The Canary Murder Case

Tell me, Vance, what happened backstage?

Were you able to see the Canary?

No luck, Charles.

She's about as hard to get at in her dressing room

as she is in that swing.

If you want an idea of what I ran into back there,

let me point out a few of her admirers.

You see the man standing in the box opposite?

Yeah.

That's Dr. Lindquist.

Oh.

He was outside her dressing room just now,

along with these other two.

I understand that the Canary

has her claws in all three of them.

Are they rich?

Mm, naturally.

Then what does she want with my son?

The allowance I give Jimmy is hardly tempting.

Ah, my dear Charles,

our little feathered friend in the swing there

has social ambitions.

She wants to be Mrs. Jimmy Spottswoode.

No, impossible.

I'd do anything in my power to prevent that,

even if Jimmy still cared for her.

And I still believe that she'll listen to dollars and cents.

Hm, I wouldn't be too sure of that, Charles.

As you know, I've more or less made a hobby of crime

and the criminal.

That girl is no ordinary blackmailer.

I'm firmly convinced

that she'll stop at nothing to marry Jimmy.

But Jimmy won't have her.

I tell you, he's really come to his senses.

Another girl?

Yes.

Well, you know her: Alice.

Oh, yes, of course.

A very nice girl, too.

Yes, she is.

Vance, I'm afraid I'll have to use my own judgment

in this matter.

I'm going to see this Canary at her apartment

as soon as possible.

Very well, Charles.

But act quickly.

Oh, I know you'll smile,

but, you know, I have a strange premonition

that the Canary is headed for disaster.

Evening, Mr. Spottswoode.

Hello, there.

Shall I announce you to Miss O'Dell?

No, don't bother, that's perfectly all right.

Very well.

Jimmy!

Alice!

Jimmy, you were going to see the Canary again.

No, I wasn't, dear.

In fact, I just started to put this note under her door

to tell her so.

Oh, Jimmy, I'm afraid of her.

Oh, she's clever and cruel and unscrupulous.

She'll hurt us again, I know she will.

No, dear, she can't hurt us now.

I say, boy, will you announce my...

Uh, never mind.

Yes, sir.

Hello, Jimmy.

Why, hello, Dad.

Good evening, Alice.

Good evening, Mr. Spottswoode.

You know, I'm delighted that you

and Jimmy have made it up again.

Thank you.

You know, I'm going to try to show you

that all showgirls aren't like, well-

Like, the Canary, eh?

Yes.

Yes, I want to talk to her.

Do you suppose she's home yet?

I suppose so.

You know, Dad, you're-you're a regular guy

for helping me out of this thing.

You know, if...

if the Canary ever came between Alice and me again,

I don't know what I'd do.

I don't know what I'd do.

It's all right, Jimmy.

I'll do everything I can.

Shall I go along with you?

No, I can handle this better alone.

I'll send in my name now.

Mr.- Mr. Spottswoode calling.

Send him in, please.

Good evening, Miss O'Dell.

Good evening.

Shall we go over here?

Why, yes.

Will you sit down?

Thank you.

Well, I don't think we need waste any time, Miss O'Dell.

You know why I'm here.

How much?

Nothing doing, Mr. Spottswoode.

I've decided to marry Jimmy.

I'm afraid that marriage

is quite out of the question, Miss O'Dell.

Oh, you're sure about that, are you?

I'm positive.

Well, how would you like me to tell the world

about Jimmy's embezzling from your bank?

What?

You heard me.

You know Jimmy has a weakness for writing letters,

and I have a weakness for using them.

If Jimmy did write you a letter, you'll tear it up,

now, before I leave here.

Sure, go ahead.

Tear it up yourself.

My memory's still perfect.

Oh, yes. Yes, I see.

Yes.

Very well. You win.

Now, what do you really want?

I've told you what I want.

I want to be Mrs. James Spottswoode, and that's that!

Oh, haven't you any heart?

Won't you give him up, Miss O'Dell?

For the sake of his happiness,

for the sake of the girl whom he really loves, give him up.

Now, what do you want me to do?

Burst out cryin'?

Listen, Mr. Spottswoode, I know all about Jimmy and Alice,

and if he marries her,

I'll tell every newspaper in this country

that he's a dirty thief.

Oh, no, you wouldn't dare do that.

That's blackmail.

Sure, it is!

Call it anything you like!

But get this into your head

that that's what I'm going to do!

Well, that remains to be seen.

Goodnight.

Mr. Cleaver, please.

This is Mr. Cleaver speaking.

Not the Mr. Cleaver, the great reformer?

Yes.

Well, this is your favorite weakness.

Margaret!

Don't get nervous, baby.

I've got some news for you.

Good news?

Yes, darling.

I'm going to marry young Spottswoode.

Well, well, well.

May I send you my heartiest congratulations?

You bet you can.

But send them from Tiffany's.

What's that?

You heard me.

And send me one of those fancy autographs of yours

on a nice fat check.

I'm very sorry but I'm afraid I shall have to refuse.

Oh, be yourself.

Big reformers who lead double lives can't refuse.

Now, look here, I'll see you dead first!

Listen,

you be here after the theater with the dough and like it.

The little rat! (Phone handset slams)

May I speak to Mr. Louis Mannix, please?

Quiet, quiet. My wife.

Don't get excited.

I just thought you'd like to know

I've sold the body down the river.

I'm gonna marry young Spottswoode.

Splendid.

Yes, darling.

And I've decided that you're the best man.

Best man?

Yeah, the best man I know of to kick in

with a nice, handsome present in cash.

Now, see here, you know I can't afford-

What you mean is, you can't afford to let the ball

and chain know what a bighearted Santy Clause you've been.

Now, look here. I've told you what I'd do to you

if you ever got to the wife.

Forget that bunk,

and be on my front porch after the show with that jack,

or I'll get to your wife, all right.

It's Dr. Lindquist speaking.

Oh, yes, Dr. Lindquist.

How would you like to do me a little favor?

Why, certainly, Margaret.

I'd do anything for you, you know.

How'd you like to go jump in the lake?