Leave the cell door open. That's all there is to it. Let him escape.
It might be called very irregular. It might entail the most serious repercusions.
- Exactly. It is a responsibility of the first magnitude. - I'm sorry Mr. Wilsom, but you must.....
Oh blast all this discussion. What good are words. I'm sick of words. Hang the repercusion and responsibility.
Say I'm responsible. Leave the cell door open. Let him escape. It's our only chance.
You threaten me with the bottom pits of hell and still I insist. This obsenity must be destroyed.
Do you hear me! Destroyed!
- All passengers, ready to disembark. - I'm travelling for my health.
- Get your passports ready. - I'm travelling for my health.
- I don't understand. - Have you business in this country Senora?
- Next.
- Stephen Polovsky. - You take care of this. Have you business in this country Senor?
I am travelling for my health. I am travelling for my health.
- You are a nationalist of what country? -Poland.
Next please.
Hello. Yes.
- You haven't him. You're sure you know where he is going? - My wife is following him.
He's going to the photographers. Probably to get a new passport and new instructions.
I wish to know the where-abouts of Franz Kindler. Franz Kindler....
There is no Franz Kindler. Franz Kindler is dead and cremated.
It's a command.
I have a message for Franz Kindler. From the All Highest.
- It is forbidden. - I command you in the name of that authority.
Do you know the name he is using?
- Connecticut... - In the United States.
In the town of Harper.
Harper!
Excuse me.
- Good afternoon. Have a nice trip? - Yes, thank-you.
- Quite a store you have here, Mr. Potter. - That's me. We sell just about everything here.
- This suitcase, I could leave it here? -Yes, but I don't assume no responsibility.
Just put it on one of the shelves. It will be there when you want it.
- I'll take this newspaper. -That'll be a dime mister.
- What's the best hotel in town? - The best place to stay is Miss Peabody's. It just down the road here a piece.
- This way mister. - Yes, thank-you.
Haper School for Boys
- May I come in? - Yes, of course.
- Does Mr. Charles Rankin live here? - Yes he does. But he isn't here right now.
- Do you expect him? - Yes, in a few minutes.
- How soon? - Well, a few minutes.
A few minutes.
I may wait here?
Well, yes if you like
- Would you like to sit down? - Thank-you.
- Are you a friend of Mr. Rankins? - Yes, a friend.
I'm Mary Longstreet. How do you do?
How do you do?
Sometimes he stays after his last class but, he'll be coming straight her today I'm sure.
Because this is our wedding day. You're getting married? Yes, at 6 o'clock.
I know it most unconventional, my being here today, but, I want to get these curtains up.
- When he comes, which way does he come? - Why....from Webster Hall.
- It's the big dome building right over there, you see? - I shall meet him.
Whom shall I say.........
Franz.....
- It's I Franz. - Meineke. We mustn't be seen talking together.
Go back of the church, into the woods, into the woods. Do you understand me?
Follow the path. I'll meet you there.
- Hello Professor Rankin. Hello men. -What are you up to? Paper chase.
- I go out and lay the trail. -You ought to have Jerry's job Mr. Rankin.
- You ought to go with us Mr. Rankin. -Where to? The woods.
The woods? Why I'd like to, but I'm afraid I've go things to attend to.
- You can join us later. We'll be out till dark. -All right. We'll catch up with you.
This way fellas.
- Meineke. - Yes...Meineke.
- I thought..... - I had been hanged.
The others, but not l. That man couldn't stand face to face with you Franz.
You're not much changed. Put you back in your old uniform and you'd look very much the same.
- Franz, I am a different man than before. - I too am different Conrad.
You know I gathered and destroyed every single item in Germany and Poland that might have served as a clue to my identity.
Guess what I'll be doing at 6 o'clock tonight?
Standing before a minister of the gospel with a woman's hand in mine, a daughter of the justice of the Untied Supreme Court.
A famous liberal. The girl's even good to look at. Yes, the chamoflague is perfect.
Who would think to look for Franz Kindler in the sacred precinct of the Harper School...
... surrounded by the son's of America's first families.
And I'll stay here until the day we strike again.
- Franz, there will be another war? - Of course.
War is an abonomation. I wish to tell you this, is why I'm here.
- He set me free, to tell..... - Set you free? Who set you free?
The All Wised.
- You don't mean... - I mean God.
- Franz, I'm a new man since I come here. -You comarade, religious!
Franz, all doors were opened to me. All doors! It was one of God's miracles.
They freed you, so that you'd lead them to me. Have you been followed?
- Were you followed here? - Yes! Who followed you? The evil one.
He looked like any other man. He was dressed like any other man; he even smoked a pipe.
But I could see through his disguise and I killed him. Striking from On High down.
- God's will be done..... - You killed him, the man with the pipe?
The man who followed you? No one else followed you?
You must be brought to salvation Franz. Confess your sins as I have.
Proclaim your guilt. Only thus you can obtain salvation.
- You really think so Conrad. - It will take strength.
A strength that can only come from God.
Kneel with me Franz. And together we will pray to Him to give you strength.
I have sinned against heaven and before Thee.
I'm not worthy to be called thy son.
Sin is what's after me. I despair all my sins.
I despair of my sins.
- Oh God of all goodness. - Oh God......
- How could I have offended thee. -...of all goodness.
Hey this way fellows. Don't let him get away.
Hey fellows, over here. Hurry up!
This way fellows.
Dearly beloved. We are gathered together here in the sight of God and in the face of this company....
..to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony...
...and forsaking all others, keeping only unto her so long as you both shall live?
I will.
Mary, will thou have this man as thou wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance, in the Holy state of matrimony?
Will thy love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health.
forsaking all others, keeping only unto him so long as you both shall live?
I will.
Good afternoon.
-Wedding? - Yep, Judge Longstreets daughter.
He's Supreme Court Justice you know?
- A bottle of asprin please. - Right back there, third shelf from the top.
You see the big ones on the left, economy size. You have to get it yourself mister.
All your needs are on our shelves, just look around and help yourselves.
Right in there..there's one, that's it, that's it.
- Living down at Miss Peabody's? -Just a few days only.
And some coffee too please. Or should I get it myself?
- Cafeteria is down around here mister. - That's right, self service.
- The usual thing. - Yes, yes that's 3 dollars even Mr. Todd.
- No limit on the cream. - All people around here take it black.
- The one on the right mister. - Oh, thank-you.
- Who is Miss Longstreet marrying? - One of the teachers down at the school.
- A stranger in town. - I issued the license.
Yep, I'm town clerk.
- Checkers? - Oh, all right.
Town clerk huh? That must be quite a responsibility.
Oh town clerk runs the town, you might say.
We usually make it for, let's see.....15,20....
We often play as high as 25 cents a game.
Well, that's kind of stiff for me, but I'll take a flyer. Make a million, lose a million.
That's the way it goes.
- My move? - All right.
- Well, you must know just about everybody in town here. -Just about? I know everybody.
Here on business. Yes.
School business? No, no.
Selling something? No, no.
Buying? Oh, antique dealer!
They all come to Harper. Judge Longstreet's got the best place in these parts.
- Won't do you no good though. - No, I don't suppose he'd sell.
Happen to know, if there are any other out-of-town buyers here?
Come to think of it, there's a fella that come in this morning. Came on the same bus with you.
Left his suitcase here. Never did come back for it.
He might have been one of those....no, no he was more the Missionary type. Wasn't in here but a minute. Just looked in the phone book.
Tiny little fella he was. Thinish, unfortunate looking.
- Hurt your head mister? -No, no nothing serious.
Ohhhh, that's too bad.
It's a game you've got to keep your mind on. 25 cents please.
- I won't pretend I'm not disappointed. -Hello father, has anyone seen my brand new husband?
- Don't tell me he's deserted you already. -Yes, looks as if. Red, have you seen Charles?
You go fi nd him for me, go on, go on.
-I've looked everywhere for him Mary, and I can't find him. - I wonder where he could be? I'm getting worried.
- Are you darling. - What about? Charles.
- You've changed. - Don't you think you'd better?
- After all, aren't we suppose to be going on a honeymoon or something? -Give me five minutes.
Arrivals in Harper Last 12 months.
Hello there!
- Was that you working up there on the clock? -No, no I was just cleaning around it.
it's a beautiful thing, from what I could see from outside. Beautiful!
- My name is Wilson. - I'm Longstreet, Noah Longstreet.
I couldn't judge any too well out front, but I'd say it was a late 16 century.
Made by Holbrecht from Strassburg. Oh, the clock.
I wouldn't know. My brother-in-law is going to work on it.
- Is he up there now? No, no he's on his honeymoon. -He plans to work on it when he gets back.
- Is he an expert? - Well yes, but it's really more of a hobby with him.
Really? Well it is with me too.
-Honeymoon? -Yes, he and my sister.
He has to be back on Friday, because of the examinations.
He's one of the teachers at the school.
- His name is Rankin. - His name is Rankin.
It's nice to be able to show it to someone who knows what Revere silver is all about. But personally, my speciality is pewter.
Oh yes, pewter.
The Revere workmanship, although sometimes heavy in design....
...almost invariably shows the work of a master craftsman.
- It's beautiful. - Noah...
Mr. Wilson, my daughter Mary and my son-in-law Charles Rankin.
- I hope you don't mind my intruding on your home coming. -Good-evening Mary.
- Jeff, how are you? Fine and you? -You're looking good.
- If you don't sit down, it'll get cold. - Come on gents.
- So sister, how were the moutains? - They were perfectly marvelous.
Oh, Mr. Wilson....will you come over here and sit on my right. Jeff, your usual place and darling, you're right there.
You ought to see Charles on skis. He's absolutely wonderful. Yes darling you are, and I'm pretty good too, am I not?
- Did you remember to keep your knees together and your apparatus in? -Yes Reggie, I did.
Mr. Wilson here is compiling a catalogue of Paul Revere's silver.
- Mr. Wilson is also an authority on clocks. -Oh really? That's Charles' hobby too
Yes, so your brother tells me. I understand you are going to fix the one in the church tower?
- I may try. - Well, that's quite an undertaking.
That's shows the kind of wife I am. I hope he fails. I like Harper just the way it is, even with a clock that doesn't run.
- Have you been in Harper long Mr. Wilson? -Since Friday, a week ago.
No, you lost a day. I patched you up on Friday.
- By the way, how's the head? -Oh, very much improved, thanks to you doctor
You were hurt on Thursday, remember? The day of the wedding.
Yes, that's right. Wednesday, I left Bangor.
- You were hurt Mr. Wilson? - Oh, nothing serious.
- Well, serious enough to raise a bump on his head the size of a billard ball. -The usual door.
It's a good thing you're back sister. That dog of yours had been inconsolable.
Well all right Red wait a minute. Here you are. This is for missing me.
- How was your meeting Adam? -Oh irritating. Foreign Policy Association.
- I read that fellows report. -Standich yes.
- I think he if full of prune. -Well, that's the way we use to talk in the 1930's Noah.
- Standich? - The Lenin Times man in Berlin.
Yes, or course he was quoting rumors mostly. Men driven by night, underground meeting places. Pagan rituals.
- Do you believe him father? -Well, anything is possible.
I'm sorry sir, but I think it is ridiculous. Well, there may be some fanatics, but.....
.....no German in his right mind can have a taste for war.
Do you know Germany Mr. Rankin?
I'm sorry. I have a way of making enemies on that subject. It's pretty unpopular.
Well, we shall consider it the objective opinion of an objective historian.
Historian? A psychiatrist could explain it better.
The german sees himself as the innocent victim of world envy and hatred; conspired against...
... set upon by inferior people's inferior nations.
He can not admit to error, much less to wrong doing.
We chose to ignore Ethiopia and Spain, but we learned from our casualty list the price of looking the other way.
Men of truth everywhere, have come to know, for whom the bell tolled. Not the German.
He still follows his warrior Gods. Marching still fixed upon the firey sort of secret.
And in those subterrainian meeting places that you don't believe in, the German's dreamworld comes alive...
-...and he takes his place in shining armor beneath the banners of the knights.
Mankind is waiting for the Messiah, but for the German, the Messiah is not the Prince of Peace.
He's another Barbarosa. Another Hitler.
Well then, you have no faith in the reforms that are being effected in Germany?
I don't know Mr. Wilson. I can't believe that people can be reformed, except from within.
The basic principles of equality and freedom never have, never will take root in Germany. The will to freedom, has been voiced in every other tongue....
All men are created equal, liberty, but in German.....
There's Marx. The Prolotarians, who have nothing to lose but your chains.
- But Marx wasn't a German. Marx was a Jew. -My dear Charles, if we concede your arguement, there's no solution.
- Yes, but once again, I differ. -Well, what is it then?
Annihilation.......Down to the last babe in arms.
Oh Charles, I can't imagine you advocating a carthaginian peace.
Well, as a historian I must remind you that the world hasn't had much trouble from Carthage in the past 2000 years.
There speaks our padegog.
Speaking of teachers, Mr. Wilson. The factulty is coming to tea next Tuesday. If you have nothing better to do....
...would you like to join us?
I'd like to, but my work here is finished.
I'm leaving Harper tomorrow.
- Extraordinary isn't it? Clocks being Mr. Wilson's hobby too. -Yes, isn't it?
- Well Red, how do you like your new house? He loves it. Come here Red. - I think I'll take you for a walk.
- Oh darling, you don't have to take him out. Just let him out, he won't run off. - I need the walk, I'm restless.
-That's good. How are you getting along? -I'll be in Washington tomorrow afternoon.
You were right about Rankin. He's above suspicion.
Here Red!
Red.....come here!
Give me long distance. I want Washington D.C.
Who, but a Nazi, would deny that Karl Marx was a German, because he was a Jew?
I think I'll stick around for a while.
What is it dear?
I'm sorry. I as dreaming...about that little man.
- What little man? You know dear. - I told you about him.
He came here the day we were married.
Light me a cigarette, will you?
I've never had a dream like that before. It frightened me.
That little man was walking all by himself, across a deserted city square......
..wherever he moved, he threw a shadow.
But when he moved away Charles, the shadow stayed there behind him, spread out like a carpet.
- Wish you could think who he might have been. -You're over tired.
Yes, perhaps.
Here dear, put this out, will you?
What was that?
- That sounded like Red Charles. - I put him in the cellar.
Oh darling, no wonder he's howling. He's never been locked up in his entire life.
But if he is to live with us, he must be trained. At night he will sleep in the cellar.
- In the daytime, he will be kept on a leash. -Charles, I don't believe in dogs being treated like prisoners.
-Red's my dog. -Please Mary, I know what' s best.
- Hi there Red! Thought you lived with your mistress. - Mary brought him home. Said he howls all night.
- Fishing any good in these parts? -Pretty fair. Would you like to come along.
I'm afraid I've got the wrong clothes on, but the fish probably won't mind. Thank-you.
I just got lucky today, that's all. Would you like a candy bar?
I don't mind if I do. Thank-you.
- All your folks like fishing? -Oh, my dad's great. He always brings in something.
- What about Charles? - Charles?
Oh! I have to call him Mr. Rankin in school. I get a little mixed up sometimes.
- He spends most of his time on the clock, you know. -Why don't you like him Noah?
-What do you mean? -You don't like your brother-in-law.
It's none of my business, but I wish you'd tell me why.
Well, I like him well enough.... I don't know any reason why I shouldn't.
Don't tell me I'm butting in, because I know I am, but I can't help myself.
It's my business.
I hate bringing you into this Noah, but you're the only one I can turn to.
- I need your help very badly. -Well, what is is?
Your sister may be in great trouble. I know that you are man enough, for what I'm going to ask you to do for her.
The truth is, I'm not really an antique dealer.
I'm sort of a detective.
Well, what do you want me to do, Mr. Wilson?
It would help me a lot, if I knew every move Charles Rankin made on the day of his wedding. Right up to the ceremony.
Well, I should be able to.........unless Charles realizes what I am doing.
I'll keep him busy.
Gee Mr. Wilson, you must be wrong. Mary wouldn't fall in love with that kind of a man.
I hope I am wrong Noah, but that' s the way it is.
People can't help who they fall in love with.
- Good-evening Mr. Potter. -Good-evening Mr. Wilson.
Good-evening fellas.
85 cents.
Heard you and Professor Rankin aim to fix the clock.
Figure to tell the time right?
And will the angels circle around the belfry?
- Is that a man or woman angel Mr. Wilson? - I don't know.
Well, reckon it don't make much difference to the angels.
- Give up? -No, no, no. W e'll play it out. That's my priviledge, 25 cents.
Oh, by the way. Did Mr. Rankin pick up his supper this evening?
No. He's got it good up there now.
Yes, I know.
It gets dark earlier these days.
Ain't it though? I've been tempted once or twice to look and see what's inside of it. It ain't locked.
- Well, it seems to me under the circumstances, you have the perfect right. -You do??
- I wouldn't want to do it without a witness. -That's me. It is?
That's all I wanted to know. Let's try to open that thing and see what in it.
- Wonder what's in it? - Soiled linen. A sweater.
Soap and a razor, wrapped in a towel, that has "SS Christabel" written on it.
A pair of old shoes.
- Nothing but religious pamphlets. -Good-evening Mr. Potter.
- Hello Mr. Wilson. -Good-evening Mr. Rankin.
Mr. Potter and I have been poking our noses into somebody else's business. That suitcase.
- That chap left it here and never did call back. -That's been more than two weeks ago.
-Did he say what he was doing in Harper? -No, looked in the phone book, didn't telephone.
Kind of funny looking, he was. Skinny little fellow, with big blue eyes.
He had a queer walk, like any second, he might break into a run.
- Did he have a foreign accent? Well yes he did. - Not so much in the way of an accent, but in a funny way of talking.
- Do you happen to know who he could be Mrs. Rankin? -Why, why no....
was just trying to complete your mystery for you. Don't all foreign strangers have to have foreign accents?
- Mary, have you seen Red? Why no. Not since - I took him home to you a couple of days ago.
- He's been spending all his time out in the woods, and he doesn't even come home for his meals. - But you told me he never ran away. He never did.
- No, that's why Noah's so anxious. -Come on Mary....
Good-night Mr. Wilson. Good-night Noah.
Were you able to find out anything?
Meineke did go to Rankin's house and your sister did see him.
- Did Mary say so? - She started to.
Now your sister is a fine woman, Noah. But she must find out the kind of man she is married to.
You don't know Mary. She would listen to anything against him.
Noah, we must arrange it so that she finds out herself. You understand?
One thing certain. She knows nothing now. Nothing at all. Except that he didn't want her to admit having seen someone she did see.
I'd give something to know what explanation he is giving right now.
I was a student in Geneva. There was a girl.
The night before I was to leave, we went out on the lake together.
She told me that unless I promised to marry her, she'd never return to shore.
I thought she was joking, naturally, but she wasn't.
Before I could stop her, she stood up in the boat...
I dived in after her, but it was too late. She was gone.
Only one person knew we were on the lake together, her brother.
He knew I didn't murder her, but he told me he'd be willing to call it an accident for compensation.
I gave him what I had.
As the years went by, I allowed myself to believe that the dead past, really was dead.
And then, on our wedding day Mary, he appeared again.
Her brother.....the little man.
Oh darling, you should have told me. You mustn't carry this awful thing around by yourself.
You are a wonderful person Mary. I love you very much.
Why didn't he go back for his things?
Well, I suppose once he had money, he could afford better.
Darling, I'm terribly nervous. I think I'll work up in the clock. Alone tonight, by myself. It will calm me.
- You understand, don't you? -Of course I understand.
- Shall I walk you home? - No dear, there's no need for that.
- It's pretty late. That's all right. - In Harper, there's nothing to be afraid of.
I love you.
Poor old Red. He heard my whistle, I'll bet.
He couldn't bark or anything. He just crawled this far and died.
- Why do you think he died? - Let's go and find out.
That's the Longstreet's dog, Red. Looks like he's dead to me.
They've taken him up to Dr. Lawrence's office. Would you know anything about it?
Well, what in the world would I know? Checkers?
- No, no thank-you. - Coke's a nickle.
Thank-you Mr. Rankin.
Doctor, how long could the dog have lived with that amount of poison in him?
Oh, not more than a minute or so I'd say.
Well then Red must have been poisoned within a few hundred yards of where you found him Noah.
And the latter part of the distance, he must have been moving slower and slower.
- Thank-you very much doctor. - Thanks Jeff.
Mr. Peabody. Will you please get that magazine rack in and hurry up about it. Yes Mr. Potter.
Move along then. Afternoon Mr. Wilson, Noah.
Put it right in there Mr. Peabody.
What does the law say about this kind of murder? Is it the same as killing a man?
- It ought to be, it's just as bad. - Forepaws are muddy.
No mud on hind. Dry leaves mixed with the mud.
- Red must have been digging somewhere in the woods. - Have you any idea what for Mr. Wilson?
- A body, I think. Meinekes. - The little man?
Then.......
Just caught me. Anything wrong? Wrong? Yeah, just going on a search. Whatcha after?
- Machine oil. What search? - To look for the body. State police deputized half the town. Just reach up there, fourth shelf.
One misses the news up in the clock tower. What body are they searching for?
I bet it's that fella that left his bags here. Skinny little duck. Unhappy looking.
I knew it'd come to a bad end. That oil be 15 cents Mr. Rankin.
I'll just put it on your account.
Sarah told me you were up here. Why are you packing? Are we going somewhere?
- We aren't dearest. I am. - What are you talking about?
As a rule men leave their wives because they don't love them, but I must leave you because I do.
Oh you won't object once you know the kind of man you married.
But you are the man I married and that's all the matters. Darling I meant it when I said "for better or for worse".
Even after killing Red?
You couldn't have.
- It was an accident. - No, I meant to kill him.
Murder can be a chain Mary. One link leading to another until it circles your neck.
Red was digging up the grave of the man I killed. Yes, your little man.
- You killed? -With these hands.
The same hands that have held you close to me. Now are you satisfied to let me go?
Why? Why did you do it?
I had given him all I had, but his dreams were far grandeur. He knew your father was well-to-do.
He knew that Justice Longstreet would be glad to protect his daughter from any scandal, by paying a few thousand dollars.
Oh Mary, I should have gone away and lost myself in a world where he could never have found me, but...
I loved you and I was weak.
Darling....if one of us goes, we both go.
You'd have shared half my troubles, if I'd had any.
Charles, what is there that connects you with that man?
Nothing actually. You're the only one that knows I knew him.
Well then you need have no fear, if I'm the only one who can speak.
But Mary, in failing to speak, you become part of the crime.
But I'm already a part of it, because I am a part of you.
But you shudder at the touch of my hands, as if it were the touch of death.
It's nerves.....Oh hold me close Charles, hold me close.
Mr. Peabody, go back to town with the sheriff and open up the coronors office. I knew darn well it was the same fella.
Course he's changed some. Being buried in the earth does it.
Good-evening Mr. Wilson, Noah. Mess ain't it?
What'll we do about Mary? We can't leave her alone with him now that we know.
Well, she realizes now that whatever story he told her about Meineke was false.
Noah, I think you sister is ready to hear the truth.
Charles..... Will they let you look at the body?
- I shouldn't think so. - Cause I couldn't do it.
I mean I don't think I could. I've never seen a dead person.
- How many are you having to tea Mary? -28 all together.
- You didn't eat nothing at dinner. - Isn't that rather a lot? 28 with just you two?
We will manage all right.
I suppose I should......... Should what? I don't know. I'm terrified of....
Mary....you must get tight hold of yourself.
If you are determined to go through with this thing, you must know exactly what you are going to do and say at all times. Perfect natural at all times.
Now darling, listen to me.
- I am prepared to go to the police. - It your father Mary, he wants to talk to you.
- Thank-you Sarah. - Mary...
Hello. Yes, I think so. Just a minute and I'll see.
- He wants me to come over. - Did he ask me too?
- He said he wants to see me alone. - There's nothing unusual about a father wanting to see his daughter, is there?
- Is there? - No!
Alright Adam, I'll be right over.
- Don't you think that rather strange? Strange? -No, nothing strange about it.
I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll go over to the church and work on the clock while you are with your father. You come by and pick me up later.
I am so afraid. There's no point in his wanting to see me alone.
- His voice sounded so different. -Do you know what you are going to say to him?
Come in Mary.
- Is there something wrong? - Mr. Wilson is here on a very serious matter.
We must try to help him, in every way possible. He wants to ask a few questions of you.
What do you want to know Mr. Wilson?
- You know about the body that was discovered yesterday Mrs. Rankin. -Yes.
- Did you ever meet the deceased? - No, never.
- Have you seen the body. - No.
Well then, how can you be sure you never met him?
Course I can't be certain.
- Mr. Wilson, you suspect me of something? - If so what? Of shielding a murderer.
Perhaps this photograph will refresh your memory. Do you recongize this man?
That is Conrad Meineke, commander in charge of one of the more efficient concentration camps.
You know him, don't you? You have met him here in Harper.
No, no. I've never seen that man Mr. Wilson.
Judge, would you mind putting out the lights. I've been showing your father some films, and I would like you to see them too.
I'm on the allied commission for the punishment of war criminals.
It's my job to bring escaped Nazis to justice. It's that job that brought me to Harper.
Surely you don't think....Oh Mr. Wilson, I've never so much as even seen a Nazi.
Well, you might without you realizing it. They look like other people and...
...like other people, it works to their benefit.
A gas chamber Mrs. Rankin.
The candidates were first given hot showers so that their pores would be open and the gas would act that much more quickly.
And this is a lime pit. In which hundreds of men, women and children were buried alive.
- Why do you want me to look at this horror? -All this you see....
..it's all a product of one mind. The mind of a man named Franz Kindler.
- Franz Kindler? -..it's all a product of one mind. The mind of a man named Franz Kindler.
It was Kindler who conceived the theory of genocide, mass depopulation of conquered countries....
....so regardless of who won the war, Germany would emerge the strongest nation in Western Europe.
Unlike Goebbels, Himmler and the rest of them, Kindler had a passion for annonimity
The newspapers carried no picture of him. Oh no and just before he disappeared he....
.....destroyed any evidence that might link him with his past, down to the last fingerprint.
There's no clue to the identity of Franz Kindler. Except for one little thing.
He has a hobby that almost amounts to a mania. Clocks.
- So have lots of people. You, yourself. Well, -I'm not quite finished Mrs. Rankin.
In prison in Czechoslovakia, a war criminal was awaiting execution.
This was Conrad Meineke, one time executive officer of Franz Kindler.
He was an obsenity on the face of the earth. The stench of burning flesh was in his clothes.
But we gave him his freedom, on the chance that he may lead me to Kindler.
He led me here, Mrs. Rankin. And here I lost him.
Until yesterday. Your dog Red found him for me. But unfortunately Meineke was dead and buried.
Now in all the world, there is only one person who can identify Franz Kindler.
That person is the one who knows, knows definitely who Meineke came to Harper to see.
No, he's not a Nazi. My Charles is not a Nazi!
You were in Rankin's house on the afternoon of the day you were married. Did anyone come while you were there?
- I don't remember. Try harder to remember. It was only two weeks ago. You were hanging curtains. -No one came.
- Were you alone all the time? - No.
- Who else was there? - Charles.
He came right after his last class and we were together for more than an hour.
You have nothing to link my husband with this man Kindler. It's just wild suspision.
You're trying to use me to implicate him. You can't. You can't involve me in a lie...
That's all it is, a lie. A lie you know.
Mary, Mary. Wait a minute. Mary!
Mary. Wait a minute.
That's better.
ou know your welfare and Noah' s, mean more to me than anything.
- Yes, yes. -You've got to face this thing with complete honesty sister.
Your entire happiness may well depend on your telling me the absolute truth.
If Mr. Wilson is right, and you have innocently married a criminal, well then there is no marriage.
- There's no quarrel from your loyality as a wife. -He's good.
He wouldn't hurt anyone, expect to protect someone he loved.
- He's good. - Well then the truth won't hurt.
Charles was not with you that afternoon sister. I remember you saying so when you came home.
You're against him too Adam, yes you are! You've never liked him. That's why you don't believe me now.
Let him be. He's not a Nazi. He's not one of those people. Leave him alone.
She has the facts now, but she won't accept them.
They're too horrible for her to acknowledge.
Not so much that Ranklin could be Kindler, but that she could ever have given her love to such a creature.
But we have one allie, her selfconscience. It knows what the truth is and is struggling to be heard.
The will of truth within your daughter, is much too strong to be denied.
Look here Wilson. If he is not Charles Rankin, we should be able to expose him without too much difficutly.
I'm not interested in proving that he's not Charles Rankin, I'm also interested in proving that he is Franz Kindler.
How do you propose to do that?
Through your daughter.
Unless I'm mistaken, she's headed for a breakdown. That's the usual result of a person being divided.
Rankin will recongize this and that's what I'm banking on. What do you mean? Well he can't trust a person approaching hysteria, he won't. He'll have to act.
-....Go on. - He may kill her.
You're shocked at my cold- bloodiness. That's quite natural, you're her father.
It is because you are her father, Judge Longstreet, that I am talking to you like this.
Naturally, we'll try to prevent murder being done.
However the proof that murder is his aim would be the strongest evidence that your daughter could have.
- Listen, it's striking after a hundred years. - It was a trap Charles, just like you said.
Mr. Wislon was there. He tried to tell me that you are a Nazi. And I was suppose to believe it.
Imagine you being an escaped Nazi. Oh he thinks he's very clever, that Wilson. His idea was to horrify me into telling him about the little man.
- Who did he say he thought I was. - A Nazi. Franz Kindler.
He made it all just to trick me. But l didn't tell him anything, and I didn't tell father anything.
It'll be simple enough to prove that you're not him. We'll just find someone who was in your class at college and he'll identify you.
If what you say is true, he can't touch me. We're quite safe if you say nothing.
Oh I won't Charles. I promise I won't. They can torture me and I won't tell them anything.
The chimes have awakened Harper.
We must go down and greet them. You must act naturally.
- Smile at them. Do you understand? -Now are you alright. Yes, I'm alright.
We'll face them darling.
And when she struck, that angel started marching. It was a sight to behold.
- Professor, my hat is off to you. -Congratultions Professor Rankin.
- Won't the director be delighted. What I want to know is, if it' s going to chime all night long... -...how is anybody going to get any sleep?
We'll face them darling. All of them.
Them chickens are going to on and off the roost every 15 minutes.
Sarah! I told you I want these curtains drawn. I don't want the sunlight streaming in, it's bad for them.
That's rubbish and you know it. Up at the other house, we never closed the curtains.
- This is my house and I want them drawn. -Suit yourself then.
-It's going to look mighty gloomy for the party. -ls it that time already?
- Were you able to see when they opened the grave Mr. Randall? -Was it too horrible?
Oh there's Mary. Hello Mary.
Filling out perscriptions. That's the part of the business I hate. Sleeping pills, that's another.
dollar sixty-five. Want them wrapped? No thanks. Sleeping pills! Don't approve of them. Man does a day's work, man gets a night's sleep. At least we could, til
- I believe Mrs. Rankin ordered some ice-cream. - Ice-cream is already gone.
That fellow was going past your house, so I gave it to him. Mr. Wilson.
- Mrs. Rankin. Wouldn't dream of setting foot outside the house, unless Fred were along. - Who knows, he might be anywhere.
The murderer I mean. Waiting for a new victim.
- I hope that you haven't forgotten that you were kind enough to invite me Mrs. Rankin. - Of course not Mr. Wilson.
- Mr. Potter asked me to deliver this. - Oh, the ice-cream.
Good, Sarah is waiting for it. I hope it hasn't melted. I won't detain you any longer.
- I have a drink for you. Oh, just the medicine I need. You know Dr. Hippery? - Oh yes, of course. How are you Doctor?
- Grand-mother, can I get you something? - Oh nothing more my dear.
Where is Dr. Rankin? Oh, he'll be here in just a few minutes. I want a word with him about that clock.
Yes, on my last trip. May I get you something?
- And what was that frenchman's name? - Oh, hello dear. Langrou.
There may well be 10 or a dozen graves out there in those woods.
- Autospy showed the murder was commited just three weeks ago. -May I get you some more tea? Oh, thank you.
- Jeff, may I get you another drink? - Wish I could remember what Emerson says about crime.
- Oh, there's Rankin. He may know. - Sorry to be late.
Hello there Rankin. You know the quotation? Emerson? Commit a crime and the earth is made of glass.
No, I don't.
Commit a crime and the earth is made of glass.
Commit a crime.
Commit a crime and it seems as if a coat of snow fell on the ground.
Such as reveals in the woods the track of every partridge, fox and squirrel and mole.
You can not recall the spoken word; you can not wipe out the foot track.
You can not draw up the ladder as to leave no inlet or clue.
You're Mr. Wilson, aren't you? Do you know that you are our number one suspect in the murder case?
So far you are the only suspect. Potter put the finger on you. He thinks you commited the crime to get possession of some priceless antiques.
Mr. Rankin. I wish you'd left that clock alone. Harper was a nice quiet place before it started banging.
- Mary! What's Wilson doing here? - I don't know.
- You invited him didn't you? What's he after? - I don't know.
- Are you alright? -Yes, quite alright.
- Now remember Friday Mary. - Yes, good-night.
- May I help you dear? - No!
No! No! No!
Mary, Mary, Mary. It's all right dear.
He took her upstairs. When I left, I could still hear her crying.
Well the flood gates have opened. Her subconscience has almost won.
From now on we must know every move Mrs. Rankin makes. She's never to leave the house, unless I know where she's going.
If I can't be found, she is to be detained no matter on what pretext.
- Do you understand Sarah? - Don't worry, she won't get by me.
When she was at those meetings, she signed her own death warrant. We're carrying her life in our hands.
Everytime she walks on a slippery sidewalk, is near something that can fall...
.....drives an automobile, anything that could result in accidental death, her life is in danger.
Yes Judge. She won't get by me.
Good-afternoon gentlemen. Today we will try to fi nish with the career of Friedrich Der Grose...
.....Koening von Presussen, Kurf von Brandenburg and Prinz von Polen.
Frederick the Great to you.
863...
- Hello? - Mary?
Mary, this is Charles. Can you hear me dear?
I can't speak very loudly where I am, but I want you to understand this. Something very important has come up.
You must come to the church immediately. The church tower. Understand?
- Yes, I understand.... - I don't want anybody to know that you are going there.
Mary don't tell anybody you're going. Go to the church tower and leave your car in the rear and come in through the back door.
OK? Good-bye.
- Peabody! - I'm coming.
Stack that wood down there with the rest of it and get back to work.
Watch that Mr. Peabody. Your move Professor.
Going some place? Where to?
- I asked you where you were going Miss Mary. - I heard!
-Sarah, you seem to forget that I am no longer a child. I am a married woman. -Well, you haven't been married very long.
- Wait Mrs. Rankin. - What is it? I'm in a hurry.
Well, you don't need to go biting my head off.
- What is it Sarah? - Well, I.....
- If you've got something to say, then say it. What is it Sarah? - I don't know what' s got into you lately.
You were never mean to me like this back at the old house. Maybe I've worn out my usefulness.
- I'm not as young as I use to be. Maybe you don't want me around anymore? -For heaven's sake! Stop talking such nonsense.
Well it's true and you know it. I'm going to pack my things and leave here.
Sarah I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. I didn't mean to, really I didn't.
Sarah, now I couldn't get along without you and you know that don't you?
Well don't you? Honest Miss Mary? Yes, honestly.
Sarah please. Wait just a moment.
-Sarah, you will never leave me will you?
- I treat you like my own daughter. - Sarah I've got to go now , really I do. I promised to be somewhere.
Well where to, Miss Mary?
Stop fussing Sarah. It's a secret.
Miss Mary!
- What's the matter? My heart. - I can't breathe.
- No Miss Mary. Please don't leave me. - Lay right there and keep quiet.
- Maybe I'm dying. -You're not dying.
I won't leave you. 130 please.
I was suppose to meet Charles at the clock tower right away but I can't get there.
Will you go and tell him to please wait for me? Noah, no one is to know where or why you are going.
- It's important. - All right.
238 please. Hello, may I speak to Mr. Wilson.
Looks like it's coming up for snow.
Miss Rands, Miss Lundstorm. Isn't it after hours. You ladies are working too hard at the library.
- No Mr. Rankin. We closed as usual at 3:30. -You are perfectly right.
I dismissed class 10 minutes early
Why it's 3:44. I was playing checkers with Mr. Potter and didn't realize it.
You know what you are Mr. Rankin? You are the absent-minded professor.
You sure are lucky today. I am? Good-afternoon Mr. Hill.
- I can't find them Mr. Potter. What? The earmuffs. -Right over there by the mittens.
- Come on Mr. Potter and help us look. - I'll be right back.
Right over there by that box, where I told you they was. Those? Latest thing out.
85 cents. That's an awful lot. Well they come high this year.
- You want this thing. I'll keep it. -You know Mr. Potter you're a bad influence.
I intended to spend only a couple of minutes, but you've made me spend the whole afternoon. Look what time it is.
- I'd like to get even. - It's your move.
He really had the wind up. You can still smell the glue where he joined it.
Look there Professor. Like I told you, it's coming up for snow.
Look here Professor.
Double or nothing.
Good-afternoon Mr. Potter.
Charles...
- You didn't go to the church. - No, Sarah had some kind of attack.
She's resting now. Jeff said it wasn't very serious, but that I should stay with her.
- What's the matter Charles? - Nothing.
What's the matter Charles? Nothing.
Wasn't important. Nothing actually. My sense of proportion is failing me.
Please Charles, what is it?
I'm sorry.
I'm just beginning to feel the strain. I have my weak moments too.
- I'll tell you in my own good time. - Have they found out anything more?
-No, there is nothing to fi nd out, unless you.. - No, I haven't seen anybody all day. I've been in my room.
There's a rumor going around that there is an arrest to be made.
My head aches. The episode with the beads yesterday, made me doubt your strength. I thought you'd gone to your father and told him.
If you had...
You didn't have to be afraid.
- What did you tell Noah? -What about?
Didn't you see him? No, why should I see him? Well did you come here directly from the church?
- Am I being cross-examined? -Well no, but when I found that I couldn't leave Sarah, I call Noah and told him to go there and to tell you that I'd be detained.
I told you not to call anybody! Call him and tell him not to go! Well I can't. Call him I say!
If he dies, his blood will be on your hands. What are you saying? You're meddeling in something. It would have been all right, if it hadn't been for you.
But you had to be here on that day. Hanging your stupid curtains, calling Noah!
- Did you kill Noah? -Yes! If he goes to the church and climbs up that ladder.
It was I you intended to kill, wasn't it? Why do I have to die?
Franz Kindler!
Kill me. Kill me, I want you to. I couldn't go on knowing what I've been to you and what I've done to Noah.
But when you kill me, don't put your hands on me.
Here, use this.
perator, operator. Get me the State police.
Yes the road blocks are up. We're watching the railroad stations and he isn't hiding in the woods.
Judge Longstreet.
Get Wilson Noah. I'll go to the police.
- Well if he is where I think he is, it's going to be easy. We'll do everything possible to bring him back alive. -She's gone Mr. Wilson.
- She's not in the house. - Clock tower?
- I don't know. - If that's where he's hiding and she gets there before us...
- What will we do. - Call Captain Samuels and the deputies. Get all the help you can.
The church, the church. Well what about you. I'll be fi ne. Hurry up while your sister may still be alive.
- Don't move. I have a gun. - You don't need it.
I'm alone. What are you doing here? Lift me up.
- You're telling the truth? - Why should I lie?
- You were followed here? - I came by our way. Through the cemetary. No one saw me.
I needed the excuse. I was afraid that you wouldn't let me up.
- What do you want? - I came to kill you.
No Mary, it's you that's going to die. You were meant to fall through that ladder.
You're going to fall.
- I don't mind if I take you with me. - You are a fool.
They searched the woods. I watched them. Up here like God, looking at little ants.
- I'll hide in the woods. They won't search there again and in a day or two, they think I got out of town. - When they find me, they'll know you're still here.
But darling. You've had a nervous breakdown and you've cracked.
Why else would you leave your bed and climb up a church tower in the dead of night?
- Any child could see you wind up killing yourself. - Killing is what led you here.
It won't help you now.
- Look out the window. Look! - That's an old trick, Mr. Wilson. A poor trick.
Tricks. That's all you know, tricks. I don't need any tricks.
No matter what happens to me, tricks won't do you any good. You're fi nished Hr. Franz Kindler.
The citizens of Harper have come after you.
The plain and ordinary people. The ones you have been laughing at. Well, you can't fool them anymore.
Sure, you can kill me, Mary, half the people down there, but there is no escape.
You have the world closed in on you and there was Harper. You had Harper close in on you.
And then there's only with room and this room too, is closing in on you.
It's not true the things they said I did. It's all their idea. I followed orders.
- You gave the orders. - I only did my duty.
- You can't make me face them. I'm not a criminal. -You are.
Give me that gun.
- Alright Mr. Wilson. Mary is safe, now we're going to give you a hand. - No, no, no thanks.
- What happened? - V-dag in Harper.
- I don't get that. Come on down. - No, not until you get me a new ladder.
I've had my ankle busted and my head conked. For me it all ends my friends. I'm taking it easy.
I'll get you another ladder Mr. Wilson. You've had enough trouble.
Good-night Mary. Pleasant dreams.