While the City Sleeps

SHIP'S WHISTLE BLOWS

FLOORBOARD CREAKS

RINGS DOORBELL

Yes?

Drugstore.

FOREIGN ACCENT: Miss Judith! Package!

It's a charge. Take it, Pop.

After you go out for dinner, I come back

and permanent-fix the plumbing.

JUDITH: Fine.

I use my pass key.

You don't worry about nothing.

< Thanks for everything.

Goodnight, Pop.

Goodnight!

HUMMING

FLOORBOARD CREAKS

FLOORBOARD CREAKS

RINGS DOORBELL

Oh.

Drugstore again.

I-I think I left the wrong package.

A minute later, I'd have been in the tub.

BATH WATER RUNNING

CLICK

No, my name's on it.

Sorry.

Mm-hmm.

TURNS OFF WATER

DOOR OPENS

Aah!

TYPEWRITER KEYS TAPPING

Mr Mobley, you're on the air in 15 minutes.

Just a minute, Gus.

Oh, boy!

Have the copy put on the idiot sheet.

Please, Mr Mobley.

"Ever on the alert to serve its..." TELEPHONE RINGS

Mr Loving's office.

Tell that boss of yours to stop purring

over your shoulder while he dictates.

(Shut your obscene face.)

You want a drink later...

..at your place?

Oh, no. We've tried my place.

What would you suggest - Madison Square Garden?

I'm sorry, Mr Loving. That Mobley...

I've told him and told him.

Well, frankly, Nancy, I don't blame him.

I sometimes wish these walls were not made out of glass.

"And the kind news service, ever on the alert..."

Ever on the alert...

Hello.

Going home, Mildred?

Oh, darling, I don't have to.

There are two schools of thought about that mink.

One is that a syndicate bought it,

and the other is that Mark Loving shelled out for the whole thing.

Well, why don't you get me alone some night,

and I'll tell you all?

That's a good offer.

You ought to find out just how good. Bye.

BELL RINGS

Hey! Mr Bright eyes?

Yes, sir?

See what's in the city news ticker, huh?

Right.

BELL RINGS

Get Mark Loving in here!

And Jon day Griffith! And Harry Kritzer!

Mr Kyne?

And Ed Mobley, too!

Mr Kyne! You promised the doctor no more work...

A murder story has just come in, Miss Dodd! It's a Lulu, and they're blowing it!

Mr Griffith, Mr Kyne would like to see you.

Mm-hmm.

Gentlemen?

Mr Griffith.

Hmm? Oh.

I don't like to have my wire service beat

by every other one in the country.

Why, it's just another murder.

I suggest that the life of a human being

is not beneath your consideration.

All right. I'll get onto it myself.

Jon? May I remind you

that your first edition is on the street at 7pm?

All I've got left is the final.

I'll put this on page two.

How many women in the United States use lipstick?

How many women are there?

I want every one of them scared silly

every time she puts any on!

Call this baby The Lipstick Killer -

smack across the front page!

Whatever you say, Amos.

How about pictures?

I'll send the men out right away.

And I'll send you a special letter of commendation.

Now, get out of here, both of you, and get to work.

Do you want me to feature this thing on my telecast?

Ed, I'm real jumpy.

So am I. I'm on the air in four minutes.

Who's going to run the whole show when my carburetor conks out?

You'll do that yourself for many a year.

Kyne Enterprises...

something that's taken a lifetime of brains and guts to build...

and in all that lifetime, I find I've made only two big mistakes.

Well, I'm surprised that you admit to that many.

One - my son Walter. I killed him with kindness.

Polo ponies, yachts, women...

especially women he married.

Second...

I think you're looking in my direction.

Why didn't you want to fill my shoes, Ed?

Where was your ambition?

I'm content the way I am.

Just to be able to write a book now and then,

keep my nose clean... I have no appetite for power.

I'm not talking about power.

It's a bigger thing -

the responsibility of the free press to the people.

In this country, it's the people who make the decisions.

If they're to make their decisions right,

they have to have all the facts that we...

TV ON

Oh, I didn't mean to cut you off, but...

Amos!

TV: 'It's 11:00... '

Amos! Amos! 'And Kyne Enterprises,

'including the Kyne newspapers,

'Kyne Press Service,

'Kyne Photo Service,

'and Kyne Weekly, present

'the distinguished author, columnist,

'and Pulitzer prize winner... '

Film. No script.

Ladies and gentlemen,

most newsmen value a beat.

Here's one I wish I didn't have.

A few moments ago, Amos Kyne passed away...

CLOCK CHIMES

BUZZER

Hello?

BUZZER

Yes?

WOMAN: 'The gentlemen are here, Mr Kyne.'

Where did they locate him?

At the Stork Club.

Where else?

Yes, sir.

You three.

Ed's to wait.

DOOR CLOSES

Gentlemen, except for Harry,

I'm afraid I don't know you.

It is terrible about your father.

Yes.

You are, er... Mark Loving?

That's right.

And just what do you do around here?

I run Kyne Newswire Service - KNS.

I presume you've checked our handling of your father's death.

Any suggestions?

The newswire.

Yes, er...

yes, we must talk about that soon.

You must be, er...

Jon Day Griffith.

I sweep up the floor,

and I'm editor of The Sentinel.

I'm also advisory editor of the other nine papers.

Are you responsible for the fact that a cheap murder was

featured on the same front page as the death of my father?

The old man wanted the story played up big.

'Course, he didn't know then he was going to be news.

But inasmuch as it was his last request...

Walter, I have arranged a copyrighted feature on the old man's life.

Shall I give it to Mark to send over the wire?

We'll see.

Harry, it's been a long time.

How's Dorothy?

We must have dinner soon.

I just wanted to tell you three that,

at the moment, I contemplate no changes in personnel.

So for the time being,

none of you has anything to worry about.

Oh!

Uh...on your way,

will you tell Mobley to come in?

HARRY: Whew...

well?

You're on.

What...

So, you're Edward Mobley.

Deepest sympathy, Mr Kyne.

Sit down.

Thank you.

You're the fellow who wrote the book.

Every time the old man got sore at me, which was often,

he used to talk about you...

Mobley this and Mobley that.

I got pretty sick of it.

Yes, I can imagine you did.

Those three who were just in here

made their opinion of me pretty plain -

Amos Kyne's idiot son.

I suppose you feel the same.

Frankly, I don't feel qualified

to feel any way about you, Mr Kyne.

Other publishers took their sons in

and taught them the business,

but not him.

Till I get the hang of things around here, I'm going to need some help -

not that I don't intend to run things in my own way, from behind the scenes.

I've got an idea.

It's a great idea, if I do say so myself.

I'm going to create a new job -

executive director...

someone to do the actual work.

What do you think of it?

It sounds like a step your father would have approved.

My father is dead.

This is my plant now.

I'm going to get myself a gimmick -

something that will set the three of them

scrambling for the new job.

What do you think of that?

I'd rather not say.

When I have them dangling on the string,

when they realise that I hold their

entire lives in my hands...

they won't sneer. Now, tell me...

could even he have thought up an idea like that?

No. Never!

Anything further?

Not for now.

Then good morning.

DOOR CLOSES

Dear Walter Kyne,

before your father died, I was working on a...

tryout with Midwest Television,

which could be immensely profitable.

During these trying days of mourning,

I have not wanted to disturb you,

but let's have a conference as soon as possible.

All right, Nancy. Get that out in the morning. That's all.

Yes, sir.

(What's Griffith doing in there)

(for half an hour with Walter Kyne?)

Goodnight, Miss Donner, Mr Loving.

Goodnight. 'Night.

DOOR CLOSES

Mil...until I clinch this new job,

I'm going to be like a cat on a hot tin roof.

Oh, love, the boys have gotten out of betting line.

You're their favourite and mine - six to five.

It's not that simple.

I'm plumping with everything that I can think of...

This Midwest deal, influence...

I've written dozens of letters.

I'll have the pressure pouring in,

but Kyne keeps harping on this murder thing,

as if solving it could be a factor.

Now, do you suppose that...?

Why not?

It does credit to a better brain than Walter Kyne's.

Yes. He'd get a scoop and an executive director,

without the trouble of making up his little mind.

There's the guy now!

Darling, I thought you liked Jon.

Well, there's no room for love around here now.

What's he doing with Gerald Meade?

MILDRED: Well, darling, solving the murder's the big thing.

He'd naturally want the crime beat man on his team.

So why don't you try and get him on yours?

Griffith's probably sewing him up right now.

MILDRED: Gerald would sell his mother and deliver.

LOVING: Well, then, how can I be sure of him?

You go to work on Meade,

and if it will ease your mind, love, in a little while

I'll drop down to the dell and, er, feel out Griffith.

GRIFFITH: Hello.

Yes, sir?

Better have another, Carlo.

I've been upstairs with Walter Kyne.

A fine man.

He's a weak-spined, blue-eyed fish, you ask me!

I don't know him too well.

Well, I... Make it two.

No, make it three.

Hello, Jon.

Hi. Hi!

Let Nancy sit between us.

You and I can Indian-wrestle under the bar.

Rye and soda for me, and I'll have it with music.

Yes, ma'am.

Old man upstairs is roaring like a lion.

"Get me the killer," he yells.

"Use all your best men.

"Reporters, editors, feature men,

"photographers, wire service men,

"but get me the killer!"

And the man who gets the killer lands the job.

Uh-huh.

Who do you bet on, Ed -

on Loving? Loving's smart,

Loving's fast,

Loving knows a lot of the right people,

but Loving doesn't get the job.

No?

No. I'm going to get it,

because I spent my youth and 30,000

on whiskey and devotion to the job,

because I have a long-suffering wife and two swell kids,

and because you and I together are going to crack this murder thing.

Mr Loving wants Ed on HIS team.

Yeah? Well, he's not going to have him,

because Ed's going to help me!

And let me get one thing clear -

I don't promise you a thing for yourself.

Not a thing!

Well, let me make myself clear, Jon.

I don't care who gets the job.

For one thing, I've been off a crime beat for five years,

and for another, I'm not going to get

my throat torn open in any dogfight.

Now, Ed, I've been real nice to you.

Nancy, tell Ed I've been real nice to him.

I knew it all along. >

Just knew I was going to find a friendly face down here.

Well, my face is friendly.

Hi.

Hello, you lovely people.

I always see you two together, don't I?

You could do a column about it.

Oh, I'd love to, darling.

I'm all for romance.

Have a rum on the rocks or something.

Well, now, thank you, Jon. That's right friendly of you.

And I do think we should all be very friendly

during these trying times.

How is Mark?

Oh, he's driving home you-know-who.

Who is you-know-who?

Jon, Walter... Walter Kyne.

I understand honest Harry Kritzer's having dinner there.

One afternoon at the sands in Vegas, I was taking a swim.

Then I looked up and saw Dorothy sitting by the pool.

Saw her legs first - those beautiful, long legs.

Ha ha ha!

So I made kind of a rough-and-ready approach.

I'll never forget what she answered - two words.

You know what she answered, Harry?

Uh, no, I don't.

I said, "Window shopping?"

KYNE: Yes.

Ha ha ha ha!

Ha ha ha.

So, three nights later, I settled for marriage!

Excuse me, sir.

Hmm?

Mr Griffith is waiting on the telephone.

Oh, I'll take it outside.

Excuse me.

Sit next to me, Harry.

Uh-uh.

I don't like the walls in this room.

Look like they've got sliding panels.

Coward.

He's probably got microphones behind those pictures, too.

Well, you don't need to kiss me so loud.

When's the next time you can visit your mother?

Tomorrow night... I hope.

I don't like keeping up this "mother" business.

Every time I mention mother to Walter,

I can't keep a straight face.

How do you think I stand in the race, darling?

Oh, far behind, darling, far behind.

Well, darling, I don't think so.

Let Griffith and Loving beat their brains out.

What chance have I got - send out a cameraman? Am I a crime catcher?

Uh-uh. I'll play it my own way...

as Walter's best friend.

With...Walter's best wife?

I don't want to involve you.

My hero.

You'll never guess who's moved in here...

Harry Kritzer.

Honest Harry?

Very mysterious...

No name on his mailbox.

Hideaway?

Do you suppose old Harry's got a blonde stashed away on the side?

If he ever sees me, he'll die.

He's right across the hall from me.

Oh?

SLURRED: You know, my darling,

as I was telling you-

between the fourth and the fifth highball,

a most intelligent thing to do is

to find outbefore you get married-

the more the better.

I know quite a lot ABOUT YOU NOW:

Went to school not far from here;

played stoop ball against the sidewalls

of engine company number 18-

I didn't mean that kind of knowledge.

I know you didn't.

I'm just trying to head off a disaster.

You know, you've seen these couples-

there's a big guy, six foot 7,

and a itty bitty girl, four feet 11.

How do they get along?

She doesn't even know if he likes music,

and she doesn't know if he likes books.

Maybe they get married to find out.

Well, I know about all I'm likely to find out tonight.

Goodnight.

CLICK

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

Take care of yourself.

You know...

you have very nice legs.

Aren't you sweet?

Nice nylon stockings, too.

What holds your stockings up?

There's a lot your mother should have told you.

I didn't ask my mother.

I asked you.

It's, er... simply a matter of scientific research.

Hadn't we said goodnight

before you got interested in my nylons?

I can't remember when I wasn't interested.

Don't you ever wait for anything to be offered?

OK, I'm open to an offer.

OK...

if it will get rid of you.

I should have a permit.

To kiss me?

Hmm! An explorer's permit.

Do explorers have to have permits?

They should have, especially when

they're headed for uncharted territory.

Oh, forgive me, angel.

I know not what I say.

Goodnight, drunk.

Oh, may I use your telephone?

How did you get in here?

Temper, temper.

RINGING

Kyne Enterprises.

Oh, yeah, Mr Mobley.

Oh, get Gerald Meade for me.

Get him out of bed - anybody's bed.

Mr Mobley, you're real George.

Gerald...

that Felton girl who was murdered -

did she have a button lock on her door?

Yeah.

Why are you so interested?

Oh, I'm an employee of the society

for the protection of virtuous maidens.

You ought to get a chain lock on that door.

Aw...

Nancy's mad.

Too mad to offer a drink?

If you want one, fix it yourself.

You're darn right Nancy's mad!

Well, that's a fine way for my future bride to be.

Oh, you don't want a bride.

What you want is an illiterate common-law woman.

Fix you a drink?

No, I don't want to get drunk with you.

Something else you'd prefer?

That Mildred Donner is more your type. Try her.

Don't you sit there and tell me who's my type.

Du verstehst?

You're my type.

Hey, let me tell you just a little bit more.

Ed loves Nancy very dearly...

very much.

Ed wants to marry Nancy.

You only say that when you've had a few.

Want me to put it in writing?

How convenient.

The great reporter has no pencil.

And a darn good reporter, too.

And a darn good man...

A man with great kindness -

maybe too much, because it dampens ambition.

Ambition?

If you mean by that,

I should join the race, uh-uh.

You watch, Nancy.

They'll all break down - all three of them.

Maybe one won't.

Which one?

The reporter-editor of The Sentinel,

but, still at heart, a reporter...

the one who offered me nothing for myself -

a good offer - the offer of a friend.

Then don't you think you ought to help him?

Nobody ever helped me.

Now, you know that isn't true!

Amos Kyne did and Griffith would...

and I would.

I'd do anything you asked me.

You better stick to your friend. He's your type.

You're my type.

Shall we phone my mother and father?

And ask them if you should marry

a reporter without a pencil?

To tell them I'm going to.

Oh, what do you know!

TELEPHONE RINGS

Is that your boss calling?

Does he usually call AT 3.00 in the morning?

Every night.

Hello?

Yes.

Just a moment.

It's for you.

Yes?

Listen, Ed,

you're a real good pal of Lieutenant Kaufman's, aren't you?

Burt? We went to the same school together,

fought together, dated Janice behind

the saxophones in her father's hockshop. Why?

They've got somebody, Ed.

..Who? How would I know?

Donald Duck!

The cops won't say,

but Kaufman will meet you at headquarters.

Congratulate me, Jon.

I'm engaged.

What do I care, you're engaged!

Now, do me a favour, please, and get over there!

What?

I already sent Meade,

and where do you think I located him?

In Loving's apartment.

Ed, stick with me!

But it's morning, so it's Tuesday- my day off!

Are you my friend or not?

All right.

I'll handle it just this one time, but that's all.

All right, I said all right!

Ask me, all things considered,

it's just as well.

Hey, what are they doin' in there?

Maybe some photographs,

maybe they're questioning already.

Ltn. Kaufman is expecting me - Ed Mobley.

Hi, Gerald.

Hiya.

Hello, Burt.

Where were you?

Getting engaged.

No fooling.

No fooling.

Poor Nancy.

Who have they got, Burt?

The janitor of the girl's building,

but you can't use it before a general release.

He's in questioning.

Any chance of having a listen?

Under the same conditions. Agreed?

Sure.

MAN: 'She was killed with your wrench.'

Why do you lie to us, Pilsky?

I don't lie.

Yes, you do.

You told us that you went

to Judith Felton's apartment at 9.00 and found her dead.

But the people at the drugstore tell us

that a package was delivered to Judith Felton's at 8.00,

that you opened the door and took the package.

Is that right?

Yes... I lied.

I-I was frightened.

Then you do admit

that you were in the Felton apartment at 8.00.

Y-y-yes. But I don't kill!

I leave her when she take bath.

When I come back, I find her dead.

If you went away and came back, George,

how did you get into her apartment?

I use pass key.

The door was locked, then, huh?

Yes.

Did anyone else in the building have a pass key?

No.

Are you trying to tell us

that somebody walked through a locked door

and killed Miss Felton?

I tell truth.

I don't kill her. I find her dead.

All right, Pilsky.

We're gonna start all over from the beginning.

Hmmm!

Sun's coming up.

Not for that old boy.

He didn't do it. You know he didn't.

Four days and no results.

Somebody had to be hauled in for the howling public.

Or the crime commission.

But you'll let him go before the day's over.

What makes you so sure?

The evidence against him is just too pat to be true.

Use your phone?

Not for publication.

TELEPHONE RINGS

Hello?

Ed?

Yeah.

The janitor.

If that old boy did it,

I'll sit on the hot seat for him.

Keep Meade on it. I'm gonna go home and get some sleep.

Your pin-ups?

Yeah.

All very murdered.

I was just looking for possible points

of comparison with this Felton case.

Look for a young guy, Burt.

Now you're guessing.

Pre-meditated murder

by a psycho, and not his first.

He didn't leave any fingerprints.

So he wore gloves.

Anyone who leaves fingerprints nowadays,

even on his first homicide, can't even read!

You know how much stuff is written and published

for the instruction of potential lawbreakers?

Take the so-called comic books.

Sold to kids of all ages, in drugstores and...

Why do you say this killer is young?

The lipstick bit.

There's nothing new about that. Several years ago...

I know, I know.

What was it? "Catch me, I can't control myself"?

This one only changed the lyrics. "Ask Mother."

He's a mama's boy unless I'm mistaken.

Well, the message may have been a blind.

I think it's an impertinence.

He's laughing at the police by leaving clues

but no fingerprints.

Keep on talking.

In the old days, before you were above writing about crime,

you and I used to be pretty good together.

What do you think of the dresser drawers found open?

We searched the janitor's room. We didn't find anything.

Of course, we don't know that anything was stolen.

TELEPHONE RINGS

Kaufman.

Homicide.

Details?

Female...

white...

21...

Unmarried...

schoolteacher...

strangled...

3.00 this morning.

He entered through the bedroom window.

Oh?

Do we have any lipstick?

Lipstick?

This joker's much too clever

ever to leave lipstick again, Burt.

She got her hands in his hair.

We took a couple strands

from underneath her fingernails.

That's good.

Anything?

No, he must have used gloves.

He left the book here deliberately,

to laugh at you, Burt.

And every time, he'll leave a different clue.

Look, Sergeant,

I've been here over nine hours and all I've got

is what every other reporter in town has,

a general release on the Felton murder.

Tim,

you and I have been friends for a long time.

I need something special,

something for myself.

Is this case any good against Pilsky?

Mm-hmm. Pretty good.

Be specific, Tim. I won't forget you.

Well,

if I was to tell you why we picked Pilsky up...

Yeah, why, why?

You wouldn't say where you got it, promise?

Promise.

Well, Pilsky's fingerprints

are on the murder weapon.

Oh, thanks, Tim.

You won't regret it.

Aah!

Wait.

Wait till I'm out of the office.

Mark Loving, sister, quick.

Mark? I've got the inside dope on the Felton case.

What?

Great work, Gerald!

That's great. Hold the line.

Phone in to Walter Kyne

that I've cracked the lipstick case.

Joe, Gerald Meade's on my line, take it.

Give me the call on Mr Loving's line.

Don't give it to the copy desk,

feed it directly to the wire.

Tom!

Good morning.

'Morning, Mark.

Want to make a bet?

On what?

On me.

Hold it, Jim. >

Cal, who sent it?

Washington.

Break them. Give this four bells.

Mark.

Can I believe this?

You cracked the lipstick case.

Ha ha! I certainly did!

We've got a scoop on the biggest story in the country.

Did this go over the wire?

For God's sake!

Oh, I'll be...

Mark's killing it.

Killing it? What's the matter with him?

DING

That idiot Meade.

What's the matter with you?

Wasn't he quoting a cop?

Nothing a cop says outside a courtroom is privileged.

What do you mean by that?

Anything you repeat,

no matter from what source,

if it doesn't sit under oath,

you'd better stand on it yourself.

What do you mean?

He means if the old man didn't kill her,

it's libel.

Libel!

You could be sued.

Any newspaper that uses your wire service

could be sued.

Well, what kind of a wire service are you running, anyway?

I killed it, didn't I?

You two don't have to quote me the law of libel!

Of course not, Walter.

You missed something, Ed.

Meade almost scuttled Loving.

Look...

Read that copy, Jon.

Huh? Ha ha!

Sensational.

Can you substantiate?

Nope.

May be a pipe dream.

But if it is, Kaufman and I are smoking together.

In any case, I'm going on the air with it in five minutes.

Hold it for the paper, Ed.

Let me hit the street with it by 7.00.

Use it in your night show.

Is that what you want?

I want to get the job, that's the idea.

And to get the job,

I'll stick a knife in anybody I have to.

Oh, I know, I know!

If I had any ethics left,

I'd give it to Loving for his wire.

OK, OK. I'll take it to him myself.

Don't call yourself my boy, Meade! You're through!

Meade, you're through.

When you killed that bulletin,

you promised your clients a new lead.

I think that will do it.

Great Scot!

You got one-minute lead

on Mobley's telecast.

That boyfriend of yours who set out to help me,

he just put your boss a mile out in front.

DING DING

TV BUZZES

'Mr Walter Kyne presents

'the distinguished author, columnist,

'and Pulitzer prize-winner Edward Mobley

'in his perceptive analysis of the day's news... '

It's already on the wire. Wait till you hear.

Ladies and gentlemen,

at approximately 3am this morning, in our city,

one human being took the life of another.

In our world, acts of violence are not rare.

And so my excuse,

or, I should say, my reason,

for giving importance to this particular story,

is my hope that the killer may be listening to me.

For I believe that in his progress to the chair

or to the insane asylum

that he has reached a way station,

where his sick and warped ego demands to be fed

with the milk of self-importance.

And so, with the consent of a very good friend of mine,

who is by way of being a remarkable criminologist,

but who has also asked that his name not be credited,

I'm going to say a few things to the killer,

face to face.

Item one -

Mr Unknown,

you will not for very long remain unknown.

Item two -

you're husky.

Strong enough to have choked to death this morning

a poor schoolteacher by the name of Laura Kelly.

Item three -

you are the same killer

who, last week, bludgeoned to death

a girl by the name of Judith Felton.

You are the Lipstick Killer.

Item four -

you read the so-called comic books.

Item five -

you have dark brown hair.

A few strands of your hair were found

beneath the fingernails of your latest victim.

Item six -

you're young.

A crime lab examination of your hair reveals

that you're approximately 20 years of age.

Item seven -

you're a mama's boy.

Item eight -

the normal feeling of love

that you should have toward your mother

has been twisted into hatred, for her...

KNOCKING ON DOOR

..and all of her sex.

Item nine...

< May I come in, dear?

I heard the television, so I knew you were up.

It must have been about 4.00

when I heard you come in this morning.

I don't like working so late.

Oh, I know.

I know how it is with my boy -

studying all day, working all night,

and I know how difficult it has been for you

ever since your father left us.

He's not my father!

And you're not my mother.

Robert, don't say that.

Why not? It's true, isn't it?

When you adopted me, you wanted a girl, didn't you?

And he wanted a boy!

Neither one of you was satisfied, were you?

I remember once when I was eight years old -

eight years old!

I was helping you dust the house,

and that woman from across the street came over and said,

"My, my."

And you said, "Yes, I know.

"He's exactly like a little girl, isn't he?"

But, Robert, you are my son

and my daughter

and all the children I ever wished I could have had.

Don't you love your mother?

Shall I show you how much I love my mother?

Oh, I have such a good boy!

Now I'll bring your breakfast.

You must be awfully hungry.

And so, with this most happy news

about my personal life,

I close until I visit with you again

at 11.00 tonight.

In the meantime,

for any further developments in the case of the Lipstick Killer,

read The Sentinel, which hits your newsstands

with its first edition at 7.00 this evening.

GRIFFITH: Did he really get Nancy's OK on this thing?

He must have.

KAUFMAN: Here, he's bringing her.

Hi.

Burt, it's good to see you.

Hello, Burt.

Nancy. Jon.

Tonight, we celebrate.

Thanks, Jon. It's worth getting engaged.

That was a pretty flossy

telecast your boy did.

Now we've got to get ready for the next step.

What do you mean?

Haven't you talked this over with Nancy?

The next step is to the altar.

I'm talking it over with her now.

Nancy, you got the idea of my telecast,

to insult the killer.

Yes.

He'll get mad at me and anybody I like.

And if I know his maniacal mind,

sooner or later, he'll come out,

after the bait.

Well...

What bait?

Ha! Some nice girl,

like the other two.

Who?

Ha ha! A nice girl with a button lock on her door.

You mean someone named Nancy.

Ahem! Nancy, you see that man in the dark suit

sitting over at the bar?

His name is Mike O'Leary.

He's a plain clothes man from Burt's department.

From now on, he'll be your shadow.

He'll take you to the Red Cross tonight,

and then home to your room,

and make sure the door is locked.

Mornings, you won't leave

until he's there to go with you, wherever you go.

You'll be safer than you've ever been in your life before.

That's the kind of guy you're going to marry.

I like the kind of guy I'm going to marry.

I told him last night

I'd do anything for him.

I won't let him down.

All right, darling, I'll do it.

Let's keep it in the family!

I was pretty sure you'd say yes,

but it's a good thing

you did say yes,

because the announcement

of our engagement

is already in the paper.

What do you know? Nancy engaged to Ed Mobley.

That nice little secretary of yours, darling.

Hmm.

I wonder what she's got.

Well, apparently she's got Mobley.

No, I mean to attract a man.

Oh, forget them, love. I'm worried.

About the job? What else?

Kyne worries me.

He was humiliated today in front of everyone,

and it's my fault.

You made up for it with the scoop on Mobley on his own telecast.

Let me tell you the facts of life.

That break was an accident of timing.

If only I had Mobley in my corner.

He knows the right people.

Don't you? Oh, sure.

I know the head waiter of the Stork,

and the Colonnier, and 21,

and I know the fellow at the dog show,

and the fellow at the dog show

knows the fellow at the horse show,

and the fellow at the horse show

knows the people at the Waldorf,

and the people at the Waldorf know me,

but Mobley knows the right cops.

Well, Mark, talk to him.

It might do a great deal of harm

if he rats about it to Griffith.

Dear heart.

You want me to have this job, don't you?

You don't have to ask that.

Then go to Mobley for me.

What? You.

You know him much better than I do.

You could tell him about me.

He'd listen to you.

I've seen him look at you.

You've seen him look at me, huh?

Those eyes of his.

Have you ever noticed those eyes?

Oh, yes. Ha! Yes, I've noticed them.

Ha ha!

Might be fun.

That's my baby.

Well, all right. I know what to say,

but how far do I have to go to get it said?

Mildred, we're adults.

I love you very completely.

Anything you might do for me

will make me love you all the more.

Thank you!

And I love you, too, Mark.

And I certainly hope that you and Miss Liggett will be very happy.

I thank you, Carlo.

What day is this?

Still Tuesday.

Ha! My day off. The rest is killing me.

Nancy's night at the Red Cross.

I could sure use some first aid.

FOOTSTEPS

Hello.

Hello, hello!

Want to buy me a drink?

Carlo?

Yes, sir.

Champagne cocktail, brandy float.

Yes, ma'am.

Going someplace?

No.

Well, you're all dressed up.

Like it?

Very much.

Well, thank you.

No, I don't think I'm going anywhere,

now that I've found you down here.

Oh, well!

Sometimes I'm in a mood

where I love to speak my mind.

Tonight's one of those times.

All right?

Sure, it's all right.

I think it's spectacular.

You're a pretty spectacular guy.

Believe me, I've known a couple.

Skol.

Where's your gentleman friend?

Where's your lady friend?

Cigarette?

Hee hee!

Pretty?

Mmmmm.

Would I like?

Mmmmm.

Aah. You can see it all later.

Oh, come on...

No, no, no! I said later!

Aa-aa-ah, I said later.

Another drink, please.

Yes, ma'am.

One for Mr Mobley, too.

You know, Mark was terribly upset by that libel business.

Don't worry, Mildred.

Your man may get in yet.

Darling, I wish you wouldn't keep calling him "my man."

Well, he's certainly not mine.

Why don't you come clean and confess?

He sent you here.

All right. He sent me.

But I hope it isn't going to spoil things,

cos I wanted to come.

Quite a messenger.

Ohhh, you men! You're all polygamists.

You, too, Mobley.

Faithful as the day is long.

Mmm, if it's the shortest day in the year.

But where would women like me be

if it wasn't for men like you?

If I take another drink tonight,

I'll fall flat on my face.

Skol.

Where's Mrs Kyne?

She had to go to her mother's, sir.

Again?

Well, anyway...

tonight I wouldn't trade places with anyone.

Look at that. A doll of a front page.

Best front page in the city.

That's very nice, sir.

But I need a right-hand man.

Today I made an ass of myself.

Who shall it be?

Loving?

Or Griffith?

Kritzer?

Mr Loving...

a conniver.

Well, every business needs a conniver.

That Griffith.

A doll of a front page.

Harry Kritzer?

But which is your best, Walter?

Your b-e-s-t.

TELEPHONE RINGS

Mr Walter Kyne's residence.

It's Mrs Kyne, sir.

Hello.

Hello, darling.

I'm still at Mother's.

Oh, what's the matter, Walter?

Every once in a while, I'd like to come home

and find you here, that's all.

I thought your mother didn't have a telephone.

I came down to the drug store especially.

I bought a copy of the final edition.

It's wonderful!

I thought Harry's artwork was marvelous.

All right, all right, I like it.

Now, how soon can you get here?

Then I'll have Steven meet you

at the door in his BVDs. Ha ha!

OK. Me, then!

Well! He swallowed it.

The question is, even for Walter,

how long will he?

Long enough, let's hope.

How long is long enough?

Long enough for me to get the job.

What else?

For me to get you the job.

That's what you mean, isn't it, darling?

However you want to put it,

let's not fail.

And then?

And then?

What are you in this for, Harry?

Is getting the big job like the satisfaction

of having the big man's wife?

What's gotten into you?

And what am I in it for?

If you're just a pastime, sweet,

oh, you're a very risky one.

With all I have, what is it I want?

Only the pleasure of paying back the man who bought me

by giving his most prized possession to someone else?

What are you driving at, Dorothy?

Just this.

If I make my husband give you the big prize,

you won't be Walter's man, you'll be mine.

And you'll do as I say,

and you won't forget that.

Ever.

OK, kitten,

if you want to imagine yourself

as Lady Macbeth or someone...

You just think about that, darling,

because I can always still change my mind.

OK, kitten.

We'll think...

and think...

and think.

Mmm.

I told him I'd come right home.

Uh-uh.

Don't you want me to do my utmost in your behalf?

DOORBELL BUZZES

Oh, it's probably the drugstore.

That was the last bottle of Scotch.

The drugstore.

One moment, please.

Keep the change.

DOORBELL BUZZES

Carlo. Carlo, we are discussing romance, you know?

Of course, I gather we are at the stage of discussing it

in rather general terms.

Well, it's something to think about.

You see, Carlo, there is also

a physical side to love,

and some women are more demanding than others...

and some automobiles are blue.

Oh, darling, look.

Of course, I want mark to prosper.

I want him to be happy, I want him to get the job,

but if you should ask me if it's love,

I would simply have to say I just don't know.

So, when do you expect to find out?

Mm, maybe an hour or so, hmm?

Carlo's going to have a busy night.

Just Carlo?

Oh, Ed, look, am I attractive to you?

I'm in no condition...

but objectively speaking, I would say yes...very.

Come on to my place.

I would also say that I am a poisonous, black-souled,

weak-kneed so-and-so.

So, all right. Your cigarettes.

Thank you.

Oh, I'm sorry, very sorry.

That's the, er, famous Ed Mobley, isn't it?

Well, he's something less than famous tonight.

The, er, woman he's with - they're engaged, huh?

What's her name? Liggett, or something.

No, that's somebody quite different.

Oh, I hate kissing in taxis.

You do?

It's much more fun at home.

Didn't realise you graded things like that.

Sure you do.

Your hands are cold.

Madame, I'm blasted.

The movement of this cab is slightly inimical to me.

The fact that I can say "inimical" proves just how drunk I am.

Oh, darling, I'm not just doing this for Mark, believe me.

And not out of any sense of honesty or principle

or faithfulness to the bride-to-be.

I have to tell you this.

I didn't get any sleep last night and darn little the night before,

and on top of everything else, I'm getting sick.

I'm human, and human beings get sick.

Oh. I'll make you some coffee when we get home. I make marvelous coffee.

I wonder what the nice people are doing tonight.

Did Mildred tell you, too?

Mildred's told everybody.

You ought to feel pretty good today.

Your telecast was picked up by nearly

every paper in the country.

Of course, if this whole idea of provoking the killer doesn't pan out,

you and I are going to be way out on a limb.

My limb got sawed off.

GRIFFITH: How is Mildred?

Everybody knows my business.

Nancy, too?

I called her in the middle of the night.

Mm-hmm. You wanted her to be the first to know.

I wanted her to hear it from me.

Everybody around here has heard it from Mildred.

Oh?

She says now she knows you won the Pulitzer prize for writing.

It's not the way it was at all.

If I'm going to be hung, don't hang me for a sheep.

Come to Papa and confess.

I'm going to check with the accounting department for this.

TELEPHONE RINGS

Mr Loving's office.

I'm getting pretty sick of your unreasonable attitude.

Heh heh heh heh heh heh!

Walter Kyne will fall off his chair.

Congratulations, Mr Loving.

Thank you, my dear. Make three copies of it.

Send copies to Griffith and to Kritzer.

I'll show the original to Walter Kyne, myself.

TELEPHONE RINGS

To Mr Griffith and Mr Kritzer.

OK.

Mr Loving's office.

Walter Kyne's not in. Try him at home.

Listen - "M. Loving, Kyne Enterprises, New York, New York.

"Dear Mark, your scoop on Mobley's sensational telecast was the clincher.

"You may regard the Midwest Television deal as closed.

"Congratulations. Joe."

You're kidding.

That's what you get for being honest.

Where is Mobley?

I saw him go out a little while ago.

Try Mobley at the Dell. If he isn't there, find him.

Operator, is the Kyne residence still busy?

He would be.

Well, I'm glad you're pleased, Walter. Very glad.

Fine. Fine, Mark. Yeah.

Yeah, we'll talk about it when I come down to the office.

Right.

Oh.

What is it, dear?

Ah, I'll tell you later.

Something worries my boy?

It's that darn race I started.

Oh, that.

Come over here, darling. You're so far away.

I wish I could help you.

Don't you worry your...

Empty little head. Fix my back, huh...

and tell me your troubles.

Are you sorry you started it?

Of course not. I just don't want to make a mistake.

You won't.

That was Mark Loving on the phone.

He brought in the big Midwest deal.

It's worth half a million if it's worth a penny.

Just when I'd begun to favour Griffith,

much as I personally dislike him.

Don't tell me you've narrowed it down to just those two.

Ah, they're whaling away, but it's the third one that worries me the most.

Did I hurt you?

No, darling. Nobody has such hands.

How do you know?

Well, certainly not from experience.

That I'd bet on.

Harry worries you?

Doesn't he want the job?

He's doing nothing. He's just going on, doing his work.

Well, maybe it's just as well.

I'd more or less ruled him out.

Oh, I wouldn't do that.

I mean, angel...

Well, now, isn't that exactly the faithful kind of man you want?

Did Harry write that speech for you?

You got a crush on this guy?

Did I tell you to invite him?

You're the one that brings him around.

Oh, I'm kidding, of course.

TELEPHONE RINGS

Oh, I'll get it. Your hands are oily.

Funny thought, though -

that duck-legged so-and-so Kritzer.

If the reason he doesn't seem to be fighting like the others

is because he's working on me through you.

Oh, too funny for words.

If that's the office, I'm staying here until late afternoon.

Hello?

Dorothy, the roof's falling in down here. I've got to see you.

Why, Mary, darling. How nice, but I can't.

Walter's staying home with me today.

Oh, I'd love to go to the fashion show,

but Walter won't be going to the office till late afternoon.

Get away. Use the old excuse. Everything depends on it.

I know I promised, and it would be divine, but...

Call me in an hour or so, huh? Bye.

I wouldn't mind too much, if it would be fun for you.

Oh, you don't want me to leave you

for a silly old fashion show, do you?

Buy things I shouldn't have.

Oh, go ahead, dear. I like you to have nice things. I insist.

Well, darling, when you put it that way...

if you insist, of course I'll do it.

Haven't you located Mobley yet?

Try Lt. Kaufman. Maybe he'll know.

NO SOUND

NO SOUND

The whole thing was a snide scheme.

You made Burt call me for lunch just so you could get at me.

Nancy...

Look, I may be a snide, doubled in spades, but I didn't...

MOBLEY: There comes Burt, now.

Hello.

Hello.