Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation

And now, under the merciless rays

of the pitiless Arabian sun...

those of us who are privileged to be here

are waiting with tense excitement.

The great moment has come

the moment which will prove to the world...

whether the astounding theory

of these intrepid adventurers is right...

or whether they have been following

a fleeting will-o'- the-wisp.

As I look down into

the cavernous depths of the excavation...

I can see the chief actors

in this epic-making drama ofhistory.

First, as he should be,

the young and brilliant archaeologist...

Howard Stevens of

the San Francisco Museum.

Words cannot describe

the feverish tensity of this moment.

Surrounded by learned men

from the four corners of the earth...

Mr. Stevens is expertly brushing

the dust of untold centuries...

- from an object of tremendous antiquity.

- We'll soon know.

The bronzed young leader

of the expedition is handing his find over...

to Professor Heinrich von Kleinroth of Vienna,

who, like many of the savants...

recently hurried to this faraway waste

to lend his knowledge and experience.

You are right, my friend. This emblem

is the line ofJudaea seal of Solomon.

Are you certain?

This contradicts all of my former research!

- Oh, your research.

- Gentlemen, there is no doubt in my mind.

- I'm holding in my hand the crown of Balkis, Queen of Sheba!

- Hooray!

Think of it, ladies and gentlemen.

After 3,000 years,

uncovered before my very eyes...

the fabulous crown

of the Queen of Sheba!

My friend, you have unearthed a symbol

priceless to seekers

after knowledge like ourselves.

But keep in mind the immense

worldly value of these jewels.

Guard them as you would your life.

Don't you worry. Until we get it aboard ship,

Prince Suleid and his men will look after it.

- After that, my responsibility.

- Surely no modern collection boasts such jewels as these.

Even the emeralds of His Highness,

the Aga Khan, cannot compare with them.

Uh, the journalists are still waiting,

Mr. Stevens. Shall I send them away?

Uh, no, I'll see them, but not in here.

I won't be long.

The responsibility lies more heavily

upon Mr. Stevens than he cares to admit.

Uneasy lies the hand

that bears a crown?

He would be less uneasy if he knew

that you were here to guard it, Mr. Moto.

You see, I was in Cairo when news came

of Mr. Stevens's discovery of this ancient site.

My sudden visit here

was in the nature of a gamble...

which has been justified

by the finding of this crown.

Still you leave me

in the dark, Mr. Moto.

I cherish the hope

that this priceless and exotic treasure...

will lead me to a certain genius

in the world of crime.

You believe a criminal is here?

In this expedition?

I hardly expect him to be

so obvious or... so clairvoyant...

but sooner or later he will come

to wherever this crown may be.

It appears to me that

you're still gambling, Mr. Moto.

Jewels such as these are certain

to attract many thieves...

but it doesn't follow that your man

would be among them.

You are in error, Prince. Uh, this certain man

will be compelled to make an attempt.

- Compelled?

- Yes, by his own mind.

He's psychopathic

a kleptomaniac upon a grand scale.

The more unattainable the object,

the more determined he grows to possess it.

You may remember the daring

theft of certain jewels...

some time ago

from the Tower of London?

But that was the work of, uh

What was his name? Um Metaxa.

- Oh, but he's been dead several years.

- I do not think so.

There have been several unsolved cases

in the past few years...

which, to my humble mind,

bear unmistakable signs of Metaxa's handiwork.

So now Professor von Kleinroth accompanies

the crown of Sheba wherever it goes.

Oh, no. With your assistance, the professor

returns to Vienna most inconspicuously.

But, uh, aboard the ship

which carries the crown to America...

will be a Japanese tourist

a Mr. Shimako.

Mr. Shimako, I might add,

is, uh, clean-shaven.

- Aloha!

- Bye!

Aloha!

Well, next stop, San Francisco.

- I suppose you're all excited, Howard.

- Oh, I don't know.

- Yes, of course I am.

- It'll be wonderful for you, won't it?

Like Like Caesar or somebody

returning home in triumph.

And I'll pick up

where I left off:

Tea parties, cocktail parties,

dinner parties

all very pretty and very dull.

You know you like it really.

I could perhaps,

in the right company.

Eleanor, you've got

salt water in your eyes.

With shore-going glasses,

everything's going to look quite different.

- E-Excusing, please? - Oh, hello, Mr.

Shimako. Where have you been hiding?

Mr. Stevens, can you oblige with information

concerning correct method for operating?

- Just buy this ashore?

- Oh, yes. Excellent salesman say instrument foolproof...

but I having strong doubt.

- It's all very simple. Here, I'll show you.

- Please?

Pardon me. Oh!

Oh, please forgive me, Captain.

- I just picked up a few mementos of Hawaii, you see.

- Ouch!

- I beg your pardon, madam.

- Say, be careful.

Oh! Oh!

Henry, do something!

But really, I assure you that

it's a ghastly mistake.

- Put that stuff away

before you hurt somebody.

Ooh!

- Trusting you not injured.

- Not seriously, I hope.

I say, Mr. Moto, how marvelous

to meet you again like this!

You are very impetuous,

Mr. Featherstone.

Mr. Moto, whatever happened

after you solved that case in London?

- Nothing much.

- Well, I say, what's up? Have I dropped a brick or something?

- Please do not concern yourself.

- Well, look here.

If you're traveling incognito

or anything, I won't tell a soul.

Oh, you are most accommodating. May I be

permitted to introduce my friend, Mr. Featherstone?

- Miss Kirke, Mr. Howard Stevens.

- How do you do?

Howard Stevens?

I've been reading all about you.

All this about Salome's tomb

Wonderful! Wonderful!

You and Mr. "Shimako"

seem to be old friends.

Oh, yes, rather. I've known

Mr. Sh-Sh-Shimona for years.

I'm frightfully sorry.

I did let the cat out of the bag.

Yes even the poor animal's tail.

But why are you hiding your light, Mr. Moto?

You're not on a case now by any chance?

I've gone and made a lot of trouble for you.

What a frightful fool I've been.

Oh, don't worry.

We won't tell anyone, will we?

I assure you,

the matter is of no consequence.

I am on vacation,

and my humble incognito is merely...

to avoid any possibility

of business intruding itself.

I wonder if they charge extra for "love"?

You oughta know.

It's a message for you, Joe,

from Wendling.

- I'm afraid it's bad news.

- Yeah? Let's see it.

"Arriving Friday on Lurline.

TellJoe his friend... Moto also aboard. "

Mr. Moto, huh?

It's very bad. Why is he on that ship

if not to guard the crown?

So what? You think

a littleJapanese dick's gonna scare me?

Moto's very dangerousvery. Everyone

who does business with me tells me that.

What you worryin' about? I'm doin' the job.

All you gotta do is cut down the rocks.

- And this time, you give me 30%.

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