02x14 - The Case of the Glittering Goldfish

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( upbeat jazz theme playing )

MAN:
You're just in time,
Mr. Rollins.

I was just explaining things
to Mr. Huxley.

Don't let me interrupt.

Now, these two goldfish

are suffering
from gill fever.

MAN:
How much longer would you say
they can live?

HUXLEY:
If it's really gill fever,
an hour or two.

MAN:
Right, but watch.

Now, I spread a small amount
of my preparation

on this piece
of screening...

and place it in the water.

And within
a remarkably short time...

Kind of a miracle,
isn't it, Mr. Huxley?

I wouldn't go so far
as to say that,

but it's certainly
impressive.

Would you be interested
in merchandizing the preparation

throughout the country?

I may do better
than that.

Let me see the formula,
Wyatt.

I'd rather wait
till we've seen a lawyer.

Oh?

You do employ Mr. Wyatt,
don't you, Mr. Rollins?

Oh, yes,
for more than two years.

Well, since Mr. Wyatt
performed these experiments

on your time
and with your materials,

you are the sole and complete
owner of the product.

ROLLINS:
Tom and I plan to share equally.

Well,
I've investigated your rights.

They'll stand up
in a court of law.

Well, I've no intention
of making any such claim.

But I do.

When Mr. Rollins
sold me this shop,

he sold me the real estate,
the inventory, the goodwill

and the rights to every
activity connected with it.

Give it back.

No, Tom, no.
It won't do any good.

Get out. Get out.

Oddly enough,
those were the same instructions

I was going to give
you two.

I want this shop
closed tonight.

( dramatic theme playing )

( mysterious theme playing )

Did Huxley know
about Mr. Wyatt's research

when he offered
to buy the shop?

Oh, yes.

I sold out to him

to get more money
for Tom's research.

You never told me,
Mr. Rollins.

I didn't want to trouble you
with money problems.

Well,
I wish you'd said something.

You know the plans I had.

You know I was counting
on every penny to--

I'm sorry.
I didn't mean that.

Well, what's the verdict,
Mr. Mason?

Unfortunately,
you people walked into a trap.

Inventions
made on company time,

with company funds,
belong to the company.

When the company
is sold,

goodwill and
undisclosed assets

go along
with that sale.

Then there's nothing
we can do now?

Well,
I didn't say that.

Let me study this,
and I'll get back to you.

What do you think, Tom?

I think that

a man like Huxley
isn't fit to live.

He's not content
with just stealing you blind.

He wants everything.

Now, Tom didn't mean that
the way it sounded, Mr. Mason.

Will you see
what you can do?

Yes, I will.

( dramatic theme playing )

Anything new, Miss Wilson?

WILSON:
The red bettas arrived
from Hong Kong.

It's about time.

Where's Mr. Myers?

He hasn't come in yet.
All right.

Too bad he doesn't have
a bed in his office.

( typewriter keys clicking )

HUXLEY:
I don't recall buzzing you,
Miss Sherwood.

SHERWOOD:
So it's Miss Sherwood now?

Just what do you think
you're doing?

I thought I was running
a business here.

Of course,
you'd never guess it

from the outfit
you're wearing.

Why don't you just come
right out and say it, Jack?

All right, I will.

I think you'd be happier
elsewhere, Donna.

You can leave tonight.

Miss Wilson?

HUXLEY:
Would you please
come in here?

Of course, Mr. Huxley.

And don't you forget it.

I-I'm sorry.

That's quite all right,
Miss Wilson.

Miss Sherwood
was just leaving.

As a matter of fact,
she was leaving permanently.

I know it'll be
a tremendous loss

to the organization,

but I think we'll survive.

Oh, Miss Wilson.

With Miss Sherwood leaving,

that means there's gonna be
a lot more work for you.

The accountants will be
coming in on Thursday,

and I'm afraid that we'll
have to work late tonight.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Huxley.

I-I have an engagement.

Break it.

Well, I can't.

Miss Wilson, I'm running
a business organization,

and occasionally, we have to ask
our coworkers to stay late.

Well,
if it's absolutely essential--

It is.

You won't regret
your decision.

When you get to know me,

you'll find
I can be very generous.

Am I intruding?

I wouldn't turn my back
on you for a moment.

What's this deal
with Fred Rollins?

It's nothing
that concerns you.

I'm not so sure.

You know, Myers,

it's no good for partners
not to trust one another.

You ought to sell out to me.

Is that a suggestion
or a proposition?

Both.
You're broke.

You owe the bank
over $ , .

Yes,
I thought you'd know.

Think it over.

Metcalf, wake up.
Hm? Yeah.

You've got some work
to do for me.

Heh. Work. Heh-heh.

Optimist.
Heh-heh.

Analyze that.

( retches )

What is it?

That's for you
to find out.

But it may take weeks.

No,
you're going to do it tonight.

But I-I'm busy.

I-I've got a lot of work
to do tonight.

I've got all-- All this work
and a lot more to do.

Come on, come on.

( mysterious theme playing )

( rings )

WOMAN:
Yes?

HUXLEY:
Nora, don't wait
dinner for me.

I have some work to do
at the shop.

Blond, brunette,
or redhead?

Not that I care particularly.

Hold on a minute.

How much longer
will you be, Metcalf?

About an hour.

Well, hurry it up,
and then get out.

I'd like to see you
one of these nights.

There's some bills
you ought to take care of--

( clicks )

Hi.

Hello, beautiful.

Hello, greenie.

Don't you snap at me.
Heh-heh.

( chuckling )

Big night, eh?
Heh.

Awake,
promiscuous Prometheus.

The morning in the bowl of night
has cast the stone that--

( dramatic theme playing )

Hey, wake up.

( dialing )

MYERS:
Hello.

Oh, hello, Mr. Myers.

Who is this?
Metcalf.

Listen, you idiot,
do you realize what time it is?

Yes, it's almost six.

Well, I thought you'd forgive me
under the circumstances.

You see, Mr. Huxley is dead.

( clicks )

( ringing )

Morning, Miss Street.
Perry.

Last night I went over
the Rollins-Huxley contract,

found a nice lovely flaw
in paragraph three.

Well, you weren't the only one
that was busy last night.

Mr. Huxley was m*rder*d.

I heard it on the radio
on my way in to work.

Call Tom Wyatt at the shop.
There's no answer. I just tried.

Do you have
his home address?

Mm-hm, he lives with
Mr. Rollins. It's right here.

All right.
Get your coat.

ROLLINS:
I really think you ought
to let a doctor look at it.

There's always a chance
of infection.

( door buzzes )

Who is it?

This is Perry Mason.

Hello.
Hello.

Hello, Mr. Rollins.
Mr. Mason.

I take it you
heard the news.

What news?
Where were you last night?

He was with me.
I was here.

Were you with him?

Thank you,
Mr. Rollins.

I was alone.

And you have no one
to vouch for you?

Well,
why should I have to?

Mr. Huxley
was m*rder*d last night.

How'd that happen?
Perry, Lieutenant Tragg.

They obviously know about
the contract with Huxley.

Well, who could have told them?

Huxley's lawyer.

He might even have told them
that Huxley bought your place

just to gain control
of Wyatt's preparation.

( door buzzes )

All right, Tom.
Let them in.

What'll I tell 'em?

The truth.

( door buzzes )

TRAGG: Wyatt?
WYATT: That's right.

My name is Tragg.
Lieutenant Tragg.

May I go in?

Counselor, how are you?
Couldn't be better.

I'm glad to hear that.

Della, you-- You look lovelier
than ever, if that's possible.

Oh, how very sweet of you,
lieutenant.

Well, it's no more
than you deserve.

You just...

Ahem. Well, is Mr. Mason
representing you?

Well--
Yes, I am.

I suppose you heard
that a J.B. Huxley

was m*rder*d last night.

Somebody fed him
a morphine cocktail about : .

I wouldn't know about that.
I understand that you feel

Mr. Huxley took advantage
of you in a business deal.

WYATT: He did.
That prompts my next question:

How did you do that?

That slipped out of my hands.

My hands were wet,
and I dropped it.

It couldn't happen that way
in a million years.

What's the true story,
Mr. Wyatt?

Why, lieutenant?

Apparently, Huxley's k*ller
entered the shop

by breaking a window
in the lab.

We found blood
all over the place.

I'm sure
you'll have no objection

if we compare
the blood type with yours?

You'd better go
with him, Tom.

( noirish jazz theme playing )

Well, Nora,
what do you say?

I don't need to tell you
how important this is.

I'd like an answer
immediately.

Can't we discuss
it some other time, Dan?

After all, they haven't even
buried Jack yet.

Let's not play games, honey.

Get out.

All right,
if you can afford

to throw away $ , a year,
congratulations.

Dan...

are you just talking
telephone numbers?

That was a conservative
estimate.

We'd get orders
from all over the world

for Wyatt's
preparation.

What would I have to do?

All you'd have to say
is that you were present

when I gave your husband
$ , cash

as my share
to buy Rollins' shop.

That's how Huxley & Myers gained
control of Wyatt's formula.

That's all?

It's as simple as that.

Is that why
you k*lled him?

What are you saying?

You needed money.

If you felt my husband
was taking advantage of you...

You're cute, Nora.

You're pretty darn cute.

Flattery will get you
nowhere.

Why should I perjure myself
for you?

If my husband
bought the Wyatt preparation

with his own money,

then it becomes part
of his estate.

Oh, oh, I see.

And as the widow, then you'd
get everything, is that it?

I'm glad you see my point.

Well, now, being a gentleman,

I naturally hate
to bring this up,

but, uh,
where were you last night?

Right here.

I came by at : , Nora.
There was no answer.

I went to bed early.

Your car was out of the garage.

And just on a hunch,
I drove by the shop.

I saw your car.

It was parked
a block down the street.

The district attorney is going
to think it mighty peculiar

that you picked last night,
of all nights,

to spy on your husband.

You're pretty cute
yourself.

Thank you.

Now that I think about it,
it all comes back to me.

You came here
one night last month

and gave my husband a check
for $ , ,

as your share
in Mr. Rollins' shop.

No, it was cash.

Of course.
How stupid of me.

And at minutes to ,

Myers left
Mrs. Huxley's home.

Now, he was there
for over two hours,

but I don't know--

Oh, come in, Mr. Metcalf.

I'm sorry to have kept you
waiting.

I believe you know
Paul Drake.

Sure,
I'm so glad you could come.

I wouldn't have missed it for
anything in the world.

Won't you sit down?
Ah, thank you.

This is a lovely place
you have here.

And what a perfect spot
for an aquarium.

That's an idea.

You'd be surprised what you can
learn about people from fish.

( chuckles )

You know, they come
in all kinds, all shapes.

Some of them even wear
black stripes.

Which should have provided
a moral for the late Mr. Huxley.

You thought
he belonged in jail?

Well,
he defrauded Mr. Wyatt.

Well, then you know
about Tom's formula?

Oh, yes, yes. Mr. Huxley
asked me to break it down.

Were you successful?

Uh,
I must refer you to the police.

I believe they found
my analysis on the body.

Who do you think k*lled him?

Heh. Offhand, I would say the
possibilities were limitless.

To know Mr. Huxley
was to hate him.

He had the avariciousness

of a Siamese fighting fish.

The appetite of a shubunkin
and the-- The libido of a guppy.

Oh, thank you.

What do you mean
the, uh, libido of a guppy?

Well, you see, Mr. Huxley
liked to live dangerously.

One mate wasn't enough.

Who was his current
pilot fish?

( chuckles )

That's pretty good.

Her name is Donna Sherwood.

Beautiful creature. With
the instincts of a firemouth.

I, uh, don't believe
I quite understand that.

You would if you knew Donna.

Uh, but I have reason to believe
she was on her way out.

Mr. Huxley was grooming
a successor.

Sally Wilson.

She was the, uh,
bookkeeper at Huxley & Myers.

Yes, but she may have improved
her position.

She was working very closely
with Mr. Huxley

on the night of the m*rder.

I think he had plans for her.

Do you know what time
she left?

I do know she was still in his
office when I left about .

Thank you very much,
Mr. Metcalf.

I certainly appreciate
your coming by.

Thank you, sir.

DONNA:
Good morning.

What are you doing here?

That's a pretty ridiculous
question.

If you're thinking
of talking to Mr. Myers,

you're wasting your time.

He called me this morning.

Told me he'd regard
it as a personal favor

if I continued
with the organization.

I thought I left it here.

( knock on door )
Yes?

Excuse me.
Where might I find Mr. Myers?

Mr. Myers doesn't usually
come in until after .

DONNA: May I help you?
My name is Perry Mason.

You're--

Oh, I-I'm sorry.
It's, uh--

It's just that I-I've heard
a great deal about you.

And you are, uh...?

Sally Wilson.
I'm Donna Sherwood.

If there's anything
I can do, Mr. Mason,

anything at all,
please feel free.

You were Mr. Huxley's
private secretary?

Mm-hm.
Would you excuse me?

I-I've got to get back to work.

Won't you sit down?

Thank you.

( typewriter keys clicking )

I understand Mr. Huxley
worked late

on the night
he was m*rder*d.

Yes, that's right.

What time did you leave?
I wasn't here.

Oh? I just assumed
as his secretary--

Mr. Huxley didn't require
my services that night.

I left shortly after : .

Miss, uh, Wilson
worked with him.

Then perhaps I should see
Miss Wilson.

Mr. Mason, if there's
anything else I can tell you,

please don't hesitate to call.

As a matter of fact,

you might do better
trying me at home.

I live at the Claymore.

I'll remember that.

Excuse me, Miss Wilson.

I'm very busy, Mr. Mason.

This won't take long.

I believe you worked
with Mr. Huxley

on the night
he was m*rder*d?

That's right, till .

Was Mr. Huxley all right
when you left?

Well, he complained
of a slight headache.

He thought he'd better lie down
before he drove home.

Do you know my client?

Your client?
Tom Wyatt.

Mr. Huxley sent me out

to Mr. Rollins' shop
several months ago

to get some papers signed.

I met Mr. Wyatt there.

Would you know if Mr. Wyatt
was here around :

on the night
of the m*rder?

I'm sure he wasn't.

You're sure he wasn't?

Around a quarter
of : ,

I started to go
to the washroom to clean up,

and I noticed
that Darrell had--

That's Darrell Metcalf.

--had left the lab window open,

and papers were blowing
all over the place,

so I thought
I'd better close it.

But, uh, clumsy me,
I tripped.

Are you trying to tell me

that you were the one
who broke that window?

I'm afraid so.

Cut?

Who applied the bandage?

Mr. Huxley.

You told that
to the police?

If you'd, uh,
like me to testify--

You may have to do
just that.

Thanks a lot, Miss Wilson.

( mysterious theme playing )

He called in about
a half-hour ago,

said that he couldn't see Myers,
but I know he talked to--

Hi.

It looks like he discovered
gold among the goldfish.

I did.

I had a very interesting talk
with the Wilson girl.

She's ready to swear
she was responsible

for that broken window
in the lab.

I hope she doesn't.
She'll be committing perjury.

All right, Paul.
Let's have it.

Sally Wilson left the office
at : the night of the m*rder.

She went directly
to the Dartmouth Grill,

where she met her boyfriend

and told him
she had to go back to work.

He was not exactly delighted
at the news.

This boyfriend
wouldn't be Tom Wyatt?

He would.

Does Mr. Burger
know about this?

He got it from
the same source I did:

Frederick Rollins.

Della, see if you can get
Mr. Rollins on the phone.

Mm-hm.

( rings )

Hello?

MASON: Mr. Rollins?
Yes?

This is Perry Mason.
Oh, of course.

I was wondering
if you could come by

my office this afternoon.

Well, uh, I'm afraid not.

You see,
I'm going to see Tom.

I was gathering
some things he might need:

his razor and shaving cream.

There's one thing he needs
even more: friends.

Did you talk
to the district attorney?

Oh, yes, yes.

I told him all about
Tom and Sally being engaged.

You did?

Yes, I heard you advise
Tom to tell the truth,

and I thought you'd want me
to do the same.

Was I wrong?

No,
you were perfectly right.

Well,
I'll see you in court.

Goodbye, Mr. Mason.

( dramatic theme playing )

( suspenseful theme playing )

BURGER:
Now, officer,
I direct your attention

to state exhibit number :

the drug-record book of the
Winston Pharmaceutical Company.

And I ask you
if you were the officer

who picked this book up?

That's right, sir.

Would you read for us,
please,

this item
dated November th?

"Purchaser, Thomas Wyatt.
Product, morphine sulfate.

The amount, grams."

And it was signed
by Thomas Wyatt.

Did you ask
the defendant if he indeed

signed this book?

Oh, Mr. Wyatt admitted he did.

He claimed
that he needed the morphine

for his laboratory work.

I see.
Thank you, officer.

You may cross-examine,
counselor.

No questions.

The witness
will stand down.

I call Sally Wilson
to the stand, please.

BURGER:
Miss Wilson, you're acquainted
with the defendant, Mr. Wyatt?

SALLY:
Yes, I am.

BURGER:
As a matter of fact, you and he
are engaged to be married?

SALLY:
That's right.

Would you tell us, please,
in your own words,

everything that you did
the night of Mr. Huxley's death,

from : until midnight?

First I went to the Dartmouth
Grill, where I met Tom,

and we were supposed
to have dinner together,

but I had to go back
to work.

Well, what was the defendant's
reaction to this?

SALLY:
He understood perfectly.

Miss Wilson, isn't it a fact
that when you told the defendant

you had to go back
and work with Mr. Huxley,

he created such a disturbance

that the manager
of the restaurant

had to come and quiet him?

Your Honor, please, I must
object to the district attorney

cross-examining
his own witness.

I think Mr. Burger has proven
that the witness is hostile.

You may proceed.
Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, Miss Wilson,
I ask you again:

What was the reaction
of the defendant

when you told him
you had to go back to work?

He said
he didn't want me to go.

You quarreled?
Yes.

But, nevertheless,
you did go back to the office?

Mr. Huxley
was waiting for me.

He had been drinking.

We worked for a couple of hours,

and then he closed the books
and said he thought

that we had done enough work
for one night.

BURGER:
And then what happened?

He made advances to you?

SALLY:
Yes.

And your fiancé was waiting
outside the window

when he heard your cries
for help?

No, that's not true.

I didn't know he was outside

until he broke
through the window.

He was going to k*ll
Mr. Huxley

with his bare hands,
but I stopped him.

I don't know how,
but I did it.

That's the truth.

All right. What happened then?

Tom drove me home.

Now, all this time
he was bleeding profusely

from this cut in his hand,
is that right?

SALLY:
Yes.

And you didn't do anything
to try to stop

the flow of blood?
To bandage it?

I-- I just wanted
to get him out of there.

I tried to bandage
it for him

when we got back
to my apartment.

How long was Mr. Wyatt
at your apartment?

Till about :
in the morning.

Don't you understand?

He-- He couldn't have
k*lled Mr. Huxley.

I was with him
every minute of the time.

Thank you, Miss Wilson.

That's all.

Cross-examine.

Miss Wilson, you testified

that after the defendant
struck Mr. Huxley,

you immediately left,
and Mr. Wyatt drove you home?

That's right.

But you were excited
when you left.

In your haste,
didn't you forget something?

I don't know
what you mean.

Well, it would be
quite understandable

if you forgot, let us say,
your gloves or your purse,

or that Tom went back
into the shop for a few seconds.

No, I said he didn't
go back at all,

because I was with him
every minute of the time.

Thank you, Miss Wilson.
That'll be all.

JUDGE:
Mr. Burger?

I have no questions
on redirect, your honor.

JUDGE:
Stand down, please.

I call Lieutenant Arthur Tragg.

We found this
in the defendant's bathroom.

I checked
the linen supply company.

The subscriber
was Huxley & Myers.

How did the defendant

explain his possession
of this towel?

He refused to.

And yet the previous witness
testified that he made

no attempt to bind up his wound
while she was with him.

Doesn't that seem
to indicate clearly

that the defendant
must have gone back--

I object, your honor.

The district attorney
knows full well

the impropriety
of the question.

JUDGE:
Yes, we'll have no more
of that, Mr. Burger.

BURGER:
I'm sorry, Your Honor.

Tom went back
to get my purse,

but he wasn't gone
for more than a minute.

He called me
a couple of names,

and I hit him again.

That's when I got the towel
from his desk.

I show you this piece
of broken window glass

from the lab
at Huxley & Myers' store,

and I ask if you
checked it for fingerprints?

Yes, sir, it has a right
thumb and forefinger

etched in blood, down here.

Were you able to identify
those prints?

TRAGG:
They belong to the defendant,
Thomas Wyatt.

BURGER:
Thank you, lieutenant.

That will be all.
Cross-examine.

Lieutenant,
the coroner testified

that the victim
had imbibed alcohol.

Did you find any physical
evidence of this at the scene?

Yes, sir, there was a bottle
of whiskey and two glasses.

One of them had, uh,
lipstick on it.

What about fingerprints?

On the glass
that had the lipstick,

we found the fingerprints

of Miss Wilson
and Darrell Metcalf.

MASON:
What about
the other glass?

Only the fingerprints
of the deceased.

Did you remove any other
evidence from the premises?

Yes, sir,
there was a pint-size container

containing
a paste compound.

It was in the wall safe,

and I sent it down
to the crime lab.

Why?

Well, it had the defendant's
name written on it:

"Property of Tom Wyatt."

We analyzed the paste.

It contained morphine sulfate,
among other things.

MASON:
Was there any other name
on the container?

TRAGG:
The name, uh, Frederick Rollins
was printed there too.

Thank you, lieutenant.
No further questions.

JUDGE:
You may stand down.

And then at : , I relieved
the switchboard operator

for her coffee break.

Go on, Miss Sherwood.

About five minutes
later,

a call came through
for Mr. Huxley.

I asked who was calling,

and the man said
he was Tom Wyatt.

Mr. Huxley
had left instructions

that he didn't wanna talk
with him,

so I told Mr. Wyatt
that Mr. Huxley was out.

And then what happened?

Mr. Wyatt started calling me
all sorts of horrible names.

He said I was trying
to cover up for Mr. Huxley,

that he was coming down
to the shop and k*ll the louse.

Are you sure that he said that?
I'm positive.

I never heard a man
be so abusive in all my life.

Thank you, Miss Sherwood.

Your witness.

( man coughing )

Now, tell me,
Miss Sherwood,

how did you feel when you heard
your employer threatened?

I got frightened.

That's understandable.

You immediately informed
Mr. Huxley?

Well, no, you--
You see, I-I--

I left for the day
right after

the switchboard
operator came back.

Then apparently you didn't take
Mr. Wyatt's thr*at seriously.

Of course I did.

Could it be, then,
that you were pleased

to hear that Mr. Huxley
was in danger?

I resent that.

You make it sound like
I hated Mr. Huxley.

Didn't you?
He fired you that day.

He did not.

Then why was it necessary

for Mr. Myers to call you
the next morning,

and ask you to return
to work as a personal favor?

Well, didn't you return
at Mr. Myers' request?

So, what?

So...

thank you, Miss Sherwood.

That's all.

JUDGE:
The witness may stand down.

Mr. Myers, how long were you
associated with Mr. Huxley?

Over years.

Were you involved with him
in the purchase

of the assets of the business
of Frederick Rollins?

Oh, yes, it was
a partnership transaction.

We went into it together.

We felt that Tom Wyatt

had made a very valuable
discovery.

And did you have a conversation
with the deceased

about Tom Wyatt
on the day of the m*rder?

Yes, sir, I did.

Would you relate
that conversation to us?

Well, shortly before I left
for the day,

I went into Jack's office,

and, uh,
it was then that I noticed

that the pocket
on his coat had been torn.

I asked him
how it had happened.

He told me
he had been to visit

Tom Wyatt and Mr. Rollins,

and that Wyatt
had attempted to hit him.

The coat was torn
when Jack pulled away.

Thank you, Mr. Myers.

Cross-examine.

Mr. Myers,
I believe you testified

that Rollins' shop was
purchased with company funds.

I did.

Then the books
of the company

will show a record
of that transaction?

The books don't always record
every transaction.

Then how was this particular
transaction handled?

I went over to Jack's house
one night.

I don't remember
the exact date.

It was one night last month,

shortly after he'd had
the agreement drawn up

with Fred Rollins.

I gave him $ , cash
as my share.

Mrs. Huxley saw me.

MASON:
Where do you live,
Mr. Myers?

Pasadena.

So you drove
almost miles

to see the deceased
at his home in Santa Monica,

when you could have
accomplished the very same thing

the next morning
at the office?

Well, isn't that true,
Mr. Myers?

Yes.

Thank you.
That's all.

JUDGE:
The witness may stand down.

Then Mr. Myers gave my husband
$ , in cash

to buy Mr. Rollins' shop.

Can you present this court
any evidence

to prove
that your husband bought

all right, title
and interest

in the defendant's formula?

Well,
I have the contract here.

Thank you.
If it please the court,

I should like this entered
in evidence

and marked as an exhibit
for the people.

Your witness.

Mrs. Huxley,
are you aware

that at no place
in this agreement

does it state
that your husband was acting

for Huxley & Myers?

According to this,
he was acting only for himself.

That's been explained to me
by my attorney, Dean Walker.

I-I imagine
it sounds as though

I'm trying to give away
half interest

of a valuable property,

but I know what
my husband's intentions were.

He wanted Mr. Myers to be
his partner in the deal.

Were you always
this scrupulous

about following
your husband's wishes?

Yes, I was.

I was in love with him.

MASON:
You testified a moment ago

that Dean Walker
was your attorney.

NORA:
That's right.

When did you first meet
with Mr. Walker?

Last Tuesday, when I spoke
to him about that contract.

Isn't it true that you
first met with Mr. Walker

three weeks
before your husband d*ed?

And weren't your questions
to him then

about grounds for a divorce?

Now, why did you testify
that it was your impression

Mr. Myers was to be a partner
in Wyatt's formula?

And why were you so willing
to give away a fortune?

Did you have reason
to believe

that the formula had no value?
Well, I--

Did you have reason to believe
the formula had no value?

Yes, I did. My husband
told me it wouldn't work.

He called me from the office
that night.

Your Honor, I move that the
witness's unsolicited remarks

be stricken from the record.

On the contrary,
Your Honor,

if what Mrs. Huxley says
is true,

it goes to the very roots
of the prosecution's case,

as far as motivation
is concerned.

If it please the court,

the prosecution knows
the formula works.

Then you should have
no objection

to proving it in court.

Uh, it seems, gentlemen,

as if we're entering
what I call a gray area.

Now, if we follow
strict legal procedure,

I must overrule
in Mr. Mason's proposal.

Mr. Burger, I think
you'll be the first to agree

that, uh, convictions
based upon mere technicalities

are to be abhorred.

Now, we're not playing
parlor games here.

A person's life is at stake.

I quite agree,
Your Honor.

And if the court
or Mr. Mason

feels the ends of justice
can be best served

by repeating the test here,
I'm willing to cooperate.

JUDGE:
Thank you, Mr. Burger.

Your Honor, I have no further
questions of this witness.

JUDGE:
The witness
will step down.

As it's nearing
the hour of adjournment,

this court will reconvene
tomorrow morning at, uh, : .

( dramatic theme playing )

( mysterious theme playing )

Those poor little fish
don't look too well.

I hope they last
till Paul gets here.

I wonder why Mrs. Huxley
perjured herself.

Why did she say
the formula wouldn't work?

She had no choice.

She was trying to defend
her actions

of giving Myers
half ownership.

Obviously, it wasn't
her husband's intent.

Where's that stopwatch?
I want to time this.

Oh. It's right here.
( knocking on door )

Come in, Paul.

Ah, you're a little late.

I know, but I had to get
this stuff made up.

The goop Burger's using from
your client's original mixture,

and it's locked up
where nobody can get at it.

I had that prepared from
Darrell Metcalf's breakdown.

The temperature's
supposed to be--

Eighty-five.

It is.

( mysterious theme playing )

Della?

They're dead.

Well, Mrs. Huxley was right.
It doesn't work.

Are you sure these fish
had gill fever?

Well, that's what the man
at the store said.

And Tom said
this was a sure cure.

He could have made
a mistake.

But Mr. Huxley himself saw
a successful demonstration

in Rollins' shop.

Don't forget, Mr. Rollins
supplied those fish.

How do we know they were
actually suffering

from gill fever?

I think Mr. Burger
may be in for a slight surprise.

( suspenseful theme playing )

I take a little of Mr. Wyatt's
preparation,

and I spread in on the mesh,
like this.

Now I agitate the water
with it

in this fashion.

Now, Mr. Tiller,

while we're waiting
for a reaction,

would you tell us please

what these goldfish
are suffering from?

They are victims
of gill fever.

As a qualified expert,

would you say beyond
any doubt--?

( crowd murmuring )

Well, Mr. Tiller,
what do you think of that?

It's amazing.

TILLER:
I've never seen anything
like it before.

BURGER:
On the basis of this test,
would you say

that this preparation is a cure
for gill fever?

Absolutely.

Have you any idea as to
the monetary value

of this preparation?

No, but it should be
in great demand

wherever fish are sold.

Thank you, sir.

Cross-examine.

Of the remedy
Mr. Burger just used,

I have only one question,
Mr. Tiller:

Do you know who prepared
that remedy?

TILLER:
I do not.

The prosecution will stipulate

that remedy came from
the container

identified by Mr. Metcalf
as the one given him

by Mr. Huxley for analysis.

MASON:
Your Honor, at the risk
of trying Mr. Burger's patience,

I respectfully request
that Mr. Metcalf

testify to this fact.

Mm-hm. Mr. Burger?

Heh-heh. Very well.

I'll call Darrell Metcalf
to the stand.

CLERK:
Mr. Darrell Metcalf
to the stand.

Mr. Darrell Metcalf?

Oh.

I do.

( crowd laughing )

CLERK:
Will the witness please wait
until the oath is administered?

( crowd laughing )

Order.
Order in the courtroom.

Now that you've identified
the container

for the district attorney,

would you say that the compound
you analyzed

was some kind of remedy?

I would not.

Why?

I'm a chemist,
not a pharmacist.

Are you a qualified chemist?

Yes, sir.

I have a degree in chemistry

from the University
of Oxford, England.

Doctor of Science,
Sorbonne, University of Paris.

Yes, I'm qualified.

( chuckles )

And in this demonstration
we've just seen,

are you positive
that the compound used

was the original
Wyatt preparation?

METCALF:
That's what Mr. Huxley
gave me to analyze.

MASON:
Wasn't it prepared
from your analysis?

METCALF:
Not that I know of.

I show you now
state's Exhibit .

This is your analysis?

Yes.

I tried to cure
some sick fish last night

from medicine prepared
from this analysis.

They d*ed.

Why?

( scoffs ):
How should I know?

Could it be we omitted
some necessary ingredient?

I wouldn't know.
I wasn't there.

Would you say
that morphine sulfate

is difficult to identify?

Uh, not particularly.

The autopsy surgeon
had no difficulty

in identifying it
as the toxic agent

that k*lled Huxley.

That's his job.

And it was your job
to give Mr. Huxley

an accurate analysis,
was it not?

He got what he asked for.

But not what he expected.

Would you please explain
to this court

why you failed to include
morphine sulfate

among the ingredients
listed on this paper?

( mysterious theme playing )

MASON:
Was it because you used
the morphine sulfate

for another purpose?

Hm-hm.
You've got me there.

You mean, you can't answer
the question?

Not without--
Uh, how do you say it?

--mm, without incriminating
myself.

Is that your answer?
Yes.

So let's get on with it

and come to the big question,
shall we?

MASON:
Will you answer it?

METCALF:
Yes, of course.

Why did you k*ll Jack Huxley?

The morphine was
in my hand.

Used one way,
it could alleviate pain.

Used another way,
it could exterminate

vermin.

And Webster, I believe,
describes vermin

as a noxious,
disgusting animal.

That's a perfect description
of Mr. Huxley.

So...

I exterminated him.

It's as simple as that.

But I must admit,

my motive was rather
a sordid one.

You see, I live in the mud
of despair,

and I thought that
with the Wyatt formula,

I might be able to get away
from it all.

With the money I made from it,
I could--

I c--

I could what?

( laughs )

I could drown myself
in a sea of champagne.

Believe me, sir,
I'm deeply ashamed of it.

But no matter what my motive,

one thing I'm sure:

The world will be
a lot better place

without the likes
of Jackson Huxley.

( upbeat jazz theme playing )

Under the circumstances,

the, uh, case against
Thomas Wyatt is dismissed.

The prosecution
will take necessary steps

against this witness.

Court is adjourned.

( mellow theme playing )

Actually,
it was fairly simple.

Mr. Metcalf was outside
during the whole thing.

After Tom and Sally left,

why, he went in
and helped Mr. Huxley

pull himself together
by giving him a drink.

Hm. Only this one was loaded
with the morphine sulfate.

It was as easy as that.

Huxley was in no condition
to ask questions

after his fight with Tom.

Perry, what put you
onto Mr. Metcalf

in the first place?

Oh, I-- I guess the glass
with the lipstick.

I wondered why he drank
out of that one

instead of Huxley's.

And since the other one
contained the morphine sulfate,

he had to be either lucky,
or...

Or...

he knew more than--

"Dear Mr. Mason,

this arrived while you were
at dinner. Gertie."

"I've arranged
to have this delivered

"to show there
are no hard feelings.

"Mr. Burger informs me
if I plead guilty,

"I'll be given
life imprisonment.

"I understand the warden
at San Quentin

"has an aquarium.

"What more can I ask?

Darrell Metcalf."

( dramatic theme playing )

( noirish jazz theme playing )