Charlie Chan at the Opera Page #2

Uh, Miss Lotus evidently gilded lily.

Pop, you got here just in time. How

about a little advance on my allowance?

- I'm almost broke.

- Puppy love very expensive pastime.

Ah, gee, Pop,

we're leaving tonight.

And this is just, well, sort of

a farewell present. She's a lovely girl.

Graceful as bamboo shoot,

beautiful as blossom of water lily.

Yeah, that's her!

When did you meet her?

Never. But long time ago use same

description for honorable mother.

Roses and romance like tenor in opera...

...sing most persuasive love song.

You like the opera?

Such beautiful music.

Rigoletto, II Trovatore,

Pagliacci, Cavalleria.!

Pardon, please. Opera season

good for flower business.

Sure. Today stands right there,

Signor Barelli, the great baritone.

He ordered three dozen

of the American Beauties...

...for the signora.

Signora? You mean

Madame Lilli Rochelle?

No, no. He's got wife hisself.

And no one send flowers

for Madame Lilli?

Today, no.

But tomorrow...

...maybe bushels

for her magnificent voice.

When she sings...

Thank you so much.

Please. You send card with flowers?

No. Just cancel

the whole thing. Hey, Pop!

- Ah, gee, Pop. Why can't I go to the opera with you?

- Impossible.

You very busy tonight

finish packing baggage.

I did it all an hour ago.

They're all ready to be locked.

- Must get steamship tickets.

- Here they are.

- Well, must pay hotel bill.

- Here's the receipt.

Now will you let me go?

First return three dollars

for flowers not sent to Miss Quong Toy.

L... I guess I forgot that.

Please. Do not need soup and fish.

Have other plans for you.

Tickets, please. Have your tickets ready,

please. Thank you. Tickets, please.

I'm sorry, boys, but no reporters

allowed in the theater tonight.

- I know, Pop. We're late.

- Traffic jam.

I tell ya, nobody can see

Madame Rochelle tonight!

Officer, this is a private matter

and it's important. Please let us in.

Good evening, Madame Barelli.

Pop, what time did my husband

leave the theater this afternoon?

- Why, right after dress rehearsal.

- With Madame Rochelle?

- No, madame. He was alone.

- What's he paying you to lie?

Why, madame.

Who was that firecracker?

Anita Barelli, second soprano.

The wife of Barelli, our baritone.

- Kinda jealous, huh?

- Did you ever see a baritone you could trust?

What's the idea?

Can't you take "no" for an answer?

But I know she'll see me. I'm her...

- Please get us some water.

- We were right! She saw him too.

- Saw what?

- A strange man hiding in here among the costumes.

I was working on Madame Lilli's dress.

I went over in that corner for some lace.

- There he was standing, staring at me.

- Did you see him?

No. Agnes screamed and I ran to her.

No one else was in sight.

- What'd this guy look like?

- All I could see were his eyes. They were horrible.

- Take a look around, boys, and this time find him!

- Did you see anybody?

- No, I didn't see anybody.

- Maybe shejust imagined it.

No, I didn't. I saw him all right.

Just leave it to us, sister.

We'll take care of everything.

Come on. Get out now, all of you.!

The curtain's going up in a few minutes.

- Don't worry, lady. He won't come in here again.

- Don't leave me alone, Officer!

Shut up! You've got

the whole company upset.

- You cops would make anybody hysterical.

- Say, who are you?

My name's Arnold.

I'm stage manager here.

And this opera is going on tonight

even if Frankenstein walks in.

That's him again.!

- Say, which one of you...

- What's the trouble, Sarge?

- It's one of these guys and I can pick him out! He's a Chinese!

- Yeah? Well, line up here.

Now take off those tin hats.

They're all Chinese!

Boys, boys, put those helmets on!

There's the overture. Come on!

Come on! Get into your places!

Just a minute, you two.!

- I thought I told you to stay out of here.

- You did.

One of those boys that know

all the answers, huh? Come on.

- Take your hands off her.

- She's lucky I haven't got the bracelets on her.

But we haven't done anything.

We only wanted to see Madame Rochelle.

- It means everything to us.

- It means nothing to me. I've got my orders. Come on.

Now, I don't know how you got in,

but this is the way out.

- Why don't you let us explain?

- Please.

Officer, take 'em out of here.

And if I see you again tonight...

...you'll be doing your

explaining to a judge!

This place is driving me screwy!

Where's Regan and his pal,

um, Egg Foo Yong?

Here, please.

- I'm sure glad to see you, Chief.

- What's the trouble?

- In the first place...

- Have already heard of ghostly visitor from man who tend door.

- Oh.

- Have you searched the entire house?

We've been over this joint

so many times I could tear it down...

...and build it again

without misplacing a brick.

Perhaps maybe called on to do same.

Suppose we start

systematic investigation.

Look here, Whitely.

You can't talk to me that way.!

Barelli, I've warned you before

to keep away from my wife.

- This is the last time.

- But perhaps Lilli...

I'll see you about this later.

Now get out.

I want to talk to you.

- Gravelle!

- Yes.

L... I thought you were dead.

Dead? That's what everybody thinks.

What... What are you doing here?

Why shouldn't I be here?

I've work to do.

Gravelle sings tonight.

Don't move another step.

You want to tell them I'm here, but nothing

can stop Gravelle from singing tonight!

Carnival.! My greatest role.

The voice of Mephisto

coming from the flames.

The flames! That was it.

The flames all around me.

The theater on fire!

And someone locked Gravelle

in his dressing room.

Who?

You know. Tell me.

- Anita? Anita?

- If you tell them I've come back, I'll...

No. No, no, I won't.

Anita?

Come in.

Hello, dear.

This is Mr. Chan, a detective.

- Madame Barelli.

- So pleased.

And sorry to disturb.

What can I do for you, Mr. Chan?

In humble role of investigator...

...seek information concerning flowers...

...sent to you this afternoon

by honorable husband.

Flowers? You...

You must have felt very guilty

about something, Enrico.

Don't tell me you have

forgotten our wedding anniversary.

I had. And I didn't

receive the flowers.

Bouquet, like summer tourist

on wrong train...

...evidently suffer

switch in destination.

I can imagine what

their destination was.

You will have to excuse me, Mr. Chan.

I have a very difficult makeup.

Will question you later.

What's all this about?

Most mysterious.

Someone sent your bouquet

to Madame Lilli with threat of death.

With a death threat?

You suspect enemy

who might do same?

No, but whoever it was

must have had good reasons.

Evidently do not waste love

on Madame Rochelle.

Why should I?

She's done everything to humiliate me...

...even to stealing my husband.

The entire company knows it

and laughs at me.

So sorry.

Disloyalty of husband...

...sometime ample provocation

for revenge.

But I didn't send that note,

if that's what you mean.

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