Phantom Lady (1944)

[bunniefuu]

Give me a liqueur, please.

Thank you.

- Double scotch. Water chaser.
- Yes, sir.

Oh, sorry. After you.

A pack of cigarettes.
Any brand.

Are you doing anything tonight?

I'm not trying to annoy you, I just thought
maybe you could use these tickets.

They're not good to me.
I've been stood up.

No, thank you.

- It's a shame to waste them. It's a hit.
- I know.

Well, I thought
maybe you could call a friend.

I'm afraid not.

I don't suppose you'd go with me,
would you?

Another one, sir?

No, never mind.

Well, how about it?

What?

Oh...

Yes.

- Yes, I'll go.
- OK, let's go! It's late now.

How much do we owe?
Oh, by the way, my name is...

Oh, no! No names, no addresses.
Just companions for the evening.

That's the only condition
on which I'll go.

OK. Suits me.

$1.60. And, oh, a nickel.

- Keep it.
- Thanks.

Would you care to smoke?

No, thank you.

You live in New York?

Yes.

Well, then you're used to
this kind of weather.

Yes.

You know, there's something that gets me
about this town on a hot Saturday night.

Do you ever walk down Broadway
and watch the people's faces?

It's fun.

Now there's a typical
New York character for you.

You know, back there in that bar
I felt pretty low,

but riding along here like this,
I feel much better.

Look, I'm afraid I'm not going to be
very good company.

Relax. You know, you shouldn't be alone
any more than I should.

There, that's better!

Now let's just have fun,
and maybe the show's amusing.

Yes.

I hope so, too.

I'd like to laugh.

It would be fun to laugh.

# Down where it's tropical,
it was typical

# Everyone's movement
is showing improvement

# With chick-ee-chick-ee-chick-ee-
chick-ee-chick-ee-cha

# Chick-ee-chick-ee-chick-ee-
chick-ee-chick-ee-cha

# Everyone you know
is moving their feet

# In time to this thrillable beat
of each syllable

# Chick-ee-chick-ee-chick-ee-
chick-ee-chick-ee-cha... #

- My hat!
- # Chick-ee-chick-ee-chick-ee-chick-ee-cha

# You'll dance

# Under the stars
while the guitars blend with the night

# Chick-ee-chick-ee-chick-ee-cha

# Chick-ee-chick-ee-
chick-ee-tidee-tidee-cha

# Romance, maybe a kiss... #

Just look at her face.
She could m*rder you!

# Wait till it gets you,
and when it upsets you

# Your brain will be spinning
with phrases beginning

# With chick-ee-chick-ee-chick-ee-
chick-ee-chick-ee-cha

# Chick-ee-chick-ee-chick-ee-
chick-ee-chick-ee-cha

# If you're Brazilian,
French or Castilian

# Then you're Sicilian,
Spanish or Chilean

# Bet you a million

# You want chick-ee-chick-ee-cha #

I will never wear it again!
Never, never! Throw it away!

Who is she?
Who is that woman?

Well, here we are.

You've been very kind.

Good bye.

Why can't I buy you a nightcap?

I'd rather you didn't come in.

I must confess,
I'd like to know who you are.

No.

It's better this way.

Marcella!

Listen, Marcella,
I know you're awake.

I saw your bedroom light
from downstairs.

Now come on,
I want to talk to you!

Who are you?

Well, who are you?
What do you want?

Where's my wife?
Marcella!

Say, what is this? What's up?

- Let me go in there!
- Alright, let him go in.

I'm Inspector Burgess.

I'll have to ask you a few questions.

Just take all the time you want.

I'm OK now.

Go ahead.

How old are you, Mr. Henderson?

Thirty-two.

Her age?

- Twenty-nine.
- Married long?

Five years.

Your occupation?

I'm an engineer.
Scott Henderson Incorporated.

When was the last time
you saw Mrs. Henderson?

Around seven.

Did you have dinner at home?

No.

You dined out?

- With your wife?
- No.

I intended taking her to dinner
and the theater, but...

she changed her mind,
so I went without her.

A little squabble, huh?

- We had words, yes.
- Nothing serious, though?

No.

For a long time things
haven't been right between us.

It was our anniversary.

I thought maybe we could
start all over again, so...

I came home from the office early.

- We had friends in for c*ck.
- Who were they?

Oh, there was Tommy Wilson,
a client of mine, and his wife, and...

Jack Marlow. He's my best friend.
He was leaving for South America.

They didn't stay long, and...
she seemed glad that we were alone.

She let me go ahead
and shower and change,

then I noticed
she wasn't getting dressed.

She just sat there and laughed!

She told me she had no intention
of going out with me!

She kept laughing at me!

Nothing makes a man sorer than that.

Then I knew I'd been kidding myself.

I knew it wouldn't work!

Sol...

asked her for a divorce.

- She refused?
- Yes.

She said she wouldn't be my wife,
but she wouldn't give me a divorce!

Making a patsy of you, eh?

Don't say that.

We'd been happy once.

It's just that...
she was too spoiled and...

too beautiful.

In there.

I never saw a man so nervous.

Well, how would you be if you came home
and found your wife had been...

Look what they're doing!

Her hair along the floor!

I thought guys didn't cry.

Thanks.

Where were you around
eight o'clock tonight?

- In a bar.
- Alone?

No, I met a woman there.

I wasn't in the mood to be by myself.

- So I asked her to go to a show with me.
- Who was she?

I don't know. She didn't tell me her name.

Well, she didn't. Besides,
what's that got to do with it?

You're a very neat dresser,
Mr. Henderson.

Yes, everything goes together.
It's an art.

It's a nice tie you're wearing.

- Tie?
- Pretty taste.

Expensive.

I wish I could afford it.

Say, what are you trying to do to me?
Marcella's dead!

Give me a break! What's the difference
whether my tie's OK or not?

Makes a great deal of difference,
Mr. Henderson.

Why?

Your wife was strangled
with one of your ties!

Yeah.

Knotted so tight,
it had to be out loose with a knife.

Good morning, Ruthie.

- Is Mr. Henderson in yet?
- No. No, he's not.

Bring your book, will you, Ruthie?
There's some letters I want to get off.

Carol...

'Hello, Kansas.

'Listen, I won't be in till noon.

'I have to get this old body of mine
examined for insurance.

'Airmail those blueprints off to Stone,

'and call up every
second-hand bookstore in town

'and try to find a back issue
of "Engineering" for July, 1935.

'Did you get that? July 1935.

'There's an article I want.

'I can't think of anything else right now.

'Oh yes, you'd better cash...'

Come on in, Ruthie, it's alright.
I just saw it in the papers.

I couldn't tell you myself.

- I was afraid you'd go all to pieces.
- That would be too easy.

They say they're questioning him.

It'll be alright.
They haven't arrested him, Ruthie.

It's horrible for him, but he'll explain.

Oh, I hope so!
I'm sick from thinking about it.

There's no reason to be upset!

We'll just have to stay here and wait
for him to call us and go on working.

- Let's try not to think about it anymore.
- OK, Carol.

Let's see. I guess
this Stone letter comes first.

- You ready?
- Yes.

Irwin Stone & Co.

Cleveland, Ohio.

Dear Mr. Stone,

under separate cover, we are sending you
a duplicate of the blueprints,

and we wish to assure you that...

Where was I?

- "And we wish to assure you that... "
- Oh, yes.

And we wish to assure you that

the original estimate
for the garden and terrace

is a correct one...

as submitted to you...

July 16th.

Funny you can remember the bar,

but you can't remember
what the woman was like.

We've been over that hundreds of times.

- Leave me alone, I'm tired!
- You're tired, eh?

Don't you realize that this can end up in
an awful long rest cure for you unless you...

I've told you you're wasting your time
trying to pin this on me!

Yeah, sure!

Remarkable though...

Hours with a woman, and you don't know
who she is or what she looks like!

I've told you... she was about thirty.

She had sort of brown hair,
and she wore a... funny hat.

That's all I can remember.

If you'd asked me sooner,
last night, before all this,

I could've told you more about her,
but now she's...

She's a complete blank.

Oh, there he is!

What's the idea, getting me up at this hour?
I only work the evening shift!

I'm Inspector Burgess, Homicide.

Did you ever see this man before?

To me a face is a face.

Take a good look!

Sit on the same stool.

Come down here.

Try again.

Forget about me!
Look at him!

It's Gloomy Gus!
Sometime last night, wasn't it?

- There, you see?
- What time last night?

My shift goes on at eight.
He came in some time after.

- How much after eight?
- I don't make people punch the time clock!

- Sometime after eight.
- Ask him about her, she saw the time.

How about the woman who was in here?

What woman?

- But I was...
- I'll do the talking!

Are you sure there wasn't a woman
sitting in the chair next to this man?

Sure I'm sure!

- Why, she wore a crazy hat!
- I've been serving in bars for thirty years.

To me a dame is just another order,
another drink.

Well, if you remember me,
why can't you remember her?

Cos you're sitting right here
on my chin!

Bring the dame back and put her
in front of me, and maybe I'll remember her!

But there were only the two of us!
She played the jukebox!

- And we left here together!
- Alright, alright...

- She sat right there! She spoke to you!
- Come on, Henderson.

- You must remember her!
- Come on!

Hey, you!

- Yeah?
- Is your name Al Alp?

Yeah.

Did you have a haul last night
from a bar called Anselmo's

to the Casino Theater?

Heck, I picks 'em up and puts 'em down
so many times during a night that...

From Anselmo's to the Casino Theater?

That's about a 45 cent run
on a dry night.

- Yeah, I did.
- Do you see him here?

I didn't haul no one that shape last night!
No offense meant.

- It was him, huh?
- You tell us.

- Yeah, him!
- Was he alone?

Yeah, I think so.

But there was a woman with me!
You must have seen her!

Hacking for eight years
gives a guy a memory.

If you was with a woman,
I'd have noticed.

Thanks, Al. You sure?

Sure.

There was no dame with this guy
in my cab last night.

Come on, Henderson.

Quick, my next costume!

Mr. Sanders, who are these men?
I must change!

This is Inspector Burgess.
He'd like to talk to you.

Miss Monteiro, do you remember
a woman sitting with this man last night

wearing a hat like yours?

A hat like mine?
Oh, really, this is too funny!

No woman wears hats like mine!

But she did!
And you kept looking at her.

No, no! Go away!
This is really insulting!

I'm an artist!
I sing, I dance!

I don't look at my audience!

What woman besides Monteiro
could wear those

and not look like -
how you say - ridicule?

- Do you see the hat?
- No.

Miss Monteiro is only substantiating
what I've told you.

- You're lying!
- No! Get him out!

Eugh...

Told you not to get pistachio.

How's yours?

Never go wrong in vanilla.

Why don't you admit there wasn't any woman
with you last night?

No!

If I did that, I'd never be sure
of anything again in my life.

She sat at the bar with me.

She liked a certain tune
and played it on the jukebox.

We walked down 46th Street together!

She was real.

She was real!

And now you're trying to tell me
she never existed!

Where to now, Chief?

Someplace where we can
get him a drink.

We all need a drink!

Then drive back to headquarters.

You'd better get some sleep.

Yeah, and a good lawyer.
He's gonna need both.

...that Marcella Henderson
met her death at three minutes after eight.

The prosecution accepts this as a fact.

Now, the defense claims
that Scott Henderson was with a woman

at Anselmo's Bar,
four miles away from his home,

at five minutes after eight.

On the night the m*rder was committed.

Very clever!

The defense also asks you to believe

that if he was at Anselmo's Bar
at five minutes after eight,

then he couldn't possibly have been
in his own apartment two minutes before,

at the time his wife was m*rder*d.

Again, I say, very clever!

But not clever enough!

Witnesses who were at the same places
and at the same time

that Scott Henderson claims to have been
with this woman can recall seeing him,

yet not one of them remembers her!

Where is this woman?

Has any of us seen her?

Has she at any time been
on that witness stand?

No!

Of course not!

Because there is no such woman!

There never was!

Mr. Henderson,

you say you were with this woman
for several hours.

What did you call her?

I just called her "you".

Well, can't you tell us
anything about her?

Was she a blond, brunette,
tall, short or what?

I don't know!
I can't remember!

Believe me, Your Honor,
I'm telling the truth!

In a blind rage, he took
the necktie, which he had in his hands,

dropped it around her throat,

and tightened it
with unimaginable cruelty!

Until it was so embedded
in her soft flesh

that it had to be cut off.

Will the accused
please rise and face the jury?

Will the foreman of the jury
please stand?

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,
have you reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

Do you find the defendant guilty
or not guilty of the charge made against him?

- I didn't hear the verdict. What was it?
- What did you expect?

Guilty!

- Hello, Mr. Henderson.
- Hello, Kansas.

I'll give you five minutes.

Is there anything I can do for you?

Yes, you can thank the foreman!

I forgot to!

I don't know what to say.

Skip it, Kansas. I'll be alright
now that I know where I stand.

Yes, I'll be fine.

Last night for the first time,
I didn't have to count sheep.

- I slept like a guilty man.
- But you're going to appeal!

With What?

An old set of blueprints
and my grandfather's watch?

If it's a question of money, I...

Oh, Kansas... no, thanks.

It isn't the money.

We've done everything -

hired a flock of detectives,
bought time on the radio,

advertised in the newspapers -
everything possible was done to find her!

But what about your friends?
Won't they help?

Oh yes, remember all my friends?

Well, they aren't.

Haven't you heard from Mr. Marlow?

No, I... didn't let him know.

He's your best friend.
Looks like... he'd be the one to help you.

I didn't want to get him back
from South America!

It's his big chance down there.

In any case,
what good could he do?

I don't know.

But you need someone to help you
who really wants to!

Someone who just won't be beaten!

Stop blowing bubbles, Kansas.

But you can't let that verdict stand,
Mr. Henderson, you've got to fight!

I told you, it's no use.
You were at the trial.

I don't blame the jury.

If I were in that jury box,
I'd have agreed with them.

But somebody has to go on
looking for her!

You know,
being shut up alone so much,

I've been thinking.

Maybe there never was such a woman!
It's just my word against theirs!

Maybe I just imagined it!
Maybe she doesn't exist!

Stop talking like that!

You can't work for a man
as long as I've worked for you

and not know him pretty well.

You couldn't k*ll anybody.

Thanks, Kansas.

That makes you a minority of one.

Time's up.

- Are you going back to Wichita?
- I...

I haven't decided what to do yet.

Well, whoever you work for
will be a pretty lucky boss.

If you keep your bobby pins off the floor
and the seams in your stockings straight.

If you don't, he'll fire you!

Goodbye, Kansas.

Oh, if you feel like a train ride,
visit me sometime.

I'm getting a new address tomorrow.
A big country estate on the Hudson.

On a clear day,
you can see New Jersey.

Goodbye, Kansas.

Goodbye, Mr. Henderson.

Here's the horse I like.
Third race, Pimlico.

No, I like Sgt. Mike in the third.

- Customer, Mac.
- Oh, you're crazy, Sgt...

You know, Sgt. Mike
hasn't won a race this year!

Yeah, but he's ready right now.

- Yes, Miss?
- Pinch bottle and water.

Mac, you betting High Girl,
second race tomorrow?

Hey Mac, we're talking to you!

You got any money
on that filly tomorrow?

Huh? Oh, yeah, yeah,
ten bucks on the nose!

- Ten bucks?
- Ten dollars?

Loads of dough!

Don't you care for your drink, Miss?

Everything is fine.

Mac, another beer!

- OK, I'll play.
- Fine.

Mac, gimme my hat and coat, will you?

Boss, she's been sitting there
all night.

Like last night and the night before,
staring at me.

Sure she keeps staring at you.
She wants another drink.

We're closing up, Miss.

We're closing up, Miss!

What are you after?
Beat it!

- What's the trouble, mister?
- You think you're smart, don't you?

- I'm on to you!
- Is he bothering you, Miss?

- No, no, it's alright.
- He's a lush, huh?

Please keep out of this.
This is between us.

- You got something to tell me?
- You're wasting your time.

You know what's going to happen to him,
don't you? You can prevent it.

You don't want that
on your conscience, do you?

- If you want me to, I'll, er...
- No, don't interfere.

- OK, lady.
- Well?

I ain't talking, see?

You ain't got nothing on me.
Nothing!

If you want to find out anything,
ask the guy who give it to me.

Who bribed you?

- I... I...
- Wait a minute!

Let me go!
Take your hands off me!

Look out!

Back up just a little bit.

He walked right into that thing!

Don't move. Don't move.

Back him up a little bit.

- How did you get in here?
- Your landlady.

Remember me? I'm a tired
police inspector named Burgess.

If you're looking for Mr. Henderson,
you'll find him just where you put him.

Come on now, that's nonsense
and you know it.

My job was done
when I turned him over to the DA.

It's so easy to be smug and wear a badge
on your mind, isn't it?

You must feel very proud of yourself!

Found a new job yet?

Why don't you go home to Kansas?

I'm staying here.
I have things to do.

Like going around frightening barmen?

That's what I'm paid for,
to know those things.

Why did you follow him?

Maybe I needed the exercise.

Try Central Park next time.
The air's better.

- I don't have to tell you anything!
- Maybe not.

But what business
is it of yours to go around...

It isn't any of my business,
but he hasn't anyone else to fight for him!

He won't appeal,
he has no money, no friends!

I had to do something.

You could have come to me.

You forget, Inspector,
I know Scott's innocent.

So do I.

What do you mean?

I won't say I did my job poorly.

The evidence shoved him
right into the chair.

But since the trial,
I've been doing a lot of thinking.

The only defense Scott offered

was to continually talk about
a woman with a funny hat.

My kid could have done
a better job of describing it.

No, only a fool or an innocent man
would've stuck to that alibi.

A guilty man would've been smarter!

Scott wasn't being smart,
he was telling the truth!

Well, the case is closed officially,

but I'd like to help unofficially.

Well, how about it?

Hi, chick!

Let me take a look at you!

Hey, you look even better than you did
sitting in the theater!

You could've knocked me cold
when you gave me the eye!

- Gee, you sure know how to beat it out!
- Thanks, baby.

Oh, by the way, the handle's Cliff.
Cliff Milburn.

- I'm Jeannie.
- You and I are gonna have fun tonight!

- You like jive?
- You bet! I'm a hep kitten!

On, baby!

Come in!
Come on in, baby!

Well, this is it!

You just going to stand there?
What are you looking at? It's just a room.

Gee, Cliff...

- With all the dough you make...
- My dough goes on other things, baby.

Five and ten.

- I'll get you something better!
- Will you, Cliff?

Will you?

Honest?

Just name it!
What do you want, baby?

I could make you look class.

That's cheap!

I suppose you don't like my hat neither.

Nah!

Stick with me, snooks.
I'll stake you to a carload of hats!

Ah, Cliff, you're sweet.

I bet you wouldn't even know
what sort of hat looked good on me.

Me?

I'm an authority on hats!

I get paid for knowing about hats!

Yeah, Cliff?

Yeah!

You can tell me!

Ain't I your friend, huh?

Yeah.

Listen, Cliff... you get paid. Why?

Why?

There was a woman
sitting in the front row!

Five hundred smackeroos just for looking
at a dame and saying I didn't!

Tell me about it, Cliff.

Forget it.

She give you the five hundred, Cliff?

Nah.

Who gave it to you?

Some man.

Wait a minute, Cliff!

- What did the man say?
- Ah... alright!

"That's for you," he said.
"All of it!

"Five hundred bucks
if you say there was no dame.

"No matter who asks you, say no!
Keep on saying no!"

And then he beat it.

- Give me a cigarette, Jeannie, will you?
- I haven't any.

That's me!

Everything about me!

They sent you.

Somebody's after me!

- And you made me believe you liked me.
- I do.

Yeah, I do, Cliff!
Don't you remember?

I was sitting in your lap!
I was kissing you!

You made me believe you liked me!

Oh, wait...

Wait until I get you.

Where are you?

- Your phone?
- Yes! There!

What's the matter, Miss?
You have any troubles?

Max, come out front!

Hello? Hello?

Oh, Mr. Burgess...

No. No, I'm alright, but hurry.

- I'm at... what store?
- Joseph's.

Joseph's Delicatessen
just opposite his house.

How long will it take you?

Oh, good.

Maybe I can help you.

Don't ask answers, Mama.

I'll fix some coffee for you.

Who's that?

- It's only me, Cliff.
- Oh!

What a place!
You can feel the rats in the walls.

- What did you come here for?
- It's good to sit down again.

I've been standing for hours on the sidewalk
while you drummed away.

Listen, Mister...

I wished I'd been in the room with you
while you were playing, Cliff.

You're a fine technician.

It was an exciting girl
you took there with you.

Girl?

Yeah.
You brought her here.

Jeannie! Yeah, yeah.
Sh-sh-she's OK.

She was magnificent!

She loathed you,
but she went with you.

She would have humiliated herself
to make you talk.

- I didn't tell her anything!
- Why lie, Cliff?

- You can have back your 500 bucks!
- Don't come near me!

Please.

What... what are you thinking about?

Oh, how interesting
a pair of hands can be.

They can trick melody
out of a piano keyboard.

They can mold beauty
out of a piece of common clay.

They can bring life back
to a dying child.

Yeah.

A pair of hands can do
inconceivable good.

Yet the same pair of hands
can do terrible evil.

They can destroy, whip, t*rture...

even k*ll.

I wish I didn't have to use my hands
to hurt another human being.

Here he comes!

- Thank you very much.
- You're welcome.

Thanks for coming so soon.

He saw her!
Somebody bribed him!

I have a warrant already in my pocket.

- I'm going with you.
- No, you stay in the store.

- You've been through enough.
- No, no.

- This time it's no accident.
- But we have proof now.

- He told me that he...
- It's no good, Carol. They won't accept it.

He's dead.

Hello, Kansas.

Hello, Mr. Henderson.

- How are you?
- Oh, I'm fine. I've gained weight.

They're fattening me up
for the slaughter.

Got a date in eighteen days.

But your appeal...

It's denied.

Oh, stop feeling sorry for me!

Guess I'm not very sociable
these days, but...

you happen to be the only one
who comes up here to see me.

You needn't apologize,
Mr. Henderson.

I understand.

"Mr. Henderson"...
Even the guards call me Scott.

And another thing -
last week we kept talking about me.

Let's not this time!
Let's talk about anything else!

You pick the subject.

We don't have to talk at all
unless you want to.

Serves you right for coming up here!

Oh, I'm sorry.

I didn't mean what I said.
I just took it out on you.

As a matter of fact,
I'm almost darned glad to see you.

But you ought not waste your time
coming up here.

You ought to be out having fun
with some fella.

Don't tell me you're not in love, Kansas.

Well, for Pete's sake!
I hit the nail right on the head!

Who is he?

My boss.

Your boss?
Well, that was quick!

I didn't even know
you had another job.

So you've fallen for each other, huh?

Gosh, that's fine.

Yeah, that's fine!

Well...

Guess I'd better go.

You'll come back again,
won't you, Kansas?

Yes, Scott.

Warden gave permission
for another visitor.

Jack!
Jack Marlow!

Scotty!

Gosh, I'm glad to see you.
When did you get here?

I just got in this morning.
I flew in.

- Hello, Miss Richman. I'm glad to see you.
- Hello, Mr. Marlow.

Scotty!

It was such a shock
reading about it way down there.

6,000 miles away.

Scott didn't want you to know.

He said your assignment in Brazil
meant so much to you.

- Is that part of it?
- Yeah.

It's for a park in Rio.

It has great strength.

What are you working on now?

Oh, I haven't worked in months.

Everything in the studio
was done before...

before I went to South America.

If you only knew how much
your coming back meant to Scott.

He said there were three or four people
who could prove where he was that night.

- Have you tried them all?
- Yes.

There's only Monteiro left.
She's our last hope.

Her show closes tonight.
She's leaving tomorrow.

If we don't get to her,
I don't know what we'll do.

The first thing you ought to do,
young lady,

is to go back to Kansas
and get a rest from all this!

I can't!
I can't think of anything else!

You'll wear yourself out, Carol.

- Look, this is a man's job!
- I'm sorry, but I just can't sit by.

That woman must be
someplace in the city!

One word from her,
and Scott would walk out a free man.

- I tell you, Carol, I'm afraid for you.
- Oh, let's not worry about me.

Don't you see we must get
to this woman somehow?

The m*rder*r would k*ll her
if he ever found her.

Yes, I think he would.

I suppose he'd even k*ll me.

Don't say that.

You think I'd care?

Do you think I'd want to live if Scott...

Yes...

I used to watch you sitting at your desk...
the way you looked at him.

You saw what they've done to him.

Twisted him. Hurt him so.

He had such plans
to build model cities!

Sunlight in every room,

children's play yards
everywhere for everyone.

He hated to let anyone know
how soft he really was,

but he didn't fool me.

Now they've made him bitter and hard,

and he's not that way,
you know that!

I'm sorry I let myself go.

Please don't ever tell him.

It's seems so desperate for him.

Only eighteen days!

I just don't know what to do.

Someone, whoever it is,
always gets there first.

He's so clever.

- Yes, there's genius behind such audacity.
- No!

Only madness.

Madness...
is a frightening word.

What else can you call it,
to go on k*lling?

Perhaps he hates to k*ll.

Perhaps he feels only horror.

I don't care what he feels!

All I want to do is find that woman!

I backed this show
because I believed in it,

and I owe its success to all you, too!

After tonight,
we go our separate ways,

but we shall carry with us
the memory of a real partnership

in tinsel and greasepaint!

Bless you and thank you
for making this show a hit!

And now, let's all have fun!

- Well, what happened?
- I couldn't get anywhere with her.

Are you sure she didn't recognize you?

I'm positive. She thought
I was one of the stagehands!

If she'd only admit that our woman
wore a hat like hers that night,

but she won't, she's too vain.

I never even had a chance
to mention the subject!

Maybe you used the wrong technique,
Inspector.

I guess I'm not the romantic type!

It's very funny!

Miss Monteiro,
I thought I'd better tell you,

the airport just called and said they couldn't
get reservations on the 10:30 plane.

You'll have to take the 7:00 o'clock.

Ora bolas! It's impossible!

Ask them,
how can I get my sleep?

That's the only reservation
they can give you.

Very well. I sacrifice myself.

And you can leave later by the train.

If only we could have gotten
the name of her milliner!

If! If!
I'm fed up with that word!

If we knew where it was,
if we knew who made it,

if we knew the color...

You never talked like that before.

Did you ever see a chipmunk in a cage,
running round and round on a wheel?

That's me.

- I think I'll get good and drunk!
- That's not a bad idea.

Can I get you something, Carol?

No, thank you.

And Barrymore said to me, "Claude,
you're the greatest Polonius of your day!"

Really?

Oh, it's you, Mr. Marlow!

You startled me!
The lights aren't working.

You can see she's never been
in a dressing room before.

I could've told you
everything had been moved out.

I thought I'd find something here.

Let's go home.

I never knew how dreary
an empty theater could be.

- Coming, Marlow?
- Can you wait a minute, Inspector?

I haven't had a chance to talk to you.

Poor Carol!

She doesn't know what it means
to give up, does she?

You know, at first
I thought it would be a cinch.

Just get the lowdown on everybody -
friends, relatives... So I did.

- Even you, Marlow.
- I was in mid-ocean when it happened.

Yes, SS Vulcania.
Sailed Thursday, August 2nd, 8:30pm.

Stateroom C, middle deck.
Arrived Rio, August 15th.

- What an incredible memory!
- A lot of good it does me.

No, no, the fact remains that none of you
could have committed these murders.

- Why not?
- You're all too normal.

Oh!

The m*rder*r must be normal enough.

He's just clever, that's all.

As all of them are.
Diabolically clever.

- Oh?
- Paranoiacs.

That's simply your opinion.

A psychiatrist might disagree.

No, I've met paranoiacs before.

They all have incredible egos.

Abnormal cunning,
a contempt for life.

- You make him sound unbeatable.
- Oh, he doesn't worry me.

It's just that there's so little time left.

I can't ask for help from anyone,
officially.

My hands are tied!

I'll get the m*rder*r sooner or later!

It's always simpler
when they're insane.

Are you sure it isn't sour grapes,
Inspector?

Maybe he's more astute than we are,
but to call him...

I'd stake my life on it.

- You might lose.
- No, I won't lose.

We used to talk about
"the criminal type"...

Criminal type, my eye!

It's not how a man looks, it's how
his mind works that makes him a k*ller.

Oh, come on, Inspector.

Do you mean that all great murders
have been... insane?

You bet your sweet life!

Do you think the Borgias were normal?

Dr. Crippen?

There was a saint and devil
rolled into one.

Andrew the Bluebeard,
Jack the Ripper...

Our own gangsters: Legs Diamond,
Baby Face Nelson, Dillinger...

Paranoiacs, all of them!

Some day we will have sense enough

to train the mind as we train
the body from birth.

Then they won't need men like me,
and that will be alright, too.

What sort of job is this anyway?

Hunting down a madman!

I'm all wound up!

I guess I must be tired.

Uh, let's call it a night, shall we?

Coming, Marlow?

Carol's waiting.

Yes!

- You alright now?
- Yeah.

I've, uh...

I've been getting these dizzy spells.

Look, you run along.
I'll be right with you.

Don't tell Carol.
She'd only be upset.

Christ, Chief! I've been looking
all over the place for you!

We've got to go to Philadelphia.
It's the Vanselli case!

The Commissioner wants us to go
right away. He's sure...

What's the matter, Chief?

- Oh, the Vanselli case, what about it?
- We've only got 20 minutes to get the train.

- No, I can't. I can't go.
- But orders is orders!

Well, I suppose so.

Carol...

I'll try to be back
by tomorrow afternoon.

I want you to promise me
that you won't do anything until then.

But there's so much to do!

- Step on it, Chief, or we'll miss that train!
- Yes, yes, Tom.

Remember, you're not to do anything
until I get back.

And take care of yourself.

Oh, Mr. Marlow,

you'd better see a doctor
about those dizzy spells of yours.

- Goodbye, Carol.
- Goodbye.

- Miss Monteiro, please.
- Miss Monteiro? Certainly.

Oh, uh... she left.

Left?

- No, it's only 7:30.
- She took the 7:00 o'clock plane.

Oh.

Anything wrong?

No.

No, thank you.

...the same in Chicago
and the same in Pittsburgh!

Every time I say I'm going to leave her!
One of these days I will!

- Please, a taxi.
- Yes, madame.

Kettisha!

Oh!

Yes?

I know you'll adore it.
It does something very special for you!

Thank you so much,
Madame Kettisha!

- Goodbye, Mrs. Witherspoon.
- Au revoir!

- Sorry I was so long.
- I found it!

This is the one Monteiro wore
in the Chick-ee-Chick number, isn't it?

Surely.

- Which one of your girls made it?
- I've had those two girls for years.

Oh, my corn!

It's ridiculous to suggest
it was copied here!

Please. I'd be so grateful
if I could see her.

Payton!

Come in!

Yes, Madame Kettisha?

- Remember Monteiro?
- Yes.

- Ever make a copy of it for anyone?
- Oh, I'd never do a thing like that.

I believe you.

There, you see?

Please forgive me for asking,

but if you could tell me anything
at all about it...

You see, a man is going to die!

- Unless you...
- I'm sorry.

I just can't tell you anything.

Thanks, Payton. That's all.

Poor kid!

You're all in.

How about going home, Carol?

- Yes, Payton?
- I, I...

Well?

Did... did you say "a man's life"?
I mean, what is that to do with the hat?

What are you driving at, Payton?

Well?

I copied the hat.

Thank you.
Thank you so much for telling me.

Well! You little rat!

- She gave me $50 to copy it for her.
- Who was she?

She's one of our regular customers,
Miss Terry.

She saw a sketch
of Monteiro's hat, liked it...

We'll talk about that later,
young lady!

Sit down here
and write the name and address.

Well? Do as you're told.

That must be the house.

- Would you kindly wait here, please?
- Yes, of course.

I'm scared.

I wonder what she's like.

Jack, I can't believe it
after all this time!

How do you do?

- I'm Carol Richman. This is Mr. Marlow.
- How do you do?

- Miss Terry, we came to...
- I'm afraid you're making a mistake!

I'm Dr. Chase.
I'm looking out for Miss Terry.

- Is she ill?
- Yes. I'm a consultant on the case.

Is it that serious?

Oh, there's nothing wrong
with her physically.

She collapsed last April,
after her fianc? died.

She must have absolute quiet.

I can't go away without talking to her!

I've been looking for her for months!

You're all worn out, aren't you?

Perhaps if you tell me...

Someone's going to be ex*cuted
for a crime he never committed.

He has the perfect alibi.
He spent the evening with Miss Terry.

She's the only one who can save him.

Oh, please, can't we see her?

Alright.

Come with me.

It's better if Miss Richman
goes in alone.

I'm afraid both of you
might be too much for her.

Yes, of course.

Keep your fingers crossed.

And remember,
you mustn't let her get too excited.

I promise.

You may go.

Ann?

Ann dear, there's someone here
to see you.

Hello, Miss Terry.

Ann dear, Miss Richman
wants to have a little talk with you.

I've been sick.

- But I'm better now.
- Of course you are.

Now then, I'm going to leave you
and Miss Richman alone.

Noelle,
please don't leave me!

Look at Miss Richman.

You're not afraid of her!

That's right.

This is a lovely room.

It was my grandmother's.

She lived in this house all her life.

She was very happy here.

She married the man she loved.

I'll never marry.

- Are you married?
- No.

- But you're in love.
- Yes.

He was only sick two days.

He'd never been sick before.

He was always so full of life.

We were to be married
the following week.

I had my trousseau bought and...

and a special dress and hat
for the wedding.

They must have been lovely!

Do you still have them?

I don't want to talk anymore.

Can't I see them, Miss Terry?

I don't want to talk anymore.

It's alright, Ann.

You can show it to me.

He would've loved it.

But he never saw it.

Oh, it's beautiful.

I wish I had a hat like that!

Oh, my hair!
My hair's no good this way.

- May I borrow it? I'll bring it back.
- Oh!

Oh!

You ought to wear it for him.

Is he nice, the man you love?

Yes.

Take it.

Take it!

I don't want it!

He's dead!

He's dead!

I don't want it, he's dead!

Oh... uh!

Have I been asleep long?

Yes, we're halfway home.

Oh, I can hardly wait to tell Burgess!

Last night, everything
seemed so hopeless.

What's the matter?

Oh, nothing.

- Do you want me to drive?
- No, no, I'll be alright.

It's just a... headache.

Well, it's no wonder.
You haven't eaten all clay.

It's my fault.
We should've stopped.

You've been awfully nice to me, Jack.

I don't know what I would've done
without you.

Oh, let's stop over here
and call Burgess.

Hi, mister.

I'll only be a moment.

Oh, you stay here, Carol.
I'll do it.

No! We want to play!

- Is he back?
- No, not yet.

Well, then we'd better go to headquarters
right away and wait for him.

I left word for him to meet us
at my place.

We can all have a drink and celebrate.

Alright.

Oh, I can hardly wait
to tell him the news!

When I first came to New York,

I lived a whole week
on nothing but sandwiches.

Then when I got my first job,

I went out and I ate the biggest dinner
I could find!

I was so happy!

That's the way I feel tonight.

- Burgess should be here by now.
- Yes...

I can hardly wait to tell him.
He'll be so excited!

Oh, Jack, isn't it wonderful?

This silly hat will save Scott.

Burgess can reopen the case.

Hmm! Looks rather smart!

You know,
I've never heard you laugh before.

And then Burgess
will find the m*rder*r.

I want to hear the court sentence him
as they sentenced Scott.

You hate him, don't you?

I hate him!

Is that starting up again?

- Why don't you lie down, Jack?
- Oh, I'll be alright.

No, no, I insist.
Now do as I say.

Come on, get some rest
before Burgess comes.

Oh, I'm a mess!
I think I'd better freshen up a bit.

- Alright.
- Now you get some sleep, won't you?

Yes.

Police headquarters, quick!

- 'Police headquarters.'
- Inspector Burgess's office, but hurry!

'That extension is busy.
Will you wait?'

Yes, I'll hold on, but hurry!

Carol...

Please, come here.

Don't I look better?

- I thought you'd be asleep.
- The light...

Turn it off, please.
It hurts my eyes.

It chokes me.

Sit here beside me.

My head's bursting. It's on fire!

Give me your hand.

Oh, it's so cool. It feels good!

It's so quiet here.

So far away from everything.

I never liked cities -
noise, confusion, dirt.

And the people in them!

They hate me
because I'm different from them.

I don't belong here.

Neither do you.

It isn't fair for someone like you
to be suffering.

You should be so happy.

If only you'd never come to New York,
never met Scott.

The world's full of men like him!

You can buy nice stupid people
a dime a dozen!

She was sitting at her dressing table,
just as you're sitting there,

only she wasn't frightened as you are.

Marcella was never frightened.

I said, "You'd better hurry.

"The boat leaves in an hour."

Then she told me she never had
any intention of going with me.

She was just amusing herself.

I'd never allowed myself
to love anybody before.

I didn't want anything to interfere
with my work.

I was always naive about women.

She was laughing at me.

She kept on laughing!

I had to stop her laughing!

No!

Then I knew they'd arrest me.

I couldn't let them do that!

When you're born with my gifts,
you can't afford to let them get in your way.

So I followed Scott.
I saw him with that woman.

Then she slipped away from me,
and I had to bribe the others.

That was easy.

They think I took the boat that night,
but I didn't.

I went aboard alright,
but I left before she sailed.

SS Vulcania.

August 2nd, 8:30pm.
Huh! That idiot!

I flew to Havana
and caught the boat there.

He never thought of that!
That was too clever for him.

Scott!

How could you?

Scott?

I'm fond of Scott. We're friends!

But what's his life compared to mine?

A mediocre engineer working in sewers,
drainpipes, faucets!

What's any life compared to mine?

I asked you not to interfere,
but you wouldn't listen.

It'll be so easy.

No one will question me.

They'll say it's just another suicide.

This won't help you, don't you see?
After me, there will be others!

You'll have to go on k*lling,
on and on until they catch you!

I won't be the last!

- There will be others after me!
- No!

You can't help yourself
because you're mad, mad, mad!

Yes, you're insane!

Hello?

Hello?

- Burgess!
' Come on!

Burgess! Burgess!

Burgess! It's Jack!
He k*lled her!

Good morning, Mary.
- Good morning, Miss Richman.

- Good morning.
- Good morning, Carol.

- Hello, Kansas!
- Well, how do we like the new office?

It's not bad!

Oh, 9:30 already. I've got to rush!

- Seeing Kepler about the chemicals plant.
- When will you be back?

It might take all day.
If I'm not back by six, don't wait.

By the way, I left instructions
on the Dictaphone.

You'll take care of them for me,
won't you?

Goodbye, Kansas.

- So long, Burgess.
- Bye, Henderson.

- Quite his old self again, isn't he?
- Yes.

He owes you a great deal, Carol.

I did it because I wanted to.

Will I have to appear
at the investigation tomorrow?

No, it's only a formality.

The evidence shows that Marlow fell
attempting to escape onto the ledge.

I've got to be off. I have to be
down at court before ten o'clock.

- Well, goodbye, Carol.
- Goodbye, Burgess.

'Hello, Kansas.

'Renew my membership to the
Architects' and Engineers' Association

'and call Mason
and follow the contractors

'and make an appointment with them
for tomorrow morning.

'Uh-uh-uh! Don't hang up!

'You know, you're having dinner
with me tonight.'

- Huh?
- 'And tomorrow night. And the next night.

'And then every night.

'Every night!

'Every night.

'Every night.'