When Louba, a crooked casino owner blackmails a young female gambler, her boyfriend breaks into Louba's flat to confront him, only to find himself interrupting a burglary and being accused on murder.
Source: IMDB
Source: IMDB
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Short filmTranscript
00:00You
00:30You
01:00You
01:30You
02:00Oh
02:10Mr. Dunn, let me see you please
02:22Numero troy
02:30I
02:42Was against you tonight, I'm afraid it's been against me for weeks that happens. So we have a little talk in my office
02:50Please sit down. May I give you a sherry? Thank you. We have to be careful in this club
02:55No money is exchanged on the premises. As you know, we operate on credit
02:59We depend on the goodwill of our patrons
03:01Let's get to the point. Shall we is my credit finished? Not at all. I've got to go. I've got to go
03:07I've got to go. I've got to go
03:09I've got to go
03:11I've got to go
03:13I've got to go
03:15I've got to go
03:17I've got to go
03:19It's been delayed but you do owe us a little money
03:22Sometime perhaps
03:24When it's convenient
03:26How much?
03:28I have your account here, I brought it with me in case we might have an opportunity for a little chat
03:37$10,000, within a few pounds
03:40$10,000, but that's impossible
03:44Astonishing how it monk's up
03:46Believe it. I mean, I know it's been some weeks.
03:48Months. Time is inclined to slip by.
03:51But it can't be.
03:52Your IOUs, if you would care to add them up.
03:56No.
03:57And if I may have your check?
03:59Don't be silly. I haven't got anything like that.
04:02I see.
04:03Why didn't you stop me? Or at least tell me sooner?
04:07It didn't occur to me.
04:08But don't worry. We'll find some way.
04:11Your father's a doctor, I see.
04:13On the South Coast. Stopped broker country.
04:16Surely he could help?
04:17No. No, he mustn't know anything about this at all.
04:20I got myself into it. I must get myself out.
04:23How?
04:24Well, I get plenty of work.
04:25As a model?
04:27Yes.
04:27It will take some time.
04:29Oh, I know. I'm awfully sorry.
04:32I would like to help.
04:33I don't see how you can or why you should.
04:37You're too modest. Let me talk to your father.
04:39No. No, please. He mustn't know anything about it at all.
04:42Well, you see, there's private reasons.
04:46It would be an embarrassment to him, socially and professionally,
04:49if this became public. Is that it, perhaps?
04:51It would be disaster.
04:54I understand.
04:56Now, what can I do to help, I wonder?
04:59Well, if you could just give me a little time.
05:02It may not be necessary.
05:04I'm going away for a little vacation.
05:06The South of France, Italy, Greece.
05:08I would like to pay this debt myself before I go.
05:11You'll pay it?
05:13Well, I don't see why you should.
05:15It would make my vacation more enjoyable.
05:18And much more enjoyable if you came with me.
05:21Especially a woman like you.
05:23You do understand?
05:26Yes.
05:27Just until this little debt has been paid off.
05:29And your father has been saved from disaster.
05:33Let me give you another glass of sherry.
05:46Hello.
05:56I didn't expect you at this hour.
05:58I had to see you.
06:00Oh, good.
06:01Well, look, darling, give me ten minutes and then we'll go out and find some coffee.
06:04I've got to get these plans finished by tomorrow.
06:06And if I get the job, it'll mean a lot of money.
06:09And we can get married.
06:12We're not getting married.
06:14That's what I came to tell you.
06:16I'm sorry, what did you say?
06:18We're not getting married.
06:20I don't think I'm going to see you anymore.
06:22Yeah, why not?
06:24I've just decided.
06:26Now, look, we've been engaged for more or less a year now.
06:28And up to last night, I didn't see any lack of enthusiasm on your part.
06:31What's happened?
06:33Nothing.
06:35Well, I can change my mind, can't I?
06:37I don't want to talk about it.
06:39No, no, sit down.
06:42Now, look, you can't just walk in here and sack me as if I was a waiter with dirty fingernails.
06:48What have you been doing today?
06:50Working.
06:51And this evening?
06:53Have you been to Luba's?
06:54That's got nothing to do with it.
06:55It could have.
06:57I warned you about Luba.
06:59Are you in debt to him?
07:01I don't want to talk about it.
07:03How much?
07:06Ten thousand.
07:08Ten thousand?
07:09Well, it just crept up.
07:12Well, it's a bit of an understatement, isn't it?
07:15Has he got anything on paper?
07:17I owe you.
07:18Where, at the club?
07:19No. No, he took them home with him.
07:21Well, he can't sue you, you know.
07:23It doesn't make any difference.
07:25In a way, it makes it much worse.
07:27Moral obligation?
07:29From a man like Luba?
07:31I've got to pay him back somehow.
07:33What's he going to do about it?
07:35Nothing. Oh, he's been awfully good about it.
07:37Good?
07:38Now, listen, I know Luba.
07:41I know the reputation he has.
07:43If he's doing anything good, he's going to get something out of it.
07:45I know the sort of proposition men like Luba make.
07:51Well, did he?
07:53Even if he did, it doesn't mean to say I would.
08:01I think I'll kill Luba.
08:05Well, why not?
08:07You don't need a license to shoot vermin.
08:11Let's go.
08:38Bring me a whiskey, John.
08:40Yes, Mr. Luba.
08:44May I join you?
08:46Oh, certainly. Sit down.
08:48I want your advice.
08:50Legal?
08:52Yes.
08:54You must go to a solicitor.
08:56As a barrister, my lips are sealed until I've been offered a brief.
08:58Preferably marked with a handsome fee.
09:00It's not so important.
09:02Just a letter from someone who wants to knock my block off.
09:04Threatening violence, you mean?
09:06To kill me?
09:09An acquaintance.
09:11And I don't want the police at all.
09:13I don't want a fuss.
09:15I just want to know if there's some way I can frighten this man into behaving himself.
09:17Have you got it here?
09:19At my flat.
09:21Come around for a drink this evening.
09:23I can show it to you.
09:25There's really nothing I can do.
09:27Well, you may be right.
09:29Perhaps I should go to the police.
09:31If you saw this letter, you could advise me.
09:33I'm advising you now.
09:35Still, if it'll make you happy.
09:38Shall we say nine o'clock?
09:40I've someone else coming at ten.
09:42All right, I'll be there.
09:44You know, this is the man you want, not me.
09:46I'm not persona grata with Mr. Hurley-Brown.
09:52At nine o'clock, then?
09:54All right.
09:56Making a date with Luba?
09:58Well, why not?
10:00He amuses me in small doses.
10:02Someone's been threatening to kill him.
10:04I'm not surprised.
10:06I wish whoever it is the best of luck.
10:08That's a highly improper remark for a policeman.
10:10I'm off duty.
10:12What was it? Telephone or letter?
10:14Letter.
10:16I'm going round his place tonight to see it.
10:18Why not the police, if he's worried?
10:20He doesn't seem to like the police.
10:22They don't like him.
10:24There isn't a racket he hasn't got a finger in.
10:26I've been waiting a long time for him.
10:28We're just about to turn on the heat.
10:30You make it sound almost personal.
10:32It almost is.
10:35He's running a gambling joint.
10:37He wrecked a few young officers' careers.
10:39At least one shot himself.
10:41You say Malta. Do you know it?
10:43I was there a couple of years ago, yes.
10:45A few days.
10:47Luba's come a long way since then.
10:49But I think he's getting near the end of the road.
10:52Thank you, sir.
11:02Good evening, Mr. Luba.
11:04There's no mail for you tonight, sir.
11:06Oh, allow me, sir.
11:08No, no, no, no, no.
11:10No, no, no, no, no.
11:12No, no, no, no, no, no.
11:14No, no, no, no, no, no.
11:16No, no, no, no, no, no.
11:18No, no, no, no, no.
11:20No, allow me, sir.
11:28You hold a sec, my boy.
11:30Charlie Belly.
11:32Fancy seeing you here.
11:34I thought you lived abroad these days.
11:36No, I've just got back.
11:38A few days' holiday in the old country.
11:40You've come to see Mr. Luba?
11:42Well, there's plenty of time.
11:44I've got an appointment for Lieutenant Clarke.
11:46Look, why don't we nip out and have a drink
11:48I get an hour off for supper at 8.30.
11:51There's a nice little pub round the corner we could go to if you like.
11:55Can you leave this lot?
11:57Oh, I switch this down to the basement. The wife takes care of it.
12:00Oh, very agreeable. A blessed state.
12:04Sometimes.
12:19I'd like to see Mr. Luber, please.
12:22You're not a member, sir, are you? No.
12:24In that case... I'd like to see him. I've got important business.
12:27He's not in tonight, sir.
12:29Is Miss Martin in?
12:31I could find out. Do you want to see her?
12:33No, no.
12:35Tell me, do you know if Mr. Luber's at his home?
12:37I wouldn't know, sir.
12:39Just your job, I suppose.
12:41Thanks for the help.
12:48Mr. Luber, please.
13:03Is Mr. Luber in tonight? No, miss.
13:05Oh, thank you. Could you bring me some coffee?
13:08At once, miss.
13:12A friend of yours just called at the door, miss.
13:14Would you like to know? Young gentleman.
13:16Did he leave his name? No.
13:18What was he like?
13:20He's fairly tall, well built, fair.
13:23He seemed very keen to talk to Mr. Luber.
13:25Has he gone?
13:27A few minutes ago.
13:29Why didn't you let him in?
13:31That's a strict rule of the club, miss.
13:34No-one's allowed in here unless they remember.
13:36He didn't say where he was going?
13:38No, but between you and me, I'd say Mr. Luber's flat.
13:49Le numéro dix-sept.
13:51Oh, no, thank you. I won't be needing that now.
13:54I've been called away.
14:00Can't beat English beer.
14:02And all that stuff you get in Malta's like dishwater.
14:04Same again, miss, please.
14:06Mr. Luber spent some time in Malta, didn't he?
14:09Yeah, years ago. I was in business with him.
14:11Then he came back here to expand. I stayed there.
14:14Did him a little favour. Regretted it ever since.
14:17Yeah.
14:19I married a woman he was finished with, to keep her quiet.
14:22Oh, I got a nice little pension for it.
14:25But then it stopped him.
14:28After she had that little accident with the sleeping drum, Mr. Murray?
14:31It went on for a bit after that.
14:35She was a nice kid when she was young, but then she became a...
14:38a slut.
14:41And nagged me for 12 years without stopping to draw breath.
14:44I don't see why you shouldn't keep on paying, do you?
14:46Best years of your life, Mr. Berry.
14:48So I'm here to do her. A little persuading.
14:51When you've just made it, he's going to scarf her.
14:54He's leaving.
14:56What makes you think that?
14:59Well, I can't take this block.
15:01I get access to the flats.
15:03My wife cleans them, and so we notice things,
15:05like old papers getting thrown out or burnt.
15:08Local bills getting paid.
15:11Always pay your local bills
15:13when you're thinking of leaving quietly, Mr. Berry.
15:16Yeah, I'll remember that.
15:19Andy drew 6,000 in cash today.
15:24I can read blotting paper without a mirror.
15:286,000 pounds?
15:30Safe?
15:32Little one. On the sitting-room wall.
15:34Easy.
15:44Hello, Rosie.
15:46It's me. You're back again. Yep.
15:48Any messages?
15:50Right.
16:00Can I have a word with you?
16:02Yeah, sure.
16:04I've got to go.
16:06I've got to go.
16:08I've got to go.
16:10I've got to go.
16:13Can I do anything for you, sir?
16:15Tell me if the clock's right.
16:17Dead right, sir.
16:19I had an appointment with Mr. Looper at 9 o'clock.
16:21I got here a bit late. You weren't here.
16:23No, sir. A supper break. 8.30 to 9.30.
16:25I've been ringing his doorbell for the last 10 minutes.
16:27He doesn't seem to be in.
16:29He came in at 7.
16:31He must have slipped out when I went off duty.
16:33Let me give him a ring, sir.
16:39He's not there, you know.
16:41His doorbell's working because I heard it.
16:44Perhaps you'd like to leave a message, sir.
16:46I'll see that he gets it if he comes in before I go off duty.
16:48You might ask him to ring me at my club, will you?
16:50He knows the number.
16:52My name's Wharton.
16:54Very good, sir.
17:12Is that the Grapes?
17:15Listen, there's a gent by the name of Mr. Charles Berry
17:17knocking back a pint in your saloon bar.
17:19Berry. B for...
17:21Yes, that's right.
17:23Put him on the blower, will you? Tell him it's urgent.
17:25I've got some good news for him.
17:38No, they were looking for you.
17:40No, they were looking for you. Telephone message.
17:42Just a few minutes ago.
17:45Have you seen Newbar?
17:47Well, I got there rather late, and he'd gone out.
17:49I do think he might have waited.
17:51He did make rather a point of my going round to see him.
17:53Wasn't it 9 o'clock, he said?
17:55You've certainly got a policeman's memory.
17:57I should have been there on time, but the traffic was heavy.
17:59Telephone message, sir.
18:01Came a few minutes ago, just before you got back.
18:03Oh, thank you, John. Thank you.
18:06Who the devil does he think he is?
18:08Who? Newbar. Listen to this.
18:10Mr. Newbar apologises for being late
18:12and will be obliged if Mr. Wharton could be at his flat
18:16as near 10 o'clock as possible.
18:18Very urgent.
18:20Not on your life. May I?
18:279.50.
18:29We could be there at 5 past 10. We?
18:31You never know with threatening letters.
18:33I've done a lot of hard work on Newbar.
18:35I should hate to lose him now.
18:37Right. You got your car here?
18:39Yes, it's in the garage.
18:41I can't face that traffic any more.
18:48You took your time, didn't you?
18:50Well, one more pint, no harm in that.
18:52What's the good news?
18:54You say you only need ten minutes with that wall safe, right?
18:56Look, I told you. It's easy.
18:58Well, now, get this. Newbar is out.
19:00The flat is empty.
19:02You're five minutes too early for your date.
19:04You're an old friend of his. I know that.
19:07So I'm giving you the passkey
19:09so that you can sit up in his flat
19:11and wait until he comes back.
19:13Flat two.
19:15When he comes back,
19:17I do this.
19:19Now, that rings up in his sitting room.
19:21That'll give you just about...
19:23just over a minute to get clear.
19:25I'll try and hold him longer if I can.
19:27Now, the bedroom's on the left.
19:29Skip it. The sitting room's on the right.
19:31Then there's a sort of sloping wall,
19:34and the wall safe's on that. Got it?
19:36Toffee from a kid.
19:38You take it, then.
19:40And my slice is 2,000. Remember that.
20:59Toffee from a kid, Charlie boy.
21:04Well.
21:07Remember me?
21:09Um... Oh, yes, sir.
21:11Mr. Lemington. That's right.
21:13You were the architect that built this block of flats.
21:15You flatter me. No, no, I was only the assistant.
21:17I'm building one now, though.
21:19Same sort of thing, and all my own work.
21:21Incidentally, if you could help me...
21:23Yes, sir?
21:25Wasn't it here that we put in a fire escape
21:27that had a lower section that lifts up our counterweight
21:29to prevent unauthorized use?
21:31No, sir. It operates the burglar alarm
21:33when the lower section is pulled down.
21:36Does it give any trouble? Not at all, sir.
21:38And the alarm still works?
21:40It's tested every three months. Good as new.
21:42Oh, fine. Then I'll use the same system.
21:44Good, sir.
21:46Oh, uh, Mr. Luber's in?
21:48Mr. Luber, sir? No, he went out about 8.30.
21:50Oh, not back yet? No, sir.
21:52Oh, pity. I wanted to work with him.
21:54So it's not important. I'll call back some other time.
21:56You do that, sir.
21:58Thanks for your help. Oh, any time, sir.
22:01Good-bye, sir.
22:31Good-bye, sir.
23:01Good-bye, sir.
23:03Good-bye, sir.
23:30Luber?
23:33Luber?
24:03Luber?
24:33Luber?
25:03Luber?
25:33Luber?
26:03Luber?
26:33Luber?
27:03Oh, good evening, gentlemen.
27:05Hello, Mr. Warner-Jew.
27:08Um, Mr. Luber's not back yet, sir.
27:10I, uh, hope nothing's happened to him.
27:12I hope not.
27:14Um, would you, uh, like to leave a message, sir?
27:16Try his doorbell first.
27:18You'd better come up, too.
27:20Bring the passkey.
27:22Passkey?
27:33Passkey?
27:48Uh, there was somebody in there at the safe.
27:50Uh, burglars. I scared them off.
27:55Bring him in.
27:57Come on.
28:00What's out there?
28:02Uh, a fire escape, sir.
28:04Name?
28:06Charles Berry.
28:08He's a friend of Mr. Luber's, sir.
28:10He had an appointment at 10 o'clock.
28:13Okay, quiet.
28:15Well?
28:17Well, the porter gave me the passkey to, uh, to wait in here.
28:19I... I was, uh...
28:21I was sitting in there when I noticed this fellow making a run for it.
28:23He...
28:25He must have been, uh, hiding in the room beyond.
28:28Yes, it was then I noticed the safe was open.
28:33Did you try to stop him?
28:35Give me a chance. I was sitting.
28:37By the time I got to the door, he was gone.
28:40Where were you sitting?
28:48I was sitting there.
28:50He must have come through here.
28:58I ought to find Mr. Luber.
29:00Stay where you are. Don't let them touch anything.
29:28Well, I ought to find Mr. Luber.
29:30Well, he... he might want to get hold of the police.
29:32I don't think he could improve on the present situation.
29:34So, Mr. Berry,
29:36you're sure there was somebody else here besides yourself?
29:40I've already told you.
29:42Do you think I'm going to believe you?
29:45I... I...
29:47I... I...
29:49I...
29:51I...
29:53I...
29:55I...
29:57Do you think I'm a liar?
29:59I hope not.
30:03What could I do?
30:07Assistant Commissioner here.
30:09I want to talk to Detective Inspector Traynor.
30:14Traynor?
30:16I'm in Luber's flat.
30:18Yes, I want you to get over here right away.
30:22He's been murdered.
30:28CAR HORN HONKS
30:39I've been so worried.
30:41They told me at the club you were asking for Luber.
30:43I thought perhaps you...
30:45That I meant what I said, is that it?
30:48Well, not really, but I thought you might get into an argument...
30:50I've been gambling. It seems to be catching.
30:52Only mine came off.
30:54Yeah.
30:57These are yours.
30:59He gave them to you?
31:01No, not exactly, but it amounts to the same thing.
31:03Anyway, I won't trouble you any more.
31:05But, Frank...
31:07Let's go and find some coffee, shall we?
31:26Ah.
31:31I was thinking...
31:33Good. It all helps.
31:35He had a good eye, this chap.
31:37He knocks off Luber with one of these things...
31:39and then puts it back exactly where it should be.
31:41Was that the weapon?
31:43The doctor says so.
31:45There's a deeply depressed fracture of the left temporal...
31:47that fits the base of this thing like a pair of corsets.
31:49Well, not all corsets fit, do you? You should know that.
31:51Fingerprints?
31:53Yes, one set. Right hand.
31:56Not Luber's.
31:58Not Berry's.
32:00Pity.
32:02That'd be a bit too easy. You can't expect jam on it.
32:04Where was it done?
32:07In the bedroom, I think.
32:09Well, there's indications that Luber was lying on the bed.
32:11Anyway, I've got photographs.
32:13Why was he taken through to the bathroom afterwards?
32:15Well, does the doctor have any ideas?
32:17Only that it makes the exact time of death hard to estimate.
32:19It's very warm in the bathroom.
32:21Well, there's your reason.
32:23Yes.
32:25Like Berry.
32:27Well, shall we have another little talk with him, eh?
32:29Sir?
32:31Hmm?
32:33How much longer?
32:36That'll do.
32:38You'll be in bed long before we will, if that's any comfort to you.
32:40Did you go into the bedroom, Mr. Berry?
32:42No.
32:44You came straight in here, eh? Knew you were around.
32:46What'd it tell me?
32:48So for all you know, Mr. Luber could have been asleep on the bed.
32:50Yeah.
32:52And asleep on the bed when Mr. Warden rang the bell.
32:54And the third party came in to rob the safe.
32:56He'd be a sad man if he knew this third party.
32:58Knew what?
33:01Luber had 6,000 pounds on him.
33:03In a money belt.
33:05Had he now?
33:07Yes, going on his holidays, maybe.
33:09Mr. Berry, would you describe this third party again
33:11for the assistant commissioner?
33:13I've described him once. Do I have to go on describing him?
33:15I'm sure you'll agree it'll be a good thing if we do find him.
33:17For you.
33:19Look, he was here, I swear it.
33:21Look, he was clean-shaven, tall, well-built.
33:24Anyone like that been around lately?
33:26No.
33:28Anyone call on Mr. Luber apart from Mr. Warden?
33:31Oh, only Mr. Lamington. He was the architect that built this block of flats.
33:33He wanted to know...
33:35Go on.
33:37About the far escape.
33:39Well, well.
33:41We're maybe going to have jam on it after all, eh?
33:43Sir?
33:45You've got a sweet tooth, trainer. I don't like too much jam.
33:47All right, thank you, gentlemen.
33:49That's all. You can go to your beds for the night.
33:54What about the ash in the hearth?
33:56A letter. Nothing left but a bit of signature.
33:58Charlie.
34:01Charlie? Betty?
34:03He's no fool. He admits writing to Luber.
34:05What about?
34:07Just to say he's back in this country, why not meet and have a gossip over old times?
34:09No threats?
34:11He wouldn't admit that anyhow.
34:13Nor burning it, I suppose.
34:15No. If it's the one he talked to Mr. Warden about,
34:17we haven't a chance of proving it.
34:19Ah, well, that puts Betty in the clear.
34:21It would appear so.
34:23Fingerprints on this?
34:25Yes, all over it.
34:27Same as on the cannon thing in there.
34:30I've been thinking.
34:32What, again?
34:34I told you whoever put that cannon back had a good eye.
34:36Yes?
34:38Like an architect, maybe?
34:52Deux-sept impers passent.
34:54And a few more suckers bite the dust.
34:59At what time did this Mr. Lemington ask for Luber?
35:01A little after eight, sir.
35:03And as soon as you told him that Luber wasn't in, he went away, eh?
35:05Yes, sir. At least, he asked for a member, sir.
35:07Who?
35:09Miss Martin, sir.
35:11But you didn't admit him?
35:13No, sir.
35:16Was this Miss Martin in? Yes, sir.
35:18And then you came and told her? Yes, sir.
35:20Very polite.
35:22Makes a nice change these days.
35:24That'll be Miss Susan Martin, eh?
35:26Right, sir.
35:28She wouldn't be at the table as I see her credit's been stopped.
35:30So what was she doing here?
35:32You.
35:36She came in, she asked for Mr. Luber.
35:38I told her he wasn't in.
35:40Then she asked for coffee.
35:42But she left without drinking. In a hurry, eh?
35:45And a bit frightened, maybe?
35:47Maybe. I don't know.
35:49What does she have to be frightened of?
35:53Exactly.
35:59Frank, I must know. What happened last night in Luber's flat?
36:01I've told you.
36:03That Luber wasn't there. The safe just happened to be open.
36:05You still don't believe me, do you?
36:07I don't know what to believe after what you said.
36:09That I'd kill Luber?
36:11Well, I might have, if he'd been there.
36:15The police are going to know you were there.
36:17Yes.
36:19Well, what are you going to tell them?
36:22The truth. And I can't come to much harm.
36:24I suppose not.
36:26If...
36:28If I didn't kill him.
36:30I was going to say, if you can prove you didn't kill him.
36:34I have a lot of faith in our splendid police.
36:36If they might find out who did it, then I'd be all right.
36:40Or don't you think so?
36:42Silly fool.
36:48Frank.
36:50Good afternoon, sir. Detective Inspector Traynor, Scotland Yard.
36:53Oh, do come in.
37:00Inspector Traynor. Mr. Martin.
37:03This is a bit of luck. I was coming round to see you
37:05after I'd had a word with Mr. Leamington.
37:07This'll save time for all of us. Very convenient.
37:09I think you know why I'm here, sir.
37:11Yes.
37:13I just want to ask you some questions. I won't try and trap you.
37:15I'm sure that you'll understand.
37:17I'm sure that you'll tell me the truth.
37:19I'm not sure everyone feels that.
37:21I find your confidence a refreshing change.
37:23It's always the same with the ladies, sir.
37:25Very suspicious minds.
37:28Now, let me tell you what I know.
37:30Or most of it. That'll save argument.
37:32Please do.
37:34About a quarter past eight last night, you went round to Luber's club.
37:36You first asked for Mr. Luber, then for Miss Martin.
37:38You were told that neither was in.
37:40That's right.
37:42You then went to Luber's apartment.
37:44You had to talk with the porter, Miller.
37:46Yes.
37:48Again, you were told that Luber wasn't in.
37:50So, you then went round to the back of the block.
37:52You disconnected the burglar alarm from the fire escape.
37:55Well, you were familiar with the mechanism, of course.
37:57Then you went up to Luber's flat,
37:59leaving your fingerprints all over the place on the way.
38:01Suppose you take over from there, sir.
38:03I told you they were splendid.
38:12Well, briefly, I went inside.
38:15I called to make quite sure Luber wasn't there.
38:17Then I went into a room.
38:19I didn't put the light on.
38:21And I tripped over something on the floor.
38:23It was a brass ornamental cannon.
38:25I picked it up.
38:28This was the bedroom?
38:30Yes. It wasn't the room I wanted,
38:32so I went back into the hall,
38:34and I put the cannon thing back where it had obviously come from.
38:36A professional eye for detail, eh?
38:38Yes, I suppose so.
38:40Oh, then I went into the room,
38:43Oh, then I went into the sitting room.
38:45The safe happened to be opened.
38:47I looked inside and found what I wanted.
38:49What did you want, sir?
38:51That's a private matter.
38:53There are no private matters in a murder case, sir.
38:55You'll have to tell me.
38:57Well, I'm not going to.
38:59Let's be quite clear about that.
39:02Very well.
39:04We'll let that one stick to the wall for the time being.
39:06Anyway, it wasn't Luber's property.
39:08He got it unlawfully.
39:10That wouldn't surprise me, sir. Go on.
39:13That's all there is.
39:15I left the way I came.
39:17I see.
39:21You're sure Luber wasn't lying on the bed just having a nap?
39:23Quite sure.
39:25And that you didn't wake him up when you came into the room?
39:27He wasn't there to wake up.
39:30Or that you didn't give him a tap on the head to put him to sleep again?
39:32A bit harder than you intended, maybe.
39:34I've told you, he wasn't there.
39:36Did you look in the bathroom?
39:38No, I didn't want to waste time,
39:40I suppose.
39:42Did it occur to you to wonder why the safe was open?
39:44No, I was just glad.
39:46I'm not very good at safes.
39:48Does it occur to you now?
39:50Yes, I suppose it does, in a way.
39:52Yes. Luber wasn't the person to go out and leave his safe open.
39:56Too much in it of interest to too many people.
39:59Blackmail?
40:01Speak no ill of the dead, as they say, sir.
40:05But this is the point.
40:07Luber might have left the safe open
40:09if he'd been in the flat himself.
40:11He wasn't there.
40:15I suppose you don't happen to know, miss,
40:17what Mr. Lemmingham was looking for in that safe?
40:19Why should I?
40:21Well, you were a bit upset last night when you heard that he was asking for Luber.
40:23Was I?
40:25Having a bit of trouble yourself, I think.
40:27Your credit has been stopped.
40:29Run of bad luck at the tables, maybe.
40:32Were you in debt to Luber?
40:34No.
40:36Wait, let's be fair. I warn you, we've inspected all Luber's books.
40:38Just the IOUs, eh?
40:40Yes.
40:42But yours weren't in the safe with the others, miss.
40:44Did you burn them, sir?
40:46I wouldn't blame you.
40:48It's the best thing to do with that kind of dirty work.
40:50Frank didn't kill Luber. He didn't have to.
40:52It is true. I did owe him rather a lot of money.
40:54How much?
40:56Nearly 10,000 pounds.
40:5810,000 pounds, eh?
41:01Well, the way things are these days,
41:03that's hardly enough to be a motive for murder.
41:05Not for a respectable young man like Mr. Lemmingham.
41:07Of course not.
41:09Anyway, Luber wasn't going to be difficult about it.
41:11He was going to let me pay it back to him gradually.
41:13From your salary? Yes.
41:15As a model? Yes.
41:17Which is how much? 25 pounds a week?
41:19About that, yes.
41:21It'll take a long time.
41:23I know.
41:25Very generous of Luber.
41:27Yes. So you see, Frank didn't have to do anything.
41:30Luber has a record, miss, twice the length of the human arm,
41:32and it doesn't include generosity.
41:34What else did he want?
41:36Anything to do with him?
41:38Does it make a nice motive for murder, eh?
41:42I'm sorry, miss.
41:44I sometimes find my job distasteful,
41:46but it has to be done.
41:48Now, sir,
41:50we'll continue this discussion somewhere else, eh?
41:52Sir?
42:06Hello, Luber.
42:08You look tired.
42:10Every day.
42:12I want your advice.
42:14Well, isn't that what Luber said to you, uh, how long ago?
42:16Three months? Yes.
42:18Well, if he'd taken your advice, he might have been alive today.
42:20Well, I'll bear it in mind.
42:22Well, what's the problem?
42:24They want me to defend Frank Lemmingham.
42:27Well, I don't see why you shouldn't.
42:29No, I'm too near it. I was too closely involved.
42:31Well, I don't see why you shouldn't.
42:33No, I'm too near it. I was too closely involved.
42:35Does the Crown want you as a witness?
42:37Well, they don't need me.
42:39They've got the poor devil sewn up well enough without my little piece.
42:41Is he guilty?
42:43Well, you should know. You're the police.
42:45It's Traynor's case, not mine. There's plenty of evidence.
42:47Circumstantial. And juries don't like it.
42:49And there's a motive. They like motives.
42:51Well, I distrust them. The same motive can drive one man to murder,
42:54another to suicide, and another to drink.
42:56You haven't told me, Ed, whether you think he's guilty.
42:58I know he isn't.
43:00Thinking isn't enough in a case like this.
43:02Then you haven't much choice, have you?
43:04Can't say no, I suppose.
43:06It's capital murder. He'll hang.
43:08It seems a pity for a man like Luber.
43:10There are other counsels.
43:12I think you're the only one who can save his neck.
43:14You're going to a lot of trouble to undo Traynor's work.
43:17Traynor won't mind.
43:19He's not concerned with getting someone.
43:21He's just concerned with getting the right one.
43:35Frank Lemington, you are charged with the murder of Emil Luber
43:38on the 21st of October last.
43:40Are you guilty or not guilty?
43:43Not guilty.
43:45Members of the jury,
43:47the prisoner of the bar, Frank Lemington,
43:50is charged with the murder of Emil Luber
43:52on the 21st of October last.
43:54To this indictment, he has pleaded not guilty,
43:57and it is your charge to say, having heard the evidence,
44:01whether he be guilty or not.
44:04They've adjourned for lunch.
44:06Warden should be here any moment.
44:08Mr. Brown, tell me honestly, what chance has Frank got?
44:11Well, Warden is one of the great defence lawyers of the generation.
44:16If it were anyone else, I'd say not much.
44:20You've been awfully kind, really, considering...
44:22Not that I'm on the other side.
44:24I'm not, you know.
44:26And neither is Traynor.
44:28We're... Well, we're not on any side at all.
44:30We're not on any side at all.
44:32We're not on any side at all.
44:39Well, we were all right until Berry was called.
44:42He's not an attractive character.
44:44He's clever, and he's frightened.
44:46What of? He wants to save his own skin.
44:48You mean he killed Luber?
44:52He's got some reason to think this could be pinned on him,
44:55and he would rather it was pinned on Frank.
44:58I've got to break through that.
45:01I've got to make him show his hand.
45:03Otherwise, I'm very much afraid we'll fail.
45:06And if Berry shows his hand, and you find that he's got all the aces?
45:11He hasn't.
45:13I've only got the fifth up my sleeve.
45:22Now, Mr. Berry,
45:24you've told us how you found the defendant in Luber's flat.
45:27And since you're on oath, you've naturally been telling us the truth.
45:31That's right.
45:33You've described in colourful detail the sounds of a struggle
45:36and a blow struck in the bedroom while you were in the sitting room.
45:39You've described the agitated appearance of the defendant
45:42as he returned to the sitting room,
45:44as you suggest to continue rifling the safe.
45:47Has it occurred to you that you're very effectively
45:49putting a rope around his neck?
45:51Mr. Warden, are you attempting to intimidate the witness?
45:54If so, I cannot allow it.
45:57As your lordship pleases.
46:01I'll put it to you in another way, Mr. Berry.
46:04Are you quite sure you're not a little inspired by self-interest?
46:08I don't know what you mean.
46:10Well, you were a friend of Luber's. That's right.
46:12A very good friend. Yes.
46:14You had no other reason to return to Luber's flat at that time of night
46:17other than to renew this old friendship
46:19and to exchange pleasant memories of earlier days together.
46:22I hadn't.
46:24But in your letter to Luber, you said, and I quote,
46:28You'll have to pay whether you like it or not,
46:31or I'll squeeze the 12 years of whining misery you let me in for
46:35into the last 12 minutes of your life.
46:38I didn't.
46:40And how could you know that? I've burnt it.
46:45Burnt what? The letter.
46:47But what letter? The one you sent to Luber?
46:50Of course. No, there never was a letter.
46:54But there was, Mr. Berry.
46:56The ashes were found in the hearth. You remember?
47:01I put it to you that you went to Luber's flat with murder in your heart
47:04and that the defendant's arrival was most opportune
47:07and that you're now determined to saddle him with the crime
47:10which was, in fact, committed by...
47:12Mr. Warden, you are about to make a most improper remark.
47:15I cannot allow it.
47:17Although I understand how you feel.
47:21That was a most improper remark, too, but it saved your bacon.
47:24After that, Warden could have talked them into giving you a pension
47:28if he'd wanted to.
47:30Well, he did well enough. He talked them out of giving me a...
47:33Well, not exactly a widow, but...
47:37Mr. Leamington.
47:39Delighted, sir. No hard feelings, eh?
47:41No one has ever tried to get me hanged, Mr. Treanor,
47:44with greater courtesy or consideration.
47:46Er...
47:49Er... Have you seen anything of Mr. Warden, D.I.?
47:52I understand he's left the building, sir.
47:54I think he's a bit tired.
48:07Warden?
48:09Have you read this? Yes, you've had some very good notices.
48:13They'd like to know how you did it.
48:15Some of them seem to think that you have second sight.
48:17What do you think?
48:19I expect it's simpler than that. It is.
48:21You knew that your man was innocent.
48:23You're a brilliant lawyer.
48:25You were determined not to let him go under at any price.
48:28In these circumstances, there are moments of illumination.
48:32You have a poetic fancy.
48:34A bad thing in a policeman.
48:36Treanor's much more practical.
48:38I left him this afternoon with his nose twitching like a bloodhound
48:41making long telephone calls about our friend Perry.
48:43I wish him luck.
48:45Luck, Mr. Treanor, doesn't depend on luck.
48:48Do you think you'll try and pen something on Perry?
48:50I don't know. Treanor's always full of little surprises.
48:53Mr. Treanor to see you, sir.
48:55Treanor?
48:57I must apologize for disturbing you here, sir.
48:59That's all right, Treanor. What is it?
49:01There's a line I think we ought to follow without delay.
49:03Oh, Perry? Yes.
49:05I'm afraid he's been telling us rather less than the whole truth.
49:07That doesn't surprise me. What have you got?
49:09I thought we might go over to Luber's flat
49:11and see how my information works in.
49:13Yes, I think it might, sir.
49:16I suppose you wouldn't care to come, sir.
49:18You must be tired.
49:20Not at all. I'd like to very much.
49:22If Mr. Brown doesn't object.
49:24Why should I? I'll be very pleased.
49:26We might find ourselves on opposite sides again.
49:28We don't take sides, sir, you and I.
49:30Indeed, if you hadn't saved Mr. Leamington,
49:32I might have a good deal on my conscience.
49:34You might? Well, I'll get my coat.
49:44Well, he could have slept through that, couldn't he?
49:46Yeah, I should think he could.
49:48I should imagine Luber is a very heavy sleeper.
49:50And the telephone's in the sitting room.
49:52With the bedroom door shut, he could have slept through that as well.
49:55So we agree that Luber could have been here when Mr. Warden called.
49:59And we found no evidence that he was anywhere else.
50:01Agree, sir? Yes.
50:03But there's no evidence that Mr. Leamington was here.
50:05No evidence at all.
50:07Well, I suppose you're right, sir.
50:09I suppose you're right.
50:12Yes.
50:14But there's one thing he couldn't have slept through.
50:16Oh, what?
50:18If Mr. Leamington was telling the truth, and it seems he was,
50:21he fell over one of these things and made a hell of a noise.
50:25Why didn't Luber hear that?
50:27Already dead.
50:29Exactly.
50:31But if Luber was on the bed in there,
50:34I think Leamington would have seen him.
50:38Light or no light.
50:40So it looks as though he was stowed away in the bathroom
50:42before Mr. Leamington arrived.
50:44Yeah, it does. Now, who did that, I wonder?
50:46Berry? Berry says that Leamington was in the flat when he got here.
50:50Leamington says he never saw Berry at all.
50:53Well, one of them is lying.
50:55And I think it's Berry. Why?
50:57No fingerprints. None at all.
50:59Well, you put my client through the hoop for leaving fingerprints all over the place.
51:02Now you want to put Berry through it because he doesn't.
51:04If there's anything more suspicious than someone who leaves their fingerprints
51:07on a murder weapon, it's someone who leaves no fingerprints at all.
51:10This didn't occur to you before, then?
51:12We thought that Berry came to the flat and surprised Leamington
51:14that he was only here for a few seconds.
51:16But if we accept Leamington's story, Berry must have been here and in hiding.
51:20And if he left no fingerprints, he took care not to.
51:23You say Berry was in hiding. Why?
51:26He wasn't supposed to be here.
51:28But he had an appointment with Luber at 10 o'clock.
51:30This was before 10 o'clock.
51:32He thought Luber was out when he knew about Luber's 6,000 pounds.
51:35Well, how do you know?
51:38I reminded Miller there was a difference
51:40between being accessory before a murder and accessory before a theft.
51:47I think this is what happened.
51:49Leamington came through that window from the fire escape.
51:52He tossed up which way to go and chose the wrong way.
51:55Through there.
51:57Into the bedroom.
52:00And in here...
52:04Berry had the safe open by this time,
52:06but I don't think he'd discovered yet that the money wasn't in it.
52:08He heard Leamington outside, and either he thought it was Luber...
52:12Or he knew it couldn't be.
52:14That's right, sir. But either way, he was caught on the hop with the safe open.
52:17He had to get out of sight.
52:19But he couldn't leave the flat through the hall, so he ducked in here.
52:25Leamington says he looked in there,
52:27and I have no doubt Berry was behind the door.
52:29That fits. Go on.
52:31Berry heard Leamington fall over the cannon,
52:33and either he genuinely thought it was a struggle and a blow...
52:36Or he knew it wasn't.
52:38But all he could do was stay where he was.
52:40Meanwhile, through there in the bedroom,
52:42Leamington picked up the cannon,
52:45took it back into the hall, put it back on the chest.
52:47No fingerprints on it except Leamington's.
52:49But don't forget, gentlemen,
52:51Berry has been careful not to leave any fingerprints anywhere.
52:54And after Leamington went, Berry resumed his search for the money.
52:57That's right, sir.
52:59And somewhere at this point, he discovered the letter that he'd written to Luber.
53:02It was probably lying on this desk.
53:04And so he burned it.
53:07He was in the middle of that when you gentlemen got here.
53:10A very quick thinker. He turned the evidence against Leamington very neatly.
53:13All this time, Luber was lying dead in the bathroom.
53:16That's right.
53:18Killed by Berry.
53:20Well, Berry had a double motive, the money for one.
53:22He could have been surprised by Luber while he was opening the safe.
53:25And the other?
53:27I gave Mr Brown the gist of that, sir, earlier on.
53:30Well, it's a curious story.
53:33It seems that Berry got mixed up
53:35with Luber's gambling business in Malta at the end of the war.
53:38Luber got hold of a young girl,
53:40same as he tried to get hold of Susan Martin, and ruined her.
53:44Somehow, he got Berry to marry her to keep her quiet.
53:47Berry wasn't a very nice man at all.
53:49He made life very unpleasant for her.
53:53And then a couple of years ago, she killed herself.
53:56Luber was paying Berry a pension.
53:58With the lady's death, the pension stopped.
54:01Berry didn't like that.
54:03It seems he came home to take it out of Luber.
54:06It all seems to fit very nicely.
54:08Nearly all, sir.
54:10What doesn't?
54:12That letter was burnt by the time you got here, sir.
54:15Luber didn't have it with him when he spoke to you at the club.
54:18I don't believe in second sight.
54:20I'm curious to know how you knew what was in it.
54:28You're quite right, you know.
54:31It's certainly full of little surprises.
54:33She was your niece, wasn't she?
54:35Yeah.
54:36The girl that Luber ruined and Berry married.
54:38She was my sister's daughter.
54:40I never married, you know.
54:42When my sister and her husband were killed in a car crash before the war,
54:46the child came to me.
54:48She was more than a niece.
54:52Like a daughter, really.
54:55She went out to Malta in one of the services, I think.
54:58Yes. Rennes.
55:00She was 18. She had too much pride.
55:03And when she got involved with Luber, she wouldn't let me help her.
55:07She cut herself off from me completely.
55:09I think she felt it would save me embarrassment.
55:12She saw marriage with Berry as a chance of escape, poor child.
55:18And that night when you called here, the porter was in Malta.
55:21And that night when you called here, the porter was out, eh?
55:24Yes.
55:25Well, what happened?
55:30I came up here.
55:32Luber let me in, showed me the letter and told me the story.
55:39It didn't connect at first. You see, I didn't even know Berry's name.
55:42I couldn't find him when I went out to Malta after her death.
55:47But as Luber talked,
55:49I began to realise he was talking about her.
55:52Well, I couldn't stand it. I started to go. Luber followed me.
55:56And in the hall, I told him.
55:58Do you know what he did?
56:00He began to laugh.
56:02Laugh?
56:03All I can remember is Luber's teeth laughing.
56:09He was still laughing when I put him on the bed.
56:12There was a bit of life in him, but he died almost immediately.
56:16Still laughing.
56:18I remember I had to close his mouth.
56:20And then?
56:24Well, I knew he was expecting Berry.
56:26And I rather fancied the idea of Berry dying for Luber's murder.
56:30So I arranged it.
56:33Unfortunately, Frank Lemington chose to turn up at the wrong moment.
56:36You phoned the club on the way back?
56:38Well, Luber's accent was easy.
56:40Anyway, it gave me a reasonable sort of alibi.
56:42Why did you quote from that letter, sir?
56:44You must have known that we'd be on to it.
56:46I have too much respect for you and Mr Hurley-Brown to think that you'd miss it.
56:50If I hadn't, they'd have hanged Lemington.
56:52That wouldn't have been very satisfactory for any of us.
56:55No, sir. It wouldn't.
56:59If you don't mind my saying so, sir,
57:01I'm personally very much obliged to you.
57:05Well, I suppose there's no chance of going back to the club for a drink.
57:09I mean, before we adjourn, to make a statement.
57:11No, better not, I think.
57:13I'm sorry.
57:15There's a nice little pub on the corner about a couple of blocks away.
57:18Why don't you two gentlemen wait there till I get a car?
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