Town on Trial Page #2

Are you a member?

I'm a police officer, Mr Roper.

Really? Chuck me that towel,

will you, there's a good chap.

Thanks.

- Well, what can I do for you?

- A girl was murdered last night.

I should think it might have something

to do with that, wouldn't you?

Excuse me.

Well, have you found anything out yet?

You chaps are usually pretty sharp.

She was a member here, wasn't she?

That's right.

I understand you

knew her pretty well.

What do you mean,

you understand I knew her?

Pretty difficult not to,

considering I'm the club secretary.

Didn't you ever, er...

take her out?

Ooh, I'm a married man! You can't

play around in a town like this.

Mr Roper, I get the impression this is

what you might call a high-class club.

Yes, I suppose you could call it that.

Not the sort of place you'd

expect to find a Molly Stevens.

No, she didn't quite fit in.

I can imagine.

How'd she get in?

Well, I suppose I...

used my influence.

I thought it was about time the club

had a bit of glamour around.

You get rather tired of

buck teeth and bow legs, you know.

That's a Harrow tie, isn't it?

That's right.

Why, did you go there?

No, I went to the London Polytechnic.

Well, suppose we go and have a drink,

and then I can...

Yours?

Yes, I suppose it is.

Where'd you find it?

In Molly Stevens' room.

Thanks.

Where were you around

ten last night, Mr Roper?

Me? Now, you don't

suspect me, do you?

Depends where you were

around ten last night.

As a matter of fact, I was with

Elizabeth Fenner.

Dr Fenner's niece.

She was due on duty,

so I drove her to the hospital.

What time did you drop her off?

Oh, let me see...

We left here around nine thirty...

Ten fifteen or later?

Well, I'd better be getting along.

Lots of things to do.

Come this way, it's quicker.

I remember about this. I'd lent it

to Molly one evening to go home with.

She'd been playing tennis,

and it was a bit chilly.

Well, I'll, er...

I'll be running along.

Yes. Well, goodbye, old man.

- Dr Reese?

- Yes?

- I'm Halloran.

- Oh yes, we've met before.

Ah, no, better wait

till I've scrubbed off.

Contagious places,

these dissecting rooms.

Knew a chap once cut his finger

doing a job like this.

Lost an arm.

Nasty business, strangulation.

- Anything in particular?

- No, she was a perfectly healthy girl.

In fact, she was extremely healthy.

Pregnant women usually are.

Two months.

Thank you.

Will Sister Hilary please report to Ward B.

Sister Hilary to Ward B.

Come in.

- Dr Fenner?

- Yes, what is it?

You certified the death of Molly Stevens,

didn't you, Dr Fenner?

Yes. Yes, I did.

My name's Halloran.

Superintendent Halloran.

- Oh yes. Won't you sit down?

- Thanks.

You don't mind if I go on with this?

If I leave these cultures too long, they die.

You also examined

the body, didn't you?

Yes.

In cases of sudden death,

isn't that usually a job

for the county pathologist?

It was twelve o'clock at night.

The county pathologist

lives fifteen miles away.

I see.

Was Molly Stevens a patient of yours?

No. No, she wasn't. Why?

I read your report, Doctor.

You couldn't have examined

the body very carefully.

What do you mean?

You overlooked the fact that

she was expecting a child.

I didn't take an autopsy,

Superintendent.

A mere surface examination would

hardly reveal a two-months pregnancy.

Who said anything about two months?

Are you sure she never

came to you about it?

I resent the implication

behind your question.

And I resent the

withholding of information.

Now please, Doctor,

just tell me what you know.

Well, she was expecting a child.

Some man came to see me about her.

Who was he?

- I'm afraid I can't tell you that.

- And I'm afraid you'll have to.

What I hear in my consulting room

is strictly confidential.

Even in a murder case?

Excuse me.

His name is Mark Roper.

I see.

He came to you for help?

There was nothing I could do.

All right, Doc.

Now that we've sort of broken the ice,

can you tell me anything

about your other patients?

Young Peter Crowley,

for instance?

As far as I know, Peter Crowley

is a perfectly respectable boy.

I've met a few perfectly respectable

murderers in my time, Dr Fenner.

And I've met one or two

well-mannered policemen.

- Oh, sorry. I'll come back later.

- Just a moment.

- I've seen you before, haven't I?

- No, I don't think so.

My niece Elizabeth.

Superintendent Halloran.

- You, er... you know Mark Roper, don't you?

- Yes.

He tells me he was with you

around ten last night.

Yes, he gave me a lift

to the hospital.

Dropped you off here

round about, er... ten fifteen?

Yes, that's right. Now, if you'll

excuse me, I have work to do.

- Well, thanks for your help, Doc.

- That's all right.

Do you remember what time

Nurse Fenner got in last night?

She was in Casualty with me

at ten o'clock.

- A car accident case came in, and...

- I see. Well, could I talk to her now?

If you wish. She's in the sterilising room.

Second door on the left.

Thank you, Matron.

Nice to see everyone so busy.

If you feel like helping,

the floor needs scrubbing.

Are you going to ask me

some more questions?

Why, does it show?

You're holding up

the hospital, Inspector.

- Superintendent.

- Oh?

It took me ten years

to make that jump.

Why were you trying

to cover up for Roper?

You didn't just make a mistake

about the time, did you?

May I get past, please?

Is that why he called you

to his office? To fix an alibi?

I have work to do.

Why should you lie for Roper?

Got a special interest in him?

Hello, Inspector.

Still at it?

- Will you have a drink?

- No, thanks.

Oho! I know.

Not on duty, eh?

Quite a collection you have here.

Yes! Yes, they were

good days, in a way.

- Mmm. You fly?

- Yes. Meteors, mostly.

- And when was that?

- '42, '43.

Wonderful aircraft.

Well, happy landings.

And that?

Oh, that. That was taken

when I first joined up.

I hate to admit it, but I

ended up a Wing Commander.

Sounds rather grand now.

Why don't you come

to the point, Inspector?

Yes, what is this?

He wasn't asking about

your wartime experiences.

All right, old man.

Let's have it.

- Mrs Roper, perhaps you'd like to...

- I'm staying here.

- I wouldn't if I were you.

- I'm staying.

All right.

Molly Stevens was expecting

a child, Mr Roper.

Well, you don't say.

Your child.

You're leaving, Inspector.

Right now!

- Sure, let's go and talk to Dr Fenner.

- Fenner's a darned liar!

We can prove it.

Take blood tests.

- Go ahead and prove it.

- I will.

Just one more thing.

Where were you around ten last night?

I've told you.

I was with Elizabeth Fenner.

That isn't what she says.

Why should she cover up for you, Roper?

Are you having a fling

with her, too?

Get out. Go on, get out of here and take

your filthy insinuations somewhere else.

I'm sorry, Mrs Roper.

Make sure you're around

if we need you.

- Hello, Harry.

- We've got her clothes here, chief.

Mmm-hmm. By the way, Harry,

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