Murder! Page #7

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That policeman was

2 different people.

And for all we know...

The first one

was not a member

of the county

constabulary.

You mean, the first one

was a fake, sir?

A chap in

policeman's clothes?

Our next job is to find

out the name of the man

was he a member

of the company?

Did he wear

a policeman's uniform?

If she still refuses

to give the name...

Perhaps the cigarette case

will help her to remember.

They were calling about

on the night of the murder?

This end, please.

Won't you sit down?

Oh.

Thank you.

It's very good

of you to have come.

But I can't help saying...

I'm extremely surprised.

Well, you see, I...

I've taken a very great

interest in your case.

Don't let's talk about it.

How's your play going?

Oh...Pretty fair.

Of course you know I was

away from it some time

because I was on

the jury of your trial.

I know.

My countryhouse is

in that district.

As you know, I can't

discuss with you

what happened

on the jury...

Is Muriel Heatherly still

playing the lead with you?

I do think

she's such a good actress.

Don't you?

Miss Baring...

You remember

our meeting?

Oh, yes.

You do remember.

Of course.

Very well.

If I hadn't sent

you away on tour

to get experience...

You wouldn't be

in this position now.

That's, in a way,

why I feel...

Sort of...

Responsibility.

That's why I've come.

There must be some

grounds for an appeal.

I knew that would happen.

I knew someone would try

and get me off

and think they were

doing me a kindness.

Imprisonment for life.

Why, a week of it's

nearly driven me crazy.

If they want to do

the other thing...

They can.

I thought it

and got over it.

It'll be no worse

than the dentist.

And if I have done

this thing,

as they say I have,

I'm better out

of the way.

As for the other thing,

if you're a friend to me,

you couldn't do it.

Lock yourself up

in your own room...

For one day.

Only for one day and see.

Tell me what

I want to know,

I'll have you out

of here altogether.

What is that?

I can tell you.

Tell me

the name of the man

discussed by you

and Edna Druce.

I've said

so many times before.

He has no connection

with the case.

Besides,

I didn't quarrel.

Edna Druce tried to say

poisonous things about him.

And I just put

my fingers in my ears

and kept them there.

So that you actually

couldn't hear a sound.

You couldn't have heard

of any other person

that had come

into the room.

No. I suppose I couldn't.

Why wouldn't

you listen to her?

Because...

I knew what Edna was

trying to tell me.

What was she trying

to tell you?

I can't answer that.

It involved...

Somebody else.

Plenty of other people

have been involved

in this case.

Markham, Stewart,

Druce...Fane.

Why shouldn't this one

man's name be known?

There was something...

Something he daren't

have known.

But which you knew.

Yes.

What was it?

You realize

what you're admitting

by your silence?

Because you know you're

in love with him.

Oh, but that's impossible.

Impossible? Why should

it be impossible?

I see no reason why it

should be impossible.

Why, the man's

a half-caste.

What's that?

What did you say?

A half-caste? Black blood!

Why haven't you

said so much?

Tell me the rest.

What was his name?

I won't tell you that.

Will this help you

to remember the name

of the man you were

quarelling about?

Stewart's

cigarette case?

That's not one

of Stewart's things.

You mustn't give the

prisoner anything here, sir.

And the time

for the interview

has nearly ended, sir.

Oh, sir John.

For these last

few moments,

let's talk

about something else.

Yes.

There was a photograph

of me in your room.

How did you know?

I went there

to make inquiries.

How did you

come to get it?

I've always been

keen on the stage

ever since I was

a little girl.

One has one's heroes.

That's why I came

to you for a job.

And I sent you away.

Oh, let's talk

some more quickly.

Diana, I...

Miss Mitcham sent me

some of my things.

Your photograph with them.

I've got it in my cell now.

They let us keep some--

come. Time's up please.

Good-bye.

I'm going

to find Fane.

Handell Fane.

Handell Fane.

What's become

of Handell Fane?

Any news of Fane

yet, Markham?

Not yet, sir John.

I'm trying some more

of the agents though.

Haven't you found

Fane yet, Ted?

I can't bear

the suspense.

We shall be up all

night, you know.

Oh, for god's sake.

Hello? Hello?

Hello? Is that

lambersee agents?

Yes. You found Fane yet?

He's wanted for an

important job, you know.

Yes, at once.

What's that?

Gone back

to his old job?

What? Trapeeze artist?

Under what name?

Where?

No, can't stop now.

Got him at last.

Yes, that's him all right.

Dressed up as a woman, eh?

Always was good at that.

An extremely clever

way of hiding.

Markham?

Yes, sir?

I've an idea.

You know your Hamlet?

Every line of it, sir.

Then let me suggest

for your consideration

the series of events

embodied in act 3, scene 2.

That's the play scene,

isn't it, sir?

Yes. The play scene.

Do you remember

the title...

The mousetrap?

Yes.

Well, when he comes

to my theatre

to read a part

I shall offer him,

there'll be 3 of us.

2 cats to one mouse.

Yes, but what

about the cheese, sir?

The cheese, yes.

The cheese will be

a fat part, Markham.

A villain's part

in the blood and thunder

in a play that I'm going to

write especially for him.

A play based on a recent

well-known murder case.

I imagine he will

play his part,

as I hope we shall

convince him...

To the life.

Come in.

Can you give me

a minute?

Certainly.

Oh. Who is that

you have with you?

Of course, I remember.

This is the gentleman

you suggested.

Yes, sir John.

mr. Handell Fane.

Oh, yes.

Do come in?

How do you do?

How do you do?

Sit down.

Here you are.

Oh, thank you.

Oh.

Thank you.

No, Bennett, don't go.

I may need you.

You see, I always conduct

these interviews so badly,

I'm just as likely

as not to leave out

the really important points.

Now, I suppose I better

begin by an explanation.

I dare say

mr. Bennett has told you

the author of the play?

No, sir John.

I understand you wish

that to be kept a secret

for the time being.

Well, I wrote the play.

That was a simple matter,

but it's proving

astonishingly difficult

to find the right person

for one particular part.

Might I ask you to stand

up for one moment?

Of course.

You know, Bennett,

he looks it.

He looks it

quite perfectly.

Exactly what I've

been thinking, sir John.

Would you mind--

oh, sit down, do.

Would you mind reading

one or 2 lines?

You know, just

to give me some idea?

Tell--what's his name--

Baldwin to bring me

a clean copy of act 3.

Thank you.

Sir John?

Might I ask you...

What kind of play

is this exactly?

Well, you may

question my taste,

but as an artist,

you'll understand

my temptation.

My subject, mr. Fane,

is the inner history

of the Baring case.

Ohh. Thank you.

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