All language subtitles for Blackmail_1947

[MUSIC]

[MUSIC]

Hey you, you there with

the muff on your mitt.

I'd like some information.

[BLANK_AUDIO]

We miss you.

What's wrong pal?

You always act this scared or is it only

when you're frightened?

You are expected, mister?

I might be.

This modest little cottage is what Ziggy

Crenshan calls home.

Hey we miss you.

She's house, she's there.

[BLANK_AUDIO]

You got a nice friendly

way of receiving visitors.

Maybe next time you'll be on the

receiving end wise guy.

Don't look now Frenchie

but your accent's showing.

I'll be seeing you, Pally,

out of the corner of my eye.

[BLANK_AUDIO]

Did you ring, sir?

No.

I was totally, I

thought you were all dead.

No, Mr. Cranston, he has company.

Begging your pardon, sir, but Mr.

Cranston is not entertaining.

That's all right, don't apologize.

I meet a lot of old people.

Where is he?

I said he was not receiving.

Then I heard you.

[BLANK_AUDIO]

[BLANK_AUDIO]

If you're looking for

trouble, I have it here.

This is no way to win

friends and influence people.

No, Bazooka, I'm the brains type.

Daniel J. Turner, private investigator.

Licensed by the New

York Police Commission.

Well, I guess

everything's in order, Mr. Turner.

Welcome to California.

It's been better welcomes on doormat.

I'm sorry.

I have to take precautions.

Sit down, I'll pour you a drink.

Pour it in your oil lamps.

I'm more interested in gee-dah.

Let's get to the point.

I presume you've heard of me and my enterprises.

Yeah, I've heard of you. Ziggy Cranston, entertainment

tycoon with the Midas touch.

Genius of show business.

Permanent partner of Lady Luck.

You're the only man who ever had five

smash hits running on

Broadway simultaneously.

You're also the sole owner of

Consolidated Radio Network.

Did I forget anything?

On the contrary.

If you were a doctor, I'd

say you knew your patient.

Well, maybe you better give me the sad

news about what ails the patient.

Blackmail.

I'm being made the victim of a violent crime. Blackmail.

I'm being made the victim of a vicious,

contemptible shakedown.

Well, you know, I came in

in the middle of the picture,

and blackmail comes in a lot

of different shapes and sizes.

You better tell me how you got fitted.

I have one weakness, gambling.

That's always been a part of me.

The other part of me is luck.

That combination has

brought me success in all this.

Lately, I've been trying my

luck at the Silvis One casino.

Several nights ago, I was at

my customary place at the table.

All down, here's the winner. Number four,

it's Black and Even.

All right, ladies and

gentlemen, they still did.

They still...

No more for me. I'm cashing in.

Why, you're riding one of your winning

streaks, Mr. Clastin.

Even that can become

boring after a while.

Right now, going home and getting some

sleep might seem like a novelty.

I do, sir.

Falling.

Good night, Mr. Clastin.

Good night.

Put that on camera, I only...

Please, you bet. Please, you bet.

Evening, Tom. I'm Miss Clastin.

Another parchment.

Leave you some sooner, Mr. Clastin.

You should be glad to get rid of me.

I'm becoming a bad risk to your business.

Taking risks is my business.

But the odds are in my favor.

Having luck is an old habit of mine.

Maybe a few more spins of

the wheel might cure it.

About $50,000, Mr. Clastin.

We'll send a check over by

messenger in the morning.

Thanks very much, Tom.

Get away. Don't let this loss throw you.

I'll be back again.

I'm counting on that.

In the meantime, I'll be expecting your

messenger with the gift.

Let's say it's just alone, shall we?

All right.

As you say, just alone.

Good night.

Good night.

Why, Ziggy, darling.

Hello, Carla. That was a

nice number you sang tonight.

Perhaps I sang it for you.

Perhaps I was remembering the nights when

you came here to call for me.

But of course I couldn't compete with the

roulette wheel or your outside interest.

Well, I have been busy.

I know.

Busy with Sylvia Dwayne.

That's business.

Miss Dwayne happens to be on my network,

and she's a very promising artist.

You're the promising artist, Ziggy.

You promised to make

me a radio star, too.

But unlike Miss Dwayne, I never got as

far as the gossip

columns or rumors of marriage.

Well, that was just a rumor.

It's all right.

I don't hold any ill feelings.

In fact, I'd like to drink a toast to

your future happiness.

Thank you, Carla.

I do appreciate your generous attitude,

but really I must be going.

Please, darling.

One drink, just for old time's sake.

Well, all right.

Just one drink.

It was to be as easy as that, so I

permitted Carla to lead

me toward the terrace.

We found a secluded

table and ordered our drinks.

I had never quite trusted her.

I was impatient to get things over with.

We raised our glasses and drank.

I congratulated myself on the opportunity

of shaking Carla off so cheaply.

We sat quietly for a moment.

And suddenly, I began feeling dizzy.

Everything was swimming before me.

I began to sway in my chair.

I felt myself slipping away into a void.

The world went black.

When I woke, it was morning.

I found myself in Carla's penthouse, with

or without the tomatoes that slipped you

the Shang high ball.

Carla, you mean?

She was gone.

I got out of there as fast as I could and

decided to forget the whole thing.

In a few days, these photographs arrived.

Who sent them to you?

They were mailed in a plain envelope.

The family album was never like this.

It's an out and out frame.

Yeah, and you're

right in the middle of it.

But what was the next play?

Carla Telephone.

She said she knew how I

could get the negatives.

I arranged to visit how that

very night at her penthouse.

[music]

Good evening, Zee.

Hello, Carla.

Come in.

Thank you.

Who else were you expecting?

No one else.

I just wanted to be sure you came alone.

Well, suppose we make this brief.

Where are those negatives?

Not that brief.

How much are they worth to you?

Worth.

I'm afraid I don't

quite understand you, Carla.

Then I'll give it to

you without trimming.

Important negatives like those just

aren't given away like free prizes on

your radio shows, Mr. Cranston.

There's usually a small charge for

services rendered, depending on how

anxious the prospective

buyer is to close the sale.

Now that we understand each other,

suppose you start the bidding.

Just exactly what is this?

Let's be realistic, darling.

You're interested in certain, shall we

say, scandalous photographic negatives.

I can personally guarantee that they'll

be promptly delivered to you for a price.

You'll give me those negatives here and

now, or I'll tear this place apart.

You didn't think I'd be fool enough to

leave them here, did you?

I placed them in safe hands.

Probably in the hands of the gigolo

you've been running around with.

You both worked out this plot together.

That's just why I make me your victim.

Somebody has to pay my

gambling losses, darling.

I picked you for personal reasons.

Why, may I ask?

Maybe it's because you have the kind of

bank account I've

learned to love, Mr. Cranston.

And maybe I don't like to see Sylvia

Dwayne moving into that

radio spot you promised me,

or taking my place in

your alleged affection.

In either case, the

cost will be the same.

Fifty thousand dollars.

Why, that's fantastic.

This is nothing but a

shake-out and I won't submit to it.

Then you'll submit to Ms. Dwayne's

opinion of you when she

sees those photographs?

I've told Sylvia the whole

thing and she believes in me.

Nothing that you can

do will influence her.

Not even making the pictures public?

I don't think you'd try that, Carla.

I'd try a lot of things for fifty

thousand dollars, darling.

I realized I was beaten.

I had to meet Carla's demands. There was

nothing else I could do.

The next day I read in

the paper she was dead.

Found a body at the

bottom of an ash shaft.

She must have died shortly after I left.

She either was pushed or

felt in the penthouse window.

Police were investigating both theories.

Are the bulls horned in yet?

Who?

The coppers, the Johnny Laws.

Have they been here yet?

Why should they?

Well, you know, sooner or later they

might get the notion that you might have

pushed this babe out the

window to save yourself a buck.

Oh, that's utterly ridiculous.

All right, it's utterly ridiculous.

What time did you

leave the girls' apartment?

About eight fifteen.

Did anybody see you?

Possibly.

But nobody who could identify me.

Look, you don't have to be socially

introduced for a witness to give a pretty

good description of you.

And if anyone was listening outside

Carla's door, they might figure that

blackmail would smell like a pretty

strong murder motive.

Mr. Turner, I'm not denying that I had a

motive, but I did not kill her.

I didn't say you're dead.

There was another guy

with a heavy motive.

Who?

The guy she was going around with.

He might have held on to the negatives

and bumped her to cash in solo.

What's his name?

I don't know.

He works at the casino.

He's hired to escort gambling minded

dollar just to the gaming room.

What's in there?

A hothouse.

I cultivate rare plants and flowers.

Well, it sounds like one of your ice

plants are throwing out.

Don't leave this room.

Don't move, sweetheart.

This thing doesn't shoot marshmallows.

Hello, pal.

You knocked over one of Mr. Cranston's

prized dilly lilies.

He isn't going to like that.

There are other things that the Cranston

isn't going to like.

Drop that gun.

On the floor, it might go off.

Let's not get technical.

Drop it.

Now, let's go in and join our host.

Keep those hands up and start walking.

What is this?

Animal, mineral, or vegetable?

He's a gigolo from the casino.

What are you doing here?

I've been listening in on your spiel

about Carla's death.

It wasn't very convincing, Cranston.

It's the truth.

The fact you were given

orders not to call in the law.

Maybe you can't take orders.

You big shots only know how to give them.

All right, bright boy.

So you're giving the orders.

What's on your mind? I'm going to call in the law. I'm going to call in the law. I'm going to call in the law. So you're giving the orders.

What's on your mind?

50,000 was the asking price.

But there'll be a cover charge of another

100 Gs for Carla's murder.

Well, there's several reasons why Mr.

Cranston won't be able to play with you.

Five to the exact.

What are they?

Four fingers and a thumb.

(dramatic music)

(footsteps)

- I've seen shows like this before.

The hero wants to rub

out a shakedown artist.

So he hires a shamas

to put him in the clear

while he bumps off the blackmailer.

- Who bumped the blackmailer?

- Now you're not gonna alter the act

and tell me that you didn't do that.

- I didn't kill him, I was merely--

- Maggie!

- I was just getting out of

my car when I heard a shot.

Is anything wrong?

- Nothing much beautiful.

The guy in the drink

always swims like that.

- Oh, he's dead.

Who is he?

What happened?

- My old case of homicide.

Your boyfriend here just

passed his entrance exams

to San Quentin.

- What?

What is he saying?

- He's trying to say that I murdered him.

But I didn't, I swear I didn't.

- I suppose this gun

just sprouted in your duke

like a daffodil.

- Now listen, you've got to.

I was chasing him, he was

heading toward the pool.

The shot rang out and he

pitched into the water.

While the gun was on

the ground a minute ago,

I just picked it up before you got here.

That's the absolute truth.

You believe me, don't you?

- I don't know.

- You must believe me,

it was somebody else,

there had to be.

- Who else?

- Well, I don't know, I

didn't actually see anyone.

- I'll say you didn't.

Whoever fired that murder

slug was the invisible man.

- Can't you say something

to convince him I'm innocent?

- I'm all confused.

I don't even know who this man is.

- This is Dan Turner,

the private detective

that I hired to track

down the blackmailers.

- That's what you'd like me to swallow,

but it's gagging me.

Suppose we let homicide

chew on it for a little while.

- Homicide?

- Yeah, I think I'll buzz them.

- All right, where's the stiff?

What's the gag?

- I don't know, but it isn't funny.

- Why, Ziggy, what are those

things doing on your wrist?

- Hey, what is this, an act?

Where's that body?

- Body?

What body is he talking about, Ziggy?

- That's what I'd like to know.

I've been arrested for

something that never happened.

I was strolling around the ground here

when this maniac jumped out

of his car and knocked me out.

When I came to this

other hoodlum was with him.

When they dragged me here.

- Well, how dare they?

These men should be here. - Pardon me, madam,

while I show my badge.

Who is this bright young tomato?

- She's this year's

choice for misinformation.

All right, you two know you had your fun.

Now where's that body?

- What body?

- Look, sweetheart, when I left here,

there was a body in that

pool and now it's gone.

- I don't know what you're talking about.

- They don't either.

They're trying to

incriminate me in a murder

that never happened while I

stand around here and change.

- Don't worry, darling.

Here's a dog's enough leash.

You can sue them later

for assault, kidnapping,

and a murder. - I'm sorry, I'm sorry. - Kidnapping, false arrest, illegal

detention, and slander.

- Wait a minute, Turner.

I'm not so sure the right

people are being questioned.

What are you trying to pull?

- What do you think I'm doing?

Making this up as I go along?

- That's what it sounds like.

You better change your brand of tobacco.

It's giving you pipe dreams.

- I didn't dream up that

evidence, that gun of Cranston's.

It's got the slug fired from it, did I?

- He's got something there.

What did you shoot?

- Quail, they're all over the place.

- That I can believe.

You guys don't need me,

you need a game warden.

His word's as good as yours, Turner.

- Is it?

- When you land the

shambles in the hothouse

and in the study where

the dead guy battles me

and the big quail hunter here.

- You'll get a chance to see it.

- Yeah, and you'll

find the dead dust prints

all over the liquor glass.

- All that doesn't mean a thing

without the corpus delecti.

- Miss Ithyson

bystander here while I was gone,

fished the dead guy out of the pool

and stashed him somewhere.

- Oh, I see.

- You see what?

I see you've blown a fuse.

I got a big picture of

this frail young thing

dragging a water-soaked

cadaver out of that pool

and hiding him.

Particularly the

cadaver big enough to kick you

and Cranston around like

a couple of cream puffs.

- It could be done with health.

And that's just what

she had, hired health.

- Like who?

- Like Cranston Shofer, a

guy that calls himself Antoine.

- Now we got a Shofer to curtle the milk.

- Well, why not?

When I got here, he threw a slug at me.

I let him have one and jarred him loose

from his French accent.

- That doesn't make him an accomplice.

- I'll get evidence for that.

- I wouldn't lay any bets on it.

- Seems to me you're

letting your imagination

run away with you.

- Why don't you do yourself

a favor and run away with it?

- You contemptible faker.

When I hired you, I

understood you were French.

- You advertised for a foreign Shofer

because you wanted to put

on a big Hollywood front.

I needed a jar, so I

obliged with the accent.

- Suppose when we put

the accent on the court,

where did you bury Mr. X?

- Mr. Who?

- All my error.

You could know what I'm talking about.

You didn't help Miss Duane

drag a body from the pool

because there isn't any body.

Now listen, you, you better

begin opening that yap of yours

or you're gonna do it

down at headquarters

under a bright light.

- Okay.

So there is a body connected to the pool.

You're it.

(dramatic music) (dramatic music)

- Remember me?

- I can't place the face.

But the figure's familiar.

- Drink this.

- Oh no you don't doll face.

I had enough to drink

when I was underwater.

Antoine, the cramp's in where I was--

- Now take it easy.

Mr. Cramp's in his room resting.

Antoine's at headquarters.

Inspector Donaldson had him arrested

for butting you in the pool.

That makes you feel any better?

- Yeah, well it helps.

He's got to finish his singing lesson.

- Hey, you don't seem

to like that, gorgeous.

Antoine must know who bumped the gee.

You couldn't stand having the lid

pried off that box, could you, Pandora?

- You'll still need a

body to prove murder

before you can convict an innocent man.

No corpse, no case.

And with no case, I'm

afraid you're wasting

your time around here.

Perhaps you better leave.

- All right, babe.

That's the way you feel about it?

Thanks for the brush on.

Would you be so kind as to send in

the butler with my hat and my pants?

- Hey, for your information,

I have a front door on the clerk

that announces all callers.

Even Charmes is another firm.

- What is this, a Bureau of

Homicides or Insecticides?

Bring out Tony Francois, will you?

I want to bring the 64,000

Frank question out of him.

- He's already been sprung.

- He told me on that phone an hour ago

you had him on ice.

- All right, so right after that,

somebody bailed him out.

After all, we only had

him on an assault raft.

- And all I had on

the guy was the makings

of a first-class murder raft.

No sprungin'.

- Cranston, and why not?

Zeeval Afrench is his chauffeur

and helps hard to get these days.

- That was a missing corpse, sweetheart.

Getting a light.

- When are you gonna

stop chasing Phantom Stips

and badgering innocent people?

- We checked on the chauffeur.

Found out he's an ex-GI

with an honorable discharge

from the Signal Corps.

- Maybe you got his signals mixed.

- You're the one that's mixed up.

While you were

sleeping off that pool jag,

we cased the whole Cranston estate,

even the Garagin servants quarters.

- And the hothouse and the hothouse.

- No sign of a fight.

No glass with fingerprints on it,

and no gun that you were howling about.

We even quizzed the servants.

They didn't see a murder, hear a shot,

or see anybody drag a body out of a pool.

- Rivalry might have conquered that.

- I'm gonna send you to

Psycho for having hallucination.

- So the hallucination had

a scar under his left eye

like I told you.

But of course you

wouldn't look at the records.

- Yeah.

You look.

There's a complete file on all con men

with scars like that.

You know, I don't get your angle.

A private eye comes

all the way from New York

to see a big shot like Ziggy Cranston.

Hey, maybe you're an autograph hound.

Something like that.

I wanna get his name on a check.

A check for what?

Look, you know better than that.

Legally, I don't have to show you

my client's dirty laundry.

Your client?

What kind of a double

dealing gumshoe are you?

Trying to pin a

murder rap on your client.

I don't like murder.

And up to now Cranston's

the number one suspect.

You know, I smell another reason.

With Ziggy Cranston out of the way,

Sylvia Duane would be a

nice chick to make music with.

Wouldn't she turn her?

I hope you're not

suggesting that I frame Cranston

just to steal his cupcake.

That's one way of getting her.

I got other things to get.

Him, for instance.

You ever see that kisser before?

Sure.

Goes under the name of blue chip Winslow.

What about him?

That's a dead gentler

with a Cranston fool.

Are you sure of that?

I'm positive.

Winslow's just a small fry con man.

What would a respectable

citizen like Ziggy Cranston

have in common with a petty gambler?

Gambling.

It's in Cranston's blood.

The guy's so lucky

they call him King Midas.

Suppose he meets Winslow

somewhere and they play games.

Winslow loses heavily, becomes desperate.

He goes out to

Cranston's estate with a demand.

He gets knocked off.

How am I doing?

Very thin, Turner.

It could get thicker.

Where does this Winslow hang out?

I don't know.

The last I heard of

him, he was running around

with a wealthy dodger.

Give me a light.

I'm not interested in the

guy's affairs, just his address.

You might try 29 Laurel Road.

Thanks, pal.

I owe you a favor.

You owe me your life.

I fixed you out of that pool, remember?

Incidentally ruined my best suit.

All right, so I'll give you the 1495.

Hey, if you're going

where I think you're going,

you're gonna stand a wrap or house break.

Write me a letter about it

sometime, will you, sweetheart?

(ominous music)

(ominous music)

(ominous music)

(ominous music)

(ominous music) (ominous music) (ominous music) (ominous music)

(ominous music)

- It's all right, pal.

You're among enemies.

What are you doing here?

Listen tight, Liv.

I want some answers.

I want you to talk and tell me things.

Don't make me pon it out of you.

You're messed up in this

murder up your eyebrows.

Is this an arrest?

It's showing symptoms.

How'd you get in here?

I got in through an open window.

What for?

Start telling me the intimate details.

My name is Tim King.

I lost my bearing.

Don't get caught with me, pretty.

Now listen, you, I've

been knocked in the head

and I've been pushed in the

pool and I'm getting sore.

Now either you're in

business for yourself

or somebody's got you running errands.

Which is it?

I was just trying to help Mr. Cranston.

Quit nibbling around the edges.

Right into it.

Okay.

Mr. Cranston wanted to set a negative.

Somebody who's blackmailing him with.

He thought they might be

hidden here in the Winslow house.

So he sent me to look for them.

Did you find him?

No, I didn't.

It's funny, I found him.

He made a mistake letting

me catch you with these.

I found this little slip link shelf

with Winslow's death rattles.

I didn't kill him.

You're only guessing.

I'm kind of guessing can

crowd you into a gas chamber.

How long you known Winslow?

You can't trick me.

I didn't know him.

Of course you didn't know him.

You were just walking in your sleep

and you dreamed up his home address.

I got the address from Mr. Cranston.

Where'd he get it?

You'll have to ask him.

That's just what I intend to do.

You and I are gonna go

call on Mr. Cranston.

We're gonna hear his story.

Let's go.

I'm sorry to disappoint you,

but I accept full

responsibility for Antoine's actions.

I took him into my confidence

and instructed him to

help find these negatives.

Anything he did was at my bidding.

Obviously he's been more

helpful on the case than you have.

All right, rich boy.

That puts the cherry driver

in the clear, but not you.

You denied knowing Winslow's moniker.

And it comes out to even

though the guys are dressed.

I can explain that,

but I prefer to keep it confidential.

You may go Antoine.

Thank you, sir.

But don't go far.

You're still a material witness, pal.

Hey, what do you think you're doing?

Closing a blackmail.

And I'm tearing over the murder case.

Now do I get some answers

or do I have to get tough?

I don't know anything about

what you're talking about.

We'll start with what you do know then,

like Winslow's address.

Well, Sylvia found it in the wallet

that Winslow dropped

during the fight and the study.

Well, things are beginning to mesh.

There was also Sylvia

who cleaned up the hothouse

and the study.

She got rid of the

liquor glass and the gun.

She moved the dead guy from the pool.

Now do I find a dead guy or

do I have to cave in some ribs?

I don't know where the body is.

I give you my oath.

Sylvia took the body from the pool.

She admitted that,

but she said she did it

to keep me out of trouble.

That's a noble gesture on her part.

Evidence of her true love.

I don't know.

She didn't tell me.

She said it would be

better if I didn't know.

That's very thoughtful of her,

since she considered

that you were the murderer.

You're wrong, Turner.

Sylvia believed in my innocence.

That's why she went to bat for me.

She figured I had no logical

motive for killing Winslow.

Blackmail's a beautiful motive.

And thanks to you, I know

how to crack Sylvia Dwayne.

What do you mean, how?

When she concealed that body,

she made herself an

accessory to homicide.

And the home for gals to do that

is to hatch up his safe prison.

Why don't you stop

badgering Sylvia and me, Turner?

There must be other suspects,

other leads you could track down.

There is another lead,

but I had to know what happened here

before I could tackle it.

You checked out of the silver swan

with a pretty good

chunk of dough, didn't you?

About $50,000, I believe I told you that.

Well, it could add up this way.

You win 50 Gs at a

gambling spree at the silver swan.

Pretty soon, somebody

tries to put the pitch on you

for the identical amount.

How does that sound to you?

Coincidence, I suppose.

Well, I don't like

that kind of coincidence.

Especially since your ex-girlfriend Carla

and the dead jet in your pool

both worked at the silver swan.

What are you gonna do?

I'm gonna tuck on my tux and try my luck.

All I can lose is my money.

Good evening, sir.

Has Winslow been around lately?

I beg your pardon, sir.

Why?

What did you do?

You mentioned the name, sir.

I'm afraid I didn't quite catch it.

Well, see if you can

feel this one any better.

Has Blue Chip been around lately?

Blue Chip?

What, are you a little sir ankle?

Yeah, a little boy Blue Chip.

I don't believe I've seen you around.

Your face doesn't seem very familiar.

I never looked

familiar to strangers, pal.

Will you have a drink, sir?

Yeah, give me a dry martini.

How, sir?

No, it takes up too

much room in the glass.

(dramatic music)

Good evening.

I was wondering when

somebody like you was gonna show up.

The kid here was running

out of ways to stall me.

You asked to see somebody?

Not that I remember.

I just wondered if Blue Chip Winslow

has been around lately.

Are you a friend of him?

Yeah, we met in a couple of places.

You're being rather vague.

Maybe you'd like to tell the rest

of the someplace where it's private.

Yeah, maybe I would.

Who would you lead the way?

Oh, wait a minute.

Say, Goldilocks, how about that drink?

You wouldn't like it, sir.

I accidentally put an elevator.

Very funny.

(door opens)

Who is he selling those Winslow?

What is your business with Mr. Winslow?

I got no business with him.

I just asked if he'd been around lately.

Let's not get technical.

I wanna know what your

interest is in Winslow.

Don't take that attitude.

We're not gonna get anywhere.

Go ahead, talk.

Talk, huh?

Wouldn't you rather hear me whistle?

Risk him, Pinky.

So you're a New York

private detective, Mr. Turner.

You've strayed a little out of your

territory, haven't you?

Yeah, I like to play in

other people's backyards.

Never mind the wisecracks.

I'm one of my employees.

Oh, well, it's nice of you to admit

that Blue Chip was one of your employees.

Why do you say was?

Because I meant was.

The guy's dead.

How did he die?

He was murdered.

Maybe you better tell me the rest of it.

He was killed at the

home of a Hollywood playboy,

Ziggy Cranston.

Think you know him.

We know if we had his luck,

but today we were crooked.

He walked out of here with

50 grand and never came back.

Cut it, Pinky.

I'll let him beef.

Your undercover rackets don't concern me,

unless they include murder.

Gave you the idea, did.

Winslow was the second

one of your employees

to make a quick exit.

Carla, the dame that

sang for you got it first.

Carla accidentally fell

out of a hotel window.

We saw that in newspapers.

Yeah, I read Buck

Rogers in the newspapers,

but I don't believe it.

I think we had something

to do with their death,

so you came down here.

Is that it?

Yeah, that could be it.

Gambling for high stakes, Turner.

I'm going to call you.

Let's see the rest of your cards.

Cranston is being

framed with some snapshots

taken the night his drink

was spiked in this joint.

It's an old reliable blackmail angle.

Or isn't that news to you?

I don't think I like

your insinuations, Turner.

I'm not asking you to like them, Pally.

I'm telling you.

Two of your associates were mixed up

in a deal against my client.

They outlived their

usefulness to somebody,

and somebody had them chopped.

Now, do I find out who did the chopping,

or do I have to holler copper?

Maybe you know

something and maybe you don't.

If my boys had nothing to

do with the death of Carla

Winslow, we're gamblers, not killers.

I didn't hear you mention blackmailers.

My take is big enough

without branching into sidelines.

Well, you're going to

branch into the newspapers

when it gets out that two

of your people were murdered

and one of your clients framed.

That's what I don't

like about the whole thing.

It's got to be proved

that we weren't implicated.

How much will a thousand dollars buy

toward running down the killers

without involving the casino?

A thousand dollars worth?

I'll do what I can, but

I'm not going to lay awake

nights worrying about you.

Maybe I didn't make myself clear.

This grand is a guarantee that nothing

points to the silver swan.

Then the silver swan

better not be implicated,

and a guarantee expires, just like that.

Let him out, Pinky.

I don't trust him, Spice.

You're going soft-headed.

Hard-headed, Pinky.

Let him out.

No turner.

Yeah.

You can remind Cranston that we expect to

see that 50 grand back

in circulation.

I'll remember that.

Good night, Pally.

Where's the quail?

The quail, sir?

Mr. Wayne.

She's down at the pool

taking a plunge, sir.

Good.

I'll plunge a few

questions at her in a minute.

Come on in, sir.

Sit down and have some breakfast.

I've had my breakfast.

What'd you find out last night?

I found the hit in the

head, and then everything

comes right back here.

Here?

That's ridiculous.

How many servants you got in this

futuristic mausoleum

besides Antoine?

Why, two.

The maid and the butler.

Why?

Do they know anything

about your difficulties?

Well, only what they suspect.

You know, right now, it

isn't too difficult for me

to suspect you.

Me?

Yeah.

Let's get them together

and see if they suspect

any more than I do.

Yesterday afternoon, there

was a murder committed down

near the swimming pool of this shack.

Did any of you happen to witness it?

Did any of you hear a shot?

Well, did anybody

just happen to be looking

toward the swimming

pool and see Ms. Dwayne

drag a body from the water?

Ms. Dwayne, sir?

Oh, no, sir.

It was precisely as we told the police

when they investigated.

None of us knew there had been a murder.

You see, sir, to make

the long story shorter--

Make it shorter.

Where were you?

In the front part of the house, sir.

Maybe the maid--

Maybe we could speak for herself.

Oh, come on.

Come on.

I-- I was busy with my household duties

and these wings, sir.

You've known for a

long time that somebody

was putting the squeeze on Mr. Krantz

in here for a lot of money, haven't you?

Well, they couldn't possibly know that.

Oh, coaching from the audience, please.

Come on, Mamie.

Tell me.

How much dirt have you picked up around

here that didn't belong

in the vacuum cleaner?

I beg your pardon, sir.

I'm not one to pry

into anybody's business.

I don't know anything about anything.

Nobody knows anything about anything.

You've got enough

alibis floating around here

to over-fold the swimming pool.

There wouldn't be room for any corpse.

Well, the lid's going

to blow off, Krantz,

and when Winslow's body shows up,

and the bullet matches

the one fired from your gun.

I don't know who killed him, and, well,

I don't know anything about him.

You admit that Winslow was killed.

You admit that a body vanished.

Yes, only--

You heard him.

All of you.

Now, remember that in case

we need your testimony later.

That'll be all.

Don't go on.

Out.

Sure.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Turner, do your duties include

intimidating my servants?

If these people don't pack up and leave,

it won't be because

you haven't worked at it.

Well, with your luck, you'll get others.

And the next ones will have

blue uniforms and carry keys.

I thought the phone was out of order.

I had it repaired this

morning during your absence.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Mr. Krantz's residence.

Who is calling, please?

Who is it, Gerber?

I don't know, sir.

The party wouldn't

give the name on a step

to inform you that it was important.

Wait a minute.

Does this phone connect

with the one on the study?

Yes, it's an extension.

Wait till I give you the cue.

Be careful what you say.

This may be important.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Hello?

Listen close, Krantz, sir, because I'm

going to say this just once.

You have until tonight

to pay off that 150 grand.

At 10 PM, drive to the summit of

Pentecanyon and Turt

left when you reach the dirt lane.

Leave the money in the first clump of

bushes on your right.

Remember, no private eye

is watching from ambush.

Cross me up and the police

will find Winslow's body.

Hello?

Hello?

Hello?

Did you recognize that voice?

No, I didn't.

It was obviously disguised.

Who do you know that's that good?

Well, in the radio business,

I meet any number of mimics.

Dialects and voice changes

all their stock and trade.

Now, I'd have to be someone

with a more personal contact.

Antoine, for instance.

Why Antoine?

Oh, don't make me draw you a blueprint.

You've already had a

sample of the guy's French.

Maybe he also imitates blackmailers.

I'm afraid it won't fit, Turner.

Antoine was in here a moment ago with the

rest of the servants.

He couldn't have possibly

gotten outside to a phone in time.

Miss Duane could have.

What do you mean?

She was the only one that

wasn't present and accounted for.

You see, Miss Cutie Pie's an actress.

Masking her voice

shouldn't be any problem.

All she had to do was

step into a phone booth,

make it sound like six

or seven other people,

and give you the business.

She had the time and the opportunity.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Does that tell you anything, Mr. Turner?

I hope that clears Miss Duane.

I'm not crossing anyone off the list yet.

Is there a telephone

extension down at the pool?

No.

Just the one in the entrance

hall and the other in the study.

Well, that's great.

Now we got it narrowed

down to all of Los Angeles.

Anyone could have made the call.

What are you going to do?

At the moment, nothing.

You're going to do it.

You know, you got a stiff

protection premium to meet

tonight.

You wouldn't be thinking

of selling me out, Turner.

Uh-oh, baby.

I'm going to stick to

you like a porous plaster.

$150,000 is a lot to pay for a plaster.

Not if it's guaranteed

to give quick relief.

Well, what about Sylvia?

She believes in my innocence.

What is she going to think

if I pay a blackmail demand?

What is she, your keeper?

Can't you pay the

premium without telling her?

I'm supposed to take her to a concert

tonight at the Hollywood Bowl.

Let her go bowling by herself.

Tell her you got a

business conference or a headache.

Tell her anything that will keep her busy

while you collect your assets.

All right, good.

What would you be doing in the meantime?

You let me worry about me.

You just start gathering up

your wealth for the abdication,

King Midas.

I'll see you tonight.

Oh, you know, it's really too bad that a

simple little murder

spoils your evening.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Well, I didn't expect

to see you soon, Pally.

Now we're even for that Sunday punch you

slipped me last night.

I was only trying to do my job.

The boss needs some information.

Yeah, well, so do I.

What's Callaway's idea

in having me shadowed?

He don't know nothing about it.

How come you're using his car?

Pinky arranged that.

Oh, Pinky.

He's a little guy that didn't want

Callaway to hire me.

He don't trust you.

Well, now, ain't that too bad?

Now, listen, you.

You better open your gap, or

I'm going to open it for you.

Look, Tana, I'm

giving it to you straight.

If you don't believe

me, you can check it.

Maybe I better do that.

Pinky might be mixed up

in a couple outside deals

that Callaway don't know nothing about.

Like what?

Like to shake down a

Cranston for the murder

of Winslow and a Carla Dane.

I ought to go back to the club.

Wait a minute.

I'm going to take this

grand back to Callaway.

I can't do that.

Callaway will think that

Pinky ignored his orders.

That's Pinky's problem.

The way things are shaping up, I don't

want any part of this dough.

Hey, what are you going

to do with those keys?

Just making sure I'm not going to have

any more interference from you

tonight, right, boy?

So go.

You can't leave me out here.

Smile sometime.

Call a cab.

You've got $1,000 bucks for the fare.

That's all of it.

$150,000.

Are you sure you know the routine?

Yes, sir.

Time to drive Mr. Cranston's

car to the summit of Topanga

Canyon.

Take the dirt lane to my

left and leave the briefcase

in the first clump of

bushes I find on my right.

You get E for effort.

I hope you know what you're doing.

I hope you get your hope.

Here's the plot.

Antoine is to ditch this

briefcase at the appointed spot.

Meanwhile, you and I are going to go

ahead to the silver swan

and wait.

I thought you said that--

Never mind what you thought.

Whoever's picking up

that money is probably

going to deliver it there.

And you and I are going to be a little

welcoming, committee.

Antoine, I'm going to go ahead and get you

to the summit.

Antoine, you'll leave

in about 10 minutes.

That'll put you there about right time.

We'll go on ahead.

Wait a minute.

Uh-oh.

I'm going to go ahead and

get your husband's home.

Say, aren't you headed in

the wrong direction, Turner?

You know what always happens

when I have the car washed?

I can't do a thing with it.

I'm in no mood for humor.

Just where are we going?

He wanted me to find you your

blackmailer, didn't you?

Yeah.

But you said we'd find

him at the silver swan.

I said probably.

Just what are you insinuating?

Nothing yet.

I'm still looking for the answers to a

few loose questions,

Ziggy.

I think I know where to find them.

I got your very

unenlightening message, what gives.

We're going to clear up the murder.

I thought you said

there wasn't any murder.

Oh, yes, there was.

Ziggy here finally admitted it in the

presence of witnesses.

He confessed?

I didn't confess to anything,

except that Winslow was shot

and the body disappeared.

Look, Hawkshaw, I told you before that

none of this means anything

without the corpus de lecti.

Well, that remains to be seen.

Let's go see.

[footsteps]

Antoine's.

Shh.

I'm going to go in and have a look.

Use the other Donaldson.

[door opens]

Is that you, darling?

Mm-hmm.

Hi, Aquail.

What are you doing here?

I figured you and Antoine

were making jive together.

I called before I left Ziggy's estate.

When you answered, I knew

I was right on the beam.

I can easily explain why I'm here.

Never mind.

I'll do it for you.

See, this all started when you set your

snoot for Ziggy Cranston,

made him fall in love with you.

To use Ziggy meant an opportunity to get

on top of the Hollywood heap.

What is this?

A mind-reading act?

No.

Some of it's guesswork, but some of it's

based on actual facts.

It better be, Shamas.

If you broadcast anything

about me that isn't true,

I'll sue your pants off.

I'm going to risk that.

Ziggy made his mistake when he let you in

on the blackmail angle Carla was staging.

You couldn't stand having a rival break

in on your financial territory.

So you knocked Carla off and decided to

take over the shakedown yourself.

Dream on, darling.

Your little dream was shattered when you

realized that Carla had a confederate who

was raising the ante.

So you had to get rid

of him as you did Carla.

You shot Winslow down at the pool, and

you threw the gun at Cranston's feet.

Wonderful, Bloodhound.

But how could I get a

hold of Ziggy's gun?

You were standing outside the hot house,

and you saw me drop it in the flowerpot.

It had to be you, sweetheart, because

everyone else had an

alibi for those few minutes.

Besides, you had the sweetest motive.

What motive, please?

You saw the possibility of a bigger

shakedown if you could blackmail Ziggy

for assassination

instead of indiscretion.

You're a great sloot, Sherlock.

First you blamed Ziggy, and now poor me.

I began blaming you this morning when you

made that telephone call.

You see, again, it had to be you, because

outside of Ziggy and myself,

only you knew that the blackmail demand

had been boosted to 150 Gs.

But how could I phone?

I was at the swimming pool all morning.

Except for the few

minutes when you made that call.

You see, I checked with the telephone

company, and I found out about the

handset that was lost when the repairman

came to fix the phone.

It wasn't lost, sweetheart.

Antoine copped it, and he

cut it in on the house circuit.

Antoine is an unusual handyman, isn't he?

Antoine was with the

Signal Corps, remember?

That's a fact,

sweetheart, and you can't deny it.

Or that Antoine was your boyfriend before

you began playing Cranston.

You may be a homegirl, baby,

but you're in the wrong home.

You're wrong about that, Dan.

Just as you're wrong

about the other thing.

I don't love Antoine

any more than I do Ziggy.

In fact, I never loved

anyone until yesterday.

Yeah? So what happened yesterday?

I met you.

When I called you Samson,

it meant something to me.

He was a big guy. A

woman couldn't resist.

He was a big guy.

Darling, let's forget

about blackmail and murder,

and slip away from all these people.

That's not bad, baby.

It's not bad at all.

But as I remember my ancient history,

that Delilah dog, Dave

Samson, boy, quite a trevie.

Don't you move.

You stay right there.

Sylvia and I have kissed and made up.

Come in, boys.

Sylvia, I can't believe

it. I don't know what to say.

Just see that you

remember what you heard.

You're a witness.

He's a witness to what? I

haven't admitted anything.

You don't have to.

We pinned Antoine before we came here.

He confessed to works, who

shot Winslow and everything.

He implicated you all the

way up to your ears, kitten.

He did it to save himself.

By that dirty French heel, getting out

from under at my expense.

What I did, I did because of him.

Not because of

myself, but because of him.

He'll even swear you

hatched a blackmail plot.

He knocked off Carlin

Winslow and hid the body.

That's a lie.

He hid the body

himself in Japania Canyon.

It was Antoine who...

For what?

Why, you dirty,

double-crossing bloodhound.

You've been picking me foul balls.

Never mind your hand, baby.

Think what you put your foot into.

Right into the gas chamber.

Well, here's your bait back, sucker.

I'm still confused,

Tana, but I am grateful.

I don't know how to thank you.

Well, that I can show you.

All I want is a slice of

the bacon to help bring home.

My fee for saving you from this little

romance will be five grand.

Stop around for a check in the morning.

Did you go?

Come on, come on, hurry up.

Don't rush me.