Original subtitles

Oh!

Exquisite. There's no finer stone in London, or for that matter, in Paris or

New York. It's a perfect color, madam. Absolutely flawless.

You'd better see how it looks on.

It's beautiful.

Thank you, darling.

You go and have a look around, and we'll have a little talk.

You've considered my offer?

Well, sir, we don't usually... Bargain?

Not even with an old customer?

Well, sir, I had to discuss the matter with Mr. Edwards, who agrees, because

you've done quite a lot of business with us.

And put quite a lot of business your way.

Very true, sir.

Then we agree on 8,500?

All right. 8,500 it is, sir.

Good. Then I'll give you a check. Thank you, sir.

Shall I send the ring, sir?

I think I can manage to carry it.

Ready, darling?

Thank you. Good day, sir.

All this is most

disturbing, Inspector.

Young Tyne would never went back to his flat after that visit to the jewellers.

He owed six months' rent, and we found a drawer full of unpaid bills.

His tailors, car hire firms, restaurants, wine merchants, the lot.

Has he been in financial trouble before, sir?

Not involving the police.

The young man has a fixed income and expensive tastes.

As a solicitor, I've done my best to persuade him to live within his means,

but I never thought he'd sink to this, never.

Any relatives he could have gone to? No one.

What was his job, sir?

Mr. Tywood doesn't believe in working for a living.

This young lady, his fiancée he bought the ring for, what can you tell us about

her?

Nothing.

Not even her name?

I've never met the young lady. I've no idea who she is.

Even though he was supposed to be marrying her next week?

That sounds odd.

But correct, Inspector.

Well, if you should hear anything... You can rely on me to take the proper

action. Good day, gentlemen.

Goodbye. Goodbye.

Goodbye, sir. Goodbye.

Send the young lady in.

Police?

Oh, don't worry. They didn't see me, Mr. Vance.

Good. I should hate them to think that... You were doing something which

they wouldn't like?

Sit down, Miss Steadman.

Thank you.

Miss Steadman, I think we ought to understand one another.

Understanding is a good basis for any kind of relationship.

I must tell you, I've only been persuaded to allow you to come here...

Against my better judgment.

In the first place, you're a woman.

That's undeniable.

And in the second, your background.

That's regrettable?

Frankly, in the present case, yes.

You think I may be indiscreet? Your former profession isn't noted for

discretion.

Journalists often print only half the story, Mr. Vance.

As a lawyer, you'll know all about the law of libel.

As a journalist, I specialized in hard-to-get information.

Nine times out of ten?

I couldn't print what I'd got.

So now you're a private investigator.

Well, I must say you've been highly recommended.

Very highly recommended indeed.

Well, shall we get down to business?

Quite.

And does the name James Tynewood mean anything to you?

Chelseaite man about town.

Easy with the money, easier still with the ladies.

Involved in rowdy scenes in shady night spots.

No visible means of support.

In fact, a rather undesirable character, except with the said ladies.

Wanted by the police for obtaining a solitaire diamond with a rubber check.

Correct?

Correct.

Miss Steadman, I want you to find him first before the police do.

If found, what do I do with him?

Nothing. Just give him a message.

Tell him South Africa Smith is coming back.

South Africa Smith.

Care to explain?

Just find him, Miss Steadman, and deliver the message.

I see.

Of course, he could be abroad by now.

I think you'll find that that's very unlikely, as long as I have this.

Do the police know you have it?

Shall I say that I shan't be sorry if, for the moment, they think he's in

Brazil?

I hold this passport because I wanted Timewood's activities restricted to this

country, where I can keep my eye on him.

You see, I'm being perfectly frank.

Except about South Africa, Smith.

Any idea how you'll start?

Six months ago, I wrote a story about beatniks. What?

Beatniks. Present-day bohemians.

Devoted to drinking, gambling.

Now and then a little crime with cultural overtones.

A clique that live by night in the cellars and attics of Chelsea.

Haven't you heard about them?

I live a secluded life, Miss Steadman.

But what have these bohemians got to do with Tynewood?

He mixed with them.

Oh, and don't let my being a woman worry you, Mr. Vance.

In my job, it's a distinct advantage.

Jimmy Tynewood?

You're not another of his girlfriends, are you?

Oh, I'm bored with this place.

And with me?

Oh, you're amusing me. Well, let's raise the temperature. No, no, no. Let's go

somewhere else.

I'm not in tonight, sweeties. This is my time for higher things.

Where is everyone?

You've tried Bertie's?

Yes, very dull.

They're probably at Reuters. There's a game on there tonight.

They won't let you in in those clothes.

Or be an angel and change the record for me. I don't want to spoil my mood.

The game is over.

The game is over. The game is over.

I've got it, I've got it, I've got it.

Hi,

Jim.

Oh, good evening, Bobby.

I think you know everybody here.

That's right, sir. This is Marjorie, an old friend of mine. No, not so old,

surely.

And you, mademoiselle?

I think I'll just watch for a while. Very wise.

Thank you.

Look, I'll just throw the tables now, darling. You gonna be all right?

Fine. You sure? Good.

I think you'd better let me have that. Oh, leave me alone.

Leave me alone. Who are you anyway? I can handle that. Come on, you've had

enough. Nobody's going to tell me when I've had enough. Get some rest.

This is what you need.

Hello?

Hello?

Yes, I am only half awake.

What time is it?

Eleven o'clock.

I take it you don't keep normal office hours.

Have you any news?

Well, I've met people who know Tyne Wood, some who even looked like Tyne

Wood, but no sign of the man himself.

It's absolutely imperative we find him now more than ever.

Miss Stedman, South Africa Smith is here.

Yes.

Yes, I'll tell him.

I'll tell him when I find him.

Goodbye.

Who was she?

Are you sure you're not a reporter?

No, really. All I want is information. A description of the girl that was with

Tynewood. Well, she was very pretty, a good figure.

As I told the police, there was something about the way she carried

herself that suggested she might be a showgirl.

We get quite a few in here. One grows to recognize them.

How about the eyes?

A very deep blue.

And the mouth?

Well, the lips looked what they call full.

Well, what exactly do you mean by full?

Well, the lipstick was applied to make them seem fuller than they really were.

You're a very observant man.

Thank you. Then there was her hair. Very striking. A real blonde.

Yes, well, uh...

Let's get down to the actual shape of the face.

Well, she's certainly a good looker. The features are well-defined, high

cheekbones, broad forehead, and give a little more prominence to the chin.

Yeah.

Uh-huh.

Well, listen.

Listen. All right, Harry. All right, I'll take 50 a day for her.

Yeah, you're breaking my heart. You know what a usual daily rate is?

A hundred.

No, my life.

Yes, I know the profession's overcrowding here.

Who's this? Dracula's mother?

Be serious, Monty. You're my last hope. Is she on your books? On my books? No,

never. Think of my reputation.

Hi, Monty. Remember me?

Hello, Maisie. You're auditioning now over the Lotus Room. You better hurry.

Okay.

You see what I mean?

Yes.

What sort of figure has this doll got?

Deluxe model.

Model? Now, wait a minute. I remember.

This girl came to see me six months ago. I told her nothing doing. She got no

experience. No stage experience, I mean. Any girl I sign up has got to have know

-how. Yes, I know, but... I did tell her to try modelling.

Sometimes these dress houses aren't so fuzzy about lack of experience.

Monty?

You're an angel. You'll be surprised.

Hello. Try the Michelle Modelling Agency. That's where I usually send

them. A Chinese girl? Are you out of your mind?

We file all our girls according to their vital statistics.

Now, if she's not in this bunch, then we don't handle her.

Personally, I don't recognize her from the sketch.

But then I'm new here.

Would you mind if I kept these for a few hours?

Well, you will let us have them back.

Yes, I promise you.

Goodbye, madam.

Goodbye, sir, and thank you very much indeed.

Goodbye.

Now, Miss Steadman, what is it? I've got some pictures for you. Some pictures?

Yes, now you just sit down.

Just so that maybe you can recognize Kynwood's girlfriend.

Here we are.

Now, is it that one?

No?

How about this one?

It was that one, wasn't it?

That is the one, isn't it?

Yes? Miss Steadman, as far as we're concerned, the Tyneville affair is

closed. Closed? I'm afraid we can offer you no further cooperation.

But you're not just going to forget about a stolen diamond worth 8,500

pounds, are you?

No, of course not. That is, if we had had a loss.

You see, the money's been paid.

Paid? Excuse me.

I don't understand you.

Good day, Miss Steadman.

But who paid? Good day, Miss Steadman.

Miss Vance, I had to come and tell you that... That the ring has already been

paid for.

The police phoned me the news an hour ago.

Case closed?

Far from it.

But if the money's been paid, then Timewood must have turned up.

It doesn't follow. The money was paid in cash, delivered by a messenger boy.

And you still haven't heard from Timewood? Not a whisper.

And I assure you that I hear from him regularly on this day, every month. His

allowance is due.

Suppose he could have raised the money and sent it himself.

Why didn't he sign the note?

Oh, the only explanation is that he must have a generous friend.

Or enemy.

Someone anxious for the police to stop looking for him.

The police may have stopped looking for him, Miss Stedman, but I wish you to

continue. I know and deliver the same message.

South Africa Smith has arrived.

Right.

I have a lead.

Timewood's girlfriend.

A blonde.

Alma Weston.

Except that she was a brunette at a roulette game last night. And I have her

address.

Oh, do you mind if I use the telephone? No, that's all, madam. Thank you.

Hello? Mr. Vance, please.

Mr. Vance?

Oh, we've had a bit of luck. There's a flat to let opposite Elmer Weston's muse

house.

Reasonable rent, immediate possession.

I'm speaking from there now. Can I take it?

Good. Oh, and by the way, there was someone else looking at it this morning.

The telephone number is Flaxman 9451.

Right. You'll be hearing from me. Goodbye.

Yes, I'll take the flat. Thank you madam, and I'll come along with you and

sign the lease now very well

Good of you to come so soon, Mr. Vance. Perhaps you'd take a look.

Yes, that's the man I knew as James Tynewood.

There was nothing on the body to prove identity, but of course we had his

description.

I can't understand it. Why?

The money had been paid. There was no longer a warrant out for his arrest. Why

should he kill himself?

Why, indeed.

You may have noticed certain marks about the throat.

The indications are that James Tynewood met his death not by drowning, but by

manual strangulation.

Hello? Yes, speaking.

Murdered? The body had been in the river for about three days.

The point is, Miss Stedman, it is now up to the police.

You'll get your cheque and a substantial bonus.

Bonus? What for?

Your discretion, Miss Stedman, for not passing on to the police any

information.

About Alma Weston, the blonde-turned-brunette?

Precisely.

Well, now I'm going to tell you something very precise, Mr. Vance.

There's been something very strange about you in this case from the very

beginning. And now I'm just going to be an ordinary, indiscreet female and open

my mouth to the police.

Oh, and you can keep your bonus.

Look! Screamy.

You understand?

Let's get these curtains.

Now the lights.

Over there.

Miss Tedman, I'm rather an escape lunatic than a sex maniac.

Which just shows how deceptive appearances can be, doesn't it?

How did you get in?

House agent.

Oh, now I know what you are. You're one of those home seekers. Well, if you

think... Miss Tedman, we've a lot to talk about.

We have?

Let's talk about murder.

The murder of James Tynewood.

Who are you?

Just call me Smith.

Smith?

South Africa Smith?

That name's as good as any.

Tynewood had to be warned about you.

Why?

Because he knew you were coming here to murder him?

Yes, you could say I killed James Tynewood.

But not in the eyes of the law, not with my own hands.

Are you still going to the police?

If ever I get out of here, just you try and stop me. That won't do any good. It

won't do any harm either. You're wrong, Miss Tedman.

You have information on a girl named Alma Weston.

You found out she was the fiancé who accompanied Tyne Wood to the jeweler

shop. Now, that may mean something or nothing, but put the police onto it, and

if she's implicated, the killer, James Tyne Wood, will never be found.

Why not?

Because the moment the police pick up Alma Weston, he'll take off for good.

Suppose Alma killed Tyne Wood? A woman doesn't strangle a man and have the

strength to dump his body in the Thames.

Hey, wait a minute, Mr. Smith.

How do you know that was the way Timewood died? The papers didn't get

hold of the story. And how do you know about Alma Weston? Well, if you'd just

give me a chance... Do you know what I think? I think that you're a friend of

Alma Weston's, and that's why you won't let me go to the police.

There's another reason, but I'm not going into it now.

If you're so straight, why won't you let me go to the police?

Because if you do, you'll get yourself hurt, maybe worse.

Threatening isn't going to do any good. Do you know something?

Every scrap of information I have has already been passed on to someone else.

Vance?

Yes.

Mr. Vance.

If anything happens to me, do you know... He would be very distressed, I'm

sure. Now come, Miss Steadman, let's not fight. Here, call Vance.

Tell him I'm here. Ask him if it's okay to trust me.

He won't tell you who I am or anything about me, but I know he'll say it's

okay. Now go on, ring him.

All right.

Look, Miss Steadman, we're on the same side.

Let's work together from here.

From this apartment? Why not? It's the obvious place.

You're trying to go it alone. It's no good.

You can't watch our friend opposite 24 hours a day.

Where exactly do you fit into all this? Trust me and you'll find out.

I must be out of my mind. Well?

Brunch?

Well, you look the real thing. Impure Chelsea, huh?

Oh, not really. I combed my hair this morning and that just isn't done.

Don't forget to put that on backwards. Oh.

Well, here.

Any action from the house across the mews? No.

Police baffled.

Me too.

That girl knows something. We've got to make her talk.

There she goes now.

I'm going to follow her.

No, don't do that. Let me go. It's much better.

You stay and watch the house.

Oh, my coat!

Just

to

let

you know, I'm taking care of the girl.

And don't ring here.

If I need you, I'll get in touch with you.

I'll have a whiskey, please.

I'll have the same again, please, miss.

Don't I know you?

Yes, we met at the party the other night.

My name's Marjorie.

It's a funny thing.

It's a very funny thing.

What do you see when you look in a mirror? Tell me that. What do you see?

Myself, I suppose.

what I used to think until... Until what?

You wouldn't believe me.

No one would believe me. It's so silly. It's funny.

What am I laughing at?

What are you staring at?

You look in the mirror one day. You just look. You'd be surprised. You'd be

horrified. I'll have a scotch and soda. Oh, we'll have a bottle. We'll have a

bottle.

Keep the change.

You do it.

Keith. Thanks.

Nice. Very nice.

Oh, it's okay.

But I'm not taking any chances.

Drink.

Let's have a drink.

When it's time to help yourself, I'm gonna change.

I haven't been out.

I stayed in all the time, just as you said.

How was Amsterdam?

Streets paved with gold.

What was it, darling?

I want to talk to Joe.

Joe isn't here, my love.

Who are you?

Friend. Whose friend?

Alma's. Alma and Bobby's.

Bobby took me to the game the other night, remember?

Alma asked you to come here?

Yes. I'm her new neighbor.

Neighbor? Mm-hmm. Number 46.

When's the next game?

I have friends who'd like to play.

Rich friends, too.

I could, um...

Bring one or two along for a small consideration.

It could be arranged.

Who did that?

I did.

I like this mirror.

I like it. It reflects me.

Huh?

Cheers.

He's on his way.

I think you'd better go. Oh, you stay.

I said she'd better go.

Business, darling.

Goodbye,

Elmer.

There may be a game tonight.

I'll let you know.

Okay.

Goodbye. Goodbye.

Why did you send her away? Why did you send away my friend?

She's scared of what she knows.

And even more scared of what might happen to her if she talks.

The fellow who called from the airport, you know who he is?

Positive. Trip to Amsterdam.

And Tynewood disappeared after he acquired a diamond worth 8,000 pounds.

You say there'll probably be a game tonight?

Yes.

I've got an idea. Hold the fort.

Hey, tell me, where are you going?

That's too bad.

Sure, sure, some other time.

The Australian can't make it.

Pity. He can afford to lose plenty.

Try Weber. He plays big. I just did. He's out of town.

Well, get somebody.

Everything is laid on. We can't cancel now.

Rich friend?

Well, uh... I dare say one can be arranged.

Of course he's okay.

Where?

Okay.

We'll be there.

Goodbye.

Ten o'clock tonight.

Great.

Well, you look very lovely tonight.

Thank you, sir.

Good evening, Joe. Come in.

Joe, this is Mr. Smith, a visitor from overseas.

Pleased to meet you. How do you do?

Mrs. Ferber, Miss Steadman, Mr. Smith. How do you do?

How do you do? How do you do?

It's a nice place you've got here.

Not mine, Mr. Smith. Oh?

Confidentially, to save trouble with the police, we move the game around.

Friends lend us their houses for a night. Tonight it's Mrs. Ferber.

So silly, all this subterfuge. A perfectly innocent pastime in Las Vegas

or Monte Carlo becomes a crime in London.

Actually, I rather like it. The risk adds to the excitement.

Mrs. Ferber, I think you're performing a most useful service.

Les jeux sont faits.

Rien ne va plus.

Plus rien.

Yes, indeed.

Good evening, Mr. Edmund. Good evening.

Mr. Smith, Franz Reuter. Adieu.

Adieu.

You wish to play, Mr. Smith? Yes, that's what I came for.

Shall we say 500 to begin with?

Of course.

Thank you.

The number 2, black, black and black.

Ladies and gentlemen, please play your games.

Play your games.

The game is over. Nothing is left.

The number 17, black, black and black.

Ladies and gentlemen, please play your game.

Play your game, please.

Ladies and gentlemen, play your game.

Number three.

Red, one pair and no.

The game is over.

The game is over. The game is over.

The game is over. The game is over.

The game is over.

The game is over.

The zero.

We can't win all the time.

It's only one o'clock.

We usually play till four. Not me.

I'm all cleaned out. Down 500.

I feel quite guilty.

Well, don't.

Always another time, another city.

You know, some cities you're lucky for.

You take Nice.

I nearly broke the bank there.

Las Vegas, nothing.

Joburg, nothing to complain about.

But London, well, we'll see.

You get around.

Tell me, what business are you in, Mr. Smith?

What business are you in, Mr. Roger?

Touche.

Still, it's a pity it's so early.

You wouldn't... I never take a check.

Especially when it's signed by someone whose name happens to be Smith.

Still, there's always a possibility for some arrangement to be worked out.

If one has collateral.

Oh.

Well, I think I can take care of you on that score.

Do you have a quiet corner?

Shall we say...

Chips for 500.

Chips for 500.

Make your games, please.

Make your games.

The games are done.

Nothing left.

The number 8.

Black, black, and black.

Make your games, please.

The games are done.

You'll be lucky.

Yes.

And I believe we have a little business to transact.

Of course.

Cool customer, your friend.

Very cool.

Five hundred.

Stone.

A wrench to part with it.

You're a judge of such things?

I have a slight knowledge.

A diamond of such size deserves cutting and polishing with great care.

Or splitting into smaller pieces.

That would be a pity, but sometimes necessary.

I have contacts in various countries who are always interested in fine stones of

all sizes.

Perhaps we could do business.

If you give me your address.

Why don't you give me yours?

You're a cautious man, Mr. Smith.

It's a muse cottage in Chelsea.

Come and see me tomorrow night.

Shall we say 8 o'clock?

You're scared. What's the matter? I'm all jumpy. The telephone rang.

When? Just a minute ago. Then the caller hung up.

Couldn't have been you? No.

Mr. Vance.

I told him not to ring here.

Well, no one else knows I'm here.

Except... Joe.

Checking to see if you were here.

Checking to see who answers the telephone.

Smith, I'm scared.

Don't panic. It may be a wrong number.

Now listen.

I'm going over there at 8 o'clock to meet Roger.

No, it's too late to change plans.

We should call the police in.

Ruin everything when I've got bait like this.

Where did you get that from?

When it's all over, I'll explain it all to you.

Now listen, if you haven't heard from me by 9 o'clock, you call Vance.

Got it? Okay.

9 o'clock.

Your punctual one. Always where business is concerned.

Then let's go.

Go?

Down to the cellar.

I'll lead the way.

Diamond cutting and polishing, huh?

You're all right.

You have brought the stone?

Yeah.

You may have a look at it.

Okay.

You may examine it more closely. Go ahead.

Hello, Mr. Vance?

Oh, it's Marjorie here.

Look, I'm terribly worried.

Smith's gone to keep an appointment with Reuter in the house opposite.

And I... I feel something may have happened to him.

He's alone, and he won't let me call the police.

Yes, some time ago.

I've been watching the house all the time, and there's no sign of any life

there. No lights have gone on, no... Someone left the door open.

So I came in.

What do you want?

What are you doing here?

A good specimen.

Frankly, I'm curious how I come to have it.

There are two possibilities, Mr Smith.

I think we can safely discount the idea that you came by the stone legally.

If you had, you would scarcely be interested in doing business with me.

It was clever of you to offer it as collateral in a roulette game.

Clever. What did you hear of me? New York?

Amsterdam? Well, let's say fate brought us together, huh?

What are your two possibilities?

Either the stone was smuggled or it was stolen.

Or both.

We understand one another.

What's your proposition?

I'll offer you 2,000 for the stone. 2,000? Cash.

It's worth four times that.

Of course.

But from your point of view, a very generous offer.

No fence would offer you more. And... Probably a good deal less. If I say no.

I don't think you will.

Expecting someone?

Yes.

Yes, I am.

I'm expecting some friends to drop in.

Then I'll keep your company till they arrive.

How about a nice little drink, eh?

Just you and me.

Nice and cozy.

Be smart.

Take the money.

I think you're being very foolish.

Maybe.

Franz, it's time we left for the airport.

I told you to keep out of here.

Oh, no.

Not again.

The same deal for me as for James Tynewood?

Tynewood? So you're the blonde fiancé who vanished.

You had Tynewood get the engagement ring. Why did he have to die?

Who you? Because he owed you too much money?

Tynewood knew what he was doing. He was going to get a share.

He got killed instead, didn't he?

By you?

Me? Me?

I was just thinking about it. He's been driving me insane.

I keep on imagining that I can see him wherever I go.

France, and he quarreled.

Tynewood didn't think his share was big enough.

There was a fight and... We're not going to quarrel, Alma.

This time, I have a gun.

Keep away from me.

Don't you come one step nearer to me.

I'm warning you. Quite a little spitfire, aren't you?

All right, that's enough.

Break it up.

Take him away.

What's all this about?

Mr.

Vance, did you... Yes, I did.

When pretty young women break off telephone conversations for no reason, I

always phone the police.

Wes Smith, is he still there?

Yes, he's over there now with Reuter in the muse house.

I think we should get there as quickly as possible.

Now, just a minute, young lady. I think we'd better, Inspector.

Hurry, Inspector.

Come on.

There you are, Inspector.

He murdered James Tynewood.

Tynewood?

Who are you?

Yes, that's a very good question.

Just who are you?

Well, you could say I'm the man who was nobody.

What the devil are you talking about?

Inspector, I can explain.

No.

But him.

This all began a long time ago in South Africa.

I had a half-brother who was a bit wild.

He began as a gambler.

He got into debt.

He got into crime.

And finally was murdered.

Murdered? Tynewood.

But before he left South Africa, he stole something from somebody who didn't

even realize he'd been robbed.

What did he steal?

My name.

You see, I'm James Tynewood.

Reuter, you killed a man whose name you didn't even know.

As a matter of fact, it was Smith.

Then you... Seemed a fair exchange to me.

Why didn't you go to the police out there?

I didn't have to.

They came to me.

And when I didn't have an alibi for a crime he committed in my name, I went to

jail.

Is that why you came to London?

For revenge?

No.

No, I wanted my name back.

I had an idea he'd be carrying on here in London just as he had South Africa.

Just one step ahead of the law.

So you paid for the diamond which he stole?

Yes, I paid.

But too late to do Jimmy any good.

And this?

It's genuine.

And it's mine.

Inspector, I should like to make a statement.

Of course.

I'd like to know where you fit into all this, young lady.

Well, I think she fits in very nicely.

Take him away, Sergeant.

You'll be booked for the Tynewood murder.

Uh, the Smith murder.

I'm Tynewood.

And I'm very much alive, thanks to you.

Oh, you didn't do so badly yourself.

But you're... you're wrong about one thing.

Oh, what's that?

You're not, you know.

Not what?

Nobody.

Not to me, anyway.