House of Wax Page #2

- Stop dreaming.

These dummies are insured for $25,000.

That's $12,500 for each of us.

You'd have money to begin again.

I'd rather die myself

than see my friends destroyed.

I won't let you do it,

and I'll kill you if you try.

Don't be stupid.

All you have to do is to strike a match

and the thing is done.

Yes, my friend was a genius.

A great artist.

Only I could understand him.

We were like that, Cathy. Just like that.

- Couldn't they ever find him after the fire?

- Not a sign of him.

The place burned like a paint factory.

Like a volcano.

He was such an impractical fellow.

But I still loved him.

Had I been there, I might have saved him.

You might have gotten burned yourself.

Yes. Such is life.

No matter how much we lose,

we must still go on living.

Was there any insurance

on the Wax Museum?

Yes. I had a little difficulty about that.

According to the partnership agreement...

the money was to go

to the survivor of the others.

The insurance company

insists upon proof of my partner's death.

They always want a corpse.

But they settled finally.

This afternoon, in fact.

Certified check. I got it cashed.

The money is in my safe.

- You know what that means, baby?

- No, what?

That little trip

I was talking to you about...

You're such a card!

- How much did you get?

- $25,000.

Where would you like to go? Atlantic City?

Niagara Falls.

We can get the license in Buffalo.

- License?

- Yes. You know.

Legitimate.

Why not? It might be fun.

Waiter, my check.

Pull it tighter, Sue.

I want a waist like Anna Held.

If I pull it any tighter,

you're not going to be able to breathe.

That's all right.

I don't need much breath, anyway.

As my late friend Matty used to say:

"If a girl don't watch her figure,

the men won't."

Wasn't that the man you were to marry?

Yes, but he hung himself instead.

Matty was such a card.

Where is your new friend

gonna take you tonight?

The Hoffman House for dinner,

and then to a vaudeville show.

- That sounds like fun.

- He's a free spender, all right.

Little bit older than I like 'em,

but very distinguished looking.

- Is he nice?

- Awfully nice.

A real gentleman,

except when he has had a couple of drinks.

That's to be expected.

I'm moving up.

I'm moving up in the world, honey.

No girl ever hits the jackpot

till after she passes 14th Street.

- Is that how it goes?

- Sure.

Look at me.

Not too long ago,

I was down on Delancey Street.

And tonight I'll be right up there

among the bright lights on 23rd.

Now, when you get up there tonight,

don't drink too much.

Don't worry, I won't.

He keeps trying to pour the liquor into me,

but I always manage to keep my head.

After all, now that I'm going regular

with a swell...

I got social obligations.

You know how it is when a fella...

No, of course you don't know.

You're not like me. You never could be.

You got all the brains

and all I've got is what I've got.

You know, I'm surprised

you even talk to me.

What nonsense.

You've been so good to me.

Why not?

A girl needs a friend

when she is down on her luck.

Holy smoke! Look at the time.

I've got to hurry.

Did you find a job yet?

No, but they need a hat-check girl

at the Silver Slipper...

and I've got an appointment

with the manager.

I know that fellow. Watch out for him.

- But why? What's the matter with him?

- Nothing much.

- Long as you know how to duck.

- That kind?

Yes.

- Did you eat today?

- I had everything I needed.

To hear you tell it.

- Besides, you're behind in your room rent.

- Mrs. Flannigan will wait for me.

Don't count on that.

The old buzzard

almost locked me out once.

There.

If I don't sizzle him tonight,

I might as well give up.

He's picking me up in a hansom cab.

No trolley for him. He is real society.

All I've got is 50 cents.

Buy some dinner with it.

- No, Cathy.

- Come on.

My friend will give me some money

tonight and then I'll stake you.

I don't need any mad money.

I never get mad.

Good luck tonight at the Silver Slipper.

And don't forget to duck.

Just a moment, Miss Allen.

- What are you coming in so quietly for?

- I didn't want to disturb anybody.

- Did you get the job?

- No.

- Why not?

- I had trouble with the boss.

You'll get your money.

Cathy promised to lend me some tonight

when she comes home.

You better get right up there, then.

Because she's home now.

- Couldn't it wait until tomorrow?

- No, it could not.

If you want to sleep in this house tonight,

you get that money.

All right, I'll try.

Cathy, it's Sue. Are you there?

I tell you, the scream came from up there.

Let's look into it.

- Usually there's a policeman at the corner.

- That's why I'm blowing the whistle.

Cabbie!

- What is it, Mother?

- It's Sue.

This is a surprise.

I was just thinking about...

- What happened to you, dear?

- What's wrong?

- Wait a minute.

- What happened?

- Wait a minute.

- What is it?

Cathy Gray, the girl in my rooming house,

was murdered tonight.

- What?

- I found her.

The man who killed her

was there in the room.

I tried to get away from him.

But he followed me into the street.

No, Scott, please don't go out there.

It's all right, darling. Don't be frightened.

It's all right now, dear. You're safe.

- Who found the body?

- One of my roomers. A friend of Cathy's.

- Sue Allen.

- Which one is Miss Allen?

- She isn't here.

- Where is she?

I don't know. We heard her scream.

When we went looking for her,

she was gone.

- Are all your roomers in?

- All but Miss Allen.

Lt. Brennan will want a statement

from each one of you.

See that nobody leaves the house.

When I arrived at the rooming house,

this girl had been dead for several hours.

The immediate cause of death

was strangulation.

The mark of a cord is still on her throat.

My examination indicated

she'd probably been given a drug.

- You were right.

- What was it?

Something to make her sleep.

Veronal, perhaps.

I'll know as soon as we hear

from the laboratory.

How long would it take

for such a drug to work?

That would depend upon

how much it was diluted.

It was probably given to her in a drink.

That's how it's usually done.

- Business is slow tonight.

- What?

- Three suicides and two murders...

- And a traffic case since 9:00.

The fellow got hit by an automobile.

I didn't think they go fast enough

to hurt anybody.

Give them time.

They're getting better every day.

I hope you like it here, honey.

It's the best we've got.

- What's the matter with this one?

- You'll get used to that.

The embalming fluid makes them jump.

One of the suicides. Just like a woman.

They always have to have the last word.

- Why didn't you tell the police?

- She's doing that.

Last night was the time to do it.

- She was in no condition to come here.

- This is murder, Mrs. Andrews.

The body of Cathy Gray

was stolen from the morgue last night.

No.

Why would anyone

want to take Cathy's body?

We are as much in the dark as you are.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes