02x05 - The Case of the Curious Bride

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( mellow theme playing )

( horn honks )

What is it, Carl?

Come here.

What's the matter?
Did you forget something?

That's just in case
I don't get back for lunch.

( giggles )
Silly.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( screams )

Artie!

That's right.

The same Artie
you were supposed

to meet yesterday,
remember?

When you didn't show up,
I decided to meet you.

You must be crazy
coming here!

If Carl saw you--

Don't worry,
Mrs. Reynolds.

It's a nice layout
you have here.

A garage with two cars,

new clothes,
a big diamond ring.

And a bridegroom
with a millionaire father.

You expect me to believe
you can't raise $ ?

I've given you
almost that already.

Sure, but it's gone.
I need more.

I'm not kidding, Rhoda!

I need more,

and I need it
before tomorrow.

I can't get it!

You'd better get it.

Have it at my apartment
by : tonight.

I'll give you
that much time.

Artie, Carl doesn't go
to bed that early.

All right.

Make it : .
He ought to be asleep by then.

You know how to make
people go to sleep, Rhoda.

You're a nurse.

( chuckles )

But be careful,
not too many pills.

We don't want to lose
our golden pigeon.

I'm going
to call the police.

Go ahead.

That's one way to end it.

But don't forget, Rhoda,

that'll be the end of you
and your marriage.

Remember, : .
Sharp.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( mellow theme playing )

Pull.

( g*nsh*t )

Pull.

( g*nsh*t )

Certainly haven't lost
your eye, Dad.

Forty-seven out of .

Well, it's not bad,

considering how little
I've been sh**ting lately.

( g*nsh*t )

Don't tell me you're planning

to take up skeet sh**ting.

No. I'll leave
the trophy-collecting to you.

Well, it must be the money
that brings you out so early.

The answer is still no.

But, Daddy,
it's only $ .

Only .

Do you know that
when I was your age

it took me almost six months
to earn $ .

Well, I know, but--

All right,
have it your own way,

but let me have my way too.

Carl, I've been a father
and a mother to you

ever since you
were years old.

I know that, Dad.

Up until now.

Now when you sneak
behind my back

and marry a woman about whom
you know absolutely nothing.

I know quite
a lot about Rhoda, Dad.

In a way I took advantage
of her,

of her sympathy when she was
nursing me back to health.

That's what I think our love
really is: sympathy.

Now she thinks
I'm dominated by you,

and she's trying
to cure me of that.

All she's trying to cure
is her own bank account,

in addition to amusing herself

with one of the doctors
of the hospital.

Dr. Michael Harris?

She's told you about him?

Yes,
they were friends.

Well, I've done
a good deal of checking,

and I assure you
they are more than friends.

I trust her.

I love her.

You got her all wrong, Dad,
she's a wonderful girl.

She's a cheap adventuress who
sees you as a way to my money.

But she's not gonna get
a penny of it.

Nor are you, Carl, as long
as you remain married to her.

( engine starts )

( suspenseful theme playing )

WOMAN ( over speaker ):
Dr. Robert Jackson.

Dr. Robert Jackson.

Sorry I had to run out
in the middle of things.

Fine young man,
and a half pounds.

( chuckles )

I didn't mind waiting, Michael.

Thanks.

Now, Rhoda,

I think that I should see
this Arthur Kane of yours.

Oh, I don't want you
to get involved.

Well, then, at least
let me loan you the money.

Oh, I was hoping you would,
Michael,

but that won't do
any good either.

He'll just
keep wanting more.

Well, then,
go to the police.

Oh, I don't dare!

You know, you might
be surprised

at Carl's reaction.

Oh, I know,
he's been spoiled

and overprotected
most of his life,

but somewhere underneath,
there must be a man lurking.

Lord knows
his father's strong enough.

That's all the wedge
he needs to break us up.

You should've married me.

No father or mother.

Oh, Michael.

Now, seriously,
what am I going to do?

I've thought
of one possibility.

If anybody can help you,
this man can.

WOMAN ( over speaker ):
Dr. Eugene Webster, stat.

Dr. Anna Douglas, stat.

"Perry Mason,

Suite , Brent Building."

Thank you.

Mr. Mason,
this is Mrs. Crocker.

How do you do, Mr. Mason?

Mrs. Crocker.
Won't you sit down?

Thank you.

I understand you have
a question to ask me.

Well, actually, I'm here
on behalf of a friend.

A friend? I see.

And so the question is
a little involved.

Most legal questions are.

Suppose you begin by telling me
something about your friend.

Well, about eight years ago,
she was married,

and it only lasted
for a few months.

It seems her husband
vanished with her savings.

It was only
a few hundred dollars,

but it meant a lot
to her.

Where was this?

Oh, this was in Seattle.

And then a short time later,

she received a telegram
from a small town in Kansas

saying that her husband

had been k*lled
in an auto accident.

And wiring
for funeral instructions.

So since her husband
didn't have any relatives,

she wired the money
for him to be buried there,

and then she just wiped the
whole business out of her mind.

Then quite recently,
your friend got married again.

How did you know that?

A guess.

Well, uh, yes,
to a man who--

Who needed her.

And now her first husband
has turned up.

Are you really
just guessing?

Well, not completely.

A fake telegram asking
for burial money

is one of the oldest dodges
in the book.

Let me see if I can guess
the question...

Is the new marriage
valid or invalid?

Why, yes,
that's it exactly.

I'm afraid
it's invalid.

Your friend is still legally
married to her first husband.

Well, isn't there something
about a person

who's disappeared
for seven years

being legally dead?

That doesn't apply
in this case.

Well, what should
my friend do?

Divorce her first husband.

She seems to have ample grounds,
then she can marry again.

What if the first husband
could be persuaded

not to come back
into her life?

Oh, she wouldn't
do anything wrong.

She just wants advice.

I'd be glad to talk
to your friend

any time she cares to make
an appointment.

You won't tell me?

No, she'll have
to come here in person.

That didn't take very long.

Well, it's the old story,
advice for a friend.

When I tried to call
her bluff, out she went.

So?

Uh, so I'm not
very proud of myself.

That girl
is badly frightened.

I should have drawn her out,
won her confidence.

I should have helped her.

Tsk.

I'll just, uh...

make out the charge
for the amount of the retainer.

There's no retainer,
no charge.

Oh, yes, there is.

She insisted on giving me $ ,
and I took it.

Well, I thought she needed help,
and I thought you'd help her.

Della, we've got
to find that girl.

Oh, she's out
of the building by now.

Well, how are you going
to find her?

Obviously she gave
a fictitious name.

Under the circumstances--
And since she is a client.

Handkerchief...

Coin purse...

Hospital letterhead
with my name on it.

Telegram.

"Mrs. Carl Reynolds,

" Hypathia Way,
Los Angeles.

Don't forget our : date.
Signed, Artie."

Is Paul still there?

Oh, yeah.
Paul?

PAUL:
Yeah?

Don't tell me you've drummed up
some business for me, counselor.

You think you can find out
who sent this?

Artie?
Sure, it's a cinch.

Have it for you
in a jiffy.

( mellow theme playing )

I was looking for .

Ah, Mr. Kane.

Oh, you know him?
In a way...

You see,
his windows face mine.

I live in the building
right next door.

Not a nice man.

Parties--
Drunken parties.

But he does live there.

Yes, he's the only tenant.

Thank you.

( doorbell rings )

Don't you forget, Artie,
by tomorrow morning

or I'll blow the whistle
on you good.

Where can I reach
you tonight?

You know where
I'm working, the Onyx.

Mrs. Kane?

I should sink so low.

What is it?

If you're selling something,
I don't want any.

I'm not a salesman,
Mr. Kane.

My name is Mason.
I'm an attorney.

An attorney?

May I come in?

Rhoda Reynolds send you?

Let's just say
I came here on her behalf.

You're wasting your time.

Well, it's mine to waste.

Was it seven or eight years ago
you married her?

So that's it.

Rhoda?

Did you send a lawyer
by the name of Mason to see me?

Well, then, how come he--?

Yeah, sure.

Here.

Mrs. Reynolds?

RHODA ( over phone ):
What are you trying to do,
Mr. Mason?

Trying to help.

I don't want your help.

I don't want a lawyer.

Please, just leave me alone.

( line clicks )

Looks like you've
kind of lost a client.

I didn't say
Mrs. Reynolds was a client.

I said I came here
on her behalf.

She talked about blackmail.

Well, I don't have
to talk about it.

I didn't expect you to.

I've talked.
You've listened.

Now think.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( footsteps descending
staircase )

( engine starts )

( vehicle approaches )

No, lady, I'm sorry.
It's closing time.

Oh.
It's : .

Well, what am I gonna do?

I've never changed
a tire in my life!

Wish I could say that.

Please.

All right, I guess a couple
of more minutes won't k*ll me.

Let me have your keys, please.
Oh, they're in the car.

And would you hurry?

ARTHUR:
Do you realize
in another five minutes

I'd have called you
at home?

You're a fool, Rhoda.

Could I help
the flat tire?

It isn't the tire!

It's calling in
that half-baked lawyer!

I only wanted
to ask him a question.

Yeah, and you got
the wrong answer.

Now, where's the money?

I couldn't get it.

You what?

Artie, would you just give me
a day or two more--

Listen, I told you
tonight was the deadline!

Why didn't I think
about this before?

This rock's worth
about , .

What are you doing?

Oh, no. This is Carl's
mother's ring.

So you lose it.

Oh, no, I won't.
He'd never forgive me.

That's your worry.

( doorbell rings )

There's somebody
at the door.

Let him stay there.

Now, come on! Gimme it!

Artie, I'll hit you!
I swear I will.

You haven't got the nerve.

( dramatic theme playing )

( yelps )

( crashing, glass breaking )

( barking )

( thuds )

( Arthur grunts )

( Rhoda shrieks )

Give me the police quickly.
Somebody's getting k*lled.

( suspenseful theme playing )

PAUL:
Sure is, Della.

The same Artie
who sent the telegram.

Did you see the picture
of the ring on Page ?

Yeah, it was quite a rock.

Looked like it came from some
maharajah's private collection.

Remember the woman
that came in yesterday

just as you were leaving,
said her name was Mrs. Crocker?

Yeah.

It was hers.

Yipe, that'll take
a little explaining.

I wonder what Perry
will do about it.

MASON:
Nothing.

I no longer represent
the lady in question.

It seems
I was fired yesterday

under rather painful
circumstances.

Do you think
she did it?

Uh, it looks bad.

A telegram from the victim

reminding her
of a : appointment,

the m*rder, if it is a m*rder,
committed at approximately : ,

and her ring
in the dead man's hand.

I'm afraid Lieutenant Tragg

will find it a simple problem
in addition.

As a matter of fact,
I'll lay you -to-

he's got her
in custody right now.

( phone rings )

Yes, Gertie?

Hold on.

Could I have a dollar
of that bet?

Sure.

Mrs. Reynolds.

Hello?

Where are you,
Mrs. Reynolds?

Doctor's hospital,

waiting room, third floor.

Now, listen carefully.

Stay right where you are.

Don't leave that room
for any reason.

Yes, as soon
as I can make it.

Uh, yesterday I was fired,
today I'm hired.

All right, two things, Paul.

Get ahold of the police report
on the crime.

I want copies
of the photographs.

See if you can find
the woman I bumped into

coming out of Kane's
apartment yesterday.

She's blond,

Jersey City accent,

a little on the tough side,
but still pretty,

-foot- , about ,

and I believe
she works at the Onyx.

Will do.
Bye.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Yes, it was around a quarter
of , before I'd gotten up.

Actually,
I was still asleep.

Yes, but you were awake
enough to hear her say

her sister was, uh,
seriously ill in Chicago.

Yes, she said she'd call me
as soon as her plane got there.

Yeah.

Um...

Let me, uh,
read you something.

Traffic citation,

failure to observe
a boulevard stop.

Issued at, uh, : this morning
to a Mrs. Carl Reynolds.

Uh, that your wife's signature?
( door opens )

What's going on in here?
Who is this man, Carl?

Lieutenant Tragg,
Homicide.

C. Philip Reynolds.
May I ask what you're doing?

We're trying to establish

where young Mrs. Reynolds
was last night.

Mm-hm,
and what's Carl told you?

Practically nothing.

Well, he certainly
told me enough

over the telephone
half an hour ago.

Dad,
that was in confidence.

There is no such thing
as confidence

when m*rder's involved.

What did he tell you,
Mr. Reynolds?

That his wife tried
to drug him.

Drug him?

Yes, by pouring
sleeping powder

in a cup
of hot chocolate.

Fortunately, Carl saw her,
and when her back was turned,

he emptied the cup
and pretended to fall asleep.

At : , she crept out
of the house

and drove off in her car.

How did you know that?

My son watched her leave
from the bedroom window.

An hour later, she returned.

He pretended to be asleep again.
She got back in bed.

Is this so?

Yes.

Might as well tell him
the rest of it too.

When my son woke up
this morning,

his wife was gone.

No sick sister?

I don't know where she went.

PHILIP:
It's quite obvious
where she went:

to Kane's apartment.

I knew that the moment
I saw the picture

of the diamond ring
in the paper.

Your wife ever mention
Arthur Kane?

No, this is the first
I've heard of him.

Lieutenant, my son knows
next to nothing

about this woman
he's married,

or should I say,
who's married him.

If you do learn something,

I hope you'll pass it along.

He will.
You may be certain of that.

TRAGG:
I'll keep in touch.

I know my way out.

( sighs )

( door closes )

Dad, you shouldn't have
done that.

And why not?

What if Rhoda's innocent?

Do you, for one single moment,
believe that?

I don't know.

I don't know
what to believe.

WOMAN ( over PA ):
Dr. John Young.
Dr. John Young.

Well, then he wrenched
off my ring, and I hit him.

And then the lights
went out.

I don't know why,

but that gave me
a chance to run.

On your way out,
did you see the person

who had been ringing
the doorbell?

No, I didn't see anybody.
I just jumped in my car.

Anything else happen?

( sighs )

No, I put the car
in the garage,

and then I tried
to get the door closed.

The car door?

No, the garage door.

The bumper of the convertible
was in the way.

When the door
wouldn't close,

I just left it
and went up to bed.

Then on the morning news
you heard about Kane.

Yes, I didn't think
I k*lled him,

but when the announcer
said he was dead,

I was terrified.

I'm glad you've calmed down.

Now, I want you to go home

and act as if nothing
had happened.

When the police arrive,
don't tell them a thing.

Just say you want
to consult your attorney.

Don't talk,
no matter how hard they press.

You can be sure--

WOMAN ( over PA ):
Dr. Andrew Russell, stat.

I'm sorry to interrupt you,
counselor,

but I have a warrant
for Mrs. Reynolds' arrest.

And the charge?

First-degree m*rder.

( dramatic theme playing )

I don't see the sense of this.
I told you about the door.

In fact, I've told you
everything I told the police.

I'm sure of that,
Mr. Reynolds.

I'm merely trying to verify
what your wife said.

Have either of these cars
been moved since last night?

No, the garage is just
the way Rhoda left it.

But she did try to close
the garage door?

Yes, she banged it a couple
of times, then came on upstairs.

You think
that was around : ?

Oh, I know it was.
I looked at the clock.

Then you pretended
to be asleep when she came in.

That's the part
I don't quite understand.

Most husbands, if their wives
went out like that,

would want to know
where they'd been.

I-- I was afraid she'd tell me
she'd been with Dr. Harris.

Dr. Harris?

PHILIP:
Dr. Michael Harris.

My son's wife has been having
an affair with him for years.

I thought we'd agreed

that your son would do
his own talking, Mr. Reynolds.

Now, listen to me,
annul Carl's marriage.

If you can manage it
without undo publicity,

I'll give you $ , .

It's quite a handsome figure,

but I've already accepted
a retainer from Mrs. Reynolds.

I can imagine
what a weighty sum that was.

Hm, perhaps
it wasn't very large,

but she also gave me
something else.

What was that?

Her trust,
Mr. Reynolds.

Nobody realizes the jam
she's in more than I do.

You see,
she not only told me

all about
her involvement with Kane,

but also about
the appointment at : .

I warned her
not to keep it.

How do you know
she did keep it, Dr. Harris?

Well, the ring,

and I saw her
leave Kane's apartment.

You saw her?

Then you must have been the one
who rang that front doorbell.

Yes. I couldn't sleep
last night.

Around : , I got dressed

and drove over
to the apartment.

Rhoda's car was parked
in front.

I went in
and rang Kane's doorbell,

intending
to face him with her.

I rang three
or four times,

and then I heard
running feet down the hall.

I stepped
back in the shadows,

and Rhoda dashed out.

Did you speak to her?
No.

What should I do,
Mr. Mason?

As a lawyer,
I can't advise you.

You might consult a doctor.

Oh, what good would that do?

I've got dozens of patients

with troubles
they couldn't talk about,

and all I can tell them
is to take a long vacation.

Now I'm in the same
predicament myself.

As I said,

you might consult a doctor.

Any luck, Paul?

Plenty, Kane's record,

carbon of the report
from Homicide,

and the only photograph
I could get my hands on.

Oh, this'll do fine.

Notice here on the table.

PAUL:
Mm, the alarm clock.
What's so special about that?

The alarm.

I don't get it.

Never mind.
What about the blond?

Her name is Edna Freeman,

and the, uh, Onyx is a
h*nky-tonk down on Main Street.

Better talk with her, Paul.

Find out what she knows
about Kane.

All right, I'll call you.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( doorbell rings )

( rings )

( piano playing jazz )

( Edna sighs )

Now, where was I?

You got a cigarette?
Oh, yeah.

You were just
meeting Artie Kane,

a dewy-eyed young girl
from Jersey City.

I must have had
more than dew in my eyes

to let him get his hands
on that money.

The
your aunt left you?

Three thousand, three hundred
and eighty-six dollars.

Did you tell the police?

You bet I did.
They've got it on record.

That's why, when I ran
into him last week,

I was able to put
the screws on him.

At least
I got half of it back.

Where were you last night?

In bed.

Couldn't be that
you went up there,

and when he wouldn't
give you the rest--

Are you crazy?
The Reynolds woman k*lled him.

That's where he was supposed
to get the money from.

She was to bring it by at : .
He told me all about her.

He did?

Look, I represent
a lawyer named Mason.

Would you be willing
to come and talk--

Uh-uh. I've already
been signed up.

Who by?

The police.

Thanks.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( buzzes )

( buzzer buzzes )

( buzzes )

Sidney.

Mr. Mason.

What are you doin' here?

Come on in, Sidney.
I want to talk to you.

Sure.

Say, I hope I'm not in some kind
of trouble again.

No.

No, I just wondered
how you were making out.

Oh, I still got the same little
electric repair shop.

I got my wife and a couple
of kids to take care of.

Sidney, how would you
and your family

like to have an apartment,
rent-free?

An apartment?

Aw, I owe you too much already,
Mr. Mason, defending me--

No, no, you'd be
doing me a favor.

I would?

Where is this apartment?

Right here.

This apartment?
Sure.

You can move in
anytime next week.

There's just one thing, though.

Oh, oh, a-anything.

Well, when you ring your front
doorbell, a buzzer sounds.

You don't like buzzers.

I don't?

No, so you get a doorbell
from your stock--

One that rings.

--you put it up
in place of the buzzer.

Later, if somebody
should ask you about it--

I know, I know.
I just don't like buzzers.

That's right.

Perry, I'm pretty sure
she was on the level

that Kane did tell her
Mrs. Reynolds was coming

at : with the money.

That means that Edna Freeman

can supply the prosecution
with a motive.

And Carl Reynolds' story
about the sleeping powder--

Premeditation.

DELLA:
But you've always
said a husband

can't testify
against a wife.

You forget that Kane
was her husband.

What do you do now?

There's one thing
I can do.

File for a divorce on her behalf
against Carl Reynolds.

But how can
she divorce someone

she hasn't
even been married to?

I think I'll let Mr. Burger
figure that out.

( suspenseful theme playing )

MASON:
You still haven't explained

why you didn't ask
for a divorce.

I told you, Mr. Mason,
I don't want to divorce Carl.

Is that because
you feel sorry for him?

Yes, you're right.
I do feel sorry for him.

Sympathy is a noble thing,

but you can't live
your life honestly

if you base it
on that alone.

I quarreled with Dr. Harris
about that very thing.

He called it
my broken-wing fixation.

Did you know
that Dr. Harris

was the one
who rang the doorbell

when you were
in Kane's apartment?

Michael was there?

Trying to help you.

Let me put this
as straight as I can.

Now, your husband made
statements

linking you to the m*rder.

These must be branded
as lies.

There are two ways
of doing that.

One is for me to subpoena Carl
in your divorce suit

and try to break down
his story.

The other is
the divorce suit itself,

in which you can charge him
with having lied.

Next week you go on trial
for your life, Rhoda.

Isn't it time
you stop dodging reality?

( suspenseful theme playing )

BURGER:
And additionally,
we expect to prove

that the decedent was found
in his apartment at : a.m.

with his skull fractured.

And that this fracture

was caused by a blow
from an iron poker

found in the apartment.

Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury,

on the basis
of all this evidence

we intend to ask for a verdict
of m*rder in the first-degree.

( crowd chattering )

Lieutenant, I ask you
to examine this diamond ring--

Introduced
as people's exhibit E.

--and tell this court, please,
how you happened to find it?

Well, the, uh, decedent's
right hand was clenched,

as though holding something,
and I bent down and looked.

The fingers were just separated
enough for me to see it.

The diamond ring.

Thank you, lieutenant.

Cross-examine, Mr. Mason.

Lieutenant Tragg,

you said you looked
around the apartment

while you were there?

Yes, sir, I did.

Did you see an alarm clock

in the room
where the body was found?

Yes, and it was going.

Did you notice for what time
the alarm was set on that clock?

TRAGG:
Yes, it was set for : ,

or maybe a minute
or two before.

Now, I ask you to look
at this photograph

marked people's exhibit B.

Does it show the alarm clock?

TRAGG:
It does.

MASON:
And what time is it
by that clock?

Three fifty-five.

Now, would you please
read the time

stamped on the photograph
indicating when it was taken?

Three fifty-five.

Then you were correct
in saying

that the alarm clock
kept the right time?

Looks that way.

With the court's permission,

I should like to show
this photograph to the jury

and point out the clock.

Proceed.

May I ask to, uh, have
the alarm clock produced now?

We'll produce it when we're
ready to produce it, Mr. Mason.

Your Honor, please.

I should like
to cross-examine this witness

with the alarm clock
in evidence.

Well, I don't think
I should force the prosecution

to put on its case
out of order.

If you care
to recall the witness

after the clock
has been produced,

well, then,
you may do so.

Very well, Your Honor.

I have no further questions...

at this time.

Thank you, Mr. Lane.
No further questions.

Your witness.

Mr. Lane, I'm curious
as to how you know

it was exactly
four minutes to

when the defendant drove
into your service station.

LANE:
Well, I always start to close up
at five minutes of ,

and I was just closing up.

And you say
it took you nine minutes

to change the tire?

Yes, sir.

I looked at my watch
when she drove out.

So during the interval
between : and : ,

Mrs. Reynolds was
in your service station?

Yes, sir.

During that time
was she ever out of your sight?

No, she stood there
and watched me change the tire.

MASON:
Thank you, Mr. Lane.
No further questions.

Now, Mrs. Crandall,

you were in your bedroom

from midnight until about : ,
is that correct?

Yes, I was.

Referring now to Apartment
in the building next door,

did you hear
anything happen there

during the interval
I just mentioned?

Yes, first I heard
what woke me up,

the ringing of a doorbell.

What else did you hear?

I heard voices.

Did they seem
to be quarreling voices?

Objection. Question is leading
and suggestive.

I'll rephrase
the question.

Could you tell
if the voices

were men's voices
or women's voices?

Permit me to call
your attention to the fact

that the vice
of a leading question

consists in asking it.

Once counsel has pointed
the mind of a witness

in a certain direction,

it does no good
to rephrase the question.

The damage has been done.

Now, kindly avoid
leading questions in the future.

I'm very sorry, Your Honor.

Uh, could you hear
what the voices were saying?

Um... No.

BURGER:
Well, what else did you hear?

Well, I-- I heard a crashing
of furniture and--

And the sounds of blows.

And later,
I heard groaning.

And what did you do
about all this?

I got up and phoned
the police.

Do you know
what time it was?

Two fifteen.

Are you positive
about the time?

Yes, there's an electric clock
by my telephone.

Thank you.
Cross-examine.

Mrs. Crandall,
have you ever before

heard the doorbell ring
in the apartment across the way?

Well, this was
an unusually quiet night,

no wind.

That doesn't answer
my question.

I asked about the doorbell.

Well, no, I don't think
I ever heard

the doorbell ring before.

Then how can you be sure
it was the doorbell

and not the telephone?

Well, for one thing,
the shade was drawn,

but I could see figures
moving about through an opening

between the window
and the shade.

How large would you say
that opening was?

Oh, about inches or so.

MASON:
I claim, Mrs. Crandall,
that you could not see figures

through an opening
only inches wide.

Your Honor, I have
a suggestion to make,

if Mr. Mason's agreeable.

Since this seems
to be a question

of how much Mrs. Crandall could
see from her bedroom window

through a half-drawn shade
of the apartment opposite hers,

I suggest
the jury be taken there

and allowed to see
for themselves.

Well, Mr. Mason?

This is a little unexpected,

but the defense has no objection
to such a visit, Your Honor.

Directly opposite this window
is Apartment Number ,

the decedent's apartment.

Well, how can the jury tell
if you can see...

( bell ringing )

Your Honor,
this is manifestly unfair.

The ringing of the bell

is equivalent
to the taking of testimony.

The jury was brought here
only to view the premises,

not to hear a bell.

JUDGE:
Mr. Burger,
there was no stipulation

that the doorbell was to be rung
while a jury was here.

Why, Your Honor, I had no idea
the bell was gonna be rung.

I simply told the deputy
to go and disconnect it.

JUDGE:
But you warned the man
not to ring it?

Why, no, Your Honor,
it never occurred to me

he'd take it upon himself to...

( bell ringing )

Stop ringing that bell!

And I've had an electrician
prepare a set of dry batteries,

which can be connected
to the bell.

In this way, I can test
Mrs. Crandall's recollection

of the sound
of the bell.

However,
before I do this,

I ask permission to have
the witness step down

so that the prosecution

can introduce the bell
in evidence.

Any objections?

No objection.

Why, thank you.

Perhaps, at this time,

the prosecution
will also see fit

to introduce
the alarm clock in evidence.

We'll be happy to do anything
to assist counsel that we can.

Will you step down, please,
Mrs. Crandall?

How long have you lived
in the apartment, Mr. Otis?

Since two days
after the m*rder.

And do you recognize
this bell?

Sure, that's the bell
your men took out.

And this bell was in the
apartment when you moved in?

No, sir.

No, sir?

That bell's from my store.

( chuckles )
Oh, I see. You--

You replaced the original bell
with one of your own.

I replaced it,
but it wasn't no bell.

What was it?

A buzzer.

You mean to say
that there was a buzzer

in that apartment
when you moved in?

All the apartments
have buzzers.

The other three
still have buzzers.

I'm gonna get
to the bottom of this.

Lieutenant,

get someone out there

and find out what's in
those apartments!

Now, counselor, as long
as you're in my court,

you will pay attention
to the proceedings at hand.

I'm sorry, Your Honor.

I have no further questions.
Cross-examine.

I'm afraid I'm at loss
as to how to proceed.

I did intended
to test that doorbell.

Now it appears there was
a buzzer in the apartment.

You're excused, Mr. Otis.

JUDGE:
Step down.

Now, Mrs. Crandall,

I don't want to confuse you,

but if there was a buzzer
in the apartment

at the time
of the decedent's death,

you could not have heard
a doorbell, now, could you?

Well, I thought
it was the doorbell.

MASON:
As I recall, you said
it had a whirring sound?

CRANDALL:
Yes.

Mrs. Crandall, I ask you
to examine this clock.

It has been identified
as the one taken

from the decedent's apartment
shortly after his death.

You will note that
the alarm has been set at ,

and that both the clock
and the alarm have run down.

Well, of course
it's run down.

The police have better things
to do than winding clocks.

Well, there need be no argument.
What is it you wish to do?

Under the court's supervision,

I wish to wind the alarm

and then turn the hands
so that the alarm will ring.

Very well, you may do so.

Mr. Burger,
if you'd care to watch.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I assure you, the prosecution
is not interested

in watching
Mr. Mason wind a clock.

( bell ringing )

( bell ringing )

Yes, that's it.

That's what I heard,
the alarm clock!

JUDGE:
Naturally, for the purpose
of this discussion,

I've dismissed
the jury.

Now, gentlemen,

if that was an alarm clock
that Mrs. Crandall heard,

then it would be
manifestly impossible

for the defendant to have
been in the room at the time.

The prosecution's own testimony
shows that the defendant

was at a nearby
service station at the time.

If the court please,

I don't wish to take any unfair
advantage of the prosecutor.

I was satisfied
that the witness believed

that she had heard
a doorbell,

but I also thought
that her honest opinion

had been conditioned
by previous testimony.

Therefore,
I arranged a test

wherein she would
be forced to believe

that she could not
have heard a doorbell.

Well, exactly what do you mean,
Mr. Mason,

when you say
you arranged a test?

MASON:
Well, simply this,

the buzzer which
the present tenant replaced

was not there
on the night of the m*rder.

So that's it.

You deliberately
deceived this court!

You even deceived
the witness!

MASON:
How could I, Mr. Burger?

I brought this
to the attention of the court.

I haven't deceived the witness.
I merely tested her.

Very well, Mr. Mason,

then instead of bringing
charges against you

for unethical conduct,
when this case is finished,

I'll have you indicted
for breaking into a house

and stealing a doorbell!

Toward which end, Your Honor,
may I respectfully request

that we recall the jury
and get on with the case.

Well, we'll do that tomorrow,

if there's no objection
on the part of the defense.

Uh, none at all,
Your Honor.

It will give me
an opportunity

to get a deposition
from Carl Reynolds

in connection
with the divorce suit

Mrs. Reynolds has brought
against him.

BURGER:
Wait a minute, Your Honor,

Carl Reynolds
is a prosecution witness.

This is a deliberate attempt
to intimidate him!

MASON:
Your Honor, the prosecution
is perfectly welcome

to sit in on the deposition
at my office

and to make any objection
for the record

if it appears
that his witness

is being intimidated
in any way.

Well, that seems
reasonable enough.

The court'll be adjourned
until tomorrow morning at : .

( crowd murmuring )

( suspenseful theme playing )

MASON:
You say that she was
more than friendly

with Dr. Michael Harris?

Yes.

How do you know that?

My father told me,
he had her checked on.

By detectives?

I suppose.

Did he do any of this
checking in person?

I did on several occasions.

Please, Mr. Reynolds, your son
is making this deposition.

Your father hated Rhoda,
didn't he?

He didn't like
our marriage.

In connection
with his checking on her,

did he mention Arthur Kane?

Not until I told him
about the telegram.

The one reminding Rhoda about
the : date, signed "Artie"?

Yes.

MASON:
Did your father say

what he'd found out
about Arthur Kane?

CARL:
Only that Rhoda
had been meeting him.

Did your father have any theory
regarding the telegram?

He said it was obviously
an assignation,

and the date was
for that night.

Now, how about that night?

You never left the house?

No.

You're positive?

Yes.

Then how do you account
for the fact

that the garage door
wouldn't close

when Rhoda returned?

I don't understand.

Didn't you say
you saw her unlock

and open it
when she left?

Yes.

Yet, when she came back,

the bumper
on the convertible

prevented the door
from closing.

Wouldn't that suggest
to you

that the convertible
had been used

while your wife was absent?

That when it was returned,

it wasn't driven far enough
into the garage?

I never thought of that.

I think you did.

I think you know your father
took the convertible

and followed Rhoda
to Kane's apartment,

went up the back way.

When he saw her struggling
with Kane over that ring,

he realized he could get rid
of her by k*lling Kane.

So he turned off
the lights--

No.

No, it wasn't
that way at all.

It wasn't Dad.

I k*lled him.

I--

I saw them fighting

and turned out the lights
so Rhoda wouldn't see me

and went in to help.

She ran,
and Kane grabbed me.

He had the poker, and I--

I got it away from him,
hit out, and he fell.

Then I lit a match
to see what happened.

He was dead.

( dramatic theme playing )

Perry, about that motion
for a directed verdict?

Yes?

I'll make it for you.

( mellow theme playing )

Won't you come in,
Mrs. Reynolds?

Thank you.

Mr. Mason.

Rhoda.

You'll be glad to hear

that Mr. Reynolds
is standing by Carl.

And so am I.

Well, they don't seem
to want that.

You mean Carl doesn't?

Well, he realizes that pity
is not a basis for marriage.

He'd like an annulment.

Well, of course
I won't oppose it,

but are you sure
he doesn't need me?

I'm sure.

I know someone that does
need you, though, Rhoda.

A certain Dr. Harris.

Oh, Michael?
Yes.

When did he get in town?

He called
about ten minutes ago.

Oh.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

You get all the breaks,
counselor.

Hm, speaking of breaks--

I am afraid
he's not going to get

the same break
from Mr. Burger.

Oh, you mean
about the buzzer.

Uh-huh. Mr. Burger
is gonna subpoena Perry

before the grand jury

on a charge of illegal entry
and larceny of the doorbell.

I know
it's a technicality, Perry,

but he's got you
over a barrel.

Paul, I suggest
you call Mr. Burger

and ask him if it's a crime
for a landlord

to enter his own property
to make repairs.

Would you mind filing this
for me, Della?

What is it?

Well, on the day
after the m*rder,

I invested
in some real estate--

A four-family flat.

Not the one
Arthur Kane...

( sighing ):
I might have known.

( noirish jazz theme playing )