Black Angel Page #2

it's going to stay closed.

Thank you.

Hello? Uh, I've been trying

to get some information...

about a woman

who used to do extra work.

They told me that you

might be able to help me.

[Man]

That Mavis Marlowe

was plain poison.

[Woman #1]

You're telling me?

Treated that poor

Marty Blair like dirt,

and after he wrote

that beautiful song for her.

[Woman #1] "'Heartbreak. '"

[Woman #2] The dope

married her, didn't he?

You know what I said

to myself when I heard

she'd been cooled off?

I said to myself,

"'Marty Blair finally

caught up with her...

and wrung her neck!"

Pardon me, but l-I couldn't

help overhearing.

That's all right, honey.

Sit down.

Thank you.

You see,

I'm Mrs. Kirk Bennett,

and I heard you

talking about a man

named Marty Blair.

Do you know

where I could find him?

Look, I got to get back

on the set!

Me too.

Oh! Oh!

Stuck.

[Woman #1 Grunting]

You really want to know

where you can find Marty Blair?

Oh, please... so very much!

Well,

you might try Al's Place

on Iris Way, near Western.

If he's there, you can tell him

by the song "Heartbreak."

He's always playing it.

Oh, thank you.

Well, I have to get back.

I'm late. See you later.

Excuse me.

You'll find him

right across the street

at the Palace.

But if I was you,

I wouldn't bother him

this early in the morning.

Not unless it's important.

Oh, but it is... very.

Thank you.

Right through

that door there, lady.

I'm looking

for the clerk.

I haven't seen him.

Anything I can do?

Does a man named Marty Blair

live here?

Who? Oh!

"Heartbreak," huh?

What do you want

of him?

I want to talk to him.

Well, I wouldn't

disturb him if I was you.

He likes to sleep late.

Oh, please.

Uh, this is, uh, important.

Which is his room?

Right there.

[Chuckling]

He had a bad night.

Bolt. Bolt.

Marty.

Marty Blair.

What do you want?

I want to talk to you

about Mavis.

I don't know anything...

about anything.

Get out of here, will ya?

No, please.

You've got to help me.

I have to know.

She's dead.

That's all there is to know.

But wait, l...

What are you

bothering me for?

I'm Mrs. Kirk Bennett.

Mrs. Kirk Bennett.

So you're the one

he left sitting at home.

Some guys

are never satisfied.

I had to see you.

Why?

Because I had a wife

who needed killing,

and you had a husband

who took care of it?

She didn't give you

a very fair deal, did she?

You weren't exactly

dealt a handful of aces.

And stop feeling sorry for me.

I don't go for that stuff.

Feeling pretty sorry

for yourself, aren't you?

I've been on one,

if that's what you mean.

Ever since...

Ever since?

The night she was killed...

when I saw your husband go in.

You were there?

Yeah.

Outside.

And you didn't

go in?

Not a chance.

I was given the brush-off

by a very large doorman.

So, I found a saloon,

and then another,

and I kept on

finding them.

Please. You've got

to tell me more...

who her friends were...

who might have been

in her apartment.

Why don't you ask the police

or your husband?

He seemed to know

the password.

Please, no one else

can help me.

You're the only one.

I don't know anything

about anything.

I suppose you don't even know

why she was playing your song.

I don't know any...

My song?

"Heartbreak."

That night.

She was playing it.

Uh-uh.

No, she wouldn't.

Not "Heartbreak."

You're crazy.

Maybe.

Maybe someone else

was playing it for her.

Maybe you!

Don't give me that!

I didn't see her.

It was your song.

You were playing it

just before you...

You've got it all figured out.

You were in her apartment.

Admit it. You strangled her.

Hey!

What's going on in here?

She's Bennett's wife.

We were talking,

but we've finished.

No, we haven't.

Forget it.

I won't.

Not until l...

Now take it easy.

Marty was right here

in this room when his wife

was killed.

I'm the one told him about it.

I'd heard it on the 2:00 news.

Two o'clock.

He had plenty of time to get

back here. She was killed

between midnight and 12:30.

Come here.

See that bolt? It was locked

when you came in, wasn't it?

Yes, but what's that

got to do with...

Plenty.

I always lock it

when he's on a real tear.

He was on one that night,

and I locked him in... a good

two hours before the murder.

He's in the clear, Mrs. Bennett.

Ask the police. They'll tell you.

The police?

They were here?

[Joe]

Sure. They're not

stupid, you know.

Then l...

I see I've made a mistake.

Please forgive me.

L-I was grabbing at anything.

I'm dreadfully sorry.

I thought I told you to stop

feeling sorry for me.

I seemed to have said

all the wrong things.

Yeah.

Most women do.

I wish there was something

I could do to help him.

Maybe, maybe some clean linen

and a shave.

Here. Would you

give this to him?

Not me, lady.

He has pride.

I have a glass jaw.

Did you have anything

to do with this?

Not me, pal.

It was all her idea.

She thought you might want

a shave.

[Buzzing]

I don't need this.

Thanks, anyway.

But...

I do all right.

They still buy my songs.

Won't you come in?

Please do.

Well...

You know, it took a lot of courage

for you to come down there.

I guess I was

a little rough on ya.

I'm afraid I asked for it.

You see, I needed help.

I still do.

Yeah. It's tough.

If I could do anything...

but I don't know.

Won't you sit down?

Thanks.

I wish I knew

more about her.

What she was like.

Where'd you get this?

Music store on Hollywood

Boulevard. When I found out

she was playing it that night...

I've been thinking

about that too...

ever since you told me.

Do you play?

No, no. Kirk played

and I'd sing.

At least we did

when we were first married.

Hmm.

He didn't do it.

Knocking yourself out,

aren't you?

Trying to help a guy

who let you down.

He's in trouble.

He doesn't look

like a murderer, does he?

They never do.

This isn't

the man I saw.

Are you sure?

Yes.

There was someone else there.

Of course, there was.

Kirk heard someone.

But I took it for granted

that the man going in

was your husband.

It must have been

the murderer... the man

who stole the brooch.

Brooch?

Yes.

I brought him to see you, dear,

because he's interested in that brooch.

I thought you ought

to describe it to him.

Well, it was

an odd sort of piece.

Heart-shaped?

Made of rubies?

You've seen it?

I gave it to her

when we were married.

It was the only thing

she left behind

when she walked out.

But it was there that night.

Kirk saw it.

It was our anniversary.

I just sent it

to her by messenger,

hoping she'd remember.

She'd have been alive today

if she hadn't brushed me off.

If you think I did it,

you're wrong.

You'd, uh, recognize

this other man you saw?

Oh, yes.

I'll recognize him.

And I'll know

that brooch anywhere.

[Ringing]

And here's

a last minute bulletin:

The State Supreme Court

has sustained the sentence

of Kirk Bennett,

convicted for the murder

of Mavis Marlowe.

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