Dangerous Corner (1934) Movie Script
Is breakfast nearly ready, Katherine?
- Yes, Miss Peel.
Miss Margaret will be
here any minute now.
She is terribly prompt.
I'm going to get the kippers now.
Don't forget the marmalade for Thomas
and the strong black English tea.
Yes, Miss Peel.
And the full blue English milk.
Yes, Miss Peel.
There she is now.
Miss Margaret, how nice to see you.
Oh. Charles.
How nice to see you.
Oh, how lovely.
Well, aren't you going to ask me in?
- It hardly seems necessary.
What brings you here so early?
- Don't worry. I have an excuse.
There's a kid who wrote a book.
The manuscript laid around for a month.
Today I said to myself:
'Charles Stanton, you promised to
read that poor boy's manuscript'.
So here it is. Read it.
Oh. Thanks so much.
Seems to me you could wait
and bring it to me at the office.
Haven't I enough homework?
- Now, stop scolding.
And walk with me in
the friendly sunshine.
Really, Charles.
Let's not argue.
It's much too early in the day.
Ah, breakfast for two.
You were expecting me. How nice.
As a matter of fact I wasn't.
But do stay.
I'm having a lady novelist to breakfast.
Oh.
An English lady novelist.
- Oh.
Who is she?
- Maude Mockridge.
Maud Mockridge?
Author of The Scarlet Flower,
Paradise for Two, etc, etc?
Yes. Will you stay?
No.
Her last book sold six
editions, you know.
Our firm can stand
another author like her.
No.
If we handle her right she
might sign with us today.
Why don't you stay and lend
a note of masculine charm?
Ah.
I refuse to interfere. Besides, I want
you to get all the credit for this.
Yes. That's very sweet of you.
What will you do after Mockridge?
- Go to the office of course.
What? Spend a beautiful day
like this in a stuffy office?
Well, you are not.
You and I are going to forget all about
business and drive out somewhere.
Out among the daffodils and detours.
Charles, I would love to. But I can't.
I have a million people to see today.
- So have I. That makes two million.
I must see you.
We meet every day at
the office and at lunch.
I'm tired of sharing you with
office boys and bus-boys.
You spend your days with authors
and your nights with books.
You're burning the publishing
business at both ends.
Charles. If you won't have breakfast ..
I think you ought to run along now.
- That's right. Throw me out.
No. But it won't do for
Miss Mockridge to come here ..
And find a man leaving before breakfast.
You know her books.
- Yes. But, darling.
I'm under your spell. I can't go.
You have got to go.
Well, if you gotta go, you gotta go.
Oh.
What are those nasty
little brown things?
They're kippers. Kippers for breakfast.
Isn't it awful?
Don't spurn the humble kipper.
He's put the British Empire where it is.
Hurry, Charles. Now please. Really.
- What?
There now. You see.
Well, stand in the middle of
the room and look innocent.
That's our great trouble.
We are innocent.
All we ever do is stand
in the middle of a room.
Miss Mockridge, how nice to see you.
How nice to see you.
May I present Mr Stanton.
Miss Mockridge.
How do you do?
The husband?
- No. Just trying.
Mr Stanton is a partner in the
firm of Whitehouse Chatfield.
He sometimes drops in for
early-morning conferences.
So fortunate for Whitehouse Chatfield to
have such an attractive young partner.
Up so early. Working so hard.
- Yes.
Yes.
Never mind, Children.
I quite understand.
I came in a moment too early.
He lingered a moment too late.
In fond farewell.
No. Really, Miss Mockridge.
- Oh, you Americans.
You make such a fuss about nothing.
I simply adore emotional experiments.
Of course, I have my own moral code.
It's quite simple.
Two baths a day and mind your manners.
That's a good line, Miss Mockridge.
I would use it if I were you.
I have used it, Mr Stanton.
Oh, well excuse me.
I must be on my way.
Won't you stay to breakfast, Mr Stanton?
Oh yes. Do stay.
Really, I can't. There is a manuscript
I've been promising to read for a month.
You know how it is.
That's right Charles. Here it is.
You almost forgot it.
Huh?
Oh? Oh yes. Thanks awfully.
Goodbye, Miss Mockridge.
- Goodbye, Mr Stanton.
I'll see you later, Miss Peel.
Goodbye.
My dear, what an attractive man.
I do congratulate you.
- Yes, isn't he.
Shall we go to breakfast
and discuss your new novel?
Won't you sit there, Miss Mockridge.
- Thank you.
How enchanting.
Yes. Isn't it.
By the way, what are you
calling your new novel?
'Ecstasy'.
Oh, kippers.
Yes. Do you like them?
I adore them. Don't you?
I'm simply lost without them.
Miss Mockridge. We've been tremendously
interested in your work for years.
My firm of Whitehouse Chatfield is
prepared to make you a proposition ..
Hello, Robert.
Morning, Charles.
- Congratulations.
Have I been elected something?
Just five years ago today you
were elected Freda's husband.
That's right.
My anniversary.
I was thinking about it only last week.
I bet Freda is thinking
about it right now.
This is serious. What am I going to do?
Here is an out. Just tell Freda
you pretended to forget.
I get Betty, Gordon and Martin to give a
surprise party for Freda this afternoon.
Leave it to me. I'll do it all.
You're no man to be trusted
alone with an anniversary.
Maybe you are right.
By the way, have you got a present?
Well, as a matter of fact I was
thinking of getting her a wristwatch.
Well, don't just think about it.
Go and get it.
Freda darling, it's simply adorable.
It's ideal.
Beautiful, expensive-looking.
You can take it everywhere you go.
- Except in swimming.
Idiot.
I'm glad you like it, dear.
I do.
Gordon, look.
Oh? Where is he?
Your brother is in Martin's office
doing things with a cocktail shaker.
Oh.
Hello, sis.
- Look.
I am overcome.
- Oh, nice.
Take it easy. We've a long, gay evening
ahead of us at the country club.
Uhuh.
Thank you, Miss Clark.
Miss Clark, would you let us know
when it is a quarter to six?
We're taking the 6:10 home.
Yes, Mrs Chatfield.
I say, the party is in Robert's office.
I say, the party is in here
where the liquor is handy.
Here, sis. Try this.
Not bad?
- Not bad for me I hope.
They want the party in Martin's office.
- Well, why not?
I just finished decorating this one.
- So, let's decorate that one.
Don't do that, Betty.
You're spoiling the effect.
You can't keep Betty away, Charles.
Come on.
We're keeping my husband waiting.
It wouldn't matter but he's got the gin.
Come along.
Hello Betty, my pet.
Just a little nosegay I picked for you
as I came through the fields my sweet.
How thoughtful.
Here is something for you to
spend on yourself, my child.
Ah.
Well.
Can I do something for you gentlemen
or are you with the little girl?
No. We're on our own.
Try this, Robert.
Thank you.
Sweet.
I'll give you this for that.
- Who wouldn't?
Hello there.
Where on earth have you been?
- How did you make out with Mockridge?
I made out an agreement
and she signed it.
Here it is.
- You mean it?
If you behave you'll get all Mockridge's
masterpieces for the next three years.
What?
- Great.
'Ecstasy' delivered next month.
'Embers of Passion' in six months.
And 'Sleeping Dog' in a year.
- Whoo.
What a day I had.
Don't I rate a drink?
- Do you rate one?
It's all yours.
We just sit back and admire you.
You've been a good girl, Ann.
- Yes.
By the way, where's Martin?
It's not like him to miss any fun.
Martin has an appointment.
He'll join us later at the country club.
Luckily I had the keys to his bar.
Excuse me, Mr Chatfield.
Here is a cable from Mr MacIntyre.
He wants you to send him his money.
Yes. I'll get it right now.
It's in the safe.
Do it tomorrow. We have no time now.
No, dear. This thing has been
lying around here too long.
Get it for me will you, Charles?
I want to send it off now.
How did you get the
old girl to sign, Ann?
Charles dropped into my place this
morning and she fell in love with him.
That's something you
ought to try sometime.
Freda, you should be very happy today.
I am, my dear.
Betty.
Smile and show your teeth so they know
there's nothing wrong with our marriage.
Robert.
- Yes, Charles?
Did you say that bond was in the safe?
- Yes.
Well, it's not there now.
- It's got to be there.
I can't find it.
The devil you can't.
It's got to be there.
Alright. Look for yourself.
I will.
Well, that's where we stand, girls.
Where?
Men may have wine, women
and .. well, flowers.
But mention money and the party is over.
- Not for me.
It was lying right here
on top in plain sight.
Well, look underneath.
It might have slipped down.
I'll take everything out.
What about your desk, Robert?
It's never been in my desk.
- Well, we'd better be sure.
Nothing here.
It must be here.
There's no use, boys. It's gone.
Robert, that's impossible.
No-one has ever had a key except us.
And Martin.
- That is so.
He might have taken it to the bank?
Right.
Get me Mr Martin Chatfield
at the Aero club.
Aren't you men ever ..
Oh.
It's still lost.
Shush. He's phoning Martin.
What is it all about?
- The Goldsmith prize.
It was awarded to one of our authors.
- Well?
We were holding it for him
while he's in the South Seas.
Robert said something about a bond.
Yes. He had us convert the cash into a
government bond. Now we can't find it.
The financial wizard
didn't believe in banks.
Hello, Martin? Robert.
You don't know anything about
MacIntyre's bond, do you?
Yes, I know. But it's not in the safe.
Have you ever seen it anywhere else?
No. We have looked everywhere.
Well, it has gone.
Have you your key to the safe?
Alright.
Alright.
He doesn't know anything about it.
- Martin said he had his key, didn't he?
Yes. He has got it with him.
- Could one of us have lost his key?
Here is mine.
- Mine is always with me.
There it is.
Mine is in the lock.
It will surely turn up.
It has just been misplaced.
Bonds don't walk out of locked safes.
- Not even government bonds.
There's nothing funny about this.
Only four of us have keys to that safe.
But don't be ridiculous, Gordon.
Not one of us could
have taken that bond.
It's after six, Mrs Chatfield.
You'll miss your train
if you don't hurry.
Never mind.
It doesn't matter now.
Eggs, Betty?
No thanks. We had breakfast at home.
Freda .. who took that money?
The last four days have been frightful.
I can't stand it much longer.
It seems to me you
will have to stand it.
We'll all have to stand it. Until ..
Until we find out which one of the men
we love and trust is a liar and a thief.
Don't, Betty.
But I don't even see how ..
Morning, Betty.
- Morning.
Morning, dear.
Good morning, Robert.
Eggs, Robert?
Anything.
Hello Robert.
- Morning, Gordon.
Have the others come yet?
- Not yet.
Who is coming?
Charles is bringing Martin.
There is ..
Well, there's something
we have to talk over.
Martin.
Oh Martin.
Martin. Robert said 10:30. We're late.
Martin.
Martin.
Robert.
- What?
I'm sorry. I was just going to ask
you for a borrow of your paper.
I'm afraid I am a little nervous.
I hadn't had enough
sleep lately, I guess.
It's 10:35. They ought to be here now.
You're wanted on the
phone, Mr Chatfield.
It's Mr Stanton.
He says it's very urgent, sir.
Alright.
Hello? Yes, Charles?
Well?
What did you say?
What?
- Robert, what is it?
It can't be true.
It can't be.
Where are you?
What did he say?
Oh yes. Right away.
Martin.
- Martin?
Something has happened. What is it?
- Robert, tell us what's happened.
Martin shot himself.
He is dead.
Oh no.
No!
Charles found him when
he went to get him.
I don't believe. He wouldn't do it.
He couldn't.
Steady on.
- We must go to him.
We can do something.
No Freda. You stay here with Betty.
Come on, Gordon.
Oh, Martin.
I can't stay here.
I must go.
So Martin took that money.
Plaza 39740.
Yes, Betty.
I'll come right out.
Alright, dear.
Goodbye.
Oh dear. I wonder if there are
two pieces that fit together.
Mmm. It's good.
Can't I persuade someone to
share this European dainty?
No thanks. Freda's dinner has
put me beyond temptation.
Aren't the men ever coming in?
- They're sampling Robert's old brandy.
Then I ought to rescue Gordon.
My dear no. Don't ever come
between a man and his brandy.
This place is so enchanting.
I shall remember you when I get back
to England just as you are tonight.
Such a snug little group.
Everybody is so happy.
Are we? I wonder.
Well, aren't you?
Yes. I guess so.
Is there anything I can do to help
before you sail, Miss Mockridge?
Thank you dear, no. Well, yes.
You might do something about Charles.
He seems so ..
So at loose ends.
Couldn't you marry him or something?
- Well.
My dear, I find him so utterly charming.
Why don't you?
The world is full of charming people.
- You are entirely mistaken. It isn't.
Besides, I like a neat pattern.
Now, there is Freda and Robert.
Betty and Gordon.
And if you would interest yourself in
Charles there would be perfect symmetry.
But now I'm interested in the mysterious
white bird you told us about, Freda.
Any chance of seeing it?
- Yes.
I think we might get a glimpse of it.
It comes into the garden
every night about this time.
What mysterious white bird?
What do you mean?
What does it look like?
Well, I suppose it's a white owl.
It looks like a ghost of a bird.
A ghost bird? Oh, my dear.
How thrilling.
Come along, Betty.
Well, I'll turn the lights out.
[ Gunshot! ]
Robert.
What on earth are you doing?
Oh.
I was just showing the
boys this new gun, dear.
I took a crack at that flowerpot.
- You must be crazy.
Firing a gun out of the window.
You might hit someone.
Yes. It was stupid of me, wasn't it.
I hope I didn't frighten anybody.
- Oh, that's alright.
As long as no-one is hurt.
- Sorry, darling.
Those idiots.
Firing a revolver out of the window.
It frightened the life
out of me. I hate guns.
You must miss your brother-in-law.
What made you think of Martin?
- Just being here I suppose.
I am sorry.
It was the pistol shot.
No, no.
You needn't feel upset, Miss Mockridge.
We talk about Martin a lot.
Surely you remember him?
There is his picture.
Yes. Of course.
One can't afford to forget anyone so
gay and charming and handsome.
Yes. We do miss him.
- Miss whom?
Not you, sweetheart.
You liar.
Did you miss me?
If it pleases you, my dear.
It does, very much.
I wonder if there is any
good dance music on.
I hope not. Let's have a little class.
What were you talking about?
- Wouldn't you like to know.
I do know.
Either you've talked about us or Miss
Mockridge's new novel The Sleeping Dog.
Wrong both times. It was a bird instead.
'The Sleeping Dog'.
That's a curious title.
What does it mean?
It's taken from an old proverb, Betty.
'Let sleeping dogs lie'.
A great book.
- Thank you.
Even though I don't
agree with its premise.
And what is its premise?
The sleeping dog is the truth ..
Which the chief character, the husband,
insisted on disturbing.
With strange and disastrous results.
The truth is always strange.
It's never what you expect.
Strange or not, I'm all for
it coming out. It's healthy.
I think telling the truth is as healthy
as skidding round a corner at sixty.
And life has got too many
dangerous corners.
You are looking awfully wise, Ann.
What do you think?
Truth is something that ..
Well, there is truth and truth.
I see. Something and something.
Go on, Ann.
- Well.
The real truth.
That is, every single little thing
with nothing missing at all.
Wouldn't be dangerous.
I suppose that's God's truth.
But what most people mean by truth is ..
Is only half the real truth.
It doesn't tell you all that
went on inside everybody.
Everything they really thought and felt.
It simply gives you a lot of
facts that were hidden away.
And perhaps.
Were a lot better hidden away.
Right you are. It's treacherous stuff.
I don't agree.
I'm always ready to welcome
what you call the truth.
The facts.
You would be, Robert.
What do you mean by that, Freda?
- Anything. Nothing.
"This is Station BPFY."
"Time signal."
"It's now one minute past 9 o'clock."
Gordon, what is the matter?
The tube has burnt out.
Do you have any spares?
You can see.
There may be one in the cabinet.
Nothing doing.
Well, no tubes. No music.
I guess we will have to talk.
Who wants a drink?
Robert, fix some Highballs.
Alright.
A cigarette, Miss Mockridge?
- No thanks.
I'm a slave to my own brand.
Ann?
I've seen that box before.
It plays a tune, doesn't it.
[ Music playing ]
Yes. It's the wedding march.
Well, I'm glad something
around here plays.
It can't have been this
box you remembered.
It's the first time I've had it out.
- It belonged to Martin once?
He showed it to me.
Martin couldn't have shown you this box.
He hadn't it when you saw him last.
How do you know, Freda?
That doesn't matter. I know.
Martin couldn't have shown you this box.
Couldn't he?
Then perhaps I am mistaken.
I must have seen a box like this
somewhere else and thought perhaps ..
Ann, I will be rather rude.
You suddenly stopped telling
the truth then, didn't you?
You're very sure that's the
box Martin showed you ..
Just as Freda is equally sure it isn't.
Well, does it matter?
Perhaps not, but I am still curious.
As a matter of fact, Robert.
The box was Martin's.
But Martin couldn't have
shown it to you, Ann.
Because you said at the inquest ..
The last time you were
at his cottage was ..
That Saturday afternoon about
a week before he passed away.
And Martin didn't have the box then.
You seem to know a lot
about the box, Freda.
Yes. Just what I was going to say.
Why are you so grand
and knowing about it all?
I know why.
You gave it to him.
Did you Freda?
Yes. I gave it to him.
That's queer.
I don't mean it's queer you giving him
the box. After all, why shouldn't you?
But you never mentioned it.
When did you give it to him?
I saw it in a shop one day. It was ..
Amusing and rather cheap so ..
So I bought it and sent it
parcel post to Martin.
That was on a Friday.
Just two days before ..
Oh.
So, he never got it until
that last Saturday?
Yes.
Oh. Well.
That's that.
Betty, my dear.
- Thank you.
I'm sorry Freda, but it
is not quite so simple.
You see, I was with Martin at the
cottage on that Saturday morning.
What about it?
I was there when the mail came.
I remember he received
a package of books.
I don't forget anything
about that morning.
You wouldn't either if you were dragged
through that hellish inquest as I was.
No cigarette box came that morning and
there's no afternoon mail out there.
Freda.
I don't think you sent that box at all.
You took it to Martin yourself.
You did, didn't you?
Well if you must know, I did.
Freda.
I thought so.
Freda, if you went to the cottage
to give Martin that box ..
After Gordon had left.
You'd have seen him later than anyone.
Only a few hours before he shot himself.
I did.
I saw him shortly before dinner.
- Why have you never spoken about it?
Why didn't you speak at the inquest?
You could have testified.
But why?
If it would help Martin
I would have gone gladly.
But what good would it have done?
No good at all.
You were quite right.
But why have you never
spoken to me about it?
Why did you keep it to
yourself all this time?
You were the last person to see Martin.
Was I the last person?
- You must have been.
Well, what about Ann?
- Ann?
Oh yes, the cigarette box.
Yes. Of course. The cigarette box.
I only gave Martin that box
late Saturday afternoon.
And Ann admitted that
he showed it to her.
So, you must have been at the
cottage that Saturday night.
Yes.
He did show it to me.
It was after dinner. About 9 o'clock.
You were there?
This is crazy. First Freda, now you.
Neither of you said anything about it.
I'm sorry, Robert.
But I couldn't.
Why were you there?
I'd been worrying about
something for days.
I felt I had to see Martin
to ask him about it.
Nobody saw me come and
nobody saw me leave.
And like Freda, I thought it would
serve no good purpose to tell it.
So I didn't.
That's all.
But you can't dismiss it like that.
You were the last
person to talk to Martin.
You must know something about it.
Please Robert, let's leave
it alone. It's all over.
I'm sorry, Ann.
But I don't like mysteries.
You said you were
worried about something.
Something to do with the missing money?
Must we go over it again?
Martin has gone.
Let him alone, can't you?
Shut up about the rotten money.
Gordon.
I'm sure we must be boring
Miss Mockridge with all this.
Oh no. I am enjoying it very much.
I'm sorry. I beg your pardon.
We'd better change the subject, Robert.
- No. Not at all. Not at all.
I think I had better be going.
It must be late.
- Oh no.
Yes, I really must.
It's getting quite late.
I'll have your chauffeur bring your car.
- Thank you. Thank you very much.
It has been delightful
seeing you all again.
Goodbye.
Goodbye. Miss Mockridge.
- Goodnight.
Goodnight Betty.
I'll get your wrap for you.
I am glad she's gone.
So am I. I can't stand that woman.
She reminds me of a geometry
teacher I used to have.
I have always suspected
your geometry, Betty.
It doesn't seem quite real, does it.
What a perfect setting
for a romantic scene.
Don't be silly, Tom.
I meant ..
I feel as though none of us
was quite real tonight.
As though we might wake up any minute.
To find all the things we
are doing and saying ..
Are just a dream.
Do you ever feel that way?
Once or twice.
When you smiled at me.
Charles, you are hopeless.
Star gazing?
- Yes.
No.
Well, now we can flesh this thing out.
No. Please, Robert.
I am sorry, Ann. There's something
very queer about all this.
First, Freda going to see Martin
and never saying a word about it.
Then you. It won't do.
You have both been hiding things.
It's about time some of us began
telling the whole truth for a change.
Is this going to be another inquest?
It wouldn't be necessary if we heard
more of the truth when there was one.
It's up to you, Ann.
You were the last person to see Martin.
Why did you go?
Was it about the missing money?
Yes. It was.
Did you know then that ..
That Martin had taken it?
I thought there was
a possibility he had.
You were all pretty
wretched to think that.
Gordon. I want to go home now.
So soon, Betty?
I'm going to have an awful
headache if I stay any longer.
I'm going home.
- Alright, dear. Just a minute.
What's the matter, Betty?
I don't know.
I'm just stupid I suppose.
Alright then, sweet. We'll go now.
Well, goodnight everybody.
I'll go along with you.
- Goodnight.
Goodnight, Charles.
Now Ann, you can say why you hurried to
Martin that day about the missing money.
We're all being truthful now, aren't we?
You too, Robert?
Good heavens, yes. Of course.
I loathe these silly mysteries.
But you haven't answered my question.
- First, I'll ask you a question.
I've been waiting to do it for some
time but I never quite dared to.
Now, I don't care.
It might as well come out.
Robert.
Did you take that money?
Did I take it?
- Yes.
Of course not, Ann. You must be crazy.
Martin took it of course.
We all know that.
Oh.
Oh, what a fool I have been.
I don't understand.
You .. you can't have been
thinking all this time that I did it?
Yes. I have.
I have been torturing myself with it.
- But, Ann.
It doesn't make sense.
I suppose I might have taken that money.
We're all capable of that
under certain circumstances.
But how on earth did you think I would
let Martin take the blame for it?
I thought you were a
friend of mine, Ann.
One of my best and oldest friends.
You might as well know, Robert.
How you can be so dense baffles me.
But Ann is not a friend of yours.
Of course she is.
- She's not.
She's a woman who's in love with you.
A very different thing. She has
been in love with you for ages.
Now Freda, that's unfair. It's cruel.
He wanted the truth. Let him have it.
I'm terribly sorry, Ann.
Unforgivable.
You've no right to say that.
But it's true, isn't it?
I've been aware of it
for the last 18 months.
Wives are always aware of these things.
And I think you are a fool Robert
for not being aware of it yourself ..
And not having responded to it.
It is not given to many people
to really love someone.
And I think they're
fools not to cherish it.
Before it's too late.
Freda.
I understand now.
Understand what?
About you.
I ought to have understood before.
If you mean by that, that Freda doesn't
care for me very much, you're right.
We haven't been very happy together.
Somehow, our marriage hasn't worked out.
But nobody knows.
Of course they know.
People don't have to
be told such things.
But Ann just said she understood
about it for the first time.
Oh no. I knew about that before, Robert.
There is something else I have just ..
- What is it?
I would rather not explain.
You know, you needn't be noble, Ann.
We are past that.
But you must go on about the money.
You said you always believed
that Robert took it.
I thought he must have.
Why didn't you say something?
- Oh, Robert, can't you see why?
She was shielding you.
Ann, I had no idea.
Thought it's fantastic you could
think I'm that kind of man.
Yet care enough not to say anything.
Oh, no.
It is not fantastic at all.
If you love somebody
you're in love with them.
They can do anything to you
and you'll forgive them.
Or just not bother about it.
At least some women will.
But I don't see that in you, Freda.
Don't you?
But there's a lot of things
about me you don't see.
But if you thought Robert took the money
then you knew all along Martin hadn't.
Yet you let us go on thinking he had.
It didn't seem to matter then.
It couldn't hurt Martin anymore.
Martin must have taken it.
That's why he shot himself.
No it wasn't. You must believe me.
I'm positive Martin never
touched that money.
I've always thought it
strange that he should.
I knew he could be wild.
And rather cruel sometimes.
But it wasn't like him to steal.
He was pretty badly in debt.
- He didn't mind owing money.
He could cheerfully
gone on being in debt.
Money simply didn't matter.
But Ann, how could you think I did it?
From Martin himself.
From Martin?
But hang it all.
How would he think that?
You thought he had been the thief.
We were convinced of
it when he shot himself.
Charles wasn't.
He and Martin had talked it over.
Martin told me so himself.
- Charles?
So Stanton was in on this.
He had to put in his oar.
Why, he may even have
told Martin I was the thief.
I didn't say that.
It looks that way.
Where else would Martin get the idea?
Besides, from what you say Stanton knew
all along Martin hadn't taken the money.
Yet he let me go on thinking he had.
Then it may be Charles
himself who took the money.
It must have been.
But that doesn't follow.
Then why was he willing for Martin
and Robert to suspect each other?
Because it was a way of
covering his own tracks.
No wonder be objected
to all the questioning.
He had too much to hide.
- We've all got too much to hide.
We will let some daylight into
this for once even if it kills me.
Stanton has got to explain this.
Not tonight, Robert.
- Tonight.
I wish I knew what to do.
About what?
You don't understand, Robert.
But I'm now facing the
most urgent problem.
The sort of problem that
only women have to face.
If a man has been dragged
back to your house ..
And told he is a liar, a
cad and a possible thief.
Oughtn't you make a
few sandwiches for him?
He'll get no sandwiches from me.
No sincerity, no sandwiches.
That's your motto, is it?
No?
Oh dear. How heavy
we are without Martin.
And how he would have adored all this.
He'd have invented the most extravagant
and incredible sins to confess to.
Oh.
Don't look so dreadfully
solemn, you two.
I'm afraid we haven't your
light touch, dear Freda.
I suppose it is ..
There they are. You will have
let them in yourself, Robert.
Freda.
- Yes?
How long have you really known?
A long time.
And I often wanted to say
something to you about it.
What would you have said?
- I don't quite know.
Something idiotic but friendly.
Very friendly.
It's all quite mad, isn't it.
Yes. And rapidly getting madder.
But I don't care. Do you?
It's rather a relief.
Yes, it is in a way.
Rather frightening too.
Like being in a car when
the brakes are done.
Well, what is it all about?
- Chiefly about the money.
I thought as much.
Why can't you let Martin alone?
Now wait a minute, Gordon.
Martin didn't take that money.
- What?
Are you sure? Is that true?
- Yes.
Do you really believe Martin
did take that money?
Well, if he didn't, who did?
- We don't know.
We're hoping you can tell us, Stanton.
Are you being funny, Robert?
- Not a bit.
I wouldn't have dragged
you back here to be funny.
You let me believe
Martin took that bond.
Let you? You believed it
yourself after what happened.
But you knew it wasn't true.
Did I?
If you didn't, why tell Martin
you thought Robert did it?
Ridiculous. Of course I didn't.
Martin told Ann.
- Ann?
Are you in this too, Ann?
Yes. Yes. I am.
I told Robert what Martin had said.
That you and he thought
Robert took the money.
You must tell the truth now, Stanton.
You let Martin and me suspect
each other. Now, why?
There can be only one explanation.
Because he took it himself.
You didn't?
Did you, Stanton?
Yes. I did.
Then you're a rotten swine.
I don't care about the money but
you let Martin take the blame.
You let us believe he was a thief.
- Don't be a fool.
Be quiet.
- I won't. You let Martin ..
I didn't let Martin take the blame.
He wasn't the sort to take any blame.
You should know that.
It happened. In the middle of this fuss
about the money Martin shot himself.
You concluded it was because he took the
money and was afraid of being found out.
I let you go on thinking it. That's all.
You might as well think he shot
himself for that as anything else.
And where he's gone, it doesn't matter
if we think he stole the money or not.
But you deliberately told Martin I'd ..
- No. I didn't.
You were having daily conferences and
investigations and we got pretty fed up.
One day I made some
remark about them to Martin.
I don't remember what I said.
But he thought I had something
on you I hadn't divulged.
He inferred that because he wanted to.
Because it struck his fancy.
I was in too tight a spot to explain.
A low, sneaky trick.
Maybe it was.
But I took that bond because
I needed some money quickly.
And I didn't know where to turn.
I knew I could square it up in a week.
- Then why didn't you?
Well, it all came out so unexpectedly
I had to play for time.
But I haven't the least intention of
letting you or Martin or anyone else ..
Be punished for what I had done.
If it came to a showdown I
was prepared to tell the truth.
As it happened it was unnecessary.
Until tonight.
- I don't believe it.
Oh, don't go thinking there was
any deep-laid plot. There wasn't.
It was all improvised and
haphazard and stupid.
So why didn't you confess to it before?
- Why the devil should I?
After Martin's suicide, you all
wanted to drop the whole thing.
'Dear Martin must have done
it so we won't mention it'.
But if I confessed you'd have kicked me
out in a minute and called the police.
You are right.
- Of course I am.
I didn't get in the firm because I had a
good university and social background.
I worked my way up from the bottom.
Don't forget I used to
be a clerk in the office.
It makes a difference I can tell you.
But to let us go on believing ..
- Why not?
It was all over. Why open it up again?
Robert, Gordon and I were all
doing well together in the firm.
Where are we now?
Who is better off because of this?
You are not.
But Martin is.
And the people who cared about him.
Are they?
At least we know now he wasn't a thief.
He must have had some reason
for doing what he did.
And you're probably a lot better off
for not knowing what the reason was.
Perhaps he did it because he
thought I'd taken the money.
If you think Martin shot himself because
he thought you had taken some money ..
Then you didn't know Martin.
It amused him to think you a thief.
A lot of things amused that young man.
That is true. I know.
He didn't care. He didn't care at all.
Look here. Do you know why
Martin did shoot himself?
I can imagine reasons.
What do you mean by that?
- I mean he was that sort.
He'd got his life in a mess
and I don't blame him.
You don't blame him? Who are you
to blame him or not blame him?
Yes. The less you say the better.
- The less we all say the better.
I told you as much before you
began dragging out all this stuff.
But like a fool, you wouldn't
leave well enough alone.
Now you got what you asked for.
One thing more we'll ask
for is to be rid of you.
Yes. Do you think you will
stay on with the firm after this?
No. I suppose not.
At least I'll leave a lot of hard work.
In the last year the burden of running
this business has been on Ann and me.
Now find someone else ..
To elevate to a partnership to relieve
you of the necessity of working.
At least it will be a pleasure to try.
You've never liked us
and you hated Martin.
I knew it.
- I had my reasons.
Reasons?
You are not fit to mention his name.
You never even knew the real Martin.
Not as well as you did perhaps.
But well enough.
Does that mean anything?
- It means exactly what I said.
Robert, Charles.
Let's have no more of this.
Sorry, Ann. I tried to stay out of this.
- I await an explanation, Stanton.
Do you see he's getting at me?
Is that true? Do you imply ..
No. I'm not getting at anybody, though
it seems to be the fashion this evening.
Then you'd better take that back.
- I'll take nothing back.
If there's any more explaining,
Freda will have to do it.
Robert, please. Leave him alone.
Don't push this thing any further.
Freda, what's the matter?
It isn't true, is it?
I must know. If it isn't I'll kick
Stanton out of the house.
Don't talk like a man in a melodrama.
You will not kick me out of the house.
I'll go out in the
ordinary way, thank you.
Freda, is this true.?
Yes.
Has that been the trouble all along?
Yes.
All along.
When did it begin?
A long time ago.
It seems a long time ago.
Ages.
Before we were married?
Yes.
I thought I could get him
out of my mind .. then.
And I did for a little time.
The old feeling was always there.
I wish you had told me.
Why didn't you?
- I tried to.
Hundreds of times.
I said the words to myself
so often sometimes I ..
I hardly knew whether I could
actually say them out loud to you.
I wish you had.
Why didn't I see it for myself?
It all seems so plain now.
It began when we were all up at
the lake that summer, didn't it?
Yes.
That lovely, lovely summer.
Nothing has ever been
quite real since then.
And it didn't mean much to Martin.
A sort-of experiment. That's all.
Didn't he care?
No.
Not really.
I tried to forget him
in fairness to you.
And I thought it would be alright.
But it wasn't.
It was hopeless.
You don't know how hopeless it was.
Oh, Martin.
Martin.
Freda, don't.
That's how it goes on, you see.
A good evening's work.
Robert. Somebody is out there.
There is no-one there now.
- I swear there was somebody there.
They were listening.
Well, they couldn't have
chosen a better night for it.
See who it is and don't let them
interrupt us, whoever they are.
The interruption is about an hour late.
You have been talking about me.
Haven't you?
Betty, I thought you had gone
to bed. What's the matter?
I wanted to go to bed.
I started to but I couldn't.
I had to come back.
- You are wrong.
As a matter of fact you are the one
person we haven't been talking about.
Is that true?
Of course, Betty.
Well then ..
What have you been talking about?
- The money.
Martin didn't take it.
Stanton did. He's admitted it.
Admitted it?
Charles.
Surely that's impossible.
It sounds impossible, doesn't it Betty.
But it isn't.
So .. if Martin didn't
take the money then ..
Why did he shoot himself?
- That's what we want to know.
Haven't you dug up enough muck?
Why go on and on?
You can stand there and talk like
that when you are responsible.
Nonsense.
- It isn't.
Don't you see what you've done?
- No. Because I don't understand.
You don't want to. That's all.
Talk sense, man. Can't you see that
Martin must have had his reasons?
No. What drove him to suicide ..
Was my stupidity and you letting
him think I'd taken that money.
It couldn't have been anything else.
So that settles it once and for all.
You're in no state to settle anything.
Listen to me, Stanton.
- Drop it, man.
I'll never forgive you for this.
You've got it all wrong.
- We haven't, you louse.
You made Martin shoot himself.
- Wait a minute, Gordon.
Martin didn't shoot himself.
Martin didn't shoot himself?
No.
I shot him.
Ann.
That's impossible.
She must be hysterical.
- Ann is not hysterical.
She means it.
You might as well tell us
exactly what happened now, Ann.
And I might as well tell
you before you begin.
I'm not at all surprised.
I suspected this from the first.
You suspected I did it?
- Yes.
But why?
- Never mind now.
It was an accident, wasn't it?
Yes.
It really was an accident.
But it's all so muddled and horrible.
I'll try to tell the complete truth.
I went to see Martin about the money.
I don't think I've ever seen him as
bad as he was that Saturday night.
He wasn't really sane.
I arrived there about 9:30.
This is an unexpected honour.
A charming young lady
calling at this time of night.
I came to talk to you seriously, Martin.
I was afraid there was a catch.
What have I done this time?
I don't know. Have you done something?
Many things.
Would you like to hear about them?
Or can I offer you a drink first?
- No thanks.
A cigarette?
Yes.
Oh.
Amusing, isn't it.
Where did you get this?
A present.
You sure you won't have a drink?
Don't drink that yet.
I need it.
You look as though you will stand me in
a corner and ask impertinent questions.
Are you?
- I want to ask you one question.
Martin, who took that money?
At the office, I mean.
The Goldsmith award.
Who do you think took it?
I think you did.
You are all wrong, Ann.
But then you always were.
You don't have to try and dodge me.
- Are you alright?
You seem strange and different tonight.
I feel great.
It is you.
You seem so sad.
So ordinary.
I can change that look
of yours if you let me.
Martin.
Ann, how do you manage to
live without ever a thrill?
I am sorry for you.
You seem so bleak.
Ann, wouldn't you like just
once .. to lose yourself?
To break out of that ..
That hard little shell of yours.
And become a happy pagan.
Are you crazy?
Ann, life offers you fun
and you won't take it.
Foolish, stupid, unfaithful Ann.
Perhaps I had better go.
I'll be good.
Let me show you some
new etchings I've bought.
You've bought a lot of things lately.
Where did you get all this money?
I didn't steal it.
If you didn't, who did?
Robert.
How dare you accuse Robert.
You all had keys to that safe.
But nobody ever opened it but Robert.
Robert takes care of all the money.
He always has.
Ask Stanton if you don't believe me.
Robert, your idol, is a sneak-thief.
And Martin the bad boy is shielding
him. Isn't that amusing, huh?
Yes. Robert. Your little tin-god hero.
Is a thief and I, Martin.
Am shielding him.
Stop it!
You came here to get a confession.
Instead, you got the truth.
Well. How do you like it?
Why .. why would Robert do such a thing?
How should I know?
Perhaps he has got a girl somewhere.
Well, he doesn't have much
fun at home, does he.
Or did you think your schoolgirl
crush would satisfy him?
My what?
Well, you've been in love with
him since you were a kid.
Too engrossed in worshipping
the dream of a plaster saint ..
To be aware of the
flesh and blood men ..
Who could love you and make you happy.
Oh, how I hate you!
Marvelous. You have feelings.
Spinster of the parish.
Beautiful. Beautiful .. spinster.
Don't come near me. I could kill you.
Could?
It would be so easy.
Martin all alone except for Ann.
Nothing nearer than Stanton's house.
Stanton would do
anything to protect Ann.
But first you have to take
the gun away from me.
Take the gun away from me, Ann.
It would be exciting.
Almost anything might happen.
Try and take it away from me.
- Oh. You are insane.
Is it so difficult to find a new thrill?
It's loaded. Honestly it is.
Martin, you are frightening me.
- This is good.
I'm frightened too. But only a little.
I wonder how it will feel to be dead.
Don't, don't!
- No. It's too soon for you.
I don't think I should mind.
But first.
You shouldn't die yet.
- No! Martin, leave me alone.
Please leave me alone.
[ Gunshot! ]
Martin.
Martin.
When I realized what happened.
I rushed out and sat in my
car for I don't know how long.
I couldn't move a finger.
I just sat on and on in the car.
Shivering.
And it was so quiet in the cottage.
So horribly quiet.
You can't be blamed, Ann.
Of course she can't be blamed.
May I have a cigarette, Robert?
It's a pity we can't all be as calm and
business-like about it as you, Stanton.
I suspected long ago that
something like this had happened.
I don't see how you could.
All the evidence pointed to suicide.
- Not quite all.
You know, I went to Martin's cottage the
next morning before anyone else arrived.
And I found something on the floor.
I've kept it ever since.
Yes. That's part of the
dress I was wearing.
It must have been torn in the struggle
we had. So that's how you knew.
Yes.
Why didn't you say something?
He didn't say anything as he wanted
everyone to think Martin shot himself.
No. There happened to be another reason.
I knew if Ann was involved with Martin's
death, something like this had happened.
So Ann couldn't be blamed.
You see, I knew her
better than any of you.
And I ..
I trust her.
She is about the only
person I would trust.
She knows all about that.
I've told her often enough.
She is not interested, but there it is.
And you never even
hinted about it to me.
Surprising, isn't it.
What a chance I missed to capture
your interest for a few minutes.
But I couldn't take that
line with you, Ann.
You know.
I nearly did take you
into my confidence.
When?
When I left Martin's house that night.
I felt I had to tell somebody.
You didn't come to my place that night.
- Yes I did.
It was about 11 o'clock.
I left my car at the bottom of the hill.
And then I walked up to the cottage.
And then.
I walked back again.
What is the matter, Betty?
- Why, I ..
Nothing.
Betty, what do you know about this?
Were you there, Betty?
That's impossible. Tell them it's a lie.
It's true, isn't it.
See? She can't deny it.
Leave the child alone.
That's just the mistake you
have all made. I am not a child.
You weren't there?
Yes.
I was.
And now I'll tell you the rest of it.
I went there alright but
he wouldn't let me stay.
A good joke on me, wasn't it.
If you had waited a few minutes longer
you'd have seen him show me the door.
You little liar.
- It's true.
He played the perfectly
beautiful Sir Galahad.
You know, Charles. I've never
really quite forgiven you for that.
Betty.
I don't think you need to be
quite so shocked, Robert.
But why?
Because Gordon was driving me mad.
This marriage of ours that you
all get so sentimental about.
It's the biggest sham there's ever been.
It's nothing but pretence,
pretence, pretence.
'Betty darling and Gordon darling'.
Our marriage was all a mistake.
It seems to be the sort of
mistake we make in our family.
I was in love with him
when we were married.
I thought everything was
going to be marvelous.
Gordon and I have nothing in common.
Charles is the one person
who understood it all.
If I presumed too much on his sympathy.
Then that's my mistake.
He's been a good friend to me.
- A fine friendship.
At least when I got in a jam
he was ready to help me out.
Help you?
- Yes.
I lost a lot of money
at a gambling place.
Not a very nice one.
I had to pay up quickly or there
would have been a scandal.
And Charles gave me the money.
Why didn't you come to me?
A lot of good that would have done.
You couldn't even be generous.
No.
Charles.
That was why you took
the money, wasn't it?
Queer how it all worked out, isn't it.
Charles, I didn't know.
I'm terribly sorry.
That is alright, Betty.
I could do with a drink myself.
I thought you were better
than the rest of us.
Something fine and real.
I even thought you and Gordon
were happy together.
Yes.
We put up a good show, didn't we.
You did.
If we'd pretended for long enough we
might have been happy together sometime.
It often happens like that.
Never.
Yes, it does. That's why
all this is so wrong really.
The real truth is something so
deep you can't get at it this way.
And all this half-truth does
is to blow everything up.
It isn't civilised.
I agree.
You agree? You might as well.
You'll get no sympathy from me.
Sympathy from you?
I never want to set eyes
on you again, Stanton.
You are a liar and a thief.
- And you are a fool.
You won't face things.
You've been living in a fool's paradise.
Now, having gotten yourself out of it by
tonight's efforts all you are doing ..
Is you're busy building yourself
a fool's shell to live in.
We've had enough of you, Stanton.
Get out.
Goodnight, Ann.
I'm sorry about all this.
So am I.
Goodnight.
Goodnight, Freda.
Goodnight.
Remember, we expect
your resignation, Stanton.
With pleasure.
Goodnight.
Oh, don't bother. I can find my way out.
If Charles goes the firm will suffer.
Don't worry. They firm
is smashed to bits now.
Come on, Betty darling.
I think we had better return
to our happy little home.
Oh don't, Gordon.
I'll let you out.
Goodbye, Robert.
I can't say goodbye to you.
I don't know you.
Don't drink any more tonight, Robert.
I know how you feel but it
will only make you worse.
What does it matter?
I'm finished anyway.
It won't seem so bad tomorrow.
It never does.
No. This isn't going to
be any better tomorrow.
Then again.
You see, I don't care anymore.
Nothing happens.
Here. Inside.
That's the awful, cruel thing.
Nothing happens.
I'm sure it's not at all the proper
thing to say at this time ..
But the fact remains
that I'm rather hungry.
What about you, Ann?
Robert?
Or have you been drinking too much?
Yes. I have been drinking too much.
- Well.
It's very silly of you.
Yes.
You did ask for all this, you know.
I asked for it.
And I got it.
Though I doubt if you minded very
much until it came to Betty.
No. That isn't true.
Though I can understand you thinking so.
You see, as more and more
of this stuff came out ..
There was only one person
left I felt I could depend on.
Ha.
Betty?
And some lovely quality
of life she stood for.
You can always build up another
image to fall in love with.
No you can't. That's the trouble.
You lose the capacity.
You run short of the stuff that
creates beautiful illusions.
It's .. just as if a gland
stopped working.
You'll have to learn to
live without illusions.
It can't be done.
I've lived too long among them.
Then why didn't you leave them alone?
Because I'm a fool.
Stanton was right.
I had to meddle.
I began this evening with
everything to keep me going.
And now I ..
Robert, please.
No, Robert. It won't be
like this tomorrow.
Tomorrow? Tomorrow?
I am through, I tell you.
I am through.
There can't be a tomorrow.
Robert, Robert!
[ Gunshot! ]
Robert!
Robert.
What are you doing?
I am sorry, dear. I was just
showing the boys this gun.
I took a crack at one of the flowerpots.
You must be crazy firing
a gun out of the window.
You might hit someone.
Yes. It was stupid of me, wasn't it.
I hope it didn't frighten anybody.
It's alright as long as no-one is hurt.
I am sorry, darling.
I guess that was a mistake.
It was those idiots firing a
revolver out of the window.
It frightened the life
out of me. I hate guns.
You must miss your brother-in-law.
What made you think of Martin?
Just being here I suppose.
You needn't feel upset, Miss Mockridge.
We talk about Martin a lot.
One can't afford to forget anyone
so gay and charming and handsome.
Yes.
We do miss him.
- Miss whom?
Not you, sweetheart.
Liar.
Did you miss me?
If it pleases you, my dear.
- It does. Very much.
I wonder if there's any dance music on.
- I hope not. Let's have a little class.
What have you all been talking about?
- Wouldn't you like to know.
I do know. Either you talked about us.
Or Miss Mockridge's new novel,
The Sleeping Dog.
You're wrong both times.
It is a bird instead.
The sleeping dog.
That is a curious title.
What does it mean?
It came from an old proverb, Betty.
'Let sleeping dogs lie'.
A great book.
- Thank you.
Even though I disagree with its premise.
- And what is its premise?
The 'sleeping dog' is the truth.
Which the chief character, the
husband, insisted on disturbing.
With strange and disastrous results.
I think telling the truth is as healthy
as skidding around a corner at sixty.
You're looking awfully wise, Ann.
What do you think?
I agree with you. I think telling
everything is dangerous.
Because what most people
mean by 'everything' ..
Is only half the real truth.
"This is Station BPFY."
"Time signal."
"It is now one minute past 9 o'clock."
Gordon, what is the matter?
The tube is burnt out.
Do you have a spare?
Look. There may be one in the cabinet.
A cigarette, Ann?
Oh, I remember that box.
It plays a tune, doesn't it.
Yes. It's the wedding march.
Ah, here we are.
The fates are with us.
Now we'll have music and laughter.
[ Music playing ]
There you are.
How about a dance, sweetheart?
- Thank you.
Miss Mockridge.
Darling.
Thank you.
Miss Mockridge.
- Hmm?
Here is to the success
of The Sleeping Dog.
Thank you so much.
Well, if Freda hadn't had
a spare radio tube ..
There wouldn't have been
any dance music and then ..
Well, anything might have happened.
- What, for instance?
We may have had to
listen to Mockridge ..
Tell about the time she was a guest
in the harem of the Sultan of Boldoboz.
For the twentieth time.
I don't believe anyone is that
anxious to have her stay.
Hello.
Aren't we dancing?
No. I don't feel like dancing.
Oh? There's a full moon tonight.
Well. I'm afraid I will have
to propose to you again.
The moon, you know. By this time
it's become a tradition with us.
Again, Charles?
- For the last time.
Again.
Ann.
What is the answer?
This time.
Yes.
What did you say?
I said 'yes'.
But.
But this is so sudden.
I mean .. you can't do things like that
to me. You know I have a weak heart?
You brought it all on yourself.
But Ann, for years and
years and years ..
Whenever there was a lull in the
conversation I proposed to you.
I've come to depend on it.
Now I have nothing to talk about for
the rest of my life. What shall I do?
Well, some men kiss you.
At least they do in books.
Thank goodness you can read.
But Ann, what made you
change your mind like that?
Tonight.
That cigarette box brought back ..
I really seemed to see
you for the first time.
The wedding march did that?
Perhaps. Or something it reminded me of.
It made me see what a fool
I've been all these years.
Wasting my life and yours.
I don't understand.
- Never mind now.
Charles, are you happy?
- Oh, darling.
I had better not tell you I am.
I might cry or do something silly.
I have waited for you so long.
I had really given up hope.
Hey. You're not doing this for
the sake of the firm, are you?
No. I'm doing it just to
please Miss Mockridge.
..r-s..
- Yes, Miss Peel.
Miss Margaret will be
here any minute now.
She is terribly prompt.
I'm going to get the kippers now.
Don't forget the marmalade for Thomas
and the strong black English tea.
Yes, Miss Peel.
And the full blue English milk.
Yes, Miss Peel.
There she is now.
Miss Margaret, how nice to see you.
Oh. Charles.
How nice to see you.
Oh, how lovely.
Well, aren't you going to ask me in?
- It hardly seems necessary.
What brings you here so early?
- Don't worry. I have an excuse.
There's a kid who wrote a book.
The manuscript laid around for a month.
Today I said to myself:
'Charles Stanton, you promised to
read that poor boy's manuscript'.
So here it is. Read it.
Oh. Thanks so much.
Seems to me you could wait
and bring it to me at the office.
Haven't I enough homework?
- Now, stop scolding.
And walk with me in
the friendly sunshine.
Really, Charles.
Let's not argue.
It's much too early in the day.
Ah, breakfast for two.
You were expecting me. How nice.
As a matter of fact I wasn't.
But do stay.
I'm having a lady novelist to breakfast.
Oh.
An English lady novelist.
- Oh.
Who is she?
- Maude Mockridge.
Maud Mockridge?
Author of The Scarlet Flower,
Paradise for Two, etc, etc?
Yes. Will you stay?
No.
Her last book sold six
editions, you know.
Our firm can stand
another author like her.
No.
If we handle her right she
might sign with us today.
Why don't you stay and lend
a note of masculine charm?
Ah.
I refuse to interfere. Besides, I want
you to get all the credit for this.
Yes. That's very sweet of you.
What will you do after Mockridge?
- Go to the office of course.
What? Spend a beautiful day
like this in a stuffy office?
Well, you are not.
You and I are going to forget all about
business and drive out somewhere.
Out among the daffodils and detours.
Charles, I would love to. But I can't.
I have a million people to see today.
- So have I. That makes two million.
I must see you.
We meet every day at
the office and at lunch.
I'm tired of sharing you with
office boys and bus-boys.
You spend your days with authors
and your nights with books.
You're burning the publishing
business at both ends.
Charles. If you won't have breakfast ..
I think you ought to run along now.
- That's right. Throw me out.
No. But it won't do for
Miss Mockridge to come here ..
And find a man leaving before breakfast.
You know her books.
- Yes. But, darling.
I'm under your spell. I can't go.
You have got to go.
Well, if you gotta go, you gotta go.
Oh.
What are those nasty
little brown things?
They're kippers. Kippers for breakfast.
Isn't it awful?
Don't spurn the humble kipper.
He's put the British Empire where it is.
Hurry, Charles. Now please. Really.
- What?
There now. You see.
Well, stand in the middle of
the room and look innocent.
That's our great trouble.
We are innocent.
All we ever do is stand
in the middle of a room.
Miss Mockridge, how nice to see you.
How nice to see you.
May I present Mr Stanton.
Miss Mockridge.
How do you do?
The husband?
- No. Just trying.
Mr Stanton is a partner in the
firm of Whitehouse Chatfield.
He sometimes drops in for
early-morning conferences.
So fortunate for Whitehouse Chatfield to
have such an attractive young partner.
Up so early. Working so hard.
- Yes.
Yes.
Never mind, Children.
I quite understand.
I came in a moment too early.
He lingered a moment too late.
In fond farewell.
No. Really, Miss Mockridge.
- Oh, you Americans.
You make such a fuss about nothing.
I simply adore emotional experiments.
Of course, I have my own moral code.
It's quite simple.
Two baths a day and mind your manners.
That's a good line, Miss Mockridge.
I would use it if I were you.
I have used it, Mr Stanton.
Oh, well excuse me.
I must be on my way.
Won't you stay to breakfast, Mr Stanton?
Oh yes. Do stay.
Really, I can't. There is a manuscript
I've been promising to read for a month.
You know how it is.
That's right Charles. Here it is.
You almost forgot it.
Huh?
Oh? Oh yes. Thanks awfully.
Goodbye, Miss Mockridge.
- Goodbye, Mr Stanton.
I'll see you later, Miss Peel.
Goodbye.
My dear, what an attractive man.
I do congratulate you.
- Yes, isn't he.
Shall we go to breakfast
and discuss your new novel?
Won't you sit there, Miss Mockridge.
- Thank you.
How enchanting.
Yes. Isn't it.
By the way, what are you
calling your new novel?
'Ecstasy'.
Oh, kippers.
Yes. Do you like them?
I adore them. Don't you?
I'm simply lost without them.
Miss Mockridge. We've been tremendously
interested in your work for years.
My firm of Whitehouse Chatfield is
prepared to make you a proposition ..
Hello, Robert.
Morning, Charles.
- Congratulations.
Have I been elected something?
Just five years ago today you
were elected Freda's husband.
That's right.
My anniversary.
I was thinking about it only last week.
I bet Freda is thinking
about it right now.
This is serious. What am I going to do?
Here is an out. Just tell Freda
you pretended to forget.
I get Betty, Gordon and Martin to give a
surprise party for Freda this afternoon.
Leave it to me. I'll do it all.
You're no man to be trusted
alone with an anniversary.
Maybe you are right.
By the way, have you got a present?
Well, as a matter of fact I was
thinking of getting her a wristwatch.
Well, don't just think about it.
Go and get it.
Freda darling, it's simply adorable.
It's ideal.
Beautiful, expensive-looking.
You can take it everywhere you go.
- Except in swimming.
Idiot.
I'm glad you like it, dear.
I do.
Gordon, look.
Oh? Where is he?
Your brother is in Martin's office
doing things with a cocktail shaker.
Oh.
Hello, sis.
- Look.
I am overcome.
- Oh, nice.
Take it easy. We've a long, gay evening
ahead of us at the country club.
Uhuh.
Thank you, Miss Clark.
Miss Clark, would you let us know
when it is a quarter to six?
We're taking the 6:10 home.
Yes, Mrs Chatfield.
I say, the party is in Robert's office.
I say, the party is in here
where the liquor is handy.
Here, sis. Try this.
Not bad?
- Not bad for me I hope.
They want the party in Martin's office.
- Well, why not?
I just finished decorating this one.
- So, let's decorate that one.
Don't do that, Betty.
You're spoiling the effect.
You can't keep Betty away, Charles.
Come on.
We're keeping my husband waiting.
It wouldn't matter but he's got the gin.
Come along.
Hello Betty, my pet.
Just a little nosegay I picked for you
as I came through the fields my sweet.
How thoughtful.
Here is something for you to
spend on yourself, my child.
Ah.
Well.
Can I do something for you gentlemen
or are you with the little girl?
No. We're on our own.
Try this, Robert.
Thank you.
Sweet.
I'll give you this for that.
- Who wouldn't?
Hello there.
Where on earth have you been?
- How did you make out with Mockridge?
I made out an agreement
and she signed it.
Here it is.
- You mean it?
If you behave you'll get all Mockridge's
masterpieces for the next three years.
What?
- Great.
'Ecstasy' delivered next month.
'Embers of Passion' in six months.
And 'Sleeping Dog' in a year.
- Whoo.
What a day I had.
Don't I rate a drink?
- Do you rate one?
It's all yours.
We just sit back and admire you.
You've been a good girl, Ann.
- Yes.
By the way, where's Martin?
It's not like him to miss any fun.
Martin has an appointment.
He'll join us later at the country club.
Luckily I had the keys to his bar.
Excuse me, Mr Chatfield.
Here is a cable from Mr MacIntyre.
He wants you to send him his money.
Yes. I'll get it right now.
It's in the safe.
Do it tomorrow. We have no time now.
No, dear. This thing has been
lying around here too long.
Get it for me will you, Charles?
I want to send it off now.
How did you get the
old girl to sign, Ann?
Charles dropped into my place this
morning and she fell in love with him.
That's something you
ought to try sometime.
Freda, you should be very happy today.
I am, my dear.
Betty.
Smile and show your teeth so they know
there's nothing wrong with our marriage.
Robert.
- Yes, Charles?
Did you say that bond was in the safe?
- Yes.
Well, it's not there now.
- It's got to be there.
I can't find it.
The devil you can't.
It's got to be there.
Alright. Look for yourself.
I will.
Well, that's where we stand, girls.
Where?
Men may have wine, women
and .. well, flowers.
But mention money and the party is over.
- Not for me.
It was lying right here
on top in plain sight.
Well, look underneath.
It might have slipped down.
I'll take everything out.
What about your desk, Robert?
It's never been in my desk.
- Well, we'd better be sure.
Nothing here.
It must be here.
There's no use, boys. It's gone.
Robert, that's impossible.
No-one has ever had a key except us.
And Martin.
- That is so.
He might have taken it to the bank?
Right.
Get me Mr Martin Chatfield
at the Aero club.
Aren't you men ever ..
Oh.
It's still lost.
Shush. He's phoning Martin.
What is it all about?
- The Goldsmith prize.
It was awarded to one of our authors.
- Well?
We were holding it for him
while he's in the South Seas.
Robert said something about a bond.
Yes. He had us convert the cash into a
government bond. Now we can't find it.
The financial wizard
didn't believe in banks.
Hello, Martin? Robert.
You don't know anything about
MacIntyre's bond, do you?
Yes, I know. But it's not in the safe.
Have you ever seen it anywhere else?
No. We have looked everywhere.
Well, it has gone.
Have you your key to the safe?
Alright.
Alright.
He doesn't know anything about it.
- Martin said he had his key, didn't he?
Yes. He has got it with him.
- Could one of us have lost his key?
Here is mine.
- Mine is always with me.
There it is.
Mine is in the lock.
It will surely turn up.
It has just been misplaced.
Bonds don't walk out of locked safes.
- Not even government bonds.
There's nothing funny about this.
Only four of us have keys to that safe.
But don't be ridiculous, Gordon.
Not one of us could
have taken that bond.
It's after six, Mrs Chatfield.
You'll miss your train
if you don't hurry.
Never mind.
It doesn't matter now.
Eggs, Betty?
No thanks. We had breakfast at home.
Freda .. who took that money?
The last four days have been frightful.
I can't stand it much longer.
It seems to me you
will have to stand it.
We'll all have to stand it. Until ..
Until we find out which one of the men
we love and trust is a liar and a thief.
Don't, Betty.
But I don't even see how ..
Morning, Betty.
- Morning.
Morning, dear.
Good morning, Robert.
Eggs, Robert?
Anything.
Hello Robert.
- Morning, Gordon.
Have the others come yet?
- Not yet.
Who is coming?
Charles is bringing Martin.
There is ..
Well, there's something
we have to talk over.
Martin.
Oh Martin.
Martin. Robert said 10:30. We're late.
Martin.
Martin.
Robert.
- What?
I'm sorry. I was just going to ask
you for a borrow of your paper.
I'm afraid I am a little nervous.
I hadn't had enough
sleep lately, I guess.
It's 10:35. They ought to be here now.
You're wanted on the
phone, Mr Chatfield.
It's Mr Stanton.
He says it's very urgent, sir.
Alright.
Hello? Yes, Charles?
Well?
What did you say?
What?
- Robert, what is it?
It can't be true.
It can't be.
Where are you?
What did he say?
Oh yes. Right away.
Martin.
- Martin?
Something has happened. What is it?
- Robert, tell us what's happened.
Martin shot himself.
He is dead.
Oh no.
No!
Charles found him when
he went to get him.
I don't believe. He wouldn't do it.
He couldn't.
Steady on.
- We must go to him.
We can do something.
No Freda. You stay here with Betty.
Come on, Gordon.
Oh, Martin.
I can't stay here.
I must go.
So Martin took that money.
Plaza 39740.
Yes, Betty.
I'll come right out.
Alright, dear.
Goodbye.
Oh dear. I wonder if there are
two pieces that fit together.
Mmm. It's good.
Can't I persuade someone to
share this European dainty?
No thanks. Freda's dinner has
put me beyond temptation.
Aren't the men ever coming in?
- They're sampling Robert's old brandy.
Then I ought to rescue Gordon.
My dear no. Don't ever come
between a man and his brandy.
This place is so enchanting.
I shall remember you when I get back
to England just as you are tonight.
Such a snug little group.
Everybody is so happy.
Are we? I wonder.
Well, aren't you?
Yes. I guess so.
Is there anything I can do to help
before you sail, Miss Mockridge?
Thank you dear, no. Well, yes.
You might do something about Charles.
He seems so ..
So at loose ends.
Couldn't you marry him or something?
- Well.
My dear, I find him so utterly charming.
Why don't you?
The world is full of charming people.
- You are entirely mistaken. It isn't.
Besides, I like a neat pattern.
Now, there is Freda and Robert.
Betty and Gordon.
And if you would interest yourself in
Charles there would be perfect symmetry.
But now I'm interested in the mysterious
white bird you told us about, Freda.
Any chance of seeing it?
- Yes.
I think we might get a glimpse of it.
It comes into the garden
every night about this time.
What mysterious white bird?
What do you mean?
What does it look like?
Well, I suppose it's a white owl.
It looks like a ghost of a bird.
A ghost bird? Oh, my dear.
How thrilling.
Come along, Betty.
Well, I'll turn the lights out.
[ Gunshot! ]
Robert.
What on earth are you doing?
Oh.
I was just showing the
boys this new gun, dear.
I took a crack at that flowerpot.
- You must be crazy.
Firing a gun out of the window.
You might hit someone.
Yes. It was stupid of me, wasn't it.
I hope I didn't frighten anybody.
- Oh, that's alright.
As long as no-one is hurt.
- Sorry, darling.
Those idiots.
Firing a revolver out of the window.
It frightened the life
out of me. I hate guns.
You must miss your brother-in-law.
What made you think of Martin?
- Just being here I suppose.
I am sorry.
It was the pistol shot.
No, no.
You needn't feel upset, Miss Mockridge.
We talk about Martin a lot.
Surely you remember him?
There is his picture.
Yes. Of course.
One can't afford to forget anyone so
gay and charming and handsome.
Yes. We do miss him.
- Miss whom?
Not you, sweetheart.
You liar.
Did you miss me?
If it pleases you, my dear.
It does, very much.
I wonder if there is any
good dance music on.
I hope not. Let's have a little class.
What were you talking about?
- Wouldn't you like to know.
I do know.
Either you've talked about us or Miss
Mockridge's new novel The Sleeping Dog.
Wrong both times. It was a bird instead.
'The Sleeping Dog'.
That's a curious title.
What does it mean?
It's taken from an old proverb, Betty.
'Let sleeping dogs lie'.
A great book.
- Thank you.
Even though I don't
agree with its premise.
And what is its premise?
The sleeping dog is the truth ..
Which the chief character, the husband,
insisted on disturbing.
With strange and disastrous results.
The truth is always strange.
It's never what you expect.
Strange or not, I'm all for
it coming out. It's healthy.
I think telling the truth is as healthy
as skidding round a corner at sixty.
And life has got too many
dangerous corners.
You are looking awfully wise, Ann.
What do you think?
Truth is something that ..
Well, there is truth and truth.
I see. Something and something.
Go on, Ann.
- Well.
The real truth.
That is, every single little thing
with nothing missing at all.
Wouldn't be dangerous.
I suppose that's God's truth.
But what most people mean by truth is ..
Is only half the real truth.
It doesn't tell you all that
went on inside everybody.
Everything they really thought and felt.
It simply gives you a lot of
facts that were hidden away.
And perhaps.
Were a lot better hidden away.
Right you are. It's treacherous stuff.
I don't agree.
I'm always ready to welcome
what you call the truth.
The facts.
You would be, Robert.
What do you mean by that, Freda?
- Anything. Nothing.
"This is Station BPFY."
"Time signal."
"It's now one minute past 9 o'clock."
Gordon, what is the matter?
The tube has burnt out.
Do you have any spares?
You can see.
There may be one in the cabinet.
Nothing doing.
Well, no tubes. No music.
I guess we will have to talk.
Who wants a drink?
Robert, fix some Highballs.
Alright.
A cigarette, Miss Mockridge?
- No thanks.
I'm a slave to my own brand.
Ann?
I've seen that box before.
It plays a tune, doesn't it.
[ Music playing ]
Yes. It's the wedding march.
Well, I'm glad something
around here plays.
It can't have been this
box you remembered.
It's the first time I've had it out.
- It belonged to Martin once?
He showed it to me.
Martin couldn't have shown you this box.
He hadn't it when you saw him last.
How do you know, Freda?
That doesn't matter. I know.
Martin couldn't have shown you this box.
Couldn't he?
Then perhaps I am mistaken.
I must have seen a box like this
somewhere else and thought perhaps ..
Ann, I will be rather rude.
You suddenly stopped telling
the truth then, didn't you?
You're very sure that's the
box Martin showed you ..
Just as Freda is equally sure it isn't.
Well, does it matter?
Perhaps not, but I am still curious.
As a matter of fact, Robert.
The box was Martin's.
But Martin couldn't have
shown it to you, Ann.
Because you said at the inquest ..
The last time you were
at his cottage was ..
That Saturday afternoon about
a week before he passed away.
And Martin didn't have the box then.
You seem to know a lot
about the box, Freda.
Yes. Just what I was going to say.
Why are you so grand
and knowing about it all?
I know why.
You gave it to him.
Did you Freda?
Yes. I gave it to him.
That's queer.
I don't mean it's queer you giving him
the box. After all, why shouldn't you?
But you never mentioned it.
When did you give it to him?
I saw it in a shop one day. It was ..
Amusing and rather cheap so ..
So I bought it and sent it
parcel post to Martin.
That was on a Friday.
Just two days before ..
Oh.
So, he never got it until
that last Saturday?
Yes.
Oh. Well.
That's that.
Betty, my dear.
- Thank you.
I'm sorry Freda, but it
is not quite so simple.
You see, I was with Martin at the
cottage on that Saturday morning.
What about it?
I was there when the mail came.
I remember he received
a package of books.
I don't forget anything
about that morning.
You wouldn't either if you were dragged
through that hellish inquest as I was.
No cigarette box came that morning and
there's no afternoon mail out there.
Freda.
I don't think you sent that box at all.
You took it to Martin yourself.
You did, didn't you?
Well if you must know, I did.
Freda.
I thought so.
Freda, if you went to the cottage
to give Martin that box ..
After Gordon had left.
You'd have seen him later than anyone.
Only a few hours before he shot himself.
I did.
I saw him shortly before dinner.
- Why have you never spoken about it?
Why didn't you speak at the inquest?
You could have testified.
But why?
If it would help Martin
I would have gone gladly.
But what good would it have done?
No good at all.
You were quite right.
But why have you never
spoken to me about it?
Why did you keep it to
yourself all this time?
You were the last person to see Martin.
Was I the last person?
- You must have been.
Well, what about Ann?
- Ann?
Oh yes, the cigarette box.
Yes. Of course. The cigarette box.
I only gave Martin that box
late Saturday afternoon.
And Ann admitted that
he showed it to her.
So, you must have been at the
cottage that Saturday night.
Yes.
He did show it to me.
It was after dinner. About 9 o'clock.
You were there?
This is crazy. First Freda, now you.
Neither of you said anything about it.
I'm sorry, Robert.
But I couldn't.
Why were you there?
I'd been worrying about
something for days.
I felt I had to see Martin
to ask him about it.
Nobody saw me come and
nobody saw me leave.
And like Freda, I thought it would
serve no good purpose to tell it.
So I didn't.
That's all.
But you can't dismiss it like that.
You were the last
person to talk to Martin.
You must know something about it.
Please Robert, let's leave
it alone. It's all over.
I'm sorry, Ann.
But I don't like mysteries.
You said you were
worried about something.
Something to do with the missing money?
Must we go over it again?
Martin has gone.
Let him alone, can't you?
Shut up about the rotten money.
Gordon.
I'm sure we must be boring
Miss Mockridge with all this.
Oh no. I am enjoying it very much.
I'm sorry. I beg your pardon.
We'd better change the subject, Robert.
- No. Not at all. Not at all.
I think I had better be going.
It must be late.
- Oh no.
Yes, I really must.
It's getting quite late.
I'll have your chauffeur bring your car.
- Thank you. Thank you very much.
It has been delightful
seeing you all again.
Goodbye.
Goodbye. Miss Mockridge.
- Goodnight.
Goodnight Betty.
I'll get your wrap for you.
I am glad she's gone.
So am I. I can't stand that woman.
She reminds me of a geometry
teacher I used to have.
I have always suspected
your geometry, Betty.
It doesn't seem quite real, does it.
What a perfect setting
for a romantic scene.
Don't be silly, Tom.
I meant ..
I feel as though none of us
was quite real tonight.
As though we might wake up any minute.
To find all the things we
are doing and saying ..
Are just a dream.
Do you ever feel that way?
Once or twice.
When you smiled at me.
Charles, you are hopeless.
Star gazing?
- Yes.
No.
Well, now we can flesh this thing out.
No. Please, Robert.
I am sorry, Ann. There's something
very queer about all this.
First, Freda going to see Martin
and never saying a word about it.
Then you. It won't do.
You have both been hiding things.
It's about time some of us began
telling the whole truth for a change.
Is this going to be another inquest?
It wouldn't be necessary if we heard
more of the truth when there was one.
It's up to you, Ann.
You were the last person to see Martin.
Why did you go?
Was it about the missing money?
Yes. It was.
Did you know then that ..
That Martin had taken it?
I thought there was
a possibility he had.
You were all pretty
wretched to think that.
Gordon. I want to go home now.
So soon, Betty?
I'm going to have an awful
headache if I stay any longer.
I'm going home.
- Alright, dear. Just a minute.
What's the matter, Betty?
I don't know.
I'm just stupid I suppose.
Alright then, sweet. We'll go now.
Well, goodnight everybody.
I'll go along with you.
- Goodnight.
Goodnight, Charles.
Now Ann, you can say why you hurried to
Martin that day about the missing money.
We're all being truthful now, aren't we?
You too, Robert?
Good heavens, yes. Of course.
I loathe these silly mysteries.
But you haven't answered my question.
- First, I'll ask you a question.
I've been waiting to do it for some
time but I never quite dared to.
Now, I don't care.
It might as well come out.
Robert.
Did you take that money?
Did I take it?
- Yes.
Of course not, Ann. You must be crazy.
Martin took it of course.
We all know that.
Oh.
Oh, what a fool I have been.
I don't understand.
You .. you can't have been
thinking all this time that I did it?
Yes. I have.
I have been torturing myself with it.
- But, Ann.
It doesn't make sense.
I suppose I might have taken that money.
We're all capable of that
under certain circumstances.
But how on earth did you think I would
let Martin take the blame for it?
I thought you were a
friend of mine, Ann.
One of my best and oldest friends.
You might as well know, Robert.
How you can be so dense baffles me.
But Ann is not a friend of yours.
Of course she is.
- She's not.
She's a woman who's in love with you.
A very different thing. She has
been in love with you for ages.
Now Freda, that's unfair. It's cruel.
He wanted the truth. Let him have it.
I'm terribly sorry, Ann.
Unforgivable.
You've no right to say that.
But it's true, isn't it?
I've been aware of it
for the last 18 months.
Wives are always aware of these things.
And I think you are a fool Robert
for not being aware of it yourself ..
And not having responded to it.
It is not given to many people
to really love someone.
And I think they're
fools not to cherish it.
Before it's too late.
Freda.
I understand now.
Understand what?
About you.
I ought to have understood before.
If you mean by that, that Freda doesn't
care for me very much, you're right.
We haven't been very happy together.
Somehow, our marriage hasn't worked out.
But nobody knows.
Of course they know.
People don't have to
be told such things.
But Ann just said she understood
about it for the first time.
Oh no. I knew about that before, Robert.
There is something else I have just ..
- What is it?
I would rather not explain.
You know, you needn't be noble, Ann.
We are past that.
But you must go on about the money.
You said you always believed
that Robert took it.
I thought he must have.
Why didn't you say something?
- Oh, Robert, can't you see why?
She was shielding you.
Ann, I had no idea.
Thought it's fantastic you could
think I'm that kind of man.
Yet care enough not to say anything.
Oh, no.
It is not fantastic at all.
If you love somebody
you're in love with them.
They can do anything to you
and you'll forgive them.
Or just not bother about it.
At least some women will.
But I don't see that in you, Freda.
Don't you?
But there's a lot of things
about me you don't see.
But if you thought Robert took the money
then you knew all along Martin hadn't.
Yet you let us go on thinking he had.
It didn't seem to matter then.
It couldn't hurt Martin anymore.
Martin must have taken it.
That's why he shot himself.
No it wasn't. You must believe me.
I'm positive Martin never
touched that money.
I've always thought it
strange that he should.
I knew he could be wild.
And rather cruel sometimes.
But it wasn't like him to steal.
He was pretty badly in debt.
- He didn't mind owing money.
He could cheerfully
gone on being in debt.
Money simply didn't matter.
But Ann, how could you think I did it?
From Martin himself.
From Martin?
But hang it all.
How would he think that?
You thought he had been the thief.
We were convinced of
it when he shot himself.
Charles wasn't.
He and Martin had talked it over.
Martin told me so himself.
- Charles?
So Stanton was in on this.
He had to put in his oar.
Why, he may even have
told Martin I was the thief.
I didn't say that.
It looks that way.
Where else would Martin get the idea?
Besides, from what you say Stanton knew
all along Martin hadn't taken the money.
Yet he let me go on thinking he had.
Then it may be Charles
himself who took the money.
It must have been.
But that doesn't follow.
Then why was he willing for Martin
and Robert to suspect each other?
Because it was a way of
covering his own tracks.
No wonder be objected
to all the questioning.
He had too much to hide.
- We've all got too much to hide.
We will let some daylight into
this for once even if it kills me.
Stanton has got to explain this.
Not tonight, Robert.
- Tonight.
I wish I knew what to do.
About what?
You don't understand, Robert.
But I'm now facing the
most urgent problem.
The sort of problem that
only women have to face.
If a man has been dragged
back to your house ..
And told he is a liar, a
cad and a possible thief.
Oughtn't you make a
few sandwiches for him?
He'll get no sandwiches from me.
No sincerity, no sandwiches.
That's your motto, is it?
No?
Oh dear. How heavy
we are without Martin.
And how he would have adored all this.
He'd have invented the most extravagant
and incredible sins to confess to.
Oh.
Don't look so dreadfully
solemn, you two.
I'm afraid we haven't your
light touch, dear Freda.
I suppose it is ..
There they are. You will have
let them in yourself, Robert.
Freda.
- Yes?
How long have you really known?
A long time.
And I often wanted to say
something to you about it.
What would you have said?
- I don't quite know.
Something idiotic but friendly.
Very friendly.
It's all quite mad, isn't it.
Yes. And rapidly getting madder.
But I don't care. Do you?
It's rather a relief.
Yes, it is in a way.
Rather frightening too.
Like being in a car when
the brakes are done.
Well, what is it all about?
- Chiefly about the money.
I thought as much.
Why can't you let Martin alone?
Now wait a minute, Gordon.
Martin didn't take that money.
- What?
Are you sure? Is that true?
- Yes.
Do you really believe Martin
did take that money?
Well, if he didn't, who did?
- We don't know.
We're hoping you can tell us, Stanton.
Are you being funny, Robert?
- Not a bit.
I wouldn't have dragged
you back here to be funny.
You let me believe
Martin took that bond.
Let you? You believed it
yourself after what happened.
But you knew it wasn't true.
Did I?
If you didn't, why tell Martin
you thought Robert did it?
Ridiculous. Of course I didn't.
Martin told Ann.
- Ann?
Are you in this too, Ann?
Yes. Yes. I am.
I told Robert what Martin had said.
That you and he thought
Robert took the money.
You must tell the truth now, Stanton.
You let Martin and me suspect
each other. Now, why?
There can be only one explanation.
Because he took it himself.
You didn't?
Did you, Stanton?
Yes. I did.
Then you're a rotten swine.
I don't care about the money but
you let Martin take the blame.
You let us believe he was a thief.
- Don't be a fool.
Be quiet.
- I won't. You let Martin ..
I didn't let Martin take the blame.
He wasn't the sort to take any blame.
You should know that.
It happened. In the middle of this fuss
about the money Martin shot himself.
You concluded it was because he took the
money and was afraid of being found out.
I let you go on thinking it. That's all.
You might as well think he shot
himself for that as anything else.
And where he's gone, it doesn't matter
if we think he stole the money or not.
But you deliberately told Martin I'd ..
- No. I didn't.
You were having daily conferences and
investigations and we got pretty fed up.
One day I made some
remark about them to Martin.
I don't remember what I said.
But he thought I had something
on you I hadn't divulged.
He inferred that because he wanted to.
Because it struck his fancy.
I was in too tight a spot to explain.
A low, sneaky trick.
Maybe it was.
But I took that bond because
I needed some money quickly.
And I didn't know where to turn.
I knew I could square it up in a week.
- Then why didn't you?
Well, it all came out so unexpectedly
I had to play for time.
But I haven't the least intention of
letting you or Martin or anyone else ..
Be punished for what I had done.
If it came to a showdown I
was prepared to tell the truth.
As it happened it was unnecessary.
Until tonight.
- I don't believe it.
Oh, don't go thinking there was
any deep-laid plot. There wasn't.
It was all improvised and
haphazard and stupid.
So why didn't you confess to it before?
- Why the devil should I?
After Martin's suicide, you all
wanted to drop the whole thing.
'Dear Martin must have done
it so we won't mention it'.
But if I confessed you'd have kicked me
out in a minute and called the police.
You are right.
- Of course I am.
I didn't get in the firm because I had a
good university and social background.
I worked my way up from the bottom.
Don't forget I used to
be a clerk in the office.
It makes a difference I can tell you.
But to let us go on believing ..
- Why not?
It was all over. Why open it up again?
Robert, Gordon and I were all
doing well together in the firm.
Where are we now?
Who is better off because of this?
You are not.
But Martin is.
And the people who cared about him.
Are they?
At least we know now he wasn't a thief.
He must have had some reason
for doing what he did.
And you're probably a lot better off
for not knowing what the reason was.
Perhaps he did it because he
thought I'd taken the money.
If you think Martin shot himself because
he thought you had taken some money ..
Then you didn't know Martin.
It amused him to think you a thief.
A lot of things amused that young man.
That is true. I know.
He didn't care. He didn't care at all.
Look here. Do you know why
Martin did shoot himself?
I can imagine reasons.
What do you mean by that?
- I mean he was that sort.
He'd got his life in a mess
and I don't blame him.
You don't blame him? Who are you
to blame him or not blame him?
Yes. The less you say the better.
- The less we all say the better.
I told you as much before you
began dragging out all this stuff.
But like a fool, you wouldn't
leave well enough alone.
Now you got what you asked for.
One thing more we'll ask
for is to be rid of you.
Yes. Do you think you will
stay on with the firm after this?
No. I suppose not.
At least I'll leave a lot of hard work.
In the last year the burden of running
this business has been on Ann and me.
Now find someone else ..
To elevate to a partnership to relieve
you of the necessity of working.
At least it will be a pleasure to try.
You've never liked us
and you hated Martin.
I knew it.
- I had my reasons.
Reasons?
You are not fit to mention his name.
You never even knew the real Martin.
Not as well as you did perhaps.
But well enough.
Does that mean anything?
- It means exactly what I said.
Robert, Charles.
Let's have no more of this.
Sorry, Ann. I tried to stay out of this.
- I await an explanation, Stanton.
Do you see he's getting at me?
Is that true? Do you imply ..
No. I'm not getting at anybody, though
it seems to be the fashion this evening.
Then you'd better take that back.
- I'll take nothing back.
If there's any more explaining,
Freda will have to do it.
Robert, please. Leave him alone.
Don't push this thing any further.
Freda, what's the matter?
It isn't true, is it?
I must know. If it isn't I'll kick
Stanton out of the house.
Don't talk like a man in a melodrama.
You will not kick me out of the house.
I'll go out in the
ordinary way, thank you.
Freda, is this true.?
Yes.
Has that been the trouble all along?
Yes.
All along.
When did it begin?
A long time ago.
It seems a long time ago.
Ages.
Before we were married?
Yes.
I thought I could get him
out of my mind .. then.
And I did for a little time.
The old feeling was always there.
I wish you had told me.
Why didn't you?
- I tried to.
Hundreds of times.
I said the words to myself
so often sometimes I ..
I hardly knew whether I could
actually say them out loud to you.
I wish you had.
Why didn't I see it for myself?
It all seems so plain now.
It began when we were all up at
the lake that summer, didn't it?
Yes.
That lovely, lovely summer.
Nothing has ever been
quite real since then.
And it didn't mean much to Martin.
A sort-of experiment. That's all.
Didn't he care?
No.
Not really.
I tried to forget him
in fairness to you.
And I thought it would be alright.
But it wasn't.
It was hopeless.
You don't know how hopeless it was.
Oh, Martin.
Martin.
Freda, don't.
That's how it goes on, you see.
A good evening's work.
Robert. Somebody is out there.
There is no-one there now.
- I swear there was somebody there.
They were listening.
Well, they couldn't have
chosen a better night for it.
See who it is and don't let them
interrupt us, whoever they are.
The interruption is about an hour late.
You have been talking about me.
Haven't you?
Betty, I thought you had gone
to bed. What's the matter?
I wanted to go to bed.
I started to but I couldn't.
I had to come back.
- You are wrong.
As a matter of fact you are the one
person we haven't been talking about.
Is that true?
Of course, Betty.
Well then ..
What have you been talking about?
- The money.
Martin didn't take it.
Stanton did. He's admitted it.
Admitted it?
Charles.
Surely that's impossible.
It sounds impossible, doesn't it Betty.
But it isn't.
So .. if Martin didn't
take the money then ..
Why did he shoot himself?
- That's what we want to know.
Haven't you dug up enough muck?
Why go on and on?
You can stand there and talk like
that when you are responsible.
Nonsense.
- It isn't.
Don't you see what you've done?
- No. Because I don't understand.
You don't want to. That's all.
Talk sense, man. Can't you see that
Martin must have had his reasons?
No. What drove him to suicide ..
Was my stupidity and you letting
him think I'd taken that money.
It couldn't have been anything else.
So that settles it once and for all.
You're in no state to settle anything.
Listen to me, Stanton.
- Drop it, man.
I'll never forgive you for this.
You've got it all wrong.
- We haven't, you louse.
You made Martin shoot himself.
- Wait a minute, Gordon.
Martin didn't shoot himself.
Martin didn't shoot himself?
No.
I shot him.
Ann.
That's impossible.
She must be hysterical.
- Ann is not hysterical.
She means it.
You might as well tell us
exactly what happened now, Ann.
And I might as well tell
you before you begin.
I'm not at all surprised.
I suspected this from the first.
You suspected I did it?
- Yes.
But why?
- Never mind now.
It was an accident, wasn't it?
Yes.
It really was an accident.
But it's all so muddled and horrible.
I'll try to tell the complete truth.
I went to see Martin about the money.
I don't think I've ever seen him as
bad as he was that Saturday night.
He wasn't really sane.
I arrived there about 9:30.
This is an unexpected honour.
A charming young lady
calling at this time of night.
I came to talk to you seriously, Martin.
I was afraid there was a catch.
What have I done this time?
I don't know. Have you done something?
Many things.
Would you like to hear about them?
Or can I offer you a drink first?
- No thanks.
A cigarette?
Yes.
Oh.
Amusing, isn't it.
Where did you get this?
A present.
You sure you won't have a drink?
Don't drink that yet.
I need it.
You look as though you will stand me in
a corner and ask impertinent questions.
Are you?
- I want to ask you one question.
Martin, who took that money?
At the office, I mean.
The Goldsmith award.
Who do you think took it?
I think you did.
You are all wrong, Ann.
But then you always were.
You don't have to try and dodge me.
- Are you alright?
You seem strange and different tonight.
I feel great.
It is you.
You seem so sad.
So ordinary.
I can change that look
of yours if you let me.
Martin.
Ann, how do you manage to
live without ever a thrill?
I am sorry for you.
You seem so bleak.
Ann, wouldn't you like just
once .. to lose yourself?
To break out of that ..
That hard little shell of yours.
And become a happy pagan.
Are you crazy?
Ann, life offers you fun
and you won't take it.
Foolish, stupid, unfaithful Ann.
Perhaps I had better go.
I'll be good.
Let me show you some
new etchings I've bought.
You've bought a lot of things lately.
Where did you get all this money?
I didn't steal it.
If you didn't, who did?
Robert.
How dare you accuse Robert.
You all had keys to that safe.
But nobody ever opened it but Robert.
Robert takes care of all the money.
He always has.
Ask Stanton if you don't believe me.
Robert, your idol, is a sneak-thief.
And Martin the bad boy is shielding
him. Isn't that amusing, huh?
Yes. Robert. Your little tin-god hero.
Is a thief and I, Martin.
Am shielding him.
Stop it!
You came here to get a confession.
Instead, you got the truth.
Well. How do you like it?
Why .. why would Robert do such a thing?
How should I know?
Perhaps he has got a girl somewhere.
Well, he doesn't have much
fun at home, does he.
Or did you think your schoolgirl
crush would satisfy him?
My what?
Well, you've been in love with
him since you were a kid.
Too engrossed in worshipping
the dream of a plaster saint ..
To be aware of the
flesh and blood men ..
Who could love you and make you happy.
Oh, how I hate you!
Marvelous. You have feelings.
Spinster of the parish.
Beautiful. Beautiful .. spinster.
Don't come near me. I could kill you.
Could?
It would be so easy.
Martin all alone except for Ann.
Nothing nearer than Stanton's house.
Stanton would do
anything to protect Ann.
But first you have to take
the gun away from me.
Take the gun away from me, Ann.
It would be exciting.
Almost anything might happen.
Try and take it away from me.
- Oh. You are insane.
Is it so difficult to find a new thrill?
It's loaded. Honestly it is.
Martin, you are frightening me.
- This is good.
I'm frightened too. But only a little.
I wonder how it will feel to be dead.
Don't, don't!
- No. It's too soon for you.
I don't think I should mind.
But first.
You shouldn't die yet.
- No! Martin, leave me alone.
Please leave me alone.
[ Gunshot! ]
Martin.
Martin.
When I realized what happened.
I rushed out and sat in my
car for I don't know how long.
I couldn't move a finger.
I just sat on and on in the car.
Shivering.
And it was so quiet in the cottage.
So horribly quiet.
You can't be blamed, Ann.
Of course she can't be blamed.
May I have a cigarette, Robert?
It's a pity we can't all be as calm and
business-like about it as you, Stanton.
I suspected long ago that
something like this had happened.
I don't see how you could.
All the evidence pointed to suicide.
- Not quite all.
You know, I went to Martin's cottage the
next morning before anyone else arrived.
And I found something on the floor.
I've kept it ever since.
Yes. That's part of the
dress I was wearing.
It must have been torn in the struggle
we had. So that's how you knew.
Yes.
Why didn't you say something?
He didn't say anything as he wanted
everyone to think Martin shot himself.
No. There happened to be another reason.
I knew if Ann was involved with Martin's
death, something like this had happened.
So Ann couldn't be blamed.
You see, I knew her
better than any of you.
And I ..
I trust her.
She is about the only
person I would trust.
She knows all about that.
I've told her often enough.
She is not interested, but there it is.
And you never even
hinted about it to me.
Surprising, isn't it.
What a chance I missed to capture
your interest for a few minutes.
But I couldn't take that
line with you, Ann.
You know.
I nearly did take you
into my confidence.
When?
When I left Martin's house that night.
I felt I had to tell somebody.
You didn't come to my place that night.
- Yes I did.
It was about 11 o'clock.
I left my car at the bottom of the hill.
And then I walked up to the cottage.
And then.
I walked back again.
What is the matter, Betty?
- Why, I ..
Nothing.
Betty, what do you know about this?
Were you there, Betty?
That's impossible. Tell them it's a lie.
It's true, isn't it.
See? She can't deny it.
Leave the child alone.
That's just the mistake you
have all made. I am not a child.
You weren't there?
Yes.
I was.
And now I'll tell you the rest of it.
I went there alright but
he wouldn't let me stay.
A good joke on me, wasn't it.
If you had waited a few minutes longer
you'd have seen him show me the door.
You little liar.
- It's true.
He played the perfectly
beautiful Sir Galahad.
You know, Charles. I've never
really quite forgiven you for that.
Betty.
I don't think you need to be
quite so shocked, Robert.
But why?
Because Gordon was driving me mad.
This marriage of ours that you
all get so sentimental about.
It's the biggest sham there's ever been.
It's nothing but pretence,
pretence, pretence.
'Betty darling and Gordon darling'.
Our marriage was all a mistake.
It seems to be the sort of
mistake we make in our family.
I was in love with him
when we were married.
I thought everything was
going to be marvelous.
Gordon and I have nothing in common.
Charles is the one person
who understood it all.
If I presumed too much on his sympathy.
Then that's my mistake.
He's been a good friend to me.
- A fine friendship.
At least when I got in a jam
he was ready to help me out.
Help you?
- Yes.
I lost a lot of money
at a gambling place.
Not a very nice one.
I had to pay up quickly or there
would have been a scandal.
And Charles gave me the money.
Why didn't you come to me?
A lot of good that would have done.
You couldn't even be generous.
No.
Charles.
That was why you took
the money, wasn't it?
Queer how it all worked out, isn't it.
Charles, I didn't know.
I'm terribly sorry.
That is alright, Betty.
I could do with a drink myself.
I thought you were better
than the rest of us.
Something fine and real.
I even thought you and Gordon
were happy together.
Yes.
We put up a good show, didn't we.
You did.
If we'd pretended for long enough we
might have been happy together sometime.
It often happens like that.
Never.
Yes, it does. That's why
all this is so wrong really.
The real truth is something so
deep you can't get at it this way.
And all this half-truth does
is to blow everything up.
It isn't civilised.
I agree.
You agree? You might as well.
You'll get no sympathy from me.
Sympathy from you?
I never want to set eyes
on you again, Stanton.
You are a liar and a thief.
- And you are a fool.
You won't face things.
You've been living in a fool's paradise.
Now, having gotten yourself out of it by
tonight's efforts all you are doing ..
Is you're busy building yourself
a fool's shell to live in.
We've had enough of you, Stanton.
Get out.
Goodnight, Ann.
I'm sorry about all this.
So am I.
Goodnight.
Goodnight, Freda.
Goodnight.
Remember, we expect
your resignation, Stanton.
With pleasure.
Goodnight.
Oh, don't bother. I can find my way out.
If Charles goes the firm will suffer.
Don't worry. They firm
is smashed to bits now.
Come on, Betty darling.
I think we had better return
to our happy little home.
Oh don't, Gordon.
I'll let you out.
Goodbye, Robert.
I can't say goodbye to you.
I don't know you.
Don't drink any more tonight, Robert.
I know how you feel but it
will only make you worse.
What does it matter?
I'm finished anyway.
It won't seem so bad tomorrow.
It never does.
No. This isn't going to
be any better tomorrow.
Then again.
You see, I don't care anymore.
Nothing happens.
Here. Inside.
That's the awful, cruel thing.
Nothing happens.
I'm sure it's not at all the proper
thing to say at this time ..
But the fact remains
that I'm rather hungry.
What about you, Ann?
Robert?
Or have you been drinking too much?
Yes. I have been drinking too much.
- Well.
It's very silly of you.
Yes.
You did ask for all this, you know.
I asked for it.
And I got it.
Though I doubt if you minded very
much until it came to Betty.
No. That isn't true.
Though I can understand you thinking so.
You see, as more and more
of this stuff came out ..
There was only one person
left I felt I could depend on.
Ha.
Betty?
And some lovely quality
of life she stood for.
You can always build up another
image to fall in love with.
No you can't. That's the trouble.
You lose the capacity.
You run short of the stuff that
creates beautiful illusions.
It's .. just as if a gland
stopped working.
You'll have to learn to
live without illusions.
It can't be done.
I've lived too long among them.
Then why didn't you leave them alone?
Because I'm a fool.
Stanton was right.
I had to meddle.
I began this evening with
everything to keep me going.
And now I ..
Robert, please.
No, Robert. It won't be
like this tomorrow.
Tomorrow? Tomorrow?
I am through, I tell you.
I am through.
There can't be a tomorrow.
Robert, Robert!
[ Gunshot! ]
Robert!
Robert.
What are you doing?
I am sorry, dear. I was just
showing the boys this gun.
I took a crack at one of the flowerpots.
You must be crazy firing
a gun out of the window.
You might hit someone.
Yes. It was stupid of me, wasn't it.
I hope it didn't frighten anybody.
It's alright as long as no-one is hurt.
I am sorry, darling.
I guess that was a mistake.
It was those idiots firing a
revolver out of the window.
It frightened the life
out of me. I hate guns.
You must miss your brother-in-law.
What made you think of Martin?
Just being here I suppose.
You needn't feel upset, Miss Mockridge.
We talk about Martin a lot.
One can't afford to forget anyone
so gay and charming and handsome.
Yes.
We do miss him.
- Miss whom?
Not you, sweetheart.
Liar.
Did you miss me?
If it pleases you, my dear.
- It does. Very much.
I wonder if there's any dance music on.
- I hope not. Let's have a little class.
What have you all been talking about?
- Wouldn't you like to know.
I do know. Either you talked about us.
Or Miss Mockridge's new novel,
The Sleeping Dog.
You're wrong both times.
It is a bird instead.
The sleeping dog.
That is a curious title.
What does it mean?
It came from an old proverb, Betty.
'Let sleeping dogs lie'.
A great book.
- Thank you.
Even though I disagree with its premise.
- And what is its premise?
The 'sleeping dog' is the truth.
Which the chief character, the
husband, insisted on disturbing.
With strange and disastrous results.
I think telling the truth is as healthy
as skidding around a corner at sixty.
You're looking awfully wise, Ann.
What do you think?
I agree with you. I think telling
everything is dangerous.
Because what most people
mean by 'everything' ..
Is only half the real truth.
"This is Station BPFY."
"Time signal."
"It is now one minute past 9 o'clock."
Gordon, what is the matter?
The tube is burnt out.
Do you have a spare?
Look. There may be one in the cabinet.
A cigarette, Ann?
Oh, I remember that box.
It plays a tune, doesn't it.
Yes. It's the wedding march.
Ah, here we are.
The fates are with us.
Now we'll have music and laughter.
[ Music playing ]
There you are.
How about a dance, sweetheart?
- Thank you.
Miss Mockridge.
Darling.
Thank you.
Miss Mockridge.
- Hmm?
Here is to the success
of The Sleeping Dog.
Thank you so much.
Well, if Freda hadn't had
a spare radio tube ..
There wouldn't have been
any dance music and then ..
Well, anything might have happened.
- What, for instance?
We may have had to
listen to Mockridge ..
Tell about the time she was a guest
in the harem of the Sultan of Boldoboz.
For the twentieth time.
I don't believe anyone is that
anxious to have her stay.
Hello.
Aren't we dancing?
No. I don't feel like dancing.
Oh? There's a full moon tonight.
Well. I'm afraid I will have
to propose to you again.
The moon, you know. By this time
it's become a tradition with us.
Again, Charles?
- For the last time.
Again.
Ann.
What is the answer?
This time.
Yes.
What did you say?
I said 'yes'.
But.
But this is so sudden.
I mean .. you can't do things like that
to me. You know I have a weak heart?
You brought it all on yourself.
But Ann, for years and
years and years ..
Whenever there was a lull in the
conversation I proposed to you.
I've come to depend on it.
Now I have nothing to talk about for
the rest of my life. What shall I do?
Well, some men kiss you.
At least they do in books.
Thank goodness you can read.
But Ann, what made you
change your mind like that?
Tonight.
That cigarette box brought back ..
I really seemed to see
you for the first time.
The wedding march did that?
Perhaps. Or something it reminded me of.
It made me see what a fool
I've been all these years.
Wasting my life and yours.
I don't understand.
- Never mind now.
Charles, are you happy?
- Oh, darling.
I had better not tell you I am.
I might cry or do something silly.
I have waited for you so long.
I had really given up hope.
Hey. You're not doing this for
the sake of the firm, are you?
No. I'm doing it just to
please Miss Mockridge.
..r-s..