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You get yourself killed running through that traffic? 22 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:06,439 Coming now? Some terrible's happening. Alry, Now, what is it that's 23 00:03:06,479 --> 00:03:08,520 so terrible? Chicken in I'm a man. He cures in the bobby shop 24 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:13,000 right over there. Man came in for manicure about twenty minutes ago. Is 25 00:03:13,039 --> 00:03:15,840 that so awful? Little one? Well, he seemed to be in pain 26 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:19,479 when I was a finished, He seemed to be trying to stay conscious, 27 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:23,400 but he kept telling me to hurry. Well, a minute ago he killed 28 00:03:23,439 --> 00:03:25,759 open the chair. I think he's dying. And what makes you think so? 29 00:03:25,879 --> 00:03:30,080 May I ask you? I noticed blood in his coat. He bleeding 30 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,400 the death. He said he's been shots. Ran over to get you. 31 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:37,759 He was dying, and he insisted on getting a manicure. We'll see what 32 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:45,039 this is all about? Is this the shop? Yeah? All right, 33 00:03:45,199 --> 00:03:47,719 all right, Now where's this fellow wh's supposed to be dying? He isn't 34 00:03:47,719 --> 00:04:11,319 supposed to be dying anymore, Officer, he's dead. Tell me honestly, 35 00:04:11,439 --> 00:04:15,439 Vans, did you ever hear of anything so completely unreasonable and dying man insisting 36 00:04:15,439 --> 00:04:17,839 on a manicure? Yes, no, Markham, I never did. But 37 00:04:17,879 --> 00:04:20,399 I'm glad you called me in on the case. I had to call you 38 00:04:20,439 --> 00:04:24,720 in despite the fact that I'm district attorney and I have a very capable police 39 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:28,120 force functioning. I'm sure this case will be a test for even your talents. 40 00:04:28,199 --> 00:04:30,439 You know who the dead man was, Yes, a scientist named Edgar 41 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,319 Wilson. We have no idea who shot him, or why, or for 42 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:38,959 that matter where. I understand that you don't know. But what theories have 43 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:43,959 you, Markham? Theories? What theories could anybody have? Sergeant Heath has 44 00:04:43,959 --> 00:04:47,040 a fantastically fictional idea that there was a code message on the man's fingernails and 45 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,319 they wanted that message covered by liquid polish when he felt himself dying. That 46 00:04:50,399 --> 00:04:54,759 would be something new, wouldn't it. I suppose what ideas you have? 47 00:04:55,079 --> 00:05:01,360 Well, I, Sergeant he you don't look very happy. Wonder why that's 48 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:05,040 the trouble here? Trouble? Oh, I got no trouble. I just 49 00:05:05,079 --> 00:05:09,839 got a murdered guy who wanted a manicure on my hands. That's all seems 50 00:05:09,879 --> 00:05:14,439 to me. He wanted to manicure on his hands. What I'm sorry? 51 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:16,199 Please speak? What about your theory that there was a code message written on 52 00:05:16,199 --> 00:05:18,680 the fingernails? What have you done about that? I had the laboratory put 53 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:23,399 some polish remover on the guy's nails. Polished came off all right, But 54 00:05:23,439 --> 00:05:26,759 there was nothing written on him. Isn't it possible that whatever was written came 55 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:30,480 off when the polish remover was applied. Hey, I never thought of that. 56 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:33,480 Holy coh. If that's what happened, I'm the prize bone head in 57 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:38,040 the department to kick myself all over. Don't do it on account of the 58 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:42,439 polish removing here. I'm pretty sure there was nothing on the victims nails. 59 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:46,920 It makes me feel better. Hey, hard you know there was nothing on 60 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:49,439 him? I don't know. I just don't believe there was, and I 61 00:05:49,519 --> 00:05:54,720 have good reason. As usual, the DA here is president of your fan 62 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:57,560 club Vance, but I'm not even a member. I want to know the 63 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:00,000 reason why that guy got a manicure as he was dying. If it wasn't 64 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,600 a cover up, something, I might be able to tell you that, 65 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:05,800 Heath, I have an idea. I'll be able to tell you the secret 66 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:11,240 of Edgar Wilson's fingernails just as soon as I have his killer under my thumb. 67 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:27,040 All I gotta say, that's all you ever gotta say? What makes 68 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:30,319 you so sleepy? Sleepy? Who knows? So wonder to me? You 69 00:06:30,319 --> 00:06:34,040 didn't fall asleep when you shot that scientist guy. I'd go Wilson this morning, 70 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:39,519 who said I was awake? I was awake. I'd have plugged him 71 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:42,800 so good he when they moved this way, he lived long enough to make 72 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:46,360 it to some bobby shop paper say well, he didn't talk, so we 73 00:06:46,439 --> 00:06:50,519 got nothing to worry about. All I, oh, hey, you got 74 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:55,720 me doing it? Stop cutting in on my record? Yo? How much 75 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:59,560 where do we got to go? This is it the first shack off the 76 00:06:59,639 --> 00:07:03,680 road? Then you see it? I guess that means yes, our orders 77 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:09,040 are to go in and look around for a bottle marked experiment X. Experiments 78 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:13,160 X your dope like an ecstasy. Hey, I've seen that pit you with 79 00:07:13,639 --> 00:07:19,240 that girl. What's the name, some name for a girl? Come I 80 00:07:19,319 --> 00:07:25,480 sleeping out and cut that out. You're making me sleepy? So what is 81 00:07:25,519 --> 00:07:30,120 that bad? Any chanced up being anybody in the shake? You know better 82 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,839 than that. The guys we work for, I know what the score is. 83 00:07:33,279 --> 00:07:35,920 They said Wilson would be alone when we got there to plug him. 84 00:07:35,959 --> 00:07:40,519 He was. They said there would be nobody in this shack. There won't 85 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:45,120 be nobody. It's okay with me. I ain't in the mood for company. 86 00:07:45,319 --> 00:07:48,399 See if the door us back it is. Come on, let's bust 87 00:07:48,439 --> 00:07:51,519 it in. You do it. I'll stay here and watch. Come on, 88 00:07:51,839 --> 00:08:01,319 sleepy, I'll need help. Okay, now once more, I must 89 00:08:01,319 --> 00:08:07,759 wait. Okay, okay, let's do it. Hold of the second sleep 90 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:13,879 pleasure, just to get this flashlight out of my pocket. There we are, 91 00:08:15,399 --> 00:08:20,480 Now for a look around the row bottles over on that shelf. Yeah, 92 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:24,279 so I see. What all we gotta do is find one marked experiment 93 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:28,560 X. Like an ecstasy show was a great picture that I agree. There 94 00:08:28,639 --> 00:08:33,039 was one scene in it would be the bottle we want right here on the 95 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:37,639 second shelf. You see it, Experiment X. Let's grab it and get 96 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:39,840 out of here so we can collect our dough. Hey, you grab it. 97 00:08:39,879 --> 00:08:41,440 I'd have to reach up a little. Okay, here we go, 98 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:56,639 come to pop a little bottle. Well, tell me, your faul, 99 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:01,039 tell me exactly what happened. It was like this. I did what you 100 00:09:01,159 --> 00:09:03,639 told me when the Miller brothers killed Professor Wilson for you, I followed them 101 00:09:03,639 --> 00:09:07,399 to make sure there was no slipper. What happened when they went after they 102 00:09:07,399 --> 00:09:09,759 explosions. I'm trying to tell you. I followed the car. I saw 103 00:09:09,879 --> 00:09:13,200 him stop. I sawed him break down the door and go in through shehek 104 00:09:13,279 --> 00:09:18,840 I found Wilson's laboratory, Gord, and what happened? Then they were inside 105 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:20,159 for a while, a minute maybe, Then all of a sudden there was 106 00:09:20,159 --> 00:09:24,480 a big explosion, and then no more Scheck, no more Miller brothers. 107 00:09:28,799 --> 00:09:33,080 So they found experiment X. Did they? I guess they did. But 108 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:37,039 Professor Wilson was smart. He probably knew an attempered we meant to steal it. 109 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:39,879 He had to contain a wire so that they'd set off explosive. I 110 00:09:39,879 --> 00:09:46,159 guess that's what it was. Very clever the professor, Even after he was 111 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:52,120 dead, he managed to take care of the man who shot him. However, 112 00:09:52,399 --> 00:09:58,000 I have another flan. What's that I must find out about Experiment X, 113 00:09:58,399 --> 00:10:03,000 And I think I know who can tell me. Professor Wilson had an 114 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:18,639 assistant. I wonder how she's going to like assisting me. No, no, 115 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:22,039 I'm sorry, sergeant. There's nothing I can tell you that I haven't 116 00:10:22,039 --> 00:10:26,080 already told you about my employer. Oh no, look, miss Rainy, 117 00:10:26,159 --> 00:10:30,759 Professor Wilson must have been working on some extra special something that somebody didn't want 118 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:33,159 him to finish, so they killed him. If he was, I didn't 119 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:35,960 know about it. Now, please, sergeant, he's late and I've got 120 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:37,679 to leave here. I have my coat on and my head on. Unexpected 121 00:10:37,759 --> 00:10:41,559 home if I think if anything that can help you, off on you? 122 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:54,639 Okay, okay, goodbye. Well that's dead. I help your pardon. 123 00:10:56,519 --> 00:11:00,600 I'm sorry I started you. My name is Vance By all Van, I'm 124 00:11:00,639 --> 00:11:03,440 a private investigator. Oh yes, I know about you. Are you working 125 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:07,000 on Professor Wilson's murder? I will work on it when I can find something 126 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:11,399 tangible to start with. Do you mind if I walk a little way with 127 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:16,159 you? All Right, it's a dark street and I'm glad of the company 128 00:11:16,759 --> 00:11:20,399 is there's something I can tell you that will help you. You'd know that 129 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:24,159 better than I. I just told Sergeant heat on the telephone that I didn't 130 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:28,360 know what Professor Wilson was working on. If that's what you mean, you 131 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:31,240 must know you were his assistant, as I understand. Yes, but that 132 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:35,000 doesn't mean stop right where you are? Was the idea turnaround? Either of 133 00:11:35,039 --> 00:11:41,120 you. That's good. I don't want to use my gun. That's bad. 134 00:11:41,639 --> 00:11:43,159 That's no. Lie. What do you want? Not you, whoever 135 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:46,480 you are? I mare you want this young lady? You want miss Doris 136 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:50,919 Rainey. I believe your name is to accompany me. No, apparently she 137 00:11:50,960 --> 00:12:05,279 has neither the desire nor the intentions, So I think, I, oh, 138 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:09,559 brother, what fell on me that car? Yo? Stop? Stop? 139 00:12:11,039 --> 00:12:16,279 License number one eight five seven. Well, my friend, whoever you 140 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:28,519 are, you got the girl, but I've got your number. Guess I'm 141 00:12:28,519 --> 00:12:31,200 having the license number you gave me. Check right now. You're sure you're 142 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:33,960 not hurt badly. I have a slight headache, but I'll be all right, 143 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:37,840 and I guarantee I'll be a bigger headache. Whoever hit me on the 144 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:39,279 head. Sergeant Heath is checking the number. Who buzz me in a minute. 145 00:12:39,519 --> 00:12:41,919 You say they kidnapped the girl who is walking with you. Yes, 146 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:46,000 but I'm sure they won't harm her for a while anyway, and by that 147 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,320 time, with the help of the license check up, I ought to have 148 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:50,000 found them. You're lucky. You got to look at the place, Marcom. 149 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:54,559 I always get at least one lucky break on a case. Otherwise I 150 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:58,200 failed dismally in most of them, I think. Otherwise, am I just 151 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:03,799 am in advance? That's probably heat? Now hold on, yes, yes, 152 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:05,960 he'd have Vants on the phone now waiting for the name and address of 153 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:09,080 the owner of that license number. He's gonna have a long wait. What 154 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:11,679 do you mean there's no such number listed? That's what I mean. Vans 155 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:16,679 either got the number wrong or the car had phony plates. It's one of 156 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:20,639 those two possibilities. I'm sure the plates were out of it. Thanks he 157 00:13:22,159 --> 00:13:26,679 Love Vans. Yes, I heard Heath Markham. All I can say is 158 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:31,159 that maybe I do always get one lucky break on a case. But apparently 159 00:13:31,279 --> 00:13:45,519 that license number isn't it Already I am losing paces with you, miss Rainy. 160 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:50,879 Apparently twisting your arm doesn't no good. I ever get off this chair. 161 00:13:50,279 --> 00:13:56,159 You nothing you're tied securely, and I will untie you only when I 162 00:13:56,200 --> 00:14:03,399 am good and ready. It's very annoying, very musical, and cannot help 163 00:14:03,399 --> 00:14:05,399 you in the least little bit. This house of mine is far out in 164 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:09,360 the country. Nobody can hear you. Now. Will you tell me what 165 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:11,840 I want to know? How can I tell you? If I don't know? 166 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:16,879 I am the same speech, always, the same speech. You know, 167 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:20,279 I don't know about experiment X. You worked with Wilson, You were 168 00:14:20,279 --> 00:14:24,600 with him and everything he did? You know about experiment I can't tell me. 169 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:35,960 You'll tell me. Do you hear me a little? I don't know 170 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:41,360 anything about each time except the professor Wilson was working on it. There's much 171 00:14:41,399 --> 00:14:46,879 I know too. He wouldn't talk. When I sent two men to persuade 172 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:50,759 him, they shot him. I knew about his shack in the mountains. 173 00:14:50,799 --> 00:14:56,159 My man went there, but they were killed in an explosion. But Wilson 174 00:14:56,240 --> 00:15:01,159 had another laboratory. Where is it? I don't know. I keep telling 175 00:15:01,159 --> 00:15:03,240 you I don't know. That is a lie, and you will tell it 176 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:11,120 your must, all right? Oh God, do you know the man who 177 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:16,840 was with me? Do you know who it was? I'm not interested you 178 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:22,840 will be He was Finlo Vans. Did you ever hear a Fino Vents? 179 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:28,080 Firm of Vans? What about it? He never saw my face. If 180 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:30,919 he did see the license plates in my car, it will do no good 181 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,759 for I change two of the numbers myself change No matter who he is, 182 00:15:33,799 --> 00:15:39,039 he can never find me. We'll see, miss Rainie. I lose patience 183 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:43,480 again talking to you. Wilson was working on an explosively called Experiment X. 184 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:48,559 It was a liquid that much we know what was the formula. I never 185 00:15:48,679 --> 00:15:52,000 knew the formula. That is possible. But you know where there is some 186 00:15:52,159 --> 00:16:02,799 of that liquid? Some of my chemists. Where is that place? Desate 187 00:16:02,879 --> 00:16:10,639 you, brave worlds, But you've been here only a few hours. All 188 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:15,559 I've done so far is to twist your arm a little. That is nothing 189 00:16:15,679 --> 00:16:21,440 compared to what will happen to you, as Rainie. Don't forget. Nobody 190 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:26,960 has any idea where you are. Nobody can possibly rescue you. What about 191 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:30,320 it? I have an idea how to make you tell me what I want 192 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:38,639 to know. It's really it's my suggestion that you talk while you still have 193 00:16:38,759 --> 00:17:03,160 a tongue to talk. Quick. District Attorney markham A manicure murder case opened 194 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:07,880 when Professor Edgar Wilson, scientist, died in a barber shop after insisting the 195 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:14,079 girl manicure his nails even though he was dying. We have no explanation this 196 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:18,559 no clue that professor's killer as yet, although Philo Vance did have an encounter 197 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:22,480 with an individual whom we believe was the brains behind the murder, in an 198 00:17:22,519 --> 00:17:26,240 effort to work out some tangible lead to that individual. Vance is in my 199 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:34,640 office. Where do I begin? Markham? A simple question like that has 200 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:37,680 me stopped completely on this case. A simple answer might be an order of 201 00:17:37,759 --> 00:17:41,359 Vance. But I don't have it, either a simple or a complex answer. 202 00:17:42,039 --> 00:17:45,559 All I can tell you is I don't know. Well, let's start 203 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:49,200 from the beginning. Professor Wilson wanted a manicure when he was dying. Why 204 00:17:51,079 --> 00:17:53,319 you said you thought you knew the reason. Let's say I still think I 205 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:57,000 know the reason. How do I prove what I think? There's one way, 206 00:17:57,160 --> 00:18:00,279 and Vance. It might be the answer that question you asked about, 207 00:18:00,319 --> 00:18:03,160 where do I begin? Yes, well, I'm listening. What's the one 208 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:07,400 way? Why not check back at the barbershop where Wilson died. Perhaps that 209 00:18:07,559 --> 00:18:10,640 shop has some connection with his death and the reason he insisted on having his 210 00:18:10,759 --> 00:18:12,920 nails done. Good idea, Markholm, that's where I'm going for a little 211 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:18,200 interview with that barbershop manicurist. Maybe I'll even let her do my nails. 212 00:18:18,079 --> 00:18:22,440 Maybe having her hold my hand will help me make heads the tails out of 213 00:18:22,519 --> 00:18:36,160 this case. How do you like him? Long shot of half and half? 214 00:18:36,279 --> 00:18:40,240 Shoot yourself, mister. If I suited myself, i'd pack you in 215 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:45,200 right now. I'm tired. You don't need no manicure. Really, you 216 00:18:45,279 --> 00:18:49,119 come in for keep out of the rain. It's not raining, and you 217 00:18:49,279 --> 00:18:55,960 don't need no manicure. So you yeah, back we started. Maybe i'd 218 00:18:56,000 --> 00:19:00,559 better introduce myself. I'm vile o Vance. Oh it's okay, I'm swoman. 219 00:19:00,799 --> 00:19:03,599 It takes me little time to fade, so your van So what? 220 00:19:04,079 --> 00:19:07,759 So? I understand you are the young lady who manicured Professor Wilson's nails as 221 00:19:07,799 --> 00:19:11,079 he was dying. That's right. You ain't figuring, not kicking off aire 222 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:15,000 you not just yet. I want to know what he told you when he 223 00:19:15,079 --> 00:19:17,519 came in. He came in, he sat down, stuck out his hand. 224 00:19:17,519 --> 00:19:19,720 He says, give me a manicure fast. There was colorless liquid polish 225 00:19:19,759 --> 00:19:22,880 on his nails. You put it on, like I said, He said, 226 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:26,519 give me a manicure fast, I said, long shot of in between? 227 00:19:26,599 --> 00:19:30,240 He said shot? So why fire them and finish them up? Not 228 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:33,640 all step? When I see he's about to pass down, I beat it 229 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:34,920 out of the shop and pick up the traffic cup in the corner. Thank 230 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:40,119 you very much. Hey, where are you going? Manicure? You didn't 231 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:42,119 need? Ain't finished? I know, and neither is the case I'm working 232 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:45,640 on. But after what you've told me, it will be finished and very 233 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:59,799 soon. Hello, dear, come in. Am I a little late with 234 00:20:00,079 --> 00:20:03,000 invitation? Well it's a difference, better late than never, I always say. 235 00:20:03,319 --> 00:20:04,720 I always say something about an early bird. I can't remember right now 236 00:20:04,759 --> 00:20:08,119 what the rest of it is. What's on your mind? Worried if I 237 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:15,119 sit down? Apparently that's that paper on your hand? It is. Well, 238 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:18,599 there's a teletype report on an explosion out in the suburbs. Two men 239 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:21,880 were killed when a shank blew up and checked on the car they were driving. 240 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:23,279 We think we know who they were, Yes, Yeah, and Miller 241 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:29,960 brothers, Sleepy and Joe. I'd kill it. We can't figure. Is 242 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:33,039 it a turning? Markham speaking Vance Markham, Hello, Markham. I just 243 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:36,680 left the barbershop where Professor Wilson had his nails manicure. Yes, you remember, 244 00:20:36,759 --> 00:20:38,119 I thought I knew why he had them done as he was dying. 245 00:20:38,279 --> 00:20:41,319 You had an idea about it. Yes, it's now a conviction. I 246 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:45,279 want you to find out for me if the Professor was working on some new 247 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:48,960 invention that was in a liquid form, a new process and explosive, something 248 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:52,880 along those lines. I don't know how I can vance. As you know, 249 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:56,440 Wilson's girl assistant was kidnapped and he left no records. Wait a minute, 250 00:20:56,599 --> 00:21:00,119 Yes, there were two men i'd kill who met their death in an 251 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:03,559 explosion in a shack in the suburb. Sergeant Heath just told me. You 252 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:07,319 think that might tie up with our case? It might, and it's worth 253 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:10,599 a gamble. Right, We've got to work fast now That girl assistant might 254 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:14,960 be killed by whoever is responsible for Wilson's death. You won't believe she doesn't 255 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:17,359 know what the professor was working on. What do we do about it? 256 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:21,079 We'll take one long shot, Margaret. I'll need your help, all right. 257 00:21:21,319 --> 00:21:23,680 Did you know professor Wilson had an assistant named doctor Blake. No, 258 00:21:23,759 --> 00:21:27,119 I didn't well, he didn't have But I don't believe anybody knows that, 259 00:21:27,559 --> 00:21:32,039 or the fact that I'm going to be in touch with doctor Blake, who 260 00:21:32,119 --> 00:21:47,480 was going to make a killer take his medicine. You're so obstinate, Miss 261 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:55,720 Rainy, so very obstinate. Please can I have some water? You can 262 00:21:55,880 --> 00:22:00,799 have anything you want after you tell me what I must know. Wilson was 263 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:04,960 working on an explosive. He called it Experiment X. What were the components 264 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:10,880 of experiment Please, a little boy, I get a sample of Experiment X. 265 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:14,359 A drop will do the smallest possible sample. My chemist can analyze it 266 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:15,640 and break it down. Tell me I don't know. I don't know. 267 00:22:15,759 --> 00:22:22,440 You're somewhere to make you talk. Somewhere you'll tell me what I want to 268 00:22:22,519 --> 00:22:29,359 know. Ah, you're a nice girl, is really very nice girl. 269 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:34,039 And you have a mother. You wouldn't dare go near her. The police 270 00:22:34,079 --> 00:22:37,079 will be protecting it. Follow vans to figure that you'll try to make me 271 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:41,960 talk to her. You leave my mother alone. So that is the way. 272 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:53,000 Now I can who is it? Come? How this newspaper look at 273 00:22:53,039 --> 00:22:56,759 it? Let me have it. How is the time to look for it? 274 00:22:56,960 --> 00:22:59,799 On the first page, he eyed him in the corner, Dad signed 275 00:22:59,839 --> 00:23:04,039 it. Assistant arrives tonight this one, Doctor William Blake nodded. Scientist in 276 00:23:04,119 --> 00:23:07,880 his own right and former assistant to the late Professor Edgar Wilson arrives at Main 277 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:12,839 Street station at midnight tonight Doctor Blake and asked him, and leaving his hometown, 278 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:17,680 that he was coming here to continue the experiment started by Professor Wilson. 279 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:22,319 Doctor Blake declared that he has a complete knowledge of them, having been in 280 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:32,279 constant contact with a long distance phone with Professor Wilson from knew. Doctor Blake 281 00:23:32,519 --> 00:23:34,960 was ready. I don't know what you're talking about. What a girl who 282 00:23:36,079 --> 00:23:41,279 was smart enough to be Professor Wilson's assistant. You have a terrible perhaps now 283 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:45,920 we don't need you Andy. Yeah, I think we should be ready to 284 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:52,160 leave here very shortly. You and I have to meet the midnight train and 285 00:23:52,839 --> 00:24:07,200 doctor William Blake here he comes, Flice, I get your cameras ready, 286 00:24:08,799 --> 00:24:11,680 Doc Blake place, yes, your price, hollow hover, We get some 287 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:15,279 pictures. Hurry. Then it's very late and I'm very anxious to get to 288 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:18,440 mine. Oh, take a minute. Doctor way, okay, boys shots 289 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:22,480 now, and I just want more praise Doctor Blake. Hold thank you? 290 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:26,200 Oh is it all right? Gentlemen? Please Doc go ahead. Thanks for 291 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:30,839 your time. Thank you very much. I'll be at the Carlton Hotel of 292 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:33,799 your newspapers you'd want me. Thanks, Doc, I thank a Boston sent 293 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:41,960 an. What you're gonna work, I shall see him good night, Doctor 294 00:24:42,039 --> 00:24:47,160 Blake. Yes, you you're a friend. It doesn't matter who I am 295 00:24:47,279 --> 00:24:51,480 or who he is either. It will kindly not make any disturbance. But 296 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:55,799 come along quietly with us. I don't understand who will live? Eh. 297 00:24:56,000 --> 00:25:00,640 You were Professor Wilson's assistance when you want project. He was working on the 298 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:03,519 secret of his experiment X. Yes, of course, take it on and 299 00:25:03,599 --> 00:25:07,319 he hold it tight. Take your hands off his beard, his beard, 300 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:11,240 it's fall along. It's a trick. Come on, it's gonna not so 301 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:17,000 fast. I think I can hold you too, markham Mry, this was 302 00:25:17,039 --> 00:25:19,559 a trick, yes, and you felt alright, I'll take this lan here, 303 00:25:19,599 --> 00:25:23,880 hold on. Nobody holds on to me. I make your stay like 304 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:30,319 this nice work mane holding gave me no trouble at all. Oh, that 305 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:34,119 was no trouble. Markham hitting my friend was fun. Let's get him up, 306 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:37,240 get him out of here. I'll be ready to tell you why Professor 307 00:25:37,279 --> 00:25:41,880 Wilson insisted that his nails be done, even though he knew he was done 308 00:25:41,960 --> 00:26:07,599 for Markham. My friend, I'm beginning to believe you're a very persuasive young 309 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:10,599 man. What do you mean, mats, you persuaded those men we picked 310 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:14,039 up at the railroad station to tell you where they were holding Professor Wilson's assistant 311 00:26:14,079 --> 00:26:17,599 Doris Rainey. That was relatively easy. Besides, I wouldn't have had a 312 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:19,200 chance to work on them if you hadn't found them for me. They found 313 00:26:19,319 --> 00:26:22,599 me Markham, just as I hoped they would when we had the newspapers print 314 00:26:22,599 --> 00:26:26,440 the arrival of the entirely fictitious doctor place. Certainly, did you know, 315 00:26:26,559 --> 00:26:30,079 of course, if my bard hadn't come loose, I'd have gone along with 316 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:33,519 them. Yes, and I would have followed you as for our plan, 317 00:26:33,799 --> 00:26:37,599 Yes, that's you said that I was persuasive. That's right. Could I 318 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:41,519 persuade you to get around to telling me why Professor Wilson wanted his nails manicured? 319 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:45,240 Certainly? Let's go back a little though, all right. Wilson was 320 00:26:45,279 --> 00:26:48,680 working on his Experiment X, an explosive. Yes, we know that now. 321 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:53,079 It was a liquid. We know that too. The man who kidnapped 322 00:26:53,079 --> 00:26:56,200 Miss Rainey hired two men to shoot him, which they did, but they 323 00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:59,640 didn't kill him. He ran from them and got to the barber shop. 324 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:03,000 I know that Markham Wilson had some of his Experiment X under his fingernails. 325 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:07,079 The manicurist told me his nails were long. We know he was working with 326 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:11,640 a liquid. The smallest quantity of Experiment X, if it fell into the 327 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:15,480 wrong hands, would be sufficient for his killers to find its formula. I 328 00:27:15,759 --> 00:27:18,000 see he had his nails filed, so any evidence of the formula that might 329 00:27:18,079 --> 00:27:22,160 have been under them would be lost. Exactly. Sergeant Heat's theory that something 330 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:26,920 might have been written on the fingernails wasn't impractical. One. If Wilson had 331 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:29,920 had time to write anything on his nails, he would have had time to 332 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:33,559 tell what he had written to the manicurist or the barber. I knew it 333 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:36,480 wasn't that, so, you said at the beginning of this little adventure. 334 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:40,480 Yes I did, And now I say it's the end of our little adventure. 335 00:27:41,039 --> 00:29:07,200 The end of the Manicure murder case the Welcome Back Sergeant. He's thought, 336 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:14,240 and I'm being generous by calling it a thought about the potential for a 337 00:29:14,559 --> 00:29:21,680 hidden message. Maybe just one of the most all around dumb lines that the 338 00:29:21,799 --> 00:29:29,279 show has ever had anyone take. Fans explained the problem with the logic of 339 00:29:29,839 --> 00:29:36,119 putting some hidden codes on the nails. But it's worse than that because recall, 340 00:29:36,759 --> 00:29:44,079 the manicurists put a standard clearcoat that was colorless. While there are some 341 00:29:44,519 --> 00:29:51,240 modern nail polishes that can look like your nails, but they're not really. 342 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:57,200 We're talking nineteen fifty clearcoat that you would put on a guy's nails that's not 343 00:29:57,400 --> 00:30:03,319 going to conceal anything. In fact, it would accentuate. And even if 344 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:11,160 that weren't dumb, using nail polish remover to get to the secret message, 345 00:30:11,079 --> 00:30:17,799 and recall that this is also nineteen fifty, so nail polish remover is acetone 346 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:25,079 based. It's like the onion of wrongness with what Heath proposed. Even if 347 00:30:25,119 --> 00:30:30,480 he wasn't totally wrong and off base with one part of his idea, there 348 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:36,000 was another part of his idea that was equally off base, even if the 349 00:30:36,119 --> 00:30:41,039 other thing hadn't been wrong. On the other hand, we did have a 350 00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:47,960 smarter villain. I think that most other detectives, if they got a license 351 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:52,039 number would know that it's something they should know, but that the car was 352 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:57,640 stolen or the plates were stolen. Vance was hoping that this was his lucky 353 00:30:57,799 --> 00:31:04,200 break. In the Filo Vans universe, it would not be at all unexpected 354 00:31:04,359 --> 00:31:11,400 for a criminal mastermind to commit a crime and to have his own plates on 355 00:31:11,480 --> 00:31:15,799 the car that went back to his address. So again we had a higher 356 00:31:17,039 --> 00:31:22,480 level of villain who was also menacing to the poorer assistant. I did also 357 00:31:22,559 --> 00:31:29,519 appreciate he's correctly calling Markham the president of the Filo Vans fan glove, because 358 00:31:29,799 --> 00:31:33,880 that's how he acts. On the downside, I wasn't a huge fan of 359 00:31:33,039 --> 00:31:40,640 the episode, concluding with some as you know dialogue, particularly when it was 360 00:31:41,599 --> 00:31:48,240 laying out something that the audience probably just fill in by reading between the lines. 361 00:31:48,799 --> 00:31:55,640 Listener comments and feedback. Now and we go to Facebook where Richard writes, 362 00:31:55,759 --> 00:31:59,319 Okay, so I have a question about this series that has been bugging 363 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:04,119 me for the longest time. How come no one refers to him as mister 364 00:32:04,319 --> 00:32:08,839 Vance or follow is follow his first name. Even his secretary calls him Vance. 365 00:32:09,559 --> 00:32:14,359 I know people in the military will refer to each other by last name, 366 00:32:14,799 --> 00:32:19,400 but I would think at a minimum his assistant would refer to him as 367 00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:25,880 something other than just Vance. It's a good question. Yeah, his first 368 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:30,359 name is follow, but no one seems to use it. I can't recall 369 00:32:30,799 --> 00:32:36,880 in either of the two Fino Vance books I've read anyone using it, so 370 00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:43,319 it might be a carryover from the book. It's certainly not unheard of for 371 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:52,240 someone to be called either mostly or all the time by just their last name. 372 00:32:52,799 --> 00:33:00,799 Thinking of later examples, you had George Peppard's character or Banachek, who 373 00:33:00,960 --> 00:33:06,880 pretty much everyone called Banicheck. And then the one that I grew up with 374 00:33:07,359 --> 00:33:13,160 and therefore totally made this issue a non issue for me, was mcgeiver. 375 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:17,680 Even mcgiver's best friend Pete calls him mcgeiver. In a formal setting, he 376 00:33:17,720 --> 00:33:22,599 calls a mcgeiver. When it's just the two of them hanging out, he 377 00:33:22,759 --> 00:33:28,480 calls a mcgeiver. And sometimes fictional characters and even real life people can have 378 00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:34,480 weird things that they call each other. I remember the radio adaptation of the 379 00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:43,079 novel Noon Wine, where the wife always called her husband mister Thompson, which 380 00:33:43,599 --> 00:33:50,079 never stopped striking me as weird during the entire program. I will say that 381 00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:59,759 mixing up how your character is referred to can be nice because it can express 382 00:34:00,079 --> 00:34:07,720 some differences in relationship. It can show some character points, like they did 383 00:34:07,880 --> 00:34:13,719 introduce one character in Banichek who took to calling him Thomas. I think in 384 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:17,800 the second season. Now with Filow Vans, I can see why he would 385 00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:22,239 just go buy vance to everyone, because I could see if I had the 386 00:34:22,400 --> 00:34:30,039 name Filow not liking it a whole lot now the obvious alternative to Filo would 387 00:34:30,079 --> 00:34:34,480 be filled. But I think, honestly, he is not a film I 388 00:34:34,599 --> 00:34:37,719 cannot imagine him saying to someone, oh, please just call me Phil. 389 00:34:38,119 --> 00:34:42,719 No, No, that's not him at all. So I think that him 390 00:34:42,960 --> 00:34:45,920 just being called Vans makes a lot of sense in this case, even though 391 00:34:46,119 --> 00:34:52,039 it does limit some of the characterization and nuance that you get with variation. 392 00:34:52,360 --> 00:34:57,199 But then again, you wouldn't be likely to get it from this show that 393 00:34:57,400 --> 00:35:00,840 much anyway. Now it's time to think our Patreon supporter of the day, 394 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:08,519 and I want to go ahead and thank Murph MCB Patreon supporter since February of 395 00:35:08,719 --> 00:35:15,440 twenty twenty one, currently supporting the program at the Shamas level of four dollars 396 00:35:15,559 --> 00:35:19,760 or more per month. Thank you so much for your support, and that 397 00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:23,559 will do it for today. If you are enjoying the podcast, I encourage 398 00:35:23,559 --> 00:35:29,519 you to follow us using your favorite podcast software, and please be sure to 399 00:35:29,679 --> 00:35:34,840 rate and review the show wherever you download it from. We'll be back next 400 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:39,079 Thursday with another episode of Follow Vans, but join us back here tomorrow for 401 00:35:39,840 --> 00:35:45,320 yours truly, Johnny Dollar where I didn't want to hang around. I had 402 00:35:45,320 --> 00:35:47,639 a good thing going here and I wasn't about to get it a last step. 403 00:35:49,360 --> 00:35:51,719 But it was no use. I couldn't give her up. I did 404 00:35:51,800 --> 00:35:53,679 it. Father think about it. He didn't like the idea, but he 405 00:35:53,719 --> 00:35:57,280 couldn't do much about it. She got her own way with him, the 406 00:35:57,320 --> 00:36:00,400 same as with everybody else, except when she wanted to go to York. 407 00:36:00,079 --> 00:36:04,199 Well, nobody can win them all. I understand you put that idea in 408 00:36:04,239 --> 00:36:07,199 her head, Sammy, then you better take a different understand Yeah. Yeah, 409 00:36:08,360 --> 00:36:12,320 she was bugged up on that idea before I ever met her. That's 410 00:36:12,360 --> 00:36:15,519 why she started coming in here. She wanted me to put her hep on 411 00:36:15,639 --> 00:36:17,880 how it was in the big wild city. She wanted to know how to 412 00:36:17,960 --> 00:36:21,920 get in. What was the names of all the spots, including the rough 413 00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:27,239 ones, how the rackets worked? How would I know how the rackets work? 414 00:36:28,119 --> 00:36:30,719 How didn't say a word? Sammy? You know in some ways that 415 00:36:30,840 --> 00:36:35,199 kids as smart as a mink. But underneath she's a regular hick, just 416 00:36:35,360 --> 00:36:37,480 like the rest of them around here. She thinks that stuff is glamored, 417 00:36:37,559 --> 00:36:42,599 the big time hot stuff, and she was busting a bracest to get at 418 00:36:42,639 --> 00:36:46,039 it. Even this place, this crummy clip joint, the herd was wicked 419 00:36:46,039 --> 00:36:50,400 and exciting. Oh man, how square can you get? I suppose you're 420 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:52,079 trying to talk her out of going to New York? Do I look crazy? 421 00:36:52,239 --> 00:36:55,480 Is something? I was all for it anywhere as long as it got 422 00:36:55,559 --> 00:36:59,880 her off my neck, beautiful girl like lou Anne Parker on your neck, 423 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:01,559 and you were trying to shake her off house, Sammy, I'm losing you, 424 00:37:01,800 --> 00:37:05,400 Oh luck dollar. When it comes to dames, I've got as fast 425 00:37:05,440 --> 00:37:07,280 an I as the next guy. But with that chick, man, I 426 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:13,079 unpacked my toothbrush and I stay home. Why why she's got this whole town 427 00:37:13,199 --> 00:37:16,679 food? Everybody but me a sweet little thing in ruffled robbers, bucking for 428 00:37:16,760 --> 00:37:21,039 a hayhaul. Well, I got news for your brother. She ain't and 429 00:37:21,159 --> 00:37:22,519 you're the only one who really knows her. Is that what you're claiming, 430 00:37:22,559 --> 00:37:29,199 Sammy? Sure, it's a big laugh, But that kid's smart and inside 431 00:37:29,239 --> 00:37:32,599 she's colder than a fish. I'm a fairly tough baby, Dollar, but 432 00:37:32,679 --> 00:37:37,440 I'll tell you something straight. I'm scared of that girl. I hope you'll 433 00:37:37,480 --> 00:37:42,000 be with us then. In the meantime, do send your comments to Box 434 00:37:42,159 --> 00:37:46,119 thirteen at Great Detectives, dott and Yet, follow us on Twitter at Radio 435 00:37:46,199 --> 00:37:52,199 Detectives, and check us out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com, slash 436 00:37:52,280 --> 00:37:58,119 Great Detectives from Boise Ottahle. This is your host, Adam graham Son and Off