All language subtitles for 07 - The Adventure of Colonel

In a few hours, this character
assassin will be murdered.

Who killed him?

Was in the man with a cane?

The Russian diplomat?

On behalf of my government,
I must protest.

His wife with the damaging past?

But he was alive when I left!

The photographer?

It was a nightmare -- the Gestapo.

Stop!

Or was it someone else?

Incredible!

Match wits with Ellery Queen

and see if you can guess
who done it

There you are.

Yes, if you saw the reviews
in yesterday's papers.

They were all very kind, indeed,
very kind.

There you are.

I say -- we are doing a brisk trade,
and only the first day.

I had no idea I was
so well-known here in America.

Good publicity helps, Colonel.

Such a lovely, delicate hand,
my dear.

Why don't we ride together
to the cocktail party?

I think I'd better get
some more books.

[ Speaking inaudibly ]

Jenny?

Jen?

Jenny, I've been waiting
in Alexander's for about an hour now.

Didn't we have a lunch date?

Oh, yes, but that was yesterday,
and I waited an hour.

Well, yesterday was Tuesday.

And today's Wednesday,
and tomorrow's Thursday,

and, anyway, I've already eaten.

Well, we'll have dinner tonight.

Sorry. I have to go
to a literary-club cocktail party,

in honor of my newest client.

There you are, my dear.

Don't recognize him.

Colonel Alec Nivin.

Oh, "Memoirs of a Spy."

The old lecher thinks
he's a celebrity,

but actually it's all due
to my publicity -- front page.

There you are, sir.
Thank you.

Oh, I'm sorry, sir. We'll have to
make it one to a customer.

We're running a bit short,
you know.

Colonel, may I present Ellery Queen?

Oh, a friend of yours, is he,
Miss O'Brien?

Thank you.

Well, I suppose we --
we could make an exception, Mr. --

Queen.

Yes, well, I told my publisher
that 2,000 copies -- thank you --

wouldn't be enough
for the first printing.

But let me tell you, young man --

it'll be the second volume
that's going to break sales records.

- Mr. Queen is an author, also.
- Oh, really?

Well, you keep it up, my boy,

and I'd be very happy to put
a word in for you with my publisher.

- Oh, that won't be--
- Here, let me sign that for you.

- Oh, that won't be necessary.
- "To my good friend Elliot --"

Uh, Ellery.

- Ellery?
- Queen.

Oh. "Ellery.

Colonel Alec Nivin, V.C."

That's "Victoria Cross", you know.

That's the last copy, sir.
We're sold out.

- That'll be $4, even.
- Okay.

- The first day.
- Marvelous.

I was developing a bit
of writer's cramp,

as a matter of fact.

This day calls
for a bit of a celebration.

What do you say?

Why don't we have dinner
after the cocktail party, Jenny?

Absolutely smashing lamb curry
at the Safari Club,

and I could arrange for us
to be served in my private room,

which you would find
absolutely fascinating.

Um, well, actually, I have a dinner
engagement with Mr. Queen.

- Isn't that right, Ellery?
- What?

Dinner tonight -- where were you
planning on taking me?

Oh, I don't care.

May I suggest business
before pleasure, Miss O'Brien?

I'll need your support with all
those dreadful literary-club ladies.

And perhaps Mr. Queen
could make it another evening.

As a matter of fact,
I've already asked Mr. Queen

to the cocktail party.

- Oh, I don't care much--
- JENNY: Well, let's all go together.

What do you say --
the Safari Club at 5:00?

And, Ellery, please be on time.

Ladies allowed only
in the restaurant, Miss,

gentlemen only in the club, Miss.

Colonel Nivin, please.
I'm expected.

Ah, Colonel Nivin.
One moment, please, Miss.

[ Buzzes doorbell ]

Colonel Nivin busy, Miss.

But I have an appointment.

Please to wait in restaurant, Miss.

Ah.

Men only, my eye.

[ Buzzes doorbell ]

[ Knocks on door ]

Colonel Nivin?

Ellery?

Colonel Nivin?

Colonel Nivin,
I-I don't mean to intrude.

Colonel Nivin?

Who's there?

Ellery? Ellery, is that you?

Stop!

[ Clock ticking ]

There's another strike.

I wonder what Truman's
gonna do now.

Ellery, you better hurry,
or you're gonna be late... again.

I'm almost ready, Dad.
I forgot my blue socks.

How can you read a book
and dress at the same time?

Blue socks?
Lift your trousers.

Those are brown socks,
not blue socks.

They're brown because
I couldn't find the blue socks.

See, I was gonna wear my blue coat,
but I couldn't find that, either.

So, when I found my brown socks,
I took off the blue coat --

- Incredible!
- It certainly is.

Maybe I'll go to Ebbets Field.
Wonder who's pitching.

- The Butcher of Prague.
- Who?

There's this woman who's
the mistress of Gerhart Frolicher,

the Butcher of Prague,

now married to a very important
European diplomat.

"Memoirs of a Spy,”
by Colonel Alec Nivin, V.C.

Another one of those books

about "How I won the war
single-handed"?

No, it's more like a Hedda Hopper
gossip column.

- A lot of scandal, huh?
- Character assassination.

Nivin was with the British
Intelligence during the war

and got his hands
on some Nazi files,

but they didn't burn them
when they evacuated Paris.

- That the latest style?
- No, no.

Listen to this, Dad --

"And this dastardly British subject,

who broadcast propaganda
programs for the Nazis,

has escaped punishment
for his crimes

and is now living in New York

as a respected businessman,
using an assumed name."

I thought those guys
were all in Argentina.

Here's another one, Dad --

"A French underground leader
betrayed his friends

to Nazi torture and death

and escaped after the war
to America.”

You better put that book down
if you're gonna make your date.

Huh?

Oh, it's 5:00. Yeah, I got to hurry.
Don't want to keep her waiting again.

Thanks a lot.
I'll see you later.

[ Telephone ringing ]

Yeah?

Oh, hello, Velie.

Colonel Nivin?

Yeah.

Yeah, he's the one who wrote
that "Memoirs of a Spy."

Well, of course I know about it.

What do you think I do,
just read detective stories?

Yeah, all right.
I'll grab a cab and be right down.

Ellery's got the car.

Oh, on second thought,

I think maybe Ellery
will be giving me a lift.

Dad, did you see my glasses?

Dad, it's an antique Kashmiri dagger.

I guess it wasn't premeditated.

The dagger fit in this scabbard.
See? The handle matches.

The killer must have snatched it
on impulse.

Get it to the police lab.
Have it checked for prints.

- Maestro.
- Hi, Velie.

- Inspector.
- What do you got so far?

Well, we caught the murderer --
I mean a suspect -- I mean a person.

Velie, what are you talking about?

Well, you're not gonna like this,
Maestro. It's a friend of yours.

[ Snaps fingers ]

- Jenny!
- Ellery, where were you?

- And the Indian here.
- Rosh Kaleel, sir.

He says she waited till his back
was turned and slipped in.

He caught her trying
to run out the back door.

That is correct, sir.

Now, that is ridiculous!
I wasn't trying to run anywhere.

If you must know,
I was trying to catch the killer!

Take it easy, Jenny.

What's your estimate
of the time of death?

It must have been just after 5:00,

about the time
he caught her running out.

Ellery, he was dead when I got here.

Jenny, you're not a policeman.
Now, take it easy.

[ Sighs ]

I heard the door close over there.
Someone had just gone out the door.

I started to follow him when that --
that -- that person grabbed me.

- Inspector --
- Now, Jenny --

Don't "Now, Jenny" me, Inspector.

We'll get your statement,
and the Indian fellow's, too.

Rosh Kaleel, sir.

Ellery, Ellery, if you had been
on time here,

I wouldn't be in this mess!

She's right, Dad. We were
supposed to meet here at 5:00.

Whoa, whoa, hold on.
What's this?

S.D.

Did Colonel Nivin
have a lady in here today?

It is against club rules, sir --
definitely not.

Oh, I think he did.
Here's a blonde hair.

Are you in a position to see anyone
who enters this room?

Yes, sir.

Well, you can't be watching the doors
all the time.

Let me ask you a question --
who cleans this room?

I do. The room was cleaned
thoroughly yesterday,

in anticipation
of the Colonel's return.

- Did you turn the cushions over?
- Yes, sir.

Then the glove and the hair belong
to somebody who was here today.

A woman with the initials S.D.

All we have to do now
is check the telephone directory.

Dad, I don't think we have
to go that far.

You're forgetting
the Colonel's memoirs.

Uh-oh. Look.

Somebody was tampering
with the drawer

that contained the Colonel's files,
maybe the files for the book.

It's locked.

Let's hope whoever killed
Colonel Nivin

didn't get what he or she
was looking for.

Nothing.

Dad, here's one --
S.D., Sebastian Donlevy.

Now, according to Nivin,

he was the kingpin
of the black market --

coffee and chocolate bars,
occupied Berlin.

Was he wearing a woman's glove?

Well, it doesn't say that.

- Ellery.
- I know -- keep looking.

That wouldn't be it.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Maybe it might be.

Does the name Dobrenskov
ring a bell?

Alexsei Dobrenskov?

The Soviet diplomat. Sure.

But it doesn't work, Dad.
That's AD., not S.D.

How about Sonja Dobrenskov,
his wife?

Yes?

Inspector Richard Queen,
New York City Police Department.

I'd like to see Mrs. Dobrenskov,
please.

Your credentials, please.

Wait.

You know, technically,
as a Russian diplomat's wife,

she doesn't have to talk to us.

Well, I know that,
but don't let her know.

I wonder if her husband knows
about her background. Shh.

Madam will receive you.

Inspector.

I'm Sonja Dobrenskov.
Welcome.

How do you do?
This is my son, Ellery.

How do you do?

May I offer you something --
tea, perhaps? Vodka?

Nothing for me.

That will be all, Mikhail.

Perhaps if I stayed, Madam,
I might be of service.

That will be all.

Of course, Madam.

I'm so sorry.

My husband is still at the embassy,
but he's expected momentarily.

Actually, Mrs. Dobrenskov,
I've come to talk to you.

Me?

Oh? Have I broken
one of your traffic laws perhaps,

or something like that?

I notice that you've been reading
"Memoirs of a Spy.”

Oh, yes.

I don't know why I bought it --
all the publicity, I suppose.

It's very dull, what I've read of it.

- Do you know Colonel Nivin?
- Nivin?

Oh, the author. No, no.

Our social connections
are very limited.

My husband and I rarely entertain,
except officially, of course.

[ Outside door closes ]

Oh, there is Alexsei now.

This is Inspector Queen and his son.

How do you do?

Ah, Inspector,
it is kind of you to come.

An unfortunate accident,

but we must insist that the seaman
be returned to us immediately.

Seaman?

The crewman who fell overboard
when our ship, the Larissa,

entered New York Harbor
this evening.

There must be
some misunderstanding.

Our government insists that he be
returned to the ship immediately.

You mean that another
Russian seaman has defected?

If he has requested political asylum,
it is because he is merely confused.

I'm not here
about a Russian defector.

Colonel Alec Nivin
has been murdered.

Colonel Nivin?
No, I'm sorry.

Actually, sir, it's your wife
we want to talk with.

Yes, about -- about this.

Sonja.

It was found in Nivin's study
after the murder.

Inspector, I don't know
what you're insinuating,

but my wife and I
enjoy diplomatic status.

For you to suggest
there is a connection

between my wife
and this Colonel Nivin is insulting.

I'm sorry, sir, but that monogram
is unmistakable.

Besides, we've seen
Colonel Nivin's files.

It is all in the past, my dear.

Inspector, if you have read
those files,

you must realize that my wife's
relationship with that man in Prague

is most sensitive.

I must rely on your discretion
with this information.

Even my superiors
are unaware of it.

Yes, rather awkward for a diplomat,
especially a Russian diplomat.

Mrs. Dobrenskov,
you did go to see Colonel Nivin.

About 4:30,
but he was alive when I left.

You must believe me.

But why, Sonja?
Why did you go?

For your sake, Alexsei -- that book.

I went to beg of him
not to make my past public.

I didn't want your career destroyed.

I spoke to him.

He agreed not to use my name
if I paid him.

I told him I would find the money.

But he was alive when I left!
I-I swear it!

I swear it! I swear it!

Ellery.

[ Engine turns over]

[ Doorbell rings ]

I'm coming! I'm coming!

Oh.

- Good morning, Inspector.
- Good... morning.

Is Ellery up?

I think he's in the kitchen.
I smell toast burning.

I hope I didn't wake you up.

Oh, no, no, I had to get up, anyway.
The doorbell was ringing.

- Morning.
- Morning.

Hi, Jenny.

Oh, I've been up all night. It's 6:30.
I've been reading these files.

- Well?
- Well, what?

Did she confess?

Last time I talked to you,

you were going off
to see Sonja Dobrenskov.

Oh, Sonja Dobrenskov --
yeah, she was at Colonel Nivin's,

but she maintains
that when she left

he was alive, yeah.

Do you want some breakfast?

I've already eaten.

These files are fascinating.
Under "E" --

- You want some toast?
- No, thanks.

Under "E"?

I found a Colin Esterbrook,
British turncoat,

broadcast propaganda for the Nazis.

Now, according to this file,

he's an antique dealer
somewhere in the East now.

But there is no note
of any assumed name he's used.

There must be hundreds
of antique dealers in New York alone.

- He'll be impossible to find.
- Unless we get a break.

I also found something
in the "F" file --

Free French leader,
sold out his friends to the Nazis.

His name is Marcel Fourchet.

- You're kidding!
- Huh?

He isn't by any chance
a photographer?

Hobbies, hobbies, hobbies,
hobbies, hobbies --

ice skating, photography.
You know him?

If he's the same man I'm thinking of,
he's a freelance photographer,

does a lot of work for Post,
Collier's, Life.

He has a studio over on Lexington.

I know some people who've used him
for P.R. assignments.

- I'd better talk to him.
- I'll go with you.

I said I better talk to him.

Now, look, Ellery --
I was the one

who was caught running
from the scene of the murder.

My dad does not think
you killed Colonel Alec Nivin.

He's about the only one.

Neither do I, Jenny.

[ Telephone ringing ]

Hello?

Oh, hi, Velie.

No, he's still sleeping.

You found out what?

Is that right?

Yeah -- oh, sure I'll tell him.

- You want to know, don't you?
- Sure.

That was the lab report.

The only fingerprints found
on Nivin's dagger

were Nivin's and the Indian's.

Then the Indian killed him --
that's just what I thought.

No, not necessarily.

The Indian cleaned Nivin's room.

He probably touched the dagger
and left his fingerprints on it.

What concerns me
is why Mrs. Dobrenskov's prints

weren't on the knife.

She could have killed him
with her glove on.

No, it doesn't add up.
That was a right-handed glove.

- Is she right-handed?
- Yes, she is right-handed.

I saw her light a cigarette
last night with her right hand.

Yes, she is right-handed.

Now, if the glove was off,

she would have left fingerprints
on the knife.

But if she stabbed him
with the glove on,

it doesn't stand to reason

that she would have taken
the glove off

and stuffed it in the cushion.

Unless she did it
to throw you off the track.

Well, I have to go see
Marcel Fourchet.

I'm going with you.

No, you are not.
This could be dangerous.

You're not going with me,
and that is that -- is that!

[ Knocking on door ]

[ Groans ]

- Marcel Fourchet?
- Hmm?

My name is Ellery Queen.
This is Miss O'Brien.

We'd like to talk with you.

Mes amis, you're a lovely couple,
but I'm sorry.

I no longer take wedding portraits.

Perhaps I could
recommend someone.

No, see, you misunderstand.

We're investigating the death
of Colonel Alec Nivin.

May we come in?

- Of course.
- Thank you.

[ Clears throat ]

But I'm afraid I don't
even know this --

what did you say his name is --
Nivin?

I believe you were

in the Free French Underground
during the war.

Yes, and so were many
other brave Frenchmen.

Those that survived, those that
weren't betrayed by their friends.

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

We read Colonel Nivin's
personal files, Mr. Fourchet.

I'm afraid you've already
given yourself away.

You put a bookmark right in the spot
where Nivin threatens to expose you.

[ Exhales sharply ]

I thought all that
was safely behind me.

I know what Nivin thought,
but you must believe me, Mr. Queen.

It was a nightmare -- the Gestapo.

Once they captured you,
there was no way to resist them.

The things they did -- it --
I -- I still bear the scars.

I held out for three days,
but in the end...

And your friends?

Ah.

We used to laugh, all of us,
about the cyanide capsules.

Cyanide capsules?

To kill yourself,
keep you from talking.

I wish to God I had had one.

Death did not frighten me.

Death would have been
a welcome friend.

Mr. Fourchet, I'm sorry, but I have to
ask you about Colonel Nivin.

Where were you yesterday at 5:00?

I was in Boston... on assignment
for Life magazine.

The longshoremen's strike --
perhaps you've seen my work.

Yes. How long were you there?

Two days.
I returned only last evening.

Pretty convenient.

I was delayed developing
my last roll of film --

actually, the group of photos
you have there, Mr. Queen.

My flight arrived
just before midnight.

Can anyone verify
you came in on that flight?

Yeah.

I can.

Ah...

[ Clears throat ]

Mrs. Fourchet?

Not a chance, honey.

May I present Miss Glenda Dunlap,
my secretary --

actually, my fiancée.

Let me get you
something to put on.

Uh, Miss Dunlap, were you traveling
with Mr. Fourchet?

Not a chance.
I never get to go anywhere.

Oh, I got to meet his plane
at LaGuardia.

He calls me around 9:00
and tells me he's coming in late,

wants me to meet him.

And did you?

Sure, why not?

Look -- I saw him get off the plane,
if that's what you're getting at.

Yes, yes, yes, yes.
Thank you very much.

- Let's go, Ellery.
- Yes. We will.

Nice work, Mr. Fourchet.

That will be in next week's edition.

Actually, I must hurry
and get them to my editor.

Good luck.

Nice meeting you, Miss Dunlap.

Yeah, sure.

Oh, Ellery, I am so embarrassed --

calling that poor man a liar,
and then that girl.

Well, I have learned my lesson --

from now on,
it's completely up to you.

But I thought
that you were the one --

I'm just not cut out
for detective business.

I'm gonna stick to my press clippings
and stop playing Torchy Blane.

- Could I drop you off?
- Oh, no, that's all right.

- You go on ahead. I'll walk.
- You sure?

- Really.
- Okay.

- Call me later!
- I will!

Taxi!

Straight ahead.

[ Engine turns over]

Hey. Quick -- follow that cab.

May I help you?

No, thank you.
I'm just looking.

Just add this to our account.

Of course, Madam.

Stop.

You're really left-handed,
aren't you?

Write something
with your right hand. I dare you!

- I'm sorry, but--
- You see?

Just as I thought --
you were left-handed all along.

Please -- I don't understand.

Hey! Don't push me, buster!

Please -- what's the problem here?

Get your hands off me!

Nikolai, stop it.

Disturbing the peace, assault,
battery, resisting arrest.

Ellery, she's your friend, not mine.

- I was just trying to help.
- She was just trying to help.

The problems I got on this case.
I'm losing sleep.

Do you know what time
I got up this morning?

Some screwball dame
was leaning on the buzzer.

- That was me.
- I know it was her.

- Ellery, Ellery, it's all your fault.
- My fault?

You should have told me

Mrs. Dobrenskov really is
right-handed.

I did -- the glove.

Ellery, I'm making it
your responsibility --

keep her out of this case.

Look at this shoe -- $5.98,

and your father still thinks
that I killed Colonel Nivin.

That's the least of our worries.
I can always fix the shoe.

Ellery, will you please tell
Miss O'Brien

that I do not think
she killed Colonel Nivin?

Drove him nuts, yes,
but stabbed him, no.

My father does not think
you killed Colonel Nivin.

- Inspector, excuse me.
- Yeah, Velie?

Maestro, about that Fourchet guy --
you asked me to check him out.

Fourchet? Who's Fourchet?

One of the characters in Nivin's book.
We went to see him earlier today.

- Huh? On your own?
- Well, you were sleeping.

Sleeping? I was not sleeping!

All right, Velie, what do you got

on a suspect
I haven't even heard of?

Well, we found the cabby that
brought Fourchet and his girlfriend

back from the airport.

And I checked
the phone-company records,

and Fourchet did call his girlfriend
collect from Boston at 8:43.

Oh, well, that's just wonderful.

Now we don't have to worry
about a suspect I haven't even met.

The cabby identified
Fourchet's photo?

- Right, Maestro.
- What about the girl? Was it Glenda?

I didn't have her picture,
but I did find something else.

We ran that Indian guy's fingerprints
through Criminal Investigation.

And?

Take a gander at that, Inspector.

Well, well, well.

Ah, good afternoon, Inspector.
What an unexpected surprise.

How may I serve you?

You can start
by cutting the baloney, Kaleel,

or whatever it is you call yourself.

Sir?

According to this rap sheet,
your name is Barney Groves,

and you've got a bunco record
as long as my arm.

I knew there was
something fishy about you

when you accused me
of Colonel Nivin's murder.

Maybe it's about time
you started telling us the truth.

This way, please.

Uh, look, |-I wasn't trying
to hide anything.

I just didn't want any trouble,
you know?

Unless you want more
than you can handle,

you better tell us everything.

You're the best suspect we got.

- Were you in Paris during the war?
- No. Anzio, Casino.

I even got a silver star, but
I never got past Rome, you know?

We'll check that out.

Now, the afternoon of the murder,
did you see anything else?

Well, only this Russian dame.

The Colonel sometimes
entertains ladies in his rooms.

I mean, it's strictly
against the club rules,

but, well, you know, the Colonel
slips me a couple of bucks,

and I look the other way.

- So as not to embarrass...
- Right.

Anyway, I thought this Russian dame
was still with him, you know?

And so I just made myself scarce.

So, you had no way of telling

who was in Nivin's room
that afternoon and who wasn't.

Yeah, that's right.
Look, give me a break, will you?

I mean, don't turn me
into the club committee.

- It's a pretty good job, you know?
- All right, all right.

Now, beside the two ladies,

did anyone else visit Colonel Nivin
the afternoon of the murder?

- Nobody. Except, uh --
- Except who?

Well, the day before, he got
a couple of telephone calls --

same guy both times, Limey --

[ British accent ]
Very, very English, you know?

Did you get his name?

No, I asked him twice --
no name, no number, but --

Ah, he did say something
about antiques,

said the Colonel would know
who he was.

- Ellery!
- Esterbrook!

- Who? Who?
- Somebody in the file, Dad.

Jenny, think hard --

was there anybody that came
in the bookstore that afternoon

that talked to Nivin
with an English accent?

No.

Yes. Yes, y-- yes,
there was somebody.

I didn't hear his voice --
I was across the room,

but he and the Colonel
went off in the corner

and argued very excitedly
for a couple of minutes,

and then the man left.

All right, would you remember him
if you saw him again?

Oh, yes, he was very distinguished.

Would somebody mind telling me
what's going on?

Nothing much, Dad, except
that we might have another suspect.

[ Music box plays ]

- Bach.
- Eh?

- Bach.
- I thought your name was Smithers.

[ Chuckles ]

No, I'm Smithers.
That's Bach.

Oh. May I...?

Oh, please do, but please be gentle.

[ Music box stops playing ]

Well, that's very, very nice,
but I'm more interested

in where you were yesterday
afternoon, around 5:00.

I-I don't understand.

Of course you do.
I saw you talking to Colonel Nivin.

We've checked
through the Immigration Service,

Mr. Esterbrook.

You're an illegal alien.
We can have you deported.

So, let's drop
this Smithers business.

Why, you even marked
the place in the book

where Nivin
was going to expose you.

Inspector, you must understand --
I was forced to change my identity.

They would have put me in prison
after the war.

As well they should have,
broadcasting for the Nazis.

- Oh, that was only a cover.
- Cover?

Yes, I working
for British Intelligence.

The broadcasts were only a ruse.

I was actually
transmitting information

to Great Britain in code.

What a clever idea.

Well, yes, too clever.

Under our security system,

only one man knew of my identity
in the code,

an agent in the Intelligence Branch.

Wise, wise precaution.

Yes. That man was killed in the final
weeks of the war by a V-2 rocket.

Oh, how awful.
So you ran away?

What else could I do?

I came to America.
I changed my appearance.

I wanted to start a new life.

Getting back to my question --

where were you last night,
about 5:007

I was in the shop until 6:00.

I spent at least two hours
with one of my best customers --

Mrs. Van Doren.

Look -- here's a receipt
for a Ming vase

she eventually bought.

I would suggest
you get in touch with her,

but unfortunately she's gone
to the Bahamas

for a couple of weeks.

Oh, the Bahamas, eh?

- A cyanide pill!
- Oh, let's have none of that.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

Bicarbonate of soda.

Yep, it's bicarbonate of soda.

Very convenient Esterbrook's alibi
is out of town.

Dad, that blonde hair I found on
Nivin's couch -- was it checked out?

No, Mrs. Dobrenskov
admitted she was there.

Well, I wasn't thinking
of Mrs. Dobrenskov.

Holy Hannah, look at this!

How awful.

An police inspector's apartment --
where will it all end?!

What were they looking for,
Colonel Nivin's files?

You're right -- Nivin's files.
They got Colonel Nivin's files.

Maybe not. Maybe not.

Now, what did you do
with the files?

Can you remember what you did
with the files, Ellery?

Ellery, how can you think of food
at a time like this?

I'm not even gonna ask you

why you put those files
in the refrigerator.

While I was cleaning up after dinner,
I had the turkey in one hand,

the files in the other,
and then the phone rang.

They must have
picked the lock, Velie.

Yeah, yeah.
And bring your print kit.

Boy, this is really exciting.

Somebody wanted those files
pretty bad.

You may find it exciting,
Miss O'Brien, but I don't.

Look at this mess.

Well, if whoever did this
was Nivin's killer,

that just about eliminates
Barney Groves.

Groves? Groves?
Why is he a suspect?

Well, he lied about his identity.
He certainly had an opportunity.

And he might have had a motive
we haven't discovered.

But you're saying Groves
didn't do this.

The file drawer
that was tampered with

was for the letters
"D "E " "F " and "G."

But under "G," there was no file
for Barney Groves.

If there was, he removed it,

and he'd have no reason
to come here.

- Ellery? Huh?
- Come here.

- What?
- Come here!

That's the man in the dress shop.

RICHARD:
He's watching our apartment.

This is outrageous.

JENNY: Don't you recognize him,
Inspector?

That's the man who followed
Sonja Dobrenskov to the dress shop.

I'm gonna find out what he wants.

Now, wait a minute.
Wait. Wait. Wait a minute.

I'll call the precinct,
have him picked up.

For what, loitering?
Let me handle this, Dad, okay?

Ellery, be careful.

Hi.

Look -- I-I was wondering
why you're watching our apartment

and why you want Nivin's files.

Why don't you come in inside,
and we'll talk about it?

Look -- there's got to be
a logical explanation.

[ Vehicle approaching ]

Oh, hi, Velie.

Don't move.

Well?

That thug watching my apartment
was your people!

Not exactly my people, Inspector.
He was an NKVD man.

The Russian secret police.

Believe me -- if he is the one
who broke into your apartment,

it was without my knowledge.

Mr. Dobrenskov, you had
as good a reason as anyone

to want those files.

You mean the files
were in your apartment?

Don't pretend you didn't know.

You do not understand.
The situation's extremely grave.

You'd better explain,
Mr. Dobrenskov.

I trust you have no listening devices
in this room.

I beg your pardon?
This is America!

Oh, yes, yes, of course.

Permit me to explain.

You know that my wife, Sonja,
during the war,

was a friend to that Nazi Frolicher.

It was not her choice.
He threatened her family.

It was a terrible ordeal for her.

But my superiors in Russia
know nothing of her past.

If they did, it would be extremely
dangerous for Sonja.

They would never believe
her innocence.

Why didn't you tell us this before?

Learning to trust the police
in my country

is not a habit easily acquired,
Inspector.

Well, if it'll make you feel
any better, sir,

the files weren't found.

There is still hope.

You mean the NKVD
doesn't even trust you?

There are so many defections.
You are never out of their sight.

Even yesterday, my wife wanted
a few hours of freedom to --

to shop, to see the sights
of your wonderful city

without being spied upon.

Even today,
when I leave this police station,

one of them will be out there
waiting for me.

You mean the NKVD
is always tailing you?

And that is why neither my wife nor I
could have killed Nivin.

It would be insane,
with the NKVD following us.

Mr. Dobrenskov, can you
establish your whereabouts

at the time of the murder?

I was in my office at Lake Success.

Can you verify that?

I was closeted with a gentleman
whose name must remain secret --

extremely sensitive.

In other words,
you don't have an alibi.

My own government would rather
see me convicted of murder

than permit me
to divulge this man's name.

If Dobrenskov is telling the truth,
then he's in the clear,

but there's no way of checking
because his alibi's a secret.

On the other hand,
maybe he's lying.

Ellery, a diplomat
not telling the truth?

All right, suppose he is lying.
What then?

Then he doesn't have an alibi,
secret or otherwise.

Yeah, yeah.

He's just got diplomatic immunity,
and I've got a major headache.

Wait till Washington
hears about this.

They may even send me to Siberia.

Oh, Dad, they can't blame you
for doing your job.

I wonder what the penalty is
for starting World War Ill.

[ Telephone rings ]

Hello?

Oh, hi, Jenny.
I thought we had a lunch date.

What?

Oh.

Well, I'll pick you up
wherever you say.

Make it 15, 20 minutes?

Good.

Jenny, something doesn't fit,
and I can't figure out what it is.

Well, somebody killed Colonel Nivin.

Ellery, pull over there, quick!

Gee whiz -- nylons on sale
for $1.09 a pair! I'll be right back!

Something wrong, Officer?

Well, you can't park
in front of a fireplug, sir.

Well, I'm not parked.
I'm just waiting for a friend.

Oh, yeah, sure, I understand --
just for a minute, right?

My friend is inside.
Her name is Miss O'Brien.

She's buying a pair of nylons.

They're only $1.09 a pair.
That's very reasonable.

A real bargain --
$1.09 for the stockings,

2 bucks for the ticket.

Oh, well, easy come, easy go.

Sold out!
Would you believe it?

700 pairs of nylons
sold out in two hours.

A fine day to you, sir.

700 pairs, all sold out?

700 pairs... sold out.

Have you got it?

If you've been watching very closely,

you may have seen something
that I missed until just now.

Who killed Alec Nivin?

Was it Sonja Dobrenskov,
her husband, Alexsei,

Fourchet, the photographer,
or that antique dealer, Esterbrook?

Or maybe it was somebody else,
like Barney Groves,

or that -- that character
from the NKVD.

No, it was not Jenny,

but I'll give you a clue --
somebody's alibi is all wet.

Hi, Dad. 5:00, right on the dot.

- You see? I am improving.
- Well, that's good.

Well, everybody's here,
as you asked.

What a job.

Do you know how much
arm-twisting it takes

to bully that many people
into showing up?

Dad, I found out
something interesting

about our friend Barney Groves.

Now, a friend of a friend of a friend

who knows someone
at Leavenworth --

Well, what about it?

On orders from somewhere
in Washington,

Barney Groves' files
were removed from prison.

But get this --
the friend of the friend --

Of the friend of the friend --
I know, yeah.

Says Barney Groves died
two years ago.

Died? Well, then somebody's--

Assuming his identity. Right.
Well, why?

Let's go in and find out.

Here, hold this, will you?

Thank you all for coming.

Mr. Queen, this is most irregular.

On behalf of my government,
I must protest.

What is your authority here?

Yes, which one of us
is being charged?

I know my rights.
You cannot keep me here.

Please, I think we should listen
to what Mr. Queen has to say.

Thank you, Mrs. Dobrenskov.

As you know, this is all unofficial,

but each of you
has come under suspicion

for the murder of Colonel Alec Nivin.

But in the next few minutes,

that suspicion will be lifted
from all but one of you.

I have nothing to hide.

Couldn't have been me.

Please get on with it.
I have an important meeting.

Yes, sir, but first there's one other
little mystery I'd like to clear up.

Mr. Groves,
perhaps you'd like to start

by telling us who you really are.

I don't know
what you are talking about.

I believe the real Barney Groves
is dead.

If I have to, I'll bet I can produce
a death certificate.

May I speak with you privately,
Inspector Queen?

Major George Pearson, OSS.

I was assigned to keep an eye
on Colonel Nivin.

The files are stolen
government property.

Sorry I couldn't tell you before,
Inspector -- regulations.

That explains a great deal.

Was it your people
who went through my place?

Inspector, would we do
a thing like that?

Mr. Queen, we're all waiting.
Who did murder Colonel Nivin?

Would you take a seat?

Let's examine the facts.

Mrs. Dobrenskov,
you admit you were there,

but you claim he was alive
when you left.

You had a motive, Mr. Dobrenskov,

although your alibi is
a little bit shaky, to say the least.

The Russian secret police
take a deep interest

in their diplomatic personnel,

but an NKVD man

would not impetuously grab
a wall souvenir as a murder weapon.

No, he'd come well-prepared.

Mr. Esterbrook, you claim

that you worked
for the British Intelligence

during the war with Colonel Nivin.

That's possible.

Mr. Fourchet, you're the only one
with the perfect alibi --

you were in Boston
during the time of the murder.

Or were you?
Dad, may I see that magazine?

This just hit the stands
this afternoon.

All right.

Here, on page 47,

is your photo story
of the Boston longshoremen strike.

Remember you showed me
these photographs

the morning after the murder?

That is correct.

And this picture --

you said you took it
the afternoon of the murder?

Yes, I believe it was in the last
roll, the ones I showed you.

That can't possibly be true,
Mr. Fourchet.

This picture clearly shows
the Russian ship Larissa

in the Boston Harbor.

But the Larissa was
in New York Harbor that evening

when a Russian crewman defected.

That's right.

It's impossible for the Larissa
to be in Boston in the afternoon

and in New York in the evening.

You took that photo the day before.

I -- 1 must have made a mistake.

But that doesn't prove
I was in New York.

No, but Colonel Nivin's book does.

I didn't realize it till I took
Miss O'Brien to a nylon sale.

But this book was only on sale
for one day.

I was in a bookstore
when it sold out.

But the next day,
when I visited you,

you had a copy of this book

with the Gotham Book Store
bookmark in it, just like this.

You could have only purchased
this book in New York City

on the day of the murder.

But you know my plane
landed at midnight.

Oh, well, now, that almost worked,
Mr. Fourchet.

You arrived
the morning of the murder,

you read that news item
in the Gazette,

and you bought this copy
of Nivin's book.

When you saw
that he was going to expose you,

you met him, you argued with him,

you grabbed a dagger,
and you killed him,

being careful
not to leave any prints.

Then, to maintain your alibi,

you went to LaGuardia
and caught a plane to Boston.

The 6:36 would be my guess,
using a fictitious name.

And when you arrived at 8:20,
you called your fiancée collect --

just for the record --
to ask her to meet your plane.

You grabbed the 9:20
back to New York,

using your own name.

That's right. The Boston call
was at 8:43 -- between planes.

[ Sighs ]

He -- He laughed at me.

He said no gentleman
would betray his comrades,

no matter what the Gestapo did.

I begged him,
but he only kept laughing.

Velie, take him away.

The rest of you can go.

Well, Inspector,
I'm very glad that's settled.

Mr. Queen, thank you.

I was sure --

That is, my husband and I
were sure--

We were afraid
the politics of the moment

would be held against us.

Forgive my cynicism.
Thank you.

You're very welcome.

We'd like to have those files back,
Inspector.

They'll be kept in confidence.

- All right.
- Thank you.

Inspector! There are NKVD men
on the street.

They must have found out
about Sonja.

We are finished.

Mr. Dobrenskov,
perhaps I can be of help.

Major George Pearson.

We're aware of your problem
in Washington.

I've been empowered,
if you should so choose,

to offer you asylum in this country.

Defecting --
I dream about it every night.

But they would look for us.

Oh, I'm sure we could arrange
a new identity.

Perhaps a modest house
in Levittown.

With a little lawn.

And a small car -- nothing fancy.

And an automatic washer?

I'm sure it could be arranged.

[ Clears throat ]

Mr. Dobrenskov.

I understand that you've made contact
with a certain gentleman,

a Colonel Abel.

Our people would like to know
more about him.

- Ellery?
- Hmm?

That was a brilliant deduction.

And just think -- I'm the one
that gave you the key clue.

That's right, Jenny. You did.

Now, speaking of houses
in Levittown...

Uh, Dad, you think you could
take care of that for me?

Now, I got that
while I was working on the case.

Ellery, you want me to fix
a parking ticket?

Pay the $2.