

(drunk humming)

(Phyllis screams)

- What's the matter?

- Nothing now. I saw a mouse.

- Screaming about
a little mouse.

If you see all the
animals I've seen,

you'd have something
to scream about.

- Phyl?

Angel?

That's funny.

Hey! Where have you been, angel?

- Angel?

- Hello, Pete. I thought
you were Phyllis.

What's on your mind?
- Plenty.

I want to know the
name of the girl

whose fingerprints are on the
gun that bumped Mace Morgan.

Okay, he's an ex-con,

but I want to know who
killed him and why.

- You got the
wrong number, Pete.

I'm not running an
information bureau.

- You're apt to
wake up and find out

you're not running
anything in this state.

I'll make it my business

to see that your
license gets revoked.

Obstructing justice in
a federal investigation

is grounds enough to get
you thrown out on your ear.

- You can save yourself
a lot of trouble

if you'll tell me
what Shayne did

with that piece of baggage
check he took from Lacy.

Nod your head if you
feel like talking.

You may change your
mind after a while.

- Why not call Trigger?

He's a genius at making
people change their mind.

- I hope that
won't be necessary.

- Aw, I'm fed up with you
trying to give me the runaround.

I have a good mind to take
you down to headquarters

and let you meditate
for a while.

- You know what's a
good thing to have

before you throw
anybody in jail?

- What?
- Proof.

Or didn't you know there was
a law against false arrest?

- I can hold you on suspicion.

- Suspicion of what? Being
smarter than you are?

Guilty.

You know, Pete,

someday you're gonna
stick your neck out so far

you'll never be able to get
it back in your collar again.

- Shayne, someday I'm
gonna forget I'm a cop

and I'm gonna take you
apart with these hands,

just for the fun of it.

And I don't know of anything

that would give me
any more pleasure!

Peanuts!

(soft music)

(doorbell buzzes)

- Yes?

Mr. Shayne.

I'm terribly afraid.
What am I going to do?

- Answer a few questions.

You know, the police
are kind of interested

in the woman whose fingerprints
were found on that gun.

I didn't pick it up
when you dropped it.

- Did you tell them anything?

- No. Not yet.

- I had to kill him
to save your life.

He might've killed you.

- Maybe.

- It'd be too awful if that
story got in the papers.

It would destroy all
my hopes for happiness.

Please, Mr. Shayne,
keep me out of it.

- How did Morgan happen to
be so Johnny-on-the-spot?

You, uh...

You weren't expecting
him, were you?

- No, of course not. He
must have followed me.

Can I get you a drink?

- No thanks.

It could be you put
Morgan on the spot

and used me as a front to cover
up when you knocked him off.

- Don't think that
of me, it isn't true.

I was desperately afraid of him.

When I saw that gun in
his hand, I shot him.

Then I became
panic-stricken and ran away.

I didn't know what I was doing.

- You seen my secretary?

- Why, no.

Was I supposed to have seen her?

- Maybe.

I don't know.

- You will protect
me, won't you?

They can't charge
you with murder

and it won't do any good
to get my name into it.

- I won't spill anything
I don't have to.

By the way, what
happened to the money

Morgan took from
that brokerage firm?

- I don't know
anything about it.

That all happened
after I left him.

- I see.

Well, you don't need my
protection from him anymore.

I guess that washes the case up.

- You'll send your
bill, Mr. Shayne?

- I'll have to think about that.

After all, you did all the work.

All I did was stand
around with...

(footsteps thud)

(suspenseful music)

Always picking up
pieces of paper.

Someday I'll find
a million bucks.

- Looked pretty
rough for a minute.

- It wasn't funny.

I never want to sweat out
anything like that again.

I don't know whether Shayne
suspected anything or not.

We're getting out
of here right away.

Call Trigger and have
him bring the car.

- Keep your eye on her.

(suspenseful music)

(dramatic music)

Just act natural.

- Get out of the way!
Get out of the way!

- What's the matter,
mister? You hurt?

- No, a girl was just kidnapped.
A green Plymouth sedan.

Get out a general alarm.
- Right.

- I heard a scream, so I stopped
to find out what was wrong.

And she told me she
saw a little mouse

and slammed the door
right in my face.

- All right, thanks
for your information.

- Yeah, you're welcome,
anytime. Anytime.

- Any report on the kidnap car?

- Not a murmur.

Well, Shayne, you fooled
around trying to be a smart boy

and what did it get you?

Phyllis takes a rap for you.
Maybe you got her killed.

- Okay, Pete, pour it
on. I'm on the ropes.

- But when it comes
down to you and me,

no holds are barred.

- If you hope ever
again to see her alive,

you better start trying
to play a lone hand

and give us all the
information you have.

- I've given the police
all the information I have

that'll help them find her.

- You haven't turned over
all the information you have.

- Are you concerned
with Ms. Hamilton

or with grabbing
something from that gang?

- I hope to accomplish
both at the same time,

but naturally the
interests of the government

are of primary importance.

- Okay, Pete. It's in your lap.

Organization's what counts
in a kidnapping case.

Come on, Tim, let's go.

How could I have been so stupid?

- Well, you couldn't tell Phyl

was gonna walk into
a deal like this.

- Hey!

I didn't know I was living
nextdoor to a den of criminals.

She was mighty cute though.

I tried to get
better acquainted.

- Yeah? You're lucky you
didn't make the grade.

You might've wound
up in the morgue.

- Hey, Mike.

You're still holding out. Why?

Don't you trust a federal agent?

Or are you gambling
with Phyl's life

to cut yourself in on the deal?

- That the way it looks to you?

- Yeah.

- You better get yourself
a pair of glasses.

- You know as well
as I do that Shayne

is standing in the way of
recovering those plans.

You better sweat it out of
him before it's too late.

He may be dickering with
them on a sellout price.

- Yeah, but how's that fit in

with them snatching
his secretary?

- Aw, that could've
been a phony stunt

just to throw us off the track.

Or even to put the
pressure on him.

- I wonder. That
Shayne is pretty good
at pulling fast ones.

Maybe I should hold
him for a while.

Yeah. That's what I'll do.

- This is part of
a baggage check.

Whoever has the whole check
can claim a piece of baggage.

Two murders have
already been committed

for whatever's in there.

- You mean that little
piece of cardboard

stands between a foreign
power and a government secret?

- It also stands between
Phyl and sudden death.

- What do you mean?

- If Pearson had this,

they'd know they
couldn't make a deal.

This way they know
they've got to come to me.

- Yeah, but supposing
they don't come-

(phone rings)

- See what I mean?

Hello, Mike Shayne talking.

- It's about time you
got back to your office.

Shayne, you have
something I want

and I have something you want.

How 'bout a trade?

- Put her on the phone.

- You're wanted on the phone.

Tell him you're okay.
Come along, Trigger.

- Hello, Mike.

- Hello, angel.

I suppose you're talking
with a gun in your back.

Answer yes or no.
Are you all right?

- Yes, they've
treated me all right.

Mike, I'm sorry
I was such a fool

and caused all this trouble.

- Take her back to the car.

Well, what do you say,
Shayne? Do we trade?

- Yeah, we trade.
Plus one grand.

- Why make things
tough on the girl?

I offered you the grand once,

but I don't have to
kick in with it now.

We trade even or not at all.

- Then we don't trade.

- Mike, that's the lowest
thing I ever heard of.

Trying to get yourself
a thousand bucks.

- Don't blow your top.

If I gave up too easy they'd
think I was a pushover

and might try to cross me.

They'll call back.

(dramatic music)

- [Dispatcher] Calling all
cars, calling all cars.

Attention, all patrol cars.

Pick up Michael
Shayne, detective.

Bring him to headquarters
for questioning.

That is all. Over.

- Supposing you're wrong?
Supposing they don't call back?

Then what? You've lost contact.

(phone rings)

- Hello, Shayne talking.

- Okay, Shayne, you win.
We trade, plus one grand.

But be satisfied with that

because if you try
to pull a fast one,

someone will get badly hurt.

- All right, I'll meet you

at the telephone
booth in the station.

As soon as Ms. Hamilton
phones she's okay, we trade.

- And if you don't try to
cross me, no one will get hurt.

(suspenseful music)

- Mike, you can't do this.

- Do what?
- Sell out your country.

Don't you realize
what those plans mean

in the hands of an enemy?

- I realize they're a matter
of life and death to Phyllis.

- I don't think
Phyllis would want

to buy her life at that price.

- What are you gonna do?

- I'm gonna turn you into
Pearson. Anything to stop you.

- Aw, Tim. I hate to do this.

(dramatic music)

(knock at door)

- Telegram for Michael Shayne.

- That's me.

- Thank you.

(door opens)

- Remember, Shayne,

there'll be two guns
on you all the time.

Call your office.

(phone rings)

- There's no answer. What
are you trying to do?

- There will be.

- I hope we're not too late.

If you'd taken my advice
in the first place,

we wouldn't have run into
a situation like this.

- I've gotta have proof before
I can throw a guy in jail.

(phone ringing)

- Answer the phone.

- Hello, Michael Shayne,
private investigator.

- Hello, Phyl?
Are you all right?

- Everything's all right so far.

- Let me talk to Helen.

- Your boyfriend
wants to talk to you.

- Hello?

- Helen? Hold the phone
until Shayne delivers.

All right, Shayne. Give.

- What about the thousand?

What you want is in the
sweatband of my hat.

- That's it. Go ahead,
Helen, as we planned.

Shayne, you stay
with us for a while.

Let's have that right away.
We have to catch a train.

- Yes, sir.

- What's the matter
with that guy?

Does he have to take a trip
out of town to find that bag?

- Take it easy. You've
waited a long time for this.

A couple of minutes more is
not gonna make much difference.

- Come on. You too, Shayne.

- The cops!

(dramatic music)

(gunshots crack)

- We'll miss you
around here, Shayne.

You stuck your neck into
a federal rap this time.

- You'll write to
me, won't you, Pete?

- Oh...

Thanks.

- Thank you. Nice
work, Rafferty.

You saved the plans

and I'll see that you get full
recognition from Washington.

- Hello, Tim. I
see you got here.

- I'm sorry if I got
you into trouble, Mike,

but I just couldn't
see it any other way.

- Oh, it's all
right. No harm done.

- [Announcer] Train for
Chicago, Philadelphia,

and Washington,
leaving on Track Four.

- Well, gentlemen,
that's my train.

Well, I'll see you
later, fellas. So long.

- Just a minute! I'll take that.

- Shayne! Have you
lost your mind?

- Hold onto your hat, Pete.

You've been very busy
helping one crook

cross up some other crooks.

- Pearson is a federal agent.

- He's no more a
federal agent than I am.

- [Pete] I got a wire
from Washington! They-

- A telegraph operator can be
bribed to send a fake wire.

I did what you should've done.

I wired the bureau
in Washington.

Here, read what they say.

- "No federal agent by the
name of Pearson in your..."

- You'll notice it's signed
by a very important person.

- All right, Bob, take him away.

- Well, Peter, here you are.

You won't find any
secret plans in there,

but you'll find a lot of money
stolen from a brokerage firm.

Holy mackerel, I
forgot about Phyl!

She may still be in danger!

(dramatic music)

Angel!

Phyl!

- [Helen] Oh, stop it!

- [Phyllis] You old blond hussy!

Oh, I'll teach you!
- Let me up.

- It's about time you got here!

- Take this wildcat off of me!

Why don't you teach your
secretary better manners?

- Just a minute, Helen. How
about telling us a little story?

Your two pals are dead and
the stolen money's recovered.

- Why not?

Lacy, Morgan, and Barton,
junior members of the firm,

framed the holdup and they
checked the stuff out here.

Each one holding a third
of the baggage check.

- And the cops grabbed Morgan.
- That's right.

Lacy made a deal with
Leroy and Trigger.

They cracked Barton's safe and
took his third of the check.

Mace Morgan was on
his way to the pen,

so I threw in with
Lacy and Leroy.

- And murdered Lacy
to get his share.

- You can't prove that.

- Ballistics can.

The same gun shot
Lacy and Morgan

and your fingerprints
were all over it.

Yeah had to get Morgan
or he would've killed you

for double-crossing him.

- Wait a minute,
Mike. Who was Pearson?

- I think you'll find
his real name is Barton.

You know, you did a nice job

in solving that
Lacy murder, Pete.

I'll bet Tim writes a
swell story about it.

- Oh, thanks.

- I wouldn't be surprised
if the bonding company

offered some kind of a reward.

- It's all yours, Mike. I
wouldn't touch a penny of it.

- Why, that's very
generous of you, Pete.

- That's all right. I'm
glad to see you get it.

Come on.

- Well, that's one more blonde
out of my life. (laughs)

- Mike?

- Tim!

- I had to do that, Mike.

- It's all right.
I had that coming.

(Phyllis laughs)

(bright orchestral music)