Original subtitles

You certainly interest me exceedingly, Harding.

But I can't agree with you.

Well, there are no miracles in this world, and certainly none in crime.

You may be the greatest crime reporter on the stage, J.J., but this is going to

shake even you.

Well, I may be sticking my neck out, but I don't think so.

Anyhow, my offer still holds.

A hundred pounds for a box of Havanas that you can't give me a reasonable

explanation of the...

Willow Street murder.

Case of the shot without a gun, eh?

When do we see this guy Minter? He'll be here to dinner.

He's the only man alive who knows the full details.

It's always fascinated me.

Such a very strange story.

Utterly inexplicable.

Somehow that word just isn't in my vocabulary.

I'm not denying it, JJ, and you've certainly got a long list of successes

behind you.

But there's still time to chalk up a zero, you know.

Tell me, did you say that Curly Minter was working in your office?

How come?

He's been with us for some years.

Since my father's time. A most valuable chap and a very nice old boy. You'll

like him.

Was he actually in the case?

No.

No, he was a young reporter on the local paper at the time.

Then something happened and he gave up newspaper work forever.

Something to do with the story?

Anyway, he changed his profession and came to us.

Incidentally, he doesn't know why I'm inviting him.

He's rather a retiring sort of chap. It may take a little time to get him going.

Have some more of that.

Now come along, Minter. You've done enough hedging. What about it?

Well, uh... I'd certainly appreciate it, Minter, if you would

tell me the story.

Let me see.

It was way back in 1904, wasn't it?

Yes, it was in 1904.

It all began on the night of a terrible fire in a small private mental home

called the Towers.

It was run by a man called Dr.

Mansfield.

He was a young reporter at the time on the newspaper.

How many of those, Smith? Five, Sergeant. That's a lot. They're all

fatal, I'm afraid.

The Earl of the East Wing's got you.

Five?

Five? Yes, that's right.

Five patients?

There should be five.

You said there were six patients in the east wing, sir. No, five in the east

wing, six in the west.

West barely touched.

Everybody's safely out of there.

I made sure that all five patients were accounted for.

For heaven's sake, Sergeant.

I know where I put my own patients.

Hello, young Minter. Oh, sir.

Terrible business, this Dr. Mansfield.

Of course, you don't feel like making a statement yet. Why shouldn't I?

Of course I want to make a statement.

Five patients lost their lives in this appalling tragedy.

The rest are accounted for.

Pretty quick work, isn't it?

Now, if you'll excuse me, I must carry on my work.

A bit mixed up, isn't he?

Off his rocker.

First he's got six patients in the East Wing, then he's got five.

Except he was counting himself.

Who's this?

Night watchman.

There?

Stay here, will you?

I'll see if I can find the doctor.

It was him.

He started it.

Who? Started what?

Fire.

And he's gone away.

Who got away?

Stop. Stop.

It's dangerous. It's dangerous.

Not yet.

Just a minute, Doctor.

The old man was talking about something rather important.

About a patient.

He was delirious. He didn't know what he was talking about.

Yes, but he said... He didn't know what he was talking about.

Harry King, the night watchman of the Tower's nursing home, one of the victims

of tonight's tragic fire, made a curious statement before death claimed him.

Made a curious statement before death claimed him.

Quick to set it up, Tom. The old man wants to see it first.

That's a pity.

Always knocks the sense out of everything.

This looks good.

Yes.

Mystery at the Big Fire, Night Watchman's dying statement. Harry King,

the Night Watchman... You'll be knocking the sense out of me if I don't get it up

to him.

Good night.

Good night, Doctor.

Good evening.

Good evening, sir.

I see you have a room to let.

May I see it, please?

Yes, sir. Will you come in and I'll tell the mistress.

What name shall I say?

Fell. Dr.

Fell. Yes, sir.

You gave me a start.

See the big blaze last night?

I did.

Gave us all quite a turn.

I suppose the cup of tea you're after.

That piece?

I want it laced with fine old liqueur brandy. I should say so.

You've got the gazette here, and I'll show you what I wrote about the fire.

Miss Molly's reading it.

Here, you can take this tray, sir, if you like.

Yes, sir.

Don't say I don't look after your interests.

Alice, you may be my second best girl. Oh, get along with you.

Did Mademoiselle ring?

Hell no, fairly.

Mademoiselle's tea.

Well, did you read it? Read what?

About the fire. Did you write it? I did. Oh, well, then I'll read it again.

That the chore for rousing, my dear, is not just the account of a fire, but is

what my journalistic circle of friends would call a scoop.

What's so amazing about this, then?

The lady says amazing.

Fire at the Tower's mental home.

Last night a fire broke out at the Tower's mental home and destroyed the

whole of the East Wing.

It is believed that five patients and the night watchman perished in the

flames. which could be seen over a radius of several miles.

Well, go on.

That's all.

What do you mean, that's all? Have they left something out?

They've left it all out.

This is just a report on a fire. Mine was a story about a missing patient.

Oh, good morning, Curly. Good morning, Mrs. Musgrave. Let me help you. No,

thank you. I can manage. I always think I do this rather well.

Well, how are you, Curly?

He's very fierce this morning. He's annoyed with his editor.

Not again.

Why, what's the trouble this time?

Just ruined the best story I ever wrote.

What a tiresome person he is.

He always seems to be doing it.

Yes, well, you'll excuse me, Mrs. Musgrave, while I rush off and commit a

murder. Curly.

Yes? You're not going to lose your temper now, are you? I'm not going to

take it lying down. He might have had a reason for it. He's always got a reason

for it. Good morning, Mrs. Musgrave. Good morning, Molly.

Darling,

you're not getting fond of that young man, are you?

I like him.

Does he...

Does he know anything about our paying guest? Of course not.

Anyhow, what does it matter?

People left rooms before.

Not in this street, dear.

Even Alice was shocked when I told her.

Mother, what does Dr. Fell like?

He seems quite nice.

He's very quiet.

He wants to have his meals in his own room.

If Alice can manage that, that'll suit us very well.

Molly. He's given me three months' rent in advance, and so now we can settle

some of our bills.

Oh, Alice, have you taken anything up to the doctor yet? Yes, madam, he only

wanted to.

Oh,

I forgot to ask him about his luggage.

That'll be arriving in a week or two.

He's only just come from Leipzig, and his trunks have been delayed.

Oh, well, if he wants anything from the shops, I can get it for him. Thank you,

Alice.

Mother, if he's just come from Leipzig, I wonder why he's decided to settle

here.

Darling.

That's really his own business, isn't it?

I'm sure he's respectable. There's no doubt about that.

Now, tell me what you're going to wear this afternoon at the Atkinsons.

I think you're blue.

That's Michael's favorite color, isn't it?

Blue doesn't seem to suit me anymore.

You go out of colors like you go out of clothes.

And people?

Yes, and people.

So... Few of them improve on close acquaintance.

It's rather terrifying.

Darling.

You'll soon have to make up your mind about Michael.

Yes, I know.

Now look here, Minter. I predict a great future for you.

But you must realize that this newspaper is only concerned with facts.

We don't want them dressed up with a lot of speculative fancy.

We leave that for some of our more gaudy competitors.

I beg your pardon, sir, but you're insinuating I made this story up. I'm

not insinuating anything. The body written down was given to me by a

witness. By an old man who was half conscious and didn't know what he was

saying. I'm sorry, Minter, that doesn't sound very convincing.

I know, sir, but it's the truth. I know how you feel. You thought you were onto

something. We all go through that.

But try and see it from my point of view.

If I let this story go out, what do you suppose would happen?

There could be some repercussion. Could be.

In ten minutes, Dr.

Mansfield's solicitors would be on the telephone.

Where did the story originate from?

From the night watchman who is now dead.

Oh.

Anybody else?

No. And then from the general public's point of view, what's all this about a

lunatic at large?

You see what I mean?

I do see what you mean, sir, but... Now, let's forget it.

There's something else I want you to do. I want you to go and see Mr.

Atkinson, the ship owner. He's promised me some details of a ship he's about to

build. He's expecting you.

Look, sir, please, won't you... That's all, Minter.

Good afternoon.

I am Dr. Fell.

I am going to live here.

Yes, I know.

Do you think you will like that?

Well, I hope so.

I hope you'll like it too.

Is your room comfortable?

It seems rather light.

I shall like it better in the winter when it's darker.

Your mother asked me to give you this.

She did not tell me what was in it.

Do you know?

Oh, it's only the book box.

We share a library subscription with my mother's sister in the country.

That seems a queer arrangement.

It is really, I suppose.

They feel it keeps them in touch.

If you'll excuse me, I must go.

They're not going out.

Yes.

They're coming straight back.

No, I'm going out to tea.

Nobody told me that.

Well, I don't suppose they would.

It's not very exciting.

You won't be late.

I don't think so.

This won't do.

Beg your pardon?

Your mother's very helpless, you know.

Oh, but she's not. She's wonderfully strong.

Except for... The paralysis in her limbs.

I must go.

Hello, Matthew. Hello, Molly.

Sorry I'm late. I had a bit of trouble with my... Who's there?

Oh, um, he's staying with us for a few days.

Let's go, shall we?

Well, we launch her on the 16th. Are you going to be there?

Yes, thank you very much, sir.

Uh, Atkinson, see that file last night?

Shocking business.

Saw it from my window.

They say that one of the patients have escaped.

Nothing in it.

I was talking to Mansfield. Says it's a lot of poppycock.

Well, one must admit, it did keep one or two quervoids in that east wing.

One fellow in particular is more than capable of sugar.

I think you've bet.

Councillor Porter, minter of the Gazette.

Hello, Dad.

Sorry we're late.

Have a favour's my fault.

A lady's privilege.

You know Councillor Porter, Miss Musgrave? Charmed, I'm sure.

Hello, Curly. Hello, Molly.

I say, Dad, Molly's got a request to make. You'll die laughing when you hear

of it. Not now, Michael. Please.

Why not? There's no time like the present.

If you'll excuse me, sir, I must be going.

Good day, Minter. Good day, sir. Good day, sir.

I say, Dad, Molly wants you to give her a job in your office. Good heavens.

Let's hear more about this staffing request. Sit down, Molly. Yes, come

along.

What sort of a job, Molly? Managing Director?

Please, Mr. Eggerton, please listen to me. She'll improve the decorative scheme

of your boardroom, old boy.

The things girls do nowadays make my hair stand on end. They'll soon be

driving motorcars. And why not? Oh, no, please, please, really, Miss Musgrave.

Heaven help us if we ever come to that.

What about some tea, Molly?

I don't know why I went back.

It was just as though there was somebody there who wanted to tell me the rest of

the Night Watchman story.

As though...

Someone was buried behind the blackened walls, or even the walls themselves,

struggling to find a voice.

Then Dr.

Mansfield's statement that no patient was missing long before he could have

known came back to my ears.

The night watchman's dying words.

And Porter.

I have turned the gas down, Miss Musgrave.

It's uneconomical to leave the jet full on.

And your mother can't afford to be wasteful. Then why do you say that?

People like you and your mother don't let rooms to strangers unless necessity

forces them to.

Can you see your way?

Yes, thank you. Good night.

Who do you think he was, the bailiff?

Who do you think he was, the bailiff? Who do you think he was, the bailiff?

Who do you think he was, the bailiff? Who do you think he was, the bailiff?

Who do you think he was, the bailiff? Who do you think he was, the bailiff?

Who do you think he was, the bailiff? Who do you think he was, the bailiff?

Who do you think he was, the bailiff? Who do you think he was, the bailiff?

Who do you think he was, the bailiff? Who do you think he was, the bailiff?

Who do you think he was, the bailiff? Who do you think he was, the bailiff?

Who do you think he was, the bailiff? Who do you think he was, the bailiff?

Who do you think he was, the bailiff?

Who do you think he was, the bailiff? Who do you think he was, the

bailiff? Who

do you think

Strictly between ourselves. My grandmother's working in a dance hall.

Now that all seems more sensible.

Mrs. Hasgrove!

Yes, Dr. Fell?

Who is this young man who's visiting your daughter?

He's... He's a reporter.

We know him very well.

I don't like newspaper men.

But he's a friend of the family's. Has been since he was a baby.

Please tell him to leave the house.

Dr. Fell, this is Mr. Minter.

How do you do, Dr. Fell?

You're looking very tired, Mrs. Musgrave.

As a doctor, I should recommend you to have fewer visitors.

I bow to your medical skill, Dr. Fell, but I was just about to say how well

Mrs. Musgrave looked this morning.

Mrs. Musgrave, will you show this young man to the door?

Oh, but... Curly, you'd better go.

I'll show you out, Curly.

Miss Musgrave, put the chain on the door.

And now, will you kindly ask Alice to bring my tray up?

It wasn't the man's rudeness that made me dislike him.

In fact, I wasn't aware of any feeling, only some sort of an intuition that told

me quite forcibly that this family was in danger.

It was probably only guesswork mixed with a wild imagination, but I was

determined to leave nothing to chance.

Our records show that there was no missing patient.

Most of the bodies were charged beyond recognition.

I suggest that if you have some information about this alleged missing

patient, you should go to Dr. Mansfield about it.

Now, if you will please excuse me, I'm very busy.

I remember exactly what you said, Mr. Porter.

You said that Dr. Mansfield keeps one or two very queer birds in the East Wing.

If I said that, I can only tell you now that the remark was entirely without

significance. Good night, Mr. Potter.

Look here, Minter.

I'm not going to answer a lot of damn silly questions.

For the last time, all the patients have been accounted for.

Give me the mug, please.

Oh, hello, Molly.

Oh, good. It's Curly.

Do you remember the date of Dr. Fell's arrival?

3rd of September.

Oh, that's fine.

And do you happen to know his first name?

No, well, no, it's all right.

No, I'm just checking up.

Yes. Goodbye.

Morning, Sergeant.

Hello.

Painting?

Oh, I'm just taking photographs.

Had any more about the missing patient?

What patient?

The one that escaped from the mental home on the night of the fire.

Oh, that.

That was all a mistake. It's all been gone into.

By the police?

Oh, by the hospital authorities themselves.

I understand that the superintendent, Dr. Mansfield, is perfectly satisfied

that all his patients were fully accounted for.

I don't believe him.

What's that you say?

Sergeant, do you know anything about a Dr. Fell?

No. Never heard tell of him so far as I know.

What about him?

He's staying with the Musgraves.

I believe that his arrival at the Musgraves' house on the night of the

fire collects him directly with the missing lunatic.

Now look, you go on saying things like that and you'll find yourself in serious

trouble, my lad.

What's this Dr. Fell look like?

Oh, a queer sort of bloke.

He's got a funny habit of drawing his breath in sharply after he speaks.

Sounds almost like a hiss.

Sounds a nice bloke.

Sergeant, I want you to see the Musgraves. They're terribly worried

about this man.

Well, why don't they report it themselves?

He hasn't done anything yet.

Well, then I can't do anything.

Only if he commits a murder or something.

What if he threw a brick through a window? No, no, no. Hey, Sarge!

All right, thank you, Sergeant.

Almost like a hiss.

Queer, that.

Go on, what's queer about that?

Little a trademark of his it was, no mistake in it.

November the 9th, 1888.

It was the last we ever saw of him or heard of him.

What are you talking about, Sarge?

Nothing much, just a fancy.

Only it did bring to my mind someone called Jack the Ripper.

Morning, madam. Just brought you breakfast.

Thank you, Elizabeth.

Haven't seen anything of Mr. Minter lately, have you, Miss? Aye. He's such a

nice young fellow.

What was that?

I don't know why we're all whispering.

We've got a lot of like it these couple of weeks.

Oh dear, why do we ever let him into the house?

It's all my fault.

But be patient, darling.

It won't be for long.

We're all behaving as if we were afraid of him.

Well, I don't mind admitting I'm scared stiff of him.

How much longer are we going to put up with it?

Creeping about the house at all hours.

Interfering. Telling us when we should go out and questioning us when we come

in. Turning down the gas.

Closing the curtains.

Well, I can't even get into his room to clean it. Now, now, Alice.

He's paid for that room for three months.

And there's nothing we can do about it.

October 30th, 1904.

It is now nine weeks since...

He came to us. We are three frightened prisoners in

our own house.

I dread going to the police, but for Molly's sake,

I must think of something.

Hello, darling.

Where's that old witch doctor?

Molly, you mustn't talk like that. I don't care, Mother.

He's got to go.

And I'm going to tell him.

What are you doing?

Letting in some sunshine and some fresh air.

Why should we pander to him?

You'll only upset him, you know. It's our house and our room.

Now listen, Mother.

Mr. Atkinson's prepared to give me a job, providing we get rid of him.

And if I get the job, we won't need his money anymore.

But does... does Mr. Atkinson know that we...

We take a lodger?

Yes.

He and Michael are coming for tea on Thursday.

He wants to talk to you.

Coming here?

Now, Mother, don't worry.

Although Mr.

Atkinson might think it's impetig to have a lodger, he's still prepared to

give me the job.

Well, we've got to get rid of Dr.

Fell first.

Yes, I know.

But we have tried, haven't we? Yes, darling, half-heartedly.

But this time, we've got to be really firm with him.

Coming. Oh, gracious, the curtains.

Leave them alone, Alice.

But it's... Let him come.

Well, if he complains about his eyes, for goodness sake, don't mention

thoracic. I put some on his breakfast tray, thinking I was doing him a good

turn, and he nearly threw it at me.

He put it in his tea, thinking it was sugar.

You've been out again, Miss Musgrave. This is my mother's room. How dare you

burst in like this? Please do not shout.

Remember, your mother is an invalid.

And she ought to be kept very quiet.

For her sake, I must ask her not to leave the house again. Dr. Fell, I'm

quite capable of... Please remember, Mrs.

Musgrave, that I am a doctor.

That's better, isn't it?

Soothing and restful.

The night seems closer to us.

It never comes too soon for me.

Quite soon you'll understand what I mean.

They are late.

Molly, don't you think it might be better if we ask the doctor as well?

Mother, you're not serious.

Yes, I am, dear.

But he might make a scene.

Allow me.

They've arrived, madam.

I saw the car pull up at the door. At last, darling.

Well, hurry, Alice.

Hurry and let them in.

What do you mean?

Good afternoon.

Mrs. Musgrave is expecting us. Mrs. Musgrave is indisposed. What's that?

She is not receiving visitors.

Look here, my good fellow, just you tell her that Mr.

Atkinson... Open this door, Dr.

Phil!

Open this door! It's no use, darling.

Don't you see?

They've gone.

You needn't worry. They won't come back.

I've sent them away.

This is outrageous.

Really, Miss Musgrave?

You have a very curious choice of words.

I warn you.

If you're not out of this house in half an hour, I shall send for the police.

I don't think you'll do that.

After all, what will you say to them?

Also, I note by the expression on your mother's face that she is remembering

the great help I've been to her.

Besides...

Think of the shame if you try and evict me.

I shouldn't depend on that too much if I were you.

Ah, but you're not me, Miss Musgrave.

It'll be very unpleasant, won't it?

Policemen calling at the house to arrest the lodger.

Curious, isn't it?

That I should be the lodger.

He's right.

We can't go to the police.

We shall have to do what Dr. Fell says.

I hate Dr.

Fell.

I shall telephone Currie.

He'll help us.

I'm afraid the telephone is out of order, Miss Musgrave.

I have had it disconnected.

Pearl. Pearl Arthur, Pearl Herbert, Pearl Patrick, Pearl William... fellows.

I do not like thee, Dr. Pearl, the reason why I cannot tell, but this I

know and I know full well. I do not like thee, Dr. Pearl.

Pearlie. Hello, Molly.

Come sit down.

What can we do for you?

Oh, Pearlie, I need your help.

Do you think it's possible that Dr. Pearl is the escaped lunatic from the

towers?

I don't know what to think.

I can't even convince everybody that there was an escape.

One thing I do know, that somebody at the Towers knows the lunatic at large

and is terrified to say so.

But why should they be?

I don't know. Protect somebody, maybe?

Can't even prove whether the man's a doctor.

Curly,

Sergeant Crantham is a friend of yours, isn't he?

Yes. We'll go to him.

Molly, there's nothing he can do.

Unless we can prove whether the man is a fake or a lunatic.

His hands are tied just as much as mine.

Then I go to him myself.

Molly, be reasonable.

Reasonable?

Do you know what it's like to be tied to a house day and night as I am?

Because a complete stranger has made me frightened to go out and leave my mother

alone with him?

Do you know what it's like to hear the sound of a latch lifting late at night?

To see my mother tortured with fear in case something might happen to me?

Molly, I've been to see Cranbourne.

He says unless you can refer definite charges against Dr. Fell, there's

nothing he can do.

Molly, we have no evidence against him. If you won't do anything about it, I

will.

I'll get some evidence.

Molly!

Miss Musgrave, it is pointless to continue to hide, since I know you are

behind the curtain.

Come here.

Come here!

This is a pleasant surprise, Miss Musgrave.

But may I ask what you're doing in my room?

I thought Alice might have left your window open.

My window, Miss Musgrave?

I must have been mistaken.

Will you please unlock the door and let me go?

Let you go.

Let you go.

Yes.

Of course I'll let you go.

Alice let me in. I was worried in case you did something foolish. Oh, Kelly.

You're trembling.

Why? I've just searched Dr. Phil's room.

What did you find?

Some old surgical instruments and some old street maps marked with crosses.

Nothing else.

He came in just before I did. Did he catch you in the room? Yes, but he

doesn't suspect anything.

I'm sure.

Go up to your room.

Lock the door.

Try and get some sleep.

Like a little tired mouse.

Very pretty little mouse, but very tired.

Molly, don't worry.

I'll be around. You know where you can get me if you want me.

Good night, Kelly.

I was in the hall when this came.

It was like a little grey tongue sticking out at me through the door.

There was really no need for you to bring it.

I imagine it's from that rather unpleasant-looking young man I sent away

yesterday. You sent away?

Yes, I didn't tell you.

He called twice.

I thought I'd made it pretty clear that he wasn't wanted, but apparently I was

mistaken.

And how are you today, Mrs. Musgrave?

I'm quite well, thank you, doctor.

I hope you're telling me the truth.

You look very tired.

My mother has answered your question.

Now, will you please go and leave us alone?

Dr. Michael.

What does he say?

He wants me to go to his house tonight to watch the fireworks display.

That would be nice.

But I'd rather not leave you.

I shan't be alone.

Alice will stay in.

Molly. Yes, darling?

I want you to go.

To please me.

Mother, have you still got Daddy's revolver?

No, dear.

He got rid of it before he died.

Now, don't you worry.

Everything will be all right.

You will go to Michael's, won't you?

Oh, Mother.

We used to be so happy.

Oh, we shall be again.

No one ever saw Jack the Ripper except possibly his victims, none of whom lived

to identify him.

He was heard running away from the scene of his crimes on several occasions.

As he ran, near witnesses reported hearing a curious sound like a hiss.

But apart from that, the only other piece of evidence ever discovered was a

fragment of a London street map.

It was found in Whitechapel near the scene of his last crime.

Hiss?

A street map.

A street map!

Hello, Alice.

I finished up now, madam, so I thought I'd come and sit with you for a bit. I'd

be glad if you did. These fireworks are making you rather nervous.

Come and sit down.

Thank you, madam.

I won't interrupt your book.

November the 4th.

Doesn't it fly?

It's three months and nearly up, aren't they, madam? Mm-hmm. Very nearly.

Thank you.

He did say he'd be leaving in November, didn't he, madam? Well, he hinted it.

Well, I couldn't stand much more of it. The weight I'm losing, up and down those

stairs. Well, it's fairly dropping off me. Well?

Oh, well, I mustn't interrupt you.

Beards. Men with beards. I never liked them. What?

Beards, madam. I don't like men with beards. I never did and I never shall.

Trust them.

That was the front doorbell, madam.

Yes.

Must be the doctor.

He must have forgotten his key.

Well, go and let him in.

Madam, why let him in? Why let him in at all?

Now, Alice, don't be ridiculous.

We can't leave the poor man out there all night. Oh, I don't see why not.

Don't argue, Alice.

Go and answer the door. Oh, very good, madam.

Oh,

really? Do you think so?

I also forgot the new razor strop I ordered from Simon's.

Go and pick it up for me, will you?

Oh, you needn't be afraid of leaving Mrs.

Musgrave. I shall be here.

Yes, sir.

I should have thought it a much better proposition to marry the managing

director of a shipping line.

I will be in time.

Some broken-down news reporter on some local newspaper.

But I don't want to marry a shipping line.

Or a newspaper.

But, Molly... Oh, look, Michael, what a beauty. Excuse me, Molly, I must speak

to you. Look here, mentor, we're watching the fireworks. You are? Molly,

what's the difference?

The letter.

Can you remember any of the names that were marked on that map?

Try and think. What are you doing?

Shut up. Molly, concentrate.

How dare you come barging in here? There was a cross in a place called

Whitechapel. Can't you be sure?

Of course she's sure.

Yes, I remember now. It was Whitechapel. Curly, what's happened?

Nothing, nothing at all. Look, if you love this girl at all, don't let her out

of your sight. What?

She's frightened of fireworks.

Wake up, Mrs. Musgrave.

Wake up.

I wanted to talk to you.

We're alone in the house.

Did you know that?

Alone? Yes.

Your daughter disobeyed me again and went out.

And I've sent Alice down to Simon's.

She'll be quite a long time.

Do you?

I wonder...

I haven't been able to consider you as I should have liked.

I've been so busy.

Busy? With my plans.

They take a long time because they have to be made of such extraordinary care.

Otherwise, they wouldn't be so successful.

And it's vital they should be successful.

Mrs. Musgrave.

i want to tell you about my plans long ago when i made them it was spoiled for

me because there was no one to tell them to do you understand that no no

i don't think i do no how should you but you will

i'll tell you today is the

fifth

In four days' time, it will be the ninth.

And then I shall begin again where I left off.

And then everyone will recognize me.

That's logical, isn't it?

Do you mean that in four days you will be leaving us?

Oh, yes. I could hardly stay.

Before I go, I want to show you my maps.

Maps?

I like maps, don't you?

They're such useful things when one wants to move about in a hurry.

You'll like my maps.

Well, why?

Why don't you go and fetch them?

You'd really like to see them?

Yes.

Yes, indeed, I would.

Then I'll bring them down to you.

Richard! Mrs.

Musgrave!

Are you hurt, ma'am?

What happened, ma'am? What happened, Mrs. Musgrave?

I... I heard a shot.

Oh, no, no.

You heard the fireworks that were going off all the time. Now, are you hurt? No,

no, I'm quite all right, but I heard a shot, I tell you. It came from Pearson.

The bell's rung.

We'd better go up and see.

Yes, the second on the right.

Don't you fall out of your chair. I was coming out of the dining room too

quickly. I knocked it against the stairs. It overturned.

I see.

Open up now.

Come on, sir. Open up.

Is there no other way into this room?

Yes, the window. Come on.

What happened, madam? He don't reply and the door's locked. Is there a ladder

somewhere, Alice? Yes, sir, by the coach. All right, we're fine.

Whatever's happened, madam? Something terrible, I'm sure.

Oh, Alice, I'm afraid.

I'm afraid.

It's locked. I'm going in.

Well, most people know what we found that night.

The man who called himself Dr. Fell, and we never found another name for him, was

lying on the floor, shot through the heart.

There was a key on the carpet.

The door was locked on the inside.

There was also a bolt on the door that would thrust securely home.

But the most extraordinary thing was...

that there was no revolver in the room, and neither was one ever found in the

house. To all intents and purposes, the man had died in a box that was sealed

from the inside.

And yet he was shot, and a bullet was extracted from his heart.

Extraordinary case.

Yes.

What about fingerprints?

Oh, these were early days.

The police weren't very scientific then.

They found a smudge on the key, but didn't prove anything.

And the boat was clean.

What's more, the revolver was never found, and the man was never identified.

That's right.

Well, J.J., you're very silent.

Fine wine, Bestek.

As for the mystery...

It's elementary.

It's perfectly obvious what happened.

Snap out of it, J.J. This is where you add a little zero to that famous list of

your successes. Not at all.

Menter here has told the story very clearly.

But I'm sorry, I don't believe that that's what really happened at all.

I believe the solution of the problem is in what happened between the time that

Mrs. Musgrave told Dr.

Fell that she would like to see his maps.

And the time the shot was fired.

I didn't understand you.

I invite you to think back.

Mrs. Musgrave and Dr.

Fell were in the living room, right?

I like maps, don't you?

They're so useful when you want to move about in a hurry.

You like my maps.

Then why?

Why don't you fetch them?

So that you can lock the door.

No, that won't do.

I'll take you with me. Please, please don't touch me.

I'll carry you, Mrs.

Musgrave. You won't have to leave your chair. I can take that too.

I'm very strong, Mrs.

Musgrave.

Isn't it evident that she was in Dr. Fell's room when the shot was fired?

What was her story?

She heard the shot and hurried out of the living room so quickly that she

struck the stairs and overturned.

How could she have been coming at such a speed if she had first to unlock the

door? We can only guess at the ensuing conversation, but is that so very

difficult?

I wonder if you recognize this, Mrs. Musgrave.

A byway off Spitalfields.

Buck's Court.

I made a cross there.

A cross?

Commercial Road.

Old Brumpton Road.

I made a cross there.

And look.

Look, Mrs. Musgrave.

Miller's Court, November the 9th,

1888.

Don't these names mean anything to you?

Don't you remember them?

Sure you do.

It's not so very long ago.

Miller's Court, November the 9th, 1888.

Don't you understand I've taken you into my confidence I've trusted you

Now you've spoiled it all

I shall have to start

Before I was ready.

Don't move.

Or I shall shoot.

Put that revolver down.

Go back.

Put it down, I tell you.

Go back.

Found the gun because she didn't want to frighten us.

But the old lady knew where it was all the time.

the chair and had to invent the tale of hitting the stairs.

What did I do?

The next thought was the place in which to hide the revolver.

The book box.

The book box was the obvious thing.

In due course, after all the excitement had died down, it would be posted by

Alice without any question to Mrs.

Musgrave's sister in the country.

reading the papers, she would understand and say nothing.

Alice!

Curly! Mrs. Musgrave, will you open the door, please? I... I... I can't reach.

Hello, JJ.

I must certainly hand it to you. You've got a wonderful imagination.

Yes, you're very clever.

Yes, my dear old mastermind, you certainly are.

But it's just too bad because you're wrong.

How's that?

Just one little mistake, JJ.

The door to the room was not only locked, but it was bolted, bolted. Now,

I've made a study of that case and I've read various theories.

And in all of them, that bolt provided the one unanswerable snap.

The door of that room was firmly bolted on the inside.

Well, there were no pinholes, no pieces of string, no fancy work around it.

And it couldn't have been fastened from the outside.

Excuse me, sir. Mrs. Minter is here.

Oh, well, surely. Walter, surely.

This is a pleasant surprise.

Yes.

Mrs. Minter, sir.

Come along in, Mrs. Minter.

I've come to collect this husband of mine.

Oh, my dear. Just coming.

I would like to introduce you to James Jasper.

He's looking a little sad at the moment, but he's just lost a bit.

How do you do?

I'm glad to know you, Mrs. Minter.

Yes, Minter.

I think we stumped him that time, but I must say it was a most commendable

effort, J.J.

I enjoyed it, but it won't wash.

That little zero must go up the first on the list.

Good night to you, sir.

Very interesting story, Minter.

Very, very interesting. I think so.

We've got to be going now.

Come on, Molly, my dear.

Thank you for a very, very excellent dinner, sir.

You must come again.

Walter has... So you're

defeated at last, eh, Jane, Jane?

Beaten by a little boat.

It's very sad.

But then, old man, one must be philosophical.

Nemesis my foot.

I told you it was elementary.

It must be obvious to a blind donkey who shot that bolt.

What the devil do you mean?

Oh, Richard.

Use your thick head.

Who was the only person that could have bolted that door?

Who was the one person that must have followed that wretched family's danger

and misery at every step?

Who guessed the identity of Dr. Fell and yet could do nothing to prove it?

Who must have seen the whole situation in a single blinding flash?

The moment his eyes rested on that locked door with that pitiful key thrust

under it.

Oh, Richard.

Who alone could have shot that bolt home to make that family safe?

And the story a miracle.

Who married Molly Musgrave? But who?

You too.

The man who broke the window and found the body.

The very man who told the story in such convincing detail.

Yes, our guest of honor.

That soft-hearted, quick-witted Curly.

Curly Minter.

Good heavens.

It is possible.

It is conceivable.

It's true, J.J. Of course it's true.

I saw it at once. But you said nothing.

Good God, what a story you've got.

Oh, sir, not me.

What do you mean?

Well, it's just not mine to use, that's all.

You see, Dick, when a fellow journalist has as good a reason as meant to have

for throwing away the scoop of a lifetime, well, that's his bad luck. I'm

certainly not cashing in on it.

Oh, sir.

Anyway, who am I to cause the unhappiness of two nice old people like

that? Why spoil a perfectly good story by giving it a tragic ending?