"In Austria at Dressler""s home, he plotted with the other conspirators regarding the shipment and detonation of the bomb."They discuss the motivations for Robie""s past crimes and career as a thief, and how he transferred trapeze artistry skills o burglary.Scriptwriter Sidney Howard wrote the screenplay based upon his 1934 stage adaptation of Sinclair Lewis"" 1929 novel of the same name.When the nurse took off with his cigars, he begged and pleaded: "Can""t I have just one?...A few puffs after meals? Please." He jokingly proposed murdering her "some dark night":"When her back is turned, I""ll snatch her thermometer and plunge it through her shoulder blades.