03x09 - The Case of the Artful Dodger

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( dramatic theme playing )

Long distance. I want to call
Los Angeles, California.

Person-to-person
to Mr. Allen Sheridan

at Hollywood -.

( phone ringing )

( door opens )

( footsteps approach )

Hello.

( speaking indistinctly )

Oh, hello, Aunt Sarette.

How's the weather in New York?
How's the--?

I haven't received
your check yet, Allen.

It's been three months now.

You haven't sent me a penny
in three months.

Problems, Auntie.

This Ralph Curtis
I wrote you about.

Didn't get a letter?

Well, now, don't tell me
I forgot to mail that.

Well, anyway, you know
what a soft touch I am

for a guy with troubles.

I just couldn't put him off.

So the money I was supposed to
send you, I gave--

Allen, I've never even heard
of this Ralph Curtis.

Now, tell me the truth.

Aunt Sarette.

Ralph Curtis is a guy I used
to play poker with in New York.

Well, if you've thrown it
away gambling--

Look, I'm going to a meeting
right now.

I'll take care of everything.

I'll send you the money
over the weekend. I promise.

Allen, you promised
your father too.

And it's in his will.

You've got an obligation to me.

Oh, for the love of--

Look, I gotta go. Goodbye.

Don't you dare hang up on me.

Curtis...Ralph.

West th.

No, he hasn't sent me
any money.

I haven't heard from him
for six months.

Well, I've got these doctor
bills, and I'm all alone too.

Well, you shouldn't say that,
Miss Winslow.

Hello, Miss Winslow?

Hello? Hello?

( somber theme playing )

Information?

The phone number
of American Airlines, please.

Yes. I'll hold on.

( dramatic theme playing )

( mysterious theme playing )

( engine starts )

( piano playing mellow tune )

Oh. I was giving you

just three-and-a-half
minutes more.

And after that,
I was going to...

( chuckles ):
...wait for a while.

I was held up
by a phone call.

Oh?

My Aunt Sarette
in New York,

just wishing me
a happy birthday.

What's the matter?

Sneak a look over at the guy

sitting at the bar.

Dark sport coat,
white tie.

Darling, what's the matter?
You look petrified.

Who is he?

ALLEN:
Lou Caporale.

He's a gambler.

Joyce, I owe him $,.

I can't pay it.

What can he do about it?
He can't sue you, can he?

Well, there's, um,

nothing he can do
if he can't find me.

What do you mean?

Joyce, I've made
a plane reservation.

You have?

Well, what do you
expect me to do,

stay around here and get k*lled?

Just you, Allen? Alone?

He's coming over. Well,
I just thought we might

take in a show tomorrow night,
because if we're gonna

play tennis Sunday morning--
Anybody who didn't know

any better, Allen, would think
you were avoiding me.

Well, that's--

That's quite a trick
these days, Lou.

You're everywhere.

It runs in streaks.
You should know.

For a while,
you see a guy every night,

then you don't see him at all.

I was coming around
when I raised the money.

That's good, Allen.

Come around anytime.

Like tonight,
okay?

Tonight?

Well, you're, uh--
You're busy right now.

And I wouldn't dream of
interfering with your fun.

Live it up while
you got the chance,

like there's
no tomorrow.

That sounds very much
like a threat, Mr. Caporale.

( chuckles )

No.

If I'd said,

"Get the grand,
or you'll bleed,"

now, that's a threat.

But I didn't say anything
like that, did I?

So, um, I'll see you
tonight, kid.

My door's always
unlocked to you.

Allen, what are you
going to do?

Here.

It's every last penny
I could scrape up.

Put it in your purse.
What for?

I want you to pick up
my plane reservation.

The guy's got me watched
all the time.

Can't let him think
I'm running out on him.

Who else are you
running out on, Allen? Me?

Baby.

I've got to protect myself,
just in case.

Look, I've got a scheme
to get the money.

And if I get it, I won't
need that plane ticket.

( sighs )

Ho-ho.

( snickers )

Honey. Trust me, huh?

Look, the reservation's under
the name of William Wyatt.

You go there, meet me at
my business manager's office.

Three o'clock, okay?

Don't forget the name:
William Wyatt.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( ominous theme playing )

( knock at door )

Sit down, Allen. I'll be
finished in a minute.

Victor...

I need $,.

( sighs )
Doris, would you bring in

Mr. Allen Sheridan's
accounts, please.

Thank you.

What's the sudden need
for money?

Finally answering
one of your aunt's letters?

I owe it
to a gambler.

( laughs ):
Oh. Come on, Allen.

I've played poker
with you, remember?

More likely the gambler
owes it to you.

Victor, I've got to
have that money.

I hired you to handle
my financial affairs,

not to make jokes.

Now, please.
By tonight.

Here you are, sir.

Thank you.

( door closes )

Well, Allen, your balance
amounts to exactly $.

I know how little
I've got.

Victor...

I want you to loan me
the ,.

Allen, I'm afraid
I'm going to say no.

Oh, it isn't the loan.
Even if you had that much money

in your account, I would
still have to refuse,

for your own good.

For my own good.

Victor, try to understand.

I've gotta pay up that $,
by : tonight,

or they're gonna k*ll me.

( chuckles ):
You know, I've never lost
a client that way yet.

Oh, you can think of
a better way than this

to put the bite
on me.

VICTOR:
Miss Fulton.

Am I interrupting?

No, no, no, of course not.
You've just saved me

from a very hairy old story--
Allen, he's here.

He's almost
behind me.

Who?

Did you get the ticket?

Yes, it's in my purse.

Your plane leaves at :
tomorrow morning.

Allen, I didn't realize
you wanted to get

so far out of town
as Mexico City.

Baby, baby. I ask you
to trust me.

I'm still trying
to get the money.

( scoffs )

Excuse me, are you
looking for someone?

No, I know where he is.

I'm just waiting.

Well, this happens to be
my place of business.

Do you mind telling me--?
I know where I am

and who you are too,
so we don't have to waste

time talking, do we?

Just save that for Allen.

He could use all the time
he can get today.

( sighs )

( sighs )

There's a door into the back
hall. You can go out that way.

Victor--
Go on. Go on.

I'll see
what I can do.

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

It's :.

Where's
the girlfriend?

I took her home.

Like, she didn't want
to be around when you bleed?

( chuckles )

( laughs )

You know, I thought of throwing
in a little physical stuff,

but, uh, what if somebody
got scared and hit me back?

It was a great
performance, Lou.

Early George Raft
and a touch of beatnik.

Did it sell?

All the way around.

I just talked to Victor.

He'll bring you the cash
this evening.

Five thousand bills.

You'll get your , boy.
You earned it.

Only listen, Allen. Didn't you
tell me that you were gonna get

some really big moola
on your birthday or something?

Lou, ever since I came here
six months ago,

this guy Victor's been
dipping into me,

just for handling my allowance

and keeping a few people
off my neck.

Do you know how much
I paid that leech?

Five thousand bills?

You guessed it, boy.

Now, you don't think
he's gonna see

any of that money back, do you?

But if he kept people
off your neck, Allen?

Are you kidding?

Guy in New York that keeps
crying to me for help.

Then there's my old biddy aunt
who keeps whining for dough.

Now this Joyce
keeps hinting around.

I don't know
what she wants.

Lou...

I'm gonna let you in
on a little secret.

This is it. This time
I'm gone for good.

I'd sure hate to see Joyce's
expression when she finds out

that you really do leave town.

You know that trust fund money?

Well, they turn it
over to me tomorrow.

One hundred and sixty-two
thousand silver sinkers.

All mine.

Whew.

Now, you just bring that chicken
feed for traveling expenses.

When will you be home?

Ten o'clock tonight?

Uh-huh. Ten o'clock.

( glasses clink )

( clock chiming )

( slow, suspenseful theme
playing )

Anybody home?

Allen?

Allen?

Allen?

Allen?

Allen?

( grunts )

( whimpers )

Oh.

( engine starts )

If you've been
on the plane all night,

I'm sure you can
use some coffee.

Yes. Thank you,
dear.

That's very
thoughtful.

Is this your first trip
to Los Angeles?

Yes. I came out
to see a relative:

Allen Sheridan.

His father is my cousin,
Henry Sheridan.

Well, then...

what brings you
first to a lawyer?

Well, I--

I may need
some help.

You see, a number
of years ago...

I gave up an apartment,
my way of life, in Cincinnati

to go to New York.

Henry's wife had died,

and he needed someone to look
after the large house,

to manage things.

I understand.

But...last year,

Henry died too.

He didn't leave me anything.

Not...specifically.

Was there a will?

Everything reverted
to a trust fund.

His son, Allen Sheridan,

was his first heir.

He was to receive control
of the money

on his th birthday.

Until then, he has
a $,-a-month allowance.

You say "first heir"?

Henry wanted me
to be taken care of.

He said so in his will.

It's just that--

That it was up to
Allen's discretion

how much money I should
have. That's all.

But, um...

I'm the next heir.

The next in line, in case
anything happened...

to...well...

Miss Winslow,
have you been unsuccessful

in getting money from him?

Is that the trouble?

Well...

Allen came out here
six months ago...

and during the last three
months, he hasn't sent me

a single penny.

I finally wrote to
his business manager.

Someone named, uh,
Victor...Latimore.

But he won't answer me
either.

Now, when is this, uh...

birthday you spoke of?

Today.

( inhales )

Oh. Mr. Mason.

It isn't that
I'm greedy for myself.

You see, I'm still living
in the family house...

and I've had to contract bills
in my own name.

I just don't know what
to tell people anymore.

And Allen promises...

and promises...

All right.

How can we get in touch
with him?

Oh.

At, um...

Hollywood -.

( dialing phone )

( suspenseful theme playing )

( line ringing )

Uh, just one moment,
please.

Mr. Perry Mason
calling.

Hello. I'd like to speak
to Mr. Sheridan, please.

Well, Mr. Mason, he, uh--
He ain't here.

I'm the cleaning woman.

What?

No, he's not asleep.
I just cleaned up his bedroom.

( scoffs )
Of course I'm sure.

Mr. Sheridan's just
plain somewheres else.

Oh.

Yes, Mr. Mason.
I know who you are.

I'll leave a note.

Goodbye.

Oh. He's not dead.
Perry.

Thank heaven
he's not dead.

Oh. Here. Take her.
( sobbing )

He's not dead.

( sobbing )

What did you say,
Miss Winslow?

Oh.

I'm so ashamed of myself
for coming here like this,

Mr. Mason.

( whimpers )

I sat in my car all night
last night,

wondering what to do.

But he's all right.

Oh, forgive me.

Suppose you tell us
the whole story.

Thank you.

( sniffles )
I need help.

( sniffles )

You see, I--

I never know what
he's up to.

The tricks he plans

and...the things
he says.

Just start at
the beginning.

Well...I--

I learned
from Ralph Curtis...

( sniffles )
...that Allen hadn't sent him

any money either.

( mysterious theme playing )

( dramatic theme playing )

( screams )

( suspenseful theme playing )

Thank you.

Hello, Mr. Mason.
Sit down.

( door closes )

What can I do for you?

I'm trying to get in touch
with Allen Sheridan.

Oh, what for?

Probably a matter
you'll be handling.

I'm representing
Sarette Winslow.

Oh, yes, in New York.

She's now in Los Angeles.

I'd like to know what
Mr. Sheridan's intentions are,

Mr. Latimore.

Is he going to respect
his late father's wishes,

and provide some kind
of permanent

and regular support
for Miss Winslow?

Well, Mr. Mason,

Allen is hardly
the confiding type, I'm afraid.

I understand he has
other traits:

quick and easy,
generous with promises,

and capricious
in the fulfillment of them.

You left out charm...

and persuasiveness.

I apologize.

You should. Last night,
he persuaded me

to lend him $,.

Oh? What for?

He's in trouble...

with a gambler
named Lou Caporale.

You know, of course,
Mr. Sheridan's getting control

of a fortune...

perhaps as early as today.

Today?

Well, he told me
his th birthday

wasn't until next year.

Today.

Oh.
This, um...Caporale.

You know where
I can reach him?

Oh, yes. Ye-- Um...

Las Palmas,
Apartment .

I, uh...

delivered
the money myself.

Well, Mr. Latimore...

where is Sheridan?

Oh, I don't know.

Is there anyone else
who might help me find him?

Well, he's been going around
with a young woman.

( phone rings )
Excuse me.

Yes, Doris?

Right. And, uh, get
Joyce Fulton's phone number

for Mr. Mason.

( clicks button )

Yes, Lieutenant Tragg.

Speaking.

Well, I don't know.

Well, is anything wrong?

Well, why have
the police--?

I see.

Homicide.

He said they're looking
for Allen too.

Well, thank you.

Thank you,
Mr. Latimore.

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

Better cover
the whole area.

You can start
up there.

Well, hello, Perry.

What's he supposed to be doing
on the side of the mountain?

Maybe he's buried up there.
What are you here for?

Well, I was in Victor Latimore's
office when you called.

I'm working on
an estate problem

that may involve
Sheridan.

Uh, don't, uh,
touch anything, Perry.

We're not finished
out here yet.

Blood?
Yes.

Lot of it.

From the porch?
Uh-huh.

It's all cleaned up
nice up there.

Whose blood,
lieutenant?

We're checking.

Your client in this,
uh, money affair

wouldn't be a woman,
would it?

Why?

Well, we're looking
for a woman.

Sergeant...

you can start
over to the east,

and then work down
both sides of the road.

Uh, why a woman,
lieutenant?

Well, these slatted wooden
porches were never designed

for a-- A narrow kind
of heel like this.

You're sure it's m*rder,
lieutenant?

Well, it's early yet.

I'd like to have a body.

Where is this Allen Sheridan?

He could be
anywhere.

Why do you figure it's
a woman, lieutenant?

If there was a m*rder...

how could she have
transported the body?

( chuckles )

All downhill, isn't it?

Steps.

Nice, handy slope.

Now, just suppose
that that's

a rental car
parked below there.

See how easy it would be
to slide a body down

and right into the trunk.

Or roll it over onto the rear
seat of a convertible?

And then off it goes,
body and all.

Well...we found
a few marks.

Little blood on the ivy,
but that's how it was, Perry.

Uh, what prompted you to say
"rental car," lieutenant?

Well, we happen to know
that there was

a rental car here last night.

The Pleas-U-R-Drive Car-Rental
people always have

an identifying star
on the windshield.

And we have
an eyewitness, Perry.

We know, uh, who
rented it and where.

Now, I think
you understand...

that we're looking
for a woman

by the name of
Sarette Winslow.

Right now, all we want
her for is questioning.

But I'm going
on record with you.

We want her.
Mm.

Well, I'm sure you can
always get her, lieutenant.

With a warrant.

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

Della. Paul.

PAUL:
Hi, Perry.

Miss Winslow settled?

Mm-hm. I took her
to a hotel.

( sighs )

Tragg believes
that Allen Sheridan

was m*rder*d
last night.

Believes?

Uh, no corpse has been found.

Paul, Sheridan left New York

six months ago. I want to know

the circumstances.

Della, what was the name

of that man Miss Winslow
mentioned.

Someone you might check with,

Uh, Curtis?
Uh, Ralph Curtis.

He lives in Manhattan.

MASON:
I want to know all about

Sheridan's financial dealings
in New York and here.

All about Victor Latimore

and his management business.

Perry, do you
believe that

Allen Sheridan's
been m*rder*d?

Well, it could be another case
of his artful dodging.

As far as his being m*rder*d...

for Miss Winslow's sake,

I certainly hope not.

Okay, Perry. Anything else?

Mm-hm. Complete background

on Lou Caporale, gambler,

Las Palmas, Apartment .

Della, call this
Miss Joyce Fulton...

Oleander -.

( piano music playing )

Okay, Rudy.

Good day, sir.
I'm to see a Miss Fulton.

Miss Fulton. Oh, yes.
Right this way.

Miss Fulton?
Mr. Mason.

Uh, nothing now,
thank you.

Very well.

I hope this was
a convenient place for you.

Oh, fine.

Well, now to
the point.

How long have you known
Allen Sheridan?

Two months. It seems longer.

Did you see him
last night?

Sure. He took me
to dinner.

And after dinner?

I drove him home.

Look, Mr. Mason, I've told
all this to the police...

and I haven't seen Allen
since last night.

But what time last night?

About :.

And since :
last night,

you've neither seen
nor spoken with him?

No.

And from what you told me
on the phone,

he hasn't been
home, and, heh,

no one seems to know
where he is.

So...I can only assume
that he left according to plan.

Mm?

What was the plan?

Well, I'd rather not say.

Oh, I mean, I'm sure you're
not working for Lou Caporale,

but...I think the fewer
the people that know,

the better it'll be
for Allen.

Caporale was paid off
last night.

Really?

Victor Latimore paid him off?

So he says.

Well, I guess I was right.

Imagine, running all the way
to Mexico City

just to evade
my little clutches.

That where Sheridan
went, Mexico City?

( sighs )
Well, I guess so.

He was supposed to leave
at : this morning,

only not if Victor--

Oh, boy. The circles
that man can swim in.

Now, you said you drove him
home last night.

In his car?

No, mine.

Didn't he have one?

Yes. It's a convertible.

Only he said he loaned his
to someone else.

( scoffs )

To a friend, he said.

And Paul, see if a man answering
the description of Sheridan

boarded the a.m. flight
for Mexico City.

Fine.

Now, what were you gonna say
about that convertible?

( Paul speaking indistinctly )

Oh?

Yes, I have it.

Globe Studios.

Sorry, we're checking.

This car
belong to you?

No. What's it all about?

Got a driver's
license?

Oh, sure.

"Louis Caporale."

It's registered under the name
of Allen Sheridan.

He's a friend of mine.

Uh, thank you,
officer.

I think I can
handle it now.

Mr. Caporale,
my name is Mason.

I think
you have, uh,

more than one profession,
don't you?

What do you mean?

Today you're an actor,

last night you were
a gambler...

collecting a $, debt.

Well, a bit player's
got to have

something working
on the side for him.

What's your line, Mason?

I'm trying to locate
Allen Sheridan.

Um, I don't know where he is.

When was the last time
you saw him?

Do I have to answer
your questions?

Do you have something to hide?

No, no. Nothing, nothing.

Where'd you get the car?

Oh, now, look,
Allen loaned it to me.

I was doing a favor for him.
I needed transportation.

I explained it
all down at headquarters.

I don't have to go over it
with you.

Did they tell you
down at headquarters

that they think he may
have been m*rder*d?

Why, no.

That they suspected his body
was hauled away in a car?

You mind opening the trunk,
Mr. Caporale?

Something in it?

Well, how should
I know?

I never had any reason
to open the trunk.

I have no idea
what's back there.

Then you don't mind?
Now, look, Mr. Mason.

This isn't my car.

I don't know
what's back in there.

Shall we see?

Mr. Mason?

Call for you.

A Mr. Drake.

Would you ask him to
hold on for a moment?

Yes, hello?

Perry, did you
catch Caporale?

Yes, Paul.

Good. Look, I think I have
something for you.

I just talked to
the airline people.

A William Wyatt took off
for Mexico City at a.m.

William Wyatt.

They remembered this guy
at the check-in counter.

Said he was all bent over,
as though in pain.

I asked whether he could have
been hurt or wounded,

and they said he virtually
had to be carried onboard.

Go on.

And from what
I can make out,

Wyatt answers the general
description of Allen Sheridan.

All right, thanks, Paul.

I'll see you tonight
at the office.

Oh. Afternoon, Perry.

I really came to find you,
Mr. Caporale. I need your help.

Uh, is this the, uh,
Allen Sheridan car?

That's right,
lieutenant.

And Mr. Mason had me
open the trunk for him.

Why, Perry, you weren't
looking for

something in there,
were you?

I guess I'm always
looking, lieutenant.

You should have been looking
down the county road

about five miles
from the Sheridan home.

Want to come along
while Mr. Caporale

identifies the body?

That's him.

That's Allen Sheridan.

That, uh, warrant you wanted
for Sarette Winslow...

You wanna look it over
and see if it's in order?

( dramatic theme playing )

So...

Sheridan established
the fictitious William Wyatt,

and then to raise
travel money,

he swindled his own business
manager out of $,.

So he could run out
on everybody.

Miss Winslow,
Victor Latimore,

his latest girlfriend,
Joyce Fulton.

Mm-hm. Quite a boy.

Quite a scheme.

Except someone moved in and took
advantage of all his plotting.

Somebody now calling himself
William Wyatt?

Mm-hm.
( knock on door )

Hi, beautiful.
Hello, Paul.

Oh, Paul. Any luck?

Well, here's the rundown
from New York.

It comes from Gebhardt
and O'Riley,

trustees for the estate
of Henry Sheridan.

Go on.
For some time now,

Allen Sheridan's
had it arranged with them

to transfer the bulk
of his estate

as soon as
he turned .

Which he's just done.
Check.

Comes to $,.

I suppose he had the funds
transferred to Mexico City.

To the Bank of Mexico
in the name of William Wyatt.

And hold onto your hat.

The funds were
not only transferred,

they were cashed.

In Mexico City?
Mm-hm.

When?
Just before the banks closed,

by someone who properly
identified himself

as William Wyatt.

All right, Paul.

I want you to find
this William Wyatt.

All right, Perry.

( ominous theme playing )

Then the defendant,
Sarette Winslow,

confronted Allen Sheridan,
her own cousin.

And when he resisted
her pleas for money,

she contrived
to k*ll him.

Her motives
were anger and greed.

And finally,
Your Honor,

we intend to demonstrate how,
within that same hour,

the defendant returned
to the scene of her crime

to obtain and cold-bloodedly
to dispose of

the body of her victim.

Mr. Mason?

The defense will reserve
its remarks at this time,

Your Honor.

Proceed with the prosecution.

I call Dr. Hoxie
to the stand, please.

...causing a fracture
just above the right temple.

The second blow struck on
the opposite side of the head

on a line below the ear,
down across the throat,

severing the external
carotid artery.

And, doctor, I show you
this section of a glass ashtray,

and ask if this could have
caused such wounds.

Yes, sir, it could.

The jagged edge,
the weight, everything.

Thank you, doctor.

Your witness.

No questions.

We smoked a cigarette
on the porch,

and we used this ashtray.

Only it wasn't broken then.

it didn't have that jagged end.

When was this,
Miss Fulton?

After we came back
from dinner that night.

And I recognize
the ashtray

because it was one
I gave him.

Now I show you this blanket and
ask if you've seen it before.

I have. Allen used to
leave it out on the porch.

He used to take
sunbaths on it.

I think that'll be all,
Miss Fulton. Your witness.

You seem quite familiar
with the household details

of Mr. Sheridan's home,
Miss Fulton.

How is that?

Well, I suppose because
I've been there

quite a number
of times.

And just what was
the relationship between you

and Allen Sheridan?

Well, I'm not sure
that I really know.

Allen would never quite
declare himself.

And I assure you that I hadn't
made up my own mind

about things either.

MASON:
And Miss Fulton...

you said earlier
that you left his home,

and that you last saw
Mr. Sheridan

about : on the night
he was k*lled.

Is there any way
you can verify that?

No, Mr. Mason.

There isn't.

Thank you, that'll be all.

Lieutenant Arthur
Tragg, please.

Now, I ask if you've
ever seen this blanket before.

Well, when the, uh,
county notified us

that one of
their road crews

had uncovered
the body of a man,

I investigated
personally.

I found this blanket
wrapped around

the body of Allen Sheridan.

And what did you find
on the blanket?

Bloodstains, type B,
same as the victim.

Did you also find...

bloodstains
on this ashtray?

No, sir. It had been
wiped off.

The porch had been
wiped off too.

Very carefully.

I believe you said that also
applied to the fingerprints.

Yes, sir.

Someone had,
uh, tidied up.

Huh. Tidied up.
Very well-put, lieutenant.

However, what about the pool
of blood under the porch?

Isn't that what started
your whole investigation?

Well, it was dark,
there were cracks in the porch,

and that was undoubtedly
the oversight of the m*rder*r.

I see.

Now, I show you this heel
from a woman's shoe.

I ask you where
this was found.

It was stuck between
the floorboards on the porch.

Is there anything else you can
tell us about this heel?

We took some scrapings,
and down at the bottom of it,

we found samples of
some blood, uh, type B.

That's the same type
as that of the deceased.

Yes. The wearer
of the shoe

had, uh, undoubtedly

stepped in
some of the blood.

Well, were there
any fingerprints on this?

Well, um, on the inside
facing of the heel,

there were two
we could identify.

The, uh, thumbprint
of the cleaning woman

who tried to, uh, pull
it loose from the porch.

And whose was
the other print?

That of the defendant...

Miss Sarette Winslow.

Now, lieutenant,
during the course

of your investigation
in this case,

was it necessary for you
to examine the records

of automobile rental agencies
in the Los Angeles area?

Yes, I did.

Would you tell us
what you found, please?

On the evening of the m*rder,
about, uh, :,

the airport office

of the Pleas-U-R-Drive
Car Rentals company

signed out a convertible...

to Miss Sarette Winslow
of New York City.

I think that'll
be all, lieutenant.

Thank you very much.
Cross-examine.

Lieutenant, what prompted you
to look into the records

of the Pleas-U-R-Drive company?

The statement of
an eyewitness.

What eyewitness?

Mr. Louis Caporale.

Thank you, lieutenant.
That'll be all.

I started up
toward the house

around by
the front door.

I looked in,
didn't see anybody.

Then this woman came hurrying
around from the other side.

She looked like
she might be a cr*pple,

or maybe wearing
only one shoe.

She got into the car and,
uh, drove away pretty fast.

Now, I ask you to
look around this courtroom

and see if you can
identify that woman here.

Well, sure.

That's her.

BURGER:
Let the record show
that the witness

is pointing to the defendant,
Sarette Winslow.

Thank you, Mr. Caporale.
Your witness.

Mr. Caporale...

after this woman
drove away...

just what did you do?

Well, Allen obviously
wasn't home, so I left.

You left?

You saw this woman

mysteriously dashing away
from your friend's home,

and you didn't
investigate?

I figured she was just somebody

who couldn't
find him home either.

I thought I'd try him later.

And later, you did
look around a bit more.

Did you go out on the porch?

Yes, I did.

And you didn't see a body?

There wasn't any body there.

Not at :.

Now, would you please
tell the court

what were you really
doing there?

Why were you
so anxious

to see Sheridan
that night?

Well, I'd borrowed his car.

Now, isn't it true that a man
named Victor Latimore

had come to see you
earlier that evening,

and had given you $,?

Oh, now, look.

This was Allen's idea, not mine.

He was just gonna
pay me a few bucks

to pick up the dough
and deliver it,

and maybe act like a--

Well, like a tough
gambler, that's all.

And what did you do
with the ,?

Well, I was worried.

So I hid it
in back of his car.

Look, that's why I had
the shakes the next day

when you were looking
in the trunk.

But I was gonna turn it in.

In fact, I was on my way
over to police headquarters

when-- When you stopped me.

Well-- Well,
that's what I did.

I turned it over
to Lieutenant Tragg.

Uh, didn't I, sir?

No more questions.

BURGER:
I call Victor
Latimore, please.

Now, Mr. Latimore,
are you acquainted

with the defendant,
Sarette Winslow?

Well, I met her
through Allen in New York.

Occasionally,
I'd see her at

the brownstone
on th Street.

Allen, at one time,
had a weekly poker game.

Oh, it was just a friendly
game, not for blood.

Would you mind explaining
to this court, please,

the financial
arrangement

between the defendant
and Allen Sheridan?

Well, it was
very simple.

While he was still living
on his allowance...

he undertook to send
$ monthly to Miss Winslow.

His father's will suggested
an obligation of this kind.

And how did Allen Sheridan
fulfill this obligation?

Well, he was frequently
late with the check,

and many times he omitted
sending it altogether.
I see.

Did you ever have occasion
to talk to the defendant

about this matter?

Oh, she wrote me several times
from New York.

She was upset
about Allen.

More specifically,
what was she upset about?

Oh, about not getting
her allowance,

and what was
going to happen

when Allen
came into his money

in a-- A lump sum
on his th birthday.

You see, she knew
that his birthday

was on September th

of this year.

I thought it wasn't
till next year.

I see. Now, would you
tell us, please,

the terms of
Allen Sheridan's will?

Well, Allen left
no will.

Then what happens
to his estate?

Well, Miss Winslow
is his only relative,

and, of course,
is his sole heir.

Thank you,
Mr. Latimore.

Your witness.

JUDGE:
Uh, Mr. Mason...

do you anticipate
a lengthy cross-examination

of this witness?

Well, it's possible
it could take

quite some time, Your Honor.

In that case, since it's
almost the noon hour,

court will recess
until : this afternoon.

PAUL:
Perry...

I finally got
a few reports in.

At least we know

where William Wyatt
was in Mexico City.

What about Ralph Curtis
in New York?

That's the second piece
of information we've got.

We can't find him.

But I did
get a flash,

if you can
call it that.

He did show up in New York.

Uh-huh.
When?

Mm, according to
a neighbor,

Sunday morning,
September th.

How long was he there?

I don't know. Not
more than a few hours.

Perry, heh,

you're awful persistent
about this guy, Curtis.

What gives?

Figure it out yourself, Paul.

From all we've learned...

from what you've just told me...

Ralph Curtis and
William Wyatt are...

one and the same person.

And Paul...

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

...you've just got to
find him.

All right, Perry.

Now, Mr. Latimore...

you said that you knew
Allen Sheridan in New York.

Well, since I've been
out here on business,

it's only been occasional
visits, of course.

Mm, how long
have you been

in the personal
management business?

Oh, about ten years.

I do income taxes,
that sort of thing.
Mm-hm.

What percentage did you take
of the decedent's income

as your fee for handling
his so-called allowance?

Well, in-- In
this particular case...

percent.

Doesn't the normal fee

for the type of service
you render

range from, uh,

oh, say,
percent to...

maybe percent?

Oh, but Allen needed
all sorts of special service.

You see, he came out here
with things all tangled up.

Do you, uh, have Mr. Sheridan's
power of attorney?

Y-yeah-- Uh-- Uh, no.

Uh, pardon me.
Did you have

his power of
attorney?

Yes, but it was revoked.
Mm, when?

I received notice
of it last week.

Allen had written
the trustees in New York.

Now, if his body
hadn't been discovered--

if he'd just disappeared

--would you still have been
able to continue

using that power of attorney?

Well, I--

I suppose, until all
the banks had been notified--

Oh, no.

No, that wouldn't
have been proper.

No.

Now, you testified that...

you were...

part of
an occasional poker game

held by Allen Sheridan.

Was a--? A man by the name
of Ralph Curtis

also part of that game?

Yes, sir. Occasionally.

Was Mr. Curtis
one of the special services

you took care of
for Mr. Sheridan?

I don't know what you mean.

I mean the defendant
wasn't the only person

after Sheridan for money,
was she?

( scoffs )
Well,

I wouldn't know about that.

Tell me, Mr. Latimore...

were you and Ralph Curtis

blackmailing Allen Sheridan?

I object, Your Honor.

That question is
completely incompetent.

Mr. Mason is
threatening this witness.

Objection sustained.

No more questions.

( whispers
indistinctly )

At this time, Your Honor...

the prosecution would
like to call Ralph Curtis

to the stand, please.

( men clear
throat )

So it was in a vindictive
fit of temper

that Allen Sheridan
tripped you

and sent you
sprawling headlong

down that flight
of stairs,

wasn't it?

Go on, Mr. Curtis.

Uh, that was in
September of ...

in Allen's home
in Manhattan.

I went to the hospital
for a series of operations,

and it left me
as you see me.

And what did Allen Sheridan
do about it?

Well, he never once
came to the hospital.

So when I found out I wasn't

going to get any better...

I had my lawyer
send him a...letter.

That brought him around quick.

What do you mean by that?

He pleaded with me
not to sue him.

Said it would tie up
his funds and so on.

He said he felt
he owed me an obligation...

and that he had an income
of $, a month.

He would pay me half
for the rest of my life.

Well, he'd
crippled me.

Well, did he keep
his promise?

Well, he sent me
a thousand a month

for two months.

And then he left town.

When was this?

March of this year.

Would you tell us, please,

what transpired on Friday,
September th of this year?

I received a telephone call

about...:

in the afternoon,
New York time.

It was from
the defendant,

Miss Sarette
Winslow.

BURGER:
And what did she want?

Well, she...wanted to know if...

Allen had sent me
a large sum of money recently.

Did she say why
she wanted to know such a thing?

Yes. She said that Allen
hadn't sent her any.

And he used the excuse

that he had sent a lot to me.

I told her he hadn't.

But...she became angry.

Might say she--

She even threatened.

She said she wasn't
gonna let Allen

lie his way
out of this.

BURGER:
I see.

What else did she say,
Mr. Curtis?

Well, she said...

she was gonna
settle things with Allen

once and for all.

Thank you,
Mr. Curtis.

Your witness.

I'm curious to know why,
Mr. Curtis...

when Allen Sheridan stopped
his payments to you,

you didn't seek legal relief
in the courts.

Hm. Because the only
witness to the attack

was Victor Latimore.

And when I asked him
to testify for me,

he said that his recollection
of the accident...

was that it had
been my fault.

MASON:
Why do you suppose
he said that?

Mm. 'Cause Allen Sheridan
was paying him to say it.

Twenty-five percent he got
was his payoff.

Uh, Mr. Curtis,

did you volunteer to appear
as a prosecution witness?

Well, uh, I didn't resist.

Well, did you go
to the authorities,

or did the authorities
come to you?

They came to me.

Where?

Here in Los Angeles.

I thought you lived in New York.

On the afternoon of the m*rder,
you were in New York,

were you not?
Yes, I--

I spoke to, uh, Miss Winslow...

in New York.

And when did you arrive
here in Los Angeles?

About : in the morning...

after Allen was k*lled.

Five-thirty in the morning,
by plane?

Yes.

MASON:
On the morning
of September th,

a little
before :,

a man boarded a plane
bound for Mexico City.

He called himself
William Wyatt.

He walked
in a manner...

crippled and bent,

just as you.

I ask you now,
Mr. Curtis...

were you that man?

No.

The man arrived in Mexico City.

He picked up a hotel reservation
under the name of William Wyatt,

and before the day
was over,

he withdrew
$,

from the Bank of Mexico.

I'll ask you once
again, Mr. Curtis:

were you that man?

No.

You're certainly aware
that a man

with your distinctive

appearance and walk

will be easily identifiable...

to the Bank of Mexico

in Mexico City,

to the hotel there.

Even to fellow passengers

on an airplane.

Yes, I...

I did go to Mexico City.

Using the name William Wyatt?

Yes.

All right,
I did take the $,.

But I didn't k*ll him.

I just...

took advantage of what
he had already set up.

It seemed like
some sort of...

justice.

How did you know about this plan
of his, Mr. Curtis?

You were in New York
on the day of the m*rder.

Who told you
about the plan?

Well, somebody
must have told you.

I heard about it.

By telephone?
Yes.

Who could have called you,
Mr. Curtis?

Could it have been someone

who hated Allen Sheridan

as much as you did?

Someone who, after k*lling him,

would immediately have

called you?

Well, you're only saying
"could it have been?"

I'm now saying...

who could it have been,
Mr. Curtis?

It must have been someone
very close to you.

Someone also close to
Allen Sheridan.

Someone who knew
about the plane ticket.

Someone who
knew about

William Wyatt
and Mexico City,

and the money there.

We both know who
that someone could be,

don't we,
Mr. Curtis?

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

I told you not to
come back out here.

Why did you

come back out here, Ralph?

I couldn't leave
you here all alone.

I couldn't.

Not after...

After I k*lled him.

Yes, I let him die, Ralph.

Look what he did to you.

Just look what he did to you.

( sobbing )

( piano playing )

DELLA:
She was in love
with Ralph Curtis.

That's why she followed
Allen out here.

To make him pay
in some way

for what he had done
to the man she loved.

What happened
that night?

Joyce and Allen
went back to

his home
after dinner.

Joyce told him that
before he ran away again,

he would have to
give Ralph Curtis

a decent settlement.

When he laughed at her,

she hit him twice
with an ashtray.

The first time it broke,
and the second time,

the shattered glass
slashed an artery.

Mm, it shocked
and stunned her,

and she went home
as fast as she could.

And that's when
I came along?

After she had gone?

PAUL:
That's right.

By the time you had left,

Joyce had had time to
figure out her plot,

and to call Curtis and tell him
to take the next jet plane out.

How did you know
about Joyce, Mr. Mason?

Well, mm, as soon as
we were able to figure out

who was posing
as William Wyatt...

it was comparatively
simple.

SARETTE:
Oh, I'm so grateful.

And so thankful.

( chuckles )

( noirish jazz theme playing )