Two Men in Manhattan (Deux hommes dans Manhattan)

Two Men in Manhattan

It was 3:32 PM on December 23rd...

...when the old 1912 gaslight...

...forgotten by urban planners...

...lit up for the kids on 43rd Street.

An Irish boy, an Italian, a Jew...

The trio neatly symbolized the great glass building on First Avenue...

...known as the United Nations.

There was nothing special...

...about the General Assembly's agenda that day...

...simply a vote in favor of a state seeking membership in the organization.

That's all. And yet...

An empty seat indicated the absence...

...of the leader of a national delegation.

An unimportant fact duly reported by press agencies...

...the world over.

Meanwhile, the new member broadcast his state's gratitude...

...to the world.

In a speech recorded for posterity...

...on wax in lieu of marble.

Soon, news of the absent delegate reached the French Press Agency...

...in New York's Rockefeller Plaza.

NY AFP, how may I direct your call?

Get me the Waldorf.

The absence of the French delegate has been widely noted.

No explanation was offered by the press office.

Was there a reason for the delegate's absence?

No, I've heard nothing, I was just asking.

Yes, I'm much obliged.

Sorry to have troubled you.

Do you understand?

If there's something new I'll call you, even at night.

Have a second?

I know it's quitting time...

...but our UN delegate has disappeared.

A missing person?

He wasn't at the session today.

Try to find him.

You're a night owl who knows Manhattan.

You spy on me? That's nice.

McKimmie may know where Fevre-Berthier is at.

Delmas is more likely.

The dreadful Delmas?

You have sleazy friends.

I choose my own informants.

That alcoholic photographer revolts me.

Suppose he finds Fevre-Berthier?

Give him a bottle of Bourbon.

He only drinks Scotch.

I'll call as soon as I hear anything.

What brings the great journalist here?

Our delegate has disappeared.

Disappeared? Let's not be overly dramatic!

Was there a reason?

Who knows?

Maybe he was avoiding having to explain a vote against.

Then, considering the voting by the Western bloc...

...the Eastern bloc or the Afro-Asian bloc...

...it may have been politic not to attend.

So it's routine?

No, Fevre-Berthier's family has been wondering since midday...

...which proves his absence wasn't premeditated.

What's the general view?

No one knows except the family...

and you.

What sort of man is he?

The classy type.

That pre-war vintage.

Brilliant.

...when statesmen forgot they were politicians.

Pining for 1925?

Who wouldn't regret the "Roaring Twenties"?

It's only when such men are gone that wars break out.

Where could I find him?

Try his secretary in Greenwich Village.

Sorry to bother you. I'm with the French Press Agency.

Were there political reasons for Fevre-Berthier's absence today?

What political reasons?

An abstention perhaps.

The UN has its own information services.

I know: McKimmie sent me.

He said you might be able to help.

I don't see how.

He doesn't confide in me.

Could there be a diplomatic reason?

It's curious the way Frenchmen forget their own adage...

What's that?

Americans use it all the time...

Cherchez la femme

He'd skip out on the UN just to chase women?

Not hitherto, but today maybe.

Who is she?

I don't care.

You mean you don't care... any more?

The insoluble problem of male-female relations is not in my line.

Good evening.

Hi, pal.

Sorry, I'm a bit out of focus.

I need you to stick your head under a tap.

Here you go.

Good morning.

Good evening.

Talking of morals, like your landlady...

Who is Fevre-Berthier's mistress?

Excuse me...

Take your pick.

Which would you say?

I'm not invited. I just take pictures.

We'll see all three.

To get their autographs?

You guessed it.

Why take that?

I hate to feel alone.

Without a glass or a camera in hand, there's just me.

I know what you mean.

But tonight: No camera, no reporting.

She's like me... hates to feel alone.

Who is she?

Judith Nelson, an actress with the Mercury Theater.

We'll start there.

What's this?

One of my spare wheels.

In short...

I can park here.

American women are very direct.

She must be of English descent... from the Trafalgar Nelson.

- Did you pass her well mister? - Reasonably.

Who's next?

Virginia Graham.

She's recording tonight at Capitol.

We'll go and see her at Capitol.

I didn't tell you: Fevre-Berthier has disappeared.

Keep it quiet. They think he's with his mistress.

Who?

That's why I got you out of bed.

What's all this about Fevre-Berthier disappearing?

That's what I must find out.

Such things can blow up into diplomatic incidents.

Maybe there's money in it.

For both, clearly.

He's a womanizer?

For the moment.

I know a girl who specializes in diplomats.

Should we visit her?

I doubt she knows anything.

Who knows? Perhaps she can give us a lead.

We'll have to call first.

Forms of prostitution are a measure of civilization.

Who said that?

Delma.

Who is this charmer?

Burlesque dancer.

Where?

In "darkest Brooklyn."

Cheap bags.

Poor girls.

I can see you banging a Salvation Army drum.

And you'd rush in to pass the hat.

Delmas... Five years from now.

It takes a yogi 40 years to reach that state...

...and a monk years of prayer.

He and I?

We can reach beatitude in a few hours.

Stay here and keep watch.

She was Fevre-Berthier's mistress.

Era?

He's dead.

Dead! How? Where?

She won't say.

Don't let anyone in.

Careful. She's very weak.

Quick, I have the keys to her apartment.

Careful. No accidents now.

Did you notice which floor?

The eighth.

Oh, shit!

No news, sir...

Hold on.

The boss is on the other line. He wants to see you.

Give me your number.

I found Fevre-Berthier...

...and the reason for his absence.

But he's not talking...

...about anything.

It'd like to tell you and the boss in person.

It's serious.

No, nothing political.

Stay there, I'll call you back.

Are you crazy? You can't do that.

Be quiet.

Hello, Moreau? No, no details.

You found him?