- 2 weeks ago
Directed by Joseph M. Newman and produced by Universal Pictures, Abandoned stars Dennis O’Keefe, Gale Storm, Jeff Chandler, and Raymond Burr in one of his most chilling early performances. The film explores the dark underbelly of postwar America, following a woman’s desperate search for her missing sister — uncovering a sinister black-market baby racket in the process.
With its moody cinematography, terse dialogue, and moral tension, Abandoned captures the essence of 1940s noir: ordinary people trapped in extraordinary danger, and justice blurred by desperation.
If you love The Big Combo, The Naked City, or T-Men, this underseen thriller deserves a spot in your noir playlist.
With its moody cinematography, terse dialogue, and moral tension, Abandoned captures the essence of 1940s noir: ordinary people trapped in extraordinary danger, and justice blurred by desperation.
If you love The Big Combo, The Naked City, or T-Men, this underseen thriller deserves a spot in your noir playlist.
Category
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Short filmTranscript
00:00:00The End
00:00:30The End
00:01:00Tonight, in our United States,
00:01:29at a city hall,
00:01:30the hour approaches 11.
00:01:33But whatever the time or wherever the place,
00:01:37tonight something will happen
00:01:39in a city which may be your home.
00:01:42You'll read about it tomorrow.
00:01:45This is the true-to-life story
00:01:47behind one such headline.
00:01:48And here we go.
00:01:58And here we go.
00:03:01Oh.
00:03:03Well, you can fill it out at home and bring it back in the morning.
00:03:08Yes, I think I'll do that.
00:03:10Well, I ought to drop in here more often.
00:03:14Hiya, Mark. What are you doing here?
00:03:16Oh, well, looking for evidence of incompetence among city employees.
00:03:19You're out of luck. I'm only incompetent during working hours.
00:03:22What's your sister's name and physical description?
00:03:25Mary. Mary Considine. She's about my build.
00:03:30Well, already I'm interested in the case.
00:03:34Huh? Kid sister?
00:03:36Fifteen months older. She's been living here about a year.
00:03:39His face is familiar. Did you check the morgue? They're open all night.
00:03:42Do you recognize the picture?
00:03:45Oh, easy now, easy. That's just one of his routine questions.
00:03:50Um.
00:03:51Where are you from?
00:03:55Beaverbrook, Pennsylvania.
00:03:57Well, sounds like a nice place. Lots of brooks, beavers, things like that.
00:04:02Miss, when did you last hear from your sister?
00:04:04She wrote two weeks ago from the hospital here, but I checked.
00:04:07They say she was never there.
00:04:08What was wrong with her?
00:04:10I don't know.
00:04:11Let's see the matter.
00:04:12I don't have it with me.
00:04:14Oh, give me a picture then. I'll run a story in it. I'll help you out.
00:04:16Min?
00:04:17Please, not in the newspaper.
00:04:18Hold it, Mark. Until this case is on file, it's not for publication.
00:04:21As a gentleman, the press will give you my word.
00:04:23Which is as good as getting a point ticket on the atomic bomb.
00:04:25Hiya, Mrs. Holmes.
00:04:54Hiya, Mrs. Holmes.
00:04:55Do you know that you're married to a crusty monster?
00:05:00How are the kids?
00:05:01Bad and good, Mark.
00:05:03See, I'm sorry we can't stop to talk, but I've got the children home without a sitter.
00:05:06You come in in the morning, Miss Considine, with your sister's letter.
00:05:10Don't let him get lost.
00:05:21Hey, Considine!
00:05:22Hey, Considine!
00:05:25To ease your mind, the morgue's just around the corner. Let's check.
00:05:30Wait a minute, wait a minute. I'm on your side.
00:05:32Look, it's awfully late, and...
00:05:34Exactly why you shouldn't be out alone.
00:05:35Incidentally, uh, do you know anyone else in town besides me?
00:05:40I don't even know you, and I'd appreciate it if you'd leave me alone.
00:05:43Always a good idea to have a friend.
00:05:45I promise you there's no story in this, at least not one that you'll get from me.
00:05:49Well, I'll live in the hope that you'll change your mind.
00:05:51In the meantime...
00:05:52Mark, what are you doing?
00:05:56Let go of me.
00:05:57Don't look now, but you're being followed.
00:05:59What do you mean?
00:06:00Be a good girl and be quiet, and we'll see what's up.
00:06:03Let go of me.
00:06:04Just...
00:06:05By the way, I don't think we've met.
00:06:07My name's Sitko.
00:06:08Mark Sitko.
00:06:09I know.
00:06:30You couldn't sleep, so you just decided to take your gun out for a walk.
00:06:34I'll take that back.
00:06:35You want to bet?
00:06:36What's the idea of skulking around after this young lady?
00:06:39I couldn't sleep, so I just decided to take my gun out for a walk.
00:06:43You got a license for this?
00:06:44Sitko, quit the clowning.
00:06:45Did I say something funny?
00:06:47By the way, have you met the young lady that you're scaring after that?
00:06:51Miss Considine, meet Mr. Carrick.
00:06:53Cheapest private detective in town.
00:06:55Specializes in framing divorces and frightening little children.
00:06:58Carrick?
00:06:59You know him?
00:06:59Sorry, lady, you've never seen me before.
00:07:01No, but when Mary first left home, my father long distance, an investigator named Carrick,
00:07:05kept sending him money to find Mary.
00:07:07Any comment?
00:07:08The phone book's full of Carricks, at least seven of them.
00:07:11All of them privatized.
00:07:12Come on, give me the gun.
00:07:13I gotta go.
00:07:14You really got a permit for this thing?
00:07:16Very pretty girl.
00:07:30You recognize her?
00:07:31Well, that's me.
00:07:32That's my picture.
00:07:33Collecting pinups, Carrick?
00:07:35I thought you were supposed to be after the other girl.
00:07:37Not that it's any of your business, but...
00:07:40Well, her old man did hire me to find the sister.
00:07:42They're not wanting to spoil a perfect record.
00:07:44You fail.
00:07:44Well, why my picture?
00:07:45Two days ago, your father sent me a picture of you.
00:07:48He tipped me off and I met your plane.
00:07:50Why, daddy?
00:07:51You're not very smart, Sitko.
00:07:53He thinks maybe this one will lead me to the other one.
00:07:56But you ruined that.
00:07:58Maybe.
00:07:58Maybe not.
00:08:00Incidentally, when did you start going in for honest money?
00:08:03I know you're considered a very funny guy, but I'm not one of your fans.
00:08:08You going legitimate is like a vulture-turning vegetarian.
00:08:10You're still not getting a smile out of me.
00:08:12You never found Mary?
00:08:13Not a trace.
00:08:15And join the searching party and start earning your price.
00:08:19Go on, go on.
00:08:19In the coroner's morgue of every major city is the register, better known as the Jane Doe book.
00:08:35Picture album of the unidentified dead.
00:08:40Accident.
00:08:42Murder.
00:08:43Suicide.
00:08:45Jane Doe number seven.
00:08:48Body found in stolen car motor running.
00:08:52Basement of Paradise Hills unfinished building development.
00:08:55No articles of identification.
00:08:59Cause of death, carbon monoxide poisoning.
00:09:03She wouldn't do it.
00:09:05I know she wouldn't do it.
00:09:09Autopsy report.
00:09:11Female, age about 20.
00:09:13Hair brown, eyes blue.
00:09:15Recent childbirth.
00:09:16Coroner's finding, probable suicide.
00:09:21Yes?
00:09:22Number 67324.
00:09:24Oh.
00:09:40Well, that just about winds up the case.
00:09:42I can report to your client now and have him take you off the gravy train.
00:09:46I'll report to my client and let him make up his own mind.
00:09:49There won't be any need for you to follow the young lady anymore.
00:09:55As I said, I take orders from my customers.
00:09:59Good night, Carrick.
00:10:00And if you can possibly arrange it, let's make it goodbye.
00:10:05Careful of this thing, it's loaded.
00:10:06Where are you staying?
00:10:16At the Fenwick.
00:10:17They got a nice little coffee shop over there.
00:10:19Come on.
00:10:20He looked like he could use something.
00:10:21Not a very nice welcome to the city, was it?
00:10:37You knew about the baby?
00:10:39Yes.
00:10:40She wrote you that from the hospital.
00:10:43And you say you checked there.
00:10:45They've never heard of her.
00:10:51Do you want to talk about her?
00:10:55I don't know.
00:10:57Might help.
00:10:58Why did she leave home?
00:11:03Neither one of us got along with my father very well after my mother died.
00:11:07Mary was older.
00:11:08She got away first.
00:11:10I see.
00:11:12What did she do when she got here?
00:11:14I don't know.
00:11:16She never wrote much.
00:11:17That's why my father hired the detective.
00:11:19Oh.
00:11:20He wanted her back?
00:11:22I don't think so.
00:11:24He just would never leave either one of us alone.
00:11:25Did she send for you?
00:11:29No.
00:11:30She just said she was in the hospital and I got worried.
00:11:37Well, I...
00:11:39I know it isn't much consolation, but...
00:11:43They say it's not a hard way to go.
00:11:46She didn't do it.
00:11:47She never would have done it herself.
00:11:49What makes you think so?
00:11:50I knew her.
00:11:52I'm afraid they wouldn't carry much weight with the corner.
00:11:53Stolen car, carbon monoxide.
00:11:57That's what doesn't make sense.
00:11:58She didn't even know how to drive.
00:12:03Well, you can learn a lot away from home.
00:12:05She didn't kill herself.
00:12:09You better go upstairs, try to get some sleep.
00:12:11I can't sleep tonight.
00:12:14Well, get some rest anyway.
00:12:17You're not going to put any of this in the paper?
00:12:19Not a word.
00:12:20Now you stop worrying.
00:12:22You think she killed herself, don't you?
00:12:26Why don't you just stop thinking about it?
00:12:28Come on, I'll walk you to the elevator.
00:12:29Hey, school.
00:12:42Why don't you do something for me?
00:12:44Mr. Sitko, I'm on my way home now.
00:12:46You'll never win a Pulitzer Prize that way.
00:12:48Check the motor vehicle department.
00:12:50See if there was a driver's license issued to a Mary Considant.
00:12:53Dig up all the back issues of the paper for the past year
00:12:55and see if there was a marriage license issued to that same Mary Considant.
00:12:58Well, look.
00:12:58While you're at it, run over to the Bureau of Vital Statistics.
00:13:00I want a list on all the babies born dead during the past month.
00:13:03Well, Mr. Sitko.
00:13:04Charlie.
00:13:04Mr. Sitko, this'll take the rest of tonight and tomorrow.
00:13:07Tomorrow's my day off.
00:13:08What better way to spend it than by working?
00:13:11Why don't you do it yourself?
00:13:12Oh, because, Scoop, I'm old and I'm tired.
00:13:15Because, well, I've reached a position in life
00:13:18where I can order you to do it for me.
00:13:20Now go on, get it done.
00:13:23Charlie, if a baby didn't die, where else could it go?
00:13:27I only know where they come from.
00:13:29I don't know where they go.
00:13:31Give me everything you've got on babies.
00:13:32Everything?
00:13:33Mm-hmm.
00:13:34You know, little ones.
00:13:35I don't know where they come from.
00:13:36I don't know where they come from.
00:13:53I don't know where they come from.
00:13:53You got bells in your head? It's two o'clock.
00:14:11Harry, get Mrs. Donner up.
00:14:13Come back later. Hold on later.
00:14:15You don't push me around, Punchy. This is important.
00:14:17Nothing is so important for you ever to disturb me at this time of the morning.
00:14:22Absolutely nothing.
00:14:24That's what I said. Absolutely nothing.
00:14:26Go back to bed, Harry.
00:14:27Yes, ma'am.
00:14:35She's identified her sister's body, and now she's shooting off her mouth that it's not a suicide.
00:14:40It wasn't very bright of you to let her get to the morgue.
00:14:43It wasn't very bright of you to have something there for her to find when she did get there.
00:14:47Well, what did you expect me to do?
00:14:49Let her write her letter to the district attorney?
00:14:50She was a troublemaker.
00:14:53She wanted her baby back.
00:14:55I'd be just as happy if we committed our murders in a state that doesn't have capital punishment.
00:14:59Don't talk like that.
00:15:01I've told you before.
00:15:02You've told me a lot of things.
00:15:04They all add up to a short walk from the death cell if this thing breaks.
00:15:08Why should it?
00:15:09I haven't told you the most interesting part.
00:15:12No.
00:15:13She's teamed up with a reporter from the mirror.
00:15:16We were all down at the morgue together.
00:15:18Did you serve tea after you told them the whole setup?
00:15:22They don't know anything yet, but I don't like it.
00:15:25What happens if she starts looking for the baby?
00:15:27Have you ever looked for a needle in a haystack?
00:15:30I'm afraid she'll have a little difficulty finding it.
00:15:35No, I don't think you're as smart as the others think.
00:15:38Maybe not, but I'm smart enough to know that you're sitting in the same box with the rest of us.
00:15:42You threatened the girl with exposure.
00:15:46You pocketed your commission for the sale of her baby.
00:15:48If there's a short walk from the death cell, you and I will take it together right in step.
00:15:56What's the next move?
00:15:57Watch her.
00:15:58Find out what she's doing.
00:16:00I don't think she'll get very far.
00:16:02If she does, we can take care of her.
00:16:05Your solutions are getting monotonous.
00:16:08Always the same.
00:16:10Perhaps monotonous, but effective.
00:16:13From now on, she's in your department.
00:16:16I have a lot of back orders to fill.
00:16:20Well, what's the matter?
00:16:23I was just thinking how nice life used to be when I stuck to blackmail and petty larceny.
00:16:42I hear you've been working all night.
00:16:58What are you up to?
00:16:59To what are you up, I believe is correct.
00:17:01All right.
00:17:01To what are you up?
00:17:02Big stuff.
00:17:04I may decide to put this paper on a map.
00:17:06That'd be kind of you.
00:17:07No kidding, Nolan.
00:17:08It really is big.
00:17:09I'll need a few days.
00:17:11Go ahead.
00:17:11How much can I spend?
00:17:13How much have you done?
00:17:14Funny fellow.
00:17:16Don't walk through any open drawbridges.
00:17:24Good morning, sweetheart.
00:17:26Will you get me the Fenwick Hotel?
00:17:30Hey, man.
00:17:31George's back.
00:17:32Good morning.
00:17:33You look like you haven't had any more sleep than I have.
00:17:36Sleep is for the upper classes.
00:17:38Only toil and weariness for peasants like us.
00:17:41My marvelous little brain has been busy uncovering several pertinent facts.
00:17:46Your sister was never issued a driver's license.
00:17:48And she didn't kill herself.
00:17:50It's an interesting fact.
00:17:51Not necessarily proof.
00:17:53Also checked on all the babies born dead in the past month.
00:17:57All accounted for.
00:17:58Good, legitimate families.
00:18:00She's still alive.
00:18:01How do you know it's a she?
00:18:04Mary told me in her letter.
00:18:06When was she born?
00:18:07February the 22nd.
00:18:10You know you could save someone a lot of trouble if you told me all this last night.
00:18:16Let's go.
00:18:18Where are we going?
00:18:19That's a good question.
00:18:20Come on.
00:18:24Call for Mr. Thorne.
00:18:28Call for Mr. Thorne.
00:18:34Do you mind if I take a look at that letter now?
00:18:37Yes, I do.
00:18:38Well, I take it you're not interested in finding the baby or what happened to your sister.
00:18:43Of course I am.
00:18:45But I'm not interested in having our personal problems splattered all over the front page.
00:18:49Who said anything about that?
00:18:50Nobody.
00:18:51But you don't deny it.
00:18:53Granted that I'm after a story.
00:18:55And if I get it, I'm bound to find out things that'll interest you.
00:18:58Well, I don't want the baby starting out in life with a bunch of press clippings for a birthday present.
00:19:07Supposing, supposing I can promise you not to use any actual names in the story.
00:19:12How good is your promise?
00:19:15It's always been pretty good.
00:19:16Oh, I don't know.
00:19:19Well, what if I told you that I already have a pretty good idea of what was in that letter?
00:19:26You see, I checked the marriage licenses for the past year.
00:19:32There wasn't one issued to your sister.
00:19:34She could have been married someplace else.
00:19:36Was she?
00:19:42No.
00:19:45Who paid her expenses?
00:19:47Some lady, she said.
00:19:49And the lady promised to put the baby out for adoption?
00:19:53Yes.
00:19:53Don't act so surprised.
00:19:55I've been reading stories like that all night.
00:20:00Well, I guess you might as well have the letter now.
00:20:03I don't need the letter now.
00:20:04You and I are on our way to see a friend of mine.
00:20:08This is a lot bigger than just marrying her baby.
00:20:11I don't know.
00:20:19I don't care.
00:20:20I don't care.
00:20:21But, you know, she is a girlessa.
00:20:23I don't want to know her baby.
00:20:24I don't care.
00:20:25I'm just sorry.
00:20:26I don't care.
00:20:27I don't care.
00:20:36I don't know why all of a sudden you're so excited about this, Mark.
00:20:45Why, you read the clippings?
00:20:47Well, sure, I've known about that for months.
00:20:49Have you been to read your own paper?
00:20:51I only read my own stuff.
00:20:52That way I know the quality of literature I'm getting.
00:20:55I'd like to help Miss Considine, but you just don't have any evidence.
00:20:58Mac, did you ever know Carrick to be mixed up in anything that didn't smell up the place?
00:21:02Never gotten anything on him yet.
00:21:03Mary Considine didn't even have a license to drive. How about that?
00:21:07A lot of people drive without licenses.
00:21:09If you'd give me a couple of men for a few days, I could...
00:21:11A couple of men?
00:21:13Half my force is tied up 24 hours a day, closing down pyramid clubs.
00:21:17The other half is so busy, I couldn't even get myself investigated without a priority.
00:21:21You can't ignore that letter.
00:21:22It's perfectly clear that she fell for a smooth line of charity talk right into the hands of a baby broker.
00:21:28A line in a letter isn't much proof.
00:21:30Maybe she abandoned the baby before...
00:21:32She wouldn't have done that.
00:21:33You're making me feel like a first-class heel, Mark.
00:21:40I want you to feel at home.
00:21:42Mark, I don't have the men to throw out on anything as slim as this.
00:21:44What about the fact that she wrote from the Bimini Hospital that they never heard of her?
00:21:47Maybe she swiped the stationery.
00:21:49You checked on this yourself, Miss Considine?
00:21:50Yes, she'd never been registered there.
00:21:53And nobody recognized her picture?
00:21:55I never thought of the picture.
00:21:57You didn't show it to them?
00:22:00Well, why didn't you tell me?
00:22:02I don't know.
00:22:03Well, let's get going.
00:22:05You don't mind if tonight I look into this myself.
00:22:07Not at all.
00:22:07Glad to have you on the staff.
00:22:09If I come in with this whole thing worked out, will you move in?
00:22:11That's what the taxpayers hire me for.
00:22:13So that's it.
00:22:15You learn something every day.
00:22:16Our records show there were five girls born here the night of February 22nd.
00:22:22Miss Tripp tells us you nurses attended them.
00:22:24Kelly, Korchek, Rabin, Spence and Trent.
00:22:29Was this girl one of the five mothers?
00:22:31No, Mrs. Korchek and Mrs. Rabin.
00:22:33I could never forget them.
00:22:34No, that wasn't Mrs. Spence.
00:22:37Kelly or Trent only wished they looked like that.
00:22:39With the birth rate around here, I couldn't recognize any face and connect it with a name.
00:22:45Grace.
00:22:45Are you positive that none of you have ever seen my sister?
00:22:49I'm terribly sorry.
00:22:51Well, thanks.
00:22:52Thanks very much.
00:22:53We're sorry we bothered you all.
00:22:55All right, girls, you can go.
00:23:04I don't understand it.
00:23:06Your sister writes you everything you wouldn't expect her to and does it on phony stationery.
00:23:10Why?
00:23:11If I knew that, I'd know what to do.
00:23:13By the way, what do we do now?
00:23:16Turn to the bottom, work our way up.
00:23:18How do we do that?
00:23:18First, we go to a little place that I know and have a drink.
00:23:22Wear your cast iron stomach.
00:23:24Then, if I get the information that I expect to, we put on our track shoes and start running
00:23:28in all directions at the same time.
00:23:30Okay?
00:23:31Cast iron stomach and track shoes.
00:23:33Anything else?
00:23:34Just start smiling like that a little more often.
00:23:37A minute.
00:23:44Come see you around sometime, Mark.
00:23:46I've been patronizing the bars with the uncut whiskey.
00:23:48Are they still operating?
00:23:50I'll have to take it up with my union.
00:23:52Eddie, I got a problem.
00:23:54I should be so lucky as to have your problem.
00:23:57I got a friend.
00:23:59Gonna fool me.
00:24:00I got a friend who wants to adopt a baby.
00:24:03Solid citizen.
00:24:04He doesn't want to go through all the rigmarole, you know, uh, investigations.
00:24:10Well, being a friend of yours, he couldn't stand an investigation.
00:24:12I told him I thought there were a couple of corners he might cut.
00:24:16You don't have no friend who wants to pay me.
00:24:18You don't have no friend of mine, you don't have no friend of mine, you don't have no friend of mine.
00:24:48So I'll pay my life insurance.
00:24:51Did you ever hear of Moray the Boogie?
00:24:53No.
00:24:55I'll tell him I sent you.
00:24:57Oh, where can I reach him?
00:24:59You have to find that out for yourself.
00:25:05Look at that man, drank a good, strong drink.
00:25:08Not so strong, Eddie.
00:25:10Load it up a little bit, will you?
00:25:12Sure.
00:25:14Grace speaking.
00:25:16Mac, this is Sitco.
00:25:18Don't tell me you're yelling for help already.
00:25:20A little.
00:25:21Did you ever run across a character named Moray, runs a Boogie joint?
00:25:24Sure, we have him down here about once a month.
00:25:26You know where I can catch up with him?
00:25:28Yeah, yeah, I'm going to raid him next week.
00:25:30What's the address?
00:25:31In just a minute, I'll check.
00:25:33The address on Moray the Boogie.
00:25:38Mark?
00:25:40Yeah?
00:25:41277 East 6th Street.
00:25:43Got it?
00:25:43Yeah, I got it.
00:25:44What do you want with Moray?
00:25:46I want to put a bet down before you guys get to him.
00:25:52Tomorrow morning, we'll start bright and early.
00:25:54Where can a guy find Moray?
00:26:12A guy could walk right in the back room and find him sitting there.
00:26:17Stay in about ten minutes.
00:26:18Nice shot.
00:26:22Want to run it for you?
00:26:24Sure.
00:26:24Two bits of shot?
00:26:25Okay.
00:26:27Thanks.
00:26:29Go ahead.
00:26:32Uh...
00:26:33Fifteen inside, Doc.
00:26:39It's one for me.
00:26:41A little out of practice.
00:26:45At the finish.
00:26:46Falling star by an O.
00:26:48Falling star by a schnoz.
00:26:52That cost me money.
00:26:54Quit worrying, Moray.
00:26:55I'll make it up to you.
00:26:56Tell me what I want to know.
00:26:57Why do you want to throw your money away on children?
00:27:01Play the racists.
00:27:02Tell you what I'll do.
00:27:04You name a connection, I'll make a bet.
00:27:07I don't know what's it lost yesterday.
00:27:12Shoeshine sent me the numbers right.
00:27:14Don't tell him I sent you.
00:27:16Todd, fella.
00:27:25Sure, man.
00:27:28I got a head for figures.
00:27:30I just can't think of the personality you want.
00:27:36Sammy.
00:27:39Did this give you any ideas?
00:27:40Well, man, that's my lucky number.
00:27:43And it leads my mental processes to night coat.
00:27:46Yes?
00:27:47And Delaney to bail bondsman.
00:27:49Thanks, Sammy.
00:27:51But don't tell him I sent you.
00:27:54Oh, Sammy.
00:27:55I don't know what you're talking about.
00:28:01Baby broker.
00:28:03B-A-B-Y.
00:28:04Now, look, pally.
00:28:05Me, I tell you, I couldn't fix it.
00:28:06Not for love, no money.
00:28:08Well, who said anything about love?
00:28:10Like all the rest, you think you can buy me for money?
00:28:13Yeah, Delaney.
00:28:15Well, you're right.
00:28:15But it takes more.
00:28:17Who said anything about no more?
00:28:20Who said anything about Doc Tilson?
00:28:22Well, maybe a blast of a phone call couldn't fix it.
00:28:26Uh, let's say, you got another temp?
00:28:29I'm fresh out of nickel.
00:28:30Illegitimate enterprises work hand in pocket with every shady source of revenue.
00:28:40One racket leads to another.
00:28:42And finally, to an unlicensed doctor practicing behind the front of a Turkish bath.
00:28:46I guess that means me.
00:28:59Mrs. Donner?
00:29:07There are Doc Tilson's.
00:29:09He just went in.
00:29:10She's waiting outside.
00:29:11Stay on the line, Carrick.
00:29:17Hello?
00:29:18I'd like to speak to Decolla.
00:29:21Mrs. Donner calling.
00:29:22Decolla speaking.
00:29:23Mrs. Donner.
00:29:24I've just received...
00:29:25Why, yes, Mrs. Donner.
00:29:27I was just looking over your check.
00:29:29As payment for protection.
00:29:31I've no intention of worrying whether I'm getting it.
00:29:34Now, if you expect...
00:29:35I don't expect any complaints from you.
00:29:38You stayed open for several years.
00:29:40And you'll continue to remain open as long as I handle things.
00:29:43That's not what I meant.
00:29:45I've just received information that a newspaper man and his stooge are at Doc Tilson's.
00:29:49That probably means only one thing.
00:29:53Unfavorable publicity.
00:29:54Unfavorable?
00:29:56I hear you made four sales last week.
00:29:59They don't seem to be included in my check.
00:30:02Perhaps.
00:30:03I've been so busy.
00:30:04Yes.
00:30:05Yes, I'm sure it was an oversight.
00:30:08Just don't let it happen again.
00:30:10Now, if you'll hold on, I'll call Doc Tilson.
00:30:12Well, with those references, something might be arranged to...
00:30:22Decolla speaking.
00:30:26Do you have someone with you trying to buy?
00:30:28Why, yes.
00:30:30I assume you intended to check with me first?
00:30:32Very definitely.
00:30:34Hold on, Doc.
00:30:37You worry needlessly, Mrs. Donner.
00:30:40And don't forget your check.
00:30:42Hello, Doc.
00:30:47Tell him there's nothing available now but to keep in touch with you.
00:30:50And say, Doc, let me know if he bothers you again.
00:30:58As I was saying, with those references, we'll have to do a lot more checking.
00:31:05Everything was going fine there for a few minutes.
00:31:08Had him wrapped up and ready for delivery.
00:31:10Phone rings, progress stops.
00:31:12Are you sure we're on the right track?
00:31:14We're on the right track, all right, but somebody's throwing a switch.
00:31:17Take a good look at a discouraged man.
00:31:19You're not going to quit, are you?
00:31:21Quit?
00:31:21I don't even know how to spell the word.
00:31:23This means so awfully much to me, Mark.
00:31:25The baby's the only thing that's left of my sister.
00:31:28Oh, we'll find it.
00:31:29I mean her.
00:31:29But we've got to start being a lot smarter.
00:31:32That's pretty difficult, considering I'm already about the brainiest guy in town.
00:31:35Why were you at the missing persons bureau the other night?
00:31:41Looking for some people I missed.
00:31:43Lucky for me.
00:31:45No, not yet.
00:31:46We haven't even started.
00:31:48What do we do now?
00:31:49Oh, we use psychology.
00:31:52Whatever that means.
00:31:54Let's suppose you were in Mary's position.
00:31:56What would you have done?
00:31:57Afraid that the folks back home might find out?
00:31:59No job, no money, no one to turn to.
00:32:03Yet Mary found a way.
00:32:04The Bimini Hospital stationery and the woman to pay the expenses.
00:32:08Maybe a small private hospital.
00:32:11No, that costs money.
00:32:13Unless she offered to work part of her way.
00:32:16Papers are full of deals like that.
00:32:29Here we are.
00:32:40In return for light work, mother to be offered home and medical attention.
00:32:45Private nursery home will exchange services for blah, blah, blah.
00:32:50If a girl in trouble needing friendly advisor, call Mrs. Ellen Ross.
00:32:53Salvation Army home.
00:32:55Dr. James, private...
00:32:56Wait, the one you just read before this last one.
00:32:58Salvation Army home.
00:33:03Any girl in trouble needing friendly advisor.
00:33:06Yes, maybe, Mary.
00:33:08What's the matter?
00:33:09Our friend Carrick.
00:33:11He's over there hiding in the bulrushes.
00:33:14No wonder everything has gone sour.
00:33:16I don't think he's the reason.
00:33:18No?
00:33:19I called my father last night to tell him about Mary.
00:33:22Carrick had already told him.
00:33:24Oh, you mean he's still on your father's payroll.
00:33:27Mm-hmm.
00:33:28Well, anyway, I'm tired of having him chaperone us.
00:33:41Hey, fellas, you come over here, please.
00:33:43Ah, playing cowboy and Indian, huh?
00:33:51So what's it to you?
00:33:53There's a guy hiding behind a tree about a hundred feet up this path.
00:33:56He's a big guy, kind of fat.
00:33:58For a buck, he's an Indian, am I right?
00:34:00For a buck, we burn him at the stake.
00:34:01No, no, no, no, Bernie.
00:34:02Just tie him up for a few minutes until we get out of the forest.
00:34:05Okay.
00:34:06Spread out, men.
00:34:07Let's go.
00:34:08Let's go.
00:34:17Indians, one dollar.
00:34:22Give me Mary's picture.
00:34:24You go back to your hotel and check out.
00:34:26I'll meet you in about an hour at the Salvation Army home.
00:34:28Here, take this.
00:34:29I'll meet you in about an hour at the Salvation Army home.
00:34:59We've hit it.
00:35:12They recognize the picture.
00:35:13Mary was here.
00:35:14This is the other Miss Considine.
00:35:15How do you do?
00:35:16Major Rawson, charge here, Paula.
00:35:18Won't you sit down?
00:35:20I was terribly sorry to hear.
00:35:22You knew Mary?
00:35:23Yes, but Mary left our home just before she had her baby.
00:35:27Oh.
00:35:28Major, as I've explained, we're trying to do an impossible thing.
00:35:32Any threat of information.
00:35:34That's against our policy.
00:35:36We don't even share our girls' secrets with the FBI.
00:35:39The young lady that you mentioned to me, the one that was friendly with Mary,
00:35:44do you suppose that Miss Considine...
00:35:45I do want to help.
00:35:48And I know Dottie would like very much to talk to someone from Mary's family.
00:35:52But, oh, please, in a way you'll still be helping my sister, protecting her baby.
00:35:57That's all I want to do.
00:36:00Excuse us.
00:36:19Oh, my God.
00:36:49She used to tell me quite a lot about you.
00:36:53And she said that if the baby was a girl, she was going to name it Paula after you.
00:36:59Paula.
00:37:00She used to try to get me to care about what happened.
00:37:03She didn't like it when I used to say to her,
00:37:06I thought we'd be much better off if we never even saw our children.
00:37:09Then she did want to keep her baby, didn't she?
00:37:11Oh, yes.
00:37:12She used to lie in bed at night when all the lights were out.
00:37:17She'd tell me her plans.
00:37:19Do you...
00:37:21Did she ever mention who the...
00:37:24When you don't want to talk about something yourself, you don't ask somebody else to.
00:37:29Did anyone visit her while she was here?
00:37:33Well, yes.
00:37:34One night we were taking our regular walk outside and this man came up to us and he was with a lady.
00:37:42She walked with a cane and she passed out Bibles.
00:37:45Why haven't you mentioned this before, Dottie?
00:37:47There was no reason to.
00:37:49Please go on.
00:37:50Well, Mary nudged me to keep walking and she stayed there, talking with this man she knew.
00:37:58Dottie, could you describe him?
00:38:01No.
00:38:01I guess when you don't like someone, you don't remember them.
00:38:07But once he raised his voice and I heard him say something like,
00:38:11I know what's best for you and you'll do it or you know what.
00:38:14And later, when I asked Mary about it, she just said I was better off being an orphan.
00:38:21And she cried all that night.
00:38:25And then...
00:38:27When Mary left our home, she insisted upon paying for her stay with us.
00:38:33Now I can understand where she received the money.
00:38:35She had very little when she arrived.
00:38:37And she left some money for me, too.
00:38:42Me, she just met here.
00:38:44She was so good.
00:38:48Major Ross, would Dottie be allowed to speak to the district attorney?
00:38:51Our girls are not prisoners here.
00:38:55Would you?
00:38:58I'll change.
00:38:59And there must be a change.
00:39:02Costing our girls, luring them away with big promises.
00:39:06Can you tell the boys what those promises are?
00:39:08Well, I always hate to say this to a newspaper man,
00:39:11since I can't speak for the entire Salvation Army.
00:39:14This must be off the record.
00:39:16Well, Bren has to the department ruining paperwork.
00:39:18Not that it's your fault, but there's been too much paperwork and not enough legal work.
00:39:23The chicken comes before the egg.
00:39:25Well, promises.
00:39:29A private room in any hospital the girl chooses.
00:39:32Better food.
00:39:34Special nurse.
00:39:36Go right on.
00:39:36A liberal clothing allowance for the girl after the baby is delivered.
00:39:41And some money for a fresh start.
00:39:44Well, Major, what's so bad about that?
00:39:45Nobody gets hurt.
00:39:46Well, because, Dott, they are just promises with a catch to them, obviously.
00:39:50Yes, and here's something you evidently don't realize.
00:39:53No girl ever emotionally releases her baby.
00:39:56Before, she may think she doesn't want it.
00:40:01Afterwards, two weeks after.
00:40:03Major Ross, are you making an official charge that this woman is a front for a baby brokerage ring?
00:40:08No, I am not charging that she's a front.
00:40:10I am personally charging that she is a baby broker.
00:40:13But the girls go to her of their own free will.
00:40:15That's a technicality.
00:40:16They don't know what they're getting into.
00:40:18It's a question of whether a girl in that state of mind is competent to make a decision.
00:40:22With these people, there are no restrictions.
00:40:24The only qualification needed for getting a child is money.
00:40:28It's not like a licensed adoption home.
00:40:31It's the worst kind of slavery, Mac.
00:40:33For a price, anybody can buy a human being.
00:40:35Exactly.
00:40:37Why, if this girl hadn't found out about the death of her sister and the missing baby,
00:40:41not an eyebrow would have been raised.
00:40:45You said if we did the legwork that you'd move in.
00:40:49Mark, that would mean some girl endangering herself.
00:40:52I'll do it.
00:40:53No, Dottie.
00:40:56I don't want you to go into this with any false solutions, Miss Jensen.
00:40:59You'll be in a certain amount of danger.
00:41:01I understand.
00:41:03We'll give you all the protection we can, but...
00:41:05It's all right.
00:41:07You see, I want to do it.
00:41:08Doug, Wren, this calls for a stakeout detail.
00:41:15Stakeout is a police term meaning trap.
00:41:21The teeth of the trap are well concealed.
00:41:24In the window of the home, a district attorney's investigator, at his elbow, a recording machine.
00:41:28With hidden microphones, ready to pick up any information that could be used as evidence.
00:41:35In a nondescript truck across the street, a plainclothesman, the handyman of the detail.
00:41:39Around the corner, in a garage taken over for the purpose of three scout cars, manned by detective personnel trained for automotive shadowing.
00:41:48In a convertible, parked like any romantic couple ending a date, are a newspaper man and a girl, waiting for another kind of rendezvous to begin.
00:41:57I always figure there's a time to stand still and a time to move ahead.
00:42:18That's what you figure, is it?
00:42:19As far as I'm concerned, we ought to lay low for a while.
00:42:22Now you're giving advice.
00:42:23Did you know Mrs. Donner is figuring on taking care of more girls?
00:42:27That's her business.
00:42:29What happened to those two you were supposed to be watching?
00:42:31I got tied up with something else.
00:42:36Ticola, did Mrs. Donner tell you who that girl is I'm tagging?
00:42:40Sure.
00:42:40She's a plant.
00:42:42A stooge for the newspaper guy.
00:42:44She's a sister of the dame you took care of for Mrs. Donner.
00:42:49Her name's Considine, too.
00:42:51Who said I took care of anyone?
00:42:53Forget I said it.
00:42:55I can't.
00:42:55Because you might say it again.
00:42:58You know too much.
00:42:59And you talk too much.
00:43:01Not when I'm involved.
00:43:03And I'm in this up to my neck.
00:43:04Maybe deeper than that.
00:43:08Who told you to go messing around the Spencers?
00:43:10Right.
00:43:10I know what's going on.
00:43:12That's how I stay alive in this business.
00:43:14I just called them up and asked them if they'd change the Considine baby for another kid.
00:43:19Why?
00:43:20Are you going in for social work now?
00:43:22Or are you starting your own Sally Ann?
00:43:24I'm just doing what I think is best for all of us.
00:43:26If this girl starts kicking up too much dust, we can buy her off.
00:43:29By giving her back her sister's kid.
00:43:31Any kid would do the trick.
00:43:34If we need a trick.
00:43:36Carrick, I don't like you butting in.
00:43:39I was only trying to...
00:43:40There's a rumor going around town that I'm getting soft.
00:43:44Whenever that happens, I always cut a couple of throats.
00:43:47Just to prove a point.
00:43:48Now look, T'Cola, I...
00:43:49Who do you think would miss him, Hoppy?
00:43:51Nobody.
00:43:53You look like a good candidate.
00:43:55If you don't keep your nose where it belongs.
00:43:58All right.
00:43:59There's no need to get tough.
00:44:01I'll do what I'm told.
00:44:02I'm telling you to mind your own business.
00:44:04Okay.
00:44:06Keep in touch.
00:44:08Yeah.
00:44:10Yeah, I will.
00:44:11You'd better.
00:44:19Here we are with all the help we need and nobody to chase.
00:44:30Do you think she'll show up, Mark?
00:44:32Can't save.
00:44:33This waiting's the worst part, isn't it?
00:44:36Not for me.
00:44:38What a way to make a living.
00:44:39Parked every night with a beautiful girl.
00:44:43Tell me something about Beaverbrook.
00:44:45Not that I believe there is any such place.
00:44:47Oh, it's there, all right.
00:44:48What's the population, that counting the beavers?
00:44:51About 5,000.
00:44:53Mm-hmm.
00:44:54Not many boyfriends to choose from in town that size.
00:44:57Well, there's always been enough to go round.
00:45:00Oh, I see.
00:45:02You know, I, uh...
00:45:03I don't think you'd look good with a small-town boy.
00:45:06No?
00:45:06No.
00:45:07What you need is a city fella, so to show you off.
00:45:12Where are you from originally, Mark?
00:45:14I was afraid you're gonna ask that.
00:45:16Ash Fork, Kansas.
00:45:18Yes, but it's...
00:45:20It's mostly one off.
00:45:22And, uh, how big is Ash Fork?
00:45:25Three ash trees, one fork.
00:45:30Look.
00:45:39It's up to Dottie Jensen now.
00:45:41Keep your fingers crossed.
00:45:42Oh, young ladies, good evening.
00:45:54Hello.
00:45:54I'd like to give each of you a little Bible.
00:45:57Would you?
00:46:00Mrs.
00:46:00Mrs., uh...
00:46:01My dear, names are not important.
00:46:04You see, I represent a religious organization.
00:46:07Yes, ma'am.
00:46:07We also take care of children and find nice homes for them quickly.
00:46:11Of course, on the other hand, if you want to keep the child yourself, it can be arranged.
00:46:16Keep it.
00:46:17I don't want it.
00:46:18Oh, my dear, please, please, please, don't cry.
00:46:22I'm here to help you.
00:46:24If you like, you can leave with me right now, and we'll send back for your clothes.
00:46:28Our organization has a lovely home.
00:46:30But how can I?
00:46:32I owe so much money already.
00:46:34We take care of that.
00:46:35You don't have a worry.
00:46:37And you can feel certain that your child will be placed with people of unquestioned character.
00:46:42Come.
00:46:48SSC 1 to 3, roll them.
00:46:51SSC 2 and 3, take positions.
00:46:55SSC 1, tag black L.
00:46:58License.
00:46:58Number 3, pull, 3-6-7-0.
00:47:16Mark, she'll see us.
00:47:28Our friend in the cab will romance the heavies.
00:47:38Let's give a lift to the law.
00:47:39Mark, she'll see you.
00:47:59No.
00:48:01S.S.C. 1, tailing Black L, approaching underpass near Torrance.
00:48:26S.S.C. 3, waiting, over.
00:48:29S.S.C. 2 at Brandon, over.
00:48:32Take a stenographic transcription of this record.
00:48:36S.S.C. 1, turn off now. C. 2, take over.
00:48:39S.S.C. 3, proceed to cutoff point.
00:48:43S.S.C. 2, check. Picking up Black L at Brandon.
00:48:59S.S.C. 3 to Baby, Black L at destination, 3.30 Bullard Drive. Repeat, 3.30 Bullard Drive. Standing by. Contact.
00:49:14What's the code book on 3.30 Bullard Drive?
00:49:16Baby has 3.30 Bullard Drive. Full detail deploy. S.S.C. 3 Park, hold house in view.
00:49:21Not bad. It checks with the license tag and her name is Mrs. Leona Donner.
00:49:24If you make a point, you have a central eye bureau.
00:49:26Right. Make sheet shows no police record.
00:49:28Yet. This looks like us.
00:49:37With this ring, I do the warns.
00:49:39I know. No slip ups or Mrs. Donner will come between us.
00:49:42Not so fast. What about the references?
00:49:44We'll get to someone who knows her very well.
00:49:46Tomorrow night, we'll have a letter of introduction to Mrs. Donner.
00:49:48We have to go to the penitentiary to get it.
00:49:50Miss Considine, can you act like a married woman?
00:49:52I think so.
00:49:53Mark, you try to look like a respectable business man.
00:49:56How do they look?
00:49:58White shirt, neat suit, and the socks match.
00:50:01I'll go to a costumes and get outfitted.
00:50:09Take my word for it. Things are getting tighter and tighter.
00:50:12Me too.
00:50:13All right. Kid about it if you want to.
00:50:15But things aren't being handled right.
00:50:17Mrs. Donner does my thinking for me.
00:50:19I hope she thinks of something real funny.
00:50:23Answer the door, Harry. And put on your butter skirt.
00:50:25Okay.
00:50:26I hear you've been talking to Decolla.
00:50:28I'm sure popular. Everybody knows everything about me.
00:50:30You've been doing an awful lot of talking out of turn.
00:50:32First with the Spences and now with Decolla.
00:50:34I've got a neck I'm awfully fond of.
00:50:36Well, don't stick it out then.
00:50:37If I could get a couple of grand, I'd clear out of town for a while.
00:50:40You might sell your mother. It's the only thing you haven't tried.
00:50:43I mean it. I need the money and I need a rest.
00:50:45You couldn't get bus fare to the corner out of me.
00:50:48It might be handy not to have me around.
00:50:51It might. At that.
00:50:53Well, Mr. and Mrs. Morse, they say they got an appointment.
00:50:56Keep this out of sight.
00:51:07Fine woman, Mrs. Daniels.
00:51:09I haven't seen her for so long.
00:51:12But she always did recommend the nicest people.
00:51:15Thank you, Mrs. Donner.
00:51:17Mrs. Daniels suggested that I bring all our papers just to expedite matters.
00:51:21So I brought the marriage license.
00:51:24Never mind the red tape. I'm delighted to help.
00:51:27A home is never complete without a child.
00:51:30Would you care for something to drink?
00:51:32Oh, no. No, thanks. I can't. Wall Street lining.
00:51:37Of course you'll have something.
00:51:39Oh, thank you.
00:51:40No, no. We're on a wagon bill for two.
00:51:42I don't drink myself, but I like to be tolerant.
00:51:45Yes, indeed.
00:51:47As I was saying, Mrs.
00:51:48Moss.
00:51:50My dear, you'd make a perfect mother.
00:51:54Haven't I seen you somewhere before?
00:51:58I hardly think so.
00:51:59The ladies' club or the women's auxiliary?
00:52:03No, no. I hardly think that's probable, Mrs. Donner.
00:52:05As you know, we're visitors in town.
00:52:08And maybe it was Palm Beach this past winter?
00:52:10No. I've been so busy.
00:52:13Yes, yes, I'm sure you have.
00:52:15And now, uh, not to take up too much of your time,
00:52:19when can we expect to, uh, adopt a baby?
00:52:24Well, we have a waiting list.
00:52:25But we possibly could make some arrangement.
00:52:28We'll pay anything, Mrs. Donner.
00:52:33I do have a young lady upstairs now.
00:52:36Oh, we'd, uh, we'd be very grateful.
00:52:39The girl chosen will register at the hospital in your wife's name.
00:52:45Oh.
00:52:46In my name?
00:52:47Yes.
00:52:48Your name will be on the birth certificate as a child's mother.
00:52:50Well, that's very clever.
00:52:53This way we avoid the bothersome details of a legal adoption.
00:52:58I wonder if we could see the mother.
00:53:02I think I'd feel more secure.
00:53:04Certainly, my dear.
00:53:06This is one of the many advantages we have over the other adoption homes.
00:53:11Oh, great.
00:53:13She's gonna show someone through tonight.
00:53:16Can't we lay low for five minutes?
00:53:18Oh, you seem kind of nervous.
00:53:19We'd be, too, if you had any sense.
00:53:21I only let certain people call me dumb.
00:53:23I know.
00:53:24You told me.
00:53:25I hear she's bringing in a batch of kids from out of the state.
00:53:28What do you know about that?
00:53:29I know it ain't none of your business.
00:53:31Thank you, Miss Jensen.
00:53:33Good night.
00:53:34Good night.
00:53:41She's very nice looking.
00:53:42Yes.
00:53:43It ought to be a beautiful baby.
00:53:46Just going down the stairs.
00:53:47I'll take a look.
00:53:48You stay put.
00:53:49You got us in enough trouble.
00:53:52Yeah.
00:53:53Polish that off.
00:53:54I'll lock the door.
00:53:59I'd be very happy to give you a check now, Mrs. Donner, and close the deal.
00:54:03I'm sorry.
00:54:04These money matters are always so embarrassing.
00:54:06We prefer cash.
00:54:08Oh, well, uh...
00:54:09Well, I have some money with me.
00:54:13I have $500.
00:54:14Well, I could give you that on account.
00:54:16We were staying at the Presidential Hotel.
00:54:18Then later I could send the balance over.
00:54:20That will be satisfactory.
00:54:23You can't imagine how much we appreciate this, Mrs. Donner.
00:54:27In my work, there's such deep satisfaction.
00:54:30I should be calling you within 24 hours.
00:54:33Presidential Hotel.
00:54:34Good night to you, both of you.
00:54:36Good night, sir.
00:54:41I says once you got us in enough trouble.
00:54:47Quiet!
00:54:48You're spying on you, casing this couple.
00:54:49You must be getting sloppy with your references.
00:54:51It was the Considant girl and the reporter.
00:54:53Oh, I thought her voice reminded me of someone.
00:54:55Get out the back way, Harry, and see if the house is being watched.
00:54:58Now they know a little bit more.
00:54:59Did they see you?
00:55:00No.
00:55:01Good.
00:55:02They probably marked down all the serial numbers.
00:55:03I don't like the way things are going.
00:55:05You never do.
00:55:06I want to get out.
00:55:07You'll stay here until I speak to Decola.
00:55:09All right.
00:55:10All right.
00:55:11All right.
00:55:12All right.
00:55:13There.
00:55:14There.
00:55:15Let's go.
00:55:16Let's go.
00:55:35Anybody watching?
00:55:36No, dead as a morgue.
00:55:38Hey, where are you going?
00:55:40Mrs. Downer sent me to do something.
00:55:43Ask her.
00:55:44I will.
00:55:52In a vacant house across the street, another meeting had been arranged for Mark and Paula.
00:55:56So that's the set-up.
00:55:58They registered the girl under the name of the couple buying the baby.
00:56:01Mm-hmm. It's a neat trick.
00:56:02It means that Mary could have been registered under any one of the five names that I have here.
00:56:07That's Kelly, Spence, Korchak, Rabin, and Trent.
00:56:10Don't have all five of those women brought in tomorrow with their husbands.
00:56:13One of those nurses at the hospital must have been lying.
00:56:15Sure, but which one?
00:56:16Oh, that's just routine from now on.
00:56:18How about Dottie Jensen?
00:56:19Oh, she's in no danger, as long as they still want the baby and they're not suspicious.
00:56:23Come on, we can get out of here. Are you sure you've pulled it off?
00:56:26Well, we're up for an Oscar next year for our performances.
00:56:29All right, go on back to your hotel and wait for her to call you.
00:56:32And let us know them and then anything breaks.
00:56:34Why would I keep it a secret?
00:56:35I rented a bungalow cabana for you.
00:56:37Your posing as a wealthy couple is costing the taxpayers 25 bucks a day.
00:56:41Don't I know it? Part of those taxes are mine.
00:56:45We've come a long way since Ash Fork and Beaverbrook.
00:56:52Boys in the pool room could only see me now.
00:56:57What's the matter?
00:57:02I hated to leave Dottie in that place.
00:57:05She'll be all right.
00:57:06Mark, Mrs. Donner had Mary killed, didn't she?
00:57:15It looks that way.
00:57:17When she comes up for trial, everything about Mary will have to be brought out, won't it?
00:57:24You wouldn't want Donner to get away with her, would you?
00:57:27I don't know. Maybe I would if it would make it any easier on the baby.
00:57:32People forget. By the time she's grown up, nobody will remember a thing about it.
00:57:37Maybe. I keep wondering how Mary would feel about it.
00:57:42It's out of our hands now.
00:57:44Dottie's over there taking a big chance for you.
00:57:47Police have been called in.
00:57:49I don't suppose you could keep Mary's name out of it.
00:57:53Mrs. Donner goes to trial. I won't be the only newspaper man there.
00:57:57Good night, Mark.
00:58:02Why don't you come down to the bar and have a nightcap?
00:58:05No, thanks. Good night.
00:58:07Good night.
00:58:10Good night.
00:58:16I'm sorry to tell you this, Mrs. Spence, but it looks as though the whole thing has gone sky high.
00:58:21I don't understand.
00:58:23Somebody's gotten on to the deal. We're all about to get a call from the police.
00:58:28But Mrs. Donner assured me it was perfectly safe.
00:58:31It's too bad, Mrs. Spence. There must have been a leak somewhere.
00:58:35But what can we do? I couldn't give up the baby now. She's almost like our own.
00:58:40That's why I called you. I know how you must feel.
00:58:45I have a few connections around town. I might be able to quiet things down.
00:58:51Yes, Mr. Carrick. Please, you must.
00:58:53Of course, it'll take money.
00:58:55How much?
00:58:56Oh, a couple of thousand anyway.
00:58:59But we couldn't possibly.
00:59:01Why don't you let me talk to Mr. Spence?
00:59:04He's away on a business trip. But I know we don't have the money, Mr. Carrick.
00:59:09You know, you're in this as deep as any of us.
00:59:11I can't help it. We simply don't have it. Maybe we could raise some.
00:59:15I'll need it tonight.
00:59:17But that's absolutely impossible.
00:59:19All right, Mrs. Spence. All right. I may call you later.
00:59:25Mr. Carrick, please.
00:59:27Good night.
00:59:28Mr. Carrick. Mr. Carrick, please.
00:59:41Presidential Hotel.
00:59:52Mrs. Moss.
00:59:54Just a moment, please.
01:00:02This is Carrick.
01:00:03Carrick.
01:00:04Is Sitko there with you?
01:00:06Of course not.
01:00:07Are you alone?
01:00:08Yes.
01:00:09How badly do you want your sister's baby back?
01:00:12I'll do anything.
01:00:14Maybe we can make a deal.
01:00:16I know you were at Mrs. Donner's tonight.
01:00:20Are you there?
01:00:21Yes.
01:00:22You're not to talk to anyone, do you understand?
01:00:25I understand.
01:00:26I'll know if you cross me, because I'm having you watched.
01:00:30You needn't worry about that.
01:00:32What about the baby?
01:00:34It's going to cost you.
01:00:36I have about $1,500 in traveler's checks.
01:00:39Get them cashed at the desk there.
01:00:41Bring them with you.
01:00:42Where?
01:00:43I'll need about an hour.
01:00:44I'll call you back.
01:00:45All right.
01:00:46Now get this through your head.
01:00:48I'm really desperate, so don't try any tricks.
01:00:51I won't.
01:00:52If you do, I'll take it out on the kit.
01:00:55I said I wouldn't.
01:00:56Please don't hurt her.
01:00:57She'll be all right, if you behave.
01:01:06How can this Kirk expect to stay healthy, keeping such late hours?
01:01:16We'll talk.
01:01:17You don't pay me to talk.
01:01:19I don't like waiting for people.
01:01:21What do we do now?
01:01:32We just keep driving around the block.
01:01:34We've been around three times already.
01:01:36Please do as I tell you.
01:01:37Okay.
01:01:38Okay.
01:02:06Stop!
01:02:08All right, hurry up.
01:02:13That okay?
01:02:14Yeah, sure.
01:02:15Beat it.
01:02:23Where is she?
01:02:24I'm taking you to her.
01:02:26Did you bring the money?
01:02:27Yes.
01:02:28Is she all right?
01:02:29She's fine.
01:02:30Where was she?
01:02:31Don't ask too many questions.
01:02:33I'm sticking my neck out a mile each way in this thing.
01:02:35It's worth every penny.
01:02:37I'm not complaining.
01:02:38Well, here we are.
01:02:39I'll be quiet when we go in.
01:02:41I'll be quiet when we go in.
01:02:42I'll be quiet when we go out a little bit.
01:02:43Come on.
01:02:44Come on.
01:02:45I'll be quiet when we go out a little bit.
01:02:46I'll be quiet, man.
01:02:47Come on.
01:02:48You left her here alone?
01:03:10She wasn't going anywhere.
01:03:12Now, how about the money?
01:03:13You're to stay here until tomorrow morning.
01:03:19Don't try to get out.
01:03:20This place is owned by friends of mine.
01:03:22They'll tell you when you can leave.
01:03:43About time.
01:03:46You'll have to make better last words than that for Mrs. Donner.
01:03:49Let's go.
01:03:50You'd better stop talking, Carrick.
01:04:01I don't know anything about it.
01:04:03Sure, you always go around with $1,300 in your pocket.
01:04:07Mrs. Spence called, Carrick.
01:04:08We know everything that you've been up to tonight.
01:04:11I tell you, I don't know anything about it.
01:04:13Stop that nonsense.
01:04:14I told you I had somebody else here.
01:04:16Be quiet.
01:04:17Stop mocking him up.
01:04:18What's another mark?
01:04:19He can be a hit-and-run victim.
01:04:20Be realistic.
01:04:21Where's the child?
01:04:22And where did you get the money?
01:04:24Let him talk, stupid.
01:04:27The money's mine.
01:04:29I've been saving it.
01:04:30I was going to clear out of town.
01:04:32You should have started sooner.
01:04:34Hold up his arm, Moppy.
01:04:35This is a little game we used to play after Sunday school.
01:04:52Stay here.
01:04:56What is it, darling?
01:04:57Mrs. Donner, it's time.
01:04:58Well, get back into bed and I'll call an ambulance.
01:05:00I'm sorry.
01:05:01I just got up to turn on the light.
01:05:03Well, that's all right.
01:05:04You stay in bed.
01:05:04I have a patient in the next room.
01:05:13Here comes the jackpot.
01:05:14Truth, the consequence.
01:05:16All right.
01:05:16All right.
01:05:17I took the kit.
01:05:19Where is it?
01:05:20I gave it to the concert iron girl.
01:05:24She gave me the money.
01:05:27I parked them in the boarding house.
01:05:2942-11 Argyle.
01:05:30What room?
01:05:32Eight.
01:05:33Anything else?
01:05:34That's all there is to it.
01:05:37Believe me.
01:05:38We'll see.
01:05:39Leave him alone.
01:05:41He told you.
01:05:41Why, Harry, we're just having a little good, clean fun.
01:05:44Come on.
01:05:50Have all of you gone crazy?
01:06:04Yes.
01:06:04Crazy enough to find out where the kit is.
01:06:06Harry, watch Carrick.
01:06:07Come on, you two.
01:06:08Looks like he won't never come up.
01:06:12We have to get over there right away.
01:06:14We can get rid of the body later.
01:06:16Our only chance is to pin the whole thing on Carrick.
01:06:18Have the girl and the baby found in his car.
01:06:21The baby, too?
01:06:21You're throwing away good money.
01:06:22I'm paying the bills.
01:06:24All right.
01:06:24So Carrick tricked up the suicide.
01:06:26And in the same place.
01:06:27Exactly.
01:06:28And we'll follow in my car to see that you do as good a job as you did the last time.
01:06:31Mrs. Donner!
01:06:34Mrs. Donner, please!
01:06:36All right, Dotty.
01:06:38It has to happen now.
01:06:39So you'll break even.
01:06:43Operator.
01:06:44Bimini Hospital.
01:06:45Emergency.
01:06:46Anybody got a match?
01:06:48Hello?
01:06:53Nurse Sully, please.
01:07:04Yeah?
01:07:04Mark?
01:07:05Just got a break in the case.
01:07:06We won't have to wait any longer.
01:07:07Spence baby was kidnapped tonight.
01:07:09Who?
01:07:10Spence.
01:07:11She's one of the women on your list.
01:07:12She's in our office now.
01:07:13She's just giving us a full confession about buying the Constine baby.
01:07:17What do you mean the baby was kidnapped?
01:07:19I don't know how that figures it.
01:07:20But we've got enough now to move in on the whole gang.
01:07:23We're going over to Downers.
01:07:24You want to be there?
01:07:24Sure.
01:07:25All right.
01:07:25I'll give you ten minutes to dress and then start.
01:07:28Meet us there and hurry up.
01:07:29Is everything set?
01:07:30All set.
01:07:31We'll leave in ten minutes.
01:07:32We'll leave in ten minutes.
01:07:32We'll leave in ten minutes.
01:08:01Just keep it quiet, honey.
01:08:19You better do as they say, Miss Consuline.
01:08:21Once they get started, it's pretty hard to stop them.
01:08:25And the baby might get hurt.
01:08:27What do you want?
01:08:27Just come along with us, and we'll see if we can't straighten out this little misunderstanding.
01:08:33Quietly, I said.
01:08:37We don't want to wake up the neighbors.
01:08:47Nurse, you've got to get me a telephone.
01:08:49I sent for one, Mrs. Moss, but I don't think you'll have time to place a call.
01:08:52Somewhat ice cream, lobster, tomatoes, strawberries.
01:08:56This one, a phone call.
01:08:58What did you want, Mrs. Moss?
01:08:59I'll get it.
01:09:00The district attorney, Chief McRae, please.
01:09:03Get that telephone away from her.
01:09:06She's in no condition to be making a call.
01:09:08Well, after all, Sally.
01:09:09This is a private case, and I'm in charge.
01:09:11Now take the telephone out of here.
01:09:13But please...
01:09:14Pardon me.
01:09:28Hiya, Mark.
01:09:29Nobody home.
01:09:30I think I got a reason for the kidnapping.
01:09:33Carrick must have been planning to double-cross the rest.
01:09:35He stole a baby, and they made a deal with Paula.
01:09:37Does he have any money?
01:09:38Some, I don't know.
01:09:39Carrick isn't planning anything.
01:09:41He's in there, dead.
01:09:43Dead?
01:09:43Mm-hmm.
01:09:44Beaten to death.
01:09:45I think you figured it right.
01:09:48How about Paula?
01:09:48Not a sign of her.
01:09:49Or the Jensen girl.
01:09:50They must have taken him along when they decided to beat it.
01:09:52Well, come on.
01:09:53Let's get going.
01:09:54Now where?
01:09:55I got a call out on Donna's car.
01:09:57You think of anything else?
01:10:00Yeah.
01:10:01Yeah, the woman.
01:10:01The nurse at the hospital.
01:10:02The one that lied to us.
01:10:03All right.
01:10:03It's better than doing nothing.
01:10:05Now, please stay here until homicide gets here.
01:10:07Okay.
01:10:07Okay.
01:10:07Okay.
01:10:08Okay.
01:10:11It was Miss Sully took care of Mrs. Spence.
01:10:22Would you tell her we'd like to see her?
01:10:24I'm afraid she can't be disturbed.
01:10:25She's on a private case.
01:10:26We'll have to put someone else on there.
01:10:27We want to talk to her right away.
01:10:33Send Miss Sully down.
01:10:37I'm sorry, you can't see her now.
01:10:39Her patient is just ready for the delivery room.
01:10:43Do you mind if we wait?
01:10:55Wait a minute.
01:10:55What's that patient's name?
01:10:59Moss.
01:10:59Dottie.
01:11:00Miss Tripp take us to Miss Sully.
01:11:01We're arresting her.
01:11:05Meet you in the car, Mark.
01:11:07Dottie.
01:11:08Dottie, what happened?
01:11:09I tried to reach you.
01:11:11Carrie.
01:11:12They forced him to tell where Paula.
01:11:14They're going to kill her and the baby and try to make it look like suicide.
01:11:18Where?
01:11:19They said the same place they took Mary.
01:11:22Thanks.
01:11:22You take good care of her.
01:11:23You'll be all right.
01:11:24All right.
01:11:24All right.
01:11:24All right.
01:11:24All right.
01:11:24All right.
01:11:25All right.
01:11:27All right.
01:11:29All right.
01:11:31All right.
01:11:37All right.
01:11:38All right.
01:11:39All right.
01:11:57All right.
01:11:58All right.
01:12:00All right.
01:12:06it's all rigged we can leave we're not leaving here until the whole affair is finished
01:12:20i'm not being paid by the hour you're not being paid until i'm sure
01:12:24staff 44 to control one requesting assistance paradise hills unfinished country club development
01:12:35code three
01:12:35i don't like waiting
01:12:42wait ten minutes more didn't i tell you no smoking
01:13:05this is it
01:13:10hey we're getting company
01:13:22hit your hands off punchy
01:13:24poppy hear those headlights throttle down the motor
01:13:28punchy huh i don't like nobody calling me punchy
01:13:44where's the fire punchy
01:13:46no matches on this ride
01:13:47kill the headlights
01:14:04this is down on the chauffeur
01:14:18come on
01:14:20stay on the cover mark
01:14:32no deal mac
01:14:33i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:14:35only one guy shooting there were two cover the car
01:14:55i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:14:56i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:14:57i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:14:58i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:14:59i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:15:00i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:15:01i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:15:02i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:15:03i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:15:04i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:15:05i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:15:06i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:15:07i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:15:08i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:15:09i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:15:10i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:15:11i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:15:12i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:15:13i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:15:14i gotta get to paul on that kid
01:18:15Interesting people, these small-town girls.
01:18:17But whatever the time or wherever the place, this did happen in a city which may be your home.
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