The body of unscrupulous stockbroker Gerald Parker suddenly appears in the penguin tank at the aquarium. Naturally, suspicion falls on his wife and her boyfriend, who were present. Inspector Piper investigates with the unsolicited aid of teacher Hildegard Withers, a witness who's taken an interest in the case; Piper develops a grudging respect for Miss Withers' acumen (and sharp tongue), as they search among the red herrings for the aquarium killer...
Source: IMDB
Source: IMDB
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00:00The End
00:01:30I want to talk to Parker himself.
00:01:59No one else.
00:02:01What?
00:02:02You tell Mr. Parker he'd better talk to me if he knows what's good for him.
00:02:05Mr. Hemingway insists on speaking to you.
00:02:07I told you I didn't want to...
00:02:09Oh, I don't want to...
00:02:11Hello, Hemingway.
00:02:15That's too bad about your stock.
00:02:16I had to let it go.
00:02:17Too bad?
00:02:18You cheap swindler, you.
00:02:20You sold me up when the stock was down five points and charged me with a whole 20-point loss.
00:02:25Oh, you're a crazy man.
00:02:26I've been swamped with selling orders.
00:02:28I took care of you in turn.
00:02:29Liar!
00:02:30Cheat!
00:02:31You ruined me!
00:02:32You robbed me!
00:02:33And when I see you...
00:02:34If Hemingway calls again or comes here, I'm not in.
00:02:38Very well.
00:02:39Well, you're taking Mrs. Parker to dinner in the theater this evening.
00:02:42It's 5.30 now.
00:02:44Oh, yes.
00:02:44Gwen, I've forgotten.
00:02:46Well, I'll have to hurry.
00:02:48Oh, I know you need the money, Dan.
00:02:51But Jerry's sunk everything in the market.
00:02:53We're broke.
00:02:55Oh, of course I love you, darling.
00:02:57I'd do anything.
00:02:58But where can I get $5,000 by Wednesday?
00:03:02Oh, no, no, no.
00:03:03It's impossible.
00:03:04All he has left is his insurance.
00:03:06And that's no help unless...
00:03:08Hello?
00:03:10Hello?
00:03:11Hello?
00:03:12Hello?
00:03:12Yes, it's really Gwen.
00:03:39A lifetime?
00:03:43You can still say those nice things, can't you, Philip?
00:03:47You once told me that if I ever needed help, I only had to call you.
00:03:51Well, I must see you.
00:03:53Someplace where we won't be noticed.
00:03:55Oh, I knew you wouldn't fail me.
00:03:58Goodbye, Philip.
00:03:59See you.
00:03:59Oh, hello, Jerry.
00:04:06You're late.
00:04:08We're talking to Philip Seymour.
00:04:09I can't help it if he calls me up, can I?
00:04:11You swore to me you'd never see him again.
00:04:14I didn't see him.
00:04:15You're lying.
00:04:16I'm sick of your suspicions and jealousy.
00:04:18I wish I'd never married you.
00:04:19Never met...
00:04:19Vincent.
00:04:23I'm through.
00:04:24Do you hear me?
00:04:25I'm through with you.
00:04:28Gwen.
00:04:55Oh, Mrs. Parker.
00:05:16Phil, I've broken with Jerry for good.
00:05:18What's happening?
00:05:19Oh, he's been a beast ever since the day I married him.
00:05:21But last night he...he struck me.
00:05:23Struck you?
00:05:24I wish I'd been there.
00:05:25Oh, Phil.
00:05:27I should have married you.
00:05:28Poverty and all.
00:05:29Gwen, darling.
00:05:30Serves me right that you've been so successful.
00:05:32But...
00:05:33Oh, Phil, you've got to help me.
00:05:35I've made up my mind.
00:05:36I'm going to divorce him.
00:05:37Well, of course I'll help you.
00:05:38Let me telephone the office.
00:05:39But I won't be back today.
00:05:40And we can talk it all over.
00:05:41Oh, but...
00:05:42Wait right here.
00:05:42I won't be a minute.
00:05:51What's that?
00:05:58My wife?
00:05:59Who is this talking?
00:06:01Hello.
00:06:02Hello!
00:06:11Why don't you watch where you're going?
00:06:14You clumsy fool.
00:06:16Thanks.
00:06:17I'd leave him today.
00:06:21But he's put all my money into the market trying to save himself.
00:06:24Well, I can let you have whatever you...
00:06:25What are you doing here with this man?
00:06:30Why, I...
00:06:31We just happened to be here and...
00:06:32He's your lover, isn't he?
00:06:33Philip Seymour.
00:06:34He was your lover before you married me.
00:06:36No, that's not true.
00:06:36Look here, you fool.
00:06:37You don't know what you're talking about.
00:06:38You think you can break up my home, steal my wife?
00:06:40Why, you...
00:06:43Teddy.
00:06:47What are you doing?
00:06:49Nothing.
00:06:50He'll come out of it.
00:06:52Walk slowly to the entrance.
00:06:53I'll meet you there.
00:06:53What are you going to do?
00:06:54Go on.
00:07:17Oh, Mrs. Potsman.
00:07:41With funny-looking sardines.
00:07:43Look, stop him, he's got my bag.
00:07:47Stop him, he's got my bag.
00:07:49A little man with a dark blue coat on, he took my bag.
00:07:53I was planning right there with all my money and I don't know.
00:07:56Stop him, he's got my bag.
00:08:05Yeah, children, you see, never try to evade the law with an umbrella between your legs.
00:08:10Honesty, young man, is the best policy.
00:08:14Come, get up, get up, get up.
00:08:16Give it off.
00:08:17Yes, sir, with it.
00:08:18Give it off.
00:08:18Pick up that pocketbook.
00:08:20Yes, ma'am.
00:08:26Come, come.
00:08:27You're not lending money on it.
00:08:28Hand it over, quickly.
00:08:29Quickly.
00:08:29Get it.
00:08:30Ah-ha.
00:08:41A pickpocket, eh?
00:08:42Oh, the man's a born detective.
00:08:45Watch all that, boss of ours.
00:08:47Hello, Frank.
00:08:48What's up?
00:08:49It's a pickpocket.
00:08:49Oh.
00:08:54A cargo loo, huh?
00:08:57Him all right.
00:08:58We've been looking for him for two months.
00:09:01He's deaf and dumb.
00:09:02Just a minute, Donovan.
00:09:03If there's a reward, I lay claim to it here and now.
00:09:05I'm arresting him, ain't I?
00:09:06I recognized him, didn't I?
00:09:08Makes no difference.
00:09:08He's mine.
00:09:09I'll leave it at anybody here.
00:09:10Seems to be some argument about the reward.
00:09:13May I say, it was my young brother that tripped him.
00:09:16But this is no time for squabbling.
00:09:18Can't you see this man is badly hurt?
00:09:23He's gone.
00:09:24Well, that ends the reward business.
00:09:27Now nobody gets it.
00:09:29Come on, Mac.
00:09:30Come on, Mac.
00:09:30Come on, Mac.
00:09:32Watch out.
00:09:32Let's get out of the war.
00:09:34And, Jim, we must go now.
00:09:35This is not what I had in mind when I brought you to see the dish.
00:09:39Eddie Nettsoff, you come back here.
00:09:41Where do you think you're going?
00:09:42I want to see the monkey.
00:09:44Oh.
00:09:45Well, monkeys are about the only things you haven't seen here today.
00:09:48You come right back here.
00:09:50You've seen enough.
00:09:50My, my hatpin, it's gone.
00:09:54It's gone.
00:09:55Well, children, why don't you do something?
00:09:57Don't stand there like a lot of grown-ups.
00:09:59Teachers lost their hatpin.
00:10:01Oh, it was a very valuable one.
00:10:03My mother gave it to me years ago.
00:10:05It had a garnet in it.
00:10:07What's a garnet, teacher?
00:10:09Don't quibble.
00:10:10Now, everybody go right back to where we started.
00:10:12And look everywhere.
00:10:13On the floor, in the fish tanks, in the fish.
00:10:16Look everywhere.
00:10:17I'll give a prize to the first one who's prize in the room.
00:10:20What for a prize, teacher?
00:10:22Oh, well, no homework tomorrow.
00:10:25A prize, no homework.
00:10:28Such a prize.
00:10:29Oy.
00:10:50Phil.
00:11:00Well, where have you been?
00:11:02I've been waiting.
00:11:03What'd you do with him?
00:11:04He'll be all right.
00:11:05Let's get out of here.
00:11:05Mrs. Parker.
00:11:10Mrs. Parker.
00:11:12This is a pleasure, Mrs. Parker.
00:11:14Why, I don't believe I remember.
00:11:15I am better than the Hemingway, the director here.
00:11:18Of course, I can't expect you to remember all of your admirers.
00:11:21I met you in your husband's office.
00:11:25Oh, yes.
00:11:26Now, you must let me show you my office.
00:11:28I'm sure you'll find it most unusual.
00:11:30Well, really, I...
00:11:31Now, I'll not take no for an answer.
00:11:33You must come to Mr....
00:11:34Seymour.
00:11:36Mr. Seymour.
00:11:38A friend of your husband's, I presume?
00:11:40Why, yes.
00:11:41This way, if you please, Mr. Seymour.
00:11:43Yes.
00:11:44You're a good boy, Abraham.
00:12:08No homework for you tomorrow.
00:12:10Oh, I've done my homework already.
00:12:12Two days you're here.
00:12:14Oh, that's too bad, Abraham.
00:12:16We'll have to think of something else for you.
00:12:18Well, now, we must hurry, children, before any more criminals come in.
00:12:21Are we all here?
00:12:22Perhaps I'd better count noses.
00:12:23One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
00:12:26One nose, missing.
00:12:27Where's Isidore Marks?
00:12:29Isidore.
00:12:30Isidore!
00:12:32Yes, Richard.
00:12:33Come along, Isidore.
00:12:34Come.
00:12:34Isidore.
00:12:35Do you mind me?
00:12:38Come along, Isidore.
00:12:39Richard, this dog is acting so funny.
00:12:41I've told you again and again, that is not a duck, it's a penguin.
00:12:45But look how he is hopping off and then down.
00:12:47Isidore Marks, you mind me.
00:12:49You mind me.
00:12:50You.
00:12:53Isidore.
00:12:55Richard.
00:13:04This is a celebrated fine manispecxilifer anthropophagus.
00:13:08You think she is loathsome?
00:13:10No, I suppose so.
00:13:11You're wrong.
00:13:13Only this morning she killed her husband and ate him, bones, fins and all.
00:13:19Nowadays, the bald wife seeks the divorce court or uses the revolver, but not so the
00:13:26pimalispecxilifer anthropophagus.
00:13:29Yes, oh, do you know, this little lady uses her teeth.
00:13:36Hemingway, there's a man in the penguin tank.
00:13:39What's the man doing in the penguin tank?
00:13:41Make him get out at once.
00:13:43But, but this man is dead.
00:13:46Come on.
00:13:47I've never had a thing like this happen before in all the years I've been direct here.
00:13:59That's what you've got there.
00:14:00Get this mob back.
00:14:02Get these people out of here.
00:14:03Come, come, come.
00:14:04Get out.
00:14:05Now, instead of ordering these people out, I'd lock with me, and I've already said for the
00:14:08police, one of them may be a murderer.
00:14:09Let go, let go, let go, lock the door.
00:14:14No, you don't.
00:14:15No, you don't.
00:14:16I've got to be quiet with me, you'll run everywhere.
00:14:18You might be guilty, stand back.
00:14:21Gerald Parker, your husband.
00:14:24Phil, Phil, what have we done?
00:14:39You're all right, madam, don't be frightened.
00:14:51Costello's the name.
00:14:52Barry Costello.
00:14:53I may be able to help you.
00:14:54I'm a lawyer.
00:14:56I'll be needing a man to help you here.
00:14:58There may be some life left in this porch yet.
00:15:00Here, young man.
00:15:01Come on, come here.
00:15:06Step back here, folks.
00:15:07Don't be proud of you, man.
00:15:09Inspector Piper.
00:15:13Some kid called up and said there was a dead man in swimming with the docks.
00:15:16Over there, Inspector.
00:15:23What?
00:15:25What?
00:15:26Well, Donovan, what do you think you're doing?
00:15:29Oh, hello, Inspector.
00:15:30I've decided to bring him to according to rules.
00:15:33Mom, huh?
00:15:34Who is he?
00:15:36The director here identified him as a Mr. Gerald Parker.
00:15:39Gerald Parker used to be my broker.
00:15:42He must have been drunk and fell in the tank.
00:15:45Got it all figured out, haven't you?
00:15:50Pump in the back of the head.
00:15:53Bruising the chin.
00:15:57The director, this looks to me like a clay case of homicide.
00:16:00I realized that a half an hour ago.
00:16:02That's why I had one of my pupils call the police.
00:16:05I'm surprised you thought the police necessary.
00:16:07It is.
00:16:10The director, I'm going to need your help.
00:16:12I want everyone that was here when the thing happened taken to your office.
00:16:15Go ahead, Donovan.
00:16:16Get their addresses.
00:16:21All right.
00:16:22Come on.
00:16:23Follow me, everybody.
00:16:24Come on.
00:16:24Get this way.
00:16:25Come on.
00:16:25Come on.
00:16:26Come on.
00:16:26Come on.
00:16:39Madam, will you make up your mind, did you, or did you not see Seymour hit the deceased?
00:16:45Beg pardon, Inspector.
00:16:46She answered that question a few moments ago.
00:16:49I did not.
00:16:55What are you doing?
00:16:57Writing a letter home?
00:16:59Oh, I'm taking down the minutes of the meeting.
00:17:02The minutes?
00:17:05Not a bad idea.
00:17:08All right.
00:17:08You can go.
00:17:10Now, listen.
00:17:12I've still got a lot of questions, and somebody here's got the answers.
00:17:15Who was the first one to see the body?
00:17:17I was.
00:17:19Go on, young man.
00:17:20Were you alone?
00:17:21I was with my class of pupils.
00:17:23Where are those pupils?
00:17:24What do you mean by letting them go home?
00:17:25Letting them.
00:17:26I see you have no children of your own, Inspector.
00:17:29The moment you ordered everybody to stay, they, I believe the word is scrammed.
00:17:36You seem to have authority over everyone except your own pupils.
00:17:40By the way, what's your full name?
00:17:42Hildegard, Martha, Withers.
00:17:45Occupation?
00:17:46Well, really, Inspector.
00:17:47What do you suppose I was doing here with my class of pupils?
00:17:51Entertaining the fish?
00:17:53I'm a schoolteacher.
00:17:55And I might have done wonders with you if I'd caught you young enough.
00:18:00Acquainted with the deceased?
00:18:01Only by sight.
00:18:02I saw him for the first time in the tank today.
00:18:05That'll do for you.
00:18:07What's your name?
00:18:11Seymour.
00:18:11Philip Seymour.
00:18:12Come on, what are you doing here?
00:18:30Come on, let's go down and see the inspector.
00:18:32Come on.
00:18:32It's as clear as day what happened.
00:18:44You're in love with Mrs. Parker.
00:18:46And you murdered an unconscious, defenseless man.
00:18:48You can't bully me into anything, Inspector.
00:18:50I don't think I killed Parker.
00:18:52And if I did, it was an accident.
00:18:53You killed him, all right.
00:18:56If Mrs. Parker was mixed up in it, we'd find that out, too.
00:19:00Looks like another Snyder Gray killing to me.
00:19:04Come on.
00:19:04Come on.
00:19:05Hang on.
00:19:05Hang on.
00:19:05Hang on.
00:19:05Come on.
00:19:06Come on.
00:19:07Come on.
00:19:07Get it.
00:19:07Get it.
00:19:07Get it.
00:19:08Get it.
00:19:08All right.
00:19:09What's this, Donovan?
00:19:10I've found this worm hiding behind one of the tanks.
00:19:14Why, that's the man I caught with my umbrella.
00:19:16Chicago Lou.
00:19:17Hiding behind the tanks, eh?
00:19:19Well, you know something and you're going to spill it.
00:19:26GP.
00:19:27Gerald Parker.
00:19:29The murdered man's watch.
00:19:34Come on.
00:19:35Where'd you get that watch?
00:19:36Look up.
00:19:37Can't you see the man's a deaf mute?
00:19:40Oh, you won't talk, huh?
00:19:44All right.
00:19:44Get him out of here and lock him up.
00:19:47And sing him to sleep.
00:19:51Oh, Mrs. Parker.
00:19:53After Seymour knocked your husband down and you left him,
00:19:56what did you do?
00:19:59I, I, I just wandered around the exhibits, waiting for him.
00:20:03But when Seymour reached the front entrance,
00:20:06he had to wait for you.
00:20:07How long did it take you to wander around?
00:20:12About, about 10 minutes.
00:20:15And while Seymour waited, there was time for you to slip back
00:20:17where your husband was lying unconscious and kill him.
00:20:20I didn't.
00:20:21I didn't.
00:20:22Look here.
00:20:23Mrs. Parker doesn't have to answer these questions.
00:20:25No?
00:20:26Who are you?
00:20:27I'm a lawyer.
00:20:28I offered my services to Mrs. Parker
00:20:29and I was detained just a little while ago.
00:20:31A lawyer, I, well, it looks like she's going to need you.
00:20:34Mrs. Parker, we sent a woman to the electric chair in New York
00:20:40a short while ago.
00:20:41Maybe you saw the pictures in the papers.
00:20:44Why, yes, I, oh, oh.
00:20:49Now, Mrs. Parker, I'm only trying to find out the truth.
00:20:53What do you think a woman should do if she's tied to a man she hates?
00:20:57A man who frightens her and abuses her.
00:21:00She had, she had to get rid of him, get away from him.
00:21:03And you feared and hated your husband, didn't you?
00:21:05His death would mean freedom for you, wouldn't it?
00:21:07Wait a minute.
00:21:08You win, Piper.
00:21:09There's no need to go any further.
00:21:11I'll confess to the murder of Gerald Parker.
00:21:15I killed Parker.
00:21:17There's no one else mixed up in it but me.
00:21:22I kind of thought you'd talk, Seymour.
00:21:24All right, let's have it.
00:21:30How'd you kill him?
00:21:32Well, I carried his body up onto the runway and, uh...
00:21:35And you thought how easy it would be to push him off in the water
00:21:37while it was knocked out, is that it?
00:21:39That's it.
00:21:40I pushed him into the water and held his head under.
00:21:42It was a lot of bubbles for a while and then they stopped coming.
00:21:45I knew he was dead.
00:21:46Yeah, but why...
00:21:47Just a moment, young man.
00:21:49I don't believe he did.
00:21:50I saw the body fall into the pool and nobody was holding it under.
00:21:53Besides, this young man doesn't look like a murderer.
00:21:57Pooey, they never do.
00:21:58Just the same, I know bubbles when I see them and I didn't see any.
00:22:01Now, it's no use, Miss Willis.
00:22:02I've taught school long enough, Inspector,
00:22:04to know when someone is telling the truth or not.
00:22:07Seymour is shielding someone and, uh...
00:22:10I know who it is.
00:22:16You've got your confession, Inspector.
00:22:17Isn't that enough?
00:22:18All right, take him out of here, Casey.
00:22:26Goodbye, Philip.
00:22:29And that's that.
00:22:31The quickest moiler case I ever sold.
00:22:35Now, the rest of you can...
00:22:37I'll take that, Hemingway.
00:22:43Piper speaking.
00:22:45What?
00:22:46Say that again.
00:22:52All right.
00:23:02Well, that confession isn't as good as it sounds.
00:23:05Philip Seymour killed Parker, all right, but not the way he told it.
00:23:09Doc Bloom, our medical examiners, found that Parker wasn't drowned.
00:23:14There isn't a drop of water in his lungs.
00:23:17He was thoroughly dead before he ever hit the water.
00:23:19I told you so.
00:23:21Bubbles.
00:23:27All right, you can go, Mrs. Parker, but don't try to leave town or I'll have you dragged off the train.
00:23:32Come on, you need a rest.
00:23:40Just a minute, Costello.
00:23:41Oh, Costello.
00:23:43Will you wait a moment, please?
00:23:44What are you doing hanging around this fish house?
00:23:53Well, it's Friday, isn't it?
00:23:56It isn't Friday for wisecracks.
00:23:59Come on, what are you doing here?
00:24:00Well, as it so happens, I like penguins.
00:24:02You like penguins?
00:24:04Yes, they're very comical.
00:24:07It may sound silly, but I come down here quite often to watch them and get a laugh.
00:24:10I've quite a valuable collection of penguins at home.
00:24:13You keep penguins in your own house?
00:24:15You live alone, I take it.
00:24:17I don't mean real ones.
00:24:18I mean these.
00:24:20Have you ever noticed them?
00:24:21They're like funny little old men in dinner jackets, slightly drunk.
00:24:26They're human without being offensive.
00:24:29You sound like a case for the psychopathic ward rather than a nice clean jail.
00:24:33Well, what's your full name?
00:24:37Barry Costello, attorney-at-law.
00:24:39Acquainted with the deceased?
00:24:40Never saw him before in my life.
00:24:41Acquainted with his wife, Mrs. Parker?
00:24:44Not until I was lucky enough to catch her when she fainted.
00:24:48Well, all right, you can go, Costello, but don't leave town.
00:24:52Lay off the penguins, they'll liable to get you into trouble.
00:24:54I'd never trust a man who was a penguin, fancier.
00:25:06Well, I wouldn't want to live with one if he kept bringing them home with him.
00:25:09But I guess he's harmless.
00:25:11He doesn't look like a murderer.
00:25:14Pooey!
00:25:14They never do.
00:25:15Did you notice Gwen Parker's legs, Inspector?
00:25:21Who didn't?
00:25:22I mean her stocking.
00:25:23They both had stains on them.
00:25:25Stains?
00:25:26Good, I'll look into that.
00:25:29Say, Inspector, I'm a busy man and you're taking up a lot of my time.
00:25:32I'm going to take up a lot more of your time, Mr. Director.
00:25:36You may have authority over the fish, but you haven't any over the police department.
00:25:40Not when you're a murder suspect.
00:25:42A murder suspect?
00:25:43I'm going to take it.
00:25:45McDonald.
00:25:48You were on the door when Parker came in.
00:25:50Do you recall anything about him?
00:25:51I do.
00:25:52He came in like he was angry and looking for somebody.
00:25:53He bumped into a man and his hat was knocked off.
00:25:56It was a derby hat.
00:25:57I picked it up for him.
00:25:58Get that, Miss Withers?
00:25:59Parker wore a derby.
00:26:01Get it?
00:26:03Something else?
00:26:04No, sir.
00:26:04He went on into the building.
00:26:06All right, sir.
00:26:13Hemingway, there's a question I didn't ask you.
00:26:16Did you ever have a quarrel with Gerald Parker?
00:26:20No, I...
00:26:20No, we never quarreled.
00:26:23I...
00:26:23I haven't seen him or talked to him in three months.
00:26:26Hmm.
00:26:28Inspector, I think you should read this.
00:26:30It's addressed to Mr. Hemingway from General Parker.
00:26:33That's my private correspondent!
00:26:35Just a minute, just a minute.
00:26:37So he sold you out yesterday, eh?
00:26:43What'd you mean when you said you hadn't seen Parker in three months?
00:26:46I was afraid.
00:26:46Afraid of what?
00:26:47The consequences of what you did to him?
00:26:48No, I didn't kill him!
00:26:50You can't trick me into confessing you can!
00:26:52What are you afraid of, then?
00:26:54I was afraid of losing my position.
00:26:56If the board of trustees learned that I was gambling in the market...
00:26:59Well, you don't know our board of trustees.
00:27:02I didn't even know you had a board of trustees in an aquarium.
00:27:05What are they, fish?
00:27:08All right.
00:27:09I want to have another look behind those tanks.
00:27:32Can I stick here, sir?
00:27:33Those are your orders, weren't they?
00:27:36Somebody, afraid of ghosts or something?
00:27:38Well, I got a strange feeling there's somebody here that don't belong here.
00:27:41There are rustling and whispering and soft footsteps.
00:27:44Oh, get a chair and sit down.
00:27:47This must be your first job with the homicide squad, isn't it?
00:27:50Yeah, and I hope it's the last.
00:27:52Yes, sir.
00:27:54Yes.
00:28:10I'd give a lot to know how that murder was committed.
00:28:13Let's see.
00:28:15Seymour would have stood about here...
00:28:17Lay the body on the catwalk.
00:28:21And the murderer, supposing it wasn't Seymour,
00:28:24would have come on Parker from this direction.
00:28:27He'd have dragged Parker over,
00:28:30held his head down here for as long as he thought was possible,
00:28:34and after...
00:28:36Well...
00:28:38I'm sorry, Miss Withers, but I love this hat.
00:28:41I've worn it for five years.
00:28:43Just a moment, young man.
00:28:45Remember the hat that was floating in this same pool
00:28:48when Donovan was trying to revive the corpse?
00:28:50Didn't see any hat.
00:28:51I saw it. A gray fedora.
00:28:54What kind of a hat was it that McDonald said Parker wore when he came in?
00:28:57A derby.
00:28:58Then the hat that was floating in here was the murderer's hat.
00:29:01The murderer wore the dead man's dry derby instead.
00:29:05Well, I'm glad I always wear a derby.
00:29:08Do you always wear a derby?
00:29:10Winter and summer. Every employee in the aquarium can tell you that.
00:29:13What if that hat is at the bottom right now?
00:29:18Not enough light.
00:29:19There's a flashlight in the guard's room, shall I get it?
00:29:22Maybe that'd be a good idea.
00:29:24Let me take a look at Chicago Lou's hiding place.
00:29:35Maybe you'd better wait here.
00:29:38Not I.
00:29:57What a creepy place.
00:29:59Well, you won't insist on being a detective.
00:30:01Hummingway.
00:30:09What are you doing down there?
00:30:11Bring a flashlight up here.
00:30:13Hummingway.
00:30:14Hummingway.
00:30:30It looked to me as though the murderer came back to get his hat out of the pool.
00:30:35Come on.
00:30:44Donovan.
00:30:46Oh, Donovan.
00:30:47Well, the man just can't disappear in thin air.
00:30:49He must be somewhere.
00:30:51Inspector.
00:30:55I've looked everywhere for that flashlight, Inspector.
00:30:57But it's gone.
00:30:58Never mind that.
00:30:59Donovan, the officer, was he here when you went after the flashlight?
00:31:02Why...
00:31:03Why, no, but...
00:31:04But I never thought anything about it.
00:31:06When you hear a man put on duty and ten minutes later he's disappeared,
00:31:09you don't think anything about it.
00:31:11You're a fool.
00:31:25Oh, he's alive anyway.
00:31:26And you scolded him for thinking he heard footsteps.
00:31:29Line of duty.
00:31:30Call the guards, Hummingway, will I?
00:31:32Hello?
00:31:37I was just sitting there and something hit me on the head.
00:31:40It's a good thing it was your head.
00:31:45All right, McDonald.
00:31:46Take care of it, Woody.
00:31:52Oh, Fink.
00:31:53Take him to the police car.
00:31:54All right, Hummingway, you can go.
00:31:55Good night, Inspector.
00:31:56Good night.
00:31:57Good night, Mr. Ruff...
00:32:13If that penguin could talk, I'll bet he'd tell us who did it.
00:32:17And if he could laugh, I know whom he'd be laughing at.
00:32:24You know, I can't quite make you out, Miss Withers.
00:32:27Oh.
00:32:28This is a busy day for you, Inspector.
00:32:31Now you have two mysteries to solve.
00:32:42When I called up about those notes,
00:32:44I never expected a layout like this.
00:32:49Well, you may as well have something on your stomach.
00:32:51You've got a hard day ahead.
00:32:52Have a little more coffee?
00:32:54No, thanks.
00:32:55You do all right by yourself in the way of vittles, don't you?
00:32:59I suppose you thought schoolteachers lived on chalk and old glossing paper.
00:33:03Well, to be frank, I never gave it much thought what schoolteachers did.
00:33:07I must go into it further someday.
00:33:10Now, about those notes.
00:33:12I suppose you got them all fried up with cream gravy?
00:33:14No, I've typed them out for you instead.
00:33:26Well, you've got everything in there, haven't you?
00:33:28Coughs, fish noises, and everything.
00:33:31You know, you oughtn't to be a schoolteacher, Miss Withers.
00:33:33You oughtn't to be a...
00:33:34Detective?
00:33:36Well, no, I wouldn't say a detective.
00:33:38You see, it takes a certain type to be a detective.
00:33:41I've noticed that.
00:33:45What I mean is that a woman detective always looks like a woman detective.
00:33:49Well, what about a woman detective that looks like a schoolteacher?
00:33:52Oh, you've got all those kids to teach about all those fish.
00:33:56Well, I could get a substitute.
00:33:58Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Withers. You've been a big help.
00:34:01See, these things have to be solved in a certain way.
00:34:04What do you mean, solved?
00:34:07Well, anyway, thanks for the notes and thanks for the waffles.
00:34:17For nothing.
00:34:18Schoolteacher.
00:34:33Hello?
00:34:35Inspector Piper?
00:34:36Just a moment.
00:34:38Inspector!
00:34:40Inspector!
00:34:42Inspector!
00:34:45Inspector Piper!
00:34:46Headquarters on the phone.
00:34:56Piper speaking.
00:34:58Yeah.
00:35:02Oh, yeah?
00:35:06Okay.
00:35:07Goodbye.
00:35:09That was Doc Bloom, our medical examiner.
00:35:12He knows now how Parker was killed.
00:35:14Now all we have to do is find out who killed him.
00:35:22What are you being so dramatic for?
00:35:24Out with it.
00:35:26I won't faint.
00:35:28While Gerald Parker was lying unconscious on the runway,
00:35:32he was killed by some sort of devil skewer
00:35:35forced through the right eardrum of the skull and into the brain.
00:35:37Cure, you say?
00:35:38A stiletto?
00:35:40Yes.
00:35:42Doc Bloom says the weapon made a hole less than a sixteenth of an inch through the skull.
00:35:47What's the matter with you?
00:35:49You're acting just like a detective.
00:35:52What are you looking at?
00:35:54I was looking at your hat pin.
00:35:56My hat pin?
00:36:00What?
00:36:02It could have been done with this.
00:36:04Just what I was thinking.
00:36:06You're a mind reader.
00:36:07I'm a what reader?
00:36:08I suppose this is exhibit A.
00:36:12Inspector, you're acting more and more like a detective every moment.
00:36:18If you're harboring the delusion that I did it, you'd better snap the bracelets on me.
00:36:23Will you shut up a moment, please? I'm trying to think.
00:36:27Sounds bad.
00:36:28You mind if I sit down while you do it?
00:36:35I suppose I'll turn out to be Gerald Parker's deserted hometown sweetheart.
00:36:40Nobody's accusing you, ma'am.
00:36:44I suppose a matter of form we ought to see if this fits the hole in the skull.
00:36:49Charming idea.
00:36:52You think of everything, don't you?
00:36:54Now I'm riled.
00:36:55I started in this affair because it was exciting.
00:36:59Now that I'm in it, I'm going to stay in it until we find out who did kill him.
00:37:03Listen, lady.
00:37:05You're going to stay in it whether you want to or not.
00:37:25Good morning, Miss.
00:37:39Good morning, Miss.
00:37:41When you've got your disguise on, I'd like to ask you a few questions.
00:37:45That is, if you can talk through all that make-up.
00:37:48Do you remember handling a call yesterday afternoon to Mr. Parker about four, just before he went out to be killed?
00:38:00What are you, a policewoman?
00:38:02In so far as it concerns you, I am.
00:38:06I'm connected with the detective bureau.
00:38:09Not very pleasantly, but still connected.
00:38:12What are you trying to do, put the bee on me?
00:38:14I'm trying to put nothing on you.
00:38:16You have enough on already.
00:38:18Now, if you'll answer my questions, you can go right back to your artwork.
00:38:22Sure, I remember a call.
00:38:24It was a man.
00:38:26He said Mrs. Parker was in trouble, so I put him right through.
00:38:28Are you sure it was a man's voice?
00:38:31Well, it ain't likely a woman would be calling me Baby, is it?
00:38:35No, not so far downtown as this.
00:38:38Now, Baby, I mean...
00:38:41Get the chief operator to trace that call.
00:38:45Tell her to report to Inspector Piper at police headquarters.
00:38:49Oh.
00:38:51Next time, use a lighter shade.
00:38:53That's a little vulgar.
00:38:55Au revoir.
00:38:56Au revoir.
00:38:58Okay, Lydia Pinkham.
00:39:09I'm Miss Withers.
00:39:10I'd like to see Inspector Piper, please.
00:39:12Oh, just take it, you have.
00:39:22Ah, Mr. Costello.
00:39:23Well, what no penguin.
00:39:26Oh, I'm giving the penguin today off.
00:39:28Yesterday was quite a lot of excitement for one little old man.
00:39:31Well, yesterday was quite a lot of excitement for one little old school teacher, too.
00:39:35I suppose the mastermind has everything well in hand this morning.
00:39:40Not so well in hand that he couldn't take a few tips from you, Miss Withers.
00:39:43Oh, you penguin fancierge, you're such flatterers.
00:39:46That's the secret of our success with penguin.
00:39:49Well, some good woman is losing a very pleasant husband by it.
00:39:54Come in, Miss Withers.
00:39:57See you later, Mr. Costello.
00:39:59I hope so, Miss Withers.
00:40:01Oh, hello, Miss Withers. What's on your chest?
00:40:04None of your business.
00:40:05Since I'm honored with being one of two dozen murder suspects already lined up, I presume I have the privilege of trying to clear myself.
00:40:13People don't grant you privileges, Miss Withers. You take them.
00:40:17That's neither here nor there, young man.
00:40:19What I want to know is just how many people know how Parker was killed.
00:40:23With a hatpin, I mean, through the right ear.
00:40:25You and I and the medical examiner.
00:40:28And the murderer.
00:40:30And the murderer.
00:40:31I was going to give it to the newspapers today.
00:40:34Well, uh...
00:40:38Suppose you tell the newspapers the hatpin was thrust through the left ear.
00:40:44And then let the murderer betray himself.
00:40:47Or herself.
00:40:51Miss Withers, I think we've hit on something there.
00:40:53We've hit on something.
00:40:56Next, you'll be claiming you did half the murder.
00:40:59Good day, Inspector.
00:41:01Oh, if you want us to hit on anything more, just let me know.
00:41:08Oh, come on back, Miss Withers.
00:41:10I think maybe we can get together on something at that.
00:41:18Costello was here just now.
00:41:20He says if I'll give Gwen Parker a chance, she'll turn stuff up.
00:41:23The state's evidence on Seymour.
00:41:24That ought to be an interesting little tidbit of news for Mr. Seymour.
00:41:27Miss Withers, you took the very words right out of my mouth.
00:41:30Don't worry. You'll have plenty left.
00:41:33And if I haven't, you've got a couple.
00:41:35Okay, let's try it.
00:41:42Oh, hello, Max. This is Miss Withers.
00:41:45Max is the finest laboratory expert any criminal bureau ever had.
00:41:47I've analyzed Gwen Parker's stockings.
00:41:51Great. Casey the cop got them from her maid.
00:41:54What did you find? Any traces of blood?
00:41:56Nine. No blood.
00:41:58But much more stranger.
00:42:00A spot stiff with dried water.
00:42:03Water tainted with fish slime.
00:42:06The kind of water that might come from an aquarium tank?
00:42:08Only in aquarium you could find water like that.
00:42:12I guess that bust Gwen Parker's story that she didn't go behind the tanks.
00:42:15Maybe.
00:42:16Maybe nothing. This case is ripe for grand jury.
00:42:19No wonder Gwen was so willing to save her skin by pinning it onto Seymour.
00:42:23All right, let's go, Miss Withers.
00:42:25Great work, Max.
00:42:26Don't you say, Seymour, she's just pinning the wrap on you?
00:42:37Just like Ruth Snyder tried to do to Judd Gray?
00:42:40She wants you to suffer while she goes free.
00:42:42Now, come on.
00:42:44After you left Parker's body on the runway, where was Gwen?
00:42:47Right where she's always been, looking after Gwen.
00:42:49But this isn't the first time that beautiful little devil has made a fool out of me.
00:42:52Well, then, will you help us, Seymour?
00:42:53Will you help us pin the murder on her?
00:42:54Well, how can I help?
00:42:56I left Parker unconscious on the runway.
00:42:58I think Gwen went back to kill him, but I didn't see her.
00:43:00That's all I know.
00:43:01Oh, perhaps you're too hard on her.
00:43:04Can't we take her any message? For you?
00:43:08You can tell her for me that her name should have been Searcy.
00:43:16District Attorney Roach makes arrest, condemning failure of police department to whack.
00:43:20Which is us?
00:43:21Which is me.
00:43:22What are you going to do about it?
00:43:23What can I do?
00:43:25Gwen will incriminate Seymour.
00:43:26Seymour will incriminate Gwen.
00:43:28And the District Attorney will send them both up the river, see?
00:43:30I see.
00:43:31I see that old bulldog spirit of yours is weakening.
00:43:34You're going to quit.
00:43:35I'm not going to quit.
00:43:36I'm going to be ordered to quit.
00:43:37Well, nobody can order me to quit.
00:43:39My business is giving orders.
00:43:41If I can handle a classroom of children, one District Attorney ought to be easy.
00:43:44Viper speaking.
00:43:47That call came from a public station in the aquarium.
00:43:53What call?
00:43:54I thought you'd like to know what brought Parker to the aquarium.
00:43:57Uh-oh.
00:43:59Hemingway again.
00:44:00Might be anybody.
00:44:01Gwen and Seymour both had motive and opportunity as well as Hemingway.
00:44:06You really believe they're guilty?
00:44:08Certainly.
00:44:09What's the use in kidding ourselves any longer?
00:44:10And you're willing to send them to the chair on the evidence you have?
00:44:14Loving couples are not always reunited in the last chapter, Miss Withers.
00:44:18You've taught too much Sir Walter Scott.
00:44:20Well, if I've taught too much Sir Walter Scott, you've read too many detective stories.
00:44:25All you're after is a conviction.
00:44:26Anybody's conviction.
00:44:27I never saw such a man.
00:44:30How many men have you seen?
00:44:31Plenty of them.
00:44:32That is, I...
00:44:34Well, maybe if you'd seen more men Hildegard Withers.
00:44:36I've seen men enough today, Oscar Piper, to know that if this murder is to be solved,
00:44:40a woman's got to do it.
00:44:46Boy.
00:44:48And she can cook too.
00:45:18No!
00:45:21Glad you came.
00:45:23This place looks spooky.
00:45:25Well, spooks or no spooks.
00:45:26If we can save Gwen, we're going to do it.
00:45:48I'll never eat fish again as long as I live.
00:46:03It's murder.
00:46:04Wait here.
00:46:05Where are you going?
00:46:06I'm going up there.
00:46:07I'm going with you, young man.
00:46:08What are you doing?
00:46:09Get away, you meddling fool.
00:46:10I'm trying to save the penguin's life.
00:46:23There.
00:46:25Well, after this paddle wings old girl, perhaps you'll not be so eager to eat everything in sight.
00:46:29The penguin was choking to death on something that she'd swallowed.
00:46:30What was it she swallowed?
00:46:31Let's see.
00:46:32I take a lot from the police.
00:46:33I don't have to take anything from you.
00:46:34It was a bit of cloth that had fallen into the tank.
00:46:35And it's important.
00:46:36The penguin was in the tank during the murder.
00:46:37I have every reason to believe that this is the band from the hat worn by the murderer of Gerald Parker.
00:46:41The band of the murderer?
00:46:42Just that.
00:46:43I'm going to phone Inspector Piper.
00:46:44Spring 73100.
00:46:45The penguin was in the tank during the murder.
00:46:46I have every reason to believe that this is the band from the hat worn by the murderer of Gerald Parker.
00:46:59The band of the murderer?
00:47:00Just that.
00:47:01I'm going to phone Inspector Piper.
00:47:03Spring 73100 and hurry.
00:47:21Hello.
00:47:22Hello Inspector Piper.
00:47:23This is Miss Withers.
00:47:24Can you come to the aquarium at once?
00:47:26I've found more evidence.
00:47:28Evidence that ought to send Parker's murderer to the electric chair.
00:47:34What did I find?
00:47:35I found, but...
00:47:46Where's the car?
00:47:47Four men.
00:47:51Now you're not giving way.
00:47:52I've got you.
00:47:53Get a light, somebody.
00:47:54Miss Withers, are you there?
00:47:55I'm here.
00:47:56What's happened to her?
00:47:57There are matches in my pocket, Miss Withers.
00:47:58Not necessary at all.
00:48:03Why, I thought I hadn't.
00:48:08When that rat there kicked against the light cord.
00:48:11You know who kicked out the light cord and you know that it wasn't I.
00:48:15Well, as heaven is my witness, it wasn't me.
00:48:24The hat band, it's gone.
00:48:26It's gone.
00:48:36Instrake the piper.
00:48:37Instrake the piper.
00:48:38What happened?
00:48:39You dropped the phone.
00:48:40I've heard you scream.
00:48:41The penguins swallowed the hat band.
00:48:42The murderer's hat band.
00:48:43Mr. Hemingway got it by operating.
00:48:44That's what I was trying to tell you when one of these three men put the lights out and stole it.
00:48:49Oh, he did.
00:48:50Did he?
00:48:51Now, will all of you submit freely to a search or do I have to persuade you?
00:48:54Start with me, Inspector.
00:48:55You bet your life I will.
00:48:56Miss Withers, I'll have to ask you to step outside for a few moments.
00:48:58Well, you don't think you're gonna search me.
00:48:59I'm playing no favorites.
00:49:00You'll have to have that hat band yourself.
00:49:01I suppose I swallowed it this time.
00:49:23I found it.
00:49:24I found it.
00:49:25What?
00:49:26Give me that.
00:49:27Softly burnt.
00:49:28Whose pipe is this?
00:49:29It's Mr. Hemingway.
00:49:30It's a plan.
00:49:31Someone else put it there.
00:49:32Oh, they did, eh?
00:49:33All right, Casey.
00:49:34Take them away and lock them up.
00:49:35I tell you, it's a plan.
00:49:36I have nothing to do with it.
00:49:38Someone else put it there.
00:49:40Hmm.
00:49:41Good morning, Murphy.
00:49:42Good morning.
00:49:43Figured nothing on a Hemingway yet?
00:49:46No, sir.
00:49:47They were at him all night, but he still swears that hat band was a plant.
00:49:50Stubborn, eh?
00:49:51Those little guys are like that.
00:49:52Mr. Costello's been calling.
00:49:53Says it's important.
00:49:54Good morning, Inspector.
00:49:55Oh, it's you.
00:49:56Well, I'm busy this morning, my friend.
00:49:57Not too busy, I hope, Inspector.
00:49:58I've just come from the tombs.
00:49:59I've just come from the tombs.
00:50:00I got a statement out of Chicago Lou.
00:50:01You what?
00:50:02Come inside, eh?
00:50:03How'd you get in that cell?
00:50:04The district attorney gave me permission to interview the witnesses on behalf of my client.
00:50:06He did, eh?
00:50:07He did, eh?
00:50:08He did, eh?
00:50:09He did.
00:50:10He did.
00:50:11He did.
00:50:12He did.
00:50:13He did.
00:50:14He did.
00:50:15He did.
00:50:16He did.
00:50:17He did.
00:50:18He did.
00:50:19He did.
00:50:20He did.
00:50:21He did.
00:50:22He did.
00:50:23He did.
00:50:24He did.
00:50:25He did.
00:50:26He did.
00:50:27He did.
00:50:28He did, eh?
00:50:29Well, what'd you get out of Chicago Lou?
00:50:30This, in his own handwriting.
00:50:33I know the man who killed Parker.
00:50:36I will tell everything if I am let off.
00:50:39It's my fourth offense and that means life, Lou.
00:50:42So it was the man that killed Parker, eh?
00:50:46Well, this looks like you might have found a way out for Gwen Parker.
00:50:50I'd do anything to save her, Inspector.
00:50:52I can't blame you for that.
00:50:54Thanks.
00:50:55The next thing to do is to get a complete statement out of Lou.
00:51:01Call Miss Withers.
00:51:02Tell her to meet me at the tombs right away.
00:51:04I want to let her in on this.
00:51:05She's worked hard.
00:51:06But why let an outsider in on it?
00:51:07She'll only delay us.
00:51:09Not her.
00:51:10You don't know that gal.
00:51:12Come on.
00:51:13Let's go.
00:51:14Here you are, Inspector.
00:51:15Murder in Rome.
00:51:16Seymour and Chicago Lou are the only tenants.
00:51:17Chicago Lou's in the last one on the left.
00:51:19Look!
00:51:20Look!
00:51:21Look!
00:51:22Look!
00:51:23Look!
00:51:24Look!
00:51:25Look!
00:51:26Look!
00:51:27Look!
00:51:29Look!
00:51:30Look!
00:51:31Look!
00:51:32Look!
00:51:33Look!
00:51:34Look!
00:51:35Look!
00:51:36Look!
00:51:37Look!
00:51:38Look!
00:51:39Look!
00:51:40Look!
00:51:41Look!
00:51:42Look!
00:51:43Look!
00:51:44Look!
00:51:45Look!
00:51:46Look!
00:51:47Look!
00:51:48Look!
00:51:49Look!
00:51:50Look!
00:51:51Come on!
00:51:52Come here!
00:51:53Hurry up!
00:51:54Open the door!
00:51:55Jack!
00:52:02All right.
00:52:03Put him on the bed.
00:52:14All right.
00:52:15All right.
00:52:16Well, Chicago Lou is dead.
00:52:17Apparently hung himself with this length of copper wire.
00:52:18And I thought Gwen's troubles were over.
00:52:19If I were you, Inspector, I'd try and find out how that wire got in the pickpocket cell.
00:52:24Smiles, have you searched every visitor to this place?
00:52:25I have.
00:52:26How was it?
00:52:27You forgot to search Mr. Costello this morning.
00:52:28I did search him.
00:52:29Show us how.
00:52:31Show us how.
00:52:32He could go in now.
00:52:33That search always shows up weapons or saws.
00:52:34Certainly it does.
00:52:35But suppose he had 15 feet of wire wound around his leg or waist.
00:52:38Well, I guess he could go in, ma'am.
00:52:39I didn't think about the wire.
00:52:40I didn't think about the wire.
00:52:41Well, you'd better thank him.
00:52:42He could go in, ma'am.
00:52:43Well, I've got to contact every hardware store in the city to see the person who bought the wire.
00:53:04You needn't do that, Inspector.
00:53:06I smuggled that wire in here.
00:53:08You.
00:53:09You.
00:53:10I've got to ask you, you're not trying to find the wire.
00:53:11here. You? Why? For the same reason I've done everything else. To save Gwen Parker. Yeah? How'd you think the pickpocket suicide was going to help her? I don't think the pickpocket committed suicide. I brought that wire in here because Philip Seymour begged me to. That's a lie. It's a dirty lie. Shut up, you. Now what is this? The district attorney allowed me to see Seymour several days ago. He told me he wanted to end his life and I figured that
00:53:41his suicide would be the same as a confession of guilt. You smuggled a wire to Seymour and the man down the corridor in another cell committed suicide with it. Huh. Really, Mr. Costello. But I just told you I don't think Chicago Lou was a suicide. I think Seymour killed him because he saw Seymour kill Parker. He's lying, I told you. He's lying. Schmaltz, take Seymour out of there and search him. Search every corner of a cell. I want to find out if there's any way he could have gotten out.
00:54:08It's a framer. It's a dirty framer. I tell you, I don't know anything about it. He's lying. That's what he's doing. He's just lying.
00:54:19Suppose Seymour could get out. He comes down here to the pickpocket cell. And here he stops because he couldn't get into Lou's cell.
00:54:27Yes, I guess you're right at that.
00:54:32Inspector, look at that pipe. You notice anything?
00:54:36I can't understand how a wire could make such a scar with just a man's weight hanging on it.
00:54:46I've got it. Now I know how it was done and made to look like suicide.
00:54:50Inspector, may I take that wire, please?
00:54:55Will you step inside, Inspector? Excuse me.
00:54:57Seymour never got inside this cell. Somehow he persuaded the pickpocket to step over to the door.
00:55:07And then he throttled him by slipping this wire around his neck, like this.
00:55:13Well, I'll be...
00:55:14Go on, young man. You're doing splendidly.
00:55:17Yeah, go ahead.
00:55:19Well, supposing this end of the wire is around the dead man's neck there on the floor.
00:55:23Here, you play the dead man.
00:55:27Now, hold onto it.
00:55:30Now, he passes the other end of the wire...
00:55:37...over the pipe.
00:55:42Then, pass the elbow...
00:55:45...over to where the scar is on the pipe.
00:55:48Now, all Seymour has to do...
00:55:51...is make a loop around his hands...
00:55:54...and pull like the very devil...
00:55:57...and lift the little fellow up into the air.
00:56:00Then he just tied the wire right here.
00:56:03You cut your hand?
00:56:04Yes, so I have.
00:56:06The Inspector's no lightweight.
00:56:08The theory's all right, Costello, but you haven't shown us yet how Seymour got out of his cell.
00:56:13We found it, Inspector.
00:56:15The key that Seymour used to get out of his cell.
00:56:17How'd you find it?
00:56:18Seymour's slob bucket.
00:56:21Broken, eh?
00:56:22That's all right.
00:56:32But I can't get grip enough on it to see if it works.
00:56:35If Seymour could make a key as good as that...
00:56:36...he could make a better one if he wanted to.
00:56:38I guess you're right at that.
00:56:39The important thing is that I've got a surefire defense for Gwen.
00:56:42No jury in the world will convict her now.
00:56:44You convince me all right, Costello. I've got a hand over to you.
00:56:47Thanks, Inspector.
00:56:48And now, if it's all right with you, I'll run along.
00:56:49I want to tell Gwen.
00:56:50Go ahead. Good luck to you.
00:56:57Well, now, what's eaten you?
00:56:59I see no reason for being vulgar, Inspector.
00:57:02I was wondering if you noticed Seymour's hands.
00:57:05What's so extraordinary about Seymour's hands?
00:57:07Nothing. That's just the point.
00:57:09Costello cut his hands until they bled.
00:57:12You'll think of everything, don't you?
00:57:15Keep on and you'll think us out of a conviction in this case.
00:57:17Seymour's guilty or I'll turn in my badge.
00:57:21If you turned in a badge every time you suspected the wrong person in this case,
00:57:24the department would have to have a special trophy room for them.
00:57:27Never mind the badge situation. I can take care of that.
00:57:29Order the court.
00:57:30Mr. Hemingway, these are the stockings worn by Mrs. Gwen Parker on the day that her husband was murdered.
00:57:38Perhaps you remember them.
00:57:39I remember admiring the appearance of Mrs. Parker's limb.
00:57:43The prosecution claims that the fish stains on these stockings proved that Mrs. Parker must have gone behind the tanks in the aquarium.
00:57:53Do you remember dropping a fish bowl in your office when you first heard about the murder?
00:57:56Yes, I remember. The finalis vexillifer had just eaten her husband for breakfast.
00:58:02Then the water from that bowl might have splashed on Mrs. Parker's stockings?
00:58:06Yes, I think so.
00:58:07That's all, Mr. Hemingway.
00:58:08Miss Hildegard, Martha Withers.
00:58:25That's all, Mr. Hemingway.
00:58:29Miss Hildegard, Martha Withers.
00:58:38You solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth to help you, God?
00:58:51I do.
00:58:55Miss Withers, throughout your testimony, you have persisted in declaring sin or innocent,
00:59:00when all the evidence points to the contrary.
00:59:03Circumstantial evidence.
00:59:04Now, please confine yourself to answering the questions.
00:59:06You have testified that you were born in Dubuque, Iowa.
00:59:11You're aware that the murdered man was also a native of that state, practically a neighbor of yours?
00:59:15Young man, we don't consider people across the width of the state neighbors in Iowa.
00:59:22Miss Withers, did you ever have a love affair with Gerald Parker?
00:59:26I did not, and I'll thank you.
00:59:28On the night of September 1st, 15 years ago, didn't you meet Gerald Parker on the eve of his departure for an Eastern college and beg him to marry you?
00:59:34I did not, do you think?
00:59:35Didn't you write letter after letter to Gerald Parker, begging him to come back to you?
00:59:38I never saw him until I came on him in the aquarium tank.
00:59:40And isn't it true that you came to New York in order to try and find Gerald Parker?
00:59:44I refuse to answer.
00:59:45The questions all have one answer.
00:59:47No.
00:59:47I don't see where this is getting the defense in cross-examination.
00:59:51The witness is not on trial for the murder of Gerald Parker.
00:59:55Your Honor, I beg the court's pardon for this delay, but I assure the court I have a definite plan in mind.
00:59:59One that will contribute to the case of my client, Mrs. Gwen Parker.
01:00:03May I go on?
01:00:04Proceed.
01:00:05Ms. Withers, you have identified this hatpin as your own and admitted that you are wearing it on the day of the murder.
01:00:19I have.
01:00:20You also told the court that you sent your pupils on a hunt for this hatpin there in the aquarium.
01:00:24That's what I did.
01:00:25But you lag behind in the search, Ms. Withers, so that no one knows exactly where you were during those 20 minutes or so.
01:00:30And there's no one who can testify as to just what you were doing at that time.
01:00:33Yes, I did lag behind.
01:00:35I don't know whether anybody saw me or not.
01:00:37Are you willing to swear you didn't have this hatpin tucked away in your dresser or hidden in your hand at the time?
01:00:40I certainly did not.
01:00:42You didn't notice the defendant in this case, Mr. Seymour,
01:00:45dragged the unconscious body of the man you had once loved and then hated behind the tanks and come out.
01:00:49You didn't seize your opportunity to send your little charges on a wild goose chase.
01:00:53and then steal behind the tanks with your deadly scoletto of a hatpin
01:00:57and drive it most cruelly and foully into the right ear of the unconscious man.
01:01:02Silence.
01:01:03Silence in the court.
01:01:08Your Honor, I've finished with the witness.
01:01:13You may be finished with the witness, Mr. Barry Costello, but the witness is not finished with you.
01:01:22So, Mr. Gerald Parker was stabbed in the right ear, was he?
01:01:30Only four people knew that Mr. Parker was stabbed in the right ear, young man.
01:01:34The medical examiner, Dr. Bloom, is one.
01:01:37Inspector Piper and I, who gave the stories to the newspapers, is the left ear, are numbers two and three.
01:01:43The fourth person who knew, is the murderer.
01:01:47And there he sits, branded by his own tongue.
01:01:51I'll be here soon.
01:01:53You. You killed him.
01:01:55Yes, he did it. He killed Jerry. I see it now. He did it.
01:01:59Barry Costello was my lover. He needed money desperately.
01:02:03He told me he'd have to leave the country if he didn't get money or credit before the end of the month.
01:02:06Oh, I couldn't bear to see him go.
01:02:08That's why I hunted up Philip Seymour, to get the money.
01:02:11The day before the murder, Barry found out that my husband carried a large life insurance.
01:02:15He must have followed me to the aquarium, and when he saw Philip...
01:02:18Order! Order! Order in the court! Order in the court!
01:02:27Take him away! Take him away!
01:02:38Oh, don't. Don't bother with me, man. Go get Costello.
01:02:41He's got, ma'am. He's hard to pass behind the bars, and he'll stay there.
01:02:44Oh, good. Thank you.
01:02:48Hello. How is she, Riley?
01:02:50That is the fiddle, Inspector.
01:02:52That's fine. Okay, Riley. You can go now.
01:02:54So you got him.
01:02:56Thanks to you, ma'am.
01:02:58Oh, that's very handsome of you, Inspector.
01:03:00Oh, not at all.
01:03:02What about the broken key they found in Seymour's cell?
01:03:05Costello's boasting about that. He planted it there when Seymour was asleep in his bunk.
01:03:09Oh, the same way he planted the hat band in Hemingway's pipe.
01:03:12Yeah. And they killed Chicago Lou because the pickpockets saw him.
01:03:15Evidently, Chicago Lou had been trying to blackmail him.
01:03:18Hmm. Funny how simple the answers are when you know them.
01:03:21Uh-huh. Well, they're going to free Gwen Parker and Seymour in a few minutes.
01:03:25You want to see it?
01:03:26I certainly do. You know I've taken a personal interest in that young couple.
01:03:30Lucky for them you did.
01:03:36Well, I'll ask Seymour now.
01:03:37Look. He's waiting for her.
01:03:40Waiting at the old prison gate.
01:03:43Leave it to you to get a sob into it.
01:03:47I'm not the emotional type, Mr. Piper, but even you must get a little thrill
01:03:51out of the thought that we, you and I, help those young people to this happiness.
01:04:02Atta boy! That baby's had that coming to her for a long time.
01:04:06And I thought they'd forget and forgive. What a pity.
01:04:10They're such a nice-looking couple.
01:04:13Boy! What's good looks got to do with romance?
01:04:17Young man, have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror?
01:04:21Sure, have you?
01:04:24I was in hopes you wouldn't bring that up.
01:04:27All right, so what?
01:04:28I'm convinced that you and me should incorporate.
01:04:31Are you proposing that we start a detective bureau?
01:04:34No, I'm just proposing. What are you doing?
01:04:37Well, I'm just accepting.
01:04:39Okay. The License Bureau closes in 15 minutes.
01:04:42Come on.
01:05:12I'll go.
01:05:13Okay.
01:05:14Let's two out to Ettore.
01:05:14Lay down.
01:05:15T allowed me to move on right ahead.
01:05:16Come on.
01:05:18And so, come on down.
01:05:21So let's get it.
01:05:22Okay.
01:05:23Move on.
01:05:24All right.
01:05:26Come on.
01:05:27Lloyd murmur.
01:05:29Let me, let me, let me know about it.
01:05:33I have that right?
01:05:35Do you additional experience?