Affair in Trinidad

Between North and South America

lie the islands of the Caribbean,

colorful and exotic.

Once remote and little known,

history is forcing them out of obscurity

into the current of world events.

Important among these islands

is the British colony Trinidad.

I'm looking for Inspector Smythe.

- He's down there, sir.

- Thank you.

- Inspector Smythe?

- Smythe here.

Good evening, Inspector.

I'm Anderson, from the American Consulate.

Oh, yes, Mr. Anderson.

You're a new arrival here.

- Welcome to Trinidad.

- Thank you.

I've been meaning to call on you,

- but I've been so busy getting settled.

- Yes, of course.

I thought your Consulate

would want to be informed.

The young man's an American.

Neal Emery. Artist chap.

Accident?

- No. Suicide, apparently. Shot himself.

- Good heavens.

Now, let's have your light, will you?

- When did it happen?

- We're not sure yet.

Those two fishermen found him adrift

in his boat a few hours ago.

All right, boys, you can go now.

Thank you very much.

Is there anything I can do?

Well, we've got to break the news

to his wife.

- She's also an American.

- Oh.

You can carry on.

I'll join you at headquarters.

Get the medical report through

as quickly as possible.

- Yes, sir.

- Well, shall we go now?

Yes, of course.

Poor girl. It seems awful to have to wake her

up in the middle of the night to tell her this.

Don't let it disturb you, Mr. Anderson.

This hour of the night,

the poor girl is usually wide awake.

- To the Caribe.

- The Caribe?

- You mean she'd go to a place like that?

- She works there.

Inspector, once again you honor the Caribe

with your presence.

An unavoidable coincidence, I assure you.

- We came to see Mrs. Emery.

- Of course. Everybody does.

You're just in time. I give you a good table.

We're not here to be entertained.

We want to talk to her.

Alone.

A chick a chick boom chick boom

A chick a chick boom chick boom

Announces you're in the room

with the Trinidad Lady

A chick a chick boom chick boom

A chick a chick boom chick boom

Your ticker goes boom boom boom

for the Trinidad Lady

It's only that I do what I love

And love what I do

Can't help the mad desire

That's deep inside of you

You realize the fault isn't mine

That you are to blame

You want what you can't have

And you're all the same

A chick a chick boom chick boom

A chick a chick boom chick boom

It's dangerous to presume

with the Trinidad Lady

So chalk up one more escapade

you never had

The one you dreamed of

with the Lady from Trinidad

It's only that I do what I love

And love what I do

Can't help the mad desire

That's deep inside of you

You realize the fault isn't mine

That you are to blame

You want what you can't have

And you're all the same

A chick a chick boom chick boom

A chick a chick boom chick boom

A chick a chick boom chick boom

is the Trinidad Lady

Why would a man kill himself when he had...

Good evening.

- I...

- I know all about it.

You're lonely,

it's wonderful to meet an American girl,

and couldn't I have a drink with you

after the show?

Well, the answer's no.

If you're lonely, go home to your wife.

This American girl has to make a change.

- Oh, but you don't understand. I...

- Oh, but I do.

- Outside.

- Hello.

Mr. Anderson of the American Consulate.

- Am I being deported or something?

- No.

We'd just like to have a chat with you.

Well, I don't exactly have time

for an international conference,

- so make it brief.

- When did you last see your husband?

This morning at breakfast. Why?

Did you talk to him?

Sure.

I asked him to pass me the salt.

Did he tell you where he was going today?

- I didn't know he was going anyplace.

- Well, he did,

and it's rather important

that we know where.

I'll think about it. Drop by tomorrow.

I suggest you think about it now.

- 'Cause if you're trying to protect him...

- Protect him from what?

Well, whatever it is,

there's no longer any point.

He's dead.

How?

Suicide.

No.

I'm terribly sorry, Mrs. Emery.

I'm afraid, if you don't mind, I...

Did you hear everything quite clearly,

Mr. Wittol?

Believe me, Inspector,

I was only trying to help.

I said to myself, "Chris is in trouble.

Maybe I can do something."

Yes, we all know

what a great heart you have.

I'll have to ask you to come down

to headquarters to answer a few questions

and make identification.

We'll wait outside.

- Yes, sir?

- Get me the medical examiner, please.

Hello?

- Hello, Doc?

- Yes.

- This is Smythe here.

- Yes.

Have you got anything for me

on the Emery case?

- I haven't had time yet.

- Oh.

Well, get to it as quickly as possible, please.

- Has the identification been made?

- Yes. His wife's in there now.

As soon as she leaves...

- Shall I wait?

- I'll call you back.

Yes. Thanks.

Sit down, won't you?

Cigarette?

Thank you.

That's not an easy ordeal for anyone.

Funny, isn't it?

When a person dies,

you only remember the good things.

Mrs. Emery,

do you know of any reason why

your husband should have killed himself?

He'd been very unhappy for a long time.

Was there any trouble between you?

There was nothing between us.

We lived in the same house

for the past year, but that's all.

- Did he have any particular setback lately?

- No.

No. Lately he acted

as if things were going better for him.

Oh? What things?

He didn't tell me.

There were lots of things he didn't tell me.

Could they have been something to do

with Mr. Fabian?

- Max Fabian?

- Yes.

I believe he and your husband

were closely associated.

But Mr. Fabian's a wealthy man.

What business could he have with Neal?

He was a friend of his, that's all.

Your husband bought you

a rather expensive gift about a month ago.

How could he afford it,

doing sketches for $1 each at the Caribe?

He couldn't. I made him take it back.

Nevertheless,

he had the money to pay for it.

- Do you know where he got it?

- He sold a painting.

To Max Fabian, of course.

- Is that illegal?

- No, but it is illogical.

I mean, Mr. Fabian paying your husband

$1,000 for a painting.

He happened to like his work.

He's bought paintings from him before.

Doesn't $1,000 seem rather high

for the work of an unknown artist?

All right.

If the money was for something else,

tell me.

I'd like to know, too.

I was hoping you'd tell me.

After all,

you and Mr. Fabian are very friendly.

He comes to the caf frequently to see you.

Lots of people come to see me.

That's what I'm paid for.

But you don't sit at the table with them,

nor become quite so intimate.

You are quite intimate with Mr. Fabian,

aren't you?

I think I've had enough of this. Mind if I go?

- Inspector, I don't think...

- Very well.

There'll be an inquest in a couple of days.

That'll be all for now.

By the way,

I wouldn't try to leave the island

if I were you.

The planes and the boats

will be told to watch for you.

Don't forget the sharks. I might try to swim.

Mrs. Emery.

I'll be right back.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes