Page "North by Northwest" Paragraph 7

Thornhill and his mother go to Kaplan's hotel room, but cannot find anyone there who has seen him.

While in the room, Thornhill answers the phone ; it is one of Vandamm's henchmen.

On the way down they meet the killers in a crowded elevator, while Roger's mother sees herself forced to ask: " You gentlemen aren't really trying to kill my son, are you?

" Narrowly avoiding recapture, Thornhill takes a taxi to the General Assembly building of the United Nations, where Townsend is due to deliver a speech.

Thornhill meets Townsend face to face and is surprised to find that the diplomat is not the man who interrogated him, and Townsend expresses surprise that anybody else has been living in his house.

Before they can talk any more, Valerian throws a knife, striking Townsend in the back.

He falls forward, dead, into Thornhill's arms.

Without thinking, Thornhill removes the knife, making it appear to onlookers that he is the killer.

He flees.