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LOCATION: Brussels, Belgium
PROBABLE DATE: 1957
DURATION:
1 day
SUMMARY:
Charlie
Chan and son, Barry, in At the Later, interviewing
each of the members of the tour party, Inspector Vernet of the Brussels Police hears Professor Ambrose tell of Mrs. Remington's
abusive behavior toward Mary Ann Edwards. It comes out through Ambrose that Miss
Edwards had recently been under care in a mental hospital. It appears to the
inspector that it is a simple case of a mentally unstable Mary Ann who was pushed too far by her overbearing employer. Chan, doubtful, asks to see Mrs. Pendleton's purse.
Two things interest Chan. First, a part of a drawstring, found in Mrs.
Remington's hand, that had gone with her jewelry bag as seen earlier by Chan at the hotel as Mrs. Remington had checked the
contents of her handbag. Second, Chan notes that the jewelry bag is missing from
Mrs. Remington’s purse. Chan theorizes that Mrs. Remington died as a result
of a struggle at the top of the stairs with a thief who was after the jewels which Mrs. Remington made no secret of carrying
with her. During the struggle Mrs. Remington was pushed down the stairs to her
death. Barry then notes the information he saw in a letter he had found earlier. No longer in Barry's pocket, Max Willis offers it up, mentioning his earlier career
as a pickpocket. Max had written the letter to an old cellmate of his at Sing
Sing prison where Max had served time for armed robbery. Max then hurriedly confesses
to the theft of the jewels and the murder of Mrs. Remington. As Max it
taken into custody, Professor Ambrose quickly rounds up the members of his tour party to head back to their bus outside of
the museum. Looking at his watch, the Professor lets Barry know that the bus
will arrive at any moment. Barry tells a perplexed Charlie Chan that he doesn't
believe that max killed Mrs. Remington either and that he made his "confession" in order to protect her. Chan's mood brightens as Barry shows him a photograph he took elsewhere at the museum just moments
before Mrs. Remington's death. Chan hurries off with the photo to find Inspector
Vernet.. With Vernet, Chan hands him the photograph, explaining that his Number
One Son has proven the innocence of Mr. Wilis. The image, taken in the museum's
garden, distinctly shows Willis sitting in the background. Chan explains that
Willis had made his false confession in order to protect Miss Edwards. Suspicion
now reverts to Mary Ann. Chan makes an overseas call to "an institution in the
CONCLUSION: Minutes
later as Vernet rounds up the tour members, Chan rushes in asking the whereabouts of Mary Ann.
Vernet tells him that she became hysterical and that Professor Ambrose has taken her into the museum's garden to calm
her down. Chan then states that they must find them immediately. In the garden, Ambrose walks a calmed Mary Ann across a bridge spanning a large peaceful pond. Thanking the professor, Mary Ann suggests it is getting late and that they should return to the tour group. Ambrose then reminds Mary Ann of her fragile mental health, seeking to convince
her that it was she who pushed Mrs. Remington down the stairs to her death and that the best way out for her would be to commit
suicide my drowning herself in the pond. Suddenly, Mary Ann remembers with clarity
that she was not with Mrs. Remington at the crucial moment as she had moved off momentarily to look at an exhibit. Hearing approaching voices calling out to Mary Ann, Professor Ambrose subdues Miss Edwards in an attempt
to kill her before the search party arrives. Seeing the violent struggle
on the bridge, Chan and the approaching group hurry to the scene as Ambrose is about to push Mary Ann into the water
below. Chan pulls his gun and wounds Ambrose who drops Mary Ann. Chan then correctly suggests that the missing jewelry is on the professor's person. As Mary
Ann and Max leave in each other's arms, Chan notes to Barry two things that pointed to Ambrose as the possible murderer: first,
Ambrose's ignorance of a very obvious fact of history and second, the phone call to America revealed non-existence of the
college where Ambrose claimed to be a professor. OF NOTE: Barry Chan (to
Sharon): "My Pop used to head up the Honolulu Police. Maybe you've heard of him - Charlie Chan?" Title Reads: "
Max
Willis (to Professor Ambrose): "Excuse me, Professor, Magellan didn’t discover
the Diogo Cão - (ca. 1452-1489) A Portuguese
explorer and one of the most notable navigators of the Age of Discovery who made two voyages sailing along the west coast
of Africa to Namibia in the 1480s. In 1482 and 1485, Diogo Cão explored the area of what is today the Ancient
wisdom says, "Anger very bad for digestion." Wise old
Chinese friend one said, "Two birds on branch sing sweetly, but third one changes melody to discord."
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