Boston Blackie - The Fred Arlen Murder

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Can you give me my card, Jim?

Oh, like it.

Back to some.

Sure.

Hey, Tom.

Good luck with these times.

And Tom, go ahead, Jim.

You can get back, Frankie.

And on a double time.

How much do I owe you?

You can get back to your seat.

I'll figure the time.

Oh, sure.

What you know what you're about, Frankie?

In a hurry, that's all.

Here's the check.

Okay.

Got a stamp of time up for.

I can figure out what you owe me.

There we are.

How much do I owe you?

I owe you 45, and I owe you 8.

Well, that's the city stamp.

You can get the check.

Oh, I see you.

Oh, sorry.

I didn't mean to drop it.

Hey, Blackie, you've done nothing.

It's nothing.

Nothing.

Hey, what's going on here, please?

My please?

Yeah, that's the red stuff down there by the street.

Oh.

I like it.

It looks like glass.

What are you doing?

Blackie is none of your business.

And now we return to Richard Conner of Boston, Blackie.

Enemy to those who make him an enemy.

Friends to those who have no friends.

Oh.

Just a minute, please.

Yes.

You're Boston glasses, aren't you?

Yes, but I'm in a hurry, aren't you?

Which squad operator said you'd be bad?

I've been waiting for you for two hours.

Two hours?

Sorry.

I'd have waited two days if necessary.

Hey, don't I know you?

Oh, you might.

I'm tellin' you.

Oh, yes.

You used to be pretty friendly with a fellow named Fred Olin.

Yeah.

That's why I'm here.

Said that our day of yesterday.

I just wanted to warn you.

About what?

A Fred.

He's going to kill you, Blackie.

You mean he's going to try?

You were the one that sent him to jail.

You know what he promised to do when he got out.

They all promised that.

Yes.

Fred is different from the others.

I ought to know I was in jail for three years.

I don't know why you go to the trouble of warning me about Fred.

You went to prison with no love for you.

Or for his brother, John.

Or for Bill Andrews, either.

The girl that faced on his list.

I'll take care of myself, don't worry.

Look.

Fred's getting the town today.

I don't know how soon they'll be trouble.

Would you take my new name and a dress?

Just in case.

New name?

Because I moved to a apartment 928 Davis Lane under the name of Leslie Barnes.

Today I heard Fred is getting out of jail.

No one knows my new address or my new name.

Well, I know it now.

But nobody else.

But let's stop fooling.

What do you really want to talk to me about?

That's what I tell you.

Say out of Fred's way.

I'll kill you.

And I don't want him to kill you.

And I don't want you to kill him.

No.

What do you want?

Nothing but the pleasure of killing Fred all in myself.

All right, all right.

When I get inside.

All right, I said.

I don't have the rings when I'm coming in or going out or taking a shower.

Okay, don't overdo it.

Hello?

Maggie, this is Friday.

So, Inspector, I won't tell anybody.

I'm trying to reach you for the last hour.

Well, that's swell.

If it's your last hour.

I don't want any of my strikes, Maggie.

I mean, we'll made it up to in the Midland Hotel.

Oh.

And you're Lonesome?

No, I'm not Lonesome.

I've got a corpse that keeps me company.

I bet it outsmart you.

Who's that, Inspector?

An old pal here, it's Maggie.

A guy who was four to kill you as soon as he got back from the vacation in the big house.

Fred all in?

That's not Maggie.

He's been dead just a little while.

And I have a hunt you killed him.

Your hunt shrunk as usual, Faraday.

I didn't murder all in.

Anybody I can murder for you today?

I don't say it was murder, Maggie.

It was probably self-defense.

But everybody in town knows all of them is about to get you.

Were you at the Midland Hotel a little while ago?

Well, when you asked me, that means you don't know.

So why don't you try to find out?

So long, Inspector?

Right, you'll listen.

Yes?

Suzanne.

Suzanne, were you at the lobby football when I was down there talking to that young lady a little while ago?

Well, yes, I didn't hear she's four, does that sound good?

Well, she said she'd been waiting for me for two hours, is that right?

Oh, no, Blackie.

She came in about five minutes before you did.

Yes, sir.

All right, you guys.

Finish with those pictures, and I'll show you if I start a headquarters.

We've got to get that body out of here.

All right, right away.

All right, you.

You're the dead guy's brother, haven't you?

Here's Inspector Faraday.

I'm John Harlem.

Well, it's John and my handkerchief.

Have you ever seen it before?

No, I don't think so.

Do you have any idea who killed your brother?

No, but I'd like to shake his hand.

What do you mean by a crack like that?

Take it out.

Make my life miserable since we were little kids.

I'd like to kill it myself.

You live in this hotel, don't you?

Sure, you know that.

And the room right next to this one.

Kind of convenient, isn't it?

Very.

Sorry, I didn't have a chance to take advantage of it.

I know.

Your brother formed a room service at 8.16, and a lady found him dead at 8.25,

so he's killed between 8.16 and 8.25.

Why are you at that time?

I haven't the slightest idea.

Well, where were you most of the evening?

I'm not sure.

There were a lot of places I guess.

There were more.

Well, I was down in the lobby for 45 minutes for an hour,

but I don't know just when.

What if it was the four or after 8.16?

Who saw you down there? Who'd you talk to?

I don't know.

I bought a paper.

I remember that.

I didn't pay any attention for time.

Okay, I'll check that.

I may need you later.

Don't go too far away.

I can go now.

Yes.

But just make sure you're around if I need you.

I will.

Oh, hello there.

I'm from the globe.

Aren't you John Arlon, the dead man's brother?

Yeah, but I don't want to talk to reporters.

Who killed your brother, Mr. Arlon?

I don't know, but I'm sorry I didn't.

I'll print it.

Print it.

Put it in the headline for all I care.

That's your room right next to the murder room.

That's right.

Put that in the headline too.

Oh, come on, Mr. Arlon.

Give me a...

Yeah?

Operator.

Get me...

In just two, one, five, six, one.

Yes, there.

I know this thing.

Who?

The...

Porter.

Better leave me alone.

Hello?

Are they Andrews?

Yes.

Bill, this is John Arlon.

Oh, yes.

But it's been killed.

Yes, I know.

I want to talk to you.

I'd like to talk to you too.

Your house isn't safe.

A couple will be after you.

You can't come here.

I can meet you in my car.

You can drive a car?

I can't walk, but I have special braces for driving.

I'll meet you at the corner of Okan Bruce Street.

We can talk in my car.

Okay.

I'll watch the police know so far.

They...

They know much better.

Doesn't everybody?

We better play my alibi together.

I'll figure out the corner of Okan Bruce now.

Amazing, Bill.

Where they fix this so you can drive a car.

Even though you can't walk a step.

These legs braces aren't comfortable, John.

But after two years, it's worth anything.

You can get out of that wheelchair once in a while.

No, someday they'll give you braces.

You can walk with.

I'll tell you.

But...

About Fred.

I told the cops I was sorry.

I didn't get to kill him.

When they come to me, I'd like to tell him the same thing.

You might as well.

You have as good a reason as I do.

Maybe better.

But I don't better tell him that.

What, Bill?

I was in a hotel when Fred was killed.

You've got to give me an alibi.

No, that's Fred.

Holy I was in a hotel when it happened to.

Who are you?

I think we'd better frame an alibi for these two of us.

What do you say we frame one for the three of us?

Who are you?

What are you doing back then?

Sitting on the floor is very uncomfortable too.

Who are you? Where'd you come from?

I came from your garage, Andrew.

I was on my way to visit you.

And I saw you wheeling yourself out to your car.

So I said, I'd ride back here.

Who are you?

Bought some blackie, John.

Another one of your brother, Fred's pet peeves.

Remember?

Remember?

You're the guy he promised to kill within 24 hours after he got out of jail.

Yes, but that's one worry I don't have any longer.

They're very illicit, let's just lay us out.

That's why I suggested the moment ago that we frame an alibi for the three of us.

Or perhaps I should have said for these four of us.

Carol Williams is involved in Fred's death too.

In fact, you mentioned both your names to me.

Bill and I were at the hotel when Fred was killed.

When you and Carol were there?

Not together.

I was there, I know.

And I have a hunch she was there too.

She lied about having waited for me in my apartment building for two hours.

Carol hated Fred as much as I did.

He could have killed him.

Why did you hit him, Bill?

I was his business partner in a better day.

When he went crooked, he involved me.

I spent a few years in prison myself.

Ah, that's not going to sound so good in Faraday, is it?

Oh, I did kill him on general principles.

But I didn't have any better reason than the rest of it.

No better reason, only a better alibi.

You can't walk.

I look only one of us killed him.

Do you want to take Fred's time?

I've got trouble enough. What about you?

I was in the hotel earlier tonight.

Is that answer your question?

Look, we're not getting anywhere accusing each other.

I say we'd better get hold of Carol.

Get our story straight.

We're all suspect.

Yes?

For instance, we're in a jam, Andrews.

And I think we'd better get our buys that will go.

Tell me, tell me, tell me.

Good morning, Becky.

Oh, hi, Jim.

What did I do to leave something in my car last night?

No, I want to talk to you, Becky.

I'm sure it's a man.

Yes.

What's the trouble?

I'm not trouble.

Well, you wanted to talk to me. What about it?

Remember when you took your car out of my garage last night?

There was something on your sleeve.

So?

So I read in the papers today.

I've said I went and was fined fast to death in his room

with the Midland Hotel.

That was weather on your sleeve last night, Becky.

And when it got get shot, it's a breeze.

So?

So you could have killed Fred Allen.

I could tell a police about what I saw on your sleeve last night.

Yes?

Yes.

Let's go.

I could get all about it.

I'll take 50 bucks out of town.

It's 50 bucks.

But the way it goes to the cops...

It...

Now, it looks like it...

In a way.

Now, look. Don't get sore.

Now, it looks not like it.

I didn't mean anything.

Now, I said, didn't...

It's like...

Like, what are you going to do?

Like, what are you going to do?

What can I do, Jim?

Except pay you the $50.

And now, back to Boston Blackies.

Four people could have murdered Fred Allen.

Four people had a good reason to wish him dead.

These saying four people might have been in the hotel of the time

that Allen was killed.

And one of these four people is...

Boston Blackies.

As we return to our stories...

Blackies are the office of the police department.

Well, Blackies.

Mrs. Wonson, I don't have to waste my time chasing you around town.

What are you going to waste your time doing, Inspector?

Well, don't get me sore.

I know you didn't kill Fred Allen,

but you're not clear of this completely.

A girl by the name of Carol Williams came to see you last night, didn't she?

Sure, so what?

Well, it's just as I thought.

She shot Allen and came to see you right after.

Well, you think I don't know what I'm talking about, huh?

Well, Inspector, I always think that.

Oh, okay, wise guy.

I had my men check on the pistol we found in Fred Allen's room.

It was brought at Rodman's pawn shop.

And it was brought by a girl Rodman identified as Carol Williams.

And I'm holding her.

Where did you see she bought the pistol?

At Rodman's pawn shop.

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What does it matter?

Well, it matters a lot.

I don't like cops.

The industry is my business.

And I don't like cops' questions.

They can be really stupid.

Will it help if I tell you why I'm bought and blacky?

Will it help?

It looks blacky.

What do you want to serve you?

I don't want you to do it.

Just a little information.

Did you identify the girls who bought the gun that killed Fedolum?

Well, I hate who blacky, but...

Well...

Yes, I did.

But there's something I didn't tell the police.

Ah.

Right after this video, I left my shop.

The fellow walked in and asked me what she bought.

So I told him she had bought a pistol.

He walked in here?

Yeah, of course he walked in.

That's a natural way for Amanda coming here, isn't it?

Yes, right.

And it makes the identity of Fedolum killer a natural tool.

What, Andrews?

I'm sorry to bother you.

I know it's tough to get out of bed and into a wheelchair in the middle of the night,

but I think I have Fedolum killer.

It's your known.

Still, I was killed at those grubbers, like him.

Carol bought the murder gun, but a man followed her into the running porn shop.

This man walked into the shop.

That means it wasn't you.

What was you on all right?

Well...

Well, sometime later on, John stole the gun from Carol's apartment,

and then killed his brother with it.

It's that simple.

Well, I...

What is that I slow?

Folks?

Yeah, I think you're right.

So this smokes.

Maybe we'd better investigate.

I can't move this wheelchair.

I'm too fat.

All right, I'll have it.

Sit out, Andrews.

The smokes coming from under the door.

That happens the only exit from this old splice.

Except for the window, and I'm getting out of it.

It's like a wake-up.

Sorry, pal.

There's one thing I can't stand at fire.

I'm getting out of it.

Oh, wait, slowly.

I'm getting out with you.

Okay, Andrews.

Thanks.

Thanks for what?

You're just taking half a dozen very healthy steps.

I thought you couldn't walk.

The fire's like you did.

There isn't any fire that smokes coming from some newspapers.

I said I'm fire before I came in.

So you can walk, Andrews, eh?

All right, I can walk.

So what?

Two years you've been confined to a wheelchair,

supposedly paralyzed from the way it's found.

Did you plan on filling sweat all in the back floor and ago?

I didn't kill Chris.

You guys told that I didn't.

Maybe not, Andrews, but I said me I'm going to try.

Yes?

Telegrams have gone on.

All right, just a minute.

Oh, John, thank you.

Well, I've talked to you, but I can't see it.

Don't pause the door yet.

I said we did.

You're not getting in.

No, I think I am in.

What do you want with me?

Well, I just want to give you some good news.

I know who killed your brother.

It was Bill Ambers.

They're crazy. Bill can't even walk.

I took them into getting out of his wheelchair,

and he not only walked, he ran.

I'm sure he killed your brother.

But I have to have proof.

Will you help me get it?

I can't.

Faraday says your brother was killed between 8.16 and 8.25 last night.

Don't you know what you were doing at that time?

Of course not. I wasn't paying any particular attention at the time.

I had no importance in it.

Come in.

Oh, I didn't know you had company, Ellen.

Hello, Faraday.

Like what are you doing here?

Bringing personal condolences to an old friend of mine.

Are you staying out of this like you?

I'm going to drop you up here again.

More than quick.

No, I just want to tell you.

I checked your story about being in the lobby when your brother was killed.

You were there, all right?

Somebody saw me.

Yeah, 8.17, exactly.

Yes, the best quick about changing your room.

Then you bought a paper.

And you sat down there for a long, good half hour.

And you'd been in the lobby for some time before 8.17, too.

Pretty good tracking, Inspector.

But how did that prove John didn't tell his brother?

At 8.16, Fred Cole's room service, not for a sandwich.

He was alive then.

At 8.25, the waiter went into his room and found him dead.

So Fred Oliver was killed sometime between 8.16 and 8.25 last night.

Faraday, you're wonderful.

I do all right when you're not around, Frankie.

Then I'm cleared, Inspector.

Oh, I never thought you were guilty, son.

And by the crazy story, Karen Williams has been trying to feed me.

What crazy story?

Well, she admits she bought the murder gun, all right.

But she says you fall out of it from Rodman's punch-up

and stole the gun out of her apartment.

Her apartment?

I've never seen it.

In fact, I've never been on the safest lane in all my life.

Well, never mind, son. I know you're in the clear.

You can come and go as you please, now.

Thank you.

Well, John, now that you're cleared,

you have only one thing to worry about.

You have, Frankie.

What?

Faraday thinks you're innocent.

And Faraday invariably backs a thousand percent wrong.

Hey, Jim, get my car for me.

What are you doing?

I don't know why I let you drive me downtown.

Well, I can ride many squad cars in town.

Maybe it's because you like my company, Faraday.

Keep thinking that.

At least it's one thing I know you're wrong about.

You're absolutely Faraday.

Hey, Jim, get my car, will you?

I want to talk to you a minute, Frankie.

Oh, excuse me, honey.

Well, I haven't got all day.

What do you want, Jim?

I have to talk to you, Jim.

You didn't last very long.

I want more.

Oh, sure, Jim.

But I'd like you to meet your friend of mine, Faraday.

Faraday, come over here, will you?

Look, when you stop strong, let's get out of here.

I think we're leaving right now.

Jim, this is in fact a Saturday at the police.

Huh?

Now, would you still like to...

I'll just go right away, Blakey.

Give me your ticket.

I'll save it.

Here.

Okay.

It's very much towards exactly one hour there.

75 cents.

Here's your ticket, Blakey.

Thank you.

I'll get the car right away.

Well, you're putting that ticket in your pocket for Blakey.

I don't know how, but I guess.

I must have saved my interest in my parking ticket for my...

Holy mackerel.

What were you doing down here last night?

You'll find out.

Hey, Jim.

I'll get you a car, Blakey.

Never mind, track it in again.

I won't be needing a ticket yet.

Hey, what is this?

This is where we go back to the Midland Hotel, Faraday.

What for?

For you to go down to the room service.

And for me to go on the phone.

I'll show you how a dead man can call for a sandwich.

Here.

Give me a room service, please.

Yes, sir.

Room service.

Isn't sight a Friday down there?

Oh, yes, here.

I'll put him on with it.

Yes, sir.

Here he is.

Hello.

Now, this is Room 802.

I'd like you to send up a roast beef sandwich in the glass of milk, please.

Mark, Blakey, will you quit playing games?

I'm not playing games, sir.

Hey, I'm serious.

You say you played on with Kittles sometime after 8.16 last night.

Because at 8.16, he called Room Service for a sandwich.

Now, is that much right?

Yeah, that's right.

Then a dead man make a telephone call?

No, but somebody else can take it.

You think I'm in Room 802, don't you?

Oh, why'd you?

No.

I'm in a booth in the lobby using the house phone.

Maybe using the same phone that John used at 8.16 to call Room Service after he'd killed his brother.

Very clever, banking.

Except for one little point.

You have no way of knowing Fred Allen was dead before 8.16.

Nice point, Friday.

But I do know Fred was dead before 8.16.

The parking ticket I got last night when he was killed

shows I took my car out of the garage at 8.12.

So what?

So I just come from Fred Allen's room and he was dead.

And it's a good five-minute walk from here to that garage.

I thought I'd find you a mixed up in this?

I'm not the one that's mixed up.

You fell for John's story about being down here in the lobby just the way he wanted you to fall for it.

I bet Fred was dead.

Well, a good half hour before John's service is out of my way.

Yeah, but what about the gun? It belongs to the girl.

She told you the truth, Friday.

Didn't she say she'd just moved to an apartment on Davis Lane and her assumed name so Fred Allen couldn't find it?

Yes, for what?

Remember when John denied he'd stolen the gun from her?

You said he'd never been on Davis Lane in his life?

No, that's right, Friday. He did.

That's so right, Inspector. It proves he did steal again.

Unless he followed her, he couldn't have known where she lived.

And I've just proved how he could have been down here in the lobby after his brother was dead and spilled himself an alibi.

Lucky, I think you're right.

You think I'm right?

Sure, it's as simple as the alphabet.

But it wasn't simple when I started.

There were three such things.

Tower Williams, John Allen, and Bill Andrews, the triple-look at war.

How did he get into this?

He didn't.

He hated Fred Allen.

Sure, but Friday, you can get him on another side.

He was temporarily paralyzed after an accident two years ago,

and has been posing as a cripple of a sense to collect a lot of heavy accidents and insurance compensation.

Well, that's not my department, but I'll see that it's investigated.

All I'm interested in is this guy, John Allen.

I'm gonna grab him.

My quicks.

You better be quick, Friday. He outsmart if you want.

But remember, I've got the goods on him this time.

Sure you have, but remember, you've got the goods on him only because I supply the material.

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