The Saint in Palm Springs

SHIP'S HORN

What's your hurry, Chief?

Going someplace, Mr Templar?

I beg your pardon?

Oh, now don't be giving us that.

And don't try and say you ain't Simon Templar.

Well, suppose I content myself with saying nothing.

After all, you gentlemen began the conversation.

Yeah, and we're gonna finish it, too.

At headquarters.

And this is one time you ain't gonna be pulling

any fancy didos.

Fernack's got you dead to rights for murder.

Oh, Fernack.

All right. Well, what about my luggage?

Customs inspection.

Oh, it'll be taken care of.

That's very kind of you.

OK, you won't go quiet.

Fernack said to be gentle,

but you asked for it.

Hey, police!

-Stop that man!

-Stop that man!

Lady-lady, please!

She's all ready, Doc? What time?

I see. Thank you.

-Haven't you heard from Brady yet?

-No, sir.

But that boat docked an hour ago!

Maybe it was late.

No, it wasn't!

You know, I wouldn't be surprised if the Saint pulled

one of his shenanigans and gave those boys the slip.

Hello, Inspector.

DISTANT WHISTLING

Simon!

Hello, Henry.

How did you get here?

Through the window.

And what happened to those two men I sent after you?

They're probably looking for a good locksmith.

Henry, you're slipping -

accusing me of murder so that you can fake an arrest

is hardly worthy of the Fernack I once knew.

Now, see here -

I can remember you when you were subtle.

I suppose the advancing years take their toll on the best of us.

Tie that for me like a good chap, will you?

Now then. What's on your mind?

Well, Simon, I... I'm in a jam.

That's getting to be rather a chronic condition with you, isn't it?

Why are you losing your job this time?

I am not losing my job.

I find myself faced with the necessity

of refusing to do a favour for a man

who once practically saved my life.

So you want my help, eh? All right, Henry.

Which section of the penal code do you want me to violate?

Aw, I wouldn't ask you to do anything illegal.

You know better than that.

It's just that I can't accommodate my friend

with the official services of the department.

Now look here, there's his picture.

Chris and I were in the same outfit

in the First World War.

Neither here nor there how he saved my life, but he did.

Now he's in trouble.

Well, that's a perfectly natural consequence of rescuing you.

Oh, stop joking.

After the war, Chris went back to the old country

and went into the printing business,

and he built up a good-sized fortune.

Now the Second World War comes along and knocks him back on his heels. Too bad.

Not at all! He managed to save almost 200,000.

But the trouble is, he had difficulty getting it out of the country.

There are plenty of ways of doing that.

Oh, he did it all right. He's here, and that's where you come in.

Chris' brother is stopping at the Belden house.

His name is Peter Johnson.

Now, I want you to accompany him to Palm Springs -

as bodyguard.

He's leaving on the train tonight

to meet Chris' daughter.

But my dear Henry, if your Mr Peter Johnson

is carrying 200,000 in cash,

you better send him in an armoured truck.

Oh, it isn't in cash. It's in postage stamps.

Well, then you'll need two armoured trucks.

No, no. There are only three stamps.

Newly discovered Guiana penny stamps of 1856.

Chris paid 65,000 apiece for them.

Peter smuggled them out of the country in a locket.

Were they smuggled into America?

Oh, no, no, they were declared.

But they were smuggled out of the old country,

which gives the transaction a sort of international aspect

that just puts it out of bounds for a city police department.

Simon, you've just got to help me.

I don't know.

Of course... it would be dangerous.

Peter was safe enough until he reached New York yesterday,

but...in 24 hours,

two attempts were made on his life.

They say it's very lovely in Palm Springs this time of year.

Good boy!

Get me Peter Johnson at the Belden house.

The Saint had his gang with him.

We were slugged, and then -

Chief, we know just where to find him.

So do I.

-Where?

-Where?

Hey, you're under arrest!

Give them the key, Simon.

Oh, I'm so sorry. I seem to have lost it.

Good-bye, Henry.

Good-bye, gentlemen.

Well, you better go down to the police garage and borrow a file.

When you get those things off, use it to sharpen your wits.

-Yes, sir.

-Yes, sir.

SOUNDS OF UNLOCKING

Mr Templar?

Yes. Inspector Fernack said you'd be expecting me.

Please come in.

Thank you.

I believe there's a little matter with some postage stamps.

A little matter? Ah, yes.

Three stamps, each more valuable than diamonds or rubies.

-You have them here?

-Yes.

Ah, Mr Templar, what kind of a country is this?

In one day, I might have been killed twice.

It's a very nice country, really.

Of course, there are some citizens who carry their cupidity

to unpleasant extremes,

but I think your opinion of America would improve

if you allowed me to undertake all further risks.

You mean, give YOU the stamps?

Place them in my care until we reach Palm Springs.

Perhaps it might be better.

Not to protect my life, you understand,

but so you can deliver the stamps to Elna

if anything happens to me.

Elna, your niece?

Yes. She is in Palm Springs.

Wait. I'll get the stamps.

Just a moment, please.

GUNSHOT

GUNSHOT

Get me Inspector Fernack at police headquarters.

Hello, Henry?

You better come over to your friend's hotel right away.

You may have to arrest me for murder after all.

No, I won't have to arrest you this time.

It's pretty clear just what happened.

I wish you'd got a good look at that fella.

I think I can recognise him if I see him again.

You see, my ring came into rather violent contact with his face,

so he'll have a bit of a scar over his left eye.

I can't go around town arresting every man with a scar over his left eye.

No, we each have a job now:

you catch the murderer,

and I'll deliver the stamps to Elna Johnson in Palm Springs.

You mustn't do that! If you leave town, the murderer may follow you.

That'll take him right out of my jurisdiction.

That would seem to be a bit of a problem for you, Henry.

I'm leaving for Palm Springs in the morning.

And if the murderer follows,

I'll try to see that he runs afoul of the law.

If you want to get in touch with me,

I'll be at the Twin Palms. So long, Henry.

Ah! My inseparable friends.

That guy just ain't human.

Did you ever see a Saint that was?

I've never seen a Saint.

Or...have I?

I beg your pardon.

Those things seldom work. Try this.

Thank you.

-Here's your pen.

-Eh?

Oh, I'm so sorry.

I was engrossed in an article.

-Yes, it, uh... looks very interesting.

-Yes.

Well, uh...

won't you sit down and have a drink?

I'd love it, if you'll excuse me for a moment.

Oh, of course.

Did I keep you waiting?

I was afraid you'd changed your mind.

No, I never do that.

That confirms my first opinion of you.

Yes?

Now then. Don't you think we should introduce ourselves?

I'm Margaret Forbes.

Miss or missus?

Miss Forbes. And don't laugh - Yaphank, New York.

-I'm as solemn as an owl.

-My name is -

Simon Templar, sometimes known as the Saint.

Well, I do read the newspapers, you know,

and that ring isn't exactly inconspicuous.

I must remember to throw it away. It has a habit of becoming inconvenient.

Scotch and soda.

And mine with plain water.

I've heard you're a very dangerous man, Mr Templar.

That depends upon the point of view.

Now, in your case -

I'll form my own point of view,

after I've known you a little longer.

Oh, I see.

Tell me...are you really a criminal,

or are you the impossibly gallant character

the newspapers describe:

sort of a modern Robin Hood, always fighting for the underdog,

even opposing the law to do it when it becomes necessary?

Let us say that there are two schools of thought upon the subject.

But for the moment, whatever my profession,

I'm on my way to Palm Springs for what I hope will be a pleasant couple of weeks.

Palm Springs? Don't tell me.

You don't mean -

I've wired for accommodations at the Twin Palms.

I could think of an excellent quotation about star-crossed lovers.

By a strange coincidence, I shall be at the Twin Palms, too.

Oh, that's marvellous. Business or pleasure?

Until I met you... business.

How sweet of you.

Good evening.

Good evening. Miss Margaret Forbes.

Oh, yes, Miss Forbes.

We have a very nice bungalow for you.

We'll meet at breakfast, then?

Yes, at 10:00.

-Good night.

-Good night.

Oh, how do you do, Mr Templar?

We have been expecting you.

So you're the man they call the Saint,

the modern Robin Hood.

Really, I'm a remarkably bad shot with a bow and arrow

and I've never tasted venison in my life.

Uh, yes, sir.

I hope you'll find everything satisfactory, sir.

I'm sure I will.

Pearly?

Hi.

Hello!

Well, upon my soul, if it isn't Pearly Gates.

Hey, look, Saint,

not Pearly anymore.

Clarence Gates, house detective,

so don't try no rough stuff.

My dear Pearly, with you enforcing the law,

I shall exercise the greatest circumspection.

Does that mean you'll be good?

It means, I wouldn't even be guilty

of parking near a fireplug.

OK, OK.

Hey, what are you doing down here?

Come along to my bungalow and I'll explain it.

Oh, I-I can't now, I, uh -

I got to make a report to the chief of police.

I'll see you in a half an hour, though.

-That's a date.

-Hey!

In the meantime, no criminology.

Oh, come in, Clarence. Come in.

Well, let's have it.

What have you been up to?

Chief, I've been so good it's been monogamous.

In bed every night at 10:00?

All except once.

I had a little headache one night

and I went to bed at half past 9:00.

Anything to drink?

Couple of malted milks,

without eggs.

Only three more months, Clarence, any you'll be off probation.

Keep up the good work.

Sure will.

Every time I think of the 10 years

they could have given me, I get the creeps.

Well, I'm glad to see you appreciate

the opportunity to go straight.

Now tell me, anything going on over at the Twin Palms?

It's as quiet as a tombstone.

-Any suspicious characters?

-Not a one.

Oh, no? Well, what about a certain man named Simon Templar, the man they call "The Saint?"

Oh, him. Well--

Hey, how'd you know about him?

Things like that are my job,

and you better make them yours.

Sure, I will, I --

I met him when he came into the place

and told him he'd have to behave himself.

As a matter of fact, I'm going over to his bungalow right now

and find out what he's doing down here.

All right.

Keep your eye on him.

I'll mail your probation report to the judge

the first thing in the morning.

Gee, thanks, Chief.

But remember, one slip and you know what happens.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Hello, Pearly. What happened?

Suppose you tell me.

Give me a minute to think.

Now look, Saint,

you give me your promise you won't even

park by a fireplug, and what gives?

You ain't in the joint half an hour

before I find you half-murdered

and your bungalow burgled.

I assure you I didn't burgle the bungalow,

nor half-murder myself.

But how did you know there were burglars?

Rudimental, Saint.

I just figured it out.

Somebody pried a screen off the bedroom window.

I see.

Now look, Saint,

I'm on probation, see?

If I get in any jams, they can slap me in the pen for 10 years.

I got to clear this case up.

Now the first thing I gotta do is get

a list of the missing property.

-There isn't any.

-There ain't?

In the language of the newspapers,

"the criminals fled without accomplishing their foul purpose."

Amateurs, huh?

Boy, I bet I could have showed 'em.

Hey, what'd they look like?

I'm sorry, Pearly, I can't help you.

They very thoughtfully extinguished the lights

before bopping me on the bean.

Ain't that just my luck?

I spend all my time loOKing for lost kids

and old ladies' glasses,

and the first time there's a real crime,

there ain't no "corpus delicious."

I wouldn't lose hope, Pearly.

In my opinion, this little episode is just

the first dash of spray in what may turn out

to be a full-fledged crime wave.

Everything happens to me.

I can see them jail doors now.

Tell me, do you happen to know anybody

in Palm Springs by the name of Elna Johnson?

Sure, she works here,

gives tennis lessons.

I thought her family was wealthy.

Well, it was, but they got blitzkrieged or something.

She was stranded in america without a dime,

so she took a job down here.

Hey, what do you want to know for?

I have a message for her from her father.

Perhaps you can introduce me to her in the morning?

Sure, she starts giving lessons at 10:00.

Hey, now look, Saint,

about this here crime wave--

Don't worry,

it's on its way.

-WOMAN:

-Hello, Clarence.

-Hi.

-WOMAN:

-Hello, Clarence.

-Hello.

-SECOND WOMAN:

-Good morning, Mr Gates.

-Hi.

-THIRD WOMAN:

-Good morning, Clarence.

-Hi.

Hello!

Hello.

Hello.

I'll go quiet, but I ain't done nothing.

What's the idea of going around scaring people?

I keep forgetting that I'm the law around here.

Hey, where you been at?

I'll give you three guesses.

Swimming?

As you yourself might put it,

my dear Pearly, rudimental.

Miss Forbes, may I present the Twin Palms

custodian of law and order

my old friend, detective Pearly Gates.

-MISS Forbes:

-How do you do?

Hello.

But the name's really Clarence.

Oh, I think Pearly's much cuter.

Simon, I'll go change so we can

have some breakfast, I'm starved.

Do you mind waiting half an hour?

I have some very important business to attend to.

Yeah, I promised Elna I'd bring you over to the tennis courts.

She's giving a lesson.

No, I shan't mind at all.

All right, see you in 30 minutes then.

Come on, Pearly.

Clarence!

You know, the way I figure it,

them guys that jumped you must be some outside mob,

maybe from Detroit or Chicago.

It's too bad you weren't there,

you might have recognised some old friends.

Yep, maybe.

However, there's logic in your reasoning.

I was followed here from New York.

You was? By who?

I don't know.

But whoever it was rifled my compartment in the train.

Frankly, I'll be glad to deliver the stamps to Elna Johnson.

Stamps?

Yes, postage stamps. Three of them.

Do you mean, you came all the way--

Look, Saint, they sell 'em right here

in a machine in the hotel.

My dear Pearly, these stamps

happen to be worth 65,000 apiece.

Are you kidding?

No, and neither are the people

-who are trying to collect those stamps from me.

-Jeez!

Tell me, does Miss Johnson live here at the Twin Palms?

Yeah.

Yeah, that's her, over there.

Well...

she's charming.

Keep your racket back and follow through.

SHE LAUGHS

That's all for now, Mr Evans.

-You're doing splendidly.

-Thanks.

Shall we try again after lunch?

All right, Miss Johnson.

I'll see you then.

MISS jOHNSON: Hello.

Elna, this is the Saint.

How do you do?

I presume that means you're Mr Templar?

Yes, but don't mind Pearly,

he seldom concerns himself

with non-essentials like names.

I understand you have a message for me from my father.

More specifically,

it concerns your Uncle Peter.

My uncle?

Well...

what about Uncle Peter?

First of all, did you know that he was an American?

No, I didn't.

Then the news that I have for you is both good and bad.

Poor Uncle Peter.

And father taking those desperate chances

trying to send the money over here to me.

Well, at least you'll have that.

But I expect it's poor consolation.

Say, perhaps one day you can get your father over here with you.

You're very kind.

Doing so much for a complete stranger.

Shall we say that I was merely intrigued

by the adventurous aspects of the situation,

and that I'm awfully glad I was.

I suppose there's a safe in the hotel, Pearly.

The best.

Then that's the place for the stamps

until we can arrange for their transportation to Los Angeles.

All right.

Hello, Miss Johnson.

Hello, Charlie.

Charlie, this is Mr Templar.

Yes, I know. He's the man--

I have a very valuable object

belonging to Miss Johnson

which she wishes to place in the safe.

Yes, sir.

Is that the valuable object, sir?

Don't let appearances deceive you,

that locket contains stamps to the value of 200,000.

Well, I'll have to see them before I can give you a receipt.

Of course.

Pearly, I think our crime wave has arrived.

Why do you want to keep blaming him for?

The guy was only trying to do you a favour.

That's just what I can't figure out.

Why should he want to do ME a favour?

My dear Miss Johnson...

Maybe you wanted to do yourself one.

After all, a man with your reputation...

That's the obvious conclusion to jump to,

if one's suspicions are morbidly athletic.

But doesn't it occur to you

that if I had pinched your postage stamps,

Palm Springs would be about the last place

in the world I'd be apt to show up.

I'm sure I don't know.

I do know one thing.

My uncle's been murdered, and I've been robbed

of every cent that my father has left in this world.

I'm going to take this thing to the police.

Uh-oh, the cops.

Hey, wait a minute. You got me all mixed up.

What am I?

I'm afraid we're all a bit confused.

Miss Johnson, will you do one thing for me?

What?

Give Pearly and me 24 hours

to recover your stamps.

If we fail, you can turn me over to the police

and charge me with the theft.

How do I know this isn't some sort of a trick

to give you time to leave town?

Not with me watching him, he won't.

I assure you Pearly is a most tenacious watchdog.

All right. 24 hours.

Now do you see what you done?

What have I done?

Well, you promised to get the stamps back

in 24 hours, but you can't,

so that means we both go to the hoosegow.

I didn't say that I'd get them back.

I said that we would.

Now, to be precise, you're going to get them back.

Oh, you mean you know who's got them?

I haven't the faintest notion.

Oh, now look, Saint. Quit playing games, will you?

Games? That's it, Pearly.

We're going to play games.

Now, then, I have my wallet in my hip pocket,

I'm going to close my eyes, and you see if you can get it out.

Now, look, Saint, I think you ought to wear a hat

when you go out in the sun.

I am very much in earnest about this. Go on, get it.

I already got it.

That's magnificent.

I didn't feel a thing.

What did you expect? A brisk rubdown? So now what do I do?

How many people checked in here yesterday?

The clerk said about 25.

Well, get a list of all of them,

men and women alike.

We're going to have our own personal crime wave, Pearly,

and you are going to be it.

I am?

You are.

You used to be the smoothest pickpocket in the country,

and I'm going to see you haven't lost your touch.

Oh, now, look, Saint, I can't go around committing larceny.

Gosh, I wish I'd been a piano tuner

like my Uncle Bernard.

Oh?

That's marvellous.

Yeah, but suppose I get caught at it?

Pearly, I have the utmost confidence in your ability

to avoid getting caught.

But supposing I do?

It's going to get me 10 years.

And besides, what's it going to look like?

A house detective turned dip.

If anything happens, I'll explain everything.

As a minion of the law,

it's your duty to recover stolen property.

Of course, I shall add that your methods of recovering it

might appear to be a bit peculiar.

Yeah, it's peculiar, all right.

Look, Saint,

I want to clear this thing up just as much as you do,

but why do I got to go around picking people's pockets?

Because the culprit won't dare leave

the stamps in the hotel safe

he won't dare leave them in his room unguarded.

Ergo, which means therefore,

he'll carry them on his person.

All right, all right, all right.

Let's see now.

There's Mr And Mrs James Hogan,

Mr And Mrs William Ellis, Mr Thomas Flannery.

Hey, that's him right over there.

Well, what are you waiting for?

I don't know.

Well?

Unh!

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr Flannery.

Well, that's all right.

Oh, you're going to play croquet, I see.

Yes.

Well, have a good time.

Thank you.

That's all right.

Huh.

Ain't nothing here.

Well, we better make sure.

"Terre Haute Bowling Club,

"Terre Haute Country Club,

"Terre Haute Elks Club,

"Terre Haute Kiwanis Club,

"Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce."

He must be from Terre Haute.

I'm afraid so.

Well, carry on.

Huh?

Get on with your work.

What do you mean? You ain't coming with me?

No, I think it's better for you to play a lone hand.

Together, we might arouse suspicion.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Where'd you get that?

Off a kid.

Well, you told me to search everybody.

There's a perfectly obvious remark

about candy and babies,

which I shall refrain from making.

Are you sure you robbed everybody?

Yep, all the new guests.

All except Mr And Mrs John Harper.

Who are they?

How did you skip them?

I didn't skip them.

They checked out an hour after they got here.

He got a telegram that he was going

-to be a grandfather or something.

-Are you positive?

Sure, you see I figured

anybody that checked out might be the guilty party,

so I checked up on who checked out.

They was the only ones.

You think of everything

when you think.

Now, let's get on with it.

Boy, I never seen so much aspirin in my life.

You know, half the people down here must have headaches.

I have a very excellent cure for headaches.

Yeah, what's that?

Stay sober the night before the morning after.

Oh.

Boy, what won't they think of next?

Hello.

Hello?

Look at that.

READING LATIN: Hey, what's that?

It is Latin for Michael Aloysius Finn,

commonly known as Mickey,

or in other words, a particularly vicious form of knockout drops.

One of those, and you go out like a light.

Here, let's have a look at it.

Mickeys, huh?

Hey, they can't do that.

I'll slap them in the clink.

Excelsior.

Excelsior?

The missing stamps.

Hey, where'd you get this?

Huh? Oh, now wait a minute.

Well, go on, hurry up.

Gee, you asked me so fast,

I can't think.

Well, don't realise what this means?

If you can remember where you got this pillbox,

we've got the man who murdered Miss Johnson's uncle.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know,

but I... oh, gosh, Saint,

I didn't get a chance to look at the people's faces.

-I just snitched the stuff and scrammed.

-Oh, all right.

Well, there's only one thing to do now.

Give me the manager.

Aw, gee, Saint, don't tell him what I've been doing.

Will you please?

Hello, is this the manager?

Simon Templar speaking.

I appreciate that you're trying

to lure the criminal into the open, Mr Templar,

but I'm just wondering if this is the right way to go about it.

Well, can you suggest a better?

I can't.

If you had consulted me before,

I might have thought of a better plan.

Oh, gosh, Chief, we just wanted you to be in on the pinch.

Most thoughtful of you.

But all you've done so far

is throw the hotel into an uproar

and place Clarence in danger of going

to the penitentiary.

I assume full responsibility for that.

And we're returning all the property.

Well, all right.

I'll be there with two of my men.

Thanks very much.

I guess that's everything.

All right.

Parker, tell Callahan to let them in.

Yes, sir.

And after the people are in,

I don't want anybody to enter or leave.

You stay in here

and keep Callahan in the hall.

All right, Callahan, let them in.

MAN: I hope my wallet's there.

EVERYONE TALKING AT ONCE

All right, folks, take it easy.

Don't push, please.

-GRAVES:

-Just a minute. Just a minute!

Please!

I am sure all of your lost belongings have been recovered,

due to the extreme diligence

of the hotel's house detective, Mr Gates.

So if you'll pass around the table in single file

and identify the objects which belong to you,

you'll be allowed to reclaim them.

Let's start from this end, please.

WOMAN: This was a gift,

I wouldn't have lost it for anything.

-SECOND WOMAN:

-Isn't Mr Gates a wonderful detective?

Yes, and just think, he solved a crime wave all by himself.

Oh, here's my watch.

-GRAVES:

-Step right over there, please.

All right, fine. It's all there? Step over there.

All right, over there, please.

It's yours? All right, step right over there, please.

All right, fine.

Ain't nothing happened yet.

Are all the people here?

Everybody I robbed.

We just have to be patient, that's all.

All right, over there, please.

KNOCKING ON DOOR

See what Callahan wants.

What do you want, Callahan?

Well, what do you want?

He's dead, Chief.

See who's in the hall.

Take it easy, folks.

Everybody, just step back, please.

MAN: But, Inspector...

Take it easy, it's all right now.

Simon, who could have done such a thing?

I don't know.

-GRAVES:

-Everything will be all right.

No one in the hall.

This is all your fault, Templar.

If I hadn't listened to you--

If you try looking outside that window,

you might find a certain object,

which until a moment ago, was on this table.

Or you might find the footprints of the murderer.

Take a look, Parker.

And send for the coroner.

Nobody leaves this room.

Am I to understand we're all under arrest?

Now, keep your shirt on. Nobody's under arrest.

But you're all under suspicion

until we find out who killed that officer.

-MISS Forbes:

-But that's absurd.

How could any of us have done it

when we were all in here?

The point is that the officer was killed

merely to create a diversion,

and during the excitement,

the murderer's accomplice, who was in this room,

was able to take a certain object off that table

and toss it out of the window.

So the guy could get it, huh?

Exactly.

It all sounds very mysterious.

What object?

A little box of pills.

Gee, Saint, that means that maybe there's a murderer

right here in this room.

There unquestionably is,

but not the murderer of our unfortunate policeman.

There wasn't anything outside the window, Chief.

But there must have been.

Maybe there must have been, but there wasn't.

The ground's soft dirt,

a flower bed's just been spaded.

There's not a sign of a footprint.

Well, Mr Templar, what do you make of that?

The answer's pretty obvious.

The missing object is still in this room

and undoubtedly in the possession

of one of these ladies or gentlemen.

All right. Line up against the wall, everybody.

Men over there, women over here.

Just a minute!

Nobody's going to search my wife.

Parker, phone the clerk

to send down one of the maids.

She can search the women.

Now line up against the wall, please.

None of them has the pillbox, sir.

All right, thank you.

Well, now what?

I suppose we may as well release these people

and spend the night in meditation.

Yes, and a little good, old-fashioned work with fingerprints.

You may go to your rooms now,

but I'll arrest the first person

who tries to leave Palm Springs without permission from me.

WOMAN: It's an outrage, that's what it is.

-SECOND WOMAN:

-Accusing us of murder.

MAN: Personally, I think the Saint did it.

Simon.

I don't know what this is all about,

but you're in a lot of trouble, aren't you?

Well, shall we say that my vocation

is not without it's excitement.

If I can help you, let me know.

Thank you.

I'm not blaming you for what happened tonight, Templar.

But from now on, I'll have to handle things my own way.

I suppose you've no objection

to my carrying on my own investigation

as a sort of lone desert wolf.

Not as long as you don't violate any laws.

And Clarence, if you pull any more monkeyshines,

I'll arrest you for violation of probation.

Good night.

Good night.

Well, see you tomorrow, Pearly.

Good night.

Hey!

Hey, where are you going?

To bed and to sleep.

Sleep? Gosh, I'd be afraid to close my eyes.

I'd be dreaming about the penitentiary.

Hey, look, Saint, couldn't we both sit up

and play pinochle or something?

It's too bad they got

that box of knockout drops, Pearly,

you could have used one.

Good night.

Good night.

Don't look around.

When I say walk, walk fast.

Too bad I didn't search myself along with the others.

Clever of you to plant it on me.

Your pickpocket device was clever, too,

so I decided to use it myself in reverse.

Now start walking.

HE WHISTLES

Well, hello there. Lovely evening.

It's all right.

I wanted to talk to you.

Would you care to take a stroll with me?

Did you get the stamps?

That's what I wanted to talk about.

All right.

Well?

The desert by night is so fascinating and sinister.

Now don't tell me that I'm the same.

What about the stamps?

Yes, I wanted to discuss them.

Did you get them?

Yes, I managed to locate them

in a certain box of pills.

You're not joking?

No, not at all.

You really found them?

Mm-hmm. Of course, on my way

to my bungalow just now, I was held up and robbed.

However, you'll be glad to hear

that I foresaw the possibility

that something might go wrong.

Then you've still got them?

Your stamps, by special messenger.

And here is the rest of your property.

Mr Templar, all I can say is that I'm horribly ashamed.

There's nothing to be ashamed about, really.

After all, you didn't know me,

and you were perfectly justified in your suspicions.

And, of course, you can always make amends

for the cruel way in which you've treated me.

You know, you are fascinating,

and sinister.

Well, am I too Machiavellian

to hope that we might be friends now?

No, I think that could be arranged.

Good, then that's settled.

Now, then, about my tennis.

I'm having a certain amount of difficulty with my close game.

You do all right.

You know, my forehand isn't all that it might be either.

Perhaps because your timing's bad.

Maybe there's something in what you're saying.

Perhaps I move too slowly.

Hardly that.

And you know that when a game goes to love,

I almost invariably lose.

It's possible that you've never had the right partner.

That might be because I've never cared very much for doubles.

Singles is my game.

Miss Johnson, would you care to give me a few lessons?

In tennis?

I think that would be delightful.

Don't you think we ought to get these into the hotel safe?

Now, that's an excellent idea.

We don't want those postage stamps

cluttering up our lives any more.

I have a lesson at 10:00 in the morning.

I can cut it short and give you a couple of hours.

Oh, fine. Let's discuss it over a good night drink.

We should celebrate, shouldn't we?

Well, hello, Simon.

Good evening.

Miss Forbes, Miss Johnson.

How do you do?

How do you do?

We were just going to have a little drink.

Let's all have one together, shall we?

That's fine.

Ah, Miss Johnson?

Scotch and soda.

The same.

And mine with plain water.

Oh! Ha ha ha!

Oh, that's game.

What is this business of lessons?

You ought to give me a couple.

Maybe we could teach each other a few things.

Telegram, Mr Templar.

Oh, thanks. Excuse me.

Surely.

Thank you.

Have you seen Mr Templar?

Yes, ma'am, over in the far court.

Thank you.

Well, how was the game?

Perfect!

She ran me all over the court.

Oh, I hope you're not completely exhausted,

I thought you might like to go riding.

Fine, I've been wanting to.

Too bad that you can't get away.

Oh, but I can! I'm through for the day.

Oh.

Don't you love the desert?

Yes. Fascinating.

And sinister.

Do you come down here every season?

Yes, but I don't remember seeing you before.

This is my first trip and I love it.

At a place like this, one meets so many charming men.

Yes. Some of the women aren't so nice, though.

Ahem. I suppose you'll be staying on

-at the hotel as a guest now, Miss Johnson?

-Oh, perhaps.

As a guest? Are you losing your position?

Oh, no. I'm just resigning it.

Oh.

You know, Miss Johnson, I've been thinking about something.

With all this crime wave, do you think the hotel safe

is the proper place to keep the stamps?

I don't know.

It's apparent that we're dealing with an organised gang,

and looting the hotel safe is probably not beyond their power.

No, maybe not.

What had I better do?

Well, I'd suggest that you remove the stamps

and keep them on your person

until we can arrange for their disposal.

It might be a good idea.

Come on, let's have a race. Yahoo!

So we spread the word around

that the stamps are at Elna's bungalow, huh?

And our mouse falls right into the trap.

Boy, I think we're taking an awful chance.

Neither you nor Miss Johnson

will be in any danger whatsoever.

Yeah, that's what you said last night.

All that happened was a murder,

and the chief was talking about sending me to the pen.

Pearly, I wish you'd stop being so self-centered.

Take the big, broad, flexible outlook.

Those confounded postage stamps

have caused two murders already,

and we've got to catch the assassin

before somebody else gets killed.

Look, Saint, the next time you take a vacation,

go to Florida, will you?

If I hang around with you much longer,

I'm headed for an awful fall.

See you later, Pearly.

Thank you, sir.

Are you sure everything's going to be all right?

Positive.

Pearly will be covering the back door,

I the front. What could happen?

I don't know. I wish I did.

You'll receive a visit from the murderer,

but before anything can happen, Pearly and I

will close in, and that'll be the end of it.

I hope you're right.

Amen.

Call me at half past 6:00 in the morning, please?

Yes, Mr Evans.

Thanks. Miss Johnson.

Hello.

Charlie, I want to take those stamps

out of the safe.

Oh, do you really think it best?

Quite.

Yes, sir.

Would you mind inspecting the locket

to be sure the stamps are inside?

Yes, they're quite safe.

Would you sign the receipt, please?

I'd suggest that you keep the stamps in the bungalow tonight,

and then tomorrow we can make other arrangements.

All right.

Frightened?

A little.

After all, two people have been murdered.

You'll be quite safe.

The way you say it, I almost believe I will be.

Pearly's around back already and I'll be close by.

As soon as our visitor arrives, we'll close in.

He won't have time to do anything.

I'll take your word for it.

Good girl.

And good luck.

Thanks.

Put up your hands!

So you're the one.

Does it surprise you?

Frankly, yes.

You killed my uncle and the policeman.

Perhaps Simon didn't tell you.

I was in the room

when the policeman was murdered in the hall.

Give me the stamps, please.

I haven't got them.

You've just 10 seconds to remember that you have.

You can't get away.

I'll take my chances.

You have five seconds left.

I'll have to lower my hands.

One hand.

Throw it.

Don't try to follow me.

GUNSHOT, WOMAN SCREAMS

Are you all right?

Yes.

No use.

Oh...

Oh, how awful.

It's what comes of doing your duty.

I knew about her since before we went riding.

Is that why you mentioned the stamps in front of her?

Yes, I thought she alone was after them.

But it appears that I'm wrong. We're up against an organised gang.

A gang that killed her, your Uncle Peter, and the policeman,

and very nearly killed poor Pearly.

I must confess that for the first time in my life,

I'm a bit mystified.

Look, you send for the police,

and I'll get Pearly over to my bungalow.

Ooh.

So I was just standing there,

keeping one eye peeled, like you said.

When all of a sudden, I see fireworks,

just like the fourth of July.

Then I don't see nothing.

But didn't you even get a glance at the man who struck you?

Not a peep.

Simon, I've got just about as much nerve as the next one,

but this thing is getting beyond me.

Yes, it is getting a bit out of hand.

Let's drive to Los Angeles in the morning

and get the stamps out of our possession

before something else happens.

One more thing must happen.

You sleep late in the morning, and I'll send you a little note

explaining just exactly what I mean.

All right. Good night, Clarence.

Hmm.

Look, Saint, the first time you set a trap,

they killed that policeman.

The next time, they knocked off Margaret Forbes.

This time there ain't anybody for them to get except Elna...

or maybe me!

This time, there won't be any danger at all.

Oh, I don't know, I might as well give up.

If I don't get killed, I get scared to death.

And either way, I violate my probation.

Then you'll be a martyr, Pearly,

sacrificing life and liberty in a great cause.

Yeah, but I still get them 10 years.

KNOCKING

You ring for a boy, sir?

Yes, I want you to deliver this to note to Miss Elna Johnson at once.

Yes, sir.

And it's extremely important that no one finds out she has received

this communication from me, do you understand?

I got you, sir.

Thank you.

Hey, look, Saint, if you're being watched,

somebody else may read that letter.

That is the general idea.

Oh!

BUZZER RINGS

You said to let you know

if Mr Templar communicated with Miss Johnson.

He just sent her this note.

I won't let anybody know about this.

It could cost me my job.

MAN: Don't worry, my boy.

Just playing a joke on Mr Templar.

OK.

From Mr Templar.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

I know we failed twice,

but maybe the third time will be a charm.

Yeah, that's what they say, ain't it?

There have been three murders already.

Gosh, I forgot about your uncle.

Hey, couldn't we do this some other way?

Suppose we all met at the police station?

That would save me an awful lot of trouble about my probation.

Do you think our culprit would walk into a trap baited with police?

No, Pearly, you've got to trust me

just one more time. And if I fail,

I promise I'll never risk your life again.

OK, that's a promise.

Hey!

It's 11:30.

You've just got time to ride up there.

I'll be along in about 20 minutes.

Don't be late, I doubt if my nerves could stand it.

Don't worry, I won't.

Come on, get up there, Pearly.

Oomph! There you are.

See you at midnight.

There's Tommy.

Bottle of beer.

The girl and Gates just left.

Where is the Saint?

He came back here.

Good.

Right.

Is that the best you got?

We have several kinds.

Let me see.

All right, you, get out of that coat.

Come on, hurry up!

Come on.

All right, go get Templar.

Oh, good evening, Mr Templar.

Good evening.

I was about to have a nightcap. Won't you join me?

-Well, I don't mind if I do.

-Good.

Hello, Fletcher. Good evening, Mr Templar.

Good evening.

Won't you join us?

Well, that's very nice of you. Brandy.

Tom Collins.

I'll match you for it.

-EVANS:

-All right.

-TEMPLAR:

-Odd man pays, eh? Suits me.

Fine.

Looks like you're stuck.

Usually am.

Sorry, old man.

Well, better luck next time.

Well, cheerio.

Here's to you.

Regards.

Have a smoke?

No, thank you.

A bit stuffy in here, isn't it?

Give me a glass of water, please.

That's funny. I feel a bit faint.

I think I'll be going.

-SLURRING:

-Excuse me.

That did it.

Let's get him out of here.

It's no use, he hasn't got them.

And they weren't in his bungalow.

Then the girl must have them.

So what? Jimmy and Ray will take care of her

and that dumb house dick.

Maybe, but we'll make sure.

Better see if he's still out.

It's a pleasure.

Still asleep, sweetheart?

Out like a light.

Stay here and keep an eye on him.

You come with me.

Boy, it's awful dark out here.

The moon will be up soon.

Will that be good or bad?

There's the giant joshua. Come on!

Hey, you want to know something?

I don't like this place.

I don't like it either.

It's awfully lonesome.

-MAN:

-Well, maybe we can take care of that.

OK, stick them up, sister.

You too, buddy.

Here comes a car.

It's the Saint!

I'll take care of him. Come on, get them out of here.

All right, you.

All right, you guys in the car.

Get out and come out reaching.

It's all right, Ray.

I thought you was the Saint.

Don't worry about him, he's taken care of.

Where's the girl and Jimmy?

Over there with that mastermind of a house detective.

All right, Jimmy, bring them out.

Mr Evans!

Sorry to trouble you, Miss Johnson,

but I'm afraid it's necessary.

Hey, now, look, Mr Evans, this thing has gone far enough.

If you would just let us go, I won't arrest you.

Quiet.

What do you want with us?

I think you know, so if you just hand them over,

I'll turn you loose, and you've nothing further to worry about.

If you mean the stamps, we haven't got them.

Sure, that's right.

The Saint was supposed to bring them.

Templar doesn't have the stamps and you know it.

Where are they?

Well, if Mr Templar doesn't have them,

I don't know where they are.

Search them.

Ha!

What's so funny?

Well, you guys,

searching me and Elna.

We ain't got no more idea

where the stamps are than you--

What have you got there?

Oh, it's nothing.

-EVANS:

-Let's have a loOK at it.

It's just a picture of my old mother.

It's a locket, all right.

Oh, now, look, you fellas,

ain't you got no respect for a guy's mother?

All right, where are they?

Aren't they in the locket?

You know they're not.

PEARLY: They ain't?

Come on, we've stalled long enough.

Where are those stamps?

I don't know.

I think we can refresh your memory.

All right, Fletcher.

Wait a minute!

Here comes somebody.

Pearly!

Hey, that's the Saint!

It can't be.

He got a Mickey Finn that will keep him quiet for two days.

-TEMPLAR:

-Elna!

It is Simon.

So much the better.

Keep him covered.

Elna, where are you?

Hello, Saint.

Well, Mr Evans, I thought you'd be

peacefully in bed after your nightcap.

Hello. Couldn't any of you sleep?

FLETCHER: How did you get here?

You'd better ask my horse.

I might have known better

than to leave you guarded by one man.

But now that you're here,

you can save me and yourself a lot of trouble.

Let's have them.

If you're talking about the stamps,

I'm sorry, I can't oblige.

All right.

Boys, work him over.

Hey, wait a minute!

If this is going to be a third degree,

let's leave Miss Johnson out of it.

We'll take care of her later if it's necessary.

It won't do you any good.

Pearly and I are the only ones

who know where the stamps are.

-EVANS:

-We've got some plans for him, too.

Hey, now, wait a minute,

I don't know nothing about nothing, honest.

Simon, you've risked enough for me.

If the stamps will save your life, let them have them.

Thanks for the generous thought.

But in the first place,

I haven't got the stamps.

And secondly, my life is not in any particular danger.

You think not?

I'm quite sure of it.

Murder requires courage,

which quite obviously none of you possesses.

Is that so?

-How about Peter Johnson in New York?

-Oh, you didn't kill him.

Oh, yes, we did,

and that policeman outside the gymnasium.

And then I suppose you courageously slew poor Margaret Forbes.

Exactly. And if you think we'd stop at taking care of you,

you've got another guess coming.

Well, perhaps I have misjudged you.

On sober second thought,

you probably are capable of murder.

However, we'll allow a jury to decide that.

I don't get you.

No, but I've got you.

Lights!

Isn't that rather a waste of effort?

I'm afraid your confession to the three murders

fell upon unsympathetic ears.

You see, Mr Evans,

when Pearly first stole your box of knockout drops,

I took the precaution to replace the pills

with harmless aspirin,

so that instead of giving me a headache,

you actually relieved a slight one I was getting.

It was no trick at all

to pretend that I was knocked out,