Original subtitles

Be seated.

The defendant will rise and face the jury.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honour.

We, the members of the jury, find the defendant Dibs Brown not guilty.

(Gasp5)

The prisoner is discharged and the jury is dismissed.

Mr Rood, you're the best lawyer in the world. Boy, am I lucky!

Yes, you are. Very lucky.

Well, Carlton Reed's done it again.

But everybody Carlton Rood defends gets off.

Sure, a prosecution witness got killed before he testified.

But legally speaking, Dibs Brown had a fair trial.

Unfortunately, everybody knows that he was guilty of murder.

Especially the bloodhound of the New York Police Department.

Lieutenant john Henry Fernack.

Well, and just what's your interest in the Dibs Brown case?

None whatsoever. I'm just interested in the law.

Yeah, I know. And breaking it.

John Henry, you know what really fascinates me about the law?

Legal loopholes that lawyers like Rood can drive buses through.

Who is this joker?

Meet Mr Gilroy, one of our brighter Assistant DAs.

This is the man who thinks the law was designed for his own amusement

and who one day will die laughing,

Simon Templar.

Hey, Joe. There's a light on. Somebody's in there.

Relax, Willis. It's only the cleaning woman.

I'll wait until she turns the corner, then I'll pull up closer.

In here.

I had the kerosene drums stored at this end, as the floor runs downhill.

Unroll the fuse.

Is that you, Mr Sholto?

Mr Shake?

- Get it going. - But Joe...

Get it going!

(Screams)

If you want to get out of here alive, shut up!

Joe! Any minute now.

Joe, it's gonna blow!

Hold it.

Get over there, against the wall.

Put your hands above your head.

- Hurry up! - OK, OK.

Come on, hurry up!

Help!

Help! Help! (Screams)

Help! Let me out!

- Morning, Joe. - Frank!

- Eight o'clock already? - Yeah.

- What's the story? - Her name's Yarrow.

They pulled her out of that Sholto warehouse blaze.

The minute she comes to, phone Lieutenant Fernack.

- OK. - So long.

- Hello. - Hello!

Yeah, the police woke me at three o'clock in the morning and told me.

I'm fully insured so there's no financial loss.

What gets me is this poor cleaning woman.

I understand a policeman lost his life trying to save her.

Yeah, it's terrible.

Well... Thanks a lot for phoning.

Bye.

- You know? - Know what?

Agnes Yarrow's still alive. She's in Bellevue.

Unconscious and on the critical list.

But what happens when she comes to? She saw us.

Willis,

you know why I'm worth a lot of money and you're broke?

Because I keep my head.

If I didn't know how to deal with a crisis, I'd never get anywhere.

- But Joe... - Here, have a drink.

Now, if that Yarrow woman talks,

it's only her word against yours... and mine.

- Now, relax. - But, Joe, the cop is dead.

It's arson and murder. We're in real trouble.

We're not in trouble. And we're not gonna be.

Carlton Rood will take care of that.

- You really think so? - I know so.

(Groaning)

Miss Yarrow, can you hear me?

I'm Lieutenant Fernack, police.

(Ian you tell me about the fire?

Forgot waflet.

Went back.

Saw Mr Sholto's car.

- Check that out. - Yes, sir.

Did you see Shake'?

Yes. Recognised him.

Was he alone?

(Groans)

Miss Yarrow... Was Sholto alone?

That's enough, the doctor said two minutes only.

- OK, stick with her. - Yes, sir.

(Phone)

Lieutenant Fernack's office.

He's at Bellevue questioning the Yarrow woman.

I'll have him call you. Oh, here he is now.

It's the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Fernack.

Yeah? OK, thanks.

The Yarrow woman claims she saw Sholto's car

and it checks out - impound it.

OK. There's a Miss Hammond to see you.

- What for? - The Shake fire.

- OK, send her in. - Right.

Fernack here. When will the arson report be in on the Sholto fire?

OK, fast as you can. Right.

Lieutenant Fernack?

Well, come in, Miss Hammond.

- Won't you sit down? - Thank you.

"Mary Hammond, Industrial Insurance Company Claims Investigator."

You don't look like an investigator to me.

Well, Lieutenant, your badge isn't showing, either.

OK, what can I do for you?

You're in charge of the Sholto fire?

I am. So?

Mr Sholto's insured with our company.

Oh, he is, is he?

Uh-huh, and it's an interesting sequence of events.

Oh? Like what?

Like Sholto owned the warehouse and properties for five years.

Three months ago the Acme Corporation offered to buy the land.

Not the building?

No. A condition of the sale was that Sholto demolish it.

Go on.

Just a month ago he insured the building with us for $200,000.

(Whistles)

Now it's very conveniently burned down.

Sholto saves the expense of demolition and collects $200,000.

Maybe. Unless there's evidence to prove Sholto started the fire.

Sholto's committed a lot of crimes

and we've never been able to pin anything on him.

But this time he has a motive, hasn't he?

I'd say so.

Did you know that Shake was seen at the scene of the fire?

No, I didn't. Who saw him?

The Yarrow woman. She identified his car and the license plate checks out.

- We've impounded the car... - (Phone)

Fernack. Yes.

Kerosene?

I see. OK, thanks.

The Sholto warehouse was flooded with kerosene.

Well, with the information we have and with what you've told me,

I think we've got a case.

Fernack, you're wasting your time.

I was nowhere near my warehouse the night of the fire.

I have a warrant for your arrest for arson.

Now, let's get going.

OK, don't get rough.

Nobody will get rough if you do what you're told.

My lawyer will have me out of there in one hour.

And he'll get me a not guilty verdict at the trial, IF there is one.

Oh, yeah? And who might this legal magician be?

Carlton Rood.

I don't see any serious problem, Joseph,

providing you're truthful with me.

You set that fire, didn't you?

- Now, look... - I'm your lawyer! Level with me.

It's privileged communication, it can't be used against you.

You set that warehouse on fire, didn't you?

Yeah.

- By yourself? - Willis Burnham helped me.

- Go on. - Agnes Yarrow is the cleaner.

We watched her go. She must have forgotten something

because she came back, she...

- Caught you in the act? - Yeah.

- And? - We were desperate.

I'm not interested in your emotions, what did you do?

We couldn't let her go, could we?

- You knocked her out and left her? - Yeah.

- Did she see you? - I guess so.

- Could she identify you? - I don't know, it was dark.

Hmm. What about the cop?

So help me, Carl, I don't know!

The way I figure it is, the cop must have heard Agnes yelling for help

and he rushed in to try and save her.

It's the truth, Carl, on my word of honour.

Let's not be facetious.

So, Agnes Yarrow is the only witness.

That's right.

- She's still in hospital? - Yeah.

Carl, supposing something happened to her before the trial?

As things stand now, getting you acquitted will be difficult.

Don't make it impossible.

That's the story. I knew you'd be interested.

Sholto comes up for trial six weeks from tomorrow.

- With Carlton Rood defending. - You know him?

I've seen him operate, he makes me sick.

Why?

Because he's become a courtroom legend.

The invincible Carlton Rood.

He knows every trick in the book to get a criminal off.

Confusions, delays, objections. I'd love to see him disbarred. Cheers.

You think he'll get Sholto off?

- There's no doubt about it. - But how?

The obvious first step is to get rid of Agnes Yarrow.

You mean kill her?

Witnesses have died before in Carlton Rood trials.

But Simon, Agnes is in Bellevue.

She's surrounded with doctors and nurses.

Nobody could get to her there.

- When does she come out? - Couple of weeks.

- Where does she live? - Greenwich Village.

I have her address.

- Does she live alone? - As far as I know.

Do you think we could talk her into staying here until after the trial?

I think so. Why don't we go to the hospital and try it?

Mr Templar thought you could stay at his place till after the trial.

Why?

I think you may be in danger.

You're the only person

who can identify the men who started the fire.

I don't think I can identify them now.

Why not?

Miss Yarrow, why not?

Because I'm blind.

When I came to, the closet was terribly hot.

Smoke was coming under the door, I kept pounding on it and screaming.

Then, everything went black.

When I came to again, I was in Bellevue Hospital.

Miss Yarrow, are you positive the man who attacked you was Joseph Sholto?

Objection, Your Honour.

The witness may, to the best of her knowledge,

believe that she saw Joseph Sholto.

But in no circumstances could she positively identify the defendant.

She can't see him.

Objection sustained.

Very well. I'll rephrase the question.

Miss Yarrow, you are positive the man who attacked you was Joseph Sholto?

Yes.

You saw him, you recognised his voice and his car?

Yes, sir.

Thank you, Miss Yarrow. Your witness.

May it please the court

to defer my cross-examination till I've presented the defence witnesses.

Granted.

The prosecution rests.

You may step down.

Your Honour, defence moves for a direction to the jury of acquittal,

on the grounds that the prosecutor has based his case on surmise.

And upon one witness, who cannot positively identify the defendant.

I think not, Mr Rood, your motion is denied. Call your first witness.

As Your Honour pleases. We call Mr Willis Burnham.

Call Mr Willis Burnham.

You were fine, Agnes.

How are we doing?

With your insurance testimony and Agnes as a witness, we have him.

- Are you sure? - I think so.

- I do. - Be seated.

What is your full name?

Willis Harding Burnham.

- Your occupation? - I work for the Sholto Company.

Mr Burnham, what did you do

- on the evening of October 5th? - I played cards with Mr Sholto.

- Where? - At his home.

What time did you arrive at Mr Sholto's house?

- Nine. - How can you be so specific?

Joe and me had dinner together then drove to his house in Brooklyn.

We had the radio on and as we were turning into Mr Sholto's driveway

the nine o'clock news started.

Does anyone believe testimony like that?

They lap it "P-

...I noticed how late it was and I told Mr Sholto I'd better be off.

So he drove me to my home.

- You played cards all evening? - Yes, sir.

Did you, between nine that evening and 2am, leave Mr Sholto's house?

No.

- Did Mr Sholto leave at any time? - No, sir.

So, during the entire five hours,

you were continuously in the presence of Mr Sholto, inside his house?

Yes, sir. That's right.

Your witness, Counsellor.

You have told the court that you and Mr Sholto played cards

for five hours on October 5th?

- Right. - What did you play?

- Pardon? - What game did you play?

- Er... Gin rummy. - You hesitated.

I couldn't remember for a second.

- Did you win? - No, I lost.

How much?

- I can't remember. - Really?

You can remember dinner, driving to Mr Sholto's house,

the nine o'clock newscast but not how much you lost at gin rummy?

It was only a few dollars... I can't remember.

I see.

How bang have you known Mr Shake'?

About 15 years.

- Is he a close friend? - Well, yes.

He is also your employer, right?

Yes.

What is your salary, Mr Burnham?

About 175 dollars a week.

That's good money. Do you have any other income?

Objection. That's prejudicial to the witness.

Sustained.

I'll rephrase the question.

Mr Burnham, are you completely dependent on Mr Sholto financially?

Objection. Same grounds.

I'm not trying to sway the jury by prejudicing it against the witness.

The jury should not be influenced by whether the witness works or not

or is wealthy or impoverished.

But it's vital to know if the witness is economically dependant

on the man for whom he is testifying.

The point is well taken and the objection is overruled.

You understand the court agrees

that your financial relations with Mr Sholto

could have some bearing on how your testimony is received?

Now, once more,

are you totally dependant on Mr Sholto financially?

Yes.

And in return for this high salary, you give him your complete loyalty?

I do the best I can.

- Then you do what he tells you? - Yes.

Mr Burnham, does your obedience include perjury?

Objection! That is most improper.

Sustained.

The question will be stricken from the record and the jury disregard it.

Mr Gilroy, you know better than that.

Please refrain from asking any similar questions.

I withdraw the question, Your Honour.

It's enough the jury is aware that the witness is totally dependent

upon the man for whom he is testifying.

No further questions.

You may step down.

May it please the court. I'd like to cross-examine Miss Agnes Yarrow.

- So be it. - Call Miss Agnes Yarrow.

Miss Yarrow, before the tragic loss of your sight,

for which we feel deepest sympathy, you wore glasses, did you not?

- Yes. - All the time?

No. just for reading and working.

- To polish a desk or scrub a floor? - Yes.

- Did you wear them on the street? - No.

When you returned to the warehouse on October 5th,

you saw an automobile parked at the door?

Yes, I've said that.

- Did you have your glasses on? - No.

What is the colour of Mr Sholto's car?

Red.

- You could see this, in the dark? - Yes.

Ah. Miss Yarrow, isn't it true that in March of 1956

you were examined by a Dr PW Oathwaite of 1120 Park Avenue?

- Is that correct? - Yes.

I have here Dr Oathwaite's report,

in which he states that you suffered from daltonism - colour blindness.

- Is that true? - Er, yes.

Mm. I have here the registration certificate for Mr Sholto's car.

It contains the statistics concerning the automobile in question.

- You are familiar with them? - Yes, I am.

- You are? - Yes.

- Have you seen this registration? - Well, no, of course not.

- Then how do you know what's on it? - Well, I...

Lieutenant Fernack impounded Mr Sholto's car,

I think that's the term.

Then when Mr Gilroy was preparing the case...

Well, he... You know.

- He told you? - Well, yes.

Mr Gilroy is an able and distinguished prosecutor.

He invariably prepares his cases,

and his witnesses, meticulously and honestly.

And he told you the colour of Mr Sholto's car?

- I knew it was either red or green. - He told you the colour?

- Yes. - Did he tell you the licence number?

Objection!

I withdraw the question.

Miss Yarrow, let's retrace our steps a little.

When you went back to the warehouse to collect your wallet,

you saw a car which you assumed was Mr Sholto's.

You were not wearing your glasses?

I said, no, I wasn't.

- You went into the warehouse? - Yes.

- Were there any lights on? - No.

- It was in complete darkness? - Yes.

Except for the flashlight beams.

Ah, yes. The flashlights.

When you stood at the doors, which lead from the receiving area

to the warehouse storage area,

a flashlight was pointed right into your face?

- Yes. - So you couldn't see clearly?

Well, no. The light was right in my face.

In fact, you could see nothing of the interior of the warehouse?

I saw enough to recognise Mr Sholto.

You testified earlier that you called out.

I believe your exact words were, "Is that you, Mr Sholto?"

- Am I correct? - Yes.

You weren't sure whether it was Mr Sholto or not.

Well, I'd seen his car... I just knew it was him.

You mean you assumed it was he.

Well, I-l mean... who else could it have been?

Well, I don't know.

It might have been anybody, mightn't it?

It was Mr Sholto, I know it.

After you called out, "Is that you, Mr Sholto?",

you turned around and ran towards the doors?

- Yes. - Why would you run from Mr Sholto?

L-I was frightened.

- Mr Sholto's frightened you before? - No!

But you weren't sure who it was?

L-I know it was Mr Sholto!

Miss Yarrow, you had your back to the man who was running after you.

- Yes. - So you weren't looking at him?

Not exactly.

- Your back was to this man? - Yes.

Then this man grabbed you from behind

- and dragged you towards the office? - Yes!

Therefore, at no time were you ever face to face with this man?

No, it all happened so quickly.

- And you were frightened? - Of course I was.

- And confused? - I... I know it was Mr Sholto!

Miss Yarrow, you are under oath!

Did you ever, on the night in question,

see Mr Sholto in even a reasonably good light?

No.

Then you cannot swear, beyond any question of a doubt,

that your assailant was Mr Sholto?

No.

(Murmurs from the gallery)

I know it was Mr Sholto.

I recognised his voice that night

and I recognised it again this morning when he spoke to me.

I know it was Mr Sholto.

Your Honour, we would willingly consider as evidence

the assertions of the handicapped witness,

that she can identify the defendant by his voice,

if she can prove it to the court under test.

To prepare such a test, we request an adjournment till Monday.

Mr Gilroy?

No objections, Your Honour, but...

Motion granted. The court will adjourn till Monday at ten o'clock.

(Sholto) 'If you want to get out of here alive, shut up.

'If you want to get out of here alive, shut up.'

- Have you got it? - I think so.

It's a cinch.

You can borrow the tape machine. just be good and you'll be well paid.

Miss Yarrow, you have testified before this court

that on that night you heard a voice, is that correct?

Yes.

And this voice said, "If you want to get out of here alive, shut up"?

Yes.

You further testified that this was Mr Sholto's voice

- and that you'd recognise it again. - I'd recognise it anywhere.

Now you will hear the words you claim were spoken on the night in question.

Perhaps one voice, perhaps not.

One of these voices will be Mr Sholto's.

- Are you ready? - Yes.

If you want to get out of here alive, shut up.

If you want to get out of here alive, shut up.

If you want to get out of here alive, shut up.

Now, you're going to hear the voice or voices again. Are you ready?

Go ahead.

If you want to get out of here alive, shut up.

Miss Yarrow, is that the voice you heard on the night of October 5th?

Yes.

- You're sure? - Yes. Positive.

(Murmurs from the gallery)

If there's any prompting from the spectators I shall clear this court.

Let's try again, Miss Yarrow.

If you want to get out of here alive, shut up.

Is that the voice?

They sound so much alike.

L-I don't know.

You just said you'd recognise it anywhere.

I'll give you another chance. This is the same voice again.

If you want to get out of here alive, shut up.

That's it, I'm positive.

- You are? - Yes.

Miss Yarrow, here's another voice.

If you want to get out of here alive, shut up.

Is that the voice you heard in the warehouse?

L-I don't know... No!

You're sure?

If you can't answer, admit you were wrong.

Are you afraid you might be wrong about everything?

Your Honour, we agreed to a courtroom test, not a torture chamber!

I'm willing to give Miss Yarrow another opportunity.

If you want to get out of here alive, shut up.

Now Miss Yarrow, for the last time.

Do you know or don't you? Was that the voice you heard on the night?

N 'up-

You said you'd recognise it anywhere.

Well, I...

They all sound so much alike.

I'm not sure.

- You're not sure of anything! - No. No, I...

You did not recognise Mr Sholto or his voice, isn't that true?

Yes! Yes!

I guess I was wrong. Maybe I was wrong about everything.

I don't know any more.

I'm sorry, please stop this.

Please leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone...

Sorry.

Don't feel too badly, you did your best.

Yeah, but it wasn't good enough.

Let's say it wasn't as good as Carlton Reed's.

That lying shyster-fraud!

Do you know what? He's talking to the Bar Association tonight.

The topic is courtroom technique.

If you've got nothing to do, listen in.

- It's on FM radio. - I'll do that.

Maybe the cop did hear Agnes screaming and tried to save her.

Do you believe that?

- No. - Neither do I.

It doesn't matter what we believe, the state says the case is closed.

That's fine for you, john Henry, but it's not closed for me.

Now look here, Templar, don't stick your nose where it's not wanted.

John Henry, me stick my nose in?

It's too small.

(American accent) Mr Rood, it's a very intriguing idea for the public.

A famous lawyer's reminiscences about his outstanding cases.

Mm, what would you call the book?

Why, "The Carlton Rood Story".

As told to Tom Simmons, I presume?

Mr Rood...I'm not interested in getting the credit as the author.

All I want is 50% of the royalties.

You'll take the fame, I'll take the bread.

Oh, yes! The money.

Now, if you can give me your cooperation,

I'll set up the deal with the publisher.

Very well, Mr Simmons. I'll think it over.

Fine. Here's my card.

You give me a call. Won't take but a couple of weeks.

You supply me with the court records and talk them over with me.

Of course, the finished manuscript is completely subject to your approval.

As I said, Mr Simmons...

I'll think it over.

Fine. I'll expect to be hearing from you.

By the way, aren't you worried about some of your clients

figuring you as a pretty lousy security risk?

What do you mean?

You must have all sorts of stuff in your files on people like...

Joe Sholto and Dibs Brown, that the police would just eat up.

SQ?

- Aren't you ever nervous? - Of what?

- Being killed. - Killed?

But you will have taken precautions.

In case some trigger-happy mobster got ideas.

By precautions I mean like,

making a list of the people most likely to worry about you.

Leaving it in safe hands with instructions

to deliver it to the police in the event you should...expire suddenly.

And, of course, dropping a few words in the right places

about what you've done.

Mr Simmons, I'm puzzled about your concern for my welfare.

Mr Rood, sir, I just wanna be sure that we're able to finish this book

once we've started.

Goodbye, sir. I hope to be seeing you.

(Rood) 'And in conclusion, ladies and gentlemen,

'let me suggest to you that sewing these cherished ideals of justice

'is the sacred mission of each humble practitioner of the law.'

(Mimics Reed's voice) ..mission of each humble practitioner of the law.

Stan, that's terrific!

It's incredible.

Not really, I've been soaking up that slop for an hour.

So that's how Rood did it.

Yes, and that's how we'll do it back to him.

- Do you want to run through it? - I thought you were going out?

I have an errand to do before Rood leaves the Bar Association dinner.

Then let's try a take.

Right, all ready?

Go ahead.

Mr Rood, the Senator's been appointed chairman of the Crime Commission

and he's determined to get Shake.

- Why come to me? - You're his lawyer.

You understand that the Senator is prepared...

In the morning Mary will take you to Eighth Street.

Talk to your landlady, neighbours...

Spread it around that you're having an eye operation,

and that some rich, important lawyer is going to pay for it.

All right, Mr Templar, whatever you say.

And there's nothing missing? None of the private files?

Nothing, Mr Rood.

Only a blank reel of tape.

Mrs Donaldson, do you think some of my clients might want to...

Want to what, Mr Rood?

No, it's ridiculous.

Call the building superintendent about the door.

Yes, sir.

Mrs Donaldson, three copies of this in my personal and confidential file.

To whom it may concern,

this is a document to be used only if I should die

of anything but the most incontestably natural causes.

From time to time, in my role as defence attorney,

information on such men as Joseph Sholto,

Dibs Brown, Herman Schartk...

(Sholto) What's that for?

Well, it's a tape recorder.

But what for?

Well, a tape recorder is a thing you record on

or play something back on.

Yeah.

Are you trying to be funny?

I'm never funny. I'm trying to help you.

Why?

Let's say I am interested in your career.

Yeah? Since when?

Oh, it's been going on a long time.

Come on, get to the point. I haven't got much time.

Mr Sholto, you're gonna have time for this.

Something I picked up in Carlton Reed's office last night.

Picked up?

Yes, I broke in.

You're kidding?

No, on the level. A client of mine wanted something out of Reed's files.

While I was there I turned on his tape recorder

to see if there was anything about my client on it.

Instead, I found something you'd be interested in.

What's your angle, Templar?

Money.

Money?

A guy has to make a living.

Meaning this is for sale?

That's the general idea.

So, play it.

'Mr Rood, the Senator's been appointed

'chairman of the Crime Commission.

'He's determined to get Sholto.'

'Why come to me?'

'You're his lawyer. You understand the Senator will be very generous.'

- 'How generous?' - 'If Sholto's convicted, $100,000.

'If the Senator also nails the three other clients we've discussed,

'you'll get a Federal judgeship.

'Are you interested?'

ll might be.'

'It would be a distinguished peak to retire to

'and a perfect out from having to defend your old clients.'

'Sholto wouldn't present much of a problem. He set that warehouse fire.

'Willis Burnham helped him.'

'Burnham?'

'He's a stone-headed little creep Sholto keeps around for laughs.'

- Why that dirty... - Shut up.

'..They murdered the cop who was involved.'

'Mr Rood, will you cooperate with Senator MacPherson?'

'Tell the Senator that Carlton Rood

'will do everything he can to make the Crime Commission effective.'

- What's the idea? - That's enough for a free sample.

- Turn it on. - The rest is blank tape.

I can't believe it.

That's Reed's voice.

Joe, I warned you, I told you that guy knew too much.

- There is more. - Where?

In a safe place.

If you want to know what Rood is going to do,

you're going to have to pay for it.

The advantage of knowing Reed's plans is you might be able to stop him.

And you do want to keep all this?

How do I know all this isn't a fake?

- It's Reed's voice. - A lot can de done with voices.

- Call him up. - And say what?

Ask if his office was broken into.

Ask him if anything was stolen. Don't let on you know anything.

Go ahead, Joe, call him.

Get me Carlton Rood. I'll hold on.

The first thing to stop is Agnes' eye operation.

If it's successful, she'll identify you.

- What? - The details are on the other tape.

Hello, Carlton?

Hello, Joe.

- 'How are you?' - Fine, fine.

I heard a rumour that your office was broken into?

'Is that right?'

Yes, that's right, Joe. Last night.

'Anything taken?'

Nothing. just a reel of tape from my recorder.

'Tell me, how did you find out?'

Oh...these things get around.

You know how it is. I'll be seeing you, Carl.

- Did he confirm it? - Yeah.

I always said that Rood was too slick. You gotta shut him up.

What's this about Agnes Yarrow?

Ask anybody in her old neighbourhood.

She lives on Eighth Street. I have her address.

I know her address. Go on.

Her landlady's told everybody she's going to have an eye operation.

And a bigshot lawyer is paying for it.

- Go talk to Yarrow's landlady. - OK.

- Check with the neighbours too. - OK.

When can I hear the rest?

When I can hear the rustling of 10,000 dollar bills.

Who else is on the list?

Dibs Brown, Herman.

You can't trust anybody.

Not even your own lawyer.

Here.

Fair exchange.

Now, beat it.

Goodbye, Mr Sholto.

The tape recorder's on the house.

Oh... $10,000!

Why, that's a fortune!

It's all yours, Agnes.

What do you think will happen?

Who knows?

(Phone)

- Hello? - Templar, were you calling me?

Yes, john Henry, I was.

I have a hot tip for you.

Put some men on Carlton Reed's office, will you?

Why? What are you up to?

Nothing, merely acting as a catalytic agent.

A What?!

It's an inert substance that causes a chemical reaction between two others.

- What are you talking about? - just do as I ask.

Put two men on his office for the next eight hours - do it yourself.

I have a strong hunch that Sholto is about to do something very illegal.

'If Miss Yarrow gets her sight back, you might reopen the case.

'Fernack would love to get Sholto on a murder rap because of the cop.

'Failing this, you can get Sholto on tax evasion over the last five years,

'especially 1960...'

Joe, it's true.

- Did you talk to the landlady? - Yeah.

And the old lady next door. They both say she's having an eye operation

and some lawyer's picking up the tab.

Come on, Willis.

Hello, Mr Sholto...

Hello, Joseph. Nice to see you.

It won't be for long.

What is this? How dare you lock my door!

- How's Senator MacPherson? - Who?

I'm a stone-headed little creep, am I?

What are you talking about?

So, Carlton Rood would be delighted

to do everything in his power to make the Crime Commission effective, uh?

We ll, we ll, we ll.

You're drunk!

Joe, look.

"Private and Confidential."

But you don't keep any secrets from me, do you?

You can't look in that, it's...

You even had to write everything down, didn't you?

You rottenmtwo-faced...

double-dealing...shyster.

Get out! You heard me, get out!

- Is Sholto in there? - Yes.

Open UP'

(Gunshot)

(Gunshot)

Drop it! Quick.

Put it down.

We ll, that's that.

Is something bothering you?

Templar, I've got a feeling you had something to do with this.

John Henry! You cut me to the quick.

Did I shoot Burnham? Or Rood? Did I sentence Sholto to the chair?

No, but you knew something. Why ask me to watch Rood's office?

I didn't know what was going to happen, did I?

If Sholto hadn't locked the door, you would have been in time.

I give you my word, all I did was set in motion certain reactions.

The ungodly behaved predictably with the result that evil destroyed evil.

Now, how about having a steak with us?

- Are you paying? - Don't I always?!