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00:00To be continued...
00:30Oh, my God.
01:00Archie. Archie. I believe we have an uninvited guest. Let the others, please.
01:30Archie.
02:00Nothing.
02:02Only the rarest, most priceless orchid in the world.
02:07It's gone.
02:09My puff, Sundari Alam, is gone.
02:14I've been robbed!
02:30All the time.
02:33Don't you mind why you Direction?
04:05Was? All I'm hearing here is past tense. You giving up on getting the dingus back?
04:10Well, Mr. Wolfe thinks it was taken by somebody who had it in for him.
04:13You will have to excuse me, Mr. Kramer. I really cannot discuss this further.
04:20Yeah, sure. I understand.
04:27I guess. Is he going to be all right? Looks all shook up. It looks like a volcano about to explode.
04:32What can I tell you? I've never seen him like this either.
04:35All over one lousy organ? Can you believe it?
04:46It's all panzers in the kitchen.
04:48What?
04:50The Magruder case.
04:53Archie, you have to bear with me.
04:56At the moment I am trying to control an anger I have never felt before.
05:01Yes?
05:07I want to see Nero Wolfe.
05:10He's not seeing anyone today.
05:13Tell him it's a guy who stole his flower.
05:14I am waiting, sir.
05:25Name's Bobbage.
05:27Morty Bobbage.
05:28Rhymes with garbage.
05:31Boy, you got no idea how many times I've heard that one.
05:33Not undeservedly, one suspects.
05:36Now about my orchid, Mr. Bobbage.
05:39I guess I better tell you about that, huh?
05:40Well, I kind of figured I'd hang on to your flower until you do a little something for me.
05:47That was not burglary you did last night.
05:49It was kidnapping, sir.
05:51You were holding my pop sundry on him for ransom.
05:54Yeah.
05:55Morty, I said to myself,
05:57it's going to take a hotshot detective like this Nero Wolfe to get you out of the trouble you're in.
06:03There's no way that I could come up with the kind of money that you get to take on a case.
06:07Please spare me the rest.
06:08I am trying to control an urge to violence.
06:13Well, that's the way it is, Mr. Wolfe.
06:15As soon as you get me out of trouble, you get your flower back.
06:19Well, maybe there's a faster way to get it back.
06:23Like if I spend a few minutes alone with Mr. Garbage here.
06:26That's garbage!
06:28Now, you listen.
06:28You lay one hand on me,
06:30Mr. Wolfe's flower gets chopped up for coleslaw.
06:33And that's a promise.
06:34Yes.
06:38Desist, Archie.
06:45I will quite frankly do anything to assure the safe return of my sundry on him.
06:51Including work for you, sir.
06:54In what sort of trouble do you find yourself, Mr. Barbage?
06:57Well, it started a couple of days back.
07:01I needed some loot in a hurry, and so I took on his job, which was, uh...
07:07So it was not to guilt the lily or nothing.
07:09I was the relay getaway driver for the guy that robbed the Dunaway estate.
07:13Archie, have you heard of such a robbery?
07:15Yeah.
07:16Yesterday's paper.
07:17The thief got a million in heirloom jewelry.
07:20Impressive.
07:20And what precisely does a relay getaway driver do?
07:26Okay.
07:27Um...
07:27I'm parked in an alley ten blocks down the avenue in a, uh, borrowed van, uh...
07:34With the back open, ramped down, and my motor's running.
07:37Now, Al Sereno, he's the action guy, comes around the corner on his motorbike,
07:41up the ramp, pulls it closed, and I'm driving away with him.
07:45And where did you drive this person?
07:48Warehouse over in Queens.
07:49Dropped him off, ditched the van, took the subway back.
07:55Next thing I knew, cops found Sereno dead and a Jules gun.
08:00Now I got Sereno's people after me on an account that they think that I'm the one
08:03that tagged them and swiped the Jules.
08:05Probably got the police after me for murder.
08:10So all I want is you should find out who really iced Sereno and swiped the loot.
08:16And get me out of this mess.
08:17Mr. Barbage, you are aware, of course, that you have committed a felony.
08:22All I did was drive.
08:24I got paid $200 to drive Sereno on his motorbike from Manhattan to Queens.
08:29That's all I did.
08:30Nevertheless, you are a felon.
08:33And what I will do for you is this.
08:35I will attempt to find the real killer of this Sorrento prison and recover the jewels.
08:41But I will not protect you from the law.
08:44Is that understood?
08:49Okay.
08:52Deal.
08:55If that's the best I can do.
08:57Very well.
08:58If you will wait here, I will prepare a list of instructions for the care of my orchid.
09:04And I expect you, sir, to follow them to the lesser.
09:14Sure.
09:15Whatever you say.
09:16Is Saul still here?
09:26In the kitchen.
09:27He ought to be on his third helping of pancakes by now.
09:31Tell him to follow Barbage when he leaves, eh?
09:34And you can best occupy your morning by visiting me Dunaway home.
09:37All right?
09:38Right.
09:38Yes, of course, I've heard of your employer, Mr. Goodwin, but I fail to see why Nero Wolfe is interested in me.
09:52Well, it's like this, Mr. Dunaway.
09:54Mr. Wolfe has just received a case that might touch on the robbery you had a couple nights ago.
10:00I'd pay a great deal for what was taken from my safe.
10:04If Wolfe can return my property.
10:07Well, if he can't, he will.
10:09No strings attached.
10:13If he does, my insurance company will see that he gets a proper finder's fee.
10:19You mind if I take a look over the scene of the robbery?
10:22Yes, the library's down the corridor.
10:24Thanks.
10:26Oh, uh, Goodwin.
10:28Look, but don't touch.
10:30I'm a collector who doesn't like other people's fingerprints all over his possessions.
10:35Hands in my pockets at all times.
10:37Yes, this all seems about right.
10:51Uh, excuse me.
10:53Uh, Mr. Dunaway didn't say anyone would be in here.
10:56I'm Archie Goodwin.
10:58How do you do, Mr. Goodwin?
10:59I'm Lois Dunaway.
11:00This is Carl Loring.
11:01Mr. Goodwin?
11:02Nice to meet you.
11:03Uh, Mrs. Dunaway, I'm here about the robbery.
11:06Would you mind if I had a look at your safe?
11:07Ah, of course.
11:09It's over here.
11:10He, uh, didn't tap it?
11:22No explosives?
11:23No, just opened it up and cleaned it out.
11:27We're running into more of this all the time.
11:30New breed of safe crackers these days.
11:33Computers, electronic tumbler detectors.
11:36Do you make safes, Mr. Loring?
11:40Uh, no.
11:41I'm, uh, with the company that insured Mr. and Mrs. Dunaway's possessions.
11:45As I was saying, uh, we're getting used to this kind of thing.
11:48Expensive safes opened almost at will.
11:51Elaborate security systems bypassed.
11:53You know, that was going to be my next question.
11:56What about the alarms?
11:57Oh, well, Andrew and I heard nothing that night.
12:00The alarms didn't go off.
12:01The thief shorted them out somehow before he came in.
12:04How did he come in?
12:06That he did the old-fashioned way.
12:08Sawed the bars off the basement window and kicked it in.
12:11Still here, Goodwin.
12:12I see you've met my wife and our insurance agent.
12:15Mr. Goodwin is a private detective, darling.
12:18Haven't seen much of you lately, Loring.
12:20No, sir.
12:21Sorry about your jewelry.
12:22No, it's not my jewelry.
12:24My wife's.
12:26Bunch of stuff her family accumulated when they had lots of money and very little taste.
12:31Quite the opposite from their situation now.
12:34Right, my dear?
12:36Must you, Andrew?
12:37In front of strangers.
12:39Well, now, if you recall, Lois, your side of the family has the breeding.
12:44Now, all I brought to this marriage was a great deal of money.
12:49After your parents lost theirs.
12:52I don't have to put up with your bullying, Andrew.
12:55Not anymore.
12:58Yes, I understand the cliché now.
13:01You know, you really are beautiful when you're angry.
13:09I may have forgotten to have mentioned that before.
13:12I'm sorry, Mr. Goodwin.
13:20My husband has his marks.
13:23Yes?
13:31Yes?
13:32Yes, sir.
13:33Where are you?
13:34I followed that barbage guy way uptown.
13:36He went inside a cold water walk-up a couple minutes ago.
13:40There's a verna barbage on a mail slot in the lobby.
13:43Maybe a sister.
13:44Or a mother or a wife.
13:46Present or past.
13:47Would you mind speaking up, sir?
13:50There's a blue and white paper.
13:54Hey.
13:55You're stopping in front of the building?
13:56Bob is just wanting to.
13:59And I've got a ringside seat.
14:00If my orchid plant is in that apartment, Saul, you have to get up there.
14:04Get up there, Saul, and save my sanctuary on them.
14:08Do you hear me, Saul?
14:11Saul?
14:12So, anyway, I had a cup of tea with Mr. Wolfe.
14:24Such a distinguished person, isn't he?
14:27And he explained about you taking his flowers so he'd work for you.
14:30Morty, that wasn't right what you did.
14:33I was desperate, Werner.
14:35A guy doesn't know if I'm right when he's desperate.
14:40How about it?
14:42Can Wolfe bring me out of here?
14:44It's like the man said, Morty.
14:46He'll do what he can to clear you in the Sorrento killing.
14:50But you're going to have to take what they give you for your piece of the robbery.
14:54Yeah.
14:56What makes me even think that he can clear me of the murder rap?
15:01I'm glad you divorced me, Werner.
15:04This time I'm going inside for life, it looks like.
15:07Morty, don't say that.
15:09Well, why should things change for me now?
15:12Once a loser, always a loser.
15:14That's me.
15:20Well, thanks for coming to see me anyway.
15:24Thanks for driving her down here, Mr. Goodwin.
15:26Sure.
15:28Mr. Goodwin, would you mind if I had a word with Morty in private?
15:32I'll be right outside.
15:40Morty, I want you to give Mr. Wolfe his flower back.
15:43You've got to be kidding.
15:47That plane's my last chance, Werner.
15:50He gets his orchid back.
15:51Wolfe's going to drop me like a hot rock.
15:54Give it back?
15:55Morty, please.
15:58For me, honey.
16:00Please.
16:00Come on.
16:03Come on.
16:03Would you come up for a minute, please?
16:21I have a surprise for you.
16:23Sure.
16:24I love surprises.
16:25Let's see.
16:51Okay.
16:52I wish I could see Mr. Wolf's face when you bring this back to him.
17:02I could tell he was really upset about Morty taking it.
17:06You talked Morty into telling you where he ate it.
17:09I didn't do much talking, Mr. Goodwin.
17:11He's really not a bad person.
17:14I guess not.
17:15The lady as nice as you could be in love with him.
17:22Goodbye, Archie.
17:24I hope I see you again sometime.
17:52Satisfactory, Archie.
18:10Most satisfactory.
18:12Whoever went through Verna's apartment really wanted those jewels in a bad way.
18:16I called Inspector Kramer.
18:17Where he's going to send some men over to keep an eye on the place in case they come back.
18:21Albert Sorrento's mysterious people, no doubt.
18:25They should be your next task, Archie.
18:27Check out the late Mr. Sorrento's connections.
18:31Now, wait a minute.
18:31You got your orchid back.
18:32We're going on with this case?
18:34Only to clear Morty Barbage of the murder.
18:36Actually, I believe he is exactly what he claims to be.
18:39A guilty bystander who has been set up for the larger crimes in this case.
18:44And after all, he did, unbidden, return my orchid with no hope of my further involvement.
18:51Yeah.
18:52So I did.
18:54Yes.
18:58Ah.
19:00Magnificent is she not, Theodore.
19:02A thing of beauty, sir.
19:04And home.
19:06Yes.
19:07Rock, rock, rock.
19:36Hey, creep, get away from the bike.
19:45Is this a Sorrento apartment? Albert Sorrento?
19:48Who wants to know?
19:50My name's Archie Goodwin. I'd like to talk to Mrs. Sorrento.
19:54It's a bad time.
19:56We're having kind of a memorial service.
20:00Solly, let him in.
20:06Hello, Goodwin.
20:12If I knew you were a friend of Al's, I would have sent an invitation.
20:20Tracton. That's it, Bert Tracton.
20:23Didn't think you'd remember. It's been a long time.
20:27Meet the family. Albert's widow, Estelle, his three brothers, Carmine, Leon.
20:33Solly, you already met.
20:35So you're related to Albert, too?
20:38Yeah, he was my brother-in-law.
20:40Estelle's my baby sister.
20:43So what's Nero Wolfe's gopher doing in the low-rent district?
20:48Well, he has an interest in how Albert got his clock stopped.
20:51How and by whom.
20:53Also, in what happened to the jewels he lifted from the Dunaway safe.
20:57So why doesn't he ask his client, Morty Barbeach?
20:59Barbeach.
21:02Happens I was outside the station when you took Morty's ex-wife in for a visit.
21:06No big deal.
21:08I'm impressed, Bert.
21:10You know, I seem to remember that you had a talent before they pulled your PI license.
21:14Yeah, I had talent, but no class.
21:19All the big money customers went to the fancy uptown private eyes like Wolf.
21:24I had to take the leftovers.
21:26So what are you taking these days, Bert?
21:29A piece of Albert's action, maybe?
21:31Oh, you got the smarts, all right.
21:33I'm just wondering if you're smart enough to do yourself some good when the right chance comes along.
21:38Like now, maybe?
21:39There's a certain party I know that is willing to pay a lot of money for a tip on where Morty Barbeach stashed the Dunaway loot.
21:51Oh, sure there is.
21:52But I couldn't help you out even if I wanted to, Bert.
21:55Sorry.
21:56Arch, kiddo, I'm talking big bucks here.
21:59A hundred foul for a phone call.
22:02Maybe more.
22:03Even if I was interested, I'd have to pass.
22:06Now, Morty didn't stash the loot because he didn't take it.
22:09He also didn't kill Albert Sorrento.
22:11No?
22:12Then why is Wolf working for him?
22:15Morty didn't have two dimes to rub together before the Dunaway job.
22:20Now and again, Wolf takes on a case for reasons other than money.
22:24Don't con me, kiddo.
22:26Wolf went Morty's bail, didn't he?
22:30Got him out of the slam.
22:31Who else would go his bail?
22:34What are you talking about?
22:36Bail?
22:37That's right.
22:38He's out.
22:41Oh, Bert.
22:46Bert.
22:47Now, who were the brains behind the Dunaway robbery?
22:50You, maybe?
22:51The words out on the street that Sorrento was nothing but muscle.
22:55Period.
22:56No brains.
22:58Go home, Goodwin.
23:00It was you, wasn't it?
23:02You're making work for your brother-in-law.
23:03Well, Albert Sorrento was nothing but a cheap punk who didn't have brains enough to haul himself out of the suit.
23:10Did you hear what he said about our Albert?
23:13Called him a punk.
23:14Fellas.
23:15Fellas.
23:19Fellas.
23:20Bert.
23:21Don't look at me, kiddo.
23:23I couldn't stop him, even if I wanted to.
23:25Come on, Walter.
23:26Down.
23:37A Gautam.
23:38Go on.
23:39Don't look at me.
23:40Come on.
23:40Run.
23:42Go on.
23:43Go on.
23:44Get your край.
23:46Boom.
23:46Come on.
23:47Good morning, Archie. Did you sleep well?
24:06Oh, not terrific. I kept dreaming about apes in bowling shirts chasing me and catching me.
24:12You must try something that Fritz has prepared for you.
24:15It's quite satisfactory, as a matter of fact. It's hangtown fry, eggs and oysters.
24:22They're an excellent nerve tonic, you know.
24:24It'll make you feel better.
24:26Just coffee, Fritz.
24:29You know, I've given some thought to your theory about Bert Tracton and the Dunaway robbery, Archie.
24:34If Bert Tracton didn't plan that heist, I'll go back to the Sereno brothers unarmed.
24:39Hmm. Tracton is a likely candidate, no doubt.
24:42Well, what about Morty Barbage? Anybody hear from him since he got sprung?
24:46Who do you suppose win his bail?
24:48I was just about to suggest that you phone Mrs. Barbage about that.
24:51Here, I have her number right here.
24:55Saul is on his way to her place right now. He should be arriving any moments.
24:59Hello? Oh, Mr. Goodwin.
25:16Yeah, Miss Bar... Miss Barbage?
25:20Mrs. Barbit!
25:31No!
25:32Mrs. Barbit!
25:33No!
25:40He's...
25:41He's in the situation.
25:44Oh...
25:45And I expect
25:48an immediate reply since silly narrowball.
25:54Mrs. Barbage?
25:55In the spare bedroom, like you said.
25:57Doc's finishing with her now, so she'll be okay.
25:59Satisfactory.
26:00Apparently you arrived not a moment too soon.
26:03Yeah.
26:04You got in a couple good whacks before I got there.
26:06A pity you did not get a good look at him, Saul.
26:08Yeah.
26:09Just that one shot when he ducked into the kitchen
26:11and out the back way.
26:12All I could see was he was big.
26:14Maybe Mrs. Barbage can tell us more about him.
26:17And not till she wakes up, she won't.
26:19The doctor just gave her a shot to calm her down.
26:23Thank you for your efforts, Saul.
26:24I am most grateful, needless to say.
26:28Uh...
26:28Mind if I hit Fritz for some breakfast?
26:31All I had was a bagel this morning.
26:32Of course.
26:33Maybe just a double order of pancakes.
26:39Oh, we can talk in the library.
26:42I don't know what we'll talk about.
26:45Now, this, uh, Barbage person you're looking for,
26:48why would he want to get in touch with me?
26:50Well, actually, Mr. Dunaway,
26:52it was kind of a long shot.
26:54Now, if Barbage has been lying to Nero Wolfe,
26:57he might have tried to sell you back
26:59your stolen jewelry last night.
27:00Oh, dear me.
27:02Don't tell me the great Nero Wolfe
27:03takes on a questionable client now and then.
27:06Well, I must say I find that rather refreshing.
27:10Well, hello again.
27:13Back so soon, Maury.
27:14I must say I'm impressed with all this
27:17personal attention we're getting.
27:19Yes, I must tell you, Superior is just
27:20how impressed when this is all over.
27:24Yes, sir.
27:25And it may be over soon.
27:27I was just telling Mrs. Dunaway.
27:29Really?
27:31We've had a nibble at our offer
27:34to pay a $200,000 finder's fee
27:36for the return of the jewels.
27:38Well, Lois,
27:40looks like our troubles are nearly over.
27:42Oh, that must come as a great relief for you.
27:47Yes.
27:48I'm delighted, of course.
27:51I must say,
27:52you don't look delighted.
27:56Not even a little bit delighted.
28:03I suppose I'm overwhelmed
28:05by all the good news.
28:08Excuse me, please.
28:12Emotional woman, my wife.
28:16Has one of her many charms.
28:20Well, I'd better be getting back.
28:22My intermediary will be calling the report.
28:24One quick question, Mr. Loing.
28:26If it's quick.
28:28Yesterday, a man named Morty Barbage
28:30was bailed out of jail.
28:31Now, some pretty hefty bond money.
28:34Now, he was a suspect in the theft
28:36of Mrs. Dunaway's jewels.
28:38Now, it turns out that a young lawyer
28:40and the employee of your insurance company
28:42put up the cash.
28:44Oh?
28:46Tell me, Laurie.
28:49Why would you want to bail out a man
28:50who was suspected of robbing us?
28:53Mr. Goodwin's not with the police.
28:54I don't see why I should answer his questions.
28:57Oh, that's all right.
28:58Just answer it to me.
28:59Try not to listen, Goodwin.
29:01Yes, we bailed Barbage out
29:04in the hope that he would realize
29:07that those jewels were next to impossible defense
29:09and would get in touch with us for a finder's fee.
29:13And did he?
29:14Someone did.
29:16I've been dealing through a second party,
29:17a friend of Barbage's.
29:20It's all pretty tricky.
29:22Yeah, I can imagine.
29:24I mean, just finding a friend of Morty's
29:26can be one heck of a trick in itself.
29:28Now, this friend of Morty's,
29:30the intermediary.
29:32Now, you were ready to hand him
29:33$200,000 in cash,
29:35no questions asked.
29:37It's a lot better than paying
29:39the full million-dollar indemnity
29:40if the jewels are never recovered.
29:43That's the way my company operates.
29:46You know, I can't wait to tell
29:47Nero Wolf about your company.
29:49Do you insure Orchids by any chance?
29:51I really do have to leave.
30:01I think you really had him on the rack, Goodwin.
30:03You know, I can't quite understand
30:05your change in mood, Mr. Dunaway.
30:08Did your dog die or something?
30:10Do you believe this house, Morty?
30:18Honestly, the more I think about it,
30:20the more I think it is just about perfect.
30:23Can you imagine people living in a house like this?
30:27Must be wonderful.
30:27Yeah, wonderful.
30:30Oh, and that Mr. Wolf, he deserves it.
30:33He's such a sweet man.
30:35He didn't have to bring me here.
30:36I mean, after everything that happened.
30:39I could have gone to the clinic.
30:41He's okay.
30:42They're both okay, Wolf and Goodwin.
30:44This house, I just can't get over it.
30:46You know, I can't help thinking that
30:51if you'd managed to stay out of trouble,
30:54you know, held down a regular job and all,
30:56maybe we could have something a little like this.
30:59You gotta be kidding.
31:00This place is worth a fortune.
31:02Oh, I don't mean this big.
31:05But a place of our own, Morty.
31:09People live like that.
31:14Some people.
31:16Guess I'm not like that, Verna.
31:21Seems like everything I try
31:23just goes straight down the tubes.
31:26You just try the wrong things.
31:32That's all.
31:34And you keep trying to be something you're not.
31:39If you could let other people see
31:41how sweet you are underneath.
31:43Verna, honey.
31:45Sweet doesn't cut it in this world.
31:48Tough is what it takes.
31:50Morty.
31:52Listen.
31:54I'm not either one,
31:55or am I trying to kid.
32:01Verna.
32:04I want you to tell me now.
32:08You recognized him, didn't you?
32:10Morty.
32:10The man that beat you.
32:12Don't you think you're in enough trouble already.
32:16Please don't make me tell you, Morty.
32:18Please.
32:21Please.
32:21Please.
32:21You listen to me, Tracton.
32:30We're alone now.
32:32No Sorrento brothers to run interference for you.
32:35I want some answers about this Dunaway thing.
32:38Straight answers.
32:39What happens if I tell you to beat it?
32:43You're going to lean on me?
32:45It's not my style.
32:46I'm willing to make an exception.
32:49Only you got a little problem.
32:52We're not alone.
32:53How you doing, creep?
33:01Solly couldn't make it.
33:03He had a meeting with his probation officer.
33:08Yeah.
33:09He'll be sorry he missed you.
33:11Look, fellas.
33:12Don't make me do anything rash, huh?
33:14Too much violence in the world already?
33:16Creep's got a gun, Leon.
33:17Yeah, my last bullet wound's just finished healing.
33:20Get up!
33:23Freeze!
33:25Morty, it's good to see you.
33:27Just stay out of my way, Goodwin.
33:29I'm here to see Bert.
33:32You with a knife.
33:33Drop it or read it.
33:46Come on, move.
33:49Keep him away from me, Goodwin.
33:50He's going to kill me.
33:51Don't look at me, Bert.
33:52I couldn't stop him, even if I wanted to.
33:54Isn't that how it went?
33:55You shouldn't have done that to Verna.
33:57She never done nothing to you.
33:59Just a little tap to get her attention.
34:01Hey, I hit my own little baby sister worse.
34:04Not anymore, you won't.
34:06Morty, maybe we ought to talk about this.
34:08I told you, Goodwin!
34:10Do you really want to waste this nothing
34:11when he can probably clear you of this whole Dunaway mess?
34:15Morty, listen.
34:16I can clear it up.
34:17I can help you.
34:18Listen to it, Morty.
34:19Listen to it.
34:20Listen to it, Morty!
34:22Listen to it, Morty!
34:34I wish I could do one thing right in my whole lousy life.
34:38You just did, Morty.
34:42You just did.
34:46Come on.
34:47We'll take Bert to see Mr. Wolf.
34:50The fellas, we're going to be leaving now,
34:51so kindly keep your hardware on the floor
34:53if this thing goes off.
34:54Let's go, Bert.
34:55You're off to see the wizard.
34:56Come on.
34:58Bye, Bert.
35:01Come on.
35:02Oh, my God.
35:32Oh, my God.
36:02Oh, my God.
36:04Oh, my God.
36:06Perhaps that's our problem.
36:08We've been distracted by the lowlife elements of the case.
36:11Bert Tracton, the Sorrentos, and Morty Barbage, of course.
36:15I'm wondering if we should not look upward, raise our sights, so to speak.
36:19How high is up?
36:21I'll leave that to you, far be it from me to clip your investigative wings.
36:26I think I just got turned loose on a better class of suspect.
36:31Carte Blanche?
36:32Within reason, Archie.
36:34Always within reason.
36:36Hmm.
36:48Oh, my God.
37:19Bingo.
37:24Mr. and Mrs. Dunway, sir.
37:26Show them in, Fritz.
37:33You'd be near a wolf.
37:36In the flesh, sir.
37:38All of it.
37:39As advertised.
37:41Please sit down.
37:48Mr. Loring, sir.
37:53Ah, the final member of our group.
37:55And what have you there, Mr. Loring?
37:57I've got them.
37:58The stolen jewels.
38:00When I heard the Dunaways were going to be here, I decided I should bring them along.
38:03Well, Mr. Loring, you're intermediary delivered, I see.
38:14Tell me, how were the jewels actually returned?
38:17The man I've been dealing with camped out on a dirt road in New Jersey all night.
38:21Well, finally, about four o'clock this morning, some man comes along on a motorcycle.
38:25Face covered, and he exchanged the jewels for $200,000.
38:34That character put a lot of miles on that motorcycle.
38:38I saw him behind my townhouse around 2 a.m. last night.
38:46Go on, Mr. Dunway.
38:48Well, I suppose he hoped he could get a better price for the jewels from me.
38:53I tell him to deal with the insurance people.
38:55Interesting.
38:57Let us file that for future reference.
39:00Now, why don't we start from the beginning?
39:08First, the theft itself.
39:10The Dunaway jewels were quite identifiable, difficult to fence.
39:15So, why take them?
39:17I submit their theft was incidental.
39:19There was something else in that safe, which was the real object of the burglary.
39:24I've heard of jumping to conclusions, Wolf.
39:26You just pole vaulted.
39:28Consider this.
39:30Archie Goodwin reported to me that on his first visit to the Dunaway home,
39:36he saw Andrew Dunaway bully his wife,
39:40and she defied him openly, causing him to back down.
39:45On the second visit, one day later,
39:49Mr. Dunaway was in a happier mood, and he bullied his wife again.
39:53This time, she does not defy him.
39:55She does not stand up to him.
39:57She merely flees his presence in utter defeat.
39:59I submit, Mrs. Dunaway, the mysterious item in the safe.
40:03He gave your husband power over you.
40:07When it was out of his possession, you could defy him.
40:09When he regained it, which he did last night, you could not.
40:12Power over her.
40:14Power over her.
40:14It sounds like voodoo.
40:17No, sir.
40:18It sounds like blackmail.
40:21Which brings us to another member of our group, the late Mr. Bert Tracton.
40:27Archie.
40:29Bert Tracton did a lot of divorce work, keyhole photos.
40:32He lost his license when he got greedy and tried to branch out the blackmail.
40:37Precisely.
40:38Now our known facts begin to suggest a scenario.
40:42To wit, Lois Dunaway had a lover.
40:47Her husband discovers the infidelity and finds his way to Bert Tracton,
40:53renowned for his photographs of illicit lovers.
40:57This is the most incredible bilge I've ever heard.
41:00Before you protest too much, Mrs. Dunaway,
41:03let me inform you that Archie Goodwin followed you today
41:06when she went to your apartment, Mr. Loring.
41:10Oh, really.
41:10The wife of one of my best clients.
41:13And before you protest overly much,
41:16let me say, sir,
41:18that after Mr. Goodwin learned what he did,
41:20we had our associate Saul Panzer check you out.
41:23Quite a different Carl Loring emerges.
41:25Not the office-bound insurance executive,
41:29but a man of dash and daring,
41:32who skis, scuba dives, even skydives.
41:37That Carl Loring would dare to love a wealthy client's wife.
41:42That Carl Loring would even dare to commit murder.
41:46Sit down, Loring.
41:48The quote has definitely got my attention now.
41:51To return to our scenario,
41:53Lois Dunaway wishes to divorce her husband
41:58and marry Mr. Loring.
42:00But when her husband shows her Bert Tracton's photos,
42:03she realizes divorce is out of the question.
42:06Not only would her reputation be blackened,
42:08but she would emerge with very little of Mr. Dunaway's wealth.
42:11So, Mrs. Dunaway,
42:13you schemed to get the photos away from your husband.
42:15You reasoned that since Bert Tracton got you into your trouble,
42:19he might get you out.
42:21You hired him.
42:23Gave him a layout of the house and its security system.
42:26With this sort of head start,
42:28even Albert Sorrento could crack the safe's combination.
42:31I can buy most of this, Wolf,
42:33but how does it get us to Loring here as the murderer?
42:36Inescapably, sir.
42:39First,
42:40is it such a leap of reason to believe
42:42that a man who skydives and scuba dives
42:45also knows which end of a motorcycle one points down the road?
42:49But more importantly,
42:52I suspect Mr. Loring had come to realize
42:54that when he married Mrs. Dunaway,
42:56he would be wedding an unfaithful wife.
42:59Not altogether a consummation he devoutly wished, one suspects.
43:04So when Lois Dunaway planned to recover the photos,
43:06Mr. Loring saw a chance to emerge not only free of her,
43:10but also with a great deal of money.
43:13This is completely insane.
43:16Oh, most sane, I fear, Mrs. Dunaway.
43:18Mr. Loring and Bert Tracton plan to meet Sorrento after the robbery.
43:23But Loring finds the means to delay Tracton
43:26to meet Sorrento alone,
43:28kill him,
43:29and take the jewels and the photographs.
43:32The jewels he ransoms for his company,
43:34pocketing the $200,000.
43:37The photographs he takes anonymously to Mr. Dunaway
43:40and sells for...
43:41How much, sir?
43:43$300,000.
43:45You made yourself a fast half million.
43:48Tax-free.
43:50There remained the matter of Bert Tracton,
43:52the only one who might eventually figure out what had happened.
43:55When an enraged Morty Barbage failed to eliminate Tracton for you, Mr. Loring,
44:00you followed Mr. Goodwin and Tracton here on a motorcycle
44:03and gunned Tracton down on my very doorstep.
44:07A matter I took quite personally.
44:09I assure you.
44:12It's true, isn't it?
44:16Everything he said...
44:18I just wanted money.
44:26I thought you loved me.
44:27Let's face it, Lois.
44:33What the man said is right.
44:35I mean, bottom line,
44:38you're just another cheating wife.
44:43I had my life to get on with.
44:47Let's get on with it, Mr. Loring.
44:48Good night, Mr. Donovan.
45:06Listen.
45:08Listen.
45:11Listen.
45:11Listen.
45:11Listen.
45:13Listen.
45:15Listen.
45:17Listen.
45:45Listen.
45:45Listen.
45:46Listen.
45:47Listen.
45:47Which proves once again, Archie, that love can be truly blind.
46:07Why don't we wait here until I can get his attention?
46:10We won't be here. We just want to say goodbye.
46:13Yeah, and I want to thank him for putting in a good word with Inspector Kramer.
46:17He said maybe I'll get a break if I tell everything I know about the robbery.
46:23What's the matter? Trouble with your pithy, your whatever you call it?
46:28I'm afraid there is no doubt about it, Archie.
46:31The pub sundering on him is wilting a month earlier than it should.
46:36Oh, hey, was it something I'd done?
46:38I do not know, Mr. Barbage, if it were possible...
46:42Mr. Wolfe! Come here, come here.
46:44Yes, what is it?
46:44Look, look at this.
46:45What?
46:47Well, what is it?
46:48The tip of the column is beginning to swell.
46:50What?
46:51Look at this.
46:52Why, that's impossible.
46:54Oh, no, it's possible.
46:55If a bee got to it when it was on that tenement roof...
46:58If a bee got to it?
46:59Yes.
46:59Yes.
47:00Yes.
47:00Mr. Barbage!
47:05Oh, Mr. Barbage!
47:08Let me see again.
47:10Let me see again.
47:11Yes, it's true.
47:12Mr. Barbage, you may, sir, have done the orchid world a great service.
47:22The pub sundering on him has self-pollinated, sir.
47:25I could never have done it myself.
47:27Cause the premature wilting of that magnificent flower, I would have left it virgin and untouched
47:31until it turned brown and dropped off its stem.
47:34But now, I'm not sure, but I think you got his flower pregnant.
47:42He's about to become a father.
47:45Yes.
47:46Oh, congratulations, Theodore.
47:48Oh, congratulations.
47:49Oh, Theodore.
47:51Don't cry, Theodore.
47:53Everything is the worst.
47:54I don't like it.
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