02x20 - The Case of the Stuttering Bishop

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( mysterious theme playing )

Good evening, Bishop.
Yes?

You are Bishop Mallory?

That's right.

My name is Lang.

I'm an advertising consultant
for the Tribune.

You've been running
this ad in our paper

for the past two months.

"I'm looking for a young lady,
approximately years of age,

"prefer someone from the Midwest
who can speak French

and play the piano."

Well?

I was wondering
if you found the girl.

We're doing a survey
on the effectiveness of our ads.

It's rather late
to be doing research, isn't it?

( chuckles )

We work
around the clock.

May I see
your identification?

Show him
your identification, Leo.

I, uh--

Must have left it
in my other suit.

You'll have
to forgive him, Bishop.

He's always
forgetting things.

You're working for
Charles Burroughs, aren't you?

I thought I was asking
the questions.

Did you find the girl?

( chuckling ):
You're fighting me, Bishop.

( jazz music playing )

All right, Leo.

( blows landing )

( dramatic theme playing )

( groaning )

( water running )

Oh, don't move!

H--

How did you get
in here?

The door was open.

Who are you?

Don't you remember anything?

I called about :
in answer to your ad.

And you told me to come up
this evening for an interview.

You must be
Carol Delaney.

Mm-hm.

I called the desk, and they're
sending you up a doctor.

( groans )

Get me the desk,
please.

Hello,
this is Bishop Mallory.

No, I'm perfectly
all right, I--

There's absolutely
no need for a doctor.

( breathing heavily )

Of course I'm sure.

Where do you come from?

The Midwest.

Where in the Midwest?
Des Moines.

What was your father's
first name?

Paul.

A-and your mother's?

Vivian.

Is either of them alive?

No, they were both k*lled
in an auto accident

about eight months ago.

Do you have
any u-unusual birthmark?

Y-you'll have to forgive
the catechism, my dear,

but I-I had to be sure.

Suppose I told you

that you were the grandchild
of a multimillionaire?

What would you say
to that?

I'd better get you a doctor!

I tell you,
I'm perfectly all right.

I've been searching for you
since November.

My name is Mallory.
Bishop Arthur Mallory.

I'm from Sydney, Australia.

I came over on the Princeton
five months ago.

This is from
the ship's newspaper.

CAROL:
It's very interesting.

MALLORY:
But you don't understand.
That's you.

You're Charles Burroughs'
granddaughter.

I can help you prove it.

Please, you've got
to believe me.

Your father was
Charles Burroughs, Jr.

My father
was Paul Delaney.

No, your real father died
before you were born.

He had been disinherited
when he married your mother.

C-consequently, you can
understand her bitterness.

S-she would have nothing
to do with your grandfather,

s-so she came to me.

She had no one else
to turn to.

There was
a wonderful family

in my congregation
named "Delaney."

They wanted
a child desperately.

And, of course, you made
the necessary arrangements.

They changed your name
from Janice to Carol.

And where did all of this
take place?

Near Albany, New York.

T-that was
my first pastorate.

S-shortly thereafter,

I was transferred
to Australia.

Well...

it was very nice
meeting you, Bishop.

You don't
believe me?

Well, let's just say

that I'm perfectly satisfied
being Carol Delaney.

But...how would I know
all about your foster parents?

How would I know
their names?

Because I told you.

And all you did
was agree with me.

Why didn't you come out
in your ad

and ask for Carol Delaney?

I was afraid your life
would be in danger.

And I guess the reason
you didn't call

was because my phone number
isn't listed.

Exactly.
Ha, ha.

Well, it was a nice try,
Bishop.

Better luck
with the next girl.

( dramatic theme playing )

So I said to him,
"Thank you very much,

but, no, thanks."

You mean, you walked out
just like that?

Well, I don't see
what the Bishop

could have said
for an encore.

Well, how do you know

he wasn't telling the truth?
Oh, now--

Do you realize
who Charles Burroughs is?

The guy's worth
or million.

Now, you get on that telephone
and call the Bishop--

I don't like to be
given orders to, Larry.

Aw, honey,
I didn't mean it like that.

I only meant it
for your own good.

But if Charles Burroughs
really is your grandfather--

Oh, now, Larry,
please, I--

Well, how do you know?
Stranger things have happened.

( chuckling ):
Not to me.

All right, honey,
I'll grant you,

chances out of , ,
the guy's a phony.

But there's always
that one chance,

and if you hit,
you got millions.

Now, those aren't
bad odds.

Well, why would a guy make up
a story like that?

At least
you can investigate.

( knocking on door )

If the guy's a phony,
you can--

Miss Delaney?
Yes?

I wonder if you could
spare me a few minutes?

My name is Lang. I'm employed
by Charles Burroughs.

Oh, come right in.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I didn't know
you had company.

Oh, that's all right.

Your...husband?

CAROL:
No, just a friend.

Kenyon's the name.
Larry Kenyon.

Do you think you could
give us a little privacy?

Oh, he can hear anything
you have to say.

You were up to see
an Arthur Mallory tonight.

What did he tell you?

I don't think
it's any of your business.

You're not buying his story

that you're Charles Burroughs'
granddaughter?

I didn't,
originally.

Meaning now
you're changing your mind?

I was just wondering
what you're doing here.

Well, I dropped by
to give you some advice.

Mr. Burroughs
doesn't like publicity.

So?

So that's what
I'm doing here. I--

I keep his name
out of the papers.

Now, why don't you be
a good girl

and forget all about this?

Otherwise?

Otherwise, you might be buying
yourself a lot of trouble.

You play ball
with that phony Bishop,

and Mr. Burroughs
is bound to feel

that you're just as crooked
as Mallory is.

You know the old saying,
"birds of a feather."

I think you've said
just about enough.

So do I.

If you have any influence
on this girl,

you'll advise her
to keep her skirts clean.

It's been nice
knowing you.

You see, honey?

That proves
there's something

to the Bishop's story.

Now, promise me
you'll see a lawyer.

Well,
I don't know, I--

Oh, promise me!

All right.
Oh.

( dramatic theme playing )

Under the circumstances,

C-Carol felt we should
consult an attorney.

MASON:
You say that
this man Lang

is the same man
who assaulted you?

Yes.

Then...

let's swear out
a warrant for his arrest.

No! No!
You can't do that.

I-I can't a-afford
that kind of publicity.

My superiors would
be terribly upset.

Tell me,
Miss Delaney...

do you, uh,
honestly believe

that Charles Burroughs
is your grandfather?

Of course she does.
Well--

Excuse me, Bishop.
Do you, Miss Delaney?

Well, I really don't know
what to believe anymore.

That's why I wanted
to see a lawyer.

When the Bishop
told me that story,

I thought
he was a crook.

I'm sorry, Bishop,
but I--

Don't apologize,
my dear.

I-I don't blame you
in the slightest.

Now you've changed
your mind?

CAROL:
Well, let's say that
Mr. Lang changed it for me.

Why, I wouldn't
trust him as far--

As far as you'd trust me.

Y-you understand, w-we aren't
asking for charity.

If you can establish
that Carol is really

the grandchild
of Mr. Burroughs,

I-I would say that a fee
of $ , is not unreasonable.

Bishop Mallory,
what's your interest in this?

There are rewards
other than financial.

Uh, let me think about it.

T-that's all we ask.

Goodbye, Miss Street.

Come, my dear.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

That's the first time I've ever
heard a stuttering Bishop.

He must be quite a sensation
in the pulpit.

You mean, you think
he's not a Bishop?

Well, I certainly think
it's funny

there's no one alive
who can vouch for his story.

Della, see if you can arrange
an appointment with...

Mr. Burroughs?
Mm-hm.

( mysterious theme playing )

MAN:
Is it Mason?

( doorbell rings )

I think so.

Now, don't forget,
Grandpa,

you're not going
to let him upset you.

You promised me.

Don't you worry
about me, Janice.

Now, you know somebody has to.
You're such a big baby. I--

( knocking )

Yeah?

Mr. Mason is here.

Well, what are you
waiting for, applause?

Tell him to come in!

Really, Uncle Charles.

Sometimes you can be--

( laughing )

That wasn't nice, Grandpa.
You're much too hard on Philip.

Do him good.

What kind of a man
would be satisfied

acting as
my so-called secretary?

There's nothing to do
but listen to my insults.

If he had any backbone,
he'd tell me to go fly.

You would.

Oh, come in, Mason.

My granddaughter:
Janice Burroughs.

How do you do?
How do you do?

Won't you sit down?

Thank you.
What's on your mind?

I was, uh,
consulted this morning

by a Bishop Mallory on behalf
of Miss Carol Delaney.

You know, Mason,
you surprise me.

I didn't think
a man of your ability

would be so gullible.

What do you know
about this so-called Bishop?

Suppose you tell me.

You've had time to do
a lot more checking.

He's an out-and-out fake!

Oh, there was
a Bishop Arthur Mallory

in Sydney, Australia,
but it isn't the same man.

The real Bishop left
on a sabbatical five months ago.

He told no one
where he was going.

That was a heaven-sent
opportunity for your client.

Well, he isn't my client.
Not yet, anyway.

Now you're using
your head.

According to the Bishop--

According to the Bishop,

my granddaughter
had dark-brown hair,

green eyes and a birthmark
on her forearm.

Don't you believe it.

I had one of the smartest
detectives in the country

looking for years.

A man named
Wallace Lang.

May I ask
where Mr. Lang found you?

No, sir,
you may not!

Well, I don't mind.

Though I do!

Janice, would you mind
leaving us alone for a minute?

Now, go on, honey.
I'll be all right.

I just wanna set
this fellow straight

on a couple of things.

You know, Mason,
you're supposed to be smart.

Thank you.
Hmm.

Eight years ago, I directed
the executor of my will

to do everything in his power
to find my grandchild.

If she had been found,
everything would go to her.

Well, tomorrow morning
at : ,

I'm signing a new will.

I'm leaving everything
to Janice.

Notice I didn't say
I'm leaving everything

to my granddaughter.

I said to Janice.

I'll specify
it makes no difference

whether she's related
to me or not.

Now, how do you like
those apples?

It's your money,
Mr. Burroughs.

Uh, just one question.

If you, uh, make the type
of will you describe,

isn't that
an unconscious admission

that you're afraid
Miss Burroughs' claim

won't hold up?

Think it over.

( dramatic theme playing )

( knocking )

CAROL:
Who's there?

It's me, honey.

Oh, I'll be right out.

Funny thing.

I was talking to a lawyer today
named Whittaker.

Real sharp character.

I told him a little--

( phone ringing )

Want me
to answer that?

Please.

Hello?

Let me talk
to Carol Delaney.

Tell her
it's Charles Burroughs.

Well--
Well, just a moment.

Carol.

It's Burroughs.

Well, I don't want
to talk to him.

If he has anything
to say,

you just tell him
to call Mr. Mason.

Sorry, Mr. Burroughs,
but she just stepped out.

Don't insult my intelligence,
young man.

I know she's right there.

You tell her I want
to see her at : .

And tell her I don't like
to be kept waiting.

( dramatic theme playing )

I'd just about
given you up for lost.

I covered a lot
of ground with Paul.

Any calls?

Mm-hm.
Here they are.

Philip Burroughs has been
waiting in my office since : .

Five-thirty?
Mm-hm.

Better have him
come in.

Right.

Will you come in,
please?

Oh, thank you.

Mr. Burroughs, I'm sorry
to have kept you waiting.

I hope
you understand.

Coming here
was not my idea.

My uncle sent me.
I--

Oh, really.
This is most distressing.

Perhaps you'd better
get it over with.

Won't you sit down?

Thank you.

Well--

My uncle wanted you
to have this.

There's $ ,
in there.

And all I have to do
is convince Miss Delaney

to forget the whole thing.

I know it sounds
suspiciously like a bribe,

but, believe me,
that was the furthest thing

from my uncle's mind.

I told him
he was wrong.

And that pleases you?

Oh, no end.

My uncle rarely makes
a mistake. Heh.

I'd be less than human
if I weren't...

delighted
at one of his few errors.

Good night,
Miss Street.

Where's
your grandfather?

I don't know.

I just got home
five minutes ago.

He's probably--

( ominous theme playing )

Blood.

Uncle Charles!

There's something wrong
with this light switch!

I'll try
the desk lamp.

( clock chiming )

( dramatic theme playing )

( screams )

( sobbing )

Oh, let's stop
the play-acting, darling.

I suspect your affection
for the old boy

was even less than mine.

Oh, I wouldn't go,
my dear,

unless you want me to phone
for the police right now.

Have you ever seen them
operate?

( gasps )

Suppose they should learn
of a marriage

that took place
in Allentown...

four years ago.

Oh, yes.

I know all about it.

Where were you tonight?

When I left at ,
he was perfectly all right.

He was perfectly all right
when I left at : .

He was napping.

I-I could hear him snoring
as I went by.

Where did you go?

You know perfectly well

I go riding every day
at this hour.

Oh, really, my dear?

I thought
you could do better.

It's the truth.

And while we're on the subject,
where were you?

You say he was asleep
when you left at : ?

Well, at : ,
I was in Mr. Mason's office,

running an errand
for his majesty.

I left there at : .

It took me half an hour
to drive home.

Well...

it would seem that
I can account for my time...

oh, a little better
than you can yours.

I didn't k*ll him.

Well, frankly, I don't care
one way or the other.

I'm simply pointing out
how it might look to the police.

But...you know,
I might be able to help you.

How?
Now, my dear,

you know
what a mercenary soul I am.

And if I'm any judge
of things,

Uncle Charles
didn't leave me a sou.

I'll give you $ , .

No, my dear.

You'll give me
percent of the estate.

Well, I-I-I'd have to discuss
that with--

Mr. Lang?
Oh, there isn't time.

Make up your mind, dear.
Time's a-fleeting.

All right.

Now...the first thing to do
is to set the stage.

I know that he had
a : appointment with a...

Carol Delaney.

Did she keep it?

There was somebody
in the driveway

when I...went out.

Did Uncle Charles
talk to her?

I don't know.

Besides, what difference
does it make?

It might make all
the difference in the world.

( dramatic theme playing )

CAROL:
I'm telling you, lieutenant,
for the last time,

I don't know
anything about it!

Why, I haven't even met
Charles Burroughs.

Didn't you go
to his home last night?

Yes. He called and asked me
to come to see him.

She's telling you the truth.
I talked to him myself.

What time
did you arrive there?

About : ,
but I didn't go in.

I'm telling you
I didn't go in.

I rang the doorbell
three or four times,

and I waited
about minutes.

And when nobody answered,
I just left.

And you never entered the house?
No!

Just turned around
and took the next bus back?

MAN:
Excuse me,
lieutenant.

Found this
in the kitchen.

Didn't a, uh, knife
come with this set?

Yes.

I didn't find one.

I think I know
where it is.

I'm afraid you'll have
to come with me.

CAROL:
And that's the whole story,
Mr. Mason.

Somebody stole that knife
from my apartment.

Why, you can open my door
with a hairpin.

You can't open the door to
Mr. Burroughs' study with one.

That door locks only
from the inside.

Now, if you were in there--
Well, I wasn't!

Did they find
my fingerprints in there?

No, the room
had been wiped clean.

Well, I didn't do it.

And that's the truth!

Of course, none of this
answers the big question.

Why did you go out
to see Mr. Burroughs?

I told you.
He called me.

And I told you
to refer him to me

if he got in touch
with you directly.

Well--

Well, Bishop Mallory
called me around : ,

and I told him
about Mr. Burroughs' call.

I wasn't even going!

And he said he'd received

a similar call
from Mr. Burroughs

and he'd meet you out there?

That's right.

He said he was going out
about : ,

that Mr. Burroughs wanted
to talk to him first.

Did he happen to mention
that I had informed him

that Mr. Burroughs
was preparing a new will,

leaving everything
to Janice,

whether they were
related or not?

Yes.

Well, obviously you didn't
meet the Bishop out there.

Now, what happened?

I don't know!

Why don't you ask him?!

I tried to. Unfortunately,
we haven't seen him

since yesterday afternoon
at : .

( dramatic theme playing )

You mean, he's disappeared?

That's exactly what I mean.

All I can find out is:

the Bishop took a cab
from the hotel

to the Harris Car-Rental Agency
on Fillmore.

He rented
a brand-new convertible.

He shouldn't be too hard
to find, Paul.

A Bishop in a convertible.

Well, all he's gotta do
is change his clothes.

But it isn't so easy
to change his speech pattern.

Isn't it?

Well, the desk clerk
at the Quentin Hotel

told me the Bishop was
a guest there for a month,

and he never noticed anything
wrong with his speech.

No further word
from Australia?

According
to the last cable I got,

the real Bishop's due back
the middle of June.

However, I did run down
a Dr. Stratford in San Fernando.

He and the Bishop went
to school together years ago.

He says he can identify him
if he could see a picture.

All right,
let's get one.

I tried. Seems Bishop Mallory
is camera-shy.

Oh?

What'd you find out
about Janice Burroughs?

Not one single
blessed thing.

She wouldn't even talk
to my man.

Paul, do you know
an operative

who could do
a little acting?

A woman about ,
one we could trust.

Yeah, I think so.
All right, get her.

Now?
Now.

( dramatic theme playing )

All right, Della,
let's get to work

on a script
for this lady.

PAUL:
I appreciate your courtesy
in seeing us, Miss Burroughs,

especially at this time.

But Mr. Mason felt you should
hear this lady's story.

Her name
is Blanche Atkins.

She came up
to see him tonight.

Right after I seen
your picture in the paper.

Oh, honey,
you shouldn't wear black.

It don't do a thing
for you.

Will you get
to the point?

Well, like I said,

the minute I saw your picture,
it rang a bell.

Heh. I said,
"There's my kid Ruthie.

She's the spittin' image
of her old man."

Are you trying
to say that...

you're my mother?

Well, I...know
I did a lousy job,

puttin' you
in that orphanage

when you were
only six weeks old, but--

What else was I
to do?

What orphanage was that?

St. Michael's.

I was raised
in the Wyckoff Orphanage

in Pittsburgh.

Honey, I left you
at St. Michael's.

Then the place burned down
a couple of months later.

That's when
they sent you to Wyckoff.

Didn't they call you
"Ruth Fulton"?

No. My name
was Mildred White.

Mildred white?

I, uh, think there's been
some mistake.

LANG:
I don't think so.

I'll say one thing
for Mason:

he doesn't miss
a trick.

Hello, Blanche.

You know her?

She's an operative.
I used her once myself.

PAUL:
I'm sorry, Miss Burroughs,
but you left us no choice.

Mason's got a client
charged with m*rder.

LANG:
Say, Drake...

give my regards
to the Bishop.

Where's Philip?

In his room.

( dials phone )

PHILIP ( over phone ):
Yes?

Phil, will you come
down here for a minute?

Why?

I wanna talk to you.

I heard from the attorneys
this afternoon.

I'll be right down.

Why don't you go
for a little walk?

What are you gonna do
to him?

Just gonna point out
the error of his ways.

I wanna remind him a gentleman
never blackmails a lady.

Go on, baby.

( dramatic theme playing )

You're probably wondering
why I came here.

Thank you.
Chair?

I'd like to help
Miss Delaney.

Well, you're
very generous.

Suppose I told you that
my cousin Janice and Mr. Lang

are man and wife?

Are they?

You might consult
the Marriage Bureau

in Allentown,
Pennsylvania.

Uh, that eye.

Lang do that?

I told Janice
I'd keep my mouth shut.

But under the circumstances,

I feel released
from that promise.

This is a letter
Lang sent her

shortly after she came to live
with my uncle.

Janice must have been
out of her mind to keep it.

"Dear Janice...

"everything's going
to be completely okay.

"Burroughs is
percent sold.

"Just play it
as we rehearsed it,

"and we won't have
a thing to worry about.

Love, Wally."

When did you find this?

A week after
my uncle's funeral.

Please, don't
ask me where.

May I keep it?

Of course.

Thank you
for coming by.

The pleasure was
all mine.

Goodbye, Miss Street.

Goodbye.

He's a nice fellow.

He has all of the finer
instincts of a scorpion.

Do you think
there's anything to that?

I wouldn't be surprised.

He was probably trying
a little polite blackmail

against Janice,
and Mr. Lang took a hand.

Oh, but if we can prove
that Janice was the phony--

We may be
in real trouble.

Mr. Burroughs' will
was made eight years ago.

He left everything
to his grandchild.

And if we prove that Carol
is the grandchild--

We give the district attorney
a precise and positive motive.

( dramatic theme playing )

If the court please...

JUDGE:
Is there a problem,
Mr. Weston?

I thought by this time
that Mr. Burger would be free.

I've just received word
requesting

that I continue with the hearing
since he is still unavailable.

You may proceed,
Mr. Deputy.

Thank you, Your Honor.

And now, doctor,
will you answer the question

I had previously posed
before our, uh, interruption?

Yes.

I saw the body at approximately
: that evening.

Death had been
instantaneous.

The victim had been stabbed
four times with this knife.

Any one of these wounds
might have proved fatal.

The first penetrated
the heart.

Were you able
to fix the time of death?

I would say death occurred
between : and p.m.

Thank you very much,
doctor.

You may cross-examine.

Doctor, I have
only one question.

From the position
of the body,

can you tell us
if Mr. Burroughs was sitting

or standing
when the blows were struck?

Well, that's difficult
to say.

Well, could he have
been reclining?

It's possible.

By any chance,
was the deceased under sedation

at the time of death?

Yes, we did find
traces of Nembutal.

Thank you, doctor.
That'll be all.

JUDGE:
You may stand down.

When was the last time
you recall seeing this knife?

LARRY:
On February the th.

WESTON:
That would be the day
before the m*rder.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Take the witness.

No questions.

JUDGE:
You may stand down.

Your Honor, I would like
to call Philip Burroughs.

MAN:
Mr. Philip Burroughs
to the stand, please.

Do you solemnly swear that the
testimony you're about to give

is the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth?

PHILIP: I do.
MAN: Be seated, please.

That's when I called
the police.

They arrived
about ten minutes later.

Mr. Burroughs, how long had
you lived with the deceased?

Fifteen years.

And just what were
your duties?

I acted
as my uncle's secretary.

On the day
of his m*rder,

had your uncle given you
any special instructions?

Yes, sir.

Now, in performance
of those instructions,

just what did you do?

Well, I phoned his attorneys,
Logan and Standsbury.

I told Mr. Logan

that my uncle wanted to see him
the following morning

to sign his new will.

And that night
he was m*rder*d?

Yes, sir.

Mr. Burroughs,
are you familiar with the terms

of the existing will?

MASON:
I object, Your Honor.
This is not the best evidence.

Let the document speak
for itself.

WESTON:
I am perfectly agreeable,
Your Honor.

As a matter of fact,

I subpoenaed Mr. Logan
to appear here this afternoon.

My question, however, was only
to the witness's knowledge.

MASON:
In that event,
Your Honor,

we further object
to the question

as an attempt
on the part of the prosecutor

to cross-examine
his own witness.

It's immaterial whether or not
this witness has any knowledge

of the terms
of his uncle's will.

In view of the evidence

that Mr. Logan will be
a witness this afternoon,

the court will sustain
the objection.

Have you
any further questions?

No, sir.

JUDGE:
Mr. Mason?

Now, Mr. Burroughs,
you testified

that you were the one
who discovered the body.

That's right.

What time did Janice Burroughs
enter the room?

A few seconds later,

after I managed to turn on
the desk lamp.

I seem to recall there was
a light switch near the door.

It didn't operate.

That switch lit
the table lamps,

but someone had turned off
the lamp separately.

There were no overhead
fixtures in the room?

Mm, no, sir.

Is the name S.J. Hyers
familiar to you?

I believe I've heard
the name somewhere.

Could that "somewhere"
be San Diego?

Possibly.

Did you have any dealings
with Mr. Hyers?

I borrowed some money
from him.

How much money?
Twenty-thousand dollars.

How was
the loan secured?

You merely walked
into Mr. Hyers' office,

and he gave you the money
just like that?

Well, naturally, I signed
some sort of a paper.

I expected a share
in my uncle's estate.

Then the debt became payable
upon the death of your uncle?

There's no need
to put it that way.

It's the truth,
isn't it?

Yes.

I have no further questions.

I have one or two questions
on redirect.

Mr. Burroughs,

do you have any money
of your own?

Very little.

WESTON:
Then if this debt
became payable

on the death
of your uncle,

wouldn't you say
it would be to your advantage

to keep your uncle alive
as long as possible?

Of course.

Thank you.

You may stand down.

Call your next witness.

I call Wallace Lang.

MAN:
Mr. Wallace Lang
to the stand, please.

I first went to work
for Charles Burroughs

about seven years ago.

He hired me
to find his grandchild.

Then he put me
on a permanent basis

as a kind of troubleshooter

for the Burroughs
Construction Company.

Mr. Lang, what was the nature
of your last assignment?

Well,
in October of this year,

Mr. Burroughs
was approached by a man

who called himself
Bishop Mallory.

Mallory claimed the defendant
was Mr. Burroughs' grandchild.

And you investigated
that claim?

Yes, sir, I did.

Mallory had inserted
a vague ad in the newspapers,

one that would have fit
a hundred different girls.

He told me he was to interview
a Carol Delaney that evening.

He felt
since she needed a job,

she'd cooperate
with him.

Thank you, Mr. Lang.

You may cross-examine.

Mr. Lang,

you say you investigated
Bishop Mallory's claim?

No, sir, I said
I investigated the claim

of a man who called himself
Bishop Mallory.

Do you know
for a positive fact

that this man was not Bishop
Mallory of Sydney, Australia?

He admitted it
to me.

Under what circumstances
did he make that admission?

Did you apply force?

No, sir, I did not.

You had an associate
with you at the time.

Did he apply the force?

There was no force
applied by anyone.

MASON:
You just entered the man's room
and he confessed?

LANG:
That's about it.

So the man purporting
to be Bishop Mallory

then admitted
he was a fraud?

Yes, sir.

What was his real name?

I don't know.

The man just said he was
a fraud and you were satisfied?

You didn't ask his real name
or where he came from?

I guess
I made a mistake.

I would guess
you made several.

Do you know
where he disappeared to?

No, sir.

Let's, uh, turn our attention
for the moment to the deceased.

How did you convince
Mr. Burroughs

that Janice Burroughs
was his grandchild?

LANG:
I had documentary proof.

MASON:
What do you call
documentary proof?

WESTON:
Your Honor!

I think
this is wholly irrelevant.

If it please the court,

I think this goes straight
to the heart of the matter.

The state maintains
that my client was involved

in a plot
to pass herself off

as the grandchild
of Charles Burroughs.

I have every right to know
on what evidence it was decided

that Janice Burroughs
was the grandchild.

The court is going
to overrule the objection,

but on the grounds that it may
go to the motivation bias

and interest
of the witness.

You may proceed,
counselor.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, Mr. Lang,
I ask you once again.

How did you convince
the deceased

that Janice Burroughs
was his grandchild?

Well, first I found
the death certificate

of Charles Burroughs, Jr.

He had died
in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

His doctor gave me
a lead to Mrs. Burroughs,

and I finally traced her
to Pittsburgh.

Before her death, she lived
with a family named Crane.

Mrs. Crane was with her
the night she left the child

at the Wyckoff Orphanage.

Did the deceased ever talk
to Mrs. Crane in person?

Yes, sir, he did. I brought all
the parties in the case to him.

All those who were alive,
that is.

Then there was no doubt
in his mind at all

that Janice Burroughs
was his grandchild?

Absolutely none at all.

MASON:
Now, Mr. Lang,

what were your arrangements
with Mildred White?

What do you mean,
"what were my arrangements?"

How would you describe your
relationship with Miss White?

Would you say
you were good friends?

I'd like to think so.

And...nothing more?

Isn't that enough?

If it please the court,

I would like to introduce
into evidence,

subject to identification,

a certified copy
of a marriage license

made out to Wallace Lang
and Mildred White.

Miss White is also known
as Janice Burroughs.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Mr. Weston, I would like
the testimony of this witness

to be examined
for possible charges of perjury

at the conclusion
of this hearing.

Yes, Your Honor.

MASON:
Your Honor,
I have no further questions

of this witness.

JUDGE:
You may stand down, sir.

I think this might be
an appropriate time

for the luncheon recess.

This court stands adjourned
until : this afternoon.

Any word on the Bishop?

I thought I had a lead,
but it petered out.

Keep on it, Paul.

( indistinct radio chatter )

This is your idea
of a practical joke, sonny.

It's no joke,
lieutenant.

You ought to give me credit
for having a little sense.

It was
right around here.

Maybe you just
imagined it.

I didn't imagine it.

I've been skin-diving
for years.

I ought to know
when I see something.

( dramatic theme playing )

BOY:
What'd I tell you?

DIVER:
You better send
for the crane.

There's a car down here,
all right.

Brand-new convertible.

TRAGG:
Anybody in it?

Fella who was driving.

He looked like a minister.

All right, Mr. Weston,
you may proceed.

Your Honor,
may we approach the bench?

You may.

During the recess,

I learned of the discovery
of Bishop Mallory's body.

( rapping desk with pencil )

His car went off the old wharf
into El Camino Bay.

How do you know
it was Bishop Mallory?

Well, he was
positively identified

by an old friend, Dr. Stratford,
who went to school with him.

Were there any bruises
on the body?

Yes, there was.
On the temple.

Which he apparently got
when the car went over.

On the another hand,
he might have gotten it

by being hit with a familiar
blunt instrument.

Mr. Mason,
are you maintaining

that Bishop Mallory
was m*rder*d?

Yes, Your Honor,
I am.

I think his m*rder alters the
entire complexion of this case.

Under the circumstances,

I'd like the privilege
of recalling a witness.

Which one?

Philip Burroughs.

Is Mr. Philip Burroughs
in the courtroom?

Will you retake
the stand, please?

Uh, that won't be necessary,
Mr. Burroughs.

You're already
under oath.

Mr. Burroughs, do you recall
your two visits to my office?

I do.

During your second visit,
you gave me a letter.

Is this that letter?

It is.

If it please the court,

I would like this marked
for identification.

Mr. Weston?

WESTON:
No objections,
Your Honor.

Thank you.

Now, Mr. Burroughs,
to whom is the letter addressed?

PHILIP:
Miss Janice Burroughs.

MASON:
And the sender?

PHILIP:
Wallace Lang.

MASON:
Would you read the letter
for us, please?

"Dear Janice, everything is
going to be completely okay.

"Burroughs is
percent sold.

"Just play it
as we rehearsed it,

and we won't have
a thing to worry about."

It's signed,
"Love, Wally."

Thank you.

Just a moment,
Mr. Burroughs.

I have one
or two more questions.

I believe you are the only child
of Kenneth Burroughs,

who was the brother
of the deceased?

That's correct.

As such, you are
the sole surviving relative

of Charles Burroughs?

With the exception
of his grandchild.

Yes.

May I ask where you were

when Charles Burroughs
was m*rder*d?

You ought to know.

I was cooling my heels
in your reception room.

I got there at :
and left at : .

But the coroner testified

that death could have
occurred at any time

between : and .

Where were you at : ?

Well, if you can't remember,

I was busy
discovering the body.

No, Mr. Burroughs,

you were busy
murdering your uncle.

What are you
talking about?

Before you left home
that afternoon,

you gave your uncle
Nembutal.

You knew he would be
deeply sedated

by the time you returned home
from my office.

I came to your office
because my uncle sent me!

No, that was
your own idea.

What about the money
I tried to give you?

All I saw was
a sealed envelope.

You knew
I wouldn't accept it.

You planned to use me
for an alibi.

Well, that's ridiculous.

You testified you went
directly home from my office.

What time
did you get there?

Well, I told you.
At : .

Yet we heard
the coroner testify

that he didn't examine
the body until : .

Why didn't you notify
the police immediately?

I was going to, but Janice
wanted to talk to me first.

MASON:
I submit that you wanted
to talk to her.

I submit that you wanted to have
a nice long talk with her...

so that by the time
the body was examined,

there'd be no way to pinpoint
the exact time of death.

You m*rder*d your uncle
right after you returned

from my office.

Right after you broke
through that door.

Are you insane?

Janice was with me
all the time.

Not all the time.

You entered that room alone.
It was dark.

Janice didn't enter until after
you'd turned on the table lamp.

During that interval,

you had ample opportunity
to k*ll your uncle.

A man can be stabbed
a dozen times

in a few seconds...
if he's unconscious.

What about the blood
on the carpet?

What about the blood?

I say it's just some more
of your dressing the stage.

But let's
have it analyzed.

Let's see if it matches
the blood type

of the man
you m*rder*d.

( dramatic theme playing )

I'm finished
with the witness.

MASON:
See, Philip Burroughs had
to do two things at once.

He had to discredit Janice
as the rightful heir,

and he had
to frame you for m*rder

so you couldn't inherit.

That's why he had
to k*ll the Bishop.

If the Bishop had appeared,
you would have had an alibi.

And that's how Mr. Mason
got on the track.

Then after he k*lled
Bishop Mallory,

he went to my apartment
and got the knife.

MASON:
That's right.

And everything
the Bishop told me is true.

About my real father,
my real mother.

Yes, everything.

I have a letter here
that verifies that.

CAROL:
From whom?

The police found it
among Bishop Mallory's effects.

May I read it to you?

It's addressed
to Bishop Arthur Mallory.

The first part of it restates
the actual events of your life.

It ends like this:

"When I asked you to find
a good home for Carol,

"I gave you my promise

"that I would never again
let her know of my existence.

"I have never lived
a happy moment

"since I made that mistake,

"but live by it, I will.

"You must never tell Carol
about me.

"I only beg you to help her
avoid the suffering

"caused by my ignorant vanity
and foolish pride.

"I ask for no sympathy,
Bishop Mallory.

I can only pray
for forgiveness."

It's signed...

"Mrs. Charles Burroughs, Jr."

My mother?

A human being, Carol.

She made a mistake...
as all of us do.

Are you ready
to forgive her?

D-do you have her address?

( dramatic theme playing )

( noirish jazz theme playing )