Just Before Dawn (1946)

[bunniefuu]

- Hello, Ganss.

- Come in.

I don't see why I couldn't have

used my car to get here.

- You follow instructions.

- I had to walk a mile from that bus line.

It's safer to travel by bus, that's what

you're going to take back.

If there should be an accident at the bus

or should you be stopped by anyone,

get rid of it.

It is not what it says on the label.

If there was, I could have got it

at any corner drugstore.

You can go out this way.

Oh, Dr. Ordway, I'm Mrs. Travers.

We bought the Wheeler home

across the street.

- Oh yes.

- We're having a house party...

...and one of our guests has taken ill.

I couldn't reach our doctor,

I wonder if you'll...

Yes, I'll go across with you

and see what I can do.

That's awfully good of you.

- This is Dr. Ordway.

- The crime doctor.

Will you'll ask everyone to leave

the room, please?

- Surely.

- This is Mr. Foster's sister, doctor.

- How do you do?

- How do you?

How long has your brother

been unconscious?

Oh, not more than five minutes.

My brother's a diabetic, doctor.

Has he been drinking?

He hardly ever does but he did

have a few c*ck this evening.

I'm afraid he's not taken his

insulin shot.

Doesn't carry his insulin with him?

Yes, always. It must be in

his overcoat.

Will you have someone get it,

Mrs. Travers, please?

Yes, certainly.

Armand.

You know Mr. Foster's overcoat.

Would you see if there's some medicine in it?

- Yes, madam.

- It'll be in a small case.

I think he'll be all right soon

as he gets his insulin.

It's probably our fault for not

serving dinner earlier.

Walter usually takes his medicine just

before meals, doesn't he, Claire?

- Always.

- Oh, Harriet, I'm afraid we spoiled your party.

Oh, nonsense, Claire, if Walter's all right,

nothing else matters.

This is my husband, doctor.

- How do you do, Mr. Travers?

- How do you do?

- Here it is, sir.

- Thank you.

There you are.

Thanks. I see you used the insulin.

- Sorry I messed up your party.

- Oh, forget it.

- Come and meet our friends, doctor.

- Thank you.

You just lie there for a couple

of minutes, you'll be all right.

Would you put this back in

Mr. Foster's overcoat, please?

- Yes, sir.

- Alec, this is Dr. Ordway. Mr. Girard.

- How do you do, Mr. Girard?

- I'm glad to meet you, doctor.

We have Mr. Girard to thank

for having you as our neighbor.

- Oh.

- He found this house for us.

- So, you're in real estate business.

- Yes, I handle downtown properties.

Large office buildings, long-term

ground leases and so forth.

But Clyde and Harriet asked me to find

a house for them and I heard about this one.

I thought psychiatry was

your field, Dr. Ordway.

- This is Jack Swayne, doctor.

- How do you do. Mr. Swayne?

How do you do?

Yes, I am a psychiatrist but of course

I am also a physician.

Well, maybe you have something

in common with Jack, doctor.

You renovate rundown minds and he

renovates run-down bodies.

Harriet's telling you about my gymnasium.

I operate the Swayne Institute of Health.

Oh!

Hath given you one face.

Mr. Foster is dead.

Will someone please call the police?

- Good morning, Inspector.

- How are you, doctor?

Call the medical examiner's office

and ask Dr. Steiner to come up.

I want you to hear what Steiner

has to say firsthand.

While we're waiting for him you can tell me

if Walter Foster died from natural causes.

No, you were right about that,

he was poisoned.

And so, you are more or less

responsible for his death.

- Morning, Ordway.

- Hello, Steiner.

- How much has he told you?

- Well, only the Foster was poisoned.

Yes, death was practically instantaneous

once the poison reached the heart,

which was a few moments

after you injected it.

So you found poison in his insulin.

Well, in that case it could either

be m*rder or suicide.

No, there's no possibility of suicide

in this instance.

- Right, Steiner?

- Right.

There was no poison in Foster's kit,

but there was poison in the

injection you gave him.

Oh... you mean someone removed

his bottle of insulin...

...and replaced it with one

containing poison.

And then after I used it switched

the bottles back again, huh?

Exactly. The m*rder*r made you

the instrument of his crime.

Or, to make it more plainly, somebody

has made a fine sucker out of you.

I hope you're not going to let

them get away with it.

Oh, I get it.

You want me to do your job

for you, huh?

Oh, no, but under the circumstances

Insp. Burns thought you might like to help.

Hm-hmm.

And living across the street from

the scene of the crime...

...it makes it easier for me to

investigate than you.

All right.

Well, have you done anything at all

or do I carry the ball on every play?

No, we have the servant Armand Morel under

surveillance, and also some of the others.

Inspector Burns couldn't make an arrest

at this time unless he took you.

Um, tell me, is Armand a permanent

employee of the Travers?

No, he was just hired for the party.

Now here's a list of everyone

who was there,

with their names, addresses, occupations and

whatever information we had time to gather.

Who's this Allan Tobin, attorney?

I don't remember meeting him.

- No, he left early.

- Is he the Travers' attorney?

No, he's the administrator for

the Foster estate.

- And you haven't questioned him yet?

- Well, there hasn't been time.

- Alright, if I get any ideas, I'll call you.

- All right, thanks, doctor, goodbye.

I'm doctor Ordway, Miss Foster

is expecting me.

Yes, sir, would you come in please?

No, I'll just be here a minute.

- Excuse me, please.

- Sure.

Good morning, Dr. Ordway.

Good morning, I'm sorry to intrude

on you today.

Don't feel you're intruding, I'm glad

to have a chance to talk with you.

- Won't you sit down, please?

- Thank you.

I called particularly to ask you

about something...

...that your brother said before

he passed away.

Well I knew he said something

but I didn't hear quite what it was.

Yes, his voice was weak

and a little incoherent.

But I'm pretty sure he said,

"Hath given you one face."

Does that mean anything to you?

- No, it doesn't.

- It sounds like a quotation of some sort...

...but I don't know from what. Did you ever

hear him quote those words before?

"Hath given you one face"?

No, but... well, they stir something

in my memory.

Pardon me.

Alec.

I just stopped by to express

my condolences, Claire,

...and to see if there's anything I can do.

That's awfully good of you, but Mr. Tobin

is taking care of everything.

- You remember Dr. Ordway.

- Yes, of course, how are you, doctor?

I'm fine, thanks.

Miss Foster and I were just talking about

something her brother said at the last.

It's an incomplete quotation,

"Hath given you one face".

Do you know what that's from?

Could be it's from the Bible. Perhaps it's

the text of a sermon that impressed Walker.

Do you recall where the verse is from?

No, I don't at the moment.

Oh, well, if either one of you think of it,

will you let me know, please?

- Thank you.

- Thank you, Dr. Ordway.

Goodbye.

No, no, no! Remember the hold

I showed you, Mr. Witherspoon?

Here... that's right.

Don't flap around like a confused chicken,

use those arms!

That's better, that's right.

Watch that, Witherspoon.

Denny get him a little higher.

Watch, watch those arms!

No, no... that...

- Oh, Dr. Ordway.

- Looks like I got here just in time.

Oh, I don't worry about him, doctor.

A few smacks with a wet towel

and he'll be as good as new.

- What is he, a professional wrestler?

- Certainly not, he's a client.

- I'm conditioning him.

- Conditioning him for what, the morgue?

Huh? Oh!

You know, you should take a course

in judo yourself, doctor.

It'd be a pleasure for me

to train you personally.

- That's mighty nice of you, but the idea

doesn't happen appeal to me.

Well, it might come in awfully

handy someday.

You must meet a lot of screwy characters

in your line of work.

I don't think my patients are

as crazy as yours.

Hm? Oh!

Is there some place we can

talk for a minute?

Oh, certainly, in my office.

Oh, that's a nice picture

of Miss Foster.

Yes, and there's not another one

like it in the whole world.

Claire just had that one print

made for me.

I came to you because of your

relationship to Claire Foster.

You know, I thought perhaps it

might be best if...

what if you told her that her

brother was m*rder*d?

The police are sometimes callous

about those things.

Well what do you know about that?

So Walter was m*rder*d, huh?

Well, had it coming to him.

What are you doing with those hands?

Is that a nervous habit?

Oh, no, no, that's just exercise.

You ought to try it yourself

at odd times during the day...

when you're not doing anything else,

it's... it's good for you.

You were saying that Walter

only got what he deserved.

- Yeah.

- Do you mind explaining that?

Well, there's really nothing

to explain, doctor.

But if you nail the k*ller,

would you mind doing me a favor?

- What's that?

- Give him my hearty congratulations.

- What... no thanks. What did Foster

ever do to you?

He was blocking my marriage to Claire.

We'd have been married a year ago

if it had been up to Claire and me.

Did he object to you personally or just

the idea of his sister getting married?

That's it. As long as she

was unmarried,

he figured he had a chance to squeeze

her out of a sizeable chunk of money.

How did he persuade her

to stay single?

Oh, he sold her on the idea that

she was keeping him straight.

That if she ever withdrew her

support, he'd go to pieces.

Well, I suppose I should

congratulate you...

...on the removal of the obstacle

to your marriage.

Thanks. And I'll, uh... I'll tell Claire

about her brother.

Although I have a feeling it's going

to spoil my evening.

Well, you'll be lucky if it doesn't

spoil your romance.

What are you driving at?

Well, it's just a little peculiarity

of human nature...

...that if someone you love someone

or someone near to you is m*rder*d,

you can't rest until the k*ller's

brought to justice.

Oh, I'm afraid Claire won't be thinking

of marriage for quite a while.

I think you've got something

there, doctor.

And of course she's going to realize that it

must've been someone at the Travers' party...

...who substituted poison for insulin.

No, that's why she'll seem

a little peculiar to you.

And, of course, you do seem to be the one

who benefits most by her brother's death.

Alright, doctor, You're gonna get

what you came for.

I believe that either Clyde

or Harriet Travers k*lled him.

- Can you prove that?

- Well, no, not exactly but...

Harriet was interested in Walter,

but he was bleeding her for money.

Maybe she k*lled him because

she couldn't give him any more...

...without her husband getting wise.

Or maybe he was wise

and k*lled Walter himself.

Hm-hmm

Thanks. Don't forget to tell

Claire, will you?

Yes, all right, I'll tell her. Can you find

your way out all right?

- Oh, I think so. Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

Hath given you one face...

hath given you one face...

No, I've never heard it before.

I disagree with Mr. Girard, however.

I'm quite sure it's not

from the Bible.

Quite. I'm a great student

of the book, Dr. Ordway.

Well, thanks very much Mr. Tobin.

By the way,

I understand you're the Foster

family lawyer.

Yes, I've handled their affairs

for many years.

Their father was the late

Charles Foster, you know.

Yes, well I suppose Walter Foster

was financially independent.

On the contrary, he was dependent

on his sister, on other women...

...or anyone else for that matter.

Why, didn't he get any of

his father's money?

I'm the administrator of Charles

Foster's estate.

The children, Claire and Walter,

under the terms of the will,

were to have a monthly allowance until

they reached the age of 21.

Then Walter received his full

half of the estate.

Well, what did he do with it?

He received $250,000 and in three

years was destitute.

- Am I keeping you, by any chance?

- No, I'm waiting, waiting. Excuse me.

I begged him to leave the principle

intact in my hands, but...

...he thought he could do better

with it than I could.

And then when his money was gone he wanted

Claire to take her inheritance in cash...

...so he could dissipate that.

- Did she refuse?

- Hm? Oh...

She left her money with me and in consequence

is enjoying an income of $1,000 a month.

- Well?

- Well, I'm waiting.

It's three minutes after four.

You're late.

Yes, I know but a fuse blew out

as I was boiling the water.

Mr. Tobin, you'd better buy

some new fuses.

That fellow has the most ingenious

excuses for being late with my tea.

I just bought fuses, really.

You said that Walter Foster

was dependent on his sister.

But only for a hundred or two

now and again.

Of course he tried to wheedle

more out of her.

Five thousand for this,

ten thousand for that.

Always promising to double

the money overnight.

- But Claire didn't fall for it.

- She knew her brother.

Of course she was fond of him

in spite of his weakness.

- But you weren't.

- Is pretense necessary?

Walter was a waster,

he's better off dead.

And in spite of Walter's persuasions,

Claire never touched any of her principal...

...even though it was available

to her at any time?

Of course it was always

available to her.

As a matter of fact, once she did

drop ten thousand in cash.

She wanted it to invest in her sweetheart's

business, a health institute.

It seemed like a foolish investment

but it's turning out alright.

Of course I wouldn't ordinarily

discuss Claire's affairs.

Why did you really hate Walter Foster?

Did he embarrass you by wanting

his money in cash?

Be careful, Dr. Ordway, or you'll find

yourself defending a suit for slander.

Goodbye Mr. Tobin.

Dr. Ordway, this is Claire Foster.

Yes, I just found it a moment ago.

Can you come over right away?

Yes, I'll be glad to.

What about the quotation?

Well, we didn't find it at first because we

looked under wrong initial in the index.

Well, what is it?

God hath given you one face

and you make yourselves another.

It's from Hamlet.

That's right.

Yes I have an idea of what he meant...

...but it's too long a story to go

into over the phone.

- Please come over right away.

- All right, I'll be over right away.

Goodbye.

Who's there?

- Oh, Armand.

- Well, good afternoon, Dr. Ordway.

Mr. Travers is not home do you wish

to see the madam?

- Yes, please.

- I shall inform that you're here.

- Won't you come in?

- Thank you.

- Will you please wait.

- Thank you.

- Dr. Ordway's calling.

- Hello!

- Make some c*ck please, Armand?

- Yes, ma'am.

- I'm so glad to see you.

- Thank you.

Have you heard anything about Claire?

No, she seems to have disappeared but

the police are doing all they can.

It's so unlike her to go away without

telling any of her friends

Yes, that's what everyone says.

- Shall we go in the sitting room?

- Thank you.

Walter's death was a terrible shock.

Doubly tragic to us since

it happened in our home.

Mr. Travers and I were both

very fond of him.

Yes, I knew you were.

But it rather surprises me to learn

that Mr. Travers was also fond of him.

Frankly, doctors rather surprise me too.

Oh, you'll join me in a c*ck,

won't you?

Yes, I'd enjoy one very much.

Thank you.

I thought he was an extra servant.

We found him very efficient

and decided to keep him.

Oh... You know I was surprised to see

that your house was up for sale.

Well, we didn't feel much like living

here after what happened to Walter.

I can understand that.

As it turned out you practically bought

the house for the m*rder.

- Do you think I k*lled Walter?

- Now, don't let that worry you.

I'm a long way from proving it.

Funny, my husband insinuated

as much right after Walter died.

Before the police said it was m*rder?

Yes. Of course he didn't really

believe such a thing.

No?

No. He thought it would stop me

from accusing him.

Dr. Ordway, I'm frightened.

I feel as though walls are

closing in on me.

Are you afraid you'll be arrested

and charged with Walter's m*rder?

I don't know. I don't know, I...

I just have a premonition of danger.

That's why I've told you things I

wouldn't dare tell the police.

Hello, Harriet.

- Good afternoon. Dr. Ordway.

- Good afternoon.

Mrs. Travers and I were just discussing

how the insulin could have been switched.

Somebody's made me their cat's paw

and I rather resent it.

I wouldn't take that as a personal

affront if I were you.

Your being summoned here was one

of those unpredictable accidents...

...that frequently upset the

best-laid plans of a m*rder*r.

- Isn't that so, dear?

- Yes.

He or she expected Walter to administer

his own lethal dose.

Tell me Mr. Travers, do you recall

noticing anyone come in...

...or go out of this room during

the party?

Well, we use this room as

a men's cloakroom.

There were lots of people in and out,

I was in here once myself.

Well, as I recall it, the coats were on a long

table that you'd placed near that window.

So the exchange of insulin could

have been managed from the outside.

- That's right.

- Of course it may not mean anything at all,

except that it proves it was possible

for someone who wasn't at your party...

- ...to have m*rder*d Walter.

- But hardly likely.

No one who wasn't very close to Walter

would know where he kept his medicine.

And how could anyone who wasn't at the party

know in which room the men's coats were kept?

Well, I think I'd better be going.

Goodbye, Mrs. Travers.

We'll see you to the door.

I'm Dr. Ordway. I'd like to see

Mr. Girard if he's in, please.

Pardon me.

Dr. Ordway's here to see you.

- Oh, have him come right in.

- Thank you.

- Oh, hello, Dr. Ordway, how are you?

- Fine, thanks.

I called your office just a few minutes ago

to see if you'd heard any news of Claire.

- No, no, not a thing.

- What are the police doing?

Oh, the routine things.

There was nothing to indicate violence

when I arrived at her home,

so the police considered it a...

disappearance, at least for the time being.

- But you don't.

- Oh...

I certainly don't believe she

went away voluntarily, no.

Neither do I.

I talked to her not more than 15 minutes

before I reached her home.

She discovered the source of Walter Foster's

last words and she wanted to see me.

Oh, does the quotation have any bearing

on Foster's death and Claire's disappearance?

No, I'm afraid not.

It's just a line from Hamlet.

I dropped in to see you because

I'm rather curious...

...about the for sale sign on the

Travers' home.

I was nothing less than amazed when

Travers telephoned me...

...and told me to put the house

up for sale.

Yes, they told me they didn't

feel like living there...

...because Walter died in the house,

but I can't exactly believe that.

They're selling the house because

they're separating.

Oh, that decision must have been

arrived at very recently.

That's right.

Were they getting along all right until

Mrs. Travers became friendly with Walter?

It would seem to give Travers a motive

but, really, I think you can count them out,

they're both too intelligent to commit

a m*rder in their own home.

Hm-hmm. Does anyone else

have a motive?

That's hard for me to say.

They're all my friends.

Hm-hmm. Let's see now, um...

As far as Swayne is concerned his motive

doesn't seem to be strong enough.

Well, in measuring the strength of a motive,

you have to consider the mind

and emotions of a suspect.

And me trying to give you

a lesson in psychology.

Oh, that's all right.

Tell me, uh... were there any hard feelings

between Foster and Tobin?

Now that you mention it, I almost had the

feeling that Tobin was afraid of Foster.

It seemed that Foster had

something on Tobin.

- Or Tobin thought he had.

- What about Armand?

He'd be merely a tool for

somebody outside the house.

Someone who wasn't at the party.

- I like him best for the job

- Oh, you do, why?

Because by suspecting him, I automatically

remove my friends from suspicion.

Besides he had the best chance to get in

and out of the cloakroom unobserved.

Hm-hmm.

- Is there anything else I can tell you?

- Oh, no, thank you very much.

Please let me know at once

if you hear anything of Claire.

Yes I will. Goodbye, Mr. Girard.

- Dr. Ordway is expecting me.

- Yes, sir.

Mr. Travers is here.

- Good evening, Mr. Travers, come in.

- Good evening.

- Sit down?

- Thank you,

Ever since you left our house, something

has been running through my mind.

- Yes?

- I may as well tell you first of all...

...that my wife and I have quarreled

rather seriously over Walter Foster.

Yes, yes, I've heard rumors

to that effect.

When we were married I gave my wife

a substantial block of stocks for a present.

Recently I noticed they were missing

from the safe deposit box.

She admitted selling them to establish

Foster in a business.

- Was that your first quarrel over him?

- Oh, it was the first serious one.

She became angry and announced

she was going to leave me.

Did you try to dissuade her?

Oh, I told her she was making

a fool of herself,

that Foster played that game with

more than one woman.

Yeah, well of course she...

she didn't believe that.

Not until I gave her the name of

the woman he was running with.

At the party she abraded him and demanded

to know what he had done with the money.

He claimed to have lost at the races and

admitted being in love with the other woman.

Do you realize what you've

just told me...

...gives your a wife a pretty strong

motive for k*lling Walter?

- Is that what you intended?

- Certainly not!

I... I told you because it occurred to me

that you might have been right...

...about the insulin being switched

by someone outside the house.

- Who's this other woman?

- Her name is Connie Day, I believe.

She works for a mortician.

You know her address or the name

of the man she works for?

- No.

- Well, I'll try and locate her.

- Thanks very much, Mr. Travers.

- Thank you.

Good night.

Good night.

Um, does a Miss Connie Day

work there?

Oh, I'm sorry, I have the

wrong number.

Thank you.

Does a Miss Connie Day

work there, please?

Oh, may I speak to her, please?

You're wanted on the telephone.

- Hello?

- Hello, Miss Day? This is Dr. Ordway.

Who?

But I don't know you.

Oh, no, it's impossible we...

We have an early morning funeral

and I'm working tonight.

Well, then I'll, uh... I'll drop out

there and see you.

Oh, no! No, you mustn't do that.

I'll be through about 9:00.

I can see you shortly after that.

No, you... you'd better come

to my place.

It's 2314, Albany Road,

apartment seven.

Mr. Ganss!

Mr. Ganss.

Mr. Ganss!

Mr. Ganss! Mr. Ganss!

Mr. Ganss, let me out of here!

Oh, please!

Come in.

- Where's the doctor?

- Getting ready. He'll be right in.

Oh... Oh!

Mr. Ganss forgot I was working...

and locked me in, I...

I've been nearly crazy.

He didn't forget you.

None of us has forgot you.

Foster was your boyfriend.

You told him to blackmail the doctor,

didn't you?

I didn't tell him anything!

I don't know anything!

You're gonna get just what he got.

But don't worry.

You'll have a beautiful funeral.

With flowers and everything.

Yeah, she skipped without leaving

so much as a handkerchief.

I waited around till after 11:00 last night

and she hadn't arrived home then.

You're certainly having bad luck

with your phone calls.

You talked to Claire Foster and

she disappeared.

Then you phoned this girl and

frightened away.

Maybe she wasn't frightened away.

Has it ever occurred to you that whoever's

responsible for Claire's disappearance...

...might also be responsible for

Connie Day's?

You're sure you didn't hear her

moving out during the night?

I certainly did not or I would

have had a word with her.

She was supposed to give me 30 days'

notice before moving.

There's no one on duty in

the lobby here at nights.

You see, we don't have a switchboard.

Each apartment has its own phone.

I talked to her employer. he said she

left there at 9 o'clock.

They were both working late because

of an early funeral this morning.

Do you know anything about

any of her friends?

No, but there was one young

man I know about.

I think they called him, um... Walter?

- Well, thank you very much.

- Yes, thanks.

You're welcome.

This is the place, Louie.

I'm Mr. Casper, I phoned a while ago

for an appointment.

Dr. Ordway should be here

in a few minutes.

In the meantime you can fill in your name,

address and phone number on this card.

- My brother's the patient.

- Well then, put down his name.

There's a pen on that desk.

Don't put nothing down.

They'll send me away.

Take it easy, Louie. Dr. Ordway

won't send you away.

- There you are, miss.

- Thank you.

- I'm in now, Miss White.

- I'm sending in a patient, Dr. Ordway.

Don't be scared. I wouldn't take you

to a man who'd lock you up.

Come on over, let the doc help you.

Are you the patient?

Yeah, he wants you to help him,

he's afraid he's going to be locked up.

Um, I'd like to hear Louie answer

my questions if you don't mind.

Certainly, doctor. You understand, Louie?

I can't help you now.

- You gotta work things out yourself.

- Come on over and sit down, Louie.

Louie, I made a mistake.

He's the man who wants

to lock you up.

Louie!

You crazy fool!

My brother shot him.

I'll call the police.

We knew, of course, the name he used

in your office would be assumed.

But we made a nationwide search and check

on it just the same. No results.

What about the fellow that he

brought with him?

He's been in and out of institutions

all his life.

There were no friends or relatives

on his record,

so we couldn't get a lead to Casper

through identifying him.

Well when new patients come

in the office,

Miss White always has them write their

names and addresses on a... on a filing card.

- I'm all right, thanks.

- Yes, I know.

She gave us Casper's card,

but there were no fingerprints on it,

except her own and yours.

Well, how could Casper handle the card

without leaving a fingerpr...

Miss White!

What about that girl that worked

for the undertaker?

Connie Day, she hasn't been heard of

since she moved out of her apartment.

I don't think she moved out

any more than Claire Foster did.

Someone cleaned out her place to make

you think she'd skipped.

Well if you're suggesting that they've

both been k*lled...

then what's become of their bodies?

I don't know, but I'm convinced

they're both dead.

Whoever k*lled Walter Foster thought

they knew too much.

And the attempt on my life was...

It's all right, it's just the lamp,

don't bother.

The attempt on my life was made

for the same reason too.

- Miss White!

- Yes, here she is.

- Dr. Ordway?

- Oh, yes...

Do you recall exactly how Casper took the

identification card when you gave it to him?

- Just like anybody else.

- Oh, wait, wait a minute.

Um... here, here we are.

Now show me.

Now, according to Miss White, he took it

with his forefinger and his thumb.

Then he had to leave a

fingerprint on it...

...unless it was mishandled and smudged

off in some way.

No, if it'd been smudged it would

have shown up in the laboratory.

Here, now, you'd better

sit down awhile.

There you are, take it easy.

No, I tell you the card was clean except for

Miss White's prints and your own.

Then we're looking for a criminal who has

deliberately had his fingerprints removed.

"God hath given you one face

and you'll make yourself another".

Now I now I know what was in

Walter Foster's mind...

...when he when he quoted that

line from Hamlet.

What are you driving at?

If a criminal is wanted badly enough

to have his fingerprints removed,

wouldn't he also like a bit of

plastic surgery?

If a man's face becomes dangerous to him,

so he gets himself another.

You know, I was just thinking about a letter

that we received recently from Washington.

They asked us to investigate reports

that a plastic surgeon...

...was operating on wanted criminals

from all parts of the country.

Oh, I think that's Dr. Evans now.

This is the day, Inspector.

Well then, I'd better get going.

No, no, no, you stick around because if the

news is bad I'll want some moral support.

- Dr. Evans is here.

- Oh, hello, hello doctor.

- How do you feel old man?

- Oh, all right.

Well, if you'd rather be alone, I'm sure

Inspector Burns would understand.

- Oh, no, no, I want him to stay.

- Then we'll not keep you in suspense.

In a glancing b*llet wound of this kind,

that injures the optic nerve,

we have no way of judging...

whether the nerve will right itself

quickly or not at all.

Miss White, will you draw the

curtain please?

- We called to see Dr. Ordway.

- Won't you come in, please?

Just a moment, please, I'll tell

the nurse. Excuse me.

If Dr. Ordway is blind do you think

think he'll give up his practice?

I should think he'd give up helping

the police if that's what you mean.

- Oh, how do you do Miss White?

- How do you do?

How is Dr. Ordway, we've been

terribly worried about him.

The bandages were removed

this afternoon.

Dr. Ordway is blind.

- Oh, how ghastly.

- Isn't there any hope?

I'm afraid not for along time. Perhaps an

operation may be attempted later.

We'd better go, dear, he may

not want callers today.

Oh, no, please don't leave.

He heard the doorbell and I think he'd feel

hurt if you left without seeing him.

When you do go in,

try to be perfectly natural.

Express your sympathy once

if you wish,

but after that whatever you do,

don't refer to his blindness.

No, of course not.

Mr. and Mrs. Travers have come

to see you, Dr. Ordway.

Oh, come in, come in.

- Mrs. Travers.

- How do you do, Inspector?

Please don't get up, doctor.

I'm terribly sorry.

Oh, it's all right. Let's not talk

about it now. Come on, sit down.

I'm awfully glad you dropped in.

I'm especially glad that you

came together.

Our calling on you together really

means something.

The "For Sale" sign is down again.

Do you mean the separation

plans are off?

Well, we didn't find a buyer

for the house right away...

...so we just had to live in it.

Harriet is kidding. We decided to forget

the past and make a new start.

Oh, I'm awfully glad here that.

I wish you the best of luck, too.

- Cigarette?

- Um, yes, please.

Thank you.

- Now you can draw it.

- I'm afraid we're tiring Dr. Ordway, Clyde.

- Oh, no, don't...

- We just stopped by to see how you were.

Well, do come back again

soon, won't you?

Yes, we will, and if there's anything

we can do, why, call us.

- Thank you very much.

- Goodbye, doctor!

- Goodbye, doctor.

- Goodbye, Mrs. Travers.

I don't like this deception.

I know but, if it serves to catch

a m*rder*r, it's justified.

And I don't think Travers and his wife

will lose much time spreading the news.

The attempt to k*ll me at the office wasn't

a sudden outbreak of violence by a paranoic.

No, no, his pretended brother had

primed him to k*ll you all right.

Yes, and the sh**ting followed

very closely on the round of visits...

I paid the various people who were

at the Travers' party.

Somebody resented the interest you were

taking in the Walter Foster case...

...and hired Casper to put you

out of the way.

Well, that somebody I'll think I'm just

as harmless blind as dead.

Well now that you've got

the bandages off your eyes,

why don't you come down to headquarters

and look at pictures?

Maybe we've got a record of Casper.

No, if Casper had his face remodeled

when his fingerprints were removed,

an old picture won't mean anything.

But there's another means of identification

he may have overlooked.

Bend the catch on the lock,

will you, Dr. Ordway?

Thanks. I had the files brought up.

- I thought you'd have more privacy here.

- Oh, splendid.

- Let me have that, will you?

- Card?

Yes, the card Casper wrote on

in my office.

- There are no prints on it.

- I know that.

- I want to check the handwriting.

- Hm!

I'll have the handwriting experted,

but I'm sure you're right.

The C's, E's, P's and R's in both

names are the same.

There's no question but that Casper

and Gorsello are the same man.

Hm-hm. He was released

two years ago...

...after serving seven years for robbery.

Well, you got a good look at him

in your office.

Did he look like any of those

old pictures?

No, I don't think he's

going to be easy to find.

I'm not so sure that. There may be a quick

and easy way to get our hands on him...

through Armand the butler.

Do you think he and Gorsello

were working together?

Well, somebody in the Travers'

house must have been.

And I can't see any of Travers' friends

getting mixed up with a man like Gorsello.

Oh, I don't think that Armand's guilty.

But if he should be involved, the minute

you arrest him, Gorsello's going to run.

- I'll have to take that chance.

- Look here.

If you should be right and Armand

does give you a lead to Gorsello,

will you do me a favor?

Don't arrest him right away, hm?

Don't arrest Armand, and now

don't arrest Gorsello.

That's like asking the hound

to let the fox go.

Well, I'm convinced there's someone

more important,

more dangerous than Gorsello

behind all this.

Well, maybe you're right.

But as a police officer,

if I get my on Gorsello,

I have no choice but to arrest

him at once.

Well, I'm glad that little mishap of yours

wasn't as serious as we thought.

Thanks, Cummings.

You know, it occurred to Inspector Burns

and me that there...

Well, that there might be certain advantages

in pretending to be blind for a while.

Naturally, your enemies would feel...

...that you were just as harmless

as if you had been k*lled.

Yes, but there's someone else who can

identify the man who calls himself Casper.

- I mean, my nurse, Florence White.

- Oh, is that why you called up the agency?

Yes, I want you to follow Miss White...

...and be ready to protect her every

minute she's out of doors.

Well, you don't need a private

detective for that.

The police department would assign a man

to her and it wouldn't cost you a dime.

Yes, I know, I know that, but...

a crook can usually spot a police

detective a mile away.

Besides, I've got another reason for

one of the agents here to handle it.

I don't want an arrest.

If you see anyone following Miss White,

find out who he is, where he lives.

Now I'm beginning to get the idea.

But don't get the idea, now, or jump to the

conclusion that Miss White is bait.

I'm engaging you first of all

to protect her.

Does she know about me?

No, I don't think it's occurred to her

that she might be in danger but...

- I don't want to frighten her.

- Well, I'll try not to let her see me.

Okay.

Looks as though we were in

for a night of this.

Oh, he'll be along in a little while.

He goes under the name of Marx

and he lives alone...

...so he's not apt to cook dinner

in his apartment.

Well, maybe he saw you following him

and went out the back door.

There is no back door, the service

entrance is on the side.

I don't think he knows I'm tailing

him anyway.

He's coming out now.

Well, there's no one around.

- Then I won't bother with the glasses.

- How about your friend inside?

- Did you take him into your confidence?

- Yes I had to, but he's alright.

His wife's a patient of mine.

Do you want me to go in with you

or shall I wait in the car?

No, you don't have to wait. Take a cab home,

will you, and let me use your car?

- Alright, but take care of yourself.

- Okay.

- Good evening Dr. Ordway.

- Good evening.

I appreciate your coming down

to see me so late.

It's a pleasure. But tell me,

what's this about wanting to be

made up to look like someone else?

Can you make me up to look

like that man?

Yes, I think so.

You're up to something, doctor, but you

don't need to explain anything to me.

Uh... who is this man?

His name is Pete Hastings.

The police want him for holding up

a bank and k*lling a guard in Indiana.

You realize you'll become the target

of every policeman?

Don't you worry about that.

But when you telephoned me, you said

you wanted me to do you a favor.

This I consider an injury.

But, have it your way.

Thank you.

Let me see. Yes, we'll try this

one for size.

Oh, fine.

- Who is it?

- Pete Hastings. I wanna see Gypsy Corsello.

Come in.

Shut the door.

- What do you want?

- Lefty Leighton told me to look you up.

When'd you see Lefty?

A few days before he come East.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

Lefty they told me if I ever got

in a jam, to look you up.

- How's Lefty making out?

- Lefty's dead.

Oh, that's tough.

He was a great guy.

How did it happen?

A couple of fly cops were picking him.

Lefty shot it out with them.

Come in here.

Pull down the shade.

Sit down.

What was it I read about you

in the paper the other day?

Yeah, I believe my name was

mentioned in connection...

...with the Industrial Bank of Indianapolis.

Pour us a couple of drinks.

- I said a couple of drinks.

- I never use it.

Yeah, that's right.

Lefty told me he liked to work with you

because you never touched liquor.

A bank guard was k*lled in that

job you pulled.

That makes you plenty hot.

- Smoke?

- No, I never use them.

- Steady nerves, huh?

- Yeah, and I'm trying to keep'em that way too.

- Why didn't you send for me?

Maybe somebody followed you here.

No, I don't know anybody in town.

You don't have to worry, I...

- I was plenty careful.

- Yeah.

What do you want me

to do for you?

I'm living on borrowed time as long as I

carry this kisser around with me and...

...and these. Lefty told me if I ever needed

it done, you'd arrange things.

It isn't an easy job

and it costs plenty.

- Yeah, it's cheap at any price.

- Got the money?

You ain't heard that the Industrial Bank

got back any and that 50 grand, have you?

- Got a car?

- Yeah.

Remember this address.

Don't write it down.

Carl Ganss, 10518, Roma Road.

Carl Ganss, 10518, Roma Road.

Right.

- Yes?

- My name is Hastings.

I've been expecting you.

- So you see how it is.

- I understand.

You aren't the first to come here.

- Can you pay?

- Didn't Gorsello tell you?

- You brought the money with you?

- Sure, how long will it take?

- Perhaps a week.

- That long?

We aren't butchers, Mr. Hastings.

We do our job well but we can't hurry

nature's healing processes.

Now let me see...

Keep your hands to yourself.

An intensive manhunt ended tonight...

... when police shot and k*lled

Pete Hastings in Indianapolis.

The k*ller bandit was machine-gunned

when he elected to fight it out...

...after being cornered in

a local barber shop.

For further...

You'll be quite comfortable. We have good

facilities and all conveniences...

...for which, of course, you must

be prepared to pay.

- When can you start?

- Early in the morning.

Alright.

Pardon me a minute.

Ganss Mortuary, Mr. Ganss speaking.

This is Gorsello. Did the guy I sent

you get there?

Yes. Everything is being taken

care of.

You've taken in a stool pigeon

or a cop.

I know I said it was Hastings,

but I was wrong.

I just heard on the radio that

Hastings is dead.

Well, that's splendid, isn't it?

I see. Oh, yes.

Everything will be ready.

- I'm sorry for the interruption.

- That's okay.

Lie down on the table.

I thought you said you'd do

the job in the morning.

That's for the main job.

But we can begin the preliminaries now.

Every day counts for you,

doesn't it?

I think I'll wait till morning.

- I assure you it's unnecessary to wait.

- I'll wait, anyway

I must insist that you leave everything

to my judgment, Mr. Hastings.

Come, lie down on the table.

Roll up your sleeve.

There will be absolutely no pain.

- This is just a harmless preparation.

- Okay, if that's the way you want it.

Give me Inspector Burns, please.

All right, then Captain Moore will do.

Hello, Moore? This is Ordway talking.

I'm out at the Ganss Mortuary

Can you come out here right away?

Got something interesting to show you.

Bring a couple of men with you too.

Okay.

I wouldn't be surprised that if we looked

into some of your recent funerals...

...we might find Connie,

and probably Claire Foster occupying

graves under some other names.

There he is. That's probably your

friend Gorsello.

I suppose you realize you might

have been k*lled last night.

And then I'd have been blamed for it.

It would have been funny if I'd have

had to perform an autopsy on you.

You could at least have taken us into

your confidence so we could cover you.

Tell me, have you made Ganss

and Casper talk yet?

No, not yet. Dr. Steiner's been

having a field day, or I should say night.

Ganss's records indicate that he only

had three funerals this week.

One was okay. The burial orders

in the other two didn't look good,

so we exhumed the coffins and found

the bodies of Claire Foster and Connie Day.

I've just finished the autopsies.

They were both k*lled by an injection of the

same poison that k*lled Walter Foster.

Incidentally, the hypo Ganss was gonna

give you was filled with the same poison.

Hm, they're certainly poison-minded.

Murderers follow patterns like

everybody else.

- What are you doing for lunch, Steiner?

- Well I've got another autopsy...

and an appearance before a coroner's

jury, but I think I can make it.

Fine, I'd like to have a little

chat with you about toxicology.

- That would be charming.

- Come on.

Oh, have you any objections

to releasing Armand now?

Not at all. You can take

him with you if you like.

All right, see you later.

- Dr. Ordway, Mr. Tobin has arrived.

- Oh, thank you.

Good evening Mr. Tobin. I want to thank

you for accepting my invitation.

Invitation? It sounded more

like a summons to me.

I had a special reason for asking,

as you'll discover in a moment.

- Will you just make yourself at home, please?

- Thank you.

May... may I have your attention?

I want to thank you all for

coming here tonight.

A little unusual but I had a special

reason for asking you tonight.

It's a... it's something

of a celebration.

I know each one of you is haunted

by the belief...

...that among your circle of friends

there is a m*rder*r.

But tonight you can you can

banish that thought.

The case of Walter Foster is closed.

Yes, the guilty men are in jail and...

...well, you're all removed from suspicion.

That's really what I wanted to tell you.

Thank you very much.

- Dr. Ordway.

- Yes, Mrs. Travers?

I don't know how to thank you

for what you've done.

- Um, can anyone hear me?

- No.

We haven't actually solved

the case yet.

There's someone else involved, someone

more important than Casper and Ganss.

- But breathe that, not to a soul.

No, I won't.

I enjoyed our little private chat and drink.

You're quite a character, Dr. Ordway.

You know, for a while I...

I thought you suspected me.

Oh, I'd like to take you into

my confidence, Mr. Tobin

Yes?

I didn't tell those people the truth.

That was just a little trick

to lull someone to sleep.

Actually, someone in this house

is the k*ller...

...but I don't want him to suspect

that I know it.

Um, that's in the strictest

of confidence now, understand?

I only told you this because I...

well, I know I can trust you.

Yes, of course, I won't even

mention it to my wife.

Thank you.

Yes, I understand it's a privilege

to share your confidence, doctor.

- I am not violated.

- Thank you.

I, um... I've been trying to get a word

with you all evening.

How can you call this case closed?

What about Claire? She wasn't involved

with men like Gorsello and Ganss.

Whoever's responsible for her m*rder

is right here in this house laughing at you.

I know, that's what I came

up to tell you.

Huh?

Yes? Who is it, please?

It's Girard, Dr. Ordway.

Oh, oh, come in, Mr. Girard.

My boy I found a pair of glasses in the living

room. Were they yours by any chance?

I hope so, I mislaid mine somewhere

this evening.

Oh, well, stay around for a while. It gives

us an excuse to have a nightcap.

Good, I'll take you up on that.

Although I'm sorry I had to come

all the way back for them.

Um, they're in here in the living room.

I think they're on the little table there,

by they decanter.

Oh, yes, those are mine.

- Uh, pour us each a drink, will you?

- I'll be delighted to.

Thank you.

Don't make mine too heavy,

will you?

I think you'll find this just right.

Here we are, doctor.

Oh, thank you.

Well, here's to you, Girard.

Good health.

Here's to you, Ordway.

Thank you.

The crime doctor. The man who

always solves his case.

I have a little confession to make

that I think will interest and surprise you.

What's that?

I k*lled Walter Foster and I arranged

to have Claire and Connie Day removed.

Unfortunately, Ordway, you won't live long

enough to make use of my confession.

What are you saying, I won't

live long... what?

It wasn't enough that you

were blinded, was it?

No, you still had to poke and pry

into everyone's private affairs.

And even blind you're a little too

dangerous to have around.

So I'm giving you a little dose

of the medicine the others got.

- Do mean you poisoned my drink?

- Yes.

But you still have a few minutes to live.

You see, I was a doctor once myself

until I lost my license some years ago.

So it was you who performed the

operation on Casper.

And some hundred others.

It's a very profitable little business

I have with Ganss and Casper to assist me.

And you spoiled it.

I'd never have known of your existence

if you hadn't k*lled Walter Foster.

Why did you do that?

He tried to blackmail me. He got some

information from Connie Day.

- I see, so that's why you k*lled her.

- Yes.

Walter, Claire, Connie, and now you.

As for my real estate business,

it was just a blind.

Oh, yes. Well, I think I've played this

little game with you long enough, Girard.

Oh, you're surprised, huh?

Better get ready, Inspector.

He said his piece.

Hurry him back here so I can

get that stuff out of him.

Well, I've got another surprise for you.

I'm also immune to your poison.

At least for a time. I've had my stomach

lined with a heavy emulsion of chalk.

All right, Murphy.

Take care of him.

Come on, hurry up, Ordway.

Steiner's waiting for you.

Yes.

Hurry up, I'll take out that poison.

But leave me the drink.