Where Is Coletti?

Summary

Berlin, that sleepless metropolis of electric trams and cigarette haze, becomes a colossal game-board when Coletti—ace detective, darling of the dailies—stakes his own skin on a boast: plaster his mug across every broadsheet and poster, let every butcher, baker, and street-urchin hunt him, and still he will vanish for forty-eight velvet hours. A taunting editor, a city drunk on reward money, and a barber with a gift for mimicry turn the hunt into carnival: top-hats swap with dustmen’s caps, a Zeppelin’s gondola becomes a skyborne drawing-room of mistaken identity, and a police hound drags its handler through beer-hall sawdust toward a café where Lolette’s high-kicking ankles buy her lover precious seconds. When the clock bleeds out, Coletti steps from the wings freshly shaved, crisp collar, eyes twinkling at the befuddled mob: the quarry was never the body, always the hubris of a crowd that believes it can corner a myth.

Synopsis

This production tells the story of the famous detective, Coletti, of Berlin. Coletti has taken charge of a bank robbery case, and the editor of the Continental Daily Mail publishes an article in which he chides the detective for mismanagement of the case. As it was known the criminal remained in Berlin for forty-eight hours after the robbery; the article claimed that had Coletti published and distributed inscription of the criminal someone of the millions of inhabitants of Berlin would have captured him. In an open letter to the editor of the paper, Coletti states it is almost impossible to unearth a man hidden away in as large a city as Berlin, and to back up his statement, offers a reward of $25,000 to any person who can capture him within forty-eight hours after a full description of himself, and his photograph, have been printed in every newspaper, and posted all around the city. The challenge is accepted. All the inhabitants of Berlin, except Anton, the barber, and Lolette, Coletti's fiancée, are seeking the detective. Anton disguises as the detective, and Coletti assumes the rough clothes of a street sweeper. Freely mingling with the crowd, Coletti keeps his eyes open for Anton, whom he presently sees boarding a bus. Then a wild mob pursues Anton, but the athletic barber makes his escape by jumping from the fast going vehicle. After running a short distance he sees a Zeppelin airship about to sail away. In a mad jump he succeeds in boarding the airship, which has a good many passengers on board. Taking a seat, Anton calls for a drink, and is very much astonished to find that the waiter who serves him is Coletti himself. Finally a stout lady passenger observes Anton, and feeling confident she has captured Coletti, keeps a firm hold on the collar of Anton's coat. When the airship descends she marches poor Anton off to the editor's office to claim the $25,000. While the mob that has followed the fair stout lady are cheering her to the top of their lungs, Anton calmly removes his disguise, and distributes his business cards, and then they realize they have been tricked. In the meantime, Coletti has constantly mingled with the masses in various disguises. Then a celebrated police dog is put on the trail of Coletti. While Coletti and his sweetheart are enjoying themselves at a nearby café the crowd follows the police dog. The dog is on the scent, tugging at the leash with all his might he makes for the café. As they enter the café Lolette begins to dance, while Coletti goes into an adjoining room and changes back to his own clothing. Time has been flying fast; the mob has been watching in admiration the dancing of Lolette, then the inner door opens and a wild dash is made at the man who enters, Coletti himself, who calmly raising his hand, says, "Yes, you have caught me, but you are five minutes too late."