Affair in Trinidad

Between North and South America

lie the islands of the Caribbean,

colorful and exotic.

Once remote and little known,

history is forcing them out of obscurity

into the current of world events.

Important among these islands is the British colony Trinidad.

I'm looking for Inspector Smythe.

- He's down there, sir. - Thank you.

Inspector Smythe?

- Smythe here. - Good evening, Inspector.

I'm Anderson, from the American Consulate.

Oh, yes, Mr Anderson. You're a new arrival here.

- Welcome to Trinidad. - Thank you.

I've been meaning to call on you, but I've been so busy getting settled.

Yes, of course. I thought your Consulate would want to be informed.

The young man's an American.

Neal Emery. Artist chap.

Accident?

No. Suicide, apparently. Shot himself.

Good heavens.

Now, let's have your light, will you?

- When did it happen? - We're not sure yet.

Those two fishermen found him adrift in his boat a few hours ago.

All right, boys, you can go now. Thank you very much.

Is there anything I can do?

Well, we've got to break the news to his wife.

She's also an American.

You can carry on. I'll join you at headquarters.

Get the medical report through as quickly as possible.

- Yes, sir. - Well, shall we go now?

Yes, of course.

Poor girl. It seems awful to have to wake her up

in the middle of the night to tell her this.

Don't let it disturb you, Mr Anderson.

This hour of the night, the poor girl is usually wide awake.

- To the Caribbee. - The Caribbee?

You mean she'd go to a place like that?

She works there.

Ah, Inspector. Once again you honor the Caribbee with your presence.

An unavoidable coincidence, I assure you.

- We came to see Mrs Emery. - Of course. Everybody does.

You're just in time. I give you a good table.

We're not here to be entertained.

We want to talk to her.

Alone.

Why would a man kill himself when he had...

Good evening.

- I... - I know all about it.

You're lonely, it's wonderful to meet an American girl,

and couldn't I have a drink with you after the Show?

Well, the answer's no. If you're lonely, go home to your wife.

This American girl has to make a change.

- Oh, but you don't understand. - Oh, but I do. Outsi...

Hello.

Mr Anderson of the American Consulate.

- Am I being deported or something? - No.

We'd just like to have a chat with you.

Well, I don't exactly have time for an international conference,

so make it brief.

When did you last see your husband?

This morning at breakfast. Why?

Did you talk to him?

Sure.

I asked him to pass me the salt.

Hmm. Did he tell you where he was going today?

- I didn't know he was going anyplace. - Well, he did.

And it's rather important that we know where.

I'll think about it. Drop by tomorrow.

I suggest you think about it now.

- Because if you're trying to protect him... - Protect him from What?

Well, whatever it is, there's no longer any point.

He's dead.

How?

Suicide.

No.

I'm terribly sorry, Mrs Emery.

- I'm afraid, if you don't mind, I... -(THUDDING NOISE)

Did you hear everything quite clearly, Mr Wittol?

Er... believe me, Inspector, I was only trying to help.

I said to myself, "Chris is in trouble.

"Maybe I can do something."

Yes, we all know what a great heart you have.

I'll have to ask you to come down to headquarters,

to answer a few questions and make identification.

We'll wait outside.

- Yes, sir? - Get me the medical examiner, please.

Hello?

- Hello, Doc? - Yes.

- This is Smythe here. - Yes?

Have you got anything for me on the Emery case?

- I haven't had time yet. - Oh.

Well, get to it as quickly as possible, please.

- Has the identification been made? - Yes. His wife's in there now.

- As soon as she leaves... -(DOOR OPENING)

- Shall I wait? - I'll call you back.

Yes, thanks.

Sit down, won't you?

Cigarette?

Thank you.

That's not an easy ordeal for anyone.

Funny, isn't it?

When a person dies, you only remember the good things.

Mrs Emery,

do you know of any reason

why your husband should have killed himself?

He'd been very unhappy for a long time.

Was there any trouble between you?

There was nothing between us. We...

lived in the same house for the past year, but...

but that's all.

Did he have any particular setback lately?

No.

No. Lately he acted as if things were going better for him.

Oh? What things?

He didn't tell me.

There were lots of things he didn't tell me.

Could they have been something to do with Mr Fabian?

Max Fabian?

Yes. I believe he and your husband were closely associated.

But Mr Fabian's a wealthy man.

What business could he have with Neal?

He was a friend of his, that's all.

Your husband bought you a rather expensive gift

about a month ago. How could he afford it,

doing sketches for a dollar each at the Caribbee?

He couldn't. I made him take it back.

Nevertheless, he had the money to pay for it.

- Do you know where he got it? - He sold a painting.

To Max Fabian, of course.

- Is that illegal? - No, but it is illogical.

I mean, Mr Fabian paying your husband a thousand dollars for a painting.

He happened to like his work. He's bought paintings from him before.

Doesn't a thousand dollars seem rather high

for the work of an unknown artist?

All right.

If the money was for something else, tell me.

I'd like to know, too.

I was hoping you'd tell me.

After all, you and Mr Fabian are very friendly.

He comes to the cafe frequently to see you.

Lots of people come to see me. That's what I'm paid for.

But you don't sit at the table with them,

nor become quite so intimate.

You are quite intimate with Mr Fabian, aren't you?

I think I've had enough of this. Mind if I go?

- Inspector, I don't think... - Very well.

There'll be an inquest in a couple of days.

That'll be all for now.

By the way,

I wouldn't try to leave the island if I were you.

The planes and the boats will be told to watch for you.

Don't forget the sharks. I might try to swim.

Mrs Emery.

I'll be right back.

Mrs Emery.

Mrs Emery, I'm sure the Inspector didn't mean to imply...

Those were bricks falling, Mr Anderson, not innuendos.

Well, if there's any way the Consulate can help...

No, thank you.

All I wanna do is get out of here fast.

Catch the first boat back home.

Are there any friends or relatives you'd like us to notify?

Well, there's...

No.

I guess not.

They tell me Trinidad makes the rest of the tropics look like Callahan's back yard.

- Yes. It's very beautiful. - Must be.

I have a kid brother who came down here five years ago to paint a tropical moon.

He's still painting it.

Say, maybe you know him. The name's Neal Emery.

- Emery? - Yeah.

He's about my size. He's a sort of a...