01x07 - The Case of the Angry Mourner

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Perry Mason". Aired: September 21, 1957, to May 22, 1966.*
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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.
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01x07 - The Case of the Angry Mourner

Post by bunniefuu »

( suspenseful theme playing)

( noirish jazz theme playing)

( relaxing theme playing)

(crickets chirping)

(projector running)

Well, that's what I get
for showing off, Carla.

Hm, you looked good
while it lasted, Mark.

All the girls were watching.

Hm, never mind that.

All I know is, I goofed.

And I'm not sure they
picked up all the pieces.

Well, as the man says,

"That concludes the
performance for this evening."

Oh, and... And just in
time. It stopped raining.

Well, you're not planning
on leaving, are ya?

Well, you said that concluded
the performance for the evening.

Is there a cartoon?

Yeah...

later.

Right now, it's time
for the intermission.

Oh, would you like me
to fix you another drink?

No, and I don't want
any popcorn, either.

Mark... Don't fight me, baby.

Let me go! (cloth tearing)

(slap)

( suspenseful theme playing)

Betsy! Betsy, wake up!

Did you hear that?

Betsy. Betsy.

Huh? Didn't you hear that?

What's the matter with you?

How could I hear
anything? I was asleep.

Sounded like a sh*t
and breaking glass.

Oh, you must have
been having a nightmare.

I tell you, I heard a sh*t.

It came from Mark
Cushing's place.

Did you look?

No. It's...

(woman screams)

What was that?

How do I know?

Well, go look.

You go.

Oh!

What's going on?

I don't know about the sh*t,

but you heard
breaking glass, all right.

The window's busted.

MAN: Anybody there?

BETSY: Don't see nobody.

(whispering): Sam...
Sam, come here!

Huh? What is it?

Come here.

Look.

BETSY: Isn't that Belle Adrian?

SAM: Yeah.

It's Mrs. Adrian, all right.

Well, I don't get it.

Something funny's going on here.

Sam, you better
call the sheriff.

Oh, Betsy.

If Belle Adrian's
there, it's all right.

You know she wouldn't be
mixed up in anything funny.

What you looking in there for?

Well, I gotta get
my bathrobe, don't I?

Just to talk on the telephone?

Well, it's damp downstairs.

You can stop
stalling. She's gone.

Well, I wasn't stalling.

I was just commenting,
which is entirely different.

Well, I'll go call
the sheriff now.

Looks like a piece
out of a small mirror.

See if you can
find the rest of it.

(knock on door)

Oh, that'll be the
doc or Sam Burris.

You fellas just keep
on with your work.

Hi, Burt.

Sam.

Oh, uh, let's talk over here.

Thanks.

What can you tell
me about this, Sam?

Well, no more than I
told you on the phone.

I heard this sh*t, the
sound of busting glass.

Then this woman screamed.

Any idea who this woman was?

Now, you wouldn't be holding
out on me, would you, Sam?

Why would I do that?

You didn't like
Mr. Cushing there.

No, I didn't.

You know darn well
he swindled me, Burt.

Now, that was an
everyday business deal.

Everyday business deal, my foot.

Look, Burt, you
known me long enough.

Heck, I didn't like the man,

and if he dropped dead,
that would suit me fine,

but this kind of thing, well...

Sure. Sure, Sam.

Anything else you want?

No. No, just, uh, be
careful going home.

Well, that was a pretty
heavy rain we had tonight.

Helped bring out the tracks

of anybody who
might've been here.

We don't wanna mess 'em up.

I got you.

( dramatic theme playing)

(knocking on door)

Just a minute.
I'll be right there.

Good morning, Mr...

You are Perry Mason,
aren't you? The lawyer?

Yes.

Uh, I'm Mrs.
Adrian. Belle Adrian.

We have the place
just around the bend.

Could I speak to you a minute?

Well, um... Well, yes. Come in.

I... I know you're here for
a... For a rest, Mr. Mason,

and I... I hate to bother you.

It... It's just that we're in
such desperate trouble.

What is it?

It... Well...

There's been a m*rder.

(sighs)

Please sit down, Mrs. Adrian.

Oh, Mr. Mason, I don't know
how to thank you, really...

Well, perhaps we better save
that till we see what I can do.

Now, just go
ahead. I'll light a fire.

Well... we aren't actually
involved in this personally,

you understand.

We?

My daughter, Carla, and myself.

But I'm afraid that she
may become involved

in the notoriety.

Did you know Mark Cushing?

Uh, yes, we've met.

Well...

Carla had dinner with
him last night at his lodge.

It's next to ours, in
the other direction.

After she left, he
was sh*t. m*rder*d.

How did you find that out?

Sam Burris told us.

He's the one who
notified the sheriff.

He and his wife heard
a woman scream.

When was this?

About 2:30.

Were your daughter
and Cushing alone

at the end of the evening?

Yes.

His cook left after she
served dinner and cleared up.

Her name's Nora Fleming.

What time did your
daughter leave?

About 11:30, I should
say, or a little after.

Is she home now?

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

Just have your daughter
tell the sheriff the truth.

Oh, I'm not afraid of
the sheriff, Mr. Mason.

Carla's innocent, of course.

But Mark Cushing was...

Maybe you know his
reputation with girls,

and with Carla there that night,

you know how the
papers can make it sound.

Well, I... I wouldn't have much
influence with the newspapers.

Oh, I didn't mean that,

but I thought if you could find
that woman who screamed,

perhaps the newspapers
would concentrate on her

and leave Carla out of it.

Yes, that might be helpful.

But what you
need is a detective.

I'm a lawyer.

However, I do
employ a good agency.

I'd be glad to ask them
to come up and help.

Oh, I'd be so
grateful if you would.

All right. Excuse me.

Sure.

Long distance, please.

Oh, well, I'd like to
speak to Paul Drake,

the Drake Detective
Agency in Los Angeles.

The, uh, telephone
number is, uh...

Oh, wait a minute.

Try him at Crestview, 97441.

(vehicle approaching)

It's the sheriff, Mr. Mason.

I was hoping I could get home
before he found I was here.

(knock on door)

Mr. Mason?

Yes? I'm Sheriff Burt Elmore.

I'd like to speak
to Mrs. Adrian,

if I may, please.

Of course. Come in.

Does this concern

the Mark Cushing
m*rder, uh, sheriff?

That's right.
Morning, Mrs. Adrian.

Good morning, sheriff.

I'd like to ask you a
few questions, if I may.

Oh, uh, you her lawyer?

Well, let's just say I'm
advising her for the moment.

I'm sure she'll give
you all the help she can.

Uh, won't you make
yourself comfortable?

All right. Thank you.

I've already talked to
your daughter, Mrs. Adrian.

That's how I found
out you were here.

Why did you rush over
here to see Mr. Mason?

Oh, I didn't rush, sheriff.

Though I did come as
soon as I heard, of course.

Why?

BELLE: Well, there's obviously

going to be some
publicity about all this.

I wanted to keep Carla's
name out of it, if possible.

How can Mr. Mason do that?

By finding out the name
of the other woman.

The one who screamed.

Mrs. Adrian, did you know
anything about this m*rder

before Sam Burris
came and told you?

Why, of course not. How could I?

What time did your
daughter get home?

About 11:30, I should say.

It rained last
night, Mrs. Adrian.

Good and heavy.

Yes, I... I... I know.

I did some checking around.

I found your daughter's car

out where she
left it on the road.

The ground under
the car was wet,

so she had the flat
tire after it rained.

There was also some
footprints in the mud.

Tracks leading from
the car to your house.

Now, Mrs. Adrian, your
daughter couldn't have got in

till after 1 at the earliest.

Well...

Of course, I... I
could be mistaken

about the time, sheriff,

but I'm sure...
MASON: I think, uh...

We should hear the
sheriff out, Mrs. Adrian.

I believe, uh...

I believe there's
something else.

Yes.

Yes, there is.

That whole stretch of
ground there's kind of sandy,

and I found a set of woman's
tracks leading from the car

to the Cushing
house and back again.

Oh, but those couldn't
possibly belong to...

Is, uh...

Is that all?

No. No, it's not.

There's another set of
woman's footprints, Mrs. Adrian,

leading from your house

over to the Cushing
house and back.

ELMORE: Now, then,

what about those
tracks, Mrs. Adrian?

Did you go over to the
Cushing house yourself?

Why, of course
not. Why should I?

Well, that's what
I'm wondering about.

Well, we may be
wanting to talk to you

and your daughter
again, Mrs. Adrian,

so don't go anywhere
without letting us know first.

See you again, Mr. Mason.

Bye.

MASON: Bye.

(door closes)

It begins to look like you
need a lawyer, after all.

( noirish jazz theme playing)

( mellow theme playing)

Well, hi, Della.

Come on in.

Hm, quite a layout.

You're really
roughing it, aren't you?

Would you believe
it? Only three baths.

Some vacation. You
come up here for rest,

and I have to follow
with half the office.

Have any trouble getting here?

No, the roads are
pretty well dried out.

Good morning, beautiful.

Paul Drake. When
did you get here?

I thought I started early.

I flew up. I chartered a plane.

Oh, what happened?

m*rder, he says.

And what's he want?

Just the license number
of every car that's up here.

Don't ask me why.

Every car?

Perry, don't you realize this
is water carnival weekend?

Why, there must be at
least a thousand cars here.

At least. But you can help.

Paul only brought three men.

What do you want...?

No, don't tell me. I'd
better get a cup of coffee.

In fact, I think I'd better
eat a hearty breakfast.

( dramatic theme playing)

(footsteps)

(knocks)

Mr. Mason.

Hello.

Do come in, Mr. Mason.

This is my daughter, Carla.

How do you do?

Ms. Adrian.

And this is Mr. Delano.

Glad to know you, Mr. Mason.

How do you do?

You live up here, Mr. Delano?

No, I'm from L.A.

Just came up for the
weekend to see Carla.

BELLE: The sheriff was here.

He had a search warrant.

He went through the house.

Yes?

"Sheriff and county...

"Took possession of
one pair of ladies' shoes,

one ladies' blouse, torn..."

"One gold compact
with broken mirror

engraved 'Mark,
to Carla, with love.'"

MASON: Why did
the sheriff take it?

Because he pieced
together a mirror

from some broken glass
they found at Cushing's.

It fit Carla's
compact pretty well.

Where did they find the compact?

In the toe of her riding boot...

stuffed in with a handkerchief.

You don't know how it got there?

No.

You see, Carla doesn't remember

coming home with it last night.

She may have left it in
the car or lost it on the way.

(vehicle approaching)

Excuse me.

Our friend the sheriff again.

Oh.

(car door opens, closes)

(footsteps)

(knock on door)

Sorry to trouble you
again, Mrs. Adrian.

That's all right, sheriff.

Hello, Mr. Mason.

Hello, sheriff.

Mr. Delano.

Hi, sheriff.

Ms. Carla.

Oh, uh, I don't know if this
will interest anybody here,

but they're taking Mr. Cushing
back to Los Angeles.

ELMORE: Funeral's Wednesday.

Well, I just thought
I'd mention it.

Sheriff, there's something
I want to ask you.

I'd like to establish
the relationship

of these houses, if I can.

Now, um, the road
goes about like this, huh?

Mm-hm.

And here is this house,
the Adrian house,

the Cushing house,
the car about here?

No... Well, it was about here,

and the road
curves a little more.

Mm, I see.

And this is the Burris
house, I believe...

That's right.

With, uh, footprints
going to and from.

Mm-hm.

And... And from this house,

there were footprints
to the car... here.

That's right.

And from the car to
the Cushing house

and back again...

That's right.

Here.

And from the Cushing place...

to here and back across here.

That's right.

Now, were all these
tracks made by women?

Mm, all but those
from the Burris place.

Those are Sam's, of course.

I see.

Now, then...

Mrs. Adrian...

do you recognize this?

Why, I... I don't know, sheriff.

It looks like...

But I can't be sure.

How 'bout you, Ms. Carla?

DELANO: It's mine.

Oh? How do you know?

Well, uh, I dropped it and...
And chipped the handle.

Where'd you see it last?

Well...

He loaned it to me, sheriff.

He's teaching me to sh**t.

When did you see it last?

Why, last weekend, I guess.

I keep it in the glove
compartment of my car.

You knew about this, of course?

Yes, of course.

But I don't understand, sheriff.
What's the point of all this?

Well, it looks like the g*n
that k*lled Mr. Cushing.

It was found up the hill
a little, in some brush,

about 30 feet from where
Ms. Carla's convertible

was stalled.

I don't see why that's
so important, sheriff.

Because it was near the car.

It could just as well
have been thrown from...

From the tracks that
lead from this house

to the Cushing place.

Yes, it could.

And those shoes of yours.

Did you know they had
a spot of blood on them

and particles of glass
embedded in the soles?

Oh, but sheriff,
that... That's insane.

You... You can't
believe that I...

ELMORE: How do you
explain it, Mrs. Adrian?

(sighs)

I've got to arrest
you for m*rder.

( dramatic theme playing)

What made you think of
this license number stuff

in the first place?

Well, any woman friendly enough
to be at Mark Cushing's place

at 2:00 in the morning is
certain to attend his funeral.

So you figure that by
checking all the cars

that were at Bear Valley
the day of the m*rder

against those that
were at the funeral today,

we might hit pay dirt.

Well, it's not foolproof, Paul,

but it's certainly
worth the effort.

What have you got if you win?

The woman who screamed, I hope.

(intercom buzzes)

I'll get it.

Yes, Gertie?

Oh. It's for you. Henderson.

Oh, thanks.

Yeah, Henderson?

Uh-huh. Good.

He's got the rundown
on those two women.

Go ahead.

Mrs. Sheila Creyton,
5'1", brown eyes,

161 pounds, age 62.

Skip that one. Give
me the other one.

Marion Keats, 5'7",

blue eyes, 123 pounds,

25 years old.

Address?

1107 Rossmore, L.A.

Sounds more like it.

Thanks, Henderson.

Let's go, Paul.

Some vacation.

( ominous theme playing)

(doorbell rings)

(sighs)

Ms. Keats?

What do you want?

You're supposed to be announced.

I guess the desk clerk was busy.

I'm an attorney.

"Perry Mason"?

Well, you're the lawyer for that
woman who k*lled Mark Cushing.

That's right.

I have nothing to say to you.

I understand you're...

You don't understand,
or you wouldn't be here.

I've just come
from Mark's funeral.

I'm in no mood to talk to
anyone, especially you.

Now, if you don't
leave immediately, I'll...

I'll call downstairs and
have you thrown out.

I'm sorry.

I thought if we
talked about it now,

it would save you
the embarrassment

of an appearance in court.

However...

What's this?

A subpoena for a
preliminary hearing.

You're ordered to appear
tomorrow at 10 a.m.

Get out! Get out!

Hi, Perry.

Well, I found the night clerk.

How did you do with Ms. Keats?

In a word, she
was uncooperative,

antagonistic, very angry
and just wouldn't talk.

Well, with the stimulation
of a little folding money,

the night clerk just
talked his head off.

Here it is. "Friday, at 10:20,

Marion Keats received a
phone call from Bear Valley."

The night clerk listened in

to be sure the
connection was okay.

He heard the other
party say one word, "yes,"

and then hang up.

That was the
entire conversation?

That was it.

"Ten minutes later, Ms. Keats
got in her car and took off."

Now, we already know

that she registered at
the Bear Valley Inn at 3:20,

and that's a three hour drive.

So she could have been
up there for almost two hours

before she checked in.

What do you suppose
she was doing all that time?

I'm depending on
you to find that out.

( dramatic theme playing)

(indistinct chatter)

How do you feel, Mrs. Adrian?

Frightened to death.

Well, try not to show it.

Remember, the burden of
proof is on the district attorney.

Mr. Mason?

I'm Darwin Hale,
prosecutor for the state.

How do you do, sir?

I've heard a great deal
about you, Mr. Mason.

It's a privilege to
be opposing you.

The pleasure is mine, Mr. Hale.

COURT CLERK: Everybody rise

and face the flag.

(coughing)

In the presence of
the flag of our country,

emblem of the Constitution,

remembering the principles
for which it stands...

My next witness is Nora Fleming.

Raise your right hand.

Do you swear to tell the truth,

the whole truth and
nothing but the truth?

Oh, I do.

State your name and be seated.

Nora Fleming.

Is that the cook?

And housekeeper.

You'll never convince me

she was hired just
to dust the furniture.

Ms. Fleming, will you
please tell the court

exactly what your position
was in Mark Cushing's home?

I cooked and kept house for him.

And on the night he was k*lled,

did you serve dinner
at the Cushing lodge?

Oh, yes, sir.

Who was present?

Mr. Cushing and... Carla Adrian.

HALE: No one else?

No, sir.

What time was that, Ms. Fleming?

Oh, about 10:15.

Have you ever seen this before?

Oh, yes, sir.

When?

Ms. Adrian was wearing it

that night she had
dinner with Mr. Cushing.

HALE: Will you examine it

very carefully, please?

Do you notice anything
different about it now

from when you saw it that night?

Well, yes, sir.

What?

Well, this tear in the front.

HALE: And it wasn't torn

when you saw it that evening?

Definitely not.

Your Honor, I ask the court

to receive this
blouse in evidence

as people's exhibit B.

MASON: No objection.

Cross-examine.

No questions.

Hm?

JUDGE: Witness may step down.

Gentlemen, it's time for
the noon adjournment.

This court will recess
till 2 this afternoon.

Defendant is remanded
to custody of sheriff.

Paul.

Right away.

Betsy, isn't this just terrible?

I'll be outside.

You know, Carla may be
mixed up in this some way,

but not Belle Adrian.
You'll never convince me.

I say they're trying
the wrong one.

I wouldn't be too sure, Hazel.

You've been wrong before.

I remember once you told me...

Oh, I tell you, Betsy, you
just don't know human nature.

Why, Belle Adrian is a lady.

She couldn't be mixed
up in a thing like this.

She just is not the type.

Well, maybe you're the one
don't know human nature.

Maybe you're in
for a big surprise.

You and everybody else.

You know something?

Never you mind.
What is it, Betsy?

You can trust me.
I gotta find Sam.

You know you can...

Oh, sheriff!

Sheriff,

I want to talk to you.

(knocking on door)

Yes?

Oh, hello, Betsy.

Come on in. Sit down.

Say, you know, I haven't
seen you in quite a spell.

You, uh,

lost a little weight,
haven't you?

All right, Bill Hale.
What do you want?

Oh, come, now. Don't be so edgy.

I just thought you and I
ought to have a little talk.

Was that any reason
to have Burt here

pick me up like I was
a common criminal

or something?

I wish you hadn't
said that, Betsy.

Withholding evidence
is a criminal offense,

you know.

I... I don't know what you mean.

Look, Mr. Hale...

Oh, I know what you're
gonna say, sheriff.

But after all,

we've got to consider
Mrs. Burris' motives.

Betsy likes Belle
Adrian, as who doesn't?

And she was only
trying to help her.

Right?

But now you're going
to tell us the whole story,

aren't you?

Good.

Barbara,

would you mind coming in
here and bringing your notebook?

( suspenseful theme playing)

Hey. Leave some for me.

You'll have to admit,

this is the world's
greatest detective

when it comes to finding food.

What did you learn, Paul?

Well, I checked
on that phone call

to Marion Keats
I told you about.

It was made at an
outside pay booth

at a service station near
Mark Cushing's place.

The only trouble is the
service station was closed,

and we can't find
out who put it through.

When the sheriff's men
went over Carla's car,

they found a fresh print.
They can't account for it.

Looks like a right thumb.

My man's getting
a photostat of it,

and we'll have it soon.

I wonder how we can get hold

of Marion Keats'
operator's license.

Should have her
right thumbprint on it.

Suppose it matches
the print on the car.

It would explain
a lot of things.

Okay.

I'll see what I can do.

Thank you.

(siren wailing)

What's the meaning of this?

May I see your
driver's license, please?

Why? I wasn't speeding.

We had a report on a stolen car.

This is ridiculous.

( suspenseful theme playing)

Now, then, sheriff,

I presume, when you
examined Carla Adrian's car,

you checked it over
thoroughly for fingerprints?

Yes, sir.

Did you find any that
you couldn't identify?

Yes. There was one
on the left door handle.

Do you have a
photograph of that?

Yes. Your Honor,

I don't think this is
proper cross-examination.

Well, I'm going to let
him answer the question.

Mrs. Adrian is charged
with a serious crime.

And this court intends to give
her counsel every opportunity

to examine the evidence
the sheriff has gathered.

Facts are facts, and law is law.

But we're not leaving out
anything like a fingerprint

on account of some technicality.

The court would
like to see it too.

Thank you.

Your Honor, I would
like to introduce this

as defendant's
exhibit number one.

Of course.

No objection.

Thank you, sheriff.

Oh...

About the glass in the
soles of these shoes,

did you subject it
or have it subjected

to any sort of test
which would determine

if it were identical
to any of the glass

found in the room where
Mark Cushing was k*lled?

Well...

yes, I did.

We used a
spectroscopic analysis.

What did it show?

Not too much.

Because it happened
that most of the glass

was from common formulas
that might be found anywhere,

except the lavender vase, and...

there didn't happen to
be any of that in the shoes.

None at all?

None at all.

Thank you, sheriff.

Uh, that's all.

My next witness will
be Mrs. Sam Burris.

I called Paul.

He said it's definitely not
Marion Keats' fingerprint.

Wait.

Tell him to try
Nora Fleming. Right.

COURT CLERK: Raise your right
hand. Do you swear to tell the truth,

the whole truth and
nothing but the truth?

I do.

State your name and be seated.

Betsy Burris.

Now, then, Mrs. Burris,

with reference to the
early morning hours

of last Saturday,

did you have any occasion

to look over at
the Cushing lodge?

Yes, sir.

What was that occasion?

Well,

my husband woke me up.

I'm a real heavy
sleeper, but Sam isn't.

And he said...

Now, never mind what
he said, Mrs. Burris.

What did you do
after he said it?

I got up and looked
over at Cushing's.

What time was that?

As near as I can tell,
about... About 2:30.

HALE: Did you see anything?

I saw lights on in the cottage.

Did you use any optical aid?

Yes, sir. Binoculars.

And what did you see?

Well, I saw the window
that had been broken out

and broken glass on the sill

and the table inside
and some of the room.

Part of his wheelchair,
but just a little bit.

Did you hear anything?

Yes, sir.

Just before I got out of bed,

I heard a woman scream.

Of your own knowledge, do
you know who that woman was?

No, sir.

Did you see any individual
in the house at that time?

Not right then, no.

Did you...?

Did you later?

Yes, sir.

A few minutes after
we heard the scream.

Did you recognize
that individual?

Yes, sir.

Who was it?

Belle Adrian.

(spectators murmuring)

Your witness.

(murmuring grows louder)

Order! Let's have order!

Your Honor,

I request a ten-minute
recess to confer with my client.

That seems a reasonable
request, Mr. Mason.

Court will recess until 3:15.

Mr. Mason,

I know what you
must think of me.

Well?

For some unaccountable
reason, Mrs. Adrian,

people in trouble
foolishly try to escape it

by lying to their lawyers.

But your allowing
me to go into court

without complete knowledge
of the facts is inexcusable.

(crying)

This is no time for
tears, Mrs. Adrian.

Now, tell me, did you...?

Look at me!

Did you k*ll Mark Cushing?

Did you?!

No, no, no.

Really, I didn't, Mr. Mason.

But I don't expect
you to believe me.

Why did you go to Cushing's?

Because I was worried.

I hadn't heard Carla come in.

I went out to the garage.

Her car was gone.

And just then, I
heard this scream.

I was terrified.

I rushed right over there.

What... happened
when you got there?

Well... I went up to the house,

and I rang the bell,
but nobody answered.

I went around to the back.

The door was unlocked.

When I opened it,

I saw him.

What did you do?

Well...

I saw Carla's
compact on the floor,

so... I picked it up.

And then I looked around for
other incriminating evidence.

I wiped some
fingerprints from...

From some bottles.

And I washed three glasses,
wiped them, put 'em away.

Then I wiped some other places.

Does it look very bad?

Couldn't look much worse.

Now, Mr. Burris,

when you looked
at the Cushing lodge

through your binoculars,
what did you see?

Well, I saw the broken window
and busted glass and all, and...

Well, I... I saw Mrs. Adrian.

Well, why didn't
you mention earlier

you had seen her?

Because nobody asked me.

You, nor the sheriff, either.

(spectators laughing)

We decided to tell the
truth if anybody asked us,

but they didn't until now.

And Mrs. Adrian may
have been over there,

but she didn't
k*ll Mark Cushing.

Neither did her daughter.

Never mind your opinions.

What did you do after you
recognized Mrs. Adrian?

Called the sheriff,

then went over myself
to Cushing's place.

What did you find there?

You mean, beside the
sheriff and the deputies?

Yes.

Well,

the broken glass and stuff
we saw through the window,

like I told you before,

and then, of course,

I could see Cushing,
sitting there in the chair,

and the blood.

And you could see where
he'd been watching movies

with somebody, the
way the chairs were

and the ashtrays.

There was a glass
with lipstick on it.

I don't recall it too good.

I guess seeing him like that...

Well, it kind of... made
my hair stand up, you know.

You remember anything else?

No, sir.

Seems about all I can recollect.

Your Honor, this witness
has suppressed information,

and I'm not going to
defend his conduct.

In fact, I'll state
frankly to Mr. Mason

that I'm not going to
interpose any objections

to his cross-examination
of this witness.

He'll probably
rip him to shreds,

but it doesn't matter.

Sam Burris
brought it on himself.

That's all.

(spectators murmuring)

I turn the witness over to
you for cross-examination.

That's very generous
of you, Mr. Hale.

However, I have no questions
of this witness at the moment.

Later on, perhaps,
but nothing now.

Nothing at all?

Nothing at all.

In that event, Your Honor,
I'll let this conclude our case.

We're only attempting
here, after all,

to present sufficient evidence

for the court to bind the
defendant over for trial.

And I feel we've
certainly done that.

Yes, there's certainly evidence
that a crime has been committed.

And I think there's
sufficient evidence to...

Just a moment, Your Honor.

Aren't you going
to give me a chance

to present the defendant's
side of the case?

By all means, Mr. Mason.

Most assuredly,

the court didn't intend to
foreclose the defendant.

I simply assumed that, uh...

Well, I won't commit
myself in advance.

Go right ahead
with your defense.

Thank you.

I call as my first
witness Marion Keats.

Is Marion Keats in court?

Your Honor, I am George
Lansing. I represent Ms. Keats.

And I object, Your Honor,

to having her
called as a witness.

Mr. Mason is abusing
the process of this court.

In what way, Mr. Lansing?

Well, my client knows
absolutely nothing

about this case.

Yet Mr. Mason called on her

completely unannounced.

And when she refused
to grant him an interview,

he served her with a summons

as an act of personal revenge.

Now, there is nothing
that Mr. Mason can elicit

from this witness.

And in forcing her to appear

in this session of the court,

she's been exposed
to unfavorable publicity,

merely to create diversion,

to distract attention
from the defendant.

I submit, Your Honor,

that this act constitutes
a contempt of this court.

Mr. Mason, this is
a serious charge.

I trust you're
prepared to refute it.

Put Ms. Keats on the stand.

Let me ask her five questions,

and we'll find out how much
she knows about this case.

Mr. Mason, the court feels
that you should be warned

that if the charge made
by Mr. Lansing is proved,

the court will regard it
with exceeding gravity.

Am I to be deprived
of the opportunity

to examine the witness
on behalf of the defendant

simply because of this charge?

No. Certainly not.

Then I want Marion
Keats to take the stand.

Very well, Ms. Keats.
You may take the stand.

(quietly): But you
said I wouldn't have to.

It's all right.

I'm laying the foundation
for formal charges.

Your guess was right about
Nora Fleming, the cook.

It was her
thumbprint on the car.

Then that's something.

Now, Ms. Keats,

don't be in any hurry
to answer the questions.

The district attorney will
probably object to most of them,

and I will object
to all of them.

So let the court rule
on each objection

before you speak.

Your Honor,

this is obviously
a hostile witness.

I may have to ask
leading questions.

How do we know she's hostile?

Look at her.

Go ahead with your
questions, Mr. Mason.

Ms. Keats,

I think you're acquainted
with Nora Fleming,

cook and housekeeper
employed by Mark Cushing.

Objected to as incompetent,
irrelevant and immaterial,

having no bearing on
the issue in this case.

And I object, Your Honor,
on the grounds that counsel

has no well-defined
objective in mind

and is merely on a
fishing expedition.

Mr. Mason, this objection

has now formally
put before the court

these charges you have
no definite object in mind

in using this witness.

Do you have anything to say?

Yes. The charge is
completely erroneous.

I expect to show by this witness

that she was in love
with Mark Cushing,

that she was insanely jealous,

that she had made arrangements
with Nora Fleming, the cook,

to telephone her the next time

Cushing had a solitary
date with Carla Adrian

or any other woman.

Your Honor, this
is purest fantasy.

This is invading...
I've been asked

by this court to
state my objectives,

and I'm stating them.

Now, I expect to show

that Nora Fleming did
so telephone Marion Keats

last Friday night.

And that Marion Keats
immediately drove up here,

where she was joined
by Nora Fleming.

And that together, they
came upon an abandoned car

belonging to Carla Adrian.

And that either Marion
Keats or Nora Fleming

then walked from
Carla Adrian's car

to the Cushing lodge

at about 2:30 in the morning,

approximately the same time
Sam Burris heard a woman scream.

This is preposterous,
Your Honor!

There is not a single shred...

And to prove it,
I'll ask this witness

how Nora Fleming's
right thumbprint

happened to be
upon the door handle

of Carla Adrian's car,

and furthermore...!
Stop! Stop it!

I didn't do anything! He
was dead when I got there!

(spectators murmuring)

Your Honor, perhaps Mr. Lansing

would like to
continue his argument

that I'm abusing the due process

of this court,

that I had no definite plan,

et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Well, Mr. Lansing?

Uh... Your Honor, this, uh...

This comes as a
complete surprise to me.

It, uh, changes everything.

So it does.

You may proceed, Mr. Mason.

Very well, Your Honor.

Now, then, Ms. Keats.

Do you intend...? Please!

Please. I'll tell
everything, but...

But can't I do it in my own way?

Of course.

Go ahead, Ms. Keats.

Well, you see,

Mark was going to marry me.

That is... he said he was.

Anyhow, I thought he
was playing around, and...

Well, I wanted to catch him.

So I arranged with
Nora to call me.

Then Friday night,
when she did, I...

I went up and met her.

I wanted to use
her key, you see,

so I could get in without...

On the way, we came
to Ms. Adrian's car,

so I knew she wasn't
there any longer.

Then Nora found the
compact in the car, and...

And showed it to me.

What compact?

You don't mean the one that...

Yes, sir.

The gold one, engraved,
"Mark to Carla, with love."

JUDGE: And then?

Well, it made me
so mad that I...

That I just ran up to the house.

It wasn't very
far, but when I...

Now, Ms. Keats,

you don't have to
answer this question, but...

did you k*ll Mark Cushing?

k*ll him?

Of course not!

Why should I?

I loved him.

I just took one look
and... And screamed.

That's when I...

That's when I
dropped the compact.

Mr. Mason?

Your Honor, I
believe I have, uh,

no further questions
of Ms. Keats.

No further questions?

It seems to me there
should be a lot of questions.

Mr. Hale, did you know
anything about this?

Naturally not, Your Honor.

Well, you know it now.

Yes, Your Honor.

May it please the court, I...

I am not accustomed
to practicing criminal law.

However, due to circumstances

which have come as a
complete surprise to me,

I now find myself
representing a witness

who could be
charged with a crime.

Therefore, Your Honor,

I would like to advise Ms. Keats

to answer no further questions.

And... I suggest that she
leave the witness stand.

I suggest that the sheriff
take this woman into custody

until there can be a
further investigation.

Right through here.

If there are no objections,
I'm going to recess this hearing

to confer with counsel
in my chambers.

There is one thing I could
bring out, Your Honor,

and it might help
our conference.

I'd like to call Sam Burris
back to the stand at this time.

Very well, Mr. Mason.

COURT CLERK: Sam
Burris to the stand.

Now, then, Mr. Burris,

are you ready to have
my cross-examination

rip you to shreds?

(chuckling): Yes, sir.

I hate to disappoint anyone,

but all I wanted to do

was to establish one
or two minor points.

And I'm sure you'll
recall and report them

as accurately as you can.

Yes, sir. I'll sure do my best.

Of course.

Now, then, I believe
you testified earlier

that you heard the
sound of breaking glass,

a sh*t and later a scream,

and that the interval between
the sh*t and the scream

was as much as... oh,
say, ten or 15 minutes.

I know it don't
sound reasonable,

but it just feels that way.

I see.

Now, then,

during the interval between
the sh*t and the scream,

do you recall hearing the
sound of an automobile,

of someone starting a
car or perhaps driving it off?

Well, now...

You know, it's funny.

Nobody asked me that before,
and I never thought about it.

No. I can't say
there was any car,

unless maybe I fell
asleep for a little while

and it was then.

All right.

Now, it seems to me

that you also testified earlier
with regard to what you found

when you went to
Cushing's to investigate.

You found "you could see

"where he'd been watching
movies with somebody,

"the way the chairs
were and the ashtrays.

There was a glass
with lipstick on it."

And so on.

Is that right?

Yes, sir. Sounds about right.

Now, you may not have
gathered this as yet,

but when you were watching
the defendant, Belle Adrian,

through the binoculars,

she... mistakenly, of course,
but quite understandably,

was removing all traces of
her daughter's earlier visit.

Now, do you understand?

Yes, sir.

Now, Mr. Burris, would you
explain to me and to the court

just how it happened that
when you went to investigate,

after Belle Adrian had left,

that you saw a glass
with lipstick on it,

when she'd already
washed it and put it away?

Well, I... You see...

I mean, I was so
shook up, you see.

I-I don't recall too clear.

But you do recall.

You recall it because it's true.

You did see a glass
with lipstick on it,

because you were
there before Belle Adrian.

You were there before
Marion Keats screamed.

You were there when
Mark Cushing was sh*t

because you sh*t him!

Sam!

(spectators murmuring)

I'm sorry, Sam.

( dramatic theme playing)

( light, playful theme playing)

( laughter)

No, thank you.

I don't understand
this, Mr. Mason.

How could you figure it all out

just from that glass?

Well, that just
started me thinking.

But once started along
that line of thinking,

anyone would have come
to the same conclusion.

I wouldn't.

Oh, sure you would, Paul.

It couldn't have been
anyone but Sam Burris.

He said he didn't hear
the car start after the sh*t,

so it couldn't have been Carla.

The scream came
well after the sh*t,

so it couldn't have
been Marion Keats.

And Mrs. Adrian didn't get there

until even later.

But I still don't see
how he did it, Mr. Mason.

Well, he knew the
p*stol was in your car,

so he took it while you
were in Cushing's place.

After you left, he
went over there,

sh*t Cushing and
broke some glass.

Went back home, went to bed.

Then he woke his wife

and told her he'd
just heard a sh*t

and some glass breaking.

The fact that Marion
Keats screamed,

well, that was pure velvet.

Mr. Mason, were you surprised

when you found I didn't do it?

Of course not, Mrs.
Adrian. I knew that all along.

You just weren't the type.

And who is the type, pray tell?

Oh, that's easy, Paul.

Anyone who is not
represented by Perry Mason.

(laughter)

( noirish jazz theme playing)
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