Robert Newton credited as playing...
Dr. Clive Riordan
- Dr. Clive Riordan: Are you married, Mr. Finsbury?
- Supt. Finsbury: No... I've often thought about it. Trouble is, I've thought about it so long, I'm afraid I've missed the bus.
- Dr. Clive Riordan: Just one of life's little jokes, isn't it?... It points out our mistakes too late for us to profit by them.
- Dr. Clive Riordan: I've always wanted to meet a crime specialist.
- Supt. Finsbury: Interested in murder, Doctor?
- Dr. Clive Riordan: Well, in an amateur sort of way, yes.
- Supt. Finsbury: All murderers are amateurs, you know. Nobody makes a profession out of murder. In fact, the only professionals in the game are those who try and catch the murderers.
- Dr. Clive Riordan: The disposal of the body has always been one of the greatest problems facing the would be murderer. Many excellently conceived and meticulously planned murders have failed when the moment arrives to do the disappearing trick with the remains. Burning would seem a very simple and tempting way out, but it usually fails when, to the murderer's horror, his victim's body simply refuses to turn to ashes. Burial in the garden, or cellars or the like too often proves but a temporary hiding place. Taking the body to sea in a little boat and throwing it overboard, well weighted - gosh - it's not really to be recommended.
- Bill Kronin: Well, there must be plenty of quiet places in England. Why not just dig a sort of big hole and put me in?
- Dr. Clive Riordan: Burial in some secluded spot? Definitely no!
- Bill Kronin: Why not?
- Dr. Clive Riordan: Well, you see, fate usually seems to decree that the spot which has remained secluded for centuries suddenly becomes the Mecca of picnic parties, with dogs that dig holes unerringly in the grave.
- Bill Kronin: Why not chop me up in little pieces and sort of sprinkle me around?
- Dr. Clive Riordan: Is this really Scotland Yard in action?
- Supt. Finsbury: Well, the wheels are in motion. Some of us serve who only sit and wait you know - not much point in me charging around all over London by myself!
- Dr. Clive Riordan: A sensible and civil husband doesn't object to other men admiring his wife. He can even understand her returning the admiration. But if this mutual attraction becomes a habit and is flaunted repeatedly under his very nose, under the impudent assumption that he's being deceived, why then - the intelligence of the sensible and civilised husband is insulted and he is reduced to the most insensible and uncivilised behaviour. So you see, through you, I'm going to make my wife suffer for a long list of calculated insults. Yes I'm going to kill you, Kronin.
- Bill Kronin: By boring me to death?
- Dr. Clive Riordan: And my wife is going to suspect that I've killed you. She may even be certain of it, but she'll never be able to prove it.