- 2 weeks ago
Hello everyone and welcome to my little channel. In today's feature from 1934 called Green Eyes we have a bit of a mystery. A man named Stephen Kester is dead. How did die, well all I can tell you is he was stabbed three times, in his back no less and then stuffed in his closet. My, my, my who could of done such a thing. Well it seems we have a large pool of suspects. You see this happen while Mr. Kester was giving a masked party at his house. Now while there where many guest, there was family also. His granddaughter Jean and her fiancé Cliff. Then there's Bill Tracy, a mystery writer who wants to help the police solve this mystery. A real who done it or is the murderer right under their very noses. Staring in this party killer we have...Claude Gillingwater as Stephen Kester, Shirley Grey as Jean his granddaughter, William Bakewell as Cliff her fiance, Charles Starrett as Bill, John Wray as Inspector Crofton, Dorothy Revier as Mrs. Pritchard, Ben Hendricks Jr. as Detective Regan, Alden Chase as Mr. Pritchard, Arthur Clayton as Roger, Aggie Herring as Dora the housekeeper, Edward Keane as Raynor, Edward Le Saint as Banker, Robert Frazer as Broker. So let's make some Death in the Afternoon cocktails (look it up, it's real), put our party mask on and enjoy. Also thanks so much for watching.
(No copyright infringement intended, this film is in the public domain. If Dailymotion wishes me to remove this film, I will. For entertainment purposes only)
(No copyright infringement intended, this film is in the public domain. If Dailymotion wishes me to remove this film, I will. For entertainment purposes only)
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Short filmTranscript
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00:02:18Do you think they'll follow us?
00:02:20They can't.
00:02:21I cut the ignition wires on all the cars.
00:02:23What if they should telephone ahead?
00:02:25I cut the phone wires, too.
00:02:26Oh, I'm beginning to get scared.
00:02:28Now, don't worry.
00:02:30Plain murder.
00:02:30Three knife wounds in his back.
00:02:32Better call the police, Lennox.
00:02:34Yes, sir.
00:02:34Come on, you all better get out of here.
00:02:36You can't do any good.
00:02:36You can't do any good.
00:02:49Hello?
00:02:50Hello, is that you, Chief?
00:02:52Get this.
00:02:53Stephen Kester's been murdered.
00:02:55What?
00:02:58Take that piece of cabbage out of your mouth and talk so I can understand you.
00:03:04I said Stephen Kester's been murdered.
00:03:07I don't know.
00:03:08The phone wires were cut.
00:03:10Servants went over to neighbor's house to phone.
00:03:13Yeah.
00:03:14His granddaughter beat it away with a guest right after it happened.
00:03:17Yes, yes, we did.
00:03:20Send out a broadcast.
00:03:21It'll be picked up any minute now.
00:03:23This might be them coming out.
00:03:24Get your gun ready in case they get caught.
00:03:47Come on, move over, buddy.
00:04:15I'll drive.
00:04:16What's the idea?
00:04:17I was only doing 50.
00:04:18Oh, please, mister, let us go.
00:04:19We'll pay the fine.
00:04:20We're in a terrible hurry.
00:04:21Now, cut the comedy, sister.
00:04:23You're Jean Kester, aren't you?
00:04:24Oh, yeah.
00:04:25Just as I thought.
00:04:27You're going right back home.
00:04:28Come on, move over.
00:04:29What are you taking us there for?
00:04:31You know as well as I do.
00:04:32You don't want it for the murder of Stephen Kester?
00:04:34The list of the people who are at the party, they've all gone home now.
00:04:49I figured we'd have our hands full with the houseguests and servants tonight.
00:04:52Say, if it wasn't that granddaughter of his or her sweetie, I'm a pelican.
00:04:56There are times when you resemble that noble bird more than you do a detective.
00:04:59Oh, so you got him, huh?
00:05:04Thanks a lot.
00:05:06Oh, Chance.
00:05:07Yes, sir.
00:05:08Take the two of them in there and see if they don't make another getaway.
00:05:11I'm going upstairs to the doctor, see if he's finished.
00:05:13Come on.
00:05:29Oh, God, if I'm afraid.
00:05:34Poor grandfather.
00:05:36After all, death isn't so terrible to the one it strikes.
00:05:40It's those who live on, safe and protected in body, but troubled in spirit who suffer.
00:05:48Don't you think?
00:05:49Uh, he was wearing this thing when we found him.
00:05:55He lives to be about 70 and then decides he wants to be a Chinaman.
00:05:58Who are you?
00:05:59Well, I paid $10 this morning to be a yodeler.
00:06:02What's your name?
00:06:04Tracy.
00:06:04Which Tracy?
00:06:05Michael Tracy.
00:06:07A novelist?
00:06:07Well, I'm not exactly a novelist.
00:06:09I write detective stories.
00:06:12Got a police record, haven't you?
00:06:15Yes, I've been arrested, uh, seven or eight times.
00:06:19Four times for creating a disturbance, well, under the influence of alcohol.
00:06:23Three times for sucking a cop on the nose, and once, once for murder.
00:06:27I was exonerated from that, though.
00:06:29You see, I only commit murder with pen and ink.
00:06:31What are you doing here?
00:06:32Well, I'm a friend of Miss Kester's.
00:06:34I'm spending the weekend here.
00:06:35I've been doing a little sleuthing on the side since the murder, I suppose.
00:06:38Well, I've been keeping my eyes open.
00:06:40Well, we don't want anybody gumming things up, so don't figure to help us out.
00:06:44Well, I know a few things you might like to hear, but I'll try to keep them quiet.
00:06:47You'll get a chance to spill it when the time comes.
00:06:57He's been dead about three or four hours.
00:06:59Three wounds in the back from a double-edged knife.
00:07:01We've looked everywhere for that knife, but it just ain't here.
00:07:05Well, maybe the guy that did it's a sword swallow.
00:07:09I'm going to start throwing some questions.
00:07:11You stay here and let me know what the fingerprint men find.
00:07:13What's your connection here?
00:07:19Well, I'm, or rather, I was Mr. Kester's private secretary.
00:07:25Say, a guy who thinks up mystery stories could have thought up this one, too.
00:07:30Probably.
00:07:30However, the victim was suffering from angina pectoris.
00:07:34He would have died anyway before long if he hadn't been killed.
00:07:37Sure.
00:07:39I guess somebody got tired of waiting.
00:07:41Or maybe he was mixed up with a...
00:07:44Nah, he's too old for that.
00:07:50Where's the girl?
00:07:51Miss Kester was very upset.
00:07:52What was hearing about her grandfather and being hauled around like a common murderess,
00:07:55she went to her room with her maid.
00:07:57Maya's watching her.
00:07:58All right.
00:07:59Sit down, everybody.
00:08:01Take it easy.
00:08:04Supposing you tell me about the last time you saw Mr. Kester alive.
00:08:07I know all about how he was found.
00:08:09Well, Mr. Kester was having difficulty putting on the papier-mâché head,
00:08:12so I helped him.
00:08:13Then I came downstairs.
00:08:15Miss Kester had asked me to have the orchestra give her all of the drums
00:08:18at the end of the third dance as a signal for everyone to unmask.
00:08:21Did he come down and join the guests?
00:08:22Yes, sir.
00:08:23Where were you during the third dance?
00:08:26I was standing at the foot of the stairs, talking to Mr. Hall.
00:08:31Did you see Mr. Kester?
00:08:33Yes, I did.
00:08:34He went up the stairs about the beginning of the third dance.
00:08:38Was this gentleman with you?
00:08:40No, no.
00:08:41He joined me a minute or so later.
00:08:44And you were there all during the last dance?
00:08:46No.
00:08:47No, we watched the dancers for a few minutes,
00:08:50and then I went upstairs.
00:08:51You followed Kester?
00:08:52No.
00:08:53I just went upstairs.
00:08:55And then what?
00:08:56I went to my room.
00:08:58What were you doing there?
00:09:00I, uh, I was smoking.
00:09:03Couldn't you smoke downstairs?
00:09:04Yes, I could, but it was noisy, and I preferred the choir.
00:09:09How long did you remain in your room?
00:09:12Until I heard the scream.
00:09:14That was a funny remark you made when you walked into the bedroom and saw Mr. Kester been murdered.
00:09:19What did he say?
00:09:21Well, I'll be doggone.
00:09:22I don't know what Emily Post would have said, but it didn't sound like the proper remark to make on seeing a body.
00:09:30What did you mean by that?
00:09:31I don't exactly know.
00:09:34Just surprised, I guess.
00:09:37Were you a friend of Mr. Kester's?
00:09:39I knew him years ago in Mexico.
00:09:42He owned some mines and came to see them.
00:09:44How did you happen to be here tonight?
00:09:45I came to see him on business a few days ago, and he asked me to stay over the weekend.
00:09:53Where were you during the third dance?
00:09:55Sorry, I don't remember a thing.
00:09:57Oh, you don't, huh?
00:09:59No, I'm practically unconscious all the time.
00:10:01Drunk?
00:10:02But not the way you think.
00:10:04I was intoxicated with a beautiful gypsy girl.
00:10:07Held the slightest idea who she was, but we were getting along swell until some French marquee cut in on us.
00:10:13Then I wandered around looking for another partner.
00:10:15Tom, look at me.
00:10:24Young man, I suppose you know that your actions tonight have been mighty suspicious.
00:10:28Are you accusing me of murder?
00:10:30I'm not accusing anybody.
00:10:31I'm simply trying to find out who had the motive and the opportunity to do it.
00:10:35Now, you come right down off your high horse and answer my question civilly.
00:10:39Now, where were you when it happened?
00:10:40I can't very well say because I don't know when it happened.
00:10:43Where were you during the third dance?
00:10:44I was out on the ground smoking.
00:10:46By yourself?
00:10:47Yes, until I grew tired of smoking.
00:10:49Then I walked back to the veranda and met Miss Kester.
00:10:51She told me she had a headache and asked me to take her for a ride.
00:10:54Then we both got in her car.
00:10:56Did you have any trouble starting it?
00:10:58Yes.
00:10:59Someone had cut the distributor wires.
00:11:01I put them together again and we left just as they were unmasking.
00:11:03You and the young lady you're engaged to don't seem to care much for dancing, do you?
00:11:08I don't know what you're talking about.
00:11:10I'm not engaged.
00:11:11I'm talking about Miss Kester and you know it.
00:11:13Oh, I know.
00:11:15Everyone seems to think we're engaged.
00:11:16But as a matter of fact, we're just good friends.
00:11:18Well, that's all I'm going to ask you tonight.
00:11:23But I want to see all of you in the morning.
00:11:24Oh, Mr. Crofton, I don't think you'll find Miss Kester and Mr. Miller are murderers.
00:11:40They're something much worse.
00:11:42What do you mean, worse than murderers?
00:11:43They're neckers.
00:11:44Really, young people nowadays are something terrible.
00:11:47Young man, if you have anything valuable to offer to this investigation, I shall be glad to get it.
00:11:51Otherwise, don't butt in.
00:11:53Oh, but it is valuable.
00:11:55I suspect them of being in love.
00:11:57According to my own private computation, I've discovered them together 14 times lately.
00:12:02Seven times embracing, seven times fighting like cats and dogs.
00:12:06Therefore, they must be in love.
00:12:09Maybe they were trying to elope.
00:12:11I'll bet that's just what they were doing.
00:12:14Now, how did you happen to figure that out?
00:12:16Well, I got an inkling yesterday when I asked Jean to marry me.
00:12:19And she said she couldn't because she already had a date to elope with Mr. Miller this evening.
00:12:24Well, he'd better not ask me because I won't tell him anything.
00:12:34Oh, uh, this is Mrs. Pitchard, Mr. Crofton.
00:12:36How do you do?
00:12:37How do you do?
00:12:37Just what is it that you're not going to tell?
00:12:40Nothing that would interest you.
00:12:41Everything interests me.
00:12:43Mr. Kester was seen going up the stairs at the beginning of the third dance.
00:12:46After it was over, he was found murdered.
00:12:48Now, just what were you doing during that time?
00:12:50I was dancing.
00:12:52All the time?
00:12:53Come on, you might as well tell me.
00:12:54I'll find out sooner or later.
00:12:56Well, no, I wasn't.
00:12:58I mean...
00:12:58Well, what do you mean?
00:13:00I mean that once during the dance, I did go upstairs for a minute.
00:13:03What for?
00:13:06It's too bad a lady can't go to her own room.
00:13:13Mrs. Pitchard, how long were you in your room?
00:13:16Only two or three minutes.
00:13:17Anyone upstairs at that time?
00:13:20I didn't see anyone.
00:13:22Notice anyone in Kester's room?
00:13:23No, the door was closed, I think.
00:13:26You're sure you didn't see anyone?
00:13:27I tell you, I didn't see anyone upstairs.
00:13:29I don't believe you.
00:13:30Do you mean you tell me I'm lying?
00:13:31Yes.
00:13:32You saw someone upstairs and you're going to tell me who it was.
00:13:35But I tell you, I didn't.
00:13:35I didn't.
00:13:36Don't lie.
00:13:37Because it'll only be all the harder for you.
00:13:38But I tell you...
00:13:39Who was it?
00:13:41All right.
00:13:43I'll tell.
00:13:44And you did see someone upstairs.
00:13:46What were they doing?
00:13:47Well, I opened the door to our room and started out.
00:13:51Then I remembered I'd forgotten to turn out the light.
00:13:53In the bathroom, so I went back.
00:13:55And just as I stepped into the hall,
00:13:57I saw someone coming out of Mr. Kester's room.
00:14:00Who was it?
00:14:01Come on.
00:14:04It was Jean Kester.
00:14:15During the last dance before the unmasking,
00:14:18where were you?
00:14:19It was in my room.
00:14:21Why?
00:14:23Tired and wanted to rest.
00:14:26How long did you remain in your room?
00:14:30Oh, during that dance.
00:14:32I had a little headache.
00:14:33I felt some fresh air would do me some good.
00:14:36So I went downstairs and asked one of the guests to take me for a ride.
00:14:39Mr. Miller's a pretty good friend of yours, isn't he?
00:14:42Oh, good enough.
00:14:44I understand you were engaged.
00:14:47Oh, yes.
00:14:48That's what everyone thinks.
00:14:50But there's not any truth in it.
00:14:51How come you took a notion to take a ride when you did?
00:14:54I should think, being hostess, that you would have stayed,
00:14:56just out of politeness.
00:14:58Should you?
00:14:58That's not answering my question.
00:15:00Well, then don't have such absurd ones.
00:15:01If I felt like going for a ride instead of being polite,
00:15:03that's my affair.
00:15:04Maybe it was your affair, but it's mine now.
00:15:09Your grandfather was murdered,
00:15:10and it's my business to find out who did it.
00:15:12What were you doing in his room before you took the ride?
00:15:14I wasn't in his room tonight.
00:15:16You would swear to that?
00:15:18Of course I'd swear to it.
00:15:20You don't think that I killed him?
00:15:22No.
00:15:23But I think you know who did.
00:15:25Well, I don't.
00:15:27Can I go to her now?
00:15:47I want to ask you a few questions first.
00:15:49Where were you during most of the evening?
00:15:51I went upstairs when the dancing begun,
00:15:54having gotten things started satisfactory in the kitchen,
00:15:58and having told Lennox,
00:15:59he's the butler,
00:16:01to look after the guests.
00:16:03That was my privilege to tell him.
00:16:05You know, I haven't been with the Kestis for 27 years,
00:16:09and him only 20.
00:16:10I went straight to Gene's room,
00:16:12started picking up,
00:16:14and I've been there ever since.
00:16:15Were you alone all that time?
00:16:17No, sir.
00:16:18Who was with you?
00:16:19Gene, for a short time.
00:16:21How long?
00:16:22Well, there'd been two dancers.
00:16:25I could tell by the music.
00:16:27Gene came upstairs and said she was tired
00:16:29and wanted to rest a while.
00:16:31I said maybe a little fresh air would do her good.
00:16:34She said she'd hunt up Mr. Miller
00:16:35and ask him to take her for a ride.
00:16:37She went downstairs,
00:16:38and I went on with my sword.
00:16:40When did Miss Kester leave her room?
00:16:42A few minutes before all the screaming
00:16:44and running around out there
00:16:45when they found the body.
00:16:47And then she went directly downstairs?
00:16:49Yes, sir.
00:16:49How do you know?
00:16:50I watched her.
00:16:51You mean your door was open?
00:16:53No, sir.
00:16:54You don't catch me sitting around
00:16:55in no room with the door open.
00:16:57It's bad luck.
00:16:59But when she left,
00:17:00I went to the door with her
00:17:01and watched her go downstairs.
00:17:03Just one more question.
00:17:05Is Miss Kester engaged to Mr. Miller?
00:17:08Blan sakes, no.
00:17:09A lot of people think so.
00:17:11But there's nothing to it.
00:17:12They're just good friends.
00:17:15That'll be all for now.
00:17:20I wonder if you were struck
00:17:23with the same thing I watched.
00:17:24What was that?
00:17:25The similarity of Miss Kester's,
00:17:27Miller's, and Doerr's story.
00:17:28Yes, I got that.
00:17:30They seem to check all right.
00:17:31Well, just a bit too all right,
00:17:32don't you think?
00:17:33What do you mean?
00:17:35Well, they answered
00:17:36that engagement question
00:17:37the same way.
00:17:38Statistics prove
00:17:39that you can't get
00:17:40three honest observers
00:17:41to tell the same story.
00:17:43It's psychology.
00:17:44Proving that psychology
00:17:45can go wrong.
00:17:46No proving prearranged agreement.
00:17:48I don't think Miss Kester
00:17:49was in that old guy's bedroom at all.
00:17:51Neither do I.
00:17:56Do you think Mrs. Pritchett was lying?
00:17:58Sure.
00:17:58She pretended she didn't want to tell,
00:18:00but she overdid it.
00:18:01That happened.
00:18:03Captain, Mrs. Pritchett wasn't lying.
00:18:05Jane was.
00:18:06How did you get smart enough
00:18:07to figure that out?
00:18:08Well, I saw myself.
00:18:09Were you upstairs during that dance?
00:18:11Yes, I happened to go up to my room.
00:18:12You see, I needed a safety pin
00:18:14to retain my decency.
00:18:15And while I was there,
00:18:16I saw Jean come out
00:18:17of her grandfather's room.
00:18:18What else?
00:18:19Well, she seemed upset
00:18:20and in a hurry.
00:18:21I didn't see Dora,
00:18:22but that proves
00:18:24they're lying, doesn't it?
00:18:25Did you see Mrs. Pritchett?
00:18:26No, but I don't see
00:18:27how she missed seeing me.
00:18:29If she did,
00:18:29I'll have to thank her
00:18:30for keeping her mouth shut.
00:18:32Why are you so interested
00:18:33in pinning the murder
00:18:34on her all of a sudden?
00:18:36Well, I'm the disappointed lover.
00:18:39In any good old
00:18:40Victorian novel,
00:18:41that's motive enough
00:18:42for committing a murder,
00:18:42isn't it?
00:18:43No, not in this case.
00:18:44That's no reason
00:18:45for croaking the old gent.
00:18:46Could be.
00:18:47He might have favored Miller
00:18:48and disapproved of me.
00:18:49Well, did he?
00:18:50Yes.
00:18:52You're the biggest fool
00:18:53I have ever seen.
00:18:56Well, when it comes
00:18:57to a choice between
00:18:58my neck and the lady's,
00:18:59it's just too bad
00:19:01for the lady.
00:19:03You couldn't be mixing up
00:19:04in this case just to get
00:19:05material for a novel,
00:19:06could you?
00:19:07I might be.
00:19:09Well, watch out
00:19:09you don't get into trouble.
00:19:11You're not above suspicion,
00:19:12you know.
00:19:22I'd like to talk to you.
00:19:32Where were you this evening
00:19:33during the dancing?
00:19:34After the music started,
00:19:35I went upstairs
00:19:36to pick up Mr. Kester's things
00:19:37and turn down the bed.
00:19:39Then I went down the backstairs
00:19:40and was busy in the kitchen
00:19:41until I heard the scream.
00:19:43Did you see anyone
00:19:44in the hall?
00:19:44No, sir.
00:19:46What kind of a man
00:19:47was Mr. Kester's work for?
00:19:48He was a Simon Legree, sir.
00:19:51It's been most difficult
00:19:52to put up with him
00:19:53these past 20 years.
00:19:54Pardon my saying it, sir,
00:19:56but there's no one
00:19:57who won't be glad
00:19:58that he's gone.
00:19:59Did you have any quarrel
00:20:01with him lately?
00:20:01No, sir.
00:20:02I never argued.
00:20:03I just kept my feelings
00:20:05to myself, sir.
00:20:06Do you know of anyone
00:20:08that did have a quarrel
00:20:09with Mr. Kester?
00:20:10Yes, sir.
00:20:11Who?
00:20:12Mr. Hall, sir.
00:20:13What kind of a quarrel?
00:20:15Well, Mr. Tracy
00:20:16was there at the time.
00:20:17Perhaps he could tell you
00:20:18more about it than I could.
00:20:19All right.
00:20:23Now is the chance
00:20:23for you to say
00:20:24something important.
00:20:26Time to be downstairs
00:20:28the day he arrived.
00:20:30He refused to give his name
00:20:31to Lennox
00:20:32or state his business.
00:20:34Kester asked him to come in.
00:20:35His hall started
00:20:36toward the study.
00:20:37Gene came downstairs.
00:20:39When they both saw each other,
00:20:40they stopped cold.
00:20:42That right, Lennox?
00:20:43They did, sir.
00:20:44He stepped closer to her
00:20:45as though he intended
00:20:46speaking to her.
00:20:47But she just
00:20:48stared.
00:20:50Then he turned away
00:20:51and I let him in the study.
00:20:52As I closed the door
00:20:53after him,
00:20:55I heard them
00:20:55almost immediately
00:20:56going into an argument.
00:20:58What about?
00:20:59I don't know, sir.
00:21:00I never eavesdropped.
00:21:03Did you happen to hear
00:21:04what they were arguing about?
00:21:05No, but they were
00:21:06both hot under the collar.
00:21:08I asked Gene
00:21:08if she knew him.
00:21:09She said she'd never
00:21:09seen him before in her life.
00:21:11Then Kester came out
00:21:12with Hall and introduced him.
00:21:13Said he was an old friend
00:21:14and was going to stay
00:21:15here a few days.
00:21:17Hmm.
00:21:17Any other quarrels
00:21:20that you know about?
00:21:21Yes, sir.
00:21:22The one he had
00:21:23with his granddaughter, sir.
00:21:24What was that about?
00:21:25I wasn't there, sir.
00:21:27But Mr. Pritchard was.
00:21:29You tell Pritchard
00:21:29I want to see him.
00:21:31Yes, sir.
00:21:31I want to see him.
00:21:32I want to see him.
00:21:32I want to see him.
00:21:34I want to see him.
00:21:34I want to see him.
00:21:35I want to see him.
00:21:35I want to see him.
00:21:36Hey.
00:21:36Did you notice that
00:21:38he never dropped the...
00:21:39Did you ring, sir?
00:21:40Attitude all through the hubbub?
00:21:42Well, what other?
00:21:43Well, I'm never satisfied
00:21:44with the murder
00:21:44unless it involves
00:21:45an old family retainer.
00:21:46They always know
00:21:47about the household skeleton.
00:21:49Well, I'm not interested in your theory.
00:21:51This is no book, Martin.
00:21:56Well, what did your men find out?
00:21:58The ignition wires and the distributor wires
00:22:00are cut on all the cars except the one Miller drove away in.
00:22:02And the ignition wires are cut on that.
00:22:04And the telephone wires are cut twice.
00:22:05Meaning what?
00:22:06Well, I'm trying to figure it out.
00:22:08In the meantime, we're looking for shoes.
00:22:10Shoes?
00:22:11Yeah, where the wires were cut on the Kester's bedroom,
00:22:13there's an impression of a heel.
00:22:14We've made a cast of that.
00:22:16Want to see me?
00:22:17Oh, yes.
00:22:19I understand that Miss Kester and her grandfather
00:22:22had a quarrel yesterday.
00:22:23What do you know about it?
00:22:25Well, Mr. Kester rang for me.
00:22:26As I was going down the hall,
00:22:28I heard the sound of their voices.
00:22:39Come in.
00:22:43You gave Lennox orders to prepare the room
00:22:45so they could stay, didn't you?
00:22:47Certainly I didn't.
00:22:47I'd do it again.
00:22:48I'm the one to give orders in this house.
00:22:51Well, they're my friends.
00:22:52And if they want to stay, they'll stay or I leave with them.
00:22:56All right.
00:22:58As long as they're here, they can stay.
00:23:00But they'll not come here again.
00:23:02And why not?
00:23:03Because I won't have trash like they are mollycoddling around you.
00:23:07They play up to you, make love to you, and you let them.
00:23:11Of course I do.
00:23:12I'm human.
00:23:14They've asked you to marry them, both of them, haven't they?
00:23:16And why?
00:23:16Because they want to get their fingers on your money.
00:23:20Well, they'll not get one cent.
00:23:23Do not marry either one of them.
00:23:24I'll marry whom I please.
00:23:28When the time comes for you to marry, I have a list of eligible men that will call on you.
00:23:32I suppose you think you can tell me when and whom I should marry, and that I'm to have a boy and he to be named after you.
00:23:38Rot.
00:23:39Do you think you can arrange my life for me?
00:23:42You've forgotten what you did to my mother.
00:23:44You leave her name out of this.
00:23:46Oh, you're ashamed to talk about that.
00:23:48You ruined her married life, and you killed her just as sure as if you stuck a knife in her heart.
00:23:53But you can't do that to me.
00:23:55We'll talk no more about that now.
00:23:58I'll see these men, both of them, after the party.
00:24:01And I'll buy them off.
00:24:03That's all they're after.
00:24:05Richard?
00:24:06Yes, sir?
00:24:08You are to pay up all charge accounts of Miss Kester's and close them up.
00:24:13I'll not be responsible for any more of her debts.
00:24:15Yes, sir.
00:24:16Do you think you can bully me by stopping my money?
00:24:20You forget I have some jewels left.
00:24:22You've pawned some of them already, haven't you?
00:24:25Well, of course I have.
00:24:26You stopped my allowance about six weeks ago.
00:24:28How do you think I got my spending money?
00:24:31When you come to your senses, your allowance will be waiting for you.
00:24:41Two hundred.
00:24:42Four hundred.
00:24:44Six hundred.
00:24:45Eight hundred.
00:24:46Eight hundred.
00:24:46Ten hundred.
00:24:48Twelve hundred.
00:24:50Two hundred.
00:25:09Here, sir.
00:25:09You will ask Mr. Rainer to bring my will out tomorrow, I want to make some changes.
00:25:16Yes, sir.
00:25:17Also, take all the Arco mining stocks I have and sell them.
00:25:22I might have known you'd want to cut me out of your will.
00:25:25Well, go ahead and try it.
00:25:39Then I left.
00:25:41I sent the checks to close the charge account and delivered his message to Mr. Rainer.
00:25:45You know what the reference to her mother was about?
00:25:47Well, not exactly.
00:25:48Miss Jean's mother died when she was two or three.
00:25:51Her father also.
00:25:52I think they lived in Mexico.
00:25:54Then Mr. Kester brought her here.
00:25:56Since then, she's been at one school and another.
00:25:58The last few years have been in Europe.
00:26:01Well, I guess we all better get a little sleep.
00:26:04Oh, uh, you get hold of that lawyer and the will the first thing in the morning.
00:26:08Yes, sir.
00:26:10Say, do you suppose Hall being from Mexico fits into that story about Jean's mother?
00:26:15Oh, any fool could figure that out.
00:26:17We'll put that in your book.
00:26:22Mr. Rainer, have you a copy of the new will?
00:26:25Yes, sir.
00:26:26But it was never signed.
00:26:28In just what way does it differ from the old one?
00:26:30The residue of the estate, instead of going directly to his granddaughter, was to be held in trust by Mr. Hall.
00:26:36And then go to Miss Kester or her heirs on his death.
00:26:46Do you think the new will would hold up in court?
00:26:49I think it would.
00:26:50If I were to swear that was his wish and intention to sign it as soon as it was made up.
00:26:54Do you know why he wanted to sell those mining stocks?
00:26:57I didn't bother about those things much.
00:27:00Mr. Kester dabbled in stocks, but, uh, Richard took care of the details.
00:27:09Mr. Kester disinherited his granddaughter and was murdered before he had a chance to sign the new will.
00:27:14Do you know anything about the Arco mining stock that he wanted to sell?
00:27:21Not much.
00:27:22The mine is somewhere in Mexico.
00:27:24Do you have a list of those stocks?
00:27:25Yes, sir.
00:27:26Where did he keep them?
00:27:27In the little black book.
00:27:28He generally kept that in the wall safe in his bedroom.
00:27:30Do you know the combination of that safe?
00:27:32No, sir.
00:27:33Who did?
00:27:34Mr. Rainer.
00:27:35And Miss Kester.
00:27:37She sometimes kept her jewels there.
00:27:40I'd like to have a look at the contents of that safe, Mr. Rainer.
00:27:43Yes, sir.
00:27:51Caught this bird sneaking down the back stairs with these shoes under his arms.
00:27:55Where were you going?
00:27:56I was going to ask one of the servants to have the heels straightened.
00:28:01Looks like the same round hole that were in the mold.
00:28:04Yes, Chief. Same round hole.
00:28:05I'm not the only one that wears rubber heels.
00:28:13You sit down over there and keep cool.
00:28:15I'll attend to you later.
00:28:31Have you got a key to this box?
00:28:32No, sir.
00:28:33Mr. Kester usually kept it in his pocket.
00:28:35I'll take a look among his things.
00:28:36Uh, never mind.
00:28:38The lid's been jimmied.
00:28:48I suppose this goes to Hall according to that will.
00:28:50You'd better take care of it.
00:28:51What I've got to do is to find the $1,200.
00:28:53Say, Regan.
00:28:54You go and search Miss Kester's room and while you're about it, look for that double-edged knife.
00:28:58Yes, sir.
00:29:07This what you're looking for?
00:29:09What are you doing with that?
00:29:10Cutting open some of the pages in this book.
00:29:12May I have it?
00:29:13Sure, I detest knives.
00:29:14Ever since my uncle, he was a banker, stabbed himself in the vestibule.
00:29:18We can do without your comedy.
00:29:19Okay.
00:29:21Where did you get this?
00:29:25On the roof outside Mr. Kester's bedroom.
00:29:27I found it this morning.
00:29:32Did either of you ever see this knife before?
00:29:33Did you ever see it before?
00:29:41Yes, sir.
00:29:42Where?
00:29:43In a scabbard on Mr. Hall's dresser.
00:29:49Miss Kester, there are still some things that puzzled me about last night.
00:29:53You're sure that you were at no time during the evening in your grandfather's room?
00:29:58Oh, excuse me, but for some unknown reason I wasn't able to sleep very well last night.
00:30:01You and your grandfather had an argument the day before yesterday, didn't you?
00:30:04Well, I didn't keep a carbon copy of my actions.
00:30:07But you don't have to strain your memory to know that he cut off your allowance for the last six weeks
00:30:10and that he put the whole $1,200 in the safe.
00:30:13Yes, I remember that.
00:30:14Grandfather was very much annoyed at my extravagance.
00:30:16He was trying to cure me.
00:30:18Any other arguments between you lately?
00:30:20No.
00:30:22Then why did you deliberately go to that safe and take out the $1,200?
00:30:24Well, how dare you accuse me of that?
00:30:26Your fingerprints were found on the Nile.
00:30:31Why did you take that money?
00:30:34But I didn't. I tell you, I didn't touch the safe.
00:30:36Lying won't get you anywhere.
00:30:38What were you doing in your grandfather's room last night during that last dance?
00:30:40I won't have you badgering her like this.
00:30:42No, you won't.
00:30:43Well, who's asking you what you'll have or what you won't?
00:30:44You have no business torturing a defenseless girl who can't strike back.
00:30:47Poor young girl.
00:30:48She wasn't so defenseless last night that she could go to her grandfather's room and come next to her.
00:30:51Keep your shirt on, youngster.
00:30:53That won't get you anywhere.
00:30:55Go on.
00:30:56Sit down.
00:30:58Now listen, both of you, cut out the melodrama.
00:31:01Can't get away with it in the murder investigation.
00:31:03Now suppose you both come clean and tell me what you were doing in your grandfather's room last night.
00:31:07Gene, remember what I said.
00:31:10Mr. Crofton, I apologize for what I did just now.
00:31:13You have every right to ask whatever you see fit.
00:31:15On the other hand, Miss Kester has an equal right to refuse to answer until she's before a grand jury.
00:31:20You know that I can hold her as a material witness and detain her in the county jail?
00:31:23Yes, and I'm also aware that she can be released under a writ of habeas corpus.
00:31:26Oh, so you know your law.
00:31:28Yes, I've been studying law.
00:31:29Yet your heart is the one to speak for.
00:31:32Supposing we let Miss Kester speak for herself.
00:31:35I have nothing to say.
00:31:36Then there's only one thing left for me to do.
00:31:43Chance.
00:31:45Place Miss Kester under guard until I can take her down to Mineola.
00:31:53Come on.
00:31:58Not you.
00:31:59I want to ask you some questions.
00:32:00You'll find it useless.
00:32:01I refuse to answer anything you may ask me.
00:32:03Even before you know what it is?
00:32:04Even before I know what it is.
00:32:09Found it, Chief.
00:32:10Is Miss Kester's room?
00:32:11No, I couldn't find a thing there.
00:32:12Her maid was that one suspicious, so I locked up and searched the room.
00:32:14Found it tucked in a knitting yarn.
00:32:15All right, keep your eyes on these two.
00:32:16They're under arrest.
00:32:17Murder?
00:32:18No, a suspect.
00:32:19Oh, come on, you two.
00:32:20Nerdy young fools.
00:32:21Oh, I think they're just scared.
00:32:22You think?
00:32:23Well, I think I've got this case about sewed up.
00:32:25But I've got to get them before the grand jury before I can get anything more out of them.
00:32:26Well, before you make the arrest stick, you better investigate that.
00:32:31Mr. Hall seems to be in a hurry.
00:32:32Regan!
00:32:33Regan!
00:32:34Chance!
00:32:35Regan!
00:32:36That Hall guy's trying to make a getaway over the face.
00:32:37You get hold on and bring him right back.
00:32:38Regan!
00:32:39Regan!
00:32:40Chance!
00:32:41That Hall guy's trying to make a getaway over the face.
00:32:42You get hold on and bring him right back.
00:32:48You understood my orders that no one was to leave this place, didn't you?
00:32:49Yes.
00:32:50Then why did you try to make a getaway?
00:32:51I can hardly approve your choice of words.
00:32:52Answer my question.
00:32:53Oh, no.
00:32:54Hall seems to be in a hurry
00:33:01Regan chance that whole guy's trying to make a getaway over the face you get hold on to bring him right back
00:33:09You understood my orders that no one was to leave this place didn't you?
00:33:12Yes, then why did you try to make a getaway? I can hardly approve your choice of words answer my question. I
00:33:19Was merely trying to catch the 227 for New York. What for I?
00:33:23Had an engagement who with what for and where I had an engagement with my lawyer. Mr.
00:33:30Bertram F. Howe when?
00:33:32Tonight at six for dinner at his apartment. What for?
00:33:37The nature of my business is
00:33:40Purely personal. Oh in other words, it's none of my business. I suppose
00:33:43If you prefer to put it that way. Well, I've had enough of that kind of talk today, and I'm tired of it
00:33:53I
00:33:55Oh
00:33:57The shores
00:33:59Yet then you admit it
00:34:01perhaps you'll admit filling on the roof outside of Kester's room
00:34:04No, I didn't it's been missing from my dresser for two days did you report that to anybody? No
00:34:12That's all now will I check up with that lawyer of yours?
00:34:15Don't you try and make a getaway again
00:34:23Look.
00:34:26Oh, Mr. Hall.
00:34:28Where did you get such an unusual knife as this?
00:34:32In Mexico.
00:34:37I want to speak to Mr. Bertram F. Howe.
00:34:40Never mind who it is.
00:34:41I want to talk to him.
00:34:44Oh, you know where he can be reached?
00:34:50Hall's lying, too.
00:34:51Howe's been up in Maine for a week.
00:34:53He's not expected back until tomorrow.
00:34:54Well, I think Hall took a long chance and missed.
00:34:56Oh, are you thinking again?
00:34:57It's mighty smart of him.
00:34:59Well, I suppose you know who killed Kester.
00:35:01Certainly I do, but I've got to prove it.
00:35:03Where's that lawyer and the secretary?
00:35:04Up in Kester's room, looking over his stuff.
00:35:15Anything missing?
00:35:16Can't find any out of the way regarding his investments.
00:35:19Of course, I can't be sure he'd like to check his deposit box.
00:35:21You fellows were pretty close to Kester.
00:35:23Ever hear him mention Hall?
00:35:24I've never heard his name mentioned in the ten years I was associated with Mr. Kester.
00:35:28Just an idea of my own, of course, but on one or two occasions I heard Mr. Hall mention the Arco Mining Company.
00:35:33And Mr. Kester seemed well uncomfortable.
00:35:36Kester owned some of that stock, didn't he?
00:35:38He did until a day before he ended.
00:35:39I sold the last of it for him.
00:35:41A $14,000 worth.
00:35:42It's ended here in this black book.
00:35:44Did Hall have any visitors since he's been here?
00:35:51No, sir.
00:35:52Any phone calls?
00:35:53Not that I know of.
00:35:53Did he write any letters?
00:35:55Yes, sir, he did.
00:35:56A few days ago he rang for me, handed me a letter, and asked me to have it sent registered special delivery.
00:36:02Did you notice who to?
00:36:03I did, sir, seeing as how he wanted it registered, to a Mr. Howe, sir.
00:36:08Did he say anything else?
00:36:09Well, he asked me if Miss Kester was up yet.
00:36:11I said no.
00:36:13Then he asked me to send off.
00:36:14Did you?
00:36:14Yes, sir.
00:36:16First she lies for the girl, then she hides the money, and now she's in cahoots with this fellow Hall.
00:36:33When did Miss Kester give you that $1,200 to hide for?
00:36:36What $1,200?
00:36:37The $1,200 was found in your knitting ball.
00:36:39Come on.
00:36:40You know what I mean.
00:36:41I swear with the holy mother of...
00:36:43I haven't any idea how that $1,200 got in my knitting ball.
00:36:47I must say it's risky business to be playing tricks and hiding $1,200 in my knitting ball.
00:36:52Stop saying $1,200 in your knitting ball.
00:36:54Yes, sir.
00:36:55Do you know anything about this fellow Hall?
00:36:56He's a very fine gentleman.
00:36:58And very generous, too.
00:36:59Annie, the second maid, was telling me he gave her a dollar.
00:37:03He said just because she was so pretty, but never a bit familiar, just kind and generous.
00:37:09Ever hear Kester talk about him?
00:37:10Never a word.
00:37:11Did you ever see him before?
00:37:14Never set eyes on him.
00:37:16Then what did he want with you in his room yesterday?
00:37:18Lennox was allowing his room to be neglected.
00:37:20Only one washcloth and a broken curtain sash, and the dust was three inches thick.
00:37:26You should have seen it.
00:37:27Why did you tell me Miss Kester went directly downstairs when you knew she went to her grandfather's room?
00:37:31She didn't.
00:37:31I saw her go downstairs.
00:37:34Mrs. Pritchett told me she saw her come out of that room.
00:37:36If you want to believe her, go ahead.
00:37:39Five years I've known her, never a word of trust could I put in her.
00:37:46She's grand.
00:37:47Tremendous.
00:37:48I'd take my hat off, too, if I had a hat on.
00:37:50She's a marvelous liar, if that's what you mean.
00:37:52It looks to me like a murder syndicate.
00:37:54Miss Kester, Miller, Hall, and Doran.
00:37:56All of them know something they're not telling, and their lies don't hang together.
00:38:04There's something I should have told you about a while ago, but he was such a decent fellow that I hated of him.
00:38:09What is it?
00:38:09This.
00:38:11I saw it fall out of Hall's pocket right after lunch.
00:38:17Thank you very much.
00:38:19Blood?
00:38:21Of course it is.
00:38:21Oh, you'll find it's his own.
00:38:23I was walking around the house with Hall warning, and he got a nose blade.
00:38:26That guy hasn't got blood enough to get a nose blade.
00:38:29I was walking around the house with Hall.
00:38:59What is the guy I was walking around the house?
00:39:04They lost the body.
00:39:05What is he that guy?
00:39:05He was walking around the house with Hall.
00:39:07He was walking around the hip.
00:39:09I'm walking around happily.
00:39:11Can we see him?
00:39:13He was walking around the house.
00:39:14What do we see?
00:39:15I was on stage.
00:39:18I'm walking down the road Sir.
00:39:18I was walking around the house with Hall.
00:39:21Did he ask me to see him?
00:39:23She's walking around the Park .
00:39:24HeFT on a eyes when he純木 was walking,
00:41:28I'm awfully sorry.
00:41:33Oh, you frighten me.
00:41:35I was on my way to the kitchen, saw the door open, and thought it rather unusual.
00:41:38Yes.
00:41:39Yes.
00:41:39Two minds with but a single claw.
00:41:42You know, I too was hunting the icebox, and I lost my way.
00:41:46It can't be down here.
00:41:47Suppose we look together.
00:41:48It's right over here.
00:41:52It's right over here.
00:41:52Hello, Glutton.
00:42:08Say it's some rice pudding for me.
00:42:09I was so famous I couldn't sleep.
00:42:23Cold mutton.
00:42:24I've been thinking of this all evening.
00:42:26That's one dish I couldn't relish in a house of murder.
00:42:33This is what I like.
00:42:35Informality.
00:42:37Wouldn't the papers like to get a picture of us sitting around in our sleepers?
00:42:40Goodness knows what my husband would think.
00:42:43Please don't mention our meeting tonight.
00:42:45Even though it was accidental.
00:42:48Don't worry on my account, madam.
00:42:49Well, you speak for yourself.
00:42:54Don't worry.
00:42:54I won't tell you.
00:42:57Human nature is a funny thing, isn't it?
00:43:00Here we are, all under suspicion for murder, and sitting around eating.
00:43:05We must have clear consciences, or none at all.
00:43:09Your insinuation is unjustified, Mr. Tracy.
00:43:12My conscience is clear enough to resent that remark.
00:43:19Just exactly what do you know about this murder, Mr. Hall?
00:43:28Just as much as you do, Mr. Tracy.
00:43:37How do we know you didn't do it?
00:43:39Well, for one thing, I wasn't mentioned in his will.
00:43:41Come on.
00:43:44He never did me any dirt.
00:43:45I didn't want his money, and he hasn't anything on me.
00:43:51The only reason I might have had for killing him was that I didn't like him.
00:43:54He was a snob.
00:43:57That's a swell reason.
00:43:59Certainly.
00:43:59It's always a good reason for making away with anyone.
00:44:02Then I'm six feet tall, weigh 185 pounds, and belong to the Bombay Bicycle Club.
00:44:08Say, you're not throwing me off with a lot of that fresh gab.
00:44:12I was just thinking.
00:44:15What?
00:44:15I was just thinking somebody's liable to be bumped off any time now.
00:44:19How do you figure that?
00:44:21Well, when anybody starts suspecting the real murder, they're generally quietly bumped off.
00:44:27Well, that gives me an idea.
00:44:30Maybe my life won't be so peaceful now.
00:44:34What do you know?
00:44:37Did it ever strike you that it was Mrs. Pritchett who opened the closet door and found Kester?
00:44:42Yet her fingerprints were not on that doorknob.
00:44:44Say, boy, you got something there.
00:44:47And another thing.
00:44:49Mrs. Pritchett was on that second floor during the last dance.
00:44:53Yeah, and so were you.
00:44:56I've got another idea.
00:44:57Well, that little black book might tell a big story if it could only talk.
00:45:08Ah, you writers give me a pain.
00:45:11They're always going in for little black books.
00:45:16Well, I told you somebody was going to get bumped off.
00:45:18What was that?
00:45:28Don't know yet.
00:45:28Keep quiet.
00:45:29Where was it?
00:45:29Shut up, everybody.
00:45:30That was a shock.
00:45:31Sounded like it came from over there.
00:45:43Pritchett, wake up.
00:45:45Wake up, Pritchett.
00:45:47Come on, wake up.
00:45:49What's the matter?
00:45:53Wake up.
00:45:54Wake up.
00:45:56What's happened?
00:45:57We heard a shot.
00:45:58That sounded like it came from this room.
00:45:59Anyone been in here?
00:46:00Where's my wife?
00:46:02How do I know?
00:46:03Who sleeps next door?
00:46:05Mr. Hall.
00:46:06Oh.
00:46:33Oh.
00:46:33Oh.
00:46:35I'll be doggone that's exactly the way Hall felt about it. What do you mean? Well, that's what he said when he looked at Kester. I never did understand what he meant to find the body in the bedroom. We left everything just as we found it last night. He probably knew we were closing in on him and took the easiest way out.
00:47:05He must have had a grudge against Kester for years. Oh, pardon the interruption. But I don't think Hall killed Kester. And I don't think he committed suicide. All right, Smarty. Spill your theory. Well, I was just wondering. Why wasn't Pritchard awakened by that shot? And why wasn't his wife in the room with him? Maybe he was doped. Right. That's why I've been hanging on to these. And I think your chemist will find that someone's been hitting the junk.
00:47:35Tell the butler I want to see him and get me Pritchard. Right.
00:47:38Go on.
00:48:03Funny. I don't seem to be able to keep awake. You had a glass of wine last night, didn't you? Two glasses. The wine doesn't usually affect me like this. Two glasses?
00:48:17Yes. My wife didn't want hers, so I drank them both. When Lennox brought the wine up to the room, who took it?
00:48:23Let me see. I think my wife did. What's that got to do with what happened last night?
00:48:28Oh, nothing. Nothing. Just clearing up a few odds and ends. This suicide sort of settles things.
00:48:37That'll be all just now.
00:48:44Where was Mrs. Pritchard last night?
00:48:45Well, let me think. I don't know. I didn't take any no's for her until after everything was over, pal.
00:48:51Oh, Dora. Yes, sir?
00:48:59You heard that shot, I presume?
00:49:01I did that. And I was never so scared in my whole life.
00:49:05Do you remember seeing Mrs. Pritchard come out into the hall?
00:49:07No, sir, I didn't. When I left my room, she was still there.
00:49:11I don't remember when she left.
00:49:12Your room?
00:49:13Yes, sir.
00:49:14What was she doing there?
00:49:16She was sleeping.
00:49:17She came in and walked me out of a sound sleep, saying as how nervous and scared she was and wanted to sleep on the day couch.
00:49:24Is she in the habit of doing that?
00:49:25Not in the five years that I've known her, which, if you ask me, is five years too long.
00:49:44Oh, Captain, I realize you want me to stick around here unless business is over, but I'd like to go to town today, if you don't mind.
00:49:52Oh, I promise I'll be back this afternoon, and I couldn't get away if I wanted to. You all know me.
00:49:58You know where he was last night when the shot was fired?
00:50:00Yeah, he was with me.
00:50:02All right, then. You can go.
00:50:03Thanks.
00:50:04But listen, no funny business.
00:50:11Put a tail on that guy.
00:50:12I sure would like to pin something on him.
00:50:17Now, don't tell me you saved enough money to buy Arco Mining stuff.
00:50:21No, no.
00:50:22Tell me what you know about this company.
00:50:24Well, the Arco Mine is in Mexico.
00:50:26It was developed under a partnership between Stephen Kester and a fellow named Roger Hall.
00:50:31And back in 1914, Kester froze the other fellow out, unloaded his stock, washed the prices down, and left Hall holding the sack.
00:50:39Since that time, he's bought a lot of that stock back, and now it's one of the most valuable stocks on the market.
00:50:46How much stock did Kester hold?
00:50:48Well, you'll have to see the bank he did business with to find that out.
00:50:51All right. All right.
00:50:52Suppose you use your influence with that banker and call him up and have him have all the information when I get there.
00:50:56I'm in a hurry.
00:50:56He had one hundred and eleven thousand dollars worth two days before he was murdered.
00:51:08One hundred and eleven thousand.
00:51:10Mm-hmm.
00:51:22Thanks.
00:51:23In my opinion, the original figure was one hundred and eleven thousand.
00:51:33The first one has been incorporated into a dollar sign, and the cross on the four has been added with an ink of a different chemical basis.
00:51:46Could have been very easy, couldn't it?
00:51:50Thanks.
00:51:50Thanks.
00:51:53Well, here I am again.
00:52:03Where's everybody?
00:52:04In there.
00:52:09Then, uh, Mr. Hall didn't have a dinner engagement with you last night?
00:52:12No, he did not.
00:52:14You've heard from him lately, though.
00:52:16I received the letter which you have there.
00:52:17Dear Bert, enclosed, find a letter which you will keep with the rest of my stuff for delivery after I'm dead.
00:52:26It won't be long now, which isn't such a joke as you might think.
00:52:28I won't be seeing you again soon.
00:52:33Roger.
00:52:40You knew Hall pretty well, didn't you?
00:52:42Yes, I've been his friend for a number of years.
00:52:45I'm the executor of his estate, whatever it is.
00:52:49Go and get Miss Kessler for me.
00:52:51You can tell by the way they're acting, they don't think it's a suicide.
00:53:03Cliff, it's no use.
00:53:04We can't go on.
00:53:04We've got to tell them.
00:53:05Gene, now do as I say.
00:53:06You've got to keep your mouth shut.
00:53:08It's our only chance.
00:53:09You don't know the police like I do.
00:53:11Come on, Romeo and Juliet.
00:53:12If the chief wants to see you, come on.
00:53:28Mr. Howe brought me a letter to you from Mr. Hall.
00:53:33Well, I don't understand.
00:53:34Why should he write me a letter?
00:53:35It was to be delivered to you after his death.
00:53:38I'd like you to read it.
00:53:42Do you mind if I read it aloud?
00:53:51No, go ahead.
00:54:00Dear Gene, once upon a time many years ago,
00:54:04I amused you for hours by crawling on all fours with you on my back.
00:54:08Now you know the other afternoon was not our first meeting.
00:54:11Small wonder, then, I may have appeared to you
00:54:14like some strangely remembered ghost from the past.
00:54:17That past reaches back to when I was a mining engineer
00:54:19in a project with your grandfather.
00:54:22It was then I met your mother.
00:54:25I shall not try to tell you my feelings for her.
00:54:27I shall only tell you that I loved her more than all the world.
00:54:32Shall I go on?
00:54:33Yes.
00:54:36My case was quite hopeless from the start.
00:54:38She had already fallen in love with another man, your father.
00:54:42A charming, delightful man.
00:54:44Your grandfather forbade your mother to marry him.
00:54:46So straightway, she packed up her things,
00:54:49met Pete, married him,
00:54:51and went to live in the little college town where he was teaching.
00:54:55I was the only guest at their wedding in the city hall.
00:54:57Shortly after that, I went back to the mines,
00:55:01and for two years, I was up to my neck and work.
00:55:03And then I got a letter from Sylvia
00:55:05announcing the birth of her daughter.
00:55:08Soon after that, a second letter came.
00:55:11Your father had died of incipient tuberculosis.
00:55:15What little money there was,
00:55:16was eaten up by doctor's bills.
00:55:19Was there any kind of a job she could do?
00:55:21I wired her the money,
00:55:23and immediately she arrived with her baby.
00:55:25You were very red and squalling,
00:55:27and the first time I tried to kiss you,
00:55:29you socked me in the eye for the fresh guy that I was.
00:55:33Sylvia took a job in the mine office,
00:55:35helping with the bookkeeping,
00:55:36doing clerical work,
00:55:37and writing some letters for me.
00:55:39What a comedown from the luxury of your grandfather's home.
00:55:42She got up at six,
00:55:44prepared your bottles for the day,
00:55:45bathed you,
00:55:46and took you to your daily parking place.
00:55:48Then she worked in the office until six at night.
00:55:52I begged her to write her father.
00:55:54She refused.
00:55:55So I did,
00:55:56and told him how much she needed help.
00:55:58Soon after that,
00:55:59the Arco mine steadily declined.
00:56:02We were shorthanded,
00:56:03and the strain on Sylvia was ghastly.
00:56:05You alone thrived,
00:56:07grew fat,
00:56:08and then one night,
00:56:10your mother died.
00:56:12She was murdered.
00:56:13Murdered by her own father,
00:56:15just as surely as if he had shot her with a gun.
00:56:17He murdered her,
00:56:19and so help me,
00:56:20I'm going to murder him.
00:56:23But I'm getting ahead of myself.
00:56:26You were left behind,
00:56:27and what a puzzle you were.
00:56:29I thought for a while I would keep you for my own,
00:56:32but I soon realized the folly of that.
00:56:34So again, I wrote your grandfather.
00:56:37Then Dora arrived.
00:56:38I didn't feel so badly parting with you
00:56:41when I knew she was to be your nurse.
00:56:44I've had my hands full the last few days
00:56:46to keep her from telling who I am.
00:56:50After all these years,
00:56:51I found myself back in New York.
00:56:52I couldn't resist the temptation
00:56:54to take one more look at you before I died.
00:56:58I blackmailed your grandfather
00:56:59into inviting me to stay here for a week.
00:57:02So here I am,
00:57:04and I've seen many things.
00:57:06Jean in love with a poor young man,
00:57:08and Kester making their love affair
00:57:10bitter and furtive.
00:57:12But you, my dear,
00:57:14are not the woman your mother was.
00:57:16You couldn't stand up
00:57:17under the poverty and worry
00:57:18and work as she did.
00:57:20And so for the sake of Sylvia,
00:57:22whom I loved,
00:57:23and for charming Peter,
00:57:24and for the baby who socked me in the eye,
00:57:27I'm going to solve your problems for you.
00:57:30It's a very simple solution.
00:57:32Two bullets.
00:57:33One for Kester,
00:57:34and one for myself.
00:57:37Just when I shall do it,
00:57:38I haven't decided yet.
00:57:40I can see too plainly
00:57:41the smoldering, maddening frustration
00:57:43that your Cliff
00:57:45is trying so hard to keep in check.
00:57:46I don't want him to beat me
00:57:49to the pleasure of murdering Stephen Kester.
00:57:54Lovingly, Roger Hall.
00:57:56That isn't true, that part about Cliff.
00:57:57The rest of it is every word of it.
00:57:59He killed my mother and I hate him,
00:58:01but that isn't true about Cliff.
00:58:02No, I know what he meant
00:58:03when he looked at Kester and said,
00:58:04well, I'll be doggone.
00:58:06It was just pure surprise.
00:58:07No wonder he was surprised.
00:58:09Someone did beat him to it.
00:58:10Oh, why don't you let us alone?
00:58:12Why don't you stop digging into this?
00:58:14Hall admitted that he killed my grandfather
00:58:15and then committed suicide?
00:58:17Yes, he did.
00:58:18And that's just what we're going to do.
00:58:20Let it stand as it is.
00:58:36Oh, yes.
00:58:37The captain's been assuring
00:58:38the newspapers every day
00:58:39that they can expect an arrest
00:58:41at any moment.
00:58:41But, you know, the captain,
00:58:43he has to have his little joke.
00:58:45I can't understand
00:58:46all the movements of the detectives.
00:58:49Well, just at present,
00:58:50they're more concerned
00:58:50with certain aspects of his life
00:58:52than the actual manner of his death.
00:58:54Well, I'm sure they could find
00:58:55nothing but good in his life.
00:58:58Well, thanks.
00:58:59You know, we've been going
00:59:05through his notebook.
00:59:08And we found some items
00:59:10that are rather puzzling.
00:59:12But I thought he kept everything
00:59:13in his private book quite clear.
00:59:26What are those?
00:59:27Marbles.
00:59:29Or maybe glass eyes.
00:59:31I got them from Mr. Hall.
00:59:33He told me rather
00:59:34an interesting story about them.
00:59:36Did you ever see them before?
00:59:38Why, no.
00:59:40Frickin,
00:59:41just why was it necessary
00:59:42for you to change certain figures
00:59:43in Mr. Kester's notebook?
00:59:45I don't know what you're talking about.
00:59:46That's too bad,
00:59:47but the advantage is mine.
00:59:49I happen to know
00:59:49what I'm talking about,
00:59:50and I know you know
00:59:51what I'm talking about.
00:59:52Why, you sit down.
00:59:54It was a difference
00:59:54of $97,000 worth of stock.
00:59:56I suppose you know
00:59:58nothing about that.
01:00:00Certainly not.
01:00:01Just how does it happen
01:00:02that you're able to afford
01:00:03an expensive apartment
01:00:04on the salary you receive here?
01:00:06And how were you able
01:00:07to buy a $3,000 car
01:00:08and store it in a garage?
01:00:09And how did you manage
01:00:10to send your wife
01:00:11on an expensive trip
01:00:12to Europe last year?
01:00:13And what about those losses
01:00:14in stock speculations?
01:00:16What I'm getting at is this.
01:00:18You took Kester's stock
01:00:19to cover yourself.
01:00:21You can't deny it, can you?
01:00:24No.
01:00:27I guess you've caught me.
01:00:28It's a lucky thing for you
01:00:29Kester was killed
01:00:30before he found out
01:00:31what you were doing.
01:00:32But I didn't do that.
01:00:33I mean the murder.
01:00:34Oh, no?
01:00:34Of course not.
01:00:35How could I?
01:00:36I wasn't upstairs
01:00:37during that last dance.
01:00:38But your wife was.
01:00:39But she wasn't in that room.
01:00:41She told you that.
01:00:42It was Miss Kester.
01:00:43My wife saw Miss Kester
01:00:44come out of that room.
01:00:46Yes, but your wife
01:00:46didn't tell us
01:00:47what she did
01:00:47when Miss Kester
01:00:47came downstairs.
01:00:49It's just possible
01:00:50she might have gone in there
01:00:51and said...
01:00:51You're lying.
01:00:52You're lying and you know it.
01:00:53You know I didn't
01:00:54go into that room.
01:00:55How should I now?
01:00:56Because I saw you
01:00:57up there in the hall.
01:00:59I saw you come out
01:00:59of your room
01:01:00and follow Miss Kester
01:01:00over to the top of the stairs.
01:01:02You were up there
01:01:02at the time he was murdered.
01:01:04Why didn't you tell
01:01:04the detective that?
01:01:06You got me there, sister.
01:01:09Maybe you won't be so ready
01:01:10to accuse other people now.
01:01:15Crofton.
01:01:34Listen, you guys
01:01:36haven't discovered anything yet.
01:01:37You've been running around
01:01:38in circles.
01:01:39Do you want to hear some news?
01:01:40Do you think you can tell us
01:01:41anything we don't know already?
01:01:43Yes.
01:01:43There's going to be
01:01:45another murder around here
01:01:46pretty soon.
01:01:47And I have a sneaking suspicion
01:01:48I'm slated to be the victim.
01:01:50Oh, and I suppose
01:01:51you want me to detail
01:01:51about 20 men
01:01:52to guard that pretty body
01:01:53of yours, huh?
01:01:54That's just what I don't want.
01:01:55But I want you to take
01:01:56all your men outside tonight.
01:01:59That's a good one.
01:02:00Do you know any more?
01:02:02Oh, you can throw a cordon
01:02:03to the whole department
01:02:03on the outside,
01:02:04but keep these halls clear.
01:02:06And I'll promise
01:02:06to be responsible.
01:02:08For your own murder?
01:02:09Sure.
01:02:10I won't close my eyes
01:02:11all night.
01:02:12Go on, let him get bumped
01:02:13off.
01:02:13Give me one less guy
01:02:14to suspect.
01:02:15Well, it isn't going
01:02:16to do any harm
01:02:17to watch things
01:02:17from the outside,
01:02:18is it?
01:02:19I don't know.
01:02:20What are you going to do?
01:02:23Well, I'm going to play marbles.
01:02:43There's one time
01:02:55when you won't be able
01:02:56to wipe those fingerprints
01:02:57off.
01:02:57What fingerprints?
01:02:59The ones on the gun
01:03:00that Hall was supposed
01:03:01to have used.
01:03:02It's just funny,
01:03:03but he couldn't wipe
01:03:03those fingerprints off
01:03:04after shooting himself.
01:03:05You can't pin that on me.
01:03:06Well, I'm not trying to.
01:03:08It's strange, Pridget,
01:03:09but there was no
01:03:09odor of white
01:03:10on your breath
01:03:10after you were
01:03:11so hard to wake up.
01:03:13Now, take a look
01:03:13over there.
01:03:21You made your first mistake
01:03:22when you bought
01:03:23two Chinese outfits
01:03:23from the same place.
01:03:25You made your second mistake
01:03:26when you threw one
01:03:27in the incinerator
01:03:27and tried to burn it.
01:03:30You forgot the eyes
01:03:31wouldn't burn,
01:03:32didn't you?
01:03:33Yes.
01:03:34Now I want to hear
01:03:35from your own lips.
01:03:36Just when you slipped
01:03:38that disguise off
01:03:38and showed up downstairs
01:03:39among the dancers.
01:03:41Come on, spill it!
01:03:42It was you down there
01:03:43among the guests,
01:03:44wasn't it?
01:03:45Yes!
01:03:46I thought so.
01:03:47I asked him a question
01:03:48and he rushed off
01:03:49without answering it.
01:03:50I thought it was funny
01:03:51at the time.
01:03:52Well, come on, spill it.
01:03:53Just how did you do it?
01:03:54I went upstairs,
01:03:55just like Hall testified.
01:03:57Only it was me
01:03:57instead of Kesty.
01:03:59Then I slipped out
01:03:59of the outfit
01:04:00and threw it down
01:04:01the chute
01:04:01of the incinerator.
01:04:02I threw in a light
01:04:02and matches the papers.
01:04:04Then I went down
01:04:06the servant's stairs
01:04:07and showed up at all.
01:04:10You killed Kester
01:04:11earlier in the evening
01:04:12and threw his body
01:04:13in the closet,
01:04:13didn't you?
01:04:15Yes.
01:04:16Yes, I did.
01:04:17Why?
01:04:18Do you know why?
01:04:19You told me why
01:04:19yourself this afternoon.
01:04:21You know what you'll
01:04:22get for it, don't you?
01:04:23Yes, I know.
01:04:24But I don't care.
01:04:26It's better than this suspense.
01:04:29My wife made me do it.
01:04:30She ain't nagged,
01:04:32nagged me
01:04:33until I got myself
01:04:34in the hole.
01:04:35I couldn't get out
01:04:35of any other way.
01:04:36I'm not to blame.
01:04:37She is.
01:04:44What are you going to do
01:04:44with me now?
01:04:46Nothing.
01:04:48Crofton and Regan
01:04:49will be here
01:04:49the first thing
01:04:49in the morning.
01:04:51You can go now.
01:04:52I said you could
01:05:05go now.
01:05:06you could do it,
01:05:08you could do it.
01:05:10Anything happen not a sound all night, sir. I might have known was a lot of hot air
01:05:40Oh
01:05:56Good morning captain
01:05:58Nice morning
01:06:00You look though you were drawn through a knot hole what happened nothing
01:06:05Except that
01:06:10It sounded as though it came from Mr. and Mrs. Pritchard's room
01:06:17Well, I'll be doggone
01:06:25Yeah, that's what Hall said
01:06:27Listen, there's just one thing I want to know
01:06:40You took that $1,200 out of the safe to get married on, didn't you?
01:06:44Yes
01:06:45Could you get married without it?
01:06:47Sure
01:06:47Well, go ahead
01:06:49Preachers get up early and I'll fix everything with Crofton
01:06:51Go on, go on, quick
01:06:54Go on, go on
01:07:24Go on, go on, go on
01:07:26Oh
01:07:30Come on
01:07:32Come on
01:07:34Come on
01:07:37There, there
01:07:38There
01:07:39Please
01:07:40Come on
01:07:40Come on
01:07:41Put
01:07:42Alone
01:07:43Maybe
01:07:43Yes
01:07:45The
01:07:48To
01:07:49The
01:07:50The
01:07:51To
01:07:51Which
01:07:51The
01:07:53Yeah
01:07:53Let's go.
01:08:23Let's go.
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