Ellery Queen (1975) s01e18 Episode Script

The Hollywood star is about to be murdered.
Who is responsible for his death? Was it his jealous wife? Are you accusing me of something? The frightened prop man? And they think I put in live bullets.
The humiliated director? Me thinks the lady doth protest too much.
The supercharged press agent? "Actor shot to death on movie set"? The frustrated actor? Poor Gilbert won't be playing the character.
Maybe you'll give me back some of my moments.
Or was it someone else? Match wits with Ellery Queen and see if you can guess who done it.
Hello, this is Ellery Queen.
I'm calling about the chemical analysis of the tea found in the victim's study.
Well, we won't need the FBI's assistance, after all.
The case is solved.
I'm collecting all the suspects at the scene of the crime at midnight, when I will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt who killed Elizabeth Warner.
Ellery! I'm okay, Dad.
I finessed her bulletproof vest.
Cut! Okay, now let's do it the way we rehearsed it! Al! Al, come here and clean up this mess and redress the set.
At least they got the furniture right.
Yeah, that's about the only thing.
They sent a whole gang of men to New York, measured every inch of your study in order for it to be authentic, and then they hire a sawed-off old geezer like that to play me.
They should have picked somebody more like, oh, Brian Donlevy.
Yeah.
They didn't even stick to my story, Dad.
Did you hear that dialogue? He finessed her with his bulletproo How did he know that she wasn't gonna aim at his head? Quiet, please! Quiet on the set! Lee, look you take too long to get the gun.
Don't waltz around with her.
Just come barreling in and grab it! Right.
I'll grab it.
All right, now, Pamela, as for you, look you think that you have killed a man, and suddenly he gets back up on his feet.
Doesn't that demand some kind of reaction? Well, you said you didn't want a scream.
I don't! You screamed in your last four pictures, but there must be something else you can do.
Well, how how about an "Oh"? Oh! Oh.
Well, that's better than nothing.
Look I know you have your mind on that juicy role that you had to turn down at RKO, but try and concentrate on this this little gem that we're shooting here.
Now, Gil, as for that fall of yours that is not the way a man keels over after he's been shot.
Now, where's your stunt double, huh? He'll show you how to do it.
Hey, you, come on over here.
We need you.
The name is Hewitt, Mr.
Raynor, Mike Hewitt.
Yeah, well, you can forget about it because Mr.
Raynor is wrong.
We don't need you.
Now, wait, Gil.
Look Now, you wait a minute, Raynor.
Don't you ever criticize me in front of the cast or crew or anyone else for that matter.
And in case you have forgotten, I am not only the star of this picture, but I own a piece of it.
I have script approval, I have cast approval, and I have director approval.
Now, I demand an apology.
Gil, all I said was I said, I demand an apology.
There was no harm meant, Gil.
I'm I'm sorry I snapped.
Let's try it again from the top, shall we? You try it again from the top.
Now, wait, Gil.
Look I'm sorry! I'm really sorry! Lunch.
So, this is how they make pictures.
Come on, son.
Let's go sightseeing.
Mr.
Mallory? You, uh, remember me? Publicity.
- Parker, isn't it? - Pierce, Dave Pierce.
The picture started a week ago.
Where the devil have you been? Chained to a typewriter press releases.
Oh, really? I haven't noticed anything in the paper about me or the movie.
You will, sir believe me.
I'm working on that right now.
They They told you about my wife? Yes, sir, they did.
Trust me.
If I must.
Okay, what have you got worked out for me, Parker? Pierce.
Well, I have it arranged for you to be photographed with the real Ellery Queen.
Oh, that's nice.
That'll give a boost to his career.
Now, what are you gonna do for me? Oh, have you met Ellery Queen and his father, Inspector Richard Queen? Gilbert Mallory.
How do you do? My pleasure.
You know, of course, this is a closed set.
- Now, we we didn't know that.
- We were invited.
That's right, Mr.
Mallory.
They were invited.
Not by me.
Oh, Gil, I think there's been a mistake made.
In the changes that came through on scene 243, some of my very best lines were given to you.
That's right, Briggs.
It's my picture.
Step aside, please.
He calls that a bulletproof vest? You could shoot through that with a B.
B.
Gun.
You heard what he said lunch.
Break for one hour.
I I'm sorry about Mr.
Mallory.
Oh, it's not your fault, Mr.
Pierce.
Well, I'll try to make up for it.
We'll start with lunch on me.
Okay if we eat right here on the lot? Oh, I'd like that.
Well, let's go.
This is the real glamour treatment, son studio commissary.
No telling what big stars you'll see, maybe even Alice Faye.
Keep your eyes open, son.
This is the real Hollywood.
Hey, Dad, which one is Alice Faye? Be quiet and eat your bologna.
If you're looking for glamour, I'm afraid you picked the wrong studio.
This one operates on a very thin shoestring.
They should have mentioned that before they brought us all the way out here.
By the way, they're gonna pay our fare back, aren't they? Absolutely.
Oh, I beg your p Oh, you're Ellery Queen.
And you're Inspector Queen.
I'm Lionel Briggs.
I'm you in the picture.
That's very unusual casting.
Well, thank you, sir.
Mr.
Briggs, what are those colored pages in your script? Oh, they're changes, rewrites.
Rewrites? Yes, you see, when changes are made in the script before the day's shooting, all the revisions come through in different-color pages.
Oh, I see.
I didn't know that.
Thank you.
Well, I certainly hope we have a chance to get together, sir.
I want to capture the real you.
They must have had their eyes closed when they cast him.
Chester Morris would have been perfect for the part.
Dave? Yeah? Why don't I get any colored pages? Look at my script.
It's white as snow.
I didn't get any rewrites.
Yes, I know.
The author's a forgotten man in Hollywood.
So is the publicist.
I don't get them, either.
Well, if they don't want me to know what's in the shooting script, why'd they bring me out here? Pictures, publicity, interviews Uh-oh.
- Is that Hedy Lamarr? - Unh-unh.
Trouble Mrs.
Gilbert Mallory.
Excuse me.
Mrs.
Mallory? Mrs.
Mallory? Looking for your husband? Dave Pierce, publicity.
The picture's shooting on this stage, isn't it? Oh, let me check on that.
They They could be on location.
Yes, I believe something was said about Griffith Park.
Hiya, Dave.
So, my husband is in Griffith Park, and the stunt man is on Stage 2? Is something wrong? I guess you've never heard of the battling Mallorys.
They make Punch and Judy look like Hansel and Gretel.
- We ready? - Yes, sir.
See if Mr.
Mallory is in the mood.
If he's not, we'll get some close shots on the others.
Mr.
Mallory? We're ready to roll, Mr.
Mallory.
You don't have to knock the door down.
I heard you the first time.
Gilbert, darling! Claire, precious! - Rat.
- My favorite spy.
Ex-favorite.
Don't be childish.
We were only rehearsing.
For what? Claire, I've had enough of these scenes.
I could overlook the ships that pass in the night, but when you humiliate me by openly flaunting Good-bye, darling.
And I do mean good-bye.
What's everybody standing around for? Let's go to work.
All right, this will be a take, ladies and gentlemen.
Let's do it for posterity.
Quiet, please! Places! Hit your lights! Ready on sound? Roll them! Action! Hello, this is Ellery Queen.
I'm calling about the chemical analysis of the tea found in the victim's study.
Well, we won't need the FBI's assistance, after all.
I'm gathering all the suspects at the scene of the crime at midnight, when I will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt who killed Elizabeth Warner.
Ellery! That's That's better.
Ellery! Cut! That was fine, Gil, very believable.
Gil? Gil! Aah! Aah! Keep it out of the papers? Impossible.
"Actor shot to death on movie set"? That sells papers.
Well, like it or not, you're gonna see headlines, big headlines.
Thank you.
Harris? Where's that director Raynor? He got called to the producer's office.
Call him back.
I don't want anybody to leave yet.
Keep everybody on tap.
And tell me when Captain Blake gets here.
Right.
Excuse me.
Oh, Lieutenant, how do you size it up - accident or murder? My son and I were discussing it.
He has a theory.
Well, I don't know how you work it in New York, Inspector, but out here we don't fool around with theories until we've studied the facts.
Well, now, that's what we've been doing, Lieutenant, and I think you should know about Mrs.
Mallory That she saw Pamela Courtney coming out of her husband's dressing room.
I know about that.
They had a squabble.
No, now, see it wasn't exactly a squabble.
All she said was something about overlooking ships that pass in the night, but not being humiliated.
How do you know what she said? According to the other witnesses, her voice was so low that nobody could hear her.
He could the sound man.
The microphone was on.
We question everybody in New York just routine procedure.
We would have gotten around to him.
Now, thank you, gentlemen, but I really don't need your help.
Well, in that case, we won't hang around.
Come on, Ellery.
Oh, come on, Dad.
Don't you think we ought to tell him? He doesn't care that Mrs.
Mallory didn't leave before the shooting.
Mrs.
Mallory? People saw her leave.
No.
They thought they did.
But her bag is here, so it's very likely that she's here.
How do you know that that's her bag? That's her monogram, and she was carrying it when she came in.
You could look inside for identification, just to be sure.
Harris! Yeah, Lieutenant? Mrs.
Mallory she's still here.
Find her.
Right.
Ellery, I'm going to buy one of those maps of movie stars' homes.
Maybe I can find out where Dottie Lamour lives.
Good.
Good idea.
Richard.
- Richard Queen.
- Ben! - Well, I'm a son of a gun.
- You know Ellery.
Since he was that high.
Ellery, this is Captain Benjamin Blake Sergeant Blake when he used to carry you piggyback.
How do you do, sir? Say, aren't you a little off your beat? Ellery sold a book.
I came along for the ride.
Well, it looks like you landed right in the middle of a homicide.
Do you think it's murder? Ellery's theory, too.
- Lieutenant.
- Yes, sir? Have you met Inspector Queen and his son? Yes, sir.
Well, that's fine.
I want you to hang on to them.
They can be a big help to you in this investigation.
Great.
Richard, I'm sure glad you're here.
We'll catch up on things later.
Nice seeing you, Ellery.
Lieutenant, you listen to these fellas.
Yes, sir.
Salt of the earth, that fellow.
Must be an inspiration to work for a boss like that.
Mind if I sit down? Whatever you want, Inspector.
Lieutenant, what is the meaning of this? I found her in her husband's dressing room, Lieutenant.
I wanted to be alone.
Is that all right with you? My hus I have a few questions, Mrs.
Mallory.
Now, I understand, during the lunch break, you Won't you sit down, dear lady? You must be under a terrible strain.
Yes, I am.
Thank you.
Now, you were saying, Lieutenant? I think the Lieutenant was going to ask about the pistol in the prop box.
Mrs.
Mallory was standing next to it.
Well, yes, I suppose I was.
But if you'd spent as much time as I have on sound stages, you'd know that property boxes are always kept locked.
Anyway, I had no reason for wanting to see my husband killed.
I loved him.
Yes, but you resented the way he flaunted his affairs.
Yes, I did.
I resented it on his last picture, too, with the script girl, but I didn't kill him then and I didn't kill him now.
You started to leave the stage, and then you came back.
Would you mind telling us why? Yes.
Yes, I decided I was being foolish.
I wanted to talk to Gil between takes and try to convince him to call off this production.
Gil's company was putting up half the money, and I thought it was a terrible mistake.
He wasn't right for the part, and the script was a disaster and getting worse with each revision.
You won't get any argument from this quarter.
But your last words to him were, "Good-bye, darling, and I do mean good-bye.
" This is absurd.
The real bullets must have been put in by accident.
Why would anyone have worked out such a bizarre plan? Well, you see, people under severe stress I was not under severe stress, just average stress.
Are you accusing me of something, or may I go home now? All right, Mrs.
Mallory, but I may want to get back to you.
You have my number.
Well, I'm going sightseeing.
Coming? Hey, Dad, there's a note pinned to my script "Special-effects department ask for Al.
" You ask for him.
I'm gonna find Dottie Lamour.
I want to talk to that prop man.
What's his name? Garvin, sir he's not here.
He's not here? He better be here.
I told you not to let anybody go.
He was already gone took off like a shot.
Well, find him.
Find Al Garvin.
"Ask for Al"props.
What do you mean, crummy work? I made them myself.
Wait a second.
Uh, exc Take your hat off.
Okay? Bernie, he loves them.
Okay, baby, see you later.
You're a sweet heart.
Here.
And if that moron doesn't like this batch, I'll come over and rap them over his head, except the bottle won't be candy glass.
It'll be the real thing.
Uh excuse me.
No, excuse me.
Hold this a second.
I'm looking for Al Garvin.
He's in props.
This is special effects.
Oh, well, I got a message from him asking me to look for him.
Your name Queen? Yeah, Ellery Queen.
Let's see your studio pass.
- Oh, can I put this down? - Oh, sure.
That's not it.
Here it is.
Tool room, in the back.
Thank you.
Hey, haven't I seen you somewhere around the lot? Huh? The hat? No, no, that's some other person.
Thank you.
Mr.
Garvin? Oh, Mr.
Queen, I'm glad you came.
Well, I'm not so sure I should have.
You know Lieutenant Braden's looking for you.
Oh, Mr.
Queen, I'm not hiding out, but I wanted the chance to talk to you first.
See, I've read some of your books, and you've got brains.
Well, that's very flattering, but Now, they think I put in live bullets, don't they? Well, I didn't.
I put in a full clip of blanks when I first got to the stage this morning, and I've never reloaded.
I swear.
You didn't replace the three blanks that were shot before the lunch break? No.
Now, my guess is somebody slipped some live cartridges in early this morning.
They left three blanks on the top so that if anybody looked at the clip, they'd see nothing but blanks.
I see.
But if the prop box is kept locked Yeah, I know.
I know.
But about 10 minutes after I got here this morning and unlocked the box, I got a phone call.
Now, the phone's all the way across the other side of the stage, and by the time I got there, whoever called for me hung up.
So, you think it was a ruse to get you away from the prop box? Had to be.
And you're sure the box was locked during lunch? And the pistol was in it.
Well, why didn't you tell all this to the police? Because I was afraid they'd find out about my sister.
Your sister? She was script girl on Gilbert Mallory's last picture.
He made a big play for her, and she broke up with the nice young fella she was going with, and then Mallory dropped her.
She's just a kid.
She took it hard.
I still think you ought to tell the police.
I don't know, Mr.
Queen cops? My dad's a cop, and they're not at all like they are in the movies.
They can be very understanding.
All you got to do is tell them the truth, and you got nothing to worry about.
Thanks for the advice, Mr.
Queen.
Well, you didn't tell me you threatened to kill Mallory in front of witnesses.
I forgot that.
He didn't tell us, either.
We asked around.
We don't theorize, Mr.
Queen.
We dig.
Oh.
Now, according to this map of the movie stars' homes, Alice Faye lives right down the street.
Now, why don't we go take a look? She might be out beating a rug or something, huh? No, Dad, we're staying here.
Well, why are we here at all? Well, because Mr.
Raynor invited us and because Al Garvin's in jail.
Well, I don't see why having a late breakfast outdoors is going to get him out.
Welcome to Rancho Raynor.
There's some scrambled eggs over here, gentlemen, or caviar there, if you prefer.
Alice Faye here, by any chance? Michael, darling, your Sunday brunches are sheer heaven.
And your presence decorates them so beautifully, my dear, but then, blondes go with anything.
All right? Everything all right? There's Dave.
Maybe he'll introduce me to a movie star I've heard of.
If you're giving me a bum steer, you'll never get another item in my column.
Baby, the picture's not going to be cancelled.
Trust me.
That's not what Louella's saying.
You're not holding out on me, are you, Davey? Baby Any idea who's taking over poor Gilbert's part? Well, there are a number of stars being considered and Hold it.
Darling, I almost didn't recognize you.
What have you done to your face? Oh, hello.
Enjoying the party? We just got here.
Dave, is there a chance the picture will be cancelled? I hope not.
I need the job.
Oh, excuse me.
Yeah? What is it? Have you talked to Raynor? I haven't been able to get to him.
Well, here's your chance.
All right, all right.
This thing is too sweet.
See that you get the next one right.
Mr.
Raynor, did you get that memo I sent you about Mike? He'd be great in the part.
I don't gamble on unknowns, especially stunt men who think they can act.
Well, I've I've had a few roles, Mr.
Raynor.
You didn't happen to catch me in "Western Stallion"? I hate cowboy pictures.
Wayne Morris played the lead.
I was his best friend.
He was fantastic in the role.
He stole the whole picture.
Why don't you give him a screen test? Look, David you talked me into giving your pal here the job of doubling Mallory.
Now, get him off my back, or I'll can both of you.
"Western Stallion.
" Ohh.
Big shot.
Three flops in a row.
Mr.
Raynor I'd like to speak to you a moment about the blue pages that came in yesterday.
Oh, come on, Briggs.
Working a six-day week is tough enough.
Can't I have Sunday off? But they've already taken most of Inspector Queen's best lines away and given them to Ellery.
Now, even the best scene, the confrontation scene with the butler that's the only chance I have to illuminate the dynamic essence of the character.
It's been cut out completely.
It was Gilbert Mallory's idea, wasn't it? We'll talk about it tomorrow.
Well, look now that poor Gilbert won't be playing the character, maybe you'll give me back some of my moments.
Tomorrow, Briggs.
- You know - Hmm? he's right about that butler scene.
It was the best scene I had.
Tell me as the author, what do you see as the dynamic essence of the character? The dynamic what? I see him as seething with frustration and trying desperately even though ineffectually to establish a viable relationship with his son.
Well, I think I'll try to establish a relationship with the lady over here.
Yeah.
Now, that's a facet of his character I never would have thought of.
Excuse me.
Pamela, darling, has your agent firmed up the RKO deal? How could he? I'm not available.
You will be if they cancel this whodunit.
This is a new low Sunday brunch, as usual.
The king is dead.
Long live the king.
- Who got the part? - Oh, come off it, Claire.
- Life goes on.
- I think you should know, Inspector, that my husband was planning to replace Mr.
Raynor as director of this picture.
That's a lie.
You haven't had a decent credit in years.
If they yanked you off this picture, you'd be through.
That's a brilliant performance, Claire.
The screen lost a very fine ingenue when you retired.
Yesterday you said it was Pamela who did it on purpose, and now it's me.
I'm beginning to think that you're afraid somebody is gonna say it was you.
I'm not a bit afraid of that because I know it wasn't me, and so do you.
Inspector, me thinks the lady doth protest too much.
Well, well, well, looks like I have hit the jackpot.
Well, now, look don't print any of this.
It's bad for the industry.
Just be careful I don't finish what Gil started.
My lawyer and I have just finished going over his will.
Oh, where did you find it, by going through his pockets? Gil's company belongs to me now.
So, you stay on as director only if I want you to.
So, don't you push me around, Michael.
And if I thought you had anything to do with his death I'd stop this production right now.
Excuse me, Mr.
Raynor, but have you shown these gentlemen your collection? Collection? What collection? He's a big-game hunter.
He knows all about guns.
He could even put lead into blanks and make real bullets out of them.
Couldn't you, Michael? Yes, of course if I wanted to do it the hard way.
The truth is, I didn't do it any way.
I'm sure everything will be thoroughly checked, Mrs.
Mallory, including the source of the ammunition.
Thank you very much, Mr.
Raynor, for the glimpse of Hollywood beneath the tinsel.
I was happier with the tinsel.
Son, do you think you could tear yourself away? - What? - We're leaving.
Say good-bye.
Dad, what about the brunch, the caviar? I don't like fish eggs in my corned-beef hash.
Oh, Inspector Queen Don't bother me.
I don't want to be studied.
I knew that would be his attitude.
Irascible, isn't he? Well, he's grouchy in the morning, yeah.
But with a keen policeman's eye at all times.
I remember what he said about that phoney bulletproof vest Mallory was wearing.
He was right, too.
What about the vest? Well, if Mallory had been wearing the original vest, he'd be alive today.
It was bulletproof.
Why didn't he wear it? Well, at the last minute, there was some change.
He was given a simulated vest.
By whom? By the prop man, Al Garvin.
Those memos have to be here somewhere.
Ah, here we go.
Now, here's the first one.
Thanks.
"Due to changes in scene 231A, Gilbert Mallory will need a bulletproof vest.
" Signed"Michael Raynor.
" Yes, I sent it.
It's dated Friday the 17th, the day before yesterday.
I got it early that morning, and here's the other one.
Ah.
"Vest unacceptable.
Wardrobe is making one to order.
" Signed"Michael Raynor," same date.
I got that just before wrapped on Friday.
Yes, again.
Now, I wonder if we could see that bulletproof vest.
- Sure thing.
- Yeah? Why did you wait until the last minute to make the switch, Mr.
Raynor? Well, Mallory said the real bulletproof vest made him look fat.
I fought him on it, but I didn't have a chance of winning.
Was that in front of the entire cast and crew? No, no, we discussed it off the set.
I see.
Was there anybody else there? Yes, yes, Pamela Courtney.
Al, you sure that's the same vest you gave him? It's the only one we have.
It's It's real.
As strong as armor plates.
Bullets wouldn't have gone through this.
That's a shame.
Yes, it's a shame.
"Memo to director Michael Raynor Watch your step, Mike.
Gil Mallory's widow, Claire, may be wearing basic black, but she is seeing red ink, that is.
The little lady's angry enough to shut down the new Ellery Queen quick flick before the budget goes out of sight.
" Hi, Dad.
I thought you were going to Grauman's Chinese.
Just to see the footprints.
My feet are exactly the same size as Pat O'Brien's.
Where is everyone? They're shooting on location today.
Something bothering you, son? Just running through the sequence, Dad.
Al Garvin took the pistol out of that prop box and brought it here on the set.
Who'd they get to play Ellery? I hear Lee Bowman turned it down.
Now, I got that straight from the guy who sells souvenir's in front of Grauman's.
Didn't bother to check the clip, he says.
So, the live rounds might be in the gun might be in the gun.
I've been rereading the original script.
- Much different from what we saw? - No.
The difference is in where it goes.
It starts out the same way Ellery is dialing on the telephone, and he's talking, and then he walks over here, walks way over here.
Then he gets shot.
Look out, son.
You'll put your hand right through that glass.
It's all right, Dad.
It's just candy glass.
What? Harmless glass for a special effect that wasn't used.
It wasn't used.
I wonder why that scene was changed.
The director wanted it changed.
Did he say why? Money.
If Ellery's stunt double went crashing through that glass, it's $200 a stunt.
Now, Raynor was trying to save every nickel he could to make himself look good.
How'd you feel about that, Mr.
Briggs? Well, it didn't bother me at all, as long as I didn't lose any more of my lines.
You know, I lost some this morning in the green pages.
I don't want you to think that I'm the kind of actor that goes around counting his lines.
Mr.
Briggs, in the original script, how many lines did you have? I've lost 97.
to a walk-on.
Excuse me, Dad.
You know, the change in that script might be important.
What? Well, in the original script, the unrevised one.
Now, the distance from that door to that window is approximately 20 feet.
A pistol aimed at a man's heart at that range could very easily miss.
And the way the script was changed, it's close-up, point-blank.
It couldn't miss.
We had better have a talk with Mr.
Raynor.
Do you have a moment, Mr.
Raynor? No.
Camera here! We were just wondering why you changed the scene.
Scene 231A.
Because I thought it would be better.
Look, Queen I don't have to explain anything to you.
You signed away your rights, and you have no control whatsoever over your material.
I know that.
I'm not criticizing.
Well, then what is it all about? We're just wondering why you altered the material.
Because I got this idea of Ellery finessing her with that bulletproof-vest gimmick.
You mean he didn't wear it in the original scene? No, she fires and misses.
Then he dives through the window and makes out that he's been hit.
Mr.
Raynor? Sonny North your new Ellery Queen.
Hello, Mr.
Raynor, good to see you again.
- Sonny, welcome aboard, huh? - Thank you.
Yes.
Have you read the script? Read it, loved it, and raring to go.
There are one or two minor points that we'll discuss later, okay? Whatever you say, Sonny.
This is your picture.
Great.
- Have you met your leading lady? - No, as a matter of fact, I haven't.
Pamela, sweetheart, come over and meet your new star, hmm? I wished for someone tall and handsome, and my wish came true.
Welcome, Sonny.
Thank you, sweetheart.
I'm going to like this, Mr.
Raynor.
Hmm.
Oh, and your stunt man.
Mike Hewitt.
Mike.
Mike's gonna need lifts.
He doesn't look any more like you than the man in the moon.
What's she doing here? Keeping an eye on her investment.
Well, then she really is worried.
Oh, she was here the first thing this morning, after her script changes arrived.
Raynor wanted to put a few kids playing on the road to heighten the action of the car chase.
She put a quick stop to that.
Quiet, please, this is picture.
All right, sound of car! Stay here, Elizabeth.
I'll decoy.
All right, Sonny, out.
Hewitt.
Pick it up after his line up there at the rock.
Get in the car the same way he did.
Drive down there, to where the road curves at the edge of the cliff and go into a skid.
Now, we've got a second camera down there, and we'll get a close-up, so make it a good one, huh? - Okay.
- All right.
Let's shoot it.
Roll, please.
Action! Right.
Well, it was murder, all right.
The brake line was cut.
That narrows the suspects in Mallory's murder by one.
Why Hewitt? Maybe he knew something about the first murder.
Or maybe it was a mistake.
Maybe the killer was after the new Ellery Queen.
Well, we know one thing for sure it wasn't Garvin.
He was in jail.
Somebody's trying to put the whammy on this production, and I have a definite suspect in mind.
Sergeant Velie? My name is Harris, Inspector.
I'm sorry.
I forgot where I was.
I want you to locate Pamela Courtney for me, please.
Yes, it's true I tried to get out of my contract.
I hate this picture.
The killer in a whodunit never really has a good scene until the end.
Oh, now, that's not always true.
That's only when the writer wants the suspect to remain inconspicuous Ellery, this is no time to talk shop.
Miss Courtney has just admitted something very important.
Are you ready to make a statement? A statement? Yes.
Yes, I am.
I, Pamela Courtney, being of sound mind, did not kill anybody.
How's that? You got a better offer from another studio.
Yes, but RKO decided to postpone their picture until I finish this turkey.
And when did you hear about that? My agent called early this morning before the accident.
You can check if you want.
You could have rigged the car before your agent called, and you didn't have time to unrig it afterwards.
In the first place, you can put what I know about cars in your eye, and you wouldn't even blink.
In the second place, really, Lieutenant, do you think I would murder two men just to get an Oscar-winning role in a major motion picture? Dad? Excuse me.
Lieutenant.
What is it, son? We've got a unique situation here.
We should take advantage of it.
Of what? We have two murders with completely different methods, but one thing in common not usually found in a murder.
What's that? They're both on film.
So, do you want to roll it again? Dad? Let's see the second feature.
All right.
Go on to the second reel, please.
Mark.
Action! Hello, this is Ellery Queen.
I'm calling about the chemical analysis of the tea found in the victim' study.
Well, we won't need the FBI' assistance, after all.
I'm gathering all the suspects at the scene of the crime at midnight, when I will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt who killed Eliz abeth Warner.
Aah! Aah! Ellery! That's it.
I don't think we have to see it again.
Thank you.
Did you see the look on her face when she pulled the trigger? Now, that's a cold-blooded killer if I ever saw one.
She's supposed to have a cold-blooded look.
That's the part she's playing.
She's not that good an actress.
I'm bringing her in.
Then you could have a set.
Or did you forget Al Garvin? I didn't forget.
I just don't know what to do with him.
You could turn him loose.
I've got it.
Scene 231A that's the clue.
I know who killed Gilbert Mallory and Mike Hewitt.
You know who killed them? Was it Mallory's wife or his current mistress? Or was it the director, the prop man who hated him? Or was it somebody else? And why was Hewitt, a stunt man, killed? Tell you one thing my dad was right when he said the killer made a mistake, but when and what? I've got to be up for a dawn shot tomorrow, and he roused me out in the middle of the night.
Now, what is this all about? Mr.
Queen will tell you.
Aah.
Yes, as soon as Miss Courtney gets here.
She also refused to come when I called her.
I insist upon knowing what this is all about right now.
I'm sorry.
I'm directing this scene.
Ah, enter Miss Courtney.
You'll be interested to know my lawyer is on his way.
Oh, well, he's more than welcome.
Be seated.
Two murders have been committed, and we're here to re-enact the first one in the hopes of getting a confession from the killer.
Just like in an Ellery Queen novel, hmm? Yes.
The scene is written in the original script, not the revised version that came through with the pink pages.
Mrs.
Mallory, may I see that script? You're the director.
Now, scene 231, before it became 231A.
The prop man has given the pistol to Pamela, and she waits behind the door.
Oh.
No, no, that won't be necessary.
Just sit down.
I'll continue this.
Thank you.
Now, she's waiting behind the door for her cue, with Inspector Queen.
If I may Excuse me.
Ellery is dialing his telephone dial, dial, dial.
And, "Action!" Hello, this is Ellery Queen, blah, blah, blah.
Will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
Here's a sound behind the door.
Whirls around.
Cue! You all right, Ellery? Yeah, Dad, fine, thanks.
That's it.
The original script, as written, except I wouldn't have been shot by my Dad.
Miss Courtney would have done the honors.
That's the way it would have been if Mr.
Raynor hadn't put through the changes.
Now, there's a stunt involved in the original scene, so you would have used a stunt double.
You would have filmed in a long shot before getting a closer shot of the star, as you did in location.
A brilliant deduction.
So, the gunshots would have been fired at Mike Hewitt, the stunt man, instead of at Gilbert Mallory, the star.
Would you please come to the point? I already have, Lieutenant.
Mike Hewitt, the stunt man, was the murderer's target from the beginning.
Mallory's death was a mistake.
What? The killer thought that Mike Hewitt would be in the scene when Pamela pulled the trigger.
Question Why did he think that, since the scene had already been changed? Answer He didn't know.
Pamela Courtney knew.
She got the pink pages on Friday night, as did Lionel Briggs and Al Garvin, the prop man.
The director, of course he made the changes.
And as for Mrs.
Mallory, she got all her husband's changes.
I didn't even know the stunt man.
But you knew him, Dave.
You knew him well enough to get him a job.
Well, he he was a friend.
I doubt that very much.
What was it you said to me about publicists not getting the changes, either? You never got the pink pages.
When you had Al Garvin called to the phone and you reloaded the prop gun with live rounds, you had no way of knowing that Mallory would play the scene instead of Mike Hewitt.
You had nothing against Mallory.
You hardly even knew the man.
It was Hewitt.
You don't have to say a thing.
Well, you you know? Enough.
Well, I don't know.
Tell me.
Well, uh, Hewitt was an extra on the last film I worked on.
The star was on the verge of a breakdown.
Only pills could hold her together.
Her drug supplier was arrested, and, well, I I had to keep her going so that I wouldn't lose my job.
She She died from an overdose.
Hewitt found out that you gave her the pills.
Threatened to tell the police.
And you knew that he'd never let you off the hook, so you killed him? Missed him in 231A, got him in 98B.
Velie I mean, Harris Excuse me.
Take him in.
How did you find out about his motive? I didn't.
You said you knew.
I finessed him.
Ellery.
Yeah? If we drive along this street real slow, maybe we'll see Norma Shearer walking her dog.
Well, it's worth a try.
It's worth a try.