02x02 - The Case of the Lucky Loser

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( train engine chugging )

I do wish I were going
with you to Mexico

instead of staying here
in Los Angeles.

Well, this trip's gonna be
too dangerous, Harriet.

It's in the most
rugged territory

in the Sierra Madre
Mountains.

It's no place for a woman,
especially my wife.

It's almost no place

for an amateur
archaeologist either.

Thanks for coming
as far as Colegrove Station.

Write every day, Lawrence.
Don't forget.

I won't.

MAN:
Colegrove Station.

Goodbye, my darling.

Goodbye.

Uh, better get a cab
before they're all gone.

( inaudible dialogue )

( mysterious theme playing )

Thank you very much.

Darling, I could hardly wait
to see you.

HARRIET:
All right.

Give me the keys
to the car.

I'll go home and say good night
to my father-in-law

and let him know I've returned
from the station.

I'll see you later.

( engine starting )

All right, Egan, it's me,
Lawrence Balfour.

Turn on the lights.

( g*nsh*t )

MAN ( over phone ):
Hello. Steven Boles speaking.

Steve, this is Larry Balfour.

I'm in trouble,
terrible trouble.

Mr. Balfour, I thought you were
on your way to Mexico.

What happened?

I sh*t a man.
I k*lled him.

You what?

I followed Harriet off the train
at Colegrove Station.

I overheard her make
an appointment to meet someone.

Look, Steve.
You've got to help me.

Well, I will, of course,
Mr. Balfour. Where are you now?

Home. I came home.

Where did this happen?

At, uh-- At Sleepy Hollow,
cabin number .

I see. And who is the man?

George Egan.

Where's your wife?

I don't know. She left
before I k*lled him. She--

Did anyone see you
come in the house?

I don't think so.

My father must be asleep,
and the servants too.

What about your nephew, Ted?

Is he back from that party yet?
Is he asleep?

I don't know. Look--

What am I gonna do, Steve?
I can't go to a lawyer.

Mr. Balfour, get out
to the Valley Airport.

I'll have our private plane
standing by

ready to fly you to Tucson.

Now, you'll arrive there
before the train does.

When it stops,
get back on board,

and remember, you've never been
off that train.

Do you understand, sir?

But...what about the body?

Never mind about that.

I'll take care
of everything here.

Thank you.
Thank you very much, Steve.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( thudding )

( tires screech )

( indistinct chatter
over police radio )

Well, it was hit-and-run,
all right.

He even stopped
to take a look.

When I came along,
he gunned out.

And you're sure
this is the license number?

Sure. Just so happens I got
good eyes and a good memory.

That's it. K-Y-L- - - .

Sure hope you get him,
officer.

We will.

But, gentlemen,

you cannot disturb
Mr. Theodore Balfour

so early in the morning.

Thurston, what is it?

These gentlemen
from the police

insist on talking
to Mr. Theodore.

What do you want?
I'm Mrs. Balfour.

Mrs. Theodore Balfour?

No. My husband
is Lawrence Balfour.

He's Theodore's uncle.

I see. Well, we have
some questions for Theodore.

All right.

I'll take them.
Follow me.

Theodore Balfour?

Yes?

You own a convertible,
license K-Y-L- - - ?

Yes.

Had a few too many last night,
eh, Mr. Balfour?

( exhales )

I-- I don't seem
to remember too much

about last night at all.

I don't usually drink.

SERGEANT:
Did you use your car?

Now, I know I went to a party.

A going-away party
for my uncle Lawrence.

It was at Florence Ingle's.

Remember driving home,
Mr. Balfour?

What happened?

You know, the--

The harder you try
to remember the--

What's this all about, anyway?

We've just inspected your car,
Mr. Balfour.

For what?

We believe it was involved
in a hit-and-run death.

Better get your shoes on.

( suspenseful theme playing )

He didn't do it,
Perry.

I know Ted.

I've known him
since he was .

Well, Balfour admits
drinking that night.

Yes, he had a few drinks
at my farewell party,

for his uncle Lawrence.

What time did you say
he left the party, Miss Ingle?

Oh, about , : .

Thank you.

According to the police,

the accident happened
around half past .

Will you at least talk
to him?

I'm sorry, Florence.
I can't.

Why not?

Well, in the first place,

the Balfour family
retain an army of lawyers.

And the second place, it would
be completely unethical.

( sighs )
I see.

Then I'll talk to him first.

Florence...

why all this interest
in young Ted?

Well, I'm concerned about him.

That the only reason?

Uh...

Well, uh...

I think Lawrence
would appreciate it if--

If that's what you mean,
Perry.

I'll call you.

All right.

( doorbell buzzes )

Oh...

Miss Ingle, may I come in?

Yes, of course.
Thank you.

Won't you sit down?

No, thank you. I don't believe
I'll be here that long.

Ted tells me that you went
to see him.

That's right. I wanted him
to talk to Perry Mason.

Didn't you think the Balfours
would protect their own?

I was sure they would.
But, uh...

Mr. Mason's a very close
friend of mine.

So is Lawrence Balfour.

Now, if you really want to help
Ted, you can do so very easily.

By providing him
with an alibi.

What kind of an alibi?

I want you to testify

that Ted left your party
very late last night,

say about :
in the morning.

But that's not true.
Ted left around--

I know. It doesn't matter
whether it's true or not.

Now, just a moment, Steve.

Then I can see that I'll have
to spell it out for you.

Ted is innocent.

That business with the car
and the body, I did that.

And it was not hit-and-run,
it was m*rder.

You k*lled somebody!

Lawrence k*lled somebody.

Lawrence!

Yes, George Egan.

But that's Harriet's--

Former boyfriend.

Lawrence caught them together,
unfortunately.

Why unfortunately?

Because I had the goods
on Harriet already.

Fully documented.

A divorce would have been
a lead-pipe cinch,

and that's exactly what you
wanted, wasn't it, Miss Ingle?

A chance to become
Mrs. Lawrence Balfour?

Only Lawrence walked in
on them first.

Then...you were protecting
Lawrence?

My job is to protect
all the Balfours.

I tried to make the m*rder look
like a hit-and-run accident.

I took the body
out to Sycamore Lane

because all the land around
there belongs to the Balfours

except for one small piece which
belongs to a man named Haley.

And he just happened to be on
that back road

at : in the morning.

Does that mean they'll find out
about Lawrence?

Not if you help me protect Ted.

I'll not have Ted go to prison.

No, of course not.

So about all
you have to consider

is whether you're willing
to help.

You know I am.

I thought so.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Haley, I figured
you'd have this place

looking a lot better
by this time.

It takes a lot of time
building up a resort like this

if you don't have
the money, Mr. Boles.

Money's all around you,
that's for sure.

You mean the Balfours?

I guess they don't cotton much
to my run-down property,

much less to me.

I don't know. I've been talking
to the Balfours.

In fact, they asked me
to come down here

and see if I couldn't make life
a little easier for you.

A little easier for me?

Why would they do that?

Well, they figure if they were
to loan you the money

to improve the value
of your land,

naturally, it would improve
the value of their property too.

And they'd do that,
after what I did to them?

Well, when you come
right down to it,

you haven't actually
done anything to them...yet.

Of course, you could cause them
a little trouble

if you were to repeat
that story in court

the same way you told it
to the police.

But then, on the other hand,
you could be not quite so sure

about what you saw
or thought you saw.

After all,
it was a very dark night.

A man can make a mistake
about things like that.

Well, a good neighbor's
a good neighbor.

I see what you mean.

You really think
they'd loan me some money

to build my place up?

I'm sure they would.
They figure about $ , .

Twenty-five thousand dollars?

Well, I guess
I really wouldn't be doing

anything wrong,
would I?

After all, like you said,

it was a black night.

A fella could barely see.

I mostly thought I saw
what I did see.

You're a good man, Haley.

Let's you and I go over
to your house,

and we'll straighten this
thing out right here and now.

No, no. Come on.
Get right in here.

That?

Sure.

Swell.

I know what I said

in that written statement
I gave the district attorney,

but I'm not real sure
that license was - - .

Could have been - - ...

Or - - .

Those numbers look almost
alike on a dark road,

and the light wasn't good.

I'm not real sure
what kind of car it was.

You know,
if I made a mistake,

I'd have that on my conscience
the rest of my life.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Any time there's a deal made

by a deputy district attorney
outta this office,

I wanna know about it first.

But you were out of town,
Mr. Burger.

That doesn't rule out
the telephone, Faris.

After Haley reversed himself
on the stand, I had no case.

Yeah, I know.

Do you suppose Haley
was paid off?

Coulda been. The Balfours
don't like being stepped on,

and they own
half of the state.

Well, maybe they don't own
our half.

I want the body
of George Egan exhumed.

Faris, you'll need
an order to do it.

Right.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Mr. Mason,
won't you come in?

Thank you.

The family's waiting upstairs.

Ted's lawyer had him
on the run,

and then he makes this deal

with the district
attorney's office

and gets Ted convicted.

Why, Mason?

Apparently,
your grandson's lawyer

wanted to keep the defendant
out of jail.

Is that
what you'd have done?

I don't know.
I'd have to study the case.

All right, then,
go ahead and study it.

Ted's lawyer's finished.
He's paid off and discharged.

The case seems closed,
Mr. Balfour.

What do you want me
to do about it?

Reopen it.

Get the decision reversed.
Have it set aside.

All I know is I don't want
a conviction against Ted.

I don't want
any mulling compromise.

I want him
to fight for his rights.

A Balfour always fights.

When we know
we're in the right.

Who's "we"?

I thought I became a Balfour
when I married Lawrence.

Maybe when you act
like a wife.

Well, Mason,
I want this case cleaned up.

And I want it cleaned up
so clean,

it'll shine like a new penny.

Since I'd be representing you,
Mr. Balfour,

I'd like to know
what you want.

Does it matter
what I want.

There's the man
who's hiring you.

I'd still like to know
what you want.

The truth.

I want to know the truth.
Did I do it?

Was I guilty?
Did I k*ll someone?

I think we should leave
well enough alone.

Boles, I've been over
all this with you,

and we're not dropping it.

Well, Mason,
would you represent Ted?

Yes.

Good.

I-I-I'm tired now.

Mason, I--
I want a few words with you.

Did you hear him, Mason?

The boy has the fire in him.

All he has to learn
is to face up to life.

Someone has to carry
the Balfour banner,

and he's my only hope.

Lawrence is too busy

digging up fossils
or lost treasure.

My other son
could have done it.

But that's Ted's father--

But the w*r--

So that leaves only Ted.

That Harriet
is a selfish woman, Mason.

My son Lawrence got taken.

Personally,
I wouldn't trust her

as far as I could throw
this bed,

and I have trouble
just lifting the covers.

You understand me?

Yes, I understand you.

She's even hypnotized Ted.

It's an open secret
that at one time

he was in love with her,

and for all I know,

he may still be carrying
a torch.

Well, all right, all right.

Remember,
I'm paying the freight,

but you're representing Ted.

He's my last hope.

Fight for him, Mason,

and...teach him how to fight.

( rings )

Hello?

WOMAN ( over phone ):
Miss Ingle?

Speaking.

Mr. Mason calling.
One moment please.

How are you, Florence?

I suppose you've heard
I've just been retained

by the Balfour family
to defend Ted.

Yes, and I'm delighted.

Well, I've just been going over
the transcript

of Ted's jury trial,
and something bothers me.

What time did you say he left
your party that night?

I said about or : .

When you were in my office,
you said he left around : .

You asked me a question, Perry,
and I answered it.

I said Ted left around :
in the morning.

I wish you wouldn't pursue it
any further.

All right, Florence.
Thank you.

What did she say?

( knocking )

MASON:
Hi, Paul.

Would you be interested
in a little information

on the matter of George Egan,
hit-and-run victim?

The DA ordered
the body exhumed,

and guess what they found
in his skull.

A b*llet, which, uh,

makes it a little more
your kind of case, Perry.

m*rder.

( suspenseful theme playing )

This is on a writ
of habeas corpus

in the case
of Theodore Balfour.

If the court please,

we would like to insist
upon the defendant's release.

Release?

Your Honor,
the defendant is now charged

with first-degree m*rder.

He's not entitled to be released
on habeas corpus.

But our writ is based upon
the constitutional provision

that no man shall be twice
put in jeopardy

for the same offense.

Your Honor has quite recently
reviewed the evidence

in the case
of People v. Balfour

and found him guilty
of involuntary manslaughter.

Your Honor--

Now, just a moment,
Mr. Burger.

Mr. Mason, do you contend

that because the people
mistakenly assumed

this was a hit-and-run case

and prosecuted the defendant
under such a charge,

that the people are now barred
from prosecuting him

for first-degree m*rder?

Your Honor, it's perfectly clear
what transpired in this case,

an attempt was made
to dispose of the victim

by making it appear
that the man had been k*lled

in a hit-and-run accident.

We're perfectly willing
to move to dismiss

the former charges
of involuntary manslaughter

against Mr. Balfour

so that he can be prosecuted
for first-degree m*rder.

The motion is out of order,
I believe.

The defendant has been tried,
convicted and sentenced

for the death of George Egan.

The court is very much concerned

with this point
of once in jeopardy, Mr. Mason.

Do you have any authorities

that bear on such a case
as this?

I do.

Among other citations
listed here,

Your Honor will be interested
in the case

of The People v. McDaniels,
California .

Once a defendant
has been placed on trial,

jeopardy has attached.

If the prosecution,
as a result of poor judgment,

poor investigative work
or poor thinking

charges the man
with a lesser offense,

then it is barred
from prosecuting

for a greater offense
at a later date.

Mr. Mason, I feel a higher court
should pass on this matter.

If I grant the habeas corpus,

the defendant
will simply go free.

If I hold the defendant
for trial by denying the writ,

the motion can be carried
to a higher court

on a plea
of once in jeopardy.

The court denies
the habeas corpus.

The prisoner is remanded
to the custody of the sheriff.

( spectators murmuring )

( suspenseful theme playing )

Well, we can get just so far
with George Egan's background.

How far?

Up to about months ago.

Before that, he lived here
in Los Angeles, worked here,

and even belonged
to a country club here.

Then?

Well, then
he just disappeared,

till he showed up
in the morgue.

What about
this Steven Boles?

MASON:
Anything on him?

Yeah. He's a very clever
and a very powerful man.

He's the Mr. Fix-it
for the Balfour empire.

His salary
is $ , a year.

He has a staff of people
working for him,

and he has complete autonomy,

answerable only
to Addison Balfour himself.

And his conscience.

MASON:
I'd keep on it, Paul.

One other thing, I wanna get
in touch with Lawrence Balfour.

All right. I'll send a man
to Mexico if I have to,

but the way I understand it,
where he is

is like the Grand Canyon,
only more rugged.

Mr. Boles can be
pretty rugged too.

What kind of a talk
is this, Mr. Boles?

Everything open,
aboveboard.

Thank you.

The first thing is,

if you have any doubts
of Ted's innocence,

forget them.

You speak with authority.

With knowledge, Mr. Mason.
I know the whole story.

Go on, Mr. Boles.

Thank you.

When Lawrence left that night
for Mexico,

Harriet rode with him
as far as Colegrove Station.

Uh, sit down.

She went direct from the train
to a cabin in Sleepy Hollow,

thinking all the while that
Lawrence was still on the train.

And he wasn't.

No. He knew what she was up to,

and he followed her to the cabin

and he took Ted's revolver
along with him.

And then?

Harriet left the cabin,

and then Lawrence
did a very stupid thing.

He wanted to confront Egan,
so he went into the cabin,

and in the darkness,

Egan aimed a flashlight
at his eyes.

This started a fight.

And during the fight,

Lawrence accidentally discharged
Ted's . -caliber revolver.

Egan fell to the floor
with a b*llet in his head.

Then Lawrence had sense enough
to go home and call me.

I told him to fly to Tucson,
get back on the train,

and I'd take care
of everything here in town.

And so you did.

Yes. I took the body
from the cabin,

made it appear
as a hit-and-run accident.

Why did you use Ted's car?

Mr. Mason, my own car happens
to be a small sports-car model

and not up to the job
that had to be done.

There were three cars
in the Balfour garage,

and only Ted's car had the keys
in the ignition.

What did you do
with Ted's g*n?

It's at the bottom
of the Pacific three miles out.

I see.

I suppose you were the one

that engineered Florence Ingle's
phony alibi for Ted.

Yes. Yes, I was.

But you have given us
something better, Mason.

You've given us an out.

Have I?

Certainly, with that very clever
point you made

about once in jeopardy.

I may not be able
to work it that way.

Oh? Why not?

Suppose I put in a plea
of once in jeopardy

and the judge overrules it.

So you'll go right on
with the trial.

But you don't take
any part in it,

and you don't put on
any witnesses of your own,

so if the jury comes in
with a verdict of guilty,

you're in a perfect position
to take it to a higher court

on your plea
of once in jeopardy.

You're telling me
how to conduct the case?

Yes, I am telling you
because I pay the bills,

and I figure
this is our best gamble.

I play the percentages.

So do I, for my client.

Then you'd better add up
all the figures again, Mason,

because if you try
to double-cross me,

I'll make you the sickest lawyer
in this state,

and don't you ever think
I can't do it!

If you have any idea
of how powerful

Balfour Allied Associates is,

multiply it a hundred times!

We cannot be hurt!

We're not about to let
some outside lawyer

foul up the gears.

All right, Boles.
Now I know where you stand.

Just so you don't make
any mistake about me,

remember this:

I don't suborn perjury.
I rely on the truth.

Oh, uh...

This is for you.

Yes? What is it?

A subpoena ordering you
to appear as a witness

for the defense.

( suspenseful theme playing )

This just came registered mail,
special delivery.

They didn't waste any time,
did they?

"Dear sir,
you are hereby notified

"that effective immediately
you are relieved of all duties

"in connection with the defense
of Theodore Balfour.

Very truly yours,
Addison Balfour."

Succinct and official,
isn't it?

( rings )

Yes, Gertie?

Who?

Just a minute.

It's Thurston.

The Balfour butler?

Mm-hm.

Send him in.

Send him in,
Gertie.

Good morning, Thurston.
Come in.

How do you do,
Mr. Mason, sir?

This is my secretary,
Miss Street.

How do you do?

Is that the notification
of your discharge, sir?

Yes, how'd you know?

A man in my position
hears many things.

That's why I had to see
young Mr. Theodore.

I've just been to the jail.

Oh? Here. Sit down.

Thank you, sir.

Mr. Mason,
I'm aware of what you can do

for young Theodore.

More than they can
with all their money.

Mr. Boles
is a very clever man.

He usually knows
what he's doing.

Then why did he send
these telegrams

to Mr. Lawrence Balfour
in Chihuahua, Mexico?

"Reply your wire.

"Remain Chihuahua.

"No need return
till you hear from me.

Signed, Boles."

He shouldn't have done that,
Mr. Mason.

Mr. Lawrence should be here
at a time like this.

I told young Mr. Theodore

that I was coming here
to see you.

What did he say?

I've known the boy many years.

I--
I can talk to him.

He said if you were willing
to stay on as his attorney,

he was willing too.

I'm willing, Thurston.

And ignore the fact
that you've been discharged

by Mr. Addison Balfour?

Why not?

Addison Balfour wanted me
to teach Ted how to fight.

We haven't finished
our lesson yet.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Now, Mr. Schmidt,
do you do all kinds

of p*stol- and g*n-repair work
in your shop?

I do.

Would you look
at the defense table, please?

I ask if you recognize
the defendant, Theodore Balfour.

I do. I--

I've done lots of work
on his g*ns.

Would you tell this court,
please, what transpired

between you
and the defendant

on Wednesday, August th,
of this year?

Yes, sir.

Mr. Theodore Balfour
brought his . revolver

to hone down
the trigger pull.

BURGER:
I see. And did you test fire
this particular revolver

in your basement range?

I did.

I show you now this envelope
which contains eight b*ll*ts,

and I'll ask you
to examine them, please.

Yes, sir.
I saved them.

They come from the .
Mr. Balfour brought in.

The same g*n I returned to him
on the th of September,

with the trigger adjusted,
of course.

I ask that this envelope
containing the eight b*ll*ts

be marked
people's Exhibit B.

No objections.

You may cross-examine.

No questions.

Therefore, as an expert
on ballistics,

I consider this
conclusive proof

that the fatal b*llet,
Exhibit A,

and these eight b*ll*ts,
Exhibit B,

were fired
from the same g*n.

I see. Thank you, sir.

Your witness.

No questions.

Now, let me understand
the position of counsel.

Is it his intention,

because the court has overruled
the point of once in jeopardy,

to take no part in this trial?

Because if it is the court warns
that it is counsel's duty

to see that the defendant
is properly represented.

I understand, Your Honor.

I've refrained from
cross-examining these witnesses

because I have no questions
to ask them.

I do intend to participate
actively in this trial.

Very well.

You may proceed with the case,
Mr. Prosecutor.

I call Harriet Balfour
to the stand, please.

Now, Mrs. Balfour,

do you recall the evening
of October th of this year?

Quite well.

That was the night my husband
left for Mexico.

On that evening,

did you have a conversation
with the defendant?

Yes, sir,
at the farewell party.

And at the time
of that conversation,

was the defendant
under the influence of liquor?

Oh, no, no.

He may have had
a highball or two,

but he certainly
wasn't drunk.

Well, what did he say
to you?

Well, he said
that he understood

that George Egan
was back in town.

He said that he wanted
to have a talk with George.

That if he,

Ted Balfour,
could respect the fact

that I was
a married woman,

he thought that George
ought to respect that too.

I never said
anything like that.

I never did.
How could I, Mr. Mason?

And in what tone was this said,
angry, mild?

MASON:
Object, Your Honor.

The question
is leading and suggestive.

It calls for a conclusion
from the witness.

I think it is proper
for the witness

to testify as to emotions

if they were plainly indicated
by the tone of voice.

But the question
would seem to be leading.

Very well, Your Honor.
I'll withdraw the question.

What else transpired
between you and the defendant?

Why, I told him his suspicions
were ridiculous,

that I hadn't even seen
George Egan

for more than a year.

And that was all he said
to you?

Yes.

That's all I can remember.

Thank you, Mrs. Balfour.

Your witness.

Now, in this, uh, conversation
with the defendant,

there was the inference

that you had
not always been loyal

in your marriage
to Lawrence Balfour,

was there not?

Not loyal?
Of course I'd been loyal.

Then there were suspicions

that you had not been
a good wife?

Oh, no, no, there weren't.

Didn't you say the defendant's
suspicions were ridiculous?

Oh.

That's all
for the moment.

I call Steven Boles
to the stand, please.

Now, Mr. Boles, as an employee
of Balfour Allied Associates,

what specific duties
did you perform

on the night of the m*rder,
October th?

Mr. Lawrence Balfour was leaving
for Tucson, Arizona.

He was to go to Mexico
from there.

I saw him
safely aboard the train.

That completed your duties
for the evening?

Yes. I went home.

Then did you subsequently
receive a phone call

on the morning of the th?

I did,
about : in the morning.

And who
was that phone call from?

The defendant,
Theodore Balfour.

What did Theodore Balfour
say to you

in that phone conversation?

He said
he was in trouble

and to please come to him
as soon as possible.

BURGER:
And what did you do?

BOLES:
I went to him.

Well, that's not true.
Why are you--?

( gavel banging )

But he's lying.

Now, I admonish the defendant
to restrain himself

from any further demonstrations
of this nature.

You may proceed,
Mr. Prosecutor.

Thank you, Your Honor.

What did the defendant say
to you in this conversation?

He told me
what had happened that night.

He said he'd had
too much to drink,

didn't remember driving home,

but that during the middle
of the night

he awakened and remembered

that he was to drive out
to a Sleepy Hollow cabin

and to wait there
for a man he called George Egan

to have a showdown with him.

Well, did he explain to you
what the showdown was about?

Just that this Egan had been
making improper advances

to Mrs. Lawrence Balfour.

BOLES:
Ted wanted him to stop.

BURGER:
I see.

Go on, Mr. Boles.

BOLES:
He said that he drove out
to the Sleepy Hollow cabin,

busted in on Egan,

Egan att*cked him with a chair,
this started a fight.

Now, he said that he'd taken
a small-bore g*n with him

to frighten Egan with,

and that during the fight
it had gone off.

He said it was an accident.

And then
what did he say he did?

He said he drove Egan's body
out to a deserted road,

ran over it several times
with his car

to make it look like
an accident

so the police wouldn't look
for a b*llet.

BURGER:
Go on.

He asked me
to take charge of things.

I told him

that since this obviously
was a case of self-defense,

he should report it
to the police

and tell them that he had acted
in fear of his life.

Then what did you do?

I went home.

The next morning I learned
that he was to be prosecuted

for an involuntary homicide
with a car.

And what did you do
after that?

I did nothing.

I see. Thank you.

Your witness.

JUDGE:
Before cross-examination starts,

I see it is the hour
for the noon adjournment.

The court will now take a recess
until : .

( suspenseful theme playing )

Well...

( sighs )
I anticipated

they would try to make things
tough for me,

but I didn't think Boles
would get on the stand

and commit
deliberate perjury.

So ruthlessly.
It's kind of frightening.

And in another way,
it's a clever story.

It gives the jury
a chance to disagree

or to find my client guilty
of second-degree m*rder.

So in a manner of speaking,
he's still protecting Ted.

Well, he told me he was
going to be playing percentages,

and he certainly is.

( rhythmic knocking on door )

Did you send your man
to Chihuahua, Paul?

He's there now,
waiting for Lawrence Balfour

to come back
from the wilds.

There doesn't seem to be any way
to get out there after him.

Well, you better phone your man.
I want him to get me copies

of those wires that were sent
to Boles and Lawrence.

All right. Perry, here are
some bits and pieces

we picked up on Boles.

Records, bank accounts
and so on.

Which brings us
to one George Egan.

What about him?

The reason George Egan
left California months ago

was that Boles
sent him away,

paid him
and bought him off.

Why?

That I have not been able
to find out.

You were going to get me
duplicate driving licenses

on Egan, Boles
and Lawrence Balfour.

Did you get them?

They're on their way
from Sacramento.

Should be in this afternoon's
mail at the latest

I'll need them
as soon as they arrive.

And, Paul, can you get me a set
of the decedent's fingerprints?

Sure. They take 'em
as routine.

I'll pick them up
this afternoon.

That's not soon enough.

All right,
right after lunch,

which, uh,
I haven't had yet.

No time, Paul.

We're due back in court
right now.

Mr. Boles, do you remember
an occasion a short time ago

when you and I had a talk
at your office?

Perfectly.

At that time,
didn't you tell me

that Lawrence Balfour
had confronted George Egan,

that Balfour had done
the sh**ting,

that he called you,

that you told him he should fly
to Tucson, rejoin his train,

that you would take care
of everything here?

You mean I told you that?

Didn't you?

Why, that's preposterous.

Then did you not tell me

that you took the body out
to the highway

and made it appear
a hit-run accident?

Certainly not!

Mr. Mason,
just what is the purpose

of this fabrication?

( door opens )

May I ask the court's indulgence
for a few moments?

Certainly, Mr. Mason.
Would you like a brief recess?

Thank you. I don't think
that will be necessary.

Do you have everything,
Paul?

Duplicate licenses
from Sacramento,

a copy of the dead man's
fingerprints,

and I talked to my man
in Chihuahua.

There have been no telegrams

from Lawrence Balfour
to Boles,

No telegrams?

None.
Perry, take a deep breath.

What for?

We traced George Egan
to Norman, Oklahoma.

He d*ed there
eight months ago.

Of course.

Of course he did, Paul.

Uh, thank you, Your Honor.

Now, Mr. Boles,

did you know the so-called
decedent, George Egan?

The "so-called" decedent?

What does defense counsel
mean by that?

We've established the identity
of the decedent.

Your Honor,

certain papers were found
on the mutilated body.

Identification seemed routine
and went unchallenged.

However,
information has just come to me

that George Egan d*ed
of a coronary thrombosis

on February th of this year
in Norman, Oklahoma.

All other vital statistics
verify this George Egan

as the same George Egan

whose identity was presumed
by the prosecution.

May I see that information,
Mr. Mason?

Also, Your Honor,
I submit a photostatic copy

of George Egan's
driver's license

with its identifying
thumbprint

and this set of prints
taken from the m*rder victim.

Your Honor will note
that the prints do not match.

Now, Your Honor, I would like
the witness to answer

whether or not
he knew George Egan.

Answer the question,
Mr. Boles.

I may have.

He was a former friend
of Harriet Balfour.

He left Los Angeles
months ago.

He took a position
with Balfour Allied Associates

in Norman, Oklahoma.

Who gave him that job?

I may have.

What were his duties
in Oklahoma?

I may have just wanted him
out of Los Angeles.

What it all boils down to
is that you bribed George Egan

to stay away
from Harriet Balfour.

He was a potential source
of trouble.

I try to think ahead.

Didn't you make a trip
to Oklahoma eight months ago,

just after his death,

in order to supervise
the closing

of George Egan's estate?

I may have.

We've had enough of these
"may haves," Mr. Boles.

All right, then.
I did.

And therefore it was
someone else who d*ed

in the Sleepy Hollow cabin,
wasn't it, Mr. Boles?

I can't say positively.

Can't you?

How did Egan's identification

get on
the now unidentified body?

All right, then.
Let's get back to that body.

If he wasn't George Egan,
who was he?

And who used
Egan's identification

at motels and hotels
around town,

keeping various engagements
with Harriet Balfour?

MASON:
Who rented drive-yourself cars
in Egan's name?

And who has been
Harriet Balfour's lover,

the man who waited for her
at that cabin,

the man who flashed his light
in a heartsick husband's eyes,

the one you've been trying
to protect

first, last and always,
Mr. Boles?

You're making a mistake,
Mason.

Am I, Mr. Boles?

Aren't you that man?

Aren't you Harriet's lover?

How could I be?
He was--

Go on, Mr. Boles.

You were about to say
how could you be her lover

when her lover was sh*t
by Lawrence Balfour.

But suppose Lawrence's sh*t
went wild.

Suppose you dropped
to the floor,

pretending to be dead,

your brain working
all the time.

You knew
Lawrence's first thought

would be
to get in touch with you.

All you could think of was
to get back to your apartment.

I tell you, you haven't got
this thing figured out.

You're jumping
to a wrong conclusion!

Your Honor...

I think
we can put the lie

to this man's
complete testimony

if I may recall a witness.

Mr. Burger?

No objection, Your Honor.

I call Harriet Balfour
to the stand.

( clears throat )

Remember, Mrs. Balfour,
you're still under oath.

What do you want with me,
Mr. Mason?

I want to ask you
if you left the train

at Colegrove Station

and went directly
to Cabin at Sleepy Hollow

on the night
in question.

No, I did not.

And you are now
and always have been

a faithful and constant wife
to your husband,

Lawrence Balfour.

Yes.

Have you been corresponding
with him?

Yes, I write him every day.

I receive his letters
in batches

when his runner
gets back to camp.

I see.

Now, would you kindly explain
to this court

how you could possibly
correspond with a corpse?

What do you mean?

It's simple.

The right thumbprint
of your husband,

Lawrence Balfour,

on this copy
of his driver's license

matches the right thumbprint
of the corpse.

No. It can't be.
It can't be.

May I see those documents,
Mr. Mason?

Of course, Your Honor.

I think you have identified
the decedent for us, Mr. Mason.

JUDGE:
You may proceed.

Now, Mrs. Balfour, did you go
to the Sleepy Hollow cabin

on the night
of October th?

Yes, yes, I did,
but I didn't stay there.

I returned home.

And was the man in that cabin,

the man you'd been seeing
behind your husband's back,

Steven Boles?

Yes. Yes.

I'm sorry, Steve.
I can't lie anymore.

That's refreshing to hear you
say that, Mrs. Balfour.

Now, while at home,

were you shocked to discover
Lawrence returned?

Home? He never came home.

Didn't you overhear
his phone conversation

with Steven Boles?

What phone conversation?
I don't understand.

That was when he turned on you

and told you he'd discovered
your double-dealing.

That's when he told you

that no matter
what else happened,

you were through,
you were uncovered, wasn't it?

No, no, of course not!

And when he said that,

didn't you then pick up
Ted Balfour's g*n,

the g*n your husband had left
near the phone,

and didn't you then calmly put
a b*llet through his brain?

MASON:
Mrs. Balfour,

I say an examination of the rug
near that phone

will reveal
your husband's blood,

and even a hundred cleanings
cannot wash away its traces.

Now the truth, Mrs. Balfour,

did you not k*ll your husband?

( sobs ):
Yes! Yes! Yes!

( dramatic theme playing )

No, Boles acted from the first
to protect the Balfours.

He was true to his trust

until he himself
became involved.

Then it was after
Harriet sh*t Uncle Lawrence

that she called Boles.

What was he to do?

He was faced
with an accomplished fact.

Harriet probably said to him,
"All right, Mr. Troubleshooter,

fix up this trouble.
Both of us are in it now."

So he made it look like
a hit-and-run accident,

and then sent one of his men
to Mexico

to assume
Lawrence's identity.

Boles figured he'd wait
for a suitable time,

go down to Chihuahua,
and dig up some evidence

showing that Lawrence had d*ed
in an accident there.

He even sent wires
to Uncle Lawrence in Chihuahua.

That was his biggest mistake.

One of the messages read,
Reply to your wire.

Investigation revealed
Lawrence never sent a wire.

Mason, you did
a fine piece of work.

Present your bill
to Balfour Allied Associates.

Which bill is that,
grandfather?

For legal services or...

for teaching me
how to fight?

( upbeat theme playing )

( noirish jazz theme playing )