Dick Tracy's Dilemma (1947) Movie Script
Police Headquarters.
Oh, yes, Dillon.
I'll notify Dick Tracy at once.
Calling car 15.
Car 15.
Car 15, Patton speaking.
Contact Dick Tracy at once.
Have him go to the Flawless Fur warehouse.
Dillon reports some shenanigans busted fuse
Box in the garage.
Then tell him to call then tell
Him to call an electrician, not Dick Tracy.
Now wait a minute, Pat.
The night watchman's disappeared.
It might be homicide.
Oh.
That's different.
I'll tell Tracy right away.
Roger.
Pennies for a blind old man?
Pennies for a blind old man?
Hello, Sightless.
Is it a nice night?
Lovely night.
Thank you very much.
Hey, Jigger.
Come here.
Well, what's on your mind, copper?
Where's Tracy?
The back room, snooping around.
Say, why don't you bloodhounds
hold your convention
Some place else?
We like the atmosphere around here.
It's so wholesome.
Looking for me, Pat?
Yeah.
We had to make a call.
Oh.
Find what you're looking for, Tracy?
No.
And see that I don't.
I understand Hatchet Harry's
been hanging around here.
Why, that's a big mistake.
Say, you know I run a respectable joint.
Do I?
Come on, Pat.
Come back again, Sr. Tracy.
Bring the folks!
Pennies for a blind old man?
Sightless, I want you to do me a favor.
What is it, Sr. Tracy?
I want to know what's going
on in Jigger's back room.
Sr. Tracy, you know
I can't see a thing.
Keep your eyes open, will you?
$5.00.
He put that coffee on while I was in here.
Ten minutes later when I came back,
The coffee was boiling over.
The lights were out, and there was no Hawks.
Did this watchman ever leave the job before?
No.
I'm sure of that because
he was a most reliable man.
That's why I'm afraid
something happened to him.
What did you do after
you called Headquarters?
I called Sr. Humphries b he's
the owner of the place here.
Because all the doors were unlocked.
Did you take a look around the inside?
No, I thought we best wait
till Sr. Humphries came.
Let's see what happened to the lights.
Those fuses were yanked out on purpose.
See if you can dig some up,
Pat, so we can have some light.
Right.
Who's that?
It's the police,
Sr. Humphries.
Well, you gave me a scare.
I guess everything's all right.
There's a fortune in furs
in that vault tonight.
This is Detective Tracy from Headquarters.
You better take a look
inside, Sr. Humphries.
I'd rather wait to open the vault.
You see, when Officer Dillon phoned me,
I reported his call to my insurance company,
And, uh, their representatives
are going to meet me here.
We're here, Humphries.
This is Sr. Tracy of
Police Headquarters.
How are you?
I'm Peter Premium, Vice President
Of the Honesty Insurance Company.
This is Sr. Cudd,
my investigator.
He's not just from Headquarters.
That's Dick Tracy.
Homicide.
That's right.
Say, Dick, I think I'll go out to the car
And see if I can get a radio
pickup on that night watchman.
OK, Pat.
May I have the combination
now, Sr. Humphries?
Certainly.
Well!
It's cleaned out.
Yes.
It's cleaned out.
And the ink is hardly dry on your policy.
Cudd, I want a thorough
investigation of this.
So do I. I've never
had a robbery before.
It's a strange coincidence that
as soon as I switch insurance
To the Honesty Company, I have one.
Are you insinuating that.
Wait a minute.
Move your foot.
Looks like we've got robbery,
and you've got your homicide.
Sr. Humphries, may I have
an inventory of your loss
With a detailed description of each item?
We can give you that.
There's something wrong
about the watchman being
Slugged or killed inside the vault.
Something sour about the whole business.
How many of your employees
know the combination
Of the vault, Sr. Humphries?
None of them.
Oh, Dick.
Dick, I got a radio report.
The night watchman's turned up.
Where is he?
They've got him down at the morgue.
He's dead.
I better go with him.
I'll check with you later.
The medical examiner told us not
To move him until you
got here, Sr. Tracy.
I see.
Is that him, Cudd?
Yeah, that's the night watchman, all right.
Where was the body found?
On Macy near Grand.
Apparently thrown out of a car.
Did that kill him?
No.
He was dead when he was tossed out.
He was killed by a vicious
blow that split his skull.
As you can see, it's pretty ugly.
Hm.
Looks like he'd been hacked with a cleaver.
I don't think so.
A cleaver wouldn't tear the flesh like that.
Well, it's a cinch it's not
a bullet or a knife wound.
Here's what he had on him.
Hasn't been fired.
Nope.
Poor fellow never had the chance to use it.
Well, there's not much here.
Hey, there's writing on it.
What?
Well, it isn't very clear.
What do you make of it?
Offhand, Greek.
I'd say it looks like uh like, uh.
Like what, Pat?
Like scribbling.
We'll take a closer look
at this in the laboratory.
Thank you very much, Bill.
When I photographed this,
I darkened all the letters
So it would be reproduced more easily.
Now we take the first word.
First letter is D.
Second letter is an A.
And the last letter is
definitely Y. Now in between,
It could be an N. Well,
it could be anything.
Does Danny mean anything to you?
Not yet.
D, A, I could be an
S Y. Could be Daisy.
Now let's take a look at the next word.
T- H-R-U.
Thru.
The next one is easy.
It's got to be "of."
And the last one definitely is
T-H-E-N. Or that could be an M.
It must be "three of them."
Hawks must have been trying to tell us
That three men did the job.
Now if we'd only figure out this first word.
D A
I-S-Y.
Daisies.
Three of them.
Three daisies.
Now we're getting into poetry.
This last scribbling looks
like a license plate number.
6, 7... no, that could be a T.
6, T, N, 2, something, something.
Whenever there's a T in a
license plate number, it's.
A truck.
You're right, Pat.
Then maybe he meant there
were three daisies on a truck.
No, he would have written three daisies.
"Daisy" and "three of them"
indicate two separate ideas.
I think Daisy was the name on the truck.
And there were three guys driving it.
Yes.
I think that's it.
Now let me have that, will you?
Certainly.
Thank you very much, Collins.
Johnson, put this on the air right way.
Get it out to all cars.
Yes, Sr. Tracy.
Calling all cars.
Be on the lookout for a truck marked
Daisy driven by three men.
License plate number 6TN2 blank, blank.
Wanted for robbery and murder.
Go take care of that sign.
Right.
That ought to do it.
The dough better be waiting for us.
Cats!
Cats!
That guy don't think of nothing but cats!
Come on.
Pennies for the blind?
Pennies for the blind?
Bless you.
Pennies for the blind?
Pennies for the.
Pennies for the blind?
Hey, you!
Look, Sightless.
How many times do I have to tell you
Beggars aren't permitted in here?
How many times do I got to
tell you I ain't no beggar?
I'm a merchant.
Well, what are you doing in here, merchant?
Uh, I'm looking for two customers of mine.
Well, can you show them to me?
No, I.
Well, then they're not here.
Come on.
Hey, wait a minute!
That's a funny one.
Waiting around gives me the jitters, too.
I want my dough, and I want it quick.
I want to blow this town.
It ain't ready yet.
Will you stop playing with
that cat so I can talk to you?
Go ahead.
Talk.
The cat don't mind.
Oh, you're such a smart, ain't you?
You couldn't just hit that
night watchman over the head,
Could you?
You had to get fancy and tear him up.
Now the whole Homicide Squad's on our tail.
Can't the boss get rid of this stuff?
Nobody will touch it now.
Hot furs are bad enough.
But he's got to tie them up with a murder.
We'll never get our dough now.
Never.
All because of you and that itchy hangnail.
You can't use your brains, can you?
Instead of your brain, you've
got to use that hunk of steel
Like it's some stupid animal.
I know what's the matter with you.
You're a killer, Claw.
You're nothing but a crazy, stupid killer!
Yeah?
No.
Sure, boss.
Yeah.
Yeah, I'll be there.
The boss have good news?
He found somebody who was interested.
Wants to see the furs tonight.
There.
You see, Sam?
We're going to get our dough after all.
When are you going?
I gotta be at the end of
Hemp Street in an hour.
There's someone in the alley.
I was only going to.
Leave it there.
Hemp Street.
Hemp Street.
Please, mister.
Please.
I didn't do nothing.
Please, mister.
Let me in, somebody!
Please, let me in!
Yeah.
What's going on out here?
You gotta let me in there, mister.
No one's allowed in here.
Beat it.
But mister, somebody is
going to kill me, I swear.
He's right down there.
Now look, old man.
You're drunk, and I'm busy.
So beat it, will you?
No, no.
Go on.
Beat it.
No, I tell you.
He's there somewhere, mister.
Please, let me let me in.
Please let me in, mister.
You still hanging around?
I was just going, mister.
Well I'm going to stay
right here until you do.
Oh, that'll be fine.
Thanks, mister.
Thanks.
You stick around.
I'll be right out.
OK.
Softly now, the fair Ophelia.
Nymph, in thy orisons.
Be all my sins remembered.
No, no, Vitamin.
Not like that.
No?
My dear Tess, after 49 years in
the theatre, you're telling me?
Oh, Dick probably forgot his key.
You let him in, Vitamin.
But don't tell him I'm here.
Something tells me this is
what you've been waiting for.
Oh.
I'm sorry.
Oh, egads, what have we here?
Where's Sr. Tracy?
Sr. Tracy buys his fresh
fruit from a dependable dealer,
Thank you.
But I've got to see him.
It's important.
Uh, you shall not cross this threshold
Until you've been thoroughly disinfected.
Take your presence elsewhere.
But mister, you don't understand.
I've been through enough tonight.
Well, you're not going through here.
But look, mister.
Tell him it's about the furs.
They're going to meet the fence at the end
Of Hemp Street in half an hour.
I wonder what that cab was doing here.
It must have brought Tess.
She said she'd be over tonight.
But Vitamin, he might have been important.
What's importance could Dick Tracy possibly
Attach to an impecunious peddler?
Oh, Dick, at last.
Hello, Pat.
Hello.
Sorry to be late, Tess.
How long have you been here?
Three acts of "Hamlet," going on four.
Greetings from the melancholy Dane.
Just in time for me soliloquy.
Before you go into that, Vitamin,
Who was in that cab that just left here?
Oh, merely a person of no consequence.
Vitamin said he was a peddler.
Yes, a peddler with the most grandiloquent
Name uh, Visionary, I
believe he called himself.
Visionary?
Could it have been Sightless?
Did Sightless stop by here?
Stop by?
He practically stormed the
gates like a Trojan army of 12.
But I held the fortress, didn't I, Tess?
Look, Vitamin.
Sightless is no ordinary peddler.
That is your opinion.
What did he say?
Why, I made a point of
forgetting it immediately.
Look, Vitamin, Sightless
wouldn't have come here
If it hadn't been important.
What did he say?
Well, in a quaint language all his own,
I believe he mentioned
something about something
Was going to happen at the
end of some street in some half
An hour.
Oh, that's great.
What was going to happen?
I think he said somebody was
going to build a fence there.
Build a fence?
Fence?
Maybe it has some connection with the furs.
Yes.
Yes.
He said something about furs, too.
Vitamin, Sightless said somebody
Was going to meet a fence, didn't he?
I suppose that makes sense.
It certainly does.
Now look, try to remember.
At the end of what street did he say?
Let me think.
Let me meditate.
Ha.
Methinks he said it was at
the end of uh Flax Street.
There's no such street.
Or something like Flax.
Uh, Rope?
Uh, Flannel?
Crepe Chine?
That's gabardine.
Rope.
Flax.
Could it have been Hemp Street?
Hemp Street, that's more like it.
Hemp, Flax, a rope by any
other name would smell.
Vitamin, see that Tess gets
home all right, will you?
Enchanted.
I'll see you later.
Come on, Pat.
Longshot Lillie.
So she's in the fencing business.
Do we surprise her?
No, not yet.
What we're interested in
is who's going to meet her.
Hey.
She's not going to wait.
Dick Tracy.
You're not running out on your
date on my account, are you?
Do you think I make dates on street corners?
I I just stopped for a
moment to light a cigarette.
Is there a law against it?
No, I guess there isn't.
Then I'll be on my way, if you don't mind.
Could I give you a lift?
No, thanks.
I'll give you one.
Pat, you can drive Lillie's car.
She's coming with me.
Right.
What are you trying to pull, Tracy?
You can't treat me like a criminal.
I'm a lady.
A lady with a date.
Who were you going to see, Lillie?
Nobody.
I told you I had no date.
Well, you have one now.
Let's go.
What were you doing on Hemp Street?
I told you.
I was on my way home.
I stopped for a few
minutes to have a cigarette.
Then why were you so
startled when you saw me?
Force of habit, I guess.
Every time I see a cop, I
want to get out of his way.
Look, Lillie, you and I both
know what you were doing there.
What's wrong with parking on Hemp Street?
Ordinarily, nothing.
But two people were to meet there tonight
About a little matter of hot furs.
Somebody was going to buy them from somebody
Who had them to sell.
I'm not interested in furs.
I've got all I need.
And anyway, what would I buy them with?
That $60 you've got in your hand?
Lillie, did you lose anything tonight?
No.
Well, then I'm a rich man.
Look what I found.
$20,000 stuffed
Under the front seat of her car.
Is it yours, Lillie?
Certainly it's mine.
I I won it in a poker game tonight.
Hm.
Some game.
You're barking up the wrong tree, Tracy.
I'm no criminal.
Poker, yes.
The races, sure.
Longshot Lillie, that's me.
Gambling's my dish, not fur robberies.
OK, Lillie.
But you'll have to tell
me who lost the $20,000
And also who was in the game.
I'll tell you that.
Maybe.
On a witness stand.
Well, give Lillie a chance
on the witness stand.
Book her on suspicion of murder.
Murder?
You're bluffing, Tracy.
Not a bluff, Lillie.
A watchman was killed
during a robbery tonight.
You can't pin a murder rap on me.
Then start talking.
All right.
I'll tell you what happened.
Some guy called me tonight and asked me
If I'd be interested in
some hot furs dirt cheap.
I said yes.
He said he'd call me
back later, so I waited.
And you called him back?
You don't catch me on that one, Tracy.
I don't know the guy so
I don't have his number.
He called me back.
He said to show up at Hemp Street
With the dough somebody would meet me there.
Somebody did meet me there, all right.
The rest is history.
Who was it that called you, Lillie?
He didn't take the trouble
to introduce himself.
Who was it?
I swear, Tracy, I don't.
Look, Lillie, you're in enough trouble
Without shielding a murderer.
Who was it?
You've got to believe me, Tracy.
You've got to.
The guy was an absolute stranger.
I don't know how he happened
to call me, but he did.
I've got a reputation.
I play long shots.
Even you know that.
I take big chances.
People know it.
It gets around.
Lots of guys know about me,
but I don't know about them.
That guy could have been anybody.
Anybody.
Believe me, Tracy, I don't know who it was.
I swear I don't.
Turn this over to the Property Clerk.
Hold her as a material witness.
This way, please.
You know something, Dick?
I don't think she's lying.
Maybe not.
I'll have Sightless take a look at her.
Anyway, we'll have to find out from him
Who was in that back room.
Who's there?
Dick Tracy wants to see you at Headquarters.
OK.
Just a minute.
You're not from Tracy.
No.
Just brought back something
that belongs to you.
Take them.
They're yours.
They're your trademark, Sightless.
Thanks.
I found them in the alley
back of the Blinking Skull.
No, no.
No, I wasn't there.
You had to tell him, didn't you?
No.
You had to stool to Tracy.
No, I didn't see him.
I.
The first door beyond the stairs.
Sightless.
He's gone, poor guy, just like Hawks.
I didn't see anyone come out as we drove up.
Then there's a chance we've
got him trapped in the building.
I'll call Headquarters and
have the block surrounded.
Do you suppose he was making
a phone call when we drove up?
Could be.
How do you like that?
He slugged me.
If you weren't my friend, I'd
say you had it coming to you.
Why didn't you wait until
we had the block surrounded?
You know, I was just wondering that myself.
Anyway, I winged him, and I know
now what he used to kill Hawks
And Sightless.
I was coming up the stairs.
Tell me about it on the way down.
He has no right hand.
There's an iron hook
attached to his forearm,
And that's his weapon.
I saw it, and I felt it.
Maybe you're right.
Come on.
I want to show you something.
Look at these scratches.
They're brand new, aren't they?
Say.
He uses that hook for
everything, doesn't he?
It must have been an important call,
Or he would never have
stopped to use this phone.
You're right.
As a reward for your good work tonight, I'm
Going to give you a
nice, safe job finding out
Who he was calling.
You mean me?
That's right.
I'll explain at Headquarters.
I'll tell you what these
scratches give us, Pat.
What's the first thing you do when
You dial a telephone number?
Why, I, uh look for a nickel.
Oh, no, no.
Oh, I dial the exchange.
That's right.
You dial the first two
letters of the exchange.
Well, these scratches appear
only in the first two holes.
I get it, Dick.
The exchange the killer was
dialing has got to be here.
Correct.
In checking a list of exchanges, you'll
Find there's only one
exchange with a combination
Of these letters.
B, A for Banning.
But what about these other two scratches?
That's even simpler.
Since they appear in the first hole,
The killer could only have
been dialing a number one twice.
Then we know the number
the killer started to dial
Is Banning one, one, something, something.
Now all we have to do is
find the complete number,
And we'll know who the
killer was trying to call.
But there's lots of telephone
numbers that start that way.
I know.
Uh, dozens maybe.
Sure.
Maybe even as many as a hundred.
Mhm.
And that's why I'm giving you the job, Pat,
Of finding the exact number.
You mean, you want me to call
every number starting with
B
A-1-1?
Now, look, Dick.
Pat, and start in.
But Dick, who do I say is calling
And who am I supposed to be?
A guy's got to know those things.
I can't just walk into something blind.
Find anything, Donovan?
I think this is
it, Sr. Tracy.
Yeah, that looks like the bird, all right.
Mhm.
According to this, he hasn't
been around since bootleg days.
Used to be a hijacker, Coast Guard
Cut around him.
Lost his right hand
And crippled his right leg.
Yep, that's him.
Did a stretch in the pen.
Only been out about six months.
Calls himself a lot of things.
But his most popular name is the Claw.
Well, Pat, I guess that's
the answer to your question.
Yep.
Shall we send out a pickup on him?
No.
Not yet anyway.
The Claw isn't in this alone.
Furs aren't in his line.
He wouldn't know how to dispose of him.
Any ideia who the higher up is?
I'm depending on Pat to tell me that.
You mean you want me to imitate this guy?
Use your deepest
barrel, Sr. Patton.
There's your telephone.
Now I guess you're all set.
This is the Claw speaking.
No, no, no.
This is this is.
Pat!
Hm.
This is the Claw speaking.
See that he keeps that pitch, Donovan.
Right.
And let me know the minute you get results.
Yes, Dick.
I mean, uh gotcha, boss.
Hello.
Tess!
Dick, Vitamin's grieving dreadfully.
I feel that you ought to speak to you.
What's the matter with him?
Well, his conscience.
The news about Sightless came over the radio
And well, dear, I told him
that we all felt bad about it,
But take a look for yourself.
Snap out of it, Vitamin.
It' true you did send
Sightless away from the house,
But you don't.
If I hadn't, he'd still be alive.
The solution to your entire dilemma
Was on the lips of that peddler,
and I silenced them forever.
Now I needs must atone for me crimes.
But Vitamin, there's nothing you can do now.
Nothing.
There's nothing so
difficult to do as nothing.
What is it, Dick?
Vitamin, there is something you can do,
But I don't know whether you.
But to me no but, sir.
Put me to the test.
Hello?
This is the Claw speaking.
I quit.
Wise guy.
What did they say this time?
This is the Claw, huh?
Then go scratch yourself.
Insults.
That's all I get.
A man in my position.
Uh-uh.
I'm sorry, Pat, you're in my custody.
Orders from the Chief.
He just called.
Where was he calling from?
Home in bed?
No, he's on his way to Humphries.
What do I care where he was on his way to?
Well, that's so you'll know where
To report to him after
you've located his man.
Then ask him where he'll
be a year from Thursday.
Let's see.
Where was I?
Oh, Tracy.
Good evening, Sr. Humphries.
I hope I'm not too late for a call.
Certainly not.
Come in.
Thank you.
Sit down, Sr. Tracy.
I, uh, suppose if you had any good news,
I wouldn't have to ask you.
That's right.
I had hoped to recover your furs tonight,
But something went wrong.
You mean they're still in the city?
I'm sure of it.
And we hope to get them
back for you shortly.
Please don't take offense at this, Tracy,
But tell me frankly.
Did Premium ask you to come
over here and tell me that?
No.
Why should he?
Well, tonight the period of
grace for the insurance company
Expires.
And they have to produce
either the furs or the money.
You think they'll stall on their settlement?
It was just an ideia.
What I really wanted to ask you was,
How long has it been since the combination
Was changed on your vault?
The insurance company insisted on it
Being changed when they wrote the policy.
Who actually made the change?
I don't know.
Uh, Cudd brought a serviceman over with him.
Well, thank you very
much, Sr. Humphries.
Yes, sir.
I hope to have some news for you soon.
OK.
And the same to you,
with many unhappy returns.
Dick just called again.
He seems disappointed with you.
I'm not too happy about him either.
Hello?
Hello, this is the Claw speaking.
It's about time you called.
Hey!
He knows me!
What number did you call?
I don't know.
I'll have it traced.
Keep talking.
What do I say?
What do I talk about?
Furs, women, anything.
Uh, yeah, I'm still on the line, boss.
Well, you see I.
I couldn't, boss.
I ran into a little trouble.
Donavan!
He hung up.
What number did you dial?
I don't know.
Well, think.
Think.
I can't think.
You can't think?
No, no.
Fine, fine.
Fine.
Oh.
Hello, Tracy.
Hello, Cudd.
Who is it?
I'm Tracy.
Remember me?
I found your corridor door
open, so I walked right in.
Keeping rather unusual
business hours, aren't you?
Did you find out anything?
Did you know that somebody
changed the combination
On Humphries' vault
shortly before the robbery?
Mhm.
One of the conditions under
which we wrote the policy.
It's not unusual.
It should be done periodically anyway.
Do you know the new combination?
I do.
I went with the serviceman that did the job.
Do you know it,
too, Sr. Premium?
Yes.
As a matter of fact, I do.
Say, what are you driving at, Tracy?
Are you suggesting that Cudd
and I are in on this robbery?
I'm not suggesting anything yet.
But somebody provided the
thieves with the combination
On that vault.
Shall I take it?
No, I'll answer it.
Hello?
Yes.
Oh, I can't go into that tonight.
Have him call me back tomorrow.
Is that the Claw?
Who's the Claw?
He's a two time killer, and
he's got Humphries' furs.
He tried to sell them to a fence,
But something went wrong.
Well, if you know who he
is, why don't you arrest him?
I don't know where he is.
And as he failed in contacting the fence,
I thought he might call
you tonight and offer
To sell the furs back at a
big cut under their real value.
Well, we did have such an ideia, but we
Didn't know who had them.
Tonight's our deadline, and
if we don't get the furs back,
We'll have to settle with Humphries.
An experienced fur thief would know that.
The Claw has no experience with furs.
But the man behind him has.
Pat.
Pat, what in the world happened to you?
I've got it, Dick.
I've got it.
You've got what?
The man higher up.
Banning 1-1-2-6.
Well, who is it?
Humphries.
Well, how do you like that?
The guy figures to collect
$100,000 on his policy
And still have his furs.
Are you sure of this, Tracy?
I'm sure.
And I've got a crooked finger to approve it.
It adds up, Cudd.
Humphries is counting on you
buying back the furs tonight.
Sure.
He gets his furs back in the morning,
Plus his cut of the dough
we pay to get them back.
Then Tracy, why don't you do something?
Why don't you lock him up?
No.
Let me get my hands on him.
By locking him up now,
you risk losing your furs.
And we might never catch the killer.
But Humphries can tell us
where the furs are hidden.
Don't you think he'll deny
his connection with the crime?
That means a trial, giving
the killer more time than ever
To skip town with the furs.
That sounds reasonable.
Well, then what do we do?
You and I are going to stick right here.
I'm more certain than
ever now that the killer
Will give you a call tonight.
You and Pat pay Humphries
a friendly little call.
Right.
I think I'm going to enjoy this.
You know, Tracy, I got to admit it,
I'm kind of glad you
dropped in here tonight.
Hello?
Is, uh, he back there?
I'll see.
No, he ain't in.
That's funny.
He's supposed to make a very
important call for me tonight.
Why, Cudd, I didn't expect
to see you here tonight.
Any news about the furs?
Plenty.
Well, Humphries, one of the
first rules of our company
Is to always keep our clients covered.
I don't know what you mean.
Step inside.
Just a minute now.
He's not here.
Come on.
He's got to be here somewhere.
Hey, he's here.
He's drunk.
Let me see.
He's not drunk.
He's been hurt.
Well.
Looks like he had another
cat to mark to his collection.
Is he dead?
Well, just about.
Hey.
It looked to me like he had time
to call the insurance company.
Maybe we ought to help him.
I've had some experience
knocking out bullets.
But why waste the time?
Look we're in the perfect set-up here.
It'd be twice as much dough in it for us
If we call the insurance company.
Just you and me.
Yeah, but what's going to
happen when he finds out
We double-crossed him?
Eh, by that time we'll be seeing the world.
Come on.
That guy and his cats.
I'll.
Maybe your hunch was wrong, Tracy.
There could have been a slip-up somewhere.
Hello?
Is this the Honesty Insurance Company?
Yes.
Who am I speaking with?
Peter Premium.
Who's this?
Never mind who this is.
Look.
How'd you like to get
them Humphries furs back
Tonight, huh?
All right.
Listen carefully.
$50,000 back of the
Blinking Skull half an hour.
Come by yourself.
$50,000.
Back of the Blinking Skull.
And I'm warning you.
No cops.
I understand.
No cops.
Now what do you know about that?
Back of the Blinking Skull.
Are you going, Tracy?
Alone?
You heard what the man said.
No cops.
Good luck.
Buy a pencil from a poor blind man.
Buy a pencil
from a. Prithee,
A random shekel for a myopic mendicant.
Peasant.
Egads.
It is now the very witching time of night,
But not a suspicious character in sight.
Methinks I have failed Dick Tracy.
Hey, Sam.
What's the matter?
Look.
What?
Sightless.
What's the matter with you?
You believe in ghosts?
Come on.
Yeah, but.
I said, come on.
Hey.
Buy a pencil from a poor blind man?
We're expecting someone to
show in about 15 minutes.
Let him in.
And no one else.
OK, Sam.
Oh, with my most profound apologies.
On your way, brother.
We've got to draw the line somewhere.
No moochers.
That epithet is applicable only to him
Who is afflicted with impecuniosity.
Come again?
I haven't left.
There, keeper of the hooch.
OK, name it.
Fetch me something savory and
salubrious, concocted perhaps
From citrus grown in the gardens of Grenada,
Chilled with the snows of San Barreda.
Uh, served in a chalice.
Sorry, bub, we ain't got any.
In language comporting with
your intelligence, lemonade.
Lemonade?
Dear me, doesn't anyone
understand English anymore?
Come on.
Smile, kid, smile.
Another few minutes, you and me
is going to be $50,000 richer.
Somebody winged you, huh?
Just a scratch.
I've been out cold for a while, though.
I, uh I think you ought to
let Jigger take a look at that.
He's pretty good with them things.
I'll be all right.
I think you ought to take him to see Jigger.
OK.
I've got to stick around.
You can't go around like that.
I've done it before.
I think Sam is right.
You ought to have that looked after.
You guys sound like you're
trying to get rid of me.
Oh, no.
No, you're wrong.
Sure act like maybe a black
cat ran across your path.
You're wrong about me, Sam.
I can.
Claw, it had nothing to do with you.
I had nothing.
No, Claw!
No!
I I didn't want to hurt you.
No tricks.
Yes?
Boss?
This is the Claw.
I just wanted to tell you
somebody from the insurance
Company is on his way down.
I'll take him to the
junkyard on Primrose Street.
We'll have our dough in a few minutes.
And, uh Boss, uh, we'll only
have to split it two ways.
Fine, Claw, fine.
What's the matter?
Something wrong?
No.
Everything's swell, Claw.
Everything's swell.
It's a frame-up!
I've been waiting for this.
OK, Jigger, you lead the way.
Lead the way where?
Hey, you cops can't shove me around.
I run a respectable joint.
We'll talk that over in the back room.
Get going.
Let me out of here!
Let me out of here!
Oh, Dick Tracy.
I'll be right with you, Vitamin.
OK, Jigger, where'd he go?
I don't know, Tracy.
I know.
I heard everything.
Uh, the furs are in the junkyard on.
Not Black Street.
Uh, no.
On Primrose Street.
Vitamin, I'll make you
Police Commissioner for this.
Call Headquarters and
have them send a squad car.
Aye, aye, sir.
Hey, these pipes are hot, Tracy.
You better get used to these, Jigger.
I know you're there.
Come out.
I couldn't get that
Police Commissioner's job
For you, Vitamin.
No?
That's filled for a while.
This is to show our appreciation.
Haven't you anything to say, Vitamin?
For the first time in
my life, I'm speechless.
You know, I think we should
give you a badge more often.
Oh.
Oh.
Fortunately, I happen to have
a little speech of acceptance
With me.
"My dear friends,
to write of them..."
Vitamin, I have a table reserved for us
At a nearby restaurant.
Suppose you save that speech until then?
Oh, Dick, how nice.
Dancing?
Why not?
Tracy, I'm glad you're still here.
I just got a report on Hatch Harry.
What about him?
One of our men spotted
him in the freight yard.
Sorry, Tess.
Come on, Pat.
Oh, Vitamin, you won't mind
taking Tess to dinner for me,
Will you?
Don't you need me?
I think we can manage.
Sometimes I wish I'd been
born a super criminal.
Why, my dear?
Because then I might get to
see something of Sr. Dick Tracy.
Oh, yes, Dillon.
I'll notify Dick Tracy at once.
Calling car 15.
Car 15.
Car 15, Patton speaking.
Contact Dick Tracy at once.
Have him go to the Flawless Fur warehouse.
Dillon reports some shenanigans busted fuse
Box in the garage.
Then tell him to call then tell
Him to call an electrician, not Dick Tracy.
Now wait a minute, Pat.
The night watchman's disappeared.
It might be homicide.
Oh.
That's different.
I'll tell Tracy right away.
Roger.
Pennies for a blind old man?
Pennies for a blind old man?
Hello, Sightless.
Is it a nice night?
Lovely night.
Thank you very much.
Hey, Jigger.
Come here.
Well, what's on your mind, copper?
Where's Tracy?
The back room, snooping around.
Say, why don't you bloodhounds
hold your convention
Some place else?
We like the atmosphere around here.
It's so wholesome.
Looking for me, Pat?
Yeah.
We had to make a call.
Oh.
Find what you're looking for, Tracy?
No.
And see that I don't.
I understand Hatchet Harry's
been hanging around here.
Why, that's a big mistake.
Say, you know I run a respectable joint.
Do I?
Come on, Pat.
Come back again, Sr. Tracy.
Bring the folks!
Pennies for a blind old man?
Sightless, I want you to do me a favor.
What is it, Sr. Tracy?
I want to know what's going
on in Jigger's back room.
Sr. Tracy, you know
I can't see a thing.
Keep your eyes open, will you?
$5.00.
He put that coffee on while I was in here.
Ten minutes later when I came back,
The coffee was boiling over.
The lights were out, and there was no Hawks.
Did this watchman ever leave the job before?
No.
I'm sure of that because
he was a most reliable man.
That's why I'm afraid
something happened to him.
What did you do after
you called Headquarters?
I called Sr. Humphries b he's
the owner of the place here.
Because all the doors were unlocked.
Did you take a look around the inside?
No, I thought we best wait
till Sr. Humphries came.
Let's see what happened to the lights.
Those fuses were yanked out on purpose.
See if you can dig some up,
Pat, so we can have some light.
Right.
Who's that?
It's the police,
Sr. Humphries.
Well, you gave me a scare.
I guess everything's all right.
There's a fortune in furs
in that vault tonight.
This is Detective Tracy from Headquarters.
You better take a look
inside, Sr. Humphries.
I'd rather wait to open the vault.
You see, when Officer Dillon phoned me,
I reported his call to my insurance company,
And, uh, their representatives
are going to meet me here.
We're here, Humphries.
This is Sr. Tracy of
Police Headquarters.
How are you?
I'm Peter Premium, Vice President
Of the Honesty Insurance Company.
This is Sr. Cudd,
my investigator.
He's not just from Headquarters.
That's Dick Tracy.
Homicide.
That's right.
Say, Dick, I think I'll go out to the car
And see if I can get a radio
pickup on that night watchman.
OK, Pat.
May I have the combination
now, Sr. Humphries?
Certainly.
Well!
It's cleaned out.
Yes.
It's cleaned out.
And the ink is hardly dry on your policy.
Cudd, I want a thorough
investigation of this.
So do I. I've never
had a robbery before.
It's a strange coincidence that
as soon as I switch insurance
To the Honesty Company, I have one.
Are you insinuating that.
Wait a minute.
Move your foot.
Looks like we've got robbery,
and you've got your homicide.
Sr. Humphries, may I have
an inventory of your loss
With a detailed description of each item?
We can give you that.
There's something wrong
about the watchman being
Slugged or killed inside the vault.
Something sour about the whole business.
How many of your employees
know the combination
Of the vault, Sr. Humphries?
None of them.
Oh, Dick.
Dick, I got a radio report.
The night watchman's turned up.
Where is he?
They've got him down at the morgue.
He's dead.
I better go with him.
I'll check with you later.
The medical examiner told us not
To move him until you
got here, Sr. Tracy.
I see.
Is that him, Cudd?
Yeah, that's the night watchman, all right.
Where was the body found?
On Macy near Grand.
Apparently thrown out of a car.
Did that kill him?
No.
He was dead when he was tossed out.
He was killed by a vicious
blow that split his skull.
As you can see, it's pretty ugly.
Hm.
Looks like he'd been hacked with a cleaver.
I don't think so.
A cleaver wouldn't tear the flesh like that.
Well, it's a cinch it's not
a bullet or a knife wound.
Here's what he had on him.
Hasn't been fired.
Nope.
Poor fellow never had the chance to use it.
Well, there's not much here.
Hey, there's writing on it.
What?
Well, it isn't very clear.
What do you make of it?
Offhand, Greek.
I'd say it looks like uh like, uh.
Like what, Pat?
Like scribbling.
We'll take a closer look
at this in the laboratory.
Thank you very much, Bill.
When I photographed this,
I darkened all the letters
So it would be reproduced more easily.
Now we take the first word.
First letter is D.
Second letter is an A.
And the last letter is
definitely Y. Now in between,
It could be an N. Well,
it could be anything.
Does Danny mean anything to you?
Not yet.
D, A, I could be an
S Y. Could be Daisy.
Now let's take a look at the next word.
T- H-R-U.
Thru.
The next one is easy.
It's got to be "of."
And the last one definitely is
T-H-E-N. Or that could be an M.
It must be "three of them."
Hawks must have been trying to tell us
That three men did the job.
Now if we'd only figure out this first word.
D A
I-S-Y.
Daisies.
Three of them.
Three daisies.
Now we're getting into poetry.
This last scribbling looks
like a license plate number.
6, 7... no, that could be a T.
6, T, N, 2, something, something.
Whenever there's a T in a
license plate number, it's.
A truck.
You're right, Pat.
Then maybe he meant there
were three daisies on a truck.
No, he would have written three daisies.
"Daisy" and "three of them"
indicate two separate ideas.
I think Daisy was the name on the truck.
And there were three guys driving it.
Yes.
I think that's it.
Now let me have that, will you?
Certainly.
Thank you very much, Collins.
Johnson, put this on the air right way.
Get it out to all cars.
Yes, Sr. Tracy.
Calling all cars.
Be on the lookout for a truck marked
Daisy driven by three men.
License plate number 6TN2 blank, blank.
Wanted for robbery and murder.
Go take care of that sign.
Right.
That ought to do it.
The dough better be waiting for us.
Cats!
Cats!
That guy don't think of nothing but cats!
Come on.
Pennies for the blind?
Pennies for the blind?
Bless you.
Pennies for the blind?
Pennies for the.
Pennies for the blind?
Hey, you!
Look, Sightless.
How many times do I have to tell you
Beggars aren't permitted in here?
How many times do I got to
tell you I ain't no beggar?
I'm a merchant.
Well, what are you doing in here, merchant?
Uh, I'm looking for two customers of mine.
Well, can you show them to me?
No, I.
Well, then they're not here.
Come on.
Hey, wait a minute!
That's a funny one.
Waiting around gives me the jitters, too.
I want my dough, and I want it quick.
I want to blow this town.
It ain't ready yet.
Will you stop playing with
that cat so I can talk to you?
Go ahead.
Talk.
The cat don't mind.
Oh, you're such a smart, ain't you?
You couldn't just hit that
night watchman over the head,
Could you?
You had to get fancy and tear him up.
Now the whole Homicide Squad's on our tail.
Can't the boss get rid of this stuff?
Nobody will touch it now.
Hot furs are bad enough.
But he's got to tie them up with a murder.
We'll never get our dough now.
Never.
All because of you and that itchy hangnail.
You can't use your brains, can you?
Instead of your brain, you've
got to use that hunk of steel
Like it's some stupid animal.
I know what's the matter with you.
You're a killer, Claw.
You're nothing but a crazy, stupid killer!
Yeah?
No.
Sure, boss.
Yeah.
Yeah, I'll be there.
The boss have good news?
He found somebody who was interested.
Wants to see the furs tonight.
There.
You see, Sam?
We're going to get our dough after all.
When are you going?
I gotta be at the end of
Hemp Street in an hour.
There's someone in the alley.
I was only going to.
Leave it there.
Hemp Street.
Hemp Street.
Please, mister.
Please.
I didn't do nothing.
Please, mister.
Let me in, somebody!
Please, let me in!
Yeah.
What's going on out here?
You gotta let me in there, mister.
No one's allowed in here.
Beat it.
But mister, somebody is
going to kill me, I swear.
He's right down there.
Now look, old man.
You're drunk, and I'm busy.
So beat it, will you?
No, no.
Go on.
Beat it.
No, I tell you.
He's there somewhere, mister.
Please, let me let me in.
Please let me in, mister.
You still hanging around?
I was just going, mister.
Well I'm going to stay
right here until you do.
Oh, that'll be fine.
Thanks, mister.
Thanks.
You stick around.
I'll be right out.
OK.
Softly now, the fair Ophelia.
Nymph, in thy orisons.
Be all my sins remembered.
No, no, Vitamin.
Not like that.
No?
My dear Tess, after 49 years in
the theatre, you're telling me?
Oh, Dick probably forgot his key.
You let him in, Vitamin.
But don't tell him I'm here.
Something tells me this is
what you've been waiting for.
Oh.
I'm sorry.
Oh, egads, what have we here?
Where's Sr. Tracy?
Sr. Tracy buys his fresh
fruit from a dependable dealer,
Thank you.
But I've got to see him.
It's important.
Uh, you shall not cross this threshold
Until you've been thoroughly disinfected.
Take your presence elsewhere.
But mister, you don't understand.
I've been through enough tonight.
Well, you're not going through here.
But look, mister.
Tell him it's about the furs.
They're going to meet the fence at the end
Of Hemp Street in half an hour.
I wonder what that cab was doing here.
It must have brought Tess.
She said she'd be over tonight.
But Vitamin, he might have been important.
What's importance could Dick Tracy possibly
Attach to an impecunious peddler?
Oh, Dick, at last.
Hello, Pat.
Hello.
Sorry to be late, Tess.
How long have you been here?
Three acts of "Hamlet," going on four.
Greetings from the melancholy Dane.
Just in time for me soliloquy.
Before you go into that, Vitamin,
Who was in that cab that just left here?
Oh, merely a person of no consequence.
Vitamin said he was a peddler.
Yes, a peddler with the most grandiloquent
Name uh, Visionary, I
believe he called himself.
Visionary?
Could it have been Sightless?
Did Sightless stop by here?
Stop by?
He practically stormed the
gates like a Trojan army of 12.
But I held the fortress, didn't I, Tess?
Look, Vitamin.
Sightless is no ordinary peddler.
That is your opinion.
What did he say?
Why, I made a point of
forgetting it immediately.
Look, Vitamin, Sightless
wouldn't have come here
If it hadn't been important.
What did he say?
Well, in a quaint language all his own,
I believe he mentioned
something about something
Was going to happen at the
end of some street in some half
An hour.
Oh, that's great.
What was going to happen?
I think he said somebody was
going to build a fence there.
Build a fence?
Fence?
Maybe it has some connection with the furs.
Yes.
Yes.
He said something about furs, too.
Vitamin, Sightless said somebody
Was going to meet a fence, didn't he?
I suppose that makes sense.
It certainly does.
Now look, try to remember.
At the end of what street did he say?
Let me think.
Let me meditate.
Ha.
Methinks he said it was at
the end of uh Flax Street.
There's no such street.
Or something like Flax.
Uh, Rope?
Uh, Flannel?
Crepe Chine?
That's gabardine.
Rope.
Flax.
Could it have been Hemp Street?
Hemp Street, that's more like it.
Hemp, Flax, a rope by any
other name would smell.
Vitamin, see that Tess gets
home all right, will you?
Enchanted.
I'll see you later.
Come on, Pat.
Longshot Lillie.
So she's in the fencing business.
Do we surprise her?
No, not yet.
What we're interested in
is who's going to meet her.
Hey.
She's not going to wait.
Dick Tracy.
You're not running out on your
date on my account, are you?
Do you think I make dates on street corners?
I I just stopped for a
moment to light a cigarette.
Is there a law against it?
No, I guess there isn't.
Then I'll be on my way, if you don't mind.
Could I give you a lift?
No, thanks.
I'll give you one.
Pat, you can drive Lillie's car.
She's coming with me.
Right.
What are you trying to pull, Tracy?
You can't treat me like a criminal.
I'm a lady.
A lady with a date.
Who were you going to see, Lillie?
Nobody.
I told you I had no date.
Well, you have one now.
Let's go.
What were you doing on Hemp Street?
I told you.
I was on my way home.
I stopped for a few
minutes to have a cigarette.
Then why were you so
startled when you saw me?
Force of habit, I guess.
Every time I see a cop, I
want to get out of his way.
Look, Lillie, you and I both
know what you were doing there.
What's wrong with parking on Hemp Street?
Ordinarily, nothing.
But two people were to meet there tonight
About a little matter of hot furs.
Somebody was going to buy them from somebody
Who had them to sell.
I'm not interested in furs.
I've got all I need.
And anyway, what would I buy them with?
That $60 you've got in your hand?
Lillie, did you lose anything tonight?
No.
Well, then I'm a rich man.
Look what I found.
$20,000 stuffed
Under the front seat of her car.
Is it yours, Lillie?
Certainly it's mine.
I I won it in a poker game tonight.
Hm.
Some game.
You're barking up the wrong tree, Tracy.
I'm no criminal.
Poker, yes.
The races, sure.
Longshot Lillie, that's me.
Gambling's my dish, not fur robberies.
OK, Lillie.
But you'll have to tell
me who lost the $20,000
And also who was in the game.
I'll tell you that.
Maybe.
On a witness stand.
Well, give Lillie a chance
on the witness stand.
Book her on suspicion of murder.
Murder?
You're bluffing, Tracy.
Not a bluff, Lillie.
A watchman was killed
during a robbery tonight.
You can't pin a murder rap on me.
Then start talking.
All right.
I'll tell you what happened.
Some guy called me tonight and asked me
If I'd be interested in
some hot furs dirt cheap.
I said yes.
He said he'd call me
back later, so I waited.
And you called him back?
You don't catch me on that one, Tracy.
I don't know the guy so
I don't have his number.
He called me back.
He said to show up at Hemp Street
With the dough somebody would meet me there.
Somebody did meet me there, all right.
The rest is history.
Who was it that called you, Lillie?
He didn't take the trouble
to introduce himself.
Who was it?
I swear, Tracy, I don't.
Look, Lillie, you're in enough trouble
Without shielding a murderer.
Who was it?
You've got to believe me, Tracy.
You've got to.
The guy was an absolute stranger.
I don't know how he happened
to call me, but he did.
I've got a reputation.
I play long shots.
Even you know that.
I take big chances.
People know it.
It gets around.
Lots of guys know about me,
but I don't know about them.
That guy could have been anybody.
Anybody.
Believe me, Tracy, I don't know who it was.
I swear I don't.
Turn this over to the Property Clerk.
Hold her as a material witness.
This way, please.
You know something, Dick?
I don't think she's lying.
Maybe not.
I'll have Sightless take a look at her.
Anyway, we'll have to find out from him
Who was in that back room.
Who's there?
Dick Tracy wants to see you at Headquarters.
OK.
Just a minute.
You're not from Tracy.
No.
Just brought back something
that belongs to you.
Take them.
They're yours.
They're your trademark, Sightless.
Thanks.
I found them in the alley
back of the Blinking Skull.
No, no.
No, I wasn't there.
You had to tell him, didn't you?
No.
You had to stool to Tracy.
No, I didn't see him.
I.
The first door beyond the stairs.
Sightless.
He's gone, poor guy, just like Hawks.
I didn't see anyone come out as we drove up.
Then there's a chance we've
got him trapped in the building.
I'll call Headquarters and
have the block surrounded.
Do you suppose he was making
a phone call when we drove up?
Could be.
How do you like that?
He slugged me.
If you weren't my friend, I'd
say you had it coming to you.
Why didn't you wait until
we had the block surrounded?
You know, I was just wondering that myself.
Anyway, I winged him, and I know
now what he used to kill Hawks
And Sightless.
I was coming up the stairs.
Tell me about it on the way down.
He has no right hand.
There's an iron hook
attached to his forearm,
And that's his weapon.
I saw it, and I felt it.
Maybe you're right.
Come on.
I want to show you something.
Look at these scratches.
They're brand new, aren't they?
Say.
He uses that hook for
everything, doesn't he?
It must have been an important call,
Or he would never have
stopped to use this phone.
You're right.
As a reward for your good work tonight, I'm
Going to give you a
nice, safe job finding out
Who he was calling.
You mean me?
That's right.
I'll explain at Headquarters.
I'll tell you what these
scratches give us, Pat.
What's the first thing you do when
You dial a telephone number?
Why, I, uh look for a nickel.
Oh, no, no.
Oh, I dial the exchange.
That's right.
You dial the first two
letters of the exchange.
Well, these scratches appear
only in the first two holes.
I get it, Dick.
The exchange the killer was
dialing has got to be here.
Correct.
In checking a list of exchanges, you'll
Find there's only one
exchange with a combination
Of these letters.
B, A for Banning.
But what about these other two scratches?
That's even simpler.
Since they appear in the first hole,
The killer could only have
been dialing a number one twice.
Then we know the number
the killer started to dial
Is Banning one, one, something, something.
Now all we have to do is
find the complete number,
And we'll know who the
killer was trying to call.
But there's lots of telephone
numbers that start that way.
I know.
Uh, dozens maybe.
Sure.
Maybe even as many as a hundred.
Mhm.
And that's why I'm giving you the job, Pat,
Of finding the exact number.
You mean, you want me to call
every number starting with
B
A-1-1?
Now, look, Dick.
Pat, and start in.
But Dick, who do I say is calling
And who am I supposed to be?
A guy's got to know those things.
I can't just walk into something blind.
Find anything, Donovan?
I think this is
it, Sr. Tracy.
Yeah, that looks like the bird, all right.
Mhm.
According to this, he hasn't
been around since bootleg days.
Used to be a hijacker, Coast Guard
Cut around him.
Lost his right hand
And crippled his right leg.
Yep, that's him.
Did a stretch in the pen.
Only been out about six months.
Calls himself a lot of things.
But his most popular name is the Claw.
Well, Pat, I guess that's
the answer to your question.
Yep.
Shall we send out a pickup on him?
No.
Not yet anyway.
The Claw isn't in this alone.
Furs aren't in his line.
He wouldn't know how to dispose of him.
Any ideia who the higher up is?
I'm depending on Pat to tell me that.
You mean you want me to imitate this guy?
Use your deepest
barrel, Sr. Patton.
There's your telephone.
Now I guess you're all set.
This is the Claw speaking.
No, no, no.
This is this is.
Pat!
Hm.
This is the Claw speaking.
See that he keeps that pitch, Donovan.
Right.
And let me know the minute you get results.
Yes, Dick.
I mean, uh gotcha, boss.
Hello.
Tess!
Dick, Vitamin's grieving dreadfully.
I feel that you ought to speak to you.
What's the matter with him?
Well, his conscience.
The news about Sightless came over the radio
And well, dear, I told him
that we all felt bad about it,
But take a look for yourself.
Snap out of it, Vitamin.
It' true you did send
Sightless away from the house,
But you don't.
If I hadn't, he'd still be alive.
The solution to your entire dilemma
Was on the lips of that peddler,
and I silenced them forever.
Now I needs must atone for me crimes.
But Vitamin, there's nothing you can do now.
Nothing.
There's nothing so
difficult to do as nothing.
What is it, Dick?
Vitamin, there is something you can do,
But I don't know whether you.
But to me no but, sir.
Put me to the test.
Hello?
This is the Claw speaking.
I quit.
Wise guy.
What did they say this time?
This is the Claw, huh?
Then go scratch yourself.
Insults.
That's all I get.
A man in my position.
Uh-uh.
I'm sorry, Pat, you're in my custody.
Orders from the Chief.
He just called.
Where was he calling from?
Home in bed?
No, he's on his way to Humphries.
What do I care where he was on his way to?
Well, that's so you'll know where
To report to him after
you've located his man.
Then ask him where he'll
be a year from Thursday.
Let's see.
Where was I?
Oh, Tracy.
Good evening, Sr. Humphries.
I hope I'm not too late for a call.
Certainly not.
Come in.
Thank you.
Sit down, Sr. Tracy.
I, uh, suppose if you had any good news,
I wouldn't have to ask you.
That's right.
I had hoped to recover your furs tonight,
But something went wrong.
You mean they're still in the city?
I'm sure of it.
And we hope to get them
back for you shortly.
Please don't take offense at this, Tracy,
But tell me frankly.
Did Premium ask you to come
over here and tell me that?
No.
Why should he?
Well, tonight the period of
grace for the insurance company
Expires.
And they have to produce
either the furs or the money.
You think they'll stall on their settlement?
It was just an ideia.
What I really wanted to ask you was,
How long has it been since the combination
Was changed on your vault?
The insurance company insisted on it
Being changed when they wrote the policy.
Who actually made the change?
I don't know.
Uh, Cudd brought a serviceman over with him.
Well, thank you very
much, Sr. Humphries.
Yes, sir.
I hope to have some news for you soon.
OK.
And the same to you,
with many unhappy returns.
Dick just called again.
He seems disappointed with you.
I'm not too happy about him either.
Hello?
Hello, this is the Claw speaking.
It's about time you called.
Hey!
He knows me!
What number did you call?
I don't know.
I'll have it traced.
Keep talking.
What do I say?
What do I talk about?
Furs, women, anything.
Uh, yeah, I'm still on the line, boss.
Well, you see I.
I couldn't, boss.
I ran into a little trouble.
Donavan!
He hung up.
What number did you dial?
I don't know.
Well, think.
Think.
I can't think.
You can't think?
No, no.
Fine, fine.
Fine.
Oh.
Hello, Tracy.
Hello, Cudd.
Who is it?
I'm Tracy.
Remember me?
I found your corridor door
open, so I walked right in.
Keeping rather unusual
business hours, aren't you?
Did you find out anything?
Did you know that somebody
changed the combination
On Humphries' vault
shortly before the robbery?
Mhm.
One of the conditions under
which we wrote the policy.
It's not unusual.
It should be done periodically anyway.
Do you know the new combination?
I do.
I went with the serviceman that did the job.
Do you know it,
too, Sr. Premium?
Yes.
As a matter of fact, I do.
Say, what are you driving at, Tracy?
Are you suggesting that Cudd
and I are in on this robbery?
I'm not suggesting anything yet.
But somebody provided the
thieves with the combination
On that vault.
Shall I take it?
No, I'll answer it.
Hello?
Yes.
Oh, I can't go into that tonight.
Have him call me back tomorrow.
Is that the Claw?
Who's the Claw?
He's a two time killer, and
he's got Humphries' furs.
He tried to sell them to a fence,
But something went wrong.
Well, if you know who he
is, why don't you arrest him?
I don't know where he is.
And as he failed in contacting the fence,
I thought he might call
you tonight and offer
To sell the furs back at a
big cut under their real value.
Well, we did have such an ideia, but we
Didn't know who had them.
Tonight's our deadline, and
if we don't get the furs back,
We'll have to settle with Humphries.
An experienced fur thief would know that.
The Claw has no experience with furs.
But the man behind him has.
Pat.
Pat, what in the world happened to you?
I've got it, Dick.
I've got it.
You've got what?
The man higher up.
Banning 1-1-2-6.
Well, who is it?
Humphries.
Well, how do you like that?
The guy figures to collect
$100,000 on his policy
And still have his furs.
Are you sure of this, Tracy?
I'm sure.
And I've got a crooked finger to approve it.
It adds up, Cudd.
Humphries is counting on you
buying back the furs tonight.
Sure.
He gets his furs back in the morning,
Plus his cut of the dough
we pay to get them back.
Then Tracy, why don't you do something?
Why don't you lock him up?
No.
Let me get my hands on him.
By locking him up now,
you risk losing your furs.
And we might never catch the killer.
But Humphries can tell us
where the furs are hidden.
Don't you think he'll deny
his connection with the crime?
That means a trial, giving
the killer more time than ever
To skip town with the furs.
That sounds reasonable.
Well, then what do we do?
You and I are going to stick right here.
I'm more certain than
ever now that the killer
Will give you a call tonight.
You and Pat pay Humphries
a friendly little call.
Right.
I think I'm going to enjoy this.
You know, Tracy, I got to admit it,
I'm kind of glad you
dropped in here tonight.
Hello?
Is, uh, he back there?
I'll see.
No, he ain't in.
That's funny.
He's supposed to make a very
important call for me tonight.
Why, Cudd, I didn't expect
to see you here tonight.
Any news about the furs?
Plenty.
Well, Humphries, one of the
first rules of our company
Is to always keep our clients covered.
I don't know what you mean.
Step inside.
Just a minute now.
He's not here.
Come on.
He's got to be here somewhere.
Hey, he's here.
He's drunk.
Let me see.
He's not drunk.
He's been hurt.
Well.
Looks like he had another
cat to mark to his collection.
Is he dead?
Well, just about.
Hey.
It looked to me like he had time
to call the insurance company.
Maybe we ought to help him.
I've had some experience
knocking out bullets.
But why waste the time?
Look we're in the perfect set-up here.
It'd be twice as much dough in it for us
If we call the insurance company.
Just you and me.
Yeah, but what's going to
happen when he finds out
We double-crossed him?
Eh, by that time we'll be seeing the world.
Come on.
That guy and his cats.
I'll.
Maybe your hunch was wrong, Tracy.
There could have been a slip-up somewhere.
Hello?
Is this the Honesty Insurance Company?
Yes.
Who am I speaking with?
Peter Premium.
Who's this?
Never mind who this is.
Look.
How'd you like to get
them Humphries furs back
Tonight, huh?
All right.
Listen carefully.
$50,000 back of the
Blinking Skull half an hour.
Come by yourself.
$50,000.
Back of the Blinking Skull.
And I'm warning you.
No cops.
I understand.
No cops.
Now what do you know about that?
Back of the Blinking Skull.
Are you going, Tracy?
Alone?
You heard what the man said.
No cops.
Good luck.
Buy a pencil from a poor blind man.
Buy a pencil
from a. Prithee,
A random shekel for a myopic mendicant.
Peasant.
Egads.
It is now the very witching time of night,
But not a suspicious character in sight.
Methinks I have failed Dick Tracy.
Hey, Sam.
What's the matter?
Look.
What?
Sightless.
What's the matter with you?
You believe in ghosts?
Come on.
Yeah, but.
I said, come on.
Hey.
Buy a pencil from a poor blind man?
We're expecting someone to
show in about 15 minutes.
Let him in.
And no one else.
OK, Sam.
Oh, with my most profound apologies.
On your way, brother.
We've got to draw the line somewhere.
No moochers.
That epithet is applicable only to him
Who is afflicted with impecuniosity.
Come again?
I haven't left.
There, keeper of the hooch.
OK, name it.
Fetch me something savory and
salubrious, concocted perhaps
From citrus grown in the gardens of Grenada,
Chilled with the snows of San Barreda.
Uh, served in a chalice.
Sorry, bub, we ain't got any.
In language comporting with
your intelligence, lemonade.
Lemonade?
Dear me, doesn't anyone
understand English anymore?
Come on.
Smile, kid, smile.
Another few minutes, you and me
is going to be $50,000 richer.
Somebody winged you, huh?
Just a scratch.
I've been out cold for a while, though.
I, uh I think you ought to
let Jigger take a look at that.
He's pretty good with them things.
I'll be all right.
I think you ought to take him to see Jigger.
OK.
I've got to stick around.
You can't go around like that.
I've done it before.
I think Sam is right.
You ought to have that looked after.
You guys sound like you're
trying to get rid of me.
Oh, no.
No, you're wrong.
Sure act like maybe a black
cat ran across your path.
You're wrong about me, Sam.
I can.
Claw, it had nothing to do with you.
I had nothing.
No, Claw!
No!
I I didn't want to hurt you.
No tricks.
Yes?
Boss?
This is the Claw.
I just wanted to tell you
somebody from the insurance
Company is on his way down.
I'll take him to the
junkyard on Primrose Street.
We'll have our dough in a few minutes.
And, uh Boss, uh, we'll only
have to split it two ways.
Fine, Claw, fine.
What's the matter?
Something wrong?
No.
Everything's swell, Claw.
Everything's swell.
It's a frame-up!
I've been waiting for this.
OK, Jigger, you lead the way.
Lead the way where?
Hey, you cops can't shove me around.
I run a respectable joint.
We'll talk that over in the back room.
Get going.
Let me out of here!
Let me out of here!
Oh, Dick Tracy.
I'll be right with you, Vitamin.
OK, Jigger, where'd he go?
I don't know, Tracy.
I know.
I heard everything.
Uh, the furs are in the junkyard on.
Not Black Street.
Uh, no.
On Primrose Street.
Vitamin, I'll make you
Police Commissioner for this.
Call Headquarters and
have them send a squad car.
Aye, aye, sir.
Hey, these pipes are hot, Tracy.
You better get used to these, Jigger.
I know you're there.
Come out.
I couldn't get that
Police Commissioner's job
For you, Vitamin.
No?
That's filled for a while.
This is to show our appreciation.
Haven't you anything to say, Vitamin?
For the first time in
my life, I'm speechless.
You know, I think we should
give you a badge more often.
Oh.
Oh.
Fortunately, I happen to have
a little speech of acceptance
With me.
"My dear friends,
to write of them..."
Vitamin, I have a table reserved for us
At a nearby restaurant.
Suppose you save that speech until then?
Oh, Dick, how nice.
Dancing?
Why not?
Tracy, I'm glad you're still here.
I just got a report on Hatch Harry.
What about him?
One of our men spotted
him in the freight yard.
Sorry, Tess.
Come on, Pat.
Oh, Vitamin, you won't mind
taking Tess to dinner for me,
Will you?
Don't you need me?
I think we can manage.
Sometimes I wish I'd been
born a super criminal.
Why, my dear?
Because then I might get to
see something of Sr. Dick Tracy.