Museum director Barton (Erskine Sanford) reprimands staff member Steele over the sensational style of his public lectures and is annoyed that he wants to demonstrate a forgery detection method by X-raying a masterpiece that was recently exhibited, Dürer's "Adoration of the Kings". Afterward, while having a drink with girlfriend and magazine writer Terry Cordell (Claire Trevor), Steele receives an urgent telephone call informing him that his mother has been taken to a hospital. He rushes to Grand Central Station and catches the last train. About 40 minutes later, Steele watches helplessly as another train crashes head on with his.