Two in the Dark (1936) - full transcript
Ford Adams regains consciousness in Boston, bloody and suffering from amnesia. Information he eventually uncovers (with the help of Marie Smith) connects him to a well-known producer--who's just been murdered.
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- Subtitles -
Lu?s Filipe Bernardes
- You will...
- You will have to move along.
One of your friends said
the same thing.
You too, buddy,
Go on.
Would you mind if I asked you
a few questions?
- I'd like to ask you one myself.
- What?
Do you mind telling me what on earth
you keep looking in your pockets for?
To find out what's in them.
I'm glad you've explained.
And what did you want to know?
What city this is?
Maybe we shouldn't have started
talking in the first place.
I mean it.
You...
You really don't know where you are?
I don't even know who I am.
Well... I don't know that.
But I do know you're in Boston.
Look, I don't want to have
to run you folks in.
That's very sweet of you.
Boston?
Boston.
Don't you remember anything?
Do you live in Boston?
I don't know.
I'm still rather shaky.
Oh, you've been hurt.
I got a crack on the head somewhere.
Whatever happened, it certainly
didn't do you any good.
It looks as though you have
a bad case of amnesia.
Amnesia, you know, um...
A lapse of memory.
Maybe.
- I can't remember.
- Of course you can't remember.
That's what amnesia is.
Whatever it is...
It's a nasty feeling not knowing
your own name.
You don't by any chance
happen to recognize me?
No, you're one of the few millions
I've never met.
Look. D-R.
R-D.
Which is it?
Oh, they would be wrapped
around each other.
I don't know.
Well, at least I know my initials
are D.R.
Or vice-versa.
What do I look like?
Is it that bad?
No! You're rather nice-looking.
Dark eyes, brown hair.
Well...
Nose, ears...
Don't you remember anything
about yourself?
All I know is...
I first saw the world under a lamppost
marked Mason Park Drive.
The junk I found in my pocket
didn't tell me a thing.
A package of cigarettes.
La Justicia. I've never heard
of that brand.
Neither have I that I know of.
Two theater stubs.
A folder of matches.
And eighteen dollars and eleven cents.
Look, Imperial Theater.
You must have gone to see
Olga Konar...
...starting there in the play called
The Dark Menace.
Sounds interesting anyway.
Matches from the Blue Room.
The Yorkshire Arms.
Perhaps you took her there dancing.
- Who?
- The girl you took to the theater.
Do you imagine I'm married?
I wouldn't be able to tell.
That's usually the first thing
men forget.
A little cynical.
The way I feel in this lovely
gray dawn...
...I could tie the world to an anchor
and drown it.
What's the matter?
There comes Willie again.
- What's your name?
- Marie Smith.
- You've been in the park all night?
- Yes.
Why?
Well, you see, it seemed
I had to have money...
...to persuade my landlady to let
me stay in my room.
I didn't, she wouldn't...
You know, they don't seem to trust
actresses around here.
Out of a job?
Hm-hmm. The show got stranded.
What have you been doing for food?
I haven't.
How long since you've had
something to eat?
Oh... yesterday morning.
Before my landlady kissed
me goodbye.
Why didn't you say something? We could
have talked just as well over ham and eggs.
I don't think I'd have talked much.
- Come on, we'll find a restaurant...
- Not yet.
Not until I've taken you to a police station
and helped find out who you are.
- All right.
- You might get lost again.
Mason Park.
Here.
Seems to explain why I was
in the park, doesn't it?
It isn't any proof.
No use kidding myself.
When I came to there was blood
on my hands.
But you had a cut on your head,
it could have come from that.
Doesn't the name Richard Denning
recall anything?
Have you heard it before?
I don't know. But I must
be mixed up in it some way.
I guess this is as far
as we go together.
Oh, why?
I don't want to drag you
into any trouble.
You can't afford to be seen with me.
- Oh, but you'll need help.
- I'll get along.
Here, you go some place
and get some food.
And thanks.
I'm going with you.
- It won't do any good.
- I don't believe you did it.
We're going to find out
who you are and...
Richard Denning, producer
of the current hit Dark Menace...
...was found murdered last night.
And according to police first leads
indicate robbery as the motive.
Although Denning is said to have drawn
$500 from the theater box office last night,
no money was found on the body.
Police are searching for a man seen
in front of the estate early this morning...
...described as of medium height,
wearing a dark pin-striped suit.
- Everything okay?
- Just dandy.
Good. If you want something,
just holler.
What's the matter?
I guess I didn't look in all my pockets.
- Just five hundred.
- So you were in his house.
It looks like it.
But I couldn't have killed him.
You don't know.
That money is all the proof
the police will need.
You haven't a chance.
Listen, you've got to get out of town
before they arrest you.
I'm going to stay.
- But if you...
- They'll get me anyway.
This is the only place I can
find out about myself.
It's the only way I'll know
if I have any defense.
Maybe you're right.
But you can't go around in that suit.
I'll get another one. And find an
out-of-the way place to stay.
- My boarding house is all of that.
- Where is it?
1843 Winfield.
1843 Winfield.
Here.
You square things with your landlady
and I'll meet you there.
I hope.
Nothing like a new suit to change
a man's appearence, eh?
That's a mighty handsome
outfit on you.
You couldn't have chosen better cloth.
The fabric's imported.
We make a sport model in that too.
Double-breasted, pointed-peak lapel,
woolen trousers, accordingly pleated,
double-ringed back.
It's called a conservative collegiate.
Yes, I can imagine it.
Say, what do you know about
this Denning murder?
Nothing, why?
I thought you might have heard
something new before you came in.
All I could get was an early edition
when I came in to work. Not much detail.
Vicious crime, wasn't it?
Yes, it was.
How much do I owe you?
I certainly would like to work
on that case.
- Work on it?
- Yes indeed.
I'm something of an amateur
criminologist.
Always did have quite a flair for it.
I solved the Cardoza killing.
- You worked with the police?
- No.
No, I worked it all out at home.
But the police and I picked the same man.
Oh, boy, boy!
- Good morning, Mr. Pinkley.
- Thank you.
Now that's what I call a real clue.
Hey, listen to this.
Denning's chauffeur vanishes.
Duke Reed, discharged last week
by Richard Denning after a violent quarrel,
disappeared from his home in Brookline
the morning of the murder.
- According to the latest information...
- What was that chauffeur's name?
- Duke Reed. Now, If I were...
- How much do I owe you?
$47,50.
I get so excited in these criminal cases.
Now, in that Cardoza thing,
half the time I couldn't tend
to my business.
There's your change.
Wait a minute.
Here's your old suit.
Sorry, I almost forgot it.
You know, I may solve this case.
Yes, I was thinking that myself.
My house is clean, quiet
and respectable.
And the rate is $10,65 a week.
In advance.
I'll take it.
And thank you very much.
- What's your name?
- Oh... didn't Miss Smith tell you?
She did not.
It's, um... Robbins.
David Robbins.
- What's yours?
- Potter.
Another thing. I ask the guests to be
particularly careful of my aunt's handiworks.
I thought she'd never go.
Did you read this about
Duke Reed the chauffeur?
It looks as though I found out who I am
with that D.R. in the hat.
If you reverse them to R.D.,
they stand for Richard Denning.
Yes, I thought of that too,
but it didn't get me anywhere.
I'm certainly not Denning.
You certainly don't look like
a chauffeur.
It's the new suit, and hat.
They make a difference.
- Where are the old ones?
- At the bottom of the bay.
Well, even a new suit won't help
if you are Reed.
Listen.
Why don't you leave town
while you're still free?
You won't be safe here or
anywhere else in the city.
Hundreds of people can identify
Denning's chauffeur.
I'm going to prove whether
I'm Reed or not.
How?
The paper said he had a room
in his aunt's house in Brookline.
But you aren't going there.
- Right now.
- Are you mad?
Do you realize the police will be
all over that place?
If they are, I won't go up to the house.
Oh, I suppose you'll walk straight on past
and climb into a policeman's pocket.
I wanted to help you because I thought
you were sane and needed help.
But you're going stark
scaring crazy.
And you can count me out.
I never even counted you in
on this trip.
It's too dangerous.
I'm going with you anyway.
Wait till I get my hat.
How do you do? Could I...
There's nobody home!
- She didn't know me.
- This is the right house too.
And you're not Reed.
- I wanted to talk to you.
- Well, I don't want to talk to you!
I told you there's nobody home.
I've talked to reporters all day.
They've yelled at me, the police have
yelled at me, I don't know anything.
Nobody could talk that much
and not know anything.
Try it again.
Listen, I've only worked here two days,
I've never seen this Reed man
and I don't want to talk anymore.
Well, there goes that hope.
She doesn't even know what
Reed looks like.
You want me to call the police?
- Would you mind letting us is?
- I don't...
Oh... well...
I might.
Just for a few minutes.
Come in.
Well, this is awfully nice of you.
It's awfully nice of you.
You'd better not take too long. Mr. Reed's
aunt will be back in about an hour.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
You don't happen to remember
those, do you?
No.
Sometimes forgetting comes in handy.
No initials in it.
I still say it's the man in the pin-striped
suit. Now you take my theory...
Well, you take your theory
and run it in your news column.
The bird I want to see
is this Duke Reed...
and find out why he came back twice...
...after having been fired and slashed
the tires on Denning's cars.
If he's the kind of guy that would
do petty stuff like that,
he's not the type of the fellow
that would kill anyone.
Now, that's my theory
and I'm going to stick to it.
Now look, Hillyer, I haven't got time
to listen to any yapping reporter.
There's nobody home!
I don't care if there's nobody
home or not!
Don't you try and shut
that door in my face.
He's Inspector Florio from
headquarters.
Oh, I'm, sorry.
You weren't here before.
No, but I'm here now and I happen
to be in charge of this case.
Well, that just about cinches things.
Just where is this aunt
of Duke Reed's?
She won't be back for an hour.
We might as well go up to Denning's place.
I want to look inside that joint.
- The cops didn't...
- The what?
The police wouldn't let me in
the last time I was there.
- Who's that?
- Um... nobody.
The cat, I guess.
Sweet child, you ought to teach 'em
not to shut drawers.
What are you doing in here?
Looking.
Who are you?
- Who are you?
- Florio, Police Headquarters.
What's your name?
John Smith.
- Oh... and who are you?
- She's my cousin.
Well, what are you looking for?
A story. He's a newspaper reporter.
Answer your own questions.
She hasn't asked any.
- What is your name?
- Marie Smith.
Marie Smith...
Well, it's as good a name as any.
You wouldn't by chance be Duke Reed?
Don't you know?
No, we haven't any pictures
of him as yet.
But you'd pass for him from
his description.
Wouldn't that make a good
story, Johnny?
Special correspondent mistaken
for murderer.
- What paper are you on?
- The Seattle Chronicle.
You keep out of this.
Lay off, Marie, will you?
Stop butting in, let me answer the man.
His questions are so silly.
You got here in a hurry from Seattle.
He was already here,
he's been visiting me.
Were you assigned to this case?
No, I'm writing some
special articles.
Let me in on this, will you, Florio?
I'll tell you if this guy is a phony or not.
Oh, you think so, eh?
Who's the city editor on the
Seattle Chronicle?
Oh, do you know Bill Coby?
- I've heard of him.
- He's an awful grouch.
Mr. Harrison was telling me about him
when he came east last year.
Remember the argument you had
with him on the strike story?
By the way, Mr. Harrison's managing editor,
do you happen to know him too?
- So what? Are those the right editors?
- Yeah.
- So they know them, don't they?
- Look, look...
I know, but I haven't got time to stand
here a jawing about newspapers.
This fellow seems all right to me.
And he acts dumb enough to be a reporter.
Let's get to Denning's.
You're going with us.
I want you to see where Denning
was murdered.
You might have an idea
that would help.
It's awfully nice of you
to give us the chance.
I was going to ask the department
if I could look the place over.
Hm... Well, let's go.
Charming girl your niece.
My cousin.
Plenty of blood stains.
Nice messy job, isn't it?
He evidently stood over Denning's body
long enough to get blood on his shoes.
By the way these footprints stagger,
he must have been drunk.
- Or injured.
- Yeah.
What I can't go about is why
the footprints lead to the front door...
...and the window's wide open.
Somebody dropped this under it.
- It's a hot love letter to Denning.
- Hey, that's a good yarn, who signed it?
"Your lotus bud".
What's the matter Smith?
I thought you were interested
in good news stories.
Think of that headline, "Passionate love
note found near body of murdered producer,
signed Lotus Bud.
Then what would you say,
"Police picked flowers."?
I told O'Brien to bring that butler down,
what's the matter with him?
Oh, he's probably giving him another
shot of smelling salts.
He's had the yips all day.
- Can he identify Duke Reed?
- Yeah.
I've told him everything I know.
Somebody's got to believe me some time.
I can't go on talking forever.
I... oh!
- Are you Fish?
- Yes, sir.
Is he Duke Reed?
No, sir, that's not him.
He isn't Denning's chauffeur?
No, sir, I just told you,
that isn't Mr. Reed.
Who is he?
I don't know, sir,
I've never seen him before.
Am I supposed to know who he is?
I guess I owe you an apology, Smith.
That lets me out, eh?
Yeah... but stick around awhile.
Looks like you were wrong too.
If I am, it's the first time
since I was born.
- That time your parents were wrong.
- Yes... No!
Didn't you tell McCord here that you heard
Denning quarreling with some man...
...in the living room around midnight?
You did, didn't you?
Yes, sir.
But you didn't hear the shot
that killed him.
No, sir.
I see, you could hear people talking,
but you couldn't hear a gun go off.
Do you expect me to believe that?
Well, I should be very disappointed
if you don't.
Why didn't you hear that gun go off?
Well, I expect it's because
it was later.
How did you know it was later
if you didn't hear it?
I don't know, I can't say.
I get so nervous around here with all these
policemen knocking on my bedroom door.
Why didn't you hear that gun go off?
Well, I expect it's because
I'm afraid of the dark.
What's the dark got to do with it?
Well... you see...
I sleep with the covers
over me head.
And were the covers over your head
when you heard the quarrel?
No, I heard it going through
the hall to the stairs.
Mr. Denning was very angry.
He sort of shouted,
"Do you think you can make me pay off
with that kind of proof?
Then this other man says,
"You ain't heard the half of it yet.
What about this?"
Then they don't say anything
for a minute.
Then this other man says, very even-like.
"You keep it up and someone's going
to pump a couple of slugs into you."
- What are slugs?
- What else did he say?
- Well, I don't know, sir, because then...
- Then you went upstairs and went to bed.
- You probably slept well.
- Oh, no sir, no sir.
You see, when Mr. Denning quarrels
with people, he gets upset.
Then I get upset and...
what with my sciatica...
Never mind your sciatica.
You say that Mr. Denning quarreled
with a lot of people?
- Yes, sir.
- Did you see this other man?
No, sir, they were in the living-room.
Oh, you mean they weren't
quarreling in here.
No, sir, they were in the living-room.
Would you recognize the other man's
voice if you heard it again?
Yes, sir, I think I could.
- Smith, say those words.
- What words?
"You keep it up and someone's going
to pump a couple of slugs into you."
Say them loud.
"You keep it up and someone's going
to pump a couple of slugs into you."
- Is that the voice?
- I reckon I can't tell, sir.
All voices sort of seem
to sound alike to me.
- You can go, Fish.
- Thank you, sir.
- Can I lock my bedroom door?
- Yes.
Er... no! Stay downstairs.
Well, that should satisfy you
that Johnny's on the level.
Hey, Florio, here's something.
Denning was killed last night the 4th
and that page has been torn off here.
Doesn't a guy usually wait until
the next day to correct the date?
Suppose you figure it out,
I usually tear mine off at night.
I saw a calendar page like that somewhere.
In the living room.
- Where they were quarreling, huh?
- Yeah.
Show me.
Is this room just as it was when
Denning's body was found?
That's right.
Did the murderer leave those
desk drawers open?
Yes.
Looks like he took the $500
off the body...
...and went to the desk looking
for other valuables. Why?
I was just wondering what kind
of valuables he was looking for...
...to make him rummage through
that pile of manuscripts.
Not a bad thought, Smith.
You may be of some help to us yet.
Do you know anything about
stage royalties?
- No.
- I do.
Well, doesn't the author usually
get all the royalty?
Yes.
Mac, look at this account book.
Royalties on the stage play
Dark Menace.
- Did this Stuart Eldredge write it?
- Yes, he's the guy.
Hm, over $800 every week,
And Denning's been chiseling him
out of 400 of it.
I wouldn't doubt it from everything
I've heard about him.
I found it, Florio.
Here's your calendar page, it was taken
out of this manuscript.
That's Denning's handwriting,
Appointment with F.A. at 11:30.
Must be the guy's initials
he was fighting in there with last night.
Or any of a hundred people
he did business with.
It might mean 11:30 this morning.
Ever hear of the fellow
who wrote that? Kenneth Orme?
Yeah.
No.
Don't tell me I'm not coming in,
I am coming in!
No one shall stop me this time.
I should come all the way out here.
For my soul I come, My beloved Amati.
- I will have it.
- Mr. Denning's isn't at home, he's dead.
Oh, you think you are telling me?
I know it!
That's why I'm here.
And the last time I am here.
No longer I wait.
He steal my beloved Amati.
Out of my way, I have the money.
Here, where do you think
you're going?
Ah, you or no one else can stop me.
That is my Amati.
Hey, let that fiddle alone.
Fiddle? You call that a fiddle?
It is an Amati! My Amati!
Monsieur, you know what is an Amati?
With a soul this instrument.
The finest in the world.
It is my inspiration.
My heart, my art, and it belongs to me,
to Carlos Gheet, me, you hear?
- Hey...
- You break it and I'll kill you!
You lay off this and start talking.
What are you doing here?
To get my Amati I come.
I have the money, the $200.
And the rocip... oh, what you say...
Oh, receipt.
Yes, from Denning, this proves it.
He is a dog. I leave one of his orchestra.
I get hard up, he lends me the money,
and takes my Amati.
Last night I come to pay him back
and what you think he does?
He does not give me my Amati.
He knows it is a great Amati.
He keeps it.
But now that he is dead,
- I take it!
- Get away from that!
You were here last night.
But certainly! I already say it,
so was he.
- You murdered him to get your fiddle.
- Stop calling that a fiddle!
- You killed Denning.
- If you call that a fiddle...
Who me?
But, monsieur, I never kill
anybody any place.
I am a musician, not a murderer!
You were here with Denning, listen!
You keep it up and someone's going
to pump a couple of slugs into you.
I kill you too!
That's him!
That's him, that's the one!
That's the voice I heard,
the same voice.
- So it was, eh?
- No, not him, him!
You was the one I heard talking.
Will you get out of here!
Hey, you drop that!
- Hello?
- O'Brien, grab this mug.
Inspector, headquarters wants
you on the phone.
- Cochon, imbecile!
- Shut up you!
Yeah?
They have?
Wait a minute.
They've traced one of the
hundred-dollar bills.
A man in a pin-striped suit
bought one off in a clothing store.
They've got the salesman
at headquarters.
Can he identify this man?
I got him here and I'm bringing
him right down.
Smith.
You'd better give McCord your address.
I may want you later.
O'Brien.
- 1843, Winfield.
- 1843, Winfield.
Coming down to headquarters
with us, Smith?
Great story for you.
No, thanks, I've got enough material
for my article today.
McCord. Bring along this
crackpot fiddler.
- Me a fiddler.
- Yeah, and shut up!
How dare you!
Go right ahead and mop.
You would want to spend a few quiet
minutes at Duke Reed house.
- Well, at least I know I'm not Reed.
- So what?
You're not Carlo Gheet either,
but that doesn't help any.
If Florio had searched me
and found those bills.
You take care of the money
from now on.
There's nothing like a couple of hours with
the police to get a person sensible.
How did you happen to know so much
about the Seattle Chronicle?
They panned our show when
it played there.
But You should have heard the explosion when
our press agents haggled with those editors.
You know, I'm awfully glad
you came along.
You should be.
And remember,
you're John Smith when Mr. John Hillyer
is in the neighborhood.
- You seem to like him.
- I adore him.
The way he pokes his nose into everything
reminds me of an anteater.
- Don't lose sight of them.
- I'm on them like a leach.
You've been pretty regular, Marie,
helping me this way.
I haven't been much help so far.
I don't know what we can do
now to find out who you are.
The police are too close
for our comfort.
We'll find a way somehow.
You shouldn't do so much
worrying about me.
A woman always has to have
something to worry about.
And it's nicer to worry
about you than...
...sit on a park bench worrying
about the whole world.
I wonder.
Look, I'd forgotten about this.
The Yorkshire Arms.
Maybe the doorman will
remember you.
We'll ask everyone in the place.
Driver, Yorkshire Arms.
Do you happen to remember me?
- I regret to say I don't, sir.
- So do I.
Well!
Hello again.
Well, fancy meeting you here.
What are you doing, following us?
Not on your life,
my sweet-tempered little charmer.
I'm here for an interview
with Olga Konar. She lives here.
Is she the girl that stars
in Dark Menace?
Yeah.
You know, she and the corpse were love's
gift to romance for a couple of years...
until Mansfield became her leading man, now they're
practically wrecking each other with devotion.
Very much in love, huh?
Oh, sure, they fight all the time.
- She seemed to know you.
- Who is she?
Konar, the dame I was talking about.
- You don't know each other, huh?
- I never saw her before.
I thought you wanted an
interview with her.
Fat chance with Mansfield around.
He's so jealous he thinks every guy
inside of a mile is flirting with her.
You certainly take life easy
for a reporter.
What are you doing for your paper?
I sent a wire on the Reed
angle this morning.
I'll get another one off tonight.
So... let's see.
Tomorrow Seattle papers ought
to be here by Sunday.
I'll have to read your articles.
Find out how you manage
to do them without working.
Lucky stiff.
Well, so long.
So long...
...bad news.
Jit! Jit, darling.
Jitney, where on earth did you
disappear to?
Why, I, um... I had a lot
of important business.
But you didn't even phone.
I didn't, I was up to my ears.
Believe me.
I waited here three hours yesterday.
I know.
I'm terribly sorry, but the man
absolutely wouldn't let me go.
You're too popular.
- I'm beginning to find that out.
- But all that's over now, isn't it?
You won't run away again.
No, I guess I can finish up
the rest of the things tomorrow.
Um...
What would you like to do?
Well, we can go into the Blue Room
and have a cocktail...
...to start with.
To start with, yes... of course.
Um...
- Miss Smith.
- Yes, sir?
I'll finish up those papers in the morning.
Tell, um... Mr. Ramsey I'll drop into
his office tomorrow.
Yes, sir, you'll probably have
a great deal to tell him.
Undoubtedly.
Um... Mr. Ramsey's secretary.
- A very pretty girl.
- Yes, she is.
You say that as if you meant it.
- You wouldn't happen to be jealous?
- What do you think?
I wouldn't know.
Do you wish to order now, madame?
Yes, a bacardi cocktail.
- And you, monsieur?
- Scotch, straight.
I've been worried about you.
Really? Why?
When you didn't show up I was afraid you
might have got mixed up in Denning's murder.
What made you think that?
What else could I think? He was killed
the night we saw the show.
And he certainly seemed afraid of you
when you were arguing with him in the foyer.
You saw me arguing with Denning?
Of course I did, when I came out of the
lounge at the end of the second act.
I didn't know whether you were threatening him
or quoting Burt Mansfield's line from the play.
Which line?
Well, you said to him...
"You keep this up and someone's going
to pump a couple of slugs into you."
Why, that's the same...
Mansfield said that in the play?
Certainly. In the second act curtain
scene with Olga Konar.
You seem so funny today, what's the
matter, don't you remember it?
Sure... now that you recall it.
I remember quoting it.
So you think I was mixed up in his death
because you saw me arguing.
No, I thought you might have had
a date with him after the show.
The way you rushed to me back here after
it was over and then rushed away again.
Then I read the paper and...
You never did tell me what
that was all about.
You just cooked yourself up
a lot of worry over nothing.
- I didn't have any date with him.
- I'm glad of that.
But what were you arguing
with him about?
I just happened to say I didn't like
the second act.
It was like waving a red flag
in front of a bull.
Still won't tell me anything, hm?
Curious young lady, aren't you?
The way you've been playing the vanishing
American would make a sphinx curious.
Was Denning one of the reasons
you made this business trip?
What's the matter, Jitney,
want to cut me dead?
Why, no, I'm sorry I didn't see you.
Oh, um... allow me to present...
Stuart Eldredge, the famous
author of Dark Menace.
Thank you. Charming compliment
from a very charming lady.
Thank you.
Oh, Stuart, I want you to know...
- My name is Irene Lassiter.
- How do you do?
I'm so sorry, Irene.
It's all right, Jitney, you're forgiven.
We managed to meet each other anyhow.
I want to apologize, Jitney. When I passed
and you didn't recognize me,
I thought you were angry with me
for the way I treated you yesterday.
Oh, that's all right.
Would you care to join us, Stuart?
Delighted.
When I rushed by you I was making a dash
to keep an appointment with my publishers.
I got thinking later how rude I've been.
A rotten way to treat an old
classmate who...
...goes to the trouble to look you up.
Forget it, I...
I hope you'll forgive us for
neglecting you.
We haven't seen each other
for three years.
You know, you're very beautiful.
Why, thank you, kind sir.
That's all right. How did you happen
to recognize me?
Why, don't you realize that every girl
thrills over your photographs?
Oh, now, please.
We're getting along splendidly.
Jitney, I'm afraid I'll have to steal
her away from you.
- May I have this dance?
- If Jit doesn't mind.
Not at all.
- Waiter.
- Yes, sir.
Another scotch.
Mr. Eldredge.
- Yes?
- Mr. Mansfield to see you in the lobby.
- Thank you.
- Yes, sir.
- Want to talk to me, Mansfield?
- No, I spoke to you before.
This time I'll make myself clear.
Break it up!
Come on, get out!
Are you all right?
Excuse me, please.
What happened?
It was awful, Mansfield acted like a maniac.
Without any excuse at all he hit him.
- I wouldn't let it upset you.
- I can't help it, I hate fights.
It couldn't have been much of a fight.
Let's go back and...
I don't feel like dancing. If you'll
excuse me, I'm going to my room.
Will you call me this evening?
- What's Stuart Eldredge's room number?
- Mr. Eldredge? 478, sir.
Thank you.
Hello, Stuart, are you alone?
- Uh... yes, Jitney, come in.
- Thanks.
- Sorry our party got broken up.
- So am I.
That chap Mansfield's been
a troublemaker...
...ever since I tried to keep him out
of the cast of Dark Menace.
- That's a shame.
- Those things happen, Jitney.
Funny hearing that nickname again.
No one's used it very much
since we got out of college.
That so? What do they call
you now? Ford?
- Yes.
- More dignified, eh?
I'll never forget time Kenneth Orme first
tagged you with that nickname, Jitney.
I didn't like it very much.
That's funny, you certainly laughed
about it at the time.
Did I?
It's so long ago I didn't remember.
Sit down, Jit... Ford.
Thanks.
Where were you when Ken died?
Out West.
Must have been an awful
shock to you.
Rotten stuff ptomaine poisoning.
He had himself some seafood
we had in the apartment.
When I came back in the
afternoon, I found him.
I hate to think about it.
- Will you have a drink?
- No, thanks.
I guess the last time you saw Ken was when
you dropped in on us at the apartment.
That's right.
That's the last picture he had taken,
did you get one?
No.
That's not the right picture.
Don't you know Orme's face
when you see it?
Of course, I was just noticing
this other chap.
Who's he?
You wouldn't know him.
Tell me, Jitney, did you come to Boston
to see Denning?
No, why?
I read in the paper that the police
had found a calendar page...
...of Denning's with an appointment on it.
F.A., same initials as yours.
I read that too. Funny coincidence,
isn't it?
Yes, funny coincidence.
Too bad Kenneth didn't live to see
his play produced.
What play?
Two O'clock Courage, Denning was
interested in it.
Where did you learn that?
A reporter told me the police found a copy
of it in Denning's living room today.
Well, I never knew Ken wrote
a play, did you?
No.
Imagine Ken wanting to ne a playwright.
Good night. Will you excuse me,
I've got to keep an appointment.
Why, of course.
I'm terribly sorry of running out
on you all the time like this,
but I'm very busy these days.
Let's get together tomorrow, hm?
I'll telephone you.
Why... of course, you do that.
- So long.
- So long.
Oh, Stuart...
Enter the villain.
You make it rather embarrassing,
Mr. Adams.
But I warned you I was going to steal
the young lady away from you.
- Jit, I... I'm sorry I...
- It's all right.
Don't apologize.
Ford Adams salutes you.
Boy!
- Get me a flock of nickels.
- Yes, sir.
Abbey Hotel? Have you got
a Ford Adams registered there?
Thank you.
Sorry, the line's busy.
Iced water for 420?
Hello, Harry.
Take your foot off that chair.
Yorkshire Arms.
Just a moment, please.
- Any calls for me, Dolly?
- I'll say I have.
That boss of yours has been tearing
his hair trying to find you.
Wait, I'll call him for you.
Take booth one.
Hillyer? Where have you been,
I've been trying to...
What? Following Konar?
Well, interview her later.
They've captured...
I said forget Konar!
They captured Duke Reed
on a New Haven train.
Get down to South Station
and bring him right in.
I'm gonna stick around this lead,
it's hot.
If it breaks, you can go to town
on the front page.
Yeah? Well fired or not, I'm gonna
stick here and interview Konar.
Get somebody else to cover Reed.
- So they finally caught up with you.
- Oh, another tough cop, huh?
Inspector in charge.
No wonder this case hasn't been solved.
Up to now.
Get in there.
Okay.
Justitia, eh? Still smoking Denning's
cigarettes.
Yeah. Yeah, I stole a few cartons.
And I cut the tires on the cars too,
but nothing to pin on me, flatfoot.
If you're looking for some guy
to third degree,
you'd better dig up this
fellow Mansfield.
- Starting to pass the buck already, huh?
- I'm not passing any buck.
He was in there quarreling with Denning
right before the murder.
How do you know?
It's when I gave the tires
a going over.
Mansfield's car was in the driveway
so I looked in the library window.
He was in alright and plenty sore.
He told Denning to keep away from
that Konar dame or he'd kill him.
What did Denning say?
He said as long as Konar kept
wanting to see him, he'd let her.
Well, you've got your story
all fixed up, haven't you?
Why lie about the truth?
You find Mansfield and I'll prove it.
Woodley Hotel?
Have you got a Ford Adams
registered there?
Thank you.
Yorkshire Arms.
- Desk, please.
- Just a moment, please.
Have you got a Ford Adams
registered there?
Just a minute, please.
Ford Adams, yes, sir.
Room 312.
Thank you.
Key, please.
Adams, 312.
- Any mail?
- No, sir.
Someone just phoned to ask
if you were registered.
He didn't leave any message.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
Hello, this is Ford Adams speaking,
room 312.
Will you get me Mrs. Potter,
843 Winfield.
Thank you.
Hello, Mrs. Potter, this is Ford...
Robbins, David Robbins speaking.
Is Miss Smith there?
Has she phoned?
She hasn't.
I'll call later, thank you.
Who are you? What are you doing
in my apartment?
Wait a minute, I'm Hillyer, Boston Dispatch.
I wanna ask you...
- A reporter?
- Yeah, I want to get an interview.
Get out of here! You got a nerve
breaking into my apartment...
Don't you put up an act for me
and pretend to kick him out.
- Shut up!
- Don't shut me up!
I'm getting tired of finding men
in your apartment.
Burt, you fool, he's a reporter.
Sure, and the last time it was
a playwright.
That's why you asked downstairs
for me not to come up.
Afraid I'd find him here.
Look, she's telling the truth, I...
Get out! You get out of here before
I knock your head off!
- Just a minute, Mansfield.
- Why...
Who are you?
Oh.
- Do you know this man?
- Why, yes, he's Denning's chauffeur.
You finally caught up with him, eh?
Yes, he tells me you were at Denning's
the night before the murder.
- He's crazy.
- You threatened to kill Denny.
- That's a lie!
- Tell him the truth!
- They got me in a murder rap.
- Get back there.
Don't get excited, I'll handle this.
You killed him to get the
love letters she wrote to him.
What love letters?
Denning never told me that you...
He's lying, he's just trying
to get you to say something.
Denning never told you what?
Alright, I'll tell you.
Denning was bothering Miss Konar
and I told him to cut it out.
- You were there then.
- The night before he was killed, yes!
- Why did you lie about it?
- Well, when I found out he was dead,
I knew how bad it would look
if I was mixed up in it.
And that's the truth,
I didn't kill him.
Yeah? Well come on, we'll go
to headquarters anyway.
Wait, you can't arrest Burt just because
he was there the night before.
You want the man that was with
him the night he was killed.
I think I know who he is.
You started thinking
pretty fast, didn't you?
You bet I did.
I just remembered.
And you can take it for what it's worth.
The night Denning was killed,
he came backstage after
the second act mad as a hatter.
He was swearing about somebody
named Ford Adams.
He told one of the actors,
Frank Thompson,
that he couldn't go with him to the
nightclub but he'd drop him off there.
He said he had to come over here
to the Yorkshire Arms to pick up a man.
That's a pretty good yarn.
Come on you.
Call up Thompson if you
don't believe me!
Wait a minute, Florio,
she sounds on the level.
That name Ford Adams ties up with
the initials on the calendar page,
appointment with F.A.
That's right. Did Denning say he was coming
to this hotel for Adams?
Yes.
Give me the room clerk.
Have you got a guy registered here
named Ford Adams?
312.
You stay here, watch them.
- Has Ford Adams checked out yet?
- No.
But he's gone, so is his baggage.
- His baggage?
- Yeah.
I'll tell the hotel detective.
Fine, that ought to help a lot.
Uh, boy... here.
Yorkshire Arms.
Dolly, give me some help, will you?
- Sure, another alibi to your boss?
- No.
You know what that guy
looks like up in 312?
No.
See if he made any outgoing calls
from his room today.
Oh, Harry, you know that's
against the rules.
Come on, I'm in a spot,
give me a break.
Blue Room?
Just a moment, please?
- Yorkshire Arms.
- Come on, come on!
He made a call about 20 minutes ago.
- A Mrs. Potter at 1843 Winfield.
- 1843 Win... gimme
Yorkshire Arms.
I'd like to talk to Mr. Ford Adams, please.
I don't know any Ford Adams,
he doesn't live here.
Your phone number is Elliot 1461.
- Yes.
- That's funny.
This is the address he gave me and
I thought I had the name right too.
- Who are your tenants?
- Let me see, There's Mr. Duff,
- Miss Smith, and then...
- Miss Marie Smith?
Yes, but you're looking for a man.
Yes, her cousin.
He isn't Adams, his name
is David Robbins.
Oh, Robbins, huh?
- It wouldn't be Smith?
- No it wouldn't.
- Is there anything else you want to know?
- No, thanks.
Thanks plenty.
Why, don't tell me it's you!
I wouldn't try to tell you anything.
What are you doing around here?
Same old thing, helping the cops find
the man in the pin stripe suit.
I can't get over the sudden rush
of prosperity to the torso.
Why, you're positively gorgeous.
Didn't you say your cousin's
name was Smith?
What are you driving at?
Why does he call himself
David Robbins?
That's the name he writes under.
Do you think anybody could be impressive
signing an article John Smith?
You're pretty fast on your feet,
aren't you?
You know, I'd hate to see a nice little girl
like you get in a jam protecting a criminal.
- His real name is Ford Adams.
- Ford Adams?
You're crazy!
And he's not a criminal.
- Listen...
- You listen, Mr. Hillyer.
You've made enough remarks
about Johnny.
Keep it up and we'll crack down
on you with a libel suit...
...that'll make those funny-looking
ears of yours curl.
Florio? This is Hillyer.
I've located Adams for you.
1843 Winfield.
Yeah. I'm in the drugstore across
the street from the place now.
No, he isn't home, but you can
stake out the joint.
Yeah, you've met him.
His name is Smith.
Marie.
- I found out...
- Well?
You're beautiful.
Was she your wife?
And you're the same girl
I met in the park.
Never mind about the girl
in the park.
- What about the brunette in the hotel?
- Who?
- Oh, Miss Lassiter.
- Is that her name?
- Yes. Where did you get the new...
- Who was she?
Who, Lassiter?
I don't know.
The last I saw of her she was in Stuart
Eldredge's apartment...
...in his arms kissing him.
- She was?
- Yeah. Where did you get the new outfit?
The landlady let me have my trunk
back when I paid for my rent.
I don't like the way you went
for that clothes horse.
- I didn't go for her.
- Well, you certainly went away with her.
And a good thing I did to.
I found out why I came to Boston.
Here.
Read that.
My name's Ford Adams.
Adams?
Oh, no! No!
That's who the police are hunting for.
They must know that you're the man
that wore the pin-striped suit.
- How do you know?
- Hillyer just told me so.
You've got to get away.
You've got to get out of town.
I've got to get a hold of that play,
Two O'clock Courage.
That's what brought me here.
It'll clear up the whole mess,
I'm sure of it.
No, you haven't a chance if they get you.
You must get away.
There's $400 left.
Please, Johnny, I'll go with you,
I'll do anything you like.
You stay here and wait for me.
- Where are you going?
- Denning's.
Come on, open this door.
You can't break in my house like this.
I'm sorry, madam.
You two search this lower floor.
Please, don't tell them anything.
You're marvelous.
Miss Smith, eh?
Where's Adams?
I've never heard of the man in my life.
214 Mason Park Drive.
Denning.
This proof will stand up in any
court and you know it.
If you don't make a new deal,
I'm going to start legal action
for Mrs. Orme tomorrow.
All right, Adams, you win.
Here's $500 on account.
Excuse me.
I'll be right back.
What are you doing here?
Who are you?
My name's Adams.
Adams, eh. Get on your feet.
Wait. I've got to find Florio,
take me to him.
You bet I'll take you to him.
You won't make me talk
if it takes all night.
- Johnny!
- Listen, Florio...
- Well, where did you get him?
- Denning's house.
- Get some bracelets on him.
- Wait, Florio, I know who killed Denning.
You bet you do. Come on, get
those bracelets on him.
Now, you're gonna talk
and talk plenty, Adams.
You wore that pin-stripe suit and you're
the one who went home with Denning.
- It's true, but...
- Certainly it's true.
And you're gonna tell it to a stenographer
where we'll have it in black and white.
Now take him to headquarters,
get going.
Wait, Florio, you've got to listen.
I didn't kill Denning. I wasn't threatening
him when the butler heard me.
- Oh, you admit it was your voice.
- Yes.
- But I was reading from a play.
- Do you expect me to believe that?
It's true!
Oh, you should have tried out
that story before.
I couldn't remember.
When I heard that shot and ran into the
library and somebody hit me over the head.
When I came to, I was out on the street.
I didn't remember a thing that happened.
I went back to Denning's house
tonight to get that play.
- Someone shot at me and it all came back.
- Take this mug out and...
Look for yourself.
The bullet grazed my head.
Stuart Eldredge stole that play.
He didn't write it.
Denning knew it, that's why he
blackmailed him for those royalties.
- Wait a minute!
- Eldredge is the one that killed Denning.
- Those stage royalties, huh?
- Give me a chance.
Let me get to Eldredge.
All right.
Come on, Hillyer, bring the girl.
No, Eldredge, you didn't kill me.
Have you gone mad, Jit?
- What is all this?
- Come on, Eldredge, open up.
We want to have a little talk
with you about Denning.
- Police, I presume?
- That's right.
Well, make yourselves at home,
gentlemen...
...and the young lady.
Never mind the introductions.
Where did you learn to write
plays, Eldredge?
After you left college?
That's right.
Not bad for a man who flunked
English four years in a row,
couldn't even write
a daily theme.
Are you questioning the fact
that I wrote Dark Menace?
You didn't even rewrite it,
you stole it.
It was Two O'clock Courage,
written by Orme just before he died.
You're very amusing, Jitney.
Orme never wrote a play in his life,
you said so yourself.
And you looked pretty relieved when
you thought I'd forgotten about it.
You and I were the only ones
that did know.
That's why you took a shot
at me in the library.
Denning had a copy that Orme
mailed to him.
He held that over your head
and bled you for plenty, didn't he?
- Nonsense.
- Just a minute.
Denning's records show he was
getting half of your royalties.
That's easily explained, my dear sir,
if you knew Denning.
He demanded that graft
to produce the play.
It was my first and it was
worth it to get it on.
- You can't get...
- Listen, Adams,
I don't intend taking any more insults
from you, police or no police!
Now, you show some evidence
or get out of here!
Where is this play?
Perhaps where the rest of Orme's
plays went, in the fireplace.
Pretty hot night for a fire, Eldredge.
Take a look if it isn't too late.
It's some old papers.
But important ones. You had to get
that last copy, didn't you?
You were hunting for it in Denning's library
when he surprised you and you killed him.
Get this man out of my apartment!
I won't stand any more of this rot!
If you've got any charges to make
against me, make them or get out with him!
Wait a minute.
I caught her in the lobby.
You can't drag me into this.
Do you think...
- Shut up!
- I won't shut up.
I won't get mixed up in any murder.
You got me into this, you get me out of it.
- What do you know about the murder?
- I don't know anything.
All I did was get acquainted
with Adams.
Stuart put me up to that.
He told me to get acquainted with him...
...find out why he was here and see
if he had any business with Denning.
That's all I did.
A very amusing tale.
Is this part of your frame-up?
Adams introduced me to
this young lady.
- You got acquainted fast enough.
- You framed the meeting yourself.
Better get your coat, Eldredge.
Will I be staying overnight?
Yes.
Excuse me, please.
Don't let him go, he'll escape.
Don't worry, if he does,
that'll prove he's guilty, won't it?
I got men all around the hotel.
Main 4300!
I guess you were right, Adams.
Couldn't stand the gaff
of losing his glory.
Hillyer talking.
Stuart Eldredge just committed suicide.
Yeah, in his apartment.
Florio was arresting him
for Denning's murder.
Went into the bedroom
and shot himself.
- I'll call you back.
- Florio!
This gun hasn't been fired. It's not
suicide, he's been murdered.
Let me see it.
Main 4300!
Hillyer, get out in the hall
with O'Brien.
Guards, secure the premises and
tell Briggs to get in the hall below.
Ken, did you see anybody
come down from this balcony?
- No.
- Stand by.
Turn on those lights.
Oh, it's you, eh?
Why did you kill Eldredge?
Do you think I was going to let him
drag me out there where you were?
He wouldn't spoil his sweet reputation and
go to jail long enough to let me get away.
He knew you killed Denning, huh?
He was in it as much as I was.
He was in that library with me.
- You killed Denning?
- He had it coming to him.
Why did you kill him?
He'd blackmailed me with those
love letters long enough.
And you can't drag me up
against the wall!
All right, come on,
let's get her out of here.
Main 4300!
- Johnny...
- The name isn't Johnny, it's Ford.
Ford Adams.
Hillyer talking.
It wasn't suicide, it was murder.
What?
I have made up my mind.
It was Olga Konar.
Yeah! And she killed Denning too.
Would you mind if I ask you
a few questions?
If the first question is the one
I hope it is, then the answer is...
Yes.
Cousin from Seattle.
- Subtitles -
Lu?s Filipe Bernardes
---
- Subtitles -
Lu?s Filipe Bernardes
- You will...
- You will have to move along.
One of your friends said
the same thing.
You too, buddy,
Go on.
Would you mind if I asked you
a few questions?
- I'd like to ask you one myself.
- What?
Do you mind telling me what on earth
you keep looking in your pockets for?
To find out what's in them.
I'm glad you've explained.
And what did you want to know?
What city this is?
Maybe we shouldn't have started
talking in the first place.
I mean it.
You...
You really don't know where you are?
I don't even know who I am.
Well... I don't know that.
But I do know you're in Boston.
Look, I don't want to have
to run you folks in.
That's very sweet of you.
Boston?
Boston.
Don't you remember anything?
Do you live in Boston?
I don't know.
I'm still rather shaky.
Oh, you've been hurt.
I got a crack on the head somewhere.
Whatever happened, it certainly
didn't do you any good.
It looks as though you have
a bad case of amnesia.
Amnesia, you know, um...
A lapse of memory.
Maybe.
- I can't remember.
- Of course you can't remember.
That's what amnesia is.
Whatever it is...
It's a nasty feeling not knowing
your own name.
You don't by any chance
happen to recognize me?
No, you're one of the few millions
I've never met.
Look. D-R.
R-D.
Which is it?
Oh, they would be wrapped
around each other.
I don't know.
Well, at least I know my initials
are D.R.
Or vice-versa.
What do I look like?
Is it that bad?
No! You're rather nice-looking.
Dark eyes, brown hair.
Well...
Nose, ears...
Don't you remember anything
about yourself?
All I know is...
I first saw the world under a lamppost
marked Mason Park Drive.
The junk I found in my pocket
didn't tell me a thing.
A package of cigarettes.
La Justicia. I've never heard
of that brand.
Neither have I that I know of.
Two theater stubs.
A folder of matches.
And eighteen dollars and eleven cents.
Look, Imperial Theater.
You must have gone to see
Olga Konar...
...starting there in the play called
The Dark Menace.
Sounds interesting anyway.
Matches from the Blue Room.
The Yorkshire Arms.
Perhaps you took her there dancing.
- Who?
- The girl you took to the theater.
Do you imagine I'm married?
I wouldn't be able to tell.
That's usually the first thing
men forget.
A little cynical.
The way I feel in this lovely
gray dawn...
...I could tie the world to an anchor
and drown it.
What's the matter?
There comes Willie again.
- What's your name?
- Marie Smith.
- You've been in the park all night?
- Yes.
Why?
Well, you see, it seemed
I had to have money...
...to persuade my landlady to let
me stay in my room.
I didn't, she wouldn't...
You know, they don't seem to trust
actresses around here.
Out of a job?
Hm-hmm. The show got stranded.
What have you been doing for food?
I haven't.
How long since you've had
something to eat?
Oh... yesterday morning.
Before my landlady kissed
me goodbye.
Why didn't you say something? We could
have talked just as well over ham and eggs.
I don't think I'd have talked much.
- Come on, we'll find a restaurant...
- Not yet.
Not until I've taken you to a police station
and helped find out who you are.
- All right.
- You might get lost again.
Mason Park.
Here.
Seems to explain why I was
in the park, doesn't it?
It isn't any proof.
No use kidding myself.
When I came to there was blood
on my hands.
But you had a cut on your head,
it could have come from that.
Doesn't the name Richard Denning
recall anything?
Have you heard it before?
I don't know. But I must
be mixed up in it some way.
I guess this is as far
as we go together.
Oh, why?
I don't want to drag you
into any trouble.
You can't afford to be seen with me.
- Oh, but you'll need help.
- I'll get along.
Here, you go some place
and get some food.
And thanks.
I'm going with you.
- It won't do any good.
- I don't believe you did it.
We're going to find out
who you are and...
Richard Denning, producer
of the current hit Dark Menace...
...was found murdered last night.
And according to police first leads
indicate robbery as the motive.
Although Denning is said to have drawn
$500 from the theater box office last night,
no money was found on the body.
Police are searching for a man seen
in front of the estate early this morning...
...described as of medium height,
wearing a dark pin-striped suit.
- Everything okay?
- Just dandy.
Good. If you want something,
just holler.
What's the matter?
I guess I didn't look in all my pockets.
- Just five hundred.
- So you were in his house.
It looks like it.
But I couldn't have killed him.
You don't know.
That money is all the proof
the police will need.
You haven't a chance.
Listen, you've got to get out of town
before they arrest you.
I'm going to stay.
- But if you...
- They'll get me anyway.
This is the only place I can
find out about myself.
It's the only way I'll know
if I have any defense.
Maybe you're right.
But you can't go around in that suit.
I'll get another one. And find an
out-of-the way place to stay.
- My boarding house is all of that.
- Where is it?
1843 Winfield.
1843 Winfield.
Here.
You square things with your landlady
and I'll meet you there.
I hope.
Nothing like a new suit to change
a man's appearence, eh?
That's a mighty handsome
outfit on you.
You couldn't have chosen better cloth.
The fabric's imported.
We make a sport model in that too.
Double-breasted, pointed-peak lapel,
woolen trousers, accordingly pleated,
double-ringed back.
It's called a conservative collegiate.
Yes, I can imagine it.
Say, what do you know about
this Denning murder?
Nothing, why?
I thought you might have heard
something new before you came in.
All I could get was an early edition
when I came in to work. Not much detail.
Vicious crime, wasn't it?
Yes, it was.
How much do I owe you?
I certainly would like to work
on that case.
- Work on it?
- Yes indeed.
I'm something of an amateur
criminologist.
Always did have quite a flair for it.
I solved the Cardoza killing.
- You worked with the police?
- No.
No, I worked it all out at home.
But the police and I picked the same man.
Oh, boy, boy!
- Good morning, Mr. Pinkley.
- Thank you.
Now that's what I call a real clue.
Hey, listen to this.
Denning's chauffeur vanishes.
Duke Reed, discharged last week
by Richard Denning after a violent quarrel,
disappeared from his home in Brookline
the morning of the murder.
- According to the latest information...
- What was that chauffeur's name?
- Duke Reed. Now, If I were...
- How much do I owe you?
$47,50.
I get so excited in these criminal cases.
Now, in that Cardoza thing,
half the time I couldn't tend
to my business.
There's your change.
Wait a minute.
Here's your old suit.
Sorry, I almost forgot it.
You know, I may solve this case.
Yes, I was thinking that myself.
My house is clean, quiet
and respectable.
And the rate is $10,65 a week.
In advance.
I'll take it.
And thank you very much.
- What's your name?
- Oh... didn't Miss Smith tell you?
She did not.
It's, um... Robbins.
David Robbins.
- What's yours?
- Potter.
Another thing. I ask the guests to be
particularly careful of my aunt's handiworks.
I thought she'd never go.
Did you read this about
Duke Reed the chauffeur?
It looks as though I found out who I am
with that D.R. in the hat.
If you reverse them to R.D.,
they stand for Richard Denning.
Yes, I thought of that too,
but it didn't get me anywhere.
I'm certainly not Denning.
You certainly don't look like
a chauffeur.
It's the new suit, and hat.
They make a difference.
- Where are the old ones?
- At the bottom of the bay.
Well, even a new suit won't help
if you are Reed.
Listen.
Why don't you leave town
while you're still free?
You won't be safe here or
anywhere else in the city.
Hundreds of people can identify
Denning's chauffeur.
I'm going to prove whether
I'm Reed or not.
How?
The paper said he had a room
in his aunt's house in Brookline.
But you aren't going there.
- Right now.
- Are you mad?
Do you realize the police will be
all over that place?
If they are, I won't go up to the house.
Oh, I suppose you'll walk straight on past
and climb into a policeman's pocket.
I wanted to help you because I thought
you were sane and needed help.
But you're going stark
scaring crazy.
And you can count me out.
I never even counted you in
on this trip.
It's too dangerous.
I'm going with you anyway.
Wait till I get my hat.
How do you do? Could I...
There's nobody home!
- She didn't know me.
- This is the right house too.
And you're not Reed.
- I wanted to talk to you.
- Well, I don't want to talk to you!
I told you there's nobody home.
I've talked to reporters all day.
They've yelled at me, the police have
yelled at me, I don't know anything.
Nobody could talk that much
and not know anything.
Try it again.
Listen, I've only worked here two days,
I've never seen this Reed man
and I don't want to talk anymore.
Well, there goes that hope.
She doesn't even know what
Reed looks like.
You want me to call the police?
- Would you mind letting us is?
- I don't...
Oh... well...
I might.
Just for a few minutes.
Come in.
Well, this is awfully nice of you.
It's awfully nice of you.
You'd better not take too long. Mr. Reed's
aunt will be back in about an hour.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
You don't happen to remember
those, do you?
No.
Sometimes forgetting comes in handy.
No initials in it.
I still say it's the man in the pin-striped
suit. Now you take my theory...
Well, you take your theory
and run it in your news column.
The bird I want to see
is this Duke Reed...
and find out why he came back twice...
...after having been fired and slashed
the tires on Denning's cars.
If he's the kind of guy that would
do petty stuff like that,
he's not the type of the fellow
that would kill anyone.
Now, that's my theory
and I'm going to stick to it.
Now look, Hillyer, I haven't got time
to listen to any yapping reporter.
There's nobody home!
I don't care if there's nobody
home or not!
Don't you try and shut
that door in my face.
He's Inspector Florio from
headquarters.
Oh, I'm, sorry.
You weren't here before.
No, but I'm here now and I happen
to be in charge of this case.
Well, that just about cinches things.
Just where is this aunt
of Duke Reed's?
She won't be back for an hour.
We might as well go up to Denning's place.
I want to look inside that joint.
- The cops didn't...
- The what?
The police wouldn't let me in
the last time I was there.
- Who's that?
- Um... nobody.
The cat, I guess.
Sweet child, you ought to teach 'em
not to shut drawers.
What are you doing in here?
Looking.
Who are you?
- Who are you?
- Florio, Police Headquarters.
What's your name?
John Smith.
- Oh... and who are you?
- She's my cousin.
Well, what are you looking for?
A story. He's a newspaper reporter.
Answer your own questions.
She hasn't asked any.
- What is your name?
- Marie Smith.
Marie Smith...
Well, it's as good a name as any.
You wouldn't by chance be Duke Reed?
Don't you know?
No, we haven't any pictures
of him as yet.
But you'd pass for him from
his description.
Wouldn't that make a good
story, Johnny?
Special correspondent mistaken
for murderer.
- What paper are you on?
- The Seattle Chronicle.
You keep out of this.
Lay off, Marie, will you?
Stop butting in, let me answer the man.
His questions are so silly.
You got here in a hurry from Seattle.
He was already here,
he's been visiting me.
Were you assigned to this case?
No, I'm writing some
special articles.
Let me in on this, will you, Florio?
I'll tell you if this guy is a phony or not.
Oh, you think so, eh?
Who's the city editor on the
Seattle Chronicle?
Oh, do you know Bill Coby?
- I've heard of him.
- He's an awful grouch.
Mr. Harrison was telling me about him
when he came east last year.
Remember the argument you had
with him on the strike story?
By the way, Mr. Harrison's managing editor,
do you happen to know him too?
- So what? Are those the right editors?
- Yeah.
- So they know them, don't they?
- Look, look...
I know, but I haven't got time to stand
here a jawing about newspapers.
This fellow seems all right to me.
And he acts dumb enough to be a reporter.
Let's get to Denning's.
You're going with us.
I want you to see where Denning
was murdered.
You might have an idea
that would help.
It's awfully nice of you
to give us the chance.
I was going to ask the department
if I could look the place over.
Hm... Well, let's go.
Charming girl your niece.
My cousin.
Plenty of blood stains.
Nice messy job, isn't it?
He evidently stood over Denning's body
long enough to get blood on his shoes.
By the way these footprints stagger,
he must have been drunk.
- Or injured.
- Yeah.
What I can't go about is why
the footprints lead to the front door...
...and the window's wide open.
Somebody dropped this under it.
- It's a hot love letter to Denning.
- Hey, that's a good yarn, who signed it?
"Your lotus bud".
What's the matter Smith?
I thought you were interested
in good news stories.
Think of that headline, "Passionate love
note found near body of murdered producer,
signed Lotus Bud.
Then what would you say,
"Police picked flowers."?
I told O'Brien to bring that butler down,
what's the matter with him?
Oh, he's probably giving him another
shot of smelling salts.
He's had the yips all day.
- Can he identify Duke Reed?
- Yeah.
I've told him everything I know.
Somebody's got to believe me some time.
I can't go on talking forever.
I... oh!
- Are you Fish?
- Yes, sir.
Is he Duke Reed?
No, sir, that's not him.
He isn't Denning's chauffeur?
No, sir, I just told you,
that isn't Mr. Reed.
Who is he?
I don't know, sir,
I've never seen him before.
Am I supposed to know who he is?
I guess I owe you an apology, Smith.
That lets me out, eh?
Yeah... but stick around awhile.
Looks like you were wrong too.
If I am, it's the first time
since I was born.
- That time your parents were wrong.
- Yes... No!
Didn't you tell McCord here that you heard
Denning quarreling with some man...
...in the living room around midnight?
You did, didn't you?
Yes, sir.
But you didn't hear the shot
that killed him.
No, sir.
I see, you could hear people talking,
but you couldn't hear a gun go off.
Do you expect me to believe that?
Well, I should be very disappointed
if you don't.
Why didn't you hear that gun go off?
Well, I expect it's because
it was later.
How did you know it was later
if you didn't hear it?
I don't know, I can't say.
I get so nervous around here with all these
policemen knocking on my bedroom door.
Why didn't you hear that gun go off?
Well, I expect it's because
I'm afraid of the dark.
What's the dark got to do with it?
Well... you see...
I sleep with the covers
over me head.
And were the covers over your head
when you heard the quarrel?
No, I heard it going through
the hall to the stairs.
Mr. Denning was very angry.
He sort of shouted,
"Do you think you can make me pay off
with that kind of proof?
Then this other man says,
"You ain't heard the half of it yet.
What about this?"
Then they don't say anything
for a minute.
Then this other man says, very even-like.
"You keep it up and someone's going
to pump a couple of slugs into you."
- What are slugs?
- What else did he say?
- Well, I don't know, sir, because then...
- Then you went upstairs and went to bed.
- You probably slept well.
- Oh, no sir, no sir.
You see, when Mr. Denning quarrels
with people, he gets upset.
Then I get upset and...
what with my sciatica...
Never mind your sciatica.
You say that Mr. Denning quarreled
with a lot of people?
- Yes, sir.
- Did you see this other man?
No, sir, they were in the living-room.
Oh, you mean they weren't
quarreling in here.
No, sir, they were in the living-room.
Would you recognize the other man's
voice if you heard it again?
Yes, sir, I think I could.
- Smith, say those words.
- What words?
"You keep it up and someone's going
to pump a couple of slugs into you."
Say them loud.
"You keep it up and someone's going
to pump a couple of slugs into you."
- Is that the voice?
- I reckon I can't tell, sir.
All voices sort of seem
to sound alike to me.
- You can go, Fish.
- Thank you, sir.
- Can I lock my bedroom door?
- Yes.
Er... no! Stay downstairs.
Well, that should satisfy you
that Johnny's on the level.
Hey, Florio, here's something.
Denning was killed last night the 4th
and that page has been torn off here.
Doesn't a guy usually wait until
the next day to correct the date?
Suppose you figure it out,
I usually tear mine off at night.
I saw a calendar page like that somewhere.
In the living room.
- Where they were quarreling, huh?
- Yeah.
Show me.
Is this room just as it was when
Denning's body was found?
That's right.
Did the murderer leave those
desk drawers open?
Yes.
Looks like he took the $500
off the body...
...and went to the desk looking
for other valuables. Why?
I was just wondering what kind
of valuables he was looking for...
...to make him rummage through
that pile of manuscripts.
Not a bad thought, Smith.
You may be of some help to us yet.
Do you know anything about
stage royalties?
- No.
- I do.
Well, doesn't the author usually
get all the royalty?
Yes.
Mac, look at this account book.
Royalties on the stage play
Dark Menace.
- Did this Stuart Eldredge write it?
- Yes, he's the guy.
Hm, over $800 every week,
And Denning's been chiseling him
out of 400 of it.
I wouldn't doubt it from everything
I've heard about him.
I found it, Florio.
Here's your calendar page, it was taken
out of this manuscript.
That's Denning's handwriting,
Appointment with F.A. at 11:30.
Must be the guy's initials
he was fighting in there with last night.
Or any of a hundred people
he did business with.
It might mean 11:30 this morning.
Ever hear of the fellow
who wrote that? Kenneth Orme?
Yeah.
No.
Don't tell me I'm not coming in,
I am coming in!
No one shall stop me this time.
I should come all the way out here.
For my soul I come, My beloved Amati.
- I will have it.
- Mr. Denning's isn't at home, he's dead.
Oh, you think you are telling me?
I know it!
That's why I'm here.
And the last time I am here.
No longer I wait.
He steal my beloved Amati.
Out of my way, I have the money.
Here, where do you think
you're going?
Ah, you or no one else can stop me.
That is my Amati.
Hey, let that fiddle alone.
Fiddle? You call that a fiddle?
It is an Amati! My Amati!
Monsieur, you know what is an Amati?
With a soul this instrument.
The finest in the world.
It is my inspiration.
My heart, my art, and it belongs to me,
to Carlos Gheet, me, you hear?
- Hey...
- You break it and I'll kill you!
You lay off this and start talking.
What are you doing here?
To get my Amati I come.
I have the money, the $200.
And the rocip... oh, what you say...
Oh, receipt.
Yes, from Denning, this proves it.
He is a dog. I leave one of his orchestra.
I get hard up, he lends me the money,
and takes my Amati.
Last night I come to pay him back
and what you think he does?
He does not give me my Amati.
He knows it is a great Amati.
He keeps it.
But now that he is dead,
- I take it!
- Get away from that!
You were here last night.
But certainly! I already say it,
so was he.
- You murdered him to get your fiddle.
- Stop calling that a fiddle!
- You killed Denning.
- If you call that a fiddle...
Who me?
But, monsieur, I never kill
anybody any place.
I am a musician, not a murderer!
You were here with Denning, listen!
You keep it up and someone's going
to pump a couple of slugs into you.
I kill you too!
That's him!
That's him, that's the one!
That's the voice I heard,
the same voice.
- So it was, eh?
- No, not him, him!
You was the one I heard talking.
Will you get out of here!
Hey, you drop that!
- Hello?
- O'Brien, grab this mug.
Inspector, headquarters wants
you on the phone.
- Cochon, imbecile!
- Shut up you!
Yeah?
They have?
Wait a minute.
They've traced one of the
hundred-dollar bills.
A man in a pin-striped suit
bought one off in a clothing store.
They've got the salesman
at headquarters.
Can he identify this man?
I got him here and I'm bringing
him right down.
Smith.
You'd better give McCord your address.
I may want you later.
O'Brien.
- 1843, Winfield.
- 1843, Winfield.
Coming down to headquarters
with us, Smith?
Great story for you.
No, thanks, I've got enough material
for my article today.
McCord. Bring along this
crackpot fiddler.
- Me a fiddler.
- Yeah, and shut up!
How dare you!
Go right ahead and mop.
You would want to spend a few quiet
minutes at Duke Reed house.
- Well, at least I know I'm not Reed.
- So what?
You're not Carlo Gheet either,
but that doesn't help any.
If Florio had searched me
and found those bills.
You take care of the money
from now on.
There's nothing like a couple of hours with
the police to get a person sensible.
How did you happen to know so much
about the Seattle Chronicle?
They panned our show when
it played there.
But You should have heard the explosion when
our press agents haggled with those editors.
You know, I'm awfully glad
you came along.
You should be.
And remember,
you're John Smith when Mr. John Hillyer
is in the neighborhood.
- You seem to like him.
- I adore him.
The way he pokes his nose into everything
reminds me of an anteater.
- Don't lose sight of them.
- I'm on them like a leach.
You've been pretty regular, Marie,
helping me this way.
I haven't been much help so far.
I don't know what we can do
now to find out who you are.
The police are too close
for our comfort.
We'll find a way somehow.
You shouldn't do so much
worrying about me.
A woman always has to have
something to worry about.
And it's nicer to worry
about you than...
...sit on a park bench worrying
about the whole world.
I wonder.
Look, I'd forgotten about this.
The Yorkshire Arms.
Maybe the doorman will
remember you.
We'll ask everyone in the place.
Driver, Yorkshire Arms.
Do you happen to remember me?
- I regret to say I don't, sir.
- So do I.
Well!
Hello again.
Well, fancy meeting you here.
What are you doing, following us?
Not on your life,
my sweet-tempered little charmer.
I'm here for an interview
with Olga Konar. She lives here.
Is she the girl that stars
in Dark Menace?
Yeah.
You know, she and the corpse were love's
gift to romance for a couple of years...
until Mansfield became her leading man, now they're
practically wrecking each other with devotion.
Very much in love, huh?
Oh, sure, they fight all the time.
- She seemed to know you.
- Who is she?
Konar, the dame I was talking about.
- You don't know each other, huh?
- I never saw her before.
I thought you wanted an
interview with her.
Fat chance with Mansfield around.
He's so jealous he thinks every guy
inside of a mile is flirting with her.
You certainly take life easy
for a reporter.
What are you doing for your paper?
I sent a wire on the Reed
angle this morning.
I'll get another one off tonight.
So... let's see.
Tomorrow Seattle papers ought
to be here by Sunday.
I'll have to read your articles.
Find out how you manage
to do them without working.
Lucky stiff.
Well, so long.
So long...
...bad news.
Jit! Jit, darling.
Jitney, where on earth did you
disappear to?
Why, I, um... I had a lot
of important business.
But you didn't even phone.
I didn't, I was up to my ears.
Believe me.
I waited here three hours yesterday.
I know.
I'm terribly sorry, but the man
absolutely wouldn't let me go.
You're too popular.
- I'm beginning to find that out.
- But all that's over now, isn't it?
You won't run away again.
No, I guess I can finish up
the rest of the things tomorrow.
Um...
What would you like to do?
Well, we can go into the Blue Room
and have a cocktail...
...to start with.
To start with, yes... of course.
Um...
- Miss Smith.
- Yes, sir?
I'll finish up those papers in the morning.
Tell, um... Mr. Ramsey I'll drop into
his office tomorrow.
Yes, sir, you'll probably have
a great deal to tell him.
Undoubtedly.
Um... Mr. Ramsey's secretary.
- A very pretty girl.
- Yes, she is.
You say that as if you meant it.
- You wouldn't happen to be jealous?
- What do you think?
I wouldn't know.
Do you wish to order now, madame?
Yes, a bacardi cocktail.
- And you, monsieur?
- Scotch, straight.
I've been worried about you.
Really? Why?
When you didn't show up I was afraid you
might have got mixed up in Denning's murder.
What made you think that?
What else could I think? He was killed
the night we saw the show.
And he certainly seemed afraid of you
when you were arguing with him in the foyer.
You saw me arguing with Denning?
Of course I did, when I came out of the
lounge at the end of the second act.
I didn't know whether you were threatening him
or quoting Burt Mansfield's line from the play.
Which line?
Well, you said to him...
"You keep this up and someone's going
to pump a couple of slugs into you."
Why, that's the same...
Mansfield said that in the play?
Certainly. In the second act curtain
scene with Olga Konar.
You seem so funny today, what's the
matter, don't you remember it?
Sure... now that you recall it.
I remember quoting it.
So you think I was mixed up in his death
because you saw me arguing.
No, I thought you might have had
a date with him after the show.
The way you rushed to me back here after
it was over and then rushed away again.
Then I read the paper and...
You never did tell me what
that was all about.
You just cooked yourself up
a lot of worry over nothing.
- I didn't have any date with him.
- I'm glad of that.
But what were you arguing
with him about?
I just happened to say I didn't like
the second act.
It was like waving a red flag
in front of a bull.
Still won't tell me anything, hm?
Curious young lady, aren't you?
The way you've been playing the vanishing
American would make a sphinx curious.
Was Denning one of the reasons
you made this business trip?
What's the matter, Jitney,
want to cut me dead?
Why, no, I'm sorry I didn't see you.
Oh, um... allow me to present...
Stuart Eldredge, the famous
author of Dark Menace.
Thank you. Charming compliment
from a very charming lady.
Thank you.
Oh, Stuart, I want you to know...
- My name is Irene Lassiter.
- How do you do?
I'm so sorry, Irene.
It's all right, Jitney, you're forgiven.
We managed to meet each other anyhow.
I want to apologize, Jitney. When I passed
and you didn't recognize me,
I thought you were angry with me
for the way I treated you yesterday.
Oh, that's all right.
Would you care to join us, Stuart?
Delighted.
When I rushed by you I was making a dash
to keep an appointment with my publishers.
I got thinking later how rude I've been.
A rotten way to treat an old
classmate who...
...goes to the trouble to look you up.
Forget it, I...
I hope you'll forgive us for
neglecting you.
We haven't seen each other
for three years.
You know, you're very beautiful.
Why, thank you, kind sir.
That's all right. How did you happen
to recognize me?
Why, don't you realize that every girl
thrills over your photographs?
Oh, now, please.
We're getting along splendidly.
Jitney, I'm afraid I'll have to steal
her away from you.
- May I have this dance?
- If Jit doesn't mind.
Not at all.
- Waiter.
- Yes, sir.
Another scotch.
Mr. Eldredge.
- Yes?
- Mr. Mansfield to see you in the lobby.
- Thank you.
- Yes, sir.
- Want to talk to me, Mansfield?
- No, I spoke to you before.
This time I'll make myself clear.
Break it up!
Come on, get out!
Are you all right?
Excuse me, please.
What happened?
It was awful, Mansfield acted like a maniac.
Without any excuse at all he hit him.
- I wouldn't let it upset you.
- I can't help it, I hate fights.
It couldn't have been much of a fight.
Let's go back and...
I don't feel like dancing. If you'll
excuse me, I'm going to my room.
Will you call me this evening?
- What's Stuart Eldredge's room number?
- Mr. Eldredge? 478, sir.
Thank you.
Hello, Stuart, are you alone?
- Uh... yes, Jitney, come in.
- Thanks.
- Sorry our party got broken up.
- So am I.
That chap Mansfield's been
a troublemaker...
...ever since I tried to keep him out
of the cast of Dark Menace.
- That's a shame.
- Those things happen, Jitney.
Funny hearing that nickname again.
No one's used it very much
since we got out of college.
That so? What do they call
you now? Ford?
- Yes.
- More dignified, eh?
I'll never forget time Kenneth Orme first
tagged you with that nickname, Jitney.
I didn't like it very much.
That's funny, you certainly laughed
about it at the time.
Did I?
It's so long ago I didn't remember.
Sit down, Jit... Ford.
Thanks.
Where were you when Ken died?
Out West.
Must have been an awful
shock to you.
Rotten stuff ptomaine poisoning.
He had himself some seafood
we had in the apartment.
When I came back in the
afternoon, I found him.
I hate to think about it.
- Will you have a drink?
- No, thanks.
I guess the last time you saw Ken was when
you dropped in on us at the apartment.
That's right.
That's the last picture he had taken,
did you get one?
No.
That's not the right picture.
Don't you know Orme's face
when you see it?
Of course, I was just noticing
this other chap.
Who's he?
You wouldn't know him.
Tell me, Jitney, did you come to Boston
to see Denning?
No, why?
I read in the paper that the police
had found a calendar page...
...of Denning's with an appointment on it.
F.A., same initials as yours.
I read that too. Funny coincidence,
isn't it?
Yes, funny coincidence.
Too bad Kenneth didn't live to see
his play produced.
What play?
Two O'clock Courage, Denning was
interested in it.
Where did you learn that?
A reporter told me the police found a copy
of it in Denning's living room today.
Well, I never knew Ken wrote
a play, did you?
No.
Imagine Ken wanting to ne a playwright.
Good night. Will you excuse me,
I've got to keep an appointment.
Why, of course.
I'm terribly sorry of running out
on you all the time like this,
but I'm very busy these days.
Let's get together tomorrow, hm?
I'll telephone you.
Why... of course, you do that.
- So long.
- So long.
Oh, Stuart...
Enter the villain.
You make it rather embarrassing,
Mr. Adams.
But I warned you I was going to steal
the young lady away from you.
- Jit, I... I'm sorry I...
- It's all right.
Don't apologize.
Ford Adams salutes you.
Boy!
- Get me a flock of nickels.
- Yes, sir.
Abbey Hotel? Have you got
a Ford Adams registered there?
Thank you.
Sorry, the line's busy.
Iced water for 420?
Hello, Harry.
Take your foot off that chair.
Yorkshire Arms.
Just a moment, please.
- Any calls for me, Dolly?
- I'll say I have.
That boss of yours has been tearing
his hair trying to find you.
Wait, I'll call him for you.
Take booth one.
Hillyer? Where have you been,
I've been trying to...
What? Following Konar?
Well, interview her later.
They've captured...
I said forget Konar!
They captured Duke Reed
on a New Haven train.
Get down to South Station
and bring him right in.
I'm gonna stick around this lead,
it's hot.
If it breaks, you can go to town
on the front page.
Yeah? Well fired or not, I'm gonna
stick here and interview Konar.
Get somebody else to cover Reed.
- So they finally caught up with you.
- Oh, another tough cop, huh?
Inspector in charge.
No wonder this case hasn't been solved.
Up to now.
Get in there.
Okay.
Justitia, eh? Still smoking Denning's
cigarettes.
Yeah. Yeah, I stole a few cartons.
And I cut the tires on the cars too,
but nothing to pin on me, flatfoot.
If you're looking for some guy
to third degree,
you'd better dig up this
fellow Mansfield.
- Starting to pass the buck already, huh?
- I'm not passing any buck.
He was in there quarreling with Denning
right before the murder.
How do you know?
It's when I gave the tires
a going over.
Mansfield's car was in the driveway
so I looked in the library window.
He was in alright and plenty sore.
He told Denning to keep away from
that Konar dame or he'd kill him.
What did Denning say?
He said as long as Konar kept
wanting to see him, he'd let her.
Well, you've got your story
all fixed up, haven't you?
Why lie about the truth?
You find Mansfield and I'll prove it.
Woodley Hotel?
Have you got a Ford Adams
registered there?
Thank you.
Yorkshire Arms.
- Desk, please.
- Just a moment, please.
Have you got a Ford Adams
registered there?
Just a minute, please.
Ford Adams, yes, sir.
Room 312.
Thank you.
Key, please.
Adams, 312.
- Any mail?
- No, sir.
Someone just phoned to ask
if you were registered.
He didn't leave any message.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
Hello, this is Ford Adams speaking,
room 312.
Will you get me Mrs. Potter,
843 Winfield.
Thank you.
Hello, Mrs. Potter, this is Ford...
Robbins, David Robbins speaking.
Is Miss Smith there?
Has she phoned?
She hasn't.
I'll call later, thank you.
Who are you? What are you doing
in my apartment?
Wait a minute, I'm Hillyer, Boston Dispatch.
I wanna ask you...
- A reporter?
- Yeah, I want to get an interview.
Get out of here! You got a nerve
breaking into my apartment...
Don't you put up an act for me
and pretend to kick him out.
- Shut up!
- Don't shut me up!
I'm getting tired of finding men
in your apartment.
Burt, you fool, he's a reporter.
Sure, and the last time it was
a playwright.
That's why you asked downstairs
for me not to come up.
Afraid I'd find him here.
Look, she's telling the truth, I...
Get out! You get out of here before
I knock your head off!
- Just a minute, Mansfield.
- Why...
Who are you?
Oh.
- Do you know this man?
- Why, yes, he's Denning's chauffeur.
You finally caught up with him, eh?
Yes, he tells me you were at Denning's
the night before the murder.
- He's crazy.
- You threatened to kill Denny.
- That's a lie!
- Tell him the truth!
- They got me in a murder rap.
- Get back there.
Don't get excited, I'll handle this.
You killed him to get the
love letters she wrote to him.
What love letters?
Denning never told me that you...
He's lying, he's just trying
to get you to say something.
Denning never told you what?
Alright, I'll tell you.
Denning was bothering Miss Konar
and I told him to cut it out.
- You were there then.
- The night before he was killed, yes!
- Why did you lie about it?
- Well, when I found out he was dead,
I knew how bad it would look
if I was mixed up in it.
And that's the truth,
I didn't kill him.
Yeah? Well come on, we'll go
to headquarters anyway.
Wait, you can't arrest Burt just because
he was there the night before.
You want the man that was with
him the night he was killed.
I think I know who he is.
You started thinking
pretty fast, didn't you?
You bet I did.
I just remembered.
And you can take it for what it's worth.
The night Denning was killed,
he came backstage after
the second act mad as a hatter.
He was swearing about somebody
named Ford Adams.
He told one of the actors,
Frank Thompson,
that he couldn't go with him to the
nightclub but he'd drop him off there.
He said he had to come over here
to the Yorkshire Arms to pick up a man.
That's a pretty good yarn.
Come on you.
Call up Thompson if you
don't believe me!
Wait a minute, Florio,
she sounds on the level.
That name Ford Adams ties up with
the initials on the calendar page,
appointment with F.A.
That's right. Did Denning say he was coming
to this hotel for Adams?
Yes.
Give me the room clerk.
Have you got a guy registered here
named Ford Adams?
312.
You stay here, watch them.
- Has Ford Adams checked out yet?
- No.
But he's gone, so is his baggage.
- His baggage?
- Yeah.
I'll tell the hotel detective.
Fine, that ought to help a lot.
Uh, boy... here.
Yorkshire Arms.
Dolly, give me some help, will you?
- Sure, another alibi to your boss?
- No.
You know what that guy
looks like up in 312?
No.
See if he made any outgoing calls
from his room today.
Oh, Harry, you know that's
against the rules.
Come on, I'm in a spot,
give me a break.
Blue Room?
Just a moment, please?
- Yorkshire Arms.
- Come on, come on!
He made a call about 20 minutes ago.
- A Mrs. Potter at 1843 Winfield.
- 1843 Win... gimme
Yorkshire Arms.
I'd like to talk to Mr. Ford Adams, please.
I don't know any Ford Adams,
he doesn't live here.
Your phone number is Elliot 1461.
- Yes.
- That's funny.
This is the address he gave me and
I thought I had the name right too.
- Who are your tenants?
- Let me see, There's Mr. Duff,
- Miss Smith, and then...
- Miss Marie Smith?
Yes, but you're looking for a man.
Yes, her cousin.
He isn't Adams, his name
is David Robbins.
Oh, Robbins, huh?
- It wouldn't be Smith?
- No it wouldn't.
- Is there anything else you want to know?
- No, thanks.
Thanks plenty.
Why, don't tell me it's you!
I wouldn't try to tell you anything.
What are you doing around here?
Same old thing, helping the cops find
the man in the pin stripe suit.
I can't get over the sudden rush
of prosperity to the torso.
Why, you're positively gorgeous.
Didn't you say your cousin's
name was Smith?
What are you driving at?
Why does he call himself
David Robbins?
That's the name he writes under.
Do you think anybody could be impressive
signing an article John Smith?
You're pretty fast on your feet,
aren't you?
You know, I'd hate to see a nice little girl
like you get in a jam protecting a criminal.
- His real name is Ford Adams.
- Ford Adams?
You're crazy!
And he's not a criminal.
- Listen...
- You listen, Mr. Hillyer.
You've made enough remarks
about Johnny.
Keep it up and we'll crack down
on you with a libel suit...
...that'll make those funny-looking
ears of yours curl.
Florio? This is Hillyer.
I've located Adams for you.
1843 Winfield.
Yeah. I'm in the drugstore across
the street from the place now.
No, he isn't home, but you can
stake out the joint.
Yeah, you've met him.
His name is Smith.
Marie.
- I found out...
- Well?
You're beautiful.
Was she your wife?
And you're the same girl
I met in the park.
Never mind about the girl
in the park.
- What about the brunette in the hotel?
- Who?
- Oh, Miss Lassiter.
- Is that her name?
- Yes. Where did you get the new...
- Who was she?
Who, Lassiter?
I don't know.
The last I saw of her she was in Stuart
Eldredge's apartment...
...in his arms kissing him.
- She was?
- Yeah. Where did you get the new outfit?
The landlady let me have my trunk
back when I paid for my rent.
I don't like the way you went
for that clothes horse.
- I didn't go for her.
- Well, you certainly went away with her.
And a good thing I did to.
I found out why I came to Boston.
Here.
Read that.
My name's Ford Adams.
Adams?
Oh, no! No!
That's who the police are hunting for.
They must know that you're the man
that wore the pin-striped suit.
- How do you know?
- Hillyer just told me so.
You've got to get away.
You've got to get out of town.
I've got to get a hold of that play,
Two O'clock Courage.
That's what brought me here.
It'll clear up the whole mess,
I'm sure of it.
No, you haven't a chance if they get you.
You must get away.
There's $400 left.
Please, Johnny, I'll go with you,
I'll do anything you like.
You stay here and wait for me.
- Where are you going?
- Denning's.
Come on, open this door.
You can't break in my house like this.
I'm sorry, madam.
You two search this lower floor.
Please, don't tell them anything.
You're marvelous.
Miss Smith, eh?
Where's Adams?
I've never heard of the man in my life.
214 Mason Park Drive.
Denning.
This proof will stand up in any
court and you know it.
If you don't make a new deal,
I'm going to start legal action
for Mrs. Orme tomorrow.
All right, Adams, you win.
Here's $500 on account.
Excuse me.
I'll be right back.
What are you doing here?
Who are you?
My name's Adams.
Adams, eh. Get on your feet.
Wait. I've got to find Florio,
take me to him.
You bet I'll take you to him.
You won't make me talk
if it takes all night.
- Johnny!
- Listen, Florio...
- Well, where did you get him?
- Denning's house.
- Get some bracelets on him.
- Wait, Florio, I know who killed Denning.
You bet you do. Come on, get
those bracelets on him.
Now, you're gonna talk
and talk plenty, Adams.
You wore that pin-stripe suit and you're
the one who went home with Denning.
- It's true, but...
- Certainly it's true.
And you're gonna tell it to a stenographer
where we'll have it in black and white.
Now take him to headquarters,
get going.
Wait, Florio, you've got to listen.
I didn't kill Denning. I wasn't threatening
him when the butler heard me.
- Oh, you admit it was your voice.
- Yes.
- But I was reading from a play.
- Do you expect me to believe that?
It's true!
Oh, you should have tried out
that story before.
I couldn't remember.
When I heard that shot and ran into the
library and somebody hit me over the head.
When I came to, I was out on the street.
I didn't remember a thing that happened.
I went back to Denning's house
tonight to get that play.
- Someone shot at me and it all came back.
- Take this mug out and...
Look for yourself.
The bullet grazed my head.
Stuart Eldredge stole that play.
He didn't write it.
Denning knew it, that's why he
blackmailed him for those royalties.
- Wait a minute!
- Eldredge is the one that killed Denning.
- Those stage royalties, huh?
- Give me a chance.
Let me get to Eldredge.
All right.
Come on, Hillyer, bring the girl.
No, Eldredge, you didn't kill me.
Have you gone mad, Jit?
- What is all this?
- Come on, Eldredge, open up.
We want to have a little talk
with you about Denning.
- Police, I presume?
- That's right.
Well, make yourselves at home,
gentlemen...
...and the young lady.
Never mind the introductions.
Where did you learn to write
plays, Eldredge?
After you left college?
That's right.
Not bad for a man who flunked
English four years in a row,
couldn't even write
a daily theme.
Are you questioning the fact
that I wrote Dark Menace?
You didn't even rewrite it,
you stole it.
It was Two O'clock Courage,
written by Orme just before he died.
You're very amusing, Jitney.
Orme never wrote a play in his life,
you said so yourself.
And you looked pretty relieved when
you thought I'd forgotten about it.
You and I were the only ones
that did know.
That's why you took a shot
at me in the library.
Denning had a copy that Orme
mailed to him.
He held that over your head
and bled you for plenty, didn't he?
- Nonsense.
- Just a minute.
Denning's records show he was
getting half of your royalties.
That's easily explained, my dear sir,
if you knew Denning.
He demanded that graft
to produce the play.
It was my first and it was
worth it to get it on.
- You can't get...
- Listen, Adams,
I don't intend taking any more insults
from you, police or no police!
Now, you show some evidence
or get out of here!
Where is this play?
Perhaps where the rest of Orme's
plays went, in the fireplace.
Pretty hot night for a fire, Eldredge.
Take a look if it isn't too late.
It's some old papers.
But important ones. You had to get
that last copy, didn't you?
You were hunting for it in Denning's library
when he surprised you and you killed him.
Get this man out of my apartment!
I won't stand any more of this rot!
If you've got any charges to make
against me, make them or get out with him!
Wait a minute.
I caught her in the lobby.
You can't drag me into this.
Do you think...
- Shut up!
- I won't shut up.
I won't get mixed up in any murder.
You got me into this, you get me out of it.
- What do you know about the murder?
- I don't know anything.
All I did was get acquainted
with Adams.
Stuart put me up to that.
He told me to get acquainted with him...
...find out why he was here and see
if he had any business with Denning.
That's all I did.
A very amusing tale.
Is this part of your frame-up?
Adams introduced me to
this young lady.
- You got acquainted fast enough.
- You framed the meeting yourself.
Better get your coat, Eldredge.
Will I be staying overnight?
Yes.
Excuse me, please.
Don't let him go, he'll escape.
Don't worry, if he does,
that'll prove he's guilty, won't it?
I got men all around the hotel.
Main 4300!
I guess you were right, Adams.
Couldn't stand the gaff
of losing his glory.
Hillyer talking.
Stuart Eldredge just committed suicide.
Yeah, in his apartment.
Florio was arresting him
for Denning's murder.
Went into the bedroom
and shot himself.
- I'll call you back.
- Florio!
This gun hasn't been fired. It's not
suicide, he's been murdered.
Let me see it.
Main 4300!
Hillyer, get out in the hall
with O'Brien.
Guards, secure the premises and
tell Briggs to get in the hall below.
Ken, did you see anybody
come down from this balcony?
- No.
- Stand by.
Turn on those lights.
Oh, it's you, eh?
Why did you kill Eldredge?
Do you think I was going to let him
drag me out there where you were?
He wouldn't spoil his sweet reputation and
go to jail long enough to let me get away.
He knew you killed Denning, huh?
He was in it as much as I was.
He was in that library with me.
- You killed Denning?
- He had it coming to him.
Why did you kill him?
He'd blackmailed me with those
love letters long enough.
And you can't drag me up
against the wall!
All right, come on,
let's get her out of here.
Main 4300!
- Johnny...
- The name isn't Johnny, it's Ford.
Ford Adams.
Hillyer talking.
It wasn't suicide, it was murder.
What?
I have made up my mind.
It was Olga Konar.
Yeah! And she killed Denning too.
Would you mind if I ask you
a few questions?
If the first question is the one
I hope it is, then the answer is...
Yes.
Cousin from Seattle.
- Subtitles -
Lu?s Filipe Bernardes