All language subtitles for Sealed Lips (1942)

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

[Whistle]

[Music]

[Phone buzzing]

Yes?

Mr. Davis to see you.

Send him in.

Morning, Chief.

Hi, I mean, smoke?

No thanks.

Must be serious.

What makes you say that?

Well, last time you offered me a cigar, I

woke up in a huddled little hospital with

a bullet in my shoulder.

That's smug of you, huh?

The way you and I have

worked together a long time.

Nine years.

You know there's nothing

strange about me lately?

No.

Well, I'm either cracking up or I've got

the craziest hunch of my life.

You've seen this stuff, of course.

Oh, yes. Looks like

Rifano is learning his lesson.

Lee, what would you say if I were to tell

you that the microfano we've had in

prison is not the real microfano?

Well, I'd say you were a little tired and

you need a vacation.

I expected that.

Knowing you like I do, let's sit back and

think it over and say, "How come?"

Well, this prison fight has crystallized

about a half-baked

suspicion I've had for a long time.

To begin with, you know what Rifano's

been doing in prison?

Being a good boy.

Too good.

Rifano has been in charge

of the prison flower beds.

Mike Rifano, who never planted anything

except his rivals and who never raised

anything but trouble.

Oh, suppressed desire.

An inhibition over count.

Anything else?

Yes, this.

Oh, yeah, I read it. It's funny.

It's worse than that.

It's fishy. It smells.

Mike Rifano's been accused of a lot of

things but never powers.

Well, like all those racket kids, they're

only brave when they

got their boys around.

That's the Mike that I know.

Well, then he was being smart.

He knew he only had a few weeks to serve.

Messing up baits, maybe killing him would

have added ten years to the sentence.

Now look here, Chief.

You yourself handled the

refund of investigation.

When could the change have taken place?

I don't know.

We got to my ILS today.

But I still have a hunch he's not Rifano.

But the fingerprints,

you can't argue them away.

The fingerprints of the man in prison are

identical with those of Rifano on file

both here and in New York.

Well, then?

We were mighty proud of ourselves when we

sent Rifano to prison.

When New York had

been after him for years.

And what did we get him?

A clumsy race-packed fix at

any schoolboy could adopt.

Now wait a minute, Chief.

You're asking me to believe that because

things got hot for Rifano in the East, he

sent a double out here

to take a rap for him?

You think I'm crazy, don't you?

No, but I do think we've got Rifano.

And you've got an assignment.

What?

The man we have in prison will be

released three weeks from today.

Bring me proof that he's microfano.

A rapper.

And remember, we took a lot

of bows when we sent Mike up.

And they've all bounced back right in our

laps if it happens, I'm right.

So don't read the

word of this to anybody.

You and I are the only

ones that suspect anything.

Wait a minute, but you're the only one

that's doing the suspecting.

I'm just going to prove it to you.

You're just going to

prove that I'm crazy, huh?

Well, let's see. You're

all about at the library.

Library?

Yes, you'll have to study up on tulips.

Oh, yeah, tulips.

Tulips?

That's what Rifano's been working on.

Oh, yeah.

I'll, uh, phone the

warden that you're coming.

Yes, sir.

Give me the warden at

the state's finest entry.

[door closes]

Hi, Mike.

Guess you'd be glad to

get out of here, would you?

Pretty flowers.

Listen, mister, I don't know

who you are or what you want.

I only got a couple of weeks to go.

I don't want any trouble.

Run along with it.

Give it, Mike.

The warden was telling me about your

garden, and I just

thought I'd have a look at it.

You know, I always liked flowers. I never

had much luck with them.

I planted a bed of tulips out at the

house this spring,

but they all died on me.

Too much fog and cold weather, I guess.

Indeed, just one of us.

Oh, enough to cover them.

About two or three inches, I guess.

You should have put them down twice that

deep in this country.

Well, I had the best

available information.

Government bulletin on tulips.

You know, they told me that--

Only one man in this country knows

anything about tulips.

Professor Columbia wrote a book.

"Wonderly Supplied Botany."

Old chapter on him.

Say, you certainly know your tulips.

Study all that in here?

Most of it.

I fooled around with flowers a little bit

in New York, but I never let anybody know

about it back there.

I can see that.

I guess the only time you boys were

interested in flowers was when you sent

them to somebody that

couldn't smell them.

Yeah.

Well, I gotta check in.

What'd you say the name of that book was?

"Wonderly Supplied Botany."

All kidding aside, Chief, I think you're

placing too much importance on Rufano's

knowledge of botany.

He got it all out of a book.

"Wonderly Supplied Botany."

Yeah, so the chaplain told me.

Have you seen that book?

Well, only a person with years of study

behind him would know what that old

professor was talking about.

Now quit the clowning and get on to New

York and see what you can dig up.

Okay.

I'm phony from the airport now.

[Music]

What sort of stuff you just...

Oh, nothing in particular.

I just want to brush up

on my New York background.

Well, as a writer, you'll appreciate this

morgue drawn on the newspaper morgue.

You can find a thousand books.

I'll send somebody up to

help you dig out what you want.

Hello, Father. I think

I can find my material.

If you do, you're a wizard.

We've got stuff here since, well, before

Lincoln's Gettysburg address.

Make yourself at home.

Thanks.

Hello.

I'm Lois Grant.

You're Davis?

Yes.

Lee Davis.

Hi, Lee.

Hi, hello.

Sounds like the opening of a patter act.

We ought to get along.

Well, we certainly should.

I'm one of the few

remaining straight men.

When my boss told me you were writing a

book, I was all prepared for a 5'8" key

and horn-rimmed glasses.

Well, I hope I haven't disappointed you.

Where do we start?

Oh, I don't know.

Uh, Hudson too.

Cost, data was started and so forth, but

it isn't too much trouble.

No, no, not at all.

Now then, here's a file under the general

heading, and then we have separate files

for each personality involved.

Now, here's the name and history of the

engineer, the number of tons

of cement used, and then...

Oh, yeah. Hudson too.

Now, we've been through the

Hudson tube in the subway.

Here are the files on the Empire State

Building and Rockefeller Center. That

ought to hold you for a while.

Oh, you're not getting tired, are you?

No, but I've got to go look

up some things for myself.

Well, thank you very much. I can't tell

you how much I appreciate it.

Oh, that's all right.

That is, I can't unless

you have dinner with me.

Dinner?

Don't tell me you're the kind of author

that eats regularly.

Regularly an orphan. I'm the kind of a

man who likes his groceries.

Good. I'm the kind of

gal that likes to cook.

Come up to my place sometime

and I'll put you up a stew.

How about tonight?

Um, that'll depend. Anyhow, I'll check with you later.

This is Lee Davis. Let me talk to Dugan.

I'll see you Tuesday, 4.

Hey, Davis, Mr. Dugan. I'll take a jet.

Hello, Lee. Vincent Wired, you were

coming. Need any help?

Not yet. Did you hear from Lip's agony?

He's all set. You're at

the Gotham apartment, 4A.

Thanks.

Downtown local!

Gunlight, buddy?

Sure.

Always acts that way, tubby.

Come on, now!

(Screaming)

Good morning. (Screaming)

(Screaming)

It was tough enough finding this place.

I'm staying right here

until I see Lee Davis.

But I tell you, he may

not be back for hours.

Of course. We're working together.

Aren't we?

What?

We were. Working together.

I tried to explain,

sir, that you were busy.

He means he tried to brush me off.

He's fine. Newspaper

woman helping me with my book.

I see, sir.

What's going on here? He's

no gentleman's gentleman.

Only a doodle. One comes along.

Have you been waiting long?

Since 5.30. I noticed you didn't waste

any time letting him know

I was a newspaper reporter.

Didn't you tell him?

Don't tell me you were trying to get

information from Lip's behind my back.

Well, I asked him a few questions.

What's the matter with

him? Is he hard of hearing?

He's deaf.

But he answered something.

He got a head full of high explosives in

the argon, woke up in the hospital, deaf.

Took up lip reading and became an expert.

Oh, by the way, if he's not looking at

you, just tap him on the shoulder to

attract his attention.

And here's your ballot.

Don't kid the shock troop.

Ever since you arrived,

my nose has been itching.

Why, this crap.

I mean, itching for news.

Well, can't we even discuss the other?

That's better. For a moment, I thought

you'd go and postgraduate on me.

Gee, that's how a man killed him.

Stumbled and fell over me

in front of a subway train.

That's too bad.

The wonder, doesn't that

more often the way they push?

Ah, the party's picking up.

Yes, I'd better polish.

Oh, uh, would you stay for dinner?

Sure, Liv's kind of sorry, sir, but

there's nothing in the kitchen.

I understood you were dining out tonight.

Of course I can, uh--

Oh, no, don't bother.

I'm sure you boys

have things to talk over.

Besides, I have a very important date.

Lee Davis?

Yes.

Excited.

Are you expecting anything, Mr. Davis?

I know.

What is it, hon?

Uh, from a dispatcher.

Miss Grant knows about it.

They're the Rifano files.

I thought you'd rather

work on them at home.

And if she doesn't

suspect what you're doing,

I'd explain these clippings.

Maybe I didn't put them back according to that farming system,

and that's how she checked them.

Maybe.

But that young lady will

bear a lot of watching.

Nice work, too. I mean to watch them.

Hey, good-looking layout, eh?

Yeah, Dugan dreamed it up.

Find something?

I don't know. Look.

January 10, 1932,

Rifano took out a license to carry a gun.

This paper seems to think it's funny.

It is funny.

Rifano appeared at the city hall

to file an application for

a license to carry a gun.

He was accompanied by

one of his legal rights,

Manny Dixon, and neither of them saw

anything strange in

the whole proceedings.

Hmm. Complete with pictures.

Maybe we ought to have a

copy made of these prints

and compare them to the ones the

department has on file.

Yeah, we can do them to do that.

They ever saw a big shot, sir, after you

have our big fingerprinted.

This looks like an all-night session.

I'm going to get the copy.

Good idea.

- Christina Ghost? - Yeah.

September 7, 1925,

Fred M. Morton of

Weldon in town for a holiday

was the victim of

mistaken identity this afternoon

when two strong-armed men,

members of the Fallon mob,

forced him into a car in the

belief that he was Mike Rifano.

He finally convinced

them of their mistake,

but was still shaken by the

experience when interviewed.

I wonder what happened to him.

Probably back in Weldon, taking bows in

the Hotel Palace barbershop.

We can check that, too.

But at least there

was somebody in New York

who looked enough like

Rifano to be mistaken for him.

Let me see that fingerprint picture.

Huh. Hey, Black?

Tell him, "Cream."

Let's see, huh, Rifano?

Dixon?

I wonder who that bird is.

He certainly doesn't look

like a private secretary.

Hey.

Maybe this isn't Rifano.

Maybe it's Morton.

There I go. The chief warned me.

I start out to prove

we've got the real Rifano

and wind up telling myself we haven't.

This is your local reporter bringing you

the highlights in the day's news.

The police have identified the man killed

in the subway terminal

as Willie Hurley, better

known as Willie the Lug.

Hurley was a small fry

hanger on during the Rifano era.

Let's see.

What now? Remember the power

I told you about the subway?

Yeah. He was a Rifano man.

Now I know where I saw this guy before.

Where? On the subway station platform.

He did the pushing.

Wait a minute.

I found him and asked you for a light.

Somebody pushes him.

He falls in front of the train.

Suppose you hadn't dropped your lighter.

- Good morning. - Morning.

- One of yours was around

looking for you. - Never mind.

Yes. Lois Grant. She

said you were expecting her.

Oh, I'm expecting her,

but I'm not happy about it.

- What's the paper sector

on me? - Smart reporter.

- Oh, did you get the gun from it? - Yes.

The fingerprints are Rifano's all right.

We checked from the prints on fire.

Say, you were all

full of bounce yesterday.

Today you're worried. Some

shenanigans on these prints?

I hope not.

Well, what did you find out?

It's okay. Lee Davis. Let's haggity.

- Team Blake. - I'm in for it.

Fred M. Morton.

- Weldon. Died 1932. - Are you sure?

Absolutely. Burned death

in the rooming house fire.

Thanks, Lucas. I forget I ever bothered

you. Come on, let's...

Where are we going?

I'm going to send the boss a wire and

tell him he's

practically on his vacation.

Can you imagine me dreaming up all that

worry about a dead man?

What's the matter?

- You don't seem very enthusiastic. - No.

- I was just wondering.

- Wondering about what?

Who identified the body?

What do you mean, "who identified"?

Who?

I dug up the coroner's report.

Bed?

Investigation of fire in

the house, 212 Clark Street.

Body found, room in third floor,

registered for Fred M. Morton and wife.

Married, huh?

She must have been a dilly too. Listen.

Wife reports Morton

frequently, smoked in bed.

The man was found asleep in a cigarette,

smoldering in the pillow.

Fire was confined

principally to Morton's room,

and in view of wife's testimony, this

explanation of origin was accepted.

Only other surviving

relative is Mrs. Ann Morton,

mother of deceased 121

Bedford Street, Weldon.

I thought we were on a vacation.

Of course, it's possible Morton really

did die in that fire.

Yeah, it's possible, but that fishy smell

is beginning to get awful strong.

Listen to this.

Fred M. Morton, born from the 20th, 1900,

died November 2nd, 1932, New York.

He was identified by

Dr. Charles Evans Dentist,

who checked teeth with Charles, who

worked down on deceased.

The hell, huh?

Well, we're not going to

get anywhere standing here.

Why don't you dig up a match to begin on

Morton and see what's what.

Sure. Where will you be?

I got to get a set of fingerprints that

I'm sure are Morton's.

What was that mother's address?

121 Bedford Street, Weldon.

There's the Davis guy.

Better get to her telephone.

I'm sorry to bother

you, but my name is Davis.

I'm with the Globe

Mutual Insurance Company,

and in checking over our

policies, we find one for $200

in the name of Fred

Morton of this address.

Oh, it's been Fred's mother.

Then you're the beneficiary.

I hope you'll mind a few questions.

No, not at all. Come in.

Thank you.

200, you say?

That must have been a policy for Fred to go to college.

Oh, that's quite possible. Well, it's lucky you came

today, Fred's wife here.

Mary, Mary, this is an insurance man

about a policy of Fred.

How do you do?

How do you do?

We were just going to have a cup of tea.

I'll go and get an extra cup.

Thank you.

Nice place you are, dear.

I didn't catch your name.

Davis.

Oh, yes, Mr. Davis.

What company are you with?

The Globe Mutual.

I'm with the Globe Mutual Insurance Company. I'm with the Globe Mutual Insurance Company. Globe Mutual.

I didn't know Fred carried any insurance.

Well, it's a very small policy.

Oh, here we are.

I hope you don't object, Mr. Davis,

but you know how we women

are over the cup of tea.

Not at all. Go right ahead.

I was just explaining to your

daughter-in-law about the policy.

Oh, that's real nice

of you. Isn't it, Mary?

Yes, isn't it?

What sort of questions did

you want to ask Mr. Davis?

Oh, just routine, but we can forget it.

I can satisfy the

company about you, Mrs. Morton.

I always say first impressions are best.

If anybody has anything

to hide, you can tell it.

Well, these look good.

Do you mind if I have one?

No. Help yourself.

I like to see your body. Eat

it and make cooking a pleasure.

You know, you remind me of

Fred when he was your age.

He was so wrapped up in his work.

You'd have liked him.

Well, I wish I'd known him.

Yes, sir. Was he a research man?

Oh, yes, indeed.

He was a bachelor of

science from the State University.

Oh, he is a senior thesis.

You know, the paper he

wrote for his degree.

The tune-up is a commercial possibility.

Oh, it's a little too deep for me.

My senior thesis was entitled,

"College football

players be paid a salary."

Oh, I, something else, he was

working all the day left home.

So last night he'd be

paid. It took two years.

"Development of the tulip is demonstrated

by cross-sections of bow pliers."

It's one of the aren't broken by now.

Oh, no. We ain't never let

anybody touch them, do we, Mary?

No, Mother. And I'm sure

we're boring, Mr. Davis.

Not at all. These may be important.

Oh, you think so?

Well, it's evident your son was on the

trail of something of commercial value.

It's a shame that somebody didn't carry

on with the experiments.

Oh, it is such a afraid

work's awfully hard, Norman.

Maybe something worthwhile.

I'm afraid you're attaching too much

importance to the Mr. Davis.

Building up false hopes.

Maybe, but I tell you what

I'd like to do, Mrs. Morton.

That is, with your permission, Professor

Curtis of the City of

Research is a good friend of mine.

I'd like to take these slides

and this thesis down to him,

and maybe he can tell

us if they mean anything.

Oh, I...

All right, you take them.

Nobody will miss them but me, and maybe

the amount to something as you say.

Maybe they're just part of a boy's dream.

In any case, you don't look the kind of a

man that would do anything to destroy an

old lady's memories.

Mrs. Morton, these may be the means of

bringing you the best

news you've ever had.

What do you say?

Pick them up.

Taxi, mister?

Hello.

What are you doing here, Wellen?

I saw you come out with a hold of records

this morning, so I followed you.

Oh, my, yes.

I was visiting an old friend of mother's.

Why didn't you come in?

I lost you when you

ducked through the station.

Oh, that's too bad.

Are you going to town?

Yes, come on, hop in.

Oh, that's great.

Just walking isn't

always cracked up to be.

When are you and I going to

do some more work on your book?

Oh, soon.

I got the story pretty well lined up, but

I don't want to trouble you.

Oh, it's no trouble at all.

I'll consider it a privilege

to make your story my story.

What do I do now?

Well, you can't go around

picking up newspaper women.

The guy's just too lucky.

Don't worry about the

age of these prints.

This case is practically airtight.

These glass sides certainly

should retain their markings.

Hmm.

Very interesting.

What's the verdict?

The prints on these slides were certainly

made by the thinkers

that were indicated on this

card, Mark Prisoner 18426,

and the sample of print

on this Rofano gun permit.

I shall elaborate my report on writing.

Thanks.

Well, that's that.

We got Fred Morton in

jail instead of Mike Rofano.

Well, the real Rofano was hiding out

somewhere laughing at us.

Have you seen these?

Tickets to the

homecoming celebration of Rofano.

The boys are shoving him out like they

did in the old days.

I guess they're going to put on quite a

show when Mike comes out of hiding.

Yeah, but since you won't come out of

hiding, the Morton's released.

That'll give us about 72 hours.

I'm going to fly to the coast in St.

Benson and have a talk with Morton.

He's got to open up when

I show him those prints.

In the meantime, you

fellows can get busy.

Right.

There's a lawyer by

the name of Manny Dixon.

Manny Dixon in the old days.

Now, Emmanuel T. Dixon,

model of civic virtue.

Check out where he goes,

what he does, who he sees.

I'll take him.

Then there's that other

bird on the gun permit picture.

Trigger it up.

Oh, trigger.

He's been mighty quiet lately.

Push it.

Nice fella.

Look him up, too.

I'll be back as fast as I can.

Oh, Morton's body was identified by a

dentist named Charles Evans.

Put a tail on him while I'm gone.

Right.

Oh, and in the meantime,

hold the right thought.

We got one foot in the grave and the

other one on a banana peel.

Hi, Lee.

Oh, hi, Lo.

What are you doing here?

[laughs]

Well, I missed you and I said to myself,

"Where would Lee Davis be?"

So then you said the airport.

Mm-hmm. And here I am.

Here you are.

How's the insurance business?

The what?

The insurance business.

Why don't you and I quit clowning?

I checked on that friend

of your mother's in Wellden.

What have you got to say for yourself?

What can I say? You've

got me. I'm no author.

And you're a no insurance man.

I've known who you were

since the first day you landed.

Come on, give. I want a story.

Come here.

I'll tell you.

I am on an assignment that'll make a

story, but it isn't here in New York.

It's out on the coast.

That's where I'm

headed, this stage to finish.

You've been fair enough so far.

In order to show my appreciation, I'm

going to take you with me.

Right now. You mean fly to the coast?

That's it.

On your expense account or mine?

All right. I promise you,

see, down the 50-yard line.

Now, don't tell me you

haven't got anything to wear.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

What about it?

I don't know. They told me to stick to

you till I get the story, but...

Well, what are we waiting for?

Have I got time to pull the paper?

I'll give you just about half time to

sign for this ticket.

Okay, here we go. But I can't help

feeling like a lion

thrown to the Christian.

Let me have one more ticket

on the Gold Coast, please.

Hey, little vendor, California.

Oh, you like it.

Will I?

Don't mind if the band and the chamber

will come or if it's

not there to meet us.

I wired ahead that I

wanted to arrive quietly.

Will you show me some of the sights?

Oh, sure will.

I'll show you a new

bridge in San Francisco.

Beautiful 17-mile drive down to Monterey.

Cypress trees.

Moonlight.

- Up to them. - Mm-hmm.

You know, you're not such a bad egg when

you settle down to it.

Well, settle down to it.

Here's the address of my

apartment, and here's the key.

Why, I would like to buy a toothbrush.

You don't order anything

you want from the apartment.

I'll throw the manager

and tell him you're coming.

And wait there and you hear from me.

Now, don't forget.

Well, don't you forget.

Oh, I've got a chance.

I'll go right out and line this thing up.

Goodbye.

It's no use.

I met your wife and

talked to your mother.

Got your fingerprints from these slides

and compared them with the

fingerprints on file here.

You're Fred M. Morton.

Don't you know you haven't got a chance of getting home to your family

if you're released as well? Well, I'm not sure. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. I know you haven't got a chance of

getting home to your family

if you're released as Rifano.

They couldn't afford to let you live.

With you alive, we can

always prove this fraud.

But if I am Morton, what will happen to

my wife when the story gets wrong,

they find out I've talked.

It's not going to get

out until we've got Rifano,

and then it's too

late to do you any harm.

That's why you've got

to help us find him.

Where is he?

I don't know.

Rifano sent for me

after that identity mix-up.

We laughed together, and he apologized

for looking so much like me.

Who was there?

Rifano and a lawyer

named Dixon, Manny Dixon.

Nothing definite was said or done.

I didn't even tell my wife about it.

How long had you been married?

About three months.

How long after that

did you see him again?

Dixon phoned me about a week

later, and I went to his office.

He finally got around to a proposition.

I was to double for Mike,

appearing at places like dog tracks,

races, and nightclubs.

He talked about my

experiments, offered me a lot of money.

The way they explained it,

it all seemed very innocent,

and then I began to realize

that I was a perfect alibi

for a lot of things that were happening.

Then I tried to get out of it.

That was before the ruling house fire.

Yes. They were sore,

and then they came through

with another proposition.

Go on.

Well, Dixon and Rifano

said that I should disappear

and come to live with Rifano,

and they said they'd fix everything.

What about your wife?

They held her as prisoner

until I made up my mind,

threatened her with all kinds of things,

and unless I agreed.

Well, you know the rest.

I went for that gun for a mission,

and after that one thing after another,

until I landed here.

Why didn't you tell us this sometime

during the past four years?

You're not afraid of

that threat here, are you?

I still got my wife

back there in New York.

Rifano and his crowd knows

everything that goes on here.

How? I don't know.

I don't know anything

except I got to go home.

You'll go home as soon as we find Rifano.

You will find him, won't

you? You've got to find him.

You know I've talked.

He's got Mary and my mother.

Warden, let me out of

here. Let me go with you.

I'll do anything. Anything. Do you hear?

I'm sorry. It's all right.

Now where do we stand?

Well, I'm sure the prisoner won't talk,

and I can answer for

the men in my department.

That leaves only you,

Warden. How about it?

Me? I won't breathe a word.

I'm supposed to have my

Profano in here. I'm in a spot.

He's in a spot.

Well, I go to our vacation late.

Unless we can get Rifano.

Oh, we'll get him all right.

I can vouch for that, but he's supposed

to be released in 48 hours.

Well, I'm sure the prisoner won't talk, and I can answer for the men in my department. That leaves only you, Warden. How about it? I'll be in 48 hours.

You've got to hop to New York and make

sure that nothing happens

to Morton's wife and mother.

Don't break the stories in the last

minute, will you, Chief?

That'll give me 48

hours, and I might get lucky.

You mean you might get Rifano? Why not?

Remember, if any news

of this thing gets out,

it must come from my

office. I understand.

As low as Grant calls you several times.

Oh, yeah.

Well, thanks. I'll call the lady.

All right, please.

Last call.

Three off plane leaving in one minute.

So you can understand

why we've got to work fast.

Rifano's supposed to be

released tomorrow night.

Right. Here's a report of Manny Dixon.

Bachelor, 50. Member of Union Club.

Visits dentists every day.

Triggered oil. No

apparent source of income.

Attends races,

gambling joints, nightclubs.

We know all that.

Yes, but here's something we didn't know.

Trigger also goes to

the dentist every day.

Get that. They both go

to the dentist every...

Not the same one.

Yes.

And guess who it is. Dr. Evans.

Right.

I definitely do it.

Where you going?

I have my teeth cleaned.

May I help you?

Oh, how do you do, Mrs. Morton?

I had no idea I'd find you here.

May I see Dr. Evans?

As an insurance man or as a patient?

Or as a patient, I want

to get my teeth cleaned.

Dr. Evans is very busy.

He only sees patients by appointment.

Well, would you ask him to make an

exception in this case?

I'd only be in town for a few days.

Well, I'll see what I

can do. Sit down, please.

Thank you.

Dr. Evans can see you

before his next appointment.

This way, please.

Thank you.

Sit in the chair, please.

Well, I hope to have that checked for

your mother-in-law in a few days.

Bring out the report on

the tumors at the same time.

He's fortunate for her, Mr. Davis.

Oh, are you Dr. Evans?

Yes.

How do you do?

How are you?

Just relax.

Well, you're going to have to relax in

the dentist chair with all those

instruments that you

thought you were around.

We'll take care of you.

There you go.

Well, I'll be fine.

What's he good for, Doc?

Oh, uh-huh.

Give me a night of dixen.

All right, you two.

They'll be looking for

this fellow before nightfall.

Get out of here right away.

Take the afternoon plane to the coast.

You know what you're going to do now?

We'll wait outside the prison gates for

Morton, put him in the car.

You know where you're

going to pick me up?

Sure, boss. We got you.

All right.

We'll just go to this

town and need deeper cups.

I can't locate Mr. Dixon.

I left messages at home and at the club

for him to call Dr. Evans.

Okay. Let's get him out of here.

[music]

Been in there for over an hour.

I hate the bus in-arm.

But that's too long, even if

it did have its teeth cleaned.

Let's have a look.

I'm sure everything is

all right, gentlemen.

Dr. Evans has had an office in this

building ever since I was the manager.

That's funny. It's this hour of the day.

Open it.

[door opens]

Boy, I can't understand it.

There's always somebody here, the doctor

or the nurse or something.

Are you sure he

didn't leave the front way?

Positive.

Is there a freight elevator?

Why, yes.

Get the operator up here.

We know Lee was hot.

The answer is somewhere in this office.

And he must have been unconscious, sir.

He rushed some signs.

This place is as

clean as the helm's tooth.

[footsteps]

Who are you?

I was afraid elevator.

Why didn't you come in?

I was listening to you.

Get in there.

Yes, sir.

He's a private office

back in this closet.

Who's this? Boy runs

the freight elevator.

I didn't do nothing, Captain.

You saw Dr. Evans, didn't you?

Yes, sir.

What time?

About a quarter to four.

Is anybody with him?

Yes, sir. A sick man under the nerves.

Why didn't you report it?

Well, sir, Dr. Evans said that he was

taking them home and--

Andy, let's do a dollar.

No, sir.

Come on, get out of here.

Stick around where we can find you.

Yes, sir, Captain.

Must have had a car waiting in the alley.

I'll get the boys on it.

[phone rings] Hello?

Yes?

It's Manny Dixon.

What's Evans?

Where are you, Manny?

Hello?

Hello?

Come up.

Joe?

You can-- I'm at West 632.

Carl just came in here.

Trace it.

Right.

I know Manny Dixon.

He's a scared rabbit right now.

Yeah? Well, I'm not sure. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. I'm not
sure. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. You're in a bad fight right now.

Yeah.

Thanks.

Carl came from the Union Club.

Is Mr. Emmanuel Dixon there?

Thanks.

Dixon just left the Union Club.

You take him.

I'll get the boys after this.

Dr. Evans.

The municipal airport.

Chatter )

Does anybody claim to play have any.

No, no, no, no.

I'm getting out.

Good bye.

Seven, six, we're

playing for Miami. Now ready.

One, two, three.

- Ella. - Six.

- Seven. - Ella.

Eight.

On your toes, his lips have it.

Manny Dixon leaving on

the 730 plane from Miami.

He phoned Evans before he left.

At Randall, 42613. Repeat.

Randall, 42613. Check address.

I'm at a pay station, the airport.

Hancock, 19211.

Repeat, Hancock, 19211. Call me here.

I'll have a cop-on

duty. Take the message.

Take over.

I'm sorry. I've got to...

Well, if it isn't the

gentleman's gentleman...

- How are you, Miss Frank? - Burning.

- Where's that teammate

of yours? - I wish on you.

Still a big mystery, eh?

Well, let me tell you

something, Mr. Lit-breeding-valet.

He promised me a story out on

the coast, and I fell for it.

And after sitting by the phone all night,

I wired my editor for transportation and

got fired for my trouble.

I borrowed the money to fly back here,

and I've had plenty of time to think.

The few facts I have coupled with what

I've dreamed up will

not only get my job...

- They'll kill Lee Davis. -

And that's not a bad idea.

- I've got a whole m-a

double-crossing. - Do you mean it?

Yes. He disappeared this

afternoon to trail that story.

If the dispatch runs the next door before

we fly, then he's a goner.

Now, what do you want to do? Phone your

paper with half a story or

come with me and see the finish?

- What's this, another trick? - No.

Lee's life and a lot of big reputations

depend on what happens

in the next few hours.

The phone is to be released at midnight

tomorrow. It's about him, isn't it?

Yes. Right now, I'm waiting for a phone

call. I think it'll lead to him.

I thought you were dead.

I was going to have the officer on duty

take the message. But a

change of a mind. You will take it.

- Kind of tying my hand,

huh? - And giving Lee a break.

You think Rapunzel's got Lee?

Okay, I'll wait two minutes.

And if that phone doesn't ring, I'll

break the story. If it does...

(PHONE RINGS)

Hello, this is Lois Grant speaking. It's

Dugan. Tell him I'll play ball.

It is the integrity. Give

the young lady the message.

You win. Two

twenty-four grand will tear it.

You still insist your only reason in

coming to the office was to check the

Morton identification?

Of course. My company suspected it might

be part of an insurance fraud ring.

Dr. Evans identified the

body by some dental work.

I went to his office to investigate and

woke up in this house.

Take him upstairs.

Say, I'm a little weak on my pence from

that gas. Would you give me

something to straighten me out?

Hmm? Oh, yeah. Mary,

get him a cup of coffee.

What do we do now?

Play it through.

- Man, he's running off.

- Oh, forget about him.

That's what comes when letting a small timer get to be a big shot.

Well, then you don't believe this fellow,

Davis. How about the

insurance fraud, I mean?

Oh, of course not.

What I've got to do is get out there on

the coast the way we planned.

They'll have to release

Morton to save themselves.

Trigger and Spike will pick him up

outside the gates, knock him off, and

dump him out after

they shake the reporters.

Then they'll pick me up. I'll fly back

here for the big reception.

What happens to this Davis?

Just keep him here till I get back.

That means holding him for two days.

That's right.

After I change places with Morton, they

won't want to reopen the case anymore than we do.

Anything should go wrong.

No, but it can't.

They don't even know what I look like.

Maybe not. They still

know what I look like.

Hello, Jack.

One up the plane. I'll be

out there in 20 minutes.

Right.

I had a talk with your husband yesterday.

He thinks you're a great gal.

He doesn't know you're double-crossing

people who are trying to help him.

What do you mean?

I mean, you tipped off the frontal about

me when I walked into the office.

My husband gets out of

prison tomorrow night.

He'll be with me the next day.

You might have prevented that.

How?

By arresting my father or prosecuting Fred for impersonating him.

What makes you think

we won't do that anyway?

Because you won't dare tell the country

you don't have Rifano.

You'll have to release Fred, and the

whole thing will be hushed up.

Do you think we'd honestly do that rather

than have a bit of a mistake?

Oh, yes.

You'd be laughed at all over the country.

You've been talking to the wrong people.

Your husband said you

were being held as hostage.

Don't tell me you're double-crossing him.

I was working with him to

make sure Fred was safe.

That office was Rifano's headquarters.

While they kept their eye

on me, I kept my eye on them.

You must know a lot about the setup.

The only thing I'm sure of is that my

husband will be home day after tomorrow.

That's why you're wrong.

He won't even be released from jail.

It's a good thing he won't.

Even if we were afraid to admit our

mistake, do you think

Rifano would let him live?

Why not?

He promised about our steamer tickets.

We're sailing for

South America on Friday.

Don't be a fool.

You've seen Rifano work.

If your husband is released, Rifano's got

to kill him to protect himself.

No, he promised.

He wouldn't do that.

Your only chance was

to have Rifano captured.

I'm afraid that's too late.

Did you, homie?

Who was that?

Rifano.

He's going out to the ridge.

His private plane is waiting there to

take him to the coast.

That'll make you very happy.

That big house on the corner.

Let's take a look around.

Why did you bring her?

This is the safest place for her.

She won't write the

story until we give the word.

All right.

If she gets to a phone,

you better start running.

Here we go. What do you got in your hand?

Who do you think you're playing with?

Children? Come on.

Let me have it.

- Where'd you come from? - The airport.

Come on. Come on. Get

him up on that thing.

Just left for a private

landing field along the ridge.

You better let me drive. I know where I'm

going to that section.

Up to it.

[music]

If the planes appear,

ought to be about right.

[music]

Great night for flying. How

do you get all these breaks?

I live right.

Just get in like nothing was wrong.

Well, I'm sure you boys

don't mind if I go back to town.

I'll send a man named

Dugan out to pick you up.

Well, it's the last

of the morning sheets,

and so far, nobody's

stumbled onto our story.

A few more hours, and

then it'll all be over.

Let's see. According to Dugan, Lee got

off about ten o'clock.

He must be putting her in by now.

- That is, if nothing happened... - Well,

if anything had happened,

we'd have heard about it.

Hello.

Well, Lee!

Where is that little airport near Burton?

You know the place.

Yeah, we landed with our

passenger about ten minutes ago.

Good. I'll send the car right over.

Everything all right?

Fine. You're

practically on your vacation.

Add up, boy.

Now, you got me. What

are you gonna do with me?

We're gonna put you in a cell where you

should be in the past four years.

So you're gonna put me

in a cell for a few hours.

What are you gonna do tonight when I'm

supposed to be released?

Tell the newspaper people

I slipped one over on you?

That's exactly what I'm gonna do.

You were sentenced to four years in

prison, and you're gonna serve it.

You can't do that to me.

I wasn't tried.

Why, I even wasn't in the courtroom.

I want to see my lawyer.

You see nobody but the prison barber, the

fingerprint man and the photographer.

You're a responder, aren't you?

Of course I'm a responder.

Well, I've got an order

to deliver you to prison.

I tell you, you can't do that.

Well, we let the lawyers argue about

that, and I hope it takes a long while.

Yeah, meanwhile, here

you are, and here you stay.

He's all yours, Warden. Take him away.

All right, Mike.

This is the first time

I ever got two for one.

Well, let's knock out a

statement for the press.

I want them to have the full story.

Oh, what about that statement, Chief?

There's a reporter.

Miss Grant?

Quite a girl.

She said you'd promised her a story.

Yeah, that's the point.

You see, she was in on the capture, and

she's flying out here,

and if we give out the

statement before she gets here...

You will once more have

been proved a liar, is that it?

Yeah, not once more.

Just about settled my hash.

You see, there's a few things I want to

take up with her after we

get Rafano off our mark.

Yeah, I think I see...

Hello.

Dugan's calling from New York.

Hello, Dugan.

Hello, yourself.

Say that nurse Mary Morton started

talking when we

brought her in last night.

Some of the stuff was out of our line, so

I called in Slater,

the district attorney.

He wants to talk to you.

Operator.

Yes, sir.

Can you connect that

call on both phones in here?

Yes, sir.

Hello, Slater?

Hello, Chief.

I understand you got Rafano all wrapped

up and ready for mailing.

You remember the Easter Sunday killing

when Duke Hogan was wiped out?

Yeah, we always figured Rafano did that.

Right.

Two bystanders identified

him, but he had a perfect alibi.

He was sitting in the Grove Royal Theater

at the time of the killing.

Now, if it really was the

double at the theater that day,

I'll have an open and shut

case against Rafano for murder.

How's that strike?

Great.

I don't know how long we can hold him

here when those lawyers start arguing,

but if you want him...

Hello.

Hello.

Wait a minute. Here's Morton.

Morton, here's your chance to prove that

you're on the level.

Were you in the Grove Royal Theater,

posing as Rafano Easter Sunday, 1934?

Speak up, man. That was the

day Duke Hogan was killed.

Tell the truth. They can't hurt you.

Slater.

Is Mary Morton there?

Put her on, will you?

Oh.

Hello, Mrs. Morton.

Your husband is here

in this office with me.

I want you to tell him

that you're all right.

Mary, is it really you?

Yes, Fred. Yes.

We've made a terrible mistake.

Yes. Yes, I know, dear.

I'll tell them everything.

Of course it was me in the theater.

No. No.

I don't know when I'll see

you, but I'm sure it'll be soon.

Everything's all right now, dear.

Tell them that they're not to worry.

Yes.

Thanks.

Hello, Slater.

Well?

As your case, what do you want me to do?

I don't know.

If I extradite Rifano, his lawyers will

fight me through every

court in the country.

It'll take years.

I thought maybe you might have an idea.

Hey, what does that hear about a grand

homecoming reception the boys are

planning for him back there?

Sure. They've got

banners all over the streets.

He's supposed to lead a parade that'll

make St. Patrick's Day look

like a Sunday school picnic.

Say, it'd be a shame to make him miss

that over a technicality, wouldn't it?

All right, Slater. Hop to it.

Ask the warden to

bring in Rifano, please.

You gonna release him?

Why not?

You know, I was bluffing when

I told Mike we could hold him.

But New York has got him for murder.

He'll fly back there to the reception,

and Slater will grab him when he's

parading up Fifth Avenue,

and he'll go the hard way.

But when he comes in, you'll

have to play straight for me.

Right.

Fine barber you got.

No, I don't mind the shave so much, but

look at these clothes.

They don't even fit.

Can I get my own tailor down here?

I've been thinking over your case.

There's a lot in what you say.

You mean you're gonna release me?

Well, it'll be a little

embarrassing if I don't.

There'll be reporters and radio

announcers waiting at the gates.

Sure, I know how it is.

Look, Chief, you and I have had our

battles in the past, but I

don't want no more trouble.

You let me walk out of here free, and you

can trust me not to say a word.

I will save trouble all around, Chief.

Now that we have Mike's real

fingerprints, we can slip them in the

files in the place of Morton's.

And if he does tell the

story honest, he can't prove it.

Sure, it's like I said, we're all even.

You don't bother me,

and I don't bother you.

Okay, Mike, it's a deal.

You'll walk out of here tonight just the

way you were supposed to.

Can I get out of these rags now?

The guard outside will take care of you.

There you go.

That's swell.

No hard feelings.

You two guys are all right.

If you're ever around my way

dropping and seeing me, huh?

(Laughing)

(All Chattering)

Come on, everybody.

Come on, make it snappy.

There he goes, Morton.

(All Chattering)

(All Chattering)

(All Chattering)

How was it, Mike?

I did those four years

like they were four hours.

(All Chattering)

Just what I need, a little

flour. You don't mind, do you?

I certainly do.

Thanks, Ma.

Hello, Tricky. You made it all right.

(All Chattering)

(All Chattering)

Hey, Mike. Got a message for the mob?

Sure. Tell him crime don't pay.

(All Chattering)

As soon as he gets in the office, he'll

be sending you home.

Relax. Relax. We lost

to his newspaper, guys.

I made a deal with the

cops. We're sitting pretty.

(Chuckles)

Mr. Manley, don't you

know me with the beard off?

Listen, sucker, don't

try to fool anything.

We got our orders

straight from Mike himself.

What are you doing, kiddin'?

I'm Mike. I'm the guy

that gave you the orders.

You didn't think he was really gonna let

you run around loose, did you?

Listen, you dumb cluck.

I'm Mike, I tell ya. They grabbed me, and I'm not a good guy. I'm Mike, I tell ya.

They grabbed me, shaved

me, and turned me loose.

I made a deal with him.

Why, you hammerheads.

I'm Mike. I've been living with you.

I've been wearing a beard.

You can't do this to me.

Relax.

Any place along here, Harry.

What about me, Billy?

Sorry, boys. I don't know

any more about it than you do.

Take it easy. Let's know

when the boy's ready to go.

No! He left here.

That's all I can tell ya.

It was too good in New York.

Still no trace of a condom.

Well, a hundred things

could have held him up.

Bad weather, plain trouble.

It's clear as a bell.

Well, every plane in the

air has been accounted for.

He had a reservation on the airline, huh?

He never even reached the airport.

We lost him somewhere

between here and there.

A fine mastermind I turned out to be.

You get us out of a hole,

and I've got to get cute.

The only reason we released him was so

that they could pin that

murder charge on him in New York.

Yeah, I know. He probably

drove up the coast away,

took a speedboat that was waiting, and is

now lolling on a freighter bound for some

little country that won't

even listen to extradition.

All right. Send in the reporters.

All right.

Hello.

Did he find you?

All right.

Have you been avoiding me?

Busy. I've been with

Bents in every minute.

What about the story?

This is it.

This begins several years ago when Mike

Rapunno was just a...

All right. All right. Thanks.

Excuse me, Lizz.

Hello.

Yes, speaking.

Thanks. Thanks.

What do you say, Bents?

Come on, you guys.

That call was from

the sheriff at San Real.

Mike Rapunno's bullet-riddled body was

found in the ditch near

there not 15 minutes ago.

Thanks, Bents.

Hey, use the phone outside.

Oh, gee.

Cheaps are true. Absolutely.

They've got the three men

locked up that were with him.

The sheriff thinks they're crazy.

And Spike and Trigger can't believe they

killed the real Rapunno.

So they mistook him for more than half?

Boy, oh, boy. Out of

the bag in one house.

From high to low without shifting.

We can tear up those

statements no matter right as it is.

You call those reporters in for a story

and you sure gave it to them.

Did you see the expression on the...

Reporters?

Lewis?

(indistinct chatter)

Yeah, that's right, Charlie.

Check the sheriff's name.

Sure. But wait till you hear the rest.

Hold on a minute, Charlie.

The idea of blocking

me out of my own office.

I want to get the phone to myself, but

now that you're here, start talking.

I know as well as you do that that wasn't

what the chief called us in there for.

You've double-crossed

me for the last time.

Shoot the whole story to me or I'll tell

everything I ever suspected.

And our paper will hop on up

like a fly on a picnic lunch.

We'll demand an investigation and we'll

hang on, Charlie. This is hot.

You can't do that. It's

against public policy.

You're too late. Talk.

I can't. The department

don't want you to use it.

Well, you should have

said that in the beginning.

Okay, Charlie, stand by for the real

story on microfauna.

Lewis, remember the night

we were up in the plane.

You kind of cuddled up to me. You said I

was a pretty good egg.

You even went to sleep on my

shoulder. I sort of thought...

Well, doesn't that mean anything to you?

Hold on, Charlie. He's punch

and fall, but I've got him.

Now, send the man down to Weldon and check on exactly what he's doing.

Lewis, you want the man that you're going

to marry lose his job?

You mean it?

Oh, no. Lewis, let me see her. Hey,

Lewis, what happened?