WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:02.640 A. Gange 00:02.640 --> 00:06.640 Mystery House. 00:06.640 --> 00:10.640 Mystery House. 00:10.640 --> 00:16.640 Mystery House. 00:16.640 --> 00:22.640 Mystery House. 00:30.640 --> 00:32.640 Mystery House. 00:32.640 --> 00:35.640 That strange publishing firm owned by Dan and Barbara Glenn, 00:35.640 --> 00:38.640 where each new novel is acted out by the Mystery House staff 00:38.640 --> 00:41.640 before it is accepted for publication. 00:41.640 --> 00:46.640 Mystery House. 00:51.640 --> 00:54.640 Well, Barbie, the novel we're trying out for Mystery House tonight, 00:54.640 --> 00:57.640 Murder Hires a Hall, I've read it and I like it. 00:57.640 --> 01:00.640 Well, I do too. We'll see how it plays. 01:00.640 --> 01:03.640 The whole point of having our publishing staff act out these stories. 01:03.640 --> 01:06.640 Yeah, I know, but I'd take a chance on this one without even trying it out. 01:06.640 --> 01:09.640 I disagree, Mr. Glenn. I don't think there's any point 01:09.640 --> 01:11.640 in taking chances on anything in this day and age. 01:11.640 --> 01:13.640 Yeah, Tom, but this story is... 01:13.640 --> 01:15.640 Well, I'm not talking about stories particularly. 01:15.640 --> 01:19.640 There's no need to guess on anything when you can get authentic, reliable information. 01:19.640 --> 01:21.640 I bet this is leading up to something. 01:21.640 --> 01:24.640 Of course it is, Mr. Glenn. Listen. 01:24.640 --> 01:29.640 The Mystery House. 01:37.640 --> 01:39.640 Okay, places everybody. 01:39.640 --> 01:42.640 Murder Hires a Hall. 01:42.640 --> 01:47.640 Tonight's story takes place shortly after the close of the Second World War. 01:47.640 --> 01:50.640 It opens in the office of Robert Lawson, candidate for governor. 01:50.640 --> 01:56.640 Across the desk from Lawson sits Jasper Jade, known throughout the state as the boss. 01:56.640 --> 02:00.640 For the last time, Jade, the answer is no. N-O, no. 02:00.640 --> 02:04.640 Now, look, Lawson, I'm a reasonable man. I wouldn't be here talking to you if I were. 02:04.640 --> 02:07.640 I mean, you wouldn't be here if you didn't think you could buy me off. 02:07.640 --> 02:11.640 Oh, now look here, Lawson, that's not the way I like to hear young politicians talking to us. 02:11.640 --> 02:16.640 In the first place, Jade, I'm not a politician in the sense you and your gang use the term. 02:16.640 --> 02:17.640 I'm a... 02:17.640 --> 02:21.640 Yes, yes, of course, Lawson. You're one of our honored war veterans. 02:21.640 --> 02:23.640 You did a great job in the war. 02:23.640 --> 02:26.640 There's every reason for you to expect to collect a reward now. 02:26.640 --> 02:29.640 Jade, I'm about to lose my temper. 02:29.640 --> 02:34.640 I'm a war veteran, yes, but I'm not running for governor to collect any reward. 02:34.640 --> 02:37.640 I'm sticking my neck out to clean up some very dirty politics. 02:37.640 --> 02:40.640 A mess which you alone are responsible for. 02:40.640 --> 02:42.640 Oh, come now, Lawson, look here. 02:42.640 --> 02:44.640 You don't like it when it's said out loud, do you? 02:44.640 --> 02:48.640 I'm saying it out loud and I'm going to keep on saying it as loud as possible before the greatest number of voters. 02:48.640 --> 02:53.640 I admire your courage, young man, but I'm beginning to doubt your sanity. 02:53.640 --> 02:57.640 Are you sure the War Department gave you a clean bill of health? 02:57.640 --> 03:01.640 Getting scared, Jade? 03:01.640 --> 03:03.640 Oh, don't make me laugh. 03:03.640 --> 03:05.640 How do you think I got where I am now? 03:05.640 --> 03:06.640 And where are you now? 03:06.640 --> 03:07.640 The boss. 03:07.640 --> 03:08.640 Boss Jade. 03:08.640 --> 03:12.640 Dictator of the most corrupt political machine in the state's history. 03:12.640 --> 03:15.640 You think I want my name linked with anyone with your reputation? 03:15.640 --> 03:17.640 Apparently you want to be elected. 03:17.640 --> 03:19.640 Don't worry about that. I'll be elected. 03:19.640 --> 03:21.640 Ah, but not without my support, you won't. 03:21.640 --> 03:23.640 Your support? 03:23.640 --> 03:28.640 The only purpose that would serve would be to whitewash you in the eyes of people who believe in me. 03:28.640 --> 03:30.640 You're being very foolish, Lawson. 03:30.640 --> 03:37.640 I grant you I don't have an organization, Jade, but I do have the backing of thousands of people who would send you to prison if they knew as much about you as I do. 03:37.640 --> 03:41.640 Ah, careful, Lawson. Remember, I still control the courts. 03:41.640 --> 03:43.640 I know exactly what you control. 03:43.640 --> 03:48.640 And I give you my word right now, the first move I'll make as governor will be to clean out your mob. 03:48.640 --> 03:50.640 And you'll be number one to go to trial. 03:50.640 --> 03:53.640 Now look, I'll make the offer once more. 03:53.640 --> 03:58.640 I'll endorse you publicly and ensure your election, if you play ball. 03:58.640 --> 04:02.640 Now go ahead with your reform platform. We can make it look good. 04:02.640 --> 04:08.640 I need some new blood in my organization, and if you have the backing of people that I've never been able to reach, why, all right. 04:08.640 --> 04:10.640 We could make a good team, Lawson. 04:10.640 --> 04:12.640 You mean you think I'd make a good stooge? 04:12.640 --> 04:17.640 Well, of course I'd have to make most of the decisions. After all, my organization is... 04:17.640 --> 04:19.640 Your organization. 04:19.640 --> 04:24.640 I wouldn't join your organization if it meant staying out of politics for the rest of my life. 04:24.640 --> 04:25.640 That's your last word. 04:25.640 --> 04:29.640 It's been my last word for the past half hour. 04:29.640 --> 04:31.640 Now, get out of here, Jade. 04:31.640 --> 04:35.640 Take your hand off my sleeve, young man. I'll leave here when I see fit. 04:35.640 --> 04:37.640 You'll forget, Jade. This is my office. 04:37.640 --> 04:40.640 This is my office, Jade, and I'm telling you to leave it. 04:40.640 --> 04:43.640 Your office, is it? Well, I'll see that you never have another one. 04:43.640 --> 04:46.640 Maybe the voters will have something to say about that. 04:46.640 --> 04:51.640 Yeah? Well, perhaps we will give the voters the chance to show their sentiments about you. 04:51.640 --> 04:55.640 Are you threatening me, Jade? I'm warning you. 04:55.640 --> 04:59.640 Get out of here. Get out of here before I lose my temper. 04:59.640 --> 05:03.640 Well, hello, Mr. Jade. What a place to bump into you. 05:03.640 --> 05:05.640 Goodbye. 05:05.640 --> 05:09.640 Karen, I'm sorry I had to see this. 05:09.640 --> 05:13.640 This what? This intimate little farewell? 05:15.640 --> 05:17.640 Okay, you have your jokes. 05:17.640 --> 05:20.640 I'm sorry I have to be more serious about things like... 05:20.640 --> 05:24.640 I'm not laughing, Bob. I'm more serious than you are. 05:24.640 --> 05:26.640 I've got to persuade you to... 05:26.640 --> 05:29.640 No, Karen, Karen, please don't start that again. 05:29.640 --> 05:32.640 Nothing can persuade me to give up this campaign. 05:32.640 --> 05:35.640 Do you know what it means, Bob? It's suicide. 05:35.640 --> 05:37.640 Or maybe something worse. 05:37.640 --> 05:40.640 I've started it and I've got to finish it. That's all. 05:40.640 --> 05:43.640 No, that isn't all. What about me? Don't you... 05:43.640 --> 05:48.640 Karen, you know I care more about you than anything else in the world. 05:48.640 --> 05:54.640 But darling, I swore I'd break the yoke boss Jade holds over the voters and I'm going to do it. 05:54.640 --> 05:57.640 You mean that's more important than I am? 05:57.640 --> 06:00.640 Karen, of course it isn't more important than you. 06:00.640 --> 06:02.640 You're everything I want, but... 06:02.640 --> 06:04.640 But you want to be governor more. 06:04.640 --> 06:06.640 No, no, of course not. 06:06.640 --> 06:13.640 But look, Karen, when I came back from the war, I was determined that I was going to see that people at home got some of the things so many soldiers died for. 06:13.640 --> 06:19.640 I don't really care about being governor, but I'm going to see that boss Jade is thrown out of this state. 06:19.640 --> 06:21.640 And if I have to be governor to do it, I'll be governor. 06:21.640 --> 06:23.640 Oh, stop that gala head stuff. 06:23.640 --> 06:25.640 Gala head stuff? 06:26.640 --> 06:28.640 Karen, what's got into you? 06:28.640 --> 06:33.640 Oh, I'm sorry, Bob. I didn't mean that. But father... 06:33.640 --> 06:35.640 What about your father? 06:35.640 --> 06:37.640 He's going to have to pull out on you. 06:37.640 --> 06:44.640 He's been my strongest backer. His newspaper is the one way I've had of reaching the voters. His support has meant everything. 06:44.640 --> 06:47.640 Yes, and if he continues to support you, he'll lose everything. 06:47.640 --> 06:50.640 But how? Even if I lose the election, he'll still... 06:50.640 --> 06:52.640 Winning or losing the election has nothing to do with it. 06:52.640 --> 06:57.640 You'll forget that Jade controls the only paper mill from which Dad has been able to buy newsprint. 06:57.640 --> 06:59.640 Well, there must be a way. 06:59.640 --> 07:03.640 There isn't any way. You know what the paper mill situation is. 07:03.640 --> 07:06.640 And without paper, Dad will have to quit publishing. 07:06.640 --> 07:11.640 Bob, you've got to give up. You've got to quit this useless fight against boss Jade. 07:11.640 --> 07:15.640 It isn't useless. I'm going to beat boss Jade if it's the last thing I do. 07:15.640 --> 07:17.640 Well, you can't do it alone. 07:17.640 --> 07:25.640 Well, I've certainly counted on your father's support, but if I have to do it alone, without any newspaper backing me, I'm still going to do it. 07:25.640 --> 07:27.640 And what about me? 07:27.640 --> 07:29.640 What do you mean, Karen? 07:29.640 --> 07:34.640 Unless you announce your withdrawal right now, you and I are finished. 07:34.640 --> 07:39.640 But why? Karen, I can understand your father being forced to pull out. 07:39.640 --> 07:43.640 He has to think of his newspaper and all the people dependent upon it. 07:43.640 --> 07:48.640 But you, you and I, we belong together fighting the same battle. 07:48.640 --> 07:52.640 Don't you understand? I can't stand by and see my father ruined. 07:52.640 --> 07:55.640 But he won't be ruined if he withdraws his support. 07:55.640 --> 08:02.640 Unless you either accept the support of the Jade machine or withdraw completely from the election, Jade will expose Dad and break him completely. 08:02.640 --> 08:04.640 Expose your dad? Why, but... 08:04.640 --> 08:11.640 Dad has spent his life as a crusading editor. When he hired a business manager, he didn't watch him closely. 08:11.640 --> 08:15.640 Now he finds that his business manager is one of Jade's men. 08:15.640 --> 08:22.640 And he's been so unscrupulous that Dad's paper and Dad will be completely ruined if certain facts are ever brought to light. 08:22.640 --> 08:23.640 But that's not possible. 08:23.640 --> 08:26.640 That's what I thought. But I saw the evidence. 08:26.640 --> 08:36.640 Jade's paper has it all set in type. Dad's picture and a complete set of facts that will force him out of business and make it absolutely impossible to defend himself. 08:36.640 --> 08:38.640 Oh, that's preposterous. We'll take it to court. 08:38.640 --> 08:41.640 Oh, you know that won't do any good. Jade controls the courts. 08:41.640 --> 08:45.640 But Karen, that's just one more reason for me to run Jade out of business. 08:45.640 --> 08:47.640 You haven't a chance without Dad's support. 08:47.640 --> 08:48.640 But I can't give up now. 08:48.640 --> 08:52.640 You can, Bob. You must. If you love me. 08:52.640 --> 08:57.640 You know I love you. That's why I have to make this fight, regardless of the consequences. 08:57.640 --> 09:00.640 You couldn't respect me if I turned out to be a quitter. 09:00.640 --> 09:03.640 I couldn't respect a man who brought about the ruin of my father. 09:03.640 --> 09:06.640 Well, I'm afraid your father will have to look out for himself. 09:06.640 --> 09:09.640 But what about me? Don't I count for anything? 09:09.640 --> 09:12.640 Karen, you know what you mean to me. 09:12.640 --> 09:16.640 If you really mean that, you'll sign this statement. 09:16.640 --> 09:19.640 But this is a statement to the public saying I'm giving up the fight. 09:19.640 --> 09:22.640 But darling, can't you see it's the only thing to do? 09:22.640 --> 09:26.640 No, Karen. This is one thing I can't do for you. 09:26.640 --> 09:29.640 All right, Bob. If that's the way you feel about it. 09:29.640 --> 09:32.640 Wait a minute. What's that you've got in your bag? 09:32.640 --> 09:35.640 Oh, I didn't want you to see that. 09:35.640 --> 09:38.640 A gun. But why? 09:38.640 --> 09:42.640 I'm sorry, Bob. I tried to keep this from you. 09:42.640 --> 09:46.640 There are people who would go to any length to keep you from being governor, Bob. 09:46.640 --> 09:49.640 You mean they threatened your life? 09:49.640 --> 09:51.640 But you don't have anything to do with my political life. 09:51.640 --> 09:54.640 No, but everybody knows that you and I are going to be married. 09:54.640 --> 09:57.640 They figure threatening me is a way to get at you. 09:57.640 --> 09:59.640 Don't you worry, darling. Nothing's going to happen. 09:59.640 --> 10:03.640 But I do worry, Bob. Please, sign the statement now. 10:03.640 --> 10:07.640 Please, darling, let's both get out of this while we can. 10:07.640 --> 10:09.640 And admit defeat? Uh-uh. 10:09.640 --> 10:12.640 I'm scheduled to speak before a packed house tonight, 10:12.640 --> 10:14.640 and I'm going to blow the roof off. 10:14.640 --> 10:16.640 Bob, for me, please, sign that statement. 10:16.640 --> 10:20.640 Nothing doing, sweetheart. This is a fight to the finish. 10:20.640 --> 10:38.640 It's either Boss Jade or me. 10:38.640 --> 10:42.640 Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, 10:42.640 --> 10:54.640 we're here tonight to hear from our next governor, Robert Lawson. 10:54.640 --> 10:58.640 Yes, we're here to listen to him as he gives you the facts 10:58.640 --> 11:04.640 about the worst cheating the people of this community have ever been subjected to. 11:04.640 --> 11:11.640 The facts, ladies and gentlemen. Not a story, but facts. 11:11.640 --> 11:14.640 How did you get backstage, Walker? Never mind that. 11:14.640 --> 11:16.640 I hear you're going to shoot the works tonight. 11:16.640 --> 11:20.640 That's right. We'll make a great story for that newspaper of yours, 11:20.640 --> 11:22.640 if you print it, which you won't. 11:22.640 --> 11:25.640 That's right, Lawson. I work for Jade. 11:25.640 --> 11:27.640 I've been with this newspaper for years, 11:27.640 --> 11:31.640 and so far I've done a pretty good job of keeping the opposition in line. 11:31.640 --> 11:35.640 Oh, you admit you aren't bound by the great code of newspaper ethics, huh? 11:35.640 --> 11:39.640 Ethics? I'm too much of a realist. 11:39.640 --> 11:43.640 Enough of a realist to give you one more chance to call off this speech. 11:43.640 --> 11:49.640 Call it off? With 3,000 people out in front with a statewide radio hookup? 11:49.640 --> 11:53.640 You can quote me as saying that I will definitely not call off this speech. 11:53.640 --> 11:55.640 I'll be on that stage in three minutes. 11:55.640 --> 11:59.640 Maybe. But let me fill you in on the situation first. 11:59.640 --> 12:03.640 The orders are that you are not to be permitted to finish your speech. 12:03.640 --> 12:04.640 It's too late now to stop me. 12:04.640 --> 12:08.640 Is it? You think you've got 3,000 friends out there? 12:08.640 --> 12:11.640 Ha ha ha. I've had rotten tomatoes thrown at me before. 12:11.640 --> 12:13.640 This time there won't be any tomatoes. 12:13.640 --> 12:18.640 That audience has been well sprinkled with ammunition, and I don't mean tomatoes. 12:18.640 --> 12:19.640 Jade wouldn't dare. 12:19.640 --> 12:23.640 The gun will be found in the hand of some dope who really believes you're trying to take away his bread and butter. 12:23.640 --> 12:26.640 Even Jade wouldn't frame an innocent man that way. 12:26.640 --> 12:28.640 Don't be so naive, Lawson. 12:28.640 --> 12:30.640 I know you've got enough evidence to throw the book at Jade. 12:30.640 --> 12:35.640 Only that book is going to hit a lot of people, including yours truly. 12:35.640 --> 12:36.640 Talking won't help you. I'm... 12:36.640 --> 12:40.640 Now look, Lawson. In five seconds you'll be walking out on that stage. 12:40.640 --> 12:46.640 But if you say one word of what you promised to say, it'll be the last word you've ever said. 12:46.640 --> 12:50.640 Thanks for the entertaining conversation. That's my cue. 12:50.640 --> 12:52.640 Bob. Bob, wait a minute. Bob. 13:00.640 --> 13:04.640 Ladies and gentlemen, without preliminaries, 13:04.640 --> 13:08.640 I want to come directly to the subject which is the principal reason you're all here tonight. 13:10.640 --> 13:14.640 I propose to tell you about one boss Jade. 13:14.640 --> 13:16.640 Jasper Jade. 13:16.640 --> 13:17.640 Dictator of... 13:20.640 --> 13:22.640 The girl! Grab her somebody! She did it! 13:22.640 --> 13:36.640 This isn't my gun! 13:36.640 --> 13:55.640 Somebody took a well-timed shot just in time to stop Robert Lawson from saying too much about his political enemy, Boss Jade. 13:55.640 --> 14:01.640 And it looks as if that somebody was trying to lay the blame on Karen Lindsay, Lawson's girlfriend. 14:01.640 --> 14:05.640 But let's see what the second act has to say about that. 14:05.640 --> 14:07.640 In the meantime... 14:20.640 --> 14:25.640 And now, the second act of murder hires a haul. 14:25.640 --> 14:32.640 The scene is backstage in the auditorium where Robert Lawson began the political speech which was interrupted by a bullet. 14:32.640 --> 14:35.640 Police Lieutenant Murphy has arrived. 14:35.640 --> 14:37.640 But I didn't do it. I know I didn't. 14:37.640 --> 14:41.640 Look, Miss Lindsay, tell me what happened. It'll be much easier for everybody. 14:41.640 --> 14:43.640 But Lieutenant Murphy, I know I didn't. 14:43.640 --> 14:46.640 No, no, there's no use denying it. You came here with a gun. 14:46.640 --> 14:51.640 You were found right after the shooting with this in your hand. A gun that shot Lawson. 14:51.640 --> 14:52.640 But that isn't my gun. 14:52.640 --> 14:54.640 What do you mean, it isn't your gun? 14:54.640 --> 14:58.640 Mine was a little pearl-handled revolver. I carried it in my purse. 14:58.640 --> 15:01.640 That's a laugh. What do you think you are, a sleight of hand artist? 15:01.640 --> 15:03.640 You're a little careful. We don't want to draw any attention. 15:03.640 --> 15:05.640 No, no, no, not that now, Mr. Jade. 15:05.640 --> 15:09.640 Look, Miss Lindsay, the bullet that hit Lawson came from this gun. 15:09.640 --> 15:10.640 The gun you were holding. 15:10.640 --> 15:12.640 But it isn't my gun. I never saw it before. 15:12.640 --> 15:14.640 Where did it come from then? 15:14.640 --> 15:18.640 I don't know. All I know is that I came here trying to find Bob. 15:18.640 --> 15:23.640 The stage was full of people and I was jostled. I had my own gun in my hand. 15:23.640 --> 15:24.640 What did you have a gun for? 15:24.640 --> 15:28.640 I brought the gun because... because I'd heard things. 15:28.640 --> 15:32.640 I knew Bob's life was in danger and I wanted him to have a gun to protect himself. 15:32.640 --> 15:34.640 I tried to attract his attention to... 15:34.640 --> 15:36.640 You still haven't explained the other gun. 15:36.640 --> 15:42.640 I don't know. I remember passing Mr. Jade and then Walker got in my way. 15:42.640 --> 15:45.640 I was so confused I was only thinking of getting to Bob. 15:45.640 --> 15:47.640 Someone must have changed guns with me. 15:47.640 --> 15:50.640 That isn't easy to believe, Miss Lindsay. 15:50.640 --> 15:52.640 You don't have any reason to believe that this gun isn't yours. 15:52.640 --> 15:55.640 Well, of course it isn't mine. Bob would know. 15:55.640 --> 15:57.640 He knew I carried a pearl-handled revolver. 15:57.640 --> 16:00.640 Well, suppose we call the hospital. 16:00.640 --> 16:03.640 Chances are Lawson may be able to talk now. 16:03.640 --> 16:05.640 Operator, this is a police call. 16:05.640 --> 16:07.640 Get me to the hospital in a hurry. 16:07.640 --> 16:09.640 Yeah. 16:10.640 --> 16:12.640 Hey, look, this is Lieutenant Murphy. 16:12.640 --> 16:14.640 Is Lawson conscious? 16:14.640 --> 16:20.640 Okay, ask him to describe the gun that Miss Lindsay carried in her purse. 16:20.640 --> 16:22.640 Yeah, yeah, in her purse. 16:22.640 --> 16:24.640 Call me right back. 16:24.640 --> 16:27.640 Look, Murphy, I know you got a routine to go through, 16:27.640 --> 16:30.640 but you practically got this thing pinned on the Lindsay girl. 16:30.640 --> 16:33.640 You can't hold me here. I got to get this story to the paper. 16:33.640 --> 16:35.640 Walker, quiet, remember? 16:35.640 --> 16:37.640 Remember what, Mr. Jade? 16:37.640 --> 16:39.640 I don't like your tone, Murphy. 16:39.640 --> 16:42.640 I was just cautioning Walker that it's our duty to be cooperative. 16:42.640 --> 16:45.640 Oh. Well, nobody leaves here until I say so. 16:46.640 --> 16:48.640 Murphy speaking. 16:48.640 --> 16:51.640 Yeah? He what? 16:51.640 --> 16:54.640 He says it was a pearl hand... 16:54.640 --> 16:57.640 Ah, okay. 16:57.640 --> 16:59.640 Yeah, yeah, yeah, thanks. 16:59.640 --> 17:01.640 I told you, that isn't my gun. 17:01.640 --> 17:05.640 Maybe not, Miss Lindsay, but where is the pearl-handled gat? 17:05.640 --> 17:06.640 What did you do with it? 17:06.640 --> 17:07.640 Well, it must have... 17:07.640 --> 17:10.640 Someone must have exchanged guns with me and all that confusion. 17:10.640 --> 17:12.640 Maybe. You say you saw Mr. Jade. 17:12.640 --> 17:13.640 I don't care, Murphy. 17:13.640 --> 17:15.640 You admit you were backstage. 17:15.640 --> 17:17.640 Well, of course I was backstage. I was late. 17:17.640 --> 17:18.640 I didn't arrive until... 17:18.640 --> 17:21.640 Well, until just before you got here. 17:21.640 --> 17:23.640 Walker was here when the shot was fired. 17:23.640 --> 17:25.640 He can tell you that I hadn't arrived yet. 17:25.640 --> 17:26.640 What about the audience? 17:26.640 --> 17:28.640 You got 3,000 suspects out there. 17:28.640 --> 17:30.640 But we don't have a motive for any of them. 17:30.640 --> 17:32.640 And we do have motives for all three of you. 17:32.640 --> 17:34.640 I resent that, Murphy. I'll have you thrown off the force. 17:34.640 --> 17:38.640 Exactly. That might be your motive, Mr. Jade. 17:38.640 --> 17:42.640 Lawson was a threat to your power to dictate to the police department. 17:42.640 --> 17:44.640 You might easily have tried to kill him. 17:44.640 --> 17:46.640 Why, Joe, you're a man in my position, stupid. 17:46.640 --> 17:48.640 Why, it's ridiculous. 17:48.640 --> 17:49.640 That's a nice point. 17:49.640 --> 17:51.640 You wouldn't stop the murder. 17:51.640 --> 17:54.640 But you might have hired someone. Someone like Walker. 17:54.640 --> 17:55.640 Now, wait a minute, Murphy. 17:55.640 --> 17:56.640 Supposing Miss Lindsay's right. 17:56.640 --> 17:59.640 Maybe somebody did swap guns with her. 17:59.640 --> 18:01.640 Hey, you, Walker. You bumped into her. 18:01.640 --> 18:03.640 You think you can scare me? 18:03.640 --> 18:05.640 Where's the other gun? I haven't got it. 18:05.640 --> 18:07.640 I know you haven't got it. I've got it. 18:07.640 --> 18:09.640 What? Where did you find it? 18:09.640 --> 18:11.640 In Walker's top coat pocket. 18:11.640 --> 18:13.640 Here it is. Pearl handle and all. 18:13.640 --> 18:15.640 Why, you... I never... 18:15.640 --> 18:16.640 Well, Walker. 18:16.640 --> 18:17.640 I told you to be careful, Walker. 18:17.640 --> 18:20.640 This is a frame-up. I never touched that gun. 18:20.640 --> 18:22.640 It begins to look as if the frame-up was on Miss Lindsay. 18:22.640 --> 18:23.640 You and Jade... 18:23.640 --> 18:24.640 Now, wait. 18:24.640 --> 18:25.640 This has gone far enough. 18:25.640 --> 18:27.640 I won't stay here and listen to such accusations. 18:27.640 --> 18:28.640 You know where to reach me. 18:28.640 --> 18:30.640 Just a minute, Jade. You're defying the law. 18:30.640 --> 18:32.640 That's impossible. I am the law. 18:32.640 --> 18:33.640 Get him back here. 18:33.640 --> 18:35.640 If anybody's being framed, it's me. 18:35.640 --> 18:36.640 Jade planned to murder Lawson. 18:36.640 --> 18:38.640 Lieutenant, you can't let him get away. 18:38.640 --> 18:39.640 Look, Murphy, I didn't do it. 18:39.640 --> 18:41.640 Jade had a guy planted in the audience. 18:41.640 --> 18:42.640 Forget it, Walker. 18:42.640 --> 18:46.640 Mr. Jade won't get very far this time. 19:00.640 --> 19:03.640 Well, Lawson, about time you opened your eyes. 19:03.640 --> 19:06.640 Jade, who let you in here? 19:06.640 --> 19:07.640 Isn't this... 19:07.640 --> 19:09.640 Yes, this is the hospital, all right? 19:09.640 --> 19:10.640 Get out of here, Jade. 19:10.640 --> 19:13.640 I'll deal with you later. 19:13.640 --> 19:15.640 Get out of here, Lawson. Don't get excited. 19:15.640 --> 19:17.640 I know this is a little abrupt, 19:17.640 --> 19:19.640 but it struck me that you might be in a better mood 19:19.640 --> 19:21.640 as a result of this fracas. 19:21.640 --> 19:23.640 Here, take a look at this. 19:23.640 --> 19:25.640 What...what is it? 19:25.640 --> 19:27.640 Go ahead, take a look at it. You recognize it. 19:27.640 --> 19:30.640 It's a statement of withdrawal. 19:30.640 --> 19:32.640 The fact that you've been, well, wounded 19:32.640 --> 19:36.640 gives you a fine excuse for eliminating yourself from the election. 19:36.640 --> 19:37.640 Very interesting. 19:37.640 --> 19:39.640 Go ahead, sign it. 19:39.640 --> 19:41.640 That bullet hole in your shoulder, 19:41.640 --> 19:43.640 you can give up the campaign gracefully. 19:43.640 --> 19:45.640 Even your most rabid supporter 19:45.640 --> 19:47.640 don't expect you to go on getting shot. 19:47.640 --> 19:49.640 Aren't you forgetting something? 19:49.640 --> 19:50.640 Well, what? 19:50.640 --> 19:52.640 Don't you usually take care of people 19:52.640 --> 19:53.640 under these circumstances? 19:53.640 --> 19:55.640 What are you getting at? 19:55.640 --> 19:56.640 A little gift. 19:56.640 --> 19:57.640 Settlement. 19:57.640 --> 19:59.640 Oh, yes, the sett...what? 19:59.640 --> 20:02.640 I said it, the settlement. 20:02.640 --> 20:07.640 Well, Lawson, I see that you're a practical politician after all. 20:07.640 --> 20:08.640 I did you an injustice. 20:08.640 --> 20:11.640 I thought your crusade was really on the level. 20:11.640 --> 20:13.640 Don't bother me with flattery. 20:13.640 --> 20:14.640 How much? 20:14.640 --> 20:16.640 Well, I guess we can come to terms. 20:16.640 --> 20:17.640 Let's say... 20:17.640 --> 20:21.640 The same as the last payment you made on my case? 20:21.640 --> 20:22.640 What's that? 20:22.640 --> 20:24.640 Oh, yes, you... 20:24.640 --> 20:26.640 Well, sure, sure, Lawson. 20:26.640 --> 20:28.640 It's worth that much to me. 20:28.640 --> 20:30.640 That'll make it nice for both of you, won't it? 20:30.640 --> 20:32.640 That makes everything perfect. 20:32.640 --> 20:34.640 Give me a little time for the shoulder to heal. 20:34.640 --> 20:36.640 I don't want to give you a wobbly signature. 20:36.640 --> 20:38.640 That's fair enough. 20:38.640 --> 20:40.640 And you surprised me, Lawson, 20:40.640 --> 20:43.640 but you took a load off of my shoulders. 20:43.640 --> 20:45.640 And I'll run along now. 20:45.640 --> 20:46.640 Oh, no, you don't. 20:46.640 --> 20:47.640 What? 20:47.640 --> 20:48.640 Still got some business to attend to, Jade. 20:48.640 --> 20:49.640 Murphy, you showed up just in time. 20:49.640 --> 20:50.640 Where's Karen? 20:50.640 --> 20:52.640 Full of faint just as we got to the hospital. 20:52.640 --> 20:53.640 They got her lying down in one of the other rooms. 20:53.640 --> 20:56.640 Listen, Jade, you can't hang this on me. 20:56.640 --> 20:58.640 You fried your own soul when you ran out on Murphy. 20:58.640 --> 20:59.640 That'll take a lot of fixing. 20:59.640 --> 21:00.640 Are you sure you're here, Walker? 21:00.640 --> 21:02.640 I may have to get a new political reporter. 21:02.640 --> 21:04.640 After that skipperoo in front of the witnesses, 21:04.640 --> 21:06.640 you're going to need a lot of new things, 21:06.640 --> 21:08.640 including a good lawyer. 21:08.640 --> 21:09.640 Murphy, get Karen in here. 21:09.640 --> 21:10.640 There are some things I want her to know. 21:10.640 --> 21:13.640 Okay, Walker, you know where she is. 21:13.640 --> 21:17.640 Murphy, I think we have everything just about cleared up. 21:17.640 --> 21:19.640 Lawson seems to think the shooting was one of those 21:19.640 --> 21:22.640 unavoidable things that politicians face. 21:22.640 --> 21:25.640 It might be silly to prefer charges. 21:25.640 --> 21:26.640 Hmm, Lawson? 21:26.640 --> 21:28.640 I didn't say that, Jade. 21:28.640 --> 21:29.640 What's that? 21:29.640 --> 21:30.640 What have you got up your sleeve, Mr. Lawson? 21:30.640 --> 21:31.640 Here she is. 21:31.640 --> 21:32.640 Oh, Bob. 21:32.640 --> 21:33.640 Skip it, Karen. 21:33.640 --> 21:34.640 What's the matter, Bob? 21:34.640 --> 21:35.640 Another thing, Karen. 21:35.640 --> 21:39.640 Nothing that your friend, Jade, can't explain. 21:39.640 --> 21:40.640 What do you mean? 21:40.640 --> 21:42.640 Jade has just admitted the whole story. 21:42.640 --> 21:43.640 What? 21:43.640 --> 21:44.640 You mean he told you about giving me... 21:44.640 --> 21:46.640 Now you look here, Lawson, you can't prove a thing. 21:46.640 --> 21:48.640 Hey, somebody around here better start letting me in on this. 21:48.640 --> 21:49.640 What are you talking about, Mr. Lawson? 21:49.640 --> 21:51.640 I might have told most of this on the radio tonight, 21:51.640 --> 21:54.640 but the real clincher was the admission that Jade just made to me 21:54.640 --> 21:55.640 before you came in. 21:55.640 --> 21:56.640 Lawson, one more word from you. 21:56.640 --> 21:57.640 Sit down, Jade. 21:57.640 --> 21:59.640 Don't forget, I got you covered. 21:59.640 --> 22:01.640 Jade has been trying to get me to withdraw from the election 22:01.640 --> 22:02.640 for a long time. 22:02.640 --> 22:06.640 But I didn't get really suspicious until the other day when Karen came in 22:06.640 --> 22:08.640 with a statement she wanted me to sign, 22:08.640 --> 22:10.640 an agreement to get out of the campaign. 22:10.640 --> 22:13.640 You mean she didn't want to be engaged to a future governor? 22:13.640 --> 22:17.640 She told me a wild story about the pressure Jade was putting on her father's newspaper. 22:17.640 --> 22:20.640 I might have believed her if I hadn't noticed that the statement had been drawn up 22:20.640 --> 22:22.640 by Smith and Reynolds. 22:22.640 --> 22:23.640 The law firm for the... 22:23.640 --> 22:28.640 That's right, the dummy law firm set up for Jade and used by nobody but Jade. 22:28.640 --> 22:29.640 Then I began checking. 22:29.640 --> 22:31.640 You mean you found out about what was happening 22:31.640 --> 22:32.640 while you were overseas? 22:32.640 --> 22:36.640 Well, I did find out that Karen had seen a lot of Jade while I was in service. 22:36.640 --> 22:39.640 The important thing I found was a cancelled check 22:39.640 --> 22:42.640 signed by Jade and made out to Karen. 22:42.640 --> 22:45.640 A check for $50,000. 22:45.640 --> 22:47.640 The rest was a matter of talking to Jade 22:47.640 --> 22:50.640 and he all but admitted tonight that he had paid Karen 22:50.640 --> 22:51.640 to keep me out of the race for governor. 22:51.640 --> 22:53.640 I should have known you'd find out. 22:53.640 --> 22:54.640 But Jade kept after me. 22:54.640 --> 22:56.640 The shooting was the girl's idea, I swear it. 22:56.640 --> 22:58.640 Maybe so, but it wasn't exclusive. 22:58.640 --> 22:59.640 What do you mean, Walker? 22:59.640 --> 23:02.640 Jade had a gunman planted in the balcony right next to the fire exit, 23:02.640 --> 23:04.640 but the girl beat him to it. 23:04.640 --> 23:05.640 Jade made me do it. 23:05.640 --> 23:08.640 He told me I could make it look as if Walker had fired the shot. 23:08.640 --> 23:09.640 What do you mean? 23:09.640 --> 23:11.640 The girl's gun was found in Walker's coat pocket. 23:11.640 --> 23:14.640 Jade invented that story I told you about the gun. 23:14.640 --> 23:16.640 He gave me the second revolver, 23:16.640 --> 23:19.640 told me to hide my own in Walker's pocket. 23:19.640 --> 23:20.640 Jade wanted to get rid of Walker. 23:20.640 --> 23:22.640 I told you it was a frame up. 23:22.640 --> 23:23.640 Jade's been giving me the heat because... 23:23.640 --> 23:25.640 Because of me, Walker? 23:25.640 --> 23:27.640 He figured I was getting soft that I knew too much. 23:27.640 --> 23:30.640 You're fired, Walker. You'll never work on another paper as long as I... 23:30.640 --> 23:32.640 As long as you what? 23:32.640 --> 23:35.640 Well, Miss Lindsay, looks like you picked the wrong man 23:35.640 --> 23:36.640 when you teamed up with Jade. 23:36.640 --> 23:38.640 Come along, both of you. 23:38.640 --> 23:40.640 I'm sorry about this, Lawson. 23:40.640 --> 23:42.640 Don't worry about it. I've learned my lesson. 23:42.640 --> 23:59.640 Next time I hire a haul, I'll know enough to look out for murder.