All language subtitles for The Big Clock 1948 1080p BluRay x264-OFT_[English] (SUBRIP)

(Door opening)

(Man) 'Whew! That was close.

'What happens if I get inside the clock
and the watchman's there?

'Think fast, George.

'That's a break.
He's off duty.

'More guards.
The lobby's sewed up like a sack,

'and they said, "Shoot to kill."

'They meant you, George. You.

'How'd I get
into this rat race, anyway?

'I'm no criminal. What happened?
When did it all start?

'Just thirty-six hours ago,
I was down there,

'crossing that lobby on my way to work,
minding my own business,

'looking forward
to my first vacation in years.

'Thirty-six hours ago, I was a decent,
respectable, law-abiding citizen

'with a wife and a kid
and a big job.

'Just thirty-six hours ago
by the big clock.'

(Man 2)
And it's the most accurate

and the most unique
privately owned clock in the world.

Now, behind this huge
map of the globe

is a single master mechanism.

Built at a cost of $600,000,

it is set so you can tell the time
anywhere on the Earth -

London, Chicago,
Honolulu and so forth.

It also synchronizes
the clocks in this building

with those in the secondary
printing plants

in Kansas City and San Francisco

and in the 43 foreign bureaus
of the Janoth organization.

- Hey, mister, I'd like to ask you something.
- Yes, sir?

What happens if the clock stops?

Oh, Mr. Janoth
would never permit that.

- Good morning, Betty.
- Good morning, Mr. Stroud.

- Here it is.
- Thank you.

(Guide) We will now visit
the public exhibits

displaying the latest developments

in the various fields covered
by the Janoth publications.

(Woman) Elevator is going up.
Going up.

This elevator is going up.
Next car, please.

- Hello, Joe.
- Hiya, George.

- Hello, George.
- Hello, Lily.

- You're looking mighty smart this morning.
- Well, thank you.

I should ride this more often.

- "Sportways".
- (Man) Hold it!

Ten, please.
Hello, Miss Gold.

- Oh, hello.
- Mister, would you mind?

The elevator doesn't run
unless the door is closed.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Excuse me.

Do you work this shift every day?

"Airways".

(Man) We might feature
the reliability angle.

You're safer in an airplane than you are
in a bathtub. Here's a sketch.

We've got nice elevators
in our building, too.

Come on over sometime.
I'll give you a free ride.

- "Artways".
- Down?

Up.

What's the matter?
I got poison ivy?

We are not allowed to speak
to people in the elevators.

- Mr. Janoth doesn't permit it.
- (Laughing)

"Styleways", please.

Watch your step.

Gentlemen,
watch yourselves.

- "Newsways", please.
- "Newsways".

"Newsways".

- "Crimeways".
- Eleven?

Age: 63,
frequents Metropolite City Club,

Broadmeadow Country Club,
Skyview Luncheon Club.

Background:
banking business for 46 years.

I'm expecting him any minute.
I'll tell him the instant he arrives.

Oh, hold it just a minute.

Mr. Stroud, Salt Lake's on the line,
and your wife's been trying to reach you.

- Put Salt Lake on.
- But they're on.

- Alright, fine.
- The conference. It's almost 11:00.

- Plenty of time.
- But Mr. Janoth...

Hello. Yeah?
Yes, this is Stroud.

- Oh, hello, Max. How you making out?
- But, George...

You have? Oh, wonderful!
Where was he?

What did I tell you? Once a seashell man,
always a seashell man.

- George, they're waiting.
- Will he talk?

Well, pretend you're a fellow collector.

Ask him if he was gonna spend
the dough on oysters or blondes.

Yeah. And look, you've got
an hour and 53 minutes to get the story.

Attaboy, Max.

- We've just located Fleming.
- They're waiting for you.

Grace, call the composing room.
We're gonna replate.

- Oh, and get my wife.
- Yes, sir.

George, you're the only one not there.
Mr. Janoth will be furious. Time is money.

Fleming is in Salt Lake.
Milner's gonna wire us a story.

- Here are the proofs you'd already set up.
- (Intercom buzzes)

Go on, Roy. Go on.

Hello?

Oh, hello, darling.
Yeah.

Huh?

No bath and no oatmeal?
Let me talk to him.

Alright, but he doesn't
believe he's going.

He thinks it's just like last trip
and the time before

and all the other trips
we didn't go on.

I'll let you talk to him.

George, Daddy wants
to talk to you.

Hello, Daddy.
But I don't believe we're going.

But this is the McCoy, an expedition.
Your mother's gonna do the cooking.

What? Yeah, I know it's tough,
but you'll do the hunting.

That's why you should eat your oatmeal,
build up your strength.

You better believe me.
Look under my pillow.

Oh, boy! Look, Mommy!
An atomic disintegrator!

(Gun clicking, popping)

I think you've sold him, Wonderman.
I'll let you know at lunch.

A little child psychology, dear.

Alright, dear, 12:30 at the Van Barth.
Bye, darling.

Today's agenda is solely on the subject
of increasing circulation.

The figures for the second quarter
have fallen off badly.

From a monthly high
of 33 million in January,

we've had a six-percent recession,

a loss of almost two million copies.

In some cases, we are below the circulation
levels we have guaranteed our advertisers.

Mr. Janoth's very upset.

- He's going to want ideas.
- (Clock chiming)

Sit down, gentlemen.
Sit down.

I resent this.
I resent this deeply.

There are 2,081,376,000 seconds
in the average man's life,

each tick of the clock
the beat of a heart,

and yet you sit here uselessly
ticking your lives away

because certain members of our conference
are not on schedule.

- Where is George Stroud?
- Roy's trying to find him.

I do not propose to be held up,
not even by Mr. Stroud.

Have you told the others
what we want?

- Ideas to build circulation.
- Not just ideas, Steve, dynamic angles.

We live in a dynamic age, gentlemen,
with dynamic competitors -

radio, newspapers, newsreels -

and we must anticipate trends
before they are trends.

We are, in effect, clairvoyants.
Correct?

(All) Yes, Mr. Janoth.

I have provided the tools -
a budget of $37 million, a staff of 3,600,

bureaus from Reykjavik to Cairo,
Moscow to Buenos Aires.

All this is waste, sheer waste,
under a leadership of chuckleheads.

Mr. Roberts, you have exactly one minute
to tell us how you propose

to add 100,000 subscriptions
to "Newsways".

(Clears throat) Well, uh,
I suggest that we offer prizes

for the best letters from subscribers on, uh,
how to preserve world peace.

- Sorry, Mr. Janoth.
- $1,000 each week

and a grand prize of $25,000
to be awarded...

The general theory
of the publishing business, Roberts,

is to sell magazines,
not to pay people to read them.

Now, Mr. Cordette, as acting manager
during Stroud's vacation,

you have one minute to tell us your ideas

on how to add 50,000 readers
to "Crimeways".

Well, uh, I have one suggestion
that might be of value:

a new feature to be called
"Solution of the Week".

- Miss Perkins.
- (Perkins) 'Yes, Mr. Janoth?'

I'm listening, Cordette.

- Hold the Boston call.
-...or the most unique solution of the crime.

Steve, remind me
of the Boston business.

Highlighting the fact, of course,
that crime does not pay.

- It's educational...
- Primigenous, stale,

a hash-up of last week's news -
exactly what we don't want.

- Fleming.
- What was that, uh, Stroud?

- I was reminding him of Fleming.
- The absconder?

Yes. His story will sell
100,000 extra copies next week.

If you mean his personal story,
I'd agree,

but haven't you overlooked
the necessity of finding him first?

We have.

- Have what?
- Found him.

We have him in Salt Lake.

We're replating one and two.
It's too late to touch the cover now,

but we'll do what we did
with the Isleman story -

run a 3-inch paper band around every copy
with "Fleming Found" in block letters.

Make them red.

Steve, advertise this in the morning papers.
Use the 25 key cities.

Young man,
you've stumbled on something -

perhaps not exactly
what I've been looking for,

but nonetheless valuable.

- You have struck 12:00.
- Thank you.

Contrary to the anticipated
nationwide trend,

media research reports a present level
of want-to-buy in this country at 25.6.

Oh, hello, George.
Sit down.

Up point 4 from last month.

Nevertheless, our circulation fails
to reflect this trend.

Uh, I'll finish this later,
Miss Blanchard.

George, you're getting to be
a regular missing persons bureau.

Fleming's number three this year.

Four if you count the man
we found hiding in his own basement.

- What are your plans for next week?
- Well, that's Cordette's problem.

Mine shall be in West Virginia.

Mr. Janoth wants you to follow through...
personally.

- On my vacation?
- Postponed.

Oh, no. Oh, no, he can't do that.
This is my honeymoon.

- Honeymoon? With a five-year-old child?
- Yes. You know why?

Janoth.

Seven years ago, I was assistant editor
at the "Wheeling West Virginia Clarion",

a happy man.

Then I run down a guy police
in three states have been looking for.

Headlines three feet high.
I got a $15 raise.

So I marry my girl, and we go
on our honeymoon to Indian Lake.

Idyllic.

I'm about to carry her over the threshold
when the phone rings. It's Janoth.

Wants me to run "Crimeways" magazine,
"the Police Blotter of the Nation".

Right away! Not next week or tomorrow,
but tonight!

Two hours later,
we're on the train for New York.

You'd have done better to stay
in West Virginia at 50 bucks a week?

I had more in the bank then
than I have now,

and my wife still hasn't had
a honeymoon.

Put yourself
in her place, Steve.

How would you like to be a married woman
who never had a honeymoon?

It's become an obsession with her.

(On speaker) 'Ever since,
I've been working 26 hours a day,

'Christmases,
4th of Julys, Mother's Days.

'What does Janoth think I am -

'a clock with springs and gears
instead of flesh and blood?'

(Steve) 'That's not the right attitude, George.
Janoth expects loyalty.'

- (George) 'Oh, I'm loyal, alright.'
- Shut that thing off.

What are you doing here?

Just tidying up, darling.

Isn't that the young man you pointed out
as "the troublesome Mr. Stroud"?

You find him interesting?
How did you get up here?

Well, it did present a problem.

The tycoon's lair, the Berchtesgaden
of the publishing world,

seemed impregnable
till I thought of your private elevator.

How did you get past the guard?

- He's human.
- Mm-hmm.

You're the only
Superman around here.

I think he must've been
winding his watch.

You don't expect me
to approve of your being here.

Not even on business?

- My singing lessons.
- Hagen attended to that yesterday.

- You should've had a check this morning.
- But he made a mistake.

They were to cost $2,000.

Remember?

Or perhaps you think
my voice isn't worth cultivating.

Your voice is worth exactly
what that check reads.

- Miss Perkins?
- (Perkins) 'Yes, Mr. Janoth?'

Get me the name of the guard
on my private elevator.

'Yes, sir.'

The public elevators are this way.
I'm six minutes behind my schedule.

I have to fly to Washington at 6:10,

and I will not have
my papers disarranged.

It confuses my secretary.

I'll see you tomorrow night.

10:55.

(George) 'If I wasn't up to my ears,

'I'd tell Janoth to take his $30,000
and buy another clock.'

George, nobody's indispensable
to this organization except Mr. Janoth.

- Mull it over.
- I don't have to.

- It's honeymoon regardless.
- Even if it means your job?

Well, does it?

Mull it over.

(Intercom buzzes)

Yes, Earl.

When does he think he's leaving?

'Late this afternoon.
I couldn't do a thing with him.'

I'd better take charge
of the young man.

Oh, and, Steve, on the fourth floor
in the broom closet,

a bulb has been burning
for several days.

- Find the man responsible. Dock his pay.
- 'Yes, Earl.'

- Table, Miss?
- No, thank you. I'm looking for someone.

Oh, there they are.

Pardon me.

How about another?

- I really shouldn't.
- Bartender, two more stingers.

Make it three.

Uh, no, just two, please.

I have to go. An appointment
with my psychiatrist.

- Do you always drink stingers, Mr. Stroud?
- Mm-hmm.

- What makes you think my name is Stroud?
- Oh, I'm psychic.

Horoscopes, crystal balls, astrology.

Perhaps I should've brought
a deck of cards.

Your hand will do.

Oh, I see a stranger
coming into your life.

- A woman of mystery.
- Huh!

Does she know I'm married?

Yes.

And I saw a recent quarrel
with a very unpleasant man,

a publisher.

And the words, "26 hours a day,
Christmases, 4th of Julys..."

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

You've been doing a lot more
than just reading palms.

Well, you might add a pinch of listening
in Earl's office this morning.

- What were you doing in his office?
- We're old friends.

Perhaps I should say we were.

Didn't think he had any friends.

Thought all he was crazy about
was clocks.

Maybe I have a clock.

You know, what you said this morning made
me think we have a great deal in common.

You know the inside Janoth.
I know the outside.

- And together we...
- (Sighs heavily)

Oh, oh, Georgette!
Say, you're late.

- Oh, oh, this is Miss...
- Pauline York.

- Yes, she was telling my fortune.
- Oh!

With tea leaves, I see.
Don't let me disturb you.

Oh, I'm afraid the psychic vibrations
are unsympathetic.

Goodbye, George.

She is psychic.
I'm definitely unsympathetic.

- Darling, let me explain.
- Well, it better be good.

Believe me, it is good,
because A: She just sat down,

and B: I wouldn't make
a pass at her on a bet.

C: You knew I'd be along any minute.

And D: This proves it - a reserved table,
champagne, everything.

- Now, did you get the tickets?
- Mm-hmm.

A drawing room
on the 722 from Penn Station.

- Next stop, Wheeling, West Virginia.
- I still can't believe we're going.

- I get so worried sometimes.
- Worried?

- That's no mood for a honeymoon, darling.
- I know.

But sometimes I think you married
that magazine instead of me.

We got a certificate that says different.

But we don't live that way. We're
like two strangers sharing an apartment.

Either you come dragging home at night
too tired even to talk to me,

else you're off having fun
with some dancer in San Francisco.

- I told you. That was an article.
- I could write an article.

"How to look at a wall
in six easy lessons."

We should have stayed in West Virginia.
We'd be a family now,

an honest-to-goodness,
full-time family.

Oh, George, the whole thing is wrong.
Little George doesn't even know you.

A boy needs his father,

someone to teach him how to play football,
make model airplanes.

But I tell you, darling,
it's all different now.

That's what you said last year
just before you didn't show up at the airport.

But nothing will stop me this time,

neither snow nor rain
nor heat nor gloom of night.

Here's to a very happy honeymoon,
Mrs. Stroud.

And a happy honeymoon to you, sir.

- It's just as topical...
- Wait. Both of you.

(Perkins) 'Mr. Stroud, composing room
is screaming for those proofs.'

Coming right up!

There might be something
in that comic strip artist murder.

Might feature cartoons
instead of photographs.

Might work up a weekly feature:
cartoon crimes.

(Perkins) 'Mr. Stroud,
Mr. Janoth calling on one.'

- Say, why don't we have a...
- Shh! Janoth.

Yes, Mr. Janoth?

Yes, sir.
Bearing right down on it.

Running off the bands now.
Green.

But, Mr. Janoth, the printer
doesn't like red ink, says it won't match.

But you can't fire a man
because he doesn't like red ink.

I guess you can.

Yes, sir.

All set up for the next two weeks.
What's that?

I'll be here till about 4:30
this afternoon.

Why, yes, I... I'd like
to say goodbye to you, too.

Come on, fellas.
Let's get to work.

Mr. Hagen wants you.

Well, we'll get by this issue alright,
but I hate to think about the next two weeks.

Stop worrying, Roy.
Everything's gonna be alright.

- Mr. Janoth is coming.
- What?

Mr. Janoth is coming.

George, you whetted my curiosity.

Nice of you to come down, Mr. Janoth.
I was tied up until this minute.

This job you've been doing
finding people -

Fleming, Cipriani, Mrs. Dewhurst -
ahead of the police every time:

- How do you do it?
- You've heard of our blackboard.

- I suspect it's more than that.
- Well, let me show you.

We call it "the system
of the irrelevant clue".

The police only look for relevant clues.
They haven't got time for much else.

But we assemble all the clues.
We recreate the man -

his character, his mind, his emotions.

When you have that pattern,
it's easy enough to figure out where he'll be.

Interesting.

You'd never guess what broke
the Fleming case: seashells.

He was a collector.
Paleozoic bivalves.

I checked his index and found that
he had every variety except one.

- I had the name...
- Never mind about the name, George.

Anyway, this shell is in the conchological
wing of the Salt Lake Museum,

and it's not for sale, so I assigned
a man to watch it constantly.

Fleming was going to steal it?

Wouldn't you steal something
if you wanted it badly enough?

I might.

George, you're an intelligent man,
and you've done a fine job.

The credit belongs to the "Crimeways" staff.
They dig up the details.

That's another thing I like about you, George:
You're modest.

That's why we've always worked
so well together.

We've had our little differences.
They've been immaterial.

- Six years, isn't it?
- Uh, seven.

Shoulder-to-shoulder, comrades in arms,
neither letting the other down.

And we've forged ahead.

Now this, uh, Fleming story,

properly followed up,
should boost circulation 10 percent.

- Oh, 15.
- That's the spirit.

I know you'll squeeze
every ounce out of it.

I'll give you carte blanche
for the next month.

Play it for drama and suspense.

- Use anybody in the organization.
- Wait a minute.

- Did you say "next month"?
- Then your vacation, all expenses paid,

- South America...
- West Virginia and tonight.

George.

You really had me going there for a minute
until I began to gag over that soft soap.

I'll dispense with the soap.

George, you'll see this through with us
or you're finished with Janoth Publications.

That's OK with me.

And I'll have you, uh,
blacklisted all over the country.

You'll never work on another magazine
or on any other publication.

- It's still OK.
- I'll give you six minutes to reconsider.

I don't need them.
I don't need six seconds.

Good afternoon, Miss Adams.
How's that baby of yours?

- Fine.
- Splendid.

(Intercom buzzes)

- (Perkins) 'Mr. Stroud?'
- Yes.

'There's someone
on the line for you, a woman.'

What's her name?

'She won't say.
I think she's selling something.

'Keeps talking about telling your fortune.'

- Oh, put her on.
- 'Yes, sir.'

How are you?
Wanna make a bet?

Five-to-one your crystal ball
hasn't given you the latest flash.

I have been fired
as of 5:22 this afternoon,

name inscribed in gold letters
at the head of the blacklist,

never to work
in the publishing business again.

- What are you going to do about it?
- First, I'm going out to get a good, stiff drink.

Good. I'll join you.

I'm sorry, but I have
to go on my vacation.

But this is business, Mr. Stroud.

You see, he thinks
he's gonna blacklist me, too,

but I know enough about Mr. Janoth

to make him change his mind
about both of us.

I think you'll find it to our mutual benefit
to meet me at the Van Barth

in, say, about a half an hour?

Well, if you think
it's that important, I'll drop by.

- Another martini, please.
- Pardon me, please.

Same for me.

And what do you think she does?
She marries her sponsor.

(All laughing)

- Excuse me.
- Alright.

Can you imagine? Just because a fella
doesn't like red ink, he fires him.

- Earl hates green.
- Oh, he does?

Bartender, bring us two more stingers,
and this time make them with green mint.

- With green mint?
- Green mint. That's what the boy said.

Oh, no.

George, at the office,
did you ever use the confidential files?

- I practically lived in 'em.
- That's what I was hoping.

You know, Earl has a passion
for obscurity.

He won't even have his biography
in "Who's Who".

Sure. He doesn't want to let his left hand
know whose pocket the right one is picking.

I think we can remedy that.

You mean write his biography?
Who'd buy it?

Earl would.

You know,
that's a very interesting idea,

but not in my line.

- What time is it?
- 7:25.

You'll excuse me, but...

- What?
- 7:25.

- Holy smoke. We've missed our train.
- There are lots of other trains.

My wife will never forgive me.

You'd better bring two more.
Make 'em triples.

- With green mint.
- Green.

Horrible.

What do you mean, she left?
I was supposed to pick her up.

Hey, just a minute, will you?

She picked herself up,
Mr. Stroud,

and she said if you weren't at the station
by train time, she was leaving on schedule.

Thanks, Daisy.

If I don't get to that phone, mister,
I'm gonna be in trouble at home.

Trouble? You don't know
the meaning of the word.

If you don't mind.

Hello. Everything alright?

Wouldn't even wait
a couple of minutes for me.

Here I go and give up my job,
jeopardize my whole career for her sake,

and she won't even wait
a couple of minutes.

That's the trouble with the world: time.
There's too much of it.

Greenwich Time, Mean Time,
Mountain Standard Time,

Double British Summer Time.
There's too much of it!

Down with it all.
Man against time.

Tonight we fight
behind the barricades.

- Barkeep, where are those two drinks?
- Here they are.

Don't shilly-shally. Let's have 'em.

- (Spills)
- Oh, I beg your pardon.

I beg your pardon.

- I hope nothing's damaged.
- Here, use mine. It's bigger.

If you wish, I'll have
your handkerchief dried.

- Just get us a couple of dry drinks.
- With green mint.

With green ink... uh, mint.

- Don't forget that.
- Oh.

My singing lessons.

Didn't realize
Hagen was a music lover.

He just signs the checks for Earl,
who also happens not to love music.

Well, we'll throw clocks at him.

Green clocks.

Come on. Let's get armed. Let's get clocks.
Hundreds of 'em, all green.

You can forget
those other two drinks.

(Coughs)

White clocks, yellow clocks,
brown clocks, blue clocks.

Ah, Miss York, where are
the green clocks of yesteryear?

- Hey, a picture!
- (Train passes, bell clanging)

How do they expect
to sell things like that?

If that's what I think it is, it's gonna be worth
a lot of lettuce one of these days.

- This is the object, madam?
- Yes.

- Where did you find it?
- It was part of a lot.

- A lot of what?
- A lot of things. A consignment.

I admit it is a trifle, er... a trifle...

How much do you want for it?

Well, I haven't set a price for it yet.

- Ten dollars?
- Well, that's quite cheap,

- but considering its condition...
- I'll give you twenty.

I didn't realize this was an auction.

(Laughing)

Ten dollars,
and you needn't wrap it.

Just a moment, please.

- If this gentleman thinks it's worth twenty...
- He doesn't want it.

- Oh, yes, I do.
- Who's it by?

It's by someone
named, uh, Patterson.

Did you think it was by Rembrandt?
(Chuckling)

Why not?

Oh, leave us not haggle.
I'll give you 30 bucks for it.

Well, that's more like it.

Isn't it a pity the wrong people
always have money?

(Chuckling)

That's not what we came in for.
What was it?

- Clocks.
- Why, clocks. Certainly.

Green clocks.

Green clocks. Oh, no.
I'm sorry. No green clocks here.

That's a very strange attitude
to two tried-and-true customers.

Very well.
Very, very well.

(Man) You know,
my guarantee still stands -

a free drink to anyone who can
ask me for something I haven't got.

We should have thought of this place
a long time ago.

- Good evening, Mr. Stroud.
- Burt, me boy, how are you?

- What'll it be?
- Couple of bourbons and one for yourself.

- We can't mix drinks.
- Oh, yes, we can. That's a fallacy.

Burt. Burt, old boy.
I got you this time, Burt.

Something he'll never have.
Just watch.

Burt, a bubble.
A nice, big bubble.

This is gonna be very interesting.

Why don't you go home and try
to think of something that I have not got?

(Laughing)

- How do you like...
- They got everything. Look at that there.

- Well, Burt, me boy.
- Good luck to you.

Now, can you think of something
that you'd like to see?

- Yes. A clock.
- A clock? That's too easy.

No, it isn't.
This is a green clock.

- Green.
- Green clock.

Mm-hmm. Well, must be a green clock
around here somewhere.

- Hello, me boy! How are you?
- Well, George, how are you?

Burt, set one up
for President McKinley, will you?

Pauline, I want you to meet
the 23rd President of the United States.

- 25th, George.
- I beg your pardon.

- How do you do?
- It's a very great pleasure, madam.

Thank you.
I heard you were dead.

He is also Colonel Jefferson Randolph
of Randolph Farms, Georgia.

Colonel Randolph?

We Jefferson Randolphs, ma'am,
propose to fight the Yankees

until the last drop
of bourbon has been shed.

Inspector Regan
of the homicide detail.

As an officer of the law, ma'am,
it is my duty to warn you:

Anything this fella says
can be held against him.

Judge Goodbody, Dr. Lifesaver,

Christopher Columbus
and Theodore Roosevelt.

- Here's your medicine.
- Thank you. We collectively thank you.

That's alright.

- Don't go away with the glass.
- I won't.

Very happy to have met you.
Good luck to you.

So long.

Jefferson Randolph?
Inspector Regan? Who is that?

Radio, Pauline. Radio.

- George. George.
- What?

Do you remember
what we were talking about?

No.

Hey, how about that clock, Burt?

Oh, the clock.
Wait a minute. I don't think...

- Oh, no. It won't do it.
- I didn't think so.

- Well, how about this?
- I said green.

Green. I know. You said green.
Let me see.

- Oh, I have it here.
- Not in a mile and a half.

- A brand-new sundial.
- Sundial?

And a nice, green ribbon
from my old uncle's shillelagh.

- I'm telling you, the guy's wonderful.
- Just as green as the old sod itself.

Burt, you're wonderful. Let's have
a little green music, shall we?

- Just a minute. How about that thing...
- Just put it right on the bill.

Hey, laughin' boy, how about
a little green music, huh?

- George, claviash.
- Oh, smish, come on. A little green music.

Alright, junior.
"E" flat.

Hey! Yee-hoo!

Hey, Burt, set up drinks for the boys,
and make 'em green!

- Green.
- (Burt) Got ya!

(♪ Fairground music)

George. George.

- Mm.
- George, come on.

- I'm fixing you something.
- Mm.

You'll feel better.

(Vehicle pulls up, door opens)

George. George, wake up.

- Earl's car's downstairs. Come on.
- Huh? What happened?

- You passed out. He's on his way up.
- Who is?

Janoth. Janoth. Come on, now.

You gotta get up.
Hurry. Hurry.

You'll be alright.
Here's your hat.

Here's your hat.
Take your halo.

- No, I want you to have it. Little memento.
- Alright, thank you, but hurry. Hurry!

Wait till you hear the elevator,
then use the stairs.

(Elevator doors close)

George! George! Your picture!

(Elevator doors open)

(Buzzing)

Oh, hello, dear.

I'm so glad
you didn't have to stay over.

I said, I'm so glad
you didn't have to stay over.

- Was it a pleasant evening?
- Marvelous.

- Met a lot of bright, brand-new people.
- Sounds interesting. What were you doing?

Oh, just moving around
from spot to spot.

- Van Barth, a few other places.
- Oh, don't turn the radio on.

- I like it. Don't you?
- (♪ Music starts playing)

- Have a nice trip?
- Was he one of them?

One of who?

Oh, you mean the bright,
brand-new people? Yes.

Who was this brand-new person?

Oh, just a man.
I don't suppose you know him.

His name's Jefferson Randolph.

- Southern family.
- I suppose.

- Charming boy.
- What does he do?

Nothing much, I'm afraid.

- Sort of a playboy.
- Where did you get this?

Some crazy bar he goes to.

At least this time
he wears a clean shirt.

- Just what do you mean by that?
- You know what I mean.

Are you bringing that up again?
Throwing that cab driver in my face?

- You never forget him, do you?
- No. Do you?

No, you cheap imitation Napoleon.

And you don't forget the bellboy
or the lifeguard last summer,

or the tout at Saratoga
and who knows how many others.

You don't forget any of them, do you,
including the one to come.

You talk!
You of all people!

You talk about my friends. Hah!
That's priceless.

What about you and the "Artways"
secretary? You think I don't know?

And the stenographer, the elevator girl,
the kid in publicity, the photographer's model.

Do you think they'd look at you twice
if you weren't the great Mr. Janoth?

Do you think you could make
any woman happy?

Have you lived this long without knowing that
everybody laughs at you behind your back?

You'd be pathetic
if you weren't so disgusting.

You flabby, flabby, ludicrous, pa... No!

(Thud)

Earl.

Steve, I've just killed someone.

I've no right to come here,
but I didn't know where else to go.

Well, she's been asking for it
for a long time.

She's a regular little comic.

She was one of the most generous women
that ever lived.

- Then why did you kill her?
- I don't know, Steve.

I just don't know.

From here I go to my lawyer,
then to prison or even the chair.

- I'm sorry I disturbed you.
- Don't be a fool, Earl.

- What about Janoth Publications?
- I know. What can I do?

Earl, do you want to fight,
or do you want to quit?

Steve, if there's any chance at all,
you know that I'll take it.

Of course there's a chance.

You're not the first man
who ever got into a jam.

You've been very discreet about Pauline.
No one knows about her but you and me.

Now, let's see what we can work out.

Tell me what happened.

- I can't describe that, Steve.
- Try, Earl.

Thirty seconds before,
I didn't intend anything like it.

I just don't understand it.

I killed her with some sort of a sundial
she'd picked up somewhere. Heavy metal.

That's still there.

Where's your hat?

I left that.

Alright, Earl.

I'll go over there
and clean things up.

Steve, I'm gratified.

I always thought you wanted to step
into my shoes at Janoth Publications.

Earl, Janoth Publications
isn't through with you yet.

(♪ Classical music plays)

(Knocking on door)

(Knocking continues)

(Knocking continues)

- Who is it?
- (George) A husband.

Oh, it's you.

The door's unlocked.

- What's a honeymoon without a husband?
- When did that occur to you?

But I was detained, darling.

I was so angry
when the train left without you.

It was unforgivable, George.

It was unforgivable,
your leaving without me.

What was I supposed to do?
Wait at the station till our golden wedding?

That's exactly what Janoth wanted.
Please listen.

George, I know the music by heart.

"Once a man puts his foot down,
they listen to reason.

"Things are different now."

But it is different, you dope.

Sit down.

I've quit.

Quit cold - for good,
forever and for always.

I can't believe it.

- We're unemployed and penniless.
- It's too good to be true.

Blacklisted for life,
never to work on a magazine again.

Oh, George, how wonderful!

Oh, how'd it happen to you?
Why didn't you call me?

But, darling,
I had 18 million things to do.

You just can't clean up seven years
in five minutes.

Before I could turn around,
it was seven o'clock,

so I called the house, but... gone.

I'm terribly sorry, darling.

I was miserable about it.

- Were you miserable, too?
- Miserable?

I was desolate.
It's positively ironic.

Here I go and throw away $30,000 a year
and you walk out on me.

I tell you, the bottom fell out.

I walked the streets like a zombie.

Didn't meet any blonde
fortune tellers on the way, did you?

- You're not serious?
- Yes, George, I'm very serious.

I've been thinking a great deal.

I can stand a lot, but...

that's one thing
I just couldn't take.

But darling, that's something
you'll never have to take.

- You're the only blonde in my life.
- I'm a brunette.

You're the only brunette, too.

(Phone rings)

Anybody know you're here?

Only Uncle Fred,
but he wouldn't call at this hour.

- Anybody know you're here?
- Only Daisy. I left her a note.

Don't answer it.

Nobody home.

Now, tell me all about it
right from the beginning.

- Well...
- (Phone rings)

I'll have to.

Hello. Yes, Mr. Stroud.

Who? Put him on.

Hello, George.

George, we've got the story of the year,
and it's a natural for you. What's that?

I said, haven't you heard?
I've quit.

But George, this is important.

The payoff man in an enormous
war contract scandal.

- Find him and you'll get a bonus.
- (Whispers) Vacation.

Six months' vacation,
maybe the Pulitzer Prize.

I've already got the prize,
and I'm on a permanent vacation.

He won't listen.

George? Janoth.
I behaved very badly yesterday.

Steve has been remonstrating
with me about it.

I can't blame you for being sore.

As servants of the public,
it is our duty to hound this man.

Oh, the trail is still fresh. He was
around town last night with a blonde.

We know they were at the Van Barth
and some bar called Burt's.

You know who the girl is?

No, we don't care about her.
Uh, we're after the man.

Yes. Uh, Jefferson Randolph.

Jefferson Randolph?

No. Never heard of him.

George, I am not going to rest
until I have exposed this scoundrel

if I have to assign
every man in my organization.

I'll grab the next plane, Mr. Janoth.

George, if you leave now,
I'll never speak to you again.

- Darling, I have to.
- Why?

Well...

Janoth says it's a war contract scandal,
but that's a blind.

He's trying to find out who's been
playing around with his girl.

I happen to know the man.
He's a victim of circumstances.

I've got to go back,
keep Janoth from finding him.

- It would wreck the man's life.
- Wreck his life?

Well, what about ours?

- Good morning, Mr. Janoth.
- Good morning, Tom.

Not very much to go on.
Do you think Stroud can do it?

He had even less on Fleming.
We've Van Barth's and Burt's Place,

- provided Pauline was telling the truth.
- (Doors close)

She must have been.

You told me there was a tag
on the sundial.

What did you do with that?

- Put it where it belongs, back at Burt's bar.
- That's good.

You're sure there was nothing familiar
about this so-called Randolph?

I told you he was
in the shadowy part of the hall.

But he saw you?

He couldn't help it.
I was directly under the light.

Well, perhaps he doesn't know you.

Everybody knows me.

(Doors open)

He was the only one
who can connect me with Pauline.

Except me.

You have a macabre
sense of humor, Steve.

- (Man) Good morning, Mr. Janoth.
- Good morning.

- Good morning, Mr. Hagen.
- Is Stroud in yet?

- (Perkins) 'Yes, Mr. Janoth.'
- Send him to Mr. Hagen's office.

- You better talk to him first.
- Yes, Earl.

And, Steve, we have to have Randolph
before Pauline's body is found,

before he reads of the incident
and goes to the police.

It'd be most unpleasant for me if he were
to insist he saw me entering her apartment.

I should have to call him a liar.

- Send Mr. Stroud in.
- (Perkins) 'Yes, Mr. Hagen.'

George, we appreciate this.

We know what it means to you.

- It means a great deal more to my wife.
- She'll get over it.

Now let's get started.

Earl told you the man's name:
Jefferson Randolph.

- But I think it's an alias.
- Why?

The kind of business he's in.

War contract scandals?

Spending the proceeds
last night on a blonde.

Quite an assignment,
a guy spending money on a blonde.

Not quite as bad as that, George.

We have a vague description of the man
and the names of two night spots.

Read these. Throw a staff together.
As many people as you want.

We want action. Call on any
of the other magazines for help.

Set up your blackboard,
your regular technique.

You've got a free hand.

One question: Where does
all this information come from?

A... confidential source.
We're pledged not to reveal it.

Why not call in the authorities?

No, George. This is an exclusive
between you and me.

- And Janoth?
- Of course.

Still some in this old bottle, Bill.
Use it up.

Oh, I'm tired and run down.
I need a vacation.

I should take an ocean voyage.

Have you ever been abroad, Bill?
It's stimulating.

Different people,
different customs.

Do you know that in some countries,
after a murderer confesses,

the police let him run
and shoot him in the back?

Do you think this, uh, killer,
this Jefferson Randolph,

could be persuaded to run
when we find him?

His confession could just as well
be prepared afterwards

and then submitted to the police.

Justice would be served.

Wonderful story for "Crimeways".

Randolph.
Jefferson Randolph.

This is really a tough one.

- It appears we're heading into a blank wall.
- But we've worked with less before.

Maybe. Let's check the assignments.
Lily, you and Morton take the DeWitt Hotel.

- The DeWitt? The notes said the Van Barth.
- Was it the Van Barth?

Anyway, you're a society couple
out for an early afternoon bracer.

That will be a pleasure.

We'll shoot you additional information
as we get it.

Uh, Edwin.
You take Burt's Place.

Uh, don't you think you ought
to pick someone more suitable?

Why? Edwin's smart.

Besides, they'd never spot him
for an investigator.

Tony, you and Bert
are the inquiring reporters.

That means you have to check the doormen,
newsboys, taxicab drivers,

anybody that might have seen them
between the Van Barth and Burt's Place.

- Isn't that a big hunk of territory?
- We'll send somebody to help you.

Nat, you and Morgan and Talbot,
you're the research division.

This guy's name, as I say,
may be Jefferson Randolph.

He's supposed to come
from a wealthy family.

So you'll have to check the telephone books,
tax records, utility lists,

general business directories, anything
you can think of for cities within 300 miles.

Now, any questions?

- Yeah, can we ask about the blonde, too?
- Yes, you can ask about the blonde.

But don't forget, it's the man we want,
and only the man.

Suppose you climb
on your horses, huh?

Don't forget to report in
as soon as you get anything.

Roy'll be on the telephones.

George, you didn't
give me an assignment.

You help with the phones.
Get a couple extra installed.

Check.

- Oh, Miss Adams.
- (Adams) Yes, sir?

I don't want to be disturbed.

(♪ Classical music on radio,
phone rings)

Operator, I've been trying to get
Butterfield 83597 all morning.

Could you check it for me?

It's not out of order?

Thanks.

Burt's Place?
Who is this?

Charlie, this is George Stroud. Look...

No, no, it's not about the fin at all.

Look, is Burt there?

He isn't?

When he comes in,
give him a message for me, will you?

I wasn't there last night.
Get it?

Sure, I got the message.
And about that fin -

I'll pay it back
at the end of the week.

Oh, that's swell of you, George.

Goodbye.

No, you don't! So you're the guy
that's been swiping all my stock.

I was just scraping the stamp
off the bottle. I collect 'em.

- Get out of here and stay out.
- Give me another chance, Burt.

You had your last chance
on St. Patrick's Day.

- But I've got a message for you.
- Give it to the telegraph company!

OK, I'll go, but I won't come back!

Hello, Roy? Bert Finch.
I got a lead.

Yeah, a witness who saw a couple
like ours near Burt's Place.

About, uh, 10:30.

Yeah, and the man had
a picture under his arm.

Of a pair of hands.
Yeah.

Yeah, I've got it.
A painting of a pair of hands.

- Hands, Mr. Cordette?
- Hands.

What about descriptions?

Gorgeous, huh?

And the man?

Good. Keep checking.

Finch says that a man
and a gorgeous blonde

were seen outside Burt's Place,
10:30 last night.

They were both a little high.

The man had a painting
of a pair of hands under his arm.

The witness didn't get
a good look at the man.

- He was too busy staring at the blonde.
- That's too bad.

Miss Connely, on the board,
Burt's Place, 10:30.

- Oh, George.
- Yes, Steve?

Mightn't that be one of your
famous irrelevant clues?

- What?
- The picture.

Yes. Yes, it might at that.

Better get busy.

If he had it under his arm, he probably
just bought it somewhere nearby.

- I'll assign a man to check it.
- Assign a dozen men.

Check every art store
and antique shop in the neighborhood.

Maybe he paid for it with a check.

- Maybe somebody will remember the picture.
- Yeah, you're right.

(♪ Music over dialogue)

As of 12:17, the clue chart
reads as follows.

Name: Jefferson Randolph.
Appearance: Tall, medium build, black hair.

Clothes: Single-breasted, gray suit,
well-tailored, blue tie.

Age: About 35.

Frequents:
Van Barth and Burt's Place.

Habits: Collects paintings.

Character: Questionable.

(Phone buzzing)

Hello.
No, this is Kislav.

Yeah, go ahead.

Mort Spaulding at the Van Barth -
he has something.

They remember them here, but the bartender
who served them hasn't come in yet.

I've found one very charming lead, though -
the hatcheck lady.

He's been in here before,
but with his wife.

No, she can't add anything to our description,
but she remembers his hat.

Brown felt hat
with a feather in the band.

Anything else?

OK, stick around
till the bartender comes.

- Guess we better put that on the board.
- Yeah.

Miss Connely,
put that on the board.

Brown felt hat
with a feather in the band.

- Hey, George.
- Yeah?

We have located five Randolphs.
One in Forest Hills, one in Brooklyn...

Assign a man to each one.
Find out where they were last night.

Tell 'em it's a poll
on America's nightlife.

Yeah, right.

George, we've got a break.
Finch traced the picture.

An antique shop on 3rd Avenue.

The man paid $30 for it. It was
painted by an artist named Patterson.

- Sounds as if he might be a collector, huh?
- Yeah.

- What are you going to do about it?
- Hadn't we better check?

What's the name of the chief
critic on "Artways"?

- Right!
- What do you mean, "right"?

Is his name Klausmeyer
or something?

I'll phone him,
send him out to see Patterson.

Good.

Say, George.

This painting.
It's a Patterson, isn't it?

Yeah, that's what it says.
I got a couple of others at home, too.

Why don't you interview Patterson?
Randolph may be a fellow collector.

Oh, no, Roy.

The way we're going, we'll have this guy
in a couple of hours, maybe sooner.

You go ahead
and keep a check on things.

Amazing how much junk
gets in these things.

Miss Adams.

Yes, sir?

Try and keep this thing clean for me,
will you?

- Good morning, young lady.
- Beat it!

- Is your mother at home?
- I said beat it!

- (Woman) Who is it, Rosa?
- Someone trying to steal the mail!

- No, no, I was just...
- Yes?

- Miss Patterson?
- Yes?

I'm Don Klausmeyer
from "Artways" magazine.

Yes? Oh, yes! (Laughing)

- Didn't you review my show in '41?
- I think I did.

- Oh, come in, Mr. Klausman.
- "Klausmeyer".

(Laughing) I've been planning
to kill you for years.

Drop those, cherub,
and I'll break both your arms.

- Straight ahead.
- (Girl laughing)

Are all these your little ones,
Miss Patterson?

More or less.
That one's Ralph's, my first husband.

- Ralph?
- Drank himself to death.

That one's Frederick's.
Lost at sea.

I had a third husband. He...

And the twins are Mike's.

- Your present husband?
- Would be if I could find him.

Oh, don't sit there.
No, no, it collapses.

Won't you come
into my workshop?

Don't be afraid.

- A glass of sherry?
- No, no, no, thank you.

Sit down, Mr. Klaus...

- "...meyer".
- Oh.

- Another review?
- No.

Our organization, the Janoth Publications,
is trying to find someone,

possibly a collector of your pictures.

So have I for 15 years.

This man bought one of your pictures
last night in an antique shop on 3rd Avenue.

Oh, a pair of hands?

- Yes, how did you know?
- I was there, trying to buy them myself.

Then you saw this man.
Can you describe him?

Oh, yes.
Smug, self-satisfied.

Uh, symmetrical features.

- I could draw him for you.
- That would be wonderful.

Of course,
I should like to be paid.

- Of course. How would $100 be?
- (Laughing)

And of course,
the same for the blonde.

- You mean, you don't know the blonde?
- Uh, no.

She's a model that used to pose
for that horrible fashion rag of yours,

uh, "Styleways".

I wanted to use her once
for a painting, "Avarice".

- You know her name?
- Oh, yes, yes, um...

- Pauline York.
- Pauline York!

What a scoop!
Thank you!

- Oh, Mr. Klausburger.
- Klausmeyer!

What about the sketches?

Check with George Stroud
at "Crimeways" magazine.

- (Crash)
- (Klausmeyer yelps)

Oh, sorry.

Oh, Penelope.

You forgot to put away
your roller skates.

(Chuckles)

The board certainly is coming along fine.

Yep, I'd say we're getting
a pretty good picture of the man.

- Quite a drinker, collects paintings.
- Eccentric.

- Clock phobia, glib talker.
- Ladies' man.

And married.

How'd you like your wife
to see something like that, George?

- My wife?
- Well, any wife.

She'd start shooting
before you could open your mouth.

- (Phone buzzes)
- I'll take it.

Hello? Yes, Don,
this is George.

What?

You have?

- Who is she?
- Pauline York.

She modeled for "Styleways" once.
Patterson recognized her.

She was in the antique shop
trying to buy that picture herself,

and York was with a man
who outbid her.

I'm going over
to see York right now.

Don? No, wait a minute. No...

- You take over.
- What is it?

- New lead.
- (Door buzzer)

(Radio) "'It Might Have Happened To You",
the Safety First program, is on the air.

'Presented as a public service,
"It Might Have Happened To You"

'comes to you each week
from a different American city.'

(Door buzzer)

'Dramatized from real life,
"It Might Have Happened To You"

'hopes to reduce the appalling casualty rate
on our highways and byways.

'This week,
tragedy strikes in Elksburg...

'...a flourishing town in the Midwest,

'where we hear the story
of Mr. Bundy's extra little lift.

'The Elksburg Municipal Orchestra
opens now with an American medley.'

(♪ Classical music on radio)

(Door buzzer)

(Knocking)

(Door buzzer)

(Knocking)

(Door buzzer)

- Hello, Don.
- George, have you seen Miss York?

Yeah, I saw Miss York.
Got all the information.

- Who's the guy?
- Jefferson Randolph.

Publisher from Pittsburgh,
got his own plant down there.

I want you to hop on a plane.

Find out all you can about him.

Check the Chamber of Commerce.
Somebody'll know where he is.

- Taxi! Then call us back, you understand?
- George, I'm an art editor!

Janoth's orders, Don. Go ahead.

- LaGuardia Field.
- But my toothbrush and pajamas?

Put it on your expense account.
Go on. Beat it!

- Oh, doorman.
- Yes, sir?

- Do you happen to know Mr. Janoth?
- Mr. Janoth? Sure. Fine fellow.

Gave me a wristwatch
last Christmas.

Didn't happen to see him last night
around 1:00 or 1:30, did you?

I quit at 12:00.

How about the telephone operator
or the elevator boy?

- Everybody knocks off at 12:00.
- Ah.

By the way,
does Miss York have a maid?

Sure, but you won't find her.
She started her vacation last Monday.

You sure?

I got a postcard from her
from Milwaukee.

Oh, where would you get a cab
around one o'clock in the morning?

- Two blocks.
- Thanks.

- Tails.
- A dollar and a half.

- Heads.
- A dollar-six bits I owe you.

Five I owe in return
for a little information.

You got a deal, mister.

Who's on duty here after midnight?

- Nobody.
- Not an all-night stand.

That's right. Nearest one's
on 5th Avenue, two blocks from here.

- Thanks.
- Half of that's mine.

(Janoth) "April 4, 1936.

"Crowd catcher at the Greenwich Village
Sidewalk Show.

- "Louise Patterson's Birthright."
- Research dug it up.

- Decadent-looking thing.
- Yes, but I can use it as bait.

Offer a reward for the original.

Ads in the afternoon papers,
big-scale reproductions of the picture.

A lost masterpiece.
Randolph or somebody's bound to bite.

Do that at once.

Get me Sheekman
in Press Relations and Paul Bell.

(Perkins) 'Yes, Mr. Hagen.'

- $1,000?
- Don't fool around with this. $10,000.

How about the stand in front
of Scanlon's Drug Store?

No.

The Parkway Hotel?
The Ashendon Library?

Say, there's a stand by an all-night
hamburger joint three blocks down.

- How about that?
- I could use a hamburger. Thanks.

- That your cab out there?
- Yeah, you want it?

No, not exactly.
How many drivers use this stand?

- Just me and Kowalski.
- Uh-huh.

Who was on last night
between one and two o'clock?

You trying to find out about
a fare Kowalski had then?

- Yeah.
- He was telling me. Half-crazy the guy was.

No hat, mumbling to himself.
Gave him a 20 for a 12-block haul.

- Where'd he haul him to?
- Didn't say.

- Where does Kowalski live?
- Somewhere around here.

Don't know exactly.
First name's Casimir, if that's any help.

- No, not much.
- He'll be here at 8:00.

- He will?
- Mm-hmm.

You have him call me, will you?
Tell him there's another 20 in it.

Thanks.

- (George) Thank you, Betty.
- (Betty) Thank you, Mr. Stroud.

- I certainly wish I could find that picture.
- Uh-huh.

Time: Eight hours. In manpower,
the efforts of 46 employees.

It results in enough information
about this man - his whimsicalities,

his clean-cut features,
his charming manners,

his penchant for green mint stingers
and modern paintings - to write his biography,

- but Mr. Stroud, where is he?
- That I don't know.

I've placed the blonde though.
Her name's Pauline York.

How did you discover that?

Klausmeyer and I
just came from her apartment.

Did you talk with her?

I couldn't very well
on account of she was dead.

That doesn't seem
to be much of a shocker.

Er, why do you think we've been
conducting the search?

How did you find out she was dead?

Her maid discovered her this morning,
telephoned Steve.

- Telephoned Steve?
- Yes, she was a protégée of his.

- Why didn't the maid call the police?
- Steve asked her not to.

He's been rather generous
with her of late.

We wanted to trap Randolph ourselves,
then hand him over.

- Feather in our caps.
- Yeah.

Yeah, but where's all this dope
on Randolph come from?

The maid. She heard them
talking, quarreling.

That's what makes you think
he killed her.

Who else could it be?

Well, how about Steve,
for instance?

She was his protégée.

That's a very strange suggestion, Stroud.

I telephoned him at his home,
spoke to him at 12:30.

Within seven minutes of the time
the murder took place.

- How do you know?
- The clock broke in the struggle.

- Then you've been in her apartment?
- The maid reported it.

- She's quite a detective.
- What is the matter with you, Stroud?

I just can't understand
why you're so sure Randolph killed her.

Suppose an investigation
proved him innocent?

An investigation?
What sort of an investigation?

An inquiry around
the apartment house.

Witnesses who saw somebody else
enter or leave.

You have witnesses?

No, not yet,
but I shall have to look for them.

That is, unless you decide
to let the matter drop.

You're going to great lengths
to protect this Randolph.

- Just trying to keep an open mind.
- Very open.

Have you some inside knowledge
of this matter?

(Phone rings)

Yes?

Oh, Cordette.

You have?

Oh, excellent! Excellent!

You can forget about your witnesses.
We have our man.

He was just seen
entering the building.

I want an emergency order issued,
all exits blocked, the building closed.

Nobody's to leave unless identified.

- You take charge.
- Yes, sir.

Stroud? Now!

(Guard) 'Sorry, ladies and gentlemen,

'but all exits have been closed
except the main door.

'We will try to inconvenience you
as little as possible.

'If everybody will proceed
in the direction of the desk,

'we will try to get you out quickly.

'Just a matter of identification.

'Just a matter of identification.

'Your cooperation will be appreciated.
Thank you.'

Everybody on this side
of the rope, please.

Kindly form a single line.
Only routine.

You'll be out of here
in a couple of minutes.

- Thank you.
- Nobody leaves the building

except through the front entrance.
That means everybody. Mr. Janoth's orders.

- (Janoth) 'Steve?'
- Yes, Earl?

'Have you sent for the other witnesses -
Patterson, that hatcheck girl?'

- Not yet.
- 'Get them immediately.'

Get Patterson
and the people at the Van Barth.

I've stationed the antique dealer
in the lobby.

Get me the bar in the Van Barth.

With the janitors and elevator operators
we have 50 men stationed, Mr. Stroud.

- If the man gets out, it'll be a miracle.
- It certainly will.

- Cordette?
- Can't reach him.

Yeah? I'll find out about that.

- Mr. Hagen?
- Yes?

The people are raising Cain in the lobby.
They don't like the idea of being delayed.

Kislav, go down
and use a little diplomacy.

Make sure no one leaves without
being passed by the antique dealer.

Morgan, Talbot, you go with him.

We're taking care of that.

Yeah, Orlin?
Burt's Place.

Nothing at all?

I find all this very distasteful.

An extremely sordid place.
Disreputable clientele.

Did you ask any questions?
Well, ask some.

Very well.
If I must, I must.

Thank you very much
for letting me use the telephone.

Here's your nickel.

- Do you mind if I ask a civil question, bud?
- Not at all.

What's the matter with the public library
today? Did they raise the dues?

See here, my friend.

Now, don't get sore, bud.
You just arouse my curiosity.

Sitting here all afternoon
with one limeade and two books,

and you don't even play the game.

Child's play.
And I don't like your limeade.

I'm just waiting for someone.

- And who might that be?
- I don't know.

You don't know?

It's quite simple.
He's a friend of a friend of mine.

I've never seen him,
but I understand he's an habitué.

He was in here recently
with a stunning blonde,

that is, if you think
blondes are stunning.

You wouldn't be
his brother-in-law by any chance?

You might be a bill collector.
What do you want with this guy?

It's quite personal.

I'm told he talks about clocks,
green clocks.

Green clocks, you say?

You know him?
Can you describe him for me?

- Oh, that'll be easy.
- Yeah, sure we could.

- Cos he's a very remarkable fellow.
- Yes, a very remarkable fellow.

Why should this man be in the building

unless he is employed here,
or at least known?

You correlate your information.
We can identify him.

Out of 3,000 employees
and 2,000 sightseers a day?

- Nothing is impossible.
- (Phone rings)

Hello? Yeah, Edwin.

You have?

Orlin at Burt's Place.
Says he's got a complete description.

Shoot, Edwin.

Last night with a blonde.
Two witnesses.

OK, let's have the description.

Built-up heels, cauliflower ear,
brown toupee.

That's right, a brown toupee.

- And don't forget the glass eye.
- It's the left eye.

Glass eye, the left one.

Glass eye?
Hold it.

- Edwin says...
- I heard.

- Anybody know a man with a glass eye?
- What's that idiot's name?

- Edwin Orlin.
- Fire him.

Mr. Hagen, I can't do it.

Orlin, this is Mr. Hagen.

Yes, Orlin, we heard
your description.

Superior Cab Company?

This is George Stroud
at "Crimeways" magazine.

I'm trying to get hold of one of your drivers,
Casimir Kowalski.

He has no phone?
How about his address?

16 East 31st? Thank you.

Louise Patterson to see you, George.

Oh, I'm pleased to see
that somebody likes my work.

I've been an admirer of yours
for years, Ms. Patterson.

- Are you Mr. Stroud?
- I'm afraid so.

Well, I should like
to earn my money.

- That codfish, Mr. Klaus...
- Klausmeyer.

Yes, he said that you'd pay $100

for a sketch of the man
who bought my painting.

(Laughing)

And then somebody else called
and said that you'd get me another 50

if I'd come down here and identify him,
plus the cab fare.

That's $151.55 and a 10-cent tip.

- I'll give you a cash voucher.
- Yes, the cashier will pay you.

- I'll get a messenger.
- Alright.

- Shall I start the sketch now?
- That won't be necessary.

Never mind, Mr. Stroud. I've few enough
collectors without sending one to jail.

What did you do?
Oh, never mind.

With all that hue and cry downstairs,
it must be something terribly lurid.

But I don't mind. My agent says
that I shall make a fortune

on the strength of that
lost masterpiece story.

Oh, my goodness.
This says $500.

I said I was an admirer of yours.

You didn't sound that way last night,
bidding against me.

By the way,
what did you do with my picture?

I took it home.

Under the circumstances,
don't you think it would be safer with me?

Let's discuss that later.

Right now, I have to go
find a taxicab driver. Thank you.

Cordette!

- Here's the man who'll cash your voucher.
- Thank you.

Now, of course you understand
that we can't pay you the money

until you finish the picture.

- Oh.
- Finish the picture.

Naturally. (Laughs)

I'll start the sketch now.

Just a minute.

- Oh, it's you, Mr. Stroud.
- Just going for a sandwich, boys.

Sorry, nobody's to leave unless they get
identified in the lobby. Mr. Janoth's orders.

Good work.
Keep on the beam.

(Man) Mr. Stroud isn't here.
Will Pittsburgh speak to someone else?

(Sperling) Look, I was disconnected
from the Van Barth.

- May I look at the sketch now?
- Not yet. It isn't finished.

A slippery character, this Randolph, isn't he?
Glib talker, ladies' man, playboy.

I could almost believe
that he was my fourth husband, Mike.

He was a playboy, too.

- (Hagen) Coffee, Mrs. Stroud?
- No, thank you.

I'm sorry, Operator, please ask
Mr. Klausmeyer to speak to someone else.

How's that? Mr. Klausmeyer
won't speak to anyone else?

You tell Mr. Klausmeyer that...

- George, a collect call from Pittsburgh.
- Hello, darling.

- I knew you wouldn't stay away.
- Not after what I found in our bedroom.

- Found in our bedroom?
- Yes, in our bedroom.

- I can explain everything, dear.
- All I want to know is...

In my office, dear.
Family quarrels should be held in private.

- Family quarrels?
- George, the call from Pittsburgh.

Oh, refuse the charges.
And a fine pickle, Hagen.

Vacation busted up, marriage on the rocks.
How am I going to explain?

He can explain, Mrs. Stroud,
you have a good man.

Oh, darling, if you only knew
what I've been through today.

Take your hands off me,
Jefferson Randolph.

You see, I've been reading
that blackboard, too.

But darling,
it's a long, long story.

Yes, I know. All about wrecking
an innocent man's life.

Please listen to me.

Don't start making accusations
until you know the true facts.

I was talking with
the Van Barth, the bar.

I was disconnect... Oh, hello, Lily?

The bartender just came in.

He says that Randolph
spilled a drink on the blonde.

It was a stinger with green mint.

She mopped it up with his handkerchief
and put the handkerchief in her purse.

- The most horrible drink I ever had in my life.
- That's right. Kept it.

- I was shaking, but I just couldn't take it.
- Please!

Just a moment. I'm talking.
As I was drinking it...

- Please, will you shut up?
- Shh. The lady is talking.

No, no, not you.

Bring the bartender with you.
We're waiting.

Lily says the blonde took a handkerchief
from the gentleman.

Might have a laundry mark on it.
That's interesting.

Now, if we could only get
that handkerchief.

I'd better put that on the blackboard.

- (Intercom buzzing)
- Yes?

- (Perkins) 'Mr. Cordette to see you.'
- Send him in.

Mr. Hagen, Mr. Janoth
wants you downstairs. It's very important.

Thank you.

And so help me, the first I knew
she was dead was this afternoon.

- Why didn't you call the police?
- And spend the next 90 years in jail?

Janoth'll have lots of alibis.

Bill, Hagen and a dozen other people,
if necessary.

- Me, all I got is myself.
- And that taxi driver.

- Or did you invent him?
- Invent him?

Could I invent a name
like Casimir Kowalski?

You could invent anything.

"Miserable, desolate,
walked the streets like a zombie..."

And all the time you were with that...

But I called the cab company,
got his address, even wrote it down.

- But I can't get out of here.
- (Intercom buzzing)

Yes?

(Hagen) 'Stand by, George.
Mr. Janoth wants to speak to you.'

Right, Steve.

Believe me, if I get out of this jam,
I'm going back to West Virginia.

George, if I could just believe it.

I'll cover church socials,
write obituaries, set type, anything.

That would be wonderful.
But you won't.

- (Buzzer)
- Yes, sir?

(Janoth) 'George,
I want this man smoked out.

'Use the guards.
Mobilize everyone.

'Start a floor-by-floor search
of the entire building.'

Yes, sir.
I'll put O'Brien right on it.

'I want you to follow through in person,
you understand me?'

Yes, I understand.

Georgette.

- Georgette!
- She just left.

This way, boys.
Take this corridor first.

You take the one to the left.

- Any luck?
- Nothing yet.

Keep it up.

(Sperling) Stroud! Are you up here?

The antique dealer wants to see you.

George?

He must be somewhere.

You wait here. I'll find him.

- You!
- It's not what you think it is.

Take it easy. Keep calm.

Somebody's been murdered,
that's all.

Murder! Argh!

Oh, there you are, George.

The antique dealer wants to know...

- Now, what happened to him?
- Haven't seen him.

Well, I told him to wait.
How stupid can a guy get?

Let's keep looking.

Cordette! Miss Patterson's picture,
where is it?

She hasn't finished it yet,
Mr. Janoth.

- I asked for a sketch, not a mural.
- Did somebody call me?

Yes. Mr. Janoth wants to see
the picture right now.

Oh, of course.
Would you like it in oil?

No, no, madam.
I'll see it just as it is.

Come along,
come along, come along.

I think I've captured his mood
rather successfully, don't you?

(Giggles)

Mr. Janoth. Mr. Janoth, sir.
Here's the antique dealer.

He says Randolph jumped him
on the fifth floor.

- Murder, he said. A murder case.
- Did you get a look at him?

Enormous. I fought.
I struggled. No use.

Wild glare in his eyes.

Warn everyone.
Authorize them to shoot if necessary.

The man's a maniac.

- Tell O'Brien and the guards downstairs.
- (James) Yes, Mr. Hagen.

(Phone rings)

Yeah? Oh.

They've finished on nine, Mr. Janoth.
I've sent for George Stroud.

- Tell them to keep moving.
- Better keep moving.

Mr. Janoth, here are the witnesses
from the Van Barth.

- Miss Thomas, the hatcheck lady.
- How do you do?

- Mr. Kolbas, the bartender.
- Delighted.

Gentleman and ladies, Janoth Publications
are extremely grateful for your help.

You may not realize it,
but when we apprehend this man,

you will have done your duty
as citizens of your community.

Oh, Mr. Stroud, be careful.
This guy's a dangerous maniac.

We just got orders to shoot to kill.

I have authorized two rewards
of $1,000 each.

One for the person identifying our man,
and the other for...

- (Gasps)
- What's the matter?

The man! He was right there!

- (Gasps)
- Oh!

- George!
- Come on. This way.

- He might carry a gun.
- Yeah. Call the guards.

Get going, boys!

In here.

Where have you been?

- That taxi cab driver.
- You got him?

Uh-uh. He's gone. He and his wife came in
for a sudden legacy, the neighbors said.

How do you like that?

Sudden legacy from old Grandpa Janoth.
That's all I needed.

- What are you doing?
- I'm gonna call the police.

- And turn me in?
- It's better than having you shot.

Come on.

Oh, George,
I heard what those guards said.

They called you a maniac.

Why did you ever have anything
to do with that woman?

But I told you, I didn't.

There must be some way out of this mess.
If I could only think.

- Give me a cigarette.
- I haven't got one.

We could use one of Hagen's.

Maybe I should go to Janoth,
try and make some sort of a deal.

Here you are.

- Let me see that.
- It was in the box.

- Well, well.
- What do you mean, "Well, well"?

- This is mine. It was in Pauline's purse.
- There you go again. Pauline.

How did Hagen get it?

Well, she certainly got around,
didn't she?

He claimed he was never up there.

Why don't we pin
this job on Hagen?

They've been so busy covering up Janoth,
they've left Hagen wide open.

We'll put him in such a hole,
he'll have to implicate Janoth.

Hello, Burt's Place?
This is George Stroud.

- Let me speak to the President.
- President?

- President McKinley.
- George, are you sure you're alright?

(Intercom buzzing)

(Hagen) 'Stroud, are you in my office?

'Mr. Janoth wants to see you
in your office at once.

'George, are you there?'

Talk to this guy.
Get him up here as fast as you can.

- He's a radio actor, a friend of mine.
- Where are you going?

Into retirement. When you get him,
call me on extension 381.

Alright.

- I can't find Stroud at the moment.
- Then you take charge.

Round everybody up.
Make a mass search of the top floor.

Get the right driver?
5,000 enough?

Good man.

(Door opening)

Superior Cab Company?
This is Stroud of "Crimeways" again.

Listen, did Kowalski,
one of your drivers, er...

make a record
of his fares last night?

About 1:30.
Yeah, Kowalski.

Yeah, 1:20 will do.

He did?
What was the address?

323 Sutton Place?
Thanks.

"Hagen, Joseph.

"Joseph,
Stanley, Stephen.

"Stephen Hagen.

"323 Sutton Place."

(Generator winding down)

250 people, 12 hours,
43 minutes...

- Earl, the clock has stopped.
- What's that?

- The clock has stopped.
- So has this one.

Why shouldn't it stop?
What's the matter with that?

You issued orders
never to stop the clocks.

Why shouldn't it stop for once?

It's a mechanical thing.
It can go wrong, can't it?

(Switch clicks,
generator humming)

It started again.

This one started again, too.

Steve, this hasn't happened
in 12 years.

Bill, go downstairs.
See if there's anyone inside the clock.

(Elevator door closing)

(Clunk)

(Phone rings)

(Elevator motor whirring)

- George, where have you been?
- Never mind.

We gotta work fast
before that thug gets out of the elevator.

- Who? What elevator?
- I'll tell you about it later. Look, Mac...

- I came as soon as I could.
- Yeah, thanks.

- What do you want?
- Wait a minute.

Is Mr. Janoth there?
This is George Stroud.

(Janoth) 'Janoth speaking.'

I'm in Hagen's office, Mr. Janoth.
I've nailed our man.

He'll be here as soon
as you and Hagen can get here.

Good work.
We'll be right up.

Have someone find Bill.
Tell him to come to my office at once.

Earl, they'll send up Bill
as soon as they find him.

We'd better go in
and see what Stroud has for us.

- Mr. Janoth.
- George, is this the, uh, man...

No, this is Inspector Regan
of the homicide detail.

- Mr. Earl Janoth, Mr. Steve Hagen.
- How do you do?

- Mr. Hagen.
- How do you do?

Inspector, would you mind
stepping outside a moment?

I give you my solemn word
nothing irregular will occur.

That Hagen fella -
I've seen him somewhere before.

- He's editor in chief here.
- Let's try these two rooms.

Stroud, I thought you understood
this was confidential.

- This is my wife. She's been helping me.
- I beg your pardon.

I'm talking about the police.
You were told to keep them out.

Not until we had the murderer.
I'm afraid it's gonna be a shock.

- Shock?
- Our man is Mr. Hagen.

Uh, George,
this is a very serious charge.

I wouldn't be making it
if I didn't have the evidence.

Evidence? Why, the witnesses
have all seen me, talked to me.

I'm not saying you're Jefferson Randolph,
but nevertheless, he's the murderer.

- Why should I kill Pauline?
- Blackmail.

He's been giving her money by check.
The bank will verify that.

- Ridiculous.
- Is it?

- Cigarette?
- Uh, not now.

Go ahead, Steve.
You need a smoke.

- Thank you, no.
- You're afraid to open the box. Why?

Because I found something
in here, hidden away.

The handkerchief that Miss York
got from Randolph at the Van Barth.

Notice the green stains.

Where would he get it
except from the purse in her apartment?

The maid might have
brought it up here.

The maid's been away on vacation.
She's been gone a week.

Link number three: the taxi driver
who took you from Pauline's apartment.

(Hagen) I don't seem to see him here.

He was bribed to go away.
I went to his home and found out.

But I've got the address he took you to.
I got it from the cab company's files.

And it's 323 Sutton Place.
That's Hagen's residence.

There's your evidence, Mr. Janoth.
It'll stand up in court.

I doubt that, George.
I think you've had a brainstorm.

Anybody could've taken
a cab to my address,

or have planted that handkerchief
in my cigarette box.

As for the maid, I think
I can produce her if necessary.

Earl saw her this morning.
Didn't you, Earl?

- Of course I did.
- I'm afraid your case won't hold water.

We'll see what they say about that
at headquarters.

Darling, would you ask
Inspector Regan to come in?

Alright.

(O'Brien) We've just about covered
the floor, Mr. Cordette.

- Inspector.
- Only the executive offices are left.

I'm sorry to have to do this, Steve.
There's your murderer, Inspector.

"Inspector"? Why, I've seen him
cadging drinks at Burt's Place.

- A broken-down radio actor.
- (Knocking)

George, I'm beginning
to get an idea.

Maybe some of the witnesses
should take a look at you.

Just a minute, you. So you've seen
me cadging drinks at Burt's Place?

Well, I just remembered seeing you
at Burt's Place late last night,

sneaking that sundial
back into Burt's collection.

- "Sundial"?
- Yeah. Didn't think we saw it.

- Had it under his coat.
- The murder weapon,

and witnesses who saw him
try to dispose of it.

That wraps it up, Mr. Janoth.
Now we'll try a real cop.

Well, Earl?

Steve, I know how you feel about me
and about my organization.

You're the most loyal employee
I've ever had.

I'm not going
to let you down, Steve.

I'll put every resource
we have at your disposal.

We'll fight this through for you,

no matter how long it takes
or how much it costs.

You're not going to be alone, Steve.
Every bit of influence I can...

- (Knocking)
- (Cordette) Mr. Hagen?

- (Knocking)
- Mr. Hagen!

Mr. Hagen?

(People murmuring)

Steve, your office and Mr. Janoth's
are the only ones we haven't...

The search is off.
Send everybody home.

"Off"? What about Jefferson Randolph?
Who is he?

Not interested.

You insufferable egomaniac!

You thought you inspired such adulation
that I'd do anything for you.

George, Janoth killed Pauline.

- You'll say that in court?
- I will.

- (Gunshot)
- (Shrieks)

No!

- George, are you alright?
- Sure.

- I've been so worried. Did he get away?
- Yeah, he got away.

(Murmuring)

Get me the police department.

- Where is he?
- Elevator shaft.

(Screams) It's him!

Who?
Jefferson Randolph?

My fourth husband.
Mike, darling!

Oh, no!