03x04 - The Case of the Blushing Pearls

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( suspenseful theme playing )

MAN:
Mitsou?

Who is it?
Toma.

Oh, Toma, I am so glad
you are here.

What's wrong? Over the phone
you sounded scared to death.

I am, and I show you why.

You know, I almost always paint
for a while before I go to bed,

and tonight when I took out
my brushes,

I found this.

Rose pearls?
Yes.

And I think I know
who they belong to.

Grove's stepmother.

Mrs. Nichols?

Yes.

Maybe she left them here
for you.

No. They are worth nearly

a quarter of a million dollars,
Toma.

Do you think Grove
could have...?

He wouldn't do anything
so foolish.

What am I to do?

Take them back.

But I can't.

Grove's family would never
believe I just found them here.

They'd think I stole them.

How did they get here, Mitsou?

I can't imagine.
That's what scares me.

Well, stop being scared.
I'll take them.

Oh, Toma, would you?

Sure. I'll fix it
so they get back tomorrow.

Nobody will ever...

Now, don't cry.

( crying ):
I-- I can't help it.

It's all right, Mitsou.
Everything's all right.

I'm only crying because...

( camera clicks )

Well, that does it,
Mr. Nichols.

Yes, I guess it does.

Operator, give me
police headquarters.

( dramatic theme playing )

I want to advise you again,
Miss Kamuri,

as I did before the witnesses
were sworn,

that you have the right
to be represented by counsel

in every stage
of these proceedings.

I do not know any lawyers,
Your Honor.

Well, I'm sure that your family
must know one,

or you may obtain counsel from
the public defender's office.

Thank you,
but I will decide later.

Very well.

Since it appears that a public
offense has been committed,

it is ordered that Mitsou Kamuri
be admitted to bail

in the sum of $,
pending trial

and be committed
to the sheriff

of the county of Los Angeles
until she gives such bail.

Mitsou, you must let me
call Uncle Ito.

I don't want him to know.

But it will be
in all the newspapers.

Your Honor,

I would like to post bail
for Miss Kamuri.

What is your name, sir?

Hudson Nichols.

I have the money here.

The clerk of the court
will receive bail

and give you a receipt,
Mr. Nichols.

NICHOLS:
Thank you, Your Honor.

Mitsou.

I'd like to speak to you
a moment, if you don't mind.

And I with you,
Mr. Nichols.

Why, when you believe
I stole your pearls,

do you put up bail for me?

I have no desire
to persecute you, Mitsou.

And I'm not concerned whether
you stole the pearls or not.

The police have them now,

and you've spent a night
in jail.

What are you trying
to say, Mr. Nichols?

That I'm willing
to call it quits if you are.

Quits?

You must realize

that Grove is going
to take my place someday.

Grove will have his civic
and social obligations,

and so will his wife.

I understand, Mr. Nichols.

You would like him to marry
someone like Miss Carson.

Yes.

If I stop seeing Grove,

perhaps go back to Japan,

you will drop the charges
against me?

Mr. Nichols, I will only
call it quits

if Grove desires it that way.

( upbeat theme playing )

I don't understand this
at all, Hudson.

First you have the girl
arrested,

and then you bail her out.

It just doesn't make sense.

Well, I don't see
any particular reason

for taking our pound of flesh
from her, Thelma.

Just how does one take
a pound of flesh from a thief?

Isn't it enough
if she loses Grove?

It isn't with me.

Thelma, may I talk to Dad
for a minute alone?

Of course.

I have dozens of things
I should be doing.

Now, what's all this
about Mitsou?

Well, just what have you heard?

That you had her arrested.

The police arrested her,
but who told you about it?

That greasy detective
you hired.

Beals?

He called me
about an hour ago.

Had something to sell me,

only I wasn't buying because
I knew exactly what it was:

the inside story
of how you framed Mitsou.

Let me show you something,
Grove.

Rose cultured pearls.

Exact duplicates
of Thelma's natural ones,

left in their place.

If Thelma hadn't been suspicious
and had them examined,

the theft might have
gone undetected for months.

So?

So if I wanted to frame Mitsou,
the way you put it,

would I risk having
these made up?

I think you would.

Well, I assure you I didn't.

Well, that's a switch, anyway.

Up to now, you've never even
bothered to deny it

when you've taken something
I've wanted.

It's always been,
"It's for your own good, Grove."

I can't deny that I was
disturbed by Mitsou, but--

The watercolor set
when I was years old.

Algebra instead of Art course
in high school.

Business Administration instead
of Architecture after college.

And now Alice instead of Mitsou.

All for my own good,

so that I can sit up
nights like you

and worry about balances,
business and bankruptcy.

( sighing ):
Well, this does it, Dad.

I wasn't sure how I felt
about Mitsou, but I know now.

I'm going to marry her,
if she'll have me,

and nothing you can do
will stop me.

Grove.

Would you believe me if I swore
I didn't frame Mitsou?

No, I don't think I would.

Didn't Beals tell you
I put up bail for her?

No, but that's typical,

to show yourself
in the best light possible.

What if I hired
an attorney for her?

What, some shyster who would
make sure she goes to jail?

I was thinking of Perry Mason.

Good thinking, Dad,
only I'm not buying.

( upbeat theme playing )

I just can't understand
this sudden interest

in Japanese things, Perry.

Didn't you say you had
to buy an anniversary present

for your aunt?
Yes, but--

What's wrong
with a string of pearls?

On a secretary's salary?

( door closes )

May I help you?

We'd like to see some
cultured pearls, please.

This way, please.

Mitsou, you must show Mr. Mason
better pearls than these.

I am Ito Kamuri, most honored
by the presence

of so distinguished a lawyer.

You once saved the life
of a countryman of mine,

Kentora Toyama.

Oh, yes, I remember.

Uh, this is Miss Street. She's
the pearl buyer, Mr. Kamuri.

How do you do? Mitsou.

You are not interested
in pearl, Mr. Mason?

Yes, as a matter of fact,
I'm very interested.

Then you must allow me
to show you my collection.

I have some
that are quite rare.

I'd be glad to see them.

Come this way, please.

This is Mr. Nogata,

who has forgotten more about
pearls than I will ever know.

Mr. Nogata.

And these are cultured pearls
from Japan,

which he is sorting
and grading.

Some are quite beautiful.

They certainly are.

But I show you my prizes.

Natural pearls.

These iridescent ones
are from Samoa.

And these,
with the faint yellow cast,

are from the Sulu seas.

And from the Gulf of Mexico,
black pearls.

Perhaps most valuable
of all.

I thought the pink pearl
was the most valuable.

Ah, yes.
Rose or blushing pearls.

Unfortunately,
I have none at the moment.

These are $?

Yes.

I'll take them.

A good choice.
Thank you.

Miss Street, how can one
approach Mr. Mason?

About what?

I am in most serious trouble,

but perhaps he would not bother
with someone like me.

Oh, I'm sure he'd help you
if he could.

Would you like for me
to speak to him for you?

I would be most grateful.

And you have no idea who put
the pearls in your bungalow?

There are many people
who could have put them there.

I respect your not wanting
to mention names, Mitsou.

Don't you think this is all
pretty convenient?

A private detective on hand
when you find the pearls,

Mr. Nichols having you arrested

and then offering
to call the whole thing off

if you stop seeing his son.

Has he ever told you why
he objects to you?

He feels I am not right
for Grove,

and he has in mind
a girl who is.

Tell me, Mitsou, how did you
happen to meet Grove?

I attend university when I am
not working in my uncle's store.

I am an Art major and Grove
is in one of my classes.

Are you in love with him?

I am drawn to Grove,

but my heart has not yet spoken,
Mr. Mason.

( chuckles )

I see.

Does your uncle know
about the pearls?

He must by now,

but he has said nothing to me.

I am worried about him.

He is like a samurai, very proud
of the family name.

A disgrace such as this
could k*ll him.

Did he ever mention making up
a set of rose cultured pearls

to match
the Nichols' natural ones?

No.

Mr. Mason,
what am I to do?

Have you any money with you?

A few dollars.

Let me see.

Uh, that is a Japanese coin.

I know.

Della, when we get back
to the office,

make a notation that we received
a retainer from Miss Kamuri

in the sum of yen.

Well, now you are officially
my client, Mitsou.

You didn't just happen

to take me to Mr. Kamuri's
store, did you?

No. I received a call about
Mitsou just before lunch,

while you were out.
Oh?

From Hudson Nichols,
asking me to defend her.

But I wanted Mitsou
to have the chance to, uh,

make a pearl of mine.

( sighs )

I am so grateful.

So very grateful.

In the matter of Mitsou Kamuri,

besides catching her
with the goods,

the police say that
the only place in the city

where a matching string
of rose pearls

could have been made is in
the import store of her uncle,

Ito Kamuri.

That in itself
isn't conclusive.

No. But add
all the elements up,

including
the fingerprints.

What fingerprints?

When the police dusted
the case

in which the real pearls
were kept,

Mitsou's fingerprints
were on it.

All right, Paul, I want you
to run a complete check

on everyone connected
with the Nichols family.

( phone rings )

Yes, Gertie?

Just a minute.

Grove Nichols
in the outer office.

Send him in.

Send him in, Gertie.

Mr. Mason?

MASON:
Uh, come in,
Mr. Nichols.

This is my secretary,
Miss Street.

How do you do?
Mr. Paul Drake.

Hi.
Won't you sit down?

No, thanks. I just want
a minute of your time.

Mitsou says you're acting
as her lawyer.

Is that true?
Yes.

She also says all you'd
take from her is yen.

That's right.

Does that mean somebody else
is paying your fee?

No, it does not.

Heh.
You know, that -yen business

just about had me believing
in my father again.

I don't quite understand.

He said he was gonna ask you
to represent Mitsou.

He did.

He offered me a retainer
of $,. I didn't accept it.

I don't get this at all.

If Dad's telling the truth,
Mitsou must have--

Must have what, Mr. Nichols?

Must have stolen the pearls?

That's what I'm going
to find out.

Thanks for your time,
Mr. Mason. Bye.

What is it you want,
Mr. Nichols?

The truth.

I have to know what to believe
about my father.

But I cannot help you there.

I think you can.

My father's detective, Beals,

says the substitute string
of pearls had to come from here.

Yes?

So who did you make it up for?

Maybe you
can answer that, Toma?

I know nothing about this.

No matching string of pearls
was made here?

Yes, Mr. Nichols,
such a string was made.

Who for?
I am sorry.

It was private
and confidential transaction.

You mean you won't tell me

because it's a matter
of business ethics, huh?

I don't believe it.

I am sorry.

You made them up for Mitsou,
didn't you?

( door opens )

( door closes )

Why did you let him think that,
Mr. Kamuri?

Mitsou never--
Toma!

Only once did I ever touch
the pearls, Mr. Mason.

A week or so ago when I was
in the house with Grove.

They were on Thelma's
dressing table,

and I-- I couldn't resist
trying them on.

I suppose I must have
touched the case too,

if my fingerprints are on it.

Did anyone see you?

Not that I know of.

Though I seem to remember Alice
passing by the door.

Alice?

Alice Carson.

The girl Mr. Nichols
would like Grove to marry.

She came in after dinner.

That's very interesting.

Tomorrow, I'll--

Grove.

Want to see something funny,
Mr. Mason?

A real laugh.

Cost me $,
but it's worth it.

MITSOU:
What is it, Grove?

GROVE:
You and Toma.

Did he help you steal
the pearls,

or did you do it on your own?
She didn't steal them.

You'd better check
with her Uncle Ito, Mr. Mason.

MITSOU:
Uncle Ito?

Please, Mr. Mason,
let him go.

( dramatic theme playing )

Beals must have
sold this to Grove,

but what could your uncle
have told him?

I don't know.

I will, of course,
speak to him.

Please now,
I would like to be alone.

( door opens )

( door closes )

( somber theme playing )

MAN:
Just a minute there.

Oh, it's you, Miss Kamuri.

Working a little late,
aren't you?

Yes, a little.

Well, don't forget to lock up
when you leave.

Uncle Ito?

( ominous theme playing )

( gasps )

Morning, Della.

See the morning papers?

Kamuri's su1c1de?
Mm-hm.

Well, they certainly
played it up big.

But it isn't every day the city
has a case of hara-kiri.

See if you can get Mitsou
on the phone, will you?

I can't. I tried all over.
She's apparently disappeared.

And, uh, we had another visitor
already this morning.

Oh? Who?
Tragg.

What'd he want?

Oh, he just happened to drop by
looking for Mitsou.

Thought you might know
where she was.

Let's get Paul in on this.
Mm-hm.

And, Della, you'd
better go with him.

I have a feeling
Mitsou might need you.

Mitsou called me
when she found him.

And I called the police.

Then after they had talked
to us both, I drove her home.

It was a great shock to her,
Mr. Mason.

She loved her uncle.

Yet apparently her uncle
told Grove Nichols

that she had stolen
the pearls.

If Grove says that,
he's not telling the truth.

I was there, Mr. Mason.

What did Mr. Kamuri
tell him, then?

Just that he'd made a string
of matching cultured pearls

in confidence.

For Mitsou?

No, not for Mitsou.

He did not say.

I wonder if I might have
a look in the backroom.

I am only the bookkeeper here.

He was lying there, his hands
still clasping the sword.

He wasn't wearing this?

No. He had a suit on.

I suppose the police took away
the red rug.

There was no red rug,
Mr. Mason.

How long was Mitsou here
before she called you?

Only a few moments.

She ran out to summon Connors,
but he had gone.

So then she called me.

Connors?
Our watchman.

He spoke to her
as she was coming in.

You know where he lives?

In a, uh, rooming house
on First Street.

Now I'd like to see
your pearl records, please.

Yes.

Mr. Kamuri kept this himself.

It is in Japanese,
but I can translate.

A string of rose pearls,

made up perhaps
a week or so ago.

Mr. Mason,
a page has been torn out.

( mysterious theme playing )

Look, another page
has been torn out.

One is for Tuesday
of last week.

But the other
is nearly two months back.

You think the cops'll be sore,
Mr. Mason?

Why should they be?

A su1c1de.

No reason for you
to volunteer information.

But if they do come around,
Mr. Connors,

don't let them mix you up.

Hm, well, how could they?

Spoke to her a couple of minutes
before ,

and then she went
into the store.

Can't mix that up.

Good.

Mason.

Beals is my name.

Edgar Beals.

You the one
who's been following me?

Following people
is my business, Mr. Mason.

And selling information.

You want to buy some?

What sort of information?

About a Japanese doll.

The price tag is grand.

Blackmail?

Just a simple
business transaction.

I don't do business
in the hallway, Mr. Beals.

If you have information for me,
either bring it to my office

or I'll take you into court
and get it out of you.

Think it over.

Mitsou gave this one to me.

She must have painted dozens
just like it.

Said it reminded her
of the cliffs over the sea

where she was born in Japan.

I guess that's why
she rented this place.

'Cause she wanted
to be near the cliffs.

Oh, are they close by?

Oh, yes,
about a mile beyond.

When was the last time
you saw Mitsou?

About : this morning.

Oh, she came in
with that friend of hers,

that jalopy,

and then she left
around daylight.

And you have no idea
where she went?

No. I was in bed.

Do you suppose
she went to the cliffs?

Well, you can never tell
what a girl like that will do.

Maybe that she go
and jump in the ocean.

THELMA:
Alice.

Alice.

The lieutenant would like
to talk to you for a moment.

Oh. All right.

Alice, this is
Lieutenant Tragg.

How do you do, Miss Carson?
How do you do?

According the officer
who investigated the theft

of the pearls, you saw
Miss Kamuri take them.

Well, Thelma, I certainly saw
no such thing.

TRAGG:
Well, that's what
the report says.

I only told the officer
what you told me, Alice.

Oh, well, I merely saw Mitsou
take the pearls from the case

and then hold them up
to her throat as anybody might.

What did she do with the pearls
after that?

Well, I suppose she put them
back in the case.

I don't know.
I didn't see because I left.

This was in
Mrs. Nichols' bedroom?

Uh, yes.

Mitsou was sitting
at the dressing table.

You know, as a matter of fact,
I tried on those pearls myself.

Well, I--
I guess that's all.

WOMAN: Mrs. Nichols.
Yes, Mary?

There's a Mr. Mason here
to see you.

I hope I'm not interrupting
anything, lieutenant.

No, no.
I was just leaving.

By the way, you represent
Mitsou Kamuri, don't you?

I understand
you wanted to see her.

Oh, nothing special.

I just want to tie up some loose
ends on her uncle's su1c1de.

Any luck?

No. I haven't been able
to locate her.

How about you?

Mind calling me if you do?

I'll be glad to tell her
you're looking for her.

Oh. Thank you very much
for your cooperation.

I'm Thelma Nichols,

and this is Alice Carson.

And this--
Grove and I have already met.

Is this a business call,
Mr. Mason?

Yes, it is, Miss Carson.

Well, then me for the pool.

Grove, I wonder if you would
mind telling me exactly

what Mitsou's uncle said
about her last night.

Aren't you fighting
a lost cause, Mr. Mason?

Well, we're all terribly sorry
for Mitsou.

But doesn't Mr. Kamuri's su1c1de
mean they were both involved

in the theft?

Not to me, Mrs. Nichols.

( phone rings )

Excuse me.

Don't you think you should have
given Mitsou a chance

to explain?

Maybe, but I was half out
of my mind.

First finding out
about Dad lying,

and then finding out
about her.

Heh. I suppose you think

I'm a first-class heel,
don't you?

Quite frankly, I do.
Even worse.

Worse?

That was Dad, Grove.

He'll be home
sometime tomorrow.

He's out of town?

Yes. He went to San Francisco
last night.

Where can I reach him
if the need should arise?

Oh, he has an office there
and a small apartment.

Information'll give you
both numbers.

Mr. Mason, what do you mean
by "worse"?

How do you suppose she feels?

A stranger in a strange land,

fond of two people.

Called a thief by one,

the other one suddenly dead.

You mean she might...?

I don't know.

But if I were you, I'd be far
more concerned than the police

in trying to find her.

Mrs. Nichols.

( dramatic theme playing )

Mitsou!

Don't the heights
of these cliffs frighten you?

There are many things
that frighten me

here in your country.

Oh, that I can understand,
in your circumstances.

Miss Street, you're not thinking
that I was trying to jump?

Well, uh, no,

but I-- I feel better away
from the edge of the cliffs.

And-- And, besides,
Mr. Mason wants to see you.

Come on, we have the car.

Mitsou, what did you do
between the time I left you

last evening and midnight,

when the watchman
let you in the store?

Well, I rode into town

and walk around a while.

Did you meet anyone you knew
while you were walking?

No. But why are you asking
these things, Mr. Mason?

You're of the samurai class,
aren't you, Mitsou?

Yes.

Then you must know all about
the ritual of hara-kiri.

Yes.

Your uncle was very proud

of being a samurai,
wasn't he?

Yes. Very proud.

Yet there was
no ceremonial robe.

No.

And no red rug.

No, there wasn't.

And the wound?

Are you saying he did not
k*ll himself, Mr. Mason?

( phone rings )

Yes, Gertie?

( clears throat )

That man?
Mm-hm.

All right, Della.

Send him in, Gertie.
He knows the way.

Sorry to barge in
like this, Perry.

How do you do, Miss Kamuri?

Still tying up the loose ends
of a su1c1de, lieutenant?

Well, as a matter of fact,

it's the loose ends
of a homicide now.

Oh?
That's the reason I've been

looking for Miss Kamuri.

Don't tell me you suspect her
of k*lling her uncle.

Oh, well, you know me.
I'm apt to suspect anybody.

Mitsou, what time did you enter
your uncle's store last night?

A few minutes before .

Who saw you enter?

The night watchman,
Mr. Connors.

We got hold of Connors,
right after you talked to him.

We also got hold of a couple
of other witnesses.

One followed Miss Kamuri
to her uncle's store

and saw her enter
at, uh, :.

Edgar Beals?

The other one went
into the store

and heard Miss Kamuri
quarrelling violently

with her uncle.

He left before
the quarrel ended,

but he was able
to set the time.

Almost exactly :.

( dramatic theme playing )

I'm sorry, Mr. Mason.
It is true.

I'm sorry too,
Miss Kamuri.

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

( dramatic theme playing )

Well, they'll have a field day
with the pearls,

both to damage your character

and to provide a background
motive for m*rder.

They'll maintain that you k*lled
your uncle to protect yourself,

and they'll use Grove
to substantiate it.

They'll prove that you were
in the store

at approximately the time
your uncle was k*lled.

And further, they'll produce
your uncle's will.

His will?

You don't know about that?

No.

He left everything to you
and Toma.

( dramatic theme playing )

Mitsou, did you k*ll him?

No.

I...

I did quarrel with him
that night.

I was angry and hurt.

I accuse him of lying
about me.

What did he say?

Nothing.

Was that an admission
of guilt?

That's what I thought
at first.

But then later,
when the anger died,

I knew he had somehow
found me wanting

and had closed the door
of his personality to me...

and retired into silence.

And then you went back?

To apologize.

To beg forgiveness

because I was ashamed.

Only he was dead.

Why didn't you tell me this?

I-- I thought I was to blame
for his su1c1de.

And when--
When I learned it was m*rder,

I was frightened.

Well, as I said, I didn't go
to the scene,

as I was busy
on another matter elsewhere.

Early the next morning
I examined photographs

of the body.

And what did you notice?

Well, hara-kiri is committed
in a kneeling position--

Just a moment, lieutenant.

Have you had previous experience
with hara-kiri?

Yes. I have studied it.

Being a homicide detective,

I've studied all forms
of homicide

and everything pertaining to
homicide, including hara-kiri.

BURGER:
I see.

The defense is quite willing to
accept the witness as an expert.

BURGER:
Thank you, Mr. Mason.

Now, back to the photograph.

Well, as I was saying,
hara-kiri is committed

in a kneeling position,

and as the body tumbles forward,

it dislodges the hands
from the sword handle.

Yet the decedent's right hand
still clutched the handle.

And what did you do
when you noticed that?

Well, I alerted the crime lab
and the coroner's office,

and they, uh...

Well, I imagine they'll tell
the court what they found.

Yes, I'm sure they will.

Thank you.

Your witness.

No questions.

Now, Mrs. Nichols,
I show you this object

and ask you if you can
identify it for us.

Yes. It's my pearl case.

And what about these?

These are the cultured pearls
that, uh,

someone substituted
for mine.

If it please the court,
I should like this pearl case

and these pearls
entered in evidence

as People's Exhibits C and D.

MASON:
Uh, no objection,
Your Honor.

Very well, Mr. Burger.

Now, Mrs. Nichols,

when you found that your
valuable rose pearls were gone

and that a comparatively
inexpensive set

of cultured pearls had been left
in their place, what did you do?

I told my husband.

About : that night,
Beals telephoned.

Said he had located
the pearls

in Miss Kamuri's bungalow.

I drove out there
and we went in.

What did you find?

The pearls,
in Miss Kamuri's hand.

And then?

Beals telephoned the police.

Thank you, sir.
Cross-examine.

Mr. Nichols,
in regard to Edgar Beals,

the private investigator,
what led you to employ him?

A few days before we discovered
the substitution,

Alice-- I mean Miss Carson.

--mentioned that she had seen
Mitsou take the pearls

out of the case
in Mrs. Nichols' bedroom.

After the pearls were gone,

we decided it would be
a good idea

to hire someone to watch her.

To watch her or to plant
the pearls in her bungalow,

Mr. Nichols?

I'll object to that question.
That's completely improper.

It's argumentative, it has
no relation to anything--

Your Honor, I'll
withdraw the question.

Now, sir, I don't believe
you quite understood

my original question.

What I wanted to know was
how you happened to select

Mr. Beals from the various
investigators available?

Had he worked
for you before?

No.

Then why did
you hire him?

Surely you remember,
Mr. Nichols.

I... I didn't hire him.

Then who did?

My wife.

MASON:
No further questions.

BURGER:
And when Grove Nichols

accused the deceased of having
made up a duplicate set

of pearls for the defendant,
what was his reply?

Answer the question,
please.

He said nothing.

He did not deny it?

No, he did not, but--

Thank you, Mr. Sakai.

Your witness.

I've only one question.

Now, earlier you testified

that when the pearls
were first found

in Miss Kamuri's cottage,

you volunteered to return them.

I now ask you why.

Must I answer?

Unless it incriminates you.

It does in a way,

but I will answer.

I offered to take the pearls
back for Mitsou

because I love her.

MASON:
Thank you. That'll be all.

Now, Sergeant Taylor,

after you found
the defendant's fingerprints

on the pearl case,
as well as Mrs. Nichols',

what did you do?

I didn't actually identify
the fingerprints

until late that night,

and before I could do anything,
Edgar Beals called me.

Well, what did you do
as a result of that phone call?

I went out
to the defendant's bungalow.

She had the missing pearls
there,

so I took her into custody.

And what did you do
with the pearls?

I impounded them.

Thank you, lieutenant.

I ask you now
if you can identify these.

Yes. Those are the pearls
I took from the defendant.

There's my identifying tag
there.

Thank you, sergeant.

If it please the court,

I should like
these natural rose pearls,

valued at almost $,,

entered into evidence
and marked for the--

MASON:
Your Honor.

Uh, shouldn't Mr. Burger
be sworn in?

Sworn in, Mr. Mason?

I believe it's customary
to be under oath

when giving testimony.

What testimony
was I giving?

Uh, considerable.

But even though
you were sworn in, Mr. Burger,

the defense wouldn't recognize
you as an expert on pearls.

( chuckles )

You mean you don't think
these are the genuine pearls.

Let us just say, Your Honor,

we'd like to have them
authenticated by an expert.

Well, as a matter of fact,
Your Honor,

that presents
no great problem.

Among the state's witnesses
here today

is one of the leading experts
on pearls in the entire world.

Fine. Let's hear him.

Mr. Itsubi Nogata.

( dramatic theme playing )

Now, Mr. Nogata, I hand you
this string of pearls

entered in evidence
as People's Exhibit D.

I hand you also
this second string of pearls,

identified as having been in
the possession of the defendant.

And I ask you
to tell this court

which of these
two strings of pearls

is natural and which cultured.

Your Honor, I object.

Mr. Nogata cannot so testify.

But, Mr. Mason,
you've already stipulated

to Mr. Nogata being an expert.

Even experts, Your Honor,
cannot with only the naked eye

distinguish between natural
and cultured pearls

of that fine quality.

An x-ray examination
is necessary.

Is that true, Mr. Nogata?

Yes. The pictures will show
quite clearly.

JUDGE:
While the technician

is developing his plates,
Mr. Nogata,

would you be good enough
to explain to us

why it is necessary
to use x-ray

to differentiate between
the various types of pearls?

Fine cultured pearls and natural
pearls are identical,

except for one thing.

Cultured pearls are formed
around a round bead,

which has been put
in the oyster's shell.

Natural pearls are formed
around bits of sand or shell,

quite irregular in shape.

Only by x-ray
can we discover which.

I see.

This is the first set of pearls,
and this is the second.

Thank you.

May I, Your Honor?

Go right ahead,
Mr. Burger.

Now, this is the cultured
string of pearls,

People's Exhibit D.

JUDGE:
Yes.

BURGER:
Note the round beads

in the center.
JUDGE: Mm-hm.

Again, with the court's
permission,

this is the natural string
of pearls,

formed about bits of sand

and found in the defendant's
possession.

JUDGE:
These appear to be cultured
pearls too, Mr. Burger.

BURGER:
So they do, Your Honor.

Mr. Mason...

I'm just as surprised
as you are, Mr. Burger.

( dramatic theme playing )

( knocking at door )

MASON:
Come in, Paul.

Hi.

Hey, that was quite
a bombshell you set off.

I got an early edition
on the plane,

and they had
a play-by-play account.

How was your trip?
Got everything you wanted.

Names, telephone records,
financial reports.

Good.
By the way,

how did you tumble to both sets
being cultured pearls?

The two pages torn
from the Kamuri ledger

seemed to indicate
that two sets had been made.

Not much help, though,

unless we discover what happened
to the original pearls.

My guess is whoever tore out
the pages would know that.

The ledger was
written in Japanese,

so only someone
who could read Japanese

would have known
which two pages to tear out.

Toma?

No, no. He would have
told us long ago...

if only to help Mitsou.

You know, there's an old saying:

"He who plays with fire

sometimes throws light
on situation."

How would you two like to help
me commit a little arson?

Hm?

( suspenseful theme playing )

( cat meows )

You sure that's his window?

That's the one.

All right, Della.
Do your stuff.

Here's one, Perry.

Got a match?

You're not going through
with this, are you?

A match.
It could land us both in jail.

Which would you rather do?
Go to jail

or have an innocent girl
convicted of m*rder?

Now, come on,
give me a match.

( doorbell buzzes )

Mr. Nogata, I'm Della Street,
Perry Mason's secretary.

You've probably seen me
in court.

Ah, yes.

Uh, I'd like to speak to you
for a moment.

Come in, please.
Thank you.

Excuse appearance.
Will put on kimono.

What do you wish
to see me about?

Oh, it's about Mitsou,
Mr. Nogata.

She would like to see you.

Tonight?
Uh, no.

In the morning,
before court.

Why does she wish
to see me?

Oh, I believe it's about
her uncle's store.

Uh, something about you
staying on there.

But Toma has already
spoken to me.

Oh, well, I don't believe
she knows about that.

Mr. Nogata, the house,
it's on fire!

Quick, let's get out of here
before we're trapped.

You run, Miss Street.
Out of building. I will follow.

I think I'd better take those,
Mr. Nogata.

And these are the natural
pearls, Mr. Mason?

Yes, Your Honor.

I had them authenticated
this morning.

And exactly when did you steal
them from the deceased,

Mr. Nogata?

The morning after
Mr. Kamuri died.

He had destroyed the records,

so I did not think
anyone would know.

But I did not k*ll him.

You must believe that.

Mr. Burger?

Well, I don't know quite
what to believe, Your Honor.

Your Honor, may I ask the
witness one or two questions?

Go right ahead,
Mr. Mason.

Mr. Burger.

Uh, you helped Mr. Kamuri
make up two matching strings

of cultured pearls,
did you not?

One quite recently,
one two months ago.

For whom were they made?

He did not tell me.

Uh, Mr. Nogata,

on the day the most recent
string of pearls was made up,

did you see anyone in the store

that now see here today
in this court?

Yes.

I saw that young lady there.

MASON:
Miss Carson?

NOGATA:
Yes. Miss Carson.

( sighs )

It was a terrible thing to do,
I know.

And I'm ashamed.

But I felt Grove
slipping away from me

and becoming more and more
interested in Mitsou.

And I just couldn't
bear that.

You see, I had always dreamed
about marrying Grove,

ever since I was
a little girl.

When did you decide
to take action against Mitsou?

The night I saw her
trying on the pearls.

I went to Mr. Kamuri
and I paid him $,

to make up a matching set.

And then I took Thelma's pearls

and then I put the others
in their place.

And then you planted
what you thought

were the natural pearls
in Mitsou's bungalow.

No. I hired Mr. Beals
to do that.

MASON:
And by persuading Mrs. Nichols

to employ him, you then arranged
for him to find the pearls.

Weren't you taking quite
a chance in going to Mr. Kamuri?

Well, I gave him a false name.

You see, I didn't think
that this would become

a police matter.

But when it did I was
in too far to back out.

Were you in far enough
to k*ll him, Miss Carson?

Oh, no!

Where were you that night?

I was playing cards with Thelma
all evening.

Mr. Nichols was
in San Francisco.

How did you know that?

Because Thelma talked to him
on the telephone.

It was a few minutes past ,

and he was, uh,
in his apartment

getting ready for bed.

Now, I want you to think
this over very carefully

before you answer,
Miss Carson.

Did Mrs. Nichols telephone
her husband, or did he call her?

He called her.

Thank you.

If it please the court,

I would like at this time
to recall Hudson Nichols.

Mr. Burger?

I have no objection, Your Honor.

Mr. Nichols, please.

JUDGE:
You may stand down.

I must caution you
that you're still under oath,

Mr. Nichols.

Now, Mr. Nichols,

I have here a Photostat
of a letter sent to you

some two months ago
by the Pacific Exchange Bank.

Did you, uh,
receive that letter?

Yes.

Apparently, the bank
was threatening foreclosure

on your San Francisco plant

because of an overdue note
for $,.

Yes, but I paid it off.

Yes, I know.

I also have here a Photostat
of a check for $,

signed by Ito Kamuri
and made out to you.

Now, it's dated--

That was for the pearls,
Mr. Mason.

I sold them to him.

And then you had a matching set
of cultured pearls made up?

Yes.
Why did you do that?

Because of Thelma.

Those were her pearls, and I was
afraid if she found out...

Well, I wasn't sure
what she might do.

Then everything would
have been all right

if Miss Carson
hadn't upset things

by having
a second matching set made?

You might put it that way.

How do you suppose
Mr. Kamuri put it

when he found
Mitsou was in trouble?

I don't know what you mean.

MASON:
I think you do,
Mr. Nichols.

I think you talked to Mr. Kamuri
on the night he was k*lled.

I think you went to his store
shortly after --

But I couldn't have. I was
in San Francisco at the time.

I telephoned Thelma
from my apartment there.

Yes. You telephoned her,
Mr. Nichols,

but not from San Francisco.

Your phone call was made
from the Kamuri store

immediately after
you k*lled Mr. Kamuri

and just before you caught

the : plane
to San Francisco.

If you check with
the phone record, Mr. Mason,

you'll find that at :--

MASON:
I have checked them.

And a telephone call was made.

But not by you, Mr. Nichols.

That telephone call was made
by your secretary

in San Francisco,
at your request.

If Your Honor please,

I would like permission
to call a Miss Carmody

from outside the courtroom,

for the purpose of
identification by this witness.

Very well.

Mr. Bailiff,

will you call Miss Carmody
into the courtroom?

Miss Carmody, would you
come forward, please?

Never mind, Mr. Mason.

That night,
Kamuri sent for me.

I knew what he had in his mind.

I was willing
to do anything financially.

The sale of the pearls
had fixed me up.

But it wasn't money he wanted.

He wanted me to make a clean
breast of the whole thing.

I had to k*ll him.

He would have ruined me.

It is a civilization which
is older and gentler than here.

The quiet enjoyments
are very important.

That's right.

I think we hurry
and rush things too much.

Oh, I agree with that.

But sometimes it pays
to rush things a little,

wouldn't you say, Toma?

Well, I'm for it.

One very good thing
that came out of this:

Toma and Mitsou
getting together.

I know now that, uh,
Grove was only courting me

to defy his father.

PAUL:
You know, Perry,

I'm surprised
they haven't come for you.

Who?
Police.

I was sure Burger would
have done something

about that arson business.

Oh, he did
do something.

This arrived
in the morning mail.

Heh!
What is it?

A citation for burning trash
without a permit.

( all laugh )

( noirish jazz theme playing )