The Curse of the Jade Scorpion Page #3

to have you.

I'm the lucky one, C.W.

I was in love with you from

the first moment that I saw you.

Make love to me here under the stars...

- to the sound of the ocean.

- Miss Fitzgerald.

Arent you making a mistake?

I'm no longer Miss Fitzgerald.

- I'm Mrs. C.W. Briggs.

- Oh! Betty Ann!

- Make love to me here... now.

- Betty Ann.

Stop. Enough.

Unfortunately, every dream

must turn to reality.

When I snap my fingers, you will awaken

and have no memory at all of this event.

You will return to your regular lives

as they exist...

with whatever destinies await you, and

let us all hope they are pleasant ones.

Are you ready to awaken?

On the snap of my fingers.

One:
You're

beginning to come up.

Two:
The memory

is fading completely.

Three:
The Jade Scorpion

has created the miracle of love.

- And four:
Awaken.

- [Applause]

- How do you feel?

- Still waiting for something to happen.

- [Laughing]

- How do you feel, miss?

- I'm afraid I'm not a very good subject.

- No, me neither.

- I told you this would not work.

- Well, I tried my best.

Come on, George. Back me up.

Briggsie, I'm tellin' ya.

You gazed deeply into her eyes

and told her you loved her.

You're crazy.

I would never do such a thing.

This is a conspiracy

to make me appear crazy.

I hope somebody talks to me

like that someday.

I can't bear Fitzgerald.

Speaking of that, isn't it-- Should we

be getting home to, uh, feed your cat?

That would be fun,

but I'm getting a cold,

so I just want to get to bed

with some tea, you know?

If you've got a cold, somebody's

got to rub your chest down with Vicks.

- This is what I'm for.

- Anybody rubs my chest down

better bring a ring.

Good for you.

- Good night, baby.

- Good night, Chris.

I knew we'd get a little time

alone tonight if you came along.

I'm glad I came.

[ Sighs ]

[ Exhales ]

[ Ringing ]

[ Sighs ]

Hello?

Constantinople.

You are in a deep trance.

You will fall deeper and deeper

under the sway of my words.

You will obey

my instructions carefully.

You will proceed to

the Kensington estate...

where you will obtain the jewels-- all

the jewels-- from the Kensington safe.

You will do this

with the utmost secrecy,

using all the information

and techniques at your command.

You'll do it with

great ease and facility.

Then you will return to your apartment,

taking the jewels with you.

You'll hide them in

a safe and secure hiding place,

awaiting further instructions from me.

You will then fall into a deep slumber

from which you will awake refreshed,

and you'll have no memory

of anything that has occurred.

You will wait to hear from me again.

Your life will be simply as

your life is until you hear from me.

Remember. You will obey

my instructions to the letter.

You will remember absolutely nothing

that occurred under trance.

Is that clear to you?

Very clear.

Go. The Jade Scorpion commands it.

Awfully late, Mr. Briggs.

Hot on a case, eh?

The Kensington safe

was broken into last night.

Somebody got on the estate.

Jewels worth millions, all gone.

The cops don't have a clue,

and Magruder is numb.

I don't understand.

I made that place burglar proof myself.

Well, tell that to the perpetrator.

We are on the hook for big money here,

so you better get over there darn fast.

By now those stones could be

on the market in Tangier or-- or Cairo.

Everything, everything--

My emerald tiara and my sapphire

necklace from India--

That sapphire is the most

perfect in the world.

No fingerprints,

but we got a partial shoe print.

- Man or woman?

- I really can't be sure.

I want to interview everybody

that works here-- the whole staff--

the butlers, the gardeners, everybody.

- Something's goin' on.

- This time I think your gut

reaction is betraying you.

Nobody in this house is involved.

I'd bet my life.

I want to search the up--

I want to go up-- Can I go upstairs?

If you must,

but would you make it fast?

We've had enough excitement

for one day.

Mrs. Kensington, you know

Alfie and I would never--

Lotte, of course not.

What are you doin'

in my mother's closet?

Well, hello.

You're one of those grubby little

private detectives, arent you?

A private eye, they're called,

a shamus, a gumshoe.

Oh, I'm-- I'm a grubby little

insurance investigator.

The private eyes are romantic.

I- I-I'm just grubby.

So what? You always get your kicks

fondling women's shoes?

Once in a while I'll fondle

the whole woman, you know--

Hmph. You have a fresh mouth.

I'm not sure I like you.

Well, I tend to grow on people.

We could meet later, and I could

grow on you, if you like.

You don't seem tough enough

to go after criminals.

Really? Maybe if I slapped you around

a little bit, you'd change your mind.

- I could slap you back.

- It's starting to sound like fun.

Should we put some music on?

- Why are you snooping around?

- You're Laura Kensington, right?

Yeah, that's right, and I have a

strawberry mark on my thigh to prove it.

- Would you like to see it?

- Maybe later when

I can take the full tour.

Huh. My fianc

might not appreciate that.

- Yes? Which one?

- Oh, so you follow my life.

Well, I read the tabloids,

if that's what you mean.

So you've seen photos of me

diving into public fountains.

And getting arrested for speeding

and throwing champagne at El Morocco.

And while I'm out living the

fast life, you're hard at work

snooping in people's closets.

Can I help it if they

pay me by the clue?

- Did the burglar leave any?

- He didn't leave any

because he's still among us.

- Says who?

- Says the little man

that lives inside me.

So you're C.W. Briggs.

I hear youre a very sharp investigator

with an impressive record.

I looked forward to meeting you.

- They say I always get my man.

- Me too.

[ Exhales ]

Right.

I'm glad we could

have this little chat.

- Too bad there's a houseful of people.

- Where shall we go tonight?

Hmm? Chinatown or Harlem?

You prefer jazz or opium?

I prefer the rug

in front of my fireplace.

Oh, directly to your apartment, eh?

You always begin with the dessert?

Well, depends what I'm eating.

This will be a very interesting

experiment for me.

I usually prefer more attractive,

athletic, muscular men.

Maybe I could get in a few

push- ups before you came over.

I-- [ Clears Throat]

What about your fianc?

If you don't invite him, I won't.

- Any leads?

- It's an inside job.

No question about it.

- That's not what the cops say.

- They're wrong. It's inside. I can tell.

- Are the Giants playing this afternoon?

- Yeah.

They're playing

the Cardinals in St. Louis.

Call my bookmaker Frankie. I want to get

a bet down. Hundred bucks on the Giants.

- On the Giants to win.

- To win, naturally!

What do you think, to place?

Mr. Magruder? Oh, tilt.

- Anything on the Kensington situation?

- It's an inside job.

- I bet my life on it.

- You bet your life on the Giants,

too, and they're in sixth place.

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