 New York City, it's almost midnight and the theaters west of Broadway are turning out their lights One theater is going to remain dark for several weeks for tonight after 300 performances Gordon Dunning the eminent producer has rung down the final curtain on another great success In his office adjoining the upper balcony Dunning has a visitor his celebrated star Valerie Stanton, but you're being ridiculous Valerie just answer my question Gordon Did you give that story out to the newspapers? Well, of course I did I said you were turning down Gunther's offer Your next play would be for me as usual then you'll retract it Look Valerie if that play means so much to you, I'll get it away from Gunther. We'll do it together We're never going to do anything together again. It isn't the play. It's Michael Morrell Yes, I'm going to marry him. It isn't funny Gordon I happen to be in love and what about me? I picked you up and nobody I taught you how to walk and dress and act I taught you how to get on top of this doggy dog world You've something I've created and I won't let you go. Maybe that's love too. I don't know Right now. It's hate and contempt for his stupidity I've had to knock a lot of silly ideas out of your head in ten years time And if you don't think I'll are you going to issue that retraction? No I think I'll issue a confidential statement to Morrell. I have an excellent and somewhat morbid imagination You're out of your mind. I don't doubt it I get a little crazy whenever you're out of my sight Might even kill you only why kill you when I can kill whatever attraction you have for Morrell that's smart You can't get away with lies. He won't believe you. I'll tell him things about you We'll never forget. Oh, please. Tell Morrell you'll never see him again because you really love me Oh, come on Val. Let's forget it. Put your arms around me admit it. I'm go Val Now I'm warning you walk out of here alone. I'm going straight to Michael Morrell I'll tell him things. It'll make him wish he'd never seen you away from me things It'll make him sick every time he thinks he'll never have Morrell or any other man Are you all alone didn't mr. Dunning come with you? No, he'll be along later Well, we sure close the show and style tonight, didn't maybe now we can have that vacation We've been miss Val. Is anything wrong? I'm so tired Nancy Then see that you send mr. Dunning home oil in this town. You get some sleep anything you want me to do No, no, I'll just lie down for a moment. Good night I killed Gordon I Killed him they found him by now They're coming for me It must know I did it. They must know I But do they know no one saw me go up there And when I came down I went straight to my dressing room No one saw me until I came out of the dressing room. They don't know who did it Maybe they'll never know Hello, oh Michael Yes, yes, I'm all right Darling, I've got to tell you I Gordon no, no, he hasn't arrived yet. I'm oh I love you too. No. No, you better not come over. Yes. Yes. I'll phone you the minute he leaves No, dear nothing. Good night my darling. Oh, why did this horrible thing have to happen? why Michael five weeks ago. I I didn't even know you This wouldn't have happened if I hadn't met you. I love you darling five weeks ago Gordon is giving a party after the performance and on our way to see the party Surprise for you Val Peter Gunther's coming to the party. How nice of you Gordon. Yeah, I want him there so you can tell him yourself Tell him what that he can pedal head a gavel or somewhere else the parts not right for you I happen to think the party is right Don't be absurd a smart sophisticated comedian like you playing a neurotic woman who kills herself because True love is passed up by my mind. You make it sound fascinating. That's more than you'll do Now about tonight. There'll be quite a few people there. They Expect us to be enchanted with each other. Don't worry. I'll put on the slightly breathless act is Marion coming, of course Invited the whole cast. It's Maddie. It's who's still battling. There's never been a battle. She merely detests me nonsense Marion's a fine actress. I can't help it if she thinks she's still in love with me. Oh darling, of course you can't No matter what you say Marion you've got to admire Val Ray It's quite a performance. She's putting on over there for Peter Gunther. We're not in this, isn't it? Trouble with Valerie is she's here today and here tomorrow Why don't you leave her alone then? I mean off the stage. I do I can take her a lever Which seems to be more than Gordon Dunning can do. Well keep your fingers crossed, sweetie She may be working for Gunther next season in which event you and go Keep your opinions to yourself Jeff and out of your newspaper column and stop giving yourself away darling Why everyone can see that you're still carrying that old old torch lights up like a Christmas tree every time you're near Gordon Oh, who's that? Who's Val talking to now? I don't know poor little man. You think I should go and warn him? I saw you I simply had to come over and introduce myself How nice of you miss Santa. I think you've written the most wonderful book of the year Dramatizing your novel. Well, I'm hardly in a position. Of course you are and that's exactly what I think I beg your pardon. I know it's none of my business, but I'm afraid you're talking to the wrong man What do you mean? You're talking about mr. Putnam's book. Of course. I am mr. Putnam's in the other room at the bar This gentleman's mr. Crouch Oh And I've been trying to tell him a statement. Oh mr. Crouch forgive me But do tell mr. Putnam how I feel about it. Yes, I will indeed. I'll tell him right away. Thank you Thank are you grinning at me? Of course not. I also have great difficulty remembering names at a party. Thank you I don't believe we've met mr. Morel Michael Morel. How do you do and may I ask your name? I am Valerie Stanton Delighted and what do you do miss Stanton? Did you say what you do or how do you do? Oh? Did I say something I shouldn't I am an actress how charming and are you a good actress Promising well that explains why I've never heard of you. I don't go to the theater nowadays. Oh too many drafts mr. Mortimer Morel no, it's just that I prefer my emotions straight not wrapped up in ribbons and cellophane as they are in the theater Oh, I see a realist. Don't you ever take them off or aren't you staying take what off your gloves? Oh, no No, no, no, actually, I'm never without them really I had a friend like that. He was hardly ever without his gloves, too Tommy Belcher middleweight champion of England for two years. You like boxing. I've never been so tempted to try it Who brought you here another old friend of mine Peter Gunther he dragged me away from the exciting game of chess Oh Gordon. Oh, here's someone you must meet. He's never heard of me. Are you and he's also a member of the anti-theater guild Mr. Morel how do you do? I'm Gordon Dunning. What's this about the anti-theater guild? Well, as a matter of fact Mr. Stanton has just changed my entire attitude to the theater. Well, do you mind if I run along? Thank you for a very pleasant party. Oh, but it's hardly begun. See you at lunch tomorrow, Mr. Stanton One thirty to shuttle in don't be late. Who the devil is and why did you make a date with him? You know, we're having lunch with McCormick tomorrow. What'd you say? I said, you know, we're having I think I'll run on home myself Gordon in a minute. How did guns that take the news? I didn't tell him I want to do that place in heaven's name. Why because I want to find out if I'm good enough to do It well for your information. You're not and one rehearsal prove it to you. I have a right to find that out for myself I've let you dominate me and tell me what I can and cannot do until I've lost myself completely I've made you one of the biggest stars on Broadway that I'm not grateful to you Gordon No, but you convinced you don't need me anymore. Is that it now that you put it that way? Yes No, no, you don't snuff out ten years of my life with a snap of your fingers You don't know me as well as you think you do. Maybe that works both ways Gordon. Good night I'll see you tomorrow at lunch. I think we settled that I'm having lunch tomorrow with Michael Morel I was late for lunch Michael purposely late My little revenge for some of your remarks at Gordon's party, but then as we sat there talking I Forgot for the first time in years that I was an actress It was so wonderful Just to be myself again Not to have to be unguarded Listen to you about your work building an architecture and to realize That I was falling in love with you after that we saw each other almost every day and then one night in my dressing room You curtain calls tonight miss Val. I guess that means we're in a hurry to leave. You're a bright girl Nancy Out every night this week. We must settle to think that mr. Morel is something special They could get married this time as well. Well, will we get married miss Nan? You'll be the first to know it Oh, hello, Mr. Benny, and you certainly race through the third act Val I know we closed tomorrow night, but you still owe your beat dazzled public four dollars and eighty cents worth of decent acting Somebody picking you up. That's right. I I ran into Gunther this morning He's very excited about your debut next season in the world of heavy drama. So am I of course I hated the dampen his enthusiasm, but I thought it only fair to tell him he'd be very foolish to count on you Good night Val Nancy. Yes, miss Val. Tell Marion Webster. I'd like to see her. Now miss Val. Yes, now right away She said you wanted to see me. Of course, I dropped everything Marion you've been seeing a good deal of Gordon this past week, haven't you? Only by default you've been so busy I realize you hate the sight of me. Well, I'm going to be perfectly honest with you You must be desperate. I need your help. Is it that hard for you to get off the hook Why don't you just walk out on Gordon? You don't need a passport, you know Gordon refuses to accept the facts. You see, I thought perhaps you might get it exit. Mr. Dunning and her Mr. Michael Morrell only Mr. Dunning refuses to exit and you want me to give him a little push Why not? I'd get what I want and you'd get what you want Oh, let's leave out the sarcasm. You and Gordon had something once that once it well It was pretty important to both of you. I came along and interrupted it I don't believe I ever really destroyed it if Gordon went so tight up and Nazi'd realize it too So if you want him Marion, take him away. Now. Do you really mean that? Every word of it. Don't ever change your mind Valerie, because once you let Gordon go you'll never get him back Well? Okay. Oh, by the way, I still hate the sight of you That was last night, Michael. And then you came for me and bought me home We were here. Here in this very room And you told me that you loved me Love me. I told Gordon I wanted to see him tonight. I asked him to come here after the performance I wanted to tell him once and for all that he and I were through I was going to marry you The show was over. I was in my dressing room when Nancy brought in the early editions of tomorrow morning's newspapers And I saw the story that Gordon had given out But I had turned down Gunther's offer that I was remaining with him. I Went upstairs to his office. I begged him to retract the story And then he threatened to tell you those lies That he and I he was out of his mind He started to choke me There was a little statue on the table I Stage manager just phoned Mr. Dunning. He's been murdered. It's been a long night for Valerie Stanton Guilty of a murder. She never intended to commit But as the passing hours mount and she begins to regain something of her customary composure Valerie realizes that no one saw her go into Dunning's office or return to her dressing room She doesn't know of course what the police may have discovered What she'll soon find out for Captain Danbury of the homicide bureau has asked everyone Connected with Dunning's play to assemble on the stage of the fit How do you do ladies and gentlemen, I'm captain Danbury I trust you will bear with me and what they seem and unnecessarily prolonged and somewhat discourteous procedure Is everyone here sergeant? Oh, yes, I regret the same as Webster's in a hospital and in no condition to be questioned Now then suppose we start Mr. Paul Banton, you're a member of the cast Well, I was as you know the play closed last night. Did you see anything last night? That might be considered unusual anything at all. No nothing your dressing room is near the door to the auditorium You'd have seen anyone coming through their door. Yes, I imagine so. Well, did you know thank you Mr. Ernest Boyle. Yes, sir. Mr. Boyle you and Mr. Dunning stage manager I've worked for Mr. Dunning for nine years now if you don't mind I'd like to know what you did last night and what you may have seen Well, we must have had seven or eight curtain calls, you know with the show closing at all Well, anyway after the house lights were not Whom haven't we heard from sergeant? That's Ryan, Mr. Mr. Banton sir getting back to our stage manager. Mr. Boyle You said about an hour ago that you walk to the stage door with Miss Banton and Miss Crane and said goodbye to them Yes, sir. I did and where did you go? Then I poked my head in Miss Stanton's dressing room How long after the final curtain would you say that was? I don't know half hour. Maybe Miss Stanton was in her dressing room Yes, sir I told her the car was here and she came out so Miss Stanton came out and Jimmy and I were leaving We stopped Miss Stanton right here on the stage. That's Miss Ryan Captain. Who's Jimmy? That's me, sir I'm a friend of Miss Ryan's. I came to pick her up. You were saying Miss Ryan I wanted to introduce Jimmy to Miss Stanton. He was dying to meet her I Can't say that I blame him. You did meet her. Yes, sir. Thank you. Mr. Barney sober Yes, sir. Mr. Silver you are employed here as a porter Mr. Morgan mentioned before that you were in the lobby of the theater after the performance last night There's a lot of cleaning up after a performance now The only way of reaching mr. Dunning's office I understand is to walk up the stairways on either side of the lobby. Is that correct? Yes, sir. That's right You must have been working near those stairways. Mr. Silver. I want you to think most carefully Did you see anyone going up or coming down? Yes, sir. I certainly did it. Who was it? It was Mary and Webster Hey Miss Stanton. Yes, Captain your actions after the performance are all accounted for you would in your dressing room until mr Boyle took you to your car, but now about miss Webster. You've known her for some time Yes, she's appeared in several of mr. Dunning's productions What I'm trying to determine is whether or not miss Webster was a usual self last night I think she was at least I didn't notice anything at all unusual. Well, I did why she asked me no questions You're a pansy Dupont, aren't you? Who told you to come here? He did the flat foot and he's right Thought you might like to question that and he sells newspapers Her hangs around the theater quite a lot. It seems the guy at the stage door let her in every night She'd bring the morning papers to miss Stanton and mr. Dunning and a couple others And I've seen every single person who left through that stage door last night and through the main door to your powers of vision Must be remarkable. I said I've seen everybody and that don't include the Webster Dane and why not and it kind of she was too busy Upstairs conkin mr. Dunning over the head Madam You will please restrict yourself to what you really saw you want facts, okay? I'll give you facts. It was a case of a broken heart and she bumped him off I Were all very tired. I wonder if we could break for lunch. How thoughtless of me miss Tanton my apologies I believe I have all the information I need from now on ladies and gentlemen. You'll get in touch with you individually Thank you so much for your patience No miss Tanton yes, I wonder if you can spare me a moment. Yes. Yes, of course. Oh Your glove. Oh, thank you. I must have dropped it very Stanton and a velvet glove the trademark of your art and Stanton an art to which you contributed so much Thank you. You see I've seen every play you've ever done down there down there is where I usually sit row e on the aisle That allows me space in which to maneuver my rather mountainous ball Oh Well, it was about to go on my vacation when I heard the dreadful news Gordon Dunning the great producer murdered tragic Still more tragic is the fact that it involves all the gifted people who have given me and countless others escape from sorted reality such as Such as this mr. Andron I found two envelopes in mr. Dunning's office upstairs one of them addressed to Miss Mary and Webster the other to you I thought it might be personal simple courtesy to ask you to be present while I open and read it the one to miss Webster I've already opened. I I see this one to you Well, my dear once again, I offer you my deepest gratitude for all you've done You know, I'd been lost without you I could only hope that our next year will be as wonderful as all the others and that together We'll go on and on forever yours Gordon and the note to to Marion Sentiment addressed to miss Webster. Unfortunately was quite different. We found her last night You know huddled over Dunning's body in a state of acute shock speechless days Completely without a reason. Oh, no, no, no, mr. Dunning was killed by blows from a statuette Miss Webster's fingerprints were on it, but surely you don't think that miss Webster Did sergeant olive and tell you that mr. Morrell is waiting for you? Yes. Yes, he did an army to take you to him Have you all sorts of reporters at the stage door? I let them pounce on me while mr. Morrell whisks you home You'd be most gracious Those questions Michael they went on and on this Captain Danbury. Do you know what he thinks? Do you know what they all think that Marion killed Gordon? But she didn't do it. She she didn't that why you're so sure dear well because Because she loved him desperately. That's why well, she'll have plenty of time to prove her innocence She won't stay in a state of shock forever. No, of course not That's right How long do people remain in in that condition sometimes ours or weeks even months at all depends That's a terrible thing for an innocent person darling that the police worry about that but what about us Michael This horrible thing. What does it do to us? What could it do except bring us closer together? You've got to face things as they really are Val and I'm here to help you Face things as they really are. Yes First of all Denning's lawyer called you've been made executrics under his will. Oh, no. No, that's not fair I can't do it. I won't but the lawyer will attend to all the details All you have to do is go through a few papers signed things. That's all I don't want to do a thing like that I couldn't darling. Don't you think I know how you feel You told me what Gordon Denning once meant to you, but more than that you've told me what I mean to you now. I Want you to marry me down now right away. Oh, no, I guess I didn't say that very well Darling, I love you. I adore you and I like a lot. I can't Not now All right, not now and tell me when those those papers you said I'll have to go through things at his office Probably summon his apartment too. I'll phone his lawyer. See that you get the key. I'll start in the morning The sooner I get it over with course darling Good morning sergeant. Is it is it all right if I go up to mr. Dunning's apartment? All right ahead. I'm just here in the lobby to keep the idle curious away. Thank you The servants I believe they all left last night miss well. I shouldn't be very long Thank you Gordon's desk Letters I wrote to him What if he kept them what if the newspapers were to Michael oh Michael, what have I done to you? I? Can never marry you. I killed me Michael. I Killed Gordon a diary Gordon's diary, but I never drink How nice to see you again captain standard I Must have started you forgive me. I've been upstairs here. I missed the dining's bedroom. Just looking around I Found this book at the bedside table had a goblet by Heinrich Ibsen Well, and you look a little more rested today. Thank you I I wouldn't have come here of course only that I have been secretary tricks of the will yes Yes, yes, I know that's not a very pleasant business. You know you did startle me I didn't think anyone was here please Rather be alone. Oh, no, no, I feel much better with you around All these wonderful things he had just look in the souvenir case lock it to Sarah Bernhardt war in the glom The dagger from Barrymore's helmet and this velvet glove why it must have been one of yours, mr. Yes, yes, it is. Oh Have you heard how miss Webster is today? Her condition is the same may still haven't been able to question her Excuse me, please. Oh, yes. I noticed before that mr. Dunning had a diary. Ah, yes Well, I'd better take it with me. I never knew that Gordon kept a diary really. I don't mind telling you I wish it didn't exist. I Suppose my name runs all the way through it. I suppose it but I I so want to protect Gordon You know his reputation naturally I would in your place. I'd want to do exactly the same thing Yes, well, I hope you'll do your best to see that anything embarrassing is kept confidential Miss Tanton I always do my best Some more coffee, sir, please. Oh herbie you waited on mr. Dunning on Saturday, didn't you the night of his death? Yes, sir. He dined here. I believe before going to the theater with miss Webster. Yes I always waited on mr. Dunning. I've heard they had an awkward little scene mr. Dunning and miss Webster Well, they seem to be fairly friendly See then miss Tanton comes in with some gentlemen and she stops for a minute at the table in the minute She leaves then mr. Dunning and miss Webster starts saying some nasty words to each other Thank you, herbie. Oh, I believe I'll have a piece of pastry with that coffee, please. Yes Hello captain mr. Murrell. How nice to see you had your lunch. I was just leaving has my favorite actress miss Tanton You haven't seen her not for three or four days. I think you'll find her much better I'm so glad tell me does she have any plans plans I seem to have heard some talk of a play for mr. Gunther. Oh, yes But she seems quite nervous about starting with somebody new Valerie had such confidence in Dunning Look, why don't you drop by this afternoon for a drink? Valerie's apartment. You've heard of uh Jeff Trent The newspaper column. Yes. He wants to interview her and I'll be including not at all. I'm sure if you could just Reassure her. That's very nice of you. Murrell. I uh, I'd be delighted to drop by You're here to interview me not to tell me what to do I still think you're off your rocker valve giving up comedy did dabble inhibition Now tell me when did Gunther up the press conference? Well, hello darling We won't be much longer, but you have a visitor I'm afraid I forgot to tell you but I asked captain Danbury up for a drink in heaven's name. Why darling You knew I had this interview. He's such a nice chap and he was so flattered by the invitation But don't worry. I'll look after it. No, no, no, no, bring him in Michael now How nice of you to have me here miss tenton, and I'm so glad you could tear yourself away from your work Oh, uh, this is mr. Trent captain of the morning express How do you do mr. Trent or don't let me interrupt captain I don't wish to underwear flat feet further tread But you've talked to everybody in town about the Dunning murder except me. I apologize Well, uh, my theory is that somebody on the inside hired somebody from the outside to come inside Do the job and then go outside Yeah, we thought of that or you did Well, suppose I take captain Danbury out on the terrace while you deal with Jeff single-handedly if anybody can Come along captain. What's the cop are doing here Val? I'm sure I don't know Jeff please let's get this over with. Oh, yes, of course Is uh gunther giving you a percentage my arrangements with gunther are the same as I had with gordon Well, that should be very interesting Now, uh, what about the rest of the cast? Well, I hope that gunther that he'll uh, what are they talking about out there? Michael and captain Danbury. Well, I wasn't listening. Were you talking about gordon? Well, so is everyone else? Jeff, I'm sorry. We'll have to do this another time I'll be starting rehearsal soon and then we can have lunch regularly And I'll tell you everything you want to know if you don't mean that but under the circumstance Thanks, Jeff, and I will make it up to you really Danbury here He's found out something What's he telling Michael? What's he saying? And again, Mr. Now, she may be affecting all this just to conceal her guilt. It's possible, I suppose After all, she is an anchoress Still, she might have done it in panic. The curious thing about this murder is the nature of it From what Val tells me, Marion has a patient calm disposition Marion! I understand that, but face with the situation Michael's right, Captain Danbury Val! Well, where's Trenton? Oh, gone, thank goodness No, Captain Marion had no more to do with this murder than I did As a matter of fact, I could have done it You? Yes, and I think I could build a much more convincing case against myself and circumstances have built against Marion You go ahead, convince me And me Well, let me see I went to my dressing room, oh yes, yes, but I didn't stay there I went out into the empty theatre Up the stairs to Gordon's office I went in, picked up the statue Killed him And then came back Came back how? Down the same stairs? Yes, yes, of course And nobody saw you Luck? Sheer luck Well, that's possible, isn't it, Captain? Yes, anything is possible And then? Well, I returned to my dressing room in a perfectly normal manner It was closing night, everyone was saying their goodbyes And nobody noticed me Well, Captain, why haven't you placed me under arrest? Because you left out one detail Oh? A motive A motive? Oh, yes Well, I seem to have forgotten that somewhere along the way There you are There has to be a why, Miss Stanton People kill out of love or hate out of fear or rage, you know, my dear I'm afraid no jury would ever convict you Unless you confessed Confessed? Well, I must say that I... Oh, Nancy, we're out here Well, excuse me, Miss Vow, tell us on call for Captain Danberry No, excuse me You can take it over here, Captain Tired, darling? A little? You haven't forgotten we're having dinner with Gunther Shall I call up and cancel? No, no, no, don't I'll change as soon as Captain Danberry leaves Darling, I'm glad you brought him here after all There's something about him that I... I'm so sorry, I'm afraid I must go Your office? No, that was a hospital, Miss Webster's doctor She's no worse On the contrary, she's improving at last Now I can talk to her Goodbye, Meryl Thank you so much for your hospitality Oh, Captain Yes? Marion, please tell her for me that I wish her all her luck in the world Hello, Marion Marion, how are you? Why did you come here? I... I wanted to talk to you To find out myself, how you are You're scared That's a strange thing for you to say You're scared about how much I know Marion, you've been ill You mustn't say things like that I shouldn't be scared about how much I know I know what you know Just the two of us, Valerie I know that you killed Gordon It's a moment later, and in the hospital room Valerie, stunned and horrified Here's Marion Webster, accuse her of Gordon Dunning's murder You killed Gordon But you don't have to worry They found me in his office, my fingerprints on the statue You see, I don't wear velvet gloves They won't believe anything I say They will, Marion They will They'll find me guilty You'll get away with it Gordon's out of the way Great career New man Tell me how you're going to buy off your own conscience But I've told the police The press, everybody that I don't believe you did it How nice of you But it doesn't matter when you've got nothing to live for anymore But don't talk like that, please It's funny, really Gordon made me lonely and miserable He made you cold and vicious A woman who can kill and keep quiet I... I'd better go Yes, Valerie, run along And keep on running so that you'll never have to face the truth Oh, don't be afraid, I won't stop you You had any decency you'd face at yourself But you're rocking all the way through No, get out Hey, Miss Tandon, do come in Sit down, please Captain Danbury, hi I can't imagine what brings you to my office About Marion, Mr... Excuse me I want... Hello? Yes? Will you listen to me? Be quiet, please When? Yes, I will Thank you I've just... I've just come to Marion Hey, and I want to tell you that... No, no, no I want to tell you that I... Why? Miss Tanton, Marion Webster has just committed suicide No No No She didn't... She didn't kill herself No! No! No! Miss Tanton's expecting it How's the rehearsal going? Well, they're still out out there on the stage Mr. Gunther decided to run through the final scene again Going any better? You'd think it would after three weeks I don't know, Miss... Miss Tanton seems so nervous What she got to be nervous about, she's an actress Sit down, Mr. Morrell You can watch them from here All right, all right, Peter What is it this time? I'm sorry, my dear But you've got to make Hedda feel more trapped She's caught, she can't escape All right, let's try it again In a moment Now, when you go through that door and walk off stage What about the pause? We'll make it a shorter pause then And remember the feeling to keep in mind Is that Hedda Gabbler is to go And you go through that door and kill herself But I wish you'd make... And we must keep the audience Dreadingly hear the sound of that shot No, no, I can't I'm tired I've tried I'll never be able to play this part The suit you wore myself, never Valerie, you can play it, my dear You've proved it a dozen times Now, now, please, just once Oh, all right, all right, anything We'll do it again Places, please We'll try it again from Hedda's entrance Gunther's right, Ernie She can be great in this Well, we'll soon find out We open tomorrow night Why didn't you wake me sooner? Did Mr. Morrell telephone? Oh, yes, Miss Val, but he said not to disturb you And why don't you lie down again? Because I can't rest, I... I'm going to the theater But it's too early, Miss Val Please get my things I'll never get through this opening night I know I won't Oh, yes, you will You've lived through many an opening Right now I can't think of a line, not a line Here's your clothes, Miss Val Oh, and your gloves Those gloves Where did you find them? What are you trying to do? I've been looking for this pair for weeks, Miss Val I finally found them when I straightened out the drawer this morning Why are you giving me these particular gloves now? Because they go with your dress, Miss Val But I'll get you another pair I'll answer it In January I'm sorry to call at this late hour, Miss Tanton But I was just about to leave for the theater Opening night so full of excitement and nervous anxiety I understand how you must feel How about this black time, Miss Val? No, no, no, thank you, Nancy These will do perfectly after all Valerie Tanton and her famous gloves Well, Captain I came here to let you know that the case is closed Closed? But I thought the police didn't like to close a case unsolved We don't Since the evidence pointed to Miss Webster's guilt and since she's dead I see Then everyone else has been cleared Completely No more questions? No more investigations? Nothing Oh, well as long as you're here There's one thing that you haven't told me What was in Gordon's diary? Nothing that the newspapers need ever see He adored you, Miss Tanton You were the most wonderful woman who ever lived Well, I suppose I won't be seeing you again Oh, but I'll be seeing you tonight, Miss Tanton My usual seat, Rowee on the aisle I'm just glad you're here Sorry, I couldn't call for you Oh, it doesn't matter, you're here now Valerie, anything wrong? Everything's wrong I'm all nervous Well, why didn't Compton want to open the play here? Gordon's theatre, it's too full of memories and echoes No wonder you're nervous Opening night and the closing of the case Oh, you've heard from Danbury It's wonderful news, isn't it, dear? Yes, yes it is Now we can really be together You'll marry me right away, this weekend Yes, Michael Now wait a minute Surely you can say it with a little more enthusiasm Oh, I'm sorry, dear It's just that it's all such a shock My proposing again? The case closing so suddenly Well, it's over now and you're coming out on the stage tonight and giving the best performance of your career Do you really believe that? Yes, because you're no longer afraid Afraid? I mean of the play Are you sure that's what you mean? Of course, darling Oh, no You meant I was no longer afraid for myself You believe I killed Gordon? How long have you known? Does it matter? Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you say something? I was waiting for you to tell me I love you, Val Couldn't you believe enough in my love to trust it? What did I ever do or say that made you think I did it? It was nothing you said or did, the fact... I played it well, don't you think, Michael? Even Danbury had to give up Stop it now And I'm top of it all, Mary, and killed herself so conveniently for me You didn't cover that, did you, Michael? I know I didn't Well, why don't you ask me why I killed him? Oh, have you guessed that, too? Perhaps I have It's almost funny I went to such ends to hide everything from you Darling, don't talk, you're too mixed up Oh, no, I'm not I've lived with this thing for a long time, Michael With the knowledge that I killed a human being And I brought destruction to another You've twisted your guild all under proportion Your crime, Val, is being afraid to share it Not only with me, but with society at large You can't hide a thing like that Or eventually it will destroy you Oh, my conscience and I have become pretty good friends I may even learn to live with it You'd better go now, Michael If you want, Val But pushing me out of your life won't be the answer Maybe you're right Well, I guess I'm going to have to deal with this in my own way It's going to be the greatest night of your career Good luck, my dear Take the foot, take the house like that Thank you, Peter Payton, going up Like you've got a hit on your hands, Mr. Gunther Morel Oh, thank you I think you may be right She's proving your faith in her She certainly is Well, just one more act I'm not too familiar with Ibsen, Mr. Gunther In the last scene, Hedder kills herself, doesn't she? Bess, yes, she shoots herself There's no chance that the gun she uses I mean a real bullet What did you say? Uh, I'm being absurd Nothing, Gunther Nothing The greatest opening night we've ever had Nancy, give me that pen, please And a piece of paper Yes, Miss Val Oh, and I want you to find Captain Danbury And bring him backstage He may be in the lobby If not, you'll find him in Rowey on the aisle But shouldn't you wait till after the show, Miss Val? No, Nancy, please And hurry, there isn't much time Yes, Miss Val Captain Danbury I killed Gordon Dunning Motive fear, Valerie Miss Danden, how nice of you to have me backstage I thought you might enjoy seeing the last act from the wings, Captain It's a wonderful night, wonderful Oh, and uh, and perhaps you may like to have these Miss Danden, your gloves Two minutes, Miss Danden, two minutes Excuse me, please Place yourself before you place this last act Give me immense pleasure, dear Header No, thank you I'm a little tired Hello, Captain I think I'll go and try to find my doll What are you doing backstage? Miss Danden's invitation I have never seen her play from the wings before Oh, you've dropped something? Here, a slip of paper I must have fallen out of one of these gloves And now, Captain, is Valerie writing you notes? Well, what did she say? Later, Maria, later We're missing the dial-up But how here? Oh, I dare say Judge Breck will be kind enough to keep you company Every blessed evening, Header And with all my heart We shall get along famously We too Don't flatter yourself, my dear Judge That's it, honey Bring it down Bring down the curtain That's right The play, Header commits suicide, and the curtain comes down Yes, yes, but I, excuse me, but I better Pick it up, any curtain calls? How stupid of me Well, she's barring them out there, she's smelling Okay, Eddie, take it down Miss Danden, please don't walk away, there are floors Captain, I'm ready to go with you now Wait, Mr. Boyle Yes? Bring up the curtain once more, Mr. Boyle Once more for Valerie Stanton