02x06 - The Case of the Buried Clock

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( soft upbeat theme playing )

Well, if you're going to be
at your lodge all summer,

Dr. Blane, I guess
I'd better not send any mail

to your house
here in the city.

Well, no harm if you do.

The house here in town
is still open.

Sue likes to drop in
once in a while.

( chuckles )

Glad to get away
from her house, I guess.

Come to think of it, I haven't
seen Sue for long time.

Me either.

Well, you know the old saying:

Marry a daughter,
lose a daughter.

I practically wouldn't
see her at all

if she and Jack weren't
spending the weekends

up at the lake with me.

Oh, uh, Jack.

This money is all in order.
Will you lock it up?

Sure thing, Mr. Randall.

How's that son-in-law
of mine behaving?

Oh, uh, he's doing fine.

That's the sickest "fine"
I've heard in a long time.

You don't have to
lie to me, Randall,

just because I'm chairman
of the board here.

* Big ones for me
Da-da dum, da-da dum *

* Big ones for me
Little ones for you *

* Big ones for me
Da-da dum, da-da dum *

* Little ones for you
Da-da dum, da-da dum *

Mm-hm.

Mm-hm.

Well, then you think
I should call the board meeting

after the bank examiners
are finished here next week?

RANDALL:
Yes, I do.

Well, that's it, Mr. Randall,
all nailed down.

All right, Jack.
See ya Monday.

Aren't you coming up
to the lake for the weekend?

Sure.

Got my bag all packed. See?

Sue went ahead without me.

Well, fine.

Will you be there for dinner?

Yeah, I think I will be.

But if I'm not, you go ahead
and start without me, hm?

Well, goodnight.

( ominous theme playing )

( soft dramatic theme playing )

Well, where have you been?

I thought you were coming
straight from the bank.

Well, honey,
I had something to do.

Well, Jean and Phil Strague
are inside.

Will you try to be fairly civil
while they're here?

Well, Sue, when have I
ever been otherwise, huh?

( door opens )

Hi, Jean.
Hi.

Phil.

Hi. Wanna sh**t
some bridge?

I'll even take my sister
as a partner.

Oh, Phil.

That sounds very exciting,

but there's something else
I gotta do right now.

Is your father here?
In the study.

Oh, uh, by the way, honey,
don't block the door.

I may come out faster
than I go in.

Oh, Jack.

( knock on door )

Yeah?

Doc?

Well, who did you expect?

I got something to say to ya,
doc, if you got a minute.

All right. What is it?

Beautiful night, huh?

Yeah. What do you want?

That's doc, right down
to brass tacks.

No small talk.

( chuckles )

Well, I guess maybe
it's the best idea.

Don't prolong the agony.

Uh, doc, I got a--

Kind of a confession to make.

What is it this time?

Well, the fact is,
I seem to have stolen

a little money from the bank.

( sighs )

I might have known.

How much?

Just about all of it, I guess.

All the cash, that is.

About a hundred grand.

What?! You miserable--

Now, doc, don't get upset.

You know how bad it is for ya.

I haven't spent it yet.

It's a good thing.
You'd better not, either.

That is, not all of it.

What do you mean?

Well, I kinda made
some investments, you know--

Investments!
You mean horse races.

Now, look, doc,
you play the stock market.

I mean, if you got a stock
that goes up, you win.

If it goes down, you lose.

Go on.

Well, it's gonna come
to light Monday, you know,

with the bank examiners
coming in,

so I thought,
why be a piker?

( chuckles )

So this afternoon I kinda
swept the cupboard clean.

Now, look, doc,
don't get upset.

Nobody knows about it yet.

If you're half-way reasonable,

I think maybe we can make
some kind of an arrangement.

Okay?

And I'm sure you wouldn't
wanna drag Sue

through a mess like this.

( ominous theme playing )

After reviewing
your letter of the ninth,

I'm sure that this is
a reasonable solution

to the problem,
and that the matter

can be settled amicably
and out of court.

( phone rings )

Yours sincerely.

Yes, Gertie.

Dr. Blane,
of Bear Lake Valley.

Put him on, Gertie.

Good morning, doctor.
How are you?

Well, right at
this minute, Perry,

I'm just about
ready to explode.

What's wrong?

Oh! It's that son-in-law
of mine, Jack Hardisty.

He never was any good
to begin with,

and now
what's happened, well,

h-he's stolen some money
from the bank

where I got him the job.

How did you find out about it?

He told me and laughed.

Oh, he knows
I guaranteed his bond,

so he made me a proposition.

He said he'd return ,
if I'd make up the rest

and not prosecute.

Well, that's just
plain blackmail.

Has he been arrested?

No, not yet.

I'd like to get this
straightened out

without any publicity.

Look, didn't you tell me once
that there was a very good

private detective agency
that did all your work?

Yes, the Paul Drake Agency.

Would you like Paul
to get in touch with you?

I certainly would.

All right,
you'll hear from him shortly.

I think I'll take a little trip
up there too.

Blackmail can be
a pretty nasty business.

Too many cases
end in serious trouble.

Quite a house
this Hardisty has.

Must be a lot of rich people
in this Sierra City.

I can't see
much of it from here.

Why don't you
check the layout.

I'll stand by.

Okay.

( light jazz music
playing over stereo )

Ah.

( phone ringing )

Hello?

Yeah?

Oh?

Where'd you get that idea?

Yeah?

Yeah, we can talk about it.

When?

Yeah. I'll be alone.

Okay, I'll be there.

( ominous theme playing )

( car engine starts )

Hi, Perry, Della.

Well, where's
the welcoming committee?

Dr. Blane inside?
No, he's not.

Sue either, for that matter.

I got here about
ten minutes ago,

and the housekeeper told me
Dr. Blane left

about, oh, five minutes
before that.

Well, at least
we can go on inside.

Uh, just a second,
before you go in.

I've run into some trouble.

What is it?

Well, I had two men
tailing Hardisty.

One of them just called
and said they lost him.

Oh? When was this?

A little past .

Hardisty went through a signal
just as the light was changing,

so my men had
to go through on the red.

Might know, there was a cop
right there to pinch 'em.

Where'd it happen?

Los Angeles,
near Union Station.

And you haven't been able to
pick up any trace of him since?

They figured Hardisty
might be about to skip out,

but Faulkner checked
all the trains.

No sign of him.

Well, um, what about his car?

No luck there either.

They checked all the auto parks
at Union Station.

You know how many
of those there are.

I know.

When Hardisty left his house,

was he carrying anything
that could have been the money?

Well, my man couldn't
see him too clearly,

so it's possible he could have
put something in the car.

It isn't a very likely place
to hide $ , .

Hm.

What were you
planning to do?

Well, I was going
to Sierra City

in case Hardisty
decided to come back home.

He, uh, hasn't had time
to make it yet,

but he will have
long before I can get there.

All right, Paul.

Della and I'll be here.

We'll take any message
your men may call back.

Fine. See you later.

( ominous theme playing )

Who are you?

Paul Drake.

Oh. I'm Dr. Blane.

Look-- Look
what's happened.

I am.

DR. BLANE:
It's Jack.

He's dead.

Yeah, so I see.

How did it happen?

Well, I don't know.

I-I-I just got here
about five minutes ago,

a-and there he was.

Have you called the police?

No.

W-well I was looking
for the money.

You gonna call 'em?

Unless you want to.

You should have
already, doctor.

Believe me, we have
no other choice.

No.

No, of course not.

Go ahead.

No sign of a g*n around here.

You, uh, looked
in both their cars?

Yes, sir.

Well, keep looking.

I'd hate not to find it.

We can't find
the g*n anywhere.

Well, whoever it was would
probably take the g*n with him,

wouldn't he?

I guess so.

Do you have a g*n, doc?

A p*stol?
Uh--

I know you wouldn't
sh**t anybody,

but you understand
I gotta ask all these things.

Oh, sure, Bert. Of course.

No. No, I don't own a g*n.

Maybe I better write
some of this down.

Now, when did you
get here, again?

Oh, about ten minutes
of , I'd say.

That's as close
as I can tell.

Well, you didn't
call us then.

No. No, I didn't.

Hi.
Hi.

Oh, I'm sorry, I-I didn't
know you had guests.

I've just been
resetting the cameras

and I-I thought I'd stop by
for a minute or two and--

Well, I-I think I'll--

Come on in.
Heh.

As a matter of fact, we have
a rather distinguished guest.

Uh, Mr. Rodney Beaton,
this is Mr. Perry Mason.

Well, this is indeed
an honor, Mr. Mason.

I've heard a great deal
about you, of course.

I suppose everybody has.

Ah, thank you.

Your name is certainly
familiar to me, Mr. Beaton.

And Miss Street
is Mr. Mason's secretary.

Delighted.
Rodney Beaton.

Haven't I seen some of your
photographs in Geographic?

Uh, wildlife,
I believe.

It's wonderful
to find somebody

that actually remembers
your work by name.

Rather compensates for the,
uh, paltry financial returns.

You said you were
resetting cameras?

Night sh*ts?

Uh, yes.

I rig a camera
with a flash attachment

and focus it on some spot
on a game trail, or--

Or near a spring.

Then I run a thread
from the shutter release

down through a little ring
on the tripod

and across the trail.

Any animal that comes along
trips the shutter, and flash.

( knock on door )

Excuse me.

Oh, Phil. Come on in.

This is our neighbor
on the other side.

Miss Street, may I present
Phil Strague--

Hello, Miss Street.
--and Mr. Perry Mason, Phil.

How do you do?
Mr. Strague.

Didn't Jean
come with you?

No. I came by
earlier this evening

to see if I could
stir up some bridge,

but when I saw
the one strange car here--

It must have been yours,
Mr. Mason.

--I went on back
to my place.

I hope you'll
be here tomorrow.

My sister'll die if she
doesn't get to meet you.

She's quite a fan of yours.

Thank you. I look forward to it.

Are you a photographer,
Mr. Strague?

No, I'm working on a book,
or supposed to be.

Uh, Mr. Beaton
was just telling us

about his wildlife photography,
that's why I asked.

Oh, Rod. I'm awfully sorry,

I'm afraid I spoiled
one of your pictures.

I must have got off
on the wrong trail

coming over earlier tonight,

and I set off a flashbulb.

Yes, I know.

I saw your tracks.

I think this is Dad.

Uh, Phil, you, uh, didn't trip
it again just now, did you?

PHIL:
No, I was careful this time.

( footsteps )

Oh, Perry, am I glad to see you.

Dad, what is it?

Is something wrong?

Yes, honey, there is.

Jack's been...sh*t.

Is he...?

( sobbing )

( melancholy theme playing )

Now, come along, dear.

Maybe we'll be able to get you
a little something.

No! I'm all right.

Then I came on home.

I'm a little surprised
the sheriff

let you go so easily.

Why not?

He knows I wouldn't
k*ll anybody.

That's what I hate
about this.

We've never had
any notoriety before.

Or anything like this,
ever.

Well, you're in for some
now, I'm afraid.

But outside of that,

I don't think you have
much to worry about.

No.

Except, well, I'm a little
worried about Sue, Perry.

Oh, she-- She didn't do it,
of course, but...

she won't tell me
where she was tonight.

And well, I-- I did
have a g*n, and it's gone.

I thought you told the sheriff
you did not have a g*n.

No, I said I didn't own one.

I don't.

( sighs )

I did have one.

It belonged to Phil Strague.
He loaned it to us.

Who's "us"?

Oh, all three of us:
Jack, Sue and myself.

We were doing
some target sh**ting,

Rod Beaton and Phil
got us started,

and Phil let us have
this p*stol to practice with.

Now it's gone.

When did you first miss it?

Just tonight.

When I looked in the glove
compartment of the car

where we kept it,
it was gone.

And you think Sue took it?

Oh, no, no.
Of course she didn't.

But I can't help worrying.

Doctor, don't you know that
the sheriff is gonna learn

about that g*n,
even if he doesn't find it?

Well, I...

I guess maybe he will,
at that.

It was a serious mistake

not to tell him
about it tonight.

A mistake that
should be corrected.

Well...all right.

Della.

Do you want me to get
the sheriff on the phone?

Please.

Did anyone else know about
that money Hardisty stole?

Oh, sure.

Rod Beaton and the Stragues
were here last night.

And my daughter, of course.

And after I'd kicked Jack out,
I knew from their faces

they must have overheard
the fight, so I told 'em.

The Stragues and Beaton,
are they close friends?

No. Just neighbors.

They couldn't
locate the sheriff

but I left word for him
to call here.

MASON:
Good.

Did you make a date
with Jack Hardisty?

Did you call him before
you went to his house?

No.

How did you know
he'd be there?

Well, I didn't.

I-- I just assumed he would,
I guess.

Look, I was in such a stew
about this whole thing

that it finally got
too much for me,

so I just got in the car
and went down.

( knock on door )

Yes, what is it?

Dad...the sheriff's here.

He wants to talk to you.

Well, ask him to come in, Sue.

Shall I tell him
about the p*stol?

Tell him the exact truth
about everything,

unless I tell you
not to answer.

All right.

Come on in, Bert.
Hi, doc.

Mr. Mason, this is--

Sheriff Elmore
and I have met.

Well, Mr. Mason, I never
expected to see you here.

Good to see you
again, sheriff.

How do, Miss Street?

Hello, sheriff.

Come on in, Bert.
What is it?

Is, uh, Mr. Mason
your lawyer?

No, he's my friend.

He came up
for the weekend.

I'd like to have him
stay, though,

if you wanna talk
about Jack's death anymore.

Oh, sure.

Sure, that's all right.

As a matter of fact, we tried
to get you on the phone.

Dr. Blane has something
he wants to clear up.

Oh? What's that?

Well-- Well, you see,
Bert, um--

What I told you earlier--

That is, well,
I don't actually own a g*n,

but I did have one
in the car.

Oh, I know.

I should have told you.

But I was nervous and--
And upset.

Is it there now?
The g*n, I mean?

No. It's gone.

Is this it?

Yes.

Where'd you find it?

Down at Jack Hardisty's.

One of my boys found it
in the fork of a tree.

Was it tested for fingerprints?

Yeah.

It had been wiped clean.
At least, I guess it had.

There weren't any prints.
What about ballistics tests?

We'll get to that
first thing in the morning.

Doc, your housekeeper said you
left here about quarter of .

Is that right?

Well, I'm not certain,
but that sounds about right.

And you said you got down
to Sierra City

about minutes of .

Isn't that pretty slow?

Better than two hours.

It only took us
an hour and a half to come up.

Well, when I got
halfway down there,

I-I changed my mind
and turned back.

ELMORE:
Have, um, you been having

any trouble
with Jack Hardisty?

A little.

You see, I started
down to his place

to try to talk him
into something.

Then I realized
it was hopeless.

That's when I turned back.

But as I was driving along,

I suddenly remembered this g*n
in the glove compartment.

And I thought if I took it
in there with me

and pretended
to get real mad,

maybe I could
scare him into it.

So I turned around again

and started back.

But when I got there

and looked for this p*stol,
it was gone.

Well, uh, what was this you were
trying to talk him into?

( sighs )

He'd stolen some money
from the bank.

Well...

maybe we'd better
sit down for a minute.

But Dad couldn't possibly
have done it.

You know that, Mr. Mason.

It's just insane.

We know that, Sue,

but we must consider
how the facts appear

to the district attorney.

I met Mr. Hale.
He's a fine prosecutor.

But Dad just
couldn't k*ll anyone.

Mr. Hale must know that.

Dad's a doctor.

He's been saving lives too long
to take one. Anyone's.

I know.

Speaking of your father...

he's very upset
that you wouldn't say

where you were last night.

Would you tell me?

Mr. Mason, I wasn't anywhere
near my house last night.

There's no use
telling you where I was,

because I can't prove it...

and it would be embarrassing.

Listen to me, Sue.

If I'm gonna help
your father,

I'm gonna need your help,
everything you know.

If it has nothing to do
with this case,

I assure you
it will go no further.

Well...

for a long time now,
there's...

been nothing
between Jack and me.

I'd have divorced him,

but he threatened
to make a scandal,

for no reason, really...

then.

But lately...

I've been seeing Phil Strague.

We've been meeting
at Dad's house--

The one in Sierra City,
that is.

And you went out there
last night?

Yes, but he didn't come.

Oh, we got mixed up, I guess.

He said he thought
we were to meet up here.

So if it turns out
I should need an alibi...

I guess I'm out of luck.

Well...

that was the district attorney
on the phone.

We've agreed to a preliminary
hearing Tuesday of next week.

Will that give you
enough time

to check on the people
we're interested in?

I hope so.

Perry, did you point out that
it makes absolutely no sense

for Dr. Blane to have k*lled
Hardisty for $ , ,

which he will just have to
return to the bank anyway?

Yes, but the district attorney
had another angle on that, Paul.

He said there was only
Dr. Blane's word

that Hardisty
had stolen the money,

that Dr. Blane could have been
in league with his son-in-law.

He played the market
extensively.

He might have cooked up
this story to cover his crime.

That could be.

Well, anything else in here?

Yeah. Here is a funny thing.

The only fingerprints
in the Hardisty house

were Hardisty's, Sue's
and Dr. Blane's.

And one thing more:
In the dish drainer,

there were three
washed glasses.

Is that all?

Yeah, that's it.

Now, you want me
to check on everyone

who knew Hardisty
had the money.

Well, it'll give us a motive

for someone
to have k*lled Hardisty.

The only problem is
to find the someone

who had the opportunity.

Except for your client
and his daughter, you mean.

Yeah. Except for my client
and his daughter.

( chattering )

( dramatic music playing )

Morning, Della.

Morning, doctor.
Good morning, doctor.

You certainly
look calm enough.

Why not? The whole thing's
ridiculous in the first place,

and Darwin Hale knows it.

Bert Elmore too,
for that matter.

MAN:
Good morning, Mr. Mason.

Welcome to
Sierra County again.

Good to see you again, Mr. Hale.

Dr. Blane.

BAILIFF:
Everybody rise
and face the flag.

Now then, Dr. Ritchie,

did you examine
the body of the deceased

as soon as you arrived
on the scene?

I did.
From your examination,

could you determine
the time of death?

Yes, fairly accurately,
as it happens.

I arrived shortly
after the sh**ting

and made a careful examination
of the body as to temperature,

blood coagulation
and certain other medical tests.

In my opinion, the death
occurred between : and : ,

or approximately at : .

If it please the court,

I agree with Dr. Ritchie
that the physical evidence

bears out his conclusion.

Thank you,
Mr. Mason.

Now, Dr. Ritchie,

I believe you also
performed the autopsy,

to determine
the cause of death?

That's right.

Death was instantaneous,
caused by a g*nsh*t wound.

Did you remove
the fatal b*llet?

Yes, I turned it over
to the ballistics expert

in the sheriff's office.

Now, then, Dr. Ritchie,

did your autopsy
disclose any condition

which you might regard
as unusual or unexpected?

Yes, sir. A drug
had been administered.

Scopolamine.

Will you please
describe the nature

of this scopolamine drug
to the court?

Well, it, uh...

submerges certain inhibitory
areas of the brain

without affecting
other functions.

Might it be used as sort of
a truth serum?

Yes, definitely,
in some cases.

It leaves the memory, hearing
and powers of speech unimpaired.

However, it's not as dependable
as sodium pentothal.

Well, would it have an advantage
over sodium pentothal

in some other way?

Yes.

The pentothal
requires an injection,

whereas the scopolamine
could be given in a drink.

How long does it take
to have effect?

Oh, to minutes.

Can you say definitely
how the scopolamine

was administered
to the deceased?

Yes. Orally.

Thank you, Dr. Ritchie.

Cross-examine.

No questions.

I call as my next witness,
Sheriff Bert Elmore.

JUDGE:
You may be excused, doctor.

Sheriff, did you make a test
of the driving time

between the defendant's lodge
and the home of the decedent?

Yes, sir. Driving normally,
never exceeding the speed limit,

the exact time was
one hour and minutes.

I see.

Now, Dr. Blane's housekeeper
testified he left home at : .

Waiting one hour
and minutes,

we get : , I believe.

Sheriff, did Dr. Blane
tell you what time he arrived

at the home of the decedent?

Yes, he said he got there
at minutes of .

Seven-fifty.

ELMORE:
Yes, sir.

Now, on Sunday, the day after
Jack Hardisty was m*rder*d,

did you have your men
search the defendant's lodge

at Bear Valley Lake?

Yes, sir.

Did they find
anything significant?

Well, they found a little
bottle of scopolamine

in the doctor's cabinet.

Thank you.

Will you examine,
Mr. Mason?

Sheriff, I believe
you testified

that you found
half a bottle of whiskey

in the kitchen
of the decedent's house?

That's right.

Now, the three glasses
you found in the dish drainer,

did they show
any traces of whiskey?

No, sir.

Traces of scopolamine?

No, sir.

Thank you, sheriff.
No further questions.

Now, Mr. Strague,
I show you this p*stol,

introduced in evidence
as people's exhibit A

and identified
as the m*rder w*apon.

And I ask,
do you recognize it?

Yes. It's mine.

In whose possession was it
when last you saw it?

Dr. Blane's.

I loaned it to him.

Your witness.

Thank you.

Oh, uh, excuse me.

Thank you.

Mr. Strague, in lending
this p*stol to Dr. Blane,

weren't you actually
lending it

to Sue and Jack Hardisty
as well?

Oh, sure, all of them.

And they all knew
where the p*stol was kept?

Yes, in the glove compartment
of the doctor's car.

And you knew, of course.
Anyone else know?

Well, I guess
Rodney Beaton did.

I object, Your Honor.

This is an assumption.

Strike the answer.

Very well.

Thank you, Mr. Strague.
That's all.

You may step down,
Mr. Strague.

Miss Strague, you heard
the testimony

regarding scopolamine?
Yes.

Did you know anything about
scopolamine before today?

Oh, well, yes, I did.

There was an article about it

in a magazine
over at Dr. Blane's,

about its being a truth drug.

We were all discussing it.

Now, uh, at this time,

did you know about the money
Dr. Blane said had been stolen?

Yes.

You'll have to pardon this
next question, Miss Strague,

but I want to establish
exactly where everyone was

at the time of the m*rder,

particularly the people
who knew the victim

might have a large sum
of money in his possession.

Therefore I ask,
where were you at this time?

I was at our cabin.

Did you see or talk to anyone
who can confirm this?

Well, yes, my brother.

We were together all evening,

in fact, until about ,

except for a few minutes

when he went over to
the Blanes'

to see if anyone
wanted to play bridge.

Thank you, Miss Strague.

Your witness.

As I understand it,
Miss Strague,

your brother can
confirm your alibi,

and you, of course,
can confirm his.

Is that right?
Yes.

Well, now, with no intention
of discounting the value

of this mutual protection,

may I ask if there
is someone else

who can confirm your story?

( sighs )

No, there isn't.

Thank you. That's all.

You may step down,
Miss Strague.

Your Honor, since counsel
for the defendant

has questioned Miss Strague's
account of her whereabouts

at the time of the m*rder,
and in connection with this,

I should like to recall
Mr. Philip Strague to the stand.

Very well.

Will you return to the stand,
please, Mr. Strague?

Mr. Strague, will you tell
the court where you were

on the evening of this m*rder
from, say, : until ?

Well, I spent most
of the time at the cabin,

except for a few minutes

that I went over
to Dr. Blane's house.

But I noticed
a strange car outside,

and I realized they had company,
so I went back home.

Then I went over later too.

But that was about ,
I think.

Do you recall
about what time it was

when you went over
to Dr. Blane's the first time?

Oh, : , , somewhere
around there, I guess.

Was your sister
there with you at home

before you went over
to Dr. Blane's this first time?

Yes, sir, the whole time.

Was she there
when you got back?

Yes, sir.

Now, Mr. Strague,

when you went over
to Dr. Blane's the first time,

about : or , do you recall
anything happening

which was unusual
or out of the ordinary?

Well, no.
I don't seem to--

Oh, I accidentally set off
one of Rod's--

Mr. Beaton's.

--flash things. Bulbs.

I got off
on the wrong trail.

Was there any mention made
of this when you went back

to Dr. Blane's
later in the evening?

The second time.

Yes, I told Rod about it.

Was there anyone else present
when you told Mr. Beaton

you had accidentally
tripped his flash?

Your Honor,
on the ground it calls

for self-serving declaration,
that question is objected to.

However, if it please the court,

since I was there myself,
I withdraw the objection.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

You may answer the question,
Mr. Strague.

Yes, sir. Sue--
Mrs. Hardisty.

--was there, and Mr. Mason,

and his secretary,
Miss Street.

I see.

Now, Mr. Strague,
I show you this picture

and ask,
do you recognize it?

Why, that's me.

Did I take this
when I tripped the flash?

Yes, I guess it would.

Then it is
a picture of yourself?

Yes, that's me.

Your Honor,
I ask that this photograph

be accepted in evidence
as people's exhibit C.

I will later present testimony
identifying it positively

and tying it in
as to exact time and place.

Mr. Mason?

No objection.

Mr. Drake, when you arrived
at the decedent's house at : ,

was the defendant there?

Yes, he was.
What was he doing?

Looking around.

Wasn't he searching the place?

He said he was.

Did he say how long
he'd been there?

Yes. Five minutes.

And he hadn't
called the police?

He hadn't?
I'm asking you, Mr. Drake.

Had he?
I don't know.

Mr. Drake, did the defendant say
he had not called the police?

Yes.

Thank you.

Your witness, counselor.

Mr. Drake,
when Dr. Blane told you

that he'd been at the Hardisty
house only five minutes,

did you make any effort
to determine the accuracy

or inaccuracy
of his statement?

Yes, I did.
What did you do?

Immediately after
I called the police,

I went out to check
the defendant's car.

I felt the hood
on the outside,

lifted it, sniffed the air
in the engine compartment,

felt the radiator,
the cylinder head

and the exhaust manifold.

At the time of this examination
of the defendant's car,

how long would you say
the motor had been idle?

Eight or nine minutes,

not over at the outside
or under six.

Thank you, Mr. Drake.
That's all.

Does the district attorney
have any further questions?

Yes, if the court please,
one or two.

Mr. Drake,

as practiced as you've become
in these estimates,

they are nevertheless still
estimates, are they not,

as distinguished,
say, from measurements?

Yes.

Now, Mr. Drake,
I may assume, I trust,

that when you work
for someone,

you try to give them dependable,
thoroughly loyal service?

Yes, sir.

And at the time
you made this estimate,

you were employed
by the defendant

at a very generous
rate of pay?

But that would
in no way affect--

The question requires only
a simple yes or no, Mr. Drake.

Yes.

Thank you.

Make it about
feet, Della.

All right.

Sorry I'm late, but I stopped
to bring some lunch.

Hi, Paul.
Watch out for the thread!

Make yourself comfortable,
won't you?

I, uh, have some more
recent dope on the Stragues.

As you remember,
all we knew before

was that he'd been
in the Navy

and was discharged
eight years ago.

Yes.

The Stragues came to Sierra City
from the Bay Area not long ago.

It seems that Phil Strague
was on very friendly terms

with a married woman there,
one of the old families.

Now, we don't know
exactly what happened,

but we do know that they left
the Bay Area suddenly

and bought a new car
shortly afterward.

Paul, do you have any contacts
in the post office department?

Yeah, I, uh-- I know
an inspector pretty well.

Perhaps you can find out
if Hardisty rented a box

in the main post office
next to Union Station

between : and :
on that day.

If he did, I'd like to find out
if there's any mail in that box.

All right, I'll get right on it.

Perry, is this
what you're thinking:

That Hardisty
was k*lled about : ,

but in order to be given
the scopolamine

and have time for it
to take effect,

he had to be home
no later than ?

Now, if he had
just moved the money--

But, uh, why would he
rent a box?

After all, he can't put
$ , in it.

He could have used it
to send himself a key

or a claim check.

But suppose somebody had given
Hardisty this truth serum

to get him to tell
where he had hidden the money,

and he told them
where he'd hidden the money

in the first place:
in his own home.

Actually, he'd moved it
after that.

But they k*lled him,

and when they went
to look for the money,

it was gone, and they haven't
been able to find it yet.

I agree with you, Della.

That's exactly
how it happened.

Well, I finally
figured that one out.

Or wait a minute,
does that get us any closer

as to who k*lled Hardisty?

Not a bit closer.
Come on, Della.

( sighs, clicks tongue )

Have yourself a nice picnic.

Mr. Beaton,
on the Saturday night

Jack Hardisty was k*lled,

were you sitting
on your cabin porch

watching for a photoflash,
as you described?

Yes.

Did you see any?
Yes, I did.

Do you recall about what time
it was you saw this flash?

Yes, it was about : .

I see.

Mr. Beaton, I show you
this photograph,

the people's exhibit C,
and I ask:

Is it a print from the same
negative exposed in this camera

about : the night
Jack Hardisty was k*lled?

Yes, it is.

Thank you. That's all.

Cross-examine.

Mr. Beaton, how long
were you on your cabin porch

the night of the m*rder?

From, uh, until nearly .

Did you see anyone
or talk to anyone at that time

who can confirm this?

Well, no, um...

I saw the flash when Phil--
I mean, Mr. Strague.

--tripped the camera at : ,
and I made a note of it,

and he can confirm that time.

Mr. Strague testified
that he mentioned

that fact to you
later that same night.

Wasn't that the first time

that you knew
that he tripped your camera?

Oh, no.

I knew it
when I reset the camera,

before I even saw him.

I could see his tracks.

Would you describe
these tracks for us?

You're an experienced tracker,
I take it?

Yes. Fair.

Well, nothing unusual.
Clear enough.

He was just walking
right along,

heading down toward
Dr. Blane's lodge.

A deer came along
after he did.

I see.

Your Honor,
may I have a moment?

Of course, Mr. Mason.

Perry, your hunch
was right.

Hardisty did rent a post box
that afternoon,

and there's
one letter in it,

addressed simply
to the box number.

Mr. Beaton, how long does it
take you to reset your camera?

Oh, not long--
One moment, please.

For the sake of clarity,
would Your Honor permit

Mr. Beaton to demonstrate
as he testifies?

I don't think the prosecution
could object to that.

You may step down,
Mr. Beaton.

Well, first of all, of course,
I put in a new flashbulb.

Then I re-cock the shutter,

and turn over the film holder.

Withdraw the slide...so.

If the thread is broken,

I have to attach a new one
to this trip arm

that operates the flash
and the shutter.

I string it down the tripod leg
and out across the trail

to where I tie it off.

All right?

You, uh, don't change the focus
or the diaphragm opening

or something of that nature?

No, no. That's all set,
and I leave it alone.

I believe you told me
that you sh**t

with the lens
practically wide open.

Yes, I usually sh**t at f .
The lens is . .

Thank you, Mr. Beaton.

That's all.

Your Honor, that will
conclude our case.

Very well.

Does counsel for the defendant

wish to present any evidence
in this case?

Naturally, it's only
a preliminary hearing,

and while the people's case
is by no means conclusive,

as matters stand, the court
would consider it mandatory

to bond the defendant
over for trial,

and it would require
really conclusive evidence

on his behalf
to alter this opinion.

I appreciate
the court's frankness.

I have no wish to put on a case
or call a lot of witnesses.

However, as long as
the witnesses are present,

I should like
to recall one of them

to complete the development
of a certain point.

Very well. Proceed.

Will Mr. Philip Strague
please return to the stand?

Mr. Strague, I just want
to check on a point or two

in connection with
the flash picture taken of you

by Mr. Beaton's camera.

Yes, sir.

As I recall
your earlier testimony,

you said that this happened

while you were on your way
to Dr. Blane's lodge

about : that night.

Yes, sir.

Now, referring to your tracks,

which Mr. Beaton says he saw,

I believe he testified

that there was nothing
unusual in them,

that you were just
walking right along,

headed for Dr. Blane's.

Now, does that agree
with your recollection?

Yes.

Would you tell me why?

Why what?

Would you tell me why
those tracks showed

that you were just
walking right along?

Well, because that's
what I was doing.

I don't understand.
Why not?

If I were walking along
in the woods at night,

and suddenly the blinding
brightness of a flashbulb

exploded in my face,

I believe it would
startle me, Mr. Strague.

Yet apparently,
on the night in question,

this did not startle you at all.

I ask you, why not?

Well...I don't know.

I guess I was thinking
about something.

Concentrating, you know.

But you not only did not stop,
you did not even slow down.

( scoffs )

Well, it didn't
matter much, I guess,

not being able to see,
dark as it was anyhow.

( door opens )

I believe you know a good deal
about photography, Mr. Strague,

having served in the Navy
as a photographer.

Oh. Oh, yes. That was such
a long time ago,

I've forgotten
most of it, probably.

While we're at it, haven't you
forgotten something else?

How do you mean?

Haven't you forgotten
to tell this court

that Jean Strague
is not your sister

but is, in reality, your wife?

Haven't you?

I didn't think
it was n-necessary.

But you haven't forgotten
that she is.

No, sir.

Let's see how much of your
photography you can remember.

For instance, if you stop
a lens down to f or

without changing
the shutter speed,

you will virtually
eliminate any exposure.

Does that sound right?

I...guess so.

Of course you know
that you can replace

one film holder
with another.

I guess.

And let us suppose that early
on the night in question,

you stopped down the lens
on Mr. Beaton's camera,

replaced the film holder
with one that contained

an exposed sh*t of yourself.

Thus when the camera
was tripped at : ,

Mr. Beaton saw the flash,

but no picture of you
was taken at that time,

because at that time
you were actually engaged

in the m*rder
of Jack Hardisty.

That's a lie.

It's just a wild piece
of invention, and you know it!

Even if that could be done
to a camera, I couldn't do it!

How could I trip
the flash at :

and be somewhere else
at the same time?

It wouldn't be difficult
at all, Mr. Strague.

If Your Honor please,
may I demonstrate this point?

Yes, Mr. Mason.

I'd like to see
how this is done.

( ticking )

Now, Mr. Strague,

suppose you had set this alarm
so that it would go off at : .

And then you had attached the...

trip cord from the camera...

to the alarm winding key.

And then you had buried
the clock facedown

very near the camera.

( ringing )

Now, when the alarm went off
and tripped the camera, you...

and your wife were at
Jack Hardisty's home,

having made a date
with him there for : .

Which one of you
did the k*lling, Mr. Strague?

No! You can't drag me
into this!

I went along
with the scopolamine

to get the money,

but I wanted no part
of the m*rder!

No! No, I tell you!
It's a lie!

He can't prove that!
He can't prove a thing!

Your Honor,
the defense rests.

DRAKE:
Perry, come on, now, admit it.

When you started on your
cross-examination of Beaton,

you had no idea
how that footprint business

was gonna turn out.

Of course.
I was lucky, Paul.

Thanks.

You know, cross-examination
is like prospecting.

You see something
that looks promising,

you work a vein
for all it's worth.

If you're lucky,
you may hit a bonanza.

In a way, it's no different

from what
the Stragues were doing.

They started with a badger game
to shake down Sue Hardisty,

and then went on
to bigger and better things

when they saw Jack Hardisty
with all that money.

( phone rings )

Yes, Gertie?

Dr. Blane.

Put him on, Gertie.

Hello, doctor.

Well, good.

Yes, I guess
we were all lucky.

Of course I will.

Thanks for calling.

Well, they found the money.

Hardisty put it in a bag that
he checked at Union Station.

Then he mailed
the baggage check to himself

in care of that
post office box he rented.

That's it.

It all proves one thing:

Strague made his biggest mistake
when he buried the clock.

Everybody knows
that's no way to k*ll time.

Ooh.
Ooh.

( alarm clock ringing )

( laughing )

No.

( noirish jazz theme playing )