Charlie Chan in Castle in the Desert (Castle in the Desert)

Professor Gleason.

Beg pardon, madam. Professor Gleason is here.

Very nice of you to come. I'm Mrs. Manderley.

- I've heard a great deal about you. - Nice things, I hope.

Oh, do you know Brenda and Walter Hartford?

We should know him, Lucy. We invited him.

Of course. Where are my wits today?

You have been a bit odd. Something's on your mind.

I guess it's just that I'm not used to having guests.

Paul, my husband, prefers to bury himself out here in the desert for his work.

Oh, Dr. Retling. Have you met Professor Gleason?

- Very happy to know you. - How do you do?

- Won't you join us, Professor? - Don't mind if I do.

- How about you, Doctor? - Not just now, thank you.

- Brenda? - You can always count on me.

She's never been known to refuse.

Lucy. Who is this stranger?

You know I dislike having people interrupt my work.

- But you invited Brenda and Walter to... - Walter is my lawyer.

- He's here on business. - Relax, Paul.

Professor Gleason is going to tell us about the monkeys in our family trees.

- I didn't know you were a genealogist. - Oh, yes, yes.

Matter of fact, I hope this visit...

will permit me to clear up some points on your family.

Aren't you descended from the famous Borgias?

Two things we never discuss in this house:

my family and Paul's accident.

I don't want to seem insistent...

but weren't you the Princess della Borgia before your marriage?

Yes, but our branch of the family didn't go in for poison.

Lucy, please. We will not discuss it.

We ought to break this up. Manderley's upset.

I think I'll go and dress for dinner. Coming, Lucy?

Yes, it is late.

That was an excellent cocktail, Mrs. Manderley.

Won't you have another one, Professor? Please do.

Thank you. Now I know you have forgiven me.

Why, Professor. There's nothing to forgive.

Dinner at 8:00 sharp.

I'm sorry if I've offended you, Mr. Manderley.

Oh, it's quite all right. It's my fault.

You see, I'm not used to guests.

Mr. Manderley?

- Oh, you've forgotten your cocktail. - Oh, yes. Thank you.

How about a rubber of bridge?

That's an idea. You can count me in.

Do you play...

He must have fainted.

Let's get him up to his room.

Paul! Where are you?

- Mr. Manderley. - Stop that infernal racket.

What do you want?

Oh, there you are.

Dr. Retling would like to see Professor Gleason's cocktail glass...

and I can't find it.

Well, the servants probably swept it up and threw it away.

Why should he want it?

Now, take it easy. Don't get excited.

Gleason's been poisoned.

- Poisoned? But that's impossible. - There's every symptom.

You've gotta prepare yourself for trouble if he doesn't pull through.

What do you mean?

The papers are bound to remember Lucy's maiden name... a descendant of the Borgias.

- You're not suggesting that she... - Of course not.

But you dread scandal, and if the papers dig up her brother...

He didn't poison that girl. The Italian courts acquitted him.

I know. But there were cocktails involved in that case too.

Can't you see what the newspapers will do to that?

Like brother, like sister.

How is he, Doctor?

It was a heart attack?

I'm sorry. Mr. Gleason's death indicates poison.

The autopsy will tell us the truth.

Autopsy? Here?

Doctor, isn't there some way of hushing up this man's dying in my house?

I'm afraid it has to be reported to the police.

Walter, you're my lawyer. Get me out of this.

I don't know. What you ask Dr. Retling to do is highly unethical.

- Quite. - I'll make it worth your while.

I'm sorry, Mr. Manderley.

Wait a minute. Here's a possibility.

Doctor, if you saw the body in a hotel in town...

couldn't you say he died there?

It will save my wife and me a great deal of pain and embarrassment.

We could take Gleason to the hotel at Mojave Wells.

I'll make it worth your risk.

No one knows of his death yet except the three of us.

No one need ever know.

Gee, it's great to be back in San Francisco again.

Boy, I don't think I'll ever walk again.

They must have marched us a million miles.

Why do they have to walk so much in the army?

Excellent training for brains of all young sprouts.

How do you figure that?

Man who walk have both feet on ground.

Yes?

Gee, I thought I'd never get my leave.

One week off for good behavior.

Say, Pop, what's this auto trip you got planned for us?

You know something, Pop?

What I'd like now is the relaxation of a good murder case.

Urgent letter threaten to cancel pleasure trip with number two son.

Who's it from?

Letter signed Mrs. Paul Manderley.

Formerly Princess Lucrezia della Borgia.

Lucrezia Borgia? The poisoner? Oh, but she's dead.

- This lady use typewriter. - What does she want?

"Dear Mr. Chan.

"Your presence is most urgently requested at Manderley Castle for assistance and advice.

My life is in danger."

A case! Oh, boy. What a break for me.

"Do not communicate with me.

"A car will await you each day at noon at Mojave Wells, California.

"This note bearing my crest will identify you to my chauffeur.

Bring no one else."

She's crazy. You can't go there alone.

Say, what is this castle anyway?

Have heard of strange castle in desert owned by scholarly millionaire.

No electricity. No telephone.

No phone? Borgias. Poisoners.

Say, Pop, I don't like the looks of this.

- You'll need me. - No. Letter says bring no one else.

Well, but suppose you have to call for help.

Number two son is nursemaid to flock of pigeons.

Parent will borrow one for emergency S.O.S.

But, Pop, you can't do that.

They belong to the Signal Corps.

I'm supposed to release 'em for test flights on our auto trip.

Will do same.

"United States Army...

carrier pigeon number 13576."

Prefer briefer name.

Ming Toy... "Daughter of Happiness."

But, Pop, that's a boy pigeon.

Ming Toy temporary alias while on case.

If you take it, I'm going with you.

But I'll be court-martialed if I lose him.

Uh, guardhouse excellent guarantee for offspring's whereabouts.

This here's the Mojave Wells Hotel.

Nice place. Best in town.

- Perhaps only one in town. - Yeah. Clean rooms though.

Never needs exterminator man.

- My brother-in-law here runs it. - That's me.

Oh, a chop suey salesman, huh?

Well, don't try and sell me. I hate the stuff.

Uh, interruption, please.

Has motorcar arrived yet from Manderley Castle?

Is that where you're goin'?

You're crazy to go out there.

Offer me a million dollars and I wouldn't go.

Thank you so much, but I'm expecting castle car conveyance at noon.

You'll be sorry.

Oh, no, you don't.

You can't bring bad luck to my hotel.

We don't want nobody that does business with the castle.

She's put a curse on us.

- Who, please? - Mrs. Manderley.

She's a queer number.

At least, her doctor says so.

And her husband goes around town with half a face.

- Won't talk civil to nobody. - Uh, please.

Desire to await castle automobile here...

- in shade of porch. - No.

No. You better get used to the heat.

It's 35 miles to the castle.

You can fry an egg on that highway at noon.

Already have sensation of fried egg.

Hi, Lizzie.

You have enemies, mister.

Man without enemies like dog without fleas.

I see death reaching for you, like an arrow.

Desert without Indians very safe.

Leave the desert. Death waits for you out there.

Go back where you came from... unless you're prepared to die.

Man who fears death die thousand times.

It's your life. But remember, I warned you.

You keep away from here. Don't park in front of my hotel.

One moment, please. Driver of automobile.

- I am expected at castle in desert. - Yes, sir.

Don't try to come here again.

And tell that doctor not to bring you into my hotel to die...

like he did that fellow last week.

Just a minute.

- Is this the car for Manderley Castle? - Yes, sir.

If you're going there, you can get off my porch.

The crest of the Borgias... I was told it would get me transportation to the castle.

Very well, sir.

Most grateful for companionship on long desert journey.

You're the new cook or houseboy?

Lieutenant Chan, Honolulu Police, imitating weekend guest.

- Is that so? - Yeah. Your name is, uh...

Watson King.

I specialize in minding my own business.

Very lonesome pastime.

Know who that second man was?

Checked in last night. I never saw him before.

He'll die a violent death, he will.

And his murderer shall go unpunished.

- Ming Toy merely traveling companion. - So I see.

You're responsible for the creature's behavior.