Charlie Chan at Treasure Island Page #2

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over on you, Charlie.

[Men Shouting]

- Some pinch, eh, Charlie?

- How was it?

Recognize your hand in joke, Mr. Kilvaine.

Well, we just couldn't let you slip

into town without a welcome, Charlie.

Appreciate most hospitable welcome...

but have matter of importance

which need attention first.

Oh, don't give me that.

Come on into my office.

It's been a long time since

I've seen you, Charlie.

You and I are gonna have a good old- fashioned

chin-fest. How's everything in Honolulu?

- Anybody stealing pineapples?

- What are you horning in for?

- Charlie doesn't want to be interviewed.

- Interview, my eye.

I've known Charlie ever since I

started covering the police blotter...

- at the old Powell Street station.

- Police reporter...

- Pete Lewis friend of many years.

- Well, I'm on time.

Oh, it's you. Say, isn't that sign

"private" on my door big enough for you?

Forget it. I told him to meet

me here. Fred, I want you-

Don't tell me. Charlie Chan.

I'd know that face anyplace.

Can return compliment. You

are magician named Rhadini.

Cannot forget watch you borrow five years

ago for trick and return in many pieces.

- [Laughing]

- You're lucky you got it back at all.

Rhadini's improved now,

Charlie. He's a big shot.

Has his own theater

- the Temple of Magic on Treasure Island.

And my paper's backing him

in an expos of fake psychics.

Would you like to see

some of my press clippings?

Pete's paper's offering a

thousand dollars to any psychic...

phony or otherwise, whose stunts I can't

duplicate on the stage of my theater.

[Pete] And so far no one's collected

- not even the great Dr. Zodiac.

- Zodiac?

- Yeah, he's the big shot in the spook racket around here.

The only trouble is, he

won't fall for our challenge.

- He won't come out in the open where I can get at him.

- Now listen, you two mugs.

If you don't mind, I got Charlie up

here for a little private conversation.

He's heard all he wants about black magic.

No, no. Most interesting.

Sometimes black magic very

close relative to blackmail.

Now who said anything about blackmail?

Why, don't you get it? Those

phony psychics dig up the dirt...

hand it over to the customers

in a sance, then hold them up.

That might be the reason for

those three suicides recently.

Say, they all happened to

be clients of Dr. Zodiac.

Yeah, but they're dead. They

can't help us prove anything.

And the living ones won't

talk because they're afraid...

of rattling the skeletons

in the family closets.

[Kilvaine] Ah, you're

talking through your hat.

If there was any evidence connecting

Zodiac with those suicides, I'd-

Well, what can I do without evidence?

Uh, very little, perhaps. But will

ask coroner to perform autopsy...

on body of Paul Essex, who died most

suddenly on China Clipper this morning.

Essex, mystery writer?

He took a trip to Honolulu about six weeks

ago to write a story about the spook racket?

Say, we were talkin' about

Zodiac. Or does that connect up?

[Rhadini] It might-if Essex

was a client of Dr. Zodiac's.

- What are you holding back?

- Did you speak to Essex before he died?

- Did he tell you anything?

- Was he a client of Dr. Zodiac's?

- Did he commit suicide?

- Please, please. Cannot answer question now.

But in humble opinion, suicide

induced by blackmail is murder.

So sorry. Must leave now...

to meet unfortunate widow, Mrs. Essex.

Excuse, please. Excuse.

- Gimme that telephone!

- Outside! This is for official business.

Hey, Charlie said he was going

to meet Paul Essex's wife.

- One'll get you 10 he's on his way to Zodiac's right now.

- And he'll get in. Come on!

- What are we waiting for?

- To give him a head start. We'll crash Zodiac's gate with him.

Hey, Pop. The taxi starter told me a couple

of fellas brought you here. What's up?

They merely brought greetings from

old friend Deputy Chief Kilvaine.

Oh. I didn't find Paul's briefcase.

Gregory gave me the slip at Customs. But

if we could get ahold of that manuscript-

Please remember

- Have given trusting parent promise...

to apply mental ability to schoolbooks.

- Mr. Chan, I've got a message for you.

- Oh.

What is it?

What is it, Pop?

Here. Engage rooms at St. Francis Hotel.

And when Mrs. Essex

call, say will be delayed.

- But what's in the note?

- Ancient Chinese proverb, badly misquoted.

Should read:
"Do not

challenge supernatural...

unless armed with sword of truth."

[Vehicle Approaching]

- Wait for us.

- Nothin' doin'. I know this spook joint.

Full of dead people talkin' their heads off.

[Chuckles] Well, Charlie,

fancy meeting you here.

Had anticipated fancy. Surprised

you did not arrive first.

Oh, let me introduce Professor Bixby

of Berkeley. Great psychologist.

- Mr. Chan.

- Most happy to meet eminent professor of magic...

hiding under psychological whiskers.

- Quiet, Charlie.

- I told you we couldn't fool him.

If Zodiac finds out Rhadini's

with us, he'll never let us in.

Thrown me out a dozen times, but I figured

I could sneak in under the hair mattress.

Will make first test of Dr. Zodiac's

mystic powers on penetrating false whiskers.

Let's go.

Excuse, please. May consult with Dr. Zodiac?

Dr. Zodiac will be happy to receive the

celebrated detective, Charlie Chan...

and his friends.

Thank you so much.

It beats me, Charlie. That face of

yours can open more doors than a passkey.

Dr. Zodiac is native of San Francisco?

Dr. Zodiac is a native of the universe.

He knows all things about all people.

Follow me, please.

In this room, gentlemen.

- ~~[Eerie Background]

- Make yourselves comfortable, please.

I will announce you to Dr. Zodiac.

Boy, what a layout.

Say, I couldn't put on a better act myself.

He's got all the props: incense, music-

Advise caution. Even draperies may have ears.

What a lot of phony junk.

No. Very genuine and valuable antiques.

Table lamp of ancient Egypt

- Ramses dynasty.

This is Persian sacrificial knife.

Also very, very old.

[Gong Resounds]

[Man's Voice] Dr. Zodiac,

the Eye of Allamata.

Mr. Chan, I am honored.

Thank you. Privilege is mine.

It certainly is a privilege, Dr.

Zodiac. I'm Pete Lewis of the Chronicle.

How do you do, Mr. Lewis?

I have heard of your campaign

to expose the charlatans...

who prey on a too-susceptible public.

- I heartily agree with it.

- And I'm Professor Bixby of Berkeley.

I'm profoundly interested

in your work, Doctor.

Thank you. Be seated, gentlemen.

You will make a most

intelligent and unusual circle.

How can I serve you?

Humbly request you penetrate

beyond the mystic veil of life...

and communicate with

friend recently departed.

That is the supreme demonstration.

Please join me in silent meditation...

while I seek my control-

an Egyptian priestess who

passed beyond 3,000 years ago.

[Moaning Through Horn]

[Rattling]

[Woman's Voice] Zodiac. Zodiac.

I am here.

I am here.

You have a message for Mr. Chan?

There is someone...

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