01x17 - Lady k*ller

[bunniefuu]

[waves crashing]

[music]

Letter to Loretta.

Starring Loretta Young.

Hello.

I was watching thebeginning of our half hour with

you here on my televisionis just wonderful, isn't it?

Come to think of it, it's magic.

Here I am in my livingroom in Southern California.

And all you have to do is flip a

little switch rightthere and presto,

Television brings myliving room right into yours,

wherever yours may be,all over the United States.

Just think of all theplaces I can be at once.

That used to be a dreamof mine when I was a kid.

I think that's justplain wonderful.

Now, I have a letter herefrom a man who lives in.

Well, maybe I better not say,because most of this letter is

a complaint about theconditions that prevail in his city.

Anyway, he sumsthe whole thing up by

saying, why don't theydo something about it?

They, mysteriousthey.

Whom we all tend to hold responsiblefor injustice.

Who are they?

Well, I'm going to try toanswer that question tonight by

telling you a story that Iheard a couple of years ago.

Now, the woman in this storyis one of those mysterious states

And it all begins at an airport.

Mr. Robert Brown.Any seat, Mr. Brown?

Mrs. Charles Harris.Any seat, Mrs. Harris?

Ms. chate? No one later.Any seat? Thank you.

This is the right planefor Capital City, isn't it?

That's right, Mr. benson.

I have a horror ofgetting on the wrong

plane someday andwinding up in tibet.

It's not very likely. On this flightyour name is on the passenger list.

That won't keep you from worry.

Mr. Spencer. Any seat.

Let me help you withthat, Ms. nordlinger

Oh.

You know me?

Well, we've never actually met, but

travel in the same circles.

I see.

-Can I get you a pillow?-Oh, no, thank you

-Blenket?-No thanks.

-How about a stick of gum.-Oh, no thank you.

Oh, you must chew gumwhile you're up in the air.

Relieves the pressure on the ears.

Well, in that case thank you.

Why to relieves pressure on theears. I have in the vagueness notion

Miss Nordlinger?

-Miss nordlinger?-Oh yes.

This telegram just came for you.

Oh, thank you.

Aren't you going toopen it, Miss nordlinger?

Promise not to peekmost only a little bit.

Well.I can't open it.

I'm not Miss. Nordlinger.

I must be having one of thosedays when my head comes to a point.

[music]

I don't understand

Well, it's really quite simple.

You see, this flightwas all book solid.

Well, there was awoman who had suddenly

changed her mindabout taking the flight and

she overheard me discussingit with the reservation clerk

and so she offeredto sell me her ticket.

I see.

Well, it would havetaken extra time to have

it validated my name,so I just used her.

You deceitful women.

I didn't deceive you.

You see the stewardess.You just happened to have your

ears flapping when I answeredthe name of Nordlinger.

Well, that doesn't explainwhy you let me go on with

that bill. You are travelingin the same circles.

Well

you're trying topick me up and I just

thought I'd helpyou out a little.

That's what I like aboutthe modern woman.

She's so shy and retired.

My name is Lincoln.

peg Lincoln.

Lincoln? Lincoln. Thatsounds vaguely familiar.

I write it.

I do mystery novels. Perhapsyou've read some of my stuff?

No, I'm afraid not. Are youany relation to Abraham Lincoln?

Oh my dear man, I have heardthat one since I was a weed child.

Now what to do about this?

Is there anything wrong?

Jesse, All of a sudden.

Nonsense, we're still on theground. It must be her imagination.

It's so stuffy in here.

It's so stuffy.

Jordis,

Tell the pilot not to takeoff and have him call an

ambulance right away.This young lady is very ill.

Yes sir, right away.

Ill.

Oh, brother. Was I ill?

The next two days werea nightmare of stomach

pumps and high feverand worried looking doctors

But finally I was allowedto leave the hospital.

Grant benton, who gaveup his trip and had been very

attentive throughout, wason hand to drive me home.

Let me help you offer this.

Thanks. Now I'm kind ofcold. The doctor warned me

I might get chilled fromtime to time. He's right.

Better fix MissLincoln some tea.

Oh, peanuts.

Oh, want some?

No thanks.

Is there anything wrong?

Why this telegram.

Isn't that the one deliveredto you aboard the plane?

One addressed in nordling a moment?

That's right, it is.

No, what about it?

Just this.

I'm certain it wasn'tin my pocket when I

left the hospital. Ilooked to find out.

Maybe you didn't notice it.

Or maybe you stole it from mewhen you carried me off the plane.

And maybe you read it and thenmaybe you resealed the envelope.

And then maybeyou slipped it into my

pocket when youhelped me into your car.

No, way to think that.

You want to go straight to bed.

Just a little feverishfrom that tomane.

And that's another thing that'sbeen bothering me all along.

Now, how good Ihave to amin when I

never eat for hours before I travel.

Contaminated water, maybe.

You must have had something.

I'm just now beginningto realize what I had.

A stick of poisoned chewing gumto relieve the pressure on my ears.

You actually think I poisoned you?

Yes.

[laugh]

Well now why would Ido a thing like that to a girl

I'd never seen before? Inever had anything to do with.

well, you poisoned me thinkingI was an ordinary woman.

But fortunately for me.

Deliver me from femalemystery writers.

Fortunately for me, youdiscovered your mistake

in time to correct it byrushing me to a hospital.

For a m*rder*r then I'm reallyquite a pleasant fellow after all.

Not one of theseindiscriminate K*llers.

Look.

You're not yourselfat the moment, but

maybe we can endthis delirium right now.

-Oh, don't.-No, no no....

Have a nice trip, love.Signed, Aunt Ellen.

Say, that's in my g*ng secret code.

It means boatloadof stolen jewels ready

to set sail at dawn.For what? Cheer Iowa?

It was thoughtfulof me to rip the

envelope so I can'tcheck the receiling

Okay I give up.

Maybe when you're feelingbetter, you'll realize that

you got me all confusedwith one of your mystery plots.

Go until then.

Goodbye Miss. Lincoln.

[door closing]

Perhaps I was a little feverish,but if so, it seemed to me

that the fever had made my mindclearer and sharper than usual.

Telegram, for instance.

Something about it appeared wrong.

Something I wouldn'thave ordinarily noticed.

[putting tea down]

Never mind for the tea Bella.

I'm going out for a little while.

But you can't. You're too illto go anywhere Miss Lincoln.

I'll maybe you're right, Bella.

But I have a feelingI'll stay a lot healthier

if I get to that telegraphoffice right away.

[door opening]

I checked the maintelegraph office to find out

the branch from whichthe telegram had been sent.

It's a regulation form,all right. And the message

is pasted on and strips,just the way we do it.

But look how different the typeis from a regulation telegram.

Someone must haveplayed a joke on you.

Yeah.

Tell me, was anytelegram sent to Cape

nordlinger at theairport two days ago?

-I could look it up for you.-Will you, please

The.

Nathon

Dixon.

Kelvien

Ah, here we are.

-Nordlinger.-What's the message?

It says, on your return,will contact you at

Hotel ludwig. Signed,Patricia smyth. S-M-Y-T-H-E

Hotel ludwig.

Is there a phonehere that I can use?

Right over there.

Oh, yes, of course. I'm sorry.

[music]

[door closing]

I had no idea what I'd say to KateNordlinger when I reached you.

but as it turned out.I didn't reach her.

And the desk clerk was soevasive as to her whereabouts that I

finally asked to be switched toJoe mcnamara, the house detective.

Mac was an old friendof mine who had once

helped me with theresearch for one of my books.

Mac, I'm trying tolocate one of your

hotel guests, andit's Kate Nordlinger.

Well, she isn't with us anymore.

No, she didn't leavea forwarding address.

I know what looksclear but well.

I know it looks q*eer, but well,Mac, please don't hide anything

from me. It's very important thatI talk to her as soon as possible.

You can't get hold ofher, Miss Lincoln. she....

Well, a couple ofnights ago, she threw

herself out of thewindow with the th floor.

Miss Lincoln? Miss Lincoln.

Yes, ma'am, I'm still here.

Yeah.

No, I won't sayanything to anybody

Things like that are badpublicity for the hotel. So

far, we've been able to keepthem out of the newspaper.

Well, I don't know too much abouther. She was a private detective.

I see.

Yeah. Well, thanks, Mac.

Sure. So long

[putting down telephone]

Patricia Smyavive woman whosent that telegram. Did she leave

her return address in casethe message wasn't delivered?

I believe so. It's the usual thing,but are you ill, miss? You look pale.

No, I'm all right, thank you.Would you look for me, please?

Oh, yes.

Patricia smy. The broadview vista.

Just a minute.

broadview vista.

It seemed to be somekind of a horrible dream.

And the unknown Patricia Snivewas my only hope of waking up.

[door opening]

-Yes.-Is Patricia Smyth in, please?

Patricia smyth?

Yesterday she,

She's dead ma'am.

[music]

The late Patricia smyth landladywhen I came out of my feint, was

enough to send me scurryingto the district attorney's office.

[door opening]

Ms. Lincoln, the DistrictAttorney will see you now.

Thank you very much.

Mr. longwood.

How do you do, Miss Lincoln?

-How do you do?-Sit down, won't you?

Oh, thank you.

I've been halfexpecting you all day.

Grant benton phoned meright after he left your home.

He said you had somewild idea he'd given you

poison. You might wantto register a complaint.

Is Mr. benton a friend of yours?

Yes, a best friend.We grew up together.

[smile]

See? I'm going to domyself a lot of good here.

Miss Lincoln.

I assure you I'dnever let friendship

interfere with theefficiency of this office.

However, having knownGrant benton all his life.

I can also assure youthat he wouldn't harm a fly.

It's true he has a somewhatweird sense of humor.

Mr. longman

Your friend, with hisweird sense of humor,

has m*rder*d twowomen in the past hours.

Grant told me you're just outof the hospital, Miss Lincoln.

-Yes, that's right.-It would be wiser

if you wenthome and rested for awhile

Why don't you justlisten to what I have to say

and then decide whetherI'm delirious or not?

- Alright.- Thank you.

Now, first of all, have you ever

heard of a girlcalled Patricia smyth?

-Yes of course.-Oh.

Patricia worked for thisoffice until yesterday.

That is, until she waskilled in a hit and run

accident. We're stilltrying to find the driver.

Do you, by any chance,know who that driver was?

Indeed I do. It was Grant Benton.

I see.

Do you have any proof?

-No, I don't. Not exactly. Not yet.-Miss. Lincoln.

Police have aneyewitness report that the

k*ller drove a whitetank convertible.

Grant benton owns a dark sedan.

But he could have borrowedsomeone else's car, couldn't he?

-Yes,-Of course he could.

Sit down.

Sit down. Now, then, youmentioned still another m*rder.

Yes, there was.

Two nights ago, he went tothe Hotel ludwig and pushed a

woman out of the window.Now, that was Kate Nordlinger.

Well, no, I haven't gotany proof of that yet, either.

Naturally, there was an official

investigation of theNordlinger of death.

I read that report carefully.

I'm satisfied it was su1c1de.

- You are?- Yeah.

Mr. Benton is evenmore than satisfied.

You're letting yourimagination run away with you.

I'll tell you one thing.This is not my imagination.

It's there.

As I told him aboutthe fake telegram, he

showed real interest.For the first time.

I began to think I was actuallymaking some headway.

But then.

I'll tell you whatI'll do, Miss Lincoln.

I'll check with thetelegraph company

If anything develops, I'llget in touch with you later.

You get in touch with me later?

I realize you're takingall this very seriously.

Mr. longman, what am I supposedto do? Sit around like a duck

in a sh**ting gallery till youdecide whether I'm crazy or not.

Miss Lincoln, wait a minute.

Do you want to prefercharges against Grant benton?

Well, no, I couldn't. Youknow, I haven't got any proof yet.

Where does that leave us?

Oh.

Leaves you thinkingthat your best friend is

a victim of a fewembarrassing coincidences.

It leaves me thinking that

Well.

That the DistrictAttorney is a good

natured bubbleheadbeing taken in by a pal.

[smiling]

Well, you said it, sir. I didn't.

Well, I'll do my best tocorrect that impression.

-Yes.-Meanwhile.

why don't you go homeand get some rest?

Get some rest? The man said.

[music]

Just close your eyes and forgetto have a k*ller on the loose.

It was a small comfortto know I had a g*n.

Private detectiveshave g*ns too fast. A

lot of good at a donecake, noordlinger.

[telehpne ringing]

Then finally, late in the afternoon,the District Attorney phoned.

Hello.

Yes, Mr.Longman.

I just called to tell you I checkedwith the telegraph company.

Your story is on the level.

I already knew that.

There are a coupleof other developments

I'd like to bringyou up to date on.

Would you mind if Idropped in after dinner?

I certainly wish you would.

It's going to be mighty lonelyaround here after my maid leaves.

Yes, will be fine.

Goodbye.

[music]

[clock sound]

[door opening]

Oh, good evening Longman.

Good evening. I'm early, I'msorry. I hope I'm not too early.

But just it's okay.

What a handsome couple you two make.

Our fourthright young districtattorney and the lovely lady who has

only recently voted Miss unbridledimagination of the th century.

Now, you remember, Grant,you're on your best behavior.

Oh, I shall oozedecorum from every poor.

It was grant's idea thatthe three of us could

talk this thing out in acalm and reasonable way.

-I see.-Oh, please, Miss Lincoln,

take my word for it. There'snothing to be frightened up.

I suppose not.

Won't you go in please?

[door closing]

Sit down, won't you?

Thanks.

Perhaps you'd like some cigarettes?

Not for me, thanks.

Do you care for one, Mr. Longman?

Oh, thank you.

Then, Miss Lincoln, wherewould you like me to begin?

Well.

let's start with KateNordlinger at the airport.

And she saw you, and that's whyshe decided not to take that flight.

You see, she knew you,but you didn't know her.

Well that's pretty fancy.

Alright.

The fake telegram.

Explain that away.

You're starting with a butte. That'sthe one thing I can't explain.

I have in the Vegas notionwhy it was done or who did it.

- But you didn't?- No.

Look, once youeven try to believe me

Alright.

I will try.

Let's even say that you had nothingto do with the hit and run k*lling.

Now you're talking sense.

All right, then thenext step is the blonde,

whatever her name was, theone who committed su1c1de.

-Kate nordly.-Kate nordly

How did you know she was the blonde?

I read it in the paperswith my big brown eyes.

Why, the whole thing waskept out of the newspapers.

[music]

I was wondering why you'reso interested in that drawer.

Better put it in yourpocket, Ray. The young

lady has some oddnotions of hospitality.

Miss Lincoln.

I thought you understood.

I thought you understood.I'm not here to trick Grant

into a confession oranything as absurd as that.

But how did he knowshe was a blonde?

Well, I frequently discusscases with Grant. No doubt

I told him that the nordling,a woman, was a blonde.

Dead, Ray. I distinctly remember.

For heaven's sake, Mr. longman.

Open your eyes. He'sit the explanation says

What explaination?

Well.

Justice.

Patricia Smy worked inyour office as a clerk, right?

-Yes.-Alright.

Now, while she was there,she probably ran across, well,

some information thatincriminated our friend here.

She no doubt decided not totell you about it because you were

such good friends a bit, andyou wouldn't believe her anyway.

So she went to a private detective.Now that's Kate nordlinger.

And they started workingon the case together,

well, somehow or other, our friendhere found out what was going on.

And then when he learned thatthe nordlinger woman was going

to take a plane to see theState's Attorney, he decided to act.

However, at that time,he only knew her by name.

And that's how he happened togive me the poison, by mistake.

Well, it makes senseso far, doesn't it?

Yes.

-Yes, makes sense.-Your dog got it. Right. It does.

And then throughthe telegram, the

real telegram thatthey delivered to me

on the plane, hefound out that Kate

nerdinger stayedat the Hotel ludwig.

And that night,while I was in the

hospital, he wentthere and k*lled her.

He pushed her out of a window.

And then later, he ran down Patriciasmyth in a borrowed automobile.

-Borrowed automobile?-That's right.

Miss Lincoln, your logic

Never mind, Ray. She's right.

I've made a couple of slipsand the whole Supreme Court

couldn't shake her loose now.

Fair.

Makes you any happier,I k*lled both women.

[music]

You have the dubious honorof having proved support.

You know, you'rea real card, you are.

You're going to be trying forlaughs when they strap you in.

No, they're not strapping.

I'd advise you to glance at ourforthright, young District Attorney.

I'm sorry. Miss Lincoln

We did our bestto talk you out of this.

Now you'll leave me no choice. But

Shall I tell you what our fourthright young district attorney means?

He means that he and Icontrol the gambling in the town,

and anyone who interferesis liable to get hurt. Very hurt.

Dead, you might say.

Maybe I should have mentioned that

The bushes outsidehere are just thick with

men from the State'sattorney's office.

What way? Easy. Very easy.

You see, when youcalled me this afternoon.

You told me that you checked withthe telegraph office about that fake

telegram. Oh.When I talked to them

later, they said thatyou hadn't checked

And that meant thatyou knew about it

So youtelephoned the State's

Attorney. Is that whatyou want us to believe?

Yes, I did. And also thelocal police were very helpful.

They were the ones who toldme that you had a tan convertible.

Exactly like the m*rder car.

I warned you not to use my car.

Calm down. She's onlyguessing, stalling, wasting time.

No, I am not.

Why, for every crook like you,

there are a thousand honest

law enforcers who are onlytoo willing to fight your guy

You better leave thecomedy to me, Ms. Lincoln.

name as Lincoln.

They're under orders to demandentry of the slightest disturbance.

Go ahead.

Fire that g*n.

Fire us. Neil be in herelike a swarm and axe.

And if I don't fire it?

Doesn't take your chancesin the court. After all,

it was Ben here who will.Those women. You didn't.

If you have any qualms about this,Ray, just hand over the g*n to me.

Stay back Grant goback and stay back.

[breaking glass]

I just like disturbance.

They will be here.

We'll wait.

That bluff led overlike a red ballon.

Now come on Rayhand over the g*n to me.

Don't give it to a don't.

You're frightened Miss. Lincoln.

-Don't give him.-Come on Ray fire.

[door knocking]

Come in.

All right, take them out.

[crying]

Are you all right,Miss Lincoln? [crying]

I am alright.

I'm just scared.

Use this.

Thank you.

How does a man like thatever get into office, anyway?

He's voted in ma'am.

Why did they do something about it?

What do you mean, they?

Well, who's everresponsible? I don't know.

That's you, ma'am.

-Me?-Yeah.

Well, you means the voters.

Ray longman was electeddistrict attorney by the

lightest vote ever recordedin our local elections.

I don't get it?

Well, there's an old saying

Bad politicians are electedby good citizens who don't vote.

Good night, Miss Lincoln. I'llcheck with you tomorrow on this.

Yes.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

[music]

Now, I hope I canremember the exact words

of that policemanin our story tonight.

Bad politicians are electedby good citizens who don't vote.

It makes good sense doesn't it?

Visit loretta Young again nextweek. Same time, same station.

[music]