The Straw Man (1953)
74 min | Crime, Drama | October 1953 (UK)
An investigator from an insurance company is hired to look into the mysterious murder of a wealthy client's mistress. Meanwhile, the deceased's wife hires a gumshoe too. The trouble begins when the insurance detective begins suspecting the wife and her detective of being behind the killings.
Director: Donald Taylor
Writers: Doris Miles Disney (novel), Donald Taylor
Stars: Dermot Walsh, Clifford Evans, Lana Morris
74 min | Crime, Drama | October 1953 (UK)
An investigator from an insurance company is hired to look into the mysterious murder of a wealthy client's mistress. Meanwhile, the deceased's wife hires a gumshoe too. The trouble begins when the insurance detective begins suspecting the wife and her detective of being behind the killings.
Director: Donald Taylor
Writers: Doris Miles Disney (novel), Donald Taylor
Stars: Dermot Walsh, Clifford Evans, Lana Morris
Category
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Short filmTranscript
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00:03:05Isabelle, twice this week a man has followed me home.
00:03:11What?
00:03:12Yes, a man has followed me.
00:03:14Fatal stakes, my dear Lucy.
00:03:16If I weren't your cousin, what reason could a man have for following you?
00:03:21If you were a young, pretty girl, it would be different.
00:03:23But as it is...
00:03:24I don't know.
00:03:25Of course you don't, because he wasn't.
00:03:28It was coincidence.
00:03:29Yes.
00:03:31Lucy, you haven't been worrying or imagining anything else.
00:03:38I mean, one does hear of women, especially when they've never married.
00:03:42Not really, Isabelle.
00:03:44♪♪♪
00:04:01Well, that's her all right.
00:04:02Quite sure?
00:04:03No doubt at all. I've seen her every day for nearly a year.
00:04:08Now, Mr. Lewis, you own a house in Archer Street.
00:04:12Yes.
00:04:13And you identify the body as that of Miss Celia Worth.
00:04:16What do you know about her?
00:04:18She was a nice, quiet tenant.
00:04:20Did she ever keep company with the young men?
00:04:23She was home most nights, alone usually.
00:04:26That is, till last winter.
00:04:28What happened then?
00:04:29I saw her arrive with a good-looking fellow, well-dressed.
00:04:32She said good evening to me, and they went inside.
00:04:35Did you ever see the young man again?
00:04:37I certainly did, time and again for many months.
00:04:40Would you say they were very friendly?
00:04:42Very. She acted real happy.
00:04:44Did she ever tell you who the young man was?
00:04:46No, but I did notice he had an American accent.
00:04:53I'm Inspector Conrad, Brighton CID.
00:04:55I'm looking for Lincoln Hunter.
00:04:57Who are you?
00:04:58Kessler, Mr. Hunter's menser.
00:05:00He's not here. He's on his honeymoon in Paris.
00:05:03In there?
00:05:09Sit down.
00:05:10There are one or two questions I want to ask you.
00:05:17When did the Worth girl first come here?
00:05:19I don't know who you mean.
00:05:21A girl called Worth?
00:05:23Don't fence with me. You know very well whom I mean.
00:05:25Oh.
00:05:26I don't know who you mean.
00:05:28I don't know who you mean.
00:05:30Don't fence with me. You know very well whom I mean.
00:05:32Oh. Very well.
00:05:34About early November.
00:05:35Often after that?
00:05:37Yes.
00:05:38She would come to dinner and still be here when I was ready to go home.
00:05:43Did she ever, as far as you know, spend the night here?
00:05:46No.
00:05:47But she had a key to the front door?
00:05:49Yes.
00:05:50When did you notice they were less friendly?
00:05:53I saw that was coming after Mr. Hunter met his new wife.
00:05:57I saw it before the girl did.
00:05:59He threw her over like an old shoe.
00:06:01Instead of coming a couple of times a week, she hardly came at all.
00:06:05In April, she stopped entirely.
00:06:13Mr. Hunter?
00:06:15Numero 15, Monsieur.
00:06:30I am sorry to disturb you, Madame, but we must speak to your husband.
00:06:34But he's in bed.
00:06:36I am sorry, Mrs. Hunter. I am a police inspector.
00:06:39We have to see him.
00:06:46Will you wait here a minute, please?
00:07:00Thanks.
00:07:02Oh, if it's about the parking car in front of the hotel, I can explain that.
00:07:07I'm sorry, Mr. Hunter. It's more serious than that.
00:07:09I'm Inspector Conrad with the Brighton Police.
00:07:15Oh, don't you worry, honey.
00:07:18Look, wait back in the bedroom a while, huh?
00:07:30You knew a girl called Celia Wirth?
00:07:33I knew.
00:07:34She is dead.
00:07:38Oh, that's terrible.
00:07:41How did it happen?
00:07:43That's what I'm here to ask you.
00:07:45What do you mean?
00:07:47Celia Wirth was murdered on the night of May the 29th, in your house.
00:07:52Well, that's impossible.
00:07:56Well, that's impossible.
00:07:58I only saw the kid a couple of weeks ago, and she was well and fine and...
00:08:04well, happy.
00:08:06Mr. Hunter, can you account for your movements on May the 29th?
00:08:11May...
00:08:13May 29th, huh?
00:08:18May 29th.
00:08:21Yeah.
00:08:22Yeah, it's curious. I can.
00:08:25That was the night I had the blackout.
00:08:28I had a few drinks at the country club.
00:08:31Later on, I remember going out to the dance floor,
00:08:34and suddenly I felt faint.
00:08:36Then I didn't remember another thing, you know?
00:08:39Not another thing.
00:08:41The next morning, my man came to waken me,
00:08:44and I was in my own bed,
00:08:47with a wicked thirst,
00:08:49and a head like a balloon.
00:08:52Yeah, it was a complete blackout.
00:08:54Have you anything else to add to that?
00:08:57No. No, I honestly haven't.
00:09:00It never happened to me before. That's why the date stuck in my mind.
00:09:03Then I have no alternative.
00:09:05I have here a warrant for your arrest for the murder of Celia Worth on the night of May the 29th.
00:09:10I propose now to take you back to England, where you will be formally charged and brought before a magistrate.
00:09:14You can't do this to me. I'm an American citizen.
00:09:21Hello, Jeff.
00:09:23Having a good holiday?
00:09:25Yes. What I managed to get of it.
00:09:27You'll pick it up later.
00:09:29I've never known you backward in looking after your own interests.
00:09:32That's why I broke it up.
00:09:34Well, what is it this time?
00:09:36I've got a job for you. A real tough one. You'll love it.
00:09:39I'll just run through the high spots.
00:09:41In January of this year, John Wick, as our agent in Brighton,
00:09:44sold a 30-payment life policy to Lincoln Hunter.
00:09:47It was for 20,000 pounds.
00:09:49Nice round figure.
00:09:51The basis of semi-annual premium payments.
00:09:53The first premium was paid and the policy delivered.
00:09:56How old is Hunter?
00:09:5831 when Wick wrote the policy.
00:10:00He was engaged and later married.
00:10:02The insurance was made payable to his estate.
00:10:0520,000 pounds. That's an invitation to murder, isn't it?
00:10:08Hunter hasn't been murdered. He seems to have done the murdering.
00:10:11Done what?
00:10:13He's allegedly accused of committing a murder.
00:10:15Now, if he gets hanged, Commonwealth will have to foot the bill.
00:10:18But didn't they check...
00:10:20I can write through the insurance with a fine tooth comb. We can't fight it.
00:10:23And it's my job to see he's not hanged.
00:10:26Who was he supposed to have killed, anyway?
00:10:28His ex-girlfriend.
00:10:30He was manager of the Meredith Works, a subsidiary of an American company.
00:10:34Papers are building it up into a pretty lurid affair.
00:10:37They would.
00:10:39You're a local man, Mr Wick.
00:10:42Tell me something about Hunter.
00:10:44He's very popular here in Brighton, Mr Howard.
00:10:46I thought he was a guilt-edged risk.
00:10:48I thought the same thing.
00:10:50I congratulated myself on landing him for Commonwealth.
00:10:52I never dreamed that he'd be the sort of man...
00:10:54Of course you didn't. Who would?
00:10:56What's the defence going to be?
00:10:58I don't know.
00:10:59The papers say that Hunter's story is that he got drunk at a party,
00:11:02was brought home and put to bed,
00:11:04and the next thing he knew he was being woken up by his servant.
00:11:06But that can hardly be the defence. They wouldn't have a hope.
00:11:09I hear that Porter's handling the case.
00:11:11Yes, he arrived in Brighton yesterday.
00:11:13I think I'll go down and see him.
00:11:16May I see your credentials, Mr Howard?
00:11:18Yes, certainly.
00:11:25Would you sit down?
00:11:29Now, what can I do for you?
00:11:31Well, I don't know, Mr Porter.
00:11:33I just thought it might be an advantage...
00:11:35if we got together from time to time to talk the case over.
00:11:38We do have a common interest in freeing Hunter.
00:11:41What do you think of the whole thing?
00:11:43Well, he's obviously in a tight spot.
00:11:45Otherwise you wouldn't be here.
00:11:47You always get the hard ones, don't you?
00:11:48Well, I get my share of them.
00:11:51There seems to be a curious lack of other suspects.
00:11:55Other suspects?
00:11:56Yes.
00:11:59I shouldn't take too gloomy a view of it, Mr Howard.
00:12:01I've handled worse situations in my time.
00:12:04Well, I'm glad you're confident.
00:12:06Do you mind if I see Hunter?
00:12:08I'd just like to ask him a few questions.
00:12:10Yes, I see no reason why not.
00:12:12Well, my clerk will give you the authorization.
00:12:14Oh, that's very good of you.
00:12:17You've got a lot of money tied up in Hunter.
00:12:19Do you think we'll have to pay it?
00:12:21Unless you've got some clues about criminal acts.
00:12:23No, we haven't.
00:12:24Then it looks like you're out of luck.
00:12:26Hunter handed that girl a lousy deal.
00:12:28How have you people figured it out?
00:12:30Just about the way it is in the papers.
00:12:32Hunter got the girl into trouble and then deserted her.
00:12:35She went to his house the night she was murdered to have it out with him.
00:12:38If she had a key, we know that.
00:12:40What time?
00:12:41Oh, around 8 o'clock.
00:12:42Hunter was 15 miles away.
00:12:44He says he passed out about 10.30.
00:12:46People who came home left his car in the garage and then took his fiancée home.
00:12:50But from what I've read and heard, none of these people saw the worst girl in Hunter's home.
00:12:54Oh, but that wouldn't do him any good.
00:12:55Because Hunter's house was the last place she was seen alive.
00:12:57And he had the opportunity and motive to kill her.
00:13:00Maybe the defense will argue that it was some other man.
00:13:02That he went to Hunter's house, had on Hunter's coat, killed her,
00:13:05and wrapped her in a blanket longing to hunt her.
00:13:07But no jury will go for that.
00:13:09I know.
00:13:12It's surprising how many simple mistakes people make, Mr. Howard.
00:13:15There's no reason why your company shouldn't try to work out a different answer.
00:13:18You've got a lot of reasons.
00:13:1920,000 of them.
00:13:20You're telling me.
00:13:21Sometimes I get the right answer, sometimes I don't.
00:13:24I'm afraid this is one of the times you don't.
00:13:26How right you could be.
00:13:27Well, good luck.
00:13:29We're not out to hang the wrong man, you know.
00:13:31Well, that's a comforting thought anyway.
00:13:39My name's Howard.
00:13:40I am.
00:13:43I spoke to Mr. Porter yesterday and he gave me permission to see you.
00:13:46He did?
00:13:47Mr. Hunter, I know you've told your story many times.
00:13:51But I'm here to help you.
00:13:52So I'm afraid I must ask you to go at it again.
00:13:55Why should you help me?
00:13:57What could you do?
00:13:58I don't know yet.
00:13:59It's my job.
00:14:00I've been an investigator for quite a few years.
00:14:03I'm afraid I still don't understand.
00:14:06Just because they carry insurance on me, why should Commonwealth be...
00:14:11Oh.
00:14:14Oh, I see.
00:14:16Preventive insurance, eh?
00:14:17Like preventive medicine.
00:14:18Yeah, that's about it.
00:14:21Well, I have nothing to lose.
00:14:23Where shall I start?
00:14:26Tell me about Celia Worth.
00:14:29All right.
00:14:31We...
00:14:33We had fun together.
00:14:35We had fun together.
00:14:38Ah.
00:14:40Those lousy, streaky men.
00:14:43Do not have to set a high value on what comes easy.
00:14:47That's true enough.
00:14:49Well, then came Ruth.
00:14:52She had every reason to set a high value on herself.
00:14:56Because I felt for her in a way that was...
00:14:58I wasn't anything like the way I felt for Celia.
00:15:01Well, when all the trouble started,
00:15:03Celia wanted me to go to her hometown
00:15:05and pose as her husband before her friends and neighbors.
00:15:08Well, then I was to leave her.
00:15:10And after that, she'd come back to London,
00:15:12and in a few months, she'd write back home saying,
00:15:14we've got a divorce.
00:15:17Tell me what happened in the club that night.
00:15:20I didn't feel in the mood for it.
00:15:22That's why I started drinking.
00:15:25By ten o'clock, I'd had a good many.
00:15:28One of the waiters came over to Ruth
00:15:30and said she was wanted on the phone
00:15:32and while she was gone, I went back to the bar
00:15:35and had another drink.
00:15:37And when she came back, I had a double scotch.
00:15:41And that finished me.
00:15:44I remember going back to the dance floor
00:15:46and leaning on Ruth.
00:15:50And then my cousin Clay came up to me
00:15:51and said I needed some air.
00:15:54Well, as I got outside,
00:15:57I just didn't remember another thing.
00:16:02Did you hear any sounds in the night?
00:16:04I didn't hear a thing.
00:16:06Yeah, it seems pretty conclusive that Celia Worth
00:16:08was murdered in your living room.
00:16:10If you were not there, then someone else must have been.
00:16:13I can't figure it out.
00:16:15I've thought about it.
00:16:17Believe me, I have.
00:16:19I can't believe I'm here.
00:16:21I can't.
00:16:22I must be going crazy.
00:16:24I can't believe this has happened to me.
00:16:26I can't believe that Celia was murdered. I can't.
00:16:33Oh, I see.
00:16:35I'll go and call my daughter.
00:16:51Mr. Howard, you came about the same time as I did.
00:16:55I'm sorry.
00:16:57I'm sorry.
00:16:59Mr. Howard, you came about my husband's insurance.
00:17:03Yes, in a way.
00:17:04Won't you sit down?
00:17:09The policy will be cancelled now, won't it?
00:17:11Oh, no, Mrs. Hunter.
00:17:12Once we accept a risk, we go through with it.
00:17:14But with such a large policy
00:17:16and the charge against your husband such a serious one,
00:17:18we make our own investigation.
00:17:20The way things are with Link, what can I tell you?
00:17:24Tell me what happened that Tuesday at the club.
00:17:28Well...
00:17:30Link seemed quiet and morose when he came for me that night.
00:17:34I thought he'd been overworking in London.
00:17:37Some of the people at the club kidded me about Link,
00:17:40asking if we'd had an argument or something.
00:17:43I didn't realize he'd been drinking so heavily
00:17:45until after I came back from taking a phone call.
00:17:48We had a drink together and started dancing,
00:17:51and he could hardly stand up.
00:17:53I signaled to Clay Rushlow, Link's cousin, and we got him outside.
00:17:57My one thought was to get Link home
00:17:59without the whole place knowing what had happened.
00:18:01Johnny Gordon drove Link's car, and I sat with him,
00:18:04and the Rushlows followed in their car.
00:18:07Johnny had Link's keys,
00:18:08so we knew we could get into the house all right.
00:18:11Did they have to carry him into the house?
00:18:13Yes, he wasn't able to walk.
00:18:15Mr. Howard, he was totally unconscious.
00:18:18Why, it's preposterous to say he did all those things that night.
00:18:21He couldn't have.
00:18:23You locked the front door?
00:18:26I don't remember.
00:18:28But as far as you know, the house was locked back in front.
00:18:31Yes, I didn't try the doors myself,
00:18:34but Johnny and Clay said they were.
00:18:36Did you all leave together in Mr. Rushlow's car?
00:18:39Yes.
00:18:40Where did you go?
00:18:41I went home.
00:18:42The others wanted me to go back to the club, but I refused.
00:18:45I felt it would be awkward,
00:18:47and it was after 11 anyway by that time.
00:18:50Aha.
00:18:52Was your mother awake when you got home?
00:18:55She woke up when I went upstairs and wanted a hot water bottle.
00:18:58I filled it, and then I went to bed myself.
00:19:01I didn't see or hear from anyone else at all that night.
00:19:04Tell me, Mrs. Hunter, have you a car of your own?
00:19:07No, right now I'm using Link's.
00:19:10We haven't had a car since my father died.
00:19:12Why do you ask?
00:19:13Oh, no particular reason.
00:19:16Did you see the London papers while you were away?
00:19:18Yes, now and then.
00:19:20I only glanced at them.
00:19:22If there was anything about Celia Worth, I didn't see it.
00:19:25After all, we were on our honeymoon.
00:19:30Oh, you're leaving.
00:19:32Mr. Howard, you will try and help Link, won't you?
00:19:35Yes, I'll be in touch with you later.
00:19:37I'm afraid there'll be more questions.
00:19:39The questions go on and on,
00:19:40and all the time Link has to stay in that awful jail.
00:19:43I wish there was something I could tell you to help Link.
00:19:45He's in a terrible jam.
00:19:48I gather, Mr. Gordon, you consider Hunter is guilty.
00:19:51Well, they didn't say that.
00:19:52No one's guilty until it's been proved against him, is he?
00:19:55No.
00:19:56Sugar?
00:19:59Have you known him long?
00:20:01Three years.
00:20:02My firm looks after Meredith's accounts.
00:20:04Know him well?
00:20:05Just oughtn't on.
00:20:06I didn't really see very much of him until last spring.
00:20:09That was when Ruth...
00:20:11Mrs. Hunter started going around with him all the time.
00:20:14You've known Mrs. Hunter longer?
00:20:16Yes.
00:20:18The first person you ask will tell you
00:20:20that I've been in love with her for years.
00:20:22But I was just an old story to her.
00:20:25But she has never become an old story to you.
00:20:29No, she never will.
00:20:31Well, that's hardly a new situation, is it, Mr. Gordon?
00:20:34I suppose not.
00:20:36She certainly made a mistake about Hunter.
00:20:39Well, that's not definite yet.
00:20:42Suppose we get down to what happened on the night of the party.
00:20:46Well, everyone knew how I felt about Ruth,
00:20:48so I thought I'd be a good loser and go along to her party.
00:20:53She came in with Link.
00:20:55He looked like an angel.
00:20:57But Link was looking pretty soured.
00:20:59As soon as they got inside the place,
00:21:01he grabbed a cocktail from a waiter,
00:21:03and he drank all evening.
00:21:06Did it cross your mind at all that he might have been shamming?
00:21:09Good Lord, no.
00:21:10When I carried him to the house, he was like a sack of potatoes.
00:21:13What did you do after you put Hunter's car away?
00:21:15Well, the four of us left in Clay's car.
00:21:17Ruth said she was tired and she wanted to go home,
00:21:20so we dropped her at her house and went on to the club.
00:21:22What time was that?
00:21:24Well, it was about five past eleven when we left Link's place, I suppose,
00:21:28another ten minutes before we got to Ruth's house.
00:21:31What did you do when you got back to the club?
00:21:33Did you stay long?
00:21:36Well, I wanted to go home straightaway,
00:21:39but, um, there was a girl.
00:21:42I, um, managed to get rid of her later on,
00:21:45and, well, then I went home.
00:21:50You went straight home?
00:21:53Yes.
00:21:55What's the matter?
00:21:58There's nothing the matter.
00:22:00I mean, naturally, this affair bothers me.
00:22:03Yes, so it seems.
00:22:05I haven't seen Mr. Howard. You've got to believe me.
00:22:07I'm not mixed up in this affair.
00:22:10Any ideas?
00:22:11Yes, I have.
00:22:14The company is probably going to lose its money.
00:22:18There's only one in a thousand chances that Hunter didn't do it.
00:22:22What's the one in a thousand?
00:22:24I don't know.
00:22:26I've been bothered from the beginning by the fact that Hunter didn't do anything
00:22:29from the night of the party to his wedding day.
00:22:32That worries me.
00:22:34Well, there's only one thing I can do,
00:22:36and that's believe he's telling a straight story.
00:22:38Look, there's only a few days to the trial.
00:22:40I've got a lot of work to do. I shall need some help.
00:22:43Do you want someone from London?
00:22:45No, I'll just look around locally. I think a local man would be better.
00:22:48Okay, do it your way. Get a local man.
00:22:51Good luck.
00:22:53Thanks. You'll need it.
00:22:55My office.
00:22:59I was in the force some years ago.
00:23:03But I saw no future in that,
00:23:05so I decided to strike out on my own.
00:23:07I studied law at night school.
00:23:09Took insurance courses. Not doing too badly.
00:23:12Any messages, Miss Ward?
00:23:14No, Mr. Fenton.
00:23:15Come along into the Holy of Holies.
00:23:17I didn't think you'd need any help when I wrote to you,
00:23:20but from the newspapers, I guessed there'd be a lot of routine work.
00:23:23You guessed right.
00:23:27Well, have you formed any ideas yet?
00:23:30Well, what about Hunter's house keys?
00:23:32How many people did he give them to besides the girl?
00:23:34No one.
00:23:36Settle with that. Where would you like me to start?
00:23:39I think the first job I'd like you to do
00:23:41is to check on all the people who were at the party on the night of the murder.
00:23:44Well, you'll want the list verified.
00:23:46Shall I check it with Mrs. Hunter and the Rushlers?
00:23:48Yeah, good idea. Do that first.
00:23:50What about Hunter's neighbors?
00:23:52Oh, we'll see them too.
00:23:54From what I hear,
00:23:56Porter's having difficulty in finding another man in the girl's life.
00:23:59The coincidence of another man being in Hunter's house
00:24:02the night the owner was dead drunk
00:24:04and the girl there is a bit far-fetched, don't you think?
00:24:06Yeah, I do.
00:24:08And that leaves us with the people we know were there.
00:24:10The Rushlers, young Gordon, Mrs. Hunter.
00:24:12Hey, have you thought about her?
00:24:14Next to Hunter himself, hers would be the strongest motive.
00:24:17Well, if we're going to consider Mrs. Hunter,
00:24:19we've got to consider an accomplice.
00:24:21She couldn't have walked back to Hunter's house from another's.
00:24:24She hasn't got a car.
00:24:26I checked with every taxi and car hire in Brighton.
00:24:28So we come back to an accomplice.
00:24:30Of course, there's always Johnny Gordon,
00:24:32but he doesn't fit the part somehow.
00:24:34You know, we've been thinking along the same lines.
00:24:37Otherwise you wouldn't have done so much checking on Mrs. Hunter.
00:24:39I always think of everyone.
00:24:41Yeah, so do I.
00:24:43Mrs. Hunter gets the life insurance
00:24:45and everything else if Hunter is hanged.
00:24:47You know, when there's a large money motive in a case,
00:24:51it haunts me.
00:24:53The police still have the rug, huh?
00:24:55Yes. I've been told not to talk about the nurse.
00:24:59Oh, well.
00:25:03How long have you been with Mr. Hunter?
00:25:05Since he arrived here in 45.
00:25:08And after Miss Worth stopped coming here,
00:25:10when did you see her next?
00:25:12In the morgue.
00:25:14But she called on the phone.
00:25:16Yes, that night.
00:25:18She asked for Mr. Hunter.
00:25:20He was taking a shower and I was in his bedroom
00:25:22laying out his clothes when the phone rang.
00:25:24I asked her to wait and called him.
00:25:26I suppose you heard what they were talking about?
00:25:28Yes. They talked quite a while.
00:25:31Finally, he said,
00:25:33Celia, it's no use going into that again.
00:25:36You know I'm marrying Ruth Saturday.
00:25:38Uh-huh. Then what happened in the morning?
00:25:40I let myself in the back door.
00:25:42I filled a coffee percolator, set the table,
00:25:45and knocked on Mr. Hunter's door.
00:25:47Too much party last night, Leon, he said to me.
00:25:51Did you notice if there were any bloodstains?
00:25:54I mean, on Mr. Hunter's underclothes
00:25:56or the suit he was wearing or around the house?
00:25:58No, sir. But later on...
00:26:00Oh, yes, I know. The bloodstain coat.
00:26:03Was there much blood on it?
00:26:05Well, just smears here and there.
00:26:07Uh-huh. And then you found the clothes
00:26:09at the bottom of the cupboard,
00:26:11pushed in as if they'd been hidden?
00:26:13Well, it was right back in the corner.
00:26:15But I always dust the cupboard floor
00:26:17as regularly as the rest of the room.
00:26:19Mr. Hunter knew what my routine was.
00:26:21In other words, he knew you'd find the clothes?
00:26:23Yes.
00:26:25Don't you think that was rather strange of him?
00:26:27I try not to think about it.
00:26:30I talked to the butler about Hunter's clothes.
00:26:33Now, there's a difference between a smear of blood
00:26:35and a spatter of blood, isn't there?
00:26:37I'm not going to allow any of that in evidence.
00:26:39Either way would work to the prosecution's advantage.
00:26:41Yes, but I can't see Hunter getting blood on his clothes
00:26:44and leaving them around for Kessler to find.
00:26:47The prosecution will argue that Hunter was careless
00:26:50because he was rattled.
00:26:52Anything but that he was too drunk.
00:26:54Obviously, they'll say he was shamming.
00:26:56What other line can they take?
00:26:58They can't admit drunkenness
00:27:00when they're out to convict him of murder.
00:27:08Mr. Hodge, you've got to do something, please.
00:27:11He isn't guilty.
00:27:13You may be sure I'll do my best, Mrs. Hunter.
00:27:15You mustn't lose heart.
00:27:16Mr. Porter will do everything possible for your husband.
00:27:18Whatever he does, it won't be enough.
00:27:20I just know it won't.
00:27:22I believe if anyone can help him, you can.
00:27:24I'm far from satisfied with the prosecution's evidence.
00:27:27What did you think was wrong with it?
00:27:28Oh, several things.
00:27:30What in particular?
00:27:32If only I could help, Link, but just waiting, it...
00:27:35Nobody can imagine what it's like.
00:27:37I'm sure.
00:27:40You've met Mr. Ferris, I believe?
00:27:42Oh, yes, a number of times since he started working with you.
00:27:46Well, I mustn't keep you. I'm sure you've got things to do.
00:27:49If there's any way I can help...
00:27:51Well, there's something you can do right now.
00:27:53Do you happen to have the key to your husband's house on you?
00:27:56Oh, yes.
00:27:57I'd like to look over the house again, if I may.
00:27:59Oh, that opens the front door.
00:28:01I'll hear from you, Mr. Hartley.
00:28:03Yes, certainly.
00:28:04Goodbye.
00:28:05Goodbye.
00:28:06Goodbye.
00:28:07Goodbye.
00:28:12What did she want?
00:28:13Help for her husband.
00:28:14She's not very happy about Porter, it seems.
00:28:17What are you planning to do now with all that insurance money sitting in prison?
00:28:21Keep on working.
00:28:22I thought we might go over the old ground again, in reverse.
00:28:25You talk to the people I've seen, and I'll talk to the people you've seen.
00:28:28Oh, by the way, when you get to Johnny Gordon, stay with him.
00:28:32There's something on his mind.
00:28:36Well, let's go over to Hunter's house, shall we?
00:28:38Ever been inside it?
00:28:40No, I haven't.
00:28:53Not such a bad place.
00:29:05Needs that rug back, doesn't it?
00:29:07Certainly does.
00:29:08I'll take a look around.
00:29:23What's on your mind?
00:29:25Oh, nothing really.
00:29:27You know, the most interesting witness that Porter produced
00:29:31was that girl who said Celia Worth was being followed.
00:29:34Oh, yes.
00:29:35Yes.
00:29:36I expect he was a wolf who lost his nerve.
00:29:38Why do you say that?
00:29:40Well, because in a lead as strong as that, Porter would have found the man.
00:29:43Well, not necessarily.
00:29:45Look, if he wasn't on the make, why was he following her?
00:29:49If he wasn't on the make, why was he following her?
00:29:52That's what makes it interesting.
00:29:54Well, let's go, shall we? We've got plenty of work to do.
00:29:57Don't you want to look around some more?
00:29:59No, I just wanted to get a quick impression of the house without anybody in it.
00:30:03If I don't make some progress soon, that company of mine will haul me back to London.
00:30:07Yeah, and fire me.
00:30:08I'll give you a good reference.
00:30:10Thanks.
00:30:11I'll start with the Hunter family right away. Mrs. Hunter first.
00:30:14Oh, as I'll be seeing her, shall I return the key?
00:30:17No, I'll keep them for a few days. She won't mind.
00:30:23Oh, you know, I think I'll stick around for a bit.
00:30:26It'll give me time to think.
00:30:28Okay.
00:30:31I'll see you later.
00:30:48Oh.
00:31:07Oh, that's funny.
00:31:13I think if Mr. Ferris will excuse me, I'll go to my room.
00:31:16All this has been rather a strain on both of us.
00:31:19Yes, of course, Mrs. Copper. I understand.
00:31:21I won't keep Mrs. Hunter very long.
00:31:24Good night.
00:31:43Darling, I've waited so long.
00:31:47What's the matter?
00:31:49Howard kept the key you gave him.
00:31:51I offered to bring it back to you, but he said he wanted to keep it.
00:31:54I don't like that. Why did you go to see him at all?
00:31:57I thought I should. I thought he'd expect me to get in touch with him.
00:32:00Not necessarily. Porter is your husband's lawyer.
00:32:02I didn't tell him anything. I asked him to help, and I meant it.
00:32:07It's horrible. I never dreamt Link would be convicted.
00:32:11I feel like I've lost everything.
00:32:13You didn't go into a lot of details with Howard, did you?
00:32:17No. We'd only just started talking when you came in.
00:32:20What was his attitude?
00:32:22Sympathetic.
00:32:23Oh, that's all right. You play the harassed young bride very well.
00:32:28But why, I wonder, did he keep that key?
00:32:31Doesn't matter. There's nothing in the house for him to find.
00:32:33If there's nothing to find, why go back? I don't like it.
00:32:37Oh, what does it matter?
00:32:39Oh, what does it matter?
00:32:42Ever since the day you came into my office, asked me to watch Hunter,
00:32:45I felt nothing has mattered except you.
00:32:48Mel, why did you make me go through with it?
00:32:50Honey, I couldn't have given you the deluxe life that you wanted.
00:32:53Now, if we hold on, wait a few months, we get all his money and the insurance,
00:32:56we can get away, start a new life.
00:32:58I can't believe it's me.
00:33:00Now, watch your step, baby.
00:33:02You were after his money. Oh, yes, you were.
00:33:05You never loved Hunter.
00:33:07You never loved Hunter.
00:33:09If you had, you wouldn't have come to me in the first place.
00:33:18Do you remember my saying I'd been followed by a man?
00:33:21Don't tell me he's following you again.
00:33:23No, it's not that.
00:33:25But in the Hunter trial, someone said that that poor girl Celia Worth
00:33:28had been followed home.
00:33:30It's the same man, don't you see? In this street.
00:33:33But he wasn't following me.
00:33:35Well, suppose he wasn't.
00:33:37What difference does it make now?
00:33:39No doubt she knew who he was and what he wanted.
00:33:43What I don't understand, Lucy, is why you're so interested in the man.
00:33:48He wasn't Hunter, and it was Hunter who killed the girl.
00:33:53Surely you...
00:33:55Lucy, you know perfectly well that Hunter's guilty, don't you?
00:33:59Yes.
00:34:00Well, then why think twice about the other man?
00:34:04No need to.
00:34:06Take my advice and forget the whole thing.
00:34:12What is it, dear?
00:34:14Is there anything wrong?
00:34:16No, no, I've been asked to go on the committee of the club.
00:34:19I won't do it, of course.
00:34:21Of course not. You shouldn't have been asked at a time like this.
00:34:28Well, I'd better go and finish dressing.
00:34:33Yes.
00:34:55Hello?
00:34:56Hello, Mel. I've had a letter. Listen.
00:34:59It's from 125 Archer Street, Brighton.
00:35:02Dear Mrs. Hunter, I'm writing to tell you I have some information
00:35:05regarding the man who followed Celia Worth.
00:35:07It may be helpful to your husband.
00:35:09You can get in touch with me at the above address, telephone number 63881.
00:35:14Trusting that what I have to tell you will be of some assistance in your great trouble,
00:35:18I remain yours sincerely, Lucy Graham.
00:35:21Damn.
00:35:23She'll be the usual type.
00:35:25But still...
00:35:27What shall I do about it?
00:35:29The only connection there seems to be is that they're living on Archer Street.
00:35:32She must have seen me.
00:35:33Look.
00:35:34Give her a ring, make an appointment.
00:35:36I'll be somewhere around so as to get a good look at her.
00:35:38If she knows anything that matters, stall her.
00:35:40I'll drop by tonight to hear about it.
00:35:42Yes, but, Mel, I feel...
00:35:44I mean, supposing it is something big?
00:35:46We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
00:35:48But, Mel, you...
00:35:54He had the look of an adventurer to me.
00:35:56I should know him again in a minute if I saw him.
00:35:59Miss Graham, what made you think he was following you in the first place?
00:36:02Because I first saw him as I came out of Haussmann's one night.
00:36:06I should have known that no man could be following me.
00:36:10I put it out of my mind until I read that a girl had given evidence
00:36:14that Celia Worth said some man had followed her.
00:36:17Leave everything to me.
00:36:19Don't worry about it.
00:36:21When you're at the club, I'll telephone you.
00:36:23When I do, drop this in his drink.
00:36:25Get him home, bring something along, put him to bed.
00:36:27Go home from this place yourself.
00:36:29Change your clothes and meet me in the corner of your street
00:36:32as close to midnight as you can manage.
00:36:34Mrs Hunter!
00:36:36Oh, I don't know what to make of it, Miss Graham.
00:36:40Someone who knows more about it, my husband's lawyer, or...
00:36:44It's very good of you to come to me.
00:36:47Have you told anybody else about this?
00:36:49I felt I should discuss it with you first of all.
00:36:52You showed very good judgment, Miss Graham.
00:36:55I think the best thing for me to do is to talk this over with someone tonight.
00:36:59May I call you again tomorrow?
00:37:01Of course.
00:37:02Yes, I'll do that.
00:37:04Perhaps I can make an appointment for you to meet someone
00:37:06who will know how to use your information to the best advantage.
00:37:12It's been wonderful of you to come to me, Miss Graham.
00:37:15It may be very important.
00:37:17It points to another man in Celia Worth's life.
00:37:19That's what I thought.
00:37:21That's why I felt it my duty to see you.
00:37:26Mel, she knows you. She said she could pick you out in a thousand.
00:37:29If I bring her to your office...
00:37:31Bring her to my office.
00:37:33When you get her into the corridor, tell her who I am.
00:37:36Tell her I was following Celia Worth for another client.
00:37:40Tell her you've just found all this out for me.
00:37:42Mel!
00:37:43Leave it to me.
00:37:44You can't.
00:37:46Ruth.
00:37:47Now, get this quite straight.
00:37:50You appear to think that this is all my pigeon.
00:37:52Well, it isn't.
00:37:54We're in it together, right up to our necks.
00:37:58This can't be me.
00:38:00Baby.
00:38:10I want to get my breath.
00:38:12The stairs?
00:38:13They didn't seem steep.
00:38:15No, it's just my nerves.
00:38:17I'm rather tired.
00:38:19Miss Graham, we're going to see a private detective who's been working on the case.
00:38:24He first came into it months ago, before the murder.
00:38:27He was hired to investigate Celia Worth by someone else, not my husband.
00:38:32He...
00:38:34Then he was the man.
00:38:36Yes.
00:38:37I couldn't reach Mr. Porter last night, so I called him,
00:38:40and he told me he must be the man you saw and to bring you along here.
00:38:44He'll explain.
00:38:45But he'll tell Mr. Porter about it, won't he?
00:38:47After what came out of the trial.
00:38:49I don't know.
00:38:50And you don't know about it yourself, till last night.
00:38:53No.
00:38:54But I should think...
00:39:06Good evening, Mrs. Hunter.
00:39:08Oh, this must be...
00:39:09Mr. Ferris, Miss Graham.
00:39:11How you doing, Miss Graham?
00:39:13Come in, ladies. Sit down.
00:39:15I was very surprised when Mrs. Hunter told me that you'd noticed me on Archer Street, Miss Graham.
00:39:19Naturally, I was a bit disappointed with myself.
00:39:21A good detective shouldn't be noticed at all.
00:39:24Miss Graham, I'm going to show you my original file on Celia Worth.
00:39:32These records are, of course, confidential.
00:39:36But I feel that you can keep a confidence, Miss Graham.
00:39:40The information you gave Mrs. Hunter, for example, did you tell it to many people?
00:39:44I haven't told anyone about seeing her.
00:39:46Not a single soul.
00:39:48That's fine.
00:39:50Would you like to sit over here, Miss Graham?
00:39:52You'll be able to spread out the file and read it in comfort.
00:40:02Now, if you'll begin here, Miss Graham.
00:40:07Oh, Mr. Ferris.
00:40:09This is no bearing on Celia Worth.
00:40:14Oh!
00:40:34I had no choice.
00:40:36I had to.
00:40:38It's so deep behind me.
00:40:41It wasn't my fault. It wasn't.
00:40:43I've got to get out.
00:40:45Please.
00:40:47Please.
00:40:51Woman missing.
00:40:53Miss Lucy Graham of 125 Archer Street was reported missing this morning by her landlady.
00:40:58It was learned that Miss Graham left her place of employment last night at 5 o'clock.
00:41:03She had worked there for the last 35 years.
00:41:06No trace of Miss Graham's whereabouts has been discovered.
00:41:13Archer Street.
00:41:16Archer Street.
00:41:21Come in.
00:41:25Hello. What is it this time?
00:41:27Bit of a coincidence. Another woman missing, isn't it?
00:41:30We're checking.
00:41:32She left work and didn't go home.
00:41:34Her landlady said she was dressed up a bit more than usual.
00:41:36All she had was what she'd put by.
00:41:38So far, we've found a bank book showing a balance of about 900 pounds.
00:41:41Any recent withdrawals?
00:41:43None at all.
00:41:44I suppose you've covered the usual angles. Possibly enemies.
00:41:46Someone who gains by her death and so on.
00:41:48Nothing there.
00:41:49The cousin will get what little estate there is after the woman's dead.
00:41:51She had an alibi for the whole evening.
00:41:53Anyway, she's pretty well fixed.
00:41:55You found nothing out of the ordinary?
00:41:57Not a thing.
00:41:58She went to work every day and came home.
00:42:00You know the type who could set your clock fire.
00:42:02Archer Street.
00:42:04Now, where have I come across that name before?
00:42:07The Worth murder.
00:42:08She lived in Archer Street, too.
00:42:11Yes.
00:42:18Hello, Hunter.
00:42:19Hi.
00:42:22You saw me at the trial, didn't you?
00:42:24Yeah.
00:42:25Do you remember the man who sat next to me every day?
00:42:27Tall man, good-looking fellow?
00:42:30Vaguely.
00:42:32Had you ever seen him before?
00:42:34Not that I know of.
00:42:36Had he ever come to your house?
00:42:38Now, think carefully.
00:42:41Well, to my knowledge, I had not seen him before the trial.
00:42:44What about Mrs. Hunter?
00:42:46Did she ever entertain in your house while you were away in London?
00:42:49No, she didn't go near the place while I was away.
00:42:52Do you happen to know a Lucy Graham?
00:42:56Oh, no.
00:42:59I'm working on a new line.
00:43:01It's rather indefinite.
00:43:02Forget I was here, in case it doesn't come to anything.
00:43:05Naturally, if it does...
00:43:10Ah, so it's you this time.
00:43:14What's new?
00:43:16Howard was here earlier.
00:43:18You weren't here chasing will-o'-the-wisps these days.
00:43:20That so?
00:43:22He's looking for a connection between Celia Worth and a woman reported missing on Archer Street.
00:43:26The name of Lucy Graham.
00:43:27Did you see in the papers about it?
00:43:28Yeah, I did.
00:43:30Have you found her yet?
00:43:32No.
00:43:33What connection does Howard think there is?
00:43:35Archer Street address.
00:43:37And Lucy Graham had a story about being followed by some man.
00:43:43You're as bad as Howard.
00:43:44You're both chasing a straw man.
00:43:48Yeah.
00:43:51Do you remember the telephone call the night Mrs. Hunter was here?
00:43:54Yes, I know the case well.
00:43:56I read it in the papers.
00:43:58Where did the call come to?
00:43:59To the office.
00:44:00When there's a big party on, like that night,
00:44:02whoever hears the phone is supposed to answer it.
00:44:04I did, and it was for Mrs. Hunter.
00:44:07Miss Copper, as she was then.
00:44:09Can you remember, was it a man or a woman's voice that spoke?
00:44:12Oh, yes.
00:44:13All of us remember exactly what happened that night.
00:44:16It was a man who asked for Miss Copper.
00:44:19What kind of voice did he have?
00:44:21Deep, sir.
00:44:22With a rather quick sound to it.
00:44:25Uh-huh.
00:44:26And when you told Mrs. Hunter about the call, did you go back with her to the office?
00:44:29No, she knew where it was.
00:44:31Mm-hmm.
00:44:32What time was that, do you remember?
00:44:34Oh, about ten, sir.
00:44:37Yes, we do keep tickets on all telephone calls,
00:44:40giving the date and the hour they were made.
00:44:42We haven't kept them for six months.
00:44:44We're just in time for this one.
00:44:45In another few weeks, it would have been destroyed.
00:44:47Oh, not this one, please.
00:44:49It's going to mean a lot to Hunter.
00:44:51Now, this is the date, May the 29th.
00:44:53And underneath is Hunter's telephone number.
00:44:56Uh, this number, Brighton 38292,
00:44:59is the number to which the call was made.
00:45:01The country club.
00:45:02These are the times, 10.05 p.m. to 10.08 p.m.
00:45:06And the charge, one and a penny.
00:45:08Uh-huh.
00:45:10I get it.
00:45:18Mr. Howard, have you any news?
00:45:20Possibly.
00:45:22I went back to the club, Mrs. Hunter,
00:45:24to run through all that confused and contradictory business
00:45:27about how many drinks your husband had.
00:45:29Oh, yes?
00:45:31Incidentally, one of the waiters brought up a point
00:45:33that might help to clear up how much time your husband had to drink
00:45:36whilst you were separated.
00:45:38Separated?
00:45:39Well, perhaps separated is too strong a word.
00:45:42But you were away from him to answer a phone call, weren't you?
00:45:46Phone call?
00:45:48Well, perhaps you've forgotten for the moment.
00:45:50The waiter was certain that you did get a phone call
00:45:53and that you took it in the manager's office.
00:45:56Oh, yes.
00:45:57Yes, of course, now you mention it.
00:45:59So much happened that night, I'd forgotten.
00:46:01It was my mother, I think.
00:46:04Not your mother, Mrs. Hunter.
00:46:07The waiter said it was a man.
00:46:10A man with a deep, quick voice.
00:46:15You don't remember?
00:46:17No, I...
00:46:18I can't seem to.
00:46:20I'm afraid I don't.
00:46:22I'd try and remember if I were you.
00:46:25It's important.
00:46:29Please don't worry.
00:46:31I'll show myself out.
00:46:44Hello?
00:46:45Mel, I want to see you.
00:46:46What's the matter?
00:46:47Howard's back.
00:46:48Funny.
00:46:49What did he want?
00:46:50More questions.
00:46:51Mel, there was one thing he asked me.
00:46:53I'm afraid of him. I want to see you.
00:46:55Come to my place, then.
00:46:56I take too many chances going out to yours all the time.
00:46:58All right, I'll change and I'll be around in a minute.
00:47:02Mel.
00:47:05What did you tell Howard about that phone call?
00:47:07I said I didn't remember. I said so much had happened.
00:47:09What an answer.
00:47:10To Howard, of all people.
00:47:11I couldn't help it. I was stunned when he asked me.
00:47:13And showed it, of course.
00:47:14No, I didn't. I was quite quiet and calm.
00:47:18What should I have said?
00:47:19Something, anything.
00:47:21A salesman was after you. Any damn thing at all.
00:47:23Should I call him tomorrow and tell him a salesman was after you?
00:47:25No, leave it alone.
00:47:26But it would help, sure.
00:47:27Let it go, I said.
00:47:30Very well.
00:47:37I found her today.
00:47:40What?
00:47:42Who told you?
00:47:43Nobody.
00:47:44I read the newspapers.
00:47:45You don't, it seems.
00:47:47That's a lousy, stinking piece of luck.
00:47:49But there's still nothing that points to us.
00:47:51You burnt the notes she sent me?
00:47:53Yeah.
00:47:55As Howard did.
00:47:58I'm so frightened.
00:48:00I can't look ahead.
00:48:07Who's that?
00:48:09I'm not going to answer it.
00:48:20How do you think it was done?
00:48:22Well, at this stage, I'd say that the murderer caught her from behind.
00:48:26Used a judo-type hold.
00:48:29She put up a bit of a struggle, but not much.
00:48:32Doctor, you did the autopsy on the Wirth girl, didn't you?
00:48:36Yes, I did.
00:48:37And you?
00:48:38Yes, I did.
00:48:39And you?
00:48:40Yes, I did.
00:48:41And you?
00:48:42Yes, I did.
00:48:43And you?
00:48:44Yes, I did.
00:48:45And you?
00:48:46Yes, I did.
00:48:47And you?
00:48:49Are you looking for a connection between the two murders?
00:48:51I haven't got it yet.
00:48:53Hunter was in prison when this woman was murdered.
00:48:55Yeah.
00:48:57Hmm.
00:48:59Interesting.
00:49:00Yes, it is.
00:49:02If the cause of Lucy Graham's death isn't a secret, what about external evidence?
00:49:06Something like a piece of skin under the nail, or a thread of hair, or a speck of dust.
00:49:11Well.
00:49:13I don't know quite what to say about that.
00:49:16I work for the Crown.
00:49:18The Crown has a case against Hunter.
00:49:20And of course Hunter's life is at stake, isn't it?
00:49:23We mustn't overlook that.
00:49:25Well, we mustn't overlook the 20,000 pounds your company has in line either.
00:49:29It's the price of Hunter's life, isn't it?
00:49:33Well, you know of course that we make exhaustive tests.
00:49:37Our findings eventually reach the police.
00:49:39Now supposing we discover what appears to be the fibre of a rug
00:49:42caught under a piece of loose leather on the sole of a shoe.
00:49:45Work on that.
00:49:47Eventually we'd be able to tell the police what company made the rug,
00:49:50how old it was, what type of flooring it covered and so on.
00:49:55All this takes time, of course.
00:49:57And upon analysis, if it's established beyond doubt,
00:50:00that the drug in...
00:50:01Good morning, Ferris.
00:50:02Well, this is a surprise.
00:50:05Anything else?
00:50:06Well, this is a surprise.
00:50:09Anything new?
00:50:10No, same old treadmill.
00:50:12Well, sit down. Thank you, Miss Ward.
00:50:14Oh, don't let me take you from your work.
00:50:16Oh, it's just routine stuff, catching up on some dictation.
00:50:19I'm out of the office so much that Miss Ward complains
00:50:21about how far behind the records get.
00:50:23Why, not that bad, Mr. Ferris.
00:50:24Wait until I've been working for you longer.
00:50:26Then you'll see.
00:50:32Conscientious, your secretary.
00:50:34I gather she hasn't been with you long.
00:50:36Oh, quite a while now.
00:50:39Well, how's it going?
00:50:40Oh, so-so.
00:50:42I went back to the country club to check on how many drinks Hunter had.
00:50:47Did you look up anything fresh?
00:50:48Oh, nothing worthwhile.
00:50:50How's the detective business?
00:50:52It's pretty good.
00:50:53I've got two other fair-sized jobs which keep me busy.
00:50:57Fine.
00:50:59I'm afraid I've got no assignment for you just now.
00:51:04I, uh, just called in to say hello.
00:51:09I'm very glad you did.
00:51:11Why don't we have dinner together sometime?
00:51:13We both need a break.
00:51:14Yes, I'd like to very much.
00:51:16Good.
00:51:19I'll give you a call.
00:51:20Do that.
00:51:35It's very good of you to come, Miss Becker.
00:51:37I've got a job tracing you on the telephone.
00:51:39Won't you sit down?
00:51:44Well, now, suppose we start with you telling me why it was you left Ferris.
00:51:48I understand you were his secretary up to quite recently.
00:51:51I'd be very glad to tell you anything that can help.
00:51:54You think he wanted to see me?
00:51:56No, I don't think so.
00:51:58I don't think so.
00:52:00I don't think so.
00:52:01Anything that can help.
00:52:03You think he wanted you to resign?
00:52:05Yes.
00:52:07Do you remember anything unusual happening before you decided to leave?
00:52:10Yes.
00:52:11What?
00:52:12There was a telephone call one day from a woman who called herself Rose Copeland.
00:52:16But there was something about the way she talked.
00:52:19I told Mr. Ferris that that couldn't be her real name.
00:52:22Rose Copeland.
00:52:24I see.
00:52:26Ruth.
00:52:27And then, after her first interview with him, he kept it all to himself.
00:52:32And that very Friday he fired me.
00:52:34But what's this to do with the Hunter case?
00:52:38I don't know for sure yet.
00:52:41But you'll be hearing from me.
00:52:43Until you do, I'd like you not to mention it to anybody, least of all to Mr. Ferris.
00:52:47I don't worry, I won't.
00:52:49I'd like to hear more about it myself, though.
00:52:51You will.
00:52:52Goodbye.
00:52:53Goodbye.
00:52:54And thanks for coming.
00:52:58Rose Copeland.
00:53:01Ruth Copper, it must be.
00:53:06A little fool.
00:53:17Oh, hello there.
00:53:19I just dropped by to see if I could catch you.
00:53:22I thought we might have that quick dinner together.
00:53:24I've got an appointment afterwards.
00:53:25I came back to pick up some papers.
00:53:27I'm sorry about dinner.
00:53:29I'm afraid I can't make it.
00:53:31Perhaps I could find a drink in my office.
00:53:33Would you care for one?
00:53:35No, thanks.
00:53:36I don't think I'll wait for a drink.
00:53:38I'll have some dinner and keep my appointment.
00:53:40Oh.
00:53:42What about dinner tomorrow night?
00:53:44Yeah.
00:53:45Let's do that.
00:53:47Good night.
00:53:52Good night.
00:53:53Good night.
00:54:23Good night.
00:54:51Hello, this is Brighton 9646.
00:54:53It's me, Long Distance Supervisor.
00:54:55Thanks.
00:54:57Hello, this is Mal Ferris speaking.
00:54:59I'm terribly sorry to trouble you after hours,
00:55:02but I'm working with Howard,
00:55:04the Commonwealth man on the Hunter case.
00:55:06We've run up against a little snag.
00:55:08Did he check with you on calls from Hunter's house?
00:55:11Yes, he did it yesterday.
00:55:12It's all taken care of.
00:55:16Thank you very much.
00:55:19Good night.
00:55:23Good night.
00:55:49Hello.
00:55:51This is Russell Smith, Mrs. Drayton.
00:55:54I work for Mr. Howard.
00:55:56I want to talk to him.
00:55:58Is he at your house or have you seen him all day?
00:56:02No, I haven't.
00:56:04He was here yesterday afternoon,
00:56:05but I haven't seen him since.
00:56:06Is there...
00:56:12He can't prove a damn thing.
00:56:15The rug?
00:56:20I'd say yes.
00:56:22Yes, she was here.
00:56:24I told her to go to the police.
00:56:31Hello, Mal?
00:56:32Yeah?
00:56:33I haven't heard from you all day.
00:56:34I've been worried.
00:56:36Have you heard from Howard?
00:56:37No, and I don't want to.
00:56:39I wish I never had to see him again.
00:56:41Well, don't see him tonight.
00:56:44Don't even talk to him on the phone.
00:56:46Tell him you're sick.
00:56:48Go to bed.
00:56:49I can't go to bed.
00:56:50My nerves are like fiddle strings.
00:56:51I can't even stay in the house.
00:56:53If I can't see you, I'll go out somewhere.
00:56:56Mal, something's wrong, isn't it?
00:56:59What?
00:57:00Never mind what it is.
00:57:02I don't want to talk about it on the phone.
00:57:04I'll take care of it.
00:57:06Don't say that. Tell me what it is.
00:57:08Take it easy.
00:57:10It's Howard.
00:57:12He's traced the phone call to the club.
00:57:15What do we aim to do?
00:57:17You do what I told you.
00:57:18Go to bed.
00:57:20If Howard arrives, you're too sick to see him.
00:57:22Mal!
00:57:23What are you planning to do?
00:57:25Mal, you can't. You mustn't.
00:57:27Look, stop being foolish.
00:57:28I won't do anything I don't have to.
00:57:30You just take a sleeping pill.
00:57:31Go to bed. Forget the whole thing.
00:57:35Will you do that much for me?
00:57:37I'll try.
00:57:39Okay, baby.
00:57:41Good night.
00:57:48Good night.
00:58:18Good night.
00:58:49THE DREAM
00:59:06Yes?
00:59:07Mr. Howard?
00:59:10Yes?
00:59:12Look, I have to see you right away.
00:59:13I must talk to you.
00:59:15I'm at Clay Rushler's house.
00:59:16They're away and I came here to be alone.
00:59:18Can I talk to you for a moment?
00:59:21Right away.
00:59:22Thank you. I'll be waiting for you.
00:59:29You little...
00:59:31Devil-crusher.
00:59:41Mal!
00:59:44I was in Howard's room.
00:59:46I answered the phone.
00:59:48What were you going to see him about?
00:59:50I wasn't.
00:59:51I hadn't planned to tell him anything.
00:59:53No?
00:59:57What were you going to tell him?
00:59:58Nothing. I was just...
00:59:59Come on, baby. Relax.
01:00:01Sit down.
01:00:04This wide-eyed act leaves me cold.
01:00:07Come on, baby. Sit down.
01:00:12Have a cigarette?
01:00:13Have a cigarette.
01:00:16Go on, sit down.
01:00:20I must have been out of my mind.
01:00:22I kept thinking what that man knows about us.
01:00:30He seems to have sympathy for people.
01:00:32I hear.
01:00:34Yes, he'd probably have quite a bit for you.
01:00:37The law is lenient with squealers.
01:00:40Mal, please forget what I did.
01:00:41I'd had a terrible day.
01:00:43I had to go to the prison to see Link,
01:00:45and then you told me all that on the phone.
01:00:47I felt I'd scream or go mad if I stayed in the house.
01:00:51I remember Clay was in London,
01:00:52so I drove myself over here and let myself in.
01:00:55I tried to read, but it got worse and worse.
01:00:57I didn't know where you were or what you were doing.
01:01:00Mal, I couldn't stand it.
01:01:01If there was another murder, I couldn't stand it, I tell you.
01:01:04That's why I phoned Howard.
01:01:07Now, don't tell me you thought he was going to give you a hard time.
01:01:09Say it was all right and let it go at that, you little double-crosser.
01:01:12Ready to crawl and drool to Howard to save your own skin.
01:01:15Yes, you were.
01:01:16Ready to see me hang so long as you didn't have to.
01:01:18Why, you...
01:01:25Mal, you said you loved me.
01:01:27Nobody ever...
01:01:28You should have had the hell beat out of you long ago.
01:01:32That's enough of that. Come out of it.
01:01:35You said you loved me.
01:01:36You were going to rat on me.
01:01:37Put a rope around my neck and you'd talk about love.
01:01:39No, I didn't think of it like that.
01:01:40All I thought of was another murder.
01:01:43I'm terribly frightened.
01:01:44I don't want to go to prison.
01:01:45I know what it's like.
01:01:46Every time I visit Link, I nearly die.
01:01:49Mal, you've got to do something.
01:01:50You've got us into this mess.
01:01:51You said we'd be all right.
01:01:53I was always afraid.
01:01:54I went ahead because I loved you.
01:01:56You said you'd take care of me, and you've got to.
01:01:59I didn't kill either of them.
01:02:00I can't stand it.
01:02:01I can't stand it.
01:02:03I can't stand it.
01:02:04I didn't kill either of them.
01:02:05I can't stand it.
01:02:06Not another day, not another minute.
01:02:07Stop.
01:02:08Shut up.
01:02:14I'm sorry.
01:02:17I won't try to phone hard again, I promise.
01:02:21I don't think you'll try to phone hard again.
01:02:24Because you're in this much, much deeper than you think.
01:02:28I've still got the note that Lucy Graham wrote to you.
01:02:30I didn't destroy it.
01:02:32If I bring out that evidence,
01:02:34you're going to have quite a time convincing a jury
01:02:36that you were on the outside all the way.
01:02:39It puts you right smack in the middle with me.
01:02:43What do you want me to do?
01:02:45Sit down and I'll tell you.
01:02:57I think I've got this thing worked out.
01:03:02Hello?
01:03:03Mr. Howard?
01:03:04Speaking.
01:03:05This is Ruth Hunter.
01:03:08I'm sorry to call you so late, but I've got to see you.
01:03:10Here?
01:03:12Or shall I come to your house?
01:03:14Not that hotel.
01:03:15There's no real privacy and I'm not at home.
01:03:17I felt too restless to stay in.
01:03:20I'm at the Rushlows.
01:03:21You've been to their house.
01:03:23Would you just as soon come here?
01:03:25Yes, that's all right with me.
01:03:27I'm sorry.
01:03:28Would you as soon come here?
01:03:30Yes, that's all right with me.
01:03:32I'll look out for you in a few minutes.
01:04:17Oh, come in.
01:04:18It's very kind of you to come so late.
01:04:21Won't you sit down?
01:04:23Where are the Rushlows?
01:04:25They're not here.
01:04:26They're in London.
01:04:27I know where they keep the keys, so I came over.
01:04:30And I made up my mind to call you.
01:04:33Mr. Howard, I want to tell you about that telephone call.
01:04:36I lied when I said I didn't know who it came from.
01:04:39And all the time.
01:04:41He wouldn't give me his name.
01:04:42He said he knew nothing about Link.
01:04:44Said he had a young woman with him that he wanted me to meet.
01:04:47The whole thing sounded so unpleasant that I hung up.
01:04:50I haven't told anybody about it until now.
01:04:53Mrs. Hunter.
01:04:55Do you expect me to believe all this?
01:04:57Why not? I mean, it's true.
01:04:59And don't move, Howard.
01:05:01I've got a gun.
01:05:02Mal, you didn't give me enough time.
01:05:03Look, baby, when he did that double take on you, he caught on.
01:05:05Mal.
01:05:07I told you I wouldn't.
01:05:10Put your hands up.
01:05:13Get his gun.
01:05:15Ferris, you're licked on this.
01:05:17Your only chance now is to get away as quick as you can.
01:05:20My boss in London knows the whole story.
01:05:22Don't give me that, you two cagey.
01:05:24Ruth.
01:05:25Go outside, put his car in the garage, bring mine round to the front.
01:05:50You won't get away with it.
01:05:52They know too much about Lucy Graham.
01:05:53I'll take the risk.
01:05:55I'm in the clear as far as Celia Worth is concerned.
01:06:08Maybe you could have got away with it on your own.
01:06:11But not with Mrs. Hunter.
01:06:13The money comes to her.
01:06:15I wouldn't count on her sticking it out.
01:06:17I'm warning you.
01:06:19Of course, if it comes to a choice between her money and your neck,
01:06:21you can always kill her.
01:06:26Get up.
01:06:31And if you open your mouth again, I'll let you have it.
01:06:36All set?
01:06:38Yes, all set.
01:06:52Mal, I had to do it.
01:06:54You lied to me.
01:06:56You never loved me.
01:06:59You were after Link's money.
01:07:01It's all your fault you got me into this.
01:07:04Yes, you did.
01:07:06I told you and I told you I couldn't stand it.
01:07:09Mal.
01:07:14I did save you.
01:07:16It was all Mal's fault.
01:07:18You'll tell them that, won't you?
01:07:19Please.
01:07:22It's a bit late for that.
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