The Blue Gardenia Page #3

you washed that, huh?

That's what I'm paid for.

Not finding dead bodies.

Captain!

- Yeah? Excuse me.

A pair of women's shoes in the

hall closet. Suede pumps, 51/2.

I put them there.

They were in front of the couch.

You're very helpful.

They're not the first pair of women's

shoes I found in front of that couch.

Add 'em to the collection.

Hey, do you mind?

- He ain't very photogenic today.

Pardon us. -How about another

one, just for good luck?

Hello, Casey.

- Hello, Sam.

Got another cigarette? What are you

doing on a routine murder case?

Sleepy heard it on the car radio.

He wanted a peak at the dear departed

before the other boys beat him to it.

Anything special, Captain?

- Not much.

Artist.

He got murdered to music.

- What key?

Grab what you need, Al, and let's get out

of here. I've got a lot of work to do.

Work? You call writing a column work?

The cleaning said this was

still playing this morning.

Not much of a clue.

- We've got a few.

A lace handkerchief with blood stains.

A pair of suede pumps, size 51/2.

And a blue gardenia

broken off at the stem.

If you want to improve your mind...

I'll take mine in the flesh.

- That's how Prebble got his.

Prebble? Harry prebble?

- Yeah, you know him?

Yeah, I knew him.

Slightly...

That's quite a list.

- He was quite a man with the ladies.

Are you sure that one of

our girls is involved?

All I'm sure of is he got killed.

Who's next?

Send her into my office, please.

- All right.

Hazel, you posed for Mr Prebble,

didn't you? -Yeah.

They want you in the public relations

office. I'll take your board.

There go the next seven years.

- The janitor will get it, Hazel.

What's the matter, Norah?

Don't you feel well?

What?

I'm all right.

Here we are... a blue gardenia.

Just like the one I sold to

Mr Prebble last night.

And the girl with him...

Can't you remember anything about her?

Her perfume maybe?

No.

And that's usually the first thing I...

Oh yes!

Her dress... taffeta.

Taffeta has a voice of its own.

It rustles, like no other material.

Taffeta.

Probably black.

That's the fashion this season.

And, I remember her voice too.

It was a friendly voice.

Friendly and quiet.

Hamstead 1234.

I feel like I've been put through a ringer!

- Well, it didn't take long.

Here's your party.

What's it all about?

- They told us not to talk.

They?

The cops! And what questions!

Asked if I was out in the rain last

night without my shoes on!

Just cause I have a little cold.

Tombstone, Arizona?

One moment please.

In the rain without your shoes on?

Miss Stanley?

Miss Stanley, would you take my board?

I feel dizzy. -Well, certainly.

The afternoon papers, have they

come in yet? -No, not yet honey.

Thanks.

The Evening Tribune!

Watch it, Mack!

Here you are, Miss.

Got him with a poker.

Old fashioned.

Here you are, Miss.

Going up!

How is it?

Not bad, if you want

to read about murder.

Everybody wants to

read about murder.

Even when an unknown doll kills a

guy nobody ever heard of before.

Sudden death sells papers, son.

Lesson #1 in modern journalism.

Lesson #2:
Add the element of sex.

"Beautiful blonde defending her virtue".

- What makes you think she's a blonde?

The Chinese boy who showed

her to Prebbles table.

To an Oriental, all American

women are beautiful blondes.

I don't dig your code system.

What do three exclamation points

after a girl's name mean? -Hey!

That's private stock.

- I can dream, can't I?

Mr Mayo, how do you know this... this

Blue Gardenia girl's beautiful?

They're always beautiful!

What did you call her?

'The... Blue Gardenia'.

"So, here's a bit of information

about 'The Blue Gardenia'"

"for my good friend Captain Haynes

of the Homicide detail. "

"The murderess you're

looking for, Captain... "

"... was wearing a taffeta

dress, probably black. "

Probably black? Probably bright red!

That type of girl never wears black.

What type of a girl?

- You know the type...

Listen to this! He's almost

as good as Mickey Mallet!

"And I know a few other facts of special

interest to the girl who done the whodunit"

"Her voice was quiet and friendly

as she drank half a doz... "

Half a dozen!

"... Polynesian Pearl Divers in The

Blue Gardenia Cafe last night. "

"But, if I know the kind

of high voltage dolls... "

"the late and unlamented

Harry prebble went for... "

"She was just a flashy blonde,

putting on an act as a lady. "

Maybe she was... fighting for her honor.

Norah, a girl who'd go out with a guy

like Prebble never heard of that word.

Yeah, that's what I told

the cops this afternoon.

Maybe she was lonely and bewildered.

Well, she sure had to be plenty bewildered

to go up to that wolf's apartment!

Maybe she wanted some excitement.

Well, she sure got it when she gave

him that fast right with the poker.

Maybe he deserved it!

- Honey...

If a girl killed every man

who got fresh with her,

how much of the male population

do you think there'd be left?

I didn't like Prebble when he was alive.

But, now that he's been murdered...

That always makes a man so romantic.

Don't be such an idiot, Sally.

Me? An idiot?

Don't pay any attention.

It's just that letter from Korea.

Now, I always give a man the

air before he gives it to me.

Did you have a good time

with Homer last night?

I must have...

He called twice to apologize.

Let's turn in.

Homer!

The clue of the black taffeta dress,

uncovered by ace columnist Casey Mayo,

is believed to be the most important

single piece of evidence brought to light

in the Blue Gardenia murder case.

Which the police say should be

solved in a matter of hours.

Now, here's one:
The United Press...

Lady, don't you know it's against the

law to burn your incinerator at night?

I'm sorry, I... I forgot.

I guess it's too late now,

but don't let it happen again!

No. I won't.

It stinks!

So? Open a window.

I need an angle!

An angle that'll bring that dame into

this office before the cops get to her.

You've been seeing to many

TV shows lately. -She's hot copy!

She's one out of a hundred murder cases

that broke all the wire services.

So, what happens if she comes in here and

throws herself on your tender mercies?

If she's guilty she might get off

with 1-10 years for manslaughter.

If she's guilty? You don't think he hit

himself with a poker, do you? -No, I don't.

I'll turn her over to Haynes with

the best wishes for her future.

After you get your story, of course.

Well, what do you want me to do? Hide her

in a desk until this whole thing blows over

I'm a newspaper man, I live on headlines!

I want to be the guy to nail her!

I don't hear the cheerful sound

of busy little typewriter keys.

Hiya Chief! I was just lying on the...

- I know. I know.

Hiya Mack! Aren't you on the

wrong side of the tracks?

Well, my heart's still down here in the

city room, Casey. You leave in two days.

Passport. Plane tickets.

Government clearance.

Front row seat at the next

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