Suspicion Page #8

There you are.

I don't care much for that.

You're slipping, old girl.

- What's wrong with it, my dear chap?

- That's too complicated.

If you're going to kill somebody,

do it simply.

Am I right, Dr. Sedbusk?

You're right.

Just as long as you don't get caught.

- Do the wine, will you?

- Yes, Issie.

How would you do it simply?

I don't know, dear.

I'd use the most obvious method.

The most important thing

is that no one should suspect me.

- For instance?

- For instance, poison.

Just use the first one

that came to my mind. Say, arsenic.

Arsenic.

I remember...

in Gloucester, where

we exhumed the body four years after...

there was still enough poison,

even in the fingernails and the hair.

Yes, but did you get the murderer?

Let me see.

No, I don't think we did.

There you are.

Think of it. This very minute,

there are hundreds of people...

who have committed murder

and they're walking about freely.

Thousands.

Do you suppose

those murderers are happy, Johnnie?

I don't know, dear.

I don't see why they shouldn't be.

Fear of discovery, my lad.

So long as arsenic leaves traces and

a bullet's marked by the barrel of a gun...

and the tiniest hair of your head

can be identified...

It seems to me by now someone would've

discovered a poison that can't be traced.

What about it, Doctor?

A very interesting corpse

dropped in the other day.

- Do let's hear about it.

- No, please. Don't change the subject.

I saw that look that passed between you.

There's an untraceable poison, isn't there?

Nonsense. No such thing.

I'll bet you know, Doctor. What is it?

Not in a million years.

Now, come.

After all, do I look like a murderer?

That's an interesting question.

What do you think, Issie?

Issie can tell by looking at a persors face

whether he or she is capable of murder.

Can't you, Issie?

I don't want to sound conceited,

but I usually can.

What about me, dear?

Could I murder anyone?

You couldn't hurt a fly, Bertram.

Unless it was already dead.

What about Mrs. Aysgarth?

She has a strange glint in her eye.

I'm afraid not. Lina hasn't the nerve

any more than I have.

As for you, you silly thing.

Look at the expression on his face.

Trying to look mysterious, are you?

You can't fool me.

You couldn't commit a murder

if you tried for 100 years.

No, I don't believe I could.

Johnnie, you're locking up.

What about Ethel?

It's Ethel's day off.

She won't be back until morning.

What about Cook?

What's the matter, dear?

Have you forgotten?

Cook's away on a holiday.

Darling, you're shivering again.

Do you suppose you're catching cold?

Yes. I think that's what it must be.

We have to tuck you into bed.

Get you nice and warm.

- Take off your coat.

- No, Johnnie. Please don't.

This reminds me of the day we first met

on the top of the hill...

when you wouldn't let me unbutton

the top button of your blouse.

Do you remember?

I shall never forget it.

Get undressed, old girl.

What are you waiting for?

Johnnie, I'm in a state tonight.

I don't know why. I'd like to be alone.

Would you mind sleeping

in your dressing room?

Of course I'd mind.

Please, Johnnie.

I haven't been sleeping very well lately.

I understand.

You used to sleep badly

when I wasrt here, and now you...

All right, if that's how you feel about it.

Good night.

Feeling better?

Yes, thank you.

- Hello, Isobel.

- How are you, my dear?

All right.

I've been asleep all day, haven't I?

Isobel's brother gave you

a sleeping pill this morning.

Your nerves seemed to be all upset.

We were quite worried about you.

Cheer up. Bertram had a good look at you.

Although he doesn't usually attend

living people, he's a very able doctor.

He says all you needed was a little sleep.

I'll run down and tell Ethel

to fix something for your supper.

He's one in a million,

that Johnnie of yours.

Isn't he?

Do you mind if I smoke?

Have you been here all afternoon?

Naturally. Ever since Johnnie phoned.

I warn you. You'd better get well.

If you leave me alone much longer

with this husband of yours...

my career will soon be over.

- He flirted with you, I suppose.

- Flirted? Worse than that.

He's worming all my secrets out of me.

I suspect him of writing

a detective story on the side.

What secrets?

He's always pestering me.

I always swear I won't tell him

and I always do.

Did you tell him anything today?

Did I? Bertram was furious.

Said he'd never confide in me again.

But honestly, have you ever been able

to deny Johnnie anything?

Never.

It was about that poison, wasrt it?

Don't remind me of it. I'm ashamed,

and mortified, and disgraced.

I'm just a fool, that's all. If he writes

a story on that one before I do...

I suppose I'll deserve it.

Imagine. A substance

in daily use everywhere.

Anyone can lay his hands on it.

And within a minute after taking,

the victim's beautifully out of the way.

Mind you, it's undetectable after death.

Is whatever it is painful?

Not in the least.

In fact, I should think

it would be a most pleasant death.

Good night, Lina.

You're still annoyed with me, aren't you?

No, Johnnie, really. I still don't feel well.

A few days at your mother's house

will do more good than staying at home.

It's not exactly that. Don't you

understand? Mother telephoned me and...

She got on that telephone

awfully early, it seems to me.

Mother gets up early,

and she's lonely down there.

I happened to mention I was a bit nervy...

and before I knew it I'd agreed

to spend a few days with her.

All right.

I'll run down and get the car ready.

- No. I'll drive myself.

- I prefer to drive you.

I think I'll take the short cut.

Johnnie!

Johnnie!

Lina, what's got into you?

Lina! Stop it, you little fool!

I've had enough! How much do you think

a man can bear? Listen to me!

You throw me out of your room,

run off to your mother's...

now you shrink away from me

as though you hated me. You're my wife.

You almost killed us both back there.

You pulled away when I was reaching over

to save you from falling out of the car.

You don't have to

put up with me anymore.

Johnnie, where are you going?

- First, I'm taking you to your mother's.

- And then what?

Don't worry. I won't bother you again.

Johnnie, you mean you're going to...

Why were you asking Isobel

those questions about the poison?

What were you planning to do with it?

Johnnie, you were going to kill yourself.

My darling.

Yes, but I saw that was a cheap way out.

I'm going to see it through,

prison term and everything.

Prison? You mean Melbeck,

that money you took?

I can't pay it back.

I made the last attempt to raise the money

when I went away with Beaky.

- Paris?

- I went to Liverpool.

I tried to borrow on your insurance,

but it didn't work.

You were in Liverpool when Beaky...

Then you didn't go to Paris.

Of course not.

You think I'd have let some idiot

give poor old Beaky that brandy if I had?

Johnnie, if I'd only known.

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