 Danger, Dr. Danfield. A human mind is like a cave. Beyond the light, there are dark passageways and mysterious recesses. I, Dr. Daniel Danfield, have explored those unknown retreats and know their secrets. Dr. Daniel Danfield, authority on crime psychology, has an unhappy faculty for getting himself mixed up in hazardous predicaments. Because of his astonishing revelations regarding the workings of the criminal mind. As our story opens, we find Dr. Danfield in his office dictating to his pretty young secretary Rusty Fairfax. Period paragraph. And naturally, I was glad to avail myself of the opportunity and excitement of studying a criminal mind when the criminal believed that he was completely free from suspicion. It was four weeks ago today that my secretary, Ms. Fairfax, arrived five minutes late for work. Good morning, Ms. Fairfax. Is that package for me? The postman just gave it to me. Mind if I open it? Why not, Ms. Fairfax? Does the return address indicate from whom it was sent? There isn't any return address. No. Well, in that event, we'll...is there something wrong, Ms. Fairfax? There certainly is something wrong. Look. Why, George? The package seems to contain some excellent samples of United States currency. It sure does. They're $1,000 bills. How many are there? Seven, eight, nine, ten. $10,000. Dan, who do you suppose sent them and why? Possibly some counterfeiter wanted me to see an example of his work. These bills aren't a counterfeit. Wait a minute. Here's the note addressed to you. Dean, let me have it, Ms. Fairfax. Probably it contains the answer to the riddle. Wow. Very extraordinary. What was it say? Oh, here. I'll read it to you, Ms. Fairfax. Danfield, be smart and forget where you were on August 31st. Most unusual. Who signed it? There's no signature, Ms. Fairfax. Well? Well, what? Where were you on August 31st? Don't be ridiculous, Ms. Fairfax. I haven't the faintest idea where I was on August 31st. Have you? Of course. Where were you? With you. You must not be facetious, Ms. Fairfax. The fact that someone has mailed me this money is highly significant. Now, let me see. Dan, I know. No, no. What, Ms. Fairfax? August 31st was the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. You didn't give your usual lecture at the university, and I went up to Connecticut to visit my folks. That's right, Ms. Fairfax, and that proves you're wrong, doesn't it? You weren't with me after all. As a matter of fact, no one was with me. I spent the day by George. Think of something. I have, Ms. Fairfax. There was a telephone call from a man named... Well, what was his name? Are you asking me? Yes. You see, it's very important... Perhaps that's your mysterious friend calling again. I doubt it. Hello, Danfield speaking. Oh, yes, Captain Otis. Captain Otis? That means another case, I suppose. Yes, Captain? I see. Well, what's unusual about the circumstances? Indeed. What's the gentleman's name? Norman Myles. That's it. That's the man's name. What? Oh, yes, yes. I know you just said it was. I'm sorry, Captain. Yes, indeed I will. Ms. Fairfax and I will be out to the Myles home in less than an hour. Goodbye. Well, what's it all about? A gentleman named Norman Myles was found dead in his bed this morning, and he was murdered, Ms. Fairfax. What's that got to do with us? It was Norman Myles who called me on the phone on August 31st and asked me to investigate three relatives, one of whom he believed was planning to murder him. But you're not a detective. You've said so a hundred times. But I suppose you've got to have your fun. Yes, you're quite right, Ms. Fairfax. That's why I kept Mr. Myles' offer in the back of my mind. And the detail that Captain Otis has just given me has put an entirely different light on the matter. Oh, they have. Well, whatever Captain Otis told you doesn't prove it was Norman Myles who sent you this money. I think it does, Ms. Fairfax. In fact, I know it does. Norman Myles knew he was going to be murdered. He wants me to apprehend the man who murdered him. I seriously doubt that statement. Oh, then I shall prove it to you. If you'll get your notebook and come along with me, I'll introduce you to one of the most interesting cases we've ever investigated. In a moment we'll return to Danger Dr. Danfield, but first... Now for the second act of... Danger Dr. Danfield. I still think we should have Mario along. Do you, Ms. Fairfax? Yes. If all three of the relatives are at the Norman Myles' house now and one of them is a murderer, we need protection. That's certainly extraordinary. Dan, what are you thinking about? Things rusty, just things. Yes, I believe we're going to find an unusual situation. I hope you brought along your notebook. Of course I brought my notebook. This the house? Yes, and there's an officer on guard at the door. Otis is the man of his word. I don't see why Captain Otis has to call you every time he gets himself in a jam. Captain Otis is not in a jam, my dear. It is very kind of him to give me this opportunity. Hello, officer. I'm Dr. Danfield. Oh, okay, Doug. We're going in. They're waiting for you. Thank you. I should judge by the pretentiousness of Mr. Myles' home that he was well able to advance his $10,000. Wouldn't you, Rusty? And for the same reason, I can see why his relatives would want him dead. Well, there they are. Yes, and by their expressions, I should say they were a rather unhappy trio. I suppose you're Danfield. Now look here, Danfield. We're sick and tired of the way we're being treated. I'll say we are. Who does this Captain Otis think he is? No, wait a minute. Wait a minute, you two. Perhaps this isn't Danfield. Give the guy a chance to introduce himself. Thank you. Yes, I'm Danfield. Now suppose you tell me who you are. If you're Danfield, then get us out of here. Well, I was never so humiliated in my... Oh, shut up, Judith. Stop crabbing. I couldn't let us out of here even if he wanted to. They're cops all over the place. You're quite right. I have absolutely no authority. Oh, this is my secretary, Miss Fairfax. I presume that you three are Norman Myles' relatives. That's right. I'm Vincent Warren. The old man was my uncle. I'm Larry Kent, another nephew. This young lady is Judith Nelson, a niece. The idea of saying one of us murdered Uncle Norman. One of you did murder him, Miss Nelson. What do you mean? Nonsense. You're jumping to conclusions pretty fast, aren't you, Danfield? Not at all. One of you three murdered him. All of my evidence points to that fact. What evidence? You haven't been here five minutes. How could you have picked up any evidence? It came by mail. $10,000 worth. That's enough, Miss Fairfax. For the time being, I'll have to ask you people to accept my statement and cooperate. Cooperate? Oh, by signing a confession. I could hardly hope for that, Miss Nelson. In fact, I'd be disappointed if one of you did sign a confession. Why? Because my purpose of being here is to study the guilty person's mind while he or she believes himself or herself free from detection. Do you mean that merely by talking with the three of us, you can tell which one of us is guilty? Assuming, of course, that one of us is guilty. Precisely, Mr. Warren, consider the facts. One of you is a murderer. If a man who has made a lifelong study of the human mind, it will be quite easy to determine the identity of the guilty party. Well, how do you like that? Wait a minute, now. I always say every man to his own profession. Danfield, I understand, has one of those mixed master minds. Maybe his ideal work. Okay, what difference does it make? You haven't any alternative anyhow. That's the point exactly, Mr. Warren. You haven't. I merely wanted to point out to you that I know one of you is guilty. You're fairly warned. Well, what do you want us to do? First of all, I'd like to have someone tell me exactly what happened last night. I understand that when Mr. Miles' body was discovered, all the doors and windows of his room were locked on the inside. Yes, that's right. They were. Uncle Norman had a phobia against an unlocked door window. Couldn't go to sleep unless he had checked all the locks himself. Then how did you know he got into the room this morning? By breaking the door down. Well, why did he do that? Well, Uncle Norman was a victim of habit. He did everything by the clock. Went to bed, got up, ate meals, everything. I see. This morning, he didn't appear at breakfast at the regular hour. Yes, I did. We'd all come down to breakfast and we're sitting waiting. Judith, you have to keep yawning. You're making me sleepy. Oh, sorry, darling. I can't help it. I'm not used to getting up in the middle of the night. Neither am I. Sometimes I wonder if all this is worth it. It's worth it to me. The way things are going in my business, I could use one-third of a million bucks very nicely. Well, who couldn't? That's what I tell myself every time I'm ordered down here for a weekend. Then I say one-third of a cool million dollars is a lot of dough. Quit beefing and go earn your money. What killed me is that he picked a weekend order to come and see him. I had a party planned up in the mountains. Oh, well, it's worth it, I guess. Sure it is. Uncle Norman can't live forever. I'm beginning to doubt that. How old is he anyhow? 73 is last birthday. Say, wouldn't it be a joke on us if he left his door to a home for his stunted ducks or something? No, no, he wouldn't do that. He's told us enough times that we're his kids. Say, what time is it anyway? Time? All right. 8.15. Why? Why? Uncle Norman would die rather than be late for breakfast. He told us last night that breakfast was to be at 7.45. Well, maybe he did die in his sleep. Oh, well, why worry about it? He'll be long. I think one of us ought to go up and see if he's all right. What good would it do? He always keeps his doors locked. We could wake him up by knocking. Are you kidding? Uncle Norman wouldn't wake up if a bomb explodes under his bed. I think Judah's right. We ought to do something. I'll go up. No, wait a minute. We'll all go. What's the matter, darling? Afraid to let me have a few minutes alone, my dear uncle? You bet I am, you little sneak. I don't trust you as far as I can throw an anvil. Why, you rat, you're just... Oh, quit it, you two. Let's get going. You know how Uncle Norman feels about us quarreling? Now, come on. At least we can do his respect, his wishes while we're in his house. Oh, don't set yourself up as a model, Larry. You're no paragonist. At least I've got the decent seat here. Oh, cut it out. We're all putting on an ax, so why not lay off till we get away from here? You started it. Now, here's Uncle Norman's room. Now, shut up, both of you. Listen to that guy, will you? Try it again, Larry, and laud it. Uncle Norman! Uncle Norman! Maybe you suppose something's happened to the old boy? He's not that dear. What are we going to do? We've got to do something. Try the knob. That's locked. He always locks his door. He's had another heart attack. I just knew he had. Uncle Norman! Uncle Norman! Well, we'll never hear you. Well, what are we going to do? Why don't you force the door? We've got to find out what's wrong. I'll raise the old Harry if nothing's wrong. Well, we can't just stand around here all day waiting for him to wake up. Something's happened to him, or he'd be awake before now. Come on, Benny, put your shoulder to the door. Okay, only don't forget it. It's your idea. Once more now. Come on. Oh, thank heavens. There's Uncle Norman in bed. Sound asleep. Open the window, someone. It's hot as blazes in here. I'll do it. Hey, Benny, come over here. What's the matter? Look, God, heavens, he's dead. He's not only dead. He's been strangled. Murdered. Well, that's a very interesting story, Mr. Kent. I think it answers my question all right. What do you mean it answers your question? Well, that tells me who murdered Norman Miles. You're crazy. And if you know who murdered him, why don't you tell us? For several reasons, Mr. Kent. In the first place, my purpose in being here is to study the criminal and his reactions while he still believes himself unsuspecting. Now that I know his identity, my task is going to be much more interesting. Why, the man's crazy. Look here, Danfield, if you really think you know who it is who murdered Uncle Norman, it's your duty to point out the guilty party. No, Mr. Warren, I don't think it is. I'm not a policeman or even a private detective. If I pointed out the guilty party, it would only make things more difficult for the police. Why? Because I have none of the concrete evidence that the police require in order to establish the murderer's guilt. In other words, it can prove nothing. Does that relieve your mind, Ms. Nelson? Ms. Fairfax, have you your notebook handy? I'm all set. Fine. I'm going to ask three questions. I'd like to have you jot down the answers for beat'em. I think the nature of the answers will determine at what point in our investigation we should ask Officer Moriarty on guard outside the house to step inside and make an arrest. Well, how do you like that? This guy kills me. He's going to ask three questions. And bingo, he can prove who the murderer is. Well, I'm not answering any questions. Neither am I. I think you will, because the one who refuses will immediately be taken into custody. Let me see now. Mr. Kent, I'll leave. I'll start with you. Are you quite positive that all the windows and doors in Mr. Miles' bedroom are locked down the inside? Yes, I've already told you that. I checked them myself. You mean you checked all but the window that Miss Nelson opened when the three of you came through the broken down door? Listen, Hawkshaw, if you think that I... Miss Nelson, I'll now ask you your question. Was the window locked when you went to open it? Sure, it was locked. I unlocked it. And if you don't believe me, you can look for my fingerprints. You'll find out. Very well. Mr. Warren, have the three of you been separated at any time since you discovered the body? Well, since the others came through with answers, I suppose I'd better. No, we all came downstairs, called the doctor and then the police. We stayed in this room until they arrived. Excellent. Mr. Perfex, have you got all that down? Verbate him, Dr. Danfield. Thank you. Now, will you please step to the door and ask Officer Moriarty to come inside, please? In a moment who returned for the third act of Danger, Dr. Danfield, but first, now for the third act of... Danger, Dr. Danfield. Here we are, Mr. Perfex. Well, they certainly demolished the door to Mr. Miles' bedroom, didn't they? Then you annoy me. Yes, the lock has sprung. That means the door was locked from the two men broke it down. Giving that big buildup about asking three questions and then not paying at all. Careful when you step into the room, Rusty. You might be stuck in one of those spunkers. Never mind my stockings. There we were, waiting for Officer Moriarty to make the arrest. And then all you did was borrow his flashlight. These windows are locked exactly as described. Now let's examine the open window. Do you realize that those people downstairs think of you now? They're laughing at you. When this story gets out, your reputation will be ruined. Dean? Possibly we'd better check the fingerprints on this window lock just to make sure that Miss Nelson was telling us the truth. What's your opinion, Mr. Perfex? My opinion is that we'd better get out of here before we make bigger fools of ourselves than we already have. Well, look here. Look where? Never mind. You don't like to have interest in this case, surprises me, Rusty. Come along now. No, Dan, wait. I am interested in the case only... Only what? It's you I'm interested in. You've got such a good reputation. I don't want to see it ruined, that's all. Rusty, you're really a very nice person. Come on now, in less than 15 minutes we'll have found what we're looking for. I promise it. Dan, it's awfully dark out here. I wish Mario were with us. You're not frightened, are you? Is there something to be frightened of? Oh, yes, yes. I have no doubt that someone will attempt to take our lives in a very few minutes. That's a pleasant thought. What's the matter? What there? Two depressions in the soft earth beneath the window of Mr. Miles' bedroom. Dan, those marks were made by a ladder. Quite right. Then that means that someone put a ladder here last night and climbed up to the... Dan, that window up there is the one that Judith Nelson said she opened. So it is. However, no one climbed up the ladder. What do you mean no one climbed up the ladder? The marks on the ground, Rusty. They indicate that the ladder was only three feet from the house. If anyone attempted to climb up it he or she would have fallen over backwards. I guess you're right. Then why was the ladder placed against the house at all? Because someone wanted the police to investigate and discover what we've just discovered. But why? Well, because that would lead investigators to think that admission to Mr. Miles' room was not gained via the window above. That doesn't make sense to me. The window was locked anyway. Is it? Well, well, look here. Now what are you looking at? That tree. You notice how that branch extends over the ledge just below the bedroom window? What about it? The window was locked. Dan, what are you going to do? I'm going to climb the tree. You stay here. Dan, no. I'm coming too. Don't be ridiculous. Women aren't supposed to climb trees. Dan, Dan, see them. You come back here. That limb won't hold you. Don't shout so, Ms. Fairfax. I don't want to be caught up in this tree. Oh, you don't. Well, honey, you think that I... What was that? Rusty. Rusty. You're breaking your gun and I'm falling. Rusty! Rusty! Hey! Now just a minute. Just a minute, Mr. Officer of the Law. I got to see Dr. Dan for you. Well... Never mind. Don't say it. I'm going to see him just the same. Well... I guess you don't know who I am, eh? Me? I'm Mario Consoletti. You ever hear of me, eh? Well, no. You're a very funny fellow, Mr. Officer of the Law. All you say is, well, well, that's a matter. You don't speak English like me. Well, there you go again. Well, well, well, well, well, that's a... That doctor must have get himself in another pickle man. No, no. You stay here, Mr. Officer of the Law. I speak to my... Hey, doctor! Doctor, that's you. This is me, Mario, doctor. Mario, over here. Hey, what's going on around here? Who chopped down that tree? Mario. Dan's under that tree. What's that? The doctor hiding under the tree? What's this all about? Mario! Mario, get me out of here. The doctor. Okay, doctor. Go away. Mario! Mario! Mario! Mario! Hey, doctor. Don't worry. I'll fix you up. It's... Be a little careful, Mario. That's all right. It all didn't do me any good. You put out of the tree, huh, doctor? Very funny. Hey, maybe you got a shot at two. No, no, no. I didn't get shot. The branch started to break and he missed. There. I'm all right. Where's Rusty? Dan, over here. Rusty, you all right? For sure she's all right, doctor. When a woman can talk, she's all right. Let's not try to be funny at a time like this, Mario. Me, funny? What happened, Rusty? Somebody came up behind me and hit me. I went out like a light. Yes, and then he shudded me. Well, I saw where he went. Rusty, you go back to the house, Mario. No, I'm going with you. Rusty, sometimes you try me. Well, this is no time to argue. Mario, will you pick up the flashlight? Pick up with the flashlight. I got him. Where we going now? Over to that small building behind the garage. Our attacker was heading in that direction. Well, frankly, Mario, I'm glad you're having along. Me, having along? That's very funny. I've been looking for you all day. You should not go off without Mario, doc. No. Perhaps you're right. Shouldn't we be a little less noisy if the person we're after... He isn't in the building, Miss Fairfax. I'm sure of it. Here we are. Hold that flashlight on the door, Mario. Okay, doc. Well, that was easy. Throw your flashlight around inside, Mario. Will you please? That's fine. Follow me. Let me go first, doc. If that's a fellow with you here... He isn't here, Mario. I've already told you that. The place is empty, all right. Not quite, Rusty. What do you mean it isn't? This is nothing but a tool shed. Hey, maybe somebody's hiding behind those boxes, huh? There's no one hiding behind the boxes. Well, just as I thought. Isn't that, doc? He's always a thinkin'. Yes, that settles it. Come along. We can return to the house now, and this time we can identify our murderer without asking any questions. Well, Judith, where have you been? Out, looking for a man who fell out of a tree. Oh, so you heard it too, huh? You should have seen the expression on Hanfield's face when he hit the ground. I did see it. And I saw the expression on your face when you sawed the limb halfway through this afternoon. Snooping again, huh, Judy? Yes, snooping again. And so were you. And so was Larry. By the way, where is Larry? Right here, darling. If you think I'd try to escape, it would be a sucker to do that, wouldn't I? This is really very amusing. We're all actually suspicious of each other, aren't we? And if you're asking me that just what Danfield wants, he thinks the guilty party will break down on the strain of wondering which one of us he's going to put the finger on. You sound worried, Vince. I suppose by that crack, you mean I've got something to worry about. Well, have you? Oh, stop it. None of us killed Uncle Norman. If we keep this up, we'll beat each other's throat. She... She's right, Larry. Sorry I went off the deep end. Sure, okay. Let's forget. Oh, here comes the great man now. Remember, whatever he says, we stick together. Oh, so you're back again, are you, Danfield? What's it going to be this time of spelling bee? Maybe he's thought up three more questions to ask us. What I want to know is, who's the character you've brought along with you? Uh, she means you, Mario. She means me? Hey, Larry, what do you mean by this, the name you called Mario? Never mind, Mario. Now, if you have all finished with your remarks, I'll ask Officer Moriarty to arrest the guilty party and we'll be on our way. Listen to it. What are you going to do this time? Borrow the cops' gun? How about the three questions? Don't we get to answer questions this time? No, Mr. Kent, I can prove you killed your uncle without asking you any more questions. I killed him. Certainly, Mr. Kent, you killed him. I've known it all along, but it's been only within the past five minutes that I've been able to secure enough evidence to establish your guilt, definitely. I killed him. Vinny, did you hear what that guy said? Yes. I heard him, Larry. Too bad, isn't it, Larry? Why you? I don't think you'll get much sympathy from your two cousins, Mr. Kent. You see, they've known all along that you were guilty, but they were afraid to... Mario! Don't worry about me, Doc, I'm all ready. You all right? Well, how do you like this? Funny, fellow. Who are you? I just don't know how Mario likes this. It's very funny. I like this too. In a moment we'll return for the conclusion of our story, but first, now for the conclusion of... Danger, Dr. Danfield. A new paragraph. I wish to mention that it was through the courtesy of Captain Otis of the police department and the able assistance of Miss Fairfax and Mario that I was availed this opportunity of studying the criminal mind under these circumstances, which Miss Fairfax, I'm not through. I'll say you're not. And if you don't tell that lecture class of yours how you knew how the murderer got into Norman Miles' room, I'll write it in myself. Miss Fairfax. I mean it. I believe you do. Well, the murderer climbed the tree to the ledge and got in through the window. How could he? The window was locked. Judith Nelson swore she unlocked it when she opened it that morning. Miss Nelson only thought she unlocked the window. What? Yes, you see, Larry Kent had loosened the hest earlier in the day so that when Mr. Miles locked his window at night, the levers led over the catch instead of under it. Dad. Then, of course, Mr. Miles didn't lock his window, but thought he had. That's right. Kent later entered the room through the window and strangled his uncle. However, the next day, he had the problem of tightening the hasp without detection. But you established that all three of the suspects had been together all day. Yes, which meant that Mr. Kent had to wait until nightfall to tighten the hasp back into place and to remove his fingerprints. And it was Kent who shot at you and then ran toward the toolhouse. Yes, he wanted to return the screwdriver. He didn't want anyone to find out that he's heightened the hasp. But how did you know it was Larry Kent? I saw him when I was falling out of the tree. Oh, then you didn't know? Oh, yes, yes, I did, Mr. FX. I knew he was guilty all the time because of my knowledge regarding the workings of the human mind. I see. Uh, Dan. Yes, Rusty? Do you, uh, by any chance know what I'm thinking of right now? Indeed I do, Rusty. Lift your chin a little higher, please. Okay.