No Way to Treat a Lady (1968) - full transcript

- Good morning to you.
- Top of the morning to you.

- Top of the morning to you, young lady.
- Hello, father.

Here it is.

Mrs. mulloy. Yes? Who is it?

Father MacDowell. I wonder if you could
spare me a moment of your time?

Are you new
to the neighborhood, father?

That I am. I'm new to the neighborhood,

but I'm sure it'll be a pleasure to
serve the likes of such as yourself.

I just need a minute of your life.

Well...

- Hello.
- Yes.



- Well, come in.
- Thank you.

It's a lovely place you got here.

Well, it's not as nice as it once was,

when my husband was alive.

Still, it is habitable.

"Habitable"?

I like that. That's a lovely word,
that is. "Habitable."

Well, I do sort of pride myself
on my vocabulary.

T's a self-improvement course

that I've been taking
for about three months.

Yes?

Well...

Would you like a cup of tea, father?

No, I hate tea. I abominate it.



I got morning teas,
evening teas, afternoon teas.

No, had my fill of tea.

But I'll tell ya something you can do.

You can give me something
a mite bit stronger, you know.

A little wine, perhaps?

- Wine?
- Wine.

Well, let me see,
I think I've got some port here.

Port! Now, that'd be splendid,
that would be.

Oh, good.

Splendid.

I think this is pretty good port.

I'm sure it is if you own it.

Good red wine, en?

Like the poppies that spill their petals
on the breasts of dead men.

I think it was o'Casey said that.

I don't know, father.

I think it was, I think it was.

Yes, red like the very blood
he shed for you and me, Mrs. mulloy.

Well...

Here's to your health.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Sit down, father.

Oh, yes, yes, thank you.
That's good wine.

Father, may I ask?

Is it about the church?

Oh, yes, that's right,
ves, it's about the church.

Because, well,
I may as well tell you right now.

I'm not a catholic anymore.

Youre not a catholic anymore?

I've fallen away.

Why?

Well, it was when my husband died.

I lost my faith, anda, well...

You can't bring it back.

Nobody can bring it back again.

That's sad.

Well, now...

That's very sad indeed, that is.

Well, I have suffered, believe me.

You don't know the guilt!

Oh, my dear, sweet lady, haven't we all
suffered in this great vale of tears?

As my own
sweet sainted mother, my lord!

She was like
a blazing glory upon this earth.

She had eyes that sparkled like snow
crystals on a cold kildowney morning.

Her hair...

Her hair was radiant.

She had a figure
that was voluptuous, voluptuous...

It made the eyes
of the archbishop blink himself.

Can I tell you something, Mrs. mulloy?

You ve got quite a figure yourself.

Oh, yes, you do.

Oh, yes.

You got a figure that would please
the eye of many a mature man,

I tell you that.

When my mother...

My mother used to
walk down the streets like a queen!

And the men would turn
and praise her with their eyes.

She had one thing
peculiar about her, though.

She had a little delicate spot right here.

Just touch her and she laughed
and giggled like a schoolgirl.

Just touch it like that,
and she'd laugh and giggle,

and giggle and laugh.

And laugh and giggle,
and giggle and laugh.

And laugh and giggle
and giggle and laugh.

And touch her there,
and make her giggle and giggle.

Oh, right there.

You rest in peace.

No way to treat a lady

Morris.
For god's sake, will you hurry up?

Morris, the eggs are cooking.

- What's the matter? You got a pimple?
- Cut myself shaving.

A man your age,
he's got no business having pimples.

Eat your eggs.

Hey. Is there any toast, ma?

- You got latkes.
- Well, that's a...

That's a little heavy for breakfast,
don't you think?

So, take a good look at yourself.

A skeleton without a closet.
How's the eggs?

- They re fine.
- They're not too runny?

No, no, no, they re swell, they re swell.

You don't eat. You never eat.

Half the world is starving to death,
and I've got...

"I've got to push the food
down your throat."

Sure, sure. Make fun, make fun.

I wouldn't dare.

Tell me, huh? Tell me.

How much money
are you gonna make today?

I don't know.

Should I tell you how much
your brother Franklin's gonna make?

Maybe a thousand,
maybe two thousand in one day.

All right. He deserves it, mother.
He's a...

- Well, I mean, he's a very fine doctor.
- Oh, no, no, not fine.

The best. B-e-s-t.
Do you know what that means?

To be the best lung surgeon
in all Manhattan,

the queens, and the Bronx

and he's not even 40 yet.

Well, he's older than I am. Gimme time.

You, time?

A hundred years I give you,
vou still can't tie your own shoelaces.

Okay, okay.

Sure, sure, okay, okay.

Mother, what do you want from me?

Hello?

Just a minute.

- Yeah, hello.
- Hi, moe.

Dawson.

How's your mother?

She's fine, she's just fine.

Good. I'm putting you
on the mulloy homicide.

Now you can go
straight over to her apartment right now.

Yeah, what happened to o neill?

- No, it hit him again last night.
- Oh, boy!

Hospital this time.

Same old thing? Yeah.

Do you know the address?

Yeah. But I don't go on duty till 4:00.

Thanks a lot, moe.

And regards to your mother.

I gotta leave.

- What do you mean, you gotta leave?
- I gotta leave.

- You got the 4:00 shift.
- I'm taking over for O'Neill.

- What's the matter with him?
- He's sick.

- With what?
- It doesn't matter.

With what?

- Do you have to know?
- I'm asking you.

- What's the matter with O'Neill?
- A hernial

so, what's so terrible?

Your very own uncle Sidney
had one for 23 years.

Look at you with that thing.

A Jewish cop.

When everybody knows
if you're not Irish,

you re nobody if you're a cop.

Four years at the city university,
you still don't have a degree.

Three years, and it wasn't full-time.

Don't be so proud with your three years.

You still don't have a diploma,
not to mention any grandchildren,

which your brother Franklin
has three already. Three grandchildren.

And what have I got from you
but heartbreak?

So long, ma.

That's right, go out. Go on.
Leave me, leave me.

Don't come back.

- Mother.
- Morris.

Don't you think
you're overdoing it just a little bit?

Morris?

Morris.

Darling, we're having
kreplach for dinner.

You stop by for the flanken, hear me?

Morris?

- Top of the morning to you, Mrs. fitts.
- Good morning.

- Your morning paper, sir.
- Thank you.

Widow slain

City desk.

I'd like to speak to
the city editor, please.

Mr. bromley's busy right now.
Can I help you?

Yes, you can.
You have an item on page seven,

buried on page seven, I might add,

of a murder of a Mrs. Alma mulloy.

There's no details,
no description, nothing.

And I think for a newspaper with your,

if I may say, reputation,

that's ridiculous.

I'm sorry, sir, it was probably
a matter of racing the deadline.

I mean to say, the victim wasn't found
in time to get all the facts.

I see,

may I ask who's calling?

No, you may not.

Who's the super?

Is there anyone else
that might have had access?

No, sir.

I had a key, and she had a key,
and nobody else. Nobody.

Who was it who saw the priest
at her door?

3-e, right above.

Her name is Katherine Palmer.

Sorry, I can't help you.

We may have
some questions later, father.

- Would you show me the way, please?
- Yes, sir.

Hey, moe.

Hey, moe.

- Look, Sam.
- You got anything?

No, nothing at all yet,
unless you want to say

it was well planned,
well executed, no doubt about that.

Excuuse me.

There's a policeman
here to see you, miss Palmer.

No, I don't think so. Let's not...

It's all right.
You can open up. He's a real one.

Where?

I'm detective brummel, 15th squad.

Sorry to disturb you, miss, but...

- I'd like to ask you a few questions.
- What's that?

Some questions, if you don't mind?

Yeah. Okay.

Come on in.

The super says that you saw a priest
outside of Mrs. mulloy's door yesterday.

Yeah, that's right.

I wonder if you could
give me a description?

Well, he was a priest.

I know, but, you know,
what did he look like?

Well, he looked like a priest.

I mean, you know,
he wore the collar and the...

You've seen one priest,
you've seen 'em all.

Was he tall?

Medium.

Any distinguishing features?

You mean, like a big nose
or something?

- Yeah.
- I don't know, I don't remember.

That's kind of a sweet nose
you've got there, you know that?

[T's not handsome exactly,
I didn't say handsome,

it's just kind of sweet.

Especially for a cop.

Miss Palmer,
did he say anything to you?

- Who?
- The priest.

Oh, yeah.

As a matter of fact
he said something kind of funny.

What?

He said, "top of the morning.”

That's funny?

It was afternoon.

Well, look, was there anything else
that he did or...

- What's the matter?
- Well, I'm in my...

- I mean, I don't have any...
- Look, I'm sorry.

Why didn't you tell me,
for god's sakes?

Hey. Are you really a cop?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Come back some other time, you mind?

No, no, not at all.

I meant that. About your nose.

Lunatics! Lunatics you got now!
Stranglers!

Morris, I tell you,
I am ashamed, you know? You know?

I am sickened at heart
when my own son

goes looking
at dead women's naked bodies.

I tell you, Morris,
it's no way to treat a lady!

- What?
- I have to pound.

What?

On your water pipes I have to pound,

put you shouldn't pay any attention.

Not on my water pipes.
You go somewhere else.

What do you mean, somewhere else?

You see, that's the trouble
with the world.

You people have no sympathy
for each other.

Ook at the island we live on here,

11 million people
running around like apes,

the air so polluted you can't breathe,

the subways are like jungles.

Have you ever tried
to talk to a taxi driver? No.

But when the water that's
supposed to be hot comes out cold,

then they scream for me.

Well, I tell you something.
It was a sad day I ever left Frankfurt.

Frankfurt?

- You come from Frankfurt?
- That's right.

I am from Frankfurt.

- No.
- Before the war.

Well, now.

Well, there you are.
It's a small world, ja?

I tell you something.

For you, I don't make a sound.

- I don't mean to yell at you.
- Who was yelling?

(Go ahead.

Pound if you want to.

Listen, it'll be a miracle if
plumbing in this house ever works, huh?

I'm lucky if I get warm water.

Listen, five minutes,
I give it to you hot.

Honest? You could do that?

I give you five minutes hot water,
and I charge you nothing.

My god!

Baumkuchen, and I haven't had it
since I was in Frankfurt.

- Have a piece.
- No.

- Take two.
- No, no, two is too much.

That's incredible. Incredible.

That's wunderbar.

Where'd you get it?

I made it myself.

Made it yourself?

I make gugelinhupfs too!

You make gugelhupfs?

You want to know something?
I think I have died and gone to himmel.

You know something?

- What?
- That's my name.

- What?
- Frau himmel!

That t's 'cause you are an angel!

Maybe...

Maybe you like to
see some pictures, ja?

Pictures?

Old pictures from Frankfurt.

That's too much.

Right here. Now.

No, I tell you...

Tell you what. You sit on the sofa,

and I look over your shoulder.

Now...

- You recognize this?
- For sure.

The opera house.

And the square in front.

Makes my heart ache, you know,
because it was bombed during the war.

Bombed? Not the opera house.

Look, look, look, look, look.

- There's my friend Fritz right there.
- Who?

Fritz, my friend, can't you see him?

Look, look close,
the little guy in the middle

in front of the opera house.

- I don't see anyone.
- Yes, he's waving at you.

Ja, look, look, he waves at you,
he says to you,

"goodbye, Mrs. himmel.

"Goodbye! Auf wiedersehen!”

Hey, moe. It's after 10:00.

- Hey, moe!
- Yeah, yeah.

It's after 10:00, you know?

When guys are home with the wives?

Grind, grind.
Moe, why don't you get married?

You sound just like my mother.
Your mother!

By the way, how is she”?

- She's fine, Dave. She's just fine.
- Now what's bugging ya?

No prints?

We're lousy with prints,
I can't match 'em.

- Criminal index?
- No, no!

- FBI?
- Nothing!

Very funny.

Detective squad, brummell.

Ja. Is this
detective Morris brummel speaking?

- Speaking.
- Ja, well, this is hans Schultz.

At least, I was hans Schultz
all day today,

but a week ago last I was
father Kevin MacDowell.

Look, I don't have
time to fool around, Mr...

Yeah, well, don't hang up on me,
just don't hang up, Mr. brummel, huh?

What do you want? What do you want?

Well, I want to tell you that I am in
the apartment of frau himmel.

And she is quite dead.

What?

Now you're interested, huh?
So maybe now I should hang up on you.

No, no, don't hang up.

All right, will you just wait a second?

Hold on, please. Please don't hang up.

Well, now, you say "please."
Say "please," then I don't hang up.

I just said it.
Please, please don't hang up.

This is detective monaghan,
19th precinct.

I've got a call in progress,
I want it traced.

You know what I think?
I think you put a tracer on the call.

See, that's not gonna work though,

because there is no tracer tone
on this set,

and then by the time that they check

with the switchboard man
at the central office,

and he checks the frames

on the crossbar equipment,
and then they check it with...

He knows all about tracing.

By that time auf wiedersehen.
I'm gone, see?

So, I think it's best I tell you that

lam at 520

east 89th street,

I liked what you said in the newspapers

about the murder being so well planned
and so well executed.

I consider that high praise
coming from an expert such as yourself.

I thank you for that.

You hear me?

Yeah, yeah, I hear ya.

Now the other thing
I'd like to tell you is that

you should come over here
and take a look,

because you'll find out

that I am well up to
my previous standards.

And I would like you
to put that in the newspaper.

In fact, I insist on that.

I'll try.

Don't try, you ao it,

and remember,
I'm smarter than you are.

Youre smarter than I am?

And one more thing.

You see, I don't like I should call you
detective Morris brummel

because that's too formal.

So from now on, I call you... Morris.

Fine! Listen...

Sick.

- Good morning, fraufitts.
- Good morning, sir.

2nd strangler victim
killer calls cop

Well, how long then?
I mean, how long did you talk to him?

Maybe four minutes altogether.

Why? Why would he call you?

Well, I happened to mention...

Mention?

Mention?

Yeah, I happened to mention

that the murder
was well planned, well executed.

I guess the strangler
wanted to thank me.

Sure.

- Moe...
- Yes, sir.

Nail him!

No, no, no, I'm sorry.
It just doesn't do a thing for me.

Well, what if I widen the nose a little

- and bring the hairline down?
- No.

Well...

Let's start all over again.

- No, look, please, I...
- Do you see any likeness here?

It's nothing against you personally.

I mean, youre a true artist.

You should take up painting.

But that man
could walk in here right now,

and I still wouldn't recognize him.

Some people, they have
a memory for faces.

With me, it's names.

- I'm sorry.
- So am 1.

What is all this?

- This is the latent fingerprint room.
- The which?

The latent fingerprint.

We got over
three million prints here, and

all of them are coded, so we can
pick one out by electronic computer

in a matter of seconds.

We could send a man's prints
to Albany for identification

within 14 minutes
of the time they're taken.

Sometimes, you know,
we can get a suspect behind bars

pefore the day is out.

- That's marvelous.
- Oh, yeah.

Yeah, but you don't.

What?

Have your suspect behind bars
before the day is out.

Well, no, not always.
I mean, sometimes we...

We foul up.

Well, three million prints,
none of them his.

Nope.

Well, it's been very nice.

Well, actually, the thing of it is...

- I went off duty about 10 minutes ago.
- No kidding.

Yean.

Yeah, just about 10 minutes ago.

10 minutes.

Yeah. So...

If you'd like, I could take you home.

I'd like.

Strangler on the loose

Do you always wear that thing?

Yean.

Are you any good at it?

- Am il...
- Well, at being a detective, I mean.

Have you had any success?

Yes, 1 suppose, I mean...

Well, the reason I ask is that...

Getting me down there
to look at all those photographs,

sketches and everything,

was sort of a waste of time,

especially since I told you
it wouldn't do any good anyway.

The thing of it is, miss Palmer,
a really good detective

can't afford to overlook any possibility.

- You wanna know what I think?
- What?

I think you wanted to see me again.

Believe me, miss Palmer,

it's very important for a detective
to keep

his professional life
and his private life very...

Separate?

- It's very important...
- You're fibbing.

- What?
- Fibbing.

Believe me, miss Palmer.

You re fibbing, you're fibbing.

You did want to see me again,
didn't you?

Well?

You look very pretty.

I took two hours getting ready for this.

It looks natural.

That's why it took two hours.

Getting dolled up is easy,
looking natural takes time.

- Miss Palmer...
- Kate.

Maybe I did fib a little.

- This is me.
- What?

We're here.

How come you moved?

The ghost of Mrs. mulloy
finally got to me.

You know,
that's a very fancy name, brummel.

Detective brummel.

What's your first name?

- Morris.
- Oh, boy.

Morris brummel.
I suppose everybody calls you moe?

Yes.

- I bet you hate that.
- I hate it.

- Moe brummel.
- That's me.

- I'm sorry.
- That's okay, it's a funny name.

No.

- It's terrible.
- Sure, it's okay.

Well, thanks, Morris.

Well, bye.

Was there something else
you wanted to ask me?

I guess not.

- Well, goodbye.
- Goodbye, Kate.

Well, maybe I could call you,
say, like, Saturday night?

Don't bother.

Calling. I'll be ready at 8:00.

8:00. Right. Well...

- Goodbye.
- Goodbye.

Moe brummel?

Miss poppie? Miss belle poppie?

Yes.

Well, this is Dorian, sweetheart.
Dorian Smith.

Who?

Dorian Smith.
I brought you your wig, honey.

Wig?

Yes, wig.
You signed a coupon at the drug store?

Did I?

Come on now, sweetheart, don't fight it.

You won yourself a customized wig
made with 100% human hair.

- I dia?
- Yes, you did.

- No strings?
- Absolutely none.

It won't cost me anything?

My sweetheart, not a penny.

You have the sacred word
of Dorian Smith.

- All right, I'll take it.
- Oh, no, just a second.

You see, I have to
fit you personally myself,

otherwise, you see,
fitting of a wig needs great artistry,

youre liable to look
just absolutely dreadful.

Well, I'll let you in
if you promise me one thing.

Yes?

Well, you see, I have cats.

And you must speak
in a very gentle, low voice.

They have sensitive ears.

And you must make
no violent, sudden gestures.

That disturbs them.

You promise?

Yes, 1 promise.

All right.

Thank you.

Well...

Honestly, the whole world
is just falling into crazy little pieces.

It's getting so
you can't trust anybody anymore.

I had a friend, a very close friend,

I mean, we lived together
for three years,

so, you know, sweetheart,
I mean, we were close, you see?

Well, I found out he was
a very mean and a very spiteful person.

So, just yesteraay,
I just had to kick him out,

that's all, just kick him out.

That's not right.

Well, people are just like cats,
they're suspicious.

And just like cats,

it takes time for them
to get to trust you.

Just time and Patience and intelligence.

Would you like to meet my cats?

Cats? “Yes.

This is mother. “Yes.

- Little mouse is up there on the shelf.
- That's little mouse.

Diddiwam's over there in the paper bag.

Diddiwams.

- Tigger is on the coffee table.
- Yes.

Well, pickles is in the fireplace.

Pickles is in the fireplace.

Well, all right, now, my dear,

I wonder if you'd be kind enough
to sit down here, please.

Well...

Yes, darling. All right, mother.

- Just sit down there, darling.
- Excuse me.

Excuse me, I'm sorry.

Now, all we need now,
my sweetheart, is the mirror.

That's just exactly what we need.

Here we are.

Yes, now, I'll just put that down there
for a moment.

Now! Let me look at you.

That has to go! That's not right.

Now, look at me, sweetheart.

I et's see...

Yes, I think I've got
just the thing for you.

Now, I think you'll love this, sweetheart.

I want you to just... just look at that.

Isn't that absolutely fantastic
and breathtaking?

What do you call that?

We call this our Shirley temple.

Well, Shirley temple had more curls
down here and more up here.

I can't help that, sweetheart.

We call it Shirley temple.

I don't like it.

Why don't you like it?

It's too old.

It's too old?

I see, well, all right.

I think I have something here
you'll find...

This I think... this is just...

Now isn't that beautiful, sweetheart?
Look at the color on that.

Mother! You leave pickles alone!

That's not nice.

Not in public, anyway.

Anyway, here we have... this is
what's called our desdemona.

Desdemona had very blonde hair.

That one's too dark.

I can't help that, sweetheart.

I didn't write the play.

Mother. Mother, no, no,
naughty, naughty, naughtiness!

All right, my sweetheart, let's go on.

Just take this mirror,

pick it up in
your two lovely little hands,

and then I'll put the wig
on your sweet, marvelous head.

All right, darling,
bend your head back, please.

I have to have your forehead right there.

Thank you, yes, just be calm.

There we are.

Now, we just see how that is.

Doesn't that look lovely? Doesn't it?

I don't like it. You don't?

Well, my darling, that's because
I haven't finished with it, you see?

What I have to do now is to fit in here

and fit it down into your neck,

you know, right about like that.

You do have a lovely neck.

It's very soft and smooth, my dear.

Belle, it's only me.

Look what I've got for the babies.

A lovely scratching post.

- Guess what just happened?
- What?

- I won a wig.
- You won a wig?

- This nice man here, Mr...
- Dorian Smith.

Yes. My sister Sylvia.

How do you...

I'm allergic to cats.

Well, take your allergy pills.
=-t will.

The first thing I ever won
in my whole life.

So what's the catch?

Catch?

Well, honestly,
the suspicion of some people!

Well, do you like it?

No, but I suppose if you won it,
you won it.

Isn't that right, Mr...

Smith. Dorian Smith.
And that's right, sweetheart.

You get this lovely wig, and then you
get a personal fitting from me.

And then at the end of two months
if you don't like it,

you get every, every penny
of your money back.

What do you mean,
every penny of your money back?

Well, it depends
how much you spend, my darling.

We have wigs
that go from $157 to $350.

But you said that I had won it.

But you did, sweetie poopie. You won it.

But obviously you haven't read
the fine print on the coupon.

- Oh, you phony.
- Let's not get bitchy.

- That's dishonest!
- Dishonest... nobody calls me dishonest!

No one ever calls me dishonest!

Is that one of your own wigs
you're wearing?

- You don't look like Cleopatra, honey!
- Don't raise your voice!

You homo!

Well, that doesn't mean
you're a bad person.

Who is she?

Who's who?

The girl you're thinking about.

I'm reading a report from
the bureau of criminal information.

So, eat.

Eat your knaidlech
and tell me who she is.

We had knaidlech last night.
You don't like it?

- Yeah, it's all right.
- This girl, she's stolen your appetite.

- Don"t be ridiculous.
- First sign, no appetite.

Mother, will you do me a favor,
just tonight? Lay off, huh?

- Second sign, temper.
- Lay off.

Now, he's yelling at me.

Can you ever remember...

Can you remember one moment
that Franklin ever yelled at me?

Can you?

Thank god for Franklin.

Thank god for Franklin!

- S50 what have I got, a parrot for dinner?
- That's right, mother.

Your son the parrot,
and he's eating your dinner.

Now funny jokes he's making
about his own mama.

You think I don't know
who's got you to think this?

Think the bad things about your mama.

This awful, terrible girl.

Look, she's got nothing to do with it.

A mama doesn't know, huh?

Morris.

Yes, yes.

- Is she Jewish?
- I don't know.

You don't know?

Well, she doesn't go around
announcing her religion.

God forgive you. A shiksa.

So what do you do with her?
Go to mass?

No, we just... we walk
and we talk and she...

Please, please.
I don't want to hear another word.

Already, I won't sleep a wink tonight.

Please, don't say another word.

Morris.

I thought you didn't want to
hear any more?

You think I want to?

You think I want to... I'm in agony.

But it's my duty. Go on, go on.

Well, she... her name is Katherine.

Katherine. Katherine Palmer and...

Short, blonde, beautiful.

No, no she's... she's tall,

and she's only got one eye
right in the middle of her forehead.

Of course, of course.
She'll break your heart.

Hello.

I want to speak to Morris brummel.

Speaking.

Morris, this is Dorian.

Dorian. Dorian Smith.

I'm sorry, I think you've
got the wrong number.

I don't have the wrong number!

This is Dorian! Dorian Smith.

Certainly you haven't forgotten me
already, sweetheart?

No, I haven't forgotten ya.

Well, I didn't think so, sweetheart,
I didn't think so.

Now, look, I...

I'm very sorry
if I'm disturbing you at home.

How'd you get my number?

My sweetheart, how many Morris
brummels are in the phone book?

What do you want?

Morris, I have been a bad boy again.

Yes? “Yes.

What do you mean, yes?
Just don't say yes! Show some interest!

Can't you notice my voice
is completely different?

- Yes, I noticed that.
- All right.

Well, you should've heard my
father MacDowell, it was sensational.

Don't you think I'm clever?

Yeah, youre a wizard.

Thank you. You should...

You should hear
my w.C. Fields sometime.

It's absolutely uncanny.

"My boy, you are engaged
in a conversation

"with the great w.C. Fields himself

'concerning degeneracy,

"debauchery, and murder

“involving on the case
one infantile detective

"called Morris brummel, boy detective.”

You like that one, Morris?

All right, all right.

But can't we talk this over
one human being to another?

No, no, no, no, you don't, sweetheart.

No, you don't. You...

You'll have to find that out for yourself.

You see, it's not fair.
I told you where I was last time.

So, you'll have to find out
this time for yourself.

- Moe, Dave.
- Yes. What have you got?

Hair. Several strands
of blond hair next to the door here.

But they re not the victim's.

- You think they could be the strangler's?
- A woman's.

- Look at the length of that.
- A woman's...

- Yeanh.
- A woman's hair.

Was there a wig in all that stuff?

- No, no wig.
- Strange.

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

How can you figure when
you got a pervert like this!

We don't know he's a pervert.

Well, if he's not a pervert,

he's getting his kicks doing this,
isn't he?

Mostly they re miadle-aged women.

I suppose it's some kind of
a twisted mother image.

Imagine that, going out to
strangle your mother.

Hey, moe, can I quote you on that?

How the hell did you get in here?

No, no, no, no more quotes.

Will you get him out of here?
Just get him out.

Do me a favor, just this once, please.

Two favors a week and I'm out of a job.

Get outta here.

Hello? Morris, listen.

I've never been much of a cook,

but I watched that Julia child woman
on television,

and she showed me
exactly how to do everything.

I've got to aamit
that dinner smells pretty great.

Well, the thing of it is, Kate...

I can't make it tonight.
I've gotta work.

Okay, sure.

Well, what's the difference?

It doesn't really matter.

We hardly know each other anyway.

What way? In what way?

Let's face it, Morris. You don't know me.

And what do I know about you really?

Believe me, I can't help it.

Well, just a...

Just a small, crummy dinner anyway.

Hey, it probably tastes rotten.

I can smell it from here.

Yeah, sure you can.

Look, maybe I could...

I could stop over later.

What for?

Well, I don't know.

I just thought... I just thought...

Morris, I'm gonna hang up now.

And then I'm gonna eat my dinner.

My lovely, lousy dinner.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Morris?

Yes?

Tonight, you be careful.

You know what she said?

She said be careful.

Isn't that beautiful?

She said that to me.

Just now.

Good morning, Mr. Gill.

Good morning.

- There you are.
- Thank you, Mr. Gill.

Excuuse me.

Strangler kills number three

I'll take this one too, Harold.

- Thank you.
- It's a lovely day.

Amanda Gill playhouse
Christopher Gill presents othello

directed by Christopher Gill

Amanda Gill playhouse private

Wardrobe room

Third strangler victim,
killer a sexual pervert

look, you told me yourself
you want to be in the newspaper...

Look, I don't mean to offend you,
let's call a spade a spade, huh?

No, no, no, you said it,

I dian't say it. It was in the newspapers
in black and white.

- Look, you told me yourself.
- You called me a pervert!

- You had no right to do that!
- I didn't mean to...

How dare you bring my mother
into the story!

My mother!

Well, my mother, my friend,

and I were famously close together.

And we love each other.

Yes, love.

She loved me, and I loved her.

I suppose

you wouldn't understand that.

No, no, I wouldn't understand that.

No. I guess you wouldn't, right?

I want a retraction.

I can't print a retraction.

I don't care whether you can't or not,

1 want a retraction
in the papers tomorrow morning,

otherwise you suffer the consequences!

It wouldn't do any good.

My friend, I am not an idiot!

I am not a pervert!

And you will not dishonor my mother!

You will not!

Mr. brummel,

you made me lose my temper.

I hate to do that
because it is so common.

So not one word more.

Mr. brummel?

Yes?

You

forgive me for shouting?

I forgive you.

He asked me to forgive him,
I forgave him.

What the hell, why not forgive him?

I mean, the man asks for forgiveness,
you forgive him.

Mr. brummel, you made me
lose my temper.

And I hate to do that
because it is so common.

So not one word more.

Mr. brummel?

Mr. brummel?

Yes?

You

forgive me for shouting?

You've taken advanced courses,
have you, in psychology?

No, sir.

But you do think yourself
qualified to psychoanalyze this killer?

No, sir.

Then you didn't state
that he's a sexual pervert?

Well, not for the record, sir.

I was merely speculating
with detective monaghan...

I understand.

Our own expert on Freud.

You may be interested to know

that Dr. shaffer here
concurs in your speculation.

He thinks we have
a paranoiac exhibition of mother hate.

Is that correct, Dr. shaffer?

Well, that's
a rather basic approach, inspector.

Well, whatever theories you have,
doctor,

you'll be working on them
with lieutenant Dawson here

and detective monaghan.

We'll have a team of five detectives
from the homicide squad.

- Brummel...
- Sir?

I'm taking you off the case.

In fact, I want you to
stay home for a few days.

Don't talk to the press,
don't do anything.

- Why, sir?
- We can't print any retractions

of your opinions,

but taking you off the case
might help to placate this madman.

Believe me, sir, it was never
my intention to give opinions.

He calls you.

Talks to you right on the phone.

How the hell do you think
that looks to the public?

The police can talk to him,
but they can't find him.

Well, we tried to trace the calls, sir,

but I can't keep him
on the phone long enough.

Let me tell you right now, all of you.

This spectacle
of a strangler on the loose

can throw a city into panic.

And the responsibility here

must ultimately go to
the commissioner himself.

Now then,

I want a patrolman on every corner
of every apartment building

where a murder has taken place.

I want radio, television,
and press announcements

warning people
to keep their doors locked.

I want spot calls
made from Harlem to the battery.

Hotels for women,

old ladies' homes,
apartments that cater to women.

Tell them to stay inside.

Tell them to keep their doors locked.

- Yes?
- Officer brummel, 19th squad.

- What dia I do?
- You didn't do anything, ma'am.

I'm just giving out
some precautionary information

to women who live alone.

What...
Do you mean about the strangler?

Yes, ma'am,
may I come in and explain?

By all means, officer.

Thank you, ma am.

Look at that. Would you look at that!

Morris! Yes?

They did it again.

- What'd they do again?
- They got it right here in the paper

about you being taken off the case.

"Announcement to the worlq,
my son was fired."

I wasn't fired, mother.

I was simply taken off the case.

So, what are you gonna do now?

- I don't know. I haven't thought about it.
- Good! Fine!

I happen to know
it's 90 degrees in Miami beach.

A jet plane leaves every hour.

S50 where you gonna take her?

- Who?
- Kate Palmer.

Nowhere.

Nowhere? That's a place? Nowhere?

Well, we're gonna
have dinner at her place.

- You mean her own apartment?
- That's right.

The two of you alone?

Well, we were
gonna invite the strangler,

but he couldn't make it.

Sure, sure. Make fun. Ridicule.

I like its strength.

What's the name of the artist?

It's oedipus and antigone
by gerhard marcks.

- Gerhard marcks.
- Gerhard marcks.

I like that.

Could I use your phone a minute?

Yes, of course.

Just press any of those buttons.

All right, thank you.
You're welcome.

Well, believe you me,

I wouldn't open my mouth if I was her.

Who?

The woman who saw the cop.

Only it ain't a real cop,
it's you know who.

And she's put the finger on him.

Where do you
get expressions like that?

"Put the finger on him."

You read that?

Hello?

Hello. I'd like to speak
to detective brummel, please.

Just a minute.

Morris!

- 1s it Kate?
- Him!

It's him!

Yean?

Hello, hello, morrie. How are you?

Listen, I think it's terrible the
way the police are treating you.

I think it's absolutely humiliating.

You tell 'em I'm not gonna
talk to anyone else but you.

Well, maybe you better
tell them yourself.

You just tell them
either they put you back on the case,

or I'm liable to be
a very naughty boy tonight.

Hey, don't do that, come on!

I've got a simply sensational idea
regarding the woman

what said she saw me
dressed up in a police uniform.

Cheery-bye now, morrie.

Hey, morrie, you like limericks?

Listen to this now. Listen.

There was a young detective from Kent,

who got so involved
in a case that he bent.

It gave him so much trouble,
he bent over double.

Instead of arriving at
the scene of the crime,

he went, "cheerie-bye, morrie!”

Hey!

- Why do you talk to him?
- T like him!

Morris, 90 degrees in Miami beach!

- So long, mom.
- A jet plane leaves every hour!

Moe, what are you doing?

The file on the woman

who saw him dressed as a cop,
I need it.

Well, you're not on
the case anymore, moe.

You can get suspended.

I just want to talk to her.
Do you know where it is?

She's a lush.
You'll come up with nothing.

I know, but do you know where it is?

- Yeah, I know.
- Well, could I see it, do you think?

Could you find it for me?
What do you think?

I could get in a little trouble.

Dave, what do you think?

Yeah, I can find it.

Her name is Pearl menzel.

- You'll be lucky if you find her.
- Why?

I think she skipped town
after talking to the press.

Or else you'll find her
drinking it up in some gin mill.

- Bartender?
- What's your pleasure?

Does Pearl menzel hang out here?

Yean.

You re sure about that?

Just as sure as youre a cop.

She hasn't been around
for about three days.

Hi.

Gimme a double pink lady.

Hey!

What's the difference between
a dead man and a drunk man?

I give up.

Well, one carries his beer
and the other, the bier carries him!

That's funny?

They get funnier at my place.

Not for me, they don't.

Well...

Are you gonna pay me?

How much you worth?

O00 cents.

Keep it.

Hey, 1 gotta give you
one you haven't heard before.

What's that?

There was
a young lady named red,

who had an ache
in the back of her head.

Though nothing would ease it,

the strangler did squeeze it.

Now the ache in red's head is all dead.

Oh, my god!

- Knock it off.
- What'd I do?

Don't you see she's scared to death?

Well, who the hell isn't?

She said she actually saw him.

Boy!

Well, I really put my foot into that!

Look, honey,
listen, I didn't mean anything.

Don't you pay any attention to me at all.

I'm just a big bag of wind, you hear?

If you take my advice,

you'll go straight home
and lock your door.

I can't go there.

Well, where are you going to
spend the night?

I don't know.

Come on, come on now.

Listen, as long as I'm with you,
nothing's gonna happen.

Besides, he certainly
isn't going to attack two of us, right?

I tell you what.

I got an extra couch.

You come to my place.

You can sleep on the couch,
watch television.

We'll have a few drinks.
We'll have ourselves a ball, okay?

- I can't.
- Come on. Sure you can.

Please? For me?

Come on.

Goodbye, gorgeous!

Fag!

Who was the hooker?

- What hooker?
- The one in the black dress,

just walked out of here.

Never saw her before in my life.

Come on, what was her name?

I ook, I don't ask people
for their credentials.

Say, are you boys familiar

with the age limit
for drinking in this state?

All right, all right.

Just moved into that brownstone
across the street, in the basement.

You know what I think, honey?

I think you ought to call the cops.

Honest.

As much as I hate em,

and god knows I hate 'em.

But you gotta give yourself
some kind of protection.

I can'tl

sure you can. Listen!

You call 'em right now, do you hear?

I can't.

Well, it's up to you.

It's up to you and your own conscience,

but don't forget, honey,
he's already killed four people.

Five.

Five?

I didn't know it was five.

It is now.

Who was the lady with her?

I don't know. Never saw her before,

- but she was scared to death.
- Of what?

She claimed she saw the strangler.

Look, are you sure
she's not Pearl menzel?

Look, I'm not only sure, I'm positive.

There's Pearl menzel.

Well, you keep her here.
I'll be right back.

Re-instate Morris!

Adulterer! Whoremaster!
Servant of Satan!

Easy, easy.

Take your dirty harlot out of here

and take her out tonight,
or I'll call the police!

- Take it easy! Come on!
- What's going on?

Out! Out! Out! Everybody out!
Get out of herel

get out of here!

I want every press release
on this last slaying

to include the fact that

detective Morris brummel

has been placed in charge
of the investigation once again.

This action is being taken

solely upon the recommendation
of Dr. shaffer here.

But let me make it clear
to everyone in this room

that as far as I'm concerned,

lieutenant Dawson
will continue to direct the investigation.

That's all for now.

Brummel.

How do you feel about this?

Lousy, sir. How would you feel?

Lousy.

Right. That's the word.

- Hello, James.
- Good afternoon, Mr. Gill.

How are you? My table free?

Yes, it is. Right this way, please.

All right, thank you.

- Hello, Vincent.
- Good afternoon, monsieur.

How come
you get younger and I get older?

Hello. Hello.

Hello, George. How are you?

All righty.

Thank you. I tell you what.

I'll have something French, all right?

Yes. May 1 suggest
the pate or perhaps the cordon bleu.

My boy, I'll leave that right up to you.

And you can also suggest the wine.

And you can bring me a telephone,

- if you'd be so kind.
- Yes, sir.

- Thank you, James, I don't need that.
- Thank you.

Thank you.

Hello. I have...

First of all,
how do you like my new accent?

Do you think I sound
like Maurice chevalier?

Could I hear a little more?

I am very happy that...

How do you say...

Reinstate you, huh?

That's very good. It's very French.
How about a little more?

'Cause if I talk it takes time.

And if I take time...

And if I take too much time,

you trace the call,
and then I would be stupide.

So, I just called to say
tcommence mes vacances.

I start my vacation.

And I promise not to be a bad boy.

I give you my word of honneur, huh?

Wait a minute, hold on.
Can you wait just a second?

I'm sorry, sir.

Now this piece of sculpture
is by Henry Moore,

and it's the last
in his series of reclining figures.

The section to the right is the torso,

and the rather large portion
to the left is the buttocks.

The construction going on behind us

will be the new Juilliard school
of music, dance, and drama.

This painting by Marc chagall
is 30 feet high,

and Mr. chagall
installed it here in the theater himself.

The figures in the painting...

The figures...

The figures in the painting
represent the...

The various artistic activities
that take place here at Lincoln center.

You found out, huh?

- What?
- Well, that I'm the strangler.

Otherwise how could you spare me

these few precious
moments of your time?

I know something
those hands haven't done.

They haven't touched me.

Well, that's one of the first things
I liked about you,

you didn't make a pass at me right off,

but don't you think
you're carrying a good thing too far?

- Morris.
- What??

If we stopped seeing each other,
that would bother you, wouldn't it?

Of course, yes.

What do I do wrong?

The thing of it is...

I mean, is a Jewish cop
so wrong for me?

I wanna show you my yacht.

- Yacht?
- My yacht.

Police N.Y.C.

I'll tell you the truth, Morris.

I've had him already.

Who?

Randy beautiful.

I had all the beautiful people
when I first came to New York.

That's all I did for two years
was swing with the beautiful people.

Oh, god, he was beautiful,
old Randy, gorgeous.

Good family,
good future, good everything.

So what'd we do? We swung.

For six months we swung.

Until one morning I just...

I don't know, I just...
The message came to me in a flash.

I woke up, and I turned over,

and I tapped him
on the top of his beautiful head.

And I said,

"you only love my body,

"you don't love me, my mind."

Well, that did it. I mean, that was it.

He screamed at me.
He said, "what mind?

"A thought of yours
would die of loneliness.”

So 1 got up,

and I put on my clothes,

and I grabbed my little suitcase,

and I left Randy beautiful

and his good future and his good family.

Morris, tell me the truth,

do you think I have a good mind?

You have a brilliant mind.

And you got hung up on me
because of my mind, didn't you?

I did.

Are you tender, Morris?

You can have me if you say yes."

Yes.

Do you love me?

I think so.

Well, that's sort of nice, isn't it?

Sort of.

Kiss me then, Morris.

You brummel?

That's right.

Okay, you got me. I'm here.

Sit down.

- I'm turning myself in.
- For what?

Well, what do you think? Who the hell
are you looking for all over?

The strangler?

Yeah. I killed every one of them.

Give me a confession
and I'll sign it right away.

You? You killed them?

With my bare hands.

Why? Why did you do it?

Hostility.

My personal life
doesn't have anything to do with this.

- Believe me, Mr...
- Kupperman.

Ook, you be careful now

'cause I'm very sensitive
on certain subjects.

Well...

Well, naturally, I wouldn't bring it up
if it didn't bear on the case, but...

Youre a midget.

But the very few witnesses we have

claim that he was of normal...

What I mean to say is,
he was taller than you.

You see how I fooled them?
I'm a master of disguise.

Have we...

Did you talk to me
several times on the telephone?

Yes, right.

Imitate Barry Fitzgerald.

Go on.

Sure and begorra,

faith and begorra.

It'll be all right, son,
if you just come to confession regular.

- That wasn't very good.
- Look, look, wait, wait.

I can do w.C. Fields.

I went to Philadelphia once,
it was closed.

It's terrific, huh?

Mr. kupperman, I just don't believe
that you're the strangler.

Bigot! You're a bigot!

- Just a minute.
- You're prejudiced against midgets!

That's not true.

Yeah, youd believe me in a minute
if I wasn't a midget!

Mr. kupperman!

You got any friends that are midgets?

No, I don't, but that doesn't mean...

Would you like
your sister to marry a midget?

I don't have a sister!

That's a bigot's answer
if I ever heard one!

All right, Mr. kupperman!

I'm very sorry, Mr. kupperman,

but I think
you're gonna have to leave now.

Yean.

Send me out to strangle
somebody else, huh?

Okay. You want to know what's gonna

be in the headlines tomorrow morning?

Mr. kupperman,
will you put the chalk back, please?

Just put the chalk back.

6th victim

Hey, lieutenant.

Lieutenant, I've got an idea
I'd like to talk to you about.

If you're not busy, lieutenant.

It's kind of wild,
but it may shake things up a little.

Mrs. fitts, my airline tickets come?

Yes.

Theyre lovely flowers.

Thank you, sir.

Just lovely.

Romance, Mrs. fitts.

Romance is the magic
that makes men whole and women bold.

When you read the newspapers
nowadays, there's not much love in it.

Not with all the rioting Ana wars.

With all these murders,

it is getting
so I'm afraid to step out onto the street.

Imagine one man killing six women.

What do you mean?

Here.

I ook at that.

Victim number six.

And killed the same way as the others,

with a lipstick across
her forehead and everything.

Imagine, Mr. Gill, six women!

Yes, yes.

Could I have my tea now?

I'm sorry, sir. Of course.

I didn't do it! I dian't do it!
Do you hear me?

I did not kill that woman.

You must listen to me! Listen to me!

You know I'm listening. What can I say?

Now say you believe me. Say it.

I can't say that
because I don't believe you.

I didn't do it.

You did it. You did it all right.

Can't you understand

that somebody else,
somebody who is a copycat?

I did everything up to now.

He comes along now,
and he wants to take all the credit,

and it's not fair.

Look, this is getting
a little too weird for me.

I think I'll hang up now.

Don't you hang up on me!

Don't you hang up on me,
or I'll kill 100 women,

I promise you that.

Go on.

A little common sense
will tell you that it is a copycat.

Did he call you on the phone?

Did he tell you where the body was?

Neither did you the first and fourth time.

Anh, but you forget
something, Mr. brummel.

I have given you
my word of honor that I'll stop.

- For all it was worth.
- Guys, pan am building.

I don't tell lies. What kind of a person
do you think I am?

What do I think you are? A malignancy.

A cancer. The cesspool of the world.

That's just for openers.

I see,

well, why can't I make you believe it?

You don't have to! You don't have to!

We've got a full
description of you this time.

Somebody who saw you
last night at the murder.

That's impossible. It was not me.

You're very short,

you have blond hair, wide nose,
and bushy eyebrows.

That's very funny, you see,

because, first of all, I have brown eyes,

I have brown hair.

I am approximately six feet tall.

And you are clever.

What'd you say?

Mr. brummel, youre very clever.

Very clever.

Let's go.

Yes, you are.
You are a very clever gentleman,

but you're not quite clever enough,
Mr. brummel.

Monaghan, when we pull up,
don't slam the door again.

Can I ask a stupid question, Kevin?

- Why not?
- Where'd you get the body?

Fast river. Suicide. Unidentified.

They didn't...

I mean, they didn't really
put the lipstick on the...

It was your idea.

You slammed the door.
I cannot believe it.

You slammed the door. You mother...

There's the telephone over there.

It was empty when we got here.

We picked up five men in the corridor.

What'd he say?

He said the inspector doesn't like it,

the chief doesn't like it,
and he doesn't like it.

But the commissioner feels...

Yean?

He said
we got ourselves a phony victim,

might as well have a phony suspect.

When?

We tip the press tomorrow.

Moe. Yes?

It'd better work this time.

It will. It will. You're such a worrier.

Well...

I'm reaay.

It's now or never. Are you reaay, Morris?

- I guess so.
- Okay.

- Do you love me?
- Yes.

- Desperately, madly?
- Desperately, madly.

In that case I can move mountains.
Let's go.

Mother, this is Katherine.

- How do you do?
- How do you do?

I'm so pleased to meet you at last

and to see your lovely home.

Morris, look at this apartment.

I love it. It's so Jewish.

What?

Well, the Jews
always have the best apartments.

Best taste, best apartments, it follows.

You re Jewish?

I have been stuaying
to be Jewish since I was 10 years old.

It's the only religion.

That's interesting.

It's very interesting. Come in, darling.

- Thank you.
- Sit down.

- Would you like some coffee?
- No, thank you.

- Soda?
- No, nothing.

- Drink?
- No.

I'm glad to see it,
you got a head on your shoulders.

Off! “What?

Well, look at him,
he's got his foot on your coffee table.

Lummmoxxx.

Off!

Your son is such a moose.

Well, he's not exactly dainty.

Honest, I don't know
why I go out with him.

On the salary he makes,
we can't do anything.

I just wish
I'd met your son Franklin in time.

You must be so proud
having a son like Franklin.

Let me tell you, I am!

Well, of course you are.

With a son like Franklin
you don't mind having this one so much.

A Jewish cop.
What could be more ridiculous?

I keep telling him
the same thing myself.

I've got to be honest
with you, Mrs. brummel.

Morris is a nothing.

He isn't worth
the powder to blow him to...

May I swear?

- Swear.
- Hell.

It's a little harsh.

You re right, too harsh.

But a stone around my neck.

There's one thing
he's good for, ordering around.

Morris. Light my cigarette.

Now go away.

See? Good to order around
and good to yell at.

You re right.

We know the same person.
I can just tell.

Absolutely.

Would you excuse me
for just a moment?

- Of course.
- Thank you.

Well?

That girl is a gem.

An absolute gem.

- And I'll tell you something else.
- What?

She reminds me of me.

Well, Morris, Morris,

I'm glad I got you. I feel relieved,

you know, because
I read in the newspaper

about this William Gibson
of... what was it?

Tudor city, you see,

and now we know
he had nothing to do with the first five,

but he's definitely
responsible for the sixth victim.

So, at last,

you know, I think
it's important we get the facts straight.

You can forget the whole thing.

We're gonna let him go.

What do you mean?

The only evidence we have on him
tied up with the last killing.

I know it ties up with the last killing!

But you can't let him go,
and he goes out and copies me again!

I don't think so, Dorian.

As far as I'm concerned,
you've still got six.

That's a liel

well, you're losing your temper, Dorian.

Thank you, detective.

Word just reaches me, Dorian,

that we ve already released him.

Released him?

He hung up!

Yes!

Release...

What're you doing? What're you doing?
What is that?

- What're you doing?
- Meat loaf. Meat loaf sandwich.

- Later, later, mom.
- Later it's no good.

I don't want a meat loaf sandwich.

Think about it.

Jewish

chickpeas and Spanish sauce.

Yes?

Miss Palmer? “Yes.

Well, I'm from deladie's restaurant
around the corner,

and Mr. Morris
said I should bring you this.

Bring me what?

Well, we got
a little homemade spaghetti,

we got veal piccata
with just a little lemon juice,

we have a mixed green salad.

I have spumoni, cafe Espresso,

and, last but not least,
I have valpolicella wine.

- What? For me?
- Yes, ma'am.

With the gentleman's love
and deep affection

and his regrets
that you'll have to dine alone.

Morris?

Well, that's what the man said
his name was, Morris brummel.

Well, I'll be damned.

Excuse me just a minute.

- Come on in.
- Okay.

Thank you. Excuse me.

I wondered, do you mind if I use
that table there to serve you?

- No, please do.
- Thank you.

You got a very mod apartment here.

Now, let me see.
I'll just set that down right there,

and I'll set the wine down
over here, and then,

young lady,
if you would be kind enough to sit here,

it would be
my great pleasure to serve you.

Thank you.

All righty.

That's a little hot.

So you got fired again.

- I was not fired, mother.
- What's the difference?

So you're not
the smartest cop in the world.

- You gotta eat.
- T was not fired.

She called twice before today.

Tell her.

Tell Kate Palmer
you won't eat your meat loaf sandwich.

- Hello.
- Now who is that, moe?

That's my mother, Dave.

Now get this. Your friend called again.

He called you? Why didn't he call me?

He said you could reach him at this
number if you want to talk to him.

Shoot.

5-5-5-3-3-1-0.

We're checking it out now, moe.

Oh, my god. That's Kate.

Kate? I'll send a car.

No. Subways faster! Subways faster!

- Go, go, go, go, go!
- What?

Let's go.

What? What? What?

Call Kate. God damn it.
Call Kate and tell her I'm on my way.

- Call her!
- Why?

Just call her!

I think you'll find
the antipasto just delicious.

Did I say something funny?

No, I'm sorry,
it's just this whole thing is so crazy.

Is it really? Well,
may I be permitted to say something?

- Yes, of course.
- Well, thank you very kindly.

Well, you see, I think
that your gentleman,

Mr. Morris brummel, is a young man
who shows consideration and taste

and knows very well
how to treat a fine young lady like you.

Thank you. You're welcome. Now!

Look, we have this lovely spaghetti.

Now would you like to have it with meat
sauce, just a little cheese on top?

- Yes, yes, the meat sauce.
- You sure you don't like to have it with

just plain butter, pepper?

No, the meat sauce will be fine,
thank you.

My pleasure, ma am.

Don't answer that.
I said, don't answer it.

- I beg your pardon.
- I said, don't answer it!

It's a little late for Mr. brummel.

Oh, my god!

Why me?

Why don't you ask him?

Let's go! Open up, lady, open up!
Police!

Monaghan.

Now, look, Jerry followed him as
far as the theater district.

Yeah, but I lost him near 44th and 6th.
Yeah?

- We got a lot of cars in the district.
- Come on, come on!

Just about 10:00, that's about right.

What is it?

This man said
he saw someone in a big hurry

entering into the alley entrance
to the Amanda Gill theater.

Did you see how he was dressed?

No, he was moving too fast.
It's very dark in that alley.

Come on, then.

- Can I help you, gentlemen?
- Yes. Detective brummel, 19th squad.

This is detective monaghan.
Who are you?

Who am I? I'm Christopher Gill.
I'm the owner of the theater.

Do you have any identification?

Yes, I do.

Did you hear anybody
break in here just now?

I... no, I didn't hear anyone break in.
It's been very quiet. Why?

Would you mind if we
had a look around?

Is it anything dangerous?

Yes, it is.

I see. Well, perhaps...

Perhaps it would be better for you
if I gave you a little more light.

Please.

May I have that back, please?
Thank you.

Is there anything else
I can do for you, gentlemen?

No, and thanks, Mr. Gill.

Did you find anyone?

Nope.

I see,

rather striking portrait of my mother,
don't you think?

Did you ever see her on stage?

No. I never had the pleasure.

Well, you missed something.

Sorry to trouble you, Mr. Gill.

It's no trouble at all. Am I safe here?

- Safe enough. He's not here.
- I see.

Well, then, the only thing left to do,
gentlemen, is to say good night.

Good night.

Madam, I bring you the worm,

the worm that kills and pains not.

How I remember that, mama,
how I remember that.

Put on my crown.

Give me my robe.

I have immortal longings in me.

I am fire and air.

Come, thy vem nous fool,

be angry and dispatch.

I'll tell you something.
You surprised me.

I thought you and I were finished.

We haven't even started.

What do you say?
Why don't we take one victim at a time?

Victim?

The ones we've been
talking about on the telephone.

The ones you strangled
with your hands, Mr. Gill.

Do you know something,
I'm going to be very charitable with you.

I'm gonna ask you to leave now
and forget what you said.

You tried it again tonight with Kate.

Kate? I see.

And this Kate,
can she identify the man?

Only what she saw.
And she saw someone disguised.

Disguised?

Yeah. You have a wardrobe department.

You can make yourself up
as a plumber, priest, policeman.

You must be under a very heavy strain.

Tell me, how's your Irish,
Mr. Gill, or your French?

Come on, let's have a little chevalier.

Or a little w.C. Fields for all the folks.

I'm gonna have to ask you to leave.

I wonder, what did
your mother think of you as an actor?

Or better still, what did your mother
think of you altogether?

Do you think
she understood the real you?

The demented freak
that strangles women. Six of them, huh?

No, no, no, it was five, wasn't it?
And one for the copycat!

But they all haa the lipstick,
didn't they?

The very shape of
your dear mother's lips!

The very lips on
all those portraits out in your lobby!

I see,

this is your concrete evidence,
these flights of fancy?

The allusion to my mother's portraits?

Well, my friend,
I must tell you something.

I have some powerful friends
in this city, and I advise you

to find some evidence that will stand up,

or you will make
a stupid fool out of yourself.

Can I have the key, please?

The key to your wardrobe department.

I don't have to give it to you.

No? We can come back for it.

I don't want you to come back.

Here you are.

Exit

Mr. brummel,

you're a better shot
than I thought you were.

Well!

Top of the morning to you, Mrs. mulloy.

The top of the morning to you.

Now what's that I see
around your neck?

Is it the Rose vine
that wound around the brow

of our beloved Saint Anthony?

Or is it the bloody rope?

The bloody rope that hung the likes
of many of our brave lads

over the cobblestones of Dublin?

It's my own hands,

squeezing the breath
of your dear life away.

Frau himmel!

You have been
convicted of crimes against the state.

And as your fuhrer,
I sentence you to death!

Jew!

Sweet Jesus, save me.

My beloved savior,

please save me.

Mr. brummel,

would you do me a favor?

Would you forgive me?

Please.