All language subtitles for The Return of Doctor X (1939)

THE CHARACTERS, NAMES AND EVENTS
OF HIS PHOTOPLAY ARE ENRIRELY FICTITIOUS.

NO ACTUAL PERSON, LIVING OR
DEAD, IS INTENDED TO BE REPRESENTED

BY ANY CHARACTER
PORTRAYED IN THS PICTURE,

AND ANY RESEMBLANCE TO
ANY PERSON, LIVING OR DEAD,

IS ETIRELY COINCIDENTAL.

The Return of
DOCTOR X

Screen Play by
LEE KATZ

From a Story by
WILLIAM J. MAKIN

'Hello? "Morning Dispatch."'

'Hello? "Morning Dispatch."'

'Hello. Park Vista Hotel?'
Give me Angela Merrova's apartment.

Tell her it's Walt Garrett.
Mr. Garrett of "The Morning Dispatch."

Here's your peanuts, Wichita.
- Oh, thanks, Pinky, my boy.

Ah, ya cheapskate.
- Hey, wait a minute, what...

Hello, Miss. Merrova.

It's you, Mr. Garrett. How are
you? - Oh, I'm fine. Thank you.

'How about an interview
this morning? - What about?

How about your ideas
on love and marriage?

Well, I have somefresh views on
ove since my last trip to Europe.

Oh, I'm terribly booked up,
but I might find

a few minutes for you,
Mr. Garrett.

Alright, come right away,
will you?

Goodbye, Mr. Garrett.

Say, uh, tootie, if a redhead calls tell
her I'm finding out about love, will ya?

I'll cut you guys in
if there's any new angles.

New angles?
You don't know the old ones.

Say, listen, I'm gonna show you retired
old hacks how to write an interview.

PARK VISTA
HOTEL

Uh...
It's a fine thing.

Leave that door open like that,
anything's liable to drop in.

Miss. Merrova?

Your favorite newsboy is here.

City editor. - Hello, Andy?
Listen, Angela Merrova's dead.

Yeah, croaked. Sure, I'm sure.

Oh, this is Walt. I don't know.

There's nobody here except the
monkey and he couldn't have done it.

Anybody else got it?
- No, nobody knows it.

Not even the cops.

Oh, let 'em read about it
in the paper.

Yeah. Yeah, give me a rewrite.

STAGE BEAUTY MURDERED

PROMINENT ACTRESS FOUND
SLAIN IN HER APARTMENT

Angela Merrova Mysteriously
Stabbed by Unknown Assailant

This is a horrible thing.
What will people think, lieutenant?

Oh, they'll probably figure out
the joint's a hangout for gorillas.

Exactly! What?

Who's this guy?
- Well, lieutenant.

Imagine finding you here
of all places.

Well, if it isn't the Kansas
Sherlock. Which room? - In here.

I'll see you later, brain trust. - Any
time I can be of service, any time.

Madam.

Come on, come on. What is this?
- I... I don't know. The newspaper said...

There's no dead body in here.
- Oh, sit down, will you?

He's a very funny guy,
this Garrett.

Well, where is it? - Yes, where
is it? - Where's what? - The body.

Of course, I just
represent the law here

and if you're saving it for another one
of your scoops don't let me interfere.

Cut it out, will you,
Kincaid? What's the rib?

You tell me.
There's no corpse in there.

I...
No corpse?

Well, what the...

Well?

Well, what gives that now?
- I don't know.

The body was lying right there on the
floor. It was dead. I'd take an oath.

It had a deep knife wound right under
the heart. - Is this your idea of a joke?

Honest to Pete, it isn't, Kincaid.
She was murdered. I know!

Somebody came in and swiped that body.
That's what happened, she was kidnapped.

Kidnapped? - First she was
murdered now she was kidnapped.

Oh, this is horrible.
It'll ruin the hotel.

Positively ruin it!
- Take it easy. Well, genius?

I just can't figure it out.

Well, I'll tell you.
We're gonna play a new game.

Body, body, who's got the body?
You wanna join us?

Come on, boys.

FILE ROOM

# When a body meets a body

# Comin' through the rye

How you doin', Wichita?
- Not so good.

I've been in the morgue, the medical
institute I've even had the river dragged.

There's something awful cockeyed
about this whole setup.

Anymore dope on this dame?
- That's the works. - Well, it's no help.

No friends, no family.
An orphan.

Did you ever hear of
an orphan with a family?

File room. - Pinky. Is that
corn- fed wizard in there?

Yes, sir. Yes, sir, he's here.
- Tell him to come in right away.

Yes, sir!

Hey, Wichita,
Picklepuss wants to see you.

And he don't mean in
10 minutes. - Alright, alright.

Jiminy Christmas.

Darned kids.

Don't forget to try
the comic section.

Hi, Walt. Say, who's that body
I seen you with last night?

Yeah, we heard you sat up
with a corpse. - Was it awake?

You guys are very funny.

But that dead body
will turn up yet.

Hello, boss. Do you
want me? - Not after today.

Oh, well, Pinky said... What?
- You heard me. You're through!

I don't get it.
- You know this lady, I believe.

How do you do, Mr. Garrett?
- No, I don't believe it.

'I'm glad to see
you recognize Ms. Merrova.'

But, but- but it isn't possible.

You must be...
Boss, this girl's a phony.

I saw Angela Merrova.
She's dead. - If you don't mind,

she seems very
much alive to me.

'And it may interest you to know
that she's suing the paper'

'for a $100.000.
damage to her reputation.'

And the Park Vista Hotel
also is suing

for a mere $50.000.

Boss, I tell you that the girl I
saw in that room couldn't be alive.

I know. She's your twin sister.

I have no sister.

I've already extended
the paper's regrets.

And I've assured Ms. Merrova
that we'd print a complete apology.

I thought before
you left the building

you also might care
to apologize.

Why, certainly.

I'm very sorry for the mistake...
Wait a minute.

'Cashier has your check
waiting for you, Garrett.'

Oh, boss, give me another
chance. - Go back to Wichita, son.

Maybe they'll give you
another chance there. - But...

No sister.

'Get out!'

'Calling Dr. Rhodes.
Dr. Rhodes.'

'Calling Dr. Rhodes.'

And there she was sittin'
in the boss's office. Alive.

Well, I almost
went through the ceiling.

So I thought
I'd better talk to you about it

on account of you're
the only doctor friend I got.

I don't know, maybe
there's somethin' wrong with me.

Maybe I oughta be psyched or
somethin'. - Superintendent calling.

Dr. Rhodes speaking.

Go in to my office.
I'll be right with you.

But hurry up, will you, Mike?

Yes, sir. It's scheduled
for ten o'clock sharp.

Yes, we purposely postponed
the operation until this morning

so that Dr. Flegg
could perform it.

Right, sir. We'll be ready.

The blood donor show up
yet, Ms. Sweetman? - Not yet.

He should be
here any moment.

Whom did you call?
- 'Stanley Rodgers.'

Rodgers? He's in
blood group one, isn't he?

'That's right.'
- Is the patient group one?

That was the lab report.

Well, that's funny. I thought
she was ordinary group four.

Better call Rodgers again.
Dr. Flegg doesn't like to be kept waiting

and we must have a transfusion
before he can operate. - Yes, doctor.

Vance, look up Rodger's
number see what's keeping him.

Yes, Ms. Sweetman.

Hello? - Hello, Mr. Rodgers?
Jules Hospital calling.

Remember, you have an appointment
this morning with Dr. Rhodes.

Gosh, what time is it? I guess I
must have forgot to set the alarm.

I'll be right over.

Sorry to have kept
you waiting, Walt.

Oh, I know you're busy,
Mike, but you don't

have to treat me
like the forgotten man.

I had to check up
on some blood test reports.

Go ahead, spin the rest of your
yarn. - Well, that's all there is.

The dame that was sittin' in
Picklepuss' office was Angela Merrova.

There's no getting
around that.

But the thing is...
I can't figure it out.

What makes you think I can help
you? - Well, this is a chest x-ray.

Isn't it? - Yes. - Well, how
do you get a good look at it?

I wanna show you something.
Pull down the blinds.

Now, what's on your mind, Walt?

Mike, isn't the heart
about here?

Well, did you ever hear
of a person surviving

with a deep knife wound
about there?

Offhand,
I'd say it's impossible.

Maybe the wound wasn't
as deep as you thought it was.

No, it was at least four inches.

And it was as clean as if
you'd done it with your scalpel.

Me?
- No, I don't mean you.

But it did look as if it
had been done by a surgeon.

And then the corpse got
up and walked away, eh?

Oh, Mike. Give me
an even break, will ya?

I know it sounds
as crazy as a loon.

You probably think I'm
the one that's crazy

but I'm on the level.
I'd take an oath.

If what you say is true,
even if the heart puncture

didn't kill her,
she'd bleed to death.

That's it. That's what made
the body look so peculiar.

I never saw a corpse
that color before.

What color?
- Absolutely dead white.

It looked as if every ounce of blood
had been drained out of her body.

Extreme pallor setting
in within ten minutes.

I've never heard of it.
- Well, you're hearin' about it now.

And when I saw her
in the boss' office

she looked exactly as when I
saw her as a corpse. Clammy.

Yes?
- Dr. Flegg's arrived, sir.

Thank you, I'll
be right there.

I'll tell you what I'll do, Walt.
I'll speak to Dr. Flegg about it.

He's usually in a pretty
decent mood before an operation.

And if anybody can give you an answer
when it comes to hematology, it's Flegg.

Hematology?

Yeah, the science of the blood.
Stick around a while, will you?

I ain't got any place to go,
except back to Wichita.

Don't forget to ask Flegg, now,
will you? - Right. - Thanks, Mike.

I'll give you a full-column
write-up for this someday.

Rodgers get here alright?
- No, doctor.

He still hasn't shown up.
- What's the matter with him?

It's time for the operation.
Call his apartment again.

You won't forget to ask
Dr. Flegg about it?

Yeah, yeah, I'll remember, now go
ahead and get a magazine and relax.

Walnut 4-3-7-0-1.

I can't understand
what's the matter with Rodgers.

He's never disappointed us
before.

Well?
- No.

I can try and get
another donor for you.

We can't find another number-one
blood type as easily as that.

There are only seven people
in a hundred in group one.

Notify the superintendent.

Dr. Rhodes? - Yes? - I
was tested last week when

I first came to the hospital.
I'm in group one.

You're sure, nurse?
- She's right, doctor.

Dr. Baum made the test.
- I'd be willing to help if I could.

Hey, Mike, you better hurry up.
Flegg's liable to walk out.

You know him.
- Right, coming.

Take Nurse Vance to surgery
and prepare for transfusion.

I'll see you there.
- Alright, nurse, come with me.

Frightened?
- No.

Ever done this before?
- No.

You'll probably be a little weak
when we finish. - I won't mind.

Everything ready?
- Yes, Dr. Flegg.

Took you long enough.
- Sorry to have kept ya waiting.

Very well. I thought
you were gonna have Rodgers.

We weren't able
to reach him, sir.

Start the transfusion.
- Right.

Fine job, Dr. Flegg.
- Yes, worked out rather neatly.

Saved that patient's life.

You're the only man
that could have done it.

Interesting stuff, blood. Make
a thorough study of it, Rhodes.

It's important enough for you
to devote your whole life to it.

I've been doing some research
not nearly as much as I'd like to.

Good. Stick to it.

It's going to transform
the entire future of surgery.

The day is coming when man
will be able to control blood.

And when that time does arrive
he'll be able to control his destiny.

Blood is the source of life.

Remember "The Bible."

"And the life,
which is the blood thereof."

Aren't you gonna take a look at
your donor? - Oh, yes. Yes, sir.

By the way, who is she?
- 'A girl by the name of Vance.'

'One of the new student nurses.'

Doctor?
- Yes? - Uh, would you say

it's possible for a person
to survive with, uh

a deep incision at the base
of the thoracic aorta?

Why do you ask?
- An old friend of mine

thought he knew of
such a case. - Ridiculous.

Tell him to change
his brand of liquor.

Oh, hello, doctor.
- Feel a little weak?

I can take it. - I think you
better rest an hour or so.

Did you drink any of this?
- Not yet.

Here, take it down in
one big gulp. It'll pick you up.

What is it?
- Come on, drink it.

It was pretty swell of you
to help us out.

It's part of a nurse's education.
- That's the right spirit.

Say, why haven't I
seen you before?

You never looked before.
- I guess I've been missing something.

Just one more thing,
I have an important operation

scheduled for tomorrow evening and I'd
like your assistance. Are you free?

Yes, doctor.
- Good.

I think you'd better
wear another outfit.

Evening gown.
We're going dancing.

I'd like to very much.
But you know, we nurses...

Yes, I know,
"Rules for nurses, number 114

keep away
from staff physicians."

What's the good of rules
if no one breaks them?

Well, what did Dr. Flegg
have to say?

He thought you ought to be more
discriminating in your choice of hooch.

Oh, Mike, cut it out now, will you?
This is serious. I'm out of a job.

'Dr. Rhodes.' - Yes? - Excuse
me, I have a message for you.

You're wanted
at 438 Gore Street right away.

The police called.
- The police?

Yes, doctor, they said
it was very urgent.

Thanks.
- What's up, Mike?

I don't know yet. Look me up
next week when you're sober up.

Oh, no. Where go
the police, there go I.

I'm Dr. Rhodes. The officer
downstairs sent me up.

Yes, sir. Go right in.

Dr. Rhodes. - Come in, doc. - Oh,
hi, lieutenant. - Who asked for you?

Oh, have a heart, will you, Kincaid?
A guy makes a mistake once in a while.

What do you got here?
- Now take it easy, big shot.

Is he a friend of yours? - Yeah.
Well, since you're an ex-reporter

I guess it's okay.
Doc, come here a minute.

You know this fellow?

That's Stanley Rodgers.
How did this happen?

Come here.

You mind telling me
what this means?

'Yes, simply a memorandum
of an appointment'

he had this morning at the
hospital. An appointment for what?

A blood transfusion. He was
a professional blood donor.

Hey, Mike, come here.

Look at this guy, look at
his face and look at his body.

Why, there's no color. - Yeah.
That's exactly the way Merrova looked

when I found her in her bedroom.
- And I suppose this geezer's alive, too.

Well, I'll tell you, lieutenant,
there's pro and con.

Well, doctor? - The blood's
been drained out of the body.

I know that, but where is it?
That's what I wanna find out.

There's only a
few stains around.

I don't know.
- Well, maybe I can help you.

That operation at
the hospital this morning.

Did you perform it? - No, Dr. Flegg did.
He's one of our blood specialists.

But you do operate?
- Why, yes.

Did you take a good close
look at that wound, doctor?

Yes. Yes, I did. - Well, the coroner
tells me that man wasn't stabbed

he was operated on
with a surgical instrument

and by someone
who knew how to use it.

But that's what I'm trying
to tell you, just like Merrova.

Listen, rigor mortis,
if you mention

that Merrova dame's
name again, I'll...

I know what you're thinking.

A doctor did it.
Perhaps, myself.

I'm not saying anything.
All I know is the coroner says

he never saw a case
just like it.

You got the coroner's report?
- Yeah.

You want to see it?
- Please.

"The type of blood
found on the stains

in the carpet is group four."

Why, that's impossible,
unless the murderer was wounded.

'How do you figure that?'
Rodgers was definitely group one.

I've used him in several
transfusions. I'm sure of it.

What is this group one,
group four business?

Well, you see,
medical science has discovered

that the human blood is divided
into four different groups.

Number one being the most rare,
number four the most common.

We must see to it that certain of these
types are not mixed in the transfusion.

Then would you say that
whoever came in to Rodgers' room

to kill him was looking
for a number one blood?

It's possible,
that's why I think

the coroner made a
mistake in his report.

So do you mind if I make a
test of these stains for myself?

No, go ahead, doc.
One, two, four, seven, eleven.

It doesn't matter to me.
All I know is, this poor guy's number was up.

Yes, and who done it?
- Go sit down.

If I find out anything, lieutenant,
I'll let you know. - Yeah. Do that, doc.

And, uh, doctor

if I were you,
I wouldn't try to go away.

I mean, leave town
or anything like that.

There's one thing I definitely do
know, Walt. This is not Rodgers' blood.

I checked it
with his file specimen.

Well, it's very simple.
It's the murderer's, then.

It doesn't even look
like human blood.

A gorilla murder. Oh, Mike.

If you can figure that one out,
we'll have our front- page spread

on every newspaper
in the United States for weeks!

Oh, I must be ready
for the bug house or something

but it doesn't even seem
to be animal blood.

Well, you got
vegetable and mineral left.

Uh, it's no use.

Think I'll call it a night.

You're not giving up,
are you, Mike?

No, no, this will take a long
time and I'm pretty tired.

I'll take another look at it
in the morning.

How'd you like to go down and mangle
a few ham and eggs before you turn in?

No, I think I'll hit the hay.
- Okay.

If you run across any good
ideas, let me know about 'em.

Right.
- Goodnight.

Give me a ring in the morning.
- You're on.

West 86th.

You may wait in here. Dr. Flegg
will be back any minute. - Thank you.

Looking for something?

Perhaps I can help you.

I, uh, I was waiting for Dr. Flegg.

What is it you want? - I wanted to
speak to him about a blood smear.

I'm Dr. Rhodes.

Oh, hm, Dr. Rhodes.

How do you do?
My name is Quesne.

I've often heard Flegg
speak of you. - Oh, yes? - Yes.

He thinks you show great promise

particularly in the study
of blood composition.

That's very kind of him. - Yes.
I may wish to discuss that subject

with you myself someday.

I'd like to. Any time.

Oh, he's ill.

We're both victims of...

Of what?

Go on, Quesne. Victims of what?

Circumstance.

Go back to your work.

You wanted to see me, Rhodes? What's the
matter? Did our patient have a relapse?

No, sir, I came here
to ask a favor of you.

Well, speak up, man.
What is it you want?

Your opinion on a blood specimen
as to group. - Blood group?

You must need a
genius to figure that out.

Have you forgotten your hematology?
Perhaps, you never learned it.

I hate to bothe
you this late, doctor, but...

there's something
unusual about this. - Unusual?

There's something
I can't understand.

Oh, very well. Quesne!

Yes, sir? - Uh... Dr. Rhodes
has a blood specimen

I want prepared
for the microscope.

'At once.'

Strange-looking creature,
isn't he?

Yes, rather.

What is it? Terminal
case of primary anemia?

No, he hasn't completely recovered
from a rather severe shock.

'He's been a very valuable
man for me, though.'

Has he been with you a long
time? - Yes, a couple of years.

His interest in blood
almost equals my own.

Let's take a look at that slide.

Ready?
- Yes.

Where did you collect this smear,
Rhodes? At a murder this morning.

How did it happen you
were called in on the case?

To identify the body.
- Someone you knew?

Yes, a blood donor. 'The man who
was supposed to report to you'

'at the hospital this morning.'
'Stanley Rodgers.'

Rodgers, murdered?
- Yes.

Well, that's too bad.
Blood group one, isn't he?

Are you working with
the police? - No, sir.

Then why did you
bring this to me?

The police laboratory classified
it as blood group four.

'I know it's not one, but I'm
certain it's not four, either.'

'I disagree.' 'I think the
police laboratory is correct.'

It is group four.
Is that all?

Well, don't you notice anything
peculiar about it?

Merely the usual chemical changes
accompanying post- mortem coagulation.

Oh, I don't know
how to explain it

but hasn't it some sort of, uh...

'artificial quality?'

Hm! What have you done?

Clumsy fool.

'Go in to the office and bandage
it.' 'See that you're more careful.'

Case of hemophilia? - No,
merely a great deal of trouble.

It's the second time
this week he's cut himself.

Well, I'm sorry
we were interrupted.

I see no need
for further discussion.

This stain is blood group
four and nothing else.

Now, if you'll excuse me,
I've a great deal of work to do.

Could I have the slide, doctor?

Why, yes.
- Thank you.

You may go out this way.

Goodnight.
- Goodnight.

I had to see you.

What's the matter?
- I feel cold.

My ears are ringing.

'I can hardly breathe.'
Yeah.

You see, Flegg? I told you.

You'll never find
what you're looking for.

You're a failure, Flegg.
- You're lying.

What does he mean,
"You're a failure?" Nothing.

Nothing, I assure you.

I haven't failed yet.
Now get out of here.

Hello, Michael. - Hiya, Walt.
Glad you dropped in.

Anything new? - Yeah, I went
over to see Flegg last night.

Oh, what'd you find out?
- Uh, he wasn't much help.

He said
the police report was right.

But as sure as I'm sitting here,
he knows this bloodstain

isn't ordinary group four.

Who was the, uh, fellow
with the pasty face?

How do you know about him?
- 'Well... ' I was watching from outside.

You followed me? What did you do that
for? - Well, Kincaid said the murder

had to be committed by a doctor.

And you suspected me?
- Oh, no, of course not.

But maybe Flegg.
- Flegg? That's ridiculous.

Alright, ridiculous,
perhaps, but possible.

Who was the other fellow?
I've seen him someplace before.

A fellow by the name of Quesne.
He's Flegg's assistant.

You know, Mike, there's something
awful phony going on in that joint.

'Good morning, doctor. Come in.'

Rhodes, may I see you a
moment? - Certainly. - Alone.

Pardon me, I was just leaving,
doc. - How's the patient?

Excellent this morning, doctor.
Temperature practically normal.

Last night you
asked a favor of me.

Today I'd like to ask
one of you in return.

Of course, Dr. Flegg.
- Forget everything and everyone

you saw at my
home last night.

We'll call it
professional ethics.

Yes, sir.
- Oh, uh...

What did you say
that girl's name was

the one we used yesterday
for the transfusion? - Joan.

Joan Vance.

A nurse here, you said?
- Yes.

I always like to keep
my list of group ones complete.

Have you her home address?
- 1233, South Cedar.

Thank you.

Now do you still think
he's an innocent bystander?

I still don't think he's a murderer.
If that's what you mean. - Alright.

What would you
think if I told you

that Angela Merrova paid him
a little visit last night

and she had a
blood transfusion?

Now do you still think
I'm wacky?

You're sure it was Merrova?
- Am I sure?

Brother, that's a face
I'll never forget.

Oh, and another thing
I'd like to point out to you.

Did you notice the peculiar
coloring on that kisser of Quesne's?

Yeah. Like a piece of white
marble. - Like something dead, huh?

Yeah, I remember, when
I shook his hand it was,

it was cold and lifeless
like a dead person's.

What do you think's
the matter with him?

I don't know. Flegg says he's
suffering from a severe shock.

Well, whatever it is,
Merrova has got

that same cold, graveyard look.

Mike, you gotta help me out.

Every newspaperman in
town is giving me the rib.

You suppose we could
have a talk with Merrova?

There are a few questions
I'd like to ask her.

Well, we could try. I'd like
to ask her a couple myself.

How about tonight?
- Oh, I can't make it tonight.

I've got a date with Joan.
- Oh, why don't you break it?

This is no time for dames.
- Walt, I can't do it.

I'll tell you what we'll do.
We'll take her along.

You can drop us
at the Club El Rey later.

Okay, that's a deal. We'll be
at Merrova's at 21:00. - Okay.

I've got a table reserved
at the Club El Rey.

This won't take long.
- I don't mind waiting.

Six sixteen,
it's right down here.

Here.

Last time I was up here, she left
the door open and I fell in. Heh.

Oh. I guess she left
the door open again.

Is that you, Dr. Flegg?
- No, ma'am, it's not.

What are you doing here?

What right have you to come
in to my apartment like this?

Now, now, take it
easy, Ms. Merrova.

We just wanna have
a little talk with ya.

I have nothing to say
to you,
Mr. Garrett.

And so please get out.

That girl's always passing out.

Her hands are as cold as ice.

Is that whisky over there?
- Yeah.

'Here, Mike.'

Thank you. - Gee. It's
sure lucky we dropped in.

This is Dr. Rhodes of the Jules
Hospital. He can probably help you.

I don't need any help.
I'm alright.

Besides, I expect my
doctor any moment.

Well, uh, would you mind answering
a few questions before he comes?

What kind of questions?

Are you anemic?

Has Dr. Flegg been
your physician for some time?

Why, yes.

For several years.
Why do you ask?

Did he ever make a blood test of you?
You see, we're trying to find out

if you are a group
number-one blood type.

Well, I'm not sure,
but I think so.

Why do you want to know these things?
- Because we think you can help us.

Somewhere in this city
there's a murderer at large.

The only possible clue
we have is that he seems

to be interested in obtaining
type-number-one blood.

'Yesterday morning a young
chap named Stanley Rodgers'

'was found murdered
in his apartment.'

He was type number one.

His body was
completely drained of blood.

Another thing, the
knife wound was identical

to that which
Mr. Garrett found on you.

This is untrue.

Mr. Garrett suffers from
hallucinations. - Not since I was 14.

Remember, you may be helping
us to save someone else's life.

Very well.
It's true.

When you called me
for an interview

'as I hung up the phone,
I realized'

'someone had entered the room.'

I was terrified.

A hand went over my mouth.

And then I felt a sharp
pain on my chest.

Then I lost consciousness.

That's when I found you
lying there on the floor.

I suppose so. - But
where'd you disappear to?

I don't know. All I know
is that the next morning

I woke up in this room.

Well, why didn't you tell
all of this to the police?

I didn't want
this kind of publicity.

But can't you just give us
a hint on who stabbed you

and where he took you afterward?

I'll be alright as soon
as Dr. Flegg gets here.

I'll see you tomorrow morning
at ten o'clock in your office.

Then I'll tell you all.

Good evening.

Dr. Flegg was out.
The nurse gave me the message.

I came to see if
there was anything I could do.

How do you do, Dr. Rhodes?
How do you do? - And, uh...

This is Mr. Garrett.
Walt, this is Dr. Quesne.

Pleased to meet you. - Yes.
How do you do, Mr. Garrett?

I'm sorry to disturb
you, gentlemen

but as you can see,
Ms. Merrova is...

'...ill.'

Yeah. Uh, oh, we
were just leaving.

Yes. That's very
considerate of you.

Goodbye.
- Goodbye.

By the way, doctor,
I haven't forgotten

that you and I are to have
that talk on blood composition.

Yes, sir.

I told you I was right about that
dame. I'm gonna go tell the boss.

You could drop us off at the club.
- Ah, no, Mike. You gotta come along.

He won't believe me. - Success?
- You bet. - But, Walt, I can't...

Then we're ready to go, huh?
- Well, I tell you, Joan.

Walt wanted me to
drop by and see the boss...

Oh...

Who does he think he
is, Rip Van Winkle?

Sure this is the
right house? - Yeah.

This is the place, alright.

Hey, boss!

Hello, chief.
Uh- uh- uh... - You?

What's the idea of ringing my
doorbell at this time of night?

What do you think
this is, Halloween?

Ha, ha, ha! He's always
kidding. - Kiddin'?

Get away from here,
you, you Wichita Frankenstein!

Now, take it easy, will ya, boss?
I really got a great story for you

this time.
You gotta listen to me.

Well, come on in.

What is it?

I bet you can't guess
where I've been.

So now it's riddles.
Come to the point, Garrett.

I was over to see Angela Merrova
tonight. - Merrova? You blockhead!

You want her suing the
paper for another 100.000?

You can forget
all about that suit.

That dame really was stabbed, just
like I told ya. She admitted it. - What?

Yes, sir, and she's gonna
be down at the office

in the morning
and give you the whole story.

Say, this isn't another one
of your screwy ideas, is it?

No, boss. It's on the level.
I take an oath.

This is Dr. Rhodes, a friend
of mine from Jules Hospital.

He was with me all the time. Tell
him, Mike. - He's right, sir. - Well!

Could you picture that,
boss, a four-column story?

"Actress to reveal truth.

"Angela Merrova tells all in the
office of 'The Morning Dispatch.'"

Boss, I tell you,
it's sensational.

It's terrific! Come on.

Won't the "Evening Bulletin"
be surprised?

I'm going to make
them print an apology

for the apology
they made us print.

Garrett, I misjudged you.
- Yes, sir.

'Hello, Andy. Hold the presses
for a morning extra.'

Angela Merrova is coming to my
office in the morning. And... - What?

If she does, I'm
not gonna be here.

What do you mean?
- I just got a flash.

She's dead.
- What?

Are you positive about that?

'Oh, I see.'

'Alright. Thanks, Andy.'
- What's up, boss?

So Angela Merrova is coming
to my office in the morning

and she's going to tell the whole story,
huh? - Sure, I personally guarantee it.

Listen, wise guy.
Merrova's dead. - Dead?

Well, we talked to her
about an hour ago.

Quesne. He killed her. She's been
murdered. - What, again? - Yeah.

Why, you...
Listen, phony, I don't know

where you dream up
these yarns of yours

but Angela Merrova
was not murdered.

She died of natural causes.

Now, wait a minute, boss,
maybe it's one of those up- again

down- again routine she's been
giving us. Maybe she ain't dead.

If she's not dead, they're
playing a dirty trick on her

because they're taking her over
to Bixby's Undertaking Parlors.

Now get out of here, both of you!
- Yes, sir. - And don't ever come back!

I won't believe she's dead
till I see it with my own eyes.

Even then I won't believe it.

Now where to?
- The undertaker's.

Well, that's different.
The undertaker's?

We won't be a minute.

We'll be out in
a minute, honey.

If you find someone interesting
in there send him out.

How do you do?
- How do you do?

Do you have a, um, uh...

...a customer in here by
the name of Angela Merrova?

You mean,
the body of the deceased?

'Yes.'
- She just came in.

Are you gentlemen relatives?
- Not exactly.

Uh, but we sort of have
an interest in her, so to speak.

Oh, friends.
- Uh, yes, sir.

We were wondering
if we could, uh, see the body.

This way, gentlemen.

Uh, would you mind stepping in
the other room with me, please?

I'd like to ask you
a couple of questions.

Certainly. Hm.

We're most willing to accommodate
everyone at a time like this.

Well, tell me, Mr. Bixby...
- I'm not Mr. Bixby.

Mr. Bixby's been dead
for seven years.

Oh, I'm sorry.

It's quite alright.
We all make mistakes.

Mm-hmm. About Ms. Merrova in here.
Could you tell me who brought her in?

My dear young man,
no one brought her in.

We went and got her.
We were called by Dr. Flegg.

Dr. Flegg? Hm.

Did the death certificate say
she died of natural causes?

I believe so.
- 'Alright, Walt.'

Thank you very much, sir. - Well,
I hope to see you again sometime.

I'm sure you will.

The old fellow said that Flegg
was the one who called

to pick her up. What
did you find out?

Merrova's death was natural, alright.
Looks like we're stumped again.

Hello. Is the
big mystery solved?

No. But it's after one o'clock.
'I think we'd better go home now.'

Well, don't I even get anything
to eat? - Yup, we'll go over to Gus'

and get you
a nice, big hamburger.

Angela Merrova
Expires at Home

Hey, Wichita, ain't you found
out what you're looking for yet?

No. Give me time,
will you, Pinky?

Ah, Wichita, if the
boss finds out about this

I'll be pounding
the pavement with you.

You sure you're gonna put
all this junk back?

Yes. Will you go back
to that door and shut up?

I'm taking an awful chance
with you.

But I tell you, there's nothing
on a guy named Quesne.

Well, there's got to be. I've
seen his puss in some paper.

Ah, you tried every file but X, Y,
and Z. And here's the final batch.

I got it.
- 'What?' The guy.

Dr. Maurice Xavier. Dr. X.
- 'Hey.'

'That's the guy that starved
the little kid to death, ain't it?'

'Yeah, he's the skunk
who wanted to find out'

how long babies could go
without eating.

'"Surgeon held
in starvation slaying.'

'"Dr. Xavier to face trial.'

'"Child slayer found guilty.'

'"Doctor's execution
set for November the 2nd.'

'Dr. X dies in electric chair."'

You mean to tell me you saw
that guy walking around alive?

Yeah.
- Now I know you're bats.

Hey, what're ya doing? You can't
take 'em clippings outta here.

Pinky, will you get me
the file on...

Oh. Hello, chief.
I mean, ex- chief.

Hey, boss, it wasn't my fault.
Honest, I told him not to.

I thought I gave orders to you never
to show your ugly pan around here again.

Oh. I knew you didn't mean it.

Well, this time you're going
to regret knowing so much.

Now, wait a minute.
- Get me Circulation Department.

Tell them to send
a couple of boosters up here.

I want this Wichita brainchild
exterminated.

Now, wait a minute, boss,
I got a story that's gonna

crack the front page
of every newspaper in America.

When you read it, you're gonna
give me my job back.

What do you have behind
your back? - Nothin'. Nothin'.

Well?
- Circulations.

'But it can't be.
This Dr. X was electrocuted.'

'Unless the execution
didn't take place.'

Oh, but it did. I phoned
the warden and made sure.

Dr. Flegg came out
and claimed the body

and the burial took place
in Greenlawn Cemetery.

But, Walt, that's impossible.
- Okay.

Let's go out to the cemetery
and find out tonight. - Alright.

I'll pick you up right
after dinner. - Okay.

How are we gonna get in to Xavier's
grave? It's against the law, you know?

I know the old caretaker
in here. Leave it to me.

Well, sir, here we are.

"Maurice Xavier.

'1897- 1937."'

Yup. That's it.

Well, let's start, eh?
- Yeah.

Boy, I never heard nails
sound like that before.

Well? What did I
tell you? Empty.

I've been robbed.
- No.

There wasn't ever anything
in that coffin to rob.

Well, let's go, Mike.

Thanks, Pop.
Put it back, will you?

I'd like to hear what your friend,
Dr. Flegg has to say about this.

At least we can give
him a chance to explain.

It's true, I had
hoped to keep it a secret

until I'd completed
my experiments.

There's no use in
my denying it any longer.

Quesne and Dr. Xavier...
are one and the same.

Do you mean to tell us
that you've discovered a way

to bring a man back to life?

Yes.

It's incredible.
- Is it?

Remember, a 100 years ago

anesthesia would have seemed
equally incredible.

Even 50 years back,
the possibility of x-ray

would have astounded the world.

Twenty years ago,
would anyone have believed

that the living,
pulsing human heart

could be held in a
surgeon's hand, operated on

and the patient walk again?

But to revive a dead man...
- Yeah, I don't believe it.

You've told no one about
your visit to the cemetery?

No, sir.

Then come with me.

After you, gentlemen.

You're fortunate. I had this
equipment set up this afternoon

for some
additional experimentation.

This animal died this morning.
- Ah. - Double glioma.

Please satisfy yourself
that he's quite dead.

Yeah. He's dead, alright.

Too much emotion
in your make-up, Garrett.

You never would have
made a good surgeon.

An objective surgeon can't
afford the luxury of feelings.

Yes, sir.
- Well, Rhodes?

No question about it.
Rigor mortis has set in.

Now I'll prepare the blood
for de-coagulation.

In Quesne's case, the electric
chair made this step unnecessary.

His body was already prepared.

Now if you gentlemen
will step to the other side

of that table, please?

This is ordinary rabbit blood

taken from the animal
immediately after they die.

Rhodes, will you...

This is a special formula,
my own composition.

Compound ester in
which essential blood salts

have been precipitated.

Naturally, Quesne received
a considerably larger dose.

And now are you satisfied?

That's good enough for me.

It's remarkable, Dr. Flegg.

Needless to say, it took a much
greater period to revive Dr. X

but the procedure
was essentially the same.

As you know, I claimed the body

and pretended to bury it
in Greenlawn Cemetery.

But immediately after the execution
I brought it here to the laboratory.

Suffice to say that after six
hours of the most intense work

his heart began to beat.
And in another hour

he opened his eyes and spoke to
me. - Well, what I wanna know is

why did you bring
Xavier back to life?

He was a convicted murderer.

True, in the eyes of society,
he was a murderer.

But he was also
a medical genius.

And I felt that he had
been a martyr to science.

Was that the only reason?

No, not quite.

In addition to the experiments
of the type you have just seen

I needed him for,
uh... further research.

Gentlemen, shall we
go back to my office?

Well, gentlemen, if that's all,
it's late. I'm g...

One more thing I'd like to ask you,
doctor. Could you revive anybody

no matter how they died?

Yes, I, I believe I could.

Then maybe you brought
Angela Merrova back to life.

Ms. Merrova
was a patient of mine, yes.

And maybe you know
who killed her, too, huh?

I had nothing to do with that.

I'm interested in saving life...

not in destroying it.

These further experiments you
mentioned what are they, Dr. Flegg?

Rhodes, surely
you can understand.

After we've recreated life

the second and greater
problem is to sustain it.

'In order to do that, we must
be able... to give the person'

'a new bloodstream.'
For six years in that laboratory

I've been striving to create

a usable, workable,
synthetic blood.

Synthetic blood?

That's the blood I found
in Merrova's body.

That artificial quality
was your synthetic blood.

And those phony stains in
Rodgers' apartment. - Yes.

But why did she die if you've
created a synthetic blood?

Well, I haven't, Rhodes.

It's true that my formula will
sustain life for a short period...

but unlike human blood

it fails to recreate itself.

Somehow, somewhere

the magic element
of life has eluded me.

How is it that Quesne
manages to keep alive?

Why, I...
- I'll tell you how.

By killing for human blood.

Yes, but he had to.

He warned me,
told me he was dying.

Begged me to help him,
but I refused.

Then I realized that my work
had ended not in failure

but in disaster.

Angela Merrova
had been murdered.

Quesne saw her
here in my office

and knew that she was
number-one blood type.

The type he needed.

She was his first victim.

When I discovered what had
happened I brought her back to life.

But I knew
it was only for a short period.

Her death was inevitable.
- Dr. Flegg, you knew this all the time

and you didn't say anything to
the police about it? - I wanted to.

But I was hoping every hour, every
minute that I'd find the secret.

Thousands of lives could be saved
if I could perfect my formula.

But that's all over now.

Quesne will continue to
kill until he's destroyed.

'My experiments
have turned into madness.'

I've created a monster.

May God forgive me.

I'm sorry, Dr. Flegg.
- There's no time to be sorry.

We've got to tell the police
and I've got to get to my paper.

Goodbye, Dr. Flegg.

Mike, nothing like this
has ever happened before.

It's the greatest story
I've ever had in my life.

Hey, uh, hold on. Not so fast.
- Roy. Gee, it's lucky we ran in to you.

Yeah, lucky for me,
I've been looking all over town

for you two guys.
Cuff 'em, Moran.

Oh, wait a minute,
wait a minute. We haven't done...

No? What were you doing
at Greenlawn Cemetery tonight?

Oh, well, we can explain that.
- Not to me, you can't.

Snatching bodies is against the law.
- Now, hold on a minute, will you, Roy?

We got the answer to
those murders. Now, listen...

Flegg.

You told them about me.
- Yes.

In a few minutes, the police will
be looking all over the city for you.

You might as well
give yourself up.

No, you gave me this life and I'm
going to keep it as long as I can.

I want that list
of blood donors.

The address is in that book of
yours. - I won't give them to you.

Dr. Flegg?

Quesne.

The book... He's got
the book of addresses.

'What's he talking about, Mike?'

The list of blood donors.
Joan's name's in that book.

And Quesne's got it now.
- 'Moran, ya call an ambulance.'

'Stay here and take charge of things.'
Come on, Roy. We need your help.

Alright. Boys, you
can get in my car.

Paper.
- Ms. Vance.

Yes?

Well, my name is Quesne.

Dr. Rhodes was called
to Dr. Flegg's home.

He asked me to meet
you and bring you there.

Oh. Thank you.
- I have a cab waiting.

It's alright.

Come on, come on, lieutenant.
Can't you go any faster?

I thought
Dr. Flegg lived on 86th Street.

He moved last week
to Sutton Place.

Extra. Extra. - Say, buddy.
Did you see Ms. Vance tonight?

Yeah, not more than
a half hour ago.

A guy stopped her
and talked to her

and they got in to Shorty's
cab and drove off.

Was it a pasty-faced guy?
- Yeah, a funny-looking mug.

You have any idea
where they went?

Before the girl come, I heard him say to
Shorty something about going to Jersey.

Jersey?

Abandoned Duck Club
Site of Brutal Crime
Catch a gander at that.

'That's an old duck club
just outside of Newark'

the place where he
starved that baby to death.

It all ties up, Mike.
Come on. Let's go.

Shouldn't we have turned
there for Sutton Place?

I presume the driver
knows a shorter way.

Really, there's no need for alarm.

No. Of course not.

Step on it, will you, Roy?

You're not taking me to Dr.
Flegg's. That's quite right.

Dr. Rhodes didn't
send you, either.

On the contrary... - You're
lying. Let me out of here.

This okay, boss?
- Yes. This will do nicely.

Looks like we walk from here.
- 'Alright, let's go.'

I wouldn't scream.

No one can hear you.

I'll take care of Joan.
Get after Xavier.

Ready, men?

Tell Dr. Rhodes...

we'll have
to postpone our talk

on, uh, blood composition.

DR, XAVIER DIES
IN POLICE TRAP

DR. X RETURNS TO GRAVE

Mayor Praises Garrett,
"Morning Dispatch" Staff Reporter

Hw Reporter Garrett
Solved Blood Murders

"Morning Dspath" Reporter set on Trial
by Killer's One Sentimenal Lase

But think what you're giving up,
you've got the makings

of a great newspaperman in you.
And if you stick with me, you'll go places.

I'll give you
a daily column to do.

You'll see your name in
print 365 days in the year.

I'm having your contract drawn up
now. - Say, how do you like that pipe?

Yeah, yeah. It's fine. But what about the
contract? Will you sign it? - No, boss.

I've got my novel to do.
I wanna get back, back to Wichita

where I can get
close to the soil.

Well, I guess there's no
use trying to keep you here.

But I'm disappointed in you,
Garrett, terribly disappointed.

But no hard feelings.

Well, gee, I'm glad you feel
that way about it, boss.

'If you're ever around Wichita sometime'
'I hope you'll drop in and say hello.'

Here's the contract for
Mr. Garrett. - Thanks.

Hello.
- Hello.

Well, hello. - I don't think
we'll be needing this.

Mr. Garrett has definitely
decided to leave us.

Oh, really? Well, I'm awfully
sorry you aren't going

'to be with us, Mr. Garrett.'
Are you? - 'That will be all.'

'Ms. Lawrence.'
- Yes, sir.

Goodbye.
- Goodbye.

Who was that?
- My new secretary.

Yes, I'm deeply
disappointed in you.

Any ink in that?
- There is today.

My boy, you'll never regret this. No,
sir. - Okay, boss. I'll see you later.