The Falcon and the Co-Eds

GATE CREAKS

Hello? Is this the police station?

Can you tell me where I could find the Falcon...Mr Tom Lawrence, please?

Yes, lady, I can, but I don't know whether I oughta or not. Is it important?

Yes, it's about a schoolteacher. He's been murdered.

Oh, well, if it's a murder case, that's different.

Mr Lawrence's number is Bradbury, 2-4-4-5. Marenn Apartments.

Not at all.

Mr Bates, what department is this?

-Homicide, why?

-That includes murder, doesn't it?

Yeah. Oh, my gosh!

-Operator, operator, trace that call!

-Never mind that.

-Would you be upset if I asked you to drive me to the Falcon's apartment?

-No, not at all, Chief.

Thank you.

CAR ENGINE

Mr Lawrence?

Yes?

Nice!

But why?

You mean you don't remember me?

Perhaps with another reminder like that it would come back to me.

You've forgotten that lovely night?

The flowers? The champagne?

Flowers, champagne! How long ago was all this?

Three years ago.

I don't see how it could have been. Where were we?

-The opening of Luscious Lady, in Mother's dressing room.

-You're not Joan Harris?

-Jane!

-No wonder I didn't remember you.

-Most people grow up, but few so beautifully.

-Please...

Something terrible's happened. Professor Jameson was murdered.

They're saying it was heart failure.

With eyes like yours looking at him every day, it probably was!

-It wasn't! It was murder. Marguerita prophesised it.

-Marguerita?

-My roommate at Bluecliff. She's psychic.

-Really?

Yes. Everybody liked the professor. We can't figure out who'd kill him!

So I am indebted to the murderer for sending you into my life.

-No, I phoned the Homicide department.

-Oh, you did.

Well, let's go inside. I can think better with a tall glass in my hand.

But I...

I hoped we could start for Bluecliff right away! It's really very serious.

Yes, a matter of life and death.

The police. I'll try to get rid of them.

-Good evening, Timothy.

-Good evening, Lawrence.

-Anything we can do to help or are we intruding?

-I'm doing very nicely, thank you.

-Couldn't be she's got some dope on a murder, could it?

-That's our department.

That's just a joke. Schoolteachers are always being murdered.

Some of the most gruesome crimes.

I suppose that's another joke of hers, snatching your car.

-I never thought she'd do a thing like that.

-Maybe now you'll tell us where that school is.

Of course.

Crownhill Convent, just off the drive.

-Ask for the Mother Superior.

-Gotcha.

-Can I help you?

-Well, I...

No, thanks. Not just yet.

Thanks all the same.

-Pick you up next trip. Don't keep me waiting.

-We won't.

How d'you do? Is this the Bluecliff bus?

What the sign says, don't it?

-Oh, so it does.

-This is for school people only.

Don't tell me those are college students.

They're the caretaker's daughters. Drive me crazy.

-I'm connected with the school too, in a way.

-What way?

-I have a daughter myself.

-What's her name?

-Smith. Her name's Smith.

Beanie Smith?

The very one. Do you know her?

-Yes, of course.

-Naturally.

Well, you might s well get in.

INAUDIBLE

-There's Marguerita. Pretend you don't see her.

-Why?

-She's psychic!

-She has second sight!

-She can see into the future.

She gives me the willies. Don't look!

-Stop the car.

-Stop the car?!

-Shouldn't you give her a ride to school?

-All right, but you're asking for trouble.

She seems to have disappeared.

-She did not.

-She went down the Devil's Ladder.

-Of course.

Did you look into her eyes?

-Why, yes.

-Uh-oh! She put the hex on you.

-Now anything could happen.

-You could be struck by lightning.

-Or kicked by a mule.

-Or drowned in the bath.

They're plain bloodthirsty! Get back in the car.

Come on!

-Look what the three Ughs brought in.

-Let's have a closer look.

-I think I'll get out here.

-Go to the office. Miss Keyes will get your daughter.

-Daughter? ..Oh, yes!

Oh! Pardon me!

-Oh, hello.

-ALL: Hello!

-Do you know where I can find Jane Harris?

-I know.

She's due at Psy, and so are we.

-Do you mind if I come along?

-Visitors during class is forbidden.

BELLS RING

BELLS CONTINUE TO RING

Oh! There goes Elsie again!

..Thoroughly explored, nor fully understood.

What may appear to be the organic adaptation of a species to environmental change may in fact

have a much more simple answer.

Those individuals possessing characteristics of the new environment

are most likely to survive.

Having survived, they can then reproduce and intensify those characteristics

which permitted their survival.

-Yes, what is it?

-Oh, don't let me interrupt you.

-One moment.

I don't want to appear rude, but there is a strict rule here - no visitors.

I'm not a visitor. You see, the reason I came here..

-Dr Graelich, this gentleman is a psychologist too!

-You don't say!

-Yes, from Oxford. A famous one!

-You flatter me.

-Modesty in our profession!

We so seldom meet famous psychologists.

-We must take advantage of you, Dr...

-Lawrence...Smith.

-Dr Lawrence-Smith. Hyphenated, of course?

-Of course.

Dr Lawrence-Smith, the lecture is yours.

I'm completely unprepared.

You must be working on something, some theory or experiment. We should be most interested.

Well, er, yes,

but it's a recent development, you understand. Very recent.

It has to do with certain criminal impulses,

especially those induced by auto-suggestion.

The behaviour, for example, of any person who would take something which belonged to someone else.

You may use technical terms - these ladies will follow you very well.

I shall get down to cases, then.

Before a full understanding of my working hypothesis,

perhaps I had better explain that although many schools of thought differ,

especially certain liberals and radicals,

it is hardly necessary for me to point out that that only goes to verify this principle.

This can best be illustrated and in general it may be said...

Perhaps I'd better clarify that.

So, in explanation of this seeming paradox, it is necessary to consider all contributing factors.

Any questions up to this point?

To sum up, then, let me repeat,

that in the final analysis,

all this must be viewed in the light of recent developments.

-There he is.

-That isn't my old man!

-That isn't your father.

-No!

-But he can pitch it for him any time he wants to.

-Miss Smith!

-GIRLS LAUGH

-Girls!

-There must be some confusion here.

-It's simple.

-Surely, Miss Keyes, you know Dr Lawrence-Smith?

-If I may explain...

-This is hardly the time, nor the place. We had better go to my office.

-I shall be delighted.

-You'll come with us?

-Certainly.

-You may go.

You might read chapter ten in conjunction with the next chapter.

GIRLS ALL TALK AT ONCE

Now, if there is any possible explanation, Dr Lawrence-Smith.

-Er, Tom Lawrence. No hyphen, no doctor.

-How disappointing!

It's, er, not really very complicated.

There's a rather large insurance policy on Professor Jameson.

I am a special investigator, sent to investigate his murder.

Murder? Where did you get that idea?

We received a tip. Anonymous, of course. They always are.

There was nothing unusual about Professor Jameson's death.

-Not in the slightest.

-Wasn't there?

Our informer said something about a girl named Marguerita.

-Oh!

-Is it true she prophesised a murder here at Bluecliff?

-I believe she did.

Marguerita predicts many things - the weather, examination results...

-According...

-Mr Lawrence, you don't understand these girls. They're secluded here. Not much happens.

The simplest things set their imaginations running wild,

until an ordinary death becomes a murder.

Unfortunately, Miss Serena has always been a problem.

She has these delusions like daydreams.

Half deliberate, half involuntary, but they have no practical interpretation.

Serena. I've heard that name.

-Yes. Her father was St George Serena, the composer.

-I heard his last symphony a year ago.

Just before he died.

He drowned, didn't he? Wasn't there some talk, a rumour?

There is every reason to believe it was suicide. He was highly neurotic.

-In plain words, he was insane.

-I'll put that in my report.

-If you'll excuse me, I have a class waiting.

-Yes, of course. Thank you.

I don't suppose an investigation can be avoided.

-Oh, I shall be as discreet as possible.

-I hope so.

You know how the newspapers are. We can't afford a scandal. We have a reputation to maintain.

The best families and the fattest pocket books.

-I never would have expected an insurance investigator to be so corny, Mr Lawrence.

-Miss Keyes!

I get those expressions from the girls. Sometimes they're surprisingly apt.

-Miss Keyes! ..Oh, I didn't know! There's a call for Professor Jameson's room.

-Who is it?

-I don't know.

-Didn't you answer it?

-Me? From a dead man's room?!

If anyone had answered, I'd have passed right out. Cold!

-You can see how your rumour started.

-No-one's been there since he was murdered.

-You mean since he died.

BUZZING

Hello.

Hello? Hello!

It's probably just a crossed wire.

-Don't you think we'd better find out?

-If you wish, but it seems such a waste of time.

BUZZING

Attractive cottage, isn't it?

Apparently someone else thinks so, too.

Mary! What in the world?

Oh, I...

I didn't know who it was.

Mr Lawrence, this is Mary Phoebus, our music teacher.

-She's really not addicted to house-breaking.

-How do you do?

-Tell me, where you trying to telephone from here?

-No, I...

Oh...

It was so dark, I must have knocked it over.

That's a curious way to look for something, in the dark. You were looking for something, weren't you?

I...

They're Professor Jameson's poems.

The room was vacant. I was afraid someone might steal them.

In all my years in the insurance business, I never heard of anybody stealing poetry.

He was going to publish them and give the proceeds to the library fund.

They're very good poems. Beautiful, really.

May I?

A man puts a good deal of himself into poetry.

I'd like to check my impressions of Professor Jameson.

Sherlock Holmes, reconstructing the personality from moot evidence.

There's something to be said for his methods.

The man who lived in this room, for example.

A man who perhaps demanded too much from people

and had to live in books to get it.

A quiet man, who spent most of his time alone,

a shy man who didn't try to assert himself,

never thought of impressing people.

He probably took refuge in a world of his own imagination.

-How easily a man like that could have been dominated by others.

-More psychology, Doctor?

Or just a little clairvoyance on the side?

-Mr Lawrence wanted to look over Professor Jameson's effects.

-Naturally.

Well, I, er... If you'll excuse me, I think I'd better go.

I'll see you get these back.

Mary Phoebus! Do you know what she was doing, fussing around about Alec's poems!

It does seem everything is conspiring to endorse that rumour.

-But I'm sure you want to find out what actually happened.

-Hm-mm.

I think I can give you the information you're looking for.

I shared this college with Professor Jameson. He was in very poor health.

-Anaemia was perhaps the most serious, but you know that from your records.

-Records?

Oh, yes, of course. We have all that information.

As you observed, he lived such a narrow life it finally suffocated him.

-Officially, the reason I gave for his death was heart failure.

-You signed the death certificate?

-Yes.

Dr Graelich is a physician as well as a psychologist.

-Well, I'm sorry I gave you all this trouble.

-Now of course you can give your company the facts of the case.

Yes, I will, when I know them myself.

Hi, Daddy!

Oh, hello, Beanie.

-Is anything wrong?

-I was just thinking, you impersonating my old man!

-He runs the billiard hall...

-Over in Brooklyn?

-Yeah! How'd you know?

-Was it his idea, sending you here?

-He thought I'd like, that society page stuff.

-Can you tell me where I can find Jane Harris?

-Jane?

-What do you want her for?

-Oh, no - this is strictly business.

You know...

I gotcha. She's over at the aud. Right down that walk.

Thank you, Beanie.

PIANO PLAYS >

# Oh, dear, what can the matter be?

# Dear, dear, what can the matter be?

# Oh, dear, what can the matter be?

# Johnny's so long at the fair

# He-he-he promised to buy me

# A trinket to please me

# And for a kiss, oh, he vowed he would tease me

# He promised to bring me

# A bunch of blue ribbons

# To tie up my bonnie brown hair

# Oh, dear, what can the matter be?

# Dear, dear What can the matter be? #

Oh, I'm sorry.

It's all right.

-Perhaps you could help me.

-Yes?

-Just how good an actress are you?

-An amateur, why?

I want to talk to one of the girls but I'm afraid there'll be a dragoness in charge.

-Oh, there is.

-I thought you could distract the old dear for a moment.

-Who's the girl or shouldn't I ask?

-Jane Harris.

See what I can do.

Good girl.

# ..Johnny's so lo-ong

# At the fa-air. #

And just what are you youngsters doing here?

-We want to be in your show!

-Naturally!

Well, I'd love it. As soon as you're grown up, I'd be delighted. In the meantime, run along.

'Tis but thy name that is my enemy!

Thou art thouself not a Montague.

What's a Montague?

It is nor hand nor foot, nor arms nor face,

nor any other part belonging to a man. I'll be some other name.

What's in a name?

That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.

-LAUGHTER

-Jane.

-This is the final rehearsal and no time for clowning.

-I was rehearsing my lines!

I told you this was your last chance. Buckle down or flunk drama.

-That's the one course I promised myself you would pass.

-But, Miss...

-All right.

Why haven't you been practising?

-Marguerita's my partner, and...

-Marguerita?

Where is she?

I'm here, Miss Gaines.

I'm afraid it's my fault. I excused Marguerita from rehearsal.

She had a curious feeling about the fencing. A premonition.

I thought as much.

You may get away with this elsewhere but I won't put up with it.

-But you don't understand.

-I understand very well. Mildred, give Marguerita her foil.

Take that foil.

-FOIL CLATTERS

-I can't stand the touch of it! It's evil!

Psychic! A cheap, childish bid for attention, that's what it is.

Look out! Elsie's going to faint!

Get some water.

You shouldn't be in here.

I'm looking for a car, preferably my own.

-Oh, that.

-Yes, that.

It's in the village at the garage. I just took it to get you up here.

A bad rehearsal means a good performance.

Do you still think it was murder?

Why?

We can't talk here. She'll hear us.

-You mean Miss Gaines?

-She knew Professor Jameson better than anyone.

Your mother's very worried about you. She feels...

-Did I keep the dragoness at bay long enough?

-It's your own fault. You have no right to be so young.

-I'm sorry, I didn't know... Oh, sorry! This is a friend of my mother's. He...

-Tom Lawrence.

-I hope you'll forgive my mistake.

-I'm afraid I was rather rude.

Take a very unusual woman to be rude and charming at the same time.

You use compliments strategically. Mary, take off for a while.

-You have to leave here as quickly as you can.

-I don't see why.

-I'm serious. Marguerita says there's going to be another death.

-Jane!

->

I don't want anything to happen. She said it would be some elderly person.

-You'll have to go.

-Impossible! I have a class.

-What about the phone?

-With half of the town listening in?

Well, all right. I'll manage somehow.

HORN HOOTS

Wooooah, Buttercup!

-Where are you going?

-No place.

-We can't go off the campus.

-Naturally.

-Will it help if I join you charming ladies?

-Really?

-Will it!

Giddyup, Buttercup!

-You're shadowing Miss Gaines, aren't you?

-What gave you that idea?

-Do you think she bumped off Professor Jameson?

-Why should I?

-We've deducted it.

-You aren't Beanie's pop.

-You go around asking everyone where Jane Harris is.

-Why does that make me suspect Miss Gaines of murder?

-We know who you are.

-We made Jane tell us.

The Falcon! Holy cow!

THE GIRLS GIGGLE

-Some day we're gonna be detectives.

-And baffle the police.

-Like you!

I wouldn't like to have you on my trail.

I say, you could start being detectives now.

-You're not fooling?

-Honestly?

Let's see if one of you can find where Miss Gaines went.

I guess the car's yours all right.

We found her.

At the undertaker's.

Of all places!

I'll get the car later.

If you just happened to be outside a drugstore,

and just happened to find half a dollar, what would you buy with it?

-Ice cream.

-Sodas.

-Naturally!

Hello!

-What are you doing here?

-I wanted to ask Mr Harley a few questions.

-Routine report for the insurance company.

-He's busy.

He told me to come back in half an hour. Would you like me to show you around our little town?

Well, now we're getting somewhere.

BANGING CONTINUES >

Can I help you?

Yes. You can get out of here.

-Miss Gaines said you'd be waiting for me.

-I don't care! I don't allow anyone in this room.

Oh, I'm quite at home here. Don't forget the potassium iodide.

Just what do you want?

-Professor Jameson died last week.

-I know that. I embalmed him.

-What did he die of?

-The death certificate says heart failure.

Dr Graelich told me that much, but you could tell me a lot more.

I don't know what you're talking about.

I'm talking about that potassium iodide I just handed you.

Not to mention marquis solution,

Mayers reagent,

formalin.

With chemicals like these, you can make a post-mortem test for every drug in the book.

-What did you find?

-Heart failure.

Oh, not that again, Mr Harley. That's so stubborn of you.

Now we'll have to exhume the body, make the same tests all over again.

I'd like to see that.

All right.

Now get out of here.

Codeine, huh?

Seven grains.

-That's plenty.

-It was an accident! An overdose of sleeping tablets.

No-one ever took that big an overdose by mistake.

-What does it say on that death certificate?

-Wait a minute! I didn't sign that. I'm protected.

-Dr Graelich wanted to cover this up, not me.

-Why?

He didn't think suicide would sound good for a school like Bluecliff.

How do you think murder will sound?

Hop in. I'll drive you back to school.

-No, thank you. I'm looking for my bicycle.

-You'll have a long look.

I sent it back with the Ughs some time ago.

You'll have to talk some time.

You really can't walk out on me.

By this time the Ughs will have told everyone I'm madly in love with you.

Imagine if you came limping in covered with dust and dishonour!

It's a lurid name, Devil's Ladder.

Isn't it? But the Buccaneers were low on people.

They cut this stairway in the side of the cliff to bring their loot up.

-And doubtless throw their captives down.

-It's an ideal spot for it.

Must be a great temptation to you.

-You'll have one?

-Thanks.

I've stood here many times, for hours.

I can't explain the sense of freedom it gives me.

I watch the waves beating to the shore.

I wonder if nature is putting on a show just for me.

To let me know how powerful she can be.

It seems lonely to me.

Wind and sea.

Sort of lost.

As though they were searching for something.

Who isn't?

Supposing you were searching for something, found it and then lost it, how much worse that would be.

He who wears loneliness wears armour. Stands unafraid beneath a lonely sky.

The heart that loves is left unguarded.

The heart that loses love must surely die.

Professor Jameson wrote those lines and dedicated them to VG. That could be Vicky Gaines.

Did you have to do that?

You think I don't know that poem?

That I didn't hear standing right here, with Alec so proud to tell me he'd written it just for me?

Do you know what it's like trying to remember every word I said?

Wondering over and over what I'd done to make him kill himself!

He must have been very much in love with you. Probably thought you loved him, too.

He was kind.

And so alone.

He must have found out that... I just felt sorry for him.

That's why he didn't want to live.

They said it was an accident, that he was tired, ill.

I know they were trying to comfort me.

Who said it was an accident?

Miss Keyes. Dr Graelich.

-I hope our Charlotte has a better part this year, Miss Keyes.

-I'm sure... Sorry, if you'll excuse me.

-<

-Good evening.

-Good evening.

-Dr Graelich, can I see you a minute?

-Certainly.

Just one question.

-I'd like to know why you falsified Professor Jameson's death certificate.

-It was not falsified!

Heart failure induced by an overdose of sleeping tablets!

Seven grains. That's a pretty big accident. You didn't say anything about suicide.

-We try to keep anything sensational out of the newspapers.

-What made you think there'd be a scandal?

Miss Keyes was deathly afraid it might lead to talk about the faculty.

-To be frank, it might have revealed that both the professor and I were interested in Vicky Gaines.

-Really?

Well, knowing Miss Gaines, that's quite understandable.

That explains why you sent her to warn the coroner about me.

That was Miss Keyes' suggestion! I merely follow her direction.

-I'll have to find out from Miss Keyes.

-It's the overture.

-Thank you.

We can talk afterwards if you like.

-Two hours, just to get in and ask questions.

-You never know when you might pick up some education.

Just ask for the Mother Superior!

-I oughta jail you for sending us on a runaround. You knew there was a murder here!

-Murder?

-A guy named Jameson is dead and his insurance company is screaming for an investigation.

-Insurance company?

-Yes.

-We've a few questions to ask. Where's this dame Keyes?

I can save you all that trouble.

It was murder. I'll give you the killer if you wait.

-Who was it?

-Why, er...

< INAUDIBLE

I'd rather not say.

-Was it that dame?

-Oh, no, no, of course not.

-Oh, no, of course not(!)

BELL RINGS

Hear ye, hear ye.

To the friends of fair Bluecliff, parents, trustees,

we bring you our festival and hope it will please.

A carnival of laughter, drama and song.

Up with the curtain - we'll take you along.

APPLAUSE

# Mmm-mm-mm-mm

# Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm

# Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm

# Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm

SONG BEGINS

# ..Through thy hearts the echoes ring

# Lift our voices loud and sing... #

We want to talk to you, sister.

Ssh!

-Look, lady, we've got business...

-No-one is allowed backstage.

-We're with the Homicide department.

-We have some questions.

-Ask them after the performance.

# I came all the way from Brooklyn

# To improve my education

# And they sent me here

# For that veneer of high sophistication

# At Bluecliff we are taught to be

# The essence of propriety

# We study French and history

# While learning to be ladies...

# But back in Brooklyn they say bees and beaus

# And they all wear them solid clothes

# On Fulton Street when they arrive to cut a rug and dig that jive

# The famous dates in history just keep me all upset

# But when the Dodgers won that pennant

# That's a date I can't forget

# At Bluecliff all the teaching staff

# Maintains one must control one's life

# And not act like the other half

# While learning to be ladies...

# But back in Brooklyn they all ride the El

# And they think that Coney Island's swell

# You can take me out of Brooklyn Yes

# But ain't it plain to see?

# That you can't take Brooklyn out of me... #

DRAMATIC MUSICAL INTRODUCTION

AUDIENCE MURMURS

Education(!)

Ladies and gentlemen,

due to unforeseen circumstances,

the fencing exhibition will not be presented.

The show will continue with the next number.

ORCHESTRA PLAYS JOLLY TUNE

AUDIENCE LAUGHS

What's the trouble?

-It's Marguerita again.

-Is she still outside?

Might as well leave her alone. You can't do anything with her.

PIERCING SCREAM

Miss Keyes...

Marguerita was right again. >

-She said there'd be another murder.

->

That's right. >

-An elderly person, too.

->

Another one, heh?

Miss Keyes, the head of the school.

Murder seems to follow you around.

Get back inside, girls.

Come on! Keep the show going.

-I don't want that audience turned loose out here.

-Come on, girls.

Gosh, Chief, just think of all the education that was snuffed out when she cashed in...

GIRLS GASP

Mr Lawrence!

It was lying right there.

Why didn't you leave it? Now you've got your fingerprints all over it.

-How do we know they weren't on it already?

-The tip has been removed.

It'll check with the wound.

-A thin, sharp blade that probably pierced the heart.

-Oh, there goes Nancy again!

GIRLS ALL TALK AT ONCE

Not everybody knows how to handle one of these.

All right, Bates, start making notes. I'll phone in a report.

OK, sister, what's your John Henry?

Vicky Gaines.

What do you do here?

I teach.

What do you teach?

Fencing and dramatics.

How long have you been here?

Seven years.

LOUD PIANO MUSIC

MUSIC CONTINUES

You shouldn't have run away, you know.

I won't go back there. They'll ask questions, and I couldn't stand it!

You'll have to answer them sooner or later.

That's your father's concerto, isn't it?

One of his old recordings.

You didn't know my father, did you?

Not personally. But I heard his concerts.

He played beautifully.

Beautifully?

Sometimes...

Other times, strangely...wildly...

You know what I mean, don't you?

I'm not sure that I do.

You're just like all the rest! Trying to keep the truth from me.

But I know. I've found out.

Nobody told me. They didn't have to.

I knew what they were thinking...

My father was insane, wasn't he?

That depends on what you mean by insane.

We all of us have a little of the Mad Hatter in us.

If you have enough of it, you're called a genius.

A gifted man like your father must have seemed strange, even abnormal, to ordinary people.

I've often wondered about my father...

About myself, I mean.

Whether I'd be...like him.

I get these strange moods.

I know I'm not normal, not like other people.

WIND BLOWS

-If you let yourself think like that, you'll finish up believing it.

-Hear the wind?

Do you hear it?

Do you hear what it's saying?

Over and over...

It's just the wind in the trees.

Listen...

Listen!

WIND HOWLS

Follow...

Follow...

Stop it, Marguerita!

You're letting your imagination get the better of you.

I'm sorry...

VOICES, CAR ENGINES START

The show must be over.

You'll have to go. You're not supposed to be here this late!

DOOR OPENS

Are you looking for something?

I'd like some professional advice, Doctor.

Would you call this a coincidence?

Marguerita Serena made these figures.

These, of course, are yours.

Yes. What about it?

If I'm not mistaken, they're used to make tests in mental telepathy.

Yes. A psychic person would get a high average in naming them correctly.

What is it?

Clover leaf.

Hourglass.

Crescent.

None out of three.

You don't seem to be psychic, Mr Lawrence(!)

Marguerita is?

There are strong indications.

So you deliberately misled me when I asked you before?

You've been giving these tests to Marguerita?

After all, psychic phenomenon is an outpost of my profession.

I don't have to tell you that Bluecliff has always been ultra-conservative.

Of course, all that may be changed now.

You heard about Miss Keyes?

Yes.

Right after the performance.

Shocking thing. Horrible.

You realise this murder leaves you in a very awkward position.

How do you mean?

It tends to prove Professor Jameson's death wasn't suicide after all.

Since both you and the professor were interested in Vicky, it makes you the logical suspect.

Why should I want to kill Miss Keyes?

People have been killed to keep them from talking.

If Miss Keyes had known there was a murder,

she would have made every effort to cover up, not expose it.

People have been disposed of for other reasons - money, blackmail, fear, honour...

There's something you should understand.

If I'm not mistaken, that's a badge of honour you carry.

-Isn't that a sabre scar?

-I am well aware of how Miss Keyes was killed.

Your insinuations are quite obvious.

-How long have you been in this country?

-Five years.

That's very interesting.

-I noticed you received your doctor's degree four years ago, in Europe.

-All right, four years!

What difference does all this make?

I seem to have hit on a sore spot, Doctor. What's wrong?

-Not in the country illegally, are you?

-No! I married an American woman.

-You kept your marriage secret. Why?

-Miss Keyes never allowed married teachers on her faculty.

Who was it you married?

That is my own business.

Anatole, there is something I must tell you...

Don't let me interfere.

I was about to leave, anyway.

Thanks.

PIERCING SCREAM

FURTHER SCREAM

Let go of me, you old fool!

What are you doing in here? What are you after?

-Nothing, I tell you.

-Yeah, looks like it(!)

Here's something, Chief. A mythology exam.

All about fawns and nymphs, just like we've been studying at the academy.

You and your night school!

Hey!

Timothy, I'm surprised at you!

She broke in here after something.

Did she get it?

-Search me.

-Searching her would be more to the point.

-Oh, no, you don't!

All right. All right!

"My dear madam, to my deep regret, Jane has failed Professor Jameson's course in English literature.

"Remembering your fine record at Bluecliff,

"it is very painful for me to tell you that we must drop Jane at the end of the present semester."

-Etcetera, etcetera.

-There's your answer, Chief. Jane murders the prof,

-then knocks off the old lady to keep from being kicked out of school.

-Night school will be proud of you!

-The best thing you can do, young lady, is to go to your room and stay there.

-Don't treat me like a child!

It might be an idea at that. There's an old saying about sparing the rod.

-SLAP!

-Ow! Stop it!

Let me see that, will you?

Isn't that the girl that stole your car?

-Yes, but I'm satisfied she didn't have anything to do with the murder.

-So that makes it official(!)

GUNSHOT

Weird, ain't it?

VOICES MURMUR

Ssh, ssh!

Really, this is the truth and that isn't all that happened.

Then I kicked the inspector and then I jumped ten feet out of the window.

It was nine-and-a-half.

ALL GASP

Nancy, don't you dare!

This is just a chance visit, I assure you.

You might say a shot in the dark.

Now don't you go apologising, Mr Lawrence,

we're just thrilled to have you. Cookie?

-Yes, won't you have some tea?

-Dorothy!

-What'd you find out about Miss Keyes?

-Who did it?

-Do you suspect any of the teachers?

-I'll call the faculty!

He'll report us for having a midnight snack.

-If you'll keep quiet about me, I'll repay the compliment.

-I hope so!

ALL: Don't go! You can't go out there!

Sensible, anyway.

GIRLS LAUGH

DOOR CLOSES I would have to have these on!

SHE SCREAMS

What is this?

Best two falls out of three?

Happens I have a phobia about being shot at.

Whoever did it came in here.

WOMAN WHIMPERS

SHE SOBS

Oh, come now, Mary, it isn't as bad as all that.

Miss Gaines, this picture...

SHE CONTINUES SOBBING

I hope I don't have to call the police.

No, I'll do it for you.

What shall I tell them?

Please.

That's better.

Now, this picture...

it was a cruise, wasn't it?

One of those summer tours for vacationing school teachers?

Those cruises aren't as dull as you think. We had a wonderful time.

And romance, no doubt.

If you must know, yes.

Most young teachers travel, Mr Lawrence. Their excuse is culture.

Privately, they're hoping something extraordinary will happen to them. Preferably a man.

It was in Europe, that was when you met Dr Graelich.

Why deny it?

Met him, fell in love, became engaged.

CHATTERING

..Frightening young girls! Aren't you ashamed of yourself?

We didn't do nothing, lady. We're police officers.

-Peeping Toms, you mean.

-And policemen too! Hiding behind your badges!

Lady, if we knew any place to hide, we'd be there.

Get out and stay out!

Dames!

Why, Timothy.

If this story gets around headquarters, I'll know where it came from.

And that goes for you too.

-I didn't say nothing, Chief.

-Well, you might!

You mean to tell me you teachers have been around this school

all these years and none of you know anything about this?

Quit flubbering around, you annoy me!

You don't exactly please me either.

Good! Miss Phoebus,

would you say this was Miss Keyes' signature?

Why, yes. That is, I think so. It certainly looks like it.

Thank you.

All right, the rest of you faculty mothers can go.

I always like to deal with the person in charge.

-Congratulations.

-You're probably being very clever, Inspector.

I haven't the vaguest idea what you're talking about.

-Course, you don't know what I mean, either.

-No, but I could venture to guess.

You don't have to guess, I'll tell you.

We found the old lady's will,

and everything in it goes to Vicky Gaines.

The grounds, the house, the school, everything. What do you make of that?

I don't make anything of it.

Except at your congratulations on very poor taste.

Look...I've got a very low-class mind, so I've doped it out like this.

It's the ordinary love triangle. The doctor eliminates his competition, Professor Jameson,

then he bumps the old lady so his sweetheart can inherit the premises and they live happy ever after.

I'm holding you two for murder.

Timothy...

-you've reasoned the whole thing out beautifully.

-Thanks.

There's only one little thing wrong with it.

-What are you going to use for evidence?

-What are you trying to do?

I'm thinking of you.

Wouldn't you be risking your reputation at headquarters bringing in prisoners and no proof?

PHONE RINGS

Hello.

Hello, is that you, Chief? I got that gal you wanted -

Marguerita Serena, the one that found the body.

-Good, where are you?

-'We're in Miss Keyes' office.

'We've been waiting and waiting...'

We'd be very happy to come over to where you are. Where are you?

Hello. Hello, Chief...

Oh!

Now then, what happened to you last night? Nobody could find you.

You must have disappeared for some reason.

I... I was afraid.

Afraid, huh? Maybe that's why you stood over Miss Keyes' body for a full minute before screaming.

I didn't stand over the body. I called the minute I found it.

That's not the story we heard.

I'm sorry, dear, I didn't mean to tell them but they...

I looked out of the window and saw you.

Maybe you did see me.

Maybe I did kill Miss Keyes.

And Jameson, and how many others, I don't know!

Maybe I am insane!

Maybe I am!

SHE SOBS

Marguerita, stop it!

Stop it!

Marguerita...

stop it.

You can see it would be useless to question her now.

Oh, all right.

But I'm holding her. Take the girl into town and lock her up.

Tell the jailer unless some tongues start to loosen up, he'd better get ready for a full house.

BELLS CHIME

Hey, come back here!

WHISTLE BLOWS

-What's the matter?

-What's going on?

-What's happened?

-She escaped!

-Who escaped?

-That Marguerita dame. Lemme through!

-I just saw her walking towards the cliffs.

-She'll jump off!

-Just like her father did!

Oh, no, she won't.

Marguerita's running away. She'll kill herself! She's gone towards the cliffs, she'll kill herself!

You won't find Marguerita by following me.

-If you don't mind...

-I certainly do mind!

Curious to know whether this was the gun fired at me last night.

Hasn't been used for years.

Apparently not.

Just what do you intend doing with all that armament?

After all, someone's going around murdering people.

Don't look so accusingly at me.

Just one thing puzzles me.

I can't imagine a girl like you being secretly married to anyone.

You're much too forthright and uncompromising.

-You'd want the whole world to know it.

-If you mean Dr Graelich,

we were never married. I found out he was trying to get into the United States...

-And intended using you as a passport.

-I broke the engagement.

Graelich admitted he had married someone.

Married? To whom?

Mary Phoebus was on that cruise with you, wasn't she?

Mary? It couldn't be.

Yes, it's true, Vicky.

I always meant to but I didn't know how to tell you.

But you hardly knew each other.

I told her I wasn't in love with her, that it was you,

and always would be, but she was willing to have it that way.

How could you marry on those terms?

You can't understand how much it meant to me to come to America.

We'd better find Mary before there's another tragedy.

Surely you don't believe Mary is guilty of these insane, disconnected murders?

The fact that they were disconnected is the key to the whole thing.

Professor Jameson was killed with deliberate calculation

to make the police believe exactly as they did, that you two murdered him.

-How could anyone be so vicious?

-After all, she married the doctor,

was probably woman enough to hope she could win his affection.

Seeing you two together was too much for her.

She planned this whole thing as a way of getting even with you both.

I can understand her feelings towards us, but Miss Keyes...

Her whole plan depended on the police coming in to make the obvious accusations.

Miss Keyes knocked that for the sake of the school's reputation. So she had to be disposed of.

They found Marguerita.

-She wasn't going to kill herself.

-Of course not!

-Where is she?

-Back there.

-At the Devil's Ladder.

-With Miss Phoebus.

Why did you run away?

I... I was afraid.

Afraid?

Of whom?

I saw you standing over Miss Keyes' body last night.

At least, I thought I did. I still don't know. I...

But you didn't see me, Marguerita. You know you didn't.

-Please!

-It was just another of your wild illusions.

Please let me think! Leave me alone!

There's no hope for you, Marguerita.

You're just like your father.

-Like my father?

-Yes.

You should have known long ago.

They've all tried to shield you and this is the result.

Someone should have told you.

Your father was insane.

Violently insane and he started just the way you have.

Hallucinations,

lapse of memory,

premonitions,

-alternate rage and despair.

-No!

-You can't escape it.

-No!

It was born in you.

Your father knew.

There was only one answer.

The sea...

Listen to it.

Listen to the sea.

-MALE VOICE WHISPERS:

-'Insane!

'Your father!

'Insane!

'Only one...

'answer...

'The sea!'

Only one answer.

The sea!

'Insane!

'One answer!

'Sea!'

-Marguerita!

-SHE SCREAMS

GIRLS CHATTER

-Bye, Doctor.

-Bye, sir.

-It's a shame you have to leave.

-Yes, isn't it!

HORN BLARES

It's mother!

HORN CONTINUES

Hello, darling!

Hello, Tom, darling.

Always the actress. You couldn't possibly make a simple entrance.

The horn's been stuck that way for miles. Oh, Miss Gaines, how's your dramatic group?

-Well...

-That's fine, dear, just fine!

-Who's that with you?

-That's Ellen Lee, she's in my new play.

Oh and you must come to see it, dear, it's one of those parts...

HORN STOPS

You're the Falcon, aren't you?

-Yes.

-Jane told me you were here

and I wangled this ride just to get hold of you.

-Yes?

-We're having some very strange trouble at the theatre and you're the only one that can solve it.

That's very flattering.

Then you will come?

I shall be delighted.

ENGINE STARTS

Where's the Falcon?

-There he goes.

-He fixed the horn!

-He solved the murder!

ALL: He could do anything!

HORN BLARES

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd - 2006