"Back again, eh?" "You're sure in love with that little book aren't you?" "Richard Burbage." "The first actor to play Hamlet." "The only known copy, I dream about it." "A lot of book collectors do." "And between you and I... some of them would knife their own mothers..." " just to get their hands on that book." " So would I!" "Just to own it?" "No, I'd make... a dozen, perhaps two dozen, copies." "Perfect imitations." "They could be sold as this original." "Stolen goods." "No questions asked." "Plenty of suckers to buy a good forgery." "That's been done before too." "Mind if I take it home with me?" "Over my dead body." "Here it is!" "It's a beauty." "Yes, yes." "I said to myself...." "Rubescu?" "of all your clients... who would most love to see this great treasure?" "That is why I telephoned for you, Mr Cleaver." " You've told me that half a dozen times already." " How much longer are you boys going to be?" "Just a second." "I'm not so sure of this." "Excuse please." "Is excellent property and most safe!" "The police look for it six months now... but get nowhere." "I know." "Do you mind if I show this to someone who knows rare books?" "But yes, please do." "I thought you were going to take me dancing." "This is what I was telling you about." "I've seen it twice already, it looks like a good buy." "Rubescu showed it to me the other day." "Books are not in my line, what do you think of it?" "It's genuine alright." "Good, that's all I need to know." "Miss Blandy." "The most best expert of old books." "What does she say?" "You might have told me you already had her opinion." "I am most careful." "I'll take it." "You make the wise decision." "Impossible to lose money with this book." "It's like money in the bank." "Cheque alright?" "Oh, but I am so sorry." "The person I ask for, they must have cash." "It is the term of the deal." "You agree, you say yes?" "You pay cash if you buy it." "Alright you Romanian bandit" "I came prepared." "So thank you!" "It's all there." "Stolen goods, aren't you taking quite a risk?" "No, your opinion on this Hamlet eliminates all that." "I'm stealing it at $20,000." "Mr Fleg..." "Yes?" "Miss Blandy would like to see you." "Send her in!" "Darling, I couldn't wait until morning." "Myra, this is a nice surprise." "I made a good sale, it was so easy." "Who could resist your salesmanship?" "And worked beautifully." "He simply had to have it stolen or not." "What did I tell you!" "Just show the customers one and they think it's the original." "We'll gross more than the original's worth." "They did it with the stolen Mona Lisa and sold dozens." "Only $5000." "I'm asking $20,000." "Well, this man wouldn't go over $7500." "$1000 for Rubescu... $1500 for me, leaves $5000 for you." "Myra..." "You wouldn't short change me would you?" "Sure, if I were looking for trouble." "Isn't that your favourite occupation?" "Eight copies in six months isn't bad." "Chicago can use another and Detroit wants two more." "By the way, who did you collect this from?" "Martin Cleaver." "Are you crazy?" "I told you to avoid him." "Darling, I still don't know why." "He's dangerous." "All of our customers could be dangerous." "But as long as the cash is ok, why worry?" "What have you got against Cleaver?" "I never met him but I don't want to do business with him." "Cancel the deal!" "Don't be ridiculous." "You seem worried, what is it?" "Give him his money back and hereafter do as I say." "Stick to larceny-minded American suckers." "He looked like one to me." "He isn't." "He's spending German money." "Some of the Lüfte Nazi crowd smuggled out of occupied Europe." "So they can look like exiled kings... if and when they escape after the war." "Cleaver's buying for Göring or Himmler." "Investing in works of art." "Literary rarities, like diamonds, are supposed to be safe in the event of post-war inflation." "Well he's stuck this time." "I'm sorry I didn't get him for more." "You're giving him his money back." "I am not!" "You asked for that!" "And get rid of the idea that you're running this show." "I can always find another outlet for my stuff." "That's what you think." "Do you know what the Gestapo is?" "If you do, you'll take my advice and settle with Mr Cleaver." "That man's a sadist, there's not an ounce of mercy in him." "You two boys should get along." "You always say you enjoy being hurt." "Yes." "A very clever imitation." "Beautifully aged paper." "An offset printing process... retouched by hand." "The work of an artist." "But I do not like to be fooled." "Mr Cleaver." "Mr Cleaver, how can you say such things." "I am respectable art dealer!" "Then I return your work of art." "I want my money back." "You get me into this trouble." "Believe me, Mr Cleaver..." "I only act as agent for this woman." "She says it genuine and I believe it." "She pay commission." "So I suspected." "Where did you get this Hamlet?" "A man named Fleg?" "Forger of rare books... it looks like his work." "I saw samples of it in Europe" "I am a respectable man." "I do not swindle people." "And the man I represent does not like to be swindled." "Who?" "Field Marshall Göring?" "My client prefers to remain nameless." "And I repeat that he will not submit to being swindled." "You knew you were buying stolen property." "But not a forgery!" "Your other customers may not complain." "But I do." "This is terrible." "My reputation." "If you think you are being swindled why don't you call the police?" "Oh, I won't need their help." "I'm sorry you feel this way." "I can't make good the money." "Then produce Mr Fleg." "I'll deal directly with him." "He's a very difficult man to reach." "I suggest you find a way... quickly." "Now as for you..." "Rubescu." "No!" "No!" "Your Mr Fleg probably doesn't know about the Hamlet deal." "It was your own idea wasn't it." "And you pocketed the money behind his back." "He did it deliberately..." "And you must bring him to me." "But he'd never..." "You can find someway." "You needn't bother to tell the police about what happened here." "It won't stop us." "I don't work alone." "I shall expect to hear from you within the hour!" "Plenty of time to locate Fleg." "Good day, Ms Blandy." "Pahsen!" "Follow her!" "I think she's safe." "She'd do anything to save her own skin." "Report to me at the usual place." "Wants you, he's been waiting for an hour." "I don't know him." "Doesn't look like ready cash." "Tell him no, I haven't time now." "You'd better make time sister, if the name is Myra Blandy." "Don't be in such a hurry." "I'll handle this." "What is it Mr..." "Mr Mcbyrne." "Well!" "I expected something ten years older and fat." "Come back in ten years." "Know a party, name of William Shakespeare?" "Not personally, I wasn't around in 1600..." "But I sell books of his." "So I hear." "Just what are you driving at?" "The Burbage edition of Hamlet!" "It was snatched from the local library six months and nine days ago." "And a guard was killed." "Yes, I read all about that." "And I understand you know where it can be picked up cheap." "You're misinformed and you're insulting." "And I don't deal with thieves." "You'll find the door over there." "And I also hear very confidentially." "Correct me if I'm wrong..." "That imitations of this Hamlet are being passed off at fat prices." "You're wrong." "Good day." "Look, I want a little cooperation, sister." "Edgar T. Collin shot me down here from New York." "About a Hamlet he bought." "He doesn't like it." "I've never sold Mr Collins any books." "No, he bought it from a fella, name of Sims, in Baltimore." "I don't see how that concerns me." "You want a blueprint?" "I traced it to you." "Oh, you're a detective." "Private man." "Well, I'm afraid you've been seriously misinformed." "I've never dealt with a Mr Sims in Baltimore." "Look, beautiful..." "You're on the well known spot, so pull your ears in." "Collins doesn't want his money back." "He wants blood." "He's a nut on book collecting" "And wants everything kept on the up and up." "He didn't buy your Hamlet as stolen goods either." "So his goods are clean." "He isn't afraid to make a complaint." "And this is all between you and me." "But if I drop a hint in the D.A.'s ear..." "A smart lawyer might beat the rap for you but..." "But would you still be in business after all the publicity." "I don't know what you're talking about." "Can't we play ball?" "You're not in this alone." "You'll handle the hot-stuff for somebody." "Who is it?" "He'd kill me." "Who?" "Fleg?" "Yeah, that's one the cops don't know... yet." "This Shakespeare stuff, I'm told it's Fleg's product." "He's good, from way back." "Where do I reach him?" "I don't know." "Come on, let's have it." "There are reasons why I have to handle the stuff he sends me." "The Hamlet isn't my only headache." "I'm really afraid." "Blackmail?" "The right man could steer you out of that." "Do you mean it?" "Of course I'm in business myself, but..." "The fee wouldn't be too high." "Oh, I'd pay anything." "And you help me build a case against Fleg?" "And I'll see that your skirts are kept clean." "Deal?" "Deal!" "When do I meet him?" "Well you better let me arrange it." "I never know when he'll phone." "I can't talk very well here, where are you staying?" "The Bradley house." "Pick me up for dinner." "Alright about seven?" "Swell!" "Oh, by the way, aren't we forgetting something very important?" "What?" "My retainer!" "Nice work if you can get it." "Playing both sides." "No, Fleg's the other side." "You see, Collins hires me and you pay off to be kept out of the case." "Oh, I see." "How much?" "How about $500?" "How about $250?" "Alright." "On account." "You know, I like a business woman who knows her business." "$500 would have bought you a better dinner." "Thanks." "Every instinct tells me I'm a fool, but... i'm trusting you because I want to." "You needn't worry." "I lied to you because I was afraid." "You still afraid?" "Not so much?" "See you at seven." "And, uh." "Bring that smile along." "Hello, Mr Cleaver." "Myra Blandy!" "I spoke to Flegg." "He won't meet you, he absolutely refuses." "Of course I want to cooperate." "I have a suggestion." "Leave a book in my name... at the information desk at the public library on Kay street tonight." "I'll have Fleg pick it up." "That'll identify him when he asks for it." "Oh, by the way, he uses the name of McByrne." "Hal McByrne." "He mustn't know about me." "Yes, tonight at 8.30." "Goodbye." "Hello Lady Dracula and how are you this pleasant afternoon?" "Some tea?" "No, thank you." "We're in a mood aren't we?" "How many butterflies did you torture since lunch... hoping one would turn on you?" "Something tells me our little Myra harbors a secret." "How did things go today?" "Nothing very exciting." "Boston wired for some more of your penmanship." "The Dickens autograph." "See anybody amusing?" "Not a soul." "Are you sure?" "Positive." "I hear that Hal MacByrne is quite the ladies man." "Oh yes, I was going to tell you about him." "Yes, my little liar, after I'd dragged it out of you." "Who told you?" "The book world isn't very big." "He was followed to your place..." "And if you weren't so stupid disobeying orders, he wouldn't be bothering you." "Don't fret, I can handle McByrne." "There's only one way to handle his kind." "I'll handle it my way." "Wait a minute, have you fallen for this cop?" "Jim!" "Any woman would have walked out on me for that." "But you stayed..." "Why?" "Because I'm a punishment in your life." "Your conscience demands it." "Oh don't give me the old chestnut about our expecting punishment because we were taught to expect it as kids." "But we do!" "Your everlasting lying..." "Your flirting with danger... is a secret desire to be caught off guard and hurt." "Listen to Dr Freud." "Why do you think there are so many automobile accidents?" "Mere carelessness?" "No." "The unconscious impulse to punish ourselves is sometimes so great it becomes self-destructive when we should be alert and on guard." "Our enemy... conscience." "Super-ego betrays us to psychic justice." "A healthy body plays sick." "Or we fear insanity." "Or we show poor judgement in a crisis." "And make a mistake that destroys us." "And what did all this wisdom ever buy our amateur psychoanalyst?" "You!" "You may be my automobile accident." "You're dangerous to my accidents." "And it excites me to play with my own life." "The way we live is a... constant threat to our security." "But we love it!" "Giving and taking pain..." "The torturing fear of destruction..." "Psychiatrists say there's a little of it in most people." "But it has run away with us." "So that when I make a mistake it's my conscience punishing me?" "Precisely." "You may be crazy." "But I'm not." "The funny part about it is that... no court or sanity commission would... ever call us crazy." "But we're really a couple of walking horror stories." "Speak for yourself, darling." "Ahhhh!" "The lady who never makes a mistake." "Alright." "When do I get at McByrne?" "I said I'd handle him." "And bungle the job?" "When are you seeing him?" "For dinner." "Then he has an appointment at the public library." "And after that..." "Public library..." "They've got some books I want." "Some rather priceless books." "I've been working on a new setup to get at them." "McByrne..." "I can use him." "Two birds with one stone." "Please, Jim." "Let me take care of McByrne." "Why?" "Is there something else?" "Something you haven't told me about?" "No." "Then it's my job." "Do you want to be an eyewitness?" "No?" "I'm surprised." "Alright." "Deliver the copy to the library and then go home." "You're quite a girl, Myra." "Freud..." "Lombroso..." "Evlock Ellis..." "They all had your number." "Who was it wrote..." "Women seek intense and terrifying emotion because they really enjoy it." "It is necessary to their comfort as water to a fish." "As natural as breathing." "Can I fix you something darling?" "What do I have in mind?" "Poison?" "Best dinner I have had." "Must have been the company." "Funny coincidence." "I liked it too." "I knew we'd get along." "The minute I laid eyes upon you." "Let me know if I get fresh." "I promise." "Are you so good to all your clients?" "Service." "That's the McByrne trademark." "Oh, driver!" "Will you please stop a minute at the public library on Kay Street?" "Okay." "You know I feel even better than I did a second ago." "No gun." "Had a case last month where a party packed a derringer." "Did she appreciate your service?" "Well, I don't know." "She was 64." "When are we going to talk about Fleg." "You've been too busy telling me about... the life and times of Mr Hal McByrne." "I was trying to get up nerve enough to talk about you." "Be original, don't say it." "Did anyone ever tell you about your eyes?" "I like yours." "Even if I wouldn't trust them." "Open or shut." "Oh, you wouldn't?" "They promise trouble." "And I like trouble." "Well be careful, this is a new hat." "Well, what a crack to make at a time like this." "Do I worry about my $10 bonnet?" "I hope you're on the level with me?" "Course I am!" "What made you say that?" "Well, I was getting lonesome on this case." "No more..." "I hate to disturb you sister... but if it's books you want, this is the joint." "Do you live here?" "I have to pick up a book." "Ask for it at the information desk, it's in my name." "Now why do you want a book when I'm around?" "Hurry up!" "Women seek intense and terrifying emotion... because they really enjoy it." "Do you want to be an eye witness?" "Closing time, fifteen minutes!" "Closing time, fifteen minutes!" "Tommy!" "Tommy?" "I'm awfully sorry I thought you were someone else." "Lucky Tommy." "Closing time, fifteen minutes!" "Closing time, fifteen minutes!" "Say, where's the information desk?" "Why, it's always been right here." "Oh, good!" " Have you got a book..." " I like a good murder mystery." "Plenty of blood." " Fiction room, second floor." " Thanks" "Say, if there's a call for me, you know where I am." "Lieutenant Kraven ." "Homocide squad." "Better hurry, Mister." "Closing time." "Is that the way cops in this are town keeping trim?" "Reading books?" "A book never hurt anybody." "Have you got one for Blandy?" "Myra Blandy." "Is that your name?" "Do I look like her?" "Blandy." "I'll see." "Been in this racket long?" "About a year." "Like it?" "Most of the time?" "How do you stand the quiet in here?" "I'm hardened to it." "You ought to be in pictures, beautiful." "And I'm not kidding!" " Here's your book." " Ah, thanks." " Do you suppose..." " Excuse me." "Mr McByrne?" "Yeah?" "I'd like to talk to you for a minute." "Who are you?" "I have information regarding certain literary forgeries." "I'll listen." "Let's go in here, shall we?" "I thought we could be alone here for a minute." "Now, what's on my mind?" "They all go to a bomb proof bank vault tomorrow." "Air raid protection." "Well I'll be glad." "Did I tell you that the New York Library buried... $15 million worth of books for the duration?" "Yes!" "I've been petrified since we've lost Hamlet." "This little handful." "$150,000 dollars." "I'm petrified myself." "That made quite a hole." "Perhaps you've got your eye on them, Mr Fleg." "McByrne's the name." "I'm afraid I must disagree." "What were you going to tell me about forgeries." "Let's have it quick." "That money must be returned." "Well just like?" "Just like that!" "The consequences will be serious if you decide otherwise." "Sue me!" "I don't know what you're talking about." "Your fake Hamlet, Mr Fleg." "I'm not Fleg." "You're as pig-headed as a German." "Those who swindle my leaders don't get away with it." "So you are a heiny." "For the last time." "Are you going to make good our losses?" "Sorry, I can't go for the $64 question." "I've got a date." "One of your storm troopers?" "I missed the first two reels, I don't get it." "Gentleman, we're closing now." "It's almost 9 O'Clock." "Thank you, we're just leaving." "Take him out the back way." "We know how to make you cooperate, Mr Fleg." "You must use the other door, gentleman." "Air raid precaution blocking this one." "It's closing time, sir." "McByrne, how nice of you to drop in." "What do you want?" "I was told to give this to McByrne." "I'll take it." "Thanks." "Wait for me here." "Hey, take me too, I don't like him." "I'm sorry, but you can't go up there now." "We're closed." "No!" "No!" "Come back in the morning." "You can spend the whole day up there." "But not now." "I'll have to turn out all the lights when I come back." "How does it feel to work for Adolf?" "Do you think you're supermen?" "I'm in a hurry, please." "I want to cook a wolf." "You can have him." "Oh, no." "It's the name of the cook-book." "Cook the wolf, or how to cook the wolf." "If I know the name, of what floor I got to ask you.?" "Try the reading room." "Always I get the round a runs, the run arounds, the go here, go there." "You'd think was a tax payer!" "You can't do business with Hitler." "Only a crook or a fool would want to." "There is something we can do with him." "Yeah?" "Yeah." "I told him a military secret and he fainted." "Poor kid." "Careful!" "Stay right where you are!" " What was that crash?" " Somebody fell." "I'm Kraven, homocide." "Dead?" "Somebody shoved a knife in his stomach." "Don't let anybody leave the building." "Lock the doors." "You're all material witnesses" "Please remain at the other end of the room." "Know the guy?" "You got me." "Can I be of help?" "My name's McByrne." "Private man, New York agency." "Sorry lady, you've got to stay in here." "Yes, I can use you." "What's headquarter's number." "I'll call them." "Outside line." "See who it is." "Isn't that the coroner's job?" "Do as I ask." "Hello, Inspector Henderson" "Kraven speaking." "Kay street." "Public library." "9, 5." "Man knifes." "Send the boys over." "Yes, sir." "We're ready at this end." "We'll stage the best murder investigation you ever saw." "Yeah, Doug Daly here." "And still sober too." "The coroner's entitled to one little drink, isn't he?" "Yes, sir." "Be there in five minutes." "Ok, step on it." "Get anything?" "This paper says his name's Martin Cleaver." "Cleaver?" "You know him?" "Odd name." "Seems to be in the art business." "First the Hamlet quarto, now this..." "It's getting to be a habit." "And I suppose we may expect the same results from the police?" "Nothing." "You can expect what you like." "Who are you?" "I'm Edward Walpole, head of the reference room." "Our $10,000 for the recovery of the Hamlet seems to be no incentive to you people." "Ten G's, huh?" "I'm your man." "But why don't you do something." "The murderer may still be among us." "Keep your pants on." "I've got to wait for my technicians to arrive." "Don't let anybody touch the body." "Who would want to?" "Anybody leave?" "Not since you did the dive." "Good." "Then our man's still in here." "Have you been here long madam?" "No!" "Did you come directly to this chair?" "No, uh." " First I went over to the..." " Show me!" "You knew he was meeting Cleaver!" "Why didn't you tell me?" "I'm as surprised as you are." "You did this to me deliberately." "I thought you found danger exciting?" "From you, not from them." "My men are coming." "I've got to go through with this masquerade." "Good luck." "Not here." "The neighbours might complain." "Careful." "Lying to me now may be your conscience." "That one careless move." "I never make any." "We'll go into that later." "Here comes my coroner." "Murder in the Library." "What was he reading?" "Make it snappy." "Where's Joe?" "You know what to do, Joe." "Get everybody's story." "Where he was, what he saw." "We've got to get the books out quick." "Nail McByrne first chance you get." "He's still with us." "Which one?" "Over there." "What kept you so long?" "Some nut mistook me for Fleg." "Was he going to be there tonight?" "I wouldn't know." "Don't you believe me?" "Sure, beautiful." "Why shouldn't I?" "You didn't tell the police I know Fleg?" "Just keep your mouth shut and let me handle this." "You hired me and you're gonna get service." "Do you ever have a funny feeling you walked right into something?" "Mine says there's a bullet looking for me." "Keep your eyes open" "I need a pal." "Knife?" "4 inch scissors, spikes..." "Something like that did it." "This turn up anything?" "Yes I did." "Miss Oval?" "Yes, that's the man." "Please." "May I go now?" "You stay at your desk." "You and a man named Benson... went into the manuscript room with Cleaver?" "Said he wanted to talk me... and he was called away." "Why did you stop Benson?" "Oh, but I didn't, Lieutenant." "He took sick and fainted, didn't you." "Then I remembered my first aid... and I was just going for a glass of water when..." "Cleaver sailed over the balcony." "I wasn't with him." "You're lying, both of you." "Am I?" "Alright, don't talk." "I'll take the pair of you down to headquarters." "Burns, get his gun." "Two, eh?" "Carrying one for a friend?" "Say, Lieutenant?" "There was a Cleaver in the book racket." "You ought to check the rare stuff." "That's a good idea!" "Walpole!" "Where do you keep it?" "Our valuable books." "They're safe in the manuscript vault." "Let's take a look." "Outside line." "Why not?" "Police orders..." "Lieutenant Kraven says no outgoing calls." "Okay." "You ought to have a horn on that thing." "Lord Byron's Don Juan." "Mint copy." "They're all still here." "It would be impossible for a thief to open this safe." "Whose handwriting is this?" "Byron's." "His own corrections." "I guess that makes it worth plenty." "Looks like the original solander." "It is!" "What's a solander?" "A slipcover to keep the book clean." "You know books, Mr Kraven." "Yes, I'm a great reader, anything I can get my hands on." "Memory like an elephant." "Listen." "If Cleaver and his mob were after these... and the killer's still in the building... these books go under police protection, right now." "We'll lock them up at headquarters." "Alright." "Perhaps the police ought to take the Thomas Jefferson manuscript too." "It's a priceless historical document." "Oh yes, by all means." "Anything you say." "It's over here." "I bet you've got a theory all your own, Mr McByrne." "Maybe." "I agree with Mr Kraven." "You're not telling everything you know." "Maybe." "Have you any clippings on the theft of the Hamlet quarto." "Yes!" "I'd like to look them over." "I'll get them for you." "Jefferson was president when he wrote this article on curing ham." "A very interesting piece of Americana." "Ought to bring a good price on the open market." "Thomas Jefferson." "Yes." "A very good price, it's a collectors' item alright." "You're making a very wise move" "Putting it in a safe place along with the exhibition books." "We'd hate to lose those five little books, wouldn't we?" "You'll have to sign for it, Lieutenant." "Oh, gladly." "I'll get the five books." "Sign here, please." "We always have to have a receipt for any books taken off the shelves." "You know I could get $150,000 so easily." "Lieutenant Kraven!" "Lieutenant Kraven!" "They're gone." "And they were right on this desk a minute ago." "You were here." "Wanna search me?" "I saw no one else come in." "Well, there was a stack-boy collecting books." "He could have picked them up by mistake." "That's right." "He was pushing baby carriage 103 or 130." "Let's go find him." " Need any help Lieutenant?" " Not from you." "Truck 103 tails his station." "It's on the third tier, we're on the fifth now." "Why do you want these?" "Ever have a hunch?" "What's going on now is tied up with that Hamlet job." "And I need an angle." "You think whoever killed that guard..." "Is in the building again?" "Maybe." "Where's station 126 in the stacks?" "126?" "On this floor." "Show me." "Say, you've got a couple of books in here." "Two miles of books." "Suppose we might get lost." "You might." "Lead the way." "It's just like the big house." "Every book's got a number." "The dewey-decimal system." "We classify our books by numbers instead of titles." "Very tricky." "For instance... a book on agriculture is in the 630 group." "Then say, books on fruit... orchids and vineyards... are classified as 634." "The ten major classifications... philosophy is 100, religion 200." "Literature is 800, history 900." "Sold to the little lady in the red hat." "And each volume has an office number." "You ever try using all that concentration on something that wears pants and smokes a cigar?" "We're getting married when the army's through with him." "Yeah?" "What's he like?" "You." "That's why I mistook you for him when you came in tonight." "Oh, he's an ape." "Not here." "You know, I wish I'd met you before noon today." "Why?" "I wouldn't have already fallen for someone else." "You couldn't compete with my army man." "I've never been arrested for trying." "This is station 126." "What are you looking for?" "This book I wanted." "Do the mice take the books around here?" "We don't have mice." "Maybe the stack-boy took it." "Well that's easy to find out." "Freddie?" "Oh, Freddy?" "He might be downstairs." "Get him." "You sound just like a husband." "Skip the compliments." "That you, Kay?" "Who's there?" "Mac?" "Mac, where are you?" "Myra?" "What are you wondering around in here for?" "Looking for you darling." "I have to tell you something." "Go ahead." "Kraven." "He's Fleg." "Yeah." "He knew too much about rare books for an ordinary copper." "I was afraid to tell you before." "But I want to play square with you." "You knew he was pulling this job tonight." "No, I swear I didn't." "I'm gonna watch my step." "He's got a lot of innocent people sewed up." "Someone might stop a slug if they get wise." "We don't let on you know and now's your chance to get him." "Mac, you do believe me?" "I want to, beautiful." "Mr McByrne?" "Get back outside, and thanks." "Up here!" "Do you want me, sir?" "Ms Ryan had to go with old Walpole." "Did you take any books of this truck?" "Oh, no sir." "The morning shift puts them away." "I see." "My girl's waiting for me in the drug store and she'll get sore." "Why can't I call her and tell her I'm stuck here?" "You know that cop on the switchboard says no outgoing calls." "Police rule or something." "We're bottled up." "Just roll with the punches and you'll recover." "Who's down there?" "Who wants to know?" "Kraven." "Is that you McByrne?" "Yeah." "I want to see you." "Lieutenant Kraven?" "Don't, you fool." "But you said.!" "He's got the books." "Wake him up." "Make him talk but don't finish him until you get those books." "I'll wait for you outside." "Could I get anyone a drink of water?" "You've got to stay here." "The police don't want you to leave your places." "Where's the woman who was in this chair?" "Where is she?" "She crossed us up." "You know what to do." "Go find her." "Quit stalling, we know you've got him." "Don't lie." "Where'd you put him?" "Hey!" "Get back in there." "The devil are you doing here?" "Came up to smoke a cigarette?" "Go ahead, but keep your hands high." "Eric Pahsen." "Working a shift here, eh?" "Save your money too?" "Parson sounds foreign." "You German?" "No." "I don't blame you." "Where'd you get this?" "Under this table?" "Down in the library?" "Who dropped it?" "Go downstairs where you belong." "I've got something cooking on the stove." "You've always got something cooking." "They won't even let me call my husband." "And when he doesn't hear from me he gets the craziest ideas." "Cops say they haven't got the killer yet." "Go back to your chair." "Say..." "I'm so scared I've got to get something to read." "Well help yourself." "I must get my mind of this murder." "I'm gonna have a baby." "Wait 'til you get home." "I mean my wife." "Those cops ought to be shot" "This is awful." "I got a date." "I've given my boyfriend every alibi except murder." "Mac." "You like dark rooms too, eh?" "Just to get out of Fleg's way." "What are you doing?" "Getting the police, while I'm still alive." "He has men out there" "They'll shoot if they see you." "I got to risk it before there's any more killing in here." "Hollis." "Fleg's bodyguard." "Met him." "He thinks I have the books." "And somebody stuck Martin Cleaver with one of Fleg's forgeries." "A Hamlet, maybe." "Was it you?" "Well Fleg has lots of other outlets." "Has he?" "I figure it like this." "After Cleaver put the screws on..." "You ran into me." "I was yelling Hamlet, too." "Cleaver used a gun." "I use a jail house." "You were on a spot." "I know what you're thinking, Mac." "And you're wrong." "Am I?" "You played me off against Cleaver." "You told him the guy who would come to pick up a book would be Fleg." "You knew he'd have his way." "Or kill." "Somewhere along the line, you also told Fleg..." "That I was Mr Trouble." "He said he'd take care of me, right?" "Mac, you're so wrong." "Beautiful..." "You wouldn't be you if you weren't lying." "You knew I'd walk in here tonight with two men laying for me." "Fleg sent a note..." "Using your name to get me up on that balcony." "I didn't write this." "I wasn't even on the balcony." "Part of Fleg's plan to take over the library." "He needed a body to stage a fake police investigation." "And I was elected." "And you knew it!" "No, Mac." "Anyway, Cleaver went instead." "And got stuck with Hollis' knife." "And all that time... you were my pal." "I never believed much in things happening at first sight." "But it did, Mac." "That's why I was afraid." "That's why I want to be rid of you." "I've always had my own way with the men." "I wanted to." "But this time it's different." "You won't believe that." "But it's true." "I can try." "Your kind took a shot at me before." "I had no hard feelings." "Because you're what I like." "You can trust me." "I don't expect you to play straight." "I just want you to be around." "And in the clear when this is all over." "We can have some fun." "This wasn't in your bag before." "I didn't want to forget an appointment I had at 9.30... at a bookstore on 31st Street" "What a client." "Makes notes in the middle of murder." "I'll be back for you beautiful." "For the riot squad." "Mr McByrne!" "Yes." "I've been looking everywhere for you." " Something awful is happening." " What?" "Those policemen, they're fake." "I heard them talking." "They stole the books." "Well not exactly, I'm going for help." "Say nothing and you'll be alright until I get back." "I'm terrified." "Myra, keep an eye on the kid." "There's a guy in the army writing letters to her." "Got to do our bit." "Well, this side looks clear." "Careful, they have a man out there." "I feel so helpless." "They're murderers." "We'd better go back to the others, they'll be suspicious" "Where is he?" "I don't know." "Not far." "You were with him, where'd he go?" "He didn't tell me." "You have fallen for him." "Don't be silly." "I delivered him to you, didn't I?" "There's no hate without love." "You hate because you dread love." "And the fear of desiring it." "Save it." "He's been out for an airing." "I wouldn't try that again, mister." "He said he went out to get the right time." "Come on." "I've been here before." "Has he guessed?" "About me?" "And that little librarian, maybe she knows too." "That's all I want to know." "You might have stopped a slug." "I don't want anybody else to try that." "You're all in temporary police custody." "Take him in here." "Breaking out of here wasn't a very wise move, McByrne." "I got lonesome." "Say, don't you think it's time Mr Cleaver went to the icebox." "I'm running this show." "Show is the word." "We have reason to believe that you know where the missing books are." "Wish I had." "I take you down-town and sweat it out of you." "Now, if you really mean headquarters, Lieutenant, I'd love that." "Oh, Ms Ryan?" "Would you please come here?" "I'd like a book from the stacks." "Certainly." "Kiskadden's Collector's Guide." "I understand it carrys a description of the missing books." "I'll get it for you right away." "Hollis?" "Yeah?" "The girl..." "Right." "Let her alone, Fleg." "Fleg?" "So, you've been playing cat and mouse with me, eh?" "I thought I was the cat." "I've underestimated your abilities." "Call your man off, that girl can't hurt you." "No, but she can spoil my setups and she knows things that you know." "Now, we were talking about some stolen books." "If I had them, I'd give them to you." "What?" "Blue signal?" "Hello?" "Somebody said "blue signal" and hung up." "That's the signal for an air raid alert." "We must stand by for the sirens." "This is a fine time to have a blackout." "There they go!" "Everbody must go to the shelter in the basement, we're blacking out." "Hey, wait a minute." "You can't do that." "Mr Kraven..." "I am the air raid warden for this building, I have my orders." "Ms Oval." "Air raid." "Ms Hartwig, can you hear the sirens?" "Take everybody to the shelter." "Now please walk, don't run." "Don't get excited, people." "This way please." "This way." "Don't be nervous." "Our shelter is bomb proof." "Everything's under control." "Don't get excited." "Take it easy, folks." "Watch your step on the stairs." "Take it easy, sir." "Keep calm." "Let's get out of here." "Not until I get what I'm after." "McByrne knows where those books are." "We can take him with us." "Oh, wait." "What'd I tell you, it's too risky." "That's what I say." "Make him talk, then come back." "Alright, let's go." "Who's there?" "Who's there?" "Hey!" "Hey, where are you?" "Hey!" "Thought you knew all the dirty tricks." "Kay?" "Kay?" "Kay?" "Kid, are you hurt?" "Oh, that's a break." "No, take it easy." "Let me down, Mac." "I can walk." "You sure?" "Where can we hide?" "Well, some place where I can show a light in this black out." "The window!" "No, Fleg would be up here for us." "Can we get up on the roof." "Yes." "Let's go." "Very careless of you, McByrne, breaking doors." "Didn't you read the sign, Quiet Please!" "?" "Get over there, Myra." "What's she doing in this?" "Like Ms Ryan, she knows more than is good for her." "He's worried about you, Myra, it's a good sign." "This way please." "I don't know how long this blackout inconvenience will last." "But I've arranged for a quiet, persuasive, talk." "This will do very nicely." "McByrne?" "I'm curious to know who betrayed my identity." "You did." "Sounding off on old books." "I'm glad it wasn't an old friend." "Now to business, you have something that I want." " I haven't got the books." " None of that please..." "Because I've gone through great trouble to acquire them tonight." "Look, Fleg." "Let the women go, this is between you and me." "Wouldn't you play good cards if you had them?" "Your racket isn't new." "But of all the crazy stunts." "Trying to put the slug on me in here when you could do it on some dark quiet street." "Two birds with one stone." "Well, when you killed the wrong man... why didn't you finish what you started on me?" "Because of the notional suspense..." "The anticipation of whether you'd catch me or not." "You see..." "I belong to a strange breed." "We find pleasure in fear and pain." "You like to be hurt?" "It's a form of self-punishment." "Well I'll do all I can for you." "Sorry, but the game is over." "I intend to get what I want." "Cleaver went in for books." "Why don't you ask his man, Benson?" "Thank you, I did." "But it was a waste of time." "To die in terror." "But he didn't appreciate it." "Come on now, quit stalling." "Suppose you find out where the books are..." "After I take the women out of the building." "Forgive me, but I wouldn't trust you that far." "Since you insist on being so stubborn..." "I shall have to do things my way." "Oh, you musn't show a light, it's definitely against the rules." "I know, but the window's covered." "Oh yes, well don't put on any more lights." "Oh, Mr Walpole." "Yes, my dear?" "Nevermind." "Tell him later." "It's a perfect black out." "Not a light showing anywhere." "Everybody's doing his bit." "A harp string around the finger can give excruciating pain." "A crippled finger isn't very beautiful, you know." "McByrne, I'm curious to know if you like to watch pain." "Let her alone, Fleg." "Mac, don't let him do it." "Alright, you can have the books." " Where are they?" " I've got to use the phone." "You couldn't have got them out of the building." "The mean the inter-office phone." "They'll only be given up on my say-so." "Well, who's got them?" "It's got to be handled my way." "Alright, go ahead." "I want the information desk, please." "Sorry pal, you've got to get an OK." "OK it." "Let him have it, Joe." "Mr Walpole there?" "Just a second." "Mr Walpole?" "Telephone." "Oh, thank you." "Walpole speaking." "All clear." "What?" "Oh, the all-clear signal." "Very good." "Have the books ready for me when I come down." "Don't let anyone else have them." "Well, what are you waiting for?" "You have the all clear." "That didn't sound like my senior warden's voice." "You've got to be careful." "Columnists try to spoil blackouts." "Somebody else could have called for your warden." "Yes?" "Walpole." "So he's in it with you." "Let's go down there." "Perhaps I have to call him back, just to make sure." "I don't know how many signals you want... but I can't stand this darkness with a murderer loose." "I want light." "Ms Oval?" "Ms Oval?" "You're disobeying my orders." "Get those lights out!" "They won't get those lights out." "Come on." "Who gave you an all clear?" " Get those lights out!" " Get these men!" "My men just got back from searching Fleg's apartment." "This the original?" "We found it on Fleg's workbench." "Along with a lot of other stuff." "It is inspector." "It is." "Then why he didn't sell it?" "Why sell fine books when the suckers will pay for imitations." "Besides, I'm a collector myself." "But I was careless, wasn't I?" "And I was lucky." "For one brief moment, I left myself unguarded." "The subconscious mind exacting its punishment." "He likes to hurt himself." "I always knew this would happen." "But when..." "And how..." "I wake up nights in a cold #sweat thinking I've been caught." "You see like a lot of.." "Criminals, I..." "I wanted to be caught." "That's what a conscience does to us." "Though we don't always know it." "We can outwit other people but never ourselves." "I seem to have outsmarted myself on this job." "I get all the slapping around, but the reward has to be split twelve ways." "Police helped recover the Hamlet, they're entitled to a cut." "You never argue with the law." "Mr Fleg, won't you please tell use what you've done with those five books?" "I've tried to, I haven't got them." "I hate to sound mercenary, but..." "Will the library offer a reward?" "I suppose so, yes. a" "About $5000?" "Oh, you know where they are." "No, but I'd hate to go to a lot of trouble just for the exercise." " We'll pay $5000." " $2500." "You tempt me." "Yes, definitely." "By the way, look for some leads in Cleaver's papers, he didn't work alone." "Hope you enjoy the hanging." "You wouldn't understand." "But I am terror." "Listen, I've given my statement." "I've got to go." "It's my job, I'm on th e morning shift." "Alright, but what's the name?" " Helen Murphy." " Ok, Helen." "Eric Parson!" "You must stop being frightened." "It's all over now." "I want to talk to you." "Excuse me please." "Did Fleg talk about me?" "Not a word." "Or you didn't let him." "Thank you, Mac." "When I protect a client, I protect her?" "You're in the clear." "Just as you promised." "Cigarette?" "No, thank you." "Something's wrong, what is it?" "Where are those five books you lifted off that stack wagon." "Don't give me that." "You got them and you let Fleg gun for me thinking I had them." "You're out of your mind." "Stop acting, you tried to play me off against Fleg." "Why not?" "I was a lucky guy." "I might knock off, like that'd make you top man in the racket." "A swell set up." "And you're made of ice." "Your retainer." "I kept my end of the bargain." "You're not in the Fleg case, so far." "But from right now, you're on your own." "You've got to listen to me." "Where are those books?" "I don't know?" "920." "Darwin's biography of African Chieftans." "All books are classified according to number." "History is 900." "Here's 930." "Aunsen's history of Rome." ""See 31"." "The letter 'C' maybe?" "I explained that memo." "C 31." "Chaucer's ancient tales of the Nile delta." "You sure had a date in the morning." "With $150,000." "Going to blame a girl for trying?" "I'd have told you." "In a pig's eye." "Look beautiful." "Nothing ties you to the killings tonight." "No proof." "But I'm going to nail you for the Hamlet forgery." " Revenge?" " No." "To teach you a lesson." "You had me going for a while." "But a man doesn't mean a thing to you." "You live for little Myra and nobody else." "And you'll always be that way." "Mac." "What you said was true until you came along." "Oh, don't hand me that one." "Any dame who worries about her hat in a taxi." "That was the tip off to me." "But I didn't want to believe it." "Mac." "I love you." "It's the first time I've ever been able to say that to any man." "Oh lay off." "You've yelled wolf too many times." "I wanted to give you a break." "But you tried to destroy Kay, that innocent kid." "You were the only one who knew she had spotted Fleg." "And you tried to tip him off about it." "I couldn't help it, I was jealous." "You?" "No." "You wanted to convince Fleg you were on his side." " And that was your big mistake, sister." " You were falling for her." "No, she doesn't mean a thing to me, only what she stands for." "She's waiting for some guy in the army." "But you wouldn't get it." "There are thousands like Kay... and a lot of guys in the army counting on them." "Daydreaming about things after the war." "Her useless death would have hurt him." "Maybe I am a sentimental slob, but I don't buy that." "Thanks for the buggy ride." "Oh, so you knew where they were all the time, eh?" "No." "I found this on Fleg and figured it out all by myself." "And don't horn in on the reward." " Is that so?" " Yeah." "Mac, you have to see me home." "Oh no." "You're the only one I can count on." "Cleaver's men are out there and they know what happened." "They'll kill me." "Maybe they will, maybe they won't." "People who do business with Hitler's mob know the payoff." "Go ask the cops to take you home." "Oh Mac, don't desert me now." "I'm sick of your lying." "I'm not lying, I tell you." "I'm terrified." "Yeah, you're like Fleg." "You love it." "Good night, or I mean, good morning." "An exciting night, wasn't it." "Mr Walpole." "Would you mind seeing me home." "I don't want to go out alone." "Why there's nothing to be afraid of now." "Fleg's been taken to headquarters... and our streets are the safest in the country." "I do not work alone." "My dear." "We all set in motion the means of our own destruction." "You know where I can get a taxi?" "Not around here, but there's a stand four blocks down." "Eric Pahsens." "That dummy, which way did he go?" "Headed east towards main street." "What's up?" "One of cleaver's gunmen just ound him opening the German's papers." "Wait a minute here." "Hold him." "What are you doing in here?" "Mac?" "Hello." "Can you tell me all about it now?" " I'll buy you a cup of coffee" " And put poison in it?" "I'm sorry." "I guess you're not all alike, but... right now I'm... not very good company." "She was involved somehow, wasn't she?" "You liked her too." "I feel like a guy who's lost his pet cat." "Did you ever have a cat when you were a kid?" "Momma said had to go." "You know what it means to lose something you could do without but... had to have." "Come on." "I'll buy the coffee." "Altarwise"