Dial M for Murder Page #8

We found a reel of that silk

in your mending basket.

Tony, there was a pair

of stockings here.

I've heard of the police deliberately

planting clues to ensure a conviction.

His men were here for hours last night.

They could have taken those stockings

and done anything.

Of course.

Probably wiped his shoes...

-...on the doormat as well.

-Hello?

Hello, Roger, thank heaven you're in.

Tony Wendice here.

Listen, we had a burglary last night...

-...and Margot was attacked.

-Margot? Was she hurt?

She's all right, but the man was killed.

The police are here.

Don't laugh. They are suggesting

that Margot killed him intentionally.

I wouldn't say that

if I were you, sir.

-Well, that's a good one.

-Yes, it is funny, isn't it?.

Could you come around at once,

Maida Vale Police Station?.

- Yes, be there right away.

-Thanks, old boy. Goodbye.

It's all right, darling.

Roger's gonna meet us there.

Mr. Wendice, I should advise you--

Our lawyer will give us any advice

we need, thank you.

Margot...

-...here's your handbag.

-Thank you.

-You are coming?.

-But of course, inspector.

Yes. Well, I just--

I mean, I just wondered.

I charge you, that on

the 26th of September...

... you did willfully murder

Charles Alexander Swan.

Do you wish to say anything

in answer to this charge?

And did you,

at any time in your life...

...meet this man Swan?

You received a letter

from Mr. Halliday.

This letter was found

in the dead man 's pocket.

Now you say you did not know him.

Do you find the prisoner,

Margot Mary Wendice...

...guilty or not guilty?

Guilty.

The sentence of this court

is that you be taken to the place...

...from whence you came, from thence

to a place of lawful execution.

-Hello, Mark.

-Tony.

I....

Have you gotten any news

from the home secretary?.

Then it' s tomorrow?.

Tony, I take it you ' d do anything

to save her life.

-We've done everything.

-No, we haven't done everything.

I've been trying to figure out

something...

...just in case it came to this.

I really believe

it's her only chance.

Let's have it.

Margot was convicted

because nobody believed her story.

The prosecution made out

she was telling lies...

...and the jury believed him.

What did his case really amount to?.

Just three things:

My letter, her stocking...

...and the fact that because

no key was found on Swan...

...she must've let him in.

-Don't tell me--

-Wait a minute.

Now, hear me out.

This is where you come in.

Now, you've got to go tell the police

and tell them some story.

Anything to convince them

Margot wasn't lying after all.

The police aren't likely

to believe anything I tell them.

Tony, I've been writing

this stuff for years.

I've figured out something

for you to tell them.

Now, let's take those points

one by one.

Margot says she never let

Swan in through this door.

Okay.

He must have opened it somehow.

Suppose you tell the police that you

left your key out here somewhere?.

Then Swan could have let himself in.

-How did he know it was there?.

-You told him.

But I haven't met Swan in 20 years.

Tony, Swan is dead.

We've gotta make

the most of that.

You can tell any story you like.

You can even say...

...you two met somewhere and

planned this whole thing together.

Planned what?.

Are you suggesting I arranged

for Swan to come here...

-...to blackmail her?.

-No.

To kill her.

-Kill Margot?.

-That's it.

-Why?.

-Because she said so.

"He came from behind the curtain...

...and he tried to strangle me."

Okay, that's what he did.

Just support everything she said.

Don't you see?.

That's my whole idea.

What about your letter?.

A man doesn't kill the person

he blackmails.

-That doesn't make sense.

-I know. It worried me too.

But I've got that licked.

You tell them that you stole

her handbag yourself.

Why should I do that?.

Because you wanted

to read my letter.

When you read it, you got mad

and decided to teach her a lesson.

You wrote those blackmail notes.

Nobody can prove you didn't.

And you can also say you never

saw Swan at Victoria Station.

You just invented that to try

to connect him with my letter.

You see how

it all hangs together?.

But your letter was found in his pocket.

-You put it there.

-When?.

Sometime before the police arrived.

And you could have also...

...planted the stockings

at the same time.

Mark, why should I want

anyone to kill Margot?.

I know, Tony.

It's tough for us to see

because we--

We both love her.

But we need a reason now.

We need it badly!

Let's take one of

the old stock motives.

-Had Margot made a will?.

-Yes, I believe she had.

-Who was the beneficiary?.

-Why, I am, I suppose.

-There's your reason!

-Thousand of husbands and wives...

...leave money to each other

without murdering each other.

The police wouldn't believe it.

They'd take it as a man...

...trying desperately to save his wife.

Well, I certainly think it's worth that try.

Face it, they can't hang you

for a murder that never came off.

The most you'd get would be

a few years in prison.

Thanks very much.

It's a small price to pay.

You'd save her life!

That's fine coming from you, Mark.

Her life wouldn't be in danger at all

if it hadn't been for you.

It's because of her association with you...

...that she lost the sympathy of the jury.

Don't get me wrong, Mark.

If there was the slightest chance

of this coming off, I'd do it.

But it's got to be convincing.

For instance, how could I have

persuaded Swan to do a thing like this?.

You offered him money or something.

What money?. I don't have any.

Yes! You'd have had Margot's.

It would be months before

I get my hands on that.

And people don't

commit murder on credit.

No, I'm-- I'm afraid you'll have to

think of something better than that.

I know you're trying to help.

But can you imagine anyone

believing a story like that?.

Yes, I can.

If you make them believe it!

I wouldn't know what to say.

Come with me.

That would be a mistake.

They know the stuff I write.

We wouldn't stand a chance--

Hello, inspector.

Is it about my wife?.

-No, sir, I'm afraid not.

-Then what is it?.

I'm making inquiries in connection

with a robbery that took place...

-...about three weeks ago, sir.

-Can't it wait a few days?.

Of course, sir.

I'm very conscious of your position.

If I may, I'd like to say

how deeply sorry I am--

Yes, inspector, all right.

Now, how can I help you?.

The cashier of a factory in Ledbury Street

was attacked in his office...

...and two men made off

with several hundred pounds...

...mostly in pound notes.

What is all this to do with me?.

In these cases, all police divisions

are asked to keep a lookout...

...for anyone spending

large sums of money.

-I see.

-And I was wondering...

-...if you'd sold anything recently for cash.

-Why?.

My sergeant happened to be

making inquiries...

...at Wales' Garage the other day,

and it appears that you...

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