Star of Midnight

Just drive down state street.

I'll tell you where later.

Alice, can't you at least

tell me where you're going?

It's business, darling.

Don't worry.

I'll either call you

or be back by half past 10:00.

Give me miss markham, please...

Alice markham.

No, markham! Markham!

"M" like in...

Like in "Minneapolis. "

Well, that's absurd!

She couldn't have checked out!

I was... hello?

Hello?

Telegram,

Mr. winthrop.

Oh, thank you.

That was in Chicago

over a year ago.

It's driving me crazy, dal.

I can't find a trace

of her anywhere,

And I've got to find her.

I won't believe

she's dead.

She's probably married and settled

down and has eight kids by now.

Oh, I beg your pardon. That

was only a year ago, wasn't it?

Oh, be serious, dal.

I'm asking you for help.

Nothing doing. I've got enough

trouble with my own women.

No cocktails, swayne.

No, sir?

No.

Very good, sir.

Don't you understand, dal?

I'm still in love with her.

But, Tim, I'm not a detective,

and I don't want to be.

I'm a lawyer

and a very good one.

Just because

I happen to have more fun

Solving cases

than trying them,

My friends all seem to think

that I'm a combination

Of Charlie chan, philo vance,

and the sphinx

All rolled in to one.

Yeah, but you help

so many people out of scrapes.

That's the least you could do

for a friend.

Well, I'll tell you

what I'll do.

If, in my communings with

the spirits, astral or liquid,

I receive any message or omen,

I'll let you know.

How's that?

Thanks, dal.

What makes you think

she's in New York?

Oh, I don't know.

Seems to me that

if I wanted to lose myself,

New York would be

the easiest place to do it in.

You've been reading

too much o. Henry.

Now, I said no cocktails,

swayne.

You know we're dining

at the coreys'.

Yes, sir, quite.

But if I might suggest...

We're having

cocktails, Tim.

Yes, sir.

I-i think it best.

The gin at the coreys'

is not, uh, authentic.

Thank you, swayne.

Why the third glass?

Miss mantin phoned, sir,

And said that she'd stop for you

on her way to the coreys'.

I was afraid of that.

You'll like this kid, Tim.

She's quite a character.

I've known her

since she was 10.

She ran away from home

when she was 11.

They found her

in my apartment.

She announced that

she had decided to marry me.

I'll be careful

of her.

You could go a lot further

and do a lot worse.

It's Mr. tennant, sir,

returning your call.

Hello, tennant.

I thought we'd agreed

That my name wasn't to appear

in your column anymore.

Your name's news, dalzell.

Well, I never bit a dog

in my life,

And I don't want my name

in your column again.

Is that understood?

Wait a minute.

Mary, get the mantin story.

Hold the line, will you?

All right.

Hello, swayne.

Hi, dal.

Hiya, mantin.

Donna mantin,

Tim winthrop.

How do you do?

Delighted to meet

any friend of dal's.

You must come and see us often

when we're married.

Tim, the woman

is a shameless hussy

And a fact distorter.

Have a drink.

Thanks.

Yes, I'm still here.

Here's my lead for tomorrow.

"Bad news

for New York debutantes.

"Clay dalzell

will quit playing the field

To be led to the altar

by Donna mantin. "

Where'd you get that?

Some dame called up

and gave it to me.

Is it true?

Wait a minute.

Did you tell Tommy tennant

that we were gonna be married?

Certainly.

Hmm.

Well, you can't get ruled off

for trying.

There's not a word of truth

in it.

Okay,

then I can use this...

"Donna mantin,

wealthy young socialite,

"Was seen having tea

with Jim kinland,

"Alleged public enemy number 3,

yesterday afternoon.

What does this tnt for two

mean?"

You can't print that.

Why not?

Because I'll trade you

a better one.

Well, listen to this

anyway.

Your hunch

about my connection

With the van duzen

divorce case is right.

You're a white man, dalzell.

The story's dead.

Anything else on your mind?

Yes.

Cut your throat...

An honorable ending

to a risky career.

Swayne, more cocktails.

And make them strong.

Dal, may I have a few words

with you... Privately?

If you'll excuse us,

Tim.

The lady has

no manners.

Well?

Dal, I need help.

I'm in a jam.

I know... kinland.

How did you know about that? Tennant.

I just managed

to kill the story.

Keep on. You'll get yourself

splashed all over the front pages.

I know. I should

have thought about that.

Well, how about starting to do

a little thinking now?

Well, that's

just what I am doing.

You see,

there are some letters.

Oh, I get it.

Good old dal...

He can get the letters back

From the nasty gunman... And

get killed doing it, probably.

Oh, no, you won't, dal.

You're too smart.

Yes? If I were, I'd boot you

out of here right now,

Let you do your own worrying

about your letters.

Dal, please.

Mm.

Say, mind you,

if I do go into this,

I'm only doing it

because of your mother.

She's a nice woman.

Must be terrible for a woman

to have a daughter like you.

My mother

just adores me.

She'd be more to the point

if she spanked you.

I have a mind

to do it myself.

Well,

this will be new.

Well, you asked for it.

Hey, that hurt!

He really does love me.

He just kicked me.

A sure sign.

Oh, swayne, uh...

Get Mr. kinland on the phone

for me, will you?

Mr. Jim kinland, sir?

That's right.

Don't you think dal

ought to marry me, Mr. winthrop?

I'd have lots of money.

And I'd have

lots of headaches.

Always belittling.

Why don't you tell the man

the truth?

When I was 10

and he had a mustache,

He said I was his sweetheart

and he'd wait for me to grow up.

And now...

I shaved off

the mustache.

Mr. kinland

is not at home, sir.

Oh.

Well, you leave word

for him to call me

Just as soon

as he comes in,

Either at the coreys'

or at the prince theater later.

I'll leave my seat number

at the box office.

Are we going to the theater? Yes, ma'am.

Say, Tim, have you seen

this Mary Smith?

No, but I want to. Does she wear that

mask all the time? Well, I don't know.

They say she's never seen

around the theater without it,

And after the show, she

just disappears into the night.

Now, there's something

to conjure with.

Now, a woman like that

captures the imagination...

Mysterious.

Mysterious, my eye.

Your masked marvel

Probably has a wart

on the end of her nose.

Meow.

To the mysterious

Mary Smith.

Kinland?

My apologies

to the hostess.

Oh, dal, don't go. I didn't

realize what I was asking.

Stay here. Give my love to Mary Smith.

Tell her I went to my death

with a smile on my face.

I tell you, ohlman,

I can do you a lot of good.

You're in bad company,

Abe.

Hiya, dalzell.

How's business?

Capacity,

night after night.

That Smith girl is something

every producer dreams about. Yes.

If it wasn't for these

newspaper fellas coming in,

Asking foolish questions

all the time, why...

Well, we know something

that they don't know, hmm?

Clay!

Well, bless me.

Jerry.

You haven't forgotten me.

What do you mean?

You've heard me speak

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