Dead of Night Page #9

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Ride for adventure once again

Let go your heart

and oh, mama!

Sing hulla-loo-bah!

'After what happened

in the dressing room,

'I was sure he was not

quite right in the head.

'I did not see Frere again

until the night of February 2nd.

'I had just arrived in London, and

was staying at the Imperial Palace Hotel.

'Shortly before 11 pm,

'I entered the hotel bar.

Frere was sitting at the bar...

Hello, there. How've you been?

Hello.

Say, I met Joe Green just now.

He's mighty sore at you.

I expect he is.

We walked out of his show.

Oh? How come?

He didn't like it,

and I don't want to talk about it.

- Jack, same again.

- OK by me, brother.

Scotch, please.

Come on, you two.

We only got five minutes.

Evening, Jack.

What are you going to have, girls?

- Whiskey sour.

- Me, too.

- Three whiskey sours, Jack.

- Oh, look!

- There's Maxwell Frere the ventriloquist.

- Never seen him. Is that his dummy?

Yes, Hugo Fitch. Isn't he quaint?

Oh, I'd just love to pick him up.

Oh, you can't, Mitzi,

the man's plastered.

You know very well

I mean the dummy. You're awful!

- Go ahead, then, why don't you?

- Go on, don't be shy.

Very well, then.

Oh, Mr Frere, I hope you wouldn't mind,

but he looks so cute.

- On your way, sister. On your way!

- Aren't you a little devil?

Come along now.

Take your hands off me,

or I'll punch your little face in.

Maxwell, this cheap bit of skirt's

getting after me.

You low, filthy drunk, you. I'll...

- Did you hear what this man called me?

- Oh, skip it. Have a drink.

Harry Parker, are you going to stand by

and let this creature insult me?

All right...

Look here, old man,

you'd better apologise to this lady.

- What did you say?

- I said you've insulted this lady.

And I said you'd better

apologise to her.

I assure you,

I hadn't the slightest intention...

Lady? Ha-ha! What lady?

Maxwell, I don't see no lady.

Are you going to apologise

like a gentleman?

- Or do I have to make you?

- Who does this guy think he is?

Will you kick his teeth in, Maxwell,

or shall I?

- You asked for it.

- Gentlemen, no fighting!

Cut it out.

Cut it out, the guy's stinking.

- What's it got to do with you?

- I said cut it out. Go on, scram.

All right,

no need to get tough about it.

- You all right, Frere?

- Hugo?

Come on, girls.

Drink up, let's get out of here.

- Come on, it's past time!

- All right, all right...

- Here he is.

- Thank you.

Well, it's my old friend Sylvester!

A-ha, that's better.

- You shouldn't have done that.

- Just one of those things.

- Are you staying in the hotel?

- Room 791.

- We're all right.

- Sure you are. Sure you are.

I'm just going up to my room,

and I'll see you home. 791...

I tell you,

it can't go on much longer.

He's doing it deliberately,

all this business with Joe Green...

- He's trying to ruin me.

- Oh, Joe wouldn't do a thing like that.

- He's sore, but...

- Joe?

You thought I meant?

That's good.

That's really funny.

- No, I didn't mean Joe.

- I don't get it.

Don't you?

No, I suppose you wouldn't.

You just think I'm drunk, don't you?

You're not acting

like you're on the water wagon.

Smug, aren't you?

Well, you'd drink too,

if you were in my shoes.

I tell you... it's enough

to drive a man mad.

Why don't you grab yourself

some sleep?

What do you care

whether I sleep or not?

I'm not such a fool as you think,

Sylvester Kee.

I remember what happened in Paris.

I know what you're after.

- You won't get away with it.

- You're crazy.

Get out of this room.

Go on! Get out of this hotel, before I send

for the manager and get you thrown out.

Now, take it easy, pal.

It happens that I'm living in the hotel.

- Thrown out!

- Take it easy. Take it easy.

You think you're mighty clever,

don't you?

I'll get even with you.

I'll be ready for you.

You won't get away with it.

Young fella, if my pal Fancy Pants

got me down the way you do your boss,

well, I guess I'd want to be rid of him.

OK, OK...

- Where is he?

- Huh? Where's who?

- What are you talking about?

- Where is he? You've stolen him.

If you're talking about the dummy,

I left him on your bed.

- Now go away and let me sleep?

- He's here. I know he's here.

Hey, will you get the hell out of here

or do I have to throw you out?

No. No. Wait...

Dirty, thieving swine.

You dirty, thieving swine!

- What do you think of it?

- Well, before I commit myself...

...I must talk to Frere again.

Think you'll be able to get

anything out of him?

- That, my friend, depends on you.

- On me?

On your powers of persuasion

with the police, I should say.

As a matter of fact, I don't expect

to get what I want from Maxwell Frere.

Who do you expect to get it from?

If I am on the right lines,

from Hugo Fitch.

Hugo Fitch?

I knew you wouldn't leave me, Hugo.

- I knew you'd come back.

- Not for long, my boy, not for long.

You're going to stop in jail for years

and years and years and years.

That wouldn't suit me.

But you'll tell them the truth.

You'll tell them it wasn't my fault.

What sort of dummy do you think I am?

You shot him, didn't you?

Yes, but that was in self-defence.

- He was trying to rob me.

- Tell that to the judge.

Poor Sylvester!

Such a charming fellow.

They tell me he's recovering,

be out of hospital soon.

- What's that to you?

- Looks like I'll be needing a new partner.

Hugo!

You don't mean that. You're joking.

Like hell I am.

I've my career to think of.

What?

You wouldn't run out on me now?

I don't believe it.

You wouldn't do that to me.

Oh, wouldn't I? Wouldn't I?

Wouldn't I?

Hugo, I wouldn't let you.

Can't stop me, Maxwell.

You're finished. Finished.

But if I tell them the truth...

if I tell them you made me do it?

Try it and see what happens.

They'll put you in the madhouse.

But not little Hugo. Oh, no.

I'm going to team up with Sylvester.

Maybe we'll come and visit you.

You know,

private show for the looneys.

Now, Maxwell, don't get excited.

I was only joking.

You know me.

Maxwell!

Maxwell, you can't kill me!

Stop, Frere!

Frere, you fool!

Officer! Quickly, open this door!

Quickly!

I hope we're doing the right thing.

You know what happened

the last time we met.

Maybe, he won't feel so good

seeing me again.

It's our responsibility, Mr Kee.

- He's in here.

- Just a minute, Doc.

I guess I got the jitters.

It'll give him a hell of a jolt,

won't it?

That's just it. He needs a jolt

to set his brain working again.

You're the jolt. Of course, it's risky,

but it's our only hope.

- Well, I...

- We are ready to chance it, if you are.

- OK. You're the doctors.

- Thanks.

He's been like that all the time.

Frere,

there's someone to see you.

Hello, there.

How are you keeping?

Say, you remember me.

The name is Kee, Sylvester Kee.

Why, hello, Sylvester.

I've been waiting for you.

'I've been waiting for you.'

He's still there.

One of the most complete examples

of dual identity

in the history of medical science.

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