Vicki

- Here they come. - What happened?

- Somebody get killed? - Model on the fourth floor.

- Oh! I didn't— - Who did it?

I hope the weather holds out.

Ed Cornell. Single room. I made a reservation.

Oh, yes. Of course. Will you register, please, Mr. Cornell?

Can't offer you much excitement around here, Mr. Cornell.

- Not this time of the year. - I'm not lookin' for much excitement.

I just wanna sleep— for a week.

Well, it's very, very quiet here.

Boy! Boy.

321.

I wanna talk to New York.

- Headquarters. - Go ahead, 14.

Homicide. Go ahead.

Homicide.

- It's for you, sir. - Who is it?

Cornell.

Ed, you're on vacation. I don't wanna see you around here for another week.

Chief, I'm comin' back. I want that Lynn case.

Oh, now, Ed, look. You're knocked out. You're overworked. S-Stay away.

You know my record. Y-You know how many convictions I brought into that department.

I've never let you down. I've never been wrong.

- You know I was never wrong. - Yeah. Yeah, I know.

I worked in this department for 15 years. I never let you down.

Ed, yes, I know your record as well as you do.

It-It's great, but you're not the only man in the department.

Have you read the papers?

- See what they say about the department? - Sure. The papers are after us.

- Doesn't look fine on the records. - I can read too, you know.

- I'm comin' back, and you can't talk me out of it. - Ed—

- Are we gonna— - It's my case!

- Ed, will— - It's my case!

- All right. If you wanna kill— - You can't talk me out of it.

- It's my case. - I said, if you wanna kill yourself, okay.

- It's my case! - It's your case.

I don't know why you're such an eager beaver about this, Cornell.

Pretty girl.

I don't like to see a pretty girl get knocked off.

Didn't think you ever looked at one.

- Suspects? - Yeah.

The boys are talking to a couple of them now downstairs.

- Who's that? - Her sister, fill Lynn.

That's Robin Ray, the actor. He took her out a few times.

There's a newspaper guy, Larry Evans. He used to plug her in his column.

That's Steve Christopher, publicity man. He gave her the big buildup.

This one—

This one's my baby.

- I didn't do it. - You're a liar.

Why'd you do it?

I didn't kill Vicki.

- Why did you do it? - He just asked me that.

- And we'll keep on asking. -

We know you did it. We wanna know why.

- - Hello, Lieutenant.

- Anything? - Nothing yet.

Might be different now that you're here, sir.

- Hello, Mac. - Hi.

All right.

- There was another guy, wasn't there? - You were jealous.

- No. - She told you about him. - You got sore.

- Then you grabbed her, hit her, killed her! - No, no. No, no!

- Sit down. - All right. Hold it there. Give 'im a cigarette.

- - Pretty boy.

That's better. Now let's hear the whole story.

- I told it all once. - Tell it again. Tell it to me.

- You wanna answer up, fella. - How'd you meet Vicki Lynn?

Go ahead, Christopher. Tell him.

Well, I'd—

Well, I'd—

I'd come from the opening night of a show...

with Larry Evans, the columnist.

We were— We were just walking. Going nowhere.

Why do they call it a comedy? His wife hates him, loses his money. The kid steals.

- Brutal. - Just brutal.

- I hope Robin isn't waiting up for the notices. - Robin oughta get back...

to those gypsy baron parts.

- As alight comedian, this man's nowhere. - I'll tell ya one thing.

Good notices or bad, this thing's gonna run.

- Are you kidding? - This thing's gonna run. You know why?

Robin's still a big draw in this town.

He's got what impresses them: a name, publicity.

Knockin' your own trade, aren't ya?

Maybe, but the point is, I sold him to the public...

and they'll go and see him.

- They like to see famous people. - Whereas, me...

sometimes I like to look at a completely new person,

- Nice. Coffee? - Nice. Coffee.

Robin Ray's been sold to the public like any successful product.

- Like a brand of coffee. - Well, who's to blame for that?

Well, the point is, it can be done.

You can sell 'em anything if you go about it right.

Then why waste time onacornball like Robin Ray?

Well, that's simple. He pays me.

- My job is to— - Cream and sugar?

No, thanks. Just black. We're in mourning.

- Saw a show, huh? - In.amanner of speaking.

You're lucky. Working nights, you never get to see anything.

Probably a frustrated actress. Are you a frustrated actress?

Nope. No talent. No ambition.

No ambition, huh? You could do better than this.

- You're pretty. - She's prettier than Robin Ray.

What's wrong with this? It's my first job in New York.

They treat me all right. I get Saturdays and Sundays off.

And tired feet. Haven't you thought about making a stab at something else?

- This lad could help you. - Your coffee's getting cold.

- - Look, uh...

I'm gonna give you my address here.

Uh, this is my office.

And, if you're interested, I wish you'd stop around sometime.

My card.

“Steve Christopher, public relations.”

- Public? - Strictly.

Well, thank you. I'll put it in my file.

He means it. It's just his way of saying...

that you don't belong in a place like this.

Sure. How many guys come in and tell you that?

You're the very first... tonight.

I never expected to see her again ...

but the next day she turned up at the office...

and she was wrong about no ambition.

She was loaded with it—

Right from the beginning.

That night, I took her to the Club Capri to show her off to café society.

- - She did afl right.

Jn fact, she was the toast of the table.

- Well, Edwina, Steve. - Hi, darling.

There's someone here you simply must meet— Vicki Lynn.

- Hi, Vicki. We've met. - Hi.

'd gone on the line for some fancy clothes for her.

Well it didn't hurt to have Larry Evans show up...

and make like he and Vicki were old friends.

Still, I had to admit that Vicki had what it takes.

- Tell us all the gossip. - Why, you can read it tomorrow in my column, Edwina.

I know. He's afraid to repeat it in mixed company.

You're doing great.

You sure? Every once in a while, I have an impulse...

to get up and clear the table.

- Fight it. -

- Oh, Robin Ray. - Mr. Ray, hello.

- How do you do? Hello, Steve. - Hello, Robin.

- Oh, hello, darling. - Hello, my dear.

Well, Robin, obviously you're here for one reason. Miss Lynn, may I present...

Robin Ray, star of stage, screen and toothpaste endorsements.

- Hello. - How do you do?

He looks even younger in person.

You know, Steve, I could grow very fond of this girl.

- While you're growing, how about standing still for a picture? - Wonderful.

I don't know if I was jealous of Robin.

Maybe I was already thinking of Vicki as my property.

Anyway, I didn't like his moving in like that.

So, I took care of the situation by moving Vicki out.

- - fasked her to dance. Robin wasn't happy...

but at that moment I wasn't concerned about Robin.

1 had plans for Vicki...

things I wanted to discuss with her.

I didn't want Robin panting down our necks while we talked.

- You'd better be thinking of taking me home. - Hello.

- It's almost midnight. - Hi.

Say, midnight's never been a reason to go home.

Remember Cinderella?

This is all wonderful, but the ball's almost over...

and tomorrow I'll be back clearing those tables.

You're wrong, Vicki. The ball is just beginning.

Your picture in the paper with Robin, plugs in Larry's column—

You're on your way.

And with me promoting you, well, you can be the town's top model...

to start with, and from there—

Well, we'll see when you get there.

- Then last night wasn't just— - A gag?

Maybe it was... then. But promotion's my business, Vicki...

and I know you can make it.

Oh, it'll be hard work, but it's yours—

If you want it.

- Ff -

Of course I want it, Steve.

You said last night you had no ambition.

- Ff - Last night, I didn't have you.

Then it's a deal? Let's drink to it.

Oh.

- Nothing for me. - A brandy, please.

Now, then, I want you to repeat after me.

- I, Vicki Lynn... - I, Vicki Lynn...

- do solemnly swear... - do solemnly swear...

to wear the clothes, say the things, go to the places...

and be the girl that Steve Christopher orders.

End of oath.

That Steve Christopher orders. End of oath.

She was so nervous, she started to get up when Robin came along.

- Oh, Steve. - No, no, no.

The price tag coming out of the glove. That was the great touch.

Oh, stop teasing her. She was wonderful.

- Thanks. - Of course she was.

Harry, can I have my key?

- It's right there. - Give the lady her key, Harry.

Thanks.

Well, Vick, brace yourself and get ready.

Tomorrow we launch the promotional campaign of the century.

Get used to seeing your name in the paper.

I'll make it a habit in the column.