Song of the Thin Man Page #7

or he has something in his eye.

- What is it, boy? A cinder?

- Here, let me see.

Come here. Hold still.

Say, let me see that.

Why, that's the same...

Of course, I remember the lace perfectly.

- Where did you get this?

- Eve's Fifth Avenue, I think.

- I mean, is it yours?

- I only steal cocktail napkins.

Of course it's mine. No, it's Janet's.

When she spilled that drink last night,

I must have taken it.

Yes, I had that bag.

This is exactly like the handkerchief

that was lying beside Fran Page's body.

I thought it was odd that Miss Janet

got there after we did...

and then burst in without knocking.

Janet's home alone with Nicky.

- What do you mean, alone?

- I thought I didn't hear right.

Nicky said Bertha was out.

Nick, Janet got rid of her.

She lied to me.

She said that Bertha was there.

Why would she lie to me unless...

You know how she hates us.

She blames us for everything.

This may be her way of...

Nick, what'll we do?

- How long before we get to New York?

- An hour, at least.

- Hour?

- Yeah.

Now, nobody's gonna hurt a little kid.

No, that's right, Mommy.

No one would hurt a little boy.

Only a few more minutes.

How could you leave him alone

with a strange woman?

I thought she was your friend.

She only wanted me to go

to the druggist to get her headache pills.

I wouldn't have gone,

only she looked so pale and weak...

- I couldn't refuse her, could I?

- Why couldn't you refuse her?

- Darling, how could she know?

- I'm sorry.

Mr. Charles, not a sign of him.

I've been all over the neighborhood.

The elevator boy remembered

taking him down...

and that Thayar chick told him

to tell Bertha they'd be back soon.

Two hours is quite a little while.

Your kid. Yeah, we'll get on it right away.

Yes, right away.

Made you some fresh coffee.

- Thank you, Bertha.

- None for me.

You'd better have some, darling.

It'll calm your nerves.

Check with the police again.

Darling, I've checked five times.

They're tearing up the town.

- Lf anything pops, they'll call us.

- Hey, Mom, Pop.

Nicky, darling.

I've been pinched.

Where'd you find them, Kramer?

Nabbed them outside the Capitol Theatre.

Darling, would you take Nicky

to his room, please?

Come, dear.

Ms. Thayar, I'm afraid

I'm going to have to be blunt.

- Just exactly what's the idea?

- I'll be glad to tell you.

If you'll just give me

a chance to catch my breath.

Thank you very much.

It's a pleasure. I'll report to headquarters.

Well?

While Bertha was out,

you had some visitors.

They insisted upon waiting for you.

One of them kept playing with a knife.

- Yes?

- The other kept eyeing Little Nicky...

and repeating how tough it'd be

on you if anything happened to him.

I got worried. I took him to the bedroom

and pretended to put him to bed...

and I took him out the bedroom door.

I'm very grateful to you for that.

But I can't understand it

making such a fuss.

Well, perhaps this will explain.

That's what I came to see you about.

Yes, I did get to Fran's apartment

before you.

She was dead when I got there.

I was going to remove the knife...

and then I remembered about fingerprints,

so I took out my handkerchief.

But I just couldn't. So I got up and ran...

and I was afraid of being seen

and I started down the back staircase.

Suddenly, I remembered the handkerchief.

I rushed back to get it and found you.

I don't know why I didn't tell you about it.

I guess I just got panicky.

That's the truth. Please believe me.

- You awake?

- No, I'm asleep.

- Why are your eyes open?

- I'm counting sheep.

I'll bet they're black ones...

like Amboy and his pals.

And Brant and Hollis.

And Fran Page.

Are you sure her murder

was tied up with Drake's?

I think it adds up.

Fran Page was going to talk.

If she intended to pin

the Drake murder on Hollis...

why should anyone

have wanted to kill her?

Hollis is hopelessly insane...

totally unresponsible for his acts.

She was obviously going to pin it

on someone else.

And that someone else did away with her.

Then with Hollis in his present condition

and taking the blame...

this someone else probably feels

pretty safe.

But suppose Hollis regained his senses?

All you'd have to do

is perform a miracle and cure him.

The impression that Hollis is cured

and ready to talk is all we'd need.

What would happen?

The killer would certainly try to get him

before he had a chance to talk.

That might be our chance to get the killer.

Mammy, I think we're going to reopen

the S.S. Fortune.

We?

You and I, and the police department.

My Nicky.

- Albert.

- Mr. Brant.

- My table.

- I didn't know you'd be here tonight.

- The only table I have left is...

- Darling, it's a wonderful crowd.

Nick, what worries me...

- Table three, Mr. Brant. Is that all right?

- That's okay.

- George, table three for Mr. Brant.

- Yes, Mr. Brant.

He promised they'd come.

If they do, I want them at our table.

What's all this finger business about?

I'm having the most likely candidates

seated where I can watch them squirm.

I hope it goes as smoothly as you expect.

If anything should happen to poor Hollis.

I've taken every precaution.

Sergeant, your slip is showing.

Thanks. There's the inspector.

- Everything all right, Nick?

- All right.

Now all we have to do is sit quiet

and keep our fingers crossed.

I have so many fingers crossed now,

I can't lift my drink.

Some shiny eyes in the jungle.

- Albert.

- Mr. Talbin.

- Our reservations.

- Of course.

Just a moment, please.

- Table four, Mr. Talbin.

- Thank you.

- George, table four.

- Yes, Mr. Talbin.

- Well, my old friend slush pump.

- How do you do?

- Do you attend all the openings?

- Naturally. It's my business.

If Hollis has really come out of the fog...

and is half as good as he was,

I can book him.

I think he's going to surprise you.

- Stunning jewelry. Those earrings.

- Very attractive.

The earrings are higher up.

The charm boys.

Table for four.

- AI Amboy.

- Yes, Mr. Amboy.

Table two, Mr. Amboy.

Henry, table two.

This way, please.

- Good evening, Mrs. Amboy.

- Good evening.

How did you enjoy

your trip to Poughkeepsie?

I loaned Fran Page the dough

to send Hollis up there.

He's okay now, so I'm here to collect.

Someday I'm going to take lessons from

you on how to get blood out of a stone.

I just have my boys

break it up into little pieces.

Remind me not to turn my back

on that little group tonight.

That Mrs. Amboy,

the necklace she's wearing.

- She can afford it.

- But it matches Mrs. Talbin's earrings.

- Let's have champagne tonight.

- Sure.

I don't feel like dancing,

let's sit this one out.

Anything you say, Baby.

How much would a trinket like that cost?

- Darling.

- $12,000?

The value is unimportant. It's the thought.

The thought happens to be

that $12,000 is just about...

the amount that Drake owed Mr. Amboy.

Well, bossman, everything looks set.

The Doc says the joint's having

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