Original subtitles

For the new book, I might find some sniping material down here.

you might get some material for a new novel.

Walked right into it, didn't I?

Yeah, and if she has any squawk that rates police attention,

why come back and report to me?

Good morning, Mrs.

Stack.

I'm a tree -borer.

Yeah, you look more like the brushman.

You'll manage with what you get, and I'll have no more of your impresinence,

Alice.

You'd think I was your slave instead of your daughter.

Go up to your room at once.

Heaven knows I'm old enough to have more than ten dollars a month allowance.

Leave the room!

And you better answer the door, Martin.

Yes, madam.

I have an appointment with Mrs.

Stack.

Tom?

Good morning, Mother.

Do you know what time it is?

I've been having a little trouble with my wife lately.

Don't be impudent.

You'll be at the hospital at night every morning,

or I'll remove you from your job.

Where were you last night?

At the theater.

Well, what do you want?

I'm the man about the borers.

What?

About the trees.

Oh, I didn't just say so.

Come in.

You open police headquarters.

Don't look like a policeman.

Well, they're getting some sense at last.

Sit down.

Inspector Queen sent me.

Unlike most women, I generally come to the point.

I want my hospital secretly investigated.

Things are happening there that I neither like nor understand.

Such as?

I don't trust the medical director, Dr.

Janney.

He disappears too often.

From the hospital?

No, in it.

I believe that's why my sister died.

While he was giving her a treatment, he left her.

To answer an emergency call, he said.

But there was no such emergency.

He simply vanished.

Surely, Mrs.

Stack, you can hardly suspect the doctor in charge of your hospital.

Then why was he opposed to an autopsy?

Why was she cremated in such indecent haste?

But if she...

The body has been already cremated, I hardly see how.

I want Janney watched.

By the police.

In the hospital.

Secretly.

I see.

I'll report to Inspector Queen.

Good morning, Mrs.

Stack.

Well, from all I can understand,

it looks like a clear case of spite against Dr.

Janney.

That Augusta Stack is as uncozier party as I ever met upwards.

It's an interesting household, though everybody hating the old girl.

You can positively feel hatred seeping all over, practically in layers.

Not bad maybe I can use it in the book yeah but you know I can't detail a man

just to go there and investigate bad feelings still I think it's a matter that

should be looked into I looked look again be a sport go and prop yourself up in

the stack hospital and be a patient on your life that I'm a busy man I'll go on

think it over no thanks I thought it's out of the question.

They are please.

Louder please.

Stacey hand me a blade the Tracy blade please.

Why do.

What seems to be the trouble.

I don't know nothing Mr Queen but I can talk tonsils all right there's no

information there's nothing wrong with your throat there's nothing you can do.

Step into my office, please.

Do you mean I'll always talk like this?

Possibly, if you're not careful.

What am I going to do, doctor?

Try and forget it.

Can't forget a voice like this.

I mean, don't worry about it.

Have you ever visited a psychiatrist?

Do you insinuate that I'm crazy?

No, no, not in the ordinary sense, but frankly, Mr.

Queen, your trouble is mental.

You ever had a phobia, the secret fear of losing your voice?

Not till now.

Any nervous shocks or strain lately?

That's better.

Don't try to speak.

Yeah, I won't.

Have you been overworking?

You bet.

I'd like to keep you under observation for a few days.

I mean, I'd like to have a private room, if I could.

Be admitting, Clark, we'll see after that.

And would it be all right if I had our family nurse come over?

Certainly.

Come this way, please.

Miss Tracy, will you take Mr.

Queen to arrange for a room?

Yes, Dr.

Janice.

I've never been in a hospital before, as a patient.

I'm afraid I might be lonesome.

You don't look like you learn some type.

Will you have a seat, please?

I'll be right back.

I'll be right back.

Harry Queen's office.

Hello, Nicky.

I'm in.

Hey, you'll be out if they hear you talking like that.

They can't hear me.

My overnight bag and get yourself a nurse's uniform.

I'll be over soon as I can get an outfit.

Tell Dad.

Don't forget your notebook and pencils.

The clerk will see you now.

Thanks a lot.

There goes the stack car now.

So ain't this dangerous?

Ain't I liable to get hurt?

No, I've done this over a hundred times.

And besides, you want your money, don't you?

Something matter with this car, I can't steer it.

You've done this a hundred times.

Get out!

What happened here?

They forced me off the road.

I think I broke my leg.

Did you get his number?

Oh, he was going so fast, I couldn't even see him.

Well, I'll ride down the road and forward for an ambulance.

You'll take me there.

Have you got a cigar?

Why, sure.

Oh, brother.

Thanks.

Oh, dear.

Hurry here and follow me.

You think you broke his leg?

Well, this isn't our call.

No, we're supposed to pick up him as a stack.

It won't hurt to take this guy along, too.

Oh, dear.

Uh -oh.

This is a terrible thing to happen to you, mother.

Never mind bleeding over me.

Just make sure the police catch that hit -and -run driver.

Of course, we'll do all we can.

Mother, I'm sorry we quarrel.

Please forgive me.

Stop.

We always quarrel.

You're ready for you now, Mrs.

Day.

Thank you.

I don't want Dr.

Jenny even in the room.

There were two men in that car that hit me.

I can identify them.

I want them found and put in jail.

Of course, Mother, right away.

But it'll be like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

That might not be so hard.

There was a man brought in the same ambulance with you,

crashed up at about the same place at the same time.

He might be one of them.

The same ambulance was me.

Good thing for him I was unconscious.

I believe he's in 5 -11.

Well, as long as what you're waiting for.

Go find out what you can about him.

Yes, Mother.

Come on, get going.

Let's get going.

Let's get this over.

Now, am I glad to see you.

You had to be so stupid as to get smashed up.

Why did you let them bring you to this hospital?

Well, I couldn't help myself.

Thomas smashed up the car and he takes a powder and the cop flags down your

oldie's ambulance.

And she saw you before you hit her.

How does she know who I am?

She does.

She says she can identify the men who smashed into her car.

In that case, you better get me out of here in a hurry.

Not me.

You'd better get one of your own crowd to do that.

Okay.

Oh, no!

Did you call?

It's all right, nurse.

The patient's a little uncomfortable.

I'll take care of it.

Now, you're in this with me.

You wanted me to knock off your old lady, and I ain't going to take the rap.

Well, you must be out of your mind.

When I convinced you that I couldn't pay you the money I owe you,

you decided to get her out of the way so I would come into my inheritance.

Well, you sure got your little story down pat, ain't you?

You've been rehearsing it for the coppers?

Look,

you pointed out the car to me and you showed me how she always drives to town.

Now, look, don't get yourself all upset unnecessarily.

I'll contact Thomas for you.

Huh?

Say, why ain't you just a little bit worried?

Worried?

I am.

She's being operated on right now.

We're a new dirty heel.

Doctor, I was about to use your phone.

I was to meet Mrs.

Stack here, but Miss Tracy tells me she met with an automobile accident.

Yes, Dr.

Dunn operated on her.

May I ask why Mrs.

Stack wanted you here, Mr.

Crothers?

I hope her condition isn't serious.

A fractured femur is no picnic, but she has a very good child.

I asked you a question, Mr.

Crothers.

Oh, yes.

It was on the matter of your anemia concentrate discovery.

Mrs.

Stack feels very strongly.

I already know how very strongly Mrs.

Stack feels.

Unfortunately, my opposition is equally strong.

My formula goes to the medical association as is ethical and proper.

Legally, the discovery belongs to her.

Even a lawyer can be wrong on occasion, Mr.

Crothers.

But not on this occasion, Dr.

Janney.

I have the written agreement between you and Mrs.

Stack.

I'm not interested in the vagaries of legal terminology.

Yes, they're in black and white, in plain language.

Look at clause 12,

where it states that all formulas developed in the hospital laboratory belong

to the hospital, and the hospital belongs to Mrs.

Stack.

There's no other possible legal interpretation.

The formula is hers.

Yes.

Yes.

call for Dr.

Janney.

Dr.

Janney wanted in surgery.

I'd have to excuse me.

Could you tell me?

No!

Can you tell me why they build elevators with doors that don't work?

No!

Uh -oh.

Oh!

Come in.

Elry!

The place is running down.

The elevator's broken.

Hurry!

The fire is only a few doors away.

Come on!

Hurry!

Pardon me.

How dare you race down these corridors.

What are you here for, DTs?

Oh, I lost the use of my voice.

It's too bad you didn't lose the use of your limbs.

Yeah.

Look at you.

I'd be ashamed of your age making a public spectacle of myself.

Well, what'd you expect me to do?

Stay in the room there where the place is on fire?

If you'd give up whiskey, you might get the use of your voice back.

There's no fire.

But you heard or saw with the pole motor squad.

Oh, I see.

Now go on to your room and undress properly and go to bed.

Yes, ma 'am.

Who are they using that po -motor on?

Mrs.

Stack, she suffocated after her operation.

They tried artificial respiration, but we're too late.

You mean she's dead?

What else could it mean?

Come in.

Now, don't be sore.

I've got some terrific news.

I know.

You're going to tell me the fire's out.

No.

Mrs.

Stack's dead.

Huh?

You'll have to bring in the body to make me believe that.

It's a fact.

She suffocated after an operation.

I just came from her room.

What line, please?

Give me police headquarters.

Apparently she left into a coma,

and suffocated while her face was turned into a pillar.

But she seemed to be coming along so nicely.

You must remember she wasn't a young woman.

Not even so.

Miss Fox, have you been with the patient constantly?

I didn't leave her for a minute.

Her pulse was good.

She was breathing naturally.

I'm sure you were not at fault, Miss Fox.

Thank you, Doctor.

Have the family been notified?

Yes, they're on their way up, Doctor.

Well, this is the most regrettable occurrence.

The shock of the accident, plus the operation,

was simply more than she could stand.

I'm sorry to say.

Doctor, I'm sure everything possible was done for her.

Of course, if you and Mr.

Stack would like an autopsy.

Oh, no, no, no, no.

The publicity would be very distasteful and harmful to the hospital.

I'll issue the death certificate.

Thank you, Doctor.

Oh, Mother.

And there's no reason for delaying the funeral arrangements.

I'm sure that Mother would want to be cremated.

We'd better be going, Doctor.

What do you think of the flowers?

Ah, gee, you didn't have to go and buy flowers for me.

I didn't buy them.

I found them on the do or not.

Listen, Stack told me that you wanted to get out of here.

Hey, what's the idea of smashing a guy up and then running out on him?

Well, you look so peaceful under that tree.

I didn't think you were hurt.

I thought you were dead.

Well, it ain't your fault I wasn't.

Now, boss, don't start hollering.

A guy can only do the best he can, you know.

What's all right?

I got a spare.

Come in.

Oh, look, it's our sponsor.

Congratulations, Paige.

How did you manage it?

Managed what?

Oh, it's all right with me if you want to play innocent.

Did you have Thomas do it?

How did you handle the nurse?

No, what?

Now, I didn't have time to handle anybody.

Well, you've nothing to worry about.

Nobody suspects his murder.

Murder?

You mean your old lady's been knocked off?

Are you trying to put on an act with me?

Say, if she's been killed, you done it.

You might have waited till I got out of here.

If I don't get out of here, I might have a talk if necessary.

Well, what could you say?

without implicating yourselves.

And how you get out of here is your problem.

I can't afford to be mixed up in it.

What do you think of that?

Say, you'd better start to think of a way of getting me out of here.

Where's Mr.

Stack's office?

Right over there.

I insist upon knowing who sent for the police.

Your mother.

She demanded that we investigate this hospital, and now she's dead.

If you don't mind, we'll continue with the investigation.

Yes, Veely?

Dr.

Williams is almost finished with the examination.

He'll be down in a minute.

Good.

Now, Mr.

Stack.

This is ridiculous.

Dr.

Janney and Dr.

Dunn have already examined the body and issued a death certificate.

Ms.

Fox, did you leave Mrs.

Stack's room any time after the operation?

Why, none of our nurses would dare do such a thing.

If you don't mind, I'm questioning Ms.

Fox.

Did you, Miss Fox?

No, I didn't.

I was there all the time.

Yes, Williams?

I find the deceased died of asphyxin.

Just as we discovered, Dr.

Johnny.

But I found the hyoid bone in the throat broken,

which shows the deceased did not die of accidental smothering,

but was strangled to death.

Well, Miss Fox, how could anyone have sneaked into Mrs.

Stack's room and killed her?

If you were there all the time.

I'd been up all last night on a very difficult case.

I dozed off for a while.

Oh, I see.

What about the man in 511?

Well, what about him?

He was brought in in the same ambulance with Mrs.

Stack.

He said he'd been hit by the same hit -and -run driver.

I heard Mrs.

Stack ask her son to investigate the man.

And so I did.

I found him an innocent victim of the same crazy driver.

Really smart as you go up to 511 and get acquainted with that man.

Well, now, wait a minute.

I can't allow that.

I can't have the patients annoyed by the police.

It will be very bad for the hospital.

Don't worry, son.

Veely has very, very soothing bedside manners.

Sure.

Dr.

Johnny, are you going to permit this?

The matter seems to be out of my hands.

Well, come on.

Let's get this investigation over.

Oh, dear.

Company, eh?

I had it no matter, didn't I?

Oh, dear.

This is the thing to roll the dead people out on.

Now, uh, you gotta get on that.

How?

Well, uh, you raise up and I'll shove it under you.

No, that won't do.

Now, let me think.

They're used for dead people.

Thanks for watching!

Dr.

Janney is a record of her position,

and I still believe she died from natural causes.

Ayoid bone.

Doesn't break itself.

Well, we know that, William.

You have them come for the body and have them perform an autopsy immediately.

Okay.

Okay.

I do all the work.

I don't feel like staying around here all night.

Well, you can get your mother's lawyer for me.

What do you want with him?

I want to ask him a few questions.

There's two main motives for murder.

Love and money.

And I don't see much love around here.

Hey, ouch.

Mother.

That won't hurt.

Now, remember, if we bump into anybody, let me do the talking.

Shh.

He's still out there, too.

You'd better start doing something.

I am doing something.

What are you doing?

I'm thinking.

Oh, dear.

Thank you.

Time.

Are you awake, boss?

I am.

Was it?

Do leave everything to me, and this will be a cinch.

Here we go.

Hey, nurse!

Like quiet, boss.

Like quiet.

See, what are we on?

A merry -go -round?

Shut up.

I got a ditch here temporarily.

Hey, keep quiet, will you?

I'll be back.

Goodness!

Would you kindly tell me where Mr.

Queen's room is?

Why, uh...

I really don't know.

You...

you better ask a nurse.

Goodness!

Goodness!

Oh, nurse to you.

I'm going to surgery.

Just nurse, just...

just a moment.

If you don't mind my telling you, your, uh...

your pedicord is showing.

Oh, thank you.

You're a gentleman.

Thomas!

Stop you out of my suit!

He stepped into a silence so profound he felt he could touch it.

Oh, no.

You can't touch silence.

He's not where I come from.

Since when are you the critic?

He opened the door quickly and entered the room gun in hand.

If anyone opens this trap, I'll drill him.

Don't move.

Don't move.

Don't move, I tell you.

Don't move.

It's a lovely night, isn't it?

Shut up!

Nice work, Nicky.

You almost made him blow our heads off.

Where is he?

What out the window?

Wait a minute.

Wait a minute.

Wait.

Well, it wasn't me.

Wait.

I'll contact you.

Wait.

Wait a minute.

Oh, the skeleton.

What a place to get into a hospital.

What a place.

It's not up here.

Shut that door.

Unlock it.

Come on, hurry up.

Now come over here and do as I say, and you won't get hurt.

Come on, hurry up and make it snappy.

Now listen, I'm going to get in this closet,

and you're going to stand with your back against the door, see?

I'm going to have this gun on you all the time.

And if anybody comes in and asks you if you saw me, you say no.

You understand?

All right.

Come on.

Up against the door.

Come on.

Did you say anyone come through this room, nurse?

No, I...

No, I didn't see anybody.

Sorry, don't be frightened.

I was just looking for someone.

Now get in that closet.

Come on, do as I tell you, and cut the chatter.

No, I didn't.

Thank you.

That guy must have wings.

He's flown.

That's Lou Thomas.

He's, he's wanted a headquarters.

You know, I'd give a lot to know how he's mixed up in this case.

Why did I ever get this mess?

Why didn't I go to the court getting with my wife?

Paired a patient for surgery.

Yes, Miss Jones.

Oh, dear.

Give me out of here!

Come back!

Aah!

Aah!

Where is this guy that's going to spring me out of this joint?

Get out of here.

Get out of this hospital.

I hope I never see another one.

Whoa!

Hey!

Most embarrassing predicament I've ever had in my life.

Thanks, lady.

I'll mention it.

You know, I don't think I can stand much more.

First, to break my leg, they drag me in here.

A drunken male nurse shows me into a lady's ward.

They start to operate on me.

Now this?

Be a pal, will you, and push me into men's ward?

Pleasure.

Oh, dear.

All right.

Hey, wait a minute.

I'll have to leave you here till I find a nurse.

I just realized I don't know where the men's ward is.

Ain't you a nurse, lady?

Course I am.

I'm a private nurse for Mrs.

Stack.

Well, Mrs.

Stack is dead.

I was a nurse then.

I'm sure glad to meet you.

You know, you're going to save my life again.

Now tell me quick, why did you rub the old lady out?

Me?

You don't know what you're talking about.

You might get by with that with the copper, but you can't tell it to me.

You either killed old lady Stack or you worked with somebody that did.

I don't know anything about it.

Copper's trying to pin this thing on me.

Now, lady, you come clean before I blast you out of this hospital.

Now, this is going a little too far.

Ah, shut up.

Push me out of here.

Nice touch, that.

Come on, Beanie.

Pull yourself together.

Don't worry, boss.

I got her covered.

Oh, there you are.

Shh, keep quiet.

Come on.

Get it in here.

Hurry up.

Oh, dear.

Get in there.

Get in there.

I'll tell you, I'm not Mrs.

Stack's nurse.

Lady, you'd better come in to whistle.

Listen, don't try to be funny.

Whistle means to come clean.

Now, come on.

Well, I've become of the others.

I sent them home.

They can be questioned just as well in the morning.

Well, that was rather a high -handed to you, Mr.

Stack.

Well, where's Miss Fox?

In her apartment, I suppose.

She said she had a bad headache.

Very interesting.

Suspect number one among the missing.

Do you think she did it?

Pay no attention to my son.

He has a habit of leaving at conclusion.

Well, I can tell you this much.

She knows a lot more than she said.

Maybe so.

You get her address from the desk and bring her back here.

And I won't be needing you anymore, at least for the present.

Well, that's very kind of you.

Thank you.

I'm going to get some water.

I'm going to get some water.

I'm going to get some water.

Come out with your hands up.

Come on.

Oh, Valerie.

Thank heavens you got here.

Take it easy now.

that can take me to come on out the other room.

Did...

Did you see her?

She was hanging like that already dead when we got here.

Come on now, now pull yourself together.

Oh!

Now don't be so upset.

You're all right.

Here, sit down over here.

Tell me all about it.

Surely you didn't see that sight and then light a cigarette.

No, that's his.

I wanted to call the inspector, but he locked me up and ran out on me.

Oh.

Well,

naturally you couldn't expect him to stay with a body in there and the police

already suspecting them of murder.

Who's murder?

Oh, Mrs.

Stacks, of course.

If it hadn't been for that,

he wouldn't have brought me here to face Miss Fox to find out whether I was

really a nurse or not.

What on earth are you talking about?

Heaven is perfectly clear.

Maybe it was foolish of me to say I was Mrs.

Stacks' nurse, but what else could I do without giving you away?

Now look, Mickey, I know you've had a shock,

but try and pull yourself together and calm down and we'll get to the bottom of

this.

Now who brought you here?

Why, the man who took the shot at you, of course.

And you told him you were Mrs.

Stack's nurse?

Really, Elry was the other one I told the first one.

The other...

the first one?

Why don't you listen?

The first one ran into me when he was running around the hospital on a

stretcher with a broken leg.

I had to say I was a nurse and I couldn't say I worked for Mrs.

Stack, so I...

I said I worked for you.

After Mrs.

Stack was dead, that was brilliant.

Well, got me here a few jobs ahead of you anyway.

Well, go on.

Well, that guy, I'm very excited.

So he pulled a gun on me and told me to push him into the supply room.

And suddenly I felt another gun in my ribs.

Another gun?

And the other one came into the supply room and told me to whistle.

So I whistled, and that made him madder than ever.

Well, what's the matter with you?

This is plain as day.

They're mixed up with Mrs.

Stack somehow, and they're afraid they'll be blamed for it.

So after we got the first one down in the basement,

the other one called the mob to get him out of there,

and then took me over to confront Miss Fox to find out whether I was really she

or not.

Well, Elry, what are we going to do?

I'm going to call Dad before I go completely nuts.

That's a fine thing to say after I've wrapped the whole case up for you.

We're here to pick up the body of Mrs.

Stack.

It's waiting for you in the storage room.

Check it out through the back door.

Well, here she is.

Take it easy.

I'm taking it easy.

Hey, Doc, what do we do with this body?

Put down ice.

I'll work out it in the morning.

It's not me.

You're going to put me on the wife.

Hey, what's up?

What's up?

Say, brother, is this your idea of a hideout?

You're going to be dead all over, not just from the neck up.

Hold your voice.

That is Miss Anna's office, William speaking.

Hello, Inspector.

I was just going to phone you.

What's the idea of sending a man over the broken lake when I was expecting Mr.

Stack?

Certainly he's alive.

Send some of the boys for him.

Yeah?

You're holding him all right.

Thanks.

What, another one?

OK, Inspector, I'll be right over.

What do you think this is, bank night?

Here we are, boys.

Time to send us to get you out.

Swell idea, boss.

Always the clown.

Quiet.

This cop's around.

Duck your head, boys.

Quiet.

Uh, what are you boys doing?

Yeah.

Uh, we're bringing a sick fun home to the horse battle.

Yeah, he didn't have money to pay for an ambulance,

so we call from him in our delivery truck.

Oh, the poor fella.

What say if I give him a hand, Bill?

Yeah, that's kind of a tricky thing to hold up the stairs.

I tell you what you fellas do.

You take the front end and we'll take the back.

Uh, what's the matter with him?

Uh, he's got a...

a broken leg, I see.

Yeah.

Here for now.

Don't hurt him.

Yeah, it's nice of you guys to help us.

Oh, man.

Hold on, old man.

You'll fall off and break your other leg.

Yeah, the blood must have rushed to his head.

Get him back up there.

Steady, boss.

Well, it's about time you guys got here.

You know, if I hadn't have been...

Say, where you going?

Oh, no place, no place.

I...

I was just gonna hang up my hat.

These officers were kind enough to give us a hand up the stairs.

Yeah, we couldn't have made it without their help.

Well, that's very nice of you, coppers, and...

And when I see my uncle, I'll...

I'll tell him to take care of you, huh?

That's no trouble at all.

You shouldn't keep the four fella covered up.

Let's show it to the one of them.

Oh!

Stand where you are.

Get over there.

Get over there.

Sick friend, huh?

You're nothing but a bunch of grave robbers.

You'll get ten years for this and maybe life.

Collect the hardware.

Take care of that.

It's a pearl handle.

Phone the station.

Right.

Every time I want to go anyplace, somebody has to die.

That's everybody's privilege.

Look, Vicki, you've had a tough night.

Not at all.

I don't want to miss anything.

What are you doing here so late?

Well, I frequently catch up with my work late at night,

and naturally after the events of the day, I couldn't sleep.

Oh, I see.

Well, I asked Dr.

Janney to meet with me.

Would you kindly call his home and see if he's left?

Oh, I'm sure he's on his way if you wanted him.

Thank you.

You stay here.

Sit down there and stay put.

Oh, hello, Doctor.

They're waiting for you in the office.

Thank you, Mr.

Queen.

May I congratulate you on the miraculous recovery of your voice?

Oh, thanks.

Thanks, Doctor.

I found the trouble with justice, something temporary.

Too bad it wasn't something permanent.

Boy, they're your partners.

What's the matter?

Is my slip showing?

No.

But I must say you don't act much like a nurse.

It's a disguise.

I'm in on this case, but they won't admit it.

Really?

Can you identify this bell, Doctor?

I never saw it before.

Looks like a woman's bell.

It is.

It belonged to Miss Fox.

She was strangled with it and then left hanging where the cord of her robe in

her bathrobe.

Oh, this is horrible.

Yeah, the hanging was made to look like suicide.

Yeah, but the murderer made a bad mistake.

He forgot the marks of the strangling of the bell.

It would remain after death.

The idea was obviously to make it appear that Miss Fox was guilty of Mrs.

Stagg's death and then commit suicide.

at suicide for fear of being arrested.

But I can't believe Miss Fox murdered Mrs.

Stack.

That's the whole point.

She didn't.

But if she had written the room with her all the time...

She wasn't.

The murderer's second bad mistake.

He overlooked this.

Fortunately, she shoved it under the blotter before she let him in.

What is it?

It's a note she was writing to me.

And in it, you will find that she did leave Mrs.

Stack's room for at least 10 minutes to make a long -distance telephone call.

Here, see for yourself.

I'll take your word for it.

We checked with the operator and established the exact time of the call.

But may I ask, gentlemen, why are you all telling all this to me?

Because at the time of Mrs.

Stack's death, which was murder number one,

coincides exactly with the time that you left this office to answer an

emergency call.

Now, what was that emergency call?

I don't seem to recollect.

Yes?

Emergency call for Dr.

Janney.

Dr.

Janney wanted his surgery.

He'll have to excuse me, gentlemen.

Yes, Ramon.

Do you always stay in your office late at night?

He fainted.

What's happened?

Find out who's calling Dr.

Janney and surgery.

You said there's no one in surgery.

Emergency call for Dr.

Janney.

Dr.

Janney wanted his surgery.

Hey, Dad, look at this.

This buzzer starts that call.

Emergency call for Dr.

Janney.

Dr.

Janney wanted his surgery.

It's obviously a gag he uses when he wants to get away.

To commit murder.

Miss Tracy, perhaps you can tell us what ails Dr.

Janney.

It's an unusual heart condition he suffers from.

He's managed to keep it from everyone but me until now.

He'll be all right after he's laying down for a while.

Billy gave Williams a hand.

Up to safety.

Bring him in here, please.

There's a room at the back where he always lies down.

Here's his alibi for the time of Mr.

Stack's murder.

What do you mean?

The attack is his alibi.

Nicky, I told you to keep your nose out of this.

Just a moment, son.

You know, sometimes out of the mouths of babes is even sucklings,

and some women come to work.

Now, Miss Super Sleuth, what, just what do you mean by his attack, his alibi?

Well,

it's bad business for a doctor if people find out he has attacks where he might

flop down him, isn't it?

Yes, it might hurt him professionally.

And she says that he has them off and it has to lie down to get over them.

Nice deduction, Nicky.

Use this contraption to get him away when he felt an attack coming on.

He can talk now, Inspector.

Well, Nicky, we'll see if you're right.

Come on, it'll be.

Well, it looks as though they're not going to arrest Dr.

Janney after all.

Oh, I'm so relieved.

Of course they're not.

He didn't do it.

Please have the man in jail right now while they did it and tell them an awful

lot about it.

Really?

What man?

The man with the broken leg.

The man with the broken leg.

The one who came into the hospital with Mrs.

Stack.

But I thought Mr.

Stack had a talk with that man and found him completely innocent.

Innocent my half.

Then why was he in such a panic to get out of the hospital?

Uh -uh.

He knows plenty.

I hope the police will make him holler.

Can you imagine my feelings when I...

Well?

Ha -ha.

Miss Super -Sloot, your hunch was right.

But I'm afraid that man went to a lot of trouble to conceal his ailments.

I guess he was afraid Mrs.

Stack had fired me, she found out.

Who told me to sit out there and stay put?

Now, could I tell you we're gonna break your long record of gumming things up?

Well, sir, uh...

and go as our maiden suspect.

You know, when Cro But he seemed honestly unaware of that fact,

so we were barking up the wrong tree.

Pardon me, Inspector, but will you need me any more tonight?

No, you can go.

I would stay with Dr.

Janney, but really, I'm just dropping on my feet.

I'll send another nurse in.

Come on, Williams, just call it a minute.

John.

Marion.

What's the matter?

What's happened?

My dreadful news.

What is it?

Well, they came to the hospital tonight to arrest Dr.

Janney.

Is that something to get so upset about?

Well, they changed their minds because he cleared himself,

but I heard the inspector say that they'd gone off to Dr.

Janney because your mother's will was chiefly in his favor.

What?

Yes, in his favor, leaving you and Alice a very small amount.

Well, that doesn't seem possible.

Mother hated Janney.

Well, she wasn't exactly fond of you and Alice either.

Well,

I suppose she disinherited you because she found out she wanted to marry me.

Well, how could she have found out?

No one knew, not even Alice.

We were too careful.

Oh, it doesn't make sense.

The inspector must be wrong.

No, I'm afraid not.

The news came from Crothers.

And surely Crothers would know about your mother's will.

It certainly looks like the end of everything for you, doesn't it, Jo?

I hope it isn't the in between us.

I've done everything for you I could.

You've been very generous, John.

No.

I won't let you down, just because you won't come into the money.

I've something else to tell you, John.

They arrested the man who was brought into the hospital with your mother.

Paige?

How did you know that was his name?

What do you mean?

That isn't the name he gave at the hospital.

Who is he?

What do you know about him?

I owed Paige a lot of money.

Mother wouldn't give me one cent other than my salary.

You know that.

And I didn't know which way to turn,

because he said that he was going to collect from her.

So you planned the accident.

And when it wasn't successful and you had her at your mercy at the hospital,

you killed her.

Marion, I swear to you I didn't kill her.

I only borrowed money from Paige.

That's as far as I went.

Do you expect me to believe that?

Do you expect anyone to believe that?

I've told you this much.

Why should I lie to you now?

I didn't kill her.

You planned to.

That's enough for anyone.

And when Paige starts talking, you're as good as in the chair.

Yeah.

I couldn't help hearing part of your conversation.

I dislike women, especially nurses.

They think because they know anatomy, they're quite superior.

I was going to marry one once, and just prior to the ceremony, we were about...

Capitalist.

Oh, dear.

I tell you, Inspector, you can talk until the cows come home.

I'm telling you the truth, the whole truth of nothing but the truth.

So help me now.

Can I have a cigar?

Then I'm supposed to believe you were just out in the country taking a little

ride when you were struck by a hit -and -run driver.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Now you get it, Inspector.

That's it.

I'm just out there riding around, minding my own business, taking the air.

Then why did you assault Sergeant Dealey and break out of the hospital?

Well, that's because...

Well, that was to escape police persecution.

See, there's a rumor going around the hospital that murder had been done,

and I'm afraid that I'm going to get rumored right into jail if I don't take it

on the lam.

Now, who told you Mrs.

Steck was murdered?

Now, wait a minute.

Give me time.

A nurse told me.

And you say you weren't in an automobile with Paige.

What?

Huh?

You say you weren't in an automobile with Paige.

No, I wasn't in an automobile with Paige,

and you and nobody else can get me to say I was.

Then why did you run out on him when he was hurt?

I...

Huh?

Why did you run out on him when he was hurt?

I didn't run out on him.

You didn't?

No, I...

I just went to go get help.

How could you go to get help if you aren't there with him?

I...

Huh?

How could you go to...

Are you hard of hearing?

No, why?

Are you?

Then why do you make me repeat questions?

Huh?

Why do you make me repeat questions?

I don't know.

I guess I'd like to hear you talk.

How could you go after help if you weren't there with him?

I...

Well, I...

I walked right into it, didn't you?

Listen, I'm innocent.

And I can get friends to prove it.

See what kind of cigars Page likes, will you, Pat?

Well, Sarge, you can phone the DA's office to come right over.

Congratulations, Inspector.

I wasn't getting any place with this, though.

And we needed a snorkel for in there, too.

You better, Inspector.

He can take him to his cell, right?

Wait a minute, Inspector.

Well?

Page and I are partners in this thing.

You understand?

And I've got as much right to confess as he has.

Well, what do you know that Page hasn't already told us?

I know as much about it as he does.

And if he squealed, I expect to get the same break as he gets.

You should have.

Well, I'm going to get it, too, and nobody can see that I won't get it.

Yeah, well, quite right.

Now, as long as you insist on talking,

we'll see if you both tell the same story.

Now, go on and tell it in your own way, and quietly, they'll be nervous.

Come on, we ain't got all day.

Well, you see, it was like this.

Stat owes Page a lot of money.

Page warned him.

Stat says he couldn't give it to him.

But he fixed it up with us to shove all the lady Stat into a ditch

accidentally.

Accidentally?

Yes, accidentally, on purpose.

He figured he'd be in the money shortly after the funeral was over.

Hey, what about them cigars?

It was just a copper sense of humor.

Page.

Page.

Take him to the prison ward.

He's booked for conspiracy to commit murder.

Oh, dear.

Give me the stacked memorial hospital.

Oh, do you mind if I take off my coat, Inspector?

It's getting awful hot in here.

Why, certainly, Lord, I want you to be comfortable.

Take that easy chair there.

Oh, thanks, thanks.

Come on, sit down and get you some lemonade.

Oh, would you?

Why, certainly.

Well, thanks.

That's very nice of you.

That's very nice of you.

Now, as I understand it,

this boy Stack thinks that his mother has left him a lot of money.

Oh, sure.

You see, he thought that he'd pay off page, live like a millionaire, buy boats,

yachts, everything, and, et cetera.

Then Stack is our man.

Oh, sure.

Stack's your man.

I'm not.

Hey, Inspector.

Stack's not at the hospital.

Hasn't showed up all day.

Do I phone his home?

No, we'll go and contact him first, all right?

See that the snorkel forgets up here to take Thomas' deposition and send and

get him a gallon of lemonade.

Ah, and see that he drinks it.

Now, remember, this is not a honky tonk or a police station.

It's a private home.

So when you get inside...

Take off your hat.

I'm Police Inspector Queen.

I want to see Mrs. Stack at once.

Hadn't you better see Miss Alice, sir.

She's in the living room.

Inspector Queen, Miss Stack.

I'm here to talk to your brother.

My brother's been murdered.

Murdered?

He was hanged just like the nurse, Miss Fox.

Well, where's the body?

In there, just as we found him.

Well, who discovered it?

I did, sir, when he didn't come to breakfast.

Well, why didn't you call the police?

We were just going to when you arrived.

Really?

Phone Williams, you're getting over here right away.

Let me show you the phone, sir.

Start him.

Notify the hospital.

Anyone in particular?

Yes.

Tell Dr.

Janney.

Hello, Doc.

The Inspector wants you to come up to the Stack home right away.

Yeah, it looks like another one.

Really?

Well, it's murder, all right.

That body's been hanging there for hours.

Williams is on his way.

Good.

Now, you get your servants up here right away.

I want to question them, sir.

They're doing as they were about last night.

All right, Inspector, but...

Just get them up here, as I told you, if you please.

Well, Williams?

Well,

there are no marks on his throat except the one made by the belt that hanged

him.

It'd be impossible to hang a man of his size while he was alive and kicking.

So what?

Suicide, not murder.

Suicide?

He beat us to it.

I'll get you.

Well, when he found we had Thomas in Pays in jail,

he came home last night and knocked himself off because he knew that we would

eventually pin it on him.

Well, then we can all go get a cup of coffee.

Hello.

Good evening.

You sit down there and stay put.

Hmm?

Yes, I said put.

Look, Dad, have you seen this?

John Stack kills mother and nurse, then slays self.

Yes, what about it?

Stack didn't kill Miss Fox because he had an alibi for the time of the murder.

Who's his alibi?

Me.

Don't you remember, Dad?

We chased Thomas all over the hospital, and we came back to Stack's office,

and he was still there with Dr.

Dunn.

He didn't leave until I left to go to Miss Fox's apartment.

That's right, son.

And if he didn't kill Fox, he didn't kill Miss Stack either.

Fox was killed to prevent her from naming the murderer.

This could be a break.

Might lull the murderer to sleep.

They can feel he's sitting pretty.

And that he is Johnny.

I was right from the start.

The motive was still money.

How do we know he was telling the truth when he said he didn't know what the

will contained?

Really?

Go after Johnny and bring him here personally right away.

Yes, Inspector.

Good luck, Dad.

All right, boy.

Oh, well, I finally convinced him stack, wasn't it?

He's back to Janney again.

Oh, that's ridiculous.

Dr.

Janney doesn't look like a murderer.

I never do.

He's a very pleasant and talented man, but there's plenty against him.

Are you going to stand there and let them arrest him for something he didn't

do?

Look, Nicky, I'm not the police department.

I'll tell you what.

You go in and make a complaint to Dad, see how far he'll get.

Oh, so you think it's funny to persecute a man like Dr.

Janney.

You could stay right here and have a good life all by yourself.

But not by yourself.

Good night.

Why, Miss Porter, I simply had to see you tonight.

I got your address in the hospital.

Oh, won't you come in?

Thank you.

Oh, what a nice place you have here.

Oh, thank you.

I hope I didn't interrupt your dinner.

Not at all.

I was just having coffee.

Won't you join me?

I could certainly use one.

Oh, well, sit down, will you?

Excuse me.

Miss Tracy, I came to tell you that the police have reopened the stack case.

Oh, really?

Not according to the evening papers.

Duty, cream, and sugar.

Please, but they've changed their minds.

And they're trying to pin it on Dr.

Janney again.

I know you're on his side from the way you acted last night.

And well, I was hoping that you might help me find a way to clear him.

I'd love to.

I just can't imagine how.

Thank you.

I wonder, is it possible after all that Dr.

Janney is guilty?

Of course not.

No.

What I'm wondering is why John Stack killed himself exactly when he did.

You know, I have a hunch.

You know, I have a hunch.

that somebody told him those gangsters had been arrested.

And if we could find out who that somebody is, we might have the real killer.

May I have a cigarette?

Oh, please do.

I'm sorry.

Charm the keys, baby.

All of these keys were found in Mrs.

Fox's handbag.

We know what they're all for, except this one.

Did you ever see it before?

Take a good look.

No, I haven't.

Wait a minute, Dad.

If she was carrying it around in her bag,

it must be the key to a friend's house.

Where's the rest of that stuff they brought down from the apartment?

In that bag.

Where is it?

I think you're wasting your time.

I don't.

Do you happen to know how far away you've been?

Friendly these two women were, Dr.

Janney.

I'm afraid I'm not well enough acquainted with any of my staff to know anything

about their friendships.

Dad, may I borrow that key out?

I could try something.

Certainly.

Take him home.

Now, take Villy with me?

Yes.

Take him out of here.

I want to finish this investigation.

Naturally,

I'd rather you didn't mention anything about my friendship with John Stagg.

Of course I won't.

It'd be too embarrassing for it to come out now.

Yes.

Our relationship was very casual, of course.

Yes.

Yes, I can see that.

Well, I guess I'd better be going.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Oh, your gloves.

I'm leaving on my vacation.

Too bad they didn't give it to you before all those terrible things happened.

What do you mean?

Before Mrs.

Stagg was murdered?

Before Miss Fox was killed?

Before John Stagg committed suicide?

Yes.

Yes, then I'd have missed all those dreadful things.

You're not going on a vacation.

You're running away.

You killed Mrs.

Stagg so that you could marry her son and come into her money.

Really, Miss Porter?

Your accusation was so serious.

It would be very comical.

And then you killed Miss Fox?

Because she saw you come out of Mrs.

Stagg's room after you did it.

You should be writing Ellery Queen's book.

You've a marvelous imagination.

Imagination?

Maybe.

And then you drove John Stagg to suicide by telling him those gangsters had

been arrested.

You knew it because I told you myself.

You've said enough.

Get in that room.

First on your left, sir.

My hunch was right.

Don't just shout to her, so she'll know we're here.

Take it easy, sir.

My gun's as good as a confession.

Hillary, it's me, Nicky.

I'm in the trunk.

Where's the key?

I threw it out the window.

Don't let her get away, Hillary.

She killed him.

She tried to kill me.

She's crazy.

I'll take this one to headquarters.

You'd better get Nicky to a locksmith.

What are you laughing at?

Dad should see you now.

Come on!

Let me out of this car!

Come on, let me out of this car!