01x05 - The Case of the Sulky Girl

[bunniefuu]

( suspenseful theme plays)

( noirish jazz theme playing)

(lawn mower whirring)

MAN: It's time you learned
I will not change my mind.

WOMAN: You're a
mean, selfish man,

trying to make me and
everyone in this house miserable.

Please, Fran, will you
stop shrieking long enough

to hear what I have to say?

I don't care what you say.
I don't care what you think.

I will not have a child
talk to me like that.

I'm not a child,
Uncle Edward, I'm 23.

I'm a grown woman.

Then act like one.

Use your grown-up mentality...

Why don't you use yours?

It's not a complicated
idea, not even for you.

Now, you will
listen to me, youn...

WOMAN: Miss Fran?

Miss Frances, wait.

(door slams)

(doorbell ringing)

Good morning, Graves.

Mr. Crinston.

You couldn't have picked
a worse time to come, sir.

He said to come right away.

I had to get an adjournment
of one of my cases.

I-I'm sorry, but he
and Miss Celane,

they've been arguing
ever since breakfast.

Well, that'll put
him in a good mood.

Yes.

Well, he's alone now.
I'll see what I can do.

Thank you, Graves.

I can't take it
any longer, Clara.

It'll all come out right.

Soon he'll lose his hold...

Soon. How long do
you think I can wait?

I want it now,
and I'll have it now.

It'll only make things worse.

Miss Fran, you have
everything to live for.

If he's bad, let the
badness be his own.

Oh, stop preaching, Clara.

I've had enough of that too.

I'm sorry, Mr. Crinston,
it's just as I told you.

They can't see
you until tonight.

Tonight? But I
have an appointment

with Judge Purley through 10:00.

Make it at 11, then.

(sighs)

All right.

All right, 11:00 it is.

And, Mr. Crinston,
need I remind you?

Yes, I know, I
know, 11:00 sharp.

Now, easy. Easy, Fran.

Don't let him throw you.

Maybe you have to
take it, Mr. Crinston,

but I'm not his attorney.

( suspenseful theme playing)

(engine starts)

(horn blares)

(tires screech)

( ominous theme playing)

I want to see
Mr. Mason. Is he in?

I'll get his secretary for you.

Don't bother.

Well, wait a minute.
You can't go in there.

(door slams) Come back.

Oh, I don't think we
should pursue it now, Paul.

No, it's up to Burger
and the police to...

What?

No, as I sa...

I'll call you back, Paul.

Thank you.

Mr. Mason, I'm...

(door opens)

This is all I could find, chief.

If it isn't in those,
Della, we better drop it.

This is my secretary,
Della Street, Miss...?

Celane. Frances Celane.

Hello.

Miss Street likes to maintain

an air of formality
in the office.

Things like appointments.

I haven't time for
appointments, Mr. Mason.

I need help. I'm being
cheated out of a fortune.

Why don't you sit down?

That's fine.

Now, start from the beginning.

Well, I need a lawyer who
knows all about wills and trusts.

Well, probate's
not my specialty.

I'm a trial lawyer. There
are plenty of people...

There'll be a trial. A big one.

High price on both sides,
name-calling, headline.

You're contesting a will?

A trust. It'll run over
a million dollars.

I'm willing to pay
a lot to break it.

Who created the trust?

My father, Carl Celane.
He d*ed two years ago.

Oh, yes, I recall.

The property was left to
my uncle, Edward Norton,

as absolute trustee.

Absolute trustee?

And I assume you
don't like supervision.

Not when it's unreasonable.

What are the terms of the trust?

It's a spendthrift trust.

Uncle Edward
controls all the money.

My money. He gives me as little

or as much as he
wants when he wants it.

He can go on doing that forever.

Well, what do you want me to do?

Fix it so I can get married.

Why can't you?

Uncle Edward says I cannot.

Not till I'm 25, he says.

By then, I should be
"emotionally stable enough

to enter into marriage."

That's quoting him, not me.

How old are you now?

Twenty-three last June.

Why not wait a couple of
years? It sounds profitable.

I said I want to
get married now.

Why?

I suppose you've discussed
this with your uncle?

I'm through discussing
anything with him.

Look, I'm in a hurry.

I wanna get this settled,
and I wanna get it settled now.

Will you help me?

Well, I'll have to
check a few things first.

It may take a day or so.

Can you wait that long?

Well, I guess so.

I live with my uncle, Edward
Norton, at Laurelwood.

Thank you.

Well, goodbye, Miss Street.

DELLA: Goodbye.

Goodbye. Bye.

Forgive me if I acted badly.

I'm a little upset this morning.

Yes, I noticed.

Gertie... Yes, Mr. Mason?

Get ahold of Paul
Drake, will you, please?

Yes, sir.

Strong-willed little
thing, wasn't she?

Yes.

Like most headstrong
people, she's scared.

Of what?

Oh, you know.

She's scared of
losing security...

or scared of losing
someone she loves.

(intercom buzzes)

Yes, Gertie.

Mr. Drake's on the line.

Thanks. Hello, Paul.

Hey, what's going on,
Perry? Why'd you cut me off?

Sorry, I had an
unexpected visitor.

That's what I figured,

but I didn't know whether
it was blonde or brunette.

What I wanted to tell you was...

No, no, forget about that,
I've got another job for you.

Miss Frances Celane.

C-E-L-A-N-E.

Background, family
history, the works.

( suspenseful theme playing)

(knocking on door)

Come.

Graves said you wanted
to speak to me, Mr. Norton.

I certainly did, Clara.

It's time we had a
clear understanding

about your position here.

My position, sir?

Ten years ago, you were
hired as a housekeeper.

Yes, sir.

Not Miss Celane's personal
maid and confidante.

Somebody had to
look after the child.

Mr. Celane was very
pleased that I did.

Was he pleased with the
way you helped her defy him?

I certainly am not.

Miss Fran needs love
and understanding.

She needs discipline.

I'm warning you
right now, Clara.

I will not have you
undermining my authority.

You give her one more
word of encouragement,

and you'll have to leave.

Oh, please, Mr. Norton.
I love Miss Fran.

She's like my own.

I couldn't live without her.

You'll have to if
this insubordination

isn't stopped immediately.

Do you understand?

Yes, Mr. Norton.

I understand.

Perfectly.

That was pretty fast, Paul.

Where did you get it?

Swiped it out of the
morgue at The Chronicle.

If I don't get it back this
afternoon, they'll sh**t me.

Here she is at 12 with
her mother and father.

What about the mother?

She d*ed soon
after that picture.

The kid was raised by
Celane and the housekeeper.

Oh, here's a funny one.

Five years ago, she
disappeared for a week

and turned up in Miami.

The kid was a bellhop.

Who was he?

No name. It's a blind
item in Winchell's column.

"Just good friends."

I'm quoting Winchell.

Well, you get the idea.

She's a very
expensive delinquent.

Maybe she's just taking
her time growing up.

Hm. So did Two-g*n
Crowley. They caught this

at the Assistants'
League Art Show last year.

The boy is an artist she's
been running around with.

His name's Rodney Gleason.

MASON: You keep
busy, Mr. Gleason.

I'm not fashionable.

When you're not fashionable,

you have to keep
busy, or you starve.

Let's, um...

Let's get back to Miss Celane.

What about Fran?

You know her very well?

I see her once in a while.

She, um, wants to get married.

That's not illegal, is it?

Well, it can be expensive...

for her.

How long have you known her?

Oh, about six months or so.

I met her at a league
show last winter.

She was with her uncle.

He picks up a picture
every now and then.

Seems like a good
idea to cultivate her.

You know, I like this
painting. It looks like Florida.

It is. It's Biscayne Bay.

Well, business can't be so bad

if you can run down to
Florida and do seascapes.

Don't kid yourself.

I did that five years
ago in art school.

Scholarship?

No. I worked my way through.

As a bellhop?

You ran away with
Fran five years ago.

Her father caught up with
you in Miami a week later,

took her back to New York

and then moved her out
here to keep you two apart.

You're dreaming.

I have a hunch that
during that week,

you two got married. Secretly.

You've tried to stay apart,
but it just wouldn't work.

Look, Mr. Mason, I don't
like anybody calling me a liar.

Even when you are?

I have another hunch
about something else...

All right.

I think you better
get outta here.

FRANCES: Wait.

Close the door, please, Rod.

I shouldn't have held
out on you, Mr. Mason.

You won't be the first.

You were right about
us. We did get married.

But your father thought

it was one of your
wild escapades.

Yes. That's when
he set up the trust,

right after he brought
me back from Miami.

And your father is
still calling the sh*ts

through your Uncle Edward, hm?

I'm going to fight him for it.

Oh, all you need
is a little patience.

You'll be 25 in
another 18 months.

Well, I can't wait.
Not that long.

You see, you don't
quite know everything.

No...

that was my second hunch.

I hope it's a boy.

( ominous theme plays)

( peaceful theme playing)

I don't resent my niece hiring
legal counsel, Mr. Mason.

On the contrary, I'm delighted.

She refuses to take my
word for, uh, certain things.

Perhaps you, as a lawyer,
can make them clear to her.

Undoubtedly, you have
read the terms of the trust?

Yes, a spendthrift trust.

Her father realized she needed
supervision and protection.

She has been
impetuous all her life.

I see.

And bright and early

on the morning of
her 25th birthday,

she suddenly attains wisdom.

At 23 or 24, she's incapable
of managing her own affairs.

But at 25...

What are you getting at?

I'm talking about Fran's desire

to marry at her
discretion instead of yours.

As trustee, it is my
considered opinion

that Fran lacks the
emotional stability

necessary for a happy marriage.

At least, at this time.

I think you're wrong.

You're challenging my authority?

Not your authority, just
your arbitrary use of it.

Under section 710 of
the California Civil Code,

a court might very well find...

I don't like being threatened.

(knocking on door) Come.

It's 3:00, sir.

Mr. Jenkins of the First
National Bank is here.

You're using someone
else's time, Mr. Mason.

Show Mr. Jenkins in.

You may inform your client

that you have been
signally unsuccessful.

Good day, sir.

Did you talk to him?

Yes, I did...

without much success.

I hate him.

I hate him!

(sobbing)

( suspenseful theme playing)

MASON: All right,
let's have it, Paul.

Well, Norton's dough
is mainly in real estate.

The Celane money's held
by the First National Bank.

It's mostly blue-chip
stocks and bonds and cash.

What about Norton's reputation?

He's crotchety and
he's a perfectionist.

He's also fanatically honest.

That can be the worst kind.

He can't be riding herd
alone on all that money.

Someone has to be advising him.

Paul, I want you to find out
everything you can about him

and all his associates.

Do they go to Las Vegas,
have any girlfriends?

Are you kidding?

Never mind. Check it.

All right.

( ominous theme playing)

Crinston's late.

Oh, he phoned, sir, right
after dinner and explained

that he'd be tied up
with Judge Purley.

That's beside the point. It's
11:00 and Crinston is late.

Yes, sir.

(vehicle approaching)

MAN (over radio):
a right to the body,

another right high on the cheek.

Marino shakes off the
punches, circles around,

trying to find an opening
for that deadly left.

We're six minutes late, judge.

The old man will
be loaded for bear.

My fault for
keeping you, Arthur.

Sure you won't come in?

No, thanks. I'd like to
hear the rest of this fight.

I'll make it as short as I can.

Marino keeps scoring...

Hi, Graves.

You must try to be more
prompt, Mr. Crinston.

Yeah.

( suspenseful theme playing)

The one with the
"x" is no sugar.

(telephone ringing)

Get that, will you, Frank?

Laurelwood Precinct.

(over phone): This is Edward
Norton. I want to report a crime.

Just a second.

Old man Norton again.

Sergeant Wilbur
speaking, Mr. Norton.

What can I do for you?

My life has been threatened.

Yeah? Who by?

My niece. I want
protection at once.

( clicks) Hello?

Hello? Hello?

What now?

He says his life has been
threatened by his niece.

You better get Williams and
go out there in a prowl car.

( crowd noise)

ANNOUNCER: The time is 11:15.

Now back to ringside.

We're back at ringside,
ladies and gentlemen,

waiting for the 10th round
of the lightweight battle.

In his corner,
Marino sits quietly

while his seconds
work over him...

Thank you for waiting, judge.

With anything less
than a clean knockout.

( bell rings)

How's the fight going?

Pretty good. That boy,
Marino, is a clever fighter.

NORTON: Crinston.

Yes?

Yes, Mr. Norton?

(speaking indistinctly)

What?

I'm sorry, judge.
Would you mind?

(volume decreases)
What'd you say, Mr. Norton?

Where are the papers for
Tamarack and Southern Mining?

Well, they're at my home.

I want them.

I'm sending Graves to ride
in with you and get them.

All right.

I hope it isn't too
much trouble, judge.

ANNOUNCER: eight... nine...

And the winner is
Marino by a knockout.

Well, quite a fight.

Hope I didn't spoil it for you.

Oh, nonsense.

Sorry to keep you
waiting, gentlemen.

I hope this isn't
out of your way.

That's okay, Graves.
We're all in the same boat.

Yes. Judge Purley,

this is Donald Graves,
Mr. Norton's secretary.

How are you? How do you do?

Here, why don't you let me

put that in the back
for you, Mr. Crinston?

Wait. Stop the car.

What's the matter?

The window, Mr. Norton

There's a man in
his room. I-I saw him.

He came right up
behind Mr. Norton.

Go back. Do you
hear me? Go back.

( suspenseful theme playing)

(siren wails)

And it is my contention

that although you have
been legally appointed

trustee of the estate
of Carl Celane,

as specifically
indicated in the terms

of his last will and testament,

your exercise of the
aforesaid function

has been arbitrary
and capricious.

I refer you to section 710
of the California Civil Code

which clearly states that...

(clicking)

Della.

Mm.

Hey, come on,
girl, it's midnight.

Time you quit working.

Midnight?

Why don't we just
stay till tomorrow?

Union rules.

Now, come on. Rise and shine.

I just gave up.

It's your own fault.

You shouldn't be
fooling around with wills

and sulky heiresses anyway.

Your specialty's m*rder.

FRANCES: A m*rder
is what you've got.

( suspense theme playing)

Mr. Norton decided that
he wanted some papers

that had been left in
town, and he called out...

You, uh, tell Crinston
and that housekeeper

I'll be right with them.

You can move him out
now, Tragg, we're through.

What'd you find?

Never knew what hit him.

That ashtray got
him over the left ear.

I'll have the full
autopsy report

on your desk in the morning.

The briefcase started to fall,

and I put it in the back seat.

And I-I was looking
through the window

back at the house, you see,

and I saw this man come
up behind Mr. Norton,

and he raised his arms...

What did he have in his hand?

I don't know exactly,

but it seemed to be a very
heavy object of some kind,

and I yelled...

TRAGG: What, uh...
What time was this?

Shortly after 11.

11:17 almost exactly.

I checked my
watch with the radio

during the fight broadcast.

Could you recognize this man?

Are you afraid he can?

TRAGG: I asked you
a question, Mr. Graves.

Could you recognize the man?

He didn't do it.

He couldn't have.

Fran, you're not
telling me everything.

Holding out on me
before was only annoying.

Now it can be fatal.

You know Rod didn't
leave before it happened.

Graves, Purley, Crinston,

all of them saw his
car out at the gate.

Lying to me isn't gonna
help protect him, Fran,

it's only gonna make it
harder. Can't you see that?

But you might not defend us.

Try me.

Well, he came up tonight

to take my bags
to the apartment.

For the first time,

we were going to live
like husband and wife.

When he got here,
he was terribly upset.

He insisted on
seeing Uncle Edward.

He wanted to
have it out with him.

He actually said that?

I tried to talk
him out of it, but...

But what?

He wouldn't listen to me.

You wanted the
truth and that's it.

If he did k*ll Uncle
Edward, he did it for me.

And if he has to
die, I wanna die too.

All right, now.

Try and get some sleep.

I'll talk to you tomorrow.

( ominous theme playing)

I've been walking the streets
all this time, Mr. Mason,

trying to figure out who
could have k*lled Norton.

(sighs)

There isn't anything that you...

I can't think of a
thing until you tell me

what happened after
you left Fran's room.

I went downstairs
to talk to him,

only he was busy.

How do you know he was busy?

I heard him talking to somebody.

So I went out the back door
and waited in the garden.

How long were you out there?

I don't know. Maybe
four or five minutes.

Then?

Somebody called out.

I heard a car
start up out front.

And you went back
in the same door?

Yeah.

(sighs)

I walked straight to the study.

I didn't knock,
I just walked in.

At first, I thought
he was sleeping.

That was before I
took a closer look.

Then I just ran.

Then Graves actually
did see you in that room?

It must have been me.

Graves said he...

saw something in your hand.

Something like a bludgeon.

That's a lie. Norton was
dead. I never touched him.

Then why did you run?

I don't know.

(sighs)

I guess I lost my head.

You think I k*lled
him, don't you?

It's what the district
attorney thinks that matters.

From here, it
looks like Burger's

gonna have himself a field day.

( ominous theme playing)

All right, Mr. Burger, the
men are ready in the study.

Thank you, Lieutenant Tragg.

Now, Mr. Graves, you're
sure this is where you were

when you saw that man
in Mr. Norton's study.

Yes, sir.

All right. Get in
the car, please.

Be sure you take the exact same
position you were in last night.

Would you gentlemen
step a little closer, please?

Now, I want you to
pay strict attention

to what you're gonna see
and to what Mr. Graves says.

You were introduced to three
police officers, Mr. Graves.

Yes, sir.

They're up in the study.
They're gonna duplicate

the actions that you
reported seeing last night.

I want you to identify each of
the men by name if you can.

Do you understand? Yes, sir.

All right, lieutenant.

Go ahead, Mr. Graves.

Uh... that's, uh...

That's Bailey.

Keep watching the window.

That's, um...

What's his name? Um...

Oh, McLintick.

And who is this third
man, Mr. Graves?

Why, that's, uh...

That's Mr. Bailey again.

Very good,
Mr. Graves. Thank you.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Well, how'd it go?

Almost as good as an
absolute eyewitness.

Wrap this up, will you?

See they all get home all right.

And, Tragg,

make sure none
of this leaks out.

Oh.

( suspenseful theme playing)

And they nailed it
down tight, Perry,

an exact-conditions eye test.

Graves identified both men

while he sat in the
car in the driveway,

147 feet away from the window.

Two witnesses saw him do it.

And the minute I
try to throw doubt

on Graves' testimony,

testimony that he could
have recognized Gleason

at that distance,

Burger will put both of
those witnesses on the stand.

You're so right.

Well, thanks, Paul.

See you at the
preliminary hearing.

Wouldn't you rather go fishing?

(chuckles): Much.

( tense theme playing)

You wanted to
see me, lieutenant?

Oh, yeah, come on in, Drake.

I'm just indulging in
a little target practice.

Eh, that's Perry Mason.

(scoffs)

Like to try it? Yeah, thanks.

Good for the eyes.

Heh, but there's
really nothing wrong

with your eyes, is there?

You keep them wide open.

I try to.

Yeah, that can be
a mistake sometime.

That, uh, investigator's
license of yours

means a lot to you, don't it?

I'd sure hate to
see you lose it.

Any reason why I should?

Well, we run an
exact-conditions test on Friday

on the Norton case.

As far as I recall,

no invitations were sent
out to the general public.

I don't know what
you're talking about.

Eh, you own a Thunderbird,

license number LTZ413.

That's right.

What was that doing near
the Norton house on Friday?

Look, Tragg.

Now, strictly between us boys,

you... You were
there, weren't you?

(sighs): Mm-hm.

In case you never saw
one of these before,

that's a subpoena.
What's the idea?

Oh, just something

that Mr. Burger
and I thought up.

Nobody would ever
accuse you of being friendly

to the DA's office,

so we figured it might
be more effective

if you appeared as a
witness for the state

in the exact-conditions
test. After all,

you did see the whole thing.

Now, wait a minute, Tragg.

You could testify that
Mr. Graves' eyesight

was far above normal.

That would mean a
lot coming from you.

Burger would never call me.

He might, and then
again, he might not.

But if I were you, I'd get
me some good legal advice.

You like to have me, uh,
recommend a good lawyer?

(door slams)

( dramatic theme playing)

(indistinct chatter)

Give me the city desk.

Mike, this is Andy.

Rod Gleason was just bound over.

Looks like first-degree.
Perry Mason is defending.

You did great.

Enjoy it.

Well, Burger's footprints
are all over your back.

Well, you don't win any
marbles at a preliminary hearing.

Not what you said last week.

This one looks bad, Perry.

That's your most
endearing quality, Paul,

your glorious shining face.

I'd rather have your
facts and figures.

Well, I got those too, but
nothing shows up that helps.

Well, so far.

What about those
financial reports.

When are you gonna have them?

I'll have 'em by tomorrow.

But everything
seems in order, Perry,

at least as far as
Norton's concerned.

Whatever else he
might have been,

Norton was honest.

I know.

Fanatically.

( dramatic theme playing)

We propose to prove to you,

ladies and
gentlemen of the jury,

that the defendant,
Rodney Gleason,

first pleaded and then
quarreled with Edward Norton.

And that at a moment when
a witness, Donald Graves,

was actually looking through
a window of the house,

this defendant clubbed
Edward Norton over the head,

causing his death
almost instantly.

Further, that Arthur Crinston,

accompanied by the
eyewitness, Donald Graves,

and by Judge Purley,

rushed to that study
where they found

the crumpled body
of Edward Norton.

Upon this evidence,
we shall expect a verdict

of m*rder in the first degree.

JUDGE: Does the defense
have an opening statement?

If the court please,

the defense will make
no opening statement.

(crowd murmuring)

You may proceed, Mr. Burger.

Call Judge Brian C. Purley.

Raise your right hand, please.

Do you solemnly swear
the testimony you are to give

be the truth, the whole truth?

I do. State your name.

Brian C. Purley.

Be seated.

Judge Purley,

On the night of
October 23rd of this year,

you had occasion to visit

the residence of the
deceased, Edward Norton?

Well, not precisely. I
didn't go into the house.

I simply drove Mr. Crinston
there and waited in the car.

And what time did you arrive?

At approximately
five minutes after 11.

And at what time did you leave?

Precisely at 17
minutes after 11.

How do you happen to
know these times so exactly?

I checked them with my watch.

PURLEY: Just after
Mr. Crinston got into the car,

Mr. Norton called to him
from the study window.

He asked Mr. Crinston
about some papers.

Mr. Crinston said
they were at his home.

And then what?

Then Mr. Norton asked him

to bring Mr. Graves back
with us to pick them up.

Presently, Mr. Graves
came out from the house

and we started off.

I see.

Judge Purley,

would you examine
this chart, please?

Would you indicate for us
the route followed by your car?

Yes, sir. We started from here

and followed the
driveway to this point.

MASON: Judge Purley,

did I understand you to say

that when you
went into the study,

you saw Edward
Norton's body at this point?

You did not.

I stated that I saw
the body of a man

which was subsequently
identified as Edward Norton.

Oh?

I thought you knew Mr. Norton.

I didn't say that, either.

On how many occasions

had you discussed
business matters

with Mr. Norton
over the telephone?

I never talked to
the man in my life.

I see.

No further questions.

JUDGE: you may step down, sir.

Call Sergeant Wilbur.

BAILIFF: Sergeant George Wilbur.

No, sir, I remember
exactly what he said.

He said, "My life
has been threatened."

I asked, "Who by?"

He said, "My niece. I
want protection at once."

And what did you do then?

I ordered the prowl car out.

When they got
there, it was too late.

Judge Purley had
already notified homicide.

Your witness.

Sergeant, how many
calls do you normally take

in the course of
an evening's duty?

It varies.

Well, on the average?

Ten, twelve.

You pride yourself on
having an excellent memory?

I do.

Oh, yes, as a matter of fact,

you stated you remembered
Mr. Norton's exact words.

I did.

What were they?

He said, "My life
has been threatened."

I asked, "Who by?"

He said, "My niece. I
want protection at once."

And that was the
entire conversation?

It was. Yes, sir.

Did he by any
chance say, "Hello"?

Not to me he didn't. You see,

I didn't pick up
the phone at first.

MASON: Oh? Who
did pick up the phone?

WILBUR: Officer
Delaney. Frank Delaney.

MASON: Suppose you tell
us exactly what happened

when Mr. Norton's call came in?

Well, when the phone
rang, I was... I was busy,

so I asked Delaney
to answer the phone.

And Officer Delaney
spoke with Mr. Norton first?

Well, only a few words...

That will be all, sergeant.

Your Honor,

I move that the entire testimony
of this witness be stricken,

and that the jury be
instructed to disregard it

on the grounds that no
proper foundation has been laid.

Do you have anything
to say, Mr. Burger,

before I rule on the motion?

(chuckles)

Of course, Your Honor,
the state was not aware

that this telephone conversation
consisted of two parts.

If the court will hold
its ruling in abeyance,

I'll be happy to make
the arrangements to have

this other police officer
brought here immediately.

Very well.

You may step down.

But since the
officer is not in court,

Mr. Burger, you had
better call your next witness.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Call Arthur Crinston.

BAILIFF: Arthur
Crinston to the stand.

Go get this Officer
Frank Delaney.

Get him here right away.

CRINSTON: We returned
immediately to the house.

I reentered the house with
Graves and Judge Purley,

and we discovered Mr. Norton's
body as was described.

Judge Purley notified homicide.

BURGER: Thank you, sir.

Cross-examine.

Mr. Crinston, you
stated that you

had a meeting planned
with Mr. Norton at 11:00?

Yes, I was about
five minutes late.

What was the purpose
of that meeting?

He called me to
discuss tax matters.

That was within the
scope of your duties

as Mr. Norton's attorney?

It was.

I helped him in a great
many of his financial affairs.

But certainly you had
no authority to act for him

in the matter of buying
or selling securities?

Oh, but I did. I had
power of attorney.

And the tax matters,

you discussed them
with Mr. Norton?

No.

Why not?

He was too distraught
to discuss anything.

He'd been having
trouble with his niece.

I see.

If the court please,

I may wish to
recall Mr. Crinston

for further cross-examination.

No further
questions at this time.

What's he trying to do?

Whatever it is, you can be
sure there's a good reason.

Della, where are the
papers Paul gave you

on those financial
and banking matters?

And when you turned
around in the seat,

did you have a clear view of
the window of Norton's study

through the rear
window of that car?

Yes, sir. A direct line.

So it was perfectly possible

for you to see Rodney
Gleason in the study?

Absolutely.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

No questions,

at this time.

(crowd murmuring)

If it please the court,

I'm informed that
Officer Frank Delaney

is now in the courtroom.

I should like to call
him to stand at this time

to lay a proper foundation
for Sergeant Wilbur's

previous testimony.

JUDGE: Call Frank Delaney.

BAILIFF: Frank Delaney.

Now, Officer Delaney,

I direct your attention
to October 23rd last,

and I ask if you were at
the Laurelwood Precinct

at 11:15 p.m.?

I was.

What, if anything,
occurred at that time?

Well, a phone call
came in. A complaint.

Who answered that call?

I answered it.

Did the caller say, "Hello"?

(crowd laughs)

Well, no, sir. He said,

"This is Edward Norton.
I want to report a crime."

Those were his exact words?

Yes, sir.

What did you do then?

Then I turned the phone
over to the sergeant.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

When you turned the
phone over to the sergeant,

did you say
anything to him first?

To the sergeant?
To the sergeant.

Well, I guess so.

Don't guess. Did you
say something to him?

Yeah, sure, I said...

I said something about it
being old man Norton again.

Then you told him it was Norton?

Well, why not? After
all, it was Norton.

Isn't it possible
that Sergeant Wilbur

was led to believe it
was Norton on the wire

only because you told him so?

I object, Your Honor.

Counsel is asking for a
conclusion of the witness.

Sustained.

No further questions.

If it please the court,

since a proper foundation
has now been laid

for the previous testimony
of Sergeant Wilbur,

I trust Mr. Mason will
have no further objection

to it remaining in the record.

No objections.

Call Clara Mayfield.

BAILIFF: Clara
Mayfield to the stand.

Step down, sir.

BURGER: So you were
in the downstairs hall

at approximately 11:15?

About that time, yes, sir.

Did you see anyone
leaving Mr. Norton's study?

I saw Mr. Crinston leave.

Anyone else?

And Mr. Graves.

What happened after that?

Um,

nothing.

Nothing? Exactly what did you do

after Mr. Crinston
and Mr. Graves left?

I went back to the pantry.

Did you see anybody else?

I...

Did you?

Yes, sir.

Who?

Rod.

Who?

Mr. Gleason.

(crowd murmuring)

BURGER: Where was he?

CLARA: He was just
coming in from the garden.

BURGER: Did he see you?

No, I was by the pantry
door at the foot of the stairs.

And what did Mr. Gleason do?

He went into Mr. Norton's study.

Thank you.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

Ms. Mayfield,

after you saw Mr. Gleason
go into the study,

what did you do?

I went to the pantry to
make myself a cup of tea.

You weren't worried?

Worried, sir?

Well, you knew there
was trouble, did you not?

You knew that Rod
Gleason hated Mr. Norton?

You knew that Rod Gleason

was not supposed
to be in that house,

Yet when you saw him
at the door to the study,

you simply ignored it and
went and made yourself

a cup of tea?

There was nothing I
could have done, sir.

Whatever was going to happen,

it would be in more
divine hands than mine.

(crowd murmuring)

Would you say the m*rder
w*apon was held in divine hands?

BURGER: Objection.

Your Honor, Mr. Mason
is baiting the witness.

Sustained.

Please confine yourself to your
cross-examination, Mr. Mason.

Yes, Your Honor.

Now, uh,

Miss Mayfield,

does the figure 67,585

mean something to you?

CLARA: No, sir.

MASON: It does not?

No, sir.

And now, Miss Mayfield,

how long have you
known Frances Celane?

More than ten years, sir.

You took care of her
after her mother d*ed?

With her father's permission.

Of course.

Then I assume you became

very attached
to the little girl?

Yes, sir.

You devoted your life to her?

You grew to love her?

As though she were my own child.

Then what were your
feelings when Mr. Norton

called you into his study
just before he was k*lled

and threatened to discharge you

unless you stayed away
from Frances Celane?

How did you feel?

I knew

the lord would show me the way.

(crowd murmuring)

No further questions.

If the court please, I
should like at this time

to recall Arthur
Crinston to the stand

for further cross-examination.

You may step
down, Miss Mayfield.

Della, give me some
blank filing cards.

Paul, when I go back
up to the witness stand,

I want you to get Judge Purley

and tell him you want to
talk to him out in the corridor.

What about?

About anything.
Just get him out there.

Have him stand close to the door

so he can hear every word
of my cross-examination.

Now, move. Right, Perry.

You've already been
sworn, Mr. Crinston.

Yes, I'm aware of that.

Mr. Crinston, does
the figure 67,585

mean something to you?

Not especially.

It should. That's
the value in dollars

of the securities you
sold for Edward Norton

during the past five months.

I've been doing that for
years for much larger sums.

You were in conference
with Mr. Norton

on the night of the m*rder?

I was.

Isn't it a fact that that
conference was in the nature

of a quarrel?

Certainly not.

Isn't it a fact

that the proceeds
from the securities

you sold for Edward
Norton were used to cover

your personal losses
in the stock market?

That's a lie!

MASON: Is it not a fact
that on the day of his death,

Edward Norton
received from his bank

a list showing the sale
of those securities?

Sale of those securities
was authorized by Mr. Norton.

Isn't it true that on
the night of his death,

Edward Norton informed you

that unless you made
immediate restitution,

he intended to
notify the police?

Absolutely not.

And when you admitted you
could not make restitution,

he called the police and said,

"This is Edward Norton.
I want to report a crime"?

No, sir.

And is it not true that when
Mr. Norton said those words,

you, in a sudden frenzy,
struck him with a heavy object,

causing his death?

BURGER: Objection!

There's absolutely no grounds...

JUDGE: Overruled.

Answer the
question, Mr. Crinston.

I did nothing of the kind.

And is it not
true, Mr. Crinston,

that then you
realized the police

were on the other
end of an open wire?

And to cover up Mr. Norton's
statement about a crime,

you picked up the phone,

pretended to be Norton,

and said, "My niece
has threatened my life"?

There's not an ounce of
truth in anything you've said.

That's all, Mr. Crinston.

Do you wish to
reexamine, Mr. Burger?

No, Your Honor. I wanna say

we've heard a lot of theories
from Mr. Mason, but no evidence.

This witness has
denied every single...

The prosecution will make
its argument to the jury

at the proper time.

You may step down, sir.

MASON: Your Honor,

I would like at this time

to recall Donald
Graves to the stand.

BAILIFF: Donald
Graves to the stand.

Mr. Graves, I presume
the district attorney

expects me to
question your ability

to recognize a person
from a distance of 147 feet.

However, I'm not
interested in your vision.

I'm interested in the
sound of your voice.

And with the court's permission,

I should like you to
read these cards aloud,

one after the other.

Why?

Never mind why, just read them.

Objection!

Your Honor, once again,
Mr. Mason is demonstrating

his characteristic
courtroom pyrotechnics,

and making a mockery of this...

Just a minute, Mr. Burger.

I assume you can
show a connection

in what you're trying
to do, Mr. Mason?

I believe I can, Your Honor.

Very well, I'll reserve
my ruling for the present.

You may continue.
Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, Mr. Graves, we're waiting.

Well, this, uh...
This is ridiculous.

I-I resent it.

You probably have
a right to resent it,

but go ahead and do it.

"The quick, brown fox
jumped over the lazy dog."

"The early bird
catches the worm."

Louder, please, Mr. Graves.

"A bird in the hand is
worth two in the bush."

"In a democracy, all
men are created equal."

Now, what was that? I
can't hear you, Mr. Graves.

"In a democracy, all
men are created equal!"

"As the twig is bent,
so grows the tree!"

Louder, please!

(crowd murmuring)

"A stitch in time saves nine!"

Next card!

"Crinston..."

Go on, Mr. Graves.

"Crinston, I want
Graves to go with you."

Read it again, Mr. Graves!

Louder, Mr. Graves!

( dramatic theme playing)

Go on!

"Crinston, I want
Graves to go with you!"

Thank you, Mr. Graves.

Judge Purley, will
you come in, please?

Your Honor, I
would like to recall

Judge Purley to the stand.

BAILIFF: Judge Brian
Purley to the stand.

JUDGE: You may step down, sir.

Judge Purley,

I ask now that you go back
to the night of the m*rder.

To the moment when
Edward Norton called down

to Crinston from
his study window.

Is it not true

that the voice that
came from that window

was the same voice

that you just heard
in this courtroom?

Well, it, uh...

It could have been.

No.

No, I'll make it much
stronger than that.

It was Donald Graves' voice.

But I didn't k*ll him! I didn't!

Mr. Crinston k*lled
him! (crowd murmuring)

All I did was call
down to the car!

Tell them, Mr. Crinston!
Please, tell them!

( dramatic theme playing)

Your Honor,

the defense rests.

Graves was the one
who surprised me.

He'd been with
Mr. Norton for years.

I can't see why he
cooperated with Mr. Crinston,

unless he was fed up,

and Mr. Crinston
offered him a share

of his profits in
the stock market.

That was exactly his motive.

That's exactly what I thought.

DELLA: Now, just a minute here.

You know, Clara,
any more of these

completely analytical
deductions on your part,

and I shall be forced to
declare you the winner.

In other words, Mr. Mason
will be giving you my job.

(chuckles)

You don't need to
worry, Miss Street.

Looking after this one
is all the job I can handle.

Now, you stop fussing over me.

The doctor said
you must keep warm.

Well, he didn't mean
for me to roast to death.

I can't do anything
with her, Mr. Mason.

You know what I'm afraid of?

I may have to raise
another sulky girl.

Oh, no, I'm holding
out for a sulky boy.

( dramatic theme playing)

( noirish jazz theme playing)