The Big Clock Page #9

And that taxi driver.

Or did you invent him?

Could I invent a name

like Casimir Kowalski?

You could invent anything.

"Miserable, desolate.

Walked the streets like

a zombie." And all the time

you were with that...

But I called the cab company,

got his address,

even wrote it down.

But I can't

get out of here.

Yes?

Stand by, George.

Mr. Janoth wants to speak to you.

Right, Steve.

If I get out of this jam,

I'm going back to West Virginia.

George, if I could

just believe it.

I'll cover church socials,

write obituaries,

set type, anything.

That would be wonderful.

But you won't.

Yes, sir?

George,

I want this man smoked out.

Use the guards.

Mobilize everyone.

Start a floor-by-floor search.

Yes, sir.

I'll put O'Brien

right on it.

I want you to follow through

in person, you understand me?

Yes, I understand.

Georgette.

Georgette!

She just left.

This way, boys.

Take this corridor first.

You take the one

to the left.

Any luck?

Nothing yet.

Keep it up.

Stroud, are you up here?

The antique dealer

wants to see you.

George?

He must be somewhere.

You wait here.

I'll find him.

You!

It's not what

you think it is.

Take it easy. Keep calm.

Somebody's been murdered,

that's all.

Murder!

Aaah!

Oh, there you are, George.

The antique dealer

wants to know...

Now, what happened

to him?

Haven't seen him.

I told him to wait.

How stupid can a guy get?

Let's keep looking.

Cordette!

Miss Patterson's picture,

where is it?

She hasn't

finished it yet,

Mr. Janoth.

I asked for a sketch,

not a mural.

Did somebody call me?

Yes.

Mr. Janoth wants to see

the picture right now.

Oh, of course.

Would you like it

in oil?

No, no, madam.

I'll see it

just as it is.

Come along,

come along,

come along.

I think I've captured

his mood rather successfully,

don't you?

Mr. Janoth, sir.

Here's the antique dealer.

He says Randolph jumped him

on the fifth floor.

Murder, he said.

A murder case.

Did you get a look at him?

Enormous. I fought.

I struggled. No use.

Wild glare

in his eyes.

Warn everyone.

Authorize them to shoot

if necessary.

The man's a maniac.

Tell O'Brien and

the guards downstairs.

Yes, Mr. Hagen.

Yeah? Oh.

They've finished

on nine, Mr. Janoth.

I've sent for George Stroud.

Tell them

to keep moving.

Better keep moving.

Mr. Janoth,

here are the witnesses

from the Van Barth.

Miss Thomas,

the hatcheck lady.

How do you do?

Mr. Kolbas,

the bartender.

Delighted.

Gentleman and ladies,

Janoth Publications...

are extremely grateful

for your help.

You may not realize it,

but when we apprehend this man,

you will have done

your duty as citizens of your community.

Oh, Mr. Stroud,

be careful. This guy's

a dangerous maniac.

We just got orders

to shoot to kill.

I have authorized two rewards

of $ 1,000 each.

One for the person identifying

our man, and the other for...

- What's the matter?

- The man! He was right there!

Oh!

George!

Come on. This way.

He might carry

a gun.

Yeah. Call the cops.

Get going, boys!

In here.

Where have you been?

That taxi cab driver.

You got him?

Uh-uh. He's gone.

He and his wife came in

for a sudden legacy,

the neighbors said.

How do you like that?

Sudden legacy from old Grandpa

Janoth. That's all I needed.

What are you doing?

I'm gonna call

the police.

And turn me in?

It's better than

having you shot.

Come on.

Oh, George, I heard

what those guards said.

They called you a maniac.

Why did you ever

have anything to do

with that woman?

But I told you,

I didn't.

There must be some way

out of this mess.

If I could only think.

Give me a cigarette.

I haven't got one.

We could use one of Hagen's.

Maybe I should go to Janoth,

try and make some sort

of a deal.

Here you are.

Let me see that.

It was in the box.

Well, well.

What do you mean,

"Well, well"?

This is mine.

It was in Pauline's purse.

There you go again.

Pauline.

How did Hagen get it?

Well, she certainly

got around, didn't she?

He claimed he was

never up there.

Why don't we pin

this job on Hagen?

They've been so busy

covering up Janoth,

they've left Hagen wide open.

We'll put him in such

a hole, he'll have to

implicate Janoth.

Hello, Burt's Place?

This is George Stroud.

Let me speak

to the President.

President?

President McKinley.

George, are you sure

you're all right?

Stroud, are you in

my office?

Mr. Janoth wants to see you

in your office at once.

George, are you there?

Talk to this guy.

Get him up here fast.

He's a radio actor,

a friend of mine.

Where are you going?

Into retirement.

When you get him, call me

at extension 381.

All right.

I can't find Stroud

at the moment.

Then you take charge.

Round everybody up.

Make a mass search

of the top floor.

Get the right driver?

Five thousand enough?

Good man.

Superior Cab Company?

This is Stroud

of Crimeways again.

Listen, did Kowalski,

one of your drivers,

make a record

of his fares last night?

About 1:
30.

Yeah, Kowalski.

Yeah, 1:
20 will do.

He did?

What was the address?

Thanks.

"Hagen, Joseph.

Joseph,

Stanley, Stephen.

Stephen Hagen.

Two hundred

and fifty people,

twelve hours,

forty-three minutes...

Earl, the clock

has stopped.

What's that?

The clock

has stopped.

So has this one.

Why shouldn't it stop?

What's the matter with that?

You issued orders never

to stop the clocks.

Why shouldn't it stop for once?

It's a mechanical thing.

It can go wrong, can't it?

It started again.

This one

started again too.

Steve, this hasn't

happened in 12 years.

Bill, go downstairs.

See if there's anyone

inside the clock.

George, where

have you been?

Never mind.

We gotta work fast

before that thug

gets out of the elevator.

Who?

What elevator?

I'll tell you later.

Look, Mac...

Yeah, thanks.

I came as soon as I could.

What do

you want?

Wait a minute.

Is Mr. Janoth there?

This is George Stroud.

Janoth speaking.

I'm in Hagen's office,

Mr. Janoth.

I've nailed our man.

He'll be here as soon as

you and Hagen can get here.

Good work.

We'll be right up.

Have someone find Bill.

Tell him to come to

my office at once.

Earl, they'll send up Bill

as soon as they find him.

We'd better go in

and see what Stroud

has for us.

Mr. Janoth.

George, is this

the, uh, man...

No, this is Inspector Regan

of the homicide detail.

Mr. Earl Janoth,

Mr. Steve Hagen.

How do you do?

Mr. Hagen.

How do you do?

Inspector, would you mind

stepping outside a moment?

I give you my solemn word

nothing irregular will occur.

That Hagen fella...

I've seen him

somewhere before.

He's editor in chief here.

Let's try

these two rooms.

Stroud,

I thought you understood

this was confidential.

This is my wife.

She's been helping me.

I beg your pardon.

I'm talking about the police.

You were told to keep them out.

Not until we had

the murderer. I'm afraid

it's gonna be a shock.

Shock?

Our man

is Mr. Hagen.

Uh, George, this is

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