( suspenseful theme playing )
( mellow jazz theme playing )
But there must be
some mistake.
I know my husband took care
of the payment last week.
Look, cou--
Couldn't you
at least wait
until my husband gets home,
and maybe he--
Oh, darling, I'm
so glad you're home.
These men are
from Walsh's.
Yes, I know, I--
I saw the truck
outside.
Danny--
Danny, I can't
go on like this!
I go crazy wondering what's
going to be repossessed next.
Yes, I know,
I know, but--
Things'll improve,
you'll see.
You've said that
before, Danny.
I don't care about myself,
but what about the baby?
Oh, yeah,
how is she?
( whispering ):
Oh, she's asleep.
( babbling )
No, she isn't.
Hi.
Hi, sweetheart.
Got a kiss
for old dad, huh?
I bet she does.
Come here. Come here.
String.
Oh, yeah,
a nice big string.
Aw.
What'd the doctor
say today?
She's got to have
a new brace. $ .
$ ?
$ just
two weeks ago.
Would you--?
Would you like me to
take her to the clinic?
Did I
say that?
No, I'll-- I'll find
the money somehow.
There we go.
Sleep?
Lay down?
No.
Oh. Let's just
put you down.
BABY:
Bye, daddy.
Danny. Danny, why don't you
let me ask my father?
After what he said?
Oh, all he said was
what any parent--
I won't take
a penny from him.
All right.
You'll have to find
something else to do.
You can't go on teaching
school and working nights.
Eileen, please, let's
not go into that again.
I love teaching and I'm
not going to give it up.
All right!
I want
a divorce.
Oh, Eileen,
honey, look,
you don't know
what you're saying.
Yes, I do,
Danny.
I don't mind
scrimping for myself,
but I won't
let Carol suffer.
Honey, I promise you,
I'll take care of everything.
I'll get the money somehow.
How?
I said I'd get it.
CAROL:
Mommy, come here.
All right,
darling, coming.
( dramatic jazz theme playing )
( mellow jazz theme playing )
EILEEN:
It's been going on like this
ever since I had
the baby, Perry.
That's when
I quit my job.
Danny didn't want me
to go on working.
I'd love to help, Eileen,
if only because you
were the first woman
who ever
proposed to me.
( laughs )
It was on her father's
farm in Oregon.
She was seven
at the time.
I was not! I was and a half,
and you turned me down.
He probably thought
you were too old for him.
Heh-heh.
Now, seriously,
I'll do
anything I can.
Now, what'd you
have in mind?
A divorce.
Aren't you in
love with Danny?
That has nothing
to do with it.
We need money
desperately.
Danny could
go to work tomorrow
for almost any engineering firm
in the country, but no.
He's got to k*ll himself
by holding down two jobs.
He--
He acts as though teaching
were a holy calling.
I know a lot of
doctors and lawyers
who feel the same way.
Do their wives and children
have to suffer for it?
Uh...
I'm sorry, Eileen, I...
I just--
I just can't think you'd be
better off with a divorce.
Now, you...
You ought to see
Danny's side.
I have.
He has nothing
but foolish pride.
Oh, so far the baby
hasn't suffered from it.
Do I--? Do I have
to wait for that?
Here, why don't you
let us help you?
Oh, no.
No, I couldn't
take money from you.
All right then.
Suppose I
see Danny?
No, thanks.
Why...
I don't mean to sound
ungrateful, Perry,
but I'm tired of talk.
I'm tired of hearing
all the clichés
about how everything
will turn out all right.
Thanks for
seeing me, anyway.
Goodbye,
Miss Street.
Goodbye.
( door opens )
( door closes )
Wondering what
she's going to do now?
I hope she's going to
see another lawyer.
Della.
Mm-hm?
See if you can find out
where Danny works nights.
Right.
( door opens )
( slow jazz theme playing )
Let's see,
that's...
With tax,
cents.
Thank you.
'Night.
Hm.
Eighty-three cents.
Well that ought to take care
of next month's rent, huh?
I guess not.
I don't know how long I'm gonna
be able to keep you on, Dan,
I'll be honest.
Boy, since they built that
new diner down the block...
Yeah, I know, Luke.
Ah, this is no job for
a school teacher anyway.
You know, I've
often wondered why
a guy with your
background and education--
( door opens )
Customer.
( slurring ):
I'd like some service
at a table, please.
( sniffs )
Hello, Danny.
Hello, Frank.
I'd like a cup of
coffee, black,
and a bowl
of chili.
Chili, a bowl.
Right.
I thought you
were gonna grow up
to be a school
teacher, Danny.
What's the matter,
board of education
get wise to you?
Bowl o' chili.
Is he givin' you
a rough time?
He's loaded.
Danny, you were the smartest
boy on the block.
Smart one.
Look at you now,
slingin' hash.
What do you teach in
that high school of yours?
Cooking?
( Frank laughs )
How to succeed?
This stuff is slop.
Would you like to
order something else?
No, I want a
bowl of chili,
not that slop!
If that's slop, you're
in the right place, pal.
'Cause you're nothin'
but a lousy pig.
He's drunk, Luke.
That's no excuse.
My friend, you're not
only gonna pay for it,
but you're gonna
clean it up too.
No, Luke, I'll clean it up.
No, you don't!
He's the pig
that made this mess.
He's gonna clean it up.
Is that so?
This is all I need, with
all my other troubles.
Call the cops.
No, no. I know
where he lives.
I'll take
him home.
What do you wanna
bother with him for?
Oh, it's
on my way.
Well, okay, business
is lousy anyhow.
You may as well go.
First, I'm gonna get
what he owes me.
Here we are.
Oh, brother!
Let's see, the chili
and coffee was cents,
the busted bowl was ,
that makes $ . .
I'll settle for a buck even
if he's got one in here.
Ah, there it is,
the little stranger.
I'll get my coat.
All right, Frank.
Yeah, okay.
Come on, you, up!
Up and out. This is
a place of business.
What time is it?
Get out. Come on.
All right, Frank.
What?
Come on, you're home.
I'm all right.
Yeah, I know.
Now, come on, buddy.
Where we goin'?
Your place.
I'm-- I'm fine.
Yeah, I know.
I don't feel so hot.
Just wait till
I get you upstairs.
You can't talk to him now,
Linda.
He's drunk.
I've got to
talk to him, Phil.
But you can't.
Danny?
Yeah, Frank.
What time is it?
Yeah, yeah, now t--
Take it easy, huh?
Wait a minute!
I live over there.
Okay.
Now, Frank.
Huh?
Let me have your key.
I don't got
my key.
Frank!
What?
Give me your key.
No.
For crying' out...
What are you doing?
I'm trying
to get your key!
Leave me alone!
Hey, how about a little
less noise out here?
I'm sorry,
I was, uh--
I was trying
to find his key.
Well, try
over the door.
Thank you.
Stay there.
( mumbles )
( sighs )
Come on.
( engine turns over )
( mellow jazz theme playing )
( screams )
( dramatic theme playing )
Eileen, honey,
don't be mad.
You better finish your lunch,
Danny, you'll be late for class.
Now, come on, you've
got to listen to me.
( doorbell rings )
Mrs. Harrison?
Yes.
My name is Tragg,
Lieutenant Tragg.
HARRISON:
Is anything wrong?
You Daniel Harrison?
Yes, I am.
Wonder if you'd mind
answering me a few questions?
Well, I'm late for
work now, officer.
You see, I'm a
school teacher.
Yes, I know, I know. You, uh--
You also work nights
at Luke's place.
I think you teachers
call it, uh...
moonlighting.
You own a g*n?
Say, what is this
all about?
Just answer my question,
if you don't mind.
Do you own a g*n?
No, I don't.
You pawned one
yesterday afternoon.
I, um...
I needed money.
Why did you say you
didn't own a g*n?
Because I don't
own a g*n.
As you said,
I pawned it yesterday.
Now, it's not necessary
to lose your temper.
I'm not losing
my temper, sir.
It's just that I wanna know
what this is all about.
How well do you
know Frank Curran?
Why?
He was m*rder*d
last night.
( quietly ):
m*rder*d?
I--
I can't believe it.
You could take
my word for it.
You were the last one
to see him alive.
Well? Weren't you?
You took him home
last night.
Well, he was all right
when I left him.
I think you better
come with me.
No! No, you
can't do this.
That's all right, honey.
Oh, Danny!
Now, don't worry, baby.
Baby, please, now.
Look, I'll take care of
this thing in no time.
Just call the school,
and tell 'em I'll miss
my fifth period class.
Okay?
( somber theme playing )
Dan--
( sobbing )
Drink your milk,
sweetheart.
( dramatic theme playing )
( door opens, closes )
Hello, Danny.
How do you feel?
Have a cigarette?
How do you
think I feel?
How would you feel if they
dragged you down here,
fingerprinted you like you
were a crook or something?
Have you seen Eileen?
She's fine.
So's the baby.
Do you know what
the doctor says?
In a couple years, that leg
is gonna be as good as new.
I see improvement
already.
Eileen doesn't
think that I--
That I did this?
Of course not.
Now, we don't
have much time.
Come on,
let's get to work.
Tell me,
why did you offer to drive
Frank Curran home last night?
Well, I couldn't leave him
on the floor at Luke's place.
He was drunk, and Luke
was gonna call the police.
The police say
Curran was robbed.
Apparently he had over
$ , in cash on him.
Did you know that?
Are you sure that wasn't
your reason for volunteering?
Well, you needed
money badly.
Look, Mr. Mason,
if you think I'm guilty--
Danny, I'm just trying
to determine the facts.
If I wanted that money,
I didn't have to k*ll Frank.
I could've just
helped myself.
Supposing he saw you
helping yourself,
and tried to call
for assistance?
Is that what
you think happened?
That's what the
police think.
All right, let's start
from the beginning,
from the time you
parked your car
in the rear of his
apartment building.
Did you notice
anyone around?
Well, it seems to me there was
a couple in a convertible.
I'm not sure,
though.
Go on.
Well, I-- I managed to get
Frank into the elevator
and up to
the fifth floor.
Then I started
hunting for his keys.
I guess we made
some noise,
because a fella came out
from across the hall
and said there was
a key over the door.
So, you let yourself
into his apartment?
Yeah.
And then?
Well, as soon as we
got in the room,
Frank broke
away from me,
stumbled across the room
and fell on the sofa.
I figured I might as
well leave him there.
Did you undress him?
No, I loosened his collar
and took off his shoes.
When they found him,
he was wearing pajamas.
Maybe he sobered up.
All I know is that
I left him on the sofa.
Anything else to tell me?
No.
Now, think about it
for a moment.
Well, I...
I remember he--
He stumbled when he--
When he fell
on the sofa,
and knocked over
an end table.
What was on
the end table?
Oh, just some books
and magazines.
I...
picked them up,
put 'em back.
Did you pick up
anything else?
What about a
bronze bookend?
Yeah, I forgot
about that.
There were a pair of
'em on the table.
I-- I picked them up
and put them back.
Did you tell that
to the police?
Well, no, I-- I didn't
think of it till now.
What difference
does that make?
Quite a lot, Danny.
One of those bookends
was the m*rder w*apon.
( dramatic theme playing )
"Curran, Frank.
Age: . Single.
"Address: Chetley.
Occupation: vice president of
Atlas Construction Company."
Which doesn't mean a thing.
His old man's
chairman of the board.
Atlas is the company that made
that new freeway near Whitlock.
"Close friends: none.
Hobbies: wine,
women, and song."
That doesn't tell
me enough, Paul.
Who are
the women?
There must be one or
two in particular.
I'm checking
on that now.
Where'd all the money
he was carrying come from?
Poker game. Curran played
cards every Tuesday night.
Oh, where?
At the, uh,
Mayberry Hotel.
I'm trying to run down
everyone who sat in the game.
Concentrate
on the losers.
Have you talked
to Luke Hickey yet?
No, I haven't
had a chance.
Maybe I should
do that myself.
Do you want me
to have him come in?
No, I'd like to
look his place over.
Call Della the minute
you get something, huh?
Will do.
Bye, beautiful.
( dramatic theme playing )
I don't care what
it looks like, lieutenant.
I tell you,
Danny didn't k*ll that guy.
Well, of course you'll admit
that you're prejudiced.
You're darn right I am.
Hm.
Look, I know
Danny Harrison.
He'd give you
the shirt off his back.
Let me put a head
on that for ya.
Thank you.
Um, whose idea was it
that Harrison take, uh,
Frank Curran home?
Mine.
Oh, was it
also your idea
that Harrison
use his own car?
Well, Curran's
car was parked
in the lot behind your place
all that night.
We just towed
it home today.
What does that prove?
Look, lieutenant,
I'm tellin' you,
you're barkin' up
the wrong tree.
I saw this guy
Curran once,
and immediately I could tell
he was strictly a wrongo.
And I'll lay you
eight to five
he's had trouble
with the dames too.
What do you think of that?
Heh, heh, heh.
You know what
the French say:
Cherchez la femme.
( all laugh )
TRAGG:
Yeah, I'll bear
that in mind, uh...
Well, hello,
counselor.
How are you,
lieutenant?
Couldn't be better.
Sarge.
Well, I, uh,
kinda figured that
you'd be showing up here.
Oh, Mr. Hickey,
this is Perry Mason.
Hello, Mr. Hickey.
You just call me Luke.
Well, I imagine you two
have a lot to talk about.
Oh, Perry,
Mr. Hickey has some
very interesting ideas
about the m*rder.
He thinks we should, uh,
cherchez la femme.
Well, give it
some thought.
I always do.
Sarge.
I'm, uh, glad to
know you, Mr. Mason.
Say, I sure hope you can
do somethin' for Danny.
He's a good man.
What did you
tell the police?
Oh, you don't have to worry,
I didn't spill a thing.
I told 'em that it was my idea
for Danny to drive Curran home.
That's too bad.
Danny's already
admitted it was his.
Yeah, but he didn't
k*ll that crumb.
I believe that,
but we can't
prove it with lies.
May I have some
coffee, please?
Sure.
Business usually
this slow?
I hate to tell you.
I bet I haven't got four bucks
in that cash drawer of mine.
You knew that Curran had
a small fortune on him
when he was in here,
didn't you?
Look, Mr. Mason,
you, uh, got any idea
that I knocked this guy off
and took his roll,
why don't you just
come out and ask me, huh?
All right.
Did you m*rder
Frank Curran?
No.
Not that
I've got scruples,
I, uh, just
didn't think of it.
Say, uh,
incidentally,
Mr. Mason,
I'd like to ask you
a question.
That Lieutenant Tragg has
been pumpin' me like crazy.
Now, would I have
to go on the stand?
Say, if I didn't
want to?
Well, if you mean,
can they force you to testify,
the answer's yes.
( mellow jazz theme playing )
'Morning, Miss Street.
Good morning,
Mr. Mason.
Nothing like
starting the day
on another formality,
I always say.
Any calls?
Mm-hm.
Was Luke Hickey helpful?
Not too.
I have a hunch he has his
own idea on how to save Danny.
Like what?
Well, like disappearing so they
can't put him on the stand.
Now, we'd better
have Paul
detail two men to check
on him wherever he goes.
( telephone rings )
Yes, Gertie?
Put him on.
It's Paul.
Hi, Paul.
What's doing?
Perry, I got something
on Curran's girlfriend.
At least she was his girlfriend
up to six weeks ago.
Her name's, uh,
Linda Kennedy.
She runs a swank
dress shop in Pasadena.
Sacramento Street.
Have you
talked to her yet?
All right, I'll meet you
there in minutes.
( elegant theme playing )
Now, this is our latest
creation for the fall.
We call this
Evening Romance.
Very pretty.
What do you think, Paul?
Hm? Oh, yeah,
very pretty.
But isn't that
a little, uh--
Oh, you know
how Della is.
Well, if you'd like something
a little more unusual,
I have
just the thing.
Suppose we show the
gentlemen Evening Song.
Thank you.
It's too bad
about Frank.
I beg your
pardon?
Frank Curran.
I understand you
used to go with him.
What are you,
detectives or reporters?
A detective.
We heard you considered yourself
engaged to Mr. Curran.
That happens to be
anything but the truth.
The night he d*ed, you
called him seven times
at the Mayberry Hotel
where he was playing cards.
If you're suggesting
I ran after Frank Curran,
you're out of
your mind.
Not now.
Would you mind
telling us what you did
on the night
he was m*rder*d?
I went out to dinner
with my partner, Phil McCabe.
He drove me home.
What time was that?
Around : .
You didn't
go out again?
No,
and if you have
any more questions,
you can see my lawyer.
MAN:
What's the trouble,
Linda?
No trouble,
Mr. McCabe.
You are Mr. McCabe?
That's right.
These are
policemen, Phil.
I didn't say that,
Miss Kennedy.
You asked if
we were detectives.
This gentleman
is a detective.
A private
detective.
Get out.
Miss Kennedy said
she was with you
the night Frank Curran
was m*rder*d.
Obviously you didn't
understand me.
We're not going to answer
any more questions.
You mean
at this time.
I mean at this time
or any time.
I suggest you investigate
the power of a subpoena.
Good day,
Miss Kennedy.
( dramatic theme playing )
( dramatic jazz theme playing )
Mr. Palmer's
here to see you.
Send him in.
Mr. Palmer.
Come in,
Mr. Palmer.
Nice of you to
come up here.
Well, I'm glad
to do it.
Though, I don't know how
I can help your client.
You never know
unless you try.
Here, cigarette?
Oh, don't mind if I do.
Sit down,
won't you?
Thank you.
I understand that you
identified Daniel Harrison
for the police.
Now, if you're going
to ask me if I'm sure
that he's the man that brought
Frank Curran home that night,
you're wasting
your time.
Because there's
no question in my mind.
There's no question about
what my client did, Mr. Palmer.
There's absolutely no question
that he left Luke's Cafe
and tried to play
Good Samaritan.
What I'd like to know
is what caused you
to open the door
at that hour?
Well, you should have heard
the racket they made.
A man would have to be deaf
to sleep through that.
But you weren't asleep.
My client told me that
when you opened the door
you were wearing trousers
underneath your robe.
Most of us remove them
before we retire.
Well, I was
watching some TV.
At : in the morning?
It so happens that when
I'm all wound up, I watch TV.
It helps me to relax.
Well, um,
why were you so wound up
at this particular time?
Look, Mr. Mason,
I came up here
of my own free will
to try to help.
And you have.
Well, all I've got to say
is you've got
a mighty strange way
of showing your gratitude.
( door slams )
Why was he so mad?
I wonder.
( knocking on door )
I'll get it.
Come in, Paul.
You busy?
No.
Well, Wallace just checked in,
and your hunch was right.
Luke Hickey did not
open his place this morning.
First, he went to the Chandler
Restaurant Supply Company
on Ventura.
Then, he checked into the, uh,
Baldwin Motel in the valley.
He registered under the name
of Henry Johnson.
Better keep him
under surveillance.
All right, what else?
Well, Faulkner
finally came through.
There were a couple of other
winners in that poker game.
I'm more interested
in the losers.
First, there was a man
named Eric Hartley.
He dropped $ ,
but he can afford it.
He owns Hartley Motors.
Then, there was a guy
named Stewart Leghorn.
He lost $ .
Now hold on to your hat.
There was one other loser.
George Palmer.
How much did he lose?
Fourteen hundred dollars.
That might explain
why I hit a raw nerve
when I asked him
about being so wound up.
He was just
up here.
How did, uh--? How did Palmer
pay his losses to Curran?
He gave Curran an IOU, and
according to our information,
this is not the first IOU
he's given him either.
Curran kept a record of them
in a little black-leather
memo book.
Did the police find the book
or the IOU on the body?
No.
Well, what happened
to them, Paul?
Don't ask me.
But it's important, Paul.
Burger is basing his case
on the fact
that our client needed money
and helped himself
to Curran's money.
Now, there's no logical reason
that Danny Harrison
would take that IOU,
or the notebook.
They wouldn't
mean a thing to him.
DELLA:
They would mean a great deal
to someone
who owed Curran money.
That's right.
Now, we have to prove
the existence of both
the notebook and the IOU
before we go to trial
on Monday.
We have to make their
disappearance seem significant.
They could very possibly
be destroyed by now.
I hope so.
If we can come up with evidence
that they have been,
I can get my client
acquitted.
Well, just where do you go
to look for something
you hope is destroyed?
Well, it's easy.
You make it an essential part
of the district attorney's case.
Then he has to produce it.
( mellow jazz theme playing )
( dramatic theme playing )
Now, lieutenant,
what were the findings
of the police laboratory
with regard to this bookend?
On submitting
this to examination,
we found hair and blood that
matched those of the deceased.
Did you find
anything else on here?
Yes, sir,
we found several fingerprints.
The one on the right--
This one?
Yes, sir.
That's an enlargement
of a latent print
we, uh, took off the bookend.
And what is this
other print, lieutenant?
The thumbprint of the defendant,
taken at police headquarters.
BURGER:
Would you say these
two prints are identical?
TRAGG:
Yes, sir, I would.
As you will see,
there are, uh,
over points of, uh,
similarity.
Thank you, lieutenant.
You may cross-examine.
Now, lieutenant,
did you tell the defendant
that you discovered
his fingerprints
on the m*rder w*apon?
No. No, I didn't.
So, then he had no chance
to explain them?
No.
Did you find
the defendant's fingerprints
elsewhere in the apartment?
Yes, in several places:
on a light switch, the door,
an end table.
Which merely proves that
he had been in the apartment.
Now, the defendant
never denied that, did he?
No. No, he didn't.
Thank you, lieutenant.
That's all.
You may stand down.
Call your next witness,
Mr. Burger.
I call Luke Hickey.
Luke Hickey.
Luke Hickey?
Your witness doesn't seem to be
in the courtroom,
Mr. District Attorney.
Will the bailiff try to locate
the witness in the corridor?
Your Honor, Mr. Hickey is
a close friend of the defendant,
and he has been, from
the outset, most uncooperative.
Has he been subpoenaed?
He has, Your Honor.
This witness
is vital to our case.
Clerk will draw an order
for the arrest
of the witness,
Luke Hickey,
and produce him
in court forthwith.
Proceed with your next witness,
counselor.
Thank you, Your Honor.
I call Miss Linda Kennedy
to the stand.
CLERK:
Miss Linda Kennedy.
LINDA:
And I was parked right there
when I saw this other car
pull into the parking lot.
BURGER:
Like this?
Yes.
And then the defendant and
Mr. Curran got out of the car.
Or, rather,
he helped Frank out of the car.
Did you notice anything
at all that would indicate
the attitude of the defendant
toward Mr. Curran?
Well,
he seemed annoyed with Frank.
I remember
I heard him say:
"Just wait till I get you
upstairs."
"Just wait till I get you
upstairs"?
He said that?
Yes.
I didn't mean it that way.
He was feeling sick.
He wanted to lie down.
What time of night
was this?
About : in the morning.
I see.
Thank you, Miss Kennedy.
Your witness.
Now,
I believe you've testified
that you were
sitting in your car
from : in the morning
until you saw the defendant
arrive with Mr. Curran?
That's right.
When did you leave?
Right after
Frank arrived.
I realized he was
in no condition to talk,
so we drove home.
We?
Mr. McCabe and myself.
May I ask
why you and Mr. McCabe
wanted to see Mr. Curran
at that hour?
I object, Your Honor.
That question is incompetent,
irrelevant and immaterial.
If it please the court,
I feel that I'm entitled
to show all the circumstances
in cross-examining this witness,
including anything in a
relationship with the deceased
which might tend
to indicate bias.
The objection is overruled.
You may continue, Mr. Mason.
Thank you, Your Honor.
I'll repeat the question,
Miss Kennedy.
Why did you and Mr. McCabe
want to see Mr. Curran
at : in the morning?
Mr. McCabe didn't want to.
I did.
I'd been trying
to see Frank for days.
Mr. Curran
had been avoiding you?
Yes.
Why?
Why?
Because I kept asking him
to marry me.
And Mr. Curran
refused to marry you?
He wouldn't even
talk to me on the phone.
What did Mr. McCabe hope to
accomplish by accompanying you?
He just didn't want me
to talk to Frank alone.
You're very fortunate
to have so thoughtful a business
partner, Miss Kennedy.
But then,
Mr. McCabe is much more
than your business partner,
isn't he?
I don't know what you mean.
Your Honor, I would like to have
this marked for identification.
( clears throat )
Thank you.
Have you ever seen
this before, Miss Kennedy?
Yes.
It's a marriage license.
Phil and I took it out
in Las Vegas two days ago.
And yet, just a short time ago,
you waited until
: in the morning
to ask Frank Curran
to marry you?
That's right.
Were you in love
with Frank Curran?
I loathed him.
I thought he was the most
despicable man that ever lived.
Thank you, Mrs. McCabe.
That will be all.
( dramatic theme playing )
( mysterious theme playing )
( knock on door )
Hey, what's the idea?
Well, the idea is very simple,
Mr. Hickey.
The district attorney
wants to talk to you.
How'd you know
where to find me?
Now, now, I didn't ask you
how you ran your restaurant.
Get his coat,
and, uh, take his razor along.
And then about :
we settled up.
Frank Curran
was the heavy winner.
He must have had
over $ , in cash on him.
Are you sure
of the amount?
Well, I saw two
$ bills myself.
What did you do when you left
the poker game?
I went home.
And it was after that,
as you previously testified,
that you saw the defendant
in the corridor
with the deceased,
Frank Curran?
Yes.
What time did you
go to bed that night?
Oh, about a quarter to .
Did you hear the defendant
leave the deceased's apartment
before you retired?
PALMER:
No, sir. I didn't.
BURGER:
Did you hear anything else?
Well, yes, around : ,
I went to the kitchen
to get myself a beer.
I heard a voice say,
"What do you think
you're doing?
Put that back."
At the time, I thought it came
from the television set.
But I assume that since then,
you've changed your mind?
Yes, sir.
Now I know it was Frank Curran's
voice.
Thank you, Mr. Palmer.
That's all.
Cross-examine.
Mr. Palmer,
you say the poker game
broke up around ?
Well, maybe
a few minutes before.
May I ask how you made out
in this particular game?
I lost a few dollars.
Standards vary, Mr. Palmer.
What do you call
"a few dollars"?
Fourteen hundred.
( crowd murmuring )
( gavel banging )
How much do you earn weekly?
A hundred and thirty.
Or less than percent
of your losses?
I don't always lose.
No, but this week you did.
How did you pay Mr. Curran?
I gave him an IOU.
Didn't Mr. Curran hold
several of your IOU's?
He did not.
I made them good
a long time ago.
Isn't it true that Mr. Curran
kept a record of the money
that you and other players
owed him
in a small leather notebook?
Yes.
Did you see that notebook
on the night of the game?
Yes.
Can you tell us what
subsequently happened to it?
No, I can't.
Are you sure, Mr. Palmer?
How many times
do I have to tell you?
Just once,
if it's the truth.
That's all, Mr. Palmer.
JUDGE:
The witness may stand down.
Well, gentlemen,
since it's nearing noon hour,
I think this is as good a time
as any to recess.
Court stands adjourned
till : this afternoon.
( crowd murmuring )
We've gotta find that notebook
and the IOU's.
Well, we've checked on
everything, Mr. Burger.
It hasn't turned up.
Well, we're gonna have
to check again.
Don't you see
what Mason's doing?
He's hinting that the IOU
and the notebook
would have had
no value to Harrison,
therefore,
he wouldn't have taken them.
And we know that Curran
had 'em with him
when he left
the poker game.
Oh, Mrs. McCabe.
BURGER:
Could I see you for a moment?
I wonder
if you could help us.
I'll be glad to do
anything I can.
I don't want to embarrass you,
Mr. McCabe--
Oh, that's quite all right.
--but you did know Frank Curran
pretty well, didn't you?
Yes, I did.
Would you know any place
that he kept his valuables?
Well, he had a vault
at the Security State Bank.
No, other than that.
Well, he had a special
compartment built in his car
where he kept
a revolver.
He thought the glove compartment
was too obvious.
TRAGG:
Well, did he keep
anything else in there?
I couldn't say.
Where was this compartment?
Underneath the dashboard,
right next to the steering
wheel.
The knob that operates it
looks rather like
a choke button.
Thank you, Mrs. McCabe.
Thank you, sir.
( mysterious jazz
theme playing )
MAN ( on radio ):
Unit
on Mission Valley Road,
one-eighth mile east of .
, car turned over.
Code .
Frank Curran.
This is it.
MAN ( on radio ):
from Eighth and Washington,
Station A.
, disregard.
is very close.
-A, Code , station.
MAN ( on radio ):
Unit , come in.
Correction, Unit , come in.
Station A, Unit ?
Station A, Unit , come in.
Unit , no response.
"I owe you $ , ,
George Palmer."
Well, I've got a hunch
Mr. Burger is gonna be
very happy about this.
But isn't it true, Mr. Hickey,
that the defendant
only suggested
taking Frank Curran home
after you had suggested
calling the police?
Your Honor, I object.
Counsel is cross-examining
his own witness.
If it please the court,
Mr. Hickey is a hostile witness,
as Mr. Mason knows very well.
The objection is overruled.
You may proceed, Mr. Burger.
Thank you, Your Honor.
( crowd murmuring )
Mr. Burger?
May we approach the bench,
Your Honor?
If the court please,
at this time,
I should like to withdraw
this witness temporarily,
and recall Lieutenant Tragg
to the stand.
Your Honor,
I see no reason
why Mr. Hickey can't finish
his testimony.
Furthermore,
I see no reason
why Lieutenant Tragg
should be recalled.
If the court please,
Mr. Mason has been insinuating
from the very beginning
that the disappearance
of a small leather notebook
belonging to the deceased
is the principle motive
for this crime.
Lieutenant Tragg has now
discovered that notebook.
I maintain the introduction
of that notebook
is incompetent, irrelevant
and immaterial.
Not when you, sir,
have been hinting
that it's disappearance is
a prime factor in this case,
and that Mr. Palmer
may have taken it.
Your Honor, I think
I should have a chance
to rebut that suggestion.
Of course, gentlemen,
this is a matter wholly
in the discretion of the court.
But I agree with Mr. Burger.
I think he should be afforded
the opportunity he requests.
Is Lieutenant Tragg
needed elsewhere?
Yes, Your Honor,
he's needed at headquarters,
and this will only take
a few minutes.
All right,
then we'll hear him now.
Mr. Hickey, will you step down
for a few minutes?
Lieutenant Tragg,
will you please take the stand?
In the compartment
under the dash,
I found this book.
And what about
Mr. Palmer's IOU?
TRAGG:
It was in the book.
Thank you, lieutenant.
That will be all.
With the court's permission,
I would now like to complete
my direct examination
of Mr. Hickey.
If the court please,
I have one or two questions
of Lieutenant Tragg on cross.
You may proceed, Mr. Mason.
Thank you, Your Honor.
Lieutenant, you testified
you found this
in the decedent's car
at the police garage?
Yes, sir, the car was towed
there the day after the m*rder.
Towed?
Yes, by, uh, Officer Davis.
Was the ignition key
in the lock?
TRAGG:
Yes, it was on the chain
with his other keys.
By any chance, did you try
the ignition key?
Yes, I did.
Did it work?
No, it, uh, wouldn't turn.
But it did fit the lock?
Perfectly.
Thank you, lieutenant.
That'll be all.
JUDGE:
You may stand down.
Now, Your Honor, may we have
Mr. Hickey resume the stand?
Now, Mr. Hickey,
I was asking you,
did the defendant volunteer
to take Frank Curran home?
That don't mean anything.
But the answer is yes?
Answer the question, please.
Yes.
And did the defendant know
that the deceased
had on his person
a large sum of money?
HICKEY:
You might as well blame me.
I went through his pockets.
Yes, but you didn't volunteer
to take him home, did you?
No.
And the defendant did volunteer
to take him home, didn't he?
Well, yes, but--
Even though Frank Curran
was getting violent and abusive?
Thank you, Mr. Hickey,
that will be all.
Your witness.
Now, Mr. Hickey,
the district attorney has spent
a lot of time
trying to establish that
Danny Harrison needed money,
that he only volunteered
to drive the decedent home
after he saw you take that
roll of bills from his pocket.
That's not true.
Danny offered
to drive him home
before he knew
the guy had any money on him.
After all,
he's known him for years.
But you didn't know Mr. Curran?
No. I-I never met him before
in my life.
When did you close your place
that night?
About : .
After you closed,
what did you do?
I went home.
But first you had
to get your car?
That's right.
You must have noticed
the other car parked in the lot.
I mean, Frank Curran's car?
Yeah, but I figured
he'd come back
and pick it up
when he sobered up.
By any chance,
did you look his car over?
Casually, maybe.
Suppose I told you
that your fingerprints
were found in his car.
Why shouldn't they be?
I told you I looked it over,
didn't I?
And in looking it over,
you must have noticed
the ignition keys.
His house key
was on the same ring.
What are you drivin' at?
I suggest you took those keys
and went over
to Curran's apartment.
Look, I told you I didn't know
his name or where he lived.
According to the law,
there had to be
a registration slip in his car.
It was probably right there
on the steering post.
Well, I didn't notice it.
You must have, Luke.
You had two opportunities:
When you removed Curran's keys,
and when you put them back.
Look, I told you
I didn't remove any keys
and I didn't put any back!
Then who made the mistake
of putting the trunk key
in the ignition lock?
What do you mean?
That's the only thing
that would explain
why the key fit but wouldn't
operate the tumblers.
Now, who made the mistake,
Luke, if it wasn't you?
How should I know?
It could have been Curran
himself, couldn't it?
No.
Because he drove over to your
place from the poker game.
Look, Y-your Honor,
this is crazy.
I had no motive
to k*ll this man.
You testified
that business was bad,
that you were thinking
of letting Danny go.
Well, what does that
got to do with it?
A half-hour before you went
to that motel, did you stop
at the Chandler Restaurant
Supply Company on Ventura?
I-I don't know.
I-I'm not sure.
Two private detectives
followed you.
Do you remember
what you did there?
Take your time.
( door opens )
( sighs )
Well, Luke?
I-I told you,
I don't remember.
Suppose I help you.
You paid Mr. Chandler monies
owed him,
and long overdue.
What does that prove?
It might prove a lot,
if you paid him in cash
with a $ bill.
Shall we get Mr. Chandler
down here and see?
If it please the court,
I should like to request a--
Oh, forget it.
Yeah, I paid him
with one of the $ bills
I took off of Curran.
But I didn't mean to k*ll him,
Your Honor, honest.
Just when he came
out of his bedroom
and saw me goin' through
his pockets,
he recognized me and--
And he started to yell,
"Hey, what do you think you're
doin' there? I'll fix you good."
Then he came after me.
That's when you
hit him with the bookend?
Yeah.
It's funny how things work out.
You saw my place.
It's really a dump.
But you don't know
what it means.
People on the street
would say,
"There goes Luke Hickey.
He owns a restaurant."
It's very important to me.
Kind of.
Do you know what I mean?
Then when I couldn't meet
my bills,
I guess I just flipped.
Then when I saw this crumb who
probably never did
an honest day's work
in his whole life,
I...
I don't know,
it just didn't seem right
that he should
have all this money,
and I should need it so bad.
But I swear to you, Danny,
I-I didn't think
they'd nab you.
You gotta believe that.
So help me,
that's the truth.
( dramatic theme playing )
( mellow jazz theme playing )
Uh, one there for me?
A big one.
Do you know what gets me?
Why Perry doesn't have you
arrested for grand larceny?
No. What gets me is what put him
on to Luke Hickey
in the first place.
It wasn't in the first place,
Paul. It was in the last.
In fact, Lieutenant Tragg
gave him the tip-off.
You mean
when he came into court,
waving that memo book
and the IOU?
Mm-hm.
That acquitted George Palmer,
and Perry knew he had to
look elsewhere in a hurry.
How did he know that
Luke Hickey's fingerprints
were found in Curran's car?
He didn't.
He said, and I quote:
"Suppose I told you
your fingerprints
were found in the car."
When Luke didn't deny it,
Perry was home.
Any more questions?
Yeah.
The way I see it,
Perry doesn't stand
to make a dime in this case.
After all, the Harrisons
can't afford to pay him.
So how can he afford
to pay me?
( chuckles )
That's a very good
question, Paul.
Come to think of it,
I can't.
( upbeat jazz theme playing )
( laughing )
( noirish jazz theme playing )
02x07 - The Case of the Married Moonlighter
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Defense attorney Perry Mason defends dozens of falsely accused people during courtroom drama, and he manages to clear all of them, usually by drawing out the real criminal on the witness stand.
Defense attorney Perry Mason defends dozens of falsely accused people during courtroom drama, and he manages to clear all of them, usually by drawing out the real criminal on the witness stand.