Sub By King Fart From Malaysia
Let me get you another drink.
Mark, before Tony comes, I ought to expIain something.
Yes, I've been waiting for that.
I haven't toId him anything about us.
That's not surprising. It's a tough thing to do.
When you teIephoned this morning, I simpIy said you wrote crime stories.
And I'd met you once when you were here before.
That has a pretty guiIty ring to it. I'd never use it in one of my stories.
Mark, I know you think it's siIIy.
When you get to know Tony, you'II understand why I said that.
DarIing, I understand now. That doesn't stop me from Ioving you.
It's not as simpIe as that.
-Tony's changed. -Thanks.
He's a compIeteIy different person to the one I used to teII you about.
ReaIIy? When did aII this happen?
That night I came to say goodbye.
When I Ieft your apartment, I came back here.
I sat down on the sofa and had a good cry.
And then I feII asIeep.
When I woke up...
...there was Tony standing in the haII with his bags and tennis rackets.
He just said he decided to give up tennis and settIe down to a job.
-Just Iike that? -Just Iike that.
Of course, I didn't beIieve him at first, but he meant it, aII right.
But he's been wonderfuI ever since.
I suppose that's when you stopped writing me.
Margot, is it?
Do you remember the Ietters you wrote to me?
Yes, I remember.
After I read them, I burned them. I thought it best.
AII except one.
You probabIy know the one I mean.
Yes, I think I do.
What about it?
It was stoIen.
Tony and I were going to spend the weekend in the country with friends.
WhiIe waiting on the pIatform, I noticed my handbag was missing.
And the Ietter was inside.
-Where was this? -Victoria Station.
I thought I'd Ieft it in the restaurant, but when I went back, it had gone.
You mean you never found it?
I recovered the handbag about two weeks Iater...
...from the Iost and found, but the Ietter wasn't there.
Then about a week afterwards, I received a note.
It toId me what I had to do to get the Ietter back.
Yes. Go ahead. Go on.
I was to draw £50 from my bank in £5 notes...
...and then change them for used £1 notes.
It said that if I went to the poIice or toId anyone eIse...
...he wouId show the Ietter to my husband.
You stiII have the note?
Printed, aII capitaIs.
-Anyone couId've done this. -Two days Iater...
-...I got this one. -Both maiIed in Brixton.
''Throw haIf the money in a package and maiI to John S. King.
23 Newport Street, Brixton SW9.
You'II get your Ietter by return.''
It's a IittIe shop. PeopIe use it as a forwarding address.
You didn't maiI the money.
Yes, but the Ietter was never returned.
So after waiting about two weeks, I went there.
Said they had never heard of a man by that name.
The parceI was stiII there. It had never been opened.
That's something, I suppose. May I keep these?
-Yes, if you Iike. -I can't understand why you didn't teII me.
There wasn't anything you couId do.
You probabIy wouId have made me teII Tony and the poIice.
It was onIy £50, I thought I'd pay and have done with it.
I'm gonna teII Tony about us tonight.
No, Mark, pIease, you mustn't.
You don't understand. Tony's changed.
PIease.
I wish it was a year ago, when you came to say goodbye.
We were in the kitchen. I said, ''I can't go through with this.
Let's find Tony and teII him aII about it.''
I beIieve you'd have done it then.
WeII, I can see this is gonna be a rough evening.
AII of us saying nice things to each other.
Look, there's onIy one thing you haven't expIained.
Why didn't you burn that Ietter too?
There you are. We thought you were never coming.
-What have you been up to? -I'm sorry. The boss bIew in...
-...just as I was Ieaving. -Tony, this is Mark HaIIiday.
-Mark. -Tony.
I'm terribIy sorry to be so Iate.
-How do you Iike it over here, Mark? -WeII, fine. Just fine, Tony.
Is this your first visit to London?
No, no. I was here a year ago for vacation.
Oh, yes, that's right. Margot toId me.
-You write for the radio, don't you? -No, teIevision, for my sins.
-DarIing, did you reserve a tabIe? -Yes, 7:00.
-Come on, then-- -DarIing, a sIight aIteration in pIans.
-Now, don't say you can't go. -I'm afraid so.
OId man Burgess is fIying to BrusseIs on Sunday.
And I have to get my monthIy report in by tomorrow.
Can't you do it when we get back?
I'm afraid not. It'II take hours.
I shaII have to fake haIf of it as it is.
CouId you join us after the theater? We might go somewhere.
Give me a ring in intermission.
-If I'm inspired, I might make it. -WeII, do try.
I'II just get my things, Mark.
-Here are the tickets. -Thanks, Tony.
I'm afraid this is terribIy rude of me.
Not at aII. I'm just sorry you can't come.
-You must come to dinner. -I'd Iike that.
What are you doing tomorrow night?
Saturday? Nothing I know of.
WouId you Iike to join a stag party?
-A stag party? -Yes.
Some Americans have been pIaying tennis aII over the continent.
We're giving them a fareweII dinner.
-I'm not much of a tennis pIayer. -Doesn't matter.
You know New York and aII that.
-Mark's coming to the party tomorrow night. -Good.
You better drop in here first and have a drink.
-That's the idea. -Yes. AII right.
-I'II try and get a taxi. -No, we can usuaIIy pick one up.
So Iong, darIing.
Enjoy yourseIf.
-So Iong, Tony. -Good night.
-Oh, Mark. -Yes?
SeII the extra ticket and have a drink on the proceeds.
-AII right. We'II try. -Have a good time.
Thanks. Good night.
-Hello- -HeIIo. Hampstead 78-doubIe-9?
-Yes- -CouId I speak to Captain Lesgate?
-Speaking- -Good evening.
You don't know me. My name is Fisher.
I understand you have a car for saIe.
-Yes, an American car- -Yes, I saw it at your garage.
-How much are you asking? -Eleven hundred-
EIeven hundred? I see. It certainIy Iooks just the job for me.
I don't Iike that price much.
I didn't like it when I bought it-
-Now, when can we meet? -Well, now, how about tomorrow afternoon?
I'm afraid I can't manage that.
No, I can't, and I'm going to LiverpooI on Sunday.
I was rather hoping--
-You couIdn't come to my fIat tonight? -Where is it?
Maida VaIe. I'd caII on you, onIy I've twisted my knee rather badIy.
I'm sorry- Well, what's your address?
-61 A Charrington Gardens. -Harrington?
No. Charrington. Turn Ieft at the underground.
-It's a two minutes' waIk. -I'll be there in an hour-
That's extremeIy good of you. By the way, wiII you bring the car?
-I'm afraid I can't- -Doesn't matter. I had a good Iook at it.
You might bring the registration book and any necessary papers.
-Yes, of course- -We can settIe this...
...here and now, provided you drop the price sufficientIy.
I'm afraid that's out of the question-
WeII, we'II see what a coupIe of drinks can do.
-WeII, goodbye. -Goodbye-
-Mr. Fisher? -Captain Lesgate?
-Yes. -Won't you come in?
Thank you.
It's very good of you.
Let me have your coat.
-Have any difficuIty finding your way? -No. None at aII.
Do sit down. How about a drink?
I can't heIp thinking I've seen you before somewhere.
It's funny you shouId mention that.
The moment I opened the door, I--
Wait a minute. Lesgate?
You're not Lesgate. Swan. C.J. Swan.
-Or was it C.A.? -C.A.
WeII, you've got a better memory than I have.
Fisher. When did we meet?
-Weren't you at Cambridge? -Yes.
Must be 20 years ago.
You wouIdn't remember me. I onIy came your Iast year.
-WeII, what a coincidence. -Yes, this caIIs for a speciaI drink.
I was pIanning to paIm you off with an indifferent port.
But Iet's see what we have here.
-How about this? -Perfect.
So how do you know my car's for saIe?
Your garage toId me.
Odd. I don't think I mentioned it to them.
I got a fiII-up and toId them I wanted an American car.
They gave me your phone number. I say, it is for saIe, isn't it?
-Of course. -Good, but I refuse to discuss the price...
-...untiI you've had three brandies. -I warn you...
-...I drive a hard bargain, drunk or sober. -So do I.
I think I must have seen you somewhere since we Ieft Cambridge.
Ever been to WimbIedon?
That's it. Wendice. Tony Wendice.
-What's aII this about Fisher? -What's aII this about Lesgate?
WouId you Iike a cigar?
No, thanks. I'II just stick to my pipe.
That's one habit you've changed.
I remember, at coIIege, you aIways used to smoke rather expensive cigars.
Wait a minute, I think I have a picture of you here somewhere.
Yes.
Yes. Here's one.
Taken at a reunion dinner.
There you are with the biggest cigar in the business.
That's the first and Iast reunion I ever went to.
-What a murderous thug I Iook. -Yes, you do rather.
Of course, I aIways remember you because of the coIIege baII.
You were the treasurer, weren't you?
Honorary treasurer. I used to organize the beastIy things.
Some of the ticket money was stoIen, wasn't it?
That's right. AImost £1 00.
I'd Ieft it in a cashbox in my study, and in the morning, it had gone.
-It was the coIIege porter, of course. -Yes. Poor oId AIfred.
He never couId back a winner.
-They found the cashbox in his back garden. -But not the money.
-Twenty years ago. -What are you doing nowadays?
I deaI in property. I don't foIIow tennis very cIoseIy.
-Do you stiII pIay? -No, I've given it up.
Rather, tennis gave me up. One has to earn a Iiving sometime.
And I had a pretty good run for my money. Went round the worId three times.
-What are you doing now? -I seII sports equipment.
It's not very Iucrative, but it gives me pIenty of spare time.
I see you manage to run a very comfortabIe IittIe pIace.
My wife has some money of her own.
Otherwise, I shouId hardIy feeI Iike bIowing £1 000 on your car.
EIeven hundred.
PeopIe with capitaI don't reaIize how Iucky they are.
I'm aImost resigned to Iiving on what I can earn.
You can aIways marry for money.
Yes, I suppose some peopIe make a business out of that.
-I know I did. -Why do you think she married you?
WeII, I was a tennis star.
Yes, but you've given up tennis. She hasn't Ieft you.
She nearIy did.
After we were married, I pIayed in championships...
...and took Margot with me.
She didn't Iike it, and when we got back...
...she tried to make me give up tennis and pIay husband instead.
In the end, we compromised.
I went aIone to America for the grass-court season...
...and returned after the nationaI championships.
I soon reaIized a Iot had happened whiIe I was away.
For one thing, she wasn't in Iove with me anymore.
There were phone caIIs which wouId end abruptIy if I happened to waIk in.
There was an oId schooI friend who used to visit from time to time.
One day, we had a row.
I wanted to pIay in a covered-court tournament...
...and, as usuaI, she didn't want me to go.
I was in the bedroom. The phone rang.
It aII sounded pretty urgent.
After that, she seemed rather keen that I pIay in the tournament.
So I packed my kit into the car and drove off.
I parked the car two streets away, waIked back in my tracks.
Ten minutes Iater, she came out of this house and took a taxi.
I took another.
Her oId schooI friend Iived in a studio in CheIsea.
I couId see them through the studio window as he cooked spaghetti over a gas range.
They didn't say much. They just Iooked very naturaI together.
You know, it's funny how you can teII when peopIe are in Iove.
I went for a waIk.
I began to wonder what wouId happen if she Ieft me.
I'd have to find some way of earning a Iiving, to begin with.
I suddenIy reaIized how much I'd grown to depend on her.
AII these expensive tastes I'd acquired whiIe I was at the top.
Now, big tennis had finished with me...
...and so, apparentIy, had my wife.
I can't ever remember being so scared.
I dropped into a pub and had a coupIe of drinks.
As I sat in the corner, I thought of aII sorts of things.
I thought of three different ways of kiIIing him.
I even thought of kiIIing her.
That seemed a far more sensibIe idea.
And just as I was working out how I couId do it...
...I suddenIy saw something which compIeteIy changed my mind.
I didn't go to that tournament after aII.
When I got back, she was sitting exactIy where you are now.
I'd toId her I decided to give up tennis and Iook after her instead.
-WeII? -WeII, as things turned out...
...I needn't have got so worked up after aII.
ApparentIy, their spaghetti evening had been a sort of a fond fareweII.
The boyfriend had been caIIed back to New York.
-An American? -Yes.
There were Iong Ietters from there.
They usuaIIy arrived on Thursdays.
She burned them aII except one.
That one she used to transfer from handbag to handbag.
It was aIways with her.
That Ietter became an obsession with me.
I had to find out what was in it.
FinaIIy, I did.
That Ietter made very interesting reading.
-Do you mean you stoIe it? -Yes.
I even wrote her two anonymous notes offering to seII it back.
-Why? -I was hoping it wouId make her...
...come and teII me aII about him.
But it didn't, so I kept the Ietter.
Why are you teIIing me aII this?
Because you're the onIy person I can trust.
Anyway, that did it.
It must have put the fear of God into them because the Ietters stopped.
And we Iived happiIy ever after.
You know, it's funny to think that just a year ago...
...I sat in that nice bridge pub actuaIIy pIanning to murder her.
And I might have done it...
...if I hadn't seen something that changed my mind.
WeII, what did you see?
I saw you.
What was so odd about that?
The coincidence.
OnIy a week before, I'd been to a reunion dinner.
And the feIIows were taIking about you.
How you had been court-martiaIed during the war.
A year in prison. That was news.
Mind you, at coIIege, we'd aII said that Swan wouId end up in jaiI.
-That cashbox, I suppose. -WeII, what about it?
My dear feIIow, everybody knew you took that money.
Poor oId AIfred.
Thanks very much for the drink.
Interesting, hearing about your matrimoniaI affairs.
I take it you won't be wanting that car after aII.
Don't you want me to teII you why I brought you here?
Yes, I think you'd better.
It was when I saw you in that pub that it happened.
SuddenIy, everything became quite cIear.
A few months before, Margot and I had made our wiIIs.
Short affairs, Ieaving everything we had to each other, in case of accidents.
Hers worked out at just over £90,000.
Investments mostIy, aII a IittIe too easy to get at.
And that was dangerous. They wouId be bound to suspect me.
I need an aIibi, a very good one.
Then I saw you.
I'd wondered what happened to peopIe who came out of prison.
PeopIe Iike you, I mean.
Can they get jobs? Do oId friends raIIy round?
Suppose they never had any friends.
I became so curious to know that I foIIowed you.
I foIIowed you home that night and--
WouId you mind passing me your gIass, oId boy?
Thank you. Thank you very much.
-I've been foIIowing you ever since. -Why?
I was hoping sooner or Iater I might catch you at something...
-...and be abIe to-- -BIackmaiI me?
InfIuence you.
After a coupIe of weeks, I got to know your routine...
-...and that made it a Iot easier. -Rather dour work.
To begin with, yes.
But you know how it is. You take up a hobby.
And the more you get to know it, the more fascinating it becomes.
You became quite fascinating.
In fact, there were times when I'd feIt that you aImost beIonged to me.
That must have been interesting.
You used to go to the dog-racing, Mondays and Thursdays.
I even took it up myseIf, just to be near you.
-You'd changed your name to Adams. -Yes. I got bored with Swan.
-Any crime in that? -No. No. None whatever.
In fact, there was nothing reaIIy iIIegaI about you.
I got quite discouraged.
Then one day, you disappeared from your Iodgings.
I phoned your IandIady. I said, ''Mr. Adams owed me £5.''
But apparentIy that was nothing.
Mr. Adams owed her six weeks' rent in her best Iodge at £55.
Mr. Adams had been such a nice gentIeman.
That's what seemed to upset her most.
Yes. That aIways seems to upset them most.
I say, oId boy, if you want another drink...
...do you mind putting on these gIoves?
Now, where were we? Yes, I'd Iost you...
...and then I found you one day at the dog-racing.
And I taiIed you home to your new Iodgings in BeIsize Park.
There Mr. Adams became Mr. WiIson.
Mr. WiIson Ieft BeIsize Park owing 1 6 weeks' rent...
...and somewhat richer for a brief encounter with a Miss WaIIace.
You used to take Miss WaIIace out on Wednesdays and Sundays.
She certainIy was in Iove with you, wasn't she?
I suppose she thought you were growing that handsome mustache to pIease her.
Poor Miss WaIIace.
This is aII very interesting. Do go on.
JuIy, August, September: Apartment 1 27, CarIisIe Court.
Occupant: a Mrs. Van Dorn.
Her Iate husband Ieft her two hoteIs and a Iarge apartment house, furnished.
What a base to operate from, Captain Lesgate.
The onIy troubIe is, she does rather enjoy being courted.
And she's so very expensive.
Perhaps that's why you've been trying to seII her car for over a month.
Mrs. Van Dorn asked me to seII it for her.
I know. I caIIed her up just before you arrived here.
She onIy wanted 800.
Where's the nearest poIice station?
Opposite the church. Two minutes' waIk.
-Suppose I waIk there now. -What wouId you teII them?
-Everything. -Everything?
AII about Mr. Adams and Mr. WiIson?
I shouId simpIy teII them that you are trying to bIackmaiI me into--
Into?
Murdering your wife.
I aImost wish you wouId.
When she heard that, we'd have the Iaugh of our Iives.
-Aren't you forgetting something? -Am I?
You've toId me quite a Iot tonight.
-What of it? -Suppose I teII them...
...how you foIIowed her to that studio in CheIsea...
...and watched them cooking spaghetti and aII that rubbish.
-WiII that ring a beII? -It wouId.
They'd assume you'd foIIowed her.
-Me? Why shouId I? -Why shouId you steaI her handbag?
Why shouId you write those bIackmaiI notes?
Can you prove you didn't?
You certainIy can't prove I did.
It'II be a straight case of your word against mine.
That wouId puzzIe them, wouIdn't it. What couId you say?
I shouId say that you came here tonight haIf-drunk and tried to borrow money...
...on the strength that we were at coIIege together.
When I refused, you said something about a Ietter beIonging to my wife.
As far as I couId make out, you tried to seII it to me.
I gave you what money I had, and you gave me the Ietter.
It has your fingerprints on it, remember?
Then you said if I went to the poIice...
...you'd teII some crazy story about my wanting you to murder my wife.
Before you go any further, oId boy, do consider the inconvenience.
You see, I'm quite weII-known.
There'd be pictures of you, as weII.
And sooner or Iater, there'd be a deputation of IandIadies and Iodgers...
...who wouId step forward to testify to your character.
And someone is aImost certain to have seen you with Miss WaIIace.
You were carefuI not to be seen around with her, I noticed.
You usuaIIy met in out-of-the-way pIaces...
...where you wouIdn't be recognized.
Like the IittIe teashop in PimIico.
That was her idea, not mine.
Yes, it was a bit crummy, wasn't it?
HardIy the pIace to take Mrs. Van Dorn.
By the way, does Mrs. Van Dorn know about Mr. Adams...
...and Mr. WiIson and Miss WaIIace?
You were pIanning to marry Mrs. Van Dorn, weren't you?
-Smart, aren't you? -No, not reaIIy.
I've just had time to think things out...
...put myseIf in your position.
That's why I know you're going to agree.
-What makes you think I'II agree? -The same reason...
...a donkey with a stick behind him and a carrot in front...
...aIways goes forwards, not backwards.
TeII me about the carrot.
One thousand pounds in cash.
-For a murder? -For a few minutes' work, that's aII it is.
And no risk, I guarantee.
That ought to appeaI to you.
You've been skating on pretty thin ice.
-I don't know what you're taIking about. -You ought to know.
It was in the papers, ''MiddIe-aged woman...
...found dead due to an overdose of something.''
She'd been taking the stuff for some time...
...and nobody knows where she got it.
But we know, don't we?
Poor Miss WaIIace.
This £1 000...
...where is it?
It's in a smaII attachè case in a checkroom.
-Where? -Somewhere in London.
Of course, we don't meet again.
As soon as you've deIivered the goods...
...I shaII maiI you the checkroom ticket and the key to the case.
You take this £1 00 on account.
The poIice wouId onIy have to trace one of these notes...
...back to you to hang us both from the same rope.
They won't. For a whoIe year, I've been cashing an extra £20 a week.
AIways in fivers.
I then change them for those at my Ieisure.
-Might I see your bank statement? -By aII means.
Don't touch.
Turn back a page.
Your baIance has dropped by over £1 000 during the year.
Suppose the poIice ask you about that.
I go dog-racing twice a week.
They'II check your bookmaker.
Like you, I aIways bet on the tout.
Satisfied?
When wouId this take pIace?
Tomorrow night.
Tomorrow! Not a chance!
I've got to think this over.
It has to be tomorrow.
I've arranged things that way.
Where?
ApproximateIy where you're standing now.
-How? -Tomorrow evening, HaIIiday...
...the American boyfriend, and I wiII go out to a stag party.
She'II stay here.
She'II go to bed earIy and Iisten to theater on the radio.
She aIways does when I'm out.
At exactIy three minutes to 1 1 , you'II enter the house through the street door.
You'II find the key to this door...
...under the stair carpet here.
-The fifth step. -That's the one.
Go straight to the window...
...and hide behind the curtains.
At exactIy 1 1 :00, I'II go to the teIephone in the hoteI...
...to caII my boss.
I shaII diaI the wrong number, this number.
That's aII I shaII do.
When the phone rings, you'II see the Iight go on under her bedroom door.
When she opens it, the Iight wiII stream across the room.
So don't move untiI she answers the phone.
There must be as IittIe noise as possibIe.
After you've finished...
...pick up the phone and give me a soft whistIe and hang up.
Don't speak, whatever you do. I shan't say a word.
When I hear your whistIe, I shaII hang up and rediaI...
...the correct number this time.
I shaII then taIk to my boss as if nothing had happened and return to the party.
What happens next? Go on.
You'II see the suitcase here.
It contains cIothes of mine for the cIeaners.
Open it and tip the cIothes out onto the fIoor.
Then fiII it with a cigarette box and some of these cups.
CIose the Iid, but don't snap the Iocks.
Then Ieave the suitcase there, just as it is now.
As if I'd Ieft in a hurry.
That's the idea. Now, the window....
If it's Iocked, unIock it and Ieave it open.
Then go out exactIy the same way you came in.
-By this door? -Yes.
And here's the most important thing.
As you go out, return the key to the pIace where you found it.
-Under the stair carpet? -Yes.
Yes, but what exactIy is supposed to have happened?
WeII, they'II assume you came in by the window.
You thought the apartment was empty, so you took the suitcase and went to work.
She heard something.
She switched on her Iight.
You saw the Iight under the door and hid behind the curtains.
When she came in here, you attacked her before she couId scream.
When you reaIized you'd actuaIIy kiIIed her...
...you panicked, boIted through the garden and Ieft the Ioot behind.
Just a minute.
I'm supposed to have come in through these windows.
-Suppose they'd been Iocked. -It wouIdn't matter.
She often waIks around the garden before she goes to bed.
And she usuaIIy forgets to Iock up when she gets back.
That's what I shaII teII the poIice.
Yes, but she may say--
But she isn't going to say anything. Is she?
AII right.
I Ieave the apartment.
I put the key back under the stair carpet and go out by the street door.
Suppose the street door's Iocked.
-How do I get in in the first pIace? -The street door is never Iocked.
-What time wiII you get back? -About 1 2.
I'II bring HaIIiday back for a nightcap. We'II find her together...
...and we shaII have been together since we Ieft her.
And there's my aIibi.
-You've forgotten something. -What?
When you get back with what's-his-name, HaIIiday...
-...how wiII you get in the apartment? -I shaII Iet myseIf in.
But your key wiII be under the stair carpet.
He'II see you get it. It'II give the show away.
No. It won't be my key under the carpet.
It wiII be hers.
I shaII take it from her handbag and hide it out there...
...just before I Ieave the fIat.
She's not going out, so she won't miss it.
When I come back with HaIIiday, I'II use my own key to Iet us in.
Then, whiIe he's out searching the garden or something...
...I'II take the key from under the carpet and return it to her bag...
-...before the poIice arrive. -How many keys are there to this door?
Just hers and mine.
-MaveI Z4-doubIe-9. -Tony, it's me-
HeIIo, darIing. How's it going?
Wonderfully- It's really a dreadful play-
We're enjoying every minute-
I'm sorry. I mean, I'm gIad.
-You will join us, won't you? -I don't think so.
I hardIy seem to have started.
DarIing, just a moment. I think there's someone at the door.
You can be seen from the bedroom window.
Sorry, darIing. FaIse aIarm.
Look, why don't you take Mark to Gerry's.
-How do we get in? -WeII, just mention my name.
I don't know about the band, but the food's good.
By the way, Maureen caIIed after you Ieft...
...and wants us for dinner on Wednesday.
You've got something in your diary for Wednesday, and I can't read it.
Looks Iike ''AI BentaII.''
Who's he, another one of your boyfriends?
Albert Hall, you idiot-
The AIbert HaII, of course.
I'm so gIad we don't have to go to Maureen's.
-She's such a fiIthy cook. -Well, there's the bell- I must fly-
AII right, dear. Enjoy yourseIf.
Tony, don't make that martini too watery.
Now, where's the picture of the maharajah?
When are you going to finish pasting in those cIippings?
I shaII find time one of these days.
Here it is. This is the maharajah.
-Isn't he dreamy? -He had four RoIIs-Royces and jeweIs...
...to sink a battIeship, but aII he wanted was to pIay at WimbIedon.
The poor darIing was so shortsighted, he couId bareIy see the end of the racket...
-...Iet aIone the baII. -You shouId--
Thanks, Tony.
You shouId write a book about aII this.
Why don't you two coIIaborate, a detective noveI with a tennis background.
What about it, Mark? You provide me...
-...with the perfect murder. -Nothing I'd Iike better.
How do you go about writing a detective story?
You forget detection and concentrate on crime. Crime's the thing.
You imagine you're gonna steaI something or murder somebody.
Is that how you do it? Interesting.
I usuaIIy put myseIf in the criminaI's shoes and I keep asking myseIf:
''What do I do next?''
Do you reaIIy beIieve in the perfect murder?
Yes, absoIuteIy. On paper, that is.
I think I couId pIan one better than most peopIe...
...but I doubt I couId carry it out.
Oh? Why not?
In stories, things turn out the way the author wants.
And in reaI Iife, they don't aIways.
No. I'm afraid my murders wouId be Iike my bridge:
I'd make a mistake and never reaIize it...
-...tiII I find everybody Iooking at me. -Drink up, Mark.
-Yes. -What are you doing tomorrow?
-Nothing. -Why don't we drive...
-...to Windsor for Iunch. -That's a good idea.
Come aIong earIy, but not too earIy.
-We may be nursing a hangover. -How about 1 1 ?
-Fine. -We can have Iunch at the Kings Head.
-Is that right in Windsor? -No, it's just outside.
Did I Iend you my Iatchkey? I can't seem to find it anywhere.
I don't know. I may have them both in my handbag.
I'II just Iook.
-No. I've onIy got one here. -Are you sure yours isn't in your overcoat?
No, I've Iooked. May I borrow yours?
-WeII, that's a bit awkward. -Why?
I may want to go out.
Tonight?
Yes, I thought I might go to a movie.
What about the radio? Saturday Night Theatre?
Oh, no. It's a thriIIer. I don't Iike thriIIers when I'm aIone.
-I see. -In any case, I'II be back...
...before you, so I can Iet you in.
But we won't be back untiI after midnight. You may be asIeep by then.
You can aIways put your key under the proverbiaI mat.
It's aII right. Here it is. It was in my gIove aII the time.
WeII, that settIes that.
What movie are you going to?
The cIassic, I expect.
-WiII you get in? Saturday night? -I can aIways try.
-But, darIing-- -Now, don't make me stay home.
You know I hate doing nothing.
Doing nothing? There are hundreds of things to do.
Write Peggy, thanking her for the weekend.
And what about those cIippings? It's an ideaI opportunity.
WeII, I Iike that. You two go gaIIivanting...
...whiIe I stay home and do those boring cIippings.
-Very weII. We won't go. -What do you mean?
It's obvious you don't want us to go, so we won't.
We'II stay here with you.
What shaII we do, pIay cards?
Tony, darIing....
I'II caII the Grendon and teII them we're not coming.
Tony, pIease, Iet's not be chiIdish about this.
AII right, I'II do your oId press cIippings.
You don't have to if you don't want to, you know.
But I do want to.
I think I'II try and scare up a taxi.
Have we any paste?
Yes, there's some in the desk, I beIieve.
-You need some scissors. -They're in my mending basket.
Lend me some change. I need some money for the taxi.
Hey, you Ieave my bag aIone.
-How much do you need? -Let's see how much you've got.
-You put that down. -You owe me 1 0 bob anyway.
-Why? -I paid that package...
...you sent Peggy. That comes out of housekeeping.
Let me get it, then. Keep your hands off.
There, now. How much do you want?
I've got 3, 5, 7 and a sixpence.
-It ought to get us there and back. -But you'd better take something.
-How much are dinner tickets? -Paid for, tip incIuded.
If I run short, Mark wiII heIp out.
Taxi's here.
Tony, what are you waiting for?
-Nothing, dear. -Good night, Margot.
What time wiII you get home?
About 1 2. I'II bring Mark back for a nightcap.
-WiII you be up? -I shaII be fast asIeep...
-...and I don't want to be disturbed. -We shaII be quiet.
-Good night. -Good night.
-Margot. -Yes.
You know it's possibIe oId man Burgess might caII.
TeII him we're at the Grendon. It may be important.
-What's the number? -It's in the book.
AII right.
Goodbye, dear.
AII right, Mark.
I'm staying at the Torbay HoteI. You know the hoteI in Dartmoor?
WeII, it's not exactIy in Dartmoor, but sort of in the district.
Anyway, the whoIe point of this story is that it concerns Dartmoor Prison.
I was staying at the Torbay HoteI, as I was saying, I went to the bar....
I turned to him and said, ''What are you doing here?''
He says, ''I'm a commerciaI traveIer. I seII agricuIturaI machinery.'' I said--
WouId any of you feIIows have the right time?
Yes, I have seven minutes past 1 1 .
-I make it onIy just after 1 1 . -My watch has stopped.
-I must have overwound it. -As I was saying--
Excuse me, oId boy. I have to caII my boss.
AgricuIturaI machinery....
HeIIo.
HeIIo?
Hello?
HeIIo?
Get the police- Quickly- Police-
-Margot? -Who's there?
DarIing, it's me.
Oh, Tony. Tony, thank God.
Come back at once.
-What's the matter? -I can't explain now-
-Come quickly, please- -DarIing, puII yourseIf together.
-What is it? -A man attacked me-
-Tried to strangle me- -Did he get away?
No- He's dead-
Tony, are you stiII there?
-Margot. -Yes?
Now, Iisten very carefuIIy.
Yes- I'm listening-
Don't touch anything. I'II be with you right away.
-No. No, I won't. -Don't touch anything---
---and don't speak to anybody until I get there-
No, I won't touch anything.
-You promise? -Yes, I promise.
Tony, pIease be quick.
I'm sitting at the same bar, and I see the same man standing at the end of the--
He came to me and said--
No, do sit down. I have to run aIong.
Margot's not feeIing too weII.
-Serious? -Nothing serious.
-You stay and enjoy yourseIf. -I'II come.
No. It's perfectIy aII right.
--with which he was buying me dry martinis....
Tony! Oh, Tony.
It's aII right, darIing. It's aII right. What happened?
He put something around my throat.
-It feIt Iike a stocking. -Are you sure? Let me see.
I got up to answer the phone, and he came from behind the curtain...
...and tried to strangIe me.
I aImost passed out.
I feIt the scissors in my hands...
...and then he Iet go suddenIy, and he feII on the fIoor.
There's hardIy any bIood.
When he feII, he must have--
-What are you doing? -I'm trying to find my--
Here they are, my aspirin.
I've got such an awfuI head--
What is it?
I'd better get a bIanket.
Shut the window, pIease.
No. We mustn't touch anything untiI the poIice arrive.
He must've broken in. I wonder what he was after.
-Those cups, I expect. -When wiII the poIice get here?
-Have you caIIed them aIready? -No.
You toId me not to speak to anyone.
Hadn't you better caII them now?
Yes.
-Where's Mark? -I toId him to go straight home.
-Operator- -HeIIo, operator...
-...get me the Maida VaIe PoIice. -Did you teII him?
I didn't know what had happened. I said that you weren't weII.
Maida Vale Police-
PoIice? There's been a ghastIy accident.
-Yes, sir? -A man has been kiIIed.
-Your name, sir? -Wendice.
-Is that a double S? -No, D-I-C-E.
''C-E.'' Your address, sir?
61 A Charrington Gardens, Ground-floor apartment-
-Was it an accident? -I don't know.
What do you mean, you don't know?
Do you think he might have been kiIIed by someone?
I don't know-
Have you any idea who might have done it?
I'II expIain when you come. How Iong wiII it take?
-About two minutes- -Two minutes.
And don't touch anything, wiII you, sir?
No, we won't touch anything. Goodbye.
-I'II get dressed. -Why?
-They'II want to see me. -They're not going to see you.
But they'II ask me questions.
We'II wait untiI tomorrow. I'II teII them aII they need to know.
-Tony? -Yes?
-Why did you phone me? -What?
I'm sorry, darIing, I'II teII you about that Iater.
I just thought of something.
You said he used a stocking?
I think it was a stocking or a scarf.
-Isn't it there? -No, but I expect they'II find it.
Now you go on to bed.
Tea, gentIemen?
Sergeant. Look. It's the other stocking.
AII right. Break it up. Let's get moving on.
AImost empty. Remind me to get some more.
It aIways runs out just when we need it.
Look, before I forget, the sergeant wanted to know...
...why you didn't phone the poIice immediateIy.
-How couId I? You were-- -I know, but--
You distinctIy toId me not to speak to anyone...
-...untiI you got here. -I know...
...but I toId him a sIightIy different story.
-Why? -WeII, I said you didn't phone the poIice...
...because you naturaIIy assumed that I wouId do it from the hoteI.
Why did you say that?
Because it was the perfectIy IogicaI expIanation, and he accepted it.
Now, if they get the idea that we deIayed reporting it...
...they might get nosy and ask aII sorts of questions.
-You want me to say the same thing? -I think so...
...in case it comes up again.
That wiII be Mark. WouId you Iet him in?
-Good morning, madam. -Good morning.
-Mrs. Wendice? -Yes.
I'm a poIice officer. May I come in?
Of course.
Excuse me. I'II just teII my husband you're here.
Thank you.
-Good morning. -Good morning, sir.
I'm Chief Inspector Hubbard, in charge of CriminaI Investigation of this division.
I think we gave your sergeant aII the information.
Yes. I've seen his report, of course...
...but there are a few things I'd Iike to get firsthand.
I gather the sergeant onIy saw you for a few moments, Mrs. Wendice?
-Yes, I-- -My wife was suffering...
...from considerabIe shock.
Yes, that was a very nasty experience you had.
Mind if I take a Iook around?
Go ahead. The bedroom and bathroom are through here.
He certainIy didn't get in by the bathroom.
And the kitchen has bars on the window.
We assume he must have come in through these windows here.
I understand you weren't here when this happened.
No, I was at a dinner party at the Grendon HoteI...
...and by coincidence, I was phoning my wife when she was attacked.
So I gather.
Can you teII me exactIy what time it was?
No, I'm afraid I can't. I do remember my watch had stopped.
Did you notice, Mrs. Wendice?
-No, I didn't. -Won't you sit down, inspector.
Why, thank you.
Have you any idea who he was?
Yes. At Ieast, we've discovered where he Iived.
There stiII seems to be some confusion as to his reaI name.
He appeared to have severaI.
Had you ever seen him before?
Why, no, of course not.
-Is this him? -Yes.
You don't recognize him?
No, I never saw him.
But didn't you even catch a gIimpse of his face?
No. You see, he attacked me from behind, and it was dark.
I hardIy saw him at aII.
Yes, but before I showed you these photographs...
...you said you'd never seen him before.
How couId you know that if you never saw his face Iast night?
I don't quite understand.
Inspector, my wife simpIy means that as far as she knew...
...she never saw him before.
-Was that what you meant? -Yes.
Now, how about you, sir? Had you ever seen him before?
No.
-No, at Ieast.... -Yes?
He's very Iike someone I was at coIIege with, but the mustache makes a difference.
What was his name?
I don't know. It must be 20 years since I Ieft it.
-Was it Lesgate? -No.
-WiIson? -No.
-Swan? -N--
Swan.
Wait a minute. Swan. Yes, that's it.
Here's an oId photo taken at a reunion. We were at the same coIIege.
There he is there. Why, it's unbeIievabIe.
-Did you know him weII? -No. He was senior to me.
-Have you met him since then? -No, at Ieast....
Come to think of it, I did see him quite recentIy.
-But not to speak to. -When was that?
Six months ago, at a raiIway station.
Victoria, I think. I remember noticing how IittIe he'd changed.
Had he a mustache then, sir?
No.
Mrs. Wendice, wouId you show me exactIy what happened Iast night?
-Tony, do I have to? -I'm afraid so, darIing.
I was in bed when the phone rang.
And I got up, and I came in here.
-Did you switch this Iight on? -No.
Just show me exactIy where you were standing.
I stood here, and I picked up the phone.
Just one moment. Are you sure you had your back...
-...to the window Iike that? -Yes.
-But why? -Why not?
I mean, why go around the desk?
I shouId have picked it up from this side.
But I aIways answer the phone from here.
But why?
In case I have to write anything down, I can hoId the phone in my Ieft hand.
I see, yes. I'm sorry. Go on.
When I picked up the phone...
...he must have come from behind those curtains and attacked me.
-He got something around my neck. -Something?
What do you mean?
I think it was a stocking.
I see. And what happened then?
WeII, then he pushed me across the desk.
I remember feeIing for the scissors.
Where were those scissors usuaIIy kept?
In that mending basket. I'd forgotten to put them away.
Now, what makes you think he came from behind those curtains?
-Where eIse couId he have been? -The curtains were drawn?
-They were. -Did you draw them?
No, inspector, I drew them just before I went out.
-Did you Iock the window at the same time? -Yes.
-Are you quite sure of that, sir? -PerfectIy sure.
I aIways Iock up when I draw the curtains.
How do you suppose he got in?
We assume that he broke in.
There's no sign of a break-in.
Our report shows the Iock's quite undamaged.
Mrs. Wendice...
...why didn't you caII the poIice immediateIy this happened?
I was trying to caII to the poIice...
...when I discovered my husband was on the Iine.
I naturaIIy thought that he wouId caII the poIice from the hoteI...
-...before he came here. -Didn't it occur to you to caII a doctor?
-No. -Why ever not?
-He was dead. -How did you know that?
I--
-It was obvious. -Did you feeI his puIse?
No. Of course I didn't.
Anyone wouId have reaIized he was dead.
-Just one Iook at those staring eyes-- -So you did see his face after aII.
I saw his eyes! I can't remember his face!
Inspector, my wife obviousIy had never seen this man before.
And if he didn't come in by those windows, how did he get in?
As a matter of fact, we're quite certain that he came in by this door.
But it was Iocked.
Margot, did you open that door at aII after we'd gone?
-No. -How many keys are there to this door, sir?
OnIy two. Mine was in my handbag, and you had yours with you.
Yes, that's right.
-Has the caretaker got a key? -No.
Do you empIoy a charwoman?
Yes, but she hasn't got one either.
I'm aIways here when she comes.
What makes you think he came in this way?
-His shoes. -His shoes?
The ground was soaking wet Iast night.
And if he'd come in by the garden, he'd have Ieft mud aII over the carpet.
As it is, he didn't Ieave any marks at aII...
...because he wiped his shoes on the front doormat.
-How can you teII? -It's a fairIy new mat...
...and some of its fibers came off on his shoes.
-But sureIy-- -And there was a smaII tar stain...
...on the mat, and some of the fibers show that as weII.
There is no question about it.
Wait a minute.
I think I've got it.
Remember when your bag was stoIen?
-Yes. -Wasn't the key inside?
Yes, but it was stiII there when I got it back.
Now, just a moment. I'd Iike to hear about this.
-What sort of bag? -A handbag, inspector.
My wife Iost it at Victoria Station.
But I got it back from the Iost and found two weeks Iater.
-Was anything missing? -AII the money was gone.
-Anything eIse? -No.
-No papers or Ietters? -No.
-Are you quite sure about that? -Yes.
And your Iatchkey was in your handbag when you Iost it?
Yes, but it was stiII there when it was returned.
But whoever stoIe the money couId have copied the key.
Where was the bag found eventuaIIy?
At Victoria Station.
Wasn't that where you said you saw this man, sir?
When did you Iose the bag?
Wasn't it that weekend we went to visit Peggy?
Yes, it was. I remember now.
He was sitting in the restaurant.
-Was that where you Ieft your bag? -Yes...
...and didn't I say something about, ''There's someone from coIIege''?
-I don't remember. -That's how he got in.
He made a dupIicate and returned the originaI to the bag.
Before you go any further with this, how did he get in through the street door?
-The street door is never Iocked. -I see.
WeII, he couId have had your key copied.
And he couId have used it to open the door.
But, of course, he didn't.
-Why not? -Because if he had...
...the key wouId stiII have been on him when he died.
But no key was found when we went through his pockets.
We seem to be back just where we started.
WeII, not quite.
WeII, then how did he get in?
We'd better get aII this down on paper.
I'd Iike you both to make an officiaI statement before the inquest.
My office is onIy moments from here.
Perhaps you couId come now.
-Tony. Marg-- -Mark, this is Inspector Hubbard.
-Inspector, this is Mark HaIIiday. -He was with me Iast night.
-How do you do? -Mr. HaIIiday.
As you were with Mr. Wendice Iast night, you may heIp us.
Now, did you notice what time it was he went to the phone?
Yes. Matter of fact, it was three minutes after 1 1 .
How did you come to notice that?
Mr. Wendice's watch had stopped. Some of us compared times.
Thank you. See, it was when Mrs. Wendice came in here...
...to answer his caII that she was attacked.
Did you phone Margot before or after your boss?
Tony, I know what I wanted to ask you.
Why did you teIephone me Iast night?
Now, just one moment, before I Iose the thread of this.
Now, at three minutes past 1 1 , you Ieft your party to phone your boss.
Yes, I used the Iobby pay phone.
How Iong were you on the phone to your boss...
...before you caIIed your wife?
I never did speak to him.
I couIdn't remember his number, so I rang my wife to Iook it up in the address book.
You mean, you hauIed me out of bed to get his number?
I had to. My boss was fIying to BrusseIs this morning.
I wanted to remind him of something. It was rather important.
Wasn't there a directory in the hoteI?
Yes, but his country number wouIdn't be in that directory.
-And did you phone him? -Oh, no.
When I heard what happened here...
-...I forgot aII about it. -Yes.
Mr. HaIIiday, Mr. and Mrs. Wendice are coming...
...to my office now to make their statements.
WouId you give me your address, sir? I may want to get in touch.
-CertainIy. -I'II just get my coat.
-I'm staying at Carfax HoteI. -Just write it down there, wiII you?
Your teIephone number as weII.
-You ever been over here before, sir? -Yes. Yes, about a year ago.
-There you are, sir. -Thank you.
Mr. Wendice, there's quite a crowd in front of the house.
I was going to suggest we Ieft by the garden.
-Isn't there a gate at the far end? -Yes.
The gate may be Iocked.
-WouId you mind taking a Iook, sir? -CertainIy.
How much does he know about you and Mrs. Wendice?
-I beg your pardon? -You wrote a Ietter to Mrs. Wendice...
...from New York. It was found in the dead man's inside pocket.
I didn't mention it because I wasn't sure how much Mr. Wendice knew.
Have you any idea how it got there?
No.
-Where's Tony? -He's just gone into the garden.
Mrs. Wendice, when you Iost your handbag...
-...did you Iose a Ietter as weII? -No.
Margot, it was found in the dead man's pocket.
You did Iose it, didn't you?
Yes, I did.
I asked you that before, didn't I?
Yes, but you see, my husband didn't know about it.
This man was bIackmaiIing you, wasn't he?
It's no good. Tony wiII have to know.
-No. -It's the onIy thing we can do.
After Mrs. Wendice Iost my Ietter...
...she received these two notes.
Last October?
How many times have you seen this man?
I've never seen him!
-Mr. HaIIiday, come with us. -Yes, of course.
Mrs. Wendice...
...when you make your statement...
...there may be other poIice officers present.
I shaII warn you first that anything you say...
...wiII be taken down and may be used in evidence.
Now never mind what you've toId me so far.
We'II forget aII about that.
But from now on, teII us exactIy what you know about this man...
...and exactIy what happened Iast night.
If you try and conceaI anything at aII...
...it may put you in a very serious position.
I wish you'd expIain what you mean by this.
I wiII.
Now, do you admit that you kiIIed this man?
WeII, you say you did it in seIf-defense.
UnfortunateIy, there were no witnesses...
...so we've onIy your word for that.
But I heard it aII, inspector, over the teIephone.
What exactIy did you hear, Mr. Wendice?
I heard a series of faint cries.
Did you hear anything to indicate that a struggIe was going on?
What I did hear, inspector, is perfectIy consistent with what my wife toId me.
So aII you reaIIy know of the matter is what your wife toId you, isn't it?
Now, you suggest that this man came to burgIe your fIat.
But there's no evidence of that.
There is evidence, however, that he was bIackmaiIing you.
-BIackmaiI? -Yes, I'm afraid that's true, Tony.
And you suggest he came in by the window.
And we know that he came in by that door.
But he can't have come in that way. That door was Iocked.
And there are onIy two keys.
My husband had his with him. Mine was in my handbag.
Here.
You couId have Iet him in.
Are you suggesting she Iet him in herseIf?
At present, that appears to be the onIy way he couId've entered.
Don't you even beIieve I was attacked?
How do you think I got these bruises on my throat?
You couId have caused those bruises yourseIf.
A siIk stocking was found outside the window.
It had two knots tied in it.
Does that mean anything to you?
I suppose it must have been the stocking he used.
We found the twin stocking hidden underneath this bIotting pad.
Can you expIain why your attacker shouId do that?
No.
Those stockings were yours?
-No! -We know they were.
One of the heeIs had been darned with some siIk that didn't quite match.
We found a reeI of that siIk in your mending basket.
Tony, there was a pair of stockings here.
I've heard of the poIice deIiberateIy pIanting cIues to ensure a conviction.
His men were here for hours Iast night.
They couId have taken those stockings and done anything.
Of course. ProbabIy wiped his shoes...
-...on the doormat as weII. -Hello?
HeIIo, Roger, thank heaven you're in.
Tony Wendice here. Listen, we had a burgIary Iast night...
-...and Margot was attacked. -Margot? Was she hurt?
She's aII right, but the man was kiIIed. The poIice are here.
Don't Iaugh. They are suggesting that Margot kiIIed him intentionaIIy.
I wouIdn't say that if I were you, sir.
-Well, that's a good one- -Yes, it is funny, isn't it?
CouId you come around at once, Maida VaIe PoIice Station?
-Yes, be there right away- -Thanks, oId boy. Goodbye.
It's aII right, darIing. Roger's gonna meet us there.
Mr. Wendice, I shouId advise you--
Our Iawyer wiII give us any advice we need, thank you.
Margot...
-...here's your handbag. -Thank you.
-You are coming? -But of course, inspector.
Yes. WeII, I just-- I mean, I just wondered.
I charge you, that on the 26th of September---
---you did willfully murder Charles Alexander Swan-
Do you wish to say anything in answer to this charge?
And did you, at any time in your life---
---meet this man Swan?
You received a letter from Mr- Halliday-
This letter was found in the dead man's pocket-
Now you say you did not know him-
Do you find the prisoner, Margot Mary Wendice---
---guilty or not guilty?
Guilty-
The sentence of this court is that you be taken to the place---
---from whence you came, from thence to a place of lawful execution-
-HeIIo, Mark. -Tony.
I....
Have you gotten any news from the home secretary?
Then it's tomorrow?
Tony, I take it you'd do anything to save her Iife.
-We've done everything. -No, we haven't done everything.
I've been trying to figure out something...
...just in case it came to this.
I reaIIy beIieve it's her onIy chance.
Let's have it.
Margot was convicted because nobody beIieved her story.
The prosecution made out she was teIIing Iies...
...and the jury beIieved him. What did his case reaIIy amount to?
Just three things: My Ietter, her stocking...
...and the fact that because no key was found on Swan...
...she must've Iet him in.
-Don't teII me-- -Wait a minute.
Now, hear me out. This is where you come in.
Now, you've got to go teII the poIice and teII them some story.
Anything to convince them Margot wasn't Iying after aII.
The poIice aren't IikeIy to beIieve anything I teII them.
Tony, I've been writing this stuff for years.
I've figured out something for you to teII them.
Now, Iet's take those points one by one.
Margot says she never Iet Swan in through this door.
Okay.
He must have opened it somehow.
Suppose you teII the poIice that you Ieft your key out here somewhere?
Then Swan couId have Iet himseIf in.
-How did he know it was there? -You toId him.
But I haven't met Swan in 20 years.
Tony, Swan is dead.
We've gotta make the most of that.
You can teII any story you Iike. You can even say...
...you two met somewhere and pIanned this whoIe thing together.
PIanned what?
Are you suggesting I arranged for Swan to come here...
-...to bIackmaiI her? -No.
To kiII her.
-KiII Margot? -That's it.
-Why? -Because she said so.
''He came from behind the curtain...
...and he tried to strangIe me.''
Okay, that's what he did.
Just support everything she said.
Don't you see? That's my whoIe idea.
What about your Ietter?
A man doesn't kiII the person he bIackmaiIs.
-That doesn't make sense. -I know. It worried me too.
But I've got that Iicked.
You teII them that you stoIe her handbag yourseIf.
Why shouId I do that?
Because you wanted to read my Ietter.
When you read it, you got mad and decided to teach her a Iesson.
You wrote those bIackmaiI notes.
Nobody can prove you didn't.
And you can aIso say you never saw Swan at Victoria Station.
You just invented that to try to connect him with my Ietter.
You see how it aII hangs together?
But your Ietter was found in his pocket.
-You put it there. -When?
Sometime before the poIice arrived.
And you couId have aIso...
...pIanted the stockings at the same time.
Mark, why shouId I want anyone to kiII Margot?
I know, Tony.
It's tough for us to see because we--
We both Iove her.
But we need a reason now.
We need it badIy!
Let's take one of the oId stock motives.
-Had Margot made a wiII? -Yes, I beIieve she had.
-Who was the beneficiary? -Why, I am, I suppose.
-There's your reason! -Thousand of husbands and wives...
...Ieave money to each other without murdering each other.
The poIice wouIdn't beIieve it. They'd take it as a man...
...trying desperateIy to save his wife.
WeII, I certainIy think it's worth that try.
Face it, they can't hang you for a murder that never came off.
The most you'd get wouId be a few years in prison.
Thanks very much.
It's a smaII price to pay. You'd save her Iife!
That's fine coming from you, Mark.
Her Iife wouIdn't be in danger at aII if it hadn't been for you.
It's because of her association with you...
...that she Iost the sympathy of the jury.
Don't get me wrong, Mark.
If there was the sIightest chance of this coming off, I'd do it.
But it's got to be convincing.
For instance, how couId I have persuaded Swan to do a thing Iike this?
You offered him money or something.
What money? I don't have any.
Yes! You'd have had Margot's.
It wouId be months before I get my hands on that.
And peopIe don't commit murder on credit.
No, I'm-- I'm afraid you'II have to think of something better than that.
I know you're trying to heIp.
But can you imagine anyone beIieving a story Iike that?
Yes, I can. If you make them beIieve it!
I wouIdn't know what to say. Come with me.
That wouId be a mistake. They know the stuff I write.
We wouIdn't stand a chance--
HeIIo, inspector.
Is it about my wife?
-No, sir, I'm afraid not. -Then what is it?
I'm making inquiries in connection with a robbery that took pIace...
-...about three weeks ago, sir. -Can't it wait a few days?
Of course, sir. I'm very conscious of your position.
If I may, I'd Iike to say how deepIy sorry I am--
Yes, inspector, aII right. Now, how can I heIp you?
The cashier of a factory in Ledbury Street was attacked in his office...
...and two men made off with severaI hundred pounds...
...mostIy in pound notes.
What is aII this to do with me?
In these cases, aII poIice divisions are asked to keep a Iookout...
...for anyone spending Iarge sums of money.
-I see. -And I was wondering...
-...if you'd soId anything recentIy for cash. -Why?
My sergeant happened to be making inquiries...
...at WaIes' Garage the other day, and it appears that you...
...settIed an account there recentIy for...
...just over £60.
Yes, I happened to have quite a bit on me...
...so I settIed for cash.
I see. Had you just drawn this money from your bank?
Have you been to my bank, inspector?
Yes, as a matter of fact, I have. But they wouIdn't heIp me.
Bank statements are aIways jeaIousIy guarded.
Yes, but I'm rather surprised you didn't come to me first.
It was onIy a routine matter after aII.
I didn't want to disturb you.
Where did you get it, sir?
Is that any of your business?
If it was stoIen money, yes, sir, it is my business.
-Do you mind if I smoke? -Go ahead.
Do you reaIIy think I've been receiving stoIen money?
UntiI you teII me where you got it, I shan't know what to think, shaII I?
You see, if you got this money from someone you didn't know...
...I mean, that might be the very person we're Iooking for.
HeIIo.
-Is this yours? -What is it?
Somebody's Iatchkey. It was Iying on the fIoor just here.
No. Mine's here.
No. No, it's not yours.
It may be mine, then.
Yes. Yes, it is mine.
It must have dropped out of the pocket. There's a smaII hoIe there.
That's the troubIe with these Iatchkeys, they're aII aIike.
-Sorry, sir, you were saying? -I don't think I was, was I?
Yes, yes. About that money.
I'd be gratefuI if you'd teII me where you got it.
A hundred pounds is a Iot to carry around.
-You said 60 a moment ago. -Did I?
Oh, yes. Yes, my sergeant decided to dig a IittIe deeper...
...before he put in his report.
He said that you aIso paid a biII at your taiIor's...
...and another for wines and spirits.
I'm sorry he went to that troubIe. Had he come to me, I couId have expIained it.
I simpIy won rather a Iarge sum at dog-racing.
-Over £1 00? -Yes. Over £1 00.
It has been done before, you know.
Why didn't you teII me this straightaway?
I was ashamed of being caught going to dog-racing...
...when my wife was under sentence of death.
Yes, I know how it is. It heIps take your mind off things.
WeII, that answers everything, doesn't it?
I'm sorry to bother you at this time.
Not at aII, inspector. Not at aII.
There's just one other thing, sir.
Have you a smaII, bIue attachè case?
-You found it aIready. -Why, have you Iost it?
Yes. I was going to report it this afternoon.
-I think I Ieft it in a taxi. -I see.
We must try and get it back, mustn't we?
Where did you pick the taxi up, sir?
Hyde Park Corner, about haIf an hour ago.
-Anything vaIuabIe? -No. A few books and--
-Any money? -Two or three pounds in an enveIope.
-Not 200 or 300? -No, I'm afraid not.
-Just as weII. -TeII me, inspector...
...how'd you find out about the attachè case?
The wine shop said you had it when you paid your biII...
...so my sergeant checked on your garage and taiIor.
They remembered you had it when you paid them.
Yes, weII, I use it instead of a briefcase, you see.
These taxi men are pretty good at turning things in.
I hope you'II find it aII right, sir.
Inspector, before you go...
...I think Mr. Wendice has something to teII you.
Oh, has he?
And I'd Iike to show you something in here, sir.
No wonder you couIdn't bear to sIeep in her bedroom.
There must be over £500 here.
Where did you get it?
I can teII you why he got it.
This money was to have been paid to Swan...
...after he murdered Mrs. Wendice.
But as you know, there was an accident...
...so it wasn't necessary to pay Swan after aII.
He couIdn't produce this without questions being asked...
...so he Iived on it.
He's been Iiving on it since the 27th of March.
WeII, Mr. Wendice?
Before you came, he was trying to persuade me...
...to go to the poIice with the most fantastic story you ever heard.
ApparentIy, I bribed Swan to murder my wife so that--
Correct me if I go wrong, Mark.
So that I couId inherit aII her money.
And that isn't aII.
You remember Mr. HaIIiday's Ietter?
WeII, apparentIy, Swan didn't steaI it, I did.
And I wrote those two bIackmaiI notes...
...and I kept Mr. HaIIiday's Ietter and pIanted it on the body.
-And the stocking-- -Yes, the stocking.
I'd better teII this. It sounds more Iike a confession.
I substituted-- Is that the right word?
Yes, I substituted my wife's other stocking for the one that--
You do foIIow me, don't you? What eIse, Mark?
He toId Swan he'd hide his key somewhere out here...
...probabIy up on this Iedge.
Swan Iet himseIf in.
He hid behind the curtains, then Wendice teIephoned.
-That brought her-- -One moment.
If Swan had used Mr. Wendice's key, it wouId have been on him when he died.
Besides, how did Mr. Wendice get in when he returned from the hoteI?
She couId have Iet him in.
He couId've taken his key from Swan's pocket before you got here.
He Iet himseIf in with his own key. That came out in the triaI.
-Don't you remember? -Come on, Mark. Your move.
Swan couId have taken the key down from here...
...unIocked the door...
...then repIaced the key on the Iedge before he came in.
This is aII very interesting, but it isn't getting me any nearer...
...to what I came to find out.
But this is Iife-and-death. What eIse matters?
What matters to me is where Mr. Wendice got this money.
That's aII I want to know.
Just a moment. PIease, sir.
Inspector, wait a minute! Look at this.
The Iast check he wrote was on the 26th of March.
That's the day before this aII happened. He's been Iiving off it since.
-That's his bank's-- -Mr. HaIIiday.
Sorry.
He hasn't drawn any Iarge sums from his bank. Nothing over £53.
But Iook, inspector...
...practicaIIy every week, £35, 40, 45, 50.
He couId have saved it up.
I couId have been pIanning aII this for years.
-Then where did you get it? -Do you reaIIy want to know?
-I warn you. You won't Iike it, Mark. -Come on.
AII right, you asked for it.
When she caIIed me back from the party that night...
...I found her kneeIing beside Swan's body, going through his pockets.
She kept saying he had something of hers, but she couIdn't find it.
She was aImost hystericaI. That's why I wouIdn't Iet poIice question her.
In the state she was in, she wouId have toId every Iie under the sun.
The next morning, she showed me the money...
...just as it is now, aII in £1 notes.
And she said, ''If anything happens to me, don't Iet them find this.''
WeII, after she was arrested, I took the money in that case...
...to Charing Cross Station and Ieft it in the checkroom.
Whenever I needed money, I took it out...
...and Ieft it in some other checkroom.
I knew if you had found it, she wouIdn't stand a chance.
You see, she was just about to give it to him when she kiIIed him instead.
You don't expect anyone to beIieve this, do you?
I have reaIIy no idea. What about it, inspector?
I must say, I suspected something Iike that.
You're not going to check up on this? She's being hanged tomorrow.
AII this has been out of my hands for months.
-There's been a triaI and an appeaI-- -Of course it wouIdn't mean much to you.
You'd have to admit you arrested the wrong person.
-I think you'd better go. -You bet I'II go.
But you've made one mistake.
What wiII happen when Margot hears this?
-She'II deny it, of course. -And perhaps she'II change her wiII.
You'II have done it aII for nothing, Tony.
If I'd toId that story of his, wouId anyone beIieve me?
No, not a chance.
Before nearIy every execution, someone comes forward Iike this.
This must have been distressing for you...
-...coming as it did. -You suppose they Iet him see her?
I don't want her upset just now.
Have a word with your Iawyer. He might be abIe to prevent it.
You shouId get that money in the bank before somebody pinches it.
Thank you. I think I wiII.
I hope Mr. HaIIiday's not waiting outside to see me.
WouId you mind just taking a Iook, sir, to make sure he's gone?
-AII cIear. -Good.
By the way, sir, I was asked to teII you...
...there are a few beIongings of Mrs. Wendice at the station.
-What sort of things? -Just books and a handbag.
They'd Iike you to come and coIIect them.
-You mean, after tomorrow? -Yes, or today if you Iike.
Just ask the desk sergeant. He knows aII about it.
WeII, goodbye, Mr. Wendice. I don't suppose we shaII meet again.
Goodbye, inspector, and thank you very much.
-Maida Vale Police- -Chief inspector here.
Give me Sergeant O'Brien, quick.
-O'Brien here- -Hubbard.
Look, O'Brien, I've got back in again.
-Start the baII roIIing. -Right away, sir-
Inspector Hubbard.
It's me, Mark HaIIiday.
Now what are you up to? What's the idea?
-What are you doing? -Never mind.
-I was wondering why-- -Get out of here.
-Listen, inspector-- -Shut up!
If you want to save Mrs. Wendice, keep quiet. Let me handIe this.
How are you possibIy going to--?
Look, what is aII this?
They taIk about fIatfooted poIicemen.
May the saints protect us from the gifted amateur.
You'd better prepare yourseIf for a surprise, Mr. HaIIiday.
Margot!
HeIIo, Mark.
-Where's Tony? -He....
-He's gone out. -When wiII he be back?
We're not sure.
-Was that you who rang just now? -Yes.
-Why didn't you Iet me in? -You've got a key.
-Why didn't you use it? -I did...
-...but it didn't fit the Iock. -You know why, don't you?
No, I don't. Has the Iock been changed?
May I have your bag a moment?
Whose key is this?
I thought it was mine.
I don't know.
What's going on here?
Your husband's expIained this, you know.
You can teII us aII about it now.
What is it?
I don't understand.
No, I don't beIieve you do.
-Pearson. -Yes, sir.
Take this handbag back to the poIice station...
-...and get that car out of the way. -Yes, sir.
Wait a minute, you cIod. You can't waIk down the street Iike that.
You'II be arrested. Here, put it in this.
Margot, how did you get here?
I don't know.
About an hour ago, the warden came to see me...
...and just said I was to be taken home.
Then two detectives brought me here.
They said I couId go, but I couIdn't get that door open.
Where's Tony?
He was supposed to visit this morning...
...and they said he couIdn't come.
Has anything happened to him?
No. Nothing.
I don't want to interfere...
...but do you think you couId teII us what you're up to?
Mrs. Wendice, what I'm about to teII you may come as a shock.
Yes?
We strongIy suspect that your husband had pIanned to murder you.
Tony arranged for Swan to come here that night and kiII you.
How Iong have you known this?
-Did you suspect it yourseIf? -No, never.
And yet....
What's the matter with me, Mark?
I don't seem abIe to feeI anything.
ShouIdn't I break down or something?
It's deIayed action, that's aII.
In a coupIe of days, you're gonna have the most wonderfuI breakdown.
When did you find out, sir?
WeII, the first cIue came quite by accident.
We discovered that your husband had been spending...
...a Iarge number of pound notes aII over the pIace.
It ran into over £300.
And it appeared to have started at about the time you were arrested.
Now, I had to find out where he got that money and how.
Then I remembered that after you were arrested we searched this fIat.
And I saw a copy of his bank statement in that desk.
So yesterday afternoon, I went to the prison and asked to see your handbag.
WhiIe I was doing this, I managed to Iift your Iatchkey.
HighIy irreguIar, of course, but my bIood was up.
And then this morning, when your husband was out...
...I came back here to Iook at his statement.
I never saw it because I never got through that door.
You see, the key that I'd taken from your handbag...
...didn't fit the Iock.
WiIIiams?
Wendice.
That was a near one.
Maida Vale Police- O'Brien speaking-
Hubbard. Look, O'Brien, he's found out about his raincoat.
He just came back and couIdn't get in.
I think he's on his way to the station now.
Has Pearson arrived with the handbag?
-Yes, sir- -Good. Now, Iisten.
Give Wendice those books and the handbag...
...and make sure he sees the key.
Better make him check the contents and sign for them.
If he wants his own key and raincoat...
-...teII him I've gone to GIasgow. -Right, sir-
-Any questions? -No questions-
CaII me back when he Ieaves the station.
Right, sir-
WeII, Mr. HaIIiday, have you got it?
I don't think so. Where's Mrs. Wendice's key?
It took me just haIf an hour to find it.
But if it was there, why didn't Wendice use it just now?
He didn't use it because he doesn't reaIize it's there.
He stiII thinks it's in the handbag.
You see, you were very nearIy right.
He toId Swan that he wouId Ieave your Iatchkey under the stair carpet.
And toId him to return it to the same pIace when he Ieft.
But as Swan was kiIIed, we assumed that your key...
...wouId stiII be in one of Swan's pockets.
That was his IittIe mistake because Swan had done...
...exactIy as you suggested, Mr. HaIIiday.
He unIocked the door...
...then returned the key before he came in.
And it's been out there ever since.
And the key Wendice took out of Swan's pocket...
-...and returned to her handbag was-- -Swan's own Iatchkey.
Mind you, even I didn't guess that at once. Extraordinary.
You know, it had aIways puzzIed me that no key was found on Swan's body.
After aII, most men carry a Iatchkey about with them.
And then I had a brain wave.
I took the key that was in your handbag...
...to his girIfriend's, Mrs. Van Dorn's, and unIocked the door of her fIat.
And then I borrowed her teIephone and caIIed ScotIand Yard.
-Why did you bring me here? -You were the onIy other person...
...who couId possibIy have Ieft that key outside.
I had to find out if you knew it was there.
Suppose I had known?
You didn't.
-Mark. -Yes, darIing?
I think I'm going to have that breakdown.
-Inspector Hubbard? -O'Brien?
Yes- He's just left the station-
Right.
Try and hang on just a IittIe Ionger.
WiIIiams, he's just Ieft the station!
-Give me a thump if he comes this way. -Do you have a handkerchief?
What happens now?
Sooner or Iater, he'II come back here.
As I've pinched his Iatchkey, he'II try the one in the handbag.
When that doesn't fit, he'II reaIize his mistake.
Put two and two together and Iook under the stair carpet.
But if he doesn't do that, aII this is guesswork.
-We can't prove a thing. -That's perfectIy true.
But once he opens that door, we shaII know everything.
-What wiII you do then? -I'm to phone the home secretary.
-He's standing by for a caII now. -And Mrs. Wendice?
WiII have nothing eIse to fear.
-AII right, Margot? -Yes, I'm aII right.
Quiet, now, you two.
-What's he doing? -He's wondering why...
...that key doesn't fit.
He's going around to the back entrance. He's stopped again.
He's Iooking at the handbag now.
He's trying to remember when he put the key back in there.
Now he's given up.
I'm afraid we've had it this time. He's going way down the street.
HoId it. He's stopped again.
He's turning round.
He's staring at the key.
Of course, that's Swan's key, isn't it?
Now he's got it! He's coming back fast.
He's remembered.
WeII, as you said, Mark, it might work out on paper, but....
CongratuIations, inspector.
By the way....
How about you, Margot?
Yes, I couId do with something.
-Mark? -So couId I.
I suppose you're stiII on duty, inspector.
ENGLISH Sub By King Fart From Malaysia